***Author's Note***

Hey :) This is the last chapter of the prologue...Kinda...

Thank you to Gamer072196 for their mad skills ;)

WARNING! Sex and stuff ;)

Enjoy and review!

Month Five

"Thane?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" She lifted her leg as she spoke and he grasped it in his strong and dexterous fingers. "I mean, I thought you were meant to be resting. This is not resting." She sucked in a breath as he lifted her leg a little higher.

"Siha, I am hardly doing anything." His hand ran down the skin of her calf and held her thigh just above the knee. "It is you who is doing all the work." His breath was steady as she held his shoulders.

"I suppose." She looked down at their bodies, the way they fit. "Okay, I'm ready."

He nodded once and pushed. Marie winced but persevered as Thane pushed her leg higher and higher whilst keeping it straight. Eventually, she felt her foot touch the wall behind her. Thane smiled at the small accomplishment.

"There, I told you you would be able to do it with a little practice." He let go of her leg slightly to see if she could hold the split. She could, but barely. "You'll be able to do it alone soon."

She dropped her leg with a sigh of relief. "Yeah? It still hurts though." She rolled her eyes as Thane demonstrated his own impressive flexibility next to her, touching the wall with his foot far above his head easily. "Show off."

"The pain will pass, siha, and I have been doing this since I was six years old." He lowered his own leg and fell into a relaxed stance, his legs slightly apart and bent, arms relaxed in front of him. Marie copied. "I'm nearly forty-one, that is a long time for me to become proficient, don't you think?"

They moved through a few stance together, Thane's way of training her to fight like him, and to beat him in sparring. "I forget how old you are." She grinned at his feigned hurt expression.

"I am not old, siha!" A new stance where they were facing each other now. "You are a lot older than I am."

"As if! I'm only twenty-two." She huffed and used the breath to flow with her light punch at his shoulder, which he blocked easily.

"Marie, you are one hundred and seventy-two." He kicked out and she dodged.

"Shush, no one needs to know." He laughed at her lame come back.

After a while, Marie found herself pinned to the floor with Thane's weight atop her. He had won. Again. She growled in frustration as his throat flushed in cockiness, a grin on his lips.

He ran his hands down her arms from where he had held them above her head, brushing over her shoulders and following the line of her breast. Her breath hitched at his darkening eyes. Those eyes followed his hands as they ran over her stomach and around her hips. Her hips arched into his touch and he made a contented little sigh, his own hips rocking into her instinctively.

"Siha, I-" His voice was thick and gravelly with lust.

A light-bulb clicked in Marie's mind and she abruptly sat up, making him move backwards off of her. "I'll be right back." She pecked his lips and rushed out of their living room and through the door and into their bedroom.

Thane sat with his back against the wall with a bemused look on his face. What just happened? He furrowed his brow and stared down at his hands and huffed. This resting business was getting on his nerves. For two months now he hadn't been allowed to do anything. No forms of strenuous exercise was allowed, and that meant sex too. What was even more frustrating for the drell was that his human had followed the doctors orders to the letter. Only recently had she been letting him take part in their very light sparring matches. But those touches were not enough for him. He needed her skin. It was like his own personal brand of red sand.

"Ahem."

Thane's head snapped up at the odd half cough. His mouth fell open, but no words escaped him.

Marie was stood in the doorway. Her hair was free of its usual braid and tumbled down her back in a haphazard mess, as though she had brushed it with her fingers. Her shoulders were bare and he followed the exposed skin down to her breast where a green and black bra was. The material had a sheen to it and showed of small patterns in the lace-like material.

She began walking toward him and his eyes were drawn to her legs, crossing each other delicately with each step, her bare feet making small patting noises on the wood flooring. His gaze wandered upward and he vaguely noticed matching panties to go with the bra before she positioned her half-naked form in his lap.

Oh, how he had missed this skin. He ran his hands over her shoulders and back, greedily. He didn't care if he was rushing, he just need to feel her. Now!

