Mass effect Aftermath.
Both of my eyes slid slowly open. The hot for my quarters in Normandy filled my eyes, it was over, I'm sure. A smile on my face when my eyes fell on the Quarian sleep lying against my chest. Tali sleep peacefully at his gray eyes shining with tight stop. Her short black hair stood out against her pale purple skin. The hood of his enviro-suit black and red colossus was pulled down to rest her head against my chest. I slipped attention away from him by putting gently on the pillow. What had I done to deserve this?
I slipped slowly from the bed, so I did wake up. I took the N7 black shirt I wore yesterday and pulled my head. I slipped into the standard of the alliance, uniform trousers that I had fallen asleep in last night.
It felt good to be back on the three weeks in a military hospital in Normandy almost drove me crazy formed. I looked out the window where the stars shine through them. They seemed so friendly they were stars that had captivated me when I was a child not to the stars, I begin to fear. The reapers went where we won.
"Shepard are you okay?"
I spread thin smile on my face.
"Sorry, I'm in a bad dream again." I replied, trying to sound positive.
Although I could not see, I could tell Tali smiled. I said nothing to the silence to talk more than I could.
"What happened to John that I've never seen him shaken."
I turned to face the Tali who shoring on his arms. The look of concern on his face went through me. It hurts me to see her unhappy, his gray eyes staring into my soul.
"I'm back on akuze with my team. The foxes maws, they came under the ground, I could smell the stale breath. "
I raked my brain trying to make sense of the horrible dream.
"They grabbed me by my leg and started shooting me underground ..."
Tali reached and placed his right hand on the side of my face, rubbing her soft skin on my frightened face.
"It was normal that John nightmare."
I watched Tali I took his right hand three figured in my own.
"I know what I'd do without you Tali?"
A smile on the face of Tali.
"Well, you always want to try to find evidence to prove Saren worked with the fishermen."
A smile on my face, she had a point.
"And now, look at me hero of the galaxy."
Rubbed my hand on the silver ring Tali wore over his suit. It cost me a small fortune, but it was worth credit.
"Committed to the girl I love and about to build a house on his planet."
Tali grabbed my hand tightly expression of love in his eyes was unforgettable.
"We have come a long way not?"
Before I can answer the familiar sound of bleeped EDI in life.
"Shepard Chakwas doctor would see you and Tali in medbay."
I sighed pulled my car to the bed Tali did the same, as she pulled the hood of his enviro costume on his head.
"We'll be right down EDI."
"What do you think Chakwas wants?"
"Probably she just wants to pull us from are nice, warm bed." I replied as I turned to face Tali as I offered her my hand.
Tali turned to face me her face now hidden behind her mask. Her three fingers gripped my own tightly. The tone of her voice was filled with anxiety.
"It might have something to do with me, ever since I landed on earth I've felt sick I asked Chakwas to take a look at my blood for infections."
I turned to look directly at Tali a look of confusion on my face.
" Tali why didn't you tell me? ""
" I'm sorry it just after earth you were so badly hurt and then when you asked me to marry you.." I could hear the sadness in her voice.
I put my arms around her I could understand perfectly.
" It okay I know you Tali just don't worry me like that again."
Tali stared at me as she relaxed in my arms.
"Come on Shepard we don't want to keep the doctor waiting."
With that,she pulled me in the direction of the lift
If you'd told me a few years ago I'd been in this situation I'd have said you were mad. Here, I was leaning on the shoulder of the human war hero I was engaged to. Who had reclaimed my home world and had made peace between my people and the geth. Even now it seemed insane. My people had are homeworld back, and it was all due to a human.
The sound of the lift door opening brought me back to reality. The noise on this deck of the Normandy was extremely noisy, mainly due to the passengers we were carrying. The five geth primes that walked past the lift where a reminder of the new universe we were living in. The last one stopped, and it turned to faces us.
'' Creator Zorah commander Shepard do you need assistance?''
'' No we don't need assistance, but thanks for asking.'' I replied. The prime simply nodded and turned to join it companions. I turned to face Shepard who had a grin spreading across his face.
'' What so funny John? ''
'' Nothing it just that a few months ago if I saw geth primes on the Normandy, I'd be fighting for my life now their allies where giving a lift too.''
A small smirk spread across my face.
'' And we owe it all to you Shepard. ''
As if the universe could sense are happiness, joker familiar voice blared out over the intercom.
