Chapter 5
After Miranda stated that she may be able to assist, we determined that a break was our way out of the conference room I pulled Shepard aside.
"Lexi, what are we going to do now?" a simple question that was asking so much.
Her sad determined eyes looked up to meet mine,
"I don't know Kaidan. Miranda will give me the last known coordinates of Ashlen's location and I'll start from there. I swear though if the Illusive Man has hurt her he will see a whole new side of me he has never seen."
"Lexi, I'm coming with you."
"Kaidan, I don't know about that."
Taking her hands in mine, I look into her beautiful green eyes. "Lexi, I don't care about how your crew will react to me or how dangerous this mission will be. I meant it when I said that I would never leave you again and besides," I smile that lop-sided smile I know she loves, "Ashlen is as much a part of me as she is you. It was something that I never expected but I really like the idea of us having a kid. I mean I thought about it before the Normandy went down; us together with a family. Don't tell me you never thought about it Lexi?"
She sighed but smiled,
"Before the Normandy went down and we were together ….it was actually on my mind all the time. I knew I wasn't ready for it just yet but I knew I wanted it; a family I mean. Most of all I wanted it to be with you."
She pulled away from me , rapped her arms around herself and turned to look out at the expansive view of the citadel arms . "You know Kaidan, I never thought that we would be in this situation but we are, so what do we do about …..Us?"
I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, just under her arms. Then rested my head by her ear and whispered,
"I love you; I know that for a fact. I also know that I never want to live my life without you." I release Shepard and flip her around so that she is still in my arms but facing me. "Let's take this one step at a time and see where it leads. After we get Ashlen we can think about it then."
I take a deep breath and say what I've been meaning to say since Horizon, "I've made some huge mistakes that I'm not proud of, they hurt you and many others around me. When you died, a part of me died along with you and I didn't know how to handle that.I lashed out at whatever I could find until Anderson gave me a purpose again. Then seeing you on Horizon just when I thought I had moved on, pulled all of those feeling back to the surface."
I put my hand under her chin and make her look up at me, "From here on out I fully intend to make it all up to you, no matter how long it takes. I love you Lexi and that is something I never want you to forget."
Her face was unresponsive for a few seconds then turned into the smile that I loved so much with tears once again blossoming at the corners of her eyes.
"Kaidan, you know I love you. After everything that has happened between us I think we should take it slow. We need to learn who we have become in our time apart. The things that we have had to deal with, have had to see; It changes you."
She pulls out of my embrace and wraps her arms around my neck and pulls my face close enough to hers that I could feel her breath on my lips. I put my hands on her hips and pulled to close the distance left between her lips and mine.
It was like an explosion of heat and fireworks between us, a slight moan escaped her lips and she pressed hard against me.
I reluctantly break the kiss and place my forehead against hers. We are both breathing heavy and I cant help but smile.
"Lexi , if you keep this up we will not be taking it as slow as I would like."
She laughed, "Alright, I'm sorry. Let's get back to the Normandy, Ashlen has been without her parents for far too long."
"Aye Aye, Commander," I smiled back.
When we boarded the Normandy SR2 it was all so similar and yet so different.
I heard a familiar laugh come from the left and the next thing I know Joker came limping from the bridge with out any crutches.
"Well, well the love birds finally kissed and made up." He said with that shit eating grin on his face.
Though I still haven't completely forgiven him for what happened on the original Normandy, I was happy to see him none the less. He was one of my best friends and I had missed our sarcastic banter on the bridge.
"Joker, what would we do without your snide remarks in our lives."
He smiled, " Well for one, they would be very dull and lifeless and two I wouldn't be Joker, simple as that."
I laughed, "That is very true Joker and if you weren't you than you wouldn't be the best damn pilot in the alliance fleet."
He chuckled and gave a smug smile, "It's good to have you back Alenko."
He turned and left, walking back up to his seat on the bridge. After Horizon and the letter that I had sent Shepard, Joker took it upon himself to tell me just how much of an ass I had made of myself and how it had affected Shepard.
