"We have a very limited time in life. Therefore, we must focus on things that are essential in life. Let go of all life's bark and sapwood. And concentrate on the heartwood only."

- W. Vajiramedhi

Gossip

Someone yanked her blanket off. Sleepily, Traynor tried to pull it back but the intruder won. The light in the female dormitory was too bright. She shielded her eyes.

"Five minutes, mom," She moaned.

But the other woman didn't care. "Get up, sleepy head. This is urgent. You have to see this!"

"Unless it's a collection of girls in tiny bikinis, I don't care." As she buried her head in her pillow, the specialist realized briefly the voice was Diana Allers.

Note to self, she groaned. Never drink krogan alcohol again.

"It's Commander Shepard."

As if someone had poked her with a needle, Traynor sprang from her bunk. "What? Commander Shepard in bikinis! Where's my camera?"

"You're such a pervert, Traynor." The reporter shook her head. "No, it's not the Commander wearing bikinis. But someone did a scoop on her... secret love life. I can't believe I didn't have this scoop before them!"

Traynor's eyes went wide and wider as Allers played the vid of some woman talking about Butterfly. The brunette suspected that Kaidan Alenko's daughter and Butterfly Shepard were the same person. The reporter ignored the fact the two girls were different ages.

"Damn," The specialist cursed. "The Commander will be pissed once she finds out."

"Well, that's obvious. Though, I'm kind of glad I didn't make this scoop." She didn't dare dig into Shepard's personal life since Butterfly was kidnapped. Allers felt guilty although she wasn't responsible for the abduction.

"As far as I know, the Commander doesn't watch this crap. Seriously, there's a war on. The Reapers might wipe us out but they're still concerned about Shepard's personal affairs? This is ridiculous."

"I wonder if the Regs were still in effect after the Reapers bombed the Alliance HQ." Allers agreed. "Besides, who would discharge the heroine in middle of the war?"

They looked at one another.

"I think we better keep this secret, unless the Commander mentions it," Traynor decided.

"Agreed. I really don't want to be on the Commander's bad side. If this woman dares to dig into Butterfly's history, it could end poorly."

"Who is she, exactly?"

"As far as I know, she is the Major's old friend. Her name's Rahna or something. But if you ask me, I think she is, or was close to him. Look at her face when she was talking about our illustrious Major."

They exchanged a glare.

"We definitely should keep this quiet."

Although James couldn't remember why he woke up half-naked and wearing woman's panties, he was sure he had a good time. At least, he didn't have a hangover and also had won more credits.

He was in chatting mood. After Cortez turned down his conversation, the lieutenant went to the bridge.

"Hey, dancing boy," Joker called him when he was in sight. "I'd heard you got yourself a new outfit."

"So, you know something." That wasn't the question. He had a feeling the flight lieutenant had a sinister plan.

"The Normandy is a small ship, man. Besides, everyone saw what you have beneath that tight outfit of yours when you took it off and danced like a... Jack would say a rabbit in heat."

"I don't mind... Wait, does everyone mean include Butterfly?"

Joker wondered why the big guy was concerned about it, but EDI interfered. "Not exactly. Commander Shepard took her elsewhere before you took off your shirt."

Still, it didn't make James feel better. However, before he could say anything, the airlock opened.

Butterfly ran past the bridge to the elevator followed by the Commander who looked like she ate something sour.

"Butterfly, wait!" The Major called out, but the girl disappeared into the elevator. Its door closed and left Shepard stuck in the CIC.

Something bad happened. The two lieutenants exchanged a stare in awkward silence. The rest of the crew still hadn't returned to their duties, so the CIC was empty.

"Just give her some time," Kaidan tried to soothe his girlfriend.

"But I... Why does this keep happen to me?" Shepard almost cried. "She is two year old, Kai. It's too soon for to rebel, isn't it?"

"Electra complex, perhaps," Joker murmured.

Still not noticing the audience, the Major held her. "I don't know anymore, Amala. Everything about our girl is not normal. At this point, I believe everything is possible."

"Sorry to interrupt, Major Alenko," Carefully, EDI informed him. "You've got a message from Admiral Anderson."

"Sounds important," Shepard suggested. "Take it. Worry about me later."

Kaidan squeezed her hand one last time before using a message terminal. As he read the message, his face twisted in an unreadable expression. He looked like he was going to faint.

"Kai, what happened?" Shepard asked worryingly.

"It's my dad."

Something caught in her throat. How selfish was she? All this time, she kept thinking about her own problems and had forgotten that Kaidan's parents were on Earth.

"I- I remember you said they made it to the orchard. Has anything...?"

"Dad helped mom hide there. Since the Reapers focused on attacking the major cities, the orchard probably is a safer place. After that, he returned to help with the resistance." His voice was husky with emotion. "Three days ago, he had been missing during a mission. They presumed he was MIA but..."

"I hope they found him."

"Yes, they did." Suddenly, the Major laughed. "They found him, safe and sound. I can't believe this."

She understood he was happy, but the way he laughed was somehow creepy. "Kai?"

Mindful of the audience, he didn't want to discuss it right there. "Why don't we talk in your cabin? I have something important to share."

"Oh, yeah. I think you're right. EDI, where's Butterfly now?"

"She's in the starboard observation. I think she is... building thing what humans call: a blanket fort. It appears she is moving out of your cabin, Shepard."

"She's building a fort?" The mother wasn't surprised, though. "That's very childish."

