[Author's Note: More reviews, please? I've posted several chapters now and not had any feedback. I do write this mainly for my own personal kicks but I get nice warm fuzzy feels when I hear if someone has enjoyed my writing. So, I would like to hear from you all. If there's anything you feel I could improve on, if there's anything you've enjoyed, please take the time to let me know. It really matters to me, and it will help influence where we take the story in the future. Thanks guys & girlies! - E.B.]

Anderson

It felt strange to be aboard the Normandy SR-2 again, and even stranger to watch Shepard feeding the small child she and Vakarian were adopting. They sat on the sofa in the Captain's cabin as the turian chattered away about how amazing and unexpected it was to be a father, and how different human children were from their turian counterparts.

"Her eyes are blue, now, but such an unusual shade! Shepard said most human newborns have blue eyes, but often the colour changes as they mature. Isn't that fascinating?" He frothed with the enthusiasm of a new father.

Shepard looked up from the (now sleeping) baby in her arms, a contented smile on her face. "Would you like to hold her? I had a few things to go over with you, and I need to grab the datapads from my desk." She offered by way of explanation deftly transferring the small child over to him. The baby's shallow breaths made her chest rise and fall delicately, as a tiny hand reached out and grabbed a handful of his shirt. Anderson stared at the little form in his arms. When Shepard returned, carrying a large pile of datapads, she plonked them on the table and took little Juno from him, placing her in the middle of the large bed for the time being.

"We've got a preliminary list of potential candidates for the new police force for you, sir." She declared, transitioning into work mode seamlessly and handing a datapad over.
"I know I told you these candidates would be assigned to police the council's new base of operations, but that wasn't strictly true. The council was just working out details before we told you. I'm sorry, I hate lying to you, Shepard, but you know politicians... The other members of the council moved to keep everything highly classified until they'd made their minds up for sure." Anderson sighed. "You'll be tasked with developing these new candidates into Spectres and Spectre Liaison Officers. The council knew things needed to change after Saren, but having dealt with the reaper threat, we can finally attempt a complete overhaul of the system. There'll be potential for all of them to be made full Spectres eventually, but there's going to be more of a command structure within the Spectres anyway. And, Shepard, you're going to be at the head of that. Congratulations."
The woman's face went pale. "What? What about the other Spectres? You can't put me in charge of them. They won't have it. And that," she whispered. "is one clusterfuck that I have no interest in."
Anderson shook his head. " Shepard, you are the only Spectre we have. The rest have been wiped out over the course of the reaper invasion. Spectres have traditionally worked alone, and that pretty much guaranteed their demise. You were the only one with enough good sense to acquire a team and stick with them."
"So... I'll essentially be doing what?" She took a deep, calming breath and her features smoothed into her serene 'work-face' once more.
"You've repeatedly proved yourself and your team trustworthy to the council. You will be working with us, delegating missions to the Spectres you believe are most appropriate for the mission. Spectres will be required to work in teams of at least 3, so you'll also be figuring out who works well together. In order to do this, you'll have to set up your own colony somewhere, a garden world out in the Attican Traverse would be a sensible idea."
"Wow. That is quite an overhaul. What about Horizon? After the damage Cerberus and the Collectors did there, I'm guessing it'll be off the radar to most people for a while now."
"Not a bad idea, Shepard. And it means that little lady," he looked over to the bed where the baby still slept soundly. "Can grow up on a planet, not in space. Now, to the real reason I'm here. I've brought the paperwork for Juno's adoption with me. Unfortunately, you'll have to fill out 3 sets of paperwork. One for her human citizenship, another for her turian citizenship and the final adoption papers from the council, since it's under council authority that she's being placed with you."

Shepard made a noise that could only be described as a squeal of delight as she took the forms from Anderson, reading them carefully before filling in spaces and leaving her signature and fingerprint in the appropriate spaces, and passing them on to Garrus. She walked over to the bed and picked the child up, gently stroking her little head. "Welcome to the family, Juno Shepard-Vakarian." She whispered.

Shepard

After Anderson had left, Juno had wanted to be fed, and changed, now she was sleeping soundly again in the makeshift cot they had fashioned out of several blankets and a drawer. Garrus snuck off to parts of the ship unknown, so she was left with a few rare and blessed moments of peace. Such moments had been rare before Juno's arrival on the ship, but since then, Shepard learned to make every moment count. She climbed in bed and hoped for a few uninterrupted hours of sleep.

Next thing she heard was the hiss of the doors opening as Garrus returned, a tray full of dextro and levo food in his arms. He set them down on the coffee table and perched on the bed next to her, stroking her hair delicately. "Hello beautiful," he whispered, as not to wake the baby. "Thought you might be hungry, so I made supper for us. Levo cooking is more difficult than I anticipated I have no idea what 'chicken noodle soup' is supposed to taste like, so I hope you like my attempt. Seems pretty good to me." He managed a chuckle and a grin, and in that moment Shepard was even more grateful for the anti-allergen implants Mordin had devised for them to allow the couple to indulge in the more subtle nuances of a long-term relationship, as well as other benefits such as sharing meals without worrying about anaphylactic shock. Of course if Shepard ate a dextro meal, or Garrus ate levo, they would have to eat again later anyway since their bodies couldn't process nutrients from the food properly, but at least they got to share the communal aspect of eating, and they enjoyed learning about the food from each others cultures. They could always munch a nutrient bar or two later, anyway.

She climbed out of bed, and they ate their meals in almost silence, occasionally looking up and grinning at one another. They were both unbelievably happy, but neither wanted to make a lot of noise for fear of waking Juno and losing the few minutes of peace and quiet they were likely to get together all day. They'd quickly learned the value of being able to eat food while it was hot without interruption. Almost every time they sat down to eat, Juno would inevitably stir and cry, demanding attention, food, or a clean bottom.

After they both finished, Shepard took her fiancé's hand, pulling him up and gesturing to the bathroom. Just as they closed the door behind them, Garrus pressed her into a wall.
"So, why are we in here?" He murmured into her neck, lifting her t-shirt and tracing a talon up her spine, making her gasp and arch into him.
"A little," She stopped as he kissed her shoulder, her mind voiding of all thought for a few seconds, "alone time." Shepard reached down to find Garrus hard and ready for her. Knowing their pleasure would have to be rushed, she undid his trousers, letting them drop to the floor before removing her own. Her skilled fingers began kneading the sensitive spot beneath his fringe. Garrus shuddered, before grabbing his mate's wrists and pinning them above her head, kissing her deeply and nipping softly at her tongue with his predator-sharp teeth.

Just then, Juno woke and began crying.

Shepard broke the kiss. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she drew away from Garrus and dressed so she could find out what their little miracle needed this time.

Garrus growled to himself lightly, resting his hands against the wall as he tried to calm his own desires. After a moment, he began to re-dress himself. "Children, who'd have them?" he sighed, as made his own way back into the bedroom to help.