Dear Author,

Well now. That was amusing to no thumbs up!

-Hyjinks

This was so lovely it actually brought tears to my eyes. I love the dynamics between Shepard and Kaidan, love how real all the characters feel. And it's just so easy to relate to Shepard! Sometimes you try so hard, and something happens to mess it up, or you mess it up yourself, or just ugh! Just beautiful 3

When I really enjoy a story then I tend to re-read them several times. I can honestly say that of all the Shenko fics I read and re-read, this one might win the award for most read. It was one of the first fanfics I ever read and that made me realize that my prejudice against this kind of fiction might (while not always baseless) not always be true.

One of the things I love the most is how perfectly you captured the characters and their relationships with each other. This is exactly how I would picture Shepard and Kaidan interact in off-camera moments when they are not trying to save the galaxy but just being a couple, dealing with normal stuff. Because while they are excellent soldiers and know what to do on the battlefield, they are still trying to figure out how to make it work if no guns are involved (or let’s say, when less guns are involved since we are talking about Kaet Shepard here and there are always guns involved somehow). Only because they love each other doesn’t mean things are always perfect. You portray them like a (while not perfectly normal ) realistic couple. Their fights don’t always have to be about big, live threatening stuff, it doesn’t have to be dramatic or angsty all the time. Sometimes it’s the little things that are most interesting.

Like the doctor everybody loves to hate. Honestly, this is the most beautiful and realistic take I have ever read concerning her. It’s no big drama, it’s just a small thing. You don’t show her to be a threat, absolutely perfect or even evil but just as a woman who might have been in Kaidan’s life if things would’ve been different. Big compliment on how you introduce her, even make her likeable and show exactly why Kaidan decided to go out with her in the first place. What he saw in her and what she couldn’t be to him. That he looked for someone different to Shepard since he knew nobody could replace her but still being drawn to someone very much like her in some regards. Just perfect. The fact how Shepard reacts to her makes it even better, especially after everything that went on in her head before.

I love that Shepard knows she’s fucking things up while talking about the doctor but not being able to stop herself. I love how insecure she is while also knowing she has nothing to fear because Kaidan loves her and while he might have had drinks with the doctor, he makes her breakfast in bed. And I love how Kaidan tries to handle it, how he deems it not important enough to talk about and how he knows that Shepard is only spoiling for a fight. It says a lot about their relationship that he knows it and tries to prevent it from happening by blocking it, even knowing she might be too stubborn to let it happen. You hit the nail right on the head with the line “He'd pretty much resigned himself to this fight and even wondered why he'd tried to offset it.” Which says so very, very much about their relationship as a whole. As well as him demanding why she wants to know in the first place. He doesn’t back down. That’s something a lot of people don’t get about him, how stubborn he really is and that, no, he is no whiner but a grown man who voices his thoughts and suspicions and who can be very stubborn about things. He might have trouble accepting some things but he is willing to as long as you give him an explanation (which is, in my believes, one of the reasons for the Horizon-disaster: he never got a real explanation from Shepard. But this is not the place go have me talk about that …) Both Kaidan and Shepard are very stubborn people and it’s beautiful that you portray them as such without drifting into drama or angst (also see while dealing with my favorite OC of all time: Rambo the spider).

Another fact I enjoyed a lot is that Shepard is trying to make her irrational behavior up to Kaidan. He doesn’t expect it, she doesn’t need to, but she wants to which is very sweet. It doesn’t make her less strong or less badass. And it’s even more awesome that she doesn’t want him to feel bad about not showing up. One irrational female thing to do would’ve been for her to leave everything the way it was before heading out to shoot things, to make Kaidan feel bad for not showing up. There are no words for how much I love that Kaet Shepard didn’t do this because she knew it would be wrong and make things only worse. It shows how much she cares about him, that she was really sorry and she wanted to do something for her and them. The way she handles him not coming home is very Shepard. Trying to resolve things by shooting stuff instead of moping around. I enjoyed the part in the Alliance Military Ward a lot. How fast Shepard was back in her element, back at being cocky and sure of herself because she is so very much a solider (or infiltrator) in her core. It shows what she truly is, not only the profession she chose. Even without mentioning what happened in your other stories, it always shows which is beautiful.

