How are you, folks? I'm back with another chapter ;) yay! How are you, folks? I'm back with another chapter ;) yay! Thanks for Razzberry31 for correcting and great support. She become also an author recently, you can find her fic here: /works/4978891/chapters/11435398.

oOo

Garrus and Jane left the apartment with the Vakarians only to meet Primarch Victus outside, waiting by the skycars. "Good to see you all, ready?" Jane greeted the turian with a broad smile. Garrus regarded them and wondered when they had become such pals.

"Adrien! I'm so glad as well. Is everything prepared? I hope Kasumi hasn't had a hard time gathering everything?" Both Shepard and Adrien shook their hands in the turian way, then Garrus also greeted him. Then Primarch turned to Akteon and Solana.

"Of course we prepared everything. Let's go, we have to take our get good doctors and we can have our celebrations." Shepard gasped, not daring to comment about taking Doctor Shakria and Solus along. Why she thought she won't see Arteria today? I invited her myself, god, she won't be pleased about my health stats today. Great. Everyone got to the skycars and departed for the Cipritine docking bay. It took them less than 30 minutes to get there. Shepard regarded the town, it's small traffic. She hoped soon it will get better, that soon it will be the greatest turian metropolis as it was before the war. On the other hand she knew it would take time to replenish the number of inhabitants on the planet. Before the war there was over 6 billion turians living here. Now? She wouldn't dare count. She wouldn't dare ask Adrien. Risking nightmares and heavy self loathing was too much to handle right now. Jane focused on buildings, turians were fast to rebuild and fix their architecture. Maybe because it was simple, nice white buildings made not only of angular shapes, but also round and smooth ones. Shepard imagined that turian architecture would be all straight and strict, just like their ships. How she was surprised when she saw Cipritine. She saw turians from a different perspective. Another thing that was somewhat surprising to her, was the lack of pollution and gardens. They placed them literally everywhere. Long ago when Shepard and Vakarian were discussing Palaven, she got to know it was a very clean planet. Turians forbade heavy industry on their homeworld, moving it to almost uninhabitable satellite planets. They based their power supplies on clean energy from their sun and running water. That's why Palaven's pollution fell almost to 0. It was strange to Shepard to breath such clean air, to see long distances clearly, or to swim in the clean waters of the ocean. Jane was deep in thought when Vakarian shook her arm lightly.

"Look." Her gaze travelled by one of his three fingers, pointing at the docking bay. At one particular ship.

"Normandy!" Shepard smiled, seeing her ship that she missed so much was a true miracle to her. She wanted to be with her friends, her crew as fast as possible. Jane felt her heart start to beat faster from excitement, she had to steady her breathing. Remember! Shakria is in the other skycar. Shepard scolded herself. She shook her head and looked at the Normandy again, a pure beauty to her. They approached the landing zone and landed a few moments later, she could admire her baby from up close. They went up on the stairs leading to the airlock, she felt happier and happier with each step, squeezing Garrus' hand firmer.

"Breathe, Shepard." The turian leaned into her, his playful tone made her snort.

"I am, Gar-bear. I am." Before entering the ship she turned back to everyone. Noticing someone was missing. "Where is Mackrix and Doctor Solus?" Shepard looked around, she found them by the bigger skycar, taking some crates out of it with a few other turians and an asari. "Ah, yeah, I know. Don't mind me."

"What is it?" Garrus was interested. Shepard didn't want to reveal what she had planned for the crew. He tried to get it out of her but her lips were sealed. Damn little human. She's tough. My interrogation skills failed big time. He thought to himself while regarding five crates on the landing zone. And they got even more there. Interesting… Shepard shook her head.

"I won't tell ya, you nosy turian. Uhmm... You don't have actual nose… like mine… Nevermind."

