A/N: More domestic Shenko fluff. I can't help myself; it's addicting!

Prompt: watching the minutes pass by

The sniffles and whimpering had not abated from the hallway since they'd sat Ashlyn Shepard Alenko down on the "time out" chair. Opposite the hallway in the kitchen, Kaidan rubbed a hand over his brow. He glanced at the timer, counting down from ten minutes, and sat down at the table where Shepard sat calmly nursing a cup of coffee and perusing a datapad.

"They didn't cover this in basic," he sighed.

Shepard rubbed her thumb over his fingers. "Sorry. I should have briefed you at the first ultrasound."

He laughed, sneaking a sip of her coffee, and sobered. "This... behavior of hers is beginning to be a problem. It's no longer just once in awhile thing."

Shepard sat down the datapad, looking pensive. "I know."

An uncomfortable silence fell across the table. Years before, when they'd decided to have kids, they'd both agreed that if it became too much, one of them would leave the Alliance - retiring from Spectre duty - and be a full-time parent. At the time neither had wanted to have the inevitable confrontation on who that would be, fearing the resentment it might cause in whichever of them had to remain home.

Kaidan took a breath. "I'll submit-" He stopped as she tightened her grip on his hand.

"I'm sending my resignation tomorrow."

"What?" He drew back in protest. "No! They won't accept it, Shepard. The first human Spectre? It should be me..."

Shepard smiled. "It's okay, Kaidan. Maybe five years ago I would have fought you over this... but now?" She glanced around the room, at the few holos of the rare times they'd all been together as a family. Too few. She lifted her hand, tracing a finger down his jaw. "I once told Grunt of all people that I didn't want to chase and kill bad guys forever. Now, someone needs me more than the bad guys and I don't mind." She leaned forward and kissed him gently.

"Are you sure?" Kaidan searched her eyes, looking for the telltale blink - the ever-so subtle tensing around her mouth that revealed her unwillingness to do something. But she was calm, even smiling.

"I am."

"Well," he chuckled. "Udina will be so happy he might throw you a party."

Shepard smiled, something sparkling in her eyes and climbed over to straddle Kaidan's lap. "Udina'll have to wait. Now that I'm retired, I have time for more children."

"Oh?"

"Mmhmm."

Things were just getting interesting when a plaintive voice came from the hallway.

"Mooooom, I heard the timer. Can I get up yet?"