A/N – Hey everyone! This is a post-war story that is purely a fluff piece and not at all related to any of my other work. It centers around the game of cricket, with Shepard reunited with the old crew and a few familiar quarians to partake in the game. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the game, Shep gives something resembling an explanation of the game. For those of you that are, I hope you enjoy; and please forgive this author if I've gotten anything incorrect regarding strategy. I'm not a "lifer" as a fan, so I'm probably not as well-versed in that regard. In any case, I hope you enjoy this anyway.


"Keelah, John! You're sure I look…you know. Okay?"

He popped his head out from the bathroom, half his face still covered in shaving cream. Tali couldn't help but laugh at him. He looked like a psychopath.

"John," she started through a fit of giggles, "your face!"

"Yeah, Tali. I know. I wasn't done, but you look fine." A mischievous grin crossed his half-creamed face. "Now come here, I need to kiss you!" He was laughing maniacally as he tore after her through the hallway. He caught her as she sprinted into the living room, toppling both of them onto the carpeted floor.

Shepard pinned Tali's shoulders to the floor laughing right along with her. He leaned in to kiss her full on the mouth with shaving cream still clinging to his skin. Tali moved her head from side to side, trying to avoid this monster that was trying to ruin her face.

"Stop it, bosh'tet! I'm warning you!"

He ignored her warning and kissed her anyway.

At first, Tali tried to pull away, still giggling, before she just pressed her lips back into his.

That's when he felt it: six fingers on either side of his abdomen, moving across his bare skin in a spastic dance of speed.

And he started to giggle. Uncontrollably. Finally, he pulled away from her lips, eyes shut tight with tears streaming down his face.

Tali was one of two people not named John Shepard to know that he was ticklish (For the record, the other person happened to be Miranda Lawson – the price one paid for resurrection). She was using this secret knowledge to recuse herself from her current predicament.

She wiped a bit of the shaving cream from her cheek as he rolled off of her.

"Now go finish your face! You look like an idiot!"

He sat on his haunches, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"Okay, okay. But seriously, love. You look great."

More quietly, she inquired further. "You're…s-sure? They haven't, you know…seen me."

He reached out, caressing her cheek. "My dear, you are beautiful."

Behind a wide smile that revealed slightly sharpened teeth, Tali simply nodded. "Okay, John. I believe you."

"Good. Oh, and could you message Garrus again to make sure everyone's coming? I have an idea for a group activity."

A "group activity"? Keelah, what exactly does he have in mind?

He retreated back into the bathroom to fix the rest of his face, while Tail indeed messaged Garrus.

Two years after the Reaper War, they were going to have a reunion of sorts, and everyone was invited.


"Shepard…now I don't know much about Earth, but I do know that it's an insect. And we're supposed to 'play' it? Besides, where did you learn to play it?"

Shepard sighed as he heard Tali try to stifle a giggle from behind him. She was still behind him because she hadn't quite worked up the courage to show herself. Maybe if it was just Garrus, but keelah, it was the whole gang.

"Yes. It's only called 'cricket'. It has nothing to do with the insect. And you remember the house arrest in London? Well, I caught some of the games there and found it…intriguing."

"I dunno, Shepard. Sounds kinda sus to me. The fuck are we supposed to do, anyway? And where the fuck is Tali?"

Yes, Jack was also here. In fact, they were all here, which only made Tali's anxiety worse.

The psychotic biotic shouted from behind Garrus. "Tali! Get that fine ass out here!"

John rubbed his forehead. "Thanks, Jack. Thank you for that."

"What? I'm just trying to help."

Miranda clapped her on the shoulder. "You're a real hero, you know that?"

"Oh fuck off, cheerleader."

"Charming as always."

There were a few other shouts of encouragement from behind them, including Wrex calling for his niece to "get the hell out here and stop being a pyjak." Words for which he received very confused looks from both Shala and Zaal'Koris.

"Niece?" They asked each other in unison.

Tali was still inside though, standing next to the open door with her eyes tightly shut, trying not to hyperventilate.

C'mon, Tali. They're your friends. John has always said that I'm beautiful.

Yeah, but he's in love with you. He's obligated to say that.

She noticed that she didn't hear anymore voices, and she instead heard the latch of the door as it shut. Two human hands gripped her shoulders, rubbing them reassuringly.

"Tali?"

"Y-yes?"

You can't hide all day."

"I know."

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Throw up."

He had to laugh – at least a little. "Not quite the answer I'd hoped for." Shepard rubbed his chin in thought. "What about one person aside from me? Someone you trusted. Garrus, maybe. Or Kasumi?"

