Aster wiped down the last exam room and grabbed the cleaning supplies before heading to the front desk.
"Aster," Vicki called out as she too finished cleaning up. "I think we're done. I can't believe how busy we were today."
Aster smiled. "I know. Those kids sure like to spread germs."
"No kidding," Vicki agreed. "My brother's class all came down with some type of cold."
Aster put away the cleaning supplies and grabbed her things, ready to head out. "I'll see you next week."
"Bye!" Vicki called out.
Aster headed to the daycare center to pick up her neighbor's ten-year-old child. Galvus was already waiting for her.
"Auntie!" he greeted, his mandibles flaring in a smile. "You're early!"
"I thought you told me not to be late?" Aster teased.
Galvus' grin widened.
"Are you ready to stay over?" Aster continued grabbing his bag. "Your mom is working a double shift and won't be back until tomorrow."
"I'm ready, Auntie," Galvus said, taking her hand. "I promise I'll be good."
"You should teach him how not to snore," SAM interjected. "I can't seem to sleep when the kid is around."
"Don't be rude," Aster said. "She's a single mother. It's not like we always have him over."
"Liar," SAM rebutted. "He might as well live with us at this point."
Aster shook her head and led the way to the apartment. Galvus happily recounted a story about a rogue Volus merchant. Galvus, a pint-sized turian with a perpetually inquisitive crest, bounced on the balls of his talons.
"And then, Aster," Galvus chirped, doing a little hop, "the volus almost tripped over his own credits! It was hilarious!"
"I'm sure it was, Galvus," Aster replied, fumbling with her keycard.
She just wanted to get him settled with a snack and a game before she attempted to untangle the bureaucratic nightmare that was her recent power bill.
The door hissed open, revealing… a very unexpected group. Standing in her living room, looking entirely too comfortable, were Garrus's parents. And Garrus himself, who was currently frozen mid-sentence, a datapad clutched uselessly in his hand, his mandibles twitching in a way that Aster knew signaled extreme internal conflict.
"Aster, darling!" Camelea, Garrus's mother, beamed, her avian eyes landing squarely on Galvus.
Aster froze. The voice. That voice. It belonged to none other than Camelea Vakarian, her mother-in-law. Standing beside her, looking like a deer caught in a supernova, was Garrus.
And next to him, a tall, stern-looking turian, Aster recognized as Garrus's father, Castis.
Camelea swooped down, her gaze fixed on Galvus.
"And who is this handsome, strong-crested little one?" Camelea cooed, her hand reaching out as if to pat a very delicate, very expensive ornament.
Galvus just blinked. "I'm Galvus. Aster's friend."
Camelea's eye ridges shot up. "Friend? Oh, Aster, you are too modest!"
She turned, beaming at Castis whose mandibles had gone slack. "Castis, darling, look! Our first grandchild! He has your father's strong chin, don't you think? Aster, why didn't you tell us?"
Aster blinked, her brain struggling to catch up. "Told you what, Camelea?"
"Why, that you had a child, of course! And with Garrus, no less! Look at his little turian… everything! He has Garrus's eyes, don't you think, my love?" She looked expectantly at her husband, who wisely offered a noncommittal grunt.
Galvus, meanwhile, accustomed to being the center of attention, peered up at Camelea's imposing form, his visor tilted.
"Who's Garrus?" Galvus asked.
Garrus finally unfroze, sputtering, "Galvus? What are you… Mother, he's not…" His voice trailed off as Camelea clutched Galvus's little hand.
Aster's jaw was practically on the floor. "Camelea, no! This is Galvus, he's my neighbor's son. I'm just watching him while his mother is working."
"Oh, you must be shy, my precious boy! Come to your grandmother! And to think, Garrus, you kept this from us! A grandchild! I always said Aster would make a wonderful mother, but to spring such a surprise!" Camelea's eyes teared up, completely lost in her own narrative.
Aster, mortified, tried to interject again, "Camelea, he's not—"
"No, no, darling, don't you worry," Camelea waved her off. "I understand. But now that we know, we simply must spoil him rotten. Castis, where are those credits you owe me? We need to buy our grandson a proper… anti-grav speeder!"
She knelt, surprisingly graceful for a turian of her age. "Galvus, sweetie, come give your grandmother a hug!"
Galvus, ever obliging, leaned in for a hug, his little head frills brushing against Camelea's ornate headpiece.
Garrus finally found his voice. "Mother, he's... he's not... our son, Mother! I would know! I think I'd remember!"
Camelea rose, looking at Garrus with an expression of profound disappointment. "Garrus, must you always be so dramatic? Of course, you'd remember if you were present for the conception!" She clapped her hands together. "Aster, my dear, when did you tell him?"
Aster threw her hands up. "I didn't! Because he's NOT my son! He's just... here! For a few days!" She looked desperately at Castis, who was observing the scene with detached curiosity.
"A-hem," Castis finally rumbled. "Camelea, perhaps we should allow Aster to clarify."
But Camelea was already planning. "We simply must get him some proper clothes. And perhaps a more suitable name than 'Galvus' for a Vakarian."
Garrus just covered his face with his hands, his mandibles twitching uncontrollably. "This is not happening. She must really want a grandchild."
Aster groaned and closed the door behind her. It was going to be a long afternoon.
*
While Camelea and Castis hung out with Galvus, Aster and Garrus were in the kitchen prepping some snacks.
"How did you find me?" Aster asked, already knowing the answer.
"I received a message," Garrus replied. "The door swung wide open. I didn't have to break in."
"You could have told me," Aster chastised SAM.
"And miss this?" SAM asked. "I'm enjoying this too much."
"I'm sure it did," Aster smiled.
"So, Galvus," Garrus began.
"He's my neighbor's son," Aster explained. "She's a single mother. Or at least that's what she tells me. She's asked me several times to watch him while she works the night shift."
Aster shrugged. "I'm not going to judge his mother, but she does need a better group of friends. I thought turians were very responsible."
"They are," Garrus stated. "But living on Omega isn't the best place to raise a child."
"I agree, but she must be here for a reason," Aster said. "Besides, the Upper Wards are much cleaner than the rest of Omega."
"That's true," Garrus agreed.
She quickly finished prepping the snacks. "We should head back before your mother decides to plan a marking ritual for Galvus."
"Or a wedding," Garrus muttered under his breath, following Aster to the living room.