Inspired by Michelle Branch's "Breathe"

Breathe

For all his habits of breaking rules and having a general disregard for anything mildly associated with a regulation, Garrus couldn't bring himself to say a word as to why he and Shepard were the only ones driving around in the Mako on a planet that they'd already established as having nothing on it. Not that he didn't mind being in her company, but the planet was rainy and miserable and it'd been an hour since they'd landed and Shepard had yet to say a word.

Ice blue eyes flickered over to his companion, who seemed far more engaged with the Mako's steering than usual. Erin had seemed agitated all day, pacing the ship since dawn, doing her rounds to all her crew members, checking in, even with Kaidan. Finally she'd come down and laid under the Mako with him, content to watch the Turian work in silence. After some time though, she grew restless and ordered Joker to drop them on the first planet they could find that was suitable for testing out the Mako's new suspension.

Of course Kaidan and Ashley volunteered to go with her to the surface in the Mako, but she stubbornly declined, insisting she only wanted Garrus with her.

At first Garrus had thought about making conversation, but at taking a look at the fierce light burning in his commander's eyes, he decided that if he wanted to remain seated in the warm, dry Mako, he'd best keep his mouth shut. And so he did, but after such a long time, the Turian decided it was high time to break the silence.

Clearing his throat with almost a hum, he swallowed dryly. "Commander? Is there a reason we're-"

"Twenty nine."

Startled, Garrus blinked a few times, trying to comprehend what she'd said. "I'm sorry, what?"

Ocean blue eyes locked with Garrus's ice blue eyes and for the first time he realized that the Commander, despite looking pissed as he'd ever seen her, seemed somewhat hurt. "Twenty nine. That's how old I am today."

It didn't take long for Garrus to realize the implications of her statement. "Today is your birthday?"

Upon seeing the Commander's nod, Garrus brightened a little. "Why didn't you say something?"

Angrily throwing the Mako into park atop a precarious peak, Erin sighed, resting her head in her hands. "I don't know…I generally don't make a big deal out of it, but Kaidan knew and he hasn't said a word about it. I mean, Ashley sent me a little card and said happy birthday when I visited, but she knows I don't make a big deal of it, I'm just kind of hurt that nobody else said anything."

If it were possible for Garrus to pout, he would be, but as his mandibles prevented that, he settled for clenching his mandibles in closer to his face. "Shepard, I wish I'd known…I would've told Tali or even Wrex…we could've done something for you…"

As if realizing her words, Erin sat bolt upright, waving her hands apologetically. "Oh, no, no! I'm not blaming you guys at all, I didn't expect you to know or anything…it's not something I go around advertising…"

"But you're still mad Kaidan didn't say anything."

Miserably nodding, Erin sighed, curling up in her seat. "I don't know…I just thought he would at least SAY something."

"Do you like him?"

Sharply glancing over at the Turian, Erin's gaze was met with open, inquiring eyes and a hint of concern about his features. Allowing her shoulders to drop, she sighed. "Not the way everyone thinks, no."

Settling back, Erin pulled her fingers through her chocolate colored hair. "Kaidan is great. He's a sweet guy, a strong biotic, good with tech, and not bad looking."

With a little shifting, Garrus turned so he was facing his commander a little more, willing to listen to her. "Sounds like the ideal human mate. What's stopping you?"

"A lot of things," chuckled the human, lacing her fingers together, "First, Ashley has the biggest crush on him, and I couldn't go and get in her way. But even more importantly, my heart isn't in it. I just…don't feel it like that. Of course he's a good friend and a great teammate, but that's all he'll ever be to me, no matter what he wants otherwise."

Puzzled, Garrus twitched his mandibles in agitation. "So let me see if I understand. You like Kaidan enough to be upset he didn't remember your birthday…."

"Right."

"…But not enough to mate with him."

"Exactly."

Garrus rubbed at the soft hide on the back of his neck, thoroughly puzzled by now. "All right then, what would it take for you to like him in more than a friendly manner?"

What Garrus did not expect was Erin's boisterous laughter. Wiping away the tears of mirth, she shook her head. "No, it doesn't work like that Garrus. You can't just….change your mind about someone like that on such a serious matter. It takes time…and just a gut feeling."

Outside, the rain began to pound harder, so Erin raised her voice so that her Turian companion could hear her. "When you meet someone, you just know certain things about them. Like when I met Kaidan, I thought 'he's nice, but I don't want to date him.' And when I met Tali, I knew we'd be friends. It's just a feeling that can't be faked…and when I meet someone special, someone I want to love…I know."

Silence fell between the two as the Turian turned this information over in his mind. Of course C-Sec had briefed him on the basics of different species mating rituals and practices, but the information wasn't exactly in depth. It had mainly covered physical signs of attraction, but nothing of internal. But truth be told, Garrus could understand the feeling. It hadn't been three weeks ago that he had spoken with his friend Caius about simply knowing when he'd met the right girl, after all. Tilting his head in Erin's direction, he blinked.

"What about me?"

Fully intending to answer, Erin opened her mouth, then slowly shut it, leaning against the cool steel behind her. Slowly, she let her eyes trace across Garrus's form, trying to determine what it was that had originally drawn her towards the young alien. He was tall to be sure, a good three or four inches taller than Shepard, and he was toned as far as she could tell. Garrus's face had the same basic structure as most Turians, but the bold blue lines on his cheeks made his ice blue eyes stand out against his tan-gray skin. Personally, Shepard was quite fond of Garrus's eyes. They were such a rare color amongst Turians, and they were so expressive. Just by taking a glance into his baby blues, the commander could get a fairly good idea of what her friend was thinking.