As if sensing his enthusiasm, Marie lifted herself of his lap and lowered her hands to the waist band of his loose pants. She looked into his eyes and watched him gasp as her fingers brushed against his already growing erection. Her lips met his as she pushed the pants past his hips, her tongue brushing over his full lower lip, begging him for entrance. He readily opened his mouth and felt her tongue brush over his. Something akin to a purr rumbled from his throat, the low vibration could be felt in Marie's chest.

And then all he could feel was her warmth pressing on him through the flimsy fabric that kept him from her. His thumbs hooked over the waistband and tugged.

The fabric tore and fell around her thighs. She didn't seem to care as she moved her head and starting licking and nipping at the sensitive folds of his neck. He shut his eyes and rested the back of his head against the wall and moved it to the side, giving her better access.

Her hips rolled and he moaned. He couldn't help it, it had been so long since he had felt her. He felt her smirk against his neck so he pressed his hips up to meet hers, pressing his hardness to her heat. Her hand pressed down on his hip bone as she '"tsk'd" him.

"Rest, I'll take care of everything." Her hot breath ghosted over his neck and shoulder, making him shiver.

Her fingers wrapped around him and she began pumping him, slowly. Up and down in a steady rhythm that made his toes curl. Her thumb swiped over his head, smearing the drips of arousal there. The liquid heightening his sensitivity.

He grabbed at her hips, fingers digging in hard. "Mar..I-"

Her hand left him and he frowned at the lack of sensation. And then his mind went completely blank, a gasp escaped him, and a warmth enveloped him. A familiar warmth, one that he wouldn't - couldn't - forget. It happened so fast but he was fully sheathed in Marie. Her moan in his ear confirmed as such.

She paused, just sitting astride his lap with him inside her, and Thane tried to move. It was a cruel game she was playing, if it was a game at all, for every time he moved she would still him with a light hand or a grazing of teeth.

And then her hips rocked and he was bathed in such satisfaction that he had to concentrate on the pattern of a nearby rug for a moment. His legs bent slightly as she got into a rhythm and his neatly kept nails clawed at her back. This...role-reversal was maddening, but he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it. Rutting together on the floor of their living room like hormonal teenagers was thoroughly enjoyable.

He felt her tighten around him and he knew she was close. One of his hands roamed to her leg whilst the other stayed firm on her back. He scratched lightly at her thigh and brought his fingers to the sensitive nub between her legs. Her head lolled back and he licked at her neck, a long, languid lick that made her cry out and shudder with her orgasm. His name rolled of her tongue and past her swollen lips. Thane shot a lop-sided grin at her as she regained herself and her rhythm.

Her mouth fell on his and her hot, feverish kisses made the warm coil of pressure begin, low in his abdomen. He groaned into her mouth and shut his eyes. Her hands found his shoulders as she picked up her pace and his arms wrapped around her. She cried out once more as her sensitive body was rocked again with pleasure. The pressure this created around him made him come. He didn't even feel the tell-tale build up, just the high that came with orgasm and the increased warmth of his seed coating her insides.

She nestled her face into the crook of his shoulder and neck and they sat like that for a while, content in just being there.

"Hey, Loco."

Shepard lifted his head from his group picture and looked up at Vega. Does the guy always wear such tight-fitting shirts? "Hey." He couldn't help that his voice sounded like a wounded puppy.

"Dios mi, Shepard, what has you so glum?" James sat opposite the Commander, a bright smile on his scarred face.

Shepard shrugged. "I don't know, man." He knew, he just wasn't willing to share with the Lieutenant yet.

"Aww, come on commander! You can tell me." He rapped his knuckles on the table top and pulled Shepard's sketch pad away from him, flicking through the pages with mild interest. Shepard hadn't answered the question and James seemed to have not noticed, nor seem to care, as he got deeper into the colour stained paper. "Wow, Shepard...these are really good." He paused at a page full of reds and blacks and alien faces. "What's this?"

