As gunfire and screams filled the air, Jas ran furiously to find her son. Out on the streets, she tried to get her terror-adled brain to function, as she saw the invading troops.

She recognised that emblem they wore. Cerberus? But they were a pro-humanity organisation, weren't they? So what the hell was this? Trying to take the Citadel with these Reapers bearing down on everyone? It made no sense.

She watched as they began shooting anyone they crossed. Regardless of species. So this was about more than claiming the Citadel for humanity.

She'd never make it as far as the park without defences. That's when she realised that Zaeed's apartment was on the way. She detoured slightly, avoiding the open areas as much as possible, as she made her way. The sight of innocent people being gunned down was horrendous, but she pushed on, focused on her task.

Unlocking the door, she prayed that his things would still be there. They were. Just as he'd left them. She grabbed 'Jessie' and stuffed a few heat sinks into her pockets, then ran back out.

She managed to stay out of sight all the way to the large park that was home to Rylee's favourite play area. As she ran closer she saw figures laying on the ground. Adults and children. She couldn't contain her fear any longer, and she began to sob as she searched for her baby. Each little face that stared emptily back at her, tore at her, her bottom lip bleeding from her teeth piercing the delicate skin as she bit down. She was wild with the stress. He wasn't there!

"RYLEE!" she screamed out.

"Mom?" came a little voice from inside the playground rocket which provided a tall slide and a cubby-hole, with a round window. That's where his beautiful face appeared and Jas almost collapsed in relief. Rylee slid down the slide, his model ship cradled against his chest, and ran to her as Dom followed.

Jas fell to her knees and caught her son, nearly bowled over by the impact, and wept into his shoulder.

"It looks clear now. We should head to the safe-house at the Embassy," rushed out a shaky Dom.

"No, it's too far. My apartment is closer," she supplied, gathering herself together.

Dom saw the sense and agreed. Jas reluctantly handed Rylee over to Dom and readied her rifle.

-x-

Zaeed was pacing restlessly. He could hear the sounds of war outside, and he felt like a caged animal. Except his thoughts weren't on killing, they were of protecting.

Bailey rushed in and threw a rifle and Zaeed's confiscated Omni-tool at him. He caught them without hesitation.

"What's the situation?"

"It's a damn coup, by Cerberus, would you believe? Looks like an inside job, too. Stupid bastards. Like we don't have enough to contend with already. Anyway, figured you could help."

They headed out.

"Won't you get in the shit for letting me out?"

"They don't like it, they can fire my ass. I need all hands on deck, and yours are more experienced than half of my officers put together," stated Bailey.

"I'm only interested in finding Jas and the kid," Zaeed said bluntly.

"Sure, but I figured you'd kill a whole lot of Cerberus on the way."

"Hell, yeah."

"Then that's enough for me. Good luck out there." Bailey sent across his Omni data to Zaeed so he could contact him, and they parted ways.

-x-

Zaeed ran through Osoba's home, searching, ignoring the bodies. None were her. He found the room they slept in, her bag that had contained their meagre belongings, sat on the floor at the end of the bed. He could see the evidence of both of them in the room, but they weren't there. Where could they be? He tried to think like her. She'd get her son to safety.

The panic room.

He hustled along the corridors taking out threats on the way. He was running out of heat sinks. He didn't like it, but he needed to stop at his place. Besides, his own weapons would be far more effective than the standard-issue gun he'd been given. Jessie would put down these bastards with glee.

-x-

Zaeed noted his room was unlocked and went in with his gun raised. No interlopers, but he swore when he saw that 'Jessie' was missing. He grabbed his other rifle, and his sniper rifle, and loaded up with the remaining heat sinks.

Heading over to Jas' apartment, he prayed that they'd made it there.

-x-

The journey back was a fraught one. Jas felt like she was on the verge of a heart attack the whole way. The rifle cut through the attackers who intercepted them, like they were made of paper. She fought down the bile that rose in her throat at the lives she had taken. The knowledge that if she hesitated, her son would die, kept her going.

-x-

Zaeed barrelled into Jas' apartment and immediately saw the metal door wasn't barricading the entrance to Rylee's room. He cursed, his heartbeat quickening. They hadn't made it.

He went to the balcony to survey the carnage around him. On the ground a short distance away, he caught sight of a figure, and his breath hitched. He withdrew his sniper rifle and got a closer look.

Jas. And she had 'Jessie' in her hands. Clever girl. Behind her was Osoba with Rylee in his arms.

Zaeed's vision was momentarily obscured as something passed over his line of sight. Lowering the rifle, his gut twisted nastily as he fixed on the Cerberus shuttle which had landed just yards from Jas' position. The trees obscured the threats. He cursed. He'd only get a clear shot if they got up close to Jas.

