A/N Upon request I have decided to post the final part of this trilogy. The first chapter is pretty long, I don't know if all the chapters will be this long. There is a lot of dialogue from ME3 because honestly I thought it was the best in all of the games. I'll try not to make it all about the dialogue there. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Liara

I did not like this one bit. I haven't heard anything from Tali in some time. The last time we spoke she said she had an appointment with the fleets admiralty board and she would contact me again as soon as possible. It was hard enough that she wasn't with me, but now we haven't even been able to speak for 6 weeks. Feron could tell I was frustrated. "Liara, I'm sure your bondmate is fine." I know she is alive our bond at least let's me know that, but I can feel she is agitated and worried. The bond doesn't tell me why, which is what is frustrating me. "Feron what is the point of having this network if I can't even find a whisper of Tali and her whereabouts." I growl. I hate this, I hate not knowing if the woman I love is truly alright. "You know it's damn near impossible to find anything out about the Migrant Fleet unless they want you too. They're to technically advanced, even for the Shadow Broker." He says. "That gives me no comfort Feron." I said. "I know, I wish I could help. Maybe a distraction is needed. Admiral Steven Hackett has requested a meeting with you." He says. Well at least maybe I can find out how the Shepard siblings are. "Put him through." I said.

After narrowly escaping Cerberus I ended up on the Mars Archives, sifting through all this data and trying to find something that will help when the Reapers have come. I feel slightly relieved knowing that Ash, Shea and Chey are ok for the most part. Other then Chey getting into that accident where she was exposed to more Eezo, she's made a full recovery. She's going to have to adjust to the changes she is going through, and she will. I keep to myself mostly, Feron let's me know that Miranda Lawson, now fully Miranda Shepard is alive and in good health. She's in hiding again and I hate that I can't tell her how Chey or Chey how Miranda is. Neither Shepard is allowed to speak to anyone outside of the Alliance. It irritated me that even though they yet again saved the universe they were both put under house arrest and on trial for treason. On top of that the council that Shea sacrificed human lives for still refused to believe her about the Reapers. Admiral Anderson had stepped down as Humanity's councilor because he could not still serve them when they refused to believe in Shea and they continued to sweep the Reaper's under the rug.

At this rate even if it took the Reapers five years to get here, the galaxy would not be ready. The council even has proof that the they do exist and they will come, they sit around and do nothing, like usual. Even councilor Tevos who helped us be able to bury my mother on Thessia, sat idly by. So I will throw myself into finding what we need to give us any hope. I know as well as others that the Shepards would be our only hope to survive, this onslaught. Will we win, even I didn't know that, but our chances were much better with Shea at the wheel and Chey driving side seat. But oh no, the brass has them locked up like animals. Ok true the Batarian relay was bad and yeah they worked with Cerberus, but they only did that because the Alliance nor the Council were willing to step in. I wouldn't fail them again.

My investigation into the archives the past few months helped a little with my worries about Tali. Still everyday I contacted Feron and asked if he had heard or found anything about her and the fleet. "Liara, I swear if I hear anything I'll contact you straight away. Have you found anything yet?" he asks. I believe I have. "Good. Cerberus is on Mars. The Reapers have landed on Earth. The war has begun." He says.

Miranda

I was on Ilium when Cerberus began their hunt for me. Chey and I had only been separated for a week, when the first Cerberus agents found me. I had been trapped when the Illusive Man's henchmen found me after a message from TIM they tried to overwhelm me. I was lucky Matriarch Aethyta was near, or else I would have died that day. I offered my thanks and asked how I could repay her. "Keep in contact with my daughter here and there and let me know she's ok." She said. I asked who her daughter was and was shocked to find out that it was Liara. Liara and I had come to a friendship during my few days stay on her ship. "I will." I replied. After that I never stayed longer then a week anywhere at the most. I met up once with Chey's mother, she gave me her ship saying that Hackett had recalled her to active duty. "Did the Reaper's come?" I asked her. "Not yet, but he needs capable ship captains for when the time comes." She said. "Okay. Thank you for the ship, listen if you speak or see Chey before I do, please tell her I love her and miss her, and hope I can see her soon." I ask. "Of course dear, now go get this ship situated and stay as safe as you can for Chey's sake." I nod to her she knows I can't completely promise safety, only that I'll be as careful as possible.

