Chapter 47 – The Ties That Bind Us

Hackett walked through his ship, the crew he passed giving him their respectful acknowledgement as always, but there was also something else – a lightness behind their eyes. The whole ship felt different. Terra's survival had brightened their day and it showed even amongst his crew. He wondered if they saw the same thing in him; the intense joy inside was so big he doubted it remained beneath the surface.

"There's the look of a happy man."

Turning, Hackett grinned at his old friend. "I was just looking for you. Thought you might be interested in a little appetiser before dinner." He lifted the bottle of whisky and Zaeed smirked back at him, crossing his arms.

"Aren't you on duty?"

"When am I not? I'm also the boss, and I've decided I want to celebrate."

"Breaking rules without a care. Now that's what I like to see."

With a laugh, Hackett waved him into his cabin and poured Zaeed a generous serving. They savoured the expensive whisky, both making a sound of approval as they swallowed the smooth, burning liquid.

"Damn, that's good stuff."

"I was saving it for a special occasion. It doesn't get better than this." Hackett turned his desk chair and sat down while Zaeed leaned against the table. "Thank you, Zaeed. Terra gave me a quick rundown. You were there for her."

"Don't go getting soppy. I was paying a debt. That kid of yours is more trouble than she's bloody worth, though."

Hackett chuckled to himself. Zaeed wouldn't admit it, but he respected 'that kid'. "She's worth everything to me, Zaeed," he imparted.

Zaeed gave him an exasperated headshake, followed by a shake of his glass. "Well, another glassful of liquid gold is worth everything to me."

His old friend would never change, and that was okay with Hackett. Because of Zaeed's help, Terra was now back under his wing. He would forever dread the day he might get the call that she wasn't returning to him, and he prayed his time would come first, but right now she was safe, and he could appreciate every second.

oOo

A round of loud cheers rose up from the Mess as Shepard exited the elevator on Kaidan's arm, fresh from the medbay. The process of removing her armour from the offending area had been a particularly unpleasant experience, which had revealed the extent of the damage. Her knee was temporarily braced in a stasis field from mid-thigh to calf in order to ensure she couldn't move it, and she'd been given a cane to keep her weight off it, which she'd promptly 'lost' on the way out. The extensive surgery required for her knee was something only possible in a fully-equipped hospital, so for now it was a field repair, which was just fine with her now that the meds had reduced the pain to little more than a dull ache.

She'd spent the whole time in medbay glued to her replacement omnitool as first Chakwas checked in, followed by the rest of the crew she'd left behind. Weariness cloaked her now, but there was no way she was missing dinner with her family. The doctor had tried the stern, disapproving lecture to keep her in bed but he wasn't a patch on Chakwas. She was determined, and even Kaidan hadn't tried to dissuade her, knowing how important it was to her. They were lucky to be here, and that deserved a celebration.

"Saved a seat for you, Shepard," called out Garrus, patting the chair next to him, and she sat ineloquently with a laugh, the vibrant atmosphere sweeping her up. Kaidan sat on her other side, his grin as big as hers, eyes sparkling back at her with the happiness of being together and she kissed him because she could.

"Hey, try eating this instead," joked James as he presented them with two plates of food. "Maybe not quite as satisfying, but your stomach will appreciate it. Made by yours truly. It's what I call a Jimi-changa."

"A what now?" queried Adams.

"Chimichanga, Vega-style," laughed Cortez.

"And no eggs, Lola," grinned James. "Sorry, Scars. Haven't mastered dextro food. Chef made yours."

"I won't take it personally."

"Damn, this smells great, Vega," praised Kaidan.

"Tastes even better. Dig in."

The aroma made Shepard feel ravenous and the whole room went quiet as they delved into their first mouthfuls. "Hmm. This is fantastic, James. He's definitely a keeper, Jack."

"Chaining him to the kitchen is a likely scenario in the not too distant future," agreed Jack, then smirking. "Naked."

"Ugh! Eating here!" protested Garrus.

James just guffawed in amusement and pride, trading no small amount of heat with Jack.

"There's not enough," grumbled Grunt as he stared at his empty plate.

"You've eaten it all already!?" gaped James. "I gave you like double-portion-size too!"

"Puny human portions," argued Wrex, pointedly looking at his own empty plate. "Not bad, though."

