Author's Notes

This is a direct continuation of "A Morning on the Homeworld", my Shepard/Tali smut-fic. If you don't want to go read it, I'll fill you in on some important details I introduced there.

This is set post-Reaper War. I've done away with the circumstances of the ME3 ending. Assume everything to do with the star-child never happened. The Reapers are gone, the Citadel and Relays weren't destroyed, and there was no synthetic genocide. Shepard is on Rannoch acting as the official liason between the Systems Alliance and the Quarian Government.

Please review! Let me know if you have any suggestions or situations you want to see the characters in.


Tali stood in a fluffy, thigh-length purple robe, a gift from Shepard, finishing up with his face. She wiped off the remaining shaving cream with a towel and prompted him to examine his face in the mirror. "Look at that, not one nick." Tali leaned close to him to rub her cheek against his now smooth cheek. He was still twirling a lock of her hair as he had been doing while she returned him to his familiar appearance.

He gave her a peck on the cheek and walked over to a drawer to find some sweatpants. "How about we cook each other some breakfast? EDI found me some instructional guides on traditional quarian cuisine that uses some of the fresh Rannoch-grown crops."

"I look forward to tasting some of your dextro cooking. Keelah, the most I've ever done is hydrate some nutrient paste."

"Well I could throw it in a blender when I'm done, but I thought you might like some solid food."

"No, thank you, I'm perfectly fine with food that I can chew. And taste. Bosh'tet"

"You're assuming I can make something that tastes good."

Tali rolled her eyes at him. "Just go get started. I'm hungry and Shala'Raan will be here soon to discuss the details of the bonding ceremony." She couldn't help but grin at the thought of their official bonding. She lost herself in thought for a few seconds, imagining herself standing in view of the ocean beside Shepard. A bonding ceremony on the flotilla would have just been a quick gathering of the crew and some time together in a clean room for the couple. But I get to have one on the homeworld. A world my bondmate gave to me.

Tali was brought back to reality by a tight embrace from Shepard. She ran a three-fingered hand through his hair and found his lips for a warm kiss. When they finally parted, he cupped her cheek in his hand, ran a finger over the lines that adorned her face, and let out a chuckle. "I love you, too, Tali. I'm looking forward to the ceremony as well." He was able to read her like a datapad. "Here, you go take a nice, long shower. I'll go get breakfast started. Maybe I can test my culinary skills out on Shala before you try it."

Tali put on a devilish grin. "John, please don't poison my auntie." Shepard turned and let out a sigh, waving her off with a hand.


Shepard was combing through some different turian spices, trying to approximate the flavors described in his cooking guides. He could only hope that the flavors he received when taste-testing would be similar to what a quarian would experience. The rest of his vegetable stew was simmering on the stovetop. The guide described it as a generally well-liked dish among quarians that largely made use of an orange, root vegetable and a fleshy, green fruit. He found the aroma emanating from the pot to be strangely enticing.

He had just removed the pot to let the stew cool a bit when the house VI announced two people approaching. They expected Shala'Raan to arrive somewhat early, but Shepard did not anticipate that she would bring additional guests. "VI, welcome our guests inside," he instructed, remaining in the kitchen to tend to his project. The voice of the quarian conversing with Shala was very familiar to him. He turned to meet Shala'Raan and Zaal'Koris walking into his kitchen.

Shepard greeted Tali's dear aunt with a polite embrace. "Good morning, Shala." He was initially unnerved when the usually reserved quarian began to interact with him like she did with Tali, but he quickly grew to enjoy having a second mother. "And a good morning to you, John." Like most quarians, she and Koris were dressed in the form-fitting remnants of their old environment suits. The suits, now lacking the life preserving helmets and visors, had indeed remained part of quarian society. Some quarians were still reluctant to show their faces, but most reveled in the freedom of open air.

Shepard turned to extend a hand to the other admiral present in his home. "And Admiral Koris. To what do we owe the pleasure? " Shala slipped around Shepard to examine the results of his culinary efforts.

Koris walked over to accept Shepard's greeting. "Hello, Ambassador. I had hoped to meet with your friend Vakarian. I was led to believe that he would be here today."

Shepard winced, "Ah. We aren't expecting Garrus here until later today. Any particular reason you need to talk to him?"

Koris stood with his arms crossed behind his back. "As admiral of the Civilian Fleet, I am responsible for shifting our agricultural production from the liveships to the planet. I'm looking for some contacts within the Turian Hierachy's domestic affairs to discuss trade agreements for food production tech."

"I'm sure Garrus will be able to work something out through the Primarch." Shepard turned to see Raan bent over the datapad, going through his cooking guide. "Shala, Admiral, please help yourselves. I made some," Shepard paused for a second to recall the proper pronunciation, "ruush't."

