Author's notes: This is the first Fanfic i've written, its been rattling around in my head for a while.
English was never my strong point at school and I am truly a noob at this.
Rating will change for naughty times that will arrive.
Read and Review please.
Disclaimer: Im just playing with Bioware's toys, they arent my toys.
The Sunrise of Rannoch
It was over.
The war that claimed millions, destroyed worlds, formed unexpected allegiances, ended long-held grudges. Rebuilding had begun, an eerie sense of calm had enveloped the galaxy.
One woman held everyone's attention throughout the broken galaxy, everyone wanted to know about her welfare. They knew she was alive, every news agency from Council space to the Terminus systems wanted a piece of her.
Crazy freaks who repeatedly broke into Huerta Memorial Hospital, trying to take pictures of Commander Aurora Shepard in a coma, well...as far as they could get between two over protective Krogans and a beefcake Lieutenant was 3 metres from the door, before promptly being deposited to the floor with suspected broken noses and concussion.
However, Shepard was awake during this latest attempt to break in, she sighed with a little quirk of humor, she wasn't that fascinating, certainly not enough to risk playing chicken with two Krogans anyway. She admired their resolve, nothing could beat the previous nights attempt, she was still in the medically induced coma at the time and very annoyed she'd missed it, that was a laugh she could have done with, although James had eagerly regaled her with the story.
Shepard sighed heavily, bored to insanity and beyond ,"James?"
"Yeah, Lola?"
"Entertain me Amigo"
"Y'know, last night two pendejos tried to break in here dressed as Asari nurses..." he stopped to suppress a few sniggers the memory had invoked.
Shepard looked at James quizzically amused, she just knew there was more to this story, "How did they manage that and why did they fail if they managed to get into the hospital?"
James let out a snort, "To be fair to them, they did look very convincing, it was when the borrachos from Chora's Den had arrived, things got a bit loco"
"Go on James"
"One of the borrachos cornered one of the pendejos in one of the rooms, apparently looking to get busy with a hot Asari, borracho got a little touchy-feely, and quickly realized that Asari do not have stubble..."James stopped again to calm his sniggers before continuing, "Pendejo ran out of the room, and nearly escaped completely, failing to realize the lift door had closed and he ran full force into it, propelling him backwards into Councilor Sparatus and Councilor Tevos, leaving Tevos trying to cover her dignity after her dressed got ripped..." James had lost complete control of his sniggers, when Shepard erupted into a laughter.
"Owww, it hurts to laugh, gutted i missed that, you think it's on the security cameras?" Shepard looked at James with gleeful optimism.
"I'll find out for you Lola"
"Thanks James"
After 2 months of a coma and another 3 months in recovery, Shepard was so ready to go home, thanks to the love and dedication of her beloved family, she had a home to go too. She had plans, big plans and for those plans to be practical, she needed a home and space.
Only two people knew about her plans, Miranda had contacts and was only too happy to help Shepard, Miranda had a renewed glee when asked to help. Joker, her beloved friend and partner in crime was the first person to know about these plans, Shepard had approached him with a request, that Joker could never deny her, he loved her too much to say no.
Shepard slid into the vacant seat, normally filled by EDI, "Hey Flyboy"
"Hey Commander, you look deep in thought"
Shepard readied herself, "Joker, I have a question to ask you, but you are under no pressure to agree, just hear me out"
Joker looked to Shepard with confusion "Ask away Commander"
"I need some sperm"
Joker looked at Shepard in disbelief.
Shepard continued, "After the war, if I survive, I want to have a baby, since im single and have no desire to change that now, I need a donor, someone I love and trust wholeheartedly, you're at the very top of that list"
Joker struggled to process the request, "You want to have a baby with me, what if the baby has Vroliks?"
Shepard put her hand on his arm reassuringly, "I've looked into it, the baby will have more of my genetics, but instead of just having a clone of me with a few things tweaked, i want to randomize the genes and obviously i need the Y chromosome to randomize the sex, and i like your eyes and your quirky humour, it's a bit like Asari reproduction, you don't have to agree, James is next on the list"
Joker smiled a little, Shepard was picking him over the beefcake, but he was worried, "But what about Vroliks?"
