As the Citadel began to get ready for the upcoming Turian New Year and Council Ball. Mina left the apartment with a game plan. It was her first time celebrating the New Year with her friends and now, her new husband.
She was looking forward to celebrating with them.
Mina made her way toward the crowded shops of the Presidium. She was on a mission: decorations for their apartment, a thoughtful gift for Garrus and friends, and maybe, just maybe, something she could wear.
The market buzzed with life. Salarian vendors hawked glowing moss, Asari artisans displayed intricately woven tapestries, and Krogan merchants (somewhat surprisingly) offered handcrafted bird feeders.
Mina, a little overwhelmed but thoroughly delighted, consulted SAM.
'I suggest going with the fire-flowers,' SAM suggested. 'It will be most suitable for a centerpiece.'
He sent her an image.
"Okay," Mina muttered out loud.
She began to walk around. Finally, she spotted them. A stall overflowing with vibrant blooms, the fire-flowers glowing with an inner light. A young Turian woman, her mandibles painted a delicate shade of blue, smiled at her.
"Looking for the ceremonial fire-flowers, Human?" she asked, her voice melodic. "My grandmother grew these. They burn brightest for the most dedicated bond."
Mina nodded. "That's... that's exactly what I'm looking for."
'We have a lot of gifts to buy,' SAM reminded her. 'You should think about a gift for your new in-laws, and Wrex will feel left out if you don't get him anything.'
'Don't I know it,' Mina agreed.
After carefully selecting the best blooms, Mina moved on to her next challenge: finding a gift for everyone else, especially Garrus and Solana.
Mina visited several shopping buying what she needed. She was struggling to find a gift for Garrus. After several more minutes and was about to give up, Mina saw it.
Nestled amongst various Turian crafts was a small, beautifully carved wooden box. The intricate detail depicting the Palaven landscape captivated her.
"He'd love this," she whispered, picturing his mandibles twitching in a smile.
Mina was buying a decoration package from one of the vendors when a soft ping on her omni-tool notified her of a message.
'Garrus said he will be late coming home,' SAM informed her. 'Take your time.'
Mina put away the decorations in her cart and proceeded to find something to wear for the occasion. Finding clothes that were comfortable, stylish, and wouldn't offend Turian sensibilities was a challenge. Most human fashion was… flamboyant, to say the least. A simple, elegant dress in deep blue caught her eye.
'This one will do,' Mina thought, pleased with her selection.
As she paid for her purchases, she couldn't help but smile. This New Year would be different. Instead of being out on a mission and away from her family, she will be surrounded by the people she likes. Wrex included.
**
Mina was in bed when she heard Garrus return.
'He's back.'
Mina held her breath, listening. His footsteps were slower than usual, a heavier tread on the polished floor.
'He was probably exhausted.'
A moment later, she heard the shower running in the en-suite bathroom. Time stretched. She was almost asleep when the mattress dipped beside her. She pretended to sleep, her pulse quickening.
Garrus shifted, settling in beside her. He hadn't said a word. The air around her subtly changed; a blend of the clean, slightly metallic scent of Citadel soap and his own distinctive, earthy musk. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, even through the thin fabric of her nightgown.
A large, scaled hand, surprisingly gentle, found hers on the bed. His mandibles clicked softly, a habit she'd learned meant he was content. He interlaced his fingers with hers, his grip firm and reassuring.
Mina finally opened her eyes, meeting his glowing blue optics in the dim light. He didn't say anything, just squeezed her hand gently. She squeezed back, a silent greeting.
He sighed, a low rumble in his chest, and closed his eyes. She lifted her free hand and brushed a stray scale back from his forehead. He didn't flinch, just leaned into her touch.
"Welcome home," she whispered.
He opened one eye slightly. "It's good to be back, Mina."
"I thought you would be asleep by now," he said, taking a deep breath.
"Couldn't sleep," Mina replied. "I spent all day shopping, but I still feel like I'm missing something."
"Dad called me," Garrus stated, his voice low.
"How did that go?" Mina asked.
"He was upset." His voice was raspy, weary.
Mina nestled closer to him, the warmth of his body a solid presence beside her.
"Mom says he'll get over it."
"So, your engagement with Nyreen?" Mina asked.
"Over with," he replied, squeezing her. "The Kandros family isn't happy about it, but there isn't anything they can do."
"Solana and Nihlus will be back in a few days," he continued. "They found the manufacturer of the drug. Just in time for the new year."
**
A few days passed in a blink of an eye, and Solana, Wrex, and Nihlus had returned to the Citadel.
Group Chat
Wrex: "Aster, did you miss me? I'm back."
