Chapter 21 - A Day of R&R
Eternity Embraced

Eternity Embraced, the sequel to A Glimpse of Eternity and Eternity's Struggle, follows the tumultuous relationship of Commander Kiara Shepard and Kaidan Alenko as they wage war against the Reapers that have invaded the galaxy.

Disclaimer: I own only the parts of the individual personality of Commander Kiara Shepard I have developed inspired by the Commander Shepard in the gameplay. I do not own, nor hold any rights, to any of the characters, dialogue, storylines or any part in or of the "Mass Effect" game series. I want to thank Drew Karpyshyn and his staff of amazing writers, animators and voice actors. These are for fan enjoyment only and no money had been made on these stories.

Trying to get Shepard pinned down for a day of R&R was like pulling teeth for Liara and Garrus but with the prospect of a date with Kaidan on the horizon, she finally gave in them all the next time they pulled into the Citadel. It helped convince her they needed it when even Javik had approached her and asked for time to explore the Citadel. It had been already lost to the Reapers by the time he had been born but like in their cycle, it had once been the jewel of the galaxy he'd grew up hearing about.

With her date later in the evening with Kaidan, and Liara offering to take her shopping for it, Shepard decided to spend the early afternoon with Garrus while the rest of the crew took advantage of their shore leave. The turian had something planned for them. She thought it would be drinking, a favorite past time of theirs they never seemed to get the chance to do, but he surprised her when he loaded them in a car and took them to the top of the Presidium for some shooting practice.

Shooting practice quickly turned into a competition of who was a better shot. On the final shot, Shepard missed the target with such clumsiness that Garrus never suspected it had been intentional. He was ecstatic as he gloated and triumphed, boasting about bronzing his gun and making a monument right on that spot. She laughed and shook her head at him.

All in all, she'd had a good afternoon and she was glad for the time she got to spend with Garrus. Her team was her family and she valued every minute she got to spend with them. With the war, none of them knew what the next day could hold. Time was precious and she was glad she'd spent the afternoon with one of her closest friends.

As soon as they reached the Commons again, Liara was there. With a farewell to Garrus, her and Liara headed to a beautiful vantage point at the café and enjoyed a cup of tea while looking out over the view. It was gorgeous and Shepard had realized she'd rarely gotten the time to truly appreciate it. There had always been something more important or bigger going on. Even with the damage from the Cerberus attack, it was breathtaking and she was glad they'd came.

They spoke for a long time about a lot of different things. Liara reminisced about her mother and her childhood. She'd had a good one from the sounds of it. It seemed the Beneziah, before Saren, was quite a woman and Shepard wished she would have been able to know that side of her. By the way Liara spoke of her, she would have liked her.

As soon as their tea was finished, Liara took Shepard shopping. Shepard tried to enjoy it but she'd never been one for the 'girly' aspects of life. She felt out of her depth, not a normal feeling for her, but with Liara's guidance, she found a beautiful dress, heels and a small amount of make up. She was nervous for the evening. As Liara and her returned to the Normandy, she realized that she and Kaidan had never actually had a 'real' date.

As the evening drew closer, and Shepard got ready, she grew more excited and less nervous. They were finally getting some time alone to themselves. Ever since they'd gotten together, it'd been one crisis after another. First Saren, then the Normandy exploding and Shepard dying, then coming back and dealing with the Collectors. Now it was the war with the Reapers. They'd never been a 'normal' couple but she was going to enjoy an evening where they came as close to it as they could be.

After getting ready and departing the Normandy, Shepard found herself on the steps of the Presidium Commons looking down at the restaurant where Kaidan sat waiting for her. She stood there for the longest time just watching him, a small smile on her face as she reflected on everything it took to get them to where they were.

She'd missed him. She was glad that, even with the war raging on around them, they'd found time to spend together. It felt good and right that he was there with her to enjoy these rare moments.

Taking a deep breath, butterflies fluttering in her stomach, she made her way down the steps. Though she usually preferred combat book, she had to admit she liked how she felt in the heels. She caught the appreciative looks of both men and women as she made her way to Kaidan. It made her feel sexy and desirable with her strappy heels and her form fitting, short black dress. Her hair remained up in her usual loose bun, and a light brushing of makeup covered her features.

Kaidan was pulled from his thoughts, and his own nerves over their date, with a touch on his shoulder. Looking up, the rest of the galaxy faded away at the sight of her. She smiled to him, that gesture taking his breath away. She was a vision. He'd always found her stunning, even in uniform, but in that moment, he was truly at a loss for words at the sight of her.

He'd never seen her look so feminine but she carried it off well, the short black dress forming to her athletic, yet very womanly curves. He caught glimpses of the way others in the café looked at her and it made him beam with pride. He let the others desire her because with one glance at the way she looked at him, he knew she looked like that for him alone. He swallowed down his desire hard as he gestured for her to join him.

She took the seat beside him, her cheeks warming at the way he looked at her. It was clear he liked what he saw by the way his gaze had raked over her appreciatively. Dressed in a nice pair of black pants and nice white shirt with a leather jacket over the top that fit him perfectly, he looked ravishing. She couldn't remember the last time either of them had seen the other dressed in something other than their uniforms or armor. She liked seeing him so relaxed.

