Chapter 15: Family Women
After Liara saw to Zia's needs she made it very clear she wanted to recover in her—their home not at the monastery. Nedh'bereth of course arranged for transport via her bondmate Leigh'Malacar vas Nos Austra.
This time when the quarian met the family she was garbed in the familiar quarian styled environmental suit. The sarong, hood and greave-coverings were of white and the light-green of sea foam—indicating her devotion to the monastery and the philosophy of Sari.
Once home the babies securely and tightly in swaddling blankets-sleeping contently were placed tenderly in the nest of the Mosses basket. Both Naneth and Arda-Mommy and Mamma stared, amazed and the tiny lives before them. Baby watching the great pastime of all new parents, how many hours did they lose to it, they could never tell you and even if they could they never cared. It wasn't waste to look at your children with fondness and absolute love.
Sam turned to her wife, pressed her forehead to Liara's and kissed her. "Get some sleep, Angel Eyes. I'll watch over you."
"What if I want you to be at my side?"
"Even if I'm not physically there, I am always there." She cupped her wife's chin with her hand, brushing the plumpness of Liara's cheek with the pad of her thumb. Liara leaned into the touch—savoring it.
Samantha's words were true, Liara could always feel the essence of her bondmate though their bond, stronger now than ever before. Tired even after her brief nap back at the monastery Liara agreed to the sensible request. "Maybe just for a little while. I'll just rest my eyes."
"For a little while." Sam repeated. After she tucked her wife into her bed, the Spectre turned to her children.
Sam just stared.
She couldn't help it. Five hours ago these two little lives weren't even here! And now she had two daughters. Two beautiful gorgeous itty-bitty tiny daughters. And it struck like a thunderclap she was now a mom! Something she never thought she'd ever become.
She just stared.
She was kneeling over the rim of what human's called a Moses Basket, her chin resting upon her folded arms watching as her daughters contentedly slumbered. Their bellies full, their little lives tranquil and above all to Sam—protected. She cut a glance over her shoulder to her wife. Despite her feeble protests before, the young mother was soundly sleeping. Of course it helped Liara relax being in their own bed, in their own apartment in one of the most secure high-rises in Nos Austra.
Sam fell in love with her wife all over again. It was like hearing those tentative hesitant words back on Therum 'Um Hello? Anyone out there? Please, I need help…' As soon as Shepard heard her her heart fluttered a bit. When she saw the trapped asari within the bubble her heart fluttered once more. Even trapped as she was Liara was the picture of dignity.
Seeing her love in labour—her body racked with birthing pain as she brought her daughters into the world, Liara was the very icon of perfection. Now exhausted, and recovering from giving birth to twins Liara was never more beautiful, never more astonishing.
Her daughters, they were equally astonishing. When she was still as child of sixteen Sam had the fortune to see a super nova while her mother was still stationed on the Einstein. Even that extraordinary stellar phenomena could not compare to seeing these two little lives breathing—seeing them alive.
Carefully Sam rose up, leaned over the edge of the bassinet, placed gentle kisses upon the brows of her children and padded over to her bondmate. She shirked off her trousers—as she was already walking around barefooted – a luxury she rarely afforded herself even in her own quarters aboard the Normandy. The rest of her clothes followed quickly, tee-shirt and bra and underwear. She wanted to feel Liara's skin next to hers even in this very limited time allotted to her.
Liara uttered a very contented sigh, a smile slipped on her purple lips before she nestled back into slumber. Sam slipped her arm under Liara's, cupped her full breast and snuggled close to her wife's naked back. Well she was almost naked. Liara wore a nursing bra to stave-off leaking issues that came with lactating.
"You are incredible." Sam whispered, breathing in her wife's scent, soaking up the warmth emanating from the bond.
Because of the events of the birthing that connection was now hyperaware, Sam had all intentions of basking it its glow while she could. She smiled as almost as instantly Shepard laid her head down, Liara cuddled up to her seeking to steal the body-warmth from her wife. True to form, Liara's feet were ice cold as they brushed up against Sam's shins. Once upon a time Sam's eyes would have snapped open at the sudden shock of cold-flesh touching her, mouthed a word of complaint but now that same shocking touch was simply home and very welcomed. She had a day maybe two to indulge in this feeling before she had to go through the Omega Four Relay.
ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ME
"How many hours that first few days did you spend staring at your 'Sammy'?" Aethyta asked tossing back her fourth Serrice-Iced Brandy. Once the glass was empty she filled it up and waited patiently for Hannah to do the same so that the snifter could be filled up once again.
