Chapter 24

"Garrus, Tali, I can't believe you live here," Shepard said stumbling around the white leather couches. Her reflection gawked back at her in the windows. It superimposed a manicured lawn moving with people.

"Perks of being the quarian ambassador," Tali said.

Garrus leaned in. "Perks of sleeping with the quarian ambassador."

"Sounded a little practiced, Garrus," Shepard said.

"He came up with it last week at the Delegates' Banquet," Tali sighed.

"And she still sets it up for me. True love, Shepard."

"Speak for yourself, Vakarian. We're only friends with benefits."

"A lot of benefits." Garrus grinned.

Tali lifted the wine bottle out of Shepard's hand and head across the room to the open kitchen.

"Look at that walk," Garrus said appraisingly. The added swing to Tali's hips indicated she'd heard him.

"My tour's taken a weird turn."

"Tour, right." Garrus cleared his throat and shook his head. He indicated a few more features. The tall ceiling and huge steel chandelier made Shepard crane her neck. "Great place, Shepard. Well, except for being so far off the skycar pickup points."

"Can't have everything." Shepard grinned. "Though, this is close."

Jumbled conversation mixed with laughter and the pulsing base of a speakers spread around the lawn. It washed over her as Garrus guided her through a tall glass slider and onto the brickwork patio.

"Shepard, nice blue." Jacob came up behind her out of the house. He took her offered hand but pulled her in a quick hug instead. He pulled back and turned to the woman at his shoulder. "You remember Brynn?"

"Of course." Shepard offered her hand with a nod. "How's parenthood?"

Garrus grinned. "See the blood shot eyes and wide smile, Shepard? All you need to know."

Jacob laughed. "Not far from truth. Hey, Shepard, when are you coming to Rio? You keep saying you will."

"Shep!" Jack looped up the patio's stairs from the lawn. "Damn you, Garrus. Where the hell's Shep's drink? Hold out."

"She wanted to see the house first."

"I did say that," Shepard said. "Jack! It's been forever."

Jack cursed and took a step back. "I see that look. Don't even think about hugging me. Shot people in the head for less."

Shepard's smile broadened. "Look, Garrus, a verbal warning first. Aw, Jack, you do care."

Jack rolled her eyes. "Ha. Hell yeah, my warning shots aren't flesh wounds."

"Damn," Jacob laughed. "Just like the good ole days, right? Where's Miranda?"

"Miss Milkway?" Jack said. "She and her fine ass can go to hell for all I care. Bitch better not tangle with me tonight."

Jacob chuckled. "Bet she's looking forward to seeing you too."

People clustered in the lawn around something. Sunset lengthened their shadows to the primrose hedge bordering a low stone wall.. A cool breeze moist with fresh pine and mown grass stirred Shepard's hair as she watched the crowd on the grass.

"What're they doing?" Shepard asked.

"Tag along. I'll show you," Garrus said and lead her down the red bricked stairs and into the cool grass.

Cortez, Traynor, and Adams stood next to the cheering huddle but a few steps off. They raised a trio of glasses to her as she passed.

"Commander," Javik said with a sharp nod passing to the patio.

"Uh, nice blue jacket there, Javik," Shepard said.

"A ridiculous primitive holiday. In my cycle, blue represented childhood and naivete. I believe it still does."

"Oh?" Shepard smiled. "Always a pleasure, Javik."

He continued to the steps. Garrus pointed a lawn game in the center of the crowd. Shepard tiptoed to see over the heads. James whooped and gave Grunt a rough pat on the back. Liara watched with crossed arms and a blank face. A few people stood back watching James throw another hoop. Shepard didn't recognize them.

"Traditional turien game for this holidy - Brackien," Garrus said.

"Looks like a ring toss, Garrus," Shepard said. "In my cycle, winning sent you home with a gold fish or a giant stuffed panda."

"Here you get a bottle of turien finest - Vanicel Wine."

"Uh huh. Rather win a fish. What other turien traditions do we have?"

"The blue as you see …" Garrus turned expansively. "Well, except for Cortez. Said he 'forgot.'"

Cortez's head turned. "I did. I swear. Had the perfect outfit too."

"I believe you," Garrus said, "but you do know at the end of the night, the party guests not wearing blue get dish duty."

"I think you mean, does the speech," Shepard said.

"You're not getting out of it, Shepard." Garrus motioned back to the house. "To the bar. The real place you wanted to see anyway, am I right?"

"Anyone else, Garrus, and I'd feel a little judged by that statement."

"But it is me, Shepard, so don't sweat it. That is what humans do, right? Literally sweat it?"