"Joker would love this too," mused Shepard. She hadn't been able to speak with him yet. He'd been busy having bones carefully reset and after had fallen asleep. She needed to know he was okay, and more than just physically. Like Kaidan and her father, Garrus and the others, she'd put Joker through the wringer. Not intentionally. But her plan had only taken her so far, and then it had turned into a situation she'd just had to go with – one that had surely reminded him of the SR-1's end. She could still remember the panic on his face and in his voice….

"Someone mention my name?"

"Joker!" Terra jumped up to greet him, forgetting about her knee until she was gasping at the sharp pain.

"Might want to stay off that leg." His left arm was strapped to his chest, his right hand and wrist heavily-bandaged too, and his face was a little pallid, but he was here with a smile, and Terra hugged him gently but firmly. "It's seriously good to see you, Shepard," he murmured, sincerely.

"I'm so glad you're here."

"Thank Hackett. He arranged to have me shuttled over as soon as the docs deemed me 'medically-fit'. Just as well too. Do I get some of that?"

The others made space for him and James got him a plate, but Shepard was a little worried about him. He wasn't himself, and the absence of his trusty cap told her everything.

"No Edi?" Joker frowned.

"Oh, her circuits were fried, so we're replacing them," informed Adams. "She'll be operational again by the time we arrive at the Citadel," he vowed.

Edi was on the mend. Now Shepard hoped she could sort Joker out. Her omnitool bleeped and she opened it as she returned to her seat.

Shepard,

Thank you. Falere is free from her curse, and it is because of you. I am going to take her back to Thessia to help her adapt to civilian life again. It will give us a chance to spend some time together.

In knowing you, I have been given a small part in righting this injustice, and I shall be eternally grateful.

Samara

Knowing Samara had been reunited with her daughter left Shepard feeling warm, her thoughts turning to Rorie. They'd be home soon. She leaned into Kaidan, welcoming the feel of his lips at her temple.

"Ah, Admiral, come join us!" Vega called out as Hackett walked in with Massani. "And, uh…." James glanced at Garrus who'd abruptly stood at the sight of the merc.

"Shit," mumbled Massani to Hackett. "Forgot about the turian."

Shepard caught Garrus' arm. "Garrus. Not now. Please."

"What, wait to tear the other side of his face off? Sure, Shepard. I'll save it for dessert," he snarled.

"Settle down, Vakarian, or I'll have you removed from my ship," warned Hackett.

"It was just business," shrugged Massani, sitting down nonchalantly next to James whose jaw clenched. "Nothing personal, Garrus."

"Oh it is now. I don't give a damn if you're Hackett's friend. The second we're back on my territory, you're not going to know what hit you."

"I'll help," snapped Jack, glaring at Massani, only Vega in between them stopping her from plunging her fork into him.

"You need a krogan for a good thumping," rumbled Wrex, adding his support too.

Shepard could only sigh sadly at the change in climate. What could she possibly say to Garrus? He had every right to be pissed.

"Garrus." Kaidan's calm, soft voice grabbed everyone's attention. "I can understand how you feel, but for all his faults-."

"Bloody charming," griped Massani.

"He did help Shepard," Kaidan finished. He, like Hackett, was already privy to the tale of what happened aboard the Normandy.

"It's true, Garrus," added Cortez. "The fact is, without him, Shepard wouldn't be here."

"You and Adams had a big part in that too, Steve," reminded Terra, unwilling to let Massani take all the credit.

"How about sharing what went on out there, Lola?" asked James.

Taking James' lead on a subject change, Shepard tugged at Garrus, thankful when he sat, though his fork stabbed brutally into his plate. She squeezed his arm, hoping he got some kind of solidarity from it. To her relief, he patted her hand.

Her mind a little more at ease, Shepard looked around at the table of expectant faces. Starting with the Leviathans ambush, she ran through it all, from being pinned under the fallen beam, to the moment she had sent Joker off in the pod alone so she could keep the Leviathan away from him, just as she had for those in the shuttle.

Meeting Joker's gaze, she saw the guilt falling away from him as he understood. He was going to be okay.

"And then what?" urged James.

Refocusing her thoughts, Shepard took a breath. "And then…."

...

