End Game – Chapter twelve

Thane woke up to the sound of knocking at the bedroom door. Tabitha mumbled into Thane's neck fringes, "Tell them to go away," using Thane's shoulder as a pillow, she snuggled closer to Thane.

Thane chuckled speaking loudly, "The door is unlocked."

Kolyat walked in carrying two mugs. Sniffing the air, he knew sexual activities had occurred, but he had heard no noises from his parent's room all night. As Kolyat approached his father's side of the bed, Thane pulled himself back up against the head rest. As he did so, Kolyat noticed the scratch marks on his father's upper back and the fresh bite mark on his shoulder.

Thane bowed his head as he took the mug of tea from his son, "Thank you, Kolyat," breathing the steam wafting from the hot brew.

Tabitha smiled as she sat up placing her back against the headrest, "Is that coffee I smell?"

Kolyat smiled broadly as he walked around to the other side of the bed handing the steaming mug of coffee to Tabitha, "Just the way you like it."

Tabitha sniffed then took a sip, sighing, "Yes, you are a godsend, Kolyat."

Laying across the foot of the bed, Kolyat asked, eye ridges raised, "I have to ask," consternation in the inflection of his voice, "I know you two are very vocal with your lovemaking. I did not hear anything come from this room all night. How did you do it?"

Thane looked over at Tabitha before turning back to his son, his face neutral, no inflection in his voice, "We slept last night, son. With my Kepral's Syndrome, I am not as vigorous as I use to be. I am glad Tabitha did not wake you up with her snoring."

Kolyat laughed as Tabitha punched Thane in the upper arm, "Me snore? Your snoring is so loud you could wake the dead."

Kolyat looked at both of them chuckling, "No disrespect, father, but you are lying."

Thane showed no emotions as he answered, "You are now a C-SEC officer. What evidence do you have to show I am lying?"

Kolyat stood up in one fluid movement like his father. Pacing at the foot of the bed, he collected his thoughts before turning to face both Thane and Tabitha counting with one hand, "First point-upon entering this room, the smell of colitis is evident. Second point-the physical evidence of the aforementioned point is on the discarded sheets beside the bed in the corner. Third point-the physical evidence of the discarded sheets is not normal behavior for Thane Krios as said Thane Krios is known for his fastidious behavior. Tabitha Shepherd-Krios is known for "organized clutter" in her own work and living areas, but aforementioned bondmate and husband, Thane Krios, does not allow disorganization in his view. Fourth point-physical evidence of sexual activities from the fresh bite mark on Thane Krios' shoulder/neck area and scratch marks on said back. Fifth point-physical evidence of Drell neural toxins present in Tabitha Shepherd-Krios' system from diluted pupils. Said Drell neural toxins are transferred through physical contact with Drell scales, blood, saliva, and semen. Tabitha Shepherd-Krios also has fresh bite marks along with bruising not associated with combat."

Tabitha glanced over at Thane smiling, "You got us. We're busted." Mischievous glint in her eyes, she asked, "You got us on the sexual activities. Does the evidence you have show the number of times Thane and I engaged in sexual activities? Do you have any hypothesis in the manner in which the vocalizations were suppressed?

Tabitha placed her coffee cup on the floor next to the bed before leaning into Thane relishing the scent of him and the feel of his scales against her skin. He lifted his arm so she could cuddle up against him drinking his tea. Kolyat smiled to himself as he memorized what was going on around him. The memories he experienced yesterday and today were ones which would keep him sane in a world going insane around him. He did not know how long he would have his father with terminal Kepral's Syndrome or Tabitha fighting both the Reapers and Cerberus.

He slowly walked around the room observing and categorizing everything he saw, smelled, tasted, and felt. Walking to the side of the bed, "Tabitha, please sit up," Kolyat asked in a firm but gentle tone.

Tabitha complied sitting up keeping the sheet at waist level. Kolyat moved the silk shirt off her shoulder gently with one hand looking at the bite and fang marks. Moving his hand, he felt her hair for a moment before speaking, "Mom, please look at my hand."

