He managed to find the place without issue. He waited patiently, glancing at the menu until he saw Kacey arrive. The scarlet-headed commander smiled as she sat down, brushing her hair away from her face.

"Hey, Kacey." Kaidan said.

"Hi Kaidan," Kacey replied.

"You know," Kaidan said, "I'm surprised this place can still get supplies for a menu like this."

"Maybe its better if we don't ask how." Kacey mused, "Or where."

"I'm glad we're taking the time to do this." Kaidan replied, "I could use a sanity check."

"Things have been pretty crazy, haven't they?" Kacey smiled.

Kaidan could see how forced it was. Anyone else would've bought the lie that it was genuine, but him? He hadn't seen her smile genuinely since Ilos.

"You know," He started, trying to figure out what to say, "My life flashed before my eyes on Mars—and there weren't enough moments like this, with the people I care about."

"Kaidan, are you okay?" Kacey asked with worry in her voice, "How are you feeling?"

"Feeling up to whatever the Reapers throw at me," Kaidan replied, "And grateful that I convinced you to sit down for half a second and relax."

He chuckled a bit as Kacey laughed lightly. He missed this.

"Yeah, I think it's a good time for us to have a heart to heart." Kacey replied, "So, what are you drinking?"

Kaidan smirked, "If you're trying to butter me up, it might take a nice steak sandwich too."

"So…"

"Shot of whiskey and a good old Canadian larger. Think they have it?"

"More likely to have Batarian Shard Wine."

"At my parents place in Vancouver, drank more than a few beers on their balcony, looking over English Bay." Kaidan mused, "Yeah, beautiful view…you know what though? I feel good about our chances."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Let's me sleep better at night."

"You not sleeping Kaidan?"

What was he supposed to say? That he was dreaming about them on their mission three years ago?

"Maybe a little restless…" He admitted. Garrus' words from earlier rang out through his mind, and he took a deep breath.

"The war isn't the only thing keeping me up at night." Kaidan said, honestly, "I wonder…about us."

"Us?"

"I love you, Kacey." Kaidan admitted, "I always have. I want to understand what this is between us…and make it real. That's what I want. What do you want?"

"I want to be together." Kacey replied, "I can't bury what I feel for you anymore. And I don't want to."

She smiled genuinely for the first time in a long time. Kaidan was thrilled beyond belief. He clasped Kacey's right hand in his own and brought it up to his face.

"And that…makes me so happy." Kaidan smiled, "And there are benefits to that happiness…"

He gently kissed he hand as Kacey blushed. He let go of her hand.

"But more on that later." He smirked.

"Later?" Kacey teased, "We need to get back to the Normandy ASAP."

"Too late." Kaidan said as a salarian sat their drinks down on the table, "Our drinks are here, and I am going to take my time."

"You are such a tease." Kacey laughed, "What'd you call it? A sanity check?"

"Sanity check." Kaidan replied.

…

The rest of the day went as well as Kaidan had hoped. He spoke with Kacey at length before returning to the Normandy with her. As they reached the docking bay, Kacey pulled Kaidan aside.

"I was thinking that we keep the fact that we're together quiet for now." She said.

"Why's that?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Just to see if anyone notices anything." Kacey replied, "That, and I think Joker and EDI might be spying on the cams to see if we are together."

"Garrus as well, no doubt. Well, in that case…" Kaidan leaned in and pecked Kacey on the cheek, "Sure. Let's keep them guessing."

"Good." Kacey teased, "And besides, I need to speak to everyone in the War Room anyway."

Kaidan followed Kacey on board as she headed towards the War Room.

"EDI can you tell everyone to head to the War Room?" Kacey said, "Just the field team though."

"Of course, Commander." EDI chimed in.

It took as few minutes before everyone started to arrive. Garrus was the first to show up, followed by James then Liara. EDI arrived in her physical form and Cortez shortly arrived thereafter.

"Okay, so as some of you might have guessed," Kacey looked directly at Garrus, "but I had received an email from Admiral Hackett. That email was in regard to a researcher named Doctor Bryson. As it turns out, he was conducting research on a being simply known as "Leviathan"."

"Leviathan?" Liara mused, "I haven't heard of it."

