Christmas Under the Northern Lights

Posted on Mon Jan 13th, 2025 @ 12:01am by Lieutenant JG Malcolm Beckett M.D.

2,083 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Happy Holidays
Location: Holodeck Three
Timeline: Closer to Midnight Christmas Eve / Christmas

As the sled settled Malcolm decided to broach on the topic that he'd been thinking about since Kasper ambushed him with the call to their mom. "Speaking of going home. Other than Kasper, does anyone else in your family know about me?"

Unsure of where this question was coming from, Eirly replied, "The last time I got to speak to my mother properly was when you and I were seeing each other but not quite dating, so I haven't had a chance to fill her or my father in yet, but my other brothers know about you and are excited to meet you whenever they are able to." She raised an eyebrow, "Have you told your family about me?"

"I told them I'm seeing someone. Though, I'm not good with details. I suppose if we lived closer they'd have asked to meet you already though," Malcolm said. "Look, I have a bit of a confession. But I don't want you to be angry."

"So you haven't told them it's a gorgeous blonde that you're seeing?" Eirly replied with a grin as she cocked her head to the side and added, "Whatever it is, I guess I can always deal with it but I won't be angry." The ride started to slow down.

"Well in Sickbay last week your brother and I were kind of messing around, and I was asking your brother for advice on what to get your for Christmas and he put your mother on subspace. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I didn't think he was actually gonna do it, I tried to get out of the room as politely as I could," Malcolm tried to explain talking quickly.

"Why would I be angry about that?" Eirly queried as the ride came to a stop and they got out of the sled. She thanked the driver in the broken Icelandic she knew and the man smiled and nodded back. Taking Malcolm's hand again, she added, "I'm surprised he had the guts to do that. Did my mother at least give you some good advice on what to get me?" She was a little angry but it was directed more at Kas. "Or did she mention anything about us dating?"

"Well, to be honest, I tried to avoid all of that since I didn't know what had been discussed. She remembered me from med school with your brother and Kasper asked about a recipe of hers. She might have asked if I was sweet on you or something like that. It was a blur, and I was trying to get out of the conference room, but ye know how Kasper is, he kept talking." Malcolm looked defeated. "I should have told you sooner. I was more embarrassed than anything, but your mom knows I have a crush on you by now."

"Don't stress over it too much, okay?" Eirly reassured Malcolm as she stopped them both and turned to face him, "I'll be calling her and father tomorrow to wish them happy holidays, so I'll tell her then and see her reaction to it." Sudden realisation dawned on her face and made her eyes light up, "I remember Kas talking about a roommate named Malcolm... I didn't realise he was referring to you though! Fate is funny like that, right?" She let out a giggle.

"Well Kasper had this wild notion that I should try to make your mother's apple trifle recipe. Don't worry. I didn't touch it. I know that would've been a disaster," he said testing out a laugh on the subject.

The fact that Kas had remembered one of her favourite dishes was enough for any anger she was feeling toward him to disappear, "We can make it together at some stage if you want? I'm sure he or my mother told you how much I love it, right? It's quite easy to make." She gave him a quick kiss, "Now. What to do: Santa's Home, or igloo to watch the stars and maybe catch an aurora?"

"Why don't you pick this next one?" Malcolm stood up and put one foot out of the sleigh and put out a hand to help Eirly step out. "I want to do what you want to do."

"I think that, given it's Christmas after all, we should go and visit Santa's Home," Eirly beamed at him, noting the redness on his cheeks and realising hers were probably the same, "Are you still warm enough?"

"The gear the holodeck provided is working quite well for that. How about you?" Malcolm asked. "What's the best way to Santa's house?"

"I think it's doing a wonderful job of keeping me warm at the moment, but I can definitely think of some things that would keep us warmer?" Eirly gave him a playful wink and grin before looking around, "I'm pretty sure it's over that way, about twenty minutes' walk." She pointed outward somewhere over to the right, "If we don't want to walk, I'm sure we could always just get the program to take us there instantly, I guess?"

"I know how much you love the snow," Malcolm said. "I think we can handle a little walk."

"If we get there..." Eirly trailed off as she roke into a run to gain some distance from him before turning around, picking up some of the snow in front of her, fashioning it into a ball and throwing it at him, hitting him in the shoulder. Her eyes and smile went wide as she laughed at the contact and surprise on his face.

"Wait right there," Malcolm picked up handful of snow like he was going to throw it, but then ran at her and swept her up into a bear hug and swung her around.

"Oh no," was all she managed to get out before she was swept up and laughing. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she just prayed he didn't toss her into the snow.

