"Alright people its done." Said Shepard over the ships intercom. Shepard had made breaded chicken cutlets today. A difficult food item to make, as Shepard had to scrounge for dextro based ingredients. Many of the ingredients couldn't be gotten wet. Mordin's miracle solutions had turned into a excessive use of Shepard's time, and a higher drain on standard food for the rest of the crew. Tali grabbed several of the dextro ones, putting them into a container. "Hungry much."
"With the way Garrus is, I have to hide them." Said Tali. Stealing half the dextro mashed potatoes aswell. Tali tried to avoid the other vegetable, but Shepard made sure she took some, especially the pickle. "You know I don't like vegetable." Said Tali to Shepard.
"Your gonna eat it, and like it." Said Shepard with a smile.
Tali turn to Shepard. "Hm, This scar has made you more forceful. I don't know if I like it." Said Tali, with a smile behind her mask. Tali ran her fingers vertically across the scar.
Shepard pulled Tali close. "Thanks for the help."
"Would you like some more help... Put your food in a container before the others get to it." Before they could move Garrus cleared the corner.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, do that away from the food, I don't want it contaminated. Next thing you know we'll all end up like you two." Shepard and Tali let out a chuckle. And moved away from the food.
"What's wrong with that?" Asked Tali, Looking at Garrus.
"Nothing, I just prefer my single life." Said Garrus.
"Hm, and yet at one time you were attracted to me. I'm glad I picked Shepard then." Tali looked back over at Shepard, he couldn't see it, but he knew their was a smile behind the mask.
"I better go get mine before its gone." Said Shepard. Shepard let go of Tali, and walked over to a cabinet, and pulled a large containers for himself.
"So which one is the dextro?" Asked Garrus. Shepard walked over to the counter opening the container.
"All the stuff on the right." Shepard started loading the container down with three pieces of chicken a pile of mashed potatoes corn and two pickles.
"What's with the container?" Asked Garrus, who piled his food high.
"He's being kind enough to eat when I eat, and not before." Said Tali to Garrus.
Garrus shook his head. "I would just eat."
"And yet two reasons to pick Shepard." Just then Shepard put a piece of chicken in his mouth, and looked over at Tali. "One, one reason." Said Tali.
"I can't help it Tali, they're good." Said Shepard with his mouth full.
"We should separate the food Shepard, someones going to pick up the wrong one, and then dinner will go to hell." Suggested Garrus. Garrus grabbed the dextro based food and started bringing it over to the large table, settings it at one end. Shepard brought the other food over, and set it on the otherside. Javik was next to walk in, the only other dextro on board now other then Garrus and Tali. Tali was carrying some plates over for the crew.
"How was your meditating?" Asked Tali, looking over at Javik.
"Meditation is no more then understanding ones situation, their is nothing to be said on the matter. Where is the food." Asked Javik.
"Over there." Said Shepard pointing towards the food. The rest of the team started to trickle in, it was to be the whole crew having dinner together for once. A time to enjoy each others company. Kelly was helping Joker into his seat, not that he couldn't walk it just made it easier.
"Uh, their won't be enough seats." Said Tali.
"I've got two chairs in the Med lab, we can use those." Said doctor Chakwas walking over towards the Med bay.
"Well that brings us to ten then, but theirs twelve of us." Said Tali putting her hand on her mask like she was holding her chin thinking.
"We can use the chairs from the observations room." Said Shepard. Shepard walked to the observations room and started to Grab a chair. It was a hell of a chair, a captains chair. Shepard sat in the chair, and rolled it out, putting it at one of the angled sides near the dextro food. The Team had all made it, including Legion who would actually not partake in the meal.
"So that makes eleven, we need one more." Said Tali.
"No we don't, where not eating yet anyway." Said Shepard sitting down in the chair.
"Well where am I going to sit." Asked Tali. Shepard patted on his lap for her to sit on it. "Oh, well if the crew won't be disturbed by it then okay." Tali looked at the crew while saying this waiting for a response.
"Its fine with me Tali." said Jacob while loading the his plate.
"Just sit Tali, I think the only one who really cares is Liara, and she's got to get over Shepard anyway." Said Garrus."
"Go ahead Tali, I think I'm done with Shepard. After what I saw on the last mission." Everyone looked at Liara surprised to hear she had finally given up. They where also wondering what she had seen of Shepard.
"What did you do?" Asked Tali looking at Shepard.
