Shepard lay in his bed with a blasting headache, the irritating feeling of sand covered his body, though he had noticed touched any. It was the morning after asteroid X-57 was put back into orbit. Wrapping the pillow around his head to try and block out the light of the day cycle.

He was trying to think past the headache. What happened last night? Nothing. He didn't leave his cabin.

No.

It all came flooding back with one thought of Tali.

So... Not just a dream...

He wanted it to be a dream but he had to face the facts. With a deep breath and a hope that she would keep his secret. He pushed himself out of bed to take a shower.

Tali and Kaidan sat at the same table in the center of the room. Kaidan was reading something as he ate without a thought. Tali was much slower, thinking quietly about the chat she had with Shepard. She still felt like she may have overstepped her bounds with the captain. Garrus arrived and sat with them for breakfast. Trying to make small talk with Kaidan. "Wrex doesn't drive the Mako ever again. I'm still not sure how he didn't flip it while hitting the building."

They sat in mostly silence for the next few minutes. Shephards door opened and he walked out. Fixing himself some food for breakfast. His headache remained but he'd live. "How are repairs going Garrus? Will it be in shape for when we go after the doctor?"

"It'll work, that's for certain. I've got to try and bend some metal back into place." He shrugged it off. "I'll pop it all back into shape… I hope." He went on eating, Shepard sitting with the group. Noticing that Tali seemed to be lost in thought. Swirling the contents of the tube around.

"Kaidan, how are you holding up?" Shepard began to eat hungrily. If anything, food and water may ease his headache a bit. Garrus got up and cleaned off his plate. Heading towards the elevator.

"No headaches so far, so that's nice. I thought I would've been aching after yesterday. Guess I got off easy this time around." He picked up his tray and cleaned it off in the sink. Joining Garrus at the elevator. Curious as to how bad the internal Mako was.

Just like that, as soon as he arrived, he was alone with Tali. Starting to eat as he was already sitting next to her.

Those bastards did that on purpose.

He had been certain they didn't both just leave for no reason. He'd inquire on their sudden departure later. Looking over at Tali who was still swirling the tube around. "Tali, are you alright?"

She looked over after she realized he said her name. Looking around and just now realizing the others had gone. "Yes, I'm fine. I uhm… I'm sorry if I overstepped last night." She looked up at him, blinking as she saw his shining blue eyes looking down into hers.

He simply shook his head. Giving her shoulder a light pat. "No, you didn't. I am glad that someone else knows. It kinda eased things." He turned away, looking down to his tray. "You helped me realize that I was probably blowing things out of proportion, it was driving me crazy. Thank you. For helping me." He started eating, falling silent as the two sat together.

"How did you two… get so close?" She picked her words carefully. She looked at the tube in her hand, spinning it in circles. She wanted to know more, she was worried that she'd bring up a touchy subject.

"Slavers." He answered simply. Setting his spoon down for a moment to drink some water and continued. "We were both being held as slaves. Us and a whole bunch of others." He seemed to be counting to himself for a moment. "At least ten others, maybe more. Most of the other kids were older." He paused for a moment looking around to see if anyone was in earshot. She was now looking up at him, her glowing eyes wide open.

His voice hushed down somewhat and he leaned towards Tali a bit. Who in turn leaned towards him. "Me and Iromak, we were on the younger side. Neither of us were over ten." Talis eyes were searching Shepard's face. His willingness to speak so openly about it surprised her to a certain extent. "We uh…" He cleared his throat, looking at his now empty glass of water.

"Some people were looking to buy. Us, and about ten others." His spoon churned the rations on his plate. He was trying to figure out how to word it. "They were actually good people… I think." He could feel her eyes attached to him.

Why am I telling her this?

A question that appeared only momentarily in his head. "One second they were asking to inspect their investments… then the next, a lot of gunfire. Someone was breaking open the cages, just pointing in a direction and telling us to run." He shrugged slightly and shook his head. "It was kinda strange, I didn't know where we were going. I just knew we weren't going back."