After that I had lost all my hate for him. I could see that he was truly concerned for her and that he was there for her while I was not. We had a long talk about everything and cleared the air which lifted a great deal off my shoulders.
I turn to the right and see Tali and Garrus walking up to the bridge. Tali spots Shepard and runs to give her a hug.
"Shepard, I'm so glad you're alright. You had us all scared for a little while."
"Sorry Tali, but you know me." A grin spread across Shepard's face, "Can't take me anywhere without everything blowing up and me getting shot."
I couldn't help but chuckle because it was so true. Tali and Garrus laughed too.
Garrus chose now to speak up after crossing his arms and giving me a side eye.
"So what are you doing here Kaidan. I thought you were against working with ex-Cerberus operatives."
I should have known this was going to come up sooner or later. I take Shepard's hand and look Garrus Square in the eyes, " Garrus, I know I have not been the most understanding person in this galaxy, but I have realized that I was horribly wrong and I will be making up for it for the rest of my life. Right now Shepard needs me for this mission and I fully intend to be there for her when she needs me to be. I won't miss any more time than I already have.
The cockpit area was silent and tense for a few minutes but Garrus started to flick his mandibles in a way that I would interpret as smiling and pulled me into an embrace, " Damn right you will Alenko or you will have to deal first with Shepard and then with me."
He release me and clapped me on the shoulder, "It's good to have you back Kaidan." With that he turned and left.
Shepard sighed and turned to Tali and I, " Well I was not expecting that."
"Neither was I Shepard, well I best get back to Engineering. Donnelly is probably doing something to my engines. I'll see you both later."
She pulled me into a quick hug. " It really is good to have you back Kaidan, you have no idea how much you were missed." With that last comment Tali turned and winked at Shepard then walked away in the same direction as Garrus.
Shepard shook her head and looked at me with a slight pink tint to her cheeks, "Well let's get you to your new quarters for this mission okay. The Asari Justicar that I had on my team has already left so I will put you in the Observation room. It has a couch that is large enough to be a bed. I have slept on it quite a few times and it is very comfortable."
We started walking through the CIC. This ship was so close to the original design it was scary. The amount of new tech was astounding and i was hoping that Shepard might let me take a look around at some point during this mission.
She led me to the elevator and she hit the button for the second floor. The ride was short and silent. She then led me off the elevator and to the left. The room was spacious and it had a picture window that took up almost the whole wall.
"This is great Shepard. Thank you."
She smiled, "Well if you need anything just let me know. My room is on the top floor and I still have an open door policy."
I was about to say something but a voice cut me off,
"Shepard, it seems that Miss Lawson is greatly distressed after a call she received in her quarters approximately 20 minutes ago. I strongly recommend you investigate."
Shepard looked up towards a camera, "Thank you EDI I will be right there."
"Who was that? She sounded slightly like a VI." I asked with wonder.
"That is because EDI is the ships AI." Shepard shrugged her shoulders and turned to leave.
"Wait, you have an AI running the ship? ," disbelief and shock evident on my face.
"No she is the ship. She was the reason we survived the Omega 4 relay. Without EDI every single one of us would have been dead long before the relay in fact. I'll talk to you later okay, I have to go deal with Miranda before things get out of control," She waved behind her as she walked out the door.
After the door had cycled shut behind her and I sat on the couch looking out at the stars the full force of the situation really hit me. Oh my god, Shepard and I have a daughter. A DAUGHTER! How did that happen, well I know how it happened but still. Just the thought of having a family with Lexi, a dream that I had believed died with her 2 years ago, yet here we are going to rescue OUR DAUGHTER from the Cerberus clutches.
With that thought I got up from the couch and walked out the door to the mess hall to see if I could grab something to eat, an ache in my stomach told meI hadn`t eaten in a while. When I walked into the mess I saw someone standing behind the kitchen area. I walked up and he looked up from chopping veggies.
"You must be Alenko. Shepard told me to prep you somethin' big cuz' you're a biotic so I hope you're hungry."
I was taken aback by his directness as I had no idea who he was. I must have looked surprised as he then proceeded to introduce himself,
"Rupert Gardner," he stuck out his hand and I shook it.
