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The Dark Star Club was more crowded than usual, bodies packed tightly against one another as a cacophony of voices and languages competed with the music for dominance. Garrus shifted uncomfortably on his seat as he watched the rest of the crew celebrate with a sense of abandon he envied. He had never been particularly comfortable in venues like this. His time at C-Sec had thoroughly exposed him to the seedy underbelly of the former clubs that occupied the Citadel, leaving him unable to really enjoy any of them when he was off-duty. On Omega the dislike he'd felt for Aria's domain had been visceral, it had made his skin crawl just going there to dig up information on the local mercs. Even though the Dark Star was a step above what had been here before he still found himself unable to really relax. He wouldn't even be here, he reflected morosely, if he hadn't felt the need to speak to Shepard immediately and apologize for the incident in Anderson's office.

The memory of their earlier indiscretion sent a wave of embarrassment through him and for the second time that day he was absurdly grateful for the fact that turians couldn't blush. He knew that by normal human standards their conduct hadn't been particularly remarkable. He had witnessed at least a dozen similar incidents between humans since he had left her with Anderson. As far as he knew though, none of those other couples had been in front of their military commanders or ambassadors. And none of those couples had included a turian. Garrus was unsure which factor would cause Shepard more trouble, their lack of professionalism or that they were breaking a taboo leftover from the Contact Wars. It was a lucky thing, he thought, that Anderson wasn't a turian.

Decades of a strict turian upbringing and his father's even stricter personal code left him with little doubt about the problems their behavior could cause if it ever got back to the elder Vakarian. His father had always prided himself on his personal restraint, he believed that only by completely subduing one's ego could they become an efficient tool of the state. The betterment of turian society, he had often been taught, was of greater importance than any personal dreams or happiness. There was no room for passion in his fathers worldview and very little for love. His parents union hadn't survived his father's dictates and Garrus knew he had barely passed muster either. He had always been too strong-willed, too impulsive, too much himself. In his father's eyes he had always been a disappointment, a fact that he never let Garrus forget.

Garrus hadn't seen his father since the eve of his departure for Omega. Their exchange had been heated and ultimately one-sided; he left without saying goodbye. Garrus hadn't spoken with him since and he wasn't exactly in a hurry to start now. If his father ever discovered that his only son had become romantically involved with a human he was likely to drop dead on the spot. For the elder Vakarian memories of the Contact Wars were still fresh and despite the time that had passed his attitude toward the species hadn't changed.

A movement beside him broke Garrus out of his reverie and turned to find himself watching Shepard as she slid onto the bar stool beside him.

"I figured I'd find you lurking in a dark corner somewhere."

Shepard watched Garrus' mandibles twitch in amusement as he looked down at her. She'd been concerned when she first spotted him in the club. He had seemed tense, worried, and even now he was withdrawn. He'd put space between them as soon as she sat beside him, taking care that he didn't brush against her at all despite the jostling crowd around them.

"How did your meeting with Ambassador Anderson go?"

Shepard relaxed at his question, beginning to understand where his reserve was coming from. She had forgotten that Garrus was unaware of Anderson's sentiments and realized that he most likely thought she'd received a harsh reprisal from her former mentor. It was what she had been expecting as well and Anderson's support had been an unexpected surprise. She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she thought back on their conversation, "It wasn't what I was expecting."

"Shepard -"

"Garrus," she cut him off gently, letting the silence stretch between them as she thought how best to explain what had passed between Anderson and herself. She had never been good in situations like this, words had always seemed to get in the way of her communicating what she actually felt. Part of it she knew was due to her childhood; both her parents had been military and were often apart. Even when they were together they had always been so careful not to cross any lines that she could only remember them expressing any romantic feelings once. The other part was due to her own military career; she'd risen through the ranks fast - a fact many people didn't appreciate. She'd been forced to prove herself from the start and that meant being faster, deadlier and harder than all the rest. Her time in positions of command had softened her somewhat, taught her tough lessons in compassion and diplomacy but she'd never been able to lower the barriers she kept up around herself. Even with Kaidan she hadn't completely let her guard down: she'd been too busy waiting for the other shoe to drop to trust that it wouldn't.

In some ways she'd been right. She'd died before ever really giving Kaidan a chance only to wake up in a world where it was too late to go back. She didn't want to make the same mistakes with Garrus.

"Anderson doesn't have a problem with us, Garrus."

Surprise flickered across his features as he fumbled for something to say. Whatever he'd been expecting her to say it hadn't been that. Shepard scooted closer to him, letting her hand intertwine with his on the counter, "Even if he hadn't approved Garrus, it wouldn't have changed anything. As far as I'm concerned this isn't anyone else's business. This is between you and me. I have a feeling that as long as we can remember that we'll be just fine."

Garrus hadn't been expecting that. He was slightly floored and, he realized belatedly, grinning down at Shepard like an idiot. She tightened her grip on his hand and moved closer so that she half leaned against him as they sat. He could tell however, that her mind was already turning away from their conversation. Her eyes were busily scanning the room as she picked out the crew members still in the club. Thoughts of the upcoming mission had quickly replaced her concern for their relationship.

Garrus knew that it had been moments like this that had strained her relationship with Kaidan soon after it had begun. She'd admitted as much to him once in the main battery when he'd first returned and asked her about whether or not they were going to look for him. He understood though, better even than he would have two years ago. His time on Omega had changed him. They had taught him the burdens of command and he understood better than most why exactly the mission took priority over everything else. Their personal wants and needs could wait. Regardless of anything else, Garrus always had the Commander's back; he would be there when she needed him.

"Think we should round them and take them home or leave them to their own devices?"

Shepard shook her head, letting Garrus catch a brief glimpse of the mischievous glint in her eyes, "Nah, I wouldn't want to ruin their fun and besides - Moridin mentioned that he had a few hangover cures that he's been dying to try out ..."