A/N: I have been reading a few fanfics and the idea of a love triangle between Shepard/Vega/Alenko intreagues me. I hope I do not encroach on anyone else's story, if I do I apologise it is not intentional. All rights to Bioware. They are genuis'.

CHAPTER ONE

James' P.O.V

I blinked once, feeling completely dumbfounded. I waited for my brain to catch up to my ears. I had heard the words but it seemed like the rest of me wasn't quite on the same page. I was completely floored. It seemed as though my mental faculties had decided to take a vacation at this precise moment in time. "Sorry Sir's, you want me to what?" The statement was weak, it was lacking any substance and it was lame, it was also the only thing I could make myself say. Wow, I really had been stumped. I in no way considered myself slow or stupid but right now even I was seriously doubting my intellect.

Anderson glanced at Hackett, who returned the look in kind. The two men shared a look which I couldn't fathom before returning their attentions to me. "Commander Shepard..." He began but was cut off from his sentence by a quick, harsh cough from Anderson. Hackett glanced at Anderson a moment then scowled. "Belinda Shepard," He amended. "Has been relieved of duty and placed under house arrest here on the base. You are to be the one in charge of safe guarding her."

"Safe guarding?" I found myself asking. I immediately clamped my mouth shut, I didn't want to come across insubordinate afterall. I couldn't get a tight grip on my emotions, these two were telling me that Shepard, THE Shepard, the hero of the Citadel, human spectre, Alliance N7 graduate and soul survivor of the Scillian Blitz was under house arrest? What the hell had she done? For some reason my brain revolted against the idea that a woman so highly regarded, so famous for her courage, bravery, honesty, integrety and strength had done something so severe that she was condemned to house arrest. It seemed... wrong.

I half listened to the rest of the conversation. I was lost so deep in my own thoughts that I almost missed my dismissal. Luckily I quickly caught myself and saluted the superiors and turned on my heel to leave. I remember being told that Shepard would be done with the tribunal in a few minutes and I was expected to be at my post so I made a mad dash to the room where I had been told Shepard would be staying.

Once there I leant against the wall, my shoulder and hip propping my weight. I folded my arms and mulled angrily over my current situation. I had flogged my guts working as hard as I damn well could, hoping for a promotion and what did I get for myself? Babysitting duty for one 'Commander Shepard.' Well not the Commander anymore. I heard talk as soldiers bustled past me that she had gone AWOL and had landed a job working for Cerberus, and now I was stuck watching her.

I looked up at the vid comm on the wall and watched the proceedings from the tribunal. Shepard stood stock still, unemotional, while they stripped her of everything. Her ship, her crew, her rank... she was left with nothing but her name. I watched as Hackett came forward with his hand outstretched. She pulled her dog tags off and handed them to Hackett all the while remaining cool and detached. Then I watched as they committed her to house arrest indefinately. I thought I saw a momentary flicker of some emotion behind her blue eyes on the screen but it was so minute and fleeting I could have been wrong.

I heard footsteps coming toward me and I drew my eyes from the screen, bracing myself for the harsh and biting words I desperately wanted to say but as she rounded the corner, flanked by two armed guards I felt stunned. No words came out and I was sure, my jaw was hanging open limply. I knew (somewhere in the back of my mind) that I should be mortified at myself, but coherent thought eluded me for a second time, this was just not my day.

I remember watching Shepard being made the first human council spectre. I was pretty certain everyone on Earth had watched that monumental event. It had been the first time in my life I had ever seen her and I had thought she was beautiful, yet seeing her face to face was something else. The vids had not done her any justice at all. She was short, probably pushing Five Five with heels. She had blonde hair that sat around shoulder length with the sides tucked behind her ears. There were strands of hair that were honeyed in colour adding a golden effect to her hair.

She was slim, her legs slender and long, given how short she was. She had a trim waist, flat stomach, yet had gentle feminine curves. As she reached me, my nose was assulted by her scent. Something akin to sandalwood and something else that was like a spice in my Abuela's kitchen that I couldn't place my finger on. She raised a perfectly sculptered eyebrow as she saw me and suddenly my throat felt dry and raspy. One of the guards at her side spoke. "This is Luitenant James Vega, he is going to be in charge of overseeing your house arrest."

Shepard had turned turned her head slightly and had cocked her head to the side while she listened. She turned her attention to me and smiled. Her perfect lips were pouty but not insanely so, not like so many women who sported the perfect Botox Trout Pout. Her's were natural, after the amount of women's lips I had kissed I knew the difference. She held her hand out to me which I took in mine and shook. She had delicate hands, long fingered and her nails were filed into a neat arc that came to a few millimetres above her finger tips. They had a gentle coat of gloss spread across them, like she had used a light pink polish. Her skin was soft and had a light golden glow.

"Pleased to meet you, Luitenant." She said silkily. Her voice was warm and sent a shiver down my spin like someone had poured warm honey down my back. I gulped and had to fight the urges she instilled into me. Her blue eyes were as deep as saphires. There were flecks of green in them which made them seem eerily purple in certain lights. She was beauty in the flesh.

"Call me James." I managed to gasp out. The mirth I saw behind her eyes made me feel self-concious. "Commander." I found myself adding. There was a pained expression in those violet eyes but was quickly replaced with warmth.

