Sorry this took so long to get out. This chapter stirred up some unexpected real life feels that were hard to shake. So as a result, this chapter was very difficult for me to write. I hope you enjoy it though. It's really just a bit of fluff.

Part 6c: "Postlude"

"Perfection" was not a word Shepard was used to using. At her core, she was a soldier, a leader, and a diplomat. As such, experience had taught her perfection was something never to be considered attainable, for fear of gross disappointment. One could strive for it of course; reach out their arms to grasp that elusive unicorn of flawlessness, only to ultimately content themselves with something merely pleasant, or satisfactory. But here, in this quiet moment of uninterrupted peace, Shepard was starting to believe those previous assumptions were all a lie. Perfection may still have been a rare and precious thing, but it was certainly not impossible.

Partially reclined in the narrow hospital bed, Shepard cuddled her new daughter close, watching intently as the baby suckled at her breast. Squeezed into the space between her body and the bed's side bar, Ashton lay sound asleep; head of messy dark curls pillowed against her thigh.

Not two feet away, Kaidan was sprawled in the room's tiny arm chair. His long legs were stretched out in front of him, arms folded neatly on his belly. A bit of drool was leaking out the corner of his mouth, as his head lay at an awkward angle on top of the back cushion. Shepard smiled at the little breathy snores escaping her husband's mouth as he slept. It had certainly been a long thirty-six hours for all of them.

Finishing her meal, the newborn pulled away from her mother's breast and stretched her tiny lips into a giant yawn. Shepard covered herself back up with the hospital gown and gently turned the baby upright. She patted a steady rhythm against her little swaddled back and then, not for the first time over the past few hours, examined every detail of her new daughter's delicate features.

For the most part she looked much like any other human newborn: tiny, button nose; pink cupid's bow lips; cloudy gray-blue eyes. However, there was something about the curve of her little jaw and the shape of her eye sockets that was startlingly familiar. Then, of course there was the fluff of shockingly blonde hair swirling across the baby's scalp and peeking out of the tiny pink hat the nurses had given her. Kaidan had balked a bit upon first seeing it; surprised they'd produced a child with such a rare hair color, even despite Shepard's own fairly unique, light ginger locks. However, the former commander never even batted an eye at the sight, knowing immediately where their little girl had acquired her looks.

Shepard didn't think about her mother very often, determined to live in the present, rather than dwelling in the past. Her death and the deaths of the rest of her family had been sudden and horrible, but there were many years separating the frightened girl she used to be and the woman holding her own children in this hospital bed. Regardless, there was no denying who her daughter resembled. Instead of sorrow though, the similarities just added to the counselor's joy.

Suddenly, Shepard had an acute desire to do something she hadn't indulged in since she was a child herself. Maybe it was due to the exhaustion she felt, or the overwhelming relief that her family had emerged from the past twenty-four hours unscathed. It was definitely in part because of her newfound ability to once again look into her mother's eyes, miniaturized as they were on her daughter's tiny face. Quickly glancing towards her husband to reassure herself he was still asleep, she gave into the urge; recalling a long forgotten lullaby her mom used to sing, and hoping against hope she might just be in the right key.

"They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade."

Shepard's daughter stared up at her in awe, giving the councilor the confidence she needed to continue, despite her distinct lack of musical talent. Running her free hand through Ashton's dark curls to include him in the blessing, Shepard continued her mother's lullaby.

"How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough?
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.

Just as she was finishing the last note, a gentle tap on Shepard's shoulder caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. She turned quickly to the side, suddenly on guard, only to instantly relax when she saw who'd touched her.

"Sorry," her husband murmured, blushing slightly. "I didn't mean to startle you."

The councilor's lips pulled into a tired smile. "That's alright," she told him. "I was pretty focused."

"I could tell," he chuckled, leaning in to gaze down at their daughter's angelic little face. "Oh hello," he cooed, his voice raising half an octave. "Look who decided to wake up."

"Does daddy want a turn?" Shepard asked, slightly shifting the tiny bundle towards her husband.

"Absolutely," he affirmed, letting her slip the baby into his arms. "I thought this time around wouldn't affect me as much, but I'm just as blown away as I was with Ash. God, she's beautiful," he exclaimed, breathlessly.

"She looks like my mother," Shepard said aloud for the first time. The last word caught a bit in her suddenly too dry throat.

Kaidan leaned over the bed rail to place a gentle kiss against his wife's temple. "I was going to say she looks a lot like you," he told her softly. "I guess you both have quite a bit of your moms in you."

Shepard managed a tight, grateful smile and quickly blinked back the tear that threatened to fall. "I know we'd settled on something else," she told him, "but I'd really like to name the baby after her, if that's okay. We can use our original pick as a middle name."

