So this isn't my Garrus chapter, but it just seemed right to have Garrus as a part of this chapter...this is a two part chapter, as that the combine chapter was going over 2,000 words. The second part will be up soon just have to finish it. I'm still trying to decide if I like this chapter or not, but the idea just wouldn't leave me alone. So, I wrote it out, funny because I've written a brief piece about Shepard's father being that this Shepard has a Spacer background...I might include it later on. Anyway, thank you for the reviews, favorites, and alerts! I'm so glad to see that everyone is enjoying the story. Enjoy!

Prism Elf

"The Father Type"

"So Jacob's going to be a father?" Garrus asked his mandibles twitching slightly. Shepard took it as a sign of him smiling.

"Yep, sure sounds that way." Shepard smiled over the rim of her coffee cup. "He seemed pretty excited about it."

"I bet so, though I never really pictured him as the father type. You know he always had that soldiering quality to him. Makes it hard to picture him as a father." Garrus said lacing his fingers together on top of the table.

The mess hall was quiet and it was late. Most of the crew had taken shore leave at the Citadel enjoying what could possibly be their last shore leave ever. She and Jacob had caught up at Purgatory where they had met James, Joker, Tali, Garrus and EDI for drinks. It had been a good distraction with only one person really missing from the group. Her, Garrus and Tali had come back to the Normandy together about an hour ago. Tali more than a little drunk had stumbled off to the cot down in Engineering. Garrus had said he would help her. But she had waved him off.

Shepard eyed the contents of her mug. The warm brown liquid sloshing around in the mug did nothing to ease her worry or frustration, but it did help with keeping away hangovers…or at least it use. She frowned. Hangovers didn't seem to happen anymore. So coffee wasn't really necessary, but she still enjoyed it.

"Garrus, aren't turians all soldier types?" Shepard asked taking a sip of her drink.

Garrus chuckled. "Yeah, and you've seen how messed up we are." Shepard choked setting her mug down she covered her mouth in an attempt to not shoot coffee from her mouth. Garrus laughed catching himself on the edge of the table before he slipped out of his chair.

After a few moments Shepard managed to get herself under control. Maybe she was a little tipsy, but then so was Garrus. A silence over took them as their laughter subsided.

"You ever thought about it, Shepard." Garrus spoke up, his voice quiet and suddenly serious.

"Thought about what?"

"I don't know. Life after the Reapers? When all this is said and done…have you ever thought about leaving the Alliance, having a quiet normal life?" Garrus asked his bright eyes focusing on hers.

Shepard raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. She regarded Garrus for a breath. Did she ever think about after the Reapers? She did she knew she did…but when was the last time she had done that? Tonight shortly after Jacob had told her, he was going to be a father. She had thought about what life might be like after the war was over.

"I have." She whispered back.

"Well, what do you see yourself doing? I mean quiet normal life, or are you with the Alliance until the end?" Garrus inquired leaning forward slightly, if she didn't know any better she would the turian was coming across as eager.

"I could see myself retiring, maybe traveling, you know actually visiting some of the places I've been too besides to just complete a mission." Shepard replied wrapping her fingers around her mug.

"What about family? You're still young what about a family?"

Shepard blew out a breath and leaned back in her chair. "I don't know about that."

"Why not?" Garrus' eyes twinkled with amused and maybe a bit of mischievousness. "Haven't you and Kaidan talked about your future?"

Shepard felt heat rising to her cheeks. "No, we haven't."

"Why not?"

"Aren't you the nosy turian tonight?" Shepard shot back. She released her cup crossing her arms over her chest. "Have you and Tali talked about this kind of stuff?"

Garrus' eyes widened and it was his turn to sit back and regard her. His mandibles flared briefly . "Tali and I aren't…we're just friends, Shepard."

Shepard smiled wickedly. "Huh, friends, right." She winked at him as his mandibles wiggled a few more times as if he was trying to figure out what to say. "You two flirt an awful lot for just friends."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Garrus retorted without much conviction. "But back to my original question. You and Kaidan haven't talked what happens after the war is over. Why?"

Shepard sighed. "You aren't going to let this go are you?"

"You going to stop thinking Tali and I are more than friends?"

Shepard shook her head. "Nope."

"Then answer the question, Shepard."

Sighing again Shepard leaned her head back to stare up at the ceiling. The silver wiring and piping stared back at her with projections of her own bright green eyes. "I haven't thought about it, because…I don't want too. I mean there is the high probability that one of us won't survive this war. I don't want to think about the future we might have had…or start planning for something that can never be. I don't let myself dwell on it either."

"So you haven't even considered the possibility…"

"Of a family?" Shepard chuckled. "No, not until Jacob said he was going to be starting one. That's why Kaidan and I have never discussed."

"Hmm…speaking of Major Alenko where was he tonight? I would have thought he would have joined us?" Garrus asked suddenly changing the topic of conversation.

Maybe, he was getting the hint that I haven't actually thought about it. Shepard thought as she replied. "He begged off. Said he wasn't feeling well."

"He has a migraine you mean." Garrus crossed his arms over his chest and also stared up at the ceiling. "Let me guess he told you to go out anyway."

"Yep."

"And you listened to him, because you didn't want him worrying over you while he was in pain."

"Bingo." Shepard smiled. "You're pretty good at this."

Garrus laughed and shrugged. "It's like I worked for C-Sec or something…wait I did."

Shepard snorted. She was comfortable around Garrus he was like the brother she never had. It surprised her how much she enjoyed his company. Simple yet, relaxed. Kaidan was probably one of the few people who could put her completely at ease, but Garrus ran a close second.

"Hey, Shepard, give my regards to the Major. I'm going to go try and catch some sleep." Garrus stood up and waved her away as he ambled toward the main gun and sleeper pods. She shook her head. She couldn't understand why the turian seemed to enjoy sleeping in those tight spaces. But Garrus seemed to prefer them over a cot. She had offered to get him a sleeping cot for the main gun room, but he had said he would just hijack one of the sleeper pods as his own.

Shepard smiled after him and stood up herself. She really did want to check on Kaidan, but she also didn't want to disturb him if he was asleep. She also knew that he was in the observation deck because of his headache. She had told him multiple times that he could stay in her private quarters when she wasn't around especially when he had headaches, but he had refused saying the lights from her fish tank bothered him and made his headaches worst.

She walked over to the sink and dumped her coffee. Rinsing it out, she placed it back in its cupboard closing the door. She paused staring at the cupboard for a moment before opening it back up and taking out some instant herbal tea. Grabbing two mugs down she filled them with water and heated them up. While she waited for the water, Shepard snagged the box of peanut butter cookies she had stashed back behind some of the power energy bars and protein shake tubs. Once the water was ready, she carried her tea, mugs and cookies toward the observation deck.