Which Cheek?

It had been a strange experience for Ashley. She didn't know these women well but they had been extremely helpful. Maybe a little too helpful. She was who she was though and because of that, they didn't know all they wanted to. Kelly in particular asked a lot of questions. Thankfully the place had very large changing rooms to try out the clothes, meaning she could get out of her armour. Most of the sales assistants were quite nervous dealing with the group armed with guns but they were helpful never the less.

“This is not something I've done for a long time.” Samara said as she was trying some things on in the booth next to Ashley. She had to say it quite loudly for Ashley to hear it.

“So you Justicars aren't allowed any personal property?” Ashley asked, while checking out how the jeans and top she had chosen looked on her in the mirrors.

“Yes. It is part of our code, we are not permitted to possess any, bar weapons and armour.”

“So no pictures of family? No jewellery, no personal clothes, nothing? So you've never been shopping since becoming a Justicar? When did you become a Justicar?” Ashley liked the clothes, they were simple yet she thought they looked pretty good. She'd ask for a second opinion in a bit, but wanted to try on some other clothes first. She started to take off her top and jeans as she continued the conversation.

“No pictures of family or having a family. No I haven't been shopping for anything other than weapons. I became a Justicar four hundred years ago.”

“Four hundred years? How old are you?” Ashley couldn't believe what she was hearing, dropping the top she'd just picked up. She looked at herself in the mirrors. She smiled as she looked at herself wearing Shepard's boxers, her bra completely different to it.

“I'm almost a thousand years old Williams.” Ashley found it odd how she called her by her surname. She did that to Shepard of course but...everyone did. No one did it to her though. However, it wasn't the most significant part of that sentence to her.

“What? You're a thousand years old? Damn you look good for your age!”

“Asari do not age like most other species do.”

“I can see that. Wow. Why are you shopping now though, if you've gone without it for so long?” Ashley asked, pulling some trousers on.

“I am without true purpose now. I became a Justicar for one reason and I have completed that task. The Collectors then became my focus and they are defeated. Now...I may shop, however I may not own anything.”

“Do you want anything? Do you miss anything?” Ashley pulled the top on and posed for herself. These things weren't extravagant but neither was she. She was enjoying the shopping a lot more than she would admit though.

“There are a few things I miss but not many.”

“Do you want any of the clothes you've been trying on?”

“I...am not permitted to own them.”

“That's not what I asked Samara. If you want them, but as you can't have them, maybe someone else could get them and you could wear them whenever you want...” Ashley didn't like these clothes. They didn't look bad, but weren't the most comfortable. She took them off and put them in her 'not buying' pile. She could have had a party in that room.

“I could not ask that of another.”

“Why not? I'm sure someone would. I would if you like.” Ashley said as she picked out a dress to try on. She didn't wear dresses but she was willing to try one on, try something new. This one was quite figure hugging and it was definitely more her than many other dresses.

“There...there are a few things I would like to be able to wear.”

“Like what?” Ashley asked as she wriggled herself into the dress.

“I...er, I know what I would like. I have it in the dressing room with me, would you like to see?”

“Er, OK, give me a minute though.” Ashley checked herself out in the black dress and was quite impressed. The skirt of it was very short, though her full sleeves and top covered most of her up, the lace in those sleeves and some of her top see-through. She thought she looked good, although she needed someone to zip it up to get the full effect. Samara could probably help with that. She leaned over to put on the heels that Miranda had insisted she took with her to try on with that dress and one or two others. Once she had them on she walked out of her dressing room, pressing the button for the doors to slide open. “Ready Samara, can you give me a hand with this dress too?” Ashley walked unsteadily, she wasn't used to wearing heels. Samara's dressing room opened.

“Come in Williams.” Ashley was looking at her feet and trying to zip her dress up. She didn't wear heels, let alone ones this large. She made her way in, stumbling as she did so. Samara closed the door behind her. Samara put her hands on Ashley's shoulders and turned her round so Samara could do the zip up. “Stay still.” Ashley felt the zip go up, the dress tightening as it zipped up. Ashley looked up at the mirror in front of her, Samara's head looking over her shoulder at her in the mirror.

“I like this dress. It's not what I ever wear but I think it looks pretty good.”

“I agree Williams, you look fantastic.” Ashley turned to look at the other mirrors to see how it looked from the other sides and saw Samara standing behind her in something she had not expected. She turned around to see properly.

“Wow Samara that looks amazing.” Samara was wearing a negligee that showed a lot of her ample assets off.

“Thank you Williams. I had to give some of these away when I became a Justicar and I missed being able to wear one...” Samara did a twirl, it was black and offset her blue skin well. It covered enough to be worn on it's own, though it was too short to really sit down while worn on it's own and was very low cut, showing off Samara's large breasts well.

“Seriously you do look amazing.” Ashley's eyes roamed Samara as she twirled.

“My thanks, Williams, I think you look amazing too. That dress looks very good.”

“So you want that and what else?” Ashley looked at Samara's eyes to find the Asari's eyes all over her body, before she looked at the clothes she had well organised on a seat in the corner.

“Just those 4 pieces.”

“You can get a few more, I'm sure they can't be very expensive.”

“Are you sure?” Samara asked, clearly excited once more to be shopping.

“Why not?” There was a pause between them. “I'm going to go back into the other dressing room, try on a few more things, I've got quite a few to go through. If you go and get some more clothes, put something more...conservative on. Don't want anyone to have a heart attack.” Ashley walked towards the door, pressing the button to open it.

“I appreciate this, Williams.” Ashley was taken a-back at her use of her first name.

“Bring the things you want into my changing room when you're ready.” Ash turned around to walk back, her legs a little unsteady, walking in those heels not helping. When the doors closed she released a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, before pressing the button to open the doors on her changing room. Everything was in place just like it was before. Ashley walked in to the room, pressing the button to close the door. She looked at herself in the mirrors, really quite liking the outfit. The heels included. Hell, the heels especially.

“Chief?” It was clearly Tali outside.

“Yes, Tali?” Ashley reached around for the zip, finding it a little awkward to take down without help.

“Can I come in?” Ashley gave up and pressed the button to open the door.

“Sure.” Tali walked in as soon as the door was open, she was carrying a few items she clearly wanted Ashley to try on. “Can you help me with this zip?” Ashley turned around and held her hair to keep it out of the way for Tali. Tali put the clothes on the 'to try on' pile.

“Let me see how you look in that first.” Ashley turned around slowly, showing her dress off to the Quarian. “You look incredible, Ash.”

“Thanks.” Ashley smiled at Tali, then turned her back to her. She kicked off the heels. “Now, zip?” Tali's hand found it's way to the zip and pulled it down. The dress loosened up on Ashley's back and the back of her bra was revealed to Tali, before she finished pulling it down. Tali's hand lingered.

“Are those...Shepard's?” Tali noticed the top of the boxers Ashley was wearing.

“Oh, yes. I...er...” Ashley wasn't sure how to cover it.

“I see. Well I've got to go get a few more things I think you should try. Get that dress.” Tali turned around to press the button to let herself out.

“Thanks Tali.” Tali walked out, before responding.

“Any time, Ash.” Samara walked in to the room, brushing past Ashley as she dropped her clothes in the far corner that Ashley's armour and weapons weren't in. She was back in her usual Justicar kit.

“Samara?” Ashley asked.

“Yes Williams?” Samara replied as she walked back past her. The doors had closed by this point. “Oh, thank you for letting me do this.” Samara pressed the button on the door.

“You're welcome Samara. I'd expect you've done a lot for Shepard, which means a lot to me.”

“Oh. Well, he has done a lot more for me.”

“He's like that. Thanks anyway.” Samara stepped outside. Samara wasn't sure what to say, so didn't say anything, just walked back towards the rest of the clothes. The doors closed and Ashley let the dress fall to her feet, before stepping out of it and putting it in the 'to buy' pile.

“There sure are a lot of clothes in this changing room.” Thought Ashley. She was hoping Shepard really knew how much women liked to shop. If not, it may be a very awkward conversation. She looked at herself in her red bra and Shepard's white boxers. She already knew what she would see and she was still annoyed that she did. That was a dark patch on the boxers. Trying to ignore it, she looked at some of the underwear they had picked out for her. She lifted some up and held it up to herself. There were a few things to go with it that she couldn't hold up at the same time, but she could hold them up enough to know they fitted. “He is going to love these. Mostly though, I am going to love this. These look great.” Ashley said, quietly to herself.

“Ashley, you still in there?” A voice came from the room next to her.

“Yes Kelly, anything you need?” Ashley asked as she posed for herself in the mirrors.

“Can you come in here a second, I want a second opinion on something.” Ashley threw the pieces she had in her hands onto the 'to buy' pile.

