Finally fighting the collectors had brought an increased sense of determination, unity and camaraderie to the Normandy crew. It was hard to blindly hate someone purely for being a four eyed squint when they came back bathed red with their own blood from fighting to defend your species.

The blue, green and orange of turian, salarian and krogan shed blood was equally appreciated.

That's not to say the more diehard Cerberus supporters became alien lovers over night, hard was not the same as impossible after all and old prejudices ran deep.

Whether or not Deniaud was among those who had a change of heart was unknown. Shepard certainly hadn't, and she had already ordered his removal from the ship when they next reached port.

Miranda tried to convince her to reconsider, to at least wait until they found a replacement, but Nikki believed she'd compromised enough by not simply stranding him on Horizon.

Deniaud aside however, for the most part there was much less antagonism between the various factions onboard as everyone focused on the common enemy.

They had not only survived but thrived in their first trial against the previously untouchable space bogeymen. Saving more than 400,000 colonists from collector abduction was certainly an achievement, but the buzz of success was tempered with a desire for revenge and retribution. Both for the 200,000 plus people of Horizon they were too late to save, and for every man, woman and child taken in the other colonies to be hit. The crew had a taste for collector blood now and was eager for more.

There was just one, make that two, slight hitches to that plan. First: they had no idea where the collector ship had fled to.

Second: When the ground team had trooped into the med bay for their post-mission checkup, sporting a wide assortment of injuries, Dr Chakwas had taken one look and summarily restricted the entire squad to light duties.

Firing a gun wasn't the only way to aid the fight however, and Shepard submerged herself in watching helmet cam footage from the mission. Analysing the video closely, trying to figure out the most effective tactics in preparation for next time.

By the time the Normandy reached the Citadel she had compiled reports on each of the various troop types they had encountered. Reports which she was quick to hand over to Anderson along with a datapad from Mordin detailing both his armour upgrades and collector paralysis antidote.

It was good to see Anderson again, no matter how briefly, but there was someone she was even more eager to see. Since Dr Chakwas still hadn't cleared the squad for combat she gave everyone shore leave and hopped on a commercial transport home.

...

Upon landing Shepard could have called a taxi, or hired a skycar. Heck, Trish or Ben would probably have gladly picked her up from the docks if she'd given them an estimated time of arrival. She hadn't done any of those things though.

Instead she'd adjusted the straps of the bag on her back, placed the freshly purchased bouquet of flowers in something faintly resembling the slope arms position and proceeded to march the three and a half miles between Joughin and home.

The plan (if it could be called that) was to use the time to clear her head, to figure out how she was going to approach this weekend and what she wanted to achieve from it.

Turns out three miles was nowhere near long enough.

Or maybe it was too long.

Maybe the problem was over thinking.

Either way she found herself standing to attention outside the front door before she was entirely ready. Desperately trying to work out if she should ring the doorbell like a visitor or stroll on in like she still owned the place.

Would her old entry code even still work?

The decision was taken out of her hands when the door opened for her, revealing a harried looking Trish holding a screaming babe on her hip.

"Make yourself comfortable while I deal with this." The civilian gestured for her to enter. Welcoming smile contorting into a grimace as Nicholas' tantrum reached an even higher pitch.

"Everything alright?"

"He's just over tired. Let me put him to bed and I'll be back down."

"Anything I can help with?" Nikki asked hopefully. She might not know everything bedtime entailed but she was more than willing to learn.

"Cup of cocoa would be nice." Trish requested turning away, leaving the soldier alone and off balance in the hallway.

Closing the door, Nikki deposited her bag and flowers on the kitchen table before filling up the kettle. Her eyes wandered the room as she waited for the water to boil. Faint smile gracing her lips as her gaze landed on a toaster recently added to the counter top.

At first glance it looked identical to their old one but closer inspection revealed the handful of words and symbols covering the machine were from a completely different alphabet than she was used to. Still, it was the same model and using the toaster was automatic by now, she doubted there'd be any problems from not being able to read it.

Everything else in the kitchen was the same as last time she was here. Still no N7 mug, she noted casually as she pulled two cups at random out the cupboard, but it wasn't like Trish could pick up a replacement at the supermarket as easily as getting a new toaster.

"That smells divine." Trish declared as she reentered the kitchen just as Nikki put the finishing touches on the cocoa. The soldier handed one of the mugs over and Trish was quick to wrap both hands round the mug for warmth, blowing across the top to cool the scorching liquid slightly so she wouldn't burn her tongue when the time came to finally take a sip.

"Speaking of nice smells, I got you something else." It wasn't the smoothest segue in history but Nikki took it anyway as she gestured towards the bouquet on the table.

For once she'd actually taken care in choosing the flowers. Common Irssal in tribute to the first flowers gifted in this house and blue carnations, as close as she could find to the same shade as the ones at their wedding. Judging by the look on her partner's face she'd done good.

Trish removed one hand from the cup, reaching out and plucking a single bloom of the purple thessian plants from the pack, bringing it to her nose and inhaling deeply. Smiling at the pleasant honey fragrance.

"Mmm, that brings back memories."

"Don't tell me... you're wanting pancakes again?" Nick teased with a smile, earning a slight scoff in response.

"What I want is to sleep for a month solid."

"Tough day?"

"Tough week." Trish corrected. "Nicholas has not been helping, I think he might be about to start teething again."

"Maybe we should postpone this conversation to the morning?"

"That'd be nice."

"Mind if I have a shower?"

"You know where it is."

...

The hot water was pure bliss, easing the still lingering post-Horizon aches from her body and melting away her worries and concerns. Steam filled the room, seemingly helping clear her mind as readily as her sinuses. It wasn't until she'd towelled herself off and was pulling on a pair of shorts and a tank top for the night that she realised they hadn't discussed sleeping arrangements.

Last time she'd been here she'd slept on the couch, but last time Trish was with Melissa. This time they were officially together again. Albeit supposedly 'starting fresh'.

Shepard had been more than willing to agree to Trish's stipulation of 'no expectations, just see how it goes' at the time. Mostly they slipped into the same easy teasing as they had before, but Nikki was constantly wondering if she was about to hit an unseen boundary. It hadn't happened yet but still...

With a sigh she took off down the corridor, stepping over a dead to the world but still breathing Judy who was led in front of Nicholas' door and crossing the hall to her own-... Trish's room.

The door was open and she led against the frame, watching as a pyjama clad Trish went through the finishing touches of her night time routine before knocking gently against the inside wall.

"Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted." Trish allowed with a faint smirk and a shake of the head, the look in her eyes informing Nikki she was mad for ever doubting it. The soldier quickly slipped across the room and under the sheets before the other woman could change her mind.

Sleep didn't seem in any hurry to claim her, but as Nikki lay in the dark listening to the steady pattern of Trish's breathing, she felt a sense of peace and calm fill her for the first time since she woke in a Cerberus lab. Her body relaxing enough that sleep hardly seemed to matter.