Chapter 30 has come. I should get a cookie for this! :D At least, I hope I get cookies; I tried to make this perfect. Like, I tried REALLY hard to make it perfect damn it! Also, sorry about the wait, had to make it perfect and stuff ya know. Anyway, Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, so enjoy!

Ch. 30: Epilogue

Rannoch

Commander Shepard

"We have created this structure to meet your specifications, Shepard-Commander. Is it satisfactory?" The Geth platform asked as Shepard and Tali followed it to their new house.

Shepard looked up at his new home, taking in every nook and cranny of the place that would be theirs. It wasn't extravagant or fancy, but it was truly wonderful; the Quarian architecture matched beautifully with the serene cliffs of Rannoch. The sandy color of the walls blended nearly perfectly with the stone cliff faces around it. It had many windows, but not too many to pull away from the overall beauty. The Geth, as a favor to Shepard, had built it during the war... and it was finally finished.

Tali bounced excitedly as she took in the house herself, "Yes! Keelah, yes!"

She turned to Shepard and hugged him, "You remembered..."

Shepard pulled her close, grinning, "Of course, Tali, I wouldn't forget where you wanted the house, and look..."

He opened the front door and pulled Tali in with him. They waited for the decontamination cycle to finish, ensuring Tali would be safe inside the house, then entered the living room. It was a relatively small, yet beautiful room furnished with a few soft white couches on either side, a purple curtained window to the right, and a large vid screen on the far wall.

Shepard walked into the living room with Tali and pulled open the large curtains. The majestic beauty of Rannoch's surface to fill their vision. The small stream, the very same stream they had landed near when they first began the reclamation of Rannoch, babbled quietly in front of them as it flowed past the house.

"You wanted the living room window right about here if I remember correctly." He whispered as he pulled her closer and kissed the side of her helmet.

Tali gazed out of the window, completely lost in the view and the memories. Shepard caressed her sides, letting the peaceful silence continue. They were home...

Tali turned and hugged Shepard again, holding him tightly. She then pulled back slightly and took off her mask. Wrapping a hand around his neck, she pulled him into a passionate kiss. They stood like this for a few minutes, basking in the other's love, each not wanting to be the first to end the kiss.

Tali reluctantly pulled back and touched her forehead to his. She smiled and stroked his back, small tears falling from her eyes.

"This is amazing..." She whispered.

Shepard returned her smile, "I'm glad you like it so far... but there's more."

He gestured to another door and gently tugged her along, keeping his hand grasped firmly in hers. Through the door was a hallway; down the hallway was the kitchen, but that was not where he was bringing her. He walked up some stairs and stopped in front of a new door at the end of another hall. Shepard slowly placed his hand on the door and glanced over at Tali; they were both eager to see what was beyond it.

Shepard's smile returned as the door opened and he led his love inside. It was their bedroom. The mattress was bright and looked incredibly comfortable, one wall was covered in Shepard's ship models as well as Tali's favorite decorative cloth. The wall opposite held a curtained window as well as a glass door that led to a small balcony also covered with a flowing curtain.

Tali slowly spun around, taking in the wonderful room, then stopped when her gaze settled on Shepard, "Keelah, John, this is wonderful!"

Shepard stepped towards her and put his hands on her side, "With you here, it's perfect."

Tali cupped Shepard's cheek and her smile grew, "John..."

Shepard pulled her closer and gave her a kiss. Their lips parted and Tali looked into his eyes, lightly stroking his cheek.

Shepard smiled and gestured towards the wall. "There's just one more thing we need to make the room complete."

Tali lowered her hand and turned towards the wall. "What do you mean? It looks perfect."

"Well," Shepard responded as he pointed at a small empty shelf. "We still need something to go there."

Tali turned back to Shepard quizzically for a moment. She was about to say something before the realization suddenly dawned on her. She put her hand into one of her suit's pockets and lifted out a small rock, the same rock she had carried with her since first landing on Rannoch.

She held the rock in her hands and looked back at Shepard, who nodded silently. She smiled and walked over to the small shelf, placing the rock on top of it. She turned it around a few times before facing Shepard once more.

"We're finally home." Tali whispered as she stepped towards Shepard and wrapped her arms around him.