With the arrival of her father and Kaidan, Shepard stood awkwardly from Joker's seat. Maybe she could still get out if she could find an undamaged pod; the Leviathans at Normandy's sides weren't much in the way of obstacles any longer. But a single glance told her that wasn't going to be an option. The last Leviathan wasn't breaking from its path towards her, no matter the ships that were gathering around it, beginning to fire. She didn't have time to get over to the other part of the ship where the rest of the pods were.

The fleet's onslaught was unrelenting, but so was the Leviathan. It would be here in seconds. Determined not to let it be the last thing she saw, Shepard turned to gaze at her father's ship. It pained her to think of how watching this happen would hurt Kaidan and her father, but it was beyond her control.

Then she caught movement, and saw the shuttle. The shuttle!? They were coming back for her! Fear for them swarmed up into her heart and throat. Cortez was refusing to leave without her, and she loved him for it even as she inwardly ranted that he was allowing the way he lost Robert to cloud his judgement now. She checked Leviathan's position. The multitude of impacts had finally made their mark, wounding it severely. It had lost its equilibrium and that keeling motion had altered its direction. It would hit the drive-core…. That meant the situation was just as dire, but it gave them a chance.

Opening the cockpit hatch, Shepard was faced with her ruined ship again, space separating her CIC from the rest of the ship. But that gap was now her life-line. The single step that took her out of the cockpit told her she wouldn't make it on foot - her knee was too messed up.

Shepard did the only thing she could think to do: she closed the entrance behind her, disengaged her gravity boots and as her body lifted her off her damaged knee, she used her good leg to push off against the hatch as hard as she could. Using whatever she could to help her maintain her momentum, Shepard was quickly covering the distance until she was floating through the flickering holo image of the galaxy.

Then the shuttle was there, slowing as Cortez caught sight of her, and the hatch was slid open, a hand reaching out. But her own propulsion was gone, and there was nothing else close enough to push off of. She pointed desperately towards where the Leviathan was closing in, hoping they'd understand they had to go. Instead, Massani leaned right out, arm locked with Adams.

Her fingers grazed his, and then he had her hand in a vice-like grip. She was yanked into the shuttle and was yelling for Cortez to go even as gravity hit and pulled her back to the ground.

Only the Leviathan was about to make contact.

Shepard was already throwing herself towards Cortez who was thrusting them forwards – but it wouldn't get them out of danger in time.

In a split second Shepard took in the scene around them, looking for an answer to get them safe. It should have been impossible, but her eyes landed on the Leviathan carcass nearby. It could survive the pressures of oceans, so maybe….

"Into the Leviathan!"

"What!?" But Cortez was aiming them there anyway.

Then the Leviathan impacted the drive-core, and the resulting explosion sent a storming blaze rocketing through the ship, leaping all the way across to the CIC and all the way up through the cockpit, igniting everything along its path. The shockwave chased after them, bringing another tail of stinging fire trying to consume them.

Cortez was struggling to keep the Kodiak from somersaulting, his healing arm now free from the sling but noticeably weakened. Shepard quickly took the co-pilot's seat and assisted, lessening the strain on Cortez. As soon as they were at the grisly remains, she and Cortez directed the shuttle up in a stomach-wrenching move that sent them hurtling into an unimaginable place. It was like sinking into thick tar. At first it parted, but then, as they became encompassed in the Leviathan's flesh, they were slowed almost completely, the engine overheating from its treatment.

But they were alive. The Leviathan had sheltered them. The ancient race would be insulted by the notion of it, and that made this moment all the sweeter.

"I can't believe we just did that," exhaled Cortez. Then he laughed, leaning over to hug Shepard.

"Thank you, Steve. You might just be as nuts as me," she teased.

"Told you it felt important to be here."

"Always trust your gut."

"Speaking of guts," rasped Massani, in irritation. "Think we can get out of these ones?"

"Uh…" Cortez tapped at his panel. "Looks like the Kodiak's not designed for…organic atmospheres. We're not going anywhere. Comm link's down too."

Adams checked his omnitool. "No signal anyway."

Massani swore loudly. "When I said death by Leviathans was an impressive way to go, this isn't what I had in goddamned mind."

