Chapter 3

My Comments:

So... I forgot to add my disclaimer... I don't own Mass Effect. That honor goes to Bioware and EA. This plot line however, belongs to myself. And I apologize. I haven't quite figured out a way to separate the point of view paragraphs. I promise to keep trying until I get it. For now I'm just going to type in ~Break~. If any of you know a better way... Please tell me. I would love you for ever. Please bear with me! Also, please review! These reviews will keep me excited to write!

Any of you who are reading... Do you think I should make the chapters longer? I feel like I'm strapped for space near the end... But I wanted to know what you think!

The Story:

Shepard carefully stepped out of the elevator. Her gaze fell on the memorial board. Two plaques were set in the middle. She sighed quietly at the first one. Anderson. She felt her heart skip a beat at the second one. Shepard. It had her name.

"Dammit. Why can't they understand?"

Shepard froze. Kaidan was walking from the Starboard Observation Deck. He stopped in front of the Memorial Board. His hand carefully brushed against Shepard's memorial plate. It was obvious he hadn't spotted her yet.

"This doesn't belong here anymore," he muttered quietly.

Kaidan pulled out the memorial plate, with a little too much force. It crashed to the ground. Shepard took three steps over, picking it up for him.

"I have to agree. I don't really think it belongs there."

Kaidan turned around, shocked. "S-Shepard!"

Shepard smiled, standing back up. "Hey, Kaidan."

Kaidan was frozen, his eyes looking over Shepard. "Oh, uh, right." He couldn't quite figure out why he was so flustered, though he could admit the Commander's outfit didn't help.

Shepard laughed. "I've had this in the back of my closet since the beginning. I had been saving it for shore leave on Earth."

Kaidan took a deep, subconscious breath. "Right. It's good to see that you're out of your cabin."

Her smile faded. "Yeah. I figured I couldn't mope around forever. Besides, if I ignored everyone, things probably wouldn't get any better." Shepard managed to force a smile.

Kaidan knew Shepard enough to realize this. "Hey. Do you want to talk about it? I know I wasn't there for you before, and I regretted that decision right after I made it, but I'm here for you now."

Shepard shook her head. "No. I'll be fine, but thanks for the offer. I'm starving though. Know where I can grab a bite to eat, Major."

Kaidan found himself smiling. "Right this way, Commander."

~ Break ~

Garrus sighed. Calibrating the shuttle could only distract him so much.

"You seem more upset than usual, Turian."

Garrus turned to look at the familiar four-eyed teammate. "Good to see you too, Javik."

Javik scoffed. "I'm sure that is the case. What is bothering you?"

Garrus sighed again, leaning against the shuttle. "Do you ever just stop to relax? Or are you still worried about the end of the galaxy?"

"It would be simple for one to kill another if they dropped their guard. Is this about Commander Shepard?" When Garrus said nothing, Javik assumed he was correct. "I sensed your feelings during the war."

Garrus was, admittedly, surprised. "You knew?"

Javik merely nodded. "I brought it up to the Commander at one point. She confirmed my suspicions."

Garrus shrugged. "I guess I should have assumed. And I'm only worried about her. She's locked in her room."

"Yes. I heard many of the crew complaining that they had tried to see her and failed."

EDI's voice interrupted Javik's thought process. "Kaidan has prepared lunch for everyone and requested that you come upstairs. Liara also prepared food for you, Javik."

Garrus glanced at Javik. "You'd better not keep her waiting."

~ Break ~

Shepard laughed happily, throwing some of the flour at Kaidan. Kaidan laughed in return, merely shaking his head. Liara smiled at the both of them managing to get along as she got out plates and silverware for everyone.

"Shepard!"

Shepard turned to Miranda. "Hey! I see EDI wasted no time. Come up and get something to eat. I would suggest this section over here with the human food."

Miranda found herself smiling as she got some food and took her seat next to Dr. Chakwas. Grunt and Tali both walked out of the Starboard Observation Deck, surprised to see Shepard.

"Come get something to eat! We made food specifically for you!"

Tali and Grunt both grabbed some food, happy that Shepard had come out of her room. EDI had already grabbed Joker's portion and brought it to him. This would be the last meal they all shared together, as Joker had informed the Commander that they had two hours left. One hour, since cooking so much had taken so long. Shepard heard the elevator door open.

"How am I supposed to know?" questioned a slightly exasperated sounding Garrus.

"You should know much about this subject, Turian. Rivals must be taken down," replied Javik.

Shepard smiled at Garrus as he turned the corner, one of her eyebrows raised. "About time you got here, Vakarian."

Garrus stopped moving. "Shepard?"

Kaidan moved from behind Shepard. "You'd better hurry before it gets cold, Garrus."

Garrus felt his mandibles move in a grin. He and Javik joined everyone at the tables. They laughed and joked, Joker and EDI joining them over the comms. Shepard sat down at the end of the table, right next to Garrus. Kaidan took the seat across from her.

"Now, if you don't mind me asking, Commander; what are you wearing?"

