Chapter 15- 12312.25- Skyler/ Holtz quarters- 08:25 hours

"Does that mean that you are engaged?" Brielle asked with her mouth full of green pancakes.

"No, sunshine." Christine leaned over and kissed the child's head. "It was simply a wonderful Christmas gift from Jacob." Christine blushed as she looked up at Jacob.

"I think grandma's earrings look pretty on you Chrissy," Josh commented after he swallowed his bite of ham.

"You didn't have to do that Jacob." Christine eyed him as she filled her plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, and pancakes.

"I know, but mom fell in love with you and thought you would get more use out of them than she would," Jacob smirked as he too filled his plate.

"Still, you didn't have to." Christine looked down at her plate, breaking eye contact with him.

"But I wanted to." Jacob shook his head and began to eat his breakfast.

"Jacob, I thought when you gave someone jewelry it meant you were going to get married., Brielle asked confused.

"Not every time Breezer." Jacob reached over and ruffled her curls, "But maybe one day."

Christine blushed deeper and changed the subject, "So, what is everyone doing today?"

"When we get done with breakfast, these two and I are going to start our movie marathon with the original 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' and proceed to see how many movies we can get through before we are Christmas cheered out."

"You are going to take a break at 14:00 hours. Their teacher reserved a holosuite for all the children to have playtime in the snow. Thought it would give the parents a break from all that excess energy." Christine tipped her glass of orange juice to Jacob.

"Wait, you are not coming Chrissy?" Brielle asked heartbrokenly.

"No kiddo, I'm working a long trauma shift today." Christine leaned over and kissed Brielle's head.

"Why? It's Christmas." Brielle whined.

"It is not Christmas for everyone, baby girl." Christine turned away and put her dishes in the recycler.

"It's not fair." Brielle pouted.

Josh nudged her with his foot, "No pouting. House Rules." Brielle stuck her tounge out him.

, "It's a tradition in my family." Christine sighed and explained. "Your grandma Lynn would work the late shift on Christmas Eve so that her junior officers that celebrated could put their children to bed before Santa came. Then she would be home in time to help Santa put presents under the tree." Christine returned to her seat, "The next morning she would make this wonderful late brunch for all of us, including the Scott kids since Robin couldn't be there."

"Where was the Doc?" Jacob asked.

"When she was head of trauma, she would pick up a 12-hour shift in the trauma ward." Christine leaned on the table, "She wasn't going to ask her junior officers to work Christmas if she wasn't willing to work it herself. Besides, Christmas Day is hard on many officers and they can get themselves into more than normal amount of trouble." Christine sent Jacob a knowing look. "Having the best trauma surgeon on call was a blessing for many on those days."

Jacob nodded to her. "Obviously, she can't do that now."

"No," Christine looked away, "But Robin makes sure to personally walk the surgery wards every Christmas morning before going on duty. She has been in the trenches just as those doctors and patients have been, and she understands what it means to have a commanding officer that gets how they are feeling."

"So you are continuing what Doctor Scott did?" Josh asked trying to understand.

"Yeah." Christine smiled at the boy, "When I was little, I gave up a little bit of my Christmas so that other kids could have the best doctor in the universe look after them, my mom. I thought I would be that doctor for the next group of kids. They are stuck in sickbay sick and hurt on Christmas, the least I could do is make their day better. "

Brielle swirled her fork through her leftover syrup as she thought, "I liked it when you would take care of me when I was in sickbay." Brielle commented sadly, "If you can make other kids feel better. I suppose I could share you with them a little bit."

"That's our girl." Jacob leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Now, Christine needs to get ready, this table needs to be cleaned off while I prep the popcorn and peppermint hot chocolate. Think you can do that you two."

"Popcorn!" Josh cheered as he encouraged the still a little glum Brielle to help him put away the dirty dishes.

"Go get ready, Love. I've got these two." Jacob walked over, slid an arm around Christine's waist, and kissed her cheek.

"You sure?" Christine looked up at him.

"Yeah, go continue your tradition, while we make some new ones." Jacob playfully nudged Christine toward their room. "Go on Doctor, your patients need you." With one last kiss, Christine headed off to get ready.

12312.25- SB71- Trauma Sick Bay- 17:06 hours

Tired Christine turned in her report to Dorja at the nurses' desk, "Reid Kehoe's arm has been reset. The internal bio supports should hold the break properly, but I want him in a sling for the next three days, and back in seven to have his external brace removed. It might be redundant, but if he is half as rambunctious as Josh and Brielle, that extra support will keep him from injuring it further." Christine sighed and wiped her face.

"Speaking of your two trouble makers," Dorja smiled and placed a wicker basket up on the counter, "They stopped by with a basket of Elf sugar cookies for everyone." Christine smiled as each gingerbread cookie was decorated, only as a child could, as star fleet officers, and doctors. "They said Jacob wanted to start the tradition of making gingerbread for everyone in sickbay on Christmas."

Christine's smile widened, "My mom would send a basket of her homemade sugar cookies to the pediatric ward on Christmas. She wanted everyone to have a sweet day despite everything."

"I like that your kids are continuing the tradition, but with their own 'spicy' twist on it." Dorja teased and took one of the cookies to eat.

"Similar but not the same." Christine took one herself, "I like it." Christine started to walk away but turned around, "Make sure you spread those around to everyone."

"Does that include Haas?" Dorja joked.

"Sure, just don't tell him who made them." Christine laughed and went to her next patient.