Tali pondered the suggestion. Yes, maybe if she got a second opinion…

"Okay," she murmured. "I'm okay with Garrus. But if that bosh'tet says anything -"

"Then I will kick his ass personally."

A sinister smirk crossed her lips. "But I'll get to finish the job?"

John laughed as he nodded. "Yes, I'll just soften him up for you."

She jumped up and pecked him on the cheek. "I love you."

"I know. I'll be right back."

A few moments later, the door opened again. Garrus indeed trailed behind his friend. Tali had her back to them, hands on the dining room table. She heard the door shut.

"G-Garrus, is that you?"

"It's me, Tali. You can…trust me with this. I know it's important to you." The turian's voice held a compassionate quality that she could scarcely remember hearing before. It was enough.

Garrus hadn't even registered that Tali was wearing what Shepard had called "shorts". Her bare legs and arms were exposed to all prying eyes. But that was not his focus. Instead, he watched as his friend slowly turned, tentative in her movements. Her hands covered her face with her wavy, jet black hair leisurely falling around her neck. It was a length that Tali and John both knew was only the result of being able to grow it outside the confines of the bosh'tet suit that had been her prison. John stood next to her, his own hand rubbing circles on her back.

Slowly, she brought those hands down and away from her face. She produced a very tentative smile. Then she waited for the inevitable laugh – or worse – yelp of revulsion. Neither were forthcoming.

Garrus instead looked intently at his former commander. "Shepard, no one deserves your kind of luck." Returning to Tali, he continued. "Spirits, Tali. You have nothing to be scared of. Except maybe Lawson's jealousy."

"Keelah, you mean it?"

It wasn't Garrus who replied.

"Wait. Are you saying that you didn't believe me?" John was incredulous.

"Oh, shut it. You could have been blinded by love. I dunno. I could've been hideous, but you love me, so you wouldn't have told me."

"See, Shepard? She just needed my marksman's eye."

"Ah, hell." John muttered as they were finally ready to go outside, with Tali confident that she wasn't actually hideous.


No one had laughed. There were only a few gasps and Jack muttering "Holy fuck", but otherwise her friends had been measured and controlled as Tali stepped out into the morning light.

She was phenomenally beautiful, and now everybody was aware.

Presently, John was trying to explain what he had planned.

"Okay, so I don't want to hear any more shit about the name. Now, we'll split into two teams of eleven. Each team will get 50 balls to score as many runs as they can, the 50 will be split into 10 sets of five balls. There are two people that will throw the ball, and they'll alternate each set of five. Everyone with me so far?"

He got a few nods, as well as a few quizzical looks. At any rate, he continued.

"And each batter stays up to bat until he hits a ball that is caught, has the ball hit one of the stumps that knocks off the bit of wood that's propped up, or has the ball hit your leg before it would have hit the stumps. Getting knocked out in any of these ways means that you have lost a wicket and -"

The questions had come thick and fast.

"So wait – it's played on a wicket, if the ball knocks over the little bits that are propped up -"

"Bails."

"The bails, then that's also a wicket?"

"Yes." John, Miranda, and Ken had replied to Shala in unison.

"Keelah, and I thought our language was weird." She looked across to Tali, who was giggling. "Tali, they don't do this for every game, do they?"

John resumed from the end of the little table that had been set up. "And the team that bats first sets the number of runs that the other team has to outscore. The game ends when the second team either runs out of balls, outscores the first team, or has ten batters out. The captain chooses the order that everyone will bat. Now in terms of scoring, the two players up to bat must run from one side to the other without the fielding team knocking over the bails before they cross the line. If they are knocked over before that happens, the player running that way is out."

Shepard was reasonably convinced that he was making sense. "Okay, so there is a rope that goes around the field. If the ball is on the ground and hits or goes past the rope, it's an automatic four runs. If it's in the air when crossing the rope -"

"What if it bounces, Shepard?" That was Liara.

"Good question, Liara. If it hits the ground at all before going past the rope, it's still four runs. If it crosses in the air, it's an automatic six runs."

"So it's a bit like a 'home run' in baseball?"

Shepard pointed at Adams. "Yes! That's exactly what it's like. In fact, they're very closely related, as far as sports go."

After another hour of the three humans that were reasonably familiar with the game explaining the rules, John was confident enough to start picking teams. Which was to say, not confident at all. But time was a-wasting, as the saying went, and they still had to actually play the damn game.

"Call it in the air, Ken."

"Aye, admiral. I call heads."

