UPDATE (30.03.2017): Thanks to Erin Primette from I got to know that Garrus' father's name is Castis and I decided to change Akteon to his canon name. Although I write AU fic I try to stick to as much canon stuff as I can. So that's it. Thanks again, Erin for your message :)
Yay! I managed to upload new chapter before Christmas, here's your present from me :*
Last chapter was so steamy xD and it didn't need smut to turn that way! :3
Remember about Razzberry stories!
Mass Effectiveness /works/5330642
Dawn of a New Era /works/4978891
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (If I won't post ch. 8 before New Year... )
xXx
'Don't be sorry. This was perfect. You are perfect.' Those words echoed in Jane's mind. She was looking into Garrus' brilliant blue eyes while they still had their foreheads joined. Her hands rested on his neck, stroking with her thumbs. The turian was purring quietly. "What are you doing to me, Garrus?"
"The same you're doing to me, Jane." Vakarian pulled the woman onto his lap, at last she was in his arms. "How I wanted this…" He growled, nuzzling the side of her head and hair.
Jane embraced Garrus, one hand on his cowl while stroking his fringe with the other. They stayed silent, drowning in one another. At last they had the courage to do what they had wanted to, for some time. Her fingers traced the lines of his fringe, then mapped his forehead plates, their eyes locked. Shepard realised that she hadn't even asked about one important thing. "Garrus?"
"Hmm?"
"What does joining foreheads mean for turians? We touched foreheads on our wedding day, although it was quick, not to mention you were so angry… mother touched with you and me when we arrived on Palaven… and…" She blushed at the memory of the recent scene. "And just now…"
"It's a gesture reserved only for ones we… uhm, love… spouse or children - closest family." Garrus turned from her, nonplussed. "Sorry about that one during the wedding. I was an idiot." She dismissed it with a shake of her head and pulled his head down. They did it again, looking into each other's eyes. "It doesn't have any other meaning than: I care for you."
"Oh… so it's like a human kiss?"
"Human what?" Jane giggled and put her lips on his mouth plates once again.
"That is a human kiss… you can add tongue to make it extra spicy." The woman winked at the turian. "It can also mean: I care for you… but mostly, if it's between lovers, it just says: I want you." She quickly realised what she had just said and tried to clarify. "Oh, I… I didn't mean I want you - want you… Oh, God… I um, want you… but... what I meant was…"
"Hey, calm down. I understand." Garrus embraced her firmly. He let his subharmonic sing a soothing tone. It worked perfectly by relaxing her. "I don't know how it will go… the situation is strange and new… I never been in a serious relationship with a turian female, let alone a human one. I will make mistakes, for which I can only apologise now but we can make it work, ok? I, uh… I've seen so many things go wrong, Jane… I've hurt my girlfriends, I was a huge asshole… I want this to go right. Just once... So far we haven't killed each other and that's a good start."
Jane giggled quietly. She thought of all those battles they had fought. "From enemies to a married couple, huh? With feelings and such..." She touched Garrus' scarred mandible. She regarded the scar, remembering how it had happened. "I'm sorry for that one… I never meant to hurt you out there. That one time things got out of hand. To be honest, for five months I was really bored and missed you."
"I know. I shouldn't have run to that side… I was careless. Then... I was so restless during recovery but I came back and again we had fun. It's a pity they spoiled the last one before the war ended." The turian cocked his head, thinking about something funny. "We were a hell of a couple on the battlefield… still are but at last we are on the good side."
"Yeah." Jane nodded to that. They really were an unstoppable force. Now it was even better… their matches in the Armax Arena always gathered large audiences. "You're right, we will make mistakes. Both of us. I've never been in a relationship, at all… but I really want this to work out. I can't really put into words why, but I… I care for you, feel connected to you, Garrus. No Shepard without Vakarian."
"Technically you're a Vakarian as well, Shepard." Both of them started to laugh and couldn't stop. When they finally did, Jane had to wipe the tears from her eyes. "We should go, sweetheart, tomorrow all hell will break loose. All of the family are coming. My grandparents, aunts and uncles with my cousins. Every year it gets more crowded and noisy and mother will make us celebrities this time."
Jane frowned and again she stressed out. "But don't leave me alone, okay? I hope they'll like me… at least a bit more than your father."
