A/N: Ok, so this is the first fanfic I've written in a long time. I've lost the email address that my old account was attached to, ravynous, if anyone wants to read some old Final Fantasy fics lol. This story "starts" at the end of ME 3, but it's more of a prequel to the whole thing. FemShep, Paragon, Colonist/War Hero. I'm going to try to keep this at a T rating, but later chapters might become M, I'm not sure yet. It's basically the untold story of Shepard, in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Bioware owns the Mass Effect universe. I only own the characters I threw into it. :)

Is this it? Is this the end? Samantha Shepard tried to make sense of what was going on around her. She couldn't move her body, but she felt herself flipping around. She saw the green light all around her, barely heard explosions going off. What have I done? Liara, forgive me... Tears streamed down her face and she lost consciousness...

xXXx

"Hey, Tyler! Wait for me!" Samantha ran after her brother. The sun was shining overhead, another peaceful, boring day on Mindoir.

Tyler turned around and grinned at her. "Sam, you're so slow! Come on, I don't have all day!"

She caught up to him, and caught her breath. When she finally stood up, she looked at her "older" twin. They were as different-looking as could be. Her hair is a dark red, and hangs well past her shoulders, and green eyes bright and full of life. His hair is a dark brown, military-style crew cut, with chocolate colored eyes. "Not fair. You're taller, so your legs are longer!"

He laughed at her statement, and playfully ruffled her hair. "You're getting there, though!"

At that moment, Logan Davis walked up to the twins. "You two look like you're having fun."

Samantha blushed slightly, seeing the older boy. She tried stammering out a greeting, but Tyler beat her to it. "Logan! You're just in time. Dad's letting me teach Sam to shoot."

Logan laughed, a full, boisterous laugh. "Seriously? She might shoot her foot off or something. This I've gotta see!"

Samantha looked down at her feet, tears prickling at her eyes. Tyler could sense something was wrong. "We're heading toward the old barn, if you wanna meet us there." He pointed toward the old, wooden shed. Logan nodded, and head that way. "Sam? You okay?"

She sniffed a bit, and looked up at him. "Why is he always like that?"

Tyler thought a moment before answering. "I asked him the same thing last week. Do you know what he said?" She shook her head. "He said, it was because he didn't know how else to talk to you. He's afraid that if he acted on the way he really felt about you, I'd kick his ass." Tyler laughed at what he said.

"Really? He feels that way?"

"That's what he told me. Maybe at the party tonight you can talk to him, see if he's telling the truth. If he's lying, well, that's when I kick his ass." Samantha smiled slightly at this. Tyler nodded and started running toward the shed again. "Come on, slowpoke!"

She ran after him, head held high. When they finally got to the shed, they had an audience of sorts, waiting. She felt her heart catch in her chest, wondering if she would look like an idiot. Even their dad was there. He smiled at her, then turned back to watch Tyler. He had ducked into the shed, and came out with two pistols. He threw one to Samantha, who caught it without thinking.

"Well, you can catch, that's something. Let's start off with something easy. I had dad setup some empty bottles. Let's see if you can hit any of them. Come over here."

She walked toward him, clutching the gun in a death grip. What a way to spend your sixteenth birthday, making an ass out of yourself. She stopped right next to him, and faced the bottles.

"So, the army of bottles is coming to kill us all. Will you stop them, or will they win?" Tyler smiled at her. "Let's see your stance, first." He's had so much more practice then me. Why's dad doing this? She breathed in deeply and raised her right arm. She had seen her dad and brother shoot so many times before, she knew to brace herself with her left arm as well. Tyler nodded. "Good, but place your legs slightly apart. This pistol's got some kick to it." She complied, putting her feet at the same width as her shoulders. Standing up straight, she tried lining up a bottle. Breathing in deeply, she pulled the trigger...

And completely missed the bottle. Everyone laughed at her, and she was mortified. Logan started clapping. "Nice shot, Shepard." He easily hopped the fence and walked toward her. "At least it wasn't your foot." He patted her shoulder. "Tyler, give me your gun." Logan took the gun offered to him, and stood right next to Sam. "Your brother forgot to tell you one small thing. Bend your knees a bit, to offset the recoil." She got back into position, and did as he instructed. "Good. Now, try again. Don't be discouraged if you don't get it this time, either. It takes a bit of practice." She squeezed the trigger again. This time, a bottle exploded. "Whoa... or you could just be a natural." Even her dad looked amazed.

"A bottle's good and all, but what about a target? The bullet could've just grazed the bottle. With a target, we'd actually know where she hit?" Tyler looked at his sister. "If that's ok with you, Sam." She nodded, still looking at where the bottle had been. "Good. Dad, we still have some extra bullseyes in the shed?"

"We should. Could set them up over by the trees there." Tyler nodded and went in the shed. Logan looked at Sam, and his lip twitched into a small smile, before walking toward the trees. She followed silently behind him, heart fluttering in her chest.

Tyler came back out with the targets, and set two up. "So, who wants to compete against her?"

Logan stepped forward. "I will, if you don't mind, Ty."

Tyler shook his head and grinned. "Don't go easy on her, man. No sense in coddling her." He looked at Sam, who was smiling with confidence.

Maybe this is why dad's making me do this? Logan and Sam stood in front of their respective targets, and took aim. After they had both emptied their clips, Tyler walked to the targets and examined both. He turned around, dumbstruck. "Well, I don't know how to say this... but it seems like Sam won." She was confused.

"What? How?" Logan was just as confused. He walked over to the targets, and looked at both. "You're right. She won, but how?" He looked at Tyler. "Have you been secretly training her or something?"

"What? No! This was her first time!"

"Seems she picked up on it quickly. Just like a Shepard always does." Her dad was standing next to her, beaming at her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, Sammy. Let's get you cleaned up before your mom has a heart attack." He started leading her toward the house. When they were far enough away from the rest of the group, he turned toward her. "How did you manage that?"

I don't know. I just did it. She didn't say what she was thinking, she just shrugged. "Lucky shot?"

He shook his head, laughed slightly, and continued walking. Sam trailed behind him, wondering what made her father so nervous.