Chapter 2: Nervous Afternoon

He got the call faster than he would have thought, and had to rush a bit to get dressed. She had gone shopping for an outfit for their date, and had found what she called "the perfect thing", so she called him early, summoning him with all due haste to Apollo's Cafe.

He opened the door to life support, and stepped out into the hallway, taking in the scent of coffee and a food he didn't recognize wafting from the mess hall. His stomach growled, and with a small smile he thought he might suggest that he and his siha eat before the movie, rather than after. He entered the elevator, selected the second floor, and turned to the metal side wall of the elevator, resting his head on it for a moment, trying to calm himself from the nervousness he was feeling from the anticipation of meeting her. "Why do I feel like a teenager taking his first step down the road of courtship?" he thought to himself, laughing lightly at the thought, "I have spent too many years in this galaxy to be feeling so young again". He shook his head, trying to clear his mind and blank his face before the elevator came to a stop, and he stepped out.

He headed towards the air lock and tried to avoid crew along the way, but Joker wouldn't have any of that.

"Don't keep her out too late, Thane; she still has a ship to run here ya know?", Joker had turned his chair around to face Thane as he spoke, and was grinning widely at him, the same grin his siha had, on numerous occasions called "Joker's shit-eating grin"; though he was unsure why someone would be grinning while performing such a vile act. He suppressed that memory and nodded to Joker, keeping his face as neutral as possible as he responded, "She will be returned to the Normandy as soon as possible, Joker, I am sure you can manage until then.". The look on Joker's face was one of obvious disappointment, as his playful teasing had apparently had no effect on Thane. He turned back around, mumbling something about how he didn't understand how Shepard could be so interested in a "stoic jackass" like Thane. Thane smirked slightly, and headed out the airlock, glad to be free of the questioning eyes and barely hidden giggles he'd been receiving from most of the crew as of late.

He headed from the dock to the elevator, his mind racing, his feet trying to catch up to his mind, he purposely slowed his gait, again wondering at his nerves and shaking his head as he punched the number for the presidium commons on the elevator menu. He took the moment alone to close his eyes and attempt to center himself. He had no reason to be nervous, this was his siha he was going to meet. He loved her, and he believed she felt the same way about him, and there was no reason to be feeling so urgent about the situation.

As the elevator reached its destination, he reached out and the door flashed open at his touch, granting him one of the best views on the citadel. As the holographic sky spanned out before him, the slight mist in the air creating a sheen on the apartments and gardens below as his eyes lowered, and he headed to the right, towards Apollo's Cafe. He controlled his gait enough this time to manage an urgent stroll as he walked down the long screen-filled hallway, and the first flight of steps, until he was halfway down the steps on the first landing, and something stopped him in his tracks.

He had looked up just enough to get a good overall view of the cafe, when the sight of a traditionally simple, but stylish suede drell dress on a human woman caught his eye. She was facing away from him, leaning on the railing at the edge of the platform and looking out at the view, but he knew it was his siha. Her shockingly red hair had been let out of its tight, military regs bun, and was flowing down her back, uncontrolled except by a band that held only the hair of the crown of her head back in a loose braid. His throat suddenly got very tight and he struggled to maintain a straight face as he realized what this sight meant. "She has done this for me?!", he exclaimed in his mind, trying to rationalize any other reason for it, but it was the only explanation there was for this display.

He finally realized he had stopped in place, and was being a slight block to the flow of traffic around him, so he forced himself to take a step forward, not wanting to draw any more eyes to the situation than would already be attracted by the sight of his siha in the state she was in. His breath hitched as he stole another glance in her direction, and he nearly jumped down half of the second flight of stairs in his joy, but decided instead to approach her quietly, so he could have a moment to draw in her scent, and look at her more closely before she saw him.

