Chapter 34

A Family Day

My Comments :

Yet another wonderful day. With Mass Effect. About half of this chapter is dedicated to flash backs. Because I don't have nearly enough of those. Enjoy!

And I apologize. I wasn't aware at the time that a new attempt at separating sections wasn't going to work. So, I apologize, and here is the updated version.

The Story :

The girl tossed and turned, feeling her head pound. Thirtieth night with the implants and still no luck getting rid of the head aches. She hadn't slept in the same amount of nights. Every once in awhile she would fall asleep during the day or when she was hanging out with Leo. The boy was beginning to get worried. She had never told him, despite it being thirty days since the forced surgery.

A knock on her window caused her to sit up with a gasp. Tears were streaming down her face as she jumped out of bed, still in her dress from the day. The puffy blue dress had gone slightly flat, and she had to puff it back out before making her way to the window. Her hands gently lifted the glass panes, making no sound.

"Leonardo?! What are you doing here?" she questioned in amazement, wiping the tear streaks off her face with the back of her hand. "It is the middle of the night? What if your mother found out?"

"I don't care," he said with a frown, straightening his jacket. "I wanted to check on you. Three weeks ago mom said you look ill. I got even more worried because you wouldn't tell me. You just kept saying you were fine and you gave me that smile of yours." His eyes started to water. "Shepard," he continued, biting his lip. "I told you how much I like you, so I can't help but worry."

With a frown, the five year old pulled her friend into the room. "It's hard to explain. Um. Do you know how Lauren, the woman at school, is what they keep calling a Biotic?"

"The people who have implants?" Leo asked, joining her on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah. Well, remember how I told you mother used to do weird tests on me?"

Leo growled in response. "Yes."

"I'm not a Biotic," she said quietly, starting to rock back and forth.

Her friend wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight. "What's your point?"

"My mother put implants in me," Shepard responded, pulling some of her hair from the right side of her temple back, showing the remnants of a scar.

"She did what?" Nocturna jumped back, his eyes widening in horror. "How dare she?!"

"Shh!" the girl hushed him, hissing. "Don't wake my parents. They'll have a fit." She looked down at her feet. "My mother's making me develop Biotics. The headaches are keeping me up at night."

Taking a deep, calming breath, Leo laid his friend back on the bed, covering her with the blanket. "I'll stay with you, Shepard, but you need to sleep."

She nodded slowly, closing her eyes. She wasn't sure when she fell asleep. Or when Leo left. All she knew was that her only friend wasn't there when the sun came up on her first night of sleep in a long time.

~ Break ~

"I'm not going."

Anderson visibly frowned. "I thought you'd be happy. This may be your last time to see Solana and Garrus before you leave for training."

"Not today. Of all days, never today." The girl stared out the window of the apartment, watching skycars fly by.

Recognition flashed behind the man's eyes. "Is it the anniversary?"

"Yeah," came the quiet response, followed by a sob.

Anderson wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Honey, listen to me." Shepard turned her head to look up at him, visible tear stains going down her face. "I know you don't want to hear this, but you need to. Leo is gone. I'm aware that he was your only friend at the time, but now you have Solana and Garrus. Both are your friends. Didn't you say that Leo always wanted you to get more friends? Would he want to see you like this?"

"No," Shepard said, looking down and biting her lip.

"Life is hard, Shep. There is no doubt in my mind about that. If you let the hard times rule your life, then you can never move on." He shook her shoulder a little. "Why don't you go clean up and then we can head over to the restaurant? We're going to eat and then those two are going to hang out with you."

Shepard nodded slowly. "Okay, dad." She looked up him, a light smile on her face. "I'll go clean up. Thanks."

"Garrus, sweetie, sit down. They said they would be a little late." Amara Vakarian leaned back, amusement flashing in her eyes.

The young Turian groaned. "They said a little late," he confirmed, continuing to pace. "And they still aren't here!"

Solana rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink. "You need to stop freaking out."

