"Dontcha just love Christmas morning?" Kaylee smiled, accepting the mug of hot chocolate from the Shepherd.

"I tend to love it more after I get to sleep through a significant portion of Christmas Eve," Book chuckled, sitting at the table next to the mechanic.

"Yeah, but think of all those kiddies who get to wake up now," Kaylee murmured dreamily. "Thinking they won't be gettin' nothing and then creeping outta their bedrooms to find trees, toys and warm clothes for the coming months. All cuzza us."

"It does warm the heart, doesn't it?" Book smiled.

"So, whaddya think they're doing back on Serenity ?" Kaylee asked after a moment of quiet had passed. Book looked at her curiously.

"The Captain and the doctor?" he asked in response. Kaylee shrugged and looked away before her real question could be read in her face.

"Well, it's Christmas..." she mumbled. "I mean, d'ya think they're opening presents yet?"

"I don't think the Captain was planning on celebrating Christmas," the Shepherd replied quietly. At Kaylee's look of shock, he felt the sudden need to apologize.

"But I always give him a present Christmas morning!" she pointed out. "And he always gives me something, too - a little something over breakfast! Every year...'cept the first one..." Kaylee's voice trailed off as it occurred to her. Book just waited.

"He don't celebrate, 'less someone else is there," she realized aloud. She looked to the Shepherd for confirmation.

"I'm sure it's because he thinks that in his present state of belief," Book began slowly, "Or lack of belief, that he shouldn't celebrate the birth of - "

"We gotta go back!" Kaylee announced. "No way is my Captain not havin' Christmas. It's time for family and when ya ain't close enough to family, it's time for close enough! Let's go, Shepherd!"

Her hot chocolate now forgotten, Kaylee stormed off to the shuttle. Book could only stare after her in amazement. Of course, he realized that Kaylee had to be the source of Christmas spirit on the