Hello Everyone,
This story was a little different and is not yet complete but it was getting down to the line and I really wanted to get something posted before Christmas Day. This is a story not only written by me but several other great Fan Fiction writers, so far they include:
Myself, Octoberskys, Blackdeer, DaDoozer, Elizabeth Carter and Cloverdaze.
The story isn't done and neither is my list of very talented writers. Feel free to review and guess who wrote what.. lol Enjoy and as always, Merry Christmas and may there be peace on Earth.
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A Christmas Story
Time period: Mass Effect 1 – Crew onboard SSV Normandy, SR1
"Ok everyone, gather around!" shouted the excited Alliance Officer.
A large evergreen tree filled a corner of the CIC as a small group of individuals huddled around. "What's this about Commander," questioned the turian. Attempting to hold in her excitement, Shepard replied, "Give me a chance Garrus, I was just about to explain."
The small crowd laughed amongst themselves before they settled down to hear what Commander Shepard, First Human Spectre, Savior of the Citadel had to say. "On my home planet of Earth, we have a very special holiday called Christmas in which we celebrated love, peace on earth and goodwill towards men. This year, I'd like celebrate the holiday with a party and a gift exchange."
Upon hearing the words, party and gift, part of the group of mismatched crew members erupted in excitement while others stared at Shepard with a dumbfounded look that easily conveyed they had no idea what she was talking about.
Tali was the first to ask, "How is this suggested exchange in presents going to work Shepard?" earning a few laughs from the other humans.
"Glad you asked Tali," Shepard sung. Snatching Joker's hat off his head, Shepard poured several small pieces of paper in the hat as she shook and stirred them with her hand. "I'm going to pass the hat around, everyone take one piece of paper. On the piece of paper, will be someone's name and that is who you will be getting a gift for. The secret is not to tell anyone whose name you picked."
Looking at the two giggling aliens next to Dr. Chakwas, Shepard added, "That includes you two; Liara and Tali." Calling out the two snickering women sparked a contagious laugh that filled the room. Everyone one was excited indeed.
Passing the hat around, Shepard continued her explanation. "Now you can trade your Secret Santa with someone else if you want to." Interrupting, Liara politely asked, "Shepard, I thought you said we weren't allowed to tell anyone who our Secret Santa was?"
A mild expression of frustration blanketed the Commander's face, as she knew explaining this holiday to a group of aliens, no matter how intelligent they were, was going to be difficult.
Ignoring the Spectre's attempt to explain, Ashley chirped, "My sisters and I love Secret Santa! We would always switch names; although sometimes, we had to bribe each other to get the name we wanted."
"Why did you have to bribe to get a name? Didn't you pull a name from a hat?" asked a curious Garrus.
Laughing, Joker answered for Ash. "Sometimes, you pull a name and you have no idea what to get that person, so you trade with someone else for an easier name. And sometimes that person doesn't want to give up their name without being given something." Louder and to the whole group, Joker belted, "So if anyone wants to pay me off me with a heated massage chair, I'll trade whatever name I have!"
Chiming into the conversation, Wrex asked, "Will there be poker tables at this party like we had at casino night?" Looking at everyone in the room, he slapped Garrus hard on the shoulder as he mentioned, "Now, that was a fun night!" The giant battlemaster appeared to be grinning from ear to ear, if that was possible.
Rubbing her temple, Shepard explained, "No, there won't be any gambling during the Christmas Party. There will be tree decorating, eggnog, music and of course the gift exchange." Shooting a sideways glance to her favorite asari, Shepard added, "Maybe even some mistletoe." Although Liara didn't know what mistletoe was, she could tell by the expression on the commander's face, it was going to be something she would enjoy.
Hoping to gain some support from her fellow commander, Shepard looked to her Chief Medical Officer and asked, "Anything you'd like to add? It would be greatly appreciated, Doc."
The mild-mannered woman shrouded in a gray uniform answered, "Only one thing, Commander." The doctor's voice rose in order to address the whole crew – human and alien alike. "This year, stims will NOT be passed out like candy canes- so mind your eggnog consumption!"
