W.i.t.G

What's up guys! :)

I'm back... xD

Anyway! Just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have reviewed the last chapter! I keep saying it, but it's true! It means a lot to me :)

Now, to bring up some concerns:

Yes, Tali did seem a bit too OP... Then again, I never said she hadn't been shot or injured.. Which is something I hope to clear up, in this chapter, or in the next part! :)

Extremely OP Shepard? Well.. Let's just say, he didn't come out of the fight unscathed... But, you'll find out more in this chapter ;)

Apart from that, I received fairly positive feedback for the last chapter, so I'm glad you guys liked it :)

Right! Let's get this ball rolling then, shall we? ;)

Part One...

"Excuse me, please! Excuse me! Move out of the way!" Tali shouted, as she hurtled down the corridors of the giant space station.

A few mumblings of annoyance could be heard by passers-by, but Tali simply ignored them, a single thought driving her forwards..

'Where in the name of the Ancestors is this shop?!'

Tali bolted around another corner, as she continued to scan the signs hanging from the ceiling, in the market district.

'Ancestors damn him! Stupid Pilot... I shouldn't be away from his side, but I need to do this!' Tali seethed in anger, as she remembered the conversation that had burned this one solitary thought into her mind..

"So.. Tali, right?" Joker said, as he lazed back into the hospitals chair..

"Yes." Tali abruptly said, not moving her attention away from the single most important thing in the galaxy to her in that very moment... Chris.

The Commander simply lay in the hospital bed, his complexion pale and sickly, as his right hand was clasped with Tali's, three fingers intertwining with five..

Joker simply sat in his chair, watching the Quarian woman and his Commander...

"Garrus asked me to come in here.." Joker tried once more, as he watched the hand coupling on the bed, in fascination..

"That's nice." Tali mumbled, her attention still not moving.

"He wanted me to come in and try and talk some sense into you... I don't see how I'm supposed to do that, but I said that I needed to see Shepard anyway. He is my Commander after all.." Joker continued, his attention wandering as he looked towards the ceiling.

"My Captain..." Tali said, as she squeezed Chris' limp hand.

"Hey! Just out of curiosity, why are you holding Shepard's hand? Is it a Quarian thing or something?" Joker said, a sly grin on his lips.

Tali's response was subdued, but held passion nonetheless, something fiery stoking within her, "I'm not leaving him. I don't care what you, or Garrus say."

"Look! You've barely left this room for the past week! We're all worried about you!" Joker exclaimed, as he raised his hands into the air, to show his bubbling frustration with the situation.

'I can't believe I'm missing Blasto for this..' Joker inwardly sighed, as he waited for Tali's response.

Tali's response eventually came, but the power of her words knocked the wind out of Joker's sails, "I owe my life to this man.. I was nearly killed, or worse by Fist's men.. And this man right here, put himself in danger to rescue me... You Human's may not understand what that means, so I'll try and simplify it.. I owe him my life, I owe him everything I have, I was on the mission with him, it's my responsibility to look after him!"

"That's what the nurses are for Tali! Geez.. You need to get some proper rest! It's not like anybody's going to hurt him.. We're on Arcturus!" Joker shouted, as he continued to watch the seemingly unstable Quarian woman.

Tali's head twisted to the side, ever so slightly, before she venomously hissed, "You're right that nobody's going to hurt him.. Over my cold, rotting corpse will someone hurt him.. I would die for this man!"

The words Tali spoke with held so much passion and fire, that Joker couldn't help the goosebumps that occurred on his arms, his hairs standing on end..

Joker raised his arms in surrender, before he replied, "Alright! I'm not going to argue with you! ... Geez ... I don't know who's scarier.. You, or the Commander.."

Tali continued to watch the Pilot, her eyes clouded over with a primal rage, as she clung to her mate..

Joker reached around to the side of his chair, grabbing his crutches.

Joker unsteadily got himself to his feet, before he looked around the room, nodding his head in appreciation.

"What is it?" Tali snapped, as she viewed the annoying Pilot.

"Nothing.. Just.. Remembering a talk I had with Liara before I came in here.. About the Commander actually.." Joker mumbled, before he turned towards the door.

The mentioning of the blue Bosh'tet caused Tali's soul to be further stoked, her heart beating twice as fast..

