Since they hadn't discussed it the night before, Bobby was unsure if the two-week break included running, but he decided he'd run anyway. Plus, if they weren't dancing or playing music, he didn't want to miss the opportunity of running with Tina. He headed downstairs and out to the deck where she was already stretching. "I thought maybe you were sleeping in this morning," Tina said, smiling at him.

"I thought about it. The bed was comfortable and with nothing planned I considered running later. Decided I'd might as well get up and get moving. Besides, without me you might get lost and not be able to find the house."

"Okay smart guy, I'm running you into the ground today."

When he finished stretching, they headed off down the beach, running at their normal pace. As was their routine, neither said much during the first part of the run. Tina broke the silence and asked, "So did you have any plans for after the war?"

"The team had talked about renting motorcycles and driving across North America. We discussed routes that would take us further north if it was summer or further south if it was late fall or early spring. That was when there was still five of us. When it got down to just three of us we were so busy we rarely saw each other. I wonder if Sun and Juarez made the trip without me. How about you Tina, any plans?" Bobby asked.

"Honestly, Bobby?" she asked and looked at him. He nodded. "As I've said, I didn't think I'd survive so I didn't make plans. I think it was when Thane and Kaidan died that I realized the cost of the war would be high even if we won and I was prepared to pay that cost. Before that I thought about settling down after the war. Maybe go live on some colony world or on the Citadel or on Earth even. The few people I mentioned it to said they didn't think I'd ever do it. Mom's career military and everyone expected I'd be the same."

"Well, your proof being career military doesn't preclude someone from having a family," Bobby said. "But I could see how after what you've been through a quiet life surrounded by friends would be appealing. And Anderson was right, you know, you'd make a great mom."

During one of their evening discussions, Tina had shared all the details of what happened on the Citadel. She admitted that the Illusive Man had taken control of her and Admiral Anderson and caused her to shoot him. Eventually, she had convinced the Illusive Man that he was indoctrinated and doing the Reapers' bidding, so he had killed himself. Anderson had lived long enough to see the Citadel arms open and the two of them had had a final talk. Anderson had told her she would be a good mom and that he was proud of her. Tina had cried that night and Bobby had done what he could to comfort her.

"I'm still not sure about that. I'm comfortable commanding a crew where almost everyone listens to what I say. I'm not sure how I'd handle a kid who was intentionally disobeying me. Particularly if they were too much like I was when I was younger." Tina paused then asked, "Have you ever thought about having kids, Bobby?"

"Sure. My niece and my nephew are great kids and I love being around them. I know having your own is different because they're there all the time. But being there all the time is part of what's appealing about it, assuming you can pull it off," Bobby said.

"Robert Edwards, you're a romantic."

"We're all romantics, Tina, some of us just hide it better than others."

"What about the military? Are you a career Navy officer?" Tina asked.

"I haven't decided yet. My parents would like for me to give it up and come back to take over the family farm. My sister and Nic don't want to live on earth so for it to stay in the family it has to be me. But I didn't grow up on the farm like dad did and don't know much about how to run it. Plus, apart from the execution assignments, I like what I've been doing, though there might not be much call for doing it now." He paused, "And, that's the kind of decision I probably wouldn't make until I was married and ready to start a family. At that point, that big of a decision needs to be a collaborative one."

During the remainder of the run they talked about Bobby's parents and their taking over the farm from his grandparents. His dad had resisted the idea initially, but eventually yielded to his father's wishes. Tina asked if that was an indication that Bobby would do the same, and Bobby told her not necessarily because his mother had been in favor of the move. His father had gotten pressure both ways and really didn't stand a chance. "It turned out for the best. If they had still been in St. Louis, the odds that they would still be alive are small."

When the run was over, Bobby started back into the house but Tina stopped him. "Bobby, I know we said yesterday we'd take a break for a couple of weeks but I'd like one more day before we stop. Not even the full two hours, just two or three dances. You up for that."

"Sure. We'll keep it low pressure and just have some fun."

"Good, let's plan on dancing a couple of hours after lunch," Tina said and Bobby agreed.

They spent most of the morning relaxing on the front porch, talking more about the differences between growing up on a ship versus growing up in a big city. Tina brought up the subject of first dates and first kisses. "Wallflower, remember?" Bobby asked. "First date and first kiss was Susan Reynolds, another one of the science nerds. There was a school dance and her parents were pressuring her to go. She convinced me if I'd take her we could slip out and hang out in the science room. We got into the room but everything was locked up so we couldn't play mad scientist."

Tina was grinning. "You played doctor instead," she said.

"Something like that," Bobby said. "We were a thing for the rest of the school year but broke up over the summer when she blossomed and more popular guys started asking her out. What about you?"

"First kiss was a boy named Tommy Burns. Met him while my parents were on shore leave. It was a quick kiss and not memorable aside from it being my first. First date was with Reggie Dupree on another shore leave a couple of years later. I snuck out of the apartment my parents had rented to go to the movie with him. He was a couple of years older than I was and I spent the movie fending him off. I think I broke one of his fingers. He left me sitting alone in the theater. My parents were waiting when I got home and I was grounded for a month," Tina said.

"Sorry to hear that," Bobby said. "Some guys can be jerks. Well, all guys can be jerks but some guys just go for it full throttle."

"It's okay. Dad had trained me. Reggie wasn't going to get what he was after and that experience made me choose my future dates more carefully and to make sure someone knew where I was going and with whom."

They ate lunch together and Tina stole some of the food from Bobby's plate. It wasn't a rare occurrence. "I fixed you extra," he said.

"You did, and thank you, but yours looks better."

"Mine looks better because there still some of it on my plate," he said, trying to suppress a smile.

She winked at him, because they both knew what was coming next, "You want me to be at full strength if I find the channel, don't you?"

When they were done, he said he'd clean up and she went upstairs. When he was done he went up to his room and changed into his normal clothes for dancing, then went downstairs with his guitar. He was sitting there messing with chord progression when she came down the stairs. He looked up and saw her as she entered the room.

"I feel way under dressed," he said. She had been beautiful from the first day he saw her. Today she was stunning. No loose top and tights today. She was in a red dress that, he thought, was perfect for her. He realized he was staring.

"That," she said, "is the reaction I was looking for. Are you ready to dance?"

"I'm not sure I can remember how."

She laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Bobby" she said.

He started the first song and they danced. He was tentative at the start but loosened as they completed the first song. "We did better at the end," Tina said, "so let's start this one strong and no stopping until the music stops."

They did. Bobby knew they weren't perfect in their steps, but they were connected. They moved together and mostly in time with the beat. When they were finished Tina was obviously happy. "That," she said, "was wonderful," and she hugged him.

"One more time?" he asked.

"One more," Tina said.

This tango was going as well as the previous one, maybe even better on their timing with the music. But in the middle of the tango, face to face with one of Tina's legs wrapped around him, Bobby stopped.

"Don't you dare turn into a wallflower on me now, Bobby." Tina leaned further forward and kissed him.

Bobby lifted Tina off the floor and she wrapped her other leg around him and locked her arms behind his neck. "There's not a chance of that happening," he said.

She smiled. "Then take me upstairs."

"Yes ma'am."