Less than a year later, Thane married Irikah. In his letter to Ali, he said, "She woke me up from the battle sleep I was slowing being pulled into. I owe her a lot." She was happy for him, but a small part of her was hurt that he could find someone that fast when she was having trouble sleeping without him beside her.

"When can I meet her," she asked a week later when they vid commed. He looked uncomfortable for a second and glanced over his shoulder.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Ali." She frowned.

"Why not?"

"I don't think she would be happy that I invited the person who owns a piece of my heart into our life. Ali, there will always be a part of me who loves you, but I have to keep you separate from our family."

"Family? Is she pregnant?" A sheepish smile escaped his lips confirming it. "Oh, Thane, I am so happy for you." Then his words finally sank in. "Wait, you still love me?"

"Yes, I do. But I have to live my life just like you said."

"Yeah, like I said." She looked away trying to recollect herself. "Well, Thane, I have an early meeting with one of the councilors. I'll talk to you later?"

"Yes, I would like that, Ali. Until next time."

Over the next ten years, they treated each other like journals. Telling the other how each day went, what they did, who they killed. And they would give each other advice on how to solve problems. Like when one of her team members went too far into battle mode. Or when Thane and Irikah would have a fight about how long he was away from his family. They made it a mission to meet at least once a year on whatever planet was between them. Or if they happened to be on the same planet at the same time, they would meet under their aliases at a bar or in a restaurant. Thane knew more about Ali than she knew about herself and vice versa. They talked about anything and everything.

Then one day, there was silence. After he wrote, "I am at the docks on Kahje now. I will email you when I get home," there was nothing. Late that night, she gave up on sleep and went to her office to talk to the night staff. "Nat, could you get me in touch with any of our contacts on Kahje? There's something wrong," she asked when she got into the office.

"Absolutely, boss, what is it regarding?"

"Thane Krios. He's a contract assassin used to be part of the Compact."

"Bringing it up now."

"Ali, is that you?" a man asked over the vid comm.

"Yep, Danny, what's up?"

"You said Thane Krios, right?"

"Yes, I did. Any information?"

"Yeah, yesterday, Batarian slavers killed his wife. There's nothing about his kid, Kolyat, so I'd assume he is still alive. Irikah's funeral is in a few days. They're putting her in the sea. Does that answer any questions?"

"Yes, thank you. Over and out." She went into her office calmly then almost hyperventilated. "Oh my God, Thane." She rushed out of the office yelling over her shoulder at Natalie. "Get me on the fastest ship bound for Kahje."

Ali walked into the sticky, humid world of Kahje the next day not having slept all night. On the trip, she had almost blown up her ship a few times because she was pushing it so hard to get there in one day. She pulled out her directions to Thane's house where he was said to be staying until later that day. He was scheduled to leave on a transport for an undisclosed location. She hailed a cab and told the hover car her destination. The planet of Kahje was breathtaking. It looked like a watercolor painting: all pastel colors and smeared edges. The world was ninety-five percent water. There were a few scattered islands across the expansive ocean, and this was one of the bigger ones. Still only a hundred miles around the perimeter, but it was built upwards reaching for the dark clouds above. On a clear day, it was said that you could see the environmental dome above the city. She looked out the window to see Hanar and Drell alike going about their business. There were even Drell and Hanar communing with each other as they walked. This community is closer than Thane described. When the cab stopped outside a house near the ocean's edge, she got out and started up the path towards it. Prime real estate. I wonder how much something this secluded cost him. She knocked on the door just to be polite and was surprised when a small Drell boy, who couldn't be older than ten, answered. His eyes were watery and his mouth was pulled down at the edges. "Hi, you must be Kolyat. My name is Ali. Is your father here by any chance?" she asked crouching down to speak at the boy's level. Kolyat sniffed and opened the door wider to let her in.

"Father, there is someone here to see you," he called quietly into the living room. Ali put her bag down near the door out of the way, so no one would trip on it. Thane appeared at the adjoining doorway his eyes widening when he saw her.