The human shook her head. "I couldn't honestly tell you. A lot of them. You?"
"With Liara?" a very palpable sadness washed over the matriarch features. "Not many."
"Oh frack me….I totally forgot. I am sorry." Hannah felt the creeping sensation of a blush crawling up her neck, hit her ears and strike her tanned cheeks. As a high ranking, highly disciplined, highly decorated Naval Officer Hannah Shepard was extremely adept at schooling her expressions and not giving away her thoughts or what she was feeling in such a blatant outward display. But deep into her cups and with such pleasurable and disarming personality such as her fellow grandmother, the elder Shepard allowed her shields to lower. Considerably.
"No worries babe." a deep sigh. "I missed out so much on Liara's life but …not as much as Shi'ara."
"I'm still wrapping my head around that one."
"Which part?"
"Well all of it. You and Shi'ara are both Liara's …father?" the last word was hesitantly, spoken as if using the masculine term felt alien in the mouth of the Admiral as she referred to the Matriarch.
"Technically only I am. A trinity isn't unheard of. It's not widely practiced but hell….if you think Nezzy being with a loudmouthed uncouth matriarch turned bartender and a consort is odd, then this one will blow your mind. I have good friend…a Commander of a commando squad named Talein's Daughters: Nisira T'Kosh. She has two bondmates both male: one a turian-one a krogan."
Hannah nearly choked on her brandy. "That's…gotta be interesting."
"Imagine the threesome."
"I'm trying not to." Hannah filled her glass and drained in one and refilled it. "And it works?"
Aethyta shrugged noncommittally. "The men get into fist fights every-so-often. But yeah it works for the most part. Nis has a very big—very sturdy bed."
To this Hannah laughed boisterously. So much so she gained looks from the other patrons of Eternity Lounge.
"But for your question, Shi'ara added to the Joining but Nezzy pulled me. Liara is all mine. Shi…well to be honest if she added anything to Liara, it was my girl's ability to 'sashay' those hips of hers, or trail her hand against a flat surface in a genteel—seductive way—that's Consort talents. Even without thinking about it. Bet it sure got your Sammy's attention. Of Course Nezzy could do it to. She sent plenty of tongues wagging. Though if I'm going to be honest Nezzy never bothered to sway her hips, with that rack she didn't have to."
"Me…I'm' not that eloquent. Or seductive. Only tongue I set wagging was Nezzy's."
Hannah grinned. They had switched from drinking iced brandy to something Aethyta only called a 'mystery drink.' It was a favorite amongst the patrons of the Eternity Lounge. In fact Shepard (the younger) enjoyed it quite often.
"Back to your question about baby-staring, with my other daughters: my first born Nuruodo and her sister Ar'alani—yeah I stared for hours. They are only five years apart. But hell they are almost Matriarchs. Both have daughters of their own and granddaughters—too. Little Wing is the baby of my girls. And her girls…what can I say I'm an indulgent grandfather."
A queer look flashed in Hannah's eyes, Aethyta smirked. "I see where 'Sammy' gets it. Father didn't rest well on her tongue anymore than it does yours."
"Not entirely, no." Hannah held up her hand and shook her head. "Don't bother telling me, I am an anthropomorphic bag of dicks. Be both know that isn't true from the eyeful you got at the monastery." a teasing smile.
Aethyta paused for a moment. Then looked at the tanned skinned human woman. "Your people—not humans…"
"You mean the Salish? What of them?"
"You have different words for grandparents, depending upon who side of the family they are on. So you could end up with four different names. Seems to be a little complex for a simple identifier."
A nod. "From the outside, yes, I suppose it may be. Salishan languages are known for their polysynthetic nature." Hannah sipped her drink. "Let me see if I can break it down a little more.
"In Salishan there is a complete lack of lexical distinction between nouns and verbs or rather I guess they are neutralized. You see Salishan is omnipredicative. It can be a little confusing because only the speaker's knowledge is relevant. The listener's knowledge or lack thereof is not conventionally regarded by either party in the conversation. And you haven't been raised or schooled to think of the language in that way trying to fit it in Alliance Common it really doesn't work.
"As for grandparents. I find it easier to understand. Take English…you have to state which grandmother you are talking about? Grandma Hannah or Grandma Aethyta? Well I suppose different countries will say something a little different, Nan, Nanna, Grandmum, Grandmother.
