It was nearly that time of year again. The leaves would fall, the ground would be pillowed with snow...since moving to New York with Anderson, these two Alliance trainees found themselves rushing against the frost with coffee in one hand and a bag containing various ice cream flavors, whipped cream, assorted toppings, and bananas. Thatâs right, a banana sundae.Â
 âYeah, yeah...coming.âÂ
Her legs were far shorter, her figure far smaller, but she still managed to make it faster than him. She popped the front door open, groaning in delight when the heaterâs hot air greeted them and removed her thick jackets and boots. He followed in suit, gently taking the bags into the kitchen. The brightly annoying Christmas tree sat in the corner of the living room and pictures of the two of them as they grew up were displayed across the fireplace. They were Andersonâs pride and joy (Jane being joy and John being pride, so their dad said).Â
âSo, how are we gonna do this?â Jane asks, tying her hair up, grinning up at the other, pulling the taller, but younger, of the twins out of his dazed thoughts. âIs my pralines and cream in there?â
âYep, right here. Got the cookie dough?â He shifts through the ingredients, pulling out sundae glasses--the utmost essential thing since they were in the 4th grade--and the ice cream scoopers. âHere, cut the bananas.â
âYeah and gotcha...listen, I was thinking, for this Christmas, we invite the whole crew over. I mean, you still have to introduce me to Kaidan. You wonât shut up about him to dad.â Jane teases, peeling the yellow fruit and chopping them in half. Both were doing parts of the process, smoothing it out. They had been doing this âSundaes on Winter Sundaysâ ritual since they could remember and truthfully, neither of them were going to stop now. âBut wonât tell me a single thing!â
âFirst of all,â John starts with an amused hum, scooping out the flavors. Strawberry, chocolate, and pralines and cream. This was her favorite. His? Cookie dough, vanilla, and coffee--just so he could sit comfortably by the fireplace later without having to knock out soon after. âFirst of all, weâre just talking and--â
âRight.â she interrupts, to which he ignores and continues.
âAnd, itâs only been a few months. I mean, we donât really go on dates while weâre at camp so. Heâs cool but I donât know if I could just, yâknow, bring him home for the holidays. Like, âhey dad! Thereâs this really hot guy at biotics camp today, can we have him over for Christmas dinner?â no. Thatâs not gonna slide.â
Jane laughs and when hers is finished after itâs garnished in peanuts, caramel sauce, and a cherry on top, she makes her way into the living room, curling up on her favorite recliner with her favorite blanket. âYou are suuuuch a traditionalist! What, you think dad is like some army dad?â
âDonât joke about that stuff, heâll come out of the walls you know.â
âOkay, Iâm just saying that those courting acts,â Jane air quotes over courting and acts, âAre so...2120. Get with the times- heâd be glad youâre interested in someone!âÂ
John finishes his--because he doesnât rush and he has to admire his work before uploading it on the Net. Itâs got whip cream and peanuts- no sauce because itâs overkill. He makes his way to the longer sofa and sits across from her, kicking his feet up so theyâre at least resting on Janeâs lap.
âWell, maybe I donât want him to meet you. Admit it sis, youâre intimidating and the last time I tried to bring a guy over, he told me heâd rather, what was it? Oh yeah, keep things professional.â John snickers and Jane has to stop herself from choking from laughter at the same time.
The frosty winds blow outside and the two glance outside before diverting their attention back to each other. They spend the whole day like this, all season if they could, just catching up and enjoying each otherâs company. Jane talks about all the cool robotic tech she can get her hands on and John listens, enjoying the smile on her face and the way she expresses herself through movement. He talks, saying the implants donât hurt as much either and reassures her as she stares pointedly that the migraines arenât as bad when heâs home.Â
It was here, in this small New York home, that they were able to ever be themselves without rigid expectations or undergo calloused commands. The Shepards had each other and they figured it would always be this way, even if it was only for the winter.Â