Chapter Text
Shepard smiled, easing back into his arms and laying her head against his shoulder. She stared up at him, her lavender eyes serene. Her tiny fingers found their way around his. "I love you, too... my Garrus." Her features softened as the pain left her face. Her eyelids slipped closed slowly and the last of her breath sighed from her body.
Garrus stared down at her, his Shepard, nestled against him as if she were sleeping.
"No," he rumbled as the emotions he had been restraining flooded through him in a torrent. "Artemis, don't go. Don't leave me here alone…"
Garrus shot up in bed, panting heavily. His talons gripped the sheets tightly, ripping through them. He swung over, reaching desperately for Shepard.
She stirred under his frantic hands, her body warm and soft.
He stopped, panting heavily. Only a dream, his mind raced. Just a bad dream.
"Oh, thank the Spirits!" Garrus cried out, wrapping his arms tightly around her, yanking her into his lap.
"Hm?" Shepard hummed sleepily. "Garrus? What's wrong?"
Garrus rocked her in his arms, relishing in the feel of her skin against his. "I've got you. I've got you," he chanted. "You're not gone. You're here with me."
"Oh, Garrus," Shepard sighed softly, planting soft kisses all over his face. "Did you have a nightmare?"
Garrus nodded, burying his face in her chest. Shepard wrapped her arms around him and stroked his crest soothingly.
"It's okay, baby. I'm here. I'm right here and I'm never leaving your arms again," she promised.
After a few moments of her gentle reassurances, Garrus loosened his vise like grip on Shepard. "This dream was so real. I really felt like I'd lost you. You died in my arms..."
Shepard smiled gently. "Garrus, when I do die, I can't think of a better place to be than in your arms. But I'm not going to die. Not for a very, very long time. I have too much to live for," she said softly, planting another kiss on his mouth.
Garrus chuckled a sigh of relief as the effects of the nightmare began to recede. He laid back down, pulling Shepard with him. He positioned her body on top of him so he could feel her comforting weight against him. She nestled her head against his chest and sighed happily.
"Can we stay like this? Just for a little while?" Garrus asked, running his hands across her bare back and through her soft hair.
"Of course," Shepard said as she snuggled into him.
"You're sure you're comfortable enough?" He asked, already falling back asleep.
"I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite spot in the Universe," she mumbled softly as she began to doze.
Garrus chuckled. "Mine, too."
Garrus fell back into a fitful sleep with Shepard wrapped lovingly in his arms, the lingering remnants of the dream slipping from his memory and into forgotten oblivion.