Vancouver, British Columbia, Earth

Shepard looked down the shaft and saw a small boy slowly backing away, scared and alone. He couldn't have been more than seven years old. It was about 15 minutes ago she had seen the boy running in a courtyard, playing with a model ship. Now here he was, hiding for his life, terrified.

"It's okay," she said extending her hand.

The boy stopped backing away.

"Everyone's dying," he replied.

A distance explosion shook the room briefly. The boy gasped as Shepard looked back to see one of the Reapers massive legs step forward through a hole in the wall. Shepard was still slowly inching herself closer to the child.

"Come on, you have to get out of here," she said.

The boy didn't move, not dropping eye contact.

"Take my hand," Shepard said softly. She almost had the boy within reach.

"You can't help me," the boy said.

Shepard froze but didn't lose any ground.

"Shepard!" Anderson's voice called as the sound of a Reaper roared in the background.

The boy flinched and Shepard leapt forward and grabbed the boy on the arm. He began to struggle and tried to break her grip.

"No! Let go of me!" he yelled.

Shepard pulled him forward until she was able to grab him with her other arm and pull him from the vent.

"My god, what's he doing here!?" Anderson asked as he knelt down to look at the boy.

"It's okay. I've got you," Shepard said as the boy still resisted.

After some more kicking and struggling, the boy ceased resistance. He had tired himself out.

"What's your name son?" Anderson asked.

Silence. The boy didn't even look to acknowledge Anderson. Another reaper roar, this time closer filled the room. The boy quickly turned around and wrapped his arms around Shepard.

She returned the embrace.

"It's okay. We are going to get you out of here," she whispered to the child.

Anderson stood up and motioned for them to join. Shepard stood up, holding the boy in her one arm, as she held her pistol in the other.

"Ah this is a god damn mess," Anderson said tossing a crate to the side. "Every minute these machines are here, thousands of innocent people die. I won't be responsible."

He moved forward, Shepard holding the boy behind him.

"You're not responsible for the ones that died. We fight for the ones left standing when it's all over," Shepard replied.

"Yeah. Maybe you're right," Anderson said softly.

"They hit so fast . . . I thought we would have more time," Anderson said.

"We knew they were coming," she said placing the boy down as she held the debris for Anderson to pass.

"And they still just cut through our defenses," he said passing through. "We need to go the Citadel. Talk to the council."

Shepard picked the boy back up.

"The Citadel? The fight's here," she said.

"It will be like this everywhere soon enough. You said it yourself . . the Reapers will destroy everything if we don't stop them," Anderson said. "The council has to help us."

The three made their way through some more rubble.

"You sure about that?" Shepard replied.

It was no secret that the council almost never listened to Shepard. Even after she saved them from being killed by the very thing that she warned them about in the first place!

"No," Anderson replied as they began to slowly cross the ledge. Shepard had the boy wrapped tight in her arms, his own tiny arms and legs wrapped around her torso. "But you're a council Spectre. That has to count for something."

The sound of a reaper weapon firing and the subsequent explosion shook the building. Shepard started to fall forward but Anderson grabbed her.

"Gotcha!" Anderson exclaimed pulling the two back up to a stable base.

"Thanks" Shepard said. "I owe you one."

"More than one," he replied.

The pair hopped off the ledge and Shepard put the boy down. She knelt down next to the boy.

"Okay, listen sweetie. What's your name?" she asked putting one hand on his shoulder the other on his arm.

"Patrick," the boy said.

"Patrick. I like that name," Shepard said. It brought a small smile to the boy's face. "Listen, we have to move forward to get to my ship. That will get us to safety. You have to do exactly what Admiral Anderson and I say. Understand?"

The boy nodded.

"If we tell you to stay down and not move, you have to do that," she said, looking him right in the eye. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

"Grab some ammo!" Anderson said.

Shepard picked up some fresh clips and loaded her weapon.

"Stay close," she said.

