Notes:

A Grá - My Love (Gaelic)

Alban Arthan - Druid festival of the Winter Solstice, means 'Light of Arthur' (Gaelic)

Siame - "one who is all", a loved one cherished above all others (Thessian/Source: CDN)

Love Is In The Air

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 20 Dec 2190

Tris had returned to the house in the early morning and retreated immediately to her guest quarters, not pausing to speak with anyone other than to say hello or otherwise routine morning pleasantries. Once she made it through the door, she immediately caught sight of Maga, already up and dressed, standing in the suite's small kitchenette.

Captain Magdalena Isgro was making breakfast when she heard the door. She paused only briefly, to glance over her shoulder to confirm who had entered. Seeing the matriarch in what appeared to be an amazingly good mood, a smile erupted on her face as she very pointedly asked, "I take it the reunion went well… perhaps even better than expected?"

Tris' smile said it all, but the matriarch still walked across the relatively short distance to her First, to lean against her back and give her a morning hug. Whispering into her ear, as if she was still afraid to voice her hopes and dreams aloud, she replied, "Better than I had ever dreamed, Maga. Naitha has remained devoted to me this entire time… has never even sought comfort with another, fully honoring our bonding."

Maga nodded. "And, I assume, you told her of our continuing relationship? That we carried on as we always did when she was out to sea?"

"I did, eventually… yes," Tris chuckled. "I had no intention of speaking of us, but she brought it up, asking how you were and if you were still satisfying my needs in her absence. She was actually grateful that we had not broken it off… and that I, too, had not strayed to any other lovers." Diverting from the topic, Tris commented, "That smells really good, but looks like a lot of food… certainly more than enough for the two of us. We could just as easily have gone to the main hall for breakfast. What do you intend to do with the inevitable leftovers?"

At that, Maga let out a hearty chuckle. "It is a lot of food… but not just for the two of us. I made enough for three, so call your good captain and tell her to get her blue ass up here in the next fifteen, or she'll be late for breakfast."

"No need." Tris couldn't keep herself from smiling. "She is not far behind me… but was heading to the main hall." As she spoke, she was raising her omnitool. "I will simply message her the new location for our… private… breakfast."

Naitha smiled softly as she read the message, replying quickly that she needed at least a little bit of time because many of the House staff were stopping her to say hello; it had been a long time since she had made an appearance at the main house. She had made it a habit to restrict herself to the docks and the boathouse, for obvious and very personal reasons, so people were surprised… particularly one Samantha Shepard. Naitha quickly typed, 'might be awhile. Shepard,' and closed her omnitool before giving a very slight, yet polite, bow as the captain approached her.

"Captain Shepard." She extended her hand in the Human fashion, continuing, "An honor and a pleasure to finally meet you in person." She paused only slightly before adding, "Captain Naitha M'Lori, Fisheries Manager and Fleet Captain, at your service."

Shepard gripped her hand firmly, but not overly so, and gave it a double pump. "Same here. I have heard more about you in the past twenty-four hours than I have in the entire time I've known Liara." She smiled and dropped the Asari's hand as she continued, "And there is no need to explain. Maga gave us the quick summary yesterday and I'm sure you and Tris will catch up with Liara sometime today?"

The last was couched as a question, the Human quirking an eyebrow up at an odd angle, making Naitha chuckle. "That we will, Captain. If Tris wasn't planning on doing so, I will make sure it gets added to today's schedule." She smiled and nodded, more to herself than to Shepard, and added, "We've waited long enough. No sense in wasting any more of the time Lady Liara is willing to give us."

"You could join us for breakfast." Shepard looked around, spying a larger table in the back of the room. "Liara is not far behind me. She had to stop and have a quick chat with Mozia but will be here in a few minutes. That table back in the corner would be perfect."

Naitha had paused, unsure how to tell the captain 'No,' which Shepard immediately picked up on; Samantha chuckled softly and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. It's apparent you have a more attractive offer. So, take your time with breakfast, then round up Tris and have her message Liara whenever you're ready. We'll be around the house all day… we have no plans other than to simply enjoy a relaxing day while we socialize with our many guests."

"I will do that, Shepard." Naitha gave a nod. "Very nice to finally meet you in person, and we'll try to catch up to you and Lady Liara sooner, rather than later, in the day."