He looked back to Tali, a bit surprised, she seemed to be captivated by his story. "Some alliance soldiers were going to inspect the gunfire when they found us. Brought us all back to a colony they'd been protecting."

"Terra Nova?" Tali piped up finally. The mentioning of the planet brought a warm smile to his lips. Nodding slowly, his eyes returning to his food.

"While they were busy trying to figure out the regulations for such a thing. An old man came out of his house to see what the commotion was about." His smile broadened as he thought about that night. "Iromak and I sat on the stairs that went to his porch while we waited for the soldiers to figure out where to send us. He sat down right next to us like we knew each other and just… started comforting a couple frightened kids."

He chuckled lightly at an old memory dragging itself up from the depths of his mind. "I remember, one of the alliance soldiers wasn't sure about letting him take care of us. He was a persistent man though." Tali could almost see Shepard get lost in his old memories. He sat there in silence for a minute or two. A smile that hid an undertone of a more melancholy feeling slipped onto his face.

She slowly reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It sounded like he cared about you two." Shepard nodded slowly, he could feel his eyes watering up slightly. Digging through his old memories often had that effect on him. Deciding that this may be a good time to get a hold of himself.

"So…" He cleared his throat. Looking over to Tali, raising an eyebrow in a questioning look. "You've barely touched your food, should I try and get a different type of rations next time around?"

Tali looked at her own tray. The tubes are neatly organized and almost untouched. Realizing how hungry she was, she began to eat. Shaking her head no. Thankful to have a steady supply of food.

"So when do I get to meet him?" She asked in an innocent tone. A simple question, it alone was enough to make himself wonder.

"I'll… hmm…" He sounded nervous, still unsure of the two meeting. "I'll try to get something organized." He stood up to go clean off his tray. "Tomorrow is taken though, we need to find Doctor T'soni. Find out what she knows about prothean beacons and the matriarch that joined Saren."

He went back and sat with her while she ate. Deciding not to leave his friend alone in the mess hall. "Has Engineer Adams been helping you learn about the ship?" He had personally asked Adams to answer any of her questions.

She nodded quickly, putting the small tube that had once had water in it onto the tray. "He has been a great teacher. I've been learning so much." Tali started to talk about the specifics of the engines that powered the Normandy. All of it flew right over Shepards head, he knew little about ships. He did enjoy listening to Tali rattle on and on about the ship though.

After a while both of them took the elevator to the cargo bay. Tali went to the engine room to pester Adams more. Adams appreciated it though, she was starting to pick up in some of the areas that he would've had to stay overtime more. Finding himself with more time on his hands thanks to the Quarians aid.

Shepard went to go see how the Mako was coming along. Noting to himself that Williams had half her attention on the weapon she was cleaning. The other half of her attention is on Garrus and Kaidan.

Kaidan was less of the helpful sort, he was more inquiring on how Garrus was going to bend all the metal back into place that Wrex had dented. Garrus in an all too serious tone wondered if wrex could simply stomp it back into place.

"Wrex isn't stomping on the Mako to fix it." Shepard rounded the side of the vehicle to find the two of them next to it. The vehicle was turned partially on its side by a hydraulic lift so Garrus could assess the damage on the bottom.

"Oh, but it'd make my job much simpler. Besides, he's already used to stomping on things." It was a remark so lathered in sarcasm, that he could've said it in all seriousness and it barely would've changed.

"Without Wrex stomping on it, will it be in working order tomorrow? We're picking up the Doctor in it." He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. The Mako was overall fine, it was a strong vehicle. Just not as strong as what krogans were used to.

"It'll be fine. It's got its wheels and can seal its atmosphere. It'll work." Shepard wasn't exactly comforted by that, but he had trust that Garrus would get it done. "Don't work yourself too hard, Kaidan." It was a half joke, half truth. Kaidan over exerting himself often led to headaches. Ranging from mild to nearly debilitating. Kaidan had learned to handle it, but Shepard still had a subtle admiration for the man's ability to keep it from affecting his work.

