Way Back When During the Reds

Colin was nervous. Who wouldn't be in his place? In his hand he held the key to his future. He held the key to his eternal happiness. Heh, it was so small but it was going to change his and another's life. In his hand is the ring to make Tali his. Holding it up to the light he became mesmerized by the way it sparkled. Much like his soon-to-be Quarian. Of course he was going to have to get it customized to her size or maybe figure out a different way for her to wear it. As he rolled the ring back and forth between his fingers he noticed that something was inscribed on the inner part of the ring. It didn't surprise him one bit. He had gone everywhere trying to find the right ring but ended up finding the ring in a pawn shop of all places. Bringing the ring closer to his eye, he hoped it said something powerful and romantic. His whole body went stiff when he finished reading the inscription. It couldn't be. Moving his hand away from his face he saw that it was indeed THAT ring. The ring that helped change his life when he was in the Reds.

FLASHBACK

Kaityah walked toward the once beautiful house with Colin Shepard in tow behind her. This was the house of a brilliant man but now it looked like it had been through a war. The Reds where busy finding all the valuables they could get their hands on. This man had crossed the Reds one too many times. The once exotic garden was trampled into the ground. The full majesty of the place is now a fallen beggar. A row of bodies lined the sidewalk. They were all former Reds.

"Once you kindle the anger of the Reds there is no mercy. They will get you no matter the cost." Kait said as they walked through the front door. Slowing down she leaned close to Colin's ear. "Look around you. This is why we need to leave them." Colin just rolled his eyes. She had been saying that for the past two years. Nothing has changed yet. They set about like the rest of the Reds, trying to find stuff to sell. They always brought Kait on site because she had a canny knack for finding credit stashes. Where ever Kait went Shepard followed. They both knew the only ones they could really trust were themselves.

After looking around the ground floor for an hour they made their way up to the second floor. First room? Empty. Second room? Looks like a child's. Third room? A lot of blood and a dead body. Two reds were just leaving the room when one of them tossed Colin something.

"Here, only be able to get a couple of creds for that but I think you'll be able to get more than that." One of the Reds said. Looking down at his hand Shepard saw a ring that sparkled brilliantly in the light.

"Was this his?" Colin asked waving a hand at the body. One Red looked at him for a second then left the other answered.

"Ya it was his." A thought crossed Colin's mind.

"So he was married?"

"Ya."

"Where's the rest of the family?" The Red was quiet for a few moments.

"He fought like a demon. I have never seen someone fight like that. Did you see all the bodies outside?" Kait and Shepard nodded. "He killed them all. One man killed that many people. We underestimated him. A man backed into a corner with his family will go beyond what a normal Person can do to protect them. Look at him. He was shot in the head three times, the chest at least five. Did that take him down? No. Only when he knew his family was safe did he die. That ring you have? He pulled it off his finger and died looking at it. A lot of blood was paid for that ring. I don't want it." with that said the Red left the two of them alone. Kait looked at the body.

"That man died how he lived…for his family." She turned and left the room unable to stand the sight of the man anymore. While tossing the ring up and down trying to decide whether to keep the ring or not Shepard noticed something on the inside of the ring. Walking out into the hall where the light was better he brought the ring close to his eye to find an inscription. It said 'Always with you'. Looking back at the body in the room he could see the man sitting in a chair surrounded by his children reading them stories and laughing with them. The Reds killed him. Holding out the ring to the man's body he promised.

"Your family will never want. I will watch them until I die."

END FLASHBACK

No matter what it had cost him he had watched over that family. The family never wanted for bread or shelter though Colin went many nights without. One day the family went on vacation for a week. They never came back. On the way home the family's ship was attacked by pirates. Everyone was killed. After grieving for them Shepard made up his mind to protect as many people as he could. He never wanted to feel this hopeless again. He joined the Alliance.

Looking back at those times he was grateful for those experiences. Tali wouldn't have come into his life otherwise. He let the ring drop into the palm of his hand. Funny how this ring followed him. It was almost as if the man and his family had been watching him. Almost as if they approved of what he was doing. Tears came to his eyes. For some reason that meant a lot to him. He felt a soft but rough embrace as if a man was hugging him. When that feeling faded it was followed by a softer gentler embrace. Something brushed his cheek. Looking around he was alone in his room but he knew he wasn't. They were there and it was their turn to watch over his family.

"Shepard?" It was Tali. Walking over to her he pulled her into a hug and buried his face into her neck. She could hear him crying. "Colin? What's wrong? Are you okay love?" it was a long time before Colin answered. He could feel two other arms wrapped around him and Tali. At that moment Tali could feel her mother's arms around them both. They both cried for the love they could feel. They cried happy that one's they knew approved of them. Colin pulled back to look into Tali's eyes.

"Everything is perfect." Kneeling to the ground he held out the ring out to her. "Tali'Zorah will you marry me?" Tali cried even harder. She threw her arms around Colin.

"Yes, yes I will." The love and approval from the others that were there filled the room. Colin whispered into her ear.

"Always with you."