Kaidan grabbed her shoulders, probably too hard because she let out a little gasp.

"Say that again," he said softly.

"I'm pregnant."

She burst into fresh tears and Kaidan picked her right up off the ground in a massive hug and spun her around. When he set her down she collapsed to the couch and he went down on his knees in front of her.

"How, Cat?" he asked urgently. "I don't understand."

"I want Karin to explain," she said. "I barely understand myself."

Kaidan lifted himself up to sit beside her. She was laughing now through the tears and he found himself beginning to laugh as well.

"You know what, Cat? I don't even care about how. I don't want to jinx this."

Catherine leaned into him and he could feel her tears dampening his shirt. His mind harkened back to the night after he'd learned about James. He'd been bombarded with so much information that day, much of which he hadn't wanted to hear, and the anger he'd projected at Catherine had been unjustified.

She'd waited patiently for him to vent more, to let out whatever he was feeling, but he had dealt with it on his own. Not everything needed to be shared and he was now glad he'd kept his rioting thoughts and emotions to himself.

Catherine sniffed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She stood and pulled him up with her.

"Karin wanted to talk to us. And even if you don't care about the how, I know you're just as curious as I am."

Kaidan followed obediently, Catherine's hand clamped firmly in his own. His heart was buoyant and his steps light as air as they went through the labs and into the medical suite.

Karin and EDI were waiting for them. Karin's face lit up and she gave Kaidan a warm hug of congratulations.

"I rather thought this news might please you," she said patting his cheek in a motherly way. "I wanted you and Catherine to have a moment alone, but I do have some questions for both of you that might help explain this."

She leaned back on her desk and EDI stepped forward.

"I had the suspicion when I heard the second set of brain waves, but I did not wish to say anything should it prove to be untrue."

"Kaidan, it's time you told her everything," Karin said and Kaidan knew she was right. It was his turn to bite the bullet and reveal that he had kept the truth from her.

He nodded and turned to Catherine. "Kitten, I'm sorry I didn't tell you weeks before."

Catherine looked worried and confused so he hurried his words along. "Karin told me a while ago about changes in your DNA and that the synthetics in body are advancing rapidly. I should have told you, but you were acting strangely and I didn't want to fall into a blind leading the blind situation."

"Does this have anything to do with you constantly accusing me of talking to myself?" She was calmer than he expected her to be. Either there was a volcano waiting for him later or she really didn't care.

"Well, you were," he said defensively. "And talking and humming in your sleep a lot."

Karin stepped in and changed the topic. "You two should talk about that privately. I've explained to Catherine how her DNA has changed. My current theory is that those same changes reversed the VRS seeing it as damage to her body that needed to be repaired."

"But why didn't you detect this earlier?" Kaidan asked. "Didn't you examine her when she came to you the first time?"

"I didn't think it necessary," Karin explained. "There was no reason to think that anything had changed. VRS means that the body continues to function normally, but the ovum produced are not viable. I saw no reason to perform an invasive procedure to confirm something I had no reason to doubt. But now that I have determined that Catherine is indeed pregnant, I have some more delicate questions I need to ask."

Despite the fact that Karin was a medical professional, Kaidan did not relish the idea of discussing his sex life with her, which was where he was sure she was going. If she saw his blush, she didn't say anything.

"I suspect I already know the answer, but when was the first time you engaged in sexual intercourse?"

"The day she and Joker..." he trailed off, his mind going quickly through everything he knew about the mushrooms and their effect on synthetics. "Oh. The spoors."

"What does that mean?" Catherine asked.

EDI then explained the connection that had since developed between her and Joker and light bulb seemed to come on over Catherine's head as she came to the same conclusion Kaidan just had.

"So, you think that because of when I conceived," Catherine said. "That I'm already trying to communicate with the baby? But I'm only a few weeks along. How could that be possible so early on?"

"A few weeks along by our time, but that's about equal to two months by galactic standard," Karin explained. "Before today I suspect that the connection went only in one direction. By now the fetus will have developed just enough to be able to respond."

"But why can't I hear this happening?" Catherine rested a hand on her abdomen and Kaidan sense of pride went through the roof. He felt like shouting for joy, but managed to contain himself to hear EDI response.

