Author's Note: This story is a gift for someone who has supported me and inspired me on this journey of writing and sharing Sloan and Kaidan's story (The Reason). I certainly hope you enjoy this, Lena. If you haven't read her work, you most definitely should - Check out her profile: Vorcha Girl. It's amazing.

I expect this to be three chapters, all between 1500-2000 words. I will try to update quickly, but I work two jobs and The Reason is my main focus. Though, this is a nice break, so I am hoping to have it finished this month. The title comes from the Depeche Mode song Enjoy the Silence.

I hope you like my first attempt at a Shega fic. I would love to hear what you think... - TLC

Chapter One

Aria Shepard stirred, slowly coming to consciousness, and stretched lazily in bed. The soft sheets brushed sensually against her naked skin. Memories from the night before returned and she felt herself blushing as she rolled to her side, facing the mammoth source of heat to her right. She felt the smile pulling at her lips as she propped herself up on her elbow and rested her head in her hand as she let her eyes drink in the man beside her.

Naturally tanned skin, tattooed for decoration but somehow Shepard preferred the battle scars. He was wide, thick, and sculpted and she reached out to let her fingers slide over his arm and chest. She had never imagined a man like him would take this kind of interest in her. When she moved her eyes to his face, she could not stop the smile that spread on her lips. She let her hands trace his features, full thick eyebrows over sleeping chocolate eyes, a prominent nose, firm cheekbones and perfect, albeit scarred, lips. James Vega looked so much younger when he was sleeping than he did when he was awake.

He liked to remind her of her age, thirty-three; a full four years older than him. She insisted two of those years didn't count considering her time being rebuilt on a Cerberus slab. He always resorted to the math because, "Los números no mienten, Lola."(i) She sighed lightly, and traced a finger over the scars cutting across his face. War had a nasty way of aging people. When he was awake, even when he was laughing, and teasing her, his eyes were haunted. The images he had seen burned into his mind, clouding his gaze. His brow was tense, even when he smiled.

Yet, when he was asleep, like he was now, his face was utterly relaxed; no tension, no worry, no pain. Her fingers moved lower on his face, tracing the scars near his lips. Full lips that smiled easily, and loved to laugh. Warm, soft lips that knew just how to please her. She smiled with a timid sigh as her hand continued its exploration. Her fingers danced over his broad, thick chest and lower over his abs. She teased him that he'd gained weight since the end of the war, but it wasn't true; even at rest he was well-defined. There was not an ounce of fat on his body, he made sure of it.

She moved closer to him, moving the sheet from between them as she did and pressed herself against him as she placed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. He shifted, moving closer to her, even in sleep his arm slid around her waist and pulled her into him. Her petite frame was almost swallowed by him and she smiled, and kissed a trail up his jaw. His hand curled around her hip, and she was almost sure he was awake. She sighed, her breath brushing across his ear and her smile spread wider when he moaned lightly.

Her body hummed as she felt him reacting to her. "James," She whispered, into his ear and he groaned in response. She let a soft giggle slip from her lips as she took his earlobe between her teeth.

"Aria," He spoke her name, and it was her turn to moan. There was something about the way he said her name when he was just waking up. His accent was thicker, and his voice huskier. It sent heat pooling low in her belly and she pressed herself into him. Without warning, he rolled pinning her beneath him and capturing her lips in a kiss. It was thorough, deep, and slow as his tongue swept through her mouth.

Her hands went to his hair, fisting it, and holding him close as his hands explored her soft pale skin. Skin he was intimately familiar with, and she was always surprised by how quickly he could get a reaction out of her. She was no innocent when they met, she'd had a handful of lovers in her life, but none had been as experienced and attentive as James. He ended the kiss, and grinned when Shepard voiced her disappointment.

"I think that's my favorite way to wake up," He spoke quietly, dropping his head and letting his nose slide lightly from her collarbone, up her neck until his lips were at her ear. "Good morning, Lola," He nearly purred the greeting, and she grinned. He pulled back and kissed her lightly.

"Yes, it is," She answered softly. Her hands slid up his arms and around his back, holding on to him. She liked the way her pale skin looked against his. He turned his head and placed a kiss to her arm and she smiled.

He looked back down at her, and he felt his pulse skip when his eyes met hers. Bright, grass green eyes gazed up at him, shining with something he was afraid to name. He wanted to believe he knew what it was, but it was hard for him. She was stunning, her eyes lively and open, her long, midnight black hair fanned out on the pillow beneath her. Her small, rounded nose, and full, sweet lips, still slightly swollen from his kiss. She was so far out of his league, he treasured every second he spent in her presence.

Goddamn it, he was in love with her. He'd admitted that to himself shortly after the war; after they found her in the rubble of the Citadel. She'd been declared KIA. It was believed that no one could have survived the destruction of the station. He knew she could. He'd been given a team of six, a shuttle, and three days for his rescue mission. Everyone else called it a recovery mission; everyone but him.

