So, it's time I explain why I wrote this story. Any one who has read the majority of the stories that I've written, is aware of the fact that in 2015, the mother of my child lost her life, in a motor vehicle accident, news that I broke in an author's note, in part one of my two part The New Sith War story. That actually led to one of the chapters I wrote in that story taking a full year to complete, and upload. That has also led to many personal issues, not limited to just writing.

I wrote this story, as my own way of finally facing the fact that I lost the woman I love, with Commander Shepard taking my fiancé's place in this story. To those that understood, that I knew this story may or may not be high quality throughout, and that I didn't care, I thank you. Now it's time for me to get this final chapter, one loosely based on Cariana's funeral, will hopefully get my head screwed on right. And what is written afterward will be symbolic of me finally moving on.

I still remember the funeral like it was yesterday, and yes it is as sad as it sounds. Much of the speech that my character gives in the story is based off of what I said myself that day, while also mixed with the facts of Commander Shepard, and my character in this story.

Goodbye

Progress was stalled for a few months, until the day came that the Normandy was delivered their saving grace. Feron, the Drell information trafficker working for the Shadow Broker herself, managed to use her technologies to rescue his boss, and the rest of the crew of the Normandy, as well. That was the unofficial story at least. Officially, they used the ships power source to sustain themselves, and also hunted for food on the unknown world in which they landed, and used whatever tools they had to repair the ship without anyone coming to give them more. If there was any crew that said story could be believable with, it was this one, regardless of whether or not the captain of the crew was still with them.

It didn't matter what the official story was. The fact was that after leaving the remote planet they had crashed on, the crew of the Normandy back on to a new Shadow Broker Headquarters, not even half the size of the original, but also completely inconspicuous, unlike it's predecessor. Using it's advance FTL drives, the missing crew was back home within a day.

But they're return was not a cause for celebration. They didn't need to be told the final fate of their Commander. Shepard herself told them to run, when Joker refused to leave without her. They had hung both her name, and Admiral Anderson's name on the memorial wall on Deck three. And with her gone, with exception of Garrus and Tali'zorah, the entire crew would go their separate ways. As much friendship, comradery, and love as they had all built up for each other over the years, they knew that sticking together, without the commander, would've been far too difficult. After the funeral, they would all say their goodbyes, no matter how emotional.

But something had to be done for Jeff Moreau. The Normandy couldn't be dry docked, he was thinking to himself. EDI was now gone. If he lost the Normandy, the man better known as Joker could very well be destroyed. His only hope was that someone with influence would recognize that fact.

But this was all a moot point. Not one word of any of it was said during Shepard's funeral. Her body recovered, cleaned up, and kept perfectly preserved, until this exact moment. Everyone sat silently, looking at her cold body, wrapped up in her dress blues, and N7 insignia on the top half of the cabin. Not one member of the crew she had amassed over the years would understand why this soldier, this Lieutenant-Commander Walker was the one who would speak last, for the time being, but in the decision being made, the man himself learned just how special the woman he loved truly was to so many people, alive or otherwise.

They all had stories to tell, and all of said stories were enough to bring anyone to tears. A few stood out for Walker. Liara, who spoke of how it was Shepard's bravery, and influence that caused her overcome her own shy personality, and make a positive mark in the galaxy. Garrus, whose reluctance to tell her his feelings, leading to her falling for Thane Krios, ended up becoming the learning experience he needed to find his own love. And Jack, who through Shepard's example, matured to the point where she found her calling, teaching the biotic prodigies of Grissom Academy.

But now, it was time for them to find the answer as to why Lieutenant-Commander Walker was the last to speak. They quickly realized how close this man truly was with Shepard. Unlike Admiral Hackett, close to Shepard in his own right, this man carried no cards, of a written out speech. He was speaking straight from the heart, and as he looked upon Shepard's body, he was visibly fighting back the tears, and suddenly his words became the most interesting.

The Lieutenant-Commander looks out upon the faces of his lovers crew. He had met Kaidan Alenko once, for a brief mission, but hadn't seen him again. And now he was the second ever Human Spectre. He knew of James Vega for being a part of the original Delta Squad, and now he may become an N7. Of course all of the people Shepard had worked with gained some measure of fame, by association. Some of them may very well have learned more about her than even he knew. But he knew her the longest.