Kaidan cleared his throat as she took her seat, "I'm surprised this place can still get supplies for a menu like this," he said, dragging his attention from her to the menu in front of him.

Kiara smiled, "Maybe it's better if we don't ask how…or where."

Setting the data pad aside, he leaned forward as he rested his forearms on the table. He looked at her with an appreciative gaze, "I'm glad we're taking the time to do this. I could use a sanity check."

Shepard nodded, "Yeah. Things have been pretty crazy."

"You know…my life flashed in front of my eyes on Mars…" Kaidan said, his gaze unwavering and intense as he looked at her, "And there weren't enough moments like this, with people I care about."

Immediately her butterflies disappeared as that easy nature fell over them, "How are you feeling these days?" she asked softly as her eyes searched his. She knew he was fully healed but she still worried about him. He'd almost died and the memory of him laying on the ground with that blank near-lifeless stare had been seared into her mind forever. She never wanted to see him like that again.

"Feeling up to whatever the Reapers throw at me. And grateful," he added, "that I convinced you to sit down for half a second and relax."

She leaned forward as she held his gaze, "Yeah. I think it's a good time for us to have a heart-to-heart." She smiled, "What're you drinking?" Her tone taking on that teasing lilt. He loved seeing her relax and let her Commander side take a break for a while. She didn't do it enough but he liked how easily she seemed to be able to relax around him.

Kaidan chuckled, "If you're trying to butter me up, it might take a nice steak sandwich too."

"So…" she said, leaning back in the chair with an enticing smile as she tried to pry his order out from him.

"Shot of whiskey and a good old Canadian lager," he said with a smirk, "Think they have it?"

Shepard picked up the menu and looked it over, "More likely to have Batarian Shard Wine." She put in their order and set down the data pad.

"At my parents place in Vancouver, drank more than a few beers on their balcony, looking over English Bay," he said, her attention returning to him. He glanced out over the view the Presidium held, his smile fading as he thought of his home, "Yeah, beautiful view…" He couldn't imagine what it looked like now. He pushed the thoughts from head. It wasn't the time for bittersweet memories like that. He finally had Shepard alone with him and he wanted to focus on the good. "You know what though," he looked back at her, still serious but lighter than the moment previous, "I feel good about our chances."

"Yeah?" Shepard asked with a quirk of her brow. She was glad he did. She still wondered sometimes, though she'd never let anyone know it. She was Commander Shepard. She had to be the one who never doubted and always believed. If she didn't, how could anyone have hope?

"Yeah," Kaidan shrugged, "Lets me sleep better at night."

She leaned forward again towards him as she rested her hands on her lap, "You're not sleeping, Kaidan?" Worry touched her voice though she had no room to talk where sleep was concerned. She hadn't had a good night sleep in longer than she could remember. If her nights weren't filled with nightmares, they were filled with tossing and turning.

"Maybe a little restless," he admitted, his gaze dropping from hers as he looked down to the table. "The war isn't the only thing keeping me up at night…I wonder about us." He glanced up to look at her and found her alabaster gaze locked on his.

"Us?" she asked, the butterflies returning to flutter in her stomach. She brought her hands up to rest them on the top of the table as she held her breath in anticipation of his next words.

Kaidan drew up the strength for what he wanted to say. He suspected where their relationship was going, and how they'd been moving forward, but he needed something more definitive and he knew she deserved it, too. "I love you, Shepard," he said as he looked into her eyes, "I always have. I want to understand what this is between us…and make it real." He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, "That's what I want. What do you want?"

"I can't bury what I feel for you anymore, Kaidan, and I don't want to," Shepard said, her gaze unmoving from his as she spoke. Her heart was nearly bursting with his declaration. Once upon a time, she had lost all hope that they would ever find their way back to each other but then he came back into her life. She didn't want another moment to pass by without him knowing how she felt, "I love you, Kaidan. I never stopped loving you."

Leaning forward, he took one of her hands in his and brought it up to his face, pressing his cheek against her palm as he smiled, "And that…" he looked deeply into her eyes, the raw emotion of his love bared in his eyes for her see, "makes me so happy." Turning his head, he placed a kiss on the palm of her hand.

The kiss sent shivers through her body and set a warmth to her core that heated up when he looked at her more intensely with a playful glimmer in his eyes. She could see the desire dancing in his depths and she felt her own respond to him. "And there are benefits to that happiness," he teased softly, his voice low for only her ears. Her breath hitched. He slowly released her hand as he sat back as the waiter approached with their drinks, "but more on that later."

Kiara liked the promise in his gaze. Leaning forward, "Later? We need to get back to the Normandy, A.S.A.P.," she said with her own playful grin that brought a hearty chuckle from him.

"Ahh, too late. Our drinks are here and," Kaidan grinned at her, "I'm going to take my time." As much as he wanted to take her then and rush back to the Normandy, he still wanted to do this right. She deserved to be wooed and seduced. Besides, he needed this too. A chance to just stop and enjoy time with her.

Sitting back, she got comfortable and accepted his words with a smile. This was nice and too rare of an opportunity for them and she was going to enjoy whatever time she got with him. "What'd you call it? A sanity check?"

"Mmm," he nodded, "Sanity check."

Everything had changed, for the better, and in that moment Shepard knew with Kaidan by her side, it was going to be alright. Somehow, someway, they were going to make it through this.