Chapter Text
The dining room smelled of roasted herbs and warm bread, Kaidan’s parents filling the space with a rare domestic calm. After dessert, Kaidan’s mother set a small bundle in front of Jules, something soft, blue, delicate.
“I made this a long time ago,” she said softly, hesitating. “I always thought… well, just in case.”
Jules unwrapped it carefully. Tiny crocheted pajamas, impossibly small, each stitch a quiet testament to care, time, and patience.
“Oh,” she breathed, hands trembling just slightly. “It’s… perfect.”
“You’ll need it soon enough,” Kaidan’s mother added, a faint smile touching her lips.
Jules laughed quietly, almost nervously. A few weeks had passed since she’d informed command of her state, and she’d stopped working. Unfit for duty, even in early pregnancy. For a few moments, the room fell silent, broken only by the soft clink of cutlery and the hum of the heater.
Then the datapad chimed.
Sharp. Insistent.
Jules froze, fork halfway to her mouth. Kaidan’s pulse quickened. They had been waiting for an update from the mission Anderson had taken in place of Jules.
“Priority alert,” he said quietly. “It’s from the Alliance.”
Her hands shook as she reached for it, but he held it just out of reach. “Wait,” he said. “Not yet.” The screen lit up on its own. Words blared, formal and cold:
SSV NORMANDY DESTROYED
CASUALTIES CONFIRMED
Captain David Anderson Killed in Action
Liara T’Soni Presumed Dead
Jules’ breath caught. She dropped her fork. “No… that’s not… they weren’t supposed to-”
Kaidan reached for her hand, grounding her. “I know.”
She looked at him, eyes wide, unshed tears catching the light. “We changed something,” she whispered. “I knew it… we should have played by the universe’s rules!”
A minimal change.
A larger consequence.
They had saved one life.
And lost two others.