He clears his throat. "Some of what I'm gonna say here today is gonna be published in an interview I had with Admiral Hackett, one month ago. I know that those of you who recognize me barely recognize me, and most of you have never heard of me before now. I'm Lieutenant-Commander Griffin Walker. The commanding officer of the second incarnation of Delta Squad, this one being an N7 project, with the first being commanded, towards the end of its run, by mister Vega." He looks over the Hispanic soldier. "Good luck in N7." The soldier nods to him.

"Shepard was the reason that I joined the Alliance in the first place. And in effect, I was the reason she became Commander Shepard in the first place, and not just another gang member in the streets of Minneapolis. My parents took her in, as hers basically left her on the streets, right up until their deaths. The courts ruled them as unfit, and my parents were all too happy to take her in. Obviously I wish they were still here, because I miss them every day. But with how much they loved her, I'm in a way glad they weren't here to see either the Reapers, or this day." He scratches at his cheek, taking a short second to compose.

"In those early years, our relationship was more brother and sister, than what it was later. She fought me a lot when I worked my ass off getting her away from those 'friends' of hers, and she resented me for 'being to pushy' is what she said. But I knew she was better than that, whether she wanted to believe it or not. And eventually, I did get through to her, even if it was only because she liked to ride in my hover car to school."

"I gave the chance to think about how she could make a difference in the galaxy, and eventually she decided to join the military, and so did I, after I got to a point where I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do. She never would've admitted it, but I swear that after she became an N7 she pulled strings to get me, and my friends considered for initiation. I had talked to her a few times since she joined the military, and the day that we graduated, was the first time I'd seen her in person, in two and a half years at that point. Later on, she ended up becoming the commanding officer of my team and I, up until she was assigned to the original Normandy." He pauses, and looks to his right, at Shepard's body.

"We started to reconnect the day of my graduation, and months later as just friends, we ended up renting an apartment together just so we could have a place to spend shore leave. Somehow, we always ended up getting said leave at the same time. The more time we spent together, the closer we became. And on the exact same week that Akuze happened, my friends and I lost the sixth member of our team, in action. I got back to the apartment before she did, and I was drinking heavily. I knew about Akuze at that time as well, and I didn't know if she was alive. I stopped drinking when she walked through the door. She knew about Shawn, knew that he died. In comforting each other, our relationship began that night."

He rubs at his forehead, knowing that this next part was never going to be easy to talk about. "When she was assigned to the Normandy, I didn't see her in person until after Saren was dead. It was for two days, and those two days were a week before she was originally pronounced dead. Fast forward two years later, I get back after my team and I completed a top secret operation, still highly classified to this day, and the story of images of her alive and well, taken at several locations, flood the net. Captain Anderson told me how to get in touch with her, and I call almost immediately. That's when I found out about Thane Krios. I wanted his head at first, and I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But I had time to think. Time to just sit down, and think to myself, fair play. After all, Anderson himself had no idea where I was. Shepard thought I was dead, and I wouldn't be surprised if Anderson, or anyone else who knew me thought so, as well."

"When Cerberus hit the Citadel, was one of the last times I saw her in person. She found me in the streets, a day after Thane Krios died, and she couldn't help but wrap me up. We sat on a bench, and spoke for an hour at least. Later on, my team and I were sent on another assignment. She actually invited me to that party y'all had at her apartment on the Citadel, but my mission wasn't done at that point. I did come to see her there after the fact. She told me that she was mourning Thane, that she loved him. I told her that my feelings for her were still there. So we were gonna wait till after the Reapers were dealt with, and then start with a friendly breakfast on the Citadel."

"The last time I saw her, I knew there was a possibility would be exactly that. She called me right before she went to the Crucible, like she did most everyone I see here today. I knew, whether or not I wanted to admit it, that this might be my last chance. I told her that I never stopped loving her. Not when we didn't communicate as often, not when she was classified as K.I.A, not when she was with Krios." He looks over to her body again. "Not ever." Looking back ahead, he concluded. "She was my best friend, and the love of my life. There will never be another like her, and the galaxy, while benefitting from her actions, is worse off without her. Jane, goodbye, my love." A tear slides down each cheek, as he steps down from the podium.

Later...

Shepard's body was lowered into the ground, right next to Walker's father, and the dirt had begun settling for already an hour and a half. At this point, only Walker was left to look down at the gravestone, left alone even by his teammates, and two blood brothers, who were also in attendance, having their own sibling-like relationships with Shepard. It was a large family plot in Minnesota, a place located at Chippewa National Forest, overlooking Leech Lake, the exact opposite side of the lake being the location where his parents had their first date.

Walker stood, completely silent, his tears had stopped sliding, but his eyes were still very watery. His train of thought, as well of the silence is broken by a light-sounding man's voice. "Excuse me, Lieutenant Commander."

