I haven't updated this one in awhile, so here I am with a brand new chapter to one of the longest stories I've ever written. Enjoy guys!

A Few Days Later

Ethan walked along a small and narrow walkway on the edge of the Thames River. He looked over at Big Ben, the clock tower having stayed the same for the past few hundred years. Ethan looked up at the night sky, dozens of hover cars moving through the air as they lit the sky up in a dazzling array of lights. Ethan perked his head up as a Asari woman and Krogan male walked by, both of them smiling and chatting with one another as Ethan passed them by.

"Ethan? What are you doing out here all by yourself?" came a familiar voice as Ethan turned his head around to see Shepard jogging up to him in a track suit with the Alliance logo on it.

"Oh, good evening Shepard. I'm just enjoying some time alone, care to join?" Ethan asked, earning a smile from the Commander as he slowed down to a brisk walk at Ethan's side.

"Anything particular on your mind? I was looking for you earlier, Liara told me you left for some fresh air." Shepard said as Ethan nodded his head, looking off towards the river.

"Just thinking is all...about my family." Ethan said, his gaze far off as Shepard looked down for a moment before returning his gaze.

"I'm sure you miss them a awful lot, I'm sorry for what happen." Shepard replied, Ethan stopping as he turned to look at the older of the two.

"Shepard, I'm not sorry, that's the thing. I'm far from sorry about what happen to me, I'm excited. I've been granted a whole new world of possibilities that were never available to me back in my time. I mean look at me, walking down a walkway with aliens around me across the river from a monument which is hundreds of years old while futuristic cars fly overhead. I loved my family to death, I still do. They are in my past now though, in a whole other universe to be exact. I've got the Normandy, the Alliance, Benny and Nareenia, and most importantly...you." Ethan said, reaching out and taking Shepard's hand in his.

"I'm glad I've got you too Ethan...the past few days have been blissful. Just us and the crew spending time together. It's honestly the most fun I've had in a long time, even before the whole rebirth thing. I'm glad you came through that portal, or else I would have never been able to do this." Shepard said, slowly pulling Ethan closer to him as he leaned down closer and closer. Ethan closed his eyes as his breath hitched inside his throat, Shepard's breath hot on his lips before they both pushed forward and connected them. Ethan felt his legs turn to jelly as he reached his hands up and placed them onto Shepard's shoulders to stabilize himself. After several long moments of silence, Ethan pulled away as their lips disconnected. He opened his eyes as a smile overcame his face, looking up into the green glow of Shepard's eyes.

"Good thing for portals huh?" Ethan said with a airy chuckle, earning a laugh from Shepard as the two of them just started giggling. He felt as Shepard took his hand, both of them beginning to walk down the walkway once more with Big Ben reflecting off the waterway to their side.

Later That Night

Ethan laid in bed with Shepard as they watched a old movie from his time period play on a holographic screen, courtesy of Glyph.

"So she wanted people to think she was a slut?" Shepard asked, Ethan rolling his eyes as he watched the main character of the sit in a principals office.

"The point is, she had to create a lie to just be recognized. Issues like this were big in my time, something about social acceptance or something like that." Ethan said back, taking a slight nibble out of a chocolate bar as he curled up into the crook of Shepard's arm.

"I don't think I'll ever understand what your people were all fighting about back then. Oil, natural gas, gay marriage, terrorism, all seems to trivial to the problems we have today. Well, the problems we use to have that is." Shepard said, popping a kernel of popcorn into his mouth with a loud crunch as Ethan looked up at him before shaking his head.

"We all can't be from a simpler time now can we?" Ethan mocked, making a face as Shepard playfully pushed his head away as they both giggled.

"So what shall we watch after this? I've got two personal favorites in mind, either Avatar or Golden Girls." Ethan said, sitting up and swiping away at the holographic screen as different movie and TV options popped up. Suddenly he felt as a pair of strong arms encircled his waist before drawing him back. Ethan smiled as his head landed in Shepard's lap, feeling as Shepard traced his fingers through his hair as he looked down at him.

"I think, we should just lay here and cuddle. We've watched like five movies already, let's give Glyph a break." Shepard said, the hovering VI finally shutting it's screen off before zooming around the room before hovering in a nearby corner.

"I guess, but are you deserving of said cuddles?" Ethan asked, earning a mock gasp of shock from Shepard before they both giggled again. Ethan turned onto his side as he felt Shepard throw a arm around him and draw him closer. They both looked out the plexiglass of Shepard's room, staring off into the bright lights of London.

"Seems so peaceful, so serene." Ethan said softly, curling one hand under his pillow as he looked out at the city.

"I enjoy the view, but the view I enjoy most is when the Normandy is out in the field. I've laid here many nights and just stared off into space, you can't imagine some of the beauty I've seen. There was one time we were scouting out by the Perseus System and there was this nebulae in the distance, it's colors were so vibrant and it was just so beautiful." Shepard said, Ethan smiling at the mental image he had provided. Ethan felt as a yawn escaped his lips, his eyes growing heavy as he stretched his toes.

"I'm getting pretty tired, I should probably head back to my bunk." Ethan said, beginning to get out of bed before he felt Shepard grab his arm.

"Don't go...stay with me tonight. I promise we won't do anything...just stay here and fall asleep with me. You'll be leaving for the Lunar Base here soon and I won't get another night like this for another three months." Shepard pleaded, Ethan turning to look at the Commander as he smiled for a moment before nodding his head. He crawled back under the silky sheets as Shepard threw a arm around him once more, returning to looking out the window. Ethan nuzzled close as Shepard's shirt pressed into his, both of them closing their eyes as they felt a heaviness take over their eyelids. Ethan used his free hand to grip onto the hand Shepard had draped over him, both of them not noticing Glyph hover up to the window as it drew the curtains and darkened the room for them both.

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