"I'll do my best, commander." Shepard went back to the elevator, looking at Wrex as he opened the door.

"You're not allowed to drive the Mako anymore." Shepard smirked as Wrex turned to face one eye at him.

"Oh, I'm not good enough for it?" There was a joking tone in the rough voice of the Krogan.

Shepard, looking back at the battered vehicle, simply shook his head. "No, it's clearly not good enough for you." He turned to enter the elevator before riding it up.

It was a calm day, for the most part. Once he checked in on the condition of the Mako. He decided that his stalling on the message from Iromak had gone on long enough. He had a lot to say, it took till just past 1:00 for him to get it properly worded, and with a bit of hesitation He hit send.

I didn't mention Tali.

He slapped a hand over his eyes and groaned in annoyance. They hadn't met face to face in nearly two years. It wasn't something they organized often and for good reason. They both had busy lives. Shepard, it was the alliance. For Iromak…

I haven't asked about his job in a few months. Maybe he got into something safer...

He leaned forward with another annoyed groan, typing up another message to try and get something arranged to meet.

Do I mention Tali?

Why was he so damn nervous about this? This was all so she could meet him.

Why am I setting up a meeting between my brother and a quarian I just met?

This was a very good question. One that he found himself grasping at strings to try and answer. He felt like the answer sat on the edges of his mind, like just barely out of his reach.

She asked to meet him, so I'm obliging

It was only a half truth, but it was enough to satisfy his curiosity for now. Deciding that he would ask to meet his brother somewhere so that they could relax and have a few drinks, adding on as an afterthought that he was hoping to introduce him to a new member of Shepard's squad. With another hasty tap on the 'Send' afterwards.

He found sleep to be a welcoming proposition. His dreams were bothersome though. Waking up a couple times from the feeling the grating of sand against his skin.

The mission to get Doctor T'soni went smoothly for the most part. A startling discovery of not one, but two new forms of geth, new to Shepard that was. Tali was familiar with the large four legged one, which Shepard referred to as a big annoying bastard. However, the one that leapt from wall to floor and back again with little hindrance, was brand new to her. It was mostly a stalemate until Joker arrived to retrieve the Mako. It was little more than a few presses of the button and the big annoying bastard, as it were, was turned into little more than scrap.

It was an easy go of it after that. Wiping up the remaining geth with little effort. Their substantial firepower advantage was lost, as well as the battle. At Talis' request, Shepard had Kaidan and Williams haul one of the more agile geth aboard the Normandy. The rest of the squad moved down into the ruins which the Doctor was believed to be in.

They left as quickly as they arrived, albeit for very different reasons. The drill that was used to make a path to the Doctor had triggered a small, but still deadly seismic event. They got out successfully without a burn to be had. An overall successful mission. Until they found out that Doctor T'soni knew little or nothing about her mother with Saren. Nor was she able to give any inquiries to the nature of the prothean beacon.

Doctor T'soni offered to 'meld' their minds. A suggestion that made Shepard visibly uncomfortable. He knew what she was talking about. He had a decent knowledge of it, and of Asari in general. It wasn't an experience he wanted to jump headlong into.

"I… uh" He cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head lightly. A sudden silence set upon the room while they waited for Shepard to finish. "No, thank you. Not right now at least…"

After an awkward moment, Doctor T'soni gave a short nod. He dismissed the crew. His report to the council felt like a smack across the face in the most polite fashion one could receive it. It turned his mood a bit foul but tried to brush it off.

They're just trying to think of a bigger picture. One that I'm not fully aware of...

He attempted to reason it out in a fair manner. It hadn't helped much. The next place he wanted to go to was the Citadel so he could make a few preparations. He had a short chat with Joker before heading down to the mess hall.

A day or so to kill. It was just what he needed too. He wanted to run a few squad drills with Tali; he was somewhat surprised by her skill in combat. He wondered as to just how much training quarians got before leaving the Flotilla. A question he had not inquired about before.

