[Book Three] Chapter 33: Finally

Chapter 33: Finally

With the clone and the CAT6 dead, with the exception of the pilot locked in the cockpit, that EDI was shocking with several tiny drones, things went back to Normal. A quiet and quite subdued Rick had put back EDI online and she took the ship back to its dock. Everyone was relieved and James proposed a party to celebrate. Not only for their victory but for the crew in general. After all they were at war, who knew when they would get proper shore leave again? Jane promised she would organize one at her new apartment before leaving but that everyone should get some rest first.
She dragged Rick towards the nearest taxi and gave the address of their new home.

That was the day before.

It was currently 6.am and Jane had woken up alone in her bed. Knowing she hadn't been when she went to sleep, she put a shirt over her naked body and went to search for her brother. She did the other rooms upstairs at first but ended up with nothing. Walking down the stairs she saw him watching behind the window in only his underwear, his helmet resting on the top of the piano at his left side. Silently, she approached him and stood to his right. She tried to identify what he was looking at but there was nothing but the many skycars flying. She understood that he was thinking about something and knowing him like she did it, she was almost certain it was about their past, her and her clone. Taking his hand delicately in hers she spoke up.

“Selfish, petty, tyrannic and plenty of other negative traits… She was how you saw me all this time, wasn’t she?”

Rick didn’t answer, his eyes still looking beyond the glass in front of him. After a moment, he closed his eyes and slightly gave a nod as he squeezed her hands for support. Jane squeezed back and observed him in silence until she decided to drag him away towards the couch where she made him sit down and rest his head in her lap. She caressed his hair for who knows how long. She loved doing that; his hair feeling really nice under her fingers.

“I knew… that leaving hurt you. You have been very vocal about it and I acknowledged it but… I never really understood how much until yesterday. All that pain that you channeled into rage… I’ve… I’ve never seen you like that before. Even when… when you strangled me. Thinking back now, it was like you unconsciously were holding back. You could have done many things, punched me, kicked me, broken my neck… But you just went for the throat to shut me up.”
“...”
“But her… I don’t think I can say ‘I’m sorry’ enough times for all this pain. I made you a promise though. To never leave you again and I’m making it again. Wherever you go, I’ll go.”
“...”
“And you don’t have to worry about her. She’s dead and probably burned to ashes, now. I made sure of it, just like I told you I would.”
“...”

Rick has been silent until now, listening to what his sister had to say. She was right. She was never the woman he thought she was, not like her clone. It was like seeing the good twin, Jane and the bad twin, the clone. The former had been nothing but supportive, caring and loving when they had met again on Eden Prime and traveled together on the first Normandy. She may have been pissed, she may have shouted and even hit him but it was because of his attitude towards her and it was well deserved. When he wasn’t being an ass, she did her very best to get to know him, to watch his back when needed. Then during the time after her resurrection she had been friendlier, more open. All along she has been the sister he had grown up with until she left and not once did she behave like the person he believed her to be. Not even in the hardest and darkest of moments. He had known of course, that wasn’t something new to him. But only his mind was aware, his heart still fought it, still bitter, still hurt and in pain. Still afraid. Seeing the two versions of the woman he had loved more than anything duking it out face to face made his heart accept that she was telling the truth. That she never has been the awful woman he imagined her to be, that she had left not in an act of selfishness but selflessness.
Raising his hand, he put back a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then slowly lowered it to reach her cheek, caressing it.

“I love you, Jane.” he whispered looking into her eyes.

A whisper that at first she wasn’t sure she heard then heard correctly. The look in his blue eyes told her that he really had said what he had said. The words that she has been longing to hear for years. Her name, that she has been longing to hear for years too. Both put in the same sentence. She felt plenty of different emotions. Relief that it finally happened after how hard she had tried. Joy at her success and her feelings being reciprocated. Fear that it was just another dream of hers and that she would wake up. She chose to believe it was real and tears began to form in her eyes. She cried silently pouring all she was feeling in those tears.