Tabitha looked at the fingers of the hand placed in front of her. "Follow my hand with your eyes, but do not turn your head." As Kolyat moved his hand, Tabitha followed it with her eyes. "Thank you," Kolyat spoke to Tabitha turning toward Thane, "Father, please sit up for me."

Thane sat up as Kolyat moved to the other side of the bed looking closely at his father, "Dad, can I feel your forehead? You appear flushed." Thane nodded his head, "yes," so Kolyat placed his right hand up against his father's forehead then looked closely into his eyes. Concern showed in his features and in the tone of his voice, "Your eyes appear feverish and your forehead is hot." Kolyat moved his hand to touch the scales around the bite mark on his shoulder/neck area, "Your scales are wet with a tacky substance. Are you unwell, dad?"

Affection showed in Thane's eyes as he took Kolyat's hand in one of his. Kolyat could feel the unnatural heat radiating from his father's hand as Thane replied smiling, his eyes glistening, "I feel wonderful…better than I have in a long time, son."

Kolyat finished his examination of his father by looking at the scratch marks on his back then walked over to the private master bathroom opening the door and entering. As soon as he entered, his acute sense of smell detected a sweet smell lingering in the air. Smiling, he knew he father was not ill. "How?" He thought to himself, "I know my father is in the final stages of Kepral's Syndrome. It is hard to believe he could claim Tabitha as his own once but…" He shook his head slowly. The physical evidence did not lie. His parents had engaged in sexual activities several times with the final time being a complete reproductive mating.

Both Tabitha and Thane saw the look of total bewilderment on Kolyat's face as he came out of the bathroom walking to the foot of the bed sitting down in a lotus position facing both of his parents, "Father, I do not know how you did it, but you made love to mother not once but three times. The first time was yesterday morning in the main bathroom when you claimed her placing your scent on her. The second time was sometime last night or early morning on this bed. The lovemaking was so vigorous, it required new sheets to be placed on the bed. The third time was in the private bathroom in the shower." Kolyat looked directly at Thane, "This time, dad, you literally joined with mom. At first, I thought you were ill from the symptoms of feverish eyes and hot dry tacky scales. When I entered the bathroom and smelled the sweet smell, I knew the reason." Kolyat looked at Tabitha, "Be glad you and dad are not compatible in producing offspring or you would be getting pregnant real soon."

Tabitha whistled softly, smiling, shaking her head, "You are good, son. Damn good. Your observation and deduction skills are second to none. Have you been able to deduce how I was able to soundproof the bedroom?"

Kolyat replied, "I have to guess that you had EDI do something."

"You are correct," stated Thane placing his empty mug on the floor. "Your mother and I were going to be mediating together. Would you care to join us?"

Kolyat beamed, bowing slightly, "I would be honored."

Tabitha raised a hand, "I will be back in a moment," as she got up walking to the bathroom. When she came out, she was wearing a pair of Thane's white cotton pants, bottoms cuffed, as she walked back to the bed sitting cross-legged next to Thane. Thane placed himself in a lotus position. All three situated themselves in the middle of the bed, knees touching, hands clasping the person next to them. Closing their eyes, Thane started praying aloud. Once Thane was finished, Tabitha prayed aloud with Kolyat praying last. Once the prayers ended, all three meditated silently placing their hands in their laps.

Once Tabitha was done meditating, she quietly moved to the side of the bed standing up. She did not know about Kolyat, but Thane could meditate for hours. Gathering some clothes, she went into the living room silently closing the bedroom door. In the main bathroom, she changed into sweatpants and a tank top.

"I am famished," she thought to herself as her stomach rumbled. "What to have…what to fix" as she walked to the 'frig. Opening up the 'frig, she pulled out fruit, potatoes, eggs, bacon, and pancake mix placing the ingredients on the kitchen counter. Before starting breakfast, she sent a message to Valern requesting some custom painting on the armor she requisitioned from the Spectre armory before arriving at the Citadel yesterday inviting him for breakfast.