Tris saw absolutely no reason to delay so, as soon as they had finished breakfast and cleaned up a little, they headed down to the reception hall and began the hunt for Lady Liara T'Soni. After roughly twenty minutes of searching, Tris gave up and messaged the young leader of House T'Soni, stating they would make themselves available at her convenience. A return message came back almost immediately, asking her to bring Naitha to the upstairs office, where they could meet, along with Mozia and Aethyta, in some semblance of privacy.

Nervous as pre-graduates on a first date, Tris and Naitha made their way upstairs. Glancing at one another, they took a deep, collective breath and knocked on the door, which was almost immediately thrown open in welcome, Liara positively beaming at the couple. "Goddess! Do come in! I am sorry this is so long overdue!"

Surprisingly, it was Aethyta who was the first to agree. "Yes, it is, Little Wing, but you cannot correct what you did not know about." Her gaze locked onto Tris and Naitha. "Why did you not come to me as soon as you learned of my reconciliation with Liara? How did I not know this?"

"Everyone was focused on the Reaper War, Thyta… as they should have been!" Tris stepped quickly into the room, pulling Naitha along with her and closing the door behind them, to ensure their conversation remained private. "The timing was horrible… particularly given the tragic and still-recent death of Benezia."

Naitha pulled her hand from Tris' grasp. "You all had much bigger things to focus on… and both Benezia's and Ryati's passing were simply too fresh. Were we to be like sharks, approaching while their blood was still circulating in the water?" She shook her head. "No. The timing would have been inappropriate. We still had a battle to wage… and mourning to be done once it was all over."

"I do realize we were gone for a whole year on the Victory Tour… but since then?" Liara asked. "Did you not have ample opportunity to approach us? It pains my heart to know you suffered this unnecessarily prolonged separation, when I had the ability to so easily mend it."

"After the Victory Tour, there were other things… Shepard's kidnapping, the Quarian Civil War… your hunt for the Protheans." Naitha's voice was strained as she continued, "So much was happening… is still happening… and I was unsure how such a request would be received. We could not know your thoughts on the matter, nor did we know if you were even aware of the decree." Her eyes wandered to her lover as she continued. "Tris and I had not spoken in so long… and then, following Ryati's death, neither of us knew where we stood, with one another or with the preexisting House T'Soni edict."

Even though Naitha was the one speaking, Liara looked at Tris. "And you? We already had other connections, including via Judea, so I am surprised you did not come forward and mention this sooner…" She paused and smiled, shaking her head. "But you know what? None of these things matter now and it would be pointless to assign blame; there is already enough of that going on for other things. What does matter is that the situation has now been brought to our attention."

Liara scowled, her brow pinching as she continued, "I cannot even begin to understand what my mother was thinking… some of the things she did, some of what she didn't do, and what she chose to keep from me." She shook her head, as if to shake those thoughts from her mind, and smiled. "But, while I cannot understand her reasoning nor change the past, House T'Soni can now rectify what I see as a terrible error in judgement… and Mozia and I have already taken the necessary steps to rescind the edict, in full."

Mozia walked over to them both and took their hands. "My only regret is that I was also unaware of the edict, or the issue would have been raised with Lady Liara as soon as possible after I was retained for the position of Regent."

"While we appreciate the sentiment, we also choose to not assign fault to anyone. Instead, we simply blame the circumstances that caused it, particularly the untimely deaths of Benezia… and Ryati." Tris shook her head, her sadness over the loss evident in her voice. "There is little any of us could have done… and, until now, we could not even begin to decide where we stood with one another or how to undo what transpired in the past."

Liara chimed in at that point, adding, "There is no need for you to repeat any of those details again, nor endure the additional heartaches your words would undoubtedly cause… for all of us. Let us move forward, free of such restrictions on your futures."

Shepard frowned slightly and asked, "Forgive me if this is none of my business, or an incredibly impolite inquiry, as I am still learning Asari customs… but, from all the conversations, I assume the two of you were never bonded or, I would think, the whole situation would have been more common knowledge. Is that true?"

Having known Shepard for longer, Tris opted to field her question. "You have become an integral member of House T'Soni and, as this is a question regarding your House Fleet Captain, you are well within your rights to make such an inquiry, Shepard, so there is no offense in asking such a question." She smiled and took Naitha's hand as she continued, "We never officially bonded, as we planned to continue living apart. We never saw much practicality in such a thing, with me remaining at the winery, and Naitha floating about the Kendra Ocean most of the year."

Naitha chuckled and squeezed Tris' hand for a second before letting go. "We have not, however, had the chance to figure out where our futures will take us... at least not yet." She gave Tris a wink and continued, "But we have decided to work on a plan for that… as we have a lot of missed time to make up for. That said, once we figure out what we want, we will let you and Liara know as soon as possible afterwards."

