Title: The miss-adventures of Kaidan Alenko – Chapter Three
Author: DinkyMew
Game: Mass Effect (3+)
Disclaimer: Bioware own all characters and content related to the Mass Effect franchise. Abigail Shepard is my own creation inspired by the character of Jane Shepard, created by Bioware. Any original characters contained herein are my own creations and are not necessarily affiliated with Bioware
Kaidan
I wedge myself onto one of the wooden chairs at the kitchen table and glance over the breakfast spread laid out before me. Beside me, in 'her' chair Ashley is tucking into a bowl of cereal – chocolate of some sort – and I consider joining her in her choice just before Abigail turns from the stove with a fresh batch of pancakes on a serving plate.
My stomach growls angrily at the sight of them and I smile, taking the plate gently and setting it amongst the other breakfast paraphernalia; the fruit and the milk and juice and the plastic containers of different cereals.
She takes her seat across from me silently and I watch her from the edges of my eyes as I serve myself a couple of those hot pancakes. She looks better – last week had been a nightmare from the spot bleeding to the delivery of our son, but she is starting to look like she has some colour to her face once again.
"Is nana coming today?" Ashley asks her mouth full of cereal and I smile, pouring a healthy dollop of syrup on my pancakes before I tuck into it with a fork.
"She is." I say quietly "You're going to stay with nana. Just for a little while. Mummy and daddy have some work to do – but we'll be back little princess." I glance to Abigail who is pushing cereal around her bowl silently.
"Can I take my bike?" She asks, her dark head of curls turning to her mother and Abigail smiles.
"Absolutely." She says, pushing her bowl away from her "We'll get it out the garage before you go."
She looks back to me, her large blue eyes glittering with mischief as she leans toward me conspiring "Mummy's a soldier again." She giggles "Her fat tummy is gone."
The pancake sticks in my throat and I choke, slamming a fist into my chest as I glance to Abigail. She's still smiling, but I can see it is pained now, can see the happiness falter in her eyes as she glances away.
"Come on." She says, getting to her feet "Let's go and get your case together."
Ashley looks at me, confused almost as to what she's done wrong and I smile reassuringly at her. She hops off her chair, padding to me still in her pyjamas and climbs onto my knee, her fingers immediately dipping into the syrup on my plate and slipping into her mouth one by one.
Shepard rolls her eyes, leaving us to go and collect Ashley's suitcase from her bedroom.
"You know. It's not nice to call people fat." I say gently "You don't want to hurt mummy's feelings do you?"
Ashley considers this a long moment, her tongue licking a wobbly line up her finger "No." She says at last, giving me that cheeky toothless grin.
I kiss her temple, bouncing my knee under her as I tuck the last of the pancake into my mouth and reach for another. She squeals with delight, her hands slamming on the table-top as she raises a fist into the air.
"Normandy go!" She cries, and I whip my hands under her arms, tickling her ribs as she crashes back against me in fits of giggles. As her laughter dies down I set her back on the floor.
"Go help your mummy." I say gently "I'll be through once I clear this up Princess."
She glances over her shoulder at me and for a moment I swear she looks so much older than her meagre five years "I'm not a princess." She scolds, frowning at me "I'm a soldier."
Abigail
I slam the car boot closed, turning just in time to be scooped into strong arms. Kaidan's mother is fierce, I've always thought that – but I can feel it now as she crushes me against her.
"You take care of yourself Abby." She whispers and I nod, drawing strength from her words as she pulls back from me, cupping my face with one soft, doughy hand. "When it's meant to be it will be." She adds and I feel my stomach flip flop painfully as that old, painted smile creeps over my mouth.
She turns to Kaidan who has been waiting patiently on the sidewalk the whole time, gathering him in the same hug only she is much smaller than her son, probably the same height as me, and so it doesn't seem to be as overpowering. As she backs away from him she pats his face affectionately, shaking her head.
"Ai." She sighs "You kids." She gives him a knowing smile and turns to the flightcar where Ashley is frantically waving from the back seat. "Get sat down!" She complains with a smile "Mon dieu – she will be the death of me yet."
I press my hand to the glass over Ashley's, and she grins openly at me, her blue eyes shining. I hear Kaidan come up behind me, his footsteps heavy on the sidewalk as he wraps an arm around my waist gently blowing her a kiss.
