Destiny awaits

"Go Ashley! That is an order!" Shepard yelled as Ashley was brought up the ramp to the Normandy.

"Shepard Please I can fight. I can still do this!" Ashley called back knowing she was in no shape to continue fighting, but she couldn't leave Shepard. Ashley's leg was badly injured and blood ran down her face. Liara held her arm to keep her from falling over. Ashley stared into Shepard's eyes pleading for her not to leave again.

Shepard stepped a foot closer and looked into Ashley's eyes with a sadness she had never seen before. It was the look of a lovers breaking heart. She was letting Ashley go. This was it.

"Ashley please go, I'm sorry," her eyes pleaded with pain.

"I love you Jane Shepard. Please don't leave me again. I can't live without you," Ashley said as Liara backed further into the docking bay.

"I love you Chief. Liara get her out of here please," Shepard said stepping back and watched as the docking bay doors closed.

~Normandy~

When I heard the news the Citadel was destroyed and Shepard's body had burnt up in the blast I didn't leave the Captain's quarters for almost a week. I knew I had a duty to the Alliance but all I needed was to grieve on my own time. Shepard was gone for the second time in my life and I knew this was it. She wasn't coming back and I needed to move on.

"Morning little guy," I said to Shepard's hamster as I stepped from the shower.

It had been six months since the war ended with the Reapers and we were back at Earth. We only heard what had happen to the Citadel eight days ago. This was the day I had to leave the safe haven of your cabin and face the world. Some Lt Commander I was.

"Ashley?" Joker called over to me over the communications.

"Yes?" I said as I buttoned the last button on my dress uniform.

Today was the day. If just seemed today was going to be the hardest day of my life.

"Admiral Hackett's ship has docked and is ready for us to board while the engineers take over the Normandy for repairs," Joker stated as I looked one last time in the mirror at my tired face.

"Let him know we will be on board in ten minutes and let the rest of the crew know to report to Hackett's ship. Including you Joker" I told him.

"Yes ma'am," Joker's voice was calm with no sign of his normal happy self.

We all were in morning. Joker had lost EDI. We all had lost Shepard. I took a deep breath and made my way to Hackett's ship and the journey I wasn't looking forward too.

The shuttles brought us all to the surface. Vancouver was the Alliance headquarters and wasn't hit as bad as London and other parts of Earth. Most of the bases were intact and we were heading to an event that made my hand sweat.

I walked with the crew into the large stadium. Hackett was waiting for us all by the stage that had been set up. Citizens and other soldiers cheered for us and shook our hands as we made our way to the front. We were heroes to the world, to the universe. The Normandy crew, Shepard's crew not mine, I was just another member of her heroic memory.

"Williams. I need to speak to you in private for a moment," Hackett said to me as I approached him and another Admiral.

"Yes sir," I said then we stepped away from the rest of Normandy's crew.

I noticed their eyes on me as I was lead away with Hackett. They looked to be worried. Liara gave me a faint smile and turned her attention to Garrus.

"Williams you have done a fine job with the Alliance and your father would have been proud. I know I am," Hackett began.

"Thank you sir," I said.

"We are promoting you to Captain and would like you to command the Normandy," Hackett stated.

"Admiral Hackett. I can't accept the promotion. I'm in no condition to command any vessel right now," I told him in a painful hurt tone.

Hackett placed a hand upon my shoulder and stared at me with a caring stare.

"Ashley, I understand you are hurting. I know you and Shepard where involved, but you are the best damn soldier we have right now and you are the best person to command the best ship in our fleet. I'm not sending you off for battle. I'm giving you an opportunity to be a leader. A leader that will make all of us proud including Shepard," Hackett explained.

I felt the tears fill my eyes but I didn't wipe it away. I let the tears fall down my cheeks. He was right and I needed the Alliance right now as much as they needed me.

"Okay sir thank you. I accept your offer."

"Good. Now let's get the memorial started and make Shepard proud of us all."

I followed Hackett to join back up with the Normandy crew. Shepard's crew and family. Now my crew and family. My new beginnings and Commander Jane Shepard's end.