A/N : Look at this. You guys are so lucky that I'm done with this chapter faster than even myself thought was possible especially I'm feeling sick. Like I promise this chapter will give you a lowdown on Shepard family history. This is definitely the longest chapter I ever written. I hope I didn't rush on this chapter because I'm pretty sure I already mention everything I need to mention. I have to stop myself from adding more to this chapter because I really don't want it to be 2 chapter long because in chapter 5 there will be a twist of this story that I'm really excited about! Next chapter will be so much fun and there will be more than one surprise. Also the crew will finally make their appearances in the next chapter! I dedicated this chapter to RED78910 for giving me support from day one and has help me a lot from all those nice reviews. I really hope I didn't disappoint for this chapter. Once again all kind reviews are welcome but please do not be harsh.
Chapter 4 : Shepard Family
"Where are we going?" ask Liara as soon as the shuttle arrived at its destination.
"The house should be just around…. there! Guess the Reapers didn't touch this place. Still the same as I remember it." Shepard get off the shuttle as she make her way to the big house.
"Shepard. You didn't answer my question." Liara asks again as she keep up with Shepard.
"What? Sorry. We are meeting my mother at our old house." Shepard replied as she drag Liara to the big house.
"I thought you were raised in Space?"
"I did. But this house has been in my family for generation. We try to get back to Earth every time mom and dad get shore leave at the same time. Spend time as family doing so much fun stuff. We never did that anymore ever since I joined up. Such a shame really." explain Shepard.
Before long they arrived in front of the house as Shepard unlock the gate. The house was not mistakenly big. Trees surrounding the path to the house, there's even a small lake at the left of the house and on the right there's flowers garden.
"Beautiful isn't it? My grandparents were rich and my father was their only child. Sometime I wonder why he joined the Alliance."
"The same reason why he never once spoiled you with money." Hannah comes almost out of nowhere. Now Liara know where Shepard got her sneaking ability from.
"Mom! Where are you coming from?" Shepard blush a little as she realized her mom managed to sneak on her.
"I just came back from buying groceries. You know I miss your Mac and Cheese. So I was hoping you could make some." Hannah said almost pleadingly.
"Mac and Cheese?" Liara ask in confusion.
"You would love it Liara. Yeah, sure mom. Want some help with the groceries?"
"Don't be silly. You just got out of the hospital. Come on in."
"If I didn't know better I will say you were lying. Shepard didn't look like someone who just got out of the hospital after 5 weeks in coma. After her 2 weeks of bed rest gone, she just got off the bed like it was only yesterday she was walking." remarks Liara.
"Hey that's one good thing about what Cerberus did to me you know." Shepard replied back amused at how far Liara has gone from that innocence Asari she known almost 4 year ago. Still she knows that innocence is still there somewhere. She still the same Liara she know all those years ago.
As Shepard done preparing dinner, Hannah and Liara join her at the table for dinner.
"So mom…." Shepard breaks the silence. "Liara and I are seeing each other. It has been since the past 4 years or so."
"I know. I'm happy for you. Thank you for telling me." Hannah replied as she still enjoying her Mac and Cheese.
"You're not against it?" Shepard asked again. She just needs to know.
"Why would I? I was worry at first but I never once judge your judgment. Then I saw how you two looks at each other. I can see you both love each other with all your hearts." Hannah replied again. Once again still focus on the food though Shepard could hear her mother means every word she just said.
"Thanks mom. One more thing... Liara's pregnant."
Hannah almost chokes on her food as she heard what her daughter just told her. Liara hurriedly pass a glass of water.
"Are you alright mom?" Shepard asked a little worried.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little shock. But I'm happy for you. I really do." Hannah gave Shepard and Liara a genuine smile. "I can't wait to meet my grandchild."
After dinner they all settle into the living room. Shepard took a sit next to Liara on the sofa while Hannah sit in the opposite sofa in front of them.
"Sometimes I wonder how you know how to cook. Both your father and I barely know how to cook." Hannah asks.
"The first thing I learn once I joined Alliance was how to cook. My roommate was the best cook ever. She taught me how to cook. She told me it's important to know how to cook because eating cafeteria crap 24/7 was bad for morale." replied Shepard.
"That's a good advice." Liara said suddenly.
"Why's that?"
"Because I look forward for your cooking in the future." Liara replied shyly.
"Haha. Sure thing Liara."
"Well look at you two. You dad will be so happy if he's here."
"You mean as happy as he was when I went out with that guy in high school? He practically interrogated him and turns him into a soldier once he finish. Funny thing is he did end up joining the Alliance.' Shepard chuckle as she remembers the first time she went out on a date.
