A/N: I divided this story into arcs. It starts off serious, but soon becomes more light-hearted.

"Salvation": In which the Normandy returns to earth, Liara looking for her fallen lover and Joker finds that data rarely is completely lost…

"Revelation": One year after the end of the Reaper War, the old team is reunited aboard the GSV Normandy SR-3, a ship designed to serve as a symbol of unity. However, a seemingly mundane assignment turns to hell when an ancient conspiracy is uncovered and Shepard soon can't know who to trust anymore.

"Scars of the Soul": A prequel to Revelation, in which Kelly gets over her pain and finds a new meaning of life in Samantha's arms.

"Measure of a Woman": In which Joker once again has to fear losing EDI, when she is accused of being a security risk, simply by being an AI.

"Trinity": In which Shepard marries Liara, but the Stag/Hens Parties don't go as planned…

Make your choice.

Shepard stared at the construct before him. The cycle had to be ended. Forever. If there was to be peace, he would have to let it be. Merge Synthetics and Organics. He stepped forwards toward the beam and got ready to jump in. To give up himself, for the galaxy.

The only hope of survival is to join with them. My way is the only way any of us will survive. I'm forging an alliance between us and the Reapers, between organics and machines. Look at me. I am your future. Flesh and Steel united, with the strengths of both and the weaknesses of none.

No! A past vision of Saren flashed before his eyes. This is what he would have done. Shepard would not. Synthesis was not the solution. It was surrender. Shepard recoiled. He made his way towards the blue beam. The reapers were so useful. They could rebuild the galaxy. Repair the damage.

I can control them. Humanity can ascend through them. You just have to trust me.

The Illusive Man had said these words just minutes ago. Shepard would never give himself in to the Reapers. Only one choice was left. He walked around the structure, to the Destruction Conduit.

Dead Reapers are how we win this.

Hackett had been right. There was no other way. Shepard had to think of EDI, of the Geth. EDI was special, maybe she could survive. But the Geth? They would not. Shepard felt the helplessness build up inside him. Despair in a strength which he had not known for ages clouded his mind. He fought it.

EDI, Legion, Friends, Comrades, I have fought along, I salute you. I apologise for this decision.

Shepard stood in front of the beam. One final thought:

Shepherd, save thy sheep.

Then, he fired his pistol. The conduit exploded and he was thrown back. A glance of the Normandy speeding away was the last thing he saw. The sudden darkness did not bring absolution.

Shepard awoke on a beach, the sea water flowing around his head. Anderson held him a hand. Shepard stood up. He looked at Anderson, perplexed. The old man spoke to him: "Son, was this really the solution? Destroying the reapers? Offered the choice, this could have been so much more."

Shepard looked at the Admiral immediately. This was not Anderson. Anderson wouldn't want to control them. It was just a dream, a dying dream, one last bow to his life. As he realised the place he was, his own mind, the imposter left the shape of the Admiral and returned into his true, dreadful state. A reaper, Harbinger. Shepard reached for his pistol and shot, desperately wanting to slay the giant one last time. The single shot hit the illusion and the world started to shake. The beach disappeared, giving way into an oblivion below. Shepard held onto a rim that had remained, but it too crumbled. Ashley stood there, the Avatar of Shepard's pain. "You let me die. I wanted a life with Kaidan and you took it from me." The last straw. Stricken from the despair that had filled his reality, boiling over with pain, he let go. He fell into the abyss.

But from farthest reaches of his consciousness reached someone else. Fighting against the darkness and the despair. A familiar melody sounded, he had danced with Liara to. The memory of her kept him clinging to life.

Don't die, Shepard. The war ended and there was still a Galaxy left to save after all.

The oblivion heated up as the wreckage Shepard's body was in was re-entering the atmosphere.

This all ended today, Shepard. I want old age and little blue babies with you.

The Oblivion froze over again. He was close to the ground, and what he felt was the wind-chill of Earth's atmosphere.

I love you, Shepard. I love you.

The floor came closer. He had fallen so far, but he would not fall further than Earth.

I love you too, Liara. I love you so muc…

Impact. Darkness.