TITLE: Don't Just Tell me, Show Me

CHAPTER: 1, Only Love Can Break a Heart

LOCATION: SR-2 Normandy, Commander Shepard's Quarters

AN: Please Read: A reviewer asked me to add a warning concerning the sad themes in this story. She said I made her cry (YES!) There are parts that made me cry too as I wrote them. This story served as my therapeutic antidote to the sad and needlessly tragic ending of ME 3. I started writing and didn't stop until I was ready. So thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the story. You'll let me know, right?

"When you were young and on your own

How did it feel to be alone?

I was always thinking of games that I was playing.

Trying to make the best of my time."

-Neil Young

They'd know each other for six months. Six months of steadfastly ignoring their growing attraction. He knew she'd begun to rely on him and he let her. Six months of listening to her stories about this ship and crew. Now they were on her ship and in her quarters and all the people she'd told him about were right here. Vega stole another look around the room. Large and extravagant, the CO's quarters were a long way from her small cell. No matter what the council did to her, he never forgot her status. To him she was always Commander Shepard. Now they were on the Normandy their positions were oddly reversed. On his way up here he'd come to terms with the fact that except for mission briefings and away missions he wouldn't see her very often. They were discussing his N7 invitation, but it was time to get out of her hair now. She had more important things to do then counsel one of her lieutenants. But he couldn't resist just one more flirtation.

"Well, I think I'd better get back to the hanger. Things here are uh... a little too soft for me."

"The bed's a lot harder than it looks." The commander said, gesturing back over her shoulder.

Honestly surprised to hear her say something like that, he replied with the first thing out of his head. "Are you flirting with me, Lola?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, followed by the 'watch your ass, marine' look he'd seen once or twice before.

"I'm going, I'm going..."

"You're not dismissed, Marine."

"Yes, ma'am." he replied with his eyebrow raised at the odd turn of events and glancing back at the door.

"Tattoo healed up?"

"Uh, yeah man. It's all good." What was she getting at? He wondered.

"No me lo dices, me demuestra," she said quietly.

"You mentioned that back on the Citadel. I thought we were talking about my N7 training."

"You said, I was your training officer."

"I did say that. Yes, I did." James scrubbed a hand over his neck tattoo and shrugged his shoulders, "Just so I'm clear, Commander... Uh... Are you flirting with me?"

"I'm attempting to initiate a training exercise, Lieutenant Vega. My recruit is resisting. Failure to follow a direct order is a punishable offense."

"Now you're teasing me. Didn't take you for a tease." Full retreat, Vega. Out of her quarters now. Move, marine!

She sighed, "Your actions cause me to question your courage and decision-making abilities. Is that really the impression you wish to create?"

"I'd like to leave at least one lasting impression on you, Commander. Not sure we're talking about the same one."

"Don't just tell me, show me," she said again. This time pulling a clip from her hair.

James watched the Commander's long blond hair fall around her shoulders. He had no idea it was so long. He'd imagined it, of course. But this was the first time... she looked up at him, her body language transforming from CO to woman.

"Dios mío, you are so beautiful commander," he said, in one long breath and mentally said goodbye to his career. He wanted to get his fingers into that hair. He wanted to touch it now. "You're looking at me in a way that says come on over here. But if you want me to leave, say so now. Otherwise..."

"How many languages do you need me to say this in, James?"

"Then say adiós to that uniform, Commander. I don't want anything blocking my view."

"Now you're talking."

The thing about Alliance utility uniforms was there was no mystery about how to remove them. Male or female issue, all the fasteners were in the same place and opened the same way. Unexpectedly, the commander's uniform was giving him some problems. Fumbling with buttons was certainly not his style.

Shepard wrapped her fingers around the marine's trembling hands.

James shrugged, "Yeah, they don't seem to be working so well. I... Ah, the hell with it."

Vega scooped Shepard up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. She tried to get out of his lap to pull him down with her. But he had her trapped with his right arm, while he pulled her face down to his with his left hand. He finally got his fingers into that blond mane he'd been thinking about since they'd first assigned him to her back on Earth. He kissed her, gently at first, just tasting her mouth. Neither of them closed their eyes. Each, for their own reasons, a little wary of what was happening.

Vega gave in first, when he realized he no longer wanted to hide anything from her. It didn't seem necessary. He let his guard down so she could see how much he wanted this. When she saw the open desire on his face. Felt the first gentle touch of his hands on her body. The commander found what she looking for and deepened the kiss, pressing down on his lips with her own. Vega followed her lead.

She was the most alluring woman he'd ever met. A rare mixture of beautiful woman and kick ass soldier. It turned him on. Always had.

He knew she'd been slowly going crazy in that detention cell. So he made sure he got her to the gym or outside for a run as often as duty permitted. He enjoyed listening to her talk about her ship and crew. It was during those weeks he'd fallen in love with her. He hadn't been looking for it. It just happened. As he imagined it happened to every other guy on the Normandy. Just like the culinary specialist who brought her meals, the medic who checked her vital signs and the mental health specialist who came by to chat with her in cell. So maybe he was just the latest one of those guys. He broke the kiss.

She was panting, her fingers digging into his shoulders trying to find some purchase. She looked down at him, "Where did you go?"

"Lola?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's get something straight."

She opened her eyes, studying him. "You're wrong."

"I want to be wrong. Tell me how I'm wrong."

"The two most difficult aspects of command are the life and death decisions and the isolation. Living with those decisions through the long nights. Wondering who will be next. Never second guessing yourself. Always strong. And never letting anyone get too close. James, I want you close."

