Shepard loved feeling the sand between her toes as she walked along the beach.
She looked over at her husband and couldn't help grinning as she reached over and held his hand. He smiled down at her, the years that had passed added a few more laugh lines and grays to his hair, but she loved it.
The laughter in front of them drew her attention away as she looked to see the two lives they had created and brought into this world.
The little girl named for the friend they lost on Virmire, and the younger boy named for Kaidan's father who had been lost in the war.
Shepard dropped Kaidan's hand and ran ahead to scoop up her son. She pushed his raven hair out of his eyes that contained the same unique shade of green that mirrored her own. He smiled a five toothed grin as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
The girl ran to her mother proudly showing her the seashells she had collected. Shepard looked down at the small girl who was a spitting image of her husband right down to the tiny dimple on her chin. Running her fingers through the girls black waves of curls Shepard couldn't help but think of Mordin as she looked at the shells in her daughter's small hand.
So many sacrifices and so much lost over the years, yet there was still hope for the galaxy and the future.
As she hitched the toddler on her hip she turned and began walking back to the house as the little girl twirled and danced ahead. She laughed as Kaidan ran ahead and joined in with his daughter eventually chasing her down as she shrieked and giggled.
She released a content sigh. For once in her life she felt relaxed and at peace. No dire emergencies called her name and she was able to watch her children grow up in a world where there was progress and a positive outlook for their children and the future generations that were to come.
