Twas The Night Before Christmas...

I'm exhausted.

After all the weeks of preparation, the Enterprise Christmas Party, dressing up as Santa, and all the "Have a great time." missives via videoviewer, it's finally here.

It's Christmas Eve.

Everyone has gone to bed. I'm just looking at the Bridge, monitoring it for a few hours before Data comes in to mind the store until the early morn.

Even just travelling through space at warp speed it feels like it's Christmas Eve, Everything seems so quiet, as if they are waiting for Santa to appear.



A party hat suddenly appears on my head. I groan. I think I know what's coming.

"Ho, ho, ho, Jean-Luc." says a familiar voice.



I groan.

"Go away, Q" I tell him, "I'm too tired to be dealing with you."

"Is that any way to talk to Santa Claus?" says Q, "I might not bring you any presents."

"Yeah, sure." I say sarcastically.

"....Or I could take them away." he comments, "That Doctor Crusher has got some super treats in line for you. Firstly she has..."

"I don't want to know!" I snap back, "Now what do you want?"

"That's better." Q smiles, and transforms himself to his familiar self.



"I just want to get to bed in a short time." I complain, "So I say again, what do you want."

"It's very brief." he says, "I know you don't want to keep Doctor Crusher waiting he adds slyly with a wink. I just wanted to say Happy Christmas."

"Is that it?" I reply, slightly puzzled.

"It sure is." he tells me, "Don't think you're the only one who has to enjoy Christmas. I've got my Q girlfriend and I've been getting presents for her. Us in the Continuum might not recognise the laws of time and space, but we do know when those in this universe celebrate Christmas. We're not going to miss out on that."

"Well it's nearly Christmas Day..." I remind him.

"Is it?" he muses, and looks at a timepiece he is wearing, "My Continuum watch must be running slow. I'll have to get it mended after the holiday. Well goodbye for now, Jean-Luc. I'll see you another time."

"Happy Christmas, Q." I reply.

With that, he transforms back into Santa Claus, and has a chariot with reindeer in the front. It rises up and passes through the ship hull. I hear echoes of "Ho, ho, ho!" in the distance.

Christmas time is here!

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Editor's Note:

I wish all my readers a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.