"Relax," sighed Shepard, sinking back into the seat in exhaustion. "So long as we have air, we've got nothing to worry about. Kaidan will find us." Then she closed her eyes, her knee throbbing mercilessly now she had nothing to take her mind off it, and she ignored Massani's restless attempts to get a signal, instead trying to picture calmer times ahead with her family while she waited. The invading stench when Massani opened the hatch didn't help, but when she heard the clunk of metal attaching to the rear, she was smiling once more.

oOo

oOo

Docking was an upbeat affair. Kaidan was anxious to see Rorie, and he could see from the bright smile on Terra's face that she was already 'talking' to her.

"She's already on her way," confirmed Terra when she came back to him, wrapping her arms around his middle. "We can finally get some real time with her."

"Amen to that." Kaidan kissed her. Nothing could dampen his mood now.

The others were strolling over to join them, including…

"Edi!" greeted Terra. "Everything in working order?"

"I am at optimal efficiency, thank you, Shepard. I do, however, need to apologise for my earlier deception."

"Forget about it. I understand, and appreciate what you were trying to do. I've made the same mistake myself." Terra looked at him, and Kaidan ran his thumb over the back of the hand he held.

"It was my fault, anyway, Edi," added Joker. "I told you to do it."

"And I have a mind of my own, Jeff."

Then the airlock was opening, and they stepped out to be greeted rapturously by the crew who had arrived ahead of them. Grinning as he led Terra into their midst, Kaidan held her tightly so she wasn't toppled over.

Knox was saluting her with the biggest smile Kaidan had ever seen on the soldier; another life changed by his amazing wife.

Altair was another happier soul, though she was looking at Joker. He wondered if the pilot was aware of his effect on the young woman.

Clay was waiting patiently for his turn to welcome Shepard back, instead noticing Kaidan, and lifting his hand in hello. Kaidan returned it. Han'Gerrel's trial would start soon, and Kaidan decided that he'd accompany Clay when he attended.

"Shepard! What are you doing on that leg?" Chakwas' disapproving voice cut through the chatter, and the crew parted to reveal her standing there ready with two medics from Huerta, one of whom was directing a medical-chair which had one strut extended for leg support.

Amused, Kaidan waited for Terra to spot it.

"Oh, hell no!"

"Not up for debate," declared Chakwas. "You may have charmed Admiral Hackett's doctor, but I'm impervious."

Kaidan knew that wasn't strictly true, but he kept quiet.

Terra groaned. "Come on, Doc! I can walk, at least!"

"Absolutely not. Sit."

Kaidan wasn't the only one chuckling as he practically dragged his wife to the chair. "No point postponing the inevitable, beautiful."

"So not fair," Terra grumbled, sounding just like their daughter, who then made her appearance with an excited shriek from where she sat atop her grandfather's shoulders.

With Terra distracted she stopped resisting and Kaidan and Chakwas got her in the chair, leg up. Then he was free to watch his daughter, her added height making her appear like royalty presiding over her adoring subjects. She said hello to each and every one of the crew by name as she passed by them, her smile endearing and genuine as she enjoyed the attention and offered it back. Rorie Alenko had definitely got her mother's ability to enchant everyone. Kaidan was hit with a wave of intense pride that this adorable and incredible little girl was his. Those eyes he'd given her shone back at him, lit by the pure happiness in her heart. Then she was reaching for him, and Kaidan lifted her off his father's shoulders to cuddle her close.

"I missed you, daddy!"

"I'm sorry, honey. I missed you too."

She gasped. "Mommy! What did you do!?"

Kaidan placed her in Terra's lap.

"Just a little accident. Nothing to worry about," Terra assured her. She kissed that soft cheek. "You, me and daddy need to decide what we're going to do together once my knee's fixed."

"No more going away?"

"Not for a little while, no."

"Yay!"

Kaidan smiled as Rorie threw herself around her mother's neck. Time together sounded great.

…

Joker was caught up in the family moment, grinning to himself at seeing Rorie reunited with Shepard and Kaidan. It could have turned out so differently, but that didn't bear thinking about.

"I'm glad you're okay, Joker. Well…mostly."

He turned to see Altair smiling back at him, taking in the bandages. "Thanks. It got rather extreme, but, you know," he shrugged casually, "that's what we do: survive the extreme."

"Right," she laughed. She looked past him. "It's so lovely to see them back together."

