She woke up groggy and sluggish. Her body ached as she stretched. A hot shower would do her some good.

And she was right. The steaming water washed away the fog that clouded her mind and eased the tension of her muscles.

Not a moment later after she had gotten dressed, Garrus knocked and entered her cabin door, with a cup of fresh coffee. Shepard smiled at him and graciously accepted the cup, and noticed that he didn't have any. But then she remembered that turians had different diets.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked her, sitting on the couch, patting the seat next to him.

She took the seat and sighed deeply. "Drinking that much probably wasn't the best decision. But, what the heck. Everyone needs a morality check every once and awhile."

Garrus snickered. "You took the words right from my mouth."

"About last night. . ." She started.

"You don't have to explain yourself, Shepard. It's okay."

She breathed deeply out. That was a relief off of her shoulders. After thinking about it, she realized she wasn't ready for any commitment right now. It was still really hard being without Thane, he had been her one and only love. Garrus understood when she explained this to him, and was even okay with it. He knew what it felt like to lose someone close to you.

"Now, if you're feeling better, Shepard, we have a galaxy to save." He said humorously, walking out of her cabin.

"I'm right behind you, Vakarian."

The meeting with the Quarian admirals did not go as Shepard had planned. Tali was now an admiral? The Quarians were throwing a full-out war against the geth, and not only that, but the geth were being improved and updated by the Reapers? She wished that she could have some more of that brandy again.

When the meeting was said and done, Shepard slowly walked up to the galaxy map, feeling every movement of her body, calculating the weight and force of her muscles. She wished she could share the burden of galactic security with somebody else.

Before she set the destination of the geth dreadnought onto the galaxy map, the pinging light of her personal terminal caught her eye. She read the unopened message in her inventory.

Siha,

I don't know how or if I can explain this to you, but I'm going to try. Do you believe in second chances? Or in hope that was never lost, only buried deep within for you to discover it again? I believe something, I am unsure what, has led me to you again. To help renew my life and make it right.

If you loved me, Siha, which I have no doubt you did, then please meet me at the Citadel. Seeing you again, it would mean the world to me. I have missed you so much. But, I have to warn you, I do not look like what I was before. We can talk about it when you get here.

I love you, and I hope everything is well. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Thane

Her vision started to blacken around the edges as she focused on the name at the bottom of the message. What the hell was going on?

Shepard knew his words; who else would call her 'Siha'? But Thane was dead, she was only now starting to put things in the past behind her. Yet, she did love him, undoubtedly, and this message, as crazy as it was, gave her the hope he was talking about.

She switched courses to the Citadel. Top priority. She only prayed that this message was real, and not some sick and twisted joke.

When he saw the Normandy dock at the Citadel, his heart fluttered and the tingling sensation returned to his stomach. Being human was sometimes strange to Thane. He waited against the wall, next to the airlock door to docking bay D24.

And there she was, holding herself high with strength that he had always admired about her. She was looking around, almost nervously, no doubt for him as a drell. Yet, in his message he told her he'd look different, but he didn't tell her the specifics.

He finally mustered up his courage and approached her. "Shepard?" He asked quietly, even shyly. She looked upon him with the fiery eyes he could get lost in. It was like looking within her very soul. "It's me, Siha."

He had startled her with her name. She looked up to see one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen. His jaw was strongly sculptured, with perfect, even features, a set of white, immaculate teeth and bright blue eyes. The way he stood even reminded her of Thane, how he held his hands behind his back, muscled and toned shoulders held high.

"Thane?" She asked, almost inaudibly.

"Yes, Siha," He said, tears welling in his eyes. "It's me."