In which this fanfic writer tries to celebrate, but miscellaneous Shepards get in the way.


Celebration, With Associated Complications

"You're not supposed to be doing this, you know," said Catriona Shepard.

"I know," I muttered, swirling my drink and wishing I had a straw.

"You deliberately uninstalled Scrivener so you wouldn't be tempted," added Zoe Shepard.

"I'm not following this at all," complained Misty Shepard.

I took a deep drink, and set the pint glass back on the table. It was making a ring of condensation, I noted. I should probably get up and get a coaster.

I didn't.

"She's only got until Friday to get one research paper, one lit review paper, one think piece, and a product analysis done," explained Zoe.

"That's a lot of work to get done in five days," Misty agreed. "So what am I doing here?"

"That's what I'd like to know," muttered Cat.

I rubbed my head and took another gulp of my drink, wincing at the rum. I'd been a bit heavy-handed with the Meyer's float on my faux mai tai.

"I'm trying to celebrate, here," I snapped. "In case you didn't realize."

"Celebrate?" retorted Zoe. "What have you got to celebrate? To date, your progress is limited to one half of one paper and one third of a second paper. You haven't even started the other two."

"Why did I make you up again?" I asked.

"Escapism," replied Misty, promptly. "Even I know that one, and I've barely been around five minutes."

"I'm not celebrating my academic successes," I said primly.

"That's a relief," interrupted Cat. "Seeing as how there aren't any."

I did my best to ignore the loudest of my Shepards. "I am trying to celebrate the fact that your story has managed to make it on the favorites list of two hundred readers."

"Continuing to procrastinate, even now," mocked Zoe.

"Oh, shut up," said Cat. "She has a point. After all, your story didn't garner more than a single favorite."

Zoe growled. "Maybe if she hadn't decided to use an OC, and maybe if she hadn't suddenly gotten distracted by an inane crossover and an even more inane parody..."

"Hey!" interjected Misty.

"... she might have continued with my story and that would have changed."

"You're just jealous."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"You two are being juvenile," snapped Misty. "Is this any way for Shepards to act?"

"Why is it that the one with the stripper name is the one with the maturity?" I said aloud.

My dogs looked up at me questioningly.

"Never mind," I told them.

I scooped up my mai tai and held it aloft to no one in particular. "To two hundred favorites!" I intoned, trying to inject some cheerfulness into my voice.

In my head, the three Shepards continued to bicker.

This was going to be a long week...


A/N: Wow. Two hundred favorites. Now, if I could just manage to pass my last three classes, I might feel as though I've accomplished something.

/sarcasm

Seriously, though, I'd like to thank everyone who read Stars Fade, even if you hated it. That anyone took the time makes me happy, and the fact that even one of you enjoyed it makes me nearly giddy. That two hundred of you actually clicked the little favorite button is just... wow.

Thank you for reading. We now return you to your regularly scheduled fanfic.

-Totally Bursar