Sorry for the long delay, I had major writers block. Fortunate for me and for you guys I overcame that, and I am uploading two chapters. :]

Thanks for all of the alerts and reviews, as always much appreciated! Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Confused Acceptance

When he first saw her standing in front of the ladies restroom door, his heart sank. She looked utterly gorgeous in her white v-neck t-shirt, which was a little see through. She wasn't wearing a bra… she wasn't wearing a bra. He quickly shook that observation out of his head before taking the rest of her in. Her hair had gotten really long. On Horizon it was neatly pulled back in a bun, so he didn't see the length, but it was beautiful.

She began approaching him slowly, as he noticed her taking him in. He tried relaxing but he couldn't, he remained stiff for his own protection. No matter how stunning she looked, he still couldn't trust her. Not for right now at least.

"Hi," She said, giving him that half smile he loved and missed so much.

"Shepard." His voice was harsher than what he wanted it to come out as, "Shall we sit down?"

"Yes, somewhere relatively quiet and private preferably." She picked the wrong place for that. There were people in almost every corner. Except for one, it was a bit secluded away from the main bar table and dance floor, but it was open, making it public enough. "There." She pointed to the abandoned corner and took the lead, as always.

They sat down across from each other, an Asari waitress came by and asked if they wanted anything, both shaking their heads no and she politely walked away.

Kaidan never took his eyes off of her. He watched her like a hawk, analyzing every twitch, every movement comparing it to the Shepard he knew. Trying to seek out the flaws that might signal her being a fake, he didn't find any. Finally the silence was broken.

"I am really glad you made it." She glanced directly into my eyes. "I was afraid that you didn't want anything to do with me and weren't going to show up."

"I wanted to hear what you had to say." Was all Kaidan said in return. He noticed her becoming slightly tense as she thought about the best way to begin her explanation.

"Okay, well where to begin?" Her voice rose at the end of her statement signaling it as a question, but she continued talking right after. "I remember the Council and Alliance both sending the SR1 to go hunt for Geth out in the terminus system. We weren't coming across anything significant; when out of the blue a massive ship comes around and begins firing upon us. Almost as if it was expecting us to be there in that precise moment in time, like it was planned out. Anyways, I remember standing at a consol using a fire extinguisher before you ran up behind me. I order you to get off the ship into the evac shuttles before the ship was destroyed." She took in a deep breath before continuing, glancing down at her now nervous hands. I saw how vulnerable she looked, how lost and hopeless.

"You of course, being you, refused to leave without me and me being, well me, ordered you to get your ass off my ship. You obliged. I tried getting Joker into the last shuttle but he refused to abandon his 'baby' I practically had to drag his body away from the consol as I pushed him into the shuttle. Just as I was about to step in, the ship came around for another attack, stupidly I glanced back and was almost spaced from the blast, but not before I managed to hit the release button."

As she was explaining this part of the story I couldn't help but feel anger directed towards Joker. If only he would have gotten off his pathetic ass and listened to Shepard's orders, none of this would have happened. This conversation wouldn't be taking place. My doubts my threats never heard, never said. He sighed as she continued.

"I was spaced. I tried extremely hard not to panic, but that didn't go well. I began to notice my oxygen tank was spewing the precious gas that I needed to survive. I tried so hard to reach over and clamp the tube, but I couldn't reach it. As much as I tried, I couldn't." She paused, looking deeply into my eyes, lovingly before continuing, "The last thing I remember thinking was how much I was going to miss you… Your smile, your hair, your warmth, your, lips…" Her voice cracked towards the end as tears began to form in her eyes. I wanted to desperately reach out and hold her, but I stopped myself.

She's working for the enemy, for Cerberus.

She realized that she never told anyone about her last waking moments before her death. She didn't want to accept the fact that she had died.

"That still doesn't explain how Cerberus just conveniently came across your body and began to 'restore' you. Or so you said."

She slightly flinched at the Coldness in his voice. She couldn't help but begin to think that this was a mistake.

"I personally don't know how or where they found my body, no one has told me that part yet. The thing that they did show me was something called The Lazarus Project. It was monitored and run by someone named Miranda Lawson; she's now one of my crew members that fights alongside me. She was ordered by the Illusive Man to restore me exactly how I was before, and if there were any signs I was going to turn out different, they were to terminate the project and move on."

Kaidan stiffened at the last part I said. His arms were firmly crossed over his chest as he leaned back into his chair, staring intently at me waiting for me to continue. I took a deep breath, and really wished I ordered water or something. I could feel my throat begin to tighten slightly.

"I have a file on my Omni tool that I can give to you. It may disprove any wild speculations as to how I was brought back to life or where I have been. It has video and audio footage along with Miranda's constant updates on my status. All valuable information, if you want it, that is."