He asked her opinion on the matter in the mess hall while most people were eating. He didn't want to force it on her. She hadn't signed for boot camp. She seemed somewhat hesitant about it, Agreeing after Shepard assured that it would be minor things, only on the terms that she would get to pick through the new geth before that. Something he could easily agree to.

He didn't doubt her skill in a fire fight. Far from it in fact. He simply noticed her getting distracted in areas that could become a firefight in a matter of seconds. When they killed the new geth. He nearly had to pry Tali off it before she became a target for the other surprisingly agile geth.

The night cycle fell upon the ship. Deep into the cycle, Shepard found himself forced out of his sleep by a dream. Laying sprawled on his back, suddenly wide awake. His dream faded quickly, soon it felt only like a few images that he could see from a great distance. His eyes eventually turned to the clock.

12:44. Why did I wake up?

The dryness of his mouth felt like an answer to his question. Pulling himself into a sitting position before walking through his door into the mess hall. Stopping as he saw Doctor T'soni sitting at a table, a tray of almost untouched food in front of her. Her back was to him, but she heard his door open. Turning to look at the sound as he walked in, heading towards the fridge. "Commander. You missed Tali'Zorah by about half an hour."

Dammit, I need to talk to her about that. See if I can help...

He just now realized he hadn't seen her at all since the meeting was disbanded. "Doctor T'soni, I thought you would've been sleeping after that whole incident…" He grabbed a bottle of water. Taking a few drinks of it before setting it on the counter.

She gave him a short nod in response as he greeted her. Taking small bites of the food on her spoon. Using it to stall on the answering of his vague question. Eventually setting her spoon down. "I was… thinking about my mother."

He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow curiously at her. "As to why she follows Saren?"

She simply nodded again, her arms placed on either side of the tray now. Weighing on what she should say. "She-" She paused. "I don't understand why she would do that." She shook her head, feeling like a broken record, it was all she could tell him when they met. It was all she could think of now.

He shook his head, picking up the water bottle as he stood up. "Sometimes we can't understand. Sometimes our parents hide things." He walked over, pulling the chair out that sat across from her and sat down. "She never mentioned it? Not even a vague hint?"

Liara shook her head, continuing to eat some more. She was eating more to stall the conversation rather than because she felt hungry. "Not a word." Shepard leaned forward, fumbling with the water bottle in his hands as he tried to think of something to say.

"I remember my old man did some things I didn't really understand." He eventually piped up, having a small idea. She looked over at him with a questioning look. "I never wanted to be in the alliance." It was a truth that was rarely spoken.

"Really?" A tone of disbelief that he could barely discern. She sipped on the water in her glass. Leaning on the table with her right arm.

He nodded, looking ather for a moment. "Yeah, two year contract after six to twelve months of boot camp. He said it was part of my duty to the soldiers that... protected our colony." He found himself looking around the room rather than making direct eye contact. Tip toeing around another story. Another hidden truth.

"You grew up in a colony?" She gave a short inquiry to him. He nodded, giving a short wave to the question.

"A different story. Not something to talk about right now." He took a drink from his bottle. Hoping she'd not broach the subject again.

She set her spoon down again as she looked at him. "So how long have you been in the alliance now?"

"Five years." He gave a soft smile as he twirled the bottle around on the table for a moment. "This life kind of suited me I guess. I don't think it's what he would've expected." He stood up. Starting off towards his cabin.

He stopped and turned to her halfway to his room. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is, parents don't always give you a reason for their actions. Sometimes they had better intentions than what you initially thought. We've all had things get out of hand." He turned and continued off towards his cabin. Giving her the same advice Tali had given him before. "Try and get some sleep Doctor."

He laid back in his bed. Tossing and turning for about half an hour. Eventually slipping into a dreamless sleep till the morning.

