"Siha," a voice whispered, gruff with emotion. Feather-like touches brushed across my face and cool, scaled lips pressed against mine. "Wake up."

I sighed softly, sleep blurring my mind. "Thane," I muttered, reaching for the man I loved. "I missed you." My hands found his and I pulled him down to the bed, stroking his cheek as I opened my eyes.

Dark orbs, centered with emerald green met mine. "I prayed that I would find you." He kissed me, harder this time, pressing me to the bed. "I will never leave your side again."

My hands moved without instruction, finding his chest. "Mine," I muttered, the haze of sleep fading to leave me bemused by arousal. I smiled up at him, my nails lightly scratching his scales. He wore no shirt, which pleased me immensely. I knew we needed to talk, but as he ground his hips into mine, all words failed me.

Thane growled softly as I cradled him between my legs, the only barrier between us being my panties and his leathers. "Siha. I need ..."

"Me too," I whispered, letting my hands slide down to his pants. I began to tug them, struggling with the buckles as he caressed my hips. I didn't notice him remove my bra until he stilled, gazing down at me. "Sorry," I said, blushing. I suddenly felt conscious. I knew my chest still bore bruises and marks from my time in captivity and knowing he could see that bothered me. I moved my hands to cover my breasts.

"No," he growled, pinning my hands above my head. "Don't." He met my eyes for a moment, before leaning back on his knees, staring at me. "A Siha should bear the scars of battle. You are more beautiful for it."

My hair fanned around my head, arms raised, bare to him, scars unhidden. I knew my face was red, but I didn't care. The way he looked at me made me feel as beautiful as a princess. I felt ... loved.

The growing hunger inside me began to be unbearable and I whimpered, rocking my hips against the straining arousal bound by his pants. "Thane," I groaned, trying to form a coherent sentence.

He smiled, before ripping away my panties and sliding out of his trousers. "I love you," he said, reaching to cup my face as he lowered himself down over my body.

"I love you too," I murmured, wrapping my legs around him as his lips found mine once more. We moved together, joining as one on satin sheets.

"We should talk," I said, stretching beside Thane. We lay in the messy bed, limbs tangled and faces,glowing after several hours of love making.

Thane sighed, rolling to face me. "Tell me," he instructed, his voice calm, despite the torment in his eyes.

I swallowed, trying not to let the memories swamp me. "I was ..." I paused, unsure where to begin. "Did Kaidan make it?" I asked, realizing I hadn't asked anyone. I sat up, horror and guilt filling my soul. "I left him there ... in a bush."

Thane embraced me from behind, his arms around my middle. "He lived. He said you saved his life," he told me, his voice soft, comforting. "He was glad to hear you also survived."

My shoulders relaxed. "I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't hold them off," I told him, shuddering at the thought of the swarms pounding my biotics.

"I know all of what happened on Horizon. Alenko and Shepard explained everything."

I frowned. "Who's Shepard?"

Thane stroked my hair. "You will meet her soon. She is fighting the Collectors, the creatures that took you. Garrus is also with her," he said, a smile tilting his lips. I could feel it against my cheek and knowing he was happy made me smile too.

"I'm glad he's okay." I turned in his arms, my legs over his and my arms around his neck. "Thane, what happened to me, it wasn't your fault. I don't want to go into details. It's just too fucked up for me right now, but I got out and we're together, that's all that matters."

His throat hummed softly and he slowly nodded. "As you wish, Siha."

I could tell he wasn't happy that I was holding back my pain, but he wouldn't push me, not wanting me to break again. "So, Shepard?" I asked, changing the topic as I rest my head on his shoulder.

Thane sighed. "She is now my commander." He sounded both proud and worried, which in turn worried me.

"What does that mean for us? Will you stay here?" My chest tightened at the thought of him leaving me again. I didn't want to be left alone on Ilium. Horizon had felt safe and it wasn't, who knows what this planet was really like beneath the glitter and luxury.

"You will be with me, Lizvetta. I promised you this." He distangled us and rose from the bed. "I will be taking you into danger and it pains me."

I watched him slide his pants on, my cheeks burning as I caught myself watching his taut behind. "Thane, we're only in danger if we're apart," I said, following him off the bed. I looked for my clothes and frowned. "Where are my things?"

Thane smiled and gestured to the unit across from the bed. "Your clothes were ruined. Shepard helped me with your sizes ..."

"Uh, what?" I asked, walking to the unit. Opening the door, I blinked. Two hanging rails of clothes hung before me on the left side, and on the right stood a mannequin covered in ... armor. "Thane?"

"You are coming with me into danger. I would ask that you wear armor ... for my peace of mind." He looked mildly embarrassed, which amused me.

"Okay," I told him, laughing. "But you're gonna have to help me into it." I frowned again. "Wait, where are we going?"