"The only reason I am able to detect these signals is because am a synthetic to begin with, with programming that allows me to be aware of these things. In humans, this communication is almost entirely subconscious. I have been training Jeff's brain to listen at the proper wave length, but he is still barely able to hear what I am thinking. You have had no such instruction so it is logical that you would have no way of knowing that this was happening inside your mind."

Catherine looked suddenly a lot less excited and happy than moments before. She took several steps backwards and sat down heavily on the small couch along the wall. Kaidan rushed to her side.

"What's wrong, Cat?" he asked desperately.

She looked up at him with worry plastered across her face. "Kaidan, what if something is wrong because of the mushrooms?"

Kaidan looked askance at the doctor and Karin came to sit beside Catherine, putting a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

"Catherine, I'm willing to bet that half the humans in existence were conceived while their parents were drunk or high. There is no proof that the physical state of either parent at the time of conception has any negative effect on the embryo."

"And besides," Kaidan added. "In the unlikely event that something is wrong, you can hardly be faulted. You didn't even think you could get pregnant."

Catherine seemed to be calming. She was nodding in agreement and Kaidan could feel her pulse slowing where his hand rested on her wrist.

"I'll keep a close eye on you as your pregnancy progresses," Karin said gently. "If there is anything amiss we will catch it, but I doubt there will be any complications."

It was just then that Garrus came bursting through the door. He paused only briefly when he realized he had intruded on a private moment.

"Kaidan, there's a call coming through on the quantum relay. It's not Hackett."

Kaidan frowned. They had had little communication with Earth, but it had all been through Admiral Hackett. Catherine must have sensed his need to discover what was going on because she urged him to go with Garrus.

He followed the turian to the back of the lab and stood before the glowing relay as an image flickered into existence.

"Jacob!" Garrus said in surprise.

"Garrus, it's good to see you," Jacob said with a small smile, then looked at Kaidan and gave a salute. "Major Alenko, I'm Jacob Taylor. I served with Commander Shepard on the Normandy."

"Ex-Cerberus, I remember," Kaidan said, returning the salute. "We pulled you off Gellix."

"Nice to finally meet you, so to speak," Jacob said. "Shepard spoke very highly of you."

"How's Bryn?" Garrus asked.

"Brynn's great." Jacob finally gave them a real smile. "Spends most of her time with the baby these days."

"That's right, I forgot," Garrus said happily. "Congrats, Jacob. Boy or girl?"

"A girl," Jacob said with pride. "We called her Melissa. Lissa for short."

"That's great, Jacob," Garrus said. "But I've got to ask, how did you manage to get time on the comm when an Admiral barely could?"

"I had to fight for it. Dropped Shepard's name a few times," Jacob explained. "I've got some bad news. Admiral Hackett's dead."

"What?" Kaidan exclaimed. "How? What happened?"

"He had a stroke," Jacob said, his eyes downcast. "Died in his sleep about a month ago. About as peacefully as a soldier can hope for."

Neither Kaidan or Garrus could think of anything to say. Admiral Hackett had been a prominent fixture in both their lives for years. The entire time they'd served with Shepard. To hear that he had died was a vicious blow.

"I thought you would want to know," Jacob went on. "That's why I asked for the time on the comm."

"I appreciate it, Jacob," Kaidan said sadly. "Steven was a good friend. He'll be missed."

"I don't have much time on here," Jacob said, glancing away to the left. "There's always a line up. Some of us who served with Shepard were hoping for an update from you guys. Just want to know you're doing well."

"We're doing all right," Kaidan told him. "Just heading into winter. Got some interesting projects on the way."

"How are Tali and Liara?"

"Tali is great," Garrus said. "She pretty much goes without the enviro suit all the time now, but she still has to wear a mask more than she would like."

"Liara's pregnant," Kaidan put in. "Still not back to a hundred percent after Javik's death, but keeping busy and staying sane."

"Javik's dead?" Jacob's eyes narrowed. "How?"

"It's a long story," Garrus said, giving Kaidan a nod. "Let's just leave it at it was for the best."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Jacob said sympathetically.

Garrus changed the topic quickly. "I was... incapacitated last time we had a connection to Earth. I was hoping for some news from your end too. Miranda, Samara, Kasumi... the rest of the squad. Did they make it?"