She looked away and tried to slip off his lap. "Don't give it another thought, Vega. I can see it in your eyes. You think I'm a busy girl."

"Hey, I didn't say that and you're not going anywhere," he tightened his hold on her, trying to show her she could relax with him.

She allowed it. "James, I want this to be special too. It is special."

"Mi Lola bonita," he whispered to her.

He lowered her to the bed, sliding his legs under hers and holding her as close as he could manage. His right hand opening her shirt and making quick work of her bra. A bra hadn't been made that could stand up to a marine on a mission. She gasped when he exposed her skin to the air. As he watched her breasts tighten and the nipples contract, he thought he might lose it all right then and there. Some things you just didn't expect to see in a lifetime. Suddenly there they were... like a gift. A smart man knew when to say Merry Christmas and thank you very much.

Shepard shifted so that he was on top of her. The position provided her the opportunity to pull his shirt up and off. He felt her fingers reaching under his shirt. Damn! She was scratching his skin as she pulled the t-shirt over his chest. He shivered in response to the sensation of her nails on his skin.

Her hands found the muscled torso she'd thought about so many times. His dog tags swung free and she grabbed them to pull him back down to her.

"Are you planning to kiss me again, Marine? Or are you waiting for direction?"

"Think I can take it from here." Grinning down at her he sat up. Then slowly began to undress her, boots, socks, pants and the most feminine pair of black panties he'd ever seen. Trophy! She wasn't getting these back. Ever. Large hands spanned her butt as he pulled them down. He watched her body flush and respond to his actions. His fingers slid across her skin as he removed her uniform piece by piece. When she was naked he stood up to let her watch him undress.

Vega locked eyes with the beautiful woman on the bed and dared her not to look away. The dog tags came off and landed on top of his t-shirt. His boots and socks joined the pile. Then hooking his thumbs in his waistband he pulled everything else off.

He took personal pride in keeping his body fit and battle ready. He knew guys found his size just a bit intimidating. That was a good thing in a fight. With Shepard staring at him, appraising him, reaching for him, it was a very different thing. Lots of woman stared at him. That was nothing new. With Shepard, he suddenly hoped she liked what she saw.

"Come here!"

Good answer. Vega slid back onto the bed. Instead of laying down with her, he knelt on the bed and pulled her up to him. Her legs dropped to each side of his hips. He held her there, poised over him. He kissed her lips, tasting the delicate skin of her neck and chest.

"James. Waited so long for this" she breathed.

She pulled his head against her chest, forcing him to stay where he was. Vega spread his hands over her bottom, kneading the flesh as he used his mouth on her breasts. her heart pounded against her ribs as she trembled. She chanted his name in short gasps. Then she was rippling with an orgasm so powerful, it took all his self-control to keep from following her into that sweet release.

"Dios! Shepard, look at me."

She forced her eyes open, so he both saw and felt the waves of her orgasm as it took her. Time stopped as he watched her. He'd hardly touched her. What would she be like when he... He allowed her to slide through his hands and straddle his hips. She was ready for him. She took him and surrounded him. She sank her teeth into the trapezoid muscle on his neck. That was it.

He practically threw her down on the bed and she welcomed him the embrace of her arms and legs. She tilted her hips up to take more of him in. A guy could only take so much. Vega gathered her up in his arms and pushed himself into her over and over. When it was his turn to cry out, Shepard held him close as they shared this most intimate of moments. Then he collapsed on top of her, his rich laughter tickling her ear as he caught his breath.

"You bit me."

She patted his shoulder, "I think the perfect symmetry of your shoulders is still intact. But if you think I should call Dr. Chakwas?"

"Next time, just make sure you bite the other side too..." He stopped talking in mid-sentence. Their easy playful banter was doing something to him. Any other time he'd have kissed the girl goodbye, grabbed his gear, promised to call and left without a backward glance. Vega raised his head to look at her. That was probably a mistake. Her blond hair spread over the pillow, her sleepy sea-green eyes were looking right through him. He gently kissed her swollen mouth. A fierce pride went through him with the knowledge that he had done this to her.

"Lola? You good?" He smiled down at her.

"Never better."

"Yeah, me too."

She caught his face in her hands, "James?"

"I'm here. I'm here. No plans to leave." He rolled over to his back, pulling her on top of him. Vega covered them with the sheet and for a long while, neither of them spoke.

He caught her smiling up at the stars sailing past the view screen.

"Watcha smiling at?"

"Can I be your girl, James?"

"You sure?"

"You wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"Understood, ma'am. How 'bout you let me show you how many ways the answer is yes."

"Turn to, Marine. Turn to."

"No me lo dices, me demuestra, James," - "Don't just tell me, show me, James" (Depending on your dialogue choices, when Vega asks you for advice about becoming N7, this is a FemShep response. Such an excellent literary hook must not be wasted.)

"Mi Lola bonita," - My beautiful Lola

"Turn to" is a Naval phrase meaning go to work or go back to work. My CO in the Navy Reserves used to make us sing "Anchors Aweigh" to him. If we did a good enough job, then he'd say, turn to. Which meant you are released, now get to work.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

When you were young
and on your own
How did it feel
to be alone?
I was always thinking
of games that I was playing.
Trying to make
the best of my time.

But only love
can break your heart
Try to be sure
right from the start
Yes only love
can break your heart
What if your world
should fall apart?

I have a friend
I've never seen
He hides his head
inside a dream
Someone should call him
and see if he can come out.
Try to lose
the down that he's found.

But only love
can break your heart
Try to be sure
right from the start
Yes only love
can break your heart
What if your world
should fall apart?

-Neil Young

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