"I think we've covered the basics, here." Aethyta uncrossed her arms and let them drop to her sides. "The decree is rescinded, and your future is your own… though I do hope you'll stay with us, Naitha; you are a superb fleet Captain who would be incredibly difficult to replace." Her gaze shifted to Tris. "And you make some of the best wines on Thessia… so we would absolutely love to have you visit more often." She chuckled, giving Liara a glance and adding, "Hell. We certainly have the spare rooms. I'm pretty sure we could set up a satellite office for you here, if you wanted to make routine, extended visits. You would then be readily available should our good captain deem to grace us with her presence during her port calls, instead of hiding in the boat house."

With the last portion of her statement, Aethyta's gaze had shifted to Naitha, making the Asari captain chuckle. "Subtle, Thyta. Really subtle." She shrugged diminutively and smiled. "With all the awkwardness removed, I see no reason to not return to the house on a more routine basis… and I would never feel having Tris here when I come into port would be an unwelcome event." Her smile shifted to a full grin and her gaze moved to her lover. "Quite the opposite, in truth."

Tris' eyes glittered with unshed tears of joy. "Goddess, yes. If you message me with an expected date of return, I promise to do my best to be here, at the estate, to welcome you home, Nai-Nai."

Liara nodded, a wide smile overtaking her lips, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Then it is settled. I will begin working with Lyessa to convert two adjacent suites into suitable, extended duration, living quarters with an attached office. How does that sound?"

Tris nearly wept with joy. "That sounds positively divine, Liara! We cannot possibly thank you enough for your support and generosity."

Shepard issued a quiet chuckle before responding, "Just keep bringing us those gifts of wine, Tris. Everything else, we can figure out as we go." She then glanced at Liara. "As for us, we need to head downstairs and see to our other guests." Returning her attention to Tris and Naitha, she concluded, "Please, feel free to remain and chat with Moz and Thyta as long as you feel necessary. The office is available to you for as long as you need it."

Liara smiled and nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Also, I completely trust Regent Mozia in matters of the House, so I will stand by any decisions and agreements you may come to." Turning to her bondmate with a smile, she looped her arm through Shepard's and gave a little tug. "Come, Samantha, let us go enjoy the rest of the day with all our friends."

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 21 Dec 2190

"Good morning, A Grá." Shepard's emerald-green eyes peered down at Liara, who would never grow tired of waking up next to her Human.

Liara responded in a whisper still rough with sleep. "Good morning to you, Siame… and happy Alban Arthan. Did you sleep well?"

"After yesterday's fun… and last night's activities? How could I not?" Shepard's face held that positively adorable grin of hers, making Liara chuckle.

"You are absolutely incorrigible, Shepard." Liara reached up and pulled Samantha's head closer, to plant a long kiss on those sumptuous, eager lips. "Not that I mind. Not one bit. It's part of what makes you so damned irresistible." She smiled and yawned, then made her best effort to blink the sleepiness out of her eyes. Not bothering to find her own omnitool on the nightstand, she simply asked, "What time is it?"

"Why, 'tis eight, my dear. I need to touch base with Mom and Lyessa, to make sure everything is ready for tonight's celebration, and I wanted to let you know I was leaving. You getting up, or do you want to sleep some more? I'm happy to come back and wake you… say nine or ten?"

Liara chuckled quietly and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and drawing in Samantha's pleasant scent along with it. "No… We have guests to attend to, and I am quite awake, now, so I may as well rise and get showered and dressed." She reached up and caressed her bondmate's cheek. "You go ahead, and I'll see you shortly. Have you already eaten?"

"Nope." Shepard smiled. "I was waiting for you… expecting you to message me when you were ready to leave the room… intending to meet you in the reception area for breakfast, once you were up and about."

"No need to wait any longer, Samantha. Head down and I will join you shortly." As Shepard rolled off the bed on one side, Liara slipped out from under the covers on the other, stretching her lithe body as she reached her hands toward the ceiling.

"Gods, Liara." The Asari turned her head as she dropped her arms, looking at the woman, the question obvious in her expression. Shepard shook her head and smiled coyly. "Like you don't realize how gorgeous you are? Seeing you naked like that, in all your glory?" Her eyes twinkled and her lopsided grin returned as she continued, "Watching the muscles in your arms and shoulders rippling with your stretch? If I didn't have a meeting to attend… and my stomach wasn't so desiring of breakfast, I imagine we would be making a very late showing today, as I can think of some very enjoyable activities to while away the rest of the morning."