"Don't mind him. It's just that he wanted something more for me. Still wants more but I'm a bad turian… I'm not good at following orders. My father's dream is for me to achieve a high tier, marry a good woman… have kids. Problem is I always wanted something else. Now I know what. Nihlus was right in the end… He told me once… that I am an adult and need to think for myself and make my own decisions." Garrus fell silent. He needed those words to sink in, for himself. Saying it aloud made it real. "I want this to go right."
Jane stood up and offered her hand to him. "I'm by your side. Always, remember that. Now come on. There is a nice bed that awaits us and nice pillows that sings to me 'sleeeep Jaaane, go tooooo sleeeep'." The last part she sang in a ghostly voice.
Garrus chuckled and both of them went to their room. Keeping their hands locked together.
xXx
Garrus was right. Ever since Jane, along with him, had appeared in the kitchen that morning, Kalea made them do all sorts of things. From preparing or finishing the dishes to setting the tables that had magically multiplied in the dining room. Jane didn't really count but still wagered that there would be more than 20 people for dinner. How they were all going to fit in the dining room, was a mystery to her.
When they had finished all of the table's preparations, they sat down in the living room. The only thing left to do was to wait for Castis Vakarian to bring his mother and parents-in-law to the house. Solana, with Shepard, was sitting on the couch. The young turian had started practicing what Jane had taught her recently - plaiting braids. Garrus was watching the two on the couch, enjoying a relaxing moment with two of three most important women in his life - his mother was still busing herself in the kitchen.
"How you managed to learn it so fast is a mystery to me, Sol." Jane mused while trying to look at the three-fingered hand busy with her human hair. "After all these years I still can't do it properly myself… and I have five fingers for God's sake!"
"I don't understand it myself, Jane. But your hair is amazing… what will I do when the two of you return to the Citadel?" Solana keened sadly. Having her brother at home was good but having Jane - an enormously interesting human - was even better. When the turian teenager was done with one thin braid, she strapped a hair tie around it and proceeded to plait another one.
"You will miss us as much as we will miss you, I suppose but I have an idea! Garrus said once, that we could go to Earth… there I can buy you hairdressing head dummies and wigs." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sol cock her head, apparently not understanding the word. "Wig is… hmm.. artificial hair that can be put on the head. We have hair implants so nowadays wigs are only to dress up. Anyway… I can ship them here or maybe we will come again. Dunno…" Jane looked at Garrus and smiled. "What do you think, Garrus?"
"That would be fun. We can go to Earth."
"Yay!" Solana jumped on her seat, Jane's hair slipped away from her grasp. "Aww, Spirits! I have to start all over again…"
"We have time, Sol! Besides, I have to say that I'm enjoying this…" Shepard giggled and sat still again to let the turian female have her fun. Poor Solana had to stop yet again when Jane's omni-tool pinged with a call. "Oh…? Sorry Sol, I need to pick it up." The woman opened the holo menu and saw Jack's call popping up in the center of it. She quickly started the conversation, a hologram of a familiar face appeared in front of her. "Hi, Jack! How are you?"
"Same shit, different day. I have news for you, ugly! I'll be on the Citadel in 5 days!" The biotic's eyes gleamed with happiness. Both Jane and her missed each other terribly. Vid-calls weren't enough for them anymore.
"Jeez, Jack. I'm on Palaven for the next 9 days. How long are you going to be staying on the Citadel?"
"One week. Bitch, why do you always have to spoil the fun. Okay, we will have three days to waste ourselves. Kahoku won't let me go outside the Alliance HQ on the Citadel. He still shits bricks about everything alien related. So, only the two of us and my apartment. Prepare for that, Shep!"
Jane imagined crates of booze and Jack in the middle of it. Perfect. "Best plan you've come up with in ages! I'm proud of you! Okay, need to finish this up. Sol is waiting to plait my hair and you interrupted her."
"Huh?" Jack's eyebrow raised to an unnatural level.
Jane moved her hand with the omni-tool on it to look at the turian girl. Solana was visibly embarrassed. "This is my sister-in-law, Solana Vakarian. Sol, this is Jacqueline Nought, Jack for short."
"Don't say that name aloud! You know I hate it. Hi, Solana, I'm Jack! Forget about that Jacqueline part." Solana giggled and waved at Jack.
