Disclaimer: Everything but the story belongs to Bioware.
"It was with great reluctance that I allowed myself to be coerced into this meeting in the first place and the fact that I am now being forced to grant your outlandish claims any consideration is almost beyond belief." The turian Councilor's mandibles flared in agitation as he gazed down at the quartet that stood before him and his colleagues. The steeliest portion of his gaze he saved for the human female that stood at their head. Even now her mouth was set in a determined line despite the smooth impassivity of the rest of her face. Humans, he thought bitterly, were terrible at concealing anything. Every emotion they felt was written across their bare faces for the entire galaxy to see. It stood directly against the turian preference for restraint, confirming in his mind that their two species couldn't be farther apart than if she was a hanar. It was also another clear indication to his mind that the fledgling species had not yet been ready to join the Spectres let alone the Council.
This human Spectre in particular had been nothing but trouble from the moment she stepped on to the Citadel. First, there had been all that trouble with Saren, and while he would begrudgingly concede that she had been right he couldn't help but wish anybody but she had been the one to take him down. Then, there had been her relentless campaign about the ephemeral Reapers, the current source of his headache. And that was without taking into account the fact that the shameless female had allied herself with Cerberus despite her knowledge that it was considered a terrorist organization! He would stake his life on the fact that nothing good had ever come from dealing with the troublesome Commander. He was still unable to understand how she'd convinced a former STG officer and an asari Justicar, of all things, to join her cause. And then of course, there was her turian crew member.
The Councilor turned his gaze toward the member that interested him the most. Garrus Vakarian stood quietly behind his Commander, his face impassive the Councilor was pleased to note. Councilor Valern had heard rumors of the younger Vakarians mysterious reappearance after Commander Shepard had returned from the dead, but he hadn't truly believed it until he laid eyes on him at this meeting. Wherever he had been, the Councilor thought as he took in the cybernetic mesh and scarred visage, it had not agreed with him. Still, despite his scandalous past, the young turian stood like any model citizen: his shoulders and head were thrown back, his visage free of any unnecessary emotion, his eyes trained on his Commanding officer with a look that could only be described as - affectionate? Councilor Valern felt his stomach turn at the sudden thought that assailed him but now that he had noticed the first sign a dozen more subtle clues seemed to assault him. It was the way he stood just too close to her to be polite, the slight quivering of his mandibles when she spoke, the needless touch of her arm during the ridiculous Salarian's presentation but, most damning of all, it burned like fire in his eyes as he watched her, obvious to anybody who cared to see. A Vakarian taking up with a human was a situation he'd never thought he'd live to see.
"It is undeniable that the support of the doctor and the Justicar have lent your argument some weight, Commander. Not to mention that the volume of data you've brought back from beyond the Omega 4 Relay is hard to ignore." His colleagues' voice snapped him out of his reverie and forced him to take stock of where the situation with Shepard was heading. "In light of all you've shown us today I would ask that you grant us an additional day to sift through the information. The action you are asking us to take could have severe consequences for galactic stability and we need to be certain that we understand the situation better before we make any such commitment. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I express my wish to avoid any unnecessary surprises."
"Of course," Shepard's clear voice rang out in the tower, years of military training the only thing keeping her elation in check as she acquiesced to the Councilor's demands, "I'll have Moridin upload all our data to your offices and we shall remain in the area should you need us."
"It is decided then. In one day, Commander, you shall have your answer."
Shepard hadn't quite skipped out of the Citadel Tower but her quasi-success had left her feeling euphoric and, even more importantly, hopeful. She was aware that Councilor Anderson felt the same way, he'd allowed his professional facade to crack long enough for her to pick up on the triumph and relief that lurked behind his politician's mask. Shepard let out a happy sigh as she leaned over the balcony of Anderson's office to examine the Presidium below. Behind her she could her Anderson explaining the situation to a practically speechless Udina as he proceeded to give the man a detailed list of directions. She could barely wait for Anderson to finish with the man and dismiss her as well so that she could celebrate with her crew. She was grateful however that the most important person already stood by her side, his eyes drinking in the details of her face as she let her contentment shine through.
