Author's Note: So isn't been a while, but life has kept me pretty busy. I have a few chapters for this story that I want to add one is from Garrus' POV and I have a few end game chapters as well. I still haven't played Omega, but it looks like it won't be much sooner that I will have to wait. YAY! Anyway, this chapter is written for a Valentine's Day Contest on the forum: Aria's Afterlife. So, it's fluffy, sweet and slightly romantic. So enjoy! And thanks to everyone who follows, reviews and reads this story it means a lot to me. Happy Valentine's Day!
PE
Chapter inspired by:
A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns
O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.
A Red, Red Rose
This was turning out to be the worst day ever. Piles of reports, Thessia burning, Palaven fighting but losing ground even with krogan reinforcements, the ship needed repairs and upgrades, Sanctuary had been a complete disaster, people were starting to avoid her simply because she 'might' have broken some of James ribs in a sparring bout. No, the day was not looking good. In fact the next few years weren't looking good if she couldn't get that Crucible information from Cerberus.
Shepard sighed and sat back in chair crossing her arms across her chest. She tilted her head back to stare up at the ceiling. Her silvery reflection stared back at her. She blinked and clenched her jaw. Even to herself she looked tired. She blamed the war and the stress. She was only human. She could only handle so much before she lost it. In fact she had already lost it once.
Shaking herself visibly she grabbed her coffee from beside the pile of reports on the table and went to go get a refill. The Normandy was headed toward the Citadel for next needed supplies and then they would be meeting up with the rest of fleet to head toward the Illusive Man's base. She had approved all shore leave for her crew while they were docked at the Citadel restocking.
This could be the last time any of them get it. She thought darkly as she poured lukewarm dark brown liquid into her mug. I can't deny them. Her plan was to stay locked up in her room going over tactics, stastics and reports from the different fleets, she would also like to take a look one more time at the Crucible reports which were a book in themselves.
The coffee pot clanked loudly as she set it back down a little too forcefully. Pretty much everyone had asked for leave. Garrus and Tali were going with James and Cortez to get something to eat and then get 'hammered' as James kept telling her. He had invited her to come along, but she had declined. She needed to think straight. Liara had also invited her to join her on the Citadel she and Chakawas were restocking the Med Bay and then doing some extra shopping on the side. The two doctors had become quite close forming a friendship over ideas and theories of the Crucible and the Reapers. Shopping wasn't going to help, plus she hated it. She wasn't good at it. Unless they were shopping for upgrades or mods for weapons she wasn't interested. Javik she knew was exploring the Citadel, he hadn't asked her to come and she knew he never would. The ancient warrior seemed to want to experience the Citadel for himself. She was okay with not playing tour guide for him.
He would be a horrible tourist. Disgruntled and condescending the worst kind.
Then there was Kaidan who had asked for leave, but didn't specify any details. He had written on his leave request 'personal'. She had granted it because well, it was curtsey and he didn't even have to really file a leave slip. He was a Spectre and fellow officer. She didn't really have any say over him. If he wanted to do something then he could. He knew that and she knew it, but he liked to keep with protocol as much as possible. Though a small part of her was curious about what he was doing. She didn't question. He would distract her from getting work done. He was great for reducing stress, but not so good on getting rid of paperwork.
Shepard smiled and sipped at her coffee. Soon the Normandy would be quiet and virtually not a soul on it. And then she could work in complete peace without…
"Hey, Commander?" Joker's voice piped over the intercom. Speaking of which.
"Go ahead, Joker." She replied dumping her coffee into the sink. She rinsed her mug while waiting for Joker's response.
"Could you maybe, I don't know, come up to the cockpit for a moment?"
"Does EDI have another question for me?" She asked smirking. If EDI did then that meant that Joker was uncomfortable answering it. It was a little pleasure she got out of seeing Joker blush or stammer for a moment.
