It was about a week later that Doctor Chakwas discreetly asked Kaidan to come see her in the medical suite.

The days had become much colder and there was a taste of winter on the wind. Kaidan shrugged on his varen hide jacket as he left the near completed bunker that would soon function as a cold cellar.

With it needing little more work, construction of the hall extension had amped up. If they were able to get the roof finished they would be able to spend the winter working on the radiant heating in the floor and installing all the electronics that Doctor Chakwas wanted in place. The plan was to use everything that remained from the ship in the hospital and the cold cellar.

Kaidan entered the hall through the double doors that lead into the new space. It was nearly the size of the original building, but the area had been divided by thin stone walls creating a long hall down the centre with several rooms on each side.

There was only so much flooring left from the Normandy so only the rooms would have radiant heat, while the hall way would remain bare rock. Windows at the south end of the hallway used up what was left of their supply of glass, but let in a flood of light making the use of electric lighting unnecessary there at least.

Luckily, they had yet to run out of lighting from the ship so each patient room had ample radiance. And Garrus' godlike ability to calibrate anything to near perfection had made increased the output from the solar panels by nearly 300%. If they maintained the equipment well, even the next generations might be able to use it.

Kenneth was working on installing ventilation in the ceiling and called hello to Kaidan as he walked by.

"Hey Ken," Kaidan said, looking up the wooden ladder at the Scotsman. "How's it going?"

"Not bad," he said with a grunt as he tightened a stubborn bolt and then climbed down the ladder. "I was hoping ta talk to you about something."

Karin had not seemed insistent so Kaidan figured he had a few minutes at least. "Sure, what's up?"

"Gabby and I have been talking. She wants to get married before the baby comes. She's pretty set on it too."

"Congrats, Ken." Kaidan gave him a manly slap on the back.

"Thanks," Kenneth said with a hint of a blush. "Here's the thing... I had EDI look into it for me. You're the only one with a high enough rank to officiate."

Kaidan did a double take. "Pardon."

"As a Major you are the only one..."
"Yeah, I heard that. I just think EDI might be wrong."

Kenneth raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to be the one to tell her that?"

"I never captained a ship, Ken," Kaidan said regretfully.

"That was the rule about a hundred years ago, before we started colonizing other planets," Kenneth explained eagerly. "Technically a Major and Captain are of equal rank, and when people started getting married away from Earth and didn't have or didn't want a religious official, Majors were given special dispensation to perform marriages."

"You don't say," Kaidan replied, feeling rather floored.

Kenneth laughed. "You should see the look on your face. Don't worry, EDI's got all the information you'd need. Will you do it? Please?"

Kaidan wanted to say no. He was already the default head of their colony. He didn't want to be the spiritual leader as well. Although, this technically was nothing religious, just a way to make a marriage legally binding.

"You know, anyone could do this," Kaidan pointed out. "There really aren't any real ranks here."

"I know that," Kenneth shrugged. "But Gabby say she doesn't feel right having a wee one out of a wedlock. She's not religious, but her parents were, and she says her mother would be turning in her grave if she knew Gabby was pregnant."

Kaidan didn't reply. He could see that Kenneth was hopeful, but he was loath to take on any more responsibility.

"I'm sorry, Kaidan," Kenneth said with raised hands. "I didna mean to put you on the spot. If you dinna want to I understand."

"No, of course I'll do it," Kaidan said reaching out a hand to shake Kenneth's.

Kenneth grasped it, pumping enthusiastically. "Are you sure? Garrus has the right as well, but I think Gabby would prefer someone from the Alliance."

"I'm sure." Kaidan smiled at him, feeling the weight of the new responsibility already, but also glad to be helping a friend.

"Gabby'll be happy. I know we're crazy busy right now, but hopefully before winter there will be some time."

Kaidan nodded and Kenneth went back to work, positively jubilant.

Several people were working in the labs, but Karin was alone in the medical suite when Kaidan arrived. She was leaning over the screen of the atomic force microscope. It was an older piece of equipment, but it was what she had trained on and she preferred to any of the salarian tech she'd had access to over the years

"Ah, Kaidan," she looked up and gestured to the microscope. "Have I got something to show you."