As he drew closer, he was able to see more of the details of the dress. It was not unlike his jacket and vest, in many ways. The same panels, same coloring, but hers was different, because instead of the wrists being open to indicate her availability, they were closed. His jaw dropped just enough for his mouth to open slightly as he noticed this small, but highly significant detail. A tear began to well up in his eye, but he suppressed it, willing it to be gone. He was mere feet away from her, and he could easily breathe in her scent from this distance; she smelled of sweet honey and something he couldn't place, which made his head swim lusciously. He smiled openly at the thoughts racing through his head, thoughts of later, when they were alone, together in each others' arms... But he shook his head to clear it, that was much later, and right now she was waiting for him to take one more step forward to announce his presence.

He moved slowly and easily to her right, copying her pose against the railing, not even looking at her until she noticed him and spoke, "Oh! Hello Thane... You surprised me a bit there.", she said, smiling as she flushed. She looked him in the eyes and grinned widely as she stood up straight, gesturing graciously to her attire, "So, was I right? Isn't this the perfect thing?", she said as her eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation, waiting for his response.

He straightened his stance and looked at her properly, and his throat became tight all over again.

The image of his siha in full traditional drell garb was overwhelming his senses, every panel and zipper and button perfectly placed to indicate that she was in courtship with a drell male, and not available. He cleared his throat as best he could before attempting to reply, "Siha, I...I have never seen anything so stunning as you are right now.", he managed, before her smile made his heart jump. As soon as he could continue speaking, he did, "Do you know what that particular item of clothing signifies, siha?", he asked, truly curious how she'd found out how to use that dress properly in such a short time.

She smiled and looked down, her cheeks flushing heavily before looking back up sheepishly, "I looked it up on the extranet, I thought you might appreciate the gesture. I bought it at a small shop right over there,", she pointed across the empty space between platforms to a shopping center littered with small storefronts, "and the drell woman in the shop helped me put everything the way I wanted it.". She paused for a moment, seemingly unsure of her next words... "I did it all for you, so you could have a properly dressed woman standing beside you, even if I'm not drell.", her face went from serious, to smirking lightly, to full on grin as she spoke, watching his face the whole time, seeing the emotions laid bare there, and loving what she saw.

He did the only thing he could do in such an extraordinary moment, gently taking her hands in his, kissing each one, and then pulling them around his waist, behind his back, and drawing her into his arms, lightly tucking her head under his chin as he held her close. He felt her breath, warm and soothing on his chest, the open panel there allowing her hair and cheek to brush softly against his skin as she nuzzled into him, making him smile as a single tear of pure joy escaped his left eye.

They stood there, holding each other for a moment, before he released her and gently moved her away from him, so he could look at her again. He did not bother hiding the grin on his face that followed.

The rest of the date was spent at a small restaurant that some citadel residents had recommended.

They never made it to the theater, instead opting to sit at the restaurant, have a few drinks, eat, and talk for several hours. Before they knew it, the server was kindly informing them that the establishment would be closing soon. "Is it really that late already?", his siha asked, making her omni-tool light up to display the time. "Oh my, yes, it's that late.", she answered her apparently rhetorical question, as her face fell slightly. They had both been having a wonderful time, sharing stories of past battles, old tales of family, old friends, jokes neither one of them had heard from the others' culture. It was all too wonderful to be over so soon.

They got up and settled the bill, before heading to the walkway outside the restaurant, which lined the edge of one of the many pools on the citadel. The holographic moon was glimmering off of the water, rippling in the wake of the fountains of water sprouting from the middle of the pool. The view was breathtaking, and the couple decided to stop and watch for a moment. He drew her in beside him and she wrapped her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his shoulder, and sighed as she looked out on the water.

He looked at her curiously at the sound, and inquired, "What is wrong, siha?".

She lifted her head from its resting place and looked at him, smiling, and brought her right hand gently up to the left side of his face, turning his head towards her just enough... And kissed him. It was a sweet, almost innocent kiss, and it surprised him how suddenly she did it, and how it made him feel. It made him love her more, but it also made him want her. Badly.


A/N: OMG that was a long chapter! I had SO much to put in there though, had to be done. Look for the next chapter soon! Please please please review, I'll take any critique, good or bad, I need feedback guys! The next chapters are going to be partially based on your thoughts and wishes, so send 'em in! love love love!

~love!~

edit: grrr edit for sloppy stupid sleepy mistakes. *facepalm*