"Wooo! Shots all round! Chupitos! Let's get a photo!" Vega howled, "Everybody yell tequila!"
"TEQUILAAA!"
Glyph snapped the shot as Shepard climbed on Vega's back and thrust horns up at the camera with her hands like a rock star as the others crowded in for the picture beside them. Samantha almost sunk under the weight of the Lieutenant's muscled arm around her neck.
"UH-OH! I think Shepard's drunk again!" Cortez yelled. Everyone erupted in laughter as the Commander slid off Vega's broad frame and downed another shot of tequila he handed her.
"Hell yeah!" Jack said, fist bumping her when she had finished, then resting her arm over her shoulder. "You're fucking nuts, Commander, and that's why I love you."
"Oy, watch it!" Samantha joked, "She's already got a girlfriend, lady."
"Haha! Oh yeah? I'll fight you for her," Jack offered teasingly, holding up a biotic ball in her other hand threateningly, "Come on, fucktard. I'll give you a good fisting!"
The inebriated Normandy crew cheered, egging them on. Samantha almost shat herself.
"Hey, that's my job!" Shepard said wickedly, digging Jack in the ribs. She slipped out from the heavily tattooed arm around her and placed her hands on either side of Samantha's waist, walking her backwards and pressing her up against the fridge before catching her in a deep, passionate kiss in front of the entire crew. Samantha's breath was taken away, and truth be told, she was a little ashamed at the soft moan which escaped her as the wolf whistles and laughter started. Yet the kiss was so demanding, so intense, that she couldn't break away even if she had wanted to.
Which I don't!
"Get a fucking room!" Jack booed, making the others chuckle, "Keep your hands where we can see them, Shepard!"
Shepard retracted her hands from Sam's ass and lifted them into the air as though at a hold up, while her tongue still busied itself with Samantha's. Finally she finished the kiss, allowing Traynor to catch her breath as her heart threatened to escape her chest. Samantha brought a hand to her forehead and exhaled, feeling herself flushed with both embarrassment and arousal.
She certainly knows how to catch me off guard.
Smiling, Shepard winked at her as Samantha bit her lip, still tasting her there. The Commander turned back to the others, resting her arm around Samantha's shoulder then as Jack had done with her before.
"So, still whoring around then, Shepard?" Jack teased, smirking at her, standing among the others with her arms folded, drink in hand.
"Yep, fucked your mother last week," Shepard joked.
Jack's mouth fell open. "Cunt! I'd slap you for that but I wouldn't want to get slut on my hand."
"Why not? You already have it all over your outfit."
Samantha sniggered as everyone laughed at Shepard's nonchalant comeback and stared at Subject Zero's clothes (or lack thereof). Jack pursed her lips and raised her middle finger as the Commander took a sip of Samantha's drink, looking incredibly cool as she did so.
She just oozes attitude.
"Well played. Still got that big mouth on you, huh?" Jack approved, "That's why we get along I guess! Can't shut us punks up!"
"Hell yeah," Shepard said, throwing her a wink and clinking the glass in her hand against Jack's.
"Goddess knows, we've tried," Liara giggled.
"Honestly, you two are about as subtle as a bomb," Miranda chipped in, making the others laugh once more.
"Hey, back up, Cerberus Cheerleader!" Jack said angrily, her body covered in a sudden biotic charge. "The blue babe can say whatever she wants, but me and you got a problem."
"Ugh, if I throw a stick for you will you leave?" Miranda replied, rolling her eyes.
"Is it the stick that's wedged up your ass?"
"Alright! Alright!" Shepard intervened, releasing Samantha and quickly stepping in between them as Jack tried to square up to her. "Can't you two just kiss and make up already?"
"Hell, I'd like to see that!" James laughed.
"Fuck that!" Jack snarled, sniggering at James' reaction, "I'd rather kiss your hairy ass, Vega."
