Hey guys! Just want to say thank you so much to every person that has review, followed and faved! It is really really appreciated! This chapter is just a little break from the main and focuses a bit more on Garrus, Shepard and the rest of the Vakarians. Don't worry! Back to the action in the next chapter.
Chapter 51
Meeting Family
"A Pity beyond all telling
Is hid in the heart of love:
The folk who are buying and selling,
The clouds on their journey above,
The cold wet winds ever blowing,
And the shadowy hazel grove
Where mouse-grey waters are flowing,
Threaten the head that I love."
The Pity Of Love,
William Butler Yeats
Garrus helped Shepard finally escape her imprisonment next to the toilet.
The waves of nausea had left her more weakened than even she would ever admit to. But Garrus knew. He always knew when she was struggling, even more so now that the baby was involved.
Once Jane was confident that she wasn't going to get sick, Garrus had swung her up into his arms and carried her to back to the bed. She had - for once - not complained over it. In fact she seemed to enjoy his careful tending and fussing over her.
That was all the encouragement he needed. Garrus carefully propped her up against the pillows before slipping under the covers beside her.
He nuzzled and purred as Shepard curled herself up against him.
He took the opportunity to cradle her enlarged stomach, feeling the tiny movements within before finally letting himself relax. When Shepard had finally drifted off to sleep, Garrus opened his omnitool and searched for foods traditionally given to sick humans, especially pregnant ones.
Once he had a vague idea of what he needed to give her, Garrus finally slipped out of the bed. He quickly dressed himself before nuzzling the sleeping red-head.
"Just so you know..." he whispered, "...I don't just think I love you."
Garrus pressed his mouth-plates to her exposed cheek and hummed happily at the long contented sigh and mumbles from his mate.
He nuzzled her ear before finally adding, "I know I do. And you love me because... well, how could anyone not."
Garrus nipped gently at her ear lobe before he dragged himself away and softly padded out of the room.
Once outside, he hurried down the stairs to where Dione and her husband sat in the kitchen.
The two looked up at him and smiled as he entered. Garrus rubbed the back of his neck in an effort to hide his awkwardness.
"Hey," he said carefully.
"Hello there. Did you have a good sleep? How is Jane?"
"Good. Well, not so good. Morning sickness I think."
Dione raised a brow-plate. "Morning... sickness? What is that?"
"Something that happens to humans during pregnancy. All it really means is that Jane pretty much just threw up everything she ate."
"Oh my! Is she okay now?"
Garrus chuckled. "She is fast asleep but I was hoping to make something for her for when she wakes. I was just wondering how much levo food do you have?"
Dione got up off the chair and showed him to the kitchen.
"This entire cupboard here is all levo. I really should get more..." Dione said thoughtfully.
"No! You don't! Shepard is the first levo guest we have ever had. Don't start packing more things into that kitchen!" said Elianus from where he sat.
"Oh hush you! Like you ever set foot in this place!"
"I'll be in it a lot more if it keeps you from buying more things we don't need."
Dione looked at Garrus.
"Ignore him. The last time he tried to cook he nearly burned the place down."
Elianus snorted loudly with derision. Dione chuckled before she put her hand on Garrus's arm.
"You take your time making something. Use anything you need."
She left him and headed over to her husband.
Garrus had just pulled out a couple of ingredients when he heard a playful yelp and giggling. He looked over to see Dione being dragged on to Elianus's lap, the pair engrossed and content with each other.
He smiled a little and went back to work.
Atilius sat quietly on the shuttle back down into the city.
Every now and then, he would wrack his gaze over Sabia as he tried to take in as much of her as he could without being caught. Avitus's youngest sister had taken off her heavy snow robes once they reached the small forward station near the entrance of the vast tunnel that led to the city below.
She now sat in her dark watchmen's garb across from him in the small tram next to her brother and chatted away happily.
"It was so funny, Avitus! Kato didn't know where to look - and his poor kids! You should have seen their faces!"
Avitus chuckled. "You were no help to him then."
"Of course not! He shouldn't have wandered around in just his plates."
The siblings laughed happily together before Avitus pulled Sabia in close for a hug.
"I have missed my youngest sister."
"I missed you too. I really hated not being able to get back here for the last couple of times you came to see us."
They separated from each other.
"How goes your work?" Avitus asked.
"Same as always. Although we had a moment of excitement when those machines turned up."
Her brother frowned. "I have meant to ask about that. How far did they get?"
Sabia grinned. "Not even out of the lower snows. They crossed the boundary with one foot and we had them down. Well, the wyrms helped a little..."
"You mean a lot," chuckled Avitus.
"I would like to think that we played a part in fighting those bastards," Sabia said a little reproachfully.
Her brother chuckled and hugged her. "I am sure you did. I am so glad you are all okay. I have been worried."
Sabia grinned and returned the hug with enthusiasm. "I did manage to solo take down quite a few of those strange creatures it came with. Took on one of those... what were they called... you know the ones, Avitus! Like a mix of krogan and turian."
Atilius's eyes widened. "You did not take on a brute single-handed!"
