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“Relax John, you’ll be fine. She’s going to love you,” Kaidan says, using the hand that’s not on the steering wheel to give Shepard’s knee a comforting squeeze.
Though his eyes are on the road, he can practically feel the anxiety radiating off of Shepard, who has also been uncharacteristically quiet, a stark contrast to how he kept asking questions and seeking reassurances while they were still in the apartment. It was as if a flip was switched the moment they entered the car.
While this would normally be troubling behaviour, today Kaidan finds it incredibly endearing.
Who knew that the great Commander Shepard would be so worried about meeting his mom?
She had been constantly asking to meet Shepard, due in no small part to Kaidan just as constantly telling her about him. But it wasn’t until recently that Shepard felt physically fit and mentally prepared enough for the visit.
So, here they are, on route to the Alenko family home. It’s on the other end of English Bay from where their apartment is, so it’s only about a 15-minute drive or so. Yet, even in this relatively short distance, Shepard has been stewing in his worries the entire time, only humming in response, looking out the window as he drums his fingers anxiously against his thigh. They’re about halfway into the journey, and it seems that he’s gotten so nervous as to not even say anything.
At this point, Kaidan realises that nothing he can say will help. So, he just concentrates on getting them there, knowing that only meeting his mom will put him at ease.
The rest of the drive passes in uneventful silence, and they get to the house right on schedule. Pulling into the driveway, Kaidan honks the horn to let his mom know that they’re here. Once they come to a complete stop, he turns to Shepard. “You ready?”
Shepard takes a deep sigh, with just a hint of smile playing on his lips. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
His eyes flit up, noticing something. Kaidan follows his gaze to find the front door of the house opening, his mom coming into view. Strangely, though Kaidan has been excited about this entire meeting, he starts feeling the slightest bit nervous too. Nothing as bad as Shepard of course, but his heartbeat does pick up a little.
Still, he gives Shepard’s knee one last squeeze. “You’ll do great. Now come on.”
By the time they both get out of the car, his mom is already walking towards them, a big smile on her face. Seeing this, Kaidan immediately starts grinning too. Though they have regular video calls, it’s been a fair amount of time since he’s seen her in person… the last time being his dad’s funeral.
His body had eventually been found, and the service was held not too long after Shepard had woken up from his coma. Kaidan had held himself together for his mom’s sake, wanting to be strong for her. He got pretty close to crying when his dad was being given the usual honour rites by the Alliance for having been killed in action, but he didn’t. It was until he returned to the hospital and sat down by Shepard’s bedside that he finally broke down. Shepard hadn’t even said anything, just leaned across and pulled him into a hug - he didn’t stop hugging him until he stopped crying.
So, it’s both a relief and a comfort to see her looking so well. He knows it isn’t easy living alone now, but she’s always been strong. This is instantly proven when she hugs him tightly. “Hi sweetheart, it’s been too long!”
“Hi Mom, I’ve missed you too,” he says, wrapping his arms around her. When they pull apart, he gestures to Shepard, who has been standing awkwardly to the side. “John, I’d like you to meet my mom, Isabel Alenko. And Mom, this is-”
“Oh come on, I know who this is! You’ve told me so much about him.” The smile on her face grows even bigger as she does a once-over of him.
As for Shepard, Kaidan is trying his best to hold back a chuckle over how adorably nervous he is. Though he has a smile on his face, Shepard sticks out a hand so stiffly that it’s almost comical. “Hello, ma’am.”
“Why so formal? Come here!” She pulls him into a hug as well, and Shepard is so taken aback by this that it takes a few seconds for him to react and hug her back. Kaidan almost laughs again, but the hilarity of the moment is overshadowed by the heartwarming image of the two most important people in his life sharing a hug.
“You’re right, Kaidan, he’s much more handsome in person,” she says once she releases her hold of him. Both Kaidan and Shepard blush - the former for what is no doubt the start of the embarrassing comments, the latter for the compliment. She only grins brighter at their reactions. “How are you, Shepard? Or John? Which do you prefer?”
“I’m good. And I’m okay with either,” Shepard replies, just ever so slightly more at ease.
“Well then John, let’s get you inside. Kaidan, could you take care of the bags?” She starts leading Shepard into the house, and Shepard looks over his shoulder back with renewed panic once more.