An audible groan could be heard throughout the room, but the doctor's only reply was to cross her arms stoically.
Joker playfully nudged Ashley and whispered, "Unless you're sneaky enough to bribe the good doctor with a little elf magic called brandy."
"I heard that Mr. Moreau," cautioned the doctor. "That ploy will not work this year."
As the hat continued to be passed through the room, Liara and Tali stared at the bare fir tree in the corner and Garrus walked up to join them.
Gesturing to the tree, Tali asked, "What is the significance of this?"
"I did some research," said Liara. "Humans decorate it with incandescent lights and in lieu of its triangle shape and ability to stay green all year, it becomes a symbol for the ever-burning fire of life."
"I thought it was an appetizer," remarked the quarian.
Both women looked over to Garrus who had broken of a piece of the tree and was in the midst of munching on it. "Oh damn," said the turian sheepishly between chews, "…this is awkward."
With four pieces of paper left, Shepard – who had the hat of names in her hand - moved over to the group standing near the tree. First, she offered the hat to Garrus who was still munching on the impromptu appetizer. He mumbled "not bad" before snatching a piece of paper out of the hat. Then the commander turned to Tali, who ritualistically performed a quarian version of "eenie meenie miney mo" and then selected a piece of paper.
With only two names left in the hat, Shepard turned to Liara and smiled anxiously. "Liara…"
"Shepard," replied the asari as she stepped closer – personal space now at a minimum- and shyly returned the commander's smile. Grabbing a piece of paper from the hat, she innocently said, "You will have to explain the significance of mistletoe to me, Commander. Perhaps privately?"
Shepard's eyes grew wide and she felt a lump lodge in her throat. Coughing nervously, she said, "Um…yeah. That sounds great."
As the Spectre's eyes met Liara's, the room beyond seemed to fade away- as if space and time had been displaced and only they now existed at the center of the universe… Until the Gunnery Chief enthusiastically elbowed the commander in the ribs failed to break the trance, "Skipper?"
Lucid pools of absolute blue shimmered and danced vividly amongst the artificial lights of the CIC; playfully teasing the on looking pair of human eyes with alluring mysteries and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
The gunnery chief once again tried to get the attention of her commander, her tone adopting a sing-song like melody as she spoke. "Earth to Commander Shepard..."
They stood inching closer and closer, each pair of lips, each flash of the eye infinitely daring the other to partake in an offered pleasure. Each wondering what selection of tactics and charms would force the other into the victor's arms...
"Ah jeez, cut it out you two! You're sappier than the tree!" Ash chuckled quirking an eyebrow and jutting her elbow into the exposed right side of Shepard's hip, "Stand there long enough and we just might start hanging ornaments off the both of you instead."
Instantly Shepard was snapped out of her amorous thoughts and back into the realities of the present amidst the gathered crew still populating the command deck.
"I... We...She was...Uh...What?" Shepard helplessly fumbled, tongue-tied between words and incoherent muddled thoughts, trying desperately to regain her military composure.
Liara instantly felt an unwelcome faint purple blush to her once blue freckled cheeks. She groaned softly, placing a concealing hand across the quickly expanding shy smile that skittered across her face. I must definitely research this mistletoe Shepard spoke of when I return to the med bay. It seemed to have quite a profound effect on the commander.
A familiar male voice interrupted her thoughts as a pair of arms wrapped jovially around Liara's and Shepard's shoulders.
"What's going on?" questioned the Normandy's hot shot pilot.
"Nothing much," replied the Gunnery Chief. "I was just about to propose to Shepard that we should make this Secret Santa a little bit more interesting."
"Do I dare ask how you plan on managing that? I mean why complicate simple." Shepard sighed.
"Because you of all people should know complications are what make things fun." Williams simply winked.
"So someone on this ship has Liara's name. Your mission, Skipper, is to find who has it and obtain it. Liara's mission is the same only with your name."
