Plot: A three-part story containing three Christmas miracles that the Enterprise crew could witness. A touch. A smile. And a kiss.

2. Vulcan lyre

Ten minutes and several curses later, McCoy finished his task of cutting the tree. They all returned to the ship with a freshly cut baby tree that Chekov had chosen. The tree was taken directly to the mess and set in the middle of the room so its majesty could be seen even before entering the room.

After setting up the tree, a dozen crewmen organized the place with Christmas ornaments such as paper lanterns, garlands, and bulbs. There were paper decorations cut out in different shapes, shapes of snowmen, reindeers, snowflakes, and candies.

''There is something missing,'' Jim mused aloud once he saw the finished look. The room looked great, very festive, but he felt as if something crucial was missing. ''Something ...''

''Captain,'' Chekhov interrupted shyly. ''If I may, will there be music?''

''Music?'' Jim repeated. ''Damn, I knew I forgot something.''

He grabbed the communicator out of his pocket. ''Kirk here,'' he said his standard greeting. ''Scotty, how fast can you set up music?''

There was a moment of silence. ''Twenty minutes max, Captain,'' he answered. ''I'll have to add more speakers and optimize the volume.''

''I'm not interested in the process,'' Jim answered uninterestedly. ''Just make it happen till the party.''

''Yes, sir'' Scotty confirmed.

Jim, however was already on another mission. ''Lieutenant Uhura,'' he called for Nyota who stood about ten feet away with Spock.

''Yes, Captain?'' she quickly came closer.

''You are in charge of music. Find it and send it to Scotty.''

''I'm on it,'' she answered. ''May I confer about it with Commander Spock?'' she enquired.

Jim raised his eyebrow in question but allowed it. ''Sure. Go,'' he waved his hand and finished the conversation with the motion. The fact that she wanted to debate music with Spock, who is probably too logical to even waste time listening to music, was weird but he ignored it.

The last thing he heard from the couple was Nyota speaking excitedly. ''I think that we should compile a variety of different genres. Traditional Christmas songs, something upbeat, something slow … Oh, what about carols?!''

.

Spock and Nyota were in her room, sitting on the sofa and looking through the PADD's music library.

''What do you think about this one?'' she asked him, pointing to an old song from the late 20th century. All I want for Christmas is you.

''As always, I see no fault in your judgement, Nyota,'' he answered monotonously as if he had no just said something romantic, at least from a Vulcan's point of view.

She grinned at him. ''Thank you, Spock,'' she answered lovingly and barely restrained herself from jumping on him and kissing him thoroughly, thus allowing him to analyze her judgement up-close and with hands-on experience.

''I speak only the truth,'' he answered.

''I know,'' she smiled. ''Vulcans do not lie.'' He nodded in agreement.

''You agree, then?''

''If I may offer a proposition, this song has been popular for centuries now. I believe that you could find it in different languages so that those who are not Terran could be closer to their home.''

Nyota's heart swelled with happiness and pride at his attentiveness. And they say the Vulcans do not feel. Spock might be the most thoughtful individual out of them after all.

''Yes. I completely agree. It's a great idea.''

He nodded and took the PADD out of her hands. After a few clicks, he returned it, the PADD now opened on the page with many different variations of the classical song.

She looked through it quickly and added the translations of those species that were on the Enterprise on their list of chosen songs.

''Wait,'' she stopped and frowned. ''There is no Vulcan. No dialects of it, not even the folk dialect.''

''You are correct,'' Spock nodded but showed no feelings about the lack of the translation into his native language. ''It is considered a too sentimental song.''

''What?'' she asked appalled.

''Nyota,'' he chided patiently. ''You are forgetting that love is a closed affair among Vulcans and that there is no equivalent holiday to Christmas.''

She nodded sadly. ''Of course. Anyway, it was a great idea.''

''It is only logical.''

An idea suddenly sprang to mind. ''I know that you can play the Vulcan lyre and that you have it in your room. Would you mind learning the chords to this song?'' she asked him cunningly, without revealing her plan.

''I do not mind but may I enquire what is the purpose?'' he asked.

''No, you may not,'' she smirked, kissed him on the cheek and jumped from the sofa with one purpose only. ''Excuse me, beloved,'' she grinned cheekily ''but I think you have work to do and so do I.''

Spock nodded and bade her farewell, then went to his room to fulfill her wish.

.

It was an early evening of what would be Christmas Eve back on Earth and the majority of Starfleet crew were in the decorated room, drinking champagne, laughing and enjoying the break from their everyday work.

''Let's get this party started!'' Jim cheered with his arms wide open once he got into the room. ''No sobriety and that's an order!''