"Why?" he said in annoyance, his mandibles flaring.

"Because Shep is giving you a weird look."

Garrus jumped, spinning around. Anderson and Shepard were just entering the restaurant. Anderson was talking to the Salarian host, letting them know their party was already there. Shep's bright golden eyes were on him, her eyebrows raised. If her lessons on human emotions were right, then that meant she was either confused or amused. One of the two. She was wearing a pair of black jeans, black combat boots, a black leather jacket, and a black t-shirt. Very dark. Her red hair was falling freely down her shoulders.

"Garrus. Even if someone is staring at you, it is not polite to stare back," Amara informed him, standing to greet the duo as they approached. "Anderson. Shep. It is wonderful to see you again." Her mandibles flared in a smile. "You made it sound as if we won't be seeing you in a while."

Shep's face paled noticeably, her eyes widening. "You didn't tell them?" she questioned her adoptive father.

Garrus felt something constrict in his chest. "Tell us what?"

The girl looked down, biting her lip. "My eighteenth birthday is coming up." She noticed the Turians' blank looks. "Oh, uh, right. It means I'll be joining training. To become a soldier. There's this facility on Earth that's really good and they wanted me to go there." Shep took her seat in between where her father would sit and where Garrus had been sitting. "I won't be able to come back for a while. Dad says it's likely that they'll stick me into the N7 program really quickly because of my skills."

Anderson nodded. "It is something she's always wanted to do."

Garrus quietly took his seat, and being the closest, was the only one who heard the girl whisper, 'not always' under her breath. He watched his mother and Anderson take their seats.

"Is your father not coming tonight?"

"He couldn't make it, sir," Solana answered simply. "He said he was working a really hard case at C-Sec, but wants to send his regards."

"Ah. Well, I hope the case goes well."

The rest of the meal consisted of the simple small talk, with not a single word uttered from Garrus or Shepard.

~ Break ~

"Oh, shoot. Mom? I left my coat at the restaurant."

Garrus shot his sister a glare. "How do you forget a coat, Sol?"

Solana narrowed her eyes. "I wasn't cold until now so I didn't notice."

"Why don't we go get back and get it?" Anderson suggested.

Amara nodded in agreement. "We've only been walking for half an hour or so. It shouldn't take too long."

Solana sighed. "Sorry," she mumbled, starting to turn. She froze midway. "Where did Shep go?"

Anderson's eyes widened before he spotted her a little ways away, staring up at the stars above. "We can't leave her here," he said, frowning, remembering the Vorcha who attempted to kidnap her.

"Why doesn't Garrus stay with her?" the young Turian girl suggested with a shrug.

The mother smiled. "That is a wonderful idea, Solana." She turned to Garrus. "You stay here with Shep, okay? Don't go to far, we'll be back as soon as we can."

The boy waved as everyone started off, almost missing the wink from his sister. Why would Sol wink at him? Had she forgotten it on purpose? Why would she do that at all? Behind him, he heard his Human friend let loose a shaky breath.

"Shep?" Garrus walked up to her, spotting the tears sliding down her face. "Shep! What's wrong?!"

She shook her head, trying to hold back sob. "It's been seven years," she mumbled, putting her face in her hands.

"Seven years?" the Turian questioned, eying her carefully. "Since what?"

Shepard fell to the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. "Since they attacked," she sobbed, finally letting the sadness overcome her. She visibly trembled.

Garrus fell to the ground next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Since who attacked?"

"The Batarians. When they came to my home and killed my family," she cried. "When they took the people I know and forced them to become slaves! When they," her voice finally cracked, "killed my only friend."

He froze. Of course, he had heard of plenty of Batarian Slave Traders attacking colonies and killing or enslaving the inhabitants. But she said they killed her family. What about her father?

"They killed everyone," she muttered under her sobs, leaning into his shoulder.

"But you have a dad," he pointed out.

