Home for Christmas?

Author: LeatherGirl

Email: leathergirlfns@yahoo.com

Disclaimer:  I do not own Farscape or anything associated with Farscape.  Only Santa could bring me what I really want to own! ;)

One of five winners of the Karlsweb Home For Christmas Contest 2000

Beta read by JilaCosa: THANKS!

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A waft of roasting chestnuts drifted past his nose.  John stirred slightly, unconsciously rubbing his nose in his sleep.  A barely audible jingle rang somewhere nearby.  Jingle. Jingle.  John rolled over onto his side, burying his head into his pillow.  A sweet peppermint taste teased his tongue.  John smacked his lips in frustration as he slept on.  A breeze and a soft furry object graced the bare skin of his face.  John rubbed his face with his hand, his mind swooshing aside all reality trying to wake him.  He did not want to wake just yet.  For his dreams were happily filled with visions of Christmas’ past.  Back to the good old days John smiled, when Dad, Mom, the girls, and he celebrated Christmas as one content family.  The ground beneath shook violently, sending John to the floor with a thud.  Now he was awake. 

 

John glanced around himself, disoriented.  Where was he?  The unfamiliar architecture, the moving sensation, little mechanical yellow robots poking at him wildly; what the frell was going on?  John shook his head as if to clear it and almost laughed out loud.  All the memories of the Uncharted Territories, Moya, his friends on this living ship, and the two years of endless searching for his home came flooding back to him.  How could he have forgotten?  Well, it had been nice to, even for a brief moment, think that he had really been back on Earth, home for Christmas.

 

Jingle. Jingle.  John whipped his head up from the floor towards the opened entrance to his quarters, his eyes widened in surprise.  He had seen a flash of something.  Just a color, really: green.  Rygel?  Nah, John thought…he’s just a little slug, no way he could have moved that fast.  John hoisted himself up from the floor of his quarters and tapped his comms.

 

“Pilot, where is everybody?”  John inquired, keeping his eyes trained on the hallway outside his quarters.   He hadn’t remembered leaving the door open when he went to sleep.  The comms crackled.  John frowned and grabbed his PeaceKeeper leather jacket.  As he threw on the warm, sleek clothing John could almost swear he smelled a whiff of those chestnuts once more.  John shook his head with a smile and headed off to see Pilot.  On his way to the den, he planned to check every corridor and bay for any sign of something peculiar going on.

 

A rush of warm air welcomed John’s refreshed face as he entered into the Tier where Pilot’s den was located on.  A flash of glowing little lights crossed his vision upon glancing into the maintenance bay.  John’s smile melted off his face as he stopped short in the hall.  That couldn’t be what he thought it was.  John took two giant steps backward and peered suspiciously into the maintenance bay.  Yellows, blues, greens, and reds all danced in a line around the interior of the bay.  John blinked and swallowed hard.  Was he hallucinating?  The lights were emitted from tiny little sensors situated strategically around the bay.  As John wandered past them, he could only reason one thing.  Somehow, the crew had found out about his little Earthly holiday.  But how?  And where were they?

 

John tiptoed on, afraid he might give himself away to whoever was teasing his reality.  A faint sound whooshed past behind him.  John spun, swearing he had heard a little familiar tune…a Christmas song in fact.  He cocked his head with wonder, seeing nothing but a dimly lit hallway with flashes of colored light reflecting out from the nearby maintenance bay. 

 

“Come on guys, what’s with the mysterious crap here?  Just come on out…I know what you’re up to!”  John stated out loud.  His voice echoed back to him sounding hollow and alone.  John shrugged.  “Fine, if that’s the way it’s gonna be….” John stepped towards Pilot’s den with a smirk on his face.  He was going to turn the tables on his shipmates.  If they wanted to surprise him, he was going to give them an even bigger surprise in return.

 

Jingle. Jingle.  John nearly jumped out of his skin in fright.  The jingling noise had been so close; he swore he had felt the vibrating bell against his ear.  He spun around quickly.  He barely caught himself from spinning back away.  He feverishly glanced back and forth, looking for the source of that sound.  There was nothing there.  John straightened, noticing his manly persona was being badly bruised.  Something as silly as a little jingle, a few flashing lights, and that oh so heavenly aroma of roasting chestnuts shouldn’t be causing such a burden on his soul!

 

John crept closer to the den.  He felt something soft and fuzzy brush past his arm.  John spun around once more, catching only a glimpse of green and red.  He raised an eyebrow in question, scanned the area around him suspiciously, and turned back to the direction he was headed.

 

“If you guys are trying to make Christmas…you’ve got the wrong holiday.  You don’t scare the hell out of someone…you spoil them with gifts!”  John whispered into the hall.  He watched every darkened corner like a hawk, swearing he could hear a faint Christmas tune playing.  It almost sounded like…yes…that’s what it was…it was the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”.  Hmmm.  Interesting choice.  John smiled to himself and came upon the closed entrance to Pilot’s den.  He straightened and took a deep breath.  He then slowly opened the door.

