Arcturus Station – Shepard's Apartment

Kaidan pressed the call button by Lex's door and waited for her to answer. They'd spent the past two days since arriving at the station at his apartment, and had finally left each other's side for the first time this morning after having breakfast at the café. He shifted a bit uncomfortably as he waited, straightening his tie for about the fifth time since he'd put it on. He was a nervous wreck. Admiral Hackett had finally arrived at the station this morning and soon Kaidan would be having dinner with his girlfriend's father, who just so happened to be his boss, for the first time.

He paused for a moment and smiled as he realized he'd just called Lex his girlfriend for the first time, even if it was just in his head.

He looked up as he heard the door swish open and he forgot how to breathe. Commander Shepard was standing in front of him in a little black dress, and Kaidan didn't think his heart, or any part of him, could take it.

"Kaidan?" Lex asked with a bit of trepidation. Kaidan was staring at her with an expression she couldn't quite figure out. "I look ridiculous, don't I? I do, I'm going to go put on some pants." She turned away from the door and made it about two steps towards her bedroom before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.

"Don't you dare." He growled at her, his voice low and husky making her shiver. "The only way you are getting out of that dress is if I take it off, and if do that we will never make it out of this apartment on time."

"Tsk, tsk that will never do. The admiral hates tardiness." She smiled at him wickedly. "But if you'd like to forget this and just cancel, the zipper is in the back."

"Oh you are a wicked temptress, aren't you? You did this on purpose." He had one arm around her waist, and hadn't even noticed when his hand had automatically moved up to caress the cleavage showing from the top of her dress. He moved it up to her neck and brought her in for a kiss, then quickly released her and stepped back. "Nice try, but I think I can control myself for a few hours."

She pouted and he had to laugh. She was absolutely breathtaking in that dress. It was nothing out of this world, a simple black dress of modest length and cut, but it clung to all her curves just right. He dragged his eyes up and noticed the other subtle differences about her tonight. First was the hair. She hadn't shaved it in months and at this point it was what you'd call a pixie cut, he hadn't really paid much attention to it while they'd been on their mission to save the Galaxy, but now he smiled as he noticed the spots where her red tresses wildly diverted from where she had attempted to style them. He gave a silent prayer that she would let her hair grow out again. She was wearing earrings as well, and that wasn't something he was used to. They were simple emerald ones, just tiny things but they made her eyes shine. The make-up was a new thing as well, again simple and barely there, but enough to bring out her features.

He found himself pulling her closer again, and then they were kissing. They were breathless again when he pulled away. "Damn it, Lex. Please let's go."

She laughed. "Okay, give me a moment to get my bag." She replied as she walked towards what he assumed was her bedroom. He took this time to look around her apartment, and he couldn't help but shake his head. Her place wasn't dirty, but it was a cluttered mess. There were data-pads and books on every surface, even on the floor. Most of her chairs and seats had some article of clothing thrown on them. They were so different. He couldn't imagine spending anytime here without instinctively picking up. In fact by the time she came out of the room, he'd gathered most of the clothing into one pile on the sofa.

"What are you doing?" She asked. "Are you cleaning my apartment?"

He blushed. "I couldn't help it."

"It's not this bad most of the time, I swear. I just couldn't find what to wear tonight. I think I tried on everything I own." She said. "But to be honest, the other stuff always looks like that. I pretty much end up working all over the apartment."

"Yes, I've seen your cabin on the Normandy."

"Don't worry, Kaidan. We spend nights at your place while we're here." She stated as she walked towards the front door. "Come on, if you're determined to do this, let's get it over with."

Or you could just move in. Kaidan shook his head to clear that thought right out, too fast Alenko. "Okay, let's do this."

Lex looked over and watched Kaidan as he adjusted his tie. Again. She thought she'd seen him nervous before, hell she'd made him nervous plenty of times, but she'd never seen him like this. It would be absolutely adorable if she wasn't about to fall apart herself. They were standing at her father's door now, and she wanted nothing more than to turn and run away. Not walk, run. And fast. Usually she prided herself on making her father upset, pushing his buttons. But this was different. This was Kaidan and for some reason what her father thought about their relationship mattered to her. If he met Kaidan, if he spent time with the both of them and still didn't think they should be together she didn't know how she would handle that. And what's worse, is she didn't know why.

The door opened and she instantly reached out for Kaidan's arm, not sure if it was more for him or her, but needing him to know he wasn't doing this alone.