“Again, please.” she whispered.
“I love you, Jane.” he replied without hesitation.
“H-how?” she asked with a stutter that was so unlike herself but she needed to know. Did he love her as a sister or as a woman? Both?

The answer was unexpected but very welcome. He simply put the hand on her cheek behind her neck and pulled her down into a very soft and gentle kiss. It didn’t last long but it hadn’t been short either.

“In every way.” he replied and this time she let out a sob.
“T-then, please… Prove it, make love to me.” she asked so low that he barely heard her.

Raising up from her lap, Rick stood up and offered his hand. Jane grasped
it and was pulled up to her feet then led away slowly towards the stairs then her bedroom where he let her get on the bed. Joining her, he began kissing her, much like he did on the couch a few moments earlier. There was no hunger, no lust in this kiss. Only love.

When Rick broke it he began to kiss along her jaw with the intention to make his towards her neck then shoulders and afterwards down her body. Jane wanted none of that and grabbed his face with both her hands pulling him up to face him.

“I need you. Now. The rest can wait.”

Rick nodded and grabbed her shirt, removing it and revealing Jane in her birthday suit. In turn, she grabbed his underwear and pulled it down gently. Despite the need she had to be one with him, to finally have him back inside of her where she thought he belonged, she took her time and was patient. As if rushing things would break the moment. Backing up the bed she let her head rest on the raised pillows and extended her hand to reach for him as she spread her legs open, revealing her very pink and wet pussy and a very trim patch of red hair. Taking his sister’s hand in his, he moved up the bed too until he towered above her, his cock resting neatly on top of her sex and almost reaching her navel. Giving her one last kiss he reared back a bit and positioned his erection right at her entrance, his tip feeling how wet she was. Grabbing her free hand in his free one he put both of them on his penis before releasing them and positioning her legs around him. Jane held his cock firmly and explored it a bit, feeling how hot it was and how good it felt, tracing every big veins of it while sensing the blood inside thumping.
She looked him in the eyes to search for a possible setback on his part but found none. So, taking a deep breath, she pulled him towards her, the tip of his cock breaching her nether lips and finally entering her. As the crown was fully inside of her she let out a beautiful moan, stopping to enjoy the feeling for a moment then very slowly pushed him further this time, using her feet on his ass to do so as one of her hands reached for a buttcheek and the other for a regular one. Closing her eyes to focus on the sensation of his cock moving further down her love canal, inch by agonizing inch, she bit her lower lips to not moan again. Only when she felt her cervix being pressed against did she let out a breath of contentment.
Rick was all over her. His pelvis and hers were connected and so were their chest. He put his arm under her armpit and grabbed her shoulders from behind, letting his forehead rest against hers.

“I’ve dreamt of this for so long.” she whispered her eyes still closed and her hand finding their way behind his back. “Slow, please. I want to properly feel all of you with all of me.”

Rick kissed her lovingly and began to pull back his ass, retracting his cock from her pussy the ways he asked. When only his crow was left he pushed back in, this time a bit faster. He had never forgotten how good she had felt that fateful night in her cabin. Her pussy was not as good as Tali’s or both EDI but it felt like the best, just like his wife’s did. If he had to choose, Jane’s would win everytime without even thinking about it. It was tight, hot and wet but not too much or too little. It was simply perfect. When he reached her cervix for the second time he stayed there.

“You feel… too good, Jane. I’m not sure I will last long.”
“That’s alright. Cum whenever you want, I just want and need to feel you inside me. Then we’ll do it again and against and again until we can’t do it anymore. So don’t worry.”

Rick nodded and pulled back faster than he did previously then thrust back in faster too. He was gaining speed, building a rhythm. The barely suppressed moans of his sister, exciting him even more.

“Let it out. I want to hear them. I want to hear you.” he said and she stopped biting her lips and instead opened her mouth, her moans being loud and clear now that they weren’t suppressed anymore. That fanned his excitement even further, making him thrust faster which in turn made her moan louder.