She picked her head up from the pillow and kissed him quickly. "As much as I would love to stay here with you all day, I have to get going," She whispered between light kisses to his mouth. His response was to catch her kiss, and deepen it, pressing her into the bed and eliciting a low whimper from the back of her throat. He could feel her heart pounding against her chest as their bodies molded together. His mouth left hers and moved to her neck, his tongue and teeth working against her pulse as she gasped. The small sounds she made sent him spinning. "James, I have to pick my mom up at the docks," She reminded him. James dropped his head to her shoulder, and he groaned before rolling off her.

His arousal had died at the mere mention of the impending meeting. He'd heard of Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard's severe expectations and high standards. As a soldier, as a Commander in the Alliance, as an N7 agent, he could have handled the meeting with no fear. Yet, the thought of meeting this woman, as the man who was currently sleeping with her daughter, was absolutely, mind-numbingly, terrifying. He was suddenly nauseated and felt his palms sweating. "Dios mío,"(ii) He let the words slip out on an exhale.

She giggled.

He looked at her with his eyebrows raised. She'd sat up, pulled on his shirt from the day before, and crossed her legs in front of her on the bed. Her hand was pressed to her mouth smothering her laughter at his expense. "Great show of support there, Lola," He said, adding notes of forced annoyance to his tone. He wasn't angry with her, not really.

"Oh, Vega, please. She's just my Mom," She insisted and James shifted and laid his head on her naked thigh. She looked down at him, and ran her hands over the top of his head.

He snorted indelicately, and let his fingers dance over the inner thigh of her opposite leg. "She is exactly that: Your mother. She is the mother of the fiercest Captain in the Alliance Navy. The mother of the youngest recipient of the Star of Terra. The mother of the Hero of Elysium. The mother of the First Human Spectre. The mother of the Savior of the Citadel. The mother of the Hero of the Reaper War," Shepard rolled her eyes as he rattled off her accomplishments. "She had to have taught you what you know," Shepard shrugged her shoulders as a sign of her agreement, and chewed her lip.

"Is that all you see when you look at me? My resume?" She asked him, her voice small. He shook his head quickly, instantly putting her nerves to rest.

"Of course not," He replied, as his hand continued stroking her tender flesh. "I also see an amazing, beautiful woman, who I … care for very much," he added and she grinned at his words.

"Then think of her as that woman's mother," She suggested, and James nodded, but the teasing grin on his face made her heart thump.

"In that case, I also have to think of her as the mother of the woman who was screaming my name as she rode me all night," He watched her as his words sunk in. Her face turned a bright, tomato red and she tried to push him away from her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back beneath him.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, and used his momentum to continue rolling them until she was sitting on top of him. Her blush rising from the collar of the shirt. Her hands were flat on his chest, and he was laughing. She met his eyes, and joined him in his laughter. He loved how embarrassed she was when he spoke so openly about their sex life. She had opened up a lot since they had gotten together; she was more comfortable with her sexuality, and with talk of their intimacy. He still liked finding ways to surprise her.

She leaned down and kissed him. Her lips, teeth, and tongue dancing with his with perfect timing and speed. It was slow, and intense. His hands slid up her thighs, and she gripped his wrists and forced them over his head, holding them there and slowly rolling her hips against his. He felt himself reacting to her, growing more and more desperate for her with each passing second.

She broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his. Her eyes opened, green meeting brown, as her thick, raven hair cascaded around them, closing them in with each other. His breathing was quick and frantic as his eyes roved over her face. Her lips barely touched his when she whispered, "Usted debe bañarse en agua fría, Vega."(iii)

She climbed off him quickly and was already pulling pants on by the time he realized she'd spoken Spanish and translated her words. She had spoken Spanish perfectly, and his heart warmed at the thought that she paid that much attention to him, and took the time to try to learn the language. He propped himself up on his elbows. "You're really leaving, right now?" He asked, hating the desperation in his voice. He could tease her all he wanted, but he couldn't help the way his stomach turned at the thought of hosting their dinner here later. She smiled at him, and it lit up her face, and calmed his churning stomach.

She padded over to him and leaned down, kissing him lightly. "It will be fine," She promised. "I'm going to pick her up, and stop back at my place to drop off her stuff before we come here." He nodded, and watched her go. He fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. His sheets still smelled like her, and he missed her already.

He climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom, planning on following Shepard's advice and taking that cold shower. It would be a long day.

i "Numbers do not lie, Lola."

ii "My God,"

iii "You should bathe in cold water, Vega."

Author's Note: I hope the translations are accurate. I used google. Please, if an adjustment should be made, I meant no offense, PM me and let me know! Thank you! - TLC