Tali stood up from her seat, before she spoke up, "What were you talking about?"

Joker stopped in his tracks, another sly grin on his lips. The Pilot didn't turn around, as his hand rested near the haptic interface for the door controls..

"Well.. Liara simply mentioned how Shepard's hospital room was incredibly bare and dull.. Then, she asked me how we could try and improve it. She said she had overheard the Lieutenant and the Chief talking about how they were going to get gifts, so I guess that's where she got the idea from.. I simply told her about how Humans usually make a room more comfortable for a loved one with flowers and other gifts ... But then I told her that Shepard wasn't a loved one ... He's our CO.."

Once Joker finished, he spoke up once more, turning around to face the Quarian, "Why? Is there anything else you want to know?"

Tali remained quiet for a moment, before she replied, "What do Humans do to make things more comfortable?"

"Like I said, they get flowers, chocolates, all sorts of gifts that the loved one in the hospital will appreciate. It's supposed to help with their recovery, or some such bullshit.. But you guys probably have something like that anyway." Joker said, his voice neutral as he explained Human customs.

Tali was silent once more, before she softly replied, "Thank you.."

Joker was slightly startled at this show of emotion, but that didn't stop the smile that split his lips.

Joker lifted one of his hands towards the cap he wore on his head, before he gave it a quick tip, before turning around towards the exit. The Pilot said nothing, as he left the hospital room.

Tali sat for a moment, mulling over what the Pilot had said.

That was when everything began to click together, and Tali was filled with a burning rage..

'That blue Bosh'tet bitch! She's going to get gifts to give to my Human! She.. She.. She's going to steal him from me!'

With that final thought in mind, Tali looked downwards, towards her ill mate..

'I... I know what I have to do.. I .. I have to get him a gift.. To show he's mine..'

Tali sat back down in her chair, her hand clasping with Chris' once more, before she rested her helmet on top of their conjoined hands.

"I will always be with you.. I will always look over you.. I will always protect you, with every last breath in my body, so I swear by the Ancestors." Tali softly prayed, as she looked back up once more. Once her prayer had finished, Tali released Chris' hand, before walking straight towards the hospital room's exit, a single thought in mind.

"I hope I'm allowed in this one" Tali softly mumbled under her breath, as she began to slow her mad sprint, near the entrance of an old shop in the old section of the market district..

All of the other shops on the station were mostly owned by Asari Matrons who refused to sell any of their wares to a Quarian, even if she had enough money..

Garrus had been surprised to see Tali running out of the Commander's hospital room, straight towards him. She hadn't said much to him, just that she needed to borrow his credit chit.. Garrus was reluctant at first, but handed the chit over nonetheless.

A dimly lit sign hung outside of the old shop, reading: 'Arcturus High Quality Gifts.' With a second line underneath, in smaller font: 'All are welcome.'

'Perfect..' Tali inwardly smiled, as she walked towards the entrance to the shop, the old airlock doors taking a long time to open..

Once inside the shop, Tali couldn't help but notice the state of the shop; the lighting to the room was incredibly dark, and everywhere was cluttered, with papers and other files spilling out of their draws.. Some pictures hung from the walls, with a thick layer of dust covering them.. It wasn't just on the pictures; there was a thick layer of dust all over the different surfaces and appliances within the decrepit shop.. The room itself was rather narrow, with a corridor that led elsewhere across from the desk that lay across the width of the room.

Tali slowly walked towards the desk, her footsteps slightly echoing as she stepped across the old bulkhead that classed as a floor..

"H.. Hello?" Tali said nervously, as she looked around frantically, like a scared wild animal..

There was no response..

"Hello?" Tali said louder, as she peered her head towards the exiting corridor, past the desk.

Still, there was no response..

"Hello?!" Tali shouted, her voice slightly warbled due to her helmet...

There was no immediate response.. Until suddenly, a loud crashing could be heard from the dimly lit corridor..

"Ah fer fecks sake!" An elderly voice, tinged with another unique accent that made Tali's lips curl into a smile..

'I definitely need to talk to Chris about that when he wakes up..'

A hobbling could be heard, as Tali continued to watch the corridor, the darkness being no problem for her eyesight..

A clacking could be heard against the bulkhead, as an airlock door opened..

