Shepard woke with a groan; today was Friday, which meant that it was her birthday. Reaching over for Joker she found the bed empty, "Jeff?"

"Mr. Moreau is in the mess hall Commander; he requests that you join him as soon as you're ready."

Shepard kicked the sheets back and swung her legs over the side of the bed, "oh dear, thanks EDI."

"Commander?"

"Yes EDI?" Shepard paused outside of the bathroom door, looking over at the blue orb.

"Happy Birthday."

Shepard smiled in spite of herself, "thank you EDI, I wish you could come with us tonight."

"I appreciate the thought Shepard, logging you out." EDIs blue orb disappeared into the stand and Shepard headed into the shower wondering to herself if an AI could appreciate something.

Pressing the button to the crew deck Shepard played with the ends of her wet hair, nervously running her fingers through it. Walking around the corner into the mess hall Shepard was stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her. On one of the tables sat a huge glass vase full of sunflowers with a big yellow bow on it, surrounding it were dozens of other presents all wrapped in different colored paper.

"Surprise!" Joker stood up from his hiding spot behind the table and smiled at the shocked look on Shepard's face. "Come on guys, she's here!"

The med bay doors opened and Shepard watched as the crew filed out to greet her.

"Shit Joker, I think you broke her. I don't know if I've ever seen Shepard go this long without talking or shooting something." Jack slapped Shepard on the back, snapping her back into the present. "Happy birthday buddy."

Joker walked over and wrapped his arm around Shepard's shoulders and felt that she was shaking, "are you alright?"

Shepard nodded and took a step towards the sunflowers, gently running her fingers over the petals she felt the sting of tears, "yeah, just…overwhelmed." Shepard gently spun the vase to look at all the blooms, "Wow, I haven't seen a sunflower since my parents were killed."

Kasumi stepped out of the crowd, "Joker thought you would like them, I hope they're okay?"

Shepard nodded and laughed as she wiped the tears from her face with the back of her sleeve, "they're beautiful, Kasumi, thank you."

"When was the last time you did anything for your birthday, Shepard?" Tali pulled Shepard into a hug.

"Oh wow," Shepard thought about it, "16 years ago?"

"So you haven't done anything since you lost your parents?" Garrus sounded shocked.

"No," Shepard shook her head, "it's usually something you share with family. After the slavers came through I didn't have any family left, and I was so busy with Alliance training that it kind of got forgotten. Eventually I preferred it that way."

Joker handed Shepard a coffee and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her against him, "well, we're your family now, and in my family we have breakfast together to celebrate a birthday. Let's eat!"

There was a cheer in the crowd as the mass of people approached a line of tables that Shepard hadn't noticed yet; they were covered in heaps of food.

"Wow, who cooked?" Shepard looked over the spread of breakfast foods; there was everything even some grey mush that Garrus and Tali were all over.

"Liara had this catered for us, she couldn't be here but she sent you a card it's over on the table." Joker kissed the side of her neck, "go eat."

Shepard smiled and grabbed a plateful of food, merging into the crowd to join the festivities. Once the plates were cleared it was Jack that called attention back to the colorful table in the middle of the room.

"Dude, you going to open those or can I just take them into the cargo hold now?" Jack towed Shepard over to the table, "mines the one wrapped in black paper, open it first."

Shepard laughed and took the offered present, "you guys didn't need to do all of this, really."

"Well we did, so shut up and open it." Jack poked Shepard in arm, "or I'll keep poking you."

"Ok, ok fine!" Shepard held her hands up in surrender, "I'm opening it."

Pulling off the black paper Shepard found a black wooden box; gently opening the lid she found a beautiful silver blade with a thick black handle.

"Oh wow," Shepard pulled the knife out and spun it around her fingers a few times causing the majority of the crowd to take a few steps back. "It's beautifully balanced, great choice Jack it's awesome."

Jack smiled at the praise, "I guess you should open the rest even though mine's the coolest."