"Despite her height and curves, Butterfly is still a baby, Amala. We can't forget that." The biotic daddy chuckled.

"I won't. But...We should give her a break. EDI, can you send us the elevator?"

It took a few minutes before the couple left the CIC. The pilot and the soldier looked at each other, confused and also worried.

"Vega, do you understand what just happened?" Joker asked.

"I'm not sure. Perhaps the little princess is having an issue with her mommy. It's a part of growing up." James wasn't sure, however. He hated his father because the guy was a jackass, not for any other reason.

Butterfly was a lot luckier than him. Why would she fight with people who loved her the most? He couldn't understand.

"Not everyone is appreciative of what they already have, Lieutenant." EDI gave him a piece of her synthetic mind.

"I think you're right. But well, what would you guys say if I suggest for you to keep that family drama quiet? Admiral Hackett won't be happy if he knew about it. He might think it could possibly affect the mission."

"Agreed. That's their business. We shouldn't interfere."

EDI frowned at the pilot beside her. "Who are you and what have you done to Jeff? He would never say anything like that."

James chuckled as Joker rolled his eyes. "Oh, mom! I'm not that nosy, am I?"

"You aren't nosy, Joker. You just happen to know everything that goes on in the Normandy."

"Don't you have other things to do, James?" Joker snarled.

"No need to be pushy, Cripple. I'll go." James knew the pilot hated that nickname, but he couldn't help it.

"I'll get you someday, Vega." It was a weak threat, Joker knew. But he would find a way.

"I'll be waiting." The bigger guy left the cockpit, laughing.

Butterfly had good taste in decorating Chakwas gave her that.

The fort wasn't simply a pile of things, but was well built with blankets and strings to secure them in place. It looked comfy.

She chuckled as she saw a sign: no trespassing.

Through the material, she saw a blue light illuminating from the fort. Butterfly was probably playing with her biotics. Once or twice, the girl created a blue biotic ball to center herself. Chakwas thought that make her look like a magician.

"Butterfly," The doctor called.

The blue light ceased. The girl lifted a hem of the tent to look at the older woman. "Grandma, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking." Chakwas chuckled. "How about you, sweetheart? You have been here for six hours. Aren't you hungry? Pure biotic like you shouldn't skip your meals."

"I have some protein bars I grabbed from kitchen."

She also grabbed her things from Shepard's cabin before settling down in the starboard observation.

"But you forgot your friend's food." She gave the girl a bag of hamster food.

Among other things she took from the captain's cabin was the space hamster. Butterfly didn't want to be alone.

"Mr. K will be grateful, grandma," Butterfly smiled shyly. "I was in a hurry."

"Mr. K? That's quite a name. Is he settling down well? You also forgot his cage and his other necessities."

"He is adaptable. Soon, he will get used to his new home and new name." She looked very serious. Chakwas couldn't help but worry.

As a godmother, she had every right to worry. "Sweetheart, you know I love you right?"

The girl just stared at her, probably wondering where that came from.

"Sometimes, people fight with their mothers. And despite how much they love each other, they just can't see eye to eye. What I mean to say is... You can talk to me anytime. I won't tell your mom anything, I promise."

For a good long while, the girl just stared at her as if she was considering Chakwas' words. Although she was young, Butterfly almost never said anything without thinking.

"Have you ever faced doubt?"

Chakwas didn't know much about children, but she thought that question didn't sound childlike. "Um, you have to be more specific, dear. Women in my age have seen many things. It's supposed to give us wisdom but also give us more questions."

"Well, I mean... yourself. Mommy thinks I lost my mind, and I don't think I can blame her. Sometimes, I doubt myself as well."

"Oh dear, don't think like that! Your parents love you. They would never think ill of you. And if you want to know, I would never think that you're... losing your mind."

Butterfly smiled bitterly. She still kept a space between her and Chakwas. "I know, grandma. And I love you too. I want to prove I'm not mad."

"What're you going to do?" The doctor hoped her godchild didn't plan anything drastic.

"I'm going to contact an old friend. In the meantime, I need to be alone. So, I settled here at least until it's done."

"EDI can help, I think."

But the girl shook her head. "Aunt EDI is busy. And I can do it myself. Um, well, since you're going to talk with mommy, can you tell her that the quarians are starting a war with the geth. They're well prepared but the Reapers have interfered. If we don't stop this war soon, the entire race might have been wiped out."

"But I don't know... Tali would contact me if she needed help." Via intercom, Shepard's voice rang. It seemed she overheard the entire conversation but the news caught her off guard and her tongue slipped.

"Commander!" Chakwas slapped her forehead.

"Oops, sorry!"

"Step away from my console, mommy." They heard Joker chase his CO before the voice was gone.

Butterfly chuckled, though. "Good thing mommy isn't a spy. She would do a horrible job trying to deceive people."

"I heard she did just fine when she assisted Kasumi in stealing the grey box." Chuckling, the doc protested for her friend's dignity. "She loves you so much, sweetheart. And love makes people do strange things."

Her smile was unreadable. "I know."

Suddenly, the atmosphere was heavy with awkwardness. Chakwas felt like someone silently commanded her to leave.

"I'll leave some food in the freezer. If you're hungry just warm it up. Protein bars aren't proper food."

"No argument here, doc." Butterfly tried to make a joke although it felt flat.

Chakwas patted her head lovingly before she left. After that, there wasn't any noise but hamster squeaks and very light breathing.

Thank The Lonely Traveler for beta :D