Shepard laughed at Dr. Chakwas' question, but noticed everyone looking at her curiously. "I've had this since the beginning. I never wore it because I never had a reason to!"

Everyone laughed, and Shepard felt Garrus' free hand grab onto hers. She smiled back at him.

Shepard hadn't even realized how long they had been talking and laughing until she heard EDI's voice over the comms. "Commander? You presence is requested."

Shepard managed to keep a smile as she excused herself and headed towards the elevator. Once the door closed, her smile faded. There was no way life would ever be this peaceful again. No one knew exactly what she could do. She had the Reaper's at her beck and call.

The door opened and Shepard headed straight towards the cockpit. "I'm here Joker."

Joker turned, smirking. "If you're going to keep wearing stuff like that commander, I might need to keep you up here for moral support too."

"Jeff," came the one word warning call from the AI next to him.

Joker laughed. "It was a joke, EDI. Lighten up." He spun back around. "This is the Normandy SR-2 requesting permission to dock."

"Under what clearance did you have to leave in the first place?" came the annoyed voice of humanity's current voice on the Citadel, Hackett.

"I had to pick up an old friend, Admiral."

"A who is giving you clearance to dock again? Official business only while we rebuild, Moreau."

Shepard leaned down so she was in the image. "The deceased Spectre Commander Shepard, I think that should be clearance enough."

The shock was evident on his face. "D-24 Normandy. Same as always."

Shepard carefully took a worn locket out of her pocket. She opened it, revealing a picture of her and her parents before the attack on Mindoir. "EDI? Before we go, can you help me with this?"

EDI nodded, placing the locket on Shepard's neck. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Commander?"

Shepard sighed, studying the locket that rested just above her dog tags. "I don't have a choice. I can't hide from this forever."

~ Break ~

Kaidan noticed Garrus finally put his right arm back on the table after Shepard had left. He studied him carefully. Garrus seemed awfully close to Shepard. Back on the Reaper ship, he had hugged her and kept his arm around her waist. And she had been okay with it. Had he missed something? Shepard couldn't be- no. That's ridiculous. She couldn't love Garrus, right?

Shepard's extremely solemn voice interrupted the happy group from the intercom. "Everyone? Prepare to dock. We shall be exiting onto the Citadel in a few moments."

Kaidan and everyone else froze. No wonder she wanted everyone there. Kaidan watched Garrus stand up and walk quickly to the elevator.

He sighed. As he glanced at everyone else at the table, as simple message was displayed.

Things were about to get a lot more interesting.

~ Break ~

Shepard took a deep breath, staring at the door in front of her. Garrus wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his hand giving one of them a reassuring squeeze. She noticed a still confused Kaidan glaring at Garrus.

"Commanding officer is ashore. No one remains to stand on deck."

Shepard laughed at the familiar voice. She stepped forward, feeling Garrus' hand remove itself.

"Whoa."

The citadel was still in the recovery process, but it was still as beautiful as ever. Despite the resentment Shepard felt towards most of its people, she still found herself constantly admiring the place. Her gaze lowered as she stepped out into the open. The area had obviously been cleared out right before they arrived. Three familiar faces greeted her with surprise and disbelief. The one that had served under Shepard stepped forward, extending his hand.

"Nice to see you again, Lola."

Shepard shook the extended hand and ignored the snicker she heard from behind her.

"Feeling's mutual, Vega."

James had that same cocky smirk of his face, and he looked pretty happy in his N7 uniform.

"Nice to know you managed to live again, Commander."

Shepard stepped forward, shaking Bailey's hand.

"Nice to be alive, Bailey."

Hackett took a deep breath. "Glad to see our hero has returned."

Shepard took the last step forward, listening to her crew reacquaint themselves with James and Bailey.

"Good to see you're still alive and kicking, Admiral."

Hackett shakily shook Shepard's hand. "I didn't think I was seeing right when you showed up in the vid call. I was pretty damn sure I was seeing things."

Shepard laughed. "Nice to know I always make some good entrances."

Bailey went back to his spot next to Hackett. "Unfortunately, this is going to have to be cut short. The Council wants to see you."

Shepard's smile faded. "Well isn't that surprising?"

"Glad to see we're as predictable as ever, Commander."

Shepard jumped, looking down into the lounge. Three familiar Councilors looked up at her. Bailey laughed at her reaction.

"They figured it would be easier to meet you here. Less prying eyes."

Shepard nodded, walking around the corner and standing a little ways in front of the council. "It is an honor to be in your presence again, Councilors."

The Turian Councilor shook his head, chuckling. "If only that were the case, Commander."

The Salarian Councilor got right to the chase. "Commander Shepard? Where have you been for the last three years and what happened on the Crucible?"

Shepard froze. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't tell them that she could control the Reaper's... Could she?

"They promised to not lock you up, Commander." Shepard turned to Bailey in surprise. "They figured locking the galaxy's hero up wouldn't be a good idea."

Shepard nodded, taking a deep breath. "This is going to be a long story. You might want to sit down."