Chapter 10 Stardate 83995.28. Friday, December 25, 2409

/ 313 Hurlburt Road, Syracuse, New York /

Of all the damned times Muriel has to run out of medicine, it has to be 0230 in the morning on Christmas Day!

Andrew Nichols stopped looking at the frozen and very old and overgrown baseball field behind his home to peer under the hood of his 2403 Galaxy II Runabout shuttle and wonder why it would not start. The cold weather clearly had a lot to do with it. In Syracuse, it was -10 degrees Fahrenheit and that did not include wind chill. But his wife needed her medication and there was one pharmacy open all night, if he could get to it.

The fifty-seven-year-old paused to look up from the engine, cursing his luck. He was no mechanic. While adjusting his insulated cap with the ear flaps he suddenly saw something, a glowing light in the sky. It seemed to be getting closer like a beam of light. Probably one of those damned satellites or maybe a security drone.

He kept fiddling with some wires, not knowing exactly what the hell he was doing. Trudging around the obstreperous vehicle, he gave it a swift but futile kick in the operator's door as he entered the freezing cold cab. His frustration was obvious given his warm breath exiting his lungs more rapidly than normal.

Now he cranked that damned engine for the hundredth time. Nothing. He checked the gauges, which seemed to be online. Then again. Nothing. Crossed his fingers just for luck. Then, 'voooooom.' Praise the Lord!

Andrew stepped out with the smug look of satisfaction on his face, his snow boots crunching as he did. As he went to close the hood a voice softly spoke to him, one he recognized immediately.

"You know, Daddy, I warned you about this model. They had a recall on the starter interface three years ago and I see you never got that fixed. So I just hotwired it."

Andrew stood there, a wrench dropping from his hand into the snow.

There in front of him was his oldest daughter, Miranda. She was wearing a flight suit and was rubbing her arms as she shivered a bit in the cold. A Starfleet patch was prominently displayed on her left shoulder. The logo of BN-1 was on her right. 'Nichols Flight Engineer' was proudly exhibited on her black leather flight patch above her left breast pocket.

"Merry Christmas, Daddy!" She ran the few steps to him.

Hours later after the sobbing and excitement and Starfleet officials and a host of others had paraded through the Nichols' home on Hurlburt Road, Miranda took a moment from helping her sister in the kitchen to use a borrowed PADD. She decided to place a very important call, one that would ultimately change the course of her life for the better.

Her PADD screen lit up in about ten minutes, after waiting in a queue.

"Starfleet Headquarters, Federation Marine Corps Section, Lieutenant Roberts speaking. Merry Christmas and how may I help you, Ma'am?"

"Yes! Hello! Merry Christmas! I...ah…hope you can help me. Please? My name is Miranda…Nichols. I was wondering…umm…is Major Bennet in?"

A short pause followed as the Marine duty officer looked around.

"Yes, Ma'am. He's here. Just walking by." The lieutenant turned in his seat. "Hey Major, there is a call for you."

Miranda heard the field-grade officer step up to the office screen and saw him look into it. Bennet was obviously shocked. His mouth opened as he gazed at the excited woman who was looking back at him. A very thrilled young woman who was smiling broadly and wearing his Marine Corps globe and anchor pin on her red cashmere turtleneck sweater.

"Major Ben…net here. Miranda? Is that…you?"

The young woman happily nodded; she nearly burst into tears.

With a voice overflowing with emotion, Miranda Nichols finally got out what she had wanted to say.

"Hi Steve! I bet it's warmer in California than here. Here. Syracuse. Anyway, yes, this is Miranda. Miranda Nichols! Merry Christmas! Umm…I was wondering…what are you doing for New Year's Eve?"

/ 315 South Brook Forest Road, Derby, Kansas /

The kids had left earlier, off to visit some old friends on Christmas Eve with the promise they would not make noise when they returned hours later in the early morning.

Neenah Day now moved through her lovely but seemingly empty suburban home, checking door locks and closing blinds. The lights of the Christmas tree burned bright and the timer would soon turn them off.

Neenah looked at her computer screen and turned that off, as well. 0135 hours on Christmas morning. As she moved to her kitchen she recalled the enjoyable conversation she just had with B'Elanna Torres about an hour ago, although they cried a lot. They were really like sisters now, having gone through so much together since fleeing Gen those many years ago.

As the Gen woman picked up empty cups and dirty napkins, that damned neighbor's dog was barking once more. He was an ugly creature that never shut up but she supposed it was a good thing, even in a safe neighborhood. It was also a good thing too that they were experiencing a mild winter. Thankfully just a little snow this year. Some of the typical ice characteristic of the windy Great Plains made the roads and sidewalks slippery. But she wasn't driving her hovercar or walking around in this stuff. Her visiting kids would take her to church services later in the day.

She pushed through the swinging doors to her kitchen to put the dishes into the sonic dishwasher and close the drapes covering the sliding glass door that led to the backyard. Then off to bed, alone once more.

But now Neenah saw something through the kitchen window that was really strange. A beam of white light was spotlighting her yard, right where she had just planted those new verbenas last Spring.

What the hell is that?

She went outside, an empty coffee mug still in her hand as she observed a white bubble descend down that beam. Looking at the mug, she gave it a sniff. What did the kids put in this?

