A/N: I am alive, and well. No one told me that teaching tiny humans under the age of five would be so exhausting. I hope you all are still in the Christmas spirt ;) Lots of love, fellow Trekkies. Live Long and Prosper!


Ho, Ho, the Mistletoe

Well, it was that most wonderful time of year again. Embassy Christmas parties, cramming in Conferences before the holiday, Embassy Christmas Carolers and toys… lots and lots of toys. With the parties and conferences finished and hilarious mixture of Vulcan and Human Christmas Carolers singing their last Christmas song there was finally time to wrap the children's presents. First, I had to get them off to bed.

I had always loved Christmas, even though I never had a religious upbringing. The feeling Christmas brought always brightened my spirt. When I first moved to Vulcan, I had made peace that there would be no Christmas markets, no Christmas Trees for sale or any lovely decorations around. Boy, was I wrong!

Yes, Vulcans are not religious per se, but that does not mean the Embassy was not. From the first day of the Christmas season, my rather dull looking office became a winter wonderland, filled with imitation snow and many paper snowflakes ranging in size throughout the corridor. I could hardly turn a corner without encountering a new form of decorations.

I could hardly keep my eyes open, what with all the Earth Ambassadors cramming in all their conferences before the holiday, the back-to-back Christmas parties, as well as working at the learning centre and making sure that Michael finished her homework on time. With all this going on it seemed that my Christmas spirit had gone.

And so, as I stood at the counter steeping a cup of Vulcan breakfast tea, I looked up to the seven-year-old Michael who was jumping up and down excitedly in her white fluffy pajamas watching the time on the clock above the replicator behind me.

"Michael, sweetie, you need to go to bed." I encouraged softly, moving the tea bag around in the mug.

Spock sat at the counter in front of me, drinking his nightly cup of hot milk observing his sister with curiosity but as always, completely stone-faced.

"Santa's coming!" she beamed, "Hurry up Spock. Drink your milk, we need to get to bed, or Santa won't come."

"I fail to see the logic in believing in such a legendary character." Spock said flatly.

"He brings presents, dummy! How is that not logical? Now, hurry up! I want my PADD!"

"Michael, don't call your brother a dummy." I said.

"How are you certain he exists?" Spock asked, "How are you certain it is not our mother and father bringing the items wrapped in the paper?"

"Because it feels different. It's…magical. Now come on, hurry up!"

With a final gulp, Spock finished his milk and Michael wasted no time pulling him down from the high-top chair, "You'll feel it tomorrow when you see the presents!" Michael smiled, running from the kitchen with her hand wrapped around Spock's wrist pulling him along, "Goodnight, Amanda! Love you!"

"I love you too!" I yelled back with a smile, "don't run too fast, and what about your nightly reading?"

I leaned over the counter, observing Michael continuing to pull Spock up the stairs.

"No thanks!" She yelled back "Santa can't come if we are awake."

"Please explain, who is this, Santa Claus?" I heard Spock ask.

When they arrived upstairs and rounded the corner, I smiled to myself and picked up the plate of cookies Michael insisted that we make and place out for Santa, I took them and my cup of tea and made my way through the dimly lit house into the living room.

"Present time…" I sighed to myself. "Just one more hour then sleep."

Michael insisted we decorate the living room. She happily assisted me with the fairy lights, stockings, and Christmas themed throw pillows and blankets. While I was successful in talking Michael out of putting the creepy old-fashioned elf my mother sent me with the note to "put him on the shelf". I failed when she insisted that we set up the seven-foot tree Sarek bought me my first Christmas away from Earth.

Briefly admiring how beautiful my Christmas-themed living room was, I sat the plate of cookies and my mug down on the table before plopping down on the floor in front of our gray L-shaped Sofa and pulled the blanket off the presents that were spread out on the floor.

I rubbed my tired eyes and sighed in exhaustion as I had no idea where to start. Michael's books, her new PADD or Spock's electronics? With the wrapping paper spread out, I grabbed a random item and began the process of wrapping. I hoped to be done within the hour, but our family pets, the sehlat I'Chaya and my fat red tabby, Ambassador had other plans.

It was like I opened a can of food when they heard the paper crinkle and once they were in the living room, nothing got done. Every five seconds I was moving one of them off the paper. The minute one was off the paper the other had wrapped themselves in it.

"Ambassador, get off there!" I scolded him for the eleventh time. After placing him on the Sofa I turned back to see I'Chaya take the same piece of paper and attempt to wrap himself in it. After ushering him away for what seemed like the hundredth time, I finally had enough.

"Okay, come on you two!" I grabbed I'Chaya by the collar and gently urged him to follow me, while I swooped up the fat Tabby into my arms. With a huge bit of wrapping paper in his mouth, I placed I'Chaya and Ambassador in the bedroom and closed the door.

I made my way back to the living room surprised to find Sarek standing in front of the presents.

"Oh, is your meeting over already?"

"It concluded early." He said flatly.

"Good." I made my way over to him and caressed his shoulder before sitting back on the floor. "You can help me wrap the children's presents then."

"I have no objection to assisting you."