Jane turned her arm to show herself again. "Tell your hubby that you won't be available or rather alive for three days. Okay, see you on the Citadel!"
"Bye!" Jack's holo vanished and Shepard deactivated her omni-tool. She turned to Garrus with a big grin on her face. "You heard the woman."
"And what if I say no?" Garrus asked with amusement. To be honest he wanted to return to the Citadel and spend some… quality time… with Jane in their apartment. Find out how is it to be with a female outside of his species. To test that nice waist and round ass at last. Especially after watching her exercise so many times. Last night she had been so close. Garrus had pulled Shepard's body against his as they slept, embracing. Her coolness was a huge perk. His thoughts were interrupted by Jane's laugh.
"Then you will end up with a biotic fist up your ass. Sorry, husband but if someone opposes Jack, things go bad. You don't want to be on the receiving end of her anger. Besides, it will only be three days." Solana in the meantime had finished another braid, finally allowing Jane to turn her head slightly toward Garrus, noticing his frown. "Oh, don't be a baby, Big Guy. I think a little break from me will do you good."
Garrus exhaled slowly. "I don't think so but have it your way." He took a datapad into his hands, trying to read something but was failing miserably. His thoughts circled around his wife and how he was displeased about the turn of events. Vakarian knew damn well that it was too dangerous to engage in any bedroom activities during their stay in his parents house. Especially with his father around. That's why the turian had decided to postpone those for their apartment. Now he had to wait three days more and it seemed like it would be an eternity. On the other hand, isn't it too fast for that? What if Jane will freak out? But I want her so much… Garrus' forced celibacy didn't help with keeping control over his lust either. It was a double loss.
Garrus stayed silent, listening to Jane and Solana chatter, till his father came back with his grandparents. When he overheard their arrival, the turian jumped up from the couch and went outside. Jane shut up and watched him leave. "What was that about?"
"Our grandparents have arrived… and big brother still plays father's game…" Solana said while wrapping a hair tie around third plait. "He really doesn't want to disappoint dad in any way… Thank you Spirits they don't expect much from me… yet..."
"What do you mean?" Jane turned toward the teenager and asked inquiringly. She had heard it from Garrus before but now Solana could explain it to her.
"Do you know about the social tiers in our society?" Shepard nodded in confirmation. Garrus already explained that part to her. "It's a pile of bullshit if you ask me. And as far as I know, my brother, he thinks the same deep down but his sense of duty and respect toward father, makes him fall in line. This will cause real problems for Garrus in my opinion. He should either open his eyes and tell father the truth or quit with… this, and act like he wants to." Then Solana leaned to Jane and whispered quietly. "I saw you… yesterday… in the garden. If you think he will show you any sign of affection within father's presence then you're wrong. Sorry Jane, but he is an idiot. You two should thank the Spirits that father's sense of smell is weak because of that accident during his C-Sec days… or he wou-"
Jane didn't get to know what Castis Vakarian would do or what Solana meant by his sense of smell. Or how it was related to anything at all. Her thoughts were interrupted by three elderly looking turians coming inside with Garrus and his father. That wasn't everyone though. Soon after, a turian female with a little asari in her hands came in with an adult asari. That surprised Jane… a female turian with an asari?
Garrus waved at Jane to come closer. She shyly approached the new turians and asari. "Grandmothers, grandpa, this is, ekhm, my wife, Jane." Jane dipped her head in the turian fashion and greeted the elder turians. She instantly saw a huge difference between the elders, middle aged and young adult turians, like Garrus. Their plates weren't shining as Garrus' was, they had visible cracks, the skin on their neck was wrinkled and pale. So turians get old just like humans and here I thought they stay the same due to their plating… She realised also that Castis's plates weren't as shiny and vivid as Garrus' but the skin on his neck still was looking good.
"So this is a human?" The turian grandmother that resembled Kalea, who had to be her mother, approached Jane. Moments later another female turian came by. She had to be Castis's mother but didn't look like him at all with her red plates. The only similarity was the Vakarian clan markings and their eyes.
So Garrus' features were passed from grandfather Vakarian… except those eyes… They take after her.
"It's my first time seeing one… alive…" Kalea's mother stated. Everyone started to laugh except Jane, the woman froze in her place for a long moment. She slowly turned to look at Garrus but he put his thumb up, he had learnt the gesture from Jane. "Sorry dear, for my terrible joke… I've never seen any humans, dead or alive. I must say that you look... exotic."
