That One Time at the Club

(a short about when Shepard first knew he loved Tali)

"This bachelor party can now start because I am now here!" Joker called out as he hobbled into the Mess. It was the night before Shepard's wedding day. The moment Joker found out it was over. Joker had argued bitterly with the females to let the bachelor party be on the Normandy. He had finally won when he pulled his trump card. He was a cripple that couldn't travel outside the Normandy. A dirty trick but Joker got what he wanted.

Colin watched Joker go straight to the dancers that Zaeed hired. Most of the crew was drunk. Colin didn't drink a drop for several reasons. First being he knew that if he was drunk one of the dancers would try to get him to bed. He had already been approached by all but two of the dancers. The second reason was that he had stopped drinking when one of his crew drank himself to death after Eden Prime.

"This is supposed to be a happy time for you Commander. Why aren't you enjoying yourself?" Thane's voice came from behind Shepard. Turning he saw Thane watching everything. After a few seconds he focused on Colin.

"Just because I'm not actively participating doesn't mean I'm not enjoying myself." Thane nodded in understanding. Voice dropping Colin added. "I am going to need this memory to help me through the hell we are going to face. I want the crew to have these memories to help them through the Reaper attack. What about you Thane? Will you have a good time for me?"

"I am having a good time. I, like you, want this memory."

-

MEANWHILE

"Tali you need to relax and enjoy yourself. This is the last night that you're going to be single!" Kasumi said. The music of the club could be heard through the walls of the room they rented but it was quiet enough for them to have conversation. Tali shook her head.

"Well can't say that we didn't try." Jack said from by the door. "Well I'm going to get some more drinks, who wants another round?" Everybody raised their hand except Tali and Samara.

"Hey Tali, when do you think Shepard fell in love with you?" Kasumi suddenly asked. Jack, who was about to open the door, stopped moving. Tali's hand went to her mask. How could she not see this coming?

"Yes Tali, when do you think Shepard fell in love with you?" Miranda asked with a hint of a smirk and a glint of curiosity in her eye. Tali saw that Jack hadn't moved.

"Jack, go ahead and get the drinks I won't start until you get back."

"I'm holding you to that." She said as she stepped out into the club.

-

BACK AT THE NORMANDY

"Thane?" Colin asked

"Yes?"

"Want to go for a walk?" Thane just nodded. Somehow they were able to get out of the room
without anybody noticing. Shepard led them to the airlock.

"On the shore?" Thane asked.

"Ya, sometimes you need some fresh air." They waited for the airlock to cycle.

"If I may be so bold," Thane broke the silence. "When did you know you loved Tali?" Colin
laughed.

"That's a good question. Where to start…"

-

FLASHBACK

"Shepard, you will find that freedom you are looking for." Garrus said. Colin gave him a
strange look.

"What are you talking about?"

"Every time you give the crew shore leave you go straight to a club. You spend hours in the club but you don't drink. That leaves two options, in my opinion. The first option you could be going for is getting laid, which I highly doubt. That leaves the second option. you want to find a girlfriend or maybe something more." Colin sighed. They were indeed in a club. The music was loud so they had to almost yell to be heard.

"How do you know that?"

"You don't become a sniper by not seeing the details."

"I feel my whole life has been in a prison of constant duty." He confided. "Don't get me wrong, I am more than willing to do my duty and more, but, I don't have a personal life. I don't even know the meaning of the words 'love life'. You know what I mean?" Garrus laughed.

"More than you know." They both looked over the dance floor. The majority of the people on the floor were Asari and Humans. Well look at that, there's even a couple Quarians. One Qurian caught the Commander's eye. All Qurians had nice bodies, the suit couldn't hide that. The way she moved when she danced was almost a balm to Shepard. Huh, never had this feeling before.

"Now that's the last person I thought I would see here." Garrus commented.

"What? Who?" Garrus pointed to the Quarian that Colin was staring at.

"Tali." With that one word Colin's heart dropped. Just when he saw a ray of light he couldn't go after it because she was part of his crew. They both continued watching her until she had to rest. As she moved off the dance floor Shepard moved onto it.

"What are you doing Colin?"

"I just need to dance right now."

"You know you are a terrible dancer right?" The Commander threw a smirk over his shoulder.

"As long as I'm having fun it doesn't matter."

"It does to us that are watching." Colin waved him off and made his way to the dance
floor.

-

"I'm sorry but I'm not interested." Tali said. The Turian gave her a small smile.

"Then I hope you find the right person." He gave her a small bow and walked away. Tali tilted her head. A polite Turian. That's rare. Tali's gaze drifted over the dance floor. Her eyes went to the back of this one Human. A very well built male by the looks of it. The thing that caught her eye was that he was a terrible dancer. From the way he was moving Tali could tell he was trying to dance a problem away. He was stiff and it seemed like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. The more she watched the Human the more her heart went out to him.

Tali gasped. One particular move the Human had done made it so he was facing Tali. It was Commander Shepard! At that moment she knew that this was an opportunity for her. She had always more than liked the Commander but she knew that their love would be impossible. Her hands began to wring each other. What should she do?

-

Colin just danced as hard as he could. He needed to get this feeling of hopelessness out of his system. After several moments he slowed his movements down.

"Would you like a…(cough)…um, dancing partner?" Shepard turned around to find Tali standing there. His heart skipped a beat.

"Um…sure if you don't mind my dancing." Tali gave a little laugh.

"Don't worry I've seen worse." Colin slowed to a shuffle.

"Really? Anybody I know?"

"Me." Colin barked out a loud laugh.

"Not from what I saw a little while ago." From the way Tali's head tilted down slightly he knew she was blushing. Someone bumped into Colin's back forcing him into Tali. He brought his hands up to her shoulders to steady her while he looked to see who bumped him. Unable to find who it was he faced Tali again. Her mask was very close to his face. His eyes met hers.

END FLASHBACK

-

"There was no doubt in my mind at that moment that I loved Tali." All the women turned around to find Colin standing at the door with Thane behind him. Tali gave him a smile.

"At that moment I knew he loved me." Colin held out a hand to her. He paused then looked back at Thane.

"You don't mind do you? I'm just kind-of dumping you here." There was a smile on Thane's face.

"I knew this is where we were heading here the moment you led us to the airlock." Tali took the Commander's hand and they both left the club.

"You ready for tomorrow?" Colin asked.

"More than ready."

"Will your aunt make it in time?"

"She'll be here." Colin stopped Tali. He raised her hand to his mouth to give it a kiss. He muttered something. Upon seeing Tali's questioning look he repeated himself.

"I do."