Rating: G

Spoilers: Yes.

Disclaimer: I did not create Farscape, the universe of Farscape, or its characters. I merely borrowed them for this story, for which I will receive no monetary compensation. No infringement of copyright intended.

Time Frame: Crichton's second Christmas on Moya. I guess somewhere mid-way in Season 2.

Posting: Anyone who wants it, post it. Just give me the proper credit for writing it.

Feedback: Please send feedback to jonann@gdi.net.

*

John Crichton, lost human astronaut, sat in Moya's mess hall staring at his plate of food. The rest of the crew was eating their dinner and talking like they normally do, but the human member of the group was quieter than usual on this night.

Occasionally, Aeryn looked at Crichton with concern about his unusual behavior. More often than not, she couldn't get the human to shut up. Now, he just sat there and stared at his food, not saying a word since he came into the room. At one point, Zhaan followed Aeryn's gaze at John and attempted to make conversation with their forlorn friend.

"So, John, Aeryn was telling me that you are improving at your self-defense training."

"Uh-huh," replied the human. He did not say anything further. Zhaan wanted to say more to him, but Chiana spoke to her and drew away her attention. Before Aeryn could say anything, John got up and threw away the uneaten contents of his plate. Rygel saw that and spoke to the departing human.

"You yotz! If you don't want to eat your food, save it for the rest of us."

Crichton did not respond as he left the room.

**

After dinner, Aeryn went to find Crichton. She wanted to find out what the frell was wrong with him. Pilot informed her that he was in the maintenance bay. A few microts later, Aeryn found him there, sitting in the open cockpit of his module. She approached him quietly, and waited for him to speak to her.

"Checking up on me, darlin," he said.

Aeryn smiled slightly, and shrugged her shoulders. "What is wrong, John? You seem, well, depressed."

"Well, Aeryn, on any given day since I got here, I could give you several reasons that I might be depressed. But, today, it just happens to come down to one thing: Christmas. As best I can determine, today is my second Christmas away from home."

"Oh, yes. I remember you told me about this holiday a cycle ago. Something about a religious figure being born, and a fat man sneaking into people's dwellings with presents for the occupants." She continued to talk as she leaned her head on the module and looked at him. "I found it strange then, and I still do."

"Well, chalk that up to another strange thing about the strange human," replied Crichton with frustration. "I'm sorry I have bothered you with another one."

"John, don't be that way. I'm sorry if I offended you. I just don't understand why this holiday is so important to you."

"It was a time every year, a special time, that my family came together to celebrate."

"Celebrate what? That's the part I don't understand. You talk about it having some religious significance, but then downplay that part and talk about getting things for people in your family. Which is it?"

"Both, I guess. Its hard to explain how important Christmas is."

"Maybe if you could put it in terms I could understand."

"Yeah, maybe. Let me see. I have tried telling you about the origins of Christmas, you didn't get that. I tried telling you about the modern customs of Christmas. You sort of got that, but still don't understand it beyond it being a time of eating, fun, and exchanging gifts. Christmas is just so much more, its just so much more powerful than that. It has a special meaning for many humans. If only..."

Crichton then remembered a Christmas story he once read somewhere. It had always been one of his favorite stories about the holiday. "Maybe..."

"Maybe what, John?"

Crichton looked at Aeryn, and thought that the story he was thinking of might be appropriate. "Okay, there is a story about something that happened one Christmas that might help you to understand. I wasn't there for this one, but I have always remembered it after reading about it."

"I'm listening."

"Well, a little over 50 years...cycles...ago, there was a great war on my planet. It was called World War II. This was one case where the sequel made an even bigger impression than the original. Anyway, there was a major battle fought in that war during Christmas. It was called the Battle of the Bulge. The battle was fought between the people from my country, Americans, and people from another country, the Germans. Part of the battle was fought in Germany. Anyway, it was fought in the dead of winter. The snow was thick on the ground..."

"Snow?"

"Frozen rain. It stays on the ground when it falls, and turns the ground white. Anyhow, it was so cold, the bare hands of the soldiers could freeze to their rifles. Near the site of the battle, a German woman and her young son had a farm house. They were preparing their Christmas dinner when they heard a knock at their door. When the woman and her son answered it, there were three American soldiers outside, one of them wounded. They were lost, separated from their units, and sought shelter there. Being a good and caring woman, she took them in. A while later, several German soldiers showed up. The woman let them in as well, but only on the condition that all of her guests put away their weapons and left the war outside. They agreed."

"You mean, the soldiers from opposite sides of the conflict stayed in the same house that night. That's unheard of, I can't see how..."

"Christmas. That is what the woman told them. It was Christmas, a day for peace on Earth, not war. At first, the American and German soldiers where nervous, but they soon found they had a lot in common. They were all young men who were forced to grow up by the violence of war. They actually began to be very congenial with each other. One of the Germans was a medic, and he helped the wounded American while the others talked like they were old friends. Then they all sat down and ate Christmas dinner together. As the prayer to God was said before dinner, the soldiers began to cry. They thought about home, and about how blessed they were to be able to leave the war for one night, for Christmas night. They all had dinner, and slept in the house that night. In the morning, the Americans and Germans went their separate ways, back to the war."

"John, that was an interesting story, but what is the point to it?"

"Don't you see, Aeryn. That is the power of Christmas. It is a time for humans to put aside their differences, their problems, their feuds, and sit together in fellowship. Christmas had the power to bring peace to a house in a war zone for one night. In the days before and after, thousands died as the Americans and Germans killed each other. But Christmas was more powerful than war and hatred. Christmas is about peace, love, and comradeship. That is the power of Christmas. Do you understand, at least a little?"

"Yes. I think so. At least, I understand more about Christmas than when I walked in here. I understand enough to know that Christmas has great meaning for you, and that is why you miss it so." She brushed her hand against his cheek slightly, but removed her hand and cleared her throat. "So, um, is there anything I can do for you."

"Well, maybe if...we could just talk for a while, about anything, it might make me feel better. It might make me forget about not being home for Christmas, at least for a while." Crichton thought for a moment, then said, "Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing, its just...what I just said, about being home for Christmas. Those soldiers were far from home, too. In some ways, I am embattled out here far from home like they were. You know, they had a song in that war about being away from home for Christmas, if only..."

Crichton thought for a moment, and then began to sing.

"I'll be home for Christmas. You can count on me. Please have snow, and mistletoe, and presents on the tree.

I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams."

"Those are the only words I remember, Aeryn. But that song sure fits." Crichton hung his head for a moment, then looked up at Aeryn. If he didn't know better, he could have sworn he saw a tear falling along Aeryn's cheek. He looked deeply into her eyes, and saw her concern for him reflected in them. John wiped her cheek with his thumb, and indeed did feel the wetness of a tear.

"That song was...beautiful and sad all at the same time,"said Aeryn. The two stared at each other for a moment, before Aeryn broke through the haze of emotions with a question. "You explained to me what snow is, and you told me about that tree last year, and I still don't understand that part, but what is a missile toe."

Crichton chuckle slightly. "Well, I'll tell ya, Aeryn. It is something that I sure would like to meet you under sometime."

The End