My story of a Post ME3 FShep/Traynor romance. I originally didn't like the synthesis ending but the extended cut definitely made it feel like the best ending that it was advertised as. Sticking with canon for the most part, but taking a little artistic license. Would like to continue this as I thought Traynor was the best new character is ME3, seeing her transform from the timid comm officer at the beginning, to the battle tested veteran by the end was great. So please review and tell me, good? Bad? Continue? Stop?

"There is another option, synthesis. Add your energy to the Crucible's, fusing organic and synthetics into a new framework, a new DNA," the Catalyst told Shepard.

"How would that even work," asked Shepard. This idea intrigued her, the catalyst had told her that destroying the Reapers would also mean the death of EDI and the Geth, and Shepard was not willing to sacrifice an entire race and a close friend if there were other options. Likewise she was hesitant to try to control the Reapers for the same reasons she had given the Illusive man. What if she couldn't control them, and the cycle began anew. If there was another option, another way to end the cycles and ensure that organics and synthetics would never come into conflict again, then she had to consider it.

"By taking a sample of your DNA, we can replicate it and send out the Crucible's energy in such a way that it integrates with synthetic technology. With organics we would use your DNA as a way of ensuring that the new synapses and software are not rejected by the biological components. There is more to it than that but there is insufficient time to explain. Suffice it to say synthetics will be enhanced by gaining an understanding of organics hopes, dreams, and fears, and organics will be enhanced with the superior knowledge and interdependence of synthetics without sacrificing the individual."

The Catalyst continued, "Synthesis will ensure peace between organics and synthetics because they will finally understand each other without having to sacrifice their independence or identity. Furthermore the civilizations stored in Reaper form will be freed in the digital sense, and able to contribute their ideas and knowledge to the galaxy.

Shepard had one final question, "and me, what will happen to me with these choices?" She was willing to sacrifice herself for everyone, had always been willing to, but she would have been less than human to not be concerned somewhat with her own survival.

The catalyst replied, "Should you chose to destroy us, you will die as well. You are part synthetic and without that part of you, you will die. Should you chose to control us, your physical body will be destroyed, but your mind will live on in Reaper form. However you shall be locked within Reaper form for as long as you control us. Should you chose synthesis, I cannot say, you will survive the sampling of your DNA, but I cannot predict what will happen to the Citadel nor to the Crucible when its energy is released. Your survival is a small matter though, is it not?"

Shepard thought, maybe to you, but I promised Samantha two children and a white picket fence, and if there is any chance to live up to that promise, I have to take it. I'll see you again Sam, I swear.

Shepard pondered her choices, she couldn't destroy the Reapers, she might be able to sacrifice EDI, because she knew EDI would be willing to make the sacrifice if it meant victory in the war. The Geth however, she couldn't sacrifice them, Legion's final words to Tali and herself on Rannoch echoed in her head, "Does this unit have a soul?" Yes, she decided, the Geth did have souls, with the upgraded code the Geth were every bit as alive as Humans or Turians, and she couldn't condemn an entire race and civilization to death. Especially since they had made peace with the Quarians and committed their entire race to the war.

Likewise controlling the Reapers was out of the question, her last words to the Illusive Man rang through her head, "are you willing to bet humanity's existence on it?" And no, she wasn't willing to bet the existence of her race and every other race in the galaxy on her ability to control the Reapers. Should she fail to control them, everything she had fought for, everyone who had died, would have done so in vain.

There was really only one real option, she didn't like the idea of altering everything and everyone in the galaxy without their consent, but she decided that this was the least criminal of her three options. She thought about telling the catalyst to go to hell, but doing that would risk him continuing the cycle. She could see from the battle that it was a stalemate, with hundreds of ships and dozens of Reapers destroyed, but she also knew that almost every ship in the galaxy was engaged in this fight, while the Reapers only had a portion of their ships, a conventional victory was out of the question, she had to choose.

"Ok, let's do it, I chose synthesis." Shepard said.

"Very well," replied the Catalyst. "Go down the middle ramp, and grab the handles. The Crucible will handle rest. She gave the Catalyst one more look and sprinted down the ramp as fast as her battered body could take her. Grabbing hold of the handles she could feel the pinpricks of them extracting her DNA, and the energy running through as the Crucible charged up to disperse its energy. The last thing that went through her head before she blacked out was Samantha's voice, "no matter what happens, I love you."