"So your scars fade away, you've soaked up the pain

A better person 'cause you lived through those days

And now you know what it's like to prove

You can overcome anything that gets to you

Well, it's all right, we're sayin' our goodbyes

To the past and everything that ain't right

We won't waste another day

With all these silly things in our way"

No Giving Up – Crossfade

Six Months Later

"Shepard!" Joker peered through the gloom, choking on the dust. He took one careful step after another, wading through the rubble. "Shepard!"

Joker heard something up ahead, and picked up his pace. His foot struck an obstacle and he stumbled, but caught himself before he fell. Glancing down, he saw that what he'd tripped over was a corpse. It grinned up at him through a ruined face. He tore his gaze away and called again, "Shepard!"

"Jeff!" He could make out a silhouette through the murkiness, and relief coursed through him. She was still alive! He hurried toward her location, stopping ten steps away. Shepard stood, covered in blood, staring at him blankly.

"It's okay, Shepard. I came to get you, just like I said that I would." Joker took a step forward, but she took a corresponding one in reverse. It was then that he realized they were standing on a metal platform, high above a fathomless void. He took another step, and she once again backed away.

"I'm here, Shep," Joker told her, extending his hand. "Just hold on to me. I won't let you go." One last step, and she teetered on the edge of the precipice. She glanced down, over the edge, and then back at Joker.

"I'm sorry," Shepard said as she stepped into empty space.

"No!"

Joker jolted awake, heart racing. The bedroom was quiet in the pre-dawn dimness. He must not have cried out loud, because he hadn't woken Shepard or Hope. Shepard slept on her side, facing away from him. He slid closer and reached for her with a trembling hand. She murmured and stirred, settling into his embrace, and Joker planted a soft kiss on her bare shoulder. She must have felt him quivering, because she turned her head, eyes seeking his.

"The dream again?" Shepard inquired with concern, and Joker nodded. She lifted the hand that was wrapped around her waist to her lips, kissed it gently, and then pulled his arm more tightly around her. He held her until his tremors subsided and the remnants of the nightmare dissipated.

He'd been having the same dream for months. He didn't need a shrink to interpret it for him – it was blatant in its symbolism. During one of their sessions, Camille had asked, "What scares you the most?" Shepard had pondered briefly, and then replied, "Not being able to protect the people that I love." Joker hadn't had to think about his answer. "The thought of losing Shepard for good."

They'd continued with the therapy, even after the counselor had signed off on Hackett's paperwork. Their mild-mannered therapist had stunned them both by turning out to be part drill sergeant. She'd returned to the room after their little blow-out and had said, "I know that you're both soldiers, and you're used to using violence to resolve conflict, but that's the last time I'm going to tolerate it in this office. Got it?"

They'd both nodded meekly, chastised.

"Good." Camille had nodded briskly. "So, this is your homework. Commander, you're going to speak to your doctors and physical trainers about the difficulties that you're having. You're a strong, relatively-healthy young woman, and there's no reason that you can't recover most, or all, of your functioning with some effort. And I don't get the impression that you're the kind of person who shrinks from hard work, are you?"

"No."

"Okay, then. You owe it to yourself and to the people who depend upon you to take care of yourself. If your treatment plan isn't working for you, then it can be modified, but ignoring the problem is no longer an option. Understood?"

Shepard had nodded her agreement.

"Right. Now, about the argument you had here today – both of your viewpoints are valid. Lieutenant, you have to let Shepard grieve in her own way, and in her own time. Although you feel like you understand what she's been through, you don't – not really. You each experienced the same events in different ways. If she feels like she's going to be judged for her emotions, she's going to pull away from you. And I know you don't want that, now do you?"

"No," Joker had said, guiltily. "I'm sorry."

Shepard's hand had snaked into his, and when he'd glanced up, she'd given him an encouraging smile, which he'd returned gratefully.

"And Shepard, even though you're mourning the loss of your friends, you need to take some time each day to appreciate what you still have, including a partner and child who love you. Some of your friends did survive the war, no?"

"Yes."

"Okay. You need to utilize your support network. You don't have to share all of your innermost thoughts and feelings, but I would like you to socialize a bit. I want you to try to focus on what you've retained rather than on what you've lost. Understand?"

Shepard had nodded one last time.

"Fantastic. Then I'll see you next week. Oh, and make sure you get that arm looked at, hmm?" she'd admonished Joker, who'd been instinctively cradling the injured limb against his chest.

