Dialogue the First

"Shepard. This is an unexpected call, but appreciated." The man, still a stranger after all this time, took a deep drag on his cigarette. "Certainly more appreciated than Miranda's late night drunken calls complaining about you and your 'merry little pirate band.'"
Serenity grinned, then sheepishly straightened herself out. "I called to apologize. And to thank you."
"For stealing the ship? No, that was ... expected. Ineffective in the end, but the gesture was not a surprise."
Serenity nodded. It was rather embarrassing to realize how well she had played into his hands.
"I'm not certain what you are thanking me for, however."
Serenity swallowed nervously. "For not abandoning the crew."
"Ah." He took another drag, tapped ashes into the ashtray next to him. "Did you really think that I would?"
"Honestly? No, I didn't. But I still shouldn't have taken such a petulant tone with you, and endangered the livelihood of the men and women under my command. Thank you for not taking advantage of my stupidity."
The stranger smiled, genuine human amusement. "You know, Shepard, I've always wondered... if we had recruited you before Kahoku did, would it have worked out better for us?"
Serenity considered, shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I would have felt horribly betrayed when I learned about the other cells and what they did. It's easier to work with you this way, knowing the worst and the best, and seeing them both firsthand. I can... I can excuse the excessive zeal of Cerberus now that I know what I know. I don't like it, but I can find a way to live with it."
He nodded, put out his cigarette. "I appreciate your honesty and your loyalty, Shepard. I know what that cost you to say." He looked over at the pack of cigarettes thoughtfully. "Well, if we're trading peace offerings, Shepard, I might have something that you would appreciate. It's rather frivolous, but," he chuckled, "one of our Citadel operatives has an empty table at Fiorino's. Why don't you go out to dinner, Shepard? On me."
Serenity raised an eyebrow. "Dinner?"
"Your clothes will enjoy the outing, if nothing else. I'll have them change the reservation to your name. Shepard, party of one?"
Serenity tried not to look as happy as she felt. It was frivolous, but the food at Fiorino's was amazing! And she could dress up in the clothes she had found stashed in her cabin. "Thank you, I ... I'll let you know how the food is."
"Please do." He watched her leave with a knowing smile. It was going to be interesting to watch this unfold. He needed Shepard, he needed her whole. She would realize he was doing what was best for her, in the end. He forwarded the reservation information to her console, and then began making a few more calls in preparation.
Serenity ran into her cabin, opened the closet all the way. There, behind the drab and utilitarian uniforms, were the clothes. The latest in the most insane and expensive fashions from the best Human designers. There was a bright green Cora Miyake tunic-dress in the same shade as her eyes. A bright red Leland Cortese sheath dress. A strapless black Chung Mikaelovich evening gown. And the shoes! Serenity giggled, tried to stop herself, failed, laughed out loud. She pulled out a few dresses, held them up and checked herself critically in the mirrors that appeared when the closet was fully opened. After an hour, she settled on a classic little Agnes Chanel black dress, with black K. Cole pumps. A classic ensemble, that made her look ageless. She packed everything into a changing bag, so that she wouldn't cause too much comment on the Normandy, and left for the Citadel.
She changed in Bailey's office before heading to the Restaurant district. She laughed at the look on Bailey's face when he saw her "all dolled up."
The heels added elegance to her walk without taking away any of her natural confidence. She ignored the admiring glances, savored the knowing jealousy of the diplomatic wives who knew how expensive her dress was. It was a silly game, but fun nevertheless. The only thing that made her sad was that her personal jewelry was still in storage; these borrowed pearls hadn't been worn recently and they felt cold and dry. Pearls thrive on the touch of human skin, like lovers. They were very nice pearls though, a tasteful cream color and all perfectly round, with a really lovely coral clasp. She wondered if the Illusive Man would let her keep them. Either way, she resolved to sleep with them on tonight to help them regain their tone.
"Your name, ma'am?" The maître d'hôtel didn't bother to ask if she had a reservation.
"Shepard, party of one."
"Right this way, ma'am." As the maître d'hôtel bowed and gestured for her to follow, someone stepped into her view, his face unbelieving and his eyes confused, but warm and familiar as they always were.
"Serenity?"
She stopped, stared at him, drinking in the sight. "Kaidan!" She ran forward, threw her arms around him in a hug before he could protest. "Kaidan! What are you doing here?"
"I was just delivering a message to an Admiral," he pulled away, stared at her. "Wow."
Serenity laughed. "Are you free? I have room at my table."
