Carry On

Carry On

Chapter Five

 

Disclaimer: Mass Effect belongs to Bioware and Electronic Arts, not me and I make no money from this work of fanfiction at all.

 

Warnings:  adult language and situations, mentions of dub-con and non-con, mpreg, sexual situations, threesomes, gender-bending and birth.

 

Characters/ pairings: Colonist War Hero Paragade ManShep/Kaidan/Garrus, others mentioned.

 

Summary: The Reapers are here, and amidst that backdrop, Commander Shepard struggles with gathering allies, caring for his child and fighting for his sanity.

 

~*~*~*~*~

There was a different energy when Garrus fought his way back to the barricades. Turians were taught from birth to work for the team, for the colony, for the Hierarchy and their species. They lived in a tightly structured, if not controlled, society. When the Reapers had arrived, the turian response had been swift and without panic.

But even from the beginning, there had been an edge of despair that had flowed like mud through the ranks. Each soldier would do his or her duty, each citizen would pick of those forgotten rifles from their military service to defend their families, but it had felt like a lost cause from the outset.

Garrus had to wonder if it was a weak form of indoctrination, or that his people were just being pragmatic. Seeing a Reaper land like a nightmare made steel and flesh made it hard to hold on to hope. They would fight to the last, because that was what they were (are, he reminded himself, this is what we are) but knowing their weaknesses and their strengths had him feeling that...

But there was a noticeable shift as he walked into the barricades, even as he saw there was no difference physically. If anything else, they were worse off. There were more bodies under shrouds, piled on top of each other and less supplies to go around.

Yet... He saw hope seep into the steps and aim of their troops, and Garrus knew who had to be there.

The ebb and flow of the troops carried him through the camp until he got to the shelter, seeing General Corinthus talking to three humans. His eyes, so much sharper than a human's, went to their faces.

Kaidan was there, looking fine, if a bit tired. His blue armor was slightly scuffed, but Garrus approved. Blue was a good color for him, against his olive skin. Garrus felt reassured, comforted at the sight of his friend and lover and human whom he really had no idea how to classify.

Beside him was a human he didn't know; Garrus wondered when they had started making humans out of leftover krogan parts. He was massive, but beyond that he looked so typically human Garrus knew it was take awhile to learn to pick him out of a crowd. He gave the sense of solid strength he remembered from Ashley, and Garrus hoped he would be just as solid in a fight.

Then his eyes landed on Shepard, and he paused, drinking the sight in.

He remembered Shepard explaining, briefly, how some humans tended to assign significance to colors. Garrus' own favored blue tended to indicate loyalty, steadfastness. White was purity. Derek's N7 armor was still gunmetal gray, but the stripe down his arm was black. Mourning.

Derek's face was still rounder, his hair grayer, than he remembered. But his green eyes were steady.

He wanted to go up there, sweep Shepard off his feet in an embrace and try out that kissing thing again. To clasp arms with Kaidan, to feel himself back where he belonged... But he couldn't. Not with Corinthus watching, or the rest of the troops keeping their eyes on him. The Reaper advisor.

They were looking for the new Primarch. General Victus. It was time to make his entrance.

"I'm on it, Shepard. We'll find you to the Primarch," he said, jogging up the steps to the shelter.

"Garrus!" The joy in Shepard's voice, echoed by Kaidan, had him twitching to drop his gun and run to them. He settled for holstering his Mantis, and snatching up both Shepard and Kaidan's hands to squeeze. He had missed them. Spirits, he had missed them.

Derek's smile shone through the dim, cutting through the miasma of despair. (Later, he would swear that the troops on the barricades even stood straighter. That might just have been his imagination, though.)

"Who?" the new guy said, scratching his head. Derek turned to him, and Garrus saw the young human staring at their hands. Garrus felt his crop burn.

"James, this is Garrus Vakarian," Derek said by way of explanation. "He's one hell of a soldier."

