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Helen smiled, she could hear Kate’s voice the moment she stepped off the elevator.
“Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,”
She always felt a little honoured when she heard it, she seldom sang knowing others were nearby, and would probably stop the moment she realised Helen could hear her now.
Her voice carried softly above all the other noises on this floor, a sweet melody, making the otherwise plain space feel a little more like Christmas.
She was fairly certain she knew which room it was coming from, and moving as quietly as she could, she walked in its direction, biting her lip as she concentrated on each gentle step.
“When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.”
It was such a pity Kate was so shy with it, she had such a beautiful voice.
The first time Helen had heard it she had been so astonished, they had both been working late and Kate hadn’t long been with them yet, she was sorting the food store, with her earphones in, and with the time fast approaching 2 am she probably thought she was all alone.
It had completely escaped her notice that Helen had been in the adjacent lab.
In her defence, there was no reason why she would assume anyone would be in the lab at that time, so few ever worked the hours Helen did, but It was so adorable how bright red she’d gone, when she finally noticed her standing in the door, and try as she might, she had never gotten Kate to sing for her since, not properly.
“Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,”
Not even years after, when they became an item, and they spent their evenings with no one else about, sat together on the sofa curled up in each other’s arms. She would always refuse.
It didn’t matter how much she praised it, or how much she bargained, Helen found the only way she would be treated to a song or two was in the car, and even then she didn’t think it really counted, Kate always picked something rock heavy and the speakers would also have to be going full blast.
“When a poor man came in sight, knitting winter wool.”
As she drew closer, she found her previous assumption was true, and the song was slowly drifting under the door of the Steno’s enclosure.
Kate’s voice was clearer now with so little between them and she found she had to hold back a chuckle at what she heard, what she thought was a perfect rendition of a loved Christmas carol was in fact a more imaginative version.
Kate obviously didn’t know the words, but even so, she had managed to get the tune spot on.
“Liver, sage, and English tea, if you own it, sell it,”
Holding her breath, she listened carefully with her hand at the door.
“Wandering pheasant’s, are they free? Why is that man there yelling?”
“Sire, mad men make no sense, living on the mountain.”
That bit made her snort and she raised her other hand to cover her mouth, wishing she had some way of recording it.
“Right, I want a pop-up tent, parked by my favourite fountain.”
It went on like that for a few more verses while Helen struggled to keep her silence, listening to each one gleefully until eventually Kate seemed to lose track, filling in the gaps with long pauses and drawn out tones.
When it looked as if she had swapped to Oh Come, All Ye Faithful, Helen shook her head, deciding it was probably time to rescue her from the little scamp.
Slowly, trying hard to school her features, she twisted the handle, opening the enclosure door and peeking in just as Kate went silent.
“Hey you.”
Kate’s head spun round looking up at her from the floor, her mouth falling slightly open before huffing a small, surprised little laugh.
“Hey,” she answered, ducking her head as she started to blush.
Helen’s smile deepened at the sight, and she slipped in properly, moving to sit close beside her. Ralph lay curled up on her other side on a pile of blankets, (one of which Helen recognised from Kate’s own bed,) his head nestled in her lap while Kate was gently scratching his ears.
It took her a few long seconds to get comfortable, crossing her legs wasn’t really the best idea while wearing this particular skirt, it was damn near impossible in fact, but Kate said nothing while she fidgeted, sitting quietly until Helen had settled and reached across her to scratch at ralphs other ear.
She glanced at her a few times then, licking her lips before she spoke.
“How much did you hear?”
Helen hummed. “Only a few lines, you know, I don’t think I have ever heard that version before, but I think I like it better.”
Kate frowned at that, her cheeks growing just a bit darker, and because Helen couldn’t resist winding her up a little, she leaned in close and added, “Henry’s arranging karaoke later, I’m sure the others would love to hear it to.”
“Urrgggghh no!”
“Alright, alright,” Helen laughed, pulling her back from where she had dramatically leaned away, leaving her arm around her shoulders.
“You know its Hank’s fault right! He has had carols on repeat for a week now and the songs got stuck in my head!” Kate huffed, squirming in her hold.
It made Helen laugh some more and she nodded in agreement. “he does seem to like this season especially.”
She waited a minute letting her regain some semblance of calm.
“How’s he doing?” she asked, gesturing towards ralph when Kate had relaxed again.
Kate sighed and Helen held her just a little tighter.
“He still seems off, scratching at the door, refusing his food. But I noticed something the other day,” she paused, “promise not to tease?”
“Promise.”
“Well, I was singing, and he started eating better.”
Helen hummed again, leaning forward so she could look properly at ralph, when the Steno’s eyes glanced up at her before tucking his head further into Kate’s lap she chuckled.
“You are a cheeky devil, aren’t you?”
“Cheeky?” Kate’s brows furrowed.
“Yes, cheeky,” Helen continued talking to Ralph, “keeping Kate from her dinner, my old friend will have a fit if I don’t return with her soon you know, he has slaved away too long in that kitchen for his Christmas dinner to be eaten cold.”
Kate rolled her eyes, “I do know I’m late, it’s just…” she sighed, “I really don’t like leaving him when he’s ill.”
Helen smiled at her warmly, lifting her hand to brush her hair aside and tuck it behind her ear.
“And I wouldn’t expect you too, but darling, ralph isn’t ill.” Helen ran her hand up and down her arm as the frow came back. “I did his bloods this morning, run every test I could think of, they all came back clean.”
Kate’s hand stilled on ralphs back as she tried to sort through this new piece of information. “Your serious?”
She nodded, smiling at the adamant little crease between her eyes. “I promise you, he is ok.”
“But he’s…
“Playing up, I think, when your close by. he behaves perfectly fine when you’re not. I have video footage to prove it.”
“What, so he has been conning me!” Kate exclaimed, looking back and forth between ralph and Helen.
“I’m afraid so.”
And as if he had been listening the entire time ralph started to wiggle happily where he lay, sticking his tongue out and trying his best to lick at Kate’s shoe. He yapped when she poked him, playfully rolling over in a great heap and grabbing hold of her sleeve with his teeth.
“Oh, you are so not getting any turkey now,” Kate said, narrowing her eyes at him and then laughed as she tugged her arm free.
Helen was relieved to see all the tension she had been carrying finally disappear.
“Speaking of which, we should…” Helen gently nudged her with her shoulder.
“Crap! Yes, angry yeti in the kitchen.”
Helen chuckled, stretching out before she stood, helping Kate to her feet.
“You’re still going to sneak him turkey later, aren’t you?” she smiled knowingly as they threw a few toys to distract him and quickly exited to the room.
“Maybe.”