"In Salishan it's easier. Depending upon which side of the lineage the grandparent comes from. A father's parents have their own words as do the mothers. Considering Sam is the 'daddy' er Ada…I am ken-aa, it means father's mother. If Sammy gave birth then I'd be ỳai-yá. It means mother's mother.
"Mére is mother, so if the twins are going to be polyglots then that is the Salishan word for Liara. Making my Sam to be Pére. As you may have guessed it means father.
"Sam tended to lean towards Ma especially if she was particularly emotional. When she was a toddler it was Mamma. When she got pissed at me it was Mére, used in the same way most kids say 'MOTHER!' Nowadays it's just Mom. But if I'm being honest I do like the sound of Mére."
Aethyta tasted the words and found she actually enjoyed saying them. She even managed the guttural-clicking sound that came with pronouncing the first consonant in Ỳai-yá. Though she too would be considered ken-aa as she was Liara's father, not her mother. Knowing Nezzy as Aethyta had no doubt her ex would have accepted being called Ỳai-yá by her granddaughters. Nezzy was inclusive that. She was all about making bridges between the species.
"The asarian word for mother is too close to one of those words, Naneth…shortened often times to Nan I guess it's the same as the human word mommy. Just like Ada is shortened from Arda."
Another sip of her brandy Fuck it. This is for you Nezzy…me being all political and polite…and family. What a kick in the quads.
"Tell you what babe you teach me how to speak in Salish and I will teach you Asari…without the use of our universal translators. Besides the way you described it, your Salishan isn't that different than ancient Asarian"
Hannah snickered. "Nice thought but that will take time, I don't have a lot of furlough left."
"You're forgetting one important thing there Admiral."
"What's that?"
"Asari." Aethyta tapped her temple. "I can transfer my knowledge directly into your mind and can pull a bit from you if you let me."
Hannah though about it then shook her head. "Sorry but I got a lot of highly sensitive things rolling around in my head, highly confidential… I can't. No matter how intrigued I am about linking minds."
"Not looking for anything in the confidential arena, babe. I may not be a commando but my mother was. I know how it is. Just think everything you know about the Salish. I won't go any further than that.
"We both know Little Wing did it for your Sammy when she was trying to help your kid sort out all those fracking visions from the beacons. Not to mention the cipher and all the other prothean shit that tried to scramble Sam's mind. Little Wing didn't go further than Sam allowed her and I'm a hell of a lot more experienced than she. Besides the Kid never linked minds outside her mother or Erui- beor Shiala, she would have been woozy after such a connection to an alien mind for the first couple of times. I wont' be.
"If my grandkids are half Salish, don't you think I should know a thing or two about it? And you can stand to know a bit more about asari."
Once more the Admiral thought about the offer and slowly nodded her head. "Not here."
"Of course not. Too public, even the staff canteen or strippers dressing room is far too public. I got a place far more private."
Hannah shared the same lopsided smirk her daughter held. "You know if this is a way to get me alone in a hotel room… this is a very unique pick-up line."
"Trust me babe. If I offered you a pick-up line to get into your pants I won't have to try so hard. Oh and lesson one. To the grandkids. I'm Atardi or Atar for their little mouths."
"I like it. Atar. Sounds good. You know while we're at it, not that'll come up but I know our grandkids are one-eighth krogan. On top of that I think Sammy adopted a krogan son, that young one with the blue eyes calling himself Grunt. He follows her around like a varren whelp."
"Yeah something like that, Sam's his Battlemaster. From what Little Wing told me, Sam was the one that opened his tank, and accompanied him on his Rites of Passage—leader of his Krant. Hell, they killed a thresher maw on foot. Hell of a feat.
"Then there's old 'Uncle Wrex.'. So…ch'yah…hic….I think I could stand to learn a few things about that side of the family as well. Not the headbutting or bloodrage stuff. I know about that."
"Well aint that a kick in the quads!" Aethyta grinned and draped her arm over Hannah's shoulders. "Like I said I've got a place." a coy smile, "in Azura."
"I always wondered about that hotel." Hannah said trying to walk straight but failing. "What kind of place is it? From what I heard it's a little racy."
Aethyta smiled—shark like. And quite literally stole Liara's explanation. "It is…more liberal than you might be accustomed to, Admiral. Azura is slang on Nos Austra for a certain part of the asari body."
