One full year on this alien planet that I now call home is about to pass. Right now, only an inch of snow is left on the ground. The bright sun is melting what is left. Soon even our igloo will melt away. Every day since our wedding has been filled with happiness. I still wake up smiling every morning and twist my beloved's hair. When Tali awakes, she plants a gentle kiss on my lips, sits up and stretches. My slender and elegant wife becomes curvier with each delicious meal I cook her. Rael's even putting on some muscle, especially sense I made him shovel most mornings. Rann loves to sit by the fire, if we put the screen over and knit when she is home. Rael and Rann year has been very busy. The construction on the first cities will be complete. Normally, winter is off season, but the geth are impatient and want it finished as soon as possible. The cold doesn't affect them so they are out there working. In exchange for their labor, the geth are getting their own apartments. The migrants asked why they needed it and they geth said they wanted it. Fair trade in my book. There remains alot of work to be done. Water purification plants, power stations, sewers, everything a city needs for a thriving community. As for food, many migrants still consume the nutrient pastes, but trade has opened up. The migrants trade material harvested from asteroids for food. There have been many complaints of sore jaws from chewing. They need to go through their adjustment phase if they want to taste the fruits of their labor, which reminds me, they should be planting the seeds for their farms when the frost is over.

Tali and I passed the time binge watching shows and she made me watch Citadel Encounters. I'm ashamed to admit I'm addicted to it. The way the show portrays interspecies relationships is something I would never see in my home universe, and the main character, portrayed by famous human actor Jason Stravinsky is so smooth. I can see why the girls have him as their celebrity crushes. For Tali's birthday, I plan to transform into him and knock Tali's thigh high socks off.

The craziest thing happened earlier this year. We've been going into town more and more as the year progressed and sometimes when I came home, I forgot to transform back into my human body until I hadn't been a human in weeks. Several times, I would wake up, clean myself off in the bathroom, look the mirror and freak out at my own reflection, forgetting I am a quarian now. I had body dysmorphia for a while. But that is not the weird part. One day, Rael connected his omnitool to the Rannocian network and streamed a sports game onto the wall. My quarian body was pulled by a mysterious force, to sit down and watch. Tali said "I thought you didn't like sports."

I'm in a trance "normally I don't but I feel a tug to watch this. When one team gets a point, my brain is releasing happy chemicals. This is so weird." Is this what my dad felt when he watched the game? I understand the appeal. Tali asked us if we would like anything to drink and I said "sure." My wife went to the fridge and poured an amber colored liquid in two chilled glasses. I thought she handed me apple juice, until I tasted it. It wasn't but it was delicious, and it made me feel really warm and happy. I asked Tali what it was, and she answered a beer. So, this is what my high tolerance to alcohol was hiding from me. I can see myself getting used to this.

Tali and I mostly had the house to ourselves while Rann and Rael committed themselves to their duties as Admirals. How they perform will be a huge factor in the first elections. They should take place in a year or so. The migrants want the cities build first before electing government officials. It took much and Rael and Rann's time away, but they always managed to make it to our weekly game night. I taught them how to play Uno, Cribbage, Chess, skip-bo, Catan, and others I loved to play with my family when I visited during the holidays.

Tali found a job in town putting her engineering skills to work. It was a bit of an adjustment for her, adapting to the forty-hour schedule. Tali would come home and tell me she felt lazy for leaving work at work. I remind her that is what's supposed to happen. When she still had fuel in the tank, after we eat, Tali would do the dishes. Rann took an interest in cooking, and I taught her the basics. I was so proud of her when she made brownies all by herself. By the way, quarian chocolate is delicious. Rael couldn't sit still and would work on his omnitool. I don't understand his work enough. If I didn't know what he does, I'd assume he was an occultist as the symbols on his holographic screen gave me the jeebies. I consider myself working part-time. I technically don't get paid but am assisting the admirals on basic things they wouldn't think of, like collecting flammable gas from the dump yards or why they need water towers on the skyscrapers. When they don't need me, I frequent the plant shops to come up with ideas for a garden. My starts will need to be planted outside soon. Nothing like farm to table food.

Roan and Kara invited us over for holidays. Here, a Christmas-like celebration occurs first then a month later, a new year feast which is essentially thanksgiving. When Rann and Rael first met their domesticated large cat, they hid themselves in a closet. It took us half an hour to coax them out. After that incident, we warned the migrants if they see an animal like this, to not shoot it as they are pets. Once they found out they could have pets, it was a frenzy to find them. Birds, reptiles, you name it, someone wanted to care for one.

A few months after the new year feast, Roan and Kara invited us over to meet their bigcat's kittens. They are not breeders. Their girl freely roams the property and meet someone in the woods. They never found out who but left them with six adorable kittens. They are so small and cute. Not much bigger than an earth kitten. I love animals so much. I would take them all home if I could, but we are not starting a zoo in the backyard. The kittens were old enough to play with. Tali went into their section and sat in the ground. The kittens were nervous at first, hiding inside a little plastic castle. My wife whispers to the kitties "it's ok cuties. I'm not going to hurt you. Can you come say hi?"

Kara shaked a bag of treats and handed a few pits to Tali. They came running when they heard the food. Tali was filled to the brim with delight when the kittens crawled on her lap, eating the food from her hand. She would stroker the back of the little critters ever so gently. When the food was gone, all but one kitten returned to their shelter. I sat next to Tali and watched as she played with the paw of an adorable kitten with black fur, white tipped tail, and the two front paws toes were white as well. Tali and the furball connected with each other and felt immediate love.

Roan told us "we need to make sure these little guys go to a good home. What do you say?"