"And what is this?" He asked, pointing at his equivalent of human nose, when they entered the decontamination chamber. "This is a nose, Shepard."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand dismissively. "And you don't have ears. 2:0 for me. God, why is this taking so long. Every damn time…" All of them waited for the process to be done. It took a few moments, then the doors swooshed open and she saw Joker, EDI was behind the pilot. She could bet she grinned like an idiot. Which I am actually. The man regarded her first with a big smile then his face turned from mild surprise to utter shock when he saw her belly. Ah, yeah. That one. This uniform soon will be too tight. "Joker! So good to see your crippled ass out from the pilot seat!" The woman closed the distance to Joker with few steps. They embraced, Jane had to be extra careful with him. She could feel he was stiff from shock. "At ease, soldier. You take Garrus' stick and put it up your ass or something?" The turian behind her started to laugh.

"I just lent it to him. Don't break it, Joker." Shepard started to laugh as well. The pilot also smirked, losing his tension a bit.

"Ehm... Commander? You okay?" He gestured toward her belly.

"Duh! I'm just pregnant, Joker. That's not contagious, trust me." Shepard turned to EDI and almost started to cry. "EDI! I'm so sorry! When Garrus told me… I was this close to destroying you! I didn't mean to! I didn't know it would turn out like this!" She hung herself on AI. EDI responded by patting her on the back.

"I'm good, Shepard. I've calculated every outcome. That one was most the probable. That's why I disintegrated myself. Garrus, Tali and Jeff put me together again." Jane nodded, still clinging to the AI. "Don't be sad, Shepard. From what I've just read on the extranet, pregnant women should stay calm." Jane smirked.

"Yeah, so I was told. Lots of times." Shepard collected herself and gestured toward her guests. "Meet Garrus' father and sister. Akteon Vakarian and Solana Vakarian. Akteon, Sol, this is my pilot and the Normandy's AI, Joker and EDI. Oh and this is my doctor, Arteria Shakria. She's just like Chakwas. I think I don't have to introduce the Primarch." They greeted each other and then Jane turned to the CIC and froze. The whole crew regarded her in amazed silence. Shepard smiled to them and saluted. Everyone saluted back. The woman was overwhelmed, seeing everyone alive. She went to them, regarding each face. Each of them was important to her. Tali, Liara, Ashley, Vega, Javik, Kasumi, Steve, Traynor, Gabby and Donnelly, Chief Engineer Adams, Chakwas, and everyone else. Smiling at her, some crying out of joy. Now she could really tell, she won. The Reapers are gone, everyone is here. In silence she went up on the podium behind the galaxy map. Garrus was walking behind her, standing next to the stairs, regarding everyone with a turian grin, his mandibles flaring in amusement. "I am happy beyond imagination. We are here, alive. I need to thank you all. We kicked the Reapers ass and stand here, sharing the moment of joy and victory. It was tough. We all knew it. There were times I thought we wouldn't win. I won't lie to you all. I thought that I…" She accented "I" in the sentence. "... would fail. But! We won with our mad skills, people! So the whole universe knows, that no one can screw with us! And by us I mean every damn race in this screwed up galaxy! We gathered everyone and every resource. It is all thanks to you. I would pass you thanks from the Council… but fuck them as they fucked us in the time of need. My sincere thanks to everyone and each of you. I love you guys! I really do! You are like my family." She lowered her head in a bow. "Thank you." Huge applause broke out. Everyone was shouting and clapping their hands. When it became more quiet she moved her head up. "Before I inform you about a few important things, let's welcome on board Garrus' father Akteon Vakarian and his sister, Solana. There is also my doctor, Arteria Shakria, please Karin don't be jealous. Later you will meet also Lieutenant Mackrix and Doctor Ionnas Solus, surprise surprise! He's the nephew of our dear, late Mordin Solus. And now! I have an announcement, guys. On Admiral Hackett's order, the Normandy is now mine. And I want you guys still on the ship. If you want of course." Everyone made a huge noise again, cheering for Shepard.

"We want to be here!" or "We will stay with you, Commander!" They shouted, she knew they were sincere. They would stay with her for a life-time.

"Good. Except you Vega, Hackett told me you have to go to Earth." James started swearing in Spanish. "The other big news is… I am pregnant. As you can see." She regarded their shocked faces. Almost everyone was shocked except T'Soni. "Liara, my beautiful Shadow Broker. It's so nice to know you hacked me again." Liara blushed in purple. Jane laughed. Good to know some things won't ever change.

"You are pregnant, Shep? Goddess, that's unbelievable!" Liara feigned her surprise but failed miserably.

