Father was a cop. Brother dreamed of being a soldier. And she is the one left standing here. Our best hope of winning this damn thing. No pressure thought Shepard.

They walk in silence for a while. Her hand still running over the bag that held her dress blues now and again as if she was unsure why it was even there slung on her hip. She was distant, probably buried in some long forgotten memories. Of Anderson? Of Elyssium? Mindoir? This war had a way of bringing people together and making them face the things they hated most. Kaidan was no exception. Hell he had pointed a gun in her face not far from this very spot.

Kaidan checks the time and is surprised to see for all their sidestops it was still not time for his diversion with Garrus. Shepard was a million miles away still, every now and then checking a bing from her omni but not doing anything of consequence. She was dreading the meeting with Tevos but she hadn't said anything about it to him, other than Liara was going to meet with the Councilor first.

Kaidan's omnitool lights up informing him one of his alerts had been received. The sound makes Shepard quirk an eyebrow at him. After all their meetings this morning Kaidan had not shared his own arrangements with Shepard.

Well she's either gonna love me or kill me for this one. Possibly both, here goes nothing.

"Hey a ship is arriving in dock lets go head down and check it out." Trying to sound nonchalant about it, but Shepard knew better.

"Kaidan what are you up to?" Finally snapping out of her daze and looking at him suspiciously.

"Me? Come on you know I couldn't possibly manage anything crazy like you do."

Shepard crosses her arms and planted herself. Looking up at him with the corner of her mouth twitching upward but saying nothing. Daring him to convince her.

"Oh come on Shep. You can plan a dozen little run-ins I do this one little thing and you question me. Trust me." He reaches for her hand and puts it between his own.

"Major if any Alliance personal should see us…" She baits him. Twice since their arrival he had openly shown his affection. But he couldn't bring himself to give a damn.

"Yea they can court martial us for fraternizing all over the Citadel after we save the galaxy."

"All over you say? Now you're talking. "She gives him a laugh but follows his insistence toward the elevator.

Never before had Kaidan missed the old Citadel elevators. The music or news reports that made the frequent rides bearable. But back in those days it was also usually three of them chatting away. This time it was him and Shepard, and she was watching him out of the corner of her eye, analyzing him.

Whatever title they tacked onto Shepard, she was still at her best a field commander. The episode with Javik had shown that. She was good at reading people and evaluating the scene. That was probably why it was so damn difficult for her to simply let Kaidan do something for her and to take it at face value.

But her cold gaze on him still made him feel like a private awaiting inspection. He didn't understand how she could be "Shep" one minute and the Commander Shepard the next. Much as she had yelled at him during arguments that that is what was expected of her, it was hard to reconcile the two. He had never seen someone so able to just turn off like she did. Even Anderson the hardass he was had never been so hard to read.

Try a lifetime of loss and pain. Makes it easier.

All the more reason Kaidan wanted to take every moment they had together and make it count. He had learned the hard way last time and was not one to make the same mistake twice. The doors slide open with the toneless AI announcing the floor. Shepard made a small wave with her hand in a "go on" gesture and followed him out wordlessly.

The dock was packed with refugees coming off the ship. The steady stream of bodies made it almost impossible for Kaidan to see individuals in the mass of people. He hoped Shepard's little refusal had not made him miss their mark. But he hadn't gotten a message either, not that he could have heard it over the din of the crowd.

Many Salerians, Humans, even a group of Elcor come in down the walkway. He is about to turn and say something to Shepard when he hears a small gasp from her direction. He follows her gaze and sees just a quick flash of a blue jacket and motion besides him.

Kaidan always forgets how FAST she can move, unarmored even more so. A second to see her rusty orange hair, a blip disappearing among the crowd. Making his way against traffic he heads after Shep and toward the ship's ramp.

He gets to his target just as Shepard almost bowls over a Salerian merchant and skids to a stop. The young man just stepping off the tarmac sees the Commander and gives a small smile.

"Kolyat." She breathes, her voice filled with wonder.

"Shepard. It is good to see you again. The Major informed me..." His sentence is cut off midway as Shepard launches herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. He returns the embrace, clearly embarrassed. Kaidan tries to keep his chuckle contained but he knows he is grinning like an idiot.

"How? What…why?" Shepard finally steps back looking between the Drell and Kaidan, still in state of shock.

"The Major had contacted me several days back that you would be heading to the Citadel. You had recovered some religious texts from Dakuuna and the priests on Kahje offered to keep them safe. With the affairs of my father mostly wrapped up I was an obvious choice to retrieve them."

There had been more to it than that, of course. Kaidan had sent several formal requests to Kolyat before the young man had even responded but given the situation he had not ratted him out to Shepard and the look on her face was worth it. The young man had been working with the priests that much was true but it was his decision to come to the Citadel, the religious texts just gave the priests a reason to go along with it.

"Speaking of my father's affairs. Shepard these are for you. "He hands her the potted plant of red water plants he had been holding. "On Kahje we call them Kajahira's tears. We use them to remember those who are returned to the depths. I know my father would like you to have some. These are cut from the same plant I have at the temple and my father kept after my mother died." He hands the plant to her carefully.

"Anthurium." She holds the pot in her hands, clearly recognizing the Earth equitant.

"Thank you. I will cherish them." She stands on her tiptoes to give the Drell a kiss on the cheek.

"Bailey's out of the hospital. He would love to see you. We can go over to the outpost at the Commons and have him met us there." She looks at the flowers and at Kaidan embarrassed.

He takes that as his cue to leave. He had to get moving before meeting with Garrus anyway.

"Hey you two have fun. I got to head back to the Normandy for a bit myself. Let me take those back and I'll meet up with you before the Council meeting." He gestures as the plant and the datapads from Sanders still wrapped in Shepard's uniform.

Shep nods and hands over the pot before removing the messenger bag from across her body. Pulling out the dress blues she excuses herself from Kolyat and walks over with Kaidan toward the elevator.

"Kay I…" She starts unsure how to express he gratitude. "You are amazing. Thank you. One day I'll find a way to make it all up to you." She leans in and kisses him, regulations be damned. Startled he leans into her. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the Drell nodding.

He watches her head back to Kolyat and they begin walking in the direction of the outpost. The elevator doors swish closed.

A/N Yeah I finally got this scene down! This was one of the first scenes that actually made me start writing RWINTB :) Sadly this will probably be the last chapter I get up this week. I have a qualifier this week and need to focus. Also if you send me a review or a request please please make sure it is not anonymous or at least give me a way to reply it makes it difficult to answer all your lovely comments! Have a great week all -R