so this is the second part of the last chapter...yeah almost 2,000 words, but I think I like how this chapter turned out. Anyway, in the middle of a hurricane right at the moment, so will try and get a jump start on the next few chapters. Enjoy and happy reading! Thank you for all the reviews, alerts and favorites.

Prism Elf

"The Father Type II"

She didn't bother to knock, the door opened on its own with a quiet swoosh. The room was dark except for the stars twinkling through the open window. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness as she stepped into the room. Glancing around she saw a dark form stretched out on the sofa across from the window. She smiled even in the dark she could see that Kaidan's arm was tossed across his face. She didn't hesitate to walk over to his prone form. She sat the two mugs of streaming water, tea bags and cookies quietly down on the table in front of the sofa. She glanced at him a few times while she set about preparing the tea to see if he showed any signs of stirring. She wasn't exactly certain if he was a wake or not. His breath was deep, but measurable. And she had never known him to sleep with his arm over his face.

Her chest contracted as the tea sat brewing and she turned to stare at him. She hated it when he had headaches. His headaches were something she couldn't fix…couldn't fight. She could only make him comfortable and give him his space. But in the end she was helpless against them and that was what truly bothered her. She hated feeling helpless especially when someone she cared for was hurting.

"Did you have fun?" His voice was soft and quiet making her jump. She had expected him to speak at all.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked in return sitting on the floor with her back up against the sofa.

"Head feels like I just bashed it against a krogan's, but it's manageable." He replied.

Shepard chuckled as she heard him shift and his fingers gently grazed the back of her neck. There was a tiny prickle of electricity from the touch and then it was gone. Goosebumps jumped across her skin. "Do you want some tea? I brought some of that herbal stuff you have stocked in the kitchen."

"Yeah, sure,"

Shepard leaned forward and grabbed a mug from the table. She turned as Kaidan slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position.

"Shit." He hissed letting his head fall back to rest against the sofa. Shepard flinched pushing herself up. She sat down next to him handing him the steaming mug when he reached for it. Their fingers brushed together as Kaidan took it from her. She shivered as again she felt the discharge of penned up dark energy strike softly against her skin.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"It's no problem." And it really wasn't minus the fact of her feeling utterly useless in these situations. Ask her to help broker a deal between krogans and turians or the quarians and geth, sure no problem, but ask her to help levitate Kaidan's headache…no go. Tea, cookies and space…what had she been thinking? Maybe she should have just left him be?

I would be a horrible mother. She thought suddenly. She stiffened. Where had that thought come from? She knew where it had come from, but she hadn't wanted to think it.

Straightening a little Kaidan took a sip of his tea. "You never answered my question." He said winching only slightly.

Shepard shook her head trying to dislodge the strange thought. "Yes, it's was fun. It would have been better if you were there." She turned to face him, smiling brightly.

Kaidan exhaled and took another sip of tea. "Yeah, except migraines, flashing lights and heart pounding music don't usually play well together." He quipped lightly.

Shepard continued smiling as she propped up an elbow on the back of the sofa. She reached out and ran her fingers gently through his hair. "I know, though you did miss Garrus trying to dance…and he makes fun of me."

Kaidan chuckled and then flinched. "God, I hate this. You know I would have rather been out with you tonight instead of nursing a headache."

Shepard lost her smile. Leaning forward she plucked the mug from his hands and set it back on the table. "I know." She replied, continuing to run her fingers through his hair.

Kaidan's arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist pulling her snuggly against him. Her hand glided down to rest on his cheek as he turned to face her. His dark eyes were intense on her face. "I'm glad you stopped by though." He whispered his warm breath stirring the wisps of hair that had come loose from her regulation bun.

She shook her head. "Feeling better, Major?" She asked as a smirk lit upon her lips. Kaidan closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. Shepard closed her eyes too, enjoying the sensation of his nearness.

"Maybe a little," Kaidan said opening his eyes he leaned back against the sofa pulling her with him. Shepard let her hand slip down his cheek and onto his chest. She placed her head on his shoulder cuddling against him. Resting his cheek on top of her head, his fingers glided smoothly over the skin of her arm. Shepard could have stayed there forever just sitting in silence soaking up his body's warmth. Yet, her mind was uneasy.

