Notes:

Alban Hefin - Druid festival of the Summer Solstice, means 'Light of the Shore' (Gaelic)

Ionúin Álainn - beautiful beloved (Gaelic)

Lughnasadh-Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season (Gaelic)

The Stuff of Dreams

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 15 June 2189

"So, you're the new governor on Gellix."

It wasn't a question and the almost accusatory tone definitely caught Adrien's attention. She looked up at the woman… strong jaw, square shoulders and, rather obviously, in extremely good physical condition – a lifetime warrior. Adrien gave her a smile and replied, "Yes, a co-governor with the Krogan, currently led by Khel Brek." She then swung around in her chair and stood to meet the woman, sticking out her hand in introduction. "Adrien Burns… and you look to be one of the Shepard family's military friends. Pleased to meet you."

"Sharon Culver," she answered curtly, taking the offered hand. "And I'm not yet sure if I can say the same. Hannah filled me in; she's like a mother to me and Shepard is particularly important to me, as we've been friends for a long time… but the jury's still out on you." Culver was surprised by the strength in the woman's grip, then realized she shouldn't be. The woman is a Gods-be-damned clone of Shepard. She drew a deep breath and blew it out before continuing, "But, I will say… I've never had reason to doubt Shep's judgment and, even with this rather unexpected development, I don't believe I'm inclined to start now, no matter who you might be or where you may have come from."

"Well, that's good to know." Adrien cocked her head, suddenly sensing there was more to the woman's relationship with the Spectre than the two of them simply serving together in the military. "I can promise you this – Shepard gave me a chance… something I sincerely doubt any others would have. Of course, Spectre Moises T'Dura and Liara were in on the whole deal as well, so I owe them all. I would never purposely do something to harm any of them… and, if called upon, I will do everything within my power to help them – whenever and wherever needed."

Burns paused for a moment, finally dropping Sharon's hand. It was an odd thing… it had started as a simple handshake but had lasted far too long… the purpose behind it being anything but simple. The strength in the grip, not crushing… but most definitely overly firm… made it seem as if Culver was searching for flaws or weakness through the contact, but Adrien hadn't flinched. When Adrien finally relaxed her answering grip, Culver actually smiled; a small upturn just on the corners of her mouth, but it was there. Adrien noticed and one side of her own mouth turned up in response – an expression Culver recognized immediately.

"Well, fuck me," she said softly, almost in a reverent whisper. "You even have the damned Shepard smirk… How in Hell?"

Unable to stop herself, Adrien started to chuckle. "I know, right? Who knew such a thing would be coded into genetics? Hannah told me the same thing… surprised the crap out of me. I mean… really? An identical smile?"

At that, even Sharon had to laugh. "Smile? That's what you call it?" In spite of the unique circumstances, she grinned and shook her head. "That's no smile. That's Samantha's insolent smirk… and it's gotten her into and out of more trouble than you could even begin to imagine."

"You don't say?" Adrien's voice piqued in interest. "That sounds as if there are more than a few stories to tell. Would you care to join me?" With a quick wave of her hand, she indicated the empty chair across from her at the table where she was sitting. "I'd love to swap stories with you… you can get to know me better and I get to learn more about both you and Samantha. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have about me so, I do believe, it should be a win-win."

In direct contrast to her normal innate caution, Sharon found herself immediately liking the woman's forthrightness. Shep says she's good people… so I suppose I shouldn't turn down the offer to see if it's the truth. I have a few days here, but Adrien will be gone tomorrow…She glanced at Shepard and Hannah, involved in conversation with Admiral Lindholm, who would also be leaving the next morning, and agreed. Walking around the table and pulling out the chair, Sharon responded, "That sounds like an offer I shouldn't refuse… and open and honest communication is never a bad thing… not in my book, anyway."

Liara had been the first to notice. After chatting with Lindholm, Shepard was having fun getting caught up with all her friends – Karin and Kahlee, Wrex, Sharon – while Hannah seemed to have picked up a disquieting smidge of melancholy. Following a gentle prod from her bondmate, Shepard responded immediately, easily excusing herself from her friends with the explanation of wanting to spend some time with the guest of honor.

"Hey, Mom." Shepard walked up and wrapped her arm gently around the woman's waist. "It's a beautiful night… and a bit stuffy in here. Care to join me for a stroll along the beach?"

Smiling softly, Hannah replied, "That sounds lovely, Sam. Are you sure you want to leave all your friends here? It's a rare occasion when you have time to get them all together like this."

