'Tis the Season

Disclaimer: I own nothing and make nothing financially with this ficlet. Everything belongs to Roddenberry.

‘Tis the Season

“I need a beer,” Chief Miles O’Brien grumbled. “Today the Captain had me run diagnostics on all the weaponry and shielding systems. Then when problems came up, I had to spend the rest of the afternoon fixing the damn machines.”

“Well, it is a good thing then we are off to Quark’s,” chuckled Doctor Julian Bashir. “I had annual physicals to perform all day. A good game of darts is what I need.”

As the two men walked up to their favorite bar, they noticed something was not quite right.

“Is this a new plan of Quark’s to draw customers into the bar?” Bashir asked. “Those red and green lights don’t seem to fit.”

“Do you smell pine?” O’Brien asked as they walked through the doorway. “What the bloody hell?”

A three meter-tall tree welcomed them, standing prominently in the middle of the room. It was covered in lights and ornaments with a flashing star on top. Surrounding the pine were the tables and dabo games with garlands, red ribbon, and candles decorating them.

“If I’m not mistaken, that looks like a Christmas tree,” commented Bashir. “But why would one be here?”

“Welcome, gentlemen!” Quark said, appearing in front of them. “Our specials today are eggnog, gingerbread cookies, and lots of Earth candy. What can I get for you?”

“Quark, what is going on?” O’Brien asked.

“You mean the decorations?” the Ferengi barkeep asked. “I thought I would try a holiday theme. On the way back from that disastrous trip to Earth for Nog, I ended up reading his Earth history text he left onboard my ship before it was taken by Starfleet. I read about Christmas and how big of a business opportunity it was in the 20th and 21st centuries. You hu-mans certainly knew a way to make a profit a few hundred years ago. Such a disappointment now…”

“So you’re bringing back the holiday for profit,” Bashir said. “Only you would do such a thing with one of our oldest traditions and miss the reason to celebrate entirely.”

“I’m only following your ancestors’ ideas!” Quark hissed at them before seeing more confused customers arrive and heading towards them. “Welcome to Quark’s! Merry Christmas!”

“Why even bother explaining it to him?” O’Brien said as he and Bashir claimed a table near their dartboard. “The twinkle of gold-pressed latinum was in his eye.”

“I suppose so… it just didn’t feel proper,” Bashir sighed. “I remember reading how people hated losing the significance of the holiday. Quark is exploiting it just like many did before.”

“Might as well enjoy it a little,” O’Brien said. “It has been a long time since I had a real tree for Christmas.”

“You still have it at home?” Bashir asked.

“Of course! It is an O’Brien tradition!” the Irishman exclaimed. “Molly enjoys it a lot, especially the presents part.”

“I’m going to get us some drinks,” Bashir said, getting up. “I have no idea where the waiters are.”

Heading to the front of the bar, Bashir finally got the attention of one of Quark’s employees to order their drinks. When he turned around, Bashir noticed Jadzia Dax had just arrived and was marveling at the decorations with her back to Bashir. However, his attention moved upward to a dangling herb above her head. With a mischievous smile, he crept up behind her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Julian! What are you doing?” Dax exclaimed.

“You were standing under the mistletoe and tradition says we are supposed to kiss,” Bashir said, his smile widening.

“A better idea would have been to not do it when Worf was watching,” she said.

The Klingon Starfleet officer stood in the establishment’s entryway. Despite always looking grouchy most of the time, Worf had a scowl with his teeth bared and his brow furrowed angrily in the way only a Klingon could with the head ridges. With a quick exit, Bashir ran back to his table to hide behind O’Brien, but the Irishman was practically rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter.

“Worf looked ready to kill you, Julian!” O’Brien laughed.

“Perhaps,” Bashir said. “But it was a Christmas gift worth giving and receiving.”