A/N: Publishing this before work. I'll probably publish Chapter 26 today as well because: I honestly don't know when I'll be able to update next. It may be next week, but it may not be until March. I really need to bust my ass on my master's thesis and unfortunately, that means I need to put fanfic on the back burner (*sobs*). But I want to give you what I have (especially because the next chapter has a bit of a cliffy and I love leaving you guys hanging).
In other news, I'm now approaching my thesis like NaNoWriMo. Because if I can write 50k words in a month three years in a row, I should be able to write a 50k research paper in 1.5-2.

Synthetic Asparagus and Cheese

Rupert Gardner was a very intelligent man. He just went out of his way to seem otherwise occasionally.

Of course, he couldn't fly the ship, and he would have been useless on the Normandy during the war, but he knew things. Like when a woman, no matter how badass or scary, was expecting.

After she seemed to be getting more in control of her desire to stop eating, Shepard's appetite skyrocketed to previously unseen heights. She also developed a sudden, intense love of oranges and asparagus and hatred of egg, whereas previously her appetites had been completely reversed. She was drinking a reservoir's worth of water. And he was pretty sure she may have put on a couple pounds, but he'd be damned if he was going to comment on it.

To top it off, she sometimes spent all day "on duty" in the Loft, and he'd answer a call from EDI for food only find Shepard curled up on her bed wearing two sweatshirts. And, if that hadn't been enough, he'd spotted her making routine trips into the medical bay.

He may know very little about ships and a lot about food and plumbing, but he definitely knew when a woman was pregnant.

It was about two weeks after they'd last docked at the Citadel that Shepard called him up to the Loft for a regular food delivery while Kaidan was groundside. As usual she had the comms on in her cabin, and she was curled up in bed. "Just set it on the table," she mumbled, waving her hand. He sighed and did so. "Rupert."

"Yeah, Major."

"You know, don't you?"

"What, that you're pregnant? Shit, I've known for a few weeks."

"Did Chakwas tell you?"

"Nah. Figured it out all on my lonesome."

She lifted her head and smiled at him. "Rupert . . . thanks."

He patted the bed. "No worries. I-"

"Hey, Shep! How you feelin?"

As Kasumi bounded into the room, Gardner straightened up. "Brought you some more ginger tea up too," he said. "You get EDI if you need anything else."

"Thanks, Gardner," Shepard said, struggling to sit up. Kasumi waved her off and flopped down on the bed. Gardner gave them a small smile and left.

"I'm feeling like shit," Shepard complained. Kasumi nodded.

"You look it," she replied. "So, I have an update."

"Great," Shepard said, rubbing her eyes as she rolled onto her back. One hand settled on her stomach as she closed her eyes again.

"Well, we've ruled out the marines," she said, handing her a datapad. Shepard yawned. "And EDI keeps scrubbing the systems. Whatever's in here, she says it must have been here since the ship was being built. Probably before she was installed."

"So it's got to be someone who has access to Cerberus' databanks."

"Who's in charge, yes. Probably not whoever's on the Normandy."

"That's what I meant." Shepard let her hand fall to her side, the datapad dropping to the bed. "God damn it. Who could it be?"

"Search me." Kasumi held up a hand and began ticking off fingers. "TIM's dead. So's Lawson. Petrovsky and Jana're in custody. Leng's dead. Miri and Jacob defected. Ashe's dead. Archer defected. So no, everyone's dead. Or arrested. Or on our side. Though if you want me to be thorough, I'll volunteer to go through Jacob's underwear drawer."

"He's married. With a kid."

". . . There's no reason I can't look."

Shepard grinned and shook her head. "Kasumi . . ."

"Hey. He's pretty. I can look."

She shook her head again and forced herself up, heading for the couch and her food. "Just don't touch. His wife's got connections."

"If you want me to go through her underwear drawer, I'm going to have to decline."

Shepard grinned wider, settling down and starting to peel her orange. Kasumi flopped down on one of the chairs. "So. What week's this?"

"Nine. Bones, face stuff, intestines, fingers," Shepard replied, pulling the orange apart and popping a slice into her mouth. "And I have to requisition new pants."

"Fun," Kasumi replied, with a tone that suggested it was anything but. "Figured out what you and Kaidan are doing yet?"

