Chapter 36

Remains Of The Day

Gaius was happily curled up on the couch.

His father had put on a movie for him to keep him occupied while Garrus and Shepard divided the food delivery up in the kitchen.

As they worked, Garrus could see Shepard becoming more upset.

"What is wrong, Jane?"

"Hmm?"

"You are clearly upset."

She stopped suddenly and rested her hands on the counter-top where she had sorted out the food cartons.

"This is not what I had planned for his birthday."

"It's not your fault..."

"Isn't it? I mean I am the one who dated the nut-job."

Garrus put his hand on her back and rubbed in soothing circles.

"Stop torturing yourself."

She stared at the food in front of her.

"And why shouldn't I. Its our son's sixth birthday and he has been through a fire fight at our home, has barely seen either of us all day, has received no presents because they are currently locked down as evidence and I couldn't even get a replacement cake for him."

Her voice started to wobble. Garrus went to hold her but she pushed him.

"No. Don't. That will only make me cry more. We still need to talk about a lot of things you know."

Garrus hummed. "Yeah. I know."

Shepard padded over to a cupboard and pulled out plates.

"Any news from your father and Atilius yet?"

"Just a message to say they are alive and would get back to us with information once they have it. Dad said he would pop into the Academy and see if he can't swing it so he could pop in and collect some things for us all."

"That would be nice," Shepard murmured softly while she put the plates out.

Garrus slipped his arms around her waist and ignored her attempts to release herself.

"Stop it, Shepard."

"Stop what?"

"Running from me."

Shepard stilled. For a moment, all they could hear was their breathing and the distant noise of the movie coupled with Gaius's giggles. Garrus pressed his mouth to the back of her neck before he slowly released her. He turned Shepard around to face him.

"Don't even dream of going backwards on me, Shepard. That is not going to happen. I know we have a lot to talk about and sort out but don't you dare start backing off now. You know how I feel the same way that I know how you feel."

Her gaze flickered over to where Gaius was watching the vid.

"One rule now then. He can't know about... us."

Garrus followed her gaze and stared at his little boy content in his own world. He nodded slowly.

"I agree. He is too young to really understand all the complications."

Shepard pushed Garrus back from her.

"Which means none of this," she said softly before she went back to work.

Garrus went back to his food and split some of it on to Gaius's plate. It was soon after joined by some of Shepard's.

Gaius got to stay up until late that night.

He seemed relatively okay from the turmoil of the day except that he was very quiet. It was when it finally came time for him to go to bed that how much it affected him emerged.

"Mommy?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I sleep beside you tonight?"

Shepard glanced over his head at Garrus who was frowning. The turian just shrugged.

"You haven't slept in my bed in a long time."

"I know. I just..." The child drifted off. Gaius leaned back on the couch and pressed his face into his mother's chest. He started nuzzling.

Shepard sighed and began to rub his back.

"I'll sleep beside you guys too."

Shepard's mouth gaped open a fraction while Gaius turned his head to look at Garrus.

"Really?"

"Sure. Unless you don't want me to..."

Gaius frowned. "You have never let me stay in your bed before."

"Well, this is different. I had a scary day."

Gaius's eyes went wide, "So did I!"

"How about we all spend tonight in the same bed and maybe we won't have nightmares. But tomorrow night means back to your own."

Gaius nodded fiercely before he ran off to borrow some of Tiberius's pyjamas. While he was gone, Shepard muttered, "Really, Garrus? A big family sleep in?"

He grinned. "Why not?"

Gaius snored to Garrus's amusement.

Shepard sat up reading a datapad on one side of the bed while Garrus was lying on his side on the other. Gaius was fast asleep in the middle. His father was watching the boy's eyelids flicker as he dreamed while chuckling at the strange squeaking snore Gaius made.

"I wonder what he dreams about..."

Shepard put down what she was reading and slipped below the covers. She turned on her side to face Garrus and the sleeping Gaius.

"I don't know. Maybe little boy dreams of playing games and being a hero."

"Hmm. Has he had any more nightmares recently?"

"Not for a while. The night lights help."

"Has he... has he ever told you what they are about? I try to ask but usually he doesn't want to talk about it."

Shepard snuggled in closer to the sleeping child.

"Big scary varren with eight eyes and big gaping mouths full of teeth!"

"Really?"

Shepard nodded. "He told me once. Since then he has refused to say any-more about them."

"Strange dream."

"I know."

Garrus sighed. "It's weird to think that he is six now. Sometimes it feels like only yesterday that we stood in London facing the beam. And this little guy was..."

He tapped the tiny nose with the tip of his finger. "He was just an impossible dream."

Shepard smiled. "I am more afraid of when he becomes a teenager."

"Spirits, Shepard! You are going to give me nightmares! A teen-aged Gaius..."

"He will be a heart-breaker."

"If he is anything like me he will be."

Shepard grinned. "Goodnight Garrus," she said as she hit the light switch.

"Goodnight, Shepard."