Author's notes

At some stage in 2013 I played ME2 and loved the game... except for the fact that there weren't really any MxM romance options (but I guess the internet got its revenge (twice!) on the interfering publishers).

So I started doing what I normally do when I don't completely like a story... write my own version! Originally the story below was meant to form part three in a six-part series set on rest-days in the ME2 storyline, but I never got around to finishing it, and forgot about it. Four years later, I rediscovered it while going through my hard-drive. Reading (and editing it) was like jumping back into my teenage thoughts, which was quite fun.

Anyway, to provide some context for the story below, after meeting in ME1, Shepard and Garrus fell in love, but had begun to drift apart by the time Shepard died. The same night after reuniting in Omega, while in bed the two expressed how much they missed each other, and hit it off even stronger than before. Weeks have passed and both have decided that if they survive the mission they want to spend the rest of their lives together, but have so far kept their relationship on the DL. Shepard, being an orphan, wants desperately to meet Garrus' family, but Garrus hasn't spoken to his father in years. Deeply disappointed in his only son for not following in his footsteps as a C-SEC officer, Garrus' father keeps to himself, occasionally visiting his sick ex-wife. After lots of pushing, Garrus has reluctantly agreed to drop-in on his father with Shepard to tell them of their engagement.

Chapter 3, Part 1

The majority of the crew were not concerned that they were stopping off at Palaven. They were, after all, having another rest day. Those which did question Shepard as to his reasons received the response "Personal Matters". Miranda threatened to tell her senior but Shepard didn't care and she knew it.

Shepard was getting dressing into civilian clothes when Garrus came in.

"You didn't want to put on your usual stuff?" Shepard asked.

"Nah. I figured he'd react better if I was in civilian clothing."

Shepard finished putting on his top, and put his arms around Garrus and kissed him. He didn't respond in his usual way.

"You're still thinking about this, aren't you?" Garrus' eyes dropped to the floor.

"It's just that... you don't understand Shepard. You know we haven't spoken in years. We both know what he'll say. I just don't want to completely lose him. At the end of the day he's still my Dad."

"Yeah, but at the end of the day you're still his son. I can't believe he hasn't tried to contact you in all this time. What kind of father does that?"

"You still don't understand Shepard. When I left C-SEC he... things changed, and he's never been the same since. He hasn't done anything since because I'm the one who needs to fix things up."

"Bullshit, you can't justify the way he's treated you like that. We've talked about this before. You expect too little from him. You chose to go your own way instead of following him in his footsteps, and instead of being proud he treats you like you abandoned him. If anything, he was the one who abandoned you. He's the one with the problem, and you shouldn't have to change to help him get over it."

"You're expecting too much from him, Shepard."

"No, you're expecting too little. You know that when I was growing up I never really had any parents, and so maybe I'm a bit over-critical, but you deserve so much more. I mean, look at how much we've achieved together, and yet he still isn't happy. He's only going to be happy if you return to C-SEC to dutifully live in his image and all that other bullshit."

"Shepard..." Garrus began, looking up to the ceiling.

Shepard put his arms around the turian's neck, drawing his eyes down to meet his.

"It's just that I see a guy in front of me who is so full of energy and life, but who's restrained by a father who hasn't spoken to him in years. If we're ever to move on together I need to know, as a couple, that this stuff is a thing of the past. You can't let him shape your life. As I've said before, his problems are not yours, and I need to know that you know that." Shepard paused.

"How are we meant to get through today if you don't?"

"Of course I do Shepard." Garrus sounded tired. "It's just that..."

"What?"

Garrus sighed. "It's just that I feel that after today he won't want anything to do with me anymore." Shepard looked down and slightly shook his head, but instantly felt horrible for doing so.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're his son. He'll love you no matter what. How he acts towards you is a different matter, but I can't see how he could be any worse."

"He could never talk to me again."

"And again, his problem not yours." Garrus laughed in disbelief and shook his head.

"Look, hopefully today will provide some..." Shepard struggled to find the words "...closure, to the matter, but this day is inevitable. Regardless of how long we delay it the news will eventually get to him. It's better if we tell him in person, and by the looks of things waiting isn't going to improve things."

Garrus stared at Shepard before looking at his feet.

"You're right. I have to do this sometime. I guess I just need to accept the fact that I'll never be able to please him."