"To the Normandy. Shepards ship. We have a room on board. It will be dryer than you are used to, but my lungs ..." He broke off, shaking his head. "My race need dryer climates."

I tilted my head to the side. He was hiding something, I could tell, but his eyes begged me not to ask his secrets. I sighed, and nodded; he hadn't pressured me, I had to return the respect. "Shower, then you can help me dress," I said, changing the topic. I couldn't bear the pain in his eyes anymore.

"There are two showers here, Siha," Thane said, taking my hand. "One for Humans and one for me."

"What's the difference?" I asked, following him through a slightly hidden door to our left.

He chuckled. "I do not think Human skin could withstand a sand shower," he told me as we entered the bathroom. The room wasn't large, made up of a toilet, two sinks, a normal looking shower—the power shower pleased the hell out of me—and a strange cubicle that looked like it would seal itself completely once closed.

"You go first," I said, heading to the 'Human' side. I watched with a look of female appreciation as he undressed, before quickly stripping myself.

Naked and feeling very wanton, I looked over my shoulder at him, my hair brushing my sensitive skin. Biting my lip, I stepped into the Human shower and turned the heat on full. A soft moan escaped my lips as the warmth eased the soreness from my muscles. Though I'd been healed, my body still felt weak and I knew it was because I'd lost so much weight. They'd tried to help me regain it in the hospital, but I could tell my hips were slimmer, my stomach dipped in, instead of softly rounding.

I wrapped my arms around myself and let the water sluth over me, listening to the odd sounds of sand against scales in the shower next to me. The thought of him naked made me bite my lip again. Making love to Thane had been a huge step for me and I wondered if there would be repercussions from it. Deep down, I knew we couldn't bear children, but the itching I could feel across my breasts and between my legs gave me pause.

My fingers trembled as I shut the shower off. Stepping out, I wrapped a towel around myself, air drying instead of rubbing my sensitive skin. "Thane, are Humans and Drell ... compatible?" I asked, my cheeks once again flame red.

Thane stepped out of his 'shower' and stood gloriously bare in front of me, his hands on his hips. "I have had an ointment made up for you. I forgot to mention it before because ...ah."

"I distracted you," I teased, glad he'd taken precautions. The itch was getting worse. I could see the outline of his handprint on my breast already.

He moved to stand behind me and scooped up another towel. Very gently, he began to dry my hair, humming softly. "Siha ... I know you." Thane broke off, an uneasy rumble sounding from his throat. "I know you have issues with touch and ... your past experiences have left you vulnerable but I wish you to know that making love to you ... was precious to me."

I leaned into his touch, almost purring as he ran his fingers through my hair. "I'm fucked up, Thane, but with you ... I feel like I can be normal. We were meant to be together, remember. We're the cure for each others souls."

A soft kiss fell to the top of my head and his arms came around me, towel and all. "I love you. I will never stop telling you. My race is not as affectionate as other races. I know you need that and I swear that for you, I will try."

"You're doing fine," I whispered, stroking my hands over the markings on his arms. I didn't want to leave the steamy warmth of the bathroom, but I could hear his soft wheeze. "Come on, let's go get me into that armor."

He sighed and helped me to my feet and led me to the bedroom. "I hope it fits. Your weight loss concerns me." With gentle hands, Thane tugged my towel away, leaving me bare. He touched my stomach, trailing the tips of his fingers up over my breasts, a flare of possessiveness filling his obsidian eyes. "As much as it pains me to know you're uncomfortable, seeing my marks on your body ..."

I chuckled and leaned up to kiss him. "Cream now, more marks later," I whispered after a long, long embrace.

Laughing together, we covered my marks in cream and Thane helped me slip into a catsuit-like undersuit. The material stretched over me, hugging my figure in ways I never thought clothes would fit. "At least the armor will hide how slutty this is."

"Going into battle dressed like that would distract the team," Thane agreed, growling softly. He began to pull heavy pieces from the mannequin and instructed me on how to lock each part onto my body. His soft hands were distracting and I knew I'd never put my armor on without him again. I wanted this intimacy every time.

"When do we leave to meet Shepard?" I asked once I was locked in. It weighed almost nothing, considering how big it was and after a little experimentation, I figured I could move well enough.

Thane kissed my forehead. "We leave now, Siha. She's waiting at the docks to meet you."

"I hope she likes me."

The vulnerability in my tone must have registered with him, because he wrapped me in his arms. "You saved her friend on Horizon. She will love you."

"Then let's go."

A/N FLOOFY FLOOFY FLOOFNESS! Merry Christmas everyone! This chapter was kinda rushed again, sorry. I wanted them to have a little moment before the madness kicks in, so please enjoy, let me know what you think and of course, don't hesitate to follow and review! See you next year!