Prince of Palaven

by PongoPuppies

Summary:

“What do you know about this man?” Anderson pulled up an image and it floated in the center of the conference table.

“Castis Vakarian, Primarch of the turians. Enemy - sorry - former enemy number one.” She answered quickly.

“And him?” The image changed to someone who looked very similar, but younger than the last turian that was shown.
“Garrus Vakarian, General of the turian army, Primarch’s son.” Jane stated.

“And your new husband.”

~~~
I never posted before so this is me trying to figure out how to do that. I did an arrange marriage one. Cuz its my favorite trope and I wanted to do that. Also I have like a lot of fanfics so I'm playing with the format to figure out how to post fanfic on here so sorry if it's all weird.

Chapter 1

“You called for me captain.” Jane Shepard said as she entered the war room at Alliance HQ in Vancouver Canada.

“Ah Shepard. Just in time. Here, have a seat.” Captain Anderson said as he pointed to one of the chairs in the large conference room. Shepard slid into one of the chairs offered and waited on what her Captain said. “As our best infiltrator we have a mission for you.”

“Of course sir. Whatever I can do for humanity.”

“Good.” He opens his omni-tool and pushes a few of the holographic buttons. Soon the conference doors slid open and two more people joined the room.

Shepard immediately stood at attention and saluted the two admirals that arrived. “At ease” Admiral Hackett told her. Shepard shifted to the ‘at ease’ stance but did not sit back down.

“You might want to sit down sweetie.” Admiral Hanna Shepard told her. Pulling out a chair for herself across the table from Jane. Jane sat in her chair heavily. What could the Captain have to tell her that warranted two Admirals, one of them being her mom, here. Normally, as per Alliance regulations, she wasn’t to have any missions with her mom.

“This information and mission is highly classified and nothing we say here can leave this room.” Captain Anderson began. Jane nodded, so far all her mission briefing began this way. “The council has made a decision and has ordered a cease fire. As of 0200 this morning the war with the Turians is over.” Jane’s eyes shot open and she stood up before she knew what she was doing.

“It’s over. All the killing, all the violence is over. It’s done.” Jane whispered and began to shake. She has been fighting this war for 8 years. All the high members of the Alliance Navy waited patiently for her to get her breathing under control and sit back down.

“I understand this came as a surprise and it was sudden. But we have one last mission for you.” Captain Anderson said kindly.

“I understand sir. What do you need me to do?” Jane asked, having a mission helps her push her emotions from the sudden news down where she can process it later.

“What do you know about this man?” Anderson pulled up an image and it floated in the center of the conference table.

“Castis Vakarian, Primarch of the turians. Enemy - sorry - former enemy number one.” She answered quickly.

“And him?” The image changed to someone who looked very similar, but younger than the last turian that was shown.
“Garrus Vakarian, General of the turian army, Primarch’s son.” Jane stated.

“And your new husband.”

“Come again?” Jane almost screamed.

“The council had some ideas as to how they wanted us to facilitate peace between us and the turians. Since we are the newest players to the Galaxy they wanted one of the big three council races to have a personal stake in helping us catch up to the rest of the races.” Anderson began.

“That is super interesting and all. And I would love to hear it again when I can focus, but can you please explain the fucking HUSBAND comment?”

“Jane.” Admiral Shepard warned. Swearing at your commanding officer is not a good thing to do.

“It’s alright Admiral. Given the situation I would be fixated on that particular detail as well.” Captain Anderson said. “Alright as for your mission. You are going undercover and marrying the Primarch’s son to ensure peace for humanity.”

Jane sat there for a few seconds and just processed that. When she swallowed hard and nodded Anderson continued.

“The council wants the turians to have a personal stake in making sure that humanity isn’t a burden on the galaxy and we can contribute to the galactic stage. They also want to punish the turians for having an illegal war with us for the last 10 years. By marrying a human into the Primarch’s family ensures us that he will take care of humans personally.” Anderson then paused and waited for Jane to catch up.

“And my mission sir?” She asked in a shaky voice that she would be embarrassed about if she could form any complex thoughts required to feel anything.

“You are to be the human to marry into that family of turians, gain their trust, and make sure the turians care about humanity enough to keep their promise to help us. Advocate for us, be a voice in the Primarch’s ear, gather intelligence, get them to trust you, and be our woman on the inside.” Anderson concluded.

Ok, Ok that made sense. She has done undercover missions before. She can gather intelligence, that's what infiltrators did. This mission was different in a lot of ways but the heart and soul of the mission was similar to what she has done. That didn’t mean she didn’t have a lot of questions about this mission.

“How long will I be on this mission?” She asked.

“We don’t know Shepard. This will be your longest assignment ever. It could last for a year or it could be your whole life.” Anderson said with a small amount of sympathy.

“We won't let that happen sweetie.” Admiral Hanna said. “I promise we will get you out of there as soon as we can. If something goes wrong we have an extraction plan as well.”

“What is the extraction plan?” Jane asked hope filling her voice.

“The turians promise us that you will not be a prisoner. You will have your omni-tool and can call for help. We will also have operatives in place to make sure you are taken care of and who you can talk to as well.” This was Admiral Hacket who spoke.

“Will I have to sleep with him?” Jane’s voice was shaking and small when she asked the question that she most wanted to know. It didn’t have anything to do with the mission.

“That will be up to you and your husband.” David Anderson answered soothingly.

“Is he an asshole?” She coughed and corrected herself. “I mean, what do we know about my target and his personality specifically?” Jane forced herself into mission mode.

“Everything we know will be added to your datapad.”

“When is the ceremony?”

“Next week.”

“NEXT WEEK!”

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“You called for me Sir?” Garrus Vakarian asked as he stepped into the large personal office space of the Primarch. No dad, but The Primarch, he doesn’t go by dad and Garrus hasn’t heard him call him anything other than ‘General’ in a long time. Sometimes when his mom invites the whole family over for dinner and the two are forced to speak like a family he will call him ‘Garrus’. Anything with more affection would not be the Primarch.

“Yes, sit down son.” Castis motioned to a chair. Halfway to lowering himself into the chair he stopped. Son? When does his father call him son? Did his mom get worse? Did Solana get hurt? His subvocals were going haywire just from the breach in professionalism. “Everyone is alright calm down.” Castis chided him but the normal disapproving tone in his subvocals were gone. That did not make Garrus calm. At all.

Once Garrus was seated and looking incredibly uncomfortable Castis continued. “The council has decided to end the war with the humans.”

Garrus let out a breath. Oh good it was just war talk. For a second it might have been family related and that could have been really bad. Garrus realized that was ridiculous, The Primarch didn’t do family talk.

“Well 8 years later is better than not ending the war at all I guess. You wanted to talk about moving my troops out of the hot zones and other troop allocations, correct?” Garrus was excited that the war was over. He didn’t like fighting the humans. But orders were orders. Sometimes he wishes he were a bad turian and could disobey orders he didn’t like. When the Primarch is your father it does make things difficult.

“‘In due time. There is a more pressing matter we need to discuss. Sparatus and the rest of the council want to make sure turians pay reparations to the humans and help them get allocated into Council space. Personally.” His father stopped and gathered his breath.

“Personally?” Garrus did not like the sound of that.

“I have been informed that since going to war with the humans was my decision as Primarch I would be required to ensure that peace between our races is a personal as well as species motivation.” Garrus knew that Castis has a very black and white view on rules and order. The humans broke a law, therefore they need to be punished. It served him well as an executor on the Citadel. If a criminal broke the law they would go to jail, if a C-Sec officer didn’t file the correct paperwork the criminal went free. If Garrus did any amount of internal reflection he would see that he and his father were similar in some areas.

“How personal are we talking?” Garrus was really starting to hate the word personal as his father kept saying it over and over again. How personal could the Council really get?

“By making a mockery of everything Turians have stood for since the beginning. By getting my family involved for a decision I made as Primarch. Family is the most important thing to turians and the council made damn sure to punish me where it hurt most.” His father stood and paced as he spoke. Garrus has never seen this man lose his calm before. Not when his mom was diagnosed, or when Solana was shot, or when Garrus told him he wanted to be a Spectre. Whatever punishment the council set, one thing is for certain, they knew how to hurt Castis Vakarian. Castis placed both hands on the table and looked at the table instead of Garrus. “I’m sorry son. No matter what you do now, or how far you rise you cannot become Primarch.”

OH, was that all? Limiting Vakarian political influence by making sure no other Vakarians can hold the title. It was a good move on the council’s part, Garrus had to give them that. The council getting involved with their way of government is a slight to Castis who lives and breathes the Meritocracy. Oh well, Garrus never wanted to be Primarch anyway. He is 67th in line for it but Solana was 34th and she was very career driven.

“Well I won't really complain. I didn’t want to be Primarch anyway. Solana will be more upset though so I do not envy you that conversation.” Garrus flicked a mandible out to show his dad not to worry and that he was fine. However, Castis just shook his head as it hung there. He lifted it slowly and looked at Garrus.

“No son it’s not that. Sol can still be Primarch, it's you they want to punish. The council ordered that I take a human into my house by marrying her to you. That way I will have no choice but to look out for my new daughter’s species since family is important to turians. I’m sorry son, but your bondmate has been chosen for you.”

“Come again?” Garrus was very surprised he was able to be so calm.

Castis took a deep breath. “The council has ordered you to take a human as your bondmate.” He said slowly and clearly.

Garrus thought about that. Took a few deep breaths. Thought about it some more and finally spoke. “No.” Then he stood up, calmly. About faced. And walked slowly but confidently out of the room, down the halls, out the building. And once he cleared the first turn away from the headquarters where he and his father worked he started to run.

 

Garrus knew that wasn’t the end of it. No one said “no” to the Primarch, especially since that Primarch was Castis Vakarian. He was expecting the notice on his omni-tool. He was not expecting it 4 hours later and having it come from his mom.

He opened up the message and saw that she was inviting everyone, him, Sol, their dad, to dinner tonight. It was a dirty trick using his mom against him but Castis knew him well. Garrus would not do anything to hurt his mom. So at one minute before dinner Garrus walked into his childhood home and took his seat at their dinner table.

Solana sat next to him as she always had. Their dad sat at the head of the table and their mom brought in their dinner. The mood was extremely tense. Garrus noticed how Sol kept looking at him and how her subvocals were open concern. Garrus waited, he was a sniper and knew the importance of waiting for an opening. Only problem was that the whole family was snipers and there wasn’t an opening unless someone deliberately made one.

Falling on that grenade was their mom. Proving, yet again, why everyone loved Centura Vakarian the most. “Dear one, your father has something he would like to say to you.” She spoke softly as she reached across the table and took Garrus’s hand. When no one spoke again she elbowed Castis on his side.

He coughed a bit but recovered. “Yes I would first like to apologize for the way I brought up the subject earlier today. It was out of line to bring up this personal matter at work and I don’t blame you for how you reacted.”

That was all his mom, he knew. If anyone could make the great Castis Vakarian apologize for something it would be her. “Well dad I appreciate the apology but my answer is still no. I will not bond with a human I have never met.” He almost added ‘and you can’t make me’ but that sounded childish.

“Son please understand I don’t want this any more than you do. I never wanted you or your sister to be bonded to someone out of duty instead of love.” Castis started.

“Great! Now that everyone agrees let some other poor sap marry the human and let’s have dessert.” Garrus interjected. He knew it wasn’t the end of the conversation but he wanted to prove that by continuing Castis’ previous statement would be meaningless.

“That ‘poor sap’ would be Solana.” Castis said sadly as he looked towards his daughter.

Sol dropped her eating utensil making a loud crashing sound. Made all the louder by the silence in the room. Then she shot her brother the very definition of an evil look but her subvocals radiated fear.

“You’ll make Sol do it if I wont!” He couldn’t believe his father. He was going to use Solana against him now. And what’s worse everyone knew his younger sister would do it. She, unlike him, was a good turian. She was afraid but she would follow orders.

“I’m afraid that is what my options are. I have two children. Sparatus was clear. One of them has to marry a human. Because humans cannot live on Palaven that would mean the one who does cannot live here either.” Sol and his parents get along better than he does. His father doesn’t need to say it, they all knew it was true.

He couldn’t let his sister throw away her career and her life on Palaven. He was trapped.”It’s not all bad. There is some good news.” His mom said as she stared at his father.
Castis looked like he was held at gunpoint and very uncomfortable. He handed Garrus a datapad. “Sparatus agreed this was unfair to you so he added an incentive. One I do not agree with —” Centura elbowed her bondmate again.

Garrus looked over the datapad. He couldn’t suppress his surprise in his subvocals.

“They reinstated my Spectre application?” He asked.

“The council agreed that you would have been approved for Spectre training last time —” Castis started.

“You mean without your interference.” Garus snapped and interrupted him.

“Yes that.” Castis continued. “They agreed that you have been approved for Spectre status and Spectre Nihlus Kryik has agreed to be your trainer. Even though you will have a human bondmate you will be so busy with your Spectre assignments that you won't see them much. They also have provided a house on the Citadel for you and your bondmate.”

And there it was. Either take the human as a bondmate, live his dream of being a Spectre, or not go through with this and make Sol do it. He won't see his father as often if he is not on Palaven, he’ll be a Spectre, and he will have a nice house on the Citadel.

“When is the ceremony?” He asked reluctantly. Sol was visibly relieved.

“Next week.”

“NEXT WEEK.”

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Summary:

Jane travels to the Citadel

The council sent a private space ship for them for their journey from Earth to the Citadel. It was really nice, Jane had her own quarters complete with a private bathroom. She has been with the Alliance since she was 18 so she was no stranger to cramped quarters and uncomfortable accommodations. In fact her mom was Alliance since she was born so she grew up on military rations and moving from one base to another. Having such a large room to herself seemed like luxury.

She understood that this was a passenger ship meant to transport important people from system to system and not a warship. Since it was sent to transport her and her family to the Citadel for her wedding that made her the VIP so she got the best room. And she made full use of it. Since she embarked on the transport ship two days ago, she hasn’t left the room.

Now she was hungry and her snacks and MREs were not cutting it anymore. She opened her chamber door with a whooshing sound that she loves to hear and stepped out into the dimly lit corridor. She wondered why it was so dark and where everyone was, when she pulled up her omni-tool and saw that it was well into the ship’s night cycle. Well at least there wouldn’t be anyone around to bother her.

At the mess hall she put the kettle on to make hot water and emptied the contents of a hot chocolate pouch into one of the mugs. While the water was heating up she read over more of her datapad. She was so focused she almost jumped when she heard a voice call, “Care to make me one?”

She smiled when she lowered the datapad and turned to see her best friend with a shit eating grin on his face. “Joker!’ She placed the datapad on the counter and gave him a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“What and miss my best friend’s wedding? I’m here to make sure you reach the chapel on time. Only the best pilot in the galaxy can be tasked with such a monumentally important mission after all.”

Jane stepped away from Joker and pulled out a mug from the cupboard. She quarked her eyebrow and raised one side of her lips at him. “The Council is letting you pilot a ship you don’t know?”

“The Alliance insisted on it and once the Council saw my flight scores and flight time they didn’t have a problem with it. I think they would give about anything if they think it would make you more comfortable or help get you to the altar. This is a big deal for a lot of people. You are like a celebrity!” Joker went on.

“Don’t remind me, I saw the crowds and the signs when we left Earth.” Jane grumbled as she added the now boiling water into the mugs and stirred to make hot chocolate. She adds the whipped cream and passes one mug to Joker and sits next to him at the table taking her mug with her.

“So what is your undercover persona this time?” Joker asked.

“What do you mean?”

“This is a covert op so you get an undercover story and new identity. That’s what happens most of the time with these big missions that you are on.” He takes a sip of his hot chocolate and his face lights up in recollection. “Hey remember—”

“Not another word, Joker!” Jane cuts him off immediately.

They are both silent for a while. Sitting in comfortable silence, enjoying their hot chocolate and friendship — “You would think the Alliance would do some research before sending in the galaxy’s worst dancer to —-”

“I SAID not another word!!!” Jane yells at Joker. Joker starts laughing, full on hands on his stomach, tears in his eyes, loud guffawing. Soon Jane is laughing right along with him.

“Do you think there will be a reception? Like a husband and wife's first dance reception?” Joker askes once he is able to get under control whipping his eyes of the stray tears.

“God I hope not. Otherwise my dancing might start the war all over again.” Jane gets herself under control as well.

“What about the ‘you may kiss the bride’ part.” He paused for a second. “Can turians even kiss?”

“I know this one. At the end of the ceremony where the ‘you may kiss the bride part’ usually goes the official will say ‘and now may your spirits be joined together’ and we press our foreheads together.” Jane responds, happy for a chance to show off what she learned the last two days.

Joker is silent for a moment as he just stares into his mug. “So what do you know about this guy?” He is serious for once and Jane isn’t sure she likes it. He is worried for her, his mom and dad didn’t get along and he is worried the same might happen to her.

“Honestly, not a lot. His profile is in the datapad along with everything I need to know about the wedding, sorry, bonding ceremony.” Jane gets up to make them more hot chocolate. “I have spent the last 2 days reading all about what I have to do, what I have to say, what hand I have to hold what in. I’m so nervous I’ll create an interracial incident. I have gone over the procedure like 100 times.” Jane started to shake the whip cream harder.

Joker saw his best friend start to spiral out of control so he did what he does best. “What do you think ‘Die for the Cause’ is about?” He asked.

Jane stopped talking, and shaking the whip cream can, and looked towards him. A look of pure confusion on her face. “What?”

Joker was still sitting at the table but he was looking over the datapad that was left there. “It’s listed as the song your husband listened to the most.” Shepard walks back to the table depositing the hot chocolate next to Joker and sitting beside him so they can both look over the datapad.

Next to the picture of her soon-to-be-husband was a list of his top 5 most listened to songs. Die for the Cause was number 1. “Huh, want to see if this ship has music?” She opens her omni tool and syncs it to the ship. To both of their surprise the ship was loaded with music and to their even greater surprise Die for the Cause was listed as one of the ones that was loaded. Without a look to Joker Jane hits play.

A sad but powerful sound starts to play from her omni-tool. They couldn’t understand the words, apparently translators didn’t work with music, but they understood the sounds. “Well that sounded sad.” Joker commented. “Wonder why your husband listens to it. Think he’e the sad, brooding type?”

Jane just shrugged and made a non-committal sound. Reading onward they noticed that listed next to their favorite animal was something called a vulpis canem. There was an attachment on the word and Jane clicked it.

Joker heard his best friend make a noise he has never heard in his life. In fact if he wasn’t sitting so close he would have sworn it was pressure leaking from the hull. Jane made a high pitched whine followed closely by “OHMYGOD! its the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life!”

There on the datapad was a picture of a small turian child, probably 5 or 6 but neither human could be sure since they lacked that knowledge, holding a small quadruped animal with a round face, giant triangular ears (like a fox), and pure white fur.

“Do you think the baby turian is your husband?” Joker asked.

Jane stops making noises at the picture and turns her head to the side to consider. “I don’t know. His coloring is right but he doesn’t have the blue face paint yet. His eyes are the right color of bright blue but his face parts are doing something I’ve never seen a turian do before.” She lowers the picture of the turian child and compares it to the profile picture of Garrus Vakarian. Garrus looks stoic with his face parts, mandibles maybe, pulled to his face. The small child picture has his mandibles spread all the way out showing all his sharp raptor teeth.

Joker and Jane look at eachother and shrug. “Look at this!” Joker points to a section on the profile. “Favorite Vid! The galaxy has movies!”

“Fleet and Flotilla. I wonder what that is about.” Jane wonders.

“Well I got good news for you! We have that very vid for your inflight entertainment.” Joker says, his smile all the more bright in the glow of his omni-tool. They look at eachother and nod. Joker stands up and walks towards the cockpit. He does have to fly the ship afterall. Jane grabs their empty mugs and places them in the cleaning unit. She scrounges for snacks and brings what she could find to the cockpit. She sits in the copilot seat as Joker keys up the vid.

Joker really is the best pilot in the galaxy. He was able to watch the vid and fly at the same time without compromising their safety. Two hours later when the vid was done.

“I’m just saying what was the point!” Jane enthusiastically explains through her mouthful of snacks.

“Uh-huh.” Joker says, clearly over this conversation.

“Why make a two hour movie —”

“Vid.” Joker corrects, proving that he is, in fact, paying attention.

“Why make a two hour vid about a Turian falling in love if he doesn’t pick her in the end! He goes back to the Fleet!”

“I saw the movie.” Joker deadpans.

“VID.” Jane corrects. They both laugh. “But really, he goes through all that, just to go back to his duty insead of the woman he loves!”

Joker sighs in frustration settling in for a long night of listening to Jane explain why the vid was terrible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the morning Jane is woken up by a hand pressing on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw her mom looking at her. “Haven’t been woken up by you in 14 years.” Jane responds. She stretches and notices that she fell asleep in the co-pilot’s chair. The only difference was Joker was not at the helm and she had a blanket draped over her.

“Mission brief in 10.” Admiral Hanna Shepard says and leaves to go do whatever it is Admirals do.

Jane got herself ready and reported, on time, to the conference room. The door opened and she stepped inside to see Admirals Hackett and Shepard, Captain Anderson, and another man who she did not know.

“There she is!” He snarled at her when she came in. “Just what were you doing with the pilot last night?”

“Joker and I watched a turian vid and I fell asleep.” She wasn’t sure why she needed to explain where she was or what she was doing to this man. He wasn’t her superior.

“You will have plenty of time to watch vids with your husband when you are a housewife. You should be studying for the ceremony, which, may I remind you, is in three days.” The man sneered.

“Shepard, this is Senator Udina. He will be accompanying us to the Citadel. He will be speaking for humanity regarding our political interests.” Admiral Hackett finally explained.

“And we don’t need the first event that humans are a part of to be a political nightmare. So instead of wasting your time watching vids you spend it studying. I don’t want that pilot coming to the wedding. Either there is something going on with the two of them or he is a bad influence” Udina stated.

“Bonding, not wedding. It’s different. And I have been studying for two days straight. I have not failed a mission before and I don’t plan on starting now. And we have a saying here in the Alliance Navy. ‘When you are in space, don’t piss off your pilot.’” Jane said sharply to Udina. Understanding the implication, Udina left the group.

Was Jane in trouble for spending her downtime with Joker? No one in the Alliance Navy cared how or with whom their soldiers spent their downtime but maybe Udina had been right. Maybe she didn't have downtime. They weren’t very clear when they gave her the information how much they wanted her to study it and how much she could just relax before her actual mission started.

“What was the vid about sweetie?” Her mom asked making this more of a conversation and less like a reprimand.

“A turian general falls in love with an alien, a quarian I think they are called. Then a war breaks out and he has to decide if he should stay with her or return to his duty.” She didn’t tell them how it ended. While she didn’t agree with it, everyone in the room was career military. She knew they all had to make a similar decision at some point in their lives. Her mom did with her dad, Anderson did with Khalee Sanders, and Hackett, probably, had a lover at some point.

“A turian general falling in love with an alien? Sounds like you found a vid that was close to home.” Anderson said with a friendly voice.

“It was listed as General Vakarian’s favorite vid. I thought it would be a good idea to be able to talk to him based on his interests.” Jane explained, she didn’t want anyone to think she chose that vid on purpose.

“If we're lucky that means he has an alien fettish. That should make the marriage easier.” Admiral Hackett said. “As far as your assignment goes I have your cover assignment here.”

Jane nodded so he could proceed. She didn’t want to get too focused on what a husband, or bondmate, with an alien fettish would mean.

“First your cover. Your name will be the same Jane Shepard. This will be a legally binding bonding so the paperwork will have to be the truth. Can’t risk a war because someone found a problem with your cover name. Next is your occupation: civilian. If they think you’re military, especially covert ops they will be more guarded around you. A civilian will allow them to lower their guard and talk more freely around you. As for your exact occupation, we left that up to you. You have been on enough covert missions you know what you can and can’t get away with.” He pauses.

A shiver goes through them all. No one says it, but they are all thinking about the time she met Joker.

“Lastly, your personality. I want as much information as you can get. Ask lots of questions and be curious and inquisitive. Make them lower their guard and explain everything to you. The more information we have the better. Gathering intelligence will be the main objective. This ranges from anything about the galaxy as a whole to specific plans the turian Hierarchy plans to have for their military. You are going to be spending a lot of time with a general and the son of the Primarch. Everything you gather will be encoded on this.” He hands her an OSD. “You will hand this to one of our operatives whenever you get the chance.”

“Who are the operatives and where can I meet them?” Jane asked.

“We will have them in place and secure a safe house before contact is made. They will be responsible for contacting you. Once the safe house is secure there will be an operative stationed there around the clock.”

“Secondary objective sir?”

“Gain the trust and ear of the Primarch or his son. Humanity will need a strong advocate if we are going to start living in the galactic society as a whole. There will be times when someone from the Alliance will make a request through one of our contacts that we will need something that only the turians can give us.” Admiral Hackett stopped and almost looked uncomfortable. Almost. “It would be best if you can seduce your new bondmate. Having him in love with one of our own would be beneficial in the long run.”

“I don’t think that will happen. I’m good, but he’s a turian.” Jane explained. Jane knew love wasn’t real. She understood that sometimes people will do crazy and illogical things because they thought they were in love. It was all pheromones and the fear of dying alone.

“I had figured it was impossible. Just try if you can. Having him like you would make this mission easier on you in the long run.” Hackett said and Jane could tell he felt a little guilty about this mission.

“Arivial at the Citadel in T minus 10.” Joker’s voice broke over the comm system.

Jane looked at the Admirals and the Captain expectantly. “Dismissed.” Hackett told her.

She raced from the board room and down to the cockpit where Joker was. Sitting in his rightful place at the helm he turned to her. “Hey Shepard. Did you meet Udina? Nice guy. Seems to think we’re an item. Told him I’m not your type. You tend to go for the tall, silvery, and spiky kind.”

Before she could say anything snarky in return the Citadel loomed in front of them. As they approached she heard a voice over the comms. “Shuttle 314 please initiate Citadel boarding procedure.”

“Citadel, this is shuttle 314, Flight Lieutenant Jeff Monroe of the Alliance Navy requesting permission to dock. Sending over clearance code through the approved channel now.”

“Shuttle 314 you have permission to dock. Please navigate to docking port A1 and enjoy your first trip to the Citadel.” The voice on the other end clicked off.

Shepard gave an appreciative whistle and bumped her shoulder into his chair. “What? You're not the only one to study on this trip.” Joker spoke proudly. Like being the first human to touch down on the massive space station that served as the political center of the galaxy wasn’t a big deal. The fact that he did so without any issues was even more of a big deal.

Jane wondered what it was like on the Citadel, what new kinds of aliens would she meet. She stepped off the transport with a sense of wonder, excitement, and a little bit of fear as to what her life was going to be like from now on.

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Summary:

What Garrus is doing before the ceremony

The first thing Garrus did when he landed on the Citadel was stretch. The Primarch’s personal shuttle wasn’t cramped by any definition but it had still been a 5 hour trip to the Citadel from Palaven. He knew his bondmate’s journey was longer, consisting of days instead of hours, but for the next day and a half he was an unbonded man. So he was going to pretend he didn’t think about her. It was impossible though. He doesn’t know anything about her, or even if she is a her. He was fine either way, he dated males, females, and even an Asari once. He wondered if his new bondmate was already here. The idea of spending your life with someone you don’t know anything about was worrying, to say the least.

The second thing he did when he landed on the Citadel was turn to look at who was calling his name. Normally they would be calling for his father the Primarch. It was a shock when out of the four of them it was Garrus Vakarian’s name that was heard. He turned to see a turian with green eyes and white colony markings rushing towards him.

“Ah good General Vakarian I am glad I am able to catch up with you before you left the docking ring. Executor Pallin wants a word with you.” He said as he caught up with the group.

“Me? Not the Primarch?” Garrus asked as he nodded his head towards his father.

“Go ahead son. Sparatus needs to talk to me anyway.” His dad said.

Garrus turned to the messenger. “All right, lead the way.” The two of them made their way to the skycar.

“I’m Chellick, Decian Chellick, I work as Pallin’s assistant.” The other turian stated on the way towards the Executor’s office.

“Since when do Executors have assistants?” His dad was Executor before he was Primarch. Before he was Executor he was a detective. Before that Garrus wasn’t sure. Maybe something normal like a regular solder, or in basic, maybe a fledgling. It was hard to think of his dad as anything other than extraordinary.

“Since Pallin realized that your dad was able to do the work of 10 men by himself. Once he took over and saw how much your dad did he knew he’d have to delegate.” There was no shame in admitting that. The Hierarchy placed great importance in understanding exactly what you are capable of and what you are not.

Once they got to the Executor’s office Garrus saw that Pallin, who he remembered from when his father worked as Executor, was there with another turian with him. “Ah, General Vakarian.” Pallin said. “I see Chellick found you ok. This is —”

“Spectre Nihlus Kryik.” Garrus interrupted. “It’s an honor sir.” and he meant that. Garrus wanted to be a Spectre for years and the very reason for that was standing next to him right now. The little fledgling inside of him was squealing with hero worship. It was hard to remind himself that he was a general, about to be bonded, for spirits sake.

“Vakarian, It’s good to meet you. I will be overseeing your Spectre training and assessing your readiness to join. I will also be your mentor and will serve with you for the first few missions you will overtake when you are made Spectre.” Kryik said.

Someone punch me. I must be dreaming, Garrus thought. Having his hero be his mentor was a dream. “I am honored to join the ranks of Spectre. It’s something I have aspired to since I was a fledgling.” He said understating his drive.

“Keep in mind Garrus your record speaks for itself. You would have made Spectre training years ago if your father didn’t insist on you joining back up with the Hierarchy military during the first contact war.” Pallin said.

“Are you the one who put me forward to getting Spectre training this time around?” Garrus asked Pallin.

“I still remember the little fledgling who made Spectre training and the headache listening to your father lecture about how that was a terrible idea. This was back when he was Executor and my boss and I had to listen to him go on and on. Now he is Primarch and leader of my race so I never said any of this.” Pallin said with a flicker of amusement in his subvocals. “As it stands, asking you to bond with a human to end the war is a tremendous ask, and while we sing Die For The Cause, no one asks us to Bond for the cause. I figured your old Spectre application could use some polishing off with some of your war accomplishments and I presented it to the council. They approved it from there.”

Garrus liked the man. He never paid much attention to dad’s second in command before, but he liked him now. A thought struck him. “Are you Arranged Bonded too?” Garrus asked him.

“I am. While my bondmate and I are friends it’s nothing like the legendary love story your parents have for eachother.” Pallin said and wistfulness crept into his subvocals. Garrus knew his dad hated arranged bondings. When his dad was made Primarch everyone thought he would outlaw the practice altogether. The last thing people were expecting was that he would force his son into it.

“Vakarian, before I can take you out on assignments I will need to assess you to make sure you are up for it.” Kryik said changing the topic. ”I don’t want to get in the way of your newly bonded time. A week after your confinement period is over I’ll be around to start your training.”

Oh spirits, he forgot about the confinement time. He was expected to partake in that wasn’t he? He wasn’t shy about sex, no turian was, but with a human? A race he was killing less than a month ago? How could they expect him to do that? Would his plates even shift?

Hearing his subvocals Pallin spoke up to save him from his introspecting spiral he was in. “Before that Chellick will show you to your new house. And if you need anything while you are here on the Citadel, Chellick will be able to assist you.”

“I will?”

“You will. You are a great assistant and I have faith General Vakarian here will be able to use some assistance. You can start by showing him his new accommodations.” Pallin explained.

The ride from the Presidium to his house was filled with awkward silence. It was clear that Chellick wasn’t happy being his assistant. Garrus wasn’t sure what to do with that either. As a General he had the ability to ask one of his subordinates anything and it would get done. Not having men to command would be difficult to get used to.

“Can I ask you something?” Chellick finally broke the silence.

“Sure.” Garrus said. He would take any conversation over the silence.

“Are humans really as ugly and squishy as they say?” Garrus was ready for any number of questions. Usually people asked him about his dad or the war, but that was a new one.

“Never seen a human?”

“No. I’ve lived on the Citadel after basic for most of my life. I didn’t fight in the war. A lot of races on the Citadel are asking what they look like. The Krogan don’t believe that a squishy race can fend off a turian war for 10 years. The salarian couldn’t believe they were so technology inferior, and the asari couldn’t believe they were so diverse. Is it true?” Chellick asked. He was clearly excited to gossip with someone who knows what humans are like.

“Well they are unplated like asari so the Krogan are right like that. They don’t have personal shields, and their guns use metal ‘bullets’ not mass effect weapons and each and every human is diverse. Some have skin so bright it is almost see through and others have really dark skin. Their fringe has different colors too. Some of them don’t even speak the same language as each other. They are a unique race all right.”

“Spirits. And you have to bond with one of them for the rest of your life. Not sure being a Spectre and getting a new house is worth it. Uh no offense sir.” Chellick hastily added the last part.

“No offense taken. Honestly I got it good if you look at it from my bondmate’s perspective.” Garrus said.

“What do you mean? You’re not a bad match mate.” Chellick said as he pulled in front of a house. Garrus didn’t notice that they entered a residential district. There was a lot of space between this house and the one closest to it. It was clear whoever lives in this house didn’t want to see their neighbors or didn’t want to be seen by them. “Here we are.” Chellick said as he exited the car.

Walking into the house Garrus gave an appreciative thrum in his subvocals. Chellick answered with his own. “Then again if I was given a house like this maybe I would bond with a human.” Chellick said. “Let me give you the grand tour.”

The first floor had a large sitting area with a fireplace, a sitting area behind that with a giant holoscreen, a bar, a kitchen, a walkway with a honest to spirits water feature, an office, a bathroom, and stairs leading down to a floor below the one they were currently on. There were two staircases going up to the second floor.

The second floor has a small sitting area and two bedrooms. The smaller bedroom had a long flat piece of furniture in it. Garrus guessed it was a human style bed. There was a bathroom connected to the bedroom. In the larger bedroom he saw a turian style bed and a much larger bathroom with a hot tub in it.

Back on the starting floor he took the staircase down and found a full gym complete with a sparring matt. “This was requested by Spectre Kryik. Said he will need you in top form if he is to have you watch his six out there.” Chellick told him as Garrus admired his personal gym. Garrus walked onto the sparring ring shedding his outer jacket.

“New house, complete with a personal gym, being made Spectre, and all I have to do is bond with someone who I was killing last week to stop a senseless war. What did my bondmate get?” Garrus started stretching.

“Uh they got a new house too. You saw the extra bedroom.” Chellick answered.He walked towards the sparring ring as well. He started to stretch as well.

“They got ripped from their homeworld and forced to cohabitate with an enemy. There are no other humans here at the Citadel and that isn’t likely to change for another few years at least. They will be alone.” Garrus squared off with Chellick.

“They will have you.” Chellick makes a grab for Garrus that Garrus easily dodges away from.
“For a companion they will have a general of the army that was killing their kind just last week. The food will be different, the people will be different, the place will be different. I get a new job, a nice house, and they get a prison.” Garrus punctuates his points with a few well placed jabs.

“What do you want us to do? Send a General and a son of the Primarch to Earth? Turians can’t eat there and you would be alone among enemies. We can bring them to Palaven but the sun would kill them and they can’t eat there. This was the best option.” Chellick throws a few punches as well. Most get deflected but a few connect.

“The point of the marriage was so that turians have a personal stake in helping the humans isn’t it?” Garrus throws a quick faint and a jab at Chellick.

“Among other things, yes.” Chellick tries for a grab again.

“Then that is what we are going to do.” Garrus allows Chellick to grab him. Before Chellick can capitalize on his supposed upperhand Garrus throws his weight onto the mat bringing Chellick down with him. Garrus rolls on top of him pinning him to the mat.

“We?” Chellick asked, breathlessly as he hit the ground. “Yield.”

“Yes we.” Garrus gets off Chellick and offers him a hand standing up. Chellick takes it as Garrus pulls him up. “Come on. We have a lot of work to do before the ceremony.” Garrus says as he claps Chellick on the back.

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Summary:

The day everyone is waiting for approaches.

This is it. Jane thought to herself as she exited the sky car. She looked at the gigantic temple before her. Apparently it was made to worship titans and she can believe it from the size alone. Her mom, Admiral Hackett, and Captain Anderson had gone ahead of her leaving her to get ready alone. Well not completely alone.

 

Joker steps out of the skycar and makes an appreciative whistle. “You're getting married in that?” He points to the building?

 

“Yep.”

 

“Wearing THAT?” He gestures with both his arms at her body.

 

“Yep.” Jane looked at her outfit. She was wearing a dress, if it could be called that. 

 

The whole ensemble weighed a ton and covered everything. Her neck was completely covered in a tight hold that choked her if she moved her head too much. Her arms were simulary covered down to her wrists. The dress was tight, so tight she couldn’t take too big a breath and went down to her ankles. Her dress was a deep shade of blue that matched General Vakarian’s facial markings. 

 

Her hair was worse. It was done up and away from her face. It reminded Shepard of turian’s fringe. It weighed about as much as her dress with all the fancy goop they had to put in it for it to defy gravity the way it was.

 

Her body was heavy, her head was heavy, and her heart was heavy. Here she was getting married and she’s never met the groom, wearing a weird dress, on a station she’s never been to before, in a church of a religion of a people she wasn’t a part of. No, nothing about today felt like what she dreamed about when she was a little girl.

 

She didn’t think about that. If she did think about it she would cry and Commander Shepard didn’t cry. Maybe Jane Shepard, the civilian, cried though. She would have to think about adding that into her cover.

 

“So, what happens now?” Joker asked. He seemed nervous. It made sense. They were about to walk into a room full of people who were shooting at them last week. And she was about to marry one of them. Yes, she decided, civilian Jane Shepard absolutely cried.

 

“Now we go in. There is a small room before the main church area where me and my new bondmate stay and greet the people who came to see the ceremony. You say something nice to us and then you walk into that main room to take your seat waiting for the ceremony to start.

 

They both stared at the temple to the Titans again. It remained just as impressive and intimidating as it was a moment ago.

 

“Well, shall we?” Joker offered her arm like an escort. She snorted a laugh. They both knew that he was the one who needed the escort, with his brittle bones and all, not her. But she looped her arm in his for support anyway.

 

“We shall.” She said with more confidence and levity than she felt.

 

“Shepard?”

 

They made it all of one step before a voice that Shepard instantly recognized called out to them. She groaned and stopped looking over to the source of the voice.

 

“Alenko.” She said as the handsome human walked toward them. They waited until he caught up with them. His handsome face showing a range of emotions. For a soldier, Shepard thought, he never could control his face.

 

“Not the way I thought your wedding would go.” He said trying, and failing, to add lightness to his words.

 

“Nor I.” She said, she tried to sound cold and impersonal but she failed and only sounded sad.

 

“Not the man I thought you would marry either.”

 

“Me either.”

 

There was an uncomfortable silence for a long while.

 

When Alenko broke the silence she wished he went back to silence. “A turian Shepard? You left me for a damned Turian.”

 

She couldn’t believe him right now! “ME! YOU left ME!” She took her breath remembering it was undignified for a bride to yell on her wedding day. Probably. “And I didn’t leave you for a turian, I have to marry him to end the war.”

 

“You still chose to do this. You CHOSE to be bonded to a turian. A turian Shepard, did you forget what they did?”

 

“How dare you?” She said coldly. So coldly Joker let go of her arm and walked away. “You think I can forget what they did to us, to me? You think I would choose to marry a monster like that if there was a better way?” She glared at him like she wanted to kill him. Maybe she did.

 

“You are a traitor to your race. You could have chosen a different path but you didn’t. Maybe you enjoyed being fucked by them.”

 

“I don’t have to listen to this!” She turned to walk away and he grabbed her, hard, on her upper arm.

 

“Com—”

 

“AHHHHHHHH” She screamed. Mostly it was to cover whatever Kaiden Alenko was about to say. If he called her Commander while she was a civilian it would ruin her cover. She also screamed because it hurt. Of all the places to grab her he picked THERE.

 

Before he could recall his hand however, a different hand placed itself on his shoulder. A hand that had three fingers that ended in talons.

 

~~~~~~

 

Garrus and his family arrived first. That was according to tradition. As the higher tiered family it was their job to be there waiting to welcome the newest member of their clan. His family made their way inside but he chose to wait outside. The very least he could do was walk his bondmate into the building where her freedom will be stripped from her.

 

He shuttered at the thought and opened his omni tool. He wanted to make sure everything was in place. It wasn’t long before the sky car pulled up with the humans in it. It appeared the party went ahead of his bondmate. Not interested in taking part in wishing them well beforehand.

 

That was fine by him. Normally he would wait inside for his bondmate, who he recently learned, was named Jane Shepard. He even had Chellick get a photo of her so he knew who to look for. The sight of him seemed to scare the humans so he walked to the side of the building and waited out of sight of others.

 

Soon another skycar landed and he saw his bondmate step out wearing the most ridiculous outfit he had ever seen. He had a hard time not chuckling at the sight. Based on what he overheard from his bandmates- Jane’s- friend, the feeling was mutual.

 

He watched as they both took in the sight of the temple and he offered his arm to her in a weird gesture. She seemed to understand it though as she weaved her arm with his. Garrus wanted to walk in with her but it seemed like a better idea if she had someone go in with her that was more comfortable. He turned to enter the temple through a side door when he heard someone call her. 

 

He called her Shepard. Garrus was fairly certain that was her clan name and not her given name but she seemed to respond to it either way. Then he accused her of leaving him for Garrus and, again, Garrus had to stifle a laugh. Any idiot can see that she was here under duress. Then he called her a traitor and when she went to leave he got physical.

 

Garrus wouldn’t allow that.

 

He placed a hand on the aggressor’s arm, the one that was holding her. He didn’t grip hard but hard enough to show he meant business.

 

“I’m going to ask you to remove your hand. Injuring one of the bonded on their bonding day is something, even us monsters, don’t tolerate.” Garrus told the one named Alenko.

 

Alenko visibly palled, and his face went through a range of emotions. Most of them anger. Garrus flared his mandibles, showing all his teeth, and made a snarl in his subvocals. If the small squishy human wanted a fight he would give him one.

 

“Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko of the Systems Alliance, this is General Vakarian of the Turian Hierarchy. My husband and bondmate. General, this is Kaiden…an acquaintance of mine.” Shepard said.

 

Kaiden got the message and lowered his hand from her arm. Garrus also took his hand off of Kaiden’s shoulder.

 

“Hi, I’m Joker! Your bondmate’s best friend. Kaiden here was just about to help me inside. I have brittle bones you see and stairs are hard. Come on Kaiden, let's go before the nice turian gets mad.” Shepard’s friend introduced himself and got Kaiden to leave. This left the two of them alone together for the first time.

 

“Hello.” He said, because what can you say to someone you are meeting for the first time that will be forced to spend the rest of their life with?

 

“General.” She said back. It was clear she was nervous or scared. Probably both.

 

“Please just Garrus to you. If we are to be bonded we should be informal to each other.” He tried to sound disarming and make her at ease.

 

“Jane or Shepard. Either one. No one really calls me Jane but you can. Since we will be bonded and all. Um, I’m sorry about the monster comment.” She looked away from him.

 

Oh, she was embarrassed. That made sense. “That’s ok. I understand. I’m not offended.”

 

“You don’t understand but I am glad you are not offended. I won't say it again though. I was caught up in the moment and I was emotional seeing Kaiden and—-”

 

“No really I understand. Turians and humans have spent the last 10 years trading bullets back and forth. Monster is relatively light compared to some of the other insults that I heard.” Garrus tried to diffuse her tension by making a joke.

There was a silence that followed where neither one knew what to say to that. Maybe reminding her of the war wasn’t a good idea.

 

“Well. Should we.. ah?” He gestures towards the temple. 

 

“Yes! Of course, the Meet and Greet.” She answers. She seemed startled.

 

“The what?”

 

“Sorry, that's the human term for what we are about to do.”

 

A few minutes into the "Meet and Greet" they had some pleasant but short and tense conversations with a few important turians. Since he was a General, the son of the Primarch, and soon to be Spectre the council also came to the bonding. Normally they don’t meet in person but this was an exception.

 

 When the Asari councilor arrived Jane couldn’t hide her staring. After she talked to Garrus, Tevos moved on. Jane watched her go with fascination. Garrus let out a chuckle.

 

“Never seen an Asari before?” He asked her.

 

“No, the only aliens I ever saw were turians. What are Asari?” She asked.

 

“A race of beautiful blue aliens that live for a long time and can have asari babies with any species.” Garrus gave her the short version.

 

“You mean there is an entire race of beautiful blue babes that like to mate?” She asked wide eyed.

 

“Yes” he said, unsure of what babes are.

 

“Joker is going to lose his mind!” Jane seemed excited for once. Garrus was glad the whole day wasn’t going to be traumatic.

 

After a few more conversations with mostly Turians but the salarian councilor as well, he promised to explain salarians to her later, they heard a voice that sounded human.

 

“Hey there kiddo!” A human man who looked like a spokesperson for new hover cars ran up and grabbed Jane, twirling her around. He had gray fringe and blue eyes that seemed to glow.

 

“Daddy!” She giggled. “I didn’t think you were going to come.” 

 

“And miss my daughter’s wedding? Never!” He said. Normally Garrus would introduce himself to the man at this point but decided to move a little farther away. 

 

“It’s called bonding.” She reminded him.

 

“We are human and no one is going to stop me from using a human term.” He told her flatly.

 

“Dad, there are turians in there. Are you going to be ok? Please don’t start another war at my bonding.” Jane pleaded.

 

“The last one was barely my fault but I promised your mother that I would be good and she let me come.” 

 

“That’s good. Do you want to meet my husband?” Jane looked over at Garrus.

 

“God no. It’s bad enough you have to marry one, and I have to be in a room with them, but you cannot make me talk to or look at them.”

 

“Then what are you going to look at during the ceremony?” Jane asked.

 

“You, my precious daughter. You in your…dress.” He looks at what she is wearing.

 

“Yeah, I hate it too.” They laugh.

 

“Well I better head inside.” He says.

 

“Mom is in there. Please don’t start another war.” Jane pleaded again.

 

“I’m not sitting with her. Don’t worry kiddo, I won't start anything.” He said as he left the small room and headed inside to join with the main group.

 

Jane turned to look at Garrus. The light in her eyes and her smile, that she had when she was talking to her dad, dimmed a little as she looked at him. It was understandable, but it still hurt a little. Well I’ll just have to work at changing that. He thought.

 

A few more people came to wish them well and tell them congratulations but it seems like it is almost time to start the ceremony proper. The final visitors come through the door and Garrus is simultaneously thrilled, horrified, and annoyed. 

 

Jane takes one look at the trio that walked in and inched closer to Garrus as she kept her eyes locked on the tallest member of the group. The three walked towards them and took their place in front of Garrus and Jane.

 

“Spectres Kryik, Arterius, and Liara. Thank you for coming to our bonding.” Garrus says politely to them. It did not escape his notice that Saren also kept his eyes on Jane the whole time.

 

“Thank you Garrus, and congratulations on this day of your —” Nihlus Kryik started to say.

 

“This human is who you left me for!” Liara T'soni accuses Garrus. 

 

Garrus sighs. “Liara we broke up 2 years ago. BEFORE this idea even came up. I didn’t leave you, we broke up.”

 

Liara opened her mouth to argue some more but her attention was taken by Saren speaking. “Shepard.” He greeted Jane.

 

“Arterius.” Jane answered back. She sounded cold and detached but It was clear to Garrus that she was scared. She moved closer to him until her shoulder touched his. He felt good that this stranger that he met this morning turned to him when she needed comfort. It was a good sign for their upcoming bonding. He had to do something to show her that she could lean on him for support in the future.

 

“It appears that my bondmate doesn’t like you very much, Saren. Seems like she has good tastes.” Garrus mocks him. Garrus and Saren haven’t liked each other for several years now. Garrus has been openly calling for the end of the war with humans for peaceful means. Saren however, has been very outspoken in ending the entire human race for good. They have verbally, and once physically, came to blows in war meetings.

 

“What an interesting turn of phrase.” Saren says coldly and more than a little scary. “Many turians would agree with you about her ‘good taste.’” Jane shivers like she is scared. Garrus isn’t sure what exactly is happening.

 

“Who is your date tonight Saren? Since your brother can’t make it too take you.” Jane asks him. She sounds cocky, like she isn’t afraid of him. Garrus and Nihlus gasp. They both know Saren’s brother died in the human war. They look at Saren waiting for him to get mad and attack her.

 

Instead he surprises them all when he answers honestly. “My mate couldn’t make it so I am babysitting her offspring. She wanted to come and convince your bondmate to abandon you and take her back. She was lacking an invite however.” He shrugs like it's inconvenient at most.

 

“I don’t need a babysitter! I didn’t come to do anything of the sort! I am older than you!” Liara argues with him.

 

“Then act like it!” Saren snapps like he is disciplining a child. “We are late enough as it is. Come and take your seat.” He grabs Liara and makes towards the door leading to the main room.

 

“Arterius!” Jane calls. Saren turns to look at her. “My dad is in there. Don’t start another war.”

 

He chuckles, “Jack Harper does not scare me.”

 

“My mom is also here.” She informs him.

 

Saren pauses. “Now Admiral Hanna Shepard does intimidate me slightly. By the way, Shepard, purple isn’t traditional.” Jane looks confused but Saren nods towards her arm. Right where Alenko grabbed her an hour ago was bleeding turning her blue sleeves purple.

 

Saren takes Liara and disappears into the room. Nihlus and Garrus surround Jane. “Are you ok?” Nihlus asks. “I have Medi-gel.”

 

Jane is focused on her arm and doesn’t seem to understand or hear Nihlus. Garrus decides to take charge. Taking care of his bondmate should make up for failing to deal with Saren. “Thanks Nihlus.” He sends his new mentor off to get the Medi-gel. He looks towards Jane and opens his mouth to say something but she turns to him instead.

 

“I need your help.”

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Summary:

Today is the day. Let the bonding commence.

Notes:

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful comments. I was blown away with the thoughtful and enduring comments. I know this isn't very well written but I really appreciate the time and attention everyone is giving this.

“I need your help.” Shepard told Garrus. He seemed to preen at that. Maybe he is just happy knowing the human failed and needs help but that didn’t seem right. She didn’t have time to worry about that though. Her dress was ruined and she had two choices, get help fixing it, or wear a ruined dress down the aisle. “I need you to get Joker, tell him Jane needs the dress. He’ll understand.” At that moment Spectre Kryik came back with the medigel. “Thank you.” She told him as she took the packet. “I need some help. Can you stall the bonding a little while I get myself cleaned up?” She asked him.

 

“Of course. I will stall them for as long as I can.” Kryik and Garrus turned and started for the door.

 

“Garrus. Wait a second.” Shepard called for him. He turned and waited while Nihlus went ahead. “I still need your help. Where is the bathroom here?” He led her to a private room with an attached washroom.

 

“This was, uh, where bondmates get ready. Change and things like that. This one was set aside for your use. You won't be bothered here.” He explained to her.

 

“Ok….good. Before you get Joker and bring him here I need you to rip my dress off of me.” 

 

Garrus blinked a few times. “I’m sorry what?” She couldn’t have said what he heard.

 

“I’m basically sown into this. Please just rip it with your talons.” She smiled at him. “Ok I hear how that sounds now.” 

 

He took a hold of her dress at the shoulder, the one that was still bleeding, and ripped it tearing her sleeve off. Now that the constricting fabric wasn’t on the wound anymore the smell of blood was overpowering.

 

There is no way a human grabbed her and made her bleed like this. He thought. This amount of blood came from a cutting mark not a bruising one. He took the medigel and was about to wipe away the blood with his sleeve but she stopped him.

 

“Use my sleeve. No reason for both of us to have our nice clothes ruined. They didn’t deserve it… Well mine did, it's ugly.” She smiled at him and he smirked at her.

 

“Well I wasn’t going to bring it up.” He played along as he wiped away her blood from her upper arm. He froze when he saw the wound underneath. Three long cuts appeared on her upper arm. It looked like it was an old wound that was never treated properly. But what got to him was that it was perfectly shaped like talon marks…turian talons.

 

“How—”

 

“Can you get the medigel for me? Humans are still new to it and I don’t want to use the wrong amount.” She interrupted. It seemed to Garrus that she didn’t want to talk about her scar. That was fine. He wanted to make her comfortable anyway. He put the medigel on it and held it together as the flesh started to repair itself.

 

“Um, can you do one more thing for me?” Her face was red and she wasn’t looking at him. Was this a reaction to the medigel, he wondered. “I wasn’t lying about being sown into this thing. Can you rip it the rest of the way off?”

 

He nodded and moved behind her. The dress was tight. Too tight to take some fabric in both hands and rip like he did with the sleeve. So he removed one of his gloves and slid a talon against her neck and the fabric making a tight collar around her. She gave a little shudder and Garrus was grateful that he filed the talons down last night. He slowly used his talons like a scalpel and tore away the constricting ugly dress.

 

He felt his talon glide over the smoothness of her skin, down the back of her neck and her shoulder blades. He got to her back and he felt some rough patches but continued until he got to her waist. It was silly he knew, they were going to be bonded. Soon he would do more than touch her waist with his ungloved hands. But he couldn’t help the rush of blue blood making his neck warm.

 

He pressed on not stopping until he sliced the dress in two all the way down to the floor. Standing up he saw her back exposed since she was holding the dress from the front. All over her back was more talon scares.

 

He was going to ask but then a smell stronger than the blood, and the medigel hit his nasal plates.

 

 Arousal. Shepard was aroused. 

 

And now his plates were shifting.

 

He put his glove on and coughed awkwardly. “Well, if you don’t need anything else, I’ll grab Joker for you and…I’m going to go and do that.” He left the room fast enough to look like he was retreating with his life on the line. Only stopping when he hit the door to the main ceremony room. Taking a breath he pushes open the doors.

 

All heads turn to him. He can only imagine what he must appear like. Smelling of human blood and medigel, looking like he just ran away from something, blushing on his neck, smelling faintly of human and turian arousal. Spirits, he knew exactly what it looked like.

 

He saw the aisle was divided down the middle with people from his social network on one side and Shepard’s on the other. He noticed the human that introduced himself as Joker quickly and walked over to him. “Jane says she needs your help. She says she needs THE dress. I do not know what that means.”

 

“I do.” He stood slowly, brittle bones, Garrus remembered. “Couldn’t have wanted to do this BEFORE I sat down and got comfortable, oh no. Too convenient.”

 

“Well I think it might have more to do with the fact that SOMEONE,” He looked next to Joker’s seat where Kaiden sat, “opened up an old wound and made her bleed through her dress.” Kaiden, at least, had the decency to look ashamed. Good. No one was going to make his bondmate angry on what, he can only assume, is the worst day of her life.

