The following days were full of happiness for James.
Although they were both busy with rebuilding the colony, James and Regine became inseperable. In the morning, they'd come out of Regine's house, walking to their respective areas while talking. They'd separate while James helped around in building homes for the colonists, and Regine was busy in her clinic. At lunch, James would head back to the clinic, where he'd bring her their lunch, and they would talk again as they ate, before going back to their places. When their day was over, and their work was done, they would head over to Milque's bar with the crew for a night cap, where James would engage Milque, Joker and Kaidan in a battle of Poker, and Regine would be talking with Tali and Liara, before heading back home together.
Regine flourished in James' love, and the crew liked her more for it. She smiled and laughed more often, and she showed genuine concern to her patients. She even started teaching dance lessons to Tali and Liara, and the two became her best friends on the colony. She felt happier than she felt before, and she knew that it was because of James.
Unfortunately, their month on the colony was about to end, and Kaidan reminded James of his N7 training. He looked at Regine as they talked, and the doctor merely nodded, and smiled, but he could see the sadness in her eyes. It was that sadness that made him take her that night, as slowly and as gently as he possibly could, making sure to show his love for her through his words and caresses.
On their last day on the colony, James was surprised to see that aside from the Normandy, a shuttle from Palaven, Thessia and Rannoch had arrived. He remembered that they were there to take Garrus, Liara, Javik and Tali back to their home worlds.
The Normandy crew stood in a line as Garrus, Tali, Javik and Liara left the ship, carrying crates with their belongings. They looked up wistfully at the ship, before making their way to the crew.
"I'm going to miss the old girl." Garrus said as they put their things down to shake Kaidan's hand. "I was actually considering to take the Main Battery with me to Palaven, just to decorate my room."
Kaidan laughed, "Hey, we still need her you know." He grasped the turian's hand, "It was an honor serving with you, General Vakarian."
"Likewise, Major Alenko." Garrus said, he turned to the rest of the crew, his mandibles flaring as he opened his arms, "So, who wants to say goodbye to the Space Batman?"
James and Cortez laughed as they embraced the turian manfully, before stepping back to let the others shake his hand. Tali and Liara hugged him the longest. Even Joker came forward and hugged the turian gently to not break his bones. He separated and grinned up the turian, "Hey Garrus, what did the rocket say to your face?"
" 'I love you, Garrus Vakarian.'" He said, chuckling, "Don't break a bone, Joker."
"Don't kiss any rockets, big man." Joker said, and Garrus nodded before stepping back.
"I guess this is my time to go, too." Tali said, but Regine heard a sniff under her helmet. "Damn it, this is hard."
Regine came forward and hugged the quarian tight, and she held on to the doctor. "You will do a lot of great things, Tali."
"Oh I hope so!" Tali said, "I'm going to miss you, Regine."
James blinked as the quarian used her first name, but took it all into stride, "I'm going to miss you too, Tali. Keep in touch, okay?"
The quarian nodded and looked up at James, "Take care of her, James."
James hugged Tali lightly, "You bet, Sparks."
The quarian nodded again as she opened up her arms to the engineering crew, and Liara and Javik came forward to shake Kaidan's hand. "Goodbye, Kaidan." Liara said, "We'll still contacting you, but it will not be the same as being on the same ship."
"Goodbye, Major." Javik said, bowing low to him, and Kaidan nodded back, "Maybe we should get together once in a while, you know. I'll send you guys a message so we could plan it sometime."
Liara smiled, "That would be a great idea, Kaidan." She looked at everyone, "I'm going to miss everyone."
James laughed and cupped his hands around his mouth, "Group hug!"
Regine laughed as he captured her in his arms before hugging Tali, and pretty soon the whole crew, even Garrus and Javik came forward and hugged. Adams and Ken started chanting, "NOR-MAN-DY!", with James and Cortez taking up the cry. And finally, with last hugs, friendly kisses and tears, Garrus, Tali, Liara and Javik boarded their respective shuttles. The Normandy crew raised their hands in salute as they shuttles left the atmosphere.
Finally, Kaidan lowered his hand and turned to Regine, "I guess it's our turn to go. Are you sure you won't be coming along with us, Dr. Akira?"
James looked down sadly at her before putting an arm around her shoulder. She looked up at him, smiling sadly, before turning to Kaidan. "I'm afraid not, Major. This colony needs a medical officer, and the pharmaceutical plant needs someone to make sure it doesn't make anything illegal." She held out her hand and shook Kaidan's hand. "It was an honor to serve in the Normandy, Major Alenko."