"They'll all still be here in the morning, though how agreeable they'll be when they wake up definitely remains to be seen." Shepard chuckled quietly. "I see you far less than any of them, except for maybe Sharon. Besides, you're my Mom, so time with you trumps them all."

"And you're my daughter, so if you invite me for a stroll on that beautiful beach of yours, who am I to say no?" A smile came to Hannah's face. "Come on, let's go."

They went out one of the side doors and made their way to the beach without saying a word, accompanied only by the sounds of the night. Little mouse-like creatures scurried from the path as the vibrations of Human footfalls increased, the foliage along the edges of the route rustling quietly with their hasty departures, and the calls of night birds on the prowl were soon overshadowed by the roar of the surf on the shore.

Somewhere along the way they had linked hands, fingers intertwined comfortably as they strolled along. Samantha stopped, also halting Hannah's progress, and closed her eyes as she drew a deep breath of the warm, moist air. "Doesn't matter how many times I come down here… it always reminds me of Rio."

Sam sounded almost forlorn, so Hannah smiled sadly as her brow wrinkled in apprehension. "Is that a good thing… or bad? Please tell me it doesn't constantly assault you with sour memories of Nikki. She's long since been relegated to your past, Sam… or, should have been, at least."

"No, nothing to do with Nik… it's just the sounds. The overwhelming presence of the ocean… it's vast power… Rio was good to me and I always loved going there." She opened her eyes to meet her mother's questioning gaze. "You don't need to worry about Nikki, Mom. She definitely remains a piece of my history, and you're spot-on... I let her go a long time ago."

"That's good to know." Hannah stared out across the vast water before her and let out a quiet sigh, which Samantha immediately picked up upon.

"So, what's bugging you?" Shepard gave her mom's hand a gentle squeeze. "You've been surprisingly quiet, when tonight was supposed to be a celebration of your promotion."

Hannah did not reply immediately, so Sam remained quiet, waiting her out and giving her time to formulate a response. When she finally did speak, her response was flooded with emotion.

"You've let go of Nikki, but I must say… I need to follow my own advice. Letting go of my past… of your father… has been a bit of a challenge. At times like this, I can't help but think of David… and how, sometimes, I still miss him so much, even after all this time."

A sad smile crossed Hannah's face as she continued, "There's just so much that's happened in our lives, sometimes I'm simply amazed we're all still here… I wish David was, too… to see all that you've accomplished; he would be so proud. And you? Given the number of times you've been so close to death… with one stint of actually being dead, for Gods' sake!" She huffed and shook her head, continuing, "By any definition of dead I've ever understood, anyway."

She paused and looked up to see Samantha's eyes shining back at her in the moonlight. "I've had my heart broken and patched back together so many times, I'm not sure how many more I can survive, Sam." Her throat tightened, but she swallowed and kept on. "When I got that call from the command deck about your dad, I honestly didn't know what I would do… how I could face you. But when I finally arrived, it was you that put on such a brave face…"

She suddenly smiled and laughed through the tears that had started to fall. "You shamed me into being tougher than I ever thought I could be. Even then, you were my rock, Samantha; the one that gave me purpose and kept me going."

Sam couldn't help it as tears started to find their way out of the corners of her own eyes. She leaned in to hug her mom as she asked in confusion, "What brought all this up? Why now, Mom? The promotion ceremony?"

"Not at all… the ceremony was wonderful, Sam. Thank you for insisting upon in." Hannah gave her a quick squeeze and pushed back. "Believe it or not, it was your comment about being worried I would send you off to a biotic training school."

"What?" Sam's brow furrowed in consternation. "How in the Hell? I don't understand why that would bother you, especially now, so many years later."

"Oh, Sam." Hannah dropped her head and gave it a little shake before looking along the shoreline again. She reached out and took Samantha's hand once more as she started to walk. "Come on… I'll try to explain."

Hannah began speaking again as they strolled down the beach. "Your comment sent me back in time… and, at first, I couldn't understand how you could even think such a thing, but then it dawned on me – you were so young and had spent all that time with your dad. You didn't really know me anymore. I suddenly felt inexplicably guilty for not being around more, for not being closer to you… especially when that happened, when you needed me most."

