A/N The second section of this final chapter, switches to Chey's view point. Why? For those who have played the Mass Effect awesomeness you know what happens in between ME1 and ME2 at least game wise. I had thought about doing an in between, but I honestly am not sure how to even begin that, so I probably won't. Thank you everyone who read my amateur and probably not so good story.

Ashley

"Mmmm…tempting, throw in some dinner and extended cuddles and you got yourself a deal." I reply. I should care that we aren't alone, but I just don't the woman I love is alive and whole. The others can stare and just fuck off. A few hours later after we have been all patched up, the Citadel council approaches us. I think they may be in for a tongue lashing if they say the wrong thing to Shea, she's about had it with them. "Commander. Thank you for our lives." The Turian councilor says. "Thank Tevos. I will tell you this right now had either of you been on any other ship but hers I would have let you burn. You two have done nothing but berate me, question my every fucking move and been rude as hell to me. You two were the most outspoken about me and besides a bit of information here and there have done nothing, and I mean nothing to help me. I can understand Tevos may not have been able to help us more with you two making your anti-human feelings clear. But because of you two and Udina we almost lost our galaxy." She said. They look away ashamed.

"We are sorry, we should have supported you more and respected your decisions. We were all under a lot of pressure. I am well aware of your distaste for politics but without them this issue could have been worse, one war at a time Commander." The Salarian said. "I am very sorry as well Commander." The Turian said. "Very well, I accept both of your apologies and offer one of my own. I do not understand politics and it just felt like you were intentionally trying stalwart my mission. So I apologize for losing it with you all those times." She said. "At last, we can agree on something. Humanity has earned the right to represented on the council, hopefully we can all reach a better understanding, and we would be willing to take in great consideration anyone who you would think would be a great councilor." Tevos says. The two most obvious choices being Udina and Anderson. Udina knows politics well, but he is overly ambitious. We need someone who doesn't salivate at the prospect of councilor.

Shea is on the same thought process as me. "I would suggest Captain David Anderson." She said. "Anderson is a soldier not a politician." Udina argues. "Which is exactly what we need for what's to come. I need someone who will believe and do what is right not what gives him the most gain. That is why I would choose him, besides without his aid our mission would have failed." She said. I'm proud of her, though I would hit Udina. I've never had any love for him. I don't think I would ever. Nor would I ever respect him completely. I always felt like I needed to be on alert around him, like he was secretly plotting and scheming behind our backs. I wasn't paying attention to the rest of the conversation. I just wanted to find a nice, quiet, place to relax with Shea. Maybe make more sweet, sensual, and slow love to her. Then a nice bit of naked snuggles, actually naked snuggles sounds like a perfect way to end our day.

Two months. Two months was all we got after Saren to explore us, to have a couple dates like a normal couple. I was going to ask her to marry me when the fucking council sent us out again. Three Alliance ships had gone missing and so they sent us to investigate and clear out pockets of Geth. I had made her a romantic dinner. The ring was in the pocket of my pants, then the alarms went off.

We dressed in our armor. Joker wouldn't leave, Shea ordered me to go. She would get Joker, but there was another explosion and I watched her die suffocating her oxygen regulator had been sliced open by debris, such a small knick and yet it killed a giant of woman. Our hero, my love, my future wife died, because of a fucking damaged regulator. She died because Joker was to fucking stubborn to get the fuck up and get to the escape pods without Shea to make him. When our pods landed I sought out Joker and I punched him in the face and kicked him in the ribs. "It's your fucking fault she died!" I scream.

Chey

Ash looks like she wants to kick Joker again. I have to stop, her she could kill him. "Ash. Don't. it's not his fault it's the fault of the ship that attacked us." I said. "If he would have gotten to his pod as soon as he saw the Normandy couldn't be saved, she'd still be alive. He fucking killed your sister, do you even care!" She screeches at me. I punch her hard enough to make her head spin. "How dare you! Of course I fucking care! But you and her both taught me to lay blame where it lies. Joker couldn't have known that the Normandy was done for. That ship and whoever was controlling it is responsible. Would Shea want you to blame him, would she want you to beat him to death. Shea loved your gentle heart, where is that heart now?" I ask. "It died the second she stopped drawing breath. Shea is my heart, and now she's gone." I feel her anguish, guilt, and unimaginable pain settle. Ashley feels guilty because of how badly she hurt Joker, anguish because Shea was no longer with her and the pain. I do not think she ever thought anything could hurt this much. I hated that Ash would be going through what I did with Liana. I promised myself and Shea that I would be with her and help her through this, like she had for me.

She offers a quick apology to Joker and stalks off to be alone. Quietly I approach her and I hear the five words that break my heart more. "I will never love again." A vow on the wind and there would be a hell of storm coming our way.

The End