"Let's keep moving" Anderson said. The three of them hopped down the ledge. They moved ahead. A reaper landed in the water to the north of them.

"God," Anderson said in awe of the size of the machine.

"Lieutenant-Commander Williams, we're in sight of the spaceport. ETA: 3 minutes," Anderson said into his earpiece.

Ashley's voice rung over throughout Shepard's earpiece as she held Patrick's hand.

"We made it to the Normandy. We are taking fire . . . oh god!" Ashley shouted. "They're gonna take down that dreadnaught! Evasive maneuvers!"

Still moving ahead, Shepard could see the dreadnaught in question. It was already burning in several places.

"Lieutenant-Commander? Ashley! Damn it! They're in trouble," Anderson said.

They were still moving when the Reaper to their right fired a beam that caused the dreadnaught to explode. The shockwave moved quickly across the water. Shepard quickly picked up Patrick and tried to run back but it was too late. The platform was giving way. Shepard fell onto her bottom, one hand behind Patrick's head, holding him to her. The other around his back. His legs were wrapped around her as he cried. Shepard slid down the fallen platform rapidly. She saw the bottom and knew she would have to jump just before reaching the bottom. She timed it perfectly and twisted in mid air, ensuring she would land on her shoulder, saving Patrick from any brunt in the fall. Ignoring the pain in her body, she forced herself up, checking Patrick.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

With tears going down his face the boy remained silent. However, he nodded, sniffling.

"You're doing great, we are almost there," Shepard said.

"Friendlies!" Anderson said over at the ledge behind them.

"More people, let's go," Shepard said taking the boy's hand. Anderson helped him down the ledge before Shepard hopped down. The three of them join two Alliance soldiers.

"You two alright?" Shepard asked.

"Get down or they'll see you!" one of the soldiers quietly shouted at Shepard.

One of the indoctrinated batarians roared before they opened fire.

Patrick immediately tried to cling to Shepard. She attempted to pass him off to one of the other Alliance soldiers.

"NO!" Patrick yelled in protest. Shepard finally broke free of his grip and rushed ahead.

Patrick tried to cover his hears but he could hear the sounds of gunfire and the creatures screaming. The one thing he couldn't hear was his own screams. The soldier rubbed his back. He looked over the man's shoulder. He saw Shepard in action. How with one hand covered in blue biotics and a pistol in the other destroy her enemies with different combinations.

"Finish them off!" Anderson said.

Shepard used biotics to lift the last cannibal off its feet before shooting it down.

"Clear!" Shepard yelled.

Shepard and Anderson returned to the others. Patrick ran to Shepard, who picked him up in her arms.

"What happened here?" Anderson asked.

"Our gunship was shot down . . .We barely made it," the one man said.

"Do you have a radio? We're trying to contact our ship," Anderson asked.

"No," the same man said. "There's one in the gunship, but it's probably crawling with those things."

"Stay here son, we'll get you out of here," Anderson said.

They lifted the debris freeing the trapped man, creating a bridge.

"Shepard, leave the boy with them," Anderson said.

"NO!" Patrick protested, tightening his grip on Shepard.

"With all due respect sir, I'm getting this kid out of here, nothing is going to happen to him," she replied.

Anderson shook his head.

"Fine. Let's get to that gunship," Anderson replied.

The three moved across the makeshift bridge and ahead. Overhead, a ship was chase by some dragon like creature.

"What the hell are those things?" Anderson asked.

Around the bend where more cannibals. Shepard slid into cover and put Patrick down. He covered his head with his arms and covered his ears. After a few more minutes of loud noises, Patrick was in Shepard's arms again.

"Shepard, over here! I found a radio!" Anderson said. "Normandy, this is Anderson . . . do you read?"

"Admiral, what's your location?" Ashley's voice broke through.

"By a downed gunship in the harbor. I'm activating its distress beacon," Anderson replied. "Send support. We've got wounded and a child down here."

The machine beeped at Anderson.