 

Thousands of mini yellow, green, red, and blue lights flashed everywhere.  A thick aroma of roasting chestnuts and burning firewood hovered in the air.  Off to the side, a tall spindly evergreen Christmas tree, decorated to the top with miscellaneous little biomechanoid odds and ends all tapered together with more flashing lights.  A shiny sparkling star rested on top, almost glowing so bright John felt the need to shield his eyes.  Crates upon crates were piled underneath the tree, wrapped in metallic synthetic materials and tightened with delicately tied red bows.  A simulated fireplace crackled alive with a fire in its hearth near the tree.  Unusual stockings, most likely those of his shipmates, lined neatly in a row along the mantle.  Bows and bows of evergreen strands drooped across the room along the ceiling, decorated with pinecones and tiny red berries.  Even a little train set with tracks around the base of the tree chugged in circles, tooting its horn.

 

The surprises were far from over.  Pilot was decked out in the Christmas cheer at his console, surrounded by several small little DRDs.  Strapped onto each DRD was a pair of fuzzy brown antlers.  Pilot wore an unusually large red hat with white trimming.  Even Moya was in on the plot, for her interior glow had taken on a greenish tint. 

 

John opened his mouth in shock at the sights before him, barely able to control the smile forming onto his face.   He stepped back a few feet and hit something standing behind him.  John spun and let out a gasp.  He backed away in wonder at his shipmates, standing in a group before him.

 

There was Rygel, dressed in a green robe with two tiny antlers positioned strategically on his head.  Upon his nose, he wore a small red food cube.   He muttered silently, only John could guess he was desperately trying to get a hold of that food cube for eating.  And hanging around the outside of Rygel’s throne sled were rows and rows of stringed popcorn.  John almost laughed out loud.

 

Then there was Zhaan in a white robe.  She was floating.  Yes, floating.  John almost dismissed the sight but realized it was probably only some optical illusion.  Upon Zhaan’s head was a glowing halo.  She even had large, feathery white wings to match, attached beautifully to her back.  Zhaan smiled peacefully at John, her hands held together as if she were praying.

 

There was Chiana, dressed how John would expect her to be.  She fashioned a red outfit, as slim and bare as ever.  Upon her head she wore a similar red hat with white trimming like Pilot’s.   She wore a mini red skirt with white trimming and her bodice was tight and low-cut bearing the same colors.  And on her feet, she bore a pair of twirled red boots, fastened at the ends with tiny golden bells.  Jingle. Jingle. 

 

There was Aeryn, now that was a surprise.  She wore a similar outfit to Chiana, save the pulse pistol fastened to her bare thigh.  Her hair was long and flowing, with a red hat fastened on her head.  Aeryn smiled softly at John…this was becoming all too much for him.

 

And finally there was D’Argo.  The most decorated of them all!  In fact, D’Argo had dressed himself as the one and only Santa.  He wore the hat, the big red suit, the big black boots, and even a white material around his chin.  And his cheeks were rosy. 

 

John fell to the floor in a bout of laughter, holding his stomach with tears coming to his eyes.  His shipmates laughed as well and scooped him back up to his feet.  They led him over to a large wooden rocking chair beside the tree.  The bells on both Chiana and Aeryn’s feet jingled as they walked.  Rygel’s soft antlers brushed across John’s skin.  These were all the things that had awoken him from his slumber.  

 

John could smell the welcoming pine scent emanating from the tree, with memories of Christmas’ of Earth flooding back to him.  He looked around at his happy shipmates, and to Pilot who was smiling and laughing with glee.  What was this?  How could it be so?  John enjoyed the fun while it lasted…after all the Uncharted Territories were never this happy.

 

Presents were passed around and wrapping paper was shredded.  D’Argo told tales of his Santa days and Zhaan blessed everyone.  John sat back and watched silently, enjoying the show.  But the surprises were not over yet.

 

Aeryn stood as the laughter dwindled and the fire in the fireplace drew low.  By now, everyone had been enjoying his or her fifth flask of hot chocolate…rich, steamy and topped with a delicious swirl of white whipping cream.  The steam whirled into the air as Aeryn raised her finger into a curl, motioning for John to follow her.

 

John stood willingly, wondering where she was taking him.  He followed Aeryn around the Christmas tree, watching her little skirt sway as she walked.  He peeled his eyes away from her a moment as they stopped to see what she had lead him to.  John dropped his jaw as tears floated to his eyes.  The scenery had changed from that of a glowing Christmassy Moya to that of a small living room, also decorated in the holiday spirits.  Standing before him was his family…as they should be at the present time. 

 

They were gathered in the Christmas spirit as well, toasting each other with drinks and smiling and laughing.  The old familiar tree stood tall and beautiful in the corner by Mom’s old collection of china.  Upon the fireplace mantle was a line of family portraits from all the way to his childhood.  As a tradition, his family had gotten a Christmas portrait taken each year and placed upon the mantle.  The last few pictures were missing his mother.  And the final picture was missing him.  A twinge of sadness reached his heart.  John stepped forward into the simulated living room, towards his father standing above his two sisters seated on the couch.  Aeryn grabbed his arm as he walked, motioning for him to leave with her.  John looked into her eyes.  She saw his pleading look and nodded, suddenly dissipating into a mist.  John frowned only a moment and turned to his real family with wonder. 