"That's crazy, Mom!" Samantha pulled up short, turning her mother toward her. "I never, ever blamed you or Dad for me having to stay with one or the other… and I most certainly never started to forget either one of you just because I didn't see you in person every day! After Dad was killed, I did need you, Mom. Nothing against Aunt Karin for stepping in to take care of me like she did when it first happened. I'm thankful she showed up so quickly and got me out of that group home… but, even so, I was incredibly relieved when you arrived and walked off that transport." Shepard pulled her mom into loving hug, holding her tight.

Hannah fell into the embrace, wrapping her arms around her daughter. "But I should have been there, Sam… and I should have told you more about how I felt back then."

"No, Mom… I was only a kid who had lost her dad… but you had also lost your husband and were doing the best you could to get through it. I never held that against you." Samantha smiled softly. "I was always so proud of the two of you… fighting pirates and mercs. I actually thought it was really cool… and after Dad's death? Then, I really wanted to grow up to be just like you."

Shepard actually chuckled, releasing Hannah so she could wipe the budding tears from her eyes. "You obviously have no idea how much I looked up to you, or you'd never think such a thing. Your strength through it all? You were the main reason I ended up joining the Alliance."

"May the Gods forgive me for that…" Hannah actually managed a smirk as she added, "… for everything the Alliance has done to you since that day." She let out a sigh and continued, "At the very least, I should have told you about the pact Karin and I made after your second eezo exposure…"

Shepard said nothing, just looked at her expectantly, so Hannah continued, "We vowed you would never be without one or the other of us, that we would never send you away – to school for training, or any other reason – ever. It would be your choice as to when you left us to go your own way. We agreed to do everything we could to ensure you would never experience such a feeling of loss or abandonment ever again. You became my entire life… After I lost your dad, my whole reason to go on living was to see you grow up as happy as I could manage."

"Wow." Shepard stared at her for a moment in contemplative silence. "But what about you, Mom? Your career? Your life? From a kid's perspective, you and Karin seemed to just be doing your normal stuff… living your normal lives… but now, I have to wonder how many career opportunities the two of you passed up for me."

"I can't speak for Karin, but nothing I have ever regretted; I'll tell you that." Hannah smiled at her daughter. "You truly are my pride and joy, Sam. I am so damned proud of you!"

Samantha laughed it off, somewhat embarrassed by the vehemence in her mother's comment. "If only you had made it to the Defense Committee sooner! Maybe we wouldn't have been so ignorant going into the Reaper War!"

"No." Hannah shook her head. "Most likely, they would have written off any opinion I may have given, chalking it up to my inexperience and you being my daughter. It just would have gotten me killed along with the rest of them. I'm glad I wasn't there, so that couldn't happen, thank the Gods. I honestly believe everything worked out just the way it was supposed to." She smiled softly, adding, "I see it as a blessing… Do you remember me saying anything about having turned down a promotion when I thought you were dead?"

"Only vaguely… but now that you mention it, yes, I do." Samantha stared at her and asked, "Whatever for? What prompted you to do that?"

"Because I needed to be out there… fighting the good fight!" Hannah nodded, as if affirming to herself it had been the correct decision. "I couldn't see me behind a desk at some headquarters – not after you had died trying to convince people the Reapers were coming. I needed to honor you by staying out there… getting as many people as possible ready for the coming war." Hannah met Sam's eyes and added, "I just had to, so I turned down the promotion and asked Hackett to leave me in the Fleet."

"Which he obviously did," Sam replied.

"Yes. He left me on the Kilimanjaro as the over-ranked executive officer… until I found out you were actually alive and breathing. I'd say alive and well… but I know you were having a tough go of it when you first came back."

"Yeah… I was. Coming back and having everyone deny me… actually doubt my very existence, was… I don't know. Hurtful?" Sam's face held a pained smile. "I look back on that and realize just how hard it must have been for people to believe." She shook her head and the smile became more honest. "Tali took it at face value… Garrus, too. But all the others? I had to work to convince each and every one."

"Everyone?" Hannah looked at her daughter in amazement, before understanding lit in her eyes. "Everyone… meaning Liara."

"Actually, no. I was mostly referring to Ashley… but yeah, Liara as well… although she had different reasons for remaining emotionally distant."

"She was scared… by the guilt she carried." Hannah nodded. "I remember us talking about the outcome of your first contact… that horrible vid call." Then, she smiled and added, "But I also remember the ecstatic message I received from Liara after you finally made it to Illium and had a chance to talk it out. At that moment, I knew all of us were going to be just fine."

