Tali was bouncing at Melody's bunk, straightening her belt and glancing around excitedly. Liara and Ashley were in the room too, Ashley on her bunk and Liara looking over some of the other crew members medals.

Melody was tightening her boots. She was in civvies, as was Ashley. Blue casual clothes with the Alliance logo on their chests. Liara was wearing a casual asari outfit; a long white top with black bottoms and boots.

Melody tightened her ponytail and said; "Okay, I'm good." everyone got up and they collectively headed for the door. "Thanks for waiting girls, I appreciate it."

"Shouldn't have slept in." Ash chided her. "Now you get to just head on out with us sans breakfast."

She shrugged as she followed the ladies upstairs. "I'll probably pick up a tea near the Presidum if possible."

Tali made a disgusted sound; "Your earth teas smell so weird though these filters." she shook her head. "I don't know why you and Liara like them."

"They are relaxing," Liara stated calmly.

"I have memories attached to certain ones," Melody responded whimsically. "Like orange pekoe, it reminds me of when my mummu would have visited back on earth. She always had it for her afternoon tea with a slice of pulla, a delicious sweet bread."

Liara tilted her head and asked; "What is a moo-moo?"

Melody blinked and blushed. "It's what I call my grandmother on my mother's side." she smiled. "She's Finnish, mummu is the name for grandmother in Finland, a small country on Earth. Pulla is from there too..."

"It just amazes me how diverse earth languages are." Tali seemed to smile in her voice as she skipped towards the door of the ship. "They all sound so similar to us thanks to translators but it still doesn't catch everything."

Ashley had been quiet but had pipped up in the decontamination room as they exited the ship. "So, where first?"

Melody brought up her omni-tool. "Well, we should shop first." She noticed the smiles from her comrades. "Get some cute civvies and some dress up clothes for off and on deck."

"Oooh!" Tali almost squealed as we reached the elevator. "I could buy some snazzier acessories!" The girls all giggled at Tali's outburst, agreeing with her as they descended to C-Sec level.

"Then we get lunch somewhere." Melody continued. "And afterwards some shooting practice on the local alliance range. And then we head back to the ship to wash up for dinner and drinks with the gents."

"I have a place in mind for lunch," Liara responded. "It might be tough to get in..."

Melody shrugged. "Worse case scenario we grab some food in the markets."

Ashley exited the elevator first and almost collided into Jane, who appeared as if she just finished a very heated argument with a C-sec officer. The commander was in her casual dress blues she wore around the ship.

"Need backup, skipper?" Ashley asked at once, eyeing the turian officer.

"No." Jane responded coldly. "We were just leaving."

She took Ashley's arm and marched out the door to the Presidum. The rest of us trailed after, not letting the ladies get too far.

"What's wrong, commander?" Liara asked as we neared a fountain.

The commander stopped and rounded on her crewmates. "That ass hole was bitching about something private." she hissed. "And that's all."

Melody and Ashley stood straight. Either that turian had some anti-Alliance motives or he knew something about Jane or John. Melody shook her head, wanting to lighten the mood; "Commander, we were just off to some shops on the higher part of the Presidum. Please join us."

The fire in the redhead's eyes seemed to dim. "I'd..." she sighed. "I would love to."

Jane looked on edge as the group walked in silence. Melody could feel the tense atmosphere in the air. Tali was walking ahead on the stairs as they headed up.

They finally reached a little asari boutique with dresses and clothes adorning the mannequins in the windows holo displays. Liara bounded ahead inside.

Immediately the quiet went away. Liara was showing Ashley some tops, asking if she would wear them. The woman blushed in return, mumbling refusals towards the skimpier pieces. Tali was admiring belts and asking for opinions on the shine and material from the lean asari running the shop. Jane, however, pulled Melody aside to the dresses.

"I need to talk to you," she mumbled, picking a few dresses off the racks as she moved. "That turian was asking questions about Nihlus, and threatening John and I. He thinks we've done something to him because the man has been off the grid."

Melody grinned. "Keep by me." she patted her commander's shoulder. "I've got the tension diffuser if the bloke returns."

Jane immediately relaxed. "Thanks, Melody. I needed to hear that."

The commander entered the nearest dressing room and locked it behind her. Melody turned to go help Tali away from the annoyed looking asari. "Tali dear?" she pulled her arm gently and turned her towards some necklaces. She whispered to the little quiarian. "I think you were talking the asari to death."

"S-sorry." Tali mumbled, looking over some black gold pieces."I was just excited. There are so many nice things and I want to show them off in the field."