“Sure, give me a minute though.” Ashley pulled out a skirt and a top to put on. The skirt was longer than the dress, coming to just below her knees, a lot looser than the dress. She pulled the top on, it was quite low cut, showing off her cleavage. She pulled it up over her bra, covering the red of it, although it was unnecessary, the top was red too. Ashley posed for herself and then remembered that Kelly was next door. She opened up the doors on her changing room, before pressing the button to close it again. “OK Kelly, open up.” The doors started to open.

“Done. Come on in.” Kelly was standing there in just her underwear. It still had the tags on. It was a blue silk push-up bra and matching thong. Ashley didn't expect Kelly to have as well toned a body if she was a yeoman and a psychiatrist.

“Kelly, you aren't allowed to put on underwear in the store...” Ashley said as she walked in, pressing the button to close the doors herself.

“This is the Citadel, different rules apply here to Alliance space. Haven't you been shopping on the Citadel before?”

“No.”

“Well, you can. It's some Asari way, I'm not sure of the details. All I know is you can try on the underwear, basically anything. So how do you think it looks? Does it suit me? I'm not sure of the colour.” Kelly made a variety of different poses for Ashley.

“It does look good, but I think black would work better.” Ashley took a while to reply.

“I was thinking that too.”

“Er, I think I'll go then and let you change...” Ashley turned around, pressing the button to let herself out. “Oh, what do you think of this?”

“That skirt? Not right on you. Try another skirt, or some jeans. Denim has never gone out of style.” Kelly turned her back to Ashley and then waited to hear the door close. “Er, close the door?” Ashley had already pressed the button and gone.

“I'm already in my dressing room Kelly, if the door took ages to close, not my fault.” Kelly heard the door close.

“Oh. Sorry. It's just some people seem to think I'm a lot less shy than I actually am.”

“You're just really friendly Kelly, don't worry, I know the type.” Ashley unzipped and pulled off her skirt. She wondered for a minute whether to try on the underwear she was thinking about or just put on some jeans. She put the skirt in the 'don't buy' pile and stood still.

“Don't get me wrong, I'm not shy. Just some people seem to think I'll happily stand in a room naked with 20 other people in. I'm not shy but I'm not like...like that either.”

“Kelly, don't worry, really.”

“As you can see, I'm OK with showing a girl how I look in underwear. I'll happily be naked in a room with...you know, but not with...”

“Kelly. Stop. I get it.” Ashley had to be a little forceful at this point.

“Oh. Sorry.” Ashley thought she'd try on the underwear. She started to pull off the rest of her clothes. She liked the top and put it in the to buy pile. “I'm not a prude, I'm very open-minded, but it's just people seem to assume...”

“Kelly.” She stated loudly, as she unhooked her bra.

“Sorry. I'll stop now.” Kelly paused as Ashley didn't reply. “Er, Ash, when I finish changing can you come and check how it looks?”

“Er, sure.” Ash answered as she pulled off Shepard's boxers. She looked at herself naked in the mirrors and thought about Shepard, before smiling and picking out a full outfit she was sure he'd like almost as much as she would. There was silence for a few minutes as Ashley put everything on, everything fitting perfectly. She posed for herself in the mirror. She smiled.

“Ashley?” Tali said outside the dressing room. “I have a few more things for you to try. I can't find anything else I think you'd like. Nothing in the human section, anyway.”

“OK, thanks Tali.” Ashley pressed the button to let her in. “So far you've been pretty good with what I like. You know I didn't expect you to know about...er...me.” She tried to cover her mistake, but failed. As she walked further into the room to let Tali join her.

“It's OK Ashley, I know that I don't get to change clothes like everyone else does but you have noticed this suit is very different to when I was on the first Normandy. We do care about fashion. Probably more than you.” Ashley had clearly spent too much time with Shepard as she could not resist finding out more.

“How do you mean?” Ashley asked as she took the clothes from Tali, before putting them down neatly. Tali closed the door behind her.

“We don't have our face, our hair, our eyes, our skin-tone to tell us apart. We all have suits. All we have to tell us apart is what we put on over our suits. That, in your language, is fashion.”

“That's a good point.”

“That's not to say we're obsessed with it...due to the nature of the migrant fleet we're more interested in engineering and that kind of thing, but we do take an interest.” Ashley had already worked out she had hit a nerve.

“Tali, are you OK?”

“Yes Ashley, I'm fine.” Tali responded instantly.

“We're going to have that talk later Tali. I'm actually looking forward to it.” Ashley gave her a genuine smile when she finished speaking, her voice quiet.

“I...I am too. I like the clothes Ashley.”

“I'm not too sure on the shoes, but the rest I think is good.”

“It's not good, it's great! The shoes are too, they work very well with that. You know I didn't think you'd like to wear that outfit, but you look amazing in it! I am sure Shepard would think so too.” Ashley looked at herself in the mirror.

“You really think so?”

“Yes, I am sure.”

“Well maybe he'd like to wear it then.”

“I'd quite like to see that.” They looked at each other before bursting out laughing.

“What's so funny?” Kelly asked, through the wall.

“Just a joke Kelly.” Ashley replied.

“Could you come in now? See how I look?”

“Er, sure.” Tali turned around and opened the door, Ashley following her out, Kelly had already opened her door and was looking round the corner, her head poking out the door.

“Do you want to help me too, Tali?” Kelly asked, as they both walked round.

“I would, Yeoman Chambers.” They walked into Kelly's changing room, still giggling a little.

“Wow.” Kelly replied, looking at Ashley walking in, the former Gunnery Chief a little unsteady on her feet. “Ashley, you are going to floor the Commander with that.”

“Thanks Kelly, whoever is going to be lucky enough to see you in that will feel the same. Wow.” Kelly was wearing heels, stockings, lace briefs and a corset. All in black. Kelly posed for the people she was so happy to call friends.

“I agree, Yeoman Chambers you look amazing.” Tali paused. “Who are you getting that for?”

“I..er...no one, it's just if I did, I'd like to have it...” Kelly answered a little hesitantly.

“Right, no one...” Ashley said in an extremely sarcastic tone.

“No one!”

“Fine Kelly, don't tell us.”

“I'm not sure about them, OK?” Kelly had paused before replying, shyly.

“Not sure how?”

“I'm not sure they like me.” Kelly said.

“You show them that and they certainly will.”

“Well, I hope so. I'm not sure what they like though...I love wearing this anyway, so even if they don't, I like it!” Kelly's smile was infectious.

“That's the spirit.”

“I agree with Chief Williams. You should always wear what you like.” Tali said.

“I'm not in one place enough to dress for anyone else.” Kelly answered.

“Not the only one.” Ashley laughed.

“Well you're going to be on the Normandy for a long time aren't you? Don't do it for anyone here.” Tali paused. “At least, not too much.” Ashley glared at her. “Hey I know I've said too much about whether Shepard would like what you wear, I'm just...just looking out for a friend.” Neither Ashley or Kelly bought it, but neither pressed it.

They all giggled.

“Well, I sure appreciate not being a friend.” Ashley said, mock pouting. Tali did her best impression of a glare back.

“Who said it wasn't you I was looking out for?” Tali replied.

“I stand corrected. How exactly are you...”

“Er, girls?” Kelly asked. They both turned to look at the Yeoman, still in the lingerie.

“What is it Kelly?”

“Can you get out so I can change please?”

“Oh. Sure. Sorry.” Ashley and Tali turned to open the door and walk out.

“Before you go, Ashley, you planning on wearing that tonight?”

“Er, I'm not sure that's any of your business.” Ashley was a little angry. Kelly was a little intimidated until she realised the misunderstanding.

“Oh, no that's not what I mean. Did Shepard not tell you about the party tonight?”

“A party?”

“Yeah, it's his idea of a little thank you to the crew. He won't let us have it on the citadel though, it's on the Normandy. I think you should wear that! Although Shepard may have to take you out of the party before long. Maybe something less sexy...”

“It's meant for that kind of party Kelly. It doesn't show what's underneath but definitely gives hints, it's sexy, it's elegant. I think she should wear it.” Tali replied.

“Shepard may have to fight for her tonight. I'll fight him for a chance with her!”

“Er, Kelly?” Ashley questioned.

“You look amazing, that's all I'm saying.” Kelly quickly clarified.

“I have another dress I want to get to wear, if this is too...sexy. I've never really worn dresses before, I don't know what it is I just...”

“Love his reaction?”

“Well, yeah. When I was meeting him I thought of this conversation we had and so I wore a skirt. Then the way he looked at me when he saw me...”

“You want to see it again.” Kelly answered. Tali was as quiet as a mouse. Ashley had noticed.

“I think we should go Kelly, let you try out your next outfit. By the way, you should wear that tonight under whatever else you're going to wear.” Ashley stood outside, with the Quarian.

“Er, why?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“No, I suppose not.” Kelly answered as Ashley closed the door. She pulled Tali close and gave her a hug. Tali took her time responding before hugging Ashley back.

