Author's Note: So as you all know (if you're rereading this, if not, it's new news) this is a new chapter. Since I combined the previous chapters this left it open for me to make a new chapter. I felt it was important to put this here because it shows them being people instead of being Shepards and her teammates. Instead of being the beacons of hope, they could focus on them and live for themselves and do things that make them happy. I hope you enjoy this just as much as you've enjoyed the other chapters.


After the Normandy had made a trip to Earth in order to pick up Samara and Jacob, everyone was sitting at the table in the mess hall. It was nice to be back with all her friends and they could really have a good time. Garrus hadn't really left Cai's side and to be honest, she didn't mind. It was nice to have his warmth against her own. For the first time in a long, long time joy and merriment filled the Normandy's mess hall. There wasn't a face in the group that didn't have a smile on it for some reason or another-including EDI who had an awkward version of a smile. She needed to work on it, it kind of looked like she was smiling for school photos with the worst clothes on imaginable. That was the reason for the current uprising of laughter among the friends. Wrex had slammed his glass against the large table and when he was able to breathe after laughing so hard, he looked at EDI

"What was that supposed to be?" He asked, his sentence still broken up by his little bits of laughter. When he thought about the sound that she had made, he started laughing more.

"Was that wrong?" EDI asked. Obviously, EDI was very smart when it came to technical things and inner workings of machines. After all, she was technically a walking and talking ship. When it came to small things like this though, certain human interactions it was as funny as a dog trying to shake off socks. Cai had seen videos of that on the extranet on MeTube when she had some downtime in her cabin.

"Well, it certainly wasn't right," Joker told her, rubbing the small of her back. Leave it to Joker of all people to fall in love with a ship. Since he piloted the ship, Cai couldn't help but wonder, what parts he had technically touched. She shook her head, she shouldn't be thinking those sort of things. Still, it was curious though.

"The opposite of right is wrong, Jeff." EDI had instructed causing another outburst of laughter. Sarcasm and subtle insults were some things that EDI wasn't able to grasp quite yet. The seriousness of her tone didn't help matters. Joker found himself putting his face in his hand on the table, unable to look at her without laughing. "You should know that."

In a way it was kind of mean that they were having so much laughter at EDI's expense, but, on the other side of the coin, she just made it too easy. Wrex had asked for another burger. Of course, it was vat-grown since they were in space and everything, but it didn't matter now. Being in space too long, you could crazy good planet cooking. Now was the time to just relax in everyone's friendships. Initially, their laughter had come at Tali's expense. Shots of Asari alcohol were going around the table and Tali was already gone, having trouble getting the "emergency induction port" into the hole of her mask. Thankfully, Liara was a kind enough friend to hold onto the straw for her so she could drink it.

"I think issuch a nice time spendin' wif all yew." Tali slurred almost to the point where they couldn't understand her. She turned and looked at EDI. "If you practice, I'm sure that you'll have a nice smile, EDI." Tali's drunken giggles filled the table, smacking the surface with her hand, the straw still hanging from her mask's hole. Tali though didn't seem to notice, or maybe she just didn't care. Tali's laughter had turned into something akin to a drunken seal before she placed her head against the table's surface. "sucha nice table..." She trailed off, feeling the top.

"I think we can count the Quarian out for the rest of the night." Grunt smirked, seeing her tracing circles on the table while EDI continued to practice her awkward smile like she was hoping to perfect it overnight. "And maybe the AI."

"M'name iznt 'Quarian'!" Tali protested raising her head up only to have her straw-filled mask fall back on the table. " 's Tali'Zorah vas N-Normandy."

"I shall escort her back to her cabin," Samara said and stood up with Tali, taking the straw out of her mask.

"B-But Samara! I need m' emerg'ncy inducti'n port! How will I drink?!" Tali seemed at a loss for words and explanation.

"The last thing you need is more drinks. Come now, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy." Samara always had a habit of using that motherly voice accompanied with full names when she was reprimanding. Cai herself had found herself being called Cai Helena Shepard on multiple occasions which always made her scrunch her nose. She hated her middle name.

" 'night!" Tali exclaimed. "I'm glad you're back, Cai. I missed yew!"

"I bid you all goodnight," Samara said and left with a staggering Tali still crying after her straw.

James laughed and looked at Liara,
"What do ya Asari put in this alcohol anyway?" He asked.

"I do not know, I didn't make it," Liara said and blinked.

" 'hat's right, ya didn't..." Vega seemed to be going too. Asari alcohol was some of the strongest among the many races. The fact that they collectively had pounded down almost six bottles meant for a hard day tomorrow. Cai didn't mind though, at least she would be sick with her friends, and alive. "it's so pretty..." He mused, staring at the raspberry color of the alcohol, strangely enough, it also had a blue tint to it.

"I think you need to head to bed too," Jacob said, deciding not to drink too much since he was going to have to be a good dad. He had indulged a little considering it was a celebration, but, didn't go overboard like pretty much everyone else had.

"Nah, I'm totally fine," Vega said.

"I'm over here, Vega," Jacob said, waving his hand in front of him.

"I knew that."

Jacob sighed and stood up, making Vega follow him.
"We'll talk to you guys tomorrow." Vega didn't protest much since he seemed to be on his way to falling asleep.

About three hours later, Grunt had retreated to his cabin unable to deal with Elunaa's drunken singing any longer or Shepard's terrible attempt at dancing to it. Wrex had followed soon after, saying he "knew his limits". Jack was passed out on the table, snoring loudly and Kasumi was right there as well. EDI had left to check on the maintenance of her body and had to help Joker to his cabin due to his staggering. His bones were already brittle enough. The only ones that remained were Garrus, Cai, and Elunaa. Cai laughed at her sister for nothing in particular who laughed back because she was laughing. It was a childish thing to do, but they could afford that now.

"So," Elunaa began. "Garrus why'ya no' drinkin' s' much?" Elunaa asked, leaning her arms on the table and looking at him, trying to show that she had her full drunken attention.

"Someone's gotta be sober enough to take care of the Shepards."

"Do ya volunteer as tribute?!" Elunaa exclaimed.

"Ya been readin' them old books again?" Cai asked.

"Uh... I dunt 'member..." Elunaa said and yawned.

"Ha! You yawned first! I win!" Cai exclaimed at her sister, almost on the brink of sleep herself.

"whatcha win?"

"Uh... hadn't thought that far..." Cai admitted and furrowed her brows. "whate'er it is, I still winnit."

"Alright alright," Elunaa said and stood up, staggering. "Imma go, so y'all can have yer sexy time." Elunaa laughed, staggering her way towards her cabin.

Cai looked over at Garrus and laughed. She wasn't sure at what. Just being with him maybe.
"Are we gonna have sexy time?" Cai asked, barely able to keep her eyes open.

Garrus blushed and looked down at her smiling and pet her hair.
"As much as I'd like to... something tells me you won't last long after I put you to bed."

"Yes I will!" Cai protested.

Garrus chuckled to himself. He helped her up to her cabin and carried her inside and laid her on the bed. It was nice that the room had its owner in it again and now he would be able to hold her and stay in their bed with her. He got on his side of the bed and got under the covers. He looked over at her and didn't see any movement except her slow breathing.
"Cai?" Just like he thought, out like a light. He leaned over and pulled the covers up to her shoulders, and kissed her hair. "I love you." Cai obviously didn't respond with words, but when she turned over and held onto him, that was enough of a message as anyone could ask for.


End Author's Note: I know that this was heavily dialogue based, but I liked the refreshing atmosphere that this gave off instead of constant angst.