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Thane had been unable to stop thinking about Shepard's proposal. He understood what she meant, and he wanted to give her what she asked for—that small taste of what a typical life might have held, the celebration of a lifetime commitment. But was it any more than a sham to make a commitment of that nature knowing that his lifetime would be so short? And he worried what Kolyat would think. Irikah would understand, of that he was certain. But Kolyat was very young, and he had yet to forgive Thane for the all the time apart, or for the death of his mother. Would marrying Shepard be just another wedge between himself and his son?
He had to know. Returning to his old quarters in life support, he activated his private terminal and contacted his son.
"Be careful, Father. This is getting to be a habit," Kolyat said as he recognized Thane's face on the screen. "You are in grave danger of forming an actual attachment."
"Am I? I hope so." The boy had been sarcastic, but Thane chose to be earnest. He did hope so. He wanted an attachment with his son, albeit one that came years later than it should have.
Kolyat rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"
"I … needed to speak with you about something."
"Yes, I think that's fairly obvious. What do you need to speak with me about?"
Knowing that his son was being deliberately rude and abrasive in order to get a reaction from him, Thane remained calm, although his heart was racing and he was feeling short of breath. Hard to say whether that was the Kepral's Syndrome or his nervousness about broaching the topic at hand. "I … have been asked … an intriguing question recently." He stopped to catch his breath, closing his eyes against the dizziness.
"Father?" There was genuine concern in his son's voice. "Are you all right? Should I—you—call someone to help?"
"Just … one moment, please." Thane leaned back in his seat, tipping his head back, concentrating on his breathing.
"Father?" Kolyat said again, his voice sharpening.
"I'm … fine. Yes." Thane managed to get his breathing under control enough to continue the conversation. "I … Commander Shepard and I, as you know—"
"Yes, I know." The words were less impatient than they might have been, since Kolyat was still looking at his father with concern.
"Well. She has asked me … she has proposed marriage."
Kolyat appeared genuinely shocked. "Marriage? But you're—" He stopped himself.
"Yes. I am dying. But the Commander—Juniper—she would like the … formality. Something of a more or less normal life while we can still claim it."
"I see," Kolyat said slowly. "And Mother?"
"Your mother would want me to move on."
After a moment, Kolyat nodded. "I don't see why you're asking me," he said, less petulantly than Thane might have expected.
"You are my son."
"Oh. I, uh … think you should do what you want."
"You would not mind?"
That black anger appeared on Kolyat's face. "I've barely seen you in a decade, You could have married a dozen women and I would never have known."
"I know, and I am sorry for those lost years. If I could take them back, I would. But here I am now, asking you for your opinion. What do you think? Would you—attend?"
Kolyat blinked. "I … don't think so. No. But I think you should do it anyway. I've heard—well, a number of people on the Citadel know the Commander, and they speak well of her. She deserves some happiness."
"Yes. Yes, she does," Thane agreed, swallowing his disappointment at Kolyat's refusal to attend a ceremony. That his son had been willing to have the conversation, was willing to allow Thane to move forward—that would be enough for today. It was already far more than he had expected, and more than he deserved.
He signed off, sitting there a few more moments until the last of the dizziness passed, and took the elevator straight up to Shepard's quarters.
She was just stepping out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her body, and she smiled when she saw him come in. "You're right on time."
"A happy thought," he said, almost but not quite distracted from his purpose. "I had something to speak with you about first, though."
"Oh? Anything interesting?"
"I believe so." He hesitated. But she was so lovely, and as Kolyat had said, she deserved happiness. "You asked me a question."
Juniper's eyes brightened immediately. "Really?"
"Would you like to ask me again?"
She smiled broadly, getting down on one knee and taking his hand in hers. "Thane Krios, will you marry me?"
"Yes. Yes, I will."
Shepard got to her feet, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, Siha." He kissed his way along the top of her shoulder. "And now yours."
She shivered. "Oh, yes."