Series Title: After the Reapers
Pairing: Garrus/Shepard

Author: Knights-Honour
Disclaimer: Mass Effect universe © BioWare
Any character you haven't heard of © me

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!

For those of you who don't know, Kat's background is Spacer/War Hero/Soldier/Paragon.

Here's the last part of the Moments series.

Moments of Stillness – Twilight Hours

The lounge was a hive activity when they arrived, but they were quickly recognised and ushered towards one of the private booths.

"Hey, Commander." Joker raised a glass to them as they passed the helmsman. He and several other of the Normandy's crew, including Jacob and Kenneth Donnelly, were stationed at the bar.

"You boys still here?" she grinningly queried the men. "Must've had a rough night's sleep, the floors here are as cold as ice..."

Joker laughed at his CO's implication. "Nah, we were kicked out the second the clock struck midnight."

"And still you dragged yourself back here..."

"What can I say? I'm a gluten for punishment."

Shepard chuckled and rolled her eyes before, "We'll leave you to your ales, then. Have a good night."

"Ditto to you two," the helmsman replied before taking a sip of his beer. Shepard chuckled again as Garrus took her hand in his and lead them over to their table.

After a few minutes a waitress came to take their orders.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

"Can I ask you something?" Shepard asked the Turian after they'd finished their dinner.

"Of course," Garrus replied.

"I've noticed recently that not all female Turians bear clan marks on their faces. Why is that?"

"For a Turianess to be bare-faced, it usually means that she's un-mated. It's not uncommon, though for a single female to still paint her birth clan's marks on her face right up until she enters Union, so it's hard to tell what her status is. Unless you ask her, of course."

"So a Turian taking their mate's clan mark is akin to a human woman taking her husband's last-name when they enter marriage?"

"Usually."

"And what about males?"

"We start painting our marks on our faces at a young age, but it's only when we reach adulthood that the marks are made permanent in a coming of age ceremony."

"How do you tattoo something that's basically a bone though?"

"By stripping away the protective coat and staining the surface beneath with ink." At Garrus' words, Shepard raised a hand to his face to feel his cobalt markings and he lowered his head to allow her easier access. Compared to the smooth, seamless, expanse of the rest of his plates, the surface here was rougher to the touch as she continued to explore his clan mark, with her eyes as well as her fingers, in an analytical fashion. Garrus didn't fail to notice her studious gaze, prompting him to ask, "Not that I'm complaining or anything... but... Why the sudden interest in Turian clan marks?"

Shepard shrugged her shoulders as she drew back. "No reason. Just curious, is all," she responded as their desserts arrived.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

An hour later found the couple slow-dancing out on the dance floor.

Surprisingly, it hadn't taken much for Shepard to get the Turian out on the floor once the DJ had started spinning tunes tonight, and they'd nestle into one another as they began to sway together

~You're a falling star, you're the getaway car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.~

Shepard's ears perked up as a familiar tune began to play and she couldn't help but softly sing along.

~And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
'Cause you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.~

Garrus drew back to look at her in amazement at this newest revelation. "You can sing?"

"What can I say? I'm a Jack of all trades."

"Say what?"

~You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.~

Shepard laughed at her mate's bewilderment. "Human saying. A Jack of all trades is a person who can do many different things," she explained.

"You humans have such odd sayings..."

Shepard laughed again. "I love you too, big guy."

Chuckling, the human Spectre nestled back into her mate's body and they began to rotate on the spot again.

~And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La~

As the song wrapped up and a new song began to play in its place, the couple shared a final embrace before leaving the dance floor.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~

A few hours later found the pair taking the scenic route on their walk home. But when they reached the Relay Monument, Shepard found herself pausing.

She'd done her damndest to keep her mind off of the coming Reaper invasion so that she could enjoy these moments of peace with Garrus while they lasted. But the sight of the miniature Relay returned the thoughts of the arduous task that lay before she and her crew to the front of her mind with a vengeance and she sighed.

The sound drew Garrus' attention. "Kat?"

She looked to him, rueful. "I know I said that I'd try to keep the Reaper invasion out of my head, but..."

Garrus chuckled as he bent his head to nuzzle her. "It's alright, I understand. You've got the weight, and welfare, of the galaxy resting on your shoulders."

Shepard rolled her eyes, a wry grin hinting at her lips. "Thanks for reminding me."

"But you won't be alone. You've got me, and the rest of crew backing you up in this. Not to mention Liara and Kaidan, when he finally gets rid of that stick up his arse about you working with Cerberus." 'And comes crawling back, begging you for your forgiveness,' he continued silently, furrowing his brow-plates. 'But if he thinks he's just going to waltz in and sweep you off your feet after what he put you through, he's got another thought coming. His chance with you has been and gone; I'm never going to give you up!'

"A credit for them?" Shepard's voice interrupted the Turian's thoughts and he returned his attention to the beautiful woman in his arms.

"Sorry." he smiled down at his mate.

"You looked like were a million miles away..."

"Nope, still right here," he purred as he started to steer them away from the monument and towards their apartment, where a night of tender love-making awaited them.

Fin.

Song's Used:

"Everything" by Michael Bublé