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Never Again	By : ArcadiaJones Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 5322 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas of Mass Effect. They belong to Bioware, and I am making no money writing this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer: The song I used in this chapter is called “Echo” and belongs solely to the band Incubus. I own no rights to it whatsoever, I just think it’s absolutely beautiful (especially since Brandon Boyd’s sexy voice is the one performing it).

Author’s Note: This is the end of this story. I hope you all enjoyed, and I’m sorry if my semi-scattered way of writing threw anyone off. Writing a story like this isn’t easy when I’m trying so hard to cut out most of the game and focus solely on just a few characters—not to mention attempting to keep it short. But I think 13 is a good place to stop—lucky number and all.

I had fun writing this, and I dearly hope that you had fun reading it. If you hated it, leave me some constructive criticism in the review area. I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing. But overall, I suggest just taking the story for what it is: an overview of the romantic escapades between two similarly stubborn people.

Thirteen

It hadn’t been very hard to break from Cerberus; Shepard hadn’t trusted them from the very beginning, and the Illusive Man’s ruthlessness proved that her initial instincts had been correct. A few members of the crew had left—too afraid to lose their cushy pay and benefits—but the majority had stayed, and for that Shepard was grateful. They would need a good crew to take on the Reapers, and she trusted the people of the Normandy implicitly.

Unfortunately, Samara needed to return to her justicar duties and Grunt wanted to return to Tuchanka, to finally be a part of krogan culture. Shepard was sad to see them go, but had no intention of stopping them. There was only so much she could ask of the people who chose to follow her, and when their time to leave came, she would send them off with all the respect they deserved.

Garrus was still with her, of course. After the mission and Shepard’s final middle finger to the Illusive Man, they had retired to her cabin and fucked; hard and frantic as if in an attempt to make sure that they really were still alive. There would be time for love later.

Now Shepard sat in the mess hall, surrounded by her crew as they held a celebratory party for their victory. With Grunt gone, she stuck to drinking beer; no one else was brave enough to challenge her to a drinking contest after her near victory over a krogan. Someone had broken out a karaoke machine—Shepard wondered where on earth they had been hiding it—and now a trio of women—including a very tipsy Gabby—were singing off-key to the song “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar. She laughed as they stumbled drunkenly over the words, the women breaking into giggles of their own every line.

Finally, the song ended and the three took their seats. Shepard vaguely thought about doing her own riff, but decided against it. Her singing voice had a way of making people run for the hills. But when Garrus stepped up and took the mic, she nearly spit out her beer all over the table in surprise. She wasn’t the only one in shock; as the turian stood there, flipping through the library of songs, all eyes were on him. Astonishment and intrigue filled the room, but Garrus ignored them. Finally, he reached the song he wanted and lifted the mic to his mouth as the first, soothing chords began. And when he started to sing, warm gaze never leaving hers…gods, she could melt.

There’s something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you’re so worth the fight
Ooooh, yeah…

My biggest fear will be the rescue of me
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me, dear?
Something I’ve not seen
Something infernally interesting
Could you show me, dear?
Something I’ve not seen
Something infernally interesting
Ohhh…

There’s something about the way you move
I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing
So subtle it’s something someone contrives
Your movements echo that I have seen the real thing
Ooooh, yeah…

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you
Strange how it turns out that way, yeah

Could you show me, dear?
Something I’ve not seen
Something infernally interesting
Could you show me, dear?
Something I’ve not seen
Something infernally interesting
Ohhh…

Garrus was standing right in front of her now, not even needing the screen to finish the song. Shepard watched him, breathless. She didn’t know how he had found the song and had no idea that anyone could sing it so beautifully, but Shepard was touched deeply. As his voice hit the last note, Garrus lowered himself to one knee in front of her. All eyes were on them in a crowded room, but Shepard was certain that they were the only two people alive at that moment. Nothing else mattered.

Reaching into his pocket, Garrus pulled out a little velvet box—the same box he had used to give her the flower back on Hras Anna. Only this time, she knew that there wouldn’t be a flower inside. When he peeled back the top of the box, Shepard couldn’t stop the tears that spilled over her cheeks. It wasn’t a diamond or anything else flashy; the “ring” was merely a little steel gasket that he had probably picked up from the Collector ship before they had begun their escape. Something so small, so insignificant, and yet it pierced her heart like a bullet.

“Shepard,” he started, voice husky, “will you marry me?”

She threw herself at him before the last syllable had been uttered; they tumbled back onto the tile, her lips pressed against his mouth as her tears continued to pour down unheeded. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and Shepard never wanted to let him go. Garrus encircled her waist and held her close, wondering how it was that he had found such happiness.

The crew watched their Commander and her lover, many of the women crying themselves. Jack started to sniffle, and quickly hid her emotions behind a shot of whiskey. Thane smiled, thinking back on a time when he had known such happiness. Jacob eyed Miranda across the room, who ignored him as she rolled her eyes, smirking. Tali adjusted a piece of her face mask, the curve of her head making it obvious that she was smiling. Joker sighed and took a long drink from his beer. Mordin checked his omni-tool to make sure that he had an ample supply of his allergy medication.

“Get a room you two!” Joker hollered as the pair began to get a little more grabby.

Blushing, Shepard straightened up so that she could take her weight off of him. Garrus just smiled and slid the ring onto her left index finger. Giggling, she moved it to it correct position.

“Sorry. Guess I should have read up on that a bit better.”

Shepard shook her head. “Don’t apologize.” Her lips pressed against him once more. “Thank you,” she murmured before pulling away.

The pair rose to their feet, and the crowd around them broke into thunderous applause. Shepard’s face was completely red now, but it didn’t matter. The gasket/ring on her finger burned a pleasant line into her heart, and she was filled to the brim with an unimaginable joy.

More drinks were poured and Shepard listened to her crew joke and laugh as she leaned against the curve of her lover’s—no, her fiancé’s body. The Reapers would be here all too soon, but for tonight, that didn’t matter. All that did matter was the moment, and that they were here, alive, together.

Shepard caught Garrus’s eye and knew he felt the same.

“So, should we start calling you Vakarian instead of Shepard?” Joker interjected, his words slurred.

They all laughed at the quandary. Shepard couldn’t remember a time in her life when people didn’t refer to her by her surname, or Commander. She didn’t mind the sound of Garrus’s clan name, but wondered if she could really give up her own. “Jane” was out of the question; the last person to call her that had been laid flat by a vicious right hook.

“Inconceivable. Shepard will always be Shepard.” Mordin winked at her, raising his glass in salute.

She returned the gesture, grinning like a fool. “Call me Spartacus!” The alcohol was really settling in now.

“No, I am Spartacus!” Joker rose to his feet, spilling beer everywhere.

The human crew laughed themselves to tears while the non-humans looked at one another and shrugged.

Aliens; such odd creatures.
- 12
- 13
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Never Again