'' Commander we have Admiral Hackett on the comms.''
Shepard let out a sigh.
'' Great! You go on ahead I'll be there in a minute.''
With that, he turned back into the lift, stopping briefly to wink at me and then he was gone. I felt empty inside. Shepard was the most important thing in my life. When I was near him, I felt safe. I never could believe I would care about someone so deeply. I believe the asari term summed it up best he was my bondmate my other half.
A sudden, sharp pain in my belly brought me back to reality. The sooner I could get some antibiotics the better. I had never felt this sick even after my first night with Shepard. I was waking up at night in a cold sweat, and I had to resist the urge to throw up. It couldn't be contact with Shepard I had adapted to him so it must have been something from when my suit was damaged on earth. I could still feel the cold, where the banshee had ripped my suit right open cutting into my flesh.
I had never felt so scared as I had fallen to the ground. The pain was terrifying I couldn't even keep my eyes open. When my eyes opened again, I was in a hospital bed on the quarian fleet.
The medbay was empty apart from Doctor Chakwas, who back was turned to the door. She turned as she heard me enter.
'' Well doc what wrong with me? ''
Chakwas turned to face me a smile spreading across her face.
'' There nothing wrong with you Tali your condition is perfectly normal for a woman who two months pregnant.''
I froze in place. What had she just said? I brought up my omni tool something must be wrong with my suits audio filters.
'' Doc could you, please repeat yourself my suit audio flitters must be malfunctioning. ''
'' You heard me correctly Tali your starting to go through morning sickness and before you ask I've already double checked the tests. ''
'' But doc I can't be pregnant. I haven't been with anyone except for Shepard.''
'' Well then I guess Shepard is the father.''
Both of us turned as the door opened and Shepard stepped into the room.
'' I'm the what?'' he said as he walked over to stand beside me.
'' Shepard…. I'm ….. I'm …''
I could barely muster the words to tell him. When I finally found the words they all came out at once.
'' I'm two months pregnant it has to be yours because I haven't been with anyone else I don't know how I can be pregnant because where two completely different….''
I looked down to see that Shepard was squeezing my hand.
'' Tali slow down your babbling, did I hear you correctly your pregnant?''
'' Yes I'm pregnant Shepard you're.. You're going to be a dad.''
Shepard was dead silent for a long time as he stared blankly at me. He held my hand tightly as he turned to face Chakwas.
'' Doc could you please give us a moment.''
'' Of course just call me if you need anything.''
Chakwas turned and left the room leaving us alone in the medical bay. I turned to face Shepard there was a weak smile spreading across his face.
'' A baby how can we have a baby?'' I had never heard him speak so weakly.
'' I don't know what to say this.. It should even be possible.'' I said as I put my arms around him.
'' Are you okay with this do you want children with me?''
Shepard didn't reply he simply stared right at me. I had no idea what he was thinking. We'd never talked about having children
''Tali I don't know anything about raising kids, I can barely remember my own childhood but.. ''
Shepard griped my hand a weak smile forming on his face.
'' We may not get another chance, so if you want this I'll be with you every step of the way.''
Shepard put his arms around me tears falling down his face. I didn't say anything I just tightened my grip listening to the sound of his breathing.
We're having a baby.
'' Doc how is this even possible we're two different species?''
'' I have no idea Shepard. There is no record of a human/quarian couple conceiving a child. I guess it makes you're the first.''
'' So have you any idea why we can conceive and they can't.'' said Tali from the table she was laying on.
'' Tali this should't even be possible dextro-protein and levo-protein don't mix. How a hybrid can exist I have no idea.''
A small frown crept across my face as I shook my head.
'' I wish Mordin was here he'd have loved this.''
'' Yeah but he have probably wanted to dissect both of us.''
We all laughed. I did miss Mordin. I could still see the smile on his face when he stepped into the Shroud Tower elevator.
'' Had to be me someone else might have gotten it wrong.''
'' what was that commander? ''
Chakwas was looking right at me, a look of confusion on her face.
'' sorry just something Mordin said before he died.''
The computer bleeping caught my attention.
'' Don't worry commander it just finished it scan, Tali you can stand up now.''
Tali slid of the bed carefully avoiding the medical scanner and moved to join us. I noticed she kept look at her belly which she was keeping covered with her right hand. Even behind her mask I could tell she was smiling.
