This chapter is where the awkwardness abounds. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it, once again, we will be back to the combat in another few chapters. R&R please and enjoy!
Ashley fidgeted in the new dress. It was in no way her style, but she had to admit, she looked really good. The Shepard sisters had taken her to a salon and had "girled her up" for her dinner date. It felt good to have her hair down for a change rather than up in a bun.
Luke had sent her this address an hour ago with the time to meet him there. The marine had no idea what Luke had planned as far as the rest of the evening went, yet she could not help but look forward to it.
As she rapped on the door with her knuckles, she could hear someone scrambling around inside. Luke must have lost track of the time. Ashley smiled and wet her lips. She wondered if he was going to like the new dress. The thought was a little weighted considering that she did not think it was really her style and she wanted Luke to like her for who she was.
The door opened and let an extremely appetizing smell flood past her. Her mouth watered as Luke stepped into view, and did he dress to impress. He wore a long suit coat with white lining around the cuffs and neck. He looked like a proper gentleman. He could have easily walked into a high society dinner and fit right in.
"Wow, Ash…you look…beautiful." Luke said as he swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. Ashley blucher slightly at his comment. It was the reaction that Claire and Mallory had told her she wanted and she certainly enjoyed the way Luke's eyes could not leave her.
"You clean up pretty well yourself." Ashley said as Luke welcomed her in. Her eyes widened.
The small apartment looked like a fine restruant. Luke had created an omni-screen over his window with an video feed of the space lanes from the tower. The view was spectacular. The table was covered in a fine cloth with two candles and places set. The meal looked absolutely delicious. Pan seared fish with steamed veggies and fresh dinner rolls. She was extremely impressed. Pan seared fish was not an easy dish to prepare. She knew that from watching her mother cook for her father's homecoming meals.
Luke could not take is eyes off of Ashley as her gaze wandered the apartment. The blue dress that Ash was wearing stole his attention in every possible way. She smelled of perfume and her hair was curled and styled to frame her face. Luke smiled as the woman turned to him with a bright smile on her face.
"I can't believe you did this for me." Ashley said.
"Why not?" Luke said closing the door and pulling out her chair for her.
"It's just…I don't know."
Luke smiled and took his seat across from her. "Ash, I want to make you happy no matter what."
Ashley blushed. Why did Luke have to say things like that? Why did he have to be chivalrous and charming? "Luke, I…I want you to be happy too. I…I really care…about you."
"I do have a confession to make." Luke said leaning forward folding his fingers. Ashley eyed him. "I tried to make you a steak dinner…but um…I found out really quickly that I…um…I don't know how to cook very well. Not anything that is really appropriate for a date anyway." Luke confessed.
Ashley smiled and eyed the food. "So who is the chef of this?" Ashley asked nodding toward the plate.
"I went to this really fancy place that I know the chef at. They made the meal, I just bought it." Ashley smiled and shook her head.
"Still, this is really nice. Chow on the Normandy is fine but having just the two of us is better." Ashley picked up her silverware and started eating. Luke glanced back toward his kitchen. All that food he had bought was charred black and had to be dropped down the garbage shoot to the protein vats. Why he had not thought to go buy the meal first was beyond him. But Ashley seemed to be enjoying it which was what mattered.
After dinner, Luke took the plates to the kitchen to be washed later on and sat down with Ashley into front of the omni-screen. She snuggled up to him tucking her nose under his jaw. He smiled as her lips grazed his skin sending goose-bumps down both his arms and a shiver down his spine. Luke's fingers combed Ashley's hair as she cuddled close to him.
"I love you Luke." Ashley said softly. Luke turned as she pulled her head away from his. She looked up at him with near fear in her eyes waiting for his response. Luke could not even speak. His heart was pounding in every extremity and even deafening him. His throat would not open to allow him to speak. He did the only thing that he could think of. He leaned in and kissed the beautiful marine with a passion that she immediately responded in kind.
After a minute or so, Luke pulled away slowly with is eyes still closed. "I love you too." Ashley immediately returned her lips to his. He could not believe that he had admitted his feelings for her. Saying what he felt out loud made him feel open and honest with her.
"Hey, I just want you to know." Luke said stopping their kiss for a moment. "You look beautiful…but I fell for the marine that could kick my butt if I ever got on her nerves."
"Good," Ashley started sitting on his lap. "Because this is me, I like her and you better like her too."
