Author's Note: This is my first attempt at exploring what happens after the events of Mass Effect 3. Some background: Shakarian romance, Destroy ending, full Paragon, full Galaxy at War Readiness. Spacer childhood and Ashley died on Virmire. Enjoy!

Garrus sat on the large bed, not looking at the wreckage surrounding him in what had been Shepard's quarters on the Normandy. When the ship crashed on the strange planet, this room had taken the worst of the blow and no one but him had come up here. In truth, he didn't really want to come here but he felt an inexplainable draw. When they'd been making repairs to the ship, he had stepped up to be the leader and they'd completed their repairs in less than half the time they'd initially estimated. Now they were en route to a mass relay, having received a garbled transmission hinting at repairs having been made to most of the relays. In these moments when no one needed him directly, Garrus found himself up here just sitting on the bed he'd once shared with Chalyn Shepard. His daze was broken as Joker's voice came over the intercom, still thick from the tears he tried to hide from EDI's sudden death. "Approaching the Relay, Com-er...Garrus."

Garrus sighed. "Thanks, Joker. I'll be right there."

"Yeah...roger that."

Garrus glanced around the room, his eyes falling on the shattered fish tank. His first time coming here had been just after the crash, still somewhat delusional from loss of blood and a concussion. He'd seen the shattered tank and the fish flopping about in puddles of water and could only think of how much Chalyn loved her fish, so he'd quickly called Tali up to help him rescue the marine life. They were now swimming in smaller bowls in the cockpit, Joker accepting the distraction of feeding them. Chalyn's hamster hadn't been so lucky, however, and Garrus had buried the squished remains while they were still on the planet they'd crashed on. He stood up and went to the elevator, going to the CIC and standing at the galaxy map. Samantha looked up at him. "Garrus, you've got a hail from Admiral Hacket coming in. He says it's urgent."

Garrus nodded, coming fully into leadership mode. "Forward it to my omnitool." He stepped back from the galaxy map and opened a screen on his omnitool, Hacket's face appearing through static.

"Vakarian I'm led to believe everyone on board the Normandy survived, and you're plotting a course to the Sol relay."

Garrus nodded. "Yes sir, everyone survived except for EDI. We're not sure where we ended up but when we heard that most of the relays were repaired-"

"You need to report to the bulk of the Alliance fleets. All Alliance ships are converging...coordinates to...meeting."

"Admiral, you're breaking up. Do you read?"

"Vakarian...experiencing some interference. All Alliance...coordinates."

The call was lost and Garrus sighed, shaking his head. "Joker, did you get the coordinates?"

"Aye aye sir. Plotting course for Horsehead Nebula now. ETA five minutes."

Garrus grunted. "Right." He went to the elevator, going down to the Crew Deck to check on Javik, who'd been spending his time there instead of his old place on the Engineering deck. He found the Prothean standing in front of the memorial wall. "Javik, how are you holding up?"

"Injuries sustained during the final push to the beacon have mostly recovered, Garrus Vakarian. Primitives have come a long way in medical science."

Garrus grunted, standing next to him though looking at the memorial wall brought every feeling of dread he felt back to the surface. "Dr. Chakwas is the best doctor the Alliance has. Not surprised she-"

"You still have not placed the commander's name on this 'memorial wall'. Do you believe that by delaying, she will somehow not be dead?"

Garrus closed his eyes, a part of him having known this would come up eventually but he'd still hoped it wouldn't. "She isn't dead, Javik."

"Refusing to accept it does not make it any less a fact. The Crucible deactivated the machine called EDI, it doubtless-"

"No. Shepard is alive, Javik."

"Why do you hold on to this foolish hope?" Javik grabbed Garrus's arms and they both felt a surge of sorrow, but also love. Every memory Garrus had of him and Chalyn flooded forward, and Javik released the Turian, stepping back.

Garrus's mandibles flared. "Because hope is all that's left. That's something I thought you of all people would understand." He turned and went back to the elevator, going to the CIC as they came through the relay.

Joker's voice came over the intercom. "Uh, Garrus? We're being hailed by an Alliance cruiser, requesting boarding permission."

Garrus nodded. "Granted." He stood straight, waiting for the boarding party to come aboard. The woman he saw nearly turned his legs to jelly. "Chalyn..." he whispered. But no, he saw the differences now. Her blond hair had gray streaks in it, her face creased with worry. Though she carried herself with the same precision as his love, her uniform was more decorated, including the bars of a rear admiral. He saluted. "Rear Admiral Shepard."

The woman saluted back then extended a hand. "Call me Hannah. An honor to finally meet you, Garrus Vakarian."

Garrus shook her hand. "The honor is mine, ma'am."

The woman nodded then turned. "Joker, was it? Set a course for these coordinates. Normandy will be dry docked on arrival to finish making repairs."

"Ma'am, these coordinates are for-"

"I know where they're for. Set a course."

"Aye aye, ma'am. Plotting course."

Hannah looked at Garrus. "Is there some place to talk, off the record?"

Garrus nodded and led her to the elevator, going up to Chalyn's cabin on instinct. As the doors opened, he realized it probably hadn't been the best idea to bring her mother here. "I...sorry, ma'am. I know this isn't what you wanted to see."

Hannah said nothing, simply walking into the room and looking around. She smiled faintly at the fish tank remains. "Chalyn always did love animals."

"I...yes ma'am. Her fish survived, actually. Tali and I took them; Joker's taking care of them until-well..." Garrus looked away.

"That 'until' is precisely the reason I am here, Mr. Vakarian." Hannah strode across the room to the couch, moving some model ships away and brushing shards of glass off before sitting down. Garrus followed suit, sitting on the chair. Hannah folded her hands on her lap, clearly taking pains to remain official looking. "You are aware my daughter activated the Crucible and destroyed the Reapers."

"Yes, ma'am." Garrus wasn't sure where this was leading.

"You may find it interesting that I am also aware of the bond you and she shared." Hannah looked at Garrus with knowing eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised; she spoke of you fondly." She took a deep breath, looking around the room. "The coordinates I gave to Joker are for a secret medical lab, privately funded by some interested parties. Most of their work is centered around aesthetic alterations or drug tolerances."

Garrus didn't want to hear about this, and he really didn't care. He wanted to find Chalyn. "I brought the Normandy to the Alliance because it's an Alliance ship, but I'm not part of them. My mission to find Chalyn-"

"Has been completed for us." Hannah looked at Garrus, satisfied by the stunned look on his face. "We are heading toward the Omega Nebula, more specifically to Omega itself. Aria T'Loak had some of her personal mercs on the Citadel when the Crucible deployed. I'm not sure how she managed it, or what her reasons are, but she has recovered Chalyn's body. Mr. Vakarian, my daughter is alive."