Once the Reaper Invasion was brought to a stop, the galaxy got the chance to breathe. It took some time, but the Mass Relays were fixed and planets were rebuilt. Life continued and it seemed as if everyone had a better appreciation for it.
The famous Commander Shepard knew it was time for life to slow down a bit, and no one could blame her. She retired from the Alliance Military in exchange for a change to settle down with the man who had been personally responsible for giving her a reason to hold on in the end - Kaidan Alenko. Although she still held her Spectre status and went on missions here and there for the Council, the majority of her time and attention were focused on her new life in Canada with her husband and two children.
Life was actually normal and although it took some getting used to, Shepard grew to quickly love it. Waking up every morning and knowing for a fact that the day would go on without the risk of dying was such a relief. She was finally able to relax and get to know the world for what it could be — a happy place.
Although the safety for those she loved was a major point that attracted her to a normal life, her favourite part was being able to watch her children grow. Being witness to the development of who they were was such a blessing because it was something she never got to experience before. The people in her life were in and out so quickly - the price of being raised an orphan and enlisting in the military at age 18. She loved seeing them develop their own interests and personalities. And she adored seeing bits of herself and Kaidan shining through both their daughter and their son.
Shepard felt both a sense of pride and worried the day that her daughter revealed her interest in enlisting with the Alliance. They both saw it coming. She'd always shown way too much interest in wanting them to teach her things such as combat techniques, how to handle a firearm, and the differences in armor. She was only (and would always be) a baby in Shepard and Kaidan's eyes, but the truth was that she was 18 and if she wanted to enlist, then it was her choice. So Kaidan escorted his one and only daughter to enlist, promising Shepard to protect and watch over her through the training process.
The Alliance allowed Kaidan to stick around, aiding in her training while Shepard stayed at home with their son. Of course she missed those two, but she knew she'd see them again soon. ...Or so she thought.
Author's Note: This is just sort of an introduction to the story to give you an idea of where everything is at when the story starts. I'll be posting the first chapter soon. I do not claim to own Mass Effect or any of the characters or entities that are in the game. I only own the current story line (everything that takes place after the defeat of the Reapers) and a few of the OC characters.
This story is rated T for teens. It occasionally contains coarse language, suggestive content, and violence. It may be unsuitable for children under the age of 13. *At any point if I feel the need, I reserve the right to alter the rating.