With an effort, he tore his eyes away from her incredible legs underneath the tiny simple dress that did everything it could to accentuate her amazing curves. "Actually, I am free now... if you really want me to join you." The question was foolish, and he knew it, but he had to ask. It was only fair to give her a chance to leave if she wanted to.
Serenity laughed again, happy as a child, and refused to question this coincidence. "Come on, before the chef comes out to yell at me for blocking traffic." She took his hand and he trailed behind her to the table. They sat down, looked out at the stars, then at each other.
He smiled, and her heart did somersaults. He wanted to ask. He wanted to know if the reports were really true, that the Normandy had really gone through the Omega-4 relay and returned. She didn't look any different. She laughed, ordered dinner, ogled the dessert menu. He was a little slow to catch her mood, but then he had always been more serious and restrained so it didn't seem to bother her. She looked better than she had at Horizon, and less disturbed than she had at their stolen meeting a few weeks ago. That would have been right after returning from the relay, he realized. He already knew it was true. Just by watching her, he knew that whatever intel the Alliance had on her mission had fallen short of what she had really done. Serenity Shepard had saved the galaxy, again.
She smiled at him, chatted brilliantly and sparkled, and he drank in the sight.
"I love seeing you like this. Happy." He studied her, memorizing anew the lines of her arms, the curves of her body, the green of her eyes. Everything about her. He wanted to remember it all, hold it in his heart forever.
"Stop being so serious, Kaidan. Try the calamari." She nibbled, basked in his adoration, talked nonsense about clothes and shoes.
There is nothing more wonderful than spending time with the one you love.
"Walk with me for a bit," she invited as she she downed the last of the lemon gelato. Her shy smile was impossible to refuse, and he took her hand, walked with her down to the Presidium elevator. "Wait here for a second, I want to change out of these clothes."
He laughed. "The heels are killing you, aren't they?" She smiled in reply. Watched her walk into the public changing room and waited for her to come back.
She walked out wearing the colonist outfit that he was secretly beginning to love on her. Comfortable and yet immodest, trademarks of humanity. She smiled at him, no longer towering and imperious.
"You're still wearing the pearls."
She flushed. "They need the attention." She glanced at him from beneath her lashes, and smiled.
He smiled back at her, laughing a little. Such odd, little things she did sometimes. He learned something new about her every time he saw her.
The elevator opened, and Serenity moved before she knew what she was doing, shoving Kaidan out of the way and into cover. The criminals roared in fury.
"Out of the way, filthy human!" They sprayed bullets over her head, their aim spoiled by her speed. Serenity almost ripped the first raider's arm from its socket while disarming him. His arm, broken in two places, lay awkwardly at his side, still clutching his weapon. He screamed in agony as she hit him again, dropped to the floor. She silenced him with a stunning kick to the head. The second one moved out of her way, tried to get to cover. Kaidan hit him with a field that froze him in place. Serenity hit him with a punch that shattered the bones over his upper eyes with a sickening noise, and the Batarian fell weakly to the ground. Lay still.
The last one vaulted over the wall where Kaidan was sheltering, reached for him, seeking a hostage.
"Wait - don't - " He wasn't sure who he was trying to warn.
Serenity tackled the Batarian, and he caved under her charge, slipped. Fell backwards.
"No!" Stared helplessly as they went over the side, then ran to a service walkway, seeking a way down.
Kaidan ran past a Keeper, found them clinging to a catwalk, still fighting. Or at least Serenity was fighting. Well, pummeling. The Batarian was trying to climb to some kind of cover with one arm showing splintered yellow bones through an ugly wound in his arm. Serenity sent blows at him with the force of a sledgehammer, bones cracking under her hands with almost every blow.
"Stop!" Kaidan ran up, tried to pull her away. She flung him off casually, didn't look immediately at him, then turned to him swiftly. For a moment he thought she was going to strike him, but she recovered herself as she met his eyes. Turned away, still in the grip of a blood rage as savage as any that had ever plagued a Krogan. She looked behind him, up, over at the brutalized Batarian and the stains he had left on the floor as he crawled away.
Kaidan stood, approached her warily. "Serenity?"
She didn't answer, warily eyed the Batarian on the ground. Moved to keep herself in line between any weapon the Batarian might have and Kaidan. Looked up again, snarled. Kaidan followed her glance, saw the Batarian with the half-crushed head drop something. Serenity grabbed Kaidan, pulled him away. Kaidan blinked as he realized it was a bomb, barely had time to throw up a barrier over the two of them before it landed.
The bomb went off, triggering another explosion that rocked the floors, and they fell together. Locked in each other's arms - her, sheltering him with her body; he, focused on the biotic field protecting them both.