They both watched the little coin flip relentlessly through the air, Ken praying to whatever gods existed that it would land face up.

"Shite!"

It was tails. So much for gods.

"That means I pick first," Shepard informed them. "But because I'm a gentleman, Ken can decide which team bats first."

"Aw, thanks Shepard."

"You're welcome. After all, we are nothing if not gracious hosts."

Tali slapped him lightly on the chest. "Don't drag me into this, you bosh'tet."

Choosing first, John picked Miranda – she was the only other person that he knew of who had actually really played the game before.

Thank God for Aussies, he thought as she sauntered to the front alongside him in her own shorts and tank top.

Ken chose raw power – Grunt was his first selection.

Tali was next to join Shepard.

Javik joined Ken, muttering something about using the bats against the "primitives".

They continued in this fashion until his team looked like this:

John, Miranda, Tali, Wrex, Liara, Shala, Kaidan, Jack, Traynor, Garrus, and Kasumi

Facing off against:

Ken, Grunt, Javik, Zaal, Zaeed, Lia'Vael, Samara, Jacob, Gabby, Chakwas, and Adams

After much consideration, Ken elected to bowl first. While they had managed to grow quite a bit of grass on the surface they were playing on, it was still Rannoch. The air was warm and dry, leaving the ground rather hard. He figured that by the time his team came to bat, the ball might be a bit softer with a bit less turn to it.

Which gave him the advantage.

"All right everyone – a couple of basic ground rules." John had gathered everyone around before he sent Jack and Miranda to the crease to bat. "No short-ball bouncers – nobody aims for anyone's head, understood?" Jack cursed loudly.

"Human," Javik began, "if I cannot threaten the opponent's life, what does this contest prove?"

At least I'm not a "primitive" this time.

"I believe that It proves tenacity in the face of danger," Samara began, "and that it proves stamina, strength, and bravery."

"That's nice Samara, but is it fun? I didn't come all this way to just have my 'stamina' tested."

Tali tried to assuage Kasumi's fear of boredom. "Yes, it'll be fun. Shepard has been practicing with me, and…well, I have a good time."

"Oh, I bet, Tali," Gabby retorted with a clear undertone that had nothing to do with actually playing the game.

"Also," he continued finally, "no biotics. We're keeping it clean."

"So why the fuck am I here?"

He answered Jack through gritted teeth. "Because. It's. Fun."

"If the battle master says it's fun, then it will be fun."

Derisively, Jack scowled at Grunt. "Great, boy genius here confirmed it. Thanks so much."

John held his head in his hands. This was going to be a colossal disaster.

He felt Tali's soft fingers – soft now in retirement and despite her suitless nature – rub the back of his head.

"John," she whispered, "do you want to just give them a tour of the capital and go to the beach? Then after they leave, we can get in the tub and I could do that thing that you like so much -"

He spread his fingers enough so that he could see her between them. "That's really tempting, Tal. And I'll definitely take you up on that. But…I just wanted to play?"

Next to him, Ken tried to rally the troops. "Aye, c'mon. It's not tha' serious. It's just for a bit o' fun."

For some reason, they all seemed to respond well…to Ken?

They practiced for another hour, just to get a feel for the game.

Ken was sending the first ball of the game to Jack less than 10 minutes later.


The score was 11 runs for the loss of no wickets, and to Tali's surprise, it was Jack who was performing well. She had figured that it would be Miranda who would shine, being the "Aussie" and all that. But no, Jack had already smashed one of Ken's deliveries to the boundary for an instant tally of four runs, while also adding a quick single.

He cursed in frustration, and Jack pounced as expected.

"What's the matter, loverboy? Can't stand the fact that the little psychopath who hadn't even heard of this fucking game is beating your ass?"

John turned to Tali, giving her a quick kiss. "So, how much do you want to bet that she's going to be out by the time Gabby comes in to bowl?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "John, you know I don't 'bet'. But, yeah. Soon."

From the other end of the wicket, ready to run on contact, Miranda chided her for her trash talk.

The biotic teacher uttered some profanity-laced response before squaring up again.

Ken began his run-up, sent an out-swinging ball that angled away from her, and it was too tempting for her not to swing. When she did, well…Jack didn't exactly miss, but she didn't quite get enough of it as the ball nicked the edge of the bat. She watched helplessly as the ball loped lazily, right into the waiting hands of Zaal'Koris.

That was the first batter down. And it had taken Ken's team only twelve deliveries.

Not quite sure what to do with himself, the quarian admiral simply looked blankly at the ball in his hands, smile quickly spreading on his face. "I…I caught it!" He started laughing, holding it high in his hand like a trophy. "Keelah, I caught it, Shala!"

