The first snows came only days later. Kaidan awoke to the sound of boisterous laughter outside his window. Kneeling on the bed he pulled up the reed blinds to reveal a world blanketed in pristine white. On the grassy area between his house and the next Catherine and Liara were watching as Bug frolicked and bounded about in the freshly fallen powder.

The folivora, as EDI had recently dubbed the species after researching the taxonomy of Earth's ancient ground sloths, was galloping about, it's enormously powerful hind legs propelling it. Over and over he ran at full tilt at the woman and then leap away in surprise when one of them lunged at him.

It was nice to see Catherine cheerful. Since their conversation about her inability to have children she hadn't been entirely herself. Not sullen or melancholy, but quiet and somewhat withdrawn. Kaidan had tried to keep his disappoint hidden, but knew that she could sense it in him. As a result she'd been avoiding being seen with Morgan and Lola, not wanted to compound his discontent.

The fact that several other women were very plainly pregnant made it a topic that was now difficult to avoid. Kaidan wanted to talk to Doctor Chakwas about her progress researching a way to reverse the VRS, but that would mean admitting to the woman that he had still not told Catherine about results of the blood tests.

Although he intended to tell her soon, after the hunt their time had not often been their own. Catherine and her team had set to work harvesting the last of their root vegetables to store in the cold cellar. Her native saplings were fitted with trunk protectors to keep away hungry rodents over the winter, while her tiny apple trees were moved to the centre of the cold frame under the peak to allow them more room to grow in the spring.

Kaidan had been dividing his time between helping Kenneth with the wiring of the new hospital wing, making reconnaissance flights with Cortez to the higher slopes of the mountains, and working with Liara to find away to wash all the mounds of wool they now had piled in one of the empty houses.

Luckily, the hides had been entirely cleaned and were curing in salt baths in the tannery before the snow hit. It was possible that the furs would not be ready until the middle of winter, but it would be worth the wait. Liara already had plans for all sorts of warm articles of clothing; mitts and hats and even boots and jackets. No one really knew if all these ideas would pan out given that none of them had any skill with a needle and thread, but it was nice to have plans.

Catherine noticed Kaidan in the window and waved, missing Bug's latest charge and falling to the ground in a heap with the folivora when he tried to leap into her arms. They rolled playfully on the ground before Bug was off again, snow flying out behind him in great sprays.

Getting up and dusting herself off, Catherine came over to the window. Kaidan cracked it open and swung it out just enough that Catherine's hand was able to slip through and toss a handful of snow at his bare chest. He recoiled from the cold and tried to pull the window shut, but Catherine held it open, giggling the whole time.

"Come outside, Kaid," she cried. "It's so lovely out here."

Laughing, he shoved her away from the window and yanked it shut before she could toss another fistful of snow at him. She stuck out her tongue, gave him a grin and want back to frolicking with her pet.

Kaidan got out of bed and dressed for the day. The change in weather would limit what they were able to work on and he looked forward to a more relaxing pace, though if this was anything like last year, the snow would probably melt before the sun reached noon.

As soon as he opened the door, Bug came tearing around the corner to greet him. The animal always seemed to know exactly where everyone was, as if he could sense them. And Catherine never had to call him. All she had to do was think about him and he would materialize from where ever he had been exploring.

Kaidan crouched down and gave him a good rub as he wiggled about and whined with joy. When Catherine and Liara came around the corner the wiggling increased and they all had to stand their ground as Bug pin balled between them before running off again to greet other people now emerging into the whitened world.

Kaidan and the women set off toward the hall together, admiring the glinting icicles hanging from eaves and breathing in deep the crisp air. They were met at the entrance to the hall by EDI who was looking pleased with herself.

"Morning, EDI," Kaidan said as they stepped inside and kicked the snow off their boots onto the matt at the door.

"Good morning, I was hoping you might arrive here first," she said with pleasure and lifted a hand to gesture to the rest of the hall.

Beyond the kitchen and the storage area at the front, the tables beyond were covered in datapads, all alight with scrolling information. The screens mounted on the walls were showing rotating pictures of all the various animals they had discovered so far.

"What is all this, EDI?" Catherine asked as they made their way into the hall and she picked up a data pad.

