A/N: I originally wrote the alternate ending in the first chapter as a means of mocking the original ending and making it so I could continue with an 'aftermath story'. Would you guys want to read an actual, serious alternate ending? Also, a while back I wrote another Mass Effect fic, which continued with a Mass Effect 2 sequel. It featured an original character as 'my character' rather than being a story about 'my Shepard'. I'm rewriting the whole thing and will eventually make a ME3 finale to the trilogy. Make sure you check out my other Mass Effect fic "Not a Hero".

Chapter Four: The Next Step

"Wow. I'm not completely sure how to react."

"Weren't you the one that said that might offer me the seat?"

Tali shook her head and did a very small pacing as we talked in my room. I could tell from the look on her face that she was both torn and surprised over the news of the promotions, which in turn surprised me. She clarified, "Well, I wasn't totally serious. I mean, I expected them to offer a seat. I didn't expect them to make you leader of the whole galaxy."

"I haven't accepted yet.

"But you will. As much as you might think you want to, you aren't the type to retire." Tali closed the small distance between us and placed my hands in hers, gazing into my eyes, "You'd regret turning your back on the galaxy shortly after we left the docking bay."

"You're probably right."

"The Shepard I know would take the job, and do it on his own terms. At this point, who would argue with your methods."

"I'm pretty sure what's left of the batarians still hate me." I sighed, remembering the incident with the batarian relay. Tali started to reply, but a thought crossed into my mind, "The council seat would be the best way to make up for that. In fact, considering the political fallout of the promotion, I should probably start out by helping the batarians."

"You're already thinking like a councilor."

I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, "Now you're just being mean."

She chuckled, then kissed me.

"Anyway, you were looking for something when I came in. Did you misplace something?"

Tali stepped away from me and went back to looking, "Yes, I nearly forgot. I can't find that rock you gave me on Rannoch. I know it's just a rock, but that gesture was really sweet."

"Oh. Well, no problem then." I took the slightly less than paln-sized stone out of my pocket.

Tali was relieved, "I don't know how I lost it on a ship this small with so few people on it. Where'd you find it?" Before I could answer, she noticed something, "It's missing a bit! I must have dropped it."

"No, you didn't. I took it so I could have this made." I pulled out a shiny metal band, a ring of familiar stone in the center of the metal part. Where a gemstone would normally be, there was a chip in a protective casing. "The metal is from a part of the Normandy."

Tali smiled and slipped the engagement ring on, "Now I can carry both my homes with me wherever I go."

"Doesn't quite have the same sweetness the second time, but I thought it was a good idea."

"It really was." she teared up a little.

I had to smiled at the good reception, "The part I used to make the metal bit was from one of the relay conductors that have been in the ship the longest."

"And that part governs 'sparks' that could happen in the system. Ha-ha." Tali laughed remembering the nickname Vega had given her.

"The chip is-"

"An external drive for omni-tools."

I nodded, "Sixty-seven extra terabytes of RAM."

"You really know how to treat a lady." she smiled wider, then lightly punched me before hugging me, "You meanie, putting so much thought into this ring makes mine look like the governing coil of the waste disposal system."

"I have to make up for everything you've done for me. Just helping save your homeworld and all life in the galaxy isn't enough to repay you. This ring isn't even a drop in the bucket compared to how much happiness I want to give you."

"Sweet-talker." Tali gazed deep into my eyes and kissed me.

Tali's Perspective

"Tali!" I turned to pinpoint the source of the familiar voice and spotted Liara seated at a table overlooking the river, "Over here."

It was amazing that in just under a month they had managed to get the entire Presidium up and running again, but considering it was the hub for all the most well-off citizens of the galaxy it wasn't the most shocking thin in the universe by a large margin. At the time I didn't even know that the most shocking was actually still on the way. Unaware of the changes to my life lurking on the horizon, I smiled and strolled over to what must have been Liara's favorite seat in the cafe.

"You wanted to talk?"

"Yes." the normally hardened information broker seemed unsure of herself for the first time in years.

It reminded me of how she'd been when she first met, but at the same time sort of caused the years of struggle and stress hang off of her like metaphorical wrinkles. Even though asari age very slowly and Liara was still barely an adult for her species, the wear of her harsher than normal life weighed on her, and her mental state just made the years pile on. Not that she was as distressed or shell-shocked as Shepard had been. At least it didn't seem that way. There was something else on her mind, something she wanted to talk about, the words just weren't coming. The asari was never very good at face-to-face exchanges; except with Shepard that is.

I sat down and gave her a smile. Not that she could see it. I had to make sure to put the smile in my voice too, "Come on. If something's bothering you I don't mind hearing you out."

"Thank you." she returned the smile, but I could tell it was at least partly forced, "It... It's nothing. Just fatigue. I called you because I wanted to catch up. We haven't actually talked lately."

"We rarely ever talked anyway." I joked, "Back when we first met I was always in engineering because I was in an awkward phase and during our recent run together you were the one holed up in a small room with your work."

"I am sorry about that. I wanted to talk with you more than just over the odd meal or mission banter, but things happen."

I nodded, "Yes, I know."

"And it was more than that really." Liara admitted, frowning, "I have to apologize for that part too. Actually there's a lot I have to make amends for."

"What do you mean?"