'' So Doc how long should it take for the computer to analyse the little one? '' I said as I turned to face Tali.
'' it not started kicking already has it? ''
'' No, but I can feel her inside me.''
'' Her? What makes you think it a girl?'' I replied a smile forming across my face.
'' Just guessing Shepard.'' She said as she put her arms around me.
'' Well it going to take several hours to analyse the data I'll call you if I find anything.'' Said Chakwas as she sat down at her desk.
'' And I take it you don't want this made public yet.''
That brought a horrid thought to my mind. Xeno relationships weren't exactly popular among any species. Terra Firma's was the worst, I'd already had to get a new Extranet mail account due to the amount of hate mail I'd received.
'' No doc, even if I don't think it will stay a secret for long on this ship.'' I glanced over at EDI holo emitter.
Tali put her arm over my shoulder as we stepped out of the medbay. I'd never seen her this happy even when I asked her to marry me.
'' You look happy.''
'' Happy but I also feel scared. I don't know anything about being a mother.''
'' How do you think your people will take this. I know mine won't exactly be happy? ''
'' I have no idea. My people always cared for each other. I hope they can see that where just be a very odd family.''
'' Well it doesn't matter as long as where together the whole galaxy can shove it xenophobic ideas up it ass.''
Tali let out a slight giggle as she pulled away from me and headed to the lift.
'' Well Commander I best get to the engine room. I'll have to make sure the engines are okay.''
''I'll see you later then.'' I replied a smile forming on my face.
Nine hours later.
I rubbed my eyes as I stepped into my quarters. I felt so tired. Everyone on the ship knew Tali was expecting. I couldn't go anywhere without someone congratulating me. It was strange but I hadn't felt happier, I was going to be a dad.
The sight of Tali caught my attention. She had pulled the hood of her enviro suit down allowing her head to be completely exposed. She was sitting on the edge of our bed several pads spread out in front of turned as she heard me enter.
'' Hey.'' I could hear the tiredness in her voice.
'' Hey what are you looking at?'' I replied as I sat down beside her.
'' just looking at the plans for our house.''
'' looking for where were going to put the little one? ''
'' Yes, little one I still can't believe it. ''
She reached out to take my hand her white eyes staring at me. Even though we weren't speaking we knew what each other was thinking. We were going to have a family. As we stared at each other, the bleeping of the computer caught are attention. Letting out a sigh I stood up and moved over to my desk. I had to be careful to avoid the small pile of boxes that where piled there. It was remarkable that most of them where the model ships I had collected over the years. Apart from them I didn't have anything else. I suppose it comes from being in the military. I sat down at the desk and switched the computer on. Chakwas appeared on the screen a smile on her face.
'' Hello Shepard is Tali there. ''
Tali appeared behind me, putting her arms around my chest.
'' I'm here doc have you found something about the little one.''
'' Not quiet in the way you were expecting. I've been looking at the data and my original assessment has been wrong. I didn't take into account that quarians have a higher pheromone product while pregnant . ''
'' What do you mean? I'm still pregnant aren't I? ''
'' Don't worry your still having a baby but….''
A smile spread across my face, when I realised what Chakwas was saying. Even when I tried I couldn't stop myself laughing.
'' Shepard what so funny? ''
'' I can explain that Tali you're not having one baby you're having two. You're pregnant with twins.''
The looks on Tali face was a mix of horror, shock and joy her jaw gapping open.
'' Twins? Doc that….. wonderful.''
'' Yes in roughly seven mouths you're going to have two little human/quarian hybrids.
Would you like to know if they're going to be male or female? ''
'' Actually Doc I'd like to be surprised, if Tali wouldn't mind.''
'' That would be fine with me Shepard.''
'' well Tali I recommend you get plenty of sleep I'll call you when I have more information.''
As the computer screen faded to black I turned to face Tali. As I stood up from the chair I had to steady myself as Tali threw herself into my arms.
'' Twins can this get any better.''
'' I know how can…Tali are you crying?''
Streams of tears where flowing down her face. A smiles spread across her face.
'' I love you John Shepard and I'm having your babie I…''
I picked Tali up and when she was settled comfortably in my arms, I carried her over to our bed. I set her down gently and sat down on the bed next to her.
'' Tali there aren't any words I can say that would some up my love for you. You're my angel, if I never met you I don't know where I'd be. I can't wait to meet my children and see them grow up with you at my side in are home. ''
Tali reached up and put her arms around me and pulled me down onto the bed.
