**Garrus POV**
Garrus felt slightly nervous. Tonight was New Year's Eve, their first major holiday as a married couple, and the apartment was already filling with friends. He hoped everything went well.
The living room was a vibrant hum of activity. Wrex, a towering figure even seated, was indeed making short work of the bowl of spiced nuts. Nihlus, ever the enigmatic specter, was leaning against the wall, a faint smile playing on his lips as Solana recounted a particularly daring mission.
Mina, radiant in her blue dress, was laughing, her hand resting lightly on Wrex's shoulder as she gestured wildly, telling a story of her own. Something about playing beer pong on Earth. He didn't know what kind of game it was, but he was willing to try it.
Then, a sudden, firm knock rattled their apartment door. Garrus, froze. His usually stoic face paled, a faint blueish tinge replacing his natural bronze.
"Expecting anyone else, Garrus?" Mina asked, looking toward the door.
"No," he replied, thoughtful. "Are you?"
Mina shook her head. "
Why don't we start eating?" Mina asked, ushering everyone into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Garrus headed toward the doorway and opened the door to reveal two imposing Turians. The male, his carapaced face etched with a permanent, stern expression, stood with his arms crossed. The female, however, beamed, her avian features softening into a warm smile as her gaze landed on Mina.
"Dad, Mom," Garrus managed, his voice barely a whisper.
'What are you doing here?' he wanted to ask. 'Better yet, why are you here?'
Mina joined him a few moments later.
"Hello! You must be Garrus's parents. I'm Mina." She extended a hand, smiling.
'Not that it matters, but I should teach her some Turian customs,' Garrus thought.
Garrus's father, General Vakarian, simply grunted, his gaze sweeping over Mina with a critical intensity that made her stomach clench. "So this is the human. The one who ensnared my son with alien trickery."
Mina's polite smile faltered. Garrus frowned. "Father, we've discussed this. It was not trickery!"
Before the argument could escalate, Garrus's mother, Camelea, glided past her husband, her arms laden with neatly wrapped packages. "Hello."
She handed the packages over to Garrus and enveloped Mina in a surprisingly gentle embrace. "It is wonderful to meet you finally! Garrus has told us so much."
She pulled back, her eyes twinkling. "Though he conveniently left out how utterly charming you are."
'At least mom understands how to be polite.'
Camelea then grabbed the gifts from Garrus and pushed a series of elegantly wrapped gifts into Mina's arms. "A small token. We couldn't arrive empty-handed.
"There is a Traditional Turian embroidery, for warmth. And this, a recipe datapad for authentic Palaven dishes – Garrus, you simply must teach her to make our traditional stews, she's far too thin!"
Garrus agreed. Mina was too thin.
Mina chuckled. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Vakarian! Please, call me Mina."
"Mom! Dad!" Solana called out, joining them. "I didn't think you were going to join us."
"Solana, you're here too," Camelea greeted, hugging Solana.
"Let's not stand around the door," Mina said, stepping aside. "Please come in."
"Is that any way to greet your father, son?" he rumbled, completely ignoring her. "Camelea insisted we celebrate with you. Said it was 'unseemly' for us to be alone."
"Please come in," Garrus said, his voice tight.
Garrus reluctantly stepped aside, letting his parents enter.
Castis stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the modestly decorated apartment, lingering a moment on the slightly-too-bright holiday lights Mina had insisted upon. They followed Solana to the kitchen, where dinner was waiting for them.
"Are you alright?" Mina asked Garrus who had stayed behind with him.
"I didn't think they would stop by," Garrus replied. "Father was extremely upset when he heard the news."
"At least they stopped by," Mina said softly, giving him a quick hug. "Families should celebrate together."
Garrus grabbed Mina's hand and went to join everyone. Solana brought out two more chairs and set them around the kitchen. Even though Garrus had remodeled the kitchen to accommodate his turian built, it wasn't meant to hold seven people. Their table was too small, but they made it work.
"We might not have made enough food," Garrus muttered as everyone filled up their plates.
The tension in the air slowly dissipated as everyone ate and enjoyed the meal. Mina brought out the desserts, and everyone slowly began to eat their fill.
"Dishes tomorrow," Mina muttered as everyone slowly headed back to the living room.
"Fine, but we're sleeping in," he mutters back, following behind her.
The party slowly resumed its rhythm, though Garrus remained hyper-aware of his father's presence. Every polite chuckle, every slightly too-long pause in conversation, Garrus analyzed for signs of an impending incident. Wrex, seemingly oblivious to the underlying tension, regaled the group with tales of Krogan New Year rituals.
Solana and Nihlus took turns engaging his father in conversation. His mother chatted away with Mina about turian dishes she needed to try.
"Are you glad we made a lot of food?" Mina teased coming over to bring him a drink.
Garrus gave her a small smile. He really thought they had made too much food.
Garrus was surprised that his father managed a strained but polite compliment on Mina's apartment decor. Solana spoke up, stating she had helped out. His father had nodded and tried some of the appetizers.
The hours passed. The conversation flowed. No incidents. Castis even offered another rare, gruff compliment on Mina's culinary skills. Garrus slowly relaxed. His father hadn't said a word about his marriage, or his career choices, or anything designed to sting. He was just... there. Celebrating.
'Mom must have spoken to him,' Garrus deduced. 'Otherwise, why would he be so well-behaved?'
As the countdown began, everyone gathered, glasses raised. "Ten! Nine! Eight!" Solana cheered, clinging to Nihlus's arm. Wrex let out a mighty roar.
"Happy New Year!" the chorus of voices echoed as the clock struck midnight.
Confetti rained down, courtesy of Camelea's hidden stash. Garrus found himself smiling. He looked at Mina, then at his father, who was sharing a small, almost affectionate glance with Camelea.
'At least he knows how to be courteous,' he thought, downing his drink. 'Too bad, it's not in his nature.'