To Gilbert Lee Vera

May you and Megan have a long and happy life together.

A/N

Alright folks. Before we start out, I'd like to wish Gilbert Lee Vera a happy new life with his Megan, and for the both of them to live happily ever after, like in those cute books :)

I wanted to get this out yesterday, but time wasn't on my side, so let this be my little way of contributing.

Good luck Gilbert

Regular A/N:

Well, this will be the very first chapter of it's kind. Why? You may ask... well, let's just say that more sensitive readers should bypass this one, as it involves some major fluff, romance and... I'll tell you down below ;)

Three days earlier.

October 16th

SSV Normandy, Illium.

"So… we just let them go?"

"I know what you mean, Vakarian, but in essence: yes. We're letting them go."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." John nods, turning to face Garrus after their little argument is over. I can't say I'll miss having Jacob on board, now that he's being booted onto Illium with the remainder of his team. How the hell John pulled that stunt off, I'll never know. It's funny though. As much as I'm glad that Jacob is now off the ship, more specifically walking down the ramp from the ship to the docks, I'll miss messing with his mind. I know it sounds weird, maybe even cruel, but being in a position of power like that, knowing everything worth knowing about him… it just felt glorious. It may be wrong, morally speaking, but hell if I enjoyed the last five days. John seems… thoughtful, having returned with a large soft package under his arm. I haven't asked him what it is, since I doubt he'll keep it a secret if it is important. And if not, then it just isn't my problem.

The team, now dressed in civilian clothes is waiting for him further down the dock. Hey, we released them. That doesn't mean they should be allowed to keep armor belonging to the Alliance and the Council.

"I think it's for the best, you know." I speak my mind. I haven't yet told them what significance Jacob and Miranda will play… might play in the future, as that would involve explaining project Lazarus, which involves either John or Jane being dead. Something I'd like to avoid, or at the very least postpone until I'm sure Timmy will resurrect them. And, looking as Jacob is actually tackled by one of his team-members, I can't help but feel I'm right, in this being for the best.

"I beg to disagree… but so far most of your little… ideas have turned out well enough Fisher." A new two-flanged voice says, and turning to face the newcomer, I'm greeted with a brown- and white painted bone-face. Our resident Spectre, Nihlus, doesn't seem to be catching on to the happy mood of… something, I guess. Actually, looking around, I'm the only one happy about the release of Cerberus operatives, and I'm the one who punched Jacob in the face.

"Don't let it get to my head Nihlus, I might get cocky." I reply with a smile. He may be hardcore, even for a turian, but Nihlus really needs to lighten up a few times, and let me be the dark one. I'm the one who's died the most after all.

"I don't intend to, don't you worry corporal." He says, heading back into the ship. I sigh, taking a hand to the bridge of my nose. Damn, why does he have to be so pissed about this? Then I also remember. Cerberus is an enemy of the council, and Nihlus is a council Spectre. Therefore he will mistrust Jacob and his team-mates, if not attempt to have them outright killed.

Giving the reunited team one last look, I head back inside as well. Time to get to a move on I guess… wonder where we're headed next. And I wonder what the package was that John was here to pick up as well. Didn't look like it was a weapon…

October 19th

Acturus Station

Gunship LA/AT-0071

A lot of different people had different opinions about Admiral Anna Fisher. Some called her mad, some called her a strategic genius. Some called her a monster due to her treatment of captured pirates and slavers, and yet some called her hero.

For her colleague and lawful Uncle Stephen Hackett though, she currently belonged in the 'mad' category. He was currently clinging to his seat, holding on for dear life as his niece pulled the ship through one, in his opinion, insane stint after the other.

"Anna! Please, stop this! My- I can't take much more of this!" He begged over her seat as she sat in front of him, arranged like the gunner and pilot of the helicopters of old. The inside of the cockpit was comfortably spacious, while not being large enough for him to move his arms to the side more than an elbow trust. The tech was state of the art, as well as a few pieces that were actually completely foreign to him. A thing Hackett didn't quite know if he should be glad for, or anxious about. He enjoyed it when the Alliance made technological breakthroughs, but he didn't enjoy it when he was volunteered to test it out with his niece as the pilot. At his pleading, the gunship quickly became more clam and stable, yet still keeping an impressive speed.

"Sorry Steve, I just love this thing. It's even more maneuverable than the Mantis, despite weighing the double. And you haven't even seen the firepower it packs, I swear it can cut any gunship in half!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, despite her voice being the only source of sound in the cockpit.

"What do you mean, in half? Like a GARDIAN-laser?" He asked. Now that the gunship was steady, he could actually enjoy the serenity of the stars around them. They were currently in a tight orbit around the station, headed for the dry-docks, and the only trace of the gunships existence was the thin white trails it left behind. The funny thing or the weird thing actually, was that condensate shouldn't be left in the wake of a vessel in space. There was no air.

"Kinda, yeah… what do you think so far?" She asked, and Hackett suddenly realized that they had rounded the station and had come into view of a gargantum construction taking place. In front of them, and quickly climbing to their left, was a ship of unheard of proportions. Or, the skeleton at least.

For a few moments, none of them spoke. One due to awe and shock, the other due to something akin to motherly pride. At last, after a few moments, Hackett seemed to find his tongue;

"How… how bi- it didn't look this big on the schema- how big?"

"About three and a half kilometer. What, you think I'd let the council trump me this time? I've been given a blank check by the UN president, tutoring and advice from the Quarians, and my own funding kicked this into creation even before the treaty was lifted."

"Th- three and… how in the world is that thing going to be propelled without Element Zero? I mean look at the size of that thing!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

And it really was big.

Standing at a length of three-point-seventy-five thousand meters in length, and some five hundred meters in height, the ship would surely turn out to be a monster of its kind. Most of the interior, from what Hackett could see, had already been fastened in place, and the crews and ships were all busy constructing, ferrying or securing the enormous plates of platinum-alloys, reinforced with exterior plating of carbon-based plastisteel: A metal that could be grown the same way carbon nanotubes were, just on a whole other scale. At least, that was how he had understood it.