Kaidan mouths to him “Sorry” and “You’ll be fine” before heading to the backseat to grab their duffels. They were originally only going to stay for dinner, but eventually decided on staying for the night, mostly to spend more time with his mom but to also let Shepard get enough rest.
After entering the house and dropping the bags off at the bottom of the stairs, he finds the both of them on the living room couch, with the big family album already splayed open across Shepard’s lap. Any of his earlier anxiousness seems to be gone for now as looks and listens with glee at various childhood pictures and stories that Kaidan’s mom has wasted no time in regaling.
“Really, Mom?” Kaidan asks exasperatedly, standing across from them. “We’ve barely been here five minutes and you’ve already brought out the photos? You could’ve at least gotten him a drink first.”
“Now whose fault is that?” she asks with teasing annoyance. “He’s the first you’ve ever brought home. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to do this?”
Kaidan can only sigh as he heads to the kitchen to grab them some drinks, but not before he sees an indescribable look cross Shepard’s face. It’s only momentary though, and it quickly disappears, replaced by the amusement from before as he listens attentively to another recount of a story behind another picture, one of Kaidan as a toddler sitting in a pile of autumn leaves.
Escaping to the kitchen before he can relive the details, Kaidan notices the light mess of cutting boards, pots and mixing bowls, as well as food scraps. Sighing again, he realises that much against his insistence not to go overboard, his mom has prepared a large feast. Opening the fridge only confirms it, seeing several prepped ingredients waiting inside.
And yet, Kaidan can’t find it in himself to truly be annoyed. Like his mom said, she’s been waiting for this for a long time.
Grabbing a few bottles of the apple cider from the family orchard, he returns to the living room, just in time to catch her animatedly telling another story.
“-and when that first burst of blue came out of his hand, we were both so terrified. We’re not superstitious people, but I thought he was possessed! It didn’t help that he was just a kid, so when he suddenly sent everything in the room flying, he was scared out of his mind too. It took a good amount of time before the both of us could calm him down.” She turns to him, smiling warmly. “And look where he is now. Major and second human Spectre. We were so proud of him when he told us - I still am.”
Shepard directs an adoring smile at him too. “I’m really proud of him too.”
All this attention has Kaidan flustered, which he tries to hide by quickly handing them the bottles. “While I’m enjoying all the compliments, do you need help with dinner, Mom?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. It’s almost done anyway!”
Kaidan doesn’t say anything, only giving her a look that says “you obviously still have a lot to do” and “I told you not to prepare so much” simultaneously.
A beat passes, then, “Two big strong men like you; you’ll need plenty to eat. And we have such a special guest here tonight, I had to make a little extra.”
Now it’s Shepard's turn to start blushing. Kaidan finds this incredibly adorable, but it doesn’t distract him from sighing again at his mother’s over-eagerness. As he takes off his jacket, he says, “I can help season the vegetables if you ne-”
“I can handle everything just fine, Kaidan. It’s not every day that you come home and I get to cook for you, so let me spoil you for today.” Before he can even object, she gets up. “Why don’t you show John around? I’m sure he would like to see your room.”
“Yes, I would.” Shepard grins at him cheekily. If Kaidan didn’t know any better, he’d swear that the two of them are conspiring against him.
And yet, with such persuasiveness, how can he refuse?
“Of course,” he says, but makes sure to also add, “Mom, make sure to shout if you need anything.”
She nods while waving them away, disappearing into the kitchen. Kaidan then leads Shepard upstairs, the slight nervousness from before returning. Ironically enough, Shepard is almost bouncing with excitement by the time they get to the room.
Taking a deep breath, Kaidan opens the door, and steps to the side to let Shepard head in first.
“Oh my god.” Shepard walks in and starts looking around. Everything is as it was when Kaidan moved out to go to college, though he has slept over several times during regular visits to his parents, who clearly had also been keeping the room clean even in his absence. The many posters of movies and musicians and celebrities, the full bookshelf, the various figurines and collectibles; all these and more, Shepard takes it all in with blue eyes full of amazement.
The first thing that really catches his attention are the two hockey sticks resting against his wardrobe, with a set of skates hanging above them. “You played ice hockey?”
“I’m Canadian, John. Of course I played. I was even in a little league tournament.” Kaidan points to a shelf on the other side of the room, on which there are several trophies, medals, and certificates.
