Shepard was released from Huerta a few days after his lunch with Kaidan. The press was waiting for him. As soon as he stepped out the door they were there, but Shepard was ready for them. They immediately started talking all at once, demanding answers for this and that.
The Commander took a deep breath, and Kaidan was by his side. John looked to Kaidan who nodded his support.
Shepard raised his hands to the crowd, "I am prepared to take your questions, but one at a time please."
He selected a reporter near the back of the group, "Now that you've recovered from your injuries, will you return to work for the Alliance or resume your role as a Specter once the new council is fully organized?"
"I am exploring several options with the Alliance, but I am not planning to return to the field in the near future. I will go wherever the Alliance feels I can be of the most help." Admiral Hackett recently proposed several options for Shepard's future. Including various promotions, as well as a diplomatic position on the Citadel.
"The Turians, Asari, and Salarian positions have already been filled on the council," another reporter spoke up. "Will you have any influence on who the human representative will be?"
"I have been asked my opinion, but it's still too soon to say anything more on the subject." Shepard moved on to another question.
"The Krogan and Quarians are pushing for spots on the Council, do you think this is a possibility?"
"The idea is still under consideration, but the Council is looking to expand and facilitate stronger diplomatic relations with every race."
Another reporter spoke up, a female human from a gossip network, "How long have you and Major Alenko been involved with each other? How serious is your relationship?"
The Commander actually blushed a bit. He'd hoped these questions would be avoided, but of course nothing ever went as smoothly as he hoped. "Kaidan and I are committed to each other, but I'd rather keep my private life out of this. I've answered enough questions for today."
All the reporters started talking at once again, wanting one more good comment for the evening news. Kaidan took point and cleared a path for the Commander to the cab.
John sank back into his seat. "I'm so glad to be out of there."
"I'm sure they're waiting back at the apartment as well," Kaidan reminded him.
"I know, but I think we can take them."
"My mom's making dinner."
"I think I'm more nervous about meeting your mother."
"I wanted you to meet her outside the hospital. It'll be fine."
"Have you hear anything about your dad?"
"No," Kaidan sighed. "He's still MIA, but I'm not sure if we'll ever find him."
Shepard could see that Kaidan had all but given up hope. "I'm sorry Kaidan."
"It's okay. I just want closure… you know?"
"Yeah, I do." Shepard was quiet for a moment. "You know I lost my family on Mindoir when I was sixteen, right?"
"Yeah," most of the crew did, but Shepard never talked about it.
"I lost my parents in the attack, but my sister Emma… They never found her. The slavers took her. The Alliance eventually caught up to the slavers that attacked us, but she had been sold long before that."
Kaidan was quiet taking it all in.
"Look I don't say that to make you lose hope, but to let you know that I know how you feel. Losing my parents was hard, but not knowing what happened to Emma, in many ways that's worse. No matter what happens though, I'm here for you."
"Thanks," Kaidan was unsure how to react.
"Yeah, you know I've never told anyone about that. I'm sure that everyone has pretty much forgotten about all of that. Mindoir, and Emma, but I never will. I'll always wonder what happened to her, and maybe one day I will know. At the moment, we have more than enough to worry about."
"You're right," Kaidan said as the cab parked near the apartments. "Come one, everyone's waiting."
"What do you mean everyone?" Shepard was confused.
Kaidan only smiled as they ignored the reporters and went inside. When they entered the apartment the crew was waiting for them. Anyone who could find the time was there. Garrus, Jack, Miranda, Liara, Cortez, James, Grunt, and even Engineer Adams, Gaby and Kenneth, everyone was there.
A chorus of "Surprise!" went around the room when Shepard stepped in.
Shepard smiled, "what is this?"
"A surprise party duh," Jack said smugly.
"You defeated the Reapers and saved the galaxy, you of all people deserve to celebrate." Garrus raised his glass.
Shepard joined the group and was immediately handed a drink. Everything was in full swing. People were talking, Joker and EDI were lounging on the couch with Javik and Liara. The atmosphere was light and happy, but not wild like the last party that was thrown in the apartment. Though Garrus and Grunt were drinking pretty heavily together.
Kaidan came up beside him and took Shepard's hand. "Hey, I want you to meet my mom," he smiled as he pulled him towards the kitchen.