"I've taken the liberty of preparing lists of possible names for all the life forms we've encountered thus far," EDI explained proudly. "The idea crossed my mind after we named Bug's species. I've matched this planets life forms to similar beings from Earth and from the scientific names of those species compiled a number of names for people to choose from for each life form."

She handed a datapad to Kaidan. It showed the image of chicken beside a picture of one of the birds that had become a staple of diet.

"For example," she continued. "These birds bear a striking resemblance to the common chicken. The chickens scientific name is Gallus gallus domesticus and it belongs to the family Phasianidae. As such, my list includes such names as gallus and phasian, but also contains the colloquial names the crew have already given it; yardbirds, kappas, after the noise they make while in flights, and frumpies, due to their round bodies. I had hoped that if this idea is amenable to you, we might allow the crew to add their ideas to the lists and perhaps we could begin voting on names."

"This is a great idea," Kaidan said, smiling broadly at the synthetic. "When did you do all this?"

"This morning, before dawn."

"This morning?" Catherine asked. "In just a few hours? Where did you even get access to all this information."

"I have discovered that I can, at times, access data archives on Earth through the quantum relay. Because I can communicate with other computers without the use of audio or visual data link it takes up little power and does not interfere with regular communications taking place."

Other people were coming into the hall, bypassing the kitchen entirely and picking datapads, talking excitedly. EDI patiently explained over and over again her idea as more people arrived.

The usual rush for the kitchen was slowed and people took their time over their meals, reading names allowed and thinking furious, everyone wanting to add at least one option to the lists.

Kaidan and Catherine sat together on a couch in the corner, Liara and Joker across from them.

"Heh," Joker snorted as he noticed an addition to the list. "I'm totally voting for this one."

"What is it," Catherine asked, leaning forward to look.

"Those nasty little rat things that like to dig up your veggies. Someone thinks we should call them little fuckers."

Catherine laughed. "That was my idea."

"Nice." Joker gave her a high five.

"Black balled," Kaidan declared and it disappeared from the list.

"Aw," Joker moaned in disappointment. "I'm going to call them that anyway."

He winked at Catherine and then shuffled closer to Liara to make room for Gabby to sit down. Her middle was round enough now that she had to lower herself slowly to the couch.

"You know I was kinda hoping that maybe our new DNA would make us like seahorses and the men could carry the babies," she said with a groan.

Her clothing was a motley collection of different fabrics added to the waist of her pants and shirt. As one of the tallest women on the crew she'd had a hard time finding enough spare fabric to fashion herself maternity clothes.

Ever inappropriate, Joker patted her belly like it was a drum before she slapped him upside the head.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Hard to resist."

Gabby ignored him and looked at Kaidan. "I know everyone's all wrapped up in the name game now, but I was hoping we could talk about the wedding."

"Wedding?" Catherine blurted. "What wedding?"

"You didn't tell her?" Gabby asked.

"Wasn't my news to tell," Kaidan said.

"You haven't been in a whole lot of normal relationships, have you," Gabby said with a laugh that made her belly shake. "It's a given that anything you hear will reach Cat's ears, and anything she knows, you'll know. That's how it works. Unless of course there is a pinky swear involved. Then yaps are zipped. I don't know the man equivalent."

"Fist bump," Joker said. "A fist bump seals these lips tighter than turian asshole."

Gabby elbowed him hard and turned back to Catherine. "Kenneth and I are going to get married before the baby comes and since Kaidan is the only Major here he's going to officiate the ceremony."

In a fit of girlish laughter, Catherine leapt up and hugged her friend. Joker rolled his eyes and looked to Kaidan to commiserate, but Kaidan could only smile and shrug.

When the congratulations died down and Catherine had sat down again, Kaidan spoke up.

"What did you want talk about, Gabby?"

"Timing," she said. "I think I am going to pop any day now. Calculating by galactic standard I am about thirty-seven weeks along and the kids already dropping so low I can't go five seconds without peeing. If we want to have this ceremony before he makes a break for it, we should do it soon."

"He?" Liara asked. "You know that it's a boy? I was not aware humans could detect the sex of their child before birth."

"We can't," Gabby said. "It's just my guess. And plus I'd rather raise a boy any day than a girl."

Kaidan shifted uncomfortably and Catherine put her hand on his knee and quickly changed the topic back to weddings.

"When were you thinking, Gabby?"

