Alex woke up with a start to feel a hand gently touching her shoulder. She had her fingers wrapped around the wrist like a vice and blinked blearily up at Darren as he froze. It took a minute for it to register what she had almost done and like her hand was on fire, she released his wrist and grunted, flopping back down on her bed.

"I know things have happened but… were they that bad Alex?" Darren settled on the edge of the bed and patted her hand.

"I got shot twice, stabbed once and almost killed 5 times after I met Liara. You tell me?" She furrowed her brows and then tilted her head towards him a moment before looking back up at the ceiling.

"Hmm, you are a marine now. Daily death is probably the norm for you," he said softly with a grin.

That got Alex laughing and she shook her head before pushing herself up to sit, leaning back against the headboard. "I suppose you are right Ren. So we gonna hunt down this American and drag him home here and force him to decide?"

Darren had a thoughtful look and smirked. "Make him think it's like a shotgun wedding?"

Alex choked back a laugh and shook her head. "Actually that sounds good. I don't think Mel will ever forgive us but…" She shrugged.

"Well you get dressed. Alhandra is here to watch over Gavin for you. Mel's off to work and Dad had to go in for some reason. And I know where we can find this American. He's staying at the Temple Suites." Darren patted her leg and got up, leaving the room.

Alex sighed and then threw the blanket back and turned, lowering her feet to the rug on the floor. This was something she hadn't experienced in some years. It was coming home and her heart swelled up with longing she didn't realize she had. Smiling wistfully she rose and walked over to her duffle, pulling out a pair of jeans and a light shirt along with underthings. She walked into her bathroom and started up the shower.

Alex sat down at the table across from Darren about twenty minutes later. Alhandra set down a plate of scrambled eggs and sausage for her and she dug in. Darren was reading the local news on the pad before him and she chewed on a piece of sausage.

"Anything good?" Her gaze lifted up a moment before going back to her breakfast as a grunt from her brother was heard.

"Not really. Politics and fighting out in the Terminus as usual." He set the pad down and took a sip of his coffee. "One bit of interesting info I did find was the fact that some of the Alliance higher ups are considering some sort of think tank with the Turians. Gods know what they are thinking there." He shrugged.

Alex glanced up and nodded. "Turians have their own sense of honor no different from ours. Of all the races, they became what the United States once was to Earth. In this case, none of the other races were more suited to warfare than them. That's the major difference between the US and the Turians. What was that saying? Walk softly and carry a big stick? In the Turian's case its "Walk loud and have more firepower."

Darren blinked at his sister, finding her point of view vastly different. He disliked the Turians for what they did but his youngest sister; she talked as if she knew what Turians were like. He leaned back and eyed her just as she glanced up at him.

"What?" It was a brief second before she understood and narrowed her eyes at her brother. "It is that kind of thinking that lead to me waking up on an unknown planet with a beaten body Ren. It's the same attitudes that whites had towards blacks in the 21st century. Racist is racist."

Darren couldn't quite believe her words and for a moment he shook his head slowly. That earned him a glare from her. And it wasn't a friendly one at all. He let out a gust of air in a sigh and wrapped his hands around his cup of coffee. "Alex, we both saw firsthand what the Turian are capable of."

"Yes, we both did Darren," she raised her voice up slightly, the edge of her temper cool as ice. "The fact is, getting to know what Turian's are like gives you the view you need to know to see why they did what they did. Do you know what happened to the captain who fired the first shot? He was denounced by the Hierarchy. His entire family is now considered scum of the lowest sort. It wasn't right he fired on us but at the same time it's not right what happened to him either. Just look at how the Alliance treated Williams."

Darren stared at his sister for a minute, not quite comprehending what she said but then her words came to him in a rush and he sat back and considered them. Their father had taught them to speak from the heart and the head in even proportions. So he raked his finger through his close cropped hair and lowered his gaze to his empty plate.

