Hey guys.

My writer's block was attempting to murder me again.

Fun huh?

But I got past it and now I dedicate this chapter to WolverinesDarlin who makes a very small appearance.

read. review. roadkill.

I own nothing.

Enjoy.

Pacing back and forth, hands shaky, eyes darting every which way…Shepard was nervous. She reopened up her closet again, looking at the Cerberus printed regulation uniforms and the black party dress Kasumi had given her. Why was picking out an outfit today so much harder than every other day? Hell, she didn't even give a crap out how she looked. Slip on clean uniform, don't tie boots, a dab of mascara, a little eyeliner and she was out the door. But now…she found the clothes she wore every day revolting. This one didn't flatter her figure, this one was too dirty, and this one was too uncomfortable. And they were all the same dark depressing colors…black, gray, and more black and gray.

She finished putting on the same outfit that every other crew member wore and stared down at her boots, still untied. With a sigh, she bent down and twisted her fingers around on the shoelaces, making an effort to tie them. She fled into the bathroom and smoothed her simple black hair behind her ears, pulling out her trusty old fashioned eyeliner and started to put on her usual makeup. She took a step back after a moment, examining how she looked. She looked horrible.

Clenching her fists in frustration, she tore off her clothes once more and tried on the next pair, the ones looking like Chakwas' outfit. She fumbled around with the outer dress, noting just how ridiculous it looked on her and took off that outfit as well, trying on the settler looking uniform. As she put on the small vest, she itched at it immediately, the fabric irritating her pale skin. Breathing in and out slowly, she tried to calm herself down…taking off the uniform, she heard a small knock at the door. Shepard quickly put on her N7 sleepwear for cover, kicking aside fallen objects as she went to answer the door.

And low and behold, a pair of clothing was hidden underneath a holopad and she picked up the holopad, reading it carefully…

Commander Shepard,

I heard about your date tonight. Since I know you don't like wearing anything extravagant, I explored my closet and found something you might like.

-Kelly Chambers

She read it over three times, wondering how in hell Kelly found out Garrus asked her out in such a short period of time and shook her head, reminding herself to thank Kelly later. She peered down at the clothes, picking the items up and laying them out on the bed.

It was simple pair of jeans, small distressed marks on the knees and it was a designer label from way back in the 21st century…American Eagle she thinks. With a small smile, she slipped on the pair of jeans, hugging her hips and muscular legs. She looked down to see a t-shirt accompanying it, black in color and it looked like exactly what she wore during her boot camp until they designed the new regulation downtime clothes.

Curious as to how Kelly was able to track down century old clothing, she shook her head, knowing that Kelly could do practically anything except keep a rumor to herself. Happy and content with her new pair of clothes, she shoved her feet into her combat boots, leaving them untied.

She was ready.

Shepard had called everyone off the ship for shore leave, knowing that they most desperately needed it after the stress of fixing the Normandy and having to call loved ones to notify of their status. Which reminded her…the crew members who had died during the Collector Mission…she knew she would have to type up emails to the families, more stress pounding down on her shoulders. But when she saw Garrus walk toward her in his not so casual clothes, wearing his beat up armor instead, a nervous gaunt to his walk as he neared her position…all thoughts fled from her head.

"Hey. Shepard…" Garrus trailed off, that almost 'I'm cool enough and have enough confidence that fill up the whole Citadel Lake' was gone right when he said her name. With a small grin, she gestured for him to jump into the Kodiak with her, rapping on the door for the pilot to take off right when Garrus took his seat across from her.

The rest of the ride down to the Zakera Ward was taken in silence, Shepard resting her chin on her hand, leaning forward deep in thought. Garrus was practically shaking, mandibles fluttering a few times, blue eyes blinking repeatedly. Now he was starting to wish he had brought those damn holopad notes. The Kodiak made its stop and Shepard jumped out and onto the platform below, waiting a moment for Garrus to jump out beside her. As soon as the two were out and about, walking past the yelling Sergeant and the cowering recruits, the appalled racist calling turian and the stressed out security women, they came up to their normal security post.

But something was different here. The usual annoying turian was no longer there and was instead replaced with a young woman, no older than 20. She had shoulder length brown hair and her eyes nearly popped out of her skull as she looked up and noticed Commander Shepard and Garrus Vakarian. She then seemed to have remembered something and stopped the scanners from scanning them, not saying the apologetic words, 'Sorry for the inconvenience ma'am' and instead waved them by. Garrus exhaled a sigh of relief and Shepard nodded a little at the new security checkpoint lady, a small grin present.

As the two were walking out Captain Bailey noticed that Shepard's hands were not clenched and the turian was calm as ever and sighed, content with the fact that he didn't have to deal with an upset Commander, and walked over to the young woman. "Looks like you've got the job Marie."

Garrus heard a squeal of joy from behind him and glanced over his shoulder, the twenty year old human bouncing on her feet and Captain Bailey giving her a gentle pat on the back. Garrus had a feeling he would have to get used to this human as she has replaced the throbbing headache that the other turian usually gave him.

As soon as the two friends were outside of the C-Sec headquarters they walked around aimlessly, Garrus glancing down at Shepard every few minutes. After another ten minutes of more awkward silence, Shepard broke it. "Garrus…you do know where we're eating right?"

"Well yeah…I was just waiting until you wanted to go off and eat or something…" Garrus said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. So it looks like Garrus was still somewhat thinking he was under her Command, even under these vastly different circumstances.

Shepard quipped back with her stomach growling, pointing one small finger to her stomach as if to prove a point. "Oh…right…" Garrus numbly scratched the side of his head, tilting it a little and sped his pace up. "Well knowing you I figured this would be the best place to take you…"

As soon as they rounded the corner Shepard's gasp of surprise and delight was like music to his ears. He had done well. The bright neon light signs, the dancing area, and the 'never ending buffet of pizza and turian cuisine' were enough to get Shepard dashing inside, all nervousness and discomfort gone. Garrus' soft chuckle made her stop in her tracks and wait politely for him, a wide grin present on her face. The two clasped hands and entered, their first official date awaiting.