Author's Note: Hello once again! I've returned from my six week trip and have lots lots lots to upload! Enjoy this chapter

James looked away from Shepard's face for a few seconds and surveyed the room. Just as he was about to return his attention to her he broke out into a smile that made Shepard's stomach do front-flips.

"Shit! Hey Esteban! How've you been, man?"

From behind her she heard a playful groan from Cortez. "Well if it isn't James Vega. Good to see the promotion didn't go straight to your giant head and you'll still associate with us lowlifes."

Promotion?

"Pretty much everyone in this room got a damn promotion, amigo. Including you. Just another title to tack in front of my name."

"Whatever you say, Commander."

Shepard blinked in surprise. James was a Commander now? How had she not heard of this? She traced through her memories from after the coma, scouring every surface she could find. There was the surgeries, the extensive physical therapy, the housing assignment outside of Vancouver, turning down her own promotion to Captain… nothing came to the surface about James' change of title. She had been busy in the last few months but surely Hackett or Liara would have sent word of something like that. Even James himself. He wasn't some stranger to her now that they didn't work together. They chatted several times a month with lengthy update messages. Why had he omitted something like this?

"I'll be right back, Lola. Gotta settle a few scores with Scars now that we're in the same room."

"James," she automatically warned, the old Commander Shepard climbing to the surface.

He chuckled and shook his head. "No worries, Commander. Just some bets we set before the war that never were collected."

Shepard watched him greet Garrus with a firm handshake and an easy grin, and the two both pulled up their omni's in a way that said they'd taken to placing bets numerous times before. Whatever it was they bet on, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. It was probably about who had the most headshots or who annoyed Kaidan on the most occasions. When Kaidan himself came up to speak with both of them she had to shake her head. If he was in on the betting there was no way she wanted to know what it was about.

Joker approached and offered Shepard a drink. "New title looks good on Vega, can't lie about it. Covers up the stupid pretty well."

Shepard took a quick pull on the liquid, happy to realize it was a gin and tonic. Mostly gin. Joker was a good listener if he remembered a miniscule detail like her favorite drink, but it didn't surprise her. Joker was always on top of things. "Wonder why he never told me."

"Relax, Shepard. He's probably just been busy. Most of us have been."

"But your updates tell me just about everything going on in your life, Joker. I think I know what you normally eat for breakfast on Tuesdays by now."

The pilot sighed lightly and shook his head. He was still wearing a SR-2 cap. Somehow it worked with his suit. "We've known each other for a lot longer than most people in this room. Hell, how many times did you sit up with me when you couldn't sleep? I think we went through every possible conversation topic. Cut the Meathead some slack, he obviously had his reasons."

She nodded, conceding defeat. "You're right. You always were the smarter one between us."

"Well shit. I'm getting that engraved on my tombstone: 'Here lies Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau, Smarter than Commander Shepard'."

"Still not smarter than EDI."

Joker laughed. "She's got an unfair advantage."

Shepard leaned against Joker's arm, enjoying their companionable silence for a few beats as they watched people talk, dance, and laugh. "I never apologized for my decision. Wiping out the Geth and AIs. Joker I-"

"Don't sweat it, Shepard," he stole her drink and took a swig before returning it, "With all the tech experts we had on the Normandy we had the old girl operational in just over two weeks. It helps that she had a hunch and stashed away enough backups to sink a ship."

"Still…"

"Allie. I mean it. Don't worry about it. What we do need to worry about is you getting laid. Got any moves you're going to make on G.I. James?"

"Jeff!"

"What?" Joker sidestepped Shepard trying to shush him, chuckling. "All you two idiots did on board was make googly eyes at each other. Really gross. The crew had bets on when you'd finally hook up but you had to let us down. Bad Commander."

Shepard nearly choked on her drink. She coughed around the ice cube that had lodged itself in her throat and waited several seconds until it melted. "You all took bets on me and James?! Oh my god, Joker! You thought we were 'making googly eyes' at each other?!"

"Yep. Oddly enough, EDI was the only one that wouldn't place a bet. I tried to convince her to change her mind more than once." Joker scratched at his beard; he was talking about this like someone would talk about the weather. Far too casually. "She said James was too much of a rule-following man to ever 'listen to his biological urges'."

"Remind me to send EDI a fruit basket and to thank her profusely."

"What for, Shepard?" EDI joined their conversation. "Have I done something valuable?"

"Vega and Shepard," Joker explained simply. Again, he could have been talking about something as mundane as baseball stats. "I think the Commander thought she was good at hiding her feelings."

EDI watched Shepard's now burning face for a few moments and then smiled. "I have several catalogued video logs demonstrating how poorly you did so, Shepard."

"I've seen them. They're hilarious," Joker interjected.

"Besides Jeff, I have yet to share them with anyone. They are narrated as well to point out attributes such as body language and tone of conversation."

"Oh god." Shepard downed the rest of her drink, grimacing around the alcohol. "Who narrated the videos?"

The only answer she needed was Joker's smirk.

"Delete them. I'm begging you."

"Would you like to view them first? Perhaps you could take notes on your performances?" Deep down, EDI was probably trying to help, but Shepard was convinced this was some kind of retribution for the Red Beam of Death. "Shall I send them to you?"

"Hey Shepard!" James called to her, forcing her table the discussion of the videos. "Get your ass over here and settle a debate!"

Joker smacked her butt as she moved forward. "Go get him, tiger."

"Jeff, I fail to see how Shepard resembles a large cat," EDI noted aloud.

The last she heard was Joker's forgiving sigh. "I'll explain later."

Shepard inwardly screamed, willing her cheeks to stop blushing and continued forward cursing the day she ever set eyes on James Vega.