Chapter 10 – A Not So Silent Night

Christmas brought with it a more subdued celebration than they had done the prior year. After all, things were different. Ethan Shapiro was still rehabbing himself, slowly. Sandra still had her virtual shingle out. Shelby was nervous about that, as were the other mothers and mothers to be. For now there were more of them. As Jay had predicted, Hoshi was also pregnant.

It was a few hours before dinner, so Lili had a little free time. She went to Sick Bay. "So, Ethan," she said, "are you going to the party? I mean, I know it's not your holiday and all."

"I … am going," he said.

"Maybe I'll save you a dance," she said.

"I … stank … before, before this."

"That's okay," she allowed, "I don't mind if you step on my feet a little." She and Phlox helped to get him up, and she was about to hand him the cane when she felt the underside of the handle. "What's this? It's carved."

"Mark … of the … maker."

She turned it over. "JDH. Well, whoever JDH is, it was very nice of them to make it for you."

They helped him get up and walk a few steps. "See?" she said, "You just lean on me a little and we can dance."

"May, maybe."

"Maybe? You think your dance card will be all filled up tonight?"

"Dunno," he shrugged, more with the right shoulder than the left, and smiled, more with the right side than the left side of his mouth.

"We're having real cauliflower tonight," she told him, "and I know you like it. See ya then."

Walking into the hall, she tapped a little on her PADD. "JDH, huh?" She checked, and figured out who that was.

=/\=

Jay was in his quarters when his door chimed. "Uh, come in." He put down the old-fashioned book he was reading for, perhaps, the fiftieth time.

"Hi," said Lili.

"Uh, hi. You, um, you know your quarters are a few doors down."

"Yes, I know that," she said, "I just wanted to, um, I was in Sick Bay, and I was helping Ethan with his cane."

"Oh?"

"And I felt under the handle and I found the maker's initials. They're your initials."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course. Look, I won't say anything if you don't want me to. Although I'm not sure why you want to keep quiet about it. But, uh, I wanted to tell you; that was a really sweet thing you did for him."

"Uh, thanks," he smiled a little, mouth closed, "I, uh, I gotta keep an image, yanno."

"Oh, I see," she observed, "You know, you mainly smile with your mouth closed."

"Yeah, I, uh, my teeth are kinda crooked. I got self-conscious as a teenager, and I guess that never really went away."

"My lower teeth are crooked, too," she admitted.

"I've never noticed."

"So, uh, are you one of those guys who had a whole workshop in your basement or something?"

"It was in my sister, Laura's, basement."

"Oh, well, I guess apartments don't have basements."

"No, I, uh, I didn't have a place that was off the base," he explained, "Just barracks."

She looked at him. "At the time I was drafted by Chef," she swallowed a little, saying that, "I owned a restaurant in San Mateo. And I lived near it. I could walk to work if I wanted to."

"That sounds nice," he said. "I didn't go to California much. Base was in Atlanta."

"I've never been. And now I guess I never will go there."

"It was hot a lot of the time," he said, "I, uh, I've never liked the cold."

"You should, um; you should come to the kitchen sometimes, when we're roasting. It gets nice and hot in there. It might make you, I dunno, think of better days."

"Maybe," he allowed.

"Look, I better go. Christmas dinner is a monster to prepare. I'll, um, in acknowledgement, I'll make one of the desserts something you like."

"You don't have to."

"I want to," Lili said, "and I won't say anything. You'll just know. See ya then."

He went back to his reading, shaking his head and smiling a little to himself.

=/\=

In Sick Bay, Phlox looked up as the doors swished open. "Can you, uh, can you do the test now? The one where you can tell who the father is?" Sandra asked.

"Something compelling that it be today?" he asked as he got an impressively huge needle ready.

"I, um," she looked at the needle in some terror, "my clothes are starting to not fit me. My life is changing, I guess, whether I want it to, or not. What kind of a needle is that? Is it left over from torture or something? Did ya get it from Reed?" she made a face.

"No, no," smiled Phlox, grinning overly broadly, as usual. "It's an amniocentesis needle. But over a century ago, it was used a lot later in gestation. Now, I have a better way to guide it in, so I can perform the testing a lot earlier. Lie back."

"Aren't you gonna give me something for the pain?"

"No," he said, "you're pregnant. That would not be wise. Lie back and think happy thoughts."