I wanted to see Chey with every blood cell in my body, but I couldn't. A visit from Cerberus's former top agent would do nothing to help the trial, I knew they were going through. Letters would be just as bad, but I felt I should, if nothing else I can send them encrypted to Liara and she could find a way to get them to her. I sighed that wouldn't work either, it's too traceable even encrypted. It would just be safer for everyone if I just let Liara know I was safe and left it at that. So for the next few months I hid. I fought if I had to and ran if I could. Everyday my thoughts were with Chey, I longed for the day we could be together again, but I had promised Hackett on my wedding day that I would leave Cerberus and if she was put on trial I would not contact her in any way until the trial was resolved, but it was painfully hard. I needed Chey like air to breath and water to drink.

Months passed and then I felt my heart drop when I checked in with Liara. "The Reapers landed in Vancouver on Earth. I don't know if they are alright, the only good news I have is that I think I have found something, a device that can stop the Reapers. I'm on the Mars archives and so far there aren't any Reapers or their soldiers yet. I haven't heard anything about Tali either. What if they've already been taken out by them or harvested." She says I can understand her worry and images of my wife being turned into a husk or dissolved into a grey goo haunt me. "It's not comforting, but more then likely because of Quarians weakened immune systems they won't be harvested. I'm sorry Liara, I wish I could tell you something more positive." I said. "I know, it is slightly comforting that she won't be harvested. I know that it is not the same for you though. Hopefully next time we speak I'll have better news." She says. Our time is up and I have to disconnect now or risk being discovered.

Now I had several things extra to worry about. Oriana's safety, my wife's safety and mine. Cerberus continues to doggedly hunt me. It feels never ending no sooner do I take down one soldier when two more take it's place. I do not know how much longer I can keep this up. Not for the first time do I wish I wasn't alone on this. Everyday I wish for Chey, every night I ache and cry for her to be with me. To soothe away my worries and tension. "I really could use one of your massages now my love." I say to myself. The loneliness is becoming too much for me. Only the thought of finding Ori, keeping her safe and the memories of Chey's kiwi-lime scent and strong arms around me making me feel safe keep me going. Though I know I am far from safe, it's a struggle to survive every day. I need to see Chey and Shea. I need Shea to talk this through with and I need to see Chey hear her voice feel her arms and lips again.

Tali

This is maddening, they call me here away from my bondmate in all but ceremony, tell me that they have an important announcement to make, and then make me wait 6 weeks before seeing me. This is 6 weeks I could have spent with Liara. Then to top it off they decide to make me an admiral and now I can't even contact Liara and tell her what's going on. I know she can feel what I'm feeling through our bond just as I can feel her frustration and worry. All I want to do is just call her and reassure her and me in the process, but oh no. These stupid Boshtets demand complete radio silence so our enemies can't find us. What enemies are here that would find us. The Reapers are out there in, we should be rallying with Shea if she's out of lock down now and fighting them, but all they can seem to do is squabble.

"We should attack the Geth we have an excellent weapon against them in development right now. We can get our home world back. One of the admirals say. "What is the point in reclaiming our home world if the Reapers are going to raze it and us at the same time." I point out. "The non combatants have to have a safe place." An admiral says. "Yes, I am aware of that and I already have given you an idea of where they can go and they'll be safe." I argue back thinking about Liara's ship. "Your Asari friend can't guarantee their safety, a ship can be blown up." He says. How I wish I could yell and scream 'her name is Liara and she is my mate.' But I know now is not the time lest they try to accuse me of treason again, for falling in love with an alien. I hate that even though I know it's for the best right now, that it seems I am ashamed of my relationship with Liara. I know I'm not I want to shout it to the heavens and every ship we come across.