"Ali," he breathed. "Son, why don't you get ready for the ceremony? I'll be right here if you need me." Kolyat nodded sullenly and went up the stairs.

"Ali, what are you doing here?"

"Why didn't you tell me? How hard is writing a simple email, Thane?" she whispered not breaking eye contact with him.

"Emailing you was not the first thought that I had," he growled lashing out at her. She took the blow silently though her face hardened.

"Thane, I am your friend. You have to trust me with things like this. I could have been here sooner if you had bothered to email me. When was the last time your son ate or had a bath? He looked terrible," she said harshly, but she had to jar him out of the battle sleep she could see that he was slowly dropping into. His eyes betrayed his shame before he could look away. "When is her ceremony, Thane?"

"Not for several hours," he murmured.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do, but I need you to stay here with me. If not for me, then for your son. He needs you." He nodded. "When was the last time you slept?"

"Not since before I came home."

"Then I want you to go upstairs and try to get at least an hour's sleep, Thane. I will take care of your son in the meantime. Don't worry. I have everything handled." She followed him up the stairs pushing when he hesitated. When he went into his bedroom, she locked the door from the outside.

Walking down the hall to Kolyat's room, Ali knocked on the door. "Come in," a small voice called. She walked into the boy's room finding him trying to force on shoes that were much too small for him.

"Oh, sweetie, I don't think those are going to fit," she said sitting down on his bed and taking them from him. She ran her hand over his head feeling how rough his scales were against her skin. She could tell that he was going to be just as handsome as his father when he grew up. His scales were much lighter than his father's and were blue instead of green. But he had the same markings on his face in black stripes. She wondered what Irikah looked like. "Can you tell me when the last time you had a bath was?"

"I don't know. It was probably the last time mom made me take one."

"Well, you want to look nice and clean for her ceremony right?"

"Yes," he said jutting out his lower lip in a pout.

"Then I think a bath is in order before we find some shoes that fit you."

"Okay," he said nodding and moving towards the bathroom adjoined to his room. He turned around and looked at her. "Miss Ali?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"I don't understand why father wasn't here to make the bad men go away before they hurt mommy."

"Kolyat, it's not that your dad didn't want to be here. He had to be away to keep bad man like that away from other people's mommies."

"Why couldn't he save mine then?" Tears were filling his eyes which made Ali run over and scoop him up. He wrapped his arms around her neck and put his face into her shoulder.

"Oh, Kolyat, if you're father had known that people were going to hurt your mommy, he would have been here to protect her. But he didn't know."

"Why not?"

"Hush, no more questions, sweetheart. Today is the day that you celebrate how much time you had with your mommy. She was such an incredible woman and she loved you so much. You need to remember that when you want to cry. You want to cry because you're so happy that you were her son. Not because she had to leave. Kalahira will see your tears and tell Irikah about how happy you are that she was your mommy instead of anyone else. Can you do that for me?" Kolyat sat up straight in her arms and nodded slowly. "That's a strong, good boy. You're mom would be so proud. Now how about that bath? I want to see how these beautiful scales shine when they're clean." He nodded again a little more happily this time, and Ali let him walk to the bathroom on his own. She set the dehumidifier in the bathroom to high to keep the air from getting too moist for his lungs as Kolyat started the water and tested it with his hand until it was hot. He gave her a shy smile not wanting to take his clothes off in front of her. She winked and closed the door to bathroom letting him have his privacy as she went through his closet looking for suitable clothes.

Laying out what she thought would be suitable after reading up on Drell death ceremonies, Ali smiled at her selection thinking that Kolyat would look very handsome. All the fabrics on Kahje seemed to be made of sea plants which kept it from getting too moist from the humid air. It was very interesting. Plus the fabric was super light making it feel like the clothes she was holding were just air with texture. She set the outfit on the bed and quietly knocked on the bathroom door. "Kolyat, I put out some clothes on your bed when you're finished. I am going to check on your father, then I will be downstairs if you need anything," she called.

