Hello readers, I'm back with another chapter in the story! Please enjoy and review!

Jane's POV

Three Years Later

Jane walked through the school hall, her books in her hands as well as a face mask over her mouth. She looked up as her friend Jake ran up to her side, the rest of the students passing them by.

"Did your dad say if I could come over tonight?" Jake asked, his mask covering his mouth as Jane looked up at him.

"Yea, you can come over. I've got to stop by the nurse station, I have a rip in my mask." Jane said as she veered down another hallway, Jake at her side.

"We wouldn't be stuck wearing these masks if the air was clean to breathe...damn pollution." Jake said as he looked down at the tile of the floor, looking up to see everyone else they passed by wearing a similar mask.

"What do you expect? Humans have no regard for the planet...we will only learn when it's too late." Jane said, a bit of anger in her voice as they stopped by a window. She could see a gray haze in the air, the fields beyond the school grounds looking bare and sick.

"I hear NASA has gotten financial approval from most of the world leaders to begin work on leaving this planet...if only we could go." Jake said, his voice down and depressed as Jane looked over at him with a smile hidden behind her mask.

"Why don't we go? Both of us have been studying the stars for a long time...we should go!" Jane said with excitement as Jake looked at her, a smile of his own hidden behind his mask.

"Do you really think we could? They only take the best of the best." Jake responded, looking back out as a few military helicopters flew overhead.

"Then we work our asses off to be the best of the best...look out there Jake...it's only going to get worse." Jane said as she used her free hand and placed it on Jake's shoulder, turning her head to look at the sun beyond the haze. The white clouds she had grown up with as a little girl now a light gray instead of their normal fluffy white color.

"Let's do it then...let's leave this planet!" Jake said happily as Jane smiled before turning her attention back to him. She reached down and held his free hand as they moved away from the window and began to walk towards a room with a image of a nurse on the door.

Ethan's POV

Ethan awoke with a start, sitting up quickly as he heard a alarm going off next to him. He turned to see Glyph hovering back and forth as Benny sat up in bed as well. Ethan looked over at the clock on the bedside nightstand, seeing it was almost eight in the morning.

"Shit! We are going to be late to our own Earth ceremony!" Ethan said as he jumped out of bed and ran towards the bathroom, slamming the door shut as he quickly disrobed and jumped in the shower. He wet his hair before throwing in a handful of shampoo before hearing Benny pound on the door.

"You ass! I wanted to shower first!" Benny hollered from the other side of the door as Ethan smiled to himself.

"Gotta be quick soldier!" Ethan retorted as he began to giggle as he heard Benny grunt before hitting the door once more.

Moments Later

Ethan stood in front of the mirror beside his bed as he straightened his tie, Benny putting on his shoes before they both heard a beeping noise come from the door. Ethan turned his head around as he quirked a eyebrow at Benny who just shrugged his shoulders before he walked over and pressed the button, the door reeling back into the door frame. Standing there was Shepard, a smile on his face as he brought a hand from around his back revealing a flower Ethan hadn't seen before. Without a moment's thought, Ethan sprung forward as he shrieked and threw his arms around Shepard's body as the taller of the two began to chuckle before returning the embrace.

"What are you doing here!?" Ethan asked excitedly, reveling in the feeling of being pressed up against Shepard's chest and listening to the Commander breathe.

"The Normandy docked a day early, we came in early this morning and I got approval from Hackett to come and see you. The rest of the crew is waiting at the award ceremony for you, we are all here." Shepard said, running his free hand over Ethan's back softly.

"I'm so happy your here...I...I missed you." Ethan said, leaning back as he looked up into Shepard's eyes and smiled. He turned his head as he took notice of the flower Shepard was still holding, it's petals a soft blue with burgundy stripes running through it.

"What kind of flower is that...I've never seen it before." Ethan asked as he took the flower, it's stem a ice white color.

"It's called the Tunchankan Gem, it's a flower that grows on the Krogan home-world. I found it when we docked in Tunchanka, so Tali and I carefully dug it up and brought it on board. I've been keeping it alive ever since...wanted it to be fresh when I gave it to you." Shepard said, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. That's when he noticed Benny standing in the room as he tapped Ethan on the shoulder who looked behind him with a surprised smile.

"Oh God, I'm so rude. Benny, I'd like you to meet-" Ethan began before he was cut off from a shriek of Benny's own.

