The Normandy's mess hall was bustling with crew members that had just dragged themselves out of bed, desperate for that first cup of coffee to help them start their shift.

Dr. Chakwas was sitting at one of the tables, holding a lively debate with Engineer Adams.

"But enough of this A.I. argument," Adams said to her, attempting to change the subject that all of a sudden had become a bit too controversial and potentially divisive.

"I was meaning to ask you if my present reached you. The muffins, I mean."

As Karin was listening to Adams, she caught a glimpse of Joker making his way to the coffee machine.

Adams continued; "I wasn't sure if they're to your taste or... you can tell me what you like and I can get you something different next time."

Her attention returned to the engineer: "They're fine, Greg. They were delicious and you certainly shouldn't have."

Her eyes returned to Joker; "Would you excuse me for a moment?" she asked him. "Don't let anybody take my seat, I intend to return shortly," she said as she got up, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

Joker was setting one filled mug aside and putting a second one under the dispenser.

"Two mugs?" she asked him, making him jump.

"Jeez, Karin, do you need to sneak up on me like that?"

She smiled; "If you need something for a hangover, I can give you something far more effective than caffeine, or is it for EDI? Did she find a way to simulate the ingestion of liquids?" She nudged him softly on his ribs with the back of her hand.

"It's not for her! It's for Shepard," he blurted out before he realized what he was saying.

Chakwas continued placidly; "That's odd, she always starts her day here. I haven't seen her this morning. Is she at the cockpit?"

"She's still in her cabin" he said, resigned, this time well aware of the hole he was digging for himself.

A bit concerned, she answered: "I might need to go up there and make sure she's alright. I've been pestered all morning by, well, everybody asking for a hangover cure. I'll take some pills with me, just in case. I can take her coffee..." she slowed down her words; "if... you... want..."

Her eyes widened up; "Unless..." Her jaw dropped slightly. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and that's when she noticed some color flaring up his cheeks.

"Oh my god! Jeff!" She brought her hand to her mouth. Her eyes twinkled as a warm, enthusiastic smile adorned her face. She waited in silence for a few moments to allow him some time to correct her. He didn't.

"This is so wonderful" she said. Unable to control her joy, she danced a little on the spot.

"Alright!" he said, glancing around at the busy mess hall; "Keep it down, keep it down."

"I'm sorry! It's just that I'm so excited!" she said, wiggling two fists by the sides of her face. Clasping her hands together, she continued; "You two are so important to me, I always dreamed of..." She didn't finish her sentence.

After giving herself a moment to contemplate the new turn of events, she confided; "And please don't hate me for this, Jeff... but even though I was happy to indulge you in whatever it was you had for EDI, it was starting to weird me out a little..."

"These…" he said, lifting the mugs at her, trying to shut her up; "…are getting cold!"

"What's getting cold?" Shepard's voice startled them both.

She poked her head around Joker's shoulder to get a better view.

"Is one of those for me?" Shepard asked. "But if it's cold, I don't want it," she teased.

Chakwas interjected; "Oh, don't pay attention to him, he just poured them."

She snatched one of the mugs from Joker's hand and gave it to Shepard.

"Now if you don't mind, I'll be returning to my table. But before that, Commander, I hope that our friendship allows for a display of mild insurrection."

She got close to Shepard and gave her a motherly kiss on her cheek. Before walking away, she caught Joker giving her a death glare.

She quickly thought of a cover; "I'm getting emotional with age, Shep," she shrugged; "I'm just so happy to be working with you again."

Shepard smiled at her as she watched her walk away, and Joker exhaled, relieved.

"Such a wonderful woman she is," she told Joker; "We're so lucky to have her with us. Still," she widened her eyes; "that was weird! Even weirder is you being so quiet. Not a morning person?" She gave him a suspicious look.

Joker sensed she was about to figure out the little chat he'd had with Karin.

"Not tired of my voice yet?" he humored her.

"Pff!" she shrugged; "You're kidding? That's, like, one of your best features," she said, sipping her coffee.

"What if we sit down, Shepard. There! Those two just left."

They sat down. Shepard was observing him with a mixture of fondness and annoyance, and he knew that he owed her an explanation for his early-morning disappearance.

"Before you get all bent out of shape again," he taunted her.

She responded by giving him an incredulous glare with a lifted eyebrow.

"I got a call from Anderson this morning."

"At this rate, you're gonna run out of lame excuses fairly soon," she mocked him; "But seriously, Joker, is this important? Should we get moving?" she asked him, rushing herself to finish her coffee.

Joker reached out for her hand, resting on the table.

"No! It's not like that," he said; "I can't tell you what it is. He just wants me to take you to this place on the Citadel."

She widened her eyes at him; "He asked you?"

"Yup."

"You're not planning something like a surprise party or anything, are you?"

"Not that I know of, no."

"My birthday isn't for months..."

He shook his head.

"So, what the heck…?"

"Sorry, can't help you." he lifted his shoulders with an innocent expression on his face.

"Right!" she said, resigned, realizing that she wasn't going to get much out of him; "I need to go down to the CIC, check that nothing urgent's come up, and I suppose I'll have to talk to the quarian admiral." She rubbed her eyes; "I almost forgot about her. So I'll meet you at the taxi stand in say... two hours?"

"Sounds about right," he answered her; "Enough time for me to catch a shower and get a clean uniform. I've had this one tattooed on for, like, three days now."

She accessed her omni-tool, making his light up as well. She tapped in her cabin's door code; "You can use mine if you want. I figured there'd be a line for this one." She pointed at the gents.

"Wow, is this like exchanging keys or something?" he teased her.

"Fine! Queue up, then," she said, getting up.

"So... it's a date, then!" he told her; "We kinda skipped that part, I noticed."

"I wouldn't have it any other way..." she answered him casually as she leaned over, without thinking, for a quick peck on Joker's lips, as a 'see you later' kiss.

She froze mid-way.

He leaned back on his chair and put his hands behind his neck with a playful smile on his lips.

She blushed.

"Can't get enough of the good stuff, uh!?" he taunted her, making her go positively red. "Say... that's a nice hue you're wearing," he said pointing at her face; "You know? That reminds me, when we're out, I think we should try the lobster."

"Bastard," she cursed him under her breath; "I'll get you for this," she whispered, narrowing her eyes.

He chuckled, crossing his arms; "You love it, really."

She turned around, heading for the elevators. 'He's not wrong,' she thought to herself, with a rueful shake of her head.