He looked happy as she waved at him. He had not brought the cane with him and did not seem to need it anymore, she noted. He was still wearing a standard-issue Alliance t-shirt a few sizes too tight and blue fatigues. His hair was shorter than it had been at the hospital and neatly styled in a faux-hawk. She thought he was probably pushing the Alliance dress code as far as it could bend. It was almost comical. Even his tattoo, stretching from his right bicep to just below his ear, was about an inch away from being considered a "facial tattoo" and therefore prohibited. She could see he had made a special effort to look nice; despite the near-constant dusty streets, his combat boots were clean.
"Hey James, it's really nice to see you again"
They hugged briefly before he replied. "Same here".
She saw him looking at her with wide eyes. "You look… Wow! That scrub doesn't do you justice at all".
She blushed and lowered her gaze. He was lying. She had tried her best, but her own stuff had been lost on the Citadel and, unlike him, she did not fill up the mismatched clothes she had been issued after landing on Earth. "You're not half bad yourself". He thought the little smirk on her lips was quite endearing.

"I know I promised you a great meal, but I'm sorry Lola. I really tried to find someplace nice to go out to, but this close to… well. There isn't much left standing". His contrite look turned impish and as she was about to reply he spoke again.

"I had…", he hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and continuing. "I have a friend who swears by sparing and a stiff drink?".
"Against you?", she asked, a funny expression of disbelief on her face.
"Well, luckily I have more friends", he added with a deep chuckle. "Steak sandwich and beer?".
"I'm not sure the ration pack "steak" is actually meat, but we can get a beer".
"I would never! Bioengineered, cardboard flavoured chew toy", he supplied with a grin. "with gravy! But we are getting off-topic here".
"We can always do non-steak ration packs at my place", she suggested, smiling. "Unless you think it's too forward?".
"We could, but I actually followed another friend's advice and, well… If you're up for a bit of a drive I know a decent place for a picnic".
"I could use a change of scenery".
"Good!". He shouldered the backpack laying at his feet. "Come with me, I commandeered us a shuttle!".

He led her to an Alliance shuttle and opened the door "After you Lola".
The inside of the shuttle was packed full of crates and various tools. "Oh, sorry about that. Commandeering was maybe a bit of an exaggeration… This cargo is going to our picnic place too".
"Oh, good. I was a bit worried the shuttle would be missed. The rebuilding effort never really stops".
"It doesn't. I'm a decent driver so I've volunteered to drive cargo while I keep doing the readaptation. I can do part of the N7 program from here, so I'm trying to be useful while I can."

The shuttle landed on a converted pasture. Colony lodgings, for all the displaced people, were being constructed in an organized camp in the English countryside, away from the devastation of the main cities. Soldiers and volunteers alike were hard at work assembling prefabricated panels and wiring electronics while a group of workers operated machinery to set up communication towers and generators. They had barely left the vehicle when five people jogged toward them.
"Good to see you Vega"
"Thanks for picking the shipment for me hermano! It was good to get some downtime"
"Are you the Lola he won't shut up about?"
"I don't know James. Am I?", she asked with a little grin.
"Shut up Dave!" He growled, hiding a smile.
"Of course you are. You're the only Lola for me", he answered her with a little lopsided smile.

They helped unload the crates before they were shooed off by the soldiers. Grabbing the backpack once more James led her toward the edge of the settlement. They had started holding hands without really realizing it. The evening was still warm, but the breeze made it quite comfortable. There was a little path, leading through a wooded border. The green leaves rustled in the breeze, cicadas were chirping in the distance. They were about halfway through the short trail when Chloé stopped on the path and let go of his hand. Startled, James stopped and looked at her. Her eyes were closed, she had a large smile on her face and she was breathing deeply.
Having been on the Citadel for years, then in a ruined London, she had not smelled the woods in a long time. The wet soil, the rotting wood, the grass, the flowers; it was calming, both foreign and known at the same time. Having lived on ships and space stations for the better part of his career James understood perfectly the expression on her face. He smiled back at her, "Real air, right?". When she opened her eyes again, she walked toward him and pressed herself against him, sliding her hand into his again. Pressing the side of her head to his shoulder she sighed, "It's so beautiful".
They finally reached the spot James had selected for them; right outside of the woodland, in soft green grass, overlooking a mostly undamaged countryside.
"I didn't know there were still places like this".
"Neither did I. Driving around for deliveries has its perks".

