Been a while, but I wanted to get a few chapters written and start editing them. These will deal with the Citadel DLC. So spoilers...ahoy! Thanks for the reviews, alerts, and favorites. : )

PE

Dressed Up

The day had started with potential. Some shopping with friends and the day was to end with dinner at that great sushi place she kept hearing about of course dinner with Joker, but hey it was what it was. Joker was a friend. But, no…She couldn't have dinner like a normal person. She was surprised her day had even somewhat started out normal.

Instead she ended up shot at, using Joker as bait, falling through a fish tank, getting soaking wet, sliced up by glass, shot at some more and now she was expected to dress up and mingle with people she really didn't have the heart to even talk too. Shepard groaned grabbing the form fitting simple, but elegant black and red dress from her closet. The hanger rattled and fell to the floor. Growling she picked it up and flung it on the bed. She would deal with it later. She trudged into the bathroom starting the shower, she slipped out of her comfortable still damp with fish water clothes.

She showered quickly thoroughly washing her hair and wrapping it up in a towel when she was finished. The one nice thing about this was she would get to see Kaidan dressed up too. She smiled at the thought. She couldn't wait to see him. Or the look on his face when he saw her. She hoped Brooks remembered to snap a picture, because she wanted his expression captured on film.

Her reflection gazed back at her from the mirror over the bathroom sink. She had only miniuam make-up with her. She didn't wear it normally. Sighing, she dabbed on the mascara and traced her eyes with eyeliner, brushed on some light blush and swabbed her lips with shimmering pink lipstick. That was it. She didn't have in powder or foundation, no eye shadow or lip liner either. Taking a step back she looked at herself, draped in a white towel, her hair wrapped and make-up applied. She looked different. Like someone else. She was clean, first of all, but without her weapons or armor she felt more than naked under her towel…she felt exposed.

Shivering she turned away from the mirror. She pulled on underwear and bra, then unzipped the dress and slipped into it. Zippering the thing back up was a little problem.

"Dammit!" She swore twisting her arm trying to grab hold of the blasted little thing.

"Need some help?"

Shepard pivoted toward the door way. Brooks stood their looking smashing in her dress and heels. Her hair and make-up were perfect. Shepard snorted. It wasn't fair that she was good at shooting, fighting, killing, sparring and whatever else, but not good at being well feminine. She had never thought about it. She tried really hard to be more like 'normal' women, but she just wasn't.

"Sure, thanks." Shepard said briskly turning her back to Brooks. The other woman chuckled her heels clacking on the tile floor as she approached. Brooks placed a warm hand on her shoulder and zipped up the back.

"You look good, Commander. I mean you clean up well."

"Thanks again." Shepard looked in the mirror again and flinched. Unwinding her towel, she let her long damp hair fall around her shoulders. "Now to tackle this disaster." Shepard thought about just pinning it up in a bun like normal and leaving it at that. But as she started to do so Brooks, spoke up.

"You're just going to pull it into a bun, aren't you?"

Shepard nodded and placed some bobby pin in her mouth crushing the little metal clips with her lips.

Brooks shook her head her long black hair swishing softly across her shoulders as she did. "Oh no, Commander, you can't. Your hair is really nice. You should leave it down." She suggested.

Shepard raised an eyebrow at her, a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. She removed the bobby pins from her lips. "So tell me, what happens if I get into a fight?"

Brooks glanced around nervously, she wrung her hands. "Uhh…I hope it doesn't come to that. I mean it's a charity event, right, so I mean us sneaking me into the ventilation duct is like the only security problem they should have."

"Yeah, right, I was planning on getting shot at while eating dinner too. You never know, Brooks. Expect the unexpected." Shepard smiled at the other woman.

Brooks shook her head. "Well, I hope it doesn't come down to that. But if it does maybe, you're right." She crossed her arms. "But you have to pull your hair up a little differently than normal. Here I can help you."

"Brooks, that's okay. I really…" Shepard sighed as the Specialist took her pins and brush from hands and forced her to sit on the stool in front of the bathroom vanity. "You know, when you want something, you're bossy."

"Bossy, Commander?" She laughed and started brushing through Shepard long dark hair. "I'm just honored to be doing Commander Shepard's hair. Can you imagine? Me telling my future grandchildren stories of this moment."

Shepard started to shake her head and then stopped. "I would appreciate it if you left this little tidbit out of your stories."

"Why? It makes you more believable as a character and person. You can't be good at everything." Brooks stated with certainty.

"I don't try to be good at everything. I just am." Shepard teased back. She wasn't good at everything. She knew it. She wasn't a good dancer. She knew that. She tried, but…some things just weren't meant to be.

Brooks twisted her hair carefully and then pinned it in place. "There, much better. At least it's not regulation."

Shepard glanced at herself in the mirror. She looked different more feminine. She had dressed up before, but it had been a long time ago. It was for a ceremonial banquet or something like that. The night in truth had been a complete bore. All she remembered was dancing with some brass' nephew or some such and that he had grabby hands. Once she had subdued him by slamming him up against the wall the evening had abruptly ended.

"You look pretty, Commander." Brooks commented.

Shepard smirked and looked at the Specialist. "Just 'pretty', huh? Not exactly what I was going for."

Brooks shrugged. "Well, If I were into women, then maybe you would look more than pretty." She eyed Shepard up and down again. "Though I think Major Alenko will be very impressed."

Shepard narrowed her eyes at the other woman. "What's that supposed to mean?" Shepard asked cautiously. It wasn't a big secret her and Kaidan were involved but she didn't like that someone outside of the Normandy might know. Anderson certainly had to have an idea and possibly even Hackett though both men seemed to look the other way when it came to Shepard and Kaidan. She was thankful to them for that. She needed Kaidan. It was just that plain and simple.

"Come on, Commander, I might spend most of my time behind a desk and computer screen, but I'm not blind. Everyone sees the way he looks at you. Not to mention you wanted him to be your date tonight. You wanted him to see you dressed up like this." Brooks commented smiling coyly at her.

Shepard sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Brooks," Shepard started.

"Don't worry, Commander, I won't say anything." Brooks winked and smiled.

Shepard shook her head. "I'll hold you to it."

Brooks left and Shepard hurried to make certain she was completely ready. She glanced in the mirror one last time before she left checking her hair and makeup. She had to admit she at least looked good, different but good. She smiled sweetly. Yeah, maybe a little part of her wanted Kaidan to see her this way-dressed up in something besides armor and fatigues. Dressed like this she was simply Vaina Shepard and she kind of liked it, she wanted Kaidan to like it too.