LTIS - Chapter 9 - Secret's Out

by AlyaESayer

She was over the moon, in less than two hours Kaidan would be docked at the citadel for three days before being shipped out again on another assignment. She made a point to pack her own belongings quickly as she was going to an assignments roughly the same time as he would and she wanted to make the most of their time together.

She looked at her messages to see that there were some new prototypes that she had been asked to check out and she was asked to get that report done by the end of the week. A message from Anderson saying their assignment had been pushed back two weeks due to pilot error, which was a sigh of relief. Then she noticed a message from Kaidan saying there had been a problem with his assignment as the ship was in need of some work done on it.

''Looks like the gang is getting back together tonight?'' smiled Hannah as she walked into the office her and her daughter shared when they were stationed on the citadel

''Oh god does that mean I have to carry you to bed again'' smiled Alya as she turned to face her mother

''Don't worry I only have two bottles of ice brandy here''

''What's the likelihood that Karin has somehow got her hands on a few bottles as well?''

''You just know your god-mother far too well''

''She did help you raise me'' Alya laughed

''You've packed early'' said Hannah as she noticed that for once her daughter was well prepared for whatever assignment was coming her way.

''Yeah Kaidan is going to be around for a while, so I figured get everything ready so I can make the most of him being around'' she smiled

''Where's he staying?''

''I think he's going to be staying at the barracks and pop over every once in a while'' sighed Alya

''You should let him stay here''

''I can't do that'' she sighed

''Why not? Everyone knows you two are close after all the times he got to play bodyguard'' smiled Helen

''You know why I want to keep him secret'' Alya hissed

''I know, but David has been asking when he'll meet him as well''

''Please tell me that you didn't mention he's in the alliance as well?''

''No, I just told him that you've been seeing someone and that your smiling more and more every time I see you''

''Oh god'' sighed Alya

''What time does he dock?'' asked Hannah as she held her mug to her lips

''At two'' smiled Alya

''Then we should get going as I'm meeting Karin when she comes in as well''

''Mum I can meet him on my own'' sighed Alya as she grabbed her N7 hoodie and walked down to the docks with her mother

''I'm not following you I swear, Karin is getting off at dock seven'' smiled Helen

''Oh no'' said Alya as she stopped dead in her tracks

''What's wrong?'' Hannah asked her daughter

''Kaidan's ship is docking there?''

''Enjoy your shore leave, I'll make sure your all updated on our next assignment'' called Anderson

''He can't see me'' said Alya as she turned her back to the crowd who were coming off the clearly battered ship

''Who can't?'' her mother asked with a clearly cheeky smile on her face

''Hannah'' called a familiar male voice

''David'' Helen Shepard called as she walked over to greet the old friend

''Shit'' muttered Alya as she closed her eyes

''Is that my favourite god-daughter?'' he called forcing Alya to turn around and hug the father figure just as Kaidan walked off the ship

''Hi dad'' she half smiled as she approached Anderson

''What have I told you about calling me that?'' he smiled

''What can I say you taught me everything I know about being an alliance soldier'' she hissed making sure she was obviously hinting that Kaidan shouldn't approach her

''Shepard'' shouted Joker. ''You owe me a beer''

''There's the best damn pilot in the alliance'' she smiled as she jogged over and gave him a friendly hug

''Where's your boyfriend?'' he shouted as he looked around for Kaidan

''I don't know what you mean Joker''

''Is this the boyfriend your mother has told me about?'' asked Anderson

''Joker, let me help you to the barracks'' sighed Kaidan knowing that Joker wasn't helping

''There's lover boy'' he shouted

''Joker I will end you'' hissed Alya

''Alya, tell me the truth….. Now'' barked Anderson

''Kaidan and I have been seeing each other for nearly two years now, we kept it secret so far as we were never on the same assignment together'' muttered Alya

''Joker report to the barracks, now''

''Yes sir'' sighed Joker

Captain Anderson let out a loud sigh as he watched Joker hobble out of eyesight and hopefully out of hearing range

''Do you two realise what sort of position this puts me in?'' shouted Anderson

''Sir…..''

''Don't Sir me Alenko, this goes against every regulation in the alliance'' Anderson shouted

''David don't do this'' pleaded Hannah

''What am I meant to do Hannah, we both know they shouldn't be together'' barked Anderson

''Don't you bloody dare take that tone with me, Kaidan helped her cope with everything that she went through during the Blitz and Akuze, she now embraces her biotics because of him. She nearly gave up the service but Kaidan made her see that's she damn good grunt'' barked Hannah

''Hannah….'' pleaded Anderson

''Don't you bloody do this to our girl, we both wanted her to find love, hell you said it yourself that no man in the entire universe would be good enough for her even if he was prepared to put up with her suicidal stunts, but Kaidan does, hell he's probably managed to calm them down by some miracle, which means he's good enough in my books'' shouted Hannah, causing Karin to snigger a little.

