It has been nine days since Kaidan and Shepard had spent the night on the Citadel. Every night since had been just a normal night: Kaidan going up to Shepard's cabin, having a drink, and sleeping soundly. Shepard told Kaidan about where her shoes mysteriously came from and it seemed to have provided a good laugh for the both of them. Her cut had healed but a subtle scar was left behind to remind her of her mistake. She tried hard to let it be a reminder of that night rather than the pain from alcohol soaking into it. Bad flashback.
The elevator door opened. Shepard walked out and looked around to make sure no one was staring at her. It was late into the night or whatever time it was. Either way, people had been sleeping for a little while. She had been messaging Kaidan relentlessly from her cabin; arguing about who should go to who's room for the night. She lightly ran down the left hallway to the Starboard Observation deck. She softly knocked on the door and it opened. Kaidan was standing right in front of her. She pushed him further into the room and the door closed behind her. Her hands formed fists and effortlessly pounded on his chest.
"You are such a punk!"
"Haha. Is it such a pain coming down here? I come up every night and I don't complain!"
"Well it's different. I'm the C.O."
"Oooh. Excuse me, Ms. I-Follow-The-Regs."
He took her hands in his.
"Whatever!"
Shepard pulled her hands out of his grasp and sat down on the right couch. She took the pins out of her hair so that it fell down her back and gazed out the window. There were billions of stars visible from the view. Kaidan shut off the lights and sat down next to her. The stars illuminated the room with an ethereal, blue glow. To Kaidan's eyes, Shepard's face glistener with light. Her skin appeared so soft and perfect. He threw his arm around her shoulders as she allowed her body to fall into his grasp, resting her head on his shoulder.
"It looks so peaceful from here."
"Huh. Even outer space can be deceptive."
"Damned Reapers just have to ruin everything, don't they?"
"Yeah. I guess so."
He rubbed her arm with his hand that wrapped around her shoulders. Shepard's eyelids started to bob up and down from her drowsiness.
"Tired?"
"A little. Yeah."
"Wanna lay down?"
"Uh. Sure."
"Okay. Let me lay some blankets down."
Kaidan treated her gently by laying her head delicately on the cushion of the couch. He walked to the shelf and grabbed some blankets from the bottom. Having them laid out on the floor along with a few pillows made a nice bed. Kaidan came over to Shepard and carried her like a baby to the bed. He carefully set her down.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Kaidan laid down next to Shepard. Her hoodie wasn't enough to keep her warm so she continued to shiver a little. Kaidan pulled a plush, white comforter over her and wrapped his arms around her. His skin sent a sensation of heat through Shepard's body that freed her from the shivers.
"You cold?"
She snuggled closer.
"Not anymore."
Kaidan snickered under his breath and held her tighter, burying his face into her hair.
The stars seemed so bright. Shepard tried to count as many as she could but always lost track after five.
"Damn it."
"Trying to count the stars, Shepard?"
"It's so hard."
"Ha. That's why you don't try."
"You sound like my father. He always took me into the Starboard Observation deck of his ship when i was young and showed me all the constellations. He knew so many."
She looked back at the window.
"I always tried to count the stars and would lose track on my fingers."
"You must've been such a cute little girl."
"Ha. A little brat maybe!"
"I can only imagine."
They laughed harmoniously.
"Every child has their moments."
"Very true."
The room fell silent. Shepard closed her eyes and nestled closer.
"Kaidan?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think that we will make it through the end of this?"
Kaidan sighed. Not this subject again.
"You have so much doubt, Shepard."
"Well! No one has ever faced the Reapers and was victorious."
"Then we will be the first."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Just like we haven't faced the Reapers, the Reapers have never faced us. We have a chance. Look out far we have come! All we need is that damned Catalyst and we can win this thing!"
"I guess. But it's not as easy as it sounds. Nothing ever is."
"I didn't say it would be easy. Why are you so worried anyways? Just focus on destroying the bastards and then everything else will fall into place."
"Well...Kaidan-"
Shepard's sentence trailed off. Kaidan lifted his head so he could see her face better. He waited for her to finish her sentence but the words weren't coming out.
"Kaidan-I just want to have a normal life. A life with you by my side. Is it too much to ask?"
She took a deep breath.
"I want a life without the Reapers. Without worry. Seems like only a dream but it's a dream worth fighting for I guess."
Shepard sat up and crossed her legs. Her hands fell into her lap and she looked back at the stars.
"Have you ever thought about it, Kaidan? Don't you want a chance to settle down? Get married-"
She stopped at that word. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Her faint sobs tore at Kaidan's heart. He didn't like watching her cry.
"Hey..."
He sat up behind her and grabbed her arms pulling her closer to him. Resting his head in the crest of her neck, he tried to calm her down with soft kisses. His hands fell onto her hips and climbed up her torso. Shepard clutched his hands and followed them as he embraced her body.
"Shepard," he whispered. His voice was as soft as silk. "Is this what you want?"
He kissed her cheek. His lips, warm and comforting against her skin.
"More than anything."
Shepard tried to avoid eye contact with Kaidan. She continued to sniffle and restrain more tears from falling.
"Well then, Shepard. Marriages always start with one thing."
His lips brushed across her neck gently.
"Shepard," he took his hand and cupped it around her face so she could face him. "Will you marry me?"
Shepard smiled and shifted her body to face him. Her hands moved up and down Kaidan's neck. She came closer to his face, just barely touching his nose with hers.
"Yes."
Her lips touched his and soon her arms were wrapped around his neck. Kaidan's arms grew tighter and tighter around her body as they continued to kiss. He carefully set her back on the floor and climbed on top of her. Shepard tugged at his shirt and he pulled it off. Kaidan's lips danced on her neck as she started to unzip her hoodie. He pulled away for a second to catch a breath. Shepard pulled off her hoodie and grasped his face in her hands.
"We are crazy."
"Well, as Wrex used to say, sometimes crazy is the best way to go."
Shepard laughed and kissed him again. She pushed him over and climbed on top of him, sitting on his waist with her hands on his abdomen.
"And I only settle for the best."
A smirk smeared across her face as she started to unbutton her pants. She threw herself against his body and kissed him. Kaidan gently clawed his hands down her back. Once his hands reached her hips, he tossed her over on her back and crawled on top. His body began to tingle and radiate with the blue, biotic glow. He kissed her and cradled her securely under him. Shepard pulled away to take a small breath.
"I love you, you know."
Kaidan smiled.
"I love you too, Shepard."
Shepard blushed and pressed her lips against his.