"Sir, Vakarian sir," the General said, breaking the moment and making him drop their hands. "I didn't see you arrive."

"At ease, General," Garrus said, absently, as he kept his eyes on his lovers.

Derek's smile suddenly included a lifted eyebrow as he mouthed 'sir?' before speaking. "I'm glad you're all right. I'm surprised to see you here, though."

"Yeah, we both thought you'd be on Palaven," Kaidan said. He walked over, giving Garrus an affectionate bump with his shoulder, his teeth bright against his scruff. "We were worried."

The young human-should-have-been-a-geth-Juggernaut's face was a mix of confusion as he looked at the interactions between them. Garrus felt his mandibles twitch despite himself. "If we lose this moon, we lose Palaven." He gave a self-conscious shrug. "I'm the closest damn thing we have to an expert on Reaper forces so I'm... advising." He felt his plates lift. "Damn. You two are a sight for sore eyes."

 Shepard chuckled, sounding relieved more than anything else. "Same here. This is Lieutenant James Vega. My keeper," he said by way of introduction to the other human, nodding to him as the human-mountain offered massive five-fingered hand for a shake. Garrus was grateful he was wearing gauntlets.

"General Corinthus filled me in, we know who we're after." And oh, this would be good.

The General nodded, looking grim.  "Palaven Command tells me that the next Primarch is General Adrien Victus."

"Know him, Garrus?"

He nodded. "I was fighting alongside him this morning. Lifelong military, gets results... popular with his troops. Not so popular with military command, and has a reputation for playing lose with accepted strategy."

"Huh. Sounds like someone else I know," Kaidan quipped, giving Shepard a side-eye.  He crossed his arms and thumbed his nose. "I've heard of him, at least by reputation. He's a bit of a maverick, known for unorthodox tactics."

"Not things that get you promoted up the meritocracy," General Corinthus said, before slumping against the barricade. He didn't look happy.

"Primarch Victus." Garrus felt a weird, uncomfortable laugh tickle across his throat, before suppressing it. The idea of Victus as Primarch was like imagining Shepard as the Human Councilor. Somehow, it just felt wrong and right at the same time. "Now, there's something to see."

"You think he can get the job done?"

"We both known conventional strategy isn't going to work against the Reapers," Garrus said, leaning backwards. "Right now, he could be our best shot. And I trust him."

"Right. Let's get him on the shuttle and out of here," Shepard said, nodding for his squad to follow-

"Commander? Shepard, come in!"

"What is it, Joker?" Derek answered, tapping his communicator. "We're in the middle of a war zone. Can't it wait?"

"It's the Normandy, sir," Joker said, and Garrus knew it had to be bad. Joker never 'sir'd anyone. "She's gone haywire. She's bringing up weapon systems, won't communicate with us."

"Do you want me to go back and take a look?" Kaidan asked, frowning. From the wrinkles around his eyes, he didn't look like he wanted to leave, but he looked to be the most tech savvy there. "See if I can help?"

"Do it," Derek answered. Garrus felt his mandibles twitch. Derek had answered a bit too quickly. "We don't want to risk the Normandy, not with Bean on board." Derek then palmed his face. "And we might need to bug out quickly."

Kaidan's face cleared as he headed towards the shuttle. "Understood."

Vega gave a soft chuckle. "Loco, got your priorities straight there, don't you?"

"Damn right I do," Shepard snapped. Vega's back straightened, but he relaxed when Shepard smiled. "And don't you forget it."

"Bean?" Garrus paused. Shepard never fussed over someone so much that he would get distracted from a mission. "Who's Bean?"

His translator was producing a description of a legume of some kind. One that was... Well. Small, nutritious, high in protein. Not helping him understand the situation.

"Just the love of his life," Vega said, snickering as they walked over to clear the air field. Derek whipped around to glare at him.

