This takes place during Mass Effect 3. Robin & Kaidan shared many flirty moments during their service on the SSV Normandy. But Kaidan being the shy & honorable man, choose not to continue any farther. When Shepard saves him instead of Ashley, the obvious choice, he realizes he can't ignore his feelings for her. Not wishing to interfere with the mission, he decides to wait till it's over & it's a closed case.

During a late night patrol for the missing ships, he looks for Shepard with the intention of telling her. Kaidan never gets the chance as they're attacked by an unknown ship, & after her death he carries strong regret. During those two years & after their meeting on Horizon, Kaidan has changed a lot. By throwing himself into his work & taking over many of the tasks Shepard would have done if she had been alive, he's moved on from her…or so he thought.

As Kaidan walks out into the hall, Anderson approaches him but he's distracted by the sight of Shepard in her Alliance uniform. This was the last place he expected to find her, but he supposed that after blowing up a mass relay the admirals would want an explanation. She hadn't changed at all, if anything she looked better than he remembered. She was wearing her hair up in it's usual bun, & he could see more definition in her body. At least she was putting her time grounded to good use & not letting it make her soft.

He calls her, & as she turns her eyes meet his. He can still see that fire burning behind her eyes, along with surprise & something else he couldn't pick up in time, because within a second she's closed her face to him.

"Kaidan" Shepard says, her voice assaulting him with memories of their conversations in between missions. One specific stood out among the rest, where she told him of her rough childhood, growing up alone on Earth without a family.

"How'd it go in there Major?" Anderson asks, as Shepard joins him.
"Okay, I think…hard to know. I'm just waiting for orders now." Kaidan replies.
"Major?" Shepard questions, obviously surprised & hurt by not being told.
"You hadn't heard?" Anderson says, stealing a quick glance between the two.
"No, I hadn't." Shepard says, covering the hurt in her voice & turning unreadable once more.
"Sorry Shepard. It's been…well." Kaidan apologizes, not knowing what to say.
"That's okay, just…glad I bumped into you." Shepard replies, breaking eye contact.
"Yeah, me too." Kaidan says, as a secretary comes over to them.
As Shepard walks by, Kaidan gives her a small smile which she doesn't return.

As Shepard walks into the meeting room, her thoughts drift back to Kaidan. She never expected to run into Kaidan here, just like she didn't expect to see him on Horizon. It seems to be a habit of his, throwing her off & making her appear like an open book. Kaidan's almost unrecognizable, baring no resemblance to the shy & caring friend in her memories. In the hall he seemed so cold & guarded, yet her heart still flutters at the thought of him. Shaking him from her mind, she looks to the matter at hand.

Her patience is waning & as they look on, watching the footage of the attack, the hair on her arms stand on end. Her muscle tense & she moves back towards the door a couple of steps, something is coming. A low rumble echo's throughout the room. The admirals turn to the window, as a reaper drops onto the city below. Anderson & Shepard back up towards the doors, as the beam hits the window & sends furniture flying. Turning to run, another beam hits again & Shepard is knocked back against a bench, blacking out for a moment.

Shepard awakes to Anderson's voice a while later, & they move to meet up with the Normandy. It feels good to have a gun in her hand again, & use her biotics. She charges at a pair of Cannibal's near their cover, knocking them back as she punches the closet one & runs to the next, shooting it in the head. Running out of ammo, she breaks from cover & charges at a large group of Cannibal's & releases a Nova, finishing off the remaining with her hands. Hearing the Normandy's thrusters, she pulls up a barrier as the Normandy's guns finish off the remaining Cannibal's.

Running towards the Normandy, she kicks a nearby Cannibal crawling to replenish it's health. She lands on the Normandy, & staggers off balance as a hand shoots out to steady her.

"Welcome aboard Shepard." Kaidan says, pulling his hand back & retreating to his former position.
"Thanks." Shepard says, turning to Anderson. Her arm burning from his touch.
She argues with Anderson, but understands that Earth needs a leader & she turns to go, not one for saying goodbye.

She stands with James & Kaidan as the door shuts & the Normandy moves to leave, catching a glimpse of the ruined city & people on the ground slaughtered.

On the way to Mars, Kaidan takes a moment to observe Shepard. She still has that intimidating & strong aura that commands attention. Otherwise there would've been no way she could have made James stand down, he's just as stubborn as she is, but he knows she could take him down easily.

Kaidan watches Shepard as she glances over James' shoulder, investigating the facility. Slight jealousy creeps in, as he watches Shepard put a hand on James shoulder & leans over to look at something on the console. Kaidan's aware the pair spent a lot of time together recently, James being hired to guard Shepard, they must have become close. But just as soon as the hand is there, it's gone & she moves to the door in front of him. He stands & moves over to her, following her lead & putting his helmet on. He frees his gun from the clip at his back as the shuttle lands & the door opens, Shepard takes point & James takes the flank.

They make their way towards the facility, & it becomes clear that it's been attacked when they hear gun shots. A group of Cerberus troops are executing workers. As the shot goes off, Shepard's biotics flare up & in the next second she's on the ground below. As the troops stand up, she launches a nova. Those closest to her drop dead, but her charge knocked many away from her & the nova doesn't reach them. James moves to help upon seeing her barrier drop, but Kaidan puts a hand on his shoulder, keeping him back.

"Just wait a second, she can handle herself. But just in case be ready to shoot if necessary." Kaidan says, as James shrugs his hand off.

Shepard runs to the nearest troop, throws a left hook & then punches him in the gut launching him over the cliff. She charges at the troop behind her & shoots him in the head. She dances around the group of troops, clearing them out quickly, as she attacks fast & erratically, panicking the troops. A troop grabs her foot, & she kicks him hard in the jaw, finishing with a snap of his neck. The last troop falls, & Shepard turns to glance around her.

"What were you waiting for, an invitation?" Shepard asks over the com agitated, as they jog up.

They continue walking in silence, as another group of Cerberus troops come out from behind a truck. Kaidan launches a reave, staggering them as Shepard charges at the rear of the group. James rolls into cover, taking out two from behind the truck. Shepard has them in disorder & Kaidan takes advantage of this, sneaking up behind them & shooting them in the head, not being one to waste ammo.

James finishes the last one off as they walk into the lift & the door shuts behind them to begin pressurizing.

Kaidan manages to upset Shepard when he asks her if she knows anything, & he can see James is more than annoyed that he brought the topic up.

The hiss of the lift done pressurizing interrupts them.
"Please trust me Kaidan." Shepard says, walking off the lift & looking into his eyes for the first time since seeing each other again. Her voice is laced with sincerity & he can see how upset he's made her. Maybe there's hope for them after all.