Work Text:
Claudia comes out a few minutes later and begins clearing the table. Garrus and Lily help her bring the dishes in. As they pass Valerica’s studio, she calls out to the group. “Lily, could I talk to you for a moment?”
Garrus stops in his tracks and checks in with Lily. She smiles at him and nods in reassurance while he takes the plates she carried.
“Could you shut the door behind you?”
Lily eases the door closed behind her and walks to the couch where Valerica is sitting.
Valerica is flipping through what looks to be a family photo album. “Sit with me.”
Lily sits down and catches sight of what looks like a tiny Garrus surrounded by mechanical bits and bobs. “Is that Garrus?”
“Yes, you had to keep a sharp eye on him, or he would take apart anything mechanical in the house. He is about five here and had just finished taking apart Castis’s work terminal.” She chuckles. “Luckily his father was on the Citadel at the time and able to bring home a new one during his next leave.”
“Sounds like Garrus.”
“I did not mean to upset you earlier, Lily. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”
“It’s all right. While we were on Earth, I kind of relived some happy memories with Garrus. I could never grieve for them before. I’m not sure I did last week, either. It felt more like finding a piece of myself I had left behind. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense.”
Valerica takes Lily’s hand in hers again as they sit side by side. “It makes a lot more sense than you know. You are young, and you should not have had to learn that kind of pain yet. Let alone at your much younger age.” Lily nods and continues looking at the pictures as Valerica flips through her album. “I always prefer actual pictures as opposed to the digital ones they have these days. The color is always distorted, and it makes the memories feel cheaper.” She shows off a few more pictures of Garrus as he aged. She also sees some of a younger Valerica and what must be Castis and Solana. “Garrus has never felt like he fit in.”
“He does say he is a bad turian.”
Valerica snorts. “He is a very good turian. Any turian who has told him otherwise thinks love is a weakness.”
Lily listens intently and nods. “I agree.”
“I knew I was going to like you. Garrus told me all about you, and while he tried to pretend you were just colleagues and friends, a mother knows.”
“A mother knows what?”
Valerica turns and looks Lily in the eyes. “That oblivious son of mine is in love with you, dear. I don’t know you well enough to know if you feel the same, but considering those photos the two of you showed me earlier. I think you two are deeply in love with each other.”
Lily’s eyes grow large, and she is so stunned she does not know what to say.
“Your silence tells me everything I need to know. You both are too oblivious to realize just how in love you are. That will make the relationship harder. I’m not sure when you will figure it out, but I’m sure he never will.”
“We haven’t been together that long.”
“You fought together. You trusted each other in combat. That is a lot more experience than most couples get. I’m sure he plans on changing his life to join you again?”
“He does. He wants to reapply to the spectre program.”
“He will get in. A Vakarian man will always stubbornly work themselves to success.”
Lily chuckles at the older woman’s commentary. “I know I love him. I also feel like it is too soon for us to be at that level.”
“Garrus has never brought home any partner he has ever had before.”
“Never?”
“No, he has never been serious about anyone. His father has tried to arrange things for him, but I feel like Garrus has never wanted those to work out. He is a romantic, like his father.”
“A romantic?”
“I’m sure Garrus has told you a lot of things about his father, but I’m sure he forgets that his father disobeyed his family to be with me.” Valerica glances again at Lily and sees she has her rapt attention. “His family wanted him to bond with someone high-ranking in the military or, at the very least, someone in a much higher tier than me. We met by chance. He was investigating some defacement of property and damaged art at the gallery I was working at. Turians do not have art schools, so you work at a gallery to learn. This was way back when he was a detective in Cipritine.” Valeria takes a moment to drink some water. “I had nothing to do with the investigation, but he kept trying to come up with reasons to talk to me. Finally, when the case was over, I questioned why he was still there. I knew why, but I wanted to make him say it. He sputtered and said he was just double-checking his information. I told him if he wanted to take me on a date, he would have to try again tomorrow.” Lily and Valerica giggle together. “He came back the next day, not in uniform, and asked me out on a date. I obviously said yes, and here we are.”
“That sounds exactly like Garrus.”
“Just like his father. Sometimes being too similar will cause conflicts.”
Lily tells Valerica about her and Garrus’s dates, the G-rated version, and she seems pleased to see how happy they are together.
“There will come a point when you are just going to have to make it clear to him how you feel. Being like his father, you will need to hit him over the head with it before he will listen.”
“I will do that.”
“Good. And Lily,” she takes both Lily’s hands in hers. “When you are ready, do not hesitate to call me, Mom. I’m proud of you, too.”