She hesitated, but then continued, "Well, to be honest I always knew you had a crush on Shepard and I saw the chemistry you to had. I could have pushed you two together."

I chuckled, "That's no big deal. I actually prefer how it happened. Back on the first Normandy I was still a kid. I mean, sure I was one my pilgrimage and pretty much an adult, but we actually had a lot in common. Both of us weren't really sure how to go about some really important things."

Liara nodded, "I envied you though. You were sure of yourself when it came down to it. We were both shy and awkward, but you had a lot more faith in yourself than I did."

"I don't know about that."

"It's true." the asari pressed, "And... well to be honest I was jealous of that bond you had with him. That's why I didn't do anything to help you two get together. I was attracted to him myself." She looked down at her hands, having gotten something off her chest that she'd been carrying around for a while. I imagine she thought I'd be upset considering I was a bit possessive back then.

Of course I wasn't though. The past was the past and Shepard was mine. "I told you, you don't have to apologize. I don't hold old feelings against you. You said 'was' after all."

She sighed, "I still am a little jealous. Not that I plan on trying to steal him or anything."

"I do still have a shotgun." I joked.

"That you do." Liara knew I was joking, but I did catch her making sure I didn't have it on me, "Shepard means a lot to me, as a friend. I know it wouldn't work out." she looked straight at me, "Whatever rumors you might hear, nothing ever happened between us back then. He was completely oblivious to my feelings, even when I tried to make a move."

I had heard they had a thing, but it was little more than idle ship gossip, "I had heard things, but Shepard cleared that up a long time ago." I looked at my ring and smiled, "Back when we first started out as a couple, he looked right in my eyes, ignoring the helmet completely, and told me that I was the only one he wanted. Looking into his eyes right then I couldn't do anything but believe him."

I glanced at Liara, who eyed my ring and then looked to her hands with a strange expression. I understood. It was probably hard hearing a crush had said that to someone else. She quickly cast that aside though and smiled, a real smile, "I'm happy for both of you. I really am. If you need any help with the preparations I'd be more than happy to then a hand."

"Thank you, Liara."

"I'd never do anything deliberately to ruin our friendship or my friendship with Shepard."

The phrasing was slightly odd, but I smiled and ignored the weirdness, "I know that."

The asari stood suddenly and bowed slightly, "I should go, thank you for hearing me out."

"No problem. Are you sure you don't need anything else?"

Shaking her head she replied, "No. That's all for the moment. I have to get back to work. There's lots to do. Give Shepard my best."

"Of course." I nodded, "We haven't set a date yet, but we're thinking we'll just be engaged for a bit and let everything cool down. A lot's happening right now. You don't even know the half of it."

The information broker smirked, "Oh, I know about the council's offer. Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Right. I nearly forgot."

"I don't know his decision of course, but I get the impression the galaxy can expect even more change very soon."

"You've got that right."

She looked down, her expression again distant and thoughtful before she turned back to me, "Whatever happens, I'll be there for you two."

"I know, and thanks again for that."

She started to walk away, but stopped herself, tensing as if wracked with some guilt. It was that guilt that forced her to turn around and drop a bombshell, "I can't just not tell you. I thought I could wait and confess later when it wouldn't be so fresh, but I can't. That would be even more of a betrayal."

"'Betrayal'? What are you talking about?"

"I did something unforgivable and I'm sorry. I didn't want to risk losing him and I thought I could-"

I stood up like a bolt, glaring at what she seemed to be insinuating, "You should clarify faster."

"I thought that if he died you could have something of him, and if he didn't-"

My anger was growing a bit more, but was joined by a little confusion, "I said spit it out."

"He didn't know about it. I offered him a parting gift of my memories of him before the assault on the beam. A totally platonic asari custom. While our minds were linked-"

It suddenly dawned on me, "You didn't..."

"I took a sample of his DNA and brain waves... so I could-"

I slapped her and shouted, "You're going to have his child?"

She made no move to retaliate, Liara knew she deserved it, "I... I wasn't thinking clearly. I won't lie and say I did it for wholly selfless reasons but... I always planned to give the child to you. I was only going to be a surrogate."

"You think... you think that makes it okay?"

"You can never have children with him, Tali. Ever. Even if you adopted it wouldn't be a child made from any part of either of you."

"That doesn't make what you did any less of a violation of-"

"I know that... I know alright?" she was on the verge of tears, "I hate myself almost as much as you hate me."

I looked at her, trying to hate her. To my own surprise I couldn't hate her completely. I could only see myself in her expression. I understood her feelings. I understood how well-intended the act had been even though the intent was made in desperate stupidity. I could even understand the selfish bit of it, wanting so badly to make Shepard a little bit hers. If I were her I probably would have done the same stupid thing.

Liara looked at me pleadingly, "I don't want to take him from you. I was just trying to do something... something to make sure some part of him remained for... us. I was scared of losing him. So scared it made me stupid."

I couldn't be mad at her anymore. Well... not as mad, "I know... I understand." There was a silence hanging in the air for I'm not sure how long before I finally broke it, "We need to talk to Shepard about this."

"Oh goddess... what will he think of this?"

I sighed, "I think I need a drink..."

Next Chapter: Home

A/N: Next chapter will probably be the finale folks. Be sure to read and review.