Hi! sorry for taking a billion years to update, school's been nasty this year so far. Enjoy!
Spock sat in a corner watching, similar to last year. Once again he was at the Kirk's 'Enjoying' their hospitality for the winter holidays.
People at the Christmas party were all talking and laughing and eating and overall interacting in an extremely human fashion. Spock had read a lot about winter holidays. The Kirks-Jewish-celebrated Hanukkah during this time. But some of their guests-to include some of their fellow students from the Academy were Christians and thus celebrated Christmas. then there were some-some that to his knowledge included Bones-who simply did not care about religion or Opposed the belief of a creator and yet celebrated this time anyway.
and everyone got along and celebrated in the same way tonight despite different or even opposing beliefs.
"Hey Spock, what're thinking about?" asked James, coming over and sitting down and taking a swig of a drink with an...intoxicating smell. hot chocolate.
"I was thinking about the various religious practices and their effect on such gatherings as this o-"
"-you're thinking to hard. come on." Jim pulled Spock by his shirt sleeve to come sit in a group consisting of some of both Christopher's and Kirks friends from here at home and ones from school. he recognized some of the faces from Starfleet and noted Leonard was being much more tolerable than normal. Kirk must've 'spiked' his drink.
"Happy Hanukkah, Spock." said Christopher who had only just returned home for the holidays that day.
"thank you." Spock said, rather than argue the greeting's validity since he did not celebrate aforementioned holiday.
"So how are you all holding up?" Kirk asked, sitting down. "Sulu, how's your family?"
"they're fine." Sulu said. "They're in Japan right now actually, we're spending Christmas with my grandparents. What about you, Chekov?"
"Oh, we're just having holiday celebrations at my house-but not until Epiphany."
"Not until what?" Asked Christ-who had been talking to Scotty about something, the two seemed to get along rather well.
"Epiphany. Christian holiday and when a lot of people in my country choose to celebrate Christmas." Chekov explained.
"I haven't even been home yet." Uhura said. "I went to See some friends and relatives so i'll be going home for Christmas tomorrow. "
"Hey Spock?" said Bones. "what about your mom?"
"What about her, Leonard?" he asked, looking at the other young man.
"Well doesn't she celebrate Christmas or somethin?"
"I don't know, I've never asked her."
Kirk glanced around the circle before looking at Scotty who sighed and pulled out his communicator and gave it to SPock. "it does interplanetary." the Scotsman explained. "it's expensive though..."
"I'll pay you back." promised Kirk.
"with who's credits?" asked Bones.
"with all our money that we're going to pipe in" piped in Uhura. "Merry Christmas Spock."
"Merry Christmas...but I do not understand the purpose of this gift..." Spock said.
"Pretty simple Hobgoblin." said Bones. "go. call. your. Ma."
"I do not see w-"
"Call your mom and wish her a merry Christmas Spock." Kirk directed. "you can go upstairs if you need it to be more quiet."
"Alright." he said and stood to go head upstairs. on the way though he ran into Winona. literally, her drink spilling on him.
"Oh!" I'm sorry Spock! Are you alright-Oh that was still hot!" Spock looked at the brown substance spilled on his sweater and his neck. as a Vulcan it's warmth was more pleasant than anything. But the smell...chocolate laced with alcohol.
"It's alright, i'll just go change." he said, reassuring Winona it truly was alright again before heading upstairs, the smell of chocolate a little overwhelming to an oversensitive Vulcan nose.
But it wasn't quite strong enough to make him want to go change just yet. if anything it was a...pleasant experience. perhaps fitting with the festivities going on downstairs.
he sat down on his bed and looked a the communicator fro a moment before flipping it open.
No image available. that's odd...thought Amanda but sat down to take the call anyway, adjusting her headscarf. it was a hot day on Vulcan, but cool indoors.
"Hello?"
"Hello Mother."
"Oh Spock! Hello." she smiled. "how are you-why can't I see you?"
"I'm using a communicator rather than the terminals more appropriate for long distance communication...I don't have access to one right now..."
"Yes, because you're at the Kirk's aren't you? well I do hope you're having a good time over Christmas break, Spock. It's not good to be studying all the time."
"Mother?"
"Yes?"
"...When you still resided on Earth did you...participate in any of the winter holidays that humans have?"
"Well of course I did. my family would always go to my Grandma Michael's for Christmas. she lived out in a large house she and her husband built in the woods. It was a beautiful place. I still miss it. and Her and my Grandpa."
"Why did you stop? came Spock's voice.
"what do you mean?"
"I mean why did you stop celebrating Christmas."
"Well, Because I married your father." she said. "It wasn't as if the holiday had any religious importance to me...so I let it slide away."
"you did that to a lot of things, didn't you Mother? Gave them up to live on Vulcan..."
She thought. "I suppose to did..." holidays, friends, chocolate, that feeling of curling up under a blanket on a cold day...
"Thank You."
"Hmm? oh sorry I wasn't listening Spock.
"I said Thank You. For doing that. For our family." his voice was unchanged in tone and intonation. Amanda smiled, even though her son couldn't see.
"You're Welcome Spock. Take Care of yourself."
"I am Mother."
"Good."
"Mother? Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Spock, we'll talk again soon.
"Peace and long life."
"live long and prosper." she said back and the call ended. She sighed but smiled and turned back to what she had been doing. her husband would be home soon.
He'd come to her quietly humming Christmas Carols.