Miranda was surprised when a few days before Christmas Shepard bounded into her room asking if she was ready to catch the train uptown with the others. She was all packed but Shepard had been mysteriously absent from the dorm for the last week. She figured her friend was just spending more time with her girlfriend but she missed her and slightly resented the fact Shepard had thrown so much effort into decorating their home if she wasn't even going to be here to enjoy it.
Miranda had said goodbye to Jacob yesterday as he was visiting his mother and step father. She had met Jacob's mother once and it did not go well. Jacob's mother wasn't exactly a fan of her, complaining that she was "far too arrogant". Miranda was glad that Jacob didn't invite her to visit but she also knew it was because he rarely got to see his mother. They'd been exceptionally close since his father ran out on them ten years ago and she didn't like to interrupt any precious time they got to spend together.
Shepard gathered the group together at the station for a photo- she was brimming with excitement at going back to see her aunt. The trip wasn't as insufferable as Miranda had expected. Joker wasn't half as obnoxious as usual (perhaps Shepard had told him to knock it off), Sam was quietly engaging and she found that Alenko was pleasantly interesting. He was a nice guy and seemed incredibly humble.
The train took over an hour and Shepard's aunt was waiting to greet them all. Karin did not look anything like Shepard, although Shepard whispered that they weren't actually related as Miranda threw her a puzzled look but Karin was her mother's best friend growing up. She was polite, crisp and direct and yet she had Shepard's same sense of fun and tried to race her van against Ferrari at a set of traffic lights. Miranda however was disappointed that even Karin wouldn't give away Shepard's first name.
Ten minutes later and they were pulling up on the drive of an extraordinary converted barn. It was two floors and was huge. Shepard must have had quite a shock coming to live here after being brought up in a small apartment, Miranda mused. There was also acres of land around and the house was surrounded by wonderful decking and even had a porch swing. It was elegant and charming and Miranda didn't have to try too hard to imagine an enthusiastic Shepard making the most of climbing trees and running about the place.
Karin put them all to work as she had saved the Christmas decorations for their arrival as she knew Shepard loved them so much. The first floor was open plan and so they all busied themselves at opposite ends of the house, shouting backwards and forwards to each other. Karin put on Christmas songs and Shepard danced wildly for a while until Karin told her to pack it in as she was making her get motion sickness.
"This place is gorgeous." Kaidan said to Miranda, as they hung tinsel around the lavish kitchen bench.
"It really is." Miranda agreed.
"Was your place like this growing up?" Kaidan asked and then added, "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"It's fine," Miranda said quickly as she did not want Shepard's friends to start treating her like she was an ice queen again, "not really. It was more modern and had three floors and I wasn't allowed to touch anything. This place is a real home."
"Hey, I need a hand!" Shepard shouted from the next room.
"Rocks, paper, scissors?" Kaidan suggested and Miranda found herself agreeing, only to lose and went to find Shepard in the hall up a pair of ladders and knotted in red tinsel.
"What are you doing?" Miranda laughed.
"What does it look like?" Shepard gasped, and then she got a mouth full of tinsel.
Miranda shook her head, laughing once more and climbed up the other side of the ladders.
"Come here," she said gently, freeing Shepard and smoothing her hair down, her fingers linger just a touch longer over her red hair than they strictly needed to.
"Thanks," Shepard grinned, "so...do you like it here?"
"It's brilliant." Miranda enthused, helping Shepard to hang the tinsels and baubles on the beams of wood.
"I used to love coming here as a kid. Karin is loads of fun too." Shepard said.
"Yeah, she seems really nice. She thinks the world of you." Miranda smiled.
"I know, I think it's because she fell off these ladders one Christmas- she's never been the same since." Shepard laughed.
"When will you ever learn to take a compliment?" Miranda asked, throwing a bit of tinsel at Shepard.
"Careful, Lawson," Shepard warned sternly, "just one little push..."
"Shepard, will you please stop threatening to murder our guests?" Karin said in exasperation as she entered. "Miranda, would you like to help me dig out some old decorations Shepard made when she was younger?"
"Oh no..." Shepard spluttered.
"I'd love too." Miranda replied, grinning wickedly at Shepard and jumping down the ladders.
"Wait...I need help!" Shepard called desperately but with absolutely no impact as the two didn't even glance back at her.