"Hello?" Tali said, her voice slightly nervous as she waited for the other person to arrive.

"I'm coming! Hold yer fecking horses.." The voice said, as the clacking continued..

Tali continued to watch, as the voice continued, "So impatient ye youngens.. I'm not as young as I used to be ye know!"

"I.. I'm sorry ma'am.." Tali nervously apologised, as her fingers began to dance at her waist..

"Ma'am? Ha! Now that's more fecking like it!" The voice chuckled, a wheezy chuckle, an old chuckle, as the clacking continued..

The clacking eventually stopped, before the sound of a metal box being shoved across the bulkhead could be heard.. When the scraping of metal had finished, there was the sound of a grunt of exertion, before the mystery voice revealed herself..

Tali simply said nothing as she looked upon the mystery voice's face.. She seemed to be elderly, with wrinkles creasing her skin, like the Quarian elders used to have.. She had grey, frizzy, dishevelled hair, a slightly hooked nose, with large pink lips.. The most striking thing about her though, was her eyes..

They were milky white..

"Can I help ye love?" The old woman said sweetly.

"Umm.." Tali mumbled, as she continued to look upon the shop owners face..

"I'm sorry love, I'm fresh out of Umm.." The old woman said, before she wheezily chuckled again..

"Oh! I.. I'm sorry.. It's just..." Tali replied nervously, as she hung her head downwards in shame..

"It's just what my love?" The old woman inquired.

"It's just.. Do ... Do all Humans .. H.. Have interesting ... Interesting eye colours?" Tali asked, her head lifting slightly to ask the question.

Another wheezy chuckle, before the old woman put Tali's fears to rest..

"Not all Humans my love.. If ye mean my eyes, that's 'cos I'm blind as a bat. I can't see a fecking thing! That's why I have the lights off, it's cheaper that way."

"Oh.. What's a bat?" Tali's curiosity had taken the better of her, allowing her nervousness to disappear..

"HAH! I fecking like ye already!" The old woman laughed, as she tapped her foot against the box she stood on.

Tali giggled at the comment, before the old woman spoke up again, "Anyway! What other Humans do ye know with funny lookin' eyes?"

Tali's heart took some offence at the comment made by the old woman against her Human, causing her reply to be fairly sharp.

"He doesn't have 'funny lookin' eyes'. He says he has a mutation is all."

"It's a he is it?" The old woman's face curled into a wicked grin, as she leaned across the desk, her hands imprinting against the thick layer of grime and dust..

"Well... I mean... I didn't.." Tali nervously mumbled, as her head fell back down, her face flushed in embarrassment..

"HAH! Oh God! I fecking knew it! Go on! What's his name? Does he like ye as well?" The old woman said, her voice holding a joyful tone to it.

"I... I.. I don't want ... I don't want to say.. It's silly of me.. He's.. He's my Captain and all.." Tali said, as her fingers began to furiously dance at her waist.

"Silly?... No... What's silly is not admitting ye love! Ye like this man! Otherwise, ye wouldn't have noticed his eyes.. They're the portals to a person's soul ye know.. That's what I heard! Hand to God!" The old woman said, before she raised her hand towards the ceiling..

When Tali said nothing, the old woman stood for a moment, before she quietly spoke up, her voice deadly serious, "What's the matter my love? Why don't ye want to tell me?"

Tali said nothing for a moment, before a shaky breath escaped her lips.. "I.. I guess.. I guess it's because... Because I know he's too ... Too... Too good.." Tali couldn't finish her words, as a single tear trickled down her cheek, her breath getting caught in her throat..

The old woman nodded her head, before she looked towards the desk, "I was like ye once.."

Tali instantly raised her head, her mind confused suddenly, "W.. What do you mean?"

A soft chuckle escaped the old woman's lips, before she replied, "When I met my Bill.. I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread ... But.. I was always afraid that he would never love me, as much as I loved him.. That he was too good for me.."

"W.. What did you do?" Tali shakily said, her fascination peaking..

"I remember seeing all the other lasses crowding around him.. Wanting him.. Like fecking animals they were.. I remember watching, as one lass in particular tried to take him for her own... I remember all of the hatred and jealousy filling me stomach.. I felt as fecking ill as a dog.. But do ye know what I did?"

