Rannoch 2357. 171 years after the Reaper War.

Rannoch's days were shorter than Earth's, though the nights were longer, likely explaining the quarian's bioluminescent eyes. Shepard had been awoken from his rest during the night cycle, having difficulty seeing as his cybernetics could only improve his own physiology to an extent. He was being dragged from their home by the arms of a geth prime, tugging him to an awaiting unknown. When the lights of a shuttle came through, aided by the multiple synthetics visible light emittance, he saw Tali. In the corner of his eye, his wife was held, her limp form against the synthetics. One cradled her head and neck, while the other held her torso and legs. He tried to yell in their direction, but no sound came from his mouth. No sounds were reaching his ears, as well.

They laid the quarian woman down before reaching the shuttle, cutting an opening in her nightgown in the front of her chest. The prime released him, but another kept him a couple of feet away from his wife while they resumed their process. Normally, Shepard could break through their barricade, though not without difficulty. However, his view was shattering his ability to summon his strength. One of the primes gently placed its long digit on the right side of her chest, where the quarian heart equivalent rested. Her chest was currently motionless. A small electric pulse surged through his wife's body, muscles tensing due to the current coursing through her violet skin. They repeated the gesture a few seconds later. A third time, and they lifted her again. Shepard could see her chest moving, if only slightly, signifying she was breathing.

They entered the shuttle, setting her on a medical gurney, while Shepard ran inside. None tried to stop his entrance, nor keep him away from her as the shuttle doors closed behind him. He grabbed her hand, feeling her fingers clasp against his albeit weakly. One unit was waving its omnitool over her, and then gave her an injection into her left arm. Tali's breathing improved, only slightly.

Sounds began filtering into his ears, only now him hearing the shuttle screaming through Rannoch's atmosphere. "Shepard-Commander!" A synthetic voice, sounding akin to a yell, hit his ear. Shepard turned towards the geth, though no words found his lips. The geth either spoke more, and he didn't hear it, or had given up on verbal communication. It lifted its arm, showing a picture of a nearby quarian hospital. All he could do was nod, his focus returning to the woman he'd fought the galaxy to protect. His chest was tight, and he realized he was having trouble breathing. Before he could panic for long, a slight pain registered on his right shoulder. His vision began to cloud, and soon turned dark.

A few hours later

"John? Are you awake?" The voice weakly called out.

Shepard inhaled sharply, his head raising up to meet the unknown. His chest was sore, though it was of little concern to him. In front of him, Tali's eyes had widened for a moment at his sudden movement, though they quickly mellowed.

"Tali, what happened?" Shepard replied, feeling his throat's hoarse protests against his voice. His hand instinctively went to her right hand, the three and five fingers seamlessly intertwining as they had countless times before. He briefly noticed the room was empty, though numerous wires and tubes connected her chest and left arm to a machine in the corner.

"John…" She whispered, the pain in her eyes contradicted by the gentle tones of her voice. "I love you."

"I love you too Tali." He answered, raising his other hand against her cheek. She learned into his hand, her eyes never leaving his as his thumb gently caressed her. She was beautiful, even at nearly two centuries of life. The unspoken questioned lingered, though neither stopped their hold on each other. His blurry memories of the earlier events returned, though he did everything in his power to focus on his wife before him.

"It's my time to join the ancestors, John." Tali finally spoke, her voice almost inaudible. She closed her eyes as one tear slowly made its way down her cheek.

"Please Tali… I can't-" Shepard managed as he felt his own tears begin to stream down his countenance, desperately looking down at her as she opened her eyes.

"You gave me everything I could have ever dreamed of John." Tali's voice was barely a whisper, and he leaned forward to hear her. "We traveled the stars, we fell in love, and we saved the galaxy." She smiled softly, and continued. "You gave me my homeworld, and a house to live on it." She inhaled, though it caused her face to contort into a painful expression briefly. "But most importantly, you were always by my side, and I love you…so much John."

Shepard leaned down, kissing her soft lips. She returned the gesture, her glowing eyes staring into his own as they had so many times before. "I need you Tali… I love you, and I can't live without you." He finally pleaded, his voice a pained whisper.

"You will join me when you are ready John. This is not a goodbye." Tali answered, lifting her hand out of his to feel his face. Shepard leaned into her hand as well, his eyes never leaving hers. She continued in a quiet defiant tone. "Nothing will ever keep me away from you."

Shepard's tears continued, and she used one of her long digits on his face to wipe them away. "Can you promise me Tali? Promise you'll be waiting for me."

"I promise you John. I will wait as long as I have to, and I will be there for you." She kissed him, holding it as long as she could. When it ended, her eyes remained closed, her breathing labored as she whispered. "Please, hold me, I want to feel your touch as long as I can."

His hand on her cheek, the other on her fingers, Shepard held her gently as a smile touched her face. Time wasn't on his mind, but at some point, Tali'Shepard vas Rannoch took her last breath. Her hand slowly let go of his own, no force remaining to keep her fingers clasped. Only hours later did Liara arrive, finding him still clutching the woman he'd given everything for.