She stopped talking with Kaidan before giving Zaal a sarcastic "that's nice" before rolling her eyes and returning to the conversation.

Said conversation was cut short as Shepard brought him in to bat next to replace Jack, who was stalking off the pitch.

"Stupid fucking baseball wannabe fucking sport…"

Tali rolled her eyes before turning to John with a little smirk. "That's why I don't bet."

Clapping his hands, John shouted some encouragement to the man. Tali tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention.

"John, look at Liara. She seems really excited for him."

Indeed, the asari was quite animated with her encouragement to the man. "Tal, do you think that…?

"Oh definitely."

Four deliveries later, and Gabby caught him napping, with the ball catching the stump farthest away from him. He had delivered exactly one run.

"Damn it!" Kaidan stole an apologetic glance at Shepard before stalking back to the grassy clearing, plopping his ass next to Liara.

"Yeah, they're definitely fucking, Tali." John took a quick look at his options and figured that he needed someone to right the ship. After all, they had already lost two batters of the ten they were allotted. "Well, guess it's my turn," he muttered with a little sigh. Before he could get up, Tali pulled him in for a deep kiss – tongue included at no extra charge. "Good luck, John," she winked. He gave her that little smirk that always seemed to melt her before turning to enter the fray.

He walked toward Miranda, who was halfway between the stumps at each end.

"So just how good are you at this, Shepard?"

He quirked a smile. "Oh, I don't know. I learned how to play before the war erupted." He glanced around the field, almost laughing at Wrex and Jack firing off biotic powers at each other. "And quarians haven't really gotten into, uh, sports yet. They're still trying to figure out life without suits. But, uh, me and Tali play. Sometimes Veetor and Lia'Vael join us too."

Her eyes widened. "So, basically it's anyone's guess?"

He sighed. "Yeah. Pretty much."

"Oh well. I guess we'll see if those Implants are still good for something."

"Thanks for the confidence, Miranda."

"Anytime, Shepard. Now go and take guard."

Which he did.

Apparently, he was either a very fast learner, a natural athlete, or a bit of both. Nineteen deliveries later, and he and Miranda had combined for a ridiculous total of 37 runs. He had just lashed another ball along the ground past the diving form of Adams, easily crossing the rope that circled the playing area for another four runs. He met Miranda in the middle of the wicket with the sound of Tali cheering him on in his ears. God damn did he love hearing her velvet voice without the tinny accent of the vocalizer that had filtered it for so long.

"So, you only play with Tali, Lia, and…Veetor?"

Chuckling, Shepard couldn't help but shrug. "Yeah. They're pretty good too."

Miranda rolled her eyes as Gabby came in, ready to send the ball her way. "Well, I'll try to keep up, then."

"You do that," he called back as he stood at his end, waiting to crisscross with her if she hit the ball well enough.

Behind him, the unmistakable sound of Gabby beginning her short run-up began, sneakers thudding softly along the ground. With a grunt, she spun the ball toward her opponent, hoping that the rotation on the ball would be enough to elude Miranda's bat.

It wasn't.

Miranda took a hefty swing as the ball crossed her at just under waist height, allowing her to get optimum power. With her bat angled slightly higher, she would have been able to clear the boundary. Instead, it skidded past it after touching ground less than a foot away.

But Gabby saw something, and smirked as the ball was tossed back to her.

"All right, 'Ms. Perfect', let's see what you do with this."

John heard it, and figured that something was about to happen.

Again, she started her run-up, and as she released the ball, he could already tell that there was something different to this delivery. He could almost see the seams spinning at a ridiculous rate. When it bounced off the surface, he watched the thing change direction abruptly – almost clockwise to completely counter-clockwise.

Miranda made contact anyway. It was not good contact, however. When she heard Jacob's cry of delight, she knew that he'd caught it. Shaking her head amongst the celebrations, she raised her bat and pointed it at Gabby. Her opponent had beaten her, and Miranda would make sure that Gabby knew it.

They took the time then to grab a drink, necessary in the Rannoch heat. Tali ran up to him, giving him a quick kiss. "Keelah, Miranda was really good. But that ball Gabby threw!"

"Yeah, I know." He kissed her forehead. "So, who do you think we should bring in next?"

She rubbed her chin in a gesture that she'd seen John make whenever he was deep in thought. "Well, what about Wrex? There are only thirteen balls left, and we need runs in a hurry. He's got power."