I am not entirely sure of how I feel about Kaidan being extremely violent in regards to Tandish, tho. I can understand him being pissed and even punching that ass a few times, but pounding him to the floor seems kinda off for Kaidan. Although he might be short tempered because of everything that’s been happening and bugging him, so I am not sure. What I do like a lot, though, is how he stills as soon as Shepard touches him. That he is not only her rock but she is his, too. It’s just such a very minor thing but it says the world about their relationship.

I also love how you mention the friendship between Kaidan and Garrus because, honestly, this is such a very, very rare thing to find in fanfictions ‘tho the games never show them as anything else. In my understanding of the characters I think even if a Shepard choses Garrus during ME2, I don’t think there would be spite between Garrus and Kaidan. I think there might be hurt but I also think that, no matter which one Shepard choses in the end/ME3, they would deal with it like adults, like friends. I love the fact that you show so much character friendship in your fictions that is not colored with jealousy or anger. Those are the interactions I always missed in the games. I love romance but I also love friendship. I never noticed how much I missed this in the games until the crew started to interact with each other in ME3 and even more while reading your stories. As much as I love reading about Shepard and Kaidan, I enjoy it even more with rare glimpses like the one you gave us. Your dialogues always feel very alive. Humor is hard to write but you just nail it. No matter how many times I read this story, it never fails to make me smile.

There are a lot of different Shepards in the stories I like reading about but this story made me fall in love with Kaet Shepard. She is such a wonderful, funny, dangerous, stubborn character with strengths and flaws alike. A lot of times when you read (fan)fiction, the Shepards are flawless or have flaws that can be easily overlooked or even called cute. Even the renegade, earthborn Shepards with trust issues seem to be sure of themselves and everything around them. But Kaet has a troubled past that isn’t easy for her to deal with, to come to terms with but she is trying. Not only for Kaidan, or another person, but for herself which is not only important for her character growth but also very awesome (more on that in my future review of A Soldier’s Duty). Kaet is true to in-game Shepard but she is still very much her own person and character and I could go on and on about her and how much I adore her. You didn’t only create a character but a person while still being faithful to the games. Not an easy task. Mixed with a story that is both heartbreaking (in terms of how Shepard feels and how well you transport that feeling with your words), funny and touching, it’s a perfect combination. Bravo.

I don't know how I found this story tonight, but I LOVED it! It was really amazing how you were able to explore this aspect of Shep's inner vulnerability without losing the the badass, heroic woman we all know and love. Wonderful work!

I just have to say I adored this story. It was quite cute and it was nice to see Shepard a little jealous and unsure of herself. It made sense for her to be so uncomfortable in a dress, because that's always the way it is. Plus, I have to say I appreciate you not giving her a first name. So many stories do that, and it's not a bad thing, but you can just decide who this Shepard is, and she doesn't necessarily belong to anyone. I haven't created any kind of account on fanfiction, but I think I'm going to have to. I've found myself reading a lot of it since the end of ME3 just to get some more Alenko time. So thank you for writing this.

Totally loved this story, you nailed it when it came to shepard and kaidan, that's how I see them and I'm totally digging your humour! Followed!

Adding Garrus to their dynamic manages to make it 12 times funnier.

"You're sleeping with Mordin again." Garrus whispered joining him.

"Stop saying it like that, it isn't funny anymore."

(Bros! Bros! Bros! Bros!)

"You really need to stop seeing the dress as the enemy." Nyesara said in a soft voice filled with laughter.

"It is the enemy and it's winning." Shepard answered in sour tones.

Ohhhh. I've had that feeling before. :I

OH GOD THE END XD With The Liara-Garrus-Joker lingerie conspiracy. I am dead.

This is going to be the most useful review ever.

This entire chapter - WIN.

This is adorable...sweet...funny...romantic...badass...and pretty much everything I hoped for in a story. You really are an amazing writer Jaer and I love your shepard with passion! 3

Loved this story! Looking forward to reading more from you!

I already reviewed this story (I liked it very much), I just wanted to add it to my favorite stories. Thanks.

Wonderful story, I loved it.

Fluffy fanfiction makes my night, even if I really should be studying for finals and writing papers right now. Warm happy feelings floating around are so much more pleasant then pure angst, so lots of love for you! 3

This ist story ist absolutely perfect and sweet! Please wrote more stories about Kaidan and Shepard - I'm loving it :)

I loved this! Just the right amount of emotion and action. Please write more!