Mass Effect: Each Story Has A Million Tales.

Summary: "There is always more than just one side to a story- and more than one lesson to learn. Follow Garrus Vakarian as he stands by a promise that he means to keep, contemplates the true meaning of life, death, and the ultimate sacrifice, and as he confronts someone who should have been behind him all along. Follow Adelais Vakarian as he mends a broken bond, and as he comes to terms with a terrible loss of his own. Follow Kolyat Krios as he navigates through a very dangerous place, only to find another- under the guidance of someone who may or may not be there at all. And follow Commander Joleen Shepard as she goes through her past and present, only to find herself in the middle of a battle for her future." (Garrus' Story: 'The Promise-Keeper.' Adelais' Story: 'The Old Soldier.' Kolyat's Story: 'The Wanderer.' Shepard's Story: 'The Missing.')

Warning: "This is a heavy one- some swearing, angst, implied adult situations, adult situations, a few character deaths, violence, and blood. All the big ones this time. Remember, this is my Shepard, my feelings on the game and what should have happened and will happen, with my own opinions and storyline, so no nasty comments. Got it? Good." (Commander Joleen Shepard: War Hero, Earthborn. Soldier. Paragon. Romanced Kaidan Alenko in the 1st game, Garrus Vakarian in the 2nd and 3rd. Shot and killed Udina during the Citadel Coup.)

Disclaimer: "I do not own Mass Effect. At all. So don't make me say it again."

Author's Note: "Just so you all know, the name 'Adelais,' is Latin for 'Noble,' and the name 'Carissa' means 'the most beloved one.' Personally, I just thought the two names fit the story and what the characters were meant for."

N._.S._.S

Epilogue: The Missing.

"It's like I died again."

Garrus looked over at her, startled, questioningly. She smiled up at him, her dark brown eyes glistening with some amusement at his reaction to her comment, and then chuckled when he continued staring at her.

"I mean, everything changed so quickly," she continued, kindly, looking back down at the glistening lakes of the Presidium below them, "I guess I didn't expect it."

"Hackett pretty much took over where you left off after he was asked to become Councilor," Garrus answered, after a long moment, sitting down beside her, "And rebuilding was on everyone's mind, so there wasn't much else anyone could concentrate on other than that."

"How bad is the damage?"

"Palaven, Earth, Thessia, and Sur'Kesh were dealt the most damage," Garrus told her, "And it'll take years before anything's completely built up to what it once was, if it ever is."

At that moment, Garrus' Comm. blinked, and he answered it. His ice-blue eyes looked surprised for a second, and then just shook his head in clear amusement.

"… … that's great, dad. Now, what do you really want?"

Adelais must have said something about her, because Garrus looked over at her and kept his gaze locked with hers as he responded. "Uh huh. Right. I'll keep that in mind…"

Adelais said something else, and Garrus just shook his head. "If you must know, we're at the top of the Presidium… yes, we have permission… no, it's not dangerous… yeah, we'll see you there later."

Garrus shut the Communicator with a half-annoyed, half-amused snap.

"What did he say?" Shepard asked, curiously, pushing up her new glasses. Garrus wrapped his arm around her shoulder and shook his head.

"Nothing too interesting," Garrus promised, putting it away.

Shepard put on her best pouty face, "Aw, come on. Tell me what he said."

"You'll just be all embarrassed," He teased, tightening his one-armed embrace.

Shepard laughed. "Come on, tell me what he said."

"You sure?"

"Hit me with your best shot."

"He wanted to know whether or not my romantic skills were up to par with his."

"What?"

"I know, I couldn't believe it either." Garrus shrugged even as she playfully swatted his shoulder.

"You liar," Shepard shook her head at him, "Seriously, what did he say?"

"He just wanted to tell me that Kolyat is out of the hospital. He's waiting for us at the Normandy. He also wanted to know where we were and what we were doing."

"Your dad's okay with us then?"

"I overheard him laughing with Victus last night, so I guess he is."

"And Solana?"

"Are you kidding? She was ecstatic and asked me whether we're returning to Palaven for the ceremony."

"What did you say?"

"I said I'd check with you first," Garrus answered, looking down at her. "It is tradition," he added, "and I think my dad might be disappointed if we don't do it."

She gave him a questioning look. "Ceremony?"

"Don't worry, it's nothing… fancy, unlike those pictures Joker showed me of Human weddings," Garrus said, after a moment's hesitation. "It's just a …actually, it's hard to explain- I've never been to a Ceremony before. Not since I was a kid, anyway."

Shepard shrugged. "If it's tradition, then we might have to. Your dad might be in trouble if we don't."

"True," Garrus answered, "But my dad won't do it at all if we don't want to," he paused for a moment before adding, "He's not big on forcing people into this kind of thing."

"We'll talk to him once everyone gets settled back in, in a few months," Shepard said, looking down at the cheerfully glistening ring on her right hand. "I'm fine going along with your people's traditions."

"Something tells me you would," he replied, kissing her.

