Lili sat at her desk, typing away at her omni-tool when the door opened with a hiss. A person, no a very good friend, walked in.
"Shepard, I need to talk to you." he said. Lili got up as her omni-tool faded and walked over to him, a had on her hip.
"Hello to you too, Garrus. Also I have told you I don't know how many times to call me Lili." she replied, shooting him a look that could melt ice. "Although, what do you need?"
"I'm worried." he explained.
"What about?" she questioned.
"That's the hard part." he sighed.
"You can tell me anything." she reminded.
"Okay, it's my mother." he admitted.
"Oh? What's wrong?" she asked, trying not to let her voice betray a thing she knew.
"She's sick. She has Corpalis Syndrome and any kind of treatment is to expensive." he told her, he looked over at her, eyes full of sorrow.
"Tell me if there is anything I can do. I'd be glad to help pay." she soothed.
"I couldn't ask you to do that.
"Well you know I have to meet them at some point." she said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I need to go see them, soon. There is something I need. Could you have the ship go to Palaven?" Garrus questioned. Lili gave a nod of her head and walked over to her desk.
"Of course, EDI tell Joker to head to Palaven." she ordered and picked up some credits. Theen she walked back over to Garrus. "You are going to take the damn credits. It's just something I can do." she continued and put them in his hand. "Now go get ready, we'll be there soon." she ended.
"Thank you." he thanked and walked out. The door closed and Lili was alone again. She smiled and tears began to fall off her face. She already knew but just wanted him to tell her. She had been waiting.
Lili and Garrus stepped out onto the ground of Palaven. Garrus led her to the nearest house and opened the door. He stepped inside and and held out a hand to her.
"Are you sure I'm welcome?" she whispered and took it.
"You said you would have to meet my family at some point, why not now?" he replied. "Hello?" he called louder this time.
"Garrus?" came the reply. "Last time I talked to you, you said you were busy."
"Solana!" he greeted. "I know, but where's mom?"
"Who's this?" Solana asked, looking at Lili.
"Hello." Lili greeted and smiled. "I'm Lili Shepard."
"Why are you on Palaven?" Solana persisted.
"She doesn't have to tell you." Garrus interrupted. "Now where is mom?"
"In her room." Solana reported. "Why don't you have your friend stay here."
"She's a very good friend, I'd like her to meet mom." he growledcin reply. Solana looked taken aback then waved a hand in the air.
"Fine, you don't have to be so rude." Solana hissed and walked off. Garrus led Lili through a hallway and to a door. He opened it and walked it.
"Is that you, Garrus?" an older turian woman asked, her tone surprised and mandibles wide. He nodded and signaled Lili to fallow. "How have you been?" his mother continued.
"Good, I just wanted to visit. And for you all to meet a friend." he explained. Lili stepped forward.
"Hello, I'm Lili Shepard." she greeted and smiled.
"It's very nice to meet you." his mother replied.
"You as well." Lili said.
"I'd like to speak with your friends still!" came Solana's call. Lili looked back at the door.
"I'll go speak with Solana. It's best you guys get a reunion." she added, turning to leave. She exited the room and found herself face-to-face with Solana.
"I know there is more then yoou two let on." the younger turian said. Lili felt her skin get hot.
"I don't fallow."
"You know what I mean. The way you speak and looke at each other. I'm not stupid." Solana responded. "I know you love each other."
"I-I..." Lili stammered.
"Don't tell me other wise. I know it's true."
"Your right. You may think it's not right and we should go with our own race-"
"I think it's cute. I approve, Spaectre." Solana interrupted. "Have fun meeting the parents, Commander."
"You know me?" Lili asked, her expression puzzled.
"Commander Shepard, first human Spectre, hero of the Citadel, raised on Mindior and the Butcher of Torfan. You beat Saren and the Collectors." Solana confirmed. "Dad doesn't like Spectres but that isn't my problem. Why don't you go back."
"I see. Okay." she replied, walking off the way she had come.
She stopped when she heard voices ahead.
"You know what your dad will think of her." she heard his mother say.
"I don't give a damn what he thinks of her." Garrus hissed.
