Well I'm back at the end again and wish wish wish there was more! It won't let me post on the last chapter so am reviewing here instead. I'm hoping that maybe now is a good time to play through all the MEs again (we've just done that this year) and that there will be more to come - I'm sure I am not alone in hoping that this story will be finished. Then if you by any chance wanted to write something set during or after ME2 or ME3 then you would have a dedicated reader! All the best and looking forward to reading more at some point in the future.

I think this chapter is one of my favourites - I really like the idea of the face painting being so personal and the tradition behind it. It's a lovely idea and is captured in such a great way.

Love the description of the turian vid, it's very believable. Feel like I am sat on the couch watching it! I like it when a fanfic captures the moments that we don't see in the original and this fic really does this well.

I know that the last time you updated this story was in 2018 but I just wanted to leave a review to say how brilliant it is and how smooth your writing style is - it flows really well and the characters seem to jump off the page. I read this all the way through several months ago, along with your other fic and just love them. I'm on a re-read at the moment and just wanted to share some nice review vibes! Thanks for writing this and if you can write more that would be AWESOME.

Love your stories! I've read all of the Shakarian ones you wrote and they are marvelous, spot on characterization, well written, and absolutely engaging. It's 4 am though so that's all my brain has. If you're still writing at all in 2020, major kudos and I hope you chat with you someday.

Just marathoned this in two days, it's so delightful and you've captured them SO well

I just want to review to say thank you so much for writing this, and your other two Shekarian stories, I have read all of them now and absolutely love them. You're a great writer!

I think the format of Shepard, You've Got Mail is genius and works really well but this continues the story in a seamless way, you have a real way with words and the characters that make a reader feel like they are there! I think your characterisation is great and it really feels believable.

I know you haven't updated for a while but please do finish the story (and write more set through ME2!) as I would love to hear the rest. I've read your stories nonstop for the last few days and I'm sure there are lots of other readers who can't wait to read more.

I really liked that and the previous series "Commander Shepard, You've Got Mail". I hope you plan on finishing this, I loved it (read both of them in one day instead of working...). Wish that RL won't keep you from writing :)

Welcome back! I look forward to seeing how this lovely story turns out - and how you've grown as a writer since it went on hiatus. Keep it up!

Man this story is amazing. It stuck out in my memory, so I've ended up reading it multiple times and just had to stop and say thank you! I've loved the build up and story.

I’ve stumbled upon your work this week and I love your writing style and the story you’ve created! The way you write makes it so easy to visualize your work. It’s fantastic!

Omg YES YES YES this is one of my all time favourite fics to date, i'm SO SO SO happy to see an update!

Great fic

That was lovely and wonderful. They're perfect.
Another fantastic chapter from you. Thank you for sharing. This is still my favorite ME fic to date.
I'm so glad you've continued.

Ok, so what a ride. I DEVOURED this. Every moment I could, I was reading it... on breaks from work, while eating my breakfast, on my commute.

I really appreciate how you've characterised them. At this stage, it's definitely deviated from canon a bit (I don't think ME2 would be quite the same with this amount of close moments/intimacy) but it's absolutely still in-character and believable.

You're great at writing the little things, and the little touches. Their rapport and banter flows so naturally, it's lovely to read, and I've actually had to stop myself laughing out loud at several stages. Are we ever going to get some insight into their drunken blackout?

The Kaidan/Shep side plot is certainly intriguing and quite well done. You haven't bashed Kaidan's character to death like most Garrus/Shep fics. It makes me very interested to see you write the rest of the crew! Their jealousy of romantic interests and confusion is well written.

Even your Joker was great for the short time he was there.

The two cases they worked on together for C-Sec while interesting, were a bit hard to know what to think - which I think was your point given the conversation Jane instigated in the next chapter. I mean, if he's supposed to be in C-Sec, she shouldn't be bending rules like that. Then again, Garrus is right, there were people to be saved and an urgency. Great points on both sides.

Other parts I've loved: calming her down about Ash, the stones, Garrus' paints, the movies I LOVE THE MOVIES, everything to be honest.

Only thing I wasn't sure of was the Ashley statue - not sure I can believe Shepard would react that way. She is a soldier. But I'm open minded on it so it's not a big no while reading..

Anyway, my utter surprise when I saw you're updating! Please keep on doing that, you're writing a great story here.

My only real wish is this: that it speeds up slightly, I know nothing is gonna happen before ME2 and so it's hard now 22 chapters later to still stay as enthusiastic. I want to see their reunion post death and I very much want to see them interact with the new-but-same Garrus. Hoping some of his hero worship (not the respect, which is great) he has for Shepard decreases and they can be on a more even level. I'm dreading her death and his reaction to be quite honest.

I'll stop talking now! Great fic so far, I'll be looking forward to your update.

CN.