The shape was even weirder, as it resembled nothing the Alliance had ever constructed. To give an accurate description, the whole thing looked mostly like an over-sized hand cannon, minus the handle. Then, there was the bulkiness of the thing. Overlooking the crosshair-like outcrop on the edge of the vessel, the entire thing had a sort of pillar-like structure. The image of a heptangular pillar was only disturbed by what seemed like either the command-bridge, or something entirely different, being constructed on the top of the ship. A lot of the plating was still in the process of being made, as was the armaments. But with the way work was going, Hackett imagined the ship would be finished within the next six months.

"Pretty impressive huh?" He was brought out of his trance-like state when Anna spoke. Numbly, he turned his gaze from the construction, and gave her a weak nod.

"I thought so. I would be glad if we could have it done by the time the Reapers decide to show up, particularly that one Saren rides around in, but I'm not holding my breath. We've got this much done thanks to the Quarians and their tech-savvy, but now comes the hard part."

"Which I'm almost afraid to ask, is what exactly?" Hackett asked, hardly taking his eyes off the construction of the biggest ship he had ever seen.

"Well, we got this far because so far the tech is known to us. Computers and the like. But now we come to the tricky part. I've already had a few resignations land on my desk because the engineers couldn't handle the sheer… complexity of the engines. And I understand them. It's not every day you're presented with FTL-engines capable of running without Eezo, and then expected to have them work on a deadline."

"You know, you could send the schematics to the Council. I'm sure the Salarian Union would be able to help…" Hackett suggested, but was shot down.

"Hah, I'd rather eat my uniform than let those bureaucrats get their talons on this. I'll show them everything when the Alliance blasts the door in and saves the day. Not before." She grunted, letting Hackett know it wasn't up for discussion.

Anna had always been pissed over how humanity was being treated by the Council, especially the Asari and the Turians. But mostly the Asari. Where the Turians respected brute force and military strength, the blue babes would have to be forced by gunpoint to recognize shifts in the power balances. It pissed her off to no end when Tevos dismissed everything humanity had to offer, and even demanded that they acknowledged everything she said. There was a reason Anna wasn't allowed in the tower anymore. Not after the incident between her and Tevos… and that bottle of brandy thrown at the Asari councilor. It was only because it didn't hit her that Anna wasn't imprisoned for violence against acting official, or whatever the crap was called.

Sparatus, she didn't have that big of a problem with. Sure, he was annoying as hell, mistrusted humanity and patronized their military, but at least he was honest about it. Tevos lied through her teeth and said one thing while she did the other. A perfect example of a politician. Hell, she even made Udina look good. And that took some.

But now… Now they would all have to recognize the power of humanity, and while not fear mankind, they would certainly need a change in attitude. At the business-end of a gun if need be.

"To change the subject, what are you wearing to the ceremony?" Hackett asked, remembering the last details he had helped put in place for the wedding. His youngest granddaughter, Megan Hackett, would soon be Megan Lee Vera Hackett, or just Megan Lee Vera.

"My gala-uniform, of course. You? I'm guessing you'll be in black and white, dressed like a penguin when you follow her up the aisle, right?" She choked a laugh on the last part, biting her lip at the thought of a penguin marching up the church floor with the young blonde… or was it brunette? It had always puzzled her how the girl's hair seemed to shift in the light.

"Yes… you know, I've faced down fleets of Batarian raiders, engaged the turian fleet in the First Contact War… and I doubt I'll have ever been as nervous as in three days from now."

"Or as proud." Anna added; "Megan's a fine girl… no, a fine woman it is now… little miss sour cream is all grown up now, and getting married."

"I really wish you'd stop calling her that…" Hackett sighed, leaning back into his seat. While it wasn't the norm for the grandfather to walk the bride up the aisle, it was certainly what was expected in this case. Mainly because Megan's parents would have trouble participating in the ceremony from six foot under on Mindoir. Hackett felt a tightening in his chest at the memory. He had lost his daughter that day, three years ago, when Batarian slavers raided Mindoir and killed hundreds of civilians and soldiers. His Daughter and the mother of Megan, had been a colonel in the colony's armed forces, and had been in one of the control towers for the spaceport when a frigate fired upon it. There hadn't been anything to bury, not even a set of dog tags. Her husband, a man named Rupert Gardner, had been killed as well.

Shot for resisting capture.

"Yeah well, she is a bit pale… and it fits, hell she even laughed when I explained it to her!" Anna explained, not noticing the dark cloud gathering over Hackett's head, nor the way he gripped his seat.

"Mmm what? Sorry I was… my mind was somewhere else…" He said, blocking whatever questions she might ask about it.

"Well…. what about the groom then? I don't think I've met him." Anna said, trying to force the conversation towards a new topic.

"No… you haven't. I suppose it was mainly to ensure you didn't scare him off. His name is Gilbert, Hispanic I believe. So far I haven't seen a bad apple in his casket."

"A what in his what?"

"Oh… It means he is a decent guy from what my observations have revealed."

"He's in the Alliance?" Anna asked as she steered the gunship back towards the hangar.

"Not militarily. He works with computers, VI's and the like. I think he was part of the 'Galaxy of Fantasy' game-crew." Hackett said, remembering his last meeting with the young man. It was a dinner, at Steven's place. Which was another way of saying in the officers' longue on Acturus.

"Cool… I love that game!" She exclaimed, once again cutting off Hackett's train of thought. He leaned slightly forward to look at his niece's red and grey-haired head.

"You… play Galaxy of Fantasy?"

"Yup"

"A game designed for people up to twenty-five?"

"You bet"

"I… I don't know how to respond to that." He said, and for a few moments, none of them spoke. Then Anna seemed to remember something that had troubled her to no end, since she hadn't been able to find anything about it on the extranet.

"Steve?"

"Mmmm?"

"What does the bride's dad do when he's walked her up to the altar?" Perhaps most people wouldn't find this issue to be 'troubling to no end', but Anna Cologne Fisher wasn't most people. In fact, she was one of four of her kind in the entire galaxy. Only, as far as she knew, she was one of two.

"Well… he… delivers her to the groom, then sits down on the first row of chairs, and partakes in the ceremony on the same footing as the rest of the crowd… why?"

