AN: Again, a million thank you's to all of you for your wonderful support. :) Only one more chapter to go after this!

April 11th, 2182

-A-

Lieutenant-Commander Alexis Shepard nailed her target right in the head from a distance of two hundred meters.

"If you'd only employed that kind of dedication and focus to your date last night with what's-his-face-"

"-Kyle-"

"-Kyle, from the SSV..."

Alexis rolled her shoulders irritably. "-Midway."

"...Then you wouldn't be sitting her, practicing sniping skills you'll probably never employ on the field, despite the N7 logo streaking down your arm."

Alexis scoped her target, pulled the trigger, and lowered the rifle before sparing a withering glance for Lorrie. The engineer shrugged at her, suggesting she was a lost cause. "Kyle didn't have it."

"Define 'it.'"

Crack! "You know what I mean, Lor."

Lorrie sighed and took the rifle from her, lining up her own shot. "You can't keep comparing every guy to him."

Alexis unzipped her N7 hoodie, but didn't remove it. "Sure I can." She picked up the shotgun on the table next to them and examined its settings. Standard Alliance issue crap. She much preferred her heavily modified Eviscerator. But for practice, this would suffice. "Besides," boom! "It keeps me," boom! "Focused."

"Heya, Shepard!" a voice hollered from across the shooting range. A tall, blonde-haired marine strode towards them, deftly maneuvering between the throng of those waiting for a lane to clear. Tom made a rather crude gesture as soon as he was within range and she flipped him off before turning back to the target.

"Better watch it today, pal," Lorrie warned him as he flung himself onto the bench behind them.

"Old age got her wired?"

"I'm only 28, shithead." She tossed the shotgun onto the table.

Tom winked at her before picking up the assault rifle. "You know, most girls I know wouldn't spend their birthdays on the shooting range."

"Most girls you know don't know how to handle a gun," she retorted. "Besides, I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to. Captain Anderson requested my presence at some meeting or other later this week."

"Just make sure you're open tonight," Lorrie replied. "Drinks are on me."

"Mine, too?" Tom asked in between short, controlled bursts of assault rifle fire.

He would never admit it to her or anyone, but he totally had a thing for Lorrie. Too bad Lorrie was completely blind, or didn't want to settle down. Maybe both. Alexis didn't doubt for a second that Tom would leave service to be with Lorrie if that's what it took.

"The first round."

He passed the rifle to Lorrie and gave her a winning smile. "Good enough for me."

Tom flung himself onto the bench next to her. She bumped her shoulder into his and rolled her eyes dramatically at Lorrie. He punched her in the arm.

"Hey, how'd that date go last night?" He asked her. Lorrie emptied the clip until the heatsink kicked in.

She grimaced, but Lorrie answered for her, tossing the rifle back to Tom. "It didn't."

"Maybe next time you shouldn't chauffeur," he quipped. "Alexis is a big girl."

"Ha ha," she replied.

Tom looked back over his shoulder, some glib remark on his tongue, but it died away as something caught his attention. "Hey, I think see my friend comin' in. You guys mind if he joins us?"

Alexis shrugged. "The more, the merrier."

"Awesome." He slung the rifle back onto the table and Lorrie stepped in. Alexis simply leaned back on the bench and took a swig from her water bottle. "Kaidan!" Tom bellowed, startling the shit out of her. She kicked him as he ran past her.

"I swear he was meant to be a drill sergeant," she muttered darkly.

"So," Lorrie said, aiming her SMG, "what makes 'Apollo' so goddamned special that no guy compares?"

A short burst of fire escaped the gun and Alexis leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees. "You know how sometimes you meet someone and you just know you're in for the ride of your life? Someone that maybe at first glance, they seem just like everyone else, talk like everyone else, but when they look at you, a part of you knows that if you're crazy enough, you're life will change in ways you never thought possible. You know that he's the best thing that will ever happen to you. And maybe, if you're brave enough..." she faltered.

Lorrie peered over her shoulder at Alexis. Fuck, she'd never been that forthcoming before.

Was it crazy that after three years she was still in love with the same guy from Trident? Probably. She hung her head, wrapping her hands behind her neck as she stared at her lap. There weren't many L2's in the Alliance, but fuck her if most of them didn't have unique names. Something about the crash over Singapore back on Earth a long time ago. Just her luck, too.

What would she even say if she found him? She'd had years to think of the perfect response... and her mind still came up blank. A thousand things would cross her mind in an instant. Intense embarrassment, overwhelming shyness, but most of all an overpowering sense of no longer being lost, because wherever he was was home.

She fingered the seashell in her pocket. The ridges had long since smoothed over from her constant handling. But the shimmer was still there.

So was the memory of him, amber eyes peering at her over the rim of the shell, the sun a halo behind him.

If she had a time machine, she'd go back to that moment where she hesitated on the brink of entering the shuttle and kick her own ass back out into the rain. And if her past self refused to leave, she'd blow the damned shuttle up giving her no other option but to run back to him and confess.

"I'll find him," she vowed to herself, the words a whisper. If it took the rest of her life, she'd find him. And when she found him, she'd let him know that he was the only to ever break through the walls she so carefully constructed to protect herself.

"Oh shit, Alexis..." Lorrie's voice interrupted her musings.

"What?"

"Reporter, coming in fast."