"Where?" Hannah turned to her escort. Was it her or was Aethyta suddenly sporting pink make-up and looking a hell of a lot younger? What in the hell was in that last 'mystery drink' anyway?
"In the lower reaches near the bottom."
"I meant…hic….where on the asari body."
The grin went super nova. Like Ada like Rél: "So did I."
For the second time that night, Admiral Hannah Secura Shepard blushed.
By now Hannah was leaning on Aethyta to gain some semblance of balance. Whatever was in that 'Mystery Drink'….was some seriously-strong-shit. She never recalled ever 'listing' so terribly to port before or starboard for that matter. If she were on a ship the Admiral would have thought that artificial gravity stabilizers were offline. But as it were she was planetside and simply drunk and in the company of a very flirtatious Matriarch.
Here's to being family women! Here's to being a grandmother….no not mere grandmothers. They were Atar and Ken-aa!
ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME
Liara rose from her nap to find her children and her bondmate still slumbering. There was a strange ghost of a smile on Samantha's bow-shaped lips. It suddenly occurred to the prothean expert that her wife's expression was due to the fact she was content. At peace. It was not something that was often found on the Spectre. Constantly plagued by obligations as a Spectre, an Alliance officer, the forerunner of trying to gain allies, powers, and resources for the war that to come, left Samantha with precious few moments which she could truly call her own.
The Reapers.
In the next few days Samantha was going to go through the Omega Four Relay to bring the battle to the Collector's own doorstep, in order to save countless human lives that would never know they owned their continued existence to a small crew aboard a captured frigate. Or to the Commander who would never give up, never stop, and never surrender her will to the Reapers even if it killed her in order to stop them
Blue eyes welled with tears worry, adoration and fear. She leaned over, pressed her lips to Samantha's forehead. "I gave you a reason to come back to me." She uttered in whisper that barely crossed the line between inaudible and audible. Blue fingers trailed along the forelock of her wife's thick dark locks. The smile on ruby lips broadened but yet Samantha did not waken. Rarely did the Commander sleep so well or so deeply. Liara knew her beloved was plagued by nightmares—horrible terrible nightmares-birthed from the visions of the cipher, the beacons and the Reapers themselves. It left Liara with a deep sense of sorrow for her Samantha even before they became a couple back on the Normandy SR1.
The only time Samantha slept soundly was when she heard the sound of her wife's heartbeat. And thus Liara had used a medical omni tool to record the sound of her own heartbeat and downloaded it into micro-OSDs which were counseled in ear-buds. A second recording was made that contained the heartbeats of their children whilst still in the womb.
There was a slight mewling murmur from the bassinet at the side of the bed. Instinctively Liara rolled over to check on her daughters to find them both still soundly sleeping. Scooting closer to the edge of the bed so that she might physically reach her children she reached over and placed tender fingers simultaneously on their sculpted crests. They did not stir but their minds reacted reaching for the ever familiar presence of Liara's mind as it had always touched them while they were in the deep warmth and security of the womb.
'Nan is here my sweet ones, my Little Squirrels. Mamma is too. She so longed to see you, to meet you both. Know our love for you is greater than the great expanse of the Void.' the words were not spoken but sent into their newborns minds—into their souls.
It was a promise Liara had made to herself that she would always send them—speak them to her daughters. Samantha was a human Spectre, time and circumstance may not be something the great Commander could afford for both could so very easily and crawly cruelly be snatched away from Samantha. Their children may grow up without ever truly knowing their Ada—Mamma, but for Liara's vow. She had long ago resolved the Squirrels would know Samantha's voice and because of the gestalt they would know some semblance of her thoughts when she was not present. They would see her holo-pics and if the worst should come they would know her through the VI Liara had commissioned. But those measures would not be necessary, Liara willed it so, demanded it be so, Samantha would return from the Omega Four Relay to her and to their girls.
"I will." Samantha muttered softly. Her arms coiled around her wife's body cuddling her from behind, her legs on either side of Liara's so that she was astride. "I will always come back to you." Sam rested her chin on Liara's bare shoulder and snuck in a swift peck on a soft scaled cheek. And for a moment just the moment they were simply family women.
Liara shifted in the arms that held her. "Come, I want a shower. Join me."
Sam was on her feet almost immediately. "Absolutely." A faulted step as she looked to her daughters. "We shouldn't leave them alone."
Liara's bemused smile held an air of chiding knowledge. "They won't be. The Nanny-VI is active Melethril. Any movement; the slightest shift in breathing that indicates the girls are awake it will alert us."