"You be good." I say, my voice cracking as I try to keep it together – I hate saying goodbye to her, even though I know she will be with Kaidan's mother. I know she will be safe.
"Come back safe." Kaidan's mother says, dipping into the driver's seat and a moment later the engine sputters to life forcing us to take a cautious step back. I watch as the flightcar takes off, my life inside it and I feel that old pull of separation make me ache.
"It'll be ok." Kaidan says behind me and I nod. He moves to my side, kissing my forehead gently "We should get ready. We need to be awake for 0500 hours tomorrow."
I glance at the darkening sky, wondering what it is that waits for us up there.
I can't sleep. Typical.
I've run over everything I think I need to, but the truth is until we are debriefed tomorrow we don't really know what we are walking in to. I have no idea what their plans are for us, and I worry they will ask too much. I worry I won't be able to say no.
I want to scream.
I don't have a death wish; not necessarily – and I love Kaidan and Ashley too much to do that to them.
But I've stopped doing this world any real good.
I step into the shower, the frosted glass surround slick with condensation as I step under the hot water and rake my hands through my hair. It's hot and comforting and I can lose myself for a moment or two as I shampoo, but it never lasts. As though my feet are weighed down I get dragged back to the mission ahead – to the implications – too many scenarios to make any predictions.
There is a tap – a knock – on the glass and I open my eyes, flicking soap and shampoo from my face as I clear my throat.
"I'll just be a minute." I say, and I can see Kaidan's shadow on the other side of the glass, his arm leaning against the pane.
"Couldn't sleep?" He asks and I rinse my hair.
"You?" I ask him, closing my eyes as I step back under the hot spray. He doesn't answer me and for a moment I think he has left opening my mouth to catch some water. It stops abruptly, shadows dancing against my closed lids and I open my eyes to see Kaidan in front of me, his jogging bottoms soaked through.
The spray cascades down his bare chest, over sculpted muscle and taut skin, over my name – still stamped over his heart – the heart I have broken too many times to count and still it beats for me.
I want to scream.
There is awkwardness in here with us, tense and overpowering barriers that have been erected by grief and by loss – barriers that shouldn't be there, barriers that I want to wash away with the soap from my hair so I can feel Kaidan again – know him like I used to.
His hand comes to my face, rough thumb running over my lips as he takes a cautious step toward me. The shock of his touch makes my breath stutter in my chest, my heart already hammering against my ribs as I watch his dark eyes. There is something there in them, dark and intense and warming.
I want to scream.
"Kaidan?" I ask him, but my voice breaks; under the intensity of his gaze I feel myself bending.
He doesn't say anything, just leans into me, his lips coaxing mine open gently and I close my eyes again as he kisses me.
Then he is gone, I feel the light on the backs of my eyes once more, but his hands are still heavy on my hips. I feel breath on my skin, at my ribcage, soft lips tracing the curves and planes of my body.
I feed my fingers into his hair, focusing on how it feels as it curls around my fingers wet, shutting everything else out. He stops at my navel, I feel his lips run the length of my pubic bone, his tongue tracing the scar on the rise of my hip gently, the sensation stirring old feelings in me that begin low in my gut and spread into my chest with each heavy heartbeat.
His fingers on my lower back dig into flesh, raking over my behind as he coaxes one leg up and over his shoulder.
The first touch of his tongue draws an involuntary hiss from me as I tremble against him; without having to summon them I feel the sudden rush of static over my skin and when I open my eyes I can see the azure hue dancing over me.
On his knees in front of me Kaidan groans against me, and I crush my eyes closed – one arm snaking up to hold onto the showerhead as stars begin to float in and out of my vision. He breaks away, the spray of the shower suddenly incredibly hot as he blows cold air on me before his mouth comes back with vigour – his tongue rolling just in the right place and…
Kaidan…
I suck in a breath, low and painfully short as he gets back to his feet, his mouth coming to mine hungrily and I cling to him, wanting him against me, wanting him to break these barriers and chains we've built up over time.
"I love you." He whispers and I feel my eyes fill with tears as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. My legs go from under me, and I'm falling, tensing before I realise he has simply scooped me up in his arms and I lean my head on his shoulder, my fingers tracing the line of his Alliance tattoo on his back.
