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Shepard left Wrex to contemplate the meanings of the phrase "be careful what you wish for" and headed for the casino exit. Cortez had called up and asked if he and Vega could come watch a biotiball match at the apartment, and she hadn't seen any reason not to let them—Shepard had never been one for biotiball, but of course she had heard a lot about it in mess halls. It sounded like fun to actually hang out with friends and watch a game just like they were normal people.

She hit her comm link and called Kaidan, warning him to expect guests for the evening.

"Biotiball? Awesome! Let's see, we can do nachos, wings … I'll get right on it."

"Much more shore leave with you and I won't be able to fit in my uniform."

He chuckled. "You'll still be gorgeous."

Shepard smiled. "You need some help cooking?"

"No, but I could use some company."

"I'll be right there."

She headed back to the apartment and spent the rest of the afternoon sipping beer and taste-testing Kaidan's various creations.

The game was getting very close to starting, and Shepard was starting to wonder if she had misunderstood Cortez's email, when finally she got a notification that they were in the lobby. Hitting the button to put them on vidscreen, she had to laugh at their sheepish expressions.

"Sorry we're late, Lola. Somebody forgot to pick up the cerveza," James explained.

Cortez frowned at him. "That was you, Mr. Vega!"

"Yeah, well, I'm somebody."

"Come on up." Shepard punched in the code to let them come up, and waited at the door. They were still wrangling over the cerveza as they got off the elevator and came down the hall.

Cortez handed her the package. "Our contribution, Commander." He sniffed the air. "Something smells awesome."

"Kaidan's been cooking all afternoon. He's made quite the spread."

"Damn, Major, you been holding out on us! We should put you in the galley permanently." Vega grinned.

"Not a chance. Cooking is no fun when you have to feed an entire ship. Cheaper ingredients, less room for experimentation … No, thank you."

"Well, gentlemen, the game's about to start, so if you could lend a hand bringing the food into the den …" Shepard gestured at the plates, carrying the beer herself.

She turned on the screen while the guys were arranging the food along the bar.

"Seattle Sorcerors versus Usaru Maestros. Going to be some intense biotiball," Cortez said with satisfaction, settling himself on the couch with a full plate.

"Nah," James disagreed, piling food on his own plate. "It's just a goodwill game for troop morale. They'll take it easy."

Kaidan frowned at him. "You're crazy. In the middle of a war with their troops watching? They're going to play their hearts out."

"Good point."

"Absolutely," Cortez agreed. "Have you seen Derek Rogers' game lately? Man, he and the Sorcerors have been tearing it up!"

"Esteban, the Maestros just don't lose. Have you seen Tyra T'Sanis play? That woman is blue lightning!"

Cortez grinned. "Admit it, Mr. Vega, your love of the asari team has more to do with how they look than how they play."

"Hey, that's not true …" James chuckled at the looks on everyone else's face. "Well, not entirely. Besides, Esteban, you telling me you don't got the hots for some of the Sorcerors?"

Caught in the act of ogling the heavily muscled athlete currently seen warming up on the screen, Cortez had to laugh. "Okay, guilty as charged." He accepted the beer Shepard tossed him. "Who you backing, Shepard?"

She frowned. Not being particularly up on biotiball, she had no idea which was the better team. "I'm not sure. Kaidan?"

He looked at the screen, watching as the human team prepped for the beginning of the game. "The Seattle Sorcerors are one of the few human b-ball teams left. They were on tour when Earth was hit. And they're the closest team to my hometown, so I have to back them."

"They've been basically unstoppable since they acquired Donna Novotny from the Hackers," Cortez added, gesturing toward the woman currently on the screen, getting ready to take the first shot of the game.

"Yeah, but most of the Maestros have been playing since before First Contact," Vega pointed out, as Novotny's shot was blocked and returned for a score by an asari player. "They have to win this."

"I don't know," Kaidan disagreed. "The Sorcerors have never beaten the Maestros, true … but they've never been this hungry, either. They're playing for all of Earth."

"Lola. Help me out here. You can't buck tradition!"

Shepard looked at the screen, weighing the odds with her limited knowledge of the game. "James, I've gotta go with the Sorcerors. You just don't bet against the home team."

Vega waved his beer bottle at her. "Ah, go on then. I'll just be over here cheering for the winning team."

"I don't know, Mr. Vega. I hope you're ready to top those nachos off with some humble pie later. When has our commander ever been wrong?"

"Let's not get too crazy, Steve." Shepard settled on the couch next to Kaidan. "I'm hardly infallible."

An exciting play had Vega on his feet, shouting at the screen. "Mierda! He was out. You're blind, ref!"

Cortez disagreed, and the rest of the game went in a similar vein, the two men's friendly wrangling enlivening the action on the screen.

At last, the Sorcerors managed to edge out a two-point win. Cortez jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. "Yes! They did it." He and Kaidan high-fived, then Cortez turned to Vega. "Pay up, my friend."

As James reluctantly dug out a credit chit, Shepard shook her head. "You should have known better, James. The Sorcerors had the edge."

"Well, we weren't exactly betting on who'd win."

"Then what were you betting on?"

"Whether you'd pick the winner," Cortez explained with satisfaction, tucking James' credit chit away. "And everyone knows you don't bet against Commander Shepard."

"I don't know whether that's a compliment or not," Shepard said, bemused. "James, you bet against me?"

"Everyone knows you don't follow the b-ball, Commander."

"Don't look so glum, Mr. Vega. Next bottle of tequila's on me," Cortez told him.

"Ah, Esteban, you are a prince among men."

"So I've been told." He drained the last of his beer and got to his feet. "Anyway, it was a hell of a game."

"And a great evening. Thanks, Commander," James said. "You want us to help clean up?"

Glancing at Kaidan, who looked as though he was more than ready to have her to himself, Shepard shook her head. "You're good, guys. Thanks for coming."

They headed out, and Shepard turned to Kaidan. "You know, I think maybe I like this normal life stuff."

"Will wonders never cease." He grinned, wrapping his arms around her. "Let's do one more normal thing tonight."

"What's that?"

"Go to bed and let the dishes wait until tomorrow."

"I do like the way you think, Spectre Alenko."

"Well, if you like my ideas for the kitchen, wait until you see what I've got planned for the bedroom."

"You think I can handle it?"

"I have confidence in your abilities."