"Thank you, Miss Ali."

"You can just call me Ali, sweetheart."

"Thank you, Ali." She smiled to herself then went back down the hall to Thane and Irikah's room. She stopped at the door and pressed her ear against it. All she could hear was deep even breathing if only a little labored and thick sounding, and she cracked the door open soundlessly to see him laying on the bed. Good, maybe he will feel better after some sleep. She smiled and went down the stairs. There were broken ceramics and knocked over furniture everywhere. I wonder if this was from the attack or if Thane did all this.

She frowned to herself picking up a holo of Irikah and Kolyat smiling up at her. Kolyat was about seven in this photo, and his smile was face splitting. She smiled at the fact that he looked so adorable. His mother was a different story. Irikah was magnificently gorgeous next to his cuteness. Her scales were blue and much lighter than her son's. Her own smile was something that seemed to light her up from within. Sunset colored eyes. She was truly beautiful. The photo changed to one of Irikah with Kolyat on her lap looking out over the ocean. They both looked so happy and content with one another. The photo changed again, and Kolyat was just a baby. Irikah was looking adoringly down at his sleeping face. The photos changed several more times, but Ali started to frown when she realized she didn't see one with Thane in it. Finally when she was about to put down the holo a picture popped up of just Thane and Irikah. He had her head on his lap and was gazing down at her with love. The next one was one that looked posed with him behind her and his arms around her waist. The last one was of the three of them together looking happy to just have each other's company. Smiling to herself, she set the holo down trying to stamp down the feeling of jealousy and hurt that came along with knowing Thane was in love with someone besides her.

Ali went to work cleaning up the mess of the lower level as she waited for Kolyat to get dressed. She righted furniture and swept up pieces of glass until everything was picked up. As she scanned one of Irikah's many recipes, she picked one she thought sounded good and set about making them a meal before the funeral. She liked cooking as much as I do. That's something else we have in common. I wish I could have met her. It doesn't seem right being in this house without her invitation. The ingredients weren't too hard to find once she looked up on her omni tool what everything was supposed to look like. The kitchen seemed about the same as the one in her apartment, so that was a load off her shoulders. She mixed everything together as specified and put it in the oven to cook. Nodding proudly at herself, she sat down at the table to go over status reports on her tool.

"What's that smell? Lunch?" Kolyat asked when he walked into the kitchen with his nose in the air sniffing deeply.

"Yes, I used one of your mom's recipes. I hope you don't mind." He was wearing the funeral clothes that she had set out for him, and in her opinion, he looked very handsome.

"No, Mom liked to share her recipes. She was a really good cook."

"I hope I did her justice then," she said smiling at the young boy. Wow, he is a really great kid. Irikah, you will never cease to amaze me. She took the dish out of the oven and made him a plate which she placed in front of him with a flourish. "Ta-da." He laughed and dug into the food with fervor. "Kolyat, how long has it been since you last ate?"

"Uh, yesterday, I think. I was at my Aunt's house. I ate just before father came and got me." Her brow furrowed.

"Well, have as much as you want, but try not to get any on your clothes."

"Okay." Ali left the kitchen going back up the stairs to check on Thane and maybe wake him up. It had been well over an hour since she sent him to bed.

Pausing at the door to listen to the interior, Ali heard the rustling of fabric. She knocked lightly on the door. "Come in," Thane called gently. She opened the door and froze when she saw he was naked from the waist up and was shoeless. "Ali, do you need something?" She swallowed continuing in the room and closing the door behind her.

"No, I was about to wake you up, but it seems I didn't need to."

"The smell of food roused me."

"Well, there is some lunch waiting in the kitchen if you are hungry before heading off to wish Irikah goodbye."

"You can't wear that," he said looking down at her clothes.

"What-what's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Glancing down, Ali surveyed her dress. The neckline was high at the base of her throat. There was a moderate V down the back. The skirt of the dress went to just below her knees. The black pumps weren't too high. She thought it had been a good choice. Pretty but modest.