"Tomorrow, if there's nothing else planned."

"Tomorrow?" Kaidan asked, his eyes wide. "I don't think we can pull off a wedding overnight."

"I don't know what Kenneth told you, but there's nothing to pull off," Gabby said with a confused look on her face.

They all stared at each other for a moment. No one really sure what the others were thinking.

"What did Kenneth tell you?" Gabby asked slowly.

"Nothing," Kaidan said. "I just assumed you'd want something big and... flouncy."

"Oh no, nothing flouncy needed," Gabby said with a dismissive wave. "Just the right words in the right places and the Alliance seal of approval. Nothing special."

Liara leaned across Joker and put her hand on Gabby's arm. "Gabriella, this will be the first wedding here. It will be special."

"We'll make it special," Catherine promised. "Nothing fancy, but it will be special."

"Thanks you guys." Gabby was still blushing. "Kaidan is this okay with you."

Kaidan nodded. "I just don't want to overshadow EDI's big plan, so let's let her have her moment before we start preparing anything."

Gabby agreed, said she needed food before the baby kicked her in the kidneys again and then lifted herself off the couch with some difficulty. Catherine gave her hand and went off to the kitchen with her, promising to bring Kaidan bake a meal.

Joker waited until they were out of hearing and then turned to Kaidan.

"So, I hear you know all about the shuttle bay adventures now."

Liara spoke up in Kaidan's defense. "Jeff, do you really think that's appropriate?"

"Am I the only one who didn't know about it?" Kaidan said with a roll of his eyes.

"The only reason Joker knows is because he spied on them." She gave Joker a prickly look. "Twice."

"Hey," he said guiltily. "I wasn't spying, Liara. I was running a regular sweep of the ship and they were just there. Besides, the lounge was supposed to be a public area. Anyone could have walked in on them."

"Okay, I don't really need to hear this," Kaidan said and made to leave.

"Kaidan, don't go," Liara said quickly. "Jeff will shut up."

He turned back to Liara and smiled. "I was going to go anyway. I wanted to talk to EDI about something." He turned to Joker and added, "Something that won't be any of your business."

As he walked away he heard Liara give Joker a smack on the arm and he chuckled to himself. Ever since Karin had declared Joker well enough for light physical labour, he'd been taking a beating for his often less than savory brand of humour and sarcasm. Everyone knew now that they could hit him without breaking him.

EDI was standing near the door to the labs, arms crossed and slight smile on her face. She stood straighter as he approached.

"EDI do you think we could talk privately for a few minutes?"

"Of course, Kaidan," she replied, following him into the labs.

The big room was empty and Kaidan checked the medical suite to ensure it was clear as well before he sat down at a work bench and gestured for EDI to sit with him.

"I wanted to talk to you about this connection that you and Joker have now," he began. "Doctor Chakwas seems to think it a result of the mushroom spores, and I was wondering if you have been able to hear anyone else's thoughts."

"I cannot hear yours, if that's what concerns you," EDI replied seriously.

"No, I was wondering if you can hear Cat's."

EDI cocked her head slightly and then said, "Not at the moment."

"But there are times when you can hear her?" Kaidan asked.

"I'm not sure that hear is the correct word," EDI conjectured. "I have on several occasions been aware of her thoughts, though I am unable to understand them the way I can Jeff's."

Kaidan sat back and rubbed his thumb along his lower lip thoughtfully. So maybe these times that he caught her speaking aloud to no one in particular she was responding someone after all.

"I know you still have trouble sometimes reading human emotion, but can you tell how she's feeling when this happens?" Kaidan asked carefully, not wanting to sound like he was worried about Catherine.

EDI took a moment before responding. Something she only did when her processors were trying to make a decision. "Kaidan, I believe that if you wish to know Catherine's feeling you should ask her directly."

"I'm sorry EDI," Kaidan said quickly. He had not anticipated this causing EDI distress. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on before I talk to her about it. Doctor Chakwas says she was affected by the spoors too and I don't want to freak her out. I just thought that if I knew a little more about it, it would be easier to talk to her."

EDI nodded. "I understand your dilemma, but you should speak to her regardless of what you do or do not comprehend. I'm sure she will be able to tell you much more than I can. I can explain what I believe had occurred between Jeff and I, if you think that would help."

"As long as you are comfortable with it," Kaidan said.