“Oh wow.” Shepard immediately goes over there, reading the details of different academic and co-curricular awards. He turns to Kaidan, looking thoroughly impressed. “You were a bit of an overachiever when you were younger, weren’t you?”
“I’m an only child. I had to be,” Kaidan says a little sheepishly as he takes a seat on the edge of his bed. From here, he watches as Shepard continues his exploration of his room, studying and occasionally picking up stuff while also asking questions, all with a big smile on his face.
And as Kaidan watches, a smile grows on his own face too, getting wider with each passing minute. There is something so endearing and absolutely precious about the way Shepard is moving about the room - his room - looking at everything with an almost childlike wonder. There is pure, unfiltered joy in his actions, and Kaidan’s heart swells with even more love for the man than he thought possible.
It’s also in this moment that he realises the likely reason why Shepard is acting this way. He has never had his own bedroom growing up, nor did he have one when he joined the Alliance. It wasn’t until he was given command of the SR1 that he had his own private space for the very first time, at the age of 29. And even then, it wasn’t even really his, nor could he enjoy it for long.
Unlike him, Shepard doesn’t have personal keepsakes - he wasn’t allowed to, or at least nothing more than what he could store in a single backpack (when he was in the orphanage) or a standard locker (the Alliance). Only in the SR2 did he finally have the space and permission, which manifested as a collection of fish and model spaceships, as well as one sole hamster. Unfortunately, the former are gone and the latter adopted by someone else, meaning that now, he truly has nothing. (Though now that they have a large apartment with spare rooms, he has been restarting his model spaceship collection.)
So, Kaidan bringing him here is more than just giving him insight into his past. It’s also allowing Shepard a chance to heal, a chance to experience something he never had.
Deep in his thoughts, he doesn’t realise that he’s staring until Shepard asks him with an amused chuckle, “What?”
“Nothing, it’s just…” As much as Kaidan’s heart aches at the thought of Shepard’s lost youth, he doesn’t voice those thoughts, not wanting to ruin the mood. Instead, he says, “It feels a little surreal seeing you in my childhood bedroom.”
Shepard pauses for a moment before sitting down next to him. “... Did you really never bring anyone here before?”
Kaidan thinks back, those years feeling almost like a whole other lifetime ago. “Well, I did bring friends and classmates over for one reason or another.”
“But no one you were dating?”
“Some have been part of the friend or study group, but I’ve never brought them alone with the sole purpose of formally introducing them to my parents, no.” That is undoubtedly where the nervousness stems from - this is just as much of a new experience for him as it is for Shepard. But the worst of it is over now; bringing him here was the right move, and he has absolutely no regrets.
He reaches for Shepard’s hand, threading their fingers together. “You’re the first.”
“I’m honoured. But also a little curious.” A devious spark now lights up Shepard’s blue eyes as he shifts closer, until they’re pressed hip-to-hip. “So… this bed has never seen any… action? ”
“Unless you count myself, then no. Why, what do you have in mind?” Oh, Kaidan knows exactly what he has in mind, but he still asks with a smirk, wanting to hear it directly.
“I was thinking… I could be another ‘first’ for you.” And with that, Shepard leans in for a kiss.
Kaidan opens up to him immediately, a hand coming up to reach for Shepard’s neck, pulling him in closer. As for Shepard, he uses his free hand to stroke Kaidan’s leg, fingers grazing along his inner thigh, coming teasingly close to his crotch but never touching.
The buzz of excitement he’s been feeling all day is getting him even more riled up now. He licks up into Shepard’s mouth, swallowing up the moan he elicits. Then, he starts to push forward slowly, until Shepard is lying down on the mattress.
Shepard laughs against Kaidan’s lips. “This must be a dream come true for you, huh? I bet you fantasised about this when you were younger.”
Holding himself above him, Kaidan pulls away from the kiss and savours the beautiful sight of Shepard with kissed-red lips and flushed cheeks, staring up at him with an affectionate smile, lying against the sheets of his childhood bed.
Kaidan had only really realised and embraced his own bisexuality when he went to university; there were brief periods of mild (and slightly confused) attraction to other boys when he was a teenager, of course, but for the most part, when he was still living in this house and sleeping in this bed at least, he had only ever dated girls. So, in terms of “horny teenage fantasies”, it was pretty much the same too.