"We're apartment shopping. With twins . . . we're going to have to rotate duty."

"You're thinking of leaving."

Shepard looked up. Damn that woman's ability to read people. "Yeah," she admitted. "Hackett offered me a chance to get the human councilor position, while I was in the hospital. No one wants to step up. And . . . I don't know. Just, after the war, fighting sort of . . . lost its draw."

"Can't imagine why," Kasumi said, propping up her feet on the edge of the coffee table. "Not like you've been fighting everyone in known and unknown space for a few years or anything with barely a break. But . . . the Council? After all the shit they give you?"

She shrugged. "Just think, the ability to snipe with Sparatus all the time. It's like a dream come true."

Kasumi laughed quietly. "Yes, okay, I see that." Her lips darted upwards at the corners. "What're you having? Know yet?"

She shook her head. "Won't. Not for a few more weeks at least." She picked up the first sandwich - synthetic asparagus and cheese - and bit into it. Kasumi wrinkled her nose. " . . . don't judge me. I'm pregnant."

"I'm not judging you. That's just . . . eugh."

"'Eugh' indeed," Shepard replied. "But it's delicious."

"You know what?" she said, standing to beat a hasty retreat. "I'll leave you to it."

"Bye," Shepard called after her, continuing to munch on her sandwich.

#

Shepard lifted her head from where it was resting on Kaidan's stomach as he slowly played with her hair, a drowsy look on his face. "You all right?" he asked, letting his fingers trail down to her shoulder.

"Yeah," she said. "Just thinking."

Another week had passed since she'd first admitted to Kasumi that she was considering the Council position. She'd thought about it almost nonstop since then, the idea becoming increasingly attractive as she considered the idea of raising twins on a ship that, while the largest frigate in the fleet, was still a frigate. And neither she nor Kaidan wanted to leave the Normandy, a ship perfect for Spectre activities.

"'Bout what?"

"Kaidan." She propped herself up on her elbows. "I think I'm gonna take the Council position."

He blinked, then shrugged. "Okay."

She blinked back. "Okay?"

"Okay," he repeated. "If that's what you want to do."

"It's just . . ." She let her head settle back on his stomach. "I don't know. After the Citadel I just . . . this job isn't the same. I don't know what it is. And I don't - I don't want you to get pulled away from it. But I think I can give it up. I've done enough for this galaxy."

"You've done more than enough, Marra," Kaidan murmured, gently brushing her hair back out of her face. "I-I'm not going to talk you out of it, unless that's what you want me to do."

"No. No, I don't think so." She sighed and closed her eyes. "The strangest part will be living in one place all the time."

He smiled quietly, reaching down so their fingers intertwined. "It's pretty nice," he replied. "But it'll work. I'll home-base on the Citadel, and, uh, you'll get to order me around like you love to do."

She grinned up at him. "That's just a perk," she replied.

"Have you told Hackett yet?"

"No." Shepard shook her head. "I-I don't know if I'm ready to admit it to the man who wants to stick me in there. I'm . . . I'm not quite ready to leave the Normandy."

Kaidan's smile broadened. "No, she is addictive like that." He looked up at the skylight. Shepard moved and snuggled up against him, head resting on his arm. She smiled slightly when his hand settled on her stomach, on top of the smallest amount of weight gathering around her hips.

"I love you," she mumbled, kissing the five o'clock shadow that seemed to permanently decorate his jaw.

"Love you too," he replied quietly.

::Er, bridge to Major Alenko.::

"What is it, Joker?" Kaidan asked, gently extracting himself from his wife.

::Got a vid message coming through for you. It's your folks.::

They'd told the Alenkos that they were expecting a little bit after their first visit to the hospital. His mother, of course, had been promptly ecstatic and set to work on knitting everything they could ever not think of for the babies. His father had, of course, been more restrained, curtly congratulating them and showing very little emotion though Kaidan had assured her that he was happy and excited.

"I'll take it up here," he replied.

::Patching it through.::

"I really should get him to take a vacation," Shepard mused.

::I heard that, Shep.::

Kaidan grinned at her as he moved behind the desk, and the rack of model ships turned dark. She could make out the moving image of his mother and the conversation, but let herself slip back into the pillows with a contented sigh.