Her head bolted up, honing in on the camera crew crossing the deck. Not now. "Oh, for fuck's sake," she hissed as she stood up. "Tell Tom I'm sorry I had to bail." Lorrie nodded at her. "Hopefully his friend won't think I'm an unrelenting jackass."

"One smart comment and I'll shoot him." Lorrie tapped her chin with her forefinger. "In the foot."

Alexis spared a grin for Lorrie before taking off. She was a really good friend. Sarcastic, sometimes crude, but great nonetheless.

"Commander Shepard!"

Time to run! She hauled ass out of the shooting range, marines parting for her swiftly. That was one of the great things about marines. All of them hated the damned media.

-A-

Recently promoted Staff-Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko wasn't sure what to do with the rest of his day. The Midway left dock tomorrow, and he'd be back on duty heading out to the traverse. Listening Post Delta had reported an increase in activity through the relay in their system. Alliance High Command deemed that suspicious enough to warrant an investigation.

But for now, he had the day to himself. He just wasn't sure what to do with it.

His omni-tool pinged. Tom: Hey, I'm heading to the range on B-Deck. Want to join?

Well, that solved his current dilemma. He typed out a quick response and changed into his off-duty uniform. With a sentimental rush, he transferred the small blue scarf into his pocket, but not before running it through his fingers. The smell of her shampoo had long since faded from it and the fabric was worn, but it was the only thing he had of her.

There were no fewer than thirteen marines named 'Alexis' that were also biotics. That included the infamous Commander Shepard, though most media outlets referred to her as 'Alex' so he rather discounted the possibility that she was his Alexis.

Besides, he didn't need famous and kick-ass. He just needed her. If she was only a Private Second Class, he'd still love her.

Tom: Cool, I'll grab a lane. See ya in a bit.

When he entered the range, he scanned the lanes for Tom. All were taken by groups of people. Kaidan frowned and peered at the lines of those waiting or milling about. Perhaps he'd beaten Tom here? Wouldn't surprise him.

"Kaidan!"

He looked up just in time to see Tom get kicked by a girl on a bench as he rushed towards Kaidan. He frowned again, but for an entirely different reason.

From a distance, she looked almost like Alexis. Her hair was longer, and he couldn't tell if it was the same shade of dark brown hers had been.

"Hey, pal," Tom greeted him, jogging right up to him and blocking out the marine. "All the lanes were taken, but I spotted some friends." He stabbed his thumb backwards. "Said it'd be cool if you joined."

"Sure," Kaidan shrugged. It was probably just wishful thinking on his behalf.

"Uh oh," Tom said, and Kaidan arched an eyebrow at him. "Let's hear it. Something's on your mind."

Kaidan scanned his military tags through the VI and selected a couple pistols and one assault rifle. "Just... stuff."

"Girl stuff?"

Kaidan rolled his shoulders, which was apparently enough for Tom. "Look, buddy. I'm gonna tell you something you need to hear." He leaned in conspiratorially, but spoke at the same volume. He didn't think Tom knew the meaning of 'quiet.' "Your fling was ages ago. Besides, you don't have shit to go off of. She's gone."

Was it crazy that he was still in love with the same girl from Trident? Probably. He'd tried dating other girls, but none lasted beyond the first date. None of them were her. Inevitably, that's what it came down at the end of the night when he had to decide if he wanted to call the girl back or not.

There was only one girl he wanted to call back.

"Have you ever met Commander Shepard?" Tom asked him suddenly.

"No, can't say I've had the pleasure."

"Then get your omni out and ready to be signed, because she's at our lane."

"Omni-tools can't be signed, they're holographic."

"You know what I mea- oh, sonofabitch," Tom cursed just as a reporter entered the range, VI following behind her next to her personal assistant.

"My sources say Commander Shepard is here..." the reporter said into her camera, flashing a dazzling smile. "Time to find out the rules behind the woman who saved Elysium with her bare hands."

"I highly doubt she did it with her bare hands," Kaidan muttered and Tom nodded next to him.

"Shepard's gonna bail. Hates reporters."

Kaidan shrugged. No big loss to him, really. He couldn't blame the woman. Reporters had been dogging her heels for years.

The reporter slid up to them, noticing the attention. "I couldn't help but overhear you mention Commander Shepard," she said, angling her camera towards Tom. "Do you know her?"

Tom folded his arms. "Yeah, I know her."

"What about you?" The camera swung to him.

"No."

The camera swung away, the reporter no longer interested in his side of the story. Suited him just fine. Last thing he needed was an N7 knocking down his door, looking to kick his ass.

"What can you tell us about Commander Shepard?"

The reporter held her breath expectantly as she waited for Tom's response, probably expecting him to wax poetical about her prowess on the field, how she was an angel of death and enemies fled before her ire or some bullshit like that. Instead, he eyed her up and down. "She's a damn site more honorable than you'll ever be."

She pinched her lips and brushed past them, muttering about cutting that out from her show.

"Damned media never leave marines alone," Kaidan muttered irritably.

"Yeah, I don't think Shepard knew what she was in for when she staved off the Blitz."

"Most people don't."

"Come on, Lorrie'll be all by herself now." He looked at Kaidan. "Lorrie's off limits."

He sighed. "I only want one girl, Tom."

He just had to find her. And he would. If it took him the rest of his life, he'd find her and tell her that he'd never stopped thinking about her, couldn't stop thinking about her. He'd tell her she was 'the one' and he never wanted to let her go.