She grinned at him. "I did. And kicked its ass!"
"You are a fucking idiot! You could have been seriously hurt or even killed!" Atilius jumped off his seat in his rage.
Sabia was a little take aback while Avitus stood up. "You need to apologize, Marcus. Now."
"She could have been killed, Avitus!"
"But she wasn't. Now you are going to apologize to my sister about what you called her."
The two stared intently at each other before Marcus backed down.
"I am sorry, Sabia. I just..."
She stood up herself and put one hand on her brother's arm.
"Its okay, Marcus. I know it was a risky manoeuvre but I didn't have a choice. I was cut off from the rest of my team."
Atilius shuffled his feet awkwardly. "You need to find yourself a better squad or stop doing that damn job entirely."
Sabia took a step towards him and reached out for Marcus's hand. He tentatively gave her his own.
"How have you been holding up, Marcus?"
He stared down at his hand and gently gripped hers while his thumb skimmed over her softer skin.
"I... heh. I haven't let myself think about it really or slow down..."
"Maybe you should. The Reapers are gone now."
"Only to replaced by something worse."
He coughed before finally looking up into Sabia's eyes.
"Maybe we could... I dunno... have dinner or something? Just the two of us? Would be nice to talk and catch up."
Sabia's mandibles flickered lightly. "Okay. I mean I'll have to let my fiance know but..."
Marcus stilled. "You... you are getting married?"
She nodded. "I thought I told you in my last message. You remember Darius?"
"Yeah. I do."
Sabia brought up her arm and pulled back the sleeve of her tunic to reveal a betrothal bracelet. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery that glittered against the grey of her plates. Marcus reached out and gently touched the piece. He started to idly play with it.
"Its beautiful."
"Yeah. It is."
"Like you," he mumbled. He flicked his eyes up to meet hers.
Sabia slowly pulled her arm back sadly.
"Time is getting along. I am not as young as I used to be. We... ahem... we are going to marry as soon as things settle down and make a start on a family. Darius has already picked a lovely home in the Gracios homestead. It will be perfect when it is fully refurbished."
Atilius nodded carefully.
"You will be a wonderful mother. I always knew you would."
She laughed. "I will be an old one."
Avitus tugged her back to him.
"You are not so old. Barely forty."
Sabia looked down at the bracelet."I guess so. Just a bit nervous I guess. I feel like I have waited to start this phase of my life forever and now that it is here... spirits! Am I really ready for this?"
Her brother laughed before pulling her down to sit once more beside him.
"You have years of experience with our nephews and nieces. Sabia, you are more than ready. You are going to be perfect."
Sabia grinned before cuddling into her brother.
Atilius was silent.
Avitus glanced over at his friend.
Their eyes met.
Marcus couldn't hide the heartbreak in his face from his old friend. Avitus let out a sigh and nodded slowly at him.
The General pulled himself together and clapped his hands cheerily.
"Well... it will be one hell of a party anyway," said Atilius as happily as he could muster.
Sabia smiled warmly at him.
Atilius coughed.
"Can I ask you both a question? I have had it in my mind for the last few weeks."
"Sure. Ask away!" chirped Sabia.
Atilius frowned.
"Why did the clans not come help us? I mean I sent for aid. Even you, Avitus, have never told me why the clans did not mobilize..."
Sabia and Avitus looked at each other. Finally, the older Vakarian spoke.
"We were asked directly to not interfere."
"By whom?"
"Hertz," answered Sabia.
Atilius let out a huff. "Why? Countless died that didn't need to!"
"I don't know all the details. Only that we were directly asked to not interfere. Hertz and the wyrms would protect all those who came northwards but they wouldn't make their actions too overt," Sabia said softly.
Avitus hummed. "I believe Hertz needed the Reaper threat to force co-operation about the Crucible."
"The hybrids..."
"Indeed. She has waited for them for a very long time."
Atilius frowned at Avitus. "You knew..."
"Part of the story. Not all. Hertz only told me the bare minimum, that they were not machines but real beings. She wants them protected. She wants them to live."
The tram came to a sudden stop. Avitus helped his sister to her feet before turning to his friend.
"Come on, Marcus. I will be much happier once I see my children again."
"I want to know the truth, Avitus."
His friend nodded. "Later. I promise I will tell you all that I know but first let us go back to the others. I really need to see my kids."
Atilius nodded slowly. His friend went ahead of him with Sabia in tow.
Marcus finally dragged himself out of his seat and walked after the pair.
The small group reached Dione's house shortly after Garrus had finished making the meal for Shepard.
Garrus turned as the door opened and smiled as he saw his father enter.
Avitus said nothing but grinned. He walked to his son and gripped him in a hug.
"Dad..." mumbled Garrus.
His father just held him tighter before finally pulling back. He grabbed Garrus by the back of his neck and pressed their foreheads together.
"Dad... are you okay? Is Marius..."
"It is done. Marius will no longer be an issue for any of us. As for me, I am okay now that I am here."
He finally let go of his son. "Where is your sister?"