"Oh… nothing. Just, it would suck if you didn't know what to do." She replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I swear Anna… I don't know if I dare let Gilbert meet you. He might realize he just married himself into a family with YOU in it."

"What, you're saying I'd bore him?" She asked with a small pouting of her lips. Hackett almost had a fit at that one.

"B-bore him? No, I'm afraid he'll be scared away or begin evaluating the psyche of everyone in the family. That would be really awkward."

"Ah… you mean the whole 'She's the crazy admiral who cuts the balls of pirates and keep them in jars like pickles!' thing?"

"Yeah… yeah that would be one of them, I think."

"Aw what? So because I… entertain pirates, a human should be afraid of me? A human who's going to join the family?"

"In short? Yes. Anna you must realize that you are both feared and loved by the public, and I doubt Gilbert will be different."

"Nah, you worry too much old guy. I'm just going to have to teach him to embrace my nature, and get to know him a little better." She replied with a smirk he could only see as a faint reflection in the cockpit's glass.

"Anna… the last time you told a guy to 'get to know you better', you cut the balls of an infamous pirate-leader on galaxy-wide TV." He reminded her with a tired sigh.

"Yeah… damn he squealed like a girl when I brought the knife down… hadn't had that much fun since I caught his ass on the asteroid." She declared with a smile. That sentence alone would have caused the authorities to demand her suspended, but she knew her uncle wasn't going to talk about it. After all, he didn't have any reason to like Batarians either.

A couple of minutes later, Anna touched down the gunship inside the hangar, letting her uncle crawl out, slightly worse for wear.

"I… don't like it when you steer." He stammered, nervously edging himself down the steps of the ladder. Anna right behind him;

"Well, until you learn how to, you'll just have to settle for me." She replied with a smirk as her uncle shook his head.

"I'm… going to check in with Udina, find out how things are progressing on the Citadel." He murmured. In truth, he just needed to get to a bathroom in a real hurry. Eating a solid meal before taking a flight with Admiral Fisher wasn't a good idea.

As she watched him leave, Anna became aware of how she was actually the only person in the hangar. Granted, it wasn't all that big, but all the same, it was weird that there were no techs, no crew and no no 'one.

"Well, I suppose I expected him to be shaken. Still, hope I didn't rattle him for the ceremony. I'd hate for Megan to give me a what-for if her grandpa can't walk a straight line." She muttered to herself, completely unaware of the prying eyes focused on her from behind a cloak.

Anna went to the front of the big machine, admiring the engineering skill behind it. It was a bit clumsy in design, but was otherwise decades ahead of anything the Alliance currently packed. If anything, it would allow her to properly stock up the colonies of the Alliance, preparing them for slaver-raids and the like.

Still, it would be when she had planted a nuke or some other form of WMD up the ass of Sovereign, that the games would truly begin, starting with the most militarily important worlds the Batarian Hegemony possessed. When the Reaper was down, the gloves would come off, and if the council protested, she would show them something none of them, perhaps bar Tevos, possessed: A long middle finger.

"Still, this thing needs a paintjob. I think I'm going to make her my personal shuttle. The 'War-maiden' perhaps?" She muttered to herself, patting the hull of the gunship's front as she walked along it.

"How about the Ramen-dispenser?" A female vice suddenly cut in. Perplexed by the sudden and unannounced visitor, the admiral turned to face the door, but found it locked, and with no one in front of or near it. Looking around, she wasn't rewarded this time either.

"Ehm… hello?" She called out. As childish as the name had been, maybe the voice belonged to someone who liked to play games, or who was mentally off. Either way, it could be interesting.

"Hello!" The same voice called back. It sounded a bit like the woman in question was suppressing a giggle. For some reason, Anna got a hunch;

"Are you an assassin?" Granted, it might not have been a very bright hunch, as an assassin would rarely reveal him/herself to the victim.

"Mmm… not really. I prefer to consider myself an artist, although that may be my sole opinion."

"An artist? In… what? Paintings, sculptures… weapons of mass destruction?" She tried guessing. The only response was a girly giggle.

"Not really my thing, although I do enjoy paintings." The voice said again, coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

"Where are you? Who are you?" As interesting as this was, it was beginning to piss Anna off.

"Hmm, let's turn it around, then we'll see."

"I don't follow…" She stated, looking inside the cockpit for the gunship. Empty, just as everywhere else.

"You wouldn't happen to be Anna Fisher? Admiral and part-time lunatic?"

"Hey, it's called Autism, runs in the family, and it's not 'part-time'."

"I'll take that as a yes." So far, the only thing Anna had been able to ascertain, was that her opponent was a woman, somewhere between twenty and thirty-five, mentally alternative, and slight of build. The voice gave that one up. Also, there was a strange accent to the woman, not American, but not Russian or European either. Not African, nor was it Australian or South American. The woman had to be from the Orient… or a colony. But even colonials kept some sort of accent from their families' origins. This woman, or her family, was from the Orient, possibly China or Japan. Plus the 'Ramen'-thing said Japanese pretty clearly.

"Alright, you've got me. I'm Admiral Anna Fisher. So what now, you gonna kidnap me? Deliver me to Kar'shan?" Anna said, holding her hands up in a surrendering gesture.

"Oh my no, I'm not some sort of brute. Actually, I'm your new best friend." The voice said, and from the corner of her eye, Anna could see a cloaking device being turned off, revealing the slim shape of a woman, petite and slim, dressed in black with a hood covering most of her face bar her nose, lips and a small goatee-looking tattoo under her lips. With the mental capacity of an alternative figurine, Anna started adding two and two while the woman walked closer and closer with relaxed steps.

Asian, most likely Japanese. Likes Ramen, of course, stereotype. Slim, humoristic and uses a cloaking device. Talent for getting into top-secured areas without being spotted, hint towards criminal career from the facial obstruction. She knows me, and my personality, but then again, so does most of the galaxy. Used 'Fisher' only, not 'Cologne'… maybe she knows Thomas or my parents. The suit allows for widespread acrobatics, looks like it's made from rubbery material. Considers herself an artist. Artists among thieves? Maybe a calling card? Nope, that isn't artistic. More sentimental. The fact that she's here and addresses me suggests high-level. She's good at what she does, yet I've never seen her face on posters or the extranet before, or the hooded version. Master thieves with no known face, not afraid of showing herself to people though, uses cloaking devices… only five people matches, and among those, only two are female, and only one is human.

