Happily Ever After And Then Some

A Journey Begins

Garrus woke up the next morning and nudged Shelby.

"Time to get up Shel. We have to leave in an hour and a half."

"I'm up." She mumbled as she turned over onto her stomach and buried her face in the pillow.

Garrus chuckled with a little shake of his head. He got out of bed and walked over to Shelby's side of the bed. He reached over and grabbed the covers that had her turned into a blanket burrito. "I could always make you get up." He joked with a smile.

"If you tickle me, I will throw you down the stairs." She warned, with her face still in the pillow. Shelby was never a morning person until she HAD to be. Getting her up any other day was a miracle.

"No." Garrus said, clearly amused and gave the comforter a good yank, practically catapulting Shelby from her spot and onto the floor in front of Garrus' feet. "Now you're up."

"Jerk." She chuckled out as she threw a pillow from the bed at him before getting up off the floor.

Garrus chuckled and passed the pillow back onto the bed. "No. Being a jerk would be doing this." Garrus picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

"Woah!" Shelby exclaimed and thrashed around, trying to get free, but it proved futile. "Put me down Vakarian, or so help me!" She laughed out.

Garrus chuckled a bit with a smile. "Or what?"

"Or I'll...I'll...I'll do something." She ended with a chuckle.

Garrus smiled, hiding a chuckle as he set her back down. "Better?"

"Yes, Thank you."

"Come on. Let's get the bathroom stuff packed and head for the airport."

Garrus took their bags downstairs by the door while Shelby gathered the bathroom things they'd need, which didn't take her too long. She was back downstairs within 20 minutes and put each of their bathroom Ziplock bags in the appropriate suitcases. Garrus had gone back upstairs already to change out of his sleep clothes and Shelby made her way upstairs to wait for him. She leaned against the door frame with a smile as Garrus finished adjusting his shirt.

"All ready." Garrus said as he started for the door.

"Good. I've been ready for the past 20 minutes." She teased and playfully stuck her tongue out at him.

"Smartass. careful. next time I'll bite that." He teased her.

Shelby's eyes went wide as quarters as she pulled her tongue back into her mouth and clamped her jaw closed.

Garrus chuckled in amusement. "Come on. Let's get going." He said as he led her to the front door, practically dragging her with him.

"I thought I was the excited one." She joked.

"I'm excited to have some personal time with you. That's no crime."

Shelby smiled. "No. But we have been alone for the past two workweeks." She pointed out.

"Well, almost not." He admitted.

Shelby shot him a questioning look that could cut steel. "What do you mean "almost not"?"

"Well, I may have told a few people to come back later when they came to the apartment." Garrus admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Shelby crossed her arms and raised a brow. "Like who?"

"Selena and Tali."

"And?" She knew he was leaving something out.

"And...Tristan and Zaal." He admitted.

"Were any of them having a crisis?"

"No. Tristan just wanted to stop by before she took Zaal home with her to Scotland."

Shelby had met Tristan while they were incarcerated with the Alliance. They had become fast best friends and they convinced Anderson and Hackett to let Tristan lead with Shelby and Selena in the final battle of the Reaper war. The three became an inseparable trio that year. Shelby still doesn't agree with the Quarian Admiral or like him too much, but he makes Tristan very happy, and that's enough for Shelby to respect him.

Shelby relaxed her posture and spoke normally again. "I can just video chat them later."

"At least you're not going to kill me." He joked.

"I'd only be mad if someone was having a crisis and needed my help." She pointed out.

"Good to know." Garrus said as they headed outside and got into the cab. Garrus went to the cab door and opened it for Shelby. "Ladies first." He smiled out.

Shelby smiled. "Such a gentleman, and a comedian. You think I act like a lady." She joked as she sat in the cab.

"Something you're not telling me, Shel?" He joked back.

They both shared a laugh as Garrus got in the cab and shut the door. The cab took off, and they started their journey overseas.