Chapter 8 - Negotiation

Garrus
December 7th, 2186

Amelia snuggled herself against my body as we lay in bed together. I tightened my arm around her body, pulling her closer. "What's on your mind?"

"Jason offered me a job earlier. Ambassador to the Hierarchy."

I put my head into the crook of her shoulder, humming quietly, "Hmmmm… Amelia Shepard. Commander, Admiral, born leader, peacemaker, savior of the galaxy three times over, and now Ambassador? Sounds sexy." Amelia just let out a choked sob and a laugh simultaneously, prompting me to ask what was wrong.

A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she was silent for a few minutes. She eventually rolled over to face me, "Is it wrong to not want it?"

"What do you mean?"

She bit her lip, "When I joined the Alliance at eighteen, I swore that no one would ever suffer like I did again. For fifteen years, I've fought to keep my word. I've watched friends die. I've died. And when I was brought back, I kept fighting. I watched more of my friends die, and I… I don't know if I can do it anymore." She took a breath to steady herself, "All those things you called me just now… I don't know if I want to be that person anymore. I don't know if I want to be 'Commander Shepard' anymore. I just wanna be me again... just Amelia Vakarian."

My mandibles fluttered involuntarily at her final words as she stared at me, a medley of emotions visible in her green eyes, "Amelia…-"

"No, just forget I said it. I knew I was moving too fast," She cut me off, and a wave of sadness and doubt swept across her eyes.

" Let me finish." I say quietly, taking hold of one of her hands and squeezing it, "I want you to be whoever you want to be. Nothing in the universe makes me happier than hearing you say Amelia Vakarian." I grabbed my datapad from the bedside table, "That reminds me, this is what I asked my secretary to do earlier."

The screen flickered on and showed a contract. "What is this?" She asked.

"Our wedding contract. As soon as it's filed, it's official."

"It's as simple as that?" She asked with a skeptical tone to her voice.

"Simple as that, Amelia… Vakarian." I rested my forehead on hers as she scribbled her signature below where mine already was. "I love you. No matter what you decide about the job, I'll support your choice."

-0-

December 8th, 2186

I woke to the rare sight of sunlight pouring through the window and an empty bed, still warm with the imprint of my bondmate. I looked around groggily, trying to get my bearings. It had been years since I slept past sunrise. Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the door. Upon opening it, a delicious smell entered my nostrils, extracting a hum of pleasure.

I pad to the kitchen, where Amelia stood with her back turned to me, an immaculate view, next to the kava maker. I take a moment to look over her appreciatively. Her hair was still matted and wet, giving off some Earth flower smell. She had a fresh set of civilian clothes, a pair of blue jeans, and a tight-fitting sweater, which hugged her body perfectly. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and planted a kiss on her head. "Mmmm… Something smells good." I say, taking an exaggerated inhale.

"Morning." She smiled, "I remember you made this one morning, so I wanted to make it for you." She offered me a cup, which I accepted happily, taking a sip.

"Mmmmm, that's good." I traced a thumb over the lines of blue paint on her cheek, "Thank you." I settled myself into a chair and opened my datapad. "Another thing I was working on-" I opened the requisite document and slid the pad to her, "A citizenship amendment. Any non-turian who is bonded with a citizen of the Hierarchy may apply to be a citizen if they agree to serve in the military or government for four years, and that is exempt if they served in any other military for that long." I explain while she skims the page. "If you apply, you will be afforded all rights and privileges that any other citizen would have."

Amelia smiled, leaned over, and kissed me on the mandible. "I'll fill it out later, but we're gonna be late if we don't leave."

-0-

I sat at my desk, watching intently as Prime Minister Stone walked in, along with two advisors, the group taking their seats. "Primarch." Stone greeted warmly.

"Prime Minister." I return.

"I hear you have a proposal?" Stone asked while he slid into a chair on the other side of the desk.

