Hello all, this is KingN7. Let me just say for starters that Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, and that I own nothing and am simply creating a story. That being said, let's move on. After reading a considerable amount of beautifully crafted (and some not so much) fanfiction, especially for mass effect, I realized I was only taking away from this great community. So in an effort to repay my debt I decided to write a fanfic of my own. Yeah, I know, it's another 'ending fixer fic' but in all honesty Bioware didn't make the ending correctly, or at least they didn't make it in a way that made sense. How can one device do three radically different things? Here's what I envisioned my personal ending would be like up until those famous last 10 minutes changed it. The story starts at the final charge. EDIT: The story rewrite is completed! It hasn't changed too much, but hopefully it's a bit better now! Keelah Se'lai!

Please note my Shepard is a Paragon Vanguard, Tali romance, born on Mindior & lost his unit on Akuze.

Just Follow Your Heart

Ch.1: You Know I Love You

London, Earth

Tali'Zorah

Tali held her side tightly, trying her best to stop the bleeding as Shepard called in the Normandy. All around them soldiers, vehicles, and gunships of every race charged past, each of them determined to end the war today. So far, all of them had failed…

In a few agonizing minutes the Normandy descended towards the ground near their position as the cargo bay doors opened. Shepard helped Tali to her feet and supported her as they both ran towards the Normandy's cargo bay. She held him tightly, not wanting him to let go. They would get out of this together, like they always did…

"Here, take her." Shepard ordered as he passed Tali to Garrus.

Tali didn't know what was going on; wasn't he coming with her? Didn't he understand she couldn't leave his side? Didn't he know she had to be with him, no matter what?

"Shepard…" Tali said weakly through the pain that coursed through her body.

She knew she couldn't go on anymore, and she knew he could, and knowing that . . . broke her heart.

"You've gotta get out of here." Shepard commanded as his eyes locked with hers.

She saw the fear in his eyes, despite his attempt at masking it. The Great Commander Shepard, First Human Spectre, Savior of the Citadel, Conqueror of the Collectors, and so many other titles, was afraid. She knew exactly was he was afraid of: he was afraid the charge would fail, the Normandy would be destroyed, his squad would die . . . but most of all he was afraid of losing her. She knew he wouldn't allow her to die here . . . but she couldn't allow him to die either.

"I can't stay behind." Tali argued feebly, desperately wanting him to let her follow.

"Don't argue with me, Tali." Shepard ordered as another explosion was heard behind them, his face hardening slightly.

"Don't leave me behind." Tali pleaded as she tried to stand up straighter, fighting against the pain in her side.

"I . . . need you to make it out of here alive, Tali. Get back to Rannoch, build yourself a home." Shepard approached her and placed his hand on the side of her faceplate, his own face softening as he looked deeply into her eyes.

Tali leaned her head into his hand, wishing she wasn't wearing her damn helmet. She just wanted to feel his skin on hers one last time, and tell him she had to come with him. Didn't he know her home wasn't on any planet . . . her home was with him…

"I have a home, with you . . . don't . . . leave me…" Tali felt tears fall from her eyes as she grabbed his hand with hers.

She gently rubbed the top of his hand with her finger and let the tears continue to fall from her eyes. Shepard's face softened even more and he did something she never thought she would see again . . . he smiled.

"You know I love you, Tali, I always will." His smile remained as he slowly drew his hand away from hers.

Tali tried to keep his hand in hers, but she was too weak to stop him. His words calmed her slightly, but she couldn't help thinking they were final. She couldn't help thinking he had accepted his own death…

"Come back to me." She pleaded one final time, extending her arm as far as it could go to her captain.

Shepard stepped back and turned towards the battle behind him. Tali saw the chaos as Harbinger continued to blast soldiers, vehicles, and gunships of all varieties to dust near the base of the Beam. She turned her eyes back to Shepard as he yelled go and began running towards the Beam, continuing the suicidal charge. She desperately reached out towards him, begging the Ancestors for him to turn around and return to her.

Garrus lightly rubbed her arm and whispered, "Come on Tali, we need to get you to the medbay."

Tali nodded once, numbly, her eyes remaining fixed on Shepard's back. Garrus pulled her away as the Normandy's ramp began to close. She watched Harbinger's beams disintegrate soldiers and vehicles all around Shepard, yet he continued on . . . alone...

He didn't deserve this; he didn't deserve to be so small and alone like this. The chaos of falling gunships, disintegrating soldiers, and exploding vehicles continued in the charred earth around him, but Tali kept her eyes on him, making sure, in some small way, he wasn't alone.

She then stumbled slightly, losing her balance and turning away from Shepard. Garrus helped her regain her footing and she turned her eyes back . . . only to not see him anymore. She panicked, her eyes quickly scanning the battlefield for her captain. How could she not know which one of the soldiers was him? After so many days and nights together, each lovingly taking in the others every detail, how could she not distinguish him from the rest?

Harbinger fired its laser, a group of men vanishing one by one as beam cut across the gray earth. "Shepard!" She reached out again as the ramp sealed, not knowing if that last, still soldier, had been her heart.

Tali began sobbing, not knowing what she could do. After all the emotional and physical pain she had endured, she could hardly stand. She leaned into Garrus, trying her best to control her sobs. The elevator door opened and they both limped inside. Garrus remained silent as the elevator went up and Tali's cries continued.

The elevator opened at the crew deck and Tali began limping towards the medbay, Garrus still supporting her. Dr. Chakwas and her assistants quickly rushed over to them as the medbay doors opened. An assistant picked Tali up and set her on a bed as Dr. Chakwas began grabbing disinfectants and a decontamination unit. Tali closed her eyes, felt her consciousness fade as the medical staff did their work, and prayed to the Ancestors themselves for a happy ending to this nightmare…

Author's endnote: I hope this new chapter 1 is a little better than the old one. :D Please leave reviews of anything you liked or disliked, but following and/or favoriting is just as good too!