Allowing a smile to flit across her face before finally answering. "Garrus, when I met you, I knew you were special. I can't quite place how or why or what it is, but one day I'll be able to, and when I can, I promise to tell you."

For a long moment, this seemed to satisfy the Turian. Then, with swiftness and grace befitting his race, Garrus snatched Shepard out of her seat and deposited her on his own, effectively situating himself in the driver's seat. Raising one long talon against her protests, he smiled. "Now, I won't have you driving around on your birthday."

This simple admittance silenced his commander, who blinked repeatedly as he threw the Mako into gear, chuckling. "Besides, isn't there a human saying, age before beauty?"

Meekly nodding, Shepard abruptly furrowed her brow. "Wait, how old are you Garrus?"

"Just turned thirty." He beamed at her while navigating down the precarious perch that they had been parked upon.

Satisfied, Shepard nodded and enjoyed the ride down the mountain to a small clearing where Joker could pick them up. Bumping and rolling to a stop in the middle, another thought crossed the brunette commander's mind. The saying was indeed "age before beauty", so by that logic, if Garrus was age…

"Garrus, did you just call me pretty?"

For what felt like the millionth time since joining the Normandy, Garrus sent his silent thanks to the Spirits that he couldn't blush.

By the end of the day, Shepard was in much better spirits. Of course, after returning Garrus had immediately vanished along with Tali and Wrex, although Shepard had some idea that getting the Krogan to leave his usual spot must have taken some cajoling on the Turian's part.

Wandering throughout the ship, the brunette paused only a moment before stepping through the kitchen doors. The sight before her stopped her dead in her tracks.

Wrex was frozen, apparently in the middle of heading towards the door to secure it. Tali slowly lowered a hand from wiping flour and batter off her visor, a spoon clutched in her other hand. Poor Garrus Vakarian found himself clutching a large mixing bowl, his face and hands smeared with batter and egg and an assortment of other ingredients. Flour and mess coated most every surface of the kitchen, and for the longest time, the trio stared at their commander.

"Well…" Tali remarked, wiping her hands on a towel. "I, ah, suppose now is as good a time as ever to wish you a happy birthday, Commander."

Seeing that Wrex nodded his agreement and added a rumble of contentment, Shepard couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Thank you, that's very sweet, but what the hell have you done to the kitchen?"

"I think the whelp over there can explain," Wrex jerked his head towards Garrus, his voice rumbling in the small space.

Fumbling with the bowl as Shepard approached, Garrus stumbled over his words so badly and spoke so quickly it was almost amusing. "Ah, Commander, well I couldn't help but think about our conversation earlier and how I felt you should have some sort of a, ah, proper human celebration so I looked up some things but I didn't really know what else to do so I called Tali since I thought she might help but then neither of us could taste it, so we had to call Wrex to make sure since you both can eat the same-"

"Garrus." Shepard was now in front of him as she laid a hand gently over his mouth. Wiping away the little bits of batter and powder that coated his mandibles and the area close to his teeth, she raised her eyebrows and gave an encouraging smile. "I'm not mad. Just curious. What have you been making?"

Stepping aside, all eyes in the room fell on the last clean counter in the room, which was now dominated by a large cake. As the commander stepped forward, she couldn't help but be in awe at how much work they would have had to go through to make it, considering half of the present company wouldn't be able to eat it. It had been frosted in a pale blue-green, and the accent icing was the same ocean blue as the commander's eyes. In large, scrawling letters someone had written "Happy Birthday Shepard" on the top while twenty nine candles were stuck around the edges. Between the areas where frosting had been missed, Erin could see that it was a rich chocolate, almost the same color as her hair.

Slowly rotating on the spot, Erin fought for composure as she glanced between the three. "You all…did this for me?"

"It was easier than going to the Citadel for a gift." Quipped Tali, wiping away the last of batter from her visor, "But yes, we did. It was Garrus's idea really."

Shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, Garrus shook his head. "I just felt so…indignant that Alenko would ignore you like this…you…you deserved better."

"Stupid human. Doesn't know what he's got." The rust red Krogan's voice seemed to echo the sentiments of the other aliens in the room

Before any more sentiments could be aired, Shepard warmly embraced each, thanking them profusely as she did so, staring with the Krogan, then Tali, saving Garrus for last. Pausing only a moment, she propelled herself into the Turian with such force that he had to lean back, lifting the smaller human off the ground for a moment or two. As he did so, Shepard turned her face so that her lips were inches from Garrus's ears, her warm breath tickling his sensitive hide.

"Thank you Garrus. Whoever is lucky enough to receive your affection, she will be one lucky woman."

Gingerly setting her down, Garrus tilted his head, asking the unspoken question. A smile flitted about the commander's face for a moment before shaking her head. "That's part of it, yes, but no….One day I'll tell you Garrus."

"One day can be a long way off."

Slyly eyeing the Turian, Shepard crossed her arms over her chest, a twinkle of mischief in her demeanor. "Well, if we beat Seren, maybe I'll tell you then."