Shepard was about to make a face but stopped himself. A moment of silence passed between the pair before he took his hands and met his gaze.

"Let's go then."

They had arrived at Palaven late in the evening. Trebia's light fell harshly on the planet, something the turians had evolved to bear, but the same could not be said about humans. As such the only reasonable time to meet Garrus' Dad without protective suits was in in the evening. Garrus said he'd almost certainly be at his home on the outskirts of Cipritine.

The walk there attracted eyes: humans were seldom seen on Palaven, let alone in suburban areas. Shepard wanted to hold Garrus' hand on the public shuttle there, but as he was about to Garrus looked to the side and gave a small shake of his head.

"Where to now?" Shepard asked as he disembarked the platform, walking around a few people who had paused to watch the pair.

"My father lives a few blocks north of here, it'll take a couple of minutes."

"You know, while I was growing up on Earth I had the idea that cities throughout the galaxy differed widely in function and size, but the more I travel the more I realise everything's pretty much the same, take suburbs for instance. Apart from a few obvious differences this is pretty much the same as a standard suburb on Earth... am I boring you?"

"No, no, my mind is just... elsewhere."

Shepard took Garrus' hand with his, but Garrus took it back.

"No one's watching Garrus. No one cares anyway."

"No it's not that." Garrus looked into the distance but then his eyes settled on the footpath. Shepard waited for him to continue talking but he didn't.

"So are we getting close?"

"Yeah, third one up ahead. It doesn't look like it's changed."

"Nothing ever does. Do you have any fond memories of the place?"

Garrus laughed. "Fond memories." He pronouced the phrase like it was a profound idea.

"No, but I've never lived in it. After Mum got sick Dad sold the family home in order to help out with the medical bills. This - the place he brought - was 'exactly what he was looking for' although none of us other than him liked it. Compared to our other place that was very open, this place is very... compartmentalised. The few times I've stayed over I didn't get any sleep, but I don't know whether that was because I was missing my apartment or because I was with him."

"Was he really that bad, even before you parted?" Garrus paused.

"It would be an overstatement to say we got on well before Mum got sick but after she did I noticed a change in him. He was... more grouchy, I guess."

"Well we'll see if he's changed." They had arrived at the front door.

"I think you should do the honours." Shepard said.

"There's no turning back now." Garrus muttered quietly. He pushed the doorbell.

"You know, have I told you how proud I am of you for doing this?"

Garrus smiled. "Yeah, but it's not every day your son turns up at your door with a 'Hi, Dad. just to let you know I'm getting married to a human - a male human, actually - and by the way he's a Spectre, and yep, if you're thinking 'that's Commander Shepard' then you'd be right." Garrus looked Shepard straight in the eye.

"He's going to kill me..." footsteps approached.

"Speak of the devil."

The door opened to reveal a turian not too unlike Garrus himself. He was slim and tall, but wore an expressionless face; the decades served in C-SEC had trained him to approach every situation with such a face even one as unusual as this. Or so Shepard assumed.

The path the turian's eyes traced over the visitors was that of a semi-cross: from Garrus' to Shepard's to Garrus' to Garrus' feet then back to his eyes.

"Excuse me, do I know you?"

Even though Shepard had a lot to learn about the way turians expressed themselves, the pain in Garrus' response was evident.

"Dad,"

"Dad? The only son I had disappeared two years ago, so unless you're here to offer me some information as to his whereabouts, I can only assume you're trying to impersonate him – an act so sickening I'm lost for words. Leave now."

"Dad, can we come inside?" Garrus' father scoffed.

"After two years of not hearing from my son, he turns up announced at my front door with some... human - for reasons I can only guess at - and wants me to let him inside?" His eyes had not left Garrus' and did not leave in the moment of silence that followed.

"You can come in, but he can't." His gaze still hadn't left Garrus.

"Dad, that's not going to happen."

After a while Garrus' father turned and walked into the house, but didn't shut the door. Shepard gave Garrus a 'What now?' look but Garrus just dropped his gaze to the ground.

"Come in!" the father snapped, back still turned to the duo.

The two were led into the lounge room and sat down on an uncomfortable sofa opposite the man who looked onto his son with a blank gaze.

"I assume you came here with an intention other than saying hello to your dear old Dad."