I hate that I can't, all of my people are depending on me, and they need to think I know and believe what I do without any outside influence and if I tell them about Liara they'll think, that I only believe in what I have been saying because I am besotted by that beautiful blue goddess. Now I very much feel like Shea and Chey and desire greatly to shoot something, preferably the Reapers and their soldiers. Since I met and became friends with Legion, also a secret for obvious reasons, it's just hard to see them as the enemies. That one question that began this whole damn war between my people and the geth 'does this unit have a soul?' If the unit is like Legion then yes, and I honestly think the others could too if given the chance to live, they could also ally with the reapers and destroy us all. Keelah they could that on their own without the Reaper's help. Especially with all our infighting. I wish Shea and Chey were here, but more then anything I wish either Liara was here or I was there with her.

When it's lights out and time to sleep, I find it too loud for sleep to come. I miss the quiet of the Normandy. The gentle breathing of Liara as we sleep next to each other. I watch vids of our times together with the crew of the SR1 and SR2. I watch vids of Liara while she is working at her feeds, sleeping, a couple of sneaky shower vids and some of when she is undressing. I listen to audio files of Ashley reading poetry, audio files of Shea playing her guitar when she thinks no one was looking, and I listen to audio files of Chey singing Miranda to sleep. She recorded some lullabies and soothing songs for me to use when things got too quiet. Even when Chey was not all there emotionally she still cared enough to help me sleep. I remember the weeks she would sing me to sleep on the SR1 until I got used to the quiet. That's when she first started recording her singing and Shea playing guitar and singing. These things are what got me to sleep at night. I love my people, but they are not my family, except Auntie Raan and Khal Reegar. The crew from the Normandy's are and I missed my family terribly. I missed my heart and soul, my other half and it made me feel empty without them near or even on the comm channels. I'm starting to wish I had been exiled almost year ago, then I could be with them, feeling loved, cherished and needed instead of here arguing with these hard headed Boshtets.

Ashley

So for the hundredth time they question Shea, if she is loyal to the Alliance or to Cerberus. I don't even know how they knew Chey and Miranda got married. Once Chey was released from the hospital she showed them her documents. She took a proper leave of absence and she resigned from the Alliance before she got married. She showed them the vid she took of Miranda resigning from Cerberus after they destroyed the collector base, so eventually she was cleared. However, Shea was not. So here again I was relaying everything that happened once again when we spoke on Horizon. "Now if we understand correctly you and the Commander were involved. How do we know everything you say is truth and not colored by that relationship." They asked. I could not believe they went there. "I swore on the holy bible, and you have all my reports. As well as the Commander's which she gave you and at no time in those reports did she ever join Cerberus. You have had your best tech experts check them and saw they were all the originals." I said. This was getting increasingly annoying. "Very well. About the Commander's decision to blow up the Batarian relay, killing hundreds of thousands of Batarians." Oh my God please let this end, they aren't saying anything new they are just saying things differently to throw me off.

It felt like hours before they dismissed me, my newly minted Lt. Commander rank intact but on precarious edge, and my faith in Shea balancing on the brink of disaster. Some of the things they had told me she had done sounded like my Shea, I wanted to completely believe she has nothing to do with Cerberus and even though we kind of got back together during that time, a part of me still worried that Cerberus would have some secret control of her. Admiral Anderson walks up to me. "Anderson." I look over his shoulder and there she is, it feels like I haven't seen her in years. "Shepard." She turns to face me and my heart races. "Ashley." With that single word, just my name and the breath is stolen from my lungs. I find it hard to take my eyes off of her. "Lt. Commander. How did it go in there?" Anderson asks. "I can never tell with them. I'm just waiting for orders now." My heart stops as all her glorious 6ft tall gorgeousness stands next to him. "Lt. Commander." She says. "You hadn't heard?" Anderson asks. "No I hadn't." she says. "Sorry Shepard. It's been well.." I don't really know how to explain why hadn't told her about it. "That's ok. I'm just glad I bumped into you Ash." It felt so strange not calling her Shea, but for now I just couldn't. "Me too." I replied.

