Just a quick thanks to dragonlorerd6 for the feedback - and of course to everyone who's reading and following and adding this to their favorites.
The chapter title refers to the song "Long Way from Home" by The Heavy that (in my opinion at least) fits nicely.
Tongue tied on the telephone line
You got the words to help me ease up my mind
No one love me like the way that you love me so
I got to tell you from the tip of my tongue
Cause I know where I'll find you, I know just where you lie
Always deep in my heart, you're by my side
I know it's hard when I'm a long way from home
With so much pressure on my bones
I'm such a long way from home but I'll be back soon
- The Heavy, "Long Way From Home"
15th November 2192
Catherine couldn't remember the last time she had been this tired. Little sleep the night before because Nathan kept her awake, chasing Jeremy around the house the entire day while keeping her other son entertained as well when he wasn't sleeping … and Kaidan nowhere in sight. He had been called to London for the setup of a school for biotic children. Or rather: he was called to London to check if everything was happening according to the plans that had been made in Vancouver. After London, he was off to other big cities all over Europe. The trip would take up two weeks in total, at least if everything went according to plan.
It had only been two days and Catherine wanted him back. Not because she missed him. Well, of course she did, but that was not the point. She wanted him back because she needed him. Jeremy was a ball of energy, he kept running around the house all day, nearly bouncing off the walls. And Nathan had grown restless since Kaidan left. Somehow, the little boy seemed to notice that something was off.
Finally, she had gotten both of them to settle down for the night, even if she feared that the peace wouldn't last long in regard to Nathan. She had changed into one of Kaidan's sweaters for the night before going back downstairs where she grabbed a beer - one of Kaidan's lagers, the taste offering a little comfort - out of the fridge and settled down on the couch to watch a vid. Several minutes later, she made the mistake to lie down. Catherine was out cold the second her head hit the sofa cushion.
She woke up from a beeping close-by. Groaning, the first human Spectre opened her eyes to realize that the sound came from her omni-tool to alert her of an incoming call. Every colorful word she had thought of left her mind when she saw the call-ID.
"Come home. Please", she said the second she answered the call.
Kaidan chuckled. "Hey, love." He took in her appearance. Slightly mussed hair, eyes halfway closed. Confused, he looked at the time. While for him, it was early in the morning, it wasn't that late back home. "Everything okay?"
Catherine sighed. "Just tired. So fucking tired", she mumbled. "Nathan kept me up all night. I got maybe three hours of sleep – tops. And Jeremy is running around the house as if someone outfitted him with new heavy duty energy cells or he had nothing to eat but sugar."
"Tell Jer to take it easy until I get home." He dragged a hand through his hair, causing another, this time wistful, sigh to spill over his wife's lips. God, how much she wanted to run her hands through his hair right now. "You have no idea how good it is to see you and to hear your voice", he added.
She smiled. "Kaidan, it's been only a few hours since we last talked. You called before you went to bed."
Kaidan shook his head. "No. We didn't talk. Jeremy talked. And talked. And talked. You barely got three words in before I had to go. You didn't even mention the lack of sleep because you didn't get the chance to speak. Jeremy's in bed now, though, right? We won't get interrupted? I won't get another story about that toy gun Vega gave him? I mean, don't get me wrong, I adore our son, but … damn it, I wanna talk to you, too."
His words brought a smile to Catherine's face. "He's asleep. Nathan, too. Though I'm not sure it's gonna stay that way long. Not after last night. And remind me to kill James the next time I see him. I swear, that gun makes more noise than any Banshee we ever encountered while fighting the Reapers." She had really contemplated taking the energy cells out of the damned thing, but when she imagined the puppy look on Jeremy's face, she couldn't bring herself to actually go through with it. However, that wouldn't stop her to give Vega an earful the next time he decided to show up on her doorstep to give her son another instrument of torture.
"Good. So … what are you wearing?" He asked, satisfied when he heard her laughing.
"You know, that line would have been a lot more sexy and a lot less dumb if you couldn't actually see me", she informed him, still chuckling.
Kaidan smiled when he saw her lie back down. "Okay, another suggestion then. You look exhausted. So how about you go upstairs, lie down in bed and I'll talk to you until you fall asleep."
"You just want to watch while I get changed", she accused him teasingly, the words out of her mouth before she realized what she just said. Catherine fought the urge to slap her forehead. Stupid. She blamed her tired brain.
He rolled his eyes. Of course he had recognized the sweater she wore. It was one of his, a habit she had adopted after their date on the Citadel - after Kaidan had returned to the Normandy during the war. And like he always did, Kaidan felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him at the sight. He didn't know what it was, but the fact that she wore his shirt or in this case his sweater to sleep in did strange things to him. In the beginning, he thought it was just the fact that she felt so comfortable around him that she didn't think about it when she grabbed one of his shirts, way too big on her slim body. Now ... now, it was yet another sign that she was his. She'd probably call him a caveman if he uttered the words out loud, so he opted for something different. "Love, I recognize the sweater you're wearing. It's one of mine. Which means I won't get to watch you change because you already did. Pity, but a fact."
"Okay, you got me there. And you know what? I'm gonna take you up on that suggestion." She stood up and stretched her back, the move reminding Kaidan of a cat. "How is everything going in London?" she asked while she walked up the staircase.
"They really paid attention to the outlines they were given. Thank God, because that means less work for me here", he answered.
"Does that mean you can shave some time off that trip?" The hope that bubbled up inside her died when she saw him shake his head.
"Not really. There's still a lot to do." There was nothing he wanted more than to go home early, but he didn't see it happening.
She had reached the bedroom and closed the door behind her. "Damn. I really miss you", she said when she crawled under the covers.
He watched wistfully as she buried her head in his pillow, the gesture making him miss her even more. The things she did to him without even realizing it. "I miss you, too. You have no idea how much I want to hold right now." It was true. All he wanted was to wrap his arms around her and never let her go again. He was only gone for two days, but it already felt like two months.
"Not making this any easier", she remarked as she took a deep breath. The pillow still smelt like him and the sensation of feeling at home overtook her senses.
"Sorry", he said. She was right. Imagining to be able to hold her didn't help. In fact, it made things worse.
"You'll have to make it up to me when you get home", Catherine demanded.
"Gladly. I'm not letting go of you once I get the chance to hold you again", he promised, voicing his earlier thought, smiling when he saw a grin tug at the corner of her mouth.
"I can't wait", she mumbled.
Kaidan could tell that she was struggling to stay awake. Her fatigue plus the comfort of their bed combined were pulling her under. "Same here. I think that, when I get home, we need to ask my parents to babysit for a night. I need some time alone with you."
"Making plans already? I like it", she said, closing her eyes for a moment. The warmth of the bed and the pillow still carrying Kaidan's scent really made staying awake hard. The fact that his smooth, smoky voice washed over her in comforting waves didn't help, either.
"I could cook for you. Then we could curl up on the sofa with a nice fire crackling in the fireplace, drink wine, watch a vid." Yeah, saying something like that really didn't make it any easier that he couldn't be with her right now.
"Sounds good. Or we could make out on the couch like horny teenagers", she suggested, eyes still closed, a sleepy smile on her lips.
"I wasn't finished yet, but have it your way", he replied, chuckling. While he told her what else they could do, he watched as her breathing evened out. "Cathy?" he asked softly after a few minutes. She was asleep. Kaidan smiled. "Sleep well. I love you." The smile seemed to take root when he heard her mumble "Love you, too" in her sleep. The next twelve days couldn't go by fast enough.