Camille had refrained from authorizing Shepard's transfer to active leave until she'd been sure that the commander was following her "recommendations." For her part, Shepard hadn't walked out of Camille's office that day healed, but she'd certainly been galvanized. At James' suggestion, she'd started attending physical therapy with him. Lance brooked no nonsense from either of them, and Vega and Shepard pushed each other just by their mutual presence. Everything turned into a competition, and they both hated to lose. Lance and Steve had become an official item, and the therapist had proven himself to be a charming and welcome addition to their social group.

There were rustling noises from the crib as Hope began to stir, and Joker said, "I'll get her."

"Okay. I'll go warm a bottle." Gracing his cheek with a quick peck, Shepard crawled out from under the covers and zipped on her hoodie as Joker lifted the baby out of her prison.

"Hey there, Peanut." James' nickname for her had stuck. "How are you this morning?"

Hope gurgled and cooed as she tried to grab his nose, and Joker made sure to hold her beyond arm's reach. Her tiny, uncoordinated fingers were just as likely to end up in your eye, or up your nostril, as on her intended target.

Joker changed her and settled onto the bed with the baby on his lap just as Shepard came back into the room juggling a bottle along with two mugs of coffee. Being Commander Shepard entitled her to some luxury provisions, and coffee was one of them. Although, as parents of an infant, it was more of a necessity than an extravagance. She handed Joker the bottle and settled next to them, gently brushing a few wisps of hair back from her daughter's brow. The baby latched on and guzzled greedily, eyeing them both curiously.

"So, what do you think of being a dad so far?" Shepard asked, softly.

"Well, if you're overly fond of sleeping, it doesn't have much to recommend it. But other than that, I'd say it's pretty cool."

"She's amazing, isn't she?"

"She's perfect. She gets that from you."

Shepard snorted. "She howls like a banshee when she wants something."

"Yeah, well, she gets that from you, too."

Shepard punched him playfully, and Joker laughed. Mimicking him, the baby grinned, causing milk to drool out of the corners of her mouth. As corny as it was, he lived for these moments – just the three of them, together as a family. And there were increasingly more of them these days, for which he was eternally grateful. In addition to the counseling and physical therapy, Shepard's pain medications had been adjusted to a level where she could be comfortable, yet still function. That, along with a mild antidepressant, had made a world of difference. She still had her bad days, when the physical or emotional pain won the battle, but overall, she now seemed to be winning the war.

"Your terminal was blinking," Shepard told Joker as Hope finished eating and started to squirm. "Your sister, maybe?"

"Probably," he replied, handing the baby to her so that he could take a sip of his now lukewarm coffee. "Are you nervous about today?"

Shepard shrugged. "Not nervous, exactly. Apprehensive? It's going to be emotional."

"Yeah. But you'll do great."

She gave him a grateful smile as he rose and carried his mug into the living room. She followed with the baby in her arms. Joker sat at the table and opened his messages as Shepard settled onto the floor with Hope.

Hey Bro –

Thanks for the new holos of Hope. She's so damn cute. She has a mischievous twinkle in those sparkling green eyes of hers, though – can't imagine where that might have come from! You and Sam are going to have your hands full someday, if you don't already. I attached some new ones of Lucy. She's growing like a weed. The boys have gotten over the novelty of having a little sister, and pretty much just ignore her now. I can't wait to meet my niece someday, and for you to meet yours.

I understand what you're saying about Mom and Dad, but I'm not ready to give up hope yet. I can't help but think about how much Mom would love to know that she has not one, but two, granddaughters to spoil! She loved (loves, Jules, loves) the boys, don't get me wrong, but she would be ecstatic over Lucy and Hope, don't you think?

I know that today is the big day, and we'll all be watching and cheering for you from here. You know that I've always been so proud of you, and you and Sam have earned this honor, without a doubt. Have you decided whether or not you're going to stay in the Alliance? I, for one, would not be sad if you retired, but you have to do what's best for you.

I love you for saying that you want to wait to get married until we can all be together, but if you get impatient, I want you to know that I'll understand. They keep saying that the relays will be back online soon, but who knows? You can't put your life on hold forever. We've all learned that lesson the hard way.

Say hi to Sam. Hugs and kisses to you all,

Jules

Joker took another sip of his coffee and pondered his response before hitting reply. He glanced toward the living room, where Shepard was lying on the floor with her knees tucked up to her chin, their daughter balanced across her legs, facedown. Hope enjoyed "flying" this way, and it had the added benefit of strengthening the "flyer's" recovering abdominal muscles at the same time. Of course, the disadvantage was that the "flyer" also occasionally ended up covered in spit up. It wasn't the best game for after mealtimes.

