A/N - I promised Phil and Rogen that they should like this chapter. Hope you do!

The salarian was deep in thought as Shepard entered the lab. He came to a stop and waited in silence as he observed the salarian, his hand resting on his near non-existent chin, one finger occasionally stroking his cheek. Wonder what crazy idea he's thinking of now? Eventually he glanced at Shepard, blinking rapidly as if his chain of thoughts were broken.

"Thinking of something interesting, Mordin?"

The salarian nodded. "Just about our recent conversations, Shepard. You've given an old man something to contemplate."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Old man? You're not that old, are you, Mordin?"

Mordin chuckled. "I'm old enough, Shepard. Not sure if you're aware, but salarians don't live long. Certainly not as long as humans. Don't have much time left. Thinking of what I've done. What I'll leave behind. Legacy. That sort of thing."

"Are you talking about your work on the genophage?"

Mordin breathed deeply before nodding. "Yes. Many reasons for thought. Mind hasn't changed. Still believe what I did was right. It was necessary. But… You have made me think, Shepard. What you believe is… interesting. Always appreciate different ideas. Viewpoints. Life would be dull otherwise."

"I'm glad I've at least made you think, Mordin. That's all I ever ask people to do."

Mordin nodded again. "Yes. Cause for thought. Anyway, did you need me for something?"

"Yeah. I have an idea but wondered if you could help me?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Probably better if I show you," Shepard replied, gesturing towards the door leading out to the CIC. The pair walked to the elevator, Shepard pressing the button for his quarters. Mordin was clearly intrigued as Shepard glanced at him, the salarian returning the glance, grinning ever so slightly. Wonder if he already has it figured out.

The elevator doors opened, the pair stepping out into the small room before the door to his quarters. "Right, this is my idea, Mordin. Would it be possible to turn this small room into some sort of decontamination chamber?"

Mordin paced slowly around the small room, moving his arms about as he took measurements with his omni-tool. "May I ask why, Shepard? Can already assume. But intrigued nonetheless."

"I'm doing it for Tali. We've talked a lot about requirements for when want to be... be together. And I've already asked EDI about the possibility of turning my quarters into a clean room. She says it can as the air can be filtered. So if I can turn this into a little decon chamber, then Tali will have the opportunity of being able to escape her suit at the most, and at least remove her mask at least."

"When would you like it to be completed by?"

"As soon as possible, if that is realistic."

"No problem, Shepard. Will require some work to set it all up but I don't foresee any major issues. Could have it done within a day or two at most."

"Just what I wanted to hear. I also don't want Tali to know about it. I'd like it to be a surprise. So I'll probably have to be sneaky, kick her out downstairs early in the morning and try and keep her there for as long as possible."

"Of course."

"I can help out, too. I'm no engineer, but I'm good with my hands. Give me a hammer or screwdriver and I can get things done."

"Do you have plans of the ship?"

Shepard keyed his omni-tool, Mordin's beeping a few seconds later. "Well ahead of you there, Mordin. Knew I had to be organised to get this done quickly."

The salarian made a series of noises as he viewed the plans, then starting keying his omni-tool. He was done with a couple of minutes. "Okay, Shepard. Plan ready. Can start tomorrow morning if you would like?"

"Great! I'll grab you from downstairs as soon as I'm ready."

Tali was listening in to the conversation between Ken and Gabby, the dour Scot chatting away animatedly. She had a good idea what he was talking about, though it was clear something or someone had obviously put a bee in his bonnet. Or maybe this is just how he is every single day. She couldn't help but start to giggle as he was quite clearly irritated about something. The conversation stopped as her fellow engineers glanced her way at the sounds of her laughter.

"Has he always been like this?" she asked Gabby.

"Oh, you get used to it, Tali. Generally I've learned to block most of it out."

"What? You mean I'm trying to converse with you and you're ignoring me?" Ken asked, getting even more excited.