Knowing that if he didn’t step up his game soon he would be the only one to climax, he released her shoulders and put his hands on her breasts, groping them firmly as he put his tongue in her mouth challenging hers in a sensual and loving dance. That did the trick, Jane was using her hands and legs to push her brother deeper inside of her and faster, clearly wanting more. Lowering his hand a bit he caught her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, playing with them. Pushing them, pulling them and sometimes pinching them making Jane’s voice pitch higher, clearly loving it. And if that wasn’t indicative enough, the flood of love juice that she produced certainly did the job.
They went at it for a few minutes, Rick enduring as much as he could the need to discharge that his cock and balls had until he couldn’t anymore. He had pulled in pinched her nipples too much and too hard and her own orgasm began. Her back arched up, her feet locking with all their strength around his waist and her fingers contracting like claws, lacering his back. She let out a very loud scream of pleasure as her cunt, whose walls had been redefined by her brother’s log, contracted with everything it had. That was what doomed Rick’s effort to not come. A molten torrent of baby-making batter surged from his aching balls, went through his cock and fired like a water hose into the pussy he was inside. While Jane was pushing him deeper as far as she could he too thrust as deep as he could as if instinctively both wanted to make sure that this making love session was more than that and would lead to something else.
When his orgasm ended, Rick let his whole weight rest on Jane, who didn’t mind, quite the contrary. Both were breathing hard, trying to get as much air as possible in their lungs. After a few moments, Jane finally opened her eyes for the first time and buried her head in the side of his own, enjoying the feeling of his hair and the heat.

“I love you.”
“I love you too.” he replied.
“You’re still hard.” she noticed with a hidden smile.
“Of course.”
“Up for another round?”
“Why do you ask when you said that we’re going at it until we can’t anymore.”
“True.” she agreed. “But this time I’m on top.” and with that, she rolled them to the side and Rick ended up under her.

____________________________________________________________

They did go at it all day stopping only to eat or take a break to rest and enjoy snuggling. It was different from her first time in her quarters on the Normandy. Not only because the nature of the sex was different but because they just went all vanilla. No blowjob or titjob, no anal. It was pure love making and it was just fine with them. When they were not napping, making love or eating they just talked pleasantly. Jane about her time in the military and Rick about his time on Omega or bounty hunting. To Jane, it was proof that everything was well, more than well in fact as she felt like she had wings and could fly.

The day after, despite wanting nothing more than a repeat, they knew they couldn’t. Jane had to make a report to Hackett about what happened and to her mother too since it was on the Citadel and that she was the human councilor. Rick had a morning date with Ashley and an afternoon one with Tali. No sex was on the table but that was alright, they lived on the same ship and he had his own quarters. Opportunities to have sex weren't missing. With only four days left of shore leave, if Hackett didn’t give a few more days because of the clone’s stupid plan, then he wanted to spend one more day with Jane but this time outside the apartment. Something to which the redhead readily agreed when he proposed the idea to her. That meant that he had to go on two dates a day. Today was Ashlley and Tali, tomorrow Liara and EDI and the day after EDI but with her other body if she wished for it.
Jane was the first one to leave, giving her brother a ‘see you soon” kiss. When she reached the presidium, she made a stop at Bailey’s office to warn him that she was about to make a report about the last few days' events and that it would be better if he was present. The man agreed on the spot and both went to her mother’s office.

“Good morning, ma’am.” Jane greeted.
“Good morning to you too, Jane. And really, ma’am?”
“We have company.” Shepard junior replied as Bailey entered the room right behind her.
“Hello, councilor. And just so you know, I don’t mind if you’re talking familiarly with each other, as long as you’re not talking about personal business…”
“Good morning, Commander. And don’t worry about any family business, It’s too early in the day for that.” Hannah replied. “Now, Jane; I supposed that it’s about what happened in the wards a couple days ago?”
“Yes, though Admiral Hackett should be present too.”

