Author's Note: Hello all! Sorry on the delay, writers block and getting busy delayed my writing. Got a little filler chapter for ya guys today, just some building up plot and chaire introduction.
Enjoy!As always, Read and Review please!
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Sitting around the table that same night, the three women have made some new friends amongst the crew and fellow marines, cards are being played, and cred chips are scattered across the table.
"Booyah," Shepard crows with laughter, scooping up the pile of chips amidst a chorus of groans and complaints. "That's how it's done folks."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you're cheating."" Deunan groans as she hands her cards over to Lin who shuffles all the cards, beginning to deal them out.
You accusing my girl of being a cheater?" Lin raises an eyebrow at Deunan, causing her to chuckle.
"If I didn't know better, yes. I would be." Deunan takes a look at her cards, putting them back on the table she sighs, "You can have these back. Gimme a better hand."
"Not a chance. Play the hand you were dealt." Lin gives Deunan a smirk in response to Deunan's middle finger display.
"What about me?" one of their new friends, Maggie, is a fellow marine and she holds up her hand of cards, "New friends able to get new cards?"
"Afraid not."" Lin laughs, "Am I the only one that got good cards?"
"Oh trust me, love." Shepard grins her wolf's grin, "You ain't the only one."
"How do we know you aren't bluffing again Shepard?" a crewmember, Andy, asks her skeptically.
"Guess you'll have to play this hand and find out." Shepard's grin doesn't waiver.
"I'm not sure I trust Knute." Daniel, another marine says, "Nobody is as lucky as you've been."
"That's cause I'm good." Shepard smirks, passing in one card to Lin. As the rest pass in their cards and receive the new ones, Shepard bets most her chips.
Those at the table all groan, "Oh hell no." Deunan moans, "You are not getting all my chips this time, I'm folding."
"Same." Echo both Daniel and Andy as they lay their cards on the table as well.
"That leaves you two." Shepard grins looking between Lin and Maggie, "You guys gonna call my, supposed, bluff?"
"You know I will." Lin pushes in her cred chips to match Shepard's.
"Aw hell," Maggie swears, "What's life without a little risk?" She matches Shepard's bet as well, sliding her chips to the center of the table. "Show what you've got ladies."
Groans and laughs circulate the table as the women show their hands, Shepard laughs as the other two women's hands don't beat hers.
""Son of a-" Maggie swears loudly, smacking the table, "I give up. You win this game Shepard."
Lin just smiles as she scoops up the cards, shuffling them and putting the deck in her pocket.
The others at the table all collect their chips and say their good nights as they disperse to the crew quarters.
Deunan stretches and chuckles, "Greenies never learn, do they?"
Shepard smiles wryly as she stands and stretches as well, "What? To never suppose I'm a cheat?"
Lin smiles as she stands, hooking Shepard's elbow in her arm, "To never underestimate you sweets." She pulls Shepard's chin down to kiss her softly.
Shepard returns her kiss softly, "Well, that'll teach 'em, won't it?"
"Somehow I highly doubt it. Everyone always underestimates you Shep." Deunan cuffs Shepard's shoulder lightly.
"Then I will continue to use it to my advantage." Shepard dodges another cuff from Deunan "See if I ever give you any tips, you're abusive."
"Good thing we're not dating then." Deunan grins impishly, dancing away from a cuff from Shepard.
"You two are the most like a married couple that I've ever met." Lin laughs as both women turn and give the exact same wry grin. "You're practically twins."
"Well," Deunan grins impishly and takes an exaggerated bow, "This 'twin' is taking herself to bed. Gotta be fresh in the morning so I can show you up on our mission."
Shepard groans, rolling her eyes, "So ain't gonna happen. I'm the better fighter, and you know it."
Lin chuckles as Deunan turns and walks away, flipping her finger off at Shepard as she enters crew quarters.
"We should be headed that way as well, my love." Lin kisses Shepard softly. "We do need to be well rested for tomorrow."
"Yes, I know," Shepard returns Lin's kiss, holding her close, "I just want us to have time for us."
"We will." Lin kisses Shepard's cheek lightly, "After this shakedown mission we will be able to take some time for ourselves. I heard tell that after the mission is over, we'll be docking at the Citadel for a bit."
"That is exciting. Been awhile since I got to see the station." Shepard hums excitedly, taking Lin's hand as they make their way to crew quarters.
"Then you can show me around." Lin smiles softly, "I've never been to it.
"Really?" Shepard leads Lin over to their racks, taking a seat she pulls off her boots and over blouse, "Oh, I'll give you the grandest tour of all the best hole in the wall places." Shepard begins to talk excitedly, "There's so many good armory shops, techie shops, bars. You'll defo have to come with me to Murphy's Law, I gotta introduce you to Bane."
"Would you shut it?" Deunan hisses at Shepard over Lin's rack between them, "Some of us are actually trying to sleep."
Shepard sticks her tongue out at Deunan, "Don't let me stop ya."
As Deunan goes to speak, Lin shushes her "Both of you hush, you cn bicker to your hearts' content tomorrow." She gives both women a pointed glare, Deunan shrugs and lays back down, Shepard opens her mouth to argue before sighing and laying back.
"Good night love." she murmurs to Lin.
"Good night, my love." Lin whispers back to her as the two women face each other and fall asleep.