So much history there, all of it etched into our skin just as visible as that black tattoo on him.
He lays me on the bed, still wet and I scoot back as he kneels between my legs, his wet jogging bottoms cold against my skin as he dips his head, pressing wet, sucking kisses to my throat.
I breathe, but it comes as more of a gasp for air, and I feel his mouth curve into a smile against me – I've been asleep for so long and he knows he is waking me up – I can feel it stir in my blood as his tongue swirls around an aching nipple, his rough skin brushing my own as his biotics hum to life, blue tendrils dancing over his shoulders wildly.
I place my hands there and they lick at me like flames, twirling around my hands and fingers as though they are an extension of him, pulling me closer. He sinks against me, heavy and damp and real on top of me as he smiles, that blue fire in his eyes making me shudder.
"I've missed you so much." He says gently and I feel tears slide down past my temples as he kisses me again, his hips pressing against my own as he slides into me.
I let go.
It's like hanging onto a cliff edge, sometimes you think you have a good grip and everything will be fine – but what you don't realise is you can't hang on there forever, sooner or later you are going to fall.
I want to scream.
The crackling static of our energy fills my ears alongside Kaidan's soft moans, if I open my eyes I can see the fibres of our biotics as they twirl and dance and move together; but I can feel so much more.
I can feel Kaidan inside me, with each gentle movement, each loving touch, each tender kiss and I hold him to me as I glide on that bliss – as I soar above all those hated barriers and back into his arms where I've always belonged.
He whispers my name and I cry out, that hot core of sensations building inside me. He can feel it too, dropping his pace but increasing the intensity of each inexorably strong, slow stroke.
"Stay with me." He whispers against my ear and I press the side of my face to his, I rake nails up his back, listening to the low moan it pulls from deep inside him and I'm dancing on the edge again – alive and warm and suddenly free as I draw his lobe between my teeth.
"Always." I tell him, and I see it all – everything we have been through; the close calls, the pain and heartache; the sacrifices – and I know there is only one way forward. One way out of the blackness and that is with him by my side.
I want to scream.
Kaidan…
His hand slides under my back, tipping my pelvis and the change of angle makes my head spin as each movement rocks me toward paradise. I groan, low and hungry and the static energy around us begins to hum brighter.
"Kaidan…" I cry, and his mouth covers mine as he gathers me in his arms, holding me against him, I can't breathe – the sensations cutting off my oxygen as I spiral out of control.
I stretch against him, my ribs spreading as I suck in a breath and he smiles, bringing his mouth to mine in a rush as I crash headlong into eternity.
And I do scream.
I scream so loud it sunders the quiet of our home; it draws heavy, primal noises from Kaidan as he follow me over that cliff edge and somewhere vaguely I can hear the sound of glass shattering.
As the stars begin to fade, my heart hammering against my ribs, I take a shaky breath. We lay there for a long time, kissing and stroking and holding until I feel my hips go stiff, the muscles in my thighs beginning to ache.
Gently, Kaidan lifts himself from me, his arms pulling me with him and we roll in the bed, my head coming to his shoulder as he crushes me against him.
It's then I feel a cool breeze on my skin, and I frown wondering who left the window open. Before I can check it though Kaidan chuckles softly beside me, his hand sweeping wet hair from my face.
"We broke the window." He whispers.
I smile, tracing the lettering of my name on his chest. "We mended a lot more." I say gently and he kisses the top of my head.
"I suppose when you look at it like that." He says gently "I love you Abigail."
I smile, kissing my name on his chest, feeling him tense against me as my lips stir his passion once more.
"Abby," He groans "You're going to end me." He complains and I shake my head, leaning over him as I kiss his nose gently.
"You're not going anywhere Alenko." I whisper, pressing my mouth to his once more.
Kaidan
Admiral Hackett is waiting for us when we arrive, the sun barely cresting the horizon and me half asleep on my feet as I wander through the glass doors into the Alliance Headquarters.
Sleep would have been a good idea – but as usual Shepard had other plans.
It's quiet this time of the morning and Hackett's office seems incredibly small and dark as we take our seats, waiting for him to speak. He closes the door stiffly, striding around the other side of his desk and sinking into his chair. I notice with a wry smile that stack of books is still there, maybe they are just for show.