A small woman with greying hair stood at the counter. She was talking to Traynor, who was thoroughly enjoying telling the tale of how she and her toothbrush saved the Normandy. The woman turned when Kaidan approached. Shepard immediately saw where Kaidan got his caramel colored eyes.
Kaidan put his arm around her, "Mom, this is Commander Shepard. Shepard this is my mother, Mira."
Shepard took her hand in his, "It's great to finally meet you."
"Same," Mira replied. "Kaidan speaks so highly of you, Commander."
"You can call me John," Shepard insisted.
"Alright, John," Mira continued. "Do you plan on returning to the Normandy in the future?"
Shepard thought for a moment, "I don't know. I'm heading to Earth tomorrow to discuss my options with Admiral Hackett."
"Back to work so soon?"
"Yeah, there are still things I need to take care of. I've never been one to sit back and watch things happen."
"He never stops working," Liara interrupted.
"You're one to talk Liara, and we had Reapers knocking at our door," Shepard argued.
"Now there's an entire galaxy to rebuild," Jack chimed in. "Good luck keeping him at home."
Shepard laughed the comments off. Though inside he knew he wouldn't be as work focused as he was. He had Kaidan, and for once, something to look forward to. Then there was something else. Something that sat at the back of his mind, a heaviness, slowly eating away at him.
The weight of the universe was finally off his shoulders, but it had taken so much out of him. The nightmares were already beginning to interrupt his sleep.
Tonight wasn't the time to bring that up. The war was won, and Shepard was going to enjoy one night before being thrown back into the line of fire, so to speak.
The party wound down a few hours later. As everyone began to leave Shepard realized this might have been the last time most of them would be together at once. The fate of the Normandy and the human crew would be decided in the coming weeks, but as for his alien comrades, they had their own planets and worries to attend to. Shepard was surprised so many of his friends were there.
After calling a cab for a very drunk Garrus, Shepard returned to the nearly empty apartment. Mira had gone to bed and Kaidan was doing some dishes in the kitchen. This party wasn't nearly as crazy as the last one had been, and there wasn't much clean up left to do.
Shepard helped Kaidan finish the last of the dishes. After they were done, the two finally sat down on the couch.
"I'm glad to be home." Shepard put his arm around Kaidan as they settled in.
"So am. I was worried you weren't going to make it. Between finding you the way you were, and the ups and downs in the hospital. I thought I was going to lose you a couple times."
"I'm sorry Kaidan, I've put you through hell. I never wanted that. It was hard enough to almost lose you back on Mars. It must have been a hundred times worse seeing me like that, after everything we've been through. I'm sorry," Shepard looked away.
Kaidan gently placed his hand on his cheek and looked him straight in the eyes. "Hey, we're here now, and that's what matters. You're here John, and nothing can keep us apart now," and he pulled him in for a kiss.
There was something about Kaidan's lips that seemed to calm the Commander. Whenever the world seemed to be spinning a little too fast, Kaidan was always there to slow him down and remind him what was important.
"Well," Shepard said as they parted, "where do we go from here Major Alenko? You've taken it upon yourself to move into my apartment, and you brought your mother."
"Sorry," Kaidan looked a little embarrassed. "I didn't really have much of a choice, and you weren't really here to stop me."
"I know," Shepard smiled, "but really. Where do we go from here? What do you want, Kaidan?"
Kaidan was quiet for a moment, trying to put together his thoughts. "I don't know. I've been so caught up in just getting through the day. I haven't stopped to think much about what I want. I mean… I have a bit… but…" Kaidan wasn't sure how to go on.
"Come on Kaidan, you can tell me anything," Shepard held him a little closer.
"I know," Kaidan sighed. "I want a life with you. Maybe a family if you wanted. Even get a house on earth, or some colony, we could help rebuild and create our own life at the same time." They were quiet for a moment, "what about you John? What do you want?"
"I think I want the same. It may not be right away Kaidan, but I think one day we can have that. I still have the press chasing after me anyway."
"That's right. I almost forgot about them."
"Things will calm down in time."
"I don't know Shepard, you're the greatest hero of all time. You're a celebrity now!" Kaidan laughed a little at that, thinking of people begging for Shepard's autograph and crowds screaming wherever he went.
"Well, either way I still have to see Hackett tomorrow," Shepard grumbled. He did not want to think about the media horde that was sure to follow him relentlessly in the foreseeable future.
"We better get to bed then," Kaidan helped Shepard off the couch, "your shuttle leaves pretty early."
