Hey guys, sorry it took so long for me to get chapter 3 out, but I've been really busy with uni stuff lately.

But anyways, here is chapter 3, I hope that you guys enjoy it! Please behind any feedback, it is greatly appreciated!

Chapter Three

*ONE WEEK LATER*

Shepard sighed as he stumbled forward, distributing his weight to his hand as he placed it against the wall. His Cerberus implants during his reconstruction had sped up the recovery process significantly, which had baffled the medical staff tasked with taking care of him. But despite his speedy recovery, he was not left without scars. He refused to be tormented by them though, seeing them more as a permanent reminder of his victory against the Reapers rather than scars. His left leg had been badly damaged during the explosion on the Citadel when he had made the decision to destroy the Reapers and even though he had the best treatment the Alliance could offer, he had been left with a mild limp. He shook his head, moving onto more positive thoughts. It felt great to be walking again, albeit with a limp. The time he had spent in that bed had been grueling both physically and mentally, but the presence of Tali had greatly eased that. She had been with him the entire time he was confined to that bed, refusing to leave his side until he had recovered sufficiently enough to be able to walk on his own.

Damn that girl can be stubborn sometimes. Hah, I think I'm starting to rub off on her.

Despite her stubbornness in her refusal to leave his side during his recovery, he was genuinely pleased that she had chosen to remain by his side. He had also been pleased when Garrus had visited him. That night had been particularly special as he laid in his bed, talking to his two closest friends, the two friends who had been by his side since the beginning. When he had asked after the rest of the Normandy's crew, Garrus had replied by saying that they were all occupied at the moment, but they were all healthy and mainly, they were all alive. He had been audibly relieved by the news, although he was disappointed that he couldn't see them straight away, he knew that he would be able to catch up with them later on.

That is gonna be one hell of a party.

He finally snapped out of his trance and turned his mind back to the task at hand. As soon as Hackett had been informed that Shepard had recovered, he had told him that he was to appear before the council to take part in discussion regarding the future of the universe. While dealing with the council was so far down the list of Shepard's priorities, he knew that it was required of him and that there was no real way of him avoiding it. This meeting was inevitable. He grimaced at the thought of having to listen to their stupidity once again. Whilst he was obligated to entertain Hackett's wishes, it didn't mean that he had to like it.

Shepard took his hand off the wall and exited the door way of the hospital, walking out into the streets of London. He breathed in deeply, taking in Earth's air. The air filled his lungs and for once he felt… truly free. The streets were teaming with activity. Shepard noticed that there was still a strong military presence about, but he concluded that it was pretty much a given that this would occur as people still held paranoia about lingering Reaper forces. Even though there was a strong military presence, the streets were still teaming with civilians of all races; humans, Asari, Taurians, Krogan, Solarians, even Quarians.

Shepard gazed upon the scene from where he stood outside the hospital, his eyes taking in the surroundings around him. A group of Taurian soldiers helping a squad of Alliance marines clear rubble from a fallen building, two Quarians repairing a power outlet as a human engineer admired their work, a Krogan warrior grasping the wrist of a Salarian commando in a gesture of friendship with the Salarian returning the gesture, human children playing with children from assorted races. All these things were symbols of hope. A hope that now could finally be fulfilled.

They fought together. They bled together. They died for each other. Friendship forged in fire and blood.

Shepard snapped out of his thoughtful gaze as a military car pulled up next to him and a marine stepped out of the driver's seat, quickly running around to open up the passenger door closet to Shepard. He stood to attention once it was opened and saluted Shepard.

"I'm here to take you to the embassy Commander," said the marine, "I'm sorry to be direct Commander, but you are expected very soon."

Shepard nodded his understanding to the marine and climbed into the back of the car. The last thing he saw before the door closed behind him was a human child being led to a man and woman by a marine, tears of joy streaming down the woman's face as the child noticed them and started running towards them.

Hope.

"Commander," the council welcomed him in unison.

Now to deal with these fucking idiots again.

The Taurian councilor spoke up first. After the events on Thessia had become public in that the Asari had been hiding Prothean technology for their own gain, the Asari had lost a large portion of their credibility towards the other galactic races.

"Commander Shepard," he began, "I know that we have had our differences in the past and that we never truly believed in the Reaper threat, or you for that matter. But despite our past, we now have a chance to move forwards. You are the reason that we all stand here today, you are the reason why our children can live without fear. You are the one who stood before impossible odds and laughed in its face. Shepard, I know that it may seem a small thing to you, but we offer our thanks. We offer the thanks of our people. I am sorry… we are sorry that we didn't listen to you before," finished the Taurian councilor.