"Not helping, James." He turned to Garrus, who was staring at him with a dropped jaw and lifted ridges. "It's not what you think." Derek took Garrus' hand, giving it a squeeze. "Really. But-"

Fire fell from the sky in the form of Reaper troops, spilling towards the airfield up and over the ridge. The new husks, the ones made of turians, chittered and zapped at them as Garrus found a perch.

He remembered, clearly, the first time he had seen a husk. It was that time on Trebin; he remembered feeling pity and disgust at the sight of something that had been alive being repurposed.

He had seen reports of the spikes being used on his people; entire towns were turned to these marauders. They maintained more intelligence than the Cannibals or husks, able to reinforce their infantry lines. They hit hard, were shielded and strong, and liked to stay at a distance.

"Vega, you draw their fire- stick in cover when you can but make sure they come after you. I'll be going after the clumps, while you cover us both with sniper fire," Derek ordered. Garrus nodded, feeling a little odd at being under another's command for the first time in months. He had gotten used to the sudden upgrade in status- but it was Shepard. He automatically fell in line despite shouting his own suggestions.

Besides, the orders were sound. And from the look of it, as Shepard zipped across the field and used exploding biotic fields to knock down herds of the husks and shooting marauders in the face with his shotgun, he wasn't letting six months in incarceration slow him down.

But who was Bean?

The thought nagged him, even as he pushed back in order to aim, exhale, fire. He repeated the pattern, smoothly and comfortably, until the airfield was cleared, and the small squad of turian troops that were guarding was able to get their perimeter back up. Not that they would be able to do much if the Reaper walking across the moon turned their way.

One thing he had discussed with Kaidan was the possibility that Shepard would start sleeping with someone else while he was incarcerated. Kaidan had already spoken to Anderson about making sure Shepard's guards were ethical, but also discussed with him what had happened with Zaeed.

Anderson had been shocked, concerned. He had agreed to make sure that Derek would get what he needed.

The idea that Shepard would sleep with someone else was one that had made him... uncomfortable. He was fine with Kaidan; they were working it out. But the idea of someone else touching his human, of Derek being okay with someone else touching him-

He grit his teeth together, mandibles snapping up and away from his face. Spirits, the idea hurt.

Even if Derek couldn't help it.

This thought tugged and nagged at him, only abating when the brute knocked Shepard off the wall to be destroyed at the hands of Shepard's shot gun.

They found Victus, who was understandably reluctant to leave his men. But Shepard was as persuasive as always, and there was no doubt that he would go with the human. Garrus had pointed out the way that Palaven was burning, and he knew that Earth... soon, the entire galaxy... was burning as well. Yet it was so hard to remember, to care, when he didn't know what had happened to his father, his sister.

The decision was one he had expected to face. He looked up at Palaven and saw her skies choked with ash. His father and sister there, alone.

He could say no. He could decide not to help Shepard and Kaidan. He could stay on this moon and take up where Victus had left off. He could do it.

Who was he kidding?

"For whatever it's worth, I'm with you. Always."

~*~*~*~*~

The power flickered throughout the Normandy, and Garrus blinked.

“EDI, status report?”

No answer, as the deck below him trembled, power cycling through the weapons before cutting it off entirely. He felt the plates on his face pinch.

“Joker, what the hell is going on here? We’ve lost all power to the main guns.”

“Damn if I know, Garrus. Adams and Shepard are going down to the A.I. core to see what’s wrong. EDI stopped talking to me twenty minutes ago. Kaidan and Liara are as stumped as I am, and when the kid started howling Kaidan ran off to check on him.”

That told him exactly nothing. He ground his teeth together in frustration; they needed those computers.

“Vakarian, what’s going on?” Victus asked, the voice of the new Primarch coming in loud and clear over the coms.

“Don’t know, sir. Still waiting on status.”

Plus, the new Primarch was aboard. Just another thing for Garrus to fret about.

Power to the guns came back online, and he thanked the spirits that nothing had happened to life support.

“Dammit, Vakarian, we have to get moving. We need to get to that summit before we lose Palaven. Can’t you get this tub moving faster?”