 

~~~~~

 

Oh god I am in so much trouble . Shepard thought as she stepped out of the torn dress and sat in her dressing room. She placed her hands over her face and tried to get her breathing under control. 

 

She asked him to tear the dress. She knew it was a bad idea, but she didn’t see another option. No, I didn't try to see another option. She knew. She WANTED that damn thing off and she wanted Garrus to tear it off.

 

She knew he was attractive, she saw vids and images, but what she didn’t know was that his voice was pure, pantie soaking, sex. She almost lost it the second he opened his mandibled mouth to speak. That and the fact that he made his entrance by stopping Alenko from hurting her and using his sexy voice to defend her. What was she supposed to do? NOT ask him to tear apart her dress and ravage her right there in the temple thingy.

 

Probably. She probably should have done that.

 

Instead she asked him to place his ungloved talon against her and slowly touch her backside down to her panties. 

 

Oh god I am in so much trouble . Shepard thought again.

 

~~

 

Turns out Nihlus had a good plan for buying time and distracting them all from Shepard. 

 

“Esteemed guests! My name is Spectre Nihlus Kryik, and it is my great honor to welcome you all to the first ever bonding of a human and a turian.” There was some applause. “I would also like to thank Primearch Vakarian, who is not only the Primearch of the turian race but also the bonded’s dad, and the council for being here today. Since this is such a rare event I thought ‘why not make it even more special’. The counselors agreed to do the Spectre ceremony, making Garrus Vakarian a Spectre at the same time as his bonding ceremony.” This was met with more applause. 

 

“Efficient, cuts down on travel.” A salarian in the back said. Garrus could hear the disapproval running in his father’s subvocals, as well as pride. Only the best gets to be a Spectre and, even though his father doesn’t like them, it still is something to be proud of. Garrus is glad to see his father understand this.

 

The ceremony wasn’t long. The counselors came onto the dais in front of the crowd, did their speech about how Spectres are not born; they are chosen, Garrus promised to protect all the races not just turians, and carry out the will of the council. It didn’t last too long, at most 15 minutes. The most important promotion and ceremony in Garrus’s life and it was over quickly. He figured that was the salarian influence. Turians tend to drag out ceremonies longer. His bonding ceremony was going to last hours.

 

Once the counselors took their places back in the audience the lights dimmed and the back doors opened. Jane walked in and everyone gasped. She wasn’t wearing the conservative constricting dress anymore. Now she was wearing a strapless blue dress that cinched at the waist and flared out. It had a slit in the front of the skirt part allowing her to walk and show off her legs at the same time. Garrus liked this dress MUCH better. 

 

Walking down the aisle that splits the audience in two Jane kept her head high and stared at Garrus the whole time. The humans all stood up as she walked. The other races, seeing this as a special gesture, all stood up and looked at Jane as well. Saren and a few other turians stayed seated however. Garrus didn’t notice though, all he could see was the human walking towards him. She had her hair down covering her back but both arms had talon markings on them. Garrus was happy to see that the one that was bleeding earlier was healed nicely.

 

Jane reached him and he took her hand in his. Figuring out how to intertwine her fingers with his took a second but Jane figured it out and took the lead for him. They turned to face Sparatus and Castis, who got up from their seats and walked to the front of the dais. All eyes turned to Sparatus as he began.

 

“We are gathered here today to bear witness to the bonding of Jane Shepard and Garrus Vakarian. Garrus Vakarian, is it your wish to have Jane Shepard join Clan Vakarian?” Sparatus asked him.

 

“It is.” Garrus answered.

 

“Jane Shepard, is it your wish to join Clan Vakarian and merge your spit to the clan, making it stronger than it was before?”

 

“It is.” Jane answered.

 

Sparatus nodded to Castis. “Please continue.”

 

“As head of Clan Vakarian I shall judge whether your spirit is strong enough to make our clan stronger. Should you be found wanting I will not allow such a bonding to continue.” Castis said. 

 

This was a formality that exists for bondings that are not arranged, such as his parents, Garrus knew. Even still having the Primearch tell you he will judge you must be difficult to hear. Garrus has been living with that his whole life. He looked at Jane who was next to him and she didn’t seem phased by it so Garrus figured she knew this was part of the ceremony.

 

“We shall start by you stating the history of Clan Vakarian to my satisfaction. If you wish to join the clan you must prove you understand the enormity of your task.” Castis continued.

 

Another formality Garrus knew. If a clan head didn’t want to allow the bonding they will make the lower tier recite the names and accomplishments of the clan going back three generations. For arranged bondings just stating the current generation is enough.

 

“Yes sir. Current head of Clan Vakarian is named Castis Vakarian. He was born Castis Rix and bonded to Centura Vakarian. Children: Garrus Vakarian, who I plan to bond, and Solana Vakarian. Both children are high members of the Turian Military with both of them being Generals. Garrus Vakarian is also a Spectre for the Intergalactic Council. They both bring honor and strength to Clan Vakarian. Castis Vakarian is the current Primearch as well as being the current head of the Clan. He and Centura bring honor and strength to the clan.”

 

Wow, Garrus thought. He would have said Castis was the Primearch and that was it. The fact that she started with the current head and went to the generation under that was impressive and usually only done to flatter the head by saying they raised good children, it was not common. She also added the ancient strength and honor stuff too. Not a lot of bondings use the ancient words anymore. Well that was good, she definitely read up on bondings. Now to move on to the next section.

 

“The previous head of Clan Vakarian was named Tonax Vakarian, who has joined his spirit with the clan. He was born Tonax Vakarian and bonded to Sidara Kandros. He fathered Centura Vakarian who bonded with Castis Rix. Tonax is best remembered for his honorable service during a batarian raid on an outlying turian colony. After his entire unit was killed in the raid he held the line allowing enough time for reinforcements to arrive and not allowing the batarians any turian ground. He was given several medals for his honor and even more for his exceptional marksmanship.”

 

Garrus didn’t know that about his grandpa. He only remembered him being a tight ass like his father. His father should call for the end of the history section now. She did more than is common with an arranged bonding. But she continued. Soon she was 6 generations back, all the way to the unification war. Garrus learned a lot about his own family history but he allowed it to go on long enough. He allowed his subvocals to show his irradiation at the preceding. As Jane took a breath, ready to dive into the 7th generation, his father held up a hand.

 

“I am more than satisfied you understand the historical significance of the clan you wish to join.” Castis said.

 

“Now we will take a 5 minute break as we prepare for the physical portion of today's ceremony.” Sparatus stated.

 

Garrus was about to ask why his father made Jane recite so much history. It wasn’t common and it was unfair to her. Just as he walked to him he heard Sparatus and his Castis conversation.

 

“That was incredible. My own bonding I could barely remember my bondmates siblings name and she did 6 generations of them!” Sparatus stated.

 

“Yes it appears she read the packet quite thoroughly.” Castis said.

 

“I didn’t get a packet.” Garrus interrupted them. They turned to him but didn’t seem surprised.

 

“Why should you? You don’t have anything to memorize for the bonding. Just a few words that every turian who’s ever seen a bonding will know to say.” His father answered. But then he sighed. “Honestly though. Once we knew you were chosen we sent the packet of information but we didn’t know who the humans would pick until it was standing in front of me.” 

 

Garrus walked away from his father at that. He knew it wouldn’t be hard to find out basic information like her name and what she looked like. Spirits, he was able to get Chellick to help him recover that much in an afternoon. He started to walk to his bondmate to apologize for all that when he saw her in a group of humans looking very smug at one of the older ones.

 

“Told you I studied for those two days and more.” She told him. He made a derisive noise but didn’t comment as he turned to the other older humans and spoke with them. Jane made her way over to her two friends.

 

“Thank god it’s over.” Joker said. “I was starting to fall asleep like in history class in school. I swear I’m going to hear the name Vakarian in my sleep for the next week.”

 

“That’s nothing. Shepard will be screaming it in her sleep for the next week.” The one named Alenko said. Garrus hated him.

 

“Oh please don’t be weird.” Jane told him. “Why would I use his last name during sex. It would be more like, ‘oh wow Garrus. You're the best lover I have ever had. A Million times better than that human lieutenant was. And your dick is soooo big too…and he is standing behind me isn’t he?” Garrus was, in fact, standing behind her.

 

“If you don’t turn around you can never tell.” Garrus told her. He looked toward her friends. Joker was trying really hard not to laugh and Kaiden looked like he wanted to kill him. Jane did turn around.

 

“Um, so…about what I said.” She started. She got really red again.

 

“It’s all proportional.” Garrus said. The humans looked confused. “Since I’m so much bigger physically than Lieutenant Alenko, all other parts of me would be bigger too.” Garrus flicked his mandible in a smirk.

 

That comment was the one that broke the damn on Joker’s laughter. He laughed so hard he fell back on his seat. Kaiden once again looked like he wanted to kill Garrus and Jane looked more red. Now her face matched her hair.

 

“But we have three days to talk about that. The next part is about to start.” He offered his arm the way he saw Joker do earlier and she took it. The two of them walked back to the dais ready to start the next section.

Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Summary:

The conclusion of the bonding ceremony.

The next part tested Jane’s fitness to see if her physical body would be a hindrance to the clan. She had to hold up two buckets of water tied to ropes in her hands. She had to hold them at least an inch off the pedestals, where they rested, for 1 min. Garrus was glad to see her able to do this. Since humans were physically weaker than turians and since his bondmate isn’t in the military he suggested that they make the physical challenge easier than the standard test.

 

After that was another 5 minute break while they get ready for the last section of today's bonding “The Marking”. 

 

Garrus made his way over to his father. “I thought we agreed not to have the marking as part of the ceremony.” he explained grumpily. 

 

“We did, however, Sparatus and Spectre Arterius believe that it is an important part of the bonding ceremony that cannot be overlooked.” His father’s subvocals screamed out disappointment.

 

“Since when did you listen to a Spectre.” Garrus shot at him. His father’s attitude towards Spectres is well known.

 

“I don’t. But they speak for the council and the council speaks for themselves as well and both agreed that since we want to show the humans we are willing to allow them into turian culture we shouldn’t do it by half measures. As the head of turian culture I really couldn’t argue. This bonding will be used as a precedent for any future bondings between humans and turians. Should any exist.”

 

“Should we worry about being in human cultures?” Garrus asked his dad.

 

Castis shuttered as did Sparatus. “That is like asking about volus culture. Humans, like the volus, are our client race. Why should we be concerned about their culture when they need to learn our ways quickly.”

 

Garrus couldn’t argue with that. He didn’t know the humans that well but he wasn’t sure what they were bringing to the council. The volus were a merchant race. They brought the Credit system. Humans weren’t as mercantile as they were. They had a military but the turians had that under control. Art, culture, and philosophy the Asir brought in spades. Humans weren’t as scientifically advanced as salarians. 

 

For a large body of unskilled labor they have quarians, for skilled, at killing, labor they have krogans, and for crime they have the batarians and the vorcha. What did humans bring?

 

Before he could argue the point, what was the point even, Sparatus called for them to begin the final section of the ceremony.

 

“The marking is the most important part of todays ceremony. It is the symbol of the clan and a mark that the two of you belong to each other and no others. Jane as the one who wishes to join the clan you shall mark Garrus first, using your non-dominant hand take the marking blade and mark your chosen as yours. Garrus as the one who will be marked first you have the honor to dictate where the marking goes.” Sparatus explained. Jane took the dagger that was handed to her in her left hand.

 

“As the clan who wishes to receive the marking I chose to be branded on…the neck.” Garrus said. There was a sharp gasp through all turians in attendance and any others who has been to a bonding before. While the bondmark was traditionally done by the mate’s teeth only the neck and waist were soft enough to bear the mark. Now that there is a special blade for it the mark can be placed anywhere. Some still chose to be marked on the neck but it is uncommon.

 

The fact that he was willing to allow a human, his enemy for the last 10 years, to put a dagger to his neck and draw blood showed a great amount of trust. Even taking off his collar and exposing his neck showed a great amount of trust.

 

“Son, what are you doing?” His father hissed from beside him.

 

“Are you really sure?” Sparatus asked.

 

Murmurs erupted from the audience. Even the humans picked up that something was wrong or out of the ordinary.

 

“May I make a suggestion?” His bondmate, Jane, asked. “In my culture we show we are bonded by wearing rings on our fingers. I can place the mark there and you can still hide it with your glove.”

 

The neck was a sign of trust and intimacy. Since it’s a small erroneous zone and exposing the neck is something only one does in polite company or at home. Taking off his gloves is seen as the same but for different reasons. While the neck expressed vulnerability, the gloves represented trust. Both were something one only exposed in the privacy of one’s home so both were intimate places.

 

He nodded his consent to be marked on the finger. He removed his gloves and Jane took his left hand in her right hand. She placed the dagger on his middle knuckle plate and carved, delicately, the symbol for Clan Vakarian. 

 

It was perfect.

 

Once she was done she presented his hand to his father who scrutinized it. He nodded and Garrus felt approval rumble in his subvocals. “The mark made by the non-dominant hand is acceptable. With the passing of the three trials I shall allow Jane formerly of Clan Shepard to join Clan Vakarian. Son, please mark your mate showing acceptance into our clan.”

 

With this came an unforeseen problem. The mark needed to be on the same place to show that the two were united. She had more than three fingers. What finger would work? Thankfully Jane offered a solution. She stuck her third most finger out on her left hand indicating that is the correct one. Garrus gently marked her but since she didn’t have plates his marking drew blood. It wasn’t a lot and when he wiped it away she had a scar showing a perfect Clan Vakarian symbol.

 

“With the power vested in me as the turian representative of the council I pronounce you mates. And now may your spirits be joined together to strengthen the clan as one being.”

 

Garrus leaned down and Jane stood on her toes as they touched foreheads together.

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

Jane gasped. As soon as her forehead touched his she felt her breath get sucked out of her. Not just her breath in her lungs but it felt like her whole body was lacking in oxygen all of a sudden. It only lasted a second as the oxygen returned but there was more than before. More than her body could handle. She felt full, fuller than she ever felt before.

 

Once her breathing returned to normal she and Garrus broke the forehead thing (It had a name but she didn’t remember it.) The audience cheered and applauded but she felt too dazed to really notice.

 

Castis made his way to the front of them shielding her from everyone’s view. “Thank you all for sitting through this important ceremony. Now for everyone’s favorite part, I believe the humans call it a reception, free drinks and food from us to you. We rented out a bar for you all to enjoy the food and drinks.”

 

There were more cheers at this as Castis made his way out of the main room, leading the audience towards the reception.

 

Jane swayed a little as she stood there with her new husband, bondmate, whatever.

 

“You ok?” He asked her as he steadied her with one hand.

 

“What was that feeling? Like something being sucked out of me and then coming back but more than before.” She asked him.

 

“Oh that was Spiritus or spirit conversion. It happens when we do things with our spirits. I didn’t think humans could sense things like that. When we marry asari or quarians they don’t feel it.”

 

Jane knew she never felt anything like that before. If that really was her spirit merging with Garrus’ then she was certain she never would experience it again.

 

“Here, why don’t you sit down. We can join the party later. You look paler than normal.” Garrus helped her to a seat. “Let me get you some water.” He disappeared and came back with bottled water for her. She drank it and allowed her nerves to settle.

 

That was done. She was bonded now. What is next for her? She wasn’t sure but she liked the idea of drinks and food.

 

“I would like to go to the party now.” She told Garrus with a smile.

Notes:

One of my favorite things about Garrus is how much he changes in the series. His elevator conversations in ME1 show him as someone who believes the council races are the best and then by ME2 he's like "Let me tell you about this batarian explosives expert that I had on my Archangel team." I wanted to show that he will also change this perspective through this work by interacting with the newest race, humans.

Chapter 8: CHapter 8

Summary:

Garrus and Jane have a heart to heart and enjoy their bonding reception

The ride to the bar for the party was filled with awkward silence. Neither knew just what to say to the other. Finally Garrus cleared his throat and tried to start a conversation.

 

“Um. I like your dress.” He said lamely.

 

“Thank you. I like it better than the other one.”

 

“Why did you wear the other one then?” He asked her, happy for something to talk about, even it was clothes.

 

“Everyone wanted me to wear something conservative. Didn’t want me to show my neck, or wrists, or scars. This one is much nicer.” Jane ran her hands down her dress admiring it over the one that was left in tatters back at the Temple. “I’m glad Saren pointed out the last one was ruined.”

 

“I still don’t understand how you are on a first name basis with a Spectre. And Saren Arterius of all of them. You know he hates humans right?” Garrus asked her.

 

“Believe it or not, we used to be friends.” Garrus scoffed at that reveal. “This was before he hated humans. Although I have a part to play in that. My dad more so but it’s still my fault.”

 

“What happened?” Garrus couldn’t stop his curiosity if he tried.

 

“My dad killed his brother. Restarted the whole war again.” Jane said evenly.

 

“What?” Garrus asked disbelievingly. 

 

“The war raged on for 3 months then it stopped while the council decided what to do with the newest race of humans that showed up. Well, my dad was a mercenary and after 2 years he got tired of waiting on the council so he took matters into his own hands. He found Saren’s brother with his pants down” At Garrus’ confused look she corrected “in a compromising position, and killed him. This led Saren to kill a bunch of humans. Since Saren is the council’s golden Spectre they backed him calling my dad a terrorist, which he is, and the war restarted up again.” Jane absentmindedly started to rub her scars on her shoulder.

 

She said it so evenly. Like she wasn’t talking about how her father was responsible for a war between their races. He noticed that she left her own part of the story out. Garrus understood that was probably more information then she wanted to share right now, and even though he was dying to know more he changed the subject.

 

“You know we turians find scars sexy. Not as sexy as krogan do. But it shows how strong a warrior is and we find beauty in strength. In fact one of the most sexy things to a turian is a certain scar in a certain area of the body.”

 

“What’s a krogan?” she asked him.

 

“Uhhh. I keep forgetting you only know about turians. We just, what's that human expression, threw you to the dogs.”

 

“Wolves.” She stated automatically. Then she realized what he said and asked “How do you know human idioms?”

 

“You're not the only one with a secret friend from the other side.” He smirked at her. “I’ll introduce you to my human friend sometime. I think you’ll like him. Name’s James Vega. Jimmy and I go way back.”

 

Jane smiled and some tension left her. She looked almost relieved but Garrus wasn’t sure why, so he asked.

 

“You seemed relieved about something.”

 

“I’m glad you know something about humans besides killing them. I was worried you would be mean and hate humans but since you have a human friend I’m not as worried now.” She smiled at him and his heart dropped to his gizzard. Of course she was worried about that. In her eyes she was going to spend the rest of her life with a predator who prayed on humans. He set down the skycar and turned to her.

 

“Look Shepard.” She turned to him with a guarded expression. “This must be really scary for you. All you know about me is that I’m a general who killed 1,092 humans during the war and now you have to live with me. I can’t imagine how scary this situation is for you. I want you to know that I will do my best to make sure you are safe and have a good life. If you are afraid of me, after the confinement period I can find somewhere else to live and I can spend as much time away from you as I can so you never have to be wary. I promise to do my best to make you as comfortable as you can be given your situation. I know we will never be in love but I do hope we can be friends.” They locked eyes. His blue ones shining with sincerity and her green eyes guarded. Slowly she nodded.

 

“Thank you Garrus. It means a lot to  me that you are willing to put yourself out to make me feel safe. I’m not afraid of you, not really. I signed up for this knowing I would be living with a turian. I won't make you leave our house or demand that we spend time away from each other. I’m glad you have my best interests in mind and I would be happy to call you a friend.”

 

He nodded at this and they started the journey towards their party. This time the silence wasn’t so awkward.

 

“You know. I know more than just your kill count. I know you like to listen to music. I know you like the vid Fleet and Flotilla and I know you like these white fluffy creatures. I forgot their name.”

 

“WHAT?” He asked surprised. He put the car on autopilot, something he hates doing, and turned to look at her. She handed him a datapad. Slowly he scrolled through the information on one General Garrus Vakarian. “SOLANA!” He growled. 

 

Jane jumped at his growl. “Sorry. My sister Sol. She filled this out, I know it! Oh I am going to have a talk with her when we get there.”

 

“So this baby turian isn’t you?” Jane reached over and clicked on the picture showing an 8 year old Garrus holding up a vulpis canem toward the camera, his manibles flared out in the biggest smile his face could hold.

 

“No, that is me. When I was 8 my parents took me to a vulpis canem reserve to play with them. They did this to lessen the blow that mom was pregnant with Solana, who I am going to kill for submitting this picture.” He sounded upset but Shepard knew he really wasn’t. She didn’t have any siblings but she understood the concept.

 

“So you really don’t like Fleet and Flotilla? And to think I watched that awful movie just so we would have something to discuss.” Jane said.

 

“What made it so awful?” Garrus asked. Jane took a deep breath and began. For the rest of the ride to the bar Shepard explained, in depth, her opinions on the vid. Normally when someone talks at length about vids, especially Fleet and Flotilla, he gets annoyed. He was used to Sol talking non-stop about it. The only reason he asked Shepard was so that SOMETHING was filling the silence, but he found her view fascinating. It was the human perspective, he figured. Taking something so turian and viewing it through a lens that wasn’t used to the way turians viewed things.

 

Finally they parked at their destination, Flux. A bar Garrus’ father rented out for the after bonding party or “wedding reception” as humans called it. He turned to Shepard.

 

“You know. If you don’t like the ending so much you probably don’t want to watch the sequel. It continues the story.” He told her, smirking. He knew only someone who spent that much time discussing the vid was actually interested in it.

 

“Do they finally get together? Why spend all that time working on their love story if he was just going to abandon it?” Shepard asked, very interested.

 

“The fact that he was tempted at all was the point. Only a turian who was that much in love would be tempted to go against their duty for the sake of another person. And I’m not spoiling the sequel. You will just have to watch it with me tomorrow to find out.”

 

“All right it’s a date. But if they don’t get together then I’m not going to stop talking about it for the rest of the day.”

 

“Noted.”

 

~~~~~~

 

As they arrived at the bar they noticed the whole party started without them. It made sense really. Enemies only last week were forced together through a joint bonding and now they were in a room together. What was really interesting was that the whole bar looked like it was divided off. Turians on one side and humans on the other. The non humans fluttered in between. Although with a few notable exceptions most of the non-humans seemed to stick together leaving the humans to their side of the bar.

 

“Well if you were expecting the bonding to fix everything right away you were wrong.” Shepard told Garrus.

 

“We knew it would take time, but I thought we would at least try. Not make a beeline for the alcohol right away.” Garrus said with a sneer looking over at the turians sitting together drinking shooting worried glances at the human side.

 

“My dad and Saren Arterius are in the same room as alcohol and a war didn’t break out. That is trying. But we are friends now right?” She looked at him.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then let's help them see how similar they are. And nothing brings people together than laughing at someone’s bad dancing. What do you say, Garrus, wanna dance with me?”

 

“Is this the uh first dance thing? James told me about this.” He asked nervously.

 

“Yeah you can say that. Fair warning, I can't dance.” Shepard told him as an earth song, a tango it sounds like, started to play

 

“That’s ok. I did enough practice for the both of us.” Garrus led them to the middle of the empty dance floor. Soon all eyes were on the pair of them.

 

He took her outstretched hand and led her to the center of the dancefloor. He placed his hands on hers and directed her to hold him in certain places. As they started to move he guided her with soft touches as gentle pressure. Soon she began to lose all doubts and started to trust him as she got swept up in the music. 

 

She started to laugh and kick her legs behind her like she saw people in vids do. “Now you're getting it.” He purred in her ear letting his hand smooth down lower on her back. He twirled her and she just kept going until she stopped face to face with Nihlus. He purred at her and she winked at him as Garrus grabbed her arm with a growl and brought her back to the dance. The crowd that they didn’t know was there, laughed at this part of the performance.

 

Jane Shepard can’t dance, everyone knew that. She was wound so tight she couldn’t relax and feel the music. She couldn’t let go of her control long enough to let someone lead her in a dance. But the Jane Shepard on the dance floor was not like the Jane she always knew.

 

She was laughing, and dancing, and making flirtatious moves. At one point during the dance she wound her leg around Garrus’ and he responded by taking a step back. This accentuated her legs and showed off her flexibility while also pressing their bodies even closer together. The crowd, now consisting of everyone in the bar, made ohh and aww noises but Jane couldn’t really hear them.

 

At the song's conclusion he dipped her and they both stayed like that panting. He pulled her up and they locked eyes. They felt something eclectic between them as they parted and they both looked away. The crowd erupted in cheers. And Jane took a bow. She noticed Garrus didn’t move but stared at her.

 

“Human thing.” She said. “After a performance we bow like this.” She took another bow.

 

“Turians don’t bend.” He told her. “We're not as flexible as humans.” He pulled her away towards the bar and he ordered a drink. She ordered a light fruity one for herself. She didn’t want to get too drunk in a room full of turians.

 

“That was incredible.” She told him. “I can’t dance and yet you moved me so well it was like we were dancing together for years.”

 

His mandibles flicked. “Thank you. I must say you are a better partner to dance with than James. He isn’t so light on his feet and he didn’t understand my signals.”

 

“That was fun. Can we dance again?” Jane asked. She couldn’t believe she was dancing and having fun.

 

“I um afraid I only practiced that one human dance.” He seemed embarrassed.

 

“That’s ok, maybe you can teach me a turian one. I can’t be worse at dancing a turian style than I am at human ones.” Jane finished her drink and ordered more.

 

“You danced well. I don’t see why you said you were bad.”

 

“That was all you. You made me look good.”

 

“An impossible feat for sure.” said a new voice interrupting them. They turned to look at the newcomer.

 

“Mom!” Jane hugged her mom. “Did you see I danced and it looked decent!” Jane beamed.

 

“Seems your husband is quite a miracle worker. If I didn’t know better I would think it was rehearsed. Especially that part where you flirted with the other turian.” There was a tone there that Garrus couldn’t place.

 

“I was just having fun mom.” Jane said as she looked at the ground dejected. Garrus wanted to growl at this woman. He spent so long trying to get Jane comfortable and she comes along and ruins it.

 

“Garrus, this is my mom Admiral Hanna Shepard. Mom, this is my bondmate General Garrus Vakarian.” Jane introduced them.

 

“Garrus, would you mind if I stole my daughter away for a second.” Admiral Shepard asked him.

 

“Not at all Admiral.” Garrus said as she dragged Jane away.

 

Garrus pulled up his omnitool and sent a message.

 

Just did the dance. Went perfectly. Thanks for teaching me - PrinceofPalaven 

 

Send me a vid Prince. I want to see your Lola. -JimmyVega

 

I don’t understand the use of these dumb codenames - PrinceofPalaven

 

They aren't dumb, they are cool. - JimmyVega

 

Garrus shuts down his messenger. James is a good friend but that doesn’t mean he wants to talk to him all night. Instead he searches the bar until he sees the person he does want to talk to and goes over to him.

 

“Hey, is this seat taken?” Garrus asks the lone human at the table for two.

 

“Uh no. Go ahead.” Joker tells him. Clearly surprised that Garrus sought him out.

 

Garrus dropped into the seat across from Joker and waited.

 

“That was incredible. I didn’t think Shepard could dance. You two looked good together. For a … you know.” Joker trailed off gesturing with his hands.

 

“A turian and a human.” Garrus supplied.

 

“Yes that.” 

 

“I get the feeling Shepard knows turians quite well.” Garrus took a sip of his drink.

 

“Yeah, we uh… we don’t talk about that.” Joker seemed uncomfortable. This confirmed what Garrus suspected. Whatever happened to his new bondmate wasn’t something she was comfortable sharing.

 

“I understand that and respect that.” Garrus told him. “I also understand that being bonded to a turian isn’t something she wanted. As her best friend I am hoping you can help me make it better for her.”

 

Joker sat up straighter. “Sure man. I would love to help Shepard.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Since when can you dance?” Her mom asked her.

 

“I can’t. You know that. It was all Garrus.”

 

“It seems that, with a little rehearsing, even you can dance,” Her mom said. Her tone even but her face hard.

 

Realization dawned on Shepard. “I didn’t sneak off and practice dancing with him.” She whispered. “I was too busy studying for the ceremony. I killed it, by the way.”

 

“And you never met him before today? You both seem rather close.”

 

“No! We talked in the car about how we were going to be friends and how he can make my new life as his wife bearable. That's all. It seems that he was ordered to take good care of me to set an example of the turians willingness to commit to helping humanity. He’s just a soldier following orders.” and she lowers her voice. “And so am I.” 

 

“And the other one. I don’t remember ordering you to play nice with EVERY turian you see.”

 

“It was just part of the performance. I used to be a dancer, remember. Ask Joker, he loves that story. I have never met him before today either. I’ve never, so much as, spoken to any turian before today. I spent the last 8 years killing turians If that doesn’t prove whose side I’m on better than a little dance then I don’t know what will convince you. Now if you excuse me, I have to meet with my guests.”

 

Shepard turned from her mom and went to grab another drink. After dealing with her she needed one. She walked to the bathroom. She needed a few minutes to herself. The universe seemed to have other plans for as soon as she entered the bathroom another person entered behind her and locked the door.

 

“You lied to her.” The double flanged voice told her.

 

“Which part?” Shepard asked as she checked her makeup in the mirror.

 

“The “Ive never spoken to a turian before today” part.” The female turian said as she stood next to Shepard.

 

“Oh yeah. I guess I did. Well what do you know? Looks like I’m a liar. How are you sis?” Shepard asks, turning to face the turian she was talking to.

 

Solana Vakarian stood her ground. Not even bothering to hide how nervous she was. “And why does it say you are a civilian?” She waved a datapad in the air.

 

“I am a civilian now. No need for soldiers once the war is over. Besides I don’t need your brother to worry about sleeping with a trained turian killer. It’s bad enough I have to worry about sleeping next to a trained human killer.”

 

“You have your own room. You don’t have to sleep with him.” Solana said to Shepard.

 

“Oh…That’s…good.” Shepard says slowly.

 

“You’re not getting out of this. Did you not tell anyone about me?” Solana asks.

 

“Did you?”

 

“Well. No.”

 

“Then no harm done, it will just be a secret between us sisters.” Shepard said and tried to leave the bathroom but Solana stopped her.

 

“You really didn’t put it in your report?” Solana asked nervously.

 

“No I didn’t. Don’t worry Solana, no one knows about our meeting but us.” Shepard paused. “I didn’t know you were the Primarch’s daughter that day. You know that right?”

 

“I wasn’t. Dad didn’t become Primarch until after that.” They both looked at eachother uncomfortably.

 

“So…how is your mom?”

 

“Better. Without you she would have died. And so would have I.”

 

“Well don’t tell anyone. The last thing I need is someone finding out I saved the Primarch’s wife and daughter. They would execute me on the spot.” She smiled and patted Solana on the shoulder as she passed her finally leaving the bathroom and the talk of treason.

 

She grabbed another drink.

 

Shepard scoped out the bar looking for someone to talk to and to thank for coming to her bonding when she spotted Alenko and the asari, Liara she remembers, sitting at a two person table with their heads VERY close together.

 

“The worst part is he doesn’t even see the hypocrisy.”

 

Jane turned towards the voice she hasn’t heard in 8 years. “Rahna!” She hugged the other human woman with a smile on her face. “I haven’t seen you in years. What are you doing here?”

 

“I have a confession to make, Shepard. I’m the one who gave the council the idea to force you to bond with a turian. I knew from…before, that turians have arranged marriages and humans used to as well. So I mentioned, in a vid call to the council, that humans used to marry into other kingdoms to solve wars or strengthen bonds between kingdoms.” She seemed sad as she looked at the ground. “I didn’t tell them to choose you though.”

 

She looked like she was on the verge of crying and Shepard realized that the guilt was weighing on her and she needed to confess as soon as she could. “Hey it’s ok, come here.” She pulled the other woman in close and hugged her. “No one forced me to marry Garrus, I chose this. Garrus is the one you should apologize to. The marriage was a good idea. It will be like Jump Zero again but without the rape and murder. Hopefully.”

 

This got the other girl to smile. She whipped her tears and looked at Shepard with a new confidence. “I can’t believe you, of all people, volunteered for this.”

 

“And I can’t believe how far you’ve come, Rahna. From that shy little girl to the head of an organization.” Shepard told her. It was a deflection from what Rahna said but it worked.

 

Rahna gasped. “You heard about me?”

 

“I have been following your career ever since Jump Zero. You and everyone I can from there. So tell me, how is your organization doing?”

 

“It’s just a small time lobbying thing. Not really that important.” She shyly answered.

 

“You got the council to end the war and helped promote intergalactic peace.” Shepard informed her. 

 

“Well I just wanted people to get along. I thought bringing both of our races together would help everyone see we have more in common than not. And we can learn from the differences too.” Rahna stood a little straighter. 

 

Shepard finished her drink and got another one. She looked over the bar and noticed her bondmate talking to another turian about the same age as Rahna. She smiled as she sipped her drink. “Follow me.” Shepard grabbed Rahna’s arm and pulled her towards her bondmate.

 

As she approached Garrus, pulling Rahna behind her, she saw Garrus and his friend stop their conversation and turn to them.

 

“Ah there is my bondmate.” Garrus chimed.

 

“Hello. I wanted to introduce my friend Rahna.” She pulls Rahna in front of her. “She started her own lobbying group that has been recognized here at the Citadel. She even came up with the idea for this bonding.”

 

Garrus smiles at the shy Rahna. “Well it seems that I have you to thank for my lovely bondmate. This is Chellick. He is the assistant to the Executor. His assistance has been indispensable in the short time I’ve been here.”

 

“Your idea stopped a war and your race hasn’t even been introduced to the Council yet. That is incredible. I would love to hear more about your organization.” Chellick says.

 

“It’s just a small lobbying organization. It’s really nothing important.” Rahna says as she looks down at the ground. She looks up at Chellick through her eyelashes and shyly smiles at him.

 

“Why don’t you get her a drink, Chellick so you can hear all about how to make the Citadel a better place with her group.” Garrus says lightly pushing him towards the girl.

 

“Y-yes, of course. Right this way please.” And the two of them go off together towards the bar.

 

“Looks like it won't be too much longer before there is another human/turian bonding.” Garrus says. “You should have heard his subvocals. They were practically screaming his interest.”

 

“They will get along fine. She likes turians and he’s been staring at my waist all night so I know he’s interested as well.” Shepard says as she sways slightly. “Come on. Teach me how to turian dance.” She grabs his hand and leads him to the dance floor.

~~~~~~~~~

 

Castis and Centrua Vakarian stood at one of the upper levels of the bar watching the festivities below. They watched as their new daughter dragged their son to the dance floor and tried to dance with him. But he seemed like he was having a good time dancing and laughing at his new bondmate.

 

“Stop feeling so guilty, my love.” Centura said to her bondmate. “At this rate you will wear out your second vocal cords.”

 

“How can I not feel guilty? I swore after what we went through to never subject our kids to an arranged bonding. And now, not only have I done so, it’s to a human. He won't be able to have children with her and he can never live with her on Palaven. Other turians will mock him for his bondmate. He is too honorable to take a mistress so I don’t know about his future. Will he ever find love? Was winning the war worth the sacrifice I forced my son to make.” Castis took a very long sip of his drink.

 

“Oh I don’t think you have that much to worry about love.” Centura said as she leaned over the balcony. Castis followed her gaze as he saw Garrus with his body pressed up against Jane’s back as he danced her through some turian style of dance. He had a giant smile on his face that was the biggest one since the war started. “Seems like he is taking his sacrifice quite well.”

 

The music played on as Garrus and Jane danced the night away.

Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Summary:

The aftermath of the bonding night. Jane and Garrus spend time learning more about eachother.

Hours later Jane rolled out of bed and ran to the bathroom. If she took a moment to consider her life she would wonder why she woke up in a bed she has no memory of and how she knew where the bathroom was. But she didn’t have the luxury of thought as she all but threw herself on to her knees and vomited into the toilet.

 

As she did so the smell of many, many different alcohols came wafting up at her. This unpleasant smell brought along the snippets of unpleasant memories of her dancing, drinking, laughing, drinking, talking, drinking, and at one point she was pretty sure she tried to kiss someone, and drinking.

 

Lots and lots of drinks.

 

She wondered why she drank so much. She promised herself she wasn’t going to. How could she have let herself be so vulnerable in a room full of turians. The last time she did that she—

 

“BLURG” more bad smelling after liquor made its way into the toilet.

 

There was a small knock on the door frame of her bathroom. “Uh, Jane. Can I come in?” The double flanged voice of her bondmate called to her.

 

“NO! (blurg) DON’T. Turian sense of smell is too great it might kill you.” There was a light chuckle as the turian came to sit behind her. 

 

“Here I brought you some water.” He handed her a glass of water and she took it, grateful for something to wash the taste out of her mouth. 

 

That lasted two seconds before she bent over the toilet again. One hand gripped her hair keeping it out of the way and the other on the floor for stability. All of a sudden, gentle three fingered hands held her hair for her as another wave of vomit sent her back, praying to the porcelain god.

 

After that was over and after she finished two glasses of water, Garrus refilled it for her, she sat on the cool floor of the bathroom wishing for death. Garrus sat beside her.

 

“You ok now?” He asked her. She could feel his concern through his voice and his subvocals.

 

“Yeah, um humans vomit to get rid of toxins in their bodies. Do turians…”

 

“Sometimes. We regurgitate to remove items as well. Sometimes we eat special rocks to help settle our gizzard. It’s mostly the same but without the um, smell.”

 

“Oh god, kill me now!” Jane groaned.

 

Garrus chuckled again and stood up, offering a hand to Jane. “Here. Let’s get you back in bed. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

 

She took his hand and he helped her to bed. She crawled in and he tucked her in. “Night Garrus. Sorry you’re tucking your drunk ass bondmate into bed on your first night as a bonded man.” Jane said to him. Just then a memory flashed in her mind.

 

~~~~~~5 hours earlier~~~~~~

 

“WOO. That was the best bonding I have ever been too!” A VERY loud and VERY drunk Jane said as she entered the house. She did not enter on her feet though. Garrus was carrying her. She made him. She told him it was human tradition to carry one of them though the door threshold, but she couldn’t remember why.

 

“It’s the only bonding you’ve been too.” Garrus says chuckling. He has Jane in his arms with her shoes hanging from one of his talons.He carried her up the stairs.

 

“MAYYYBEE. You don’t know. I have a whole secret life filled with turians that you don’t know about. I might have gone to a bonding before. You don’t know.” Jane said singingly. 

 

“All right, have you been to a bonding before?” Garrus asked, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.

 

“Nope!” Jane giggled like it was a joke. Garrus laughed as well. He was enjoying the antics of his drunken bondmate. “Woah, nice house.” Jane said as Garrus entered her bedroom.

 

“It’s yours. And this room is your bedroom, complete with a human bed, and bathroom attached.”

 

“AWW, I wanted to sleep with you.” Jane cooed at him then started to giggle again.

 

“I imagine that thought has led to your current state. Don’t worry I would never touch you without your consent.”

 

“But what if I gave consent.” She asked, trying to sound flirtatious. It falled as she laughed again.

 

“Well I uh, don’t really have a human fettish…” Garrus wasn’t sure why he was trying to answer her sincerely when she was in no mind for seriousness. He deposited her on the bed.

 

“That’s too bad. We do this thing with our mouths that will drive you wild. Want to see.” She crawled on the bed towards him.

 

“Uh…why don’t we see how you feel about it tomorrow morning instead.” He pulled down the covers and she crawled inside.

 

“Night Garrus. Sorry you’re tucking your drunk ass bondmate into bed on your first night as a bonded turian.” She calls to him as he deposits her shoes on the floor.

 

“That’s alright. It's better than how I feared this night was going to go. I think I will like being bonded to you Jane Shepard.”

 

“I think I will like being bonded to you too, Garrus Vakarian. Garruss, Gare, OH Gare-bear! It rhymes. That’s your new name!”

 

His laughter is the last thing she remembers as the memory fades away.

 

~~~~~~~~And Now~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Jane wanted to die for a whole ‘nother reason now.

 

~~~~~~in the morning~~~~~~~~

 

Jane woke to the smell of eggs and bacon. For just a second she allowed herself to think she was back on Earth and everything had been a dream. But then her stomach growled and she had to face the fact that she was awake.

 

Awake after making a complete ass of herself. And completely hungover. She wanted to die.

 

She walked downstairs to see Garrus with his back towards her making something on the stove. She took a seat on the bar stool and tried to look around him to see what he was making. All she could see was him looking worriedly at his omnitool.

 

“Is that bacon?” She asked. He jumped a little at her voice and turned around. 

 

“Oh Shepard you’re awake. I was going to bring it up to you so you could have…’breakfast in bed’ but seeing as how you’re already awake…yes it’s bacon. Well it’s going to be bacon I just started. Is it supposed to make that sound?” Garrus seemed very worried.

 

“Yes, that's bacon frying in its own fat and oil. It’s a very fatty food. That’s why it’s delicious.” Jane explained.

 

“Vega tells me that’s the reason it’s good for hangovers too. He also said I could pair it with these unfertilized eggs but there seems to be many different ways to make them. Now that you are awake…well, how do you like your eggs?” 

 

She stood up and walked into the kitchen. She showed him how to prepare her breakfast and smiled at him. “Since you went through the trouble of making my breakfast, how about you let me make yours? How do you take your Kava?” She pulled out some ingredients from the fridge and cupboard and started to make a traditional breakfast drink, similar to coffee, for him as she started on a traditional turian breakfast.

 

“With a little bit of crepito. Hey, how did you know to make prandium like that?” He asked.

 

“It’s the only way I know how to make prandium.” She answered.

 

“Is this the secret life you have that’s full of other turians? Should I be jealous?” He asked.

 

She placed his breakfast next to hers and they both started to eat.

 

“Yes and no. Yes it’s part of my secret turian filled backstory, and no you have no reason to be jealous. You're the only turian in my eyes now.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

 

He laughed at her. “I suppose that is the best way to transition into this conversation.” He swallowed a mouthful of food. “Do you know about the confinement period?” He asked her. His voice was completely serious.

 

“Kind of. We have to stay in the house, isolated from the world for three days. But I don’t know why.” She said with a mouthful of eggs.

 

“Well, it is to give us some time to become, um, acquainted.” He said uncomfortably.

 

“Oh, we're supposed to have sex for three days. That makes sense. Humans call it a honeymoon but we usually go somewhere and then stay inside.” Jane answered.

 

“How much of last night do you remember?” He asked.

 

“Not a lot. Just the embarrassing things. I’m sorry I propositioned you with my mouth last night. Oh and other things.” She is unable to look him in the eye.

 

“Then do you remember what I said?” He seemed to be over his embarrassment as amusement took over.

 

“That you don’t have a human fettish.”

 

“Yes that too. I also said I wouldn’t touch you without consent. I know something happened to you regarding your time with turians and I won't ask. Not until you're ready to bring it up but I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want.”

 

“Isn’t sex kinda a thing with turians?”

 

“I don’t know what you mean with “a thing” but yes we have sex. It’s no big deal.”

 

“It’s a big deal to us.” Jane explains. “I don’t want to condemn you to a life of celibacy Garrus. That isn’t fair to you.” She stops and takes a drink of her coffee. She is going to have to ask him how he got earth food for her.

 

“Well I don’t want that for you either. Some arranged bonded pairs still have other lovers. It’s not unheard of since they didn’t bond for love.”

 

“Do you want that? Sex with someone else? Since I’m not what you want, that seems like it makes the most sense.”

 

“Only if you do that too. I know there aren't a lot of humans on the Citadel right now but soon there will be. I’m sure eventually you will find someone or multiple someones to see to your needs.” Garrus seemed to relax a bit. It was clear he was worried about this conversation. 

 

“Well since that is out of the way. What should we do with the three days we have? Since we’re not engaging in the regular activity.” Jane asked him.

 

“Well the time is meant to get to know one another so why don’t we do that. I promised you the sequel to the Fleet and Flotilla did I not.” 

 

He keys up the movie and the two settle in to watch. Luckily for all parties involved it did end with the turian general and the quarian admiral getting together.

 

“Why didn’t the first one end that way?” Shepard asked Garrus.

 

“So, this is the first vid that showed an inter-species relationship that the turians made. The directors were afraid it wouldn’t go over well with the turian audience, especially the conservative majority, so they felt that if the general was tempted but chose his duty in the end then it would be safer. What they were not counting on however, was the other races loved it. It won several awards. However, the other races felt similar to you and so this sequel was made where everyone got to be happy.”

 

“What awards did it win?”

 

“Best storytelling, best soundtrack, best portrayal of an interspecies relationship. The asari film makers were amazed that a turin vid won that award.”

 

“Wow, do you always have this much vid trivia knowledge on all vids?”

 

“Well, Sol might have put down my favorite vid on the questionnaire.” He added sheepishly.

 

“Oh, sorry I complained about your favorite vid.”

 

“No! No, that’s fine. I agree with you. That’s why you gotta watch both vids together. That way it tells the complete story.” Garrus told her.

 

“So what now?” Shepard asked.

 

“Well I was thinking, why don’t we spend some time just getting to know each other. You ask me a question, then I ask you a question. If you are not comfortable answering I’ll ask another question. Deal?”

 

“Sure. You start.” 

 

They moved to one of the sitting rooms and sat on the couch together. They both grabbed some drinks, mostly coffee and water, Shepard needed to stay away from the alcohol for a while. And the two of them asked each other some basic questions. Favorite color, food they like, but it was noticeable they both tended to stay away from the harder or deeper questions. Shepard decided to go first and get it out of the way.

 

“When we met you knew exactly how many humans you killed in the war. Why did you bring it up?” She wanted to know.

 

“Well I guess, I just wanted you to know that I’m a bad person. I killed a lot of your kind and you should know what I’m capable of. I don’t want to scare you but turians have evolved to fight. We're not as good at fighting as krogans but we are a close second.” Garrus explained.

 

“No, I don’t think that’s why. I think it’s something deeper. But that just could be a projection. I haven’t had therapy in a few weeks so I might be missing it.” Shepard explained.

 

“You go to therapy?” Garrus asked.

 

“Ever since I was 20. Or at least I did. It’s kinda a long commute from here to my therapist’s office on Earth.” Shepard looked down as she said this. “Oh we're out of drinks, let me get us some more.” She hopped up and ran into the kitchen.

 

Garrus pulled up his omnitool and did a quick search for therapy on the citadel. It wasn’t surprising that a bunch of therapy options came up. As a turian he only knew of a few of them, like battle weary for turians who experienced too much during their military career, and couples therapy for turans who were having trouble communicating with their bondmate.

 

Shepard came back and refreshed his drink for him. “What kind of therapy were you in?” He asked her.

 

“Oh well…” she hesitated.

 

“Hey if you are not comfortable with it you don’t have to answer the question.”

 

“No, it's fine. I was just trying to answer. Therapy is kinda looked down on by humans so admitting it is like admitting to being weak.”

 

“Why? Even turians know that therapy is helpful. We wouldn’t have such a strong military if we didn’t have therapy.”

 

“It seems turians are more progressive in some areas than humans. We think anything we can’t control or deal with alone makes us weak. That’s why sex is a big deal to us and not to you. We don’t want to admit that we have desires that we can’t control and giving into those base hormones makes us weak. That’s my theory at least. It could be anything really. I think it’s your turn to ask a question.”

 

“What was your childhood like?” He asked.

 

“Oh, my mom was in the Navy and dad, well, he was a mercenary. So I lived on Navy bases my whole childhood. Always moving from one to the other. Then when the war broke out with the turians, uh you guys, I moved to Mindoir with my grandparents on my dad’s side. They owned a diner and taught me how to cook.”

 

He’s heard of Mindoir but couldn’t remember why. He’ll look it up later.

 

“What about you?” she asked him.

 

“My childhood? Well I had a fairly common turian childhood. My dad lived and worked here on the citadel and my mom, sister, and I lived on Palaven. He would come home sometimes but mostly we saw him on the vid screen.”

 

“Sounds lonely. Did you miss him?”

 

This was a strange question to Garrus. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was a common childhood. Most turian children grew up with one or both parents serving the Hierarchy outside of the house in some way. He knew his mom was lonely but he never stopped to think about himself. “It was normal. Mom missed him and I think raising us when he was far away for long periods of time was tough on her. Spirits know I wasn’t the easiest fledgling to raise.”

 

“I bet you were cute.”

 

“I was adorable.” He said completely serious. They both laughed at this.

 

“What about hobbies?” Garrus asked her.

 

“I collect, assemble, and paint model ships. I really like the ones that mom served on. I had a good collection too.” Shepard said with obvious glee. “You?”

 

“I used to paint. Now I mostly just like to calibrate guns to optimize things.”

 

“You paint?”

 

“Used to. I was pretty good at it too. Got a scholarship to a painting school on Thesia. But then mom got hit by a skycar and I couldn’t go. I had to help watch Sol.”

 

“That’s awful.” Shepard said.

 

“She’s ok. She broke her fringe and some other plates but they healed. I was more mad that dad didn’t come home. She told him not to but he still should have. I was only 14 and Sol was 6. It would have made mom’s life easier.”

 

“I meant because you lost out on your dream. Did you join the military at 15 then?”

 

“Yeah, just like every turian. After basic I was scouted for SPECTRE training so I left to do that. Then the war broke out and dad convinced me to go back into the military until the war ended. I regretted leaving Spectre training and was mad at my dad for a long time.”

 

“Was your dad Primarch then? You said he had a different job before he was Primarch.”

 

“He was Executor of the Citadel. What Pallin does now. He left that job to become Primarch after the last one was killed in the war only 4 years ago. Well to be more specific he left to take care of mom and Sol before he was made Primarch.”

 

“Your mom and sister?” Shepard asked, taking a sip of her drink.

 

“Yeah, Sol was shot” Shepard started to choke on her drink. Garrus started towards her but she put her hand up to say he was ok. After making sure she was ok Garrus continued. “Mom got real sick. Corpalis. So he came back to Palaven to take care of them.”

 

“And now that the war is over you can do Spectre training again.” Shepard said, looking towards the positive.

 

“Yes, that reminds me. After Nihlus says I’m ready to do missions I will be gone a long time. Did you have a job back on earth, or something that you can do while I am gone?”

 

“I’m not a child Garrus. I don’t need you to entertain me. I am perfectly capable of entertaining myself.” she pouted.

 

“I’m sorry that isn’t what I meant. I just want to make sure you are going to be ok while I leave. It isn’t just because you are my bondmate, you are also my friend. I don’t want to worry about my friend.” Garrus placated.

 

“I used to be a student. I really like to learn.I figured I would download a bunch of books on history and learn a little bit about the galaxy. Take walks around the Persidum and learn as much as I can.” She lied but he didn’t need to know that. She decided that, in order to cover her mission of gathering intelligence, she would pretend to really just like learning. 

 

Garrus nodded at that. Wanting to use her free time to expand her knowledge was a worthwhile goal. Since humans have not been introduced on a galactic scale yet it must be so difficult to hear about species like Krogans and not know anything about them. 

 

The two talked together for the rest of the morning. Garrus surprised Shepard with more earth food for lunch.

 

“Ok I gotta ask. Where did the earth food come from?” Shepard asked Garrus.

 

“Earth.”

 

“Smart ass. No really. How did it get here?”

 

Garrus smiled. “James told me that food is important to humans so I made sure to include monthly supply drops from earth in the contract.” 

 

“What contract?” Shepard asked as she made her lunch, a salad. How the vegetables stayed good through the multi day journey she didn’t know.

 

“The one between us. It says what we will do, what we need. You know the one we got when we signed up for this bonding.” Garrus told her. Shepard shook her head. Garrus opened his omnitool and forwarded a copy of his contract to her.

 

She read it over. “This is from the Alliance.” She said. There were rules about how Garrus couldn’t touch her without her permission. How he had to take care of her well being to the best of his abilities. It read like Shepard was a pet or a child and he had to sign an agreement to take care of her. “This is so degrading, incredibly fucking patronising, It treats me like a child!” She fumed.

 

“I thought something similar. The truth is though, humanity is like children, to a galactic stage at least. There are things that are dangerous and things that can kill you if you are not careful. Also I am capable of hurting you. Part of the treaty to end the war is that the turians will take care of the humans. That starts with this bonding, and you and me.”

 

Shepard didn’t say anything as she quietly ate her lunch in silence. “What should we do now?” Garrus asked her. He was tense as the silence lingered.

 

“I saw a turian version of a love story. Let’s watch other vids and see the other races' versions.” Shepard suggested.

 

“Sure. If romance is what you want, quarian vids are the best. They are hopeless romantics.”

 

The rest of the day was filled with vid watching. After they ate their dinner Shepard informed him that she wanted to spend the rest of the night alone. So they spent some time apart. The tense atmosphere that existed since Shepard found out about the contract lingered the rest of the day and well into the night.

Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Summary:

A short chapter about how Garrus and Shepard got along during their confinement period.

Garrus woke up that night to a sound he was intimately familiar with but had hoped to never hear again. The sound of a human scream.

 

He was out of bed in a flash and into the next room before his sleeping brain could register he even moved. Shepard lay on her bed thrashing and screaming in her sleep.

 

“SHEPARD! WAKE UP.” He shouted at her. That didn’t do anything. He wasn’t sure if she could hear him over the sound of her own screams. He walked over to her bed and tried to gently shake her by with one hand on her shoulder. Again that did nothing. Although her violent thrashing probably meant she didn’t feel it. 

 

Determined to wake her, he climbed on top of her and shook her with both hands on her shoulders. “SHEPARD YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!” He shouted right in her face. 

 

Then his world fell upside down as he was flipped on his back with a knife placed on his throat. It was 4 am, he was pinned down, and he had a knife to his throat. He felt he deserved a medal for not tearing his bondmate apart. As he looked at her however, any anger he might have felt left him. 

 

She stared down at him with unseeing eyes. He wasn’t sure she was even awake. “Shepard. You are having a bad dream. And I…is that our kitchen knife?” She didn’t respond. He slowly brought his forehead up to meet hers. At once he felt his soul leave his body and enter hers. It imparted with her a sense of calm.

 

She blinked, seeming to see him for the first time. “Garrus?” She seemed confused.

 

“Is this a uh, human thing? Pinning your bondmate down and holding a knife to their throat in bed? If so i can, uh see the appeal.” He tried for levity. She looked at him, the knife, back at him, back at the knife.

 

“Oh my god Garrus! I am so sorry.” She jumped off of him like he was fire and she was going to be burned if she stayed longer than a second near him. “Are you ok? Did I hurt you? Oh my god I am so, so sorry.”

 

“You said that.” He sat up slowly holding his hand up, palms open. Seeing her on the other side of the room panting and shaking he touched his neck with his hands. “Head’s still attached. So I think I’m ok.” She didn’t laugh so he slowly made his way over to her.

 

She didn’t move, she just kept shaking. He slowly took the knife and threw it on the bed. Then he held her. “Hey, hey it’s ok. No one is hurt. Unless you are? Are you hurt?” He held her at arms length and appraised her. She didn’t look hurt. She looked scared. “Shepard, are you hurt?” He asked her with as stern of a voice as he could.

 

“N-No, I’m ok. I’m Sorry Garrus. I didn’t -” He held her again.

 

“It’s ok. It’s ok.” He let out comforting purrs in his subvocals hoping to calm her down. It didn’t seem to be working so he let them both slide down to the floor as he held her and purred. He rubbed her back and waited.

 

After some time the shaking stopped and it seemed she was ok. He let her move out of his arms first. They sat next to each other on the floor of Shepard's room. Her breathing was stabilizing and she wasn’t looking at him.

 

“Why don’t I make you breakfast and you take a shower to calm down. Then you can join me when you are done.” Garrus offered. She nodded. She was too shaken up, either by the nightmare or the fact that she just held a knife to her bondmate’s throat, to trust herself to speak.

 

He left and Shepard went to take that shower. She just allowed the water to rush over her body breathing heavily. She usually sleeps with a knife under her pillow, more often it was a gun. Her therapist told her it was an unhealthy reaction to her trauma but everything Shepard did was unhealthy. She focused on her breathing. She can’t believe she tried to kill Garrus. He was going to hate her and that would make living with him so much harder. He was working on being her friend and how does she repay him? She holds him at knife point. How is she ever going to get him to trust her again?

 

After her shower she went down and found her breakfast and something else waiting for her at her seat at the bar.

 

“What is this?” She asked Garrus looking at the small box.

 

“A present for you. Open it.” He slid it towards her. So she took it and opened it. 

 

She was surprised to find a very nicely made combat knife laying within.

 

“What’s this Garrus?” She asked him.

 

“My army combat knife. Well it was one of them. This one was given to me as a gift when I made General and I have never used it.”

 

“Why are you giving me your combat knife? Especially after what happened this morning.”

 

“It’s because of what happened this morning that you need this. I get it. I can’t imagine what you are going through. Pulled away from everyone you know and forced to live with aliens who can hurt you given half a chance. It only makes sense that you want some protection. But it was pretty damn embarrassing to be held at knife point with my own kitchen knife. You need a big girl knife if you want to protect yourself.”

Shepard was touched. Really. His reason for wanting the protection was wrong but the fact that he gave her a weapon capable of hurting him was huge. It spoke of so much trust and understanding. For the first time in her military career and second time in her life she was having trouble with her orders. She almost broke down and told him she was spying on him for the Alliance. 

 

“I…don’t know what to say, Garrus. Thank you. I didn’t get you anything.” She took the knife out of the box and admired it. It was spectacular. It was true it has never been used but it has been looked after with a lot of care. This knife must have meant a lot to Garrus. And he was going to give it to her.

 

“You gave me peace. You sacrificed so much to bring an end to the war and that paved the way to allowing me to achieve my dream of being a Spectre. I will never be able to give you a gift good enough to reciprocate what you gave me. I hope to try though.” He handed her a data pad. “I know I made you mad yesterday when I called humans infantile. I realize that is entirely the fault of the turians. If it wasn’t for us humans would be much farther along in terms of galactic understanding. So I have another present for you. Last night I downloaded as many textbooks on galactic history and racial history as I could find so you can see what everyone is like. I figured you can read some of it today. You said you were a student and you liked to learn.”

 

She thought about it and looked over at Garrus. He was giving her intel that she needed for her mission. He was helping her, not hindering her like everyone thought he would. Granted this wasn’t the hard intel the Alliance was hoping for but it did fill her primary objective: Gather intelligence to help move humans along. Originally Hacket, Anderson, even her mom believed that the turians would keep her home, a prisoner, and any information would be hard to gather. How wrong they were.

 

“I can read when you are out on your missions. Can you show me how to use this knife? I’m a civilian and don’t know more than the basics.” All lies. But if he could teach her some turian knife techniques then that would satisfy her second objective as well. Gather any TURIAN intelligence that would aid the Alliance in case they went to war with the turians again. 

 

If she could get both of these critical pieces of information on day two then the Alliance would see that the bonding would be worth it and Shepard would still remain the top infiltrator they had. She might be a little worried about Kasumi stealing her title while she wasn’t on active duty. And she was vain and humble enough to admit that title meant something to her.

 

“Shepard, I know we haven’t known each other long, but I am not the kind of turian who would arm a person without making sure they knew what they were doing.” He smiled at her.

 

After breakfast they went down to the basement gym and Garrus ran her through how to use a knife. Turns out turian knife fighting was similar to human knife fighting and she soon got the basics down.

 

“You handle a turian combat knife well.” He praised her.

 

She was vain and humble enough to admit she liked the praise.

 

“The extra fingers help with the grip.” She explained. “I have been in self defense classes since I was 20 so I know some basic steps.”

 

“Good then let's skip the basics and go straight to advanced techniques.” and he did. For the next hour he showed her more advanced forms of fighting with the turian made combat knife. They stopped when Shepard couldn’t stand anymore.

 

She sunk down onto the sparring mat laying flat on her back with her arms spread out panting.

 

“Wow I am out of shape.” She panted.

 

“No, these are very hard training techniques. Most of my soldiers couldn’t master these. You have real skills.” He handed her a water and sat on the mat next to her.

 

“Thanks. Like I said, self defense classes. Also when your mom is an Admiral and your dad is a merc training to fight is second nature. You are a good teacher.”

 

“Thank you. It would be harder if you weren’t such a good student. What do you want to do next?”

 

“Well I need another shower then maybe a vid?”

 

“Sounds like a good plan. I’ll find a good one after I take a shower too.”

 

Their day fell into a nice rhythm. They watched a vid, talked for a while to learn more about themselves, had lunch, then Shepard left to the office to read the text books Garrus brought her, had dinner, then they both would work out downstairs in the gym and spend the next few hours before bed together in silence.

 

The day after that was much the same and with that their last day of confinement passed.

Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Summary:

Sol and Castis tell stories.

The day after their confinement period ended there was a ring at the door in the early hours of the morning. Shepard was already awake waiting for Garrus to wake up so they could start their day with a morning spar or him teaching her more knife techniques. So Shepard went to open the door. 

 

“Primarch Vakarian.” She greeted in surprise as Castis Vakarian came through the door. “And family.” Shepard added as Solana and Centura followed him inside.

 

“Shepard, please we are family now. You don’t have to call me Primarch Vakarian anymore.” Castis told her.

 

“Yes sir.” Shepard answered. Castis just shook his head and Centura laughed quietly into her hand.

 

“Dad? Mom and Sol too? What are you doing here?” Garrus called from the balcony having just woken up and left his room.

 

“Today is our last day on the Citadel and we wanted to see you before we leave.” Sol answered him.

 

“I thought it would be a good idea to take my children out to breakfast before we travel back to Palaven. Is that alright with you two?” Castis asked.

 

“I don’t care if you want to take Garrus out to eat.” Shepard said, confused.

 

Centura smiled. “No dear, you too. Turians believe that when you marry and your spirit joins together you are our child as well. I see humans see it differently.”