Shepard felt his gaze on them and smiled at him, upside down. "Say hi to daddy," she encouraged the baby, moving her legs so that Hope swooped from side to side. Hope giggled wildly, and Joker smiled in response.

"Hey, baby," he said. "Make sure you buckle up. Mommy's a terrible pilot."

Shepard stuck her tongue out at him and Hope giggled again. Joker didn't know how much she understood, but she certainly seemed to find her parents amusing. He turned his attention back to his message.

Hey Sis,

If you want to hold out hope about Mom and Dad, then I'm certainly not going to tell you otherwise. But it's been almost a year, and it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't have tried to reach one of us in all that time if they were still alive. But you never know. You can't imagine the devastation here unless you see it for yourself. Millions dead, many of them unaccounted for. It's been really hard for Shepard to see her home this way. Like it was for me seeing Arcturus, I guess. Shepard tells me that where we are now – London – was once a beautiful and historic city. Now it's just rubble. But the survivors are resilient, and they're rebuilding, just like they are everywhere. That's all that any of us can do.

We're both still officially in the Alliance – we're on leave, and have been since the war ended. This means that we get pay and benefits, but don't have to work. It's a pretty sweet deal, if you can get it. But it won't last forever. I have no intention of going back to active duty. I love flying, but hate the politics. And I've seen enough fighting to last me a lifetime. They offered me a position as a flight instructor, but I don't know. Until the relays open, it would be just local hops. That would be like hiring a gourmet chef to work at a fast-food restaurant. They don't need someone like me for that.

I don't think Shepard will escape so easily, however. They would make her High Priestess Grand Poobah Elite Ruler of the Universe, if she only asked, and I don't think the Alliance will let her go without a fight. The most likely scenario is they'll offer her a promotion - with high visibility, little responsibility and lots of pay - and that would be fine with me. But it's up to her. Physically, she'll never be cleared for combat again, but I think she's as okay with that as I am with not flying anymore. It's time for a new chapter in our lives, one where we don't have to worry about getting killed on a daily basis.

Yes, the memorial ceremony is today. Your brother is getting a Star of Terra – can you believe that shit? And, of course, Shepard's going to be honored, along with the rest of the Normandy's crew. I'm not one for a big hullabaloo, but this is a pretty big deal. Hope you're able to watch.

As far as the wedding goes, don't worry. We've talked about it, and we're willing to wait. It's not going to be anything extravagant, but we want you guys there. We're in no hurry. Hope and Shep and I have all the time in the world. And the unofficial official word is that the relays will be back up soon. So hang in there.

I love you, too, sis. See you soon,

Jeff

Joker sat back with a sigh and reread the message before hitting "send." He knew that he really shouldn't be dropping hints about the relays, since it wasn't public knowledge yet, but he trusted his sister not to spread rumors. Liara had informed them that the Sol relay was 90% operational already. The problem was that the relays worked in a series, and one active relay was no good without the connecting ones. The scientists and engineers were confident that they would be able to get the whole network functioning again, but they didn't want to raise expectations prematurely. Things were already tense with the various alien races waiting - with dwindling patience - for the day when they could go home. It was understandable, but it created a combustible situation, nonetheless.

"We should probably start getting ready," Shepard said, reluctantly. "James and Steve will be here soon."

"I'll get Hope dressed while you get ready, and then you can take her," Joker offered, and she nodded in agreement, handing the baby to him. They went into the bedroom and Shepard pulled on her dress blues – new uniforms had been furnished specifically for this special occasion. Joker bundled Hope into a fleece jumpsuit with a hood. They'd had a cute dress for her to wear, but the day had dawned damp and dreary - not unusual for winter in London - and warmth took precedence over fashion. He was just tying his shoes when there was a knock on the door. Shepard opened it and admitted Cortez and Vega, both looking groomed and polished. A solemn hush fell over the room as they realized that this was the first time they'd all been together, in uniform, since before the final battle. Then Hope screeched impatiently and broke the tension.

"C'mere, Peanut," James said, holding the baby while Shepard got her wrapped in a blanket and stuffed into her carrier. Hope started to fuss at all the poking and prodding until James strapped her to his massive chest. Mollified, she immediately began trying to poke her fingers into his mouth. He pretended to munch on them, making "nom nom nom" noises, and she giggled.

They started out the door but then Shepard said, "Hold on!" She disappeared into the bedroom, and quickly returned with Garrus' visor, which she slipped into Hope's diaper bag. "All right. Let's do this thing." They all headed out into the cold.