He kissed her full on the lips again. Tali didn't even care that he was sweaty and maybe even a little gross. Ancestors – it just made her want him more. She'd been prisoner to cleanliness ("clean rooms," anyone?), for so much of her life that the idea of him being something other than "clean" gave him an exotic quality that she found irresistible.

He kissed her forehead once more. "Okay, let's get him in here and do some fucking damage."

John cupped his hands. "Hey Wrex, you pyjak! Get out here! You're up, big fella!"

The enormous krogan leader stalked up to him. "Shepard."

"Wrex."

"So what's the plan?"

He clapped Wrex's shoulder. "Simple. Hit the ball as hard as you fucking can."

A grin spread across his face. "Heh heh. I knew there was a reason I liked you. Let's get to it."

Wrex took exactly one delivery before he "got to it." The last two balls of Gabby's turn each went for a full six runs, then Ken came in to face Shepard. The former Spectre understood the state of play at this late stage: he needed to get Wrex back in to do damage. When Ken sent a ball in that swing just outside, Shepard put a precision shot in. It rolled into the outfield, but it was poorly fielded by Grunt, giving him a chance to cross to the other side.

Wrex was batting again.

Shepard turned to smirk at Tali, who gave him a proud smile. She was so happy that he was having fun – it was "just like old times" but without the fear of death hanging over him. It swelled her heart with such happiness to see her beloved just enjoying this time with his old crew – his friends.

She vowed to make him even happier later that evening.

As for the present, Wrex smashed another boundary – only for four – then followed it up with another maximum score. The old krogan leader was killing the ball. But it did not last. What Wrex had in power, he certainly lacked in precision. Ken's last ball took a hop that Wrex had not expected, and it toppled over the stumps, removing him from the game.

"Ah, Shepard. Sorry about that."

"No worries, big guy. You did your job."

As Wrex trudged off the field, Shepard considered his options. He knew Tali was a decent batter, but she got to play with him all the time. Garrus might appreciate the experience more.

"Garrus, take the bat. You're up."

Tali's reaction was exactly what he was afraid of, as she let out an annoyed "bosh'tet" to signal her displeasure.

He cast an apologetic expression in her direction, mouthing a silent "we'll talk later" to her. Sensing that he genuinely felt like he betrayed her, she stuck her tongue out at him in a comically childish gesture that made him laugh. It was the reaction she'd hoped to get.

A little unsure, Garrus asked his former commander what, exactly, he expected him to do. Clapping him on the shoulder, he answered the turian.

"Simple, buddy. Nothing crazy. Don't worry about hitting for power. Just get the ball to the outfield, try to keep me at bat. I'll do the rest."

Seeing Shepard's devious smirk, Garrus couldn't help but feel like the plan was perfect. With the last ball of Ken's spell, the turian slapped a smart shot, nearly sending the ball completely to the boundary past Chakwas. She fumbled her throw and gave the old friends a chance to turn one run into two.

Which left Shepard to start the final set of five deliveries against Gabby.

He started off well enough. He was able to keep track of the spin that she was applying, sending the first ball past Samara to the boundary. Shepard pumped his fist forcefully. He searched for Tali again, who was still smiling brightly. If she had even stopped since he'd come to bat, he'd not seen it.

When he was ready to go again, Gabby sent another spinning ball his way, this time it course-corrected to come at him instead of away. It caught him by surprise, but he still got contact enough push it out to Javik, who was manning an area of the field to John's left, just in front of the boundary. The prothean had gotten there quickly enough, but he bobbled the ball.

"Go, go, go!" John yelled for Garrus to come back again for a second run, but Javik was quick in his reaction, scooping up the ball from the ground and whipping it in hot to Gabby, inches ahead of Garrus's outstretched bat.

He had whipped it in with a little too much heat, as it slipped right through the bowler's hands. "Damn it!" she shouted as the ball slipped through and skidded past her, nearly all the way to the opposite boundary. Jacob caught up to it, but not before John and Garrus had run back across for a third run.

"Garrus," he shouted across to him, "get me back on strike." He received a simple nod in reply.

Sure enough, he coaxed a quick single out of the next ball, leaving John on strike again.

Gabby's next delivery went to the boundary again, but John had hoped for a full six. He realized that he was starting to tire; he'd been up to bat for at least an hour, and the heat was getting to him. The ball landed meekly in front of the rope, but at least had enough to roll all the way through.

