Through the Eyes of a Child
Clara bounced on one foot and then the other. Nervous energy coursed through her body as she watched the Normandy slowly pull into orbit and began docking into the port. It had been a few years since she last saw Emily in person and her excitement was building since she received the message of her impending visit.
Her eyes roved around, landing on the statue of Emily and her, it had been erected shortly after the blitz. Emily standing proud, her hand hung down to her side while her other hand had gripped hers tightly.
Clara shuddered slightly as memories cascaded into her mind and she struggled to dispel them.
Hearing a loud hiss, she opened her eyes and noticed that the Normandy had fully docked and the door was about to open. And there she was, striding towards her with a smile on her face. Emily wore a black tank top, dark blue cargo pants and combat boots, with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder and a weapons case in her other hand.
Following close behind her, a human male taller, muscular head full of hair and attractive.
'Kaidan.' She thought, her green eyes narrowed as she studied him closely.
He was followed by two other people, one a turian in blue, greyish blue scales covered his head and small plates around his face and piercing blue eyes studied her in return.
She turned her attention to the last person in the group, an asari who was busy looking around with curiosity stamped all over her face.
'Garrus and Liara.' She thought.
"Clara." Emily's voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up letting out a small shy smile. She shifted nervously again before launching herself into Emily's arms. Feeling them close around her she let out a sob.
"I missed you! When I heard about the attack on Citadel I thought you died!" She cried, tears staining her freckled cheeks.
"Hush now kiddo. I'm here now." Emily said softly into her hair. Clara took a step back and fisted the tears off her face and gave her a watery smile.
The three others of the group shared a look, they've never seen this side of the great Commander Emily Shepard. Kaidan gave a small shrug at Liara's unspoken question. He didn't know much about Emily's relationship to Clara. Of course he's heard some of the less than savory rumors that Clara was Emily's child but looking at the two of them it was easy to see that it was nothing more than a rumor.
Emily cocked her hip and tilted her head to the side and looked at the people behind Emily and smiled.
"We've got room for all of you and we even have food for you Mr. Vakarian." She said sweetly.
"Thank you." He nodded as he smirked at her.
Clara snaked her arm around Emily's waist and turned her towards the streets of Elysium and lead the group to her house. Kaidan reached for one of Emily's bags and ended up carrying her duffel bag, refusing to give him her weapons with a teasing grin.
"No one touches my babies except me." She said as she yanked the case away from his helping hand.
"And me." Garrus growled as he took a quick swipe at the case and tugged it out of her hand.
Clara watched the exchange with a slight curious look on her face as she took in Kaidan's face when he looked away at Garrus' comment.
"It's because the two of you end up sitting in the mess hall polishing your weapons like no tomorrow." Liara commented serenely as she watched their antics.
Emily's eyes widened as a snort and a giggle escaped her mouth. She covered her mouth quickly but her eyes glowed with mirth as Clara began to giggle out loud.
"What? What did I say?" Liara asked confused.
"Oh uhm nothing nothing!" Emily choked out as her body convulsed in laughter.
Kaidan shot Emily a disapproving look but failed as he let out a soft laugh. Garrus covered his face with the palm of his hand and let out a groan.
"Did you really just turn that into a dirty joke, Emily?" He asked while his shoulders shook.
"Maybe." She grinned cheekily.
"So where too dove?" She asked Clara, gently tugging one of her curls.
"The beach! You brought your swimsuit right? Liara you have one too right?!" She asked, excitement glowing in her bright green eyes.
Emily and Liara nodded in usion as Clara gave out a whoop of joy.
"What about you two?" She asked Kaidan and Garrus.
The two looked at each other and shrugged.
"I don't swim. Being turian and all, going into the water involves a lot of thrashing around and drowning." Garrus commented dryly.
Seeing the slight look of disappointment in the little girl's face he coughed and shifted nervously.
"But yeah, I bought one I could probably just walk along the shore or something." He continued.
