Disclaimer: Star Trek still isn't mine.

Chapter Two: Mistletoe and Christmas Cookies

Kirk and McCoy are in the rec room, continuing to discuss how exactly to get Spock into the spirit.  Spock himself has gone back to the bridge.

McCoy snapped his fingers.  "I know how we'll get Spock in the Christmas spirit!"

"How?" Kirk asked.

"Mistletoe!"

Kirk blinked.  "Mistletoe?"

McCoy nodded.  "Mistletoe.  And Nurse Chapel."

Kirk shook his head.  "No, Bones."

"Yeoman Rand would be better?"

"You're talking about Spock."

"He'd prefer a brunette?  Maybe a redhead, there's got to be one somewhere on this ship…"

Kirk waved a hand at him to stop.  "Now wait a minute here.  You've got to consider who you're dealing with.  I mean, sure, it would work on me, but with Spock…all that's going to happen is he'll get all embarrassed, and then deny that he's embarrassed, and make a big fuss about strange human traditions and how Vulcans don't have emotions."

McCoy sighed.  "Drop the whole thing, eh?"

Kirk nodded.  "That might be smart."

"Oh well, I guess it was kinda silly."

*  *  *

Their next move was suggested, not by McCoy, not by Kirk, but by Uhura.  She had plans for making Christmas cookies, and had invited quite a few people.  They decided to drag Spock along.

It was a very disorganized but very spirited group down in the galley.  Flour got on just about everything, cookie cutters were tossed around the room, and mountains of dough were being rolled out.  Spock's was the only solemn face in the room.  Glancing over his shoulder, Uhura chanced to notice something.

"Why, Mr. Spock!  You're making square cookies!"

Spock did not seem the see the problem.  "It is the most efficient shape to use, and wastes the least amount of dough."

There was a groan from McCoy's general direction.

"But Mr. Spock, you're supposed to make Christmas shapes," someone pointed out.

"Why, precisely?"

That floored them somewhat.  'Because that's what you do' didn't seem likely to sway Spock.

Uhura jumped in with the answer there.  "Because they're aesthetically pleasing."

Spock considered.  "That is reasonable.  Someone pass me the Christmas tree cutter, please."

McCoy gaped at Uhura.  "How did you do that?" he asked in a low voice.

"Do what?"

"Get him to listen to you!"

"Oh."  She shrugged.  "Well, I tried to think like Spock.  And I figured 'aesthetically pleasing' would get me a lot farther than 'pretty.'"