Three months later.
Shepard was sitting in a car, shifting uneasily.She was heading home after two weeks on active duty with the Alliance. The old house had been rebuilt and they had moved back in the month prior to her assignment. It was different, of course, but the place still held a special meaning to them and no fancy apartment on the Citadel could change that. It was harder to travel though; they needed to drive twenty minutes just to get to the closest shop, but it was their refuge from the rest of the galaxy.
They had started to appear in various events together, giving speeches and interviews, though they always found a way to confuse their listeners just for fun and got more than a few reprimands for that. It only added to their fame in the Citadel – they couldn't walk for five minutes even in the wards without someone shouting encouragements or glaring at them – it usually depended on the district. So having a house in a rather desolated place was a blessing.
The only downside was how few people they could meet. Nihlus hadn't visited or written since leaving the Citadel and she knew it worried Garrus, although he was hiding it well. Her friends hadn't come yet to see the rebuilt house either, but she had just spent a good amount of time with them so it wasn't much of a disappointment. Even Liara had disappeared – they knew she lived on the same colony since the wedding, but they last saw her just after moving in.
But right now she wasn't worried what everyone else was doing. Her thoughts were with Garrus. She had spent the long way home messaging him, planning what they'll do when she arrives, each trying to surpass the other with ideas that overwhelmed her mind with fantasies. Shepard already had paid the driver to go a speed twice what was permitted, but it was still taking too long.
When she finally got there and stepped in the house no one was waiting for her. She had expected Garrus to meet her at the front door. Shepard grinned - maybe he was in the kitchen, looking for the chocolate sauce. Suddenly two strong, familiar arms wrapped around her from behind and started to unbutton her jacket, pressing their bodies close together.
"Welcome home," he whispered and pressed his mouth to her neck.
It still amazed her how right it felt to be with him even after all these months. She had come to love everything about his body, even the things that she disliked or found strange before – his sharp teeth sent pleasant shivers over her skin when he gently nipped her, never breaking her skin or hurting her. His fringe was one of his weak spots, and stroked in the right way, could make him gasp. His hard, natural armor made an excellent support and a place to hold on. It was unbelievable that they could have sex with each other at all, not to mention how good it turned out to be. Sometimes she wondered if it was because of their differences – there was no pride or illusions, they both were eager to learn and express their feelings for each other in any way they could.
They were interrupted by a doorbell.
"Ignore," Shepard ordered, hoping their visitor would think no one was home. Garrus showed his agreement by removing her shirt.
The door was unlocked from the other side and an angry Liara marched in, stopping in her tracks when she noticed them.
"Oh, my," she said. All three of them stayed frozen for some time.
"Get out!" Shepard hissed, giving her a murderous glare.
Liara turned around, saying: "I'm so sorry, but your house is about to get attacked again."
"No offense, but I hate you so fucking much right now," she said, getting dressed.
"Please hurry up, we need to leave before they get here," the asari sounded desperate.
"Let's stay and take care of them," Garrus suggested.
"Have you forgotten how it ended the last time?" she asked. "I'm not rebuilding you another house."
They dressed quickly and while Garrus loaded armor and weapons in the back of the car, Shepard and Liara packed some food. Everything happened in such a rush they didn't speak a word to each other. When they finally sat down in the car, Liara driving, Shepard had a few question to ask.
"Where are we going?"
"A secret landing zone, I have a small ship waiting there," she answered, starting the car.
"How long till we get there?" she asked, settling closer to Garrus.
"Twenty five to thirty minutes," Liara said.
That made Shepard smile. "That will be enough," she muttered. "Does this car have that fancy, opaque glass, separating back and front seats?"
"Yes, it does. Why…" she didn't finish her question as Shepard interfered: "You should raise it up."
She did it when realized what they were planning, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of purple.
...
When the car stopped and they stepped out, it wasn't just her cheeks that were purple now – Liara's blush had spread all over her face and neck. Shepard was fastening her belt and Garrus fixed clasps on his shirt, neither looking bothered by having sex almost in front of another person.
"I can't believe you actually did that," Liara said, avoiding looking at them.
"Shouldn't have interrupted our reunion," Shepard shrugged.
"I just saved your lives," she reminded.
"Blame turians – before marrying Garrus, I wouldn't have dared to act like this," she answered, winking at him.
The ship was small – a cockpit, mess and two cabins. They quickly moved their things from the car while Liara disappeared inside. When she started the ship, Garrus and Shepard came to stand behind her.
"So you're not just an archeologist and marriage consultant, but also a pilot?" Garrus asked, suspicious.
"Hundred years is a long time, I know many things. But the ship will mostly be navigated by a VI, I just need to set a few things," she explained.
"Where's the next stop?" Shepard joined the conversation.
"There's an informant I need to meet about this group, the investigation team didn't make any progress," she answered. "Then the Citadel – you'll be the safest there."
"So you didn't catch the organizers from before after all," Shepard concluded.
"You've spoken to Anderson, I see."
"Wait, it's the same group? And you knew they were still out there?" Garrus interfered. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just… didn't want to think about Anderson or our conversation," she admitted.
