A/N:

WARNING: A character sexually assaults another. If not your cup of tea, please feel free to skip this chapter.

Sorry I didn't post last week. Life got complicated for a multitude of different reasons. So, here this is and I hope it makes up for missing last week. :D

Dinner had been a good time for them both- seemingly long and never ending, but good none the less.

In some ways, it was like they were just getting to know each other while already knowing the sweet complexities that were their personalities.

While they were both eager for the date to be over so that they could progress to the next chapter of the evening (which, given the hand that Kaidan kept rested on one of Shepard's bare thigh and her other leg wrapped around on of his, they were both anticipating the same thing), they lingered over desert and one last glass of wine. By the end, they were as relaxed with each other as any long-lasting couple would be with each other.

It was almost like all of those missing years never happened.

After the last dishes were taken away and Kaidan's credit chit had been returned (he denied her any opportunity to pick up any part of the bill stating, This is a real date, damn it, and I will pay for it), they got to their feet and left the restaurant. While they weren't holding hands or being openly intimate (they were still part of the Alliance and there were still regs against Fraternization, after all), they walked a little too close to be able to call it a professional distance apart.

"Thank you," Shepard murmured for his ears alone as they stopped in front of a poster advertising the newest comedy romance movie.

He discreetly let his hand roam down her arm to squeeze her hand briefly. "For what?"

She cocked her head and smiled at him sweetly. "For convincing me that it was okay to take some time for just us," she answered leaning her head briefly onto his shoulder.

Kaidan smiled and kissed the top of her head (thankful for the late hour and the reduced foot traffic). "The night isn't over yet, Hope," he reminded her.

Biting her bottom lip, Hope looked around the corridor before backing him into a corner away from any potential prying eyes. "And what, Major Alenko," the way she said his rank and last name sounded like a dirty promise that had a shiver going down his spine, "is left to do?" She spoke the final words with her lips pressed against his neck and her hands on his chest.

He eagerly moved his hands to her waist and pulled her closer to him. He took the opportunity to capture her lips with his own.

Neither was sure which one groaned first, but the intent was clear:

They wanted to get somewhere alone.

Soon.

He moved his lips to nibble her earlobe and smiled as she pressed harder against him. With his lips still on her ear, he murmured, "Well, we could always go to my apartment or your cab-"

Her omni-tool flared to life marking an urgent call and she cast him an apologetic look as she stepped away from him before making sure that she looked relatively acceptable. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she opened up the call. "Commander Shepard," Hackett greeted, scrutinizing her.

"Sir," she responded, making sure that she was the only one he could see. "Something urgent?"

Hackett narrowed his eyes at her, and, though Hackett couldn't see, Kaidan did too. "I tried contacting you on board the Normandy but Traynor said something about you being off duty for the remainder of the evening."

Shepard didn't even fidget as she nodded at Hackett. "That's correct, sir, but if this is urgent then I'll forget the rest of my plans for the evening," she answered- just like the Alliance Golden-Girl she had always been.

Kaidan glared at her and she had to struggle not to let a small smile loose.

They would both hate it, but they were soldiers before they were humans- especially given the current state of the galaxy.

"Am I interrupting?" Hackett asked through narrowed eyes.

While Kaidan nodded his head in affirmation (enthusiastically), Shepard merely shook her head. "Nothing that can't be shuffled to a later time," she assured him, lying through her teeth.

"Well, Commander, I've got a few leads on Cerberus spies that are currently on the Citadel," he informed her matter-of-factly.

She nodded. "I'll wrap them all up tonight," she assured him.

Hackett nodded. "Thank you, Hope," he said suddenly, dropping all façade of professional formality. "Oh, and one other thing."

"Yeah?" Well, if he was going to be informal- then so was she.

Hackett smirked. "Tell Kaidan I'm sorry for interrupting you," he chuckled. Before Shepard could even process his words, he smiled, "Until later, Hope," and signed off.

Shepard remained staring down at her omni-tool in surprise and was startled when Kaidan wrapped his arms around her waist. "What the hell just happened?" she demanded.

Kaidan kissed her temple. "That would be the Admiral letting you know that you weren't fooling anyone and that was him giving us his approval."

She shook her head in disbelief. "It's the middle of a war and Admiral Hackett gave his blessing on my relationship," she shook her head and stepped away from Kaidan. "I've got to go take of this," she said, looking as irritated as him. "Rain check?"

"I'll hold you to that."

Shepard leaned in and pressed a kiss onto his lips. "I'll take you up on that," she promised, walking away.

It was a long, lonely walk back to the Normandy. He had known that it would have been long- but he expected to have a certain Commander teasing him along the way.

He kind of hated Admiral Hackett in that moment.

"Tell me about her," a quiet voice implored from behind him, effectively stopping him in his tracks.

It just didn't sound quite right.

He turned around to face the person who spoke- taking care not to let his aggravation from the way the night had ended show on his voice or in his voice. "You mean Shepard?"

