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Description
Mass Effect 3 Fanfiction
SPOILERS
Endless
   There were words to describe Vera Landen's state of mind or emotion. Her heart was beating erratically, like she just ran for her life from a whole platoon of Reaper spawn. But it's been days since she's seen action like that. Her eyes were perpetually red and stinging, tears always pooled in the corners of her plain green eyes. Nothing would make her tears stop, and she quit trying almost right away. Everything was sore. Everything.
   "Kaidan…" Vera murmured, her voice catching a bit in her throat as she called out to him, stretching her hand across the bed they shared on the Normandy.
   "I'm right here, Vera." Kaidan Alenko answered, rolling closer to her to envelop the broken woman in his strong, warm arms. "I'm right here,"
   She folded into his embrace immediately, letting the sobs shake her entire body. His bare chest was warm, smooth, as Vera ran her fingers across it, trying to find some kind of comfort. Kaidan started slightly at the touch.
   "You're burning up, Vera." He whispered, kissing her damp brow as he brushed her light brown hair back. "Chakwas should really look over you-"
   "I miss her so much, Kaidan." Vera interrupted softly between sobs, nestling her head under his chin. "But she's gone-just gone, and now…"
   "Hush, sweetheart." Kaidan told her gently, wrapping his arms more securely around the woman he loved. "Don't make it worse."
   "If only you met her," Vera continued, ignoring his words. "My little girl, our daughter. God, I should've told you sooner-"
   "No, no. It was for the better." He argued as soothingly as possible, his lips brushing her forehead. "As awful as it sounds, I can't miss what I didn't know." Vera whimpered against his chest, but Kaidan plowed on. "Now, don't go blaming yourself for that, either. Like I said, it was for the best."
   Vera didn't answer, only pulled herself closer to the man whom she held in her heart for years. Although, she wasn't locked away in his heart as he was in her's. After Kaidan broke off their engagement nearly a decade ago, he got involved with someone else: the commander of the Normandy and hero extraordinaire, Commander Shepard. Things got complicated during the first mission for Shepard with both Vera and Kaidan aboard, but after a few not-so-peaceful confrontations, both learned to avoid the other.
   Then, after Shepard's untimely death, Kaidan fell apart completely, much like how Vera was acting now. When Vera heard the news, she wanted to try to find Kaidan to be there for him, but at the same time she wanted to spend time with her long-lost sister, Odessa, on the Citadel. And so, two years passed, bringing about the wonderful news that Shepard was alive. Vera heard this from Kaidan himself after they ran into each other on the Citadel. He was heated, angry, and needed someone right then. After he shouted about how Shepard showed up on Horizon after the recent Collector raid and how heartbroken he was about not hearing from her for two years and how she was with Cerberus and he didn't trust her anymore and how he missed Vera a lot more than he thought, and well, one thing led to another…
   Kaidan left her in bed the next morning rather, and surprisingly, reluctantly. When Vera awoke to an empty bed, she found a new note on her omni-tool. It was an apology from Kaidan about last night. He admits that it was one of the best nights he's ever had, but it wasn't for the right reasons. Vera deleted it promptly after reading it.
   Soon after, Shepard showed up on the Citadel and asked to meet with Vera. When they met, Vera found herself happy to see the commander. She smiled, making sure not to bring up Kaidan because Vera could still see hurt reflected in Shepard's dark eyes. Guilt panged in the back of Vera's mind as Shepard asked Vera to join her team again. Vera gently denied the offer, wanting to spend as much time with her sister as possible. Shepard understood and promised to stay in touch. Vera was startled slightly at the suggestion, but gladly agreed, too.
   As the months went by, Vera noticed strange things changing with her. The most prominent of them was her significant weight gain. She didn't think much of it, just made sure to workout more. But even then, the weight wouldn't go. Then, nine months later, Vera gave birth to her daughter, Hope. At first, Vera was confused. It didn't make sense. When could she have…? Oh.
   To her relief, the child looked nothing like the father except for her dark, brown eyes. She loved the baby so much that she looked past the unexpectedness of it. But, should she tell him? Vera pushed that thought out of her head as she caressed the small, cubby face of her daughter.
