Hello again! Thank you for the favorites, follows and what not. I have enjoyed writing this story so very much. One more chapter to go. And sadly it is almost finished. This has been an awesome three year journey. Thank you all so much! Enjoy!

PE

"Future of Us"

His eyes refused to focus. The holo stared back at him. "You took this?" He asked Liara.

"Yes." The young asari replied once more. She was getting frustrated with his inability to absorb the information she was feeding him.

"When?" He reached out a hand. His fingers grazed the holographic interface causing the image to blur around the edges where the tips of his fingers interrupted the flow of light particles.

"I started working on it months ago, but Shepard…" Liara swallowed pausing only briefly before continuing. Kaidan noted the asari's voice barely detectable hitch on Shepard's name. "She wanted me to fill in her parts of the story, but then she wanted to add some things of her own to it. I thought perhaps, that you would like to see her last recordings, Major, since they dealt with her crew."

"What?" Kaidan jerked his hand back as if the holo had burned him.

"She recorded a great deal about her crew. Both for the first Normandy and the second one. It's as if she wanted the galaxy to know what each of us had done for her. To help her through her journey…but the last segment she recorded was about you." Liara crouched in front of the star box and played with the buttons. Her fingers danced over the keys, like little blue butterflies hovering over bright orange flowers.

"I haven't watched very much of the recordings to tell the truth, but the things she says about all of us are quite…" Liara closed her eyes and Kaidan saw the glint of tears twinkle out from under her thick lashes. "Compelling." She finished with both her words and her typing. The holo flickered and then a holographic vid screen popped into view. Kaidan stared at Shepard sitting at her desk with her hands folded in front of her. Her dark mahogany hair was pulled back in a thick bun at the back of her head. Her creamy skin was sprinkled with freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her lips were frozen with her knowingly secretive smile. And her bright green eyes danced with joy. It had been a long time since he had seen such open happiness on her features.

What is she happy about? He wondered as his hand absently reached out to trace the curve of jaw. Belatedly he realized what he was doing and dropped his hand down to his side. He clenched a fist. He missed her terribly.

"Do you want me to play the entries for you?" Liara asked though something in the way she spoke made his skin hum with dark energy.

"Which entries have you watched?" He inquired of her turning his darkening gaze on the asari. He knew at one point the girl was fascinated with Shepard, but that had been years ago. Maybe Liara still cared for Shepard, but it was more than that. He wanted Shepard's final words to him, to be just for him. They hadn't had a lot of moments like their date. Happy moments…peaceful ones, where for a few hours they were the only two people in the universe who mattered.

Liara shot him a funny look, before she calmly answered. "Mine, Garrus', Tali's and Joker's. I didn't look at yours." She looked away from him. "You and Shepard were involved, Kaidan. I know she cared a great deal for you. Whatever she decided to tell people about you is between the two of you. I asked permission from the others before reviewing theirs."

A shot of guilt passed through him at the surge of jealousy he had felt. "I'm sorry, Liara." He mumbled. "It's just hard thinking of her as truly…" He couldn't finish. The words had died on his lips. She had come back before, but this time it had felt like she was really gone. At least this time they had said good-bye. Kaidan hated the way her death had left a gaping hole in him, like a part of him was forever out of reach and lost without her. He could still function and live, but he would always notice her absence. He had gotten used to it for two years, but then this felt different this felt not surreal, but lasting. It was an opening in himself he wasn't certain he could fill ever again. A part of him was gone with Shepard and part of him had died with her. And he wasn't certain he wanted to fill that void.

"It's your choice, Kaidan." Liara whispered standing up. "I'll leave the box with you. Just let me know when you are finished with it." Kaidan stared after her for a moment after she left him. His eyes flickered back to the vid screen. What had she said about him? What had she wanted the future people of the galaxy to know about him? Curiosity ate at him. He stared up into those bright green eyes and once again found himself falling in love with the woman on the screen.

"Shepard…" he sighed reaching out a hand. He pressed the play button and sat back on the couch to watch.

