New Beginnings
Shia'va looked in the mirror and gave a half-hearted smile. She was no longer Shia'va Shepard. She was Shia'va Vakarian, lifemate of Garrus Vakarian. Though, there would be many that still knew her as Shepard. Over the past few weeks, Shia'va was letting her hair grow back to how it was before she joined the Alliance. She traced the band on her wrist as Garrus walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck and she closed her eyes. She was safe in his arms. Their honeymoon was almost over and they had both enjoyed it to the fullest. Days were spent walking among the citizens of New Hiroshima, and the nights were spent in rapturous ecstasy. She felt like a real woman. A wife. Nothing was expected of her. No need to save the galaxy from massive machines. Here, in this place, she was just another person. No one knew her, and that only made her smiled more.
Garrus kissed her neck again. "You look beautiful, Shia." He could feel her weight against him. He watched her face in the mirror as her smiled faded a bit. "What's wrong?"
She exhaled quietly. "I'm tired, Garrus."
"I would think you might be. It's been a fairly eventful couple of weeks." He watched as she shook her head.
"It's not that. I'm just...tired of all the fighting. I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to risk anyone else's life. I don't want people to sacrifice themselves for me anymore." She turned around and looked at her lifemate. "I don't want to end anymore lives. Justifiable or not. I just want it to stop." She took Garrus' hand and put it on her stomach. "I want to create life, Garrus. I want to raise a family. I want our children to be artists, or doctors. Hell, even lawyers. I don't want them growing up the way we did. I don't want them to be killers like us." She lowered her gaze, holding his hand.
Garrus had thought about this himself. He, too, was tired of all the fighting. He wanted to talk to her about it but it seemed she had already been going over her own decisions. He placed a talon under her chin and lifted her gaze to him. "Then that is what we'll do. We'll start a new life somewhere quiet. Maybe even here. But are you sure you want to leave the Alliance and the Spectres?" He already knew the answer but he wanted to hear her say it.
She nodded slowly. "I've already filled out my resignation to the Alliance. I have to face the Council to leave the Spectres."
"What about the Normandy? Cerberus technically built that ship." Shia'va had usually thought of everything, but this, Garrus figured, might be a sticking point.
"I'll give control of the Normandy over to the Alliance. She's a top of the line warship. It would be best used by a good captain. I even considered giving it to the Quarians." Shia'va mused.
Garrus chuckled. "As noble as an intention that might be, love. I don't think the Quarians would know how to really pilot the Normandy like she really should be piloted."
Shia'va smiled. "Oh I don't know. Tali might welcome having the Normandy in the Migrant Fleet." She wrapped her arms around Garrus. "But I don't have to decide this now. I have time on the way to the Citadel."
Garrus leaned down and kissed his beautiful lifemate. They would leave for the Citadel in the morning.
The trip to the Citadel had been quite uneventful. Garrus and Shia'va had booked passage on a transport from New Hiroshima. Before they had left the port, Legion had stopped them before they boarded.
"Shepard Commander, this mobile platform has reached consensus on the requirement of armed escort to facilitate the protection of new mobile platforms with in the residence." Legion's headflaps flared. "Seven hundred and forty-five programs favor this decision. Two hundred and thirty-nine are against."
Garrus blinked a minute completely confused. He noticed Shia'va giggle and blush. "Did I miss something?"
Shia'va looked up at Garrus. "What he's saying is that he wants to make sure any children we have are well protected. And that he's willing to stay with us to ensure they are."
"He couldn't have just said that?" Garrus always had a hard time understanding Legion. He was thankful Shia'va could understand him.
Shia'va smiled at Legion. "Legion, we would be honored to have you with us. The only thing I ask is that you do allow time for Garrus and I to be alone when we're home. That's all."
"Confirmed, Shepard Commander." Legion stated.
Shia'va was wearing her kimono and had her hair pulled over her shoulders. In the bottom of her hair, she had a beautiful white silk bow. Garrus was wearing his armor and he had suggested that Shia'va do the same, but couldn't argue with her decision to no longer finding the desire to wear it. As they entered the Council Chambers, politicians and on-lookers alike watched as the former Commander Shepard walked up to the podium facing the Council.
The Asari Councilor spoke first. "Commander Shepard. It's good to see you've returned to continue your duties as Spectre. Though I do question your choice in attire for performing your duties."
Councilor Anderson was standing next to Shia'va. They had spoken earlier about her decision and Anderson understood the choice she made. Shia'va looked at the Council. "Councilor, I didn't return to continue my duties as Spectre. I have come here today to officially resign as one of the Spectres." A collective gasp was heard in the chambers. "Also, I have just filed my resignation with the Alliance Military. I'm sorry, Councilors. But I no longer feel that I can continue to fight with all that has happened. I'm sorry." She bowed respectfully.
The Turian Council had been the most vocal about Shepard being one of the Spectres. But even he was taken aback by this. "Commander Shepard..." Everyone waited for him to literally blast her for leaving the Spectres. "We respect your decision. And please let me be the first to apologize for our constant lack of faith in your knowledge of the Reaper menace. Both before and after Sovereign. I can only hope my replacement will be able to treat each threat as they should be treated. With the utmost importance and respect due the Spectre that reports it." This news caused an immediate buzz in the Council chambers. The Turian Councilor resigning his own post because of decisions made by the Council.
Shia'va started to turn to leave and stopped. "And Councilors, about the Normandy. I want her to be given a place in the Alliance Military. Give her to a good captain. And let Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Moreau continue to pilot her. I know she was built by Cerberus. But the Alliance could use her."
