Chapter 21

The Night Before

The trip back was quick enough.

By the time Garrus got back to the apartment it was just in time for dinner. Gaius had returned from Decius's place full of chatter about his day.

Before Garrus had even opened the door, he could hear the little boy's voice chirping.

"...and then Decius showed me how to fly the small ship better. He says that if I behave myself he will take me to see the docking control centre. He says you can see almost everything from there!"

Shepard was chuckling to herself while Gaius bounced around her in the kitchen. She looked up from what she was chopping as Garrus walked in before she quickly looked back down.

"Hey Garrus," she greeted.

"Hi Daddy!"

Gaius barreled around the central island and ran up to him. He stopped a short distance from Garrus and pointed excitedly at the coffee table.

"You should see the card I made! Come take a look."

Before he could run away, Garrus caught his son and lifted him up.

"Can I get a hug first?"

Gaius looked at him confused. "Sure!" he chirped before the boy flung his arms around his father's neck.

Garrus let out a sigh and held Gaius close to him. He looked over the tiny fringe to see Shepard looking at him concerned. He gave a small smile that she reciprocated.

He set Gaius down onto his feet and let the child lead him to the table. A sheet of paper had been folded up to allow it to stand. One face of it had a very colourful drawing. Garrus held it in front of him and could just make out, from all the vibrant colours, three figures. One of him, one of Shepard with her red hair and a little figure that must be Gaius.

"It is very good."

The boy bounced up and down on his tip-talons. "Really?"

"Yes. It is a lovely picture."

"And I love it!" chuckled Shepard from the kitchen. Gaius beamed and flushed cyan. Garrus put the card carefully down on the table.

"Maybe you can make me some pictures of us all for my office on Palaven. Think you can do that for me?"

"Sure! I'll start now!"

Garrus scratched behind the boy's ear canal and left him to his work on the table.

He strolled up to where Shepard was leaning against a kitchen counter while reading some cooking instructions on her omnitool.

"You need some help?"

She smiled at him. "I wouldn't say no. The levo food I have already finished. Enough for me and some for the small guy too. Dextro is always that bit harder for me to get right."

He nodded and stood beside her. Garrus looked down and reached out with his hand to touch her waist. Shepard stilled before she turned her gaze to where his hand slowly stroked her side.

"Garrus... you shouldn't."

He nuzzled the side of her head, "We need to talk. In private preferably."

"You really need to stop that."

"If you wanted me to stop then you are more than capable of making me."

"I know that."

"So why don't you?"

He felt her shiver. "You know the answer to that, Garrus. Don't make me say it."

"Ahh. So you do want me. That is nice to know."

Shepard stepped away from him and started to roughly drag ingredients from the cabinets. He took hold of her arm with the omnitool still active on it. Garrus quickly read the screen before he released her arm and started to take some more things out of the cupboards. Shepard stopped and stared at him.

"Garrus?"

"Yeah?"

"... nothing. Its nothing."

The turian dragged out a pot from a cupboard near her before he quickly kissed her cheek. Shepard went almost as red as her hair.

Garrus grinned before he went back to what he had been doing.

After their meal, Gaius lay across the couch with his legs over his mother's lap.

Shepard was checking how his plates were growing. Gaius had become prone to painful ingrowing plate segments near his ankles.

"Heeheehee! That tickles!"

"I know. One more ankle to check then you are free."

Garrus watched amused as his son squirmed and laughed while Shepard focused on the tiny ankle of his right leg.

"Oh dear. We might have to make another call to Dr. Mareon."

"No!" came her son's response.

"I know you don't like doctor's visits but there is a lot of irritation around this plate. We should get it looked at before it turns into something worse."

"I don't want to! Don't make me go!"

"Gaius, this is not a democracy. You don't get a vote in this."

The little boy sat grumpily on the couch. "You are mean!"

Shepard laughed, "I guess I am. I think it can wait until after tomorrow however."

The little face scrunched up.

Garrus chuckled. "You know, tomorrow is a big day for you."

The little boy snorted.

"Come on, Gaius. No need to sulk because you aren't getting your own way. Can't have you in a bad mood on your sixth birthday."

A few hours later, Gaius had passed out on the couch while curled up where he had hidden moodily among the cushions.

Garrus lifted him up carefully and put him to bed with little fuss from the child. When he returned, he took the now free seat next to Shepard.

He put his hand on her knee.

"Garrus..."

"Look, I am not going to push you. I know you are feeling guilty about us, about Mark..."

"And Perdita."

Garrus frowned. "You shouldn't feel anything over Perdita."

"Hard not to. I mean technically..."

"Technically you are doing nothing wrong to her. I told you that we... you know."

Shepard stared at him, her brow furrowed.

"That doesn't make it right."

Garrus leaned forward and kissed her softly.

She pulled back quickly and Garrus had to be content with her allowing him to gently stroke her cheek.

"Maybe tonight is not the best time to talk about this. I am looking into a couple of things so I would like you to keep away from Mark for a couple of days."

"What? Garrus, what are you doing?"

"Just let me do what I need to and I promise I will have some news for you soon."

"Garrus, if you are doing anything that involves Mark Jones I will not be pleased. Leave him alone. He has done nothing wrong except care for me. I mean I should have guessed tha..."

The turian put up a hand to interrupt her rant.

"I know. Just do me this one favour."

Shepard got up off the couch and rubbed her face warily.

"I am going to bed."

"Shepard... promise me."

"Good night, Garrus."

Shepard padded away from the couch where Garrus sat quietly watching her leave.