Raan nodded at him, "Very good. I see your Khelish is improving. And, by the smell of it, I'd say you also have a talent with quarian cuisine." She took a small bowl from the countertop to serve herself a small portion. "I had hoped to find something to eat. I was forced to leave earlier than expected due to Koris's insistence that he speak with your turian friend as soon as possible."

"The sooner the better, Admiral Raan. We have quite a bit of work to accomplish to complete the transition of production and infrastructure to the planet, even with Geth assistance." Shepard pushed a bowl in Koris's directon. "Oh, thank you for the hospitality, Ambassador."

Shepard looked up to see Tali enter the room wearing her enviro-suit remnant. He missed seeing her in her robe or some of the clothes Kasumi had gifted her when Tali was able to leave her suit. I'm just glad I can always see her beautiful face and flowing hair. "Admiral Koris?" she inquired, surprised to see the formerly distant admiral eating breakfast in her kitchen. "Is there a problem?"

"Just here for some quick business, Admiral Zorah." Koris always made a point of addressing Tali by her proper rank, unlike Han'Gerrel or Daro'Xen. After Tali was appointed to the Admiralty Board, Koris found an unlikely ally in Rael'Zorah's daughter. They were the two that tried to prevent the madness that nearly led to the destruction of the Migrant Fleet. Gerrel and Xen still treated her like an adolescent. "I know you have some very important personal matters to attend to. Before I go, I'll take this chance to offer my congratulations to you and the Ambassador here. May your bonding see you safely together to happiness through the open stars."

Tali beamed at Koris's blessing. I suppose our time as nomads will be ingrained in our culture for generations to come. "Thank you, Admiral. That means a lot to me."

"I know you've probably been told this many times since the war ended, but you two deserve some peace and rest. More than most of the galaxy realizes." Koris trailed off at the end of his statement, leading to raised eyebrows from Shepard and stern look from Raan. "Well I think I've intruded into your home enough for one morning. Thank you for the food, Ambassador." Shepard gave him a nod. Koris quickly turned, avoiding eye contact with Raan, and exited the house.

"Well, Tali, you can add another reason why John is such a catch. Your bondmate is quite the cook," Raan said, smiling at Shepard. She filled a bowl with the stew and served it to Tali.

"Well, that's a relief," Tali teased, recalling her earlier request of him. "Hopefully, my levo-cooking can keep him satisfied."

"You'll never have to worry about keeping me satisfied." Tali blushed at his comment. "I'm easy to cook for. Just know that I'm a carnivore," he added, hoping to ease her embarrassment at the overt innuendo in front of Raan.

Raan brought the topic back to their bonding ceremony. "John, how much has Tali told you about quarian bonding rituals?"

"She's said that bondings, like nearly everything on the flotilla, are basically stripped down to the bare necessities."

"Yes, this was true, but for your ceremony we'd like to return to some pre-exile customs."

Tali spoke up at this in a mixture of surprise and worry. "We? Who exactly is 'We?'"

"The Conclave has taken an interest in your ceremony. They want it to be publicized to help cement our relations with the Systems Alliance. They also hope that it will be a demonstration to the greater galactic community that the quarian people are no longer nomads. That we deserve to be part of the Council's considerations and activities again."

Shepard made no attempt to mask the agitation in his voice. That explains Koris. "You mean they want to use Tali as a political tool again." He thought back to Tali's trial and his first interactions with the Admiralty Board. He could only imagine what it would be like to have to stand against the entire Conclave. "I have vivid memories of what happened the last time."

"And this time they're dragging John into it." Tali met his eyes from across the room. Keelah,they already tried to use my reputation. They will not use my love. She turned to glare at her aunt. "Our bonding is not a credit chit to be played in a hand of Skyllian Five."

Raan gave Tali a quizzical look, obviously unfamiliar with the idiom Tali had picked up aboard the Normandy. "Tali, please. They don't want to turn your ceremony into a complete fiasco, but they want you to consider what this could do for our people." Raan looked at Shepard, stressing the word 'our' to remind him that she considered him to practically be a quarian.

Tali focused on Shepard again, her possessiveness of her mate driving her ire at her aunt's words. "Shala, I know you're just the messenger," I hope you're just a messenger, "but this is too much. I just want our close friends and family. I want it to be special. I will not stand for-"

Shepard saw the anger welling up inside his lover. He walked over to pull her into a snug embrace from behind, calming her before she worked herself up into a furor; he knew she'd regret lashing out at Shala. "What could the Conclave do if we flat out refused?"

"Well," Raan paused for a few seconds, trying to choose her words carefully so as not to exacerbate Tali's anger, "technically they have veto power over wide-scale ship registries." Shepard thought back to how distraught Tali was at the thought of her father's name being stripped from those registries and tarnished in the eyes of the people. "They could move to prevent your name from appearing with Tali's in official recognition of your bond." Raan caught Tali's eyes flare up in pure rage. "But I doubt they would ever do it. They'd all lose their seats if word got out that they alienated the Champion of the People from integrating into quarian society. Please, just consider this a polite request. Nothing more."

