12th March 2192 – Crucible pulse + 5 years 5 months

Shepard walked down the quiet corridors of the cruiser, keeping one eye on the blue shifting space out to the windows to the right. To the left were occasional doors, dotted every ten metres apart. They were doors to the luxury apartments on the cruiser, each one numbered. He carried on past several more rooms before taking a left, heading into the restaurant area of the ship. The restaurant was rather fancy, decked out with wooden panelling and sumptuous furniture.

There were a few people seated at tables for their breakfast, though it was mainly empty because of how early it was. Shepard glanced around the room before finding the head waiter, stood over by the entrance to the kitchen in deep conversation with a Salarian chef. He headed over to the pair, tapping the human on the soldier.

"Excuse me?"

The waiter spun around, bowing his head slightly. "Good morning sir, how may I help?"

"Did you get my email? About this morning?"

"Oh, yes it's being prepared now," The waiter smiled before turning, whispering something to the Salarian who then ran off into the kitchen. A few seconds later the Salarian returned with an Asari who was carrying a tray laden with all manner of different breakfast food, both hot and cold. The waiter took it off the Asari with a nod of thanks. "Does this meet your satisfaction sir?"

"Yeah, it looks great thanks," Shepard nodded with a smile as he took the tray off the waiter. "Brilliant, that's fantastic."

"Of course sir, please enjoy the rest of your stay."

Shepard nodded and turned, carefully moving back through the restaurant with the tray to their room. He paused outside their door to scan his eye on the DNA key lock before passing through the automatic door. The room they had on the cruiser was more like an apartment than a hotel suite, with a lounge room in the middle, a bedroom for Elizabeth, a bedroom for them, and a bathroom. Shepard walked through the lounge into the bedroom and, unsurprisingly, Miranda was awake.

She smirked at him. "Thought I heard you sneaking out."

"Yeah," He shrugged as he sat down next to her, swinging his legs on the bed. He put the tray over his own lap as Miranda wouldn't be able to get it over her bulging stomach. He returned her smile. "Happy birthday Miri."

"Aww, thanks," She kissed him on the cheek as she took a piece of toast with one hand. "I hope you didn't go buying me anything, this trip for the last few days has been lovely."

"Well no, I didn't," Shepard sighed. "Though I've enjoyed this too, never been on a cruise liner before. Actually no, scrap that. Once I was on an N7 team to clear out Batarian pirates on a pleasure cruiser, I remember that fighting through the spa was rather strange."

"Not as fun as those antique shops you and Garrus are fond of blowing up?" Miranda chuckled. "Oh, and well done on the security – though I did notice."

"Erm...what do you mean?"

"Oh come off it Shepard," Miranda rolled her eyes. "The Asari couple next door are commandos, the group of human lads the next room down are N7, and the Turian across the corridor is clearly a SPECTRE."

"Sharp as ever eh?" Shepard grinned. "OK, so have you noticed the security in Lizzie's school then? The one I said I'd sort for you over Christmas?"

"Yep, the new classroom assistant in Lizzie's classroom is actually N7," Miranda nodded happily. "And those janitors are not janitors."

"Nope, all of them special forces of various ranks," He agreed. "Though they're on a rotor so they don't feel their being wasted."

"Well, you've done pretty well there then. That should be all right, shouldn't it?"

"Yeah," Shepard nodded. "So, shall we get back to your fortieth birthday?"

"I am not forty," Miranda fixed him a glare. "I am twenty one for the twentieth time, I'll have you know!"

"You look it, twenty one I mean," Shepard rested his head back down on the pillow, placing one hand over Miranda's stomach tenderly. "I mean you look amazing, as ever."

"Thanks John," Miranda rolled her eyes as she swallowed a bite of toast. "But I suppose that's thanks to my dear father."

"I...have a question."

Miranda looked up at him, humming through a mouthful. "Mmm?"

"With my implants from the Lazarus project, what's my life expectancy like?" Miranda cocked her head with a curious expression. "I mean, do they affect that at all?"

"Yes, I did some research on that," Miranda nodded. "Standard life expectancy is around one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty for humans, I reckon with your implants it could well add an extra fifty years onto it at least."

"That's good then."

Miranda took a bite of bacon as she tilted her head with a curious expression. "What's brought this on John?"

"Well, I was just thinking about it the other day," Shepard smiled as he waved his hand dismissively. "But it is incredible, you look like you're in your early twenties."

"You're so sweet," Miranda smiled. "Though it's again thanks to my bastard of a father."

"But I can thank him for giving me you." Shepard quipped as he nicked a slice of bacon from the plate.