"Bad news first," Jacob said quickly, obviously running out of time. "Kasumi died on the Crucible. She stayed to the last to keep systems running. Zaeed was pretty seriously injured during the battle and died not long after. Miranda is alive and well, joined up with the Alliance and is pretty much running the show when it comes to distribution of goods. Samara left with the asari and krogan. Said she wanted to try to make it back to her daughter. Grunt and Jack are somewhere in South America. Some of the mercenaries gangs who joined with Aria T'Loak didn't much like the idea of living under the thumb of the Alliance and have set up down there. Jack and Grunt are hunting them down."

Something caught Jacob's eye and he looked away for a moment.

"I'm sorry, I'm out of time," Jacob said hurriedly. "One last thing. They're shutting down the connection Hackett had open for you guys. Apparently you just aren't a priority. I'll send you what I can when I can, but-"

The connection died and Jacob's image snapped from existence. The console stayed active, but a red light appeared in the upper right corner, flashing as it attempted to reestablish the connection.

"I guess that's that then," Kaidan said unhappily. "I can't believe Hackett's dead."

"I can't believe they're abandoning us," Garrus said angrily. "Without us the Reapers would have wiped everything out by now, and they can't find the time or energy to send us a few measly bites of data now and then."

"We don't know the whole story," Kaidan said conciliatorily. "Earth is still in pretty rough shape. Jacob's right, we aren't a priority. And Hackett managed to send us massive amounts of data already. We'll be all right."

Kaidan heaved a great big sigh and leaned back on the workbench behind him.

"Telling everyone about Hackett is going to be hard. He was something of an institution in the Alliance. He'd served longer than I've been alive."

"If he were a turian we'd commission a dreadnaught and name it after him," Garrus remarked. "What do humans do for their fallen heroes?"

"Well, we don't name ships after them," Kaidan said. "Tradition used to be a park or school in their honour, but a lot of countries didn't even do that. Don't know what they'll do now though. Doubt there are still committees to take care of things like that."

"Should we do something?" Garrus asked.

"We could name a moon after him," Kaidan joked. "We've got two of them."

"And here was me hoping you'd suggest Vakarian for one of them."

They were quiet for a minute and Kaidan could tell Garrus had something on his mind.

"What's up, Garrus?" he prompted. "I know you only shuffle around like that when you're looking for the right words."

"Just trying to decide whether or not ask if everything is okay with Cat," Garrus said somewhat awkwardly. "Don't want to put you on the spot."

Kaidan debated whether or not to tell Garrus about Catherine's pregnancy. He didn't know if it was something she wanted to share yet. He knew that most couples waited until things were a fair way along before saying anything, but he also knew that Morgan and Gabby would likely know before the sun set. And though they didn't put labels on relationships the way women did, Kaidan and Garrus were best friends.

"Cat's fine," Kaidan said, unable to stop the grin that followed. "In fact, she's great. She's pregnant."

Garrus gave him a slap on the shoulder. "Kaidan, that's great. Congratulations!"

"But you can't tell anyone yet," Kaidan said strictly. "Not even Tali."

"Oh, that's going to be a tough one," Garrus said with a hiss through his pointed teeth. "Tali has her ways of pulling information out of me."

"Apparently a fist bump swears you to secrecy and trumps Tali."

"I'm not sure what a fist bump is," Garrus laughed. "But as long as it has nothing to do with Joker's lips and my backside I'm in."

Kaidan chuckled. "You overheard that, did you?"

"Hard not to over hear things around here," Garrus said as he leaned against the table beside Kaidan, crossing his arms. "But don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks," Kaidan said. "So, uh, did you ever think about having kids?"

"Me?" Garrus said. "Never really had much time to think about it. I joined C-Sec as soon as I finished my military training and I've been getting in the way of various projectiles ever since."

Kaidan nodded in understanding. The turians strict military hierarchy trickled down into the very bones of every day life. Everyone had to earn their place in society.

"What about Tali?" Kaidan asked. "She always struck me as the kind to want kids one day."

Now it was Garrus' turn to sigh. "It kills Tali that she can't have kids. She always wanted one, and after Shepard restored Rannoch to the quarians she thought she might actually get to raise one on her home world."

"I think the rest of us tend to forget just how much you and Tali lost," Kaidan said apologetically. "Who knows. Maybe one day the synthetics will change you guys enough that your DNA will be compatible."