“I know, Primarch, I’ve looked at the same reports as you. But don’t worry, the krogan will at least listen. Shepard’s an old friend of Urdnot Wrex.”

The Primarch grunted before cutting communication. Not that Garrus could blame him; things were grim. Even with all the work he had done to try to prepare for this mess, it still seemed like too little, too late.

He was about to turn to the big guns, sure that some stupid Alliance tech had completely ruined his targeting matrix, when the doors opened, and Shepard walked in.

They hadn’t gotten much of a chance to talk since Garrus had come aboard. Garrus had simply gotten off the shuttle, made sure the Primarch was situated comfortably in the war room. He didn’t think the former General would be getting much sleep while on board. None of them would be.

Garrus felt at a bit of a loss as he cut communication with Victus. He hadn’t seen, or spoken, to Kaidan or Derek, and he felt a bit ignored. Not that he knew exactly how he should be treated. After six months of trying to get hold of Derek, scrambling for any bit of news and struggling to keep in contact with Kaidan… now they were back together again.

Throw a party? Lock Shepard’s cabin door and not come out until everyone their fill? Agree to go their separate ways?

That last one made his crop burn. He didn't want to lose their companionship, their friendship, or their intimacy. While hooking up with Kaidan had been different from Shepard, it was just as satisfying.

Shepard, when he wasn't in the middle of a heat, had an attitude towards sex that was simple and easy to understand. Adults, sanely and consensually together, enjoying each other's bodies was good. Their friendship had strengthened outside of the bedroom, depending on each other in combat and comfortable together as friends. The fact that the man just thoroughly enjoyed getting fucked helped, too.

Kaidan's attitude was different. It was a competition, in a way, to see who would cry uncle first, who could get the other's body to betray itself. Kaidan hadn't sought him out the way Shepard did, nor did he linger for seconds. Yet their friendship and gentle rivalry had been its own thrill. As had their anger towards each other when they had both felt the other had betrayed Derek.

"There you are." Garrus turned to see Shepard standing there, peering at Garrus in the dim. He looked... rounder, for lack of a better term. His chest was wider than Garrus remembered, his face still soft. He had the slight bleary look in his eyes that spoke of a lack of sleep.  "How have the last six months treated you, Garrus?"

Garrus sighed. "I've kept busy. When you turned yourself in to the Alliance, I realized how little time we had left. I knew I had to do something, so I did the one thing I never thought I would do. I went to my father."

Derek lifted an eyebrow. "I seem to recall you mentioning how often you both butted heads. How did that go?"

"I laid out my evidence: everything we had learned about Sovereign and the geth, the Collectors, Harbinger, all of it. He just stood there, listening. And then he did what I only hoped he would do. He believed me." That had been one of the greater shocks of his life. Only followed by his father commenting that, if Garrus loved this human so much, he had no right to say anything. That had been more of a shock than his father listening to him in the first place. "Then he took my evidence, and took it to Primarch."

"Hell, given all we've been through, I'm not sure I would have believed it myself," Derek said, leaning against the guns. "How did the Primarch take it?"

"Not as well as my father. He had the same problem everyone in authority seems to have. Something that big, old, and scary somehow can't exist. But he did listen... eventually. He gave me a token taskforce. That's what people in authority do, when they're scared." Garrus snorted, a human gesture he had picked up. It had driven his sister crazy.

"What did you do with it?"

"As much as I could get away with, and a little more. Easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, and all that. I hardened our lines of communication, started building up stockpiles." He closed his eyes against the image of the Reapers burned on the back of his mind. Taking a deep breath, catching Shepard's oddly sweet smell, the pain and shock of Palaven seemed a bit more removed. He was tempted to lean on Shepard, just to know that he could do it. "We'll see if it actually helped once we've won this war."

"You think we actually can?"

