The characters from this story belong to BioWare.

He smiled as he recalled that very first moment, even under the circumstances he was on. He grabbed Shepard's hand and placed a very small piece with data there before he allowed himself to get lost on his memories.

It had been almost a year now, but his endless capacity to perfectly remember every moment of his life will never allow him to forget. Not that he wanted to anyway.

He was on his first mission since he joined the Normandy, and he was curious to know how everything would work out. All that time he had mostly been in the Life Support Control Room, so he never really had a chance to talk to the rest of the members of the crew, but he knew their names and some basic information. In that occasion, Tali and he were on a trip with Shepard on the Citadel. They soon arrived to their destination.

"Commander Shepard, I assume." Said a batarian in a hostile tone, "He is waiting for you. But we must insist you go in alone."

The drell and the quarian didn't hesitate to get ready putting their hands on their weapons to take them out quickly in case of being necessary. But the red haired woman didn't seem worried at all. She just raised an arm to calm them.

"I can handle it. They know what would happen if they try anything funny." She threatened as she walked towards the door, getting a hateful look from the batarian.

Thane released his weapon and relaxed his body posture, but the quarian didn't seem comfortable doing the same thing. The minutes passed and the tension became even more apparent. He thought she probably had a close relationship with Shepard, otherwise she wouldn't be so concerned. The commander was very skillful after all.

"You shouldn't worry so much. Shepard can manage a situation like this." He said in a polite tone, trying to take her out of her own thoughts. She seemed a little surprised by the sudden words, but she answered right away.

"You are probable right. It's just I've been on edge lately."

He knew that was probably due to personal matters, but he also didn't feel any kind of reject signs from her part. He decided to ask.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Just some things back in the Fleet." She answered a little insecure, getting a comprehensive nod from the assassin. He didn't want to make he feel uncomfortable by asking further, but she continued by her own, "I know that what we are doing here is important, but I can't stop thinking in ways to help my people."

He immediately understood her concern and a feeling of admiration started growing inside of him. She knew the task was crucial, but she didn't forget her loved ones. The way she talked about her home assured him she would never leave them behind, and that was a painful reminder of what he could never do for his own family.

"You shouldn't feel bad for thinking like that." He went silent for a second, meditating he was about to say, "Sometimes having something to fight for gives you strength."

By that moment, Tali's posture was noticeably more relaxed, and even if he couldn't see her face, he knew she was smiling for the way her voice sounded.

"Thanks."

Not much time after, Shepard went out of the room without major incidents -which was actually pretty weird considering her bad temper- and they returned to the Normandy.

The next three weeks Thane was occasionally required to go on some missions, but he passed most of the time in his room. Something was different this time though. He had been running on Tali during his trips to the kitchen, and he started finding her company quite pleasant. She was the only member of the crew he had been really talking to besides Shepard, and he started looking forward those little encounters.

Tali was a nice and caring person, tough enough to fight her own battles but innocent and kind in a lot of situations. It was a strange combination, and a very attractive one.

One afternoon he went out of his room as he got used to, but the quarian wasn't there. Instead, he heard quick steps coming from the elevator, and then Shepard hurrying to the AI Core. Even from the distance he was, he could hear Tali's desperate voice and Shepard's screams. They were clearly arguing about something, but he couldn't understand exactly what they meant. The next thing he saw was Tali getting out of the place clearly upset, and Shepard sighing resigned as she walked away. The situation got him curious and also really concerned. That sounded serious, but he knew it was none of his business. Even aware of that fact, his body moved towards the elevator and soon got to the Engineering Room.

Tali was on the far side of the room, totally lost on her thoughts. He walked decided towards her, and put his arms behind his back before talking.

"Would you mind to get some company?"

The woman startled a bit when he suddenly noticed his presence, but she immediately got adapted to the situation.

"Oh no, I was just…" She let go disheartened sigh, not wanting to lie, "I don't think I would be a good company right now." Her voice was so expressive that even if the drell couldn't see her expression, he knew she was really sad.

"It's actually quite the opposite." He didn't change his posture as he answered, giving her a pleasant feeling of reassurance. "If you wish to speak I would be glad to hear you."

The woman remained silent for a long time, but neither of them felt actually uncomfortable. After a while, she finally turned her thoughts into words. It was easy to talk to Thane, something about him made her lay her trust on him without questioning it too much. She ended up talking about things she thought she would never talk again after what happened with Shepard. The woman who most knew about her personal matters betrayed her by choosing to side with the machine during that last argument, and that hurt her more than she thought it would.

The drell was fascinated by the quarian's story. He felt lucky for being able to know more about her people, her culture, about her and her noble feelings. He needed to do something for that woman. He felt the urge to fight by her side and help her regain what she had been dreaming with since she was a little girl. He felt purposeful once again, and he could sense it on the quick rate his heart was beating on that moment.

"Dad"

The drell opened his eyes, getting back to reality. His son looked at him worriedly.

"Yes, Kolyat?"

"You are getting lost on your vivid memories."

"I'm sorry" He knew it was unfair to slip in his memories in that precise moment, but he barely had the will to avoid doing it, "It is an involuntary process"

Kolyat stared at him and then nodded. "I will be right here, dad"

He felt grateful for his son's understanding and he allowed himself to get lost on his memories once again.

This time, it was from several weeks later. He and Tali started spending more time together, but she had been acting significantly strange. She started having some trouble maintaining a conversation, and those last two days he could swear she was avoiding him.