"There has been a development." He says and I sit straighter, if only to appear more awake and focused. Beside me Shepard is putting me to shame, her blue eyes hold the Admiral's unwavering, her posture tight and alert.
"We got pinged by the Krogan." Hackett continues, rummaging through the pads on his desk as he clears his throat "The Asari have made contact with the ship in their system – one of our contacts forwarded a copy of their communications to us and it is… troubling to say the least."
He pauses as he flicks a switch on his console, the far wall suddenly illuminated with light as a vid screen popped up. There is nothing but static and white noise but as I listen I can hear a shaky breath.
"We understand your position." A female voice says, crisp and almost saddened "The Asari embassy have met and we would like to accept your offer."
"A wise decision. For you and your race." The replying voice is deep – almost too deep, like a Batarian, as though the vocal cords are incredibly short "We will contact you again soon."
The transmission ends with a click and Hackett flicks the switch to turn the vid off once more.
"What the hell was that?" Abigail asks hotly, her brow furrowed.
"We're not sure." Hackett admits "We've been unable to establish contact with the Asari since – but the Krogan did send us a wave. They have established contact with the ships and are holding a parley with the other races present to discuss terms and try to broker some kind of peace-meeting." He clears his throat stiffly "I want you and General Alenko on Tuchanka for that meeting to represent Humanity in this."
"Tuchanka?" I ask "I assume the relays are repaired then?"
Hackett nods, his eyes finding mine and holding them fiercely "They are. We still have the Normandy in dry dock, I assume there won't be any argument about taking the old ship?"
Abigail nods "Not at all Admiral." She says firmly.
"And Shepard…" Admiral Hackett adds, his fingers glancing over the screen of his console once more "Now you are being officially reinstated to the Alliance Military you should know that you are being promoted to Major." He inclines his head "I'm sorry for the poor reception, you understand we didn't have the time for a ceremony."
I glance to Abigail but her expression is indifferent as she moves her shoulders.
"Just eager to get going sir." She says honestly.
"Well, rendezvous with Urdnot Wrex on Tuchanka. Report back here once you have assessed the situation."
I get to my feet, saluting the Admiral tiredly before turning. I pause letting Abigail go first, my eyes wandering to her rear almost naturally as her hips sway against her combats lusciously.
"Tempy!" The voice is most unwelcome – as is the name and all the feelings it dregs with it, I look beyond Abigail's shoulder to see the source standing, as proud as ever, hands on the hips of his brown combats and a stupid grin on his damned handsome face.
"Hobbs?" she asks, almost disbelieving.
"Hobbs." I grumble, already feeling myself prickle as she rushes over to him and wraps her arms around him in a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Abigail asks, pulling back from him and he smiles at her, that roguish look in his eyes and I take a step toward her, my eyes glancing to her hands and spotting my wedding band still on her finger – it's reassuring. Comforting.
I look back to him with a smile this time.
"Hackett called us all in." He says, gesturing behind him with a jab of his thumb "The whole crew are here and ready to follow you back into hell."
With that he turns his eyes back to me, that smile widening as he splays his hands "You missed me." He says coyly "I don't need to ask, I know you did!"
I steel my gaze, rolling my eyes as he takes a step toward me offering his hand. I take it, stubbornly, and he pulls me into a bear hug, slapping his hand on my back vigorously and I wince as the nail marks lining my skin begin to burn again.
"Sorry I missed the wedding." He says letting me go "Nice to see you finally managed to pin her down long enough to get a ring on her finger." He grins casting a wink to Shepard that tests my patience a little, but I let it go. It's just his way.
"Thanks." I say archly "For missing it." His face drops as he takes in my words and then that grin spreads back over his features, lighting his eyes with mirth and hilarity as he chuckles at me.
"True." He says nodding "Wouldn't want Shepard calling out my name on the honeymoon." He takes a heavy, serious breath "That would be just awkward."
There is a noise as Abigail punches his arm playfully and he turns to her making a mew of an apology her way. I take it on the chin, knowing I cannot out-talk a Scotsman and so simply shrug, catching Abigail's hand in my own as Hobbs turns pointing to the door that leads out into the atrium.
"We're all out there." He says, "Give you guys a couple of minutes and then we'll see you when you join us."