Of course! She had all but forgotten about that handy little drone. The Nanny-VI was something Sam had bought when they were expecting Secura. Like everything else that was once intended for their firstborn the VI was placed in storage after that tragic day. When Benezia was first expected Liara had everything taken from storage and restored. When Liara discovered she was going to have twins she had everything doubled. Well almost everything. Something didn't need doubling: such as the Moses basket. Unlike other races that had multiple births asari twins loathed to be separated as newborns. They would become fussy; unable to sleep properly or even feed from their mothers. It was due of course to the neuro-link they share with another whilst within the womb.
Even as asari twins grew into maidenhood and their later stages twins shard a very unique bond, very strong bond though not as close as a soul-bond but strong nonetheless. And there was always a very deep empathic connection. Even less than a day old that connection was very evident in the Squirrels.
ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME
The crew of the Normandy spent the unexpected down time doing various entertaining activities: Zaeed, Jack and Grunt had fun at one of the Armax Arsenal Arenas Miranda migrated towards Azure Hotel to have a spa day. Kasumi and Joker spent their time at the casinos: one trying to play the game the other cheating it. As for Mordin he enjoyed his down time at many of the vast libraries Nos Astra provided: there was much research he dearly decided to recheck and reevaluate with his own findings—on several levels. One such aspect was to ensure the perfect conception of a turian /quarian hybrids.
Samara had decided to venture to the Temple of Athame and meditate upon the 5000 sutras of the Justicar Code
Having mothered three children she knew this time was critical for mothers and bonded Arda. Samara knew from personal experience what it was to birth twins: her youngest daughters: Falere and Rila. Like their sister however the girls were ardat yakshi but unlike Morinth they had consented to live out their lives in section within the Monastery on Lesuss.
Samara knelt before the altar of the goddess; her prayers this day were for new mothers and their new babes. Of course a fraction of her mind ventured to the celebrations she and her bondmate celebrated with their daughters' births
Traditionally every new mother celebrates the birth of her child with a feast. Indeed such a celebration was called 'Mereth -Yestanesse' or feast of the firstborn. Of course any daughter after was also celebrated but the firstborn was always a monumental milestone for any matron celebrating the birth of her first daughter.
Samara's cheeks burned with remorse as she recalledMirala's Mereth-Yestanesse. How happy she and her bondmate Ysanne were. Like Samara Ysanne once belonged to a merc guild. They ran together on missions, smuggling jobs, even assassinations, dancing, sleeping around with other mercs, during that time they started exploring their deeper feelings for one another. Ysanne got out when a mission went bad. Samara got out herself after she turned on her crew during a transport mission, she freed the slaves.
It wasn't until she joined an amateur Skyball League that she met Ysanne once more. They settled down, bought a four bedroom house in Serrice and started a family. First came Mirala, five years later Falere and Rila.
Mirala… She was: smart, bold, fearless…full of smiles and 'look at me Naneth! Look what I can do Ada!' when she was still a toddler and her sisters newly born Mirala had boldly proclaimed: 'I'm going to be a Commando, Naneth! I will make sure Thessia is always safe! I'll protect Falere and Rila.'
In that private alcove of the monastery the Justicar who saw only in black and white allowed the family woman buried deep within herself five private moments of reflective remorse: One for when her daughters diagnosed as ardat-yakshi and were forced to live in seclusion on Larissa. One for Ysanne who died in a senseless skycar accident coming home from practice with the team not long after the twins turned twenty. One for when Mirala became Morinth, another for the moment Samara took the Oath of Solitude and had to say goodbye to her two remaining daughters. The last was when Commander Shepard gave Morinth a true burial.
Now was not the time for remorse. Now was the time for rejoicing in the celebration of new life. Lives that Shepard may never see again. The Commander knew in the marrow of her bones as they all did and accepted they may well never return from this suicide mission. What little time the Commander had with her family was precious and to be treasured.
ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME~ ME~ME
"Notice something Angel Eyes?" Sam said coming out the bathroom a towel draped over her head as she rubbed dry her hair."
Liara was noticing something alright; she was enjoying the view of her semi-nude bondmate padding around the apartment. She was wearing only her boxer shorts, the towel once used was draped over Sam's shoulders, the ends long enough covered the tips of her breasts.
Liara smiled and handed her lover one of her own tee-shirts as she was wearing Sam's N7 strappy. "What is it you wish for me to notice?"