Shepard's heels clicked across the patio and drew Jack's attention. Her eyes focused on something beyond Shepard through the open patio door. A sneer curled her lips. Miranda had arrived. She and Tali talked by the couches as Garrus lead Shepard across the room. The stark white paint made the chandelier light feel bright.

"If we were on Palaven," Garrus said, "we'd have a spread of dextran delicacies – green fowl and turbid root. Tali's never had turbid root."

"Me neither," Shepard said.

"Next party, bring your Epipen. You'll love it."

"A party on Rannoch?"

"Maybe."

They turned the corner to a gray granite countertop dividing the living space and stainless steel kitchen. Stemmed glasses, tumblers, and an assortment of liquor and wine crowded the counter. Shepard ran her eyes over the labels with a smile. There were drinks for krogan, turien, human, and everything in between.

"Don't know if I'm more impressed by the house or your collection here, Garrus."

"Guests have been adding to the collection."

Tali appeared beside Shepard and grabbed a wine bottle to fill her glass.

"Shepard!" boomed a voice coming across the living room.

Shepard looked up. "Grunt!"

Grunt lumbered to her with teeth glinting in his smile. Shepard braced for the head butt. She wasn't disappointed. She grabbed the counter with locked knees and steadied herself as he laughed stepping back. An asari slinked up next to him. She gave a weak smile and looked quickly over at Grunt.

"Who's your friend, Grunt?" Shepard asked leaning a hand on the counter.

"Friend?" Grunt glanced around.

Shepard motioned to the asari who inclined her head in greeting.

"Oh!" Grunt laughed slapping a hand on the bar.

The bottle rattled. Wine sloshed in Tali's glass as she lurched to steady them.

"Friend? Haha," Grunt said. "No, this is Illora. We've decided to mate."

Shepard's hand slipped on the counter. "What?"

"Shepard! My friend!" Wrex nudged aside Garrus.

"Wrex, hey." Shepard's eyes shot back to Grunt. "Now, what?"

"You did it, Shepard." Wrex tapped Shepard with the back of his hand and set an empty glass on the counter. "We're on the schedule. I knew you'd come through."

Wrex snatched up a bottle of Krogan whiskey. It looked half gone already. Wrex laughed and took a long gulp from his glass. Then, still holding the whiskey, he poured more.

"We have fertile krogan females again. But Grunt, he chooses an asari. It is a waste."

Illora's lips parted with a frown. Wrex's grin only broadened under her glare. Grunt put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Illora - she's fine as any krogan female. Grunt will have who Grunt wants."

He bared his teeth. Wrex either didn't notice or didn't care as he took a smacking slurp. He rolled the amber liquid around his crystal tumbler and drank it in one loud glug. He slammed it down on the counter.

"Good stuff!"

Glasses rattled. Tali hissed as she lurched again to steady the bottles. Garrus pushed around Shepard and grabbed Tali's arm.

"Enjoy the party. Let's go mingle." Garrus tugged on her.

Tali sighed but stepped away from the bar. "I hate cleaning up broken glass."

"Better than broken furniture," Garrus said pulling her past Grunt and Wrex.

"Furniture!" Tali whipped her head back to the krogan. "Maybe I should—"

"No, no." Garrus tugged her forward with halting steps and a craned neck. "Fun now. Furniture and glass later."

Illora caught Grunt's eye and tipped her head toward the main room.

"Nice to meet you, Illora," Shepard said. "Shepard, by the way."

"Oh. I know." She smiled then cast Wrex a dark look before joining the crowd growing around the couches.

Shepard laughed as Wrex poured himself more whiskey. She grabbed a stemmed glass and shuffled the wine glasses around the counter. Maybe she should have brought a dextran wine for Tali and Garrus. Her hand paused on a bottle made of purple glass. She snatched it up with a growing smile and glanced around. Alenko family winery. Shepard remembered it. She hadn't seen him yet.

Joker leaned over the counter and grabbed a bottle in front of her. Shepard flinched and blinked at him. He sat back in the bar stool beside Wrex. His crutches leaned against the bar.

Joker poured himself a glass of wine. "Our little Grunt's gone and grown up. Seems like only yesterday he was crawling out of the test tube, and now he's bringing a girl home to meet the folks."

Shepard gaped at him. "How long you been here? Didn't see you come up."

"Guess when two krogan and an Alliance pilot with brittle bone disease walk up to a bar … wait, I already gave it away."

"Joker!" Wrex bellowed and turned to him.

"Hey, Wrex. How's it going? Alliance Headquarters still sending you invoices for those cafeteria tables?"

Wrex chuckled. "We keep on good behavior. For now. We'll see. Right, Shepard?"

Joker looked between them. "Uh … okay. Seems ominous, but whatever."

"Wrex," Shepard said pouring wine from the purple bottle. "You made it on the schedule. Don't set yourself back by expecting everything to be decided in one week."

