Kathryn was oblivious to Chakotay standing in the kitchen doorway, a grin on his face, as he watched her frowning over the padd in her hand. Before her on the counter were a large mixing bowl and what seemed to be an enormous number of boxes and packages.

"Don't tell me you're trying to make cookies again!"

Kathryn turned to glare at him.

"I'd have got the cookies right by now if you would stop distracting me. Go away and leave me in peace, I'm not making cookies and I've only got time to do this once so I need to do it right."

"If it's not cookies then what is it?"

"Plum Pudding"

"Yuck, I hate plums!"

"It's ok, there aren't any plums in it."

"Then why is it called Plum Pudding?"

"I guess it must have had plums in it originally, now it just has dried fruit. It's also called Christmas Pudding so we can call it that if you prefer."

"I don't think we need worry about what we'll call it until you actually manage to make it."

"Why does everyone assume I can't cook? I can cook, I just prefer to use the replicator."

"From what I hear that can be hit or miss too."

"I burned pot roast once, ONCE Chakotay, that's all! Is it my fault that the replicator malfunctioned?"

"So why aren't you using the replicator now?"

"Replicated Christmas Pudding doesn't taste the same, and besides this has to be done in a certain way. It's ....."

"Traditional. I know!"

"Just let me get on with it Chakotay. I'll call you when I need you to stir it."

"Stir it? Kathryn, how do you expect to make a pudding if you can't even stir it by yourself?"

"Of course I can stir it but it's part of the tradition. Everyone in the house has to stir the pudding and make a wish, then when you eat the pudding if you get a charm in your piece it means your wish will come true."

"A charm?"

Kathryn gestured to three silver charms on the counter.

"Finding the coin means prosperity, the thimble means good luck and the ring means marriage."

"So who will be eating this pudding?"

"Just the two of us."

"Then it looks like my wish will come true no matter who gets the charms."

Chakotay walked out of the kitchen leaving Kathryn to stare after him in bewilderment. With a shrug she turned back to the padd and prepared for her assault on the Christmas pudding. This was a battle she couldn't afford to lose.

=^=