A/N: A bit of a short one, I know, but it was incredibly hard to write. I had to comb it three times before I could even call it finished. As always, R&R because you love me.

Shepard rolled out of an empty bed the next morning. He glanced around the room anxiously, wondering where Tali had gone. It was to his massive relief to find her sitting on his couch, playing with her fingers in her usual nervous fashion.

"Good morning, Tali." He said drearily, "How long have you been up?"

"Not long." She stated as she quickly stood up, still playing with her hands. "I think we need to talk."

Shepard froze. After being so vulnerable last night, Shepard wouldn't be surprised if Tali found him weak and didn't want to be with him. Not to mention that last night had been a massive jump to start off their brand new relationship. Perhaps too fast.

"About last night…" She started, "I need to ask you, where is this going?"

"What do you mean?"

Tali sighed, "I mean where are we going, Shepard."

The ambiguity didn't help with his nerves, "What are you talking about Tali?"

"I don't know much about human relationships, so I need to know where we stand. You know that Quarians almost never own anything for themselves; everything we have is used to benefit the fleet in some way. So when one of us does find a mate, someone to call "ours", we want them to stay with us… for life. I don't know how lightly humans take the word "love" but Quarians value it very highly. So when you say you want to be with me, it might be different than what you think it might mean, so… um…"

Shepard began to smile. He knew that a few well-placed words would put this all at ease, "Tali, I want to be with you. There really is not "set way" for humans to be in a relationship, but I can't see myself with anyone besides you anyway."

Tali seemed to relax a bit at this, "That's very sweet, Shepard. But if you want someone closer to home, someone human, I wouldn't blame you."

"Ehh, Quarian girls are much more beautiful than human girls anyway."

Tali was obviously blushing behind her visor, at least, as far as Shepard could tell, "You have no way of knowing that."

Shepard smirked, "I can hazard a guess."

"Shepard, I'm trying to be serious."

"Who says I'm joking?"

Tali could only sigh, "Just, listen. About… Love." She started, "It's a really big thing to say on the first day, and I don't want us to rush into this. I want us to work."

Shepard took her hands in his and smiled sincerely, "I understand Tali. We can take it as slowly as you like. I want this as much as you do."

"Thank you." Was her only reply, and after a bit more awkward but well-meaning banter, Tali eventually left to start her day, leaving Shepard to his independent thoughts.

He began to poke at his omni-tool in order to call Garrus. When the Turian picked up, however, all Shepard heard was static.

"Garrus? Garrus I've got a lot to talk about and-"

"Shepard! Now isn't the time, I've got some trouble down here myself with your Asian theif!"

Shepard could hear a struggle at the other end of the call, "Give me that! Shepard, what did you do to Tali? She didn't come back from your cabin last night! So help me god Shep!"

Shepard sighed, "Goodbye Garrus. Goodbye Kasumi."

With that, he hung up. Even though he had the greatest girl in the galaxy, Shepard could tell that the rest of today would be a massive headache. And he didn't care in the slightest.