Shepard reached, trying to get the large bowl off the top shelf. Stretching herself to her limits, her arches screaming in protestation and she could only just brush the bowl with her fingertips. "Damn it!" She pounded her fist on the counter. "Did they design this kitchen with giants in mind?" A low chuckle rumbled behind her as an arm reached past her and brought down the salad bowl she had just spent the last five minutes trying to get. "You could have asked me." Kaidan reminded her. She turned around, twisting within his arms. His warm brown eyes were filled with laughter, a mischievous smirk on his lips. "I just hate that I can save the entire galaxy but I'm still bested by a salad bowl on the top shelf. It makes me feel so useless. On the battlefield it didn't matter than I was only 5'2", I shoot better than anyone else." Her tone was petulant. "If you were taller, you wouldn't fit as perfectly in my arms." He demonstrated by wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "You wouldn't fit perfectly under my chin." He pulled her tight to his chest, her head instinctively burrowing against his chest, turning so that her ear lay against his chest. She could hear his heart beating strong and true. "You are perfect. I wouldn't want you any other way." Usually it didn't bother her that she was shorter than most. However, it felt like today everything was wrong with her. She wasn't tall enough. She wasn't thin enough. All her pants had to be hemmed a few inches. Her shirts never fit right; too long, too tight, or too big. Her body just didn't want to fit into civilian life. So that's why she was standing in their kitchen in a pair of old sweats and one of Kaidan's shirts, when they were expecting her parents for dinner in less than thirty minutes. After a minute or two, Kaidan pulled back and looked down at her. "You really should get dressed, mon amour." "I couldn't find anything that fit," she pouted. "Come, we'll find something a little more appropriate together." He waggled his eyebrows at her. He led her back to their room. He patted the bed and motioned for her to sit down. He slipped into their small closet and began rummaging around the clothes. "Ok, well we both know I love to see you in green." Shepard fidgeted as she waited for Kaidan to find something. She doubted he'd find anything. She had looked for what felt like hours that afternoon. Nothing worked. "Ah! Found it. I was worried you had gotten rid of it." Kaidan stepped out holding a dress. It was a moss green shirtdress that she thought she had gotten rid of. "Here you can wear this." He held it out towards her. "Kaidan…" "Don't "Kaidan" me. Trust me, mon amour, you look fantastic in it." He handed her the dress and quickly headed towards the door. "I expect to see you in five minutes." Sighing, she slipped out of the baggy clothes and into the dress. She felt ridiculous. The dress was much too girly for her. But, she noted, the elbow length sleeves at least fit well. And the dress actually hit her at her waist. She dragged her comb through her auburn curls and hoped that her hair would behave for once. She stepped out of the room. Kaidan was sitting on the couch reading something on a datapad. He finally looked up and the look of pure lust was hard to miss. "Wow, you look fantastic." He set down the datapad and stood up all in one smooth movement. He walked over to her and slipped his arms around her waist. Languorously he trailed kiss down from her forehead towards her lips. After kissing her slowly, he leaned back. "When did you say your parents are supposed to get here?"