"Ha." Liara grinned in response. "After last night? I would definitely need to replenish my reserves before we try any more of that. I'm afraid I simply don't have the necessary energy at the moment, Samantha. Maybe later?"

"Hm. I think I've heard that line before, T'Soni." Shepard smiled and walked toward the door, stopping and turning her head to look back at the Asari one more time before she left the room to go find her mother. "But, this time, I just might hold you to it. We'll see how the day goes."

Following both the quick meeting with Hannah and Lyessa, followed by breakfast, Shepard, a touch of embarrassment tinting her cheeks red, approached the Admiral. "Hey, Ines… I have to admit that I misspoke regarding Miranda and Judea's coming and going."

"Are they not coming today?" Ines' expression fell. "And will I not be getting the wonderful aerial tour you promised me?"

"Oh, no, nothing so bad… it's actually good news." Shepard shook her head and continued, "I'm not sure how I failed to see it, other than I had so many different arrival and departure dates in my head… but I told you they would be staying through the weekend, then leaving to come back between Christmas and New Year's Day…"

Shepard stopped speaking, as Ines had already started laughing, finishing for her. "But it's already Christmas week, so they aren't going anywhere. They're here the rest of this week and all of next, aren't they?"

"Yup," Shepard smirked. "So, they will be here in a couple of hours… along with Matriarch Tralis – the Director of Operations for T'Sere Shipwrights. Judea will be piloting one of her four-seater sport craft. She laughed when I asked why she wasn't bringing one of her racers, quickly reminding me all of her racers are single-seaters. Kind of hard to give a tour in that."

"So, with them being here the whole week, there will be plenty of time to chat and get to know everyone, before the big tour!" A huge smile had taken over the woman's face with the news. "Most excellent!" She chuckled. "Don't worry about the confusion on the dates, Sam. You have a hell of a lot going on right now, with nearly a hundred guests. Mixing up travel dates for a couple of them is a seriously minor issue, don't you think?"

A short huff of laughter preceded her response. "I suppose so… but, still. Not my normal attention to detail."

"Good for you!" Ines grinned widely as she continued, "Sounds to me like you're actually learning what it is to be retired… to leave all the details to someone else and actually enjoy your time with Liara, your family, and friends." Her grin softened to a contented smile as she finished, "I very much look forward to the day I can join you on that journey."

Shepard's eyebrow quirked up. "You contemplating retirement, Ines?"

"Yes… but it's not imminent." The admiral shrugged. "I also believe it's never too early to start planning, particularly when it could be sometime within the next decade. Those ten years will fly by and be upon me before I know it, so I'm starting to prep for it now."

Shepard immediately thought of the admiral's daughter. "Would you go to Amanda on Terra Nova, since it doesn't seem like she has any plans to come this way?"

"Not on your life." Ines didn't hesitate in her response. "That place is just too damned hot! I plan on finding a lovely garden world to retreat to. Perhaps, by then, Earth will be mostly rebuilt, and I just might decide to go home… purchase a small cabin on a lake somewhere outside a major city… but within an hour's flight to the port, so it's easy to travel should the bug bite." She chuckled and grinned, adding, "While I won't live on Terra Nova, I will visit. I have no intention of completely ignoring my daughter, just because she chooses to live on some crappy world."

"Nice to know." Shepard smirked and shook her head, adding, "Anyway… If you want, I can give you a buzz when I have a firm arrival time for Judea and company, should you like to join Liara and me welcoming them?"

"That sounds wonderful, Sam." Ines gave her a wink. "I will be eagerly anticipating your message… both to meet them all and to see the wonderful ship we'll be journeying in."

The group meeting those arriving from T'Sere was much larger than Liara expected… but when she thought about it, it made sense. Judea had been a mainstay at the Estate in Liara's younger years, and Miranda had been an integral player in the war, working closely with both Liara's Personal Guard and, then – after the war – with the medical staff, when Shepard's nanites had begun to fail. As for T'Sere, House T'Soni had a long-standing relationship with the shipwright, compliments of Judea, so everyone at the Estate knew and respected them all.

The aircar that landed immediately reminded Shepard of the Mark II 2187 Blackout, which was capable of 650 clicks; barely considered legal. When she commented on it, Judea's face took on a somewhat smug expression as she responded, "And just where do you think they got the design for that vehicle?"

"Seriously?" Shepard let out a quiet whistle. "That must have made you a cred or two."