He unwound his arms, slowly placing them on the table inches away from my hand. A rush of heat ran through my body. Wanting desperately to reach out and feel him again.

"I, I think that would be, useful information." His face held no emotion; he had his all too famous façade on. The one that took a long time for me to break down the first time around. I wonder how long it will take now.

I nodded and sent over the file from my Omni to his. And quickly he began to transfer the information to Anderson, before placing his complete attention back on me.

"Do you have anything to say before I continue any further?"

He sat there debating whether or not to say anything, finally he spoke. His voice was clear as ever.

"One thing… why, why after all those days of being alive, did you not contact me, you didn't even bother telling me you were alive again? All that time, and I thought you were dead, dead Shepard. Do you know what I went through?" He paused. He couldn't continue any further. It looked as though he was trying to control his anger, I could clearly hear the hum of his biotics charging up. I felt a sensation rush down my arm, something that I only felt when he was on the verge of breaking down. This slightly frightened me.

"I TRIED! The first thing on my mind when I woke up on the facility was you; the first word uttered was your name, your name. I thought I had lost you. I thought I'd never see you again. I went to Anderson, asked where you were and he completely stonewalled me. I tried very hard to persuade it out of him, but he wouldn't budge, so I just got up and left. No one, no one at all seemed like they wanted to tell me where you were. The Illusive Man was a pain in the ass. I gave him a piece of my mind, but that didn't make him budge either." I paused.

"Kaidan, you have to believe me, I did try!"

"Not hard enough."

I was taken aback by this, furious. Was he purposefully not listening to what I was saying? Was he really convinced I didn't try looking for him? Him, the only man I truly trust, the only man I'd ever fallen for. Tears started forming in my eyes as I bid them to go away. They disobeyed my mental orders and slid down my cheek one after the other.

When out of nowhere his hand flew up to my face and gently whipped them off. His hand rested there cupping my cheeks, I leaned into it closing my eyes, missing his touch. Taking in his scent, but just like that he pulled away. I looked at his face, which by now was glancing down at the table, away from my eyes. He managed to let out a heavy sigh before looking up again.

"Shepard, Angela, I don't think. I don't, I just don't know what to think anymore. My heart is saying it's really you, but my mind is fighting it, telling me it can't be you, you died, Joker watched you die. And as far as I'm concerned resurrections can't happen, it's impossible!" Another sigh, this time I didn't hesitate I couldn't hold back, seeing him so hurt made me feel horrible, I just had to prove it was me. I grabbed his face and kissed him.

He didn't back away; instead he leaned into me taking as much as he could. His breath floated into my mouth, tasting his sweat peppermint mouthwash he used. I slipped my tongue into his mouth as he griped my face a bit tighter pulling me closer to him clearly wanting more, but yet again, he stopped abruptly and let go of me. He began to stand up from his chair and slowly started walking away from me.

I sat there completely stunned, before I realized he was walking away. I chased after him.

"Kaidan, wait! Stop, please!"

He spun around quickly stalking towards me anger and pain plastered across his face.

"You, you can't just do that Angela! You can't…"

He used my first name for the second time in one day. I hadn't heard anyone call me by that name since my last visit at the Citadel prior to my death.

"I, I'm sorry?"

"No! You don't understand what that does to me! It, it hurts, it kills me, because I know I am falling back in love with you. As angry as I try to be, as much as I try to tell myself you aren't real, that Cerberus just created you, it just sounds even more absurd! I know, I see that it's you standing in front of me. But knowing that and the mission that you have been placed on and what you're going up against…" He paused. I finished.

"You can't see me… Not until the mission is over, done with." My voice trailed off into a whisper.

He closed the spaced between us and placed both hands on either side of my face. Tears began running down his face as he stared intently into my eyes. "I-I love you too much Shepard. Way too much, it's unhealthy really." I let out a small laugh, so did he. Then we kissed for the second time tonight.

This time it was more desperate, saddened, like we weren't going to have this moment ever again.

When he broke free he leaned his forehead onto mine. His eyes closed, just taking it all in, taking me in.

"This doesn't have to be goodbye…" I had to try, after all if this was goodbye, I would have way too much time to myself, and who knows what I would do. "I have two days…"

I bit my lower lip in a suggesting manner. He pulled me in tight against his body nudging his waist forcefully into mine. I took this as an acceptance to my invitation. I interlaced my fingers into his, and lightly placed a kiss on his lips.

"I hear you have an apartment on the Citadel." I whispered against his lips.

"I hear you have an empty ship with lots of places we can… explore." His voice came out extremely deep and husky and I just squealed with unnerving excitement as I immediately led him out of Dark Star Lounge and towards the Normandy. He chuckled at my girlish squeal and followed eagerly.

Never fully expecting this to happen, but I accepted it with open arms.