"Some things must be decided, Shepard. If the krogan are not heard …"

"Wrex, be patient."

Joker drew out a loud sigh. "We gonna discuss politics and boring crap at this party, 'cause my invitation said drinks and fun."

Wrex's laugh boomed. As it ease down, he patted Joker on the back. Joker winced. "Joker - he is right. We talk later, Shepard. For now … drinks!" He raised his glass and took a long gulp. "Ahhh, there - drinks, now fun. Where is … oh, I see him."

He staggered a little as he crossed to Javik. He stood against the wall with a flat expression, but when he saw Wrex he gave what probably passed as a prothean smile.

"Those two talking together?" Joker whistled. "Bad recipe. Gives James's huarache a run for its money."

"Hey, where is James? Saw him outside. I need to talk to him."

"Over there," Joker said and pointed to the crowd in the living room.

They laughed at some story Garrus was telling. His voice was loud enough Shepard could almost follow the story from here. Her eyes moved to Wrex and Javik standing against the wall talking animatedly. Joker was probably right about the recipe. Shepard 's eyes slid further and fell on Liara standing in the corner by the open doorway, holding her elbows, and head hanging as she stared at the floor. Shepard cocked her head with a frown.

"Hell." Jack skipped up beside Joker. "Give me the hardest damn stuff you got!"

Joker frowned at her. "Uh, do I look like the bartender?"

Jack growled a string of curses. She rifled through the selection and pushed away each wine bottle with a snort. She stormed into the kitchen and threw open cupboard doors. The glasses clanked against her other, and she shifted around inside.

"Damnit," she snarled. "They something more than a dixie cup?"

Joker leaned forward on the bar. "Full bottles of wine here. Just take one."

"Wine!" Jack hissed and rolled her eyes.

Shepard sipped her wine. It tasted just like she remembered. She held it up with a smile and swirled it in the light. He still wasn't anywhere around Shepard could see. She strolled along the counter as Jack ducked under the kitchen sink. Joker strained further over the bar and offered unhelpful suggestions with a smirk. Shepard hoped he qualified for a verbal warning.

"Good hunting. I'm off," Shepard said.

Joker touched his baseball cap with a quick salute. Shepard passed into the crowded living room leaving slamming cupboards and profanity.

XXX

Shepard mingled with the crowd in the living room. She caught up with Traynor and Adams. Tali updated her on most recent news from Rannoch. Music pulsed through the open patio door. A grassy breeze made her draw in a deep breath and look around again.

"Lola."

Shepard turned. James stood on the outskirts of the group listening to another of Garrus's stories.

"James, hey." Shepard came over. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm here." He tapped the arm of the brunette next to him. She had quite the head of hair - voluminous and so dark it was almost black. She turned away from Garrus's story with a wide smile. James motioned with his glass at Shepard. "This is Commander Shepard."

"Uh, hi," Shepard said.

Shepard glanced at James's Cheshire cat grin then extended her hand to the woman. The woman's dark eyes crinkled with her smile, and she gave a firm shake. She was striking.

"Rebecca," she introduced herself.

"Rebecca?" Shepard paused. Her eyes flickered to James.

James winked. He grinned so broad Shepard could probably see his back molars. She turned her eyes back to Rebecca. She could see it now – the coloring, maybe even in the smile. A thought struck her, and she glanced down at her wine glass. The Alenko family wine.

"You're Kaidan's cousin," Shepard said.

"Uh … well, yes, I am." Rebecca grinned sideways at James. "I should just introduce myself as that. Leave the name for later."

"Nah," James chuckled. "More divertido this way. Fun to see them working it out as we're all talking."

"Even better still," Rebecca pointed her wine glass at him, "if we hadn't told anyone, imagine the tense silence when Kaid finally showed up. You looking like you just found out."

"Damnit," James laughed. "You shoulda said something earlier. You didn't tell Kaidan you were coming?"

Rebecca shook her head. "You?"

James's grin widened. "Nada."

Rebecca sipped from her glass. "More fun to come then."

James turned to Shepard. "She's magnifico, Lola."

"Aww," Rebecca said. "Probably says that about all the partier's cousins he brings as a plus one."

"Not at all," Shepard said, then grinned over at James. "Actually, he used 'brillante' for Garrus's cousin and 'muy caliente' for Wrex's."

Rebecca laughed and clinked glasses with Shepard. "Wrex's cousin and James? I like it. That is 'muy caliente,' James."

"Uh … right." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks for that image, Lola."

"It's totally hot." Rebecca smiled. "Gotta say though, kind of intimidated by the idea of a krogan ex-girlfriend. But what the hell, right? Danger can be sexy."

"Then you're going to love his cooking," Shepard said.