 

“If I’m your kid too does that mean I call you mom now?” Shepard asked.

 

Centura’s smile brightened at that. “Nothing would make me happier. But I understand if that isn’t in your culture or you are not comfortable with it. Centura is fine until you are ready.”

 

“Oh. Thank you Centura.” Shepard said shyly.

“Well I’m hungry and if dad’s buying then I don’t want to miss it.” Sol said practically bounced on her feet. Garrus excused himself to go and change while Shepard stayed downstairs with his family. It was awkward for her. No one spoke and Sol just kept staring at her while she stared at the floor. When Garrus finally came back she breathed a little easier. A month ago if she was in a room full of turians she wouldn’t breath easy at all.

 

Oh how quickly some things change.

 

They traveled together in a skycab to a diner that served levo and dextro based food. She sat in the back in between Garrus and Sol. Garrus was busy with his omnitool and Sol kept staring at her. Shepard just looked out the window.

 

As soon as they arrived the diner stopped talking and turned to them. An asari came out towards them. “Hello Primarch Vakarian and Spectre Vakarian, I'm the owner. Please follow me to a special table and thank you for choosing to eat here. We have the best dextro and levo food this side of the Citadel.” She led them to their table and handed them their menus. “What can I get you to drink?”

 

Shepard looked at the menu and started to sweat. Shit. There is no human food on here. In fact, now that she noticed everyone in the restaurant was staring at their table and it wasn’t focused on the Primarch or the Spectre. It was on her.

 

Like they have never seen a human before. Oh they probably haven’t. Humans were not welcome on the citadel yet. She would probably order water. Garrus was the last to order. “I’ll have a Kava and she will have a sceleri.” The asari nodded and walked away. Shepard gave Garrus a look. “It’s close to hot chocolate. At least according to James. He says you can’t tell the difference.”

 

“Oh Vega. That's your human prisoner that you won't let me see.” Sol piped up. Shepard looked at him again.

 

“Well yeah. James is, was, my prisoner and now he is my friend.” Garrus explained sheepishly.

 

Just then all the turians turned to face Castis. They were silent for a long time with Garrus getting visually tenser by the seconds. After about a minute Shepard spoke up.

 

“I know you all can communicate with your subvocals but I can’t hear them. Anyone want to clue in the deaf human who can’t understand you?” She tried to sound as calm as she could but she was upset they were talking and she didn’t understand them. 

 

“Sorry my dear, just old hang ups from the war that is now over that's all.” Centura explained. 

 

The waitress brought back their drinks and they ordered their food. Well Garrus ordered for her. She took a sip of her drink and found that Garrus was right. It did taste exactly like hot chocolate. Whoever this James person was, he got it right.

 

“How did you know I liked hot chocolate?” She asked him. “And what did you order for me for breakfast?”

 

“Joker told me what you like and I asked James what the equivalent was or as close to it as possible. I’m sorry there isn’t any human food on the Citadel yet but with more humans coming soon that should change. Plus with the monthly supply coming from earth you should have enough comfort food to not feel so alone.”

 

“Thank you Garrus.” She told him sincerely. Food was important to her. She was glad he was looking out.

 

“Actually I wanted to surprise you but James is going to be on the Citadel tonight and I told him we would meet him for drinks at one of the bars.”

 

“After three days of looking at nothing but his face I’m sure you need to see something closer to home.” Solana teased her brother.

 

The two siblings shot looks at each other and Shepard giggled into her drink. The Asari waitress came back and brought their food.

 

“So Shepard, Garrus tells us that you used to work in a place like this.” Castis said. He was attempting small talk and it was awkward. When did Garrus talk to them about her?

 

“That’s right. My grandparents owned a place like this on Mindoir. I worked there when I was younger. They taught me how to cook.”

 

Castis went rigid and dropped his utensil. The silence that fell over the table was palpable and lasted several minutes. She knew the turians were talking in their second vocal language but she didn’t press it this time. She knew what they were saying anyway.

 

“Shepard please understand. That was before I was Primarch. The last one was a friend of mine, but we didn’t agree on everything about the war. I know it isn’t worth much but I am very sorry.” Castis said.

 

“Having the leader of the Turian race personally apologize is huge. And it isn’t like you were the only side to keep prisoners of war. We share some of the blame for the war too. For example I shot Sol.”

 

Shepard quickly took a sip of her drink to hide her smirk. Three of the four turians were stunned and Sol just looked relieved.

 

“Oh Thank the spirits! It was so hard to keep that quiet through the bonding. I thought I might burst through breakfast.”

 

“Yes, and staring at me wasn’t helpful.”

 

“Sorry Shepard. I really thought I might burst.” Sol looked chastised at least.

 

“I’m sorry. You shot Sol?” Garrus finally snapped out of it and brought himself back into the conversation. 

 

“Yeah, I used to be a soldier. Sorry I lied. I was told to hide my service record so you wouldn’t be worried about me killing you in your sleep.” Shepard explained to Garrus.

 

“It’s a good thing you are a bad shot at least, or Sol wouldn’t be here.” Garrus said. He tried for levity but it was stilted and forced.

 

“I wouldn’t say that” Shepard looked at Sol. She really did look ready to burst. Shepard looked at the Primarch but he was unreadable.

 

“The war is over. Can I have the Primarch’s assurance that any talk of treason or the like, be pardoned?” Shepard asked him.

 

Slowly he nodded. “Yes, the best place to talk about treason is at breakfast in a crowded diner.” Shepard giggled. 

 

“Its more of a how I met Sol story with some war elements and maybe a little bit of treason sprinkled in for flavor.” Shepard explained.

 

He sighed. “I always did wonder about how she got shot. Go ahead.” He waved his hand at them. Shepard turned to Sol.

 

“Well you're the one bursting.” She gave Sol permission to tell the story.

 

“How do humans start stories?” Sol asked.

 

“Usually it’s a reference to time and place. If you're fancy it’s ‘Once upon a time in a far away land.’ or ‘a long time ago on a planet far, far away.’ Something like that.”

 

“Well then.” She clears her throat. “A long time ago on a planet far, far away….”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

New soldier Solana Vakarian, fresh out of basic, walks towards her post. It's the start of her shift and her job is simple. Guard a tower that the Hierarchy is using to send out information across the galaxy. It’s a small tower and not very important so only one soldier is needed to guard it at a time.

 

As she is standing guard her omnitool beeps. She looks at the sender and notices it’s her brother Garrus. She isn’t allowed to take calls on duty but it’s not an important assignment anyway.

 

“Hey big brother. How are you? I can’t talk long, my shift starts soon.” She lies to him

 

“Sol. I don’t know how to say this but mom is sick.” The omnitool’s holo screen shows a very tired and sad looking Garrus.

 

“What? How sick?” She is worried now.

 

“Very. I can’t get leave for another two weeks. Dad is flying in from the Citadel to be with her but that will take a few days. I don’t want to worry you Sol but I’m worried.” Holo Garrus explains.

 

“I can’t get leave since I’m fresh out of basic. Is she in the hospital?” Sol asked.

 

Garrus scoffed. “She should be. But you know mom. The only one more stubborn than dad.”

 

Sol nodds.”Thanks for letting me know. I have to get back. My shift starts soon.”

 

“I understand. Stay safe Sol. The humans are getting more desperate and more dangerous. I love you.” they close out the transmission. Sol sighs and turns back to her post. Only to find herself staring right into the bright green eyes of a human soldier.

 

“I’m sorry about your mom.” The human says.

 

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!” Sol responds. Sol grabs her Assault Rifle and points it at the human. The human responds by expertly knocking it from her hand and bringing Sol to the ground.

 

“Shhh. It’s ok. Don’t scream or others will come and I don’t want to kill anyone today.” Sol nods. She understands that she can die but she can’t allow herself to be the death of others. “If you were injured would they send you home to recover and you can be with your mom?” The human asks her.

 

Sol thinks about it. “It wouldn’t be fatal or they would send me to the hospital but serious enough that medigel couldn’t fix it.” Sol wasn’t sure why she was answering this human. The rules were simple. Either say nothing or call for help. She was doing neither. 

 

“Ok here is what’s going to happen. I’m going to shoot you. No! No, don't freak out. It’s ok. I’ll knock you out first so you won't feel it. Then I’m going to blow up the tower. That will alert your superiors and they will come and find you then send you home. That way your boyfriend with the sexy voice won't have to worry about you being out here with the dangerous humans.”

 

“Boyfriend with the sexy voice?” 

 

“The one who called you just now.”

 

“He’s my brother.”

 

“He single? He sounds hot.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“I did not say that!” Shepard tells Sol.

 

“You basically did.” Sol confirms. “Anyway true to her word Shepard knocked me out, shot me perfectly so I could go home. When I got home I saw mom passed out on the floor and we went to the hospital. The doctors said if I was a day later mom would have died. Shepard shot me and that saved mine and mom’s life.”

 

She looks at Garrus and smirks. “And if I wasn’t such a perfect shot I would haven’t been able to hit Sol in a way that did exactly what we wanted.”

 

He holds up his hands in defeat. “Alright you win. If you weren’t the second best shot in the galaxy it would have been bad.”

 

“Second best?” He flares his manables out in a smirk. “Oh, any time Vakarian. I’ll shoot circles around you.” The table erupts in much needed laughter.

 

They have all finished their meals and are just sitting listening to Sol talk about the time Shepard shot her. They pay for their meal and they leave the restaurant. It’s a nice day. The artificial sun is warm and there is a light breeze. 

 

“Shepard, walk with me” Castis spoke after a minute. “You are truly remarkable. First you injure Sol which ended up saving her life and the life of my bondmate. Then you bond with my son and end the war saving countless more lives. We have been given a great gift when you entered into our clan.” 

 

Shepard blushed under the praise. “Well if there is one thing I learned on Shanxi is that there are both good and bad on both sides of the war. I didn’t want to hurt anyone more than I had to. I’m glad both Sol and Centura were helped by my actions. And please don’t blame her for colluding with the enemy. I can be pretty persuasive when I want to be.”

 

“I want to hear about your experience at Shanxi one day.”

 

“Maybe someday I can talk about it but it’s hard still. Even a decade later.” Shepard explains.

 

“I understand. No pressure. Instead how about I tell you a story.”

 

“I would love to hear a story.”

 

“Well, as you humans say. A very, very long time ago, right here on the Citadel…”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Castis Vakarian, best detective C-Sec has, is sitting in his office surrounded by his medals and trophies and holos of famous cases he solved. He didn’t display these things because he was vain but because when he got stuck in a case they served to remind him that he can get through it. 

 

And he was stumped on this case. A famous art gallery was broken into last week but only one painting was stolen. Surprisingly it was a turian piece. Turians were not known for their art and this one reportedly wasn’t even depicting a famous battle scene. Castis, like most turians, didn’t understand art. He understood crime however, and this one was strange. 

 

He talked to the gallery’s owner but that left more questions than answers. The piece wasn’t popular. It was nice and everything but it was far from the most expensive piece the gallery owned. It was one of a kind making it hard to sell as well. Castis contacted known art collectors and found that no one had offered to sell the painting to them.

 

Money was out as a motive. So what was it? He had an appointment with the artist soon. He was hoping to learn more about the piece and maybe find a clue there.

 

When he met her he was stunned. He knew she was a turian. A turian painter was rare. But he didn’t realize that she would be so beautiful. She had tan plates and dark green eyes, a tapered waist and lovely hips. She spoke with clear conviction and command that he found himself hanging on her every word.

 

He learned nothing about the piece. But he didn’t let that stop him. “I’m sorry Miss Rix but I still don’t understand what makes the stolen piece so important.”

 

“That’s the thing detective. Nothing. It was just a painting done about flowers. I have more paintings like them. And Please call me Centura.”

 

“Well Centura, may I see these other pieces? It might help me understand more.” Castis said.

 

“Sure detective. Come this way to my studio.” She led him to her painting studio where her other pieces were on display. He was stunned again. Seeing a common Palavian flower painted by her was beautiful. He could tell that she took extra care in getting everything from the lightning to the colors perfect. It was a splendid painting and Castis, who never understood art, understood this one.

 

“They are lovely.” He told her.

 

“Thank you detective.”

 

“Castis please, and I mean it. These are the greatest paintings I have ever seen. It makes me miss home.” He told her. His subvocals sending nothing but sincerity.

 

“They are my favorite flowers.” She told him.

 

“I think I understand now. The motive wasn’t money but personal. It’s a turian who misses the flowers of his home. Do you know anyone from Palaven who might fit that description.”

 

“Well, apart from myself, a friend of the family Phalix Carthaan is stationed here. He’s from Palaven. Other than you I don’t think I met another Turian from Palaven personally.”

 

“Thank you Centura I will follow up with the family friend and see if he noticed anything suspicious.”

 

So Castis went to Carthaan’s residence only to find that upon seeing C-Sec at the door he immediately started firing his pistol. Castis was the superior shot and was able to subdue him. Once backup arrived he searched Carthaan’s house to discover the stolen painting.

 

He was charged with theft and assault on a C-Sec detective.

 

Centura was so happy to get her painting back she said yes when Castis asked her out for a date.

 

After several dates Castis approached Centura’s father to formally request to be bondmates.

 

“I understand that you like my daughter a lot but I cannot grant your request to bond. Centura has an arranged bonding already in place.”

 

“Why has she never brought this up? I have made my intentions known before.” Castis asked.

 

“She is unaware of the arrangement. We wanted to live her life free of the burden of knowing that the bonding will raise up our tier. You are a good man Castis and you make her happy but I cannot break the arrangement alone.” 

 

“My tier is higher than yours. Surely you will stand to gain a great deal if I were to bond to her.”

 

“Oh we will gain a lot from you. But we will gain more from General Carthaan.”

 

“Carthaan?”

 

“Yes his son Phalix and Centura are arranged to bond. This has been the case since before Centura was even born. General Carthaan and I served together before he became General. And we agreed to bond our families together when I saved his life once. He is a good friend.”

 

“I don’t doubt that sir. If I can get the General to agree to call off the bonding will you agree as well?” Castis asked him.

 

“Good luck Vakarian. The General made a life vow to me and nothing is stronger than that. But yes. I want what is best for my daughter and you make her happy. If you can get the General to agree then so will I.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Then what happend?” Shepard asked Castis.

 

“I explained that since his son assaulted not only a C-Sec detective but a turian of a high tier I could pursue a personal charge as well. Since he assaulted someone on the same tier when he was doing illegal activity I could request the Primarch to lower his family tier. Or I could drop the charge and his son can get away with it if he agreed to break the bonding agreement. That was the first time in my life that I used my personal status to get what I wanted. My future father was wrong. There is one thing stronger to a turian than a life bond, pride. The General couldn’t allow his family status to be lowered because of his son. And on some level he understood that Phalix was an ass and not good enough for his best friend’s daughter. The general and my father remained good friends all the way up to his passing and that was more important than the joining of their clans.”

 

“Wow! That’s amazing! Why did he steal the painting if he was already going to be bonded to Centura?” Shepard asked.

 

“He and my beloved were friends for years and he fell in love with her. Became obsessed. He knew she didn’t feel the same so he took drastic measures. He knew she was happy when her piece was selected to join a gallery so he stole it. He was going to return it after C-Sec failed to find it. He hoped she would fall in love with him after he saved the day. Plus he didn’t want any other turian to notice how amazing she was. He didn’t count on me being super stubborn.” Castis chuckled to himself. “That is why I swore to never force my children to arrange bond with someone.” He seemed sad.

 

“I’m sorry it happened to Garrus too. We talked about it and I agree that we can be friends but he is free to pursue love if he finds someone special.” Shepard told him to comfort him.

 

He smiled sadly. “That’s sweet of you but it won't happen. Garrus is too much like me, stubborn and proud. He would never take a mistress. And while I don’t know how much you can come to care for someone who is like a jailer to you, please take good care of my son. He didn’t mean for this to happen and he is a victim the same as you.”

 

“I promise to take good care of your son, Primarch. He is looking out for me and doing his best so I will do my best as well.”

 

“Thank you.” They finish their walk and return to the family. Garrus and Shepard wave the family goodbye as they leave in the skycab to the docs and back towards Palaven. Garrus’s home, that because she can’t live on, he will never be able to call home again.

Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Summary:

So there is smut here.

Notes:

I wasn't sure if I wanted this to be a slow burn or not. I figured with the character development I wanted my Shepard and Garrus to undergo that having some sexy stuff happen early was a good way to introduce what I wanted them to work on. So Anyway after only 12 chapters here is some sex stuff.

“What did you and my dad talk about?” Garrus asked Shepard.

 

“He told me a love story about your mom and why he doesn’t like arranged bondings.” She answered honestly.

 

“Oh yeah. That’s a classic.” Garrus smiled and shook his head a little.

 

“He asked me to be good to you. Said you deserved better than arrangements. I agree with him. You deserve better than this situation.” 

 

“That’s nice of you to say but I don’t mind. Besides, every parent wants better for their child.” Garrus told her.

 

“My mom pushed me into this.” Shepard explained. “She didn’t seem upset or wish I married for love.” Her mom asked her to be a tool of the Alliance. Garrus’ dad was the Primarch, responsible for every turian life, and he expressed that he wanted better for his son.

 

“I’m sure she wouldn’t wish this on you either.” Garrus tried to comfort her. That was true at least. Hanna Shepard hates turians and would wish for their annihilation instead of marrying them.

 

“I’m going to be a good bondmate to you Garrus. I promise.” And she meant it. Except the spying on his dad part. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was military. I was told not to.” At least that wasn’t a lie.

 

“It’s ok. I understand. It makes sense why you are so good at sparring and learning knife fighting moves.” He smiled at her. “So what now? I have some Spectre stuff I need to take care of. Will you be okay on your own?”

 

“Yes I want to walk around and look at the shops before I head home.” She informed him. He brought up his omnitool and her’s beeped a moment later. 

 

“There. I should have done that before but now you have access to our bank account to make purchases. Don’t worry about over spending, I’m a Spectre and a General so I have a good income. Also I’m a rich kid with a trust fund.” He told her. Shepard was very excited about shopping now. 

 

She waved Garrus goodbye as he boarded his own skycar and flew away. She walked over to an advertisement that caught her eye. It was for Drapehs Cosmetics. Draphens or Shepard backwards was one of her codewords to Kasumi.

 

As she approached the sign an address appeared. Following the directions on her omnitool to the address she spotted she came to a small apartment with a volus leaving it. She wasn’t sure it was the right place until she opened the door and came face to face with the first human she had seen in days. Unfortunately it was the last human face she wanted to see.

 

“Alenko.” She greeted Kadian.

 

“Shepard.” He greeted back. “Did you have any trouble finding the safe house?”

 

“No, Kasumi's directions were clear.” She walked inside and looked at the surroundings. Most of the apartment was taken over by terminals. There was a bed and kitchen combo and one room off to the side that was probably the bathroom.

 

“So the last three days…” Kadian started. She knew what he wanted to ask. 

 

Instead she sat at the terminal and entered her encryption. She plugged in the OSD that she spent the last three days working on and sent the information to download. Soon everything she learned and wrote about started to enter the encryption and be sent to whatever file system the Alliance set up for this project.

 

“He didn’t touch me. Well except sparing. Other than that he didn’t make a single advance towards me.” She explained as she watched the download progress bar. 10%.

 

“Try not to be too upset about that.” Alenko said. “We know how aliens do it for you.” 24%.

 

“How’s your blue girlfriend?” Shepard asked with enough ironic tone to show she could play this game too. 38%.

 

“Dr. T'soni?” Shepard could hear the smirk in his voice. “She’s great. Smart, beautiful in a bookish sort of way.” 42%.

 

“And the fact that she isn’t human?”

 

“Asari didn’t invade and kill a bunch of humans like your husband did.” 48%.

 

“We killed them as well.”

 

“We didn’t start it. The things they did to us. Remember the experiments? What we saw. And you. What you did with them.” 50%.

 

“Go ahead Kaidan. I’ve heard it all before. Traitor, that’s what you want to call me. Well guess what? You were and are a coward.” 61%

 

“Coward? I was in the resistance!” 65%

 

“And where did you think the intelligence your resistance came from? Face it without me and others like me sleeping with the enemy and supplying the resistance with their intelligence you would have been nothing. You lacked the balls to do what we did! You might have fought and killed some of them but you think it was a coincidence that when we were liberated it was MY dad that came? Or that on that night the head of defense was just miraculously indisposed? I risked my life every damn day to get the intel to free us. And all you had to do was wait for us to do all the real work.” 80%

 

“Work? Risk? Sure didn’t look that hard when you were eating 3 full meals a day while we starved. Or how you got nice new clothes while we got blisters on our feet from wearing out our shoes. You got to play house while we toiled and worked and died. And you liked it!” 95%

 

“I betrayed them all so we could all get free!” 100%.

 

At this point both Kaidan and Shepard were yelling and panting really hard. “I think we all could use a break now.” A disembodied voice told them. Kasumi Goto materialized in between them. “Kaidan, why don’t you go outside and get some air. I got Shep.”

 

“Good idea.” Kaidan spat and turned from the girls. He walked outside leaving them alone.

 

Now that Kasumi and Shepard were alone Shepard turned to the terminal and yanked out her OSD. “I should go.” She told Kasumi.

 

“Hold on not yet.” Kasumi stood in front of her and held out a box. “At least let me give you your wedding present. I think you could use it.” She looked towards the door Kaiden just stormed out of. 

 

Shepard took the box and opened it. She made a whistling sound. “Wow Kasumi where did you find this?”

 

“Oh you can find anything here on the Citadel. I just thought this might help with your little problem.”

 

Shepard made a face. “Not so little when it ruins all of your relationships.” She sighs.

 

“Well this can help. Although it's not like you need it.” Kasumi winks at her.

 

“No, I think I need it. Especially after what just went down with Kaidan. Thank you Kasumi.” The girls share a hug and Shepard leaves the safe house. She walks around the Persidum a bit, does some retail therapy, before she heads back home.

 

After arriving at home she immediately walks into her bedroom with the box Kasumi got her. She takes it out and smiles. “Hello beautiful. I missed you.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Garrus arrived at the Spectre’s offices and headed down to the sparing center where he was told to meet Nihlus. He found him sparring with Saren while some of the other Spectre’s looked on. This gave Garrus time to search “Mindoir” on the extranet. The way his father went ridged at breakfast and the shift in tone told him there was something there.

 

He was pulled from his thoughts when the lithe body of his mentor hit the ground. “Omph. Hey Garrus you made it.” Nihlus rolled over on the mat and Saren made a dismissive sound. Probably upset that the toy that he was throwing around wasn’t available. “Care to go a few? Don’t want you getting soft now that you're bonded.”

 

Garrus chuckled to himself. “No worries about that. My bondmate keeps me pleasantly active.”

 

“I don’t doubt that.” Saren mutters to himself.

 

“I meant that we spar!” Garrus said indignantly. 

 

“Well, she is good at that too.” Saren chuckles.

 

Garrus didn’t like that Arterius knew more about Shepard than he did. “Nihlus, have you ever heard of Mindoir?” Garrus asked his mentor as he was stretching.

 

“Looking into your bondmate’s past now pup? Be careful of what you might find.” Saren sneered at him.

 

Before Garrus could comment Nihlus spoke up. “It was one of the Turian’s first attacks on humans. The humans had a small colony there and turians invaded, hard.”

 

“It was a massacre. All humans that were too old or too young to be useful were rounded up and slaughtered in front of the rest. The rest were then taken to Shaxi for our Jump Zero program.” Saren supplied helpfully. Although it didn’t sound helpful. “Take my advice welp. Don’t fall in love with your new bondmate. The last turian who did so died at her hand.”

 

~~~~~~~

 

Garrus arrived home a few hours later. Neither of the Spectres were willing to give more information as to Mindoir or Jump Zero. They both told him to ask his bondmate. He didn’t want to ask her though. From the one sentence Saren did share, the one about murdering her family in front of her, he was worried it would cause her to remember traumatic events.

 

When he arrived home he stopped at the doorway. A smell he knew well permeated the house. Is Shepard having sex with someone here? He heard her gasp and moan from her bedroom and the smell got stronger. Where did she find someone to have sex with so fast. He wasn’t jealous. Afterall they talked about it and both agreed that they could sleep with whoever they wanted to. He was just surprised at how quickly she found someone.

 

He was about to leave to give his bondmate and her partner some privacy when he heard her gasp and moan his name. 

 

“OH Garrus!” 

 

Did she find another turian named Garrus? It wasn’t an uncommon name but it wasn’t super common either.

 

Curiosity got the better of him and he made his way towards her room. The door was opened, which didn’t help with the sound proofing or the smell. He was going to just take a quick peek and then leave. He wasn’t a voyer after all.

 

That was the plan but what he saw made his mandibles drop and stare. There she was, Jane Shepard, naked and pleasing herself with a toy that looked like a turian penis. Maybe human’s dicks looked the same but he doubted it. She was close, he could tell. The toy pulsing quickly in and out of her labias. He could tell her wrists were getting tired as she wanted to go faster but couldn’t keep up the pace she had.

 

In a move that could only be described as pure madness he entered the room and leaned over her. Her eyes shot open and she gasped again for a different reason. She didn’t stop and he didn’t ask her too either. He looked down to the toy entering her and back up to her face, a question in his eyes.

 

She nodded and he took a hold of the handle and started to pump the vibrating toy inside her faster. She threw her head back and screamed. “YES! Right there. Don’t stop!” Nothing would make him stop. She quickly flew over the precipice of her orgasim and whimpered at the over simulation the toy was providing. He pulled it out.

 

He was amazed at the shape of it. He knew it was turian in design but so much fit inside of her was incredible. The toy resembled a standard turian penis with its ridges, length, and self lubricating. He was staring at the toy wondering how something shaped so turian fit so well with a human.

 

Suddenly he was on his back and Jane Shepard in all her nakedness was hovering over him. She looked good. She had long red hair and green eyes that looked at him hungrily. Her body was pale enough to see her many freckles and deep scars that ran over her skin. She had round breasts and long legs.

 

She looked good. And he didn’t even like humans.

 

“Thanks for the help. Now it’s your turn.” She said seductively. Soon she had his pants off and her mouth hovered over his seam. He was already loose from the display earlier. He felt her breath on his seam and he jumped a bit. 

 

“Whoa whoa, What are you going to do?” He asked her.

 

“Relax. I promise you are going to like this. If you don’t you tell me to stop and I will. Okay?” She looked at him with sincerity in her expression. 

 

He wasn’t sure what she was going to do but he nodded and leaned back trying to relax.

 

Her breath was on his seam again and soon her tongue was as well. It was an odd sensation that was very, very good. He let out a groan as he emerged from his plates. 

 

“Trust me and I will make this really good for you.” He wanted to watch to see what was happening. She took hold of him in her hands and started to run her incredibly soft hands up and down his length. 

 

He couldn’t believe it. They were so soft and the grip she had on him was firm. When he did it himself it didn’t feel this good. Plus he had to watch out for his talons, a problem she didn’t have. He was really enjoying it and let out several moans and pleasure subvocals.

 

Then she took him into her mouth and his whole world transformed. It was warm and wet and so, so good. He loved it when she flicked her tongue against his tip and under the penis as well. She sucked adding suction creating friction and his hips moved into her mouth all on their own.

 

She felt amazing. Turian women can’t do this and it’s a real shame. However, it has been several years since he last had a sex partner and he was climbing higher to his orgasim than he would have preferred. 

 

“Jane. I’m going to…” She pulled out and continued to stroke him with her hands. He came all over her naked body and onto the sheets. They were panting when he was done.

 

Shepard stood up and moved towards her bathroom. “I’m going to clean up then we can head to the bar and meet James.” She disappeared inside the bathroom.

 

He lay on his back on Shepard’s bed, arms outstretched to his sides. “What the fuck was that?”

Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Summary:

We get a look into Shepard's past.

Notes:

I stole this backstory from an episode of Star Trek: DS9. In this episode one of the main characters, Kira, finds out her mother was a "comfort woman" for the big bad of the series. The episode deals with how Kira feels about it. I thought it would be fun to see how the mom in that story felt about it. Also, the Cardassians (Aliens from DS9) are partly Turians and you can't convince me other wise.

Garrus changed into his civilian clothes. It was more appropriate to meet for drinks in that than in armor. He wasn’t sure how to bring up what he wanted to talk to Shepard about. Before when they were both in the haze of lust it made sense, but now that he had a clearer head (pun intended) he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to add sexual acts into their relationship.

 

Sure they were both bonded and monogamous but it didn’t feel right. Well at the time it felt very, very right. But now it felt, not wrong really, just…he wasn’t sure how to feel actually. He liked it, obviously, but he wasn’t sure more than that.

 

Turians didn’t mind casual sex. In fact most of their society ran on it to reduce stress. They saved being serious with their bondmates. Maybe it was fine. He didn’t want to be celibate forever, afterall.

 

Shepard appeared in the living room at that moment and he decided to talk about it with her later. She was clearly dressed to go out. With skinny black leggings and a black shirt that hung off one shoulder, she was dressed for fun. No reason to upset her fun early with a potentially heavy talk.

 

They rode in the skycar together to the bar in silence. She looked out the window at the nightlife of the Citadel. The night cycle has started and many people are wandering from the bars to the clubs to different entertainment locations. He wondered what her life was like before she came here. Would she be the type to stay home or bar hop at night. Before he worked up the courage to ask her, they had reached their destination.

 

They walked into the bar and immediately spotted James. It would be hard not to since there were only two humans in the place. Even without being the only other human James had a presence like no one else.

 

“Yo! Prince and Lola over here.” He waved at them. They arrived at the side booth and sat with James. 

 

He very flirtyly checked Shepard out. His whole head moving with his eyes and a sexual noise coming from his lips. “Damn Prince you didn’t mention your wife was hot.” He told Garrus.

 

“Prince?” Shepard asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk looking at Garrus.

 

“Hello James, a pleasure as always.” Garrus said, ignoring James and Shepard.

 

“What are you drinking?” Shepard asked James. “I want a drink but I'm too afraid to order something.”

 

“I got you Shepard. I’ll be right back. James, refill?” Garrus said.

 

“If you’re paying, always!” James laughed and Shepard smiled. Garrus left to get the drinks. He ordered a Thessian Sunrise for Shepard and a Turian whisky for himself. He wasn’t going to drink too much, but it was easier to deal with James a little buzzed. He likes the man fine but still a little buzzed is preferrable.

 

He also wanted to give Shepard and James a chance to talk alone. She doesn’t have any other humans to talk to and, according to James, he is attractive. Maybe they will hit it off. Then the thought of Shepard doing to James what she did to Garrus made him growl. That was odd.

 

Good thing the drinks were here.

 

He arrived back at the table as Shepard was finishing up a story.

 

“That’s about it. What about you? How did you meet Garrus and why do you call him Prince?” She asked James. Her eyes lit up when she saw the drink Garrus put in front of her. “Wow what is this?” She asked him. “It’s so pretty!” She was admiring the glass with the four different liquids of different colors sitting on top of another looking like a Sunrise. She took a drink from it and smiled. “It tastes even better too!” She was happy. That was good.

 

“I call him Prince ‘cuz his dad’s the kind of Turians.” James explained.

 

“I tried to explain that isn’t how my government works but he likes the name.” Garrus said.

 

“Here is how I met him. So get this, I just finished basic training and on my very first assignment. Our unit was completely overrun by turians. We surrendered and were taken to different prison cells. I still don’t know what happened with my squad. But I was under Prince’s care and he was more interested in making conversation than torture so we became something like friends. When the war ended he made sure I was set free. I’m on the Citadel waiting for the Alliance to pick me up and I can get back to work.” James explained and Garrus flinched.

 

“Better a prison cell than a prison camp you know.” Shepard stated.

 

“Don’t I know it! I had a cousin die in one of those. Fucked to death by a turian. Poor Gina. Then the bastard had the audacity to reach out to my tita with a letter and some credits. She threw both away. I knew right then that when I was old enough I would sign up for the Alliance and teach those bastards a lesson.” James got more animated and Garrus sunk into his chair a bit.

 

“Wait, Gina Riverra?” Shepard asked.

 

“You knew my prima?” James asked.

 

“Yeah we were in the same prison camp! She was very pretty, all the turians loved her. She was the only confort human to die. Anaphylactic shock. Not pretty. The Corporal that killed her ended up retiring from the military and went to a colony somewhere.” Shepard sounded very excited and spoke as if she was explaining the plot of her favorite book.

 

Garrus excused himself. He couldn’t bear to hear about Shepard’s time with his own species. She was in a prison camp? After turians killed her family and kidnapped her. This was not a good day to discover what happened in the early parts of the war.

 

The thing that really got him was how both James and Shepard talked about it. Like this trauma was something so normal it was expected. It made him sick. Really sick. Garrus regurgitated his food and drink into the garbage can. After he was done he made his way back to the booth where Shepard and James sat. He was just going to excuse himself back to the house and explain he was sick.

 

When he got there all he saw was James.

 

“Prince, you okay?” James asked him.

 

“Where is Shepard?” Garrus asked instead.

 

“Right here.” He turned to see her run up to their table. She was sweaty and panting. He figured she was dancing but she held a bag in her arms. “Here. I hope they are the right ones.” She handed it to him. 

 

Garrus opened the bag and almost threw up again. “You got me digestive aids?” Inside the bag were all different types of medicine to help turians who are sick and regurgitative. He held one up.

 

“You bought him a literal box of rocks.” James stared at them.

 

“The extranet said sick turians eat them to help their stomach. Did you accidentally drink levo based alcohol? Should we go to the hospital?” she asked him with concern in her eyes. She must have seen him vomit.

 

He shook his head. “No, nothing so severe. Just a small upset gizzard. I’ll just head home. You two stay and chat.”

 

This time Shepard shook her head. “I’m going to take Garrus home, James. It was nice meeting you. Good luck with the alliance.” She told James.

 

“It was nice meeting you Shepard. Good luck with what you do as well.” James said back.

 

Shepard and Garrus went home. He tried to get her to stay with James. Telling her he was sorry for ruining her night. She was silent on the ride home.

 

Once they got home he made his way to the bedroom but she stopped him by placing a hand on his forearm. 

 

“I’m worried about you Garrus. If you weren’t feeling good you should have said something. You didn’t have to go out.”

 

“I was fine then.” He said honestly.

 

“Was it me? Was it the blowjob I gave you? Are you more allergic than we thought?” She asked, concern radiating from her.

 

“No, I was tested before we bonded. I’m not allergic to you.”

 

“Then what?” She thought for a moment. “Oh it is me.” She sounded sad. “You got sick after hearing me talk.”

 

Garrus took her hand and led her to the couch. “Honestly. Today was rough.” He sighed and ran a hand through his fringe. “I just found out what Mindoir was, and the implications of what you must have gone through when you were younger is terrifying. But what really made me sick is hearing you and James speak like it wasn’t horrible and traumatic.”

 

“It was horrible and traumatic Garrus. I’ve spent the last 10 years talking to my therapist about it. Talking about certain parts of it is still hard and some of it is easy to talk about.” She took a breath and continued. “I understand how upsetting it must be to you hearing what your fellow turians were like from our perspective.”

 

“No,” he said sadly. “I know war makes people monsters. I expected something awful but… I don’t know.”

 

“It’s different when it's your bondmate and friend.” She guessed.

 

“Yeah. That’s it. Shepard you are my friend that is why today has been so weird for me. I discovered things about my friend that I wasn’t to know and…” 

 

“I did something outside the bounds of friendship.”

 

“Yeah.” he whispered.

 

Shepard took a deep breath. “After Mindoir, which I still can’t talk about. I was taken to a planet called Shanxi. There were a lot of human prisoners there. We were classified into three job types. Level 1s were basic servants, they cooked, cleaned, took care of daily things for the high tier turians that lived at this camp. L2s or level 2s rather, were part of Jump Zero. A program that the turians were doing to create highly capable fighters. They were given element zero to see if they would develop biotic abilities, they were trained to fight each other and turians, and some were introduced to this strange artifact that would turn them into super soldiers fighting for the turians. The last group was called comfort humans. Their job was simple. Sit around and look pretty. They were humans that turians liked, they would accompany them to parties, pour them drinks, share their beds.”

 

“Shepard you don’t have to.” Garrus started.

 

“I want to. You should know what your friend and bondmate was.” Shepard explained.

 

“What one were you?” He asked, hating whatever answer it was.

 

She smiled. “Actually I was all of them. I knew how to cook so I was a L1 at first. Then I did something stupid and they threw me in the ring to fight other humans and turians. After I knocked the Chief of Defense on Shaxni, General Desolas Arterius, on his ass a few times he asked me to be his specific comfort human and I accepted. See, each level had rules. No one could be an L3 without being asked and they had to accept. That way it wasn’t rape. Because we agreed to it. It still was, because of the power dynamic. But whatever made the turians sleep easier at night. That actually was our not official job description.” she waited. “That was a joke. Out of all the human prisoners we L3s were treated the best. It became a pissing match between the other turians to see how much they spoiled their specific comfort human. The best clothes, best food, best everything they could buy. The other humans weren’t as lucky. Course they didn’t have to sleep with any of them.

 

One time this asshole turian tried to make a L1 into his Comfort Human right there in front of everyone. She didn’t like that and tried to fight back. He broke her arm in the struggle. A L2 who was in love with her didn’t like that so he killed that turian. After that the L1 was taken to a different camp with only female turians.”

 

“What happened to them?” Garrus asked.

 

“You met them actually. Chellick’s new girlfriend Rahna was the L1 and Kaiden, my ex, was the L2. After we were liberated he joined the alliance so he could kill more turians.”

 

“And what happened with your turian?” He wasn’t sure of the proper name. Turian you slept with, master turian, comfort turian? None sounded right.

 

“Des? I mean Desolas, well I agreed to be his personal comfort human so I could get information out of him. Once I did I passed it to the resistance. I was able to call my dad, the mercenary, and tell him where we were. And I ‘distracted’ Desolas so when the army came to free us the head of defense was indisposed.”

 

“With his pants down.” Garrus remembered her saying.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Saren said something about that. So this General Arterius was his…”

 

“Brother, yes.” She sighed.

 

“Saren said Desolas might have loved you.” Garrus wasn’t sure why he said it, just that he did.

 

“He did. And in return I stole his information and killed him.” They were both silent, lost in their own thoughts.

 

“You know the worst part.” Shepard said after a while. “I developed a preference for turian sex. No other human could satisfy me the way the turians did. I think it’s my punishment for betraying them.”

 

“It wasn’t…”

 

“Don’t Garrus please. I spent so many hours in therapy having my therapist try and convince me that I did the right thing and it wasn’t a betrayal. It was. He loved me, gave me everything I ever wanted and I repaid him by betraying him. Saren has good reason to hate me. I hate me some days. My therapist also tried convincing me that because of my guilt I convinced myself I don’t like human sex anymore. It’s wrong to want to be with a turian.”

 

They were silent again.

 

“You are not a comfort human anymore Shepard. I don’t need one of those. I don’t need you to share my bed or make me feel good like before. I’m sorry you have a preference for turians but I can’t be that turian for you. I need this boundary set between us if our friendship is going to last.”

 

She was considering. “I understand Garrus. I’m sorry for what I did before.”

 

“No, don’t be sorry, I started it. But just from now on I need you to not act like that. I’m your friend. Not the turian who has you as their comfort human.”

 

He walked to his room leaving her there feeling sad and rejected.

Chapter 14: Chapter 14 - Jane Boat

Notes:

This is one of the first chapters I had for this fic. I love this chapter so much I even named it. It's not a good piece of work but it's still my favorite.

It was a healthy boundary really. Garrus told her in no uncertain terms that he was her friend, husband, but couldn’t be her fuck buddy.

 

That was fair. She hasn’t had turian sex in 8 years and she really missed it. The human sex she had was just not as satisfying. She realized in that moment she was really hoping that he would be like Des and the other turians at Jump Zero and use her for their mutual pleasure.

 

How fucked up was that. 

 

She’s been in therapy for 8 years. That’s 8 years of learning that turians are bad and wanting turian dicks was bad and she was bad for wanting it. Okay, maybe the therapist didn’t say the last part but it was implied.

 

Shepard pulled up her omnitool and looked up therapy options on the Citadel. Now that she was staying here for the rest of her life she might as well start to put down roots. The first one should be getting her health in order, her mental health and physical health.

 

She found a therapist and made an appointment for a few days later.

 

The rest of the week went by in a blur. She settled into a nice routine. Woke up, spared with Garrus, shower, breakfast, read the text books Garrus got her, lunch, hang out with Garrus until bed. For his part Garrus spared with her, then went to Spectre training and was back by lunch. Then the two of them hung out. 

 

It was a good routine.

 

“Oh I won't be here when you get back from Spectre training tomorrow.” She informed Garrus one day when they were playing a game together.

 

“Where are you going?” Garrus was happy to see her leaving the house. It would be good for her and her answer made him even happier.

 

“Therapy.”

 

“Good for you, I am proud of you.” He told her. “Oh I have an idea. After therapy why don’t we go get lunch out. It’s been about a week since we last went out to eat together.”

 

“Sure.” She opened her omnitool and sent Garrus the location of her therapy. “Pick me up here and we can get lunch out.” 

 

That was the plan.

 

That day Garrus went to Spectre training like normal. It was just Nihlus and Saren training in the training room when Garrus arrived. Nihlus was stretching on the mat and Saren was lifting weights. 

 

Garrus wasn’t sure how he felt every time he saw the Spectre now. Knowing that Saren had something to do with his mate’s past felt wrong. He was angry and jealous. He didn’t know if one of the turians that took advantage of her was Saren or just Saren’s brother.

 

“Garrus ready to spar?” Nihlus asked him. 

 

“Can’t stay for too long tonight. Meeting Jane for lunch.” Garrus informed him as he started to stretch.

 

Nihlus sighed dramatically. “Oh I should get a girlfriend to have lunch with. That way most of my day isn’t spent here.”

 

Garrus flared his mandibles at his mentor’s joke. He liked Nihlus. He didn’t like the company he kept but he liked the terrain fine. After a few rounds of Garrus putting Nihlus on his back they called it.

 

“Well, from your hand to hand to your range combat I think it’s time to take you out on real missions.” Nihlus said dubbing his plates where he fell on it during training.

 

“Finally. I have been itching to get off the Citadel.” Garrus said excitedly.

 

“Looking to get away from your bondmate already?” Saren asked him. Garrus growled at him.

 

“So where are you going for lunch?” Nihlus asked to diffuse the situation.

 

“Oh there’s this nice restaurant near the Presidium lake. It’s near where her therapist is. I’m picking her up from therapy and we’re going to lunch.” Garrus explained.

 

“Therapy?” Nihuls asked. 

 

“Yeah some asshole turians raped her a few years ago and she’s dealing with that still.” The metal weight shot across the room and embedded into a wall of the training room. The crackling of biotics still lingering on it.

 

Saren was breathing hard as he squared up on Garrus. Garrus didn’t back down. He stared right at the older, more experienced turian. Nihlus felt the tension and decided not to get involved. 

 

“Got something to say welp?” Saren spat at him.

 

“Already said it. Your brother and his friends were assholes who took advantage of young human prisoners.” The air around them got heavy with the scent of ozone. Saren glowed with biotic energy. 

 

Garrus’ life flashed before his eyes.

 

Then the room returned to its regular amount of brightness as Saren dismissed his biotics and smirked at Garrus. “You are not wrong, welp.” And he strode out of the room leaving him and Nihlus alone in the training room.

 

Garrus collapsed to his knees.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Jane left the therapy office feeling much the same as she did when she entered it. Garrus was there just outside of the office waiting for her like he promised he would. She jogged up to him. He gave a little flick of his mandible in greeting.

 

“How was therapy?” He asked her.

 

“The first few days are just the safety plan. Questions like ‘do you think you are a danger to yourself or others’, that kind of thing. So it was a good smaller appointment than the harder ones down the line.”

 

The two walked to the restaurant since it was close by. And this gave them a chance to walk across the bridge over the lake in the Persidum. Originally she was disappointed that there weren't any fish in the lake but it is still nice to look at.

 

“How was training today?” Shepard asked Garrus.

 

“Really good. Nihlus said it was about time I left and did some real missions.” Garrus said and his subvocals hummed with pride. One step closer to his dream of being a Spectre.

 

“That’s wonderful Garrus I am happy for you. What do you LOOK OUT!” Shepard ran forward and pushed Garrus down on the bridge. They both hit the ground of the bridge hard, seconds before a skycar skirts the top of the bridge where Garrus’ head was seconds ago.

 

They both watched as the skycar flew off into the air spinning and jittering. It stopped over the lake and hovered several feet above it for a while. Then it turned on it’s side and it’s doors opened, depositing a turian fledgling into the lake below with a SPLASH.

 

This was followed by a second SPLASH just seconds later.

~~~~~~

 

Garrus was thrown down onto the bridge by his bondmate seconds before a skycar almost beheads him. If this wasn’t crazy enough the skycar turns on its side and its doors open and a small turian child falls out into the lake.

 

Before Garrus can even raise the alarm. He hears a second splash as another, larger, figure is thrown into the lake. 

 

He looks over at his bondmate to discover that all that there is of her are her clothes on the ground. His attention is pulled back towards the lake as the fledgling breaks the water's surface up to his tiny cowl and Jane’s head pops up a second later.

 

It was the shock of the situation that forced Garrus to take time to understand. The second splash must have been Jane jumping into the water to save the fledgling. Now free of the shock of the situation he jumps into action, not jumping into the lake of course, turians can’t swim. He opens his omnitool and using his Spectre status he hacks the skycar that is still hovering on its side above the lake and accesses its controls. He guides the skycar over to the grass near the lake and lands it safely. He stops for a moment to pick up Jane’s clothes, noticing briefly that the knife he gave her was among the discarded garments, and runs towards the skycar that now has a woman stepping out of it screaming.

~~~~~~~~

 

Vela was having a bad day. First her husband is sent to live parttime on the Citadel, so naturally she and Tarquin must live there too, but now he is stuck in a meeting with the turian councilor. They were supposed to get lunch as a family but now it will just be the two of them.

 

Vela didn’t know the Citadel very well but she knew the address of the restaurant she wanted to get lunch at. She plugged it into the auto-pilot and away she and Tarquin went. The auto-pilot takes her over towards the lake and Tarquin, in the back seat, leans over the window to get a good look.

 

“Do you think there are fish in there mommy? Can we look for them?” Vela spots a bridge that goes over the lake nearby with a turian and a red asari walking on it. Asari can’t be red so maybe it’s a salarian? Either way she sees the bridge in the distance.

 

“After lunch we can take a walk on the bridge and you can look for them.” She promises. She wants this move to be good for Tarquin. Spending time on the Citadel looking around and making friends at his new school will help with the move.

 

Suddenly the car veers off course and heads straight for the two people on the bridge. They duck but it was a close call. The car spins and flips in the air. “Mommy?” Tarquin asks, scared.

 

“It’s ok baby, just make sure you are strapped in. It will stop soon.” She double fastens her harness and holds on. 

 

“Mommy it won't fasten!” Tarquin calls from the backseat. She starts to unfasten her harness in order to help him when the car tilts on it’s side and Tarquin falls against the door. 

 

Before she can even take a breath the door opens and Tarquin vanishes into the lake below.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Jane dives into the lake to save the turian child. It was a dumb move. She remembers from her N7 training that you should never dive, head first, into unknown water. It could be cold and cause a shock, it could be not very deep and she could hit her head and die. She also knew from her training that turians can’t swim.

 

She quickly deposited her clothes, swimming in clothing is bad, and jumped into the unknown water below. She found the drowning child quickly underwater and grabbed him to bring him to the surface. He breached the surface first and her head followed soon.

 

The child was frantic. Kicking and swinging his arms wildly. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem but he was a turian. Even half her size the spurs could do some damage. 

 

“Hey, Hey it’s okay. I got you.” She wished she were a turian and could send soothing subvocals at him. But then again turians can’t swim so maybe she should stick to humans and their limited vocals.

 

He jumped at her and wrapped his arms around her and tried to climb her. She was quickly pushed under the water. Then she remembered he was a turian and tried a different tactic.

 

“Cease your moving and be still.” She ordered in her commander voice. It worked immediately. The child went still in her arms. “That’s better. What is your name?” She asked him.

 

“Tarquin.” He answered, his voice small and scared.

 

“Okay Tarquin we are going to work together to get you to shore without drowning. I need you to be very still for me okay?” she asked him. All he did was nod which was good enough for her.

 

She lifted his whole body out of the water and flipped onto her back. She placed him on her stomach so he was sitting on her.

 

“Do you know what a boat is, Tarquin?” Shepard asked him.

 

“Uh-huh. It's a thing that floats on the water that moves people on the water without them drowning.”

 

“Well I am a thing that is floating on the water. And I am going to carry you across the water to the shore without you drowning. You can call me Jane. I am a Jane boat.”

 

He was still scared but he smiled a little when she said that. 

 

“Any you are going to be the Captain of the Jane boat. Captain Tarquin.” He smiled again.

 

“I’m going to grow up to be a Captain.” He told her. Of course he was. Every turian wanted to be a Captain, or Spectre.

 

“Now take my arms.” Her arms were around his waist holding him on her.  He grabbed her arms with his hands making him more solid on her. “I’m on my back so I can’t see where I am going. Use my arms to steer me to shore. Can you see the shore Captain Tarquin?” She asked him.

 

He looked around for the first time. “I can see my mommy over there with other turians!” He bounced happily and Jane went under for a second. 

 

“Please be still. I don’t want to drown.”

 

“Sorry Jane.” He seemed so much happier now that he could see his mom. 

 

“Steer away Captain.” She told him. She started to kick with her feet as he steered them towards his mom. It was slow but it was progress.

 

~~~~~~

 

Garrus ran towards the screaming woman who was pointing and shouting at the lake. “MY BABY, SOMEONE SAVE MY BABY.”

 

“Ma’am it’s ok.” Garrus calls to her as he joins her. She turns to him, keening loudly. “I’m Spectre Vakarian and my mate is currently saving your child.” He informs her calmly.

 

She takes several breaths. “Vakarian? The Primarch’s son? Weren’t you bonded to a human? Who is your mate? Who is saving my baby?” She looks over at the lake. It was hard to see them but it appeared the turian fledgling was sitting on something, or someone, and was slowly moving closer to them.

 

“My bondmate is human. Now if you would please answer some questions it appears-”

 

“A HUMAN IS WITH MY BABY? THEY WILL DROWN TARQUIN!!!!” She appears to become more frantic. “WHERE IS MY MATE? WHERE IS ADRIEN?” 

 

“Adrien Victus?” Garrus asks her.

 

She breathes a little. “Yes. He is meeting with the Councilor right now.” She opens her Omnitool and dials a number.

 

“Vela, I can’t talk righ-”

 

“TARQUIN IS IN THE LAKE AND A HUMAN IS WITH HIM!!!!!!!!!” She screams into her omnitool.

 

“WHAT?” came the reply.

 

“Hi General Victus. It’s Garrus, the Primarch’s son. We met before at some war gala. I’m here with your bondmate.” Garrus says as he practically grabs Vela’s arm and throws himself into the omnitool’s holographic frame.

 

“Right, Garrus, hi.” His voice was polite but confused. “What is happening?”

 

The woman, Vela, started to hyperventilate. “It seems that your mate had a problem with her skycar and your son fell out into the lake on the Presidium.”

 

“OH SPIRITS.” He shouted.

 

“Well my mate and I were nearby and she dove in after him and now she is bringing him to the shore. I can’t see from here but I think he is alright.”

 

“I’m on my way.” General Victus announces and hangs up. Garrus calls C-Sec and they assure him they will be right over. Now that the authorities were called he walked over towards the frantic woman standing near the waterline.

 

“C-Sec and the General are on their way.” He looks over towards the two in the lake. “And it looks like so is your son.”

 

“Why is your mate going so slowly?” She doesn’t take her eyes off the two approaching forms.

 

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s to keep your son from falling off of her.” Garrus guessed.

 

“Will she hurt him?” Vera’s voice was a whisper. She probably screamed herself hoarse.

 

“No. My mate doesn’t hurt children.” He answered and tried to keep his subvocals from betraying how angry he was at that question.

 

“Not even turian children? She is a human after all.”

 

“I don’t know what the war was like for you, but I know she wouldn’t hurt a turian child.” He answered.

 

“You’ve known her for a month at this point. How can you be so sure?” She turns to look at him.  Her eyes haunted. “I had an older son. Humans killed him. Now Tarquin is all I have and he is in the same hands that killed his brother.”

 

“I just know.” He said. C-Sec arrived shortly after the two of them turned their full attention back to the turian child clinging to the human raft bringing him slowly to shore.

 

~~~~~~~

 

Jane was getting tired. Next time she wanted to swim across the Presidium Lake with a turian on her stomach she would remember to eat. She didn’t have the energy for this. Tarquin was getting more and more squirmy. He was having a hard time keeping still and every time he moved she sunk into the water. It was getting harder and harder to come back to the surface of the water.

 

“We're almost there!” He announced excitedly. A few more kicks brought them closer and Tarquin practically jumped on her. She and him went under.

 

She felt her butt hit the bottom of the lake. It wasn’t so deep. She might be able to stand now. She felt taloned hands reach under the water and grab her and Tarquin. She smiled now that Tarquin was safe.

 

She surrendered to the calm water and waiting blackness.

Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Summary:

Garrus and Jane deal with what happens after you save a drowning turian.

Notes:

Sorry I didn't have time to proof read this before hand

Shepard woke up looking at a stark white ceiling and the smell of antiseptic in the air. She turned her head and looked at herself. She was laying on a hospital cot with an IV in her arm. She was weak and confused. Looking around the room she saw a turian she didn’t know sitting on one of the visitor chairs.

 

“Hello.” she croaked out.

 

“Hello, how are you feeling?” The strange turian asked her.

 

“Tired.” She admitted honestly.

 

“I can imagine.” He chuckled. “Swimming with only your legs with a fledgling on your stomach across the Presidium Lake. That would take a lot of strength and it’s no wonder you fell to fatigue when you made it back to the shore. I am just glad you made it to the shore before you collapsed.”

 

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Shepard asked him.

 

“Sorry. I forgot the introductions. I am Adrien Victus. You saved my son’s life and for that I am eternally grateful.” He then did something Shepard had never seen before. He got down on his knees and lifted her hand and placed it on his forehead crest.

 

The feeling of her soul being sucked out of her and replaced, but fuller, will never be something she will get used to. It felt like being shot and having the wind knocked out of you all at once. But it wasn’t unpleasant.

 

After a few deep breaths she looked at Victus. “What was that?” She asked him.

 

“Interesting, it seems that spirits exist in humans as well as turians. That was a spirit bond. I was bonding my spirit to yours. This is the sincerest form of gratitude we can give. My spirit, and myself, will always be available to you if you ever need of me.”

 

“Thank you?” Shepard said, not entirely understanding what just happened. 

 

Victus chuckles to himself. “I am sure your bondmate can explain more.”

 

“Where is Garrus?” Shepard asks him, noticing he wasn’t there.

 

“At the hearing I think.”

 

“The what?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Garrus was having a miserable time. He has been here for two hours already and they don’t seem to understand what he was saying. He tried not to let his subvocals rumble with annoyance when the arbiters came back from the mini session they just had.

 

“Let us go over the facts again.” one of the arbiters, the asari one, said.

 

He did let his annoyance be heard this time.

 

“At 1307 a sky car with a tampered autopilot almost crashed into the bridge over the lake on the Presidium. It would have decapitated Spectre Vakarian if he hadn’t ducked out of the way in time.”

 

“My bondmate pushed me down. Turians can’t duck. She saved my life.” Garrus explained for the hundredth time.

 

“Then the tampered sky car flew over the lake and deposited a turian child into the water.” The asari continued seemingly unable to hear him.

 

“Then my mate risked her life to save said child, yes.” Garrus clarified. “This is a joke. How can you think Jane had anything to do with the sky car in the first place.”

 

 “Given her people’s history it would make sense that a human would orchestrate an attack of this level on turians. One being you and the other being the child, Tarquin.” The Salarian arbiter explained.

 

“She lives with me. If she wanted to kill me she could do it much easier than with a sky car.” He explained.

 

“Too obvious.” The salarian said. “If she were to kill you at home it would point her out as the only person capable of committing the crime. She was a tech expert in her human military. She has the ability to override a sky car to do what she needs to do.” 

 

“Then why is she in the hospital right now for saving a turian child if she wanted to kills us both. I’m telling you it makes no sense.” Garrus was frustrated. He was tired. He was mad. Instead of applauding Jane as a hero who selflessly put her life in danger for a stranger she was being accused of committing the crime of tampering with the autopilot of the sky car that the Victus family rode in.

 

Neither the Victus family or Garrus believed that she did such a thing, but when C-Sec discovered that the autopilot was tampered with, before Garrus overrode it, it became a crime. And only one person was pointed at as the criminal.

 

“Speaking of.” The salarian stated, “The hospital records have returned. The accused is being treated for extreme fatigue and has suffered no other injuries due to this incident.” Garrus let out a relieved breath. Up until now no one has told him how Jane was doing. If it wasn’t for Adrien staying behind at the hospital she would have been under armed guards until this hearing was over. Garrus was required to be here to state what he saw happen and then he stayed to defend Jane. He knew she didn’t do it.

 

“However, there was something interesting that the medical records did find.” The salarian continued. “The accused Jane Shepard-Vakarian has multiple injuries on her body that were a result of turian talons on their hands and feet.” Garrus’ heart stopped. “And she has multiple wounds on her thighs that are a result of turian spurs. And lastly she has multiple wounds on her, um, other area that could only be a result of a turian forcing himself on to her in an intimate way.”

 

“He is her mate. It is his given right to be with her in whatever way he wants.” The turian arbiter spoke up, for the first time. He looked towards Garrus and gave him encouraging subvocals. “Spectre Vakarian isn’t on trial here.”

 

“I didn’t do that!” Garrus wanted very much to shoot the turian arbiter. “That was before she and I knew each other! Ask him about that!” Garrus pointed aggressively towards Saren, who was in the crowd watching the hearing.

 

Saren gave him a smug smile. Garrus wanted to shoot him too.

 

“Turian mate correct. Old wounds a decade old. No recent sexual activity present in human.” A salarian with only one horn spoke up from the crowd.

 

“Professor Solus.I didn’t know you were in attendance today.” The salarian arbiter called to him.

 

“I reviewed the medical information and went over the facts. Trace of tampering evident in the vehicle but not on human’s omnitool. Illogical to wipe one but not the other. Human didn’t do it.” The one called Professor Solus said with a finality of someone in authority who expected to be listened to without question.

 

The three arbiters turned to each other and whispered amongst themselves. Finally they turned to Garrus and the crowd. “In light of the lack of evidence against Jane Shepard-Vakarian we cannot convict her of this crime. C-Sec will need to find other evidence or another suspect. This hearing is adjourned.” And with that the three leave the area.

 

Chellick, the C-Sec representative, runs over to Garrus. “Spectre Vakarian. I want you to know I am sorry-”

 

“Not right now Chellick.” Garrus cuts him off and runs towards the crowd of people leaving the area. “Professor Solus.” He calls after the salarian. Professor Solus turns around and waits for Garrus to approach.

 

“Yes?” He asks.

 

“I want to thank you. Without your help it might be another two hours of them not listening to reason.” Garrus explains.

 

“Ah, you are welcome. Human case fascinating. Why did someone with violent history with turians agree to get bonded to them? Wanted to come to hearing to see if it was elaborate ruse to kill turians. It was not. At least not this time.” He explained.

 

“Let me buy you a drink tonight as thanks and I can maybe give you some more clues on that.” Garrus offers.

 

Professor Solus’ eyes brighten. “Can use a drink. Flux 1900.” And he walked away. 

 

Garrus stood there shaking his head.

 

