“This is what I get,” he grumbled, “for falling in love with someone in Starfleet.” 

It was cold out and the calendar was turning and it was most definitely the season, yet he was by himself. “Might as well get some work done.” It was the middle of the night but sometimes that was the best time to get anything creative accomplished. 

He tapped on a keyboard on his PADD and it sprang to life. “Let’s see, now.” He sat and thought briefly, “I’ve got the quiet. And I have no distractions whatsoever.” He sat there, grinning, for several minutes. “Way back when,” he mused aloud, “people used to type on paper, and then if they didn’t like what they’d written, they would wad it up and throw it across the room, or right into a waste paper basket.” He paused. “Printing out a sheet of nothing is, well, it’s stupid. But I think I’d like that wadding and throwing part, right about now.” 

He got up and looked out a window momentarily. “Computer.” 

Working 

“Switch to voice recognition for writing.” 

Ready 

He sat there quietly for several minutes more. “Dammit, I got nothing.” Then he saw the words printing on the screen. “Damn – erase that.” 

Accomplished 

He sighed. “Computer, give me inspiration.” 

This request is not recognized by this unit 

“No shit, Sherlock.” The words, again, were dutifully printed on the screen. “Erase that.” 

Accomplished 

“Switch back to keyboard mode.” 

Accomplished 

“And tell me why I got nothin’, all of a sudden.” 

This request is not recognized by this unit 

“Then you won’t recognize this one, either. Tell me why, when I’m sleeping, I have the most interesting ideas and dreams. My subconscious is a factory! But I wake up and it all turns to ashes.” 

This request is not recognized by this unit 

“Right; thanks for nothing.” He switched on the viewer. 

Select from a list of previously-designated favorite programs, or browse the historical selections. Or, if you wish, browse new selections or watch the news 

“Favorites. Uh, no, show me historical for, uh, Earth winter holidays.” 

Selections include Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Bad Santa, Jingle All the Way, several versions of A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Would you like to see more choices? 

“No, that’s all right. Play, uh, this one looks interesting. Play It’s a Wonderful Life.” 

He settled in and was entertained for a few hours. Once the credits had finished rolling, Damien commanded, “Computer, open communications to Kalara on the Redemption.” 

Ready 

And for a few moments, although it was a little silly, Damien explained to Kalara that, whenever you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings. After she’d listened, the Klingon replied, “That is a fantasy story, you know.” 

“I know,” he said, “but did you ever, sometimes, miss being a child, and believing in things, even though they seemed illogical, like they could never possibly be true?” 

“What’s bringing this on?” 

“I don’t know. A little nostalgia, I suppose. And I just miss you. I just plain miss you, Kali.” 

“I miss you, too. We’ll be together again soon.” 

After they’d disconnected, they both settled into bed, in their respective places. And both Kalara and Damien, inexplicably, dreamt of bells.