Chapter Text
It Started with a Tree
Garrus and Shepard walked into the mess for their usual shared dinner and stopped just as they turned the corner from the elevator. On the port side of the larger mess table was a seven foot tall hologram showing a Christmas tree, complete with angel topper.
Shepard took in the image and the corners of her mouth turned upward. In the sea of turmoil that was the war, it was nice to see the signs of life.
“What am I looking at here, Shep?” Garrus’ gravel filled voice pulled Shepard back from her thoughts.
“I do believe that is a Christmas tree.” Shepard could hear the smile in her own voice.
“A what?” Garrus’ brow plates lifted in a clear indication that he was confused. Shepard honestly was too. She knew little about the holiday. Her parents weren’t religious and she grew up in space. Other kids had Christmas trees and gingerbread, but Shepard had the stars. Admittedly, it meant that there were some cultural gaps that she had to overcome when talking to Earthers but she loved growing up in space. Now though, Shepard’s childhood left her stumbling to answer Garrus’ simple question about human customs.
“Uh, some humans celebrate a winter holiday called Christmas. It’s tied to one of our religions but many people just celebrate it even if they don’t practice Christianity.”
“And you need a tree?” Garrus questioned, not entirely satisfied with Shepard’s explanation. Shepard tried to make the connection between the religion and the tree but she was unsure what the significance was herself.
“Yes? I’m not really the expert here… I grew up in space.” Garrus nodded, understanding the underlying implication that she had no idea either way.
“So, is the tree usually a hologram?” Garrus slung his arm around Shepard’s shoulder as they stood admiring the twinkling lights. She wrapped her arm around his waist in return.
“No… Hey EDI, who put up the tree?” Shepard would put money on Kaidan, he grew up in pine tree country.
“Major Alenko.” EDI’s slightly mechanical voice replied.
“Ah.” Shepard kicked herself for not making the bet out loud. Garrus turned and looked down at Shepard over his cowl.
“Ah?”
“Kaidan grew up on an orchard. He’s probably used to a real tree and big Christmas celebrations with his family.” Just as Shepard finished speaking, the major turned the opposing corner coming from his makeshift office in Starboard Obs.
“That I am Shepard. Thought a little piece of home might be nice. I can take it down if it’s distracting.” Kaidan stopped just to their left, a pained expression on his features. Shepard imagined that he was struggling with thoughts of home. He still hadn’t heard news about his father.
“Don’t you dare… I haven’t seen a Christmas tree, even a hologram, in years.” Traynor practically hollered from the opposite side of the mess, her eyes never leaving her data pad.
“Shep?” Kaidan asked, leaving the final approval with her.
“I’m fine with it as long as the crew is fine with it.” Shepard knew that humanity had a lot of holidays and that not everyone celebrated all of them. While she was fine with the tree and the little moment of holiday cheer, she wouldn’t push it on others.
“Shepard?” EDI called from the ceiling.
“Yes EDI?” Shepard instinctively looked toward the cockpit where EDI’s physical body was sitting. It didn’t matter that EDI was technically everywhere in the ship, Shepard still associated the AI with her body.
“I have done some research and I have learned of the human custom called Secret Santa. Would it be possible to facilitate this as a crew?” Shepard stopped to wrack her brain for what that meant. Just as she remembered this specific variation on a gift exchange, Garrus squeezed her shoulder for attention.
“Santa?” He asked quietly. Shepard could tell he was slightly embarrassed. She was too if she were honest. She didn’t really have a good explanation for the fictional toy bearer.
“Oh man. Kaidan, can you explain this one? I’m a little out of my element.” Kaidan shrugged and moved to speak but Joker’s voice filled the room from the same speakers that EDI’s had a few moments before.
“I got this spacer. Basically, we lie to kids so they behave and tell them a magic man gives all the good children toys for Christmas. We call him Santa Claus. A Secret Santa is a gift exchange. You pull someone’s name from a hat and no one knows who has who until you all give each other gifts.” Shepard pinched her brow. Joker always teased her about growing up in space, which was thick considering he spent most of his childhood on a space station.
“Joker, if I remember correctly, you are also a spacer…”
“Half, I didn’t end up on Arcturus ‘til later. You were born on a ship.” The smugness in Joker’s voice came through, even on comms. They had the same argument at least once per week.
“Yeah, yeah.” Shepard waived as if to dismiss him.
“Shepard, I could facilitate the drawing of names. I, unlike the rest of the crew, can isolate parts of my memory. In effect, I could make assignments without knowing the results myself.” EDI had been expressing more and more interest in human customs, specifically around friendship. Shepard wasn’t surprised that she had landed on the idea.
In a previous life, Shepard would have found any holiday celebration frivolous and distracting. Now though, Shepard knew all too well that life was short. She worked hard to let go when it made sense for crew morale. And she tried to find moments of fun for her own well being too. Shepard had also taken a particular interest in showing EDI the more human concepts that the AI couldn’t easily understand from the extranet.
“Alright EDI, take a poll of the ship. Explain to the non-humans what exactly everything is and see if they want to join too. We will be at the Citadel for a few days so everyone can decide and sign up by then. Keep the credit limit small so that everyone has enough funds to participate.”
“Understood.”
“Never thought you would say yes to that. I can’t wait to hear how Javik turns EDI down.” Joker’s voice was dripping with excitement. Shepard couldn’t help but imagine him bouncing in his seat.
“Joker, you wound me. I think it will be fun to celebrate something for a change. And… I want a recording of Javik’s answer.” She smiled now, imagining the crew exchanging gifts and Javik scowling in a corner. “Let me know when we are on route to the Citadel.”
“Aye, Aye Commander.”