Author's Note: Not sure whether to continue the story after this chapter. I've certainly had fun writing it, and am more than willing to continue if there's interest. Reviews always help!
The soft but insistent chime of his morning alarm pulled Shepard from sleep quickly, and it took only a moment for memories of the previous night to flood back.
He was now lying on his side with his arm around her waist, and she was curled up in front of him, facing in the same direction. He felt her stir at the noise of the alarm just as it automatically deactivated itself.
She tensed for a moment - no doubt momentarily puzzled at where she was - and then she evidently remembered, as she made a contented sound and tightened her arm around his.
"Mmm," she said, stretching in an almost catlike way, which made Shepard grin.
He moved back slightly to allow her to turn around to face him, and she rolled onto her back, looking up at him.
"Good morning," she said, slightly shyly and with very wide eyes visible through her helmet's visor.
"'Morning," he replied with a smile, and she placed her hand on his cheek.
"Thank you for letting me stay," she said, and all at once she was somehow near tears.
"Thanks for staying," he said, placing a reassuring and possessive hand on her stomach.
Keelah, thank you for it not being a dream, she thought.
"So... what do we do now?" she asked, and he laughed.
"Now, unfortunately, we have to get up," he replied. "Breakfast, then I have a review meeting with Miranda, Garrus and Joker."
"I was thinking of coming too," she said, with a question in her voice.
"You'd be very welcome," he replied, yawning as he stretched. "Do you want to use the washroom first?"
"My kit is in my locker on deck 3," she said, "but I could meet you for breakfast in the mess area in a little while?"
"Sounds great," he smiled, taking her hand and placing a small kiss on it. They lay there for another minute before both regretfully getting up.
At the door, she hesitated and turned back to face him. She searched for the words to express the note of anxiety she was feeling, but he spoke first.
"No regrets, Tali," he said. "I'm very happy about this."
She sighed with relief, and stepped into his arms for one last brief hug, then she walked out into the corridor.
"See you soon, John," she said, with warmth evident in her voice.
He smiled at her and nodded, and she bounced on her toes before entering the elevator.
Although the crewmembers she passed didn't know it, Tali was smiling the entire time as she walked along the corridor from crew quarters to the mess area.
It had only been twenty minutes or so since she'd left Shepard's cabin, but already she was looking forward to seeing him again. She glanced around the tables but didn't see him, so he must still be on his way. She was so engrossed in looking around that she didn't notice that Garrus had approached her.
"'Morning, Tali," he said, and she spun around to face him.
"Good morning, Garrus!" she replied enthusiastically, causing the turian to gave the barest hint of a grin.
"Feeling better today, I see," he said, and she tilted her head to one side in acknowledgement.
"So, um, did you...?" he asked, lowering his voice so that no-one else could hear their conversation.
"We talked," she said brightly. "And you were right; I was jumping to conclusions."
"I knew it," Garrus replied. "That's great. I guess that's great. Isn't it?"
She laughed at his uncertainty.
"It's great," she confirmed, "and thank you again for talking some sense into me."
"No problem," he replied. "So... what did he say when... I mean, he'll have wondered why you were asking. I think he'd wonder about that."
She nodded coyly, which only caused a confused expression to appear on Garrus' face.
Men are all the same, she thought with a smile. They always need to be told.
"Well," she began, "it turned out that we... were both in a similar position."
Garrus thought for a long moment, then a grin broke out on his face.
"Are you saying that he... that you two are...?" he asked, even more quietly than before but with a note of excitement in his voice.
She giggled and nodded enthusiastically.
"Well that's just fantastic," he said warmly, in his typically big-brotherly way. "My mandibles are sealed on the subject until you say otherwise, of course. But that's great. I'm happy for you."
"Thank you," she said, bouncing on her toes without being aware of it.
"So, breakfast?" Garrus asked, gesturing towards the kitchen area. "We dextros have to stick together."
She nodded as they began to walk over, adding "John will be joining us soon too."
"It's 'John' now, is it?" Garrus replied with a smirk, keeping his voice down, and she blushed.
Five minutes later, Shepard walked into the mess area and easily spotted Tali and Garrus sitting at one of the smaller tables. He smiled at both of them, and headed to the kitchen to get some breakfast, returning with a tray within a couple of minutes. He put down his tray and took the seat next to Tali.