"Yeah, I know. He used to station on my ship you know. Your dad… He's one hell of a soldier and a great leader too. I never understood why he refused promotion. All he say was he wanted to spend time with you. You're his everything... We never really talk about him ever since he went missing." Hannah said while looking at her daughter to see her reaction.
"Yeah. Well…. I blame you when he went missing." Shepard replied as she avoid her mother gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you two arguing the night before he went missing."
"How?"
"I got early shore leave. Once I figured out you two also on shore leave, I was thinking about coming here for the first time since forever. But instead I heard you two arguing. I heard what he said. That he want to leave… After that I just turn back and grab a next shuttle to Earth. I was here when you told me dad went missing." Hannah could see Shepard still mad at her by the way she look at her.
"That isn't what really happened. I found out that you're going to get N7 offer. Your dad was so mad. He said that he count yourself lucky that you got out of Elysium alive. He didn't want to see you get hurt on this job. He was sure he can convince you to reject the N7 offer and leave the Alliance if he did the same. I told him you won't do that. I know you Shepard. You have his charm but you have my stubbornness. That's what we argued about. He keeps saying I put you up into this, drag you into this mess. Thinking aback, maybe I should just let him convince you. He was right after all. You got hurt on this job, you even died Shepard! You saw what nobody should have. You fight the impossible, you're one hell of a soldier, better than we are but as your mother, I never want you to get hurt and see what you saw. When you were MIA and presumed dead, I can see him coming at me saying 'I told you so'." Hannah tries to stop her tears from streaming down her cheeks as she continue.
"When I found out I was pregnant, we both were overjoyed. I wanted a son but he wanted a daughter. He said that way you won't be joining the Alliance, at 18 you will get all your grandparents money but he will never spoiled you with it because he want you to learn how to be responsible and how to get something the hard way. Funny how you ended up joined the Alliance. He just couldn't get himself to say no to you back then, he ask me to do that. But I refused. So he ended up cutting back his duty so he could keep an eye on you. Then you were on shore leave at Elysium and you end up being a war hero. That looks of his face, horror with a hint of proud, it made me laughing so hard. I keep telling him that you have both of our genetics. That you're better than both of us combined. Still it never eased up his nerve. He just loves you so much you know." Hannah finished as she can see her daughter holding back tears.
"I'm sorry mom… I am so sorry all those years I blame you when all you ever did was defending me and convincing dad that I should stay with Alliance." said Shepard as she went to her mother and hug her.
'There's nothing to be sorry about Gracie. I'm your mother too you know. Even though you're close with your dad, I still know what best for you and what you want. And you didn't actually shut me off.' Despite being shocked by her daughter sudden approach, Hannah still can managed to whisper those words to Shepard.
"Gracie?! Mom!" Shepard breaks the hug as she heard her mom calling her nickname.
"Hah. I still managed to make you blush I see." Hannah was laughing as she realized her daughter expression.
"You know my first name is Grace. Gracie is so… youthful. No one call me that ever since high school."
"It's more like your dad forgets the 'I' before 'E' when he registered your name." Hannah is still laughing.
Shepard could only shake her head as she went back to the sofa when she realized Liara face is so confused with what just happen.
"You know I'm surprise for such a great information broker you didn't even know my first name. Here I thought I never get to surprise you with anything." chuckle Shepard.
"Wait you didn't tell her your first name?" Hannah asked in surprise.
"It's not like we ever meet properly. It's all business like when we first met. More like 'you're Dr. Liara T'Soni? I'm Commander Shepard.' We never even went on a proper date. But I thought she knew when she went behind my back to find out more about me, not to mention all those resources she gathered a year ago."
"In my defense you did told me to always ask you if I have any question about you."
"I'm surprised you two managed to make this relationship work after everything you two been through. Your dad and I almost separated before you were born."
"I… I didn't know that."
"When you were born it's like a gift. Your dad decided to sacrifice his career by raising you. He takes all the bad jobs as long as it can give him more time with you. I could never do the same, so he chose to do it. I guess it never fix our relationship, just give it more time. But I'm sure you two wouldn't end up like we did. I can see you two clearly love each other and you two have been through a lot more than we ever did. If you two can make the relationship work through the war, you can make it work through anything as long as you two remember why you love each other and why you fight for the relationship… It's getting late, we should go to sleep. Meet you two at breakfast and can I expect a nice scrambled egg with French toast for my breakfast?"
"Sure." Shepard replied as she watched her mother made her way up stairs.