"And it's nice to have someone not so blue in the family. Our asari daugher-in-laws are a bit boring compared to you." Castis's mother circled around Jane to stand behind her and stared at the human's hair. "What is wrong with your fringe?"
In that moment, Solana materialised next to her grandmother. "Granny! This is human hair! Look! It can be shaped to look different. And you can uhm, plait it…?" Solana turned to Jane for confirmation. And quickly got it. "Braids. I made four, here."
While Solana was busy explaining human hair to her grandmother, Kalea emerged from the kitchen and after greeting the guests, she properly introduced Jane to everyone. "Jane, this is my mother - Zanya Oraka and this is my father, General Septimus Oraka, a retired general."
"Can you stop with the retired bit?!" An old turian yelled, annoyed. Jane shook hands with Septimus. His plates had to have been black, now they were dark grey. White clan markings adorned his face, like his wife. She could only imagine Kalea had had the same before she married Castis and had to change to Vakarian blue. "Such disrespect for the man who saved all your asses. Hello, Commander, good to meet you. I've heard a lot about your bravery and strength. I know our races fought together but I only hope you haven't experienced any hostile behaviour so far. All in all we are soldiers, following orders."
Jane agreed with those wise words but didn't have time to add anything more as Kalea pushed her father aside. "Okay dad, that's beautiful and all... remember just one thing: You're retired." Next to the Oraka's was grandmother Vakarian. "And this is my husband's mother, Hamras. Castis's father passed away a few years ago."
Jane nodded then smiled at the older turians. "It's really nice to meet you, Mrs. Oraka, General, Mrs. Vakarian."
"Don't call us that, dear. Please, call us Grandmother. Right, Hamras?" Castis's mother nodded. Both patted Jane on the arm and smiled, showing all their turian teeth. Her son growled in the back. "What is it, son?"
"Mum, I have enough of him already. He can't live with the fact that his son was forced to marry a human female. He can't understand that it was for everyone's good. And when I see Jane and Garrus, they are completely alright with everything. Castis's brain just doesn't get it that war has ended. People are happy, there are no more casualties! And lastly, the turians can at last do something they are good at, keep the galaxy safe! It would be really nice if prices would go down a little too… can't buy decent treax sauce anymore…" When Kalea ended her rant everyone was silent for a moment.
Hamras looked at her son and just made a disappointed sound with her subharmonic. The older turian turned to Shepard. "Good... Anyway! I've heard you met my older daughter, please meet my younger one - Savia and her wife Xaretta. And this little sweetie is my youngest grandchild, Hamras. They gave her my name. I'm so proud." She took her grandchild and hugged her. The little girl giggled and caught her grandmother's mandible. Older Hamras put the little one into Jane's arms.
The asari toddler looked sweet. Big eyes, small nose and her fringe, or hair tentacles, looked really very cute. Jane embraced her and nuzzled the child's neck which was met with giggles from little Hamras. "You are cute, blue pumpkin! Next time I'll bring you some human toys and we'll play together!"
"Everyone! Please sit at the table, there are name cards as always. We need to wait for the rest. Leantus and Mavi already called. Everyone will be here soon." Kalea raised her voice so everyone could hear her. Jane wondered how it would be once everyone was gathered together.
Jane sat on her seat, between Garrus and his grandfather, General Oraka. Said turian leaned to Jane. "You can call me General if you wa-…"
"You're a retired general! She won't call you that at home!" His wife yelled from the other side of the table. She and Hamras were sitting on either side of Solana. Then next to Hamras was Xaretta with her little one and Savia.
Jane was laughing at the conversation. She felt comfortable as it was exactly what humans did, gather the family and spend time together. She felt at home, even surrounded by aliens, which wasn't problem for her. They had shown her that she was one of them. Most of the family anyway. When the rest of the family arrived, she met the 3 children of Janxi and Mavi, the oldest male, Pinohierix and the twins, an unusual occurrence for turians, Javi and Juna.