Kaidan slid onto a stool beside her and leaned his head down to look at the slide under the scope.

"Blood?" he asked.

"My blood," she replied.

Kaidan felt a moment of worry. As their only medical professional it would be devastating to lose Karin to illness.

"Take a look." She turned the screen around so Kaidan could see.

Kaidan hadn't looked at blood under magnification since his high school days. It took him a minute to get his bearings in the image. It was essentially the same as he remembered. Lots of little reddish circles floating around in clear fluid. Now there was something extra thought.

Red blood cells didn't have a nucleus, only white cells did, but now there was something there. Each little cell seemed to have a glowing heart of emerald. Kaidan increased the magnification and could see that there was a network of miniscule filaments tracing paths through the skin of the cell.

"So, this is what we look like on the inside now," Kaidan said as he leaned away from the screen.

"This is a sample I took only days after we arrived here," Karin said, reaching for another slide. "What you're seeing there is the very first changes in our cellular make up. It was the same all over our bodies."

She place another slide under the scope. "This is a sample taken last spring when Cat had that fever."

The image was similar, but on closer inspection Kaidan could see the differences. The synthetics had broken through the walls of the cell and were protruding like the tentacles of tiny octopi. They seemed to be latching onto another type of cell, drawing them in closer.

"Are those white blood cells?" he asked.

"Leucocytes, yes," the doctor confirmed. "She was quite ill so there are a lot more of them than there would normally be, but what's interesting is the way they appear to be reacting to the sickness. Before this I had not seen any evidence of synthetics in white blood cells or platelets. It would seem to me that the synthetics are speeding the healing process by directing the other cells."

"But Cat took days to recover after that, and Garrus took even longer to heal from his injuries," Kaidan pointed out.

Kaidan stood and paced, going into teacher mode. "Think about how the body reacts to inoculations. You feel dreadful while your body learns how to fight off the minor infection, but then next time your body is exposed to that same pathogen, you feel nothing. Think about it, has Catherine been ill again since then?"

Thinking back, Kaidan realized she hadn't. In fact, neither had he. "Why didn't you or EDI pick up on this earlier?"

"We both had theories, but without further testing we weren't able to confirm anything. And Garrus had a tougher time because he is a dextro. Not only was his body trying to heal from grievous wounds, but he was also fighting off massive infection. And because he is so dissimilar from humans the information was hardly comparable."

Before Kaidan could get a word in, Karin had another slide under the scope. This one glowed so brightly green that it was almost difficult to look at. He lowered the contrast of the screen and tried to make sense of what he was looking at. The blood cells, all types, were barely visible amid the tangle of synthetics. It was everywhere.

"What is this?" he breathed.

"That is the sample I took from Catherine the evening she and Joker were exposed to the spoors."

"This is amazing!" Kaidan exclaimed.

"The spoors must have interacted with the synthetics already in her body causing her to nervous system to go into overdrive. This is nothing like what the body experiences during the high from a typical psilocybin mushroom. 'Magic mushrooms'," she said, quoting in the air. "Cause a person to perceive things that are not there. What Catherine and Joker experienced was a heightening of all their senses, including ones only theorized about. The sixth sense if you will."

"She said she could hear Joker's thoughts the closer she got to him," Kaidan said, thinking back to what Catherine had told him about the experience.

"From what I observed," Karin said, sitting back down and leaning in to speak to Kaidan in a hushed tone. "The synthetics in their bodies were actually intertwining and passing information along."

"Have you tested her blood since then?" Kaidan was keen to learn more.

"Yes. The synthetics seem to have retreated some, but it still appears to be significantly more advanced than anyone's other than Joker's. His are impressive to observe."

"Why's that?"

"Jeff was the only one of us to land here who suffered from any type of disease. The synthetics in his body have been working harder than in anyone else. If I had to re-diagnose him now, I would not say he had Vrolik syndrome."

"That's incredible," Kaidan said with wonder in his voice. "And I assume it's very much the same or Tali?"

Karin nodded. "I've also taken a sample of Morgan's and Lola's blood. It would appear that mother and child share a bond much more tightly woven than is typical. Generally, a child can identify their mother in a number of ways. First by hearing, followed quickly by sight, and even occasionally by scent. But I believe Lola can actually feel her mother presence in a room."