Stupid Garrus, she thought darkly. If he hadn't mentioned anything I could have just shrugged it off. She and Kaidan hadn't talked about a future or even discussed what they had wanted after the Reapers. She hadn't wanted think it about. Thinking about their future was painful…What if he wants something different? What if…too many what ifs. She didn't like so many unknown factors. Yet, the curiosity gnawed at her gut making her stomach twist unpleasantly.

Shepard took a deep breath inhaling Kaidan's scent, spicy with a dash of natural musk that was just enough to be desirable. "Kaidan, have you thought about what you want to do after the Reapers?" She voiced softly.

Kaidan exhaled. "You know I haven't thought about it." He grunted his body twitching with the noise. "I don't know, Shepard. I really don't know. After Mars and everything that's happened since…I can't think about it."

Shepard shifted slightly and Kaidan raised his head from hers. She looked up into his soft brown eyes. "You haven't. I would have thought after everything you would have thought about." She replied.

"No, I've tried focusing more on the present. Though I am curious as to why you want to know." A smile tugged at the corner of his full lips. Shepard rose up a little to plant a soft kiss to his lips.

"Jacob told me tonight that he was going to be a father. And it got me thinking about…ugh, it's so stupid, you know don't worry about it. I'm sorry," She started as she sat up fully pushing herself away from him though his arm still remained firmly around her waist. "It's not right of me to ask you this right now. I should be…" Why was she bringing this up? She shook her head.

"Shepard," Kaidan said stopping her tirade. She turned to look at him. A hopefulness glistened in his eyes. "You want to know if I see you in my future? Then yes, I want you in my life…I like having you there. It feels right. We feel right. If we have a future together…then we'll find out." He reached out his hand to let the back of his fingers grazed her cheek.

"I want the same." Shepard replied instantly and then she sighed, "It's just strange thinking about life continuing on during this war. I mean, it gives Jacob a reason to keep fighting, hell, it even gives Brin a reason to keep going. I don't know if I want that someday or not. Does that make sense?" She the unasked question hanging in the air. It was a question she wasn't certain how to ask much less bring up into a conversation…she had never had anyone before now that had made her question what she wanted.

"You don't know if you want a family? Shepard, is that what you are asking me?" When she didn't respond right away, Kaidan took a deep breath and blew it out quickly. He retracted his free hand from her face and scrubbed it over his own. "Wow, okay," He closed his eyes squeezing them tightly for a brief second before opening them again.

"I don't know. See, right now really isn't the time to discuss this. Your head hurts and I think I've had one too many shots of whiskey." She reached out and grabbed the second mug of streaming tea. Blowing on it she took a tentative sip. The hot liquid wasn't as strong as her coffee, but it was oddly refreshing and relaxing. "I even told Garrus I wasn't certain, ugh, I just need to go to bed." She started to stand up, but Kaidan's arm around her waist stopped her.

"Shepard, stop. First of all why are you so inclined to not discuss this with me? And secondly you discussed this with Garrus?"

Shepard exhaled sharply and slumped back against Kaidan's chest in defeat. "Yes, Garrus grilled me about it, but I told him I didn't know what I wanted. And well, I haven't thought about it because I don't want to get my hopes up. Kaidan, if we're honest about this…there's a good chance one of us won't survive. I can't think about what-could've-beens. And I don't want you to dwell on them either. Like you said whatever happens, happens."

"But I can see that this is bothering you or you wouldn't have brought it up." Kaidan stated pressing his lips gently to her forehead. "I don't know. A family is something that I have thought about, though I don't see that happening for a long time. And it would matter on the person I see myself with too. If she didn't want to have kids or couldn't then…" Shepard felt him smile. It was weird, but she also felt slightly relieved. She didn't know why she had even thought that Kaidan would want something else.

"A practical answer, Major." She teased tilting her head back so their faces were scant centimeters apart. "Though I will admit I think you would make an excellent father."

"Huh, I don't know about that…but thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Anytime, Major." Shepard grinned as they closed the distance between their lips.