This fic is loosely based off my playthrough of ME3 with a 90% paragon FemShep with a lot on non-canon additions to keep the 'fiction' in fanfiction. Don't own Mass Effect etc. I apologise if this is a bit wordy or boring, I wrote this initially to help me understand what happened in the game and get my feels in order. Bit of game narration and a lot of recounting head canons I have.
Major spoilers for ME3 and especially the ending, duh.


Shepard walked across the studio stage and sat on the couch that an assistant stage director point to, fluffing about with her uniform, pulling it or picking at little bits of fluff. She looked around her nervously at the crew that milled about who were trying not to stare at her, the cameras that pointed at her, the lights above her that highlighted her to the world she was about to speak to. She spotted Liara behind her and was able to catch her gaze for a moment. Liara gave her a reassuring smile that she would be right there the entire time if she needed her.

Ha! I took on a Reaper with less nervousness than this!

Diana Allers joined Shepard on stage and sat on the couch opposite, fiddling with a data pad for a few moments before she signalled her crew that she was ready to begin. Shepard glanced at the cameras and saw their recording lights blink on. She looked away.

"Hello gentle-viewers and welcome to tonight's exclusive episode of Battle Space where we talk with the legendary Commander Shepard," Diana Allers introduced the start of her show and the camera pulled back to reveal the woman in the question to the audience. Shepard was dressed in her usual military fatigues with her growing red hair now cascading down past her shoulders in little waves, a testament to the time that had passed since any member of the public had last seen her. Shepard waves towards the camera once before turning her attention to the reporter in front of her.

"Commander, how are you? It's been a long time since anyone saw you, there were lots of rumours regarding your demise."

"My demise?" She laughed "Well hopefully I can persuade the public that those rumours are false, I mean, last I heard I was alive," The comment was light hearted and she hoped it would break the ice but Shepard knew the rest of the interview wouldn't proceed long with such easy questions, "I'm good, I'm still in one piece thanks to some uh… very intelligent individuals and a few with personal interest."

"That's all very mysterious Commander," Diana prompted. She was hoping to get details on Shepard's injuries and her recovery.

"It is but I'm afraid that at this time that is about all I can say on the matter directly. A small team of people have been working closely with me to patch me up post Reaper invasion but as your viewers can now see for themselves, I am alive and well and stronger than ever. I won't be dying any time soon," Her bright blue eyes shone as if to add to the point.

"Do you think you will be returning to active duty?"

"No. Well, there's still a lot happening behind the scenes not just with myself but with powers that be. We're trying to establish a government of sorts to create some order to this chaos," Shepard almost laughed as she remembered the Catalysts words to her on the chaos of the universe, "It's all very touch and go and communication remains a problem."

"That's mildly conflicting Commander, first you said no but now you're saying you're working with officials to form a government. Are you uncertain of what you want to do?"

"The future is largely uncertain, there's a lot that needs to be co-ordinated to help get each race back on their feet so we can move forward with the lives we have secured for ourselves."

"What happens when the galaxy next needs you to save the day? Will you be there for humanity and the supporters you've gained?"

"Hopefully the world doesn't need any more saving, but I suppose someone will have to kick the next threats ass to kingdom come, so, yeah, I'd probably be there."

"It's comforting to know that you're on our side and still willing to fight on our behalf, even with everything you have been through already," Shepard nodded her acceptance of the praise but chose not to comment on it, she was becoming more used to the never ending hero worship she received but still wasn't entirely sure how to respond at times, "What about your crew? Where do they stand in all of this?"

"I lost a fair few of my crew in the final mission including my shuttle pilot Steve, my engineers Adams and Donnelly, my Comm Specialist Samantha Traynor, my squadmate James Vega and my dear friend Major Kaiden Alenko. I haven't been able to get in contact or find all of my crew yet, only my pilot Joker, EDI our AI and my wife Liara. The four of us have managed to get back together and we're working as team to pull the galaxy back up. They're on board with me and ready for whatever I have to throw at them next, we just need a ship that can fly."

"The Normandy, what happened to it when you activated the Catalyst?"

"Joker tried to outrun the blast but when it reached him, he lost control with the force of the explosion and the Normandy crash landed onto Earth. My surviving crew were lucky to get out alive."

"Where is the Normandy now Commander?"

"The Alliance has her and they are making superficial repairs, she won't be flying anytime soon though."

"That's a shame Commander, the Normandy has become such a part of you and your crew has it not?"

"The Normandy and its crew aboard her are my home. It's a little known fact that the Alliance has given me the Normandy as my own personal ship, currently it's being used as a place of residence for my crew and the officers working to try and bring her sky worthy again."

"WOW! The Alliance gave you the Normandy?

"The Normandy represents the best of the humanity, it was a symbol of what humanity could achieve if given the chance. It has always been the single best and most prized part of our fleet. When I got out of 'hospital' if you wanna call it that, the Alliance wanted to throw awards at me left, right and centre but I wouldn't listen to anything they had to say until they answered my questions about the Normandy and my crew. When they pursued the matter further I somewhat jokingly told them that I would rather have the Normandy fly again than have a dress uniform filled with medals and do you know what they said to me?" Diana shook her head; no one officially knew anything about Shepard or what she had been up to since she had set off the Catalyst. According to public record she had died saving the galaxy. "They said 'she's yours, we want the best to have the best'."

"That's incredible!"

"It really is, and I certainly hope that one day I'll be able to make good use of her as more than my housing estate."

"I have no doubt that you will. It sounds as though you could have anything in the galaxy if you asked for it."

"Yes, I hadn't expected the Alliance to just hand the Normandy over to me completely like that," Shepard frowned, she didn't want things simply handed to her because of her good deeds, "I'll have to be more careful about what I say in the future."

"Of anything in the galaxy, what would you want?"

"I have everything I want and need already, I have my family, I have my friends, somewhere to sleep, food to eat, and I even have the Normandy which I hadn't even thought of taking possession of. That's a lot more than what some people have. My only hope is to be able to give other people the same basic necessities. Of anything in the galaxy I want to restore peace to it."


More to come for this story. Got any questions you wish you could as the Commander? Maybe I'll answer it ;)