"Unless you want every Drell male to stare at you, you should change."

"I've always worn things like this around you."

"Most Drell don't leave Kahje, so they wouldn't be used to seeing other species especially someone with so little clothes on." She shook her head in confusion. There was a little humor in his eyes at her stunned silence. "Drell women wear high necked shirts with long sleeves and skirts almost to the floor. And no heels."

"But I don't have anything like that to wear. Plus have you felt how hot it is here? That's crazy. I would die."

"You would be amazed how cool the native clothes keep you here. I will get you something of Irikah's to wear. Wait here."

"No, Kolyat can't see me in his mother's clothes." He glanced over his shoulder.

"There are a few things she had never worn. And she almost never clothed herself in black. She liked colors." Her brow furrowed, but she couldn't really argue with him. Men staring at her during a funeral would not be a good thing.

"Okay, fine. Thank you."

"There is no need."

After getting dressed in the bathroom, Ali stepped out straightening her clothes. It looked all right, but it had taken some inventiveness to fit her breasts into the shirt. Drell women didn't have breasts. It was lucky that Irikah and she were roughly the same size. Then the thought hit her that maybe it had more to do with Thane's tastes. Brushing the thought aside, she finally looked up at him and immediately felt her heart break. His eyes were dead. She took a step forward grabbing his face in her hands. "Oh, Thane, no." He grabbed her wrists removing them, but he didn't let her go. She could smell him she was standing so close, and his breath tickled her neck. Ali wanted so much just to collapse into his arms and hold him. Her blood heated up, and she knew he could hear her heart starting to race. A small glint of light was reflected deep in his eyes which told her he could in fact sense everything his closeness was doing to her.

"Don't worry, Siha. It has been decided. After the ceremony today, I am leaving to make those Batarians pay for killing Irikah." He gently released her arms and took a step back letting her finally take a breath.

"What about Kolyat?"

"I will leave him with his Aunts and Uncles."

"Thane, he needs his father. He just lost his mom, don't take away his dad too."

"Siha, enough," he growled narrowing his eyes at her, and just like that, the light was gone. She felt tears fill her eyes and fall down her cheeks.

"Please, don't do this."

"I don't wish to talk about this any further." Her eyes hardened.

"Fine, just know that if you leave that poor boy on his own without a father to turn to, you are not to speak to me again." He looked up at her unblinkingly.

"Is that really what you wish?"

"I don't know how you could just leave that incredible boy behind."

"I don't do it lightly. I need to protect him. And doing what I do best is the only way I know how, Siha." There was a pause as he seemed to notice he had been calling her that the entire time. "Will you watch over him while I am away?" he finally asked quietly. Ali found that she couldn't refuse him even if she wanted to cut all ties.

"Yes."

"Thank you." Thane pulled a shirt over his head. He was wearing navy blue. It was almost the same design as the outfit Ali had picked out for Kolyat except the boy's was black.

"I hope this brings you some kind of peace, Thane."

"It will. Do you still wish to cut off all ties?"

"Check in weekly with your location and status. That's all I ask. But I can't forgive you for this."

"I hope it won't offend you if I carry you in my heart, Siha."

Kolyat was talking with his Aunts and Uncles in the corner of their living room. Thane was standing next to her with his hands behind his back, his spine totally straight and rigid. This seemed to be just like the human practice. The family would go back to someone's house and exchange stories which made Ali feel like she shouldn't be here. But Kolyat had insisted. If it was possible, Thane tensed more beside her grabbing her attention. His eyes had narrowed but were darting back and forth like he was seeing something else. Sidling a little closer as to not arouse too many eyes, she squeezed his hand. His eyes cleared, and he looked over at her. "Thank you," he murmured. "That memory was unpleasant." She nodded and glanced back over at Kolyat. Beside her, Thane relaxed a little and turned to the door.