"Lieutenant?" Anderson asked. "Damn it, I lost the signal."

"Let's hope that beacon does its job," Shepard said. She kneeled down and placed Patrick behind cover next to her.

"Our friends are on their way, we will be out of here soon," Shepard said to him.

"We've got company!" Anderson shouted.

"Down!" Shepard shouted. Again, Patrick tried to block out the sound. What made him look up was really loud sound, like an explosion just in front of them. He saw the cannibals destroyed as a ship flew overhead. Shepard rushed to pick him up.

"Let's go!" she said.

Shepard began to run, Patrick in her arms, towards the ship as it positioned itself to line up the cargo door opening. Shepard was picking up speed. Patrick closed his eyes. He was afraid to look at anything else. Shepard leapt into the air and landed on the platform.

"Welcome back Shep- oh! This must be the kid," a voice said.

Patrick opened his eyes and saw a pretty woman with black hair holding an assault rifle in blue armor looking at him. She smiled at him. Her voiced sounded like the one over the radio he had heard before.

"Long story, but thanks Ash," Shepard said. "Come on!" she called to Anderson who was still on the ledge.

A shuttle pulled up behind him.

"I'm not going," Anderson said. "You saw those men back there. There's a million more like them, and they need a leader."

"We're in this fight together, Anderson," she replied.

"It's a fight we can't win, not without help," he said. "We need every species and all their ships to even have a chance at defeating the Reapers. Talk to the council. Convince them to help us."

"What if they won't listen?" she asked.

"Then make them listen! Now go! That's an order!" he said.

"I don't take orders form you anymore, remember?" she said.

Anderson took something out of his pocket.

"Then consider yourself reinstated," he said tossing it to her. She took one arm that wasn't supporting Patrick and caught her old dog tags. "Commander."

"You know what you have to do," he said.

"I'll be back for you, and I'll bring every fleet I can," she said. "Good luck."

"You too Shepard," Anderson said.

Shepard turned around and walked in line with Ashley. Patrick had burrowed his face in the side of Shepard's neck. He held onto her as she held him in her one arm. Shepard saw a shuttle land near another. A Reaper was near the two. The two men from earlier got into the second one and the door closed. Just as they took off, the Reaper used its laser to destroy both ships. Shepard stared in horror, her mouth slightly a jaw. The cargo hold on the Normandy closed as Shepard turned to bring Patrick to a safe place.

Captain's Quarters

Shepard walked through the doors and into her old quarters. She would have to look at the changes later. She has just put Lieutenant Vega in his place as well as getting info on something on Mars that needed her attention from Hackett. Finally, she needed to get Patrick settled. She sat on the couch as he still held on to her.

"Hey, we're safe now. We got away. You did a great job down there," Shepard said softly.

Patrick said nothing. Shepard began to rub his back. He occasionally sniffled.

"It's ok to look now. We are on my ship," she said.

Patrick slowly lifted his head, and turned around, still sitting on Shepard's lap. He gazed around the room. He saw a bed directly across the room. He ran to it and dove on top. He pushed his face into a pillow and began to lightly weep again.

For a moment, Shepard reached one arm out but dropped it.

"Commander, we are approaching Mars," EDI's voice rang out in the room.

She looked over at Patrick on the bed. As much as she wanted to try and cheer him up, saving the universe took priority.

"Have Lieutenant Vega and Lieutenant-Commander Williams suit up. I'll be right down," she said.

"The Normandy has changed since your departure Commander. The Alliance has made several upgrades. I will guide you to the new armory," EDI said.

Shepard stood up and walked over to the bed. She sat next to Patrick and began to rub his back.

"I have to leave for a bit," she whispered. "I'll be back as soon as I can. If you need anything, just say the name EDI. She will help you until I get back."