~~~~~~~

 

The next time Shepard woke up she was greeted by a more familiar turian face. “Hey” she called to the turian next to her who was absorbed in his omnitool.

 

Garrus looked up at the face of his very tired bondmate. “Hey” he said back. “How are you feeling?” He put his omnitool away in order to give her his full attention.

 

“I’m a little tired.” Shepard admitted.

 

“I’m not surprised. The doctors said it was a close call. They were worried you didn’t have the strength to make it across the lake like you did. Especially with a fledgling on you.”

 

“I’m an N7. Give me some credit. It was a good workout. Unfortunately I haven’t had much of a workout since we got bonded and I quit the Navy. I’m a little out of shape.” She smiled.

 

“No, you’re perfect.” He whispered. Shepard blushed at the complement. “I talked to Victus. He said Tarquin will be fine. He had some minor bruising from falling into the lake but otherwise he left the hospital in great condition. They said you can go home as soon as you woke up.” That was not exactly true. What the doctors said was that she could leave as soon as she woke up but they wanted her to stay for some more testing. Not testing related to her medical condition but they don’t have any samples of humans and wanted to collect some. Garrus wasn’t comfortable with the thought that his bondmate would be tested so he informed the doctors that as soon as she woke she would be going home with him.

 

“They said as long as you rest and drink plenty of fluids you can go home.” He told Shepard.

 

“Good. I want to go home and sleep in my bed.” She smiles. “That must sound crazy, I think I slept more today than I have in the last three years combined.”

 

“You earned it.” Garrus informed her. “You saved my life today, and that of a turian fledgling. Why did you do that?”

 

“I learned turians can’t swim. It was something the military taught us; if we were being chased by turians go in the water, they would not follow.”

 

Garrus had to agree. No one would risk death to make sure the enemy died, the water would do that for them. They called for a nurse who discharged Shepard and they got a sky car and went home. Garrus did not use the auto pilot.

 

“Garrus, can I ask you something?” Shepard was hesitant when she spoke. Garrus wasn’t sure if it was because of her fatigue or the question.

 

“Sure.” He made sure to sound as comforting as possible.

 

“Adrien Victus was in my room before you. He told me you had to go to a hearing. He thanked me by placing my hand on his forehead, the spot where turians kiss. I felt that thing with my spirit again. What did that mean?”

 

“That was him thanking you with his very spirit. You have heard of life debts, this one is more powerful as it lasts through life into death as well. For as long as Victus lives he will owe you his life, nothing can change that now. And when you die part of his spirit will be attached to your spirit so that in death he will always be with you to help you.” Garrus explained.

 

Shepard breathed out. “That sounds big.”

 

“It is. It is the highest gratitude we can show someone. And it is no less than you deserve for saving his son’s life. I would do the same but as we are bonded already there is no need. I will always be there for you in life and in death.” He explained.

 

Shepard was quiet for a long time thinking about the implications of that statement. “What was the hearing about?” She changed the topic, not fully ready to go back and talk about what Garrus told her about spirit binding.

 

“Can I ask you a delicate question?” He asked her. Also a little hesitantly.

 

“Sure.” She answered in the same tone he used on her.

 

“The hearing was because C-Sec discovered someone tampered with the sky car’s autopilot and was able to remote control it. Someone made it almost kill me and dump Victus’ kid into the lake. The hearing was because you were accused of being that person.”

 

“Me? I was with you the whole time. Also why would I kill a random child?” Shepard was exasperated. 

 

Garrus parked the car at the terminal next to their house but he made no move to leave. Shepard didn’t either. Garrus turned to her. “I agree and so I defended you. The only reason anyone could use against you was that you were treated badly by turians and killed us during the war. That you would target us now as a type of vengeance. Shepard I know you didn’t do it. But they weren't wrong. Given everything you’ve been through you should hate us. Why did you agree to bond with a turian?”

 

Shepard thought for a while and she turned to Garrus ready to answer him as honestly as she could. “I don’t hate turians. I was a prisoner of theirs for 2 years. In that time I learned that there are good turians and bad turians, just like humans. I wanted to bond because I didn’t want anyone else to do it. I didn’t want someone who didn’t understand that there are good turians out there to bond and not give you a chance to prove if you were a good turian or not. Even in the Navy I didn’t kill turians as often as I could have.”

 

“Like with Sol.” He realized.

 

“Right, I crippled her and sent her home but my orders were to kill anyone in my way. After my time as a prisoner I knew I couldn’t indiscriminately kill turians.”

 

“Why not. They kidnapped you, killed your grandparents in front of you, raped you, forced you to work and fight for them. Why do you not hate us?” He finally asked her.

 

“Because a turian fell in love with me and I killed him for it.” She answered. “Des wasn’t a good man. He had other comfort humans around, not just me. I was his favorite and he didn’t like no for an answer. He said he loved me but I hated him.” She paused and looked away. “I did fall in love with his brother though.” She whispered.

 

“Saren?!”

 

“Yeah, I was young. Saren was nicer than his brother. Treated me well, didn’t take advantage of me, talked to me like a person. I loved when Saren came to visit his brother and we spent time together. He would tell me stories from his missions as a Spectre, he even brought me presents. How could I not fall for him.”

 

“Did he know.”

 

“Yeah, I told him once. Offered myself to him even. Said I was Des’ property and that’s all I was to him. He couldn’t love me back since I was nothing to him. Since then he didn’t come around as often, and when he did he made sure we were never alone together.”

 

“Do you still love him?”

 

“No. Like I said I was young and a prisoner. I didn’t know what love even was in that place.”

 

“Why do you not hate us?” Garrus asked again in a whisper.

 

“Because I don’t. I’m a stronger person now because of what I lived through. I still get nightmares about it and it was still traumatic but I learned that I don’t hate all turians because of what a few of them did.” 

 

Realizing that he wasn’t going to get anymore they walked into the house. He got her some water and made sure she went to bed. By 1900 she was asleep so he left to go buy the salarian a drink.

 

“Worried you wouldn’t show. How is mate?” the salarian asked him as he sat next to him.

 

“Tired but she will pull through.” Garrus answered and order a drink for himself and for the salarian next to him.

 

“Heard they wanted to do tests. Shame you didn’t let them. Lot’s we don’t know about humans. Understand reason though.”

 

“Sorry professor but I didn’t want my bondmate to be a test subject.” Garrus growled at him.

 

“Said I understand reason. Real reason for protective behavior. Just Mordin though. Don’t need Professor Solus. Just Mordin is fine.”

 

“Well then Mordin. What are you a professor of?” Garrus asked him. Mordin’s eyes lit up.

 

“Everything!” He explained. “Though retired now. Maybe I’ll go to beach and test seashells.”

 

“I have another proposition for you. If you are interested.” Garrus said into his drink.

 

“Like to hear it.” Mordin said as he finished his drink.

 

Garrus knocked his back and ordered another round. “My mate doesn’t know about the universe.”

 

“Understandable, humans are new to galactic stage. Takes time to learn.”

 

“I bought her some text books but I think she could benefit from a teacher. Or a professor.” Garrus smiled at him.

 

“I can learn about humans as well. Good offer, let me consider.” He finished his drink. “Considering done, I accept offer. When should I start?”

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Notes:

Sorry it's a few days late. I wasn't happy with it so I rewrote it. I'm still not thrilled with it but I think it's better now.

“Congratulations Shepard.” The holographic form of Admiral Hacket said to her. “When I read your report about jumping in the lake to save a drowning turian child I didn’t know how that would pay off for you. Not only is a high ranking turian in your debt for saving the child you even leveraged your efforts in saving it to gain a personal tutor in order to complete your other objective. Two objectives with one action. I knew you were right for this assignment.”

 

“Thank you sir.” Shepard answered the holographic form. Truthfully she didn’t know how to deal with the praise. When she dived in to save Tarquin she was not expecting it to lead to having General Victus in her debt or a personal tutor to come teach her every other day. All she wanted to do was save the drowning child.

 

“Continue to achieve these kinds of results, Shepard. We are all counting on you. Hacket out.” And with that the form flickered off. She sighed. 

 

Her mission was going well. She has Garrus’ trust and now Victus’ and a personal teacher to help her navigate the complex galaxy that humans are now a part of. But she was still feeling sad. It could be because tomorrow Garrus leaves on his first mission as a Spectre and will be gone for weeks. She will miss him.

 

Over the last two months of her marriage to Garrus she has started to rely on his friendship and easy banter. She will be lonely in their house alone.

 

Luckily she had therapy right after her mission debriefing with the Admiral so she could sort through these feelings with a professional.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

“What is it you want from this bonding?” Her Asari therapist asked her a few minutes into their session.

 

“I’m not sure. Friendship? Love would be nice, but impossible. I guess just the feeling of not hating coming home.” She answered.

 

“What about sex, or a baby. Respect, things like that?” 

 

“Well sex would be nice. I propositioned him once but he turned me down. I don’t think we can have a baby, humans don’t work like that, and I think he respects me.”

 

“Why did he turn you down?” The therapist asked her.

 

“He found out about my past as a ‘comfort human’. He said he doesn’t need a comfort human.”

 

“So he refuses to have sex with you because you once were the subject of sexual exploitation in the past?”

 

“I suppose.”

 

“That sounds like respect to me.”

 

“I don’t want respect, I want sex!” Jane said exasperated. 

 

“Did you tell him what you want?”

 

“No.” 

 

“Well try doing that. Bondings only work when both sides get their needs met. If you tell him what you want and he doesn’t want the same then you can work on it together. But so far he told you what he wanted and you still haven’t explained your needs.”

 

“I can do that.”

 

“I think it would be a good idea to tell him before he leaves. It will give you both some time apart to contemplate what you both want.”

 

Shepard agreed with her and they moved on to different topics. Just like after every therapy session her feelings were in disarray and confusing. Ever since she was liberated from Jump Zero she has been in therapy. For the last 8 years her therapist made her see that wanting sex from a turian was wrong. Now with her asari therapist she wasn’t sure it was so wrong.

 

She shoved her feelings down though. They were feelings for tomorrow, tonight they were having dinner with Garrus’ parents and sister to celebrate his first mission as a Spectre and she had to go get ready.

 

She walked to the upper wards to do some shopping. She was a little unnerved by the style of Asari dresses, there were holes in the torso! But since the Citadel didn’t have clothing designed by humans and Asari and humans can wear the same outfits she purchased a navy blue dress that didn’t show too much skin.

 

On her way home she passed a Keeper doing routine maintenance on the Citadel. At least she thought that was what they were doing, with Keepers it was hard to tell. She noticed however, that around the corner from the Keeper were a few children. A salarian and two turian children not much older than Tarquin. She had no idea about how old the salarian was. 

 

She stopped to watch them. It was cute looking at children and made her heart happy. For about two seconds. Then they took off and ran into the Keeper trying to knock it down. The Keeper flipped over and waggled his legs in the air. The trio of children stood off to the side and started giggling at their misdeed.

 

“Hey!” Shepard called and matched over to them. They stopped their giggling and turned to her with big wide eyes. They were scared, good. “That’s right. I’m a human. The kind your parents told you to avoid because we eat little turians that misbehave. Did I just see you misbehave?”

 

When she and Tarquin took their swim across the lake he told her that his mom told him that humans were scary monsters that ate bad turians. She assumed that all turian children were told something similar to keep them in line. She didn’t mind this portrayal. Afterall Tarquin told her she was a good human!

 

Given the scared expression on the children’s faces and how quickly they ran away they heard the legends of the turian eating humans. She remembered her therapist asking if she wanted children with Garrus. She would make a terrible mom.

 

She walked over to the Keeper and helped them up. As soon as they were upright and mobile they hurried away.

 

She went home to change and do her make up. Garrus will be meeting her at the restaurant since he is stuck getting his mission parameters from the Council. As she was about to leave she heard the terminal in the office make the “call waiting” sound. Figuring it was Garrus or one of his family trying to get a hold of her she walked into the room to answer the call.

 

She was surprised when her mother’s face appeared on the screen.

 

“Wow! Look at you! Got a hot date tonight?” Her mother teased her.

 

“Yes actually. The Primarch will be here tonight and we are all going out to dinner to celebrate Garrus making Spectre.” Shepard informed her mom.

 

“I see,  you have to keep up appearances. Did your husband buy you that dress because it matches his tattoos?”

 

“I bought this dress because I look good in it and it matches his colony markings, yes.” Shepard informed her mom a little irritable.

 

“Right. How are you progressing with getting him to fall for you?” Hanna Shepard asked.

 

“Not well. I tried seducing him a little bit ago but he wasn’t interested. He’s been friendly but doesn’t go beyond that.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Garrus finished up with the council early and made his way home. He hoped Shepard didn’t leave yet and they can take the transit together. When he made his way inside he heard Shepard talking to someone on the terminal in the office. Well, more like yelling at someone on the terminal.

 

“It’s not like that mom! Garrus is a good husband!” Shepard yelled. Then she mumbled “better than I deserve” so low that if it wasn’t for his turian hearing he wouldn’t have heard it at all.

 

“He’s a turian sweetie. He can’t be a good husband.”

 

“When I got here he encouraged me to go to therapy. You know most humans see therapy as a sign of weakness but he was supportive of me. My second night staying here I had an episode and do you know what he did? He gave me a knife! I almost cut him with a kitchen knife when he woke me. Then he went and armed me so I wouldn’t be scared here. And you know what else? IT WORKED! I haven’t had a night terror since. I told him I wanted to learn more about the galaxy and he found me text books and a personal tutor! I haven’t done anything to earn this level of care but he has been great. A good friend and a good husband.”

 

“Are you sure he isn’t just like the other turians you knew? Back at Jump Zero?”

 

“I told him about that, you know. I was expecting him to look at me with pity or hate me for sending in the army to rescue me. But he didn’t. Instead he made sure I went to therapy and he hasn’t so much as touched me. I think the idea of being with a human disgusts him. So yeah mom I’m sure he isn’t like Des or the other turians back at Jump Zero.”

 

“Careful dear, you are starting to defend him. Remember you are a human and he is a turian. Nothing can come from you developing feelings for him so don’t.”

 

“I know mom. Now I’m going to be late. I don’t want to keep the Primarch waiting.” After that there was only the sound of the terminal being shut off and her silent sobs.

 

Garrus walked back to the door and opened it quietly. Then he closed it loudly “Shepard you still here? I just got back.” He calls into the house. Moments later Shepard emerges looking amazing. Her dress is long and cut out, like the Asari style, and the same color as his markings. Her hair and makeup accentuate her natural beauty.

 

He wasn’t sure when he realized that she was beautiful. Maybe it was when he pulled her out of the lake dripping wet after she saved a turian’s life. Maybe he always knew. Either way he knows now and he loves to take her out to show off the most beautiful human on the Citadel.

 

“Garrus! When did you get home?” She asks him.

 

“Just now.” He lies. “Wow you look amazing. Can you wait for a minute? I have to get ready then we can go together.”

 

“Sure!”

 

He puts on his formal wear and he and Shepard go to the restaurant.

 

They walk up to the asari hostess. “Oh you must be here for the Primarch table. Right this way.” She tells them before they have to give their names and reservations. Sometimes it pays to be the only human on the Citadel and the Primarch’s son. Everyone knows who they are.

 

They are shown to a table in a private dinning hall on the second floor of the restaurant.

 

“Garrus and Shepard I’m happy you came.” Primarch Castis Vakarian calls to them.

 

“You look beautiful Shepard.” Centura tells her. 

 

Shepard walks over to her seat that Garrus pulls out of her. She smiles at him and turns her attention to the rest of the table.

 

“It’s so nice that you are getting along.” Centura says to them both.

 

“Garrus is a good bondmate. I couldn’t have asked for a better one.” Shepard tells them.

 

“A general of mine tells me that you two are acquainted.” Castis says.

 

“Did you really jump into the lake to save a fledgling?” Sol asks, speaking for the first time since they got there.

 

“You should have been there Sol.” Garrus says with pride in his subvocals. “Without hesitating Shepard throws herself into the lake to save this drowning fledgling.” 

 

“I had no idea humans could swim.” Centura says.

 

“I had to swim across water that was freezing when I was in N7 training. Back when I was in the Navy I swam everyday. Now I’m embarrassed to see how far I have declined since my retirement.” shepard says modestly.

 

“There was no decline. She swam, on her back, the entire length with a fledgling on top of her. It was impressive to see.” Garrus said.

 

He could see Shepard’s cheeks turn a red color and figured she was enjoying the attention. They ordered their food and wine when the server came by and proceeded to talk some more.

 

~~~~~~~

 

“Humans have this ritual when we gather for a celebration. We call it a toast. We pick our glasses up and hold them towards the person we are celebrating and say ‘to Garrus’ then we drink to them.” Shepard explained.

 

“Turians do something similar but I like the way humans do it.” Garrus says. They all human toast to Garrus.

 

“Well, Mr. Spectre, don’t keep us in suspense. What is your first mission?” Sol asked him.

 

“All right, all right.” He chuckles. “My first mission is to discover who sabotaged the car that almost killed me and Tarquin Victus and why.” He explained.

 

“Wouldn’t that be a job for C-Sec?” Castis asked. Shepard smiled and shook her head. She knew Castis didn’t like Spectres. She also knew that Centura made him promise not to do anything to ruin the mood.

 

That is when Shepard saw it. It was a subtle flicker just outside her visual range. She would have passed it off as her eyes playing tricks on her but she was in the Navy for too long to ignore when she felt something was off.

 

She excused herself to go to the bathroom as Garrus explained the leads he and C-Sec were working on together to figure out the mystery. As she headed towards the bathroom. There was a small room off of the bathroom that she turned into instead. Since the kitchen was on the ground floor and they were on the second floor there is a room that was designed to hold the plates and dinners in warmers while the chiefs cooked it downstairs. A small prep room as it were. 

 

As Shepard walked in she noticed two things. The first is that there was no one in the room. The second is that there was a haze hovering next to the Dextro-drinks that they ordered. She took out her knife, the one Garrus gifted to her, and threw it at the haze. It sunk in midair. Shepard then ran into the haze, now with the knife stuck in, and ran it into the wall.

 

“Who are you and what are you doing to my family's drinks?” She whisper-threatened. 

 

“Don’t shoot Shep, it's me!” Came the voice from the haze. Seconds later the tactile cloak disappeared and Kasumi was pinned into the wall with a knife stuck in her side.

 

“Kasumi?” Shepard asked as she let Kasumi up. Kasumi stood away from the wall and pulled the knife out. After applying medigel to the wound she turned to Shepard. “What are you doing here?” Shepard asked again. Only this time it was filled with wonder.

 

“Orders. I have orders to sneak in here undetected and put this in one of the turian’s drinks. It didn’t matter which drink it was so long as it wasn’t yours.” Kasumi held up a small vial with a clear liquid in it.

 

“What does it do?” Shepard asked Kasumi.

 

“Hell if I know. I didn’t ask and they didn’t tell me.” The two women stood facing each other.

 

“Go ahead with your orders then get out. I don’t think anyone but me noticed.” Shepard told Kasumi. Shepard watched as Kasumi emptied the vial into a glass and disappeared with her cloak again. Soon the door to the room opened and Shepard couldn’t see the haze or shadow left by Kasumi.

 

Once she was certain she was alone Shepard made her way to the drink Kasumi added the mysterious substance into. Shepard then poured out the drink and threw it away. The waiter will be confused when they get back but Shepard didn’t care.

 

She left the room and ran right into Centura Vakarian. “Oh Shepard! There you are! I was worried since you were taking so long.”

 

“Oh Centura, I got turned around after leaving the bathroom. I lose my way so easily. If your son didn’t install a map on my omnitool I wouldn’t know how to navigate the Citadel.” That was at least partly true. She did have a terrible sense of direction.

 

“Well let’s head back to the table. I’m sure our bondmates will be missing us.” Centura helped lead Shepard back to the table.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

“When we found the Volus that owned the sky car transit he told us that a quarian engineer serviced it a few days ago. Now we just have to find that Quarian. Oh you’re back.” Garrus said with a flare of his mandibles. He knew his family could hear his subvocals sound out a joyous sound towards his bondmate when she returned. His father made a similar sound when he saw his mom. His mom reciprocated when she saw his dad. It was cute that they still did that even though they were bonded for a long time.

 

He was a little sad that Shepard couldn’t hear his subvocals nor could she produce her own. After accidentally overhearing her conversation with her mom Garrus was confused as to his feelings towards Shepard. He was proud and glad she defended him and told her mom he was a good bondmate. He was worried about how the recent mission was going to affect her.

 

And if he was honest, he was worried about how the separation would affect him too.

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Shepard wanted to talk to Garrus about what they discussed in therapy earlier. She really did, but that all went to hell when she saw Kasumi attempt to put an unknown substance in the turians drink.

 

What was it, what did it do, why didn’t they ask her to do it, what would happen if the Alliance discovered she foiled their attempt…at something, why did she step in? All these questions and more rattled around in her brain and she didn’t know the answer to any of them.

 

She was a soldier and a soldier took orders, they also compartmentalized the hell out of their minds or they would go crazy. So that is what she did. She took all these thoughts and shoved them into a box in her mind labeled “questions to ask Hacket later” and opened a box that was labeled “Feelings about Garrus.”

 

She only had a few hours before he left in the morning and most of that was spent sleeping. She had questions she needed answers to now before it was too late. 

 

So after they got home from dinner she walked to his room and knocked. “Yes?” She walked in. 

 

Garrus was packing for his trip with his suitcase on the bed and him going back and forth from the closet to the bag putting his clothes he needed for the trip away.

 

“Shepard, need me for something?” He asked when he saw her.

 

She looked at him, the bed with the suitcase, the clothes, and decided. “No, I just wanted to wish you a safe trip.” She turned to leave and he grabbed her hand.

 

“What’s wrong?” He asked her. He walked her to the bed, moved his suitcase off of it, and they both sat down.

 

She took several deep breaths before she could speak. He noticed but didn’t press her. “I talked to my mom today. She isn’t happy about what happened at Jump Zero so she doesn’t trust you as my bondmate.”

 

“That makes sense. She knows turians at their worst. All first hand knowledge from the war and from your time as a prisoner. I can’t imagine she was happy about you bonding with a turian.” He said understandably.

 

“She also knows that I didn’t hate my time at Jump Zero, even if I was a prisoner. They treated me well, after I became a comfort human they treated me even better. She knows I even developed feelings for a Turian, though she doesn’t know which turian. It’s always been a source of guilt for me.”

 

He did something neither of them thought he would do. He hugged her. “I can’t imagine what that was like for you. Some of the things were horrific but there were not so bad things as well. It would be easier if they were black and white. Turians bad, humans good. But it isn’t, is it?”

 

“No, there are shades of gray.” She agreed.

 

“I never knew what to do with gray.” He admitted.

 

“You're gray.” She told him.

 

“Well that’s true. I wish I had my mothers coloring.”

 

“No I didn’t mean your plates. Though they are lovely. I mean my feelings for you are gray. They are complicated. I see all the nice things you do for me and I can’t help but like you for it. Also the fact that you are smart, funny, kind, and a lot of other things. You have been a good friend to me in the last two months. I just didn’t want you to leave on a dangerous mission without you knowing how I feel. Which is complicated, but I like you. A Lot.” She took a breath and smiled. It took a lot to explain that to him. It would be better if her feelings were more clear and less complicated, gray, but she wanted him to know.

 

She got up to leave but he grabbed her and gently pulled her back to sitting next to him on the bed. He didn’t speak and neither did she. They just sat there, his three taloned hand around her wrist. Neither of them looking at each other.

 

Finally he did speak. “My feelings for you are gray too. I know so little about what you went through at Jump Zero, but what I do know tells me it was bad. I want to protect you from all the bad turians out there. Sometimes I find myself being jealous that Saren knows you more than I do and that you once loved him. Sometimes I want to hold you close and other times I want to be as far from you as possible, that way you are no longer defined by your associations with turians. I don’t know how I feel about you but I know it’s gray.”

 

They were both silent for a while. Then Shepard broke the silence. “We can figure it out together. If you want. Give whatever we feel a chance.” She looked at him and bit her bottom lip.

 

“Yeah, I like that. Be together and see what happens. I can do that.” He told her. They nodded and hugged and she left him alone to go back to packing.

 

It was something. Something complicated, something gray, but it was something and she would take it.

 

The next day Shepard woke up early to see Garrus off. They hugged again before he left the house to do his Spectre stuff. Shepard then immediately got dressed and ran towards the safe house. Hackett had some explaining to do.

 

She got there and dialed in Hackett’s number. It was early for him as well but when he appeared he was wearing his standard uniform like usual. Shepard wondered briefly if he ever slept.

 

“Shepard what is it?” He asked her.

 

“Sir, last night while I was at dinner with the Primarch and his family I saw Kasumi slip an unknown substance into one of their drinks. When I confronted her about it she told me she was under orders to do so.”

 

“Agent Goto spoke the truth. She was under orders to add something into the drink of one of the turians.” Hackett confirmed.

 

“Sir, I want to know why Kasumi was chosen for that mission and not me. I was already there and I have gained the trust of the Primarch.”

 

“I didn’t want to blow your cover in case you got caught.” He confirmed.

 

“Sir, after the attack on Garrus at the bridge I was already under suspicion. If one of the turians got sick from what was added to their drink, suspicion would have fallen to me again.”

 

“Which is why I kept you as far from the mission as possible, Shepard.”

 

“Sir, Please I have to know. Did the Alliance orchestrate the sky car accident on the bridge?”

 

“No. From what information we learned so far we have no idea who was behind the attack. All we know for certain is that it wasn’t Alliance. We don’t even know if it was a different human group.” With that he stares directly at Shepard. She got the message.

 

“What was in the vial Kasumi gave to the turians?”

 

“Sorry Shepard, that's classified. I can tell you that it will not do them any harm.”

 

That was more information then she thought she was going to receive and it made her a little bit secure. If Hackett said it wasn’t dangerous then it wasn’t, probably. 

 

“Thank you sir. That’s all I have for now.”

 

“Hackett out.” And with that he closed the connection.

 

Shepard wasn’t done though and she dialed in a different number.

 

“Hey kiddo. What’s up?” Her dad asked.

 

“Dad, did Cerberus attack Garrus on the bridge using a sky car?” She asked, straight to the point.

 

“Oh yeah I heard about that. You saved a turian kid by swimming in the lake. I wish I saw the looks on the birds faces when a human did something they couldn’t. Especially since family is so big to them.” He made a scoffing face.

 

“Dad!” 

 

“Oh right. No that wasn’t us. I don’t know who it was.” He confirmed.

 

“I want any and all plans involving Turians to stop.” She ordered Jake Harper, The Illusive Man, Head of Cerberus, and her dad.

 

“There are currently no plans involving turians. As of right now they are untouchable. I don’t want you getting hurt protecting them from us.”

 

“Thanks dad. If you do find out who was behind the attack please let me know.”

“Isn’t your husband working on figuring that out?” He asked knowingly.

 

“Isn’t that supposed to be classified?” She countered.

 

“Fair enough. Good luck kiddo.” and he disconnected the call.

 

With her two phone calls taken care of she makes her way back home. If Hackett didn’t want to tell her what was in the vile then she didn’t see a need to tell him that she got rid of it! Neither Cerberus or the Alliance didn’t have anything to do with the sky car incident. That means whatever Garrus finds it wont come back to her.

 

She was excited since today was one of the days that Dr. Solus came over to do lessons. He was always fun to talk to but he asked strange questions that she didn’t know how to answer.

 

“How are things with you and your mate?” Mordin asked her in the middle of her lesson.

 

Shepard sighed knowing this was going to be a big tangent. “Things are fine. We decided to act on our feelings and see what happens next.”

 

“How can you act on feelings if you don’t know what feelings are?”

 

That was a good question. “I think we are just not holding back any more. If I want to hug him I can and he can tell me if he isn’t comfortable with it and wants me to back off or not.”

 

“Are you not afraid he will reject your advances like last time?”

 

“Yes. I’m always going to worry about that. But if I don’t do something I’ll never know how I feel or how he feels about me.”

 

“Do you think you will love him like other turian?”

 

“Maybe.”

 

“How can you love one that was once your enemy?” He asks.

 

“It isn’t easy. Sometimes I don’t know if he is being nice to me because he likes me, feels bad that I’m in a relationship with him, or if he feels guilty for killing humans not too long ago. Sometimes I can’t parse out if I like him or if it is guilt.”

 

“Past trauma doesn’t help.”

 

Shepard sighs. “Yeah it doesn’t. Do I want to be near him because I was conditioned to by other turians or is it because I really feel safe with him and I want to continue to feel that way. Why do you ask?”

 

“Interesting hypostasis; can enemies turn to lovers?”

 

“And why do you care?” Shepard asked him. Instead of answering they continued their lesson. Today Shepard was learning about The Genophage. 

 

After the lesson Shepard asked Mordin some questions. “Professor what is your take on the Genophage? Did you agree with it?”

 

“Yes good answer to problem. Right for the time. Also worked on updating genophage when Krogans started to gain immunity,”

“Wait! You made it stronger?”

 

“Yes best answer to problem. When others discovered immunity the options were drop nuke or make stronger genophage. This best option. Needed to do it. Someone else might have gotten it wrong.”

 

“So you modified the genophage in order to save the Krogan race. As counterintuitive as that sounds.”

 

“Correct.”

 

“Why do you care about the lives of the Krogan? Killing them all would have been a more permanent solution. And why do you keep asking if enemies could one day be lovers?” Then she took a deep breath as a realization hit her. “YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH A KROGAN!”

 

Dr. Solus put his hands on his head to shield his ears from the screech that came out of Shepard. 

 

“Not in love but can see appeal of certain female Krogan.” He answered.

 

“OH MY God a Slarian and a Krogan! Is that possible?” Shepard asked.

 

“I don’t know. Not important. Female doesn’t like me.” Mordian explained. Shepard moved to the end of the couch and excitedly bounced up and down.

 

“Well let's change that!” And the two got to work on a plan to make a Krogan female fall in love with a Salarian Scientist.

Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Summary:

Turians and Humans were at war for almost 10 years. During the first two years of that war Jane Shepard was a Comfort Human. A slave who was job was to provide comfort to their turian masters. In this chapter we learn a little more about what that was like for her.

Garrus is worried that his feelings for Jane and hers for him are too similar to her time as a Comfort Human. He doesn't know what he feels for her but he knows he doesn't want that.

~8 years ago~

 

Saren Arterius smiled as he began his descent into Shanxi’s atmosphere. After being away on a long mission he looked forward to coming back here. It wasn’t home, his home was either in his ship or at his apartment on the Citadel. Neither of those places felt as much like home as here did. He landed his ship at the docks and his smile widened as he saw what greeted him when he exited the cabin.

 

12 young beautiful human women all in revealing clothing smiled and waved and blew kisses towards him as he exited the ship. As soon as he set foot on dry land he was surrounded by women on all sides laughing and giggling and planting kisses on his mandibles. His arms went around two of their waists. 

 

“All hail the conquering hero.” A voice said. Saren turned towards his brother Desolas whose own arms were around two other girls. One was his favorite, Jane and the other was around a new one Saren hasn’t met yet.

 

“If I always get such a hero's welcome I might never leave.” He told his brother.

 

“Sometimes I think you leave just to come back. My girls missed you.”

 

Saren pinches their waists and the girls giggle. “And I missed them.”

 

“Come on then. Janey made a Kelpsa Steak for dinner and its only going to get cold waiting on you.” Desolas teased.

 

“My favorite. Thank you Jane.” Jane Shepard nods and smiles at him as she is being led away by his brother.

 

During dinner Saren regalled his brother and his women tales from his newest case. Everyone loved to hear about his Spectre work and he loved to tell them. Throughout the service women poured wine for Saren and Desloas and at least one of them sat on their laps. After dinner some of the women ran off to do chores like washing up or just hung out without the turians around. 

 

Only Jane, Saren, and Desolas retired to the study for some brandy. Des gave Saren an update on Project Jump Zero. The goal of the project was a secret and technically Saren didn’t have clearance to know about it. But what was family for if not to skirt the rules a little.

 

Jane poured the brandy and sat in Desolas' lab while he gave Saren his report. Jane is the only one who has the privilege to hear about Jump Zero.

 

“One of the subjects shows promise. Kaiden Alenko.” Jane hands Saren a folder with Kaiden’s information on it. “Earlier this week Commander Vyrnnus attempted to make a young women his comfort human against her will. Kaiden killed him with his own hands.”

 

Saren was flipping through the contents of the folder when he stopped to look at his brother. “A human killed a turian with only his hands?” He asked for clarification.

 

“Not only that,” Desolas smirked, “there was Eezo on the body during the autopsy.”

 

“Vyrnnus was a biotic. It isn't surprising there was Eezo. But it is possible. Has Kaiden gone to the artifact?”

 

“Several times. We think the rage, aggression, super abilities and left over Eezo traces might be a breakthrough. We are fast tracking him in for surgery to get his implant and then we have to find a new biotic teacher.”

 

“Even if this works Des and you can make human biotics, what then? They won't be able to control their power without an implant and the implants we developed so far are not comfortable. They could die in the process and they still won't be as powerful as Asari or even biotic turians.”

 

“Think about the possibility. An army of human biotics completely under our control. Or even better, what if we can give biotics to someone, anyone. Today it’s humans, tomorrow it could be turians. If we make turian biotics the cabals could become even more powerful and the Hierarchy must see their worth. Or maybe if we can learn to give biotics we can learn to take them away. No one is doing this level of biotic research and we already learned so much.”

 

Saren just let Desolas talk. He was having fun explaining his “ground breaking” research to Saren and he let him. It was nice to see Des having so much fun. 

 

Later that night after everyone went to sleep Saren snuck out to the front porch and sat in one of the chairs. He loves visiting Des but this right here was what he looked forward to the most. Right one cue the door opened and Jane stepped out onto the porch and took a seat in the chair next to him.

 

“Jane.”

 

“Saren'' They greeted each other. Jane had a revealing night outfit on, she explained it was something called lingerie. She said it was designed to drive bed partners wild. It worked.

 

She had a small wrap around her shoulders to hide her from the cold of the night. Her hair was messy and she smelled as though she just finished having sex. Given Desolas’s favoritism for her she might just have come from having sex.

 

“I saw the new girl. You ok?” Saren asked her.

 

“Yes. She is new but I don’t think she has staying power. Des is already bored with her and she hasn’t been here a week yet. Either I’ll be asked to train her or she will be sent back. I don’t think she is worth the effort of being trained.” Jane explained.

 

“So nothing you need to worry about.”

 

“No, I am in no danger of losing my favorite status.” She smiles weakly.

 

“I heard a comfort human died this month.” He says quietly.

 

“Yeah, Gina. She was sweet. The condom broke and she went into anaphylactic shock.”

 

“She was Corinthus’ wasn’t she?”

 

“Yeah he only had one. Since she died he’s been drinking a lot. He tried to send some money to the family but they refused. I think he loved her. They were talking about getting bonded after the war was over.”

 

They were quiet for a few moments. 

 

“I have something for you.” He takes out the box he has been holding onto for the day and hands it to her. She opens it up and her eyes light up, just as Saren was hoping it would.

 

“These are lovely.” She says as she takes out the heels. She tries them on and neither is surprised to see that they fit perfectly. She is taller and the heels make her legs look almost turian. 

 

She walks in them swinging her hips as she moves. Saren watches her with rapt attention, eyes never leaving her waist. She walks back to him and sits on his lap.

 

“I love them.” She whispers. “How can I ever repay you?” She asks sultry.

 

“Oh I can think of something.” He answers and their mouths meet in a human kiss. Her hands trace down his chest and land lightly on his waist. She deftly and lightly massages him there and he moans into the kiss. He caught the scent of his brother on her skin and stopped.

 

He grabbed her hands and pulled her away. “Jane we can’t.” He whispers.

 

“Why not. He said you can share his comfort humans.” She pouts.

 

“Not you. You know that doesn’t mean you.”

 

“He won't know.”

 

“He’ll smell me on you. Just as I smell you on him.” He whispered sadly.

 

“Come on Saren. Let me please you. I love you. You know this.” She pleaded with him.

 

With his superior turian hearing he heard Desolas stir inside the house. “I can’t love you Jane. You are nothing more than a comfort human. A tool to give satisfaction to those who Des choses. You might have more privileges than most but you are still nothing more than a tool. And I deserve better than a used tool.” And with that he stands up and leaves her alone on the porch as he goes into the house.

 

He hears her start to cry but doesn’t acknowledge it. He sees Desolas waiting in the living room for him. They stare at each other for a while before Saren goes into his room to wait for morning. No sleep will come for him tonight.

 

He leaves the next morning. That was the last he saw of his brother alive.

 

~back to the present~

 

Saren is accompanying Nihlus and his mentee Garrus on Garrus’ first mission. So far the only lead they have is the quarian mechanic who serviced the sky car that tried to kill Garrus and Jane.

 

The welp was going on about his feelings about Jane. Saren had to stop it.

 

“Falling back into old habits I see. She fell in love with anyone who showed her the slightest interest and treated her well.”

 

Garrus sneered. The intended reaction.

 

“Sleep with her yet whelp? I hear she’s a good lay. I don’t personally like tools but I won’t judge.” As soon as it was out of his mouth Garrus drove him into the side of the building.

 

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that again. I don’t care what you were or what your brother did, she isn’t like that. She is a good person who didn’t deserve the disrespect that you and your brother showed her.” Garrus told him through gritted teeth.

 

Nihlus looked around nervously.

 

“Does it bother you that she loved me once? Does it make you jealous to know that she chose me over you?”

 

“She doesn’t love you any more. And if she still harbored feelings for you I still wouldn’t let you talk that way about her. The way she was treated was despicable and your brother got what he deserved.”

 

“Careful whelp, he was my brother.”

 

“And she is my mate. Talk about her like that again and I don’t care if you are stronger, older, or a better Spectre than me, I will find a way to end you.” And with that Garrus lets him go.

 

Maybe this assignment wouldn’t be all that bad.

 

~~~~~

 

It was bad. 

 

It was a long assignment that went a whole lot of nowhere. They first went to the quarian engineer who was on her pilgrimage and working servicing skycars for the Citadel for money to continue on her pilgrimage. She discovered that a short range code was used to override the sky car’s autopilot and manually drive the car. The exact same thing that Garrus did to move it to safety.

 

The code was then backtracked to an omnitool that was registered in turian space. Meaning that whoever hacked the car had to be on the presidium at the time and have an omnitool that came from somewhere in turian controlled space.

 

This then led them to the presidium, with a transceiver that the quarian made, that would find and announce if the omnitool was in the area. 

 

They then got vid camera footage from C-Sec of the presidium that day and watched hours of footage looking for anyone using their omnitool at the time of the attack. There were a lot of people.

 

They each sat in different spots or walked the presidium while the transceiver worked while they looked over the vids. Around midday Nihlus got a hit on his walk as the transceiver started to beep uncontrollably. He called the others over and their transceivers were going off as well. They split up and covered the small area walking in the directions that the beeping was getting faster.

 

The three converged near the statue of the krogan in the lake. Then the three turned their transceivers towards the statue in unison and the beeping reached its crescendo. 45 minutes later an omnitool was recovered from the base of the statue in the lake. (They needed to call C-Sec to get a salarian officer to go to the statue since the turians couldn’t swim.)

 

There was no footage from C-sec showing anyone near the statue at the time of the attack.

 

The omnitool had only one program on it and it was the code that matched the one the quarian identified as the one they were after. It was a newer turian model omnitool and only sold in turian space, not on the Citadel. So the trio of Spectres got in Nihlus’ ship and headed to Palavan, the center of turian controlled space. 

 

The omnitool company had their headquarters located in Cipritine and they were scheduled to meet with the president of the company tomorrow.

 

While it was only a few hours flight from the Citadel to Palaven they were busy going over all the leads they had aboard the ship. Nihlus had the best eye for detail so he was watching the footage again to see if they missed anything. Saren was the best tactical member so he was downloading blueprints of the building and running background checks on all the employees of the company. And Garrus was the best at tech, so he took apart the omnitool to see if there was anything left to find. 

 

After several hours of looking Garrus gave up and decided to go to bed.

 

The next day the three Spectres walked into the company that owned the manufacturing and headquarters of the omnitool that they found. They walked right on passed the assistant and marched into the president's office.

 

A turian with dark plates and dark colony markings stood up to greet them. “Hello I am Mr. Atticus and welcome to OmniU. How can I help you Spectres today?” He greeted them.

 

“Mr. Atticus we are investigating a crime that took place using one of your omnitools. We were hoping you could tell us who owned it.” Nihlus said. He was the best at being a people turian so he was elected as the group's speaker. Garrus handed the tool over to the president of the company.

 

After scanning the tool the turian’s dark plates went pale. “Where did you find this?” He asked the trio.

 

“Funnily enough in the Krogan statue on the Citadel.” Nihlus answered.

 

“Does that mean you recognize who it belongs to?” Garrus asked.

 

“It doesn’t belong to anyone. According to our records this model is defective and was trashed.” Atticus told them.

 

“There is nothing wrong with the omnitool. I calibrated it earlier today.” Garrus informed them.

 

“Our records indicate that this unit was trashed. I have no idea how it left the manufacturing base or how it got to the Citadel.” Atticus said.

 

“May we talk to your staff?” Saren asked. This was the first time he inserted himself into the conversation so far.

 

“I can’t stop you. You are Spectres.” He answered.

 

“That is true. It was more of a courtesy.” Saren answered.

 

Atticus opened up his omnitool and sent an email. “There. I told all the staff that they are not to leave until you have finished talking to them and to cooperate with you to the best of their abilities.” He explained.

 

“No need. We only need to talk to one staff member.”

 

“Who is that?”

 

“The one who stole the omnitool from the manufacturing plant. Good day Mr. Atticus.” Saren explained.

 

“Yes, it was nice meeting you. Especially you, Spectre Vakarian.”

 

“Why me?” Garrus asked. He was about to leave the office but the three turned back towards Atticus when he mentioned Garrus.

 

“Because thanks to your marriage with a human it is now socially acceptable to bring my girls out with me.” He explains with a smile.

 

“Your girls?” Garrus asked.

 

“He’s a Comfort Collector.” Saren said. Seeing the confused look on Garrus’ face he elaborated. “Like my brother was.”

 

“Ah yes. Desolas was quite a collector. The red head he favored was quite well known. But I don’t have to tell you that, do I, Vakarian? You got a red head yourself. I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. Well if you ever want to swap I have a lovely set of girls myself.”

 

Nihlus put a hand on Garrus’ shoulder and turned him away from Atticus just as Garrus was about to move or say something. “We really need to get going so we don’t disturb business any more than we have already. Goodbye Mr. Atticus.”

 

And the three walked out the door.

 

“No right now.” Nihlus told Garrus in a low whisper as they marched down the hall towards the manufacturing plant. His subvocals rang out in warning.

 

They entered the manufacturing plant and Saren took the lead. He walked right over to a turian working the line and stopped in front of him. “Mr. Felix, can you come with us for a minute. We have some questions.”

 

The turian looked up at them and ran away. The three Spectres looked over at each other and nodded towards Saren. Saren dipped his head in thanks, pulled out his pistol, and shot the legs of the fleeing turian.

 

He fell down clutching his leg. Saren calmly walked over to him, picked him up, and turned and marched out of the plant into an empty office room. “Don’t whine.” Saren barked at him. “It was a concussive shot. Your leg might be broken but I didn’t lose a bullet in you.” He dropped Felix into a chair.

 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would get hurt.” He told them.

 

Saren turned to Nihlus as he walked to the door and leaned against it. Apparently his portion of the work was over. Nihlus walked forward towards Felix. “Why don’t you start at the beginning.” Nihlus asked him.

 

“One day I got a message telling me to take an omnitool off the line and drop it in a specific garbage bin at a certain time and I would get an enormous amount of credits. See I’m trying to court this upper tier turian and I have a considerable amount of debt. Their dad won't even entertain the request because he thinks I’m after their money. But once I paid my debt off, and bought a courting present worth several thousand credits, they accepted and I can court them now. So I took one of the omnitools we were building, wrote it off as defective and disposed of, then I dropped it off where and when I was supposed to. Less than 5 minutes later I got 400,000 credits deposited into my account.”

 

“Do you know what the omnitool was used for?” Nihlus asked him.

 

“No, I didn't ask. I didn’t want to know.” He answered.

 

“Who contacted you? Did you see them?” 

 

“No it was all done through messages and drop off points. I never even gave them my account number; they just knew it. What is going to happen to me?” He asked.

 

“Well I don’t think the courting request will be in effect much longer once they discover that you are unemployed. Or worse. But that is Mr. Atticus’ call to make. I don’t think he will take kindly to the theft of his merchandise.”

 

Then the three of them turned and left. They headed to a nearby cafe to get something to eat and talk about the case.

 

“Ok I’ve been patient with you Saren. How did you know?” Nihlus asked with amusement in his subvocals.

 

“I saw that his account had a huge debt cleared from it.” He answered.

 

“Nice.” Nihlus complimented.

 

“That didn’t tell us anything though.” Garrus answered.

 

“It told us that whoever attacked you was methodical and has a great deal of money.” Nihlus answered.

 

“And is good at covering their tracks. Not to mention planned this for a while. And that tells us that you were not the target.” Saren answered.

 

“How do you figure?” Garrus asked.

 

“You decided that day to pick your bondmate up from therapy and go out to eat. You told us so that morning. Whoever planned this attack did so before you decided to be there when it happened.” Saren answered.

 

“So either Tarquin Victus was always the target or your bondmate was.” Nihlus supplied.

 

“Both of them are on the Citadel. They are still in danger. We need to go back.” Garrus said standing up.

 

“Calm yourself young one.” Saren chastised. “Whoever planned this attack did so with caution and time. It will be a while before they attack again.”

 

“We need to use this time to figure out which one of the two was the target. And why. That might make it easier to determine who planned this.” Nihlus answered.

 

“It must have been Jane. Why would someone want to hurt a fledgling? And Jane killed turians in the war. Someone must still have a grudge against her. A family member of someone she killed probably.” Garrus supplied.

 

“That is true. But not the only answer. If Tarquin was the target it could have been a ploy to get to his father. General Victus is a high ranking turian with plenty of enemies of his own.” Saren said.

 

“True.” Nihlus answered.

 

The three fell silent and started eating their meal. After some time Garrus spoke up.

 

“What did Atticus mean when he said it was ‘socially acceptable’ to own Comfort Humans?”

 

“Humans and turians can date now. It will be harder to tell if the human women are there because they want to be or if they are Comfort Humans and are there against their will. I imagine human trafficking will also increase now.” Nihlus answered.

 

Garrus looks directly at Saren. “I want to know exactly what happened to Jane when she was a Comfort Human.”

 

“Then ask her. The one that owned her is dead and only she can tell you exactly what happened.” Saren answered.

 

“I don’t want to bring up her trauma.”

 

“Are you sure you want this?” Saren asked him.

 

“Yes.” Garrus answered with conviction.

 

“All right.” Saren sighed. “Desolas owned at least 10 personal Comfort Humans at a time.”

 

“Spirits that is a lot.” Nihlus interjected.

 

“I agree. But he was the head of security of a huge project so he had the means to afford them. Any turian who had more than one personal human at a time was called a Comfort Collector. Most only had one or didn’t have any personal ones at all. There were always some available at parties or functions for anyone to use without needing to take care of one yourself.” Saren went on.

 

“These are people, you speak of them as pets.” Garrus growled at him.

 

“Worse than pets. Slaves. Slaves whose job it was to look pretty and take what they were given. Some collectors were nice to their Comfort Humans. It was a competition amongst them on who could pamper their humans the most. And personal ones were taken care of very well. Some of the collectors had favorites. Jane was Desolas’ favorite. While the other ones were shared amongst others Jane he kept for himself or for his superiors and only then on special occasions. I don’t know the particulars of it but I know that Jane was off limits to me when I visited.” Saren continued.

 

“The other humans were not?” Garrus asked.

 

“They were not.” Saren answered.

 

“And did you?” Garrus asked.

 

“I’m only a man. Why do you think I’m mated with an Asari now? They are surprisingly close to humans. Humans are…different. Better in some areas.” 

 

“You are sick.” Garrus growled at him.

 

“You won't say no to her forever. Even now you wish you had bedded her so you know what the rest of us know. Humans make great bedmates.”

 

“I’m not like that. I won't treat Jane like that.” Garrus snarled at him.

 

“Maybe you believe that. But remember she once said she loved me. Why do you think that is? I showed her a small amount of kindness and attention and she was trained to reciprocate it back. You must have shown her kindness as well. Are you sure she cares for you and isn’t just doing what she was trained to do. Give herself to the turian who owns her.”

 

“I don’t own her.” Garrus was livid now.

 

“You are her bondmate. You live with her. She is stuck with you forever. Sounds like you own her. If you aren't interested, send her my way. I always wondered what Desolas was keeping hidden from me.”

 

Garrus hit Saren then.

Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Summary:

Last chapter Saren implied that Garrus only had feelings for Jane because he wanted in her pants. He kept pushing Garrus until Garrus punched him.

Was Saren right? And what about their mission finding the ones that attacked Garrus and Tarquin Victus.

Garrus’ mandible hurt. Granted it could have been worse. Saren could have done worse. After Garrus hit him, Saren made sure to retaliate in kind. And he was the better Spectre, that was for sure. 

 

After getting his ass soundly kicked, as James would say, Garrus decided to leave the group for a while. He didn’t mind Nihlus but being that close to Saren bothered him. It wasn’t the fight, he would still hit him again if given half a chance, it was the fact that maybe Saren was right about him. 

 

No matter how Garrus thought about it, it was almost a year since the last time he got laid. The longest dry spell he has had since he became sexually active. Did Saren have a point? He fought humans for years and never once thought they were attractive. Why now does that seem to change? Is it because he is bonded to a human? The only hope he has of having sex seems to be with his human bondmate. And everyone who knows keeps saying it’s good. Is he just curious? Or is he actually developing feelings for her?

 

He hopes to the spirits is the last one. He doesn’t want Saren to be right and he is just another turian who wants to use her. Now he is racking his brain to try and figure out a way to make sure. And to make sure she wants him and isn’t just acting on her trauma.

 

SInce he parted ways with Saren and Nihlus he didn’t have a ride off of Palaven but luckily his parents house is not far. He put in the code for the door and walked in.

 

Sitting in front of the view screen is his parents and sister. Garrus recognizes the female turian on the screen. She is a famous reporter for turian media. 

 

“Coming up next” the reporter said “Lock up your men, the humans are loose. Are humans here to steal our men?” Then there was an image of Shepard dressed in something revealing that he has never seen her in before standing next to a turian that resembles Saren.

 

The vidscreen switches off as Garrus notices his subvocals radiate anger and irritability. He looks towards his father who has the remote in his hands. All three members of his family are staring at him.

 

“Garrus! I didn’t know you were coming to visit today.” His mom said with forced cheerfulness. 

 

He ignores her and looks at his dad, the most powerful turian in the galaxy. “Turn it back on.” He orders him.

 

“Garrus, are you sure?” Sol asks him.

 

“NOW dad.”

 

Listening to his son, Castis turns the vidscreen back on.

 

“If you are just joining us we are going to talk about an unseen threat in allowing humans into our space. Back during the war a little known activity occurred called ‘Comfort Humans.’ As the name implies turian raiders would raid human settlements and take humans as slaves. These slaves were used for the turian’s comfort. I know it’s unconscionable to believe that our fellow turians would do this but during war time it was a fact. What does this have to do with the here and now? Look at what our investigators found.”

 

The screen shows that picture of Shepard with another turian again.

 

“If this human looks familiar that is because she is the newly named bondmate of the most eligible bachelor General Garrus Vakarian.” Now there was a small picture of himself on the screen. It was a good picture, one where he is in his service uniform. “It appears the new Mrs. Vakarian used to be a Comfort Human back during the early parts of the war. Our sources tell us that she did this for two years before the camp she and other humans were kept prisoner in was liberated.

 

What was she doing after she was liberated?” Now the screen changed to showing a vid of Shepard, half naked, twirling on a metal pole. Garrus hit record on his visor. “We have video evidence to show that she went to work as a dancer.”

 

Now the screen changed to a vid of Shepard and his bonding. “Now we know General Vakarian was forced to bond against his will but Mrs. Vakarian volunteered. Why would a former Comfort Human volunteer for such a thing? And we now know that the human who suggested the forced bonding was also a previous Comfort Human.”

 

The screen changed to show an image of Chellick and Rahna sitting at a table in a restaurant in the Citadel. “With humans integrating into our lives it has become increasingly more prevalent to see Humans and Turians out on dates together. Are human women seducing our men? Are turians at risk of losing our men to humans? Coming up next we interview several wives who lost their men to human women.”

 

The screen fades black once more. No one complains as Castis turns it off again.

 

There is silence for several minutes before Garrus speaks. “Rahna wasn’t a Comfort Human.”

 

“What?” Sol asks.

 

“Rahna, the human with Chellick. The one who proposed the bonding to end the war. She wasn’t a Comfort Human. A turian general tried to rape her in the prision camp and another human killed the general instead. As far as I know Rahna wasn’t a Comfort Human.” Garrus explained.

 

“THAT’S what you are focusing on?” Sol asked him. “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?” Finally turning to look at him.

 

Garrus put his hand to his mandible and winced. “Dislocated mandible and several bruises.” He answered.

 

His mom came over and looked at him. “My poor son. Who did this to you?”

 

“Saren. We got into a fight over Jane.” Garrus answered honestly.

 

Castis walked over and handed Garrus a glass of turian bourbon. Garrus responded with gratitude in his subvocals. His father responded with an apology in his. Before Garrus could figure out why Castis popped the mandible back into place with a painful pop. Garrus downed the bourbon.

 

“Is it true? About Jane?” Sol asked.

 

“Her being a Comfort Human? Her being a Dancer? Her being the reason I fought and lost to a better Spectre? Yes. All of it is true.” He left to get more alcohol. He came back to the family room and sat on the chair away from his family so he could look at them.

 

“Spirits son. I am so sorry. I didn’t know. It’s my fault, I didn’t vet the human match very carefully.” Castis said. “We can do a Bond Break Ceremony if you want to.” 

 

Garrus knew that breaking a bond was the last option a bonded couple would ever choose. For one it was painful to sever your spirit once it was bonded to another. For another it brought shame into your clan for life and your spirit would forever be weaker because of it. If the person decided to bond again the new bondmate would only get a weaker spirit, that wasn’t fair to them.

 

“It’s also true that she shot Sol in order to send her home when she overheard that mom was sick. If she didn’t Sol wouldn’t have been home when mom collapsed saving both Sol’s and Mom’s life. It is also true that she dove into the lake at the Presidium to save General Victus’ son. She has told me about her past and she still struggles with what happened to her to this day. She has always been forthcoming about everything. She is an incredible person and I’m lucky to be bonded to her. No, I don't need to break the bond.” Garrus told them.

 

“Why did she agree to marry a turian if she was subjected to so much trauma?” Sol asked.

 

“Several reasons. She told me that if I turned out like the other turians then she didn’t want anyone else to go through that.” Garrus didn’t say that she hinted that she became addicted to turian sex. That would only prove the reporter right.

 

“I think she is a lovely addition to our family. I’m just so sad to hear how she must have suffered at the hands of turians before.” Centura said.

 

“Son, you must treat her well. Don’t remind her of what she went through.” Castis said.

 

“I will dad. Don’t worry.” Garrus assured them.

 

“I think the reporter was just jealous anyway.” Sol said. “I think she wants Garrus for herself.” 

 

“Can I stay here tonight? I got into a fight with my ride and the next shuttle to the citadel isn’t until morning.” Garrus asked.

 

“Why did you fight Saren Arterius anyway?” Sol asked.

 

So Garrus told them. “His brother was the one in the image with Jane. She was his Comfort Human until he died. Saren was saying disgusting things about sex with humans. So I hit him. He hit me back and well we fought. He won.”

 

“Sounds like he deserved to be hit.” Centura said.

 

“He’s a prick,” Castis agreed.

 

Garrus smiled. It was nice to have the support of family.

 

~~~~~

 

Even though the shuttle left Palaven in the morning it arrived at the Citadel during it’s night cycle. Garrus unlocked his door and was hit with a strange smell of something that didn’t belong. 

 

Male… Turian… Fledgling?

 

Following the scent he arrived at Jane’s room. Opening the door he saw Tarquin Victus curled up on her now turian style bed, asleep. He smiled at the sight before he closed the door quietly and went to locate his bondmate.

 

He didn’t have to look far as he walked into his room and saw her sleeping in his bed. He smiled again. Undressed down to his under clothing and slid into bed. She made a noise and rolled over into him. She snuggled into him and he put his arms around her engulfing her and pulling her to him.

 

“Thought you wouldn’t be home for a few weeks.” She sleepily whispered. She didn’t open her eyes.

 

“Got into a fight with Saren and decided to come home early.” He whispered back.

 

“Did you win?”

“No.”

 

“That’s ok. You’re still prettier than him.” He chuckled at that. “Why did you fight?” 

 

“It’s a long story. Tell you later.” He promised her.

 

“Okay. I’m glad you’re home.” 

 

“Me too.” He pressed his forehead to hers and took comfort in the sensation of his spirit filling with hers once again.

 

