Epilogue

The metal on the QEC console was cold under his fingers, stark contrast to the heat running through him. His hand trembled slightly as it brushed across the smooth titanium surface, around the embedded controls. His heart pounded in his ears and he fought down panic. He'd thought about doing this for so long.

The war was over, life was moving forward and rebuilding was beginning. With any luck the mass relays would be up and running soon and they would find out just how much of the galaxy survived. The Leviathan had disappeared after an eerie message to Shepard that they would be watching. Optimism had become normal.

Tracy's mother had turned up on a survivor list in Scotland and was on her way south to meet them, Shepard and James had married on the Citadel three weeks earlier, not wanting to wait until she was fully recovered and wanting something small and intimate before the world media latched on to their story. Now, this was their time, the perfect time. All he'd had to do was decide on where.

The lakes on the Citadel had looked pristine and beautiful but it wasn't the right place for them. Earth was in ruins and the grey didn't match the rush of colour in his heart. But here, in the QEC room. This felt right.

'Matt,' Tracy's voice made him look up and he swallowed hard.

She took his breath away every time. He'd been lucky to have her walk into his life at a time when his life could have easily ended. She'd been there through the worst that the war had thrown at them, his bright spot in the dark.

'Do you remember when we first met,' he smiled at her before dropping his eyes to the console.

'I remember this guy who almost broke his neck stumbling around one of these,' she laughed, running her fingers across the console edge.

'Yeah, not my best moment, but that was all your fault. You took me by surprise.'

He laughed before taking a deep breath. Taking her hands in his he looked down at where they joined, his thumb running lazy circles on the back of her hand.

'Matt,' she looked up at him, 'you're shaking. What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' meeting her gaze he fought down the roiling tide in his stomach, lifting a hand to her cheek and caressing it gently. 'Do you know how beautiful you are?' She blushed, leaning into his touch and it gave him the push he needed. 'You walked into my life that day and I fell, literally,' he chuckled, 'but I also fell in love with you.'

'Yeah, I seem to recall you were on bended knee and I joked about not knowing you well enough for a proposal. You were so cute, you were so flustered and I thought it was adorable.' She placed her hand over his and he had to force himself to breathe.

He pulled his hand away from her face, still holding her other hand as he fished in his pocket before dropping to a knee, 'how about now, do you know me well enough?' He met her wide eyed stare, 'Tracy, I love you, you're the best thing to ever happen to me, I want to spend the rest of my life stumbling because you fluster me in a good way. I want to nerd out with you over tech, I want to watch your eyes light up when something works or watch you frown in frustration when it doesn't.' He held out the ring he'd had made, almost dropping it from his trembling fingers, 'I want to build sandcastles with you, have kids, make a future together. Marry me.'

God, this is it. He watched as she blinked away tears, as she visibly swallowed. This moment, right here, would make him or break him. Her grip on his hand tightened and he realised she was nodding.

'Yes.' The nodding became more pronounced as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Yes, I'll marry you, Matt.'

'You will,' he stared at her, disbelief warring with joy and he fumbled the ring.

'Yes,' she laughed and dropped to her knees to help catch it.

'See what you do to me,' he laughed, finally managing to get the ring on her finger before cupping her face and pulling her in for a kiss that left them both breathless. 'I love you.'

'I love you,' she brushed his face with her hand, 'and this,' she waved at the console and the room around them, 'this is perfect.'

'Thank god,' he blew out a breath, 'I was going to ask you by the lake on the Citadel but it wasn't the place for us, Earth is too destroyed to find somewhere nice but this,' he looked up at the console before meeting her eyes that shone with moisture, 'this just felt right.'

'It does,' she nodded and kissed him before looking at the ring. 'This is beautiful.'

'I had it made, a man we rescued was a jeweller before all this so I asked him if he could create something special. It's not a diamond, they're a bit hard to come by.' He ran his thumb over the coloured strip running across the top, 'it's actually a piece of glass from a console control, the metal is from the casing.'

'You did this for me?' she bit back a sob.

'I'd do anything for you,' he looked at her, 'I wanted something personal to both of us. He offered to make us wedding rings from the same console piece.'

'Perfect. You this,' she sniffled and dropped her forehead against his. 'Now all we need is the perfect place to get married.'

'Yeah, about that,' he grinned and she pulled back to look at him. 'I might have an idea.'

The sand was warm as he curled his toes into it, the hem of his jeans wet where he'd let the sea roll over his feet. The salt on the wind, the thunder and crash of the ocean conspiring and making him take a deep, relaxing breath. He couldn't believe the old bed and breakfast he'd bought on a whim had survived, the pristine white stretch of beach completely untouched. It was as if the war hadn't happened, at least not here. When the pilot he'd asked to do a fly over had sent him pictures he knew it was the place where his and Tracy's future would begin. It would be the home they could create together.