"Since when?" Jane asked, playful smirk on her lips. She could bet, it was since communications with the Normandy was up again.

"Since comm-arrays were in range." Yup, I was right. I'm a fucking fortune teller. I'll start my business on the Citadel first thing when I get there. Jane shook her head. Meanwhile Garrus growled at T'Soni.

"And you didn't tell me, Liara? Seriously?!" Liara pulled her hands up in desperation. Jane could tell from that far she was shivering. "Spirits, that's damn good to know…" While Garrus was just mumbling to himself with anger. Jane clarified who was the father and about the therapy. Vega and other few men shouted to Garrus.

"Good for you, Compadre! Congratulations!" Shepard knew they wouldn't question her life choices, all her crew would just be happy. All the hustle and bustle died again when she raised her hand.

"And now, I have some surprises for…" She couldn't finish as Garrus went up to her and interrupted.

"Before you show us this all secret surprise of yours, I want to ask something of you." The turian took her hand and looked into her eyes. She felt her cheeks blush. "Will you marry me?" The woman froze like a broken computer, trying to process what he asked right now. We're already engaged, what does he mean?

"We are already engaged… I don't…"

"I mean getting married for real, Jane. Actual ceremony. Like in a month." Shepard mulled it. She felt it was a good idea. She wanted nothing more than to be Garrus' wife. They just needed time.

"Of course I will, Garrus. But we need two months." The turian let out a relieved breath. "Joker needs to fly the Normandy to Earth and pick up everyone. I need Jack, Miranda, Zaeed… oh! And Wrex and Grunt too!" The pilot started to laugh.

"Fine, Commander, I can fly this space cab and take everyone. EDI how long it will take?"

"With taking Urdnot Wrex and Urdnot Grunt into consideration, it will take almost 3 and a half months." Almost everyone made disappointed sighs. "The Urdnots could fly here by themselves, though, Shepard."

"EDI… can you imagine Krogans landing on Palaven? Is that even possible? Adrien?" The Primarch was leaning on the wall, regarding the whole scene from the back. Suddenly he was in the center of attention so he straightened.

"It's fine by me. I'll just inform the Hierarchy that we will have special guests."

"Okay." Shepard nodded then turned to Garrus. Her hand reached his mandible, stroking it with love. The idea she would be Jane Vakarian was heartwarming. All her dreams would soon come true. "Yes, big guy, let's get married." The turian just grinned at her and bent her slightly at the back, kissing her. "Awwww!", whistles and other loud noises broke from the crew. When Shepard and Vakarian finished, the woman turned to them again. "Come on, people, I have some presents for you all. Group in ten and come to the Mess Hall." The whole crew did as they were told too. In 15 minutes the whole crew was in the mess hall, stunned by what Shepard actually did for them. There, on tables, they saw a great variety of levo food, freshly cooked from real ingredients, there was also a part for dextro, with various dishes. Soon everyone had full plates with food, enjoying themselves greatly. Having real food, not processed, one was something so longed by them. Shepard was talking with Liara, Samantha, Tali and Gabby, telling them about the pregnancy and showing them her little son.

"I still can't believe it, Shepard." Tali's eyes shone bright behind the mask. Jane could easily say that she was excited. "And it works for quarians too?"

"Yup. You can choose any boy now, my beautiful space fairy! God, Tali, I missed you so much. I missed all of you, girls. And starting tomorrow we're going to just lay about and do shit. Because we earned it!" The Commander rose her cup of apple juice and they toasted to her words. After some time of small talk and multiple rounds around the crew like she used to do, Jane found Liara again. "We need to talk."

"I know." The asari nodded. Shepard agreed with herself long ago to drop the subject of Liara's hacking her to get intel. No sense, it was her work as the Shadow Broker after all.

"I know you know, Liara." She just sighed. "Come to your lair, Broker, we can get some privacy there. I hope you haven't gotten any Yagh there."