"Aha" Anna said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yup. My name-"The woman started, but Anna cut her off;

"Kasumi Goto." Anna stated with a thin smile. The expression of sheer shock and horror on what of the woman's face the admiral could see, was priceless. For some time, she simply stood there, mouth moving but without any words exiting it. Finally, after a minute or so of silence, she spoke;

"H-h….how… Baka, you are the same as Thomas! No fun at all!"

October 22th

SSV Normandy

Deck three - gym, crew quarters and brig

12:49 (Ship time)

Dammit! The mat hurts just as much as the prior four times I've seen it up close today. I suppose it can't be helped, with my opponent and all, plus the fact that I've been neglecting my training.

"Come on dude, get up!"

"No, stay down Fisher! I've money riding on you losing this" Wrex shouts, overpowering Nic.

"Shut it Wrex, I want him to win!" Tequila shouts back. Apparently she betted on me. Figures, I'm getting popular.

"Come on, she's a woman! Are you gonna lose to a girl Thomas?" Wrex… if he had any idea how tough she is, he would shut up. As I lift my head, I'm greeted by a pair of bare feet. They are quite pretty, actually, although there is a lot of hard skin on them. Especially on the sides. Still, pretty nail paint, or whatever it's called. I've never actually learned. I mean, there never was a need for it.

Following the pair of legs upwards, I notice a pair of black shorts, marked with some type of text I can't read, and with a slightly distinctive, yet clear feminine triangle in the center of the shorts. Resisting the urge to keep looking at that particular spot, my eyes climb upwards, coming upon a thin stripe of smooth peach-colored skin, centered around a small, cute bellybutton. Above that, a sports-shirt covers the chest, but leaves the form clearly outlined from my position on the mat. They aren't big, but so far I'm not disappointed in the least. And finally, I look upon the face of my assailant.

"Hey Rookie, you getting up or do I win again?"

She really is beautiful, even when kicking my ass. A pair of large hazel-brown eyes are positioned above soft pink lips curled in a smile of victory, while the black hair is tied up in a knot behind her head.

"Hah… I'm just… warming up Ash… " I reply through a mouth sore from the foot that just landed on it. I'm avoiding kicking or hitting at the face. Ash might be able to knock me down without me losing a tooth or breaking my nose, but I really doubt I could do the same. I don't really have the… self-control. Which I suppose, is just a nicer way of saying that I am sloppy where she is precise.

"Glad to hear it, because it's 7-2, and I personally doubt-" She doesn't get to finish before I grab her ankle and pull her to the mat as well. My shoulder may not be able to lift the five-hundred my arm is designed to, but it wasn't needed to yank her feet out. I just hope I didn't break anything. Watching her land with a heavy bump, I coil my legs up and jump to my feet. I've learned something from her at least, other than I need to be careful when starring at her chest. The last time she sent me to the floor with a sly smile on her face.

I swear, I can't figure her out sometimes. One moment she's teasing me, running her fingertips down my abdomen, the next she kicks my ass for returning the favor. Women…or just 'woman' I'm not really in a position to generalize.

"That's the way to do it!" Someone yells from the crowd. Or, not crowd but more of a group of people where most of them are betting on me getting my ass kicked. How the hell did I let them talk me into this?

"I do believe it was Ashley displaying some physical attributes while stretching that convinced you to give it a shot" Roku says. For some reason, and I have no idea why, the guy has been gradually shifting from his 'avatar' voice and to a more 'British' voice. I'm not sure if it is annoying or cool, but I don't really have a voice in it anyway, so why bother.

"Well… that was unexpected." She mumbles, jumping to her feet in the same way as me.

"Yeah well, I've learned from the best… or, second best maybe?" I reply with a smile. As odd as it sounds, I actually think this is our equivalent of a date. Beating each other senseless, this time with a crowd.

"How's that jaw treating ya?"

"Ouh Ash, low kick. Not cool." I mutter as we circle each other. While I am starting to show a multitude of blue and purple marks, she only sports around two or three, if you'll call that last kick to her thigh a 'bruise'. I swear, I aimed at her old gunshot-wound, as lowly as it might sound, and the only reaction was a 'getting desperate?' look from her, as well as a response in the form of the kick and yank that landed me on the mat, scoring her a point number seven.

When she brings the fight to me in the form of grabbing my left elbow, I try to use the machine to my advantage, but the cheeky banshee actually uses my strength against me, making me practically lift myself off the ground and through the air.

I impact a second later, with her adding her own weight on top of mine to increase the fall.

"I swear, I think you're getting better at this." She pants, jumping back up while I stumble to a somewhat effective stance, feeling my knees buckle.

It may be true. I have only been kicked down on a ratio of seven… no, eight to three now. Usually it's eight to one. Still, my jaw hurts like hell, and my back and arm is killing me.

"Perhaps… still, I think I- yah!" I shout, catching her off guard as I snap my legs around her waist, pulling her to the ground while I use the left arm to propel myself upwards. The momentum carries us through the air in an arch, ending with her on the mat and me on top of her. A sudden kick in my back causes me to collapse nearly on top of her, but I manage to stop myself a few inches above her face.

Looking into her eyes, I can see she planned this part all along. That cheeky smile of hers is a give-away. Up close like this, I can see all kinds of details. Her skin is glinting with sweat, causing her slight tan to shine like amber. Her warm eyes are copying her mouth, sending me a cheeky and sultry look. I really wish we were alone.

The way she pants, gasping for air, tells me she's worn down as well, yet there's also a more… primal side to it. The way she smells, her scent, it's arousing. As we keep our faces apart by mere inches, we are both panting hard. I'm totally beat as well. Tiny droplets of sweat fall from my chin, landing on her neck and shirt. Each impact sends an almost invisible shiver through her body, and causes my hairs to stand in return.