''Do you really think you should speak to a superior officer like that?'' shouted Anderson

''You're not my superior officer right now, now then if you will excuse me I want to get to know the man that has finally brought my daughter back to me'' barked Hannah as she pushed Anderson aside, then linked arms with both Kaidan and Alya and walked with them to the flat

''You had that coming'' laughed Doctor Chakwas

''This isn't going to make their next assignment easy'' muttered Anderson

''They'll keep it professional, you know our girl, she will always keep her personal and professional life separate''

''I hope your right, the alliance can't afford to lose either of them'' sighed Anderson

''I should catch up with them, I've got some ice brandy with Hannah's name on it''

At the apartment, Kaidan was welcomed in

''It's been too long since you came over so don't forget to leave your rank and dog tags in the bowl by the door'' smiled Hannah

''Sounds good to me'' smiled Kaidan as he removed his tags and placed them in the bowl, Alya couldn't help but smile as he looked around the apartment.

''It looks bigger than the last time I was here'' he whistled

''Having a famous daughter helped'' smiled Hannah

The doorbell rang, so Alya got up to answer it to see that Karin was at the door armed with brandy.

''She's in the kitchen'' smiled Alya as she hugged Karin and welcomed her in

''That had better not be that arsehole Anderson'' shouted Hannah from the kitchen

''Don't worry mum it's your partner in crime and she's got your favourite''

''God I love that woman'' smiled Hannah as she walked out of the kitchen and welcomed her friend in

''You just had to have a go at him didn't you'' smiled Karin

''What the prick had it coming?'' shrugged Hannah

''Oh Alenko you forgot these cold presses, I figured I should bring them over encase you get a migraine again'' said Karin as she pulled them out of her pocket

''I should be fine, we did have three days of not using our biotics planned'' smiled Kaidan

''I thought you were going to help me test some new amps, while you are here?'' asked Alya

''Do you really think that's a good idea with the way Captain Anderson reacted to us?''

''Relax Kaidan, nothing will happen while your under this roof'' smiled Hannah

''I'll try to but the Captain's opinion on me being with your daughter doesn't exactly help with that'

''Bastard can stuff it'' smiled Hannah as she passed Kaidan a beer than handed one to her own daughter

''Mum, you can't really say that to dad''

''Yes I can and please stop calling him dad''

''I only call him that because it winds you both up'' Alya laughed

''Your right he is good enough for her'' smiled Karin as she was pouring herself a glass of brandy

''Now I'm wondering which one of you two I should be calling mum'' teased Alya

''I would like to apologise for my daughter, being born and raised in the military means she had a very large adoptive family and they are very protective of her''

''That explains why the captain said what he said'' he sighed

''Don't worry about it, we can knock some sense into that old bugger, can't we Hannah?'' said Karin

''Damn straight, if you want to destroy my daughter then you'll have to take me down''

''Should I be more afraid of you or your mother?'' teased Kaidan

''Well played Alenko'' toasted Karin

''Arse'' smiled Alya as she snuggled into Kaidan

A buzz at the door forced Hannah to bark under her breathe as she answered the door, to find David there with a datapad under his arm, his dog tags in one hand and a six pack as a peace offering in the other.

''Not good enough, David'' barked Hannah

''Please I need to explain myself and my outburst''

''You have five minutes before I throw your arse out'' warned Hannah as she opened the door and allowed the captain in, he made a point to give up his tags, allowing Alya and Kaidan enough time to make sure they weren't cuddled up together on the sofa as well as put down their drinks.

''Do you both know what your next assignment is?''