   Another year passed, and Shepard needed Vera's help again against the Reaper threat that was very apparent. This time, Vera had an urge to oblige, so she kissed her daughter good-bye and left her in the caring hands of her sister, Odessa.
   Then, everything happened in a rush: Kaidan and Shepard were over (She moved on with Garrus Vakarian, Vera's close friend), Vera and Kaidan were suddenly together again (but Vera wasn't questioning it too much), she told him about their daughter (He was ecstatic about it), the Citadel was the Catalyst, and Vera's sister and daughter were dead. Now, they were leaving for Earth any day to stop the Reapers for good.
   "I love you," said Vera, turning her head to look up into Kaidan's dark eyes.
   "I love you, too." Kaidan answered, tucking a finger under her chin to lift her lips to his.
   Vera happily returned the kiss, moving her hands from his chest to his hair. Her fingers curled into his dark hair, locking their embrace with her fierce grip. Kaidan moaned under her lips before pulling away slightly. His finger tapped her nose affectionately.
   "I don't think now's the best time to have another baby, hm?" He said, his tone light and jovial.
   Vera knew he meant well, certainly, but it still made her close her eyes and swallow back a fresh wave of tears. Kaidan immediately caught his mistake and murmured an apology across her closed eyelids before kissing them. Vera only nodded, wrapping her arms securely around his chest.
   "Believe me when I say that I do." Kaidan affirmed. "Because, I really do. But, with us leaving for Earth any day now…"
   "I know," Vera croaked, her eyes still closed. "It wouldn't bring her back, anyways."
   "Vera…"
   She kissed his neck in response, not finding any words as the tears slowly rolled down her cheeks to wet Kaidan's bare chest. He stroked her head, whispering words of comfort to her. It helped some, but all Vera really needed was Kaidan. And he was there. Vera burrowed herself deeper into Kaidan's hold and warmth, trying in vain to forget everything else for just that one moment.
***

Description
Mass Effect 3 Fanfiction
SPOILERS
Endless
   There were words to describe Vera Landen's state of mind or emotion. Her heart was beating erratically, like she just ran for her life from a whole platoon of Reaper spawn. But it's been days since she's seen action like that. Her eyes were perpetually red and stinging, tears always pooled in the corners of her plain green eyes. Nothing would make her tears stop, and she quit trying almost right away. Everything was sore. Everything.
   "Kaidan…" Vera murmured, her voice catching a bit in her throat as she called out to him, stretching her hand across the bed they shared on the Normandy.
   "I'm right here, Vera." Kaidan Alenko answered, rolling closer to her to envelop the broken woman in his strong, warm arms. "I'm right here,"
   She folded into his embrace immediately, letting the sobs shake her entire body. His bare chest was warm, smooth, as Vera ran her fingers across it, trying to find some kind of comfort. Kaidan started slightly at the touch.
   "You're burning up, Vera." He whispered, kissing her damp brow as he brushed her light brown hair back. "Chakwas should really look over you-"
   "I miss her so much, Kaidan." Vera interrupted softly between sobs, nestling her head under his chin. "But she's gone-just gone, and now…"
   "Hush, sweetheart." Kaidan told her gently, wrapping his arms more securely around the woman he loved. "Don't make it worse."
   "If only you met her," Vera continued, ignoring his words. "My little girl, our daughter. God, I should've told you sooner-"
   "No, no. It was for the better." He argued as soothingly as possible, his lips brushing her forehead. "As awful as it sounds, I can't miss what I didn't know." Vera whimpered against his chest, but Kaidan plowed on. "Now, don't go blaming yourself for that, either. Like I said, it was for the best."
   Vera didn't answer, only pulled herself closer to the man whom she held in her heart for years. Although, she wasn't locked away in his heart as he was in her's. After Kaidan broke off their engagement nearly a decade ago, he got involved with someone else: the commander of the Normandy and hero extraordinaire, Commander Shepard. Things got complicated during the first mission for Shepard with both Vera and Kaidan aboard, but after a few not-so-peaceful confrontations, both learned to avoid the other.
