Authors Notes: This Chapter features Thane, some Tali/Gerrel love and a happy little accident. Obviously Shepard and Koris will be around too.
Be not afraid
Shepard opened her eyes, white lights surrounding her, no walls, no furniture, just white space. Shepard sat up on the bed she was laying on, looking around to gather her bearings, swinging her legs off the bed, she slid down til her feet touched the floor.
"Siha" A voice whispered.
Shepard turned around seeing the handsome face of Thane, "Thane," was all Shepard could choke out.
"You look beautiful, Siha," Thane took her hands in his.
"Am I dead?" Shepard asked, caressing her hands.
"No, you're in limbo, I'm here to send you back."
"What! Why?"
"You don't belong here," Thane stroked her hair.
"I belong with you?" Shepard closed her eyes leaning into his touch.
"Siha, you belong with the man who is at your side now, he pleads everyday for you to wake up."
"Zaal?"
"Yes. Ask yourself, Since being with him, have you missed me at all?"
Shepard hung her head guiltily, "I do sometimes," She finally admitted.
"We were in love, but it was never meant to last."
"Will me and Zaal last?" Shepard asked hopefully.
"Yes, Tali will forgive you, If you give her what she truly wants."
"What is that?"
Thane Sighed, "Tali is in love with one of the Admirals, but it was never Admiral Koris. She like you has been afraid to reveal the truth.
Shepard instantly realised who it was, "Admiral Gerrel."
"Yes, I have watched them dance around each other, I suspect they have done that for years."
"He feels the same way?"
"Indeed he does."
Shepard kissed Thane tenderly, "You will always have a space in my heart."
Thane wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight to him, "And you in mine. Enjoy the good things, Siha, they will make up for the bad."
"Will they be worth it?"
"Yes, it will change your life," Thane lead Shepard back to the bed, helping her lay down. After a kiss on her forehead he was gone.
Shepard slowly opened her eyes, it was night-time, a gentle snore came from the left of her. she looked around to see Koris asleep on a sofa. Shepard watched him sleep, he was such a beautiful sight, he was there just as he promised to be, "Zaal?" She croaked out.
Zaal immediately woke up and was at her side, "Calli, you are a beautiful sight," Zaal kissed her forehead.
Shepard gave a throaty chuckle, "Charmer."
"Do you need anything?"
"Tali and maybe water."
"I'll message Tali now." Koris helped her drink.
Moments later Tali appeared at the Hospital, Koris left the room to give them privacy.
Shepard cried at Tali, "I'm so sorry, Tali," she forced out.
"It's ok, Shepard. It was never about Koris, it was your lack of faith in me and lying."
"Tali, tell him how you feel."
"Who?" Tali asked.
"Gerrel."
"Shepard!"
"Please, I promise he feels the same way, Please Tali."
"Ok, Ok, I'll do it," Tali hugged Shepard gently before leaving.
Tali reached Gerrel's hotel room, the knot her stomach had tightened as she pressed the button on the door. Part of her hoped he was asleep.
The door opened revealing a half-naked Gerrel, "Tali, what are you doing here?"
Tali shifted nervously, "I...um...I love you. I have done for years, Shepard said you felt the sa-," Gerrel silenced her with a bruising kiss, pulling her into the room, directing her to the bed.
Gerrel pulled away breathless, "I do feel the same, I have for a long time, I just thought it would inappropriate."
"Who cares." Tali pushed him on the bed, flat on his back.
Gerrel watched as Tali stripped until she was completely naked, Tali pounced on Gerrel, "Go easy on me, I've never done this before."
"You're a virgin?"
"Yes, never found the time or the man. Now I have time and the right man, so shut up and take me."
Gerrel turned them both over covering her body with his, he kissed her tenderly, determined to make the first time a good experience for her. He kissed her neck and shoulders, enjoying the moans she made, "Are you sure about this Tali?"
"Oh Keelah yes, I need you," Tali's glowing eyes pleaded with him.
Gerrel entered her slowly making her whimper, he looked at her concerned but she just nodded for him to continue. He moved slowly within her, letting her adjust to his girth. She begged for more, Gerrel pin her arms up over her head, adjusting his position to go deeper within her, he moved fast and hard, Tali groaning out Keelah every few seconds. Tali arched her back, crying out his name before falling limp against the bed.
Gerrel thrust inside her a few more desperate times, groaning out her name as he spilled inside her. He rested his forehead against hers, Tali laughing softly, kissing him gently.
"Was it worth it?" Gerrel asked in between kissing her lips.
"Keelah, yes it was."
Han pulled out of her, moving to the side, taking Tali with him, they snuggled up together, drifting off to a blissful sleep. Tali was glad she listened to Shepard, without the push, Tali and Gerrel would have continued to dance around each other.
A month later Shepard had been released from Hospital, she probably could have left earlier, but Anderson and Hackett thought it best for her own protection she stay in the Alliance Hospital. Alliance Brass tried to have Koris banned from the Hospital, since he wasnt Alliance, but Shepard kicked up a massive fuss and they gave in, crossing a fully fit Shepard was one thing, crossing an injured, bored, tetchy Shepard was just plain dumb and the Alliance Brass learnt that the hard way.
Shepard rested in the bed of the Apartment on Earth that Hackett had acquired for her, Koris being the ever doting lover, doing anything she needed him to do, but never asked for much, she prefer to have him next to her, watching the old Earth movies that Koris had grown a taste for.
"I think you're starting to like Earth," She teased.
"I do, It makes me think this is what Rannoch can be."
"Oh, so nothing to do with the fact all my ancestors are from Earth, including my parents? I was born on Earth."
