Prompt: Crew meets Shepard's parents. Or parent. Any Mass Effect is okay.

Shepard hated formal functions, especially this type. She sipped the glass of bourbon she was nursing from her spot on the wall next to the seated Joker. The helmsman looked strange without his signature hat and instead in dress blues.

"You know, Commander," he started. "Hell of a party for some big heroes out here."

She nodded her agreement. "I'll drink to that."

"Anyone notice you missing yet?"

She nodded to Kaidan, who shortly slumped against the wall next to her.

"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," Joker muttered.

"Commander." Kaidan nodded at her.

"Lieutenant." Their eyes lingered a second too long, at least one and possibly both of their gazes thick with longing. She tore hers away and drew a deep breath.

It had been a week since Ilos – since the Battle of the Citadel for the rest of the galaxy, but since Ilos for them. They'd been too busy – first with hearings, then with ceremonies – to talk about what had happened, or what they were, or even if they were anything at all. She sincerely hoped they were something, but it wasn't like life on a ship taught her a lot about relationships. "How's the crew?"

He nodded towards one corner of the room. Adams, Pressley, and Chakwas were attempting to keep them in line, though several of the crewmembers were obviously intoxicated. She sighed. "I should have known."

"They deserve it, ma'am," Kaidan murmured.

"Never said they didn't." She smiled at him as he, almost invisibly, brushed her arm. The smile was returned, and Joker rolled his eyes.

"If you two are gonna eye-fuck each other all night, I'm out," he muttered.

"Shut up." Shepard took another sip, watching as Garrus managed to rescue Liara from a knot of admirers and started to usher her over. "Great, Vakarian's going to blow my cover."

"What are you doing over here?" A woman's voice suddenly asked. All three straightened up and saluted – Joker in his chair – as a woman wearing a captain's stripes appeared in front of them.

"Uh … hiding," Shepard replied, motioning at the wide room ahead of her. "People watching."

"It's your party, Marrakech. You should be out there."

Kaidan and Joker exchanged a look behind her back.

"I don't … ugh. Permission to—"

The woman waved her hand. "You always do."

"Mom, you know I hate this shit."

There was another look exchanged as Garrus finally finished ushering Liara and Tali over to them. "Marrakech –" She glanced at the now-collected members of her crew. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Shepard sighed. "Lieutenant Moreau, Lieutenant Alenko, Officer Vakarian, Miss Tali'Zorah, and Miss Liara T'soni." She motioned to each in turn. "Guys, this is my mother, Captain Shepard."

Liara's mouth formed a small O as Garrus' mandibles fluttered slightly. "Ma'am," Kaidan said immediately. She smiled at him and gave him a slight nod.

"She's not running you all ragged, is she?" Captain Shepard asked. "Giving you all a break from saving the galaxy occasionally?"

"Ha!" Joker said, almost immediately. Shepard glared at him.

"It hasn't been all bad," Garrus said. "Couple of crazy moments here or there."

"I can only imagine." She smiled at her daughter, and Shepard felt the back of her neck starting to flush. "Hell of a thing you've done, sweetheart." She looked back over her shoulder. "Oh. Keep in touch, Marrakech."

"I will, Mom." They watched her hurry off, back to where Hackett was talking to another collection of Alliance officers.

Kaidan was frozen in place. Before she'd left, she'd given him a knowing look. Did she know? How could she have? He hadn't given them away – there was no way.

"You look suddenly terrified," Tali commented, and Kaidan took a deep breath.

"I'm fine." He forced a smile. "It's just not every day you meet your superior officer's mother."

"Yeah, sure that was it," Joker said. "It isn't like you're—"

"Aw, shit," Shepard interrupted. They looked up, spotting the asari councilor making her way over. "God damn it."

Across the room, Hannah Shepard managed to catch her daughter's eye and nod at the lieutenant, then give her a smile. Shepard narrowed her eyes at her before her attention was taken over by the councilor.

It was about time someone caught her daughter's attention.