An officer approaches us then. "Admiral." He nods to the officer then says "Come on." Shea follows him and all I can do is lamely nod my head and watch her go. Lt. Vega steps up to me. "You know the Commander?" he asks. I look at him briefly then back at Shea's retreating form. "I used to." I replied because I shamefully have to admit that they got me questioning it and the way Shea was acting, it wasn't the way she normally would have, but that could be due to my less then warm greeting. I ran into Chey just outside the room. "Chey?" I ask she looked a bit different to me. She was now two inches taller then me standing at 5'11, and her body was still lean but muscular, not enough to look masculine and if I wasn't still in love with Shea and Chey wasn't married I would definitely jump her bones. Her eyes though were what was the strangest, they were now a bright greenish blue they shone like a polished gem and her hair was much shorter she had floppy sides that came up to her ears and the back was cut short and stopped at the base of her skull. It was still enough to run your fingers through, and it just made her all the more alluring. I think if Miranda saw her now her clothes would last all of .5 seconds before she tore them off. "What happened? You look so different. It's not bad, you look hot like always only.. more so?" I ask nervously, she rubs the back of her neck like I've seen Shea do a lot.

Chey

We start heading towards the docking bay James is close behind and I know he is staring at my more pronounced curves, because Ash is having a hard time not doing so as well. "On the way here, Admiral Hackett asked us to check on two of his ships he lost contact with. I went on one by myself, Shea took the other. Unfortunately the ship I went on had a pretty bad Element Zero leak, I didn't realize how bad it was so I stayed on for a couple of hours searching for survivors. The 6 survivors had all locked themselves in a decontamination room. I found the leak and plugged it up, locked myself in the control room vented enough for it to be safe for others to come out, they took the ship to Hackett and a biohazard crew took me. I had passed out from all the exposure. When my levels went down enough to not expose others I was taken to a hospital here. While I recovered my body grew as did my biotics and my eyes changed color. The haircut was just because I was tired of it always getting in the way and always ending up sleeping on it." I explained.

"You're okay though, right? Are there any negative effects?" she asks. I think the drastic change in my looks is a negative thing, but I'm probably just being self conscious, I'm not used to being stared at as much. "Not unless you count an extended life expectancy and the looks as negative." I said. Then we hear this sound and it grates on me it's like a heralding to our destruction. I look out the window and my heart stops. "Get to the Normandy now! The Reapers are here!" I shout at them and we start running as fast as our hearts and legs will let us. "We aren't ready." I said to myself. "I hope everyone is ok." I said out loud. I hear Ashley's radio go off. "This is Admiral Anderson. Report in anyone." She reaches for the speaker button. "Reporting in sir." She says. "Lt. Commander Williams is that you?" he asks. "Yes sir." She replies. "What's your status?" he asks. "We're good sir. No injuries. Are you two alright?" she asks.

"I can't raise the Normandy. You'll have to contact them. We'll meet at the landing zone. Anderson out." He says. "I noticed he didn't say whether Shea was ok or not." I mention. "I did too, but I'm sure she's fine." Ash says trying to reassure me. It isn't, and it won't be until either Anderson tells me so or I hear her voice and she says so, plus I needed to tell her I was given the rank of Major when I was reinstated by Hackett after I woke up from my Eezo induced comma. Shea was already on house arrest, and they wouldn't even let me see her. I hope she would be proud, our mother was. It dawned on me that if Shea wasn't a Spectre I would out rank her.