Garrus and Shepard looked at each other, then back at the man sitting opposite them.

"Well hurry up. I haven't got all night. What's he got to do with it?"

"Dad, Shepard and I are together."

Garrus' father continued watching Garrus as if he was watching the news before leaning over and dropping his head to the floor. He quietly laughed, shaking his head from side to side.

"I thought I knew the meaning of the word disappointed when you left C-SEC to become a Spectre," he paused and sat back up, looking directly at Garrus.

"There are no words to describe how utterly disappointed I am with you. I suppose I'm the last person to know of this?"

"Actually Dad, you're the first." Garrus' father looked to the floor.

"You know, when I woke up this morning, the last thing I was expecting was for my son to drop in. And what does he come here to do? No less than tell me he's going out with..." He begun to laugh again but then stopped abruptly. He sat up and looked into Shepard's eyes for what was the second time that evening.

"Please tell me there's nothing more to this."

Shepard briefly looked over to Garrus who was staring at the ground. "Garrus and I are..."

Garrus' father was already shaking his head and laughing at floor.

"Well at least you've given me enough time to retreat to the edge of the galaxy and escape the public humiliation my name will endow being associated with yours for the next,... when are you planning it?"

"Probably in a few months."

"...for the next three or so months. Spirits, what will people say about my son - my son of all people - marrying the great Commander Shepard." He dropped his head to the floor and continued to laugh.

"As much as I would like to advise you against this I know that you wouldn't act on a single thing I said, nor would you care to listen - you never did anyway - so I think you can gather that we're done here." He stood up and looked at Garrus.

"I take it you can let yourselves out." He headed for the stairs. Shepard looked to Garrus and took his hand. Garrus' eyes were fixed firmly on the floor.

"Are you okay?" Garrus didn't respond at first.

"We'll, we're still alive. That went better than I thought it would." Now both were looking at the floor.

"I'm so proud of you Garrus, I don't even think I-"

"Please Shepard."

"I'm serious,... come here." Shepard put his arms around Garrus who put his neck on Shepard's shoulders.

"I don't know why I thought it would turn out differently. With anyone else it would have been 'Congratulations, let's go celebrate' or something but no, not my Dad."

"Maybe just... I'm sure deep down he loves you."

"You say that, but did that look like someone who loves his son?" Shepard sighed.

"Give him some time to come around-"

"He's never going to get over it." Shepard put his hands on Garrus' shoulders and moved them back to look Garrus in his teary eyes.

"You know that's not true." Garrus peered into Shepard's gaze but soon looked away.

"Well why should I expect anything different?" He gestured towards the empty stairs. Shepard didn't have any answers. Garrus laughed bitterly.

"Happy now?"

Shepard was about to suggest they leave when they heard a voice from the top of the stairs.

"Are you going to go or should I arrest you for trespassing?"

They both looked at Garrus' father, and Shepard was trying to resist to urge to say something but couldn't help himself and headed towards the stairs.

"You know, I really hope you take a hard look at yourself in the mirror tonight and ask yourself if you would really want your son to be unhappy his entire life just to live up to your expectations, and why it is that you're unhappy for your son to be himself." Garrus' father begun to descend.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Not only do you arrive at my doorstep unannounced to tell me you're marrying my son, but now you're telling me how to live my life?" The two stood standing face to face.

"Who the hell are you dictating to your son how to live his life?"

"I'm not telling my son how to live his life. I haven't heard from him in years!" His tone was bitter. He clenched his jaw. "I'm... there's no point trying to explain it, humans never understand."

"Oh yeah, go right ahead and use your species as an excuse for you inability to accept your son for who he is."

"'Inability to accept my son for who he is?' I just want for him what any father wants for their child."

"And what's that exactly?" Garrus' father looked Shepard up and down.

"Certainly not you."

"And why is that?"

"Why? Because in the very least you're human, and regardless of the spell you've managed to cast over him I know my son, and I know he won't be happy in the long run with you. Now he's just wasting his life doing who-knows-what with nothing to show for it."

"What, so if he does something other than work at C-SEC he's useless?"

"No, I didn't say that. But he's established himself, and can do a great deal more good working there than for you and letting... council members die."

"We saved the Citadel! There's..." Shepard sighed and shook his head.