She'd never been to Australia. Bringing her here had been a gamble but she loved it as much as he did. They'd agreed that this would be their place. He already had plans to build a tech room in one of the garages, they had plenty of space for people to come and stay, the field out back would be turned into a landing pad and Tracy had ideas for an R&D lab they could build alongside. Hackett had suggested the area might be a good spot for an Alliance outpost and training facility. He'd also mentioned promotions and teaching positions. Matt hadn't been sure he was joking.

'Watcha doin?'

A weight on his back made him step forward to keep his balance and he grinned as firm thighs and soft arms wrapped around him. His hands held her thighs as she settled piggy back style against him.

'Checking the surf, see if it's worth getting a board out.'

The touch of her fingers on his bare chest had him wanting to return to their bed. But they'd been there for the last four days, leaving the bed only to shower, take care of body needs or to get food or drink, rediscovering each other without the aftermath of war hanging over their heads.

She'd been in the shower so he'd wandered down to stand by the ocean. The first time his parents had taken them to the beach he'd felt drawn to the sea and he'd spent time during leave learning how to surf. The sand, the salt and the ocean relaxed him.

'You surf?' Tracy leaned around and looked at him from under raised eyebrows.

'Yep,' he pulled her around to his front as she slid down his body, enclosing her in his arms and she settled her back against his chest.

'Can you teach me?'

He nuzzled her hair, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. They had two days before everyone else arrived and he would much rather spend it naked and making love to her.

'Sure, or we could go back to bed.' He said, dropping his lips to her neck.

'You said you'd show me the beach, we'd build sandcastles and now you can teach me to surf,' she slapped his arm playfully, a smile on her face.

'Okay,' he agreed and her eyes narrowed as his grin widened, 'but you know, to surf you have to get wet.'

In one swift move he lifted her onto his shoulders in a fireman carry and charged into the sea, laughing as she screamed in his ear. He held her upright as waves rolled over them and she spluttered, pushing wet hair off her face. He kissed her before she could open her eyes, pulling her in tight as the ocean tried to pull them apart. It was a battle he won as she slid her arms around his neck and they fought the tide together.

'That was unfair,' she said, laughing as the water splashed around them.

'But fun,' he laughed as he held her tight, keeping his feet firmly in the sand.

'I've never swum in the ocean,' she glanced around, a nervous shake in her hands.

'Hey, I've got you, you're safe,' he watched a wave approach, 'just be aware of your surroundings, take note of the waves,' he nodded towards the wave coming at them, 'it will lift you and carry you in if you let it.'

He relaxed into the wave, keeping his arms around her, letting it carry them towards the shore and her grip on his shoulders tightened. But she let him lead and grinned as their feet touched the sandy bottom.

'I could get used to this.'

'Think you're ready for more?' He chuckled as she gave him a nod but her lips pursed and doubt lingered in her eyes. 'Trust me, you'll be fine.' He moved them further out but not far enough she couldn't touch the bottom comfortably. 'We're going to let this next wave carry us in, okay.' He waited till she nodded and released his hold, sliding his hand down her arm and locking his fingers with hers. 'When I say, lift your feet and lie into the wave.' He watched the water as her fingers held his in a death grip. 'Now.'

Without hesitation she followed his lead and they coasted onto the shore. She was laughing as she found her feet and stumbled onto the sand, dragging him down with her as they tumbled, rolled and lay looking up at the sky.

'That was fun,' she said, turning to look at him as the water washed over their feet. 'I can see why you love it.'

The joy in her eyes had his heart skipping and the urge to make love to her right here almost overwhelmed him.

'Yeah,' he brushed hair from her face with his sandy fingers, 'not as much as I love you though.'

He pulled her against him as they stretched out on the sand, devouring her lips, cupping her ass and leaving no doubt about how she affected him as his hips thrust against hers.

'I think we need a shower,' she murmured when he pulled back, her eyes a thin blue line around her pupils.

'I might need help getting all this sand off,' he said, scooping her up in his arms and heading back to the house.

'I think I can help with that.' She slid her arms around his neck with a chuckle before kissing her way down his neck.

'God, I hope so.'

They'd agreed on something simple, a beach wedding, no formal wear, no shoes and no strict bridal party. All their friends surrounding them, encircling them in a ring of love and affection. That didn't stop James from fussing over him as he pulled at the collar of his shirt for the fifth, or was it sixth, time. Tracy had asked for a white collared shirt and cream coloured trousers, which he'd rolled above his ankles so the hems didn't fill with sand.

'Stop,' James laughed as he pulled his hand down, 'You'll end up pulling the damn thing off.'

'God, am I supposed to be this nervous,' he paced a slow circle, 'why am I so nervous.'

'Because you want this to be perfect,' James placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him in his tracks. 'You love Tracy and you want this to be everything she dreamed off,' he grinned before adding, 'and you're giving your life away, letting someone else have control of everything you do from here.'

'Thanks,' he scowled at him, 'way to make me feel better.'

'Hey,' James was suddenly serious, 'this is the best day of your life and you know it.'

'Yeah,' he smiled and nodded, 'I can't believe she's willing to marry me.'