"You're not supposed to call me that, anymore." She explained. Her tone sounded somewhat subdued. I didn't notice. I just wanted to hear her voice some more. I wanted her to talk to me, about anything, everything, nothing... It didn't matter. It took a moment for her to glance down. I followed her gaze to our hands, mine still grasping hers, tightly, like it was my lifeline. She looked back up at me and sheepishly I dropped it.

"Sorry." I muttered. Maybe watching Shepard was not going to be a waste of the rest of my life afterall.

SIX MONTHS LATER...

I finished my breakfast in record time then jumped up and threw the empty dishes into the cleaning bins. Thankful that this was not my rostered mess hall month. I had plans, (big plans) for today. Shepard and I were going out to the park to do laps. I chuckled to myself, it was odd for a woman to actually want to go jogging with me, let alone enjoy it, but enjoy it she did. Bel was one woman who always managed to keep me guessing. There were depths to that woman that I was sure I would never get as long as I lived. No matter how much time I was given to study it.

So lost in my thoughts was I that I hardly noticed the people milling about the halls. I didn't notice their hurried movements, or the urgency in the way they moved. I hadn't seen Shepard this morning for breakfast. I knew sometimes she preferred having food brought to her room so she could be alone. Even now, six months on from her arrival home people were still angry and weary of her. Some believed she was still working for Cerberus and was feeding them intel. I snorted to myself. 'Pendejo's.' I thought.

My attention was brought to the present when I heard a voice from behind me. It was a young private. "Vega, I was sent to give you a message. The Admirals say you have to bring Shepard to the Defence Commitee immediately."

"Did the say what for?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Nope, gotta run." And with that he was gone. I frowned but knew better than to keep them all waiting. I looked around and finally noticed the commotion. I sped to Shepards room in double time. When I reached her room she turned from the window, a warm smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"Commander." I said, snapping to attention. She looked down at her datapad and shook her head.

"You're not supposed to call me that anymore, James." She said. I dropped my hand from my forehead and shrugged.

"I'm not supposed to salute you either." I replied. She chuckled and lifted her eyes to me. They were still that amazing deep violet blue and they still made my heart flip flop in my chest, but I was better at stamping down those feelings. I jerked my head toward the door. "Come on I have been told to take you to the defence committee immediately." I said.

"Heh. Sounds important." She replied, turning slightly to toss the datapad on the desk. It made a slight metallic clatter as it hit the desk top. We turned and stalked out of the room and down the hall. It still amazed me that she could keep in step with me when I walked like this, considering our height difference.

"What's going on?" She asked and I shrugged.

"They didn't say." I replied. Shepard stopped and smiled. I followed her gaze and snapped to attention. "Admiral." I saluted as Anderson reached us. Shepard took the older man's hand and shook it in familiarity.

I followed suit as they both walked on ahead of me. I was still Shepard's guard (as far as I knew). I heard Anderson say "You look good Shepard, maybe a bit soft around the edges." To reiterate his point he patted her tummy. I snorted quietly. She was in no way 'soft around the edges'. Shepard was hot, smoking hot. Probably more so than when she had come here sixth months ago. She was still trim, all the hours out in the sun with me had added more of a olive glow to her skin and she had cut her hair short, close cropped to her head at the back in layers but long enough in the front that she could push the strands behind her ears. I loved the way that a few mischievious strands were short enough to escape from behind her ears and fall tantalisingly into her eyes.

I was thankful that she had opted not to colour her hair as the hairdresser had tried to encourage her to do. The golden halo that gently adorned her head was perfect and I was loath to think of someone defacing the work of God with dye. While we walked Shepard and Anderson shared comfortable banter. Finally we reached the Defence Committee.

"Good luck in there Shepard." I said. She turned to me and grinned.

"Thanks James." Shepard replied, shaking my proffered hand. "I think I'll need it, especially after the last time."

"Hey now, last time was good." She stared at me like I had sprouted another head.

"How so?"

"You got yourself me." I said confidently. She chuckled. Belinda opened her mouth to reply when a deep male voice cut in.

"Shepard?" He called. I saw a look of recognition, hurt and disbelief cross her perfect features fleetingly before she turned around.

"Kaiden?" She replied. I noticed the significant look the pair shared and felt an unfimiliar feeling deep in the pit of my stomach. If I had to hazard a guess I would have said the feeling was jealousy. I scoffed at the thought. I was not one to get jealous. On the other hand I had never met a woman like Shepard.

"Major?" I heard her say and was pulled back to the moment.

"You hadn't heard?" Anderson asked her, looking at her over his shoulder.

"No, I hadn't" she replied quietly. Anderson and Shepard were ushered in and as she walked past the man they shared a significant look. There were emotions in that look I could barely guess at. I felt a growl start to work its way up from my chest and looked back to the man. Kaiden. He was staring after Shepard with a look of longing, desire and something else.

"You know the Commander?" I asked, barely containing my anger.

"I used to." He replied with a wistful sigh. I wanted to say something. Hell I wanted to lay claim to her, but I couldn't. I had nothing. I knew something witty would come to me. As I opened my mouth a soldier ran up to us.

"Sirs!" He panted, exhasparatedly. "You are needed at the Normandy immediately!" Both of us being the soldiers were had been trained to be both turned and bolted to the ship. Once all this was over I would give this Pendejo a piece of my mind...