~~~~~~~

 

Garrus had never slept so well. He must have been exhausted from the flight. Or it might be because he had a bedmate. He didn’t know, nor did he care to find out. He just knew he liked it.

 

Suddenly the warm silence was broken by “PST Jane!” The voice was a whisper scream that only children can make when they think they are whispering.

 

He felt Jane smile into the hide of his neck where she was cuddling. She turned around and left the bed. The bed felt immediately colder now. She left the room gathering up the fledgling in her arms from his hiding place at the door.

 

Garrus chuckled and sat up. He got dressed and went downstairs. The sight before him warmed his heart and he stopped in the hallway and leaned against the wall.

 

There was Jane making breakfast while Tarquin sat at the table kicking his legs and talking to Jane. Garrus was struck with a sudden vision of the same image but instead of Tarquin it was a different turian fledgling. One he instinctively knew was his. 

 

He shook his head to clear away the vision.

 

“Hope you made enough for me.” He said as he came into the room. Tarquin fell quiet as Garrus took his seat at the table. He kept eyeing Garrus and it made Garrus a little uncomfortable for some reason.

 

“Of course I did.” Jane said as she served his and Tarquin’s breakfast. She sat her own plate of something else in front of her and started to drench it in that sticky brown stuff she calls syrup. 

 

Garrus decided to approach the elcor in the room. “Tarquin, it’s nice to see you again.” He smiled at the boy.

 

“I’m watching Tarquin for yesterday and today.” Jane supplied helpfully.

 

“Mom and dad said that they were going to give me a baby brother or sister. They said that it’s easier to do that if I stayed with Jane for a while. Since you were gone I didn’t want her to get lonely.” Tarquin told Garrus.

 

Garrus had to stifle his laugh. “That was very kind of you. I don’t want Jane to get lonely either.” Tarquin seemed to relax a little.

 

“Today we are going to the museum to learn about other races. Mordin told me to go there as homework. I checked with him and he said it would be good for fledglings to go there too.”

 

“Are you going too, Mr. Spectre Sir?” Tarquin asked him. Oh the nervous energy he was hearing from Tarquin’s subvocals were because he was a Spectre and highly respected. Garrus probably would have died if he was eating breakfast with a Spectre when he was a fledgling. It was cute.

 

“No, I have super secret Spectre stuff to do today. But you have fun and don’t let Jane get lost. She gets lost easily.” Garrus told him.

 

“Hey! That was one time.” Jane pouted. Cute thought Garrus.

 

Tarquin ate his breakfast with happy subvocals. “This is really good Jane. How do you know how to make turian food?”

 

Garrus was uneasy and Tarquin noticed his subvocals.

 

“About 10 years ago I lived with turians for 2 years. They taught me how to make a lot of food.” She told them.

 

“Wow, that is a long time. I’m 6.” He told them proudly.

 

Jane smiled at them and continued to eat her breakfast. “Why do you not like it when I asked that?” He asked Garrus.

 

“Oh umm.” Garrus faltered. 

 

“That time of my life was sad and scary. It makes Garrus sad when he remembers I used to be sad then.” Jane answered, saving him.

 

“Was it the turians that made you sad?” He asked.

 

“Some of it was. I was also away from my parents and I missed them. It was a long time to be away from home.”

 

“Mommy said humans and turians were enemies. And humans were bad guys, but you are a good human Jane.” Tarquin said.

 

“Some humans are good and some are bad. Just like there are bad turians.” Garrus explained. “I agree with you, Jane is a good person.”

 

Jane smiled and blushed as she finished up her meal.

 

Then the two of them were off on their fun trip. Garrus told them he would order them lunch for when they got back. Tarquin, like any 6 year old, was excited with the prospect. 

 

Garrus went over what he knew about this assignment. Starting from the video of the Persidum to what they discovered at the factory. He knew Saren and Nihlus were doing the same wherever they were. He hoped they were having better luck.

 

A few hours into his research he got a call on his omnitool. Looking at it he saw that it was Nihlus. He didn’t want to answer but he was afraid that if he didn’t answer Nihlus then Saren would call him next.

 

“Garrus here.” He answered.

 

“Garrus, where are you?” Nihlus said with both sets of his vocals sounding hurried and scared.

 

“The Citadel.”

 

“Good. We just discovered that there is a plot to assassinate high tier turians happening soon. Adrien Victus is on the list. Get to him now and protect him.” Nihlus ordered.

 

Garrus was worried and scared but he knew what his first action had to be. Garrus immediately called Jane. “Shepard here.”

 

“Jane bunker down with Tarquin. There is an assassination plot against Adrien. Where is he?” 

 

“His house.” She gave him the address and he took off towards Victus’ house.

 

~~~~~

 

Jane and Tarquin finished up at the museum and were heading back towards the house. Tarquin was talking about all the fun things that he saw and learned. I’m a good babysitter. I kept him busy all day and he learned something.

 

She was feeling proud of herself when Garrus called.

 

“Shepard here.” 

 

“Jane bunker down with Tarquin. There is an assassination plot against Adrien. Where is he?” She quickly gave Garrus Victus’ address and hung up. She grabbed Tarquin and she raced down a side alley. It was out of the way and defensible. 

 

“Jane, what's going on? Why did you give Spectre Vakarian my address?” Tarquin asked as they ducked behind some garbage cans. Shepard pulled out the cans and made a makeshift fort.

 

“Someone bad is after your dad. I’m waiting here with you until it’s all clear.” Tarquin started to shake. Oh good job Shepard. Way to re-traumatize him. Bad babysitter. “Everything will be ok. I won't let anything bad happen to you.” She told Tarquin.

 

“Well isn’t that nice.” Came a gravelly voice from the front of the alley. “Too bad for you we were paid a lot of money to get the child.”

 

Shepard peeked over her makeshift fort. Krogans, three of them. And she only has a knife. And a child to watch. 

 

Well shit.

 

The krogans started to advance down the alley towards their position. They were deliberately slow, taking their time, toying with them. Jane only had trash cans to hide behind and a turian to protect. She wasn’t sure if she could do this.

 

Suddenly the wall that was at their back opened up and a Keeper stood in the small opening. Jane knew an opportunity when she saw one. She pushed Tarquin into the opening and the Keeper closed the wall leaving her alone with three krogans, all armed with shotguns and armor and her with only a knife.

 

This was much more doable.

 

She activated her tactical cloak, not as good as Kasumi’s but she wasn’t top infiltrator for nothing, and darted out of position behind the Krograns before they noticed she wasn’t there anymore. 

 

With the three of them still focusing on the spot she no longer was she crept up behind them and pulled out her knife. She knew she'd have to do this fast, Krograns weren't quiet. Thanks to Mordins teaching and Garrus’ morning workouts she knew several ways to incapacitate a krogan. 

 

She jumped on a krogan in the back just as they rounded where the trash can fort stood. She took her knife and slid it into his eyes. He screamed with a violent roar and dropped his shotgun. Jane jumped off of him as the other two turned and unloaded their shotguns into where she was. She used the krogran’s body as a shield allowing him to take the full barrage of bullets.

 

After they ran out of bullets she threw the body of their friend at them and grabbed his discarded shotgun. She got ready as they both bloodraged charged at her. She stood her ground and unloaded into the first krogan who came for her. At the last second she dived out of the way activating her cloak again.

 

The first one, riddled with bullets, slammed into the wall. Now there was only one left. She had her knife and he had his krogan-ness. 

 

She threw her knife as he charged. It wasn’t a knife she was used to throwing, and it wasn’t a throwing knife, it was a killing, carving knife, designed for turians. Those were all the excuses she used to explain why the knife missed her target and instead embedded itself into the krogans side. He laughed as he ran past her, lost in his blood rage. 

 

She grabbed the knife but it was stuck tight. As he ran the knife slid down his side with Jane holding as tight as she could to the handle barely sticking out of the krogan. He started to bleed a long trail crisscrossing the alley as he ran after Shepard who darted away at the last minute and grabbing the stuck blade pulling it even more.

 

Krogan’s have a lot of redundant parts so him losing blood anytime soon wasn’t going to work. She was also getting tired from dodging. She took a few glancing charges a few times that would hurt later.

 

Charge, dodge, grab knife, pull, tear, charge, repeat. 

 

Soon she got lucky and the knife caught on something important inside the krogan. As she tore through it the krogan dropped to his knees and let out a booming scream.

 

Shepard grabbed the knife and started stabbing and hacking the krogan until he was down and not getting up again.

 

She stood and wobbled a bit. She was exhausted and sore all over. She made her way to the wall that concealed Tarquin. She banged on it. “Mr. or Ms. Keeper. Please open up. You have my turian and I need him back now. The danger is over.” She vaguely thought about how ridiculous it was that she was hitting and yelling at a wall but given that the alley was covered in three dead krogan bodies she figured if someone came by she wouldn’t look that weird.

 

The wall opened up and there was Tarquin. When he saw her he started keening. She dropped to her knees and hugged him. “Shush, it’s okay. Everything is okay. They are gone.” She pulled him away and noticed he was covered in blood that hadn’t been there a second ago. “Tarquin what happened? Why are you bloody?” He pointed at her. She looked at herself and saw that she was covered with the krogan’s blood. “Right, it isn’t mine. We should get this cleaned up soon though.” She looked towards the bodies and thought it would be better if Tarquin didn’t see them. But she didn’t have another way out of the alley.

 

The keeper pulled lightly on her shirt and started to walk into the tunnel that was concealed in the wall. Not seeing a better option she took Tarquin’s hand and walked into the tunnel following the keeper.

 

They walked for a while. She was slow due to being hurt and Tarquin, the 6 year old fledgling, had to keep her propped up. When the keeper stopped in front of them and opened another wall she was surprised to see that she was in front of Huerta hospital. It wasn’t even in this ward. How did they cross so much distance and an entire ring of the Citadel in such a short amount of time?

 

Maybe she was just delirious from the blood loss.

 

She walked into the hospital holding Tarquins hand. She stood in line to wait for the receptionist. When the receptionist looked at her she screamed and called for something on the phone. Shepard wasn’t sure what since it sounded so far away.

 

Doctors came out with a stretcher and made her lay down on it. She still held Tarquin’s hand as she laid in the stretcher as they wheeled her away.

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Summary:

After the Krogan fight Garrus realizes how much his feelings for Jane change.

Garrus finished taking out the third squad of krogans that came for General Victus and put his sniper down. He, the General, and Vela worked together to take down the seemingly endless waves of mercs that kept coming to them.

 

“Call Jane now.” Vela said. She has been patient. Only asking to call Jane every 10 minutes as opposed to every minute that it was before.

 

“Honey. If Jane is hiding with Tarquin, calling will alert them to his presence. Remember Jane was military. She can handle it.” Adrien said for the hundredth time.

 

“No more mercs are coming that I can see. Now is a good time to call her.” Garrus agreed. He was just as interested in calling Jane as the Victus’ were. He opens the omnitool and calls her.

 

“Hey Garrus. How’s the General?” Came the clear and calm voice of Jane Shepard through his omnitool. Between the three of them it was hard to tell who’s subvocals radiated with more relief. 

 

“We just took out our third squad and it doesn’t look like any more are coming though. He’s fine. I’m calling for an update on you.” He reports to her.

 

“We're good here. No issues at the present.” Her voice was the epitome of calm reassurance.

 

“No one can get into the hospital.” Tarquin supplied.

 

“The hospital!” Vela exclaimed.

 

“Tarquin, what did we say about scaring your parents.” Jane’s voice came across as a slight admonishment. 

 

“To not too.” Tarquin said as though chastised.

 

“Jane, why are you at the hospital?” Garrus asked.

 

“Tarquin are you alright?” Adrien asked.

 

“Yes dad I’m fine. Are you ok? Did the bad guys hurt you or mommy?” Tarquin asked.

 

“Everyone is ok here. Why are you at the hospital?” Adrien asked again.

 

“Jane got beat up by the bad guys.” Tarquin supplied helpfully. “Don’t worry I hid in a wall with a Keeper. Did you know Jane was friends with the Keepers?”

 

“There is so much there that I need to unpack.” Garrus grumbled to himself. “Jane, are you okay?”

 

“Yes it isn’t as bad as Tarquin makes it sound. There were only three Krogan and they didn’t “beat me up.” I handled it. We are just staying here at the hospital until it is safe.” She reported.

 

“We’re coming to you.” Garrus said and his tone brokered no argument.

 

Half an hour later the three of them arrived at the hospital. They walked to the asari receptionist. “Excuse me. Do you know what room the human is staying in?” Garrus asks with forced calmness. The car ride over was tense to say the least.

 

“She would have a turian fledgling with her.” Vela added helpfully.

 

“Room 112.” The asari said without looking it up. “Before you ask, she and the turian are fine.”

 

Nonetheless they race towards room 112 and when the door opens they see an interesting sight. Jane is sitting in the bed with bandages on her face and arms but she seems to be in good spirits as she is playing a game on her omnitool with Tarquin. 

 

The two of them looked up when the trio entered. “Mommy! Daddy!” Tarquin pushes himself off the bed and runs to Adrien and Vela. Garrus walks over to Jane. The Victus’ rub their foreheads together and Garrus does the same to Jane. He liked the grounding, calming sensation the act held and by the fact that Shepard’s breathing slowed down and she nuzzled into his crest, she liked the sensation too.

 

“What happened?” Adrien asked.

 

“It was scary! Jane got a call and she made us go hide behind trash cans. Then these krogans showed up and Jane made a keeper open a wall and I hid in the wall. Then I didn’t see anything but I heard a lot of BANG and BOOM and more BANGS and screams and running sounds. Then everything was quiet and the wall opened up and there was Jane. But she was covered in blood. It wasn’t hers though. Then we walked for a long time with a keeper and Jane was going to fall down but I kept her up! Then we got here and Jane and I got to this room.” Tarquin reported.

 

The three adult turians blinked twice and turned to look at Jane. She didn’t stop her smile at Tarquin’s report.

 

“Pretty much.” She said and started to giggle.

 

“Shepard, I cannot thank you enough. This is the second time you saved Tarquin’s life.” Adrien said. “I was already in your debt from the first time and now I cannot fathom the amount I owe you. If there is anything you ever need I will be there for you.”

 

“It’s really not a big deal, General. I was watching Tarquin at the time and I am military so protecting civilians is all part of the job.” Shepard said humble as ever. Garrus wished she was less humble sometimes. She was incredible and she needed to know that.

 

“How did you take out a Krogan without a weapon?” Vela asked.

 

“There were three Krogans, mommy!” Tarquin once again provided clarification. If it was possible for turians to pale the three of them would have.

 

“I did have a weapon.” Jane added. She pulled out her knife, still in its sheath.

 

“That’s the knife I gave you.” Garrus said incredulously. 

 

“You took out three krogans with a combat knife?” Adrien asked.

 

“No. Only one or two of them. I stole their shotguns for serious attacks.” Jane said dismissively.

 

“Jane, when was the first time you saw a krogan?” Garrus had a sinking feeling.

 

“Today. But Mordin taught me some things and you have been sparring with me in the mornings so I’m still in combat shape.” Jane added.

 

“Spirits! You have never seen a krogan before and you took three of them out with nothing but a knife and a stolen shotgun.” Vela said, stunned.

 

“That sums it up.” Jane said. They looked at her for a while. “Okay so maybe I was good at fighting when I was in the military and old habits are hard to break.” She supplied.

 

“Not just then.” A gravelly voice came from the door. Everyone turned to see Saren and Nihlus standing in the doorway.

 

“We came back as fast as we could after we got the information of the attack.” Nihlus said. “It’s good to see you well General.” 

 

“Thanks to the Vakarians my family is safe.” Adrien told them.

 

“Nihlus figured out you were in danger and sent me. I knew Shepard was with Tarquin so I called her before I went.” Garrus supplied.

 

“And she took out three krogans with only a knife. Impressive.” Saren said. His subvocals rumbling with pride and affection. It made Garrus sick.

 

“I’m good at fighting. And I had something important to protect. The doctors looked over Tarquin and he didn’t get so much as a scratch on him.” Jane added. Sure Garrus thought. She isn’t humble when Saren is here.

 

“Vakarian we need to debrief you.” Saren said.

 

“Only for a minute or so then you can get back to your bondmate.” Nihlus added. Garrus growled and walked over to Jane. He put his crest to her forehead again. She wrapped her arms around his cowl and pulled him close.

 

“Saren hurt his left ankle and it never healed right. If you need to take him down, go for that.” She whispered so quietly he knew none of the other turians heard her. She released him with a smile. He smiled at her but he didn’t feel it. 

 

He was disappointed that her bringing him close was to whisper tactical information and not affection. He knows he has feelings for Jane. There was no denying it anymore.

 

After the Spectre’s debrief the two families head back to their houses for some much needed rest. As Jane walks up the stairs to her room Garrus stops her with a question.

 

“Shepard, what are you doing tomorrow? Do you have Mordin or therapy?” He asks her.

 

“No, Mordin is taking some time off to work on his own project and I don’t have therapy for a few days still.” She answers.

 

“Would you like to do something with me tomorrow?”

 

“Sure. What do you have in mind?” She asks him.

 

“I have a surprise I want to show you but after that I thought we could get dinner and drinks maybe dancing.” He was nervous.

 

“Sounds fun. What should I wear?” She asks.

 

“Something nice for dinner, drinks, and dancing, something comfortable for the surprise.”

 

“This sounds like a date Garrus.”

 

“It is.” He admits. While they sometimes go out to get food together it was never really a date. Shepard walks down the stairs and walks right up to him.

 

“I know you're jealous of Saren but you don’t have to be.” She whispers to him.

 

“You caught that huh.” He says a little embarrassed.

 

“You growled at him and then Turian kissed me when he said something nice about my combat abilities. The part of me that used to love him is gone. I don’t have any more feelings for him.” She took his hands in hers. “You don’t have to go on a date with me to prove anything.” She told him.

 

“I want to.” He says as he runs his outer finger over her hands. “I want to show my mate how much I care about her and how important she is to me.”

 

“We aren't mates, Garrus. We are bondmates. I know the difference. For two people who are in love and are exclusive they are mates. For forced bondings like ours we are bondmates. Sometimes the two are together like your parents but mostly forced bondmates have other mates on the side, like Sparatus. I spent a lot of time around turians I picked up a few things. Some of the ones at Shanxi who had bondmates still had Comfort Humans. I’m under no illusions that we are mates. If you want sex Garrus I am more than happy to comply without the date.” Shepard informs him.

 

“I don’t want sex. I do actually but that isn’t what this is about. And it isn’t about being jealous of Saren either. I care about you and I want to explore that more.” He tells her.

 

“I’ve never been on a date before.” She whispers.

 

“Never?”

 

“No, when you are a Comfort Human you just go and do what you're told. And in the military we didn’t have time for such things. It was mostly about sex.” She smiles and looks down. “I’m excited about a real date. I can’t wait.” She hugs him and heads towards the door.

 

“Where are you going?” 

 

“If I am going on a date I want to go all out. Even obsessing over what to wear and buying a new outfit! I’ll be back soon.” And with that she leaves him alone.

 

He chuckled to himself. It was nice to see her so happy and excited. Now he just needed to put the finishing touches on the date for tomorrow.

 

~~~~~

 

Shepard was beyond excited. She’d never been on a real date before. It was super sweet of Garrus to go out of his way like this.

 

She decided to wear her workout clothing. Garrus said to wear something comfortable and if she could fight in it she would consider it comfortable. She left the other part of her outfit at home. She made Garrus promise up and down that they would have time to go home before their diner reservation for her to change.

 

She was practically bouncing with nervous energy in the skycar as Garrus drove. He noticed her energy she knew. He didn’t say anything but the teasing flit of his mandibles showed that he was trying very hard at not calling her out on it.

 

They took the skycar up to a crossbeam overlooking the Persidum Lake. He sat the skycar down and the two got out. “Are we allowed up here?” She asked him.

 

“Normally no, but with Spectre clearance anything is possible.” He told her.

 

“What are we doing here?” She asks him as he goes and retrieves a gun bag from the back of the car. He opens up the gun bag and takes out a rifle. She whistles. “Wow. Now that is a gun!” She says appreciatively. 

 

“The Black Widow. A Spectre only sniper.” He tells her. “You said you were a sniper in the military right?” 

 

“Among other things. Snipers were my speciality.” She brags.

 

“Well let's see what the Alliance's best sniper is like next to the Hieracy’s best.” He then pulls out several bottles.

 

She smiles now that she knows what they are doing. “Bring it on Vakarian.” She taunts him.

~~~~

 

They go for a few rounds. It's tied so far, neither one misses their target. They are down to their last bottle each. “Should we make this more fun?” He asks. “Winner gets a prize.”

“I’m game. What’s the prize?” She asks him.

 

“Whatever the winner wants.” 

 

“Oh that’s dangerous.” She smiles and takes her shot. 

 

Right through the bottle shattering it completely.

 

“Beat that!” She smiles and hands the gun to him. He lines up the shot but it goes wide and misses the bottle. “I WON!” She screams. “I’m Jane Shepard and this is the best date I’ve ever had!” She starts to laugh and Garrus smiles at the unbridled joy on her face.

 

“Well what is it that you want?” He asks her.

 

“I’ll tell you later when I think of it.” She smiles and winks at him.

 

“Fair enough.” He says chuckling. He walks back to the car and hands her another gun bag.

 

“What is this?” She asks him. She opens the bag and sees another Widow and a pistol in the bag. Along with a data pad. She picks up the pad. “No way!” She exclaims. “You got me permission to carry weapons on the Citadel?”

 

“My knife saved yours and Tarquin’s life but if you had a gun it wouldn’t have been so close. I meant what I said Jane, you are important to me. I want to make sure you’re safe.” He places his hand on her cheek.

 

“Garrus, I don't know what to say. It must have been difficult to get a civilian to carry.” She fights back the tears in her eyes.

 

“Well when you got three Spectre’s and a General all agree who is going to stop you.” He smiles at her. She hugs him and presses her forehead to his. This was the first time she’s initiated it. Garrus notices this but doesn’t comment on it.

 

“Come on. Let’s get you home so you can get ready for the second part of your date.” She bounces over to the car and enters the passengers side.

 

On the way home her omnitool pings. “Oh!”

 

“What is it?” Garrus asks her.

 

“James and Joker are in the Citadel tomorrow. We’re going for drinks. Wanna come?” She asks him.

 

“Sure. Sounds fun.”  Garrus stops his subvocals from showing how upset he is. He didn’t know she was still in contact with James and if they were drinking tomorrow she wouldn’t want to drink too much tonight with him. 

 

He needs to get this jealous thing under control. She was right, she is his bondmate not his mate. For now.

 

At home he gets ready for his date just like any other turian. He buffs his plates and dulls his nails.

 

He finishes well before Shepard and has to chuckle. Both James and Joker told him that it takes human women forever to get changed for their dates. He conspired with both of them when planning this date. He sent a message to James.

 

PrinceofPalaven: What the hell JImmy?

JimmyVega: What?

PrinceofPalaven: Why would you invite Jane to get drinks when you know she and I are going out today?

JimmyVega: You’re not the only one who wants to celebrate Lola’s birthday.

PrinceofPalaven: . . . 

PrinceofPalaven: Birthday?

JimmyVega: It’s her birthday tomorrow. Isn’t that why you are going out?

PrinceofPalaven: I should go.

 

Garrus did not know it was her birthday. He just wanted to show her she was important to him. Nothing says “I care about you” like not knowing when her birthday was.

 

“Ready to go Garrus.”

 

Garrus looks towards the top of the stairs and his mandibles drop to the floor. She walks down in heels wearing a slinky black dress with a red stripe down the side. Her red hair is tousled and she looks sexy. Given the smile on her face, she knows it too.

 

“Like what you see?” She teases him.

 

“Very much. I have half a mind to cancel the rest of the date just so I can stare at you in that dress.” Garrus flirts back.

 

“Well play your cards right and you can see what is under the dress.” She flirts as she drags her hand over his cowl. “You look nice too.” She purrs in his ear and kisses the side of his mandible.

 

“Well we better get going. Don’t want to miss our reservation.” He purrs at her. He wasn’t kidding, he would just stare at her in that dress. The idea that he might see more excites him and frightens him.

 

They make small talk on the way to the restaurant. He tells her about his investigation into the attack and what they found so far. 

 

Once they get to the restaurant all heads turn towards them. He swells with pride at everyone staring at his mate. She is gorgeous and he loves showing her off. He notices however, that several of the female turians in the restaurant growled with disdain at the two of them. 

 

When they got to their seats Shepard informs him that she noticed. “Seems like several people caught the latest news from Palaven.”

 

“You saw that?” 

 

“Yeah. Rahna sent me the vid. The reporter made it seem like all human women want to steal turian men.”

 

“It wasn’t your fault that you were a Comfort Human. I don’t blame you for it.”

 

“It was my fault. We have to agree to it. It wasn’t something we didn’t agree to but we had to agree anyway. I’m not ashamed of it Garrus. I learned some neat things that I think you will like.” She winks at him.

 

His heart broke. “I didn’t invite you out for sex Shepard. I like you. I want to get to know you better and maybe talk about what the future of us looks like.”

 

“What do you want the future to look like Garrus?” She asks him.

 

“Honestly. I want you to be my mate. These things I feel for you. The positiveness, the jealousy, the fact that no one else is as selfless or as brave as you. How it kills me when you talk about yourself like you’re an object. You are amazing and anyone would be lucky to be your mate. I hope you chose me.” He breathes out. He hasn’t said how he feels out loud before and it was kind of scary.

 

He looks at her. Despite his declaration of love she looks blank.

 

She breathes. And blinks. She opens her mouth to say something but then closes it. The waiter comes and Garrus sends them away saying they need more time.

 

“Jane. Say something.”

 

“I am an object. A tool.”

 

“What?”

 

“Turians used me as a Comfort Human, an object. The Alliance used me to kill, an object. I don’t know what else to be.” She seems confused.

 

“Oh Shepard. You are so much more than that.” Garrus tells her and takes her hand.

 

“You don’t want sex?” She seems even more confused.

 

“Spirits of course I do. But not because that is your role but because it’s you. My friend. The woman I respect most in the whole galaxy. Because I’m developing feelings for you.”

 

“I…Can I think about it? Before I respond. Is that okay?” She hesitates.

 

“Of course Shepard. Whatever you want.” He assures her.

 

The waiter comes back and they order. They make small talk while they eat. Shepard asks not to go dancing and get drinks and Garrus says that’s okay. 

 

They go home and Shepard thinks about what Garrus said.

Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Summary:

The war with the turians ended only a few months ago. Jane Shepard is still trying to figure out her place in the post war society and her feelings for her husband Garrus. Last chapter Garrus confessed his feelings for her but she isn't sure of her own feelings for him.

This chapter: Jane has her birthday and an unwanted guest arrives. She also gets the best birthday present ever.

The doorbell rings on Shepard's birthday. She reaches the ground floor just as Garrus opens the door and jumps back with surprise. Saren Arterius waltzes into their house with a box and makes his way over to Shepard.

 

“Happy Birthday.” he says as he hands her the box.

 

“Why are you here?” an irate Garrus asks him.

 

“To give your bonmate her gift of course. Why else would I be here?” He flashes him a turian smirk as he turns his attention back towards Shepard who is opening her gift. She takes out the dress and heels and smiles.

 

“Thank you Saren. You didn’t have to.”

 

“No, you really didn’t.” Garrus growls at him.

 

“It’s a two part gift. I also have tickets to a human production with an Elcor cast tonight and I was hoping you can join me.” He asks Shepard.

 

“What are you doing here?” Garrus asks him. It’s clear he means that in more than one way.

 

“No, this makes sense.” Shepard tells Garrus. “He dresses me up the way he likes, takes me out to show me off, and then brings me somewhere to have sex.”

 

“Correct.” Saren says. “We couldn’t be together before, due to my brother’s influence but now there is nothing stopping us.”

 

“You know, except her bondmate!” Garrus says. “What makes you think I will let you take her out on a date.” Garrus is fuming now. Before either of them can come to blows Shepard speaks.

 

“I’m not interested, Saren.” Shepard tells them. “I have a lot to think about with my relationship with Garrus, but I know I don’t want to be with anyone else.” She hands him back the gift. “Besides, I have plans.”

 

He takes the gift but seems to be in a good mood for someone who was just rejected. A too good of a mood. “I see the welp finally confessed. Well that wasn’t the only reason I was here. You have a new assignment with Nihlus.” Saren said, turning to Garrus.

 

“Just Nihlus?”

 

“Yes, it seems we don’t work well together. Now I wonder what gave the council that idea. How’s the mandible?” Saren asked him mockingly.

 

Shepard got a ping on her omnitool. Seeing as she wasn’t needed to hear what Garrus’ new Spectre orders were, she took her leave and went into the office to take her call.

 

Soon her fathers face filled up the screen. “Hey kiddo, happy birthday!”

 

“Thanks dad!”

 

“I got you something.”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s in docking bay d24.”

 

“Oh am I supposed to go get it off the transport or is my package coming here?”

 

“It’s not a package.”

 

“Then what is it doing on a ship?”

 

“Never said it was ON a ship.”

 

“No…you didn’t. You got me a ship!” Shepard bounced and practically screamed.

 

“And a crew to fly it.” Her dad said smugly. “Now you and your husband can take that honeymoon. Or you can use it to get off the station and come see me. Or leave it in dry dock. Whatever you want. The crew all have regular postings on the Citadel so they’ll be ready to fly in an hour's notice. Well not the pilot. He lives on the ship.”

 

“Dad, this is incredible! I don’t know what to say!”

 

“Just say ‘thank you’. It’s all for you kid, so whatever you want to do.”

 

“Thank you, Thank you so much. I’m going to take my new ship out for a joyride right now! Bye dad, love you!”

 

“Love you too kiddo.” And he disconnected. 

 

She practically ran out of the room and into the living room. She stopped dead at the sight of her bondmate pinning Saren to the ground. She took a quick pic with her omnitool. “What happened?”

 

Garrus looked up and saw her. Then quickly got off Saren and looked embarrassed. “Nothing.” He told her.

 

She looked at Saren who was slowly picking himself off the floor. “Why do you mess with my bondmate so much?”

 

“Why did you tell him about my trick ankle? It never did heal right.” Saren said, ignoring Shepard’s question.

 

“To make sure he always wins. Why do you pick on him?” She asked again.

 

“I hardly think this one was my fault.” He said.

 

“You propositioned her IN FRONT OF ME.” Garrus says indignantly.

 

“And she turned me down, in front of you. I just wanted her to know that she has the best option, that’s all.” Garrus went for him again.

 

“Want to see my new ship?” She calls out before Garrus could act on his urges. They both turn to her surprised.

 

~~~~~~

 

“So let me understand this. Your dad just GAVE you a ship?” Garrus asked in the car on the way to viewing said ship.

 

“For my birthday. Yeah!” She said, bouncing in her seat next to him.

 

“My dad’s the Primarch and I don’t get a ship.” Garrus mumbled to himself. Shepard had the good sense to ignore that.

 

“Feeling a little petulant today aren’t we fledgeling?” Said the car’s third passenger. Saren decided he wanted to see the ship too, much to Garrus’ chagrin. 

 

“Be nice to my bondmate or you can’t come.” Shepard said to him.

 

“Yes dear.” Saren playfully mocked. Garrus growled.

 

“Holy shit is that it!?” Shepard pointed to dock 24. There docked was the most beautiful, sleek, and shiny new ship Shepard had ever seen. “The Normandy. Weird name.”

 

Garrus parked the car and Shepard bounced over to the ship. She pinged the ship “Shepard to Normandy, permission to come aboard?” She asked.

 

“You’re the Captain. You tell us to come aboard.” Came a familiar snarky voice.

 

“JOKER?” The ship opened up and the three of them went through the short decon sequence. Then Shepard ran into the cockpit. Sure enough when the chair swiveled around there was Joker.

 

“Hey commander. Check this out, leather seats. Your dad really knows how to treat his pilots.” She hugged him. “Careful, brittle bones.” He said but hugged her back.

 

“The amount of force Commander Shepard used would not be sufficient to break your bones Mr. Monroe.” A female electronic voice said.

 

“We have a ship V.I?” Shepard asked.

 

“No, actually it’s an A.I.” Joker complained. “Your dad installed it to spy on us.”

 

“Joker doesn’t like people flying his ship.” Sheaprd told the A.I.

 

“I am not here to ‘fly the ship’.” The voice told her. “I only operate the cyberwarfare mainframe, the planetary sensory array, and as Mr. Monroe put it: I ‘spy’ on you for the Illusive Man.” 

 

“I like her.” Shepard said. “Why is it Mr. Monroe instead of Flight Lieutenant Monroe?”

 

“Oh, didn't your dad tell you? I quit the Alliance.” Joker said casually.

 

“WHAT?”

 

“I’m not the only one.” Joker said and just before Shepard asked- 

 

“LOLA!” James came up to the cockpit and wrapped her in a hug. “Happy Birthday!”

 

“Yeah happy birthday. Now there are officially too many people in the cockpit so please leave and check out the ship.” He swiveled back around to the flight controllers.

 

The four of them, two turians and two humans walked to the CIC. “James what does he mean you guys quit the Alliance?”

 

“Is that really so weird? After all, you quit too.” Garrus pointed out.

 

“I quit because I married you.” Shepard lied. She didn’t quit but was ordered to spy on Garrus and the turians. Did the Alliance send Joker and James on a similar assignment?

 

“This looks turian in design.” Saren said about the CIC. 

 

“Spectre Arterius is correct. The Normandy was built on turian and human design.” the A.I. said. Saren walked over to one of the sations and sat down.

 

“Fascinating.” He mumbled to himself as he looked through The Normandy’s systems.

 

“We are going to move on. Are you good here?” Shepard asked him.

 

“Yes, all good.” He said absentmindedly.

 

“A.I?”

 

“My designation is EDI.”

 

“EDI. Please don’t let him near the map or let him into a system that could hurt the ship.” Shepard asked. She heard Saren scoff but didn’t say anything.

 

“Of Course Shepard.” EDI responded.

 

They kept walking until they got to the main battery. Then Garrus got distracted so he went over to play with the big guns. Shepard laughed internally at that. “We are going to keep looking. Are you okay here?”

 

“Uh-hu.” He muttered. “If we calibrated this we can draw more power to the forward guns.” He muttered to himself.

 

They walked out and Shepard stopped James. “Okay now that the turians are gone, why did you quit the Alliance? Or is this an undercover assignment?”

 

“The Alliance grounded Joker and it kept giving me crap assignments. So we left.”

 

“Why would they do that? Joker is the best pilot in the galaxy.”

 

“THANK YOU!” He said over the coms.

 

“It’s all because of you actually.” James said.

 

“ME?”

 

“The Alliance has been more and more anti-alien lately. When they discovered that we were friends with the same Shepard that left to get married to a turian well…”

 

“I’m seen as a traitor to the Alliance.” She realized.

 

“No one will do anything to Admiral Shepard. She’s too important. But to us little guys. It got bad. Besides we didn’t want to work for such a racist institution anyway and your dad paid more. Come and meet our doctor.” He said and moved her towards the medical bay. Clearly this was a bad deflection but one she took anyway.

 

Shepard couldn’t believe it. Her mission was secret but the Alliance being anti-alien and her being seen as a traitor, wasn’t what she was expecting. Her Alliance contacts never mentioned any of this.

 

After meeting, and getting a physical from, Karin Chawas Shepard left to meet with the XO of the ship. Opening the door she saw an old enemy.

 

“Miranda. Somehow I knew my present was too good to be true.” Shepard told the brunette woman.

 

“Shepard.” Was all she said in her perfect Australian accent.

 

“Dad get tired of fucking you and sent you out in space?” Shepard goaded her.

 

“The Illusive Man and I are still going strong thank you for asking. I wanted to see the greater universe and he thought this was a good fit. I’m in charge when you are not here.” She informed Shepard.

 

“Way to make my birthday all about his affair.” Shepard mumbled.

 

“We started seeing each other AFTER your parents divorce was finalized.”

 

“Officially.” Shepard Spat.

 

“Well yes. As hard as it is to believe while he was with Hanna he was faithful to her. Despite my best efforts to the contrary. We all use what tools we have at our disposal to get what we need.” She nods behind Shepard. Shepard turns and sees Garrus walking up to her. Shepard smiles when she sees him. She has been doing that a lot lately.

 

“That’s not the same. And this isn’t over.” She turns from Miranda towards Garrus and catches him before he can make it to Miranda’s office, the door swishing shut behind her, blocking Miranda from view.

 

“I’m sensing some tension there.” Garrus tells her.

 

“A bit. I don’t want to talk about it. How was the big gun?” She asked him.

 

His mandibles filtered out. “Incredible. This ship packs a punch. Is that the right phrase, if it isn’t it’s Jame’s fault.”

 

Shepard smiles. “It is.”

 

“And she is stealthy and quiet with a minimum crew thanks to the A.I.” Saren says coming towards them. “The stealth system is state of the art and incredible.”

 

“So glad you approve of my bondmates new ship.” Garrs says, wrapping his arm around Shepard’s waist.

 

“Don’t get territorial. This ship is perfect for a Spectre. Once you are cleared to work alone you should use it.” Saren said with an eye roll. A human gesture that Garrus noticed and didn’t like.

 

“Sure. Garrus can use my ship whenever he wants.” Shepard said.

 

“You really don’t mind?” Garrus asked, shocked.

 

“Not at all. Now you don’t have to buy a ship like you were planning. Keep in mind most of the crew is human though so make sure it’s got enough rations for you and the cook knows how to cook dextro.” Shepard reminded him.

 

“As adorable as you reminding your husband to eat is, he does have a mission with Nihlus in a half an hour.” Saren said.

 

“Spirits I need to go. I’m sorry I can’t spend the rest of your birthday with you.” Garrus said.

 

“That’s fine Garrus. Spectre work is important and you gave me my present and spent yesterday with me. I’ll be okay.” Shepard tells him as she hugs him.

 

“Don’t worry, welp. I’ll be here to keep her company.” Saren smirked at him.

 

“Suddenly I don’t want to leave. Or at least take him with me.” Garrus half-joked.

 

“I have a mission of my own.” Saren tells him. Garrus breathed easier.

 

Garrus broke the hug, pressed his forehead to hers, and ran off to go on his big mission with Nihlus.

 

Saren looked at Shepard. “Well Jane it’s just the two of us now.”

 

“Why are you messing with Garrus so much?” She asked him.

 

“Honestly it’s fun.” She glared at him. “Fine, fine. I feel responsible for you. My brother never treated you with the respect you deserved. I want to make sure your bondmate was the kind of turian who would fight a better opponent for you. Or get territorial if an older more powerful turian came on to you. Someone who would treat you well and have genuine feelings for you. Not like Desloas did, not like I did, not like your Alliance flings did. A real connection and caring about you. You deserve that much.”

 

“He does. He told me so.”

 

“Good. Then all my meddling helped.” Saren said smugly.

 

“I don’t know how I feel about him. I have an appointment with my therapist to talk about it tomorrow.” Shepard said.

 

“After that would you please accompany me for a mission. No, don't look at me like that. It’s not a date and I’m not doing it to gauge a reaction from your bondmate. I genuinely need your help.”

 

“What is it?” She asks him.

 

“Over my investigation into who is plotting these attacks I came across a turian business owner who still has Comfort Humans. As of two days ago the Primarch outlawed such practices. Roughly around the time the expose came out about you. I need to confirm he still has Comfort Humans, release them, and kill him or arrest him. Either one.”

 

“What do you want me to do?” Shepard asked him, but she knew.

 

“You are going to pose as a Comfort Human and gain access to his estate to locate if there are others.” Saren said simply.

 

“I’ll need a handler. Comfort Humans can’t go about by themselves.” She reminded him.

 

“That will be me.” He said.

 

“No, I have a better idea. Meet me back here tomorrow at 1300 and we will go.” She used her commander voice and Saren knew he couldn’t say no.

Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Summary:

Story so far: Turians and Humans were fighting a war for 10 years. for the first two years Jane was a poisoner of the Turians on Shanxi in a program they called Jump Zero. She was a "Comfort Human" it is as bad as it sounds. Then when she was liberated she started fighting the turians, but she secretly didn't hate her time with the turians and she saved more turians than she killed in the war. Now the war ended by the marriage between Garrus Vakarian and Jane Shepard.

Some time after the marriage Jane saved the life of a turian fledgling Tarquin Victus from downing. She then saved him again when someone paid Krogans a lot of money to kill him. Why is someone after this 6 year old kid?

While investigating this mystery Garrus learned he had feelings for Jane. He told her so but she wasn't sure she felt the same way back.

Last chapter: It was Jane's birthday and Saren bought her a dress and heels. Her dad gave her a ship.

In Chora’s Dean, a gentleman’s club in the lower wards, there sits an older turian general drinking away his pain watching the new human workers. There is no lust in his eyes like the other patrons he just watches and drinks. Everyone knows some of the story, but most are content to leave him alone.

 

That is why he is surprised when a human sits across from him at his small table.

 

“General Corinthus.” She says.

 

“Go away.” He answers.

 

“You won't remember me but I’m Jane. I used to have the same profession as Gina.” Shepard tells him.

 

“I remember. Desolas’ favorite. Now bonded to a Vakarian. What do you want?” He asks her.

 

“I need help with something. Did you know owning Comfort Humans is illegal now?”

 

“About damn time.”

 

“That’s a strange thought for someone who had one.”

 

“Gina wasn’t like that. She and I weren't like that. We loved each other.”

 

“Until the condom broke.” Shepard said softly.

 

“There wasn’t a condom.” He confessed.

 

“What?” Shepard was surprised. “It was forbidden not to use condoms. You know why?” 

 

“We knew why. We were trying.” He confessed again.

 

“You wanted Gina to get pregnant?” She was shocked.

 

“If she got pregnant we would have to go to the Citadel for treatment. No one at Shanxi was prepared for such a thing. That way we could tell the council about Comfort Humans and put a stop to it. And I could have a family, a real family, with Gina.” He explained.

 

“Or you could have been in prison. If the council did outlaw Comfort Humans you know what you and Gina would look like. Or if the powers that be knew you were trying to get pregnant and it wasn’t an accident with a broken condom then you could have been in jail for murder.”

 

“I know. If the first one happened then it would have been fine. Gina would be free. If the second one happened then it was no less than what I deserved.”

 

“The chances that you were able to get Gina pregnant and Gina would be able to conceive are-”

 

“400 in 1. I know. We did the math. We both agreed to it. We both thought it was for the best.” They were both silent for a while. It seemed a weight was lifted off of him by his confession. Almost like he held onto it for 8 years and now finally he was free. 

 

He seemed to be in a better place when he looked at her again. “What was it that you needed again?”

 

“I’m going undercover to root out someone who has Comfort Humans still and I need a handler who knows the codes.” She explained.

 

“I only know the old codes from 10 years ago. I’m sure they have been updated since.” He explained.

 

“Can you find out?”

 

There was a pause. “Yes. I still know the guy who dealt in Comfort Humans. He might still be in that work even though it’s illegal now.” Without waiting he opens his omnitool and makes a call.

 

“Corinthus. Didn’t think I’d be hearing from you ever again.” A voice said.

 

“General.” Corinthus said into the omnitool. “I need something that you used to have.”

 

“Ah and here I thought you were a one human type of turian.” The voice on the omnitool gloated.

 

“It’s been 8 years. I need to move on. Do you have anything I can use to help me move on or not?” Corinthus said, irritability.

 

“Your timing is bad buddy. Primarch V shut down the whole thing this week.”

 

“I know. I also know that wouldn’t stop you.”

 

“Well you do know me. Here is my catalog along with some codes. Let me know what you like. I think number 47 will suit your tastes.” 

 

The call ended. 

 

Both Corinthus and Shepard’s curiosity was piqued so they opened the catalog that was sent to Corinthus’ omnitool. There were 150 humans listed with names and pics. The first 100 were women and the other 50 were men. Shit, whoever this guy was he must have been worse than who they were going after.

 

47 was a young latina girl who looked a lot like Gina.

 

Corinthus made a noise with his subvocals that was pure unregulated furry.

 

“Forget who I’m dealing with. This guy needs to be stopped. Tell me where he is so I can end him.” Shepard told Corinthus.

 

“I will help you end him. First I will help you get your man.”

 

“You will help?”

 

“For Gina. I don’t want to see anymore humans suffer like she did.” Shepard placed her hand on the General’s. 

 

“Meet me tomorrow at 1300 at docking bay 24. The Normandy is the name of the ship. Help me take care of all the bastards who own Comfort Humans. For Gina.”

 

“FOR GINA!” He toasted with his drink and downed it.

 

~~~~~~

 

“So what happened?”

 

Shepard sat facing her Asari therapist. It was an emergency session. Their regular session wasn’t for another week but luckily she was able to get in sooner.

 

“Garrus confessed his feelings. Said he wanted to be mates. I know a little about what mates mean from my time as a Comfort Human. Garrus is displaying the signs of a turian with a mate.”

 

“Is that so bad?”

 

“Yes, no, maybe. I don’t know. That is why I am here.”

 

“Okay. What does having a mate look like for turians? Explain what you see.”

 

“He gets jealous when an older, stronger turian encroaches on his territory. Me, in this case. He fought Saren a few times over it and lost once badly enough to dislocate his mandible. He didn’t seem to mind though.”

 

“And how did that make you feel?”

 

“Awful. He got hurt because of me. I told him how to beat Saren so that he wouldn’t get hurt again.”

 

“You felt guilty he got hurt because of you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You told Garrus how to hurt Saren back though. You didn’t tell him to stop fighting Saren all together.”

 

“No, I guess I didn’t.” Jane looked down. “Turians with mates don’t stop fighting.”

 

“But if you are not mates then he doesn’t need to fight. You didn’t tell him not to fight.” She repeated. “How did you feel when they fought and Garrus didn’t get hurt?”

 

Jane showed the therapist the picture she took of Garrus pinning Saren down. “Really excited. I was proud of him. Saren is a Spectre, so is Garrus, Spectre’s are hard to win a fight against. And he used the trick I taught him so I was happy he listened to me.”

 

“But you didn’t feel anything about Garrus fighting again.”

 

“No, I guess I didn’t.”

 

“How do you feel about yourself when you think about Garrus and Saren fighting?”

 

“Honestly? Really fucking good. I had two Spectres fighting over me. I felt powerful and desired.”

 

“Have you ever felt that before?”

 

“Powerful or desired?”

 

“Either.”

 

“I was powerful in the Navy. I was a force to be reckoned with. And I felt desired when Garrus told me how much he likes me. Is that wrong?”

 

“There is nothing wrong with wanting to be desired.” The therapist said. “How about before that? When did you feel desired before that?”

 

Jane thought for a moment. “I don’t think I ever felt desired before that. Garrus is the only one who makes me feel that way. I was a Comfort Human for a while. I was a favorite of Desolas but he had others. I could be replaced if something better came around. I knew that. I wasn’t desired by him. And I haven't been with anyone else since him. Not for long enough to be more than a fling.”

 

“So Garrus comes along, tells you he cares for you, gets instincts that can be attributed to mating, desires you, and you enjoy the way it makes you feel.”

 

“Yes. That is right.”

 

“How about Garrus. How do you feel about him?”

“He’s amazing. He’s smart, and funny, and I feel really lucky that I got partnered with him. He is strong, patient, kind, attentive, easy to talk to, and he kinda glows. The room is brighter, warmer, when he is in it.  But Turians mate for life. If he takes me as his mate . . . I don’t think I’m worthy of such a thing. Not for him.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“I’m a former soldier. I killed his kind. And before that I was a Comfort Human. Nothing that seems like it’s good enough for a Spectre and the son of the Primarch.”

 

“You are worried that he is making the wrong choice.”

 

“Yes, exactly.”

 

“I didn’t hear you say you didn’t want that.”

 

There was a long pause. It was so long that the end of the session came and she didn’t have an answer for that.

 

Well Shit.

 

~~~~

 

At 1300 hours the crew of the Normandy plus Saren, General Corinthus, and one other non-standard crew member boarded the Normandy for her maiden voyage.

 

“Mordin!” Shepard called as she hugged her tutor. “What are you doing here?”

 

“Old STG habits hard to break, found out about ship and mission, moved into lab. Great facility happy to get to work. Happy to see you too.”

 

“I missed you. How is your secret project coming along?” She asked him.

 

“Very well. Almost done, had time to add song to gift.”

 

“You wrote her a song too? That’s wonderful! Can I hear it.” They talked and walked into the science lab of the Normandy. Dr. Lawson (Not Miranda, she wouldn’t call her Miranda if she could help it.) said that this was a science, exploring, stealth vessel. Dad apparently wanted to cover as many areas as he could with her gift.

 

“Could be good to practice more. Can sing it for you if you like.”

 

“Please!” She begged.

 

He got a coy smile and 

 

“Oh, Better to die to a Thresher Maw, 

with shotgun blasting roaring raw,

Then to play ambassadorial games,

With the blood of Shiagur in her veins.

 

Off to fight, since turians can't, 

with diplomatts instead of a krantt.

But she’ll be true to Tunchanka’s dream,

And live and die a Krogan Queen!

 

For… She is the Krogan Queen!

Hurrah! Hurrah! For the Krogan Queen!

And it is, it is a glorious thing

To be the krogan queen!”

 

Then silence. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

 

“You called her a queen! Mordin she’ll love it! Not sure I got all the context but I’m sure she will love it.”

 

“Glad you think so. Hope you are right. Going to get to work now. Be here if you need me.” And with that Shepard took off towards the other areas of the ship. 

 

Saren gave Joker the coordinates so they were underway. Shepard felt unsure of what she should do so she took to checking in on everyone else.

 

“Hey commander.” Joker said, turning his chair around. “The turian Spectre, not your husband, the unfriendly one told me where to go. I told him I don’t take orders from him but he flexed and I imputed the coordinates he gave me. Why are turians so scary?” 

 

“Don’t know. They are a good fuck though.” She replied.

 

“Yeah, I didn’t need to know that.” Joker said.

 

“Mr. Monroe has 47 recordings of ‘first contact’ porn in his private catalog.” EDI said.

 

“Damn ship cancer is ratting me out. Sure we can’t get rid of it?” He asks.

 

“Nope. I like her.”

 

“You would.”

 

“I should go.”

 

“Alright.” Joker turns his chair around to ignore her.

 

Next she checks on Saren who has made himself at home at one of the stations of the CIC. “Saren”

 

“Shepard.”

 

“Settling in fine?”

 

“More than fine. This is an amazing ship. The Ezo core is three times that of a normal ship, the stealth system is decades ahead of its time, it really is the perfect ship for a Spectre.”

 

“I’ll let my husband know you think so. He can use it whenever he feels like it.” She told him pointedly and left him.

 

She then went to check on Corinthius who was seated in the mess hall with Mordin and James. “Hey guys.” Shepard called to them.

 

“Hey Shepard.” Corinthius answered her back.

 

“Shepard.” Mordin said.

 

“Lola.” James added. “I can’t wait to do this mission. Anyone who treats women like the way this guy is deserves to get shot.”

 

“Personal?” Mordin asks.

 

“Yeah. My cousin was killed by one of these types of turians. He fucked her to death.” James said angrily.

 

Shepard looked at Corinthius nervously. He looked away from James.

 

“Oh? Curious, squish her, rupture of something, lots of ways humans/turians compatible some ways . . .  not so much.” Mordin asked.

 

“The bastard killed her with his cum. Gina was allergic apparently.” James spat out.

 

“Odd. Possible but not many levo are dextro sensitive to that extreme.”

 

“Wait, Mordin, is that true?” Shepard asked.

 

“Absolutely. If it were common Asari would not mate with turians and quarians.”

 

“So Gina was just unlucky?” Shepard asked.

 

“Possible. Not likely. Did subject have other allergies?” Mordin asked.

 

“Walnuts.” Both James and Corinthius said. James looked at Corinthius suspiciously.

 

“The small brown thing that Shepard likes?” Saren asked, walking into the conversation.

 

“I don’t like walnuts.” She told him.

 

“Desolas said you did. I got him a container of the things from Earth one time.” Saren confirmed.

 

“I don’t like walnuts.” Shepard informed him again.

 

“Was this before subject died of anaphylactic shock?” Mordin asked.

 

“Yes, right before. About a week.” Saren recalled.

 

“We went to see Gina the day before she died.” Shepard recalled.

 

“So we have a container of walnuts that Shepard never ate delivered to Desolas. Then the night before it happens Desolas visited Gina.” James said.

 

“We have means and opportunity but no motive.” Saren pointed out.

 

Shepard’s eyes went wide. “Gina was trying to get pregnant!” She turned to the group. “If she would have succeeded it would have been the end of the Comfort Human program.”

 

“Turians and humans can’t get each other pregnant.” James said.

 

“Small percent chance. Not impossible.” Mordin said.

 

“There is less than 1% chance that is possible.” EDI supplied.

 

“But not impossible.” Mordin said again.

 

“So this Desolas character killed Gina? Not the turian fucking her?” James said. He punched his fists into his hand.

 

“Anapholatic shock occurs quickly. Must have happened at same time.” Mordin pointed out.

 

“The reaction isn’t delayed? Like 20 minutes?” Corthinus asked.

 

“Instaniously.” Mordin pointed out again.

 

“Was there something else that she did?” Shepard turned to Corthinus. 

 

“After we finished she ate some grapes. She always needed a snack afterwards and she loved grapes. It was expensive to get them from earth but she was worth it.” 

 

“Wait.” James whispered.

 

“Possible trace amounts of walnut laced grapes.” Mordin pointed out.

 

“Wait.” James said again.

 

“So Des killed Gina!” Shepard shouted.

 

“Speculation.” Mordin said.

 

“I SAID WAIT.” James bellowed. He turned to Corthinus. “You were the evil turian bastard that was rapping Gina!”

 

“We weren't like that. We loved each other.” Corthinus told him.

 

“If you loved her you would have set her free. Regardless of who killed her or whether it was an accident or not. It was all your fault.” James punched him then. 

 

Shepard tried to get in the middle of it but Saren held her back. Corthinus allowed James to continually attack him. He did nothing, he didn’t even block. Once he went down, with James standing over him panting, Shepard finally broke free of Saren.

 

“ENOUGH. James I get that you're mad at him for your cousin but he couldn’t free her. Beating the crap out of a man who lost the love of his life isn’t how this works.” She yelled at James.

 

“It’s all his fault.” James said.

 

“I know.” Corthinus said.

 

“It isn’t. He loved her.” Shepard said.

 

“He didn’t. He couldn’t. Turians and humans can’t love.” James spat.

 

“What about Garrus and me?” She asked quietly.

 

“You have to live together and be married for the war to end. No one said you had to love. Sure Prince is a nice enough guy but he is still turian. He wants you to be happy but he can’t love you. And you have Stockholms sindrom. You were abused by your kidnappers and now you love turians. But it isn’t real.” James told her.

 

“First of all Stockholms Sindrom isn’t real. And second…” She punched James so hard he fell down. “Fuck you James.” She helped Corthinus to his feet. “I have a mission to finish.”