Shepard shrugged again. "Stuff." Oh, now you're just being petulant. He inwardly sighed and sank lower into his chair.

"It's unhealthy to wallow." James stated.

Shepard looked out the window, the only source of entertainment or acknowledgement of the passage of time. What was everyone doing? Why am I still here? He thought bitterly. Surely, Thane and Kasumi could have figured a way to get in and get him out? The best assassin and the best thief in the galaxy? Surely no one had abandoned him. Where is Garrus? He bit back the frustration. I am not a damsel in distress! I do not need my boyfriend to come and rescue me! He's probably on Palaven, shacking up with some turian bloke. His fingers clenched on the table top and he rubbed at his temples with the other hand. No...he wouldn't. Shut up, Shepard.

"Shepard?"

He jumped at his name and looked back at James, he had almost forgotten the Lieutenant was there.

"What?"

James rolled his eyes and handed his sketch pad back, pointing at a picture of a woman. "She's pretty good-looking, she your girl?" He waggled his eyebrows but Shepard shook his head. "So...she's fair game?"

Again, Shepard shook his head. "She's dead." His eyes fell on the picture of Ashley and his mood darkened even more. "Why are you here, James?"

Vega frowned. "It's workout day, remember?"

"I thought that was yesterday." His eyes were back on the window.

"That was two days ago." He heard a deep sigh. "What's wrong, Loco?"

"How long have I been here?"

"What do you-"

"In this room...how long have I been here?" His brown eyes met Vega's, holding his gaze until the larger man looked away with a gulp that made his adam's apple bob.

"Uhh, five months...give or take a week or two."

"Five months of sitting in this empty room. Five months of grey walls and taunting windows." He glared at the glass, the separation of him and his freedom. "I hate those windows."

"You...hate the windows?"

"I hate the windows!" He threw his arms up in defeat. "I hate this room! I hate that for five months I have no contact with my friends or family! Where are they? Why haven't they come for me?" He knew they couldn't but his wishful thinking had gotten the better of him.

James stood and moved around the table, pulling Shepard's chair out and yanking him out of it. The commander let him, simply because it was a change to the monotony of his day. How pathetic. He scowled at the floor.

"Come on."

"Come on to where? The middle of the room? That space there?" He pointed to a space between the wall and his bed.

James grabbed him by the arm and marched him to the door that led out into a corridor of the Alliance building.

"Wait! I can't go out!"

"What? Weren't you just complaining about the hateful windows? The brass wont even know you're gone."

And suddenly he was out in the corridor. The air seemed...lighter. He took a deep breath and grinned. What would they do? Shoot me?

"Come on." James muttered and set of at a casual jog, Shepard close behind him with his head bowed and hair over his face.

They jogged for about five minutes, down long corridors and through doors, through an area that looked like a common area for the on-site soldiers. This was the most excitement Shepard had had in a long time, even if it was just running through a building with no intention of shooting anything. They stopped in a small cafeteria where James ordered a few slices of pizza for them both. He had to do all the speaking so Shepard had no choice in the flavour. And then they were of again, though the jog didn't last half a long this time.

James pushed open the door into a darkened room where he grabbed Shepard's arm and lead him around so that he didn't have to raise his face to people. He was directed to a seat in the back of the room and handed some pizza, then he could raise his head.

"You brought me to the cinema?"

"Si, so be quiet and don't disturb the film." He said with a wink and a bite of pizza.

"Thank you..." James simply nodded and directed his attention to the moving pictures on the screen.

Hours later he was back in his cell. Stomach full of junk food and mind sated for the time being. He smiled as he looked out the windows and spied a young boy playing in the grass of their garden with his mother.

I should do this again in another five months.

This month had been hell. The constant fight to just get the smallest things done was wearing his patience thin. He had managed to get better comm systems up on Menae, better barracks and defenses, more soldiers. But now he had to fight to keep them there.

