A/N: I decided to do a series of one-shots on Joker and Shep as kids. I feel like there is a lot of history there ripe for exploration. Please let me know what you think!

The Docks

The small boy stood in the observation deck, his face pressed against the window, his nose flattened, his hot breath leaving fog on the clear glass. His green eyes danced in the low light as he watched another Alliance ship land on the station.

"Cookie, you should sit down for a while. You need to rest your legs."

"Aw, mom, I feel fine. Plus, the doctor said I needed to exercise so I can get stronger."

The doctors fitted him with a new set of VI-assisted leg braces a week ago, in an attempt to build up his muscles; the rationale was that stronger muscles would help protect his bones. The doctors explained that the VI would do most of the work in the beginning, but his mother was still afraid to let him do anything. It had taken over a week of begging to even get this far. He wasn't ready to go yet. His eyes darted around the docking area eagerly while he waited for another ship to come in; they landed on something he could hardly believe.

"Wow! Mom, come here. There is a little kid like me leaving that Alliance frigate!"

"There are lots of kids like you on this station."

"No, I mean she is like me! Not like the others."

"I don't see her, Cookie."

"She is right there, by the tall crates. See, she has red hair like me!" He was practically bouncing.

"Oh, now I see. Yes, she does have red hair just like you." His mom smiled at him, but he could tell the smile didn't reach her eyes. He shrugged and turned back around to watch this new kid.

The girl walked down the dock like she wasn't afraid of anything; she carried herself like the soldiers she walked with. Only her diminutive height and a teddy bear tucked under her arm gave away her age. The boy watched her with rapt fascination. He wanted to get her attention somehow, but froze. Suddenly his right leg shot out and kicked at the large window twice, just enough to draw the attention of those on the dock.

The little girl stopped in the middle of the dock and looked up. She raised her free arm and pointed directly at him. His heart jumped, both thrilled and terrified that she noticed him. A woman, probably her mother, kneeled down next to the girl, looked to where she was pointing – at him – and a horrified look crossed her delicate features. She hastily pushed the girl's arm down and said something to her, never once looking back at him. Tears gathered in his eyes, but he hastily wiped them away before his mother could notice. He didn't mind being pointed at. He wasn't stupid; he knew he looked different – especially with his new metal legs. Why did adults think it was better to ignore him, though?

The woman directed the girl towards the station door at the end of the dock and turned back to the task at hand. He turned away from the window, sad that the little girl was leaving the docks. His mom didn't let him leave home any other time, so he would probably never see her again. He took a few slow steps away from the window. His mother watched him too close, panic bare across her face. He almost gave up and asked her to pick him up, dejection draining his will.

His mother met him half way and knelt beside him, a smile wide on her face. He reached for her, ready to give up and go home, but she shook her head. She reached her arm past him and pointed. He had to take two steps to turn around enough to see what she was pointing at, and there she was; the little girl was standing with her face pressed against the window, one hand on either side of her face to let her see far into the dim room. His mother tried to help him back to the window, but he was rejuvenated. He made it there faster than either thought possible.

The little girl smiled when he stopped in front of her on the opposite side of the glass. One bottom front tooth was missing completely, and the other looked too large for her mouth and was slightly crooked, and it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She made funny faces trying to get him to laugh, her eyes danced when she succeeded; they were bright green like a jewel, not like his cloudy green. They stayed like that for several minutes, making silly faces back and forth across the glass, before her mother came to lead her away.

He waved to her, and she waved back. Then she picked up her teddy bear and made one fuzzy arm wave to him too before disappearing.