"I'm glad one of us knew it…" Shepard shook her head softly. "I sure as Hell didn't; not then, anyway… not until the Reapers were dead and I finally woke up that one day at Royal London Hospital with everyone finally home and coming to visit me."

Hannah actually laughed and repeated the exact same phrase she had uttered mere moments before. "Everyone… meaning Liara."

"Yeah… it always comes back to her, doesn't it? I can't help myself." Shepard grinned. "But, in this case, I'm also talking about you, Karin, Aethyta… the whole gang who survived. It would have left me empty if none of you had survived along with me… because we couldn't have done what we did without every single one of you playing your assigned part."

"And you shouldn't have tried." Hannah gave her daughter a loving smile. "I don't know how many times I thought about you and Liara during the war. Wondering where you were and how you were doing, praying to the Gods for your safe return from every mission." She huffed in exasperation and continued, "I don't know why I bothered… you two, together, are an unstoppable force. I should have simply sat back and had faith. It would have saved me a few gray hairs!"

"You never know, Mom… maybe it was all those prayers that brought us back every time." Samantha laughed, her heart lighter from their chatter. "So, enough reminiscing about the past; it's time to look to our futures… like this promotion. What's up next for you? I know you're headed to the Defense Committee… but what comes after that? You know that when you retire, you're always welcome here, be it next year or 20 years from now."

"I'm not quite ready for that yet, believe me. But after the Committee? I'm not really sure." Hannah drew a deep breath. "My preference would be to go back to the Fleet… maybe as a vice commander on one of the dreadnoughts… though, I imagine, it will be time for a stint at a Headquarters, in whatever capacity they may need me. But, quite honestly, I have no idea where my career will take me. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

After only a momentary pause, Samantha replied, "Yes, we will."

"And what about you and Liara?" Hannah asked. "You planning to stay with the Spectres… or take another path, now that the war is truly finished?"

"Like you, we don't know." Shepard smiled and jerked her head to indicate she was ready to walk again. Starting down the beach for the third time, she continued, "Short term? I'd like to get to know Adrien… now, there's an unexpected result from all of this."

"You certainly have that right!" Hannah exclaimed. "A daughter I never gave birth to, yet most definitely a Shepard… a twin to the original you, and a few years younger, based on appearances. But she hasn't been through everything you have, either, and who knows what to expect from the cloning process. It's uncharted territory."

"Huh." Shepard pursed her lips. "I hadn't really thought about it, but I guess it's possible she's younger. With the accelerated growth rates in the tanks, it's hard to assign an exact age. The history created for her has her birth date set as 29 January 2154. The day is correct, she just shifted the year back from her actual awakening in 2184." Releasing a quiet huff of frustration, she finished, "It still all sounds so… weird."

Hannah couldn't help but to laugh at her daughter's tone but, at the same time, was in total agreement. "Yes, it does… and that's because it is weird. We've had the technology for years… but no one, at least until Jack Harper, had both the finances and the complete lack of legal morality to actually make a Human being."

"I definitely think it could set a dangerous precedent." Shepard blew out a heavy breath. "Of course, that's only if word gets out about his success. The challenge is that we have no idea how many of the researchers who created the clones actually survived the war, if any. So, we simply have to sit back and hope it never comes to light; that it gets buried in the annals of history."

Hannah voiced the thought that had just popped into her mind. "What of Miranda Lawson? She was totally involved, not only in your rebuild after Alchera, but in mending your body after you were nearly incinerated by Harbinger. She must have kept some research notes from Lazarus Station."

Samantha cocked her head in contemplation for a few moments. "That's a good question, Mom… one I should put to her next time we're together. Truthfully, I'd be surprised if she didn't have any notes from that time."

"Well, there's really no sense in wasting time worrying about something like that until it actually becomes a problem," Hannah shrugged. "With all the technology we have now, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I guess we simply cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Exactly!" answered Samantha. "So, anyway… back to your question about Liara's and my plans. Barring any new galactic war or massive reemergence of criminal activity, we are planning to settle in for a little while… taking only essential missions from the Council; personal requests for assistance, so to speak. She'll keep her Brokerage links open… and we'll handle anything that pops up, with simple patrol runs in between. Quite honestly, we're ready for some downtime... and will probably take as much as the galaxy is willing to give us."

Hannah chuckled softly. "And you honestly think the Council is going to let you do that?"

