'When a memory feels as real as life, it's as valid as life. Thinking about a moment brings back the smell of cut grass, the warmth of another's hand on yours, the taste of another's tongue in your mouth. Wouldn't you rather lose yourself in such a memory then spend the night alone, staring at walls of metal and plastic?'

Thane walked to the combat deck of the Normandy, calm and collected. He spotted Raven Shephard talking to Joker in the cockpit and paused to watch the raven-haired woman speak naturally with her friend. Best not to interrupt them while they were talking, let alone when anyone was talking. It was just bad manners.

Raven paused and turned her head to look at Thane when she noticed a darkly dressed figure approach the cockpit, a small smile forming on her lips. Thane had always been polite and almost timid in a way when he spoke, even his actions. Hell, he was a great assassin so he should be great at sneaking and going unnoticed. "What is it, Thane?"

"Shepherd, I wish to speak to you when the time is good for you. Alone, if that's alright," Thane moved his hand gently in motion as he spoke, speaking smoothly and sweetly.

"I can spare a few minutes. I'll meet you on the crew deck in your quarters Thane." Raven turned back to Joker and concluded her conversation for a brief second. By the time she turned back around, Thane had already gone in those few short seconds, like magic.

When Raven entered the Life Support area of the Normandy, Thane's quarters due to the arid air, Thane was standing and looking out of the window instead of taking his usual stance of sitting at the table deep in thought. He didn't need to turn to feel the change in the air the woman gave off as she entered the room. "Shepherd-"

"You can call me by my first name, Thane. We're friends. My name is Raven. Raven Shepherd. What did you want to talk about?" Raven took a seat at the table near the window, placing her hands on top of it in a comfortable manner.

Thane turned and walked to the other side of the table and took a seat. He took his time with his words, searching his mind for the right way of saying them.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me save my son. I'm grateful that you came into my life when you did. Even though my time is short, every moment is yours to take."

Thank you? Hadn't he already thanked her when they stopped Kolyat from killing that Turian? Maybe he wanted to thank her in another way alone?

"Thane, I did what I did because I saw a father who was hurting. When I saw you hug your son, it was heartwarming and I couldn't help but feel so happy for you. I know your son is happy that he has closure for your decisions in life when he was young. Thane? Don't blame yourself for what went wrong. You did what you had to do to help him live." Raven was sincere, her eyebrows furrowing in understanding of the situation.

Thane looked up from where his eyes rested on his hands in his lap, gaining locked-on eye contact from Raven. All three of his hearts began to beat faster. Why was she looking at him like that? She didn't have children, so surely she couldn't understand what it was like to go through what he just went through.

Thane spoke slowly, shaking his head very gently. "Sheph-I mean...Raven...I..."

"I think it was beautiful. I didn't think Drells were capable of such affection. It's like you picked up right where you left off all those years ago. Kolyat doesn't hate you, Thane. He's hurt. And now you're fixing your wrongs so you two can move forward. It's something I admire a lot. So thank you."

Thank you? Why was Raven thanking him?

Thane thought about the right thing to do and nodded slowly, smiling to himself. "You're welcome. I want to be a good father to my son. I can't do that, however. I'm very sick, Raven. Kepral's Syndrome. It's a disease without a cure. I will die slowly. I don't have much time left, Raven. I want to make sure my son is always taken care of, even after I am gone."

The pain in his voice was very apparent and heart-felt. This Drell male was so compassionate and beautiful, both in looks and on the inside. Raven couldn't help but to smile widely at his statement of death being imminent, leaving a child in his wake for her to care for.

Without a second thought, Raven grabbed his hands gently and stared the man down as she made an unbreakable promise.

"I promise I will take care of him and keep him on his toes. He'll have a life full of adventure. But Thane? You're not dead yet. Be alive with us. I'll make your remaining time in the galaxy unforgettable. Just hang on."