Missing Moments: The Invitation

They'd just finished picking up a Hesperia-period statue from Polissa. Something Shepard had been sure she overheard an asari in the Citadel needing for a special project. Liara had confirmed the period and was already cataloguing it for when they reached the Citadel. If she could get it to the asari, maybe she'd be able to wrap up some more support for the Crucible project. It was a small thing, but she knew that it would take a lot of small steps to gain the support she needed to win this war. Every little bit helped.

"You've got a new message on your private terminal," Traynor chirped as she walked out of the elevator. Shepard barely caught a hint of a smile behind the remark.

"What's going on, Traynor?" Shepard asked as she signed on at the terminal in the CIC.

"Oh, nothing."

Shepard watched her suspiciously out of the corner of her eye. Whatever it was had Traynor in an even cheerier mood than usual. She opened the inbox and saw the top message. It was from Kaidan. Shepard raised her eyebrow at Traynor, who smiled unabashed before heading off. Well, if a rumor about her and Kaidan getting back together wasn't already all over the ship… it would be soon. She opened the file and read his note.

Short, yet sweet. Shepard found herself smiling. She was happy to get the note, but it's not like she wasn't right here on the ship. He could have just asked her. She thought she had made it clear that she was fine with what happened, but Kaidan could be a little thick-headed sometimes. Maybe he thought it was still too soon after their stand-off to ask her in person. Well, it hadn't been soon enough in her mind. She had hoped when he first got out of the hospital that there would have been time to spend a few moments together, to get to know each other again. But Udina had whisked him off so quickly. And when they got back on the Normandy things had just been too busy to take a little down time.

Shepard was determined to set him straight right away. She made her way to the crew deck, thinking about how nice it would be to spend some actual quality time with him. Kaidan had been spending most of his down time in the observation room since he returned to the Normandy. The alliance had turned it into a library and viewing room of sorts, with more seating than they had back when she was stuck with Cerberus. Not that the seating mattered much then. Samara had claimed that room as her own and Shepard couldn't remember a single time when she actually used the chairs.

The doors hissed open and she spotted him immediately, sitting on the couch, data pad in hand. He turned to look at her and smiled. Shepard folded her arms across her chest and gave him a slightly punishing glare. Kaidan suddenly looked worried, like a school-boy about to get a scolding for skipping class. She almost laughed, he could be so adorable. She smiled at that, and he relaxed.

"So… I got your message." Shepard waited.

"And?"

Shepard shook her head. "You could just ask me in person, you know. I am on the ship, not light years away."

"Maybe, but…" Kaidan let the thought trail off.

"But…"

He set down the data pad and stood up. "I didn't want to bother you if you're too busy."

"Kaidan," Shepard closed the gap between them and looked him in those deep hazel eyes.

"Look, Shepard. I haven't been around you like this for… a long while. You've met people, done things… hell you destroyed the Collector homeworld… and maybe… I don't know. I..."

"You still don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?" He genuinely seemed at a loss and she couldn't help but smile as she shook her head.

"I'm not down here because I'm angry with you. I came down here to tell you that I want you to 'bother' me."

She'd only seen him blush a couple other times. It had been so long ago, back on the SR1. The effect was just as endearing now as it had been then. He chuckled softly, obviously caught off guard. Kaidan smiled then and brushed a strand of hair from her face. He took his time, and Shepard enjoyed as much as she could of the fleeting moment.

"I guess I can do that." He cleared his throat. "So, uh, Shepard?"

"Yes, Kaidan?"

"Would you like to catch a snack with me on the Citadel?" He laid out all the charm on that one. His slight head tip, those puppy dog eyes, that sly grin.

Shepard smiled mischievously, "I don't know, Major. Haven't you heard? I've got a galaxy to save."

He laughed. "Oh, is that the way you're going to play it then? I guess I deserved that. Well, I hear saving the galaxy is tough work. And best I figure, you'll need a few decent meals to get the job done right. So… how about that dinner?"

"Alright. But only because you blushed earlier."

"Did I? Well, I can't help it if you have that effect on me." He stepped back, away from her and sat back down on the couch. "I've got some reports to finalize, but… I'll be looking forward to our date."

Shepard smiled and watched him for a few moments as he worked before heading back up to the CIC. Dinner at the Citadel couldn't come soon enough.