Shepard smiled and turned her attention back to the table, making quick work of the rest of the gifts. Once she was done opening everything she looked over the table, Garrus had gotten her a new sniper rifle, Thane had given her a Drell prayer book, Tali had bought her an upgraded Omni tool, and that was only what she could easily see on the top on the pile that was overwhelming the table.

"Wow guys, I'm speechless." Shepard shook her head and laughed. "You guys are amazing, thank you."

"Well there is one more thing," Joker walked up to Shepard smiling, "this is from me but I had a lot of help with it." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small black velvet box and handed it to Shepard.

"Jeff," Shepard looked over the box, "things in boxes this small are usually expensive…"

Joker laughed, "Yeah, well open it."

Finding the edge Shepard opened the box and gasped at what she saw. Sitting in the middle of the box was a sunflower made of dozens of gems attached to a thick gold chain. "Its…"Shepard took a breath trying to gather her thoughts, "perfect, will you put it on for me?"

Joker took the box from Shepard and pulled the necklace out, "turn around and move your hair." Gently working the clasp Joker kissed the back of her head when it was done up, "turn around and let me see."

Shepard turned back to face him and reached up to run her thumb across the face of the flower.

"EDI helped me find a jeweler on the Citadel that would custom design it, Miranda, Kasumi, and helped me pick the stones, Garrus and Jack picked it up for me, and Grunt…"Joker laughed, "did the stress tests on the chains to make sure that we found one that would last."

Shepard tried to swallow the lump in her throat, "I don't know what to say..."

"That you love me? That would be a good start." Joker opened his arms for a hug and Shepard launched herself into his chest.

"I love you," Shepard pulled his face down for a kiss and the crowd reacted with loud catcalls.

"Well now that the morning festivities are done, Shepard you're coming with us." Kasumi extended a hand towards Shepard.

"What?" Joker was confused, "why is she going with you?"

"Girls day," Jack pushed Joker away from Shepard and linked arms with her, "we have a surprise that you're going to like but it's going to take some time."

"Speaking of which, Joker you need to go meet Jacob in the armory, he's working with you this afternoon." Kasumi linked arms with Jack and headed towards her quarters, "be ready for 9."

"What do you guys have planned?" Shepard allowed herself to be towed into Kasumi's room, "girl's day?"

"We bought you an outfit for tonight, but we didn't want Joker to see it. We figured while we were dressing you we could give you a makeover too." Kasumi pushed Shepard onto the small couch in the middle of the room.

"You said the makeover thing; I'm just here for the booze." Jack made her way over to the bar and started mixing some cocktails.

"Better make that a double Jack," Shepard watched Kasumi stir a pot of what looked to be hot wax, "looks like with what Kasumi has planned I'm going to need it."

Several hours and numerous cocktails later Shepard couldn't believe the person that was staring back at her in the mirror. Her hair had been straightened and tied back into a high ponytail; Kasumi had left a few pieces of hair loose around her face to "soften the look". Her legs, and under her arms had been waxed to a smooth perfection and her eyebrows had been tamed accentuating the shape of her eyes. Kasumi had done Shepard's makeup too; a dark silver smoky eye with dark eyeliner framed her eyes giving her a seductive look.

It was the outfit however that made it, black latex leggings hugged her every curve and were tucked into black leather boots that had more of a heel than Shepard was used too but after a few test walks she had found they were easy to move in. The shirt, or what Jack had called a shirt, was only a black rectangle of latex, it had started out on a roll and Shepard had thought it was tape but under Jack's expert hands it had been transformed.

"I look naked," Shepard did another spin in front of the mirror, eyeing the low waistband on her leggings and assessing how much of her skin was showing.

"No, you look sexy." Jack downed the rest of her drink and slammed the glass onto the bar, "I'll admit Kasumi, and you're good with the makeup stuff."

Kasumi laughed, "Joker is going to die when he sees you, but we want the big reveal at the club so grab the leather jacket by the door on your way out."