"You give up?" She asks, sending me a longing gaze. I can feel my pants starting to tighten, and I'd really appreciate it if Wrex or Nic didn't see it. Not to mention Tequila, Garrus or Fixer. Would be really awkward to stand from a fall like this, with a horizontal third leg.

"Yeah… yeah I give up." I mutter, allowing myself to fall down on the mat beside her.

"Dammit Thomas, don't just give up like that!" Nicolai shouts. Yeah, well he's free to try and take Ash down himself. I'm done.

"Hey, feel fucking free to pitch-" I start, but the comms. break me of;

"This is Commander John'Shepard vas Normandy nar Rayya speaking. We will be arriving on Horizon in two hours. We will then proceed with the ceremony, and with giving Sev the final honor a soldier can have bestowed upon him. I suggest that if anyone plan on saying something, or giving gifts of departing, you are to ready it for when we arrive. An honor-guard consisting of Boss Delta-thirty eight, Fixer Delta-four oh, Scorch Delta-six two, Nihlus Kryik, Thomas Fisher and Garrus Vakarian will carry the coffin to its final resting place in New Houston Memorial Cemetery. I would like to see Delta-squad assembled in the briefing room as soon as possible… that will be all."

John ends with a low voice. And just like that, the mood of every single person in the room skydived. Feeling the knot tighten in my chest, I look to where Fixer is sitting. He's out of armor for once, donning a black undersuit covered by the regular uniform of the Normandy. Upon the end of John's brief statement, the guy looks like someone just punched him. He starts looking a bit sick, and clutches his chest with one hand while tightening his other hand into a fist. Even from here I can see the veins protrude in his hand. No one says anything, not even Wrex. The Krogan looks like he doesn't feel on top either, slowly stomping where he stands. If I was ever to see Wrex sad, this is probably it.

It's strange really, how we could actually forget the fact that we have a dead soldier… a dead comrade, lying in a metal coffin in the cargo deck. Just one deck below us, the cold mutilated corpse of Sev Oh-Seven lies. A man who gave his life to save his brother and a kid. Dammit, the kid… Bashir. With all that's been going on I've… no, that isn't any excuse! I should have fucking known it would happen. You don't just save a kid from that kind of place, and then not fucking check him. Sev died to save him, and I wasted it all.

A couple of days back, the day before the day we reached Illium, the boy fell… ill. I don't know how or why, but he was infected as well… implanted. Scorch hadn't been in a position to speak, and Sev was dead. The Salarian was killed as well, and the kid was traumatized. And I didn't think, even for a second, that he could be infected as well. Because of course he would be like Newt.

Aliens don't infect the kids you learn the names on.

Fucking logic. Served me really well now, didn't it? He had some fits and seizures, and before we could even get him across the mess hall from Jane's bedroom, he broke, right in front of the doors to the med-bay. The thing just… erupted out of him like a fucking troll from a box. He died screaming for his mother, screaming for the pain to stop, for his home, for his daddy. For Sev even, if what I could understand was right.

He just… A child died right in front of me, and it is my fault. If I had just thought about having him scanned as well, we could have removed it. Hell we wouldn't even have needed Miranda after the first try on Kaidan. Chakwas and Ash could have done it themselves.

But I let him die.

We spaced the creature, and after Chakwas attempted in vain to save him, we ended up placing Bashir in an adult-sized coffin. It's cruel irony that even the ship doesn't seem to be able to handle the death of a child. I don't know what we're going to do with the corpse. Not bury him at the memorial of course, that would make no sense at all. I just don't like the prospect of turning over the coffin to whatever family the kid had, and then explain or not how I'm to blame for his death.

"You're not. You didn't infect or impregnate him with a xeno."

"Well fuck that! I am one of the few who knows everything about these assholes. I should have known that there was a risk."

"You had a lot on your mind. Kaidan's life for one, and the handling of Jacob."

"Doesn't matter… I could have prevented it." Why can't he see the truth? It's because of me the kid is dead. For fucks sake, he was only a child!

"Blame yourself as much as you like, but fact is it isn't your fault."

"Oh yeah? Like the dead on Eden Prime isn't my fault either? This is just another time I've failed people depending on me!"

"Maybe, but good things have happened because of you as well." Sure, an optimist in the shape of a spectral being. That's perfectly normal.

"Name one thing I've done that has changed events for the better."

"I… Nihlus is alive."

"Not because of me."

"Well, John exists because of your presence here."

"Still not something I've actively done, unless you count being hit by a fucking train 'doing something'"

"You actually insist on blaming yourself for the slipups?" Roku exclaims. If beings like him had a mouth, I'm pretty sure he would be scowling right now.

"Sli-Slipups?! People have fucking died! Everyone on Eden Prime, the other soldier on Therum! Nihlus and I both nearly bought it on Feros, and now we've lost Sev and a child to the bugs, Noveria was overrun with xenos, Kaidan almost died due to a facehugger, and Scorch has lost a fucking LEG, not to mention a brother! You fucking DARE call that slipups?!" I'm seething with anger and frustration about now. Roku just can't fucking see the picture here. People have died or lost limbs and loved ones because I didn't get my act together. If this continues we're going to lose more. No way around that. The next person I let down could be Ash or Nic, hell even Anna could die because I fuck up somehow.

"Thomas… are you okay?" A voice and a hand on my shoulder snaps me from my minor fit. Looking up, Ash is looking at me with a worried pair of eyes. I take her hand away from my shoulder, a bit too abruptly, which I instantly regret;

"Yeah… yeah I'm fine. Sorry, I don't want you to go and worry if something's wrong with me. I'm still fit for duty." For some reason, we're the only remaining people in the room. The lights on the lift signals that it has just stopped on some deck above us. A sigh from Ash draws my eyes back;

"You know, I thought we had gotten to the point where you knew you could tell me anything, just as I can tell you anything. Was I wrong?" There's a bit of sadness in her voice, like I've disappointed her. I hate it when she does that. I can't stand watching her down, especially when it's because of me. When she starts turning around to walk for the lift, I grab her shoulder;

"No… you were right, of course." I say, trying to produce a smile. I'm not sure how effective it is though.