"Perfect, then you can try on your Santa outfit for me."

His brow arched in confusion, "I have already expressed my opinion regarding your request."

"And I've already told you it's only to give the children their presents, three minutes tops."

With silence, he sat down on the floor adjacent from me and took a present from the floor. It seemed like hours but after only half an hour the presents were finally wrapped.

I smiled as I watched Sarek meticulously arranged the presents under the tree. I inched my way behind him and gently placed my hand on his bum. His muscles were still as toned as ever since the first day I touched them many years ago, and still, I couldn't help but squeeze them.

He stopped in his tracks, "May I ask what you are doing?"

"Just loosening you up before you try on your Santa suit."

"How does caressing my gluteus maximus release serotonin throughout my body?"

I sent a soft "Shhh" through our bond and continued to massage his cheeks. After a moment of silence, I pulled him up from him hunched position and ushered him towards the bedroom. "Come on, darling. Try it on and get it over with."

I could have sworn I heard a sigh from him as he entered the bedroom but stoned-faced as ever he returned five minutes later dressed in the red outfit.

With a pillow under his red coat and a fake long white beard I couldn't help but laugh as he stood there with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Oh my!" I giggled, "Santa Claus looks a little different this year."

If looks could kill, his eyes would have shot lasers through my entire body. I could sense his frustration through his monotone face.

"I look, how you say, ridiculous." I could sense minor frustration through our tone and bond.

I lightened up and wrapped my harms around his waist,

"You look handsome, in fact, I may feel something going on under this robe."

"You have an attraction for obese old men in a thick velvet suit?"

"Only the one in front of me!" I teased, caressing his sides gently. "There is another Christmas tradition I wanted to introduce you to."

"What could be more appealing than forcing your mate to dress in an oversized red velvet suit while donning a long beard and pillow under his jacket."

"This one is a little more bearable." I whispered and took out the small plant from my robe pocket. "This is mistletoe. If a couple is spotted under the mistletoe, it is traditional to kiss. Have you heard of it before?"

"I have not."

"Well," I smiled, holding it above us, "Can I enlighten you? Perhaps a kiss will help you feel less…ridiculous."

"I have never objected to an affectionate gesture from you."

His hands met my sides and gently he pulled me to him and caressed my lips gently with his. It had been a while sense we had engaged in any physical activity as our days had been long and exhausting, and the kiss lingered and lingered… and lingered.

"WOW! Amanda's kissing Santa Claus!"

I jumped back, with my heart leaping out of my chest,

"Mother ffff-"

I spun around to see Michael standing on the balcony wide eyed with her mouth open in shock. I covered my mouth with my mother hand, cutting off my curse before grabbing my chest in shock from my rapidly beating heart.

"Return to bed, Michael." I ordered.

"Santa! Santa!"

But the girl had other plans. Michael ran down the stairs, and through the house as fast she could and wrapped her arms around Sarek's legs.

"You found me! You found me!" She beamed. "I knew you would."

Questions flooded from Michael faster than I could process.

"Where's your sleigh? Where's your sack? Where's the Reindeer? Why is your belly so squishy? Why is your beard so white? Why are you kissing Amanda, Sarek is going to be maaaaaad!"

Sarek's eyes wondered over to mine. I couldn't have tried to hide my disappointment even if I tried. I forced a smile and bent down to the girl pondering over what I could say to break her heart the least.

"Michael-" I began.

"My sleigh is on top of the house, the reindeer are watching my sack in case of robbers, Mrs Claus has put me on a diet and thus my beard has lost its natural colour and my stomach has gone soft."

It was when saliva fell from my mouth that I realized my mouth was on the ground in shock. I picked my mouth off the ground as quickly as I could as Michael whipped around, looking at me for confirmation.

Did he just speak casually? And did he just lie to Michael?

I nodded, smiling nervously in confirmation. Was she going to believe this? Was she humoring us? Were we about to scar her for life crushing the existence of Santa Claus?

"Why were you kissing Amanda?"

"I was merely expressing my gratitude to your mother for taking your gifts so early. I have a very busy night ahead. I am sure this Sarek you speak of will understand."

I was lost for words. Michael glanced at the tree and happily squealed when she saw the wrapped gifts under the tree.

"Now, back to bed or I will have to take your presents back to the North-"

Michael embraced Sarek's leg breaking him off his sentence. She squealed and jumped in happiness before releasing him.

"I will Santa! Be safe and tell Rudolph hello from me!"

"I will." He said touching her shoulder gently, "Now hurry off."

With a quick hug for me, she ran quickly back up the stairs and out of sight. I waited to hear Michael's door shut before I eyed my husband in complete and utter shock. Was he sick? Did he have a fever? Was he delirious?

"Are you okay?"

"Okay is a relatively-"

"You know what I mean," I said, crossing my arms. "You've never done anything like that for the kids. Why suddenly humor her?"

He was silent for a moment.

"The human soul needs to be indulged at times. Especially one as delegate as hers."

My face melted in a smile. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him,

"Thank you," I whispered to him, "Mr. Claus."

~*The End*~