"We have a distinct lack of grandparents?"
"Perhaps they decided to give us the day. Just the four of us."
"Yeah probably. Your Ada maybe an old hat at being a grandmother, but Mom, this is her first go around. After today she's back on duty." Sam shirked on the tee-shirt, her head popping out from the neck-hole, mussing up her already unruly hair even further.
"Same as you. You leave tomorrow don't you?"
The Spectre took three steps closer to her wife and kissed her. She didn't give an answer straight off but looked down at her daughters who were only now wakening. "I have to." her hand reached down and touched each of her daughter's crests. "Now more than ever. Li, on Horizon we managed only to save half the population, a lot of families were taken." She looked to her daughters. "A lot of families destroyed." She looked down at the daughters. "I can't let that happen. We both know what that loss, Li.. I have to stop the Collectors from taking more people."
Liara placed her hand over her wife's "Always the hero."
"Ughsh…did you have to use the H-word?" Sam looked disgusted. "Heroes are over-inflated egoists. I just do my job: a Spectre and an Alliance officer."
"Melethril, that what makes you the hero barring the over-inflated ego. People see you as a hero, brave, self-sacrificing, facing danger head on and overcoming impossible odds. Fighting for those who can not fight for themselves. Ask those on Eden Prime, Elysium or Terra Nova or even the Citadel. And how many others owe you their lives for your actions?"
"What a terrible legacy to leave our girls." Sam muttered.
"You won't be leaving them. Or me" Liara said sternly. "You will be returning to us. You already made that vow."
"Just saying love, huge legacies you and I both know what that is to be apart of. We're both defined by our parents' legacies. And like it or not theirs will to." she nodded towards the bassinet.
"Then let it be a living legacy." Liara said firmly. "Did you not promise marriage, old age and a lot of little blue children?"
"We nailed as the first one, got a good head-start on the last one as for the middle well, we'll work on that one."
The mewling sounds from Han and Zia drew their attention away from their current distraction to their daughters' immediate needs. A purely domestic moment in the chaos that was the galaxy at war.
"So how are our granddaughters faring?" Hannah Shepard asked as she came into the living room of Liara's apartment followed closely by Aethyta who let her in. She approached her daughter expecting to be allowed to cradle her namesake.
It took a moment for Sam to realize that her mother was speaking in Asarian.
"Mom?" Her face contorted in a puzzled expression even as she passed her daughter over.
"A little cultural exchange." Aethyta explained yet her words were spoken in Salishan.
Liara turned to her wife and smiled. "Knowledge transfer. Not unlike what we did my love."
"I sorta hope it was very unlike what we did." Sam smirked.
"Oooh did you share a knowledge bond post coitus?"
"Goddess, Ada! Really!" Liara scolded.
To this the elder asari chuckled throatily. "Yeah Han, it was after they had sex."
"Ali, you tease our girls relentlessly." Hannah chided even as she softly rubbed the soft crest of her granddaughter. The scales so very tiny reminded the Admiral of the soft velvet of a horse's muzzle.
"It's my privilege. Yours too Han, look how they squirm."
"I'll leave the teasing to you Ali; I'm content on spoiling my granddaughters."
Sam did a double take. This was not her mother who expected her orders to be carried out without question or hesitation. It had always been thus, every since Sam could recall. At two Hannah had her daughter running a miniaturized obstacle course. At four she could strip down, clean and reassemble a Carnifax pistol. At six she was leaping from shuttles with parachutes. Of course she did this with a handful of other officer's children.
Of course there were the quiet moments, the soft moments when Hannah would tuck her child into bed 'reading' their made-up stories about Captain Sam and her fearless crew aboard her starship. Those stories became more frequent the more Sam suffered her headaches from the surge of her biotic powers manifesting.
Hannah looked from one granddaughter to the next. At least they will be spared the suffering their Pére went though. It was something Hannah would never forgive herself for—for not getting her daughter implanted earlier. Thirteen was far too late…
Perhaps by instinct Sam knew what was running through her mother's mind she placed a tender hand on her shoulder. "Ma… Mére it's okay. I think the regs change once you get to be a Ken-aa." She leaned closer and whispered for her mother's ears alone. "Mére watch over my daughters and my wife if the mission past the relay doesn't end with a Normandy victory."
