"TESSA ELIZABETH SHEPARD!"
I cringe at the sound the sound of my full name, 'shit I am in so much trouble'.
I keep my eyes closed and press the ice pack harder onto my nose, I'm hoping that maybe it will cover my face and then she won't know it's me.
"Tessa Elizabeth."
Well that plan didn't work so well, her voice is closer this time and I don't want to open my eyes but I know she's not just going to go away. I slowly open them then lower the ice pack to my lap and now I can she her in all her glory. My mother Liara T'soni standing with her arms crossed and one hip outward, her face is stern for a moment before it turns soft and she walks toward me and cups my face.
"By the Goddess Tess…" she whispers as her worried glance searches my face before we lock gazes.
I avert my eyes from her piercing blue ones and look at the ground; she always has a way of making me feel guilty. I feel a finger under my chin that pulls my lowered head back up, she is smiling softly at me though a can see the frustration on her face. This isn't the first time she's found me in this chair, and it probably won't be the last. "Talk to me sweetheart what happened?" she says brushing her thumb gently across my cheek. I shoot a glance up at Jack, she may have called them but she apparently didn't tell them what happened.
I see her leaning over to whisper something to my dad, Commander Shepard, her face looks normal then she seems to panic before Jack rests a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly she looks over at me and her emerald greens lock with my own, she smiles and it makes me smile because I know that she understands now. Mom sees me looking off and then turns to see Jack and Dad heading off down the hall. She stands and is about to say something when I grab her hand, this makes her look down at me and I shake my head. "She's just going to get Dahlia…" I say softly. She furrows her brow in confusion before she comes back down to my level again.
"What happened, Tessa?"
Before I can answer the Dean opens the door and calls me into her office, Mom follows behind with both of her hands on either of my shoulders. I sigh softly when I sit down again; this is going to be a long day.
The drive home is silent and I hope to God that I can just run in the shower and not have to talk about this anymore. Unfortunately for me the universe hates me and when the door opens the Commander is standing in front of me. I stand frozen at the threshold even as I feel Mom walk up behind me, I can tell that she's seen Dad looking at me but she doesn't intervene. Dad walks up to me and talks my backpack then puts it on the ground, "Let's go for a walk." She says before stepping past me.
Reluctantly I follow behind her, I keep my eyes trained at the ground, I feel like I shouldn't be feeling guilty I mean I only fought to protect Dahlia. Then again my Mom always tells me I should go the diplomatic approach and if that doesn't work then I should find a teacher. But who in their right minds in gonna be thinking that when their sister is in danger. I let out an exasperated sigh before running into something solid. I look up to see familiar green eyes staring down at me, and then I look around only to notice that we're at the park.
"What are we doing here?"
"To talk…but not like this come on." She takes my hand and leads me to the swings, and then we just swing for a while in silence. I almost think she's not going to say anything before… "I'm not mad at you, and neither is Liara." I scoff at that, Mom has always been frustrated that I didn't inherit any of her diplomatic skills. I don't look at her just at the sand beneath my feet, and then I see her chest in front of me making me look up. She places a hand on each of my knees,
"I'm serious Tess, I'm proud of you for protecting your sister."
"Really?" is all I can manage though I don't know why I'm so surprised that she feels that way. "Of course, you stood up for what was right even if you used 'violence' as your Mom likes to say." We share a short laugh then she smiles warmly at me, she always knows how to make me feel better. "Thanks Dad" I mumble before wrapping my arms around her neck and hugging her, she pulls me off the swing and into her embrace.
"Anytime T, you know I'll always be on your side."
"Yea, I know."
She puts me down then suggests we go home because Mom is probably getting worried. The rest of the day passes normally, though the fact that I have detention for the next 2 weeks makes me annoyed. It's time for bed and Mom has insisted that she needs to speak with me before I go to sleep. I'm sitting on my custom Normandy shaped bed in my N7 pj's when the door swooshes open and she walks in. The dim lighting makes her look a little more dark blue but her face is lighter when she's sitting next to me. "You did a good thing today, Tess." She starts and I'm surprised to find myself tearing up.
When I sniffle slightly she looks down at me then pulls me into a hug, "I'm not mad at you sweetie..." I squeeze tighter around her as tears stream down my cheeks, soon I'm sobbing against her even though I don't want to "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" She makes shushing sounds and rubs calming circles on my back. "Don't be…you made the right choice; I know sometimes you feel like I love Dahlia more because she's like me." My chest clenches at that, because I know she's right…I heard a story once from Uncle Jeff that they joked about 'little blue children' when they thought the Commander was going to die again. It had made me feel like I was 'less' than what they wanted. "But that's not true, I love you both the same, no matter how frustrated you make me feel sometimes."
I chuckle softly then sniffle; she pulls me away from her to wipe the tears from my cheeks. "I love you Tess, no matter what okay?" I nod my head then wipe at my face, God I can't believe I just cried like a baby. "Good. Now get some rest and I'll see you in the morning." She kisses my forehead then walks out. I flop back on my bed then roll over toward the wall; I lay still for a moment before the swooshing sound of my door makes me turn over. Dahlia is standing in the door way clutching her stuffed Varren to her chest, she's been crying again.
"Tessy…"
Her soft voice makes me melt and I pat the spot next to me, "Come here." She smiles before rushing over and snuggling under the covers. I get under the covers next and she immediately snuggles up to my side, "Thanks Tessy." I can't help the smile that forms on my face, "Anytime." I say before closing my eyes. Sleep comes on quickly now but not before I hear three sleepy words whispered to me, "I love you." I had good dreams that night though they did involve kicking Asha's butt again.