'' shut up and kiss me you human fool. ''
With that I leaned in close and locked my lips with hers. Hers lips where so soft it was still amazing I could feel such a rush even after all this time.
Tali pulled back a smile forming on her face. She pulled herself closer to me and pressed her head into my chest and with that we fell asleep in each other's arms.
The black burnt forest appeared before my eyes. What the hell was I doing back here? Something was different, gone where the shadows and that kid who had haunted my dreams. I guess it was true that Harbinger was gone but then why was I back here?
No something was different, someone was sitting on the park bench holding their head in hands. As they lifted their hands to look at me I felt the air go from my lungs.
'' Laura? ''
As they lifted their head tears started streaming down my face. How could Laura be here. it couldn't be her but it was her she had the same long black hair, the same brown eyes. She stood up from the bench the burnt alliance armour she was clad breaking as she tried to reach me. I reached out my own hand trying to reach her.
'' Laura give me your hand.''
Something pulled at my legs holding me in place. I couldn't even look down at what was holding me in place. I started screaming as she burst into flames. Why couldn't I save her? Why couldn't I save my sister?
My eyes slowly crept open. I was still in my cabin Tali still lying against my chest. Tears where falling down my face. Why had I dreamed of the first person I couldn't save? Laura Shepard my twin sister.
Growing up on that miserable little colony she was my best friend. We use to climb to the top of the hills, to look up at the stars and joke how we'd join the alliance to get off this rock. When I was ten and found to be a biotic I got to leave for Grissom Academy. My parents where mad but she had been happy for me.
But all that had changed on that dreadful night when I was sixteen.
I sat alone at the table, eating what my mother said was meant to be vegetable stew. I doubt there were any vegetables in it but my mother was in a bad mood so I was chewing it down without complaining. The sound of someone opening the door caught my attention.
'' Mom, Dad I'm …. John! '' Said the familiar voice of Laura as she stepped into are habitation pod a smile forming on her face when she'd saw me.
'' John when did you get home? '' She said as she dropped her bags and ran over to hug me. I put my arms around my twin. It had been over three years since I'd last seen her.
'' it good to see you Laura how has life been treating you.''
She sat down next to me as she picked up a bowl of the stew.
'' Terrible brother Nickolas Marián keep on looking at my ass every time he passes by me in school. ''
'' Do you want me to throw a shockwave at him.''
'' No but maybe if you could scare him I don't think they've seen a biotic before speaking off which how is Grissom Academy? ''
'' It going great there even thinking of an exchange program with the asari.''
'' That desperate to fuck an alien are you. You little freak.''
I didn't even have to turn around to know who was there. The cold voice of my elder sister Emmy always annoyed me. She always blamed me or Laura for everything that went wrong in her life and when it wasn't us it was always the aliens.
'' Up yours Emmy what happened your boyfriend left you again?''
Even if I couldn't see I know she was scowling at me.
'' Just shut up you you….freak.''
I could hear her storming off into her own room. Laura started laughing as she picked up a bowl of her own.
'' it good to have you back brother she's been….''
As she was about to fill the bowl a large noise caught are attention it sounded like something big had just dropped out of the sky.
'' What the hell was that? '' I said as I stood up from the table.
'' Meteor strike? '' said Laura as he fumbled round in a draw for a torch.
'' Right what have you freaks done….. '' Emmy had emerged from her room and she instantly started screaming.
The back door exploded as a horrific looking creature stepped inside. It was a human-sized bipedal insect with four milky white eyes. It aimed a horrific looking assault rifle that seemed to be made out of its own body.
'' No body move. '' I yelled to my sisters hoping they would stay where they were. I'd only done basic first contact procedures at Grissom I only hoped it could understand English.
'' Please we mean you no harm just put the gun….'' I started but I never finished. The creature fired it rifle a stream yellow energy flying past my head. Emmy had attempted to run the blast catching her square in the chest. Blood ruptured from the gaping wound as she fell to the floor. My biotics flared into life as I grabbed the cooking pot and flung it at the creature.
It hit it square in the face the hot liquid been flung into it eyes. It fell back as I charged into it pulling it to the ground. I kept on hitting it my bioticly charged punches causing it exo skeleton to break. As it tried to raise it hands to defend itself I brought down one final punch that with a horrific snap it neck flopped at an unnatural angle.