 

~~~

 

Getting to Palavan air space wasn’t hard. There was a Spectre and a turian General on board afterall. So the first step was done. The next would be to convince the CEO to allow them into his home so she could get the evidence for the arrest.

 

Corthinus made the call. “Atticus here.” the voice said.

 

“This is General Corinthus from the Turian Hierarchy here. I have a proposal for you Mr. Arricus.”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

“The Hierarchy wants new omnitools for the military with weapons grade tech installed.”

 

“A government contract? Do go on.”

 

“I was hoping we could talk facet to face.” Corinthus pressed.

 

“Why do business with us?” Atticus asked.

 

“Well my friend Spectre Saren informed me that you and I share a certain hobby. I thought we could discuss business in … Comfort.”

 

“Well I do love comfort. Tell me what kind of comfort did you have in mind?”

 

“I brought something I think you might enjoy and after we could talk business.”

 

Soon a ping appeared on the ship’s control board. It was a set of coordinates. “Meet me at my house tonight and we can discuss all the business you want. If the comfort is acceptable.”

 

“Trust me. It will be.” Corinthus ended the call and threw up. “I hate myself now. Well, more than before.”

 

“Joker, land and prep the shuttle to take Corinthus and I to the coordinates.” Shepard ordered.

 

“Yes, Commander.” He flew them to the docking area. Jane left the cockpit.

 

“Oh Jane, don’t forget to dress the part.” Saren said and handed her the present from yesterday. She rolled her eyes and took the box from him.

 

Slipping it on she noticed it was an asari type dress with the sides cut out. Turian bait if ever there was one. 

 

She and Corinthus exited The Normandy and took the shuttle to the coordinates provided. It was a stately mansion with four floors. Corthinus and her arrived and knocked on the door. The CEO opened the door himself and leered at Jane. She gave her best flirtatious smile and they were inside.

 

“This is my best girl Charlotte. Charlotte say hello to the General.” Atticus stood next to a tall blonde woman wearing a small outfit and a smile. 

 

“Hello General.” Charlotte said as she walked over to Corthinus and ran her arms up and down his chest plates.

 

“A blonde?” Corthinus said unaffected by her charms.

 

“Well we all can’t have a red head.” Atticus explained. He was eyeing Jane up with great interest.

 

“Got anything on the darker side?” Corthinus asked.

 

“Well of course. Follow me.” Atticus led them to the fourth floor where six women were hanging out. They all turned to Atticus when he approached.

 

“These are all my Comfort Humans. Please take as many as you need. Girls show the General here a good time wont you.”

 

“That won't be necessary.” Said a dark dual toned voice behind him. Turning, everyone saw Saren standing there.

 

“Spectre? What are you doing here?”

 

“Atticus you are under arrest for owning comfort women in turian space. Please come quietly.” And he did. After getting the girls on board The Normandy they took off for the Citadel.

 

“Oh thank god that’s over.” One girl said.

 

“If I never see another dick again it would be too soon.” Said another.

 

“Wait. You didn’t like it?” Jane asked.

 

“You kidding? It’s awful being a Comfort Human. The shit they ask us to do. The way we are treated. I haven't been home in 10 years.” Charlotte, the blonde one, said.

 

“We were so worried when we heard the war ended because the son of the Primarch took a human for a mate. We thought that it would increase Comfort Humans. Especially when we learned that mate used to be a Comfort Human.” A girl said.

 

“Imagine our surprise when he instead outlawed it.” Charlotte said.

 

“He’s a good turian. The whole family is.” Jane told them.

 

“Honey I know this might be new to you but there is no such thing as a good turian.” All the women nodded their heads at that.

 

Was that what the other Comfort Humans that were at Jump Zero with Jane thought too? James seemed to think so as well. Why did she think so differently from these girls?

 

Was she wrong?

 

After getting back to the Citadel the General left and escorted the former Comfort Human to the company that Rahna started. There they can get the help they need and make calls back to Earth.

 

Sitting with Saren at the mess hall Jane got a call on her omnitool from Garrus.

 

“Hey Garrus, how is your mission with Nihlus going?” She asked him.

 

“Jane.” Then there was the sound of gunfire. “I’m not going to be coming home.” He said.

 

“No. Garrus, where are you? What’s happening?”

 

“I’m sorry we didn’t have a lot of time together. I wanted to tell you that in the short time I knew you, you were the greatest person I have ever met. I wanted to get to know everything about you.” More gunfire and a grunt. 

 

“Garrus, where are you?” Jane yelled at him.

 

“Is Nihlus with you?” Saren asked.

 

“Oh good Saren is with you. I’m glad you will not be alone. Take good care of her Arterius. I’m counting on you. Jane, I care about you so much.” 

 

Then the line went dead.

Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Summary:

Story so far: Turians and Humans were fighting a war for 10 years. for the first two years Jane was a poisoner of the Turians on Shanxi in a program they called Jump Zero. She was a "Comfort Human" it is as bad as it sounds. Then when she was liberated she started fighting the turians, but she secretly didn't hate her time with the turians and she saved more turians than she killed in the war. Now the war ended by the marriage between Garrus Vakarian and Jane Shepard.

Some time after the marriage Jane saved the life of a turian fledgling Tarquin Victus from downing. She then saved him again when someone paid Krogans a lot of money to kill him. Why is someone after this 6 year old kid?

While investigating this mystery Garrus learned he had feelings for Jane. He told her so but she wasn't sure she felt the same way back.

Last chapter: Garrus called to tell her she meant a lot to him, while under heavy fire. Then the line went dead.

“GARRUS! GARRUS?” Jane screamed into the disconnected line. She tried calling him back but it didn’t work.

 

“Helmsman plot a course to Omega.” Saren said into the air.

 

“Yeah, I don’t –”

 

“Do it Joker!” Jane yelled.

 

“Yes ma’am. Eta 15 hours.” Joker reported in a serious voice.

 

“15 hours. That’s not good enough. Joker, go faster!” Jane ordered.

 

“That’s as fast as she can go.” Joker reported back.

 

“While that is true it is not technically accurate. If we push the core we can make it in 3 hours. The ship will take structural damage and need to be repaired upon arrival. It will also not be a pleasant ride.” EDI informs them.

 

“The pilot would need to make perfect calculations and fly better than any pilot has before. It’s not possible.” Saren told Shepard.

 

“Yes it is. Joker is the best damn pilot in the galaxy and I am willing to bet my life and the ship on it. Joker! EDI! PUNCH IT!” Shepard ordered.

 

EDI was not wrong. Not that it was possible for an AI to be wrong in the first place. The trip was rough. There was shaking and the ship was groaning under the strain. A piece or two might have fallen off. 

 

They docked at Omega in 2.5 hours.

 

“Dr. Chawas prep the medby for turian patients. Miranda figure out what damage the ship took and fix it. Saren, Mordin, James, with me. Let’s go get my mate.” Shepard ordered everyone.

 

Saren coughed.

 

“And Nihlus too.” Shepard amended as she loaded her gun.

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

“I got a ping from Nihlus’ omnitool.” Saren announced after 15 minutes of being on Omega. The team gathers around him. “It appears he is held up at this apartment complex here.” He points to a map. “The only way to get to them is across this bridge.” He points to a bridge on the map.

 

“You heard the man. Move out.” Shepard ordered.

 

Getting to the area was easy. What they found was not. Over 100 of Mercs, Mechs, and general bad guys were huddled around a makeshift HQ on one side of the bridge. On the other was a large building where occasionally two turian heads would pop out for less than a second before going back into cover.

 

The bridge itself was littered with dead bodies.

 

Walking up to a guy who looked like they knew what was going on Shepard asked him. “Are you the one we are supposed to see about getting over the bridge?” The merc looked them over.

 

“Yeah that’s me. You the new blood? The two Spectres are taking out so many it is hard to replenish our numbers.”

 

“You look better equipped than they do.” Shepard says, hooking a finger indicating Nihlus and Garrus.

 

“You would think. But apparently quality beats quantity. No matter how many we send, they knock them back down.”

 

“Well we are ready. We got the quality.” Shepard says, indicating her crew.

 

“Right you are in the next wave. Report by the bridge and your wave will go when the light turns green.” 

 

By the bridge there were about 10 Mercs crouched and ready to join the succide run over the bridge. Next to them was a street light that was timed to turn green every 20 minutes. Shepard and her team crouched with the rest and waited.

 

They got the green light.

 

It was chaos as they raced across the bridge. Garrus and Nihlus would pop out and shoot at the group but they maximized their cover. This allowed them to only be able to take out one at a time. Shepard decided to even things out a little. She shot the mercenary in front of her, the rest of the team did the same. And soon it was just the four of them racing across the bridge.

 

They made it to the building and raced up the stairs. There Garrus and Nihlus were in position with their snipers out, overlooking the bridge. They picked off a few stragglers and turned to their new reinforcements.

 

“Jane! You shouldn’t be here.” Garrus said. Jane didn’t care as she raced towards him and jumped into his arms.

 

He wasn’t expecting that but caught her anyway. She kissed him the turian way. She pressed her forehead against his so hard he thought it might hurt her. The familiar sensation of their spirits becoming one filled them both and they sighed.

 

Then she kissed him the human way. She had never done that before and Garrus wasn’t sure what to do when her lips pressed against his mouth plates. Figuring it was similar to the way turians kiss he pressed his mouth plates against her lips. She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. Her green ones radiant and on fire. His icy blue ones wearing but happy. 

 

“I want to be your mate Garrus. I love you.” She kisses him again and he is so stunned he doesn’t know what to do.

 

“Not really the time Shepard.” Saren says from his spot next to Nihlus.

 

“We have taken heavy fire and need more than medigel at this point. Plus we have been fighting for days and are running low on stims.” Nihlus explains the situation. Jane jumps off Garrus who is still too stunned to move.

 

“We will run out of ammo before they run out of men to throw at us.” Jane says. She pulls up her omnitool. “Joker lock on to my position and get an evac out here.” She cuts the line before she can hear what Joker says. Probably more complaining but he will do it. “We just need to hold on until the evac gets here. Saren, James, you’re with me. Let's make the airfield as clear as possible. Mordin heal them up as much as you can.”

 

“Yes Commander.” All three men say at once. Shepard looks towards Garrus and winks before going to the sniper perch and taking out a few mercs. 

 

Saren and James take up positions where they can and between the three of them they clear the field for the evac. That was until the airship rose from the mercenary compound and headed straight for them.

 

The gunship targeted the evac shuttle and forced it to fly away then turned it’s attention towards the group at the building. “Take out the gunship so the evac can land.” Ordered Shepard. The gunship responded by sending rockets careening into the building. All of them managed to get into position behind cover. All of them, except “GARRUS.” Jane screamed.

 

Garrus went down in a pile of blue blood. “Shoot the damn thing out of the sky. Mordin, save my mate!” Shepard ordered. She ran full sprint into the gunship's path. “Saren, Launch!” She jumped towards the glass protecting the cockpit. Saren threw up his biotics towards Shepard giving her a barrier and making her mass heavier. She crashed through the glass and pointed her pistol into the eye of the pilot and pulled the trigger. The pilot droops over, dead and the gunship goes down. She backflips off the gunship and Saren catches her with his biotics and floats her over to them.

 

Shepard rushes to Garrus’ side. “Garrus. Hold on. You can’t leave me yet.” She tells him. He is lying in his own blood as Mordin flits around him. Jane takes his hand and looks at him. She keeps talking to him to get him to stay awake.

 

The shuttle comes back and hovers over the window. Saren lifts Garrus with his biotics and the group gets into the shuttle. As soon as they enter The Normandy Saren, Nihlus, and Mordin rush into the medbay. Jane and James were forced to wait outside the medbay. EDI shuts the window so Jane doesn’t see what is going on.

 

“Lola, it's going to be okay.” James tells her.

 

“James he can’t die. Not now, not when I finally figured out how I feel about him.” She starts to cry.

 

James looks very uncomfortable and doesn’t know where to put his hands. “Umm Lola. Don’t cry.” She cries harder. “Okay, okay. Why don’t you take a shower? You are covered in Garrus’ blood.” Now she is sobbing into his shirt.

 

James grabs her shoulders and pushes her into the elevator. He pushes the button for the loft. He steps out of the elevator and it closes with Jane inside so she rides up to her cabin alone.

 

She steps into her cabin and walks into her shower. She doesn’t change out of her armor and just allows the cold water to wash over her. She stares numbely as the blue blood washes down the drain. The water ran clear after a while. She stripped until she was naked and turned the temperature up until she stopped shivering from the cold. 

 

After she washed up she walked to her bed and layed down. She covered up and cried into her pillow naked, alone, cold, and scared. She cries herself to sleep.

 

~~~~~~~

 

The door to her cabin whooshes open. The cabin was huge and was that a fish tank? Looking around he saw her asleep on her bed. He walked over to her quietly, using all the grace and care of the predator that he evolved from. 

 

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her. She was asleep and only her head was uncovered. Her pillow was stained with tears and her cheeks were as well. Her brow kept furring and he noticed her body twitching. It seemed she was lost in a nightmare.

 

Jane startled awake when she felt the three taloned hand gently touch her hair. She looked up into the scarred face of the turian she loved.

 

“They wouldn’t give me a mirror. Some women like scars. Although most of them mrm.” She sat up and pressed her lips to his mouth plates again. Silencing him from finishing his joke he practiced on the way up. It was worth it.

 

She pulled back and he noticed that the blanket fell to her waist revealing her bare body. He tried very hard to look her in the eyes.

 

“I was so worried about you Garrus.” She flung her body against his and pressed her forehead to his crest.

 

Her body was soft. So unbelievably soft.

 

“Jane” Garrus whispered. “We need to talk.” He gently pushes her back into the bed and pulls the covers up to her chin. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

 

“You don’t want to be mates anymore?” Jane asked with hurt in her voice.

 

His eyes snap open as he looks at her. “What? What gave you that idea?” He asks her.

 

“When someone says they need to talk they want to break up.” She explains.

 

“No, I don't want that. I just was having a hard time thinking with you being naked and soft against me.” She smiles at him. “You said you wanted to be my mate. Do you know what that entails?”

 

“Yes. It’s like a bondmate but more emotional, and you only get one. For better or worse. You can’t take another one even if one of you dies.” She answers him seriously.

 

“Is that what you want with me?” He asks her.

 

“Yes, Garrus. I don’t want another mate. I want to be yours and you be mine forever.” She answers him. “These last few months, living with you, have been the best months of my life. I feel more towards you then I ever have anyone else before. I was worried you wouldn’t want that with me or that I wasn’t enough for you given what I am or was. But if you still want that I’m willing to be yours.”

 

He presses his crest against her forehead. She lets out a breath as the familiar feeling envelops her. “Yes” He breathes. “I want that.”

 

She pulls away from him and throws the blanket off of her. He openly stares at her naked body. “I know I’m different from what you are used to…” She trails off.

 

“You are breathtaking.” He whispers to her and removes his own clothing. After he is completely naked, like her, she moves over in the bed allowing him to get in with her. He does and she sits on top of him straddling him.

 

She leans over and scratches that perfect spot on the nape of his neck while her soft inner thighs rub on his sensitive waist. He moans and lifts his head backwards giving her access to his neck. She nips and sucks on his neck while making sure to increase the pressure of her fingers and deepen the grinding of her legs.

 

He gasps as his cock is released from his sheath. Like most turians it’s blue and ridged with a tapered tip. He, though, is bigger than she has seen in a long time. Not since that night she gave him a blowjob (Chapter 12). 

 

She strokes his shaft a few times to move about the lubrication evenly and lines him up with her entrance.

 

“Don’t you need to be warmed up? I’m having trouble thinking but I thought James and Joker told me that foreplay is important for human women.” Garrus says. Jane looks at him and sees him panting and out of breath. His eyes are full of lust and his subvocals are rumbling with need.

 

She leans over him and kisses his crest. “I’ll show you what I need next time. Right now I need you inside of me.” She whispers.

 

“Next time. I like the sound of that.” He smiles. She lowers herself down on him slowly and gently. They both gasp and moan as he settles inside of her. “Oh Spirits. I get it now.”

 

“Get what?” 

 

“Why Comfort Humans were so popular. You have just ruined me for turian women.” He gasps out.

 

“Honey, I haven’t done anything yet.” She starts to move. Slowly and rhythmically. He sits up and places one hand on her back gently rubbing circles on her smooth back. The other hand grabs her hair and gently strokes it. 

 

Her hands are on his shoulders for support as she lifts herself up and down him. Her head falls to his keel as they both moan with the movements. She is slow and deliberate but soon she starts to speed up.

 

“Garrus! Mark Me!” She screams at him. 

 

He comes apart when she does and she feels the pinpricks of pain on her neck where he marks her with his bite. It only makes the orgasim that much more intense. She slows and they both pant into each other. They are both flush and smiling. Soon though Garrus feels his cock swell at the base.

 

She moans as it stretches her. “Garrus!” She moans out.

 

“I’m knotting.” He informs her.

 

“I’m not familiar with the concept.” She says once the stretching stops.

 

“When a mate tries to get pregnant the cock will swell to encourage the semen to impregnate. It’s only done between mates and it’s completely against my control.” He licks her mark to show they are mates now.

 

“I guess we will use a condom next time. Unless you want children.” Jane says.

 

“I do want children but we can’t have them together. Maybe we could adopt or something like that. If you want children.”

 

“I would love to have your child Garrus. It’s unlikely but maybe it’s something we can discuss.” She looks at him with worry in her eyes.

 

He chuckles. “Well might as well talk about it now. I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Summary:

Story so far: Turians and Humans were fighting a war for 10 years. for the first two years Jane was a poisoner of the Turians on Shanxi in a program they called Jump Zero. She was a "Comfort Human" it is as bad as it sounds. Then when she was liberated she started fighting the turians, but she secretly didn't hate her time with the turians and she saved more turians than she killed in the war. Now the war ended by the marriage between Garrus Vakarian and Jane Shepard.

Some time after the marriage Jane saved the life of a turian fledgling Tarquin Victus from downing. She then saved him again when someone paid Krogans a lot of money to kill him. Why is someone after this 6 year old kid?

While investigating this mystery Garrus learned he had feelings for Jane. And after Garrus almost dies she realizes she feels the same.

Last chapter: Garrus and Jane had sex!

Garrus had the best night's sleep of his life. It might have been the fact that he has been up for 4 days straight. It might be the medication the human doctor gave him. It might have been the sex. It might be the fact that there was an absolute naked goddess asleep in his arms. Her arms lay on his keel and his arms were around her body holding her close. He needed to get up but 5 more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

 

She moved more into him. Apparently she was also awake and had the same idea he did. He brushed a hair out of her face. “Morning, beautiful.” He whispered. She moved her head so she was looking at him. The smile she gave him could only be described as radiant.

 

“Morning.” She cuddles in close. “Sleep well?” 

 

“Best sleep of my life.” He tells her honestly. “Should we go down for breakfast?” 

 

“We can but.” She moves so she is straddling him. “I thought we could satiate a different type of hunger.” She drops her voice to a sexy range.

 

“I like the way you think.” He rolls them so he is on top of her. “But I believe it is my turn to learn what you like.”

 

“Now I like the way you think.” She winks at him. “See these things?”

 

“It’s kinda hard to miss. They cover your whole chest.”

 

“They are called breasts. Or boobs, or tits. They are fun to play with and squeeze.” She smiles at him.

 

“Are they?” He grabs one in his hand and squeezes it. “They are fun to squeeze.” Her eyes close and she hums.

 

“See the point in the center? It’s called a nipple. It's very sensitive. It’s a lot like your nape.” He runs a talon over it and her breath hitches. He squeezes it and she lets out a moan. He licks it and she screams and moans. He likes his new toy.

 

He places one in between his mouth plates and the other he pulls, rubs, and plays with, with his talons. He lets his long, rough, dexterous tongue take the other one as he rubs, licks, and pulls it. 

 

The noises she is making pull him out of his seeth quickly.

He learned yesterday where his dick went but now he decides to place a few talons in there. She is tight and wet and smells delicious. He wonders what she will taste like.

 

“Jane. Do you remember that thing you did with my cock in your mouth? Well do human women –”

 

“Yes. Do that!” She begs as she moans and writhes beneath him. He doesn’t need any more encouragement than that so he positions his head between her thighs. She smells even better now that he is closer. He takes a lick and her response is instantaneous. She screams and her boy jolts out of the bed in an arch he wouldn’t have been able to recreate safely.

 

“Did you like that?” He asked her.

 

“Don’t stop!” she ordered and he held her hips down and licked. She screamed and writhed and whimpered. He could tell she loved it. Soon her body went taught and she came on his tongue shouting his name.

 

She fell back on the bed panting and out of breath. 

 

“Can human women come more than once?” 

 

“Yes we just need a moment.” She panted out. He chuckled. “I got one more spot to show you. You already found it but didn’t know it.” She takes his hand and leads it back into her wet center. “Right here is called the clit. It has a large number of nerves and it is super sensitive.”

 

He explores some more and finds it a few times. He can’t get it every time but he has the eye of a sniper. He knows he will be able to find it every time soon. Her vocalizations helped as well. Human women were much more vocal than turian women. 

 

It made him hard to know that he was the cause of it.

 

“Garrus, I want you.” She pants out. “Get inside of me.” 

 

“Turn around, I want to try something.” 

 

She smiles and turns and leans down on her arms with her ass in the air presented for him. He lines up with her center and pushes in. She moans and he moans with her. She is so tight and warm and soft. 

 

He starts pushing into her at the same speed they went at last night. “Harder!” She moans at him. Never one to leave a lady wanting he thrusts into her as hard as he can. She gasps then moans and screams.

 

He keeps up the pace, hands on her hips to help thrust. He leaves pinpricks of blood from his talons but he doesn’t stop.

 

After she comes again he does. He feels his knott swell and moans as his overly sensitive body is swelling. She moans as well as she is stretched further. “Does it hurt you when I knott?” He asks, concerned.

 

“No. Not really. It’s just sensitive. Does it hurt you? Humans don’t do it.”

 

“It doesn’t hurt. Just sensitive. If humans don’t do it, how do they have children?”

 

“The semen flows into the egg and fertilizes it.” Shepard explains.

 

“That’s how it works for us too. But the semen can slip out if we don’t knott.”

 

“We just deal with the low chance of getting pregnant. Although I believe I remember it was even lower for turians.”

 

“That is why we knott.” He licks her bondmark that he placed yesterday. Now an angry red mark but soon it will heal in a shape that shows his teeth. By breaking her skin with his teeth he created a permanent scent mark that would constantly smell like him. This will let everyone know she was mated and to whom. “Does it hurt?” He asked as he licked the mark again.

 

“Not any more. I’m glad we did it though. I want the whole galaxy to know who I am bonded to.” Garrus felt the happiness in his subvocals overtake his top voice and he was at a loss as to what to say.

 

“So Children?” Jane asks him.

 

He chuckles “I did say we had time for this discussion.” 

 

“You want kids right?”

 

“Yes. Maybe not now. It’s hard to raise them when I’m on Spectre duty all the time. I already feel bad enough leaving you alone.” He tells her. “My dad was absent for a lot of my childhood when he worked on the Citadel. He was around a lot more when he became Primarch but work still kept him busy. I promised myself I would never do that to my own chicks.”

 

“We should switch to condoms until we are ready for children then. We should also go to a clinic to see if either one of us can have children by the other.” She tells him.

 

“I didn’t know that was possible.”

 

“It’s unlikely but possible.” She informs him. “If we can’t have children together what is your plan?”

 

“I want to adopt in that case. I don’t care if the child is biologically mine so long as you and I have them together.”

 

“Turian? Human? Other?”

 

“One of each. If they look like you then all the better.” He licks her bondmark again. He starts to recede back into his plates. He pulls out of her and held her close to him. “What about you? What do you want?” He asked her.

 

“I want children too. I never really thought about it since I was military. I grew up on ships. Constantly moving from one to the other. I thought if I ever stopped being in the military I would settle down. Put down roots and stay at one place long enough to know where everything was. To have a home.”

 

“You have that now.” He reminded her.

 

“Yeah. Next is children. I don’t care if they are biologically mine or not. I like the idea of adopting. When you are ready I want children.”

 

“Me too.” They sighed together as he rubbed her back. They enjoy a few minutes of quiet comfort. Then Jane’s stomach growls. They smile at each other. “Time for breakfast.” Garrus says with a smile. Jane smiles at him as well.

 

They make it down to the mess. Everyone is there eating their breakfast and look up when they enter, both wearing giant smiles. 

 

“We didn’t think you would leave your room today.” Saren teased good naturedly. 

 

“Well we never did get a honeymoon.” Jane said.

 

“A what moon?” Saren asked.

 

“A Honeymoon. A Honeymoon is when a just married couple go on a vacation and spend most of it in bed.” She winks at Garrus.

 

“I like the sound of that.” Garrus agrees.

 

“Maybe after we solve the problem of who is killing all the high tier turians.” Nihlus says. “We are down 18% from all the killings that are taking place.”

 

“They aren’t just after Victus and his family?” Jane asked.

 

“No almost all high tier turians living outside of Palaven have had an attempt on their lives. About 18% of them didn’t make it.” Nihlus says. “All of the killers were krogans. Blood pack all from the Omega branch. Garrus and I infiltrated the Blood Pack’s HeadQuarters and tried to find out who hired them to kill the Turians and why. We got the data but it was encrypted. It will take sometime to decrypt.”

 

“In the meantime, Lola, can I talk to you?” James comes over.

 

“Sure James. I need to apologize to you for hitting you anyway. I can’t go around and hit people who say things that make me sad.” Jane started.

 

“Wait. What did you say to her?” Garrus stood his entire 7 foot length and peered down at James. This was clearly an intimidation tactic. 

 

And it worked

 

“I told Lola that there was no way a human and a turian could be in love. And I was wrong.” He added the last part quickly, noticing the look in Garrus’ eyes. “When I saw how much it hurt her to see you hurt I realized how much of an ass I was. I guess it was easier to blame the turians for my cousin’s death than to admit the fact that it might have been love.” 

 

Garrus clapped James on the shoulder. “I do love her, James. I have for a long time. To me she isn't a human. She is my mate.” He leans in and whispers. “And if you ever make her mad again I will fire the Thanix cannon directly into your face.”

Chapter 25: Chapter 25

“Garrus, as the son of the Primarch and a General, and a Spectre, are you high tier?” Shepard asked him once breakfast concluded and they made their way back to their quarters. The faster than recommended flight to Omega damaged a lot of the Normandy so they were docked while repairs were made. Shepard left Miranda in charge of the ship during this time. This would normally upset Shepard, however, she found a lot of benefits to having the time to be with Garrus.

 

“Family ties don’t usually have bearing on tiers. It's all about the person and what they achieved. However, like usual if you come from a high tier family life is easier when you make a tier of your own. But yes. I am high. Not as high as my sister but I’m up there.” He answered.

 

“Are you in danger of whatever is happening with the high tier turians?” He rolls over on the bed and cups her cheek. 

 

“Hey. Don’t worry. They won't get me. Look at me.” He uses a talon to nudge her chin up to look at him. “I won't leave you. I promise.” He whispers and gives her a human kiss.

 

“Maybe you should.” She whispers back. She sits up on the bed and looks down at him. “They aren't attacking anyone in Palaven. Go back home and try to find them from there.”

 

“Come with me.” He says as he sits up and looks at her. He grabs her hands. “I don’t want to be apart from you now that we have this. The house is shielded against radiation, you will be safe.”

 

“I don’t want to stay at the house the whole time. My therapist is on the Citadel, our house is there. I will be okay. They aren't targeting mates of high tier turians.” She cups his mandibles with her hands. “It’s only until you find them and stop them.” She brings her forehead to his crest. “I’ll be here when you get back. And I can always visit.”

 

So they decide to have Garrus move back to Palaven and Shepard stay at the Citadel. Every weekend Shepard visits him on Palaven and they don’t leave the house, or bedroom, for very long. 

 

However, by the third week of this separation Shepard starts to feel it. She felt overall terrible and really missed Garrus. She worried about him and it made her physically sick. She was throwing up in the toilet a lot. 

 

She was always independent but she discovered that she is also needy. She didn’t like that new revelation. She was a strong, independent woman, who survived for almost 30 years without the need for a man. Hell she essentially raped and tortured for 2 years and she was still independent and strong. Now after a few months with Garrus she finds that she needs him.

 

Shit she might have fallen in love.

 

She got a call from Hackett that he wanted to see her in the safe house as soon as possible. Happy for something else to do she ran, and didn’t stop running, to the safe house. She loaded up the program and Hackett’s grim face stared back at her. She quickly saluted him. 

 

“Shepard, I read your latest report. Is it accurate?”

 

“Yes sir. I independently confirmed what Spectre Kyrik said. Almost 20% of high tier turians living outside of Palaven have been killed by an unknown source.”

 

“We confirmed it as well.” Hackett said. Then why ask me? Shepard thought. This was the problem with the military. Well one problem. “We have a new mission for you.”

 

“Of course sir.” Shepard said.

 

“In 48 hours Earth time the Alliance force will be arriving in Palaven Air space. We need you to be there when it happens. You are leading the fleet.”

 

“Is the Alliance offering support or have we been ordered to Palaven for defense?” Shepard asked.

 

“No. It’s time humanity struck back. We have been waiting for this while we sent you and others to spy on the turians. They are weaken and now is the time to strike.”

 

“Sir! They are our allies! My marriage was the one that ended the war.”

 

“They are our owners. Humans do not do well under another’s thumb. And we assigned you to this post to gather intel and seduce the turians. A role you played 8 years ago. Now I’m reminding you that you are human. A human soldier. Now we are pulling you out of your undercover assignment and ordering you to the front lines. Questions?”

 

“No sir. I understand.”

 

“Good. See you at the front. Hackett out.” She stares numbly at the screen for a moment before she opens her omni-tool. 

 

“Shepard to all Normandy crew. We ship out for Palaven in two hours. Report to your post in two hours.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Shepard takes a big breath and stares at the double doors in front of her. Here we go . She thought and pushed open the door.

 

Inside several turians all stood and grabbed for their sidearms. Clearly they were a bit jumpy. She recognized several faces of the high tier turians. Including Victus and —----

 

“Jane?” Garrus asked. 

 

Well shit.

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

Garrus was sitting in on his dad’s, The Primarch’s, meeting of high tiered turians. They were a taskforce that was dedicated to why other turians were being killed off world and why only high tier ones. 

 

He was in Ciprine’s largest building where his dad works most of the time in a very ornate conference room listening to the other member’s reports. They were scared and Garrus couldn’t blame them. Many of them had retreated back to Palaven as they were also targets. Some of them survived contact with the enemy but their families didn’t. 

 

When the conference door opened many of them jumped up and reached for their weapon. Only to find a small human woman standing on the other side.

 

“Jane?” Garrus asked, standing himself. She didn’t look at him. She briefly looked at Victus but her gaze remained trained on his father.

 

“Sir. I have come to report an attack that is happening in 40 hours on Palaven.” she declared in her commander voice. Her arms clasped behind her back.

 

“An attack from whom?” Castis asked.

 

Without hesitating she answered him. “The Alliance sir. Humans.”

 

“And how do you know this?” Castis asked again.

 

“Because I was ordered to lead it.” 

 

There were several murmurings and the whispered “traitor” was heard. Jane Shepard-Vakarian didn’t flinch. She held eye contact with the Primarch the whole time.

 

“Everyone who doesn’t share my clan name out.” Castis Vakarian ordered. The other turians brushed past her, some knocking into her but she kept on looking at Castis.

 

“I would like to petition to stay.” Victus said. Castis looked at Garrus who stared at his mate. Garrus gave a small nod and Castis agreed to Victus’ request.

 

Once the room was empty Castis motioned to the seat farthest from him for Jane to sit but she shook her head. “Report.” Castis ordered Jane.

 

“When the marriage was announced I was ordered to appear as the bondmate to Garrus. I have experience being in a relationship with a turian and my background as an infiltrator made me a perfect candidate as a spy. I never left the Alliance and have been submitting reports to them periodically. The last report I sent them explained how high tier turians were being killed. The Alliance decided that they didn’t want to be a client race of the turians and are using the weakened state of the turians as an opportunity to attack. I have been ordered to lead the charge.”

 

“Are the Alliance behind the attacks?” Victus asked. 

 

“No Sir. The humans are using it as an opportunity but didn’t plan on the attack.”

 

“Was it all a lie?” Garrus whispered. The other two turians looked at eachother.

 

“What do you know about the strategies the humans are planning?” Castis asked.

 

Shepard opened her omni-tool and sent him a ping. “This is everything I know about the planned attack.”

 

There was silence for a moment.

 

“Was it all a lie?” Garrus asked again, his voice louder this time.

 

“Why are you telling us this now? You know this makes you a traitor to your people.” Castis asked.

 

“WAS IT ALL A LIE?” Garrus asked again.

 

“Because it wasn’t a lie, any of it.” Shepard said, voice cracking and tears spilling out of her eyes. “I fell in love with Garrus. We were going to have a family. He is my mate, my everything. I lied about still answering to the Alliance because I didn’t see the harm in it. I didn’t know they were planning to betray the turians.” She looked at Garrus. “I didn’t know!” The tears were falling freely and she buried her head in her hands and broke down in front of her father-in-law, the highest ranking turian in the galaxy, her mate, and her friend the second highest ranking turian.

 

“Victus, prepare the fleet for war.” Castis says somberly.

 

“Yes sir. What about her?”

 

“She is a traitor to her people, my son's mate, an enemy soldier.” he pauses. “Leave her. She can do what she wants.” Castis stood up and walked past Shepard and left the room with Victus following behind him. 

 

Garrus wasn’t sure what to do but in the end he left without looking at her.

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

Jane Shepard-Vakarian sat in the armory of her ship and sulked. She betrayed both the humans and the turians. What was she now? 

 

She knew what she was now. She knew in her heart what she was. She walked to the medbay to confirm it.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Garrus stood at the CIC of his freighter. He was leading the turian fleet against the invasion of the humans. He hated it. For every ship he was about to kill he wondered if it was the ship that Jane was on.

 

The turian fleet was behind him waiting on his orders and in front of him were the human armada waiting on theirs. The number of ships were about even but without the top tier turians their military command was weakened. It wasn’t going to be a good battle for either side.

 

Soon a small freighter decloaked in the middle of empty space between the two armies. Garrus recognized the Normandy the instant it was visible. It was situated in between him and the Alliance, right in his cross hairs. When he opened fire that would be the first hit.

 

“Joker, open a comm to all vessels.” He heard over the comms. He couldn’t help but smile as Joker or EDI did it before she gave the command.

 

“There you are honey. We can’t start the war without you.” Hannah Shepard’s voice said over the comms. Garrus had only met his bond mom once during the bonding ceremony.

 

“Alliance vessels this is Commander Jane Shepard-Vakarian. I am ordering you to stand down.”

 

“Jane, what is the meaning of this?” Hannah asked.

 

“Mom. If the Alliance isn’t happy with the terms of their treaty with the turians then Hackett can take it up with the Primarch. War isn’t the answer. And since Hackett put me in charge of this fleet I’m ordering them to go back to Alliance space.”

 

“Jeff Monroe.” Hannah called.

 

“Uh yes ma’am?”

 

“Take Jane Shepard into custody.”

 

“Yeah, I don’t work for the Alliance anymore.”

 

“Lieutenant James Vega. Take Commander Shepard-”

 

“I also quit the Alliance.” Jame’s voice reminded her.

 

“Then I will take over the fleet and fire upon the Normandy.” Hannah said.

 

“No you won't mom.” Jane’s voice said calmly.

 

“And why not. Because you are my daughter?”

“All Alliance Vessels this is Admiral Hacket. Stand down and return to Alliance space. The turians have agreed to renegotiate the terms of the treaty.” Said the voice of Admiral Hackett.

 

All the ships on the Alliance side turned around and flew off towards Alliance space. All ships but one. “You would really side with the rapists over your own people?”

 

“I’m siding with the ones who did nothing wrong. The side with the man I love.” Jane told her. “And the father of my child.”

 

~End of book 1~

Notes:

Well what did you think of book 1! Book 2 will be updated on this fic so it will start at chapter 26 book 2 chapter 1. bookmark the series to know when it gets updated! I'll be back after a short break but I'll still be posting my other Shakarian fics as well.

Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Book 2 Chapter 1

Summary:

A little summary of what the past book was about in a plot way.

Jane Shepard-Vakarian is pregnant with the first turian-human hybrid. She gives an interview to a Hierarchy news outlet and someone special might be watching.

The four turians sat around their living room, eyes glued to the vidscreen. The bowl of grexen sitting between them forgotten. 

 

“This is Nuntius with Hericay News Network, the only news network that gives turians the latest news outside of the Apien Crest.” The pretty turian news reporter told the camera. “I am here with Commander Jane Shepard-Vakarian who’s bonding changed the course of history forever. And now she is here changing history again.” The reporter turns to look at Jane. “Commander, how are you?”

 

Garrus saw the inside of his living room on the screen. The one he lived in with his bondmate on the Citadel. He also saw that very same bondmate sitting on a chair across from the reporter. Her skin is paler than he remembers, her eyes lost that fire that used to have, her hair isn’t as shiny, and her belly has a bump to it that wasn’t there the last time he saw her 4 months ago.

 

Jane smiles and points to her belly. “Well Nuntius, I’m pregnant!” She tells the reporter.

 

“I can see that. Humans expand more than turians do.” Nuntius said. Garrus was pretty sure that was an insult. “Well thank you Commander for agreeing to this interview. As you can no doubt guess, turians everywhere are eager for information that you can provide.”

 

“It’s just Jane now. I am no longer with the Alliance.” Jane Shepard-Vakarian said.

 

Heard that one before. Garrus thought.

 

“Let’s start with your background. My records state that you used to be a Comfort Human. Can you explain to our audience what that means?”

 

Jane takes a deep breath. “During the war with the humans and the turians, turians would sometimes take prisoners for labor. There were three types of labor these prisoners provided. The first one was menial labor, like cooking and cleaning. The second was physical labor, like heavy lifting and constructing. The third was sexual labor. This one was called Comfort Humans. We existed to give officers stress relief.”

 

“So you were a prostitute?” The reporter asked. Garrus was certain that one was an insult.

 

“No, prostitutes were paid. If I didn’t perform I would be killed.”

 

“Seeing as how you weren't killed I assume you performed well?”

 

“Yes, I was good at sex. So good I was a personal favorite of the head of security Desolas Arterius. He kept me close to him at all times.”

 

“And how did you stop being a Comfort Human?” The reporter asked.

 

“I was around Desolas so much that I learned a lot of secrets. I gave these secrets to the human resistance.”

 

“There was a resistance?” 

 

 “Yes. Anytime you get a group of people being repressed against their will there will be resistance. They used my information to plan an attack. I kept the head of security busy during the attack and killed him when it was time. We were all freed that day.”

 

“So you killed the man you were sleeping with and escaped?”

 

“That’s right. It wasn’t until this year the Primarch outlawed Comfort Humans in turian space.”

 

“And then you married your bondmate, his son. Did either of them know what you did before?”

 

“No. I was still in the military and given my past of getting close to turians and gathering information I was ordered to do so again with Garrus. I did tell Garrus and his dad I used to be a Comfort Human after a time.”

 

“How did he take it?”

 

“Better than I would have.”

 

“And where is your bondmate?” The reporter makes a show of looking around the empty house.

 

“He is back on Palaven working on finding out who is responsible for killing all the high tiered turians.”

 

“That is right. Our sources tell us that close to 25% of high ranking turians that live outside of Palaven have been killed.”

 

“25%? Last I heard it was 20.”

 

“You should watch more news. Preferably Hericay News Network, the only news network that gives turians the latest news outside of the Apien Crest. The same news network that reported on the aggression by the humans 4 months ago. You were there, were you not?”

 

“I was. After I told the Alliance that the turians lost a large percent of their top people the Alliance decided to attack the turians at Palaven. They were upset at the agreement between them and the humans about being a client race. I was ordered to lead the fight.”

 

“Then what happened?”

 

“I ordered everyone to stand down and go back home.”

 

“Why?”

 

“What the humans did was wrong. We were going to start another war so soon after the last one ended. I didn’t want that. I was also pregnant and I didn’t want my baby to grow up with both of their parent’s races fighting each other. But the biggest reason was that I fell in love with my bondmate Garrus and I didn’t want to fight him, or any turian.”

 

The three turians turned to look at Garrus. His eyes stayed firmly fixed on the screen.

 

“And how did the humans react when you did this?”

 

“They exiled me. I am not allowed back to Earth or any colony worlds that humans have. I haven’t talked to another human in 4 months.”

 

“And how did your bondmate react to finding out you used him in order to gain information for the enemy.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him in 4 months. I’m afraid to.”

 

“Afraid of what?”

 

“I don’t want him to hate me and the baby.”

 

“Do you think he would?”

 

“He should. I did something terrible and it almost led to war.”

 

“Many of the turians watching this view you as a traitor to not just your people but to ours as well. Do you agree?”

 

Jane was silent for a while. “Yes.”

 

“Let’s talk about your baby.” Jane’s eyes lit up right before they dimmed again at her next question, “Is it your mate’s?”

 

“Yes, it’s Garrus’”

 

“And how did he react when you told him you were pregnant?” The report asked her.

 

~four months before~

 

“I’m siding with the ones who did nothing wrong. The side with the man I love.” Jane told her. “And the father of my child.”

 

Father of my child

 

Father of my child

 

The words keep ringing in Garrus’ head. Jane was pregnant with his child and she was defying her entire race because of it. He didn’t know what to think. “All ships return to base.” He ordered. Soon the only two ships left in space were his and The Normandy.

 

“Turias you have the ship.” He called towards his XO. He turned to leave and headed back to his quarters.

 

“Garrus.” a soft whisper interrupts him. Jane didn’t turn off her comms. “Please.”

 

Garrus doesn’t turn around. “Turias you still have the bridge. Don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency.” He continues to his quarters despite the sobs he hears over the comms that tears his heart apart.

 

After the ship returns to Palaven the soldiers are on standby. He gets a ping on his omnitool from his dad. The Primarch is in negotiations with the humans regarding their client race status. He asks Garrus to go back to the house and wait for further orders. 

 

Not wanting to disobey his dad, probably for the first time in his life, he does as ordered.

 

Several hours later, after his mom and sister go to bed, the front door opens up and Castis walks in. He sees Garrus sitting at the couch but makes a stop at the liquor cabinet to grab a bottle of horosk. He sits next to his son on the couch and hands him the bottle. Both men facing forward, neither looking at each other.

 

Garrus takes the bottle but doesn’t do anything with it. “Congratulations.” Casis says after a few silent minutes.

 

Garrus drinks from the bottle. A deep pull that burns his eyes and makes him cough. “She’s pregnant dad. What do I do?” Garrus whispers.

 

“I don’t know son. What do you want to do?” Castis answers.

 

Garrus responds by drinking more horosk.

 

~End of flashback~

 

“How did your mate react when you told him you were pregnant?” The reporter repeats.

 

“I don’t want to answer that.” Jane states.

 

“Humans don’t mate like turians do. Even though you have a mating mark you can still take another lover but your bondmate is forced to be with you for the rest of his life. Is that true?”

 

“Yes, humans don’t mate like turians do.”

 

“So how can you be sure it’s his? Or any turian’s? It’s extremely unlikely that humans and turians can reproduce.”

 

“I have an ultrasound showing human and turian features. I haven’t slept with any other turian in 8 years.”

 

“Is that so?” The camera zooms over towards another turian figure standing in the corner of the house looking very unhappy.

 

“Saren isn’t my lover. He is the Spectre that the council sent over to protect my baby. The attacks on the high tired turians are also targeting their children. Saren is here to make sure no one hurts my baby.”

 

“Saren Arterius. The same Saren Arterius who’s brother used to own you as a Comfort Human? The one who’s brother you killed.”

 

“Yes, that is the same Spectre.”

 

“How is that working out?”

 

“I don’t know how Saren feels about it. I don’t have any negative feelings for him for what his brother did.”

 

“Given that the only assurance that the baby is the Primarch’s grandchild is your word, the word of a spy and traitor, my viewers would like a bit more assurance the child is who you say they are.”

 

Jane opens up her omnitool and presses a few holographic buttons. 

 

“I sent the Primarch a copy of my baby’s paternity test. I knew I would have to prove my baby is a Vakarian if I wanted them to join the Vakarian clan. If he wants to share it then he can. If Garrus wants to share the test then he can. I don’t want my baby’s medical records out there for everyone to see.”

 

Sitting around the table in the living room all the turians look towards Castis. He nods to indicate that he did get the information.

 

“Then we will ask the Primarch his thoughts on the matter. Moving on, this is the first human turian hybrid to be born. How are you making sure they are safe? I understand that humans sometimes don’t do things that keep their unborn babies safe.”

 

“I have an excellent care team. I have a human baby doctor, a turian baby doctor, an asari doctor who has daughters with a turian, a salarian doctor who is a master of genetics, and even a krogan female shaman. I listen to what my doctors say and Saren watches to make sure I do it. He is here to protect my baby, after all.”

 

“Is it true that humans reproduce differently than turians?”

 

“We both give birth to live young. In the womb turian babies are born with all the nutrients that they need to survive already, like an egg on earth. Human fetuses are fed through a cord that attaches to the mother so that what we eat gets transferred to the fetus. Not everything that gets eaten gets transferred but we have to be careful what we eat and drink in order to make sure the baby is born healthy. My baby has the human version of this.”

 

“Have you decided on a name yet?”

 

“No, I want to wait for Garrus.”

 

“Have you decided on a school yet?”

 

“No, I want to wait for Garrus.”

 

“How much of their turian heritage are you going to allow them? Are they going to go to basic at 15? Are they going to get colony markings?”

 

“I want to wait for Garrus before I decide.”

 

“How much of their human culture are you going to push on them?”

 

“As much as they want. If they want to know about Earth and where I am from I will tell them. If they don’t want anything to do with humans then I won't push the matter. I will probably still sing lullabies when they are a baby and other human traits.”

 

“What are your plans for when the baby is born? Are they going to stay here on the Citadel?”

 

“If the Primarch is willing, I want to take the baby to Palaven. So they can be with their family.”

 

“So you are abandoning your baby?”

 

“I’m bringing them to their family. I want them to be safe and happy and loved.”

 

“And they can’t get that here on the Citadel?”

 

“Palaven is safer.”

 

“I suppose that is true.” The reporter stops and thinks before she asks the next question. “Forgive me for saying so but you don’t look so good.”

 

“And here I thought I hid it so well.” Jane jokes. If she did so to stop the reporter's question it didn’t work. She sighs and answers. “Humans don’t take pregnancy as well as turians do. I just have normal pregnancy sickness, that's all. It will get better with time.”

“Well that is all the time we have for today. Thank you Jane for allowing this interview. And thank you for watching. We will keep the galaxy up to date on the first turian human hybrid as the situation develops. Until then this is Nuntius with Hericay News Network, the only news network that gives turians the latest news outside of the Apien Crest.”

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 book 2 chapter 2

Summary:

Jane needs some help with her pregnancy or it will kill her.

After the interview that Jane gave, the turians sat around the living room, no one making a sound. The silence dragged on for a while until Sol decided she couldn’t take it anymore.

 

“Well, it is Garrus’?” She asked. The others turned to her with different levels of glares. “Once a comfort human.” She said.

 

“She saved your life.” Centura reminded her sternly. She did not like that implication from her youngest daughter about her bonded daughter.

 

“By shooting me.” She reminded them back. “I’m not saying it isn’t his, I just want to know.”

 

“It’s a Vakarian.” Castis says. The silence returns.

 

“Well that takes care of that.” Centura says and opens her omnitool and makes a call in front of her family.

 

“Centura?” A weak voice asks as she answers it.

 

“Oh my you sound horrible. Jane, are you alright?” Centura asks, concerned.

 

“Is everyone okay? Garrus…” Of course Jane would be worried about someone in the family. Centura didn’t reach out as much as she should have and with the sudden call out of the blue Jane would think something terrible happened. Maybe even happened to Garrus.

 

“Everyone is fine dear, I’m calling about you.” Centura tells her softly. She shoots a reprimanding subvocalization towards Garrus.

 

“This pregnancy is killing me. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I’m sick all the time.” She starts to cry. “What is worse is that the baby isn’t meeting milestones; it's too small. I’m so scared!” She cries harder. After a few minutes of listening to her cry, Centura speaks up.

 

“Listen Jane, here is what we are going to do. You are going to come to Palaven and I am going to take care of you.” Centura said in her no nonsense tone of voice. Her ‘mom’ voice.

 

“You want me on Palaven?” Jane asks seemingly surprised.

 

“Of course dear. I haven’t seen you in months and I miss you. I also want to see your baby.”

 

“The baby isn’t born yet.” Jane reminds her.

 

“I know. I still want to see you.”

 

“Does anyone else want to see me?” Jane asks hesitantly. Centura looks at her family. Sol nods and so does Castis. Garrus looks away from her and won't meet her eyes.

 

“I don’t know how he feels. But you need to work this out. For my grandchild’s sake.” Centura tells her.

 

“My doctor team wants me to go to Palaven anyway. They want to expose the baby to the radiation to develop their plates.” Jane explained.

 

“But you can’t survive the radiation.” Garrus blurted out before he could stop himself.

 

“Hello Primarch.” Jane said. She must have thought Garrus was his dad based on how far away he was from the receiver. Also if Garrus was willing to think about it he and his dad do sound alike. “My care team doesn’t care about my health, it’s the baby’s health that matters. I do have a cream I can rub on to avoid the worst of it and Garrus told me that the house was shielded.”

 

“He is right. The house is shielded from the radiation. You can stay here with us.” Centura said.

 

“I don’t think Garrus –”

 

“Well he doesn’t get a say. If he doesn’t want to see you he can find a hotel to stay at.” Centura said in her mom voice.

 

Jane giggles a little. “Thanks Centura. I would love to come to Palaven. Is tomorrow an okay time?”

 

Centura smiles, “of course it’s fine dear. Pack enough for a while. Once you are here I’m not letting you leave. I want you here with your family, safe and protected.”

 

Jane sighs on the other end. “I really want that.” She confesses through tears.

 

So when the next day came and there was a knock on the door to the Vakarian estate, Centura wasn’t surprised. It was earlier in the day than she was expecting but since the sun wasn’t strong yet it was a good time for Jane to arrive. She was in the kitchen making something and turned to Garrus who was just sitting there with her.

 

“Go get the door dear. My hands are full.” Centura ordered him. He stood and stared at the door several rooms away.

 

“I don’t think I’m ready mom.” He admits through a whisper.

 

Centura huffs and leaves the kitchen to get the door. Garrus does the mature thing and runs and hides out of sight but still within hearing range. The door opens and there stands Jane with her duffle bag.

 

“I know it’s early but….”

 

“It’s fine dear. Please come in.” Centura moves so that Jane can get out of the sun. Jane comes in and looks around. It’s a big impressive house so Centura lets her look for a few minutes before she takes Jane’s hand and leads her to the couch. They sit together while Jane puts her duffle bag on the floor.

 

Centura takes a good look at Jane. It was clear she looked better on the interview she did then than she does now. She looked exhausted and even though her body had the baby bump it appeared that she lost weight. Her skin was paler than before and her eyes were sunken in with dark circles around them. She looked so fragile that Centura wasn’t sure if she were to hug her if she would crumble to dust at the lightest touch. This looked nothing like the woman who killed three krogan with nothing but her son’s combat knife.

 

“Jane you look…” She trailed off.

 

“Like hell.” Jane finished for her. She offered up a weak smile.

 

“‘Terrible’ was what I was going to say. What is happening?” Centura asks.

 

“Everytime I eat I vomit. Just thinking about food makes me ill. I can’t sleep because he kicks me everytime I try and it hurts. Apparently his spurs are developing and my soft human body tears a bit when he hits me with them. I feel so drained and raw. My hormones are all over the place so I’m crying one minute and laughing the next. I don’t know if I can keep this up for another 6 months before the baby is born.” Jane said and sank further into the couch. She closed her eyes and then opened them again when her stomach seemed to bump.

 

Centura was fascinated, turian babies don’t move enough so that it’s visible on the outside. She looked between Jane’s belly then her face then back to her belly as it continued to move. Jane smiled and grabbed Centura’s hand and placed it over her stomach. Centura felt the baby inside respond with a powerful ‘kick’ into her hand.

 

“That’s incredible.” She said, “turian babies are so small they don’t have the power to move our skin like that. Also we are plated so we don’t have the flexibility that human skin has.”

 

“He has his daddy’s ability to dance. He just loves to move.” Jane said and sighed. 

 

“He?”

 

“Yeah.” Jane smiled and looked down embarrassed. “I wanted Garrus to be the first to know but yeah. He is a boy.” Centura hugged her and she embraced her back. It was a sweet moment. They finished their hug and pulled away.

 

“You can’t keep anything down?” Centura asks.

 

“No.“ Jane admits.

 

“Wait right here.” Centura returns to the kitchen, glaring at her son hiding behind a pillar as she does so. She takes a bowl and places some food in it and returns to Jane. “Try this.” Centura hands her the bowl.

 

Jane smiles but doesn’t seem convinced it will help. She eats the food anyway. After a few bites her eyes go wide and she starts eating with a flourish. “This is really good.” She says and finishes the bowl. Jane smiles for real and looks at Centura. “It was perfect, it didn’t upset my stomach at all. And the temperature was cool and eased my throat. What was that?”

 

“Just some fruit that is good for pregnant turians.” Centura explains. She gets up to get Jane another bowl.

 

“What are you doing? Jane is levo, she can’t eat dextro fruit!” Garrus hisses at his mom.

 

“She is carrying a dextro baby. I had a hunch that was the problem.” Centura explains whispering to Garrus.

 

“You poisoned my bondmate on a hunch!” Garrus hisses in shock.

 

“Her normal food was killing her. Look at her Garrus, she is starving and dehydrated. Not to mention sleep deprived. I had to do something to save my grandson.” She finishes filling the bowl again and brings it to Jane who happily digs in.

 

“Thank you. I can’t believe not one of my doctors told me to eat this.” She said smiling. Now that her belly is full her eyes started to droop.

 

“It is my pleasure to help you in any way that I can.” Centura says and she goes back to the kitchen and grabs Garrus. She forces him into the living room and shows him to a passed out Jane. “take her to your room so she can sleep.” She orders her son. 

 

Garrus does as ordered and lifts up his bondmate and brings her to his room. Even with her increased belly she weighs less then he remembers.He lays her down on the bed and pulls the blankets over her. Now that he is closer to her he realizes just how dire the situation was. Jane was slowly dying and nothing the team of doctors was doing was working. He watches as she curls up on the bed and snuggles into it. 

 

“Thanks mom.” She whispers before her snores take over and she falls asleep.

 

Some time later Shepard woke up from the best nap in her life. For once the baby didn’t keep her up and her nightmares stayed away. She contemplated just going back to sleep but she smelled something amazing and decided to investigate.

 

Walking down the stairs she encountered Solana, Castis, Centura, and Garrus sitting at the dining room table. There was an extra spot that was open next to Centura that Jane made her way over to. As she sat down Garrus got up and left the room. Jane looked down dejectedly but then looked up as Garrus returned and placed a plate in front of her.

 

“We were worried you would sleep through breakfast dear.” Centura said. Jane smiled and started eating with a passion. She didn’t look at anyone as she dug into her meal. “I am glad to see your appetite has returned.” Centura smiled.

 

Jane looked up at her and smiled as well. “I can’t explain it but I haven’t eaten anything significant in 4 months but your food is really hitting the spot.”

 

Centura made a frustrated humm. “That is because your doctors are idiots. The baby is dextro based and they kept feeding him levo food. Of course he wasn’t going to keep it down.” Centura said as if it made all the sense in the world.

 

“The ultrasound we did showed that he has human and turian parts. We didn’t know he was dextro.” Then she looked down shyly. “Do you want to see the ultrasounds?” She asked Centura.

 

Centura lit up. “I absolutely want to see the first pictures of my grandson. After you eat your fill.” Centura told her. Jane happily nodded her head and got back to eating. The atmosphere around the table was a little awkward but Sol and Centura talked as if nothing was wrong and that helped diffuse some of the tension.

 

“I would like to see the ultrasound pictures as well. Are they on your omnitool?” Castis asked. Jane was momentarily floored. The Primarch wanted to see her baby? She nodded to him unsure of what to say. “Garrus, hook up her omnitool to the vid-screen so we all can see it. Leave the dishes for now.” He ordered.

 

Garrus and Jane stood up and went to the living room. From there Jane sat on the floor next to the vid-screen as Garrus went about pairing it with the omni-tool. Jane busies herself with finding the ultrasound pictures. The rest of the family comes in and takes their seats on the couch. Garrus finishes his work and joins them by sitting on a chair.

 

Jane shows them the first picture. 100 years ago technology wasn’t as advanced so she wouldn’t have been able to get as clear a picture as she can nowadays. The picture shows a clear fetus with human and turian parts. He had a turian face and a small fringe showing. His body was human shaped without the carapace and keel but it appears that there were plates around his flesh beginning to form on his torso and arms. His legs were bent in the same way Garrus’ were.

 

Centura cooed “Oh look at my cute Grandson.” 

 

Cute wasn’t how Jane would have described it. It was her baby but it looked like a freak of nature. Probably not the right thing to think when you are going to be it’s mom. Oh she is going to be a horrible mom. She starts to cry.

 

“Jane, honey, what’s wrong?” Centura asks.

 

“I don’t think he is cute! I’m such a horrible mom!” Jane wails. “I don’t know how to love!” 

 

“Oh honey, come here.” Centura beckends, Jane gets up and hugs her. Centura rocks and makes calming sounds in her subvocals. Garrus and his dad share a look. 

 

“I don’t know why I’m like this. I’ve never been like this.” Jane cries.

 

“It’s the hormones. When I was pregnant with Garrus I was angry at Castis all the time for no reason. I wanted to beat him up everyday. When I told him I was pregnant with Sol he bought me a punching bag.” Centura said. Jane laughed. “You do know how to love. You love Garrus. You defied an entire race of people for him. And you would do more for your child. I’ve seen you with Tarquin Victus and I know you will be good with kids. You will make a fine mother.” 

 

Jane is still cuddled in her arms. “Thanks mom. You always know what to say.”

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 book 2 chapter 3

Summary:

Castis finds out some troubling news regarding Jane's health. Jane and Garrus talk about what they have to do.

Jane cried herself to sleep. Castis used his Primarch authority to get Jane’s medical records sent to him. She was extremely sleep deprived so it wasn’t a shock that she fell asleep again. She was malnourished and dehydrated too. There were severe concerns about the health of the baby and whether Shepard would live through the birthing process.

 

Castis called Garrus into his office. Garrus took a seat and waited for his father to speak. “I got Jane’s medical record. It doesn’t look good son. There is a real chance that she will lose the baby or her life.” Castis told him.

 

Garrus takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “I’ll talk to Jane when she wakes up. I want to see what she wants to do.” Garrus told his father.

 

“As the Primarch I want this baby as a symbol of turian and human unity. As a grandfather I want this baby to be healthy and safe. As a father I want what will make you happy.” Castis told him.

 

“I understand.” Garrus said.

 

A few hours later Shepard woke up to the smell of something wonderful nearby. She looked and on her night stand was something edible. Shepard grabbed it and started eating before she even noticed the turian in the room.

 

“They told me you were starving. I can see it’s true.” Garrus told her.

 

Shepard finished her bite. “Hi Garrus.” She said hesitantly.

 

“Hi Jane.” He said. 

 

“Are you still mad at me?” Jane asked quietly.

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s fair. I did spy on you. It would be hard not to be mad.” Jane said.

 

“But you did avert a war for me. So I can’t stay mad at you forever. Especially now that you are carrying my son. A baby that is killing you.” Garrus said. “When you told mom that the pregnancy was killing you I didn’t think you meant it literally.”

 

“Yeah. I feel better now. Staying on Palaven will keep me alive. At least long enough to have the baby.” Jane told him.

 

“Is that what you want? The baby in exchange for your life?” Garrus asked.

 

“I don’t know.” Jane admitted.

 

“I know what I want.” Garrus told her and took her hand in his. She looked up at him. “I want you to live. I want to be a father but only if you can be its mother. I don’t want the baby in exchange for you.”

 

“I don’t know if I can get rid of the baby. I always believed in pro-choice, especially in this circumstance, but now that I am here I don’t know if I’m strong enough to go through it.” Jane said weakly. “I want to keep the baby Garrus.”

 

“Damn it Jane!” Garrus gets up from his seat and starts to pace. “Think about yourself. You will literally die if you do this!” He yells.

 

“I know Garrus. I know. But what do I have to live for? My whole race hates me. My adopted race hates me. You hate me. By bringing this baby into the universe might be the one good thing I can do.” Jane tells him.

 

“I don’t hate you. I’m mad but I will get over it. If you do this I can’t guarantee I wont hate my son for taking you away from me.”

