A/N: I just wanted to give out another shout out before beginning the conclusion for this fanfic. Denethor: Thanks for the awesome comment. I wanted to make the situation look as grim as possible and given past words from the Council they've refused to send ships into the Traverse a few times so I decided to leave them out of this. I love Legion too xD

Kaz: I'm glad to see you back, and thanks a great deal for sticking with this since Chapter 1. I'm glad you've enjoyed it ^^

Carson: Thanks for always being so excited lol. You've been a big supporter of this since before I began writing this. Thanks for all the encouragement.

Alright, on to the next. Things are going to settle from here, but it'll have some aww moments.. It makes me go aww thinking about it xD

Chapter 18

What remained of the defense fleet limped their way back to the Mass Relay. The Geth escorted them there even. Shepard left Joker in charge as Liara helped her towards the med bay to take care of her injuries. Jack and Grunt were close behind them to attend to their own wounds.

The butcher bill was high. They had lost fifteen people on the ship. Shepard had fallen silent as she contemplated the situation. Tali was in intensive care for her illnesses she had caught after her environmental suite was punctured, and Miranda didn't make it. She let out a heavy shaken sigh. Miranda died defending the ship from the invaders.

"Shepard, Ashley wants to speak with you." Joker said quietly over her ear piece as she leaned against the wall inside the elevator. "Go ahead." Shepard said just as quietly. Now that things had quieted down the crew had a moment to realize they had lost good people today. They had lost in defending Invictus, but won against the Reapers.

"Skipper, we are loading a shuttle with medical supplies and a couple of our engineers. If you need assistance we'll send them your way once we hit the relay." Ashley said after a short pause. Kate looked to Liara who never left her side since she got back to the ship. Kate nodded her head once. "That'd be appreciated..." Kate said quietly.

VWVWVW

A week passed by, and the Normandy was docked at the Citadel undergoing repairs. Kate told them they could take leave to recover but they were dedicated to seeing to the repairs done themselves. Like they owed it to Kate, and to the ship. Kate wasn't about to argue against it. If it was what they wanted to do she wasn't going to refuse them the task.

The Reaper threat had dwindled over the past few days. What remained of them after the virus had been deployed were hunted down and destroyed. It was a matter of clean up by now. The threat was finally gone. Kate felt disbelieving of it. All these years she had fought to stop them and she finally did. It was a hard concept to get use to, but she would adjust. She always did.

She stood before the Council as tall as she could, giving her best look of intimidation at them. "Shepard, you did well against the Reapers." The Salarian started. Kate just scoffed to herself as she looked to the other three. "We are sorry we didn't believe you sooner. If it weren't for you the Galaxy would be done for." the Turian spoke up. His words werent as harsh as they had been in the past.

"What can we do to repay you?" The Asari asked. David had yet to say anything, he just smiled at the woman proudly. He knew she could get the job done, he had every confidence in her. "I want to resign my position as a Spectre. Further more a hero's service should be arranged for those who died. They died so we could live. You owe them that, I owe them that." Shepard said firmly.

The Council exchanged looks. "We can arrange for the services by why do you wish to resign?" the Asari asked. Shepard folded her arms carefully behind her back. She was still sore despite the progress her wounds had been healing. "I took this position to destroy the Reapers. I've done that. I'm sick of fighting, and the death that comes with it. My bondmate, Liara, and I are expecting, we want to settle down and start a new life." Kate explained professionally.

The Council again exchanged looks. They had no idea Kate and Liara had been together this whole time. But they wouldn't question it. "Understood." The Asari started. She reached up for her terminal as she began to imput commands. The rest followed her actions as they each typed something out on their terminals.

"Katelyn Shepard, in light of your unyielding services to the Council, and the galaxy as a whole, we relieve you of your Spectre duties by your request. We will give you a pension to help you, and your family get started." The Salarian said as she looked them all over once. It was much more then she expected that was for sure. "Shepard, you've done us proud." David Anderson finally spoke up.

She bowed once out of respect. "Thank you, but I need to take my leave... I have some matters to attend to." Kate said as she turned on her heel and began to walk away from the four that made up the Council government. She had funerals to plan.

VWVWVW

On the Presidium a large gathering had come together to pay their respects to the fallen in the battle over Invictus. Kate stood with her crew as hundreds of finally made caskets laid out before them all. Turians, humans, Asari, even the Volus had attended the services. Family and friends of the fallen were there, and people who wished to show respect for the sacrifice they made attended as well.

Kate felt Liara grab her hand gently as Kate starred at the coffins with a solemn look. Some of those caskets were her crew members, people she had gotten to know well over the years. Miranda was also among them. Jack had taken the loss harder then expected. She almost refused to even attend, not wanting to say goodbye to the person she had developed a friendship with.

The two didn't always get along but it was there way in the end. It was an interesting friendship to say the least but now Jack stood there silently an angry glare on her face as she stared at the casket that was Miranda Lawson's. "Good going, Cheerleader." She muttered quietly next to Shepard.

Kate reached up and lightly laid a hand on Jack's shoulder gripping it gently yet firmly in some form of support. "We are gathered here to pay our respects and to give our final farewells to the fallen. These people gave up their lives to defend Invictus and beyond. They died bravely and fought well." The Asari councillor began as the small murmers of the crowed fell silent.

"If it were not for their efforts the fight could not have been won. They deserve medals of honor, heroic tales of what they've done, and much more. But we will honor what the gave to us, and our respect for their sacrifice. They will be missed, and we shall never forget them." The asari said as she stepped back.

After she was done with her speech the services went on with friends and family of the fallen telling of great stories of past battles, and how they lived their lives. Shepard even stepped up to tell of her crew's valor and willingness to fight along side her knowing of what they could lose.

It was the only way she could ever repay her comrades, and to Miranda who fought to the very end for her. She ran her fingers over the many coffins from her crew before she departed the services once they were over. She needed some peace for now.

VWVWVW

Kate stood in her shower on the Normandy. She had turned down a luxurious hotel offered to her by the Council. She didn't want to be praised, let alone swarmed by media. She just wanted to be alone on her ship. She just needed some peace for a change.

She bowed her head as hot streams of water ran over her naked form as she sighed heavily. She never faced death as she did now. She had come to care for her crew as a parent would for their kids. They were all important to her. She gave a hollow smile to herself. How much she had changed over the years. From cold and indifferent to someone mourning the loss of friends.

She felt a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders from behind as she felt Liara's forehead rest against her shoulder. Shepard took in a deep breathe as she grabbed Liara's arm with her hands as she leaned against the other. Liara knew Katelyn was grieving, and she let her do so as the human's body shook against her own.

For the first time in the years she had known Katelyn she began to shed tears as she openly sobbed against Liara. It was a heart wrenching scene but Liara held her tight as she didn't say a word.

VWVWVW

I know short chapter, but I hope it's as heart felt as I wanted it to be.

There are two more chapters at least ahead here. I'm still not sure on a side story. I may just leave it to the imagination. I'm about to becoming busy with a new job (If I get hired today) so it's a wait and see.

Until next time.