The commander arched an eyebrow, leaning back on her right leg and folding her arms across her chest. "Ok, still sounds simple and I had that intention anyway. What's the catch?"
The confident, dark haired soldier pondered the idea for a moment before breaking into a smug cheshire grin and excitedly replying, "You can't order it. That'd make things way too easy. Special Tactics and Reconnaissance right?"
"Yes,,," Shepard already knew where this was going. "So you're saying this is a training course as a Spectre?"
"Exactly so." Garrus' mandibles flickered in amusement.
"In the meantime, we carry out own Secret Santa objectives." Williams said.
"And what exactly are these objectives?" Wrex asked feeling on just this side of bewilderment. He knew of some krogan who had their plates turned by some soft squishy asari, they tended to spout bad poetry and shower their women with gifts, but this was something utterly alien to him. To give a gift to a female he had no intention to breed, or bribe into compliance over some deal of was…unheard of. The old battlemaster however noted he was quite lucky in that he happened to have picked Williams. She liked guns, he liked guns: it made things simple.
"As a Secret Santa you give gifts to the person you chose, do small favors for them without them knowing it. Hence the word secret. The gifts don't have to be expensive, just fun. Something you know they will enjoy. It's all in good spirit," Shepard explained further.
At this everyone gave a second look to the little slips of paper, each formalizing a plan on how achieve their objective.
Tali thought her own pick was quite easy. Joker was a man who liked his ships, he loved to fly. A few model ships or anything about ships really and she'd have an easy time of it. Oh and of course there were a few vids he liked, such as Vaenia.
Despite the fact Shepard did indeed want Liara as her Secret Santa; she knew she'd enjoy leaving little things for the youngest member of the crew. Tali was the little sister Shepard never had. The young woman didn't have a great deal to call her own; it'd be nice to get her a few things. Yes- this could be fun. She gave a look to the lovely Prothean Expert as she thought, "Then again, finding out who held her name and gaining possession of it was also going to be fun."
Liara for her part was intrigued by this holiday. Of course the asari had a similar holiday, where one gave gifts to loved ones but never covertly. And this mistletoe sounded like a human aphrodisiac, though one with religion significance to this holiday.
Once she got back to the Med-Bay Liara immediately started the research into the plant called mistletoe. What she found out surprised her to say the least for such a plant held in some regard by Shepard was typically an infestation on other trees found on earth, its Anglo-Saxon name latterly meant dung-on-a-stick. Some primitive cultures had used the juice of the berry as an adhesive to capture insets and small birds. It was also used medicinally but if not properly processed could become quite deadly. In human folk-lore it was used by their old gods as a slayer of their kith. Liara, also found it was sometimes seen as a divine male essence (and thus romance, fertility and vitality), possibly due to a resemblance between the berries and semen. It was later ritualistically used to by ancient Christmas custom between a man and a woman who meet under a hanging of mistletoe were obliged to kiss. This confused Liara as Shepard was very much very female.
Perhaps Dr. Chakwas could provide answers the extranet wikipedia could not. "Time to ask some question," thought the professor. Besides it was a good opportunity to gain her own reconnaissance, not only was Liara the good doctor's Secret Santa, she might just figure out if Chakwas had picked her heart's desire as her own Santa.
Searching out her quarry Liara found Dr. Chakwas huddled over her computer. As soon as she saw the young asari, the human quickly and deftly slicked the monitor so that Liara could not see what she was viewing.
"Liara, what can I do for you?"
"I need a bit of clarification about something I was researching on human customs. Particularly the mistletoe." For the next five minutes the Prothean Expert had laid out all she had learned about Earth's little plant.
Chakwas laughed softly- not at the maiden, but at her assumptions. "As many earth customs, much of the history is forgotten either deliberately or by neglect. For anyone, anymore all mistletoe means is that you get kissed under it. That's the game: catch someone under it and give them a kiss and if you're lucky you ambush your…special somebody."
