Hey kiddos!!

Thanks so much for the support for this fic. I really appreciate the reviews and I'm grateful to whoever takes the time to write them.

Anyways, here's chapter 2. I'm still not quite happy with it, but can't exactly pinpoint what's wrong with it either, so I figured I'd just go ahead and post. Maybe after y'all read it and I get some feedback we can figure it out. Hope y'all enjoy!!

Chapter 2

Commander Shepard did not make house calls for just anybody.

She shuffled her feet awkwardly as she stood at the door of 1875 Magnolia Trace, a relatively average looking house with an anything but average family living inside. A welcome mat lay at Shepard's feet, brandishing the "Williams" title proudly for the entire world to see. Shepard couldn't help but sarcastically wonder how welcome she would truly be after she delivered the news of Ashley's death.

She had replayed the scene countless times in her head. There could be screaming and violence- this family was deeply rooted in the military, after all. There could be heartbreaking tears and agony. There could be quiet, simple reverie and remembrance of her life. There could be everything in the world, or nothing at all.

Shepard knew she should be spending her time following the various leads she had on Saren and his minions instead of comforting a grieving family. It was up to her, after all, to stop Saren from resurrecting the Reapers. Surely that was more important than making a simple house call, right? However, she couldn't get them out of her mind. She knew how much Ashley's family meant to her, and it felt wrong to simply let her death pass by without saying anything at all.

Shepard took a deep breath, reminding herself that after destroying countless Geth and being the only survivor from Akuze, a simple house call would be a piece of cake for her. She knew what to say, she had rehearsed it countless times. She wouldn't apologize, she would simply state the facts and let them make of it whatever they wanted.

No, she wouldn't apologize for doing what she had to do. Never again.

She raised her hand, created a fist, and rapped on the door a few times.

Instantaneously she heard a dog barking inside, and shuffling of feet as the house's inhabitants tried to do several things at once. It was a lively household, Shepard could tell that much. Again the guilt weighed on her, again she knew that she would be destroying yet another perfectly normal home.

It was better than not knowing, she told herself. Things like this happened. They would learn to live on, just like Shepard had so many times before.

A few moments later the door opened, and Shepard was greeted with the curious brown eyes of Ashley's younger sister, Sarah. It only took a moment for the bright young teenager to recognize the uniform and the countenance of the soldier on her doorstep.

"Commander Shepard!" Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Sarah," Shepard nodded, "Do you have a moment?"

Sarah's enthusiasm faltered for just a moment, she knew it couldn't be good news if Commander Shepard had paid them a visit without bringing Ashley along. She hid her fear well, however. She disguised her anxiety with a smile and her voice rang without the slightest quiver.

"Of course, come on inside."

She would make a good soldier someday, Shepard thought.

Sarah led Shepard to their modest living room and excused herself as she went to find the other family members. Shepard had hoped she wouldn't be invited in, she just wanted to deliver the news and be on her way. It was always harder to leave after one had been invited inside. She didn't want to seem rude, however, a galaxy had to be saved. She was the only one who could do it, the only one who would even try.

Within moments the family members trickled in. Sarah and Ashley's other sister was nowhere to be found, they explained, so it was only Sarah and her mother. They smiled and greeted her, however, there was an underlying air of apprehension. They knew what this visit was about. The family hadn't spent three generations in military employment for nothing, after all.

Without wasting a moment, Shepard began her story. She told them all about Saren's true intentions, and how he had betrayed not only the Council but all sentient beings when he allied with the Reapers. She left out the vital parts, of course, but by the end of her tale she felt satisfied that she had told them enough. Ashley died for a great cause, and they would never forget that.

Shepard rubbed the back of her neck and her eyes wandered to the floor. This was the part she hated the most- seeing their faces fall as the true meaning of the news hit them. Their shoulders slumped ever so slightly, their eyes stared unfocused into the dull beige carpet. Their mouths set in a grim line.

Another life, another death. Another story, but never anything more.

"Ashley was a good soldier. She was a good friend, too." Shepard said, trying to break the somber spell with memories of Ashley's finest qualities.

"But Kaidan was better." Sarah observed quietly.

There were few things in the world that could truly shock the Commander, but the bold words from the small teenager were nearly enough to catch her off guard. Shepard nodded a little, not knowing how else to respond. All eyes traveled to her, a million unanswered questions layered with grief waiting just beyond their sheltered eyes. She noticed a rigid tension return to their stances, the same stance that an animal adopts when it recognizes an enemy.

"I should go," Shepard said as she abruptly stood up and strode towards the door.

"I wish we could have met again on better circumstances, I truly do. Hopefully sometime in the future, we will." Shepard offered as she stepped out the door. It was more heartfelt than most of her farewells, but she felt that the Williams family deserved that much at least. Shepard walked the few feet back to the Mako, and returned to the Normandy.

"She didn't even apologize," Sarah said in a small but steady voice.

Sarah's mother looked at her with surprised eyes, "What are you talking about, dear? There was nothing she could have done."

Sarah's tiny hands fisted in her lap. "She might as well have killed her herself, and she didn't even say she was sorry!"

Sarah's mother reached over and took her daughter's trembling hands in her own. "Oh, honey, we're all upset, it's okay…"

Sarah shook her head, furious tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.

"I will never forgive her. Never."