Garrus looked up at Shepard, saw the dark circles under his eyes. "Yeah. I feel good about this, Shepard. For the first time, we aren't in this alone. Entire civilizations are going to be lining up for you to save them. We actually have a fighting chance."

Derek nodded, lips not-quite-smiling.

Garrus just stood there for a moment, arms at his sides. His mind dripped thoughts of "Who is Bean?" "Did you cheat on us?" "Can I handle another person in your life?"

"I was researching proper human protocol on what to do during reunions. Watched a few vids-"

A real smile broke over Derek's face before he stood on his toes, putting one hand over the scarred side of his face and brushing their mouths together.

Garrus reacted, putting his hands on Derek's waist, lifting him up to keep his mouth there, enjoying the heat, texture of Derek's mouth, the strong sweet and sour smell coming off him that he didn't remember from before.

"That's proper protocol for when humans meet after a long absence," Derek responded, moving to keep his arms looped around Garrus' neck to draw the blunt, calloused tips of his fingers under Garrus' fringe and over his plates.

"Then I look forward to seeing you pull that one on Wrex," Garrus teased. He let himself take in everything about Derek, talon-tips on his hips. "Might be a little awkward, though."

Derek swatted his shoulder as he stood back. His eyes turned shadowed. "I take it that Liara didn't get in contact with you, either?"

"Briefly, yeah. But nothing came of it. She wanted to get the team together, but she didn't say why." Garrus kept his hands on Derek's shoulders, before leaning forward to nuzzle Derek's hair. "Alenko and I got the address wrong... I think." He wasn't sure how to tell Derek about his liaisons with their mutual lover.

Derek exhaled, warm breath puffing against Garrus' bony collar. "I don't understand it. She promised," he murmured, almost to himself. "So you have no idea about Bean?" he said, sounding hurt.

"No. I mean, I can understand what happened." At Derek's incredulous stare, Garrus elaborated. "I mean, you're away from the both of us for six months. That's three heats. You were alone, vulnerable, and probably needing help." Garrus shifted his weight, looking away. "I can understand, and I can't hate you for it. I just... I don't think I can share you with someone else."

"You- you- I-" his mouth flopped open and shut like a fish, before he exhaled again, deflating. "Garrus, what are you saying?"

"I can understand you sleeping with someone else while you imprisoned. Kaidan and I even discussed it a few times. Neither of us liked it, but if you have feelings for that person..." Garrus shrugged, helplessly. "We're coming to an understanding, but we don't think we can do it with someone else. We both love you, but-"

Derek put a hand over his mouth. "I can promise you, Garrus, that whatever else happened while I was under house arrest, I did not develop feelings for any other men. I care about you two, too much to let you go." He laughed, dry and without humor. "But as for sharing me... That's a little harder." He took Garrus' hands. "Come on. I want you to meet someone."

"Meet someone? This Bean you've been talking about?"

"Uh-huh," Derek said, and Garrus followed. He noticed the physical difference now, in how Shepard stood and walked. His hips had gotten wider, making him waddle just a bit, bow-legged. Shepard didn't seem to notice, outside of rubbing his back on occasion, as they got on to the elevator.

"I wanted to tell you about Bean, which is why I wanted Liara to get in contact with you," Derek said. "Kaidan's with him right now. I wanted to see how you were settling in, and see what you knew before I brought you up."

The door opened before the captain's cabin. Derek walked towards the door without hesitation, though Garrus trailed a step or two behind.

There wasn't another lover? He mulled that, briefly, as the door of the cabin opened...

"God, Derek, I can't get him to calm down," Kaidan said as they stepped inside. He sounded panicked, over the high pitched wailing that filled the cabin. "He's been freaking out ever since the lights flickered."

Garrus opened his mouth to greet the frantic Kaidan, ask what was going on- when it hit him what was happening. There was a baby in the room, one that was bawling, howling in fear as Shepard took the squalling thing to his chest, making small, soft noises to attempt to reassure it. A human baby. His mind careened into the bulkhead.