Placing her earpiece in her left ear, she programmed the omni-tool to shuffle randomly through Classical, Celtic, and Spanish guitar styles of music. As the music played, she washed and prepared the fruit placing the different varieties in a bowl before placing on the table. After the fruit, she started frying the bacon and peeling the potatoes. While peeling the potatoes, she sensed a presence behind her before green scaled arms with black striping came around her middle bringing her back against a muscular chest.

Thane tickled her right ear with his breath, "What are you listening to, Siha?"

Tabitha kept peeling potatoes as she answered, "A mixture of earth music, all instrumentals. I did not want to disturb your and Kolyat's mediation so I used my ear piece. Speaking of Kolyat, where is he? Usually the smell of food brings him running. I figured he would be done before you. You can spend hours in mediation."

Thane chuckled, chest reverberating, "I can meditate later. I do not know when you will have to leave again, and I want to spend as much time as possible with you. I believe Kolyat fell asleep. He will not admit to it, though. Do you need any help, Tabitha?"

Tabitha reluctantly left Thane's embrace to flip the bacon. Turning to face Thane, she removed her ear piece putting it in a compartment on the omni-tool. After punching a code into the omni-tool, instrumental music could be heard through the apartment. Leaning against the kitchen counter, she inquired, serious expression on her face, "Thane, since we are 'truly one'…" She raised a hand when Thane went to reply, "I know your opinion on that, but what is done…is done. Please consider joining the fight with me on the Normandy." She walked over placing her hands in his, her ocean colored eyes serious and focused on his face, "I need you. And do not give me that line of bull about your Kepral's Syndrome. My life expectancy is shorter than yours in this war against the Reapers." Smiling, crooking her head to the side, she intoned, "You know when we work together, there is nothing that can stop us."

Thane brought her hands up to his lips kissing them before pulling her up against him in a tight embrace. "I should not," He thought to himself, "I will slow her down. I am a liability not an asset, but she needs me. I will be by her side to give her support, comfort, love, and protection till my last breath. I am her Kadar." Breathing in her scent, he whispered in her hair, "I should deny your request, but I cannot, Siha. I am your Kadar. I will stand by your side and give you support. I will give you comfort and show you love. I will protect you till my last breath. I am your bond mate, now and forever."

Tabitha felt his arms tremble as he professed his love and dedication with ardent fervency. She pulled back to look at him while he kept his arms curled around her back seeing the love showing in the depth of his eyes. She brought one hand up to cup the side of his face, her voice as fervent has his, "I am your Siha. I will support you and give you comfort with my wings. With my body, I will show you love as I will protect you till my last breath. I am your bond mate, now and forever."

Thane lowered his lips to hers for a long deep very passionate kiss. Before ending the kiss, he breathed against her lips, "If this continues, Siha, Kolyat will be finding more evidence of our sexual activities."

Smiling, Tabitha replied huskily, "How I want to take you up and down across the couch, chair, kitchen counter.." Sighing, she pulled out of his arms, "But I have breakfast to finish and a war to win. We can continue this later, my sexy Drell lover." Smiling wickedly, she asked, "Thane, can you produce your bonding scent without actual sexual intercourse?"

Thane's eye ridges raised as he answered, "Yes, Tabitha. It can be produced as a territorial scent, also. Why are you inquiring?"

Tabitha moved the bacon from the heat before replying smirking, "Kolyat does not need to know that the scent did not come from bonding again. I want to see his reaction…" Thane could see mischief dancing in her eyes.

Smiling slightly, Thane inquired, "And how do you intend for my territorial and/or bonding scent to be produced?"

"Like this," Tabitha leaned up whispering near his ear canal. Growl rumbled from Thane's chest as he spoke deep, strong, and firmly from his chest, "Siha, do not provoke me."