They sat there for a long time, enjoying the silence and each other's company. This was how it was how this was supposed to be, Shepard realized with another smile, looking up at Garrus, How it was supposed to end.

"Your father and sister are heading back to Palaven?" Shepard finally asked, conversationally, breaking the silence and looking up at him again, "I heard Vega saying something about it this morning."

"They're leaving tomorrow with Victus, yes."

Shepard smiled and nodded, dark brown eyes growing distant. "His wounds are all right now?"

"My dad's too crazy to let a little fall hurt him."

"And he still thinks I'm crazy, too?"

"Joleen, you've always been crazy."

Shepard just laughed.

N._.S._.S

"Oh, my God, that was horrible!"

She was giggling though, covering her mouth and blushing face with her hands.

Garrus, who closed the door behind them, just shook his head at her.

"He was teasing, Joleen." He told her, amusedly.

"Still!" She couldn't help it, and burst out laughing.

"He was right, through," Garrus said, thoughtfully as Shepard collapsed onto their bed, out of breath and still chuckling, "My mother was the kind to tease us about how many grandchildren she wanted in front of old friends and other interests…"

Shepard threw one of the pillows at him, which he caught flawlessly, of course.

"I admit," Garrus admitted, throwing the pillow back at her and crossing the room, "I wasn't expecting him to be in such a good mood."

"Why not?"

"He's been torn up since my mother passed."

Shepard's eyes widened as he sat down on the bed next to her, "Oh, God. Garrus, you never-"

"Told you," Garrus finished for her, "I figured you had enough to worry about."

Shepard looked back down at her hands in her lap. "What was her name?"

"Her name was Carissa," Garrus answered, "She was ill for a very long time. Since the beginning."

"Since we met?"

Garrus just nodded.

"Five years is a long time," Shepard answered, quietly, "I had no idea."

"I didn't want anyone to know for a reason, Joleen," Garrus told her, kindly, "Mostly because my father didn't want it to be, and partly because I didn't think it had any bearing on anything before."

"And now it does."

"Yeah," he answered, quietly, "Now it does."

She must have worried him with her silence, because after a moment, he leaned over and looked her in the eyes. "Don't look so miserable," he told her, nicely, "Yes, she's gone. But she wouldn't have wanted those she loved to worry about her anymore."

"She would have?" Shepard asked, looking up at him, curiously.

"Loved you?" Garrus answered with a chuckle, "Of course."

"But your dad still worries, right?" Shepard responded, knowingly.

"That's my dad, Shepard," Garrus reminded her, "And he loved her more than anything, just like it's supposed to be."

"And when she died…"

"He changed," Garrus finished for her, firmly, "Like every decent person would."

She finally smiled and nodded a bit, her dark brown eyes lighting up. "I understand."

She understood, now, truly she did.

And she hoped that Garrus did, too.

She leaned in and kissed him. "Hey," she said, softly, "What your dad said was true."

"Oh?" Garrus' eyes were glistening with amusement now. "About…?"

She gave him a grin. "Grandkids."

"Oh, Spirits."

N._.S._.S

The grave was still exactly as she remembered it.

The Star of Terra still lay, unblemished and still shining like it had the day it had been presented to the little grave, exactly where she had placed it on the marble cross- at its base, along with a few roses and other tokens left by his various friends from the Jacks.

Above, angry dark clouds promised rain, if not hail, and another hard night, for so-called "honest" businesspeople and gangsters like the Red Jack Gang alike.

Shepard knelt by it, smiling a little.

Hero.

That name had been associated so many times to her.

But those who uttered it never imagined that the famed "hero" had one of her own.

"Thanks, soldier boy," she murmured, grinning at the grave. "Thanks for everything."

With that, she stood and took off the red jacket she had been wearing- the old, ratty thing was long since due for retirement. She folded it up, slowly and carefully, so there wasn't a crease.

This was something Joleen Shepard should have done years ago.

But she'd just never gotten around to it.

Because she'd never had the time to forgive herself.

Until now.

She placed the jacket at the base of the grave, and put the little Star of Terra on top of that- to let the hundreds of Reds see that she had been here-

To let them know she didn't forget her roots.

She would never forget.

She smiled down at the grave, and all it represented-

Her failures.

Her inability to forgive herself.

All the wrongs that she had been forced never to right.

And everything else beyond that.

Now, she finally let the tears of relief and release fall freely as she turned and slowly walked away for what she knew to be the final time, smiling a strange smile mixed with sorrow and happiness.

Garrus was standing at the gate of the graveyard, waiting for him, arms folded in genuine concern, and talons tapping nervously against his shoulder armor-

But his eyes were peaceful and understanding.

She embraced him and he slowly, carefully, wiped her tears away, nodding a little in approval.

Then, arm in arm, the two walked back, back to the Normandy, back to their waiting friends and family…

But, most of all, they walked back to the lives that had only just finally begun.

N._.S._.S

One more Epilogue Chapter to go-

I'll be announcing a surprise, so look forward to it!

Please Review and tell me what you think!

XD