"There's what, really no point in explaining it? I for one would like to hear some of the reasons behind your reckless actions."

"Hold up. Did we save the Citadel? Yes. Did we destroy a machine from a previously unknown species that is to our current knowledge the biggest threat to all life as we know it? Yes. And did we save thousands of lives in the process? Yes."

"Wow, you stopped a threat that we would have eradicated anyway, but the counsel died nonetheless as a result of your atrocious decision making. Not only are you human, but how could any father let his son live with someone like that? What would that say about me?"

"So even if your son is happier with no one else, and is doing no less than saving the galaxy, you still wouldn't be happy for him?"

"You know I'm still here guys." They both looked over to Garrus who was looking at the floor. Garrus' father waved his hand.

"Look at him, look at what you've turned him into! He never used to be like that."

"You think I'm the one who's made him withdrawn from his father?"

"Withdrawn from his...!" Garrus' father looked at Shepard for a long time before unclenching his hands, and then at Garrus for an even longer period. He sighed and turned to Shepard before looking at the ground himself.

"I only want the best for him." He looked over to his son again.

"Come over here Garrus. Oh come on, don't look like that." Shepard realized they weren't shouting anymore.

"Need I remind you what you said to him..."

"Shut up." Garrus settled beside Shepard and took his hand.

"Garrus, can you at least look at me? Are you sure this is the one?"

Garrus nodded, still looking to the ground.

"Are you sure you're going to be happy?" He nodded again.

"Are you sure you're not going to throw your life away?"

"Dad..."

"Are you sure you're not going to throw your life away?"

"Yes." Garrus' Dad turned to Shepard.

"Well,... what to say? Although I despise humans and am still coming to terms with fact that my son fell in love with one, who happens to be a Spectre, and didn't tell me about it sooner, I can't deny that you have a reputation. Even if you are one of the most arrogant people I've ever met-"

"Don't push it." Garrus' father glared at Shepard.

"Even if you are one of the most utterly arrogant people I've ever met, I trust you'll take good care of him. I won't lie about my doubts with this, and I still haven't fully accepted the situation, but I can learn to live with it." Garrus was looking at the floor again. Shepard gestured his head towards him while glaring at his father.

"And about what I said before,..."

"Dad, I'll never forgive you for what you said." His father paused and looked at the ground.

"You have every right not to. But look at it from my perspective. Things are hard enough as it is with your mother and all, and then you casually turn up from nowhere and announce you're getting married to, of all people, Commander Shepard. I mean, what happened to the Garrus I used to know? I guess that's it though; look at you,... you're... you're all grown up now. And have been for a while, I just never saw it. I, I imagined you to be a certain person, and... looking at the choices I made..."

Garrus was looking to the side.

"This isn't easy for me! The reasons for my choices... I convinced myself at the time that I was right and they were for your own good, and I still think that there were... for the son in my mind, not the one in front of me... if I'm angry at you for not keeping contact, I'm only angrier at myself for letting it get that way. Spirits, I've thought about you every day... I just hope in time you can see me as a friend, and want to include me in your life again." Garrus looked at Shepard.

"Will you include Shepard in yours?" Garrus' father exhaled.

"As much as I despise him right now, in the future, I probably can if I try."

Garrus and his father looked at each other before slightly smiling.

"You know I still hate you."

"I know, and you have every right to. But I'll still love you."

The three of them all looked at one another for nearly a quarter of a minute before the older turian spoke up.

"So uh, are you staying for dinner?"

"Um Shepard's human Dad, which means he can't eat our food."

"Oh shit, yeah. See, trouble already?" Shepard rolled his eyes.

"You know Garrus, you can stay if you want."

"No Shepard, I want to stay with you."

"No, it really is fine. I think you owe your Dad that much. Tonight hasn't exactly been easy for him." He started walking backwards towards the door.

"Hang on a sec." Garrus walked over and put his hands around Shepard's back and gave him a long kiss. Garrus' eyes were closed, but Shepard watched Garrus' Dad fold him arms, look up towards the ceiling and shake his head, with perhaps the slightest hint of a smile on his face.

"I'll see you tonight."

"Bye"

"Bye"

Shepard closed the door and walked out onto the street and turned around. He was tempted to run up to the windows and see what was going on inside but headed for the station instead.