Walker turns around to see Joker himself standing behind him. "Jeff Moreau?" He says, as he wipes his eyes off. "Something I can help you with?"

"Hackett wanted me to speak to you, it was about something in particular, but before I get there, I want to speak to you."

"You probably aren't the only one, are you?"

"No. A few people have questions, but some of them are willing to wait for the interview. I am too, but like I said, I have my orders."

"That mean that you're not gonna ask me about Jane?"

"No, I'm not. I was wanting to know what you're gonna do now? Is this the end of your active duty career?"

"No. It's not the end of my team's career, so it could never be the end of mine." He looks down to the ground. "Well, except for Nick."

"I kind of figured, given that he was still in a wheelchair. Doctors refusing to clear him?"

"Yes. But that's not the only reason he's not coming back. She wasn't here today, but his wife just gave birth to a baby girl, a couple of weeks ago. With the galaxy as damaged as it is now, being with his wife and daughter feels like the most important thing to him, right now."

"Nice. I oughta tell him congratulations, before he leaves. I don't know much about your team though. What was his job?"

"He was the pilot of the Nightshade. Now that we've lost her, I don't know how this squad is going to get around, yet."

"If the brass have their way, it'll be in the Normandy."

Walker can't help but look down at the newly planted gravestone, after hearing that. He looks back to Jeff a moment later. "And how do you feel about that?"

"My only problem with it, is that to me she'll always be Commander Shepard's ship. But at the same time, I've already lost my own love to this war. I don't want to lose the Normandy to permanent dry dock. And I don't give a shit who thinks that the ship should be permanently dry docked, as a monument. That ship belongs in active duty. If they want a monument, they can take the memorial wall we've got on Deck three, and put it on display in a museum."

Walker couldn't help but smile in admiration of Joker's passion for his vessel. "I like you, Joker. And you're reputation precedes you. And we do have common ground. As great as the Normandy is, it can never replace the Nightshade for us, just like I can't replace Jane for you." He sticks his hand out. "And if you're there, I'd be honored."

"No way in hell that ship will leave with another pilot." Joker gently grabs Walkers hand, as they shake, and their partnership was born.

A month later...

Walker did not hesitate after his two month leave was over. He gathered his crew to tell them of their new mobile base, and workers moved to load their gear into the Normandy's lockers, and crew quarters. The crew itself, with exception of all of the operatives, as none of them had any close connection with Walker or his team, remained largely the same. Aside from Joker, Dr. Chakwas and Engineer Greg Adams both stayed, given their love of the Normandy. In addition, Gabriella Daniels and Kenneth Donnelly returned, given that the ship was were their relationship began. And Steve Cortez had quickly grown a love of this ship, and wouldn't leave it for anything. Even Ensign Traynor returned, knowing that this ship is where she came out of her shell.

As Walker and his team examined every room in the ship, they each found their own place to work, and live. Carlos was absolutely fascinated by the Tantalus Drive Core, and took to sleeping right below it, and studying it while he was awake. Matias knew the most about the highly advanced weapon systems of the Normandy, and took Garrus Vakarian's old job of maintaining said guns. And Ramone went to the same observation deck that the Justicar Samara once sat at on her time on the Normandy to meditate as she once did.

As for the C.O of the crew, Griffin Walker knew exactly where his own quarters were. He also knew who they used to belong to. While the emotional pain of going in there was something he wanted to get out of the way on the first day, he knew that he could use the excuse of getting to know his new crew, all the way up until that night. But there was no longer any excuses. The crew was all winding down, preparing to sleep, and all the boxes of Walker's personal property were still fully packed. As he entered the room, he looked over to just above the personal computer. Jane had told him that her name plate was plastered on the wall just above the personal computer, but now it was his name plastered in said spot. He looked over to the left side of the computer, and that's when he saw a small holographic reader. Examining it, he read nearly all of the exact same words as were on her tombstone.

Commander

Jane Shepard

Step-daughter

Lover

It was one of the last times that Walker would shed a tear over the fact, and having that reader was going to help him to move on. He had a lot of things to unpack in this new home of his. But the most important thing to him was to place the one picture of him and her that he wanted with him. It was a picture of the two of them together, his arm wrapped around her waist, and her head resting on his shoulder, in front of the Nightshade. "Rest peacefully. I love you." He said, as he turned to unpack the rest of his belongings.

Cariana Raygor

February 9th 1997- June 30th 2015

Beloved daughter

Fiancé

Mother