She cringed as he plunged the needle in, thinking of anything but that. He withdrew it quickly. "Ah, that's a good sample."

"When will you know?"

"I'll centrifuge the sample right now. It'll be about two minutes." He took it with him and went to a different part of Sick Bay.

She got off the bio bed and went over to Ethan. "You're one of the few who isn't a candidate," she admitted. "'Course the gay guys aren't, either, and neither is he," she wrinkled her nose in the direction of the doctor, "or the captain. But there are lots of others. Yanno, we all go to these weddings, or we hear about them, or about these commitments, and we think that those people are all set and they aren't going to cheat. But the truth is they do. And it's not just the guys with me. I know there are women who have a side fellow. You should talk to Bernstein, er, Bernstein-Rosen, excuse me, about that."

"Not … interested … any, any more."

"Huh. Well, if you come around to my place, it won't be free. You do realize that."

"That's … one reason … why … I won't … come … around."

The doctor returned. "I have your test results. Would you care to hear them here, or in private?"

"Here is fine," she said, "it is gonna be public knowledge either way."

"Then allow me to congratulate you and Private Daniel Chang," he said, as she wrinkled her nose a bit.

=/\=

"How many desserts are you making, O'Day?" Will asked.

"Three different kinds," she said. "They're all vegan."

"Procul roasts are almost done," Brian said.

"I've got replicated shrimp for shrimp cocktails, and I've got mashed potatoes and gravy," said Craig.

"And we've got baby carrots in an orange and dill sauce, plus roasted asparagus, cauliflower with a mild cheese sauce on the side and an arugula salad," Will stated.

"There!" Lili said, finishing up putting everything into the oven.

"What are you making?" asked Craig.

"A smoked pineapple tart, a batch of bittersweet chocolate fudge, and a blueberry tart."

"What's the vegan main dish?" asked Brian.

"The arugula salad goes on steroids," Lili said, "You remember those tests we underwent? Well, for the plant thing, everyone had to grow mung beans or pea shoots. We've got tons of them now, so I fermented some of the curd into tofu. But I think it'll get easier if we can start replicating tofu, Craig."

"I'll get on it tomorrow," he called from the back.

"Are we ready to start serving dinner?" Will asked.

"I think so," said Lili, "uh, Merry Christmas, Will."

"Yeah," he grunted his reply.

=/\=

The party started with a dinner. The tables were shoved together and people ate, passing bowls in a family style. The night shift was there, for the most part, although people like Aidan MacKenzie and Chris Harris were on duty. T'Pol was in command, with Tripp in Engineering. Rounding out the skeleton crew were Maryam at Communications, Azar on the Bridge Security detail and Diana at the Science station.

"C'mon, Chef, sit down already!" yelled Chip Masterson, motioning to an empty seat near him and his wife, Deborah Haddon-Masterson.

"You should sit, too, Lili," Craig said.

"I don't see a place," she said.

"The MACOs have a spot," he said.

"Oh, uh, okay." She went over and sat between Ramih Azar and Nan Myers. Susie Money was across from her."I hope everybody likes fruity desserts," she said as her greeting. "But we have fudge, too."

"What kinds of desserts?" asked Jay.

"There's a smoked pineapple tart, and there's also a blueberry tart."

He smiled, again, very slightly. It was the blueberry tart, he knew. He nodded at her, a barely perceptible motion.

Malcolm came in late, casting about for a place to sit. Craig saw him looking around. "I think I'll need to get you a chair, sir."

"Oh, well, thanks, Crewman." He looked around. There was a table where most of the remaining single women were sitting. Sandra was there, with Dan next to her. She was ignoring him. Victoria also sat there, as did Kate and Patti. They were chatting and laughing with Eddie, Mario, Brad, Walter, Will, Chip and Deborah. He considered that one, and the MACO table, and instead sat with the captain and the rest of the executive staff.

Hoshi looked up as he sat down. "I gotta say, my sense of smell is really heightened these days."

"Oh?" asked Sekar. "I do hope I do not offend."

"You don't," she smiled, kissing him. "And it's not like it's morning sickness or anything. I've been pretty lucky in that area. But things do have more of an intense aroma these days."

"We're having fudge tonight," Will said, "I hope that doesn't set off any illness."

"Chocolate! That will be, God, that'll be great!"

"We already have cravings for chocolate," Sekar explained.

