Shepard found that his father's heartbeat was actually his as his body went into overdrive from a sudden burst of adrenaline. Shepard felt his lungs fill with air as his vision turned into a blindingly white light but gradually faded to show half of his crew hunched over him. Tali was crouched over him holding an omni-tool over his body.

"He's finally starting to come arou- Ngh!" Tali exclaimed as Shepard rose to a sitting position and flung his arms around her waist in a split second.

"It was you," he gasped, still trying to get air back into his depleted lungs, "it was always you, Tali. You're the one that's kept me motivated, kept me going all these years. Every shot, every fight, every decision I've ever made, it was hard, but you gave me a reason to get out of bed and do it again. It's always been you, and it's taken me all this time to see it." He looked up at her. She was looking down on him while she was still crouching. With her head looking down as it was silhouetted by the glow of the artificial sky, she looked like a goddess. Shepard's eyes pooled with tears. "I love you, Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy, and I'm never going to let you go, not even if the damned Reapers come and tear me asunder, I will never let you go!"

"Shepard, I-" she cut herself off, feeling a lump forming in her throat as she came to the realization that there was no way to construct a way out of it. There was no way to run diagnostics to see possible outcomes or run simulations. She could, and had, to say only one thing.

"I love you too, John!" She screamed as she threw her arms around him and dropped to her knees. She cried her eyes out once again. She finally calmed down slightly and they released each other. "I- I've felt the same way. You've always been there for me when I needed you. I don't want to lose you. Ever. I don't know what I would do without you," she said through sniffs from her sobs, "I love you with all my heart, John Shepard." They smiled at each other and embraced one last time.

"Uh, Shepard," said Garrus as he tapped him on his back, "I think you have some unfinished business." He held out a hand and Shepard grabbed it and hauled himself up. He looked over to see that the light beside the urn door was still glowing.

"We found you laying here in a coma. Tali kept you stable for the five minutes you were out," he said.

"Only five minutes?" Shepard asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah," Garrus asked, confused. He tilted his head and scratched the back of his neck in a puzzled fashion.

"I'll tell you about it later," he said, "right now, I've got to do this."

"No," Tali stated as she grabbed his elbow, "We're going to do this as a team." Shepard turned around and saw Samara, Jacob, Thane, Kasumi, Zaeed, Joker, Jack, and everyone else on the Normandy. "I told them all everything."

"I said I'd stick with you 'till the end, Battlemaster," Grunt boomed, "and this 'aint the end yet."

"Goddamn right it isn't," Zaeed grunted, crossing his arms.

"Besides, will need endorsement from witness when personal biography gets published. So most productive for both parties to help out client in any way possible," Mordin chuckled. They all laughed heartily. Shepard finally turned toward the door and began to walk forward. He felt Thane's hand pat his shoulder, then he felt Grunt lightly punch his arm as he walked pass the line of his team. Every one of them gave him their own unique sign of respect.

He finally came to the button. He began to reach out to touch it, but then he felt weak again. Then, like an angel, he saw Tali's gloved hand reach out and wrap itself over the top of his hand. Her fingers went between the spaces between his fingers. He turned toward her and nodded. He saw her cheeks go up underneath her mask in a smile and she nodded back. Then, he pressed the button.

And just like that, the stoic reminders of his past were gone, drifting through space. Shepard felt like he had never felt before. He felt like he was himself and not some crutch for someone long gone. He turned around to his crew, put his arms behind his back and held his head up high.

"Alright, listen up!" he yelled out. His crew smiled as they saw the fire pour out of Shepard. "I am Commander John Shepard. Systems Alliance, N7 division. I am your Captain on the SR2 Normandy. Whatever I say, goes! Are we clear?"

"Yes sir!" they all yelled back in unison.

"I want you all to return to Fantasy and have a damn good time because tomorrow starting at 0900 hours, we're going to work, and then we're going to work some more! Are we clear?" He shouted again, this time pointing at them. He couldn't help but smile. He had never felt so much vigor. He had never felt so confident and so alive.

"Excellent, now, let's get out of here and back to the party. Hooah!" he yelled out. The crew moved with Shepard, following his lead. Tali wrapped her arms around his, letting him lead her.

" Shepard," she said in a serious tone, "did you ever find peace? Please be honest."

"I did Tali. Wolfe is dead and I'm not him. I can't bring back my own family because they're dead and nothing is going to change that. All I know is that I'm here, now, with you, and that's all the peace I'll ever need."

She smiled and laid her head on his arm, swooning. They all enjoyed their stay on the Citadel, but twenty four hours later, they were in deep space again on the Normandy. Shepard was alive once more, but his motivation this time wasn't credits, or the Alliance, or Cerberus. It was that quarian who saved him, and kept him going and kept him willing to face what may happen in their future adventures. He was ready for whatever dreams, or nightmares, may come their way from there to infinity.

All because of that one, absolutely amazing woman who gave his life purpose.