"Yes, it has… still is, as a matter of fact, as I have a 25-year royalty agreement on every vehicle sold. Even at a mere one percent, it has already added a tidy sum to my accounts… and will continue to do so for another two-plus decades." Judea smiled and let out a quiet chuckle. "And that is the approved passenger version of my 'sport' model. This model is not legal in any city-controlled airspace, so we can't even take it to House Armali."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "Top speed?"

"I don't know yet… not really, since I'm always tinkering with my designs. Though, initial testing indicates it will be somewhere in the 740 to 750 range."

"Shit, that's fast, even for a sport model!" Shepard simply shook her head in amazement. "But if it's not legal, what the hell do you do with it?"

Laughing, Judea answered, "It's a performance vehicle, Shepard… so T'Sere uses a version of it to compete in obstacle course races, not straight distance tracks. Its maneuverability is what makes it the perfect fit for the tight spiral decent necessary to get us down to the lakeside camp. Honestly, we could use a standard shuttle to drop straight in, if not for the noise restrictions… but it wouldn't be near as much fun. With this, even under limited power, the performance level is still incredibly high, so we can drop in almost soundlessly, and at a pretty good clip."

"Sounds perfect for the task, then." An impatient Ines finally couldn't stand it. "Get there fast, drop in all quiet-like, so as to not disturb the local wildlife, and spend just a bit of time at the lake to admire the view without freezing to death." She smiled and stuck her hands out, palms up, Asari style. "Ines Lindholm. A pleasure to meet you, Judea."

"The pleasure is mine, Admiral…"

"Nope. Don't do it." Ines cut her off quickly and grinned, "There will be no using my rank while I'm here. It's just Ines, please. I'm trying my darnedest to spend a full two weeks as a normal person, with no responsibilities looming over my head. I'd appreciate you helping me out with that, Judea. I've heard a lot about you."

Judea smiled and nodded. "I can understand the sentiment. The war took a lot from us… a return to normal and taking time out to simply appreciate that we survived is a worthy goal."

"Ahhh." Ines sighed. "Nice to know you get it, Judea." Glancing at the aircar, she gave a nod of appreciation. "That right there is quite the work of art. Can't wait to get that tour."

"Then we won't make you wait any longer than necessary," Judea laughed and answered promptly. "Today is a holiday and it is very likely tomorrow will be spent recovering from the expected night of drinking… but Thursday?" Her gaze shifted to Liara. "Is there anything planned for the day which would prohibit our departure to the lake?"

Liara looked at Shepard and shrugged. "Not that I know of… but we should confirm it with Lyessa, to be certain. We had originally planned to take the trip on Monday, between the holidays, but I see no reason why we can't shift the date."

"Or do multiple trips, to give Ines more of an overview of Thessia," added Shepard. "It is her first time here."

"Oh!" exclaimed the pilot. "Then we absolutely have to do that!" Shifting her attention to Ines, she continued, "I love having more opportunities to fly, so you absolutely must take time to see the Thaptos Vineyards… enroute to the Dancing Bird Straits! Assuming, of course, you would like to see more of the countryside outside of Armali."

"Sounds wonderful, if it's okay with our hosts?" Ines glanced at the couple and smiled hopefully.

"Oh, absolutely!" answered Liara without hesitation. "And you should swing out over Lake Sirala, either on you way out or back. That is not a sight to be missed, even from altitude."

"Very true… but it is even better this time of year. Since it is winter, the birds are not migrating…" Judea's eyes twinkled as she continued, "Which translates into the fact that we can drop all the way down to 500 meters. Assuming the weather is clear, you will have a great view of the lake! If the weather is not favorable, it is likely not worth the diversion."

"That would be regrettable," answered Ines. "But it would also give me an excuse to come visit again, at some point in the future, wouldn't it?"

Liara chuckled quietly. "Why, yes it would, but you don't need an excuse, Ines. You are always welcome to come here… with or without Samantha's and my presence. Simply coordinate it with Lyessa to make sure we have a room available."

"Oh, I couldn't!"

Shepard gave her a look that said it all, but she added, "Yes, you could. Anyone who comes here is considered family, or you wouldn't have been invited… and family is always welcome, so much so that many who have come back a few times now consider the Estate their home away from home. We are more than happy to welcome you into the fold, Ines." She suddenly smirked, adding, "Though, that does necessitate a few return visits…"

"Thank you." Ines almost looked like she was going to cry but controlled it well. "I don't have much of that… family time, that is… with Mandy so far away on Terra Nova. Having someplace to call home – other than my military quarters – would be a nice change of pace, I think."

