Three days later Thane was on an Alliance cruiser to the Citadel. Shepard had called in a favor.
After he'd left, she felt like she had to relearn how to do things, everything. Sometimes she found herself on the Observation Deck just standing there with this feeling that there was something she'd gone in there for and couldn't remember what it was. Sleeping at night was also an adjustment. She'd gotten used to his warmth next to her, to listening to his labored breathing. She kept expecting to hear his reverberating voice recalling some memory or to feel his arms snake around her waist in the privacy of her quarters.
"I'm being selfish."She thought. "He's gone to see his son. I should be happy he has a chance to be a father to him.." She kicked herself mentally. She was absently playing with the necklace.
The repairs were almost complete. She was planning a celebration party at Eternity. She'd sent Thane a message about it, but he hadn't replied. He'd sent her a short message when he arrived on the Citadel, to let her know that everything was ok. They always used secure channels. She'd heard little since. He was busy readjusting to life. He was talking regularly with his son. Kolyat was still 'serving time' with Baily and doing surprise of a treatment for Keplar's and that Thane would not be dieing had hit the kid hard. He wasn't angry. But he hadn't shown much in the way of happiness either. She could understand where he was coming from, but that didn't justify his attitude in her mind.
Shepard was helping Garrus with realigning the guns. They were tossing jokes and sarcastic comments around when she got a beep on her omni-tool. She had a new message from Thane. She glanced up at Garrus and continued to work.
"Get outta here. The work will still be here in twenty minutes. Go read your love letter." He teased her. She smiled and punched him in the arm on her way out. He was learning to hate that.
Siha,
Kolyat is talking more. He has opened up parts of his life to me and I am grateful. He is adjusting well to the news. All of Kahje is alive with excitement for the treatment. The data will be useful in bringing them closer to a cure if Mordin dose not beat them to it.
There are issues I am talking about with my son that must be concluded before I may return. He is restless. So am I. The memories of you sustain me. I will return to you as soon as I can.
Mëha
Three days passed. The celebration was that night. Repairs were complete and they would be heading out in one day. Shepard dressed in her room. Her hair braided, her face fresh. The dress she'd bought was red with black strips down the front and back with white trim. Two half circles were cut out to arch over her hips. It was something she'd hoped Thane would be around to see. A courtesy ring beeped at her door.
"Come."
The door opened and a well dressed turian with blue facial tattoos came into the room. His clothes were made of fine material of a rich blue, accented with a lighter blue strip down the front and grey trim.
"Commander." Garrus said, respectfully. He'd never seen Shepard looking so sexy. Seeing her dressed like this made him want to... well, what any hot and bothered male wants to do to his lady friend. He tried to maintain his composure.
"I'm ready, Garrus." She was rather unenthusiastic about celebrating anything.
"Shepard, this is supposed to be a party. It's not going to be much fun if you're mopping around." He didn't even try the soldier talk. This was not the place for it. So, he was trying the blunt friend approach. That's what he was best at.
"I know."
"You've got to snap out of this. Do you think he would want you to be this way?"
"No, you're right. But that doesn't change the way I feel. I had hoped he would be back by now, Garrus. I'm worried."
Suddenly there was a three taloned hand on her shoulder.
"He loves you, Shepard. He will come back."
Somehow that made her feel like the turian was saying he loved her.
"His son comes first, as he should. That doesn't keep me from being lonely and missing him."
"He'll be back, whether he returns or we find him on the Citadel..." He paused. "I could always hunt him down. We found him once."
Shepard laughed. He always liked to hear her laugh.
"Ok, tough guy. Let's go drink. We've got a lot to celebrate before we throw ourselves to the political wolves."
Shepard took his arm and he escorted her to Eternity.
The party was in full swing. Toasts and memories were made, as well as some strong drinks. People were getting drunk fast.
"To Commander Shepard!" someone shouted, probably Ken. "Here! Here!" Glasses clinked and people drank in her honor.
She and Garrus settled into a booth with Tali. The quarrian was just over the line labeled 'tipsy'. She couldn't stop flirting with Garrus, which Shepard found insanely amusing. She didn't have to be drunk to enjoy this! Garrus ordered a round of drinks for their table. Tali's was a placebo. She was cut off and wouldn't know it. Now Garrus was having fun.
"You're awful." She whispered to him.
"Maybe, but you're not stopping me." He grinned back at her. She laughed.
Shepard scanned the room. Grunt and Jack were just drunk. You couldn't really say much else. They were laughing at each other for no apparent reason. Neither had said anything to the other for almost half an hour. Zaeed sat alone with his choice poison, hard vanilla scotch.
"It's as sweet as I look." He told a few people that had been brave enough, or drunk enough, to ask.