"Did ye want to start to a little war here, or shall we get on to see Santa so I can remind him what a naughty girl you've been this year?" Malcolm teased.

She was laughing as he put her down but then looked at him with a glint of mischief in her eye, "I mean, have I really been such a bad girl that you need to tell him about it?" She moved off to his side and linked her arm through his, prompting him to start walking.

"I suppose we can let this one slide. Mr. Klaus does know everything, so if he's been keepin' tabs, I'm sure you're already on the nice list anyway."

"I'd certainly hope so! I hate the thought of having done all this good throughout the year and not have it recognised at all," Eirly replied as she tucked herself in close to him, "That would just hurt my feelings."

The lights and sleigh bells announced that they were getting close to the Christmas village. "His house is bigger than I imagined," Malcolm said when the village came into view.

"Trust me, it's bigger on the inside," Eirly winked at him and pulled him towards the village. It had been years since she had been here and she was super excited to show him everything and tell him about the memories that came with it. "You're going to love it."

After they had toured the mansion that was Santa's home, they found a different sleigh ride to take them back towards their igloo for the evening.

Eirly could feel the coldness on her cheeks as both she and Malcolm got out of the sleigh and headed toward the door. This holoprogram was really doing its job! She took off her gloves to get the keys out and she fumbled them a bit before the door eventually opened and a blast of warm air greeted them. As they stepped inside, the holoprogram automatically changed their attire to what they were wearing before going in and Eirly found herself back in her jeans, singlet and cardigan. Looking over at Malcolm, she could see he'd been changed back into the slacks and maroon knitted bomber jacket, and she realised that that was probably her favourite colour on him.

Stepping in further, there was a step down to the left and a warm bed that looked tiny in comparison to the massive glass windows that gave them an unblocked view of the sky above. There were warm blankets and thick duvet stacked on a small but comfy looking chair in the corner, and a bottle of wine with two glasses sitting on a table next to it. On the right hand side of the accomodation, there was a small kitchen with a stocked fridge and two seats to a table, an indoor heater and a bathroom.

"Now this is what I call I nice little get away. Do you like it?" Eirly beamed as she took it all in. It was almost as good as the getaway Malcolm had surprised her with during shoreleave.

"It's quite an amazing spot. This is on Earth you say? I didnae know a place like this existed, no less on Earth."

"And to think it's only three hours north of Scotland too," She grinned even wider, if that was possible. "But now you do. Just wait a couple more hours and we can see the magic start."

"And what shall we do until then?" Malcolm asked teasingly, as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist.

As she cuddled into his embrace, she wrapped her own arms around his, "Well..." She made a gesture towards the wine and the bed, "What do you reckon we can do with all this?"

"I can think of a few things," Malcolm whispered as he gently swept Eirly's blonde hair away from her face and brought his lips down to meet hers. "Alone at last."

"Alone at last," she repeated as she kissed him back before they made their way down to the bed and she flopped down onto it, ending up looking at the glass domed roof and the sky beyond it. After a few moments of looking at it she said with a big grin, "I love you, you know that right?"

Malcolm rolled over on his side so he could look into her eyes. "I love you too. This is our first Christmas together."

"The first with many more to come, I hope," It was easy enough for her to get herself lost while looking at him. She reached her hand out and traced the faint lines on his face and smiled, "Happy Christmas, Mal."

"Merry Christmas," he responded, the last of his words melting into the kiss they shared as Malcolm pulled himself closer toward her, and they became lost in one another.

Over an hour later, they lay there in one another's arms, their clothes having been cast away some time ago. Malcolm reached down and grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to Eirly's shoulder's as he held her against his chest and looked at the stars through the full skylight over the bedroom.

"Can we see the northern lights from here?" He asked lazily, not eager for either of them to move from their spot.

As if on cue, the northern lights appeared. Wisps of vibrant greens, pinks, and purples woven through the heavens like ethereal ribbons, swaying and undulating in a silent, otherworldly ballet. These lights illuminaten the night with their surreal glow, casting an enchanting spell over the frozen landscape. If Eirly and Malcolm dared to go outside, they would feel the air crackling with an almost tangible energy, as if the sky itself were alive, whispering ancient secrets to those who dare to look up and dream.

Noticing the glow from where she was laying, Eirly turned around but kept cuddling into Malcolm and smiled as she watched the lights, "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I can."

"Maybe we should plan to do this for real sometime," Malcolm suggested. He adjusted the pillows and covers. "Computer, turn out all of the lights. Completely dark."

As the dim lights in the igloo went black, the ribbons of light in the sky grew more vibrant, casting green and purple shadows over them as they watched the show cuddled under the warmth of the blanket and under the clear dome roof.

RSS Feed