Alex took his silence as stubbornness and grunted at him. She knew giving him the facts and truth couldn't change his mind. He would have to change his mind. So she picked up her mug of coffee and stirred it while adding creamer to it till it was just like she liked it.

Darren really considered her words and he had to admit that she was right. He didn't like it but she was right. Sighing again he glanced up to see her taking a sip of her coffee. "Ok," he said quietly and she didn't respond, just took another deeper sip of coffee. "I know Williams was just looking out for everyone there. Fighting to the last civvie and marine would have just netted a lot of dead bodies to bury. He was never less than brilliant and because of that I am positive his son will be given the shit end of it all. Sins of the father and all."

She listened as he spoke, just calmly sipping her coffee. It wasn't till he finished that she sat her mug down and glanced up at him. "Yes. If I thought it would make a difference I would find him and tell him to quit and send him to the Legion. At least he'd get the respect he deserves."

Darren grinned at his sister. It was expected. She honored those who worked hard much like the tales of Achilles and his fair treatment. He just hoped the gods would not take vengeance against her like they had to the ancient Greek hero. "I think you should. From what I know, he might not be the solider his father was but he's a damn good engineer. I should know, Becca talks about him all the time. Apparently he mentored her as a newbie."

Alex lifted her eyes up in surprise at what he said then barked out a laugh. "Why am I not that surprised you know of him?"

Daren just shrugged. "Come on. Finish up so we can harass this Texan."

She just rolled her eyes and drained her cup.


By midday they both took a rest at the pool side by the Temple Suites, sipping on iced fruit drinks. The sun threatened to bleach Alex's hair even paler than it already was. Darren's was streaked from being out on the beach mostly. The two casually glanced around, looking for their target who happened to just stroll out in a pair of shorts and light shirt with shades.

Alex toed Darren and jerked her head slightly towards the Texan. He had no clue what was coming for him. Darren gave a slight nod and set his drink down with a smirk which he hid quickly as Chandler walked past them.

"Oh, hey! Greg right?" Darren said as he stood up.

Chandler paused and glanced at Darren a moment, confusion on his face and then nodded. "Yes?"

Darren smiled. "See Alex? I told you if we wait long enough he would show. Pardon, you know my sister Melisa," he said and gave an easy grin to the American.

Because his eyes were hidden, neither of them caught the look of startlement that would have shown in his eyes. Alex on the other hand caught the slight stiffening of his body and rose up, edging behind him.

Greg, for his part, was confused at first with the Greek male that stood up and called him by name. At least he was till the man told him he was Mel's brother. That startled him and then sent a shiver of utter terror through him a moment. He heard the woman slip out of her chair and his shoulder damn near crumpled as he slouched them in defeat. "Where do you want to go?"

Both siblings were surprised by the soft tone in the American's voice and glanced at each other briefly over the defeated form between them. Alex then sighed and motioned for a waiter to come over, ordering 3 beers. "Sit," was all she said as she brought another chair over.

The waiter deposited the beers on the table and Alex gave him a credit chit for his troubles. Once the waiter was out of ear shot she grunted and eyed Greg. "It seems like you know what you did already," she stated, assuming his defeated look was because he knew he had knocked up their sister.

Greg picked up the bottle of beer and took a tentative sip at it, finding it not as raw as he expected. "Wish I did. She won't talk to me," he said with a sigh, staring down at the table instead of the two.

"Huh, why am I not surprised?" That came from Darren and he arched a brow at Alex.

She shrugged. "What do you mean she won't talk to you? From our point of view she figured you were not up to talking to her. And there are other issues to resolve," Alex said and took a swallow of beer.

Greg's head lifted up as he gave a surprised look to Alex. "What? I meet the sweetest woman one night, everything's wonderful. We go out a few times. Hell we went out more than just a few times, practically inseparable for a week and suddenly she up and disappears on me, stating she had to work? And I won't talk to her? That's gotta be the worst bullshit I've ever heard ya'll." It was obvious the man was quite unhappy if that Texan drawl was anything to say about it.

