It had been six months since the Reaper war had ended.

Repairing the damage done hadn't been an easy task but the worlds were slowly finding their way. It wouldn't be a quick process, but they were moving in the right direction.

The worlds had formed a committee with the Councils blessing. It meant that resources, ideas, and people could be traded easily. The Quarians and the Geth provided their technical abilities. The Krogan provided the strength. The Turians provided their ability for minute detail. The Asari provided their biotics and knowledge. The Humans provided their architectural and knack for find resources in the arse end of nowhere. The worlds had wiped the slate clean and formed a fragile alliance to ensure rebuilding was possible.

Shepard had recovered well from her injuries, although her left eye was never same after lying in complete darkness for so long. She happily accepted the price of being alive, for she adapted to what little vision she had in that eye.

The Alliance were unhappy when Shepard applied for retirement. They did everything in their power to convince her stay, but it was all in vain. She had done more than her duty and she didn't want to give the rest of her life to service, not when she had a husband and two children to think about.

They had settled into a normal life. Cassius and Lucian kept them busy, being two boisterous boys whose main interests were climbing and eating. Cassius was about to turn 2 and had the speed of bullet. Lucian had turned 1 and tried as much as he could to chase after his older brother. They were mummy's boys, Sparatus decided. He had his own special bond with both of his sons, but he couldn't help but smile at the way their eyes lit up when they saw their mother. Despite the fact that she wasn't Turian, she could read them easily.

One of the biggest changes for them was the welcome presence of Sparatus' mother. Not long after Shepard was found, Tulcia visited her in hospital. Sparatus had been out at the time getting food with the boys. They talked a little and Tulcia asked Shepard to take care of her son and grandsons. Before she left, she gave Shepard a letter for Sparatus, telling her to only give him the letter if Shepard could forgive Tulcia for her attitude towards her.

Shepard gave him the letter, but it was several days before he actually decided to read it. Afterwards, he was distant and sad, like he was trying to sort through nearly 50 years of bitterness, rejection, and sadness. Eventually, he gave Shepard the letter to read and she understood. Tulcia poured her heart out to her son, apologising for her disgraceful behaviour towards him over the years. How much she was proud of the man he was. How glad she was that he found love he truly deserves and how much of a wonderful father he was.

She asked for a chance, to be a part of his family and to be a better grandmother than she was a mother. But, she understood if he couldn't forgive her and she felt like she didn't deserve to be.

Shepard and Sparatus discussed it and agreed to allow her visits to meet and bond with the boys. Tulcia then met Hannah and the pair quickly became friends. Whenever Hannah could, she helped Tulcia care for the boys while their parents worked. Hannah split her time between the Citadel and Palaven, travelling back and forth with Adrien, her new husband.

Today was an important day for Shepard and Sparatus.

Today was the day they would find out if their family would be growing. The embryos taken from Cerberus were found to be viable despite only having a single DNA contributor. According to the scientists who studied them extensively, Cerberus had successfully created the embryos and immediately put them in storage. It made Shepard happy to know that they hadn't been changed in any way.

Hannah, Adrien and Tulcia arrived as they were going to baby sit the boys. Curiously, Oraka also arrived with Tulcia, causing Shepard and Sparatus to share a knowing look.

Sparatus waited to get his mother alone in the kitchen to question her. "Something to share, mother?" He asked.

"What's that, son?"

"Oraka?" His mandibles fluttered suspiciously. "What about father?"

Tulcia sighed. "You taught me a very important lesson, my boy. All my life I spent doing things I didn't want. I got married because I had to. I mistreated my son because the alternative was worse. Iden is dead and I will cling to his memory, but I must start living. For you, my family and more importantly, me. Your father will move on as I have."

"Does he make you happy?" Sparatus asked softly, already knowing the answer.

"He does."

"Then that makes me happy."

Tulcia's subvocals cried with emotion. After years of feeling like she would drown in expectation and fear, she finally found the shore with her family waiting for her and a man who makes it clear how he feels about her.

Time had come for Shepard and Sparatus to head to the clinic.

Shepard sat silently waiting and hoping for the best news but prepared for the worst. Her nerves shot up when they were called in for the appointment. Sparatus clutched her hand while she lay on the bed to have her womb scanned.

When they returned home, the family had turned to them with bated breath, saying nothing but Hannah who quickly stood up.

"Well?" She asked.

"It worked."