He didn't try to deny it, instead grabbing the wheeled desk chair beside Shepard's terminal and lowering himself, slowly and carefully, on to the padded surface.

"I want to hear this from the beginning before I go jumping to conclusions," Garrus said. He didn't stutter. He was proud of that.

 Shepard threw him a frail smile as he bounced the bundle.

"You checked his diaper? Offered him a bottle?" Derek asked Kaidan, who ran a hand through his hair. Already the baby was calming, turning into more of an unhappy complaint instead of a klaxon of the end of all things. "Tried singing?"

"Yes, yes, I hummed at him but I can't sing worth a d-darn. Bounced him like you showed me." Kaidan crossed his arms and leaned against the empty fish tanks. "I think it's because I'm still a stranger." Kaidan didn't look to happy about that.

"I- Shepard, say something, I'm about to start freaking out here!"

"Right. This is Gabriel Ashley Shepard." Derek kissed the small bundle, pulling back the quarian patterned blanket to reveal the small, red and scrunched up face. "I hope, next time we get to the Citadel we can get his family named changed, if you're willing." He looked over at Kaidan, who had a soppy smile on his face. Garrus swallowed.

A baby. He had been afraid the day would come when he was no longer wanted, or needed, in their relationship. The idea made him want to swear, or run, to keen in mourning. If there was one thing that he could not give Shepard, it was a child. He hadn't even realized that Derek had wanted them.

"I know this is a shock." Derek rubbed the infant's back as he continued to calm. Garrus sat back, not sure if he could keep looking. "I... near as I can tell, the night we went to the Citadel... Ah, the emergency contraception I used didn't work." Derek cleared his throat.

Great. Not only had he left Shepard without getting in contact with him, he had left him alone and pregnant. As if he could get any more shamed.

"Given the events of that night, and before, I figure that means you're as responsible for his existence as either of us. I doubt that night would have happened if you hadn't found us that hotel." Well, at least Derek was trying to joke. "And... if you want... I want you to be involved in my son's life." He hunched his shoulders, looking down at the small tear streaked face and kissing him. "But I can't make any demands of either of you. I mean, this situation... It's bizarre. But please. Kaidan, Garrus, I need you both." He choked, almost doubling over. "You both have the right to walk away but please-"

"No. No, Shepard," Garrus said, standing. "Just, you know I can't compete with this. Damn, but our relationship, where do we stand? I, er, kinda wondered what a turian/human hybrid would look like, but..."

Kaidan's lips were pursed together. "Are we going to try this?" He exhaled. "Shepard, I kinda wish we had discussed this before, but." He shrugged. "Having someone else to hand Gabe off to can't be a bad thing, right?"

"Garrus, don't even joke about another baby right now," Derek begged. "No, no, please no." He had his legs pressed close together. "I doubt I'll even be up for sex for another four weeks. He's only thirteen days old, now." Derek groaned softly. "That... hurt."

The baby had finally calmed, looking more worried than a baby should. Garrus had rarely seen human infants; it was safer for them to develop on the Wards. The Presidium, with its light gravity, was not a good place for expectant mothers. He didn't know how to grade a human infant, but he could guess what any new parent wanted to hear.

"He looks like you," he told Kaidan. The baby's eyes opened, a pale green that he recognized. "And he's got your eyes," he said, directing it towards Derek.

"Want to hold him?"

Garrus almost choked, but allowed himself to be positioned as he sat back with a pillow on his lap, pulling his gauntlets and chest plate off, leaving him in his under tunic. Derek put the baby in his arms, and Garrus froze.

Turian infants were soft, but their skins were not the same buttery-frail of this creature. He smelled like Derek, of the same sweet-sour scent. Milk, his mind noted. He knew mammals made food for their offspring (and he withheld a shudder at the weirdness) but the idea of it being Shepard...

"I wanted him to have the family name of Alenko," Derek offered, watching as Garrus inspected the infant's face. "The galaxy likes to kill Shepards." He sighed. "Ashley should be obvious. But his given name is after you."

