Chapter 14 - Preparation

Amelia
July 18th, 2187

I awoke with a chill on the skin around my chest. I was sore all over, but in a good way, a pleasurable filled feeling pervasive through my midsection. I couldn't recall all of what transpired last night, but I certainly enjoyed it. I began to stretch but was stopped by something cold and metal, something that clanged against the metal headboard. I opened a curious eye to inspect my surroundings.

The sheet on my chest was pulled slightly ajar, exposing the bare skin around my breast to the cool air. Casting my eyes upwards, I saw that they were still secured in place by handcuffs. Memories of last night washed over me, causing me to almost crest over the edge again. I could feel Garrus's hands, teeth, and cock; all of him, all over again, and all I wanted was more. I squirmed and rolled, trying to get free, but it was a pointless exercise. I was stuck. All I wanted to do was touch myself.

The door opened, and Garrus, the naked, cocky, beautiful, glorious bastard, strode in, carrying a tray. The smell of freshly cooked pancakes hit my nose. "Good morning." His eyes flitted over my body, more exposed now due to my squirming a moment before. He set the food down on the bedside table, climbing onto the bed, and straddling me, lowering himself to press his lip plates to mine.

His mouth trailed down my body, leaving small kisses and bites in its wake, stopping at my belly button, causing me to groan. He chuckled, "I can smell you, you know? How ready you are…" He trailed off, "But, I spent all morning making these infernal 'pancakes' for my lovely wife. It'd be a shame if they went cold." He pulled himself off of me, grabbed the key to the cuffs left on the bedside table, and released her, "As much as I want you to stay like this…" He didn't finish the sentence.

I rubbed the tender skin along my wrists, "I think we'll have to do it again soon." My voice lilting with a suggestive tone. Without another word, I grabbed the tray from the table and sat back on the bed, my back resting against the frame. I am delighted to see a cup of coffee sitting next to the high stack of pancakes. I picked up the cup, giving it a cursory sip as Garrus sat on the bed, resting an arm around my shoulders and lightly playing with the styled curls of my short, red hair.

The coffee was perfect, so much so that I looked over at him with my eyebrow raised. He had a cocky smile, "One cup of coffee, with a little cream and two sugars." I just laugh as he recites the recipe. Goddamn, he was nothing if not observant, "I hope it tastes as good as it smells."

"Even better." I took another sip, "Wait… You've never tried it before?"

Garrus hummed, "Nope."

I hand him the cup, and he takes a cautious sip, "That doesn't have any taste." He says, handing the cup back to me. I chuckle, remembering an offhand comment from Mordin, "Turians lack taste buds. Built to hunt prey, smell and sight heightened senses, taste irrelevant."

I turned my attention to the pancakes stacked precariously on the small plate. Garrus seemed to have forgotten utensils, but it didn't matter; I'd just use my hands. I ripped off a small piece and put it in my mouth, letting the melted chocolate seep from the dough onto my tastebuds. "So… How are they?"

"They're perfect," I answer, kissing him. "You're perfect."

-0-

July 20th, 2187

I bounced on my toes at the door, waiting for Chakwas to arrive, barely containing my excitement, channeling the energy into the nervous movement of my legs. Once the aircar appeared, I strode into the light and heat of Trebia, meeting Karin out in front of the house.

The aging doctor greeted me warmly, getting herself out of the aircar and opening the trunk before being wrapped up in a tight hug, a gesture which the doctor returned after a moment of surprise.

I help her move her luggage inside, showing her to the guest room, "This is you. Make yourself at home."

Chakwas gave me a wrinkled smile, "Thanks, Amelia. I'll get unpacked and then come find you."

"Ok. I'll be in the garage if you need me."

Amelia
August 18th, 2187

Garrus crouched behind me while I knelt over the toilet, throwing up what was left of my breakfast. He held my hair out of my face in one hand and a glass of water in the other hand. His subharmonics were firing like crazy, making it clear that he was very anxious.

As I finished emptying everything but the bile from my stomach, I leaned back onto her haunches, taking a trembling hand to my face and wiping my mouth. Garrus offered the glass, which I took with a shaky smile, draining it in a single motion.