"No.." Tali said breathlessly, her attention fully focused on the blind old woman..

"I walked straight up to him and this lass.. And I swung. I knocked this fecking whore straight to her arse, and kissed me Bill... When we drew away.. I walked away... But then the best thing happened.." The old woman said, a tear slowly trickling down her wrinkled face..

"What?" Tali said, the suspense killing her..

"He followed me." The old woman finished, a soft smile on her face.

"He followed you?" Tali asked incredulously..

"He did.. He followed after me, after I kissed him.." The old woman said, as her voice became cracked with emotion.

"And not a day goes by where I don't fecking miss him.. He was the only man I've ever loved, and will ever love.. He was my one, and my only.. He was my soul mate.. I loved him so much..." The old woman said, as a sob emanated from her cracked old lips..

Tali's heart sank for the woman, at her loss of her mate... A few tears trickled down her cheeks, behind her helmet, as she watched the wrecked, broken old woman pour her heart out..

Once the old woman had finished crying, she looked up, towards where she believed Tali to be, before softly speaking, "If there's anything I can tell ye lass, it's don't let ye man walk away.. If ye love him, then ye better well fecking fight for him!"

Tali nodded her head, her soul soaring as she took the kind old woman's words to heart..

The old woman nodded her head to herself, before she spoke up, "Now.. I guess ye'll be needing an important gift for him?"

"H.. He's injured.." Tali replied softly..

"Ah! I know just the thing!" With that, the old woman climbed off of her box, before grabbing her clacking stick again..

Tali stood and watched, as the old woman made her way down the corridor once more..

It was a few minutes later when the old woman came back, the clacking indicating her presence..

With another grunt of exertion, the old woman passed over an object that made Tali's eyes go wide behind her mask..

"That there, is an English rose.. Very rare flower these days.. That was given to me by my Bill before he died.. I've looked after it ever since.." The old woman said, as Tali held the flower in hands as if it were a newborn child..

The flower had a luscious blood red head, with petals spread out evenly, the stem covered in a crisp, pure white paper, with a gold lace securing everything together.. It was perfection.. It was beautiful.. It was just what Tali needed..

Tali looked towards the old woman, tears brimming in her eyes, before she softly whispered her response, "I.. I can't take this... Take this from you... I.. It reminds... Reminds you of your Bill!"

The old woman softly chuckled, before she leaned in close to reply, "I'm dying my love.. I'm not long for this world.. I can't take it with me.. But I'll always have him in me heart.. If I can do one good thing, of bringing ye and yer fella together before I meet St. Peter at the Gates, then I have lived a good life.. Please, take it."

Tali looked towards the flower once more, tears continuing to well in her eyes, before she nodded her head, "T.. Thank you.. Thank you so much... You... You don't know how much... How much this means to me.."

The old woman smiled softly, as another tear passed down her wrinkled cheek, "I may be blind love, but I can still see a good person.. A good person who's in love.."

Tali smiled softly behind her mask, before she softly replied, "How much? How much do you want for it?"

"Nothing... That's me last good deed for this life.. Just promise me, ye won't just leave him? Ye will fight for him, won't ye?"

"Definitely.."

"Then that's all I ask.." The old woman said, as she turned around to step off of her box.

Tali nodded her head, before walking towards the exit, before stopping, to speak up one final time, "I didn't catch your name.."

The old woman's clacking stopped as well, before she replied, "My name's Lily ... Lily O'Brian.."

"I'm Tali.. Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."

"My, my.. That's a fecking mouthful.."

With that, Lily continued her clacking, as she ventured back into her room at the end of the corridor..

Tali smirked behind her mask, before exiting the wonderful, little old woman's shop, to give her love a special gift..

The evening suns, warmed the man's face. A crisp breeze blew, brushing against his features, ruffling his hair.. The sound of waves crashing against rock could be heard, as the man stood at the edge of the cliff-face, overlooking the cobalt blue ocean...

The scene was simply tranquillity, in its purest form..

The man exhaled; a deep, long sigh escaping his lips, as his eyes continued to drink in the beauty before him..

Elysium truly was a beautiful planet..