Joker followed her gaze to the Alenko's. "Yeah," he grinned. Liara was joining them, hugging Shepard, then Rorie and Kaidan. That family encompassed a lot of them, including him, and he felt damned lucky. He looked at Altair. "That's real family."

She nodded thoughtfully. "You're right." Then she pointed to his head. "You lost your cap."

Joker ran his hand over his head, self-consciously. How did he tell her he dumped it because he thought he didn't deserve the 'ACE' reference? Seemed stupid now. Then something tugged at his trouser leg and he looked down to see Rorie peering up at him with a beaming smile. "Hey, you."

"You dropped your new cap, Uncle Joker!" She handed it up to him, and he glanced quickly over his shoulder to send an appreciative look to Liara, who in turn tilted her head towards Shepard. She'd noticed and had called Liara, knowing he'd gotten in that pod with it on. Shepard's soft smile confirmed it and he returned it. Best friend, ever. He gingerly crouched down to Rorie's height. "Do you mind sticking it on for me? My arms kinda hurt."

"Did you fall over again?" Her little face was full of concern.

"Yep." He tutted while rolling his eyes at himself. "Think I need to attach cushions to myself?"

Rorie giggled. "Uh huh." Then she carefully placed the cap on his head, adjusting it until she was happy it was right. "All done."

"Thanks, Pip-squeak."

After she'd planted her kiss on his cheek, as was apparently obligatory in her mind, Rorie ran back to her parents and grandparents. Joker stood feeling damned good, chuckling as Chakwas insisted Shepard leave now for treatment.

"Wait, there are still things I have to do!" Shepard protested.

"It can wait," stated Chakwas.

"Kaidan!" she beseeched as the medic started moving her.

"It's for your own good."

"But it's important!"

"Then tell me what it is and I'll do it."

They were nearing the exit. "It's Clay's birthday. We need to throw him a party. I promised."

"I like parties!" exclaimed Rorie.

"Shepard, you don't need to do that right now," Clay said earnestly.

She caught the edge of the doorway to stop the chair's progress. "It's today. Yes, we do."

"I got that one, Shepard," Joker called out. He was nearly in stitches as Chakwas and the medics tried to remove her grip. It took Kaidan's negotiation skills to get her to relent, while Rorie thought the whole thing was as funny as the rest of the crew did. Then they were gone, and the bay felt a lot emptier.

"At their place?" checked James, Jack under his arm.

"Best way of keeping out the riffraff," confirmed Joker.

"So you're not coming, Joker?" Garrus ribbed.

"Oh-ho," he drawled back. Then Joker saw Garrus suddenly tense. Massani had exited the ship. "Garrus…"

He made a growling sound in his throat, but then turned away. "Don't worry. He gets a reprieve – for now. But only for Shepard."

"Fucker doesn't deserve it," sneered Jack.

James just squeezed her tighter and clapped Garrus on the shoulder in comradeship. "Let's start rounding everyone up. Where's the birthday boy?" James pointed directly at Clay. "You've got a wild night ahead of you!"

"Uh oh," hushed Clay.

Adams laughed. "I'll keep an eye on you."

With the others talking animatedly amongst themselves, Joker smiled at Altair. "Wanna help me get supplies?"

"Love to."

Altair fell in step beside him as he started for a cab. This was more than just a birthday party; it was a celebration of their new freedom, and the family they remained. There would be fond stories of Javik, as well as Normandy, and they'd all be left appreciating each other even more and marking Clay's 'coming-of-age' with plenty of dancing, alcohol and more laughter. It would be a great time, and the future… would shape itself.

"Um, Joker?"

His hand on the cab's door, Joker looked questioningly at Altair as she smirked back at him.

"You do realise you have broken bones, right? I'm driving."

Laughing, he could only yield.

oOo

oOo

EPILOGUE: The Calm AfterThe Storm

Shepard woke, snug within Kaidan's arms. There was complete silence, the morning not yet stirring their daughter, and the warmth from her husband at her back was sublime. Heaven was right here.

Certain she'd never felt so relaxed and content, Terra revelled in every second. The past months, post-Leviathans, had brought a lot of changes, with the promise of more to come.