-x-

Jas watched in horror as four figures stepped out in front of her.

She took two out with a series of headshots. The third had ducked and taken cover, but the fourth, a female, was nowhere in sight.

Jas searched desperately around, but there was no sign. The third man was popping up to fire, and Jas waited until he stopped his assault to reload, then leaned out quickly and fired before the man had gotten back into cover. He went down, but before Jas could go back to searching for the last figure, the woman appeared right beside her and spun a kick that knocked Jas to the ground, 'Jessie' flying from her hands as she impacted.

She was aware of Rylee shouting out for her, but all she could see was the long blade that sliced through the air towards her. A shot rang out and the woman's head jerked back, her body wavering, then collapsing at Jas' feet.

She scrambled up and grabbed 'Jessie', Rylee flying at her. Hugging him in reassurance that she was okay, she looked for her saviour. She could see the shape of a man on her own balcony, and as he lowered his gun, she gasped, her heart lifting. She'd recognise that distinctive armour anywhere. Add to that the dark patterns that adorned his right arm and neck, and she knew it was Zaeed.

Taking Rylee by the hand, she ran for her building. Once inside, she hit the call button for the elevator, and waited impatiently.

Zaeed flew into the lift, just as it began to close, the ride down taking way too long. The door slid open, and instantly, Jas was in his arms. For the first time since he'd been released, he took a deep breath, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

Something wrapped itself around his leg, and Zaeed looked down to see Rylee beaming up at him.

"You okay, kid?" Zaeed ran his hand over the boy's head, in a way that had become second nature.

"Uh huh! Mom was really cool! She killed lots of the bad men!"

Zaeed looked at her. The stress of their fight to get here was evident on her lovely face. He placed a hand at the side of her head, his thumb caressing her cheek, in a wordless assurance that she had nothing more to worry about because he was there. "You did good, Jas," he praised. He meant it. Few civilians could handle a situation like that without breaking down, though she looked on the edge of it.

Jas just shook her head, and buried her head in his chest.

Osoba joined them inside the elevator, his eyes never leaving Zaeed as he pushed the button that would take them up to her apartment. Zaeed stared right back, in unspoken challenge, and Osoba looked away. Zaeed smirked. Goddamned lightweight. Osoba had done nothing to protect them and the man knew it. Zaeed happily noted the bruising from his punch on Osoba's face. Shame the man could still talk, but that was the downside of all the amazing medical advances, he supposed.

"Was it you who saved mommy!?" asked a thrilled Rylee, still attached to his leg.

Zaeed nodded, then showed him. "Sniper rifle. Handy to have when you don't have time to close the distan-"

"-Does my son need to know that, Massani!? He's a child for Christ's sake!" Osoba interrupted him with disgust. "Rylee, come here," he demanded.

Rylee shook his head and tightened his hold on Zaeed.

Osoba glared at Zaeed before turning his attention to Jas. "This is what you've been subjecting our son to, Jasmyn."

"Oh, shut up, Dom," snapped Jas, and Zaeed had to stifle a laugh as the ambassador stood there open-mouthed.

A ping signalled their arrival and Zaeed readied his weapon, prepared for anything. Jas pulled Rylee off Zaeed's leg and held his hand, 'Jessie' still gripped in the other, though they stayed behind Zaeed until they were in her apartment.

Inside Rylee's room, Osoba activated the panic room door, while Zaeed messaged Bailey for an update.

"I don't know how you got out, Massani, but when this is over, you're going straight back there," warned Osoba.

"Dom! He saved my life!"

Osoba just looked at her, his gaze wandering over the way her whole body angled towards the mercenary. Zaeed saw it and placed a possessive hand at the base of her spine to nudge her closer, as he stared back at Osoba. Her hand rested on his chest in response and she followed his eyes to Dom, and sighed.

"Really? You two are going to have a pissing contest? Now!?" she said incredulously.

"What's a 'pissing' contest? Can I do it too?" piped up a little voice.

Zaeed burst out laughing, whilst Osoba looked horrified. Jas was stuck somewhere between the two reactions, finally giving in to the amusing side. She bent to Rylee.

"That was a naughty word, so don't repeat it."

"I know lots, now!" informed Rylee, with glee, and while Zaeed continued to find that funny, Dom cursed under his breath.

Zaeed's Omni bleeped. It was a response from Bailey. Shepard and his team had arrived on the scene and had subsequently ended the coup. A handy man to have around. Bailey was regrouping his officers and they were making sweeps through the areas reached by Cerberus, to clear out any remaining intruders. Bailey himself, would be leading the team heading in their direction, so they were to hold tight until they got there.

Zaeed relayed the information..