Shepard pulled the soft leather around her and slid up the zipper feeling a little less naked she felt more confident, "alright, we ready to go?"

"You know it," Jack slapped Shepard on the shoulder as she walked by, "oh man Joker is going to flip."

Filing into the elevator with Kasumi and Jack Shepard pressed the button for the CIC, "maybe, but he's seen me naked, so why would an outfit make a difference?"

"It's what he can't see, and we all know he loves your wings, and they are on display tonight." Kasumi straightened the collar of the jacket Shepard was wearing, "or they will be."

The doors of the elevator opened to reveal the rest of the crew waiting; it was Garrus that drew the attention of the crowd.

"Shepard, you look like a girl...I mean you look nice…" Garrus' dual tone voice carried loudly over the chatter causing the group to turn and look.

"Hey, let me see, she is my girlfriend after all." Joker pushed his way through the group and felt his jaw drop.

"You like?" Shepard did a slow spin before walking up to Joker; Jacob must have dressed him because he was wearing well-fitted black pants and a black button down shirt that she had never seen. He was still wearing a hat, but thankfully it didn't have a Cerberus logo on it.

"Um that's a bit of an understatement," Joker ran his hands down the smooth leather of the jacket; "you look amazing."

Shepard smiled and headed over to the armory, "I just need one more thing."

"You aren't going to ruin all my hard work with a gun are you?" Kasumi frowned, "you'll be fine without one for one night."

"Sorry Kasumi," Shepard pulled the Hand Cannon off the wall and searched through a small box for her thigh holster that she had bought ages ago but never used, "always prepared for the worst, you know that."

"What could go wrong?" Kasumi watched with a grim expression as Shepard clicked the holster into place.

"Oh I don't know, we're going to Afterlife, surrounded by mercs…" Shepard smiled, "I wore my small holster, so it doesn't ruin your outfit." Shepard walked out and saw the crew looking at her with the same expression as Kasumi.

"Okay look," Shepard pointed at the crew, "other than Grunt none of you are currently armed-"

"I'm biotic, I'm always armed." Jack cut in looking offended.

"Yes, YOU are but I'm not." Shepard crossed her arms across her chest, "I'm taking the gun, end of discussion."

"I like it," Joker wrapped his arm around Shepard's shoulders, "it suits you."

"Fine, the gun stays. Now let's go party." Kasumi headed towards the airlock with the crew in tow headed towards Afterlife.

Joker fell back in step with Shepard who was absently playing with her new necklace, "do you like it?"

Shepard looked up and flushed, "best gift I've ever been given, thank you."

Joker smiled, "in that case I think you owe me another kiss."

Shepard watched as the rest of the crew made the right turn to get into the club before shoving Joker against the wall where she had first met Zaeed.

"What are you doing?" Joker tried to get the air back in his lungs; she had never been that rough with him before, while it didn't hurt thanks to his recent surgery his body was certainly stunned.

"You wanted a kiss?" Shepard pushed her body against Jokers, running one hand up the back of his neck to pull him into a kiss.

Joker moaned against Shepard's mouth, Shepard was extremely sexy when she was in charge of things. Joker could feel the blood pooling in between his legs, pulling Shepard closer he rocked against her. Shepard slid a hand between them to grab Joker's growing arousal giving it a firm squeeze and forcing a moan from Joker's throat before leaning up to whisper in his ear.

"You are leaving me very sexually frustrated Mr. Moreau, I want your cock inside of me," Shepard gave another squeeze, "soon."

Shepard took two steps back and gave Joker a wink before turning and walking to the club.

As the blood returned to Joker's brain he realized that he had been left behind and took off after Shepard's disappearing form.

"Hey!" Shepard slowed enough for Joker to catch up, "that wasn't very fair…"

"Nope," Shepard flashed a dangerous smile and Joker's heart skipped a beat. "Sure wasn't."