"Those cravings may have been there before," said Phlox. "Amanda," he said, turning to his wife, "do pass the salt, please."

"Sure. Captain, I wanna tell you," she said, getting a little emotional, "I want to thank you for, for this, this opportunity."

"Opportunity?" asked Jonathan.

"I just," she was a little weepy, "I never thought I'd become a mother."

"Aw, sweetheart," Phlox said, kissing her cheek, "Pregnancy can bring with it a surge of emotions. But I do thank you, too, Captain, for to become a father again is a rare gift."

Jonathan smiled a tight little smile. "I'm glad."

"How are you doing, Julie?" Travis asked.

"Not so bad, long as I stick to meat. I'm not as lucky as Hoshi is, when it comes to morning sickness," she explained.

"Mara Brodsky Slater is also experiencing a bit of so-called morning sickness," Phlox said, "avoiding fruit seems to have helped her. So perhaps some fudge is in order for you as well, Julie."

Malcolm looked at Jonathan and quietly said, "It's the bloody maternity ward in here."

"Patience, Commander," was the reply.

=/\=

On the Bridge, at the Tactical station, Aidan looked up. "Commander T'Pol?"

"Yes?"

"I'm picking up a ship on long-range sensors."

"Any ideas about who it is?" she asked Diana.

"It isn't Xindi and it isn't Imvari or Xyrillian. And, uh, it isn't Vulcan or Klingon, either."

"On screen."

Maryam fiddled with the controls a bit. "There."

The ship was not too big; perhaps it was large enough for twenty or twenty-five people. "Check the database we received from Tre'ex," T'Pol commanded.

Maryam set about checking the information they had received from the Xyrillian. "Huh. I think it may be Ikaaran."

"Ikaaran?" asked the Vulcan.

"They're hailing us," said Maryam.

"On screen."

"I am Jeris," said an alien with dark hair and eyes and a notched nose. "We are scheduled to work on a planet in this sector."

"I am Commander T'Pol. There are two planets that we have claimed for agricultural use."

"It's probably not one of those planets," said Jeris, "for this is for dilithium mining. The planet is rather cold and barely supports life."

"Understood," she said.

"May I ask? Perhaps it is a slightly rude inquiry, but you mix the genders on your ships?"

"There are both males and females on our ships, yes," T'Pol said.

"We are a work gang of twenty men. Our culture, we keep the genders separate when we are on work details such as this, right after school ends. And these work details last for four years. It is, it is agreeable to see women of any species. Forgive us if we stare."

Diana and Maryam looked at T'Pol. "My species is Vulcan. These two others, and almost all of the remainder of the ship, they are humans."

"Beauty, in all forms," said Jeris, "it is the greatest gift of the galaxy."

"Perhaps you'd like to speak to our captain," T'Pol offered.

"Is she also a great beauty?"

"Our captain is a male human."

"Please forgive me again. Yes, of course I would like to speak with your captain."

T'Pol nodded and Maryam contacted Jonathan. He rushed over.

"I'm Jonathan Archer," he said. "We have never met Ikaarans before. Would you like to come here? We're having a major celebration and will gladly share our dinner and our party with you."

"Much as I would enjoy it, and my men would love to be near women," Jeris said, "I'm afraid I must decline. It would be so much more difficult to concentrate on work if we got too close. Our culture compels this separation as the capstone of our education. But we do it, and so men like me stay separate from women, and the women, they, too, have work gangs, and they stay separate from us. And then we mature a bit, and leave the heavy work behind for the next group."

"If you change your mind – or when your work assignment is done – our offer still stands," said Jonathan.

"Thank you. Jeris out."

"Not a bad Christmas so far, eh?" Jonathan said to the skeleton crew on the Bridge, before returning to the party.

=/\=

The supper dishes were cleared away, and the floor had been cleared for dancing. "We were never into this before, as a ship," Hoshi said to Sekar as he held her and they moved.

"I guess it's a way for the single people to get close. You know that dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire," he said.

"Oh, really? Well, I think I can be persuaded," she smiled at him.

Lili came over to where Ethan was leaning against a wall. "I have come to collect."

"Oh? Not … good … at that."

"It doesn't matter," she said, and he leaned on her as she led him toward the center of the floor. He mainly leaned over her, putting most of his weight on her as she moved a little.

The music stopped and Chip Masterson called out, "Gonna switch to an Earth Christmas broadcast!"

