Tina dreamed, but when she woke up this time she wasn't alone. She was comfortably nestled in Bobby's arm while his hand lightly stroked her back. She kissed his chin and said, "You could have woken me up," she said.

"You were sleeping too peacefully."

"That was more fun than the tango."

"Definitely more fun than the tango."

"I think I know what we're doing to relax for the next two weeks," Tina said.

Bobby laughed. "Two weeks then you kick me to the curb?" he teased.

"You know what I mean," she said as she poked him in the chest. Then she looked into his eyes and thought, "Say it, Bobby."

Bobby had hesitated once long ago and later regretted it. He turned on his side so he was facing her and said, "I love you, Tina," and kissed her.

She beamed and said, "You are not completely untrainable, Lt. Commander."

Bobby smiled. "Hit me with a two-by-four or a sexy red dress and I'll pay attention."

"A club was my next option," Tina said.

Bobby laughed again and said, "You think you control me now, don't you?"

She smiled and kissed him again. "I've controlled you for a long time. You're just now realizing it."

"I hate it when you're right." He paused, then, after he kissed her, said, "Actually, I don't. You have to be hungry after using your biotics like that."

"I'm starving," Tina admitted.

"Well, I won't complain about you eating my food again, that's for sure," Bobby said and started to roll out of the bed.

"Not so fast," Tina said, grabbing his arm, and turning him back towards her. She sat up and kissed him, then, looking into his eyes, said, "I love you, too." They kissed, then he reluctantly got out of bed. Tina's hand slid down his arm until just their fingertips were touching. "Fix a big meal," she said. "You're going to need your strength too."

"Yes, ma'am," Bobby said with a wink.

She ate, occasionally taking something from his plate but also taking items from her plate and making him eat them. When she did this she would let her fingers linger on his lips and she'd smile at him. Bobby would then lean over and kiss her, which served to encourage the behavior. Under the table she was running her bare foot up and down his calf.

For the next two weeks, they spent little time apart. They maintained the habit of running in the morning, and filled the rest of the days with music; quiet conversation on the deck, frequently with Tina's head on Bobby's shoulder or lap while he stroked her hair; playful meals; and love-making.

"Our two-week break is almost over," Tina said, sounding disappointed. They were lying in bed in late in the evening and Bobby was gently running his fingers through her hair.

Bobby breathed in deeply. "It is. I don't see how we get more connected than we have been these past two weeks. I'm not sure what else to try. But I can live with being stuck here for the rest of my life with you. I just feel sorry for you," he said and smiled.

Tina kissed him and said, "Whatever happens, Bobby, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Whatever happens," Bobby said, with a sly grin and Tina felt his hand on her bare thigh.

"Especially if that happens," she said.

Tina had woken up from the dream and was watching Bobby sleep. "I want kids, Bobby," she thought, "but not here. We have to get out of here." She had thought maybe their relationship would make being here okay, and she could think of worse things than spending the rest of her life like this. But now that it was so close she wanted the whole dream and having children here wouldn't be fair to them.

"Commander Shepard."

Tina heard the voice but it took a minute for her to realize whose voice it was. "SAI?" she asked.

"Commander, there's not much time. Hold on to the Lt. Commander tightly and look for your channel. It's open but it will not be for long."

"SAI, what are …" Tina started before SAI stopped her.

"Commander, there's no time. You have to get out now or we are all going to die."

Tina wrapped her arms around Bobby, stirring him from his sleep. She closed her eyes and felt. There was the channel for warp; there the channel for singularity; there the channel for pull; and there … that's new. She began to push her energy through the new channel and she felt reality start to shift. She faintly heard Bobby ask, "What's going on?" and SAI say, "Now, Commander, now!"

They were being pulled or pushed, Tina couldn't tell which, through a small passage. Only her biotics made it big enough to be passable and the strain was enormous. "Don't black out," she thought. "I have to get us through to the end before I black out."

She felt Bobby slipping from her grasp. "No. No. No!" she screamed, though there was no sound. Then there was darkness.

…

…

…

Commander Christina Shepard drew in a deep breath.