"Not exactly,"
"All right, I'll be right there." She walked back to the table and gathered up her reports. "Just let me take a quick stop to my quarters to drop off these reports then I'll be up."
"Okay, Commander. Thanks."
Shepard smiled as she climbed into the elevator. She should have known that something would keep her from her paperwork.
Kaidan paced in the Starboard Observation Deck. To say he was nervous…wasn't exactly true. He was excited? Yes, no, maybe a little. He had wanted to do something nice for Shepard for a while. Their dinner date had been perfect. And every day and night with her was a miracle in itself…yet she needed not more, but something extra. He wanted to ease her mind and let the troubles of the galaxy slip away completely for one night. Shepard wasn't likely to do that anytime soon not without a good bash to the head that would result in permanent memory lost. He had been hoping she might actually take some time on the Citadel, but she hadn't. She was planning on staying on the ship.
She worried him. She was getting more than desperate. She could have died getting that information about the Reapers and for what? He still hadn't seen any evidence that it had done any good.
He wanted to surprise her. She deserved it. But, how was the problem. Shepard was… hard to impress and even harder to surprise. He had an idea, but he wasn't certain it would be good enough. He decided on simple and sweet. She needed more of that. Simplicity was something she valued. And something she didn't get enough of in her frantically paced life.
He would only need a few things to make the evening perfect. First was making certain that they weren't disturbed. He made a mental note to speak with EDI about holding Shepard's communications. Everything else he was planning on picking up at the Citadel. It was one of the reasons he had filed for shore time. Lastly, he needed to pull Shepard away for her work. He knew that he really shouldn't, but her well-being and others depended on her relaxing. He couldn't help but notice her tired looks coupled with the fact that she wasn't sleeping well boded ill for all of them, but it definitely accounted for her short temper, snappish remarks, and sparring sessions ending with her opponents having bruised ribs upon other injuries.
He stopped pacing and looked out the window. The stars dotted the inky blackness. It was beautiful and vast. Staring out the window he could forget for a few moments that a war was going on. He could become lost in the sea. It was peaceful. He couldn't think of a better place to get Shepard alone and make her forget about the war for just a few hours.
Shepard sighed again and ran a hand over her face. Two hours into most of the crews shore leave and she was not even half way through her damn reports. She growled tossing another data-pad down onto a pile of read and responded to reports. Only a couple hundred to go. She thought sarcastically. The reports were good and bad with a few combinations of the two. The turians were gaining ground here, but the quarians and geth were losing it here. Asari forces were pinned down in this sector; heavy casualties on both sides, but reinforcements were in route. So on and so on…but she read everything and calculated every strategic point and maneuver she could and placed it in overall file for the war effort. The file was becoming rather large.
Her stomach growled angrily at her. She hadn't eaten in over four hours. Her hyperactive metabolism was going to be her down fall. She frowned glancing down at her gut. She needed to eat and soon otherwise it was not going to be pretty. Thankfully the mess hall should be clear and food would be a quick in and out process.
Standing she stretched her arms above her head and cracked in shoulders. Then she rotated her head popping a few choice spots in her neck. A chiming beep resonated from her personal computer. Shepard glanced down at the orange flashing light on the machine. Who would be calling me? Most everyone she knew was off ship enjoying the last bit of shore leave they would probably get before…everything hit the fan.
She reached down and hit the open call button. "Hello?"
"Hi, Shepard, do you have a moment?" Kaidan's voice asked. Her brow furrowed.
"Kaidan, if this involves me leaving the ship, then I can't, unless it's,"
"No, no, you don't have to leave the ship. I just wanted to talk for a bit. Why don't you come on down? You could probably use a break, right?" He answered cutting off the rest of her reply.
Shepard sighed and a smile tugged at her lips. "Alright, you're lucky I was on my way down to grab a bite to eat."
"Well, I wanted to at least remind you to take a break." He said lightheartedly.
"I'll see in a moment."
"I'm counting on it."
