AN: This story is not really a cohesive story. It's just a series of one-shots - not necessarily in chronological order - that go through the lives of Garrus, Shepard and their adopted children after ME3. Admittedly, most of the stories will be fluff. My story "Shepard's Son" fits in with these one-shots. This particular chapter was a masskink meme fill.

Meeting the Family

The main deck of the Normandy was virtually silent. Everyone had already been dropped off at the Citadel days ago for shore leave. There was only a skeleton crew on board, none of whom were anywhere to be seen. The sound of the elevator opening and little feet running across the floor seemed to boom in the emptiness left by the absent crew.

"Jason!"

The boy froze mid-step. Uh-oh… "Commander" voice… the boy thought as he turned and walked back to the woman still standing in the elevator. He looked up at his mother, Commander Jane Shepard, first human Spectre and blah blah blah. The boy wasn't really interested in any of that stuff. He'd heard it, but the words were mostly meaningless to him. Really, she was just his mom. The other stuff just meant everyone else thought she was as important as he did.

While he looked up at her, arms on her hips and a scowl on her face, he couldn't help but smile. Honestly, she was the worst actress.

Seeing the boy's smile, Shepard sighed and rolled her eyes in exasperation. The kid already had her figured out. Great. Usually the annoyed scowl stopped an adversary in their tracks and had them dropping their weapons and raising their hands in surrender. But leave it to a six-year-old to render that look completely useless.

She took a step out of the elevator and put her hand on the boy's shoulder, leading him towards the galaxy map. They stopped just beside it and she gently turned him around. He looked up at her expectantly.

She sighed again and knelt in front of the kid, now both hands on his shoulders. "Now, soldier," she said, "you remember your briefing?"

Jason nodded eagerly. He loved it when she treated him like part of her crew. "Yes ma'am!"

"Good work, soldier. Now just remember," she took her hands off the boy's shoulders and held up one finger, "Look them in the eye." She held up another finger. "Be polite and do as you're told." She held up a third finger. "And please do not beat up your cousins."

The boy nodded, his earlier excitement leaving and a nervousness replacing it. Jason didn't like this at all. At first he'd been intrigued when his parents said he was going to be meeting his grandparents and cousins this week. Then he was confused – why did he need more family besides the Normandy crew? And then he was nervous – what if they didn't like him? But instead of telling his parents any of this, he'd just been quiet. He didn't want to upset his dad by saying he didn't want to meet his family.

Speaking of which… "Where's Dad?"

"He's gone ahead to meet them. We'll see him when we get there."

"Right."

Shepard could tell the boy was nervous. Hell, why wouldn't he be? Meeting your grandparents and cousins was something most kids did so young that they didn't even remember doing it. Oh the joys of being adopted, she thought sourly. She was worried. They hadn't exactly warmed up to her the first time she'd met them.

"Will they like me?" The boy was wringing his hands and fidgeting slightly.

Her heart just about broke hearing him say that. "Your grandma is a very sweet woman, I don't think she dislikes anyone. But she doesn't talk a whole lot since she's sick. Just because she's quiet doesn't mean she doesn't like you." Shepard had learned that the hard way. "Your aunt will like you and your cousins probably will too." Or at least they'll be polite enough to pretend. She didn't want to mention his grandfather. She was sure the old Turian still didn't like her and it'd been how many years?

The boy just nodded, though didn't look very comforted.

She thought a moment, then added, "Sweetie, if they don't like you, it's not really your fault." She hadn't said anything to him before because she didn't want to make him more nervous, but she felt she'd better warn him. He was mature for his age, and she had no doubt he could handle it. The boy had picked up more of her habits and mannerisms, and it didn't help that he was so... human.

He seemed to think about that for a minute. "Does that mean that if they do like me, that's not really my fault, either?"

She didn't answer immediately. Damn kid always stumped her. But she was saved from having to answer when he laughed. She raised an eyebrow at him quizzically.

"Dad says you only make that face when I'm around and I've really got you."

Shepard couldn't help but laugh. "Hey kid, I wouldn't get too cocky about that. I'm sure your dad has – quite unintentionally – stumped me on a few occasions. And you remember Uncle Grunt? I'm sure some of his questions when he was a kid got some interesting reactions outta me."

He gave an open-mouthed grin, showing two gaps where baby teeth had recently fallen out. Adorable. If only the Reapers had known that her one weakness was little kids who would need braces soon. She wouldn't have stood a chance.

She stood up. "You know, if things go well today, we might end up staying the whole summer on Palaven."

Jason made a face. Great, she'd made him nervous again. "Why?" he practically whined.

"Because your father wants you to get to know his family. It means a lot to him. And he so rarely asks us to do anything for him." The boy sulked under the guilt trip. She let him soak it in for a second. She'd had the same guilt trip given to her by Garrus – no reason not to share. "So, please, Jason," she said when she felt he'd had enough time to think about it, "Just be good and be yourself. If they give you half a chance they'll love you by the end of the day."

The boy was practically beaming at his mother's praise as they exited the Normandy, waving good-bye to Joker, all worries forgotten.