Mass Effect: Secrets
Chapter 1

It had only been one hour since the battle at the Collector's home base at the center of the galaxy. Shepard was relived that the suicide mission was successful with no casualties. Everyone had made it out, including the crew that was kidnapped when the Reaper IFF was installed. He had destroyed the base and told the Illusive Man he had two choices: to help him or to step aside, but Shepard feared the worse was yet to come.

It has been a long journey and everybody came back alive, but there is more to come. Harbinger is heading for the galaxy and unless all races unite we'll all be doomed. But none of that matters right now, because there was one thing that is weighing heavily on my mind. The night before the mission I was with someone I loved, Tali. The fact that I had told her that I only wanted her was true, but the idea that I had some how betrayed Liara is what worried me.

In all my life there where only two women I have ever loved: Liara and Tali. I have been with many women in my life, but they where all one night stands or a few months of a relationship that never worked. But when I met Tali and Liara for the first time there was some spark when I met them. Tali told me about how a dashing commander rescues a young woman and ask her to join his crew on a mission to save the galaxy, Mordin would most likely write it off as hormones, but hormones or no I still felt something for both of them, even after saving them. Regardless what happened between me and Liara that was two years ago and I am with Tali now and I am happy.

Shepard was in the elevator contemplating all that had happened in his life so far when the doors had opened to reveal something that was shocking. Repairs were well underway; EDI had erected force fields around all the haul breaches in the cargo bay, but what had Shepard surprised was that everyone was working together to repair the ship. People that were ready to kill each other were working together to fix the ship. Jack and Miranda were working together with their biotics to put new armor plates over the haul breaches. Even Tali and Legion were working together to install new systems and upgrade the existing systems.

Shepard saw who he was looking for. Tali along with Legion, Engineer Donnelly and Daniels were all arguing about what to do with the Normandy. Shepard started to walk towards her with trembling anticipation.

"Engineer Donnelly. We only wish to express that with EDI now controlling the Normandy the FBA, couplings are not necessary and the Normandy benefit greatly from Geth TBS couplings." Legion said in his always monotone

"Yes, but the power output from the upgrades you suggest could also cause an overload feed back in a number of other important systems" said Donnelly

"I don't think going on the extranet to look up 'questionable' material is a vital system Donnelly" Daniels interrupted with the rude yet flirting way she talked to Donnelly.

"Those are not the only systems I'm worried about. If you look over the simulations I ran, they can also overload the FTL com systems," Donnelly quickly interjected.

"In simulations we have run an overload happens in less then .0301 percent of simulations, and only when we don't install the other upgrades we have suggested." Legion explained.

"I still don't trust Geth technology to run the systems" Tali said in an unforgiving manner.

At this, Shepard entered into site of Engineer Donnelly and Daniels while Legion's and Tali's backs were turned away from him, "Do I need to separate you children until you learn to play nice?" As soon as Shepard spoke Tali and Legion turned to face Shepard.

"Sorry Commander. We were just worried about the Normandy. After all the hell she went thought to get us out alive, we were deciding how to upgrade the systems so we have a better chance at whoever is going to come after us next," said Donnelly.

"But it is coming along harder then we thought," Daniels interjected finishing his sentence as she always did.

"We are having trouble working out the bugs to the upgrades we had installed to survive the space battle," Tali explained in an enthused voice. "But we think if we work together we can have the ship be better than when it was new."

"Alright. I will have you all submit a report on this matter later, Dismissed!" Engineer Donnelly and Daniels look at each other shrugging their shoulders. Everyone left except Tali and Shepard.

Tali took two steps towards Shepard, stopping less than a foot away from the man she has longed for. "Hello Shepard. Have you come to talk about what happened last night between us?" Shepard nods yes. "I was afraid of that. Look if you don't what to see me I will understand if you need to find someone else…

Shepard quickly cut her off by trying to keep that thought from both of their minds. Putting his right index finger up and placing it on her the light bulb on her helmet lit up when she talked. "Tali, I came to tell you that I still what want to be with and I want this to work even if it is not physical," Shepard explained in a voice that made Tali relax. The tension in Tali's shoulders dropped and she moved in close to Shepard to whisper into his ear.

"Thank you, Shepard. You have no idea want it means to me to hear you say that," Tali explained in a whisper that made the hairs on the back of Shepard's head stand at attention. "You know in that research that I told you about the one that would let us be together?"

"How could I forget?" Shepard moves his hand from the light on her helmet to the side of her helmet as though he would be rubbing her chin or stroking her hair.

