DiSCLAiMER: Paramount is Santa Claus, bringing me wonderful Star Trek right into my living room every week. I'm just one of those greedy little brats who shakes the box--then, not satisfied, goes out and buys what I wanted for myself--or, in this case, writes it. :)

She just sits there, completely still, staring at the Christmas tree. She looks like she's remembering something, like maybe a time long ago. It's something happy, I can see the smile on her face from where I sit on the floor, supposedly watching the vid screen.

Dad's not here, which upsets little Hope. She's only four, but I'm nine, so I know Dad won't be gone for long, because Mom's happy, and she's never happy when Dad's going to be away.

I move from the vid screen over to the window, where I can see the stars twinkling and light snow falling. Mom told me it barely snows here in Indiana. She thought that meant tonight was going to be special. I told her that all Christmases were special, that every night in this house is special. She'd simply smiled at me.

The doorbell is ringing. I turn to Mom, and see the surprised look on her face as she is broken from her reverie. She slowly gets up, and from her expression I can tell that it's not Dad at the door, she'd know. Besides, why wouldn't he just let himself in?

She opens the door, and I hear her happily exclaim, "What are you doing here?!" I cran my neck so I can see around her to who's standing behind the door.

The people I see are none other than my mother's old crew from Voyager.

"Uncle Tom! Aunt B'Elanna! Uncle Neelix! Uncle Tuvok! Uncle Harry! Aunt Seven!" I exclaim as I fiercely hug each one of them B'Elanna, Neelix, and Harry hug me back; Tom ruffles my hair; Tuvok and Seven each lightly pat me on the shoulder.

"We couldn't stay away from our favourite CO's at Christmas!" Tom explains as each old friend comes in the door to receive a hug from Mom. "We'd be a bigger group, but Doc's on another ship, Sam's taken Naomi to her Grandmother's, Joe's spending some much needed time with his family--" He stops mid-sentence. "Wait a minute, where's Chakotay?"

Mom smiles a fairly mysterious smile. "He'll be here soon. Meanwhile, take those coats off and come sit by the fire! I want to hear what you've been up to."

"Yes ma'am!"

Every laughs and smiles as they take off their coats and move towards the couch by the fire. I go with them. I love when Mom's crew comes to visit. They always bring stories of adventure and traveling to the stars with them.

Someday, I go up there, too.

*~*~*~*

I sit, so transfixed by their stories that I don't even notice than an hour has gone by until the doorbell rings. My mind goes through the possibilities of who it might be, but I see Mom's knowing smile and I know it must be Dad. But why is he ringing the doorbell?

Mom opens the door, and I camouflage my laughter at the sight in a huge grin. There stands Dad, in one of the most ridiculous Santa Claus suits I've even seen, with a huge sage over his shoulder and a huge smile on his face. The cotton-ball white hair and beard don't quite conceal his tattoo or those dimples which Mom fell for so many years ago.

This is one of our family traditions, a variation of it, anyway. My parents have done a wonderful job of mixing their two cultures, making sure their children got a bit of each. The tradition involves each of them doing something special on a holiday of the other's culture. Dad usually does something for Christmas, but Mom chooses a different holiday every year. They've each done some pretty crazy things...but I think this gets the craziest award, and, well, judging from the size of the sack on his back, and how full it is, Hope might think of it as the best one, too.

Everyone's smiling and laughing, Hope just came downstairs to see what the rucus was about, and now her eyes and smile shine brighter than the Christmas tree. I think that's why my parents do silly, yet fun, things like this--to make us happy. When we're happy, that makes them happier, they're usually pretty happy all the time. Mom once told me being with Dad is what makes her happy. Dad once told me the same thing about Mom.

She leans over, close to him, now, she whispers something in his ear. Something like "I think Santa's been spending too much time in the Indiana sun, judging by that tanned skin...." It makes him smile.

They continue to gaze at each other, and I can tell that, for them, at this moment, nothing else exists. Just the two of them. That one gaze is a powerful emotional acknowledgment of feelings which were put on hold for too long--at least, if what Mom's crew tells me is true. They love each other dearly.

Friends from school tell me their parents don't love each other like this. Apparently, some of them fight a lot; some are separated; some go days without talking to each other. My friends like coming over here, they like how happy it is. They've noticed how my parents don't really yell at their children either, which, according to my friends, happens all the time at their houses. But my parents once told me they considered both their children gifts. They named me Joy, because that's what I brought them. "Joy, and the promise of a thousand bright tomorrows," Mom had said.

As I look around, I see Hope, happily occupied with a new doll; Dad, smiling and laughing with the old crew, as they exchange presents and stories; the look in Mom's eyes and the smile on her face...I can feel the joy in this room. I hope there's even more than a thousand bright tomorrows ahead. And more than a thousand moments just like this....

With this house, and these people, I know it'll happen. I want to be there for every one of those moments.

What was that saying? Oh yeah--

Merry Christmas to all....and to all a good night.

fini

Have a wonderful holiday....when it rolls around (it's August as I'm writing this). J/C forever!