"And after a long and hard battle, the prince finally vanquished the dragon and saved the princess, whom he then swept off with and then they lived happily ever after together in some fancy far off kingdom. The end."
Joker was just about to launch into the usual 'now get to sleep kid' protocol, when he caught the expression of deep thought that was on the face of the small girl seated in the bed next to him. He paused and raised an eyebrow, "What's on your mind kid?"
"Uncle Joker… if the prince saves the princess from the dragon… Does that make mom the prince and dad the princess?" She looked up at him in genuine curiosity, completely flooring the pilot with her innocent question. Of course she knew that Shepard had pulled Alenko's ass out of the fire at more than one occasion. Even though neither Joker nor any of the other close friends of the couple (Not even Wrex or Grunt, hell, even Jack managed to behave around her) made a habit of retelling war stories to the six year old girl, she knew the general story of her parents' history together in the military.
"Erh, just out of your interest to keep your dear uncle's bones whole, don't call your dad 'Princess' to his face. I've had one argument with him in my life, and that's two too many for my taste." Joker grimaced, and then added as an afterthought, "Your mom would probably find it hilarious though."
The child tilted her head to the side as her face scrunched up in confusion. "Okay, Uncle Joker… You didn't answer my question though."
Joker thought for a moment, before sighing heavily. Last time he told some old school bed stories to the kid, she was way too sharp for her age. "Your mom isn't the damsel in distress type, while your dad sure seems to have a knack for getting caught up in things." He thought back on the lockdown of the Normandy SR-1, and what he had overheard on the intercoms that time. "I think your mom's dragons weren't physical, but rather evil spirits gnawing away at her resolve." The young girl giggled happily as Joker wiggled his fingers at her to demonstrate just how evil the spirits were. "You dad was there for her in a way none of us other were when she had it tough, he saved her that way." And then his face split in a wide grin. "And in return your mom saved him from creepy crawly aliens."
"Oh. I get it." She grinned as she crawled further down under her blankets and hugged her krogan plushie close to her chest. "Good night uncle Joker, good night auntie EDI."
"Good night child," EDI's voice rang out as her hologram flickered into view on the nearby console, illuminating the room for Joker as he switched off the small lamp by the head of the little girl's bed.
"Good night kid," the pilot said as he ruffled her hair, earning him another giggle as she dove under her blankets to escape.
Joker chuckled and made his way out of the room, the door shutting behind him with a quiet 'whoosh'.
Underneath her blankets, the daughter of Shepard and Kaidan Alenko sleepily wondered when she'd get to save a prince of her own.