Chapter 1: The Days Gone By

(on board the Normandy after departing Earth, headed to the Mars Archive)

Shepard had just received the orders from Adm. Hackett about diverting to Mars. He wasn't happy about the sudden change of plans as the original order was head to the Citadel to talk with the Council and especially after reluctantly having to leave Earth during the beginning of its most desperate hour, leaving behind Anderson. He decided to just hang around in the cargo bay for it wouldn't be much of a long trip traveling to Mars.

"Hell, it's not even worth taking off my shoes..." he thought to himself as he sat on an ammo container in the corner of the bay, slouched over holding his head up with his hands, elbows being propped up by his knees. His thought was suddenly interrupted by a voice, a familiar one, but one that he honestly was not all that interested in hearing right now.

"Commander, I… don't necessarily like doing this either. I'd have much rather stayed." said Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams, as she was pulling up a small chair so she could be somewhat close to Shepard. "I don't know what the hell Hackett expects us to find on Mars but…" She tried to continue her sentence before being interrupted herself…

"Me neither" replied Shepard in a mumbled tone as he wasn't exactly in a talking mood – still staring at the floor. And to the person who he has barely had a chance to see? Much less talk to in so long despite his own best efforts to try and correct that problem?

Ashley frowned.

She couldn't think of anything else to say. She thought maybe talking about the mission at hand might help wear off the uneasiness that was between them. She still felt terrible about what she said to him on Horizon, even if she apologized as best as she could in an e-mail to him later, even letting him know that she still cared for him. But she never got a reply, which hurt her and also left her completely guessing as to what was on his mind.

"I guess we'll find out when we get there" Shepard said, breaking the awkward silence that existed for several moments. He stood up and went over to the weapon bench to switch out rifles.

Ashley was the one now staring at the floor. Fiddling her bottom lip with her teeth as if she were entirely immersed in thought. Her heart felt like it was in her stomach. She was brave enough to come over and try to talk to him but it didn't go as easy as she hoped it would be. He seemed fine when they bumped into each other with Anderson… not all of this could be a result of what's happening to Earth could it? Robert often talked about his time on Earth as a child when they had some time alone aboard the SR-1 after the destruction of Sovereign and before the destruction of the original Normandy and…himself, he didn't have much personal meaning left for his home anymore. Something else had to be bothering him. Something WAS bothering him. Or someone rather?

Ashley stood up herself, looking over at Shepard who was still at the bench fiddling with a thermal clip. "One more try…" she thought to herself, attempting to muster up the bravery again to approach him. To try and strike up a conversation. Only this time it was harder, after being basically blown off once already.

Shepard then set down the clips and rifle, and walked on over to the locker where another Alliance soldier was standing and started to ask him a question pertaining to the new outline of the Normandy.

"He clearly isn't interested in talking I guess…" she muttered under her breath. Disappointment. Sadness. Anger. She couldn't choose the emotion she wanted to feel for she felt all three. But, it was partly her fault as well she thought. She chastised herself for not going with Anderson to meet up with Shepard at least once while he was in Alliance custody. Now she felt "behind" on the task of trying to re-kindle what they had, for that was as good of a chance as any to do so. So much time had passed since the night before Illos. More than time. So much has happened, yet it still feels like the morning after.

The lights went on in the cargo bay signaling to board the shuttle. Vega was already inside, waiting on everybody else. Ashley grabbed her rifle and boarded, not wanting to be the last one on board. Shepard then got in shortly after and they took off. The whole ride down to the Archives she tried to remain as quiet as possible, when they landed it'll be business as usual she thought. "Maybe that will help." It certainly was not easy having strong feelings for a person that she hardly ever saw, much less spoke to.

The feeling however, was mutual.