'She loves you, everyone can see it whenever she looks at you, you're both like love sick puppies.'

'Says the man who goes to mush every time his wife walks into the room.'

'We got lucky,' he chuckled.

The door opened and Reigler walked in with a smile on his face. 'I could get used to living on the beach.'

He'd been swimming every day, running the length of the beach and Matt had never seen him so relaxed. That might also have something to do with Dr Perez who he brought as his plus one. They took long walks on the beach and Matt hid his grin at the thought that Reigler and Maria might be the next to tie the knot. Speaking of which.

'Are we ready?' He took a deep breath as he looked at Reigler.

'Yep, everyone is on the beach. The bride is eager. Time to go.'

'Right,' he rolled his shoulder and James laughed, clapping him on the back and urging him forward. He managed to not trip over his own feet.

Stepping out onto the beach his eyes burned and he sucked in a breath. Everyone they knew stood together, a horseshoe of smiles, tears and joy with the celebrant in the middle. Sam and Billy stood together, they'd hit it off just as he thought they would, Zahedi, Buckner, even Anders had made it down. Hackett and Anderson, with Kahlee still fussing over him. Joker and EDI, Dr Chakwas, Kaidan and Steve, they'd all arrived with James and Shepard on the Normandy which was parked behind the house. Not every day you had a legendary ship sitting in your backyard. They were all waiting. He stepped up beside the celebrant and turned to face the path Tracy would walk down. Wiping his palms on his trousers he ignored the pounding of his heart against his sternum and the dryness of his mouth.

Movement at the top of the steps caught his attention. Tracy. She paused, leaning on her mother's arm and for a moment he was terrified she'd changed her mind. But she smiled and started down the steps. The world vanished as he drank her in. The soft flowing dress she'd chosen was perfect. Thin straps and a neckline that showed off the dip down into her cleavage, the light breeze blowing it against her body, highlighting the luscious curves he loved. She'd left her hair down and curls bounced on her shoulders, dancing in the wind. Even from here he could see the shine of moisture in her eyes and as she stepped onto the sand he could see the tremble in her bottom lip. Beautiful. So perfect and today she gave herself to him just as he gave himself to her. The circle of friends closed behind her as she stood before him, a vision he would never forget.

The celebrant spoke beside him but he wasn't really listening until Tracy's mum, Stephanie, placed her hand on his arm and he looked at her.

'Take care of my girl, Matt.'

'Always,' he blinked away his own tears as she brushed hers from her cheeks, hugged him and stepped away.

Then Tracy's hand was in his, the celebrant was welcoming everyone and saying things he knew he should be taking notice of. His entire world came down to the beauty before him, the shine in her gorgeous blue eyes, the tremble of her lip, the grip of her fingers on his.

'Matt,' the celebrant said and he glanced at her.

'I do,' he said without thinking and laughter rolled around them.

'You should probably let me ask the question first,' the celebrant chuckled and his cheeks turned hot.

'Sorry.' He gave her a sheepish smile and she continued.

'Matt, do you take Tracy to be your wedded wife, to cherish, to love, to grow old with and to always protect her.' She ducked her head as he looked at her, 'you can answer now.'

'I do,' he grinned and turned back to Tracy who smiled at him and his lungs refused to work.

The celebrant was asking her the same question but he only heard the answer.

'I do,' she nodded, tears pooling and starting a slow roll down her cheeks.

He reached up and brushed them away with his thumb and she leant into his touch. Sliding the ring onto her finger was almost as good as her sliding one onto his. Their hands stayed linked together and his gaze locked on her eyes. He was lost in her until the celebrant placed her hand on his arm, making him jump.

'You can kiss your bride,' she grinned at him.

Damn, he'd missed most of her speech. But he heard the most important bit and he cupped Tracy's face gently, closing the gap and sucking in a breath as her arms slid around his waist. He'd kissed her many times in many ways but this one, this was something special. This was the first time he was kissing his wife and as he deepened the kiss, pulling her in tight he knew this day would live in his memory.

The cheering and catcalls had them pulling apart, grinning as they turned to face family and friends, his arm around her shoulder, hers around his waist. Stepping forward into their waiting arms he had never been more thankful, for a war that brought them together, for fate keeping them alive or for her loving him. They had survived a hell on Earth and now they walked forward into a bright future. Together. He couldn't ask for anything better.

AN: And that concludes the story of Stokes and team and the war for Earth. I hope you like the ending.

For everyone who has stuck by me through this, it's been a long haul, I appreciate every moment of your time, your wonderful reviews and if I've made you smile, brought tears to your eyes, left you wanting more and cursing me for a cliff hanger then I have done my job. Thank you for making it all worth it.

This is not the end for Stokes and team, I plan on keeping them alive, possibly in original stuff. I do have origin fics in the works but for now I'm taking a short break to recharge. If you follow me then you will get notifications when I post anything new.

If you want to see a pic of Matt and Tracy you'll find it on my Deviant art Page - link in my profile. Once again thanks for your time and I hope I've provided some enjoyment for you.