I do not own Characters, places, things or anything originating from Mass Effect line. They are the sole property of Bioware and it's affiliates.

"Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence" ~Vincent van Gogh

The wind was cool as it passed over him, the sun warmed him. The sound of the grasses on the high cliff whispered their reply to the softly crashing waves on the beach below in the eternal forbidden love between land and sea. He could smell the salt in the air, feel the soil beneath him warm and firm. His home lay minutes away, tucked into the hills with a view to the east of the Great City. He was most comfortable alone, though he was welcome within the walls of the city. He often traveled there and stayed with his father, but only for a few days. Even here he found it more peaceful away from the crowds of his people. In his heart he was alone in this place. Something, or someone tethered part of him to the world on the other side of the sea. It sounded like the sun and felt like the sea. I was warm and firm like the earth and soft like the tickle of the grass. It was both day and night, but there was no darkness there his sight could not penetrate.

As his mandibles spread in as smile at the thoughts, or dreams, or memory of a dream, the ground became harder and cold. The sun's light grew harsh and provided no comfort. The whispers were hisses and the crashing waves boomed like a great storm. The sky grew dark and he began to feel fear. He tried to sit, to open his eyes and run from whatever evil was coming toward him, but he could not move. The salt left the air and his tongue tasted metal in the air. A strong sterile scent replaced the fragrance of the grass. Then with a silence that echoed the sun's light was shut out and his world became darkness.

Nihlus opened his eyes. His water vision blurred the words stenciled in black on the white walls. The letters are not those of the turian language. His head pounded as if it would break. His heart ached as if it has never pumped blood. He felt weak and lifeless and his lungs stung when he took breath from the air. His body screamed it's protests as he sat up on the hard, cold surface on which he lay. His fingers felt numb as they dumbly attempted to grasp the edge of the table. He swung his legs slowly over the ledge and looked around to see where he was, for it was not where he was a moment ago. Though he could no more remember that than a dream from a lifetime ago. Nothing seemed familiar, yet he recognized the elongated hexagon painted on the walls. He heard breathing that wasn't his own and turned his head in that direction. A woman, human, with dark, piercing eyes that knew him in a creamy face with a halo of white hair. Her coral lips quivered above her stubborn chin. He would have called her 'angel' if not for the black uniform and yellow insignia that matched the symbol on the walls. His throat felt dry and weak when he tried to speak. The question came as a horse whisper that sounded gutturally from within him.

"Who... Who are you? Do... you... know me?"

"I do know you, Nihlus. I know you well." She answered.

He could hear the strain in her voice. She was holding back much. AS the soft sound of her voice translated into sorrow in his ears, he began to remember the pain that had taken his life and the woman he'd spared for his love's sake. He had been brought back as she had been. He looked at her again with the memories of his life. She was older and time had not been kind. Stress wore itself on her face with a deep sorrow feeding her muted joy. His heart ached for the pain unknown that she had suffered. And she was still with Cerberus. He wondered if she had not yet defeated the Collectors, if he had only missed a few months of life and her stress had been amplified by his absence and worry of his resurrection. He hoped it had been so short a time, though he dreaded the doubt that a few months along could wear her down so. The spirit of her was still alive, but it was wounded. Though she was still ever lovely in his eyes, her beauty had matured.

"Sonya?" He asked.

Her face lit up with the hope she must have held in reserve if he should not remember her. She ran to him and threw her arms around him forcing a grunt from him. It hurt, but it was a welcome pain and he returned her embrace more gently. The sweet scent of her that he remembered so fondly was faint and tainted by the tang of long sadness of heart.

"How long...?" He croaked. He could feel her tears wet his neck.

"Five years. There were... complications." She whispered.

Her breath on his skin was like a gentle breeze coming to him from the sea.

"Is everything... in tact?" He teased.

"Yes." She scoffed, smiling and wiping the tears from her eyes as she pulled away. "Is that all you can think to say after for years?"

She handed him a cup of water and he drank it thirstily. His throat felt refreshed by the liquid coolness.

"It's a lot to swallow. It will take me some time. Where are we? Are we still fighting the Collectors?"

"Hah," She half sighed half laughed. "We are safe. A lot has changed since those days on Illium." She warned and began the long explanation.

"I am still working with Cerberus, but the Normandy and her crew destroyed the Collectors long ago." She paused, searching his face and stared intently into his eyes. "The Reapers crossed out of Dark Space and slowly began what they meant to with Saren along the outer regions of the Terminus Systems. That was only a year ago. Since then the Citadel has been destroyed. The Council finally believed what I'd been telling them. They voted it to be a way to keep them from infiltrating the core of Citadel space, should they be able to reactivate the station. The Council is in hiding. The Alliance and Cerberus help each other, but remain separate forces. The Council races are working with the other species, including the raccni and the geth. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. We're still fighting. We've lost worlds. Earth was hit hard. As was Palavan and the asari worlds. There aren't many humans left."

"Sonya... I'm so sorry." He breathed.

"I've no tears left to cry. It's been a long five years.."

"Sonya..."

Nihlus got down slowly from the table. She rushed to aid him. He wrapped his arms around her, steadying himself against the table. She resisted at first. He could understand, but he wasn't going to let go. He felt her relax into him, then return the embrace with the strength of one who was surviving the destruction of life. He closed his eyes and held her.