"Pinohierix is a Lieutenant of the 17th platoon, 3rd Fleet." His father said, he looked really proud of his son. "And the twins just enrolled into boot camp." Jane spoke at length with Mavi and his twins. She was really interested in training in a boot camp. The twins described that they would be having to learn how to use all sorts of weapons, from which they would chose the most suitable for themselves during their exam at the end of training. They would also be learning hand to hand combat and how to use tech skills like the basics of hacking and sabotage.
Then she turned to Pin. "So have you fought many humans? How do you find our skills?"
Pinohierix coughed and looked visibly embarrassed. "Ou… huh… humans are really strong and resilient and really stubborn… I was stationed as back up when Garrus got hit… in the middle of fighting you." He looked at his cousin's mandible and shivered. "I'm really happy I wasn't caught in the middle of that chaos…"
"What chaos? That was a stylish win until I got a rocket to the face!" Garrus chuckled. "I would so have win, but I fucke-"
"Garrus! Behave!" Kalea growled.
"But I made a mistake in my calculations." He ended, without swearing this time.
"Ha!" Jane said smugly. "All in all, now we're friends not enemies. Let's toast to that!"
They were eating and talking till it was nightfall. Everyone went outside to the garden, now decorated with lights that were floating around the seats and sofas on the first terrace. Jane, Solana and her mother brought drinks and snacks. Everyone sat comfortably and watched as the moons were going to unite.
Shepard experimentally tried to snuggle near Garrus to check if Sol was right. She was, Vakarian shifted and moved away from Jane. The woman smirked to herself. Sol was right. He's really afraid of what his father thinks. I won't compromise it. Better move away. And she did, going straight to Solana to let her plait braids again. Her grandmothers were mesmerized by how the young turian worked with Jane's hair.
Garrus looked at Jane as she walked away, trying with all his might to not look as displeased as he felt. He didn't want to act so stupid by avoiding her but now she was probably offended by his behaviour. It wasn't his fault that his father was looking at them. Vakarian was afraid that his dad already saw through him. On the other hand he didn't like lying to either of them either. Nihlus was right… I really should act like an adult… I can't keep this up much more. I'll hurt her, damnit! Or father… mostly father when he learns...
Everyone was having a good time, talking and enjoying the special night. When the time came and the moons, smaller Menae in front of bigger Nanus, where eclipsing each other, they could see myriads of fireworks light the sky. "I didn't know there would be fireworks!" Jane yelled to Solana, trying to outshout the noise made by exploding fireworks.
"It's a tradition. We celebrate Menae and Nanus back together." Jane already learned of the story. She watched as the two moons came together in unison and imagined two turians joining their forehead's and humming love with their subharmonics. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
It wasn't long before the turian elders decided to call it a day. Castis guided them to their guest rooms. Soon the other guests decided to leave, especially Savia with little Hamras sleeping in her arms. Jane and Solana helped with the cleaning up.
When Jane had finished it was really late, she climbed upstairs and entered the room. Garrus was already there, reading something on the datapad. Without a word she grabbed her pajamas and went to the bathroom to have a quick shower. Refreshed a bit, the woman returned to the room just to jump into bed and roll herself into the blanket. "Good night!"
"Wait for me, I'll change and be back in a minute." The turian returned to an already sleeping woman. Damn it! And here I wanted to apologise for earlier… and maybe practice her human kiss a bit... Garrus laid next to her and brought her sleeping body closer. She sighed adorably in her sleep, moving her head to lay on his arm. Well, that will have to be enough for now.
xXx
Jane was enveloped in warmness. She opened her eyes to see Garrus' arms around her, the turian's hot body so close to her and his neck just next to her… The woman nuzzled it, smelling, inhaling his scent of metal and soap. Turians didn't use much perfumes, instead washing their bodies with special soaps. Shepard started to kiss him, wishing he wouldn't wake up right now. She already missed having his forehead on hers… On the other hand she didn't want to push him, especially in front of his father. Jane didn't really understand why he acted like that but if that's what he needed, she would agree and not bother him. Now she had great opportunity to indulge herself in his turian body. Trailing a path of soft kissed up his neck, over to the right, his scarred mandible then to his mouth plates. She regarded the still sleeping turian for a moment, admiring his strong features. Then she decided to return to his neck, kissing it at first then she licked it experimentally. Garrus moaned in his sleep. Jane bit his skin lightly, receiving lustful groans in response. He was waking up.
