Set in the "Interference" timeline - Crassus's troubles with overcoming his fears

Fear

"Thank you for coming!" Sarah breathed out as she hugged the old turian tightly.

Nimerius Crassus had barely time to put his bag on the ground when the slight human had launched herself at him.

"How are you, my dear?"

"Good. Could be better but just so damn glad you're here now!"

Sarah pulled back and allowed the turian to breathe.

"How is my grandson?"

"Good. Confused."

The turian hummed. "Vitius still not bonding?"

"Oh he's bonded to him. It's just I can see him fighting it, Nimerius. Little Nim calls out for his father and Vitius... he actively fights against going to him."

Nimerius gently placed his hands on Sarah's shoulders.

"Don't worry. We'll get this sorted. And I need to have a talk with Vitius anyway."

"Oh?"

She watched as the turian cast a critical eye over the hallway and the apartment itself.

"Over these accommodations. These cramped quarters are no place to raise a growing family. I'll have to see about having you all return home with me."

Crassus stepped off the shuttle with a pounding headache.

Their job went great although he wound up with a brutal headache following a little CQC with a very large krogan who got lucky and landed a couple of punches.

But in spite of the headache and large bruise, Crassus was quite pleased with how it all went. Good money too. Enough to hold off on another job for a few months at least.

He arrived at the apartment and stopped dead just outside the main door.

After steeling himself, Vitius finally went in.

The baby was cooing and giggling in the living room as another familiar voice laughed with him.

"What are you doing here?" Crassus barked out a little too harshly when he stepped into his living room and found his father playing with his namesake.

"Hello to you too, Vitius," Nimerius replied blandly as he held the baby close to his chest.

Nim the younger looked to his father cautiously before he chirped and reached out.

Crassus didn't move and the baby stopped. Instead he curled back to his grandfather who immediately forced his son to hold the child.

"Listen I got stuff-"

"Shut up, Vitius!" Nim snarled. "Hold your son! He needs constant physical reassurance at this age and I can clearly see you haven't been doing that from how he reacts to you. I will not see him grow up filled with insecurities because you can't get your act together. I raised you better!"

Crassus was dumbfounded at his father's outburst. He kept still while he held the baby in his arms – little Nim visibly happier at being close to his father.

"Now," Nimerius barked, "let's see about some dinner."

The following day, Sarah took her son out for a few hours while his grandfather had a long overdue talk with his own son.

"I can't say that I'm proud of what Sarah has said you have been doing."

Vitius snorted. "When have you ever been proud of me, father?"

"I've always admired your independence, Vitius. Your determination to live a life of your own choosing. Despite our disagreements, I've always respected that drive in you."

Crassus frowned. "Father, I-"

"This thing with young Nimerius. It needs to stop, Vitius. What is going on in your head?"

"I'm just being careful!"

"Of what? A child?"

Crassus sighed in exasperation. "He's not just a baby, father! He's a... spirits! I don't know what he is!"

"He's your son!"

Vitius stared at his father.

"He's your son and the son of young Sarah," Nim continued. "Whatever the future holds, that fact will never change. You must make a decision here, Vitius. Either you live in fear or you accept Nim for who he is. He can't help being born. Young Nim didn't get a choice in the matter."

Vitius sat thoughtfully as his father pressed on further.

"And let me tell you something, my son. That baby is the sweetest little creature I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. When you were his age you were a little terror. Always pushing the boundaries. Hell, you even bit your mother so hard once you made her bleed because she wouldn't let you crawl behind the sofa. Nim... he doesn't have that sort of personality. He's soft, gentle and sweet. He looks to you as though his entire life depends on your every word and yet he hesitates because how many times has he been rejected by you."

Nimerius took a seat beside his son. "You need to get your act together now. Every day you delay in facing this the more damage is done to Nim and his relationship to you. It's time to conquer your fears, Vitius. Let him show you who he is."

When Sarah returned home with the tired baby after an eventual day touring around, Vitius had made his decision.

"Hey, baby," he said to his son who immediately went into a frenzy of joy at his father's attention.

He squirmed in Vitius's hands until his father rested him against his chest. The purring from his small body was so loud that even Crassus had to laugh.

"I never realized that he liked being so close," Vitius laughed.

Sarah stood at the door next to Nimerius and watched as her partner slowly started to let go of all that fear he'd built up.

"Thank you," she whispered to him.

"No need," Nim replied quietly. "It'll take time to undo all the damage caused but the bond is there and it's strong. My son just needed a bit of tough love. I have no doubt that, given enough time, he'll be a very good father."

Sarah grinned. "I never doubted, Nimerius. Never."