"Wait, Thane, you need to at least say goodbye to him. Leaving like this will haunt you." He glanced over his shoulder and nodded subtly before heading over to his son. He pulled him aside and kneeled down in front of his son. She closed her eyes in pain and left out the front door but not before she heard the strangled sob that escaped Kolyat's lips.

Leaning against the wall, Ali lifted her face into the sun. Thane had been right. The clothes kept her abnormally cool in this sticky, hot weather. She had gotten her fair share of stares during the funeral anyway, but that was more than likely because she was a human. A few minutes past before Thane opened the door and came out into the heat. He lifted his face as well, and his scales shined in the sunlight. His dark eyes met hers for several long moments before he turned to his hovercar. "Thane," she started. But I don't know what to say. He glanced over his shoulder. "Please, don't. Just stay here. I will help you." Before she could stop herself, she had her arms wrapped around his chest from behind. He let out a breath and placed a hand over hers rubbing his thumb against her soft skin.

"This is all I know how to do, Siha. You have to let me do it."

"No," she choked out.

"Siha," he sighed before grabbing her arm and twirling her around. He hugged her tight inhaling the scent of her hair for what he felt might be the last time. "Make sure he is safe." Without another word, he released her and turned climbing into his hovercar.

"Ali?" Kolyat asked timidly. She turned hurriedly wiping the tear from her eyes and smiled brightly at him.

"Do you need something, sweetie?"

"Are you going to leave too?" Her brow furrowed in pain. She was not his mother, and there was no way she could stay here. Her lips thinned. Kneeling in front of him, she took his hands in hers.

"Yes, I have to. Kolyat, I don't live here. I came because I am close friends with your father. He asked me to make sure that you are always safe. And I will do that." She paused lifting his chin to force him to look at her. "But I'm not your mother, and I cannot try to take her place though I do want to. Anytime you need me. And I mean anytime day or night. You call, and I will be on the first ship here. I give you my word." He glanced up at her, and she wiped his tears from his cheeks.

"You promise?"

"Here give me your hand." He did as she said, and she hooked her pinky finger with his. "I pinky swear. Now on Earth this is very meaningful especially in a country called Japan. They belief that when someone does this, their souls are bound together with something call the red thread of fate."

"Really?"

"Yes, I am bound to my word now. I will never leave you, Kolyat." He wrapped his arms around her neck and started sobbing into her shoulder. She hugged him back allowing him to let it all out. She kept silent knowing words wouldn't help him. Kolyat had survived the worst few days of his life. Nothing would change that, but she could let him feel better about tomorrow.

Ten years was a long while. Ali was lost for a time after Thane left that rainy day on Kahje. She would never forget Kolyat's asking Thane why he hadn't been home when those Batarians killed her. Irikah's body slipped into the water never to be seen again, and Ali found herself sending a prayer off to Kalahira. If you could send a message to Irikah, it would be much obliged. Tell her that I will watch over her boys to the best of my abilities. I will make sure Kolyat grows to be the man he is destined to be, and Thane comes back from whatever horrible place he is trapped in. Unfortunately, she still couldn't get Thane out of his battle sleep. It was like his soul was gone and only his body remained. Kolyat had shut her out several years after Irikah died which she couldn't blame him for. Ali wasn't his mother. She kept an eye on him through his Aunts and Uncles who she had met on her rare visits to Kahje. He was a troubled teenage boy. Who wouldn't be if his mom died when he was ten and his dad left the day of her funeral?

Ali had done a lot to keep her team safe especially during the battle of the Citadel when the Reaper Sovereign had destroyed a lot of the space station. She was almost glad that most of her team was away on a mission. There had been a geth facility who was attacking a joint Asari and human colony on the outskirts of the terminus system where it met council space. The Council had said they couldn't help them because the colony was in the Terminus system by a couple hundred miles. They had asked that Ali interfere for them while their Spectres took care of more pressing business. Only five were left on the Citadel plus her when it was attacked by the geth then Sovereign. Ali saved as many people as she could. She worked closely with C-SEC bringing them together and putting them into action with the help of her good friend Bailey. He was made a Captain after the attack which made her proud. He deserved it.