"You'd think the scientist back on Earth would have figured some of this out by now," Kaidan mused.

"Earth's got enough to worry about," Karin said with a sad shake of her head. "I'm sure someone's on the case, but I doubt anyone has the kind of time I do these days."

"Have you told anyone else about this yet?"

"No, I wanted to get your thoughts on it first." Karin began switching off the equipment and putting away her slides. "In my opinion, we don't want people going in search of these fungi. Although the effects seem beneficial in the long run, the immediate side effects could be dangerous."

Kaidan smiled as he remembered the silliness he'd witnessed that evening. Joker was still trying to live down the shame of running around the settlement in nothing but his birthday suit. Catherine on the other hand had taken to calling him Feathers when she was being cutesy, and had hinted that she would like to find the fungus again.

"It's not addictive, is it?" Kaidan asked.

"Besides the enhanced synthetics, I found no trace of the spoor in Catherine's blood or in Joker's. I don't have the proper equipment here to test for long term addiction potential, but my educated guess is that no, it's not addictive."

"That's a relief," Kaidan sighed.

"Could be our first recreational drug, Kaidan. It might be wise to learn more about it and create some rules regarding its use."

Another thing to add to his already overly full plate. The entire colony was curious about what had happened between Cat and Joker that night. They couldn't keep this a secret for long, and yet if they revealed the truth of what had occurred people would be even more intrigued by what it could do for them.

Karin seemed to sense his concern. "Kaidan, don't forget that these aren't ordinary civilians we're dealing with. These men and women served in the Alliance. While they may be interested in this, I highly doubt that we are going to have a crisis on our hands. Their self discipline is strong."

"You're probably right," Kaidan admitted. "Let's keep the finer details to ourselves for now. We'll just tell people that it temporarily enhanced synthetic communication for a short time and had no lasting effects. When we know more about it ourselves we'll share the rest of what we know."

Karin nodded her consent. "I'll leave it up to you whether or not you tell Catherine, but I will be sharing the truth of it with Joker. I believe he's noticed some more changes in his relationship with EDI since it happened and he will have questions."

The thought had not occurred to Kaidan, but enhanced synthetics could take Joker's interaction with EDI to a whole new level. He wondered how much of EDI had changed to an organic state. The visible changes were few but plainly visible. Her eyes had developed pupils and irises, and finger nails had appeared on her hands, while on her feet toes had begun to develop. She was able to walk flat footed now as the supports that gave her the look of walking in heels wore away. She appeared more life like with each passing day.

"I'll tell Cat," Kaidan agreed. "Just give me time."

Karin didn't seem impressed, but she held her tongue. Kaidan had kept things from Cat and it had been detrimental to their relationship. It probably wasn't wise to keep this from her, but something said now was not the time.

Kaidan wandered back through the hall in somewhat of a daze, lost in his own thoughts, worried about Cat. She's always been a little strange and Kaidan had found it endearing that she was so unlike other Alliance soldiers. But ever since the incident with the mushrooms she'd been behaving... differently.

He'd caught her talking to herself a number of times, and while she'd always processed out loud, the way she did it now was disconcerting. It was as if she was actually talking to someone else, rather than just vocalizing her thoughts.

Every time it had happened she'd seemed entirely unaware that she'd been doing it. Kaidan had never been able to make out the words Catherine had always spoken so softly, but he'd several times thought she wasn't speaking English. He knew that she was skilled with the written word and could generally make her way through most Latin based languages with ease, even some alien languages as well, but she couldn't speak any fluently.

And now Doctor Chakwas' findings had him more concerned and he worried that the experience had affected her mind and not just her cells. He started to think that maybe it would be a good idea to talk to Joker and EDI and find out just what Karin had been referring to when she mentioned changes in their relationship.

He found Joker in his workshop putting the finishing touches on an elegantly crafted cradle. The information Hackett had been sending included methods of steam bending wood and it looked like Joker had finally perfected the technique.

"Looks good, Joker," Kaidan said, studying the cradle with an appreciative gaze.

