Feeling Human - The Future

Feeling Human - The Future

features- Tali'Zorah, Shepard, Kaidan Alenko

all characters were created and are owned by Bioware



"Do you think you'll ever have children, Shepard?"

Shepard choked on her drink at Tali's unexpected, yet innocent question.  It had been a week since the Battle of the Citadel, and much to her protest she had been dragged to Earth to attend a series of dinners and ceremonies in her honor.  Receiving a medal of honor had been incredible, and having her crew with her, Kaidan in particular, made it all the more special.  The cost of having that honor was having to attend the endless events, though she enjoyed having a break from the misadventures onboard the Normandy, yet there were moments that she had considered making an escape and blast back off into the stars instead of hearing another long speech, though logic deemed such an idea horrifically stupid.

Returning to Tali's question, Shepard shifted uncomfortable, feeling the stiffness of her dress uniform constrict her movements.  

"I don't really know.  I guess I haven't given it that much thought."

Shepard had little hope that Tali would accept such an evasive response, and unfortunately for her she was right.  The bubbly quarian was a technological genius, yet it was these rare moments that she was an adorably exuberant, though usually such moods lead to uncomfortable moments such as the one unfolding in front of her.

"You've never thought about it?  I mean, where do you see yourself after all of this is over?  Won't you get married, settle down somewhere, maybe have a family..."

"Um, actually-"

"I mean, wouldn't having a calm and normal life be nice after all of this chaos?  Or maybe just a few years of shore leave, maybe spend some time with-"

"Uh, maybe.  Well, I mean I'm definitely going to take some time off, but I don't see being away that long."

Shepard cut Tali off, feeling her cheeks redden at what the quarian had meant to say.  It was odd to think about leaving the Alliance to settle down, yet the thought of a life with Kaidan seemed natural, as if it was automatic.  The future was unclear, though facing it with him was a definite.

"Am I interrupting?"

From behind her Kaidan's amused voice startled her, embarrassment for the awkward conversation he might have heard flooding through her.

"No, not at all.  Excuse me,"  

Tali mirrored Kaidan's amusement as she scooted off into the crowd of Alliance officers scattered about the room murmuring dully as the glass ceiling let the brilliant nocturnal city sparkle above them.

"How much did you hear?"

Shepard smirked, hoping that he had been oblivious to her exchange with Tali, though the look on his face said otherwise.

"More than you hope, it would seem."

Shepard couldn't decide what was worse, the fact that Kaidan had been witness to such an awkward convorsation, or the fact that she had started to blush a little.  It wasn't fair that the woman who could stare down a Reaper without flinching could be rendered so helpless by one humorous smirk from Kaidan, though she had noticed that she had a similar influence over him, considering the look on his face whenever she teased him.  As much as she thought it bothered her, nothing gave her greater pleasure than just being with him, drowning in embarrassment almost bearable.  As thoughts whirled aimlessly through her head, Shepard noticed just how stuffy the room seemed, and she motioned Kaidan to follow her as she headed toward the door, and out on to a balcony overlooking the harbour.  

The water glistened as it mirrored the majestic urban skyline.  The air was cool, sending a shiver down her spine though not enough to throughly chill her, and was a nice contrast from the heat she had endured for the past several hours.  

"I'm not much of a city person, but this skyline is fantastic."  Kaidan's casual remark breaking the somewhat peaceful silence between the two as they watched the ever pulsing city.  "Nothing compared to the Citadel, though."

"Still a big place, right?"

Shepard smirked, remembering their first visit to the Citadel all those weeks ago, at Kaidan's careless fumble while they had drunk in the view of the bursting city covering the massive arms of the space station.

"Very choice words, m'am."

Another peaceful silence followed, though curiosity made Kaidan return to what he had overheard between Shepard and Tali.

"So, where do you see yourself when this is over?"

"Depends what you have in mind,"  Shepard smiled, "but I don't think I'll retire just yet."

Kaidan shook his head, it now being his turn to be embarrassed by her words, though he wasn't ashamed of a future with the most incredible woman he'd ever had the chance to serve with.

"I don't think I'll hang up the tags yet, either.  Besides, someone has to be keeping an eye on you.  What happens after that?"

"I don't plan that far ahead, but I can see settling someplace quiet, away from galactic noise in a few years.  Until then, I think I'll take some shore leave when the Reapers are dealt with, if they ever are.  The threat didn't die with Sovereign, and I plan to see this through."

"Well, for whatever it's worth, I have no intention of leaving."  Kaidan murmured softly, turning to face Shepard, her eyes glowing like the city around her.

"It's worth a lot more than you could ever know."  She whispered, leaning her head towards his, and feeling emotion burst within her as their lips touched.  It was feeling his skin against hers, the sensation of his lips against hers, that always made her feel human.