"You never talk about your father much. What happen to him if you don't mind me asking?" Liara suddenly break the silence.
"There isn't much to say. The detail of him missing in action is full of loop hole. My guess he decide to take on classified mission when he went missing. Usually the Alliance will deny anything if it's involved classified mission."
"Did you ever try to find him?"
"Ever since he went missing. That's all I do the first two years until I gave up."
"I can check my…." before Liara could finish, Shepard interrupts.
"NO! I know you. I know that you will spend day in day out until you find something. You're pregnant Liara, I'm fine with you still want to keep the Shadow Broker resources but you will not working day in day out or I will destroy all of your resources. I mean it. Please Liara. I just want you to rest well when you're pregnant. Promise me Liara. I can't lose anything else. Especially not you."
"I promise Shepard."
It's a windy night outside. The lake beside Shepard's family house reflecting the bright full moon. Sitting on the bench, sit the younger Shepard. Look deep in thought.
"Can't sleep?" the older Shepard ask the younger Shepard as she make her way towards the bench.
"No. Another nightmares." replied Shepard as she looks at her mother.
"How long have you been having them?" asked Hannah as she sits beside Shepard.
"Ever since I woke up 2 weeks ago."
"Did Liara know about it?"
"Yes. It's the same nightmares I've been having ever since the war start. Usually she wakes up soon after I did. I guess she's too tired. That's why I decide to take a fresh air outside. What about you?"
"All those times on a ship taught you to light sleep. I just can't shake it off. Habit I guess. When I heard someone went outside I decide to join them. I already expect it to be you… So what are you going to do now the war is over? Still with the Alliance?"
"I don't know."
"Have you talk with Liara yet?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't even know what I want to do. I'm a solider mom, through and through. Ever since I was born I saw you and dad with the Alliance and when I'm old enough I enlisted. I know that you were half expecting me to marry an Alliance soldier."
"So why didn't you?"
"You know they are fraternization rule right?"
"There's always a way around them."
"Still I won't date my crew."
"What about Liara?"
"It's difference. She's not with Alliance. The first time I met her she's our Prothean experts. Bonus for us she's a powerful biotics and know how to use them well enough. I guess because she's a Matriach daughter. And I never expect to fall in love with her."
"So why did you?"
"Something about her... Her innocence, curiosity, she always has been there for me no matter what an and she always honest with me. It made me fall over heel. I wasn't expecting that. But when you love somebody you just know it right? You just love them no matter how much it doesn't make sense."
"So how you don't even know what you will do after this?"
"I know that I want to be with her for the rest of my life. I know that even before the war end. I will love our daughter as much as I love her mother and I will give my life for her. What I don't know is if I'm willing to quit my job and settle down."
"That's why you need to talk to her Shepard. Don't make the same mistake your father and I did. Settle it before your daughter born."
"I will mom."
"So an Asari? I didn't even know you're into…. woman."
"I can see Liara explaining about Asari is mono-gender and that male and female do not have any real meaning for them. Honestly I never see myself with another woman but Liara is…." Hannah interrupts her speech.
"Difference. I get it. You don't have to explain to me. I'm happy if you're happy." Hannah kiss Shepard forehead as she get up and make her way back to the house.
A/N : So what do you guys think? I hope I deliver at least half of what you all expect for this chapter. Just a little note, in my mind Shepard mom is so damn cool actually, it just well she decide to be the 'bad guy' in the family where Shepard closer to her father. Kinda like my parents where I close to my father than my mother. My mom is the one who work hard and my dad usually have more time to spend with me than my mother. But she still awesome and so understanding... About the whole Hannah asked Shepard she didn't know Shepard into woman, I take it from my experience of playing Mass Effect. I have to admit I never thought I prefer my Shepard to date Liara I was thinking it will be male Shepard but I end up date my female Shepard instead with Liara. Those two are cute together and perfect for each other! Anyway I just had to have Shepard tell her mother that Liara pregnant when they having dinner and have her mother choke on her food. I'm an evil sometimes. Haha. I still thinking about how to make the story where Shepard tell Aethya that Liara pregnant, probably let Liara do all the talking since I kinda like to think my Shepard a little afraid of Liara father. Haha. Yeah, I might do just that. Sorry for the spoiler... Maybe not so much... Still you never know what I will figure out. For the next chapter update, I'm not sure if I can keep this whole regular day update. I'm feeling sick right now so I maybe won't update it tomorrow. But then again so far you guys has been so damn lucky that my brain can't stop writing this story that I just had to write it down.