Yuletide in the Dark of Night

Tali had first learned about Christmas when she caught Ken and Gabby decorating the engineering compartment with tinsel. After reminding them about the dangers of putting a conductive metal in such close proximity to Normandy's drive core, the young quarian engineer did a quick extranet search on the subject. She knew it was an important human holiday, but the sheer volume of information about it was almost overwhelming. It had precursors in ancient human fertility traditions, it had both secular and religious aspects, there was a great emphasis on gift-giving...its qualities seemed endless and often contradictory.

As far as Tali knew, Shepard had no real religious impulses, but decorations soon sprang up all over the ship, and Normandy took on a festive atmosphere. She supposed that any excuse for a celebration was needed after the near-disastrous suicide mission they had just accomplished. The Collector Base had been destroyed,  and the threat of the colony abductions had been stopped permanently. The crew had also survived; Shepard's team had rescued them from imprisonment and processing by the Collectors, and the team had emerged intact, despite the terrible odds stacked against them. It was a time to blow off some steam and rejoice at their survival, to count their blessings and ready themselves for the challenges of the new year. "That's what Christmas is really about, Tali," Kasumi had explained that evening as the two sat within the Port Observation Lounge. "Strip it down of everything else, and it's a time to relax with your friends and family."

"It just seems like a waste of resources, though. On the Migrant Fleet, we wouldn't spend so much time and credits decorating our ships just to take it all away after a single night."  

"But presents are always good!" the petite thief remarked. "Especially when you get them from very handsome commanders..."

Beneath her helmet and facemask, Tali blushed. "He has a lot on his mind, Kasumi. He wouldn't take time from fighting the Collectors to go shopping. Even with them gone, the Reapers..."

"Well, not shopping, per say, but..." Kasumi stated, before placing a small plant into Tali's hands. "Mistletoe."

"What is it? Some kind of herb?"

"Something like that. Just place it over the doorway to Engineering. See, I have some here," she stated, directing her attention to the sprig of mistletoe threaded to the ceiling. "If you happen to see Jacob today, please, send him over. I can't wait to get him under it."
Tali sat there, stunned. "You mean..."

Kasumi gave a mischievous grin. "Shep likes to run a tight ship, Tali, and he definitely has reason to come down to Engineering, given the pounding Normandy took. Say hi to him for me, will you?"

With a polite nod, Tali left, gaze fixed upon the mistletoe clutched in her hands. Since she first met Shepard two years ago during his hunt for Saren, she had become quite attracted to the man, despite their differences in species and biochemistry. A moment's exposure to open air or a single breach in her protective environmental suit could potentially be fatal, given the quarians' weak immune systems, but Tali didn't want the safe, sterile feel of the neurostim program installed in her suit. She wanted him and him alone, but with everything that was going on, she didn't have a chance to act upon her feelings. Even then, a part of her believed she shouldn't. Besides the obvious physical dangers, the threat of the Reapers was more important than any feelings she possessed for him. Moreover, if there was any chance he could be hurt by being with her, it wasn't worth it.

But even beyond her physical attraction to him, Tali cared about Shepard. He had given her a great opportunity by inviting her aboard the original Normandy¸ and despite the fact that she was now an exile amongst her people, she still appreciated how Shepard had taken the time to represent her at trial. She was part of his crew, and he was her captain. At the very least, she would be content with that.

Arriving back in Engineering, Tali froze, seeing that Shepard was already there waiting. "Hey there, Tali. Do you have a minute to talk?"

"Of course, Shepard," she replied, trying her best to sound casual. "What's up?"

The Spectre shrugged. "Not much. I just wanted to give you a present. You know, for Christmas."
"That's really not necessary, Shepard."

"I disagree," he stated firmly, fixing her with a warm stare. "You have stood by me, Tali, in everything that has happened. Even when I came back working for Cerberus, you gave me a fair chance. Besides, I think you might like it."

The quarian gasped as Shepard brought forth a piece of broken stone, weighing at least several pounds. Tali's fingers traced over the ancient symbols adorning the artefact, realizing what this was. "This is part of a quarian artefact, back when our people had just emerged as a sentient species. Keelah, this must be thousands of years old! Where did you get this?"

"When Kasumi and I broke into Hock's vault, he had some quarian relics there. I would have gotten you the entire thing, but it's a bit hard lugging around a priceless stone tablet when he's trying to kill you with a gunship." Shepard gave a wry smile. "Sorry."

Tali couldn't help but stare. "Shepard, this is very valuable. It belongs in a museum somewhere, or back with the Fleet. Why give it to me?"

"Because you're my friend and part of my crew. Do I need another reason?"

Tali'zorah vas Normandy was an exile, unable to return to the place of her birth. An army of terrifying machines was poised to invade the galaxy and harvest all sentient life.

But it was Christmas-time on the Normandy, and in the presence of Shepard, that was enough.