"We're finally home." He whispered back as he returned the gesture.

They leaned into one another and allowed their lips to meet once more. After a few moments they separated, each of them smiling lovingly at one another.

Knock Knock Knock

Shepard turned towards the door, surprised at the sudden knocking from downstairs, "I guess we already have a visitor."

Tali sighed as the mask resealed onto her helmet, "I guess so..."

Shepard turned back to her, "Don't worry, Tali... we have time."

"We have time..." She repeated, her voice filled with quiet joy.

Shepard stepped out of the room with his hand in Tali's, smiling as they walked up to the front door.

Shepard opened it and smiled, "Garrus!"

Garrus stepped through the doorway with a box and a bottle in his hand, "Thought you might want a housewarming gift."

"It's unexpected, but I'm glad you're here." Shepard said as he looked at the box, "So, what did you bring us besides booze?"

"Besides booze? What do you mean besides booze?" Garrus eyed him. "Don't tell me you've lost your appreciation for alcohol."

Shepard shook his head. "I just wanted to know what was in the box; I haven't gone insane if that's what you think ... yet."

Garrus smirked and handed the box to Tali. "You should open it together."

Garrus turned to the living room and fell onto one of the couches with a sigh, opening the bottle and starting to drink its contents.

Tali looked at the box for a moment and tilted her head. "What do you think he got us?"

Shepard shrugged, "Knowing Garrus, probably a scope."

"Just open it!" Garrus chuckled as he downed another gulp.

Tali ripped away the paper and opened the box. She looked up at Shepard, joy in her eyes.

Shepard looked into the box and smiled. He picked up the small, but obviously expensive, picture frame and gazed at each of the faces; it was a neatly framed photo of the Normandy crew, past and present, ground team and personnel. Everyone was able to make it the day of the ceremony, something that almost seemed impossible to believe at the time. They were all going their separate ways now...

Shepard turned his gaze back to the box and noticed a few more items. A few nice trinkets, a Turian pendulum that, according to the little description on the box, symbolized love and happiness, and two bottles of booze: a Turian brandy and a Levo beer.

"This is a nice gift, Garrus, thank you." Shepard said as he set the box on a table.

"You're welcome, Shepard, I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't really sure what to get you, but I guess I did fine. Guess Mi was right after all." Garrus returned as he got up.

Shepard turned his head to face Garrus, "Who's Mi?"

Garrus smirked. "That's none of your business, Shepard. Wouldn't have anything to do with certain... chocolates either."

"Told you he would end up with Michel." Tali teased as she elbowed Shepard.

Shepard shook his head. "I knew already, actually. Just didn't know he'd given her a pet name."

"I had to make it cute, Shepard. Oh, one more thing..." Garrus spoke as he moved towards them.

Shepard looked over at him, "What is it?

"Well... I thought, with you having the new house and all, that you might want a little party. I know I do." Garrus said before finishing his drink.

Knock Knock Knock

Shepard looked at the door and it opened, the smiling faces of his team greeted him.

"Congratulations!" Each person in the crowd said in unison.

Shepard moved out of the way and gestured for them to enter. Liara, Traynor, Kaidan, Javik, James, Cortez, Zaeed, and Samara each walked through the doorway with a nod to Shepard.

"There's more behind us." Zaeed grunted as Shepard reached out to close the door.

"Thanks Zaeed." Shepard returned as he turned to let more people in.

Due to the fact the door had an airlock, everyone had to enter in groups. Shepard and Tali would have to greet all of them for a while...

Hours later

"Chug! Chug! Chug!" The crowd chanted as Grunt and Wrex downed another keg of alcohol.

Grunt gulped his drink down and stared for a moment, his head swaying from side to side. With a smile he fell to the floor and started snoring.

"Ha, told you pyjaks I would beat him!" Wrex exclaimed as he set his keg down.

The crowd roared in excitement as they clapped and cheered. Shepard leaned on the wall near the back, glad everyone could make it. This was probably the last time they would all be together...

"Let's watch Zaeed and Garrus duke it out!" Traynor yelled as she tried to pull Garrus towards the table.

"Why am I not facing Shepard?" Garrus asked as he was pulled forward.