Tabitha whispered near his ear canal again before nipping at the red ribbing of his throat. She smiled as Thane pushed her up against the 'frig growling from deep in his chest grabbing her hands in his, his lips slashing against hers, his tongue taking full possession of her mouth. Tabitha submitted to the plundering as she smelled his scent envelope both of them. Thane growled bruising his Siha's lips pressing his body into hers so she could not move, barely breathe.

Tabitha wheezed, "Thane, I can't breathe."

The fog lifted from his brain as he stepped back suddenly, his voice contrite, "I'm sorry, my love. I do not know what came over me. Your scent..your pheromones…I cannot control myself," Thane looked down at his feet.

Tabitha came over taking his hands in hers, "Look at me, my love." Thane looked into his Siha's ocean eyes as she continued, "I started it. You told me to stop and I pushed you. I should have known better. What do you mean about my pheromones?"

Thane answered, "Your pheromones say you are 'in heat'?"

"What does that mean?" Tabitha asked confused.

Thane replied, "Your pheromones are stating your body is ready to procreate?"

Tabitha's eyes got huge, "Procreate? As in get pregnant. I cannot get pregnant. I have not gotten pregnant since we have been together."

Thane placed his forehead against hers, "I do not know, Siha. I just know what my body senses. Do not worry. Trust in your Lord as I trust my gods. They will not put anything into our lives we cannot handle."

Tabitha sighed, "That is why I need you. You are the spiritual leader. You trust and I doubt. I will finish breakfast if you want to make sure your weapons are ready to go."

As Thane pulled out his sniper rifle and pistol from the special compartment in the living room, Tabitha placed the skillet of bacon back over the heat. She finished peeling potatoes, washing, and slicing them into a skillet along with diced onion then poured some of the bacon grease into the skillet with the potatoes and onions. Once the bacon was done frying, she put the plate of bacon in the oven on low heat to keep warm. Once the potatoes and onions were done frying, she placed them in a bowl placing the bowl in the oven also.

As Tabitha was placing the potatoes and onions in the oven, Kolyat came out of the bedroom beaming from ear to ear, "I knew I smelled breakfast." As he came farther into the living room, his smile faded, as his eyes came together, "Really? Really, you two."

Tabitha looked up from cracking eggs into a bowl, hidden smile in her voice, "Really, what, Kolyat? What are you accusing us of this time?"

Sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs in the living room, Thane smiled to himself as he took a cleaning rag to his weapons, "I see what Tabitha meant," he thought to himself, "She knows Kolyat better than I." His mood sobered, "She would. She spent more time with him than I did." He faintly shook his head to clear his thoughts, "The past is the past and it cannot be changed. You have a good relationship with Kolyat."

Kolyat walked over by Thane, "Father, I know you and mom…but she needs her strength and your health…Give it a break, will you," exasperation in his voice.

Thane looked up, voice calm, "What are you talking about, son? I appreciate that you are concerned about my and Tabitha's health…"

Kolyat raised a hand cutting Thane off in mid-sentence, "Enough is enough!" Kolyat scowled at both of his parents, condemnation in his voice and demeanor, "You two are acting like varren rutting each other in heat. Act your age."

Thane stood up in one motion, his eyes forbidding, voice low and menacing, "Son, you are being disrespectful. Apologize to Tabitha for your insolence."

Kolyat swallowed audibly as his eyes got large, "Dad is pissed," he thought to himself, "I really put my foot in my mouth this time."

Tabitha seeing the forbidding look on Thane's face used her biotic power to rapidly move between the two putting a hand on each of their shoulders, speaking to Thane in a quiet calming tone, "Thane, let me handle this since this was my…" not finishing the sentence but giving him a half smile.

Thane calmed feeling his Siha's hand on his shoulder and seeing her smile at him, "I will let you, Siha, for now, but he will apologize."

Tabitha put her arm around Kolyat walking toward the kitchen, "Help me finish breakfast?"

