"Are you seeing anyone?"

Joker gave her an odd look. "Well, that came out of nowhere," he commented. "What gives?"

Actually, Shepard hadn't even been thinking of asking him that, it had just flown out of her mouth like so many of the things she found herself saying around her helmsman did. "I dunno," she said, shrugging. "I just figured since we've both covered talking about our families that talking about significant others would be the next thing."

Leaning his elbow on his armrest, he quirked an eyebrow in interest. "You askin' for a reason, Jules?"

She could feel her cheeks and neck grow blotchy with heat. She'd never been one to blush prettily. "No," she replied, her fingers fidgeting with the datapad she'd brought up to the bridge with her.

He gave her another strange look. For a split second, she could have sworn that he had looked disappointed. "Oh, then I guess that it wouldn't crush you to know that I'm happily married." He turned back to his display and casually flipped through reports. "Tamara doesn't mind the whole military wife lifestyle; gives her more time to focus on her modeling career."

Shepard looked at him. "You're married to a model?"

"Galactic supermodel, even." He looked at her from the corner of his eye, knowing that she wasn't buying his lie for one second. "What about you? Is there a Mr. Shepard pining away for you somewhere?"

She decided to play along. "Oh, you mean Phillipe? Pining isn't his style; he's a jet-setting entrepreneur. Cutting deals and counting billions of credits doesn't leave much time for crying over a missing wife."

"Doesn't sound like a good deal."

"Nah, he knows that I'm here in the Alliance because I want to be. He gets to use me as arm candy when I'm on leave and his money feeds my vintage movie habit. It's win-win." Tilting her head, she decided to let the question that had been flittering around in her head loose. "So, what would you have said if I'd been asking for myself?"

He shifted in his seat and was silent for a beat. "Then I'd have to say that Tamara left me a while back."

"That bitch. Oh well, now all us single ladies can rejoice at her loss; a handsome man like yourself is back on the market."

Something warm curled up in his chest at the idea of Shepard thinking he was handsome. "Oh? I thought you said you were married to a jet-setting entrepreneur."

She sighed dramatically. "Him? I think he ran off with a galactic supermodel some time ago."

"The bastard." He couldn't stop his smirk if his life had depended on it.

"Yeah, and he took his billions with him, so I'm stuck collecting movies one at a time." She traced the fake leather grain of her chair and looked at him through her eyelashes. "Too bad that there are regulations in place that cut out fraternization."

He stared at her. "Yeah. Too bad." He caught her gaze and gave her a smoldering look. "If we'd met anywhere else or at any other time, I would have totally rocked your world."

She laughed even though her entire body had broken out into gooseflesh. "Of that, I have no doubt. Unfortunately, we can never be; I don't think I could concentrate on beating Saren and having my world rocked on a regular basis."

"A regular basis?" Now it was his turn to laugh. "Damn, girl. Way to wear a guy out."

She arched her eyebrow and pitched her voice an octave lower than usual. "What can I say? I don't do things half-assed."

Joker had the sudden urge to grab his copy of the Alliance handbook and rip the Fraternization Regulation portion to shreds. "No, that you don't." Clearing his throat, he tried his best to lighten the mood that had suddenly thickened around them. "I guess it's a good thing. I don't think the universe is ready for the amazingness that we'd be as a couple."

"It would probably implode from our combined greatness," she agreed.

"So see, we're doing everyone a favor by staying friends."

"Absolutely." She winked at him. "Friends who flirt outrageously?"

He made a pshaw noise. "That was a given."

Stretching, Shepard rose from her seat. "I'd better get going," she said. "Garrus wanted to compare sniper scope upgrades with me before we hit Ilos. He's awful cranky when I'm late." Like usual, she passed his chair on her way out. Unlike usual, she let her fingers trail over his shoulder instead of giving his headrest a parting pat.

Reaching up, he captured her fingers in his. "About that. You okay?" Ever since Virmire and losing Ash, Shepard's confidence had wavered. He had noticed that she was more protective of her squadmates, Garrus and Kaidan in particular. They'd been with her the longest; it was only natural that she take them with her for this next mission.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You scared?"

She squeezed his fingers before telling the biggest lie of the evening. "Not one bit." She gently slid her hand from his and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me; this is going to be a piece of cake, you'll see."

Joker turned in his seat to watch her walk away. Judging by the stubborn set of her shoulders alone, he almost believed her.