Author's Note: Just the other day, I was looking at the website where I had originally started this story, and I was shocked to see that just one year ago, I only had 5 chapters, and I had nearly given up on the story. Now I have plans for at least 50 chapters, and I have so many people supporting me, as well as the story. Thank you so much, everyone!

Also, I apologize for the short length of this chapter. But it felt right to have it a little shorter, for what's to come.

The last thing she remembered was walking away from Huerta - walking away from Thane. Even in his last moments, he hadn't been thinking of himself, but instead he was thinking about others. He'd asked his son to say a prayer for her before he passed away, and when she'd learned that she couldn't help but shed a few tears, and walk over to say her final goodbye to him. She remembered getting into the elevator to go meet with Saren, Garrus, and James. But she couldn't remember if she had or not. Either way when she cracked her eyes open, it was very bright and she had a headache.

"Good, you're awake." she heard Saren chuckle. She felt his arm wrap around her stomach and she shifted, being pulled closer to him. The sheets didn't feel the same as she remembered and she tried opening her eyes again.

"Where the hell are we?" she mumbled, not recognizing anything around her as familiar, except for him. She smiled when she felt his face against her neck, and she brought her hand up to stroke over his mandible, glad for the closeness.

"I take it you don't really remember what happened after we talked in the cafe. You took me to Purgatory, then proceeded to drink until you couldn't even stand up. So I had to carry you out and now we're in my apartment, seeing as it's only a couple blocks away. And I thought you might like being away from the Normandy a little longer." he spoke softly. She took his hand and nodded, glad he'd thought of her because she was appreciating the silence.

"Thanks for taking care of me." Emma turned to face him with her hand still on his face. All she could do right now was look over his face, noticing a few new marks and running her finger over them at the same time she felt his hand press firmly on her back. She wished he'd just tell her what he was thinking, sometimes, because Emma still had a hard time reading turian expressions. Particularly the one in front of her who had the stone face mastered.

"You know that I would do anything to keep you safe, right?" Saren asked, showing some concern on his face. She pulled her hand away and nodded, stretching to kiss him softly. He gripped her a little bit when she did so, but he was quick to relax. "Maybe we should get you something to eat, before heading back."

"But we don't need to go back now." she smiled. He chuckled and shook his head, sitting up.

"We really should go back. At the very least we can head off to keep doing our jobs, and while we're waiting to get there we can have some time to ourselves." as he spoke he let a talon slide through her hair, and she sighed, giving in to his words. He chuckled and helped her up, letting her take her time in the bathroom, for which she was grateful. Her hair had been sticking out and she didn't know how anyone could find that attractive in the morning. At least her uniform hadn't been ruined; it was still relatively crisp. She let her wet hair hang how it was and she walked out to see Saren lounging carelessly on the couch, reading through something on his omni-tool.

"What are you reading?" she asked when she walked over to him, smiling.

"I guess Garrus was nearby last night, and he was just asking if we got back okay." Saren looked up, "Sometimes I wonder how much he still cares about you."

"Well I still care about him like family. He and I have been through a lot." she hesitated before sitting down. "He probably saw me shit-faced and got worried because that doesn't happen very often." Saren nodded and she leaned against him, looking at his omni-tool. "How often do you read through your messages?" she chuckled, seeing there was well over 50 unread messages.

"Maybe once a week..."

"Maybe I'll just have to start send you messages so you start paying more attention to them, hm?" she chuckled and nestled against his chest as he went throuh the rest, most of them updates from her on missions that she assumed he'd read when they popped up. After a half hour he sat up, forcing her to sit up as well.

"Let's go." he said quietly, taking her hand and standing up. She smiled, remembering that she'd pulled him to the elevator from the cafe, avoiding media.

"You didn't happen to see anything on the news last night, did you?"

"I saw a segment on us that was five minutes too long, without anything from either of us." she saw his mandibles twitch angrily, and she could tell by the way he growled that he didn't particularly enjoy the attention. She stood up and walked out of the apartment with him, waiting until they had walked for a bit before speaking again.

"I thought, seeing as we have Diana aboard, that I'd wait until she asked to say anything. And I doubt she'll shy away from the subject much longer after this."

"I've had a couple talks with her." he shrugged, "She's an honest reporter and I like that... I could bear an interview with her if she asked."

"How generous." Emma grinned, keeping an eye out for something that looked good to eat. And that didn't take very long. A mere ten minutes later she was walking straight to the Normandy, take out bag in hand. And as she and Saren neared the docking bay doors, something felt off. She handed the bag to him.

"What's wrong?"

"I just... Something feels off. I'm sure it's nothing." she shrugged, walking through the doors. She saw Kaidan and stopped. He turned and looked at her, then to Saren.

"Hey Commander."

"Major." she stepped forward, knowing why she felt off. She hadn't talked with him yet. But she turned to Saren. "Why don't you go ahead, I'll be there in a minute." Saren nodded and walked away, leaving the two alone.

"I have to say, when I heard Saren was still alive, I hardly expected you two to talk again." Kaidan paused, smirking, "Much less to get close."

"He's changed a lot since then, you know. I'm surprised you didn't see him when he came to visit me at Headquarters." she folded her arms and leaned against the rail.

"I caught a glimpse, and it scared the shit out of me. I had no clue what he was doing there until..." he trailed off and turned to look out at the Normandy.

"Talk to me, Kaidan."

"I don't think I could ever be in a situation where you and I are looking at each other down the barrel of a gun." He'd turned to look at her, "I never thought it would come to that."

"You did what you had to, Kaidan. I'm not going to hold anything against you for doing your job."

"But that's just it, Shepard. My job was to protect the Council, and instead I shot one of them." Emma stepped closer to him, seeing the concern on his face.

"If there was any other option, I know you would have taken it. Shooting Udina was the only option, and I don't want to see you feeling sorry for yourself for having to take it."

"I know... Listen," he turned back to face her again, seeming to put it past him, "Hackett offered me a position, but I'd turn it down in a second if I knew there was a chance I could serve on the Normandy again."

"It'd be great to have you back." she smiled, holding out her hand. He took it, and then pulled her into a bear hug.

"I won't let you down.. Emma."