Solana: "Me too, I'm back."
Nihlus: "Same."
Mina: "Welcome back, glad everyone is back just in time for the New Years!"
Solana: "Two days isn't a long time to prepare. I should have gone shopping before I left."
Mina: "I grabbed a few things. Why don't you stop by the apartment and you can tell me if I missed anything."
Solana: "I'll head over in a few hours."
"They're back," Mina announced as Garrus stepped out of the bathroom early in the morning.
"I can't believe Solana messaged you first," Garrus said, feigning his feelings were hurt. "She's always messaged me first."
"She likes me more than you," Mina teased.
"You're probably right," Garrus agreed. "Is she stopping by?"
"Later," Mina replied. "I'm sure she wants to relax for a bit before heading over."
"I hope I got everything for the New Year," she continued thoughtfully. "I would hate to have to go buy anything else. Almost all of the vendors are sold out of things."
"I wouldn't worry about it," Garrus assured her. "If we're missing anything, Mom always has extras of everything. We can just ask her."
"Are they celebrating with us?" Mina dared to ask.
Garrus has been quiet about what he spoke about with his Dad. Shr figured he would tell her when he was ready to share.
"I'm going to make some breakfast," Mina said, getting ready for the day. "Are you going to be heading out today for more research, or are you going to be staying home?"
"I'll stay," Garrus said, following her to the kitchen. "Nihlus said he would be stopping by, but he didn't say when. I'm sure he's going to share the news of the pheromone case."
Mina nodded; she too wanted to hear how the Council was going to handle all the affected people.
'Do you think he would want a divorce?' Mina asked SAM. 'If the Council supports this, his honor and the Vakarian family would save face.'
'We both know he prefers to stay with you than marry the turian women,' SAM replied.
'True.'
Mina and Garrus ate a quick breakfast of coffee and toasted bread. They both agreed that Solana and Nihlus may be stopping by for lunch.
Garrus was calibrating a few of his weapons when the doorbell rang. He had decided to take a quick break from decorating. Mina was in the kitchen prepping lunch when she heard Solana's voice.
"I'm here!" she called out.
A moment later, Mina emerged from the kitchen smiling. "Solana! You made it!"
"Of course, I promised we would celebrate the New Year together," Solana grinned, pulling her friend into a tight hug. "Now, spill. Are we ready for tomorrow? Please tell me you actually got everything this time. My brain is fried; I can't deal with last-minute dashes for artisanal cheese or obscure sparkling turian grape juice."
Mina laughed. "I hope I did! This is my first time shopping for the new year. Come, see for yourself."
Solana followed Mina into the living room, where Garrus had decorated after breakfast. The usually minimalist apartment had been transformed into a room of celebratory cheer. Strands of tiny fairy lights twinkled around the window frames, casting a soft, golden glow.
"I still have several bags of decorations left," Mina explained. "Feel free to help."
Solana happily began to grab the bags of decoration and start where Garrus had left off. Mina went back to the kitchen to finish prepping for tomorrow's dinner.
Soon after, Nihlus arrived with lunch.
"My hero," Solana exclaimed, grabbing a few take-out boxes from him.
Mina rolled her eyes. Solana was being dramatic.
"How did it go?" Garrus asked when everyone was eating.
"The Council will be making their announcement later today," Nihlus answered. "It looks like they will leave it up to the couples to decide."
"Have you two decided?" Solana asked hesitantly, looking at both Mina and Garrus.
"We're not separating," Garrus answered automatically.
Mina hid her surprise and nodded in agreement. Although they decided to deal with the consequences of the mark later, after Mina's name was cleared, it was nice to hear that Garrus didn't want to leave.
Solana continued her questions. "You spoke to Mom and Dad? What did they say?"
Garrus nodded, "They are aware. I'm sure they have informed the Elders."
"Good," Solana said, smiling. "I didn't like Nyreen as much as she thought I did. Mina is a much better company."
Mina smiled. "Thanks for the compliment."
"When is Wrex showing up?" Nihlus asked. "We need to be ready to execute our plan once the New Year passes. The Ball will take place two days afterwards, and we don't have a lot of time to iron out the details."
"He'll probably be showing up around dinner time," Mina replied. "Until then, I'm going to finish prepping the food for tomorrow."
"Garrus and I are on decorating duty," Solana interjected. "Are you staying to help out?"
Nihlus shook his head. "No, the Council wants me to head back later before their announcement. I'll head back afterwards."
Once Mina, Garrus, and Solana had their tasks assigned, they set to work. There was much to get done before dinner and before the New Year.