Now driven by curiosity Shepard asked, "How exactly are quarian names decided?"

His answer came from the petite woman in his arms. "When a pair is bonded, they will decide on a new name for themselves, usually a combination of their families' names. This signifies that the pair is creating a new family from their old ones." Tali fidgeted in his arms. "But I've looked up human customs. I'd like to share your name."

Shepard smiled and gave her a kiss, "There's no one else I'd rather share it with, Tali."

"I guess that's it then, Shala. I'd like to be Tali'Shepard vas Rannoch."

"Very well, the registries will show that John Shepard and Tali'Zorah bonded to become John'Shepard and Tali'Shepard vas Rannoch. John, are there any human customs you'd like for me to handle for the ceremony?"

"Humans haven't ever had a unified culture so there aren't really a single 'set' of wedding customs. Different religions had their own traditions, but hardly anyone follows a religion anymore. I just imagined Tali and I would exchange our own vows to each other before our family and friends." Shepard put on his grin that had become so familiar to Tali, "Though I'm sure Garrus would appreciate an open bar."

"Incoming transmission from Admiral Stephen Hackett, Systems Alliance Military," the house VI suddenly announced. Shepard gave a dramatic sigh, "I'm sorry. I'll see what he wants in my office. Please continue, I'll try to make this short."

After Shepard left the room, Raan turned to Tali, "I will prepare your bonding documentation and arrangements." She mumbled to herself, listing the things she'd need to do. "Let's see-ship registries, invitations, food, and since we're no longer population bound we needn't worry with signing child limitat-" Raan's hand shot up to cover her mouth as she looked at Tali. "Oh, child, I'm so sorry I wasn't thinking..."

Tali did her best to hide it, but the thought of the impossibility of children with Shepard always hurt her. She looked down at her hands and began to wring them together. "It's alright, Shala. We've talked about it before. We know."

Raan walked over to give her a comforting embrace. "Biology aside, I can see how much he loves you, Tali." Tali perked up a bit at her aunt's words.

"I know. We talked about adoption. How we would structure our family." Tali laughed, "he said he'd like to raise a quarian daughter. I told him I wouldn't mind a human son." Shepard returned from his call and approached the kitchen, hearing the women's chatter. He stopped short of entering when he heard what they were talking about.

"Whatever you both decide, I know you will make a great mother." Raan took Tali's hands in hers. "I don't know how humans feel about this sort of thing, but you could find a donor, Tali. It's not unheard of."

"He mentioned in-vitro to me as well. I told him I wouldn't be comfortable carrying someone else's child. At least with adoption we'd be on equal footing." Tali began pacing around the kitchen. Shepard backed away when he thought she was going to see him, but he remained within earshot. Raan could tell she was distressed. "There is something I need to get off my chest though, Shala. I love him, but I can't stop feeling this selfish need to have our child. He will always be enough for me, but it is so hard to let go of that want. That need."

"That's perfectly natural, Tali. It's not selfish. Just remember that no matter what happens, adoption or donor, it would still be your child. Both of yours. And you still have the rest of your lives to figure these things out."

"Thanks, Shala." She returned for another hug from her auntie with a few tears streaming down her cheeks. "I needed that." Shepard decided he'd eavesdropped long enough and made his entrance back into the kitchen. Tali broke away from Raan and hurriedly wiped her eyes. "So what did Hackett want with you?"

"The Council has contacted him about my Spectre status."

Tali's heart leapt up into her throat. "I thought you told them you were done with all that."

"I did. It appears that they just want me to work in a diplomatic fashion. We are a long way out from Citadel space and I am in the best position to act as an emissary for the Conclave and Geth with the Council. I could help with the quarians' status among the Citadel races."

Tali had a hard time arguing with his logic. "And this way we'd appease the Conclave without turning our bonding ceremony into a circus." Raan gave another confused look at the unfamiliar idiom. Tali noticed and explained, "it means causing something to devolve into complete chaos. I can't say that I'm thrilled, but as long as they don't try to pull you back into active duty, I won't object."

"I will go inform the other admirals and the Conclave. Tali, think about what I said. John, thank you for the meal." Raan hugged them both and left.

Shepard walked over to where they kept the levo food and retrieved some eggs and bacon to set them on the counter near Tali. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek, taking his hint to begin cooking his breakfast. "So what did you two talk about while I was gone?"

"Just some girl talk. Nothing important," Tali lied.


ruush't - I pronounce this in my head as ree-yoo-sh-tuh. Tried to make something up that sounded kind of alien, but plausibly Khelish. (However you'd define 'plausibly Khelish')