"Yeah, what did you do that turned Liara off of you?" Asked Jacob.
"I don't know. What did I do?" Said Shepard looking at Liara. The entire crew looked at her, waiting for her answer.
"Well... oh how do I say it. Shepard appears to be a little brutish." Said Liara.
"Huh is that all, of course Shepard's a little brutish. How else do you think he survived the blitz." Said doctor Chakwas.
"Yes, but did he really have to impale a mans face with his omni blade. The sound it made, still sends shivers down my spine."
"You do what's needed to survive Liara." Said Garrus.
"The man was defenseless, it wasn't necessary. Replied Liara.
"He attacked me first Liara." Said Shepard.
"Their was nothing wrong with what the commander had done. If someone attempts to kill you, with little or no chance of success, and you let them go, they will most likely attack again." Said Javik before putting some potatoes in his mouth with his fingers drawing everyone's attention. Javik had the whole bowl of potatoes and was eating with his fingers.
"I'm glade I loaded my plate up." Said Garrus.
"You know we do have forks for that." Said Shepard.
"And I have fingers." Replied Javik.
"And you call Shepard Brutish." Said Tali, directing it at Liara.
"Did all your people eat like this Javik?" Asked Liara.
"Yes, we learned to go without such luxuries, before I was born. Their was no need for a utensils when your hand could do the same job." The room went silent the conversation had died, Mordin spoke to break the silence.
"Shepard. Been meaning to ask. Despite obvious results. How is the virus working?" Asked Mordin, he was sitting all prim and proper, cutting his food before eating.
"I won't lie Mordin, its a bit of a pain in the ass. The two hour wait, then I have to bake it at five hundred degrees for ten minutes it practically only good for meat. I'm not complaining Mordin just giving you the run down." Said Shepard.
"The best I can do at the moment. I will look into something more practical."
"That won't be necessary." Javik threw a small metal cylinder on the table. "Replicate that." Said Javik.
"What is it?" Asked Shepard.
"When we were placed in stasis we received several of these to insure that their would be food available upon awakening. If we could not obtain a viable source of food we would pass on our warnings, before starving to death."
"That's a little harsh, but I guess its was better then no chance at all. How does it work?" Asked Shepard.
"It is not difficult. Pour the liquid on the food, wait ten minutes, then eat. Simple enough for any soldier." Said Javik.
"This would have been nice to have earlier, it would have made things a lot easier.
"If its any consolation commander the meal turned out great. I think you found a good one Tali. Though I want to talk to the commander about what happened with that man though." Said Kelly.
"Thanks Kelly I appreciate the complement, and I'll get back to you on the other thing." Said Shepard.
"My mother always said, I don't know of a single Quarian man who can cook, if you find one, you marry him and never let him go. That was, when she was around that is." Said Tali.
"So marriage huh, looks like I dodged a bullet there Shepard." Said Garrus, Speaking before the silence could get awkward again.
"You would be lucky to have me Garrus, and I don't plan on getting married too soon. Raan would die if I told her that news". Said Tali.
"So, if you did marry Shepard, would you be Tali'Shepard vas Normandy." Asked Donnelly.
"Kenneth, Your going to scare Shepard away from here." Said Gabby.
"No, we don't change are names because of marriage, but I'm not opposed to the concept either." Replied Tali before looking at Shepard for approval.
"I want you to keep your name, its more exotic that way." Said Shepard.
"Okay Elephant in the room. I'm going to say it. Is it just me, or does it feel awkward sitting in front of the Commander, and Tali eating." Asked Joker.
"It is a bit awkward." Said Liara.
"I don't find it awkward, but we can go if you guys want." Said Shepard.
"No, I didn't mean it like that Commander." Replied Joker, his voice began to get squeaky.
"Joker, you okay?" Shepard's voice also was getting squeaky.
"Me, what about you."
"What's up with you guys, did Shepard mess up on the food?" Asked Garrus, his voice was so far the funniest, Tali started laughing.
"I think theirs something wrong with the ventilation system." Said Liara. Tali busted out laughing even more.
"Your voices are so funny." Said Tali.
"Okay EDI that's enough, that was good timing." Said Shepard
"Thank you." Said EDI.
"I wonder what the rest of you sound like." Said Tali, hoping they would talk. Her mask had protected her. The rest remained silent. Urz walked over, and started sniffing the food. "Are you hungry Urz, no ones fed you today did they." Said Tali. Tali pet Urz on the head.