Turning around, so the wind hit the mans back, he was met with a strange, and yet wondrous sight... With the wind blowing against his simple t-shirt as well as his loose fitting shorts, the man began to walk forward..

Stood in front of him, was what appeared to be a young woman... An attractive young woman, clad in what appeared to be a bright yellow, floral sun-dress, her raven locks flowing within the breeze, her feet bare as she left her prints into the soft ground...

The man's heart swelled within him, as he realised who the young woman was..

"Lucy!" The man shouted, as he began to run towards her.

Lucy made no effort of moving, her face impassive as stayed rooted to the ground..

The man didn't stop, simply continuing to run towards Lucy, before he was upon her.. With his arms out-stretched, he leapt at her.. Catching nothing..

With a thud, the man fell to the soft ground, impacting his shoulder, as his hands simply gripped at soft dirt..

"Wha?.." The man said in surprise and disappointment, as he rolled onto his back...

"I'm sorry Chris.." Lucy said, as she moved over to the man on the ground..

"I.. I don't.." Words failed the man, as he simply gazed upwards, eyes brimming with tears..

"You know I'm not real Chris.." Lucy said, as she leant downwards..

"Why?... I.. Why?..." Chris said, his voice leaving him, as his heart was suddenly struck with a painful agony, like a thousand knives stabbing him at once..

"You know why.." Lucy said, as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes...

"But... I.. I.. I thought.." Chris stuttered out, as he viewed the pained smile on Lucy's face...

"You thought I had come back to you?" Lucy softly whispered, with Chris' hand resting in her lap, her hand reaching out to stroke Chris' cheek..

"Yes..." Chris said through his tears, as his hand reached out to hold Lucy's, against his cheek..

It met nothing but air..

Lucy's hand rested on his cheek, a warm, loving touch ... But something felt different.. Almost... Rubbery... Like Lucy was wearing gloves...

Chris shook the feeling off, and simply embraced his lover's touch, a touch he had missed for many a night..

They remained like that for a long time...

"I'll have to go soon.." Lucy softly whispered, as she continued to stroke Chris' cheek..

"Don't go.. Please.." Chris said softly, as he tried to reach out once more for his love..

Again, it met nothing but air..

"I have to.." Lucy said, as she stood back up again..

Chris started to move from his position on the floor, rolling around, trying to draw power to his legs..

He could not move..

Struggling, Chris shouted in exasperation, "Please! Don't leave me!"

Lucy began to walk slowly backwards, away from Chris..

"I'm sorry my love.. It's my time to go... I have to move on.."

"You can't! I need you, here, with me! Please! I beg you! Don't.. Don't leave me again!" Chris screamed, as tears gushed from his hazel orbs..

"I can't.. I have to move on... And so do you.."

"I.. I.. I.. I do.. I don't know.. I don't know how to.." Chris shouted, as Lucy continued to move away from him..

"You have to find someone who will love you as much as I do... Someone who brings you happiness when they're near... Someone who would cut out their own heart for you.." Lucy said, as her body finally vanished, into thin air..

"I.. I don't ..." Chris said quietly, as pressure began to pile upon his chest, crushing him..

Elysium began to fade, with an overwhelming, icy darkness beginning to creep up on the immobilised man, light simply ceasing to be present..

Chris felt himself being slowly swallowed whole, as he tried with all his might to get up, to try and escape..

It was to no avail.. For it seemed that Chris was to be consumed...

Consumed and forgotten...

His life force, having been stolen..

Resigned to his fate, Chris stopped his struggling, as he closed his eyes, hoping for his end to be quick, the pressure on his chest becoming unbearable..

For death was approaching...

With one final breath, Chris readied himself..

But...

Something prevented death from claiming its victim...

Something shone in the darkness, causing the inky blackness to shrink away...

Chris held his breath.. Waiting..

Through lidded eyes, a bright light could be seen..

Opening his eyes a fraction, Chris looked upon this mysterious light..

Kneeling down next to the man, was a sight that for some reason made his heart soar with relief..

A helmet and opaque visor leaned down towards the man's face, two glowing orbs causing the darkness to shrink away..

A gentle, warm and ... loving aura surrounded the man, relieving the tension upon his chest immediately..

With a shaky breath, Chris began to open his eyes further, to get a better look at his saviour..

