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A/N: Let us just say we hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We hope you enjoyed our seasonal story.

Epilogue

"No, I definitely got the best present," Garrus protested, tapping his new visor. "The audio is clear as crystal! Listen!"

"You get a fancy new visor with all kinds of targeting assistance VIs, and you want to brag about the music?" Tali asked, obviously amused as Garrus pressed a few buttons.

"You're assuming I use targeting assistance. Big mistake." Music began playing from the speakers, and Tali laughed.

"Is that what I think it is? The music from Flux?"

Garrus couldn't help looking a little impressed with himself. "Yep. I can send it to your Omnitool. I guess you got double Secret Santa."

"Not exactly secret," Wrex protested, still wearing his battleaxe strapped across his back. It was rumored that he had even taken to sleeping with it, but no one dared to find out for sure.

Shepard looked on in amused silence at the teasing conversations going on around the table. Everyone seemed to be excited about their presents, even Kaidan, who had gotten some outdated piece of krogan weaponry –obviously from Wrex – that probably wasn't any use to him except for maybe as a paperweight. Still, it looked cool, and Shepard was certain that Kaidan would enjoy learning more about it in his free time.

The Commander almost felt like a proud parent as she watched her crew engage merrily with each other. She was relaxed and slouched a little in her chair, her feet splayed out in front of her under the mess hall table. Liara sat in the chair next to her, perhaps a little closer than was necessary, but it was a tight fit with everyone at the same table, so no one seemed to think anything was suspicious about it, even when Shepard draped an arm across the back of Liara's chair.

Shepard was distracted listening to bits and pieces of everyone's happy banter and almost jumped when she felt a hand stroke up her thigh. She turned her head towards Liara to find the asari talking animatedly to Ashley about her own present, the upgraded biotic amp that she had received. Not even Shepard would have guessed that Liara was playing a dangerous game under the table if she hadn't been on the receiving end of the maiden's attention.

Unable to focus on anything other than the maddening circles Liara was tracing on her thigh, inching higher with every pass, Shepard missed the question Tali posed to her. It was only when she noticed that the boisterous noise had died down and everyone was looking at her, including Liara, that Shepard realized she had missed something. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked what your Secret Santa got you?" Tali repeated, wondering at their usually focused Commander's lack of attention.

For a moment, Shepard paused, and the silence was enough to attract the undivided attention of everyone at the table. She blushed, rubbing awkwardly at the back of her neck. She shifted in her seat, all too aware of the eyes staring at her, the pressure of Liara's hand on the inside of her thigh, and the pleasant soreness in her lower back and ass from what they'd done the night before. There had indeed been a round two, followed by rounds three and four in impressively quick succession. "It's private," she blurted out, instantly regretting her decision to tell the truth instead of coming up with a lie when she realized that she would only be stoking everyone else's curiosity with that answer. She should have just thought up a plausible lie and averted everyone's scrutiny.

Ashley raised her eyebrows. "Private, Skipper?"

Knowing that she had no choice but to back up her spur-of-the-moment answer, Shepard crossed her arms over her chest and gave everyone her firmest 'drop it' look. "Yeah. It's a personal gift." She nearly gasped aloud when Liara's fingers traveled even higher, teasing her with their presence as the maiden cupped Shepard between the legs. The Commander was shocked at her new lover's boldness, but didn't remove Liara's hand either.

Unfortunately, her threat seemed to have no effect on the rest of the table. "Well... We know Wrex picked Kaidan, and Kaidan picked me. That leaves them out. I gave my present to Joker. What about him?" Garrus said, obviously trying to figure out who Shepard's Secret Santa had been. "He's crazy enough to get Shepard something unmentionable in polite company..."

"Um, I'm still right here," Shepard said, to no avail.

"No, Joker was my Secret Santa," Tali said, completely ignoring Shepard. "And my present was for Ashley..."

"And mine was for Liara," Ashley volunteered.

As one, everyone turned to stare at Liara.

Liara had the decency to blush, but she also had a decidedly satisfied smirk on her face as well. She had to resist the urge to bury her face in Shepard's neck, both because she wanted to hide, and because her human always smelled so good. Unfortunately, such a show of affection would definitely give away their new relationship, and Liara wasn't entirely sure if Shepard wanted the entire crew to know.

"You know, none of you helped me when I was asking about my Secret Santa, so I don't think I'm obligated to answer your questions now," Shepard said matter-of-factly, drawing the attention away from her lover. It was perhaps a little petulant, but Shepard was hoping that at least one of her crew members would see the logic in that conclusion and convince the others to let her off the hook.

"Oh, I don't think so, Shepard," Joker said as he finally wheeled in to join the rest of the crew. "I've been dying to know what Liara came out of Pandora's Toybox with, and I will go to any lengths for an answer. Just remember, Commander, you're off the ship an awful lot, and I can find a lot of different ways to access your cabin if I have to."

