HERS
"I think it is a bad idea," Shepard said plainly.
Kaidan sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Rach, they are going to figure it out eventually. They might as well hear it from us first. Besides, don't you like sharing happy news?"
"Sure, I guess. But don't you think that might make them think I'm not up to the task at hand? Who throws a pregnant woman in the line of fire? How about we don't tell them that part? Please?"
He made a mock pout that made Shepard laugh. You are so adorable when you are frustrated!
"All right," Kaidan relented. "But we need to tell them soon. You won't be able to hide this forever and we have no idea how long this war will last. We should still gather the crew to tell them that we married."
Shepard snuggled into his chest on the couch in their quarters and sighed. "Are you sure this isn't just a manly bravado thing? I mean, you did manage to get the great Commander Shepard into bed with you and then actually have her fall in love with you and even make a commitment!"
"Rachel!" Kaidan exclaimed with feigned hurt. "You think you are just a conquest for me?"
"Well, you are for me…," she giggled.
He playfully smacked her ass. "I don't just conquer, Rachel. I completely dominate." His voice dropped to a low and husky tone that made her shiver with excitement.
"Major Alenko?" EDI's voice chirped into their room. "The crew is waiting in the mess."
Shepard lightly punched his chest. "You already called them together?"
Kaidan raised his eyebrows and smiled innocently. "Somebody has to do these things. Otherwise, they wouldn't know until the baby was 20."
"Maybe 10, not 20," she teased. He stood up and grabbed her hands to help her up. Shepard wedged her feet against the coffee table to keep herself down.
Kaidan reached around her and threw her over his shoulder. "Come on…you have to go."
"This is embarrassing! Don't take me down there like this!" She pounded on his back. The elevator door opened, and Kaidan walked the both of them in.
"Take you? Down there? That sounds like a great idea, but the crew is there, so not right now, Rachel." The lift door closed and he set her down.
They stood in silence as they waited to reach the crew deck. I have no idea what to say about this…hey everyone, me and Alenko got hitched. Let's have a party? No. Attention, I would just like to proclaim my love for the Major and we've made it official. Show off my ring? No matter what way it's done, it all looks sappy. I hate sappy.
The door whooshed open and the pair walked out. Shepard looked over at Kaidan who seemed calm and collected as usual. Damn his self-control. I feel like I ate 10 pyjaks and they are all fighting in my gut. They rounded the corner and his hand found hers. Shepard felt her heart start to pound. Why this now? Our relationship hasn't been exactly secret. We've been together since he's been on the ship. The crew was gathered around the table and their eyes met hers.
Oh God, I am dying.
HIS
The only thing Kaidan ever wanted to do was have the freedom to show his love for Shepard. Since the days on the SR-1, he began hating the regulations that kept their relationship taboo. When she died, it was those regulations that seemed so pointless and Hackett's little revelation about Grant Shepard's approval of them together just made the sting worse. Still, he never forgot it.
When he was getting out of the hospital after Mars, Kaidan knew he had to make their relationship permanent. He had almost died and she actually did once. So while he was working at the Citadel for that damned Councilor Udina, he contacted Admiral Hackett.
x-X-x
Hackett's holographic picture flickered to life in Kaidan's office. "Major Alenko…or should I say Spectre? Congratulations. Little time for formalities. What can I do for you?"
Kaidan had had plenty of face time with Hackett during his time on Earth with his SpecOps students. He didn't know why he was nervous now. "Um, Admiral, sir," he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I have a rather unusual request."
Hackett nodded and motioned for Kaidan to proceed.
"Admiral, do you remember our debrief after the SR-1 went down?"
"Yes, it wasn't a happy time for any of us."
"Well, sir, you told me about a letter from Col. Grant Shepard regarding my relationship with his daughter." Hackett's eyebrows raised. "I would like to find out about the possibility of the two of us getting approval for…marriage."
Hackett's eyes went wide. "Marriage?" he chuckled. "Moving quickly, eh?" His hand stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, I guess it does make sense. None of us knows how long we've got. Alenko, as far as the Alliance is concerned, and until we hear otherwise from Col. Shepard, the letter stands as official approval. However…," he paused. Kaidan's breath caught in his throat.
"You don't really need our permission anymore. You are both Spectres and that is enough to supercede any regulations we might have. You and Shepard are the finest humanity has. So let me offer my congratulations to you. Just inform us, as is convenient, when this occasion occurs. I have pressing matters to attend to, but Alenko..."
"Sir?"
"Thanks for giving me something other than the war to think about. Hackett out."
Kaidan breathed a sigh of relief and started looking for asari jewelers.
x-X-x
Kaidan could see out of the corner of his eye how uncomfortable Shepard was. He squeezed her hand for reassurance and looked out at the faces of the crew. He was just about to open his mouth when Joker started talking.
"Commander, Major, we know…" The rest of the crew chuckled with the pilot. "You guys are the worst secret keepers in the universe, just so you know. Some of us were here with you from the beginning, some from when you went after the Collectors, but we all know that there is no way in hell anyone or anything could get between the two of you. So…" Joker held up a glass. Kaidan and Shepard looked around in surprise. "Allow me to say congratulations and it's about damn time."
Glasses clinked around the mess as the crew toasted the couple. Shepard subtly elbowed Kaidan. "I thought you had this planned out?"
"Ah, I thought I did…"
"Do they know everything?" She raised her eyebrows and looked down quickly.
Kaidan bit his lip. "I don't know." He looked up and Samantha Traynor was there handing each of them their own glass of champagne. He looked back at Shepard. "I'd say not."
"Good," she smiled as she took the glass and gently set it down. "We couldn't be the worst secret keepers in the world then, now could we?"
Kaidan chuckled to himself. Seeing Commander Shepard turn down alcohol was probably the biggest tell you could give, my dear. He happily kissed her cheek.
A/N: A shorter chapter, but I hope you still enjoyed it! Thank you for all the reviews and new followers and favorites! Even though my updates are slower in coming, this still bring a smile to my face!