Shepard chuckled. "Really, Jack? I thought you only sucked dick with those lips."
"O—KAYYY! I think I've had enough of this good-natured ribbing," Samantha said, beginning to leave the kitchen area. "These jokes are getting a bit too extreme for an Oxford girl like me."
Shepard looked at Jack and rolled her eyes comically. "Lesbians," she joked pointedly. Jack snorted into her drink. Laughing loudly, a few of the others followed suit, walking towards the living room and lounge, Miranda among them. Clearly she couldn't wait to get away from Jack.
Which is probably a good thing. The two best biotics humanity has to offer throwing down together? That fight that would demolish half this apartment...and I still haven't gotten to try out the hot tub yet.
As Samantha walked over to the bar she yelped in surprised as Shepard ran up behind her and flung her arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground playfully.
"Ahh! Put me down!" Samantha giggled, squirming to get free. "Everyone's looking at us!"
"So?" Shepard chuckled. She lowered her back onto her feet anyhow, placing a wet kiss on her neck and walking with her to the drinks counter. "We're on shore leave. Oh, wait a second!"
Surprised, Sam watched the Commander walk to the sofa and scoop something small up into her hands. Only when Shepard was back by her side did she realise what it was.
"You brought your hamster to a party?" she giggled.
"Of course!" Shepard exclaimed, "The little dude has had a rough time of it. That fucking clone wrecked his house and chucked him in the trash! I couldn't just leave him there alone...And I couldn't leave him on the chair either ,because Wrex almost sat on him earlier, and Grunt wanted to salt and pepper him for lunch."
Traynor covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing as her heart melted. "Oh God, you're so cute!" she giggled, seeing Shepard placed a little kiss on the hamster's fur. "What's he called?"
"Pelota," the Commander chuckled, "Vega renamed him when I returned to Earth after defeating the Collectors and the Alliance took my ship. It's Spanish for 'Ball' apparently. He looked like a little ball of fluff when I got him so it kind of stuck... I used to just call him Spaceman."
Samantha giggled and reached out to pet the little ginger hamster as the Commander put him in the hood of her N7 jacket.
"He's lovely. Look how he just sits there! It's like he's trained," she said, surprised. She had never seen a hamster as docile.
"Yeah, he loves being high up...Anyway, enough about him. What cocktail are you going to make me?" Shepard asked, as they began walking to the bar. She stopped at the selection of drinks, resting her hand along the top of Samantha's ass as both of them check out what was on offer.
"Hmm, how about a Godfather?" Sam said, smiling at her.
"Sounds good! What's in it?" Shepard asked interestedly, drum rolling on the counter excitedly.
"All you need to know is it has whiskey," Samantha giggled, "Just let me worry about the rest."
Shepard chuckled and walked around the other side of the bar, sitting herself down on one of the stools to watch her work. Samantha remembered back to her student days of working in a bar, mixing cocktails. Like the pro that she was, she threw her ingredients together with style and shook them up, flailing the cups as she did so before pouring the Godfather into a large jug and adding some ice. She then poured the Commander a glass and popped a little umbrella in. Shepard smiled at her.
"Impressive!" she approved, taking a sip of the light brown liquid. "God, it's pretty potent! Hey guys! Come try this!"
Vega, Joker, Miranda, Jacob and Cortez approached the bar with a curious EDI in tow and Samantha served them drinks. There was silence as they all tried the Godfather, then:
"Mmm!"
"Nice!"
"Good work, Tray!"
"Eh...Is there whiskey in this?"
Everyone turned to look at Joker, who had suddenly gone green.
"A little," Shepard laughed. "Why?"
"Actually...a lot," Sam cringed, realising almost the entire bottle was gone. She had put very little mixture in along with it. "Are you alright?"
"Ugh...I... think I'm gonna throw up," Joker replied, dropping his glass and rushing off to the bathroom, holding his stomach.
