AN: I just wanted to say that Alenko's scene was inspired by sesheta255's "Amoeba!" (great story, by the way!). Oh, and Bioware owns all. Enjoy!

Shepard stared at the ceiling of her bedroom as the sunlight began to filter in through the window. Was it morning already? She hadn't slept at all. All night, her mind had been filled with thoughts of Alenko. Thoughts that should not even be going through her mind in the first place.

Of course, Alenko, always the gentleman, had slept on the floor. His back was probably killing him. The Normandy sleeper pods, uncomfortable as they were, were probably way better than the hardwood floor of her bedroom.

Speaking of sleeper pods…she hadn't slept this close to Alenko since before she became XO of the Normandy. She and Alenko usually worked the same shift and there were times when they had slept next to each other, each in their own communal sleeper pod.

However, this was different. They were actually in the same room together. She had never noticed how nice he smelled. His scent filled up the room, and she inhaled happily. She had also enjoyed hearing him breathe. As weird as that sounded, his deep, even breaths when he had fallen asleep had relaxed her. She had leaned over the side of the bed and watched him sleep. She could barely make out his features in the dark, but she had already memorized them. His thick eyebrows, warm brown eyes, his perfect mouth…

Shepard groaned. And that was why she hadn't been able to sleep. She needed to go for a run to clear her head. She couldn't go around with these thoughts constantly invading her mind. She would never get anything done, and he would probably think she was creepy. Come on, Shepard, watching him sleep? Curse her mother for setting up this weekend and messing with her feelings for Alenko.

She quietly made her way out of bed before realizing Alenko wasn't there. Huh. She hadn't even heard him leave. Maybe she had slept a little after all. She brushed her teeth, changed into her workout clothes, and headed outside. A run and fresh air would do her good.

Five miles later, Shepard walked into her house feeling refreshed. She paused when she entered the living room and wondered why it had never occurred to her to have Alenko sleep on the sofa. Because you secretly wanted him in your room. Shepard shook the thought from her head. During her run, she had decided that she wasn't going to think of the lieutenant in that way. She had enough on her mind without naughty images of him creeping into her head.

The smell of biscuits and fresh coffee broke her thoughts, and she made her way into the kitchen. Hannah Shepard was setting out a tray of biscuits on a cooling rack.

"Hey, ma." Shepard reached in for a biscuit. "Have you seen Alenko?"

Hannah slapped her daughter's hand away from the biscuits. "The last I saw him, he was in the barn tinkering with your father's old truck."

Shepard couldn't help but laugh. "That's Alenko all right. Always fixing things. I should have known dad's truck would catch his eye."

"You know, Kaidan reminds me so much of your father…"

Shepard held up a hand. "Mom, stop. Seriously. Whatever it is you are planning or even thinking, just stop it right now."

"What, honey? I'm just saying that you and Kaidan can – "

"No, we can't. Mom, you of all people should understand the rules on fraternization."

Hannah raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I do. How do you think your father and I met?"

Shepard allowed herself a moment of reflection. She knew her parents had met on a ship, but she didn't know the exact details behind it. Maybe that was why her mom was so adamant on getting her and Alenko together. They reminded her of her own relationship with her dad.

Well, her mother was in for a rude awakening. She and Alenko did not have a relationship other than superior and subordinate. That was that and nothing was going to change…that. Remember, no more thoughts about Alenko. Mom can try anything she wants, but she is not going to win this time. Alenko is nothing more than a fellow marine. Shepard smiled in her mother's direction. She was not going to continue this conversation.

"Well, I'll go take a shower. Alenko will probably be outside for a long time with that truck. God knows dad never go it to start," she said, walking to her room.

She locked the door behind her (in case Alenko decided to return to the room) and began taking off her clothes. All she wanted was a nice, hot shower. Maybe she would throw in a little lavender oil to help her relax.

Huh. That was odd. She had been in such a hurry to go for her run, she didn't notice she had left the light on in the bathroom. She opened the door, and her breath caught in her throat.

Alenko was standing in front of the sink, one hand poised with a razor that was halfway up to his face. His lower face was covered in white shaving foam, and his wet hair was slicked back. Drops of water dotted his bare upper body, and a white towel was wrapped around his waist. His scent filled her senses, and her heart pounded against her chest. She wanted, more than anything, to run her hands over his muscular body. To press her lips against his and lose herself in his taste.

It wasn't until she saw his gaze moved down her body that she realized she was naked.

"O-Oh, my God!" Shepard cried out, trying in vain to cover herself with her hands.

He opened his mouth to say something, but she shut the bathroom door in his face. She grabbed her pants and hopped from one leg to another as she tried to put them on. She grabbed the nearest shirt (not caring at the moment that it was Alenko's) and pulled it over her head. She could feel her body burning with embarrassment and fumbled with the lock on the door before pulling it open and heading out to the kitchen.

"You evil, evil woman," Shepard whispered to her mother. She didn't want Alenko to hear the conversation.

Hannah put down her coffee cup, a look of feigned innocence on her face. "What is the matter, dear? You didn't enjoy your shower?"

"You know very well I haven't gotten in the shower," she said, pointing to her clothes and trying to ignore how good Alenko's shirt smelled. "Alenko was in there, half-naked, beads of water on his body, towel hanging low around his waist…"

"Oh?"

Her mother's response brought Shepard's mind to the present. "You knew he was in there!" she pointed at her mother accusingly.

Hannah let out a gasp. "I knew no such thing!" she said, sounding almost hurt. "I told you I saw him outside in the barn. I was in the kitchen making breakfast. If he walked in, I sure didn't hear him."

Shepard narrowed her eyes not believing a word her mother was saying. She was certainly not going to tell her that Alenko had seen her naked. No, her mother wasn't going to win that easily. That would be her and Alenko's little secret – one she was going to threaten him to keep if she had to. Hannah cocked an eyebrow and gave her a smile.

Shepard let out a frustrated groan. She whirled around and bumped straight into Alenko. He reached his arms out to steady her.

"Commander! I'm so sorry! I didn't – "

Shepard held up her hand. She would talk to Alenko about their little incident later. Somewhere far away from her mother. "It's okay. No harm no foul." She could feel her face getting red. She had placed her hands on his shoulders to keep from falling when she had run into him. She could feel his muscles rippling underneath her fingertips. His hands still held her arms, and she was disappointed when he let her go. His fingers still burned on her skin. How could such a simple touch incite such a huge reaction?

She stepped to the side before her mother figured out what she was thinking and went back to her room. She locked the bathroom door behind her and leaned back against it. His smell still lingered in the bathroom and the image of him standing in front of the sink fluttered into her mind. She needed a shower. A long, cold shower.