Last ball. He glanced around, looking for an opening in the field. There wasn't an obvious one, and he didn't think he was skilled enough to exploit it had he seen one anyway. Guess I'll just go for power, it's my best bet. Instead of finding Tali, he found himself staring at his shoes. His heart beat loudly in his ears, an all too familiar feeling. This time though, he allowed himself to embrace it. This was not life or death, galactic survival did not hinge on his next swing.

He reveled in it. He tapped the end of his bat twice against the ground. Breathe in, breathe out.

Gabby began her run-up and released her familiar spinning ball.

He swung with everything he had left, but his technique did not match his considerable effort. The ball shot off his bat with a loud CRAACK! but had a relatively low trajectory, quietly he pleaded for the thing to have just enough height. In slow-motion, he saw Javik race to the ball; saw him leap with right hand extended. The prothean crashed to the ground, rolled once, then –

"Haha! You are 'out', primitive! I have caught the sphere!" The prothean threw the ball high into the air in celebration, as his teammates circled him en masse. His laughter was loud and genuine.

Swinging his bat dejectedly, Shepard couldn't help but smile at the scene. Maybe Javik was learning that he wasn't completely alone in this cycle.

"Shepard, I'm sorry I couldn't do -"

John laughed a little at Garrus's attempted apology. "Nah, you did everything right. I got greedy. Good work out there."

As they strode off the field, Garrus stepped away to have a quick laugh with Wrex.

Tali wrapped her arms around her seara. "John, I am so proud of you! You were out there for a long time, and you played so well!" She wiped some sweat from his forehead with a wet cloth that she'd grabbed from inside their home. She kissed him again. They held each other that way for a few seconds, savoring the flavor of each other.

"All right, guys," he shouted behind him, "we're getting you guys some snacks and stuff." He looked over to Ken. "We'll resume in thirty?"

"Aye, Shepard. That'll work."


Half an hour later, they were getting ready to go again. Joker (who was obviously only able to keep score), told both captains that Shepard's team had scored 92 runs, losing 5 wickets, including Shepard on the last ball.

"Aye. So it's 93 we've got t' hit then." Ken turned to his former commander, extending his hand. "Good luck. I reckon you'll need it."

"Hmmph. Is that so?" John had mostly muttered this to himself as he walked away, finding Tali's hand.

"John, where do you want me to be in the field?"

"I want you to man mid-wicket. I think there are going to be a number of shots coming your way and your reflexes and agility will help a lot." She smiled before giving him another kiss. Keelah, she was going to finally be involved!

Once everyone was in position with Garrus set to catch, Shepard sent his first delivery with pace to Lia'Vael, who was leading off. The first ball came crashing in with more pace than she'd ever seen him throw before. Had he been taking it "easy" on her all those other times?

"Keelah, John'Shepard! That was fast!"

He heard the slight concern in her voice, like she was afraid that the ball would seriously hurt her. He signaled to Ken for a timeout while he walked up to Lia, whose face conveyed the genuine fear that she had.

"Lia'Vael, you are my friend, and we're just playing a game. I like to win, but I will not hurt you, okay?"

She heard in his voice and saw in his face the familiar earnestness that he conveyed – she'd seen the same thing when Tali's Captain Shepard had put the volus and C-Sec det kazuats in their places all those years ago. The man exuded honesty and earnestness. No, he would not hurt her.

Not that he wouldn't use it to his advantage.

As he walked back to his spot, he stole a glance to Tali, who mouthed a silent "thank you" to him for assuaging Lia's fears.

He began his run-up and again sent another delivery with pace, aiming for the stump farthest from her. She took a mighty swing anyway and caught enough of the ball to send it past the infield. She crossed paths with Gabby, scoring their first run.

He was facing Gabby next, who only gave a quiet smirk.

Sending the ball her way, Shepard watched in astonishment as the diminutive woman smacked his fastest delivery to the rope with a grunt. He was getting the sneaking suspicion that the engineer had definitely played the sport more regularly than she'd let on. He nodded in her direction, receiving a coy smirk for his trouble.

When Miranda took over two throws later, they'd put 6 runs on the board.

But both Lia and Gabby managed runs off her spin bowling, putting up 10 runs, with Lia and Gabby blasting shots to the boundary once each. They'd put up 16 runs already.

Shepard was throwing to Gabby again, and she hit him for another run, putting Lia back in to face him.

He had an idea.

He started with his standard run-up, but released the ball with a slightly slowed arm motion. He even grunted like he normally would when he was throwing at full-force.

Lia was fooled, swinging very early, and the ball struck her on the pad on her leg. Her bat was well past the ball by the time it struck her – no bat involved.