"I hate to see you like this," Garrus said, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder as I caught her breath.

I smiled, more steadily this time, "I know, but this is what we wanted. I'm willing to pay the price." He stared into my eyes. Despite the gaunt look on my face or the paling of my sweat-sticky skin, I know the green globes are still just fiery and determined as they were five months ago. "These immunosuppressants are kicking my ass, though; I can't wait to be done with them." I pause for a minute, closing my eyes and steeling myself, "C'mon, let's go find Chakwas."

We walked across the house and into the office-turned-lab that Karin and Padok occupied. In the center of the room sat a medical bed. Karin stood at the table next to it and looked up with a smile as we walked in. "Feeling any better?" She asked, taking one of my arms and putting it around her neck, supporting me as we approached the bed.

"No. I'm pretty sure I saw my wedding cake in the toilet a few minutes ago." I replied, cracking half a smile before going into a fit of coughing.

Chakwas helped me onto the bed, "Don't worry, Ame, once the embryo is implanted and we make sure it won't be rejected, we can reduce the strength of the immunosuppressants. It will reduce the nausea... for a while, at least."

Amelia just gave the doctor an unamused look, "Thanks Doc, real reassuring." The sentence was laced with sarcasm, causing the older woman to laugh. I took a steadying breath, "Alright, let's do it." I proclaimed before taking off my pants, climbing onto the bed, and putting my feet up onto the braces. Garrus walked up to the bed and took my hand in his, squeezing lightly.

-0-

Three days later, I was back in the lab, lying back on the examination bed. Garrus stood right behind me, hovering while trying to act nonchalant and failing miserably if his subharmonics were anything to go by. I glanced at my husband with a wicked smile, just watching him.

I was shocked by the touch of an icy, slimy substance on my midriff, causing me to yelp quietly as Chakwas applied the ultrasound gel. The doctor laughed at my reaction as she turned on the machine. After a few moments, Chakwas looked pleased and turned the machine off. "Good news. Both of the embryos were implanted successfully. You're having twins."

Garrus
January 18th, 2188

I stood in my office, staring out over Cipritine below, sprawling out around the river Alera. The city was almost entirely rebuilt now, showing off the supreme efficiency of my people. I stood stock-still, resisting the urge to wear a hole in the office floor with my pacing. For the first four months of Amelia's pregnancy, I staunchly refused to leave the house, hovering around my wife as close as I could until she finally forced me to return to work at the office.

"Babe…," Amelia began, resting a hand on the small bump forming in her midsection, replacing the normally sculpted abs with soft, pliable skin. "Don't worry about me. I'm pregnant, not a porcelain doll. Chakwas and her nurse are here. I have everything I need."

Garrus wanted to argue, my subharmonics thrumming, preparing to, but Amelia's look stopped me cold. Once my subharmonics stopped, Amelia dropped the annoyed stare, and a warm smile returned to her face. "What if you get sick again?" I asked, knowing it was futile.

"Karin is here. I'll be fine until you get home, I promise. You have more responsibilities than me." She took my hand and placed it on her stomach, letting me feel the small movements beneath the skin.

That was earlier that morning, but it hadn't gotten any easier thus far. Every fiber of my being told me that I was supposed to be at home, with my mate, guarding my unborn young. My paternal instinct was so strong it almost hurt.

Sighing, I sat at my desk and pulled up the terminal, placing a call to my father. Maybe he would be able to provide some insight. Since moving back to Palaven, my father and I have improved our relationship significantly, rebuilding what we had destroyed long ago. I'm happy about it. I didn't realize how much I needed him, even as an adult. Gone was the animosity and months without speaking, replaced by frequent visits of Castis to my house and vice versa, especially since Amelia became pregnant, and Castis and Sol had been spoiling Ame rotten.

The terminal rang a few times before the elder Vakarian answered, a mirror image of me other than the extra blue markings on his forehead, marking him as the patriarch of clan Vakarian. Castis had a smile on his face, but it faded as the notes of my agitated subharmonics rang through. "Garrus, what's wrong?"

