Epilogue

Wrex came too first just as Anderson, Ash and a medical team came through the doors. Ash helped the groggy Liara as Anderson told them to take it easy, they were safe now. "Where's Shepard?" He wanted to know.

Liara said nothing but Wrex looked to the rubble a little way from them and closed his eyes. Last thing he had seen was that falling where Cassie had been. Ash read his expression perfectly and shook her head. Her battered features telling stories of their own but right now she felt like her world had crashed down.

She got Liara to her feet and let one of the other medics take her as she aided Anderson with Wrex when a sudden movement caught her eye.

"Wait" She raised her shotgun, thinking it was one of the Geth, after all they were hardy bastards. She saw Garrus and Tali come into the ruined chamber and mirror her image, their questioning looks as to the whereabouts of their Commander remained unanswered.

Ash's vision was blurred, tears threatening to spill at any time as she believed her lover dead. Until that is she stood on what remained of Sovereign and grinned, nursing a broken arm, but grinning all the same.

Ash threw protocol to the wind and ran to the descending Commander throwing her arms around her neck.

"Hey good to see you too" Cassie winced "but mind the arm huh?"

"I could kiss you you bitch" Ash choked back her words and tried to look angry.

"Nothings stopping you"

So she did, a deep loving kiss that had a hint of regret when they parted, going to the other side she wrapped her arm around Cassie and walked her down. Garrus came to her other side and caught her as her leg gave way and gently picked her up.

"Its over?" He asked.

"Is now Gar" she wearily said "God-damn...sorry Ash...that hurts"

Garrus shook his head "We can take you to Hueto or Chakwas...which one?"

At the mention of the Ships MO Cass swallowed "Hueto...dear god Hueto"

They laughed an infectious laugh that spread around.

Several days later she stood with Anderson and Udina before the council in a hallway away from the chamber. She had been notified that the Fifth Fleet had all but been destroyed, It hadn't mattered if she had saved the Destiny Ascension or not, the casualties would have been the same. She listened as Spartias gave a speech about the brave souls of the Alliance who fought and died bravely so that they, the council may live. Garrus had told her that the Fifth Fleets sacrifice would be honoured within the Hierarchy for generations to come.

She looked at Valern and kept her face straight, if what she had intercepted was anything to go by, then he and his race were up to something. When Spartias said that humanity was to be offered a place on the council Udina made himself humble, saying what an honour it was.

However she shot him down in flames as quick as his chest puffed up. When Teevos asked her for her recommendation she immediately chose Anderson, Anderson was as surprised as anyone else.

"Anderson is not a diplomat" Udina scowled.

"He's more of a diplomat then you" Cassie told him "I warned you what would happen if you stab me in the back. We need an Ambassador who is both diplomat and soldier, and who sees the bigger picture, rather than their own personal agendas."

"Anderson talks more with his fists..."

"Only with you Udina" Anderson interjected.

"You can change your mind Shepard"

"No Udina, my decision stands and if it were another in the room it would be them...not you" She bowed her head a little "Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do before I leave"

She left them listening to Anderson make a rousing speech about driving the Reapers back into Dark Space when they showed.

She made her way to Flux where her entire crew had taken over the corner portion of the far wall. They cheered her as she came in. Ash and Joker moved up to allow her to sit between them and handed her a Turian beer.

"Whats the word skipper?" Tali asked.

"The word is humanity has a seat on the council and I named Anderson over Udina"

"Good that prick won't honour anything" Joker nodded

"We need someone who has believed us all along and it was Anderson" Ash told them "He's never called us insane or mad"

"So" Cassie looked at her friends "Ash and Joker I know are coming with me...what about you guys?"

"I'm in no rush, so I'll stick around" Wrex rumbled "Sides I wanna know how Ash got six of the hard-ass anti helping Krogan to help her"

Ash grinned "Took a leaf out of your book Wrex"

He snorted as Cass looked at Garrus "Gar?"

"I'm staying here, re-joining c-sec, I just got a promotion and I need to put in practise what we talked about...but stay in touch Cassie"

"Good luck with that and I am proud of you Garrus"

If Turians could blush he tried to cover it. "I wouldn't mind a lift to Paladin, I have some leave and I want to see my family"

"You got it big bird" Joker grinned.

"Tali?" Ash asked.

"I don't have to rejoin the fleet yet, maybe I could stay?"

"Adams wants you to stay" Cassie held Talis hand "And I am not going to upset my chief engineer by taking away his partner in crime."

"Yeah and the engines love Tali" Joker poured another beer from the pitcher.

"Li?"

Liara smiled "I have been asked by the Asari archaeological society to lead a mixed races team to Ilos. I was asked if the Normandy wouldn't mind transporting us there?"

"Wherever you need to go Liara, just don't be a stranger and let me know what new discoveries you come up with."

"Really?"

"Yeah really...you're more than my friends, your my family and that's how it will stay no matter what"

"To family" Ash raised her glass and the toast was echoed. Cass put her arm round Ash's waist and kissed her forehead.

Two years later, each and every one of them mourned the death of their commander and friends. Tali, Wrex and Ash had witnessed Shepards death as she saved Joker, the alien vessel cutting the Normandy in half, killing any who had not managed to escape.

On Ilos, Liara received the news from one of her human assistants and sank to her knees in grief, On the Citadel Garrus went out with one of the Turian rescue vessels and held Ash as she cried in his arms, his mandibles twitched as he met the red eyes tear stained features of Wrex who was holding Tali.

Shortly after Garrus resigned from C-Sec and vanished. Tali returned to the Flotilla and Ash was placed elsewhere. Wrex returned to his world and did what he had promised to do, Tuchunka was going to change and it would be he who changed it.

He owed Cassandra that much and so much more.