Present: 217 Years Post War

The private beach was nearly a mile long, flanked by two short peninsulas that formed a small bay. It was spring on Virmire, and flocks of colorful birds- a dozen different species- clustered along the low cliffs and wheeled over the azure waters.

Irie held Liara's hand as they walked along the sand, watching the birds as they dipped and swirled and squabbled and nested along the rocks.

"Do you remember when Mel climbed the cliffs on the south side, that one summer we came back to visit? Bába was so upset with her."

Liara nodded slightly. "She was determined to raid one of the nests, take a hatchling and raise it herself. She was always so fearless. She didn't care about the wet rocks or the undertow or even the angry flock. She was going to get one of those hatchlings."

"Then her foot got caught in the rocks and she was too stubborn to call for help until she was stuck there for over an hour, birds dive-bombing her the whole time. I do not think I have ever seen Bába so incredibly furious."

Liara nodded, looking sadly at the swirling waves. "She was not furious, not really. She was very frightened, Irie."

"Yes, I suppose she was."

"She did not want you two to see, but when we got back to the house that afternoon- Mel safe and sound- Del sat on our bed and just…she just shook. The idea of losing either of you…"

At Liara's pause, Irie looked at her, unsurprised to see her mother struggling with tears. Hugging her tightly, she fought to keep her own from falling.

"I cannot lose her, Irie," Liara sobbed. "What am I going to do?"

"You are not alone, Mama," Irie said softly. "You are not alone."

Past: Nine Months Post War

"Captain Shepard! We know that you are in there! Surrender yourself now and you will not be harmed!"

Del lowered her hands from her collar, stepping back from the mirror with a frown of confusion. Beside her, Nancy jumped at the sudden, booming voice that sent a faint tremble through the entire house.

"My goodness!"

Shaking her head, Del walked out of the bedroom, padding barefoot down the hall toward the living room as Liara emerged from the nearby bathroom.

"Was that-"

"Captain Shepard! This is your final warning! If you do not come out with your hands held high, we will be forced to open fire!"

"Oh for fuck's sake."

Del reached the front door, and stepped out on the porch.

The soft emerald grass flattened under directed blasts of air, strong enough to send her hair whipping about. Striding down the steps, she paused and looked up at the nose of the hovering frigate and its menacing MHD.

Jabbing her hand up in the air, she extended her middle finger with a smirk.

Joker's laugh echoed over the loudspeaker as he pulled the Normandy back, swinging her around to land on the cliff top several meters from the house. As she settled down, Liara stepped over next to Del and shook her head.

"Leave it to Jeff-"

"Inside," Nan interrupted, taking hold of the asari carefully and tugging her toward the house. "Del is not supposed to see you before-"

"We're already married Nan," Shepard said. Nan ignored her, Liara giving Del an exasperated look before vanishing inside with the older woman.

Still barefoot, Shepard strode across the grass toward the frigate as the engines powered down, the cargo doors opening. Tali and Ashley were the first to disembark, the quarian breaking into a run and all but tackling the human woman.

"Jie Jie!"

Holding her tight, Del spun her in a circle before setting her down. "It's good to see you too, Mei Mei. I'm so glad you were able to come."

"I missed the first one," Tali said. "No force in the galaxy, not even the Admiralty Board, was going to keep me away this time."

Ashley was there a moment later, striding in to hug Del the moment Tali released her. "Hey, Skipper. Good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Ash," she said, then gave her a sardonic look. "'Come out or we'll open fire?' Really?"

"Hey, that was Joker's idea. I told him it was on him if he wanted to risk the Wrath of Shepard."

"I'll make sure he knows my 'gratitude' very -…Jesus fuck, does he have what I think he has?"

Her eyes had fallen on Wrex, Grunt, and Eve, who were heading their way. In Grunt's arms was a large and squirming bundle.

"Yeah," Ashley said with a wince. "I'm afraid so."

"Battlemaster!" Grunt's smile was wide, if not a bit intimidating thanks to his new scars. As he reached Del's side, he unceremoniously dumped the bundle into her arms. "In honor of your Day of Mating!"

Del struggled to hold on to the squirming and kicking thing in her arms. "G-Grunt! This is a varren!"

"From the finest pack on all of Tuchanka," Wrex told her, slapping her arm firmly and nearly making her dump the wiggling beast. He seemed nearly as happy about it as Grunt.