 

“You won’t hate him. You will love him. You will hate me for my decision but it’s my decision and it’s what I decided.” Jane said strongly.

 

Garrus storms out of her bedroom. Jane eats more food.

 

Jane came down a few hours later for dinner. The whole family was there minus Garrus. She looked at his empty spot with sadness.

 

“He took your decision hard dear.” Centura said. “He wanted me to talk you out of it.”

 

“Are you going to?” Jane asked. She knew that if anyone could talk her out of it, it would be Centura. The woman cared about her like a mom and Jane felt more towards Centura than she does for her real mom.

 

“No. I respect your decision. I just have to do everything in my power to make sure that you don’t die when you deliver your baby.” Centura said. “And that starts by making you healthy meals. So eat up!”

 

A few hours later Jane feels the bed dip down. She smiles as she cuddles close to Garrus. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” She whispers.

 

“Just because I am mad at you doesn’t mean I’m not going to sleep in my bed.” He whispers back.

 

“I’m sorry you are mad at me.” Jane tells him.

 

“I just wish you would place more importance on your life.” Garrus says, draping his arm over his eyes.

 

“My life is important. I just want to use it to try and bring this baby into the world. Besides, your mom is going to help keep me alive. She is feeling me, and I am finally sleeping. I’m not dead yet, and I might not be.” Jane tells him. She cuddles up to him. “You are going to be a great father Garrus.”

 

“And you are going to be a great mom. I’m going to make sure you survive to grow old with our son.” Garrus promises her and cuddles her back. There is still a lot they have to work through. Neither of them are sure of the state of their relationship but it’s a start.

 

The next day Castis, as Primarch, held a press conference. He told everyone what he knew of the high tired murders, it wasn’t much but he still told everyone. He also told everyone that he forgave Jane for her work as a spy and feeding the information to the Alliance. 

 

“It is with great respect that I also acknowledge the strength that my bond-daughter has in defying her entire species for the sake of the love she has for my son and all turians. It is also with great pride that I announce that the Vakarian line will be getting stronger with the addition of my grandson. He will be the best of both the humans and the turians and the future of the turian race!”

 

There was no going back now. The whole galaxy was watching her pregnancy with interest.

Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Book 2 chapter 4

Summary:

Garrus has been staying "Late in the office." Is it what Jane thinks or is something more at play?

Jane was slowly getting better. She was finally able to eat without it coming back up and she was sleeping through the night. She was looking better too and able to be as energetic as she was before the pregnancy. 

 

Her relationship with Garrus was not getting better. 

 

He was still mad at her for betraying him and for going along with the pregnancy even though it might cost her her life. He was working late and coming home later or not at all. He was avoiding her and she didn’t know what to do. So while her health was better her emotional health was not.

 

“Just go see him.” Sol told her as Jane paced the living room. She had been pacing for over an hour.

 

“I can’t just walk up to the government building and say ‘hey I’m here to make up with my bondmate for spying on him for a government that wanted to kill you all’. How would that look? I doubt I’m even allowed anywhere near the government building after what happened last time I was there. And if he wants to avoid me then he can. I don’t care.” She sits in a chair with a huff crossing her arms. Clearly caring.

 

Sol got up from her spot on the couch and walked towards Shepard in the chair. She placed her turian hands on Shepard’s human shoulders and looked at her with all the compassion Sol could muster. Then Sol shook her as violently as she dared with Jane being pregnant and all.

 

“Are you forgetting who you are?” Sol asked her. “You are Commander Shepard. You once took down three krogan with nothing but a combat knife. You saved my life by shooting me. You defied an entire race of people, your people, for the man you love. Are you really telling me that you can’t have an honest conversation with your bondmate about your feelings?”

 

“Fighting is easier.” Shepard said quietly.

 

“And the sister-in-law that I know would never do something that was worse just because it was easier. Talk to Garrus!” Sol told her.

 

“You are right, Sol. Enough pouting and feeling sorry for myself. I am going to march into the Heriaracy building and talk to Garrus. I won't come back until we fix everything!” 

 

~~~~

 

Garrus was avoiding Jane. 

 

If anyone were to ask him he would say that he is working late because more and more high tier turians were being killed off. But in reality he was working late to avoid his bondmate.

 

He didn’t mean to, he just didn’t know what to say to her. He wasn’t as mad as he was before. If he was perfectly honest with himself, the fact that she stood in between him and her mother’s gun and denounced her entire race for him was hot. 

 

But he was still mad she lied and spied on him.

 

Then there was the fact that she was pregnant. They talked about kids, in the future. They both weren’t sure if they were ready for them now. He was a Spectre and there was a madman killing off high tier turians and their children. Would any children they had be safe? It was a moot point now since he had a son in his bondmate’s womb. They were going to be parents and he had to make up with Jane soon, for his son’s sake.

 

But he was still mad at her.

 

He sighed. He was being a coward and he knew it. He needed to talk to her and stop avoiding her. He wasn’t even all that mad anymore. He was just holding on to being mad for the sake of being mad. That wasn’t very productive or helpful. 

 

He was gathering up his things to leave. He was going to talk to his bondmate now. He was interrupted by the sound of his office door opening. He looked up to see Paria Veir, an asari secretary, walk in. She was smart and capable, she was good at seeing the patterns as they arise and was instrumental in saving several families from being the next on the list of casualties. 

 

“Miss Veir, working late I see.” Garrus addressed her.

 

“Spectre, I see you are also working late.” She countered back to him.

 

“Not for long. Going home now. Need to make up with the bondmate.” Garrus tells her.

 

“Oh, sure you don’t want to stay for a little longer.” She walks up to him swaying her hips. “You look tense, Spectre.” She places her hands on his neck and starts to rub it. Her five fingers are soft and remind him of Jane’s. When she starts to massage his special spot on his neck under his fringe he jumps away from her.

 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” He screams at her.

 

Instead of what he was expecting, she drops her dress and jumps on his desk. Underneath her dress she was wearing lingerie that was designed with turians in mind. It accentuated her narrow waist and she turned her head to show off her delicate fringe. She beckoned him with a finger.

 

He walked closer to her. 

 

She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him to her. She starts to massage his spot while rubbing her inner thighs against his sensitive waist. “I see the way you look at me. I know things are hard at home. Let me ease your stress.” She purrs in his ear. “You are working later in the office. It’s understandable that you are seeing someone else.”

 

Garrus violently shoves her away. “I don’t look at you as anything other than a co-worker. I don’t need you to ease my stress, I have my bondmate. My wonderful bondmate who is carrying our son.” Garrus huffs at her.

 

“Then I would hurry home to her. Before it’s too late.” She says as she sits up and walks out of his office. She didn’t stop and grab her dress. She exited Garrus’ office wearing nothing but underwear designed to entice turians. She also had his scent on her from when they were close.

 

There will be rumors tomorrow.

 

For now he had to get home before any of those rumors got to Jane. He was glad his beloved was a human, she wouldn’t be able to scent the presence of another woman. Just as he crossed the threshold of his parents house he was assaulted by a fist colliding with his scared mandible. He went reeling onto the floor. He looked up at his assailant with disbelief.

 

“What the hell, Sol.”

 

Solana stood there with her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Now we know why you were always working late at the office.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Garrus asks. In response Sol points to the living room. Garrus picks himself off the floor and walks to the living room. Seeing his dad, the primarch, sitting there giving off disappointed subvocals was concerning but not something he wasn’t used to. Having his mom there giving off disappointment and anger was new though.

 

On the vidscreen was a still image of Garrus with Peria on his desk with her legs wrapped around his waist and hands under his fringe. It would have been a shot for fornax, except it was a wide angle shot that showed the entrance to his office. A door that should have been closed but was opened and Jane standing in it.

 

The shot was perfect for seeing the hurt and betrayal on her face.

 

someone, probably his dad, started the vid as the asari continued to seduce him and Jane ran away from the scene crying. The vid stopped shortly after that. It did not show Garrus refusing the asari. It was perfect for making it look like Garrus was cheating on Jane right in front of her.

 

“Where is she?” He asked the room.

 

“We don’t know. She left to talk some sense into you and shortly after she left every turian’s omni-tool was sent this vid.” Sol said. Then she hit him again. “How could you cheat on her? How long has this been going on for? Is this why you have been staying at the office more? You are a-”

 

“Sol, it isn’t what it looks like. I did not have sex with that asari. She set me up for Jane to see. Does anyone know where she went?” Garrus defends.

 

“You never should have been in that situation to begin with!” Castis tells him.

 

“I know! But where is Jane?”

 

~~~~~~

 

Jane was at the transport docks. She was getting a ride off of Palaven and back to the Citadel. As she took her seat she noticed that she was among turians. It made sense, there were only a handful of other species on Palaven, mostly Volus and a few asari. Asari, like the blue skinned whore who stole her man!

 

Jane took a deep breath. It wasn’t the asari’s fault. It was hers. If she didn’t lie to Garrus in the first place he would never have sought comfort from someone else. He didn’t trust her anymore and she didn’t blame him. He cheated on her, maybe for a while now. There was no coming back from that.

 

Jane felt totally alone. She didn’t have her species since she was a traitor to them, she didn’t have her family since they would side with Garrus over her, and she didn’t have her bondmate. All she had was the chick in her body. She curled up on herself, protecting her stomach as much as she could.

 

As the transport took off she noticed all of the turians got an alert on their omni-tools at the same time. They looked at it and then several looked at her. She was too tired and distraught to care about what new thing happened on Palaven.

 

That was a lie.

 

She looked over at her neighbor’s omni-tool to catch the rewatch of a vid. It was what she already witnessed in person; her bondmate with an asari. Someone took the security footage of that event and sent it out to everyone. 

 

Why?

 

Easily someone wanted to discredit Garrus and Shepard’s relationship. But why show her in the vid? Why show how much she was hurt by it? No one liked her, either turian or human, so showing her pain wouldn’t accomplish much. And if that was what they wanted, why stop the vid only when Jane entered and exited it. Why not show all the gritty details of Garrus sleeping with her. 

 

No discrediting the relationship wasn’t the play. Showing her was the focal point. Showing her pain would cause either joy or pain for someone else. There was an entire species that would be happy to see her hurt. Especially since the news made it clear she was choosing turians over humans due to love. If that love wasn’t reciprocated and she was in pain then it would justify the humans. But then why did all turians get the vid and not humans?

 

What if seeing her in pain was painful to someone else. Garrus would come to mind first but he was sleeping around on her so that wasn’t the point. Maybe Garrus’ family. Like the Primarch! What if this whole thing was sent to turians everywhere to discredit the Primarch. He made it clear in a few of his speeches that he supported Jane’s decision to back the turians and was thrilled that she fell in love with his son. He even publicly forgave her for spying and lying in the first place. Was the vid an attempt to discredit or hurt the Primarch?

 

Jane was thrown out of her own theorizing by the ship suddenly swaying and the lights flickering. “Everyone please remain calm. This is your captain speaking. We have been boarded by an unknown party. Everyone stay in your seats while security repeals this force.”

Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Book 2 chapter 5

Summary:

Jane is taken against her will by an unknown force to an unknown location for an unknown reason.

Jane waited patiently in her seat. This was a turian craft with a turian security force, pirates are stupid to try and take them on. There were some sounds of gunfire at the head of the ship but Jane stayed in her seat like a good soldier taking orders. Soon the sound of gunfire stopped and all was quiet at the front of the ship.

 

The PA system turned on again but when the voice came over the system it lacked the dual tone quality that Jane loved. “Attention passengers, this is not your captain speaking. We only want the human and then we will leave you all alone. Any attempts to stop us from taking what we want will be met with by force. Now Shepard, unbuckle yourself from the seat and proceed slowly towards the front of the ship.”

 

Jane did as she was told. She slowly unbuckled and stood up slowly with her hands in the air. “What are you doing?” Her seat neighbor hissed. “Don’t do what terrorists want. We are turians, we will fight to protect you.”

 

Jane looked around and noticed several other turians nod their heads at her. They would lay down their lives for her. She also noticed turian chicks in their parent’s cowls and sitting on their parent’s laps. Jane knew that she would never put civilians in harm's way, especially not chicks.

 

“I’m not scared of them. I’m going to protect all of you.” She told her seat neighbor loudly so every turian heard her. She didn’t want anyone to try and stop her.

 

“We know who you are. You don’t have to go with them. We will fight with you.” the neighbor pleaded.

 

“If you know who I am then you know I will do everything in my power to save as many turian lives as I can.” She tells him. She winks at him and walks to the front of the ship. There she meets a lot of humans in heavy armor wielding heavy weapons.

 

“I am Jane Shepard-Vakarian. I agree to go with you so long as you don’t hurt the people on this ship.” She tells them with the authority of someone who will be listened to.

 

“I am Neil and you have my word that we will not hurt anyone so long as you cooperate.” The human male in the center of the group told her. She looked around and noticed that the captain, pilot, and co-pilot were all unconscious but alive under the flight control panel. Jane nods and they lead her out of the transport ship through the airlock towards another ship that was attached to this one.

 

Inside this larger ship she noticed that there was a seat situated in the middle of the room. “Now sit down and strap in. I don’t want to restrain you.” Neil tells her.

 

Jane does as she is told and Neil knocks on the bulkhead and the ship de-teathers from the transport ship and flys away. True to Neil’s word the ship didn’t fire, or harm the other one in any way. The armed individuals kept their weapons trained on Jane for the duration of the trip, 4 hours, then through a relay, then 6 hours. Jane almost felt bad that the people holding her at gunpoint had to stand for 10 hours at a time.

 

Almost.

 

Jane’s seat was kept away from any windows so she wasn’t sure where she was or what it even looked like. When they started to dock she didn’t know if she was docking with another ship or a station or even a planet. She had to admit, this was the most in the dark kidnapping she has been a part of yet.

 

After the ship came to rest for about 20 minutes did Neil agree she could get up from her seat. “I have to use the restroom.” She told him.

 

“Hold it.” He ordered.

 

“I have been sitting on my ass for 10 hours and I’m pregnant. I’m using the bathroom.” She informed him. He sighed and brought her to a restroom. They stood outside her stall waiting for her to finish. She really did have to pee so using the sound of a person relieving themselves to cover up the sound of booting up her omni-tool.

 

She didn’t have long and most of the features of her omni-tool were not functioning. She figured there was some shielding in place to keep unregistered omni-tools from working. Luckily she had a Spectre grade omni-tool (Thank you Nihlus!) that was given to her incase of trouble. She didn’t have a lot of time so she sent a quick 4 word message.

 

I’m safe, love you.

 

She disabled her omni-tool and hid it in her pants as she pulled them up after she was done using the bathroom. She will be searched and her omni-tool will be taken away but they didn’t know it was capable of sending out messages. She had to make them think that they were in control.

 

“Finally, come with us.” Neil said as he marched her towards the main compound. Through a lot of sliding doors they finally arrived at a room with a window looking down onto a large open space with comfy chairs, tables, a vid-screen, a kitchen area, everything a space needs to be livable. Milling about this large space were several human women. Some were talking to each other, some were watching the vid-screen, some were sitting at the table drinking what looked like coffee.

 

They watched the women for 15 minutes before Jane was ushered into another room. This one looked like a laboratory. It was stark white and had a lot of shiny metal implements around. Jane walked forward to take in more of the lab but she noticed that her guard stayed by the doors.

 

On the opposite side of the room a pair of doors opened up and stepping through them was a human male and an asari, a very familiar asar.

 

“You're the bitch that slept with my bondmate!” Jane said and ran towards her. She threw up a barrier between herself and Jane. Jane pounded on it. “I will kill you.” She hit the barrier so hard it started to sprinter and crack.

 

“I didn’t sleep with him.” the asari said. “I tried to, but he wouldn’t let me.”

 

“Now Jane, can I call you Jane?” The human male wearing a white lab coat said. “Jane, it is true that we sent Dr. Veir here to seduce your husband but it didn’t work. The closest thing we got was what you saw; the desk thing. We were hoping to get more but he wouldn’t even look at her. And we made sure to send in our most attractive asari too.”

 

“I never failed at a seduction mission before. You are lucky to have such a devoted bondmate.” the asari, Dr. Veir, said.

 

“Why even do it in the first place?” Jane asked, she was still mad, she wasn’t sure Garrus didn’t sleep with her afterall.

 

“To get you here. After thorough investigation into your psyche we noticed that you flee when confronted with something you don’t want to deal with. You run away when things get uncomfortable.” The human doctor said.

 

“No I don't!” Jane said insulted. “I fight! I always fight. My fight or flight sense is set to always fight.”

 

“You fight when you have to, when there is something to physically fight. Krogan coming to take Tarquin Victus away? Fight them. Mom going to blow up husband? Fight! Telling husband you work for the humans spying on them? Flee.” The doctor said. “You can’t fight your husband that was why you were on the Citadel for so long before you finally went to Palaven. You hide your feelings from Garrus Vakarian. So we used that. First step was to seduce Garrus and tape it. You see the vid and run away. We intercept you and bring you here. We only were able to get him in a compromising position and you walked in. even better since we didn’t have to use vid.”

 

“Why send the vid to all turians?” Jane asked.

 

“We didn’t. We took the vid but we were just as shocked as you were when it got leaked to all turians. We don’t know who did it.” Dr. Veir, the whore asari, said.

 

“And who are ‘we’? You guys an offshoot of Cerberus?” Jane asked.

 

“No. Cerberus is a human terrorist group looking out for humanity. We are a group looking out for all species.” The human doctor said.

 

“Isn’t that the council’s job?” Jane asked.

 

“The council is a bunch of politicians that can’t do anything on their own. We don’t have that problem. We are Chimera. We will uplift all races and promote galaxy wide peace.” The human doctor said.

 

“You really just took a name from Greek Mythology. You are just another Cerberus.” Jane accuses. 

 

“You will see in time.”

 

“Okay I’ll bite. What is your project?” Jane asked.

 

“Create the perfect warrior.” The asari said.

 

“The krogan already exists.” Jane pointed out.

 

“They lack the ability to strategize. If you are a three ton monster with a shotgun you don’t need to think beyond a head first approach.” The human said.

 

“So Salarians. They think a lot.” Jane said.

 

“Too much. When everything is stronger than you, you think and strategize but don’t really fight on the front lines. There is a saying that when salarians go to war it is over before a bullet is fired.” The asari said.

 

“So turians.” Jane tried again.

 

“Almost. They lack the ability to question and to think individually and to adapt.” The human said.

 

Jane’s eyes grew wide. Her hands were on her stomach as she figured it out. “NO!” She gasped.

 

“Yes. A turian-human hybrid would make the greatest warrior.” Both the doctors said at the same time.

Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Book 2 chapter 6

Summary:

Jane is captured and they have leverage to get her to cooperate. Garrus learns that Jane didn't walk out on him but was taken against her will.

Jane’s heartbeat increased dramatically as the reality of the situation became clear. This organization, Chimera, arranged for her kidnapping to get at her unborn son. They wanted to turn him into a perfect warrior.

 

“You will not take my baby!” She tells them.

 

“We already have it. Now it’s just a matter of if it stays with you after its birth or goes with us for education.” The asari doctor told her. The same one who was picked to seduce Garrus.

 

“What do you mean?” she asks them. 

 

“After the birth the child will go through training to make it a great warrior. They will spar, read about battle strategies, participate in war games, learn to shoot, all things that turians are already taught.” The human explains. “They will just participate earlier than most and for longer each day. Given their lineage they will be a great leader too. With their mom a commander and their dad a general. The only thing that remains in your control is whether or not you teach them these things or if we take them from you and give them to one of the other human women.”

 

“Those other human women in that room. They are like me?” She asks.

 

“Yes and no. They all have the genetic marker to have turian chicks but none are pregnant so far. Your child will lead their children into a new age.” The human explained.

 

“We can’t figure out why you were able to get pregnant but they were not. We will run some tests on you to figure that out. Don’t worry, we won't hurt your baby. Your child is the priority with us and none will harm it.” The asari said.

 

Jane was happy that this facility cared about her child. She was less than thrilled that they wanted to make her baby into a super warrior. Still she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in this situation.

 

“What if I don’t cooperate and terminate my pregnancy? Or take my own life?” Jane asked.

 

“We have a plan for that.” The human doctor said. He pushed a holographic button on his omni-tool and the door opened behind her. She turned to see Tarquin Victus run into the room.

 

“Tarquin?!” Jane exclaimed. The small turian fledgling ran into her open arms and began to keen.

 

“Jane. They took me away from my parents.” Tarquin explains as he nuzzles into her. “They brought me here and I don’t know why?”

 

Jane wraps her arms around Tarquin protectively. “Tarquin, did they hurt you?” She asks in her “commander” voice.

 

“No. They brought me here and ignored me. I haven’t eaten anything all day and I’m hungry Jane.” Tarquin said.

 

“We thought since you had such strong maternal instincts for this turian we would bring him here as a precaution against anything you might do to harm yourself or your child. You wouldn’t want Tarquin to get hurt now.” The human doctor said.

 

Jane realized that they had her. She could never put Tarquin in danger, no matter the circumstances. “Fine. Tarquin stays with me. He lives with me and he eats with me. I won't let you touch him.” Jane says with fire in her voice.

 

“Perfect!” The asari doctor clapped. “Let us take you to your rooms then.” Armed guards led them down a few halls and to a door at the end of the last hall. Jane, relying on her military training, memorized the location as best she could. 

 

Opening up the door Jane was surprised to find an entire apartment with a small kitchen and dining room, a living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a small workout room. They even had a balcony that opened over the outside. Finally answering her question of whether this was a space station, planet, or other installation. 

 

“Is there food?” Tarquin asked again. He was in the middle of a growth spurt and he needed constant nutrition. If he didn’t eat he would grow up smaller and sicklier than the other turians. 

 

Jane started to walk to the kitchen but one of the guards spoke up. “We have a cafeteria for your use. A guard will be posted outside your rooms at all times so if you want to use the main facilities then they will be able to take you there.”

 

“Why give us a kitchen if there is a cafeteria?” Jane asked.

 

“If you don’t want to socialize or eat what the cafetera made.” The guard answered. “There is a datapad next to the wall here that you can order whatever you want. Be it food, or toiletries, or other items.” He pointed to the wall. Sure enough there was a datapad there.

 

“Take us to the cafetera. Tarquin needs to eat.” Jane said firmly.

 

~~~~~~

 

3 days after Jane’s abduction.

 

Garrus is sitting, leaning actually, in his office. His hands are on his desk supporting his hunched frame. He is thinner and his plates are duller than when Jane was here with him. It’s been three days since she left him. He doesn’t know what happened to her and the only interaction between them was a cryptic message of only 4 words.

 

“I’m safe, love you.”

 

Any attempts to get in contact with her failed. She wasn’t on the Citadel in their house or anywhere else he knows of. She must have gone into hiding since she told him she was safe. But she also told him that she loved him. Since the reason she left was because she thought he was being unfaithful to her, her declaration of love was surprising. It also seemed final. It read to Garrus like “I’m safe so don’t worry about our child’s health. I love you but you don’t love me so I am leaving forever. I will never get over my broken heart and it’s all your fault. Don’t come find me.”

 

It was all Garrus’ fault, he knew that. If he was smarter he wouldn’t have fallen for such an obvious trap. He should have ran faster to catch her when she ran away. He should have explained everything to her sooner. He should have made up with her sooner. He should have called his dad the minute she left him in that office and made him stop her.

 

He should have done a million things. What he did do was lose her, probably forever.

 

He was looking for her still. He needed to make it right. He even got Nihlus and Saren involved with looking for her. His dad was looking for her. Everyone but the Victus’ were looking for her. It didn’t help that Tarquin was kidnapped the same day that Jane left. According to Adrien they were in his sky-car when they all fell asleep. When they awoke Tarquin was missing. Garrus was looking for Tarquin as well as Jane.

 

Garrus sighed dejectedly as he held back a keen. Things could not get any worse.

 

Just then the door to Garrus’ office opened up and Saren and Nihlus walked in with a turian in between them. Garrus raised his head to look at them. He didn’t have the energy to properly stand.

 

“Tell him what you told us.” Nihlus tells the new turian.

 

“I was on a transport from Palaven to the Citadel when I noticed that my seat mate was a human. And it was Commander Shepard.” the new turian began. Garrus glared at Saren, it was his job to look on the Citadel for her. “That was when we got the vid of what you did…” The turian trailed off. “Anyway, she looked over and saw it. Then some mercs boarded the ship and took her. She went with them to make sure we all got to the Citadel safely. When we landed I found Spectre Kryik wandering the docs and told him everything. That is all I know.” He finished.

 

I’m safe, love you.

 

She was letting him know that she was safe after the mercs took her and she was letting him know that she still cared after seeing the release of the vid. She was no longer avoiding him, she was taken. And now that he thinks about it, they must have taken Tarquin because he is important to Jane.

 

“Get me the captain and crew of that transport!” he ordered. “The mercs must have some identifiable characteristics or maybe he saw their ship.” Nihlus and Saren nodded and left to do as ordered. He opened up his omni-tool and selected Ardien’s number. “I have a lead. I’ll debrief you tomorrow.” He hung up. “I’m coming Jane and Tarquin. Hold on.”

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Book 2 chapter 7

Summary:

Jane gets used to life as a prisoner and Garrus gets some answers.

The next few days Jane fell into an easy rhythm. Get up, have breakfast with Tarquin, go with the doctors to the lab, play with tarquin until lunch, Have lunch, take a nap with tarquin, play until dinner, have dinner, play some more before bed. Go to bed. They slept in the same bed together. Tarquin would curl up as much as he could and Jane would wrap herself around him, as if to protect him from all the things that could hurt him. It was an easy rhythm to fall into.

 

Sometimes Tarquin would go with her to the lab for check ups. Sometimes the doctors would examine the baby and other times they would examine Jane to see if they could figure out why she was able to get pregnant and the other women were not able to. 

 

“How about Darrius?” Tarquin asked. He was laying on the floor coloring while Jane was on the couch reading off a datapad. The title of the book she was reading was Turian baby names Vol 2. Tarquin was helping by supplying his ideas.

 

“Darrius Vakarian. That actually sounds nice.” Jane said. “I’ll ask Garrus what he thinks when he comes to rescue us.”

 

“He is coming, right?” Tarquin asked. “Daddy and mommy got a vid with him and an asari and they did not have nice things to say.” Tarquin seemed hesitant to ask Jane about that.

 

“The vid wasn’t real, it was staged. It made it look like Garrus was a bad guy but he isn’t a bad guy.” Jane explained.

 

“That is what Mommy told Daddy. Daddy said some bad words about Garrus and how bad it was that he hurt you. Mommy told him that it must be a mistake. Then everything went dark and I woke up here.”

 

Jane felt bad that Victus’ were arguing over her relationship. Probably most turians were. There was little doubt that Jane and Garrus’ relationship was the topic of gossip for a while, maybe it still was. Eager to change the subject Jane asked Tarquin “ready for lunch?”

 

“Yes!” Tarquin said. 

 

“What do you want to have?” Jane asked, going to the fridge. She looked at the menu for the cafeteria and told Tarquin what she had at the house and what was being served in the cafetera. By the way that Tarquin’s eyes lit up she guessed he liked what the cafeteria was serving. But he looked down at the ground before he answered her.

 

“I don’t like the way the human females look at me when we go to the cafeteria.” He explained. 

 

The other women that are part of whatever Chimera is doing here eat at the cafeteria sometimes. “How do they look at you?” Jane asked. She never observed the women as aggressive or hostile.

 

Tarquin thought about it for a minute. “Umm, like they are hungry.” Tarquin answered.

 

“I don’t think they want to eat you Tarquin.” Jane told him helpfully.

 

“I don’t think they want to eat me. They want something to do with me and I don’t know what.” Tarquin explained again.

 

“Well I will be there and I will make sure that no one hurts you.” Jane promised.

 

“I know Jane. You never let anyone hurt me.” Tarquin hugged her and the two went to get lunch. 

 

At the cafeteria the dextro option was something that resembled a chicken wrap. The meat was a common farm fowl that was raised for its taste, if Jane was being honest with herself she would swear it tasted like chicken. There were pieces of another animal that were crunchy like bacon added to it. It was wrapped in a flat bread with vegetables. It was really good.

 

Jane and Tarquin got the dextro lunch, the portions were big enough to support Tarquin’s growth spurt and her increasing belly size. They found a table and sat down. Now that Jane was looking she noticed that the human women’s eyes were on Tarquin. They weren’t hungry, although with Tarquin’s limited vocabulary and limited emotional experience she could see why he thought that. They looked at him forlornly.

 

Jane got up from the table, after she finished her meal, and walked over to the group of women. Tarquin stayed at the table and watched with curiosity. “Hello. I am Jane Shepard-Vakarian.” She explained to the group.

 

“We know who you are.” One of the women said. She came forward and Jane guessed she was the leader of this group. “I’m Amiela.” She introduced herself.

 

“What are you all doing here?” Jane asked.

 

“We signed up to help our race’s relations with turians after the war. We thought it would be like what you did, married to a turian and forced to live together. They did not tell us that we would be used in an experiment to create a hybrid baby.” She explained.

 

“So none of you are here by your own volition?” Jane asked. Every one of the women shook their heads. “Garrus will come and save us. We just have to wait a little longer.” She told the women. They didn’t seem to be hopeful.

 

That was fine with Jane. She was an infiltrator. She knew how to be patient and wait for an opening.

 

~~~~~~

 

Garrus looked better than he had in the days past. His plates were shiny and he stood straight and proud. He looked at the terminal in front of him and pressed a button. He waited for the call to connect.

 

“Who are you and how did you get this number? A turian?” The middle aged man said right before he was about to end the call.

 

“Hello dad.” Garrus said with a smirk. He knew his father-in-law hates turians and it would just piss him off to hear him being addressed by Garrus that way. “Don’t hang up, it's about Jane.” Garrus tells him to stop him from hanging up.

 

“What about her? Did you hurt her?” Jack Harper asks.

 

“No, she was taken. According to the witnesses she was taken by an all human group.” Garrus told him. He interviewed multiple witnesses for days. Everyone that was on that transport got a visit from Garrus, Saren, Nihlus, or Adrien. 

 

“Cerberus didn’t take her.” Jack told him.

 

“I know.” Garrus opened up his omni-tool and showed him an insignia. “Do you recognize this?” the pirates, or mercs, or whatever they are, were wearing this image as their logo.

 

“It’s a Chimera.” Jack said to the picture of a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. “It’s a made up creature from Greek Mythology.” 

 

“A human organization with ties to Greek myths?” Garrus asks him.

 

“I don’t know anything about them. They are not tied to Cerberus. Clearly they are trying to start some kind of war with us with how similar they made themselves to us.” Jack told him.

 

“I see. Sorry I wasted your time regarding your missing daughter.” Garrus told him and went to hang up.

 

“You better find her. After everything that she did, preventing a war and having a demon spawn child you owe her.” Garrus and Jack hung up at the same time. It wasn’t a productive meeting but now he had more to go on.

 

Garrus dialed a new number and waited. “Spectre, how can the Shadow Broker help you?” his Shadow Broker contact asked him. He has been using this contact for years, back during the war he used his connections to keep an eye on the human’s movements. That was one of the reasons he made General so young.

 

“I need everything you have on an organization called Chimera.” Garrus told his contact.

 

“Certainly.” The volus contact, Barla Von, agreed. “Give me a day and we can negotiate price.” and the contact ended the connection. 

 

Garrus wasn’t worried about price. He was a Spectre, a General, and the Primarch’s son. He was loaded. And he would give it all up for whatever they had on Jane.

Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Book 2 chapter 8*

Summary:

Chimera finds out why they can't replicate the pregnancy and Garrus rescues Jane. Smut happens.

 

Jane was in the lab with the human doctor. He had given her his name but she refused to learn it, so she kept calling him human doctor. Today he was running tests to figure out why the breeding program he set up for the other human women wasn’t working. Tarquin decided to stay home since it didn’t interest him. He is in the middle of a growth spurt so his bones have been hurting him. The human doctor typed something into the terminal he was using and after a moment it flashed red.

 

“Well that is the end of that hypothesis. Only one remains and it’s not even viable in modern science.” He said to himself.

 

“What is the last hypothesis?” Jane asked curiosity. She didn’t really care but more information was better than no information. Even if that information was boring and unhelpful to their current predicament.

 

“This.” he touches the making mark on her shoulder.

 

“My mark?” She asked.

 

“Turians have the ability to choose when to reproduce. Males can determine whether or not to knott and females can decide if they want to release an egg to be fertilized. Humans lack this control so we use contraceptives.”

 

“Okay?” Jane asked following along.

 

“Not every turian has children with their bondmates or sometimes they have affairs that they don’t want children from. You understand this part since you were a comfort human. So they mark their mates with a bite. A bit possessive if you ask me but that’s turians for you.”

 

“Right.” She said.

 

“Now if a turian falls in love and marks someone and knotts them they can have children. Well what if it works the same way but if the female was human and had the genetic marker to carry a turian child.”

 

“So what you are saying is when a daddy turian loves a mommy human very much they can have children.” Jane snarked.

 

The human doctor sighed and rubbed his temples. “Yes. Like I said it doesn’t have a basis in science but I think the reason why you got pregnant and not the other human test subjects is because Garrus loves you and you love him in return.”

 

“So your plan is a failure! You can’t make people fall in love. So all those human women you tried to artificially inseminate are useless to you!” Jane was thrilled Chimera was over now.

 

“Not necessarily. Now we move to plan C.” The human doctor said.

 

“What’s plan C?” Jane asked. Her happy mood giving way to terror.

 

“We clone your child and raise an army of clones.” The doctor said, “We have different options prepared for this. We can clone them in vitro and use the other test subjects to give birth to them. Or we can use an artificial womb and try increasing their age artificially. They can become adults in less than a year that way and the army would be ready soon. Of course with everyone looking and acting the same we will need to differentiate them somehow. And we were hoping for girl hybrids to keep the race strong but what can you do?” Then the doctor picked up a long metal instrument and moved towards Jane. “Gotta extract material from your child now.” He explained as he moved in closer.

 

Jane jumped away. No way in hell would she allow them to clone her baby. “Come now. It won’t hurt that much. You are a damn soldier, act like it.” He came at her again. She leapt across the room and stood behind some instrument. “You are being very childish about this Shepard.” He chastised her. He followed her but put down the long instrument and picked up a syringe. “I don’t want to sedate you.” He said while approaching her.

 

“I don’t want you to clone my child!” She yelled at him and continued to keep her distance. He lunged for her and she backed away. Right into a wall. She was fucked.

 

 Just as he was about to close in on her a shot from a gun rang out. The doctor fell over dead. “So much for ‘do no harm’ doctor.” A flanging voice said. Jane didn’t need to turn around, she would recognize that voice anywhere. She was once in love with that voice.

 

“Saren!” Jane said as she turned and embraced her turian friend. He hugged her back. “Where is Garrus? Did he come?” Jane asked him.

 

“Yes he swept the other labs, Nihlus is rescuing the prisoners.” Saren told her. “Vakarian is going to be pissed when he realizes I found you first.”

 

“Tarquin!” Jane exclaimed. “We need to get back to the room and get him.” Jane made a dash for her living quarters.

 

About halfway to the apartment she ran into Nihlus carrying Tarquin with the other human women behind him. “Jane!” Tarquin screamed and ran to her. She picked him up. “The Spectres are here to save us!” He informed her.

 

“I see that. What I don’t see is my Spectre.” Jane told him.

 

“He went to the lab area. Saren go with Jane to get him. Tarquin you and I need to get the human females to safety.” Nihlus ordered.

 

Tarquin looked like he wanted to complain so Jane put him down. “You get to go with a Spectre on an important mission to rescue females? Man, all your friends are going to be jealous of you.” Tarquin stood up straighter and preened a little. He nodded to Jane and he and Nihlus took off, hopefully in the direction of the getaway ship.

 

Saren and Jane ran towards the lab area and saw Garrus staring down the barrel of his gun next to the asari doctor. “Tell me everything about Chimera.” Garrus ordered her.

 

“We are trying to evolve the races by bringing together the races to add their traits to one another to create something better. The asari have been doing it for milenina. We want a smart baby, get together with a salarian, we want a tough baby, krogan. Now we know that humans can carry turian children and create a child with turian and human traits. Can they do it with other races? Can it be reproduced in a lab environment? Can we pick and choose the traits? That is what Chimera is all about. Breeding a better race.”

 

Before she could say more a shot rang out and she fell over dead. 

 

“That was for touching my mate you whore.” Jane said from behind the smoking pistol she ‘borrowed’ from Saren.”

 

Garrus whipped his head around and looked at her. “Jane!” He sounded elated when he saw her.

 

Saren took his gun back as Jane ran across the room and leapt into his arms. She kissed him. He was stunned for a moment before he remembered to kiss her back. He pulled away from her. “Jane I know what you saw but it isn't true. I never would touch another female or asari or anyone else. I love you Jane. I’m so sorry I’ve been an ass.” He kissed her more passionately then. 

 

“I’m sorry I ran away. I should have stayed and punched the bitch instead of running.” She kissed him again and ran her hands over his fringe. “Gods I love you.” She told him.

 

“Spirits I love you.” He informed her when her hands found that spot under his fringe that always turned him on. 

 

“Should I tell Nihlus to leave you both here or can this wait?” Saren said coldly from the front of the room. Garrus and Jane pulled apart, rather reluctantly, and looked at him. He was downloading something from one of the terminals. It seemed he still was working even if Garrus and Jane were working on something else.

 

“We probably should get back to the ship. I don’t want to be stuck here.” Jane told Garrus.

 

“Probably.” Garrus said reluctantly. 

 

“You have your own quarters on the ship.” Saren reminded Garrus. 

 

“But the ship is too far away.” Garrus whined. Saren rolled his eyes, a human gesture that Garrus hated that Saren knew. He knew Saren and Jane were friends and Saren teased him like an older brother or father figure would in regards to Jane. Still he was jealous that Saren knew Jane for 2 years as a comfort human before Garrus even knew about Jane.

 

Garrus took Jane’s hand and led her back to the ship. Once there they saw that Nihlus was ready to leave. Almost too ready. Some of the human women were standing close to him and Jane heard one ask if Nihlus had a mate. She had to suppress her giggle. She remembered that these women all were xerophiles with a turian fettish.

 

Garrus led her to his quarters before she even had a chance to look around the ship.

 

Once there he pressed his forehead to hers. “I was so worried about you.” he whispered to her.

 

“I’m here now.” she whispered back. She trailed her hands over his mandibles. She knows he likes it when she does that. It isn’t sexual but it’s still intimate. 

 

“I want you to know, ever since I met you I have never taken another woman to my bed. I never will. I would never hurt you like that. No matter how bad things get between us I will stay faithful to you forever.” Garrus told her.

 

“I know that now. I was just so scared. When a human ‘works late at the office’ it’s code for ‘sleeping with the secretary.’ I was so worried I would lose you. I’m so sorry I spied on you and your race for the Alliance. I’m so sorry I lied to you. I’m so sorry I want to keep the baby. I’m so sorry for everything.” Jane whispered to him. Tears started to fall from her eyes.

 

Garrus whipped them up with his thumb. “Ssh, ssh, I’m here now. I forgive you for everything. I’m not mad anymore. Please forgive me for being an ass to you.”

 

“I forgive you Garrus. Now shut up and kiss me.” 

 

Garrus pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. He backed her up to the bed without breaking the kiss and gently laid her down on it. Her hands came up to massage the spot underneath his fringe that made him purr with lust. His hands snaked under her shirt to feel her skin under his hands. She was smoother than he remembered and a bit more squishy. He liked it.

 

She lifted her hands above her head and he removed her shirt. She looked away from him as she broke the kiss and tried to hide her growing belly behind her hands. “I’ve gained weight since the last time we did this.” She told him her voice shy.

 

“The last time we did this was why you gained weight. I like it, you are incredible. You have our child inside of you. That is so unbelievably sexy.” Garrus told her.

 

“Darrius, Tarquin came up with the name Darrius. I like it.” Jane told him.

 

“Darrius Shepard-Vakarian. I like it.” Garrus told her.

 

“Darrius Vakarian.” Jane corrected him. “And I would like Jane Vakarain if I can have it.” Jane mentioned.

 

Garrus was stunned and kissed her harder. “I would love for you to have my name.” He kissed her again. Then he trailed his tongue over her neck while his hands felt her body. He stayed away from her breasts as he trailed his hands over the parts of her that were exposed.

 

She moaned as his tongue and hands felt her as her hands undid the clasps of his own shirt and helped him discard it. Her hands were all over his body as well feeling him but being mindful of the places that would give him pleasure. They both wanted to reassure themselves that the other one was here with them before they made their way towards sexual advances. Jane had butterflies in her stomach.

 

He loved her, he should tell her more. “I love you Jane.”

 

“I love you too Garrus.” She responded breathlessly.

 

Her hands went to his hips and his went to her breasts. The time for reassuring each other had moved on to more physical touches and gestures. Her hands slid up and down his sides as she used her blunt nails to bring him pleasure. He moaned in pleasure as he brought his head down to lick at her nipples. She moaned when his rough tongue slid over her hardened peaks.

 

She arched her back to bring herself closer to the source of her pleasure and Garrus grabbed her pants and underwear and pulled them off of her with that move. The scent of her arousal filled the room and moved his plates. He struggled to keep them closed, at least for now. He moved his hand off of her upper body and gently inserted it into her core. She moaned and threw her head back.

 

He was slow and meticulous in giving her pleasure. He knows she likes it fast but tonight they would be making love slowly. He moved his finger in and out of her listening to her breath hitch and her moans to tell him what she likes. Soon he felt her convulsing on his finger as her moans morphed into screams and gasps. 

 

When she was done she fell back on the bed boneless with a happy satisfied look on her face. “Roll over.” She commanded. 

 

Garrus laid on the bed as she positioned herself between his legs. She licked his seam and grabbed his waist. He groaned and soon he was unsheathed into her waiting mouth. She licked slowly over his shaft, paying extra attention on his ridges. Then she took him all the way in her mouth and he moaned loudly with desire. “Oh spirits, yes!” he breathed out when she started to bob her head and take him down her throat.

 

“I need you inside me.” She told him as she straddled him. 

 

“I was just thinking the same.” He mentioned to her. She took him with her hand and lined him up with her entrance. She sat down slowly on him and they both moaned as they became one. 

 

She rolled her hips enjoying the way his ridges made her feel. They were taking it slow tonight but she wanted nothing more than to ride him with abandon. She gripped his cowl for leverage as she sped up her movements on her hips. Soon she was overcome with another orgasim.

 

He flipped them over, while staying inside of her, and started to move his hips slowly rocking into her. Then he began to push inside and out of her letting his ridges and length work to his advantage to bring them both to their peak.

 

She came again with a wordless scream and he followed after. His base started to swell as he knotted her. 

 

He collapsed next to her and they both held each other until they fell asleep.

Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Book 2 chapter 9

Summary:

Garrus and Tarquin talk about Jane and their time together while they were taken by Chimera. Tarquin reunites with his family.

Garrus awoke suddenly, not sure where he was. He hasn’t slept well since he left Jane on The Citadel all those months ago and right now he feels more rested than he had in months. It was a little disconcerting. 

 

A soft sigh pulls his attention downwards to a sleeping naked Jane nuzzled against him. Now he remembers, he rescued her from Chimera and they made up after being mad for months. He smiled to himself as he debated going back to sleep next to her. But he was thirsty, a night of passion does that to a person. 

 

He carefully extracted himself out of the bed so as not to wake his sleeping companion and left to get water from the mess hall. When he entered the mess hall he noticed he wasn’t alone. Tarquin Victus was sitting at one of the tables with his own cup of something.

 

“Can’t sleep?” Garrus asked him as he entered the room. 

 

Tarquin jumped a little before turning and noticing Garrus’ presence. Garrus hid his smile behind his glass. “Yeah.” Tarquin admitted.

 

Garrus sat next to him at the table. “Want to talk about it?”

 

“Just a bad dream.” Tarquin said, dismissively. He sighed, “I just miss my parents.” He admitted.

 

“Well then let's call them.” Garrus offered as he pulled up his omni-tool and dialed a number he knew by heart. It was late, or super early, Palaven time but he knew that the Victus’ would want to hear from Tarquin as soon as they could. Honestly he should have done this before making up with Jane but he was distracted by her and all his thoughts were consumed by having her.

 

It only rang once before a sleepy voice answered, “Garrus?” The voice was quiet so as not to disturb the person no doubt occupying the bed beside him.

 

“Daddy?” Tarquin asked the voice.

 

There was a faint ruffling of covers as a new voice called, “Tarquin?”

 

“Mommy!” Tarquin almost screamed and keened at once to the sound of his parents' voices. 

 

“Oh baby you are safe!” Vela Victus answered her son.

 

“Are you alright?” Adrien Victus asked.

 

“I’m not hurt, Jane took good care of me. Then the Spectres got us out.” Tarquin reported like a good little soldier to his parents.

 

“Where are you now?” Adrien asked.

 

“We are headed to Palaven. We should be docking in 6 hours.” Garrus told them.

 

“We will be at the docks waiting for you.” Adrien said.

 

“Okay daddy, I’ll be there.” Tarquin promised. Then Garrus hung up the omni-tool. 

 

“Feel better?” Garrus asked him.

 

“Yeah.” He opened his mouth in a huge yawn. “I think I’ll go back to sleep now.”

 

“Do you want to sleep with Jane and me?” Garrus asked.

 

Tarquin wrinkled his nose. “No, you smell like Jane and I don’t like it.” 

 

Garrus almost huffed out a laugh. No fledgling liked the smell of their parents mating and he guessed Jane was close enough to a mother figure at this point to count for Tarquin. Still Garrus had to ask, “did Jane smell like any other males?”

 

“No. She smelled like a hospital sometimes but she didn’t have anyone else’s scent on her.” Tarquin told him.

 

That was good. Garrus wasn’t sure what he would do if someone had slept with Jane while she was taken. He knew Jane well enough to know if that did occur it would have been done without her permission. 

 

Gratified that nothing untoward happened with Jane while she was captured he made his way back to their room. He slipped into bed and nuzzled Jane closely.

 

“Where’d you go?” Jane asked him sleepily without opening her eyes.

 

“The mess, I needed a drink.” He told her quietly and he held her close. “We will be in Palaven in 6 hours, get some more sleep.” Jane made a contented humm and cuddled close to him. Garrus sighed, happy to have his family back together again.

 

When they docked at Palaven’s docking bay they could see the Victus’s waiting for them just off the decontamination area. Tarquin was the first off the ship as he ran full force into the arms of his parents.

 

“Mommy! Daddy!” He cried with happy abandon. They all hugged and enjoyed the feeling of being whole again.

 

Jane left the ship and made her way to the trio of turians. She stopped in front of them and looked at them with a sad expression on her face. “I’m sorry.” She told them. “Chimera took Tarquin because they knew that we were close. If you don’t want me to see Tarquin anymore I would understand.”

 

The two Victus parents just looked at each other before Vela Victus pulled her into a hug. “We would never blame you for that. You took good care of Tarquin this whole time. You always keep him safe. We would love for you to spend more time with him.”

 

Jane started to tear up. It must be the pregnancy hormones. Adrien just smiled and patted Jane’s back, showing her his support.

 

“How are you Tarquin?” His mom asked. If she was worried about any lingering trauma then she was surprised at his answer.

 

“I got to go on a mission with the Spectre trio.” Tarquin said with pride.

 

“The Spectre trio?” Jane asked.

 

Garrus grumbled a little embarrassed. “It’s what some people call the team of Saren, Nihlus, and me. Since Spectres work solo mostly, the three of us team up a lot so we are a team of Spectres.”

 

“I named their new baby.” Tarquin said with pride in his subvocals.

 

“Yes, he helped me pick out a name.” Jane explained. “Darius Vakarian.” 

 

The Victus’s laughed. “That’s the name of the child Spectre in one of Tarquin’s favorite book series.”

 

“I thought Darius was familiar!” Garrus exclaimed.

 

“Do you want to not name him that?” Jane asked him.

 

“No, it's a good name. It’s also a name of a popular book series.” Garrus assured her.

 

“What is the book series about?” Jane asked. The victus’ rolled their eyes.

 

Tarquin took a big breath. “So this kid, about 12, too young for boot camp, becomes a Spectre after passing this really hard test and he has to save the council from this evil plot by an asari…”

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Book 2 Chapter 10

Summary:

Garrus and Jane are starting the 'nesting' phase of the pregnancy and Jane made a decision.

Garrus was working Jane’s last nerve. 

 

Ever since they got back from the Chimera base he has been doting on her to the point that he didn’t even let her walk on her own; he carried her. That was fun for the first week. Now it was annoying. 

 

She felt like she was made of glass, but she also felt so fat that she could fall through the floor. It was hard being pregnant. She wanted to complain but she couldn’t. He was just so relieved that she was back with him that he felt the need to always be with her.

 

Garrus carried her down and deposited her on the sofa in the family room, then he left to make her a snack. Jane looked to Centura who was sitting in a chair doing the turian equivalent of knitting. Centura giggled softly in her hand as she watched Jane call for help with her eyes.

 

Garrus came back with the snack and set it in front of Jane. “Oh Garrus honey.” Centura calls to him. Garrus looks up at his mom expectantly. “Your father mentioned that he needed help at work today. Do you mind going in and helping him? Also I’m sure Nihlus and Saren wouldn’t mind you getting back to work on the high tier murder case.”

 

Garrus looked between his mom and Jane for a long moment. “But…” 

 

“Oh you really should go. I’ll be here at the house all day. I’ll probably just take a nap and chat with your mom today.” Jane says.

 

Garrus sighs and pushes his forehead to Jane’s. “If you are sure. I’ll be home early though.” Garrus tells her. He gathers some of his things and leaves for work.

 

Jane flops on the couch relieved. “Thank you Centura.” Jane tells her. “He was really trying my patience.” 

 

Centura giggles. “Don’t mind him dear. He is nesting.”

 

“Nesting?” Jane asks.

 

“Uh-huh. You are doing it too.” Centura nods towards Jane’s hands. Jane looks down and notices that she absentmindedly took a pillow and fluffed it in a way that made a dent in the middle. 

 

Like a miniature nest.

 

“When it’s near the end of a pregnancy both mates will enter what is called a nesting phase. They will make nests out of materials like pillows and blankets and the mate that isn’t pregnant will dote on the one who is. When I was pregnant with Garrus, Castis did everything for me. He dressed me, carried me, made me food, and fed me. It was a little better with Solana only because he had to watch Garrus too.” Centura tells her with a smile, fondly remembering the times she was pregnant with her mate.

 

“I guess I’ve been too hard on him. He was just following his instincts afterall.” Jane says.

 

“Oh don’t get me wrong, we still need to make sure you have time away from him. Instincts are all well and good but he needs to fight them to give you time apart. It’s good not to be too on top of each other all the time.” Centura tells her.

 

Jane smiles. “You know, you are a good mom.” Jane tells her. “You care about Garrus and Sol and me. You welcomed me into your home even though I was an enemy of your people who literally shot Sol once. You want what’s best for your children. My own mom never was as nice as you.”

 

“I’m sure she loved you.” Centura told her.

 

“Maybe.” Jane said. “She really only cared about her career. Then when I was old enough she cared about my career. She forced me into bonding with Garrus because it was good for the Alliance, not because it was good for me. She didn’t care that Garrus made me happy, she just told me not to get close to him. When I betrayed Garrus and the turians you still allowed me to come live here. When I betrayed the Alliance and humans my mom exiled me. I’m glad Garrus and Sol had such a good mom.”

 

“Thank you dear. I’m sorry your relationship with your mom is so hard. But I’m glad you are here with me.” Centura says. Then she starts to cough. The coughing is bad and lasts for a minute.

 

Jane is on her feet and rushes into the kitchen to get her some water. “Can you be a dear and get me my pills. They are in a green bottle next to the sink.” Centura calls. Jane locates and gets her the medicine.

 

Jane returns and Centura takes her medicine with the water Jane brought. “Are you alright?” Jane asks her.

 

“Oh yes. Just my Corpalis acting up.” She tells Jane.

 

“I thought they fixed that years ago when I shot Sol.” Jane says.

 

“Oh no, there is no ‘fix’ for this. It’s terminal but I mitigate it with medicine so it isn’t as bad as it could be.” Centura says.

 

“Terminal?!” Jane exclaims.

 

“Not for a few years still. I will live long enough to see my grandchild be born and have many years playing with him. I heard you settled on a name.” Centura says.

 

“Oh yes, Darius. Tarquin Victus helped me name him.”

 

The rest of the day dissolved into baby talk.

 

Garrus came home early as he promised and made them all dinner. The entire family sat around the dinner table and talked about their days. Sol made fun of Garrus for his nesting and Garrus teased her about being jealous that she is still single. Centura and Castis just smiled as their children interacted. 

 

“Garrus, I made a decision.” Jane tells him.

 

“What is it?” He asks her.

 

“I want to move to Palaven. After the thing with the high tier killer is resolved I want to stay here.” Jane tells him.

 

“Are you sure? You won't be able to walk around outside of the city and the house.”

 

“I know, but I want Darrius to be around family. I want to sell our house on the Citadel and buy a place near your parents.” Jane affirms.

 

Castis and Centura preen a little at that. Garrus smiles and nods. “We can do that.” He says. “Oh speaking of which, I bought Darrius something!” He walks out to his car and brings back a large box. The picture on the box looks like a small nest.

 

“It’s about time you bought him his chick nest.” Castis chastises.

 

“What is it?” Jane asks.

 

“It’s a nest. It’s what he sleeps in.” Garrus explains.

 

“Like a crib or bassinet. We should also baby proof the house. I don’t know how long it will be until baby turians start moving on their own.” Jane gets a look in her eyes. “Actually I don’t know much about baby turians development.”

 

She resolves to read about it tomorrow.

 

That night Garrus and Jane were getting ready for bed. “Nihlus and Saren want you to come to the meetings from now on.” Garrus told Jane.

 

“Me? Why?” Jane asked.

 

“You are a N7, a commander, and a badass. Your tactical experience might be just what we need to figure out what is going on.” Garrus reminded her.

 

“I haven’t felt like a badass in a while.” Jane admits.

 

“Jane, you stopped a war with just a ship and a few words. That was 6 months ago. That was pretty badass.” Garrus reminded her.

 

“Then I cried for 4 months, got captured, and had to be rescued.” Jane reminded him.

 

“Yeah but you held on and kept Tarquin and the baby safe. You are a badass and you need to remember that. So you are coming with me to work tomorrow, end of discussion.” Garrus put his foot down.

 

Jane got a sultry smile on her face. “You know.” She purred. She slinked her way over to Garrus who was laying down on his side of the bed. “I like it when you take charge like that.” She says hands on his lower plates. 

 

“Ye-Yeah?” He stutters as Jane tenderly touches his groin plates. They are bulging and starting to lubricate.

 

“Uh-huh.” she says as she adds some pressure to his plates and waist. Garrus leans his head back with a groan. His plates spread and out pops his dick. She takes him into her mouth and works him just the way he likes. 

 

She even manages to go all the way down on him. That move makes him moan out a “Spirits.”

 

She spends a lot of time pleasing him the way he likes with her mouth before she has him enter her. Since she has been pregnant she is even more worked up than normal. And she is normally very horny.

 

She rides him until they both come undone then they snuggle close together and fall asleep in each other’s arms.

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Book 2 Chapter 11

Summary:

A nice summery of what we know about the killer so far and Jane has a few surprises for Castis.

“Let’s go over what we know.” Saren said as the meeting between Garrus, Nihlus, Saren, and Jane got started.

 

“We know that the first notable attack happened on the Citadel with the incident of the sky-car dropping Tarquin into the Presidium lake.” 

 

“The sky-car was hacked using an omni-tool obtained off the factory floor. By means of a worker who was paid a significant sum of money. His account was apparently already looking into and the money was paid without the need for this worker to give out his credentials.”

 

“The second attack was where a bunch of mercenaries from Omega trying to kill all of the Victis’.”

 

“Krogan mercenaries.”

 

“Every major assassination of high tier turians was done by krogans.”

 

“So whoever is behind it is using money, technology, and the krogans' hatred of turians.”

 

“Who has access to all three?”

 

Everyone is silent for a while while they think about it.

 

“Quarians?”

 

“No money.”

 

“Shadow Broker?”

 

“That’s a good guess but they would use more information to get what they wanted. Not their usual modus operandi.”

 

“Even if we knew who was behind it we couldn't stop them.” Nihlus said. “We can’t get rid of their money, technology, or krogans.”

 

“Maybe we can.” Jane said.

