I take a deep breath and square my shoulders before using the passcode Garrus gave me to override the lock on Shepard's door. Scars and I had a long talk that lasted way past lights out last night. I was headed back down to the cargo bay after showing Lola my tattoo, feeling pretty pleased with myself, when the elevator stopped on the crew deck. The doors slid open to reveal Garrus standing there, mandibles twitching and eyes narrowed at me.

"You. Lounge. Now," he said, putting a hand against the elevator door to keep it open. I raised my eyebrows in surprise, but headed for the lounge. I have no idea where the turian falls in the Normandy's chain of command, but I'm fairly certain it's above me. Scars was close behind me, setting the lock on the lounge door as I sat down on one the couches. He turned to me, eyes still narrowed, mandibles still twitching.

"I'm only going to ask you this once, Vega; what are your intentions with Shepard?" he asked. I guess I should've seen that one coming, he is her best friend after all. I leaned towards him, elbows on my knees.

"I like her, Scars. I like her a lot," I told him, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. For the first time since the elevator doors opened, he blinked.

"So you're not just jerking her around? Looking for a good time? Bored on the ship with nothing to do?" he asked, stepping towards me.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Calm down man," I said, laughing to try and ease some of the tension. "Where's this coming from?" Garrus gave an exhausted sigh and sank down on the couch across from me.

"Those are all the questions I should have asked Jacob before he screwed with the Commander's heart. And, well, like it or not, the two of you share some... similarities." I felt my body stiffen and anger overtake my thoughts.

"That's bullshit!" I exploded, jumping to my feet. "I am nothing like that asshole."

"Relax, Vega," he said with a wave of his taloned hand. "You're not like him where it counts. You've got a good heart, you're loyal, and when you commit to something, you fully commit."

"That's exactly what I told Lola!" I said, sitting back down on the couch.

"Yeah, but look at the similarities: Alliance soldier that loves drinking, dancing, fighting, and obsessing about his workout routine."

"What's wrong with those things?" I asked, mildly offended.

"Nothing, in fact it was those qualities that drew Shepard to Jacob in the first place. Now, however, they're a screaming reminder of the bastard's betrayal."

"Why are you telling me this, Scars?" I asked tiredly, any excitation I felt on leaving Lola's cabin long gone.

"Because, despite you being a cocky ass marine with a big mouth, I think you'd be good for her," he said.

"I can't change those similarities, Garrus. They're part of who I am," I told him a bit sadly.

"You don't have to change yourself, James. You just have to get her to stop seeing those things as warning signs." I considered this for a moment.

"All right," I said, nodding my head, "what do I do?"

So here I am, taking a step into Shepard's cabin and starting phase one of the plan. "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty!" I say, walking over to her couches and setting the tray of eggs down on her coffee table. Shepard's instantly sitting up in bed and scanning the room. I try not to laugh. Always ready, even with bed head.

"Vega?" she asks in confusion. "What time is it?"

"0630." Her alert eyes narrow into a scowl she shoots my way before burying herself under the covers again.

"It's a shore leave day, James," comes her muffled complaint. "You know I sleep til eight on shore leave."

"Yeah," I say, coming to stand next to the bed with my arms crossed, "but I also know you'd be off the ship a heartbeat later, spending the day avoiding me." She moves the blanket so that one bright blue eye is staring out at me.

"Would not," she says, though her tone belies the lie. I chuckle.

"Sure you wouldn't. Come on, we got big plans for the day," I tell her, stripping back the blanket to find her dressed in only a bra and boy shorts.

"I'm up here, Lieutenant," she says in an amused voice. My eyes snap to her face and I smile at her sheepishly. "Look, James, I appreciate the thought, but I'm booked today."

"No, you're not." Her brows crease.

"Come again?"

"I said, no you're not. I had Traynor clear your schedule. You have an actual, full day of shore leave, which you'll be spending with me." Her eyes flash panic.

"Vega-"

"Please, Shepard," I interrupt. "You have to at least give me a chance." She hesitates a moment before letting out a sigh and I release the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

"All right, Vega, you've got me for the day. What's up first?" I grin.

"First you get that sweet ass out of bed and come eat these eggs. I made 'em for you myself," I say, walking over to her couches and taking a seat. One side of her mouth turns up in a half smile.

"Fine, but first this 'sweet ass' has to get some clothes on."

"No one's stopping you," I say, putting my feet up on the coffee table and my hands behind my head, settling in for the show.

"What a charmer you are, Vega," she says with a shake of her head.

"Hey, I can only be who I am, Lola," I say earnestly, dropping my feet to the ground and my arms to my knees. "No more, no less." She scoffs.

"And somehow, being you means you have to watch your commanding officer get dressed?" I shoot her a cocky grin.

"Yeah, well, sometimes it's good to be me." She throws a pillow at my head. When I bring my arms down from catching it she's already got her pants on and is slipping her tank on over her head. Damn. She sports a self satisfied smile as she plops down next to me and digs in.

"Okay," she says around a mouthful of scrambled eggs, "what are the plans?"

"The plans are for you to sit back and let someone else drive for once. One step at a time, Lola." She glares at me and I chuckle. "Just finish your eggs. We'll head out when you're done."

"The presidium?" she asks me a half hour later as we stroll through the shops. "I thought you hated the presidium."

"I do," I tell her, turning into the store on my right, "but sometimes you gotta go through uncomfortable places to get what you want." I ring the bell on the counter and she gives me an unimpressed look.

"You going to be speaking in metaphors all day, Lieutenant?"

"Who, me? I'm just telling you how to get to Morlan's Famous Shop, now located on the presidium," I finish the sentence in a cheesy announcer's voice. The salarian in question comes to the counter with his version of a smile.

"Ah! Lieutenant Vega! So good to see you again. And you brought Commander Shepard! What a very good day, I think."

"Is it ready, Morlan?" I ask impatiently.

"Of course, of course. Right here," he says, pulling the wrapped mod out from under the counter and handing it to Shepard.

"What's this?" she asks, puzzled.

"Just open it," I respond, nodding to Morlan to make himself scarce. I watch her expression turn to one of surprise and excitation as she unwraps the mod I ordered for her assault rifle. I've got to hand it to Morlan, he can get merchandise quick. Makes the trip to the presidium worth it.

"Is this what I think it is?" she asks, her eyes flying up to meet mine.

"That depends. Do you think it's that new mod that reduces the cooldown on your biotics so you can let loose that Flare you're so fond of more often? If so, then yes," I tell her, not bothering to hide my grin. She looks like a kid in a candy store for a split second before she shakes her head.

"James, this thing is more expensive than my rifle. I can't accept it."

"Don't worry about it, Lola," I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and steering her towards the exit. "Morlan owed me a favor. I accepted this as repayment." She looks uncertain, which I suppose she should. In reality, I transferred the credits to Morlan before I woke her up this morning.

"Are you sure?" she asks one more time.

"Of course," I say, walking towards the shuttle pad with her still under my arm. She holds an inner debate for a minute before giving in.

"All right. Thank you. I love it. Where to next?"

"Where else?" I ask, hailing a cab. "The Armax Arena. I thought you'd like to test out that new mod. You know, blow some shit up." She smiles up at me.

"Vega, you say the nicest things."