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Thane and Shepard stood together outside the spaceport. When they stepped inside, everything would change. Shepard believed she would immediately be accosted by Alliance military personnel—and even if she wasn't, she was booked under her own name on a land shuttle for Vancouver, so the Alliance would have its hands on her anyway, and no doubt the tribunal would take some time.
Meanwhile, Thane would take a ship to the Citadel, where Bailey had arranged for him to have a small apartment in an assumed name, since the name of Thane Krios was still known and feared throughout the galaxy, and neither of them wanted him to be a target in his condition. The arid desert air had been good for him, but the effects wouldn't last.
Kolyat awaited him on the Citadel, as well, and Thane rejoiced in the improved relationship with his son and the prospect of time to spend together while they could almost as much as he despaired of this parting with his beloved Siha.
As they looked at each other, all the words they had promised not to say together, the worries for the future and the fears that their time together was past, never to come again, crowded Shepard's mind and left her with no room for reassurances or even more meaningful declarations. It was left to Thane to take her hands in his and lean his forehead against hers, whispering her name.
"All will be well. You are, after all, Commander Shepard."
"Commander Shepard's charmed life has come to an end before," she reminded him. "It may again."
"They would hardly execute you. Not for a batarian colony, at any rate. Had it been asari, on the other hand …" Thane tried a smile, but Juniper couldn't respond in kind.
"It isn't funny."
"No. It is not." His fingers tightened around hers. "You are not without friends, Siha. Take comfort in that."
"I wish I could. I don't want anyone else's reputation or career dragged down because they supported me."
"Their loyalty, and its consequences, will be their own choice. You cannot make it for them."
"I know. I know." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I promised not to do this."
"You have been stronger through all of this than anyone had any right to expect of you. Remain strong for just a little while longer and then this will all be behind us and you will join me on the Citadel and we will make the most of every moment—as we have up to now." He put an arm around her, cupping the side of her face with his free hand. "Never forget that I love you."
"I love you, too. No matter what happens."
"If all else fails, I will see you across the sea, where I will await you, Siha."
"I will look forward to it." Juniper swallowed back the tears that she wanted to shed. She owed Thane more than that, and she wouldn't give the Alliance the satisfaction of seeing Commander J.R. Shepard broken. Whatever lay ahead of her, she would handle it with as much dignity as she could muster.
Thane smiled, seeing her regain control, as he had known she would. "Safe travels."
"You, too."
They stood there, both wanting to stretch the moment out, say one last word, put off their parting that much longer, but it was awkward now because none of that would change the inevitable. At last, Shepard gave him a last squeeze of the hand, shouldered her duffel, and walked into the spaceport without another backward glance.
Thane stood watching until the doors shut behind her, admiring her courage and resolve as he had so often before, and then he picked up his own bag and followed, making his way to the waiting room for the transport to the Citadel and checking in under his assumed name. He told himself that he would see Shepard again, because there was little value in any other line of thought, and then lost himself in memories until his flight was called.