Tali immediately swiveled her head, her sparking begging eyes and wide smile I could not disappoint. I'd love to have a pet. I haven't had one since my first life. It's been so long, and I only ever had dogs, much less a cougar.

I told Roan and Kara "I had pets before, but not like this. I'm not sure how to take care of him or her."

Tali holds the kitten close to her chest. She's not letting this one go.

Kara explains "Food can be bought at the store and have water available always. You'll want to keep her in the house for the first half of the year but when they are grown, they can start going outside."

Tali asks "outside? I don't want him to get lost in the woods."

Kara says "This breed will return home and it's good for them. Gives them exercise and they like to sharpen their claws on the trees. Don't be shocked if they come back with a present."

Tali asks "present?"

Roan laughs "Dinner needing to be cooked arrived in feather covered packaging."

I comment "sweet free meal."

Tali is horrified this little thing will grow up to kill birds. She says "I don't want any animals to die."

Roan explains "I get that. Sad to see the light go out of nature's little wonders eyes, but it actually beneficial as those pheasants are overpopulated. What do you say? Feel like adding a family member?"

Tali looks down at her furry bundle of joy, kissing the little one's forehead. Tali makes direct eye contact with me "please my cherished?"

I tell her "Tali, having a pet is a responsibility. We'll have to feed him… how many times?"

Kara answers "once in the morning and in the evening."

I continue "twice a day. We'll have to potty train him or her, brush their coat, will you take care of this little guy?"

Tali vigorously nods her head "I will. I promise."

I ask Raon and Kara basic questions. How long do they live? 15-20 years. How are they with infants and children? Kara reminds me how her cat lets her kids pull their whiskers and doesn't react. Health issues that may be common. Maybe arthritis when they get older.

I scoot closer to the fuzzy little creature. I ask him "what do you say? What us to be your parents?" The little guy meows. I take that as a yes. I tell Tali we can take him. Tali pulls me in for a kiss, then says "you are the best husband ever!"

Roan and Kara loans us a blanket and some food. Tali let's her pet say goodbye to his cat mom before going to our new home. They will have plenty of chances to see each other. Tali thanks Kara and Raon for our newest family member. All they ask is for us to take good care of this boy. Kara thinks it is a boy. We'll know for sure in a month. Tali carries her kitten the whole way home. As I drive, I ask Tali what she is going to name him.

Tali says "I'm not sure. I want to give him a good name."

I said "well he's going to be a good kitty, so he needs a good name."

Tali says "cat."

I ask "why did you say cat? He needs a real name."

Tali says "It was the first thing to come into my mind. What about Ziggy?"

"Ziggy?"

Tali says "I don't know any good cat names."

I joke "Saren."

Tali says "no." I laugh.

Tali thinks "What about… Keenah?"

Meows.

"I think he likes it. Why does Keenah sound familiar?"

Tali explains "I never really talked about him. Keenah was a quarian who paired with me on my pilgrimage. Saren's goons killed him before you met me."

I slow down the skycar "I'm sorry for what happened. If I could change it, you know I would. Wait could I pull the trick I did with Garrus's crew?"

Tali shakes her head "He bleed out. I saw it myself. He is gone. I hope he is with his ancestors. I wonder if he reincarnated as this little guy."

I explain to Tali "it wouldn't be the first time someone has done that, but souls tend to stick as the same species. Compatibility factor or something."

Tali says "I'm just imagining it. Whoever you are, you're Keenah now and I am going to give you so much love." My beautiful wife is already smothering our furry son. I picked the best woman ever. I stopped the skycar to take a picture. We have to fill those empty picture frames. Our wedding photos are not nearly enough.

Keenah yawns, falling asleep on Tali's chest. His rapid breathing slows down in his new mother's arms. When we get home, I open the door for Tali. I raise my voice to not a yell volume, but enough for Rael and Rann to come over.

Rael comes up from the basement, asking "what happened?"

A toilet flushes and a moment later, Rann exits the bathroom. She instantly senses something is up. Tali tells them to come closer, then when they are close enough, Tali pulls away the blanket revealing Keenah. Rael asks "what is this?" Rann's heart melts. She removes her visor to welcome our newest family member. Rann asks if she can pet him and Tali nods. Rann pulls off her gloves, stroking the head. Rael steps closer, he just observes. Tali's dad asks "does he have a name?"

Tali answers "I named him after Keenah."

Rann says "that is a wonderful choice."

Rael fondly remembers him "He was a good man. He'd be honored."

Tali gently rocks the kitten awake "do you want to see your new home?"

Tali puts down Keenah. He is unsure of his surroundings. The little guy must be tired as he shakes a little. Keenah walks around for a bit, exploring the edges of the couch, the firepit, rubs his body along the circumference of the bean bag, laying down to sleep there. Tali quietly walks over, picks up her new baby, and sits in the beanbag. This is too cute, and I take another picture. Tali places Keenah on her shoulder and he rests his cute little head against her neck. Rann audible gasps and Rael smiles. I slowly put a blanket over them, then kiss my wife's lips then Keenah's head.

"You two should bond for a while then we can take him outside to use the bathroom."

Tali warns me "you might have to fight for my affection now."

I tell her "I know you have enough love to give to the both of us."

Tali kisses Keenah's back "I love you my little Keenah."

I can't help but to smile. Our family is starting to grow. Tali is so happy to have her first pet, and I am too. It's been far too long since I've had an animal to care for. I'm going to make sure Keenah is well fed with lots of human- I mean quarian food, walk him around the property when he's old enough. And the laser pointer. I can't wait for the laser pointer. As long as Tali and I can cuddle comfortably in our bed, I won't mind this little guy joining us.

Rael pulls me aside and thanks me once again for making Tali so happy. All I need is to see my wife's amazing smile.