I tried to pick up it assault rifle but it was connected to it hand by thin organic looking pipes. I turned to see Laura was knelling next to Emmy body.
'' She's She's…. dead. ''
I put my hand on Laura shoulder. Tears where streaming down are faces. We had never liked Emmy but she was still are sister and now she lay dead on the floor in front of us. Screaming and gunfire was coming from all other the colony. I pulled Laura to her feet.
'' Come on, we have to get to the bunker.''
'' John we can't just…. ''
'' Laura if we stay here were both dead and the bunker won't stay open forever. ''
Laura turned to face me her face was cover with Emmy blood. She nodded silently as we both ran for the front door.
The black sky was lit up with fire and the flashes of gun barrels. These things where attacking the whole colony and there was nothing we could do to stop them. People were screaming as the things forced them into horrid pupae-like pods. We both ran for are lives as they opened fire on us. One caught me in the shoulder my biotic shield barley taking the blast. I screamed out in pain but kept running.
The bunker was just ahead of us members of the colony militia where trying to hold the things off. We were nearly there just a few meters till safety. And then pain shot through my leg. I screamed as I fell to the floor blood pouring from a wound above my ankle. I'd never felt pain like it before as if my whole leg was on fire. I'd fallen just inside the bunker doors but despite the pain my thoughts turned to Laura where was she? I rolled myself onto my belly and turned to see that Laura was laying face down on the ground a hole blown through her chest.
'' Laura!'' I screamed at her. Her head slowly lifted to look at me. Her hair and face where covered in blood and it was flowing from her mouth like a dam that had burst its banks.
'' Laura give me your hand.'' I screamed at her reaching out my own. She reached out her hand desperately trying to reach me. It was only a few centimetres but it felt like miles. As are fingers connected I felt I sudden burst of hope. With one final effort are hands linked and I began to drag her into the bunker.
It was hard to keep my eyes open but I kept on pulling. The pain in my leg was terrible but I had to get my sister inside. With a final tug that hurt my whole body I pulled her inside. The horrific sound of the door closing started as I cradled my sister's head her black hair covered in blood.
'' Thanks for getting me in her brother this is going to be one hell of a story to tell.''
'' Don't speak save your strength. ''
She started coughing blood pouring from her mouth.
'' Please John don't let me go.''
I pulled her closer trying to keep her awake. To my horror her eyes started closing.
'' Please somebody help me.'' I screamed into the bunker. Nobody came to help everyone didn't even seem to notice us. I pulled my twin closer staring deep into her eyes and to my horror they closed. I tried shaking her desperately trying to wake her.
'' Laura please wake up.'' I yelled at her tears falling down my face but she never did. On that day I lost my parents my sisters and my home.
I shook my head as I blinked back to reality. I felt so sad, every time I remembered that day I could nearly be brought to tears. My hand slid over Tali belly where my unborn children where growing. I would never let them go through what I had been through and that was a promise.
And Commander Shepard keep's his promises.
My eyes slowly crept open, my head resting against the pillow. I pulled myself out of the bed, it was harder as my head was spinning and I felt like I wanted to throw up. Shepard was sitting at the cabins desk singing a song to himself as he cleaned his shotgun.
'' Behold the skies, the port of heaven, Take the stairway down to hell, the gate is open, lift the… Hey how did you sleep?''
A smile spread across my face.
'' I slept like a baby, I guess you didn't? ''
A frown spread across his face.
'' I dreamt of the attack on Mindor, when the collectors killed my family.''
'' I'm sorry, it must have be painful losing so many of your family in one night.''
John didn't say anything as he stood up from the desk.
'' I dealt with it Tali, they wouldn't have wanted me to mop in sadness, still I wonder what they'd think about are current situation.''
'' The fact your engaged to a qaurian and are having twins with her?''
A smile spread across his face as he started laughing.
'' Hey I still can't believe it. I'm going to be a dad. Have you thought about how you're going to break the news to Rann?''
I could feel myself blushing. Rann was the closest thing I had left to a mother and she hadn't approved of my engagement to Shepard. How was I going to tell her I was carrying his children?
'' I have no idea, she still mad after your proposal, how can I tell her I'm having your babies?''
'' I'll have to make sure my helmets has extra protection against concussion rounds then.'' he replied as he started laughing.
