Joker finds the long haul to Shepard's quarters oddly sobering. By the time he reaches her door, he wonders if he just imagined the whole thing, but then again… He reaches up to feel his head. His ball cap is missing.

Shepard's doors slide open invitingly when he approaches close enough. He enters to find that she must not be sharing his reservations. Shepard sits on the foot of the bed comfortably with wine glass in hand.

"Hey," Shepard says with a wide smile. She pats the bed beside her. "Have a seat. I poured you some wine."

Joker notices the glass on the desk.

"Thanks."

She takes his crutches from him while he gets comfortably seated. When she returns, she passes the glass into his now clammy hand. He takes a swig immediately. He instinctively reaches up to adjust his visor, one of his nervous habits, but grasps at air. Shepard laughs lightly and nudges him with her shoulder.

"I like you without the hat." She says.

Joker hints at a smile. He feels oddly naked without his hat, already. He wonders if he shouldn't have come. He downs another swig.

"Joker," Shepard says softly and lays her head on his shoulder. "If… If you are having second thoughts about this, just let me know. No pressure."

"They're not second thoughts." He says. "Nor third. I've had many thoughts about this."

Shepard laughs. "Ah. I see. I must confess the same. Though I think I've had equally as many thoughts about throwing your smartass out the airlock."

This time Joker laughs. "I do seem to have a knack for pissing you off."

"Admittedly, but I can never stay mad at you, damn it."

Joker nods. The two sit in silence, taking sips of wine, when Shepard lifts her hand to his face to gently turn his face toward hers. She looks him in the eyes, then down to survey the rest of his features. His cheeks start to burn from embarrassment and he cannot maintain eye contact.

"I never get the chance to just look at you." She says. "You're very handsome."

Joker scoffs.

"You don't believe me." She states.

Joker shakes his head slowly, then closes his eyes and lets out a single, hollow laugh. "Women don't look at me that way."

"No?"

"No. They see the obvious…" He motions to his legs. "And… That's it."

Shepard places her hand on the middle of his back. "Their loss."

"Okay. It's just… It's been a long time, Shepard. A long, damn time. I mean a looong time."

"So, what? Will I need to show you where everything goes?"

"Well, I've been keeping up by watching vids."

"Ohh… Joker." Shepard lets out a pained laugh and covers her mouth.

"Ah, shit. I just burned myself. Good job."

Shepard shakes her head with a smile.

"Well, what about you?" Joker dares to ask. "You apparently have quite a few admirers on the Normandy alone."

"Hmm… Yeah… I guess I can't say that it's been that long since I last had someone warm my bed. Definitely no one since taking command of the Normandy. No Normandy crew."

Joker hopes she cannot see his relief at learning that.

"But, you know," She continues. "Soldiers are a different breed. We screw around with each other and then screw each other, but it's not… It's just physical. Just meeting a physical need... Usually."

"Hmm…" Joker lets out a hollow laugh. "I can't say the same for me. I've never been with a woman without having to visit a doctor afterward. Stupid Vrolik's."

"Oh." Shepard says as though genuinely surprised by the admission.

"Yeah. So, I'd like to say I could rock your world, but…" He shrugs and offers her a pained smile.

"Look… If all I wanted was someone to fulfill a 'physical need,' I would have invited Kaiden in here ages ago. But, I…" Shepard intertwines her fingers with his. "You mean something to me."

Joker watches her thumb rub the back of his hand. She looks at his face.

"Don't get me wrong!" She adds quickly. "I don't expect anything from you. I just… I want this. You. Tonight." She cups his face with her hands again and guides their lips together for a telling kiss. "We may not have a future to figure out, so let's not worry about it."

"Hmm…" Joker hums and rests his forehead upon hers, eyes closed. "I want this, too. You're the most amazing woman I've ever met."

"That means a lot."

"So," Joker whispers. "This is really happening?"

Shepard kisses him as an answer. She moves her hands from his face to the nape of his neck. Joker moves his hands to the small of Shepard's back. The physical contact ensures him that this is not a dream, no matter how much disbelief he harbors. Her kisses grow longer as her desire begins to mount. She moves her hands down to his chest and pushes him firmly toward the bed. He complies and they lay back together, lips intertwined.