Welcoming the Holiday Season

The door to Katreya's home on Serenity opened and Charger dashed inside, immediately jumping onto the couch.

Treaya laughed as she entered with Jack. "I guess he's happy to be back on Serenity," she smiled.

Jack returned her smile and pulled her into his arms as the door shut. "Or maybe he's just happy to be in your home for a change . . ."

"Are you?" she asked, innocently.

He looked deeply into her brown eyes. "What do you think," he asked as he tenderly caressed his cheek.

Her smile brightened. Leaning forward, she kissed him. "I love you . . ."

"I love you too," he replied.

As he finally, released her, Treya walked to her console to retrieve any messages. There wasn't anything she hadn't heard already from her assistant at her dig. She'd found out everything she'd needed to on previous communiqués to make decisions for her excavation, and from what her assistant had told her, everything was on track . . .  Everything, except her own agenda. But ever since the Hall of Knowledge, everything had been off track for her. And Christmas was coming . . . She'd been away from her dig for three months . . . Christmas drawing near was only a reminder of it.

Suddenly, she felt Jack's hands on her shoulders. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

She turned to look at him. "It's been almost three months . . ."

"I know . . ." he replied.

"My brother . . . My excavation . . ." She sighed.

"But on the other hand, you've had other developments . . . You've had to recover . . . You've been with me . . ." He smiled.

Her own smile returned. "Yeah . . ." she kissed him again. "How about . . . we stay here for the holidays. Is that possible?" she asked. "I haven’t had a real family holiday in a long time."

"Your family celebrated Christmas?" he asked with surprise.

"Well, we've celebrated every holiday at one point or another," she explained. "But Christmas was always a favourite. When my parents were rescued from Tanzaria, they were taken to Earth. And the family they lived with celebrated Christmas."

She seemed happy as she spoke about it and that convinced him.

"All right," he replied as he held her hand. "We'll stay for Christmas . . . We'll get a tree, presents . . . the works . . ."

She brightened once again as she practically jumped into his arms with excitement, much like a child. It even caused Charger to stir from the couch.

"I'd like to get the tree today . . . and decorations!"

"I think we can manage," he smiled as she kissed him again.

By the end of the day, they had a holo-tree, brand new decorations – some personalized ones from Magic Moments, and holiday lights and garlands for the apartment and balcony. As even came, Jack turned the lights on as Treya made hot cocoa. They sat, snuggled together on the couch listening to soft Christmas carols play, and enjoyed the Christmas lights . . . Charger lay on the couch beside Jack, his head in his lap . . . They were home, even if only for Christmas.