   Then, after Shepard's untimely death, Kaidan fell apart completely, much like how Vera was acting now. When Vera heard the news, she wanted to try to find Kaidan to be there for him, but at the same time she wanted to spend time with her long-lost sister, Odessa, on the Citadel. And so, two years passed, bringing about the wonderful news that Shepard was alive. Vera heard this from Kaidan himself after they ran into each other on the Citadel. He was heated, angry, and needed someone right then. After he shouted about how Shepard showed up on Horizon after the recent Collector raid and how heartbroken he was about not hearing from her for two years and how she was with Cerberus and he didn't trust her anymore and how he missed Vera a lot more than he thought, and well, one thing led to another…
   Kaidan left her in bed the next morning rather, and surprisingly, reluctantly. When Vera awoke to an empty bed, she found a new note on her omni-tool. It was an apology from Kaidan about last night. He admits that it was one of the best nights he's ever had, but it wasn't for the right reasons. Vera deleted it promptly after reading it.
   Soon after, Shepard showed up on the Citadel and asked to meet with Vera. When they met, Vera found herself happy to see the commander. She smiled, making sure not to bring up Kaidan because Vera could still see hurt reflected in Shepard's dark eyes. Guilt panged in the back of Vera's mind as Shepard asked Vera to join her team again. Vera gently denied the offer, wanting to spend as much time with her sister as possible. Shepard understood and promised to stay in touch. Vera was startled slightly at the suggestion, but gladly agreed, too.
   As the months went by, Vera noticed strange things changing with her. The most prominent of them was her significant weight gain. She didn't think much of it, just made sure to workout more. But even then, the weight wouldn't go. Then, nine months later, Vera gave birth to her daughter, Hope. At first, Vera was confused. It didn't make sense. When could she have…? Oh.
   To her relief, the child looked nothing like the father except for her dark, brown eyes. She loved the baby so much that she looked past the unexpectedness of it. But, should she tell him? Vera pushed that thought out of her head as she caressed the small, cubby face of her daughter.
   Another year passed, and Shepard needed Vera's help again against the Reaper threat that was very apparent. This time, Vera had an urge to oblige, so she kissed her daughter good-bye and left her in the caring hands of her sister, Odessa.
   Then, everything happened in a rush: Kaidan and Shepard were over (She moved on with Garrus Vakarian, Vera's close friend), Vera and Kaidan were suddenly together again (but Vera wasn't questioning it too much), she told him about their daughter (He was ecstatic about it), the Citadel was the Catalyst, and Vera's sister and daughter were dead. Now, they were leaving for Earth any day to stop the Reapers for good.
   "I love you," said Vera, turning her head to look up into Kaidan's dark eyes.
   "I love you, too." Kaidan answered, tucking a finger under her chin to lift her lips to his.
   Vera happily returned the kiss, moving her hands from his chest to his hair. Her fingers curled into his dark hair, locking their embrace with her fierce grip. Kaidan moaned under her lips before pulling away slightly. His finger tapped her nose affectionately.
   "I don't think now's the best time to have another baby, hm?" He said, his tone light and jovial.
   Vera knew he meant well, certainly, but it still made her close her eyes and swallow back a fresh wave of tears. Kaidan immediately caught his mistake and murmured an apology across her closed eyelids before kissing them. Vera only nodded, wrapping her arms securely around his chest.
   "Believe me when I say that I do." Kaidan affirmed. "Because, I really do. But, with us leaving for Earth any day now…"
   "I know," Vera croaked, her eyes still closed. "It wouldn't bring her back, anyways."
   "Vera…"
   She kissed his neck in response, not finding any words as the tears slowly rolled down her cheeks to wet Kaidan's bare chest. He stroked her head, whispering words of comfort to her. It helped some, but all Vera really needed was Kaidan. And he was there. Vera burrowed herself deeper into Kaidan's hold and warmth, trying in vain to forget everything else for just that one moment.
***