"Ambush them?" Liara mused. She had learned much of military tactics with her time on the Normandy. Ambushing, out maneuvering and flanking your pray was one of them. Purled lips curled into a very devious smile. Now all she had to do was to gain access to the commander's quarters.
In the meantime, the former C-Sec officer whose head was buried deep in the Mako's engine was fending off another from trying to obtain his chosen Secret Santa: Commander Shepard. The man yelled, "Gadatz!" as metal clanked on metal and the turian jerked as if striking himself. Shaking his wrist from the unexpected contact, Garrus asked the person behind him. "Tell me why you want Shepard's name again so bad?"
The voice behind him said in a pleading tone, "Because I have NO CLUE what to get a krogan battlemaster!" Joker lifted both of his arms in the air as if to increase his height. "I am krogan! Hear me roar!" He let his arms fall to his sides. "The guy blinks and people fall dead. Whaddya get for someone like that? Sunglasses?"
"What makes you think I know what Wrex would want?"
"You hang out together in the storage bay EVERY day, Garrus! You must talk! Head butting tactics, accessorizing with assault rifles, the puniness of humans… Who knows what fascinating conversations you two share?"
"Wrex doesn't talk much."
"Garrus!" snapped the pilot, "That's NOT the point! The point is that desperate times have arrived! And you're the only one who can help me."
"Fine. I'll do it," said Garrus. "On one condition…"
"Name it."
"Get me some more of that fir tree."
The next day, Gunner Chief Williams strode confidently into the med bay. She was dressed in Alliance casual clothes, but her hair was pulled back with a festive red and green hair tie. No one had noticed her "out of compliance" accessory, so a smug smile graced her face. "I've considered your offer, Doctor."
The recipient of Ashley commentary, Dr. Chakwas, was standing next a med bed and running some routine diagnostics. She turned around when she heard the younger woman's voice. "And what have you decided, Chief?"
"I agree to your terms of name swapping. You can have Liara's and I will take Garrus'. Not only will this make it harder for Shepard, but I already know what to get Garrus."
Smiling, Chakwas remarked, "Oh? What's that?"
"I'm getting him an assortment of evergreens. He's already eaten half of the Christmas tree," the chief rolled her eyes, "although he denies it better than a politician."
"That sounds perfect, Chief." Chakwas looked at the time on the wall. "If there's nothing else, I'm afraid I have an appointment to keep."
"No problem, Doc." Ashley turned and headed out the door, almost colliding with Liara as she stepped into the med bay. The chief stopped when she saw that the asari had a bottle of brandy in her hands. The Ashley looked to Chakwas – who had a "deer in the headlight" expression on her face, and then looked to Liara – who was smiling innocently.
In an instant, the Gunnery Chief knew she'd been played. "But… but… That's not fair!"
"All is fair in love and war, Chief," countered Chakwas with a grin. "And my love of brandy wins the match."
Liara stepped over to the medical doctor and handed her the bottle of vintage Serrice Ice Brandy. "I did fulfill your mission requirements, Chief. I used some subterfuge, my knowledge of the doctor's appreciation of brandy and a bribe to get the name I wanted." Liara's innocent smile turned into a "not-so-innocent" smirk.
The Chief narrowed her eyes as she put her hands on her hips and then huffed, "At least the Commander doesn't cheat!"
As if on cue, Shepard walked into the med bay with a bottle of brandy in her hands. She immediately halted her progress when she saw the other three women in the room. "I'm sorry, Doctor. Am I early? I thought we had an appointment."
Doctor Chakwas smiled. "We do, Commander. And you are right on time."
"This is SO not fair!" whined Ashley. "You were supposed to be all 'Spectre-y'!"
"Ash," reasoned Shepard, "rule number one in being a Spectre: hire all the mercenaries you can to do your dirty work." Smirking mischievously, she handed the bottle of brandy to Chakwas, who accepted it with grand amusement.
"Wait a minute!" Ashley's eyes scanned the room suspiciously. "I know for a fact that you," the chief pointed a finger at Shepard, "couldn't have Liara's name! Because I know who does!"