"Hello, you're right on time. Come in."

"Yes, sir." She replied as she stepped into the living room, pulling Kaidan in behind her. Come on, Kaidan, this was your idea don't wuss out on me now. For a moment she thought he'd actually heard her as he seemed to gather up some courage and put his hand out to greet the Admiral.

"Evening, Admiral. Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you." Lex smiled behind him, a sense of pride at how well her man handled himself when she knew he was scared shitless. My man…yeah. She looked up, and saw her father looking at her. She could see a slight smile on his face and she wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Relax, son. This isn't an inspection. We're off duty, no need to be so formal." Her father replied as he took Kaidan's hand and placed his arm on his back to lead him towards the study. "Come on, let's eat. I've been trying to catch up on work since I arrived this morning and I'm starving. And if I know my daughter, she hasn't eaten all day."

"I had breakfast." She mumbled, knowing that wasn't really a great improvement.

"Lex…" Kaidan turned to look at her.

"Oh no, don't you start up on me too. I get enough of that from him. I was busy." She whined in reply and was shocked when she heard a chuckle from the Admiral. "Great."

They sat down to eat and nobody was surprised when the conversation immediately turned to the events of the last few months. Her father had of course been receiving steady reports from her, and if she knew him well enough which she did, from his many spies on board the Normandy. She could hear him now, 'They aren't spies Alexandra. They are alliance officers doing their duty and keeping me informed of what I need to know.' She rolled her eyes, and Kaidan gave her a strange look. She smiled and shook her head pulling her attention back to the conversation. Once dinner was over, they all took a seat in the living room.

"So, you have some free time ahead of you. What are your plans?" Her father asked both of them.

"Apparently, I'm going to Earth." Lex grumbled in reply.

"Really?" He asked. "Voluntarily?" He didn't bother to hide the shock in his voice.

"Sorta." She replied, and glanced over at Kaidan.

"We're going to Vancouver to visit my parents, sir."

"Really?"

"Yes, why do you keep saying that?" She asked, a bit annoyed by his obvious surprise.

"Well for one, you hate Earth." Her father replied.

"I don't hate it. I just rather not spend any substantial amount of time there." And that was the truth of it. She didn't hate her home planet, but every time she went there she always worried about running into someone who knew her before she joined the Alliance. It was silly, she knew that the chances of that were almost nil, especially since she never dared go anywhere near New York, but she still couldn't make herself comfortable while on Earth.

"Fine. And secondly, I don't believe you've ever met anyone's parents before. You certainly haven't introduced me to anyone before, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised."

"Well, I was hoping he'd say no, so that I could then say no to meeting his parents, but he played dirty and actually wanted to meet you." She replied.

"I see." Lex flinched as she heard the disappointment in his voice.

"Damn it, it's not like that. I didn't mean that I didn't want him to meet you. I did. It's just that I know how you feel about us being together and I don't want to argue about it again, okay?" She said hurriedly.

"Alexandra, I'm just worried about your career. I want to make sure you know what's at stake here." He replied. "You stand to lose the most if this doesn't work out."

"Sir, I can assure you that if anyone has a problem with our relationship I will resign from my duties before –." Kaidan started to reply.

Lex cut him off. "The hell you will."

"Lex…"

"Don't you dare, Kaidan. If someone has a problem with our relationship they can kiss my ass. You are not leaving the Alliance because of me." She looked back at her father and caught him smiling again. "What?"

"If someone has a problem with your relationship, they can take it up with me." He replied.

Lex's jaw dropped. "Why?"

"Because I see the way he looks at you. Because I believe him when he says he would end his career," The admiral looked over at Kaidan. "which I might add is a very promising one." He looked back at his daughter. "to be with you." He stood up and walked over to Lex, taking her hand. "And because I don't think I've ever seen you this happy, and for that I'd give this young man the world."

Lex couldn't see. Her eyes were suddenly spilling over with tears and she couldn't stop it. She tried brushing them away but they kept coming. She stood up to leave, she couldn't take this it was too much, but the moment she was up she found herself putting her arms around her father and crying on his shoulder.

Kaidan watched silently as the woman he loved cried on her father's shoulder. The look of shock on the Admiral's face was all he needed to know this was probably the first time she'd let him hold her like that. He felt like an intruder, but when the Admiral looked over at him and mouthed a thank you, he smiled.