Bioware, as always, owns all.

I am a member of the Kaidan Alenko Appreciation Society. Okay I am also an officer there, but that is not the point. We have a project there where each week we are challenged to write a prompt. Since others are putting theirs up, I guess you are entitled to see them all. So here goes.

This first one was just a sample and not an actual entry.

The Prompt:

The reunion after Horizon and the Collectors defeat of Shepard and Kaidan. The catch; it must be silent NO DIALOG (or text or emails)! The set up or reason there is no talking is Artist or Author choice

The Entry:

Ceremony

Kaidan entered the Award Ceremony and the room was quiet. He was late. He didn't usually run late but the headache last night had been a particularly bad one. The room was an old asari creation that had small alcoves or room like niches along the side. The room was an acoustic marvel, created to carry sound so any noise made would carry across to the other side. It meant they didn't need to use electronic amplification.

He walked up the side aisle and that's when he saw her. He would know her anywhere. Her hair, that body shape, her stance... it was Shepard. She was at the end of the row standing next to Garrus. Some asari diplomat was already speaking so there was no way that he could talk to her. He looked to the side and noticed there was an alcove right next to her. It would afford him a bit of privacy.

Without working it out further he walked up next to her and tapped her shoulder. She turned and looked at him, her eyes penetrating his. She frowned at him and turned to the front again. He took her hand, and she looked at him again. He indicated the alcove next to them and gently tugged on her hand. She looked past him to the alcove and considered his idea with a furrowed brow. Garrus went to reach for his hand to remove it from Shepard's, but she held up her other hand to stop him. She nodded her head at Kaidan, he released her hand and walked to the alcove, she followed.

There was no ceiling on the alcove so although it afforded them some privacy, they could still be heard. Realizing this Kaidan wondered how he was going to get his feelings across to her. He turned and faced her as she stood there waiting for him to do... something.

He reached for her, then dropped his hand. He reached out both hands to hug her, but instead held them next to her a look of pain on his face. She raised her eyebrows, he dropped his hands. He held up his hand to indicate she should wait and he started to pace back and forth in the small room. She observed this a small smile on her lips.

Finally he came to rest in front of her and held his hand to his heart. She looked at his hand. He reached for her hand with his other hand and took it. She didn't resist, but observed him with curiosity. He pulled her hand up and placed it on his heart holding it there with his hand he then pointed to her. She cocked her head and looked at his face. His heart raced as he wondered if he was conveying his meaning correctly. She pointed to his heart under their hands and then pointed to herself. He nodded, she understood. He waited for her reaction.

She didn't pull her hand away, but he could see the emotions coming over her face. There was a fleeting look of sadness followed by the slow encroachment of joy. The smile curled the corner of her lips and then crept up to her eyes. She reached for his empty hand and pulled it up to her heart and held it there. She smiled and nodded her head, then took a step closer to him. She placed her forehead to his and squeezed both his hands. He leaned his head into hers joy spreading throughout his body. She pulled back and smiled.

She jerked her head to show him they had to return and released his hand from her heart. She then pulled her hand from his heart. She took his hand and lead him out of the alcove and back to the place where she had been standing. Regarding the stage she gave the speaker her complete attention as Kaidan stood next to her with her hand in his.

Every few moments she would squeeze his hand, just to make sure he was still there.