"You're talking about football, Ken. I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I don't care! Why don't you talk to the other guys on board?"

"Joker doesn't like football, Jacob and Jenkins only likes the bastardised North American version and Shepard… supports a team south of the border, who are utter rubbish. Or he watches his bastardised Australian version, which, while enjoyable, is not the same as the pure version of association football that I know and love. I hate to say it, but where's at the very least an Englishman when you need one?"

"Just what has you so irritated anyway, Ken?" Tali asked.

"The cup final we watched last night. It was a bloody disgrace. The referee must have been bought and paid for by the opposition. There was absolutely no way that was a penalty. And don't even get me started about the sending off. It was a bloody dive!"

"Ken, you say this after nearly every game you watch. But Shepard was there watching with you, as were a number of others. Why not go chew their ear off and complain about it?" Gabby replied.

"Maybe you should just support another team if you're always left feeling this way after a game?" Tali suggested.

Ken just looked at her dumbfounded. "What? Another team? Tali, you obviously don't understand. Once you start to support a team, you're with them for life, through thick and thin, good and bad. It's like a marriage, til death do us part."

"Hmmm, I guess Shepard does take his support quite seriously… from what I've seen and heard from him anyway. I have the feeling he'd plant himself in front of that big screen all day if given the chance."

"And what's the matter with that?" she heard him say behind her, causing her to jump slightly with fright. She turned around to see that he was grinning about it. She sighed with relief. "Though Ken is right, Tali. You can't just go and support someone else. That's called jumping on the bandwagon, particularly if said team just happens to be successful. And we hate that."

She just shook her head. "There are too many rules to all this, Shepard."

"Oh, I don't blame you for suggesting it to Ken. The team he supports sucks."

"Now just a minute, Commander!"

The Commander cracked up in laughter. "Knew that would get him started." He turned his attention to Tali once again. "Do you have a minute?" he asked quietly, his demeanour turning quite serious in an instant.

"Sure," she replied, following him out of engineering towards the elevator, the sounds of Ken continuing to moan echoing as the door closed behind her. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, unable to keep the concern out of her tone.

"No. Just wanted to show you something," he replied as they entered the elevator, pushing the button for his cabin.

"What is it?"

He turned to look at her, the usual twinkle in his eye as he grinned. "Oh, it's a surprise!"

Tali wanted to throw her hands in air. "Keelah, Shepard! You and your surprises!"

He held his chest, feigning a broken heart. "And what's the matter what that? Are they not always nice surprises?"

"Well… Yes… But…," she let out a slight groan. "Okay, yes. They always are."

"And I only do that because I love you."

"You sometimes have a very funny way of showing it, Shepard," she said with a chuckle.

"Yes, but at least I keep it interesting and you on your toes. Otherwise life would be boring, Tali."

"Shepard, life could never be boring with you."

He chuckled. "I'll remind you of that in thirty years' time."

She grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze to gain his complete attention. "You think that far into the future? Even with everything that may happen?"

He turned and gave her one of his winning smiles. "Of course. I won't say I have it all planned out. But I think of our future together. Why wouldn't I?"

"So do I," she said softly, diverting her gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed. Well, I have a good idea where to hold the wedding, and where we might live, how many kids we could have, though we'd have to adopt, and… Keelah, calm down, Tali. You haven't even...

"Guess that's something we may also need to discuss at a later time," he suggested, breaking her chain of thoughts.

"Seems like we have a lot to talk about, Shepard."

The elevator finally finished its ascent, the pair stepping out together. She was ready to simply keep walking but felt Shepard come to a stop. She stopped and turned her head to look at him. He just looked back at her and grinned.

"Just wait."

She was ready to ask for what when the elevator door locked and the door to their cabin locked. Then the unmistakable sound started. A sound she knew so well from her life back on the fleet. She couldn't help but gasp.

"Shepard, is that…?" she asked in no more than a whisper.