''Yes'' replied Alya and Kaidan

''Who's in charge of the mission?'' he asked

''You'' they both replied then they looked at each other in shock

''Oh damn'' sighed Hannah

''I know it's a classified mission, which is why I had to come here with her favourite drink'' said Anderson as he pointed at Alya

''Oh crap'' sighed Alya as she sat down in shock

''Wait that means…'' said Kaiden

''She's in charge of you son'' sighed Anderson

''It'll be fine David, we know Als and how she works, plus you've always had Alenko working with you''

''What if something goes wrong I can't expect them both to be on ground missions together.'' Anderson sighed as he looked at the girl he had helped raise, Kaidan was clearly not as affected by this as she was, he noticed him trying to comfort her. ''Can I trust both of you to keep this quiet?'' he said in a defeated manner

Alya and Kaidan looked at each other with nothing but love, then looked at Anderson and nodded

''Good, because I don't want to see her cry again'' he sighed with a smile

''Wait does that mean….?'' asked Hannah

''She'll always be more important than my career'' he said in a defeated manner

Alya couldn't help but run up to Anderson and hugged him as her only way of saying thank you

''I meant it Alenko, don't make her cry'' threatened Anderson

''Wouldn't dream of it Sir''

''Please Hannah would have his head before you got the chance to toss him out of the airlock'' laughed Karin

''Why am I suddenly worried that she's the reason you have an obsession with guns?'' asked Kaidan as he pointed at his girlfriend's mother

Anderson nodded with fear in his eyes, then took a seat next to Alenko

''See this scar'' said Anderson as he lifted his shirt and showed off a wound that was on the right side of his ribs. ''Piss head over there gets her hands on a gun in a busy club and shot me after I refused to buy her a drink''

''Hey you can't pin that one on me as I don't remember doing it'' said Hannah

''Like mother like daughter then'' smiled Kaidan

''Damn straight'' smiled Alya as she high fived her mother

''Oh that reminds me what new tech do they want you to test?'' asked Hannah

''Oh god, I need a drink now if their giving each other ideas'' said Anderson as he helped himself to the drinks he had brought over

''Just some amps and some mods for my guns''

''Damn'' sighed Hannah

''Thank god'' laughed Anderson

''Relax it's been years since I last shot you'' smiled Hannah as she walked behind the sofa and placed her hand on Anderson's shoulder

''Yeah and I still have the scars'' he teased

''Oh grow a pair David and be thankful she isn't on the same ship as you'' smiled Karin

''That's very true'' smiled David

''I'm starting to think I should watch my back more often'' said Kaidan

''I wouldn't worry our girl only shots someone if their armed as well, she hasn't attacked anyone with her biotics since that incident at BAaT'' smiled Karin

''How do you know about Baat?'' asked Kaidan

''Alya went there when she was younger, but her and another boy were the reason the whole program was shut down after he killed the man in charge'' sighed Karin

Kaidan couldn't help but rub his eyes, Alya knew what was said hit him hard so he sat down and placed her hand on his knee

''Kaidan was that boy Karin'' she sighed as she looked at the regret on his face

''Oh'' said Karin

''See I told you prefect together'' said Hannah, everyone knew this was aimed at Anderson alone

''Al right I admit defeat, I don't think I've ever seen her this happy but if the brass finds out they won't have a career afterwards''

''Wait does that mean….?'' said Alya

''You heard me, you two can stay together as long as you keep your personal lives away from any assignment you end up doing''. Said Anderson

''We can do that'' smiled Kaidan

''Thanks dad'' said Alya as she leaned over the table to hug Anderson

''Don't thank me yet'' he hissed

''I take it the assignment is still classified'' muttered Karin

''Yeah'' he sighed

''We all agreed no talk of work while we're under this roof'' barked Hannah

''Sorry, thought I did bring over a datapad for Alya to look before we head out on the shakedown run'' sighed David

''Wait, shakedown run, that means it's a prototype ship'' said Hannah as her eyes lit up

''if I say any more I'll lost this post'' said Anderson in a defeated manner with a smile

''She's gorgeous Hannah you should see the ship'' smiled Karin

''I hate you all'' hissed Hannah in a playful manner

''I can't wait to see it'' smiled Alya

''I haven't see that look in your eyes since your surgery'' smiled Karin

''Wait is that the eye surgery you had?'' asked Kaidan

''You remember me telling you that at Brain Camp?''

''She was incredibly brave for going through with it, though having to remove all of those bullets from you wasn't pleasant'' sighed Karin

''I remember it well'' hissed Kaidan

''It looked worse than it actually was'' smiled Alya as she rubbed her shoulder

''Wow you know everything about her, and just so you know it was closer to fifty bullets, though you were only aware of the thirty in your arms and legs.''