"Well, I'm glad your happy. Lili seems like a nice girl. From what you have told me she appears to be very...fitting. Blowing up those husks and killing all the collectors. As well as saving the Citadel and being the first Spectre of her kind, that is amazing. It sounds nice to know what your going to do for her."
"She's done nothing but help people, sometimes being a bit of a b!tch but she gets the job done." he replied. Lili decided she better not listen to anymore, so she walked out to where she had been talking with Solana and sat down on a couch in the room.
Soon Garrus came and got her. She smiled and tried to act as if she had heard nothing.
"Listen, mom said we can stay for dinner." he explained.
"I wouldn't mind." Lili purred.
Lili took the fork in her hand, it was...awkward, to say the least.
"So, is anybody going to tell me why Garrus brought a human home? Or why he is home at all?" his father growled.
"I will let him explain." his mother replied.
"I can't come for a visit?" Garrus spat.
"I think Lili can speak for herself." Solana interrupted. Lili felt eyes burn into her skin. She looked at Garrus' father.
"My name is Lili Shepard. I was raised on Mindior and I was on Torfan. I've been through the omega-4 relay, and saved the Citadel." she began.
"The same one who is a Spectre?" his father laughed.
"Why yes." Lili confirmed. "I'm not anymore but-" she was cut off.
"Speactres are a waste."
"I don't have to take this!" Lili said, stadning up. "Don't trash me. I am going outside." she huffed and left. Lili walked out the door and walked a couple yards away. She dropped onto the grass and starred up at the sky. She was sick of it, she had been warned this was what she would get from them. She hadn't listened. She closed her eyes, trying to block everything out but thoughts of Mahi and Devu. Her friends didn't show but only whispered in her mind.
"It will end fine." Mahi told her.
"You don't have to worry." Devu added.
Lili gave a smile and opened her eyes. She heard somebody walking toward her. She sat up and looked over.
"I'm sorry for that." Garrus told her.
"It's okay. I'm used to being talked to like I am worth nothing. Insults loose their affect once you have heard them enough, I guess I am just a little shaken. It's...I don't know what to say."
"Mom is talking to him. And I am really sorry." he soothed. Lili looked up at the sky. She pointed up.
"That looks like a constellation I used to look at when I was a young girl. On Mindior we called it the dragon. Something I used to look for every night. Even if it was raining I looked." she whispered. "Me and my friends, would spend hours sword fighting in the moon light then we would rest and drink hot chocolate and stare into the sky." she added and laughed. "We we weird, sometimes we would drink coffee instead. I'm sorry for rambling."
"I'm not complaining. All you have are memories."
"Yes. Memories." she sighed. She let her eyes close and she looked over at him. She gave a small grin and tried to not fall asleep, but sleep claimed her.
Lili opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around.
"Where the hell am I?" she thought. She wasn't in her cabin, it was much lighter and none of her things were there. She looked down at her body, just nightgown. She got up and fixed her hair then found her jeans and tank top on a chair in the room. She changed into them and walked over to the door. She eased it open and peered out. The hallway was empty, so she stepped out and walked into the main room. She noticed Solana sitting on the couch.
"Your awake? Guys, she's up!" Solana reported. Garrus' father walked in.
"About last night, I'm sorry." he said. "I didn't mean it the way I did. I'm glad you guys are happy together." he added.
"It's alright." she replied. He walked off and Lili walked over to Solana. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked.
"Not much to do. Well you could go and hang out with Garrus. That's all for you to do." Solana responded.
"I'd like to know where he is, then." Lili hissed.
"Outside, I think. You two show up yesterday, and I'm supposed to keep track of you? As if." Solana sighed. Lili left Solana and walked out of the door. She noticed Garrus and walked over to him.
"Hi." she greeted. He turned to looked at her.
"Hello. I'm ready to go back when ever you are." he said.
"Probably this afternoon." she told him. "It's pretty, the view and all. Such a pretty planet."
"Yes." he agreed. "I'd like to hear more about Mindoir at some time."
"I can tell you." she murmured, sitting down next to him. It was silent for the longest time, and Lili liked it that way.