A/NI apologize for the short length of this chapter. It just seemed to stand on its own too well to mash it in with the next update. As always reviews are appreciated, and thank you to those who have subscribed or "faved" my story. To those who have posted constructive reviews I thank you. To those who would say "you don't get the ending in the game." I do. I don't care about how you want to justify it. The fact remains it was a lazy way to close out one of gaming's greatest series. That said, read and enjoy, good things are around the bend.

I DO NOT OWN MASS EFFECT.

For as long as Tali had known John she had fantasized about this moment. About the moment he would offer to become her bondmate, the moment he would truly be hers. She knew he loved her, but she never really believed the day would come when he would ask for bonding. She was speechless to say the least. The subject had been… touched on, during some of their more intimate moments and conversations. More recently when Tali had been more than a little intoxicated in the Normandy's lounge, the conversation had turned to her Human boyfriend. Keelah my father would really hate him now!

John Shepard wasn't quite sure what to think of the situation he now found himself in. He had offered her everything he had and she remained silent. He hoped not for the reasons he was now beginning to suspect. Did something change while he was lost? Was there someone else? Had she decided that her people needed her more than he did? What about all those promises they had made? All of these questions rushed through the mind of the N7 Marine at lightning speed, not giving him a chance to formulate any answers for himself.

"John… I… Of course I will share the bond with you!" She finally spoke almost squealing. "I don't know quite what to say… I have dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it's finally here I don't know what to do." He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it. "Now I know you really love me…" A chuckle in his voice, "because right now it can't be because of my dashing good looks." A smile split his bruised face, only to be met by a swift punch to the shoulder. "Ahh! God Tali! It was a joke!"

Garrus had been rather upset when he walked into the medbay only to find Shepard missing and the staff asleep at the desk. After imbuing them with what he hoped would be a little Turian discipline, he'd had EDI locate the commander for him. "Commander Shepard is currently on Deck 1." She almost chimed at him. "Do you wish me to call him?" "No, let him be" he replied with what could pass for a grin on his face. "He knows what he needs." His mandibles flared in an honest smile and he strode off towards the CIC.

Shepard had soon drifted off to sleep after Tali had pulled him into an embrace. For a long while they had just laid there looking into each other's eyes. He looked so peaceful, more than she could ever remember him being. Well... except maybe after some of their moreintimate "discussions". He laughed quietly to herself as she remembered the times the unstoppable Commander Shepard turned to jelly in her arms and then falling into a deep and snore filled sleep.

A blush fought its way to her cheeks, and she was at once thankful that he was still asleep. She decided to let him sleep, but she had duties to attend to. Silently she slipped out of bed and placed her helmet view plate firmly in place. She took one more look at her newly betrothed bond-mate and smiled before heading to the lift.

She pressed the button for deck 3. She was rather hungry, as her growling stomach reminded her. Stepping off of the lift humming to herself she walked to the galley and retrieved a tube of number seven nutrient paste and inserted it into the port on her helmet before going back to the lift and heading down to engineering.

As she stepped into the engine room she was greeted as usual by Adams. She nodded and waved briefly before pointing to the tube protruding from her helmet. She then took up her place at her usual work station. Eating and humming to herself, with only an occasional bounce in place. "OUCH" was the word she found herself making through a mouthful of paste as something hard made contact with the back of her helmet.

Upon turning around she was greeted by the sight of a very smug looking Turian. "I should have known you wouldn't wait." Garrus Vakarian eyed his target, doing his best to appear upset and stern. "You just couldn't wait until he was more recovered could you." "And what business is it of yours!" She growled, her eyes narrowing. "Last I checked I didn't need your approval to see my… um." Her voice grew quiet, her fingers found themselves again locked in a nervous dance.

"Last I checked until Shepard is back on his feet I run this ship." He gave her a scrutinizing look, hands meeting behind his back. Oh he was enjoying this, teasing Tali about her relationship with Shepard never ceased to me amusing. But wait, see her what? Her voice had dropped… "See your what Tali?" He pressed the question, trying his best to keep up the act. "See my um…my…" She mumbled something he couldn't understand. "You'll have to speak up Ms. Zorah." He leaned forward, waiting for her answer. Then he hit pay dirt. "My… um… bond-mate…"

Why Tali had been so nervous about admitting it she would never know, but there it was, out in the open. "It's about damn time." The Turian's visage cracked into a smile. "I'll never know what you see in him, especially now with his good looks long gone." He said with a chuckle as he turned to leave. "Hey! You… you bosh'tet! His looks are just fine!" Her eyes once again narrowing towards Garrus behind the polarized glass. "Congratulations Tali. I mean it, you two are like family to me, and you both deserve to be happy." He smiled down at the Quarian. "I'll stop by your cabin later, I'd like to see him too if you don't mind."

"I think he would like that very much Garrus." She saw him start to walk away and added "and Garrus, thank you. It really means a lot." "You two were meant to be, after 4 years and everything we've been through you two deserve all the happiness in the galaxy." He turned and passed through the door towards the lift, shouting back. "I'll be by around 1900."

As Garrus made his way onto the lift he smiled, honest to God smiled. They were his family now, maybe even more-so than his own had ever been. They were bound by something more powerful than blood. They had never let him down, or looked down on him, and Spirits be damned before he'd let anything else come between them.