"Adoptive," Shepard replied, calming down her sobs and resigning to sit there sniffling instead.

"I don't know who this person was, but they aren't your only friend. Not anymore. I'm your friend, Shep. So is Solana. And my mom likes you, too." The talon on Shepard's far shoulder tightened. "You are not alone. I may not know a lot about you, but you're the only one I want to spend time with!"

Shepard stared up at him, amazement glittering in her eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah..." Garrus said, his emotional moment being replaced by sheepishness.

The Human switched her gaze up again. "I was just thinking how the stars are so much different here. Then they were at my old home, anyway."

Garrus removed his arm, standing up. "Come on. I know somewhere we can go."

~ Break ~

"Garrus? Where are we going?"

"We're almost there, Shep. Don't worry!"

The Turian smiled back at her, his mandibles spread wide. His right talon was firmly holding onto the Human's left wrist, refusing any chance of letting her go.

"The crowds are getting thicker!"

"Don't worry," he repeated, pulling his arm closer to his body so she got closer. "Just hold on. It isn't too much farther." He turned down a much less crowded side path.

A figure stepped in front of the teenagers. "Hey," the Human said with a severe frown.

Garrus let go of Shepard, pushing her behind him. He stood in front of her protectively. "Excuse me."

"Where do you think you're going?" the man growled. "With a Human."

"We're going to go see the Presidium," the Turian growled back. "Please let us go by."

"Why should I?" the man replied with a smirk. "You damn Turians may have a better military, but you don't deserve to converse with us. If we'd had equal soldiers, the Humans would have crushed you!"

"I wasn't even alive then," Garrus complained. "May we please get by?"

The Human lunged forward, grabbing both of the Turian's upper arms and forcing him to the ground. Garrus rolled out of the way before the man could pin him. He was about to jump up and counter when he realized the man had moved. As he was beginning to question where, a feminine groan sounded next to him. His eyes shot to the side as Shepard fell to her knees, clutching a small object that was protruding from her stomach. Before she could even try to counter, the older man smacked the back of her head. Her eyes swam and Garrus instantly knew she would be too dazed to fight back. Shit.

The Turian shot to his feet as the Human lifted the teenager over his shoulder, a smirk on his face. "Let her go!" Garrus screamed, jumping at him without thinking.

The Human dodged to the side, kicking the boy hard in the side. "Nice try," he laughed as Garrus smacked into a wall.

"Let the girl go," growled a familiar voice, followed by the harrowing sound of a gun activating. "Or I will shoot."

Garrus looked up, his vision swimming slightly. "Dad?"

~ Break ~

"What were you thinking?!" the older Turian questioned, anger and disappointment clear in his voice. "I taught you better than that!"

Garrus cringed. "I-I know."

"As angry as I am," Vakarian said with a sigh, dropping into the seat next to him. "You two helped us book a guy who we believe to have kidnapped seven others." He shook his head.

The younger Turian lowered his head. "Where's Shep?"

"Huh?"

"You know, Shep. The one he was carrying off." He looked up, worry clear in his voice and eyes.

"I'll bring you to the clinic she's in," Vakarian stood, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "But I don't want you to do something so reckless again, okay?"

"Okay," Garrus agreed with a nod.

The duo left the small waiting room of the C-Sec offices. They walked in silence before a door finally opened revealing the clinic. Shep was trying to get off the bed, much to the unhappiness of the nurse. She was still her jeans and boots, but her t-shirt had been discarded somewhere. Her jacket was buttoned at the top, covering up her chest, but at the bottom, it was open, revealing the huge bandage wrapped around her abdomen.

"Shep!"

Shepard glanced up, her eyes immediately lighting up. "Garrus!" She jumped off the bed, ignoring the Salarian nurse as he tried to get her to lay back down. "I didn't really remember much after being, uh, stabbed. I was worried."

Vakarian raised an eyebrow, glancing to his son.

"You were worried about me?! You were the one that got stabbed!"