“I'm sorry Tali.”

“Sorry for what?” Tali answered, hoping Ashley hadn't worked it out.

“A lot Tali. A lot.”

*-*-*-*

“Did you ever use that trinket I gave you?”

“Yes.” Shepard responded to the Consort's question as he got up to walk out.

“What was it for?”

“It taught me something.”

“Anything useful?”

“No.”

“Oh. Goodbye Shepard.”

“Farewell, Sha'ira.” He left, knowing more about what he was going to do later that week. He walked towards the entrance to find Jack, Jacob and Grunt sitting talking, waiting for him.

“Commander?” A voice came out over his comms.

“Yes, Crewman Hadley?”

“Can I ask the Asari to come to the party tonight?” Hadley asked.

“Sure.” Shepard said, having read the background check from Liara in the Consorts chamber.

“Awesome, thanks sir!” Hadley exclaimed before the comms cut out. Shepard continued walking. They noticed him as soon as he entered the room.

“God damn Shepard! You took your time! I thought you had a girl now, she not enough for you?” Jacob said, clearly joking.

“It was business Jacob, nothing more. My girl is definitely enough for me, too much for me if anything.”

“She's too much for you? Damn Shepard, I am scared of her!”

“You have no idea. You guys ready?”

“Better than ever Shepard.” They all stood up and followed Shepard out.

“Until next time, Commander, Jack.” Nelyna had re-taken her place at the entrance.

“Until next time, Nelyna.” Shepard nodded his head towards her as he said that.

“I expected to fuck that Asari. I never got how satisfying a massage could be!” Jack loudly exclaimed as they walked out.

“You didn't fuck the acolyte?” Jacob wondered. No one thought Jack was the kind of person who would take 'No' for an answer.

“Yes I did, that's why I just fucking pointed out that I didn't!”

“Jack, was that a joke?” Shepard asked as he led the team across to the Embassies.

“No Shepard, that's why I just made a really shit joke.” Jack replied, in a surprisingly upbeat tone of voice.

“You don't make many of those.”

“Think you know me so well, huh Shepard?”

“Yes.”

“Well, maybe I'm changing.” They came up to the embassy quickly.

“I can see that.”

“How may I help you?” The Embassy greeter asked, as they got to her. It was an Asari, but not the same Asari he had met before.

“What happened to Sephyria?” Shepard asked as he leaned on her desk.

“She died in the Geth attack two years ago.” She didn't look as sad as most people would.

“Oh. I'm sorry.”

“It wasn't your fault. If it wasn't for you, more would have died! Now how may I help you?” She wore the phony smile that so many in her line of work did.

“Is Captain Gavorn here?”

“He is in the executors office, since the attack the Embassy has been rebuilt, so it's to your right, straight through the door, then third door on your right.”

“My thanks.” Shepard replied before straightening up.

“You're welcome Commander.” He smiled at her before walking in the direction she had told him. It didn't take long before he walked through the doors to Gavorn's office.

“You here to see the Blue Sun merc?” Captain Gavorn said, looking at the group of them as they came in. Shepard walked over to him to shake his hand.

“I have some...enquiries I think he can help with.”

“I'm assuming from that you can't tell me what they're in relation to?”

“You have other things to do rather than worry about that, Captain.”

“Well as a Spectre you can do whatever you like.” He left the rest of the sentence unsaid. He was grateful Shepard actually asked.

“Thank you for your co-operation, Captain.” Gavorn nodded his head and then walked out of the door, Shepard falling into step beside him. They were silent on their way to the holding cell. It didn't take long. The holding cell door was clear. Prisoners were not afforded privacy. Especially in the overnight holding cell. Eric was lying on the bed, a simple thing which looked very uncomfortable. His armour had been stripped off and there were bandages around his elbows. His nose was plastered too. Trying to kill Shepard was not good for your health.

“Eric.” Shepard loudly stated, before Captain Gavorn left him. Eric turned to him, Jack, Grunt and Jacob flanking the Spectre.

“Commander Shepard.”

“I haven't brought the Cupcake. I'm sorry about that. Eric I have a few questions for you.”

“What?” Eric asked, a little angrily, looking up at the ceiling.

“Where was the Blue Suns base you attacked me from?” Shepard already knew how they'd known where he and Ashley were. There were some interesting things in that database.

“Why should I tell you?”

“You are facing decades in prison as a result of having unauthorised weapons on the Citadel. Not to mention attempted murder of a Spectre and an Alliance marine. If that doesn't phase you...” Shepard took out his pistol and lightly tapped the glass with it. Eric turned, his eyes wide. “I told you what Balak did. Do you really want him to be able to actually finish it? I won't be there to stop him every time.” He left the threat about killing him unsaid. Eric swallowed.

“I didn't...” Eric nervously said, before starting again. “There was an apartment on one of the wards. They had smuggled guns into the place in the furniture. The sofa, the bed, the sculptures all had guns in.”

“Which ward, where?”

“Backret? Bachjayret? It's spelt B, a, c, h, j, r, e, t. I can't pronounce it. It's in some apartment complex called Brinsiat. Fourth floor, once you're out of the elevator, third on your left. Can't remember the number.”

“Bachjret Ward."Jacob said, quietly.

"You know it, Lieutenant?" Shepard already knew he did, but thought he'd ask nevertheless.

"Yes Sir. I know it."

“Before or after the Geth invasion?”

“Before. It's probably a lot different now.”

“It is. Most of the place is different now, it's also bigger. More humans there.” Eric interrupted.

“The 5 towers still there?” Jacob asked.

“Number 3 got knocked out and rebuilt. The other 4 are fine.”

“Drian's Café still there?”

“No, thankfully. Been a huge drop in food poisoning since then.” Jacob laughed.

“The place a shithole then?” Jack asked.

“That's putting it mildly. It was just awful. Really cheap though and the guy who owned it was really nice. When the place was destroyed he just decided to move on.” Eric answered. “Why do you need to know about it?”

“While I appreciate your co-operation Eric, you don't need to know that.” Shepard said, his voice quite friendly.

“It's not like I can do anything about it Commander!” Eric answered, a little annoyed he wasn't getting an answer.

“I know Eric. Trust me though, it's better if you don't know anything.”

“Oh.”

“Thanks a lot Eric. I'll come back in a few days and bring you a cupcake.” Shepard said.

“You didn't kill me Commander. I owed you one. We're even. Although I do want that cupcake.”

“Like a fat kid?” Shepard asked, a wry smile on his face.

“What?” Eric clearly didn't get Shepard's joke.

“Nothing Eric, nothing.” Shepard said before walking off.

“Why did you need to know where that place was?” Jacob asked, as they were exiting the C-Sec section of the embassies.

“Some records I found, I think Hammer paid them at the apartment. Also, Hammer has some associates that maintain some places on Bachjret Ward. In that same building. I think Hammer knew where the Blue Suns were. Which is why he used them. If the Citadel Branch betrayed him, they were so close they were used to seeing his men. Easy to kill.”

“Well what if you beat them?”

“Then they were dead and he didn't need to pay them.”

“What if you managed to get one to talk?”

“He wasn't after me remember. He was after Ashley. He didn't know I'd be there. They didn't know I'd be there. They'd knew she had a reservation for two but that's it. So he can't get at Eric without using another merc group. Sending 12 plus mercs after a soldier with no armour, biotics and only a pistol. Unlikely they'd need a contingency plan. If anything it was overkill.”

“So what's the plan Shepard?” Jack asked. “When we get to that place, do I get to kill some motherfuckers?”

“I want some information first. I have some places I know about to search for Hammer. I want to narrow it down. I don't want to have to spend a month searching for him when he can move between places I've just searched. I want to know.”

“Leaving so soon, Commander Shepard?” The Greeter said as they got to the entrance.

“I'm afraid so.” Shepard paused. “I never did catch your name.”

“It's Volyxra, Commander.”

“A pleasure, Volyxra. I'm John. If you'll excuse me...” Shepard carried on walking.

“Commander, you know a Lieutenant Ashley Williams of the Systems Alliance?” Shepard turned to her and nodded. “Councillor Anderson wanted to speak to her.”

“Councillor Anderson knows exactly how to get in touch with me, Volyxra. I'm sure it's even easier for him to get in touch with Ashley.”

“Oh. My apologies Commander.”

“You've done nothing wrong. Good day, Volyxra.” They left the Embassy quietly. Shepard took them in the direction of the shuttle docks.

“Battlemaster, where are we going?” Grunt asked, speaking for the first time in a while.

“Zakera Ward. I'm going to find a man who tried to kill me.”

“Elias Kelham?”

“First step on the road to him.”

*^*

“How have we been shopping for the last 5 hours? This is ridiculous.” Ashley asked as they walked back, hands absolutely full of bags. “Don't they have some kind of delivery service? I can barely hold this.”