"I'd never thought of that," Garrus said lightly. "I doubt it'll happen, but it might make Tali feel better. Anyway, I should let you get back to Cat. Congrats again, Kaidan."

Catherine appeared through the door of the medical suite as Garrus took his leave. Once they were alone, Kaidan gathered her up in his arms and held on with every fiber of his being.

"Everything okay?" she asked him, her voice muffled by his arm.

Still holding on to her, not wanting to let her go ever again, Kaidan told her what Jacob had said about Hackett. She hadn't known the Admiral the way Kaidan had, but she still shed a tear at the news of his passing.

"So now Earth is without Anderson and Hackett," Catherine said with concern. "With the governments all but gone, I'm guessing the Alliance is the only thing holding things together."

"They've gone of the oldest asari Matriarchs there too. They won't fare too badly. We got some news about the old Normandy squad as well," he added. "Means a lot more to Garrus and Tali than anyone else, but looks like most of Shepard's people made it through the war."

Kaidan finally dropped the hug but kept one arm around her shoulders as they walked out into the hall.

"I don't know about you, Kitten, but I feel like we've entered something new. We are really and truly on our own now."

"Doesn't feel all bad though, does it."

They stepped out the front door of the hall and were greeted by a very happy Bug. The late evening sun was glinting off dripping icicles and the wind was shivering its way through the frozen branches of the forest. There were voices coming from the fire pit where people were building what would likely be the last fire of the year. There was movement and activity all around.

"No," Kaidan said with a sigh of contentment. "It's not so bad at all."

Winter seemed to zip by more quickly than Kaidan had imagined it would. By the time the ground was frozen and the snow was truly upon them, four new lives had arrived at the settlement. Two boys and two girls.

With the extension finished and furnished as a hospital, the old medical suite became something of a nursery, where Morgan, Gabby, Diana and the other two new mothers spent much of their time.

The felting process was completed with much more ease than Liara had anticipated and the fabric went into use almost immediately, while Liara began a new projects using the information Hackett had given them. She learned of several new ways to make fabrics; from pulped tree bark to using native grasses like flax to create linen.

Joker spent his time in his workshop with EDI and Ivan, building endlessly with the wood they'd harvested during the summer. The furniture was the rich honey colour of teak with streaks of ebony and dark red in it, and it graced every building and home.

Liara's figure seemed to grew daily, as did Catherine's, and it amazing Kaidan to watch happen. Pregnancy seemed to suit her and Kaidan spent time every morning and evening with his ear resting against her belly listening to every little sound as the baby moved. Karin had offered to work out the sex of the baby, but they had agreed that they would rather have it be a surprise.

As Kaidan expected there were no more communications from Earth and the more time that passed, the less anyone bothered to check the relay, and eventually they cut power to it altogether, preferring to use what they had to heat the hall and the water tanks above the shower.

Bug was so big now that he had to be given a house all to himself. The door was removed and the folivora made himself a nest over the course of several days, disappearing for hours at a time only to return with a massive clump of dry grass in his mouth. Though he usually still trailed Catherine where ever she went, he seemed content to be on his own much of the time.

Much to Catherine's displeasure, she'd been trapped inside a lot of the time. Though she seemed to have more clothing than most, she was reluctant to turn any of it in to maternity clothing and so was often underdressed. When a cold snap hit, Kaidan all but banned her from having a shower, not wanting her to walk between buildings with wet hair.

She was often restless and irritable, but Kaidan endured it all. One minute she was snapping at him for not closing the door quickly enough and the next she was crying because she'd snapped at him. Her life had become a roller coaster of emotions and it wasn't until nearly half way through the winter that Kaidan learned the main source of the problem.

He'd been out almost all day with James and Garrus, trudging through the forest looking for possible locations for a new orchard. They'd found several places and Kaidan was looking forward to telling Catherine about them. Planning and plotting out the space would give her something to fill her time with.

When he opened the door to their little house he found her pacing back and forth besides the bed. She didn't look up as he shut the door and she jumped and almost took a swing at him when he reach out and touched her on the arm.

"Kaidan, you scared the crap out of me," she said and sat down heavily on the couch. "Where have you been?"

"I just got back," he said, worry creasing his brow. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going crazy in here, Kaidan!" she almost shouted at him.

"Why don't you go to the hall then? Spend the day there?"