The meal James had planned was simple, but it was delicious and most important of all: it was neither hospital food nor ration packs.
"Where did you manage to get fresh eggs?".
"I can't give out all my secrets now, can I".
"Fine! Be mysterious"
"I've travelled around, I bring news to people when I can. Having access to military records helps".
"You're full of surprise. Where did you learn to cook like that?"
"Mi abuela. She taught me. This is the only thing I cook I ever managed to make to her standard. She was a tough critique".
"Hero, volunteer, elite soldier, great cook,...you're quite the catch. I'm afraid I'm not that extraordinary".
"I respectfully disagree Lola"

"Do you have family out there James?".
"An uncle and a few cousins".
"Have you heard from them?"
He shook his head
"You?"
"My mom was in Montreal last I heard, no news since the Citadel was damaged though and I have a sister somewhere up there. She's been working on the Charon Relay since the end of The War".

"What do you do when you are not busy being an amazing nurse?"
"Not much. I used to go for walks, now I sleep and I volunteer on my days off".
"The Citadel is… was quite beautiful", he added. "Not right, but beautiful".
"I used to have a dog there. Normand. He was a great dog", she chuckled softly. "The permit was finally cleared about a week after Commander Shepard was made Specter. Normand, Normandy, it seemed fitting". Minutely covering her mouth with her hand she added sheepishly. "Please don't tell him. I feel like a silly fan".
"He would probably find it funny". She was no Conrad Verner, he was sure Shepard wouldn't mind. "Do you have a picture?"

The sun was almost completely down when they made their way back toward the settlement. Still holding hands and walking shoulder to shoulder they waved farewell to the workers still busy under the bright construction lights. The rebuilding never stopped and yet, much was still needed to get back to a time before the Reapers.
The flight back to the city was pleasant, they sang to whatever songs they managed to pick up on the radio and marvelled at the lights in the distance. The stars were shining bright when they reached the city.
"Where's home Lola? I'll escort you there".
"I'm in a unit right by the hospital. The army set up the displaced staff there".
"Convenient, but not great to disconnect from work".
She chuckled. "I have a unit to myself. Many are still in refugee camps, I can't complain. Being this close makes it easier with overtime too."
He landed the shuttle a few meters from her door and walked with her the remainder of the way.
"Tonight was great. Thank you, James".
"I thought I might stretch the evening a little longer".
"Oh?". she said curiously.
"Feel free to say no, but… I would very much like to kiss you".
Stepping closer to him, she slid her hand softly up his muscular arm, bringing him even closer. She could feel the heat radiating from him. His wide hand, so delicate for its size, grazed the side of her face as their lips touched. It was soft, chaste, and delicious. They both sighed as they broke apart, their faces still a breath away from each others'.
Despite the kiss, there was still longing in their eyes.
"Again", whispered Chloé.
And James complied enthusiastically, his lush lips melding with hers, warm and caressing. The hand that wasn't resting on her cheek snaked around her waist and brought her slowly flush against his hard chest. Despite his considerable strength, he was very careful not to rush her and to keep his embrace light. She gasped lightly as their bodies came into contact. He took the opportunity to touch her lips lightly with his tongue, asking permission. It was granted immediately and her arm around his waist pulled him closer still, pressing him against her body, while her other hand grazed the nape of his neck, her blunt nails sending shivers down his spine. Their kiss and embrace became steadily more heated. James was mouthing at her neck as she whimpered silently. She could feel goosebumps on her arms and was both surprised and a bit disappointed when he stopped and stood still, his face lightly pressed on the crook of her neck, breathing heavy.
"Something wrong?", she asked quietly.
"They will be needing their shuttle back", he groaned.
She moaned in displeasure as she stepped back just enough to look him in the eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and it took a fair amount of self-control on his part to not resume kissing her.
"Go now, then. Hurry!", she said seriously, pushing his chest lightly. He looked a bit perplexed for a moment before she added, "Otherwise, I'm abducting you for the night and they'll have to send someone over for the shuttle".

