Chapter 24! Yes! This is quite amazing indeed, bravo good sir! Anyhow, let's just get to the story shall we? Mass Effect is, as always, owned by Bioware, so please enjoy!

Ch. 24: Press

Citadel

Commander Shepard

Shepard awoke lazily in the hotel room; he started to move but felt two three fingered hands pulling him closer. He sighed and looked down at Tali. Her eyes were still closed, but she was smiling happily and squeezing him tightly; she was obviously awake.

After another moment of silence he tried to move again. "Tali, can I get up now? I'm a little hungry."

Tali only squeezed him tighter; her smile widened and she nuzzled her head into his neck. Shepard sighed in defeat and put his arms around her; he wasn't winning this one.

A few minutes passed and Tali began speaking softly. "I could stay like this all day, Shepard... You're such a good pillow."

Shepard laughed. "So that's what I am to you? At least I'm comfortable."

Shepard began stroking her side; her soft skin felt amazing on his hands. Tali shifted as he continued to stroke her and she moved her head to face him. She opened her eyes and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "More than comfortable..."

Shepard smiled and took this opportunity to give her a light squeeze on the butt. Tali squirmed and glared at him playfully. "Bosh'tet."

Shepard chuckled and pulled her closer. "I thought I was a comfortable pillow."

Tali sighed and nuzzled into his neck again. "You are, when you're not being mean to me."

Shepard gasped playfully. "Being mean? I feel hurt, my lady."

Tali shifted again, moving on top of him. "Hurt? Well, let me fix that..."

She kissed him and Shepard grabbed her. She giggled as he turned her over and crawled on top of her. "Please do, my lady..."

And with what happened next, Shepard probably didn't feel hurt anymore.

Citadel

James Vega

James sat on a bar stood next to Steve Cortez and Kaidan Alenko; Steve and Kaidan were chatting about something, but James wasn't really paying attention. He took another sip of his drink and began thinking about his future: with the Reapers gone and the galaxy safe, he could probably begin true N7 training. The training and advice he had received from Shepard had been nice, and had come in handy more than once, but to be an official N7...

Cortez tapped James on the shoulder. "James, I think Kaidan and I are going to leave a little early. We're probably not coming back here, so don't get so drunk you can't find your hotel room."

James smiled and lifted his glass. "Esteban, you keep worrying about me and I'll have to teach you a lesson."

Cortez shook his head. "You could if you used a Hammerhead."

James rolled his eyes. "Mako forever baby!"

Cortez and Kaidan walked out laughing. James turned back to his drink, smiling; he was glad he had such good friends.

Citadel

Reporter Albalus Orno, Hierarchy News

Albalus could hardly believe his luck! He was to report at the press conference of Commander Shepard! He sat in the crowd of reporters, eager to hear whatever Shepard had to say.

Commander Shepard walked up to the podium with a small smile. Albalus looked around the room; reporters from every major news network were here, but he had to get in the first question! He had to know the man behind the hero!

Shepard cleared his throat and began speaking. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I have been called to this press conference today to confirm my upcoming marriage with the love of my life, my Quarian engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."

Instantly the reports stood up and began asking questions. The Terra Firma reporter seemed outraged, but most of the other reporters simply seemed shocked. Through the flurry of questions it seemed Shepard only heard one question, and that question was Albalus's!

"Commander Shepard, what do Quarians look like under their masks?"

Shepard smiled at the question and began calming the reporters. "Alright, alright, one at a time please. I heard a question from this man." Shepard pointed at Albalus: he actually pointed at him! "And to answer your question sir, beautiful. Any more words, and I wouldn't be doing her justice."

The Terra Firma reporter began speaking. "Commander Shepard, can I ask a personal question?"

Shepard turned to the reporter with an amused smile. "Shoot."

The reporter straitened. "Commander, why do you insist on lowering the image of humanity? Why in the world would you want to be with a suit rat..."

If his question was any longer, no one heard it. Shepard became rather enraged at the reporter's question; his biotics flared up for a moment, but he calmed himself down. The reporter stopped after seeing the flare, however, paralyzed in fear. 'Wow, I bet Shepard could have lifted that guy up and threw him out the window!' Albalus thought as Shepard began speaking.