"Hmm," She rolled her eyes again. "So, have your duties for today been sorted?"

"Yeah," He nodded. "I have to look after both Tali and Garrus before the ceremony, then I have to accompany Tali into the ceremony, join Garrus as his second, then be the official witness of the accord, and then I have a speech."

"Wow, busy day then," Miranda grinned. "Liara and I are going to loiter by the food all day."

Shepard chuckled. "You'll have to fight off Wrex and Grunt you know."

"Oh I'm not concerned about them, don't you worry."

As the pair chuckled there was a knock at their door, Elizabeth hurrying in to the room. She ran up onto the bed, giving her mother a hug and an envelope.

"Happy birthday Mummy!"

"Oooh, thank you Lizzie," Miranda carefully opened up the envelope to reveal a card she Elizabeth had made in school. The front of the card featured a drawing of Miranda, surrounded with multicoloured glitter. "That's...lovely. Isn't it John?"

"Yeah," Shepard nodded slowly. "Very artistic."

Elizabeth cocked her head. "Where are your presents?"

"Well I didn't want any this year," Miranda explained. "But we agreed to have this little cruise to Garrus and Tali's bonding ceremony."

"Oh," Elizabeth nodded. "Though, I'm a little worried."

"Worried?" Miranda placed an arm around Elizabeth, stroking her back. "Why?"

"Well, there is a party afterwards isn't there?"

Shepard nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm worried about daddy at the party," Elizabeth giggled. "He'll want to dance, and he can't dance!"

Miranda burst out laughing, joining in with Elizabeth's giggles. Shepard frowned, folding his arms whilst huffing.

"That's not funny, don't take the mickey out of my dance."

"Well, it is rather awful," Miranda chuckled again. "Don't worry Lizzie, I've already banned him from the dance floor."

"No way, I am going to be shaking it with style," Shepard grinned. "You'll see."

XXXXXXXX

"Shepard, I'm terrified," Shepard struggled to hold in his laughter as he watched the Turian pace back and forth in front of the bar. "Really, I am. What if I'm not good enough? What if we're not meant to be? Spirits, what if I'm cursed for being with someone from another species?"

"Garrus?"

The Turian stopped pacing to look up at him. "Yes?"

"Shut up!"

"What?"

"I'm telling you to shut up!" Shepard shook his head as he stepped around the bar, pulling out two shot glasses. He took a bottle of Turian brandy and a bottle of Caribbean white rum from underneath the private bar, pouring out a shot for each of them. He slid the shot of brandy across the bar. "Drink."

"Are you serious?" Garrus cocked his head. "Drink before this?"

"Yes, just to help settle the nerves," Shepard nodded, placing the bottles back underneath the counter. "You have nothing to worry about."

"Right." Garrus nodded, picking up the shot in one talon. He stared at it for a few seconds before deciding Shepard was right, downing it in one.

"Look, you two are great together. This place is a lovely hotel, Rannoch is beautiful, you're doing this because you love each other," Shepard took his own shot, savouring the kick of the rum for a few seconds before continuing. "Everyone here is your friends, here to support you. Well maybe bar the Quarian Admirals who had to be invited for political reasons."

"You don't understand," Garrus shook his head as he leaned his elbows down on the bar. "If you ever do that human marriage thing to Miranda, which I understand is your equivalent of this, then you'll understand. I'm pledging my life and loyalty to Tali today, something which I really want to do, but it seems so finite."

"Worried your bachelor days are over?" Shepard smirked. "Concerned you won't be able to have all those Turian chicks to yourself?"

"Shut up Shepard," The Turian shook his head once more. "That's not what I mean."

"Oh come off it, you're devoted to her and everyone knows it," Shepard clapped Garrus on the shoulder, though it was rather strange to not be clapping onto armour plated shoulder pads. Instead it was a light thud on the fabric of his suit. "All this is is putting it down on paper for tax reasons. You haven't been evading tax now, have you?"

"No," Garrus sighed. "And I know you're right, it's just this feels so intimidating."

"Well of course it does, it's Tali!" Shepard grinned. "You know? Quarian with a shotgun? Can be rather vicious? Has a close range kill count to match Grunt?"

"Yeah," Garrus cracked a smile. "Suppose that adds to the terror."

"Exactly."

There was silence for a few moments, before Garrus cocked his head at Shepard with a questioning look.

"What? Spit it out Vakarian!"

"Well, it's just..." Garrus stroked his chin. "Why aren't you and Miranda married yet?"

"Erm..." Shepard scratched the back of his head. "Well, because we don't really need to be I guess."

"What kind of an answer is that?"