"Mordin and I have installed it over the past two days. Did you not notice the panelling we put up yesterday?"

She blushed under her mask. "Well, no, I don't take notice of anything in this little room. But… does this mean…?" She couldn't even finish the question. It still seemed so unbelievable. The cycle finished, the door in front and both behind clicking to signal they were once again unlocked. Still holding his hand, she followed him into his quarters. Nothing looked any different.

"EDI, has the air been cycled?"

The blue orb appeared nearby. "Not yet, Shepard. Would you like it cycled?"

"One moment, EDI." He turned towards Tali. "Taking into account the decontamination room out there, if the air was cycled in here, would it be possible for you to remove, at the very least, your mask? And who knows, maybe more at a later time. But, basically, would this turn into what you would call a clean room, or as close as one I have available?"

The question itself was almost overwhelming, let along the thought of actually being able to do it. And then there were the many other possibilities of what that suit removal could mean. She had obviously been silent for a while, as he leaned forward to gain her attention, his eyes clearly roaming her mask. "Tali?"

"Keelah," she whispered under her breath, "I mean, I think that would certainly help, Shepard."

"EDI, cycle the air." There was a slight whooshing noise for the next few seconds.

"Air has been cycled, Shepard. I believe with the precautions taken, it would now be possible for Tali to at least remove her mask for a limited period of time."

"Thanks, EDI." With that, the blue orb blinked out, leaving Shepard and Tali in relative peace. She walked down the steps and sat on the couch. Shepard sat beside her and placed a hand lightly on her forearm.

"Tali, I'm not expecting you to do anything now. That I can assure you."

She looked at him and grinned behind her mask. "I know, Shepard," she said quietly.

He nodded in reply. "All this means is that these facilities are now available for you. I'm not sure when you were last removed your mask, let alone got out of your suit. But I do remember absolutely everything you told me about how it was like living in your suit. I also know there are… other factors as to your suit removal. I know there are also things I am required to do, if I'm to be in here with you if you choose to do so. But, whatever the case, the one thing I can assure you is there is absolutely no rush and no pressure."

"Part of me wants to get out of it all right now."

"Part of me would like to see that, too," he added with a slight grin. She just playfully slapped his shoulder. "As I said, Tali. There is absolutely no rush."

She considered his words for about five seconds before she turned to him, taking his hands in hers. He looked at her, almost in expectation of whatever it was she was about to say.

"I want you to see my face, Shepard," she said quietly. Her heart started beating furiously as the weight of those words hit home immediately.

The slight grin on his face broadened for a moment, though his brow then furrowed in concern. She knew the look well. He was always going to worry about this. He worried about her at the best of times. "Are you sure, Tali? As I just said, there's no rush. And certainly no pressure. I'm aware of everything that comes with you doing this. I don't want you…"

She raised a finger to his lips to stop him talking. "Shepard, for once just shut up! I'm doing this because I want to. Because I need to. I want to do it, not just for me. More importantly, I want to do it for you. I love you and there's no other gesture I can think of right now to prove that. Other than…," she trailed off, blushing at the thoughts that crossed her mind, all involving her having no suit on at all.

He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped himself. She noticed he took a deep breath. She could see he was just as nervous about what was about to happen. He knew this alone was a risk to her health. In return, she just wanted to show how much everything he had done for her meant. She was willing to take that risk for him.

After a few moments of silence, he simply asked "Are you absolutely sure?"

She raised a hand to his cheek. "I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life."

She took a deep breath. Tried to steady her heartbeat which she thought he would have easily heard thumping away. She slowly raised her left hand to the side of her mask. She knew it was shaking. He reached out and gently grabbed it. "Do you want me to do it?"

"We'll do it together."