"I know." Melody spotted a brilliant bright purple and black necklace. "Oooo, this looks just your type."

Tali giggled and held it around her neck, looking at the nearest mirror. "Wow...you know my pallet well." she laughed. "I really liked it."

She sounded so sincere. Tali then turned to her; "Now you need a dress for tonight. No arguments."

Melody was just about to but in too. She hadn't shaved her legs or worn heels in a while, so she hoped the little quarian would pick out something modest.

She threw about a handful of dresses into her arms. Shepard exited the change room with two on her arm.

"I demand that all able ladies dress up tonight." Jane giggled. "No dress blues. No pants."

Melody sighed loudly and exaggeratedly. "Really?"

"Yes." Ash almost shouted at her, she was trying on a pink dress that accentuated her curves.

Liara quickly strode over and she and Tali pushed Melody forcefully into the nearest change room. As she shouted; "Not a chance ladies. I wear only pants or jeans or dress blues. Help!"

There were giggles as the ladies held the door shut. Melody locked the door reluctantly

Melody changed into the first dress; too tight on the hips. The next, much too short to dance in. The one after made her stomach look bloated.

She finally found the perfect one after scourging the pile Tali had made for her. It fit like a glove to her torso. Black and sleek until it hit under her bust, it then flared out until it met her knees. And thick straps on her shoulders too, they hit from collar to the joint of her shoulder. The skirt was a midnight blue and was silky soft. She exited the room with the dress on.

Tali let out an audible gasp. Liara blinked rapidly and Ashley whistled. Jane was at the cashier so she couldn't see.

Melody suddenly felt very embarrassed from the stares. She headed back into the change room and quickly threw on her civvies again. Liara looked concerned when she came back out.

"It looked lovely," she said softly, drawing near. "Did you not like it?"

Melody hung her rejects up. "No, I love it..." she mumbled. "I just felt very exposed."

Liara took her hand gently. "You are lovely Melody. You shouldn't feel like that with your crew." she gave her a comforting smile. "So don't be afraid to flaunt your gifts."

Jane suddenly interrupted. "Found something?" she looked over the black and blue dress still in Melody's arms. "That looks beautiful! Do you have any shoes to pair it with?"

Melody shook her head. "I'll find something here but I have belts and accessories on the ship to help."

Jane chuckled to her, "No flats or sneakers then."

Melody sighed, "Why can't I dress like an angsty teen mother?" she taunted a little with the last word, strolling to the shoes were Ashley was trying on thin heels.

"Because I'm your boss." Jane said in a matter of fact tone. She sat at the front of the boutique waiting for the rest of us.

Melody scanned the rows and her eyes fell on a pair of combat boots. Blue to match the dress with black and white laces. She snatched up her size, smiled and headed to the counter with her purchase before anyone saw her.

She twirled her bag as she walked up to Jane. "You find anything good?" she asked her.

The redhead looked up; "Oh, absolutely." she pulled out a small red and black dress with white trim. It was a strappy and petite looking.

Melody blinked and smiled widely. "You're gonna make heads turn commander."

Melody saw at once a thread of red pulse away from her. "I only want one," Jane mumbled softly.

"How is Garrus?" Melody asked softly. "Did you see him before you headed out?"

The commander turned red and ran her hands through her hair. "No, I didn't," she whispered. "And don't ask about him like that. I'm not dating him. He's just handsome...Besides," she added hurriedly. "We all have too much on our plates to be thinking of dating."

Melody nodded and patted her shoulder. "One day commander...one day soon."

They became quiet and Ashley came over, showing off her pink dress at once. Earning a whistle from the two girls.

"It's really going to accentuate your tan." Melody responded, biting back what she really wanted to say it would show off.

"Aww," Ashley said in an excited tone. "That isn't why I bought it, but now I love it more!" she danced with the dress for a second so it flowed about her and then put it back in the bag.

Tali and Liara finally came over. Liara putting Tali's smaller and heavier shopping in her bag. "I'm starved!" Liara stated.

"You're telling me." Melody sighed.

"I am." said Liara slowly with a questioning inflexion in her voice.

"It's a saying," Ashley said, waving her hand as she leaned into the boutique's door, opening it for the group. "She's agreeing with you."

Liara and Jane giggled as they headed for lunch chatting about some of the restaurants nearby, Ashley arm and arm with Tali talking about the shops around. Melody didn't care where she ate. She was just so happy everyone was getting along.