"Oh, that's got to be out, Jeff!" he yelled at the scorekeeper/umpire. In truth, the pilot was just watching the drone's camera feed and relaying what the "Virtual Cricket Umpire" app that he had downloaded just for this game told him.

"Lia, I'm sorry. You're out – lbw. It was definitely going to hit the stumps."

Lia'Vael first told "Jeff" that it was all right, that it was not his fault. But then she let out a string of profanity – both in English and her native Khelish – that made even Shepard blush. He walked to Tali, giving her a quick kiss with the sound of Jack's congratulations for the string of expletives in his ears. "Tali, she didn't learn all that from…me, did she?"

She snorted a laugh. "Oh no, John. She probably actually learned all that from, um, me."

He raised his eyebrows. "Really now? And who might you have learned that from?"

"Oh, shut it, bosh'tet. Don't act like it wasn't you." Another kiss, and he returned to find that he was going to be throwing to Javik.

"Primitive! Are you prepared for this?"

Shepard chuckled at the prothean's confidence.

Little bosh'tet. Shepard laughed as he realized that he'd insulted him in Khelish.

At any rate, the last three balls he bowled to Javik yielded 5 runs.

Two balls later, and Miranda took him down as he swung and only nicked the ball right into Garrus's gloves. He stalked off, stealing angry looks at Miranda for having the audacity to best him.

Ken called on Grunt next, but he was running out of heavy hitters.

The young krogan stepped to bat with a monstrous grin, ready for "battle". He started off well enough – sending the ball high and well-past the rope for an easy six runs.

"Yes! I AM KROGAN!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs. From behind, Javik tossed in his assessment.

"But you are still a primitive, krogan."

If Grunt heard him, he gave no outward sign.

Two balls later, and Miranda sent him back to the bench as he swung mightily and missed. Javik laughed loudly as he trudged off the field.

Just twenty balls in and Ken's team was already down three batters.

Jacob replaced him, and he and Gabby traded runs for the next 15 balls, notching up another 25 to the score. But John sent in a ball with ridiculous pace, and he could only swipe at the ball weakly, sending it to his right – easily caught by Miranda.

The next two batters to come in – Zaeed and Samara – lasted all of three balls. Zaeed went down on his first delivery from Miranda and Samara was caught by Garrus after she had hit the previous ball for 4 runs.

Finally, with only 10 balls remaining, Ken finally entered the fray needing 32 runs to at least tie Shepard's team. But he'd have to wait.

"Aye lass, 33 runs to win. What d'ya think?" He and Gabby stood at the center of the wicket.

"That's a big ask, Ken."

"Aye, it is. But you've got this, and I'll just swing away." They touched gloves, and Gabby prepared for a final stand.

She immediately smashed four runs, then a single. Now it was Ken's turn.

28 to win.

Shepard started his run-up, but he was tiring now. As he took the last step before releasing the ball, his foot twisted awkwardly and his release was not a good one. It was a mistake that the Scotsman punished mercilessly.

"Fuck!" John yelped as he took a few extra steps before kneeling down to examine his ankle. Tali rushed over to him. He felt her hand on his back, the other on his shoulder.

"John, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Soon enough, Miranda and Garrus had joined them. Others started to approach before Miranda waved them off.

He grimaced, but the pain was swiftly fading from the sharp, serrated edge that it started off as, and into a much duller ache.

"Hey guys. I'm okay. Just turned it the wrong way. I've had worse."

"Bosh'tet! That's not the point! This isn't a -"

He put a hand on Tali's. "It's okay. I was joking. It's okay."

"Shepard, who else can bowl?" she turned to Tali. "Can you bowl, Tali? I know you've played before."

Tali shook her head without even realizing it, focused as she was on her saera.

"Miranda, it's fine. I've only got two deliveries left. I can finish this."

"But John," Tali began to plead. It was just a stupid game! Why did he have to always be the damn hero? "It's just a game! You could hurt yourself! You have hurt yourself!"

When he looked at her again, his expression stopped her in her tracks. He looked desperate. "Tali, please. I have to finish this. I can't…it's been so long since…" he trailed off with tears beginning to well in his eyes.

He just wanted to try. To compete. To win, even if it was just a stupid game. It'd been so long since he'd felt that rush of adrenaline; since he'd needed to tap into the famous will of his to not be defeated.

Gently, yet somehow firmly, Tali gripped his hand. She kissed him – hard.

She understood.

"Okay. Go out there. Go get him."

Without another word, he stood tall as the others returned to their positions. Ken clapped from across the wicket, giving him an appreciative nod. Shepard returned it in kind.

