Chapter Text
It’s a sunny morning, Rannoch’s star shining bright, when Liara touches down in the shuttle, toting little Benezia behind her.
“Auntie!” She screeches, wiggling free from Liara’s grip and running full sprint into Shepard’s arms.
“Hey, kiddo!” She grins, scooping Benezia up and twirling her, “What’s my favorite niece been up to?”
“I pulled Uncle Feron with my mind like Uncle Javik taught me and made him spill his water!” She says, immensely proud, and Shepard laughs.
“‘Atta girl, Nezzie!” She praises, rubbing their foreheads together, and Benezia actually manages to grin harder.
“Do not encourage her.” Liara says in exasperation, “She’s going to be a menace when she grows up.”
“She will be a fine warrior, worthy of respect.” Javik interjects from where he’s come out of the house to greet them, “She will wreak havoc upon all who would oppose her.”
“As I said, menace,” Liara mutters, before shaking her head. “But that’s not why I’ve come. I brought some of my research to go over with you.” She opens the bag she has slung across her chest, filled to the brim with datapads on her archeological finds. “It will likely take all day, and both Feron and Kolyat are busy, so I had to bring her, I’m afraid. I don’t suppose you’d mind watching her, Shepard?”
“You kidding, Liara? Nezzie and I are going to have the best time ever!” She replies, throwing Benezia in the air, “Now who wants to play tackle the varren?” Benezia cheers, and they both race off.
*
“Mommy says Uncle Kolyat’s daddy is over there.” Benezia says during lunchtime, when they’re sitting on her and Javik’s beach, eating sandwiches, "She says your friends and Uncle Javik's mommy and daddy are, too."
“Over where?” Shepard asks, dabbing a bit of mustard off Benezia’s face.
“There.” Benezia replies, pointing at the horizon, “Across the sea.” Oh.
“I- yes, I guess they are.” She answers, soft, not sure what to do.
“If they’re all the way over there, how do they know what’s happening here?” Benezia asks, eyes wide and curious.
“I don’t know,” Shepard admits, “Maybe they don’t.” Benezia hums, thinking while she chews.
“Then you should tell them.” She says decisively, “So they know.” And with that, she gets up and puts her hands over her head. “Dress off! I wanna go look for shells!” Shepard obeys on autopilot, wiggling her out of her green sundress, her bathing suit already underneath, and into the spare floaties they keep just for her visits. She bolts off as soon as she’s free, splashing in the waves and picking up anything that even vaguely resembles a seashell.
Shepard stares out over the horizon, and thinks of them: Thane, Legion, Mordin, Ash, Anderson.
“I never got to tell any of you, did I?” She realizes, “You’ve probably been dying to know how I managed to wind up here.” She watches Benezia play in the water, little arms already half full, and thinks for a moment.
“It’s… a bit of a story, I guess.” She admits, “Javik tells it better than I do, but…” She pauses, then begins speaking, as if the wind will carry her words across the waves.