a/n: It's all clear now people. For those of you that didn't read the last chapter Rae and Charles became very close. Now onto the story. I've decided to skip forward a couple years. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them.
-brittsis
Rae was stationed on ship after ship assigned to the ground team. She'd been sent after pirates that were targeting civilian transport ships. It was getting worse and worse as the years went on and everyone was waiting for the boiling point. Rumor was that the Batarians were behind the attack but without concrete proof humanity couldn't plead for the Council's interference. The Alliance had no choice but to assign armed guards to the supply and transport shuttles. There had been more than a few attacks and the casualty list continued to rise.
"God damn pirates." Second Lieutenant Marshal curse besides her as he removed his helmet and threw it into his locker. They had just returned back to the ship after pushing a large wave off a remote colonies shipping port. They luckily avoided loses but it had been tough work.
Rae placed her own helmet in her locked and began to unseal her armor. "We start leave in the morning Marshall. Two weeks of R and R."
"Or two weeks of drinking and getting into fights in his case." The third part of their squad, Chief Quinn, chuckled besides them as she cleaned her rifle.
Marshall flipped her off. "It's better than those nature walks you gone on. How boring!"
They traded insults back and forth and Rae shook her head, stepping between them. "Knock it off soldiers. We each have our way of unwinding."
"What about you Lieutenant? Going back to Florida for you booty call with that hot Operations Chief?" Quinn chuckled then grinned as Rae shot her a glare.
It was an agreement that her and Charles had agreed upon. They kept in contact through the extranet all year but once a week for their two week leave they used his parent's place in Florida for a reunion. It had worked over the last couple of years until now. With the increase in pirate activity, Charles's leave had been denied in favor of his Major's leave. He'd been left in charge of his colony with strict instructions to not leave planet side.
"No," Rae finished putting her gear away and grabbed her shower kit. "FYI, I'm going to Elysium."
"Still getting that booty call though." Marshall ducked the punch Rae threw and laughed. "Oh come on Lieutenant we're happy for you. You've been really tense and could do with a good…. Massage." He finished at Rae's look, a smile on his lips.
"He means fuck ma'am." Quinn clarified and fled the room as Rae dove for the girl. Rae knew they were only teasing her but she needed to keep her squad in line.
"You're only laughing because you're jealous!" Rae yelled after the woman.
Rae spared a glance at the high walls that the base supported, a defense that her colony lacked. With enough warning the Marines could get the colonists inside and shut the gates to intruders. According to the paperwork, Elysium also supported several satellites that circled the orbit searching for unauthorized intruders. All of which were upgrades made after Mindoir had been attacked. Elysium was the pilot colony for the project, testing out the theories on how humanity could protect themselves. Rae was one of the many Marines that supported the project and called for more protection.
After gaining access to the base, Rae made her way to central command and requested to see Charles. A young blonde fresh out of boot explained that Operations Chief Freeman wanted no visitors and that he was very busy. Leaning against the woman's desk, Rae smiled sweetly and spoke in an even tone. "Private, the Chief and I go way back. He will want to see me. Now get on your phone and tell him that First Lieutenant Shepard is here to see him."
"I'm sorry ma'am but he strictly ordered me to not interrupt him." The woman squirmed in her seat.
Rae growled softly, "And I'm ordering you to interrupt him. Or are you going to disobey a direct order from a superior?"
The woman shook her head quickly. "No Ma'am."
"Good. Now pick up the phone." Rae straightened and smiled at her, trying to ease the woman's fear. She walked to the other side of the office and looked out the window.
"You can go in Ma'am." The private called out and saluted to her. Rae returned the salute before opening the office door and going inside. She was pinned to the door instantly, Charles's lips hot on hers. She grinned against his lips and grabbed the collar of his uniform to pull him closer.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing here Rae?" His breath was hot against her neck as his lips traveled against her skin.
"Harassing your secretary." Rae chuckled. "The poor girl just about feinted in fear."
"She's Navy." He pulled back from her and smiled, fingers caressing her cheek. "God Rae, it's been too long. I want you, now."
"I thought you were busy."
He growled and released her. Walking behind his desk he picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Private, I'm taking my lunch in the office. No calls, no visitors." He paused a moment. "No, I have my lunch here. In fact, you take lunch break as well. Thirty minutes, lock the door behind you."
He hung up the phone and grinned at Rae as he pulled his uniform jacket off. "There I'm officially on lunch."
Rae hummed as she circled around the desk. Pushing him into his chair before straddling him.
An alarm sounded and Rae rolled out of bed, her hand reaching for the pistol she kept under her bunk. It wasn't until her bare feet hit carpet instead of cold metal that she realized it wasn't the ship's alarm being sounded. Instead it was Charles's Omni-tool ringing on his wrist. The man chuckled and hit the snooze, eyes raking over her naked form.
"Now that was amusing." He sat up and reached out to her.