Gabby and Ken were dancing, as well as Miranda and Jacob, 'if you can believe that', Shepard thought. Samara and Chakwas were talking with the matriarch bar tender, apparently amused. Kelly was dancing with anyone who would. Joker was watching intently. Garrus thought he was going to loose his mind laughing at all these people. Suddenly Tali grabbed Shepard's arm.
"Let's dance!" and drug her off to the middle of the bar before she could protest.
When Shepard had met Liara she pretty much danced like a dude. Her moves had improved with some help from the asari, but not by much. Luckily she was inebriated enough to not care, which she thought also made her dancing skills improve by being uninhibited.
Shepard's hips swayed with the music. Her movements were fluid and carefree. She seemed to find a rhythm that she had not possessed was something else and something all her own. Garrus had stopped laughing to watch her. He was not the only one.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on her for me." a deep, rumbling voice spoke to Garrus' right. He looked up, a little surprised.
"Just keeping her out of trouble." He responded.
"I see." the drell took a seat.
"When did you get here?"
"Just a few moments ago. Long enough to admire her dancing."
"Yeah, she used to dance like a man, belive it or not." Garrus laughed. "You must have really done a number on her, Krios." Garrus gave him a knowing look. The turian was not normally quite this jovial.
"He must be drunk.'" Thane thought to himself.
"She'll be happy to see you."
"Yes, as I am to see her." Thane smiled lightly at the turian. He returned his gaze to Shepard. The stern look he'd been wearing melted to a more relaxed one. A genuine grin spread across his face.
Shepard was lost in the music. A light breeze blew through the bar when the doors opened. She thought she could smell him, that dry musk she loved so much. She peaked around and confirmed that he was not there. She danced.
An hour later she was sure she'd had too much to drink. The room wouldn't stay still, no matter how hard she tried to make it. Tali had passed out on a sofa. Chakwas had gone back to the ship with several other crew members. Samara had stayed sober to help other get back to the ship that might not make it on their own. She started with Tali. Mordin had not stayed long. Parties weren't his thing.
Shepard slowly made her way back to her booth, one table at a time. She didn't want to look up, afraid the dizziness would make her loose her stomach. Eventually she got there and slid onto the sofa.
"Oh, man. I think I drank too much." She said to Garrus.
"Yes, I believe you have." came the reply. The voice was rumbling like Garrus' did, but it was different. The wording was strange for the turian, as well. And the smell... She looked up as fast as she dared. The world became a blur and she swooned. A cool hand caught her about the shoulders and held her close and steady to a smooth dark surface. Leather. She struggled to focus on the face. At first all she saw was patches of color; red, green and black. She focused long enough to recognize the black polygon on his forehead with the two green freckles.
"Thane...?" She squinted her eyes. His deep black ones stared back at her. He seemed amused. "Mëha? Is that you?"
"It is, Siha. We should get you back to the ship." He said. He helped her up and escorted her as gracefully as he could back to her quarters.
The door to her cabin hissed open. Once they were in the elevator he'd picked her up and carried her in his arms. She had her arms wrapped around hid neck, her head nuzzled into his chest. She was asleep. He took each step carefully. He noticed she'd replaced some of the fish and completed her model ship collection. He slowly placed her on the bed, making sure to disturb her as little as possible. He removed his arms from under her and lifted her own from around his neck, laying them down on the mattress. He watched her sleep for a while then turned to leave.
"Don't go..." she half moaned, half whispered. He turned back to her. Her eyes were still closed. He wondered if she was talking in her sleep. He started to leave again.
".. no... stay, please?" her groggy voice was almost cute. He relented to her half asleep pleas and walked over to the bed. He lay behind her, snaking an arm over her mid section and held her close. He inhaled deeply the floral sent of her hair and the sweet musk of her skin. He drew his hand up to the cut out over her hip. He liked being able to touch the skin there with her fully clothed. There was something... erotic about it. He eventually fell to sleep with his face nuzzled into her hair, breathing her.
The next morning she woke to find him just as he was when sleep took him. It was the first time she'd ever woken up before him. She rolled over in his arms to face him. His expression was so peaceful, almost angelic. She planted a soft kiss on his full lips. It did not stir him. She lay face to face with him as the kiss dried on his lips. She listened to each easy breath he took from the air.
"So, it wasn't a dream," she thought to herself. "He really did come back." She smiled and nuzzled into him under his silvery blue chin. When she woke again his breathing was different. He was awake. He must have noticed her breathing had changed as well.
"Siha, are you well?"
"I'm afraid to move and find out." She groaned. Thane smiled and stroked her hair.
"I think you should go eat something and drink some water." He brought her face to his with his palms spayed on her cheeks. "I need you sober. There are matters we should discuss." He was serious, but happy. There was a perminate grin on his lips.