Dione answered him. "Resting in the first floor guest room. She was very tired, spirits love her."
Avitus nodded. "Thank you. I'm just going to go see her quickly."
He took off up the stairs as Garrus watched him leave.
"You have grown up so much."
He tore his gaze away from the stairs and stared down at a female turian with Vakarian markings on her face. The female smiled at him warmly.
"I am Sabia... you know... your aunt?"
Dione linked her arm with her sister's.
"Hasn't he gotten big, Sabia?"
"He is so tall! Handsome too. He is a Vakarian but I can see some Ulraos in there too."
The female turned her attention back to him. "You know the last time we met you were still needing nappies! Has it really been so long?"
Garrus swallowed nervously. "I... ah... I mean I am sure my dad talked about you guys but..."
Sabia and Dione laughed before the younger sister spoke again.
"It's all right. I imagine there has been a lot to take in."
They all turned as the main door opened once more.
A tall turian male walked in.
Garrus frowned. The turian looked so much like his father but had deep scars on the right side of his face.
The right eye was clearly artificial with deep grooves that had obviously been made by talons around the socket.
He knew who this was.
"Garrus!"
The older turian grinned as he was swamped by his sisters.
"Hello! Bit of a gathering in here!"
The older Garrus nodded at Atilius from where he was tangled up in his sisters arms.
"Marcus! My brother still dragging you around everywhere?"
"Of course. The dynamic duo never stops!"
"I am afraid to burst your bubble but the dynamic duo will always me and Avitus."
Atilius laughed. "I think I can give you a run for your money on that score."
The two chuckled before the older Vakarian laid eyes on Garrus.
"Well... look at you."
He walked over to Garrus with his sisters in tow. The older turian scanned over Garrus's face intently.
"My, my, my. Its like looking at our father," he said to his sisters.
"First thought in my head," chuckled Dione.
Sabia smiled and nodded her agreement.
His uncle extended his hand and Garrus tentatively accepted. His hand was gripped firmly by the older turian.
"Its is so good to have you back with us, nephew. The absence of you and your sister has been an open wound in the heart of the clan for far too long. But now... now you have returned to us. All will be well. We can finally be whole once more."
Garrus opened his mouth to say something when his father returned down the stairs.
His uncle turned around.
"Brother!" he said before going to him.
Avitus laughed and the two embraced.
Garrus stood by with the plate of levo food in his hand. His father glanced over and saw his son's awkward stance.
He pulled back from his brother.
"Garrus, where is Shepard?"
"Resting. I have just finished making some food for her."
"Why don't you go back up to her then. Your uncle and I have things to discuss. Come back down when she is ready. I would like to introduce my daughter-in-law properly."
Garrus flushed. "I haven't exactly asked her yet and..."
Avitus chuckled and interrupted him. "There is no doubt in my mind that you will and that she will accept. I, however, will question your sanity if you don't ask her soon."
His son gave a slight smile. "Thanks, Dad. It means a lot that you like her."
"Actually... on that point."
Avitus went over to Garrus and took out a small box from his pocket.
"I have meant to give this to you for the past couple of weeks but my old age has made me forgetful."
He passed the box over to him.
"This is for you. I made that a long time ago. I ended up making several versions as none ever seemed quite right. I was thinking you could use it... temporarily even. It would be nice for things to be official."
His son stared at the box. "What is..."
"Wait till you are alone before you open it. See what you think."
Garrus nodded. "Okay."
The older Garrus laughed. "Well, I, for one, can't wait to meet this human. Your father has told me a lot about her. About you too for that matter. He is very proud of you, you know. Always telling about how good you are at shooting, how you did so well at school or how your career was going at C-Sec."
"Oh hush, brother. You are going to embarrass my boy. He doesn't need to hear about my prattling on."
"Bah. He will face much worse when we get to the homestead. Mother can't wait to meet him."
Garrus frowned. "Mother?"
"Your grandmother, young one. She has waited a long time to see you again."
His uncle turned his attention to his twin. "So... about Kari?"
"I am going to see her in an hour or so. Give her some advance warning."
Garrus immediately started to fidget. "Dad... I am not ready..."
Avitus turned back to Garrus and put his hand on his shoulder.
"I know. I just need to talk to her alone. The battle in the south has finished for the moment but I imagine we will need to make our way back soon enough. I just... I need to see her before we go back. You understand... right?"
Garrus nodded. "I – ah – I'll just pop back to Shepard."
He scurried up the stairs and quickly returned to the room Dione had given them.
The door slid shut quietly behind him.
Shepard was still dozing. He put the tray down on the side table before he opened the box his father had given him.
Garrus let out a breath.
Nestled inside, wrapped up carefully in fabric, was a betrothal bracelet.
It was made of a silvery metal forged in the shape of a very slim tree. Bright blue gemstones hung like fruit from its branches.
Garrus glanced back at Shepard before he carefully picked up her limp hand and slipped the bracelet over it.
It was a little loose but other than that was perfect.
He carefully took it back and held it in his hands.
He just needed the right moment to ask her.