"You have my word, Sammy." This was an Admiral's voice that answered; she long knew the truth that missions could end in death. The promise her child asked of her now was the same promise she asked of David Anderson. The man was still keeping to that promise. In a way he was her Trusted the same as Garrus Vakarian was the Trusted of Sam. "But you'll be coming back; after all you made a promise to your family did you not?"
Sam nodded. "Many times."
"Come, before tomorrow's goodbyes there is a feast for today." Aethyta said. "I missed out on yours Kiddo; I want to enjoy my granddaughters' Mereth-Yestanesse."
The Matriarch led the way into the kitchen and started to decant many of the food stuffs she and Hannah had purchased. Both previously admitting to one another that neither one of them had any culinary skill to speak of that didn't involve opening an MRE pack and heating it up. Too many years on a starship for one and too many years not giving a damn to learn for the other.
"You two take a seat the old ladies will take care of things." Hannah commanded. She handed her namesake back to her Mamma, then took Zia into her arms kissed her brow. The tiny hand wrapped around her grandmother's finger and held it tightly.
"Oh that's a grip, you'll make a good soldier…maybe the first asari N7….hum? What do you think Sammy?"
"I think the red and black will look good on her. Even the dress blues." Sam grinned touching Zia's tiny face.
Aethyta and Liara exchanged a look. "Red and black ehe? Not commando leathers?" came the Matriarch's challenge.
"Well…she is half human." Sam shrugged.
"And what of our other daughter?"
"A great scholar like her Mom." Sam caressed the plump cheek of the babe in her arms. "Or an artist or a musician or…" she looked to her 'father'-in –law "a bar tender.' Same as Zia they can choose to be whatever they want to be. Right now all they have to be is healthy and alive. I'm content with that. And more content when I save them and their mother from the Reapers.
"Speaking of saving, once you return from your little jaunt beyond the Omega Four Relay how long do you intend on staying with your new family." Aethyta challenged not unkindly.
"As long as I can." an honest answer. "Officially I'm not actually a part of the Alliance Military at all. As a Spectre well I think the Council will be happy to see me take some down time with the family. But there will be an inquest. And I don't know how long that will take."
"An inquest?" Liara frowned. "Surely they will not dare to persecute you for doing the right thing."
Sam turned to her wife. "If we hadn't succeeded in stopping Saren and were still alive I would have been court marshaled for stealing the Normandy."
"You are a Spectre, you can not be held to account by the laws of the Alliance Military, the fact they took your ship away in the first place was a criminal act!" Liara all but snapped. In her arms Zia fussed a second latter so did Hannah.
"Li, it was set up from the beginning we both know that the Council's words to Udina him impounding the Normandy all of it. I'm pretty much expecting the same kind of shit after we get back."
Liara cradled her child to her breast trying to calm the babe as did Sam
"How much trouble are you expecting." Hannah became serious.
"A lot. TIMmy has been spreading rumors about defecting because the Council and the Alliance both refuse to do anything about the colony attacks and the Reapers. They've made claims that because Cerberus offered me a ship…one I stole but TIMmy left that part out. And it will be equally forgotten that the Council took advantage of this little supposed partnership to discover where TIMmy was hiding out. It will also be conveniently forgotten that solid Intel I passed to the Alliance has allowed them to strike several of Cerberus bases of operation.
"TIM made a thorough job painting me the traitor. There are some that will believe me disgraced. Ash proved that back on Horizon."
"Sam, Hackett, me and Anderson hell even Karin will not allow a white-wash and toss you under the bus."
"I may no longer serve the Matriarchy but I have more than a few ears willing to turn their attention to me and lend their voices if I but ask them. Railroading you won't happen. It's good to be married into a propionate family. One of the first families of Thessia." At Liara's grimace Aethyta amended her comment. "Liara is still a daughter of Thessia and so are her newborns, as her recognized bondmate you have Thessian rights."
"I wish it was going to be that easy but I don't think it will be. There will be comparisons to Saren. Even the rumors of me joining with Cerberus marks me as having gone rogue just like he did." She looked to her wife.
"And you have a T'Soni at your side who has practiced shady dealings."
"You even threatened to flay someone with your mind or challenged to send an asari commando unit after them. Yeah that won't look good." Aethyta admitted.