"Look, things are a bit different with Miranda than other women OK? Besides, we have a child, we're having another two. Not even marriage compares to that."

"Yes, but still," Garrus hummed. "Why don't you anyway? If it's not that much of a big deal it'll be easy for you, you won't have any nerves or worries at all in that case."

"I don't know how to explain it," Shepard sighed. "With marriage, bonding ceremonies, whatever you want to call them, the whole point is you're ultimately committing yourselves to each other. We've already done that."

"I suppose I understand, children are a huge commitment for the pair of you."

"Yeah but it's more than that. You remember how Miranda was when we started off the Collector mission?"

Garrus smirked. "How could I forget?"

"Well, she didn't trust anyone at all then did she? She wouldn't let anyone get close to her, nothing beyond a professional relationship."

"Not until you begun to work at her."

"I did not 'work at her' Garrus," Shepard glared. "We just had a connection I guess, especially after helping out with rescuing Oriana."

"Yeah but what's this got to do with..."

"I'm getting to that!" Shepard rolled his eyes. "The point is is that when we begun to get closer she decided to enter into a relationship with someone for the first time. It was the first time she had ever gotten beyond anything like a one night stand."

"And that took a hell of a lot of courage for her, right?"

"Exactly," Shepard nodded. "You have no idea how much courage it took for her to admit to loving someone other than Oriana, she admitted to me that it was one of the hardest things she's ever done."

"And so beginning the relationship with you was pretty much a lifelong commitment for her?"

"Yes, that's it," Shepard smiled. "She's fully committed herself to the relationship, as have I. To us, the marriage thing is just a piece of paper. Of course, we will do it someday – but it's no where near as important as our kids."

"I suppose I understand that." Garrus nodded.

"Of course, we never had this discussion Garrus."

"I know, I know," The Turian held his hands up. "Shepard, when have I ever betrayed the confidence you've placed in me?"

Shepard smirked as he opened the bar door to leave the room. "Well, I guess there's always a first."

XXXXXXXX

"Tali, how are you doing?"

"Not too bad Shepard," Tali turned to face him as he entered. "How do I look?"

Shepard noticed the brand new exo-suit she was sporting, a really decadent one at that. The silvery coating had been polished until shiny, and was surrounded by golden patterns. She wore her same purple fabric cloths around it however. He looked up to meet the glowing orbs of her eyes.

"You look great Tali."

"Thanks," She nodded. "You scrub up well too you know."

"Ha!" Shepard smiled. "I hate suits."

"So does Garrus," Tali replied. "Is he OK?"

"I think he's a little scared."

"Really?" Tali sighed. "That's silly."

"That's what I said to him," Shepard chuckled. "I think he's a little scared of you."

"Ah, that makes more sense." Tali chuckled as well.

"You know I'm amazed, Rannoch is developing really well," Shepard walked over to the window, the seventh story window giving quite a good view from the hotels private valley down to what was becoming the new capital – Dawn City. In the centre several high rise skyscrapers extended into the sky, the developing metropolis sprawled out around them. The sky was busy with sky cars and shuttles, most of Geth design but many from other species. "You're making a good job of being on the Government."

"If you say so," Tali came to stand next to him. "I hate it really, I'm guessing everything to be honest, it's surprisingly tough to be a politician."

"Tell me about it," Shepard chuckled. "I remember the days when we spent whole evenings coming up with the most inventive insults for the Council."

"Yep," Tali nodded. "And we're like them now, almost five of your Earth years as a leader of my people."

"Indeed," Shepard turned to face her. "And I'm giving you away to my best friend now."

"I wouldn't want anybody else to do that," Tali leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "You've been a true friend Shepard, ever since I met you."

"So have you Tali," Shepard patted her on the arm, giving her a smile. "So, are you ready to go and get legally attached to a Turian?"

Tali chuckled. "Of course I am!"

XXXXXXXX

Shepard had to admit he felt a bit awkward as he and Tali stood at the doorway to the ceremony room. He had an arm linked around the Quarian's arm, and the pair were just waiting for the go sign from the Asari events manager from the hotel.

"You nervous Tali?"

"Nope," She shook her head. "You?"

"A little actually," Shepard waggled his eyebrows at her. "I hate being watched when I walk, it always makes my feel...judged."

"What? That's ridiculous!" Tali giggled. "But, just think about this as practice."

"Practice?"

"Yeah, for Lizzie. She'll be marrying one day."

"Oh no, oh no," Shepard shook his head defiantly. "Not for a long while."

"Yeah, but she will get married one day. She'll find someone she loves, who loves her..."