The broadcast was playing the old Irving Berlin chestnut, White Christmas.

Bing Crosby sang.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

"May, maybe ... enough … dancing."

"Okay," she led him back to the wall so that he could lean.

"Th-thank you."

"I'm not that good," Lili said.

"No, not … for that. For … treating … me … like … like normal."

She got up on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "Good luck for next year. May good things happen for both of us."

"Good … good things." He smiled the same lopsided smile with more of the right side of his mouth than the left. It was all he could do.

Craig came over to Lili. "Do you like Ethan?"

"He's a good friend."

"Would you, um, dance with me?"

"Sure, but shouldn't we be checking the punch bowls and stuff?"

"Brian can," Craig shook a little as he held her hand.

They danced together for the remainder of the song, and Lili got the distinct impression that Craig was counting. "Um, thanks," she said, when the music had stopped.

"Any time, Lili," he said.

The broadcast was interrupted. "This is Martha Fernandes. Here now, the news."

Everyone looked up.

"There was heavy bombing in Teheran and Omaha today," reported Martha Fernandes, "as western forces repelled eastern incursions. In other news, a manned mission to Mars resulted in a safe landing on the red planet. Astronauts expect to walk on that world in a day or two."

There was a pause. "This just in. Duluth, Minnesota has been destroyed. A small nuclear device was detonated four hundred meters above ground. It has reportedly wiped out the city and surrounding areas."

Chip turned off the broadcast. Private Kemper, shaking, left quickly, followed by his wife, Emily Andreiou Kemper. "He's from there," Susie Money explained. She had been dancing with Will.

Will commanded, "O'Day, Willets, get those punch bowls refilled."

"Right away," said Lili. "C'mon, Craig."

There were still bits of the desserts on the tables, and people partook of seconds and even thirds. Jay approached the ruined remains of the blueberry tart and cut himself a small slice. Next to him, Malcolm cut away the corner of what was left of the smoked pineapple tart.

"It's really good," Jay said. It was their sole bit of conversation.

Malcolm nodded. "Yes, she's, uh, she's an excellent pastry chef." He closed his eyes a little as he tasted the smoked pineapple. It was his favorite. It was beyond his favorite. It was suddenly the only good thing about that Christmas. He took his plate and his PADD to a corner and clicked away at it a bit to send a message.

Chip put on music again. "Folks, let's just listen to our own music. That'll probably be easier." He put on The Sweet Cupcakes singing Silent Night as people got back on the dance floor.

"Yanno," Susie said to Mario as they danced slowly, "you're not supposed to dance to Christmas carols."

"I don't see you complaining."

"And, uh, I know last month, during that riot? You weren't fighting, Lattimer. You were copping a cheap feel."

"Oh?"

"Like you're doing right now," she said.

He moved his hand down so that it was more on the side of her waist. "Uh, sorry. Can't blame a lonely guy for trying, can ya?"

Victoria and Walter were dancing nearby. "I remember," He said, "we were doing MACO training and we were in the Middle East. And we weren't allowed to go to the remains of Teheran. Now I know why."

"It's so immediate," she said.

"Everything is," he replied, "this night, and your eyes, too."

Kate Shelton and Brad Moreno just sat at a table kissing. They came up for air and he asked her, "Let's make 2039 when we get married, okay?"

"Okay."

Patti danced with Eddie, and then with José, then Brian and then Craig, and then with, it seemed, half of Engineering. Sandra looked on. She was sitting with Dan. "Sheesh," Sandra carped, "it's like Scarlett O'Hara at the ball."

"You jealous?" asked Dan.

"Of that dog? Of course not."

"Listen, uh, Sandra, we should, well, we should live together."

"You'll cramp my style."

"That's kinda the idea."

"I don't even think I wanna raise this kid, Dan,"

"Then I will do all the work," he volunteered.

"I –"

"Sandra," he was more forcefully this time, "the captain is not gonna wanna get involved with you. And I don't see anyone else out there who isn't a fag who's at all high up, unless you wanna go for Chef. I am your best prospect."

Sandra stared into space, realizing he was right.

=/\=

Phlox spent a little time playing Santa again. This time, he posed for a photograph with Valleri Rostov and Amanda Tiburón on each knee. His grin, as always, was far too wide, but the little girls did not notice. Kate and Colleen played at being elves, and handed out little strawberry-flavored candy sticks that Craig had figured out how to replicate.