A gloved hand intertwined with Chris', three fingers merging with five, causing an indescribable feeling to surge throughout his body..

A soft voice suddenly entered his ear, uttering a phrase that Chris swore he had heard a thousand times over, "I will always be with you.. I will always look over you.. I will always protect you, with every last breath in my body.."

"L..Lucy?.." Chris said, as the mystery figure continued to clutch onto Chris for dear life..

A different voice appeared, "My time has come.. It is time for another to take my place, and to take the love you have bestowed upon me.. You know who I mean.."

The voice suddenly left Chris' ear, as confusion reigned over him.

"Who... Who are you?" Chris said, as he looked towards the mystery figure..

The first voice, a synthesised voice, came back with a reply, a voice that Chris instantly recognised, "You need to wake up Chris.. We need you.. I can't let you go.."

The eyes of the mystery figure began to glow brighter, causing Chris' eyes to widen..

A deep voice boomed from the darkness, "YOU MUST MOVE ON! ... YOU HAVE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE!"

"I.. I.." Chris' words were lost to the darkness, as the light began to surround him, practically blinding him..

"YOUR HEART AND SOUL ARE PAIRED, BUT YOUR BRAIN HAS NOT REALISED.. YOU ARE NOT A WHOLE BEING... YOU MUST FIND THE ONE WHO SHALL MAKE YOU WHOLE AGAIN!"

With that, the voice disappeared, as the darkness receded, leaving a stunning white light in its place..

Before Chris lost conciousness again, the sound of beeping began to echo around him...

One of Chris' eyes began to softly twitch...

Tali continued to walk back towards the hospital that Chris resided in.. Arcturus General Hospital.

As she was nearing the entrance, Tali's steps began to take on a spring-like quality, as she softly cradled the generous gift she had been given by Lily.

Walking through the entrance, Tali continued down the hallway's, noticing that nothing had really changed since she had left..

As she got near the hospital room, something seemed off..

There was nobody in the waiting room..

There was always somebody in the waiting room, to protect the injured Commander. Wrex volunteered almost all of the time, so for him to be missing, was rather unsettling..

Tali approached the hospital room observation window that the doctors used, before a tiny gasp escaped her lips..

Her Human was definitely alive, and well..

Tali's spirits soared, as she began to move closer to the haptic interface of the door, to allow her entry..

Tali just wasn't fast enough. She could still see what was happening through the window, and what came next, caused Tali's mind to shut down..

Liara leaned across, presenting a large bouquet of what appeared to be weeping blue flowers, as a large grin split her Human's lips..

Ashley leaned in next, giving her Human a book of sorts, and a heart-shaped box.

Tali's spirits sunk as she watched the expression on Chris' face become elated once more..

Tali stood, watching through the window to the room, her hand still clutching her rose for her Human, a solitary tear streaming down her cheek..

'Of course... Why would he want me? ... He has everybody else.. He can choose who he wants... I would never, never have a hope...'

Tali stood for a moment, her knees trembling, as she looked through the window towards her love..

Chris, for some reason, turned around at that very moment, his eyes meeting Tali's, as she helplessly clutched onto her rose..

Tali's shoulder sunk, her head downcast, as she cried.. She turned away, before she ran.. Ran away from the pain that pierced her heart..

The pain of seeing your love drifting away from you..

"Thank you Liara! These are great!" Chris said weakly, lying through his teeth.

'The fuck are these things?... They look dead to me.' Chris thought, as a fake grin split his lips..

"You're welcome, Shepard." Liara beamed, seemingly content with the Commander's compliment.

"Here you go, Skipper! I got these for you!" Ashley said, as she thrust her gifts towards her Commander.

"Oh! Wow! Thanks Ashley! This is fantastic!" Chris lied once more, as he took the chocolates and book within his other hand..

"I just thought you might like Tennyson's work.." Ashley beamed as well.

"Yeah! Absolutely! I love a bit of poetry!" Chris lied once more, as he looked at the items in confusion.

'Seriously.. What the fuck am I going to do with these?! I hate poetry, and I don't eat chocolate that much..'

Chris continued to have a fake grin on his face, as his other squad mates surrounded his bed..

There was one missing though..

'I wish Tali was here.. I'd rather talk to her than lie to these two..'