Shepard leaned in and gave the boy a kiss on the back of the head. She stood up, brushed the part of her blonde hair that fell in front of her face to the side, similar to hair it hung on the other side of her face. The rest was in a ponytail. She started to leave when she looked over at her desk. Her collection of model ships was still there! She walked over to it and removed the model of the original Normandy. It looked similar to the one Patrick had when she saw him before the attack. She walked over and placed it on the bed next to him. She then left the room.

"EDI?" Shepard said.

"Yes, Commander?" She replied.

"Help the kid with anything he needs. If he wants to see someone, have someone come up to be with him," Shepard said.

"Yes Commander," the AI replied.

A few minutes of silent crying later, Patrick looked up and saw he was alone. He wiped the tears from his face. He looked at the model ship next to him on the bed. He picked it up and examined it. It looked just like toy he had when he was at the orphanage. He lost it during the attack. It was surely destroyed now. Slowly, he got off the bed, holding the model ship against himself, and walked around the room. There was the couch Shepard sat on when he first opened his eyes again. Where had he heard that name before? Wait. It couldn't be. Patrick climbed up the steps and walked in front of the desk. He looked at the holopad on the desk. He tapped it with his finger. It brightened and showed an email inbox full of new messages. Across the top scrolled the message: Welcome Commander Alexis Shepard. You have 17 unread messages, and 10,978 spam messages. It WAS her. The woman that had pulled him from that vent was THE Commander Shepard. And that meant. He suddenly looked at the model ship in his hands. He looked around at the room he was in. This must be THE Normandy. He turned the holopad off and looked at the two photos. One was of an asari. She was quite beautiful. The other was of Shepard and the asari. In the photo, Shepard had her arm around the asari and the other taking the photo. The asari had her arm around Shepard and her other rested on Shepard's chest, her head nuzzled into Shepard's shoulder.

"Do you need assistance with anything?" a voice rang out in the room.

It was the voice that Patrick had heard before, but hadn't seen anyone, just as he didn't see anyone now.

"Who's there?!" he cried out.

Patrick put his back against the wall and crouched down. A blue hologram appeared on the desk. It looked like a giant golf ball on a platform.

"My name is EDI. I am the Artificial Intelligence of the Normandy. Commander Shepard has requested that I help you with anything you many need," the AI said.

Patrick just stared at it, remaining silent.

"Would you feel more comfortable if a real person came up?" EDI asked.

Patrick slowly nodded his head. The AI disappeared. Patrick stood up. A few minutes later, a woman entered the room. She had short black hair tucked behind her ears. She had honey skin and worn alliance clothes.

"Hello there, my name is Samantha Traynor," she said slowly walking up to Patrick.

He detensed almost instantly at seeing another human.

"EDI tells me your name is Patrick. Is that right?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Ah I see you've gotten a hold on one of the Commander's model ships. That was one of the few things that were kept untouched when the Alliance upgraded the Normandy. She managed to get the complete collection before she returned to Earth," she said.

Patrick stomach betrayed him as it let out a loud growl.

"Are you hungry? Let's head down to the kitchen to get you something to eat," Traynor said extending her hand.

Patrick clutched at the model ship.

"You can bring it with you if you'd like. I'm sure the Commander won't mind," Traynor replied smiling.
Patrick slowly stepped forward and took Traynor's hand, still clutching the model Normandy to his chest. They entered the elevator.

Elevator

"Do you have anything in particular that you want to eat?" Traynor asked.

Patrick shook his head.

"There's a lot to choose from. Would you like if I whipped you up a sandwich?" she asked.

Patrick nodded.

"Do you like turkey?" she asked.

"No," he said softly.

"Hmmmm. How about ham" she asked.

Patrick nodded as a small smile came across his face. He loved ham.

"A ham sandwich it is then," Traynor said smiling.

3rd floor

Sam walked Patrick over to the table in the middle of the room and he sat in a chair.

"I'll be right back," she said.

Sam walked over toward the fridge and began to assemble a ham and cheese sandwich.