"Interesting," EDI said, tilting her head as she observed him, "I think I will join him. This is a valuable human experience that I cannot afford to miss."
"You wouldn't say that if you could smell it," James joked.
The others laughed and watched a curious EDI follow after the drunken Flight-Lieutenant.
"Actually, EDI can smell," Miranda informed him, "She just doesn't have the database as a way to distinguish between a nice smell and an unpleasant one."
"Good thing too. I think he's going to be in there for a while," Shepard chuckled. "Anyway, let's stop talking about Joker throwing up before I have to join him. Here! A toast! To the best fucking crew in the universe!"
"Hell yeah!" James said, as everyone raised their cocktails. "Salud!"
"Here, here!" Samantha added happily.
"To the Normandy!"
"NORMANDYYY!"
They all clinked glasses and took a large sip of their drink.
"I must say," Miranda began, staring at Samantha then, "You do mix a fine drink, Specialist Traynor."
"Oh...Thank you," Sam replied, wondering why the cold-hearted bitch was being so nice to her. The last, and only time, they had met, Miranda had all but bitten her head off.
"I... believe I owe you an apology," the Australian woman continued, "I was quite rude when we first met."
"Uh...that's alright," Samantha said awkwardly, giving her a little smile. Truth be told, the ex-Cerberus woman still intimidated her a little bit.
Then again, who wouldn't she intimidate with a body like that?
"Wow, Miranda's actually admitting she was wrong about something?" Shepard joked, "You should be flattered, Samantha. It's not every day that happens."
"I brought you back from the dead, Shepard. I can put you back there whenever I like," Miranda joked.
"Ouch!" James exclaimed, sizzling his finger in the air comically, "Burn! That's fighting talk! You just gonna sit there and take that, Commander?"
Shepard chuckled. "It's alright, Lieutenant, I'll leave her for Jack to finish off later."
The group laughed as Miranda rolled her eyes.
"Good. I'll be sure to have my Omni-tool set to record," Vega teased.
Miranda dug him in the ribs. "Alright, Shepard! Let's do this. Arm wrestle, now!"
"Oh you're on!" Shepard yelled cracking her knuckles. She got to her feet and high-fived James before taking up a place on the others side of the bar. Noticing the danger, Samantha picked up the jug of Godfather and the full glasses before they got knocked over.
"Ready?" James asked, as the two woman joined hands, resting their elbows on the counter.
"Bring it," Miranda replied, her eyes fixed firmly on Shepard's. Both looked focused and ready, despite the fact that Shepard had consumed a lot more alcohol.
"GO!"
A vein began to show on the temple of each woman as they battled. It wasn't long before Commander Shepard had bested her old XO however, slamming her hand onto the counter hard and whooping in victory.
"Yeah! No one fucks with Shepard!" Vega boomed, high-fiving her again before she turned to Samantha and received a congratulatory kiss.
"One hundred credits says I beat her too!" Wrex boomed, racing over to join in on the fun. "I'll take Shepard next for double or nothing."
"I'll take that bet!" Cortez laughed, "You're up again, Miranda."
Commander Shepard laughed and toasted her glass once more as he friends crowded round for another round. "I love you guys. Thanks for being here. This has been a great fucking night."
A few hours later the crew had spread about, some dancing, some arguing, some laughing and some passed out on the floor. Luckily they had gotten a group photo before the alcohol had really set in. Samantha laughed as she danced with Jack, Garrus, Liara, Cortez and Tali in the kitchen, having just recited the elements of the periodic table with them. Seeing Shepard sitting in the living room with Joker and EDI, Samantha took her leave and walked over.
"How are you enjoying the party, Commander?"
Shepard awoke from her daze and looked up as Samantha plonked down on the sofa beside her, while the other members of the crew departed the sitting area to join those dancing in the kitchen.
I guess EDI finally convinced Joker to dance with her then. Good on her!