"Apparently this Leviathan has the power to kill a Reaper," Kacey explained, "And has already done so. It also appears to have a similar ability to indoctrination."

"Explain." Garrus said.

"According to Doctor Bryson's research," EDI interjected, "The Leviathan may in fact have some ability to control minds."

"Like the Thorian?" Kaidan spoke up, "You know, the one on Feros?"

"Something like that." Kacey replied, "There was a datapad in the lab that had notes from that actually."

"Oh great," Garrus sighed, "I had just burned that image out of my mind, but you've brought it up again."

Kaidan smirked as Kacey continued.

"We know this because Doctor Bryson was killed by his assistant, who has no recollection of shooting anyone." Kacey explained, "However, we managed to find the location of another researcher on the project; Doctor Alex Garneau. He's on the asteroid, Mahavid, in the Aysur system of the Caleston Rift."

"So, who's going on the mission?" James asked, "Because I'd rather not be indoctrinated."

"The Leviathan is more in line with the Thorian than a Reaper according to the evidence." EDI explained, "The chance of indoctrination, or falling under its control, are low."

"But there is still a risk." Kacey explained, "Garrus, you've been out on a few missions back-to-back, so I would prefer it if you skipped this one. Your choice though."

"Oh, don't worry I will," Garrus replied, "I've got something I need to check up on anyway."

"Good. So…any volunteers?" Kacey asked.

The room was silent. Kaidan understood why; the risk of indoctrination.

"I'll go." Kaidan said, "It's not like I haven't faced stuff like this before."

"Thanks, Kaidan." Kacey replied, "So…Liara, James and EDI? Who wants to come with?"

"I will." Liara spoke up, "I could use the fresh air, so to speak."

"Okay," Kacey said, "Kaidan and Liara make sure you are ready for when we land. EDI, did you give Joker the coordinates?"

"Yes Commander." EDI replied, "We should be leaving the Citadel now."

"Good. Now you are all dismissed."

Once everyone had left, Kacey again pulled Kaidan aside.

"Except you. You are not dismissed." Kacey teased, "Not yet."

"Is that so?" Kaidan replied, "So I assume it's story time?"

"Yep, and you are coming with me to my quarters," Kacey whispered, "I'd rather not get spied on."

"Same here." Kaidan replied, "We should really do something about those cameras."

"Yeah, but anyway." Kacey began as they walked to the elevator, "I had went to the Citadel with Garrus and Mordin because Anderson had asked me to speak with the Council."

"Wait." Kaidan said, "So the Council knew you were with Cerberus?"

"Yes." Kacey replied, "They understood why I was "cooperating" with the Illusive Man, as did Anderson and Hackett. While the Council reinstated my Spectre status, Anderson and Hackett believed the best thing to do was to go undercover in a sense. Hackett thought that, since I had access to a lot of Cerberus secrets, I should forward them to Alliance Command."

"So, in a sense, you never really left the Alliance?" Kaidan replied.

"Yeah basically."

"That might explain why Anderson refused to confirm if the rumours were true or not."

"Yeah, he didn't want to risk me being compromised or hurt because of it." Kacey said, leaving the elevator, "My mother probably would've killed him and Hackett for it."

"Your mother?" Kaidan looked at Kacey confused.

"Yeah, she—oh I forgot you don't know." Kacey replied, "Both my parents were in the Alliance. My mother is serving on the Kilimanjaro right now. She knows both Anderson and Hackett really well and they are friends. She knew I was on a covert op but wasn't really given any details. She was…pretty pissed off that she had to find out from Alliance Brass that I was okay."

"I can believe that." Kaidan said, "And what about you father?"

Kacey stopped in her tracks, "He…He's dead."

"Sorry Kacey I—"

"It's okay, you didn't know." Kacey replied, "Anyway back on topic, after receiving my quote-on-quote orders, I had to recruit the legendary thief Kasumi Goto on my way back to the Normandy. Cerberus had already sorted things out, so it went easily enough, then it was back out into the Terminus Systems to head to Purgatory to recruit Jack, a powerful, but kinda crazy biotic."

"How crazy are we talking?" Kaidan said, sitting down on the sofa.

"Very." Kacey replied, joining Kaidan.