To say there was a collective gasp at the knowledge that Liara had been seen visiting Pandora's Toybox, a well know adult entertainment store, was an understatement. This time, when everyone turned to look at her in stunned silence, Liara didn't resist the urge to bury her face in Shepard's shoulder. Liara wasn't embarrassed about her purchase, but she was definitely embarrassed that everyone now knew about it. Even telling herself that sex was a normal part of any relationship, and that each crew member had undoubtedly indulged before, didn't help the deep purple blush from washing over her cheeks.

"You know, they sell clothes at Pandora's Toybox," Shepard defended weakly. Her attempt to deflect the silent stares was unsuccessful.

Ashley shook her head. "Lingerie sets don't count as clothes, Skipper."

"Come on, Commander. It's not fair of you to keep us hanging like this," Joker protested, unwilling to let the subject drop. "We all told you what our presents were."

"Maybe it was a pair of handcuffs," Shepard lied through clenched teeth. "And if you don't shut up, I'll handcuff you to Wrex's hump and let him use you as a shield on the next away mission."

Instead of being amused by the imagery, Wrex sulked. "Then where am I supposed to put my new Battleaxe?"

Shepard rolled her eyes and stood up, pulling Liara with her and allowing her arm to wrap around the asari's waist. "Look, I know you're all just teasing, but my Secret Santa present was private, and I'm not telling anyone what it was. You can tease me about it for a while, but if I catch any of you pestering Liara... well, let's just say that you'd better keep a close eye on your own presents. Just in case."

Tali smiled behind her helmet as she noted the protective way Shepard held Liara. It had been obvious to everyone on the crew, except maybe Kaidan, that the Commander had been fascinated with the shy asari since they'd rescued her. Joker had even tried to start a betting pool over when Shepard would finally get together with Liara, but he hadn't gotten a great response since they all respected the Commander so much.

Before the young quarian could speak up and defend the two new lovers, Garrus beat her to it. "I think it would be best to respect the Commander's wishes," the former C-Sec officer said. As curious as he was about their inevitable romance, Garrus wanted to respect Shepard's privacy.

"I second that suggestion," Tali piped up before anyone could veto the idea. She saw Joker opening his mouth to object, but hoped he would let it go if multiple crewmembers agreed that Shepard and Liara should be allowed to keep that part of their lives private.

"Wise words, you two. But just in case, let's make that an order." Shepard stood up, gripping the same hand that Liara had been teasing her with moments before and helping the suddenly shy doctor to her feet. "Teasing Liara about Secret Santa is off limits unless you all want your own gifts tossed out the airlock. Got it?"

Ashley saluted, Garrus and Tali nodded their agreement, Wrex grunted, and Joker looked incredibly disappointed. However, they all seemed to accept what she was saying. "Good. Now, if you don't mind..." Shepard didn't even bother with an excuse as she escorted a very flushed looking Liara towards the safety of the elevator.

"Oh Goddess, how could I be so dense?" Liara blurted out in a nervous rush as Shepard held her arm. "I had no idea everyone would be comparing gifts. I could not even come up with a believable lie! Perhaps I should have gotten you a second present, so that you would have something to show the rest of the crew..."

Shepard grinned, her good humor returning now that she was alone with Liara. "You can always give me another present now... although I'm not sure I want you showing this one to the crew either." The slightly panicked look in Liara's eyes made Shepard laugh and clarify further. "I meant once we get to my cabin, Liara."

"That was not funny, Shepard," Liara said seriously as she resisted the urge to smack the Commander's arm for her teasing. She was still too inexperienced to even consider exhibitionism at the moment; her deepening relationship with Shepard far too new. Still, perhaps she could beat Shepard at her own game. "You know, just for that comment, I think I will go back to my own quarters. Alone." With a definitive nod of her head, Liara started to walk away.

"Liara, wait, I'm sorry," Shepard apologized as she jogged after the asari and caught hold of her arm.

A small smile curled Liara's lips as she spun around and slung her arms over her lover's broad shoulders. "I suppose I can forgive you this time, Commander," Liara purred as she nipped at Shepard's neck, "but I suggest you watch yourself in the future."

They stood there in the hallway for a few minutes, Liara subtly working on leaving a hickey on Shepard's neck while the Commander was happy just to hold her. "Mmm, I think I'm ready to give you that other present now," Liara murmured happily into her lover's flesh. "Perhaps we can try that position I kept seeing through the Meld last night. What did you call it… cowgirl?" the asari suggested innocently.

Liara's light, joyous laughter radiated through the halls as Shepard grabbed her by the hand and dragged her willingly towards the privacy of the Commander's cabin.