The Commander was wearing a beautiful dark green dress that clung to her curves perfectly, sitting with her legs crossed in a very lady-like manner, and resting a glass of champagne on her lap. They had changed earlier when Chakwas showed up with some tuxedos and dresses that had been gifted to the Commander by various designers who noticed her on Silversun Strip. The doc unfortunately had to leave shortly afterwards to help at Huerta memorial, leaving the already drunk crew to finally get out of their military regs for one night only and turn the party into a formal one. With her heeled shoes and hair tied up into a tight bun, her ringlets cascading down either side of her face, Shepard would have looked like a woman reborn but for the numerous battle scars across her pale skin and the faint hint of orange in her eyes. As she stared at her, Samantha could tell that something was wrong.
It's not like Shepard to not join in the fun. Normally she's the instigator when there are drunken antics to be had and a mess to make.
"Hey gorgeous," Shepard replied quietly, "I'm alright." She threw Traynor and half-hearted smile and rested her head against hers as Samantha put an arm around her shoulder, drawing her close.
"I'm not a fool, darling," Samantha said gently, grazing Shepard's arm comfortingly with her fingers. "Talk to me."
"Sorry," the Commander breathed, "I...I'm just a bit drunk I think. Shouldn't have let Vega talk me into Tequila shots again. I think I had enough at the Casino with you earlier."
"Me too," Sam giggled, "EDI just embarrassed me in front of Tali by recalling some of my finer comments about her voice. I'm absolutely mortified!" Shepard attempted a laugh and failed miserably. Clearly she was preoccupied with something. "I know something's on your mind, Shepard" Samantha said then, "You can't lie to me...And you have that look about you."
Shepard hesitated. "I... I'd prefer not to talk about it to be honest. Let's not spoil the fun...just enjoy this last night together."
Samantha's brown eyes found Shepard's emerald green ones then, as though searching for answers. At once she could see the worries behind them. Shore leave was at an end unfortunately. The war had snuck its way back into the minds of those in charge and resumed its torture.
"Last night?" Traynor repeated, hearing the finality in the Commander's tone. Shepard blinked and her eyes flitted off in the direction of the rowdy crew who were dancing wildly on top of tables and laughing and joking loudly. Her face was etched with concern. Samantha followed her gaze, finally catching on. She turned back to her and sighed. "It's not the last time we'll all be together like this, sweetheart... I promise."
Even as she said the words, Samantha realised that it was very possible that it would be. This was one promise to Shepard that she couldn't keep. The look on Shepard's face told her she was grateful for Traynor's effort at trying to calm her fears, but she was too far gone to accept false hope from anyone, even the woman she loved. This war had hardened her so.
"Do you know how many men and women I've lost under my command?" Shepard asked sadly, staring down into her champagne, watching the bubbles rise to the top.
Samantha gave her a little grimacing smile. "No," she admitted softly, shaking her head.
The Commander was silent for a few seconds as Samantha twirled the ends of her hair affectionately. "Neither do I," she admitted then, with a small sigh, "I stopped counting after I reached 50."
Sam's face contorted into a look of deep sympathy mixed with surprise. Her eyes widened.
Wow...that's a lot...
"I'm sorry," Traynor said softly, wishing there was something she could do.
The Commander looked over the Normandy crew again, watching as they had what would be the last bit of fun they would get. The entire night she had been there with them, laughing and joking, but too many whiskeys had begun to take effect in a different way, and her fears for the lives of her friends were rising to the surface as much as she tried to bury them.
"If only they weren't the best damn soldiers in the Galaxy, Samantha," Shepard lamented, shaking her head, her eyes burning with admiration for each and everyone one of her crew. "I'd love to have an excuse to tell them all to leave and let me do this on my own...To hide until each and every one of those bastarding Reapers were killed. It just seems like such a waste to point them at a hopeless cause and watch them fall like dominoes just like the others have."
Samantha was taken aback by the depth of the Commander's concern for her soldiers.