She guided his hand slightly underneath her hood to where the clasp holding the mask was located. She pulled at the clasp and there was a sound as the air decompressed. She willed her eyes to stay open as she felt the mask slowly come away, but the fear and nerves got the best of her. Slowly she felt the mask come away, the feeling of cool air hitting her face. She tried to maintain her steady breathing. The last thing she wanted now was to let her nerves completely overtake her. Then she heard his voice for the first time.

"Wow," she heard him say quietly.

She could feel a tear slowly glide down her creek. She didn't know why she was crying. She already felt happier than she ever felt before. Maybe it was the nerves as well. But then she felt his hand cup her cheek and his thumb gently rub it a way. She gasped before she giggled at his touch. Okay, that tickles. And I'm definitely going to have to get used to that! His hand was rough. She expected it to be, considering what he did. But his touch was incredibly gentle.

"Why the tears?" she heard him ask. She could only shrug her shoulders. She felt slightly silly for it. Mostly it was just the moment. She figured he would have understood. "Open your eyes," he whispered.

Slowly she opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings, without the glare of the mask. She blinked rapidly as they adjusted to even the dim light of his cabin. Then she focused on him. The broadest grin she'd ever seen. But in his eyes were a mixture of emotions. Desire. Pleasure. But also love. It was a look she had grown to know well in the recent past.

"Hello, gorgeous," she heard him say.

"You really mean that?" She had always been plagued by self-doubt when it came to this moment. She believed him. She truly did. But she just wanted to be sure. I'd also like to hear him say that again!

"Absolutely. And by that I mean you are absolutely gorgeous. What did you just say? I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life." She smiled. His grin broadened even further, if such as thing was possible. "And you have a beautiful smile as well."

She could feel herself blush, heat coming to her cheeks. She raised a hand to her own cheek, unable to feel the heat because of her gloved hand. She heard him chuckle slightly at that. I'll have to remember he can now see everything when this comes off.

"Help me take off the hood," she asked.

Together they helped remove her purple hood, Shepard folding it and placing it on the table next to them. He then helped removed the rest of the suit covering her head. She didn't miss the look of surprise when her entire face and head were finally free.

"You have hair?" he asked. She could hear he was relatively shocked by that revelation. She raised a hand to the back of her head, ruffling her thick, black hair for a moment. She never gave the fact she had hair a second thought. She also knew he would have been completely unaware that she did.

"Did you not know?"

"Tali, I'm just glad that you don't look like Garrus! But, no, I had no idea what you looked like. It was one thing I made sure to avoid when I... researched."

She laughed as he raised a hand and gently stroked her cheek again. She closed her eyes, revelling in the sensation of finally being able to just feel his hand on her. It was always the mask. Now it was her skin. Finally! She couldn't help the sigh that escaped her.

"I guess you like that?" She nodded as she simply savoured his touch. He was so gentle. His hand had started out feeling rough, she was surprised how already it felt soft against her skin. She eventually opened her eyes and looked straight into his. His eyes searched hers. He's wondering what I'm going to say next. She smiled.

"Kiss me."

He appeared shocked at the confident tone of her voice for a moment, before his grin disappeared as concern again crossed his features. "Will that be okay? I mean, just being…" She raised a finger to his lips again. She heard him chuckle again before he nodded. "You sure you'll be okay?"

"Shepard, I'm going to have a reaction just being out of the suit. Kissing you will be totally worth it."

She knew this was going to be awkward. To start off with, it had been years since anyone had even just seen her face. She racked her mind trying to remember when she had last looked in a mirror to see her own reflection. She had the opportunity the last time she'd been out of a suit, when she'd returned to the fleet at the end of her Pilgrimage, but didn't bother. She'd never thought anyone would actually see her face. When honest with herself, the only person she had ever wanted to see her was Shepard. And as far as she knew then, he was gone.

Then there was the kiss itself. She'd never kissed anyone before. Sure, she'd seen enough movies to have an idea of how it all worked. But to put that into practice… she just hoped it wouldn't too embarrassing or awkward. Though she knew Shepard would do everything possible to make it comfortable for her. Pleasurable. An experience to remember.

