Shepard sighed.

She didn't really know what to think about the fleet that was right in front of her. Coordinating a fleet from the Citadel seemed to be a difficult task, but she had done the impossible already.

She looked to her right and saw Garrus speaking with a turian commander.

She looked to her left and saw Tali speaking with another quarian.

"Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Rannoch," Shepard smiled and walked towards her.

Tali's long hair flowed past her shoulders, her sharp clear eyes open in excitement, "Shepard. I'm glad you let me be a part of this."

Shepard grinned, "Tali, I couldn't do this without you. I didn't feel like the krogan and turians would be enough. They've amassed quite an army in preparation for our arrival." Shepard pulled out her omni-tool. "The entire salarian fleet, the batarian Hegemony, Sedeiris' private army of mechs and she's corrupted the yagh."

"Keelah, she's that influential? What's the population of Parnack?"

Shepard shrugged, "I'm not sure, but the Reapers left them alone. They didn't want to tango with those bastards, so I'm assuming there are enough to make us worried. Plus, thanks to our Shadow Broker, I've learned the army on Sur'Kesh rises by the day. Last I heard, there was 7.3 billion willing to fight for their Daltrass."

Tali grinned, placing her hands behind her back,"Well regardless of the odds, Shepard, the Flotilla, and the Heavy Fleet are behind you."

Shepard smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "I appreciate it, Tali." She turned to Garrus, "What's the status on those cruisers?"

Garrus chuckled, "About four hours late."

"Damn it," Shepard mumbled, "Any word from Wrex?"

Garrus checked his omni-tool, forwarding a message to his wife, "He said the shaman held some kind of ritual for all the soldiers before letting them loose."

She cocked an eyebrow as she read the details, "Ritual?"

"In case they don't make it."

Shepard sighed, "I hate throwing them back in the fire, Garrus, but we needed the krogan."

He placed his talon around her waist, "Shepard, Wrex understands. Bakara understands. Please, don't worry."

She smiled and looked at her omni-tool, reading an incoming message from Liara. She pulled up the video.

"Shepard, it's Liara." She seemed out of breath, pale, rushing.

Shepard gently pulled away from Garrus, slipping her headphones in.

"Liara, what's going on?"

"I'm being hunted by that crazy asari. The few sources I have left are looking into it, trying to pinpoint her location, but she was able to hack into my database."

"Liara, you need to get the hell over here. Sederis won't go after you if she knows what's good for her."

Liara seemed to laugh, "Yeah, okay, Shepard. You may have stopped the Reapers, but another war is brewing and she's leading it. She apparently is very persuasive."

Shepard grinned, "Well let's put a bullet in her skull. It's very simple, Liara. Just get here as soon as possible."

"Right."

"Shepard out."

Garrus seemed to be raising an eyebrow plate and Shepard glanced at him.

"What?"

"So...you two have made up?" His voice was low.

She rolled her eyes, "No reason to hold grudges, Garrus. I'm already 30-something. I think."

He smiled and kissed her head, "Whatever you say, Commander."

Admiral Hackett appeared before the group with James Vega and Steve Cortez. The two soldiers stepped next to Shepard and Garrus glared at James.

"Commander Shepard, I believe that it's my right to repossess you of your ship, considering I'm the Alliance Admiral here."

Shepard smiled, walking towards the blue-eyed man, extending her hand. "Thank you Admiral."

He smiled back at her, "I also came here to tell you that after this war is over, I'm stepping down and giving you my position."

"Admiral, sir? Are you sure I'm qualified?" Shepard balked.

Hackett scoffed, "Shepard, if I had any say in this, you'd be running the damned Alliance, but since that position strips you of actual hands-on duty, I figured Admiral is your best bet. You still get to shoot things, just with bigger guns and a fleet."

Shepard chuckled and nodded, "Admiral, I'd be honored."

Garrus slipped his three awkward talons between her fingers and she squeezed his talon.

"Primarch of Palaven and SpectreAdmiral Shepard."

She grinned, "I've been Commander for over three years. I guess it's time for a change."

Hackett nodded, "I'll be leaving to coordinate the fleets, Shepard. Let me know when it's time for battle, Admiral."

As soon as Hackett disappeared down the walkway, Garrus leaned in to kiss her.

"Admiral Shepard sounds pretty, uhm, sexy."

She rolled her eyes, "Primarch Vakarian, are you trying to seduce me?"

"Until it works. I honestly can't wait until we get back on the Normandy, Shepard. The things we can do in your Captain's cabin."

Shepard rolled her eyes and pulled him closer. "Now you're talking."

Tali rolled her eyes and whistled before exclaiming loudly, "Hey, bosh'tets, get a room!"

"As soon as we're able, Tali," Garrus mumbled, glancing back at the quarian.

The Normandy was docked, shiny and brand new.

"SR-3?" Shepard asked quietly and Garrus nodded.

"It's apparently even bigger. Joker's still flying, of course. So it's not all that different."

Shepard looked down, "Except everyone I've been with from the beginning have their own fleets to command."

Garrus smiled sadly, "Things change, Shepard. But I'll be there, with you, until the end."

"There's still no Shepard without Vakarian, huh?"

Garrus wrapped his talon around her waist, "Not a chance in Hell."

A/N: Oh I'm sad.

This is it, my lovelies. This is the final chapter. I will be starting a new story, a prequel to Unraveling and Perseverance. It will expand through all three games, with deleted scenes and new missions, but beginning on Mindoir with Shepard's teenage years and perhaps even Garrus' teenage years on Palaven.

I love you all. Thank you for reading and keeping up with this story. It means so much to me, knowing it's entertaining you.

Please, if there are any requests I can fulfill, PM me and I'll write you anything. :)

BrokenEmber