"Hannah Joy," Her husband mused, his lips spreading into a pleasant smile. "I think it's perfect. Of course," he added a moment later. "Now I have to live with two Shepard woman. God help me."

The councilwoman let out a bark of laughter.

"Mock me if you want, "he continued, "but all life in council space and the terminus systems will weep in sympathy for me, when they hear the news. It's a good thing no one gets stomach ulcers anymore, or my gut would be riddled with holes by the time she's ten."

"Well for one," Shepard counted out on her fingers, "She's not a Shepard; she's an Alenko." That was something they'd decided very early on with Ash. Their children would be in the public eye quite enough. They didn't need the added attention her famous name would give them. "And for two," she continued, "I'm pretty sure you think we're worth the trouble."

"You got me on that one," he agreed, once more turning his attention to the baby in his arms. "And look how special you are?" he addressed their daughter, once more using the higher version of his voice. "Your mom and I have been through some pretty serious stuff together and she's never once sung for me. How'd you pull that one off, huh?"

"Ugh," Shepard grimaced, feeling her face grow hot. "I really hoped you hadn't heard that."

Kaidan let out a hearty chuckle. "It was beautiful," he said, beaming from ear to ear. "You give yourself far too little credit."

"Right," she deadpanned, "because you actually enjoy listening to Krogan throat singing."

He snorted out another quick laugh. "It wasn't that bad," he insisted, "But even if it had been, I still would have enjoyed every note. There are certain sides to the infamous Commander Shepard that only I get to see."

Still frowning, she retorted, "Let's keep it that way, okay?"

Kaidan smirked playfully. "Is that an order, Madam Councilor?"

"If it has to be, Spectre Alenko." she quipped. "And make up your mind. Am I your Councilor, or your Commander? I seem to remember us both retiring from the Alliance a few years back."

Tucking their precious daughter securely into the crook of one arm, Kaidan reached for his wife's hand and intertwined their fingers. "You are both, and everything," he said. "And to me exclusively," he kissed her fingertips, "you are the love of my life and the mother of our two amazing children."

Shepard rested her head against her husband's shoulder and closed her eyes, overwhelmed with happiness. That lasted about thirty seconds.

"And now," Kaidan continued, his next words setting her teeth on edge, "I really want you to finish singing that lullaby."

"In which universe exactly," Shepard asked, gesturing towards the ceiling, "do you expect that spectacular event to happen?"

"Please, Love," he drawled, flashing the most pathetic set of puppy eyes she'd ever seen.

"Uh uh," she stood firm. "You're the singer in this family, not me."

Kaidan pouted playfully. "But, I really want to know how the song ends."

A great, heaving sight escaped her mouth. To her horror, she felt herself giving in. "You promise you won't laugh?"

Kaidan placed their joined hands over his heart and attempted his most sincere expression. "Scouts honor," he vowed.

"Fine," she grumbled. "Give me back the baby." Kaidan slid the infant into her arms without argument. She stared down at the tiny, angelic face and once again felt the calming bliss that had overcome her earlier. Reaching down to their son, who was still dead asleep against her thigh, she raked her fingers through his silky curls. This is what contentment feels like, she thought and then opened her mouth to finish the second half of her mother's lullaby.

"As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful,
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade."

How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough?
Cause I'm never, never giving you up.

"Thank you," her husband breathed against her cheek as he gave her a loving kiss. "I know that took a lot for you to do."

"No kidding," she replied. "I've faced down rogue spectres, reapers, terrorists, and irritating diplomats without a problem, but ask me to sing and..." A light knock on the door interrupted their banter. "Yes?"

A handsome young drell peeked his head inside. Shepard recognized him as one of the nurses on her floor.

"I'm sorry to bother you Madam Councilor," he said with a tentative politeness, "but there's a group of people here asking to see you. They say they're friends of yours, but they seemed kind of shady. I tried to tell them visiting hours aren't for a while yet, but they insisted."

Kaidan tensed, ever the protector. "Who are they?" he asked cautiously.

"I'm not sure," the nurse continued, "but it's like a diplomatic meeting of species or something. There's a pretty battle scared Turian, a suitless quarian, an attractive young Asari, a female shaped mech, and a few humans. If you want me to send them away I can, but one of the human males absolutely huge. I'll have to call in C-Sec to help if he..."

Shepard interrupted him with a loud chuckle. "Let them in," she urged, a huge smile overcoming her face. "They're family."

Author's notes:

Please tell me what you think. I LOVE reviews!

Shepard sings "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks.

I was originally going to end the story here, but now I'm kinda feeling like writing the little crew reunion in the hospital room. Does anyone want to read that? I also have a couple of outtakes to post at some point One of them is finished and one is mostly done.