Then human colonies started disappearing. She wasn't a fan of Commander Shepard, but when she heard the reports that he was alive, she couldn't help but feel grateful. At least someone who believed in the Reapers was fighting. She took most of her people out of the outer most colonies and paid for her contacts and their families to clear out too. She didn't want to risk any of her people being caught by whatever was abducting these poor colonists. "Freedom's Progress, huh?" she asked through her vid comm. She was in the safety of her own private office because she didn't want anyone to hear about another colony. The Turian nodded. "And you can confirm that Shepard was there investigating it?"

"Yes, ma'am. I saw him with my own eyes. He was with a male and a female. There were also some quarians there, but I don't believe they were there together. One of them was Tali Zora Vas Neema," he said reading off his notes.

"Really? Did she go with him?"

"No, ma'am. She went on a separate ship headed to where the Flotilla was last reported being."

"Very interesting. So Shepard is alive. I guess the Shadow Broker didn't end up getting his body after all. Cerberus did well bringing him back. Do you have anything else for me?"

"Yes, we managed to get a few files off the Illusive Man's server through the Normandy before the AI booted us out. We just got bits and pieces. That's one hell of an AI they have outfitted on that ship. The only thing that really jumped out was a name and a location."

"And?"

"Ma'am, it was Thane Krios on Illium." She sat back in her seat for a second.

"Hmm, that's very intriguing. Thank you very much for your information. You're payment will be transferred to your bank account immediately," she said typing the order into an email to Natalie which she sent without proofing it. "Please get back into safe space until further orders."

"Yes, ma'am," the Turian said before clicking off the vid comm.

"Natalie, will you get me on the first ship going to Illium, please."

"Right away, ma'am." She pulled up Thane's last message to her. It said his target and the date the hit will go down. She didn't have much time to get to him before Shepard could. She wasn't sure what the commander wanted with him, but it was safe to assume that it was nothing good.

"I missed you at your apartment," Ali said without preamble when she settled beside him. They were on the roof of one of the buildings next to the Dantius Towers. The wind was cold and brutal. She was surprised that he was standing perfectly still.

"This is the night I am killing Nassana, Ali. You knew that." She still wasn't used to the way he spoke to her now in his battle sleep. Not that she had spoken to him much since he left Kahje that fateful day.

"Yes, I did. Good thing you're one of the few Drell here otherwise it would have been hard to find you. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I am contemplating my life."

"And?"

"I am dying, Ali."

"Kepral's, I know." He looked over at her and cocked his head slightly. "I've been keeping an eye on you, Thane."

"I thought you might be. You kept a good distance though." He continued staring at the towers.

"Yes, I had to."

"Why?"

"Because you broke my heart when you left Kahje. I didn't want to reopen old wounds by getting too close." She said this matter of factly even coldly, but she still felt that little twinge of pain. He looked over at her again his eyes clouding with pain. The first emotion she had seen in those eyes except anger in ten years.

"I apologize, Ali. I had no idea-" She cut him off with a movement of her hand.

"I don't want your pity, Thane. Not if it isn't real." There was a particularly strong gust of wind which she tensed against. An arm wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her to his chest. Not being able to stop herself, Ali inhaled his scent feeling the pain of losing him which had taken up permanent residence in her heart. But there was also a pleasant feeling that came with being near him again. She stood up straight using him as a support against the gale. It faded slightly, and he loosened his grip but kept her enclosed in his embrace.

"Ali, I am not going to try and make it up to you. I am only going to say that I am in love with you even now. I have never stopped. Your memory is what keeps me sane in this world. I don't expect you to return my love, but I do wish that you look back at the memories we made together with fondness rather than regret." She looked up at him seeing the Thane she knew and loved in his eyes before he brought his lips to her. His kiss was gentle and before he had could give in to his want to deepen it, he ended it. "I plan on dying tonight. Maybe the burdens that I have put on you will be lifted," he whispered into her ear breathing in her scent one last time. When she looked up, Thane was gone, and she was alone once again with pain and the slight flush that came from him.