“If we didn't have the party tonight, I'd spend the rest of the day shopping.” Miranda replied.

“Carrying the clothes back just feels like you've done more than if it's delivered. You also get to try everything on again and get ready for the party straight away.” Kelly answered, her hands not as full as Miranda's or Ashley's, but yet still overflowing.

“When is the party?” Ashley wondered aloud.

“In about 3 hours time. We've got to sort the plans out though.” Tali answered. Her hands carrying very little.

“Oh. Work. Always gets in the way doesn't it?” Ashley replied, giggling a little as she ended the sentence.

“It's necessary Ashley. It's not always bad though is it?”

“No, no it's not.” Ashley smiled.

“Good. Legion is on security tonight, so watch out for Grunt drinking. I'm kind of worried about that, I'm expecting to have to knock him out and drag him back to his quarters.”

“Grunt?” Ashley asked.

“The Krogan.”

“Ah. Is he like Wrex at all?”

“Yeah. Tough, gruff and rough. Though Grunt's not a biotic.”

“Fantastic. I'm sure I want to get in the way of his drinking.”

“Grunt's not going to cause trouble.” Samara said, firmly.

“Is he not? How can you be so sure?” Ashley answered.

“I am.” Samara replied, not really answering the question but you just didn't ask another question after that.

“The Justicar is right. Shepard's going to be there, Grunt won't do anything when he is. He's the only person Grunt fears.” Miranda said. No one else had anything to add.

*^*

“Commander Shepard?”

“Yes Adams?” EDI or Joker had clearly given his former engineer leave to talk via their comms.

“Is the offer for a tour of the new Normandy still available?”

“Of course. You'll have to dress up though.”

“Er...why?”

“We're having a party my friend. Don't have to wear a full tux or anything. I just thought I'd let you know.”

“Are you going to have the time to give me the tour?”

“I'll make the time Adams. I'm sure there are some others that would be happy to see you.”

“Which dock was it again?”

“Joker can give you details Adams.”

“Right. You sure about that?” Adams was clearly nervous about being on a Cerberus vessel.

“I'm sure Adams. I'll see you in 2 hours time.”

“Er...fine. See you in 2 hours Commander.”

“Captain Bailey is not far away now, Sir.” Jacob said as the Commander's conversation with his former engineer ended.

“Good.” Shepard knew where he was. He wasn't in the mood to scald Jacob for stating the obvious though.

“This is fucking Shepard for fuck sake Jacob. He knows where the fuck he is.” Jack was obviously not so inclined.

“I didn't hear the Commander complaining about my update.” Jacob replied.

“That's because he's nicer than I am.”

“You can say that again.”

“Captain Bailey.” Shepard said, loudly as he turned the corner into the C-Sec station. It was more to get Jack and Jacob to stop bickering than to greet the Captain.

“Yes?”

“Elias Kelham, where can I find him?”

“Why?” Bailey was a little anxious.

“Yesterday he sent me to try to capture me, so he could torture and kill me. I want to know why.”

“Elias Kelham? I'm not sure he's stupid enough for that.”

“I want to know for sure. I think he's a touchy son of a bitch with an inferiority complex. I showed him up, I won't be surprised if he did try and do this. Even if he didn't do it, he's a criminal and a murderer. He's lucky I'm not definitely going to kill him.” Shepard got a little animated.

“If you are going after him, I'd rather you did take him out than left him alive. I've had a lot of trouble from his men after last time.”

“Where, Bailey.” Shepard was more insistent. Bailey pressed a few buttons and then took out an OSD.

“Here.” Bailey handed him the OSD.

“Good. He'll be visited, soon. Farewell, Captain.”

“You need anything else, you let me know.” Shepard left to walk through the security check, the group getting some confused glances from some of the staff. It didn't take long to get to the docks, the team found their way to the Normandy in a few short minutes. As soon as the ship came into view Shepard sped up.

“It's good to be home.” Shepard thought.

*^*

“My feet feel awful.” Ashley said as she put some of her stuff down next to Shepard's bed. She started to take off her armour, the design surprisingly simple to take off.

“We have been standing for a few hours. We have fought for longer though Chief...Ashley. Did your feet not hurt after those times?” Tali asked, as she sat down on the sofa, some of her bags on the floor next to the table.

“Yeah it did, but the adrenaline rush just numbs it.” Ashley paused. “Do Quarians have adrenaline? Or an equivalent?” It never occurred to Ashley that Tali might not know what adrenaline was.

“We have an equivalent.” Tali answered. Ashley finished taking off her armour and took out a t-shirt and some shorts from her bag to put on.

“Does that not help? Or do your suits feel pretty comfortable anyway?” Ashley asked, genuinely curious. She was surprised at herself for asking it.

“Our suits are just there. I can't remember a time without it.” Tali answered.

“Oh. Sorry.” Ashley apologised before she sat down next to the Quarian. “That's really getting to you these days, isn't it?”

“What is?” Tali sounded a little anxious.

“Your suit. You really don't like it, do you? How often can you get out of it?”

“I...” Tali thought for a while then decided to just tell her. She was going to talk to Shepard about it soon anyway. “I do not. I have only been out of it twice. I was ill for a week afterwards both times. Not... very ill, just poorly. Although I should do it more often...it was worth it. I loved not being in my suit.”

“What did you do when you were out of your suit?” Ashley asked.

“Well...” Tali continued.

*^*

“What's the plan for tonight, Commander?” Jacob asked. The dock was empty, so they talked a bit more freely than they would elsewhere.

“Legion on security, EDI's doing everything else, everyone down on deck 3 in two and a half hours time.”

“Who's bar tending? Someone has to get the rest of us drunk!” Jack asked as the door opened in front of them to let them into the airlock.

“I am.” Shepard replied.

“You? You've got to get more drunk than the rest of us, none of us deserve it like you!” Jack loudly exclaimed, the door to the airlock closing behind them.

“I'm fine Jack. I've not done much bar tending though, so lets hope I'm not awful at it.” Bright lights shone as the scan took place. The light breeze of the air being replaced would have lightly moved any hair, had anyone had enough hair to move.

“I didn't say you weren't fine but it always helps to have a night where you get really fucking drunk!”

“I will get drunk with you some other night Jack. Tonight, unless something drastically changes, I'm going to be the sober one that makes sure everyone else gets drinks.”

“We'll get you drunk tonight Shepard. No problems.” The door to the inside of the Normandy opened up as the scan ended, the light breeze finishing along with it.

“Joker, report.” Shepard said as he moved to talk to his pilot, ignoring Jack's comment. The rest walked through the CIC, Jacob making conversation with some of the crew and to everyone's surprise, Jack joining in. Grunt huffed before making his way into the elevator.

“Nothing much going on, except Emily Wong is loving the interview you gave her earlier. Get me her details next time you see her. She's hot. The girls got back from their shopping trip about an hour ago. A couple of the guys are still on the wards but they're on their way back now.”

“Thanks Joker. Maybe I will.”

“Jeff thinks he can get the Journalist to go on a date with him. He believes she will like his jokes.” EDI said.

“She will! I was the one who gutted Sovereign the first time around, she'll find them funny and she'll laugh even if she doesn't. Besides, how can she resist these good looks?”

“Good looks, even if they are real, are not all a woman looks for.” EDI replied.

“Yeah and how would you know?” Shepard shook his head before turning around and walking away.

“I have a wealth of knowledge from all known species in the galaxy, Jeff. While there are some that look for...” Shepard zoned out from that conversation as he left, conversations between the crew about anything and everything surrounding him as he walked through the CIC. Kelly was not in her usual spot, so he just walked past the spot to the elevator and pressed the button. The doors opened to find Crewman Hadley inside, walking into the CIC. He saluted and Shepard saluted back. The Commander moved into the elevator and pressed the button for his quarters. He shifted lightly as the door closed, the armour never the most comfortable of clothing. He could cope with it, after all it was designed to save lives not be the epitome in comfort. The doors opened again on his floor and he stepped out, already unbuckling his armour. The entrance to his room opened soon afterwards and he walked in, noticing all the bags from Ashley's shopping trip. There were a lot.

“EDI, remind me about Adams visit in an hour and a quarter.” Shepard said as he walked over to his storage draws near his bed and started putting his guns away.

“Yes, Commander.” The AI responded before retreating back into her normal state.

Shepard opened the different parts he used to store his armour and guns put them away, along with his guns. He made sure to keep some room spare for if he needed it. The OSDs were put on the bedside table before the armour was peeled away as he listened to the music playing in his room. It was very rarely turned off. He heard the noise as his bathroom door opened. He threw most of the gear he wore underneath the armour into a pile near his bed for putting into laundry later.

“Oh, you're back! I thought I heard the doors open.” Shepard didn't turn around as he finished putting his armour away. “What were you doing for so long?”