::And how are you feeling, dear?::

Shepard raised her head off the pillows. Mrs. Alenko couldn't see her, of course, but she knew it was directed at her. With another sigh, she got to her feet heavily and joined Kaidan at the screen. His mother beamed down at her. "Just tired," she replied. "They think the twins, or at least one of them, is a biotic. It's a heavier draw on me, physically."

::Oh . . . Is there anything you need me to send you? I've already made a few things - nothing for the twins until we know what you're having, of course.::

"I-I think we're fine."

::Have you found your apartment yet? Kaidan said you were looking for one.::

Shepard couldn't help a small smile when he wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her against him. She nestled against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We're working on it. There's some things we're working on right now, out here," he explained. "We'll have more time to look when that gets taken care of."

"Besides, I'm sure someone somewhere would nearly give us one," she added.

Mrs. Alenko was quiet for a few minutes, then swept a thumb under her eye. ::Sorry,:: she said quickly. ::I'm just so happy for you. And, of course, that I'm getting my grandbabies.

::You'll have to let us know when you're settled,:: she continued. ::We'll come visit, help you get things set up.::

"T-that'll be nice," Shepard said. She tried to not feel suddenly pressured - while Kaidan's parents, and certainly his mother, wouldn't say anything about having a poorly set up apartment or anything, it still made her nervous. She liked the Alenkos, but she was too much of a perfectionist.

::Maybe if you're still out on your business, we'll set it up for you. It'll be good.::

Kaidan chuckled. "Probably."

::Don't you take that tone with me, Kaidan Michael Alenko.::

Shepard laughed, pressing the back of her hand into her teeth. Kaidan made a face at her, which only made her laugh a little more. "That'd be appreciated, Mrs. Alenko. I'm hoping our current mission will be resolved in time to set everything up."

::I hope so too. Oh . . .:: She grinned again. ::I'm so excited. Call me for anything. I'll come live in your cargo hold if I have to.::

"We wouldn't make you live in the cargo hold, mom," Kaidan replied.

::You should get some more rest, dear,:: she continues, nodding at Shepard. ::You look exhausted. You shouldn't work her so hard, Kaidan.::

"I-" he started to protest. Shepard grinned, and bounced up to kiss his cheek.

"It was good to talk to you again, ma'am."

::Please, Marra, just Helena.::

"Yes, ma'am," she said again, then corrected. "I mean -"

::Just blame it on pregnancy brain, dear. I know. I had it bad when I was pregnant. Kaidan sucked it all out of me.::

"Mom . . ."

Shepard grinned back at her and walked back down to the bed, collapsing onto it. Kaidan said his goodbyes and settled back down next to her. She smiled when he curled around her, pulling her back flush against his chest. One hand gently settled over her stomach again, running over it.

"Don't you have work to do?" she asked quietly, though it was more her years in the Alliance that made her ask rather than a desire for him to let go. He shrugged, fingers trailing over the small bulge starting to marr her otherwise smooth, lean form.

"You want me to leave?"

"No," she murmured, settling back closer to him. "I like it when you do that."

"Mm." He stroked again.

"I'm sure they like it too," she murmured. "If they can feel it. Being close to their daddy."

He hummed quietly behind her and kissed her neck. "Need anything?"

"No," she replied, already feeling herself starting to fall asleep between her general fatigue and the warmth of her husband at her back. "Think I'm good."

Kaidan smiled at the sleep starting to color her voice and kissed her neck again. "I love you," he murmured.

". . . I want a dog," Shepard replied.

"You . . . what?"

"I want a dog," she mumbled again. "A big one. Maybe a wolfhound."

Kaidan wasn't entirely sure where this was coming from.

"It'd be nice, when we have kids. They're good with kids. And really really big."

"I-"

"So they're scary, but they're not, because they're not guard dogs. And I think it'd be good for the kids."

"I . . ." He blinked, half propping himself up. "Shepard-"

"Sorry." She blinked up at him drowsily. "I just thought about it."

Kaidan shook his head. "We find an apartment we like," he said, settling back down. "And we'll get a dog. A big one."

She shifted again, pressing back into him. "Or a Newfoundland," she murmured. "Really big and scary looking but really good with kids."

He shook his head and kissed her neck, and let her ramble about dogs until she finally fell asleep.