"Yes, sir. I propose partially integrating our militaries and a defensive pact between our species." Stone raised an eyebrow at me, but when no immediate protests came, I continued, "The Normandy proved how well we could work together; what I propose is an expansion on that philosophy. We develop new ship classes based on joint designs from our engineers and operate them with both Hierarchy and Alliance personnel. We can start small initially, and if the trial is successful, we can expand the program."

"I can accept that. I have to say, I appreciate the efficiency of your government. It's a break from the bureaucracy of Earth." Stone stood up and offered his hand, which I took.

"Have a safe trip home, Prime Minister."

Amelia

I leaned against the wall outside Garrus's office, waiting for Jason to exit after their meeting. In a surprisingly little amount of time, he emerged from the office. "Ame, how are you?" He asked when he appeared.

I smiled at my childhood friend, glad to see that the years hadn't changed who he was. "Great, thank you. Listen, I wanted to tell you I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept the job. I'm sorry."

Jason walked over, rested a hand on my shoulder, and gave me a knowing smile, "You don't have to apologize to me, Ame. If anyone deserves to rest, it is you. And it's pretty clear you got what you came to Palaven looking for. You look happy."

"I am happy. For the first time in a long time." I raised a hand to the blue paint on my cheek, running the knuckle along the line, smiling, and hugged my old friend, "I'll be back on Earth in a few weeks; I have to get a wedding dress."

"Alright, Ame, I'll see you then." As he departed, I went into Garrus's office.

Garrus

I'm intently staring at my terminal when I hear the door to my office slide open, which confuses me because I don't have another meeting for fifteen minutes. I look up to see Amelia walk in, flashing a smile at me. I couldn't control my mandibles as they spread into a smile, and I rumbled a happy note. That woman didn't know how far she had me wrapped around her finger, and I couldn't be happier.

I quickly rose from my chair and strode to her, kissing her. Once we separated, Amelia sat in one of the chairs on the side wall of the room, pulling a knee up to her chin and wrapping her arms around it.

"Spirits, how does that not hurt you?"

Amelia's face immediately grew a dirty smirk, "You should know this by now, Garrus. You have the reach, but I have the flexibility."

I sighed and pinched his nose, "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

Amelia just giggled, "Yep." It was a beautiful sound from the perfect woman, one I would endeavor to hear more.

"So, how did Stone take it?"

"Good, better than I thought he would. He said he was happy for me."

"That's good. Oh, my father asked me to come to dinner tonight. Do you want to come?"

"Of course."

We sat in companionable silence until the fifteen minutes had passed, and Amelia stood up, "Whelp… gotta go, sensitive Hierarchy business is about to happen."

"No, no. You can stay if you want. Besides, it's Wrex next." With that, she settled back into her chair.

As if on queue, the door slid open to reveal the lumbering krogan with scars down the right side of his face, and behind him was Grunt. Amelia's face lit up when she saw the young krogan, and she quickly got up to greet the pair. She hugged Wrex first and then punched him on the shoulder, and Wrex punched her back, causing her to stumble before falling on her ass. Grunt just guffawed at the whole display.

Wrex offered a meaty paw to her, allowing her to stand up. "Shepard!"

"Hey, Wrex." She said, dusting herself off exaggeratedly, "What are you doing, dragging my son around to political talks? It's a wonder he hasn't eaten anyone yet."

The elder krogan's booming laugh filled the room, "He can't eat anyone; they're all dextro." He turned his attention to me, "Who ever thought we'd see a day when this whelp was in charge." Wrex said with little emotion, but he offered his arm for a wrist clap.

I flicked my mandible before accepting the gesture, "So, Wrex, how are things on Tuchanka?"

"Good, good. Most of the other clans have fallen in line; only a few holdouts remain."

"So what? You'll then sit on your rubble throne as king of all krogan?" I ask with a smile.

"You wound me, Garrus. I have a real throne now." Wrex said, feigning offense.

-0-

The next few hours went about the same, meeting with each of the representatives of the various races in attendance. Finally, I was on the last one, the asari.

