Shepard brought a picture of Thane that she usually kept on the desk in her quarters downstairs and placed it on the piano, her fingers lingering on the top of the frame.

Around her, everyone seemed to take that as a signal to begin the service. Up till now, they had been talking in low voices, visiting the table where the food was laid out, accepting drinks served to them by Kaidan, who proved adept in that area as well. It was a generous gesture, to provide the refreshments for his lover's husband's memorial, and Shepard made a mental note to let him know how much she truly appreciated it, and him, later, once all this was done.

For now, she had to somehow work up the courage to say good-bye to Thane, and she still wasn't sure she could.

Still. Everyone was gathered around expectantly, and she would have to get things started. Turning, she looked at the faces in the crowd, thinking how pleased Thane would be—and how surprised—to know how many people missed him. Garrus, Joker, EDI, Tali, Kasumi, Samara, Emily, Kaidan, the salarian councilor, Bailey … and Kolyat.

Taking a deep breath, Shepard began. "We are gathered here to honor the life of Thane Krios. Thane touched each of us in different ways: The councilor knew him as a hero; the Normandy's crew knew him as a brother in arms … and others as a father devoted to his son."

Kolyat's features tightened, and she wondered if he thought that was too much. But Thane had been devoted, in his own way, to resolving the mistakes of the past, and Kolyat's presence here proved that Thane had succeeded in mending at least some of that old damage.

"Though his life took him to very dark places, Thane cared for the better angels of our nature," she continued.

He would never call her "Siha" again, never speak to her in that gentle, thoughtful manner that taught so much without ever appearing superior.

"He once said that he first felt love for Irikah, his wife, when she stepped in front of an assassin—Thane himself—to save someone she didn't even know."

In front of her, Kolyat blinked and looked away. Shepard wondered if he took comfort in the idea that his parents were together again. In an odd way, she did. Wherever he had gone, Thane wouldn't be alone.

Shepard could feel her throat tightening with tears as she went on, "And when he knew his death was close, Thane chose to die doing nearly the same thing—also for someone he didn't even know. Just as he loved his wife for her bravery, I love him for his sacrifice. That will never change." She could feel the tears trembling on her eyelashes. "Would anyone else like to speak?" Because she couldn't.

The others looked at each other. Somewhat to Shepard's surprise, it was Tali who spoke up first. "What I remember about Thane was his confidence. He told me once about how he remembered everything, even every mistake he ever made. If I did that, I'd be a nervous wreck. Thane kept it under control."

Garrus spoke up, his subharmonics rougher than usual. "The last work I'd label Thane with is 'assassin'. We covered each other in firefights. That makes him a partner. And a friend."

Samara said softly, "Thane's last stand was important, but let us also remember why he left the Normandy—to keep his son away from a life of crime. Deeds such as these do not go unnoticed by the universe. They echo in all who hear them. That is why I am here."

Behind her, Bailey cleared his throat. "Thane made mistakes in his life, did things he regretted, but he took responsibility, and in the end, did everything he could to atone for them. I … hope to be able to follow his example someday."

"Thane took himself seriously—a trait with which I did not always agree," EDI said. "I tried to make him laugh on several occasions. But what I interpreted as a lack of humor was masking a great effort. Thane was turning his life around in a way few organics do."

Joker spoke next. "The day Thane came onto the Normandy, all I knew about him was that he could probably kill us all with a ballpoint pen. But after you got to know him, there wasn't any reason to be afraid. He let you know where you stood."

Shepard looked at Kolyat, lifting her eyebrows in question. She would say the words to end this if he preferred not to speak. But he nodded at her, stepping forward to stand with her, looking at the picture of his father. Turning to the others, he said, "When I was little, I thought my father had it all figured out. He said men must be loyal to their friends and dangerous to their enemies. But when he prevented me from … from harming someone, he had changed. He said enemies and ego are not as important as loved ones." Kolyat's voice roughened. "I didn't want to hear it. I was lost. I called him a hypocrite in a thousand different ways, said that he was going soft. Now … I think maybe in the end he did have it all figured out." He swallowed hard. "That … is all I can say."

Watching him, Shepard couldn't help thinking how proud Thane would be of his son today, how glad to see him here, to hear his words and know that healing had begun, that Kolyat was on the path to being a good man. She felt a sudden fierce wish that she and Thane had been able to have a child, to see a child of hers grow up to become someone she could be proud of.

But that was a thought for another day. For today, she cleared her throat and said to the assembled attendees, "If … if no one else wishes to speak, then I thank you all for coming. Having you here means a lot to me, and to Kolyat, and wherever he is, I believe it means a lot to Thane."

She turned her face away, not wanting to lose her composure entirely in front of even these near and dear friends, and was glad to hear the soft hum of conversation resume.