"I can't," she said, pushing herself back up off the couch. "I'd go just as crazy there and if I am going to lose my mind, I would rather do it here."

Kaidan grabbed her shoulders and stopped her pacing before she could get going again. Her eyes were wide and her pupils massively dilated.

"What's going on, Cat?" he asked her seriously.

"I can hear it all." She pressed the heels of her hands into her temples and squinted her eyes almost shut. "It's too much."

"What can you hear?" Kaidan was more than worried now.

At first they had both been worried about the pregnancy, fearing every check up with Doctor Chakwas would bring bad news, but as time passed and everything progressed normally they had begun to put their fears to rest.

Catherine had continued to speak softly to herself every now and then, still completely unaware of it herself, and Kaidan awoke almost every night now to the sound of her humming. Unlike many pregnant women, she slept soundly through the night, and EDI's theory was that her quiet humming lulled the baby to sleep as well, keeping it on the same schedule as it's mother.

This was the first time in two months that Kaidan had felt so much as an inkling of concern that something might be wrong.

"Have you talked to Doctor Chakwas yet?" he asked, keeping his voice as calm as he could.

"No," she said, gritting her teeth.

"Okay," he said and let her go. He grabbed Shepard's N7 sweater and helped Cat into it. It wouldn't zip up, but he pulled the hood up tight and then threw a blanket around her. "Let's go, Cat. We'll see her right now."

Kaidan had to half carry her to the hospital and the pain in her head increased. They went in through the new side doors, avoiding the crowded hall, and found Karin in her office. She was sitting with her feet up, enjoying a glass of the ice brandy that she'd kept hidden from everyone else.

When Kaidan and Catherine came through the door she practically jumped to her feet.

"What is it?" she asked, seeing the pain on Catherine's face. "What's wrong?

"I'm not sure," Kaidan told her as she lead them to an empty patient room. "I got home and she was pacing. Said she could hear the baby and it was driving her crazy."

He eased her down onto the bed, it's wooden frame creaking slightly. She fell back on the pillow and flung her arm over her eyes, muttering something under her breath.

"Kaidan, go find EDI while I examine her," Doctor Chakwas said briskly.

Reluctantly, Kaidan went in search of the AI and found her on the nursery floor playing a game of peek-a-boo with Lola who was shrieking with delight and trying her very best to grab EDI's visor.

"EDI, something is wrong with Cat," he told her urgently. "Doctor Chakwas asked me to get you."

EDI stood and picked up Lola in her silver arms.

"I told Morgan and James that I would look after Lola so they could have some time alone," EDI told him. "I can come, but you will have to mind her while I assist the Doctor."

Kaidan nodded and hurried back to the hospital. As he rushed through the hall, Liara and Garrus both called to him but he ignored them. Behind him, he heard EDI ask them to wait, saying that she was sure Kaidan would talk to them as soon as he could.

Knocking softly as he opened the door, Kaidan came in just as Doctor Chakwas was lowering the blanket back down over Catherine's lower half. Catherine appeared to have passed out. Karin turned as they entered.

"Don't panic, Kaidan. I've sedated her. Physically there is nothing wrong with her or the babies," she told Kaidan, who wilted in relief and then snapped back to attention an instant later. "Yes, I said babies. Catherine is carrying twins."

Staggered by the revelation, Kaidan could barely force the words out of his mouth when he spoke. "How did you not know this earlier?"

"The Normandy's med-bay didn't come with the equipment needed to monitor a pregnancy," she explained. "It's been a month since I last gave Catherine a check up and at that time I was only able to detect one heartbeat. Tonight, I can hear two distinct beats. I believe this may be the issue and I'm hoping EDI can confirm."

"I can hear it already," EDI said. She passed off Lola to Kaidan who held the little girl close as EDI sat own beside Catherine on the bed. "My educated guess is that the fetuses are monozygotic, or identical, and up until now their brain waves have been the same and thus impossible to differentiate between. Now, however, their brain activity has increased significantly. I believe they have taken the first steps towards individuality and are speaking to each other. Catherine is able to hear both of them and they are sending out more signals than her brain knows how to interpret."

"So what do we do?" Kaidan asked around Lola's hand which was grabbing at his lips as they moved.

"I'm not sure what we can do," EDI said, her voice troubled. "I've been instructing Catherine as best I can on how to control her own thoughts and not direct them all at the child, but I know of no way to teach the children control."