“Got some information, doing research and the like. It's very time consuming. Saw Adams too.”

“Adams, as in Chief Engineer Adams? Is he OK? What's he doing now?” Shepard started to pull on a t-shirt and some jeans. He still didn't look at Ashley but he knew she was walking over to him, a little unsteadily.

“Yeah. He's on leave on the citadel, I'm surprised you didn't run into him. He's Chief Engineer on the Orizaba. He's coming here in an hour and a half for a tour of the new Normandy.”

“So, what are we going to do for the next hour and a half?” Ashley asked. Shepard finished pulling the t-shirt on and turned to her, leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs, just next to the sofa. Shepard's eyes widened and his cock stiffened as he saw her. She was wearing black high heels, black stockings connected to a black garter belt, black French style panties, black bustier and her hair was let down, flowing over her shoulders and the straps of her bustier.

“I really shouldn't have bothered to get dressed, should I?” Shepard said, before she walked over to him, swaying her hips as much as she could. Shepard could tell she wasn't used to the heels.

“No, you shouldn't.” Ashley draped an arm over his shoulder, the other one running over his short hair. “Maybe we should rectify that?” She said before kissing him and moving her arms to the bottom of his t-shirt. He raised his arms up so when she pulled the t-shirt up the kiss was interrupted for a very short time before they could resume. He pulled her close with a hand around her lower back and another grasping her lingerie covered ass, his fingers lightly digging in as her hands found their way into his jeans to unbutton them.

“You enjoyed shopping then.” Shepard half-laughed half-gasped as the kiss broke to allow them to separate and give Ashley room to push his jeans down, before he stepped out of them.

“Do you like it?” She smiled, doing a quick twirl before she closed to him again clad now only in his underwear, which Ashley quickly pushed down again. “Oh, I think you do.” She said as his hard cock came into view. She took it in her hand as his hands pulled her to him, before they fell onto the bed, kissing. She clung to his body as they rolled over slightly so he was above her, one of his hands grasping her stocking clad thighs as the other steadied himself above her, her hand slowly stroking him as the other found itself forcefully holding his head to hers, their kiss deepening, no longer conveying love and lust, more conveying need. She made to start undoing some of her clothes before Shepard caught her hand, the other still occupied on his very grateful cock.

“No, don't. I want you like this.” He kissed her hard, their tongues writhing against each other before he broke it, to kiss and bite her neck, the moan Shepard received as his teeth sank in making him smile. His hands roamed her lingerie clad body as his tongue, lips and teeth worked her neck, her hand digging into his scalp as her hips raised involuntarily. Ashley squeezed his cock a little harder than necessary and his reaction was to bite a little harder. The sound she made told him that was exactly what she did it for. He stopped working on her neck and sat up a little, his hands working their way underneath her to move her further onto the bed.

“So this is what we'll do for the next hour and a half then?” She asked as Ashley sat up a little, her hand still slowly stroking and squeezing his cock. His hips began to lightly pump into her fist.

“You did tell me earlier I had you to 'do' today. I plan on taking you up on that. Especially when you look like that.” One hand gripped the base of Ashley's neck and pulled her to him, crushing her lips to his, their tongues meeting. The other one massaged one of her breasts through the bustier and he found her free hand joining his, directing his hands movements and actions. Shepard stopped gripping her neck and pushed her back down before his hand worked it's way down her body quickly, working it's way into her panties. She gasped loudly as her former C.O. found her clit, lightly stroking as their tongues continued to jostle, stroke and caress. Ashley's hand squeezed on his as she sped up on his cock, his reaction to plunge a finger into her dripping wet pussy. “You've been wanting this since I left earlier, haven't you?” The Spectre said through gritted teeth as their kiss broke. “I bet you fingered yourself on this bed before you left...” Her hand tightened roughly on his as he spoke and her walls contracted around his finger.

“I have been without you for 2 years Shepard...So yes, to both.” She kissed him again. “No more foreplay, just fuck me.” She said, determined as she pulled her lips away from his, looking into his eyes. She adjusted herself below him and her hand left her breast as his fingers withdrew from her core. Shepard licked the Lieutenant's juices off his hand as she pulled her panties to the side moaning at his display and the warm air in the room coasting over her folds. Her other hand lightly pulled him by his cock to the junction of her thighs and his other hand ran itself over her lingerie.

“You know this stuff feels amazing.” He said, in between cleaning off his fingers.

“Don't get sidetracked Shepard.” Ashley said, half laughing. His hands moved to her hips as he guided himself closer to where she wanted him to be, his fingers tightening on her pantie clad hips. The head of Shepard's hard, throbbing cock pressed against her wet opening, her gasp as it did so showing what he already knew. Much like him, she needed it. “Just do it.” She almost begged.

“Just do what?” He replied, teasing her in much the same way she so enjoyed doing.

“Me.” She said. “Just do me.” His fingers tightened on her hips as his pushed forward driving his cock deep into her tight yet inviting folds. Ashley's back arched as he filled her core with his swollen and throbbing man hood, her stocking clad legs closing around his hips until her heels pressed into his back, though she kept the sharp bits away. One of her hands found it's way into his hair, pulling him down so she could kiss him. He stayed still as their tongues duelled once more, her free hand roaming his back before digging her nails in and growling as she realised he wasn't going to move. “Would you just fucking do it already? We can go slow later, right now, hurry the...” Her sentence was cut short as Shepard pulled his hips back and slammed them forward as fast as he could. Her back arched once more as her head fell back and his hands left her hips to place them either side of Ashley's head, as his hips started to work.

There was no slow build up to speed, no time for her to get used to his thrusts, just as she asked for, he fucked her. The moans she was making showed her appreciation before she bit into his shoulder, although it was the one that she hadn't already marked the night before.

“So this is what you want, right?” He said very unsteadily and disjointedly as his hips slammed into her, his cock now soaked in her arousal as it pounded deep into her core. The sound of their bodies connecting could be heard around the room and even though she was biting into his shoulder he could still easily hear her muffled moans. “You should wear stockings more often.” He said, loving the feel of the stockings on the outside of his thighs as he fucked her, his hands moving from keeping him steady to roam her bustier, squeezing her breasts before moving lower, gripping the underside of her thighs and his head fell to the bed to keep him steady. She gasped as he fell, her teeth leaving his shoulder and her hands moved to her breasts to squeeze and massage them both.

“Yes, fuck me Shepard, fuck me! Oh god!” She said, her voice wavering as she did so and stuttering each time he slammed into her. The way his body was clinging to her gave her clit stimulation every time he thrust into her and he could feel her juices coating his balls. “Oh skipper, I'm so close...” She moaned loudly and then was about to bite down on his shoulder again before he reared up, his hands moving back to her pantie clad hips and raised them up to give him a little more room to fuck her soaking wet pussy, but mainly it was so she couldn't muffle her moans.

“I've told you before Ashley, I want to hear your voice.” He said through gritted teeth, his neck muscles bulging with effort as his hips slammed into her, his body now perpendicular to her and his thrusts no longer stimulated her clit. Her disappointed sigh was quickly replacing by her moans again before she moved a hand from her breast to her folds, finding her clit quickly and rubbing it as the Spectre's cock continued fucking her hard and fast but going even deeper now. Her walls contracted around him and her face contorted in ecstasy in much the same way it had the night before. She was close and the noises she made would have told him that anyway.

“Oh God Shepard, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me...” Ashley groaned loudly, all her words long and drawn out as she got close to her climax, Shepard following very closely behind. Her hair was splayed out underneath her, moving slightly every time Shepard slammed into her and every time she moved to meet his thrusts. Sweat coated Shepard's back and chest as his hips moved, the exertion now beginning to take it's toll. He couldn't keep it up for much longer but that was not because he was not fit enough. “More!”

“Oh fuck Ash, I'm just...there...” She moaned loudly and her hands got rougher as she got to the edge.

“Shepard I'm...” Her eyes went wide and her back arched higher than before and her body tensed, her thighs tightening around his hips, the heels of her shoes now digging into his back. “Coming!” She moaned long and loud as she went over it. Her voice almost drowned out the slams of their hips coming together although neither lasted long. Her walls contracted around his cock, squeezing and caressing him more strongly than before, coaxing the orgasm out of him as he moved inside her, the orgasm making her warmer, tighter and wetter than before. He could barely believe it was possible. Her hands still moved, although erratically, on her clit and breast.

“Ashley!” Shepard groaned her name loudly as his orgasm overcame him, his hands pulling her hips onto his and driving his cock deep into her as his cock pulsed and spurted his seed deep into her core mid-climax. He arched into her, his fingers tight on her hips and he was sure he was going to leave marks but he was more sure that she wouldn't care. It felt to him like they were in that position for hours before their orgasms ended and he collapsed, her legs still wrapped around him and his hands moved form her hips to stop himself putting all his weight on her. Her walls milked him slowly and contracted, the aftershocks of her orgasm drawing any remaining seed out of him. Her legs relaxed and her arms wrapped around his neck before he rolled over and she went with him, her head resting in the crook of his neck as his softening cock almost fell out of her. They both gasped as it happened, before she bit his neck playfully and then kissed it. He moved his arms over her bustier, enjoying the feel of the silk and the lace.