"Well the research suggests that the more two Quarians are exposed to each other the more likely they will eventually adapt. So if one Quarian was to say be exposed more often to any one person or someone…" Shepard cut her off the same as he did last time.

"Say no more Tali. Just meet me in my quarters in five minutes" Shepard replied

"Is that in order, Captain?" Tali joked.

"Does it have to be, Ms Vas Normandy?" Shepard joked.

"Never. Just give me five minutes, and I'll be ready," Tali replied.

"Is there anything I should do to help?" Shepard questioned.

"Just sterilize the room and yourself." Shepard cracked a smile at that thing of all the wrong this, "Wait that did not come out right."

"I'll go book the room," Shepard flirted.

Shepard and Tali made their way to the elevator, and a small number of the crew and Shepard's squad mates noticed them leaving together. Garrus gave the equivalent of a Turian smile and winked at Shepard. Legion stood with its head tilted slightly to its left raising its right head flap. Shepard thought it was the equivalent of an eyebrow raise. Tali and Shepard took the elevator to the crew quarters holding each others hands. Then Tali left as slowly as possible still holding Shepard's left hand with her right as she starts to walk off the elevator.

"I'll go on ahead of you to get ready for you Tali," Shepard said. Shepard could not tell from under her helmet for sure but he knew she was smiling.

"Yes, that would be for the best." Tali tramples as she realizes that she is still holding Shepard's hand as she walks off to her bed in the crew quarters at everyone shares. They hold hands for only a minute as though letting go was like was like losing the other. The elevator door closed as soon as their hands were out of the way of the door. As so as the doors closed, thoughts start racing though their minds.

Tali start moseying to the room where she keeps her immune-o boosters, herb remedies, and some rare tea under the bottom of the bunk beds she shared with Yeomen Chambers, just thinking about Shepard. How did I ever become so lucky? I'm in love with a man that has saved me twice and now loves back. I've wanted to be with Shepard for so long. I've watched him as events had changed him, like when he lost Lieutenant Alenko on Virmire. And I still can't believe he saw past my helmet. How did I become the luckiest women in the galaxy?

* * *

Shepard had just reached his cabin and was still thinking about Tali, but when he reached his desk he remembered the picture of Liara was still where he left it when he first came on board. It was facing down now so, Shepard picked it up to stare at it and think.

Have I made the right choice; being with Tali? Have I some how betrayed Liara by being with Tali? Will I end up hurting Liara if she finds out about Tali and I? Will I hurt Tali by being with her?

All these questions raced thought his head. The only thing he could do was take Liara's picture and put it back to where it was, facing down. "EDI, does this room have a cleaning protocol I can use to sterilize the room?"

"Affirmative, Shepard. There is in fact a way for the room to become sterile the same way you would when you come on board the Normandy," EDI explained.

"Will it eliminate all the bacteria in the room and make it safe for Tali to take off her suit?" Shepard asked in a concerned voice.

"It should, Shepard. I cannot speculate on how Quarain immune system will react to the environment of the gas that sterilizes the room. It would be best if Tali'Zorah was here when the purge starts to eliminate all bacteria on a person as well." EDI stated

"How long will it take for the room to be sterile?" Shepard asked, showing concerned.

"Approximately 31.415926 seconds." EDI replied in her usually emotionless, but some how concerned voice.

"Prepare to active it as soon as she enters the room." As soon as he started to speak the door to Shepard's cabin opened, and Tali walked right in behind him with the door quickly and quietly shutting the same way it opened.

"She is already here," EDI quickly interjected and gas that looked like steam from a boiling teapot started come out the vents.

"Cleaning up for me?" Tali said sarcastically. Tali wrapped her arms around Shepard.

"Of course, I would not want you to think of me as a slob," Shepard flirted back. Shepard grasps Tali's left hand with his and gets up from his seat. He turns and faces her slowly holding her hands then moving his hands from Tali's moving down her arms and placing them around her hips. Tali moved her hands from Shepard's the same time he did and sensually moved up his arms, placing her left hand on his chest and her right on his face.

As they stared at each other, Shepard saw past the helmet that hides the beauty of the goddess behind it.

"Sterilization complete, Shepard," EDI interrupted.

"Thanks EDI," Shepard quickly moved his hands from Tali's hips to her faceplate to remove. They hear the seals release from the rest of the suit. Slowly he removed the seal to show the face of someone he loved, with eyes that really glowed like two white dwarf stars next to each other. Tali stared equally into Shepard's Sapphire blue eyes.

Tali aggressively grasped Shepard's face with both of her hands and pulled him in to a kiss seemed to last forever. In a place where there is just them and no else.

I how did I become the luckiest women in the galaxy?

How did I fall in love again?