~*

T'Pol sat and watched the children before her. They all appeared to be having a great time causing as much mischief as possible. She simply sipped her green tea and watched as one child hang from the roof of the mess hall. A few others were finding great creativity in the reciprocator, asking for all kinds of bizarre foods.

"Sub Commander!" Crewman Cutler yelped, "aren't you going to help me?"

T'Pol surprised her urge to smile, the way these children were making everyone so frazzled amused her. (she likes laughing in spite! Inside of course!) "It appears you're doing a fine job." T'Pol replied as a pile of mashed potatoes hit her square in the face.

All the children erupted in mad laughter and she suddenly decided she didn't like them so much after all.

"You were saying Sub Commander?" Elizabeth sighed as a carrot bounced off her nose.

Suddenly a rain of foot pelted her from both sides, she wiped a hunk of mashed potatoes out of her eyes and saw T'Pol holding a boy with a look that was less than impressed.

Elizabeth heard more children giggling in the hall way and she shuddered.

It was going to be a long day.

"What happened?" Trip asked as he stepped into the mess hall.

"What do you think Commander?" T'Pol snapped.

"Why Sub Commanded, is that a hint of anger I detect in your voice?" Trip teased.

"Of course not." T'Pol replied.

"So then, you're having as much fun as I am," Trip said wryly.

"Sir," Elizabeth said grinning, "it looks like you've made a friend."

Trip smiled and looked down at Errin. "You could say that." Errin's two tails twitched and she grinned happily revealing a whole where her two front teeth should have been.

"Isn't that cute!" Hoshi said leading her group of children into the mess hall.

"Touchin' ain't it?" Trip wondered

"Goodness," Hoshi said looking at the mess of food that was all over the seats and tables of the mess hall. As well as all over Elizabeth and T'Pol.

"I guess your kids are having as much fun as mine are," Hoshi said smiling tightly.

"I guess you could say that," T'Pol said, "all though I don't see how flinging food around is logical."

"It isn't," Trip replied. "But it sure is fun," a pile of mashed potatoes hit his right cheek.

"Please Sir," Elizabeth sighed, "don't encourage them."

"He can't help it Crewman, our Commander is somewhat of a child himself."

Hoshi blinked and Elizabeth pursed herself and tried not to laugh.

Trip glared and smiled without much enthusiasm.

It was going to be a long day.