The Salarian Councilor spoke next. "We will so act upon this request, Commander. But one more thing before you leave." Shia'va folded her hands in front of her. "We of the Council wish to initiate your pension. You have more than earned it. No strings attached and the only other thing we ask is that you and the crew of the Normandy return for the unveiling of a memorial in all your honors when it comes to the Citadel."
Shia'va looked at Garrus who just nodded quietly. "Very well, Councilors. Thank you." Shia'va bowed one last time and shook Anderson's hand. The newlyweds and Legion left the Council chambers and headed to a hotel they had rented a room at.
Later than night, Shia'va and Garrus had fallen asleep with Legion standing guard outside of their door. Shia'va was not resting peacefully. The dream she was having had turned into a violent nightmare.
-Shia'va was running through a field with Garrus holding her hand. They were laughing and kissing. He tossed his beloved lifemate into the air and as she came down she opened her eyes to see her lifemate converted into a Husk. She screams and fights to get free. She does and as she runs, she stops at a Prothean beacon like the one found on Virmire. She looks around and sees not just one husk, but countless husks. There's no where for her to run. She has no weapon to fire.
"Arrogance borne of ignorance." The familiar voice of Sovereign was heard as she turned to see the form of the long dead Reaper in front of her. "You live because we allow it. And you will die because we demand it." A gaping hole was seen in the center of the Reaper where Joker had hit it with the cannons of the old Normandy.
She turned to run only to come face to face with the now deceased form of Harbinger. "Human, you have stopped nothing. You have gathered the attention of those who are your greater. Your salvation is to be your destruction." The eyes of Harbinger began to light up. "Your form is fragile, Shepard. I know you will feel this. Releasing control."
Shia'va felt her breath leave her. She couldn't breathe. She was gasping for breath as the all too familiar feeling of being spaced was happening all over again. She struggled to breathe. She couldn't...she couldn't...-
Shia'va awoke screaming and in a cold sweat. She pulled her legs up to her chest, shaking in utter terror. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. Garrus had woken up to her screaming and immediately sat up. "Shia, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Concern filled his eyes as she saw his lifemate huddled in a fetal position and crying. She was shaking badly and not answering him. "LEGION! GET HELP!" Garrus called out. Legion hacked the lock to the door and looked in to see what was going on. Garrus again ordered Legion to find help. The Geth had already found the clinic Dr. Chloe Michel was working in and brought her up to the room where Garrus and Shia'va were.
Dr. Michel had never seen someone this traumatized before. She performed every scan to ensure nothing was being introduced into her. Chloe was familiar. Shepard had helped her back before she became a Spectre. Dr. Michel's touch was soothing, as was Garrus'. She finished her scans and sat on the chair next to the bed. "Garrus, I can find nothing physically wrong with her. Her brainwave scans are higher than normal but that is typical for someone coming out of a nightmare." She looked over the readings again. She shook her head. She didn't want to make the hero of the Citadel out to be a nut case. So she chose her words carefully. She brushed some hair away from Shia'va's eyes. "I have a strong suspicion that she is going through what most soldiers do. Post traumatic stress disorder. It's very common for those who have fought in prolonged battles to experience this."
Garrus pulled Shia'va close and held her tight. "Could it also have anything to do with the Prothean beacons and the Cipher? The memories of everything that happened?"
"Also a very good possibility. And because of her fights with the Reapers, she might also be sensitive to some of the debris left behind." There were too many possibilities. But these facts could all attribute to what Shia'va just experienced. "Was she having these nightmares while you were away from the Citadel?"
Garrus shook his head. "No, this is the first time I've every seen her like this."
Legion stepped forward. "Nazara's remains have been know to still exert small amounts of pulse radiation even after their destruction. The range of those pulses vary on the size and power of the remains."
Dr. Michel nodded thoughtfully. "Garrus, it might be a good idea if we get her off the Citadel. Get her as far away from here as we can."
Garrus knew the perfect place.
Mr. Hiroki was showing Garrus and Shia'va a home in the country side of New Hiroshima. It was part of a very small village where Asari, Turians and Salarians had come to live. But the majority was human. There was a school down the hill where children went to learn. It covered many different studies. For several months, Garrus and Shia'va lived on Illium courtesy of Liara T'Soni. In that time, Shia'va had become pregnant with twins. She had contacted Mordin Solus who was shocked and claimed it was impossible. There should have been no way that Shepard could have been able to bear Garrus' children. Garrus asked if it could have had something to do with that "super antibiotic" he gave Shia'va when the viral bomb went off in the Wards on the Citadel. Mordin was amazed that this was one of the side effects. Increased fertility for cross species pregnancies. He would have to do more research. But he insisted on monitoring the pregnancy for any negative side effects. Shia'va was now eight months pregnant.
Garrus was holding Shia'va as they decided the place would be perfect. It was big enough for the coming newborns. Mr. Hiroki bowed and smiled. "Wonderful. Do not worry, Shepard-san. We will take care of the paperwork for you. I hope you enjoy your new home. Sayōnara (Goodbye)." He bowed his head.
Legion was off scouting the area. His duties had just become much more important with the children coming. Garrus and Shia'va just stood at top of the hill where their new home was. He placed his hand on his lifemate's stomach. She looked up at him and smiled. Spirits she looked so beautiful. She was glowing. She placed her hand on his. "Is this everything you wanted, Shia?"
She nodded slowly as they looked off to the small lake not far away. "More than you realize, Garrus. More than you realize." She put her hand behind Garrus' head and pulled him close, kissing him deeply.
A/N: A bit lighter than the last one, I know. But the coming chapters are going to be very focused on the family and the Jorum Talid. He is going to try very hard to get Shepard. Again, I want to thank Bioware for letting my imagination run free. I hope everyone is enjoying the story.