James was drying off after a quick shower, ready to get dressed for their second date. A picnic in the countryside like last time was impossible, but they had planned to volunteer for a bit together. Distributing ration packs was not what jumped to mind as a date, but it was needed, it required little concentration and they could get to know each other that way. Through some less than official channels, he had managed to get his hands on some chocolate and was looking forward to sharing it with Chloé. He had an inkling she was a chocolate person.
His Omnitool pinged just as he was pulling his shirt on.

C: Can't make it tonight. Sorry. Understaffed again

He typed a reply as quickly as he could, she had a moment now, he didn't know when she would get the chance to check her messages again.

J: When do you get off?

C: 20:00 or 00:00. Not sure.

J: Ok, talk to you soon

C: =)

Who still used these! The last time he had received one of these smileys faces it had been from his Abuela.

She was exhausted, her back was sore, her head was splitting, she was thirsty, she needed to pee. It had been one of those days when everything seemed to go to hell. She was due back to work in less than 8 hours. She knew she should get to bed as soon as possible to grab a few hours of sleep before her next shift, but her mind was spinning. She was still thinking of who needed medication, who was in pain, who needed close monitoring… Had she forgotten to sign off her last antibiotic?
She was pondering on the best way to get Mr. Jasper to accept his cybernetic arm and leg when she bumped into someone. She muttered her apologies before continuing on her way.

About three steps further she turned around. That man smelled good! He reminded her of James.

It was James!

"What… How…", she closed the distance between them. He opened arms and wrapped them around her as she pressed against his chest.
"Hey Lola", he smiled in her hair. "Thought I'd take a chance and catch you after work".
"It's been a really long day and I should really get to bed", she replied. "But it's really nice to see you. I needed that hug".
"I don't want to keep you from your bed. You look dead on your feet", he said softly, his voice rumbling in his chest.
"I'm sorry for tonight but it was either me or Sarah staying and she has kids".
" 't's OK Lola. I'll walk you home".
"I hate not knowing if I'll be able to leave work and go home".
They walked together in silence until they reached her door. It really was a stone's throw away from the hospital.
"You're home now.", he whispered as he pulled her in for a kiss.
"I thought it might cheer you up", he added, handing her the chocolate bar.
"Oh, wow!". The smile on her face went right to his heart. "It's… Thank you".
He was a bit surprised when she handed it back to him. "You keep it. We can enjoy it together next time". He chuckled softly and pulled her toward him for another kiss.
He was leaving for Europa in two days. His readaptation was progressing faster than expected, mostly due to his stubbornness and the peak physical condition he had been in prior to his injury, and while he was not fully back to his former state, he was fit to begin proper training. "N-School'' was the hardest human training camp. Death was a real possibility and there would be no time for romance. He had hoped he would get more time with Chloé, but it seemed that was it. He would be gone for months, possibly a year and he couldn't ask her to wait for him that long. They barely knew each other. That was, at least, what the rational part of his mind was telling him.

