Greetings! This was originally a part of Jane Shepard: This is my Story, but the flow of the storyline confused readers so I decided to make it a companion piece instead. These should go up fairly quickly since I have them all written and most typed.

Each squad member will have a chapter of their memories with their journey with Shepard and it is based as if after her death at the beginning of ME2. Each chapter should give in more and different insight into who Shepard was and what her adventures and decisions in ME1 were.

Sorry for the long Author Note, I just wanted to explain what this is. Bioware owns the Mass Effect Universe!

Ashley:

The Commander saved my life. If Shepard hadn't shown up on Eden Prime when she did, I may have joined the rest of my squad. I could see the understanding in her eyes when we talked about losing my squad. Akuze I guess.

She saved Kaidan from the Beacon. Which was incredibly lucky for him, because he wouldn't have been able to survive the encounter with all the Prothean information the Commander had to deal with after the Beacon exploded. I was honored when Shepard let me join the Normandy. I just couldn't believe how many aliens Shepard accepted aboard.

Shepard and I fought over the aliens. She was on their side though, and even though Pressely and I had our concerns, she told us to suck it up and let past prejudices go. They were her crew, her friends, and she trusted them. I slowly began to understand her point of view when we went on missions together. They were all loyal to the mission, to her, and incredibly good on the battle field. I worked with Tali on Feros and Garrus on the Citadel against Saren. I may not have agreed on having aliens on an Alliance ship… but these I could trust and become friends with... of a sort. When the Skipper is right, she's right.

Shepard and I talked about family sometimes. Mostly it came up because mine was so important to me, and Skipper could tell, so she asked quite often how they were doing. Especially with my youngest sister, Sarah. Shepard was happy for my family and she even once told me she was a little jealous. Said that she wished she had someone to share that bond with. She told me a little of her time growing up on Earth. It certainly didn't sound easy, but she told me she wouldn't have it any other way. 'My life on Earth started me on this path. I very much like the path I am on. Maybe not how the mission has turned so dire with the galaxy depending on us, but working with this crew, this squad, the Normandy. I would say that all the hard crap I put up with was worth it. I wouldn't change a thing.' She said it with a sincere smile. I am proud to have served under her.

She also didn't hold me back from anything because of the name I carry. 'Your Grandfather had no choice. I don't condemn his actions, and I am not going to judge you based off his dossier. I have seen you in action Williams. You deserve better than the Alliance has given you. You're a good soldier.'

She also avoided talking about Akuze. Well, unless I asked a question. Like when Kaidan died. She didn't tell me to get over it, and to move on. She said you take it and you do better, make every life count and save all that you can. It may not always work out how you hoped, but you honor the memory of the ones lost, and make sure they are never forgotten. I still can't believe she chose me to save. I could see the tortured look in her eyes, but I still lashed out at her. She looked pretty pissed and told me not to die a martyr to try to clear my family's name. Told me it wasn't my fault, that she was the one who made the decision, so it was all on her shoulders. I was with the Salarians, and she wanted to save them too.

I thought she and Anderson lost their minds when they came up with the idea to steal the Normandy. Skipper had this crazy smirk on her face and this gleam in her eye. I think she was just too happy to tell the council and Udina that they could all go to hell, by stealing the Normandy. I knew Shepard was right, we had to do this even if we all got court-martialed.

Ilos was an amazing place, all that history. Liara was jealous afterwards. She wanted to go back, but the place was infested with Geth. I thought we were going to die when we took the Mako through the Relay. She really was incredibly insane.

Running on the outside of the Citadel was actually… terrifying. Having Sovereign right there and having to dodge its legs while fighting Geth- now that is an adventure I never want to repeat. Then the fight with Saren wasn't even a fight. She talked him down. Though the implants Soveriegn gave Saren made things incredibly difficult when he took control of his body. I have never seen Shepard look so furious and she felt such deep sorrow and pity for Saren afterwords. I don't understand why. I thought we were all going to die when Sovereigns leg came crashing through the window. We managed to survive; Shepard got us out of the way.

She saved the council. I should have expected it. Garrus agreed with her. I disagreed with them both. Humanity needed to survive this. She saved the Council anyway, saying this was bigger than humanity. Humanity has the trust of the many different races now. I didn't see how saving the Council would help, but we even got a seat on the Council.

I returned to Shepard's command and have continued to serve with the Alliance since... the Normandy went down. I will do what I can to honor her hard work.