The mass relay dumped them out on the Citadel's door step. Shepard was not looking forward to this. Her apprehension for facing the Council was only matched by her loathing of making wedding plans. It wasn't as fun as she'd dreamed it would be as a little girl. Fortunately she had no sisters, so the maid of honor went to Tali. Kelly and Gabby would be her bride's maids. Thane's best man was his son. Baily was giving the boy a day off for the occasion, with a C-Sec escort. She was going to ask Garrus to 'give her away', but when she started to bring it up he found a reason to go work on something and avoided her for almost a week. So she was going to ask Councillor Anderson. Those had been Shepard's editions to the ceremony, besides her not singing. Everything else was done his way. That meant she had some dresses to find. He was taking care of his own clothing and the priest... holy man/drell, whatever.

The air lock opened after decontamination was complete. A blast of sterile air hit her face with all the familiar smells of the Citadel docking port, oil, dirt and fuel. Like a motor-pool. Samara was staying behind to monitor the ship. There were lots of crew members leaving and new ones joining. She would be the last to leave. She was returning to asari space.

Thane and Garrus went with Shepard. She would need their support. Anderson met them at the elevator on the Presidium. He looked very distinguished in his Councilor's uniform.

"Welcome back, Shepard." He smiled at her and shook her hand. "Glad to see everything was a success. Good to see you too Garrus. You're still running around with this trouble maker?" He teased.

"What can I say, Councilor? Someone's got to keep an eye on her." Garrus, always with the jokes. Thane stood silently by, his face and posture of the professional genre.

"Who's the new member of the team?" asked Anderson, nodding to Thane. He didn't wait for Shepard to introduce him.

"Krios." he answered. He bowed respectfully, arms out to his sides.

"I see. Good to have you a board." Anderson was being polite. He didn't like the lack on information the drell had given him. He turned back to Shepard. "The Council is waiting. We should head up."

Shepard followed a half step behind Anderson up the familiar steps to the Council Chambers. Everything had been restored and improved. Cherry blossom trees were in bloom and there was still a water fountain, though it was very different from the original. It was a large, white cluster of four figures back to back. Asari, Turian, Salarian and Human. They all stood as if looking to the heavens, hands interlocked with the ones next to them. Water sprayed out from between the cracks in their fingers to pool around their feet. It was beautiful, and significant in what it represented. Anderson saw Shepard eyeing it.

"There's a similar one in the lake on the presidium. It honors those who died defending the station and the Council."

"That's nice." Shepard nodded distractedly. If they really wanted to honor those people they would listen to her about the Reapers.

They climbed the last set of stairs and crossed the walk way to the platform. Anderson approached the front of the platform to address the Council.

"Councilor Anderson. The Council recognizes your position. We see you have brought the returned Spector with you. You may take the floor."

"Thank you Councilors. I am handing the floor to Commander Shepard." He graciously stepped aside, locking his hands behind his back. Thane had taken a position a few paces behind Shepard in the same stance. Garrus stood beside him 'at ease'. He was anything but.

"Councilors," Shepard nodded to each in respect. "I have cut ties with Cerberus and I come before you today to warn you of the Reapers, once more. I've returned from destroying the Collector base through the Omega-4 realy. They were building a Reaper. That's what they were doing with our stolen colonists. My team and I managed to rescue some of them. It won't matter and more lives from every species will be lost if we don't find a way to defeat the Reapers and stop this cycle from continuing." Shepard spoke with as much conviction as she could manage. She was tired of trying to convince the Council of the Reapers.

"Yes, the Reapers..." mumbled the turian councilor. "Do you have any proof, yet, Commander?"

"Yes." She replied defiantly. "I have schematics of the Collector base and information reading taken by my ship of the Reaper they were trying to build. I have information we took from a derelict Reaper in suspension over a brown dwarf. I also have proof that the Collectors were once Prothieans, re-purposed to serve the Reapers. It is being forwarded to your consoles now." She nodded to Garrus who taped a few buttons on his omni-tool. The council took a few moments to examine her evidence. When they looked up again it was the asari who spoke.

"We cannot deny that the technology being used to create this new entity has similarities to Sovereign. The combined use of biological and synthetic technologies is a disturbing revelation. We can accept the information regarding the Collectors being Prothiean, but we see no direct evidence to support your claim that they were being used by the Reapers or that the Reapers exist at all."

That was it. What more did she need to do? They had one on their door step and that was not enough. She presented them with scans, information, schematics... she'd practically spelled it out for them and they still were unwilling to believe her. She wanted to send a wave of biotic destruction toward them and beat them to a pulp. Anger swelled in her. Her jaw twitched. Her fists were balled up and shaking behind her back. Thane and Garrus looked at each other. Thane moved forward, making sure his shoulder was hidden behind Shepard. Keeping his exposed arm in position, he placed a cool hand on Shepard's fists. It instantly calmed her. Garrus took the opportunity to informally address the Council.