Patrick nervously looked around. There were three doors he could see. One at the back of the room, one behind him, which he could see into that room through the glass windows, and another in front of him, although he couldn't see anything in that room. Sam returned with the sandwich.

"Thank you," Patrick said. He placed the model ship on the table and took the sandwich. Traynor sat in the seat next to him.

A dark skinned man came around the corner.

"Hey Traynor," he waved. "And who is this little guy?" he asked looking at Patrick.

"Oh hello Lieutenant. I thought you would have been on the mission? Flying the shuttle?" Traynor asked.

"Shepard left without me. I was never informed they were leaving. James must be driving it. If he so much as scratches that ship, so help me," Cortez said.

"Ah. Anyway, this is Patrick. I just brought him down here to get a bite to eat. And it appears he is done," Traynor said.

She took Patrick's plate away.

"My name is Steve Cortez. Nice to meet you Patrick," Cortez said extending his hand.

After a moment of hesitation, Patrick shook his hand.

"Let's get you back up to the captain's cabin, shall we? See you later Lieutenant," Traynor said.

Cortez nodded and Traynor and Patrick left.

Captain's Cabin

Traynor was trying to get Patrick to open up more when a tone came over the loud speaker followed by EDI's voice.

"The Commanding Officer is aboard. Course has been set for the Citadel."

"That means the Commander is back aboard," Traynor said standing up. She began to walk towards the door but turned around.

"I have to return to my post. I'm sure the Commander will be right up to see you," she said.

"Thank you" Patrick said quietly.

She smiled at him.

"You're most welcome Patrick," she replied.

Then she left, returning to her post.

Normandy CIC Quantum Entanglement Communications Room

"Send me the data. We'll do our own analysis. If Liara's instincts are right, this might by the key to stopping the Reapers," Hackett said.

"I hope so," Shepard replied.

"Lieutenant-Commander Williams was critically injured. We're taking her to the Citadel," Shepard said.

"Sorry to hear that, Shepard. But we both know this is just the beginning. Talk to the Council. Show them what you've found. With luck, they'll give you all the support we need," he said.

"And if they don't?" she asked.

"Do whatever it takes to get them on board," he said.

Shepard saluted him. He returned it.

"I'll be in touch soon," he said.

Then, she remembered.

"Sir, one more thing," she said. "When Anderson and I were escaping Earth, we found a boy. He can't be more than seven years old. I think he was one of the orphans at the Alliance facility that I was held at. We managed to get him out of there, and he's here on the Normandy," she said.

That caused Liara to look back over at Shepard. It was the first she was hearing bout a child.

"Is he injured?" Hackett asked

"He's a little shaken but physically I think he's ok," she replied.

Hackett paused for a moment.

"When you reach the Citadel, have a doctor check him out. I'll have an alliance official meet you to place the child in proper care," he said.

Shepard tried to hide the disappointment in her eyes, but it showed a little. Liara noticed.

"You have another idea Commander?" Hackett asked.

Shepard straightened up.

"No, sir," she replied.

"Good, Hackett out," he said.

The hologram disappeared. Shepard leaned forward on the railing just in front of her and sighed.

"Commander," Liara began. "EDI is extracting data from the Cerberus machine. We'll have details to present to the Council by the time we reach the Citadel."

"And Lieutenant-Commander Williams?" Shepard replied, not standing up but not turning around.

"I've done what I can for her, but we need to get her to a medical facility soon," Liara said.

Shepard sighed again and turned around to face Liara. She slowly walked up to her and placed her arms around her love.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you safe right now," Shepard began to cry.

Liara squeezed her arms a little tighter. She had seen Shepard like this before, when Udina had the Normandy grounded just before they went to Illos. While she might have been more angry back then, the similarity was hopelessness.

"I'm here Shepard," Liara said as she began to rub Shepard's head. "It's okay."

Shepard took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes, her arms now pulled in close as she remained in Liara's embrace.