Hannah and Karin had walked up to say their hellos, and Hannah quickly added, "And if you do decide to come out… please do give me a call. If I can fit it into my schedule, I would be more than happy to join you!"

Karin smiled, adding, "And enough chatter with Ines! Our new arrivals have a whole contingent of people who are eagerly awaiting their hugs!"

Ines looked at the good doctor and laughed. "Woe be it for me to hold up the entire family reunion! Come on… you've lots of hands to help you carry your bags in. Folks are apparently waiting on us, so let's get a move on!"

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 22 Dec 2190

Judea's prediction turned out to be spot on. The party following the Alban Arthan blessing lasted well into the wee hours of the next morning, with most everyone – other than the commandos who were on duty – rising much later than normal. Even Shepard and Liara hadn't risen to make their appearance until after ten, barely in time for brunch.

Of no surprise, Ashley Williams had also imbibed rather wholeheartedly, throughout the evening; she was currently occupied in an attempt to clear the remaining fog from her head by touring the estate grounds in the cold, brisk air, accompanied by former crewmate Samantha Traynor. With Ashley out of the house, Andreas had finally found some 'alone time' to approach the captain with what he considered one of the most vital questions of his entire life. "Shepard, might I have a word with you, in private?"

"Of course, Andreas. Shall we go to my office?"

Nodding, the lieutenant colonel responded, "That would be perfect… and I promise to not take too much of your time."

He followed Shepard the short distance into the well-appointed room; inside, with door closed and seated in a comfortable chair facing the large windows, he came right to the point. "Shepard, I really don't wish to spoil the surprise I have in store for Ashley, but I see no way around it." He paused to collect his thoughts, then explained, "I have been thinking about my life… our lives, a lot, this past year. Ashley Williams is the absolute love of my life – a fact of which I am sure you are aware. Christmas day, after everyone has received and opened their presents, I'm going to present her with this." He brought forth a small, velvet covered case and opened it to reveal its contents. "I intend to place this ring on her finger and ask for her hand in marriage."

Shepard grinned at the lieutenant colonel and teasingly asked, "In front of everyone? You that convinced she'll say yes?" then laughed aloud at the cloudy expression that settled over the man's features, saying, "Sorry, I couldn't resist – I know she's over the moon in love with you… although it's not something she's actually admitted to me – she's much too private a person to share those feelings – but it is obvious to me, as well as to anyone that cares to look. Anytime she's with you, I can see it, just as clearly as I can see the depth of your love for her." With a chuckle, she concluded, "Just so you know, I love Ashley Williams like a sister. She'll be absolutely thrilled, once she's over the surprise, and I cannot think of a more fitting climax to our Christmas celebration than a marriage proposal."

"I sometimes forget you spent nearly the entire war with her on that damned overpowered frigate, and she was with you on the SR1, during your hunt for Saren." Falk closed the case and returned it to a pocket, then coughed slightly and said, "I would like to ask a favor, if I may. I am confident you have long-range communications equipment here. Would it be possible for us to contact Ashley's mom and sisters afterwards? They'll all be together, celebrating the holiday at Sarah's home. I would love for Ashley to be able to deliver the news as soon as possible."

Shepard smiled in understanding. "Absolutely, Mister Falk. I cannot imagine anything that would thrill Ashley's family more than to learn they have a wedding to plan for."

Falk relaxed ever so slightly. "I managed to spring a reunion on her year before last, at my home in London." With a light chuckle, he continued, "I have to tell you, Captain, Ashley's reaction… Hell, the reaction of all of them, was a sight to behold. I've never seen a family so thrilled to be reunited… I don't mind telling you it brought tears to my eyes."

Shepard leaned back in her chair. After contemplating the scenery through the large windows for several moments, she replied, "Should be no problem for Traynor to set that up, Andreas. I imagine that will only add to their Christmas celebration, especially since Ashley is so close to her mom and sisters." She leaned forward, steepling her fingers together as she continued. "I know how hard it was to find time to speak with me, without Ash around… so, if you pass me the contact info, I can get it to Traynor with Ash none the wiser." She glanced at her chrono for a second before continuing, "I can have her set it up for an early evening call… which, if my quick calculation is correct, will be early to mid-afternoon for them. Will that work?"

Falk's face held a grin that stretched from ear-to-ear. "That will be perfect, Shepard. Thanks, and I owe you one… a big one; I truly appreciate the assist!"