Kahlee Shepard was waiting in the classroom, feeling totally bored by the history that was being taught. She had no interest in history unless it contained multiple bloody battles and so the early 21st century history that was being taught, which was only about politicians and economics had swept over her head and she was sitting having a pleasant day dream looking out of the window. The class finished and Kahlee headed outside, she had made it half way down to corridor when she was slammed into the lockers by a group of jocks from the rugby team. Slightly winded by the shove she was gasping for breath when one of the boys pinned her and said,

"I know you, you're that Shepard kid." Kahlee winced at the remark. All her teenage life she had lived in her mum's shadow. Between people only being her friend so they could speak to the 'saviour of the galaxy' and on one liking her because they were all scared of her she hadn't had the greatest of childhoods. Even at the age of 17 she was still haunted by this fact. The jock pinned her with his forearm and with this other hand delivered a punch that contacted with the top of her eyebrow. Stinging pain erupted from the brow bone as she was let go of. Kahlee hobbled out of the corridor and decided to walk home in order to restore her pride and reduce the swelling above her eye. It wasn't a long walk home only about a mile but it was long enough for Kahlee to start thinking. She was tried in living in Commander Shepard's shadow. Even though at home she was just Connie there were always holograms and letters address to C. Shepard: Commander, Alliance. Kahlee wanted to get away from her mother's over-bearing presence and she couldn't think of any way to do it. She rounded the corner of their road and headed down to 42 Orion Lane. The house was large but simply built, very similar to all the other. Kahlee had lived her for all her life apart from two years when the family had to move to a colony so Sam could work on communications there.

Kahlee opened the door and headed past the kitchen trying not to look in, knowing that Sam or Connie would be there, and walked straight towards the stairs and her bedroom.

"Hey Sweetie," Sam's voice chimed from the kitchen. Kahlee didn't turn round and mumbled a reply as she headed up stairs. "Kahlee are you ok…honey, talk to me!" Sam exclaimed as she looked up the stairs. But Kahlee didn't respond and just slammed her door in reply. Sam tried knocking on Kahlee's' door but she couldn't get a response so she headed back down stairs.

Connie Shepard had walked out of the office where she was working and said, "Is everything ok Sam, I heard a door slam?"

"Kahlee just back from school and I think she's upset, she just went upstairs and didn't speak to me. She's now in her room and she's not coming out."

Connie could see that Sam was visible upset by this; she walked over to her and enveloped her in a hug.

"Sam, listen. It's natural for teenagers to get a bit stroppy, just leave her for an hour or so and then I'm sure she will have calmed down."

Sam didn't look so convinced but she decided to head back to the kitchen. An hour or so past and Sam was still anxiously looking up the stairs but there has been no moment from Kahlee's room. She went back up the stairs and gently knocked on the door covered in stickers.

"Come in." a weak voice replied.

Sam gently opened the door and walked into the dark room. She made her way towards the bed where Kahlee was curled up in a foetal position. Sam gently turned on the bedside light and began to rub Kahlee's shoulder.

"Are you alright sweetie?"

In answer Kahlee turned round and Sam immediately noticed the swollen purple lump over her eye. Sam gasped as Kahlee began to cry, tears she had been holding back for some time bursting to the front of her eyes. Sam enveloped Kahlee in a hug while her daughter was crying, Sam whispered soothing words and Kahlee began to quieten.

"Please Kahlee, tell me what happened?"

"I g…ot hit and … they said it … was b..b.. because I was … an army brat and… because I'm commander Shepard's d…d…aughter." Kahlee sobbed getting more and more upset which each word she said.

Sam was haunted by the words she had just heard. Her daughter was getting abused due to her last name. Sam collected Kahlee into a hug and stayed with her until she stopped crying. Then once Kahlee was settled she brought her up something to eat and sat her down. Now that Kahlee had stopped crying Sam could get some more details from her.

"Alright sweetie," Sam started after she had sat next to Kahlee, "Tell me what happened."

"Well mum, I've pretty much told you everything. I had just finished history and I was walking down the corridor when I was slammed into the lockers. One of the jocks pinned me and said 'you're that Shepard kid' and then he punched me. There's not much more to say. But I've decided something."

Kahlee looked at Sam with questioning eyes but Sam nodded for her to carry on.

"I'm tired of living in Mam's shadow. I want to be my own person, not just Commander Shepard's daughter. So I think I'm going to join the Navy. It's the only way I can still be like Mam but be an individual. Please tell me you're not angry with me and don't tell mam. I'm still not sure."

Sam hugged her daughter and said, "Me and your mother will support you in whatever you choose but know that we will always think of you as our daughter; smart, beautiful and whatever anyone says you are Kahlee Shepard, conqueror of Monolopy and keeper of the peace in the Shepard-Traynor household."

Kahlee replied with a giggle and a smile as Sam gave her a kiss on her forehead and walked out of her room. Still concerned about their daughter Sam went down the stairs into the office, gently closed the door behind her and said, "Connie, we need to talk."

A/N: Sorry I've been away for a while. This is a story I've been brooding over for a while. Drop me a review and let me know what you think.