"It also won't look good considering my crew. Two Cerberus defectors, a known and ruthless bounty hunter, the best thief in the galaxy though she is not the most famous, a former agent of the salarian STG who well is not favored by Dalatrasses any more. If he were he wouldn't have been living out his days on Omega running a free clinic. I also have a drell assassin who's going to die from an incurable disease. And I have two souls whose dedication and loyalty to me and mine is unshakable." Sam paused-cleared her throat. "I also have an extremely advanced warship whose design was stolen by the very organization outlawed in all Council Space and even associating wit them is treason. And…it's….has a highly advanced AI installed." a puff of air "And I have a geth."
"WHAT!" both elder women barked out in astonishment.
The children started and began to whine.
"Sam…what were you thinking. Were you thinking?" Hannah was all fire. "That is the single most stupid thing you have ever done!"
Sam for her part was trying to sooth her daughter as much as Liara was little Zia.
"You. Have. An. Active. Geth. Seriously?" Aethyta growled. "Oh yeah there is no stopping anyone comparing you that nut-job bastard Saren now."
"Can we not shout," Liara commanded attention, thought that proved to be a challenge as she had to raise her voice over the babies' wails.
The adults in the room grew silent as both mothers desperately tried to sooth their children. After half an hour had past the babies fears were soothed, tears tried and they stilled. Both grandparents had the decency to looked chagrinned.
"No more shouting." Liara demanded—insuring her voice was low and measured. They came out almost as a hiss. "This is supposed to be a celebratory time." she said with a growl. "My daughters are barely a day old and my bondmate is going on a mission she may never come back from. These last hours maybe the last we have as a true family. I will not have it ruined by drama that can not be changed with shouts. Or harsh words. Or angry rants. Or questions. I have every intention of enjoying my family while it is here! That number can be reduced by two if you two cannot control yourselves, I do not care if you are admirals or matriarchs, not on this day."
Both elder women looked to one another then back to their daughters.
"Hey Kiddo…." Aethyta touched her daughter's shoulder. Her tone very much time soft, pliant—apologetic. "Little Wing, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset your daughters or the Mereth-Yestanesse."
"Sammy…Liara…" The Admiral went to her grandchildren and touched each forehead. "You're right this is supposed to be a happy celebration." She looked at all the containers and plates that had food already upon them. "There's a lot of food to dig into and this tastes a lot better than the grub they serve in mess."
Sam shifted little Hannah in her arm and draped the other around her mother. "Ma you do realize that even though this isn't Thessia, Nos Austra is an asari world."
"Is that why I see a lot of blue women around? I wondered about that. "
Sam rolled her eyes the only way a daughter could before their mothers. "What I mean is that all the food with have eezo in it. And you're the only non-Biotic here; the food might taste a little weird to you."
"I know, Honey. Did you forget your wedding feast? I was there for it. I think I can handle eating a bit of eezo."
"Well babe, you drank plenty of it earlier today toasting our grandchildren." Aethyta chuckled which in turn earned warm soft laugh from the Admiral. It was soft in a way Sam had not heard in a long time coming from her mother. The only other time she heard her mother thus was when Admiral Hackett came calling.
Sam grinned and shared a knowing look with her wife. Both wondered if their parents had shared more than bottles of brandy and a knowledge bond. At the moment neither cared if their mother and Ada shard a bed—if they decided to share a moment of pleasure then so be it. such moments in times to come will be few indeed.
Moments like this when they were all just family women enjoying the splendor of new life.
ME~ME~ ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ME~ ME
AN1: Salishan language resources found at
Mére = mother
Ken-aa – mother's father
Pére = father
Yai-yá. = mother's mother
AN2: Asarian Words
erui- beor = First Disciple
Atardi = more formal Grand Sire equivalent to grandfather
Atar = Grandpa, child's terminology
Idhren'Hu'rien of the Matriarchy = Grand High Priestess (The highest rank a priestess can achieve in the order of Athame and Sari)
Nedh'bereth = Matron Midwife (priestess who observes both the traditions of Athame and Sari. Their minds are carefully attuned to ease new lives from the safety and warmth of the womb into the chaos of the world)
Melethril = beloved
Ada = daddy
Adar = Father / sire / other parent
Naneth = mother
Nan = mommy
rél = daughter
nún = birth
tatya = second
gwanún = twins
Mereth-Yestanesse = feast of the firstborn
A3: For Sam's early live got the idea of the from some youtube vid I saw about a dad building an obstacle course for his 2 year old daughter who was able to run it extremely well including tires climbing through and hopping form tiny ones one to the other like a football player, jumping monkey bars and climbing a rock-wall and a slight bit of free climbing. The other part was taken from yes Halo's Spartan training