"Have you seen Malcolm?"

    "Yeah."  Confusion at the question and the pointed look that accompanied it was plain as she said,  "We were both on the bridge this morning."

    He leaned over the table.  "Did you notice anything?"

    "Should I have?  I was pretty wrapped up translating the Arkadi database."

    Travis shifted in his seat.  "Well, lately it seems like... Wait, he just came in.  Okay, see for yourself."

    Travis and Hoshi both tried to watch without looking like they were watching.  Malcolm paused on his way to the drink dispenser to greet a crewman from sciences, smiling broadly as they exchanged a few words.  He got a drink and wandered over to the food cabinets, treating a female crewman to an elaborate "after you" gesture and a smile before selecting a plate for himself.  There was a spring in his step as he headed to the door and when he entered the corridor his lips puckered as if he might be whistling. 

    Travis grinned at Hoshi's wide eyes.  "Now do you see what I mean?"

    Hoshi shook her head slowly as if to clear it.  After a moment she managed to offer, "Maybe he's caught the holiday spirit."

    Travis raised a skeptical eyebrow.  "The holiday spirit?  Malcolm?  Last year he buried himself in work in the armoury claiming that everyone being on stand down gave him more elbow room to reconfigure the torpedo launchers."

    "Well..."  Hoshi still looked slightly dazed.  "Either that or he's been taken over by an alien entity."

    Travis fiddled with the handle of his coffee mug as he contemplated his friend's behaviour.  "I don't know which is more likely."


    Malcolm juggled holding his mug and plate as he punched in a door code.  The door slid open and his smile broadened when he discovered that he wasn't alone.  He set his food down and stalked over to the desk, grabbing the chair and sliding it back as he spun it around.  He indicated the plate of cake with two forks.  "Happy one week anniversary."

    A mirthful gaze assessed him.  "Is that smile ever going to leave your face?"

    Malcolm leaned down to plant a kiss on his lover's lips.  "Not with you around."