Short and sweet.

Tali came up behind the couch. Shepard was sitting on one side, idly watching the vid screen. He'd showered, put on pants and a shirt. One arm draped across the back of the couch, the other rested on his leg. He was waiting for her to join him.

They'd woken in each other's arms, holding each other for a long time. Eventually, though, Shepard had to give in to Mother Nature and reluctantly left the bed. Tali said she'd be up in a minute. Secretly, she wanted a moment to think.

She'd grabbed a white robe, one of a few that Shepard had bought for her to wear around their room, and wrapped it around her, tying the belt at her waist. She did this slowly, thinking hard even as she relished how the cloth moved against her skin, the carpet cushioning her bare feet. Tali looked longingly at the mess of a bed they'd left. Pieces of her suit were scattered everywhere, Shepard's clothes were in a messy pile at the side of the bed.

Tali washed up after Shepard. Quarians actually had sterile washrooms on their ships so taking a shower wasn't a big revelation for Tali. Being able to enjoy it without thinking about wasted resources was, however.

Now she was standing behind him.

He's done so much for me. How can I ever repay him?

She glanced down and noticed her hands were dancing together again. Damn it, I thought I'd dropped that habit.

She forced them to her sides and stared at the back of Shepard's head. Losing her nerve, she circled the opposite side of the couch and sat down, staring straight ahead.

Shepard's head snapped to her as soon she came within view. A worried crease wrinkled his brow when she didn't look at him. Her back was ramrod straight, hands braced on her knees.

"Tali."

Her head swiveled to him, hypnotic eyes wide.

Shepard raised his hands slightly, thumbs in the air, and his face twisted into a look that said perfectly, 'Uh, hello? What's wrong with sitting by me?'

She looked away, "I'm sorry, Shepard, I thought you were watching... I mean, I didn't want to bother you..."

Unconsciously, her fingers wrapped together again.

Shepard promptly switched off the tube. "I wasn't even listening. I was thinking of... something else," he said, eyes raking over her. Tali didn't see it as her head was turned the other way.

"Oh." She couldn't think of anything else to say. Her eyes dropped to her lap, noticed her fidgeting fingers and quickly separated them.

Shepard noticed it, too. He pondered for a moment what would cause her to fall back into the old habit.

Thought he had an answer. Time to test it.

Grabbing the back of the couch, he lifted and carried himself across the single cushion that separated them. He set himself down, flush against Tali, enough to make her jump. His arm went along the back of the couch again, and his other hand reached out to rest on Tali's thigh. He brought his lips close to her ear.

"Something wrong?" His voice was low and husky. He felt her shiver against him and gently rub her leg.

"N-no, I'm fine... well, I don't know..." They both knew she was lying, but having him pressed so close sent her nerves into overdrive.

The hand behind her came around and lightly trailed fingers along her arm. He was cuddling her. Legs and hips touching, arms circling.

She looked down at the hand and gasped.

"Shepard, you're arm is bruised!" There were three colorful marks just below his wrist. His hand didn't look that good either.

He chuckled. "Yes, thank you for that," he teased.

She looked at him, blushing furiously. "You said I wouldn't hurt you!"

"It doesn't hurt, Tali. I've been through a lot worse... you know that. Besides, I can think of less pleasant ways to be bruised than having my lover strangle my arm."

My lover.

She sighed, glancing away, eyes catching on to the distinct mark protruding out of the top of Shepard's collar.

"Is that... keelah," she groaned, covering her burning face with a hand.

Shepard smiled wide as he hooked a finger around the collar and pulled down, trying to look at the mark. A perfect row of Tali's teeth was imprinted there, and she could easily imagine another row on the back side of his neck from her upper teeth. It was a mark that wasn't going away any time soon.

"I think it's kinda sexy."

"Shepard..." she looked away from him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" His voice switched back to concern, and his hand returned to rub her thigh. His lips against her ear again.

She didn't say anything. His loose embrace strangled coherent thinking.

"Is this about last night?" he asked softly, stroking her arm again.

Last night. The images it conjured made her gasp.

She tried to control her shaky breathing. Get a hold of yourself! After last night you shouldn't even be allowed to act like a virgin!

"Last night was... Shep-John, last night was incredible."

"I thought so, too. So what's got my wife wound up so tight?"

My wife. He was doing it on purpose, had to be. Throwing those words out to catch her off guard and spill whatever she was holding back.

"I... I know we've had this discussion before, but... well after last night it sort of came back. I mean, not right away. At first I felt wonderful and happy and you were next to me and..." She laughed at herself. "And I'm babbling like an idiot again."

The hand left her thigh and tucked a knuckle under her chin, lifting her face to look at him.

"You're such an amazing person, Shepard... a wonderful man... I don't know how I could ever deserve you, why you chose me." She felt pathetic as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Aw, Tali..."

A sob escaped her. She pulled away, embarrassed.

Shepard immediately grabbed her and hauled her against his chest. Tali held him tightly, crying into his shoulder, as he rubbed her back.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart. It's okay."

He resting his cheek against her head until she quieted. Finally she lifted her head, but didn't pull away from him.

"Feel better?"

She nodded, "I'm sorry, Shepard."

"Hey, don't apologize. It's what I'm here for. It's what we're both here for."

He cupped her face with his hand.

"Tali, if anything I should be asking you the same thing." The look she gave him clearly showed she didn't believe a word of it. But he pressed on. "You were so strong and cocky when we first met. It always made me smile the way you practically skipped around the Normandy because you were so happy." He was smiling now, remembering. "And later you were carrying out your duties to the Migrant Fleet, even facing death to help your people. Always so selfless, my Tali."

A little half-smile appeared on her face as he spoke.

"You've been with me since the beginning. You've trusted me when others turned their backs." He paused. "And you loved me when I thought no one could."

She watched him quietly, lulled by his voice.

"Remember on the first Normandy when I asked how old you were?"

Tali laughed softly. "You didn't believe me."

"When I saw you again, two years later, there was no doubt in my mind that you were a woman."

His thumb ran slowly over her lips.

"What a woman you are, Tali."

She felt beautiful, the way he looked at her. "Can I kiss you, Shepard?"

"You never have to ask, love."

She pressed her mouth against his.

Their lips melded slowly, gently. Shepard cradled her head as he bent over her.

Tali's tears were those of happiness. Then she felt something wet trickle down from Shepard's face to hers. She broke from the kiss with a gasp.

He was crying.

Tali stared, awestruck.

Shepard blinked rapidly at the unfamiliar sting. He couldn't remember the last time he'd shed tears. But he wasn't ashamed. Not in front of Tali.

"John..."

It was like removing his own mask, showing her a part of himself no one else had seen. It made her realize that, despite loving each other deeply, they had both been holding back slightly, guarding a small part of their heart. If the other died while they fought the Reapers, which seemed inevitable at the time, they would need that little part to keep themselves going, even if it was painful to do so. But now they opened fully to each other. Nothing would be held back ever again.

He stopped blinking and looked at her, eyes set, intense.

"I love you so much." His voice shook, filled to the brim with emotion.

She cupped his jaw. "I know, John. I love you, too. Forever."

"I need you," he said, pulling her close.

She smiled at him. "That's what I'm here for."

He kissed her as she pushed him back into the cushions.