"Then tell me. Part of being in a relationship is telling each other what bothers them. I worry about what's going to happen if we get to Virmire like Jane did. So tell me, what bothers you?" She says, moving closer to me. I can feel the warmth radiating from her body, the scent of her, the smallest change in her being…

"I… the whole time I've been here, I've been thinking I could change things for the better, you know? Like saving people Hudson saw die. But so far, I've failed so many people. On Eden Prime, I didn't warn you about Sovereign, even though I knew it would attack. Because of me, Bashir died from the chestburster. Because I didn't think of having him checked. Sev is dead as well, and Scorch has lost his leg. And if we get to Virmire, who's to say I won't-" I say, but Ash cuts me off.

"- lose me, Nicolai or Kaidan?" She says, putting a hand on my cheek. The warmth and love in the gesture makes a good bit of the pit in my chest dissolve, knowing she's here for me. Even when I fuck up.

"…Yes… "I admit, feeling her eyes on me. It's not a hard stare, but a soft one, full of compassion; "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. You know when I was most scared on Feros?"

"When you hallucinated?"

"Well… maybe that was the most physically scaring part, but the thing that scared me the most, was fearing for your life while you were locked inside the building, with all those things outside. If they had gotten inside, I wouldn't have been able to do anything but listen while they… you would have been… I would have failed again, one time too many. And I don't know what I would have done if that had happened." I say, lowering my head to look into her eyes. Despite her being four-five years older than me, I'm actually slightly taller than her.

Ashley puts the other hand on my cheek, holding my face in a firm but gentle grip. I can't but look into her eyes, forgetting my problems in those brown orbs of hers. I don't understand it, but she has a way of making me feel like I'm not that big of a fuck-up after all.

"Thomas… You may have a somewhat 'split' personality, but you are still just one man. You can't go blame yourself for every single injury and accident that happens around you." Her voice is gentle, warm and etched with compassion

"Still, I should have known that Bashir could be implanted with one of those fuckers..." I mutter; "And what about the whole thing with Tali? Because I kept everyone in the dark, you almost arrived too late to save us."

"You were confused and scared, hell you radiated 'I'm mentally messed up' when we were there. But I didn't try to help you out, or to find out what was wrong. So if anything, that scene is one me, okay?" Why… why does she have to be this way? It was my fault, not hers. Why is she this sweet? This compassionate?

"Then what about what happened on Eden Prime? How can that not be my fault?"

"Thomas…" She sighs; "We've been over that one before. Even if you had told me everything at the time, it's not likely I would have believed you, and even if I had, we wouldn't have had enough time to muster a proper defense, and forget about forcing people to abandon their homes at any less than a gunpoint."

"You're making it sound like I couldn't have done anything, even if I had tried." I reply tiredly. Not physically, but more mentally tired; "I suppose what I bragged about to that operative what true…"

"What was?" She asks with a slightly cocked head. Her hands have slid from my face to my shoulders now, and we're nearly touching foreheads. At this distance, I can hear and smell her every breath, feel her presence so close to my own.

"Ash, I've only just turned twenty-two… but I've seen more messed up shit in the two-and-a-half month I've been here than most career-soldiers from my time ever get to see. I'm not sure how long I can keep it up before I need a psychiatrist at this rate." I say, gently touching my forehead to hers. I just need something to hold on to, something that can keep me floating. She smiles, putting a hand in my still growing hair. It feels a bit funny, how she glides it across my head's prickly short fur.

"So you're still young, what about it? I was only your age when I had my first actual combat-experience, and I came out worse than you. You've just had your training in the field, instead of in a secure environment. Besides, I'll find a way to keep you some miles from any shrink if need be. I'm here for you." She says with a warm smile, leaning in closer.

Without actively recognizing it, I'm closing in as well, and our lips meet in a gentle embrace, displaying our feelings for each other in a more physical way. Her soft pink lips taste of her, of a creature devoid of jealousy and hate, but filled with beauty, love and compassion. And for reasons only the gods know, she's mine.

Feeling her hands suddenly moving under my shirt, I give her a confused look. She just sends me the same sultry eyes she's been giving me from time to time. Especially when we are working out. Each little movement from her fingertips sends a wave of electricity through me, causing the hair on my neck and arms to stand. She presses the kiss in further, and I, while being a little baffled, happily return the gesture, sliding my tongue into her mouth where it ends up in a dance with hers.

The movements become faster and more desperate as she starts wringing my shirt of me. Slowly, I send my own hands under her shirt as well, feeling the bare skin of her back for the first time. The thin strip holding her bra is a curious feeling when not obstructed by her shirt or uniform, and I play with it with one hand while letting the other gently scrape her skin with the nails.

I'm rewarded with a low moaning, as well as erratic movements in her body, probably because of the electric feeling. I can feel the prickly Goosebumps covering her skin, and the blood rushing to and from my head makes the entire thing feel like it's happening in both fast-track and slow-motion at the same time.

Slowly, one of her hands moves from my back to her own, taking the one playing with her bra-strip. I barely know what I'm doing, so I happily allow her to take the lead. She slowly guides my hand to her front, placing it on one of her breasts.

The feeling, there's no way to actually describe it. The softness of her flesh, even under the black cloth, combined with the hard feeling at the center of the dome, the way it responds to my touch, the way she responds to it, it's all almost too much to bear. It gets only more unreal when she takes my hand again, and pushes it under the bra, in direct contact with her breast.

Out of pure instinct, and perhaps fright, I close my hand on it, electing a low groan from her as it probably hurts her. Slowly, I loosen the grip, just having my hand on her. It feels nice, fantastic actually. Warm, yet cold at the same time, as if the blood is leaving my fingers. Her nipple is rock-hard, urging me to touch it, which I do, almost out of instinct. Our tongues haven't parted yet, and I'm only breathing through the nose, as the dance continues going from her mouth to mine, and back again.

Another groan comes from her as her hands move more wildly on my back, reaching up my neck and scraping down it, leaving a burning sensation on my skin, as well as a prickly feeling. Each time I move a muscle in my hand, she grabs for my hair, moaning softly, purring almost while she grabs for my hair, the side that wasn't torched, ruffling the short yet graspable black hairs.