"It's very simple really," EDI said. "Thoughts and emotions are essentially just electrical impulses in the brain. Many humans are particularly adept at reading these emotional impulses in others, but thoughts are much more complex. They are the result of learning and language and experience, and require similar synapses in the receivers brain to interpret, where as emotions are generally universal. As a synthetic, I am already more able to interpret these electrical signals. The spoors that Jeff inhaled made him more able to send the signals, though his ability to receive them is still limited."

"I've noticed Catherine talking to herself a few times now, particularly in her sleep," Kaidan revealed. "Could she have been trying to communicate with you or Joker?"

"It is possible," EDI said. "Though I think it unlikely. Jeff and I have developed a deeper connection due to the fact that we are intimate. We were already much in tune with each other. Catherine does not share such a connection with either Jeff or myself, so I am unsure who she might be attempting to communicate with."

"Okay," Kaidan said, his frown increasing as he absorbed everything she was saying. "Thanks. I'll talk to Cat as soon as there's time."

"Kaidan, if you would like, I will increase my monitoring of her. If I discover anything of significance, I will inform you."

Kaidan thanked her and she left him alone in the labs. Thinking about the relationship with Joker that EDI had described, he almost wished that he'd taken a blast of spoors in the face as well, if only so he could understand what was changing in Cat. He feared she was developing a connection with someone or something that she didn't understand.

Vowing to make an attempt to speak with her later that night, Kaidan returned to hall and his seat with Liara and Joker. Catherine was back with a plate of food for him. She'd fried up a batch of home fries from the starchy root vegetables they all called potatoes because it was just easier. Above ground they looked sort of like a small pink sunflower, but Kaidan doubted he would be able to tell the difference between its root and an actual potato anyway.

She'd brought him a small bowl of fruit salad as well and a tall glass of the spicy juice he'd developed a taste for. Given what EDI had arranged for the naming of animal life, Kaidan was sure Catherine was going to want to do the same thing with plant life, though people would likely be less interested in that.

Many of the fruits and vegetables they were growing were very similar to species from Earth. They had their potatoes and long green roots they were calling carrots, and even something akin to a zucchini. Through the summer they had also collected vast quantities of berries, though they didn't freeze well so most had been eaten right away. More recently, Cortez had taken several people to the locations Catherine had noted back in the spring and now several cupboards in the storage areas were filled with various types of nuts. Thankfully they had not encountered the croco-monkeys again.

This winter was going to be a lot easier than the last and Kaidan felt a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over him as he watched people laugh and eat and talk. For a very specialized group of people they had settled into their new lives remarkably well, picking up new skills and habits quickly and easily.

Alliance types tended to be adaptable and highly proficient, but this situation had put those traits to the test and they had passed with flying colours. Until that very morning, Kaidan had not been looking forward to being the official at Gabby and Ken's wedding, but now... it felt like a privilege.

And it made him wonder how Catherine felt about marriage. Not a lot of people put much stock in marriage any more. Not the ceremony anyway. Common law partnerships were much more frequent. Though it would probably be a good idea to set a precedent. On one hand, they didn't want to be to casual in defining their joinings. On the other, they also didn't want to creep backwards to a time when marriage was considered a sacred and unbreakable vow. Many people had fought hard battles for thing like equal marriages.

The Alliance had always upheld the values and tenets of the United Nations which still set the standards for laws in many of the nation states on Earth. And since no one had expressed any displeasure at those laws, Kaidan assumed that they were all happy to continue following them.

Early on it had been something he'd worried about, but their community had become so tight knit and so accepting of each other than he now doubted issues would arise involving prejudices or religious objections to life styles.

Over the course of the day very few people left the hall. Even Liara's felting project fell by the way side as people spent their time going over EDI's lists. By the time night fell, they had voted and named all but one species of bird.

A few gung ho people were still arguing, but most people had gone back to their own cabins for the night. Since Joker's vid files had been salvaged, the remainder of the ships screen had been installed in people's homes now that there was a greater source of entertainment.

Not particularly caring about the fate of one birds name, Kaidan left the hall and went home. He'd lost the battle regarding Bug and the folivora was sound asleep in the corner under Kaidan's desk when he arrived. Catherine was reclining in bed with her nose in a book, reading by the brilliant light of the two moons.

