According to Earth chronology, it was December 24th, and most of the Normandy's crew were gathered in the lounge for a Christmas party. Despite the occasion, the only sound from that room was raucous singing.

The guests had formed a semi-circle around the singer. Their voice resounded across the Normandy's third deck for several minutes, ringing from the crew quarters even to the forward battery.

"…During my Rite, did a Thresher Maw fall,

Making him my Battlemaster was the right call!

Then wiith a keen eye, Garrus shot every Collector's head,

Then the galaxy learned they had nothing to dread.

Jack spoke not a word, but grabbed a tentacle,

And hurled Harbinger into the nearest black hole.

Then the Battlemaster's ships all turned in a moment,

Hitting the rest of the Reapers with orbital bombardment!

Shepard sprang to his flagship, and it took to the sky,

As with a loud crash did the last Reaper die.

And I heard him exclaim, after such a good fight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Grunt finished his version of the poem, then belched loudly as the Ryncol finally started to affect him. Everyone else at the Christmas party was staring at Grunt, eyes wide in shock. Kelly tried to speak but just trailed off, lost for words.

The silence was broken by Jack let out a raucous laugh. "There's a Christmas song I can enjoy!" Jack cheered, slapping her thigh and reaching for her drink with her free hand. Next to her Zaeed, the only person near her, made a noise that could've been anything from a restrained laugh to a snort. Grunt gave a short chuckle and thrust his empty Ryncol bottle into Gabby's unsuspecting hands.

Joker started to snicker, but a glare from Grunt had him burst into applause. "Uh… uh, bravo! Yeah, encore, encore!" Joker cheered, clapping and walking around insincerely trying to generate applause as Mordin whispered to himself. "Vaguely familiar with song. Grunt's lyrics… different."

Kasumi finished recording Grunt on her omni-tool, grabbed two drinks from the bar next to Shepard and Tali and sidled over to Jacob. "That was a shock, right? Maybe you should sit down." She whispered to the stunned soldier, gesturing to the curtained area that was her temporary bedroom - cordoned off for the party.

"Hey Kasumi!" Garrus called as he approached, causing the master thief to turn, frowning slightly. "How much for that recording?" He whispered. All trace of annoyance disappearing from Kasumi's face, and she gave Garrus a calculating smile.

Shepard and Tali stood side by side, Tali's straw hanging forgotten from the emergency induction port. "There are many things I've seen in all my years of life, but moments like this show me… I still have much to learn." Samara confessed to the stunned couple. Ollanius Shepard took a moment to collect himself. "At least the party was a success. Alright, everyone! It's time for the presents!" He announced, quickly slipping back into Captain mode.

"You got me a present, Shepard?" Beamed Tali as everyone else went for the presents piled under the tree. "Yes, but I left it in my cabin, actually." He replied. "Oh, you're just trying to take advantage of your adoring engineer, aren't you?" Tali cooed softly, playfully bumping him with her hip. "Hmmm…" Ollanius said, as if giving the idea serious consideration. "In that case Tali, I've gotten you two gifts."