"Not Yagh, just one particular prothean though. I think we should invite Garrus and the Primarch as well." Shepard just rubbed her forehead. She wasn't in the mood to have a serious talk, but the matter was urgent. They went to fetch Vakarian and Primarch Victus and all of them went to Liara's room. Garrus knew already what they would talk about, but Adrien was puzzled, dragged to, what he knew already, the Shadow Broker's cabin. Glyph welcomed them happily.

"What's going on, Shepard?" He asked, consternation palpable on his face.

"I have footage of an interesting conversation from this morning. Please watch." Jane opened her omni-tool and sent the vid of her talk with the Council onto the bigger screen. They watched it in almost complete silence, broken only by occasional snorts by Liara. When they finished Adrien growled angrily.

"Well, shit..." He shook his head then turned to Garrus for a moment. "Ah, congratulation on becoming a Specter, Vakarian." Garrus just dipped his head in acknowledgment. "I'll contact Sparatus. I hope he will deal with the asari councilor before she does something stupid. We don't want hell to break loose just after the end of the war that tore the whole Galaxy apart."

"Yeah. I can see major shitstorm already forming right above my head." Shepard exhaled heavily and leaned on her bondmate. "Ours." She looked at Vakarian and he agreed with her.

"I already know Tevos contacted Thessia. The Matriarchs are reluctant to state any opinion. You are too big a fish in the sea, you are a hero and they won't move a single finger to do anything about the matter." T'Soni got to her terminal, Glyph floating near her.

"I already sorted all the information about the Asari councilor Tevos, Doctor T'Soni. Recent calls and messages included. There is also new feedback of her calls with a turian Specter." The drone reported. Liara checked the new feeds.

"Thank you, Glyph. Let's see them." The vid started. It showed Tevos sending a Specter to Palaven to sort an urgent matter threatening the galaxy's peace. They learned the Specter was on the Citadel, it will take him about month to get to the turian homeworld and that his name was Bias Victus.

"Bias Victus? Family of yours, Adrien?" The Primarch processed this new information in his head but in the end negated it.

"No. None of that name. He has to be from some distant branch or from some colony. Can you show me his face, Dr T'Soni?" Liara ordered Glyph to find all data about Specter Victus. His photo appeared on screen. "See? His clan markings are missing. He's barefaced. He or his ancestors had left the original Victus clan. He's from a colony or the Citadel."

"From what I know of clans Victus, Sparatus, Kynosos and a few others, they were so big they divided to smaller branches, accordingly to their social tier. It was so long ago, though. And your last name is really popular on our biggest colonies." Garrus explained to them, Victus agreed.

"You have great knowledge about it, Vakarian."

"I was once bored and started to search the Extranet for anything worth reading. Starting on sniper rifles and mods for them, ending on the history of the clans on Palaven." Jane started to laugh, patting on his hand resting on her waist.

"You really had to be bored, big guy. Anyway, that's not the point here. Liara, please update me if anything changes. Adrien if you could speak with Sparatus, please. He needs to take care of Tevos. We don't want her to do something extremely stupid. I know she's capable of that but still…" Then Shepard pointed at the doors with her head. "We need to return to the party. Come on." Shepard and Garrus went to his family, now surrounded by Tali, Joker, EDI and some of the crew. "Look, Gar-bear, I think all your childhood embarrassing secrets are being revealed." Jane went to Joker and listened to Solana's stories, laughing at Garrus for trying to stop her and because they were really funny. With each passing hour the crew became more and more drunk. Except of Jane and EDI of course, yet they had fun nonetheless. Watching Donnelly and Joker taking bets on how many push-ups a drunken Vega can do was extremely funny. Later Jane stood in front of the dextro table, picking something to eat. Tali came to her, tripping occasionally.

"Shepard *hic* this is dextro food. *Hic*" The Quarian was really drunk. As always, she couldn't handle booze too well.

"Yeah, I know, Fairy Princess. But I need to eat dextro for the little one. He needs dextro proteins." Tali leaned on the table. It was clearly visible she was finding it hard to stand straight. "You okay there, Tali?"

"Of course! *Hic*" And then she started to cry. "Shep, I was so afraid you *Hic* didn't make it. And I'm so far away from Rannoch *hic* Keelah, I might never *hic* return home because *hic* the relays don't work." Shepard grabbed her quickly, because Tali almost collapsed on her, she just passed out.