At that moment, something within Chris told him to look towards the window. It wasn't logic that made him do it, not even his heart, it was simply a gut feeling..

Chris looked across and saw the person he most wanted to see..

'Tali! There you are!'

And yet, Tali did not enter..

Chris looked into Tali's eyes, trying to gauge what was the problem..

'What's the matter Tali? ... I would have thought you would have been one of the first in here..'

Tali's shoulder slumped, as did her head.. Her shoulders began to rack with sobs, that only Chris could see, as nobody was paying the Quarian any attention.. Or.. So they thought..

Chris instantly knew what was happening, and his spirits simply hit rock bottom..

'Why?.. Why is she crying?!'

Tali ran away at this, causing Chris' body to spike in agony..

Chris watched as the Quarian ran away, crying, and clutching onto something..

Suddenly, a voice deep inside, the same deep booming voice he heard from the darkness, spoke to him..

'Chase after her! Do not let her sadness continue!'

Chris was suddenly conflicted, his mind and his heart arguing..

Until... His heart won out..

Chris lifted the covers off of himself, drawing surprised gasps from Liara and Ashley..

"Skipper, what are you doing?!"

"Shepard! You can't get up!"

Chris ignored these remarks, as he fell out of the bed, towards the exit.

He landed straight onto his face, his legs weak and full of painful agony..

Garrus and Kaidan leaned down to help him, but the Commander waved them off.

"Don't! I can do this!"

The Commander continued to struggle, as he pushed himself off of the ground..

Wrex suddenly came over, before hooking an arm underneath Shepard's..

In one swift movement, Wrex lifted Shepard onto his unstable feet.

Chris swayed for a moment, before looking Wrex in the eye.

The Krogan simply smirked, before he softly spoke up, his wisdom and perception shining through, "You think you can run after her?"

"You bet your ass!" Chris smirked, as he started to hobble towards the exit.

Ashley and Liara were in an uproar, before they charged towards their Commander.

Chris hobbled towards the exit, his hospital night gown not covering the back of his body, as he breezed out of the exit.

As Liara and Ashley made their towards the exit, they found themselves being blocked by a large Krogan warrior, who simply smirked at them as they tried to chase after their Commander..

Chris was shaky on his legs, but something deep inside of him drove him on, something fuelled his passion and fire to allow his muscles to keep pumping..

Chris simply ran, his hospital gown blowing behind him..

Chris kept running, until he could see his intended target..

Tali was walking slowly, her head downcast, as she shuffled along the corridor, all of her usual joy and enthusiasm completely missing..

Chris didn't stop, as he continued to charge towards Tali, his mind, heart and soul urging him to do one thing..

Getting close to the oblivious Quarian, Chris shouted, "TALI!"

Tali stopped in her tracks, before slowly turning around..

Chris kept running, as Tali's shoulders began to pick themselves up..

Chris opened his arms as he got close, before barrelling into Tali.

Tali did not fight against it, as Chris used up his last remaining reserves of energy within his body, for this one final tremendous effort...

Moving with the motion, Chris twirled Tali around in the air, in his arms, until he brought her back down again..

He wrapped his massive arms around Tali, before he softly whispered to her, causing everything Tali had just witnessed to become obsolete..

"Please don't cry Tali.. I hate to see you cry.."

For Tali, she simply wept.

She wept tears of happiness, as she embraced her human, her rose still in her hand, with one thought running through her mind..

'This is what Lily meant... Chris ran after me... He does care..'

The two stood in the middle of the corridor like that, for a long period of time, neither caring about how they looked to anybody else..

For both suddenly felt complete.

There we have it! Part 1 done on Arcturus!

This part was especially fluffy.. I just couldn't help it ^^

Let me know what you think in the reviews guys!

Thanks to my co-author again! You don't know much about this one, so this is a little treat ;)

PM me if you have any queries!

Just to clear up a few things:

1). Thank you to 1054SS325MP! Yes! You're completely right! The stores that Tali visited were primarily Asari owned, due to the need for Humanities belief in getting out, and expanding some influence into the galaxy! So when you read that part, just realise the shops were owned by Asari! It has been corrected now!

2). Lily O'Brian is my (poor) attempt at creating an Irish character. Just wanted to clear that up.

Cheers guys! :)