Suddenly, Ash shoves me in the chest, sending me to the ground with a bump. As I'm about to complain, her mouth joins mine again, effectively shutting off all speaking as our tongues meet up again, reengaging in their dance of lust. My body feels like it is on fire, and only getting the shirt off will help cool it. Almost as if she senses my thoughts, Ash starts pulling my arms upwards, removing my hand from her breasts for a short moment until the shirt is off. I return it to cub her breast, this time letting my left hand join in as well, careful not to be too harsh with the synthetic hand. Ash sits up on my lap, straddling me while assuming her position on top. Before I can say anything, she slowly starts to wiggle out of her shirt as well, laying he body bare, if not for the bra. Pushing my hands down, she keeps them on the floor, giving me a sly look, as if saying 'nah ah ah' with her eyes.

I can't help but obey her, lying still while feeling my shorts grow tighter by the second. Meanwhile, she continues to slowly rise up from holding my hands down, moving a hand to the small of her back. She unties the bra, and it falls to the floor without making a sound. I don't care about it though. Ash's lightly tanned fit body is before me, moving slowly with a sensual glint in its owner's eyes.

"Like what you see?" She almost purrs, keeping me locked to the floor with her eyes. As I process the question, I open my mouth to answer her, to tell her that it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but my words roll of my tongue, hoarse and dry. I can hardly whisper at this state, as all water, hell all blood seems to have left my mouth and throat.

"Mmm? Didn't hear you Thomas?" She asks again, purring even harder as her hips start moving on top of my groin, rocking around in a way that causes… it, to almost snap in half more than once. I can see it in her eyes that she feels it, looking between me and it with a feisty, almost horny look in her eyes. Is this it? Is this really happening? I swear if anyone wakes me now, he or she will wish they had been left at Hanshan wrapped in bacon!

"I… I… fuck yes, I love what I'm- oh Gods" The last part comes out as a hoarse shout, not reaching very far, but far enough for her to hear, and that's what matters. This supersedes anything and everything in emotion that I've ever experienced. The once so lustful kisses we've shared multiple times seem to pale and become mere gestures of partnership compared to this. My body is on fire, my brain feels like I'm drunk, only not with alcohol but with love and desire. My hands are trying to move on their own, reaching for her, wanting to pull her in, to hold her close. My heart is beating faster than it's ever done before, but not from fear. Maybe some is from fear, from fearing to lose her. But mainly, no mostly and almost all of it is love. Pure love mixed with desire and lust.

I need her.

I need her now!

Again, it is like Ash is reading my mind. She stands up, pulling me with her and into the equipment-room in the back of the small gym. Discarding our picked up clothing on the floor, she locks the door to the room. Before I can even ask what she's doing, or what I'm supposed to do now, she shoves me onto the sole thick-mat, normally held in store for onboard competitions and the like. For now, I guess we have another use for it. With a grin and a nervous feeling in my gut, I watch as she steps out of her shorts as well, leaving her only with her black panties on.

Funny how black seems to be popular with women's underwear these days.

Slowly, she crawls up on the mat, keeping a few inches of distance between us as she moves towards my face. Oh Gods, don't let me fuck up now, not now! I suppose she can see my nervousness, as she starts purring again, leaning down to hover an inch above my face;

"Don't worry Thomas. It's not because you can be that bad." She purrs again, letting her lips dance down my chest as she nears my shorts. Without me saying anything, she slowly pulls my shorts off, revealing a pair of black underpants with a considerable bulge beneath them. Looking at the bulge, Ash gains a devilish smile, looking at my face again. The way she stares at me, almost like a hungry predator, is scary. Yet, it also fills me with a warm, no burning feeling. I have to get her out of that piece of clothing, and it has to be at once, not in two more seconds.

Moving on my own for once, I reach for her back, letting my hands slide down it till I reach the cloth. Sensing or reading my thoughts, Ash rises up a bit, placing her thighs on each their side of my chest, letting me remove the panties easier. My fingers seem to freeze as the top of the clothing nears the start of her opening. Sensing my hesitation perhaps, Ash presses down on my hands, revealing the last bit of skin and flesh I had to see on her. As she half stands over me, her naked body on show, she slowly lowers herself down on top of me again, rubbing her opening against my shaft with slow movements. My entire body feels like it has caught fire. With rushed movements, my hands fly from her hips to my own, struggling to get out of the pair of elastically suspended underpants. It results in my groin impacting on her parting as my hips jump up and down, trying to free the last part of me from capture. Before I can get them off however, Ash grabs my real hand, and does what I've never thought any woman would ever do with it. She gently, as if she's scared of causing harm, guides it into her, separating my hand into pairs of fingers. I lose all breath as the warm slippery feeling coats my fingers, and she lets go of them, allowing me to explore her body on my own.

To be honest, it's almost a bit frightening, yet a fantastic feeling, as if I'm reaching for the gates of paradise. Suddenly, instead of the warm and moist walls of flesh, my fingers come upon a small bead-like object inside her. Upon touching it, I seem to send Ash into a small spasm of pleasure as she has to bite her lips not to scream. She still winces though, and I am about to pull my fingers out again when I catch her eyes. The happiness in them is unmistakably powerful, filled with love and lust. The sweat is pouring down her lithe body now, glinting from the lamp in the ceiling. She looks like a heathen Goddess this way, naked and with ripe breasts standing out in the illumination in the room. With a feeling of need, of hunger for her, I plunge the finger inside her again, while using the other hand to completely remove my underpants and slide them down my legs. The center of my arousal immediately stands straight in the air, catching Ash's eyes. With a low groan, she looks from it, and to my face;

"You've been… holding out on me for too long." I can only nod. Slowly, I remove my fingers from her inner sanctum. With a feeling like I'm going to die if I don't join with her instantly, I am surprised to find her being the one who grabs it, slowly rubbing it on the outside of her opening. It sends an electrical storm from my groin to my eyes, causing water to start emerging from them, mixing with the sweat already covering my body.