"Why? Are you hiding anything else?" for the first time since they lived together, he seemed actually angry at her.
"I don't have to retell you my every conversation," she retorted.
"If it concerns us or our safety, then yes, you do," he replied.
"What I discussed with him is none of your business," Shepard spitefully refused to reveal anything.
"Fine, if that's how you want it," he turned around and left, disappearing into one of the cabins and locking it.
"Asshole," she muttered. "Way to overreact."
"Why didn't you just say it was some secret Alliance information?" Liara asked.
"Because it's not," she answered quietly. She wouldn't lie to him, not directly, but she wouldn't push her insecurities and doubts on him again. She had promised herself not to even think about it.
"I think that he's just afraid to lose you, that the Alliance might come one day and take you away," she told her just as quietly.
Shepard didn't answer, it didn't matter. If she didn't give in, he'd probably just forgive and forget, but sharing the details of the conversation would most likely lead to doubt and suspicion between them for the rest of their time together. She'd been holding on to every minute spent with him, every memory, because one day it might get taken away.
...
Their first stop was a small colony on a planet in the closest cluster. The journey wasn't long – three hours - and their argument wasn't resolved. Garrus didn't leave the cabin and Shepard didn't try to talk to him. She was sure that he wasn't at peace with the situation as much as she, but neither was ready to give in. So instead Shepard sat with Liara in silence when she wasn't venting her frustration.
The meeting was arranged at the colony's only bar. It was a salarian world and they had to travel from the docking bay by foot, but it wasn't far. They walked down the street with Liara between them, getting curious looks with every step – a human, asari and turian together must've been the weirdest company to visit their home.
Shepard's resolve not to give up was starting to break. She was never good at staying angry at those close to her for long and she really did feel guilty for not just talking it out, telling him about her doubts and trying to find a way out together. While she was thinking they arrived at the bar – probably the most shabby establishment in the whole colony. Liara stepped in first, Garrus following, but when Shepard was about to walk in the door closed right before her, she barely stopped before running into it head first. She opened it forcefully and found Garrus standing before her, arms crossed over his chest.
"Sorry, forgot you were coming too," he feigning innocence. "It must feel terrible to be left out."
All thoughts of apology flew from her mind. She wouldn't sit back and let him mock her.
"At least I got in," she retorted, shoving him aside. Liara had already taken a seat opposite a drell, apparently her contact. She was typing on her omnitool, transferring credits to his account as they sat down next to her.
"What have you learned?" she asked when the transaction was finished.
"The ones you're looking for belong to a turian organization, mostly criminal activities," the drell answered.
"We already knew that much," Shepard interfered.
"Some of us know more than the others," Garrus added, glaring at her.
"Thank you, Shepard, Garrus," Liara said, before Shepard could answer, her patience draining. "What else can you tell us?"
"They're not just after those two, but humans in general, seems like the one in charge is someone with a lot of grudge and credits," he answered. "I can also give you the location of their main base," he tapped on his omnitool and it was sent to Liara.
"That's more than I hoped for," she admitted with a smile. "Is there anything else?"
"Not for the sum you paid me," he answered, standing up and leaving.
"Great, now we can go to the Citadel and I'll get someone to look into this information," Liara looked at her companions who were looking at each other in a silent agreement.
"We're not coming to the Citadel," Shepard finally said.
"We're done running around, having someone else take care of our problems," Garrus added. "It's time we show them who they're dealing with."
"Are you crazy? We barely know anything about them, you can't just rush there blindly, especially alone!" the asari couldn't believe the absurdness of what she was hearing.
"We are thankful for all you've done, but you won't stop us," she said. "Either take us there or we'll find a way ourselves."
Liara shook her head: "This is just stupid. I should lock you up, forbid you from leaving the Citadel ever again."
"How long do you think you can keep us imprisoned?" she objected. "They proved they're serious, they will find a way to get to us no matter where you hide us. Let's take care of them while the problem hasn't escalated."
"You know how slow it will go if you ask for help officially," he added, "they may change the location a dozen times while your committee discusses the issue and you'll have to start investigating from a scratch."
Shepard could see Liara was giving up, unable to resist the pressure of their combined persuasion. She was slightly surprised at how similar she and Garrus thought, how easily they could work together towards a common goal even in the middle of an argument. They would make a great team on the battlefield, the idea of them going to the base seemed less and less crazy.
"Fine, if you want to get killed, go ahead, but officially you abducted me and my ship," she said a bit angrily and left them.
"That wasn't so hard," Shepard grinned, getting up to follow. "I guess we radiate some credibility."
"Not you. For someone who once accused me of not trusting you, you're not showing a much better example," he retorted.
Shepard stopped on her way out, took his face in her hands to make him look her in the eyes.
"Garrus, I love and trust you," that wasn't a confession, just a fact she had no problems admitting, "and I'll tell you what we spoke of if a situation where it is relevant comes, but there won't be anything gained of this conversation now. Just let it go, this one time, please."
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Fine, you're just lucky that I can't stay angry at you for long."
She smiled and released him: "I know."