Joker gave it a nudge and it rocked slowly from side to side. "It's for Liara's kid. Still can't believe she's having one. And raising it alone. That takes guts."

Kaidan shrugged. "Lots of asari do it. Liara only had one parent. Besides, she won't be alone. She'd got all of us."

"True. But still. Seems... I don't know. But I guess Liara knows what she's doing." Joker sat back on his bench. "What's up?"

Kaidan leaned against the heavy duty work bench behind him and crossed his arms. "I was just talking to Doctor Chakwas and she mentioned that you and EDI have noticed some interesting changes since the mushrooms."

"Okay, if this is some lead in to a joke about my public display of private parts, don't bother," Joker groaned. "I've already heard them all from Vega and Donnelly."

"Heh. No, don't worry," Kaidan said. "I'd rather not have a reason to picture that again."

"Oh. Okay."

Kaidan could have sworn Joker actually sounded a little disappointed. The erstwhile pilot never could resist some friendly banter, whereas Kaidan had always been more reserved. He was opening up more now, but today he just wasn't in the mood for it.

"So, you wanted to know what's up with me and EDI? Watch this." Joker's face went blank and his eyes lost focus. At the same time, the synthetics beneath his skin flared brightly before disappearing once again. Several seconds later EDI appeared at the door.

"Yes, Jeff?"

Joker snapped back to reality and looked at EDI with a huge grin. "Nothing. Just showing Kaidan."

EDI gave him a disapproving look. "I don't appreciate being toyed with, Jeff."

"Sure thing, beautiful," he said with a wink.

She scowled at him and stalked away. Joker laughed.

"She is getting so pissed. I've been doing that to her at least six times a day."

"Doing what exactly?" Kaidan asked, thought he suspected he already knew the answer.

"Oh, EDI and I can communicate telepathically now. Well, she can hear me anyway. I can only hear here if I really concentrate and she tells me she's doing it."

"Why haven't you told anyone this?"

Joker shrugged. "Seeming kinda private I guess."

Kaidan gave him a look that said bullshit. "So why tell me now?"

"I figured you and Cat probably had the same thing going on or something. No? Well, it's probably because EDI is synthetic."

"So, neither of you have been able to hear Cat's thoughts?"

Joker shook his head. "I already saw what goes on in that woman's mind. Pretty sure I'd know it if I saw it again. Cat's okay, right?"

"Oh yeah," Kaidan lied. "She's fine. Just want to stay ahead of the game, you know."

"Yeah, I get that," Joker said. "So are you planning to go on that hunting trip? Adams asked if I wanted to go, but long periods of time keeping my mouth shut really doesn't interest me."

"I'm taking Garrus' place. Tali's not ready to let him out of her sight," Kaidan said as he stood away from the table and picked up a piece of wood, tossing it back and forth from hand to hand. "Cat wants to come too, but I'm not sure she knows what's involved."

"What's involved?" Joker asked, he knowledge of where meat came from was as limited as his knowledge of what to do with plants.

"And that is why you should not go," Kaidan chuckled. "It's not just about shooting. A kill has to be cleaned too. It's messy work."

"Ah, yeah I don't wanna to do that," Joker agreed.

"Didn't think so," Kaidan tossed the piece of wood at him and Joker caught it with one hand. "Anyway, I should go. We might actually get that cold cellar done in the next few days."

Kaidan left in a hurry, not feeling much better than when he had left the hall. Deciding he would talk to Catherine later that night he headed back towards the huge hole in the ground where the cellar was being installed.

Mounds of dirt were heaped up on either side. Digging the hole had been a massive endeavor that had taken up most of their time through the summer. Essentially what they had done was re-weld several pieces of the outer hull together into a huge box and lowered it into place with the shuttle.

While the sides were being filled in and the heavy outer door being fitted in place, James and his team were digging the ramp that would lead down to the cellar. They had considered building an entire sealed stairwell, but decided the metal could be put to better use. Instead, it would have a dirt ramp that would allow them to bring their carts in and out with ease, covered by large wooden doors on the surface.

Once it was done they would be able to store more than quadruple what they currently could in the hall. Kaidan wished that he had thought ahead more and left space closer to the hall, but no one blamed him. It wasn't as if he knew much, if anything, about starting a colony. Especially one that required knowledge gleaned from history text books.