He jogged around, testing the joint. It would hold, but…

His next delivery was much slower and less accurate than what he'd previously been able to fire off. Ken pounced, showing no mercy. John didn't blame him; how could he? Like himself, Ken competed to win. When his bat struck, the ball sailed away for another 6 runs. John's next and final delivery was mercifully kept to a single run, the ball fielded well by Liara. As he handed the ball back to Miranda for the final five balls, he received a rousing ovation from everyone – players and spectators alike. They applauded his performance, but more than that, they applauded his bravery. Whether or not it was specifically just for this game? Well, that was a question that would always be up for debate.

But the scorching Scotsman was still at bat, and he and Gabby required only 15 runs for the outright win.

Miranda sent in her first ball of the final set – another quick single that was chased down expertly by Garrus. She took a deep breath as she prepared to throw to Gabby, who had managed to defy their initial expectations and had anchored her whole team from start to finish. Miranda spun the ball in.

The ball screamed off of her bat – right at Tali. As John predicted, her reflexes and agility were excellent, but she hadn't been prepared for the speed that it came at her. She felt the ball crash into her hand, but the pain shocked her. She yelped at the stinging pain in her palm, dropping the ball.

"Oh keelah!" Tali immediately crashed to the ground, firing the ball to Garrus from her knees, well ahead of Gabby's return run.

It sailed over Garrus head. In a huff, he took off after the ball before it reached the boundary for an extra four runs. Instead, it was only three. Tali angrily slapped the ground.

"Damn it!" She looked up at John, who didn't seem to be angry with her. "I'm s-sorry. I tried and…"

It was his turn to reassure her. "Tali, it's okay. We're still in a good position." He squeezed her shoulder before moving his fingers to the hand that had taken the brunt of the hit. "How's your hand?" He rubbed his thumb along her palm.

"Sore, but I'll be fine."

He kissed it with soft lips. "That's my girl. Now keep your head in the game and forget about it. You'll get another chance."

"Okay." She watched as he ran back to his position a bit behind Miranda. "Okay," she said to herself, trying to believe him.

Ken was at bat again, and in the next two deliveries, he'd driven the ball expertly to the boundary for four runs apiece.

Shepard's team held a 2-run lead. Any boundary, and it was all over. He started to walk toward Miranda to have a quick chat.

She waved him away, a snarl on her face.

He retreated back to his position, hands up in surrender. He knew when to back off.

Miranda walked a quick circle around the stumps at her end. She glared daggers into Ken's eyes.

She began her run-up, releasing the ball with as much spin as she could still muster.

Ken thought he had a good bead on it, but it struck the ground it abruptly shifted direction, and his swing was not as pure as he would have liked. Still…

He took off, watching the ball make a long looping arc toward the part of the field called "mid-wicket" – it was where Tali was positioned.

She saw this one all the way, just like the last one. She even saw the seam as it spun in the air. She watched in quiet detachment as she leapt into the air, left hand at full extension. The ball struck her palm and she grimaced, but her fingers wrapped around the sphere as she crashed to the ground.

There was silence, except for the thumping of her heart in her ears and John's simple, prophetic words in her head:

"You'll get another chance."

Boy, if that didn't sum up her entire life with her saera – she had gotten another chance. She didn't let this one slip through her fingers, either.

She reached her hand into the sky, ball held tightly in her grasp.

"That's it! Caught by Tali at mid-wicket!" Joker had shouted the result from his seat at the table. He couldn't help it; his heart was pounding with nervous energy.

"Keelah! John! I did it!"

They had won on the last ball of the game, 92-90. Tali had come through for him. She hadn't let him down. Like he told her: she never let him down.

Still holding the ball in the air, Tali leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him deeply.

With tongue.


Limping slightly, he walked into their bathroom with two glasses of wine. Tali was already naked and under the warm, sudsy water. She felt wonderful. Disrobing, John handed her the glass with the dextro wine. She scooted up a little, letting her saera, the love of her life, comfortably slip in behind her.

He kissed the back of Tali's head before taking a sip of his own wine.

She pressed her back into his chest, rubbing her backside into him.

"Tali, what are you doing?" He asked her knowing full-well what she was doing.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm doing, John." She took another sip. "I'm taking a bath."

"Mmhmm. I'm sure that's what all those – ah – those, uh, movements are."

"Yup. I'm totally innocent. And the hero."

He chuckled before taking another sip. "That you are, my love." He thought of how close she had been to pulling the "wife card" and forcing him from the game. How justified she would have been. How she had relented and let him finish it on his terms. God damn it, she was so perfect.

"That you are."