Mass Effect: Each Story Has A Million Tales.

Summary: "There is always more than just one side to a story- and more than one lesson to learn. Follow Garrus Vakarian as he stands by a promise that he means to keep, contemplates the true meaning of life, death, and the ultimate sacrifice, and as he confronts someone who should have been behind him all along. Follow Adelais Vakarian as he mends a broken bond, and as he comes to terms with a terrible loss of his own. Follow Kolyat Krios as he navigates through a very dangerous place, only to find another- under the guidance of someone who may or may not be there at all. And follow Commander Joleen Shepard as she goes through her past and present, only to find herself in the middle of a battle for her future." (Garrus' Story: 'The Promise-Keeper.' Adelais' Story: 'The Old Soldier.' Kolyat's Story: 'The Wanderer.' Shepard's Story: 'The Missing.')

Warning: "This is a heavy one- some swearing, angst, implied adult situations, adult situations, a few character deaths, violence, and blood. All the big ones this time. Remember, this is my Shepard, my feelings on the game and what should have happened and will happen, with my own opinions and storyline, so no nasty comments. Got it? Good." (Commander Joleen Shepard: War Hero, Earthborn. Soldier. Paragon. Romanced Kaidan Alenko in the 1st game, Garrus Vakarian in the 2nd and 3rd. Shot and killed Udina during the Citadel Coup.)

Disclaimer: "I do not own Mass Effect. Don't make me say it again."

Author's Note: "Just so you know, the name 'Adelais,' is Latin for 'Noble.' I thought it fit perfectly. The name 'Carissa' means 'the most beloved one.' Again, I just thought the name fit."

N._.S._.S

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Promise-Keeper VII.

The look on Liara's face when Garrus met her at the Normandy's dock was... unsettling.

"My dad?" Garrus asked her, cautiously, as he approached, somehow already knowing the answer before she responded.

"Crew Deck," Liara responds, worriedly.

"What did you tell him?" Garrus sighed, gloomily, following her to the Normandy's docks.

"I didn't tell him anything," Liara told him, defensively. "He was with Vega and Joker- Garrus," she added, suddenly uncharacteristically grim, "They told him."

Garrus shook his head. "How much?"

Liara sighed. "Everything, I believe."

"You're kidding."

The young Asari gave him her best sarcastic look.

N._.S._.S

"What the hell did you tell him?"Garrus demanded, impatiently, marching up to Vega and Joker the moment he noticed them on the Bridge together as he boarded, with Liara following closely behind him.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show his ugly face again," Vega said, innocently.

"How's the Commander, Garrus?" Joker added, grinning. "She still asleep?"

"Drop it," Garrus growled, dangerously. "What did you tell him?"

"The truth," Vega answered, mirroring Joker's devious grin.

"You- why?" Garrus asked, fighting to keep his voice neutral, "Why did you tell him?"

"Because," Vega answered, his voice startlingly serious, "You asked for it, Scars."

"Asked for it how?" Garrus countered, bad-temperedly.

"You stopped listening. Even that loco Kaidan saw how fucked up you got- Kaidan, Garrus," Vega said, exasperatedly folding his arms, "Six months is a long time." He added, somewhat bitterly.

"Everyone's been worried about you, Garrus," Liara chimed in, gently. "We thought if we got Adelais involved, maybe you'll start to listen to reason again."

"Listen, Scars," Vega said, coolly, "Your dad's seriously worried. I mean, he couldn't just come out and say it, but..." the N7-marine shrugged casually, "The guy cares about you."

Garrus folded his arms. "That's news to me."

"Garrus, your dad's freaking awesome," Joker assured him with another grin, "He has less of a stick up his ass than you... as incredible as that sounds," he added, almost thoughtfully.

"I'm sure my dad would love to know that," Garrus responded sarcastically.

"Oh, I made sure to tell him," Joker assured him with a smirk.

N._.S._.S

Adelais was standing near the lit hall that lead to the Main Battery, waiting for him.

The Crew Deck is entirely empty, which isn't all that surprising now, considering most of the Human crewmen were all back on Earth helping with the repairs, and with Liara and the others obviously still up in the CIC, probably backing off to give his pending conversation more privacy.

But, he knew they were all probably still eavesdropping.

His father had his back to him, but when the elevator closed, his head turned to look behind him. Upon seeing Garrus, his dark blue eyes flashed and he turned to face him.

"Garrus," Adelais said, sounding a bit relieved, "I was beginning to wonder if you'd show up."

"Didn't have much of a choice," Garrus told him.

Adelais' eyes flashed again- this time in amusement. "Either way, I'm glad you came."

Adelais' voice was surprisingly gentle. Like he'd been practicing what he wanted to say before Garrus came down here- which Garrus found impressive, actually.

His father wanted to talk with him this badly?

Adelais broke the silence, jerking Garrus out of his thoughts.

"Out of the interest of keeping our conversation civil this time, I am not going to ask you about Omega, nor am I going to mention your relationship with Commander Shepard beyond this point- at least, not now." Adelais began, quietly, eying him cautiously for his reaction.

"Probably a good idea," Garrus agreed, hesitantly- if not Shepard or Omega, then what?

Adelais shook his head and sighed. "Garrus, the first thing I want to tell you is that I am sorry for what I said in Huerta Hospital. I did not mean to offend you."

"You did a pretty good job," Garrus responded, quietly, folding his arms.

"I did not mean what I said in the way you think I did. Poor eloquence on my part, I think," Adelais added, shaking his head again. "But again, that is not what I wanted to speak with you about."

"Then what is it?" Garrus asked, hiding his curiosity behind a wall of feigned disinterest.

"You."

"Me?"

What the hell was his father playing at?

Knowing that he'd caught his son's full attention (at least for the moment), Adelais continued- cautiously. "Yes. I'm afraid that I was not a particularly... outstanding father to you Garrus- or to Solana, for that matter," he said, quietly, "and that is what caused you to do as you have done."

Wait... what?

"The argument you and I had near four years ago now," Adelais said, slowly, "the one just two months after Commander Shepard defeated Sovereign on the Citadel, was the worst argument you and I ever had. I regret the things that I said, Garrus- and I always have, almost from the moment I said them. But never," Adelais added, somewhat bitterly, "did I imagine that because of it, I would lose you for more than two years- and to Omega, of all places."

Garrus said nothing.

"I sent your sister to find you. She tracked you to the Terminus System, only to lose you, as well. I thought that she could convince you to return, so I could apologize. Of course," Adelais added, somberly, "that did not happen. And when you returned, things happened quickly- too quickly. I had no time to find out what had happened to you- your scars," he mentioned, gently, "only being an indication of something terrible."

"There's a reason I didn't want you finding out." Garrus answered, after a long moment of silence.

Adelais sighed and shook his head, nodding a little. "I know."

Not 'you should have told me,' or 'it was your fault.'

Just 'I know.'

The silence dragged on for a long while until Adelais spoke again.

"You would have told your mother."

This wasn't a question- it was more like he was stating a simple fact.

But as he said it, Garrus noticed a small, silent flicker of hurt in his father's eyes.

Garrus tore his eyes from his father's suddenly shrewd, piercing gaze. "If I had a choice between the two of you? Yes," Garrus answered, honestly, "Because she would have listened."

Adelais nodded, piercing midnight blue eyes dark and thoughtful as he turned away again.

N._.S._.S