A/N: Many MANY love and thanks to LTFran for proofing/editing for me ^_^ The lack of typos and errors are all thanks to her XD

Sorry for the week long hiatus~ had to get a lot of work out of the way =)

Chapter 7
Drunk

As Shepard and Kaidan entered the dimly lit bar, an asari bartender gave a half-hearted greeting while polishing her shot glasses. There were a handful of patrons in the vicinity who were drinking and chatting amongst themselves. The band composed of a human, a hanar, and a turian were on the small stage playing a soothing jazz melody

"Pretty interesting place, Kaidan," Shepard commented, gazing around and taking in her surroundings.

Kaidan followed Shepard into the nearby booth in the corner. "I prefer this place to the clubs down below." He pointed to his temple. "The music here doesn't give me a headache."

Shepard let out a light hearted laugh. "You never were a fan of the clubbing scene."

"I've never seen you step into those places yourself, Shepard," he joked in reply.

A young human waitress stepped up to their booth and took out her data tablet. "What would you both like?"

"What's the strongest thing you have?" she asked the waitress.

"For humans, we have a some asari rum that's pretty intense. We have some good drinks that we mix it with."

Shepard grinned as she gave Kaidan a sideways glance. "I'll have it straight."

The waitress blinked. "Sure. And you, sir?"

"Uh…my tolerance isn't as impressive. I'll just have a beer."

"You got it." The waitress tapped her orders into her pad. "I'll be right back with your drinks."

Kaidan noticed Shepard's look of concern and waved it off. "Ah…don't worry. Beer doesn't flare up my implants as badly as other forms of alcohol."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Back then you always tried to avoid it when we tried to grab a drink."

"That was because Ash could drink like a fish." Kaidan chuckled at the memory. "I turn out looking like a girly man nursing one lonely mug of beer compared to her twenty."

Shepard smiled. "That's true. She was one hell of a soldier, on or off the field."

The waitress quickly came back and placed the drinks before them. The pink liquid in Shepard's glass glowed suspiciously. She told them, "Enjoy," and then quickly stepped away to serve another table.

Kaidan eyed Shepard's drink. "I don't think that's something that even Ash would be able to handle."

Shepard picked up the glass and inspected it closely. "She was never the type to turn down a challenge though." She grinned at him. "Neither am I."

Kaidan held up his mug of beer. "Well then…to Ash."

"To Ash," Shepard agreed and clinked her glass against his.

Kaidan watched Shepard in awe as she downed the drink in one go. As Shepard slammed the glass back down on the table, Kaidan couldn't help shaking his head in disbelief. "That's incredible. I didn't know you would be able to hold your drink like that."

Shepard suddenly reached out and grabbed Kaidan by his shirt. She yanked him across the table, so her face was close to his. Kaidan gaped as he noticed that Shepard's face was completely red, noticeable even in the dim light of the bar.

"I know I'm not Ash…but I can still hold my liquor!" Shepard told him, her voice slurring.

"I can see that." Kaidan tried to back away but Shepard's grip was tight. "I think…that drink was a bit strong."

"Not true! I'm still sitting up right now, aren't I?" Shepard insisted, refusing to loosen her hold.

"Oh, God… Are you drunk?"

"What? No, I'm not drunk…" She shook her head. "I'm perfectly sobe…sob…fine."

"Yes, Shepard. I am very impressed that you are still conscious." Kaidan laughed nervously. "Now just let go of my shirt…"

Shepard's eyes narrowed and she moved her face even closer to his. "Kaidan…do you hate me?"

The unexpected question caught him off guard. "Wait…what?"

"I'm asking if you hate me!" she repeated, her body swaying slowly.

"Of course I don't hate you!" Kaidan exclaimed.

"You obviously dislike being close to me. Asking me to let you go…refusing to come with the old team for drinks…turning down my offer to re-join my team! What do you have against me, Kaidan? I always try to be nice to you…even if you were being a total jerk." Her grip tightened on his shirt as she shook him.

"I…I'm sorry about all that," Kaidan replied softly, placing his hand on her wrist. "But I swear that I don't hate you, Shepard."

