Past: Hurricane

"There are so many people here!"

"You sound upset."

"Well, I knew Anderson was popular, but still, this seems a little ridiculous."

"Kiss, they're having a retirement party for him on Bekenstein. Nothing's ridiculous on this planet. I hear one of the former pyramid players that retired here has a bowling alley in his house that's completely powered by eezo."

"What an incredible waste of money."

"Cheapskate. You're no fun."

"I'm plenty of fun. Kate thinks I'm fun, don't you Katydid?" The nine-month-old baby in Shepard's arms cooed up at him. "See? She thinks I'm fun."

"She's going to be cranky and fussy by the time we leave, you know. I really think that we should have left her with a sitter."

"Aw, c'mon, Red. We agreed, we don't know anything about the babysitting service at the hotel, and I'm going to stay sober and boring, and entertain Kate, and you are going to get completely drunk and embarrass me horribly in front of my friend, mentor, and surrogate father-figure." Shepard glanced around the reception hall. "Oh, and whatever members of the intragalactic press are here."

"Intragalactic? Listen to you, you almost sound smart."

"Oh no, are my looks fading? You're not starting to be attracted to my personality, are you? I don't think our marriage can survive that kind of depth."

Red laughed and kissed Shepard's cheek. "You're an ass."

"Watch your language in front of the baby!"

"I thought we agreed that I'd be the bad influence. Let's find our table." Red smiled at the woman sitting behind a table with a list of names and handed her their invitation.

"I thought we agreed that you'd be the tough parent and I'd be the fun parent."

"Fat chance. Once this year of leave is over, I'm going to spend most of my time away, working. You're going to have to be the one to lay down the law. I want to be the fun parent when I'm at home."

"Table seven. Up at the front of the hall," the woman handed their invitation back to Red.

"She's not going to forget you. She won't have a chance. I'll tell her about you every day."

"You're sweet."

"Aren't I?"

"You going to pull my chair out for me?"

"Don't I always?"

"Are you going to hold her all through dinner?"

"The food at these things is always terrible. Kate's really just an excuse not to eat."

"I knew there was a reason you didn't bring her stroller."

"I'm more than just a pretty face. Don't tell anyone."

"Have you seen Anderson anywhere? I feel like we should say hello to him before we settle in too much."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Shepard stood up and placed the bag with Kate's food, diapers and pajamas on his chair. "Before Kate gets cranky. And the sooner we see him, the sooner we can leave early."

"Oh no. You just promised me that I could get absurdly drunk tonight. We're going to be the last ones to leave." Red smiled and took Shepard's free arm. "In fact, why don't we stop at the bar on our way to find Anderson."

"I don't think—"

"Don't worry, you're not getting anything stronger than an Arnold Palmer. I, on the other hand, am craving vodka."

"Whatever you say, boss-lady."

"And don't you forget it, bucko."

As far as huge social events went, Ashley was surprised to realize halfway through Anderson's retirement party, that despite its opulence, she was enjoying herself. Anderson had been glad to see her, and had insisted on introducing her to all the unbelievably important people seated at his table as "one of the most promising young officers I've ever met." The ex-military members and their spouses seated at the table with Ashley and her date were friendly and kept everyone entertained with stories about Anderson from the early days of his career. As the meal progressed, Ashley realized her face was stuck in a smile; it was a good party.

"I've got to go use the restroom," Ashley said, pushing her dessert plate away. "Be ready to dance when I get back, okay, Greg?"

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled at her as she kissed his cheek.

Although the back hallway was lit the same way as the main room, it seemed darker, maybe because the noise from music and hundreds of guests was muffled. Ashley closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet.

"—autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, and I haven't got time for the waiting game.

"Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few: September, November. And these few precious days I'll spend with you. These precious days I'll spend with—"

For a brief instant, listening to the hushed singing, she was back on the Normandy all those years ago, just a gunnery chief leading a relatively uncomplicated life. Then Ashley opened her eyes and felt her calm slip away. Of all the luck…. "Shepard?" The commander—civilian now—was sitting on a couch, singing a lullaby to the baby in his arms.

"Shh," he murmured without looking up. "I just got her to go to sleep. I know I promised you we'd stay late, but—"

"Shep—Skipper." That got his attention.

"Ashley?" He looked startled, almost sad, but quickly smiled. "No, wait, sorry. I know it's Lieutenant Williams. I always forget that you finally accepted a commission. How are you doing?"

"I—I'm good. Can't complain, anyway. What about you, though? How're you? Who's that?"

"This is my little Katydid." The expression on Shepard's face made Ashley's heart sink a little. She wondered if his wife realized that she would always be second to their daughter in terms of importance to Shepard. "Come over and meet her," he invited.

"Only for a quick second. I've got to use the bathroom." Ashley gave the dark-haired baby a cursory glance, trying not to take in the reality of her. "She's beautiful. But her name isn't really Katydid, is it?"

"Kate Sarah Shepard. The latest in a long line of K.S. Shepards."

"Named after her mother?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Well, I named her."

"And you didn't name her after her mother, who just happens to be named Katherine?"

"I knew her by her angry air/Her brightblack eyes, her brightblack hair… My darling girl, my soldier-Kate—"

"You're quoting it wrong." Ashley took a step back. "Since when do you recite poetry, anyway?"

Shepard smiled at her again, as though there wasn't a ring on his finger and a baby in his arms. "Before the war, I served on a ship with this marine… she sort of got stuck in my head, like a song I couldn't get over." He shrugged and ducked his head, blushing faintly. "I guess, maybe, she's still—"

"I should go." Ashley fled into the women's room. When she came out, Shepard and his daughter were gone.

Author's Note: Thanks once again to Tele and Tryvozhna for making sure that these chapters were readable.

Fun facts: The lullaby Kiss is singing is actually 'September Song,' by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson. Although I imagine Kiss's singing to sound something like the version sung by Rodrigo Rodrigues, my favorite is the classic sung by Sarah Vaughn. No coincidence then, that Kate's middle name is Sarah, is it?