"Thank God!" Dom exhaled.

"I took my ship with me, Zaeed! It protected me! Before mommy came. The bad men shot at me and it hit right here, when I was holding it like this!" Rylee clutched the ship in front of his chest, like he'd done when he'd come down the slide in the park, and Jas was horrified to see the hole carved halfway into the model, dead centre. She stared at Dom who paled at the realisation that his son would have died right in front of him if not for the toy ship.

"Must be your lucky day, kid!" Zaeed replied lightly, though even he was unsettled by it.

"I think it's because you gave it to me!" gushed Rylee, hugging the ship tighter.

Jas couldn't find any words for what her son had just exclaimed, and she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

Zaeed wouldn't admit it, but his insides were in turmoil.

The door slid open and Bailey stood there, relieved to see them all in one piece.

"Ambassador," Bailey acknowledged.

"Look, Bailey! I got shot!" declared Rylee happily, as he showed the ship to him.

Bailey looked at all the adults in the room before replying weakly, "Wow, would you look at that! Good thing you had it with you, huh?"

Rylee nodded seriously in agreement.

Osoba strode up to Bailey, his face like thunder. "I'll overlook the fact that a criminal was released from his cell, but I want him re-arrested immediately."

"Dom, please. Can't you let it go, just this once? I'd be dead if Zaeed hadn't been there," Jas begged.

Osoba paced the room in thought, the silence deafening as everyone waited for his final decision. "You know, you're right. Given the turn of events, I'll drop the charges."

Jas gave a sigh of relief, and turned to smile at Zaeed, but he was fixed on Dom.

Zaeed knew that it wouldn't be as clear cut as that, and he waited for the 'but'.

"But….we'll be leaving," announced Dom.

Jas stared at him for a moment, unsure of what she'd heard. "To go where?" she asked shakily.

"Sanctuary. I was already considering it before, but this has just made up my mind. It's a safe haven. From all this, from the Reapers."

"Sounds too good to be true," growled Zaeed. "You can't make them go with you."

"No, but that's my condition for dropping the charges." Dom pointedly looked at Jas when he said it, and she understood, only able to nod mutely.

"Good, then let's get you two home," finished Osoba with a smile.

Zaeed watched Jas try to give him a reassuring look as she and Rylee followed Osoba out. She failed. He wouldn't stand for it.

-x-

Zaeed was waiting for them at the docking bay, after Bailey had informed him of their departure time.

Jas' eyes brightened as she saw him. That's the way they should always be, he thought, as he gave her a heated look.

"Zaeed! Are you coming too!?" asked a delighted Rylee. Osoba placed a hand on the boy's shoulder to prevent him from running forward, and Rylee peered up at him with a frown before looking sadly at Zaeed, hugging his ship.

"Unfortunately, there's no more room, Rylee," explained Osoba. "Come on, let's go get our seats while mommy says goodbye." Osoba emphasised the last word as he looked over at Jas. Rylee waved over his shoulder at Zaeed, as he was led through the airlock. Zaeed would have happily started a fight to stop it all from happening, but Osoba had officers watching over their departure. Getting killed wasn't going to help them.

"Dom's had your name placed on the 'watch' list. You won't be able to get passage off the Citadel."

She activated her Omni-tool and sent something to his. "But the lockdown on my ship will end soon, and Dom won't be here to reinstate it again. The ship's yours."

Looking at his Omni he saw she'd given him her codes. He pulled her into him, and she yielded instantly. Bringing his head close to hers, his hand sinking into her rich curls and clasping her nape, he stared straight into those jade eyes. He still found it hard to believe that she would sacrifice herself for him, but he realised he would do the same for her.

"You don't have to go."

"Yes, I do. You heard him. It's the only reason you're standing here now, instead of some cell."

"But you don't have to do this, not to protect me," he insisted.

Jas ran her hand gently, lovingly, along his scarred face. "Yes, I do. Because I love you, Zaeed Massani."

Zaeed was floored by her words, and he gripped her tighter, his nose and forehead pressed against hers. "I'll be coming for you. Both of you. Not even those damned Reapers will stop me." His voice rumbled low in his throat, and she shivered.

Zaeed wanted her so badly, but all he could do was kiss her, so he gave her everything he had as his lips met hers. Jas was breathless by the time he broke the kiss.

"Damn it, Zaeed….. You'd better hurry, after kissing me like that, " she warned, her toes tingling from his touch.

Zaeed gave a heated chuckle before he had to force himself to release her. He let his fingers linger for as long as possible.

Jas walked to the airlock, giving him one last look before the hatch closed, and she moved onto the ship that would take her away from him.

He watched from the viewing gallery as the ship left the Citadel, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn't right.