21_
Stardate 57974.7
December 21, 2380
"Welcome to the Voyager Christmas fair."
Tom Paris greeted them in his new holodeck program. Kathryn looked around amazed. Everything seemed so realistic. The ground was covered with snow, wooden stalls were standing on a romantic village marketplace and in the center stood a large fir tree with hundreds of lights and balls and a flashing star on its top. Kathryn was reminded of her childhood when she had visited a Christmas fair in her hometown Bloomington, Indiana, with her parents.
On her side Naomi was looking around, too. Her mouth fell open when she saw the Christmas tree.
"Do you like it?" she asked the ktarian girl.
"It's fantastic," she said.
"Thank you, Miss Wildman," Tom said. "I have worked on this program for two month to make it as realistic as possible."
"… and you have done a great job," said B'Elanna, who came around one of the stalls together with Miral.
The little girl was eating Christmas biscuits which were shaped in various forms, like a star, a crescent moon and Kathryn was sure she had seen a Voyager shaped biscuit. When Miral saw Naomi she waved at her. B'Elanna released her daughter and she rushed to her friend. B'Elanna smiled when Miral and Naomi happily shared the biscuits.
"Well, let's take a look around," Tom said like a tourist guide.
They went to one of the stalls. A corpulent man with a bushy moustache greeted them.
"I have the best cloths of the whole Quadrant, from wool to silk, from cotton to velvet. And don't forget to take a look at my unique cloths from the Delta Quadrant."
Kathryn smiled. When she was young she loved to knit. Her Starfleet duties have replaced this with the replicator. But now she had more time for such hobbies. She couldn't resist.
"I take a ball of this beautiful orange wool and a ball of this." She pointed to one of the cloths the trader had said were from the Delta Quadrant.
"A good choice, Madam. I will send this to your quarters."
"Thank you," Kathryn said.
They went to the next stall. Icheb was standing in front of it. Sweet smells were emanating from the inside of the stall. Icheb turned towards them with two candy apples in his hands.
"Captain, welcome," he said smiling. "This one is for you."
He gave her one of the apples.
"Thank you, Icheb," Kathryn said.
"Captain, nice to see you," came the cheery voice of Neelix out of the stall.
Kathryn and the others looked into the stall astonished. Tuvok was there, too. He wore an apron and was making Starfleet emblem shaped biscuits.
"Tuvok, you are making these tasty biscuits," Naomi said behind Kathryn.
"Mr. Neelix and Mr. Kim persuaded me that this is an appropriate way to participate in the festivities," Tuvok replied in his typical stoic manner.
Kathryn couldn't resist to grin widely. Eventually, it was her idea to make Tuvok make sweets. She quickly nibbled at her candy apple when Tuvok raised his eyebrow.
"Mmh, delicious," she said.
"Tuvok had made these, too," Icheb said to her. He was also nibbling at his apple.
"Tuvok, you have the wrong job. Maybe I promote you to the Voyager's prime confectioner," she said jokingly.
Everybody, except Tuvok, laughed. Neelix tapped the Vulcan on his shoulder.
"You will be always welcome in my kitchen, Mr. Vulcan."