Shepard's stomach growled again as she stepped off the elevator. She rubbed a hand over her stomach. She was going to have to make this a quick talk, she was already starting to feel light headed. She walked the few steps to the observation deck doors which opened automatically at her approach. The room was dark except for the stars shining outside the window.
"Kaidan?" She ventured a little further into the room. Her nerves were on edge. Something wasn't right. Her step forward triggered the doors to close and she spun just as they shut behind her. The lights came on in a soft yellow light that wasn't harsh but soft and soothing. Shepard spun back around and gasped. The room was littered with roses. Red roses. Their perfumed filled her nose. She wasn't certain how she had missed the smell earlier. There were rose petals scattered across the floor and over the lounge seats. White candles were placed on the coffee table and on the poker table was arranged with plates and wine glasses. A dark blue wine bottle was chilling in a silver bin off to the right side of the table. Mixed the smell of roses, Shepard could detect the smell of food. Something spicy and tangy. She placed a hand over her mouth to hide her shock, but also to make certain she wasn't drooling.
Her stomach rumbled again. The doors opened and she pivoted to see Kaidan entering with a single red rose in his hand. He grinned handing the flower to her. She took it and blinked at it.
"Kaidan, this is…" She didn't know what to say. Tears suddenly burned at her eyes. She couldn't remember when someone had ever done something like this for her.
"So, you like it?" He asked a weary look on his face. Shepard turned back around looking over everything again. The roses, the wine, dinner, okay, so the food was a big seller, but it was all sweet and normal. She smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes. She wasn't use to this. She brought the rose to her nose and took a deep breath. This was something normal couples did. Romantic surprise dinners, flowers, and …
"Are those chocolates?" She asked spying a red wrapped box on the coffee next to a vase filled with a bouquet of roses.
Kaidan chuckled nervously, "Yes,"
"Wow," She breathed, turning her head to catch his reaction. "You have thought of just about everything."
Kaidan shrugged, though disappointment crinkled the corner of his eyes. "I tried too." He replied reaching out he turned her toward him. Gently he took her hands in his, careful not to crush the delicate flower, and held them lovely. His thumbs caressed the top of her knuckles. He watched their joined hands and frowned slightly. "I know it seems a bit much, but considering this might be one of the last times we get to do anything like this…I don't know, I wanted something unforgettably special."
Shepard smiled and squeezed his hands. "Kaidan, you're sweet and I do appreciate it." Leaning forward she placed a tender kiss on his lips. "Thank you."
Kaidan beamed the disappointment fainting from his eyes. He rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, Shepard." He whispered softly his breath warm and mellifluous on her skin. "I wanted you to know, I'll never stop loving you."
Shepard closed her eyes and let his words flow over her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of roses, food and him. It was all she could do to stop herself from shaking with penned up emotions. She hadn't realized that she could feel so deeply for another person. And yet here she was, the universe going to hell all around them, a red rose in her hands about to enjoy a perfect evening with the man she loved. Yeah, for one night the universe could take care of itself. She was going to enjoy this night, she wasn't going to be Commander Shepard…instead tonight she was going to be normal; a perfectly normal woman enjoying the moment.
She opened her eyes and lifted her head away from him. "Really, I do love it, Kaidan."
"But?" He asked watching her face intently. Shepard smirked and stepped back away from him looking pointedly at the table set with food.
"I'm starving."
Kaidan laughed and offered his arm, "Well, then let's not let it get cold."
Shepard took his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You know, I have a feeling that I'm not going to want this night to end."
Kaidan pressed a kiss on her temple. "That's kinda of the idea. That and making you forget about the war and all the paperwork that goes with it."
Shepard sighed. "I'm not going to think about any of that right now. Right now it's you, me, dinner and whatever happens afterwards."
"Dessert?"
"Yes, that and other things." She teased as she sat down, Kaidan holding out her chair for her. She raised an eyebrow at him and he winked. Yes, tonight was going to be amazing.