In the months and years to come there are many images that Kaidan likes to remember. The memory of Shep sitting barefoot in the grass, her eyes reflecting the motion of the water as if the galaxy was not at war is one of them held most dear. The image of her smiling at him as if they didn't have a care in the world made what was to come almost bearable.

Their silence was of course not long lasting. Shepard's omni beeps alerting her of an incoming local message. With a regretful sigh she gets to her feet and extends her hand down to help Kaidan up. Looking at her hand then her face Kaidan gets to his feet on his own, slapping stray bits of grass off his palms. Shepard grabs her shoes in her left hand and starts reading her omnitool screen.

"Need me to get lost?" Kaidan is not sure who she is meeting.

"No actually she will meet us, not far from here."

She looks up at a cluster of trees quizzically. Turning her head she circles the trees before walking off the path, down toward the water. A few more repetitions of this before Shepard apparently finds the tree she was looking for. Leaning against it she begins to put on her socks and shoes as another set of footsteps approaches them.

A medium build woman with blond hair and Alliance Blues hails them as she clears the treeline.

Dr. Sanders thank you for meeting me here. I know it was a bit of a trip."

"Commander Shepard. Major." She gives them both a nod. "Shepard I know it's not why you called me but…" the woman trails off awkwardly but Shepard gives a nod and a half smile.

"As of 0400 London and yes he sends his best Kahlee."

The blond woman chuckles at that.

"It figures somehow that the two women in Anderson's life talking about him 35 light years away." The woman puts her hand on the tree trunk obviously remembering something before shaking her head and turning back to face them.

Kahlee Sanders, AI expert and head of the Ascension Project. Shepard really is pulling in the big guns here.

"After saving my students it was the least I could do. Thank you again for talking them out of front lining by the way, if you hadn't I am sure half of them would have made it to Earth by now."

Shepard gives a sideways glance at Kaidan before shrugging.

Was that just a bashful look?

"Well with the effort Cerberus went to get those kids I know how important they are. As is the research that was going on there."

"Yes of course Commander. And I think you were right. After the attack I requested all the information we got from Greyson and the Reapers. We know the Collectors were looking for human biotics when Hendel and I took Gillian away from the school."

Hendel. Biotics. It can't be…

"And we now know the Collectors were just minions of Reapers." Shepard looked thoughtful.

"Yes. We saw what they did to.." Sanders pauses as if trying to keep her emotions out of the conversation. "What they turned Greyson into. The research we did on his remains gave us some insight but we are still years behind Cerberus."

"At the end Saren tried to fight back. He took his own life but it was too late by that point." Kaidan pointed out. The memory of the cybernetic Turrian was not something that one could forget.

"Yes it seems much was the same of Paul. By the end he was just a vessel. I think when it mattered he could try to help but it was not enough at the end." The sadness had crept back into the doctor's voice. "Hackett had a doctor researching Reaper tech here on the Citadel. You should look him up before you leave. Dr. Garret Bryson."

"If nothing else knowing what we have learned about the Reaper's is huge. Between that and the reports I sent Anderson I know you have more than we did six months ago. At least some people weren't sitting on their hands waiting for the Reapers to arrive." Shepard managed to keep her voice neutral but Kaidan knew it was a conscious effort.

"Well with the Council breathing down his neck and you in solitary it probably was best he resigned. Do you think any of this would have happened if he had stayed?" Kahlee motions to the damages still visible to the Pavilion from Udina's betrayal.

"Most of it." Shepard admits. "I wouldn't play the what-if game Sanders. Anderson and I have known each other far too long to think things might have come out differently. We are both to damn stubborn. The same goes for you two."

The older woman shrugs to admit Shepard was right. Reaching into her bag she hands over a data pad and several OSD's and a wrapped parcel. Shepard looks at the canvas questioningly.

"David said you might need these. Busy playing politics and all. Anyway I should get back to it. Checking in on Jack and I'll be back to Arcturus. "

The woman salutes both the officers and heads back toward the path that would lead her in the general direction of Purgatory. Shepard looks at the package suspiciously, flipping it over once then twice before unwrapping it.

The sound of Shepard's laugher fills the small clearing and Kaidan looks at her confused before seeing what was in her hands. Unfolding the material as if made of the finest silk was of course Shepard's Officer Uniform complete with bars and chain of command.

A small slip of paper falls out of the crease and Kaidan picks it up before handing it over to Shepard. Reading the quick note Shepard's face goes somber but she keeps running her finger over the jacket.

Didn't have time to give you these on Earth.

I'm proud of you kid.

-A

A/N In case you have NO IDEA what is going on in this chapter I highly suggest you read the Drew Karpyshyn ME novels. They give tons of background on the events discussed here. When I heard Kahlee Sanders was going to be in ME3 I was soo excited but like most good characters she got a single side quest and was turned into a war asset. Boo!

From here on in a lot of the events are going to be more tactical, less game cannon ish mainly because I felt there was too much going on behind the scenes and not enough actual war planning. Oh yes and lots of Kaidan goodness :)

-R