Author's Note: This is a sort of new chapter. I changed some things so it may as well be a new chapter. Please enjoy and thank you for all those that are reading or re-reading.


Garrus shielded his eyes against the sun's rays. His eyes trailed over the horizon, watching the sunlight glistening off of the ocean. They had always said that they wanted to retire somewhere warm, by the beach. The sound of the waves had become calming to him, gently running up and down the coastline. That isn't to say that he went out and swam in the water. He was a bad swimmer as most Turians were. His version of "swimming" entailed a great amount of panicking on his side, flailing, and the occasional drowning. To avoid that, he would just sit at the edge of the coastline and let the water rush over his legs. That was enough for him. Every now and again, if the water was lucky enough and if he was feeling bold enough, he would end up venturing a little deeper into the water, never staying anywhere else but in the shallow parts of the ocean. This beach home was the greatest investment he had ever made. He could sit in his beach chair and feel the salty air against his plating. Looking in the shallow parts of the water, hearing voices, he smiled. The only time he would ever venture into the water would be for them.

He watched them in the water. Cai was kneeling in the water, the wet sand beneath her knees. Garrus knew she was blocking the deeper parts of the ocean. She was playing with some toys that they had gotten from the store. A squeal came from next to her and splashing. Little hands splashed in the water with the toy. Their little girl always got excited easily. Being two years old may have something to do with it too. Just as Garrus had thought, a human-turian baby was one of the most beautiful beings he had ever seen or maybe he just thought like that because it was their little girl. She had long brown hair similar now to her mother's length, had Cai's deep blue eyes which he melted at every time he looked at. Now he had two women in his life that had a complete hold on him. Her form was mostly human besides the hip bones, small claws at the end of her human-like fingers, and a small bit of cowl on her head which he knew would grow more with age, his facial markings, and Turian plating. Her plating was smooth, like a human's skin and was Cai's tone, she didn't have the flaring mandibles like he did, nor the sharp teeth. The shape of her eyes was also human, and she had lips. It amazed him that they could create something so beautiful and so perfect. Raising her had been rather difficult in terms of clothes, having to get some of them specially made. He was sure as she grew there would be more of a selection.

Garrus watched her splashing in the water, a bright smile on her face. Cai was making sure she didn't fall over, once before she had and had cried for hours. It had made his heart break. She hadn't really gotten hurt, but she had been really scared since she was barely one at the time. She was hopping in the water continuing to splash with the little ship toy that Joker had gotten her, a toy of the Normandy. Their child was spoiled beyond all belief. Every time their friends visited, Ania would receive so many presents it was like Christmas... four times a year. They had to have another room separate for just her toys. Even though Garrus had asked multiple times to calming it down a little, they had all waved him off. They weren't the ones that had to step on building blocks all the time. For a children's toy, those things hurt. Bad.

Her mind could switch gears at the drop of a hat and all of a sudden Garrus noticed Ania had turned and ran or well, maybe "bobbed" was a better word? It was more of a cross between a hop and a run. She laughed and went over to Garrus and grabbed his hand with all five of her fingers, but her hands were so small, the could only hold onto one of his fingers.

"Daddy! Daddy! Build a sandcastle with me!" Ania asked, pulling on his finger. One of her favorite past times had been playing in the sand and building sandcastles. Looking into her deep blue eyes, deeper than the ocean itself who was he to say no? She must have seen that Garrus had agreed because she took her bucket and shovel which they kept in her outside toy box. Lugging all the toys from upstairs had gotten to be a pain after a while. When she came back, she had planted herself firmly on the ground and looked at him to do the same. Slowly, Garrus had lowered himself to the sand as well. He felt like he was getting old, maybe the domestic life had taken a bit of a toll on his bones, or maybe because he was living a domestic life, he had felt all the wounds and difficulties of years of battle sinking into his bones.

The water had risen a little and he had stopped the building of the castle in order to glare at the water as if willing it to go away. He heard a huff and turned and saw that Ania had that face on. He had been on the receiving end of his daughter's lectures many times. She was hard-headed and a fireball, just like her mother. The lectures could be from anything to not paying attention, which he was sure this one was going to be, to not giving her enough of her snacks. Even though Ania did lecture him a lot, he wouldn't change anything about her.