"It might have something to do with it, it is a beautiful planet though."
The door chimed and Koris got up, "I'll get it, hopefully that reporter isn't back."
"If it's her, punch her like I normally do."
Koris chuckled as he opened the door, "Han, Tali, what do we owe the pleasure."
"Come to see Shepard, she bored yet?" Tali chuckled.
"She's been bored since she woke up in hospital, Calli doesn't like convalescing."
Tali walked into the bedroom, "Hey Shepard."
"Hey baby," Shepard looked at Tali, she looked different, "You look different."
Tali looked down fiddling with her fingers, "Yeah," was all she said.
"What is it Tali?" Shepard patted the bed next to her.
"I'm pregnant Shepard."
Shepard held out her arms to Tali, who immediately went to her, "My baby sister is having a baby, are you ok?"
"I havent told Han yet, I don't know how to feel about it."
"Tell me what is worrying you, Tali."
"What if he doesn't want the baby, what if I'm a terrible Mother," Tali cried into Shepard's chest.
"Hey now, he'll want the baby and you'll be a great Mother. I'll be there for you, Chakwas will probably want weekly checks done on the baby. It'll be fine Tali, you know I'm never wrong."
Tali laughed, her tears drying up, "I suppose I should tell him."
"Yes you should, now go and tell him. Oh and if he freaks out at first, slap him, men are stupid creatures, no matter the species, eventually he'll be pleased his balls work."
Tali burst out laughing, "Thanks Shepard," Tali left and Koris walked back in.
"Is Tali ok?" Koris asked.
"Tali's pregnant."
"Really? That'll make Han happy. Have you thought about us having children?"
"Yeah, when I'm properly healed and we are more settled we can get the process started, we can be a multi species family."
"Languages might be an issue."
"For you maybe, I happen to be fluent in all my Alien crew's native tongues."
"Don't say Native tongue again unless you plan to be naked."
Shepard chuckled, playfully swatting his arm, "Such a filthy mind."
"So you speak fluent Khelish?"
"I do, Tali taught me, I have a gift for languages."
"So say something in Khelish."
Shepard said something that she would not say in public and made Koris' body heat up instantly, "You need to be naked, from now on, we speak Khelish in bed."
Shepard pulled off her t-shirt, throwing it to the other side of the room, "I'm naked now."
Koris moved on top of her gently, his hand moving in between her legs, groaning at her wetness, "Are you permanently wet?"
"Around you I am, so get inside me, sunshine."
Koris entered her quickly, neither had time or inclination to play around, it'd had a long time for them both and they just wanted to scratch the itch quickly. They both came quickly, Shepard laughed lightly, "Nothing beats a good quickie."
"Quickie?"
"Quick fuck, in and out, no foreplay, just the main event. Although, I normally reserve those for when we're out and can't control the urge but can't get home quickly enough."
"Let's do that some time."
"Formal events are the best time, all those superior officers who could catch us."
"When is the next one?" Koris asked, he prayed it was soon.
"In 2 months, although I'm suspended still, so you better get your convincing head on and make sure they know there was no deal. The Turian ambassador has been placated."
"How?"
"Primarch Victus, he gets pissed off when people say nasty things about his favourite Human."
"Councilor Tevos is on my side and I think Aria T'loak had a hand in that. Krogan Ambassador was fine with me, probably because I'm Wrex' sister. Ambassador Kirrahe is a personal friend of mine, so it's just the Volus, Drell, Hanar, Elcor, Batarian Ambassadors to worry about, I think Kolyat has contacted the Drell and Hanar Ambassadors to put in a good word for me, that boy can be pretty suave and persuasive."
"If he can get those 2 on your side, the others wont have a case against you," Koris kissed her forehead.
"Admiral Xen has a lot to answer for, Tali was angry with me but she never wanted all this to happen."
Koris tensed, "Dont worry, I've already dealt with Xen."
"I'm not even gonna ask."
Koris let Shepard get into her normal sleeping position next to him, before wrapping his arms around her. Together they nodded off.
Tali fiddled nervously, Gerrel noticing her strange behaviour as he waited for her to get into bed, "Tali, What's wrong?"
"I have something to tell you," She replied, pacing around the bed.
"What is it?"
Tali breathed in deeply, "I'm pregnant."
Gerrel sat quietly for a minute, "Are you sure?"
Tali nodded, "I'm sorry, I told Shepard first."
"What did she say?"
"That you will want the baby and I'll be great Mother."
Gerrel moved towards her, taking her hand pulling her towards him, "Well, you know that woman is never wrong."
Tali cried with relief, "I'm a blubbering wreck already."
"You're growing a person, you're allowed to be."
"I want Shepard and Koris to be her/his spiritual parents."
"Will Shepard understand the language?"
"Yeah, she speaks fluent Khelish."
"What can that woman not do?"
Tali snickered, "Her dancing skills are rather dire. But her singing voice is beautiful," Tali yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"Lets get some sleep, you have a little Quarian to grow. To think, it was down to Shepard and that Salarian doctor, that our child can grow up without a bubble and we can freely hug her/him any time we want."
"Yeah, Shepard sent me something on Human childbirth, apparently after birth, skin to skin contact is encourage between baby and parents to help establish the bond. Do you wanna do that?"
"Yeah, I'd like to."
"Shepard said we have to smell the baby too, apparently they have a nice smell when they are newly born, she wasn't sure if Quarian newborns were the same," Tali drifted off peacefully.
Gerrel kissed her forehead, stroking her hair. He could hug Shepard for convincing Tali to admit her feelings, he wasnt sure if would've had the nerve to do it himself.
