A/N: *UPDATE* So thanks to Mass Effect 3 I realized that Velarn is actually the Salarian Councilor. I apologize for the misconception. Enjoy.
"We don't actually have to do this." Garrus spoke quietly to his mate while Grunt took their son over to browse the wares of the Sirta Foundation. Shepard glanced at him. Old Garrus would never have considered directly disobeying an order from the Council. How things had changed.
"This is about more than us." She locked eyes with her mate and he nodded once in assent. They were both prepared for the worst, hands resting on their pistols at all times and eyes darting in every direction at once. Novie had earned a few odd glances, but his coat hid most of his human like features. Shepard was hoping that their son would help ease the tension between Turians and Humans. Hoping, but not expecting.
Anderson and Councilor Sparratus were in deep conversation when Shepard and her crew arrived in Anderson's office. She raised an eyebrow.
"Shepard."
"Garrus."
They spoke simultaneously. "Councilors." Shepard said crossing her arms and staring at them. Garrus stood at her side his arms hanging loosely at his side. From the look in Sparratus' eyes Shepard assumed he was being extremely disrespectful to the man's higher rank. It made her smirk.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Anderson said approaching Shepard and extending a hand. Shepard glanced from his hand to his face and fixed him with a glare.
"I figured if we didn't you would send an armada after us." Anderson clasped hands behind his back and puffed is chest out a little.
"You understand the importance of this." He said. Shepard was about to come up with a witty reply when Sparratus stepped forward and interrupted them.
"Where is the child?" He asked. Suddenly Garrus was between the councilor and his mate. And he was growling. Anderson backed away and Shepard watched with wide eyes. Garrus had never been so protective before. Sparratus began emitting a similar growl as the two glared at each other. Shepard could literally smell the bloodlust.
"Daddy?" Novie's small voice seemed to ring throughout the room and Garrus snorted once before taking his son's hand and bringing him forth. Shepard clasped his other hand in her own and they stood defiantly before their respective councilors. Novie glanced at his parents and then at the councilors. His brow plates pushed downward and he visibly grit his teeth together.
"Spirits…how is such a thing possible?" Sparratus said stepping forward and crouching to get a better look at Novie's face.
"Cerberus." Shepard snorted. "Who else?" Sparratus pushed Novie's hood away from his face and mumbled something about his 'odd skin color'.
"I thought you gave birth to him." Anderson seemed to be more collected than the Turian councilor and had glanced at Novie periodically out of the corners of his eyes rather than openly staring.
"I did, but only because of all the cybernetics that Cerberus put in me. My relationship with Garrus and our frequent activities altered my anatomy. I can even eat dextro food now." She gestured towards her son with her free hand. "He can eat levo and dextro food and hasn't had any reactions to humans. Dr. Solus and Officer Lawson assume he won't react to Turian's either." Her reference to the Cerberus operative earned a scowl from Anderson.
"I thought you cut all ties with Cerberus, Commander." He said all but openly accusing her of treason, again.
"I did. Officer Lawson works for Shepard now. Only Shepard. " Anderson seemed satisfied with that.
"How have you kept him a secret so long?" Sparratus asked rising, but keeping his gaze focused on the half breed before him.
"I have a close friend that has a knack for hiding information you don't want found. And for those pesky peepers I have my other close friends." Shepard tapped her holstered pistol for affect. "This brings up an interesting point. How in the hell did you find out?" Shepard took a step towards Anderson. "I have to assume it was leaked to at least the two of you. But why stop there? If someone's trying to make me look bad they sure are doing a bang up job. I haven't seen a single poster proclaiming me 'The Xenophile of the Galaxy'."
"Because I would kill them, slowly." Garrus chimed in behind her. Velarn tore his gaze from Novie long enough to gape at him. Shepard noted the look that passed between them. She would have to ask Garrus about it later.
"We received an anonymous tip." Anderson replied. Shepard glared at him, ready to demand a real answer but Novie interrupted her.
"Mommy, whats gonna happen to me?" he asked gazing up at his mother with those big ocean-esque eyes of his.
"He needs to stay here." Sparratus replied immediately. "To our knowledge we are the only ones outside of your crew that knows of him. And we have the power and authority to protect him."
Shepard's gaze fell on the now oddly protective Turian. "You make a valid point, but there's one problem: I don't trust any of you."
"You don't have very many options here, Shepard." Anderson said.
"The hell I don't." She replied. "I have ship full of people ready to throw their lives on the line to protect him. I don't need your help, Councilors." She sneered the last word and was about to turn and make a war path back to said ship when a gunshot cut through the tension in the room. Shepard and Garrus simultaneously threw Novie to Grunt who already had his arms open and ready to receive him. Both drew their weapons and flanked Grunt who had taken cover behind a nearby pillar. Sparratus yelped and fell to the floor grasping an arm that was spewing blue blood all over the floor. Anderson dove towards his weapons locker.
"Sniper!" Sparratus yelled dragging himself behind the protection of the balcony wall.
"I got 'im." Garrus said gazing through his scope. "Looks like a human." He said squeezing the trigger. Shepard noted a small explosion of red near the right of the balcony. "Scoped and dropped." He said blatantly.
"Daddy that was awesome!" Novie yelled from his position beneath Grunt.
"Stay down." Shepard said extending a hand towards her wriggling son as he tried to grapple his father. He immediately ceased all movement at his mother's extended, down-facing palm. A few more bullets embedded themselves in the pillar Grunt was taking cover behind. "Turian." Shepard said matter-o-factly. Garrus turned and they made eye contact. "Someone else knows."
A/N: Reviews are appreciated.