"...Who I approve of and whose passed Miranda's rigorous background checks," Shepard nodded with a grim smile. "Oh she's only going to have the very very best, not just any old bloke for my little girl."

"Oh dear," Tali shook her head whilst chuckling. "Dare I ask what happens to those that don't meet your approval?"

"Oh," Shepard narrowed his eyes. "They'll just...disappear I guess."

Tali broke out into fits of laughter. "Wow, I wouldn't put it past you actually."

"Miss Vas Normandy," An Asari called over to them from the door. "We're ready for you now."

"Right, great," Tali nodded. "Shepard?"

He smiled and nodded at her, before they walked towards the door, two Geth doormen pulling open the doors to the ceremony room. Inside around one hundred guests were there, sat in rows on wither side of the room. The room was light and spacious, pinkish light shining in through the glass ceiling above them. Ivy like plants were clinging to all of the walls around them, giving a similar feel to the room as that of one of the Quarian Liveships – though much smarter.

As they passed through the doors everyone turned to watch them, many people smiling at them. Obviously Shepard knew the crew from the Normandy, all of the serving members of the Normandy were there. All of the Admiralty board and highest members of the Turian Hierarchy were there too, though for political correctness rather than out of either Tali or Garrus really wanting them there. There were other familiar faces there, Dr Michel was near the front and beaming rather happily, and Garrus' father and sister were here as well. It was the first time that Shepard had met them, and both were rather nice. Garrus' sister was a little bit crazy, reminding him of Kasumi with many of her mannerisms, and his father was as imperialistic as he had expected.

By the time Shepard zoned back into the room they were almost completely down the isle, nearing Garrus at the very front. Shepard caught Miranda's eyes, giving her a smile. Elizabeth was next to her and she leaned forwards to stick her tongue out at him, Shepard returning the childish gesture. He caught Miranda rolling her eyes at them.

The pair stopped in front of Garrus and the director of ceremony at the front of the room, Shepard letting go of Tali's arm. Tali leaned forwards to him.

"Shepard, my helmet?"

He nodded as Tali reached up to undo the clips around the bottom of her helmet, and he gently took the helmet off her head. Of course Shepard had seen her face once before after the battle on Rannoch, but no other than Garrus none of the non Quarians in the room had ever seen the face of a Quarian – the Geth were only just finishing their work to correct the immune systems of the Quarians. As Tali shook her hair free of the helmet there was a collective gasp around the room, and Shepard wasn't surprised.

Tali was beautiful, there was no other words. Her skin was a lilac shade, with tiny, darker freckles on her cheeks. She had dark purple lips and a thin nose, contrasting against her electric blue hair. Her eyes were the most astonishing feature, they were actually golden in colour, inlaid with tiny purple flakes.

Shepard smiled at her before walking over to Garrus, clasping hands with him.

"Good luck."

Garrus nodded back. "Thanks."

With that Shepard went to stand on the front row, next to Miranda. As the ceremony began Miranda leaned into him, whispering very quietly.

"Tali is beautiful, I had no idea."

"Yeah, I saw her face before on Rannoch," Shepard nodded. "Though, you're still more beautiful."

"Flatter," Miranda grinned. They stood in silence for a few seconds, watching and listening to the Turian vows from Garrus. She leaned back into Shepard. "I want us to get married."

"Really?"

"Yep," She whispered back. "But I'll get back to you about when and where, I want to plan it perfectly, and I guess it has to be after the twins are born."

Shepard rolled his eyes. "I guess I'd expect that from you."

XXXXXXXX

"So..." Shepard looked around the room, the eyes of all of the guests firmly on him. "Garrus and Tali, what can I say about them?"

Shepard took a couple of steps back from his chair, folding his arms.

"Well lets start with Garrus. So, I first met him as he was taking out a couple of thugs threatening Dr Michel here," Shepard indicated Dr Michel at one of the tables in front of him. "It was weird, we worked seamlessly despite having had only one brief conversation before. He kept Dr Michel safe whilst we secured the area, and he wanted to be on my team to take down Saren. The rest is, as they say, history."

"Garrus has basically been my best friend since then, we've been through everything together. From Saren, to the Collectors, to Cerberus, to the Reapers, I took it all on with this Turian with his sniper pretty much on my shoulder," Shepard turned to smile at Garrus. "And he has been one of the people who stayed with me to the very end, right into hell itself. Thank you for that Garrus, you have no idea how great a friend you have been to me."

The Turian nodded. "No problem Shepard."