Shepard glared at the reporter and began speaking with anger laced in his voice. "Lowering the image of humanity? What have I done that has lowered the image of humanity, exactly!?" Shepard banged his fist on the podium. "I go out there, fight for your goddamned lives, see my own friends and family die, and constantly fight to keep this galaxy safe, with or without your help, and the second I come back here I'm constantly questioned. 'Oh, Reapers aren't real.' 'Oh, you're lowering the image of humanity.' 'Oh you just don't understand the politics of the situation!' Let me tell you one thing you piece of shit, if you ever, and I mean ever, call her a suit rat again I'll have a nice little chat with your so called 'party' and let them know how close to extinction they really are. Piss me off again and you'll be getting zeros at the polls, I assure you. To me, I have done nothing but raise the image of humanity, and not only to the other species in the galaxy, but to ourselves. You and your party only hate, and that's why you waste everyone's time with your bullshit. That's why your own personal image of humanity has lowered, because it's not the true image of humanity, it's idiotic drivel from the mind of a fool. And to answer your second question: why? Why do I want to be with her? There's only one answer to that: I love her, and she loves me, and I don't give a damn what you think about it."

The reporter shook the fear out of him and tried to refute Shepard. "But Commander, you are giving up any chance of having children! You are weakening our species by simply not passing on your DNA. Surely you could find a Human or Asari who would be better..."

Shepard's glare stopped the reporter mid sentence, and he was again paralyzed in fear. 'Shepard is terrifying!' Albalus thought as he tried to move away from the other reporter, hoping he wouldn't get hurt. After a moment Shepard's glare lessened and he sighed. He looked right at the reporter's eyes in disappointment and said. "Sir, no one is better than the woman I love. I won't let something so trivial stop me from being with the one my heart holds dearer than any other. I'm sorry you don't understand that."

Shepard turned to the other reporters. "This press conference is over."

He walked out of the room and the rest of the reporters tried to charge after him, hoping to get their questions answered. The Terra Firma reporter lifted a handkerchief and began rubbing the sweat off of his forehead; he must have been deathly afraid. Albalus, however, was glad he had his question answer, albeit shortly. He was ultimately satisfied with the display, and began walking out the door, eager to write his story.

Citadel

Commander Shepard

Shepard groaned as he sank into the couch in his hotel room; the press conference hadn't gone the way he planned. He should have known someone like that would have been in the audience, but he had assumed those bastards had died out because of the war. He began rubbing his eyes as he sat alone, wondering why the world was like this...

He felt 2 slender arms wrap around him, and he stopped rubbing his eyes. He opened them and looked at Tali; she was smiling wider than usual, and her eyes were watery. Shepard pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek. "Is something wrong, my love?"

Tali grabbed the remote and turned on the vid screen. "No, nothing's wrong at all."

Shepard looked at the vid screen; it was coverage of his press conference from the Turian Hierarchy News Station.

"As you can see in this footage, Shepard fervently defended his choice in partners in front of a large crowd of reporters today. I myself was among them, and I can tell you without a doubt that Commander Shepard is truly in love with Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Few would have the courage to defend their cross species romances in front of so many people, as many consider such a thing taboo, but once again we see the Commander doing what we least expect. Let's turn on the audio."

Shepard stood on the podium on the vid screen. "Why? Why would I be with her? There's only one answer to that: I love her, and she loves me, and I don't give a damn what you think about it."

The image faded out and the reporter returned. "There you have it folks, Commander Shepard has confirmed to the galaxy he is marrying his Quarian engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Only time will tell how this marriage will turn out, but in this humble reporters opinion, it's a romance for the vids. This has been Albulus Orno, Hierarchy News."

Shepard turned back to Tali with a lazy smile on his face. "I meant what I said, you know."

Tali grabbed his face and gave him a long, passionate kiss. When they finished Tali put her forehead to Shepard's forehead and looked into his eyes lovingly. "I know..." Tears began forming in her eyes and she kissed him lightly before looking in his eyes again. "I ... I just love you so much."

"Tali..." Shepard raised his hand and cupped her cheek in it. He stroked her cheek with his finger and sighed. "Like you said before, nothing stands between us now. Whatever happens, I want you by my side. On the battlefield, in our home, at our wedding, anywhere. I can't stand being away from you my lovely rose."

Tali giggled a little. "And what's a 'rose?'"

Shepard chuckled. "I should have known you'd have no idea what roses are. They're a beautiful Earth flower. You're my purple rose of Rannoch, Tali."

Tali sighed and hugged Shepard. "Whatever, as long as it's nice I'm ok with it."

Shepard hugged her back. They sat there for hours, watching the vid screen in each other's arms. Eventually they fell asleep on the couch comfortably, because they had each other, and when they were together they could do anything. Nothing would stand between them again.

Author's endnote: 'She's the sweetest little rosebud this soldier ever knew! Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew. You can talk about your Liara girl or sing of Ashley, but the purple rose of Rannoch is the only girl for me!'

I don't think anyone owns the copyright to that, therefore I'm parodying it. I, for some reason, like that folk song. Yellow Rose of Texas, reformed! :)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. Keelah, I hope I get to that wedding soon. Anyhow, I hope to see y'all next chapter!