Alex and Darren sat back and studied Greg before Darren started to chuckle. That set off Alex and then started to laugh, leaving a very puzzled Greg looking back and forth between them.

"Umm, if ya'll are off y'rockers maybe I should leave…?" He was quite hesitant because he wasn't sure if either of them were crazy or not.

Alex was the first to control her laughter and shook her head. "No, sorry. The joke is our sister is as blind as she is dependable." Alex then sighed and picked up her beer, taking a large swallow. "I hate to say that the situation as it stands now needs to be resolved before you leave which is… tomorrow right?"

Greg nodded and Darren spoke up. "She's right. Mel's not always much of a talker unless she has to be. Damn woman is a diplomat and she can't even talk to you…? Bah, I am of mind to drag you two into a room and lock the door. She gave us the impression you weren't looking for anything but a good time and now, now our sister is going to bit her tongue and let you walk off without knowin-," he got cut off by the swift kick that Alex gave him and yelped, rubbing his shin as he grimaced at Alex.

"Well… wait.. what out knowing what?" Greg straightened up and glanced at the both of them as Alex gave Darren a glare. "Come on, let a fellar know what's going on?"

Alex frowned and shook her head before draining the beer. "Well hold on there, let me get something stronger." She waved a waiter over and had a bottle of Ouzo brought out and some shot glasses. She poured them each a shot and set the bottle down. "Well don't drink that yet. There are some things Mel's apparently kept from you. Your time spent together has unexpected results in the fact that she's… she is pregnant. I assume she figured you wouldn't want the child but you reaction tells me differently…?"

Darren picked up the shot and threw it back with a sigh of contentment. It was good, flavored with anise which strengthened the sting of the alchol. Greg blinked a few times after what Alex said, mind barely processing it and then everything seemed to catch out to him and he paled.

"Fuck me sideways," he said and then picked up the shot and threw it back like a pro, barely feeling the burn. For a businessman, he seemed to have a rougher side to him and that made Alex grin. She topped off his shot glass and he downed another before breathing out heavly. "Damn that has a burn hotter than an oil fire."

"Never seen a non-native take to that stuff like you just did," Darren pointed out and Alex nodded with a wry grin.

"Why would she-?" Greg froze up and face palmed quite literally. "Damn me. I might have given her the impression that I was not looking for more than a good time while here. Hell, the best time I've had was walking out there on the beach with her and watching the sun shine off her hair just as brightly as it shines off liquid gold." He just shook his head and slumped again. "Don't blame her for thinking that."

Alex took a sip of her ouzo and then stared at Greg. "Well I'd ask what you are going to do about it then."

Greg grunted and shrugged a moment till her tone caught up and he lifted his head up and stared at her a moment. Alex could see the wheel's turning before a sly grin appeared. "Well, you see. I think the best way would be…."

Greg told them what he was going to do and the three planed how to give the surprise of their sister's life to her. Alex could see while he hadn't expected it, meeting Mel might have opened his eyes to more than just one night stands. Neither of them really expected it not to considering they knew the kind of person Melisa was.

A few hours later the three parted company and Alex and her brother headed back home a bit unsteady from the ouzo but both their minds clear. Neither could way for the next week to be over with.


One Week Later…

"Leave me along," Mel hissed and jerked her arm out of Darren's grasp. "I am going to just go lay down," she grumbled.

In the past week Mel had turned from a cheery, happy woman into an utter mess. Even Gavin tended to avoid her because of her temperament being unpredictable and he loved his aunt. Mel realized she was being mean but at that point she didn't care. Not one bit. She had even taken off a few weeks from work which was unusual for the workaholic.

"Sorry adelfi, your ass is going to come to dinner. You need to eat, not mope around like a virgin on the big night," Darren said with a laugh which only netted him a glare that if it had been physical, it would have killed him.

