Characters: Icheb/Janeway/Neelix/Tom, Genre: General, Rating: K

What's the Occasion

The room was filled with streamers and balloons. He wasn't sure what the occasion was since he was expecting the usual crowd at eleven hundred hours for lunch. Out of nowhere, Neelix shoved a platter in his face, and on top were tall glasses filled with bubbly liquid.

"Icheb! How wonderful to see you! Take one. It's customary to drink at these types of celebrations. And remember to enjoy yourself!"

"What are we-" But Neelix had already moved onto the next glassless person. Icheb held the drink with his index finger and thumb as if it was a test tube. He looked around at everyone else drinking and enjoying themselves in laughter and conversation.

A hand fell on his shoulder and Tom came to his side. "How's it going Icheb? Enjoying yourself?"

He frowned. "I am unsure of what it is I'm supposed to be enjoying."

Tom raised a brow and smirked. "Don't you know? It's-" B'Elanna grabbed him by the arm, gave him a saucy head jerk and pulled him away.

Perhaps if he took a sip, he wouldn't feel so out of place. As he did, he felt a surge of soft pricks against his tongue, then a sourness, then a cool and refreshing sensation as he swallowed. He cleared his throat and looked awkwardly at the glass.

"Don't tell me that's your first drink."

"Captain." Icheb changed his entire poise so that it was straighter. The captain waved him down with a palm. "Would you mind telling me what we're celebrating?"

The captain grinned widely and almost laughed. She put an arm behind him and they walked towards a counter with platters of colourful foods. "Here try this." With a small pick, she picked up what looked like a curly orange stripped worm of some sort. After dipping it in a flaky red sauce, she handed it to him with a serviette.

As the organic morsel fell on his tongue, he immediately tasted a burst of flavour that was similar to a hot spice his mother used to prepare with his meals. He bit down on the squishy meat and a sweat saltiness filled his mouth.

She was studying his reaction with a patient smile. "It's shrimp. One of earth's better tasting seafood. I could eat a gallon of these and not get full."

"I suspect that would be unhealthy captain."

"Oh? Why's that exactly?"

"Because they are far too delicious." He managed a smile.

"You're absolutely right. Can't have a captain indulging in the finer things in life." She winked at him.

"Okay everybody!" Neelix shouted through the crowd. He was holding a large rectangular cake that had yellow light sparkling around it. Crew members from all around faced Icheb and started singing a joyful tune.

Icheb looked around nervously, unsure of how to react. As Neelix approached, he could make out blue swirly writing on the surface of the cake. It read: "Happy Birthday Katherine". Like a giant fuel reactor combusting, Icheb finally understood. He faced the captain who was smiling with her hands to her cheeks. Icheb outstretched a hand and said: "Happy birthday captain."

She held his hand between both of hers and responded: "Thank you Icheb."

As Neelix laid out the cake before the captain, Icheb took another sip of his drink and let the night's festivities take him without resistance.