"Where did you get an actual book?" Kaidan asked as he stripped down and climbed into bed beside her.

"Picked it up on the Citadel before our movements there were restricted." She dog eared the corner of the page to save her place and set the book down on the bedside table next to her cup of water. "It's a book of poetry."

"Read me something," he said as he lay his head on her breast and threw a leg across hers.

"What would like to hear?" She picked the book up again and flipped through the pages, reading off titles.

"Anything at all." Kaidan liked it when she read aloud. She had an expressive, yet soothing voice and she had lulled him to sleep with it on several occasions now.

"Okay. Here's one I found yesterday that really resonated. It's by an old Earth author named Edgar Allen Poe. It's called Annabel Lee." She cleared her throat and began.

It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea,

That a maiden there lived whom you may know

By the name of Annabel Lee;

And this maiden she lived with no other thought

Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,

In this kingdom by the sea;

But we loved with a love that was more than love -

I and my Annabel Lee;

With a love the winged seraphs of heaven

Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that long ago,

In this kingdom by the sea,

A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling

My beautiful Annabel Lee;

So that here highborn kinsman came

And bore her away from me,

To shut her up in a sepulcher

In this kingdom by the sea.

The angles, not half so happy in heaven,

Went envying her and me.

Yes! That was the reason(as all men know,

in this kingdom by the sea)

That the wind came out of a cloud by night,

Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love was stronger by far than the love

Of those who were older than we,

Of many far wiser than we,

And neither the angels in heaven above,

Nor the demons down under the sea,

Could even dissever my soul from the soul

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bring me dreams

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And the star never rise but I see the bright eyes

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

And so all the night tide I lie down by the side

Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,

In the sepulcher there by the sea,

In her tomb by the side of the sea.

Listening to her voice through her chest Kaidan could tell the poem had her choked up. Truth was, it had him feeling a little melodramatic as well.

"That's a beautiful poem, Kitten, but sad," Kaidan mumbled into her chest, not feeling quite as lulled as he would have liked. "Read me something more relaxing."

Kaidan fell sleep listening to her read a poem about a Roman helmet found centuries later by a man walking on a beach.

Nothing disturbed him that night, no sleep talking or green glowing. Even Bug slept the whole night through. He was alone when he woke and stepped outside to find a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. Yesterdays snow had not entirely melted and now he was walking through several centimeters of it to get to the hall.

Inside he found Catherine, Liara, Tali and several other people hard at work. They had pushed aside most of the tables and built an arbor of sorts in front of the fish tanks.

Chairs had been placed in three rows in front and bows had been cut from still leafy trees and tied to the chairs forming the aisle. The silver fabric that had decorated Liara's cabin on the Normandy had been hung from the ceiling to hide the lights and leave the whole area in a suffused glow. The hall truly was transformed.

Catherine spotted him and came to stand in the kitchen with him. They leaned on the counter and watched as Liara used her biotics to lift another table out of the way.

"How long have you been working on this?" Kaidan asked.

"Got up at the crack of dawn. Tali and Liara were already here. Just a heads up, I think Tali is going to ask you to marry her and Garrus next."

"No kidding," Kaidan laughed. "Good for them."

They stood silently for a few minutes, watching people come into the hall and react with wonder and excitement at the sight within.

Kaidan bumped his shoulder against Catherine's. "You want to get hitched?"

She shrugged. "If you want to. I'm Wiccan so it's a pretty easy thing to do. No ranking official needed."

A pagan faith, focused on oneness with nature, Wicca had grown massively in popularity on Earth after the environmental crises of the early twenty-first century. Kaidan had a basic understanding of its creed, which was a lot like Buddhism, but he knew nothing about what a Wiccan wedding was like.

"What's involved?" Kaidan asked.

Catherine looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Were you asking me to marry you or were you just testing the waters?"

Kaidan laughed gently. "Let's say I was asking."

"Well, okay then." She pushed off the counter and stood in front of him. Then she pulled off her scarf and wrapped one end around her right hand and then passed the other end to him. "Wrap it around you right hand and repeat after me."

Kaidan did as he was told and repeated her words one line at a time.

"I commit to love, honour and respect you, to communicate and share in all ways, to provide a healthy happy home for our children, and to comfort and support you in times of sickness and sadness, as long as love shall last. Blessed be."

