Past: You Are the Moon

Shepard knew that his antsy attitude hadn't made the trip back from the hospital any easier for Red. Although she'd never admit it, he could tell she was exhausted. If they'd been living on Elysium, she would've taken advantage of Rosenkov Material's generous healthcare plan and stayed the extra night in the hospital. Out in the Terminus however, especially on a colony as new as Avilion, medical facilities were rough at best. Red had just wanted to check out as quickly as possible. Since he was eager to bring baby Kate home, Shepard hadn't argued. When he glanced at his wife's drawn face, Shepard wondered if maybe he should have argued. He shook his head to get rid of the guilty thought.

Even though he knew Red hated it when he got overexcited—and almost everything about being alive excited him to some extent after the Reaper War—Shepard could barely contain himself. The only thing that kept him from bouncing his leg nervously was respect for the car. He'd driven Red's car to pick up Red and Kate, since it was more comfortable than his truck. It also meant that he was driving with greater-than-usual focus.

He parked the car under the awning next to the house and slung the duffel bag Red had brought to the hospital over his shoulder before opening the door. "Want me to carry Kate?" he asked. "You look tired."

"You're never going to let anyone else hold her, are you?" Red smiled. "You're right though, I am tired. Feel free to carry everything."

Shepard walked around the front of the vehicle and opened Red's door for her. "Whatever you say, boss-lady."

"Oh, don't tempt me." While Shepard carefully unfastened Kate's car seat and raised its handle so he could carry it one-handed, Red made her way to the side door.

"Let's not bring her in that way," he called after his wife. "Into the laundry room? It's her first time coming home."

Red turned to examine Shepard with an expression of perfect frustration on her face. "Really Kiss? I just want to go into the house. Besides, it's not as though the front door is much nicer."

"C'mon, please?" he wheedled.

"Fine." Red rolled her eyes. Just for that though, you're changing her diaper for the rest of the day. Don't even ask me."

"Deal." He offered his free arm to Red. "Walk with me?" He guided her around to the new brick walkway in front of the house.

"Kiss, what did you do?" she laughed in surprise.

Shepard grinned. "You didn't think I'd let you and Kate come back to a home where you have to walk through the mud to get in? Maybe your parents were different, but I remember mine being really big on keeping the house clean…."

"When did you do it? You were with us at the hospital the whole time, weren't you? I remember; you slept in my room. The painkillers they gave me weren't that strong. You haven't been in the house yet, have you?"

"No, I was with you the whole time; you're right. I have to admit, I didn't do it myself. I've been talking with Conner Rivers, the builder who worked with me on the house. Remember him? We drew up some plans, and I called him after we got checked in at the hospital. They finished yesterday night. It's completely fine to walk on."

"Sometimes you're just too much. I love it. I love you. Thank you."

"You've been complaining about the yard for so long, I figured as long as we're making one big change…."

"It's beautiful, Kiss, really."

"It's just a walkway right now, but I promise, I'll put grass seed out there soon." Shepard opened the door and held it for Red. "I should be thanking you. Look at Kate. She's perfect. Welcome home, Katydid," he crooned. "We're so glad to have you here." He slipped the duffel off his shoulder and peered down at his daughter. "She's still sleeping. Should I put her in the crib? Or is it better if we keep her down here with us? Would it be all right to leave her in the car seat? I should have asked the doctor…."

"Stop fussing, Kiss. Take her upstairs. I'm going to go lie down on the couch."

After checking one final time to make sure he had arranged Kate's blanket safely around her, Shepard made his way downstairs. "Red?" he called, cutting through the kitchen to reach the living room, "Do you need anything? I could make some—" He forgot what he was going to say.

"Surprise," she said softly from her seat on the bench in front of an upright piano. Her lips twitched in an embarrassed smile. "Do you like it?"

"Red," Shepard breathed. "Red, it's a piano."

"I married you for your looks, I swear."

"Sorry," he apologized. "I know I must sound like an idiot. It's just, my God, Red. I thought we decided we'd wait and build an addition. We barely have enough room—" Red frowned, and Shepard sat beside her on the bench.

"Why did you get me something? You know, you're the one that did all the hard work of actually having a baby. Not that I don't—I love it. Thank you, thank you." He kissed her before brushing his fingers lightly over the keys.

"And you got sheet music?" Shepard reached for the folder resting on the piano's music rack, but Red grabbed his hand.

"You really like it?" she asked. "Really? I know what we said, but I just wanted to do something special for you."

"I love it; I love it. I don't deserve it, but I love it."

"You do deserve it, because I love you." Red placed his hand back into his lap and settled hers on top of it. "You haven't even seen the best part yet. Are you ready?" Shepard nodded, and she reached for the folder of music.

On the music stand was a tarnished brass plaque engraved with the words: For V.L.S. from K.S.S. with love. 11 April 2154.

"Is that all right? It was just sitting in that storage facility on Mindoir, and I—"

Shepard cut off whatever she was going to say by kissing her. "I don't deserve you, do I?" he asked when they came up for air.

"Probably not," she panted with mock regret. "I'm much too good for you."

"You are," he admitted. "My mom's piano? Red, you're amazing."

"I know," she agreed.

Author's Note: Yet another thank you to the incomparable Telemachus78 and Tryvozhna. I owe them a lot for reading this piece over for me!

For those of you wondering about the piano; Kiss's mom was a piano teacher back on Mindoir (Massive Epic, Chapter 12), and Kiss and his father have the same initials (Massive Epic, Chapter 20). And 11 April 2154 is when Shepard was born.