Title: Scrapbook
Fandom: Mass Effect
Rating: PG
Length: 765
Pairings: Kaidan Alenko/male Shepard`, Elena Alenko/Michael Alenko
Content notes: Takes place 8 months after the end of the Reaper war (Mass Effect 3, destroy ending).
Author notes: This is a letter to Kaidan from his mother after Shepard and Kaidan spent some time visiting at the Alenko family orchard in British Columbia. It includes a letter to her from her husband Michael, who is MIA.
Summary: A voice from the past

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Dear Kaidan,

It seems very quiet here now that you two are back in Vancouver. I enjoyed your visit so much. Maybe the basket of jams I sent home with you will be a reminder of the orchard - I tried to include the preserves that John seemed to like the most, as well as your favorites. I'll be sure to resupply you whenever you like - and of course this season's apple butter will be coming along later this fall.

I was going through some old things the other day and found something I wanted to share with you. It's a letter your father wrote to me before you were born. Michael wasn't one to write many letters - he always preferred to keep in touch by comm. Maybe that's why I kept this one.
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My Elena,

I hope this finds you well, and the baby too. Damn the Alliance brass who decided that this was the time to send my unit off on training maneuvers. We're in some godforsaken desert, about as far from the humidity of Singapore as it's possible to be. I find that I miss it, despite all my complaints to you about it and the comparisons to Vancouver.

Or maybe I just miss you. I miss waking up to the sound of you cello when you slip out of bed early because the baby is kicking and you can't sleep. You say it seems to calm him - the music or the vibrations against your belly. I hope you'll still have a few months before it gets too awkward to play. I wonder if our son will have an affinity for music after all of this.

But you know I don't care if he turns out to be musical, or artistic, or a whiz with maths, so long as he's healthy and happy. I'm still getting used to knowing for sure that we're having a son! You'd been so sure it would be a girl, with all the girls in your family. We'll have to decide on a name for him soon! I have a few ideas.

I've given a lot of thought to the idea we talked about before I left on this mission, and I think I've decided. As soon as I'm back to HQ in Singapore, I’m going to apply for a transfer from active duty to reserve status. I'd still have at least two training missions every year, but the rest of the time I could be with my family.

I've talked about how much I wished my dad had been around more when I was growing up. But there was a war on and he was Alliance to the core. I think maybe I decided back then that I didn't want to do that to my own children if I could help it.

I think it shouldn't be much of a problem to get assigned to the Reserve out of Esquimalt in Vancouver. We could live there... maybe you could get an orchestra position, or we could consider keeping a flat there and actually living at the orchard. No need to decide that now... you haven't even seen it yet. I'm just hoping you'll love that place as much as I do.

It would be a great place to raise a family. I find myself daydreaming about the things I'd like to do with our son – camping and fishing, teaching him to ride a bike or fly a kite... stargazing...

Okay, enough dreaming, love. Right now I just want to get back to you. Another two weeks here, and then I'll be back... in time for Christmas! And the winter concert season.

I don't like you being alone there. Be sure to call your mother if you start getting too tired or feeling sick again. She said she'd be glad to come over to help if you need it. I know – she can drive you nuts – but it would just be till I can get home.

Take care of yourself, my beautiful Elena, and think of me.

With all my love,
Michael
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It's nothing profound, but I can hear his voice in every word. Maybe you can too... He loved you so much, even before he met you. I just wanted to add his early thoughts of you to your memories of your father. Just in case...

Take care, little one. And give my love to John as well. It was so wonderful to have the two of you here last week. Hoping to see you again soon.

Your loving mother, Elena