Karra Shepard the woman wanted to squeal like a teenager, she wanted to jump for joy and dance around the room. Commander Shepard, the saviour of the Citadel, Alliance marine and Council Spectre managed to be a bit more serious, although keeping the grin off her face was increasingly difficult.

'I see Kaidans back,' Joker tried to hide his smile under his cap as the commander came up behind him. He could almost feel her excitement and he was truly happy for her.

'Yes he is,' she grinned and Joker laughed. 'What?' She looked at him as he spun his chair to face her.

'Just sensing some happiness here,' he chuckled. 'Does this mean I don't have to suffer any more broken bones so you get some sleep?'

'He's not moving into my quarters, Joker, we are on an Alliance ship and they don't look kindly on that sort of thing.' She chuckled, 'But I'm sure EDI can call him instead of you when necessary.'

'Why isn't he moving into your quarters, your both Spectres, doesn't that overrule your Alliance ranks?' He frowned and she shook her head.

'Maybe, but I don't think we should make it obvious, besides, we haven't gone past talking yet, we still have issues to work out.'

'Shepard, don't waste time we may not have,' he smiled up at her, 'besides, do you really think anyone on this ship doesn't know about you and Kaidan. Do you really believe it matters about rank and regulations? You deserve some happiness Shepard, take it while you can.'

'Yes sir,' she gave him a mock salute as he turned his chair forward. 'Get us to Tuchanka, we have a bomb to get rid of.'

Karra wanted to see Kaidan, to make sure he was really here but right now she had to be Commander Shepard. She headed to her quarters where she filed her reports on the Citadel coup, answered some emails and took a shower. Her stomach was telling her she needed to eat so she made her way to the mess.

She stepped out of the elevator and stopped. Two names had been added to the memorial wall, Thane and Mordin. The grief was still raw and she couldn't stop the tears that burned her eyes. She heard voices behind her that suddenly ceased and she felt someone come to stand on either side of her. She glanced sideways and met Kaidan's eyes, on the other side she found Joker. Both men took her hand and she squeezed them gently in thanks.

The sound of others coming to stand before the memorial made her realise how important this wall had become. The names on the wall gave them something to fight for, to honour their deaths, their sacrifices. Every name on that wall had played a part in the war they were fighting.

'Jenkins was so eager, so young. All he wanted was to be a good marine, to fight for what he believed in.' Kaidan spoke softly but his words were full of emotion.

'Ashley,' Joker took a deep breath, 'she was a soldier, a warrior but she was also a woman who loved poetry and practical jokes. She was my friend.'

'Presley became my friend,' Garrus spoke from the back of the group that had gathered. 'Before the end he admitted that he had been wrong to mistrust aliens, that he considered us to be almost human.' He chuckled and a couple of others did the same.

'I'd never met a Salarian before I met Mordin,' Dr Chakwas spoke from behind Karra. 'He was such a gentle soul who wanted to right a wrong. He was the very model of a scientist Salarian.' She sang the last part and Karra couldn't help but smile.

'It had to be him, someone else might have gotten it wrong,' Karra added, 'He sacrificed his life to save the Krogan race.'

'I'd never met a Drell before I met Thane,' Kaidan squeezed Karra's hand as he spoke. 'I would have liked to have known him better.'

'Thane died a hero,' Karra felt a tear roll down her cheek. 'He was my friend, he was a deep, thoughtful man who helped to soothe my soul when I needed it most.' She paused to take a deep breath. 'I will miss him. Kalahira watch over him and lead him to walk on distant shores.'

They stood in silence for a moment, remembering, before slowly moving away and going back to their duties. Kaidan was the last to leave and he lifted Karra's fingers to his lips before leaving her alone to gather her thoughts. With a sigh she ran her fingers across Thane's name then turned and headed to the mess to ease her grumbling stomach.

Karra finished the dregs of her coffee and headed to the starboard observation lounge where Kaidan had set himself up. She tried to convince herself that she just wanted to make sure he was settling in but it didn't work. She needed to see him to convince herself that he was really here. Her stomach was doing flip flops as she stepped through the door.

Her heart stopped as she saw him leaning against the glass of the observation window, a perfect silhouette. He reminded her of an ancient Earth statue dedicated to the male form, if he was naked he would be a fine example of just that. She felt a warm hum as her biotics flared to life and she fought to control the urge to run her hands over him.

'It looks so peaceful and yet people are dying in a million different ways, out there.' He sighed and Karra moved to stand beside him, concern now holding down her carnal urges.

'Kaidan?' she tried to look into his eyes but he kept them focussed out into space.

'I finally heard from my Mum,' there was a tremor in his voice, 'My dad is MIA, presumed…'

'Kaidan, I'm sorry,' she rested her hand on his arm.

'Mum is all alone in this now, I should be with her,' he sucked in a breath. 'But I want to be here, with you.' He finally turned to face her, his eyes moist, his hands shaking.

Before she could respond he pulled her into his arms and his lips found hers. There was hunger in the way he held her, kissed her and her own hunger and need responded. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands pulling him closer, her lips parting, her tongue tasting him. He turned them so she was backed against the window, his lips trailing down her neck, his arms pulling her tighter into his chest, their bodies moulding perfectly together.

'Karra, I can't live without you anymore,' he whispered against her neck. 'I love you, I always have and I always will.'

Gently she lifted his face so she could look into his eyes, 'I don't want to live without you either,' she ran her fingers along the contours of his face coming to rest on his lips. 'I love you so much,' she whispered and kissed him slowly, passionately, everything she felt for him went into that kiss and he returned in kind.

The air around them became electric as their biotics flared and combined, matching each other with a perfection that neither expected but willingly accepted and enjoyed. They felt the heightened awareness, the tendrils of power that ever so softly flickered across their skin and made their kiss deeper and more demanding.

'Ah, Commander,' Joker broke the mood and they forced themselves apart.

'What is it, Joker?' Karra grinned as Kaidan rested his forehead against hers and shook his head.

'We'll be at Tuchanka in 30 minutes.'

'Okay, contact Lieutenant Victus and let him know we're arriving and tell James to be ready.'

'Aye, Ma'am.'

'I guess some things never change,' Kaidan chuckled. He raised his head and looked into her eyes, 'We need to continue this conversation.' His voice was husky and Karra shivered in anticipation.

'Yes we do,' she loved his warm brown eyes and found herself falling into them. She leaned forward and found his lips again as his arms curled around her and held her against him. It was tender and gentle and she never wanted it to end, but duty called. 'We'd better go suit up.' She reluctantly pulled back and sighed.

'I need a minute or two,' Kaidan grinned at her, 'or I won't be able to get into my armour.'

Karra laughed at his discomfort before kissing him lightly, 'I'll see you in the shuttle bay.' With a deep breath she pulled herself from his arms and left the room.