Author's Notes:
Thanks go to my Beta; Blueglaceon, who despite having little knowledge of the Mass Effect universe, agreed to edit the series anyway. Thanks, Blue!

Thanks also go to Gixxer600 and Draygon-Icewing for allowing me to use some exerts from their respective fics; Mass Effect 2 Unexpected Alliances and Their Finest Hour.

Here's the next instalment, set about a week after the Suicide Mission.

After Omega-4

"First Saren, now the Collectors," Garrus spoke up, as Shepard entered the Main Battery. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Shepard. I almost feel sorry for the Reapers."

Shepard's laughter echoed in the small space, and with a grin of his own, the Turian tuned to face his commanding officer as she stepped up to the command consol. "How're things going down here?"

"Good. Everything's back online and running at peak efficiency. But if we're about to take part in the mother of all battles, we might want to look into some more upgrades."

"You don't need to tell me twice. We're headed to the Citadel, so if you get the chance, can you have a look for anything that'll help us?"

Garrus nodded his head, before, "The Citadel, huh?"

"I'm going to present the data about Harbinger to the Council."

"Think it'll do any good?"

"I'm not holding my breath." Garrus laughed at that, and Shepard smiled in return. "Anyway, I'd better let you get back to work."

"I'll be here if you need me."

With a nod of her head, Shepard turned and left the room

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Hours later found Garrus in the elevator, making his way up to the Commander's quarters. They'd left Omega an hour ago, after being there for a week, the repairs taking longer than expected to completed, and now he was looking forward to spending some quality time with Shepard. But when he entered the Loft, it was empty, her Cerberus officer's uniform folded neatly on the bed, but aside from that there were no other signs as to where she may have gone.

"EDI?"

"Yes, Officer Vakarian."

"Where is Kat?"

"She is in the Hanger, sparing with Operative Taylor."

"Thank you, EDI."

"Logging you out."

Though many had been wary of the AI at the start of the mission, EDI's actions throughout had well and truly proven her worthy of being a member of Shepard's crew, and had earned her the trust of all aboard the Normandy. She had further strengthened that trust a few days ago by, with the help of Legion and Tali, destroying the majority of the bugs that Cerberus had put on the ship, leaving only the bare minimum active so that she could still keep tabs on everyone, for the sake of their welfare.

Returning back to reality, Garrus divested himself of his armour and quickly changed into his own training gear before leaving the room.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

He found them on the far side of the Hanger, circling each other as they traded blows. Suddenly Jacob lunged at Shepard, but she reacted quickly and using his momentum against him, swept a leg under his and sent him crashing to the mat. Shepard wasted no time in digging her knee into his back, pinning him to the floor.

"I give!" the dark-skinned human exclaimed immediately, and Shepard hopped off of him and offered a hand to help him up. "Looks like you won this round, Commander."

Shepard laughed. "Hopefully, the first of many."

"I hear that! We should really think on making this," he gestured to the roughly drawn ring around them, "permanent. We'll need it to blow off steam once the Reapers show. Well, for the most of us anyway..." Jacob wiggled his eyebrows at her in playful suggestion and Shepard blushed in response, her relationship with Garrus was probably one of the worst kept secrets on the ship.

Laughing, Jacob retrieved his gear. "I better get back up to the Armoury. Thanks for this, Commander."

"Anytime, Jacob. Anytime."

With a nod of his head Jacob turned and headed towards the elevator. "Vakarian." He nodded his head at the Turian as they crossed paths.

"Taylor," the vigilante returned before turning his attention to Shepard, who was now in the process of activating a training mech. "Y'know, there is a perfectly good flesh and blood opponent standing right behind you," he spoke up when he was a few steps behind her.

Shepard, startled by his voice, spun around to face him and dropped into combat stance. "Jesus, Garrus! Don't do that. You nearly gave me a heart attack!" she exclaimed when her brain finally registered that he was no threat. Garrus couldn't help but smile smugly in response.

"So how about it?"

"How about what?"

"You. Me. Sparring."

Shepard couldn't help herself, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him, "Ah, so there's another way for you to test your 'reach' with me?" she questioned with a smirk.

"You think you can stand it?" her mate challenged.

"Bring it on!" she refuted.

Without another word, he charged at her, slamming his shoulder into hers. She responded by digging her feet into the mat, slowing his momentum.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Shepard was bent over, hands on her knees, sweat pouring down her face as she took a moment to catch breath, while Garrus watched her like a hawk. After several seemingly endless bouts of brutal, full-contact sparring, she was exhausted, but she refused to give in.

"Had enough?" he taunted

"Never!" she growled as she straightened.

With a rumble, he charged easily knocking her over, and then he was on her, his armoured frame covering her smaller, trembling one, and she bent her neck so that she could observe him. But all he could see was the sweet column of her throat that had been revealed to him by the move: all he could feel were his instincts stirring to life. And then the scuff of her neck was in his mouth, his teeth breaking the smooth skin as he sought to dominate the female beneath him. But when she cried out in response to the sudden pain, he was quickly brought back to reality.

By the Spirits, what was he doing!