'' I don't think she'll shoot you but she going to be very mad.'' I was able to say, before I too burst out laughing. Shepard put his arms around me as he pulled me into a loving embrace.
'' What did I do to deserve you?''
Before I could reply EDI voice jumped over the intercom.
'' Shepard Admiral Anderson is on the intercom.''
Shepard let out a sigh as he pulled away from me.
'' Great, if this is about saving the galaxy again I'm handing in my resignation, I'll see you later okay. ''
As he reached the door he turned to face me. He winked at me before the door closed a smile on his face. As the doors closed I realised I was feeling extremely hungry. I guess when you're pregnant with twins you are going to get hungry. I walked over to the bedside table where shepard had started putting my mask at night. As I picked it up I noticed that he had placed it over his lucky charm. It was a small trinket of prothean design that had been given to him by Sha'ira for helping her with an elcor diplomat. He said on Eletania it had shown him a vision of prothean's studying early humans.
I stopped for a moment looking at the prothean sphere on his desk then to the ticket on the desk. They couldn't.. would they. I picked up the trinket and moved over to the desk. The sphere on Eletania had a small slot on the bottom surly this one wouldn't. As I turned it over in my hands a small slit seemed to appear before my eyes. I must be crazy but I slid the trinket into the slit. As I stared at the sphere bright white light seemed to fill the whole room.
I was floating in some cold liquid, my eyes where held closed. Someone was talking nearby, I couldn't understand the language. I tried to force my eyes open and slowly they started to open. I was in a tube some sort of breathing apparatus over my head. I was in a room filled with other tubes each filled with other quarians.
In the centre of the room where two prothean's there backs turned away from me. They turned to revile they were looking at something on an omni tool. It seemed to be a holo gram of a strain of DNA. Both of them notice me and seemed to activate something on their tools. Something started filling my lungs and i felt sleepy.
My eyes slowly crept open to see Shepard was standing over me.
'' Oh thank God your all right, what happened? '' he said as he helped me to my feet. He eyes than saw the prothean sphere and trinket.
'' Wait did they work for you?''
As he sat me down on the chair i started directly at him.
'' Yes it did it looked like it was prothean's running test on quarians. ''
Shepard smiled at me as he rubbed the side of my face.
'' Well it looks like are ancestor's where both being probed by the prothean's, have you any idea why they were studying quarians? ''
'' No they just seemed to be looking at are DNA.''
Shepard seemed to be surprised by this, a look of confusion then realisation spreading across his face.
'' Strange they only seemed to be studying humans behaviour not there DNA, I wonder why they'd be interested in quarian DNA.''
'' I guess we'll have to ask Javik when we see him. ''
'' I suppose we'll will.'' he offered me his hand. '' Come on Tali'Zorah you'll want to see this.''
I took his hand as he pulled me to my feet. He pulled me over to the bed and nodded to me.
'' Shepard I don't think this is the time.''
He simply pointed upwards at the skylight as I sat down beside him. I finally realised what he was meaning when I saw what was in the skylight. The Normandy had left FTL and was moving under it standard drive. I knew the system we were in, I had been told stories of it since I was born. It was home, my people home that for so long had been lost to us. I looked down to see that Shepard was squeezing my hand.
'' Welcome Home Tali.''
Home? Yes I guess it was home. My people where safe, my captain, my love was at my side and we were having two beautiful children. Yes it was home. our home.
The light was a bright dull red that seemed to be seeping into my soul. I wondered would this be the light that would guide me into the black abysses that would be my death. I knew I would never have a happy afterlife if such a thing even existed. I'd done terrible things, things for which there can be no forgiveness. All the people I could have saved and I wasn't strong enough to save them. The light flickered as the dust blew into my eyes. The sound of some alien animal, I'd never heard before began to drift into my ears. A hand griping me on the shoulder caused me to turn around.
'' Hey are you okay.'' said the concerned voice of Tali, who was standing behind me in the shuttle. A weak smile spread across my face as I took her hand in my own.
'' I'm fine just thinking.''
'' you aren't having second's thoughts are you?''
I could hear the concern in her voice. I gently squeezed her hand, I could understand why she was felling concerned. Less than a month ago we were fighting for are lives back on London and hear we were making the biggest decision of our lives.
'' Off course not, I love you Tali, if I didn't want to be with you I wouldn't have asked you to marry me.''