Amelia stood from her chair in the corner and walked up behind me, kneading her hands into my stiff shoulders. I sank under her touch, taking a moment to relax and prepare for the next meeting. After the salarian dalatrass had left, I needed it.

The meeting with the salarians didn't go as well as I hoped, but exactly as anticipated. Linron was still upset at the Hierarchy for their participation in curing the genophage and allowing the krogan to join the new alliance. I wasn't having any of it. "Dalatrass, the krogan have paid for the Rebellions many times over, and they are here to stay, so make your choice."

I knew the next meeting would also be unpleasant, and I had a few words to say to Tevos about a certain Prothean beacon hidden from the rest of the galaxy.

A few moments later, Tevos entered the room, carrying herself with her normal holier-than-thou attitude. "Councilor." I greeted coldly.

As the asari walked in, she spotted Amelia sitting in the corner, "Primarch, I understood this was to be a private meeting."

"She is my bondmate and closest advisor; she had every right to be here," I replied with thinly-veiled anger.

"Fine." Tevos relented, "What did you wish to speak about?"

"I don't enjoy doing this, but I am giving you an ultimatum. You kept the existence of a Prothean beacon from every other race for millennia. That ends now, or you will not be welcome in this alliance."

Tevos scoffed, "You wouldn't."

"I would. As far as I am concerned, anything you provide to our alliance can easily be replicated by other participants. You are here simply due to our history of cooperation."

When Tevos paused, a look of disbelief on her face, I pressed further, "How many billions died because of your vanity, Councilor?"

Tevos balked, "I don't appreciate what you are Insinuating-"

I silence her with a light growl, "You had a fully functional Prothean beacon with information that not only proved the Reaper's existence, but also had plans for the Crucible, and you only revealed it once your people felt the ire of the Reapers. Three years passed from when she-" I pause, pointing at Amelia, who was still sitting in her chair watching the proceedings, "-told you about the Reapers, and you had plenty of chances to connect the dots, so again I ask: How many billions died because of your vanity?"

I easily held the icy gaze of the asari, daring her to blink. After another moment of silence, I answered my own question, "One billion turians, two billion humans, one hundred million salarians, six hundred million asari, one hundred million elcor, two hundred million volus, five million quarians, and three million geth. Your vanity cost the galaxy over four billion lives."

I level a fiery glare at the asari, no longer trying to veil my anger. A gamut of emotions crossed the ageless blue face, and I found myself reminiscing about how much I missed this part since I left C-Sec: the kill.

"Fine." That was all Tevos said after a few moments before striding out the room, her air of superiority faltering.

Amelia

I looked at myself in the mirror of the downstairs bathroom of Garrus's home - our home, I guess - touching up the blue paint that washed off when I took a shower. As soon as they arrived home, Garrus said that he had to clean the political filth off of himself, and when I asked if he wanted a companion, he said something that truly made me flush pink. "I'd love one, but if we do, we'll be late, and my father will know why."

I wrapped a towel around myself before heading back upstairs. Garrus emerged from the master bathroom as I entered the bedroom, dabbing at his plates with a towel. I bit my lip and moved my eyes up and down his frame, taking in all the alien edges of his body. I notice that he is intently staring at my waist, still obscured by the towel. With a flare, I take the tucked corner of the towel out and let it fall to the floor.

"You're making me want to be late." He said, sex appeal oozing from his throat. The sound alone sent a warm shot into my core.

"Oh?" I say, trying to feign ignorance, but I knew Garrus could smell the arousal on my skin. I saunter up to him, my hips swaying far more than strictly necessary, and once I reached him, I let a finger trail its way from his arm, down the sensitive part of his waist, and onto the seam between his legs. "And what if I wanna be late?"

"You are insatiable." He took a deep breath and shut his eyes while exhaling on a count of ten. "As much as I want to…," He hummed with pleasure, "Dessert will have to do."