"I wasn't ready to see it. It's all I've thought about for years, but when finally saw them in person. What chance do we really have? They blitzed through Earth's defenses so quickly we didn't even have a warning," Shepard said.

"This weapon could be the answer, if we can build it," Liara said.

"How is one weapon supposed to stop them?" Shepard said.

"You know we can't win this conventionally," Liara said.

Shepard chuckled slightly, "Conventional isn't exactly my style."

Liara smiled. "No it isn't. But it's perfectly yours."

Liara finally let go of Shepard, who snuck in a kiss on the cheek before stepping back. Liara's face blushed red.

"Thank you," Shepard said.

"I'm always here for you Shepard," Liara said.

Shepard smiled.

"You mentioned there is a child on the Normandy?" Liara said.

Shepard stopped smiling.

"Oh crap Patrick that's right!" Shepard said as if she suddenly remembered. She began to move past Liara, when Liara took her arm. Shepard stopped and looked back.

"Aren't you going to tell me about how this came to be?" she replied.

Shepard turned around as Liara let go of her arm.

"When Anderson and I were trying to get to the Normandy, I found this child, a boy named Patrick, hiding in a ventilation shaft. I had seen him playing from my window earlier in the day. I managed to wrestle him out of the vent and I made sure he made it to the Normandy safely. He wouldn't let go of me the entire time we were running. He's in my cabin last time I checked. EDI? How is he?" Shepard asked.

"Patrick is awaiting your return in your quarters. Specialist Traynor helped him acquire some food before you returned. His vitals are normal and his heartbeat is within normal range," the AI said.

"Uh-huh," Liara said, shifting her stance to one of doubt.

"That's the truth! He certainly wasn't here when I got back," Shepard said.

"When Hackett mentioned placing him in proper care, you seemed a little disappointed," Liara questioned.

Shepard knew she was caught.

"Um, I really should get back to him," Shepard said as she began to back track.

"Shepard! Are you thinking what I think you are thinking?" Liara said.

"Keep me updated on Ashley! Talk later!" Shepard yelled back as she rounded the corner. Liara shook her head.

"By the goddess, Shepard."

Captain's Quarters

Patrick was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the fish, his legs rocking back and forth. The door opened and Patrick was quickly on his feet. She was back! This time there was no denying she was Commander Shepard. She was now wearing the signature armor he had seen her wearing in all of the vids. Even the Shepard hologram one of the other kids had shown him once had the same armor. The distinctive N7 and the red stripe on one arm gave it away. Shepard walked across the room.

"Hey buddy. You seem like you are doing better. EDI told me you got something to eat," she said.

"You really are her. You're THE Commander Shepard," he said.

Shepard chuckled a little.

"I'm surprised you didn't recognize me sooner," she said. "EDI told me you got some food in you," she said.

"Yes. Samantha helped me," he replied.

"Good. Let me get out of this armor before I ask you any more questions," she said.

Shepard went into the bathroom and changed into jeans, sneakers, and a white t-shirt. She exited the bathroom, leaving the armor in there.

"So where did you live?" Shepard said.

"I was at the orphanage for as long as I can remember," he replied. "Where are we going?"

"We are heading to the Citadel. One of my crew needs to see a doctor. Also I have to talk to the Council," she replied.

"What about me?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Shepard said.

"Where will I live now?" he asked.

Shepard didn't have an answer. She didn't have the heart to tell him that he was headed to a different orphanage. One that would probably be filling up with the Reapers arrival, if they already hadn't.

"Can I stay here?" his voice broke Shepard out of thought.

"What?" she replied.

"Can I stay here? With you?" he said.

"Umm I'm not really sure," she replied.

"Oh," Patrick said sounding defeating, looking away.

"When we get to the Citadel, an Alliance officer is going to look after you," Shepard said feeling guilty.

Patrick didn't say anything. Shepard tried to change the subject. She sat down next to him on the bed that he had taken a seat on.

"What stories of me have you heard?" she asked.