Walking towards the long distance and secured transmitter, she called the man in charge of the Alliance. Her mother and Bailey placed themselves at her sides. The latter, thinking that whatever was about to be said as way above her pay grade.

“Hanna, Commander and…”
“Commander Bailey of c-sec, sir.”
“Nice to meet you, Commander, though I’m curious about this call and what you’re doing here. C-sec and the Alliance are not really the same thing.”
“I asked him to be here, sir, as I didn’t want to repeat myself.”
“What happened?”
“Two days ago, I was attacked by mercenaries hired by a clone.”
“A clone? Of who?”
“Me. And just to prove that I’m the real Jane Shepard, I know Rick Wald’s real identity.” the young redhead said, looking furtively at her mother.
“Hannah, will you check that?”
“Of course.”
“What did your clone want?”
“To take my place. For that he created a very convoluted plan which consisted in…”

____________________________________________________________

“Surprise!” Ashley said as she entered Dr. Michel’s clinic with Rick in tow.
“Shhhhh!” Sarah answered angrily with a finger against her lips and her free hand pointing at sleeping patients.
“Sorry!” whispered Ashley, a bit embarrassed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Checking up on you. I’m on shore leave, on an official one, so I thought I could come by and see how you were doing.”
“She’s doing well so far.” Dr. Michel said in a low voice as she came from behind a curtain next to the group. “She’s not taking care of patients but she’s a good assistant and a good and dedicated student.” the french woman added with a smile.
“I see you gave it a shot.” whispered Rick to Sarah.
“Hmhm… I wouldn’t say that I found a purpose but, I’m doing something and that’s keeping my mind out of the gutter. And as a bonus I’m helping people indirectly.”
“Good. I’m glad that… wait, is that Akimbo?” Rick said seeing a familiar face among the patients.
“Akimbo?” asked Ashley.
“Helena Müller. Head of N7 and representative of ICT. She’s the one who usually tests Tali’s and my creations.” he replied to his lover as he went to see the woman.
“If it isn’t my favorite weapon tester.” he said as a greeting.
“Hello.” The woman greeted back simply as her eyes quit looking at the datapad in her hands to look at Rick.
“What happened?”
“Reaper ambush on Mindoir. We all made it back but not without a scratch.”

With her head she indicated to the other patients on the beds in the vast room.

“Regretting not having gone underground?”
“Not in the least.”
“How did it happen?”
“Indoctrinated colonists. Led us to a trap in a forest. Couldn't see shit properly in the dark of the night and among the trees.” she described bitterly.
“Well, I have good news for you. Things like that may still happen but you probably won’t have as much difficulty.”
“Oh? Invented a new thing?”
“Not really. It’s mostly old tech but the idea of selling it never crossed my mind.” he said as he removed his helmet.
“What are you doing?!”
“It’s fine, the only one awake that doesn’t know my face is Sarah over there and she’s a Williams and a friend. She’ll keep her mouth shut.” he said and handed his helmet to Helena.

On the other side of the clinic, Sarah grabbed her big sister’s arm in a deadly grip as she looked at Rick.

“Sarah! What the hell?!”
“Oh my god, sis! He’s gorgeous!” she whispered pointing at Rick.
“I know.” Ash replied smugly. “One of the many reasons I fell for him, that and his naked body. All those well defined muscles… Hmmm.”
“Tell me more.”