"Kaidan Alenko, Are you the resident chef on the Normandy or something?"
"Ha or something is right. I am a jack of all trades on this puppy. I am the chef, the janitor, the electrician. You name it I have done it on the Normandy."
My eyebrows raised in surprise then looked at the hands that were making my food and couldn't help but wonder if they were washed thoroughly. Just as I was about to make a joke about the clean hands there was an enormous crash from the room next to the kitchen that resounded through the ship, then my amp started to tingle which meant that someone had discharged a large amount of biotic energy. I looked at Gardener and he shrugged,
"Looks like Miranda isn't taking something well or Shepard is pissed."
I felt my eyes get huge and I didn't even wait for Gardener to finish what he was saying, I rushed past him and to the door from which the noise had emanated from. It had a red glowing holo pad which meant that it was locked. I hacked it easily and slowly stepped inside the room.
It was dark but I could vaguely make out a desk, chairs and a few pieces of art work. The chairs and various other items had been turned over or thrown in varying places all over room. Vast amounts of data pads either broken or cracked on the floor. I looked farther into the dark room and saw to figures sitting on the bed seeming to be holding each other. After listening closely I could hear the faint sounds of crying and surprisingly, humming.
The door cycled shut behind me and I was left in almost complete darkness other than the light coming from the window on the left side of the room; it gave the room and ominous light blue glow as we were now in FTL drive. As my eyes adjusted and I got closer to the bed I saw something truly amazing. Shepard was sitting on the bed humming a soft tune that I recognized as the one that her father used to sing to her and her mother back on Mindoir. Miranda was enclosed in a tight hug and rocking back and forth. Miranda was holding on to Shepard like a life line and crying into her shoulder, she seemed oblivious to my presence. Shepard looked up at me with tears in her eyes but kept humming and holding Miranda. I couldn't help but think that Shepard would truly make a good mother whether she thought so or not; I could easily picture her doing this with Ashlen if she were to ever having a nightmare or later on in life if she was having problems. Sometimes it's best to just let everything out and not hold it in any longer. Seeing Miranda this way was a shock for me. Joker and Garrus had told me that she is the Ice Queen that shows no emotion towards anyone other than Shepard. The conversation was a welcome distraction during Shepards recent stay in the infirmary, Unbeknownst to the others apparently they had become quite close. I guess Miranda is just as much human as the rest of us even with her genetic modifications for perfection. After a few seconds I feel as though I am intruding so I turn around to leave, but am stopped by a shaky voice,
"Don't leave on my account Alenko," Miranda sits up and pulls away from Shepard wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I have some news for you regarding Ashlen although it may not all be good news it is news none the less."
I turn to her and nod then look to Shepard.
"Miranda, you know you don't have to help us. "Shepard explains, "He has you in a vice, you don't have to make it worse for yourself and for Oriana."
I can't help but frown and a pit formed in my gut, "Miranda is everything alright? Has the Illusive Man done something?"
She sighed, "It's a long story but in short Cerberus protects my sister from my father. The Illusive Man found out that I was going to help you and he has now taken it upon himself to hold my sister hostage until I resign from helping you and return to him."
"Miranda, I agree with Shepard. If you helping us puts your sister at risk than maybe it's not worth it."
She ran a hand through her dark hair, " Look I know you are both just trying to be understanding but listen to me when I say that I will never go back to that bastard. After being with Shepard and having her open my eyes to what the Illusive Man and Cerberus were really like, I want nothing to do with them." Miranda got up off the bed and walked over to the window and looked out into the dark void that was space, " I will help you get back what he took from you and I will get back what he took from me, end of discussion."
She walked over to her terminal on the desk, the only area that was still intact, and began typing. When she finished tying and turned around, both mine and Shepard's Omni tools lit up telling us that we had unread messages.
"Those are the last known coordinates of the Illusive Man."
Before Shepard and I can say anything EDI's voice comes over the comm, "Commander, the Illusive Man would like to speak with you in the debriefing room."
All three of us stiffened and an uncomfortable silence settled over us a a moment before Shepard answered, "Thanks EDI, I'll be right there".