"Fucking great. Someone! Tali needs her beauty sleep!" Jane looked around. "Guys!" Luckily Vega walked drunkenly nearby. "James! Come help me." He looked at his Commander puzzled, then at Tali's body hovering on the table, supported by Shepard. He took the quarian into his arms.

"Where to, Com-mmmmander?"

"Take her to her cabin. EDI?"

"Yes, Shepard?" The AI's voice ringing in Jane's ear.

"Monitor Tali's life's signs, call help if she's going to vomit inside her suit. God, please not again. She almost choked to death last time she got drunk. I forgot to tell you to monitor her alcohol level again." Shepard sighed. She loved Tali, but sometimes the young quarian acted even younger than she really was.

"To be honest, Shepard, I did. It just took less alcohol to work on her this time." EDI, this time in her metallic form came toward them. "I guess it is normal for her species. Or just for Tali."

"Yeah, great. Fake drinks for her next time. Note that one, EDI." Both Shepard and the AI watched as Vega struggled to take Tali toward the elevator. When they vanished inside Jane sighed. "We can scratch one off the party. How's the rest?"

"Various states of intoxication, Shepard." The woman nodded to herself.

"Call Chakwas here." After a minute of waiting, the Normandy's doctor came to them. Jane asked her to check on Tali and give the quarian something for alcohol poisoning and a hangover. I should throw such parties more often. She thought to herself, when Karin went to Tali. Soon she went with EDI to Joker, who was explaining something to the Normandy's engineers.

"Joker, what's up?"

"Umm, it's nothing, Commander." At first glance Jane could tell Joker and Donnelly were hiding something.

"Okay. Spill it, Joker." Gabby snorted. Both men started to fidget in their respective places. "Gabby?"

"They had this bet, Commander." Engineer replied with big grin on her face. Adams just grunted in disgust. He didn't approve of bets of any kind, Shepard knew it since the SR1. "They set a wager as to whether you lost some limb or eye or whatever happened to you on the Citadel. And now..."

"And now they can't really say who exactly won, am I right?" Jane finished Gabby's sentence looking at the men with a mischievous smirk. She already knew about the bet from Tali.

"Yes, Commander." Both Joker and Donnelly admitted in unison. "Tali was closest, she bet that you haven't lost anything." Jane started to laugh. "Nooo! You did it again, did you? You and Tali played us!"

"Of course I did, idiot. Never set wagers when I am involved. I told you that many times. And what was Garrus' bet on?" Joker smiled, his anger vanished quickly.

"Before he saw you, he set a bet on an eye. He said you would look cool with an eye patch." Everyone bursted into laughter. "Seriously, hehehe, he wanted a pirate queen." Jane remembered watching some old human vid about pirates with Vakarian long ago. So that's where the idea came from. Jesus on a fucking motorboat, he has some nerve. They joked for some time till Garrus and Vakarian found Shepard. Garrus was dragging his sister, he wasn't looking good himself.

"What is it? Another one?" Jane sighed. Joker turned to her, interest visible on his face.

"Who was the first one?" Shepard regarded him, a scowl appeared on her face. I'm too tired for that shit.

"Don't tell me you made another stupid bet, Joker. Just don't. Just shut up. Gar-bear, what are you going to do with her?" Garrus had to collect himself before answering. Even with his self-control he couldn't stand still anymore, his body swaying from side to side.

"Dad's... Taking her... To apartment..." This was all he could say. Akteon, to Jane's surprise, or maybe not, was completely sober. He stepped in front of his children.

"I'm taking those two home, my dear. Please enjoy yourself. If you want I can return for you later."

"Leave Garrus here, I will take him to our cabin, upstairs." Akteon nodded. He took his daughter from Garrus and escorted her toward the elevator. Shepard was walking beside her when the Primarch, Dr Ionnas Solus and Mackrix caught up with her.

"Shepard, we will leave with Mr. Vakarian. Sorry, but we need to go." Adrien apologized, it turned out he was called by the Hierarchy and the turian cook wanted to return home to his asari wife before he could get more drunk. Jane went to see them up to the airlock. She looked at the empty cockpit, CIC, she went to the galaxy map. She missed that place, scanning planets, deciding on a destination, planning their course. She was deep in her thoughts when EDI's voice snapped her out of it.