Back to Helena, she looked back and forth at the helmet and Rick. After deciding that ‘what the hell could go wrong?’ didn’t really matter since she was already in a clinic, she put the helmet on. Immediately the HUD came to life, and she looked at what was displayed. When she looked at the cadenas on the corner of her vision too long, the same pop-up that appeared for James when he was wearing it, appeared for her. Quickly understanding what happened, she chose no and looked at the symbol of a human body on the top left corner. A new pop-up appeared signaling that a scan will start. The human silhouette displayed in front of her began to fill in green from the head to the feet in sync with the tingles she felt. Her first reflex was to remove the headgear or ask what was happening but the tingles were armless and simply let the scan run its course. Once done, the  human picture presented her diverse wounds with a legend for each. Looking at any words displayed a bigger text with a more detailed but basic explanation.
Honestly she was impressed. Closing the pop-up she tried the many symbols on the HUD and was stunned when her normal vision switched for a thermal one. Knowing that using night vision in a very well lit room was stupid and would just blind her she left it alone. Finally after seeing all there was to see, she removed the helmet and handed it back to Rick who immediately put it back on.

“There is also a target tracking system and many other nice things when you’re with a shield active and a gun in hand.”
“That’s amazing! And you said it’s old tech?” Helena said with stars in her eyes.
“I made it when I was fifteen. The target tracking and the visually responsive are new though. Here, I’ll send you the files to get a better idea.” he explained further and transferred a copy of the schematics and blueprints to Helena’s omni-tool. “Best part? The price ranges from five thousand to forty thousand.”
“If I could, I would chain you in one of N7 facilities working forever for me.” she said seriously.
“Too bad.”
“Did you give it to uncle?”
“Almost two weeks ago. It took me half a day to make four of them. Granted we were three working and all geniuses who knew their shit. But I’m pretty sure you and your team will get one soon.”
“That’s great. Anything else you’re working on?”
“Oh, plenty…

____________________________________________________________

“Wow.” Bailey said as Jane finished her report. “I’m glad to work at c-sec, less and more normal things to deal with.” He added, making the young redhead laugh.
“You’re right on that. Maybe I should switch careers for c-sec.”
“No offense, Commander but with your bad luck at attracting trouble, the Citadel would be on fire before the end of the week.” He joked then left the room after saluting Hackett and Hannah.
“Honestly mom, If you want a no nonsense contact in c-sec, he’s the guy to go to.”
“I’ll remember it.”
“I have to say, Commander, when I put you on shore leave, I expected you to rest and not… this. Are you sure, there aren't any other clones of you out there?”
“No, but EDI and Rick plan on putting some safety measures in place so no one but me could take the Normandy.”
“Just to be sure, what is Wald’s real identity?”
“John She… Wait, is he? He’s not dad’s son, so what’s his family name?” she said aloud to herself with a frown.
“Commander?” Hackett asked, confused.
“Shepard is my maiden name, Jane. Your father took it when we married.” revealed Hannah.
“Then John Shepard.”
“For a moment there, I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I have good news though.”
“What about?” Hanna asked.
“Rick said that the catsuit was ready.”
“Already? I thought, considering what it’s supposed to do, it would have taken him more time.”
“Oh! It’s not finished, not by a long mile but the protection itself is done. He said that it was more important than the rest and could save lives instead of completing it first and people missing it gravely.”
“Good call.”
“What is this catsuit you're talking about?”
“It’s more of a skin suit really, but it’s supposed to absorb shocks, like bullet impact, hits… Anything that has kinetic energy. It also should be able to stock that energy and use it back and be self-repairing.” explained Jane.
“And the chameleon armor?”
“He got the material and showed me how it worked yesterday briefly. It does what its name implies. He just needs to make an armor out of it.”
“Good, keep me updated. Hackett out.”

The admiral hologram disappeared leaving mother and daughter alone in the office.

“You look radiant today and happy as can be. How so?” Hanna asked.
“That’s a secret.” was the answer the councilor got with a knowing and teasing tone.
“Jane...”
“Not telling.”

____________________________________________________________

“It was good to see Sarah like that and not… whatever the mess she was a month ago. Thanks.” Ashley said as she kissed Rick passionately but for a brief moment.

The couple was walking hand in hand towards Flux, a bar not far from the clinic.