The girl shrugged, walking over. "Minor details," she said calmly. "You hit that wall pretty hard. Are you okay?"

Garrus was absolutely speechless, earning a tense laugh from his father.

"Look at that. No one has been able to do that to him for years." He shook his head. "I am glad to see you are alright, Shep. Come on, everyone is waiting for you outside. They are pretty worried." His eyes shot to his son. "Your mother was practically hysteric when I called her."

~ Break ~

Amara leaned back, frowning. "Ugh. That is so boring!"

"I was stabbed," Shepard said, raising an amused eyebrow. "And you think it's boring?"

"Not that," the hybrid complained. "You two couldn't have met in some romantic war way? Like on the battlefield or something?"

Shepard chuckled. "Meeting on the battlefield is romantic?" She rolled her eyes. "Well, there was that one time when I recruited 'Archangel'."

"What happened then?" David asked, leaning across the cafe table.

"Among other things? Your father shot me."

"Hey!" Garrus finally intervened. "It wasn't a real bullet! I just didn't want the mercenaries to know I was on to your plan!"

"You didn't even know it was me at first," his fiance countered. "You were pretty damn surprised when it was me. Just like I was surprised that it was you."

"I had my suspicions," he grumbled, his mandibles sticking tightly to his face in a pout.

"Did anything else happen?" Amara asked, her curiosity-filled eyes betraying her curt words.

"Well," Shepard said, tapping her chin dramatically. "Your father got hit in the face with a rocket. Scared the hell out of me."

David's eyes shown with wonder. "You got hit with a rocket?"

Shepard burst out laughing. "See that, Garrus? Your own kids didn't even realize that was the scar!"

Garrus rolled his eyes. "You know, some women find scars attractive."

"Most of those women would be Krogan," Amara pointed out.

"And that is exactly what your father said."

David raised his own eyebrow. "Well, Krogan and one crazy Human."

It was Garrus' turn to laugh. "The Human who was crazy enough to agree to marry the scarred Turian."

The Commander leaned back in her chair. "Well now, despite being up a few hours after getting hit with the rocket, your father felt inclined to joke about how his face was 'hardly holding together as it is'."

Amara chuckled. "Really?" She shook her head. "Well, even if your meeting and falling in love as kids-"

"Wait." Garrus raised a talon. "We weren't in love. Not as kids."

"But didn't you get together when you both went after that rogue Spectre, Saren?" Amara knit her eyebrows together. "And your story says otherwise," she added.

"Regardless," Shepard said, leaning forward and clasping her hands together, "we didn't recognize each other. It wasn't until after the Reapers were defeated that we both realized."

"How did you not know?" David asked, scrunching his face up in thought.

"Well, we were kind of focusing on a galaxy that needed saving," Shepard replied calmly.

"So you two got together during your time with Cerberus, then?" Amara asked. She bit her lip at the resulting nod. "Why didn't you get together before that?"

The Commander's smile completely faded, and she leaned back, looking up. She refused to meet the twins' gazes. Garrus rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's a long story," Garrus finally said, noticing how uncomfortable Shepard was compared to him.

"Shorten it," Amara said quickly narrowing her eyes.

"She, ah, wasn't in love with me," he replied simply. "We were just friends. A Spectre and a C-Sec officer who hated the red tape joining forces to take down a rogue Spectre."

Shepard turned her head to her right, staring down at the Presidium.

"You said she wasn't 'in love with' you," David said, his brain going through the analysis. "That implies she loved someone else."

"Who?!" Amara asked, practically laying across the table.

Garrus glanced at the unresponsive Shepard before sighing. "Alenko."

"Kaidan Alenko? The second Human Spectre?"

"He wasn't a Spectre at the time, Amara," Shepard said quietly, fidgeting slightly. "Besides," she stated bravely, "it wasn't love. Not in the right sense of the word."

"Love is like fighting through hell and back," David put in, trying to be helpful. "That's what Liara said Humans on Earth used to say."

