I knew that the Reapers had to be destroyed. That's all I told myself, so I started to limp past the Catalyst and took the right path. I held a tight grip on the pistol, I gathered my remaining strength and aimed at the power source. I pulled the trigger and started to walk, then I remember the people who had paid the price for freedom of fear; Mordin, Thane, Anderson and Legion. Then I saw her face, both with her mask and without. I kept firing on the power source and thought to myself "I won't die and I will sure as hell see her again, I have to.". The power source started to explode and catch fire, I started to walk faster and kept pulling the trigger faster. I felt the fires licking what was left of my armor and I felt the whole thing explode and knocking me backwards then a white flash blinded me then darkness. I knew what this feeling was, I was on Death's door, but I remember a voice saying to me, " You still have someone waiting, you still have purpose.". My eyes flung open, I took a sharp breath and looked around seeing where I was. "I'm alive, and it looks like I'm in the Presidium.", I think while I try to get up then immediately back laying down in pain. I look down and see a piece of rebar in my abdomen area "Shit.", I thought. Then I heard footsteps, lots.

"Fuck, Reapers I bet, to make sure I'm dead.".

Then I heard voices, not just any voices, my whole team. Then I heard her voice, and they sounded close so I tried to move off the rebar but the pain was too intense and I screamed louder than I thought I could scream. "That sound have gotten their attention.", I winced and laid back down, then I heard a voice say, "I heard a scream over here, it must be him!". I laid my head back and kept breathing slowly and thought to myself, "Let's hope they have some medigel.". I was startled by hearing someone say, "I see him! Over there!". Then I see my whole team come over the bridge and that's when I saw her. Her mask I could spot from miles away, while leading everyone else.

They all stood around me except Joker who was in the Normandy. Then I heard James Vega speak the first words, "Holy hell, loco. Looks like you've decided to see some markets after defeating the Reapers.". Everyone laughs including me though through pain of the rebar in my abdomen at the joke then I look at Vega, "Yeah, I figured to buy a new suit for the celebration party, have to cover up the rebar in my abdomen."

Dr. Charkwas scanned me over with her Omni-Tool and had the readied the medigel when Garrus and James got ready to pull me off the rebar. I closed my eyes and breathed as I heard the countdown, my eyes shooting wide open when I felt a sharp pain shoot through me but quickly passed when I felt the medigel take effect. I stood up with the help of Garrus and James but almost toppled over when the small Quarian ran up and hugged me tight. I embraced her and smiled while everyone else headed back to the shuttle cheering and feeling relieved.

"I'm sorry for worrying you Tali, I tried to radio before but I couldn't when I got teleported." I felt her place a finger on my lips to shush me then she spoke, "I know, that's why we are here. We felt something was off and took to land at the Citadel to look for you. I feared the worst when we kept seeing the piles of bodies, until we saw a platform and the bodies of Anderson and T.I.M. We headed back to the Normandy when we started to hear explosions.". She held me close and didn't let go, and I wrapped my arms around her as well. I heard her sniffle a little and she looked up at me, "I'm glad your okay but please don't ever do that again. I don't wanna lose you ever again." We started our walk over to the elevator to take us down to the Docking Bay where the Normandy landed before the shockwave went off.

Everyone greeted us at the bottom of the elevator and somehow EDI even tho she was a synthetic and should have been blasted by the shockwave but then explained that even though she was a synthetic, the Citadel was unaffected completely. I received a vid-com from Admiral Hackett that the Reapers around the galaxy have fallen over and stopped moving completely and our united forces are retaking land. "Whatever you did on the Citadel, it stopped the Reapers and I'm getting reports from everywhere that they have not encountered any resistance from any Reaper forces. I heard from all the help you gathered that no one has suffered any life threatening injuries. The only major losses we suffered from are some of the ships in Sword and Hammer Fleet. Commander Werre, you have once again saved the galaxy." Hackett saluted and just as soon as I saluted back, his video disappeared and I gave a big sigh of relief. I walked out of the FTL Comm room and started my way back to the war room to address everyone.

Everyone was there, except some of the crew working on any repairs to the ship. Garrus had the Primach attend via Comm link and Wrex was there in person or well Krogan since he was on Earth leading the Krogan fighting there. Tali was there by my side to relay the info to the Admiralty Board while the Counsellors from the Asari, Turian, and Salarian. We didn't have a Human Counsellor since Udina sold out to Cerberus and died by my hand. I wanted Anderson as Counsellor but plans always change. I cleared my throat to get everyone's attention and when they hushed and looked at me, I said, "We have beaten the Reapers. We don't know if any of the forces survived or if they are alive but we making big headway." Everyone cheered then I started talking again, "But we need to careful, Cerberus could start something even if the leader is dead. We know they were working on indoctrination and trying to control the Reaper forces. But we deserve a rest, a well-deserved in the least. Counsellors, I will into potential candidates to replace our "former" Counsellor. I will look into every detail and background so we do not have the same problem as we did." Tevos, Sparatus, Valern nodded then Tevos spoke, "We have learned to trust on what you said, Commander Werre.".