"Jaaane…" Garrus' said hoarsely and pulled her close, flushing her body against his. "You can wake me up like that every damn time…" He opened his eyes to meet hers, mandibles flaring with his good mood. It was his turn to nuzzle her hair and ear, licking her earlobe. He was pleased at hearing her muffled moan. Vakarian placed his forehead on hers. "Hi, you."
"Good morning." Shepard regarded his mesmerizing blue eyes and was utterly happy. For the first time in her life she was in the arms of someone that was so dear to her, so important. She kissed the turian, at first wanting it to be a brief but he stopped her head from retreating. Garrus licked her lips and she responded in kind. Feeling the rough texture of his tongue on hers. When the kiss ended, they just looked at each other, stroking their respective arms. Oh God, I love how he kisses… I won't be able to enjoy a human man ever again… not that I want to… never again.
I should apologize to her… for yesterday. Or maybe no? She doesn't look offended… Garrus was debating internally and almost said sorry but the woman was first to talk.
"I wanted to ask… don't be offended, please… but I wonder… is little Hamras really Xavia's child? Or was she just adopted her as her own? Being that she and Xaretta are two females…"
"No, no no no. You're looking at it the wrong way. Don't look at asari as females. They look like females, yes, behave like them but they are mono-gender. Asari can reproduce with any species and any gender with their melding… or joining… I don't know much about it except that the child is always an asari and that in their genes you can find the melded gene's of the… ehm, father. Xavia is the father here." He stopped for a moment, realising something. "Asair don't like to meld with each other. Calling the children of two asari "pureblood". They prefer to meld with other species, with different DNA…The rarer the pairing, the better."
Jane regarded the ceiling with a blank expression, thinking over Garrus' words. "So that was the reason…"
"Yeah… at least one of them. I don't think they married us just because the asari councilor wanted a human's DNA. Another reason is that the Council wanted to show humanity that it's okay to be, um… romantically involved with aliens…" The turian stopped talking, obviously embarrassed by his words.
Jane smiled to herself, she turned to Garrus, hooking her leg nonchalantly on his waist. "Aren't we romantically involved?" She said seductively, hearing his lustful growls.
"If we're not… we certainly can try to…" The turian's words were interrupted by his mother's voice over the intercomm.
"Wake up, kids! Your grandmothers want to go to the Farinha Park."
"Yay!" Jane smiled at Garrus and quickly kissed him on the nose, just to jump out of the bed. She took out one of her dresses with the protective hood and, skipping, went to the bathroom.
Garrus grunted. Reluctantly, he extracted himself from the bed. I missed the opportunity… I need to apologize to her. While waiting for Shepard to return, he picked his clothes. When Jane entered the room in her asari dress, his jaw almost hit the floor. "Hi, sexy." Vakarian said after a while, all things literally vanishing from his head.
"Flatterer. Come on, I want to go to the park."
xXx
Garrus, Jane and Solana had a great time with their grandparents. While Solana and her grandmothers were walking around and admiring the park, Jane, Garrus and General Oraka where sitting on a bench. The older turian was entertaining the human woman with old war stories. While being in the park she lifted her hood up, her face was visible to others. Turians were stopping in the path to watch the human, some of them even growled in anger. Garrus could hear all of those, deciding to stay near Jane. After all she wasn't in an environmental suit and helmet anymore.
After the park, Garrus' parents came for everyone and all of them went to a levo/dextro restaurant. "Nihlus called, son. We will meet him for dinner."
Jane leaned to Kalea, happy to hear the news. "Nihlus is here? On Palaven?"
"Yes, he finished his assignment and was in the vicinity. So you know him, Jane?" The woman nodded and explained how they had met and that he was a friend. "Nihlus is really friendly. He even befriended his mentor Saren Arterius. I don't know how he managed that… I've known Saren for years and still get uncomfortable around him…"
"He's not that bad…" Castis replied. Jane was surprised that Garrus' father had joined the conversation at last. He never spoke when she was around.
"Because he's the same old rock as you, my dear husband. Xenophobic piece of shit, if you asked me." Garrus' father didn't even bother to grunt at his wife's words. It seemed he didn't want to make her angry when she was relaxed and in a good mood. "Anyway, how was the park?"
"Good, the General told us a lot of war stories!"