Melisa had no clue what was going on with neither her brother nor her sister since both seem determined to drag her to dinner. Finally she let out a gusty sigh and let Darren drag her to the dining room. Their father sat at one end, Gavin was sitting across from Alex at the same end and that left 3 more chairs. Darren pulled out the chair next to Alex for Mel and nodded to her.

Disgruntled, Melisa sat down and crossed her arms, staring at her empty plate, not noticing there was an empty setting to her right at the other end of the table. Alex smirked at her brother and Gavin knew something was going on but from the way his mother said nothing he kept quiet.

Akakios let his gaze rest on all his children one by one and then he grinned and winked at his grandson before letting nodding to the server who then turned and opened the door. Greg came through the door and halted, staring at Mel a moment then taking and deep breath and slowly letting it out.

Melisa had no clue what was going on. Everyone was silent and that finally made her look up and pay attention. No one was looking at her and everyone was looking past her. She shifted in her seat and turned to see what caught there attention only to freeze up when she saw Greg there.

He was wearing a light shirt that most Grecian men wore during the summer, the type that was only half buttoned. Sandals and cotton shorts finished it and if not for his dark hair, he would have been taken for a native himself with the darker tan. Melisa sat there with her mouth open, surprised and Greg smiled before lifting his hand up.

Everyone watched as Greg knelt down before Mel and opened up the small jewelry case. No one was surprised when Mel gasped as the ring. "S' agapo' ke' the'lo na' se' pantrefto'?" Greg asked, face flushing because he hadn't quite gotten the words right.

Mel gave a watery laugh at his murdered attempt but she knew what he was asking even as tears fell. It took her a few tries before any words would come out. "Yes, you silly American," she said in English, voice warbling between happy and crying.

From there he took the ring and placed it on Mel's finger before kissing the ring and then smiling brightly. "Do you know that I found something I never expected coming here? I just wish I had been brave enough to tell you Melisa. I had to go home, had to tell my mom and pops about you. I had to get Gram's ring. It sounds so trite but… I am very glad you said yes," He finally said and kissed the palm of her hand.

That was more than enough for the rest to cheer and for Akakios to clap. "Sit, sit. Let us eat and enjoy this night," the older man said brightly and Greg sat down in the remaining seat. The server then started to place the food down for them before discreetly leaving and letting the now expanded family eat in peace.

"Thank you Akakios," Greg said. "If not for Alex and Darren I wouldn't have known. Pops almost tanned my rear when I told him he was going to be a grandpa," Greg said with a wry smile. "Mom almost deafened me with her scream. I think it was in horror at first, at my idiot move. As much as I hated to leave, I had to bring back the contracts and get gram's ring before returning. Alex and Darren helped me Mel. I don't give a damn why you didn't tell me. It doesn't matter." He looked at Melisa and saw she was crying again. "They both want to meet you so they are arriving tonight and tomorrow, if you would, I've arranged a beach ceremony for us with only family. I might be denser than a mule but I have people more than willing to help me get things settled."

Melisa blinked and then leaned over and kissed him briefly. "I understand agápi mou." She shook her head slowly and then looked around the table, meeting her brother, father and then sister's eyes in gratitude she could never express to them.


Eight months later little Greg Akakios Chandler entered the world, screaming his displeasure at leaving his comfortable, warm world. He was passed between his uncle, cousin and grandfather then to his father and finally to his mother who gently brushed the dark hair over his head. Unfortunately his aunt was on assignment so she would meet him later when she returned.


After Alex returned to Rio things changed a lot. When she got back she learned that the majority of those she had passed were denied the next step and that brought out the wraith of the Stefanos. Soon the local news had footage of the General having an all too secretive dinner with a woman who was not his wife.

His wife on the other hand made it known publicly that she had known all along about his indiscretions and was just waiting for the moment to strike. This left Alex out of the lineup of people that brought down the general considering her father had spoken to the General's wife and then they had proceeded to wreck merry havoc on Black's life.