“Have you seen the others yet?”
“Yes. Mom and Lynn are volunteering at a refugee camp, helping people getting situated, bringing them some food or simple blankets. Lynn never stopped talking about what you and Skipper did on Rannoch. I think you have a fan.”
“As long as she doesn’t make a shrine of me…” he jested.
“Not her type.” she chuckled and gave a bit more information. “She would try to get into your pants though that is if we weren’t dating.”
“Another, Williams falling for my charm! Good, good! Three more to go!”
“You jerk! Those are my baby sisters you’re talking about and… wait… Three? You’re counting my mom too?!”
“What? I want my mother-daughter reverse gangbang.” he explained trying to be serious but the amused and knowing smile on his face gave him away.
“Hmm… Abby perhaps but Sarah is off limits!”
“And your mom?”
“She doesn’t like you one bit so I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”
“If there is one thing I know about life, it’s that you can never really predict the future. Anyway, you didn’t talk about Abby.”
“She joined c-sec, or rather she’s helping c-sec. She’s not carrying a gun or anything but helping with the paperwork and the likes part time while agents are on the field. Cerberus’ coup diminished their number a bit and they are understaffed. Right now she’s at the Flux behind the bar counter.”
“She got a job there to be near Sarah, I gather?”
“Yes. It’s the upper wards, so nothing really happens here but just in case Sarah has a problem…”
“Speaking of, here she is.” Rick pointed out, seeing the redhead serving drinks at the bar when they entered it.

____________________________________________________________

“Fine! If you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t!” surrendered Hanna to her daughter’s stubbornness to keep the reasons for her good mood secret. “But we’re talking about Rannoch!”
“Mom…”
“Don’t mom, me! After going on foot against a Reaper on Tunchanka, you let him do it again! And not only that but you joined him this time!”
“Actually, he’s the one that…”
“It doesn’t matter, Jane! You fought a 160m tall Reaper on the ground with nothing! And what was your battle plan? Getting a ride on his shoulders!”
“That was his idea! And to be fair, it worked better than what I intended to do.”
“Look, I lost you both one time too many and I know it’s war and that sometimes it can’t be helped and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do but please… For the love of God, don’t do stupid stunts like that! Try and find another way.”
“If there had been I would have taken that option but there was none , granted if it had been better only.”
“I’m of a mind to tell Steven to put this job where the sun doesn’t shine and join your crew.” Hannah said.
“Please, don’t joke about this. One of you is enough to handle, two would be…”
“One of us?”
“Rick and you! You’re both the same. Acting first, questions later. Though in his case it’s because he already has the answers to the questions.”
“We’re… the same?” asked the older redhead, surprised and interested at this new tidbit of information about her son.
“Yeah. Not taking shit from anyone, headstrong, bending or going around the rules… The ruthlessness when you deal with your opponent or anything that stands in your way… The way you taunt and get under people's skin to get a reaction. He’s struggling with that by the way. Being like you I mean.”
“He’s struggling with being like me?” the mother replied in askance, her eyes as big as saucers.
“Hmmhmm. He’s scared of turning like you… or rather the old you. He doesn’t quite know what to make out of the you now.”
“What do you mean? I have always been like this.”
“But he doesn’t remember, he was too young to. The only memories he had was of you ignoring and not caring for him. It’s like he’s meeting you for the first time.”
“Oh… I… I really screwed up more than I thought.” Hannah realized with sadness.
“It may be a good thing.”
“What?!”
“Not the screwing up part! I meant that he doesn’t know the real you. Just like he didn’t know the real me. He had… his own view of us back from his ten year old self that got cemented in his mind. And while usually he’s always open minded and adapting, trying to see us differently is a hard task. It took my clone being exactly like the person he believed I was to realize that I wasn’t from the portrait he had drawn in his mind. So maybe it’s a good thing because you’re basically strangers. With a lot of baggage, true but strangers nonetheless.”
“...”
“No, I’m not contacting Cerberus to make an evil clone of you.” Jane said with a frown.
“I didn’t say anything.” Hannah quickly defended.
“I know you were thinking about it. That’s exactly the kind of stupid thought he would have had and that’s why you joining the crew is a big no. Not like you could anyway.”
“I wish that wasn’t the case. This job is driving me crazy! People are always needing something and I don’t mean the reasonable things, like a place to stay for their family or more food and medical supplies. I’m talking about selfish wants from the rich idiots, thinking they are better and get everything they want because they have the money. God, I hate Steven. My place is on a ship or on the field with a gun in my hands.”
“I’m sure it’s not all that bad.”
“You’re right. Telling those idiots ‘no’ and sending them away is greatly satisfying.” shared Hannah with a mischievous smile.
“Gosh… you two are really the same.” Jane replied, shaking her head to the hilarity of her mother.

