As Joker began to speed away from the battle, James rushed up to the cockpit as fast as he could, though his body was crying out to slow down. He had taken some serious hits on the field, but he didn't care at this point.

"WE CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT HER!" he yelled

"Vega, she's on the Citadel right now; how are we suppose to get her? Plus, what good would it do to get us killed, after she made sure we got out of the fight safely?" Garrus explained

"But...!"

James remembered what she had said to him before they parted their last time.

. . .

"Jane! What are you doing?!"

"I'm calling Joker to pick you all up! It's far too dangerous at this point! I will not have my friends sacrificed! I won't have YOU sacrificed!"

Tears rolled down her face. He knew he couldn't reason with her.

"I will come for you, no matter what! Even if it takes the rest of my life to do it! I will come back for you!"

"And even if I don't make it, please... don't forget me, but don't make me hold you back from living!"

"You won't die...!"

"Promise me!"

James cringed.

"I... promise. I love you so much! I will always be with you!"

She planted a desperate, but passionate kiss on his lips.

"And I with you. I love you, James! Now go!"

. . .

A tear rolled down his face.

"I... I can't leave her... I promised..."

Garrus punched him in the jaw. Not hard, but enough that James felt to the ground.

"THERE'S A REASON SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO GO! ARE YOU GONNA MAKE HER EFFORTS IN VAIN?! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYMORE THAN YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE... FOR HER!"

James could see the pain in Garrus's eyes. He knew right then that this decision hadn't been any easier on him than anyone else.

"After this, we will look for her... together. I promise."

. . .

It had been a few months since they had left the battlefield. Some kind of burst of energy had come from the Crucible of a radiant green. Instead of Reapers exploding, they could only vaguely see them glowing the same green as the beam of light.

The Normandy had taken massive damage, but no one was killed. Everyone survived the crash on the jungle planet they had landed on.

Not only that, everyone, including EDI, now all had vibrant blue eyes. It was as if they all had finally been completed.

And now the ship was close to completion.

No one had bothered posting Shepard's name on the memorial wall in the ship yet, though many had a feeling they knew what had happened.

Out of nowhere, several Reapers now glowing the same green as before slowly descended upon them.

"Oh shit! They weren't destroyed?!" James cried out

But something wasn't right about them. A smaller Reaper landed before the ship, now with the entire crew out to see what was going on.

The small Reaper turned to James.

"You are the one called James, are you not?" It asked, the synthetic voice sounded vaguely familiar...

"I am."

"You're Shepard no longer exists. We have been reborn to protect and rebuild the galaxy, just as the Shepard desired. The Shepard wishes to tell you and her crew this."

Jane?!

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SHE DOESN'T EXIST?!"

"She sacrificed herself, so that could live together in harmony, and rebuild the galaxy. Her wish is to help those in need, but her last wish before she died was that she knew you were alive, and do not worry anymore. Live on, just as she desired for you to do."

James couldn't speak, but instead, he fell to his knees and tears rolled down his face

"Thank you..."

"We have come to also help you rebuild your ship, so that you maybe able to leave this planet. We have already rebuild several mass relays, so you will be able to take one to shelter."

Without another word, the massive machines quickly went to work on the Normandy. Everyone watched as they made quick work of it.

Finally, the ship was as if it had never lifted off before.

"There... that should do... the Shepard wants you to know that she cares for all of you..."

The small Reaper looked at James again.

"And she will always love you. Goodbye, Captain James Vega."

The Reapers left without another word.

Everyone looked at James.

"... well, what are you staring at? Let's get off this shit-hole!"

Everyone quickly boarded the ship, except James. He kept staring in the direction the Reapers left.

'I'm glad you did what you felt was right. That was always how you were, my love. I will live on, just for you. Your sacrifice will not be in vain! Goodbye, Jane."

The End