Everyone started leaving except the crew of the Normandy. They went right to work except my crew/ground team, I told them all to meet me in lounge for a cheers for the good people we lost. I went to my cabin first to change and clean up since I did fall into a lot of stuff ever since Harbinger failed to killed me before on Earth. I took a shower and cleaned off the dust and blood, then cleaned up any open wounds. When I turned around then looked in the mirror before I started to dress into my favourite t-shirt and jeans, I saw a lot of new scars amongst my old scars from fighting Saren, Sovereign and the Geth to fighting to save humanity from Harbinger and the Collectors. I didn't hear my door open but I heard a familiar voice, "Ahem." I spun around and saw her staring at me. I couldn't see her face under her mask but I had a feeling that she was blushing. I remembered something that I wanted to ask Tali before the Battle for Earth started but I couldn't find the right time to ask her.

"Everyone else is in the lounge waiting. They wanted the saviour to join them before they get too crazy." She says as she keeps staring. I smile and say to her, "My eyes are up here Tali." She stops and starts to stammer, "I-I didn't mean to stare, i-it's ju-" I interrupted her and nodded, "I know, I was just teasing you. Also I have a question to ask you before we head down." I started to get down on one knee and I pulled a small box from the shelf behind me and held it up while opening it up and asking Tali, "Tali vas Normandy, will you make me the happiest man in the galaxy and marry me please? I understand if this is awkward but I do wanna be with you for the rest of my life." I couldn't tell her exact expression but I heard a sniffle from her and she started nodding fast and started saying very happily, "Yes, I will Quinlan!" I slid the ring on her finger and embraced her happily. I said "Let's head down to the lounge now?".

We entered the lounge and everyone there turned and cheered. We all had a drink then I raised my glass for a toast then everyone else as well. "Let's toast for the lives that were lost to get us to this peace. For Mordin, For Thane, For Anderson, For Legion and For the brave men and women of all races that have their lives to protect our future from the Reapers. We hope that you are just as brave in the afterlife and you were in life. Cheers!" "CHEERS!" Everyone cheered after me and we all took a sip. Tali spoke up after and held up her hand then Garrus took the words out of her mouth saying, "Werre and Tali are engaged!?" Everyone turned and congratulated us and said we deserved each other. We all had drinks though I had to keep a clear mind. My mind wandered and made me think of what will now arise now that Cerberus's leader is dead, but the organization is more of an idea that is bound to keep spreading despite there being no leader.

A Few Hours Later…

Everyone was sleeping in the lounge were I headed up to my quarters and sat down on the couch unable to sleep and reading reports from Hackett and the Council. The Alliance is focusing all the support on Earth since we were hit the hardest and endured the most. London barely looked the same, almost all the buildings were rubble, both Reaper and non-Reaper bodies littered the streets and the backdoor tele-porter to the Citadel was the only thing that illuminated most of the city. All the other races sent what help they can though and we were well underway recovering.

The Council sent a report of potential candidates for the new Human Councillor but they wanted me to look through them throughly in case they had ulterior motives. They also wanted to know if the Quarians earned their embassy on the Citadel since they played a big part of the Reaper War by reclaiming Rannoch. I told them that do they do deserve it but the Geth needed something as well since without them, Quarians wouldn't help us and the Reapers would have more forces to win against us. They were surprised to see the Geth helping them but after I told them what happened, they nodded and said that both the Geth and Quarian embassy will be shared for the two of them but are willing to help both as a part of the Council races.

I hear a knock at my door and I answered, "It's open, come in." I heard the door open then I looked up and saw my fiancé come in. She sits down beside me and looks at the ring I gave her then asked me, "Where did you get this ring? I never seen you at a shop for this kind of thing." I kinda laughed then said, "My mother gave this to me shortly before the Reapers invaded. When the Alliance had me under house arrest, I was given a couple of months to visit my family. My mother and stepdad knew I loved someone since I was constantly preoccupied. Then my mom gave me the ring and told me that it is for the one that I loved and who loved me back." Tali leaned against my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her. "I love you Tali, I couldn't do this without you." Tali took off her mask and sat up and kissed me and saying, "I love you too. It was tough every time you went and risked yourself, it scared me cause I was worried that I would never see you again and would never been to bounce back from it." I kissed her back and held her close, "I promise I won't do anything like that again. But things might get crazy when we get our own place."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello, I wanted to get back into this hobby and restart some of the stories I started. I thank you for anyone who read this. I am working on making 3 whole stories based on the Trilogy and I do wanna try other ideas like other games and such. If you have anything to say, I'll gladly take any advice or comments, I'm still new to story writing and anything will be welcomed gladly.