____________________________________________________________

Rick had lunch with Ashley at the Flux, Sarah and Abby joining them for a bit during their break. They talked and joked much like they did when they had dinner at the steakhouse then paid them goodbye. He had a date with Tali and didn’t want to be late. Ashley was aware of course and downplayed it as a work related meeting to her sisters. She was not ready to talk about the fact that she wasn’t the only woman in his life. Not by a long shot. She did talk about Tali though and Abby was really interested in getting to know the quarian that had been adopted as another baby sister by Ashley and that was her age.

Rick found his best friend near the same cafe he had met Liara and Benezia the last time he had been on the Citadel, she was speaking to a turian c-sec officer about something that he was too far to hear.  When she saw him she cut the conversation short and met him halfway.

“The war didn’t bring only bad things.” she said cryptically.
“What do you mean?”
“This officer I was talking to? He was the one I met when I arrived on the Citadel for the first time almost four years ago. Just before you saved me from those assassins.”
“Oh?”
“He treated me like crap and didn’t help at all. He just shooed me away, the dirty little quarian rat in her enviro-suit. He didn’t recognize me of course but he was the one to require help this time and I just felt…”
“Vindicated?”
“Yes. He put aside his prejudice because he couldn’t afford not to. That wouldn’t have happened if not for this war.”
“Or it’s saving the Citadel, defeating the Collectors and being an Admiral of the largest fleet in the Galaxy and being a total sexy badass that changed his mind on you and the Quarians in general.” he said as he took her in his arms.
“...Perhaps.” she replied softly resting her head against his chest.
“Ready to go shopping for a sterile room?”
“You’re making another one?”
“Yeah. I want you to be able to be free in my quarters.”
“It’s EDI’s too.”
“I don’t think she’ll mind. She likes you.”
“Ain’t that a surprise. An AI likes me…”
“Why are you so surprised? What’s not to like about you?”
“You know what I mean, don’t play coy.” she said, slapping his chest lightly.
“Besides I’m pretty sure she’s interested in watching us do the dirty or even join.”
“I still can’t believe she’s interested in sex! And with you!”
“And what’s that supposed to mean? I clearly remember you enjoying yourself that night. And from EDI’s little accident, I’m quite sure I’m the best around.” he joked.
“I wouldn’t know about that and I don’t intend to find out. But prepare yourself because soon my people will walk without their suits! You’d be all mine then.”
“Oh?”
“The geths are helping big time by uploading themselves into willing people. They stimulate bodies by simulating fake deceased to jump start our body to respond in defense. There are no risks involved and the results are astonishing! At this rate we could live outside our suits in a couple years, not decades!”
“That’s great! Though…”
“What?”
“Not sure I like a geth being inside your suit.”
“There isn’t. For now. It all depends on how well you do inside it.” she teased.
“We’re getting this sterile room and a buttload of all antibiotics you need. Now.” he said as he grabbed her hand and walked toward a pharmacy, stomping his feet and making Tali laugh.

____________________________________________________________

Rick came back to Jane’s apartment. He didn’t even think about it and just did, as if his subconscious acknowledged that it also was ‘his’ apartment now or ‘their’. He found his sister behind the stove, cooking something that he couldn’t see but could smell. Whatever it was the scent was of grilled onions and garlic making him hungry.