"Your THE Commander Shepard! I can't believe your standing right in front of me!" Benny said as he had a mini freak out, a huge smile on his face as Shepard began to laugh as Ethan rubbed his arm sheepishly.

"You better get going, I saw recruits leaving for the ceremony as I walked to your room. I'll meet you afterward, the crew and I have a surprise for you." Shepard said as he smiled at Ethan before giving a small wave towards Benny before turning around and walking out of the room. Ethan felt a big nudge in his shoulder as he looked over and saw Benny staring at him with his arms crossed.

"Lucky dog! Not only did you manage to get the most respected guy in the Alliance, but the hottest too!" Benny said, a smirk on his lips as he playfully punched Ethan once more.

"Okay, first off, he's not mine yet. We are..well...I guess you could say highly interested but not quite dating yet. And secondly...back off...I saw him first." Ethan said, trying to keep a straight face before they both burst out laughing together.

"Well, interested or not...it seems like he really cares about you." Benny said, a more serious undertone to his voice now as Ethan and him walked out of the room, the door closing behind them and Glyph following suit.

"Yea...I care about him too. Anyways, we better hurry. I do not want to see Lorir's face if we are late...he's such a hard ass!" Ethan said as they both quicken their pace down the hall.

That Evening

Ethan walked up on stage as he looked out to his Alliance family, the recruits he had been with the last three months and the ones he will stay with for another three. He looked forward as Atia'Voza stood there, holding a pin in her hands as he walked up to her.

"Ethan Morgan, we commend you today for three months of continued excellence and showing the galaxy that you are truly meant to be with the Alliance. We here on Earth are proud to see you go forth and continue your training with our Lunar Base. I present unto you, half of the Alliance Recruitment Medal. When your training is officially completed on the Lunar Base, you'll be given the other half too finally complete the medal. Enjoy your time here on Earth, and go on to make us all proud Mr. Morgan." the Quarian Admiral said as she began to clap for him as Ethan turned to face the crowd, standing straight as he saluted everyone. He could hear clapping from the back as the Alliance crew began to cheer him on, a smile creeping on his face as he turned on his heel and walked over to join Nareenia, Meno's, and Benny.

Later That Night

Ethan walked with Shepard down a walkway at Docking Station Twelve, the Normandy's airlock compartment in view as Shepard walked forth and pressed a button. Ethan watched as the door opened, Shepard turning around to smile at him as they both walked aboard. Ethan walked ahead as he turned his head to the left, seeing EDI and Joker at the flight controls going over the control panel. He returned his gaze back to his right as another door opened, revealing the Bridge. The entire crew stood there as Ethan watched them all begin to clap for him. He could see Liara, Tali, Vega, Kaidan, and everyone else standing there welcoming him. Ethan smiled as he turned his attention over to Shepard who was clapping as well.

"Close your eyes, we've got a surprise for you." Shepard said as Ethan looked around curiously before closing his eyes, he could hear footsteps before he felt a pair of hands go over his eyes.

"Okay...in one, two, three. Open!" Shepard said as he unshielded Ethan's eyes, Ethan opening them to see a suit of armor in front of him, a beautiful onyx black with red stripes running through the legs and arms. Ethan saw Liara walk up with something in her hand before handing it to him. He looked down and saw a pair of dog tags with his name on it and the symbol of the Alliance.

"I know you haven't completed your training yet, but we all came together and got you this armor in the Normandy's colors. We are all proud of you Ethan, all of us know you can do this!" Shepard said as Ethan turned towards him, a few tears in his eyes as he stepped forward and hugged him. He smiled as Shepard embraced him back, the crew clapping as he held his dog tags in his hand. Ethan stepped back as he wiped at his eyes, chuckling as he looked up at Shepard.

"Thank you..all of you. You've all come together to accept someone who just six months ago was scared, alone, and frightened. You've welcome me aboard the Normandy's family and accepted me as one of your own...I couldn't have asked for a better life." Ethan said as he looked out over the crew gathered on the Bridge, some of them he knew and others he didn't yet.

"Your one of us now, no turning back!" came Tali's and Kaidan's voice as the crew began to laugh, causing Ethan to chuckle.

"Don't forget, we still have a dinner date." Shepard said as Ethan turned his attention back to him, smiling with delight.

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