"Okay we better go." Said Shepard, still with his squeaky voice. Shepard and Tali stood up. "Remember everyone, we won't be landing on the Citadel for a while, so get your fill tomorrow, and anything you may need."
"Will do Shepard." Said Garrus. Tali was laughing into Shepard's shoulder.
"Okay let's go." Shepard put his arm around Tali, and backed away with the food in his other hand. They took the elevator to the cargo bay first to feed Urz. Shepard walked over to the crate, and pulled three pyjaks from it. Shepard tossed them to Urz one at a time. Urz swallowed the first two whole, he then took the third one, and ran under the tank with it.
"He does the cutest thing sometimes, doesn't he." Said Tali, standing next to Shepard.
"Yeah, but I don't know if I would call that cute." Urz was riping the pyjak into pieces eating it. "Its making me hungry though."
"That makes you hungry?" Said Tali in a questioning tone.
"No, not really, just want to go eat. Come on Urz let's go." Urz didn't get up. "Looks like I have to go get him."
"Hey look on the bright side, at least your voice is back to normal." Shepard handed Tali the food, and walked over to Urz reaching for his collar. Urz backed up further under the tank. Shepard climbed under the tank, the tires had a gap with a width of two feet between the front two, and back two. Urz continued to back away from him.
"I think he wants to play." Said Tali. Shepard drove Urz out from under the tank. Urz disappeared behind the other side of the tank. Shepard spun around and crawled over to the gap between the tire waiting for Urz. Urz never came that way though, instead he doubled back on his trail, and crawled back under the tank nosing Shepard's foot. Shepard turned to look, Urz took off running back out from under the tank. Shepard crawled out from under the tank between the tires, and looked at Urz. Urz was on his back licking his eyeball. "That is the weirdest thing." Said Tali walking over to Urz, Shepard also walked over to him and they both rubbed his belly. "The kids are going to love you Urz."
"Kids." Said Shepard looking at Tali.
"Is something wrong with that." Asked Tali.
"No, nothings wrong with that. I would love multiple kids, but I thought your only allowed one."
"Only if we are part of the fleet, and then the law states only one Quarian child per family, you can do the math."
"What's this about marriage then, you think I'm not the right guy for you." Asked Shepard, standing up, Tali stood up aswell.
"No. I mean yes. Wait, hold on. Let me restart. Hhhh, I do want to one day marry you, but I was afraid I might drive you away with such a thing."
"Yes."
"Oh keelah, I knew that would do it. I'm to clingy. I always have been/ I get so attached, and I just assume." Shepard cut her off.
"No, I ment yes I will marry you. One day, just not today." Tali hugged Shepard leaning over Urz.
"Hhhh, You really know how to tease girl don't you."
"I try." Shepard Tali and Urz walked to the elevator and took it up to the room. Urz once again tried to follow them, this time Shepard knelt on the ground and pet Urz. "You can't come in here buddy, your gonna make Tali sick." Shepard then pushed Urz back out of the doorway and the door sealed. "I really hate doing that to him." Said Shepard, standing up.
"I don't like it either, but if it helps, just remember your doing it for me." Tali pulled off her mask and the sleeves to the suit. Shepard walked to the bathroom, and washed his hands. After touching Urz, and the pyjaks, Shepard was sure to have bacteria on his hands. Shepard had come back out to find Tali had dim the lights, Tali was on the couch waiting with the food open.
"Mood lighting."
"Guess what."
"What." Replied Shepard.
"We forgot forks... but I figured we could follow Javik's example." Tali leaned forward and scooped out some of Shepard's potatoes looking at him in a very sexual manner.
"I'm gonna have to marry you." Said Shepard as he slid on to the couch, and moved in kissing Tali. "I don't feel bad anymore for locking Urz out."
"I thought you wanted to eat." Tali was laying on her back with Shepard over her.
"We can eat later."
"Then what will I do with this?" Tali waved the potatoes on her fingers in front of Shepard's face. Shepard took her hand, and sucked the potatoes off of it. "You just messed up."
Shepard stopped to think for a moment. "Hhhh, Yeah I did, didn't I." Shepard had a half smirk and shook his head, he couldn't believe he just did that. "I'll get you later then."
"I'll hold you to that."
Writers notes: I didn't originally intend on writing this chapter I just had to for some reason. And Shepard was a war hero for your information.