Maternal Privileges

Shepard shifted on his bed in irritation, getting a sharp pain from his ribs for his efforts.

He hated being immobile, almost as much as he hated being babied. Of course, a hospital meant exactly those two things were bound to happen, usually at the same time. He finally had the room to himself for a bit, having managed to convince Grunt that not eating was generally bad.

When he first woke up he'd thought Doctor Chakwas had brought Tali in to see him, but it had just been Grunt muttering in his sleep.

Probably dreaming about someone trying to kill me so he could finally maul something. Shepard grinned at the thought, but continued moving around on his bed, vainly trying to find a more comfortable position. After a minute or so, he decided he was as comfy as he was going to get and settled down in thought. He still wanted to call Joker and tell him how sorry he was, but it felt far too impersonal to do something like that over a comm link or Q.E.C. Well, if he could stand long enough for a Q.E.C. Or stand at all. He reminded himself. I wonder just how long this paraplegic thing is going to last.

"John Shepard, you have a lot of explaining to do." Shepard's head whipped up so fast he groaned in pain before he could stop himself. There in the doorway stood his mother, looking at him like he had just smashed aunt Fay's favorite vase all over again. Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard's expression changed quickly when she heard him groan, and she quickly crossed the room with worry creasing her brow. His mother looked different then the last time he'd seen her, and the closer she got the more apparent it became. She had more gray in her hair to either side of her vibrant blue eyes, and her dark brown hair was in a bun under her navy blue beret hat. Her blue dress uniform was creased in ways that looked like she'd been wearing that same suit for days.

"My word John, what have you been doing? Running through barbwire?" His mother asked as she knelt down beside his bed.

"More like running through lasers." Shepard flinched as she made a face at him for being so flippant. Her features softened and he saw tears start to well up in her eyes.

"All the marines downstairs tell me you were there on the front lines John." She spoke in a small voice, very unlike her usual air of command.

"They say that they saw you get shot by the largest reaper in the entire fleet."

His mother's unyielding and tough demeanor broke down then, crying she reached around to gently put her arm under him for a hug. It hurt, but he wasn't about to tell her that.

"I'm here mom, I'm ok." He kept repeating to her as she quietly cried into his shoulder. He stroked her back in an effort to soothe her, but it seemed to only make her cry harder. After what seemed like hours his mother slowly pulled back and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but for a while I thought I'd lost you." She managed between sniffles.

She stood up and crossed the room to grab one of the chairs Grunt had been using as a footrest. By the time she had dragged it back she seemed to be mostly in control of herself once more.

"So." She said, only occasionally sniffling now . "Just how did my boy end up charging kilometer tall killing machines? Or did you do that just to make me age faster?" She smiled as he took as deep a breath as his aching chest allowed and began to tell his story from leaving earth to saving it. It was a longer story than he had intended, mostly due to her asking questions then giving him looks that said she knew when he was lying when he tried to evade it. Several hours later his mother sat looking at him with a thoughtful gaze.

"So am I insane mother? To be confined to this dreary hospital for the remainder of my days?" he asked with feigned horror.

"Oh you're insane alright, I'm just glad I raised such a feisty child, otherwise I don't think we'd be having this conversation." His mother leaned over and kissed him on his forehead. As she leaned back, he made up his mind about something.

"Mom, how long will you be staying groundside?" He asked.

"Oh not too long I should think, I just got leave because my son was Commander Shepard and injured. They made a bit of an exception. Why?"

"Because there's someone here you need to meet. I believe I found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with." His mother stared at him like he had grown a second head.

"How during all that, did you manage to fall in love with someone?" She asked incredulously.

"Actually it's someone I've known since I first became a spectre." He said calmly.

"Well of course I want to meet her! Is she around here somewhere?"

"Calm down mom, she's probably with one of the fleets right now, but I'm sure she'll be back soon."

"So who is she?" Shepard closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Moment of truth. He thought to himself. Then opened his eyes.

"Her name is Tali Zorah Vas Normandy, and she's a quarian." He wasn't really sure what he'd expected from her when he said that, but surely it was anything but the total indifference he saw.

"Oh how wonderful! This is very exciting, what kind of girl is she? Do they have any weird customs I should know about when I meet her? She doesn't have any tattoos does she? No I suppose not with those suits. When were you going to marry her? Did you-"

"Mom… mom…. MOM!" He managed to shout through her tide of questions.

"What? Oh I'm sorry dear. I got caught up in the moment. I'm just so happy for you!" The smile on her face was the largest he's seen in decades.

"Thanks mom, really. But I'd rather not have Doctor Chakwas come running in here because she thinks I'm having a heart attack."

"Oh your just no fun at all" His mother stood up from the chair still smiling.

"I also can't dance." He replied with a grin.

She snorted a laugh and started toward the door but stopped as she got there.

