"Let me get this straight," Ronon said, looking at Sheppard suspiciously. "People on your world cut down a tree, bring it in the house and hang shiny stuff on it to celebrate this Christmas thing? And a fat guy rides a sleigh all over your world delivering toys to the children and he does it all in one night?"

Sheppard smiled winningly. "Yeah. And the kids hang up stockings so Santa will put presents in them. It's a pretty good deal."

"Are you sure the fat guy rides a sleigh? He's gotta be flying something faster than that. What type of engine does the sleigh have?" Ronan asked, not sure whether or not to believe what Sheppard was telling him.

"The sleigh doesn't have an engine," Sheppard explained, his eyes twinkling. "It's pulled by eight reindeer."

Ronon blinked. "Reindeer? What are reindeer?"

"They're Earth animals with four legs and antlers."

"This Santa guy has animals pulling his sleigh all over the planet? You're joking, right?"

Sheppard held up his right hand. "Swear to God, I'm not. He's been doing it for centuries."

Ronon shook his head. "That's impossible. One old guy can't do all of that. No way. Now if he had others helping him, maybe. But alone? Not a chance."

"Well, he does have elves. They're tiny people who make the toys for him."

This time, Ronon stared at him. "Tiny people make the toys?" Sheppard nodded, an earnest expression on his face. Ronon just looked stunned.

At that moment, Rodney walked in and noticed the look on Ronon's face. "What are you telling him now?" he demanded with a sigh.

"I'm explaining Christmas and Santa," Sheppard replied with a grin and the scientist grinned back.

"Make sure you tell him about mistletoe," was all Rodney said before continuing on his way.

"Mistletoe?" Ronon asked curiously. Sheppard nodded emphatically, glancing over at Elizabeth who sat three tables away talking to Teyla.

"Yeah, it's probably the best thing about Christmas. You hang it up in a doorway and get a woman you like to stand under it while you are."

"And then what?"

Sheppard rolled his eyes. "You kiss her. And she can't actually get mad because it's tradition." Ronon mulled that over for a moment as he looked over at Teyla.

"So, you got any mistletoe?"

Fin