"I'm worried about Ame," I answered. Castis stayed silent, an annoying habit the old detective used when I was a child, making Garrus divulge more information, which usually resulted in me incriminating myself. "She made me go back to the office instead of working at home. It's probably best, but she was very sick this morning..."

Castis smiled at me, "It is for the best. It's not a great look for the Primarch to work out of their bedroom." He paused briefly, "Do you want me to check on her?"

"Yes, please. I have a meeting and can't leave yet."

"No problem. I'll head over in a few minutes."

"Thanks, Dad."

Amelia

I tried to stem the tide, but the overwhelming feeling of nausea had me scurrying to the bathroom from where I was getting my daily checkup from Chakwas. Like a flood, everything I had ingested that day was no longer inside me, and I wretched over the toilet.

Chakwas walked into the room, holding an essential glass of water and a small towel. The doctor offered the drink and wiped off my face once I had recovered enough to sit back on my haunches. "Still feeling nauseous?"

I just weakly nodded, feeling very lethargic in the wake of vomiting. I looked at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, seeing an ashen face looking back.

"Would you like me to have you switch to a different immunosuppressant? This one could be the cause of your vomiting." Karin asked me, her voice swimming with concern.

I shuddered. I had started with the other medication at the beginning of my pregnancy. It had caused me to be so fatigued that I could barely will myself out of bed in the morning. I shook my head, weakly at first but steadily growing in intensity. "I can't be bedridden for the next four months. I can deal with the vomiting… Not with that."

Chakwas nodded and helped me up, leading me to the couch in the living room and laying me down on it. After a moment, there was a knock on the front door. I tried to sit up but was stopped by Karin's hand on my chest. She shook her head, "I got it. Stay there." Her voice was calm but carried a note of authority that made me lay back down.

I listened as Chakwas opened the door and heard my father-in-law's voice. Despite Karin's orders, I forced myself to stand and walk to the door. "Amelia!" Karin exclaimed, "Ugh! You are the worst patient." I gave the doctor an apologetic half-smile and welcomed Castis in, hugging the turian.

"Amelia, how are you feeling?" Castis asked.

"Been better, Castis. How are you?" I replied, wiping the cold sweat off my brow. "What brings you here?" I moved into the kitchen, grabbing a mug and pouring Castis some kava, the caffeinated beverage of Garrus's choice. He nodded thanks, accepting the cup and sipping at its contents.

"My son asked me to spy on you for him," Castis said matter of factly, the sheer bluntness causing me to crack a smile, "He said you were very ill this morning, but you made him leave anyway."

"He has important things to do and can't do them as effectively if he is here. Besides, I have my live-in doctor around twenty-four-seven. All he'd be doing is holding my hair while I lean over the toilet."

"Twenty-four-seven?" Castis questioned, confused by the very human saying.

"Oh, right… Human thing. It means all the time. 'Cause Earth has twenty-four hours a day, and seven days a week."

Castis chuckled, "With a calendar like that, it's a wonder that your people made it into space…"

Garrus

I looked up from my terminal as the door to my office swung open. "Sir. You need to hear this." Legate Laevitius said, striding into the room despite squawks of protest from Sentia. I waved her off and turned my full attention to Laevitius.

"What is it?" I ask, taking the offered datapad and skimming it.

The legate sat down, "A week ago, one of our patrols received a distress call from a human civilian ship in the Kite's Nest. At first, the Captain assumed it to be pirate bait and went to investigate."

"And what did they report?" I asked.

"That's the thing, sir…" She shifted in her seat nervously, "...they didn't." I raised a brow plate at her but stayed silent and let her continue. "After two days of no contact, a patrol group was sent out to investigate. It took a few days to find the wreckage. It had been dragged hundreds of thousands of kilometers from its last known location, well outside the trade lanes. The ship was completely exposed to the vacuum, and no bodies were found on board. Even more strange, the patrol ship was stripped of all its torpedos and Thanix battery."

"Spirits… who was responsible?"

"We don't know, sir." The middle-aged turian woman tugged on her collar, the universal sign of being uncomfortable.