Chapter 11 is here! I'd just like to say thank you again to everyone who has read this; it has nearly 2000 views now! :D That certainly is encouraging for me, but make sure you leave a review if you see something that was done wrong or if you just want to say 'great job'. Either way it'd be appreciated! Now, Mass Effect is owned by Bioware and please enjoy!

Ch. 11: A Happily Ever After?

Citadel

James Vega

His commander was gone… James just knelt there shocked at the sight. Shepard deserved far better than this…

Then a breath was heard.

James looked at the battered body that was Commander Shepard take in a gasp, and then another breath. James shouted 'Hell yeah!' and got up grinning the widest grin he'd ever had. Liara got up and started to compose herself and Samara activated her omnitool to begin administering Medigel to Shepard's wounds.

Shepard visibly winced as the Medigel did its work, and he opened his eyes.

Commander Shepard

Shepard started to get up. He grunted through the pain getting up caused him until he completely sat up on the dead Brute near him. He was breathing rather hard, but tried to say something regardless.

"Did… we do it?"

Shepard watched James shake his head with a huge smile on his face. "Loco, you probably just did THE most loco thing in history. Yes, you did it Shepard, you saved us all and sent those damned Reapers to hell!"

Shepard's side was painful, but his legs were for the most part fine. Zaeed and Kaidan began to help him get up off of the ground as the Medigel finished closing the wounds Shepard had sustained. They then began filling the few holes his suit had sustained from the shrapnel. When the suits VI said all was ok, Shepard kept his arms on the shoulders of his two comrades and they all began walking out to the airlock while calling for an evac.

He could finally go home.

Normandy SR-2

Tali'Zorah

Tali began to wake up again. Her side hurt less, but she could tell she had gotten sick … very sick. She put her hand to her forehead, trying to weaken the headache … Then she looked over to her side. Her eyes opened wide at the sight; it was Shepard, bandaged pretty badly on his side but otherwise fine. He was sleeping on a chair with that little lopsided smile on his face that she loved. Her eyes began to water at the sight of him, and she tried to reach for him. He was sitting close to her and she was able to completely cup his cheek in her hand. He began to stir, and his smile grew; Tali just kept her hand on his cheek, and started to lightly brush her finger up and down it.

Shepard's eyes opened. "Tali…"

Tali continued to stroke his cheek and she gently said, "Shh, go back to sleep. I just needed to feel you…"

Shepard's eyes began to close again, and he lifted his hand to Tali's, stroking it slowly with a finger like she was doing to his cheek, "Dr. Chakwas said it would be ok if I stayed with you in here. I'm sure you've noticed I have a little healing to do myself."

Shepard opened his eyes and started to get up, letting his hand fall to his side. Tali gently let him go and tried to sit up. The pain in her side flared up and she grunted as she laid back. She settled for just watching him with her eyes, and lifting her head up a little on the bed.

He was home, and she was so happy…

Commander Shepard

'Shit, what am I doing!? It's too soon!' Commander Shepard thought as he got up. He had been waiting for Tali to wake up ever since Dr. Chakwas had patched him up over 4 hours ago, but now that he was here he began to chicken out. 'She might not understand! She's been out for a while, this isn't the right time!'

Shepard scolded himself and began to fumble for something in his pocket. If she didn't want this then he would need to know right now, no matter how injured they were. He felt the box he had been hiding in his pocket and lifted it out, holding it in his hands. He had bought this on the Citadel a short time after he had saved Rannoch, but it hadn't felt like something he needed to talk about until now. He looked at it for a moment and starting to speak, still turned away from Tali.

"I wanted to ask you something…"

He kept his back to her as he said it. 'Come on man, turn around and do this!'

He heard Tali respond. "What do you need to ask me?"

Shepard stood there for a moment, completely paralyzed with an irrational fear. 'She might not understand what this would mean, she might say no and laugh in my face, she might…'

Shepard scolded himself again, and turned around. He looked at her with the box in his hands, "I'm not sure how your people do this, but…"

Shepard got down on one knee and opened the box. Inside was an elegant ring; it looked custom designed for Tali's finger and had a good sized diamond on it. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy nar Rayya, will you marry me?"

He held his breath. This was it; he had finally asked what he had wanted to ask for such a long time. Tali just put a confused look on her face and tilted her head to the side.

"'Marry?' What does that mean?" She asked.

