Chapter 2
Garrus
June 20th, 2189
I can't believe it's been a year already," I said, sitting next to Ame and her pile of pillows, watching Gaius shakily walk a few feet over to us, losing his balance several times.
"I know…," Amelia caught a giggling Gaius as he stumbled into her arms, lifting him above her head. Gaius squealed as he flew high, his mandibles splaying widely and his arms flapping wildly. "You know… I almost didn't come to Palaven with Jace. I had half a mind to let you live your life and not pester you into following your deathbed promise."
"I'm glad you did. I couldn't imagine where I'd be without you." As they talked, Octavia, ever the careful soul, stood and walked over to them far smoother than Gaius. I swept our daughter off her feet, flying her over my head alongside Gaius. "Mae Filae," I said lovingly to my children.
"Pa… Pada!" Octavia managed, giggling and waving her arms around as I held her up with one hand.
"Oh my God, Garrus! She said 'Pada'!" The children had been babbling nonsense for months, but this was the first word either had said that we'd understood.
"I guess we know which of us is her favorite," I taunted with a chuckle, lightly pushing Amelia over with my free arm.
Amelia sprawled over with an exaggerated whimper, putting on her best puppy-dog face. Gaius giggled from where he had fallen, standing back up on shaky legs and wobbling over between us, falling onto Ame's chest, "Mada!"
"Ha!"