Jarred's eyes peered through the scope, almost squinting. His target was 500 meters away, that even his brand new scope was no match to see it. He lined up the cross-hairs and squinted again, as James, Garrus, Tristan and Jane watched behind him.

"Take your time, son." Garrus said as he watched Jarred aim on his sniper rifle. "This isn't a time-based exam. The purpose of this is to test your range. Take your time, aim, and breathe out."

Jarred shifted a bit, so that he was more comfortable, and aimed the cross-hairs of his scope again. A balloon attached to a floating mechanism on the ocean before him looked like a very, very small target. But he simply took a deep breath in, aimed, and breathed out, squeezing the trigger.

James, who had been looking at the target with binoculars, let out a whoop. "Yeah! Headshot, baby!"

Jarred's mandible flared in happiness as he stood, pulling himself up with his father's assistance as the turian hugged him and thumped his back. "Well done, Jarred! That's my boy!"

"That's our boy, you mean." Jane said as she kissed his son's mandibled cheek, "Two arms specialist as parents ought to bring out the same genes in him."

James lowered his binoculars and pressed something on his data pad, "And… there! It's official. The two of you have passed your Military Skills Review and Test. You'll be happy to know that since you've passed the tests in flying colors, both of you have stepped up in ranks." He held out his hand and shook Tristan's hand first. "Congratulations… Captain Tristan Alenko of the Normandy."

Tristan grinned and saluted James, "Thank you, Instructor Vega."

James nodded, and shook hands with Jarred, as Garrus and Shepard stood behind him. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander Jarred Vancair."

Jarred nodded back and saluted as well, before lowering his hand and embracing James, "Thank you, Instructor Vega."

James patted Jarred at the back, and nodded to Jane and Garrus. "I say it's time for a fiesta! What do you say, Lola? Scars?

But before the couple could answer, the Normandy started hovering over them, before landing in an open area by the beach. The five of them ran over to the ship, just as a man in jeans and a white shirt came out from the cargo, limping a little bit. He had an SR-2 cap on his head, hiding the graying brown hairs on his head, and as he raised his gray eyes, he smirked as he leaned on EDI's mobile platform, who smiled at them, gleaming silver in the tropical sun. "Permission to come aboard your island, Commander Shepard?"

"J… Joker?!" Jane exclaimed, before coming forward. Several more people piled out, and the couple gasped at the sight.

Behind Joker and EDI were some her old SR-2 Crew, as well as Thanikah, Amira and Nicholas. Kaidan Alenko stepped out and grasped Jane's hand, "Actually, I was waiting for James to give me the password. We were just floating on orbit, waiting for him to make the confirmation that these two increased in rank."

"The password being 'fiesta', of course." Tali stepped out and hugged both Garrus and Jane in a bear hug. "We had to keep Victus, Kirrahe and Mordin in the dark, so we made it look like we were on official business, but with all the Council stuff we're doing, I was in desperate need for a vacation."

Grunt, Wrex and Liara stepped out, and the asari hugged Jane, while the two krogans patted Garrus in the back. "I'm never too old for celebrations." Wrex said, laughing, "Besides, with my son running things so well, I ought to get more vacation time now."

Samara and Jack came forward and hugged Jane and Garrus as well, "I knew you guys were still alive!" Jack explained as she separated herself from Jane, "Tough little fuckers like you shouldn't die so easily."

"It is good to see you again, Shep… I mean, Jane." Samara said, smiling at the two of them. "The moment I saw Jarred, I knew he was your offspring. And hope rose within me to see you both again. I am happy to see you alive and well."

Jane's eyes widened at the sight of them all, "Wha… what are you all doing here?!"

Kaidan shrugged as he put his arm around his son, "Celebrating, of course. My son is Captain, your son is an LC, Amira has finished her Pilgrimage, and the Biotic Relays are done. I just thought it would be a good time to take a break from work… for everyone."

Jarred and Tristan turned to Amira, who was coming down from the cargo hold bringing a box of what looked like dextro-amino food, "You finished your Pilgrimage?"

Amira nodded before standing beside her mother, who lovingly put an arm around her, "Yes. The Shroud technology wasn't actually recorded by the Flotilla, and after Jarred sent the data to the Citadel, I forwarded it home. It was enough for them to consider me an adult now."

Wrex and Grunt boarded the ship again and started pulling out boxes of food, and Thanikah, Edison and Nicholas stepped out holding boxes as well. They lowered their cargo before they grasped Tristan and Jarred's hands. "Biotic Relays finished. But waiting for actual day of Solar Flare before activating." Nicholas said, "Decided to take some shore time, while waiting. Congratulations on promotions."

Tristan smiled, "Thanks, Nicholas."

But Thanikah put a hand on her hip, "Even if you're a Captain now, there is still one sport I can beat you at, Tristan." She smirked, before holding up a beach volleyball.

"Ohohoho!" Tristan said, and he cracked his knuckles, "You are so ON, Thanikah!"

Tristan, Thanikah, Amira, Nicholas and Edison ran into the house, getting ready to change into some beach gear. Jarred looked around to see that Wrex, Grunt and Garrus were preparing a massive pit for a barbeque, while his mother, Tali and Liara were shifting through the boxes of food and talking recipes. Kaidan, Joker, Jack and James sat on lounge chairs, talking. But soon he realized that there was someone missing.

The sound of high heels clicking on metal made him turn, and he saw a slender, muscled woman on the cargo bay. The woman was still wearing Samara's armour, violet in color with gold accents. She was more muscled, and her figure was now more pronounced in the armor. But her face was still as beautiful as he remembered it, and when she smiled, he felt his heart flutter. He ran up the cargo hold, "Meiou!"

"Jarred…" Meiou said, almost reverently, and her eyes widened as he lifted her up in his arms and swung her into a full circle, before putting her down. He still held her in his arms, and he felt her arms around him, her other hand touching the back of his head. "I missed you…" He whispered.

Meiou's eyes widened, but her face softened to a beautiful smile, "I missed you too, Jarred."

Jarred's mandibles flared as he let her go, and he took her hand as they went down together. He stopped in front of his parents, and Meiou's face turned pink at the sight of Jane.

"Mom." Jarred said as he pushed Meiou forward, "This is Meiou Seishiro." He smiled at his mother, and winked. "The woman I'm defending."

At this, Meiou looked up at him, a little confused, and Garrus did the same with Jane. But Jane merely winked and whispered to her husband, "I'll tell you later."

Jane stepped forward and offered her hand to Meiou, who took it shyly. "It's an honor to meet you, Commander Shepard." Meiou said.

"On the Normandy, I was Commander Shepard. Here in Surin Island, though, I'm Jane." Jane said as she smiled at the girl, "Welcome, Meiou. It's an honor to meet you too."

Meiou looked confused for a bit, and she looked up at Jarred, who started pulling on her hand, "Come on! The others are changing, we're going to play beach volleyball!"

She looked bewildered as Jarred pointed her toward the house, and Jane smiled as she watched her son talk to her with such an animated smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. Garrus came forward and hugged her from behind, and nuzzled her neck, his lip plates at her ear. "Jane, is it just me, or is our Jarred in love with this Meiou?"

Jane smiled as she dragged her husband to pay attention to the guests again, "Yes. He is."