Rae glared at him and reached for her complimentary house coat. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand to find it was only oh five hundred. The two had been up all night getting reacquainted with each other finally collapsing in exhaustion about oh two hundred. "Laugh it up buddy." She growled at him and headed for the small kitchenette to start some coffee. Now that she was awake there was no hope for sleep.
He rolled out of bed and pulled his boxers on before following behind her. He circled his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. "Sorry, I forgot the thing was on. We can go back to bed. I can take a day off as long as I remain on call."
Rae hummed as she set the automated chef to make some coffee. "To late, already awake."
"I didn't say anything about sleep." Charles chuckled and turned her around, kissing her.
Rae pulled from his arms and rolled her eyes. "You insatiable. Down boy, I will drop you if you come closer." She warned him when he advanced with a smile on his face. "I'm serious Charles. I want coffee, breakfast, and a shower."
"Fine then." He pouted and returned to the bedroom area. Picking his uniform pants up, he buckled them on. "Raegan, where do you see us in five years?"
Rae raised a brow and poured herself her first cup of coffee. She grimaced at the acid taste, making a mental note to pick up beans at the market. "What brought this on?"
He sat on the edge of the bed and shrugged. "I don't know. I guess my reenlistment is coming up and I have an option to get out."
"What do you want?" She asked and poured him a cup, bringing it to him and sitting beside him.
"A family." He spoke softly, sensing the panic flooding Rae. "I want kids Rae. I want to raise them planet side on Earth, not moving ship to ship or base to base. I think I'm ready to settle down." He looked at her, took her hand with his, and caressed it with his lips. "Raegan I love you. I want to settle down with you, raise our kids together."
"Are you asking what I think you are?"
He smiled at her, "I don't have a ring but yes. Will you marry me?:
Raegan pulled her hand away and rose from the bed. She retreated to the other side of the room, hugging herself tight. She'd been avoiding commitment all her life, she recognized that now. Even with Bodie she hadn't seen herself married with kids. "Charles I…"
His face fell and he retrieved his clothing. "Still running Raegan? Even after all these years you can't admit you care for me?"
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head and put his shoes on. "I've been stationed pretty much on the war front these last four years and nothing has happened to me." He cursed and threw his uniform jacket on. He paused at the door, looking over his shoulder. "Think about it Raegan. I can't wait around forever."
Rae flinched when the door slammed.
Rae had been in the grocer when the young Private from Charles's office found her. The woman had only explained that her presence was needed on base and then was bundled into a sky car. The Private then escorted her to a different building and let her into a room. Charles and several other soldier all circle a small model of the planet with ten red dots circling orbit. Moving closer, Rae frowned when the soldier's saluted her.
"Thanks for coming Lieutenant." Charles touched the interface and pulled up a video feed. It showed several ships arriving through the relay then the video went to static. He replayed it and enlarged the still video of the lead ship. "Do you know the make of this ship?"
She walked closer and examined the screen before she nodded. "Call all the civilians in now."
"What is it?" One of the other soldier asked as others hurried through the room, making calls.
"It's the pirates, a large force of it." Rae spoke coldly, her eyes never leaving the screen. "Get your civilians behind the defenses and shut everything down. Send out the distress call."
Charles cursed and issued his orders. Rae turned to him, "How many men do you have stationed here?"
"At full strength we're at a hundred. But we've been quiet so the brass has been moving people and other's are on leave off planet."
"You didn't answer me Chief. How many soldiers do we have?"
Charles frowned, "About sixty, but only twenty of those are combat ready."
Rae's eyes went back to the screen. It was happening again. This time she had fore warning, but the Batarians were coming back to haunt her. "I'm going to need some gear."
Rae moved through the colony, checking every building for stragglers. She'd already sent more than a few to the base but they were out of time. The ships have been spotting in orbit hours ago and the shuttles were circling the out skirts of the colony.
"Shepard come in!" Her coms came alive in her helmet but she ignored it as she stopped her search long enough to bury a mine. "God damn it Rae, what is your position?"
"Close the gate Freeman, I'll be fine." Rae spoke over the coms and carefully removed the safety pin.
"Like hell you will. Report back to base."
"I'm the superior here Freeman." Rae growled and ran went into the next building, calling to see if anyone was there. "Now close the fucking gate and gear up. That's an order."
She could hear him cursing on the other end before issuing the order. She could picture the large metal doors swinging closed and locking in place by large bolts. Rae left the building to find a scouting group heading down the street kicking doors in. She unshipped her assault rifle and raised the sight as she sunk to one knee. Her barrier flashed blue over her armor just as she squeezed the trigger and killed the first bastard. She swung her rifle around and down the second as he came from the building. The last two walked out at the same time. Rae killed the first and then lifted the last with her biotics.
"What are you here for?" Rae demanded as she approached him. When he didn't answer she rammed the butt of her rifle into his gut.
"We're your doom Human." The Batarian laughed and Rae lifted her rifle. She fired a couple shots into his gut. Rae looked to the edge of the colony before heading back to the base. There was nothing left to do but buckle down and wait for reinforcements.