Hey guys! Welcome to the seventeenth installment of my 'Under the Mistletoe Series Part Two'

What is this series? Well, around this time six years I got the song 'Holly Jolly Christmas' stuck in my head and wrote eleven drabbles based on kissing underneath mistletoe, and each one was for a different ship. This year I decided to do a Part Two and really challenge myself by writing something for each day from 1st-25th December. So twenty five ships, all kissing under mistletoe, like my own personal advent calendar as it were. Each one can be read alone. I know that not everyone is going to want to read every fic in the series, but I hope that you find them all enjoyable regardless, I know I certainly had fun writing them.

I immediately liked this pairing in Into Darkness, I feel like they're a good match. Bones deserves happiness after all the shit he deals with haha.

Enjoy, much love xox

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To his surprise, the Christmas party had turned out kind of fun.

Sure, Bones had been keener for the bar than anything else. He certainly hadn't wanted to find out that Chekov and Sulu were a 'thing' by happening upon them sucking face. Nor had he wanted to listen to old Terran Christmas carols all night. And another thing; while he was aware that when Jim was off duty he could do what he pleased, but he could at least try to act like less of a lovesick, horny teenager in front of the rest of the crew; he was still the Captain god dammit.

Despite all of his complaints, he did actually enjoy the Christmas party, not that he would admit it to anyone but Carol. Luckily she could tell without him saying it though; it was something that he loved about her, that and numerous other things. The alcohol sure helped the time to pass more pleasantly, but it was the fact that Carol was there beside him, joking with their friends, and glancing at him lovingly that turned his usually grumpy frown upside down.

Bones wasn't a big fan of Christmas, especially not since the ex-wife. He'd never really been into all the sparkly décor and having to play nice with the in-laws. Carol neither disliked Christmas nor was she overjoyed by it, and she understood his indifference to the holiday. They had fallen into an easy routine and life together aboard the Enterprise, and the holiday season was no different. The pair just worked in every aspect of their lives together.

The night was middle-aged when they left the party to retire for the evening. They weren't the first ones to leave, but there were still a decent number of crew left dancing and mingling, including the Captain. Though he'd been sulking into his drink ever since Spock had excused himself from the party. Bones would have a hangover helper ready for Jim in the morning; the poor kid was going to need it.

"I know he's a Vulcan, but surely Spock isn't that much of a stiff that he can't see Jim fawning over him," Carol stated conversationally as they entered the empty turbo lift.

"I dunno what goes through that hobgolbin's head most of the time, but they both better do something about it soon," Bones replied a little louder than needed due to the amount of alcohol coursing through him, "I've never seen Jim fall this hard before," he continued, "and if that damn Vulcan breaks his heart…"

The turbo lift opened to their deck and they began the walk to their shared quarters.

"I know you've had many conversations with Jim about it, but do you think that it might be time to talk to Spock? You are his friend too after all," Carol suggested.

They approached their room, and Bones opened the door, standing aside to let Carol enter first, like the gentleman he was, and doe-eyed as he watched her. She dipped her head in thanks as she stepped over the threshold.

"Talk to Spock?!" Bones crowed once the door was shut, "I don't see any scenario where that ends pleasantly for me or him."

"Well you don't have to directly ask him if he's interested in Jim. You coax the information out gently; start by asking how he's doing after his break up with Uhura, and go on to ask about his interest in future relationships, and go from there based on his answers," Carol responded more calmly as she crossed the living area to the bedroom.

"Maybe you should do it, you do seem to know the right way to approach this delicate situation," Bones proposed. He leaned against the doorway and watched as Carol went to the dresser and began to take her jewellery off. A dreamy smile drifted onto his face.

"Hmm, perhaps I should since all you blokes are too afraid to talk about your feelings…" she trailed off after catching a glimpse of McCoy's face in the mirror, "what?" she could help but to smile a little in return.

"Let's talk about getting those two dunderheads together later, I've waited all evening to be alone with you," Bones told her, turning up the charm and pushing away from the doorway.

"I can certainly get behind that," she grinned as she turned to face him, a Christmas themed earring of green leaves and white berries in her hand.

Bones grasped the hand holding the earring and held it up above their heads as he leant in for a soft but passionate kiss. Carol met him half way, and their previous conversation was already long forgotten.

"I thought that you hadn't noticed," she smiled coyly once they pulled far enough apart to speak.

"Of course I did my dear, I was just waiting for some privacy, unlike some other people," he thought back to Sulu and Chekov and then banished the image from his mind, "Did I tell you how strikingly gorgeous you look this evening?" he inquired, running his hands over her sparkly red dress.

"I think you might have mentioned it," Carol smirked and then kissed him again before moving towards the bed.

He watched the way her body moved under the dress, the smoulder in her eyes as she turned back to look at him.

He knew it was cheesy, but it slipped out of his mouth before he could catch himself, "I have everything I could ever want for Christmas right here."

"Why don't you bring those legendary hands over here and unwrap your Christmas gift then…?"

"Yes, ma'am."