Title: Ornaments
Contact: kelhapam@worldpath.net
Series: VOY
Rating: G
Code: P/T, Crew
Part: 1/1 NEW
Date: December 2000

Summary: Tom and B'Elanna celebrate Christmas with their friends. Takes
place shortly after Flesh & Blood.

Disclaimer: Voyager owns all the characters, etc., I am just using the
characters for a little fun and relaxation.

Note of Appreciation. Special thanks to my beta reader: Phyllis
Sutherland. Thanks to Annie M. for spurring my muse.

Email: kelhapam@worldpath.net

Posting: OK to ASC. Please notify me if you post anywhere else.

Ornaments
by PJ in NH
December 2000

Christmas. One of Earth's oldest holidays, B'Elanna mused. And Tom loved
it. Two weeks ago he had decorated their quarters with strings of colored
lights he had replicated from carefully saved rations. He had even added a
potted tree to their living area and added more colored twinkling lights to
it, along with mementoes of the time together and those of their friends.

This gathering of friends was something Tom looked forward to all year.
Tonight, she and Tom would be throwing their first Christmas celebration
since they had wed. At the party each guest would eat traditional Christmas
foods, drink something disgusting Tom called eggnog, and each guest would
add a new ornament to the tree. Something to signify a special event over
the past year. A story would accompany each decoration, some of the tales
were funny and others were somber, but all reflected their life during the
past year on board Voyager. Looking at the tree brought back many memories.

There was a stone from the Sakari caves Tom had saved and a preserved flower
from another very *eventful* away mission. Harry had contributed, a
miniature clarinet, and the first year Captain had added a tiny coffee cup
on a string. Two years ago, Chakotay had given Tom a feather from his home
world to place on the branches in memory of a Spirit Guide journey he had
taken the pilot on.

Six years ago, when Neelix added a carved wooden replica of a leola root,
the guests broke out laughing during his tale of the vegetable's usefulness
to the crew, each adding to the cook/morale officer's list of uses. Neelix
didn't appreciate Tom's suggestion that the leola root would make a good
doorstop, but he laughed anyway.

Last year, Tom got a taste of his own medicine when the Doctor contributed a
well used dermal regenerator and regaled the party with tales of how Tom and
B'Elanna used the device--frequently. He only stopped his recitation when
B'Elanna threatened to supplement his operatic subroutines with that of a
tone-deaf Bolian.

B'Elanna had added her own ornaments to the tree over the years. A tiny
bat'leth she had put on the tree last year was one of Tom's favorites. She
had told the story of how he had baited her into picking up the sport and
how she had grumbled for almost two years every time he got her to pick up a
bat'leth and join him on the holodeck. She told the guests she had finally
come to look forward to the Klingon sport...not only for it being an
excellent way of staying in shape, but of how it *inspired* a certain pilot.
B'Elanna smiled at the memory as she touched the ornament. This year she'd
have another ornament to add....something very special.

* * * * * *

"I've been working on a new holodeck program," Tom told his guests. "So my
contribution to the tree this year is a small racing car." He held up a
small replica of the race car he'd programmed for the holodeck.

"It looks very old," Icheb remarked seriously. The former Borg boy was
sitting beside Naomi and the Captain. This was his first Christmas with the
crew and he was enjoying the experience. The more he learned about Earth
and its culture, the more he looked forward to someday seeing Voyager's home
planet for himself.

"It's from the twentieth century," Harry explained.

"When you come to know Mr. Paris better," Tuvok added, his left eyebrow
raised, "you will realize he is very fond of that period of Earth's
history."

"What is so special about this twentieth century?" Icheb asked.

Tom started to reply, but was silenced when B'Elanna placed her hand over
her husband's mouth.

"Trust me, you do not want to know," Seven remarked. "I inquired the same
of Lt. Paris shortly after I first came on board Voyager. If he were to
reply to your question, we could be here for three regeneration cycles."

The pilot grinned and raised his hand to signify he knew better than to
answer Icheb. His wife dropped her hand and rewarded her husband with a
kiss on his lips.

"Who's next?" Chakotay piped up.

"I believe B'Elanna is the only one left who hasn't put her ornament on the
tree," Janeway remarked.

B'Elanna smiled softly and squeezed her husband's hand before she took her
place beside the tree.

"I've been looking forward to tonight," B'Elanna began "When Tom first
started this tradition, to be truthful, I didn't know what to make of it.
At first I thought he was just angling to get some gifts...but it wasn't
long before I realized I had been mistaken. You have only to look upon his
face and into his eyes to see why he enjoys this time of year, and this
night in particular," B'Elanna looked over to her husband, the look of
happiness on her face was obvious to all. "He plans for weeks to make sure
all of you receive a special present--something you can use or want.
Sometimes, you don't even know you want it or need it until you open it up."

The Doctor laughed. "Like I had no idea I wanted golf clubs, until I got a
set from him last year. At first, I didn't even know what they were. I've
come to enjoy my time on the links."

"Thanks, Doc." Tom replied.

B'Elanna smiled and nodded. "This year, I think I've found something very
special for him. Something *he* may not even know he wants or needs." She
held her hand out to her husband, beckoning for him to join her.

Wondering what she had planned, Tom rose and joined his wife by the tree.

"This year has been memorable for me," she began. "It isn't every year I
get married."

Tom grinned lovingly at her.

B'Elanna reached into her pocket and withdrew her ornament keeping it
concealed in her fist. "Please hold out your hand, Tom."

Her husband extended his hand.

"This year my contribution represents a gift you've given me," B'Elanna
explained and unclenched her fist letting the item fall into her husband's
hand.

Tom's jaw fell open at the sight. He looked up at his wife, and then back
down to his hand. He didn't know what to say, he was too shocked. The
guests craned their necks to see what B'Elanna had deposited into Tom's
palm.

Tenderly, Tom picked up the item and showed it to his friends. It was a
very small pair of pink booties.

B'Elanna smiled broadly and her eyes glistened with happy, unshed tears.
"Congratulations, Tom, you're going to be a father."


The End

Email please to kelhapam@worldpath.net