“Hey.” he said softly as he went to her side.
“Hey back to you. Did you have a nice time?” she replied, putting her arm around his waist and pulled him close, just to rest her head against his shoulders.
“Hmmhmm. Ashley and I went to visit Sarah…”
“That’s her youngest sister, right?”

“Yeah. She’s busying herself at the clinic and working hard. Saw Akimbo there by the way. She and her team got ambushed on Mindoir. Got out of it withs some serious wounds but not life threatening.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Afterwards we went to Flux.”
“Flux?” Janed asked, trying to remember something as the name was familiar.
“That’s the bar near the clinic. The one with the casar machines.”
“Ah! I remember now.”
“Well, we met Abby there, she is the oldest after Ash, who’s working part time. We had lunch with her sisters, talked and joked. A good time.”
“And with Tali?”
“We did some shopping then walked around the presidium, touring.  talked about the current relationship between the quarians and the geths. Apparently the geths upload themselves in the suit of willing quarians to help jump start their failing immune system. From what Tali said instead of decades it could take only two years before they wouldn’t need their enviro suit anymore.”
“Wow. I’m glad they made peace, everything seems to be going their way. Both of them.” Jane said, as she let go of him and put the contents of the pan, which turned out to be a big omelet, into a plate.

“Sorry, I thought you’d be back way later.”
“That’s alright, I’ll make a delivery call.” he replied to his sheepish sister.
“Not cooking yourself?”
“Way too tired for that. And Lazy.”
“Too tired for bedroom activities?”
“Hell no! I’ve been around hot ladies all day, you’re getting all my frustration!”
“Huh. Maybe I should send you on a date with others more.” she joked.
“Wait tomorrow, I’m pretty sure you’ll have to fetch me, once EDI is done with me. That is if Benezia doesn’t drag Liara and I into a dark corner to have her wicked ways.” he joked back.
After both had eaten, Jane led Rick to her bedroom however instead of the bed she dragged him to her hot tub. There, Rick made a surprising discovery as he opened one of the drawers below the sink to find some liquid soap to make a bubble bath.

“Is that… What I think it is?”

Jane pulled back the foot she had dipped into the tub and turned around to look at what he was talking about. Getting closer she had a shock at what it was.

“That’s… Kahlee’s personnel effects.”
“...”
“...”
“Anderson is a dead man walking.” Rick said, making Jane laugh.

She put back his blonde sister’s belongings in the drawer then pulled him into the hot water. Once Rick was sitting down she sat herself in his lap. Instinctively his arms embraced her stomach and he pulled her towards himself, Jane using his shoulder as a support.

“This is nice.” she whispered in contentment.
“Hmmhmm.”
“I want one in her home, maybe not as big but…”
“Our home?” he asked, raising a brow.
“Our home.” she confirmed.
“You already planned out our lives from now on?” he joked.
“Of course. Well not all but the big picture.”
“And what is that big picture?”
“Killing the reapers, finding a nice hospitable planet with lots of rain, then building a big house and living there cut out from the world happily ever after.”
“Why a big house?”
“For our friends visiting and the children.” she replied as if it was all obvious.
“Jane…”
“We will have children.”
“That’s not.”
“A girl and a boy.”
“...”
“...”
“I can’t…”
“A girl and a boy.” she said with finality and Rick just kept his mouth shut. He knew he couldn’t win this argument. Not now at least, so he simply let it go and played the game instead.
“What if it’s two girls? Or two boys?”
“Then we’ll try until we get one of each at the minimum.”
“With our luck we’ll have a hundred of only one sex.” he said dejectedly.
“Are you complaining about the prospect of having sex a lot?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Good. Now let’s have a bit of fun.”  the redhead announced as her hands found his semi hard cock.

Jane Shepard finally had the love of her life and she was sure to enjoy him as much as she could.