A response to this prompt over on ME Kink:

I'm in need of some love. I'd like a fill with lots of it - FemShep and the love of her life. They can be on a date, a vacation, just being together at night, whatever... I just want to feel the powerful unbreakable soulmate type love.

Thane is my preferred LI but not required. Sexytimes welcome but also optional; if they're in there, I'd prefer a tender type love scene. Help me, kinkmeme, you're my only hope!

This is my first prompt fill. I hope you guys enjoy it!

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Part One

Thane Krios wasn't typically a rude man. In fact, he prided himself on his infinite patience and his innate ability in controlling his emotions. But now, he ignored the angry shouts and protests of the other patrons as he pushed his way through the crowded hallways of the hospital. Today, they were only obstacles blocking his path to his destination.

The drell's nerves were on edge. This was the first time in months that he'd been out amongst people since awakening in the STG base on Sur'kesh. For months, he'd sat in his hospital bed, watching extranet news vids as the war waged on without him, while his beloved Siha marched on at the forefront of it all like the warrior-angel that he knew she was.

His Siha. She was why he was here, why he had come to Earth and was fighting his way through the throngs of people as he made his way to the information desk. Thane had spent every waking moment trying to find her, to tell her that he was alive. And, most importantly, to feel her, and to see for himself that she was alive.

Thane had never expected to feel this way about anyone again, let alone a human, since his wife's death. He had committed so many wrongs in his life that he was sure he was destined to continue the remainder of his life alone, lost in his battle-sleep. But Kaelyn Shepard had, quite literally, stormed into his life, all chestnut colored hair, and fiery emerald eyes as her lithe body buzzed with biotic energy. She was pure, raw energy, and he had been lost.

Somehow, the Goddess Arashu had deemed him worthy and had sent him another Siha. Not only had she helped him save his son, and not only had she reawakened him from his battle-sleep, but she had also reawakened a part of his soul that he had long since buried.

The moment he had regained consciousness, his mind, and memories, had been consumed with her. One in particular he wished he could rid himself of was of the last time he had set eyes on her beautiful face.

It had been right before his soul had departed from his body. It had torn his heart apart to see his warrior-angel looking so broken, so defeated as she watched him struggle to breathe. All because of him; because he had been not been fast enough to best the Cerberus assassin, thanks to his weakened, dying lungs.

Thane never wanted to see that look on her face again. A face as lovely as that should only ever smile. And, if he had it his way, he would spend the rest of his life making her smile.

Tracking her whereabouts had not been an easy process. The crucible's blast had not only taken out most of the relays, but a lot of the comm buoys had also gone down in its wake as well.

When he'd heard the rumors that she had been killed on the Citadel when the Crucible went off, his entire world shattered around him. He felt like everything he had gone through to make it back to her had been in vain.

A few weeks ago, however, he'd finally managed to get a connection through to Feron, who, in turn, connected him with Liara. The relief he had felt when she had informed him that his Siha was indeed alive and being kept at a hospital in London, had brought him to his knees.

Liara forwarded him all of the information she had on Shepard's location and her condition. She'd even gone as far as to arrange transportation for him, promising to make sure his name was added to the approved visitors list.

"You don't sound that surprised to hear from me," he had noted, staring at the flickering image of the Shadow Broker.

She gave a soft, sly smile. "Perks of being in my position. I was aware of Mordin's offer, but thanks to the war, I wasn't certain his team had been successful. I'm very much pleased to see they were." she paused, her biting her lip. "Kaelyn still thinks you're dead, Thane. Your death...well, it nearly broke her."

Mordin had approached Thane with his idea to use the Lazarus Project to repair his ruined lungs shortly after the Alliance had taken his Siha into custody. The salarian had been upfront with him from the beginning that the procedure would be a gamble, so he had decided that it would be best not to tell anyone. He hadn't wanted to get Shepard's or Kolyat's hopes up in the event that the experiment wasn't a success. His Siha had enough to worry about.

But it had been the resilience of Mordin's team, lead by his nephew, Jarik, that had given him back his ability to breathe easily again. The only thing he wanted more was to have his Siha in his arms.

The asari nurse rolled tired, azure eyes up to him and offered him a weak smile. The war had been over for months. The reapers had been destroyed, but the effects were still being felt galaxy wide. "How can I help you, Sere?" she asked when he'd finally reached the desk.