"Wrex read that humans often gave canine pets as gifts," Eve said.

"A varren is not the same thing as a puppy!" Shepard replied.

"What's the difference?"

"Well, for one…when it's grown a puppy wouldn't be big enough to swallow my infant daughter whole!"

"Ha!" Wrex seemed to think this was some kind of a joke. "She'll be a Shepard! She'll be able to handle a varren."

"She'll be an infant, Wrex-"

"Where's the food, I'm starving!" The two krogan males headed toward the house, Eve following along.

Looking at Shepard, Ashley smirked. "Well, I think it's cute-"

"Good!" Del thrust the varren cub into Ashley's arms. "Then you keep him!"

The reunion with her friends was bittersweet. While Del knew from the start that she could never fully part herself from the Alliance, she had expected to last at least a little longer than just nine months. Seeing the familiar ship, the familiar faces, however, filled her with a longing she didn't expect.

Nearly everyone was there. Ashley, it seemed, had crossed the galaxy, picking up not only Tali and the krogan, but everyone else that she could that had ever served on the Normandy or fought at Del's side. The only real notable exceptions were Riot, Javik, and Private Westmoreland, who had been reassigned to the squad of ships that continued to search for any stray Reapers.

Ashley and the Normandy had been engaged in the same activity for the last nine months, but part of the perks of being a Spectre was being able to break from an assignment long enough to attend your former commanding officer's wedding.

Though Del and Liara had been officially bonded in the CIC, the ceremony had been rushed, the occasion spur of the moment and missing many important friends. They had discussed the matter during Shepard's rehabilitation after V-Day, and both had agreed that a second ceremony needed to be done. As the first had followed asari tradition, Liara was insistent that this one would follow human customs. Del had told her it didn't matter but Liara was bent to the task, consulting with Nan as to which finer points of the wedding ceremony to adhere to, and which to disregard.

It would be on the beach, that seemed a given. Even before the arrival of the Normandy, a covered pavilion had been set up down on the shore, well above the high-tide line. While the caterers had all been vetted by the Alliance, Liara insisted she would arrange the music and would not discuss it at all with Del. Shepard trusted her, but she knew with something this big, there was always the chance of word slipping to the media. If a single reporter found out where they were and what was going on, they'd be swarmed.

One sight that Del had been surprised to spot coming off the Normandy was that of two geth. Neither platform was familiar, the first the size and general shape of a trooper but somehow more streamlined. The second was a Prime.

"Shepard, I want to introduce you," Tali said, leading Del over to the patiently waiting geth. "This is Chiktikka. She was assigned to my suit systems to help adapt my immune systems. She helped me to save the Neema during the Battle."

"Good to meet you," Del said, unhesitant in offering her hand. "But…she? I thought the geth preferred genderless descriptives."

"In our experience with organics," Chiktikka said, "we found ourselves most identifying with what organics refer to as the feminine. We decided to adapt such a pronoun, though many of our people have chosen the masculine, or preferred to remain gender-neutral. It is our belief that the females of most organic species possess the higher cognitive power and greater physical tolerances in relations to pain and adaptivity-"

"Where have I heard that before," Garrus remarked with amusement from nearby, shaking his head. "Only months into a treaty with organics and bearing no reproductive organs, they've already developed gender-wars."

Shepard smirked and cast him a look, then nodded to the Prime. "And this?"

"This platform doesn't have a separate identity," Tali said. "Right now it is being remotely controlled by Chiktikka. It…well, it is my wedding present to you."

Del stared at her in confusion. "You're giving me a geth Prime?"

Tali giggled. "Not exactly. Here, let me show you what I'm planning."

They walked up the ramp and into the cargo bay. As Del stepped onto the ship, she couldn't help but feel that nostalgia start again. Heading into the fray, landing on remote or unexpected worlds- never knowing what was going to happen next. Feeling the hum of a ship's drive under your bunk, the faint surge as it hit FTL speeds…

Then she remembered Liara and their unborn daughter, not to mention the months of recuperation she'd endured, and suddenly her nostalgia waned. Yes, she'd return to the Alliance someday…but that day wasn't any time soon.

Tali lead her over to the weapon's lockers. Lying beside them was a geth pod, very similar to the ones they'd found on Rannoch. Tali stroked a hand over it.

"I remembered that your implants allowed you to enter the geth Consensus," she said. "And after you were injured I started thinking. While you never really left your body, it was relegated to the control of your primitive brain, allowing your higher functions to focus on the task at hand."