"I love her." Luke admitted running his fingers down her jaw line and cupping her cheek in his palm.
"Good, cause I'm a hellcat off the battlefield too." The marine got up slowly and took a firm hold of Luke's coat. She gently started pulling him toward the back room with an impish smile on her face.
"God help me." Luke said as he got up to follow her.
000
Claire sat in the restaurant waiting. She was a little early, but she had been a little bit excited to get the message. Garrus was a little shy around her unless they were on the battlefield. She enjoyed his company immensely and wished he would spend more time with her.
The turnian entered the restraruant and sat down across from Claire. "I'm glad you came commander. I have some ideas to upgrade the Mako's weapon systems." Claire frowned. Business, always business. She would have to teach this turian how to have some fun.
"Garrus, we're on shore leave. You know, a time to kick back and relax. Not worry about work or anything like that." Claire leaned forward placing her forearms on the table.
"Oh, right…um…" Garrus had not thought about talking to Claire about anything other than weapons and fighting. It was all he had really thought they would talk about to try and break the ice.
"Garrus, what do you do for fun? I mean you and Luke have lived on the Citadel for years. What is there that is fun to do here?" She asked. Garrus scratched his head as his mandibles flared in thought.
"The clubs aren't terrible, and there are plenty of vids to watch. Whenever Shep- er…Luke and I would relax we would watch the biotiball game and have a beer or two. There is the Silver Strip, but I doubt you would want to play some arcade games or gamble at the casino."
"Well, the biotiball game sounds good. I don't think I've ever watched one. I don't really understand that rules, but then again I never really understood soccer or football either." Claire looked around.
"What's soccer and football?" Garrus asked.
"Two sports that are played on Earth. Don't ask me anymore though. I could never really understand them well enough to watch, let alone explain." Garrus chuckled.
"So there is something that the great Commander Shepard can't understand or do." Garrus felt Claire kick him playfully in the shin.
"Come on. I'm allowed to have a few things that I'm not perfect in." Claire said leaning back and crossing her arms.
"I doubt there are many things that you are not great at." Garrus quickly shot his mouth and lowered his eyes.
Claire blushed. She was not sure what to say. She could negotiate anything with just about anyone but when it came to accepting a compliment from the turian she was a t loss for words. She enjoyed having him around on missions and she trusted him completely. She knew that if he was on a mission with her, he would always have her back.
"Um…thanks…" Claire responded.
Garrus cleared his throat. "I mean, you know you are a great shot…just not as good as me." Claire raised an eyebrow.
"Oh we are going to have to put that to the test." Claire said laughing.
"Hey Shepard!" Claire glanced toward the entrance of the restaurant to see Tali waving. She apparently was having trouble getting in. The host was stopping her for some reason.
"Be right back." Claire said getting up.
Garrus nodded and rubbed his forehead. He just could not catch a break. Out of the entire Citadel, Tali had to choose this restaurant to come to eat at. Garrus looked back toward the door and quickly realized why Tali had been stopped. Wrex had stepped up behind her with Liara in tow. Seemed his dinner with Claire just turned into a crew's meal out. Perfect.
000
Ashley woke up to the smell of fresh coffee. The small apartment felt so comfortable that it seemed even homey. She rolled over to find that Luke as not beside her.
"Luke?" Ashley asked wrapping the sheet around herself.
Luke opened the door with two cups of coffee and smile on his face. Ashley blushed noticing that all Luke was wearing was a pair of jogging shorts. "Good morning beautiful." Luke said offering her a mug.
"Good morning. How long have you been up?" Ashley asked sipping the coffee. She grimaced slightly. The coffee was plain black coffee that was extremely strong. She liked a little creamer in her coffee, even in the field she kept a pouch of creamer in her kit.
"A while…I just didn't want to wake you." Luke smiled and brushed some of her hair out of her face.
"Well, what do you want to do today?" Ashley asked. Laying her head on Luke's shoulder.
"I'm not really sure. I got a bit of a work out last night." Luke smiled seeing Ashley's lips part in a satisfied smile.
"It gives a whole new meaning to drop and give me twenty." Ashley said. Luke laughed and turned toward her again.
"I think that you might need more physical training." Luke said allowing an impish smile to cross his face.
"Now, now, what will it take to prove I'm in top physical shake?" Ashley said playing along. Luke smiled and leaned in planting a gentle kiss on her lips. He could not help but feel happy and relaxed. He was in a safe place with the woman he loved. It did not get much better.