"I don't know where to start. First of all, I saved this crew member for last. I don't know why. Maybe because it just feels right too." She smiles as she absently rubs a thumb over her fingers. "Major Kaidan Alenko." She breathes his name. Then a radiate smile spreads across her full lips. "The Major was more than capable with botics and with tech. If I ever needed someone to overload a shield generator or door lock he was more than handy. Not to mention his biotics. He was an L2 implant, but thankfully stable and more than functional emotionally, mentally, and physically." She pauses and unfolds her hands.

"In every regard, Kaidan was the perfect officer and gentleman. Smart, Funny, but realistic. If I ever needed a truthful assessment of a situation he could look at it from every angle and give me what he felt was the best outcome or summary of the situation."

"He was fiercely loyal to the Alliance. Even to the point where he couldn't join me to take out the Collectors, because it conflicted with Alliance orders. I would never fault him for that." A look crosses her face, one of sadness, but it's shaded with pride too. "I can honestly say that was the moment, I realized I wanted him by my side." She exhales and clasps her hands together again her next words are spoken directly to him.

"Major, I know Liara will probably let you see this, since I've asked that the crew members be given the option if something happens to me. I also want the future to know, that if we fail they need to find people like you, Garrus, Tali, Wrex, EDI, Joker…anyone and everyone to fight the Reapers. I want them to know that every race can work together for the common good. So, I know if you are viewing this, then I'm dead." There's a pause and her smile falters briefly.

"There are so many things I want to say, but I don't think the words will be adequate enough to express what I feel," Her lips curve up into her knowing grin. "Or they would be too cheesy. But, I'm going to try." Another deep shuddering breath, her hands clench tightly together. She stares at them for a breath before continuing.

"Kaidan, I love you, but it's more than that. You are my rock and guiding light, through everything that has been happening you have kept me sane. I need that. I needed you in my life. You made me see past the call of duty, to the aspect of what I was fighting for. You gave me a reason to fight, a reason too never give up. It's thanks to you that I'm here fighting. Everyone needs that everyone needs their spark of hope, their future to fight for. If we somehow both survive this I want it with you. I'm done saving the galaxy. I want my little place on the ocean, somewhere warm away from the insanity of the universe. Somewhere calm and peaceful, a place where you will always be welcome, Kaidan, a place you can call home too." Her eyes flicker and she untwists her fingers from each other. "It's a lot to hope for I know, but I want my future with you, if that is…you'll have me." She laughs abruptly a slender hand comes up to cover her lips. "Listen to me," Tears spring up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kaidan, it's just that's what I wanted for us." A shake of her head dislodges the joy from her eyes and her tears stream unceremoniously down her freckled cheeks. "But it will never happen. I needed that dream; this hope for us. I fought for it. It's a beautiful, simple dream, that I want so much to see come true. For me, it will be too late, but for you it is still possible. I know you, Kaidan. I want the best possible future for you." She wipes at the warm tears with the palm of her hand.

"I'm fighting for you. If I died then know it was because I wanted that future for you. Live your life, and don't forget to be alive. Fight, love, live. I couldn't ask you for any more than that. This is my final command, order, request to you, Major." Her voice grows stern and her tone firm demanding attention be paid. "Live your life. Don't despair for as much as you claim I changed your life. You changed mine. I want your happiness. I love you, Kaidan." Her voice is softer as she whispers the last six words. "I hope you never see this." The holo disappears.

Kaidan leaned forward willing the screen to come back to life. To bring her back again. Her tears, her laugh, even her smile. She had looked so alive. Like he could have reached out and held her to him. Feel the warmth of her body pressed against his. But that wasn't the case. She was gone. Her laughter and smile gone faded to the vaults of memories and time. He wanted her back. It was a childish, selfish notion, but it was the plain simple truth. He wanted to tell her, her future dream was prefect. It had been his dream too.

"Shepard," his voice sounded foreign in his own ears. Tears stung his eyes. He didn't dare to wipe them away as they started to fall. He would honor her and remember her sacrifice. She had given up everything to make certain the galaxy survived. It was her wish, her desire to see him live out their dream. Even if it meant doing it alone was bittersweet.