Disclaimer: As previously stated, I don't own the characters, ships, etc. Neither do I own Rice Krispies.
A/N: Thanks to HoVis and Exploded Pen for a couple of small ideas in this chapter regarding popcorn and cheese. Also, this chapter is a little shorter than I was going for, but it just seemed finished.
Malcolm: It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without You
Travis was grinning wider than Malcolm had previously thought possible. Their new lieutenant was fielding congratulations from the entire room. Travis had earned his promotion through blood, sweat, and tears, and everything Captain Archer had said about him was true.
Malcolm noted with appreciation that Crewmen Johnson and Rostov had actually exchanged a few pleasant words. Ever since their breakup, they'd avoided each other like the plague. Trip had said that Rostov had been sullen every time he saw Johnson, which on a starship tended to happen with regularity. Nonetheless, the man had complimented Johnson, one of Chef's assistants, on her well-decorated sugar cookies. For her part, Johnson had graciously accepted the compliment and mentioned that she loved decorating sugar cookies. Malcolm, seeing the two of them, could almost believe that there was hope with the Romulans. Except, of course, that the Romulans weren't human. He idly wondered if they had any holidays where grievances were put aside, perhaps not to be picked up again. Judging from what he'd seen, he rather doubted it.
Crewmembers from Enterprise and Columbia who had never previously met were mingling and sharing Christmas stories. It was a jolly good party. There were nice decorations, which he felt some pride in because he'd helped string the popcorn. It went much more smoothly than the last year, when he'd embarrassed himself by wondering aloud where the butter was. Hoshi's centerpiece seemed to him the best decoration, but he had to admit that he was biased. Chef and his staff had done a wonderful job as well – there were even little Rice Krispie treats shaped like wreaths with red frosting bows, and delicious fruitcake, although it might have been better with a bit of cheese.
Porthos had not liked the antlers Captain Archer attempted to put on him at all. He never had liked them, but every year the captain tried to cajole his beagle into wearing them. Malcolm wasn't quite sure why, but then again he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to understand why. At any rate, Porthos had finally convinced his master that he would remain antler-free, and he was happily moving from one pair of eager petting hands to the next.
Columbia's Chief Engineer was wearing a Santa hat which, when the pompom at the end was pinched, laughed out 'ho ho ho.' It was a big hit, and every few minutes the deep 'ho ho ho' would sound throughout the mess hall.
In his life Malcolm had often been accused of being 'just this side of the Grinch' and 'a veritable Scrooge.' He'd found that Christmas left out people like him, and before Enterprise he hadn't had a really nice Christmas since he was twelve. The last year, he had been dating Hoshi, and his Christmas spirit rejuvenated considerably. This year, when he was surely the luckiest man in the galaxy, having Hoshi Sato as his wife, Christmas seemed better than ever. Hoshi infused the holiday, like everything else in his life, with such wonder.
They'd made pancakes for Christmas morning breakfast. She even outlined a Christmas tree with peanut butter on two of them. He wasn't terribly good at making pancakes, but he did much better in the cleaning up department. After breakfast had been eaten and the cleaning taken care of, they had exchanged presents.
She was in her element at the party, laughing and smiling. They walked around the room and he could see how much she was enjoying herself. It made Malcolm, who did not as a general rule enjoy these types of parties as much as she did, happy just to see her having such a grand time.
He spent several minutes talking with Columbia's Armory Officer about phase cannons, phase pistols, and other such enjoyable topics. It was a good conversation, but he caught a movement out of the corner of his well-trained eye.
"If you'll excuse me, my wife is nearing the mistletoe, and I'd like to meet her there."
"Of course," he received in reply, and he was off.
Hoshi was wearing a glittery green dress that she'd found when they were on Earth for Trip and T'Pol's wedding. It looked wonderful on her, but then, what didn't?
Captain Hernandez, who had caught on to his plan, gently began to move towards the mistletoe, bringing Hoshi in closer.
"Well," he said, "we appear to be under the mistletoe."
Hoshi looked up. "There's a tradition we can't mess with."
"Indeed. That would practically be a crime." He pulled her close, feeling the glitter on her dress against the skin his short-sleeve shirt exposed. As was his custom, Malcolm looked into her gorgeous eyes. Then he kissed her.
"Happy Christmas, Hoshi."