"I have a favour to ask. I know we haven't known each other very long and you probably have other things to do, but can I see you tomorrow Lola?"
She could see he was being serious all of a sudden. No cheeky smile, just hopeful vulnerability.
"I'd like that very much", she replied with a smile that lit up her whole face. "Is anything the matter?".
"I've received my new marching orders. I leave the day after tomorrow for Europa", he said in a quiet voice. "N7 training is gruelling… time-consuming".
"Oh", she said as she realized what he was saying. "I was hoping we would have more time".
They stayed quiet for a few moments until Chloé broke the silence.
"Would you like to stay over tonight?".
"But you said…"
"I know, but if it's now or never I can stay awake for a little while longer".
"Oh Lola", he breathed before kissing her deeply.
"Let's take this inside"
The unit she had been assigned was really one small room with a folding bed, currently down, with the mismatched blankets in a messy bundle on top. There was an old army metal chest at the end, what looked like a hotplate on top of a mini-fridge and two cupboards with a tiny sink acting as kitchen, two chairs and a folding table by the entrance and a door likely leading to an equally frugal bathroom. There was nothing really personal in the unit. The polymer walls were a standard pale grey much like the colony lodging he had helped build in the countryside. But they were not here to debate interior design. As soon as the door hissed shut behind them he was kissing her again and pressing her against the wall. She moaned his name as he moved down to kiss her neck, his hands resting low on her hips, his thumbs sneaking under the hem of her shirt.
"It feels amazing, but can you give me a minute to freshen up?"
"Sure, I got carried away. Sorry"

When she stepped out of the bathroom she found him sitting on her bed, his boots neatly stored next to the door. He smiled as she made her way toward him. She settled herself standing between his legs and slowly removed her shirt. She was very aware that her underwear was anything but enticing, but the hungry look he gave her assured her it certainly was not going to be a problem. His hands felt burning hot as they snaked up from her hips to the clasp of her bra. He stopped moments before releasing it, long enough for her to give him a quick little nod. As the garment fell to the floor, he proceeded to remove his tight-fitting t-shirt, making her breath catch in her throat. He was pure muscles, rippling under his amber skin with his every move. A little smirk appeared on his face as he asked "Like what you see?".

This time, he was definitely not her patient and she was free to admire to her heart's content. Placing a hand below his collar bone she pushed him softly and he fell backward shuffling a little on the bed so she could straddle his hip. She lowered herself on him and they shared a long languorous kiss. His hands were rubbing slow circles on her lower back, fingers slipping beneath the hemline of her pants from time to time. She broke the kiss, nibbling on his well-defined jawline until she was gently caressing his neck with her lips, occasionally liking his salty skin. She broke the embrace to quickly pull her hair in a messy bun as they were getting in the way. He used the opportunity to unbutton her pants and switch their position. His muscled thigh resting between her legs he gave a little nudge making her moan as he unbuttoned his fatigue pants. Caressing her supple breasts, making sure to pay close attention to her nipple, he started grinding against her thigh, mimicking her motions. He kissed her fiercely and she caught his lower lip between her teeth teasingly. Diving down much like she had done he nibbled down her neck, moving hungrily toward her beasts. She moaned loudly when his lips closed around a nipple as his tongue teased the sensitive flesh. He groaned in appreciation continuing his torturous way down her midriff until he was kissing the exposed hemline of her underwear. Hooking his two indexes under it he made eye contact with her and waited for her to lift her hips slightly so he could remove both the pants and underwear in one fell swoop. She could see him, kneeling between her legs, adjusting his pants to accommodate the growing erection which she was very eager to feel against her. Slipping off the bed so he was kneeling on the floor, he grabbed her hips with both hands and dragged her toward the edge until her legs were above his shoulder and she could feel his warm breath against her core. Teasingly kissing her inner thigh, he gently spread her folds with one hand as the other snaked down to his own throbbing need. Her head fell back as he began placing lavish, open-mouthed kisses between her legs, adding to the wetness. Her hand slipped into his hair, caressing his scalp, messing up his faux-hawk as the other gripped the blankets. Under his ministrations, she started involuntarily pushing against his mouth. Groaning in appreciation he brought both his hands to her hips and immobilized her, bringing her even closer to his face as he sucked enthusiastically against her clitoris. Her back arched and her grip on his hair increased as she neared her peak. He kept his good work going until she almost crossed the no return point then stopped. She whined at the interruption but quickly turned her attention to his powerful body as he stood up and pushed his pants down. Apparently, he enjoyed going commando, which made her smirk a little; pushing regulations indeed.
"Scoot back a little Lola", he uttered in a voice made hoarse by arousal.
She complied eagerly as he lowered himself above her, making sure not to crush her under his bulk. Lining up their crotches, he slid a few times against her wet folds, teasing her engorged clitoris. She could feel his thickness and was burning in anticipation. Grabbing her hips he rolled to the side so she could straddle him. Lifting himself as to encircle her waist with his powerful arms, he kissed her fiercely as she adjusted herself on him, lining his pulsating length against her entrance. In one fluid motion, she took him inside and they both moaned, muffling their passion on each other's shoulder. She started rocking above him delightfully slowly, taking the time to find the perfect angle and enjoying his heated, nearly desperate gaze. Respecting her pace, he started thrusting upward in sync. They built up some speed, rocking the makeshift bed into the wall. Feeling her tightening against him, he flipped them once more. Kissing her hard he set a punishing pace, making her mewl loudly. Her becoming undone, clenching rhythmically around him pushed him over the edge and he came with a subdued growl giving a few erratic thrusts before going still and kissing her once more deeply.
"That was… wow", she whispered as he rolled to the side. He hummed in approval and got off the bed.
"You're going?", she asked, both surprised and disappointed.
He pressed a long kiss on her lips before replying, "Of course not Lola. I'll be right back".
When he returned from the bathroom he was carrying a warm towel and took the time to clean her up, for which she was grateful as she could feel sleep overpowering her. Disposing of the towel, he climbed back in bed and pulled her, nearly asleep, to his chest. She felt warm, safe and cherished, cuddled in his arms in such a way. He pulled the blankets over them and, mentally tracing every line of her face, committing it to memory, he drifted to sleep.