Even behind her visor I could tell Tali was smiling. She let go of my hand and picked up one of the two duffle bags that lay on the floor next to us. Without saying a word she step out of the shuttle and turned to face me.
'' Well are you coming Commander Shepard?''
A smile spread across my face as I picked up the other duffle bag and followed her out of the shuttle. The makeshift landing area that was being used was chaotic with geth and quarian shuttles flying all over the place. Tali grabbed my arm and started pulling me towards a small group of quarians. I could feel my heart stop when I recognised one the quarians.
'' Raan.'' Tali yelled out causing one of the qurians to turn. Even behind her mask I could tell she was glaring at me. Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay was an old friend of Tali family and with Tali mother and father gone she was the closest thing that Tali had to a parent.
'' Tali it good to see you I hope the journey here wasn't to eventful. ''
Behind my helmet, a smirk spread across my face. If only she knew that Tali was pregnant with my children. Before Raan could start a conversation another one of the Normandy shuttles flew overhead and touched down.
'' I'll give them I hand with the offloading' I'll leave you two alone.''
As Shepard turned away I could feel my heart jump. How was he expecting me to explain to Rann that I was carrying his twins? I could feel Rann arm on my shoulder.
'' Tali is everything okay?''
'' Um Rann. Could we please go somewhere a little more private? ''
Rann turned to one of are people's shuttles and pulled me inside.
'' What wrong Tali, you've been holding your belly like it going to explode.''
Behind my mask a small smile spread across my face. I tried to say something but the words never left my mouth. I brought up mu omni tool, the data of my unborn twins appearing before us. Even from behind her visor I could tell Rann was shocked.
'' Tali is this a joke?''
'' No Rann it isn't. I'm pregnant with Shepard's twins.''
'' How? This shouldn't be possible your two different species.''
'' I don't know Rann, all what I know is that I'm having his children.''
Rann simply stared at me. I had no idea what was going through her head. When she finally spoke I couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth.
'' Well I believe the words are congratulations.''
'' What you aren't going to go into a mad rant that, how Shepard is ruining my life and this is all his fault?''
'' Tali I'm your aunt. After your mother died I was the closest thing you had to a mother.''
She put her arm on my shoulder.
'' and you're the closest thing I have to a daughter. It my duty to worry about you but I've seen how you and Shepard act around each other, I know you look after each other. So do you know if there if there boys or girls? ''
I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
'' No we want to be surprised.''
'' Well remember to keep me informed and if you need help with anything I'll be there.''
Rann pulled me into a hug. Behind my visor a smile was fixed on my face. A knock on the shuttle door made us look. Shepard was standing there his duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
'' Admiral Rann if you've finished with my finance, I have to go build her a house.''
I pulled away from Rann and put my arm around Shepard. Even behind from behind her visor I could tell that Rann was smiling.
'' Just take care of her Shepard you have no idea how much she cares for you.''
'' Don't worry Rann I won't let anything happen to her or the kids.''
With that we pulled away from the shuttle. I put my arm over Shepard shoulder as he turned to face me.
'' So Tali'Shepard vas Rannock I believe you wanted a house by the ocean.''
I said nothing as I rested my head on his shoulder as we started walking towards the ocean.
I leaned back on the rock as I looked out at the ocean. It was calm the waves only lapping against the shore. Tali was standing in front of me, her figures making a regular square.
'' And are the window will be right here.''
I smiled as I walked over to Tali and put my arms around her.
'' So you are sure you want the house here. I don't want to start digging the foundation and then have to dig another set.''
'' I'm sure, I want are house to be here.''
We both stopped to look out at the ocean. The faint traces of salt were blowing in my face. A faint hiss caught my attention. Tali had removed her visor and pulled the hood of her suit down. She took in a deep breath as she leaned against me.
'' It feels good to be home is not. Just you and me are two beautiful children. ''
A small smile spread over my face.
'' Where are you going to have to think of names. We can not continue to call them children. ''
Tali looked at me a smile forming on his face pale purple.
'' Have you thought of everything, in particular? ''
'' I thought if it is a boy named after the Kaidan are old friend. ''
'' And what if the two girls? ''
'' Catina perhaps? Have you thought of everything? ''
'' I thought if a girl naming Ya'del after my mother. If a boy Rael after my father. ''
I pulled the mouse Quarian pleased me closer to me. I felt happy for the first time in what seemed like a millennium. Unfortunately for us the galaxy stays that way
End of the first chapter.