Numbed by emotional trauma at finding that the only person she had ever loved was planning on dying in the towers across from her, Ali sat on the edge of the roof watching the Dantius Towers from her vantage point. "Arashu, please, protect Thane in his mission. Don't let him die. I still need him. Against all sense I still love that moron. Irikah, if you can hear me, take pity on your poor husband and protect him from the darkness that has disconnected his soul from his body," she breathed letting the wind take the words from her mouth. She had never been a very religious person, but Thane's religion had sounded so beautiful to her that she still prayed to his gods and goddesses.

She watched as Shepard and his team went into the first tower. The windows came alive with the muzzle flashes from numerous weapons. "Shepard, get to him before Nassana's guards can kill him." What seemed like an eternity later but was probably only an hour or so, Thane walked out the front doors with Shepard and the rest of his team. Ali rose from her perch and left without another glance. So he will live to fight another impossible battle. Let's hope Shepard will keep him alive for me. Thank you, Arashu and Irikah.

It was some weeks before she got reports that an additional Drell was on the Citadel. Ali had been tracking Kolyat for some time trying to discern when he was going to make his move, so she could stop him. Shepard was with Thane which made her job of getting the information he needed to him a bit harder, but she craved the challenge. It was when Bailey told her they were after Mouse when she saw her opportunity. She walked up right when Shepard had thrown down the young man. Thane shook his head silently telling Shepard to go easy on him. Ali walked up to them putting her hand protectively on Mouse's shoulder. "Ali?" Mouse started.

"It's okay, Mouse. I will be helping the commander and your old friend Thane for now. I hear that you have been trying to get back to Earth?" she asked gently totally ignoring the other two. He nodded slowly not sure where she was going. Ali hit a few buttons on her omni tool without batting an eyelash. "Enough money to get there and start a clean life has just been transferred to your bank account, Mouse."

"Earth. Lights of a home you've never seen. Half remembered fairy tales from your mother," Thane said quietly seemingly lost in a memory. Mouse nodded slightly at him then brought his attention back to the woman in front of him.

"Thanks, Ali. I will email you when I get there."

"I will have people making sure you are staying clean."

"Yes, ma'am." She smiled warmly at the young man before he turned and left.

"Ali, what are you doing here?" Thane asked quietly.

"My job. I don't let my contacts get bullied for information especially when that information can get them killed. You will do well to remember that, Shepard."

"Do you have the name?" he asked gruffly. He took a threatening step forward making Ali smile bemused with his attitude.

"You've been dead a few years, commander. I know you don't know who I am. But when I say if you cross me again it will end badly, I mean it. I would love to go up against you. I haven't had a good fight in years," she growled taking the last step that lay between them. "Thane, I have Elias Kelham in one of the interview rooms in Bailey's sector. Bailey and Kelham have a mutual understanding so keeping the good Captain's name out of it would be much appreciated. I gave Bailey the name of the target in case you wanted to skip the interview, so all you have to do is ask." She paused looking Shepard up and down before looking over at the Drell who was barely hiding a smile behind his hand. "And next time, leave the attack dog in the Normandy." She shot the commander another venomous look before stalking away. Thane finally got his smile under control and looked over at Shepard who was speechless.

Thane had a hard time keeping his eyes off her as she walked away. Her orange hair swayed down her back. She had not worn it loose that often when he knew her, and he thought it was quite becoming. She was wearing a scoop neck purple t-shirt with skinny jeans that hugged her curves along with black boots that ended right under her knees. She was wearing slightly heavier makeup than she used to but he liked it. It emphasized the unique color of her eyes and stuck out against her pale skin. She had a cuff on her wrist which had the insignia of her team on it. Its purpose was unknown to him, but he found himself curious. He wanted to follow her with every fiber of his being, but he was pledged to the commander. He vowed to himself that he would find her after he saved his son if only to see her again.

