The foursome stayed until late into the evening. Realizing that two of them were due to start their shift in six hours, they broke for the evening. T'Nia and Tony bid good night and merry Christmas once more, then left for their quarters. Only Box remained, and as Stephen turned back from his door, he saw him cleaning up the room. He had plates in four of his arms and was making his way to the replicator.

"You don't have to clean up, Box." Stephen started, grabbing a couple of glasses. "I can clean up."

"Hhhhi wish to help, Stephen," Box replied. His giant, fang-filled mouth smiled. "Hhhhyou took a lot of time to make a nice evening for us. Hhhhit's the least I can do." With that, he tossed the plates into the replicator and pressed the 'reconstitute' button.

The two crossed paths as Stephen went to the replicator himself. "Well, I'm glad you liked it." He smiled warmly. "And thanks for the help." Stephen noticed he was still wearing the white beard. "You can take the beard off, you know."

"Hhhhactually, no I cannot," he replied, his smile fading somewhat. "Hhhhthe glue is a bit stronger than I anticipated. Hhhhi'm going to have to soak it for awhile."

Kirk bit his lip.

"Hhhhthis was your first Christmas away from your family, yes?" Box asked sincerely. He also took the opportunity to eat the remaining snacks on the tray he picked up.

Kirk's expression was thoughtful. "Yes, it is. I was thinking about that earlier this afternoon."

Box nodded. "Hhhhyou and Tony are very Hamalkian... family means much to you."

Stephen put more glasses in the replicator. "Yes, it does. I guess it's a good thing we have each other." He added, his voice sounding more cheerful. He pressed the reconstitute button.

Box began picking up the wrapping paper on the floor. "Hhhhi probably would have gone back to Hamal after I graduated, hhhhif I hadn't met you three," his statement had an air of nostalgia.

Kirk grew curious. "Do you regret staying away?"

box shook his head animatedly. "Hhhhoh, no. I would have missed out on so much. Hhhhi miss my family and wish to see them again, but it has been so much fun. Hhhhi cannot wait for more."

Stephen was finding it difficult to share Box's optimism for the future. He only accepted his most recent promotion because both Admiral Leonard and his former captain, Sam Ashby. Recently, he had found himself wishing he was back aboard the USS Grayson. For the most part, serving aboard a twenty year old partol ship was uneventful, but it was also comfortable. It was also low profile; something he had come to appreciate ever since he had been accepted into the Academy. Once the video specials on "the next Kirk legend entering Starfleet" had run their course, everyone had lost interest. That low profile position had helped keep him out of their interest. Regretfully, after the battle with the Rapier, he was now uncomfortably back in the news.

Box examined his friend carefully and tilted his head. "Hhhhyou are thinking of the past, yes?"

Kirk shrugged. "Yeah. It's just that this assignment isn't exactly what I thought it would be."

"Hhhhwhat do you mean?" Box asked, tossing the wrapping paper away.

Kirk sat down, his rib muscles beginning to ache. "You know... Captain Velasquez retiring , the high profile missions, Bolerov... all that."

Box hobbled over to Kirk on his twelve legs. "Hhhhyou never liked attention. Hhhhbut we can make a difference here. You said that yourself. Hhhhthat is why you wanted to be here, yes?"

Kirk was mildly defensive. "I know. I still believe that. It's just... it would have been easier if I had just stayed with the Grayson."

"Hhhhit is impossible to see the opportunities in front of you if you're too busy looking at the ones you passed by."

Kirk was impressed with that insight. "That's pretty deep, Box. Thanks for the advice. When did you start studying philosophy?"

Box's giant mouth smiled. "Hhhhi didn't. It was in my fortune cookie at Yu's restaurant."