Garrus nodded. "Like willing to go on a suicide mission because you trust someone with your life."

"Bah," Shepard grumbled with a chuckle. "All you did was complain."

Amara laughed, her eyes studying her parents carefully. "Hey, dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you use Turian compliments when you talked to mom? And if you say you didn't compliment her, then you deserve a good slap."

Garrus laughed. "I did."

David raised an eyebrow, his eyes shining inquisitively. "What did you say?"

Shepard looked back towards the group, leaning on the table. Her voice lowered, "He told me my waist looked very supportive."

Both kids burst out laughing as Garrus glared at her. Before he could growl a comeback in response, a young Human male walked up.

"Excuse me, Commander Shepard?"

"Not now," she replied, not even glancing at him.

"Hackett wants to see you."

"Tell him I'm spending time with my fiance and kids," she growled, shooting the man a glare so intense he practically ran off.

"That was one way to tell him," Garrus said after a few minutes of silence.

Shepard shrugged. "What did you want me to say? Tell Hackett to get his ass down here so I can give him some interesting information?"

"Like a bandage!" Amara put in. "Quickest is best!" She smiled.

"See? Amara's got the right idea."

Garrus rolled his eyes. "Whatever you all say."

"Um. Mom?"

"Yes, David?" Shepard switched her gaze to him.

"Ever wondered how freaked out Admiral Hackett would be if he suddenly found out the savior of the galaxy had children?" David asked, his inquisitive eyes focused on something coming into the Presidium.

Shepard shrugged. "I have to admit, it might be kind of funny."

"Then turn around," he said simply, eyes widening.

The other three turned around, spotting Hackett, the soldier from before, a few other guards staying a ways behind him. As he entered the cafe, the guards stayed outside, trying to blend in. The family barely noticed. Hackett's face was priceless. His eyes were narrowed, but still surprised as he took in the sight before him. White teeth shined as his mouth hung open.

"Sh-Shepard," he stuttered, stopping next to the table.

The Commander raised an amused eyebrow. "Yes, Admiral?"

"Y-you never said," he started, unable to finish his sentence.

"Wow," Amara said, leaning back. "I've heard a lot of stories about you, but never anything like this. I was told you were composed."

"This isn't composed," David agreed, leaning forward on the table. His golden eyes shone brightly regardless.

Hackett coughed into his hand, regaining his composure. "You never said, Commander."

"Must have slipped my mind," she said with a shrug, taking a sip of the coffee in front of her. She noted the other three all hold back snickers at her lax attitude.

"Slipped your mind?! How does having children 'slip your mind'?!" he growled back, seemingly unamused.

Shepard took a slow sip of her coffee. "Mm. Lots of stuff going on," she said with a nod. "Missions to complete, people to help. You know the drill."

The soldier next to Hackett tapped his shoulder. "The Admiral's biggest question before was the identity of the father."

Garrus tapped his talons on the table. "That would be me."

Hackett and the soldier went speechless, unable to make a single sound. The disbelief as evident in their eyes, but even they knew some crazy things could happen if Shepard was around.

"My name is Amara. This is my twin brother, David. In case you haven't noticed, we're hybrids." The female hybrid waved slightly. "Fringes, hair, hard skin under our Human-like skin, a mixture of Levo and Dextro," her hand waved dismissively in the air as she spoke. "We've got it all."

"Hybrids," Hackett repeated.

"Yup!" David said happily. "I've even got mom's eyes! Amara has dad's." He smiled, eyes shining.

"Right," the older man said slowly, tapping one of his feet in thought. "When were you planning on telling me?" he questioned.

"Honestly? No idea." Shepard glanced at the rest of her family, who nodded in agreement. "How does having children even come up in a millitary conversation?"

A commotion near the entrance to the cafe caught the group's attention. The guards were keeping back a few reporters, their cameramen struggling to get a view. One camera floated above the reporters.

"Hey. Doesn't that belong to Allers?"