With the Normandy destroyed, Joker and the rest of her crew had been re-assigned to other ships, temporarily. She'd made it clear she wanted every single one of them back as soon as her new ship was ready. The Normandy SR-3 was in production, but its high-specifications meant that it took time. Shepard didn't mind. As much as she missed the intensity and excitement of her working life, she knew the importance of absorbing the downtime, even if this one was an especially long one.

At first, her knee had taken quite a bit of reconstruction to return it to full strength. They'd taken respite first on Earth, then did a tour of some of the most beautiful planets, enjoying the look of wonder and curiosity on Rorie's face as she discovered things for the first time. One of those planet's was Rannoch, so she and Kaidan could support Clay as he watched over his father's trial. Han'Gerrel's service to his people was a big contributing factor in their decision to allow him to re-join the quarian race as a free man, though he'd lost his admiralty. Clay was slowly re-forming his relationship with his father.

Shepard had also used some of her time to preside over the hatching of the new rachni queen on an isolated research station. The queen grew quickly. Those inherited memories meant that when the queen was mature enough to engage with Shepard, she acknowledged her part in ensuring their freedom from the Leviathans. Only once the queen was returned to her home planet, could Shepard feel her job was done.

Now there was another, wonderful reason to take it easy.

She ran a hand over her swollen belly. At seven months along she wasn't far behind Liara, who had given birth to her gorgeous daughter, Eden, just two weeks ago. The beautiful name she'd chosen was after the place they'd found Javik. There was a new, fulfilled side to Liara now. Eden's arrival had pulled her asari friend out of her work, as had her developing relationship with Feron. It was about time.

As though to remind Terra he was there, her son kicked inside her. A boy. Rorie had begged to know, and even Kaidan hadn't been able to contain his curiosity. Several names had been suggested by big sister Rorie, none of which were really names but more descriptions, like those her various 'aunts' and 'uncles' used to refer to her, and Blasto had definitely been ruled out early on, much to Rorie's disappointment. Kaidan and Terra had yet to decide on a name.

Rorie had turned four with gusto, somehow ending up with two celebrations in two consecutive days – one with a small horde of her little friends, and another with her family. Both had been full of noisy fun, and Terra had yet to conclude which had caused the most mayhem.

Her little girl was growing up, as proven by the upcoming move to school. Kahlee Sanders had been itching to get Rorie in the Ascension Project at Grissom Academy as soon as possible, going so far as to engineer a whole new academic program designed specifically for her young age. Rorie's ability to manipulate her biotics so precisely without implants, made her fascinating to a scientist like Kahlee; Rorie was unique, and no one had any idea just what her true potential was. After much discussion, Terra and Kaidan had decided it was the right place for Rorie, trusting in Kahlee to look after their daughter's best interests over any desire to study her. Besides, Jack would be a force to be reckoned with if she thought for one second Rorie was unhappy, and she'd already made it clear she'd be keeping a very close eye on her.

So home-life was changing, made all the more obvious as Shepard was waiting for her work-life to return to normal, and that was exciting and terrifying all at the same time. But she could deal with it all because she had Kaidan firmly at her side.

Trailing her fingers along one strong arm, she awkwardly turned herself so she could continue her path to Kaidan's chest. She pressed her ear over his heart, hearing that wonderfully intense beat and it made her smile – it told her he was awake.

Looking up into those whisky eyes, Terra's heart fell all over again. She'd never get tired of the way he looked at her, nor the way his hands moved over her, just as they were doing now, like it was his first time touching her and he was discovering it all for the first time; only he knew every inch of her better than she did, and she was smugly certain she could say the same about his.

They were about to get more intimately involved when that familiar thunder sounded down the hall, making them groan and laugh at the same time.

Rorie Alenko always woke with a bounce and an excited smile, and it was so infectious it preceded her. Serenity was a long-forgotten notion, to be replaced with a lovely, innocence-fuelled commotion that would carry them all throughout the day.

Big eyes dazzled through the dishevelled black hair, and Rorie was already giggling with mischief as she ran to the end of their bed and burrowed beneath the covers to come up between them, Puppy-first, with a varren-like growl, then full-out laughter.

With the three– no, four of them snuggling up together, Shepard felt completely surrounded with love. Together they could take on anything.

oOo

THE END

oOo

The name for Liara's daughter came from 'Keerava' – so thank you for that.

Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know!

If you're interested in another story with Terra and Kaidan, then please join me for 'Fractured' - now posting. :)