"Are you alright, Shepard?"

"Yes, EDI. Why?"

"I noticed your prolonged absence, Shepard. I've started to worry." Jane smiled to herself. EDI might be an AI, but in time she became so much more.

"I'm fine EDI, don't worry. Just needed some time alone." Shepard liked the idea that the AI had feelings, or she wanted to call her calculations that. EDI was so different from Legion. Jane loved Legion with all his silly sounds and the way he called her Shepard-Commander. Never saying it aloud of course. But he was different, he was connected to the geth as a whole, so they couldn't grasp organics behaviours. With EDI it was different, she was a single form, she was with them way longer and her desire to understand organics was far more complex. Especially after Joker unshackled her. "I hope Garrus, Chakwas or Shakria haven't noticed my disappearance."

"No, Dr Chakwas and Dr Shakria are talking in Med-bay and Garrus is drinking with Vega and Joker. Want me to join you there, Shepard?" Jane thought about it for a moment.

"No, stay there EDI and keep an eye on Joker. We don't want him to break any bones. If he passes out, it's better be there to catch him. Again." Shepard remembered when Joker passed out the during party in her apartment on the Citadel. He almost broke his neck. Luckily the AI caught him just in time and dragged him to bed. "At least some of us have to think ahead, right darling?"

"Of course, Shepard. Good, that this time I'm not alone." The woman laughed at that remark. With being more human, EDI picked up a good sense of humour from the crew.

"Yeah. You have to think for everyone on this retarded ship." Shepard turned to the elevator and went to her cabin. She entered and almost jumped from joy. "Yay, Norm and my fish are still alive." She went to the terrarium with her space hamster, Norm. The little thing squeaked when he saw his owner.

"Garrus took good care of them while you were gone, Shepard. Better than you did, if I can state my opinion." Jane couldn't contain her laugh. She burst into laughter.

"He-he. You're fucking right, EDI. I have so damn many dead fish I can't count anymore. May the inventor of the tank's VI be blessed!" Next Jane went to look around further. The room was cleaner than she used to have it. Garrus and his OCD. She thought to herself when she heard the elevator open. In a matter of seconds, drunken Garrus entered the cabin. "Garrus. God, go to sleep. You're drunk." Shepard dragged him to the bed somehow. She dismissed the idea of taking his clothes off, leaving him as he was, in civvies. "Hey, big guy." She said when she laid herself next to him. Stroking his fringe lightly. The turian only growled in response. Jane waited till she was 100% sure Vakarian was asleep. When she did, she went down to the 3rd floor. The party was almost over because the majority of her crew was already asleep by the tables or went to their cabins or anywhere else, where they could just pass out. She went to the Med-bay to report her status to her good doctors. Both were still chatting, and only nodded when Shepard said she was going to rest. Jane was happy about the outcome of the party. It was a success. Everyone could wind down a bit, relax and celebrate the victory with Shepard. She knew they really needed it after those months away from her. Jane again went to her quarters, then changed into the most loose shorts she found and the biggest t-shirt. They were tight, but not uncomfortable. Holy cow, I got big... Jane looked at her belly, it wasn't big yet. But on the other hand bigger than normal for a human pregnancy. Chakwas told that to her earlier. Jane froze for a second. Fuck, now Chakwas will monitor my every movement. God... Or I'll send her with Joker... She went to bed, thinking how she should say it to Karin so the woman would agree. Jane lay next to sleeping a Garrus, he was humming in his sleep which soon drove her to sleep.

oOo

Garrus woke up with a huge headache. He thought his fringe had fallen off. He looked around only to notice he was in bed. With Shepard. The woman was reading something on a datapad. "Good morning." She whispered. Jane knew better than anyone that even a normal level of talking was too loud for the hung over turian. And he was very thankful for that. "How are you feeling, honey?"

"Bad." He could only growl faintly in response. Garrus felt like his throat and subharmonics didn't want to co-operate any more, leaving him with a failed attempt to communicate. Jane put the datapad on the nightstand, focusing on her turian bondmate in his agony state.