Kaidan repeated the last two words slowly and then Catherine was hugging him, their bound hands caught between their bodies. She kissed him and unwound the scarf, draping back around her neck.

"Did we just get married?" Kaidan asked and Catherine gave him a sly look.

"Yes and no," she said cryptically. "It's called a hand fastening and it's not official. But it's a promise. That's why it ends with the words 'as long as love shall last' and not the scary strict 'til death do us part' and 'for better or worse'. It acknowledges the fact that love isn't always eternal and sometimes relationship dissolve naturally, but at the same time recognizes that vows of devotion are important."

"I think I can live with that," Kaidan put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. "Can't say the line about children didn't strike a cord though."

Catherine squeezed him back but didn't say anything. She still held out hope that Doctor Chakwas would find a solution, but Kaidan had resigned himself to the fact that there would be no children. It was easier that way. Easier to move on, to continue to enjoy sex, to watch James cradle Lola in his bearish arms. The hope wasn't completely gone, but he'd hidden it deep.

EDI arrived not much later and took Kaidan aside to explain to him what his duties were. The vows were simple and straight forward, nothing fancy like Gabby had said. A few simple words and then back to work.

Gabby and Kenneth had been kept away from the hall all morning and when the arrived in the early afternoon, they clearly had not been told what to expect. Neither had dressed up for the occasion, but at least they were both wearing clean clothes.

Kaidan had put on his varen hide jacket and Catherine had pinned his Major's stripes to the shoulder and his medals to the front. He felt silly standing in front of everyone until Gabby appeared from the labs where Liara had spirited her away as soon as she entered the hall.

Somehow, Liara had made a lacey veil for her, woven through with tiny pieces iridescent snail shells and bits of colourful rocks. Somewhere she had found iron pyrite and it was dusted on Gabby's skin and sparkled under the shrouded lights.

Her reddish hair was longer now and had been pulled back in a loose braid. It all clashed terribly with the clothes she wore, but it didn't matter. Her face glowed and she was beautiful.

Liara took a seat in the back beside Tali who was already crying while Garrus tried not to laugh at her. Kaidan caught Catherine's eye where she sat beside Morgan and she gave him a loving smile.

Kenneth stood like an idiot at the end of the aisle, just staring at Gabby. After a prompt from Garrus he finally took her arm and they walked down the aisle, stopping a pace from Kaidan.

Kaidan cleared his throat and recited his lines, glancing discreetly at his datapad occasionally. "Today we witness the binding of two lives into one. A affirmation of love and commitment between two people. Before I give my assent would the couple like to share their own vows."

This was not a question as it was always a given that the couple would speak.

Gabby went first. "Kenneth you've made me insane for years, but I've loved you from day one. You are my best friend and I don't know what I would do without you."

There were soft ahs of approval from the gathered crowd and a stifled sob from Tali.

Kenneth then let go of Gabby's hand and instead placed his on her enormous belly. "You stuck with me through thick and thin, Gabby. Even though I waited for years to tell you how spectacular your legs are. I promise to never stop telling you how amazing every part of you is."

Kaidan had expected more but when Kenneth didn't say more he continued with his script. "A couple should love and honour each other, support and comfort, provide for and cherish."

He paused as he heard himself repeating similar words to those he had so recently exchanged with Catherine.

"A couple should be equal in all ways and maintain their commitment and loyalty for as long as the union remains. Gabriella Melanie Daniels." He looked at Gabby. "Do you so swear?"

"I do."

Kaidan turned to Ken. "And Kenneth Fraser Donnelly, do you so swear?"

"I absolutely do."

"Then by the power given to me by the Systems Alliance through the rank of Major, I declare you husband, wife and partners."

There was nothing more in the script after this point, but it didn't feel finished so Kaidan added the traditional.

"You may kiss."

The couple flew together in a passionate kiss that earned whoops and hollers from the audience. Applause echoed through the room and Kaidan could see Tali at the back full out crying into Garrus' chest.

There were very few single people left in the colony. It seemed everyone had found someone and those who hadn't were happy that way. They were the ones who had lost families on Earth, or had left partners behind when they crashed here, and didn't want to start over again. Somehow, everyone who wanted someone had found a partner. Even Cortez and Avery were a happy couple, and not just because they were the only two gay men on the ship. They genuinely loved each other.