The girls only cried a little. "I think I'm getting the hang of this," Phlox said as his wife looked on.

=/\=

After the party was over, Lili waited for the sanitizer to finish up, so she checked PADD messages. There was one from Malcolm. She read it aloud to Porthos, who was sitting waiting for a little leftover cheese from the cauliflower's sauce.

"To Lili O'Day, from Malcolm Reed.

Dear Miss O'Day,

This coupon entitles the bearer to a dozen free chess lessons, at the time, date and place of her choosing. Redeemable in 2039 only.

I would also like to thank you for what, I like to think, if I may be so bold, was a Christmas present for me. The smoked pineapple tart was exquisite. I do not believe I have ever tasted anything better.

Sincerely,

Malcolm Reed."

She smiled at that, and said to the dog, "Well, I guess Scrabble got a little dull for him. The truth is, I know how to play chess. I just totally stink at it. I telegraph every single move. Ah, and here's another message.

"To Lili O'Day, from Jay Hayes.

Dear Ensign O'Day,

Thank you for making the blueberry tart. That was really thoughtful of you. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.

– Jay Douglas Hayes."

"Douglas?" She smiled. "Huh, see what kinds of secrets you're privy to in Food Service? 'Course, if you, Mister Porthos, were working in Food Service, we'd be starving in a week! You're such a little chowhound! Still, maybe Craig can program a bone or something for you. Pity nothing on Amity has a vertebra."

The door swished open. "Ah, that's where you've gotten to, ya rascal!" It was Captain Archer.

"Oh! We were just about to discuss the leftover cheese sauce."

"Not too much," said Jonathan.

"Maybe it'll be a short discussion then." She got up and began to pour a small amount into a little dish.

"We had a first contact today," he reported.

"Oh? Those, um, what are they called? Imvari?"

"No, not them," Jonathan said, "I get the feeling they wouldn't be quite as friendly. These people were Ikaarans."

"Anything exciting about them?" The bell dinged so she started to empty the sanitizer.

"They segregate their ships by gender," he explained.

"So, lotsa girls?"

"No, we made contact with a stag ship," he said.

"Ah, well, maybe next time, eh?"

"I dunno, maybe," he said.

"I didn't see you dancing, sir."

"It, uh, it's difficult. There are no perfect partners."

"Maybe the partner doesn't have to be perfect, sir."

=/\=

Jay Hayes's Personal log, December twenty-fifth, 2038

It's funny. I hadn't wanted to be in that sweepstakes, hadn't wanted to deal with trying to find a girl. It's a lot of trouble, and your heart can really get torn in two. Yet here I am, thinking about it again. I may finally, truly, be not only over Susan Cheshire but also willing – more than willing – to take some chances.

But I am woefully out of practice, I can tell. Man, oh man, do I need practice! Because when I said I didn't notice that her lower teeth were crooked, there was more that I should have said. I should have said that I didn't notice crooked lower teeth because I was too busy noticing a right breast that's slightly larger than the left. And I was noticing a pair of amazing eyes. And I was noticing hands with longer fingers, and bright, pretty hair that looks soft to the touch.

Those are the things I've been noticing.

=/\=

Jonathan Archer's Personal log, December twenty-fifth, 2038

We finally met the Ikaarans today. Or, at least, we met a small ship's worth of them. Their ships are split by gender. This one – just my luck! – was all-male. But that also means, somewhere out in the Expanse, there's got to be at least one that's all-female. Right?

=/\=

Craig Willets's Personal log, December twenty-fifth, 2038

I don't know if she likes Ethan S. I hope she doesn't, because how does a guy compete with that? Or the captain? I'd be sunk even before I started.

=/\=

William Slocum's Personal log, December twenty-fifth, 2038

I'll go through all the remaining single women if I have to. Anyone but O'Day.

=/\=

Charlotte Lilienne O'Day's Personal log, December twenty-fifth, 2038

If I wasn't so ridiculous, I'd be set already, I suppose. I don't know why I was dancing with Ethan tonight. He's a sweet, dear person, but he knows I only feel sorry for him, and that it's nothing more. I can't be mean like that. I don't intend that.

My two faves, my two impossible, unattainable faves – I made them both desserts today. They said they liked them. Why oh why do I go for the impossible?

I'm a real dope sometimes.