Given the events of the last few days, the crew of the Normandy felt it right to have a small celebration over their victory against, by all accounts, a rather strange threat. This celebration involved a visit to a small but quite pleasant bar on the Strip, where Shepard insisted on buying for everyone. When Ashley attempted to politely decline, the Commander asked if it was because of a certain event on the ship, which had the effect of drawing embarrassment and denial from the Marine and the relentless curiosity of her Assassin sister. While Ash had hidden her tomato red face behind her hands, Shepard filled Abby in on what she was referring to, with Joker stating that, "L.C., if you can't hold up against some banter, you're in the wrong line of work.".

Afterward, the team had stayed the night in Shepard's new apartment. While the rest of the Alliance crew had been told what had happened, they were allowed to stay in whatever accommodations they already had established, as the Normandy would need some more R and R before she was able to house anyone.

For the first time in what felt like centuries, the Williams Sisters had shared a room, which had brought about a wave of pleasant, and less than pleasant, memories for Abby. Given their upbringing on a tiny backwater colony world, most of their childhoods consisted of rather close proximity to one another. All that was missing were Lynn and Sarah, both of whom were safe and sound home on Sirona. At least as far as she knew. Lynn had a tendency to drop in and out of contact, and Sarah had recently married, so she had a family of her own to worry about.

After getting up and dressing herself, Abby began to wander towards the stairs, idly bringing up her Omni-Tool and scrolling through her emails. Most were ads for Armax, or notifications from various social media platforms, but one caught her eye. One dated from a few days ago, when the planned shore leave...didn't go to plan.

From: Sarah (sWilliams 0 citadel . mail .ex)

Subject: FUCK!

Hey, Abby. It's been a while

Jeez I...I don't even know how to say this. I mean...FUCK! It...it was so sudden.

I just found out yesterday. Thomas...Thomas is dead, Abby. He was with an Alliance team headed to Palaven to help the Turians. His shuttle was shot down.

I don't know what to do. It seems like the wedding was last week! I hope you or Ash or Lynn get this soon. I'm messaging all of you. I tried calling Lynn, but she's always 'busy' as she puts it. And being part of Commander Shepard's crew, Ashley actually is busy. Not to say you aren't, or anything. I know what you do is important, from what little you've told me. I just hope that someone answers. I just...I need to talk to someone.

Please answer, Abby.

-Sar

"Holy shit." Abby whispers after rereading the message several times. Sarah was right. They did just get married. "Wait, she's here on the Citadel?"

The Assassin quickly brings up her surprisingly long contact list and finds Sarah's name, who picked up on the second ring.

"Hey, Sar. I just got your message. Tell me everything."


I was nearly half an hour later when, with a now slightly shell shocked expression, Abby found her way to the first floor of the apartment. On her way into the kitchen, she could hear Joker and Shepard talking on one of the couches.

"I said I was sorry, Joker."

"Yeah well, 'sorry' doesn't exactly make up for the fact that I was bait during your escape from the sushi place!"

"I didn't mean for it to happen!" Shepard insisted as Abby passed James, who was preparing something for breakfast.

"Mornin' Abby." The stocky Marine says happily, shifting food around on a skillet with a spatula.

"Hi." Abby answers distantly, pouring herself a cup of coffee and heading back out into the living room, where the debate continued.

"I usually have a handle on any situation I find myself in." The Commander said. "Did you see that? Were you there for it, too? I was not at all in control. I was just making it all up, but I didn't mean for you to get shot at."

"This may not be the time to bring it up, but I thought you always made it up as you went along." Garrus jeered from his spot next to the fireplace, earning a sharp glare from his Commander.

"Like I said, not the time."

"Look, Joker." Shepard continued. "I am sorry. Is there any way I can make it up to you?"

A smirk crossed the pilot's face. "Make it up to me, eh? Hmm…"

"Go for something good, Joker." Garrus threw in. "Maybe that Exo-Skeleton thing you mentioned a while back."

"With racing stripes." Joker added. "That is a good idea, Garrus. But, I dunno. Eh, I'll think of something."

Having only been spectating the conversation, Liara T'Soni looks up at Abby, easily picking up on her distress. "Good morning, Abigail. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, you aren't lookin' so hot." James says as he enters the living room, having finished his cooking. He passes plates to Shepard and Liara, promising to come back with Joker and Garrus'.

"See? I'm not a priority for anyone." Jeff grumbles.

"I just got an email from my sister Sarah." Abby explains after a sip of coffee. "Her newlywed husband was killed last week. On Palaven."

"Oh." Liara says. "That's...terrible. I'm sorry to hear that."

"Palaven? She married a Turian?" Joker asks callously.

"That's why you aren't on anyone's priority list, Moreau." Garrus teases, accepting his breakfast plate from James.

"Abby, you want anything?" Vega asks as he returns to the kitchen. "Toast? Eggs? I make a mean huevos rancheros."

"Thanks, James. But I'm not really hungry." Which wasn't exactly true.

"Aww, come on. You can't tackle grief on an empty stomach. And I could hear yours when you came down earlier."

Abby finally caved. "Alright. And make some for Ashley, too. Growing up, when she woke up, she had to be fed within fifteen seconds, or the whole colony would hear about it."

"You got it." James grinned, returning to the stove.

"What does Sarah plan to do?" Liara asks, returning to the previous subject.

"Well, I told her about that memorial wall in the refugee camp." Abby says as she sits down next to Shepard. "Ashley and I are going to meet her there later."

"Does Ashley know already?" The Commander asks.

"No. I didn't wake her up." Abby eyes Shepard for a moment. "Shepard, from what Ash has told me, you're pretty well informed on our family." Jane shrugs and nods modestly, bringing another forkful of food up to her mouth. "So much so that she considers you part of it. Now...I don't mean to impose, but what would you say to coming with us? I mean...this is a family matter, and if Ashley considers you family, so do I."

The Commander appears to contemplate Abby's words, looking at the young Assassin for a time.

"I'd be honored to come." Shepard says finally as James returns with another plate for Abby. "It'll be a chance to meet more of the Williams clan as well."

"Abby!" A voice suddenly exclaims from the upstairs bedroom, as if on queue. The sister in question looks to the top of the stairs to see Ashley, still in her nightwear, with her Omni-Tool glowing.

"Have you read your emails?!"


A/N Hi everyone

I know it's been like 100 years since I updated any of my fics. This quick update was brought upon by a sudden spur of ideas, and an urge to prove to everyone that I'm still alive.

To anyone still waiting on updates, thank you all for your patience. To any new readers, welcome. As I've said before, this was intended as a side project, but that isn't saying much lately. However, I have no intention of abandoning any of these stories. They will be completed eventually, I promise!

The message from Sarah to Abby is supposed to have an email address, but FanFiction won't let me write it how it's supposed to look, so sorry about that.

As usual, any and all feedback is welcome. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you all next time!