Shepard stood to the side of her cabin door, getting an impression rather than hearing, well she could hear a little through the metal plating, that a bit of a group was gathered in the mess.

At this hour? She thought, stepping to the center of the door frame signaling it to open she crossed the small space to the main table. Hair up as usual, dressed in casuals she could have passed for a regular crewmember at this hour. Her facial scars were the only distinguishing feature she had.

Kaidan had looked up when he heard the door but didn't stop his explanation to Tali. In his hands were two black boxes that she was running her gloved hand over tentatively, avoiding the edges where his fingers pressed against the simple machine. She was tilting her head from side to side, causing the flowing fabric to sway slightly.

"And it's a musical instrument?" She asked, hands back in her lap.

Kaidan turned in his chair to completely face his audience and adjusted the boxes, pantomiming playing a guitar. He pressed a button on the side and six vibrant strings of light grew from one box to the other. His eyebrows drew together, his face adopting the look of a tired, but patient teacher.

"Running your fingers over the strings here," He wiggled his fingers over the wider of the two boxes resting on his leg, "Is called strumming…" Kaidan's fingers met the bright "strings" a soft sound filled the open space.

Shephard continued past the two and landed at the counter with the intention of making tea, it was late she reasoned but a bit of tea never hurt anyone. She listened quietly as Kaidan continued his explanation, focusing on the process. The simplicity of it, in the middle of space brought a sense of normal to her very being. Memories of wandering the corridors of her mother's ship as a child were interrupted by the young alien's own reminiscent tone.

"We do not have anything like this in the fleet, our music is more..."

"Pounding on spare parts hoping for a rhythm?"

Shepard smiled at Garrus as he came out of the elevator, Turning in to quite the party up here. Although she reasoned that not many people had been sleeping well since Virmire, she frowned at her cup and shook her head to clear away the fog that had been there ever since returning to the Normandy. Garrus had made his way over past the table, leaning to the side to avoid the little Quarian's playful swing in his direction. A low rumble came from his chest in a way that had to be laughter.

Shephard poured the hot water she had prepared over her tea and had it covered with a plate by the time Garrus joined her, leaning against the counter he tilted his head to listen to Kaidan's lesson. Mandibles clicking against his jaw softly, Shepard could feel that he was content, something in the late hour had settled over the ship and it translated to all species.

Tali folded her arms over her chest and turned back to Kaidan, "Would you play a song for me?" She asked, the lights in her helmet dimming as though they were lowered to the floor.

"Ah, well," Kaidan cleared his throat and looked up at the other two occupants, "I'm not very good, but what would you like to hear?"

"A human love song?" She had asked, unfolding her arms and placing her hands nervously in her lap, her three fingered hands clasping and unclasping the other.

Shepard smiled, Kaidan it seemed, had picked up an admirer. Next to her she could hear another low sound coming from Garrus.

If he were human I bet he'd be snickering.

She met his eyes and finally took a drink of tea, he turned back to the seated pair and hers followed.

To his credit Kaidan adjusted the impromptu guitar and curved his shoulders forward, "Well here goes," A slight flush was working it's way up his neck. Against the olive skin it was subtle.

Will someone please call a surgeon?

Who can crack my ribs and repair this broken heart

That you're deserting for better company?

I can't accept that it's over...

And I will block the door like a goalie tending the net

In the third quarter of a tied-game rivalry

Shepard tapped her foot softly as Kaidan played, leaning back against the counter next to Garrus, the two watched on quietly. Shepard saw the increased activity on Garrus' visor, small lines of haptic code running back and forth over the small screen. Tali had stopped her fidgeting and had her full, intense attention on Kaidan as he continued to sing softly.

Tell me am I right to think that there could be nothing better?

Than making you my bride and slowly growing old together

Setting her cup down between her and Garrus, Shepard took a small step forward with the intention of helping Kaidan out on the next verse, it was after all a duet, and poor Kaidan she thought, was starting to turn pink under the intense scrutiny of the tiny alien girl.

I feel I must interject here you're getting carried away feeling sorry for yourself

With these revisions and gaps in history

So let me help you remember.

I've made charts and graphs that should finally make it clear.

I've prepared a lecture on why I have to leave

She smiled around the words, not quite prepared for the three heads that spun her way. Her voice wasn't strong, but it was soft and she could carry the notes well enough. Kaidan smiled and continued to play, exaggerating his hand movements for Tali to see. She looked over at Garrus, and as the song finished he still hadn't taken his attention off of her. His mandibles slightly fluttering, she held the blue gaze until the last verse, smiling. His mandibles shifted up and back to show part of his teeth.

"I do not understand all of this song, but it was lovely." Tali sighed, leaning back in her chair, her gaze focused on Kaidan once more.

"Ah, well, glad you enjoyed it. I didn't know you could sing Commander."

Shepard had to reach around Garrus to retrieve her now cold remainder of tea, she placed it in the wash bin and as she turned back to answer Kaidan, and caught another flash of Garrus' eyes still searching her face.

"Well, I'm much better on the battlefield." She laughed and put her hands on her hips, "I'm glad that our friends here probably haven't heard enough humans singing to know the difference. Anyways isn't it all past your shift time? Get some rest everyone, we still have a long while before we reach the Citadel." Shepard stood watch as Kaidan tucked in the chairs, and Tali waved her goodbye, heading back to the elevator she could hear Tali still talking softly.

"That includes you too Garrus." She brought her arms up in a stretch as far above her head as she could manage, and as they came back down bringing her hands into her pockets she brushed against the cool metal of his armor.

He didn't move. Both of their arms holding steady against the other. Shepard stared at the connecting point, afraid that if she moved this tenuousness bond that had only just formed would break. She wasn't sure when he had moved close enough for this to happen, but she couldn't bring to mind any reason to care.

No one had touched her without purpose in a long time.

"Human music has always sounded, well, strange to me. But I wouldn't mind hearing that song again. If you would be willing to sing again of course." Garrus looked down at Shepard, willing her to bring her face up to meet his.

She looked up, and with a small smile she thanked him and watched his mandibles pull back again slightly. Shepard wanted to ask what it meant, but she just kept smiling at him.

"I'll, ah, be on my way now. Get some rest Shepard, you deserve it." He rumbled low in his chest, and for once Shepard didn't know what it was for. She just watched as he moved away from her and made his own lonely trek to the elevator. He brought a gloved hand up and brushed the point of his armor where they had made contact before disappearing around the corner.

With the ship quiet again Shepard sat down at the deserted table and put her head down on the cold metal surface.