"Lots" he said softly.

"Want me to tell you which ones are true and which ones aren't?" she asked.

Patrick turned to face her. For the following two hours, Shepard debunked myths and filled in missing facts that stories that Patrick had heard were missing. He was amazed. Commander Shepard was the bravest person he had ever heard of. And she had saved him! It stinked that their time together was coming to a close. He wished he could stay here with the Commander. Maybe one day he would even get to go on a mission with her!

"We are arriving on the Citadel, docking bay 44," a man's voice over the PA said.

"Ok buddy, I have to go make sure my friend gets to a doctor. You can go anywhere on the ship you want, just make sure you tell someone first," she said.

"Ok," he replied.

Shepard picked her N7 hoodie out of her closet before leaving.

Huerta Memorial Hospital

Shepard walked out of Ashley's hospital room.

"And that's an order," she said over her shoulder.

Shepard rubbed her temple. Not only had the council said no to her request, but the turian ambassador, who Shepard famously mocked for his Ah yes Reapers comment years earlier, wanted her to go the turian homeworld! However, it was crucial to her own mission and she needed it. Also one day she was going to strangle Udina. She made a promise to herself about it. The positive news was the Ashley had stabilized and going to pull through in the long run. Hopefully she liked the books Shepard got for her. Shepard looked up and saw a woman in Alliance blues walking towards her.

"Commander Shepard?" she asked.

"Yes," Shepard replied.

"My name is Carmen Martinez, Admiral Hackett sent me," she said saluting Shepard.

Shepard returned the salute.

"Ah yes, he mentioned someone would be meeting me," Shepard said.

"Where is the boy currently," Carmen asked.

"He is still on the Normandy. My ships medical officer just returned to duty so she is making sure he is ok," Shepard said, referring to how she had met Dr. Chakwas when she first entered the hospital.

"I see. Well if it's all the same to you, let's begin," Carmen replied.

The pair began their walk towards the Normandy. During their walk, they discussed how Shepard came across the boy, where she found him, how they escaped, all the basics. As they walked, Shepard had a feeling in her stomach that this was wrong. She had only known the boy for less than a day but she found herself struggling the idea of sending him off to another orphanage, especially now that the Reapers had arrived.

Normandy

When they finally got to the Normandy, Shepard's heart began to race. They met Liara by the elevator and she joined them as they went to the medical bay. As they walked towards the door Shepard reached out, and after a few feels, finally grasps Liara's hand as they walked into the room. Patrick hopped off the table and ran over to Shepard, jumping into her arms, breaking the grip Shepard had on Liara's hand, as she crouched down to meet him.

"Hey buddy," she said lifting him into the air. "I hope you were good for Dr. Chakwas. She's an old friend."

"Young Patrick here was a better patient that you or Jeffery ever were," the Doctor chuckled.

"I heard that doc," Joker's voice said over the PA.

"How is he doctor?" Carmen asked.

"Physically, he's fine. I say he's a healthy seven-year-old boy. He even seems to be getting over some of the shock of getting through a war zone," the doctor replied.

Carmen had the doctor sign some papers before she turned to the Commander.

"Okay Commander, I'll take him now," Carmen said.

Patrick turned away and hardened his grip he had on Shepard.

"It seems he's taking a liking towards you Commander," Liara said teasingly.

"Hey," Shepard softly whispered into his ear as she rubbed his back.

He picked his head up and looked at her.

"I don't want to leave," he said.

"I know Patrick," she replied.

Shepard slowly handed Patrick off to Carmen. He looked sad. Liara stepped in stride next to Shepard, grasping the Commander's, which didn't grab her's back. Carmen began to walk away.

"What if I adopt him!" Shepard blurted out without realizing it.

Liara stepped back and her eyes widened. Dr. Chakwas stood up.

"What?" the doctor said.

It suddenly hit Shepard what she had said. She was thinking it and suddenly filter between what she thought and was she said was gone.

