birthday
Daddy!Kaidan/Shenko drabble. Post-ME3.
"Daddy?" Ashley wriggled a little as she spoke. Kaidan held his daughter in one arm as he dumped a box of pasta into the pot on the stove. "Daddy, is Uncle Garrus still coming over today?"
"Yes, sweetheart," he said patiently, reaching for a spoon. "And so are Auntie Tali, Auntie Liara, and Uncle Jeff—"
"And Tio James?" she cried, lifting her arms above her head in excitement. He laughed as he stirred the pasta.
"Yes, James too."
"Tio James, Daddy," she corrected sternly. He chuckled and shook his head.
"He insists that you call him that, even though there isn't an ounce of the Southwest in you. I guess it doesn't help that your mother encourages it, either," he sighed, setting the spoon down and running a hand through his hair. He carried her over to the island and set her down on the edge. Her little legs swung back and forth as he tousled her dark hair. She'd been blessed with her mother's eyes and her father's hair, spitting image of them both.
"Did you finish your card for Mommy?" he asked, turning around to light the flame under the pot of sauce.
"Yesssss," she drew out the word, flipping over and crawling over the counter to get the paper from the opposite side. She pushed plates and cups out of her path, causing a commotion on the table. Kaidan rushed to grab her.
"Woah there, baby girl," he laughed. "Careful." He looked at her for a moment. Just like her mother.
"Do you like it?" she asked, big eyes glimmering in the light of the kitchen.
He looked at the card. "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" was written in clumsy red letters on the front. He opened it up and looked at the precious work on the inside. She had drawn their little "family" all together out near what appeared to be the English Bay. He grinned. He, Jeff, James, and Shepard had been reduced to some navy and peach scribbles, Liara a blue blob, Garrus some grey lines and a blue square, and Tali a swift purple swirl with an oval for a mask. He grinned.
"Mommy's going to love it," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"What am I going to love?" Right on cue, Shepard strolled into the room in her jeans and leather jacket. She tipped her head to the side with a mischievous smile. "You know I hate surprises."
Kaidan lifted his daughter onto the floor who ran off squealing something about toy ships, and walked to his wife. "Mhm, that's why it's a surprise."
"Are we gonna have problems this evening, Major?" she smirked. He pulled her in by the waist.
He chuckled. "It depends, do I get to keep my rank tonight?"
"Well, it is my birthday," she chewed her lip. He sighed.
"Bet you didn't expect the whole Spectre status thing when I was a Lieutenant, did you?"
"I was innocent back then," she deflected with ease.
"No you weren't," he rolled his eyes. She laughed and he pulled her in close, sweeping over her mouth for a kiss. She giggled onto his lips and tugged on his shirt. "Happy birthday, Shepard," he said quietly.
"Mommy?" They looked up at the same time. Little footsteps preceded Ashley's voice. "Mommy, Mommy, guess what?"
"What, baby girl?" she knelt down to meet her daughter, smiling.
"Happy birthday!" she grinned, and she kissed her mother on the cheek. Shepard laughed.
"Thank you, Ash." She scooped the little girl into her arms and carried her to her husband. "Come on, what's cooking for dinner?"