"EDI, are you able to communicate with the babies?" Karin asked, an idea clearly forming in her mind.

"Yes, but I do not recommend that as a solution," EDI replied.

"But what if someone else were to attempt it?" The doctor suggested.

"I hope you don't mean Joker," Kaidan said. Lola was beginning to fret and so he sat down in the corner to bounce her on his knee.

"I think I know where you are going with this, Doctor," EDI said slowly. "And I'm not sure if that would work. He would have to be trained."

"I think it might be the only choice we've got," Karin said.

"Could someone please explain just what it is that you're considering," Kaidan said, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice for Lola's sake.

EDI stood and took the chair beside Kaidan while Doctor Chakwas began taking more readings from Catherine.

"What I believe the Doctor is suggesting is that you ingest the mushrooms," EDI said, and Kaidan's eyes widened.

"You want me to take the mushrooms?" Kaidan asked. "How will that do any good?"

Karin left Catherine's side and came to lean on the end of the bed. "It's only a theory, but I believe that you will be able to take some of the pressure off of Catherine. Children typically form a close bond with their mother, responding to their moods and emotions, but clearly something more powerful is developing here."

"Karin and I had already discussed making this suggestion, though for different reasons," EDI put in. "Without the increased synthetics Catherine and the children now possess, we were concerned that you would not have the same bond with your children that Catherine already has. It would take years for your own synthetics to catch up naturally."

Kaidan was far too distracted now to try to keep Lola still and so passed her back to EDI who endured the child's busy hands patiently. It didn't rain but it poured. Every time. News never seemed to come to Kaidan gradually. Everything always had to happen all at once, overloading his brain and making it impossible to think sane, rational thoughts.

Just twenty minutes earlier he'd been looking forward to one child and now there would be two. Catherine had been stressed, but managing, and now she was going into neural shock because the babies inside of her had discovered they could communicate with each other. And to top it all off, it was being suggested that he take a drug to essentially tell his children to be quiet.

"Can you really not think of any other option here?"

Karin and EDI looked at each other and back at him. EDI spoke. "Perhaps with more time I could find a solution, but I worry that Catherine will have suffered irreparable neural damage before I can."

"Kaidan, we know that the mushrooms are safe." Karin tried to sound reassuring. "We have seen only positive effects in both Catherine and Joker."

"What about my biotics?"

"Catherine has the same eezo nodules in her own nervous system," Karin said. "I have not detected any changes in them. I don't foresee there being any negative impact in that department."

"How are we going to find any mushrooms at this time of year?" Kaidan asked, trying to find fault with their plan.

"I collected a sample back when we first encountered them," Karin said. "I have them in a jar in my office. The spoors are still viable."

"How do you know that I'll be able to... connect with the babies?" Kaidan asked, still trying to poke holes. "Joker and Cat could only hear each other when they were both being effected by the spoors."

"Catherine would have to take the mushrooms as well," Karin said, though she didn't sound convinced. Before Kaidan could protest she went on quickly. "I have already done a test on her blood to measure the effect it might have on her. There was a definite spike in her synthetics, but it was temporary and died down quickly. I don't believe the mushrooms will have the same effect twice."

Kaidan stood up and leaned his head against the cool stone of the wall. This was all just speculation and theory. Was he willing to take this risk on their guesses alone? His mind burned with indecision. He trusted Karin and EDI absolutely, but this still seemed like too drastic a measure.

"What could go wrong?" Kaidan asked. "What damage could there be if I do this?"

"To yourself, none," Karin said with certainty. "To Catherine, none. To the fetuses... I'm not sure."

"Kaidan, do you have any reason to believe these children might not be yours?"

Kaidan turned and looked at EDI sharply. "No. Absolutely not."

EDI nodded, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. "I did not think so, but I had to ask. Research has shown that children share similar neural pathways to their parents. I said that I did not suggest myself for this task because I have no similarities with these minds and would likely shock them into silent rather than cajole them, and that would not be a good thing. You, however, would be able to ease your mind into communion with theirs."

"Catherine was barely able to focus her eyes on one things at a time while she was under the influence," Kaidan said angrily, the stress beginning to take its toll. "How am I supposed to be able to do this with any kind of control."