I suppose they're not just soldiers to her though, are they? They're like family...They ARE family.
"Come on," Samantha whispered comfortingly, taking the champagne from Shepard's hand and placing it on the coffee table, "I think you've had enough to drink for tonight, darling."
She got to her feet then and took Shepard by the hand, pulling her to hers. Samantha led her over to the window next to the grand piano, then turned to her. She slipped her arms around the Commander's waist and drew her close, resting her right cheek against hers. As Glyph tactically changed the song to something more peaceful and relaxing, they began to sway slowly to the music. Samantha closed her eyes, feeling the Commander melt into her embrace, holding her tightly. With her hand resting on the nape of Shepard's neck, they slowly twirled in unison, unaware that the entire crew had their eyes on them. They had fallen quiet all of a sudden. Traynor turned her head slightly and found the Commander's lips, beginning a measured, tender kiss that seemed to make time stand still.
Soon they realised they were joined by Garrus and Tali, then James and Liara, and Joker and EDI. Even Miranda and Jacob managed to put their differences aside and join the others in a slow dance by the window. Jack stood on the sidelines, one arm draped over the shoulder of Wrex and the other around Grunt as the three of them and Zaeed swayed drunkenly together. The entire crew had fallen into a silent lament, as thoughts of the war came back to them. Even Kasumi managed to make herself visible in that moment.
Traynor rested her forehead against the Commander's as they swayed.
"Thanks," Shepard whispered, caressing Sam's body through her black and white dress. Samantha looked up at her.
"What for?"
Shepard half shrugged, having no other words. Understanding, Samantha smiled and stroked her face, placing a light kiss on her lips before pulling her into a hug once more, listening to the piano playing as the soft music took over, sending them into a spiral of emotions that neither could voice. Overcome, Sam buried her face in the Commander's neck, breathing in her scent, loosening the woman's soft red hair from its noose and stroking it soothingly as they danced together. The end of this last night of peace seemed to have crept up without them realising. Tomorrow they would all be back on the Normandy, mercilessly thrown into the fight once more, expendable as soldiers were for the greater good. Samantha didn't particularly want to be in a battle, but standing on the edge of one that none of them could escape was even worse...For Shepard, it must have been hell.
Suddenly a loud crash broke apart the tender moment and that of the rest of the crew's. Samantha and Shepard broke from their kiss to turn around and laugh with the others at the sight, as Jack, Zaeed, Grunt and Wrex fell over the settee and landed on the coffee table, breaking it in two. As the Normandy crew's antics and teasings started up again, Samantha grabbed her opportunity. She took Shepard by the hand and the two of them escaped upstairs to the Commander's bedroom. Smiling, Samantha closed the door behind her, blocking out the noise from below. They were finally alone.
"I had a great night," Shepard said a little hoarsely, as Traynor sat down beside her and took her hand. "It was so good to meet up with everyone again and have what's left of the Normandy crew together in one place."
"You throw a great party, ma'am," Samantha replied with a smile, squeezing her hand. "We'll do everything in our power to make sure it isn't the last."
"How?" Shepard asked, looking saddened.
"I know it's not...I know it won't be easy," Samantha replied, feeling a lump form in her throat as she imagined the coming months of destruction. Shepard had kept strong for them for years. Now it was her turn to be strong instead. "But somehow we'll just hold on."
Shepard exhaled loudly and lay back on the bed, resting one arm behind her head and staring up at the ceiling. Sam did the same, curling up beside her, resting her head on her chest and feeling the Commander's free arm hold her close. They lay in silence, thinking about the uncertainty of the future, losing themselves in the darkness as it closed in around them and the clock struck past the tiny hours of the morning. Although this was the most alone they were ever going to be, the most normal their lives were ever going to seem, neither woman in that moment felt like having the sex they had planned. Somehow, it was enough just know they were together, side by side, ready to face whatever the universe threw at them.