"Heal up boy, and let me know when your girl gets here." With that she left the room, but he thought he heard her say, "Just wait till the girls on the bridge hear about this!"


Tali was still wandering the halls of the Neema after her meeting with the other Admirals, looking at all the empty homes and barren streets. She hadn't seen another soul as she walked around aimlessly. It was depressing really, knowing that the ship she had lived on the majority of her life was now devoid of all the things that reminded her of home. She kept walking, her mind blank as she took a leisurely pace down the road.

I wonder what Shepard would think of this? she stopped in her tracks as the thought struck her. Would he somehow think less of me for having lived in such a place? Surely not. she assured herself. But even she had to confess it was a bad way to live. The houses were never more than a foot apart from the wall of their neighbor, and they had no yards to speak of. Just a small path that led from the door to the "road" they happened to live on. Some were stacked on top of the others and had to use a ladder just to get to their front door.

But she could rejoice a little. Now thanks to Shepard, her people could finally live normal lives, free from the confines of these damned ships. Maybe now people wouldn't think of quarians as second-rate citizens and thieves. And maybe soon I could buy some clothes just for Shepard and me, and show him just how much I appreciate him. She blushed furiously at the thought but decided to look for something anyway. As she ran through a list of stores in her head she thought she heard a voice from behind her. Turning around, she looked and saw nothing but open space. Frowning now, she began to move back the way she'd come.

"Tali!" Admiral Raan came around the corner, looking like she was searching for something.

"Over here Auntie Raan." Tali said as she picked up her pace. Admiral Raan looked up from her search and started walking towards Tali unhurriedly. She doesn't seem upset; I wonder why she was looking for me if not for some emergency. Tali shook her head to clear her thoughts and closed the distance to Raan.

"What are you doing way out here child? You know there's no one in this part of the ship anymore." Raan had a curious tone to her voice as she said it, as if she was judging Tali's mental stability.

"Just taking a walk Auntie Raan, thinking about my old home does leave some good memories." Tali added with a small smile.

"I suppose it does at that. Walk with me Tali." Admiral Raan started a slow walk that Tali matched as they strolled down the empty street.

"So Tali, there's a few things I wanted to talk to you about." Raan started casually.

"Um, ok." Tali replied nervously.

"I want to talk to you as your friend Tali, not an Admiral. Please calm down." Raan's reassurance worked a little as Tali felt the tightness leave her muscles.

"As I was saying Tali, I had a few questions. Most of which are in regards to your Captain." Raan said slowly.

"My Captain? Why would you-"

"It seemed to me Tali, that during your trial he was… more adamant then most that you be found innocent." Raan rode right over the top of her as she finished.

"Shepard will do anything for his crew." Tali said proudly as she remembered him yelling at the entire Admiralty board on her behalf.

"Be that as it may, it came across like he had feelings for you. Is this true?" Raan asked the question very calmly, but it hit Tali like a dreadnaught in FTL. She began to play with her hands and rock back and forth on her toes as she answered.

"I… um, well, yes but I… I'm not sure if… what I mean to say is-"

"Tali, do you love this human?" Raan asked in a voice Tali hadn't heard before, but all at once she stopped fidgeting and moving as she heard the question.

More than you could ever know.

"Yes, yes I do Auntie Raan. I Love him so much it hurts." She stated it steadily, without even a hint of a stutter. Raan looked at her for a long time, her gaze searching for a lie that wasn't there. Finally she sighed and put her hands on Tali's shoulders.

"I'm happy for you child, I see the truth in your words and it brings warmth to these old bones. But you do realize the repercussions of this choice, do you not?" Tali cocked her head in confusion but thought she might know what her aunt was talking about.

"Do you mean our inability to have children?" Tali was rewarded by a nod from Raan and she continued. "Of course I know that, but it doesn't matter to me. All I want is to be with him wherever he goes. Besides, he promised he'd build me a house on Rannoch." Tali added in with a slight giggle.

"Did he now?" Raan's eyes showed her amusement through the mask.

"Yes, though I think I'll take charge of interior designs, Shepard is terrible with colors." They laughed as they made their way back toward the shuttle bay where Tali's return shuttle was still waiting. "Auntie Raan? Would you like to come meet him? You know, informally?" Tali asked when the laughter had died down.

"Of course child, though I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of him if he's building you a house on the homeworld."

"Yes, but I would also like you to meet my other friends I met aboard the Normandy. They are some of the best in their fields."

"Now that would be interesting. But I'm not sure how long I could go for Tali, the fleet needs me, us, now more than ever."

"I know, but it would only take a few hours at most to meet everyone, and I'm sure Shepard is up by now."

"I'll think about it Tali, but I have to go now. Your uncle will be upset with me as it is for taking so long to get back. Take care, child. Keelah Se'lai."

"Keelah Se'lai." Tali stepped back and let the doors close between her and Raan, then started off toward her return flight to Earth.