The doors of the med bay opened once again and Joker- who was reading a tablet- walked in. "Doc, I know you said giving me stims for the eggnog wasn't ethical, but still… I figured I rubbed your back by getting Liara's name into…" Joker looked up and saw four pairs of female eyes staring at him- one of which had a murderous glare. He swiveled around and immediately left the room. "I'll talk to you later, Doc!"
Ashley spun on her heel so she faced Chakwas. "You're a double agent!" the chief loudly accused.
The older woman raised both hands in the air – each holding a bottle of brandy and she grinned brazenly. "All's fair, Chief."
Ashley shook her head and chuckled. "All right. I know when I've been out maneuvered." She raised her eyebrow and praised, "You're crafty for a doctor."
"Why thank you, Chief." Chakwas secured both bottles of brandy in a locked drawer. "When we're off shift, I'll share the rewards I've reaped."
"Deal, Doctor." Ashley looked over to the commander and Prothean expert, but held her tongue. Instead she walked out of the med bay, still chuckling on the doctor's well-played game.
While the gunnery chief and medical doctor were having their exchange, Liara and Shepard had moved toward the med lab doors…
"So..."
"So..."
"You worked a deal with the doc' too… pretty craft professor." said Shepard, cozying up to Liara, as they were now in the professor's back room.
"It was merely a process of identifying who was in a position to best achieve what I needed accomplished."
"Uh huh."
"Shepard, I'm detecting a note of skepticism."
"What? No, I'm extremely impressed with your skills Dr. T'Soni and absolutely flattered you would go to such lengths to secure your objective."
"Well, Commander Shepard, securing the objective is usually the primary goal is it not?"
"I couldn't agree with you more." said Shepard, as she put her arms around Liara.
"Hmmm...then perhaps you would care to elaborate on your overwhelming enthusiasm for mistletoe."
"Oh professor," said Shepard making a mental note to check on the status of the special delivery of mistletoe she had ordered, "It would be my pleasure to elaborate on the benefits of mistletoe." Shepard leaned into the professor with the intent of nuzzling her most delicious neck as Liara continued.
"Good. Because I must say, I am rather stumped as to why a poisonous plant that has been referred to as 'dung on a stick' has any relevance to your religious holiday."
"What?" That was a real mood killer, thought Shepard as she backed up to try and focus on the conversation.
"Mistletoe Shepard, I am attempting to understand why something that is spread through bird excrement is an integral part of your holiday, please focus."
"I am focusing...Uh ... It's not like that ... Um... Where did you get this info?"
"From the extranet Wikipedia, you made reference to this mistletoe the other day and it was obvious from your tone there was some sort of possible aphrodisiac properties associated with it but after my research I do not understand why humans would quite literally get excited over…well… shit."
"Liara!"
"Vorcha yes, I could see their interest but humans? I can find no instances of shit in any form being used as an aphrodisiac in your culture. I found numerous references to it being a catch all when referencing something disagreeable: 'this is a piece of shit' ... 'Shit happens' or 'SHIT! I stubbed my toe'"
"Liara!" said Shepard jumping back at the professor's exuberant rant.
"But never in any holiday or religious connotation with the possible exception of 'holy shit' but that seemed more of an astonished exclamation than anything said in relation to a deity. And as far as the aphrodisiac implications, the only instance I was able to uncover seemed to be a rather crass guttural reference exclaimed in the heat of passion by one partner to the other 'I want to-"
"LIARA!" shouted Shepard knowing what was coming next.
"The shit out of you'… Yes Shepard? Why are you shouting?"
***************** Cockpit
"Joker."
"Hey commander; what's up?"
"Any word on what happened to my package?"
"We confirmed it was in the manifest and the chief is down in the cargo bay working on finding it for you as we speak."
Shepard left the cockpit faster than a Volus could say 'sold' as Joker switched over one of the vid screens and continued watching the latest episode of Vaenia.
***************** Cargo Bay
"I'm out."
"Me too." Wrex gruffily stated.
"Ooh...I win again!" exclaimed a jubilant Tali.