"I remember," Del said with a nod.

"Given your resistance to sedation, I thought it might be feasible to utilize the same procedure to allow you to have your eye fixed. With this pod, you could enter the Prime platform, your higher functions taking control of it and allowing Dr. Chakwas to operate without your feeling every cut."

Shepard stared at her. "Would that work? Did you talk this over with Helen?"

"She did," Chakwas said, walking over from the lift. Unlike the others, she had a pair of packed bags with her. She'd be staying on at Beaty colony nearby, doing some volunteer work for the next few months and leaving a temporary doctor on the Normandy. She and the parents-to-be both wanted her to be on hand for the birth of Liara's baby.

"I've gone over all the physiological details with Tali and Chiktikka," she said, setting the bags down nearby. "And there is a very high likelihood that it will work. You might remain very distantly aware of what's happening with your body but it would be at the back of your mind, like a dream…much preferable to suffering such a surgery fully conscious, or remaining half-blind the rest of your life. And if it works for your eye, there's no reason to suspect it won't work for any other injuries you will inevitably receive."

Del couldn't help the smile. "Hey, I'm retired now, remember?"

"Yes, 'retired'…and I'm a vorcha. We both know that you won't stay retired for long. You'd wither up and fall apart if they tried to keep you out of uniform."

"So, do you like it?" Tali asked, wringing her hands self-consciously. "I mean, it's worth a try, right?"

"Yes, it is," Shepard said, and hugged her quarian 'little sister' again. "I love it, Tali. Thank you. C'mon. Let's get up to the house. I need to finish getting ready and there is nearly a metric ton of food and booze that won't eat itself."

As preparations continued down on the beach, Del pointed Tali and Helen that way and hurried back toward the house. Liara, already dressed in a simple gown only slightly more formal than the one she'd worn on the Normandy, ambushed Del as she entered the main bedroom.

"Hey, I thought I wasn't supposed to see you before the wedding," Del said, winding her arm around Liara's expanding waist and holding her close. "You look absolutely stunning, Li."

"Yes, well, I discussed things with Nan, and declared that was a silly tradition. She did insist on the 'something old, something new, something borrowed', though I believe I convinced her I was 'blue' enough as it was."

Del laughed, kissing her cheek lightly before drawing back. "I need to finish getting ready, and change my shirt now that Grunt's 'gift' messed it up."

Noticing the wrinkles and slobber marks on the formerly nice blouse Liara lifted her brows. "What did he bring, a varren?" She joked.

Del lifted a brow and went to rummage in the closet. Liara gaped after her. "You are not serious? He actually brought a varren?"

"It's just a cub," Del said, stripping off her blouse and grimacing as she flipped through her clothes. She owned little to nothing that could be considered 'formal' or 'dress', and she didn't want to put on her retired dress blues again. "From the finest packs on Tuchanka, according to Wrex."

"Goddess, I need to have a word with both of them. We do not have the time or the resources to care for a varren, and I will not have my baby daughter eaten before she can even walk."

Finding a dark burgundy button-front blouse, Del drew it out, examined it for wrinkles, then pulled it on. "I'm not going to let anything happen to the Little Nub, Tianlán. I'm certainly not going to let her get eaten by our wedding present."

Liara gave her an amused look. "You're teasing me."

"Only a little," Del winked (with her eyepatch, unfortunately, it just looked like a blink). "How do I look?"

"You look…like the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life," Liara said softly. Del stepped close again, snaking a hand around her waist and dipping in for a kiss.

"Flatterer."

Liara seemed a bit nervous as they made their way down to the beach. The ceremony wasn't due to begin for another hour or so, as the officiator had not yet arrived. Ashley was helping Nan with a few last touches, pausing to give Liara a hug as she greeted the asari, the two whispering together a bit confidentially before Liara stepped back to Shepard's side with a smirk.

"What?" Del asked, suspicious as Liara stood in front of her, pretending to fiddle with her blouse collar. "What are you two up to?"

"Oh, nothing," Liara replied airily. "We were just discussing my wedding present to you."

"Li, you didn't have to get me a present," Del said. "We talked about this. You and the Nub are all the present I need."

"I know, but I wanted to, and it is tradition."

"You threw the whole 'no seeing the bride before the wedding' tradition out, why not this one?"