The Alliance had no choice but to remove him from the ITC in Rio and assign a new General. General Fredrick was a hard man but he was also a fair one and after Black's screw-up they wanted someone that was beyond reproach so Fredrick was nominated to the post. From there Alex got her choices approved after giving a well-reasoned speech to the new general. She also was assigned to training the more specialized sniper/scout marines which meant that Menendez was back under her wing along with another familiar face in the form of Jan Moller's daughter Janet.

The group was rounded out by four others with specialties in sniping and tech. Ryan would be digging hard at the group with tech prowess while she tested them for their skills with a sniper rifle. The two woman ground all the sharp points off the six n2 recruits and then started polishing them up. At this point in time it was only the endurance of the six that kept them going up the ranks in the next year. As was, the next 3 months would be hell for the five of the six as the two women bullied them into better soldiers and marines.

Private Zack Johnson was given leave when reports came in of a shuttle explosion over the city where his family lived. His wife was exposed to the eezo dust and their unborn child was at risk. No one ever thought the exposure was anything more than just a terrible accident.

Ryan and Alex sat on the desk that stood before the rest of their group. Menendez and Moller grinned at the two while the rest were not quite sure what to make of their commanders. Ahmed Riker kept glancing between Alex and Ryan without saying anything. He was a corporal who had seen some fighting with the pirates and so had Nikolai Markovic. Both had been members of the same unit yet neither cared for the other but they were willing to work together. Danielia de Jager was the last to round out the group.

"We've both seen what you can do," Alex started as she looked at all of them in turn. "The next step is to actually see you guys in live combat. So you guys get to see my home turf and meet my guys. We have an easy assignment that does require some stealth and long sight. We will be traveling out to the Terminus because there are some things that need to be found out info wise. The brass seems to think that if we target this ElHa's groups we might get some more info. Right now there are indications of something big happening in the future. Other groups like ours are assigned to different sectors."

Ryan continued. "Be ready and fully geared up at 0600. We are taking a shuttle to the SSV Einstein where we will then transfer to Hyetiana and from there you guys will settle in. This is not training, let me remind you. You are going to be in live fire on this mission. We are assigned to gather intel and back up the Legion as their eyes and ears. If you have any issues with each other get it out of the fucking way or you don't go. Do you get me marines?"

Everyone shouted their agreement. "Sir, yes sir!"

Alex smirked. "This isn't a game, boys and girls. This is the easiest live fire you will ever get. How you react will be noted and re-invited if you fit in. Your skills will be tested just as we've been doing all along. You will either pass or fail here. Dismissed."

Alex crossed her arms while she watched the younger soldiers leave.

Ryan nudged her with an elbow. "NCO club?"

She nodded. "Sure. What do you think of the lot?"

Neither women moved as the gave a thoughtful look to the departed marines. "I can't wait to see Moller in action actually. And Menendez, if she's going to be the eye in the sky, let's see how she handles it. I don't have doubts about those two. On the other hand, notice how Riker and Markovic avoided each other?"

Alex nodded. "Yup. Either this mission will beat it out of them or one of them is going back to where they came from. De Jager, was she one of yours?"

April shook her head. "No, I believe she was in River's group two sessions ago. If I remember, she took leave because of a death in the family. Tough girl, came back after things were taken care of. Shame Johnson couldn't stick around but from what I hear, he's lucky his wife kept the baby with that shuttle explosion."

Alex sighed and nodded. "It smacks of not an accident to me." She shrugged as Ryan glanced over at her.

"Oh?" There were so many questions in that singular word.

Alex chuckled. "Seems to me the only way we get biotics is to have accidents. It's just a bit too pat for my tastes. Ready?" She pushed away from the desk with a hip.

"Yup, been wanting a brew since two hours ago when Markovic tripped over Riker's leg," Ryan said with a laugh.


So sorry about the long wait guys. This probably is not my best effort but it gives a little more insight. Next up, the poor N2 candidates get to run with the Legion. Leave me notes of love if you like this :)