Shepard looked up to the intercom, "Traynor?"

"Glad to hear your voice again…Captain," said the voice of Comm. Specialist Samantha Traynor, emphasizing Shepard's new rank. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine thanks. I was wondering if you could patch a call through to Ashley's mother and then forward it to my omni-tool."

"Right away Captain. Should I patch Commander Williams in as well?"

"No, I don't want her to know I'm making this call."

"Why not? Shouldn't we let her talk to her mother and see that she's alright?"

"We will Traynor. I just need to talk to Mrs. Williams about something in private. Once we're done you can patch Ashley in. Just don't tell her that I was the one who made the call."

"As you wish Captain."

After Shepard finished his call to Ashley's mother, he reached over to push the call button. Dr. Chakwas entered immediately afterward.

"You called Captain?" she asked. "Wow. I guess I need to get used to how that sounds."

"It's all right Doctor," Shepard replied, "I have to get used to responding when people call me that. I need you to do me a favor and I need you to do it without anyone else on the crew seeing you."

"Of course but may I ask why?"

"You'll understand why when I tell you what it is. I need you to go up to my cabin and get a package that I recently ordered from the Citadel. Then after you bring it to me, I want you to tell Ashley that I would like to see her."

"Yes Captain."

Dr. Chakwas was about to leave the med bay when she stopped suddenly.

"Captain," she said, "you wouldn't be thinking about asking Commander Williams a certain question would you?"

Shepard chuckled, "I knew you would figure it out. Yes I am but I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else about this. I don't want to risk anyone in the crew finding out and accidentally telling Ashley before I see her."

"My lips are sealed Captain."

A little bit after Chakwas had dropped off the package Shepard wanted and left, Ashley entered the med bay. Shepard was about to greet her when she snapped to attention and saluted him.

"Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams reporting as ordered Captain," she said with a smile.

This got Shepard to laugh but due to his injuries it hurt a little.

"At ease LC," Shepard said.

"Congratulations on the promotion sir."

"Thanks Ash."

"Dr. Chakwas said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes," Shepard replied while gesturing to the chair next his bed, "have a seat."

Ashley moved towards the chair when she noticed that Shepard was beginning to rise up from his bed. Due to his injuries, it was slightly painful for him to stand. As a result he groaned. The sound caused Ashley to move towards Shepard and try to sit him back down.

"What you are doing sir?" she said. "I don't think you're supposed to be out of bed."

"It's okay Ash." Shepard groaned, "Dr. Chakwas said that I could get up as long as I don't overdo it. Besides, what I have to say is too important to be said lying down."

Deciding that Shepard knew what he was doing, Ashley let him go and sat in the chair. She watched as Shepard rose to his feet and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm some nerves he seemed to be feeling. Before she could ask if everything was okay, Shepard spoke first.

"Ashley, with the war against the Reapers finally over and me being confined to this bed, I've had the chance to think about some things. Specifically I've been thinking about us. You said it yourself back on the Citadel that we've been through a lot together. Since you've said that, we've been through even more. We went searching for the Leviathan together. You were with me when we investigated Sanctuary. You were the first one to come to my aid when mercenaries came after me at that sushi place and then you helped me take down my clone. We worked together to take down Cerberus. Finally we fought together in the final battle on Earth."

Tears were starting to form in Ashley's eyes. She was beginning to sense where this was going.

"Ash the stuff we've been through would probably drive apart any other couple. But in spite of everything we keep coming back to each other. I told you on the Citadel that I couldn't see myself with anyone else but you. So before I called you in here, I made a call to your mother. I called her because I had an important question to ask her and now I have one for you."

With that said Shepard reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He then slowly got down on one knee and opened the box. Inside the box was a diamond engagement ring.

"Ashley Madeline Williams, will you marry me?"

Ashley gasped. The ring was beautiful. She didn't take long to give her answer.

"Sir, yes sir."

She got up and gave Shepard a big hug. She was barely able to stop herself from hugging him hard enough to cause him pain. Then she kissed him. Suddenly a loud cheer erupted outside the med bay. Afterward the entire crew of the Normandy came in applauding and cheering.

"CONGRATULATIONS CAPTAIN! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH! YOU CAN GET MARRIED ON THE NORMANDY!"

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Shepard yelled silencing everyone in the room. "Were you all out there listening the whole time?"

"Of course Shepard," said Shepard's turian friend Garrus Vakarian, "you didn't think we would miss the chance to watch you propose to Ashley."

"But how could you have known I was going to propose? The only person I told was Dr. Chakwas and I told her not to tell any…one….wait a minute.

As a thought dawned on him, Shepard scanned the crowd looking for Traynor. He quickly found her standing near the back. When he made eye contact with her, she began to nervously bite her lip.

"Did you have something to do with this Specialist Traynor?" Shepard asked while giving her a mean glare.

"I'm sorry Captain," said Traynor, "while I was patching your call to Mrs. Williams, I began to wonder why you wanted to call her. After thinking about it for a bit I began to get a strong hunch that it was to ask for her permission to marry Commander Williams. Garrus asked me about it and, well, I may have told him and he told the rest of the crew.."

"Of course he did," Shepard said, "I guess I should be grateful that he didn't tell Ashley and spoil the surprise."

"Come on Shepard," Garrus said, "I would never ruin this moment for you by telling Ashley. Besides I know that one or both of you would have killed me if I did."

"Well I'm glad you all enjoyed the show. Now if you all don't mind, my fiancé and I would like to be alone."

The crew let out a collective groan before they slowly made their way out of the med bay. As they left, they said some final congratulations to the couple. When the last crewmember left the med bay, Shepard climbed back into his bed and offered Ashley a spot next to him.

"Well Ash," Shepard said once they were settled, "when I first woke up in here I was feeling terrible but I think the future is starting to look a little brighter."

"I think so too Shepard."

"Come on Ash you don't have to call me Shepard anymore. We've known each other a long time and I call you by your first name. If we're going to be married I think you can start calling me by mine. I love you Ash."

"I love you too….Mark."