"Lola, gezz," James said. "Striking close to the heart there."

Shepard leaned in to Rebecca and lowered voice. "He's not going to introduce me to the next cousin he brings."

James shook his head and drained the last of his drink. Rebecca finished off her own glass then plucked the empty glass from his hand.

"I'll get your refill," she said. "Bet your krogan ex-girlfriend didn't do that for ya."

"Lola, you're right. No way you're getting introduced next time."

Shepard gave a lazy shrug and watched Rebecca cross to the kitchen. Joker greeted her while Jacob and Brynn shifted to make room as they picked through the wine bottles.

"She's great though." James grinned goofily. "Don't you think?"

"For the moment, right?" Shepard rounded to face him.

"Moment?" James mumbled and craned to see around her to the bar.

"That's what you live in, right? The moment."

"Oh. Oh, yeah." James focused back on Shepard and fired a shot at her with his hand. "Damn right, Lola."

Shepard finished the rest of her wine. James's eyes drifted over her shoulder again, and he grinned.

"Hey," Shepard said more seriously. "What are your plans going forward? I need a good XO."

His eyes flicked back to Shepard.

"Uh … yeah." He cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. "Not that that's not a great offer or nothing, Lola, but Admiral Wilson's been talking to me. Might get my own command. I was hoping to talk to you about it. What'd ya think? It's a great gig and all … just, uh, you know? Maybe not for me. I'm not sure."

Shepard smiled despite the lump in her throat. "Take it. You'll be great, James. I mean it."

"Yeah?" James folded his arms. "I guess maybe … well, you know, get to thinking about things in the past, makes you not sure about being right for it."

"You're right for it. I'm not just saying that. That's what I told Admiral Wilson when he asked me about you. You're a damn fine soldier, and you'll make a damn fine CO."

"Thanks, Lola." James gave her a small smile. "I'll, uh, let you know how things fall and all. As for an XO, I know some guys from N7. Could pass you some names or something."

"Sure."

The crowd listening to Garrus had dispersed. Shepard's eyes shifted to the wicker patio furniture beyond the open door. Garrus now sat chatting with Liara. He waved his drink with a booming voice and laughed. The corners of her mouth lifted but her eyes looked empty as she listened with slumped shoulders.

"I'll talk to you later, James."

"Hast luego, Lola."

James moved to meet Rebecca partway as she returned with drinks. Shepard nodded at people and exchanged quick words as she made her way to the patio. Crisp spring air filled her lungs as she settled in the wickered loveseat next to Liara.

"Hey, guys," Shepard said.

"Hello, Shepard," Liara murmured.

Wine stagnated in Liara's glass on the table in front of them. It looked untouched.

"So, Shepard?" Garrus said across the table from them. "Having a good time?"

"Great, yeah." Shepard turned to Liara, who was staring at her wine glass with unfocused pupils. "Liara, it's been a little bit. How are things?"

Liara's turned dull eyes to Shepard. "Fine, Shepard."

"Everything … okay?"

Liara eyes dropped with a nod. She concentrated on her hands interlaced tightly in her lap. Garrus shifted in his chair and met Shepard's eyes with shrug. Shepard scooted to the edge the seat and set her empty glass down next to Liara's. She twisted to face Liara.

"So, uh, Liara … do you know Illora, Grunt's mate?" Shepard asked.

Liara shook her head.

"Grunt's pretty smitten," Garrus said.

"Krogan are ideal candidates as mates due to their longer lifespans," Liara said.

"So romantic," Garrus chuckled.

Liara looked up with a frown. "You wouldn't understand. Living so long is just that much longer to be without the ones we've lost. Only one of your own kind do you expect to know forever. It's the only relationship you count on to last a lifetime. You lose that …" Liara's face strained, and her hands pressed tightly into her skirt. She looked over at Garrus. "Choosing a krogan as a bondsmate would last that lifetime. So, it really is romantic despite sounding … clinical."

"Uh-hmm." Garrus glanced at Shepard before turning his attention back to Liara. "You look like you need a drink, Liara."

"I have one." Liara lifted the wineglass by the stem. Blue wine sloshed around the full glass as she set it back down.

"Okay," Garrus said. "Rephrasing. You look like you need to drink a drink, Liara. You seem a little … on edge."

"Liara." Shepard tried to catch her eye, but Liara stared straight ahead. "You're really all right?"

"I'm – I'm fine." She shot to her feet and snatched her wine glass off the table. "I'm going to introduce myself to Grunt's mate. Speak with you later, Shepard. Garrus."

Garrus returned Liara's nod as she passed. He took a long drink from his glass and shook his head.

"She is wound up," he muttered.

"Maybe." Shepard frowned at her retreating back.