Trip: Carols
Trip was glad that the captain had figured out a system that assured him and T'Pol the same Christmas party. It also worked for Hoshi and Malcolm. Quite simply, two of the "Christmas Eve" chips had been stuck together, as had two of the "Christmas Day" chips. Captain Archer had then told Trip and Hoshi to make sure that they each took a double chip when they pulled from the Santa hat.
Christmas parties, after all, were much better with your spouse. Looking over at T'Pol, who was taking a delicate sip of her cider, Trip smiled. It was their first Christmas as a married couple, and he loved every minute of it.
"Okay, who's ready for Christmas carols?" asked one of the crewmembers from Columbia who was hosting the event. A cheer went up from the crowd. "We'll start with 'Deck the Halls,' and then Ensign Foley has a special treat for us.
Trip didn't know Ensign Foley, but he'd heard that Columbia's linguist was going to sing 'Adeste Fidelis' and that sounded promising.
"Remember Hoshi's Klingon version of 'Jingle Bells' last year?" he asked T'Pol. He had hardly recognized the traditional carol, but it had been great fun.
T'Pol raised her eyebrow in the manner that meant she was vaguely amused. "I do not believe I will ever forget that."
Their reminiscing was cut off by the start of singing. "Deck the halls with boughs of holly…" sang Trip with gusto. T'Pol didn't sing, but she watched the Christmas cheer around her with a certain sense of satisfaction.
Not being human or knowing the words didn't stop Dr. Phlox from singing carols. He whipped out a padd with lyrics and was soon singing with the rest of them. "Fa la la la la…" Oooh, he might be a miracle worker in Sickbay, Trip decided, but he'd better not quit his day job.
"Ensign Foley is now going to sing 'Adeste Fidelis,'" announced the emcee.
"What language is that?" asked T'Pol.
"Latin, I think." He thought for a second. "Yeah. Definitely Latin. In English, we sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful.'"
The ensign appeared in the front of the room with a scarf of garland around his neck. "Mariah said that coming up in my regular uniform wasn't festive enough," he explained. The crowd chuckled. "Anyway, here goes." He took a deep breath and began. "Adeste fidelis, laeti triumphantes…"
His singing voice was good, and Trip thoroughly enjoyed his solo. When Foley bowed, his garland scarf came undone and he left the improvised stage laughing.
"O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie…" began the emcee, and the crowd was off again. Trip, who had since childhood loved Christmas carols, knew all the words. He wasn't especially good at singing, not like some people, but he wasn't terrible either. T'Pol was watching him enjoy himself, and he could feel that she was content.
"Now Ensign Rochers is going to sing us the French version!"
Ensign Rochers was a tall brunette who worked with Malcolm in the armory. She had a sweet singing voice, and her rendition was quite moving. "…Mais Jésus entre, bienvenu, dans les plus humbles coeurs."
After a moment of transitional silence, the emcee began again. "Okay folks, we've got a special surprise for you. It only works with one song, though, and I'm sure you can help me out. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree…" Trip again took up singing enthusiastically, so caught up in the festivities that it was easy to ignore Phlox's off-key caroling.
Columbia's chef wheeled out a masterpiece. It was a Christmas tree cake. Still singing, everyone crowded around the cake. It was nearly a meter tall, and it looked remarkably like a live Christmas tree. The cake was green, with all colors of frosting making up garland, lights, ornaments, and what appeared to be a marzipan star at the top.
Right after 'O Christmas Tree' finished, Crewman Müeller began 'O Tannenbaum.' Two syllables into it, someone from Columbia joined her in the German classic.
"It's just not the same in English," explained Müeller once they finished.
"Not even close," added the other German-speaking singer.
The cake cutting was about to start. Trip darted over to the shelf where he'd left his camera and snapped a picture before the knife slid into the gorgeous confection. While the cake was being sliced, Trip took the opportunity to get some great candid shots. He was especially pleased with the picture of T'Pol with her cider. Garland hung behind her head just to either side, and it almost looked like a halo, if you looked at it right.
When someone tried to hand T'Pol a piece of cake, she politely declined. "I will share Commander Tucker's."
"Sure, don't even ask first," he teased. That earned him the tingling sensation he considered a mental swat. "Oh, you know I'm gonna share everything with you, forever."
"I know that," she replied. "It seems that you needed a reminder."
Laughing, Trip offered her the first bite. "Whatcha think?"
"It is an impressive feat of culinary art, but I preferred looking at it to eating it."
He took a generous bite and enjoyed it before responding. "Well, I think the eatin' is the best part."
"With confections, that is always the case."
Before he could reply, a small group of people began to sing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' as entertainment while the cake was being enjoyed.
"Ah," said Trip when they finished, "that's a good one."
T'Pol had a different take. "It seems rather rude."
"Rude?"
"Would not refusing to leave until 'figgy pudding' has been delivered be rude?"
"I guess I'd never thought of it that way."
"I suspected as much." She glanced around. "It would appear that the party is 'breaking up.'"
"Yep. I'm ready ta go when you are."
"You do not want to stay until the last moment?"
"Oh no. I wanna get back to Enterprise and give you your present."
"I have a present for you as well. Perhaps now is a good time to leave."
Trip brought their dishes over to the crate with a sign marked 'Dirty Dishes Here!' and returned with all due speed. He then brought two fingers up.
T'Pol gracefully extended her fingers to touch his, and they made their exit.
"T'Pol?"
"Yes?"
He grinned. "Christmas Eve is just beginnin.'"