And yet, at this moment, he was living the dream. To have someone who he loves more than anything else in this world, a man who loves him back just as much, here in his bed and in his arms, for them to both be alive and happy and together after everything life’s thrown at them - now this is a true fantasy that is somehow his actual reality. It’s in times like these that Kaidan sometimes wonders if he’s dreaming, in happy disbelief that this is his life.
“Yeah,” Kaidan breathes out, both amazed and adoringly. “Yeah, it is.”
He returns to Shepard’s lips again, because kissing him feels like home.
He’s not sure how much time has passed, but he doesn’t care. Not when Shepard’s mouth tastes so good against his. Not when Shepard’s body is pressed against his, warm and solid under him. Not when one of Shepard’s hands glides down the length of his back, all the way down to squeeze his ass while the other hand finds it way under his shirt, scratching at his abs.
Returning the favour, Kaidan shifts to press one of his knees against Shepard’s crotch, feeling the man grind down with a growing bulge in his jeans. With his hands, he starts undoing the buttons of Shepard’s shirt.
Once the last button is undone, the two sides slip apart to reveal that gorgeous body. Shepard’s lost some weight and muscle mass due to the coma and severe injuries, though once the doctors cleared him, he’s been exercising as much as he can. He’s never said it, but Kaidan can tell that he’s a little self-conscious, not so much for vanity reasons but more so about his diminished physical capabilities. Kaidan always tries to reassure him whenever he can, as he does so now for instance, moving away from Shepard’s lips to press soft kisses down his neck, chest, and abs, the latter of which has mostly returned.
As he enjoys the heat of Shepard’s skin against his lips, so too does he enjoy the soft gasps and whines that reach his ears. Such erotic sounds and tastes. Kaidan loses himself to them, loses himself to the forever-intoxicating presence that is John Shepard.
He can never get enough. He wants more.
He dips a hand under the waistband of Shepard’s jeans and briefs, fingers seeking for-
“Kaidan! Dinner’s almost ready!”
His mother’s shout immediately clears away the haze of lust. Kaidan and Shepard blink at each other, only now remembering where exactly they are.
That’s why I never brought anyone here, Kaidan thinks as he shouts back, “Give us a minute!”
He moves his hand away and flops down onto the mattress beside Shepard. The two of them stare up at the ceiling as they catch their breath, trying their best to calm down. It doesn’t need to be said, but it’s best that they don’t go downstairs with raging erections.
Eventually, Kaidan gets off the bed, pulling Shepard up after him. They stare at each other, clearly noticing one another’s wrinkled clothes, messy hair, and flushed cheeks. A beat passes, and they both laugh - Kaidan a little louder than Shepard, who seems to be getting flustered once more. He’s also the first to start tidying himself up, buttoning his shirt and smoothing it out as best he can, though several lines and creases do not go away.
Kaidan does the same for his own shirt before helping to fix Shepard’s collar, about to say some reassuring words to him when he cuts in first. “I know, I know. You’re probably going to say that she’s not going to mind, and I believe you, but I also don’t want her to think that while she’s busy making dinner for us, I’ve been up here busy deflowering her son.”
Kaidan almost barks out a laugh at Shepard’s choice of words. “Don’t worry, she’s not that kind of a mom. In fact, knowing her, she probably sent us up here fully expecting that we would do something. Trust me, she’s not even going to bat an eye.”
“Fine,” Shepard says as he finally stops fidgeting with his shirt. “Now come one, let’s go. I don’t need her to be more suspicious than she probably already is.”
Kaidan laughs then, giving Shepard a playful kiss on the tip of his nose. After one last look in his bedroom mirror, he and Shepard make their way back to the kitchen. When his mom sees them, she raises an eyebrow, with the slightest of smirks appearing on her lips. Beyond that however, she doesn’t mention anything else, simply instructing Kaidan to help plate the food.
Before he goes to do that, he can feel Shepard’s palpable relief, yet one tinged with slight mortification at his mother’s subtle yet unmistakable recognition of what they’ve done, truly like a teenager having just been caught sneaking and fooling around. Wanting to move on as quickly as possible from such discomfort, Shepard asks if there’s anything he can do to help. As expected, she tells him that “you’re a guest”, but she eventually relents and allows him to set the table.
With their efficiency, everything gets done quickly. As they take their seat at the dining table, Shepard says, “Mrs Alenko, this all looks amazing.”