Garrus was unsure what his problem was. Ever since their encounter in the Comm room he'd been unable to take his eyes off of her. It didn't matter that they'd slaked their desire only hours before, she seemed to practically glow with triumph and he found the sight intoxicating. It took a tremendous amount of will power to keep his hands by his side where they belonged and not running through her hair and underneath her clothing like he wanted. Unable to help himself entirely he placed one hand on her waist as he stepped close enough to her that their bodies touched.
She'd noticed immediately of course, the slight contact sending an electrical charge along her spine. The smart-ass comment she'd prepared though was immediately forgotten as she tilted her face up to his and felt her breath catch at the look on his face. It was a look of pure need and she felt an answering tug start low in her body. Instinctively, she raised her hand to the scarred side of his face, the cybernetic patch glistening in the Presidium's artificial light. She was almost hyper-aware of his sharp intake of breathe at the first touch of her fingers, his mandibles quivering in anticipation as he turned instinctively into her touch.
The sound of Councilor Anderson tacitly clearing his throat brought them back to reality as they sprang apart guiltily, an embarrassed flush spreading over her skin. When he spoke his voice was carefully neutral but she was more than aware of the appraising look in his eyes, "If you have a moment, Shepard, I'd like to speak with you before you return to your crew."
She nodded dumbly, barely acknowledging Garrus as he made his excuses and left her alone with her former mentor. For a moment, neither of them spoke, each of them clearly uncomfortable with the subject that was about to be discussed. The worse part, she thought begrudgingly, was that she had no one to blame but herself. She'd let her feelings get the better of her, acting as if she and Garrus were completely alone and not a mere few yards away from Anderson. If it was a reprimand she was about to receive she had no doubt that she deserved it. When Anderson finally spoke though it was not to issue the expected set-down but rather a quiet request, "Take a walk with me, Shepard."
Shepard was thankful for the distraction of the crowds as they wound their way through the Presidium toward the Wards. Beside her, Councilor Anderson kept studiously quiet as he collected his thoughts. It wasn't until they stood before the entrance to the Wards that he broke the silence. "I have a feeling that any argument I could make against entering into a romantic entanglement with would be too little, too late."
Shepard forced herself to meet Anderson's eyes, uncertain over where exactly he was taking the conversation. She opened her mouth to speak but he silenced her with a glance before continuing, "I'm not your CO anymore, Shepard, and you're no longer an Alliance operative. I have no more right to tell you who you can and cannot fraternize with than any other of your peers and even if I did I'm not sure I would use it."
"Sir?"
Anderson cleared his throat one last time, his features softening as he studied her. He'd been careful not to let on just how much her death and subsequent resurrection had affected him. But he had always harbored a certain affection for his XO that was much more appropriate for a father than a CO. He'd rarely let it show, not wanting to disrupt the mutual respect that had grown between them during her time under his command. To lose her once had cut him deeply and he considered her resurrection little less than a miracle for which he was distinctly grateful. There was no denying however the distance that the last few years had placed between them; they had both changed and it was difficult to define the new relationship that existed between them. The affection and respect were still there but they were tempered by grief and time. But there was a new element on his part as well, a desire for her to take advantage of this precious second chance. He wanted to see her happy and when he'd turned around and caught her and Officer Vakarian together he'd seen the possibility for it in the way they had looked together.
"I won't lie to you and say that I'd never hoped to see you end up with a human, Shepard. And I won't give you false comfort by telling you that it's going to be easy because it won't. There are going to be some who see your involvement with a turian as a sign that you've turned your back on your own species. There will be many who will despise and discredit you for it as well."
It wasn't his first choice. He knew that there had been rumors about her and Alenko before her death and part of him had hoped for a reconciliation between them. But when he thought back over the few times he'd seen the two of them together after the attack on the Citadel he was unable to pinpoint a single moment where anything rivaling what he had seen earlier had manifested.
"None of that matters to me."
Shepard felt a wave of gratitude toward the man who stood before her. His support meant more to her than he could have imagined and she found herself swallowing back a lump of tears as he continued.
"All that matters to me is that you take advantage of this second chance to find happiness. You gave your life once already in the line of duty for your people, we have no right to ask any more of you than that. So if this is what you want, Shepard, if you think you have a chance at finding love - then I don't care if he's purple, krogan, human or turian. All I care about is that you're happy."