Shepard wasn't a Turian that he could toss around and force into submission! She was a human that needed to be treated with tender care. Letting go of her neck, Garrus scrambled off of her and moved a good distance away, feeling ashamed of himself.

"Garrus?"

"I'm sorry, Kat," he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes, as she drew closer to him.

She slipped two fingers under his muzzle, and guided him to look at her, "For what?"

"For almost letting my instincts takeover."

"I'm not made of glass, Garrus," she told him softly.

"I could hurt you!" he fired back, trying to make her understand.

"I'm a big girl, Garrus. I can handle a little pain!" she returned sharply, "I don't mind if things get rough from time to time."

"Turians don't do little, Kat. It's all or nothing for u-" his breath left him in a rush as Shepard suddenly rammed into him.

"Then bring it on!" she challenged as she got to her feet. "Or are you chicken?"

With a growl, Garrus scrambled up before he rushed at her, intending to knock her over, but she surprised him by feinting to the side at the last minute, which sent him crashing head first into the mats while she headed, in leisurely pace, over to the elevator.

"What's the matter, Garrus?" She called back over her shoulder. "One little human too much for you?"

With a snarl, he was on her feet, and racing over to where she stood at the elevator door, waiting for it to open. As he drew closer she turned to face him, expecting him to attack. But nothing came. He just stood there, watching her. When the door behind her whooshed open, he moved forward and she moved back until her rear end touched metal. Without taking his eyes from his mate, Garrus hit the button that closed the doors and sent the car upward.

The two stayed perfectly still until the doors opened again. Kat kept her eyes on him as she left the elevator, pivoting around so that she could still keep an eye on him as she backed into her quarters, Garrus matching her step for step until they were in the middle of the room.

His mandibles twitched slightly as he steeled himself, and Shepard dropped into a combat stance as he silently charged her. He had reach, but she had flexibility. More flexibility than any female he'd been with before. He grabbed hold of her arm, but she twisted herself in such a way that he had to let go or else risk a broken wrist. He growled, mandibles flaring as he tried a different angle only to have a surprisingly sharp elbow in his gut and her heel stomped on his toes. Shepard quickly hopped back and made a charge of her own, slamming her shoulder into Garrus' chest and knocking him down to the floor. She used the few seconds he was stunned to start removing his training pants, snarling in frustration when his leg spurs slowed her down.

With a growl, he reversed their positions after she finally removed his pants and returned the favour, his claws ripping cleanly through the fabric of her singlet top and bra. She only gave him a few moments before bucking her hips hard enough to throw his centre of gravity forward before tossing him hard to the ground, removing his tunic with the same brutal efficiency, as underneath her, he used the position to remove her boots, then her slacks and panties. She soon had the last piece of clothing off, throwing it over her shoulder. But, suddenly, Garrus bucked his hips, sending her flying, and before she could scramble up, he was on her, forcing her down to the ground, "Submit," he growled.

"Never," she snarled as she slammed her elbow into his side, knocking him off balance. She rolled to the side, lashing out with her feet, knocking him to the floor before she scrambled to her feet and made a break for her bed. She was barely a foot from it when he pounced on her, sending them both crashing to the ground. She tried to pummel him again, but he was ready for it this time: pinning her arms to the ground with his.

"Submit!" he snarled.

"Make me!" she fired back.

Garrus felt his turian-hood quivered inside him with desire at her challenge as the protective folds began to moisten in preparation. "With pleasure," he rumbled ominously before he sank his teeth into the scruff of her neck, tightly gripping the muscle beneath. Roughly grabbing her waist, he pulled her flush against him, and with a growl of warning to her, he got to his feet and dragged her over to the bed. He quickly drew the covers back before settling in the middle of the mattress. Gripping her hips tightly to prevent her from getting away, he let go of her neck as he straightened up until he loomed over her. He began to grind against her, the leathery folds of him rubbing against the soft flesh of her, causing them to swell and moisten as his cock extend out of him, hard and throbbing. He nestled the head in her folds and teased her slit until it began to weep before he speared into her.

The shock of his rapid impalement took her by surprise and she screamed loudly as he filled her to his hilt, making her sex pulse and her body jar as his throbbing member sought out every conceivable amount of space within her. He snarled viciously as his talons pierced her skin and drew blood, and using his hold on her as leverage for his thrusts, he quickly brought her to her first series of orgasms, her excitement dripping down her legs to stain the sheets below.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

He tangled one hand into her hair, pulling her head up firmly, forcing her to arc her back and allowing him deeper penetration and a better view of their union. With her neck stretched the way it was, it made it difficult for her to scream or take deep breaths. Her moans were strained and short, nasally, almost an expression of pain. He loved it and growled his pleasure. He pumped her harder and faster, relishing every gushing orgasm he drew from her. Feeling her body grip him and quiver around him. Watching her flood him.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

He stilled within her for a moment, giving her a chance to rest, waiting until her breathing evened out before he began to move again, rolling his hips to stroke her inner walls with the ridges on his swollen member. Soon, she tightened around him, her delicate fingers digging into the mattress as she came, moaning as she did.