"Ash… please… please I can't stand this anymore…" I groan, not able to raise my voice above a whisper. With a devious smile, she keeps rubbing it along for a few more moments, her soft and strong hands feel incredible on me. At last, she slowly lets go of it, letting me slide inside her.

My mind explodes.

The sensations, the feelings, they are just too great, too immense. My head is being thrown around inside out, not knowing what is real and what is not. Only the primal lust and desire for this woman is keeping me conscious at all. She starts rocking on top of me, sliding me in and out of her with slow and calm movements. Feebly, feeling the strength disappear from my body, I reach for her, cupping a breast with each hand. Her own hands join on top of mine shortly after.

We keep this rhythm up for what seems like forever. But in a good way. Her body is rocking on top of mine, not fast enough to cause me to reach climax, but not slow enough to stop us. It's like a perfect movement, an example of harmony beyond description. Slowly though, our movements build speed, and the rocking increases in pace until the throbbing is unbearable. Forcing my eyes away from her body, I look at Ash's face.

Her eyes are closed, and a small droplet of red is trailing from her lips. She constantly groans, arching her body backwards with each trust and rocking of hips.

"Hggggnnnn… hold… don't… not yet…" I manage to catch from her ragged and heavy breathing as she bends over front, her face a few inches above mine. Droplets of sweat are constantly hitting my eyes, but I don't care. All my mind is currently concentrated on trying to follow her orders, and keep myself from reaching climax. Opening my eyes, I find it to be easier said than done, with her naked body hanging above me.

Her hips move faster and faster, bringing me to uncontrollable heights of sensation and pleasure. My head is spinning, and my hands are moving on their own. In an instant, Ash throws her head and body backwards, letting out a high-pitched whine. At the same time, I can feel large amounts of hot and damp liquid flowing from her core, and I finally give in, releasing myself inside her. For an eternity, my body is cramped and unable to move as we peak together, reaching unspeakable heights of happiness and unity. Then, after she slowly manages to look down on me again, Ash no longer has the look of a hungry predator, but the look of deep love in her eyes. A few tears are rolling from her eyes as she gingerly guides herself down to me. Instead of the passionate kiss we have shared uncountable times, she lays her head on my chest, closing her eyes while I'm still inside her. For now, we are one body, one mind and soul.

She slowly turns her face upwards to gaze at me, and the dreamy look in her eyes remains;

"Happy Birthday…" She grins before closing her eyes again. My mind is boggled for a moment, before remembering that it actually is today. Well, yesterday it was twenty-one, now I'm twenty-two… I just had the birthday party of a lifetime…

And I have never felt happier in my entire life.

October 22th

Earth, Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia

13:28 (local time)

"Smile!"

The small group, consisting of Steven Hackett, Megan Hackett, now turned Megan Lee Vera Hacket, her radiating groom Gilbert Lee Vera, whose face was lit in one giant smile while he nuzzled his wife with a hand, Gilbert's parents, and Anna Fisher, was standing in front of the representative from the press, a self-invited woman named Jilani. So far though, she had yet to cause any trouble, or to act or speak out of terms, so her presence was tolerated.

When she left, the group turned to inwardly chat, with the bride and groom starting to make off towards the enormous white cake commissioned and paid for by the most known and feared admiral in Alliance space. It was in the shape of Acturus, with a levitating married couple hovering a few inches above it. They were proportionally much bigger than the station, but it would have been difficult to have a cake the size of Acturus in the room anyway. Seeing how her new nephew-in-law was starting to escape her grasp, Anna snapped a hand out and pulled him back in. Before he could protest however, or before any of the Hacketts, could say anything, Anna had him and the bride wrapped in a powerful bear-hug;

"Welcome to la familia Gilbert. I think the two of us will be the best friends ever, don't you?" Inwardly, she was actually nervous. If there was one thing she couldn't do, it was meet new people with a straight face.

"I- I sure, yeah we will." He stammered, for a moment looking a bit frightened. It was the first time he had met Anna, though the news had been plentiful about her, and her exploits. Also, she had told him, right before the ceremony, that she had an Amada admiral in level 213 in Galaxy of Fantasy. And that had been only half an hour before he was standing at the altar.

If anything, she had evaporated his nervousness with her way of being, causing him to lose focus until Megan was standing beside him, and Hackett, his now grandfather-in law had given Megan up to him, making him the happiest man alive.

"You know Anna-"He said, gaining a bit more courage in her face; "I've gotta say, you really aren't your average Admiral." He said, eliciting a smile and a huff from the woman;

"Yeah well, most admirals are too scared of bad PR to do anything but parade or take part in large organized drills. Me? I like to get my hands dirty." She replied with a warm smile.

"I know. I hope you don't mind that I've been doing some… reading on you?" He said with a hint of nervousness in his voice. He had always been awestruck of how she had dared to castrate slavers on public TV, even when it was a public secret that some of those pirates and slavers worked for the Hegemony. Surprisingly, she had denied any offers of bodyguards or soldiers at her door.

"Not at all, I take it as a compliment actually. I do hope what you read was good?"

"The part with castration of slavers… you do know you probably violated a few laws and conventions in one go there, right?" He felt he was treading on thin ice, so he held his own opinion in store, to see how she reacted.

"Yeah… yeah I might have… if they were humans, that is. Now, I understand where you are coming from, but sometime, try asking Megan, if you haven't already, what happened to her parents on Mindoir. That's one of the reasons I don't show them any human mercy… but enough of sad topics, let's go eat some cake." Anna said, having responded to him with a warm smile while she talked about Mindoir and torture.

Sure, she was a bit scary at first, but Gilbert decided that it was just part of his new life. With Megan in hand, he walked towards the reception's large table.

It was good to be him

A/N: Well damn, that scene between Ash and Thomas turned out way better than I thought it would. For that, I cannot take all the credit. Yes, I wrote it, but I have been... in training, so to speak, with the mastro of 'smut' as she calls it. May we have Lady Amiee Krios on the stage? Thank you, thank you. This girl has been hauling my butt through a most... special course, and without her, I would have never been able to write that scene.

So for that: Thanks Amiee. My Nathran, you are just downright incredible.