''You don't have to tell me twice,'' Leonard muttered beside him and downed half of the glass in one sip. ''I intend to not remember this night.''

''Don't be such a whiner and enjoy the night,'' his friend answered, slapping his shoulder. ''The night is young and so are we.''

''Some are too young. Chekov should not even drink, he is underaged.'' He pointed disapprovingly in the direction of the young boy who had already had a few too many sips. His coordination and lack of indoor voice indicated that he was on his way to getting wasted quite quickly. The party had not even begun and some, along with Pavel, were already tipsy.

''They just can't handle the liquor,'' Jim grinned. ''Let them have fun.''

''Fun, he said,'' McCoy shook his head and walked to an empty table to sit down with another glass.

Jim smiled at the whole scene approvingly. The night had just started and the party was already in full go. The crew dressed fancy and the music, as promised by Scotty and Nyota, was set by the time the first few guests arrived.

Just then the aforementioned Lieutenant Uhura made her way to the centre of the room, right beside the Christmas tree and spoke into a microphone. ''Please, sit down. We have a gift for all of you,'' she smiled.

''No gifts were approved by me,'' Jim said annoyed when he sat down beside the doctor.

''Relax, it's a party,'' his friends replied sarcastically. ''The night is young and so are we.'' Jim eyed him annoyed.

''Have some respect, I'm the Captain.''

''Good evening, Captain,'' Spock greeted them both. ''Doctor,'' he nodded in his direction as well. ''May I join you?''

''Of course,'' Jim answered and pulled a chair out for him. ''Do you know what the gift is?''

''It is not dangerous if you are concerned about that,'' the Commander replied. ''However, I am not familiar with the whole plan of the surprise as Nyota did not want to share the details with me.''

''Really?'' Jim asked interestedly. He looked at McCoy who also raised a brow at the new information. ''I wonder what it is.''

''Heeeeey, Captain,'' Chekov cheered and hugged the recipient of his attention from behind. ''Thank you much for the party. It is great,'' he whooped loudly and sat down.

''Yes, the party is great,'' Sulu agreed mockingly and joined the group as well.

Nyota asked for attention again. ''Please, take a seat.'' When no one beside her was standing, she played the button on the stereo and the introductory chords to the song began. Those who recognized it cheered from their seats. ''Mr. Spock and I made a compilation of the song for all of you, so you could be a step closer to home.''

Some eyed Spock curiously and bewildered that he, a Vulcan, would be a part of any surprise much less a musical one.

Their thoughts were disturbed by the song, once they had realized that it was composed of several different languages. The lyrics were Andorian, Bolian, Orion, Deltan, Bajoran and more. It was deadly silent, with some tears and sniffles. The message was well received. Even if they were far away from home they had a substitute home and a family on the Enterprise.

Once the longer version of the song ended, the whole room was clapping and cheering. Nyota had to shut them down again.

''That is not all,'' she said.

''Can she top that?'' Jim asked. ''Hey, where are you going?'' Spock rose from the table and made his way to the centre. There was a golden Vulcan lyre in his hand.

''What is happening,'' Chekov hiccupped, his words now pronounced with a stronger Russian accent.

''Shhhh.''

''The translations of the song into your native languages was pointed out to me by our very own Mr. Spock,'' she chuckled at the applause that he was receiving. ''However, there was something missing,'' she added.

The guests looked at each other and at her confused. They did not understand to what she was referring. Each of them had heard the song in their language and none seemed to be missed.

''Mr. Spock, please,'' she motioned him to begin playing his instrument. They heard the same introductory chords as before but still did not understand.

''This one is for you,'' she grinned at the lyre player. Spock raised his eyebrow in return.

''She did not,'' Leonard said shocked.

''Ohh, she did,'' Scotty grinned.

''What?'' the rest of the table asked like confused puppies.

''Listen.''

Sure enough, when Nyota began to sing they all understood. It was a language that they rarely heard but knew quite well. It was the only one that had been missing, a fact that they did not realize until pointed out.

The music from the lyre stopped after the first few words. He looked at her and only her. The rest of the room was forgotten, his fingers stopped playing as did his breathing for a few short moments.

''No one will be excluded,'' Nyota said softly and quietly but her words did not need to be articulated for the meaning to be heard. You are one of us.

''Hit it,'' she ordered. He complied and began to strum.

There was one new detail, never seen before. A smile, small but meaningful. Meant only for his beloved.

''I'll be damned.''

''Shhh.'' Hiccup.

Guess who had the last few words. The next chapter is the most exciting one, I'm sure.

Thank you for everything :)