That afternoon he stayed on his room trying to process everything that had happened lately. The final battle against the Collectors was close, and he was starting to get worried. He couldn't even be sure he would make it, how could he guarantee the quarian's survival?

He heard footsteps behind him and he immediately recognized them.

"Do you need something?" He said to the woman, who approached visibly nervous.

"I… Uhm, I just wanted to talk, if that's ok with you"

"Of course"

The woman took a sit in front of him and her gaze avoided his. Even with the protection of her helmet, she felt vulnerable under the penetrating eyes of the drell. She knew it would be hard to speak out her mind, but she had to do it. She played nervously with her hand on the table before start talking.

"Actually, there's a reason why I came here… I-I mean, is not like I don't enjoy your company, it's just this time it's a serious matter. N-no, wait, that didn't sound good either. Ah, Keelah, I'm such a disaster…"

The drell took her hands tenderly, making her go suddenly silent.

"I understand what you mean, and I feel the same way."

The woman grabbed his hands harder as she felt her heartbeat increase after hearing those words.

"Thane, there's something I must do before the mission" She stood up and the drell didn't take long to do the same. Once she was in front of him, she finally took the courage to put her helmet away, showing her face to the drell.

What he had in front of his eyes was a sight he would carry with him even after the end of his life. She was so delicate, so pure. He caressed one side of her neck, getting as close to her face as he could without directly touching her skin.

"You are beautiful"

She smiled in shyness, allowing her hands to rest on his chest as she got a little closer. They were in a torturing distance, but none of them seemed to want to shorten the few inches that were separating their lips.

"Tali, my skin has a toxin that may hurt you" Thane finally said, getting out of his trance.

"I'm willing to take the risk" She finally got closer and their lips met, making him feel warm inside as his arms grabbed her from her waist.

He coughed a couple of times, making that memory fade away. He opened his eyes one more time to see Shepard at his side, looking quite worried. Kind of strange, considering that the woman wasn't the sensitive type, but he guessed she ended up considering him a good friend.

"Are you sure you don't need the mask?" She asked.

"I don't have much time left. I prefer to spend my last moments comfortably"

She didn't seem exactly satisfied with that answer, but she didn't insist. Instead, she looked at Kolyat, who simply nodded in approval.

Thane closed his eyes a third time just to recall the moment of their farewell. The mission was over, and everything went good, but now it was time for Tali to return to the Fleet and for him to spend some time with Kolyat. She hugged him, and he tried to hang into that sensation as long as possible.

"Tali, there's something you should know about me…"

"I know"

Of course she did. But he needed to say it anyway.

"I may not be able to spend too much time with you. But when you are ready, I will be waiting"

"I will be back as fast as I can" The woman's voice sounded sorrowful, and he cursed himself for being who produced that on her.

His difficult to breathe brought him violently to the reality one last time, and he coughed trying to catch his breathe.

"Please, Shepard. Deliver it to her" He finally said with noticeable difficult, and then his heart stop beating.

She red haired woman closed his eyes before answering. "I will, Thane. I promise".

-o-

"So, Admiral, huh"

"It is mostly a formality; they just needed a Geth expert"

The quarian was on Shepard's private cabin by then, trying to catch up since the time they got separated. She filled her friend in with news from the Flotilla, but her mind was desperately supplicating her to ask about Thane. Shepard would probably know where he was, but she didn't want to sound so direct. They hadn't talked to anyone about their relationship, after all.

"So, any news from the rest of the crew?" She asked trying to sound casual, but Shepard's sudden change of mood concerned her.

"Yeah… About that, Tali. I got something for you from Thane" The commander gave her the data, "He passed away a few days ago. I'm sorry"

Tali stood up there, feeling her heart was going to tear apart at any moment. A part of her wanted to believe that wasn't true, but deep down she knew it was.

"How?" She managed to ask, feeling her own voice weak by the pain.

"He sacrificed to save the salarian Councilor. He died like a hero"

Tali felt her body tremble violently, and suddenly she felt she couldn't stand in there anymore.

"I will… Talk to you later, Shepard" She said to finally leave the place and refugee in the only place she felt comfortable. The memories of the pleasant chats she used to have with the drell assaulted her when she entered to the Engineering Room, but she didn't allow herself to fall apart before listening to whatever Thane had sent her.

"Tali. If you are hearing this, it means my time in this world has ended"

Hearing his voice again finally managed to weaken her legs enough to slide on the wall and sit on the ground. Every word was a stab on her heart, and even if in the message he asked her not to feel guilty, she couldn't help it. She abandoned him on the last moments of his life, and she didn't even come back to say goodbye.

"I'm sorry, Tali. I wish I had more time, but I couldn't keep my promise. I wish I could have fought by your side to regain your home world. But I know you will succeed. You are stronger that you think, never doubt that."

The recording remained silent for a few moments, making her feel anxious.

"I love you, Tali'Zorah. We will meet again someday. Keelah se'lai"

The message ended and he finally released her breath, sounding like a harmful sob. Thane Krios had marked her life in a way she would never forget, and now even if she felt the sorrow consuming her, she did what he would've wanted. Gathering all the strength she could, she stood up firmly. She would fight for her people, for her home world. She would prove that she was able to do that and more. She would honor his memory, his faith on her. She would see Rannoch again, and after fulfilling her goals, she would be with Thane once more.

"Keelah Se'lai" She repeated determined, walking out of the room to get back to her duties.

I think this is the most strange couple from ME world i've written of so far. This is dedicated to LionMagnus, he made me do it haha.

I hope you enjoy reading it!