“I enjoyed that.” She said.

“I heard. I am really liking this lingerie. I hope you have more.” He said as she lifted her head to kiss him. It was less hurried this time, more love than lust.

“I do.” She said as she broke the kiss. “I have a lot more. I have some that isn't mine too. You had a lot of money.” She had a wry smile on her face.

“What?” Shepard said, his face contorted in confusion. Ashley giggled and lightly bit his chest.

“I didn't buy it with your money. It's for Samara. She's not allowed any of her own, so I said she can buy it for me and she can borrow it whenever she likes. She looks good in it, I can see why you let her wear such skimpy armour.”

“Oh. Well as it turns out, you should have bought it with my money.” Now it was Ashley's turn to be confused.

“What?”

“I'll explain properly later. It's a pretty big thing, so when I tell you, I'll be telling Tali and a few others too. Sorry.”

“Oh yeah Tali.” Ashley looked thoughtful before he saw her clearly make up her mind. “You know she has a crush on you? I told her she has no chance with you seeing as she's ugly and her head is in a bucket and she's in a stupid suit and she'll die if she comes out of it not to mention she's an alien and she sucks.”

“What? Do you honestly think that? She may be in a suit but I don't care, nor do I care that she's an alien! She's an incredible woman and that suit looks beautiful, her body looks amazing under that thing which I know you think...” Shepard paused. “You're just fucking with me aren't you.” Ashley laughed.

“A little. She has more than a crush on you. I don't think any of the rest though, she's also...” Ashley paused.

“What, Ash?” Shepard asked, momentarily forgetting her mild joke.

“I've already told you too much. It was a private conversation, if she wants to tell you, she can.” Ashley said, a little apologetic.

“Ash, while I can appreciate a joke I will fall for those with you each and every time. I don't want to jump through hoops with you, I have to do that every day outside of this ship and even outside of this room.” Ashley started to kiss his bare chest, before sitting up a little.

“So what can I do to make it up to you?” She straddled his waist, her panties still pulled to the side, showing her still glistening wet pussy lips and her thighs coated in their juices and his erection came back instantly. It hit her in the ass lightly as it stood at attention, his hands slowly rubbing her stocking clad legs. “Oh, that?”

“Yes, I want to fuck you again.” Shepard smiled. “Well, this time I want you to ride me.” She raised herself up a little and his erection throbbed as it hit his stomach, then she lowered herself against it, her glistening pussy lips resting on it.

“Oh you do? Well I'm supposed to be making it up to you, if I do that, I will enjoy it too.” She said, before rubbing herself along his length and gasping.

“Well then, take me in your ass.” Her eyes widened and her smile broadened as he said that. She stopped rubbing herself against his length to position his liberally coated cock against the entrance to her ass. She moaned quietly as she felt it.

“I told you, I'll enjoy it too.” She still teased herself with his slick cock positioned at her anus.

“What could I suggest that I'd want to do that you wouldn't enjoy?” Ashley paused as he talked.

“Not a lot.” She resumed teasing herself.

“If you don't do it soon, I will do it myself and then make you clean my dick off with your mouth once it's been in your ass.”

“Promises, promises.” She replied before slowly sinking her ass down onto his cock, their combined juices making it smoother, his hands gripping her thighs tighter. He did his best to keep his nails out of it though, he wanted those stockings to survive so she could wear them more later. The tightness of Ashley's ass wasn't like the warm velvet caress of her pussy, it wasn't as inviting but it was hotter. Even now it was still somewhat of a taboo. As she sank down on his cock he thought of the only other time he'd been in her ass and his cock throbbed as he thought about it. Never before had he done anything like that but he knew when she left he'd think about that night on many lonely nights with his hands.

“You remember when we did this before?” Shepard said through gritted teeth, his neck muscles bulging again as he fought to stay still, to let Ashley do it herself. She sighed as she stopped, no longer able to get any more of his cock inside her tight ass.

“Guess what I was thinking of earlier?” She smiled as she sat still, moving her hands from his cock to his chest, using them to hold her up as she kept still. He looked at her straddling his waist, covered in sweat and glistening in the light of the room, clad in that black lingerie she had picked up earlier, talking about what she had thought about when she had masturbated on his bed earlier. He couldn't help but move his hips upwards but found all he was doing was raising Ashley a little, not pushing deeper. With a sigh he lowered himself again, feeling himself withdrawing from the vice-like embrace of her ass and Ashley raised herself a little until just the tip of his cock remained inside her. She lowered herself and he raised himself slowly until he was as far inside her as he could get and they both gasped. Her ass wasn't allowing Shepard's cock any deeper so she did her best to constrict her ass on his cock and he throbbed with arousal as she did it.

“You've been thinking about it all day.” He moved a hand from her thigh further up, slowly, playing with the strap connecting her stockings to the garter belt then running his fingers over the dry sides of her panties before moving to the more central, lower and soaked parts. He quickly forgot about the wet panties as he got to the part he really wanted and his thumb found her clit and the pleased moan he got from her told him he was doing the right thing.

“I've been thinking about it since I met you. It's just that I could masturbate to the memories this morning, not the fantasy.” She moaned as she rose off his cock again as he began to play with her clit and the way her face contorted told him she was close again. He pushed up as she began to lower herself again while he pushed a finger into her still sensitive and soaking wet pussy, her face contorting even more into the face he knew she made when she was close to her release.

“This really gets you off doesn't it, Ash?” Shepard said as he added a second finger and they began a rhythm in their actions, lowering and raising at opposite and thoroughly satisfying times. The Spectre's thumb rubbed Ashley's clit and his fingers matched the rhythm of his cock in her ass.

“Not any more than your cock in my pussy...” She gasped loudly, her face contorting further as she continued, both her actions and her talking. “I'm just still really turned on!” Her eyes closed and she bit her lip as she raised herself off him and then almost dropped herself as they gained speed. Ashley's ass was incredibly tight and Shepard wondered how he hadn't come yet but he wasn't close just yet and they both knew it.

“Don't bite your lip, you know I love to hear the noises you make...” Shepard said and she opened her eyes and looked down at him, some of her hair coming over one of her eyes but the former Gunnery Chief wasn't going to upset her rhythm to change that, the hands on his chest used as a platform for her movement as she tried to fuck herself in the ass using her lover's cock. Her mouth opened and loud moans came out before she almost screamed.

“Shepaaaaaard!” Ashley shouted as she came, her back arching, her body tensing but it didn't stop either of their actions. The Lieutenant continued to raise and lower herself on his cock as she came, the walls of her pussy constricting around his fingers and their combined juices flowing out, dripping onto his stomach. Her ass did the same and tightened around his cock but it did nothing to stop them moving, if she had been looking at him, instead of having thrown her head back to moan and scream through her orgasm, she'd have noticed how much effort Shepard was putting into not coming, his teeth gritted so hard it was making noise and his neck muscles bulging. John was amazed how she was continuing to move like she was, she was really riding his cock and fingers as she came but it wouldn't last forever. She came down from her high and her muscles eased, her pussy and ass contracting less strongly on Shepard's fingers and cock but she couldn't come down far. Ashley was still moaning loudly as they fucked, the Spectre's cock ploughing deep into her ass, his thumb and fingers working her clit and soaking wet pussy as he raised to meet her when she came down.

“Oh fuck...” Shepard growled, his muscles bulging less as he put in less effort to keep from coming but he was not far from his release. Her face started to contort again in that way and that told him she was almost there once more. He redoubled his efforts and would have raised himself up but her hands on his chest kept him from raising himself, instead he tightened his hand on her thigh and the faster he lowered himself the more he wondered how he hadn't slipped out yet but he continued to do so, fucking her tight ass.

“Fuck me Shepard, fuck my ass...keep going I'm so close again...” Ashley moaned, her body coated in sweat, her hair unruly as her hot tight ass began to constrict more tightly around Shepard's cock as he entered her. “Oh FUCK!” She almost shouted as his hips finally hit the bottom of her buttocks as he got all of his hard cock into her ass, the feeling almost making Shepard go over the edge.

“I'm right there, Ashley...I'm going to come in your ass...do you want my come in your ass?” He didn't quite understand how he had managed to talk dirty to her then, he thought he was past coherence but her response told him he had said what he thought he did.

