Bioware owns all, here and now and anytime in the future. This Prompt was written for Christmas. I am not a Christmas person. I did not choose the prompt.

The Prompt:

Kaidan's and Shepard's first Christmas together.

Setting:

Any time during Mass Effect 1 or 2 or post the two games.

Limit:

MUST BE FLUFFY GOODNESS! This prompter hates the holidays with a passion, however Kaidan makes everything good again. Can be any variety of fluff - sweet, smut, whatever, just so long as it makes you smile or go "awwww" in some way.

My Entry:

I just want to say I am hoping to have a wonderful Halloween this weekend. *Night is obviously in denial*

~Thoughtful~

"Shepard, we need to make a stop for provisions." Mess Sergeant Gardner came up to her as she was looking at the Galaxy Map.

"What? Why? We just stopped for provisions last week. I know we have an extra biotic now, but he's only one person." She looked back at the map manipulating the controls to get a better look at a planet.

"He is one person, and he eats like two biotics, not one. But I suspect that is your fault." Gardner chuckled as she blushed. "But that isn't the reason we have to stop. We need fresh provisions and I need some winter spices. I think a nearby human colony would be good. If it's a Mission planet more the better."

"We have no missions scheduled for any human colonies." Shepard looked at him, forehead and nose wrinkled and lips pursed in confusion.

"Not a mission, a Mission, you know one of those religious places." Gardner glanced at the crewmembers in CIC, they were looking at him. He realized his boisterous manner had disturbed their work.

"Okay, now you've lost me completely. What are you talking about?" Shepard put her hands on her hips and faced him frowning.

"For Christmas, it's next Saturday and I thought that I should do something special for the crew. Missionary planets would make sure they are fully stocked with all the things you need for a good Christmas celebration." Gardner looked about to burst with his exuberance and grinned from ear to ear. "Kind of my present for the crew, I mean it has been a tough year."

Shepard was still frowning as she regarded him. "Not all the crew is human. It seems rude to celebrate a holiday they don't understand."

"What's not to understand? Eat well, give presents, have fun. Sounds like good fun to me." Gardner waved his arms around in excitement. "You don't have to give them the whole holiday background, just tell them to have fun. We just get a bunch of little gifts for everyone. It doesn't have to cost much. That's why I said pick a Missionary planet. They usually have supplies for passing ships."

Shepard thought about it, with the amount of mining she had been doing, they weren't really hurting for credits. Even though Kaidan was here, she still got stressed. When she was stressed, she went mining. Something about the boom of the probe being jettisoned and the ship shaking calmed her. She was being reasonable though now, she usually only did it during the day shift hours, when most everyone was up. Usually.

"Well, we have enough credits, and it would be nice to have a party…" Shepard glanced around the room noticing the excitement level go up in the crew that could hear her. "If you don't go crazy on the spirits, I guess it will be okay. I will get us to a colony planet that has holiday supplies."

"Thank you Commander, you won't regret it." Gardner almost bounced out of the room.

Shepard set to work looking for a planet that met their needs, hoping he was right.

Kaidan snuck down to the Comm room while Shepard was sleeping. Not easy to do, since she didn't sleep very long and usually woke up before him, even if he set an alarm. When he woke up she was snuggled in next to him, and since it happened so rarely that he could watch her sleep, he had almost been tempted not to get out of bed. He stopped in to talk to Joker, who had the late shift today, to get the coordinates he needed. He made his call on a secure channel and was assured that his present was on time and would be at the said coordinates at the specified time. Now he just had to make sure that Shepard was asleep then, too. As he crawled back into bed, Shepard cuddled into him. He smiled to himself as he pulled her close, thinking how happy his gift would make her. As happy as she had made him.

Shepard woke up curled against Kaidan's warmth her head snuggled into his neck. They kept the bedroom cooler since his body temperature was naturally higher because of his biotics. She inevitably always ended up snuggled against his warmth. She got up and quickly and showered knowing she had at least an hour or two before he woke. He usually slept for close to eight hours. She still couldn't understand why he needed so much sleep…

She went to the Comm room and was thrilled to find that her present to her sleeping lover was ready to be transferred to the ship. She waited until the download was complete then took it to Thane for him to hide in his room. Kaidan had come to a happy medium with Thane, but he still tended to avoid the drell, who had become a close friend to Shepard while she and Kaidan were apart. Shepard insisted that the friendship continue uninterrupted, but they were a little too close for Kaidan's comfort. Shepard understood his discomfort, but was able to prove he didn't have anything to worry about. It hadn't stopped him from avoiding Thane, though

Thane was, of course, awake, since he meditated so much he also required very little sleep. He was happy to perform the service of hiding the gift and she spent a few moments talking to him before returning to the cabin. Kaidan's gentle snores reassured her that he hadn't noticed her absence from the cabin. She watched him sleep for a few moments before heading to her terminal to go through the previous day's daily reports.

Kaidan had to sneak his present in through the shuttle bay. He had to make sure that she wasn't in CIC, and preferably asleep, because she might realize the bay doors were opened. She noticed everything. Luck was with him, as for the second day he was able to wake up and she was still asleep. The gift arrived on time and he was able to get the gift into Miranda's office, the one place Shepard hardly ever went. She still didn't completely trust Miranda, and this time it worked to Kaidan's advantage.

The party was in full swing when the gift exchange started. As the crew opened their gifts the excitement level and noise level rose. Shepard didn't notice when Kaidan left the room and he was able to sneak her gift into the room and behind her. Jack was hooting and hollering as she and Joker went through a catalog of tattoos. He had provided it so she could choose from the pictures and cash in the gift certificate he had given her. Grunt was examining the old Krogan Battle Ax that Shepard had found for him. Miranda was admiring the glass sculpture that Jacob had given her. Garrus was examining the Old Earth sniper rifle Kaidan had found for him.

Kaidan walked over to Shepard and she handed him a small box. He kissed her cheek and then opened the box. Removing the OSD he plugged it into his omnitool and was overjoyed to see personal messages from each member of his family including his niece and his nephews. He kissed and hugged Shepard whispering his appreciation to her. Then he asked her to close her eyes. He pulled his gift from behind her and then asked her to open her eyes.

Shepard opened her eyes and then blinked them, not believing what she saw. There, standing in front of her, for the first time in almost three years, in the flesh… were her parents. She jumped up and put her arms around her father squeezing him so tight he had to ask her to let up. Then she grabbed onto her mother as if she was afraid she would disappear. Kaidan sat back watching the woman he loved experience the intense joy his gift brought. The chattering and laughing in the room continued. He walked over to one of the observation windows and looked out the port smiling.

Shepard joined him after a short while and kissed his cheek, whispering promises of more gifts later when they were alone. He glanced back over the room and saw the crew having a ball and her parents chatting away with Dr. Chakwas arm in arm. He realized there were dangers ahead that they still had to meet, but for this moment, for this instance they were all extremely happy. As he held the woman he loved in his arms he realized they were making happy memories. These were memories that could bring joy and happiness in the future. He appreciated that these were memories that could last a lifetime. And he knew, they just might have to.