Kaidan was just picking up a shovel to get back to work when Liara arrived. He had seen little of her since Javik's wake and it was good to see her moving about the settlement again.

"Hello, Kaidan," she said in a weary sounding voice.

"Hey, Liara," he said as he gave her a one armed hug about the shoulders. "How are you?"

"I'm restless," she replied. "I was hoping you might be able to give me something meaningful to do. Something to take my mind off of... things."

Kaidan had a million and one jobs he was yearning to assign to Liara's sharp mind, but he had held back, giving her time to grieve.

"Sure, I've got a few jobs I could hand over to you," Kaidan said as his omnitool glowed to life on his wrist and he scrolled down his to do list. "You seem a little more like yourself."

"I admit I am feeling more like myself." She unconsciously raised a hand to her abdomen. "And at the same time, very different. It's strange, having another life within you."

Kaidan felt the pang of desire that had been cropping up whenever there was mention of children. The more he saw James with Lola, the more he wanted children of his own.

"How far along are you anyway?" he asked.

"Just two months. Another four to go."

"Are we talking months here or galactic standard?" Kaidan really wished everyone could break the habit of using the galactic norm for telling time.

"It's an estimate based on time here," she explained. "A standard month is thirty days, only a few days longer than a month on Thessia. Our months here are now fifteen days longer and asari typically gestate for twelve Thessian months. But the fact that I can already sense her makes me think that things are moving more quickly than usual."

"You can already feel her?" Kaidan's mind went quickly to the new link between Joker and EDI, wondering if perhaps Liara was experiencing something similar with her child.

"Asari can always feel their children growing." Liara smiled wistfully. "Some even claim they can remember communing with their mothers while still in the womb. I have no such memory, though I have searched my mind for one."

"What does it feel like?" Kaidan hoped he wasn't getting too near to crossing a line with his questions, but Liara seemed unperturbed.

"It is difficult to explain to someone who hasn't experienced a melding of the minds with an asari," Liara struggled to find the right metaphor. "I'm sure this is going to come out all wrong, but have you ever had a pet that you were particularly close with."

"Yeah, I had a dog when I was a kid. Mackenzie. I called him Mac."

"And could you sense his presence even when you couldn't see him?"

Kaidan thought back to the dog. A Rottweiler that had barely fit in his parents downtown Vancouver apartment. They'd hated it, but Mac had been Kaidan's best friend growing up. For the age of five, Kaidan and had been inseparable from that dog, until Mac had died ten years later, only a year before Kaidan had been shipped out to jump zero.

"Yeah, I always knew when Mac was there. If I woke up and he wasn't in the room, I knew before I even opened my eyes."

"It's much the same for asari," Liara went on. "Even thought we cannot communicate through words, we can feel each other. I don't know if it's the same for human mothers."

Kaidan didn't really know either. Being a soldier, he'd encountered very few pregnant women in his life, and he wasn't close enough to any here to be privy to such personal details.

"Are you scared?" Kaidan asked, prepared to offer support for his friend.

Liara only gave a little laugh. "Not at all. Asari births are not the trial I now know human births to be. Our children are born much smaller and our bodies are designed much differently. But I am glad that Doctor Chakwas is here. Thank you for your concern, Kaidan."

"Any time, T'Soni," Kaidan gave her a warm smile then began scrolling through his omnitool again. "So, you know Hackett's been sending us information. I've been trying to go through it myself, but my mind's just not set up the way yours is."

"Would you like me to categorize the information and compiles indexes for easy reference?"

"That's what I was going to say, just not quite as fancily."

"I could also match up tasks to people who best suit the required skills," Liara continued, and Kaidan could see she was already throwing herself into the task.

"That would be brilliant, Liara. Thanks so much for taking this off my hands."

"I'm happy to help," Liara touched his arm affectionately before turned and headed back to the hall.

The massive server she'd brought on board the Normandy as the Shadow Broker had already been converted into the settlements data library, freeing up EDI's computing power for more essential tasks. EDI could easily have done this job, but she was the first to admit that as a non-organic AI designed primarily for battle it would be possible for her to miss essential information. And besides, Liara needed the distraction.