Shepard was true to his word. He let Tali tinker with the geth for as long as she liked. He spent a decent amount of that time with her. Listening to her inquiries into it. The purpose of such a real looking, but still synthetic muscular system. It's possible abilities compared to what they had seen in combat. Shepard personally stuck around mostly because he didn't like the idea of it potentially being reactivated. Although Tali had tried to assure him it wasn't possible with the amount of damage it suffered from gunfire.

Talis' line of thought was cut off with the sound of a loud metal clunk that came from the other side of the cargo hold. Shepard would've sworn that Wrex had broken something. Yet he wasn't in the room. The Mako was lifted up, and the sounds of a muttering turian underneath turned out to be the source.

Both Shepard and Tali were staring in that direction for a moment before Shepard quietly excused himself to go see what Garrus was doing. Kneeling down and looking under the hefty vehicle to see Garrus on his omni tool. "You need any help Garrus?"

It took Garrus off guard. He had forgotten he wasn't alone. Looking over to Shepard for a moment before up at the Mako above him. "You could cut the hydraulic line, let this thing crush me." He was both sarcastic, and serious.

Shepard looked over to Tali for a moment to make sure she wasn't listening in. She very well could have cranked her audio receiver to max. Thinking to inquire about it later. He turned back to Garrus. "Something tells me this is more than just expensive parts needing to be replaced. You want to talk?"

Garrus seemed to be seriously considering the offer. Shepard had trouble reading the turians expressions, the long pause and distant look was something he was all too familiar with. "No… not right now. It wouldn't make a difference. Can't do anything about it yet."

Shepard gave him a short nod. "Well, if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me." He stood and turned, walking over to Tali.

Stopping and standing next to her with his arms crossed. "Are you ever going to finish looking at this thing? It's nearly lunchtime." He had a hidden feeling that she was hoping to avoid it all together.

In reality, she was taking her time to inspect something the geth had recently made. A new type of combat troop no less. It showed more than a capability for self advancement. It showed that it was creating more combat centered units. The geths equivalent to recruiting troops for war.

"Hmm?" The inquisitive whir made him smile a bit as he watched her. She looked over, finally tearing herself from the geth. She hadn't been paying attention and clearly missed his question.

Deciding to put it off for a while, he gestured to the elevator. "You've been at it all day, come grab some lunch." He started to walk over to the elevator. Tali checking the time. She had been working since just after 8:30. It was nearly 2:00 now. She followed him, knowing that since hunger hadn't yet struck, it soon would.

I've kept him waiting all day just for a little training...

At first she felt a little bad, until she realized he didn't have any need to stay with her since the geth was mostly in pieces about halfway through the process. Her thought process was cut off by Shepard calling out to Garrus. "You too Vakarian. Come get something to eat."

A small grumble could be heard from the Makos direction. Garrus soon poked his head out from the vehicle bay he'd been hiding in. "I had a big breakfast Shepard. Really." It was the same, sarcastic laden voice he always used with Shepard.

"Make sure to eat at some point Garrus. Even the Mako needs it's fuel." The doors slid closed. He was happy for the moment of privacy between him and Tali. Looking over to her before speaking. "Iromak gonna be at the Citadel in the next few hours." Tali was surprised, happy, but surprised. She certainly hadn't expected to meet him so soon. "Good timing too. We'd be needing fuel after another few days. Don't want it to run too low."

They exited before she got a chance to say anything about it. The two grabbed their respective types of food. Sitting across from each other at the usual table in the middle.

Silence fell for a few minutes as the two ate quietly. Kaidan and Williams walking down the stairs from the CIC. Kaidan joining the pair, Williams descended down the elevator to the cargo bay.

"So, the citadel? Is the council already taking back the spectre status or is this just a casual layover?" Kaidan jokingly nudged Shepard with his shoulder.

God dammit

It was the first thing in his head and it was the first out. Despite the joking way the question was posed, he knew Kaidan wanted an actual answer. He had been hoping to avoid this question. He wasn't great at lying to people he knew. It was even harder with Kaidan though. The man knew him well.