"Who was that woman?"

"An old friend. She runs an elite team who fight for justice and the councilors on occasion. She is good friends with Captain Bailey as well. She helps him on a lot of jobs."

"She had some balls threatening me like that."

"She also has the ability to follow through. I suggest you do not go up against her, Commander."

When Ali saw Kolyat on the Citadel doing community service for C-SEC, she had half a mind to email Thane, but she refrained. "Kolyat, how have you been? It's been a long time since we last saw each other," she said smiling warmly at the young Drell. He looked at her for a few seconds with his head cocked in much the same way as his dad used to do.

"Ali?" he asked not quite believing that he was seeing her again. "It has been a long time. I am doing-" he drifted looking for an accurate word. "Better."

"I am so glad to hear that. What has Bailey had you do so far?"

"Picking up trash. He says that it builds character." She laughed at the face he made. Ali remembered when he had made that face when she had taken him to Earth right after his father left. She thought an aquarium/zoo trip would be interesting for him. He had grimaced like that when he saw the jellyfish thinking they were Hanar trapped behind the glass.

"Maybe I can get Bailey to turn your community service over to me. I have to warn you though. It's not going to be easy. I believe that punishment needs to be just no matter the relationship with the party at fault." His face lit up ever so slightly.

"Would you really do that for me?"

"On one condition." His face soured again reminding her that he was a hurting, moody teenager like any other human his age.

"What?"

"You give me a hug. I have missed you, Kolyat." He smiled sheepishly looking around to make sure no one was watching before scooping her up into a bone crushing hug. She chuckled patting his back gently before he let her back on her own two feet.

"I have missed you too, Ali. Have you been talking to my father?"

"Not much since he left Kahje. I did tell him who your target was though. He was worried about you, sweetheart."

"In his package to me, the one I was supposed to get after he died telling me about his career." He paused, pain and anger clouding his eyes which prompted her to make him continue.

"Yes, what about it?"

"He mentioned you a lot in it. He also kept all your correspondence. He even had some pictures and vid comm recordings. He said that he had loved you this whole time even more than my mom." Ali closed her eyes knowing how much he must feel betrayed. But he put his hand on her shoulder and looked down to make eye contact. "Are you still in love with him?" She thought for a moment all ready knowing her answer.

"I never stopped, Kolyat." He beamed at her.

"I was hoping you would say that. Maybe you can forgive him for leaving me on Kahje when he went after my mom's killers?"

"I don't know. It's been a long time. There's a great rift between us."

"He said in his last message to me that he was going to be back on the Citadel in a week. Will you please meet with him in my place?"

"Kolyat, I don't think that's a good idea. These meetings are meant for you."

"I'm not going anywhere. After Shepard releases him from the mission, he plans on moving here for the medical program anyways. We can get plenty caught up before he dies then. Please, I just really want you to be friends again."

"You're just going to keep badgering me until I say yes, aren't you?"

"Absolutely."

"Then let me spare myself a headache and acquiesce now." He beamed at her again before looking over his shoulder at his community service supervisor who was tapping his watch.

"I had better get back to work. Hopefully you will be a little nicer when you're my supervisor?"

"Oh, there is no way you are getting off easy, young man."

"Ali, you sound like my mom." She shot him a look before smiling and walking away letting him get back to work.

Author's Note: Finally back home sleeping in my own bed. Vacation is great and all but those hotel beds are definitely not what they used to be during childhood. I remember when I was excited to sleep in those HUGE beds. Now I am just happy to be home on my tiny little bed. But a little time away from real life is always a blessing. Thank you all who have stayed with me this long. I hope Thane and Ali's "break up" wasn't too horrible for you all, but I promise it won't last forever.

These next few chapters are going to be an between kind of thing. Their next adventure will begin during the story of ME 3. Hope you enjoy. Until Friday have a great rest of you week.