"Damn Garrus, you need to lay off the tree and deal us some better cards." said the chief, tossing her cards over to the former security officer. As Tali returned her cards to Garrus for the next hand they flipped, exposing her winning hand, "Wait...you raised a hundred credits on a pair of twos? That's a ridiculous bet!"
"She out bluffed you chief." said Garrus, happily chewing on a branch.
"Just lucky I guess."
"Hmph, my hump it's luck." grumbled the krogan.
Joker's voice over the intercom interrupted them, "Hey chief? Heads up, the commander's on her way down to see if you've found her 'package.'"
"Is that the-"
"Yes." said the gunny to Tali before acknowledging Joker, "Thanks Joker."
"No prob."
"All right guys, flip it."
The squad's makeshift card table crate was flipped upside down and three of them were now scanning data pads of manifests, all evidence of gambling safely removed, while Tali fiddled with her omni-tool.
"Tali, are we a go?" asked the chief.
"Almost there...boshtet!"
"That doesn't sound good." Grumbled the krogan.
"Who would put triple layer galactic standard encryption on their personal environmental controls?"
"Can you do it?"
"Chief I'm a quarian it's just going to be a minute longer than my original calculations."
"Calm your quad Williams, Shepard's in the elevator, Garrus would have enough time to eat a path through all the forests in the Nubian Expanse before she gets here." Assured Wrex, looking at Garrus still munching yet another branch.
"Where do you put it all?" asked Ashley,
"High metabolism." deadpanned Garrus.
"Got it!" exclaimed Tali.
"We're in?"
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Yeah well you're the bluff queen so I just wanted to be sure."
"I don't bluff; I just go with what I like."
"You liked a pair of twos?"
"They matched."
"It's the mask." added Garrus.
"Huh?"
"She is probably all smiles behind the mask but you don't know it."
"That's not fair you can't play with a mask on anymore."
"Uh… when I said I was dying to play poker with you guys again I didn't mean it to be so literal."
"Hah!" boomed Wrex. "What? It was funny… better than all the 'stories.'"
"Chief you could wear a mask."
"What? I would look stupid playing poker in a mask ...no offense."
"Would you rather lose or look stupid?"
Before Ashley had a chance to answer they heard the telltale sound of screeching metal on metal, signifying the elevator had finally arrived.
"She's here ...I'm not wearing a mask and I'm not losing this time; everyone ready?"
"You know Chief, metaphorically speaking, you are wearing a mask." espoused Garrus.
"Huh?"
"Your little mission masks your true intent, metaphorically speaking."
The chief looked absolutely dumbfounded at what Garrus was saying retorting, "Garrus if you don't shut it I'm going to metaphorically shove what's left of that tree up your-"
"Calm your quad Williams, he's a turian he can't help himself."
"Ash?" called Shepard from the other room as she was obviously making her way toward her trusted squad mates.
"Alright this is it." said Ashley as she tapped her communicator, "Professor? You're clear!"
****************** Med bay
"Oh goddess, we're a go." Liara was pacing in the med bay.
"What's wrong Liara?"
"What if this doesn't work? What if she gets so upset and… and-"
"Calm down my dear, everything is going according to plan." Dr. Chakwas assured her as she placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"Yes, you're right. I don't know what came over me."
"It's okay dear we all get a little nervous at times."
"Thank you Dr. Chakwas."
"Anytime, my dear." said the chief medical officer to Liara's back as she exited the med bay.
*********************** Cargo bay
"What do you mean you can't find it?"
"We can't find it...we looked everywhere we checked and double checked the manifests: it's not here."
"That's impossible!" said an agitated Shepard.
"Commander, the chief is correct. According to the info we have there was a delay in processing, we left port before the rest of the cargo could be loaded. So, Citadel customs has placed the rest of our crates in a holding bay until we return." explained the former C-Sec officer.
"You sure you didn't eat it Garrus?"
"I don't do berries."
"Well the data pad could be wrong; who signed off on it?" asked Shepard hopefully.