Glancing up, she saw Charlie. He was standing there in his flight suit right on top of her expensive plants, just a bit wobbly at his knees after his ride. He dusted himself off and then smiled at his wife.

"Merry Christmas, Neenah."

Now the psychiatry-educated Neenah Day was Gen and nothing in this universe ever surprised her. At least so she thought. But the empty mug nonetheless slipped from numb fingers onto the not-quite frozen ground. She stood there with her mouth agape.

Charlie looked a bit disappointed. "Well, Honey, aren't you going to say something?"

She nodded in awe. Then she flung herself into his arms.

Kissing him passionately, she screamed out, "Where the hell did you come from, Charlie Day?"

/ 2137 Red Mountain Road, Aspen, Colorado /

B'Elanna Torres stood on the electrically-warmed deck outside Kathleen's winter cabin as she stared out at the city lights below her. The air was crisp and clean. It had snowed all day, covering the ground with a fresh blanket of white. The storm clouds had passed now and she could see the stars. At least she thought she could. For a moment it looked as if a shadow was blocking out some of them but that was just old eyes playing tricks.

Her sister-in-law, Kathleen, came outside and put an arm around her shoulder. She had also seen the city lights fade for a moment. Weird.

"B'Elanna, why don't you come in? Everyone has gone to bed and it's very late now. It's 0045 in the morning. The fire is still going, if you can't sleep."

The Federation Ambassador nodded and followed Kathleen into the Great Room, taking a seat in one of the leather recliners. Moira often referred to them as 'life-sucking chairs.' One minute after getting in them you fell asleep. So she put her feet up and covered her legs with a very old and tattered hand-knitted throw.

"Any more hot chocolate, Kathy?"

Her sister-in-law indicated yes.

"Sure. I think we still have some marshmallows to go with it. The tiny ones you like."

Kathleen left for a few minutes to return with a tray of hot drinks and cookies to find B'Elanna sound asleep. Adjusting the throw, she decided to leave her be. Her sister-in-law rarely slept soundly anymore.

Looking outside the sliding glass door, Kathleen noticed that the glow from the city was now so much brighter tonight than usual. The weather was so odd and particularly those lights. So she walked over and opened the doorway to step outside and take a peek, so thankful that the deck had an ice melting grid.

Breathing in the clean, cold air, she started thinking out loud.

"I wonder why those lights did that."

"Maybe because I light up your life?"

Kathleen jumped and turned with a start to see her brother, Tom Paris, grinning at her like the Cheshire cat. Her mouth opened in shock as she took in that flight suit of his. Then he was hugging her, tears rolling down his face. She kissed her brother full on the lips, something she had not done in years.

"Oh my God! Tommy! How in the world…?"

Tom shook his head and held his sister at arm's length. "Never mind, Kathy. I'm back. It's a long story for later. But now I need to know when I can catch a hop to Los Angeles. I need to get to Q'onoS. B'Elanna. I need to see her…."

Kathleen started laughing and hugged her brother. "Oh, you will! But you don't need to go that far, Tommy. I don't know what the hell is going on but she's right here. Right in the Great Room. Asleep by the fire in that big fat chair of Daddy's."

Tom looked into his sister's eyes, absolutely stunned. "Seriously?"

She nodded furiously and opened the sliding door.

Kissing his sister on the cheek, Paris moved carefully inside. Kathleen followed him in, closing the door and then holding her hands to her face as Tom cautiously moved forward, afraid it was a prank.

But there, right by the Christmas tree in that fat leather chair, was B'Elanna. Sound asleep.

Tom walked over and gently knelt down, taking his wife's right hand in his. Then he kissed her forehead ridges and ever so softly he whispered in her ear.

"maj dok."

B'Elanna smiled automatically; she was dreaming about better days. But now her eyes fluttered open to look up into the face of her husband who was just beaming.

Kathleen was crying uncontrollably. Not being able to take it anymore, she turned and ran from the room into the kitchen.

B'Elanna was dumbfounded. "Tommy? Please, God, tell me I am not asleep. Please." She touched her husband's face. He needed a shave.

"No, B'Ella. You're not asleep. I'm here. Just for you. Special Christmas delivery."

Realizing that this was actually real and not a dream, B'Elanna put her arms around her husband's neck and pulled Tom down to her to kiss him passionately, her tears rolling down her face to mix with his.

"Tom, how...? Who could have…?"

"Sssssshhh." Tom placed a finger softly on his wife's warm and wet lips. Then he reached underneath the throw and picked her up, her arms remaining around his neck as natural as can be. Her husband obviously knew this home intimately and exactly what room he was carrying her into. This was going to be one heck of a Christmas morning.

"Saint Nick, Honey. He did it."

B'Elanna looked at Tom in awe, still astonished even as he closed the door to the bedroom with his foot. He then spun her around so she could secure that old fashioned latch lock. After he placed her gently on the bed, they stripped and crawled under the covers together.

That was when Tom noticed his wife's quizzical look even as they hugged and kissed.

"What?"

B'Elanna's brown orbs now stared into her husband's blue eyes.

"Saint Nick, Tom?" She laughed out of nervousness and joy.

Tom kissed his wife's neck and smiled. Then he removed the platinum necklace with the fluid-filled globe he was wearing and handed it to his wife.

"Yeah. And you know what? He's Undine."