"What more proof do you need?" He shouted, mandibles flexing. "Will you wait for the Reapers to melt you down, like they did the human colonists, before you will see the truth?" He pointed an accusing finger at the turian councilor. Anderson stepped in before things got any worse.

"Garrus, please." He gestured for the turian to step back. Garrus complied with a growl.

"Shepard's right," Anderson spoke to the council again. "I know you don't want to believe it. It's not a pretty picture. Saren and the geth are no longer involved in this. Why would Shepard still believe it to be true if it was not? You have the proof. They have already been delayed thanks to Shepard's efforts and her team. With out them we would already be dead. Not just humans. All of us. Can't you see that?" He spoke with passion, but held back his anger. The salarian glanced at the others before speaking.

"I have examined Dr. Solis' work. I found his studies of the 'seekers' interesting. Also, the data on the Prothiean Collectors and his accompanying notes appear to confirm what you are saying. I am inclined to believe you, Commander." He knew he was taking a risk standing against the other two, but he was not alone. Anderson was a Council member as well, and he was on Shepard's side.

The chamber was silent for a while. Shepard was grateful for Thane's presence and reassuring touch. She was surprised by Garrus, but understood his frustration. Anderson believed her from the beginning. Now he had the power to influence the Council and she was glad for it. When the salarian Councilor took her side she almost fainted. She couldn't believe she was finally getting through. But now the Council was divided.

"The Council will take a brief recess and reconvene here in one standard hour." The asari stated. "Council Anderson, join us in the Councilor's Private Chambers, please." she nodded to Anderson. He nodded back.

"See you in an hour." He gave Shepard a wink and a smile. They might actually get somewhere today. She nodded back at him as he went to join the Council. Shepard turned to face Thane and Garrus. They could see how pale she was.

"We've got an hour. Let's go get something to eat. You look like you need to lie down, Commander." said Garrus.

"I agree." added Thane.

"Ok." she agreed. She was tired of arguing.

They found a table under a tree near the lake on the Presidium. They had each ordered a dish for their respective pallets and were enjoying some down time. Shepard had also ordered a mixed drink to settle her nerves.

"What. Is. That?" Garrus asked, pointing a talon at the glass of creamy green liquid. Shepard laughed.

"It's called a 'grass hopper.' I told the bar tender to go heavy on the 'hopper." She smiled. She'd only had a few sips and she was already pretty 'relaxed'. She hadn't eaten anything yet.

"We have to return to the Council in half an hour, Siha. Do you think this is wise?" Thane asked. His brow was furrowed with concern. He'd never seen her like this.

Garrus hated it when Thane call Shepard by that name, at least when he could hear it. It made his plates crawl.

"Just make sure you eat something." Garrus advised her. He shoveled something that looked like prawns into his own mouth.

"Ok. Yeah." She took a big bite of pasta salad.

Thirty minutes later they were standing in front of the Council, again. Anderson looked more pleased than she'd expected, but less than she'd hoped. He didn't have time to for-warn her.

"Commander Shepard. Spector of the Citadel, We have come to an accord regarding the evidence you have brought before us today."

Shepard waited patiently for the asari to continue. She wasn't drunk, thanks to the pasta, but she was feeling a bit... fuzzy. She managed to hide it well enough to keep her composure.

"We have decided than since the geth and Saren are no longer a key element in this matter, and you have continued to find new evidence to support your claim, that there is in fact an unknown galactic threat. As a Spector it is still within your authority to defend the galaxy however you see fit. If you should come to need the aid of the Council, we are open to assisting you in that defense."

"Thank you, Councilors. I..."

"There is one more matter." The turian interrupted her. She knew it was too good to be true.

"The Council dose not have the power to operate out side of Citadel space. We will only be able to assist you once the theat is within our boarders."

Shepard clinched her jaw, biting back the words that wanted to spit themselves in the smug turian's face.

"I understand. Thank you Councilors." She nodded to them and turned to Anderson.

"This is a good thing, Shepard. I know it's not exactly what you wanted, but it's the best we're going to get right now."

"I appreciate it, Councilor. It's been a long road. I'm just happy we're getting some where. Come have a drink with us. There's something else I need to talk to you about."

"I'll join you as soon as I can, Shepard." He nodded.

"We'll meet you in that fancy bar on the Presidium." She gestured toward the elevators. He nodded back and she left, Thane and Garrus in tow.