He smiled down at her, "And it was an honor having you on the ship, Doctor." He bent over a little to whisper in her ear, "Don't worry, I'll take care of James."
She grinned as he stepped back, "You do that, Major."
Gabby came forward and hugged her then, and Joker, Adams and Ken shook her hand. She smiled up at EDI and hugged her, "Take care of Joker, EDI."
The AI nodded in her shoulder, "Of course, Doctor."
Dr. Chakwas came forward and hugged her tight, "My dear girl." The elderly doctor said, "I wish you would come with us. But I know that this is what must be done."
"I'll miss you, Dr. Chakwas." Regine said, and the elderly doctor smiled sadly at her as she tucked a stray lock of hair on her protégé's ear, "I'll miss you too, my dear. I am so glad to see you smile again… you have always been like a daughter to me."
Regine's eyes welled with tears, "Thank you. I'll be here always, so please visit as often as you can."
"I'll try, my dear." Dr. Chakwas said, kissing Regine on the forehead and looking up at James, "I'll give you two some time."
The crew left to board the Normandy, and James turned her towards him. Regine's eyes started spilling tears, and he wiped them away with his thumb.
"I'm going to come back, Regine." He said as he took her hands, "I'm going to come back here. This will be my home… our home. I'll make damn sure of it."
Regine nodded, and she embraced him, her arms going around his neck. He buried his head on her shoulder, and breathed in her scent, resolving to always put gardenias near his bed to remind him of her.
"Mentí…" Regine said, and James' eyes widened when she spoke in Spanish, "Te amo, James. Me estaba mintiendo cuando dije 'no me ames'."
James looked up at her face, her lips smiling at him even though she was crying, "I did some extranet research and installed the Spanish translator." She said, tapping her earpiece, "But I'm afraid my pronunciation might not be perfect."
He growled as he bent over, kissing her roughly, her arms tight around her neck. He separated a bit as she gasped in his lips. "Te amo, mi reina." He whispered as he held her, "Cuando vuelva, me casaré contigo."
At this, Regine smiled as she kissed his mouth, his cheek and his jaw, "Sí, me gustaría eso." And James kissed her hard again at the way she spoke, and he wished he had the time to whisper more Spanish in her ear as he made love to her.
"Sorry, James… but it's time to go." Kaidan said quietly behind them.
James sighed as he straightened, "Yeah, okay."
Regine sniffed a little, before smiling up at James. She placed a hand on his cheek, giving him one last kiss, before pushing him towards Kaidan. He walked backward, watching her as she stood on that grassy knoll by the Memorial Wall, her hair and coat drifting in the wind… the most perfect woman he had ever met, before turning around and heading to the Normandy's Cargo Bay.
Kaidan stood beside him as the Normandy slowly lifted of the ground, and they clung on to the sides of the doors as James continued to watch Regine down on the ground. She mouthed, 'I love you' and James couldn't help but do the same. She nodded, understanding his lips, before smiling sadly and waving goodbye at him as they took off, the Cargo Bay doors closing.
He sighed deeply, leaning his forehead on the doors, as Kaidan patted his shoulder. "You can do this, James." He said, "You'll be done in a year, and then you'll come back."
"Yeah, I know." He said, "It's just… not easy to do."
"Yeah, I can understand that. Here." Kaidan said, and he held out a cologne bottle to James. James' brows furrowed as he took the bottle, taking a tentative whiff. It smelled exactly like Regine.
"I asked Liara to find out what her perfume was. She told me it was this… Estee Lauder." He said, "It's yours, just… don't spray it everywhere." He chuckled as he headed to the elevators.
James watched the Major go, and he headed to his cot in the Cargo Bay. He could hear Cortez, welding at the Kodiak, and he sat down in his bed, before leaning back and lying down. He turned his head to his pillow, taking a whiff to smell a hint of Regine's scent. He lifted the pillow and sprayed it with the perfume Kaidan just gave him, and he buried his head into the pillow, taking a deep breath. Finally, with a sigh, he put it back under his head and stood up to fix his the weapons in his charge.
It's going to be a long year.
Menti –I lied
Te amo – I love you
Me estaba mintiendo cuando dije 'no me ames' – I lied when I said don't love me
Cuando vuelva, me casaré contigo – When I return, I'll marry you
Sí, me gustaría eso – yes, I'd like that