She gave him a look that stated that he knew damn well who she was talking about and his asking was just an insult. "I've never seen you look so con-con-con…happy- why her?" As he suspected from the way she was standing, the way she spoke confirmed that she was drunk.

He lowered his head, already feeling exhausted from the conversation. "I thought you had your own date, Adria."

Adria shook her head and leaned forward. "I lied," she admitted.

From the smell of booze on her breath, she would, most likely, not even remember the night's events. None the less, he couldn't find it in himself to be overly rude. "Go home and sleep it off," he ordered kindly.

"Don' you wanna know why I'm all dressed up even though I don' have a date?" she slurred.

Sighing, Kaidan decided that hearing her out would be the quickest way to end the encounter and make it back to the Normandy to wait for Shepard. "Okay. Why are you all dressed up?"

Adria stumbled and, on instinct, Kaidan caught her and she looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes. "I heard you were going to be there," she admitted.

Kaidan shook his head. "Adria, I'm with Shepard. We ended this months ago and we parted friends. Don't do this."

She locked her eyes on his lips and licked her own. "Please, Kaidan," she pouted.

Again, Kaidan shook his head. "Let's get you home before you do something we both regret."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and began leading her back to her apartment (praying to every single damn deity known to every species that none of the crew, media, or Shepard would see what was happening).

Adria leaned against the wall right beside of her door as Kaidan unlocked it and then helped her in and onto her couch. "She'll do nothin' but ruin you, Kaidan," she slurred, pushing down the straps of her dress and letting it pool at her waist.

Now, given the fact the he had been cock blocked by the Admiral of the Alliance, he didn't think that his staring at her bare chest for a few moments (no more than ten…really) before looking away. "What're you doing, Adria?" he asked, wishing that he had forced Shepard to ignore Hackett's orders.

"You never touched them, Kaidan," she slurred, ambling to her feet and the dress fell to the floor in a puddle of fabric, leaving her in nothing but a pair of sheer, blue lace panties.

Oh, he was in a special kind of hell reserved for committed men.

"Put your clothes back on, Adria," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll leave before we can finish this conversation."

She ignored him and stumbled towards him. "I'm softer than she could ever think of being," she murmured.

Kaidan turned his back on her and fumbled with the door.

He had to get out.

Immediately.

Her bare body pressed against his back as her hands worked down the front of her pants and he just stood there for a moment too long as she took him in her hand.

"Whoa!" he shouted, managing to get her away from him. "Adria, this is beyond inappropriate. I'm leaving," he informed her.

For being drunk (and a civilian to boot), he had to admit that she moved quickly as he suddenly found her lips on his.

He blamed his hormones for the few seconds he kissed her back before pushing her away.

Not saying another word, he managed to get out of the apartment and back to the Normandy. He wasn't quite sure how he got back…but he did.

It had taken a few hours before she was finished (it was close to 0100 hours), but she finally made it back to the Normandy- her heels in her left hand and her right hand clutching the broken chain of her necklace.

She was ready for a hot shower and some sleep. She figured she'd catch up with Kaidan in the morning- he was probably already asleep anyway and it wouldn't be kind of her if she woke him up.

"Commander," EDI greeted from the cockpit.

Shepard nodded before making her way to the elevator and up to the captain's cabin- leaning heavily against the wall as she began unzipping the back of her dress in preparation for that hot shower she was yearning for.

Stepping out of the elevator, she ground to the halt when she saw Kaidan sitting against her door, his chin resting on his chest as he slept- obviously waiting for her. With a soft smile, she leaned down and kissed him gently.

"Kaidan," she whispered, "you didn't have to wait up for me."

He looked up with sleep glazed eyes and gave her a tired smile. "Wanted to. Got stuff to tell you."

She stood and held out her hand to help him to his feet. He took it and walked behind her as she opened her door.

"Go ahead and sit down while I change," she said, gesturing to the couch while grabbing a pair of lounge pants and a tank top, walking into the bathroom.

Coming out, she was surprised to see Kaidan sitting at her desk and staring at the holo of him on her desk. "When d'you get this?" he asked, sounding more awake.

"Miranda put it in my cabin when I woke up. It never moved from there," she stated, leaning up against the wall beside of her hamster.

He eyed her relaxed stance and sighed. "I ran into Adria on my way back to the Normandy," he admitted and hated it as he watched her tense. "She was drunk and I had to walk her back to her apartment."

"Okay," she said with forced easiness.

He definitely hated himself.

"She took off her dress and stood there in only underwear," he murmured, lowering his eyes. "Then she put her hand down my pants."

Shepard said nothing, just waited for him to continue. Her thoughts were absolutely blank as he stood.

"I pushed her away and then she kissed me." Still, she said nothing. "I kissed her back."

That got a reaction. Shepard drew in a sharp breath and her hands clenched into tight fists.

"It didn't mean anything- it was just a shock and my body reacted automatically!" he assured her, stepping towards her, wanting her to understand that it didn't mean anything.

A/N: Please cue the evil writer laugh! MWAHAHAHA!