Everyone had gathered outside of Afterlife, Kasumi appeared to be yelling at the Elcor at the front door.

"Do you have any idea who I'm here with?" Kasumi's face was flushed under her hood.

"Uninterested response: No, who?" The Elcor looked bored, then again Elcor always looked bored.

"Me," Shepard parted the crowd and rested her hand on her hip, she felt sexy and right now she knew that she looked sexy. Kasumi had mentioned that heels could bring out another personality in a woman; Shepard thought that if that was the case if she came back from facing the Collectors she was going shoe shopping.

"Unimpressed: Who are you?"

"Commander Kai Shepard," Shepard moved her hand from her hip to the gun resting at her thigh, "I'm going to assume you're new, because anyone who works here knows that I'm a VIP. Now, open the door like a good doorman or I'll open it for you."

"Barely contained terror: Of course, please go in." The Elcor pressed the button on the door and stepped aside.

"Thank you," Shepard walked close enough to the doorman that the large alien noticeably shook, "you're too kind."

Walking down the hallway to Afterlife Jack let out a laugh, "shit Shepard, what's gotten into you? You're no renegade!"

"No kidding," Joker's eyes were trained on Shepard's latex covered backside, "kind of sexy though."

Shepard looked over her shoulder and caught him staring, "glad you approve Mr. Moreau."

Garrus nudged Joker with his elbow, "she drunk?"

"Not that I know of, but she's been with Jack all day." Joker laughed and followed Shepard into the main part of the club.

Shepard paused for a minute letting the dark rhythm of the music consume her senses, closing her eyes she felt her body relax into the beat. It was sexy, almost on the edge of threatening and Shepard loved it.

"Come on buddy," Jack clapped Shepard on the shoulder, "first one is on me, we got to get you liquored up so you can do your big reveal to Joker."

"Sounds like a plan," walking over to her favorite Turian bartender she motioned for a drink, turning to Joker she spoke loudly over the music, "you want something?"

Joker nodded, "beer me."

Shepard laughed and nodded to the bartender, "you heard the man."

The Turian make quick work of the drinks before leaning over towards Shepard, "Aria sends her best wishes, first round is on her."

Shepard turned to face Aria's look out and found the Asari looking down at her, raising her glass in a toast she downed the drink in one gulp. Jack laughed, "Atta girl Shepard!"

Shepard signaled for another drink and downed that one much the same, "I'm a marine, Jack, I could probably drink you under the table."

"Well you're certainly going to drink Tali under the table," Jack pointed over to the booth that contained Jacob, Miranda and Tali, Shepard watched as Tali started to play with Miranda's hair much to the annoyance of the Cerberus Operative.

"How many had she had?" Joker was watching the Quarian with mild interest.

"Two," Jack laughed, "I'm not carrying her back to the ship."

Shepard ordered another drink for herself and another beer for Joker, taking the beer he frowned, "you better take it easy Hun or you're going to be paying for it tomorrow."

"I'll be fine," Shepard tossed back the drink, "Cerberus upgraded my liver, it's almost impossible for me to get drunk, and when I do I'm almost never hung over the next day."

"Hey Shepard," Kasumi interrupted the conversation before Joker could respond, "you want to come and dance?"

The music changed to a dark drumbeat and Shepard smiled at Kasumi, "let's do it."

"It's going to be hot, you may want to leave your jacket with Joker." Kasumi smiled.

"Right you are Kasumi." Shepard turned to Joker and leaned forwards to speak into his ear, "would you watch my jacket?"

Joker nodded and held out an arm for the jacket, Shepard slowly pulled down the zipper before letting the soft leather slide down her arms. Handing the jacket over to Joker Shepard slowly turned in place before grabbing Kasumi's hand and walking out to the dance floor.

Joker could tell he looked surprised, looking over at the booth that the crew had claimed as their own for the evening he could tell he wasn't the only one feeling that way. Making his way over to the group he sat down.