Kaidan was sure he would now be swamped with requests to officiate marriages, but the ceremony was simple and straight forward he didn't think he would mind.

He stepped away from the couple and let them take the spotlight as people crowded around to congratulate them. As he leaned on the warm glass of the fish tank he saw EDI making her way through the throng. She looked determined and worried at the same time and Kaidan marveled at the range of facial expressions she was now able to simulate.

"Not a bad ceremony, eh EDI?" Kaidan said happily.

"You did a fine job, Kaidan," she praised him absently. "But I'm afraid I must take you away from the celebrations. I believe I have information for you regarding Catherine. Have you told her yet what Doctor Chakwas told you?"

Kaidan shook his head.

"Then I will tell you first, but we must tell her today."

EDI turned and went towards the labs again. Kaidan followed. Catherine caught his eyes as he went by and he waved her back.

Inside the labs EDI was pacing, not something Kaidan had seen her do often and worry set his heart racing.

"What is it EDI?"

She stopped pacing and faced him. "As I said I would, I have been paying closer attention to the electrical impulses in Catherine's brain. During the ceremony I detected a spike in their activity."

"She was talking to herself?" Kaidan guessed.

"Yes, she was," EDI said. "But that is not the troubling part. There was a reply."

"A what?" Kaidan squinted at her in the low light. Was she being serious?

"It was barely detectable beneath Catherine's own brain waves, but it was clearly a response to her own thoughts."

"Who?" Kaidan had to sit down.

"I could not pinpoint the exact location of the source, but it was very near her."

"James," Kaidan breathed. "James was sitting on Morgan's other side."

"I do not believe that is was James," EDI said with conviction.

But Kaidan barely heard her. All he could think about was the fact that his wife had once been intimate with James and that seemed to be a condition of this strange synthetic bond.

"Kaidan, you must speak to Catherine about this," EDI said insistently. "There is no other way to understand what is going on inside her head."

"I don't think I can do it, EDI," Kaidan said, staring at the floor.

"Would you like Doctor Chakwas and I to explain the situation to her? I will not tell her how long you have known. I do not wish to cause discord."

Kaidan nodded and in a daze followed EDI back out into the hall. Gabby and Kenneth had left, but the crowd was still milling about, helping to put tables and chairs back in place.

He sat down heavily on a couch and watched as EDI found Doctor Chakwas and then as the pair searched out Catherine and lead her into the back. Catherine cast a questioning look at him as they passed, but he could only force a smile.

No one seemed to notice him sitting alone in the corner and he sat there by himself for what seemed like hours. The hall emptied and after a time Bug found his way in and sat at Kaidan's feet with his head on his knee.

Kaidan absently scratched his head and waited, brooding and worrying about what would happen when Catherine reemerged. Was she really forming a bond with James? He knew they were close, but from what EDI had said of her connection with Joker, the bond was strengthened by intimacy.

Questions whirled about in his head in a maelstrom of doubt and uncertainty. He felt a headache coming on for the first time in months. His palms were sweaty and his mouth tasted like metal. Kaidan had never been the jealous type. This was something new for him. He'd dealt with the sting of learning about the relationship James and Catherine had had, but now the anger was crawling back up.

James could have kids and he and Catherine couldn't. Their bond would ever only be between the two of them. And now James was possibly stealing away the potential for Kaidan and Catherine to forge an even stronger connection?

Kaidan's rage was unreasonable and he knew it, but it seethed and churned in his stomach. When the door to the labs finally cracked open and Catherine stepped out, Kaidan jumped to his feet, but was at a loss for words.

Catherine closed the space between them in a few quick paces and buried her face in his chest. Tentatively, Kaidan put his arms around her and felt her begin to shake.

"Cat, are you crying?"

Her head nodded and she tried to say something but it only came out as a sob.

Kaidan felt his anger vanish as he held his tearful wife. "Kitten, whatever it is you can tell me."

She pulled away from him and dragged her sleeve across her cheeks, sniffing noisily. When she looked up at him tears were still streaming down her face, but she was smiling and biting the tip of her tongue between her teeth.

When she finally spoke her voice was trembling and he couldn't make out her words.

"Speak up, Kitten. What is it?"

She cleared her throat and tried again and this time Kaidan was floored by her words.

"I'm pregnant."