Shepard chuckled and put a big smile on his face. "Well… When two people make each other happy they… get married, and they promise themselves completely to the other. I guess another word for it would be bonded maybe?"

Tali kept looking at him with the confused look for a moment, but then her eyes started to widen, "You mean … you want me to be Mrs. Shepard?"

Shepard's smile somehow grew, "Yes Tali, I do."

Tali put a playful smile on her face, "Tali'Shepard vas Normandy… I guess it wouldn't be that bad."

Shepard chuckled a little, and then put on a serious face, "So… is that a yes?"

Tali reached out and cupped his cheek in her hand again, "Yes, yes I will."

Shepard's smile returned, and it grew considerably. He took the ring out of the box and put it on her finger. It was a perfect fit. 'Glad I measured her finger that one time.' He thought as the ring slid on.

He then got up and put his own hand on Tali's cheek. They looked into each other's eyes with huge smiles, both coming to terms with the overwhelming feelings of happiness they both felt. Shepard then leaned in and kissed her; softly at first, but with increased passion as it continued. Within a few moments he felt Tali trying to remove his pants. Despite the pain in his side he let her continue. They were both hurt pretty badly, but for the next hour neither cared. Their passion and love superseded any pain they felt, and it was wonderful.

Five hours later

Shepard woke up. His side still hurt, but the bliss he had felt while with Tali was still there as well. He smiled at the bandaged Quarian that still lay on top of him, sleeping softly with her head nuzzled on his chest. How they had fallen asleep like this on a crummy hospital bed was a mystery, but Shepard didn't care. As long as he was with Tali, he could be pretty comfortable anywhere.

Shepard noticed Tali begin to stir and her hand reached out, trying to hold something. Shepard gripped it with his own hand gently, and he saw Tali smile. Tali lifted her head and she scooted closer to Shepard, nuzzling her head to his neck. She sighed happily and stroked his hand with her finger.

"Mmm, Shepard…" Tali still had her eyes closed and continued to smile and stroke Shepard's hand. Shepard continued to lie still, feeling Tali's hair gently rub his neck. There was nowhere else in the galaxy he would rather be than with her.

"Shepard … Mrs. Tali'Shepard…" Tali nuzzled even closer to Shepard. Her hair continued to rub Shepard's neck, and he started to feel ticklish. He began to laugh a little at the feeling.

Tali opened her eyes and moved, putting her forehead to Shepard's. "Are you laughing at me, my captain?"

Shepard chuckled a little more before answering. "Your hair is just ticklish is all."

Tali smiled and leaned in, kissing him on the lips, then moved back to nuzzle her head to his neck again. "Good…" She closed her eyes once more. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tali." They remained in the same position for a long time, each gently stroking each other. After a while Shepard decided to go get them some food, and he changed and left. The food in the fridge was decent for him, and he got some of the best quality nutrient paste he could find for Tali. He just got water for the drinks, as that was something they could share together, and he went back to the AI core. Before he could, however, Garrus came out of the main battery.

"Shepard, I'm glad to see you back on your feet." Garrus said as he approached him. "I really do feel a little sorry for those Reapers; they really didn't have much of a chance did they?"

Shepard just laughed at his friend. "Ya know Garrus, I did nearly die trying to defeat them. I think they had a decent sized chance at best, and I'm glad I got to send them to their graves."

Garrus noticed the food and water Shepard was holding, "Good to see you're spending time with Tali. After scaring her to death with those final words of yours I'm sure she's happy to see you again."

Shepard eyed Garrus, "You know as well as I do that I thought I would die up there, Garrus, it was a complete unknown."

"Yeah, but leaving behind your two best friends in the galaxy? Don't do that again, we're a team!" Garrus's face was serious. "I know we were hurt bad but don't you dare leave us behind again, you scared us both."

"Are you saying you were worried Garrus?" Shepard smirked.

"No, no no no no… I just don't like getting excluded from a fight is all." Garrus replied awkwardly.

Shepard smiled at his friend. "It's alright Garrus, next time gigantic space crabs try to destroy all life and you get hurt, I'll make sure you have to come with me."

"Smartass…" Garrus started to walk away, back to the main battery. Shepard walked into the Medbay, and opened the door to the AI core.

The war was over, Tali was safe and with him, and everyone on the Normandy had survived… Nothing could go wrong now.

Author's endnote: Tali'Shepard vas Normandy… :,) Love it! Anyway, like I said before thanks to everyone who has read this so far, and I hope to see you next chapter! Keelah Se'lai!