A/N: Don't get me wrong, I didn't HATE the not totally happy ending of ME3. What I hated was the BW totally let down the community. They promised variables, branching endings, and a depth that would be maintained throughout the conclusion. They didn't deliver. No matter what choices were made you were still left with the same ending available to you. It sucked, it was lazy. So with that in mind this is my interpretation of what should have been my Shepard's ending.
Also… I don't own Mass Effect.
Darkness. Again it had come to this. He had faced down the impossible, and he had won, and so he was greeted by that familiar oblivion that had taken him from all he loved before. But this time it was different. He had no real regrets, just wishes for more time. Part of him wanted this, to finally rest and he hated himself for it. His family, the ones he loved were out there without him again. Promises would go unfulfilled, and the people who mattered were lost to him once again. These are the last coherent thoughts of a great man as he fades away into the dark.
Somehow she knew. A hundred light years away, she still knew. He had made that final sacrifice for her, for everyone. She sat alone on the couch in the observation lounge. As beautiful as it was it seemed so dull now, knowing he was really gone this time. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. She knew he wouldn't want her to cry, but the tears refused to stop. All the losses in her life, her home, her name, and even her father hadn't prepared her for this.
For the first time in her life she had truly had happiness. She had someone to love, who loved her back. They had planned for their future together, promised to always be there for each other. Now he was gone. A quiet sob shook her small frame as she tried to remember him as he was just a few days earlier. Smiling, sleeping so calmly in her arms. Yes, it had been worth it. The hurt was worth it… he was worth it.
"Tali" a familiar voice spoke. "I- I'm so sorry." She turned to see Garrus standing over her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She stuttered what small reply would come. "Why Garrus?" more tears began to flow. Garrus struggled to find words to comfort her, she had grown to be like a sister to him. Shifting uncomfortably on his feet he answered. "Tali he knew that it might end this way. He had no regrets" speaking as he sat down beside her. "And he loved you. Spirits know he did." "I know… I just wish we'd had more time." Then the tears overtook her. So Garrus sat in silence, trying to stem the flood of tears that threatened to join Tali's. His thoughts came back to one place: He really is gone this time isn't he…
So much pain… wait… pain? Yes, it was pain. Somewhere under the rubble of the citadel a charred breastplate moved, a sharp breath drawn in and then, light. John Shepard took another deep breath, more pain. Glorious pain! He opened his eyes, to be greeted by the flickering lights of ruined control panels. He was alive. He could scarcely believe it. He had gone into the beam knowing full well he wouldn't be returning. He would make any sacrifice, though not for the trillions of lives at stake. He had done it for just one life, one soul among the masses pleading to be saved. He did it for her, the woman he had promised everything to. Somehow whatever God was out there had given him yet another chance, and he wouldn't waste it. Not again.
Tali had made it a point not to waste time. She needed to focus on something, anything but him. Otherwise the loss would be too much to bear. She had found the holodisc. She hadn't had the courage to play it yet. She knew what it was for. It was his message for her if he didn't return. If she played it she would me admitting he was gone forever, and that was something she couldn't do. He had promised her he would come back. He had promised her a life together, a home. She refused to believe that had been taken from her.
As she sat on their bed in the cabin, she glanced around the room to find so much of him remained. His model ships, the medals he had received, wine glasses still on the table from their "date" earlier in the week. She held in her hand the only image of them together. A photo taken from John's omni-tool, she remembered how excited she had been to have a real photo of them together. How was she supposed to accept he was gone now? "Damn it! Why?" she yelled as she flung the frame across the room. The polymer screen shattering as it hit the wall.
Rubble shifted as the injured N7 marine dragged himself from the pile. His armor a molten slag, skin burned, eyes black, and his skin a ghostly white. He should have been dead a hundred times with injuries like this. But that wouldn't stop him. Nothing would stop him. His pain was now his fuel, with every grueling step reminding him he is alive, his legs threatening to give out from injury and blood loss. His voice cracked as a single tear flowed down his cheek, the salt stinging his wounds. "I'm coming…"