Shepard sat on the shuttle silently as she avoided making eye contact with Kaidan who sat across from her. Shepard had never really cared much about her looks but seeing Kaidan for the first time in who knows how long and being stuck on that planet with nothing more than the occasional faux-sponge bath Shepard was feeling quite self-conscious. Even though Kaidan kept the stoic look upon his face Elizabeth knew him well enough that when he rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead he was working something out mentally. Unbeknownst to Shepard Kaidan was also noticing one of Shepard's tells. She sat there in her seat her eyes never staying at one place for long as she absent-mindedly rubbed her palms against the grimy gray material of her jumpsuit in a slow rhythmic motion.

"You're Commander Shepard?" Fox asked breaking the awkward silence that was filling the cold shuttle. Elizabeth just nodded her head opting not to talk when she was too busy with her thoughts.

"So that's, you know, cool." Fox tried adding to the conversation checking his omni-tool to see how much longer he would have to suffer through this awkwardness before they were picked up. Kaidan eyed Shepard his face breaking from his stoic look of stone offering just a simple furrowing of his dark eyebrows. The Elizabeth he knew was definitely not the silent type, in any aspect of her life.

"I'll have Chakwas give you a check up when we get on board." Kaidan spoke aloud even though he only meant to say it to himself to give himself the reassurance that Elizabeth was going to be okay. He didn't mean for her to hear it and maybe thing that he thought she was damaged goods.

"Chakwas is on your ship?" Shepard asked perking up hearing the familiar name of her favorite doctor. Kaidan nodded a yes to Shepard's question.

"Joker is flying her too."

"What about EDI?"

"In her usual spot in the cockpit." Shepard couldn't help but let a small closed mouth smile appear on her face. Things seemed to be working out just great, the exact opposite of what her life usually decided to do. She was already reunited with her husband, she would worry about fixing and strengthening that relationship after she had the ambition to be stressed out again. Now she was going to see part of her old crew and she could feel the warm feeling of hope spread in her chest.

Kaidan was not as happy as he thought he maybe should have been when he saw Shepard's dim eyes light up just a tad as he mentioned the three members of her crew being onboard. He didn't remember her eyes lighting up like that for him when he first saw her in the dark escape pod she had made her makeshift shelter. The Staff Commander kept telling himself that she was just as surprised to see him as he was to see her. Maybe she was even worried about how he would react from seeing her back from the dead again. If there was one thing Kaidan did know it was that he did not want another repeat of Horizon. There was no way in hell he was going to get her back for just a few minutes to lose her for nearly a whole goddamn year. Kaidan knew he shouldn't be jealous of her crew; especially the women in that category, he had already learned on their first tour together that Shepard was not into girls after the whole Liara fiasco was brought up between them. But even beyond that he knew deep down that he shouldn't be jealous because a love like he had with Elizabeth could not be ended by death and it sure as hell could not be destroyed by resurrection.

Shepard stood up quickly as she heard Joker's voice ramble on with some witty joke as the Kodiak shuttle was guided into the hanger of the ship. Kaidan caught Shepard's arms as her footing faltered. Fox watched his commanders face as he held his wives' arm, he had never seen this side of his commanding officer until now.

"You should get her straight to the med bay sir." Fox offered as her hit the glowing green button on the side of the door allowing the shuttle doors to open.

"Alenko, EDI said there's an extra life form in the shuttle. Did you get me a present? I know my birthday isn't until next month but seeing as it has a heartbeat I don't think you'll be able to hide it in a closet for very long." Joker mused as he leaned back in his pilot's seat in the cockpit.

"Wake Chakwas and have her go to the med bay immediately." Kaidan commanded his voice conveying the seriousness of his words.

"Aye aye sir." Joker responded dutifully as he buzzed Karin Chakwas in her room awakening her and hurrying her along to the med bay. Shepard walked out of the shuttle with Kaidan and took a look around the shuttle bay.

"This is my ship." Shepard stated in disbelief as Kaidan nodded.

"Welcome back to the Normandy Elizabeth."

"You're commanding officer of my ship?" Shepard gritted out as she walked ahead of them to the elevator.

"I thought you would be happy it was me and not someone else." Shepard sighed as she rested against the inner wall of the elevator.

"I would rather it be you than anyone else but it just feels so wrong."
"Trust me Elizabeth; I've felt the same way staying up in the Captain's quarters by myself."

"I know it's dumb, but I feel like she's been stolen from me. The Normandy is my baby. She's was the first thing to be a constant in my life in a long time. Granted the first model was blown up by reapers, I got her back new and improved. It's just weird that she's not mine anymore. I feel like a child having to share my favorite toy." Kaidan smiled surprised that Shepard was opening up this much in an elevator.

"She's still yours Elizabeth, that will never change. I'm just telling Joker where to take her."
"Med bay in the same place?" Shepard questioned and Kaidan nodded in reply.
"I'll take you there." Kaidan guided Shepard out of the elevator and down the walkway to the med bay the doors opening in front of them revealing Dr. Chakwas work station.

"Did someone get hurt Alenko?" Chakwas asked before her brain and eyes registered and agreed that what they were seeing was Commander Elizabeth Shepard in the flesh.

"Well I'll be damned." Chakwas smiled brightly looking Shepard over.

"She needs a check up." Kaidan told Chakwas as he guided Elizabeth with his hand on the small of her back over to one of the exam beds. Shepard sat on the edge of the bed her hands pressed into the bed holding herself upright. Chakwas watched Shepard as she ran a scan on her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Starving."

"Over used your biotics?"

"I can't use them, I don't have an implant anymore." Chakwas eyebrows rose as Kaidan's furrowed.

"You don't have an implant?" Kaidan questioned seeking reaffirmation.

"Nope." Shepard responded simply exaggerating the popping sound of the 'p'.

"Well we'll just get you to the Citadel and you can have the surgery at the veteran's hospital." Chakwas stated as she got Shepard's ration of food.

"No, we'll take her to a different hospital that specializes in biotic implants. I don't want her going near the Citadel."
"Why?"

"Two reasons, one: I want you to get the best care that I can buy. Two: I don't want the Alliance or the Council thinking that they still own you. They've let you get killed twice I won't let you get roped in for a third."

We're at double digits folks! Leave a review tell me if you like it!