Shepard understood his concern, "We can have that gene removed if it worries you that much, but it's no concern of mine"
Joker thought about it, Shepard was like a sister to him, he followed her to hell and back, he quickly realized then, she trusts him more than anyone she knows, that gave him a much-needed dose of pride, he never really considered children, obviously having them with EDI wouldn't be possible, technically it wouldn't be his child either, but he would adore anything that Shepard made regardless of his input.
He smiled at the thought of a pregnant Shepard giving people shit for the fun of it, he had his answer, "I'll agree, on three conditions"
Shepard smiled, "And what would they be?"
Joker returned the smile, "One, we remove the Vroliks, two, I better be godfather, for I am the best and three, if I ever want to do the same, you'll give me a few eggs so i can have a some awesome smartass redheads who are great pilots and have a real desire to blow shit up"
Shepard laughed and kissed Joker's cheek, "Done, we'll make a little brood of them and take over the galaxy with our joint awesomeness, and your babies get an awesome robot mommy"
Shepard stood in front of the mirror, staring at her toned stomach, smiling about the changes that would soon take place. She was prepared for the physical toll it could have on her healing body, but she was ready for this.
She was ready to be a mother.
Shepard was excited about becoming pregnant, although a slight sadness accompanied her excitement. Her thoughts of the man she loved more than life itself, her husband and shining beacon in a horrific shitstorm that was the reaper war.
Thane had made Shepard promise, once she had won, like she always did, to live her life to the fullest, have children, find another love to keep her safe in his place. She didn't want to promise that at all, she planned to join him across the sea, but she agreed for Thane, he lost 10 years out of grief for Irikah, he didn't want the same for Shepard.
"Siha?" Thane, played with his new wife's hair, thinking about what will happen when he's gone.
"Whats up baby?" Shepard yawned next to her new husband, tired out from all the love-making they'd engaged in.
"Siha, when im gone, promise me that you will not lose yourself in grief, promise me"
"Thane, I..."
"Siha, I want you to find a new love, have children and live your life well, when you join me across the sea, I want to know all about your life, your new husband, your children, grandchildren, i want to depart my body knowing, you will lead a happy life"
Shepard sobbed a little, she knew he was on borrowed time, he would be gone one day, "Alright, I'll move on with my life, but also know, that you'll forever be in my heart"
Thane hugged his new wife tighter, "Your capacity to love Siha fills me a joy i never thought possible, look after Kolyat and look after yourself"
She smiled fondly, perhaps if she had a girl, she'd name her Irikah no...Hope Irikah Shepard, for this baby would be Shepard's hope, and if she had a boy, she'd name him Thane...Thane Ashley Shepard. She was happy with her chosen names and soon she'd be carrying Hope or Thane with her.
Three months after being at home, Shepard was called in by what was left of the Alliance Council, she was filled dread about what bullshit these assholes would get her into next. Three times over she saved the shower of shites and she was getting bloody sick of it.
Also her pregnancy hormones had kicked in full swing and she was ready to rip the head off any asshole who dared to breathe near her.
Shepard walked into the temporary Alliance Headquarters and immediately noticed Anderson and Hackett standing by the door to the council chambers.
"Anderson, Hackett" Shepard saluted them both.
"Shepard, there's something different about you child" Anderson eyed her suspiciously.
Shepard completely side-stepped the statement and the look he gave her, she'd tell them soon enough, "Whats this about Admirals?"
Before either Admiral could answer, the council secretary called them into the chambers, that's when Shepard knew was going on, her whole crew stood in dress blues or what either came close for the alien members of the crew and trying and failing to hide shit eating grins. Even Kolyat was there, he gave her a warm smile and Shepard was sure she saw pride in his eyes.
She looked around the room, and that's when she saw him, Alenko or as Joker called him, Major Asshole, and what a asshole he was.
A female council member stood up, she always reminded Shepard of her mother, same eyes and hair, and same classic beauty of an old 20th century actress.