"Good morning," he said, looking at Garrus, "how's things?"
"No complaints here, John," Garrus replied with the barest trace of a smirk. "Sleep well?"
Tali immediately clapped her hand over her visor, and Shepard had to use all his self-control to avoid laughing.
"I... know I can count on your discretion at least, Garrus," Shepard replied, his voice clearly demonstrating his affection for his old friend, and the turian nodded.
"You can," Garrus said, lowering his voice once more, "and you can also count on a monumental ass-kicking if a certain little lady doesn't think you're the perfect gentleman."
Shepard did laugh this time, and nodded.
"Point taken," he said, and threw a quick wink towards Tali, who was peeking out from under her hand.
Shepard, Garrus and Tali walked into the Briefing Room and found that Miranda and Joker were already there, in the middle of a spirited debate.
"Can we at least disconnect her in here while we're talking about her?" Joker said, pointing towards the ceiling.
"We are not disconnecting EDI, Mr. Moreau," Miranda replied, an edge of frustration in her voice. She folded her arms as if to say that the conversation was over.
"I agree with Operative Lawson," came EDI's disembodied voice from tiny speakers throughout the room, and Joker rolled his eyes.
"I see you two started without me," Shepard said, causing them both to turn abruptly towards him.
"Hey, Commander," Joker said, with his ever-present grin and a small wave. Though Shepard often pretended to be frustrated with the young man, he was actually very fond of him, and thoroughly respected his casual attitude towards his medical condition.
"Good morning, Commander," Miranda said with a small smile, unfolding her arms and tilting her head ever so slightly to one side.
He nodded to each of them, then glanced quickly towards Tali. She inclined her head just a fraction, but the message was clear: See! I told you so!
Shepard was sure that it was just possessiveness on Tali's part that made her see any significance to Miranda's mannerisms. If he was absolutely honest, like all men he enjoyed the idea of her being a little possessive, as long as it didn't go to extremes.
Shepard, Tali and Garrus took their places around the conference table, and the meeting began.
It only took around fifteen minutes to run through all of the necessary matters, and Shepard was glad to dismiss everyone to begin their duties for the day. He managed to give Tali a small wink without anyone noticing, and she bounced ever so slightly on her feet.
Shepard turned from the table to file out of the room with everyone else, but felt a hand on his arm. He glanced around to see Miranda at his side.
"Commander?" she said, once again with a smile on her face, "I was wondering if you'd have time later to discuss some new shield upgrade proposals I've been working on. Perhaps in my office?"
He was aware that Tali had stopped in the doorway and was watching him. He glanced down at his arm where Miranda's hand still rested.
She slowly withdrew it, and he could swear that he saw something suggestive in her eyes.
I'll be damned, he thought. Tali was right.
"I think I have some time before lunch," he said, carefully, and Miranda's smile widened. "If it's about the shields, I assume you'll want Tali to be present too."
Tali walked slowly back into the room, stopping at Shepard's side, enjoying the clearly disappointed look on the other woman's face.
"Um... of course, Commander," Miranda said, giving Tali a barely-concealed icy look.
In response, Tali put one hand on the conference table, only inches from Shepard's, and very deliberately put the other hand on her own hip.
Miranda followed the movement with her eyes, raising a single sculpted eyebrow; challenge accepted, it said. She looked Tali up and down for moment, then turned to leave.
"I'll see you later then, Commander," she said, once again with a bright smile for him, adding "Tali," as an afterthought without making eye contact with the younger woman as she left.
The door closed, leaving Shepard and Tali alone in the room. He gave an exaggerated glance up towards the roof, and she understood the message - this room has surveillance devices - so she simply nodded and they walked out.
That brazen bosh'tet, Tali thought, furiously.
She had very nearly placed her hand on top of Shepard's, just to make her feelings completely clear, but it would have been the wrong decision. She hated the fact that Miranda flirted with him so openly. Her hands were clenching into fists and unclenching, again and again, and she walked along the corridor beside him towards the elevator.
Two crewmen passed by and Shepard nodded an acknowledgement, waiting until they were briefly out of the earshot of anyone else to lean slightly down towards her.
"I already made my choice, and it's you," he said quietly, slowing for a moment to reach for her hand and squeezing it before resuming his normal pace.