"Don't call my dad General, sweetie. He's…"
General Oraka huffed in exasperation from the seat behind Jane. "RETIRED! Everyone knows that, my dear daughter! Still, my rank was general and it will stay that way till I die! Show some respect!" Everyone started to laugh, even Castis and Septimus.
"Fine, fine. Have it your way, father."
Soon Castis landed with the skycar. Everyone went inside the restaurant. An asari waitress greeted them and showed them to their table. Each table was in a divided section, behind a soundproof field. The woman saw movement inside their section, Nihlus and another turian was already waiting for them. Jane smiled at Kryik and waved her hand. She could hear Garrus growl quietly. Still angry, that turian.
"Jane! My beautiful Jane! You hair shines like aurora on Palaven's pole! Your eyes are... my heart wants to stop by just looking at you!" The turian dashed to Jane and embraced her warmly. "I missed you terribly!"
"Nihlus, stop it…" Jane shook her head and wanted to say something more but an older turian stood up.
"Yes, Nihlus, quit that crap… Don't embarrass the turians with befriending the human scum." His silver plates were dotted with cracks and scars. Jane looked at him and that was the first time she had seen a fringe that extended at eye-level. He looked a bit younger than Castis and Kalea but older than Garrus or Nihlus. "Castis, my friend, such a pity you had to sacrifice your own son… This is end for the turian race, it really is. Our best soldier had to marry one of those… things…"
Garrus lurched at Saren, pinning him to the ground. He would have punched him in the face if his father and Nihlus didn't pull him up. "Calm down, son. Don't make a scene. This trash isn't worth it."
Jane's eyes widened. Castis was defending Garrus and in the process, her.
"Saren… it's better if we leave." Nihlus picked his mentor up from the floor. Saren ripped his arm from Kryik's grasp and left without a word. "Spirits… I love the man but he's such an asshole sometimes… Someone should pull that stick out of his ass someday! Sorry, I'll go and talk with him. Garrus, Jane, please come to my place when you're back on the Citadel. I'll send you my address, Jane. And… uhm, Kalea, Castis, I'm deeply sorry for the incident."
"It's not your fault, Nihlus." Garrus' mother came and hugged the turian Specter. "You should come to Cipritine more often, you know? We miss you."
While Kalea and Nihlus were talking, Jane asked about the relationship that his parents and Nihlus had. "Oh, that. Nihlus was from another colony. Our mothers are friends so he stayed at our place while attending the last years of school and then when he enrolled at Boot Camp… he stayed even longer. Until Saren took him to the Citadel so Kryik could attend Specter training."
"Oh, I see."
After Nihlus had left, Jane got his address for his place on the Citadel. Garrus had again shown a bit of jealousy, Jane at last identified the source of his anger toward Nihlus. Even though the dinner was delicious, Jane looked around and was clearly uncomfortable. The restaurant was filled with turians and a few asari. They looked at her from time to time. She saw anger, hatred and disgust in their eyes. Garrus was quick to see through her. "Jane? What is it?" He asked and the whole family turned toward the human female.
"It… It's nothing. I just… everyone is looking at me." She eyed the turians on the other side of the room, visibly looking in her direction. "On the Citadel, everyone knows me already… and when I went to that restaurant with Nihlus, I was too preoccupied with him and new things to even notice… Not that I'm afraid. It's just… a strange feeling in the back of my mind."
Kalea patted her hand. "Sweetie, don't worry. You are here with us. We accept you as you are. It doesn't matter that you're human. Your heart is turian and I can see that." She then gestured at Castis. "Look, even that old piece of rock defended you."
"Don't jump into conclusions, my dear wife. I was defending my son. Public fighting would affect his tie..." Growls from both his mother and wife stopped Castis from talking.
"Castis!"
"You see for yourself, mother! I'm done! I can't stand this any longer!"
"Dad… please, don't argue. I'm only here for a few days, can't it be peaceful? For once?" Garrus turned to his father. The turian knew that he had special influence over his father and used it shamelessly.
The rest of the meal passed quietly. They resumed their conversations, Jane relaxed, not bothered by the other turians anymore. Mother is right. I'm here with the Vakarians, I'm safe. Without my Black Widow I can rely only on Garrus and my fists…
xXx
Thanks, leave comment and have a Merry Christmas! Wish you lots of good moments and nice presents under the Christmas Tree 3
