Author's Note: Sorry about the very short chapter; it's been a busy couple of days. I wrote this pretty late at night while having a few drinks. I plan to continue the story for a bit longer, because I'm having a lot of fun with it.

I'm looking forward to having others find out about Shepard and Tali, and seeing the responses of Joker and Jack particularly. I'll also be interested to hear what Mordin has to say. But that's for another day - right now, our favorite couple are still just relaxing in the captain's cabin (again).

Thanks for the encouraging reviews; they keep me writing.

I should go.

Shepard was roused from his reverie by the muted beep of the comm system, followed by the disembodied voice of EDI.

"Commander, you have received a priority message from Councillor Anderson."

"Thanks, EDI," he replied. Tali lifted her head from his chest and glanced up at him.

"You are welcome, Commander," EDI replied, and the comm channel closed with another beep.

"I should probably check that," Shepard said, and Tali nodded, reluctantly untangling herself to allow him to get up. He walked up the short set of steps to his office and accessed his private terminal.

She took another sip of her drink in silence, allowing him some time and privacy to read the message. After a couple of minutes, he sighed and came back down the stairs.

"Bad news?" she asked, setting her drink down once more.

He shrugged. "Not really. Anderson says the council wants to meet with me again, about 'my version of events' at the Collector base."

"Bosh'tets," she said, angrily. "You'd think they'd give you the benefit of the doubt after all you've done."

Shepard frowned, looking at nothing in particular. He'd spent a long time being angry at the council's continued dismissal of his warnings of the danger the galaxy was facing, but he was tired of fighting a battle on two fronts.

I'll save the galaxy with or without their help, he thought, not for the first time.

"Don't let it bother you, sweetheart," he said, knowing that the endearment would help dissipate her anger. He crossed to the couch and sat down beside her, taking her hand.

"I'll meet with the council, then we can blow off some steam in a bar I know on the Citadel," he said, with a smile. "We'll get the whole team together, or at least everyone who wants to go."

Tali looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling her anger at the council be subsumed by the feeling of being near him. She had also felt a burst of warmth in her chest again at his use of the pet name he had chosen for her.

"That sounds nice," she said. "It'll be good to get off the ship for a little while."

He nodded in agreement.

"EDI," he said, seeing the blue holographic interface spring to life nearby.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Tell Joker to plot a jump to the Citadel when he's ready," Shepard said. "I want to be there for a meeting at 14:00 Citadel time tomorrow."

"Of course, Commander," the AI replied; "Will there be anything else?"

"Please tell the specialists that we're heading for the Citadel tomorrow, and that I'll be having a few drinks at the Dark Star Lounge in Zakera Ward from 17:00 local. Anyone who wants to come along is welcome."

"Understood, Commander," EDI replied, and the hologram disappeared.

They sat in silence for a few moments, still holding hands. At last Tali spoke.

"Do you want me to go and let you prepare for your meeting?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"Nothing to prepare for," he replied, "and even if there was, I'd want you to stay."

She smiled, squeezing his hand.

"Besides," he said, with a smirk, "I finally managed to grab something from the extranet. I thought we might watch it together."

He reached for a small console set into the edge of the coffee table, and tapped a few panels. A large holographic display materialized several meters from the couch, over the bed, and the cabin lighting dimmed by several levels.

Shepard released her hand and instead put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Tali willingly snuggled into his chest, laying an arm loosely around his waist as she watched a star field appear on the large screen.

There was a flare of dramatic music over the backdrop of stars, and bold, shimmering blue letters snapped suddenly into view as if they'd just exited a mass effect jump.

BLASTO THE JELLYFISH

STINGS