Garrus' head snapped up, eyes fixing on Derek's face. Kaidan also lifted an eyebrow. "For the Archangel?"

"Yeah." Derek's smile was oddly shy. "Gabriel: 'god with us.' In one of our major religions, Gabriel was God's messenger, communicating with us mere mortals. He told the mother of God's avatar that she would bear him. One of God's most powerful and trusted servants. Besides Michael, he was the best known of the archangels."

"Oh."

It was almost too much. The loss of his mother had been terrible, the loss of his team and Sidonis' betrayal had almost been crippling. But now he had lost his world, his family. Now he was being offered a new one to protect and he had no idea if he could. He didn't know if he deserved this chance. But he did know that he wanted to stay with Shepard.

And Kaidan.

Their relationship was confusing and complicated. It was strange. But the damned galaxy was burning and being jealous when they could be loving each other, caring for each other, just seemed ridiculous.

And this kid was named after him. He felt a sense of regret, but then chided himself for feeling ridiculous. While it was biologically impossible for them to have kids together, if Derek and Kaidan were willing, there would be a lot of orphans from the war.

They just had to survive until the end.

He touched one talon to Gabriel's small nose. "Archangel, huh?"

"Well, seemed appropriate. Ashley is usually a girl's name now, even if it was historically male, and I wanted him to have something of you." Derek was mumbling now. His cheeks were flushed in embarrassment.  

Garrus looked up at Derek. If nothing else, he this meant that the human wanted this to work, wanting to have his child be raised by an alien alongside his biological parents.

"You might not be biologically involved, but you played a part in his existence. I really believe that," Derek continued to mutter, this time hunching his shoulders. "And... we can try this. I want you both, and I love you both." His soft laugh was wistful. "And with the two of you here, I believe we have a shot of kicking the Reapers into hell."

Kaidan grunted; he had been mostly quiet until then. "Having someone else to hand him off to might not be such a bad thing." Kaidan smiled. "And god, this will be weird, but... we balance each other. Let's do this."

"And as for sex... well," Garrus looked at Kaidan, who threw him a smirk. "If you don't mind watching, Kaidan and I can take care of each other until you're up for joining in. We kind of had to, with you being locked up and all."

Derek's jaw dropped, looking back and forth between Kaidan and Garrus. His cheeks and ears flushed, as he licked his lips. "You didn't happen to take any vids, did you? God, six months without either of you..." He shivered, crossing his arms and legs, then gave a small smirk. "I wasn't quite as bad off as during a heat, but it lasted longer." He looked away, down at the floor. "I felt like more like I was a passenger on the Hammerhead than in control of my own body, sometimes." He shifted his weight. "I missed you both so much." His lips twisted in a faint smirk of his own. "Of course, I think I could top, just not be penetrated until I'm finished healing. Believe it or not, I used to switch with my partners."

Both Kaidan and Garrus looked at each other, before Kaidan walked up to Derek and gave him a long, sweet kiss, his tongue delving inside, lips teasing and sliding against the other man's.

"We god a few hours. Who's next on the baby-sitting roster?" Derek asked when Kaidan broke away, watching as Kaidan went over to kiss Garrus. There was a tent in the front of his pants.

Bean finally protested when Kaidan started playing with Garrus' fringe.

"Oh, I see," Kaidan said, chuckling. "You want to stay an only child."

Derek laughed. "For at least another couple of years, Major, Vakarian sir. When we aren't fighting for our lives."

Kaidan straightened and winked, before humming as he checked the roster. "Looks like Chakwas is up. I'll take him down. Garrus, get the rest of your armor off. I'll be right back."

"Affirmative," Garrus purred, not standing up when Kaidan took the baby, instead waving Derek over, pulling him into his lap. "And hurry. We don't want to wait too long."

To be continued.

Questions, comments and criticisms welcomed and encouraged.