Ella had been radio silent for nearly four months after their run in on the colony. A hastily written message sent in the dead of night assured him she was fine, but had a classified mission thrown at her. They hadn't discussed her near confession that night, but Zaeed planned on chatting about it on her next shore leave.

When ANN broke the news that a small group of marines had infiltrated and neutralized a company of soldiers' station in the colony of Lixia that were suspected of going rogue, Zaeed knew exactly where Ella had been. The group was selling prototype weapons and armors to merc groups and black market dealers. While the marine's identities were being kept classified, the group was led by a Lieutenant Anderson.

His messages to Ella continued to go unanswered. Eventually, Hackett took pity on him and forwarded the time that Ella's transport would be landing with a suggestion Zaeed meet her. She was nearly past him before he realized it was her. A forest green pea coat covered her from knee to neck while a cream colored hat kept the perpetual London drizzle from her head. Her standard boots were a tan with a ridiculous heel. It was a look he hadn't seen in her before he thought, as he called out her name.

Her head whipped around and for the first time he saw the bloodshot eyes and exhaustion etched on her face. "Zaeed. What are you doing here?"

He pushed away from the wall. "Figured if you wouldn't answer my goddamn messages, I'd have to find you in person. What hotel are you in sweetheart?"

"I'm not. Hac- Steven has a spare bedroom I crash if I'm ever in town." She frowned as he followed her to the skycars. "Are you coming with?"

"Finished my bounties early. Figured I'd keep you company."

Ella gave a hint of a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm not on shore leave yet Massani."

"Didn't say you were." He spent the short ride to Hackett's apartment distracting Ella with anecdotes about Jessie. She had yet to see his infamous rifle, but most of his stories seemed to involve her. The elevator ride up to the apartment was blessedly short. Zaeed keyed his own code into the door, eliciting a raised eye from Ella. He refused to answer and motioned her into the apartment.

She peeled off her jacket and boots before disappearing down a hall. A few minutes later Ella emerged in jeans and an alliance hoodie that was too big to be her own. She grabbed a package sitting on counter and tossed it at him. "Since you're here, make yourself useful."

He opened the box and pulled out the amp. "Ella, why the hell do you need a new bloody amp?"

She shrugged. "I may have pushed it a bit too far during my last battle. I've had a helluva headache since they removed the last amp." She stepped in front of him, pulling her hair away from the exposed jack at the base of her skull.

Zaeed examined the small piece of metal and plastic in his hands. "This isn't alliance issue."

"How do you know so much about amps?"

"Ella."

"Zaeed."

"Talk to me sweetheart." He slid the amp into place and watched the tension in her shoulders ease. His hands trailed down her neck to settle on her shoulders and began kneading the muscles.

She leaned back against his hands. "This is my job right? And my biotics are a weapon I use. So why not use the best I can? Maybe I won't burn through this one." She pulled away from him and turned. Her gaze was still guarded. "As much as I'd love for you to seduce me, what I really need is to sleep off the headache and the painkillers."

"I'm not that much of a bastard sweetheart. Besides, Hackett's apartment doesn't bloody inspire me."

She managed her first real smile since landing. "Then I guess we'll have to find something that does."

His hands tangled in her hair as he pulled her close. "Sleep first sweetheart."

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his scarred cheek. "Will you stay?" she murmured against his skin. "At least until Steven gets back?"

"Of course." Ella pulled him onto the couch with her, and she curled up next to him. His fingers ran across her scalp, lulling her into relaxing. "Sweetheart?"

"Mmmmm?"

"Why are you afraid to lose me 'again'? I don't bloody remember you losing me in the first place." The question had been eating at him for months.

"Chalk it up to poor word choice after watching you nearly get gunned down."

"You sure that's all?" His voice was laced with doubt.

"Positive. Now shut up so I can sleep." Ella had no intention of discussing the night she found him in the alley. At least, not anytime soon.

Zaeed found a vid to watch as she drifted off to sleep. She stretched and twisted in her sleep until her head rested in his lap. He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Hackett found them in the same position a few hours later, Zaeed working on his omni tool instead of watching the vid on screen. "Massani."

Zaeed twisted to face him. "Steven."

"When I suggested you meet Ella, I didn't mean . . . this."

"Not like we're naked rolling around on your couch."

Hackett flinched, and then glared at his friend. "I didn't need that visual."

"Too bloody bad." The two men stared at each other a moment. "Is there a reason you're staring a hole in my goddamn head?"

"I've never thought I'd see you . . . cuddle."

"We're not bloody cuddling. She was fucking exhausted."

"I get it. What I don't get is what she means to you."

Zaeed scowled. "Are you goddamn asking my intentions towards her?"

"Do I need to?"

"Bloody hell. We're not fucking teenagers."

Ella's eyes fluttered opened as she stretched, quieting both men. Hackett knelt beside the couch as she sat up and stretched. She eyed the two men suspiciously. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No sweetheart. We were just talking."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Because you're naturally suspicious." He brushed a hand against her cheek. "I need to take care of a few things. When does your shore leave start?"

"Two days. Someone volunteered me to escort him to some gala after tomorrow's speeches and awards."

"Well, he's a bloody bastard. Forget him."

"I am right here," Hackett interjected as Ella began to laugh. He frowned when Zaeed dropped a casual kiss to her forehead and plucked his jacket off her shoulders. They called their goodbyes and Ella curled up under the oversized hoodie. "Hungry?"

"I'm always hungry Steven."

"I ordered noodles and there's hot sauce in the fridge."

"Beer?"

"It's noon," he pointed out.

"Yes. And I'm going shopping for a dress at two. I believe a beer is needed before that." She grinned and untangled herself from the hoodie. The two set the table and chatted about everything not related to her last assignment. She waited until food arrived and was dished before questioning him.

"So, isn't having me attend tomorrow's shindig a bit taboo? Newly minted major escorting a newly minted service chief?"

Hackett colored slightly. "That won't be a problem anymore."

His tone made her wary. "Oh? And why is that Steven?"

"I was asked to reassess my alliance paperwork with this promotion. Previous to this I had no next of kin listed so everything went back to the alliance. I changed that. You're now listed as my beneficiary under 'family, not otherwise specified.'"

Ella stared at him, then her plate, before taking a deep breath. "Now I do need that beer," she muttered to herself. "Why would you do that?" she asked.

Food forgotten, he leaned towards her. "Because if I had my way, you wouldn't have stayed in that orphanage eight years ago. I tried, in fact, to adopt you then, but I was a single, ranked, military officer who served on warships. Your caseworker wouldn't even consider it."

"Why me?"

"Do you remember what we talked about on the ride back to the orphanage?"

"Not really. I was more worried about getting in trouble."

"First you told me you didn't talk to uniforms and sat there in silence for about five minutes before asking what the stars were like since you had never seen one yourself. When I asked why not, you told me the city lights were too bright, so you couldn't see them from the home."

"Then you suggested I join the alliance when I got old enough." Ella's eyes were suspiciously damp.

"And you laughed at me and said kids like you don't get that chance." He covered her wrist with his hand. "I was that kid. I was on my way to an orphanage at twelve. I got that chance and wanted to pass it along to someone who obviously deserved it. But I couldn't, so I did what I could. I tried to check in as unobtrusively as possible. The night you ran away was one of the worst I can remember."

Ella couldn't meet his gaze. She lightly tugged away from his grasp as she stood. "I . . . I need to process this. Give me some time?"

He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Of course. Tell Marshall I say hello."

"I will." She paused at the door and turned back towards him. "I'll be back later. You'll be here?"

He smiled. "If I'm not, I'll let you know."