Morning came too fast for either of them and they both groaned when Chloé's alarm went off. They shared a few languorous kisses before getting out of bed and getting ready for their day. After a quick invigorating shower, she proceeded to heat up two portions of instant oatmeal. It was grey and uninspiring, but it would have to do. She sighed in approval when James handed her a steaming mug of tea. Having noticed the kettle and mug he had used the time she spent in the shower to rummage through the cupboards. Finding no instant coffee, he had settled for tea.
"Would you allow me to call on you again before leaving?".
"Sure! I'm off work tomorrow. I could even send you off with a kiss unless you're leaving from some top-secret docking bay."
"I would like that a lot, Lola. Can I walk you to work?"
"It would be nice".

The shuttle that would take him away was idling as people were boarding. Unlike on the Citadel where vessels could easily dock, the ruins of London were not an ideal landing surface for the precious remaining ships even if landing strips had been arranged. Amongst a crowd departing soldiers and tearful families, Chloé and James shared a long kiss, their bodies melding into one another. A few instants before boarding, the marine removed his dog tags and slipped them in the nurse's hand, closing it around it.
"Something to remember me by", he said with a sad smile.
Shouldering his Alliance rucksack he dragged her back to him for a long kiss.
She stayed on the dock until the Alliance shuttle had completely disappeared in the blue sky. Sighing she passed the tags around her neck already missing the mountain of a man on his way to Europa.

Her Omnitool pinged as she was getting ready to leave the hospital. She dismissed it until she reached her home. In the months following James' departure, the Citadel had been repaired and Huerta Memorial was reopened. She had been allowed to return to her pediatric patients. The mass relays were once again functional and life was slowly returning to a comfortable new normal. She crashed on her sofa and opened the mail. It was from an unknown sender. She almost deleted it before reading it until a well-known logo caught her eye. Bold lettering on a black background with a dash of red. Clutching the tags around her neck she read the document.

'We would like to invite you to attend the N7 graduation ceremony at the human System Alliance embassy, on the Citadel Presidium on December 15, 2186 CE'