She focused on Shepard again, who had moved closer. She watched his eyes, as they seemed to soak in every single detail of her face. She couldn't help but smile slightly while feeling slightly self-conscious about it. Stop worrying. He said you're beautiful! He loves you! It then happened in a flash. He ran his right hand through her hair. She closed her eyes at the feeling. He rested his hand on the back of her head, gently pulling her towards him. Then she felt his lips softly graze hers once, then twice, before they returned and he finally just… kissed her, gently, noticing his lips were softer than she would have thought, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, the butterflies in her stomach going absolutely crazy. She didn't exactly know what to do with her own arms, letting instinct take over, wrapping hers around him in turn. She lost track of time. The butterflies in her stomach went into overdrive. She had to remember to breath, remembering she had a nose for such things. Then his lips disappeared and she was almost left feeling disappointed that it was over. Well, we'll have to rectify that, quick smart! She opened her eyes to his face not far away from hers. He had a slightly satisfied grin on his face.

"Let's do that again," she said. The grin broadened for a moment before he broke into a chuckle. "Practice does make perfect, Shepard."

She noticed he raised an eyebrow at that one. "And just how much practice are we going to have, Tali?"

She grinned again, before she raised both hands, placing them both on his chest and gently pushed him back until he was laying down on the couch, his head propped up by one of the cushions. She crawled over him until her face was hovering just over his. "We're going to practice until I get this absolutely right."

His grin broadened as she lowered her lips to his once again. Soon enough she felt his hands explore her body, annoyed that it was only through her suit, before he pulled her towards him, their bodies almost together as one, only the fabric of his clothes and her suit separating them. Even through the suit, she couldn't help but notice his… excitement at what was happening. She couldn't help the grin forming as their lips were locked. He pulled his head back slightly, breaking the kiss for a moment.

"What has you grinning?"

She looked down for a moment, focusing on his body, before she looked him right in the eyes again. "Oh, no reason whatsoever, Shepard," she replied as she moved her hips against him. She heard him clear his throat at her seductive tone, shuffling slightly, appearing to be almost embarrassed by it.

"I'm a man at my sexual peak with an incredibly gorgeous woman currently laying on top of me as we make out for the first time. What sort of reaction did you expect?"

"I'm not complaining. In fact, I'll take it as a compliment."

"I guess we should keep practicing then?"

"Now that sounds like a wonderful way to spend an evening."

The pair continued to 'practice' until she could feel a slight wave of nausea hit her. She had expected it eventually. She was disappointed but the thrill of just being able to kiss him, knowing the sickness to come, made it all completely worth it. But it was time for the fun to end. At least for the time being. He was completely understanding when she said she had to fit her mask again. In fact, she could see the guilt on his face, though she reminded him that, in the end, it was her choice.

Once back in her suit, they sat together once again on the couch, Shepard placing an arm around her, holding her close to him. She rested her head in that little nook she always did. They sat in comfortable silence for a time, simply enjoying the presence of the other. With everything outside the door to the cabin, both knew they had to appreciate the time they had together.

Like the very first night she found herself back on the Normandy, she soon found herself drifting off to sleep in his arms once again. She turned slightly and placed her hand on his chest, looking up at him. He must have noticed as he glanced back at her. As he always did, he smiled at her.

"I love you, Shepard," she said quietly.

She rested her head back on him again, feeling him pull her even tighter towards him. She was left with the familiar feelings, of being safe and comfortable. She knew he would do absolutely anything for her. She knew that he loved her, absolutely and completely. She loved him just as much as in return. She sighed with contentment before stifling a yawn.

She was asleep barely a few minutes later.

A/N – I had Tali reveal her face from her POV and of her reactions to Shepard seeing her the first time so I wouldn't have to describe her yet! For the time being, I won't be describing what she looks like. That'll come later.