/A New Beginning/
When they reached the apartment, Shepard made for the bedroom to remove her uniform and get comfortable.
Garrus stopped her with an outstretched arm.
"Wait, my love." said the Turian. "I may have presented you with that medal, but I'm not done."
"Garrus" replied Alex "What's going on?"
"I wanted to make sure I did this right for you, so I did some… research" With those words, he dropped to one knee and produced a beautiful diamond ring set in pure gold.
"Admiral Alexandra Shepard, the love of my life, will you do this old soldier the honor of making him the happiest man in the galaxy and be my wife?"
Stunned, Shepard was able to get the words "Yes!" and "Oh my God, Garrus, Yes!" out. He placed the ring on her finger and she practically knocked him over with her embrace and kisses.
"Shepard, wait – there's more!" shouted Garrus between breaths. "Now!"
The room exploded with cries of "SURPRISE" as her mother, Admiral Hackett, the Councilors, Talus and Solana Vakarian and the crew of the Normandy lept out of their hiding places.
"Thank the Spirits, I didn't think Garrus was going to be able to keep the secret!" shouted Solana as she embraced her sister-to-be.
Tears were shed all around, hugs, congratulations and handshakes aplenty.
The party went on long into the night, and even to the wee hours of the morning.
"There's no Shepard without Vakarian" were the last words Shepard said before being enveloped by her fiancés arms as they fell asleep.