"Shepard, surely you didn't just say what I think you did, did you Shepard?" Dr. Chakwas asked.

Shepard turned around and walked over toward Carmen.

"Look, I know it's crazy, but maybe there was a reason I found him. Maybe our paths weren't just meant to cross, but are intertwined," she pleaded.

"Commander, a warship at a time of war is no place for a child!" Carmen protested.

Patrick began to reach for Shepard as Carmen tried to keep a hold on him. Eventually, Patrick wiggled free and ran over to Shepard, who picked him up.

"I grew up on an Alliance vessel and I didn't turn out half bad," Shepard said. "This war is gonna create more orphans than we can already imagine. I just . . I think the best place for him is here."

There was a silence. As if at least one of them was considering letting him stay.

"Well, I'd have to get the correct paperwork, plus there is the fee," Carmen said.

"I'll pay it," Shepard shot back immediately.

"Shepard, this is a big decision, perhaps you need some more time to consider all available options here," Liara protested.

"Liara. There are very few things in my life I have been sure of. That I made the right choice in joining the Alliance, joining the N7 program, falling in love with you," Shepard said.

The last line put a smile on Liara's face.

"I have that feeling again. I'm sure of this. I promise you I am," Shepard said.

Liara wanted to try and protest further but it was clear Shepard had made up her mind. No matter how much she could try and press the issue, this boy was staying.

"Okay Shepard, okay," she said ribbing her forehead.

"So it is then. I'll have the paperwork sent over now, I'll let you know when it's ready to sign," Carmen said.

Patrick looked at Shepard.

"I can stay?" he asked, smiling.

"Yeah buddy, I'm going to be looking after you from now on," Shepard said.

Patrick gave Shepard a giant hug, which was returned.

Captain's Quarters

Later on, during the technically evening hours, Shepard, Liara and Patrick were in Shepard's quarters.

"Woah, and you two won all by yourselves?!" Patrick exclaimed.

"Yes we did. It turns out that Garrus and Feron were fine. We all went home happy," Shepard replied.

Patrick stretched and yawned, which also caused Liara to yawn.

"Just about bed time isn't it?" Shepard said.

"Awww, one more story?" Patrick asked.

Shepard stood up and ruffled his hair. "Tomorrow it another day for stories."

While Patrick got changed in the bathroom, Liara stood up as well.

"I'm getting quite tried myself, I'm going to go back to my quarters and rest," Liara said.

"Oh no missy, you're staying up here tonight, with us," Shepard replied.

"I still have so much intel to go over and I don't have anything to sleep in up here," Liara said.

Shepard then removed a pair of clothes Liara slept in out of her drawer.

"When did you?" Liara asked puzzled.

"Glyph helped me," Shepard said smirking.

"Unloyal bucket of bolts," she replied.

"It's our first night as a family, we should all be together," Shepard said.

Liara looked away.

Shepard put the clothes down and stepped forward, taking her hands.

"What's wrong?" she replied.

"Shepard. . you adopted the child. I didn't. We are together don't get me wrong, but we aren't married or even engaged, for me to-," Liara began.

"Wait, have I not proposed to you yet?" Shepard asked.

"No," Liara replied.

"Oh. Well I'm going to," Shepard said.

"By the Goddess, wait. What?" Liara said.

"Oh yeah. I've known for a while I want to spend the rest of my life with you Liara. That's been my plan for a while now. But don't worry, I know the proper steps I have to take," Shepard replied.

That caught Liara off guard. She loved Shepard and a future together seemed like ideal but with everything going on, how could Shepard be thinking of such a thing?

The bathroom door opening cut off her thought process. Shepard was already changed, so once Liara was changed, the three of them climbed into the bed, Patrick between the two. He turned on his side and held Shepard as he began to fall asleep. Liara and Shepard just smiled at each other. If this was a preview of their future life together, assuming they survive the Reaper war, maybe, just maybe, Liara could get used to it.