"They don't really have a choice, do they?" Shepard smirked. "Obviously, we'll maintain our readiness but, to be honest, we haven't finalized our plans, so I have yet to say anything about it to Tevos. Not only is she our lead, but she's also very much aware of everything we've been through. Simply knowing we'll be keeping watch on galactic events, I think she'll be fine with us taking some time off for ourselves. The rest of the councilors are big question marks."

"I must say, I do like the councilor." Hannah bobbed her head in approval. "She's open and honest… and has definitely been in your corner throughout this whole ordeal. You couldn't have asked for a better representative."

"No, we couldn't… which was a big piece in my decision to become a Thessian citizen." Shepard frowned. "As a whole, the Asari in my life have treated me better than Alliance Command ever did, Mom." She looked at Hannah, adding, "Present company… and a few others… excluded, of course. So many of the top brass simply treated me as sacrificial meat… it disgusted me and made Liara so angry she couldn't see straight." Drawing a deep breath, she met her mother's eyes and asked, "I hope my decision to leave Sol didn't hurt you."

"Not a bit, so wipe that worried frown off your face and don't give it a second thought!" Hannah pulled her in for a quick hug before adding, "And I love Liara… She's the best daughter-in-law a mother could ever ask for!" She chuckled before continuing, "So… short term involves getting to know Adrien and finding some normalcy in your lives… but I know you. That will become boring in no time so, what's after that?"

Samantha's expression brightened and a loving smile took over her lips as she thought about a future with her Ionúin Álainn. "My dream is to eventually focus solely on being Captain of the Guard to House T'Soni… and to escort Liara all over the galaxy to find everything she can regarding the Protheans." She grinned at her mom as she continued, "Before I met her, Liara was a young, enthusiastic, and driven archeologist… and the only being in the entire galaxy who had postulated any theories regarding the Reapers and the recurring mass-casualty events that had wiped some untold number of civilizations from existence."

Shepard chuckled and shook her head. "Everyone looks to me as their savior… but, honestly? That title goes to Doctor Liara T'Soni. Without her, I never would have even known about the Reapers… nor would I have been able to make any sense of the messages from the beacons… at least not before they had shredded my brain into mush."

Samantha's joviality faded into awe and reverence as she continued, "After Alchera… I would have remained dead… We never would have made it to the Collector homeworld… or found the Mars Archive plans for the Crucible in time. She's the real hero, not me."

"And I say it was the team effort, Sam." Hannah smiled softly and squeezed her daughter's hand. "Liara's not a warrior… it took both of you… it took all of us, working together, to send those abominations into oblivion. But you and Liara? There is no doubt that the two of you were the tip of an exceptionally long spear." Hannah grinned and added, "And I think you becoming the full-time Captain of the House T'Soni Guard is an absolutely wonderful goal! One which you should find your way to sooner, rather than later. You've done enough for the galaxy… it's well past time for you to go do something for you."

"Soon, Mom, but not quite yet. We still have a few loose ends to clean up." Shepard laughed and dropped her mom's hand. "But you're wrong about Liara… When it comes to protecting the people she loves? She's the fiercest mama bear I have ever had the privilege of fighting with." Tapping her temple, she added, "And, she says our absence has finally been noted and that, perhaps, it's time we return to the house. You ready to go back?"

"Yes, I am… and thank you, Samantha." Hannah turned back toward the house and started walking, a smile on her face. "I do feel better… and I'm still here for a few more days. I am very much looking forward to enjoying the Solstice together… as part of the family, along with you and House T'Soni."

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 20 June 2189

The house seemed amazingly quiet once most of their guests had returned home following the Monday celebration, as most of them needed to return to work. Sharon had left, only reluctantly, but promised to make it back to Thessia in time for the August harvest festival of Lughnasadh, while Karin and Hannah had more time, so were staying for the solstice celebrations, as planned. They were sitting together in the dining area, enjoying a leisurely breakfast when a bright-eyed Samantha walked over to their table to join them. "Good morning… and happy Alban Hefin."

Hannah looked up, a smile spreading on her face at Samantha's arrival as she issued the old-tradition response. "May the light of the shore always bring you safely home."

Karin flashed her a grin, adding, "Good morning, Dear. You and Liara sleep well?"

"I did, yes…" Sam chuckled and added, "As for Liara, we'll have to wait until she actually gets up to ask her. She's still racked… didn't even stir when I rolled out this morning."

"She never has adjusted to the whole 'early to rise' concept, has she?" Hannah chuckled softly at the sharp contrast between her daughter and daughter-in-law when it came to sleep time.