She beams with pride at the compliment. “Before we had Kaidan and decided to settle down here in Vancouver, my husband was deployed to a lot of cities. I followed along, and wherever we went, I made sure to pick up at least one local recipe. So, you’re seeing some of that here.”
And it is indeed a large spread, a family-style dinner with soup and five different dishes from various cuisines around the world. Kaidan can only imagine how much money and time she spent on making this, but he does not bring it up again. Instead, he lets himself enjoy the good company and the food, the latter especially because Kaidan has dearly missed his mother’s cooking.
As they eat, his mom drives most of the conversation, asking for updates on their lives as well as directing questions to Shepard to get to know him better. Thankfully, she does not pry or push for more detail than Shepard is comfortable sharing, which he does with a genuinely relaxed smile on his face. However, Kaidan does chime in every so often to take the pressure off of him, redirecting some questions back to her about the goings-on in her own life.
When the food is all gone, Kaidan immediately offers to do the dishes. He ignores his mother’s objections, telling her that she’s already done enough, and this is the least he can do. She accepts, leaving with Shepard back to the living room.
Kaidan brings all the dirty plates and utensils to the sink, but just as he’s about to start, he notices that the dish soap is almost finished, so he jogs over to the closet where the cleaning supplies are stored to grab a new bottle. As does so, he passes by the archway that leads to the living room, stopping when he hears what the other two are talking about.
“Now that it’s just the two of us, John, be honest with me: how’s Kaidan treating you? I don’t care that he’s almost forty and a high-ranking officer in the Alliance, because if he’s been anything less than what his father and I have taught him to be, I will not hesitate to punish him.” His mother says with a tone that indicates she’s being completely serious.
“He’s been really good to me. So good that it’s almost unbelievable,” Shepard replies with a smile that Kaidan can practically hear.
Kaidan can’t see, but he just knows that his mom is now holding onto Shepard’s hand and grinning. “I’m happy to hear that. And I can tell that you’ve been good to and for him too. I’ve never seen him smile as much as when he talks about you. That’s why I was so excited to meet you; I wanted to finally meet the person who was making my son happier than I’ve ever seen him. I’m sure my husband would have loved to meet you too.”
“The two of you raised a good man, Mrs Alenko. He makes me incredibly happy too. I’m forever grateful that he’s in my life.” The pure love in Shepard’s voice is almost enough to make Kaidan cry. He’s glad that he’s not there in the room with them, because if he heard such words coupled with Shepard’s looking at him with what is sure to be tenderness and devotion, he knows that he would actually start tearing up.
“So is he, I’m sure.” She sounds close to tears herself, but after a quick sniffle, she quickly shifts back into strict parent mode. “But I’m serious, John. If he ever does anything wrong, you tell me and I’ll talk some sense into him.”
“Will do,” Shepard says with a bright laugh, one that settles warmly into Kaidan’s chest, sending a pleasant tingle through his body.
Kaidan moves away then, returning to the sink feeling a little guilty at having eavesdropped. Nonetheless, he can’t stop smiling. Even as he scrubs through about a dozen or so dirty dishes, and even when he accidentally splashes some water onto him due to a rogue spoon.
The rest of the night is spent watching a movie together, the three of them on the sofa with Kaidan in the middle. It’s from here that he has the absolute joy of hearing the laughs and seeing the smiles of his two loved ones. To be present in such a beautiful moment, Kaidan is beyond grateful.
However, there’s a small ache that appears, just as he glances up to a portrait of his father hanging on the wall. He misses him, wishing so badly that he was still here to be a part of this. But even so, he knows that he lives on in his and his mom’s hearts and memories.
Such good feelings carry him all the way to the end of the movie and to bed. Though the memory of what they almost got up to earlier is fresh in their minds, both he and Shepard come to the conclusion that it would be too awkward to do anything here, with his bed likely remaining “unbroken in” for the foreseeable future.
Once they’ve showered, gotten into their pjs and under the covers, Kaidan turns to Shepard. “So, how are you feeling after today?”
“Good. Definitely better than I was this morning,” Shepard says, stifling a yawn. “But I am tired. Your mom is…”
He trails off, obviously not wanting to offend. Kaidan just chuckles and answers for him. “She was a lot, wasn’t she? I told her to tone it down, but she was really excited to meet you.”