"Well, for starters," Karin said patiently. "I would not give you the same dose that Catherine was subjected to. Just enough to stimulate you. You will experience much of what Catherine did, but not for a long or as intensely."

Kaidan went to Catherine's side and looked down at his sleeping wife. Even sedated her eyes moved rapidly beneath her lids and she frowned in pain. How could he let her lie here in agony because he was afraid? She had never even wanted this. As happy as she was, Kaidan knew all of this was for him. Had they been on Earth with other options she may have stuck to her guns and maintained that she wanted no children. He may even have chosen the same just to stay with her. But here... This had happened by accident. He knew that she wanted this now, but it was because of him.

He stroked her cheek and gave one curl a gentle tug, watching it bounce back into place as he let go.

"I'll do it," he said, making his decision.

"Good," Karin said and immediately got down to business. "EDI help Kaidan get her back to their house. Make sure she is warm and comfortable. I will meet you there shortly."

Kaidan crouched down and slid his arms under Catherine, picking her up and holding her against his body. The added weight of two babies made his arms burn. Still carrying Lola, EDI opened doors ahead of him and cleared the way of curious on lookers as they went.

Liara and Tali met them at the exit, both looking deeply concerned. EDI passed Lola off to the quarian who went back into the main hall with the child, while Liara stayed close to Kaidan's side.

"I don't know what's going on, Kaidan," she said, her words clipped and quiet. "But if you need me, I am here."

"Liara, I would appreciate it so much if you would stay with us tonight," Kaidan said.

"Give me a moment to get a blanket and pillow from my cabin." She hurried off ahead, walking smoothly and gracefully despite her large belly.

EDI swung the door cabin door open and Kaidan walked through sideways and lay Catherine down on the bed. They spread the blanket out over her and then added another for good measure.

Kaidan paced nervously while they waited for Doctor Chakwas. Liara arrived and thankfully did not ask any questions, just sat down on the couch and waited.

When the doctor arrived she didn't seem surprised to see Liara there. She was carrying a small jar with a number of small, round brown mushrooms in it.

"Maybe it would be a good idea to start this somewhere else," Kaidan said, feeling his resolve cracking. "Just so I can get used to it first."

"Normally I would agree with you," Karin said as she carefully removed one of the mushrooms from the jar. "But I believe time is of the essence."

Liara looked up at EDI and the AI sat down to explain the situation while Karin prepared the mushroom. She placed it inside a second jar and using a small pin quickly pricked the surface and put the lid on. The mushroom burst on contact and sent small cloud of yellowish spoors into the air, most of which were trapped in the jar.

The small amount that escaped was too minimal to have any effect and Karin simple waved them away. She handed the jar to Kaidan and repeated the process with a second mushroom.

"When Catherine and Joker first ingested these, they exploded nearly fifteen mushrooms. By using only one, it should reduce the hallucinogenic side effects, but maintain the same synthetic boost. I'll start with Catherine," she said. "Once Catherine has breathed the spoors, do not wait too long before you do the same. Be prepared to feel over stimulated and light headed. Just as Joker did you will likely want to remove your clothing."

Kaidan almost felt like laughing as he listened to the doctor speak so calmly and professionally about the effect the drug would have on him. The whole situation seemed suddenly comical.

"Are you sure you want me here, Kaidan?" Liara asked. "This sounds like it will be a very personal experience."

Kaidan nodded, fearing that he would laugh if he tried to speak. Taking the jar with him, he kicked off his boots, stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt and climbed onto the bed, watching as EDI lifted Catherine's head so Karin could hold the jar under her nose.

She gave the jar a quick shake and the spoors danced inside, swirling and bouncing off the glass walls. When she opened the lid beneath Catherine's nose they seemed to flow out all on their own and into her nasal passage.

Catherine shook her head slightly and tried to turn away but EDI held her head in place until all the spoors were gone from the jar.

"Whenever you are ready, Kaidan," Karin told him.

Seeming the nervousness on his face EDI said, "I am unaffected by the cold. I will stay outside the cabin in case you need me for any reason. Kaidan, I do believe that this will work."

Kaidan believed that she believed it and he latched on to that, knowing that his state of mind would be important during this. He had to go into this with hope and confidence or he would be doomed from the start.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. As the door closed behind EDI and the doctor he cracked open the lid of the jar and breathed in.