"I'm looking for Kaelyn Shepard," he said, voice low. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself or to Shepard.

Those piercing blue eyes immediately turned suspicious, and her lips thinned out in a hard line. "Name?"

Hoping Liara had come through for him, he took a deep breath. He still wasn't quite used to it yet, not feeling the razor sharp pain slicing through his lungs. "Krios. Thane Krios."

The nurse cocked an eyebrow as she typed the name into the computer, continuing to eye the drell skeptically. "Word has it that you were killed on the Citadel during the Cerberus coup."

Thane's lips quirked as he uttered the very first words he had ever heard his Siha speak. "I got better."

She snorted and glanced down at the computer screen. "Do you know how many people have tried to get in to see Commander Shepard?" she asked. "Mostly reporters and over-zealous fans. We had this one guy - Verner, I think his name was - come in twice. First he came in claiming to be her brother. When that didn't work, he came in a few days later claiming to be her husband."

Thane bristled. He knew quite well the obsession Conrad Verner had with his Siha. Though he didn't believe the man's intentions were that of malice, but he wasn't so fond of the alternative either.

"Ah, Krios, there you are," her smile returned as she handed him a slip of paper with a floor and room number. "I should warn you. She has guards posted at all times, so you might be met with some resistance."

He nodded, feeling the slightest bit better that she had been protected whilst here. "My thanks."

Kaelyn was just two floors above him. It had been so long since he'd last laid eyes on his beautiful Siha. His heart began pounding rapidly in his chest as nervousness and apprehension began to settle over him.

"She still thinks you're dead, Thane," Liara had said. "Your death nearly broke her."

What would she do? What would she say when she found out he had returned from Kalahira's shores? Would she be angry that he had kept such a monumental secret from her? Kolyat had been furious at first, but it had quickly been replaced with relief and understanding.

Thane's breath quickened as the elevator's doors slid open. This area of the hospital was far less crowded, much to his relief. As he neared her room, a familiar figure sat perched outside of the door and he felt a smile play across his lips, pleased to see the one person he trusted most with his Siha's life, as well as his own.

The figure looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, releasing a trill of surprise. "Thane?" the flanging voice of Garrus Vakarian met the drell's ears, shock and disbelief emitted from his subharmonics. The turian stood from his chair, his posture guarded.

It only made Thane's smile widen. "They told me Kaelyn had guards posted at all times. I should have known you would be one of them. I am pleased that my Siha's safety was never in jeopardy." he paused, extending his hand. "It's good to see you again."

Garrus hesitated only a moment before accepting the gesture. "How-" he stopped, shaking his head and huffed a laugh. "Mordin?"

The drell gave a swift nod. "Indeed," he glanced nervously towards the door behind his friend. "He used some of Cerberus' plans from the Lazarus Project. Well, Mordin's nephew and his team. We were not certain the procedure would be successful. I...I did not want to get her hopes up."

Garrus huffed in understanding. "Well, this is...unexpected." he looked the drell over with a nod. "It's good to see you, too." he gestured towards the door behind him. "She's been in and out since we found her."

It was Thane's turn to nod. Liara had sent him detailed reports on Shepard's condition. She'd had to undergo numerous surgeries to repair broken bones and essential organs, including a lung transplant of her own. Thane shook his head, trying to rid himself of the horrible images that had been sent along with the reports.

"I've spoken to Liara. She is the one who informed me of Kaelyn's location."

"Of course she did."

With a nod, Thane started to take a step towards the door, eager to finally see his love at long last, but Garrus immediately blocked his path. The drell raised an eyebrow ridge in confusion.

The turian held up his hands. "I'm not going to stop you from seeing her," he insisted. "I would never do that. But, when you died, it killed a piece of her, Thane. You didn't have to see her after…" he paused, his piercing blue eyes growing distant in memory. "afterwards." he gave a heavy sigh. "It's going to be a shock to her, that's all. And in her condition…"

Thane stepped forward and grasped his friend's shoulder, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "I appreciate everything you've done for her, Garrus. I can never repay you for that. What I can do is promise that she will never have to go through that again. Not from me."

Garrus nodded his head in acceptance. "I'm pretty sure she's still asleep but, go on in. I'll be right out here if you need anything."

Taking a deep breath, Thane stepped forward and quietly entered the room.