There was an uncomfortable silence amongst the squad as Shepard repeated the question, "People, I asked a question and I want an answer now...who is the incompetent fool that signed off on an incomplete manifest?"
"Um ...a...well...you did." Tali hesitantly answered.
"What? Let me see that." Shepard grabbed the data pad from Tali and scowled as she read the information, "This can't be right."
"Uh, what can't be right?" replied Tali, nervously wringing her hands.
************************ Shepard's cabin
"You ready Blue?" asked Joker over the ship's intercom system.
"As ready as I'll ever be." replied Liara as she took one last look around Shepard's cabin to make sure everything was in place.
"Alright then, one commander heading your way."
********************** Cargo bay
"This just doesn't make any sense." said Shepard, still examining the data pad.
The poker group nervously looked at each other as Joker's voice came over the intercom, "Commander?"
"Yeah Joker?"
"Important communication just came in for you from Admiral Hackett. Since the comm room has become party central I had it routed to your personal quarters."
"Thanks Joker." Said Shepard with a big sigh and she tossed data pad on the crate walking back to elevator grousing, "Jeez Louise, does Hackett think I'm the only commander in the fifth fleet?"
"Keelah that was close." said Tali after Shepard had left the room.
"I thought we were busted for sure."
"Calm your quad Williams, we had it all the way. The squishy one's got Shepard so wound up, I could've stood here naked and she wouldn't have noticed."
"Thanks for the visual." sputtered Garrus, spitting out pieces of tree.
"Hah!" boomed Wrex, "You're just jealous turian."
******************** Shepard's cabin
"Lights." said Shepard, entering her cabin. When the lights failed to obey her command she muttered, "You've got to be kidding me." As she walked toward her table she suddenly found herself ensnared in a blue energy field.
"Lights." said the smooth delicate voice of Liara as she sashayed out of the shadows toward Shepard.
"Uh Liara ...what's going on?"
"Look up."
"Mistletoe? Wait, my mistletoe?"
"Yes."
"But-" Liara placed a finger on Shepard's lips, silencing her protestations as she continued to seductively saunter around the commander's still frame, "The doctor was kind enough to elaborate on the traditional significance of mistletoe and how one 'ambushes' their intended victim for a kiss. Once I had that little bit of information it wasn't difficult to figure out what you were planning."
Shepard adopted a Cheshire grin as she replied, "Well it is tradition."
"That it is…" said Liara as she seductively dragged a light finger up Shepard's back and casually over her shoulders and chest until she stopped at her torso, "and not only have I ambushed you but I have also aced chief Williams impromptu Spectre training challenge and you my dear are my reward."
Shepard smirked then realized what Liara had said, "Wait a minute." she looked up, "Mistletoe ... My mistletoe... It was here all along?"
"Yes."
"But the manifest and the 'dung on a stick shit' fiasco and Admiral Hackett's message and…" Shepard looked at Liara.
"Yes dear?" inquired Liara sweetly.
"All you?"
Liara nodded, "With some help...I believe it was you who said a good Spectre…" Liara leaned into Shepard and whispered in her ear, "Utilizes all available resources." Liara concluded by nibbling the commander's ear...down her jawline and finally kissed her lips as she released the stasis...breaking from her feast she said, "Merry Christmas Commander."
"Merry Christmas, Dr. T'Soni." replied Shepard as she brought Liara into her arms, embracing for another kiss.
"As much as I would love to stay here and continue to explore mistletoe traditions, I do believe our presence is expected at the party."
"I don't think anybody will miss us." said Shepard leaning in for another kiss as Liara twisted out of the embrace.
"Shepard, if we don't leave now we'll be late for the gift exchange and I want to see Tali's face when she opens her gift."
"Uh, Li?"
"What?...Oh you know what I mean, come on."
Shepard laughed, shook her head and pointed to the mistletoe, "What about?"
"What about it? It'll still be here when we get back."
The commander raised an eyebrow, folded her arms and leaned to the side as she smugly said...
To be continued…