Citadel Station, 2183
2 weeks after Sovereign's Attack


John's mouth bent into an awkward smile as he saw Ashley- she didn't return the grin, however. She shot him a concerned look as he approached and slowly the same look overtook his own face.

"I've got big news." she said, and from her eyes he could tell she meant it.

"Good or bad?" he asked, apprehension creeping up his spine.

Her eyes rolled back as she thought about the answer, letting a 'hmmm' escape her mouth.

"I'm not sure. But I'd prefer if we talked about it in private." she said finally, gesturing towards the various bureaucratic passers-by in the Presidium, most of whom had learned to listen to any nearby conversations whilst continuing their own.

"Alright." He said, and, grabbing her hand, turned into a walk towards the nearest mass-transit console. He pushed a few buttons and one of the cars appeared in front of them, eager to ferry them wherever they wished. John helped Ashley in, then sat down next to her, still holding on to her hand tightly.

Within moments they were standing outside the tall apartment complex in the wards where they had decided to spend the length of their off-time. It was fairly cheap for the quality, but it still left some luxuries to be desired. It was perfect for them, as they spent most of their time away from it, exploring the vast amounts of culture to be discovered on the Citadel.

"So what's the news?" John asked, sliding his keycard across the panel next to the door. It issued a happy blip and the door slid open. They parted ways as Ashley went and sat down on the couch, and John turned into the kitchen. He appeared a moment later with two glasses of drink Garrus had suggested he try, developed by the Turians before they had found the Mass Relay near their homeworld. He said it was 'similar to the garbage you humans seem to enjoy, if you can even call it that.', though he had undoubtedly never tried any of their 'garbage', or he wouldn't have been able to tell about it.

Ashley took the glass and set it down on the end table without tasting it. John took a sip just as Ashley started talking again.

"I'm pregnant."

John's mouth clamped shut, though he wasn't sure if it was from the drink, which was incredibly sour.

The baby was born as most human babies were- screaming, covered in things John didn't want to know about. On top of his head was a little soggy tuft of white hair. It made him look less like a child and more like a wrinkled old man, screaming in frustration at his own existence.

And then the doctor took him to be cleaned, and John never saw him again. He knew he and Ashley wouldn't be able to raise the child, so they had adopted to give him up for adoption. Neither of them was entirely comfortable with the choice, but it was the only one they were capable of.

One of the nurses handed John a clipboard with some information about the baby- the name field was blank. Ashley looked half-dead, so he decided not to bug here. He scribbled in the first thing that came to his mind.

Dante.

He was surprised he hadn't thought of something else, such as naming the kid after himself or someone important in the here and now. It didn't matter though- the kid wasn't his. If he was adopted young then he might end up with a different name anyway.

He decided to leave the rest of the name blank as well. Putting a last name felt like it would be taunting him, and John didn't have a middle name either. Like father like son.

After that he and Ashley broke away from each other. It wasn't long after the baby that their leave was over, and they both returned to a lonely, empty Normandy.