"Del," Liara smiled, cupping her face lovingly. "I wanted to. That is reason enough."

"I suppose so," Shepard said. She was hardly one to speak, as she had also gotten Liara a wedding gift, secreted away for the moment. Liara lowered her hands, her smile broadening even as it turned coy. Del frowned, her suspicion only growing as she narrowed her eyes warily. "What did you do…"

"So," a deep voice, like melting chocolate, suddenly spoke up behind Shepard, freezing her down to her toes. "This must be the happy couple."

Shepard didn't turn around. She felt a flutter in her stomach at the same time her heart seemed to restart from a momentary pause, drumming in her ears. After a breath or two, she seemed to get control of her tongue once again.

"You didn't…"

"I did," Liara replied.

Del slowly turned around.

He stood only a few feet away, battered hat cast jauntily over his forehead, his well-worn suit coat nice enough if slightly threadbare. He, too, was barefoot, his hands jammed in his pockets as if he had just been strolling along, enjoying any other day at the beach.

Del had never met him before in her life, but she would have to be dead not to recognize him instantly.

She must still have been staring, because Liara poked her lightly in the small of her back. Clearing her throat, she somehow regained control of her tongue.

"M-Mr. Flatwood, I'm sorry, I just…I wasn't expecting…"

"Hey, it's Charles," he replied, sticking out a big, calloused hand. "And the honor is all mine, Captain."

"Del. Del, please," she said, taking that hand, a grin spreading on her face. "It's…just…holy fucking cow…"

He laughed, then slipped off his hat and nodded to Liara. "Ma'am, it's very good to see you again."

"It is my pleasure, Charles. Thank you for coming."

"How could I resist? Del, I can't speak for the galaxy at large but, as just a tiny part of it…thank you, for everything that you did. You are a true hero, and to have the opportunity to be here and see you married to this beautiful gal here…I'd be a fool to stay away."

"I'm just so…so incredibly honored sir…Charles…I mean-" She shook her head, shocked that she was not only getting choked up, but downright misty. Clearing her throat she nodded. "Thank you."

He nodded. "You're very welcome. Hey, listen. I heard a nasty rumor that you strum a bit of guitar yourself. That true?"

She grinned. "Yes it is."

"Stringed right? Please tell me you don't play no damn hokey HI in place of real deal steel."

"Charles, you're a goddamn god to me, so I'll forget you even suggested I'd waste my time with an HI guitar."

He barked a laugh, clapping her shoulder. "Good girl! Well then, I'd love to play some with you later on, if you'd like. In the meantime, I see some beers chillin' over there, just callin' my name. Congratulations again, you two. We're gonna make this one hell of a party."

As he wandered off toward the group gathered near the coolers, Del stared after him, then turned her wide grin on Liara.

"I take it you like the gift," Liara said with a smile.

Del hugged her tight, lifting her right off her feet.

Admiral Hackett arrived half an hour later, and just before evening, Del and Liara stood barefoot in the sand, holding each other's hands with their family and friends gathered around. As they repeated their vows, the sea behind them turned pink and red and gold, the sky blazing with sunset.

Liara hadn't arranged for just Flatwood to be there, of course. His entire band set up in the pavilion, and after the ceremony had concluded, they played the first song for the couple to dance to…Blind Hope, naturally.

Del held tight to Liara, everything fading but the two of them, the music, and the soothing rhythm of the waves. Everything that Shepard had never dared hope for was right here with her. As the song ended, she smiled and said, "Irie."

"What?" Liara asked softly, smiling faintly. "Is that Chinese? What does it mean?"

"It's not Chinese," Shepard said. "It means…peace. Harmony. That feeling that you get when the stars align and for a moment, everything is just…perfect."

"That is a beautiful word," Liara whispered, brushing a hand over Del's scarred cheek, neither wanting to step back away from each other's warmth, even though the song had ended. Desert Dreams started up, other couples now moving out onto the sand to dance, barely noticed. "Irie…"

"That's what you are to me, Tianlán," Shepard said. "You and the Little Nub. You are my peace, everything perfect I never dreamed that I would have."

Liara colored a little, before she felt Del's hand gently stroke over her stomach. Looking down, she rested her own hand over it, both of them feeling the happy, dancing, colorful spirit of the child growing within. When Liara looked back up, her gaze was questioning, a request without words. Del smiled and nodded her consent.

"My Sky Blue," she said softly. "And my little Irie…"