Note added after completion of story:

Looking back I can see the errors I made in structure and I am tempted to rewrite my earlier chapters but I have decided against it. With this being my first fic I developed a lot during the writing process and I wish to keep it as it is, sort of like a monument to my growth.

One Quick Note before you read.

I do not own Mass Effect

(I would have had a movie made of my personal storyline by now if I did)

Only the original characters and Shepard's personality belong to me all other things are owned by their creators at Bioware.

This is my first fan-fic so constructive criticism is very much welcome.

I will be constantly checking for PMs and Reviews so that my writing may be improved.

Ok… enough about me and my insanity. Please enjoy the story :)

Shepard awoke to a world of immense pain. He had destroyed the reapers. He had finished the war. He was supposed to be dead right now… What the hell was happening? Shepard opened his eyes and found himself to be in a large crater. As he struggled to sit up he examined his situation.

All around him were fallen reapers and as his gaze panned upward he observed the Citadel disintegrating above him. He had no idea how he had gotten back to Earth all he knew was that if he didn't get his ass moving then he wasn't going to live long enough to savor the victory. Shepard, with great effort, got to his feet and began limping toward a overturned MAKO hoping that the emergency distress beacon was still functioning.

As he got closer he could see that the tank was mostly intact, with the exception of the large hole through both sides. At last he reached it and ducked inside. Thankfully the transmitter appeared to be in working order. So with a silent prayer to whatever god had just gotten his ass off the Citadel he started up the beacon and began his message.

The Normandy had just taken off after holding a small memorial ceremony on the crew deck for admiral Anderson and the commander. Tali found herself unable to complete the task she had been given, placing Shepard's plate on the wall. Doing that would mean accepting he was gone, she wasn't ready for that yet.

While most of the crew was anxious to return and help with recovery and rescue efforts all Tali wanted was to exit through the nearest airlock and take off her faceplate. Yes, they won the war, but she didn't care anymore. All she cared about was that she would never see Shepard again…

As the Normandy returned to orbit around earth Joker noted all the destroyed Geth ships floating amongst the reapers. It was apparent that the Crucible was not built with a filter. It had wiped out all synthetic life. It was at this moment that Joker felt like a lucky man, as the beam had followed the Normandy through the mass relay it had seemed to spare the ship. Only knocking out power temporarily. EDI had been spared the fate that doomed all other synthetics. Before he could rejoice in his luck and call EDI back to the cockpit however, he noticed a very weak signal coming from the previous location of the Citadel's beam in London. Joker began to clear up the interference and gasped when he heard the message clearly. He immediately put it through the intercom on every deck of the ship.

Tali was sitting alone in Shepard's cabin fighting tears when she heard the comm. crackle on and her heart skipped a beat. "This is commander Shepard, I have been critically injured and need assistance. I am inside of an overturned tank near where the citadel beam had been… And if I die before you reach me, then… Find Tali'Zorah and tell her that I am sorry I couldn't keep my promise. Tali, if you are hearing this… I love you, and I am sorry for not coming home." In an instant Tali had flown from her seat at Shepard's desk and was in the elevator. "EDI, tell Joker that I am taking a shuttle down, have Garrus and Chakwas meet me in the shuttle bay." EDI replied, with what Tali could have sworn was a smirk in her tone, "right away Tali. Good luck."

Shepard lay on the ceiling of the MAKO. He could feel himself losing the battle with death. Every minute that passed just brought his opponent closer to victory. Just as he was about to lose consciousness he heard a shuttle land near the tank. With all the strength he had he sat up and called out "a little help please!"

When Shepard heard footsteps rapidly approaching he let out a sigh of relief. Soon. Help will be here soon. Tali entered through the hole in the tank and gasped when she saw the large pool of blood surrounding Shepard.

"Keelah… Shepard can you hear me?" She got closer and kneeled next to the one person who mattered to her most. It hurt her to see him as he currently was. His armor had been blasted away almost entirely, his once brown hair now looked more black from ash and blood. His arm had a large gash from the inside on his wrist around to his elbow. His face was bloodied and one of his eyes had swollen shut. But he was alive. Her Shepard was alive. She smiled down at him and took his good hand in hers.

Chakwas entered next, flanked by Garrus. Chakwas immediately applied medigel to his more severe wounds and they all loaded him onto the shuttle. The last thing Shepard remembered before blacking out from the anesthetics was smiling at the woman he loved as she ran her fingers through his hair.

It had been two weeks since the destruction of the reapers and Shepard was just beginning to wake up. He felt better but not by much. As he opened his eyes he took in his surroundings, he was in the Normandy's med bay. He turned his head and saw Tali asleep in a chair next to his bed. He reached over and put his hand on her knee. "Hey Tali. Wake up." Tali stirred and opened her eyes. She instantly focused on Shepard's Hanson her knee.

"Shepard, you're awake. How are you feeling?" She reached over and put her hand his cheek. Shepard reached up and covered it with his own. "Better since I got to wake up with you here. You know something though?" Tali leaned in closer and smiled behind her mask. "What is it?"

Shepard smiled and said "I think it's about time I retire. Maybe go somewhere sunny... I hear this beautiful Quarian woman is going to build a nice house on Rannoch. Maybe I should go there." Tali couldn't contain herself any longer. She leaned over and hugged Shepard as tears of joy filled her eyes. "I love you Shepard."Shepard weakly returned the hug "I love you too… Miss vas Normandy."

Just then Dr. Chakwas entered the room and rushed over to the bed. "You're awake, good well now that you are looking so much better you will be happy to know that your wounds have mostly healed and you should be able to get out of here by tomorrow."

"Thanks doctor. Could you please have Joker relay a message to Hackett? Tell him that I am going to Rannoch to... Recover." Shepard grinned as the doctor left the room. Tali smiled at him through her visor. "We are going home now? Aren't we?" The commander's smile broadened. "Yes, we are going home and I promise I won't leave again."

For the record, I said "whatever god had just saved him" to avoid offending people... I only bring it up because people are already giving me flak for it.