“Oh fuck yes Shepard! Do it! Come deep in my...” Ashley almost wailed and she tensed all over, her pussy constricting on Shepard's fingers as he found the spot she so liked and her ass constricting on his cock, signalling to them both she had found her release. “Ass!” She finished as she threw her head back once more, her body arching, her legs closing tightly on his sides and Shepard arched his back, raising his hips as far as she would let him, thrusting his cock as deep as he could and his cock almost exploded as he spurted his come in her ass. Ashley's pussy released more of her juices as she felt him do the same and they coated his fingers and hand before some dripped on his stomach again, more running down his arm or her thighs. The sounds Shepard made as his orgasm raged through him were extremely guttural but Ashley couldn't register them, nor would she have cared if she did. His fingers tightened on her thigh as the hot tightness of her ass milked his cock for all his come and his thumb played with her clit for all of hers. Their orgasms ended together and she collapsed on him, his cock and fingers still inside her, her arms no longer able to stop her from falling. The former Gunnery Chief's forehead hit his chin as she collapsed.

“Ow.” The Spectre jokingly complained as their chests rose and fell heavily, his hand moving from her thigh to rub his chin as she laughed into the crook of his neck.

“That didn't hurt, you can't fool me.” Ashley said before lightly biting his neck. He laughed a little.

“How long have we been doing this?” Shepard asked. His hand having wrapped around her back now feeling the material of her bustier, his other hand removing itself from her nether lips before he licked his fingers clean.

“Not long enough, skipper.” She watched him as he licked his fingers clean and her ass muscles clenched around his softening cock. He grimaced a little but continued, her ass not allowing his cock to become completely soft.

“I meant this... session Ash. Adams is coming later, then the party and I really need another shower before I get ready for both of them.” He stopped licking his hand and arm clean long enough to reply before he resumed, their breathing almost back to normal.

“Oh. I'm not sure.”

“You still have to clean off my cock, remember.” He said, mid-lick. She looked up at him licking her juices off his hand before she replied.

“That was when I wasn't going to take you in my ass...”

“Are you saying you're not going to?” Shepard responded. “How fucking much do you come? I feel like I'm going to be licking for hours.” He licked again. “It's nice though.” She laughed a little.

“There's some of you in there, you know. Are you going to make me clean your dick?” She challenged, hoping he would.

“I know. There's not much of me but there's a lot of you. I like the taste of you. I may have to taste it from the source again later.” He continued to lick, not looking at her as he talked or licked. He felt her ass contract a little as he talked.

“Promises, promises.” She responded. Shepard's hand that was on her back moved to her shoulder and strongly but slowly pushed her down his body. “Oh, so you are?” She said with barely contained excitement.

“You know you want to, you kinky minx.” She pouted, still letting him push her down and his cock slipped out of her ass and scraped along her body as she moved down and he leaned up to watch as she started to lick at his half-hard cock while he licked at his hand and arm. Her first few licks were tentative, clearly expecting a more bitter taste, before she sped up. Only the sounds of their slurping could be heard around the room, before EDI piped up.

“Commander, you wanted to be informed when an hour and a quarter had past.” Shepard stopped licking but Ashley continued and his cock hardened under her ministrations, her hands now beginning to fondle his balls and run over his well soaked stomach.

“Thank you EDI.” Shepard said and he heard the little sound that signalled she was no longer paying attention to the room. Shepard sat up a little and began to push Ashley off him.

“You make me do this and don't let me finish? That's not happening, skipper.” Ashley said, pushing back against his hand and then taking the tip of his now hard cock in her mouth. Shepard moaned in response.

“I need to shower Ash.” Shepard said through gritted teeth.

“Oh I suppose I should let you shower then.” Ashley said before standing up and going to sit on the sofa. She sat her ass on the very edge and spread her legs, before moving a hand to her pussy to play with her clit and finger herself while her other hand started to play with her breast. Shepard knew he had to shower, he promised Adams a tour nor was he prepared to disappoint him and he needed to be ready for the party too. He couldn't help it though, he started to stroke his cock while watching her play with herself, still clad in a full set of lingerie, her wet panties still pulled to the side. “So you do want me to help with that then?” She said as she watched his hand start to stroke up and down her cock.

“I find it very difficult to resist you Ash. Especially seeing as I don't want to.” He said as he continued stroking his cock, his voice a little hoarse now.

“Three times in an hour Shepard. No wonder so many girls want you.” She almost moaned as she continued to play with herself, two fingers now pushed deep into her hot, wet core. The hand that was on her breast moved down to her ass now and as she pushed a finger into her well-fucked ass they both groaned loudly.

“I can't do this for everybody.” He said as he continued to stroke his now solid erection. Neither of them made a movement towards each other, both enjoying watching the other masturbate.

“There's no need to suck up to me Shepard, you've already got me into bed.” Ashley said, her fingers beginning to move faster.

“I didn't say you were the only one I could do this for Ash...” He said, continuing his actions. “Are you going finish then?”

“Oh so now you want me to?” She said a smirk on her face, although it wasn't on it for long as her fingers stroked inside her, her thumb firmly playing with her clit.

“You are a tease, you know that?” He responded as his hand slowed.

“Me? A tease? You must be mistaken skipper. I'd never dream of teasing you...” She said, the sound of her fingers pushing in and out of her quietly reverberating around the room. Shepard stood up, still lightly stroking his cock as he walked over to her.

“Good.” He smiled. Her hands started to work faster and she leaned forward as he stood between her legs and she took the tip of his cock straight into her mouth. Ashley licked the underside of the tip the way she knew he liked, his cock twitching in response. Shepard could hear her fingers thoroughly fingering herself as she took more of his cock in her mouth until it bumped into his hand and his hand moved to the base of his cock. As she moved up his cock again his hand followed and it quickly became a mini game of cat and mouse as her mouth chased his hand down his hard cock and then retreated, his hand following her up, coating his hand with her saliva. Shepard's moans became more continuous as her tongued played with his cock while she had any of his manhood in her mouth, her fingers still working hard on herself and he saw her tense a little.
“Oh fuck Ash, just like that.” Shepard said, still looking down at her, one of the Spectre's hands holding her hair behind her head so he could watch his girlfriend take him inside her talented mouth.

She knew her boyfriend really did have to go soon and she had stopped him having a shower so she didn't tease anything like she would usually have done. Ashley did her best to get him off as quickly as she could but she was enjoying her fingers and thumb. There was no way they were going to be used to get him to come and it was clear Shepard was enjoying what they were doing. She bobbed on his cock faster and faster until she was taking all of his cock in her mouth that was available with his hand still on it. Thus he removed it, to let her do what she so enjoyed and the moans she made around his cock made it even better.

“Holy fuck Ash, I'm already close.” Both of the Spectre's hands were now in her hair, tightening on her scalp the closer he got to release. The sounds Ashley made and the look on her face as she looked up at him told him she was too. His hips started to push forward into her mouth and throat as she bobbed on it, her tongue still doing as much as it could. The Lieutenant's moans intensified and her bobbing got faster and faster. “Oh fuck Ash, just like that.” He repeated over and over until he shouted her name loudly as his orgasm washed over him. Her cheeks pulled in as she sucked harder as he came, Shepard's cock deep in his girlfriend's throat, his hands preventing her from pulling back but from the moans she made it told him she didn't care. Her hips were churning and her face contorted and he knew she was coming too, her wet pussy and tight ass contracting on her deeply embedded fingers, Ashley's arms no longer moving. She swallowed his come eagerly, although his orgasm wasn't the strongest and she didn't have to swallow as much as she had the night before.

“Ashley...you're amazing.” He said as he released her head and staggered back onto the bed, his cock softening.

“I do my best.” She replied in between gulps, licking her lips. They both breathed heavily for a few minutes before he got up and walking up the stairs unsteadily. “So you're giving Adams a tour of the ship before the party?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I haven't had a tour yet...” She said, almost pouting. Shepard leaned around the wall and looked at Ashley and she turned to him as she removed her fingers and put her panties back in place, covering her well-fucked sex.

“I was hoping...that is if you want...you could stay here while on leave? We can take you to Amaterasu, no trouble. It wouldn't be a burden, far from it. A lot of us would love to have you here. Those that don't just don't know you and will hate to see you leave when you do...but...please?” He said, in a vulnerable voice most unusual for such a famous soldier. He didn't do it on purpose, he was genuinely worried she would say no. His expression showed it, even if his voice or words didn't.

“So you'll give me a real tour some other time?” She responded. He lit up and his smile almost forced her to respond in kind. He was a strong personality, even infectious. It was one of the things that she found most attractive.

“Definitely. It'll be great to have you here Ash, anywhere you want to go, just tell me I'm sure we can sort it out. Although I may have to ask you to accompany me on some...missions.”

“Missions?” She questioned. Shepard ran over to the bedside tables to the OSDs, picked them up and ran back up the stairs to plug them into his terminal.