"What the hell is she wearing?" Tali's speech was slurred, "She looks like Jack."

"I don't know," Joker watched Shepard with interest, she wasn't dancing yet just standing and leaning into talk with Kasumi. Deciding to see if she had left her earpiece in he pressed on his own before speaking. "Hey, how about seeing some of this dancing you say you're so good at?"

Shepard stood up straight and turned to face the table, Joker laughed, she had heard him. A smile crossed Shepard's face and she started dancing the way he had always seen, bobbing up and down to the music moving her arms like wings.

Shepard stopped her dancing and turned to Kasumi, an amused look on her face, "watch this."

Reaching up to touch her ear she met Joker's gaze and dropped her voice to the low tone that she usually saved for the bedroom, "no good?" Joker shook his head and laughed, the crew around him laughed too clearly in on the joke.

Shepard smiled, "is this better?"

Slowly swaying her hips to the music she picked up the tempo as the song sped up, closing her eyes and moving with the beat blocking out anything but the way the music told her body to move. Shepard had always been a great dancer; music spoke to her in ways that let her block the stress of her everyday life. Before the slavers had taken over her colony she had always been the first girl to get asked to the dances.

"Wow," Joker's voice was low in her ear; Shepard looked over at the table and saw the crew watching her with interest.

Turning around to face Kasumi they fell into a rhythm together, their bodies rolling against one another in time with the beat. Shepard moved behind Kasumi resting her hands on the smaller woman's frame not breaking the movement of the dance.

"You have Jacob's attention Kasumi," Shepard moved her face in close to Kasumi's neck and watched as Jacob's jaw dropped.

Kasumi laughed, "About time too, I think Joker may have a stroke if you keep this up."

"That's ok, it doesn't hurt to get him a little hot under the collar." Shepard pressed her hand to her ear, "enjoying the show Mr. Moreau?"

Joker nodded from the table, unable to stand up from his seat knowing that his body would betray him and let Shepard know just how much he was enjoying it. He was alone now, the rest of the crew had gone out onto the dance floor to join Shepard and Kasumi, even Tali and Garrus were dancing even if it was mostly Garrus holding Tali up while she spun in a slow circle laughing.

The music slowed down as one song changed into another, "I'm going to go and get another drink," Shepard grabbed Kasumi by the hips and pushed her over to where Jacob was standing, "hey Taylor, dance with Kasumi for me?" Jacob smiled and nodded, leading Kasumi onto the dance floor.

Shepard turned to look at Joker, "you want another drink?" Joker nodded and Shepard was glad that she had decided to keep her earpiece in and Omni tool on, talking in a club was such a pain without it.

Retrieving the drinks from the bar Shepard made her way over to the table and sat down next to Joker, watching the crew interact with mild interest.

"Having fun?" Joker wrapped an arm over Shepard's shoulder.

Shepard nodded, "I guess birthday's aren't as bad as I thought."

Joker laughed, "Told you so." Shepard shifted forward in her seat, suddenly focused on something, "what's wrong?"

Shepard raised her hand and pointed to where Tali stood in the crowd, a large Turian was pushing Garrus out of the way and grabbing at Tali. Even over the music and the chatter Shepard could hear Tali squeal as the Turian grabbed her.

"That's it," Shepard stood quickly making her way around the table, Joker following behind her.

Clearing the distance of the dance floor took seconds; Shepard walked up behind the Turian and pushed Garrus aside tapping the stranger on the shoulder.

The Turian had Tali by the arms, rubbing his talons over her suit in a threatening way. Tali was shaking, which only fueled Shepard's rage.

"Hey sweet cheeks, problem?" The Turian pulled Tali closer causing a scared squeak to come from the Quarian.

Reaching for the gun on her thigh Shepard pulled it out and took aim for the Turian's head, "I'd say so," there was no trace of intoxication in her voice, she was calm and focused a prime example of her N7 training, "you're touching my Quarian."