Kolyat whispered, "Dad is pissed at me."

Tabitha responded with a nod of her head as Kolyat continued, "I've never seen father let his anger get to him so quickly. We are a very passionate people, but you know dad with all his conditioning and training. It is a part of him to refrain from showing base emotions like anger…"

Tabitha cut in, "I believe I am the reason," looking over seeing Thane concentrating on oiling his weapons.

Concern and confusion showed across his features and in his voice, "I do not understand, mom. When I came into the living room, I smelled dad's mating scent."

Tabitha started mixing two batches of pancake mix, one batch dextro based. Kolyat inquired, "Garrus coming for breakfast?"

Tabitha shook her head, 'No.' "I do not know where Garrus is at. Last I heard, he was on Palven. "Valern is coming over for breakfast."

"Valern, as in the Citadel Turian Counselor, Valern." Kolyat asked incredulously.

"Yes, the Citadel Turian Counselor Valern. Getting back to your father's anger issues. Your father told me that the scent could be from mating or a territorial scent."

Kolyat nodded his head, "That is true, but for the territorial scent to be produced, a drell needs to think his claim is jeopardized so the territorial scent wards off competition."

Kolyat saw Tabitha blush, "Well…I wanted to play a practical joke on you see your reaction if you thought the two of us had made love again. Your father told me about the territorial scent so I whispered in his ear about possible competition for my affection. I did not expect the reaction I got and he was taken aback also. He told me he was having problems controlling his emotions because I was 'in heat.' He said I was giving off pheromones for procreating. I do not know how that could be. I do not understand."

Kolyat smiled slightly, "You fooled me. Something is going on, though. Dad did more than 'make love' the third time in the shower. His feverish eyes; hot, dry scales; and tacky sweet secretions are signs of procreation for Drells. Dad is right about your pheromones. It might have affected me, also, with my temper."

Tabitha placed a hand on Kolyat's shoulder, "It did not go as planned. I apologize."

Kolyat pulled Tabitha into a hug, "No, mom. I apologize. It was not my place to say the things I said. I better tell dad, huh."

Tabitha pulled out of the embrace pecking him on his left cheek, "I think it is a good idea."

Kolyat walked over near Thane, "Father…" When Thane looked up, Kolyat continued looking and sounding contrite, "I apologize for what I said earlier to you and mom. It was not my right to condemn. You are my parents. Please accept my apology."

Thane smiled a half-smile, "I accept."

Kolyat sat down on the couch, "Is there a reason why you are cleaning and oiling your weapons, dad?"

"There is. Tabitha has requested my presence on the Normandy," stated Thane.

Concern in his voice, Kolyat countered, "Is that wise, father with your condition."

Thane laid a hand on Kolyat's knee, "Son, your mother needs me and has stated as such. I cannot refuse her. As before, I will protect her. I am her, 'Kadar.' When my time comes, it would be better served fighting Reapers and saving lives."

Kolyat looked into his father's eyes, "I know, dad. To lose one of you is painful, but to lose both of you…"

Thane half-smiled, "Your mother and I do not plan to throw our lives away needlessly. Everyone dies, Kolyat. You have your own mate to think about, Haida."

Kolyat questioned, "How did you know about Haida?"

Thane chuckled causing Tabitha to look up, "Son, Kepral's Syndrome does not cause me to lose my senses. Lack of oxygen causes my limbs to tingle and lose my ability of perfect memory. Her scent has been on you along with your mating scent when you have come home some evenings. I also know why you have not discussed the relationship with me. I trust you. Yes, you are my son. You are also an adult. I am proud of you."

Tabitha spoke up, "I can vouch, Kolyat, that he has not lost any of his senses. The not having perfect memory just means he is just like most humans." She placed her hand to her forehead, "My bad, I'm not all human. I am Prothean with just enough human so I look like one."

The ringer on the door buzzed as Tabitha asked, "Kolyat, can you get the door? It should be Valern."

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