“Come up here, Ash.” He almost commanded and she raised herself up and walked up the stairs. Ashley stood behind her former C.O. and almost pulled him back so his head was resting on her breasts. She couldn't help but tease. When Ashley looked at the screen she stopped though and leaned forward over his shoulder to look at a face she knew and didn't like.

“Balak? You're going after him?” She said as he flipped through a few files.

“The man tried to kill you. More than once. Tried to destroy the largest colony the alliance has. Damn fucking right I'm going to kill him.” Shepard's conviction came back and she smiled at it.

“I guess if there's going to be some action the least I can do is help out.” He stood up at the answer.

“Sit, Ash. There's a lot of intel there, you could go through some of it while I shower.” She did as he asked and started flipping through the intel on him. “There's some there on Elias Kelham as well, but I know all I need to on that.” Shepard grabbed something from a tube on his desk and she turned to him, noticing the frame he had on the desk as she did. He dropped some cheese in the box he had on his shelf. She heard the squeak as his miniature giant space hamster Boo started to eat.

“How long have you had that frame, skipper? Didn't think you'd have that kind of thing.” There was no picture in it at this point, no one was close enough for it to have activated it. He walked over, pressed a button on the back and walked towards the bathroom and she noticed it was a picture of her.

“Since I came on board. Getting a picture of you from the extranet wasn't too difficult for me and that frame was already there.” She wasn't sure what to say.

“It took you a week, admit it skipper.” She joked as she looked back at the screen in front of her, intel on Balak and his organisation littering the screen. He smiled and didn't bother responding as he walked into the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on.

*^*

“Good to see you Adams.” Shepard greeted his former engineer at the entrance to the Normandy. He was dressed in his Alliance Navy whites. Shepard extended his hand and his engineer took it.

“Good to see you too, Commander. I never thought I'd see you with Cerberus though.” Adams said, a little nervously.

“It's safe to say Cerberus is no longer an influence on this vessel. Have no fear.” Shepard was in no mood to point out he had never truly worked for Cerberus. He'd had that debate with some of his closest allies and best friends, he did not wish to repeat it. Shepard gestured into the airlock. “Shall we?” Adams did as suggested and walked into the airlock with his former C.O.

“Anyone I'll know on board?” Adams asked as the decontamination process started.

“Yes.” Shepard said, simply. There was a pause before Adams realised he wasn't going to say any more.

“Who, well apart from Joker?” Shepard smiled.

“You'll find out.” The door opened to the interior of the Normandy, seconds after Shepard's sentence finished. “Welcome to the Normandy SR2, Engineer Adams.” Shepard walked in with Adams next to him. “You'll notice a lot of similarities here between the SR1 and the SR2. The talentless piloting is very similar.”

“You know there's no one better Shepard. I can make this baby dance. It makes the likes of Michael Jackson and Sirian Tbojnevik look like...well, me.” Joker said, as his seat turned around. “Chief Adams! It's good to see you again Sir.” Joker stood up as Adams walked around the cockpit.

“This is...wow. What's this?” Adams said, gesturing towards the floating blue orb that was EDI.

“EDI. She's the ship's computer. Among... other things.” Joker said, not sure how much Shepard had told him about EDI.

“A virtual intelligence?” Adams asked.

“A little more...sophisticated than that. Do you like the cockpit?” Shepard queried. Justifying EDI was something else he was not in the mood for. Joker sat back down and started pressing some buttons.

“You're not going to give me more detail, are you Commander?”

“Not right now.”

“Yes, it's an improvement. It's a little more advanced and looks much more comfortable. I even prefer how it's brighter than the original. I like what you've done with it Joker.” Adams didn't press Shepard. He'd come back from the dead and it was the first time he'd seen him in almost 3 years, it was not the time.

“Civilian sector comfort by design. It's the best.” Joker confirmed.

“You are coming downstairs for the party later, right Joker. You're not going to spend it up here are you?” Shepard wondered. It was almost as if he slept up there in the cockpit.

“Hell yes I'm going to come down and get drunk! I can't dance though. You're going to have to get me a seat.”

“Already sorted Joker. Adams, I have a lot left to show you.” Shepard started to walk to the centre of the CIC. Adams took a second before walking after him.

“The CIC looks pretty much the same.” Adams said, looking around at his surroundings. “A little more spacious I guess. The seats look more comfortable.”

“Yeah this isn't where the differences are.”

“Those doors are different. That door in the centre to the communications room? Is that different? Why are there terminals here?” Adams wondered as he walked round the galaxy map.

“The communications room, it's very different. That door doesn't lead to it. That's the elevator. The terminals are for me and my Yeoman. She's getting ready for the party though, I assume.” Adams turned to the elevator.

“The elevator? It goes up this far?”

“It's not the same ship my friend.” Shepard walked towards the armoury door. “The armoury.”

“That's a big change.” Adams said walking through. “Wow.” The armoury had quite a few of the male crew in. They were dressed smarter than usual, clearly the opportunity for a party seemed to make everyone try a little harder. Adams scanned the rest of the room.

“The first of many. EDI, do your thing.”

“Read 'em and weep!” Someone shouted in the poker game as they slammed their cards down.

“This is the armoury, where small arms are upgraded and maintained. Using omni-tool, computer-aided design and minifacturing we have the ability to manufacture several new models.” EDI said, her blue orb lighting the area near the door before it disappeared again.

“Aww you gotta be fucking kidding me!” Someone else shouted from the armoury.

“Manufacture several new models? I know we could change parts before but actually manufacture them?” Adams asked, ignoring the card game.

“Sort of. They're definitely upgraded over standard models. They're rarely new designs though, usually copied and upgraded. Can manufacture Geth weapons, Collector weapons, ERCS and almost anything else we can get our hands on.”

“We sort the armour and barriers here too!” Jacob shouted across the room from the poker game. Shepard walked over to the poker game.

“Adams, this is Lieutenant Jacob Taylor, my Armoury Chief, and Crewmen Hadley, Hawthorne and Matthews. Guys, this is Adams, Chief Engineer on the original Normandy.” Adams walked to the table and shook all their hands.

“Good to meet you Adams, I've heard a lot about you.” Jacob greeted the Engineer. The others were silent.

“All good I hope.” Adams amicably replied.

“Very good. I've never known someone so well thought of.”

“Good to hear.” Adams had a smile on his face.

“Anything to report since we got back Jacob?” Shepard asked.

“Nothing Sir. Just Hadley here is really shit at poker.” Jacob joked.

“You got lucky on the river, that's all. No skill.” Hadley retorted, his hands shuffling the cards.

“That's what you said the hand before that. Your poker face is just awful.” Hadley quickly dealt. They all had a look at their cards. Shepard could see Jacob had pocket 9s. Jacob looked at Hadley.

“What I got then, huh?”

“8 and a 10, suited.” Jacob replied and Hadley's face widened in surprise.

“How the FUCK did you know that?” Hadley's voice wavered as he shouted. They all just laughed.

“Lucky guess, if I'm honest.” Jacob answered.

“Have fun with your poker game lads. See you in the mess in a bit.” Shepard said before walking towards the comms room.

“See ya Commander. Now how can I do anything but fold now?” Hadley said, throwing his cards down. It didn't take them long to get into the comms room.

“This room is pretty plain. The seats weren't originally installed. There's a non-standard thing but that's a direct link to the Illusive Man. Consider that an...unused facility.” Shepard said, standing by the door. Adams walked around the room.

“It's smaller than the originals. I guess it was used pretty rarely, could afford to be shrunk down.” Adams answered.

“I liked the old one. This one has been remodelled recently, uses the actual space in the room. I can actually use it for debriefings now. The next room...that's new.” Adams looked at Shepard, then they quickly walked to the lab.

“What is it?” Adams asked as they walked into the lab.

“Ah Commander Shepard. This is my nephew Barsil.” Mordin spoke in his usual speedy manner, gesturing with his head to his nephew.

“I've heard a lot about you Barsil.” Shepard extended his hand. Barsil looked at it for a while then extended his hand and shook it. “This is my former Chief Engineer, Adams. This is my science officer, Mordin Solus and his nephew, Barsil. This is the SR2's lab.”

“You've got a lab? That's a definite change.” Adams said, extending his own hand.

“One of many. It's been very important so far.” Shepard paused. “Barsil, how are you enjoying your visit? Are you both joining in the party later?”

“It's...it's been very good. I...I...hope so.” Barsil was nervous but still spoke as quickly as his uncle. “It's an honour...honour to meet you Commander Shepard.”

“It's an honour to meet you too, I hope to see you at the party later. I've got to show Adams the rest of the ship. We should go.” Shepard replied politely.

**^*^*^*^**^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**

My apologies for how long this has taken, but I decided to actually give it a week or so, then re-read it properly myself. So while it's not perfectly beta'd, it's better than usual.

The random names I have used or will use are mainly in an effort to show that it's 175 years in the future, not everything will use the same names, among other things.