When Liara was gone, Kaidan picked up his shovel and got back to work. The hunting party intended to head out the next day and he wanted to see the bulk of the work done before he left. The task was strenuous, but it kept Kaidan's mind from the things that had nagged at him all day.

The gradual falling of night and chilled air rolling in from the north called the end of the work day. Once the sun set it was far too chilly to keep working at such a pace. Sweat and cold air could be a dangerous combination and the last thing they needed was for anyone to come down with a cold.

Despite the nip in the air, Kaidan found himself sitting on a bench outside the hall after supper with James, Garrus and Catherine as night descended upon them and the stars began to fill the sky.

"You know," Kaidan mused as he sipped at the steaming tea cradled in his hands. "When we crashed here, I thought we were on a tropical planet. It gets bloody cold though."

"Turians aren't meant for this kind of cold," Garrus complained, hunching further into the heavy coat Tali had fashioned for him out of leather hide packed with feathers. "Palaven was about an average of 10 degrees warmer than this."

"Don't worry, Garrus," Catherine said, patting him on the shoulder. "I'll knit you a scarf."

"You can do that?" Garrus sounded genuinely excited.

They all laughed and Catherine admitted that, no, she couldn't actually knit.

"You know," James said after a minute. "Earth once had a climate like this. Like thirty million years ago or something. The poles had tropical forests that froze in the winter."

Kaidan and Garrus simply nodded, content to take James at his word and accept his knowledge on the subject, but Catherine gave a great belly laugh and reached across Garrus to slap James playfully on the knee.

"Ah, Jimmy," she said bemusedly. "You look like such a jarhead I sometimes forget that you have a serious brain in there."

"Thanks," James said, his forehead creased. "I think."

"Oh, it was a compliment," Catherine giggled. She leaned her head down on Kaidan's shoulder, tucking her arm through his. "You're all so smart. Sometimes I feel a little left out."

"You are aware that's it's your farming skills that have kept us alive, right?" Garrus told her.

"You guys would have figured it out without me." She whispered something under her breath that Kaidan couldn't quite make out.

"What was that?" he asked.

"What was what?" Catherine mumbled, sounding sleepy.

"Um, never mind," Kaidan covered. "Thought I heard something. I'm going to head to bed now, guys. You coming, Cat?"

She nodded and stood, yawning and rubbing her hands down her face. "Goodnight you guys."

James gave her a fond tap on the behind as she walked by, and despite the cold, Garrus stayed where he was, evidently planning to spend the evening exchanging stories with James, a habit they'd never dropped.

Kaidan wrapped an arm around Catherine as they walked back to his cabin. Even after saying no, she'd all but moved in over the course of the week. Her clothes were there, her books, and even the teddy bear she'd smuggled aboard the Normandy was there, leaning up against the pillows.

Even though he woke most mornings to find she was already up and about, Kaidan was glad to have her there. He was sleep better than he had in years. Feeling more healthy and invigorated with each day.

"I can't wait until it snows," Catherine said dreamily, looking up at the glittering stars overhead. "It's not quite the same as home, but close enough."

She stood just outside the cabin, Kaidan holding the door open for her.

"C'mon, Kitten," he tugged at her arm. "You're letting the heat out."

"You go in." She smiled over her shoulder. "I'll just be a sec."

Kaidan closed the door and started stripping off his layers. Catherine loved the night and she usually stayed outside for a while before going to sleep. Kaidan had drawn the line at her habit of kneeling on the bed and leaning out the window to look at the stars and 'feel the weather' as she called it.

She liked sleeping in a cold room and snuggling down in a massive pile of blankets, but Kaidan was used to climate controlled spaces and preferred to be able to throw the covers back at night if he wanted to.

Their compromise was that he often stood out under the stars with her, just silently watching them slide across the velvet backdrop of space.

Tonight though, he was just too tired and too nervous about the conversation he needed to have with her. If he was going on the hunt tomorrow he didn't want to delay it in case she heard something from someone else. On the other hand, he didn't want to cause an argument that he would have to leave unresolved when he left. His wording and timing had to be perfect.