"My sweet, little birdy. Feeling bad and crap. Awww. Everyone feels like shit, so don't worry. You're not alone." The turian moved closer, nuzzling her side and blocking the light into his sore eyes. His arm rested on her underbelly. "I'll give Joker two days of shore leave. We can go to the ocean and swim."

"They can't, silly." He grunted somewhere between her waist and pillow. Shepard remembered all her crew needed to take the snake skin therapy so they could walk under the Palaven sky without any protective gear. She smacked her forehead with realisation, Garrus shivered at the sound.

"Sorry." She whispered and rubbed his arm. "I totally forgot about it. Tomorrow I'll ask Shakria for it. One week and they will be free to go just like me. And we will go to the seaside, go sightseeing. You will show us Cipritine." Garrus, as Shepard could guess, nodded. Her hand on his hand, rubbing it gently. "I'll go to Med-bay, get you something for your headache. Be right back." She carefully lifted his arm, placing it on the bed and being equally careful left the bed. Garrus didn't have to wait long till she was back with a bottle of water and pills for him. He swallowed them fast and laid in bed again, waiting patiently for the medication to work. Vakarian liked to party with the crew, but the consequences of that were really painful the next morning. He envied Jane, her cybernetics never allowed her to have a nightmarish hangover the next day, she always woke up bright and cheerful like sunshine. Before Cerberus rebuilt her it was a different story though. Of course now she couldn't drink, which was a perk, because she could take care of him. He liked her undivided attention, which was a rare sight earlier due to her never ending work. When he felt better he dragged her to the bathroom. They had a nice shower, where he could nuzzle and touch his woman wherever he wanted and she responded in kind. That was a perfect morning minus the previous headache.

"Want to eat something, Jane?" Garrus asked while brushing her hair. She let him brush her red wet strands from time to time. He could see she was relaxing massively while he did so.

"Yeah, I'm starving. I hope EDI packed everything into the fridge." Shepard hadn't waited more than 5 second for the AI to reply by speakers.

"Of course, Shepard. All food is in the fridge, you just need to heat it up." Jane turned to the camera in the corner of her room and pulled her thumb up.

"You are the best, EDI. What's the status of the rest of the crew?" Shepard was waging with herself that probably the majority of her people was asleep, and that state would last at least til late afternoon.

"With the exception of Dr Chakwas and Dr Shakria, everyone is still asleep, Shepard. My scans indicate they are still a bit drunk." Both Garrus and Shepard started to laugh uncontrollably.

"Oh, ouch. Don't make me laugh. It still hurts." Garrus whined, his subharmonics let out a painful trill and his mandibles flared, even taking the medicine, it didn't help fully with the pain in his head and his sensitivity to noises. Shepard got up and placed a light kiss on his forehead plates.

"Go to the mess hall. I'll dry my hair now so it's better if you leave." Garrus got up, nuzzled her neck, touching his forehead to hers before turning to leave. When he was in the elevator, he could hear Shepard's hairdryer. Thank you, Spirits, for such a brilliant woman. She may say she's an idiot, but for me she's the smartest in this screwed up galaxy. Soon he was in the mess hall. Vakarian looked into the fridge, picking her favourite levo and dextro food. He also picked his favourites and proceeded to heat everything up. Shepard came to the mess before the food was ready. She looked at the heater then went to organise something to drink. Soon she and Garrus could sit and enjoy their food. Or at least Shepard could, because the turian had difficulties with that, feeling a bit nauseous. In the meantime Chakwas and Shakria joined them. As Shepard predicted, the rest of the crew slowly woke up in various states of being hung over. Especially Tali, she wasn't in good shape. Later Dr Shakria left to pick up shots for the crew, to immunise them for Palaven's radiation. The whole crew gathered and spent the time together till the turian doctor returned and started with Chakwas to distribute the medicine to those who would stay on the planet. The next day Shepard ordered Joker to fly to Earth. She watched as the Normandy flew away with a mixture of happiness and sadness. She had her ship, her home back, for just three days. Yet she knew the Normandy would be back, and bring with it the rest of her friends for her wedding. That was something to be excited about.

oOo

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