Garrus nodded. "Looks like it."

"Who's Allers?" David questioned.

"The reporter who was stationed on the Normandy. Every once in a while I'd do a special for her and give updates on the war. In all honesty, she helped gain quite a bit of support." Shepard nodded appreciatively.

Amara stood with a sigh. "As much as I loved meeting you, Admiral, we should really be going. We were trying to have family time."

David followed her example. "I'm sure there's something we could do on the ship, right?"

Shepard stood with a nod, opening her Omni-Tool to type out a message. "Don't worry. I had plans for this. Liara has some games, Human and Turian, set up in the, ah, apartment."

"What about the reporters?" Garrus questioned, standing as well. "There's no way we can get by them."

"I was ready for that too. Ye have little faith."

David raised an eyebrow. "You really wanted today to go well, huh?"

"Of course," Shepard said with a smile. "I've never had a day to just spend with my family."

There was silence at the table as that sentence sunk in. Shepard, oblivious to the effect of what she had said, continued to type into her Omni-Tool.

"Commander? What exactly are you planning?"

"I promise to have a real discussion with you later, Admiral. For now, I have family time to finish." She closed her Omni-Tool, a mischievous smile covering her face.

Before anyone else could respond, a familiar voice bellowed out. "Clear the way, you ridiculous Pyjacks!" Wrex pushed his way through the reporters. "Commander! I brought the team. We'll get you there." A few seconds later, Grunt, Valiante, Klarc, Larenus, and Javik joined him.

"Is that the Black Widow symbol?" the soldier next to Hackett questioned.

"Irrelevant," Shepard said quickly. "Come on guys. Our escort has arrived." She started towards the newcomers. "Hey guys. Thanks for giving us a hand."

"Heh. Fun to push some Pyjacks around without getting in trouble," Grunt laughed.

"Never actually 'een on the Citadel before. 'Ecially not the Presidium. Pretty 'amn nice," Klarc whistled in appreciation, looking around.

Larenus shook his head at the other two. "We are happy to help, Annabeth. However, we are attracting a crowd."

"The primitive is right. We should be moving."

Garrus came up beside her, grabbing her hand with one of his talons. "You really did think of everything." He glanced behind them, where Amara and David were chatting with Klarc and Larenus.

As they began forcing their way back through the crowd to a shuttle Javik had 'borrowed,' the escorts surrounded them, effectively keeping the press a safe distance away. In the back, Javik's four-eyed glare kept the reporters from getting too close. Larenus and Klarc stood beside the kids, continuing their conversation. Grunt stood next to her and Valiante was beside Garrus. Wrex led the way. They climbed into the shuttle one by one, Garrus pulling his fiance up when it was her turn.

Shepard stood by the door as it shut, contemplating the rest of the day. "You two never went to the apartment, did you?" she finally asked, tapping her chin.

Amara shook her head. "Nope. This is pretty fun. I heard about it. Why exactly did you get an apartment on the Citadel anyway?"

Shepard frowned. "It didn't buy it or anything. It was a gift. From my dad."

And the rest of the shuttle ride went by in silence.

~ Break ~

As her fiance and children entered the apartment, Shepard spun around to everyone who had helped. "Thanks for the help. Again." She reached into her pocket, handing them a small package. "Here. You can get into Purgatory and buy a few drinks. If you get too drunk and do something stupid, I'm not bailing you out until tomorrow. And Wrex? If you do something stupid, I won't bail you out and I'll call Eve instead. She can come and bail your ass out, alright?"

Wrex seemed to shiver before nodding, grabbing the package, and heading for the elevator. As the elevator doors shut, only one remained. Javik.

"The Reapers are inside already. I am not leaving."

"Oh?" Shepard said, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms across her chest. "And why not?"

"I am not leaving you and your children alone with two Reapers."

The Commander chuckled. "See? You do care!" She smirked at him before entering the apartment, prepared to continue the family time with or without company.