"Williams status. I have Shepard with me I'm going to patch you through." Anderson says. "We're on board the Normandy I have Major Shepard and Lt. Vega are with me." I cringed that is not the way I wanted Shea to find out. "Ash." I hiss. "I'm sorry, I forgot she didn't know." She says. "Damn, I lost their signal. Anderson said they had to reroute. But I lost the connection before he could tell me where." 30 minutes pass. "Lt. Williams I'm on a radio near a downed gunship, I'm activating the beacon." He says. "We got you sir, we're headed your way." We spot them in a desperate shoot out. "Calvary is here boys." Joker says. "Yes I am aware that Shea is a woman it was just a saying." Joker defends to Ashley. We had donned our armor and were headed to the launching platform. I felt the tension leave me as I spotted Shea and Anderson running towards us. She leaps and Ash pulls her in to safety, but Anderson won't budge. "I won't be going with you not this time." He says. "We're in this fight together Anderson." Shea says. "It's a fight we can't win. Not without help. We need every species and all their ships to even have a chance at defeating the Reapers. Talk to the council. Convince them to help us." Anderson says. "What if they won't listen?" Shea asks. "Then make them listen. Now go. That's and order." He adds. "I don't take orders from you anymore.. remember." She says.

Shea

"Consider yourself reinstated.. Commander." He tosses me my dog tags. "You know what you have to do." He adds. "I'll be back for you and I'll bring every fleet I can." I said I turn from him and then look back over my shoulder at this brave man who become a father figure for me. "Good Luck" I said. "You too Shea." He says and once again I turn from him and stand next to Ash. "Welcome back Shepard." She says. "Thanks." But I have to look away as I see two escape shuttles one with a little boy in it blasted apart. I cringe, I already hate this war and it's only just begun. I look at Ashley again and my heart and stomach flip flop. I get orders from Hackett to go to the Mars archives Liara has found something that might help us. Lt. James Vega is not pleased that we leave. "Enough! Don't you think I want to stay and fight. We have no choice but to get help. You don't like it, then get off at the next station!" I yell at him. He shuts up real fast.

Once we get to Mars we see some Cerberus agents executing the people that were here. "That was Cerberus wasn't it?" James asks. "Sure looked like it." I reply. "What's Cerberus doing on Mars?" Chey asks. "Good question." I reply. "You don't know?" Ash says. Oh lord I know where this is going to go. "I'm not with them anymore Ash. If that's what you're asking." I reply. "It wasn't, but you have to admit it's a bit convenient." She says. I sigh and we move one. "It definitely looks like and inside job." Chey says. "Not helping Chey." I say to myself. We enter the building and I push the buttons to close the doors and pressurize the room. I knew what was coming next.

"I need a straight answer Shepard." I turn from her and touch my visor. "Ash." I said. "Look.. Don't 'Ash' me. Do you know anything about this? What is Cerberus doing here?" she asks anyways. This was not a conversation I wanted to have in front of an audience. I'm slightly perturbed. "What makes you think know what they're up to?" I ask a little forcefully but still not yelling, yet. "You worked for them. How am I supposed to believe you've cut all ties?" she asks. "We joined forces to take down the Collectors. That's it." I said a little bit firmer. "They rebuilt you from scratch. They gave you a ship, resources…" she says. "Let me be clear. I've had no contact with Cerberus since I destroyed the Collector base. And I have no idea why they are here now or what they want." James steps forward. "Commander Shepard has been under constant surveillance since coming back to Earth. No way they've communicated since." He says. "Might I add that it makes no sense to question someone who has been on lockdown for six months and unable to speak to their own family. When my wife is former Cerberus and by the way I have not been under lockdown. Mom says she loves you Shea." Chey points out.

"That definitely would be much more suspicious if Admiral Hackett and the others didn't pronounce her not guilty and pardon any and all things she did when she worked with Cerberus, and they didn't rebuild her and bring her to life again." Ashley pointed out. "Valid points if she hadn't been under house arrest." Chey pointed out. Ashley sighs in frustration, I know there's more to it but she can't seem to actually find the correct words. "Sorry Shepard. I just.." the hissing of pressurization is loud to our ears even in the helmets. We separate or close proximity and our backs are to each other, I remove my helmet as she does I turn and look over my shoulder at her. "You of all people should know what I'm about Ash." As the lift rises I know I have made my point she scratches her forehead. "Please.. trust me." I said. "I do. It's just that.." she's interrupted by the vents scraping and banging. We watch as Liara burst out of the vents and takes out the Cerberus hunting her. "Easy there Lt. she's with us." And lower his weapon. I hug her. Our arms stayed around each other, I heard about Earth, I'm sorry." She says and I feel waves of jealousy coming from my left where I knew Ash was. I didn't even care I hugged her tighter. Let her be jealous.