Unable to hold her trembling frame up any longer, she collapsed onto the mattress, causing him to slip out of her. "Garrus..." she breathed his name weakly, as she lay there, panting and unable to move after nearly an hour of consent climax after climax. She was thoroughly exhausted and more than ready to admit defeat.

"Kathryn," he purred back blissfully as he admired her red, swollen and glistening sex, which was still quivering and open where he had been inside her. He could smell her body's euphoria as it poured from her feminine core. It was like smelling a goddess.

"Garrus..." she panted. "Garrus...please... I'm begging you... please..."

With a satisfied rumble, Garrus dropped down on all fours and grabbed her hips and yanked her back up onto her hands and knees. "What do you say?" he growled into her ear, laving her neck with his rough tongue as he brought a hand up to fondle one of the breasts, hoping to entice her.

"Gods... please..." she gasped."I submit... please... I submit!"

His entrance was complete and all at once and she arched her back in response, the moan that left her lips in response was rough and strained as Garrus set a brutal pace, plunging into her with all his might and she yelped as he sank his teeth into the muscle between her neck and shoulder. She froze, pain and pleasure merging into one as he continued to fuck her, driving his cock into her depths.

She thought she couldn't take it, that her body and her clitoris had gone beyond feeling but instead, Garrus' relentless attack had begun yet another climax and she felt a loosening slickness as her juices flowed about him. His unceasing pounding drew her out and she called out pathetically as her internal muscles began to spasm around the pounding length of his shaft. Her head felt light and she struggled to remain in place as her orgasm took hold and with a cry of intense emotion, the blue pulsing instrument of both her torture and her release delivered her into a state of euphoria.

When some semblance of mind returned, Shepard could hear Garrus growling, his whole body shaking with the vibrations of his efforts. His talons dug deeper into her hips and his saliva ran down her throat and dripped off her breasts as he continued to hold her in place with his teeth. He began to pump frantically into her wilting body, his shaft almost harder than she could stand and his slender waist completely flexed as he curled into her, unable to penetrate her any further if he tried. Suddenly, he released his grip on her neck, a feral snarl ripping from his throat as he did so. She screamed as she felt him swelling inside her, felt the ridges on his cock expand, felt the spurs digging in to her walls, locking him in place within her, and he roared as his member stiffened and hot sticky release erupted forth into her aching core.

The blessed relief of Garrus' climax was like the ending of a battle and he rumbled loudly as his release continued to pump inside her, the overflow of his seed running down her thighs. His aggressive passion seemed to ebb with the slowing pulse of his issue and unable to support herself any longer, Shepard collapsed onto the bed bellow. But because they were still joined, only her head and shoulders could touch the mattress. She rested her head flat on the pillow, eyes closed as she caught her breath as above her, her turian did the same, breathing heavily as the tension flooded from his limbs.

After a few moments, Garrus gently lowered them to the bed before rolling to the side so that they could rest comfortably until he withdrew from her body. Shepard winced at the sideways roll, as the action caused the spurs on his member to dig into her tender walls. Instantly, Garrus stilled to allow her to become accustom to the pressure as he gently pulled her ebony hair away from her neck before tenderly nuzzling her soft skin. "You okay?" he purred gently in her ear as he began to softly stroke her stomach to soothe her and she moaned, soft and sweet, in response.

Assured that he hadn't been too rough on her during the instinct driven coupling, he pulled the blankets over their cooling bodies before resting his head on the pillows and let sleep claim him

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

A few hours later, Shepard woke to find the bed cold and empty.

Slowly sitting up, wincing slightly from her wounds, she called for her mate, "Garrus?"

"Here," he rumbled softly as he came out of the bathroom, cradling a damp washcloth and a tube of Medi-gel. The bed sank as the Turian sat down beside her. He placed the gel on the bedside table before turning to her and began to gently clean the bites on her neck, washing away the dried blood. But when he reached for the Medi-gel, she stopped him.

"Kat?"

"Don't use the gel. I want them to heal naturally."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"I'm not ashamed about being with you, Garrus," she told him firmly as he began to clean the wounds on her hips and thighs and the chaffing between her legs. "And anyone who objects can go and shove their opinions where the sun don't shine, because I plan on being with you for the rest of my life."

At her words, Garrus froze, his eyes snapping to hers. Though they'd only been together for a week, he knew in himself that Shepard was the one for him, but he had ever only dared to hope that he would hear those words from her, especially so soon…

"Garrus? You okay?" Worried, she reached out to touch him.

Finding his voice, "Are you sure, Kat? Not everyone will approve of this..." He gestured between them.

Shepard shot him a look of affection, before shaking her head. "Weren't you listening to what I just said?"

Resolved, he took a deep breath. "I know we haven't been together very long, but... Will you enter Union with me, Kat? Will you become my life partner?"

With a tender smile, she whispered, "Yes," as Garrus gathered her up in his arms and lowered his forehead to hers, "I love you, Kathryn Shepard."

"And I, you, Garrus Vakarian."

He began to purr then, low and content, and as it vibrated through his body, it caused her skin to tingle and she let out a content sigh of her own.

"Y'know," she murmured after awhile. "We still have a few more hours 'till we have to be up."

Garrus chuckled, reaching for her hips as she reached for his fringe.

Fin.