"Mommy said it's not nice to not do something that you promised that you would." Ania lectured and pouted, patting the sandcastle with the back of her shovel. He was wrapped around her finger and he knew it, Cai knew it, all their friends knew it. Garrus could only nod her head with her oncoming lecture, apologizing. When it seemed that she was sated enough, he would apologize again and continue to build the castle. All the while, he could see Cai out of the corner of his eyes, laughing. She was covering her mouth with her hand, the glint of her wedding band shining against the sunlight. Another serene smile overtook his face. He had been so nervous to ask her to marry him, and even more so when the ceremony had actually taken place.

Their wedding had been small and intimate, just their closest friends. His hands were sweaty and he continuously had wiped them on the pants of his tuxedo, breathing in and out forcing a rhythm. Even though Joker had assured him more times than he could count, it hadn't really helped him. Every single worry had left him when he saw her in that dress. White, lacy, and beautiful. Her hair had been done in a simple bun with jewels in it. He was sure that he was going to end up passing out on the spot because he had stopped breathing. Then it had been all about them, holding hands, exchanging vows, rings, and kissing her. When they were all gathered together for the small reception they had held, Cai had dropped the bomb on all of them that she was pregnant. Garrus had choked on his wine, that explained why she hadn't been drinking recently. He was oblivious so of course, he wouldn't notice. All their friends had begun to ask her questions about the baby; how far along, were they worried about what it would look like, was it a boy or girl, and so on.

"Daddy!" The little voice made his eyes go to his daughter. Uh oh. "Mommy is pretty, but you can look later! You said you would build the castle with me." Garrus nodded and within minutes, their castle didn't look like a lump of sand anymore, but it didn't look like a castle either. He heard Cai's voice next to them and they both turned and looked at her.

"Oh, that's a wonderful castle." She complimented.

"Yeah, cause me and Daddy made it!"

The familiar sound of an incoming ship made them all turn and look up. The Normandy. Garrus put his hand against his forehead. He could already feel all the toys he'd be stepping on. The Normandy landed behind their home. Garrus was thankful for this house for another reason, they could just drop by and visit like that and Ania wouldn't run across bridges or anything to try and get to them. He watched the little girl drop her shovel and scream happily, running towards the ship where she knew her aunts and uncles, and gifts awaited her. Garrus looked at his wife who sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh boy..." Garrus commented.

"It can't be that bad."

"Do you know how many of those building block things I've stepped on?" Garrus asked as they both made their way to the front where the Normandy was waiting and their friends were already starting to get off the ship. Per usual, they all had gifts in their hand. Yeah, gifts. Plural. Garrus wished that if they were going to bring gifts that they would each stick to one, but no. He couldn't be that lucky. The presents ranged anywhere from two to ten each person. Even though he hated having to pick up all the toys and the wrapping paper after she threw it on the floor, it still made Ania happy and he wouldn't trade that for anything.

"Hey hey!" Joker called, waving at Garrus and Shepard.

"Oh my God, you're too precious!" Elunaa had said looking at the little girl. "You're growing up so fast!"

"It is a very cute child, yes. Shepard and Garrus' genes mixed very well." EDI had commented. Her complements were getting better. She could even smile now without looking weird.

"Uncle Wrex when are you gonna bring Mordin with you so we can play again?" Ania whined and pouted. As if to answer her question the little, well little for a Krogan peeked out from behind Wrex and waved at Ania. Mordin was a shy boy, odd considering Eve nor Wrex ever had shy in their vocabulary. He and Ania got along well and the boy was just as spoiled as Ania was. After all, Krogan children were extremely rare so it was understandable when Wrex worried over the boy. Still, a doting Wrex was something that was strange. Ania screamed from joy and ran over to him and hugged him tightly. Mordin's eyes went wide when she hugged him. Ania always the one to stand up to people for him and had once told Wrex to "leave him alone, Meanie!" when he was lecturing Mordin. Wrex had laughed and looked at Garrus and Cai and then at the kid.

"She's got some quads too."

"Mommy, what are quads?"

Cai's face had turned red at their daughter's question. She looked over to Wrex who had just let out a loud laugh. Her question wasn't answered. Obviously.

Garrus smiled, watching Mordin and Ania talking. Ania was boisterously using her hands as she talked, making explosion sounds and Mordin was nodding, shyly answering her. His wife, his child, and all his friends that were his family. This was his life now, and he wouldn't trade it for anything else in the galaxy.


Author's Note: So, I inadvertently made myself ship the kids. (Obviously older before some of you potentially get shook nasty). I like how this turned out and I hope you all did too. Have a great day or night wherever you are and thank you again. I also enjoyed all the changes that I made to flesh out the story to greater depths and I hope you did as well.