“I know, but she’s so sweet. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, seeing as her son is too.” Shepard snuggles in a little closer, a fond smile gracing his lips. He yawns again, and Kaidan can tell that even though he wants to keep talking, he’s exhausted from all the intense interaction. The adrenaline must have fully worn off by now, and not to mention the fact that he didn’t really have a good night’s sleep yesterday, as stressed out as he was about today.
So, wrapping an arm around his waist, Kaidan pulls him in. “You can continue complimenting me tomorrow. Get some sleep, alright?”
“Alright. G’night, K,” Shepard mumbles, eyelids already fluttering shut. Within seconds, soft snores begin escaping his lips.
Kaidan’s heart is too damn full with love for the man in front of him. But not wanting to wake him, Kaidan settles for pressing a soft kiss to his forehead and whispering “Goodnight” before closing his eyes, easily falling asleep soon after with the soothing warmth of his beloved next to him.
~
Kaidan wakes up to the rising and falling of a chest below his head.
Mind still fuzzy with sleep, he looks up, slowly realising that in the night, he had shifted to rest his head against Shepard’s chest, with his arms wrapped around Shepard’s waist. In response, Shepard has wrapped his own arms around Kaidan’s shoulders, holding him snuggly and securely against him.
I’ll never get tired of waking up like this, Kaidan thinks as he has a second realisation: John is still asleep.
Shepard is normally the first to get up, usually washing up and getting dressed before waking Kaidan. And during the times that Kaidan does wake up first, Shepard is such a light sleeper that the smallest of movements wakes him up too. And yet, this morning, the man is still fully asleep, without an inkling that he’s about to rouse from his slumber.
Despite what he asks of Shepard, Kaidan himself does not have the heart to wake him. With his body still healing, he needs all the rest he can get. So, as carefully as he can, Kaidan releases his hold of Shepard while also manoeuvering out of his grasp. Sure that he hasn’t woken him up, he heads to the bathroom to wash up and change into a fresh set of clothes.
Returning to the bedroom, he finds Shepard having not moved an inch, body still in the exact position he left him. Wow, he must have really tired himself out yesterday, a thought that, along with the image of him sleeping this soundly in his childhood bed, fills Kaidan with adoration. While yes, it’s perhaps not that great that Shepard is this tired, he’s only able to fall into such a deep sleep because he feels safe and comfortable enough in this space to do so.
It’s with this heartwarming thought that Kaidan pulls the covers up higher around Shepard before he leaves the room, closing the door softly behind him. He also notices that his mom’s door is closed as well, meaning that she’s still asleep too.
Good. This means that he can start making breakfast. She’s already made them a grand meal for dinner last night, she deserves the rest too.
Speaking of said grand dinner, Kaidan is certain that they all wouldn’t mind something simple after all that rich food. So, after starting the coffee machine, he tosses some frozen waffles into the oven. To balance it out, though, he also prepares some berries and bananas to be added later on.
Waiting for the waffles to be done, he pours a cup of coffee for himself and heads out to the balcony. The sun has already risen, a beautiful glow over the waters of the bay. It’s a similar view to the one he and Shepard have from their apartment, but there’s something different about it here, and it’s not just the change in angle: this is the view that Kaidan grew up with, one that he didn’t think he would ever see again once the war started. It’s nothing less than a miracle that the house and most of the neighbourhood survived the worst of the destruction when the Reapers invaded.
A few minutes of silent appreciation and gratitude have passed when Kaidan hears the door open behind him. He turns to find his mom, walking over to him with her own cup of coffee in her hands. She takes a seat beside him and asks, “John’s still asleep?”
“Yeah, I think the nervousness of meeting you really took a lot out of him.”
“Well, I hope he knows that I like him a lot, and if was still here, I know your father would have too.”
A sad smile crosses her face, and the ache from before returns. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner, Mom.”
“Don’t be silly. I can take care of myself just fine. Besides, you were busy helping John. Though now that he’s getting better, I hope to see you boys more often.” She playfully elbows Kaidan in his side, to which he reacts with a mock “ow!”. Rolling her eyes, she then reaches into her pocket, pulling something out and placing it into his hand. “Here, take this.”
It’s a leather ring box, and when he opens it, he finds a silver ring, the metal engraved ever so elegantly to look like wood, and inlaid right at the top is a singular stunning blue sapphire. Kaidan recognises it instantly.
