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Once C-Sec had been called to manage the remains of the clone and of the woman who had called herself Staff Analyst Brooks, and the engineers overseeing the Normandy refit had convinced Joker that no one but him would be allowed to sit in the pilot's seat of his beloved ship, Shepard and her crew were pronounced free to go.

They had left the Normandy when it originally docked somewhat reluctantly, none of them sure they needed time off, none of them sure the galaxy could stand to lose them for the time it would take the ship to be refit … but now they left feeling a weight off their shoulders, looking around them at the docking bay as though they'd never seen it before. Shore leave seemed to offer a promise of excitement and a chance to take advantage of all the life the Citadel had to offer.

Kaidan smiled in anticipation. "Shore leave. Always an adventure."

Shepard glanced at him. "I wouldn't know. But I think I look forward to finding out." She looked around at the others. "Seriously. I mean it. Take some actual time off. No explosions or anything. Just us."

"Dextro restaurants," Tali said, nudging Garrus, who nodded. "Sounds promising."

"Come on, Shepard, no explosions? Ah, what's the point? I might as well go back to Tuchanka." Wrex shook his head.

Vega grinned. "It'll be an adventure. Yo, Esteban, you up for checking out the combat simulator?"

"You mean, wiping the floor with you, Mr. Vega? I think that can be arranged."

"Oh, yeah, I'm in. Someone has to show the two of you how it's done." Garrus turned to Shepard. "Combat sim?"

She smiled. "What does it say about all of you that your idea of fun and relaxation is pretending you're in combat?" Actually, that did sound fun. "Maybe later."

"You're just worried you can't keep up, Lola." Vega punched her playfully in the arm.

There was a collective intake of breath from the others as Shepard looked at his balled fist, and then slowly up into his face. "If I were you, Lieutenant, I'd put in some practice before you think you can take me on. I know all your moves-I think I invented some of them."

He took a step backward. "I'll, um, take that under advisement. Commander. Ma'am."

She smiled at him. "You do that."

Vega and Cortez headed off, Tali and Garrus along with them. Garrus snagged Javik to join them as well, since the Prothean was looking somewhat at loose ends. Traynor and EDI wandered away amidst some murmurs about shopping.

Shepard turned to Liara. "You know, shore leave means you, too. Even people with your … special job need a rest now and then. Promise you'll take one."

Liara smiled. "I promise to try."

"I suppose that's the best I can ask for."

Joker limped down from the ship at last. "Fair warning, Commander: They screw something up in there and I'm going to have you kick their asses."

"Trust me, if someone screws up our ship, you won't have to ask," Shepard told him.

"Hey, Commander, you know what comes after a hard day spent fighting an evil clone?"

"A nap?"

He looked disappointed by that response. "Please! We party down."

"Party down?" Shepard echoed. "Are we 'party down' people?"

Wrex cleared his throat. "If there's no more fighting to be done, I better get back to browbeating the council. You let me know if you want to hang or if you're having that party, all right?"

"It's a promise, Wrex."

"Seriously, Commander, no pressure. No one's going to make you throw a party. But, really, that big apartment … Seems like a waste."

Shepard sighed. "I need to unwind, check out the strip, get some sleep. Then I'll think on it."

"Great!" He called up his omni-tool, tapping the keys. "Okay. So EDI and Cortez and Traynor are … in!"

"Joker!"

"What?"

"If I'm hosting, I'll send out the invites, thank you."

"Oh. Right. Okay." He frowned at his omni-tool. "There's no uninvite button on this thing. Oh, and Cortez just invited Vega, so …"

"Joker."

"Right. I'll just be going, then. See how much trouble I can get into without snapping a femur. You let me know what you've decided."

She scowled at him. "Apparently you'll have to be the last to know or you'll invite the whole Citadel."

He grinned sheepishly at her and hobbled off.

Kaidan put his arm around her waist. "Alone at last. I thought we'd never get rid of them."

"Oh? Did you have plans for shore leave, Spectre Alenko?"

"Well, one or two."

"Because I thought I'd ask you to stay on the ship, oversee the refit …" His face fell, and Shepard laughed. "Kidding!"

Kaidan shook his head, frowning at her. "You never know. You and Joker are pretty serious about that ship."

"Yeah, well, there's something else I'm pretty serious about, too." Shepard kissed him lightly on the lips. "Which is you, in case that's not clear."

"Hm. Let's head back to the apartment and you can show me in detail."

"Best idea I've heard all day." As they moved off toward the elevators, she spoke hesitantly. "Kaidan? Do we need to talk about … all of it? Today, I mean."

"No. Not today. Today is just about you, and me …" He grinned. "And how much trouble we can get into without snapping a femur."