He set his spoon down after a moment and swallowed. "Arms, armor" He shrugged it off, attempting to be casual about it. "Not much else, we'll be staying overnight. Refuel, top off the water supply. That sort of thing." Tali thought he played it off well. Kaidan did not, looking between him and Tali for a moment. Tali quickly returned her eyes to the tubes on the tray in front of her.

Kaidan thought he was on that right track, a small smirk slipped across his lips. "Oh. I see, treating your favorite quarian to a night out?" Shepard could feel his heart rate raise as Kaidan started trying to piece together the puzzle.

"Yes." The last thing Shepard expected was for Tali to pull him from the uncomfortable situation. Looking over at her quickly. Her eyes were already focused on his. Kaidan looked between the two for a moment. Tali shifts her eyes over towards Kaidan to continue.

"Shepard and I...thought it'd be nice to spend a little time getting to know each other." She finished up and looked back over at Shepard before down to her plate again. Opening up one of the bottles to eat. Securing it quickly to the front of the helmet to have a reason not to speak further.

Some time passed. Kaidan was somewhat satisfied as he believed he was right on the ball about them. He left, making a comment about how Wrex had been talking to Joker that nearly made Shepards head turn in a 180. "He… what?"

"Oh yeah, me and Ashley were keeping Joker company. Wrex walked up and almost slapped a hand on his shoulder. I've never seen Joker dip out of a chair so quickly."

Shepard just stared at him, his mouth half open with a questioning look. "So you left the best pilot in the alliance, alone with Wrex?"

Kaidan simply stared at him for a moment, seeming to finally put 2 and 2 together. "I'm gonna go check on Joker…" He said before rushing up the stairs to the CIC. Shepard watched him go for a moment before turning to Tali.

They both locked eyes for a moment. Letting the silence settle before he finally spoke. "Thank you… I wasn't quite sure how to get out of that one." He rubbed the back of his neck. A faint smile shadowed his lips.

"Don't worry about it." She was smiling at him, he couldn't see it though. Hidden away beneath her visor.

He cleared his throat before deciding to make the most of his chance. "So… know any good dextro diners on the citadel?"

She looked up at him for a second, half confused, half surprised. "Oh, no. You don't actually have to take me to-"

She trailed off as she saw the look in his eyes. His lips formed into a smile. "Tali. Would you like to have a nice night out on the citadel?"

She suddenly found that her face felt overwhelmingly hot. Suddenly stammering to get a word out. "Oh, uh. I…" She trailed off, looking at her hands. Fiddling with the air between them.

Shepard leaned forward, grabbing one of the tubes that she ate from and looking at. Her eyes followed it. Wondering what he was doing with it. "I've been… looking for places that serve things prepared for quarians. Purified foods and the like... I'm sure there's a spot somewhere on the citadel. It's a big place." He twirled the bottle between his fingers. Kaidan was right, as much as he hated to admit it.

She wasn't sure what was more surprising. That she was meeting Iromak so soon, or that Kaidan had been right on the ball. "You have?"

He set the tube back down in front of her. Nodding as he made eye contact. "Not to be pushy but, you still haven't answered." A smile on his lips. "We go out for an evening, have dinner, see the sights, meet Iromak and come back to the Normandy when we feel like it."

She was watching him, trying to find out if he was trying to make a joke, his expression had a sense of seriousness to it though. "Yes. I believe that would be nice."

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. Smiling and standing up, taking his tray to the sink to clean it. "Good. It'll be a nice way to relax."

He went on about his day. First talking to Pressly about a few menial things. Mostly keeping himself up-to-date on the activities of the ship. He checked on Joker to make sure Wrex hadn't accidentally torn him in half. He had completely forgotten to train Tali. The realization hadn't hit him till he was on the edge of sleep.

Tali found herself not being too keen on training, and decided not to remind Shepard. Instead, finishing her work on dismantling the smaller pieces of the geth. She found herself to finally be able to get a solid night's sleep in the not too comfortable pod.