 

~~~~~~

 

Primarch Castis Vakarian sat in his office waiting for his next meeting. It was the first thing in the morning but he had already been to two meetings today. He was looking forward to this meeting though.

 

A knock sounded on his office door. “Come in.” He commanded. As his guest walked in and sat down he smiled. “You know you could have just talked to me this morning at breakfast. Imagine my surprise when I saw your name on my list for meetings today.”

 

Jane Vakarian smiled as she looked over across the desk at her bond-father. “I wanted this to be an official meeting.” She told him.

 

“Well what is the nature of this meeting then?” Castis asked. In response Jane takes out a vial and places it on the desk. “And this is?” Castis asks as he picks up the vial with a mysterious liquid inside.

 

“The cure for the Genophage.” Jane says calmly and Castis almost drops the vial.

 

“Are you serious?” He asks.

 

“Have I ever not been?” Jane asks. She groans a little and her hands go to her stomach. She shifts a little in the chair. “I’m serious. It is the cure for the Genophage.”

 

“How? Why?” Castis stutters. “How did you get this and why do I have it?” He asks instead.

 

“A salarian I know made this because he felt the krogans suffered unfairly. This is our weapon against the killing of turians.”

 

“How so?” Castis asks.

 

“If a turian were to cure the Genophage then the krogans will stop hating them. They would refuse any contracts to kill turians. This takes away one of the major ways that the high tier turians were killed.” Jane explains.

 

Castis thinks for a minute and nods his head. “That could work. We need to make a statement so it would have to be an important turian that goes with you to cure the Genophage.”

 

“Right, I was thinking Garrus. He is a Spectre, a General, and the Primarch’s son. His marriage ended a war, he’s having the first human/turian baby, and I can’t think of a better peace symbol.” Jane says confidentiality.

 

“Perhaps.” The Primarch says thoughtfully. He turns to his window behind him and pushes a button on his omni-tool. The window shades close and a screen folds down from the ceiling. He pushes another button and a call is made.

 

A few seconds later the call is connected and a large red krogan with a scar appears on the screen. “Castis.” the krogan says in a deep growl.

 

“Wrex.” The Primarch says.

 

“What can I do for the leader of the turians?” The krogan, Wrex, asks.

 

“Actually Wrex I think it’s time I do something for you.” Castis says.

 

“And what is that?” Wrex snarls.

 

“Curing the Genophage.” Castis picks up the vial and holds it up for Wrex.

 

Wrex’s eyes go wide and he snarls and breathes heavily. “And what do you want in exchange?” Wrex asks in a threatening manner.

 

Castis turns to Jane and smiles. Jane takes it as her que and locks eyes with the intimidating krogan on the screen. “I want the krogan to stop taking jobs killing turians. I want the turians and krogans to be friends.”

 

“Wrex, this is my daughter Jane. Jane this Wrex the leader of the krogans.” Castis says.

 

“Trying to be.” Wrex answers. “I know you. You're the human who married a turian for peace. Then got knocked up by your new bondmate, and stopped a second war for love. And you want me to forgive the turians for what they did to us for the cure to stop what they did to us?” Wrex then laughs. “He, he, he. Well at least we don’t have to bond with a turian like you did!” Wrex stops laughing. “I agree to your terms.”

 

Jane lets out a breath. That was easy. “We were thinking a turian and a salarian would go to Tuchanka to distribute the cure.” Jane told him. “As a symbol of change, the ones who did it will be the ones who ended it.”

 

“Who will be going?” Wrex asked.

 

“I will be.” Castis said.

 

“Castis?” Jane asks.

 

“Actions not words are important here. The leader of the turians can make a fancy speech about how the Genophage was wrong all day long but it’s meaningless if he doesn’t take action. I will go and cure the Genophage myself.” The Primarch says.

 

“It will be good to see you again, old friend.” Wrex says. “We need time to prepare and you need time to be with your newest family member. I’ll be in touch when we can receive you. Wrex out.” Wrex says and hangs up.

 

“How did you meet Wrex?” Jane asked.

 

“Back when I was in C-Sec Wrex would get arrested, a lot. So we developed a friendship over time. He would tell me about his dream of uniting the krogans and eventually when I became Primarch he left to make something of the krogans.” Castis said.

 

Jane nodded but grunted a little before pulling out a leather satchel. “Business is over but I wanted you to know about this.” She placed the satchel on the desk.

 

Castis unfolded the satchel to find it contained three vials and an injector that the vials would slot into. “What is this?” Castis asked.

 

“The cure for Corpalis.” Jane explained. Castis’ hand stopped inches away from picking up the satchel. His hands visibility shook as he lowered himself down into his seat. He looked at Jane but couldn’t form words. Jane decided to explain anyway.

 

“The salarian that made the cure for the Genophage has some extra time and I asked him to make a cure for Centura too. She gets three injections, one a month for three months, then she will be cured. The doctor said that the injections will be rough on her system and body, so to make sure she sleeps and recovers when she gets them.” Jane explained.

 

“Jane, …I can’t. Words cannot describe…Thank you. Thank you for being our daughter. Thank you for everything you did for us since you got here.” Castis said and walked around the desk and hugged Jane.

 

Then Jane made a noise like she was in pain and Castis pulled away. “Jane? What’s wrong?”

 

Jane doubled over and grabbed her stomach. “Sorry. I’m having contractions. I’m in labor. I wanted to get through this meeting first though.” She looked into his eyes.

 

“I’m having a baby.” Jane told Castis.

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Book 2 Chapter 12

Summary:

Jane goes into labor and they need to get Garrus to the hospital in time.

Notes:

I'm back

Garrus was in a SPECTRE meeting with Nihlus and Saren to go over more information about the killings. Jane had left the last one saying she knew of a way to get the krogans on their side. That was great but that didn’t help find the bastard or bastards who were paying the krogan to kill the turians. While Garrus had every confidence in his bondmate to stop the krogans, somehow, he still needed Nihlus and Saren’s help.

 

The meeting was interrupted when Adrien Victus ran into the room panting. “This is a closed SPECTRE meeting! What is the meaning of this interruption?” Saren all but yelled at Adrien.

 

“Garrus your comms are not on.” Ardrien panted.

 

“No, SPECTRE meetings require all omni-tools and other recording devices be turned off. That’s why I don’t have my visor.” Garrus explained.

 

“Jane is in labor. Garrus, you are about to be a father!” Adrien explained.

 

“Maybe we should have recording devices. Just so we can show Garrus what his face looks like later.” Nihlus jokes.

 

Garrus was a mix of elation, fear, hope, happiness, scared, and worry. What his face looked like he wouldn’t even begin to imagine.

 

Garrus then ran out of the meeting followed quickly by Adrien. “Well I think that this meeting is adjourned, don’t you Saren?” Nihlus smiles at his friend.

 

“I think Vakarian has more pressing things on his mind.” Saren agrees.

 

Then the two SPECTREs follow their friend to the hospital.

 

~~~

 

Jane screamed out in pain as another contraction hit. She flopped back on the soft medical bed in the hospital panting. “When is Garrus going to come?” She asked the other turian in the room.

 

“Soon. Adrien went to get him.” Primarch Castis Vakarian said as he whipped the sweat off her brow with a towel. “You know there aren't any recording devices allowed when SPECTREs meet so we had to send Adrien as soon as you collapsed in my office.”

 

Jane gave a weak smile. “You didn’t have to come with me.”

 

“I will not miss my first grandchild being born.” Castis said firmly.

 

“Thank’s Castis. AHHHHH!” Another contraction hit her so strongly she practically rose from the bed.

 

“Contractions are getting closer and you are almost completely dilated. It won't be long now.” The asari doctor said from the foot of the hospital bed. She was looking at Jane’s vagina to see how much longer it would take. Apparently it was going to happen soon.

 

“I need Garrus.” Jane started to cry.

 

“Jane Vakarian! You are a strong female who once saved my daughter, the enemy of your people. You are a good infiltrator, and you killed three krogan with nothing but a combat knife. You can do this alone!” Castis said to try and help.

 

“Not to mention you saved my son from drowning.” Adrien Victus said as he raced into the door.

 

“And stopped a war with nothing but your love for me.” Garrus mentioned as he pushed past his friend and went to Jane’s side. Castis stood up and Garrus took his place. Garrus and Jane pushed their foreheads together since they couldn’t embrace.

 

“Also you survived three years of what my brother put you through.” Saren said, walking proudly into the room.

 

“And saved Garrus and I on Omega.” Nihlus said walking in last.

 

“See bonded, you are strong. You can do this alone. But you will never have to. I will always be here for you.” Garrus tells her soothingly as he nuzzles his forehead with hers.

 

“Garrus, we are having a baby.” Jane says and smiles at him.

 

“Yes we are.” Garrus says calmly and lovingly.

 

The tender moment is interrupted by another contraction. This one was the biggest yet.

 

“Alright everyone who isn’t the father, out.” The asari doctor told everyone. “It’s time.”

 

Jane smiled as everyone left her and Garrus. Castis rubbed his forehead against hers and Garrus. “I’ll be right in the waiting room waiting to meet my grandson.” He told her. “Now you will know the greatest joy in the world, my son, being a father.” He told Garrus as he too walked out. Jane almost started to cry at that. Her hormones were all over the place since it was so close to the birth.

 

A salarian nurse came in to assist with the birth and both of them were down by her vagina. Garrus took Jane’s hand and smiled at her. “Ready to be a mom?”

 

“Ready. Ready to be a father?”

 

“Definitely.” He said.

 

“Alright now push.” The doctor instructed. Jane pushed with all her might. And she pushed, and pushed, and pushed. She screamed as she felt something tear through her as a loud chirping sound came from below her.

 

“Oh Jane! He’s here and he’s beautiful!” Garrus almost cried. She could hear relief, and unbridled joy radiating from his subvocals. The nurse brought a little bundle to Garrus. Garrus made cooing noises and pressed his forehead to the bundle. “Here’s your mommy!” Garrus told the bundle as he leaned over to show Jane.

 

Inside the bundle of blankets was a small almost round shape covered with red feathers! The red shape moved and blinked two large green eyes at Jane and she felt her heart stop. As she took a closer look she saw that the round shape was the baby curled in on himself. She could see the start of a crest and his face that resembled his father’s. His torso was human enough but covered with feathers and his little legs and arms were the shape of a turian’s but also covered in feathers.

 

He was beautiful!

 

“Red plates and green eyes. He will be a heartbreaker.” Garrus laughed and brought their little bundle of joy to rest in his cowl.

 

“Feathers?” Jane spoke through tears.

 

“Nurse, suction, I have blood here.” The doctor mumbles.

 

“The feathers are for heat protection. Fledglings can’t regulate their body temperature so they have feathers and stay in cowls until their plates grow in.” Garrus explained bringing his hand up to brush the red fledgling in his cowl.

 

“So he’s okay?” Jane asked.

 

“He is perfect.” Garrus assures her.

 

“That’s all that matters.” Jane says with a sigh and rests her head on the pillow.

 

“Why don’t you take your newest member to visit your other family while we work on your bondmate.” The doctor said between Jane’s legs.

 

Garrus looked to Jane. “Go.” Jane told him. “Castis wants to see him. And I want Tarquin to meet him too.”

 

“We will be right back, love.” Garrus promised her. He walked towards the door.

 

“Garrus.” Jane calls him before he exists the room completely. He turns to look at her. “I love you.”

 

Garrus smiles. “I love you too Jane.” Garrus leaves the room.

 

After he is gone Jane’s voice changes back into her Commander persona. “What’s wrong?” She asks the room.

 

“You are losing too much blood. We can’t stop it.” The doctor says as more doctors rush in. 

 

Jane nods and rests her head on the pillow and closes her eyes. She sees the image of her son in Garrus’ cowl and smiles to herself. It was all worth it.

 

Then her heart stops.

Notes:

So originally I had it so Jane died and she got revived two years later by Cerberus, you know like in the game. But I didn't like that story line so I quit writing it. The problem was I didn't have anything to replace it so I just didn't write. Also I wanted to take some time and get some practice writing so I can write better. This is a good story but it's written poorly. That's entirely my lack of skills. So I practiced more and hopefully got better. We will see with the other chapters if that is true or not.

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Book 2 Chapter 13

Summary:

Jane is in trouble as she bleeds out on the operating table.

Garrus walks into the waiting room carefully with Darrius in his cowl. He knows intellectually that parents have been carrying their children in their cowls for centuries and never dropped them. In fact that is what cowls were meant to do. He also knows emotionally that this is his first child and he will not drop him if he walks slowly.

 

He enters the waiting room to a large group of turians. His dad and Sol are there, so is Nihlus and Saren, and so is Adrien and his family including Tarquin. They all see him at the same time and they stand from their seats. They don’t rush him, except for Tarquin before Adrien pulls him back, but they do walk towards him and stand around him in a circle.

 

Garrus lifts up his son from his cowl and smiles at him. His son! He will never get tired of saying that.

 

“Everyone, meet Darrius Vakarian. Jane’s and my son!” Garrus beams. All the turians in the circle coo at Darrus who chirps at them. Garrus passes his son to his dad who’s subvocals sound off in joy, awe, and pride.

 

“Welcome to clan Vakarian, Darrius.” Castis tells his grandson. And he presses his forehead to Darrius’ and then to Garrus’. “You did real good, son. I am proud of you.”

 

“Thanks for forcing me to marry a human dad.” Garrus says. 

 

The turians around him laugh.

 

“Excuse me.” Everyone turns to see the head doctor, a salarian, stand behind the group.

 

“Hello doctor. What can I do for you? Do you need to see Darrius or is Jane ready for me to come back?” Garrus asks with a smile on his face. This is the best day of his life.

 

“Umm, no. I’m sorry, there is no good way to say this but, there have been some complications.”

 

“What kind of complications?” Garrus asked, dread filling his gizzard.

 

“She bled out. She lost too much blood. The areas left and right of the Human uterus have big arteries and veins. They must have been hit with Darrius’ fringe when he was born.” The doctor explained. “She died on the table but we were able to resuscitate her. She lost a lot of blood though, and we don’t have a good supply of human blood here on Palaven. It’s only a matter of time before she passes.”

 

“No, that can’t be. She was fine. She was at a healthy weight. Darrius was birthed easily. She can’t be going.” Garrus muttered as he fell backwards into a chair.

 

 “I’m sorry. There is nothing we can do. You might want to be with her for as long as you have.” The doctor said. Garrus nodded and left the assembled turians, and his son, in the waiting room as he moved back to Jane.

 

“Is there truly nothing you can do?” Castis asked.

 

“I’m sorry Primarch but we just don’t have the blood needed to replace the ones she lost.” The doctor said. “I’ll leave you to your grief.”

 

That’s when the turians let out their subvocals and the sound was deafening.

 

Saren’s were full of pain and rage as he screamed and threw a chair.

 

Nihlus’ were full of sorrow as he stood there.

 

Tarquin’s were full of confusion and pain and deep, deep grief. He started to cry.

 

Adrien and his wife’s were full of sorrow and comfort as they held their son who is losing his big sister figure.

 

Sol’s were full of despair as she sunk into a chair.

 

Castis’ were full of comfort for his children and his grandchild that he was trying to coo in his cowl.

 

Darrius’ were full of uncomfortableness as he felt the subvocals of all the adults in the room.

 

~~~~

 

Garrus stood in front of the door for a long time. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to see. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. He didn’t know what he wanted to do. No one understood the love he held for his bondmate. To the galaxy she was arranged to marry him to stop a war. No one, not even him at the time, believed how deeply he would fall in love with her. She was it. She was his only life long love. Only her life wouldn’t be that long.

 

His feet moved him into the room before his brain registered it was moving. Inside the room was Jane laying on the bed looking pale. Garrus moved to her side and took her hand. She smiled weakly at him.

 

“How’s Darrius?” She asked in a small voice.

 

“He’s fine, love. Strong and curious and cute. He’ll make it.” Garrus reported.

 

“Tell him I love him. Make sure he grows up knowing that I loved him so, so much. He might blame himself for this but don’t you let him. Tell him this was my choice and I knew it was possible. Don’t let him hurt.” Jane said.

 

“I’ll make sure. I’ll let him know. He will be the most loved turian/human hybrid in all of Palaven.” Garrus told her.

 

She laughed and closed her eyes.

 

~~~

 

“We have to do something!” Saren said to the group of morning turians.

 

“What can we do? We don’t have a readily available source of human blood just sitting around.” Nihlus said. “And even if we did, who knows if it will be the right one.”

 

“Can we get a human to come and give us their blood?” Tarquin asked.

 

“Things with the humans are complicated right now. We were at war with them for 30 years. Then Jane married Garrus and it ended but not in a way that humans were happy about. So the humans tried to start the war again.” Adrien Victus said.

 

“But then Jane stopped them by having a baby and falling in love with Garrus.” Tarquin said.

 

“That’s right.” Vela Victus said.

 

“But the humans are still mad at us.” Adrien said.

 

“And at Jane. She told me that she isn’t allowed to be near humans anymore.” Tarquin said. “Can we find a human who isn’t mad at Jane and ask them to give their blood? The humans that were at Chimera with us like turians and they want turian babies.”

 

“That’s true but we don’t know where these humans are now.” Saren says.

 

“Can we kidnap a human?” Tarquin asks. His family looks at him. “I know it’s bad but Jane is special.”

 

“I like your kid Victus. He has a good mind.” Saren says smiling.

 

“I think that might work but we need more time.” Nihlus says.

 

“I can give you more time.” Says a salarian voice from around the corner. They turn to see a salarain run into the area of the hospital where Garrus and Jane are.

 

~~~~

Garrus held Jane’s hand and placed his head on her hand. The epitome of sad and dejected and in pain. The door opened and he almost growled. He didn’t want anyone to intrude on his last few minutes he had with his bondmate. Even if she was unconscious for it.

 

He turned to see Professor Solus pull out an IV bag from his satchel and hook it up to Jane. “Mordin?”

 

“Blood booster. Artificial blood and a sedative to slow the heart. The heart doesn’t recycle it so it’s only a temporary fix. We will still need a donor but this will give us time.” Mordin said as he fished up with Jane.

 

“How much time?”

 

“A week. Maybe less.”

Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Book 2 Chapter 14

Summary:

Jane gets the much needed transfusion and wakes up

Notes:

I have no idea how medical stuff works. You have been warned.

Jack Harper, the Illusive Man, The Head of Cerberus, wakes up strapped to a medical bed with a strange device hooked into him. The simple fact that this wasn’t the first time he woke up to a kidnapping wasn’t lost on him. 

 

“I’m too old for this shit.” He sighed.

 

“Humans live to be 150 on average. Only 57. Still have most of life ahead. Statement wrong.” A salarian said as he walked into the room.

 

“I believe it is a human expression for when they are too tired of their current situation.” a turian he didn’t know entered the room after the salarian.

 

Then a turian he did know enters behind that one.

 

“Saren.”

 

“Harper. How are the accommodations?”

“Believe it or not I’ve had worse.” Harper deadpans.

 

“Oh I believe it.” Saren says with a smirk.

 

“Saren, don't antagonize Harper.” The other turian says.

 

“Too late.” Harper mumbles. “Why have you kidnapped me? What is it that you want?” If they wanted to kill him he would be dead already. He has a personal grudge with Saren but it’s been 10 years since Harper killed Saren’s brother Desolus. It would be weird to get his revenge now.

 

“We are sorry for the treatment.” The other turian, the one with white markings says. 

 

“I’m not.” Saren corrects.

 

“I am sorry for the treatment. But we are on a time crunch and explaining it to you, getting you here, hooking you up, and getting what we want would take too long. So we went ahead and started without you and we figured we would explain when you woke.”

 

“And I wouldn’t agree to it.” Harper pointed out.

 

“No, you would have.” The turian that isn’t Saren said.

 

“You know, if you want to save your daughter.” The turian that is Saren said.

 

Harper tried to lash out at him but just ended up pulling on the restraints. “What have you done to Jane?” He snarls at the aliens.

 

“Saren.” The other turian chastises him. Then he turns to look at Harper. “Sorry about him. Are you aware that Jane is pregnant?”

 

“Everyone in the Galaxy knows she’s pregnant with the first human/turian hybrid.” Harper replied.

 

“While she was in delivery she started to bleed out. They got it mostly under control but she couldn’t replace the blood that she lost fast enough. Mordin has a temporary solution but it would only work for a week. We needed a blood donor that has the same blood type as Jane.”

 

Harper looked at the weird machine that he was strapped to. It looks like it’s syphoning his blood from his body and replacing it with slightly off color blood. “I have the same blood type as my daughter.”

 

“Correct. Needed blood from parent source. Transferring to Jane as we speak.” The salarian, who was reading a datapad and making calculations, said. 

 

“Thanks to you mister Harper you saved your daughter’s life.” The white marked turian said.

 

“Again.” Saren supplied.

 

~~~~~

 

Jane groggily opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the tender blue eyes of her beloved. “Hey.” She whispered. Her voice is not all there yet.

 

“Hey.” He whispered back. “Welcome back.” He smiled. “You had us worried there for a while.”

 

“Sorry.” She said and tried to sit up.

 

“It’s fine now.” Garrus told her. He helped her sit up then sat on the bed behind her so when she fell back into a sitting position she fell against him. She smiled up at him. “Someone else wanted to say hi too.”

 

Jane looked over and saw “Primarch?” Garrus’ dad walked into the hospital room.

 

“I wanted to see you, yes, but I believe my son was talking about your son.” He lifted the small red bundle from his cowl and placed it on Jane’s chest.

 

The fledgling turian looked up at her with his big green eyes. He looks bigger than the last time Jane saw him but other than that not much has changed. He chirped at her.

 

“He is saying hi.” Garrus informed her. Jane made a chirping sound back to him and he squealed and flapped his arms.

 

The turians in the room all chuckled and smiled at the cuteness of the little one.

 

“May we come in?” Jane looked up to see Nihlus, Saren, Mordin, and one other person she wasn’t sure she would ever see again.

 

“Dad?”

 

“Hi kiddo.” Jack Harper walks in and sits in a room full of turians. He takes the seat near his daughter so he can be as close to her as possible. “They tell me you were in a bad way.”

 

“It was worth it.” Jane tells him and angles her head towards the sleeping turian hybrid asleep on her chest. “Want to meet your grandson?”

 

The Illusive man smiles. “Hello there little one. I’m your grandpa.”

 

“His name is Darrius.” Garrus tells him. His voice is a little guarded.

 

“I won't harm my daughter or her son.” The Illusive Man explains to Garrus like he is a child.

 

Darrius opens his eyes and looks at the Illusive Man. He chirps in confusion since he has only ever seen turians and one human before. Jack Harper smiles. “I think he likes me. When do turians start talking?”

 

“Around three. Though they develop their subvocals in a week from birth so he will start to use those very soon.” The Primarch explains.

 

“That’s so late. Human babies start to talk around one or two.” The Illusive Man said.

 

“That’s because humans don’t have the benefits of subvocals to explain their needs. If he is hungry his subvocals will tell us so. Same for all his emotions. After his first growth spurt and he loses his feathers for plates his primary vocal cords will develop and he can use them.” The Primarch explains.

 

“Might develop faster or slower due to hybrid status. Need to run tests.” Mordin said. Jane curled her arms protectively around her son. “Not now. Later.”

 

Jane lets out a large yawn. “Get some sleep bonded. I’ll take Darrius home then I’ll be here when you wake.” Garrus tells her.

 

“I don’t want to be away from him.” Jane says.

 

“Maternal instincts. Common and expected.” Mordin notes.

 

“I’ll take him home.” The Primarch states. “That way Garrus can stay here with you until you are discharged.”

 

“And me?” Jack asks.

 

“You can stay at my house once you are free to leave the hospital.” The Primarch states.

 

“Dad, are you sure?” Garrus asks.

 

“Despite his status as a terrorist and Human First he saved your bondmate and is her father. He is family Garrus.” The Primarch states.

 

“Don’t hurt any turians dad.” Jane says, closing her eyes.

 

“I won't kiddo. I promise.” Jack Harper vows.

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Book 2 Chapter 15

Summary:

Jane gets released from the hospital just in time for her next aventure.

Jane stayed in the hospital for a few weeks until she was feeling well enough to leave and go home. Garrus stayed by her side for the entire time. She got regular visits from Castis who brought her son and Jack Harper who kept his word and didn’t harm any turians. He left for his hideout a few days before Jane was discharged.

 

Jane walked through the Vakarian house slowly. She was still sore and tired from almost dying giving birth but as she made her way to her room she shared with Garrus she saw the small nest with her son in it she realized it was all worth it. If she had to do it again she would.

 

She walked over to the nest and stared lovingly at her son. She brushed his tiny feathers from his face. He made a cooing noise but stayed asleep. “What have you been feeding him?” Jane whispered since she didn’t want to wake him.

 

“They make chick food. Mordin ran some tests and saw that he can eat both dextro and levo based foods.” Garrus told her. He didn’t bother to whisper. It was important that his son learned how to sleep with noise in the house.

 

“So he doesn’t need my milk?” Jane asked, still whispering. She couldn’t bring herself not to.

 

In response Garrus brushed away the feathers that will become his mandibles and exposed Darrius’ teeth. Even as a baby they were sharp. “His teeth would hurt you, love. Turian females don’t lactate and turian chicks can eat solids as soon as they are born.” He explained. “Mordin said he’s getting the proper nutrition from the chick turian food.”

 

“I guess that’s good.” She sighs.

 

“What’s wrong, bonded?” Garrus asks as he puts his arms around her and holds her from behind. 

 

“I just, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything as a parent. I can’t feed him or carry him around in my cowl. I don’t want to miss out on the bonding.” Jane explains.

 

Garrus coos gently to sooth his love. “You can still bond with our son. Even if you don’t have a cowl you can carry him like a human child. And you can feed him his chick food. You can bond with him just as I can.” He rubbed his mandibles on Jane’s cheeks. “Get some rest, love. You still need to recover.” Garrus tells her as he gently leads her to their bed.

 

The next morning Jane feels better when she wakes. She walks into the dinning room and notices Garrus, Centura, Castis, Solana, and her son all sitting at the table eating their breakfast.

 

Garrus lights up when he sees her. “Jane. You are awake. How do you feel?”

 

“Better than I have in a long time.” She answers. She slides into her chair next to the device that holds her son. She leans over and rubs her forehead to his crest. He coos at her. She smiles and coos back.

 

Garrus gets up and rubs his crest against Jane’s. Then places her breakfast in front of her. She smiles at him and digs right in. She is starving. Jane then smiles at the rest of the family. “Centura. I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?” Jane asks.

 

Centura gives a weak smile. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around to see you. I have been taking the treatment for my Corpalis. It has left me weak and tired. I haven’t been able to leave the house.” Castis puts his hand on her hand in a show of support.

 

“Is it working?” Jane asks.

 

“It is. I might feel tired but the treatments work. I can feel the Corpalis leaving or getting weaker. I’m getting stronger.” Centura said.

 

“Thanks to you Jane.” Castis said. “If it wasn’t for your work with Dr. Solus we wouldn’t have had the treatment or the cure for the genophage.” He wipes his face with a napkin. “Which is why I need you to come to Tunchanka with me.”

 

Garrus grumbles angrily. “She just got out of the hospital. She is too weak to go anywhere.” He argues with his dad.

 

“I’m sorry son, it’s not a request.” Castis said with a sigh. It was clear he didn’t want this either.

 

“But why?” Garrus asked.

 

“Because Wrex requested it.”

 

~~~~~

 

The previous day.

 

Castis sits at his Primarch desk looking over the final datapad. He took half a day off so that he could be there for Jane. There was a ring on his official communication. He sighed and opened it. “Primarch Vakarian.” He announced himself.

 

“Castis, my old friend.” Came the booming voice of Urdnot Wrex the krogan leader.

 

“Wrex!” Castis says genuinely happy to see him on his vid-screen. “I didn’t forget about our deal. I still have the cure. Things have been hectic here.”

 

“I know. Your bond-daughter almost died delivering your grandson. How is the first turian/human hybrid?” Wrex asks.

 

“He is doing very well. The specialist says he is healthy and meeting milestones for both turian and human for his age. He’s playful and curious and very cute.” Castis tells him.

 

“Since he’s doing well why don’t you deliver on that cure.” Wrex siad. He wasn’t threatening but he wasn’t not threatening either.

 

“You are right, old friend. You have waited long enough. I will get on the shuttle tomorrow and make my way to Tunchanka. Your people will be cured by the end of the week.” Primarch Castis said.

 

Wrex closed his eyes and let out a relieved sigh. “After 1,000 years its good to finally know it’s almost over.” He opens his eyes and looks at Castis again. “Bring the salarian that made the cure and your human daughter.”

 

“Jane? What do you want her for?” Castis asked, alarmed.

 

“She ended the turian wars twice. She is a symbol of peace in the Galaxy. If she is here to cure the genophage it will go a long way towards peace. My people like symbols. Plus I believe it was her idea to use the cure to get us to stop taking jobs to kill turians.” Wrex told him.

 

“But Wrex she gets discharged from the hospital today. She is in no state to go to Tunchanka to cure the Genophage.”

 

“Come on Castis. I’m not asking her to fight a thresher maw on foot. I’m asking her to get in a shuttle, ride a tomahawk, go to the cure site, and look pretty. That’s it. She will mostly be sitting on her ass.” Wrex said.

 

“Is it really necessary?” Castis asked.

 

“It is.” Wrex growled.

 

“Very well. I will bring her.” Castis said.

 

~~~

 

“Looks like I’m going to Tunchanka.” Jane sighed.

 

“Dad, this isn’t fair.” Garrus said.

 

“I know, son, but it’s what needs to be done.” Castis said.

 

“It’s fine Garrus. It isn’t something I can’t do and Wrex is right. This was my idea. I’m just upset that I will have to spend so much time away from Darrius.” Jane told Garrus.

 

“But-” Garrus started to say.

 

She silenced him with a kiss. “It will be fine dear. High ranking turians are dying and whoever is behind it are using krogan’s to do the killing. Whoever is doing this is also targeting children of high ranking turians. I need to go. I have to protect you and our son.” Jane tells him.

 

“I don’t like it.” Garrus says finally.

 

“I know. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you. Take good care of our son.” Jane told him.

Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Book 2 Chapter 16

Summary:

Jane makes it to Tuchanka

Jane sat patiently in the transport shuttle that will take them to Tunchanka. She, Mordin, and Castis were all traveling to reverse the Genophage and make history. It was a monumental undertaking, so why was Jane feeling so sad?

 

“It’s hard the first couple of times.” Castis said, understanding lacing his subvocals.

 

“First couple of times for what?” Jane asked.

 

“Leaving your child.” Castis clarified.

 

Jane sighed. “It’s hard. I was in the hospital and now I’m in Tuchanka. Is it always going to be like this? Am I always going to leave him?”

 

Castis put his hand on Jane’s. “No. Soon you will have all the time you want to spend with him. Soon you and Garrus will be begging us to take him for the night just so you can get some sleep.” Castis said with a smile.

 

Jane smiled too. She looked forward to spending time with her son and Garrus like that. She hoped Castis was right. But he was a father himself so she knew he was. Adrien Victus also asked her to babysit Tarquin on occasion when he and Vela needed to get away. Shepard leaned further into her chair and relaxed.

 

For about 20 seconds.

 

“I’m bored.” She declared sighing into her chair.

 

Castis chuckled as he read his report on his datapad. “Read a book.” Mordin recommended. He was reading several datapads over in his own seat.

 

“I just got out of the hospital. All I did was read to pass the time there. I want something else to do.” Jane complained.

 

Castis put his report down and stood up. He stretched his muscles and smiled at her. “I think you need some physical activity.” He said. “Come, spar with me.”

 

Jane looked up at him. “I’ve never sparred with anyone other than Garrus.” She reminded him. “And I’m still healing.”

 

“I’ll go easy on you.” Castis told her. She huffed and stood up. They made their way back to the cargo area and squared off. 

 

They circled each other, both keeping a low stance, both measuring the other for weaknesses. Jane has sparred with Garrus before, she knew how to take down a turian. But she never had to. Castis wasn’t like his son, he was older, wiser, more patient, and knew more tricks. 

 

Jane darted inside his reach as fast as she could, but she was slower thanks to her recent near death experience. Castis was able to land a hit on her shoulder. She jumped back shaking her shoulder out. Normally she relied on her superior speed and flexibility to get where she needed in a fight. She might have to come up with something else this time.

 

She knew where to attack in a real fight but those areas were off limits in a friendly spar. She wasn’t sure how she was going to beat him. Maybe she should fight a little differently.

 

“Can we use tools?” She asked.

 

“Sure. Whatever you need.” Castis agreed.

 

She rushed at him again. When he went to attack she jumped in the air and activated her tactical cloak. She landed next to him and rolled out of the way when he turned to the sound of her hitting the mat. She rolled under his outstretched arms and into his attack space. She kicked his legs out from under him and rolled him over as her cloak dissipated. 

 

She pinned him.

 

“Well done.” Castis told her. “Though if I were Garrus that trick wouldn’t have worked.” He motioned to where Garrus kept his visor on at all times.

 

“That’s why I don’t use my cloak around Garrus.” Jane stood up and helped Castis up.

 

“Do you feel better?” He asked her.

 

Jane jumped up and down feeling her muscles. “Yeah. Guess I just needed a good stretch.”

 

“Come on. Let’s go another round. No cloak this time.” 

 

They went for a few rounds. Jane won about half but the ones she lost were close. She had to remember that Castis was older than Garrus and not in fighting shape, and he was going easy on her but she didn’t care. She felt great. It was wonderful to feel like Commander Shepard again.

 

They landed on Tuchanka as Jane finally relaxed. When she stepped out of the transport and saw that there were a ring of krogan all pointing their guns at her she stopped being relaxed. “Wrex?” Castis asked as he too stepped off the transport and into the ring of krogan.

 

“You have it?” One of the krogan asked. As he stepped forward Jane realized that this krogan was Wrex. He was the biggest and most scarred of them all. In response Castis held up a vial of a dark substance. “Hum, seems smaller than I thought.” Wrex said as he stepped closer to take a look at it.

 

“Small yet potent. Concentrated and ready to disperse throughout all of Tuchanka in air.” Mordin told him.

 

“You sure it will work, Salarain?” Wrex growled at him.

 

“Yes.” Mordin told him with every bit of confidence. 

 

Wrex studied the vial a bit longer. “Are we really going to believe a salarian?” Another krogan said. He walked up to Wrex and tried to take the vial from him.

 

“No, you are going to believe me!” Wrex said as he tossed the other krogan on the ground. “Brakka believes in this salarian so I say we do too.”

 

“Brakka is here?” Mordin asked. Jane remembered that Mordin was in love with a krogan female. Brakka must be her.

 

“She said you could deliver on the cure.” Wrex told him.

 

“I did.” Mordin nodded to the cure in Wrex’s hand.

 

“Then what are you waiting for? Let’s get to curing already.” Wrex said as he handed back the vial to Castis. The other krogans finally put away their weapons. Wrex led them to ground vehicles and gestured them inside.

 

So a salarian, krogan, human, and turian all get into a vehicle to cure the genophage. It will sound like the setup to a joke one of these days, Jane thought. Once they were all inside Wrex and Castis sat next to each other while Jane sat across from Wrex and next to Mordin. 

 

“So you’re the human who killed three krogan’s with nothing but a combat knife?” Wrex asked her.

 

“That’s right.” Jane informed him. She tried not to brag but it was a bragable feat.

 

“You should brag about that. Not many can take down one krogan let alone three with a knife. You must be something in a fight.” Wrex told her.

 

“I do alright.” Jane agreed.

 

“I said brag.” Wrex bellowed at her.

 

“Allright. There is a reason why I am the one they sent to end the war with turians. I was once a menace on the battlefield. You know the most impressive thing about killing those krogan? I had a fledgling to protect and I had never seen a krogan before that day, let alone fought one.”

 

Wrex laughed. “That’s better. I can’t wait to see you fight.”

 

“I haven’t fought since before I gave birth. And that’s all over now. I’m done fighting. I just want to be a mom.” Jane informed him.

 

“Then why did you come in armor?” Wrex pointed out with a smirk.

 

“Your planet is radiated. Armor protects against that.” Jane pointed out.

 

“And the gun?”

 

“I’m going to a krogan infested planet. My bondmate wanted me to be able to defend myself.” Jane said. She told Garrus he was worrying for nothing but he insisted she take her black widow sniper rifle. Jane did for two reasons. One to assure him she would be fine. The other was because she loved that gun and never got to use it.

 

Just then the car shook and a great bellow tore through the ears of everyone in the transport.

 

“Well Shepard, looks like your fighting days are not yet over. Ever heard of a thresher maw?”

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Book 2 Chapter 17

Summary:

Jane and friends run into some complications on their way to curing the genophage.

The transport stopped as the ground before them split open revealing a giant chasm. Shepard, Castis, Mordin, and Wrex all rushed from the vehicle as the ground beneath it split open and swallowed the tank whole.

 

A large worm-like creature rose from the chasm easily the size of their transport shuttle. It reared back and bellowed acid towards the group. “GET DOWN!” Jane screamed and dove for cover.

 

Luckily the rest of the group did as well. Castis took out his heavy pistol and started to blast the thresher maw. Wrex sprayed bullets into it with his shotgun. Mordin shot it with cryo and incendiary rounds. 

 

None of that worked.

 

“It’s not working!” Jane shouted.

 

“Then what do we do?” Wrex bellowed at her.

 

“What we came here to do. Work as a god damn team. Wrex shoot it.” Jane said.

 

“I am!” Wrex argued.

 

“Just keep filling it up. Mordin, fire your elemental rounds into its mouth when it spits acid.” Jane commanded.

 

“It might prove less armored than the hide. Understood.” Mordin agreed.

 

“I’ll shoot it’s eyes out.” Jane offered. “Castis-”

 

“Give it something to spray.” Castis caught on. 

 

Castis ran out of his cover directing the attention of the maw. It worked as the maw threw its head back and let loose a ball of acid. Wrex barreled into Castis knocking them both free of the maw’s path.

 

Jane shot the maw through the eye with her widow. The impact knocked the beast’s head back, throwing off its aim with the acid. Mordin shot it’s mouth with cryo rounds, freezing the mouth shut.

 

The beast writhed in pain and sunk back under the ground. In its place rose a circle of tentacles writing and wiggling to get to them. The team unleashed their attacks on the tentacles until they, too, fell below the ground.

 

They panted as they waited for the maw to reappear. After 15 minutes with no Death Creature they relaxed. Wrexed walked over to Jane and clapped her on the back of her shoulder. “Somewhere out there is a pissed off one eyed maw.”

 

“It can stay out there.” Jane said while panting. She was done with Thresher Maws for a lifetime.

 

“Well done Jane.” Castis said.

 

“Yes, well done Shepard.” Said a new voice. The group turned to see a salarian female wearing a long robe holding a pistol aimed at Shepard.

 

“Dalatrass Linron.” Mordin announces.

 

“You didn’t think you could get away with this did you? Uplifting the krogan to fight the rachani was our biggest mistake. The genophage was the only way to keep these beasts in check. Without that the krogan will overrun the galaxy. We can’t have that.” She said and shot Shepard in the face with the pistol.

 

Jane went down.

 

Wrex went into a blood rage and charged the Dalatrass. She responded by throwing a grenade that acted like a biotic stasis trapping Wrex. Mordin and Castis dove into cover and shot at her. She had a kinetic barrier that absorbed the bullets. Even Mordin’s modified bullets couldn’t penetrate the barrier.

 

“This is the end of the hope for the krogan.” Dalatrass said.

 

“No it isn’t.” Jane’s voice said from behind her. She didn’t even get to turn around before Jane’s omni-blade stabbed clean through her chest. The kinetic barrier couldn’t stop Jane since she wasn’t a bullet traveling at mass effect speeds.

 

Jane laid the Dalatrass down on the ground as she retracted her omni-blade. “You fool. You have doomed us all.”

 

“Maybe.” Jane said. She was bleeding from a bullet wound on her cheek. The bullet looks like it grazed her. “But the krogan deserve a chance.”

 

Once the Dalatrass was dead Jane stood up and walked over to the stasis grenade and turned it off allowing Wrex to go free. He stumbled a bit, but regained his balance.

 

The four of them stood around the Dalatrass’ body. “Did you mean that Shepard? About how we deserve a chance?” Wrex asked her.

 

“Yes. You did nothing wrong. You fought for a galaxy that turned its back on you. If you want revenge for the genophage you could take it. Or you can forgive those that made the decision and move on. You deserve this chance regardless.” Jane told him.

 

Wrex thought about it for a moment and nodded. “Let’s get that cure loaded in.” The group nodded and saw that the Dalatrass arrived in her own transport vehicle. They were happy to take that from her.

 

They arrived at the shroud, a giant tower that was used to disperse the genophage originally. The four of them rode the elevator up to the top of the tower and watched as Mordin poured the solution into the compartment. With a few button presses the tower lit up and a beautiful sparkling cloud formed all over Tuchanka.

 

“We should get outside. Better view.” Mordin advised.

 

They all stepped off the elevator that brought them down the tower and onto the soil. They looked up as it started to rain small glittering puff balls down all over Tuchanka.

 

“This is it?” Wrex asked in awe.

 

“Who knew the genophage cure would be so beautiful.” Jane marveled.

 

“It’s everything I hoped for.” Castis said as he too looked up and marveled at the sky.

 

The four of them stood around and watched as history was made.

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Book 2 Chapter 18

Summary:

Jane returns from Tuchanka and finds out how much her family missed her.

Shepard slept the entire ride back to Palaven. She was exhausted, after fighting two grueling fights, traveling a hot radioactive planet, and making history, she was beat. She was going to take a long hot shower then go to sleep for a week.

 

As Shepard walked into the house all thoughts of sleep and weariness faded from her mind as the sound of a very unhappy turian/human fledgling was screaming at the top of his lungs. Shepard turned to Castis. 

 

“What is happening?” She asks him.

 

“If I had to guess, he has entered into the bonding phase.” Castis said. He was smiling as though the screeching was normal.

 

“Does it hurt?” Shepard asked. It must be very painful if he was crying like that.

 

“Not physically.” He said and left.

 

Shepard made her way to her’s and Garrus’ room and opened the door. There she saw Garrus holding her son, Darrius, and rocking him smoothly. He is making cooing sounds to try and sooth Darrius.

 

It wasn’t working. 

 

Shepard shut the door and Garrus turned to see who had entered the room. As soon as their eyes met all sounds ceased. Darrius stopped his wailing. Garrus put Darrius in his nest and walked over to Shepard.

 

“You’re back.” He whispered to her.

 

“I am.” She said. He brought his talons to trail her hair and cupped her face with his other hand. He slowly brushed her hair with his talons. Shepard closed her eyes and sighed. “That feels good.” She informed her bondmate.

 

“I missed you.” Garrus told her. He brought his forehead down to meet hers in a turian kiss. Then gave her a human kiss.

 

It dawned on Jane that she hasn’t had sex with Garrus since before Darrius was born. As soon as that thought entered her mind she couldn’t shake it. She fought a thresher maw and a Dalatrass and cured the genophage. Surely she was in a good place to have sex with her bondmate.

 

Jane deepened the kiss and started to massage Garrus’ sensitive waist. He made a growling noise that Jane knows is associated with lust and attraction. Garrus wraps his hands around her waist and back holding her as he deepened the kiss more.

 

Darrius let out a large chirp and a giggle. Jane backed away from Garrus with a start. How could she even think about that with Darrius in the room? She rushes to his nest and picks him up.

 

“It’s okay baby. Daddy and I were just kissing. That’s all.” She lies to the baby.

 

Garrus chuckles. “Jane, you don’t need to justify yourself to a chick. They don't know what’s going on.”

 

“But I don’t want to scar him for life! We should move him out of the room before we do anything more.” She said. 

 

“We can’t. Unless you want to hear him cry again.” Garrus told her. “He’s at the bonding phase.”

 

“Your dad said something like that as well. What is that?” Jane asked him.

 

“It’s where he starts to develop attachments to his parents. He needs our scent and our subvocals to learn who they are attached to. He will feel a sense of peace and calm from hearing and scenting us nearby. If we are gone from his senses he will be disturbed.” Garrus explained.

 

“But Garrus, I don’t have subvocals.” Jane started to panic. If she couldn’t provide something for her baby then would he grow up missing something he should have. Or would he be constantly distressed?

 

“You do. You just don’t know it. And it isn’t the same as what turians use, but it’s there.” Garrus said soothingly. Jane wasn’t sure so Garrus smiled. “When you hum, or use other non-words but still vocals to convey your meaning. Plus there is the sound of your voice and the way it is unique to you. Darrius will pick up on that.”

 

“Are you sure?” Jane was hoping Garrus was right, but is this a problem since she wasn’t a turian?

 

“I know so. Why do you think he was crying the whole time you were gone?” Garrus asked her. He gently took Darrius out of her arms and placed him in the nest. He then wrapped his arms around Jane. “He was distressed that he wasn’t getting your scent and vocals. That is why he stopped as soon as you came home.”

 

Jane leans her head against Garrus’ chest and looks at her son as he starts to sleep. “He missed me?”

 

“Very much. I missed you too. Since my subvocals were ringing out that I missed you he felt them and that made him even more distressed.” Garrus told her. He started to gently sway with Jane in his arms.

 

“How long does this phase last?” Jane stifled a yawn and closed her eyes.

 

“Not long. As soon as he is filled with our scent and vocals he will not need to be constantly around us. He will develop a deeper understanding that so long as he still can scent and hear us once a day he won't need it constantly. That too will fade but that won't happen until he is close to five years old.” Garrus picks Jane up and carries her to the bed.

 

“So he needs to constantly stay with us both for a while?” Jane asked. Her voice took on the sleepy quality and her eyes were closed.

 

“Yeah.” Garrus whispered. He went back to brushing her hair with his talons. Shepard let out a happy moan and Garrus smiled. “See that’s like subvocals. You are doing fine.”

 

“Thanks Garrus.” She yawns and falls into a deep sleep.

Chapter 44: *Chapter 44 Book 2 Chapter 19

Summary:

Jane and Garrus have sex. That's it, that's the whole chapter.

Jane slowly comes back to consciousness, she doesn’t need to open her eyes to know that she is in her bed with Garrus. The warmth she feels is nothing compared to the love she feels wrapped up in his embrace. She can feel the gentle pressure of his arms surrounding her. 

 

She opens her eyes to see his sleeping face. She smiles as she gently traces his markings and scars with her hand. She keeps her touch feather light so as not to wake him. She feels warm, happy, loved, and one other emotion she can’t help.

 

Horny.

 

It’s been forever since she and Garrus had sex. She looks over at the nest that holds her son. He seems to be asleep. She looks back at Garrus and notes that he is definitely asleep. She really should let him sleep, but she wants him so badly.

 

She touches his face again. This time she makes sure not to keep her touch light. She drags her nails across his plates and over his neck. Just the way he likes it. She caresses his neck before she drags her nails up behind his frings. Just when she get to his special spot on the underside of his fringe her hand is grabbed.

 

She finds herself on her back with Garrus over her pinning her hands above her head. His eyes are open and shiny with mischief. He lowers his head so that his mouth is directly next to her ears.

 

“Do that again and I can't control myself.” He warns her. His voice is low and gravely from sleep. Jane squirms as her body heats up with desire.

 

“I’m counting on that.” She whispers. She spreads her legs and wiggles her hips. It’s clear what she wants.

 

Garrus knows what she wants as well. His mandibles flutter in a smirk. “Oh are you?” He asks. He takes the hand not holding her arms above her head and runs it down her body. Jane realizes that she is just sleeping in her underwear. He must have removed her clothing for her last night.

 

It’s so incredibly hot.

 

Garrus’ hand runs down her neck and collar bone. Gently passing over her pert nipples. Jane moans and the contact so he does it again. He takes one and turns it in his talons. Jane likes it when he uses his talons.

 

Jane moans at the contact her nipples were having. It fueled her arousal that much more. Garrus licks the side of Jane’s neck increasing the pleasure she was feeling. “Is this what you want, bonded?” Garrus whispers. He is deliberately using his ‘sexy voice.’ 

 

“God damn, Garrus. Your voice alone gets me going. It drives me wild!” Jane whispers.

 

He smirks again. “I know.” He replies as his hand leaves her nipple and travels between her legs under her underwear. He enters her with his finger and she gasps. “I know.” He states again as he pushes his finger to her sweet spot.

 

She’s about to scream out in pleasure but he places his mouth on hers to stifle her cry. “We mustn’t wake the fledgling. You have to be quiet my love.” He moves his finger in and out of her faster and smirks knowing it’s his doing that she isn’t quiet.

 

Jane wants to say something to tell him off for his stunts but all she can do is moan and pant. When Garrus lowers his head and sucks on her other nipple and places his thumb on her clit she silently groans as her orgasim hits.

 

Garrus finger fucks her through her orgasim as Jane focuses on just staying quiet. She comes down from her high when Garrus pulls his finger out. “Is that what you wanted?” He smirks at her again. Jane likes his cocky smirk.

 

Jane pulls her hands free from his grasp and turns them over until she is straddling him. He went to bed with nothing on as is the custom of a turian. But this means that his erection was free to express itself with nothing to hold it back.

 

“My turn, Bonded.” Jane smirks and disappears under the sheets. It doesn’t take Garrus long to figure out where she went. He stifles a groan as she takes a hold of his erection with her hand and starts to slowly work its way up and down his shaft.

 

It appears that was just to spread the lubrication around as she finished her hand job and replaced her hand with her mouth. Garrus grunts as his penis is surrounded by warm wet suction. She works him all the way down and back up again. She adds her tongue to play with his ridges as she sucks him.

 

He comes apart in her mouth. 

 

She disappears into the bathroom as Garrus lays there panting after his orgasim. He turns his head when he hears Jane finish in the bathroom. She stands there leaning against the doorframe, completely naked.

 

Garrus throws off the covers and Jane walks over to him. She leans over to whisper in his ear. “I want you inside of me.” She straddles him and positions him so that when she sinks down he enters her. 

 

They both moan in unison as she slides all the way down him. She rolls her hips and leans forward. She starts slow but gradually picks up the pace. It’s still not fast enough for Garrus as he grabs her waist and pumps her up and down his length. 

 

They come together. 

 

Garrus stands and throws Jane on the bed. He grabs her waist and pulls her to the side of the bed. He stands on the floor and using the ground as leverage he pushes inside her. He pumps her hard and fast. Her boobs are bouncing up and down on her chest. Her hands are clamped over her mouth to stifle the sounds she wants to make.

 

Garrus leans over her as he pushes inside her hard and fast. His talons rip the sheets as he cums inside her. He starts to feel his knott expand but he pulls out first. He can’t risk getting her pregnant again. 

 

He pulls out and makes his way to the bathroom on shaky legs. He cleans up and collapses next to his bondmate in their bed. She is panting and flush and Garrus feels a sense of pride at how he made her look.

 

“How was that?” Garrus asks.

 

She chuckles. “That was perfect. Oh I wanted that so badly.” 

 

“So did I.” Garrus admits.

 

“I love you Garrus Vakarian.” Jane tells him.

 

“I love you too Jane Vakarian.”

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Book 2 Chapter 20

Summary:

Jane gets back to work on figuring out who is killing the turians

Jane approaches the group of SPECTREs standing in a circle around a table. They look up at her approach. “Welcome back from your trip.” Nihlus tells her as she gets to her spot in the circle.

 

“Thank you.” Jane says. “It was fruitful and yielded great results.” She told them.

 

“The end of the genophage and the Primarch’s role in it will give dad months of overtime. He’s being requested for interviews all the time.” Garrus said.

 

“If you need to de-stress after the mission Jane, you just let me know.” Saren said with flirtatious subvocals.

 

Garrus put his arm around Jane’s waist. “She took care of that already. I made sure of that.” Garrus made extra sure of it when they went for round two that morning.

 

“Saren quit antagonizing my bondmate.” Jane scolded her oldest friend in the room.

 

“I wouldn’t if it wasn’t so much fun and easy.” Saren said, gently slapping Garrus on the fringe in a teasing manner. 

 

“Only I’m allowed to call Garrus fun and easy.” Jane tells them as she purrs at Garrus.

 

“Only for you beloved.” Garrus purrs back.

 

“Stop trying to make Darrius an older brother already. The kid is only a few months old.” Nihlus chastised them.

 

“Where is your progeny anyway?” Saren asked.

 

“With Tarquin and the Victus’. Tarquin likes babysitting.” Jane answered.

 

“He will need the practice. I heard the Victus’ are trying again.” Garrus added.

 

“Again? After their miscarriage I thought they would stop for a while.” Nihlus commented.

 

“Are we here to gossip like asari maidens or are we here to stop whoever is killing turians?” Saren asked, clearly annoyed.

 

“I can do both.” Jane said and placed a datapad on the table. “When I said my trip to Tunchanka was fruitful I didn’t mean in just stopping the Genophage and gaining a powerful ally.” 

 

“What is that?” Saren asked picking it up.

 

“I asked Wrex to not take any more contracts to kill turians. He agreed and did one better. He made a list of everything he knew about who was ordering the hit on the high tier turians.” Jane said, proudly.

 

Saren started looking into the datapad more intensely. Nihlus looks over his shoulder. Jane produces three more datapads and hands them out. 

 

“I made copies.” She said, smugly. 

 

For the next three hours each and everyone of them read, re-read, made notes, re-made notes, and re-re-read the document. They came together ready to show off what they found after the three hours were up.

“So the biggest thing I want to note is that each and every krogan was contacted by a volus.” Jane started.

 

“That makes sense.” Nihlus stated. “If you need to move around a lot of money you go to a volus.”

 

“Right but the person who is hiring all the krogans has a lot of money. Volus does the banking, they have the money.” Jane stated.

 

“Could be a rich human or organization or a rich asari. Or a rich salarian. This is sort of how salarians wage war. From the shadows, getting others to do it for you.” Saren pointed out.

 

“When I went to the Shadow Broker to see what they knew I came up empty. But my contact through the Shadow Broker was a volus.” Garrus said.

 

“Mine as well. He said the same thing.” Nihlus stated.

 

“I doubt that the Shadow Broker knows nothing. Either they don’t want to tell us or…” Saren started.

 

“The volus are running interference.” Jane supplied.

 

“We can’t go to the volus ambassador and ask ‘hey is your race trying to kill mine?’ We need more proof.” Garrus said.

 

“The owner of the transport skycars that tried to kill you on the Citadel, the one that dumped the Victus kid in the lake, was owned by a volus.” Saren stated.

 

“All businesses are owned by volus.” Garrus stated.

 

“There was a volus at the Alliance Safehouse that I was using when I was um spying on you in the beginning of our relationship. I asked about it later, he was installing the tech used to communicate with Hacket. Said he owned a tech store.” Jane said.

 

“Volus own all businesses.” Garrus repeated.

 

“But you would think installing tech would be a salarian.” Jane said.

 

“You seem specisist. Volus are smart too.” Garrus states.

 

“It’s worth looking into.” Nihlus states.

 

“Okay. We should go see the volus ambassador tomorrow then.” Garrus states.

Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Book 2 Chapter 21

Summary:

The true culprit is finally unmasked, sort of.

Notes:

Yeah, I'm not happy with this chapter either. I'll be honest, I'm working on like 17 other shakarian fanfics that are partially written because I can't keep my imagination on one thing at a time. So I kinda forgot about this one. I'll write more when I bring my train of thought back to this station.

Meeting the volus ambassador was easy. As it happens the volus ambassador doesn’t do much or have a lot of meetings. Since they are a client race of the turians their job is mostly to bring up issues to the turians and have them argue for their behalf. The rest of the volus deal with businesses and as such are overseen by business committees. 

 

So that is how Nihlus, Saren, Garrus, and Jane all found themselves in the volus ambassador’s office early in the morning. They assumed that they were going to have to make an appointment and it wouldn’t be for a few days. They were counting on that time to come up with what to say. As it happens they were sitting in his office with no game plan on how to bring it up.

 

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.” Jane said.

 

“I couldn’t deny three SPECTREs and the most famous earth clan now can I?” The ambassador said through his respirator in his suit. “This is too great an opportunity for me.”

 

“We will not take up too much of your time. Have you heard that high ranking turians are being killed?”

 

“I know about this.” The ambassador said calmly.

 

“Are the volus behind it?” Saren abruptly asks.

 

“Saren.” Nihlus chastised him.

 

“You can’t just come out and say it like that.” Garrus said.

 

“We are.” The volus ambassador said.

 

“I’m sorry what?” Jane asked.

 

“I said, we are responsible, earth clan.” The volus ambassador said.

 

“You’re admitting it? Just like that?” Saren asked.

 

“Yes. Just like that.” the volus said.

 

“Why are you admitting it?” Nihlus asked.

 

“Because, like I said, this is a great opportunity for me.” the ambassador said. “Taking out three SPECTREs and Shepard will help out tremendously.” 

 

Saren smirks. “You think you can get rid of us all that easily.”

 

“I already have. You turians have always looked down on the vol clan. You label us as a mere client race. Yet when you went to war with the Earth Clan you gave them more rights than the Vol Clan. You even let them go and now they are a Citadel Race. We Vol Clan worked harder for longer and contributed more to the galaxy than the humans have. Now we will take out our ‘masters’ and establish the Vol Clan as it’s own independent race.” The Volus Ambassador opened his omni-tool and pressed a few buttons.

 

There was an audible click sound that generated from the windows and door. On a hunch Garrus went over to open them. Only to find them locked. “I can probably override the lock.” Garrus said.

 

“Not before you suffocate.” The ambassador said.

 

Just then the vents in the ceiling opened up and started to emit gas into the room. “Sometimes we need to take our suits off and relax in our offices. So the office fills with the precious gas from our homeworld. Completely harmless to us, but deadly to the other races.” Saren whips out his gun and aims at the ambassador. “And highly flammable. Your gun will ignite the gas and blow up the whole embassy.”

 

Jane presses on Saren’s gun and he lowers it. “Garrus, get to work on the lock. Nihlus, subdue the ambassador and try to break a window. Saren, give me a boost.” Jane orders. She stands under the vent and motions to Saren. Saren walks over to her and lifts her so she is standing on his cowl. 

 

Jane is just tall enough to reach the ceiling. She studies the vent, there is no way to close it manually. But she might be able to plug it up though. She takes her shirt off and stuffs it into the vent. It slows down the gas but doesn’t stop it.

 

Nihlus ties up the ambassador and rams the butt of his rifle into the glass of the window. But no matter how hard he tries the window would not break. Seeing what Jane was up to he takes off his shirt as well and sends it up to her.

 

Jane stuffs Nihlus’ clothes into the vent and the gass went from gushing out to merely a leak. They had plenty of time before the gas overtook the breathable atmosphere. 

 

After an hour and a half Garrus got the doors open. On the other side of the doors was C-Sec and the council. Jane had submitted the ambassador’s confession to them and they were waiting to be able to arrest the ambassador.

 

The effects of the gas made the turian SPECTREs and Jane loopy so when the doors opened to a half naked Jane and Nihlus and all of them looking dazed and out of it the counselors were not sure what to think.

 

Luckily Sparatus brought Jane and the rest to his chambers to rest and pass the results of the gas. After they slept off the effects of the gas Garrus, Nihlus, Saren, and Jane told Sparatus everything. They then got the Primarch, Castis, on the phone and told him what was going on as well.

 

“Should we declare war on the volus?” Castis asked.

 

“Maybe you can make a deal with them. Like how you did with the humans. That way you can avoid bloodshed and still achieve peace.” Jane offered.

 

“They killed high tier turians. They need to be punished.” Nihlus said.

 

“We should go to war.” Saren agreed.

 

“They tried to go after Tarquin. Darrius will be next. I don’t want to wait while our son is in danger.” Garrus reminds Jane.

 

Jane has to admit when she is bested. Turians are bred for war and this is personal. She gives up and offers a small nod.

 

“Very well.” The Primarch states. “I’ll make the call. As of now the turians are at war with the volus.”