Shepard's eyes began to water. "Then why didn't you want to come with me back on Horizon?

Kaidan swallowed. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with a drunken Shepard. When he played this conversation in his mind, he expected it to be the other way around.

When he didn't answer, Shepard gave him another shake. "Did you have something against me, you bastard? Is it because I saved you instead of Ash back on Virmire?"

"What? No!"

"It is, isn't it? You were in love with Ash and you've been holding it against me because I let her die!"

Kaidan shook his head and grabbed hold of Shepard's shoulders with both his hands. "No! I was never in love with Ash!"

"Then what is it?" Shepard asked angrily, her cheeks still a bright red.

Kaidan firmly lifted his face levelly so they were eye to eye. "It's because I'm in love with you."

Miranda was weaving herself through the crowds of people on the Citadel, making her way towards Shepard's location as quickly as she could.

Damned Alliance. Damned Kaidan Alenko. Miranda furiously cursed to herself. Shepard had come too far to let that cocky son of a bitch to muscle his way back into her good graces. Miranda perfectly recalled the video playback she watched from Horizon. Their team had watched Shepard extend her invitation only to be snubbed by her unworthy former squad mate.

Shepard had saved her, had saved Oriana…hell, she had saved the entire universe. If she couldn't rescue Shepard from Kaidan Alenko, what good was she as Shepard's second-in-command?

"Uh oh," Kasumi's voice buzzed over their comm link.

"What's going on now?" Miranda demanded, stomping inside one of the Citadel elevators.

"Looks like Shep's gotten herself a bit tipsy." There was more amusement than concern in Kasumi's voice.

"What do you mean by 'tipsy'?" Miranda impatiently pressed at the elevator buttons to get the doors to close.

"From what I've just observed, Shep just drank down an entire glass of asari rum. It's pretty impressive that she's still conscious, but it looks like she's really drunk."

"Great," Miranda muttered, wishing she could wire the elevators to go faster. "I'm assuming Alenko is with her?"

"You assume correctly," Kasumi almost sang. "She's literally inches away from making out with our hunky Alliance Commander at the moment."

"We want to prevent this!" Miranda yelled into her comm link. "Remember? The plan? Garrus?"

"I know, I know," Kasumi grumbled. "But it doesn't make the guy any less sexy…"

"If you see anything about to happen, you are to intercede. Do you understand?" Miranda ordered.

"Whatever happen to our agreement about this all being Shepard's choice?" Kasumi asked.

"We also agreed to lead Shepard down the right path. Kaidan Alenko is not the right path," Miranda answered flatly.

Another voice joined their conversation over the link. "I think it's only fair to let Shepard decide whether what's right or wrong."

"Kaidan Alenko had his chance, Tali," Miranda replied. "Shepard deserves someone loyal. Not a fair weather friend."

Tali was also trying to make it towards the bar where Shepard was at. "We've all spurned Shepard in one way or another, Miranda. She gave us all second chances… Weren't you the one who scoffed at Shepard's abilities before she saved us all on Freedom's Progress?"

"I…" Miranda hesitated. "I've never intentionally turned my back on Shepard when she needed me."

"Commander Alenko had no idea what was going on back then. Doesn't he deserve a chance?" Tali asked.

The elevator finally reached it's destination and the doors slid open. Miranda didn't answer Tali's question. "I'm almost there. Kasumi, if you notice anything about to happen, you are to intervene immediately."

"Fine. Will do," Kasumi sighed in response.

Tali opted to run for the stairs rather than wait for the elevators. "Miranda, we all promised it would be up to Shepard."

"Do you want to risk Shepard getting hurt by the same bastard twice?" Miranda inquired.

Tali couldn't hide the exasperation from her voice. "I think if Shepard wants to be with Kaidan Alenko, then that's her decision. We should just leave them both alone."

All of a sudden, a hand stretched out and grabbed Tali by the shoulder. She jumped in surprise and whipped around to see Garrus standing behind her. There was no doubt he had just heard what she had just told Miranda. His expression was indecipherable, which made Tali instantly anxious of his reaction.

"What's this about Shepard and Alenko being alone?" Garrus demanded.