With a month of these resources being there and still no sign of a battle, the soldiers and their commanders were getting restless.

And so, after another day of debating, Garrus just wanted to go back to his quarters and relax. He wanted to send another message to Shepard and another to Thane. Alas, the spirits just wanted to shit all over Garrus' day.

The opened for him and he stepped into his room. And, almost instantly, he was face to face with Catius. His persistent second in command. Spirits take her.

"Vakarian, sir." She almost purred. Garrus had never hated anyone this much...except maybe Sidonis.

"Catius, what do you need?" He almost pushed her away from his personal space, but instead he just stepped around her and began to pile his guns away.

"Your pleasant company, obviously." He cringed at the sarcasm in her voice and the telling trills in her sub-harmonics. She followed him and sat in a chair by his desk.

"Is that so?" He muttered as he moved to the other side and sat opposite her. She glanced at the empty space beside her but shrugged it off.

"I see you haven't changed your mind about me."

Garrus shook his head. "Listen, you're a great soldier, truly. But-"

"But what?" She leant forward in her seat and fixed him with her gaze.

"But our relationship can only ever be strictly platonic." He sat back and awaited her reaction, so far only a sigh had escaped her.

"I see." Her copper eyes grew cold making Garrus cringe. He really couldn't afford animosity in the ranks. "There's someone else, isn't there?"

Now it was his turn to question. When had he ever told her there wasn't? Sure, he hadn't told anyone the details of his relationship with Shepard. Hell, he hadn't really told anyone but his family that he was mated with the Commander. He didn't understand why she was asking such a question.

"Have I ever stated otherwise?" He clasped his talons together, a show of authority. He wanted this awkward conversation to be a professional one. "Have I ever lead you to believe that I was available?"

Her mandible hung loose at his questions and he knew he was right. She coughed delicately into a fist and looked away, embarrassed. "Well, no. But I always thought...with the time you spend away from your mate. You may have wanted to find someone...closer to home."

"Catius, I am mated. For life." She looked up at him, surprised by his conviction in his relationship. "And besides, Palaven is no longer my home."

"I don't understand."

"The Normandy is my home. And my mate's home." He touched the dog-tags that nestled in his carapace. And he watched as the pieces all seemed to click in her mind.

"You're! You're with a human!?" A small trill of disgust left her, involuntarily.

"Yes, is that a problem Catius?"

"Uh, I-"

"Because if it is: you can leave my service right now. Take a shuttle back to Cipritine and find something else to do. Is that clear?" A deep rumble came from low in his throat.

"Yes, sir." She took a deep Breath. "If I may ask, sir, who is this human who is so special that you forsake mating with your own kind?" Her words cut deep. Racism clear in her tone.

She will have to leave, a shame really. "That is none of your business. You are dismissed."

"Yes, sir. I'll report to you in the morning."

"You wish to stay?"

She nodded. "Yes. What we are fighting for is bigger than my petty grudges and unrequited crushes."

Garrus sighed, a small part of him relieved. She was a good soldier, after all. "Report to me in the morning then."

She nodded and left his quarters and Garrus got to work on his messages to his friends.

"Jacob!" Is someone shouting my name? "Hey! Jacob!" Yep.

With a sigh and a smile, Jacob turned on his heel, only to be collided with and then wrapped into the small arms of his lover. "Brynn." He folded his own arms around her and held her close. Her hair smelt of green apple.

"I cannot believe we found this place!" She pulled away from him and looked around their new home...for the time being.

It was an old unused Cerberus station. It was packed the brim with old technology, old beds and half done supplies, there was even a hidden dock for their shuttles. It provided safety for the families there, reassurance and hope. Even if he knew it wouldn't last forever. Cerberus would find them eventually. The Illusive Man would send out his dogs to hunt down the rogue scientists and their lone protector.