"And Tali, our little Quarian engineer," Shepard grinned at Tali, and she met his eyes with a smile of her own. "So Garrus and I, along with Ashley, met her about ten minutes after I met Garrus for the first time. We went from Chora's den, to Dr Michel's clinic, left with Garrus, returned to Chora's den to find it full of mercs who we had to fight through, found out the guy who ran the club had mercs working for Saren about to kidnap or kill Tali, ran to a back alley, killed the mercs and helped Tali out of a sticky situation. And yes, that was all in ten minutes!"

"But Tali wasn't just some Quarian kid out of her depth on her Pilgrimage, definitely not. Without her we could never have nailed Saren, and without her amazing tech skills we would've been dead in the field from Geth armatures. And she was more than up to the challenge of dealing with the tech in the Collector base, and with whatever we encountered during the war," Shepard nodded to Tali. "And just like Garrus, you've been at my side pretty much since the beginning."

"And since the end of the war we've been all together a lot, just hanging out as friends. And also as politicians may I add, though that has proved to be more than interesting," There was a murmur of assent. "And both of you have been so supportive of me, with Lizzie and all of my own projects."

"And so now, I've given my little sister to my best mate pretty much. It's really strange actually, but it's a good strange. It's meant to be, I reckon" Shepard chuckled as he raised his glass to the room, everyone else copying him. "So here's to Tali and Garrus, congratulations!"

"Congratulations!" Everyone replied, taking drinks from their glasses. As Shepard sat back down people began to break out into conversation, the waiters beginning to bring the plates of food through. It was interesting to see that half the waiters were Quarian and the other half Geth, though both sets seemed to work well together.

"Nice speech Shep," Jack called over from the other side of the table. "Interesting to hear you speak in public without us all being about to embark on a suicide mission!"

"Yeah," Garrus chuckled. "That is a good point."

"Mind you," Shepard nudged Garrus in the arm. "Seeing how stocked the hotel bar is, there might well be the chance for a suicide mission!"

"Oh god," Miranda shook her head slowly, causing Elizabeth to chuckle. "I hope you're not planning on getting too drunk and staggering back at four in the morning."

"Of course not, that would be unreasonable," Shepard winked at his daughter. "Three thirty at the latest!"

"Well Garrus won't be staying out too late," Tali fixed Garrus a mock glare, raising one purple eyebrow. "I might have need of that body of yours!"

"Hmm," Garrus grinned as a large plate of food was placed in front of him and then Tali. "That sounds as good as this smells."

As everyone began to tuck in Liara smiled over at Elizabeth. "So Elizabeth, I hear you're enjoying school very much."

"Yes thank you, I enjoy it," Elizabeth nodded happily. "My teachers are really good, and I learn loads."

"That sounds good, it's great you like it."

"Yes, it is good," Javik nodded his assent. "That will mean that you will be more likely to learn more, you will become more intelligent than your peers. You will be able to be better than them."

"Erm..." Garrus scratched the back of his head. "As cheerful and positive as ever Javik."

"I am merely being truthful," Javik shrugged. "That was how Prothean children were brought up, to compete with each other to be superior."

"You know, you guys had some incredibly strange..."

Shepard was halfway through his sentence when Miranda practically jumped up out of her seat, muttering something about feeling ill. She dashed off so quickly that he didn't even have time to ask her if she was all right. Elizabeth looked up at him with a confused look.

"What's wrong with mummy?"

"I'm sure she's fine," Shepard answered as he got up to follow her, masking his concern from his daughter. He quickly walked out of the room, squeezing past the bulk of Grunt on one table, heading over to the toilets. He saw Miranda slip into the women's toilets, the door closing behind her. Shepard slowed as he approached, raising his hand to knock on the door. "Miri, are you OK?"

"Yeah...I'm fine..." Her reply came quietly, and was a little shaky. "Just feeling a little ill."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'll be out in a minute."

"OK then." Shepard sighed as he slowly headed away from the door. As he turned he saw Liara approaching, watching with concerned eyes as she rested a hand on her own pregnant stomach.

"Shepard, is she OK?"

"I don't know," He scratched the back of his neck, sighing once more. "She insists she's fine."

"If you want I'll go in, check on her for you."

"Would you?" Shepard gave her a weak smile. "Thanks Liara."

"No problem." She nodded with a smile as she headed into the toilet, Shepard making his way off back into the reception room. He had only made it as far as the door when a shout caught his attention.

"Shepard! Come here, quickly!"

He turned and ran back to Liara, rushing past her and into the toilet.

"Oh my god, Miri!"

Miranda was lying on the floor by the sink, her back resting up against the wall. She was breathing rapidly and shallowly, eyes shut as if she was unconscious. One hand rested on top of her stomach, whilst the other was trailing on the floor in the small pool of blood surrounding her body.