"Nope," Shepard smirked. "She most definitely has not, Mom… and I don't honestly think she ever will. Though, she managed well enough when we honestly needed to do so during the war. But, no, it's not her strong suit, that's for sure." She paused, a contemplative wrinkle on her forehead. "But then again… when she gets on a dig site, she's a totally different person. Sleep means nothing compared to the potential for the next discovery." A knowing grin replaced the smirk. "We'll have to wait and see how early she gets up once she gets back to archaeology."

"Back to archaeology?" Karin's brow arched in surprise. "I believe I may have missed the relay of some rather vital information over the past week. Is there an imminent change of career?"

Hannah reached over and gave Karin's forearm a quick, gentle squeeze. "Sam and I had a nice chat as we walked the beach the other night. She told me of her plans for eventual retirement from military service, to grab what they can of a normal life and get Liara back to doing what she loves… something Samantha refuses to let die because of the war." Hannah's gaze shifted to Sam as she finished, "Liara's quest to learn more about the Protheans."

"Oh, gosh!" The very idea of a modern-day expedition filled Karin with exhilaration. "Until you found Javik, I never would have dreamed that with all the places we have explored and experienced, there would be the potential for the discover of such an old, undetected and unknown culture. How exciting it must be, for Liara!"

"Yes, it is… especially when I tell you that Javik may not have been the only one to survive their long sleep." Shepard winked at them before revealing her and Liara's well-kept secret. "When we were on Eden Prime after the war, we found evidence that a relatively small group had survived. We're not sure how many, but it seems our discovery of the planet triggered an awakening in the pods and, apparently, the group fled sometime during the two years before we established our colony there. The 'where to' is the big question."

"So, we have both the Raloi to re-establish contact with and the Protheans to find?" Hannah leaned back in her chair, her amazement at the revelation taking away any more words.

"My God." Karin glanced at her friend, completely understanding the shocked expression on Hannah's face, feeling the same. Looking back to Samantha, she snorted in derision and added, "I most certainly hope they don't all possess the same superiority complex and self-righteousness Commander Javik did… nor his uncompromising hatred for AI machines."

Having recovered from her surprise, the military officer in Hannah came out. "Are you sure you want to help Liara locate them? Their discover could end up being like the Rachni… leading to nothing but another war we will be ill-equipped to fight, especially so soon after the Reapers."

Samantha met her mother's questioning gaze and answered easily, "I'd rather fight the enemy I know, than be surprised by the one I don't. The Rachni and the Reapers were evidence enough of that… and I'm fairly sure the Turians likely felt that way after they ran into us."

"You're right, there." A knowing smile crossed Hannah's face as she nodded in agreement. "Better to know the risks, so we can prepare. Despite your best efforts, the Reapers still caught us flat-footed… and it cost the galaxy lives almost beyond measure. I don't much care for the idea of having to live through such a war again… ever, during whatever remains of my lifetime."

"Agreed," Samantha smiled. "So, how about you let me go roust Liara and grab a bite of breakfast before we go find something fun to do for the day, like a shopping trip to Armali? That way, we'll get out from under Lyessa's feet while they're trying to set up for tonight's solstice dinner."

Hannah's eyes flashed in anticipation. "That sounds wonderful! I've been wanting to get back to that one jewelry store you showed me…"

"We can certainly stop in at Trazzia's Boutique." Shepard grinned. "We haven't been there in a while, so it will be nice to go back and see Lilyanna again. She was extremely helpful when Nayla and I went there the first time – to buy the Promise bracelets – and every single time I've returned there, since."

"Excellent!" Hannah looked at Karin and asked, "And what about you? Up for some shopping?"

"I think I'm going to pass." Karin grinned mischievously and added, "I have an offer from Alyna to go sailing for a bit this morning… and, I do believe, I'm going to take her up on it."

Shepard laughed and shook her head. "Be it a space-faring frigate or a sailing ship, you just can't stand not having a vessel moving under your feet, can you?"

"Oh, you know me too well, Sam," Karin answered with a grin. "I can't imagine my life without it… not yet, anyway. Now, go, or you'll never get to enjoy your trip to the city!"

A/N: The conversation between Hannah and Samantha is compliments of an old prompt from reader and one-time fellow author Theodur (now retired). He gave me great feedback and provided inspiration when I was first starting to write… and I attribute this long-overdue mother-daughter chat to his making. I hope you enjoyed it!