"You are not only a hero to humanity Commander; you are a hero to every race that you stood for against the Reapers. You stood for all organic life, you fought for them, you fought for the Taurians, Solarians, the Asari, as well as all the other galactic races, even when we, our people's own representatives were too blind to see the reality of the situation, " continued the Solarian councilor.

"It is not often that a single man can so rapidly defuse feuds that have lasted for centuries. You single handedly ended the 300 year war between the Geth and the Quarians and returned the Quarians to their home world, you single handedly elevated a hatred embedded so deeply into the Krogan towards the Solarians and cured the genophage. But most of all, it is not often that you see the whole galaxy united together under one banner by a single man," praised the Asari councilor, "You have truly done the impossible Shepard. We are eternally in your debt."

Shepard took a moment to take in everything the councilors had just said. He knew that they were going to speak about the future but he had been totally unprepared for this. He was quite surprised by the genuine sincerity he could hear in their voices as they poured their praises and thanks over him. In spite of the misunderstandings and anger between the council and himself, their words touched him.

"I… I thank you for the kind words councilors," replied Shepard, "But I was just doing my duty, my duty to the universe, my duty as a soldier. I stood against the Reapers for the people that I loved."

"You are too modest Shepard," said Hackett as he stepped forward on the podium, a small smile on his lips, "You have been working above your pay-grade for quite some time now Shepard, none of us asked for this, but you put your head down and got it done. I thank you Shepard, you have more than earned a rest."

"What do you mean a rest?" interjected the Asari councilor, "Shepard, we know that you have done so much for us all, but the universe needs you now more than ever. You are a symbol of peace and hope and the people look to you as a hero, as their savior in their time of greatest need. We still have need of you Shepard, we want you to not only represent humanity on the council, but to lead the council. It is only fitting that the man who secured our future leads us into our future."

The Taurian and Solarian councilors murmured their agreement.

"Shepard," started Hackett, "I understand fully your position, I want you to know that I support any decision you make," he finished.

Shepard sighed heavily. He looked around the embassy chamber, taking in his surroundings. Representatives, both major and minor, of all the galactic races were present. Taurians, Solarians, Asari, Krogan, Hanar, Quarian, Drell as well as the other races who fought against the Reapers. They were all here. He knew that something like this would be asked of him here, but he had already made up his mind when he saw Tali for the first time after waking up in the hospital bed.

"I refuse your offer councilors."

A murmur swept through the crowd within the embassy and the councilors seemed taken aback by what they had just heard.

"Shepard, we urge you to reconsider!" said the Solarian councilor; dismay clearly heard in his voice, "Please think about the implications, think about what we are offering you!"

"My decision is final," decreed Shepard, a sigh escaping his lips, "I have been a soldier my entire life, I have followed orders and fought for others, as well as having people follow me and fight for me for as long as I can remember. When I discovered the Reapers, I devoted my life to stopping them. I have been fighting for so long, running from place to place to solve problems. Now that the Reapers are gone for good… I… I now finally have a life of my own."

Shepard took a moment to look around the embassy once more before he continued.

"I'm tired of being a soldier. I'm… I'm just so damn tired. A close friend of mine told me that it had been a long time since he had simply… just sat down. It's been too long since I've just sat down. I want to just sit down and watch things go by for once, not have to keep up all the time. I'm tired of being a soldier; I'm damn tired of being a hero."

There was a long pause before Shepard began speaking again. No one in the embassy chamber dared to speak as Shepard poured out pure emotion, finally letting his feelings out for all to see.

"I have seen too much death and destruction. Too many of my friends have fallen during this damned war. Friends that I will never get back, much like mothers who will never get their child back, fathers who will never see their children grow into adulthood, children that will never know their parents. All because of this damned war."

Shepard sighed, taking in a huge intake of air, only to exhale heavily.

"I have finally found love that has filled a void in my heart that I never thought could be filled again after the death of my own parents when I was a child on Earth. I have friends who I proudly call brothers and sisters, friends who have been through hell and back with me more than a few times. I just want to sit down and cherish what I have left."

Tears glistened in the sun's rays as they ran down Shepard's face.

"I'm sorry councilors, but my story… Shepard's story has finished. It's time for someone else to take up the burden that I leave behind. It's time for someone else to write a story. Shepard's story is done; the hero is no longer needed."

The tears now flowed freely from Shepard's eyes.

"This old soldier just wants to sit down."