Back at the hotel room, she made sure to order a nice gift basket with primo booze for Liara. She lay back in her bed with a great big stupid grin on her face. This trip was turning out to be immensely eye opening in a cultural sense in the best way.
Her omnitool beeped.
She sat up to answer.
"Garrus?"
"Hi, Shepard. How are you liking the old home town?"
"It's been very welcoming, actually."
"I take that you haven't pulled your gun on anybody yet, then."
"Laugh it up, Garrus."
"Sure. Um. I'm on the next shuttle; got to attend non-negotiable family business."
"Nothing bad, I hope."
"Nah. Not so much. Couple cousins getting out of boot camp, birth announcements, that sort of thing."
"I see."
"So. Yeah."
Shepard closed her eyes, a sudden warmth in her chest from realization breaking clear and clean.
"Garrus?"
"Yeah?"
"I got the official tour of Cipritine. But nothing beats the inside scoop from a local. Are you free?"
"Oh, sure. You want the scoop, I can do that."
"Great. And when you get here?"
"Yeah?"
"I might need a little help. With my back."
Finis