A/N Thanks to everyone who has added this to their favorites list - it's a good feeling to see those email notices coming in. Please let me know if you find any inconsistencies or out of character bits. Hope you continue to enjoy.

I plan on ending this to match the beginning of ME3 as I think they did well with the relationship but after playing through it I may just write my own ending as well.

Bioware owns all - I'm just playing in their universe, and what a wonderful place it is.


Edi was happy, excited, scared and much more. She was a little overwhelmed by the sensations but pulled herself together in the space of milliseconds. She had a mission that was purely hers and she knew that Shepard trusted her to carry it out to the letter.

To have that opportunity made her understand that Shepard did really consider her a member of her crew, her ground team, even though she couldn't physically leave the ship. Edi was proud of that. Shepard had given her a set of parameters to follow with a little leeway for last minute changes that didn't endanger the crew or the ship, there was also a list of other names that had to be included in whatever EDI considered necessary.

It was only a matter of time now before EDI's mission came into play, but she was ready and she wouldn't, couldn't let Shepard down.


Admiral Anderson looked up as Kaidan walked into his office, a look of anger, determination or was it mistrust on his face. Anderson sat up in his chair and watched as Kaidan came to attention before him.

'Alenko?' Anderson was concerned by the formality, the coolness. Kaidan was one of his best officers, forged in battle and shaped by the best commander he had ever had. This was the first time he had sensed doubt in someone he knew was a true Alliance soldier.

'Admiral,' Kadian was almost sharp. 'Permission to speak freely sir, off the record.'

'Off course, you know you can always do that with me.' Anderson was even more puzzled but he was completely taken aback as Kaidan leaned onto his desk and almost spat his words out.

'You are a bastard, Hackett is a bastard and at this point the whole morality, truth and standards of the Alliance are in question.' He stepped back and waited for Anderson's response.

What the? Anderson had no idea how to respond he was so surprised. This was the last thing he expected.

'I don't ….' He started but Kaidan interrupted him.

'You let her get killed, you sold her out, you get her to do your dirty work, you punish her and you ignore everything she ever tried to tell you and now you expect her to bow to your wishes, to give up everything she has ever fought for, believed in. You expect her to lie down quietly while you punish her again, take away everything she has.' Kaidan was pacing now, his hands glowing blue as he controlled his biotics. 'I always thought better of you, of Hackett, of the Alliance. I don't know if I want to be an Alliance soldier anymore,' he turned to look at Anderson, 'I don't know if I can trust you anymore.'

'You know,' Anderson sighed and slumped in his chair.

It was Kaidan's turn to be stunned into silence.

'How did you find out?' Anderson stood up and moved to look out the window, the view over the spaceport had always relaxed him, but not today. 'How much have you found out.'

Kaidan moved beside him and handed him a datapad with a list of missions, logs and more, he'd made sure to include the Shepard reconstruction logs. A quick glance at the list told Anderson that there was no more hiding anything from him. The thought of where the information had come from was less important than calming the upset man before him.

'I'm sorry Kaidan,' Anderson motioned to a table and they both sat. Kaidan was still angry and with a deep sense of regret Anderson continued. 'I wanted to tell you, to let you know what was happening but I couldn't, even I have to follow the chain of command. I've never wanted to disobey orders before but I also didn't want to put you through the pain and suffering you had to deal with when she died in case she died again. I also didn't like the thought that you might want to run off and join her, I needed you here, you were, are, the closest we have to an expert on what the Reapers can do.' Anderson looked into Kaidan's eyes, 'You are the closest thing I'll ever have to a son and she is the daughter I never had. I hated hurting either one of you.'

'I….' Kaidan was lost for words. He buried his face in his hands and Anderson was afraid he had damaged their relationship beyond repair. Kaidan sighed and dropped his hands to the table without lifting his head and said softly, 'You sent me to Horizon knowing she would be there.' He looked at Anderson with moist eyes, 'The things I said to her, the idea it wasn't really her but you knew. You knew and you let me almost destroy everything I cared about.'

'I don't…' Anderson stopped as he realised what Kaidan had said. '"Almost destroyed", you've heard from her?'

Kaidan nodded, 'Yes, she wants to see me,' there was relief in his voice and Anderson was thankful there was still hope there. 'She's coming home. She's coming to face the consequences of what she's done because she believes it's her only way to get the help she needs. She knows she may never get off this planet again but she's coming because she has no choice.' A tear rolled down his cheek, 'She's coming because that's who she is and she won't let the galaxy die even to save herself.'

He took a deep breath and pulled himself upright. 'You can court martial me if that's what you need to do but this time I am not being left out. I will be there for her with or without your help, I think I can get enough people to listen to me. Hell, if I have to I'll meet her somewhere and the Alliance can go stuff itself.'

'No need.' Anderson stood up with renewed intent and took the datapad to his desk. 'We've been working towards this for a long time now and I'm glad I can finally include you, I hated keeping you out. Shepard has been keeping us informed, sending us her mission logs and any other information she feels we could use. It had to be kept quiet for obvious reasons and even Shepard doesn't know how much support she has.'

Kaidan was confused and it showed as he followed Anderson to his desk.

'Relax Kaidan,' Anderson smiled. 'Did you really think we'd leave Commander Shepard out to hang? There's a plan in place and you can help now.' Anderson gave him back his datapad with new files added.

Kaidan stared at the list of new files and his eyes widened in surprise, he had more reading to do apparently and he was eager to get to it.

'Let me know when you're up to speed,' Anderson chuckled, 'I have a job for you.'

Kaidan nodded dumbly and decided that food and coffee where necessary at this point. He mumbled a goodbye to Anderson and headed for the nearest café, tucked himself into a corner and ate while he read. His trust in Anderson and the Alliance was slowly being reaffirmed.