 

He knew they couldn’t see or hear him.  He only wanted to feel the warmth of home once more.  John reached over to the Christmas tree and nearly stepped back.  He could feel the prickly needles and smell the heavy pine aroma.  He could see his very own reflection in the glassy ornaments.  Some of the ornaments were his, as a gift from his mother each Christmas of his childhood.  John turned back to his family, to see them bowing their heads for a moment.  He recognized their motion.  They were reserving a moment of silence for his mother…like every Christmas.  Only this time, the silence was also for him.  John reached for his family, stepping forward with sadness.  He couldn’t bear for them to be in such sad spirits. 

 

A knock on the door in the hall behind him caused him to spin around.  Standing before him, was his dear friend DK, smiling and holding an armful of mall-wrapped gifts for John’s family.  John stepped aside, watching as his father and sisters greeted DK with happiness and laughter, handing him a mug of hot chocolate and welcoming him into their home.  John observed from a distance, realizing his family would be okay.  They would live on…and they would never forget him.  The only thing that hurt was the thought that they would give up the fact that there was even a slight chance he was still alive.  And John couldn’t bear the hurt he saw most in his father’s eyes.  His father stood in silence, watching as John’s sisters wooed over DK, staring off at the pictures on the mantle, his eyes becoming misty.  John turned, unable to handle the vision any longer.  He felt a soft, comforting hand on his shoulder.

 

John assumed it was Aeryn.  Or maybe even Zhaan.  But as he turned and became enveloped in a white, blinding mist, he got the shock of his life.  Standing in a long white delicate dress, her hair flowing, and her skin as peachy and glowing as ever, was John’s mother.  She smiled heavenly at him with pride and embraced her son in a tight hug.  John squeezed back, blinking away a few tears.  How this simulated Christmas his shipmates had prepared for him came to be, he no longer pondered. 

 

John closed his eyes, feeling his mother’s warmth and love and wishing for the moment to last forever.  He swayed back and forth with her and listened to her sweet words wishing him a merry holiday and a happy new cycle.

 

At the last mention of an Uncharted Territories term, John’s eyes flew open.  He found himself back on Moya, standing beside the Christmas tree his shipmates had prepared for him.  His shoulders drooped but he remained with a smile on his face.  He only wondered how his shipmates had so easily created these Earthly symbols.  John looked over to Pilot to see with surprise that he was no longer there.  John turned around, looking at all the fancy Christmas galore to find he was alone.  The train under the tree had stopped chugging and the fireplace nearby had stopped crackling and had grown dark and cold.  John slowly sank into the large rocking chair and stared at the tree, allowing the sight to burn into his memory. 

 

John closed his eyes, breathing in the heavenly aroma of roasting chestnuts and pine one last time.  Jingle. Jingle.   John drew in a tired breath.  He wasn’t in the mood for any more surprises.  He opened his eyes and found himself back in his quarters, lying on his bed amongst the quiet humming of Moya. 

 

Sitting up quickly, John glanced around at his quarters, awaiting any sign of flashing little lights or hearing another set of jingling.  All he heard was Moya’s comforting humming.  Nothing more.  No laughter, no fireplace crackling.  John sniffed the air, smelling only the normal clean atmosphere of Moya.  John shook his head.  Had it all been a dream?  He got up and traveled throughout the hallways, headed for Pilots den.

 

Nothing brushed past his body and he heard no more jingles.  He saw no flashing lights and smelled no heavenly scents.  John came to Pilots den and opened the door.  Pilot was maintaining systems at the far end.  John stepped forward and Pilot looked up, tilting his head in question.  John shook his head, raised and lowered his hand as if to say, “never mind” and headed off for Command.

 

John came to Command to find he was not the only one awake.  Aeryn stood in front of the view screen, seemingly lost in thought.  John approached her slowly, afraid she might attack him thinking he was an intruder.  He cleared his throat and Aeryn turned, startled.  Her expression relaxed and she smiled at John, waiting for him to join her at her side.  John came up to her and entwined his hand into hers.  He looked out to the sparkling canvas of stars out the view screen and then back to Aeryn’s radiant face.   Aeryn turned to look at him as well, her eyes displaying only the love she had for this man.

 

“Couldn’t sleep either?” Aeryn asked gently.  John brushed his hand across Aeryn’s cheek affectionately.

 

“Thank you.”  The human stated.  Aeryn remained quiet, wondering what this human could have possibly meant by his last statement.  John laughed lightly.

 

“For what?”  She finally asked.

 

“For giving me the greatest gift.  I went home.  Home for Christmas.”  John smiled and leaned in to kiss Aeryn gently on the lips.  The two kissed as the stars twinkled vibrantly out the view screen beyond them.  Jingle. Jingle.

 

The End.  Merry Christmas Scapers!