Bright green eyes stared at Kaidan, noting the slight blush on his neck.
"Yeah." He said quietly, a small smile on his face.
"Yay! Let's go drop your stuff off and head there!" She exclaimed excitedly while going back to wrap her arm around Emily's waist.
The sand was hot under foot, and the sound of the ocean was soothing compared to the noise of the colony. She tilted her head back and looked at the sun, letting the wind blow through her red curls. A smile on her face as she heard Emily curse softly as she and Liara cut random human and turian fruit into bowls.
"Damnit Garrus, this damn fruit has a thicker hide then you do!" She yelled out as she threw the strange looking fruit at Garrus' head. She watched as Garrus held out a talon and impaled the fruit on it and took a bite.
"You still need to work on your aim, Shepard." He drawled as his mandibles flared in laughter.
Kaidan settled himself behind Emily, the tight black shirt hugging his muscular chest as he snaked an arm around her waist pulling her against him and placing a soft kiss on her exposed neck.
"Mmm hey..." She murmured huskily.
"You look good..." He whispered into her ear as his finger traced the strap of her military two piece swimsuit. She shivered slightly at the promises she heard in his voice and gave him a knowing smile.
"Later..." She mouthed before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and pushing him away.
They spent the day swimming and when night drew to a close they built a campfire on the beach and watched the stars. Clara using Emily's lap as a pillow as Emily played with her curls.
"How long is your shore leave?" Clara asked, as she bit her thumb nervously.
"Mmm about a week or so then we're heading back to the Citadel to drop Garrus off, he's going to finish his work at C-sec before re-applying for Spectre status. Liara's staying on the Normandy for the time being, losing her mother was pretty hard on her and I think she just needs some company. Kaidan...he's getting transferred to a different ship. Guess he and I weren't as subtle as I thought but luckily we didn't get reprimanded." She said softly as her eyes sought out her friends in the semi darkness.
Kaidan and Liara were talking to each other about his L2 implant, and Garrus was sitting by the ocean watching the water play about his talons.
Clara nodded sadly and sat up, her eyes focused on the distant stars.
"They're allowing me to join early. Instead of being 18, they're letting me begin training in two weeks. I'm pretty sure you had something to do with it." She said giving Emily a sideways glance.
"You won't be seeing any actual combat till you're 18. It's just training and boot camp. Are you sure its what you want to do?" Emily asked as she wrapped an arm around her waist.
Clara tilted her head to the side and thought about the question.
"Yes, I'm sure." She answered with a smile.
"Now, what about you and Mr. Alenko? Are you in love with him?" Clara asked point blank, causing Emily to wince slightly.
"I don't know if it is love or not. I really don't have anything to compare it too." She said with a small elusive smile.
"Sure, he's attractive, smart, funny and caring. But I'm not ready to throw away my career for anyone." She continued thoughtfully.
"And what about Garrus?" Clara asked curiously.
Emily blinked in shock as her mouth opened and closed with no sound.
"Uh what?" She finally choked out.
"The way you two move, its like watching two dancers, or a well oiled machine. You move, he moves, you lead, he follows. Plus he rarely if ever takes his eyes off you. And you let him touch your guns. You wouldn't even let Kaidan carry your case." Clara said innocently.
"Uhm, honey, you're forgetting he's a turian and I'm a human." Emily said softly as her eyes turned to watch Garrus' shadowed form by the water's edge.
"So? Don't tell me you haven't thought about it," Clara questioned.
Emily groaned and covered her face with her hands. She had thought about it at some point, before things between her and Kaidan got to intense.
"Stop." She laughed out loud, she leaned back and allowed her body to fall and lay in the sand.
"Again my love life is off limits!" Emily shook her head and looked up at the stars.
"I just know, I'm going to miss them all when they have to leave the Normandy." She continued.
Clara gave a small nod and curled up next to Emily and let sleep drift into her mind.