He had already climbed into bed when Catherine finally opened the door, letting in a bitingly cold breeze. Kaidan pulled the blankets up over his bare chest.

Catherine quickly stripped off her clothes, leaving them strewn across the floor and couch and Kaidan fought the urge to make her pick them up. They wouldn't be there in the morning and it wasn't worth the fight.

He lifted the blankets back and Catherine practically jumped under them, clutching her bear to her chest and intentionally putting her cold feet on his, making him flinch back and her giggle.

Settling in under his arm with her head on his shoulder, Catherine yawned deeply, her jaw cracking.

"I am so tried, Kaidan," she mumbled, throwing her leg over his and tucking her bear between them.

"Okay, I gotta ask, since it stopping those beautiful breast from pressing up against me," Kaidan groused. "What's the story with the bear?"

"Be nice to Bear," Catherine said in a mock sulk. "I've had Bear since I was eleven. Bear goes everywhere with me."

"Why was Bear even on the Normandy?" Kaidan asked.

Catherine was silent and in the moonlight Kaidan saw a tear glisten in her eye. He held her a little tighter, letting her take her own time answering.

"The day the Reapers attacked, I was supposed to go on shore leave for a few days. I was heading to my mother's and didn't want to have to trek all the way back to my place to get my stuff so I brought it all with me."

"Lucky for you I guess," Kaidan said. "You might be the only one who has anything significant left from home."

"I'm glad I still have it. It doesn't weird you out or anything does it?"

He kissed the top of her head. "Not at all. It's adorable."

Kaidan knew if he didn't speak up soon, Catherine would fall asleep and he would lose his chance. "So, I talked to Doctor Chakwas today. She wanted to know if you'd been experiencing anything unusual since the spoors last week."

"Not really, no," she answered immediately.

"Are you sure?" he pressed. "Because you have seemed a little different lately."

"You mean how you seem to think I'm talking to myself all the time?" She sounded amused. "You're worried and you're seeing things that aren't there. It's sweet."

Lying in bed with her now, feeling her warm soft body against his, the honeyed tone of her voice, suddenly his fears seemed silly and unfounded. Maybe he had worked himself into a state for no good reason.

"Promise me that if you do notice anything you'll let me know," Kaidan implored.

"Of course, Feathers," she forced out through another yawn. "Now if you want to keep talking you'll have to do something to keep me awake."

Her hand found it's way down his stomach and between his legs. Before long she was on top of him, face buried in his shoulder as they moved in perfect unison. Kaidan held her by her hips, savouring every soft cry of pleasure as their bodies moved.

Several hours later something woke him. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling listening intently for whatever sounds had disturbed his slumber.

Catherine's back was pressed against his side and her head rested on his upper arm. His hand was freezing where it lay exposed on the mattress. He rolled over, pulling her closer and at the same time hiking the sheets up higher to cover his arm.

There was a greenish glow in the room and it took him a moment to realize what it was. Catherine's skin was emitting a steady pulse of light, mostly just out of range of the spectrum he was able to see, but every few seconds it radiated out and filled the room.

This wasn't what had woken him, however. Catherine was talking in her sleep. He'd heard this several times before. She was a vivid dreamer and was always moving around and making noise while she slept. But this was different, just like the way she was now talking aloud while awake.

Kaidan sat up and leaned his head in closer, trying to make out what she was saying, but it was impossible. It was as if she was using no consonants, just a long string of vowels. There were breaks in the muttering, like she was listening to someone answering her.

It was altogether unnerving and Kaidan nudged her several time before she blearily opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Kaidan, I was sound asleep," she grumbled.

"You were talking," he told her. "A lot. Were you dreaming?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry I woke you though." She hugged her bear to her chest and pulled the blankets tighter to her chin. She was asleep again within seconds and the glow was gone.

Kaidan wondered if he had imagined it, if maybe it had been a dream of his own, but he couldn't convince himself of that. One thing he knew for sure was that he wasn't going to leave Catherine alone.

Something strange was going on inside her and he wasn't going to let her out of his sights. It was too late for him to back out of the hunting trip now, so it looked like she was in for a surprise in the morning. She would be coming along with the party whether she liked it or not.