Miranda followed Karin upstairs to one of the drawing rooms and pulled out an old box from a chest of drawers. Karin opened it and it was filled with baubles with super heroes and aliens.
"What's a pyjak?" Miranda asked, inspecting the writing on one which had an animal that looked fairly similar to a lemur on it.
"I have no idea. Nobody ever really knew where Shepard's imagination was going." Karin said, smiling fondly.
"Not much has changed then." Miranda smiled back at her.
"I'm glad you were able to come, " Karin said, "Shepard was worried you wouldn't want to."
"I didn't want to intrude-" Miranda began apologetically.
"Nonsense. I rarely get to see Shepard because of her school work so this is a great time to meet the people important to her and she talks about you a lot." Karin said kindly.
Miranda's stomach somersaulted at the thought of Shepard even mentioning her to someone so close to her.
"I hope it wasn't all bad." Miranda laughed shakily, trying to stop her rising excitement at the thought of Shepard talking about her to Karin.
"None of it was. She loves spending time with you." Karin said, looking at her directly and Miranda wondered if there was perhaps more behind these words.
"Can you put that stuff away? I was like four when I made them." Shepard said indignantly, marching into the room.
On Christmas Eve Karin was hosting a small party for them- it consisted of absolutely terrible Christmas songs but wonderful chocolate biscuits and buttery Danish pastries which she had made especially. Before Miranda went to get ready she paid a visit to Shepard's.
Shepard's room was adjoining hers and just as large and spacious with high ceilings and huge windows that made the wonderful tree line outside feel ever closer as though they were almost going to be sleeping under the stars too.
Shepard was already dressed and she looked beautiful. She'd gone for a slightly more formal look than she usually did, reasoning that it was Christmas so she should at least make an effort. She was in the darkest blue dress which was sleeveless and had silver beads across the shoulders. Her arms were toned and graceful, and Shepard wore her hair up. She seemed lighter than usual, as though the festive season had taken away any distractions and she was perfectly content.
"I figured I'd give you your present now as I hate audiences." Miranda admitted, keeping the wrapped present behind her back and Shepard beamed.
"This is why I love Christmas." She exclaimed, sitting in antipcation on the bed.
"So not spending time with your nearest and dearest?" Miranda asked, with one perfect eyebrow raised.
"Nope, it's the loot."
"Typical." Miranda sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Come on then, gimme." Shepard grinned and Miranda plonked the badly wrapped package in Shepard's outstretched hands.
She tore off the wrapping paper in about a millisecond and looked at her gift adoringly. It was just a lion cuddly toy which gave a loud roar when it was squeezed.
"So you don't have to dress up as one again- you can just carry him."
"It's perfect." Shepard grinned. "Okay, then, I'll get yours."
Shepard grabbed a thin package from under her bed and tossed it at Miranda who caught it easily.
"You're pretty tough to buy for." Shepard admitted as Miranda opened the gift.
Miranda pulled it out of the box and stared at it for a whole minute. It was the framed photo that Shepard had taken when they were at the train station. Miranda looked at Shepard not knowing what to say.
"I know you've not had a lot of people you could count on before but you do now. Plus, I kind of thought your room could do with a more personal touch."
Miranda laughed not knowing how to explain how much this meant.
"It's really perfect." She confessed.
"That was my line," Shepard deadpanned.
"Shepard..."
"I know, I know...compliments. Well, here is one for you. I know I'm with Sam and Joker is my best friend, and Kaidan is like a brother to me but living with you has been amazing. When I get up every morning I'm glad you're the first person I see- unless Maya has actually crawled back and is stealing all of our coffee." Shepard joked.
The weight of what Shepard said hit her. Shepard saw her as so completely part of her life that Miranda's feelings both soared and transformed into something terrifying. She didn't even understand all of the things in her mind that she'd been toying with for weeks whenever she was around Shepard but this friendship and connection they had meant everything to Shepard and to her. She didn't want to ruin it yet when she was staring into those green eyes she couldn't break away. Her eyes lingered upon Shepard and found their way to her slightly dark red lips, her breathing growing heavier and then Shepard leaned back and gave a half cough and broke whatever was in that moment.
"You should start getting ready or you're going to miss my epic party dancing." Shepard joked, but they both knew it was a forced attempt.