Chey

I knew what Shea was doing, first this woman who swore she'd love her and follow her to the ends of the Universe accuses her of being a part of Cerberus, and now she has the nerve to act the jealous wife. I would do the same if it was Miri, Biotic powers or not. You can't swear you love someone with your whole being and yet question them at every turn. I had thought her and Ash had worked this whole thing out. I guess not. Ash still glares deciding whether to stop their extended embrace. She apparently steps forward. "Yeah, it was really bad." Liara disentangles herself. "Ashley. I'm sorry. Not that I'm not happy to see you but why are you here?" She asks. "Hackett sent us he said you'd know what was going on." Shea says. "I do." She walks away and I couldn't remember her swaying so sexily before. I think even Shea and Ashley do a double take and I know Vega has eyes on her ass, which seems quite pronounced in her new armor.

"I was going to come see you both, but I had to do this to help as well as to distract myself. Have any of you heard from Tali. As vast as my network is I can't seem to get anything about the Quarians?" she asks. "Sorry Li, I was under house arrest, I couldn't even contact my mother." Shea says. She looks to Ash and me, we shake our heads. "Have you heard anything about Miri?" I ask her. "A week ago. I don't know where she is but she is alive. I can't guarantee she is safe though. Cerberus is putting a lot of effort into hunting her." She says. "Ok. Thanks." I reply. They talk a bit more and I'm not really listening, at least I know she is alive and why she hasn't tried contacting me at all, even through back door communications. "So it's a race to the archives then." We hear some banging and look up to the second floor. Cerberus is trying to cut through the doors. " Looks like we got company." I said. "I'm ready." Vega says cocking his gun. "Not this time Vega. I need you and the Major here to head back up to the shuttle, just in case we need air support. Chey I am proud of you for the promotion as I am for you Ash." She orders.

I don't question her orders. "But.." Lt Vega says. "Now Lt." she says firmly. "Chey come here." She says. She hugs me and it feels like we haven't hugged in years. "Be safe, and please talk to the Lt. I don't have the time to coddle him, nor do I have the time for him to question my every order." She says. I look at her. "Your my XO, crew behaviors falls to you to correct.. Major." I smile. "A little sore about that aren't you?" I said. "A little, but I wish you had told me sooner." She says. I arch an eyebrow. "Oh, right house arrest. I really am proud of you though." She says. "I know. Say have you noticed that Liara seems even hotter?" I ask. "I did notice, but don't tell Ash. I'm having enough problems with her as it is." She says sighing and shaking her head. "Yeah. I noticed. Good luck with that." I said. I wave to Ash and Liara. "Let's go Vega." I said and it very much sounds like a command as it was meant to. He follows and activates the lift. I make eye contact with Shea again. Vega and I put on our helmets and head back to the surface.

"James what the hell was that back there?" I said. "I know. I know, but I keep feeling like she's leaving me out of the fight. I know I was essentially her guard on Earth, but I didn't think she'd hold it against me. First she leaves Earth.." he says. "On Anderson's order." He nods. "And now she is sending me up to the surface." He says. "James she's sending me too. I have been with her since Saren and here and there before that. Do you find me a less capable soldier the her?" he shakes his head. "Speak up Lt." I order. "No ma'am." He says. "You being sent away has nothing to do with whether she dislikes you or not. She needs people up in the air in case Cerberus gets the data first. We are the last line of defense." I reply. "If Cerberus gets away this whole war is over, just like that." I add. He nods. "Put trust in Shea." I said.