Shepard showered, again, but this time in her own quarters. She braided her hair, mostly out of habit now, and dressed in her tank and panties. She wasn't planning on going to the observation deck, or life support or anywhere else. Kelly continued to feed her fish, so they were still alive and swimming. Shepard checked her lap top for messages. She was pleased when she had one from Mordin.

Commander Shepard,

Doing well, thank you for asking. Nephew is also doing well. Good to see him.

In reference to the drell; may be suffering post traumatic stress syndrome. Normal for any species. Different species may react differently. Most drell do not live life styles that would cause such reactions. Little data available on subject.

Speculation, had been preparing for death for last decade. Possible stress reaction to sudden change. No longer dieing, preparation for nothing? Feelings of uncertainty or inability to adapt to living longer than expected?

Questions about behavior; Sleeping well? Nightmares? Negative feelings prevalent in daily living? Sex life unusual? Emotional detachment or abnormal attachment? Unusual aggressive or passive behavior? All could be signs of difficulty dealing with change.

Also; planning a wedding, very stressful. Offer support. Maybe offer time off from responsibilities. Can prescribe mild sedative, if needed. Up date on drell's status in a few days, note any changes. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Doctor Solis

While that was all very informative, it didn't really help out much. If Thane was on the verge of a break down, it wasn't going to be good if she couldn't bring him back from the edge. She could suggest talking with Kelly, but she was pretty sure he wouldn't do it. If he did, it would be to satisfy her. He wouldn't actually open up to a stranger. Kelly wasn't exactly a stranger, but he wasn't close to the Yeoman. He wasn't really close to anyone but her. What was she going to do? She didn't need this, but she did need him. She hated that she did. Before she met him, she was completely self sufficient. Now, when he wasn't around, she felt lost. Even if the task did not involve him in any way. Maybe that was her way of dealing with the stress.

She went to bed. It was 0300 hours and she was tired. She woke at 0400 hours to a familiar coolness snaking over her waist and a warmth on her back.

"Mëha?" she whispered.

"I know you must be angry with me. I had intended to leave you in peace, but..." his whispers trailed of to silence.

Shepard leaned into him slightly.

"I could not sleep without you." he felt ashamed.

Shepard rolled over to look at him. His eyes were wet, the skin around them unusually dark and irritated. The folds of his neck looked pale. She brought her fingers to his furrowed brow and caressed his face down to his chin then lightly kissed him.

"I can't stay angry with you," she said, looking into his eyes. Fresh tears welled in them. He blinked them back, but one fell to the pillow. "It's ok. I forgive you."

He expressed a small grin. She always had a way of melting him. Her words helped wash away the guilt.

"What's been bothering you, Mëha? Tell me, let me help you." Shepard looked at her lover. She hurt for him, whatever it was he was going through. Concern furrowed her features as she watched his eyes un-focus.

"My body is sliding down the platform. I cannot stop myself, there's nothing to grab hold of. You throws yourself after me. You're sliding to oblivion with me, trying to catch me. You grasp my wrist as I grab for yours. Our grip slips. I'm desperately trying to reach you. I'm am certain we are both going to die. My body slides off the edge. I am weightless for what seems like an eternity. Your hand firmly grips mine. The platform levels. I praise the goddess Arashu. The platform tilts the opposite way. Our bodies roll down it to certain death. We're knocked off corse by falling debris. Nothing. I hear your voice as through water. You whisper;."Mëha, come back to me." A tear falls on my cheek. I hear a sound like a mighty river. My eyes open. A light shines like a celestial halo around your body from the doorway beyond. It reflects around the paint on your armor, making the symbol of the wings appear on the walls behind you when they should not. You are a warrior angle sent by Arashu. You are my Siha. I whisper; 'I can see you're halo.' You do not hear me."

His eyes refocus. His brow is furrowed. He has difficulty escaping the memory.

"Thane, you're here. You're safe. I'm surrounded by you're embrace." She caresses the frill over his cheek bones. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you... Do you still see my halo?" She asked, her eyes smiling at him in hope.

"I do." His face seemed to regain a bit of color.

"Pray it won't fade away."

A grin plays at the corners of his mouth. "I will."

She rolled back over under his arm, pulling it close around her. He pressed his body against hers. He nuzzled her hair and her neck. The faint floral sent overlaying her own sweet musk, the subtle sighing when she fell to sleep, the touch of her skin on his coupled with the warmth of her body... they comforted him. He let sleep take him.

The next morning he woke, refreshed. He couldn't remember dreaming, but he had a feeling of peace. Shepard was still asleep next to him. The braid had become disheveled in her sleep. He nuzzled the soft locks.

Shepard felt Thane nuzzle her hair. It was a gentle way to wake up. She enjoyed the feeling for a few moments before rolling toward him. He smiled. His color had returned to normal. He looked himself again.

"Good morning, m' love." She said.

"mmm. Good morning." He replied. He gazed into her eyes, bright and clean like the sea. He kissed her. "What are the plans for the day?" He asked. She always had plans.

"Well, we need to get some food. I've laid in a corse for the Citadel. Until we get there, I'm afraid there's precious little to eat." She smiled, but didn't continue.

"I suppose we should return to our duties." He replied and reluctantly started to rise. She caught his arm and he looked back at her confused.

"They will still be there when we're ready." She said. He smiled at her and lay down along side her.

"Yes, I suppose they will." He found her hands with his and held them resting by their faces. He tried counting her freckles or how many shades of blue and green were in her eyes. He lost count when she started licking on his throat folds. He didn't tense this time. He relaxed and let it happen. He had let himself get too tense lately. He could get through whatever had been haunting him. He had to let her help him. That's what he'd heard when he meditated last night in front of the observation deck window. 'Let her help you.' And so he would.

The soft rustle of cloth sliding over skin was almost inaudible as Shepard removed what little there was between them. Thane's leathers were neatly folded on her desk. She kissed him softly, caressed his relaxing brow. He ghosted his finger tips over the skin of her back and hips. It tickled her. She loved it. She found the folds that were the most sensitive to him and gently slide them between lip and tongue. He responded with a deep purring in his chest. He lifted his chin to allow her better access. She took thorough advantage of it. He rested his hands on her hips, letting her work him into herself. Her wetness proceeded her as it dripped down him like honey.

Shepard kept expecting him to thrust or dominate her, but he lay still and let her take him. He would roll or pivot his hips, but he let her have the control. She rocked her hips to feel him grind inside her, eliciting small moans from her lover. She was offered louder ones when she kissed him and let her breast graze his chest while pumping her hips. His body gifted her with his climax, which in turn pressed him harder into her causing her own. They allowed themselves several before cleaning and dressing for work.

"Siha, when we get to the Citadel, I am going to see Kolyat." he told her in the elevator.

"Of corse. I thought you would."

"I have been allowed a few hours with him. I plan to go over some of his responsibilities for our wedding."

"Ok..." Shepard looked at him.

"Soon it will be the anniversary of the day we met. I would like us to be married on that day." He looked at her and smiled.

"I never knew you were so sentimental." She teased and took his hand. He wrapped his free hand over hers for a moment then caressed her cheek.

She sent a message to Mordin shortly after they parted ways, updating him to the sudden improvement and inviting him to the wedding. She had a more than a few more invites to send.