"What, are you scared I'll destroy your guddamn arsehole?" Zaeed asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, you're on old man!" Garrus yelled as he got up to the table and pulled out some Dextro drinks for himself and some Levo drinks for Zaeed, "Round one!"

Garrus and Zaeed finished their drinks quickly and nodded to each other for round 2. This was going to be a long night and a long battle...

"Shepard..."

Shepard turned from the wall and looked towards the voice, the voice he knew better than anyone else's. Tali stood near him, looking at him with, from what Shepard could see through the mask, a saddened expression.

"What's wrong, Tali?" Shepard asked as he took a step closer to her and smiled.

"Can we talk... in private?" She asked as she took his hand and motioned towards the stairs.

"Of course." His face sobered as she led him up the stairs.

They turned towards their bedroom and went inside, shutting the door behind them. Tali opened the glass door and walked out onto the balcony, gently tugging Shepard along with her. She closed the door and faced him, her hand still in his.

Tali looked at him with concern in her eyes. "John... I've been thinking, about the house, about the galaxy... about us. Are you sure you want to just stop being a soldier? It... it's been your whole life and it would be unfair of me to force you from that."

"Tali..." Shepard smiled and stroked her hand. "My military career is over now. I don't want to see anymore death; I want to be with you, here, for as long as I draw breath."

"But John..."

"No buts." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, "I've spent my whole life fighting. I've fought every horrible thing in this galaxy. I've fought for so long... yet I never imagined it would stop. I never thought I could be happy. But you've changed that. You've made it possible for me to be happy. You've given me a reason to believe in hope once more. And for that, I love you more than anyone or anything."

Tali put her own arms around Shepard and rested her head on his shoulder, "That... thank you, John, and I love you too."

They both stood there for a moment, enjoying the feeling of holding one another, before Tali spoke again, "You've made all of my dreams come true, John... but have I fulfilled all of yours?"

Shepard grinned and stroked her back, "Almost, but there is one more thing..."

Tali pulled her head back and looked at him in the eyes, "And what would that be?"

Shepard shrugged. "Well, we could buy some farm equipment, and I could show you how to raise crops."

Tali smiled. "If you want to become a farmer, I'm fine with it. Just don't expect me to be very good at helping you. But is that it?"

Shepard's smile grew. "Did you want me to talk about family, Tali?"

Tali turned her head away and started babbling. "Well, if you don't want one, it's ok. I wouldn't force you to do something you don't want to do, but the house is pretty big and..."

Shepard put his hand on her faceplate's cheek, gently tugged it to make her face him, and looked into her eyes, "It's ok, Tali, I do want to have a family with you. Living with the woman of my dreams on a small farm with a few kids has always been all I wanted."

"Ok." Tali whispered as she pulled him closer.

They remained there for a moment, each lost in one another as the stars twinkled above them and the gentle stream flowed below them. There were still shouts from downstairs as the rest of the crew celebrated, but that wasn't his place anymore. Despite loving all of them, his career as a soldier was over. This wasn't a bad thing though, he knew all of them would keep in touch. He didn't want to say anything else as he held Tali; everything had finally worked out. He wasn't sure how everything would work out in the end, but for the first time since Mindior, he felt at peace. For the first time in his life, he didn't have to worry anymore.

And not a damned thing would ruin his happiness again.

Author's endnote: Shepard and Tali living quietly on Rannoch=best thing in the universe! :D And to think when I started this I thought I might kill Shepard… foolish brain! How dare you ever think that! :D Anyway, it's been a good ride. This was a very enjoyable story to write, and I'd like to thank each and every one of you for reading it, reviewing it, favoriting it, and following it! I'm definitely not the greatest of writers, but Tali and Shepard always deserve a better ending, so that's why I'm here! Hopefully this was satisfying; it was to me at least! :D Maybe if I become a better writer I will rewrite it, but that wouldn't be for a while if it ever happens. I hope to see you in future stories as my writing hopefully improves! Talimancing forever and Keelah Se'lai to all of you wonderful people! :)

Edit: The story has been rewritten a bit to clear up things and hopefully make it even better! I hope you enjoy reading the new and improved story, and I hope you check out the sequel called 'The Secret Storm!' :D It's been a lot of fun writing it so far, I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Keelah Se'lai everybody, and keep being awesome!