She showered, alone. Thane was nervous about any un-necessary humidity. The treatments were working, but he didn't see much point in tempting fate. He made the bed and tidied himself. When Shepard emerged from the lavatory she was pleasantly surprised. She'd never get over what a neat freak he was. He'd even laid her civies out for her.
Her moist hair was already braided. He waited patiently for her to dress. Thane smiled as the light from the tanks glinted off the necklace.
"Ok, let's go."
Dinner was the same as it always was, but more casual. No one had duty that day due to the party, so everyone wore their civies that wanted to. Tali and Kelly talked everyone's ear off. Garrus made some sarcastic jokes. The xenophobes sat apart and gave Shepard and Thane strange looks. They ignored them. Thane must have been feeling defiant because he waited for a group of them to be watching to take Shepard's free hand in his. She let him. It was the first time he'd shown physical affection toward her in front of the crew. It was nice to not feel like she had to hide it and be the Commander all the time. Off duty, she should be just Shepard.
Afterward, Thane led Shepard to what had become their den. Orange light filtered in through the Port Observation deck's window as it had the day Thane learned he would live.
They sat on their favorite sofa by the window facing the other two and the (still secret) bar. Thane sat in the corner, resting one arm over the back of the sofa and the other on the arm rest. Shepard curled up next to him and lay her head on his chest. Hearing him breath so easily sounded like soothing music to her. They watched the sun set behind the buildings, back lighting them with violets and vivid yellows. The city lights flickered on. It reminded Shepard of Christmas trees.
"So how did it go with Kolyat." She finally asked.
"Well. He is... adjusting. I think he will be contented in time." Thane sat silent for a while. Shepard was content if they fell asleep on the sofa. "I talked with Kolyat about you."
"Really..." she sighed.
"He remembers you as 'the one who hit him." Thane said.
"I had to stop him, or some one would have ended up shot." She defended.
"I know. I do not hold any anger on the subject. Kolyat realizes his mistake and is thankful you were there... and that it was you who did it."
"Why?"
"If I had done it, he would have been angry with me for more than he already is. If it had been C-Sec that would have only steeled his resolve to fulfill the contract. You wounded his pride, but saved his life. It was the best solution." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, enjoying the ease with which it came and left. "I told him about us."
Shepard sat strait up. She was quiet for a while then said, "Tell me everything."
"A dozen questions can pour out of her in seconds." He thought to himself.
He laughed at her, looking at her with his onyx eyes. There was not enough light to see the pupils. "He is not angry, but curious what drew me to you, because you are human." He paused for a second, considering her face. "I told him that I believe you are a siha, sent by Arashu. He seemed to agree with me for his own reasons after I told him so. He did not share those reasons." He paused again. She looked surprised by the news. "I told him you saved me from death, from falling to oblivion, about your hand in the treatments and possible cure for Keplar's. I told him you reawakened me." He sat forward and caressed her face, using the hand that was on the arm. His fingers ghosted over the skin of her neck to touch the treasure it bore. "I told him I gave you this." His eyes followed where his fingers had gone then back up to her eyes. "I told him we love one another." A smile touched his lips. "It took him several days... That is one reason I could not return to you sooner."
Shepard leaned back against the sofa. He'd told Kolyat everything with out giving the kid details. She understood his need to be open and honest with his son, but did he have to tell him everything? She took a deep breath herself.
"Ok. So, what was the other thing?" She searched his face for a clue and only found a smile, one she did not understand.
He stood, taking her hands in his, and brought her into the last beams of orange light from the sun. With her standing before him, he knelt down onto both knees, his eyes not leaving hers. Keeping his body strait, he brought both her hands to his lips. Eyes closed, he kissed the backs of them.
Her heart was racing, her mind reeled, but she was not nervous or trembling.
Thane lowered her hands so that she could see the whole of his face. He found her eyes with his. "Will you give vows with me, will you let us become bound to each other?"
"Just to be clear, are you asking me to marry you?"
"I am."
Shepard knelt down the same as he had so that she was face to face with him, and kissed his finger tips. She then lowered them as he had done. He was smiling, the one he used when something she did was wrong or awkward that he found endearing when trying to relate to his culture. The fact that she could tell the difference in the subtleties would amaze others.
"When and where." She smiled at him. He embraced her, leaving her hands over his heart. With his nose buried in her neck, he ran a hand down the braid over her back. There were tears of joy streaming down his face when he looked back at her. She a some of her own. They eased a hand onto the other's cheek, kissing each other in the dieing light with tongues that longed for the other.
"How do we do this?" She asked him when they'd finally released each others lips. Thane smiled and looked lovingly into her eyes. He ran a thumb over her cheek.
"We will just have to figure it out." He echoed to her. She smiled.
When the light of day left them in the dark, they held each others naked form, in love and passion.