Ashley made her way through the docking bay at the Citadel. She had Tali and Garrus make the ship come to the Citadel but not the let Shepard know. Ashley walked to the airlock and knack lightly. It hissed open and she gasped. The ship was a copy of the SR-1 on the outside, only bigger and Cerberus' but on the inside, it wasn't that much different, only bigger, more space and different setup.
"Hello ." EDI greeted.
"Keep it down." Ashley hissed.
"Hey Ash." Joker said.
"Hi. Where's her cabin?" she asked.
"Up one floor." EDI replied. Asley nodded and started on her way. When the elevator jerked to a stop and the doors opened she stepped out and knocked on the door. The door hissed open and Shepard was sitting in a chair looking at her omni-tool.
"Ash?" the Commander gasped.
"Hello, Commander." Ashley greeted and saluted. Shepard stood up and returned a salute.
"It's so nice to see you. How have you been?" Shepard asked and walked over to Ashley.
"Fine. You?" the soldier replied as Shepard beckoned her for a hug.
"Great. Seen everybody, well not everybody." Shepard said and looked at Ashley. "You know today is two years after Virmire. I was going to have make a toast later with the crew, but do you want to stay for it?"
"Of course. How could I not?" Ashley responded and forced a smile on her face. "So tell me, how are the others?"
"Wrex became clan leader. I'm glad he lived from Virmire. And Liara is doing great, she's busy but fine. Chakwas is the same and so is Joker. Tali's been near death more times then I can count, but that's also sort of my fault. Garrus is fine too. I'm just glad your here, Ash." Shepard explained.
"I'm sorry about Horizon. I said things I didn't mean. I do want to help you again." Ashley whispered. Shepard smiled.
"Don't worry. And I want you to help me. Well maybe you can at some point. I just made it back from the Omega 4 relay, and the Reapers are still a threat." Shepard told her.
"I'll help anyway I can. But when's this toast?"
"Right now. Help me get the wine. EDI, tell the crew to assemble in the mess hall. And quick."
"Yes Commander." the AI said. Ashley and Shepard grabbed the bottles of wine and walked over to the elevator.
Ashley poured each human a glass of wine and what ever non-humans could drink it. The non-humans who couldn't got a drink of something they could. Shepard stood up on a table to adress the crowd.
"I know most of you don't know this, or maybe you do. And this is mainly for the old crew from when I was hunting Saren. Well it's been two years Virmire. The survivor is here. Her name is Ashley Williams, but we are here to honor Kaidan Alenko. So please take time to. I know almost all of you don't know him, but it would mean alot to me. So," Shepard said, tears falling from her eyes. "this toast is to friendship. May it last up to the last of the universe." she ended and raised her glass in the air. One-by-one glasses raised in the air and the Commander's words were repeated. Ashley raised her glass first and then drank her wine. Then she lowered her glass and smiled, tears already over her face. She would never forget that day. The terrible day, when Shepard had saved her and left Alenko. Ashley would never forget it.