It’s the Alenko family ring.
When his several-times-great grandparents left Ukraine all those years ago, this was one of the few things they brought with them. When they started a new life in Canada, it became a family heirloom, passed down through the eldest child of each generation. Traditionally, it’s been used as an engagement ring, given to partners to welcome them into the family. Kaidan remembers seeing it in old pictures of his parents, in particular the one they took right after his dad proposed.
So, his mom passing it to him can only mean one thing.
“Mom, it’s too soon.” As much as they love each other, Kaidan is aware of the fact that he and Shepard actually haven’t been together long, their relationship barely a year old at this point. There were only those few precious months during the war, and then the past months which were mostly spent focusing on Shepard’s recovery, followed by them moving in together. Not to mention that they’re also considering returning to the Alliance, potentially continuing on in advisory roles, maybe even as instructors.
While all couples move at different speeds, Kaidan can’t help but feel that to propose now would be far too overwhelming for the two of them, especially when it’s only now that they’re finally able to properly enjoy this relationship without anything getting in the way. They’re still getting used to this new way of life - something like marriage can wait until they’re a little more settled.
“I know, but I see the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. It’s only a matter of time.”
“You think so?” Kaidan asks, unable to stop the hopeful smile that grows on his face.
As devoted and committed as they are to each other, they’ve never really discussed the topic of marriage before. Kaidan doesn’t like to assume, but he does wonder if Shepard’s upbringing, surrounded by the results of failed marriages and families, might lead the man to be against the idea of it. Not that they need to get married to prove their love, but Kaidan would like an actual wedding where they’re with their friends and family, where they get to do the whole ceremony of exchanging vows and rings. Honestly, he would even be fine if they don’t have a big celebration and all they do is sign a simple marriage certificate; he just wants to be able to officially call John his husband.
But regardless of what he wants, he will not force Shepard to do anything he doesn’t want. However, according to his mother at least, it seems like there’s a real possibility that Shepard won’t be opposed to getting married.
“I know so. I knew from the moment you told me about your date at… what’s that place called again, Apollo’s?” When Kaidan nods, she continues, “Getting together in the middle of the war? Only two people truly in love would do that. And that’s a love that can withstand anything.”
He knew that his mother would be supportive no matter what, but to see that she has such faith in the two of them and their relationship is immensely gratifying. And for her to state so clearly their obvious devotion to one another makes him a little embarrassed, but is nonetheless elated about it. With this overflow of emotions, he doesn’t think he’s able to find the words to express them all, so he simply says, “Thank you.”
She cups a hand around the side of his face, giving his cheek a light squeeze. “You’re welcome. Now, I think the waffles are about done. Why don’t we head back inside and you keep that ring somewhere safe; you wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, would you?”
Laughing, he shakes his head. They get up, and while she goes to the kitchen, he returns to his bedroom, hoping that he can sneak the box into his bag without Shepard noticing. When he opens the door, he’s relieved to find the bed empty, the bathroom door closed and to hear the sink running, so he quickly stuffs it into the bottom of his duffle, inside one of his folded-up shirts. He zips up the bag just in time, with Shepard stepping out of the bathroom mere seconds after.
Keeping his face as neutral as possible, Kaidan gives the excuse that he came up to wake him. Luckily, Shepard doesn’t question it, so once he gets dressed, the two of them grab their bags and head downstairs. The waffles and fruits are already plated and waiting for them, accompanied by a bottle of maple syrup and pats of butters in the middle of the dining table.
As they enjoy the food, they discuss their plans for the rest of the day. As much as his mom wants them to stay a little longer, he and Shepard are leaving after they’re done with breakfast as both of them have a short but compulsory meeting to attend at Alliance HQ in the afternoon. Thankfully, they’re not just leaving her alone, as she’s volunteering in a few hours at this weekly community outreach programme for the parts of the city still recovering from the war.
Sadly, breakfast can only last for so long, and the time for them to depart soon arrives. After they help with the dishes, they make their way to the car. Kaidan’s mom sees them out, and once they’ve dropped their bags off in the backseat, they turn to her to say their goodbyes.
Before that though, she does insist on a picture. (“I want to remember this moment, Kaidan. And John has to be a part of the family album.”) So, Kaidan positions his phone on the hood of the car, making sure that it’s at a good angle. He and Shepard position themselves on either side of her, and with a wave of his omnitool, a few quick snaps are taken of them and their smiles.