"I can't believe it either." He smiled down at her, masking the worry he felt. They will find us.

Even though Gellix was remote, The Illusive Man had eyes and ears everywhere. Hell, he might even have some among us. He thought with a frown. The only person who could rival Cerberus with their information influx was The Shadow Broker, and Jacob was pretty sure they were an ally to Shepard. They wouldn't help Cerberus.

"What's wrong, Jacob?" She pulled him along with her as they made their rounds around the clusters of scientists and their families.

"I'm just wondering if this place is safe enough." She watched him from the corner of her eyes. "Cerberus could still find us here. They did own this place, after all."

"Shush, Jacob. Can't you just be happy that we're safe at the moment?"

A small girl ran past them, flaming red pig-tails trailing behind her. She was laughing and poking fun at another kid who chased her with such determination on their short legs. He should be happy for the moment. But he just couldn't.

"I'll try..."

"We got a message from Garrus today." Marie smiled at her lover as she entered his hospital room. "He asked me to tell you 'good luck' for today."

She sat beside him on the bed he lay in as he nodded that he had heard and understood. "That was...nice of him." He grabbed her hand and squeezed. "Tell him - tell him I said thank you."

She could hardly hear him through the oxygen mask he wore, but she nodded anyway, entwining their fingers as they waited for Kolyat. He would be here soon, to say goodbye.

"I...I don't think I want to do this anymore, siha." Thane breathed. His nerves were getting the best of him and he didn't like it.

"Everything will be okay. The doctors know what they're doing. And Chakwas will be orchestrating the whole thing." She knew he would be okay. Chakwas wouldn't let anything go wrong. She knew it.

The door opened once more and Kolyat popped his head round its frame. "Is it nearly time?"

"Yes. Another five minutes or so."

Thane shuddered at her words so she lay a hand on his chest, trying to pass him some confidence through her light touch.

Kolyat sat on the other side of the bed so Thane could look at his family at the same time. So they could say their goodbyes together and make promises they shouldn't make. "Father...I'm sorry." He bowed his head in apology.

"Sorry for what?"

"For being such an arse when you found me."

Thane chuckled. A deep rumbling laugh that made his family smile. "Tell me again when I wake up, son."

A nurse came in then. "Sere Nuara? I just need to give you a shot." She held out a needle and pointedly looked at him to roll up his sleeve.

Thane's eyes grew wide at the sight of the nurse and her needle and shivered, gripping Marie's hand harder.

"Oh! Don't be such a baby, Tannor!" Marie gripped his hospital gown by the sleeve and lifted it so the nurse could get to his skin.

"Okay, this will just take a moment." She positioned the needle so that the tip was just beneath a scale. "Sharp scratch!" She warned before pushing the needle in and depositing the antibiotics into his muscle. Thane winced.

The nurse took Marie to one side as Kolyat and Thane watched with suspicion.

"The shot also had a sedative in it. He wont last long before he sleeps." Marie nodded her thanks and watched the nurse go.

Suddenly, she didn't want to watch Thane be rolled away on a hospital gurney. She wanted him to stay awake until she left. Couldn't they have another hour together before she had to wait half a day to find out if he would wake up again?

"Si...Mar..." She turned to see Thane holding his hand just above the bed, beckoning for her to return to his side. The sedatives were working already. This is too fast!

"Thane! I'll be here when you wake up!" His eyelids began to droop. "Thane!"

"Father!"

The room was crowded as nurses and porters came in to take her drell away. They were shooed from the room so that they had enough room. And then his bed was rolling past them, surrounded by nurses taking vitals and monitoring pressures. It was going to fast! Why is this so difficult all of a sudden!?

"Thane!"

The bed passed through a door and sealed behind it.

And so the wait began.

Would love to hear what people think :3

And a quick thank you to Kassy22 for your reviews! I would thank you the same way I do everyone, but I couldn't send you a message! So here's my thanks to you :)