"Commander Shepard, in light of your exemplary military record, your ability to achieve the impossible and the grace in which you conduct yourself when representing the Alliance, with honour to promote you to the rank of Rear Admiral, effective immediately, congratulations Rear Admiral, we apologize for the quickness of the ceremony, but Admirals Anderson and Hackett assured us you'd rather it be this way"
Shepard felt like she'd be hit in the face with a wet fish, did the Alliance council actually praise her, no stupid missions, no we screwed up, please clean it up for us missions, " Thank you Admirals, you should be aware now you have promoted, that I'm pregnant and will obviously have limits on what a can do, I still haven't healed completely yet"
Shepard felt the surprise vibrate around the chambers, "Rear Admiral, we understand your fitness still hasn't returned to normal and we will accommodate your pregnancy too, you still have the Normandy and your crew, so we feel that your condition wont effect your ability and congratulations again Rear Admiral"
Shepard saluted the council and walked out of the chambers, struggling to contain the smile on her face, she was a Rear Admiral, giving her more power, she was already a Spectre and now a Rear Admiral, these people really needed help.
She had received hugs from her crew, all demanding to know how she got pregnant, she promised later at her apartment, she would explain it all.
Anderson and Hackett approached her, "Congratulations, Rear Admiral, I knew something was different about you" Anderson smiled warmly.
"Well grandpas and I will make this baby call you both Grandpa, I hope I do my new rank justice"
Hackett put his hand on her shoulder affectionately, "You will, otherwise we wouldn't have suggested it to the council, it's about time they showed appreciation, take care Rear Admiral and keep us up to date with baby, we will make sure the news doesn't pick up on this just yet"
After leaving the Admirals, Shepard felt a hand spin her around, feeling dizzy it took a while to register who she faced, "Kaidan, what the hell are you playing at?"
Kaidan glowed with intense jealousy, "Who's the dad, do you even know?"
Shepard yanked her arm away from him, "Yes i do know, technically its Joker"
Kaidan's eyes widened, "Joker, you slept with Joker?"
She was fuming by this point, "No, I did not sleep with Joker, he donated the necessary parts to make my baby, the baby is more me than Joker, My husband wanted me to have children and since I have no desire for any man and i can raise a baby myself, I decided just to have a baby, now if you don't mind, my other child Kolyat is waiting for me" Shepard stormed away from Kaidan before her hormones gave her the rage again.
At the apartment, her crew filed in, carrying copious amounts of Cerveza, she was ready to answer their questions. She ushered them into the bar area, that's when they saw it, a holo of a tiny baby on the screen, a strong heartbeat pounded around the apartment.
Shepard let them admire the new little human before she interrupted, "So, what do you guys think?"
Garrus was the first to speak, "We gonna have a baby"
"Who's the dad Lola?"
Joker beamed with pride, "Technically, i am"
Shocked faces turned to Shepard and Joker, "You mated with the broken human" said Javik, tactful as ever.
Shepard felt a little rage at Javik, "Joker donated some of his genetics to mine, we didn't do any mating, and Joker isn't broken"
James filled glasses with Cerveza, handing them out to everyone, minus Shepard, handing her something baby friendly, raising his glass, "Tonight, we celebrate, not only has our beautiful Shepard been promoted, she's making Aunts and Uncles out of all of us and i for one cant wait to meet this bebé, so to Shepard our new Rear Admiral and the tiniest but most important , member of the Normandy crew, we're glad to have you back"
Together, her beloved crew and family raised their glasses, "To Shepard and baby"
Shepard burst into tears, Kolyat pulled his stepmother into his arms, he knew there was still the tinge of sadness at Thane not being there, Kolyat leaned down to whisper in Shepard's ear, moving her long red hair that his father loved so much out of the way, "He'd be so proud of you, just like everyone in this room is"
Shepard felt her sobs subside, she'll always miss Thane, he has his own place in her heart, he left his treasured son in her care, and how she loved that boy, she knew no matter what, she had her family, different species but all the same deep down, crazy, bizarre and very irritating, but they were hers, she was theirs, some things just don't change.
Authors Notes: Thanks for reading the first chapter.
There is not enough Quarian love and I think Han'Gerrel is the perfect target.