Once that’s done, it’s time for the goodbye hugs. Shepard is the first to get a hug from her, and Kaidan smiles at how much more relaxed Shepard is now as he warmly hugs her back, such a drastic difference from how awkward he was less than 24 hours ago. So, when she next brings Kaidan into a hug, he wraps his arms around her tightly, grateful for how welcoming she’s been to Shepard.
“You take care of yourselves, alright? And John, remember what I told you about this one.” She grins cheekily as they pull apart, then gesturing to Kaidan, who squints his eyes in mock suspicion at her. (Okay, so maybe he does have one regret over introducing the two of them, that being that they can now gang up and find new ways to tease him.)
“Of course,” Shepard laughs. “And you take care of yourself too. We’ll visit again soon.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she playfully chides, directing a particularly pointed look towards Kaidan.
Taking that as a sign, Shepard turns to Kaidan. “I’ll wait in the car.” He starts walking away, but not before he says, “It was really nice meeting you, Mrs Alenko!”
“It was lovely to meet you too, John!” she says with a wave. With a wave back, Shepard heads to the car, leaving mother and son to their private conversation.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Kaidan says once Shepard is out of earshot.
“Sure you can,” she says. “By making John my son-in-law.”
He rolls his eyes. “Mom…”
“Yes, yes, it’s too soon, I get it. I promise I won’t bring it up anymore after today.” She smiles as she takes his hands in hers. “But whatever you want to do, just make sure that you’re happy, sweetheart. That’s all I want.”
“I know,” Kaidan smiles back. She can be a little overbearing at times, but all of it is because that’s what she wants for him as her only child: his happiness. And it’s clear she understands that part of that happiness - most of it, in fact - comes from Shepard, with this entire visit having never been about “evaluating” him (as Shepard had initially feared). She didn’t need to - she trusted Kaidan and simply wanted to welcome the man she had already come to see as her new son.
“Good.” With one last squeeze of his hands, she lets go. “I’ll see you soon, yes?”
“Of course. I can’t promise that we can stay over like last night, but definitely a dinner. Our treat, someplace nice in the city.”
“I hold you to that too,” she says with a big grin, and Kaidan can’t help but give her another hug.
After that, Kaidan finally gets into the car. He and Shepard give one final wave goodbye to her, then he pulls out of the driveway and they start making their way back to the apartment. Just as they enter the main road, Shepard speaks up.
“Hey Kaidan?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for bringing me here.” There’s such a tenderness in his voice that Kaidan can’t help but glance towards him, and is greeted by a wholly contented smile.
Kaidan doesn’t ask what for. He knows.
“Thank you for coming with me,” Kaidan says instead, returning an equally adoring smile. It’s been a healing and enlightening experience for them both.
The rest of the drive passes quickly. When they reach the apartment, they still have some time before they need to leave for Alliance HQ, so Kaidan asks Shepard to take it easy. Kaidn then heads upstairs to their bedroom, saying that he’s going to help unpack, but really he wants to look for the best place he can hide the ring box, somewhere very unlikely for Shepard to find it. Eventually, he decides on a drawer where he keeps his winter wear.
Not yet, he reminds himself as he buries the box under a stack of his beanies and scarves. There is no rush. The war is over, the galaxy is at peace. They no longer have to fear losing each other. He and Shepard are both alive and building a new life together. This is all so very new to them, but they can take their time.
Once the box is secure, he unpacks the rest of their stuff before heading back downstairs, finding Shepard standing outside on their own balcony, leaning against the railings. He has his eyes closed, enjoying the cooling breeze.
Kaidan joins him, hugging him from behind, arms coming up to gently wrap around his waist. He noses softly along Shepard’s nape before resting his head on his shoulder. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Shepard says back fondly, reaching a hand down to hold on to one of Kaidan’s, then pulling it up to press a kiss to his knuckles.
As he does this, the image of the ring pops into Kaidan’s head. He envisions it on Shepard’s finger, knows the sapphire would surely compliment those brilliant blue eyes, bright with what is sure to be surprise but also joy at what will be a declaration of their love.
Kaidan can’t help but smile at how right it feels.
The future may be a little uncertain, but he’s sure of one thing.
Not yet, but one day.