''I forgot I passed out not long after the reinforcements arrived and we pushed the Batarian Pirates back'' sighed Alya

''Don't remind me'' sighed Kaidan

''I told you I was fine'' she sighed as she bumped into his side

''and I still worry about you to this day'' smiled Kaidan as he wrapped his arm around her and placed a mall kiss on her forehead

''Well at least I know she'll be safe on any ground missions'' sighed Hannah

''Remind me again of who saved you from that fight outside flux after some guys jumped you'' said Kaidan

''That's not fair you know I was the one who came to your rescue and I kicked their teeth in as they managed to clip your implant'' said Alya

''Oh so you're the mystery man from that night'' sighed Hannah

''Yeah that was me'' he smiled

''I don't want to know'' claimed Anderson

''Oh come on dad like you've never bunked with a fellow Marine before'' teased Alya

''Right we're changing the subject right now'' barked Hannah

Alya looked around and noticed that Karin had coughed at the awkwardness of the conversation, while Anderson and Hannah were refusing to look at each other.

''Did I miss a memo?'' asked Alya

''It's nothing sweetheart'' said Hannah as her cheeks went bright red

''David, what's wrong?'' asked Alya

''It's nothing for you to worry about'' replied Anderson looking down at his drink

''Karin?'' she asked

''Helen you should tell her the truth'' insisted Karin

''I'll take my bag upstairs'' said Kaidan as he tried to get up only to have Alya keeping him sat down

''What are you guys hiding from me?'' Alya shouted causing her biotics to flare up in rage

Hannah and David looked at each other and there was a look that Alya hadn't seen before

''It's time to come clean'' sighed David

''Come clean about what?'' she barked once more

''Als, please calm down and we'll explain everything'' pleaded Hannah

Kaidan finally stood up placing his hand on her shoulder, giving her a look to take a few deep breaths in order to calm down

''I'll get the whiskey'' sighed Karin who disappeared into the kitchen and returned with five small tumblers and a bottle of vintage whiskey

''This can't be good if you've grabbed that bottle'' sighed Alya

''Als, what do you remember about your father?'' asked Hannah

Alya thought for a moment, she knew her father had been an Alliance pilot, all she could remember of him was her saying goodbye to him the day his shuttle exploded

''I only remember the accident'' she sighed then accepted the glass of whiskey from Karin

''Well the truth is yes he was my husband but he wasn't your father'' confessed Hannah

Alya downed the contents of her glass and gestured for her god mother to fill it up once again

''So who is her father?'' asked Kaidan

Alya looked up and waited for her mother to answer her boyfriend's question, but no words came out. Alya turned to face Anderson to see that he had barely touched his drink

''Mum, who's my real dad?'' pleaded Alya

''I am'' replied Anderson

Alya couldn't think of anything to say, instead she burst out laughing at the ridiculous situation she found herself in, at the age of thirty she was faced with her real father, a man who had inspired her to push herself and was always there for her.

''I need some space'' said Alya, then went straight to her room and made sure the room was locked once she grabbed the whiskey off the table.

''I did say that you shouldn't have kept this from her'' sighed Karin

''What about your husband?'' asked Kaidan

''He was a close friend, he was actually gay, but he didn't feel comfortable telling the world about it. We agreed to get married to keep his family happy in the early stages of my pregnancy and it kept the Alliance happy enough about our positions that neither of us would be pestered about Alya'' sighed Karin

Anderson went upstairs to speak to his daughter, but she refused to open the door or even answer to him when he called her name

''Damn it'' hissed Anderson. ''This is why we shouldn't have told her the truth, now she'll never trust us again'' shouted Anderson

''Let me try'' suggested Kaidan

''If anyone can get through to her it's you Kaidan'' smiled Hannah

Kaidan went upstairs and buzzed the door, only to have no answer

''Als, it's me Kaidan. Let me in''

The door was unlocked to see Alya sat at the edge of her bed, clearly confused about everything she knew about her life.

''Als, what's wrong?'' Kaidan asked as he knelt down in front of her

''They lied to me for nearly thirty years Kaidan''

''I know that, but they did it to protect you''

''Bullshit, they did it to protect themselves'' she shouted as she stood up then started to pace the room making sure she kept her temper at bay

''Als think about it, how long have we kept our relationship a secret?''

''This is different'' she barked

''How?'' he shouted

''Because we don't have a child yet'' she shouted then quickly realised what she said and covered her mouth

''Say that again'' he smiled

''No'' she replied then took a huge gulp of the bottle she had in her hand

''You think about us having a child together?'' he asked

Alya sighed, ''sometimes yeah'' she smiled then sat back down and offered the bottle to Kaidan, ''but I'm an N7 Alliance Marine, the more dangerous the mission the higher I am on the list to send down there. If we have a child together he could lose me before he even knows me''

The pair talked for the rest of the day in her room, she had refused to leave it at all, forcing Kaidan to bring her meals up to her.