Hackett met them at the memorial. "Commander. Lieutenants," he greeted them. They saluted and he returned the gesture. "The remaining crew of the Normandy will be seated on the stage," the admiral informed them, gesturing to a raised platform at the near end of the square. "The ceremony won't start for another hour. Feel free to look around."

The Alliance Freedom Memorial was massive in scale. Two gleaming walls of brushed metal lined the borders of the site, approximately ten feet tall and stretching for over a mile into the distance. The names of every serviceman and woman who'd died in the war against the Reapers were etched into the metal in Alliance blue. At the head of the monument, just before the stage, was a looming, ebony replica of the memorial wall aboard the Normandy. When it'd been created, the names of non-Alliance personnel were originally going to be omitted, but Shepard had insisted that they be included. Now, their little group approached the wall, and Shepard ran her fingers over the names – Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, Mordin Solus, Thane Krios, Garrus Vakarian, Admiral David Anderson.

"Okay?" Joker murmured to Shepard, and she nodded, mustering a small smile. He gave her an encouraging squeeze. The memorial was a beautiful, but somber, reminder of all that they'd lost. It made him feel humbled, and melancholy, and grateful to be alive.

Traynor, Daniels and Donnelly appeared, followed closely by Chakwas and Adams. Hugs and greetings were exchanged, and Hope was doted upon, much to her delight. She was passed around, going willingly to everyone until she got to Donnelly. She took one look at him and her bottom lip immediately began to tremble, causing everyone to laugh and Daniels to snatch her away before she could devolve into a full-blown crying jag. Donnelly groused dejectedly, feelings injured, until Shepard promised him that it was nothing personal. The engineer appeared only somewhat appeased by her reassurances.

A young woman with an earpiece approached them and said, "We're going to begin letting the spectators into the square. It might be best if you all stay out of sight until the ceremony is scheduled to begin. I have a private area arranged, if you'll follow me?"

They traipsed after their hostess under threatening grey skies as Liara and Tali materialized. Shepard had cajoled both of them into attending, assuring them that they could neglect their respective duties for one day to receive the recognition that they so undoubtedly deserved. Wrex and Grunt had been an even harder sell, but Shepard was not known for her lack of persuasive skills. The krogan joined the group, grumbling unhappily. Shepard hugged them both warmly, increasing their displeasure. Despite the solemnity of the event, the boisterousness of the gathering increased along with their numbers, falling back on the bravado that had always marked their squad. The only way to walk into hell on a daily basis was with a smile on your face and your friends at your side. Or so the members of the Normandy's crew had always firmly believed.

"Where's Jack?" Joker asked Shepard, trying in vain to spot Hope amongst the throng. He couldn't even remember who'd been holding her last.

"I don't know, but she'd better be here soon. I threatened her with bodily harm and hours of community service in the form of changing diapers if she doesn't show up on time, and dressed appropriately."

The Alliance had balked at issuing medals to the Normandy's non-human crew members, but had eventually compromised by agreeing to acknowledge them individually. The entire crew wasn't going to be here today, however. Miranda had gone completely off the grid, although Shepard had gotten an e-mail from an untraceable source saying, "Glad to hear you're alive. And thank you – for everything." Kasumi was in the wind, as well, but Shepard heard from her occasionally. Apparently, she was a post-apocalyptic Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the refugees. She seemed to delight in her new role. Jacob had been unable to make it because Brynn was due to deliver any day now; and Samara was back on Thessia, assisting with the recovery effort.

No concession had been able to be reached in the matter of their synthetic allies, however. The geth and AIs had for too long been considered a threat for the Alliance to publicly recognize them as otherwise. The Normandy's crew had held a private memorial for EDI. They'd gathered around Dr. Eva Core's body and remembered the AI's bravery, loyalty and, well, humanness. Then they'd destroyed the synthetic shell, as well as the VI program that was all that had remained of their teammate. It had seemed wrong to keep it functioning – like a body without a soul. EDI's name was on the Normandy's memorial wall, even if it wasn't on this one.

And so was Legion's. The quarians who'd been left behind on Rannoch were currently struggling with a complex moral dilemma. The geth were valuable tools, even merely as VI's serving the purpose they'd originally been designed for – heavy, manual labor. But many quarians felt that after everything that had happened, it was wrong to use them that way. Still others felt that it was inevitable that they would once again acquire self-awareness, and the cycle of violence would start anew. Once the fleet returned home, they would have a difficult decision to make.

Joker spied Hope in Chakwas' arms just as Collins and some of the other peripheral crew arrived. He went to retrieve her as Earpiece Lady popped her head in and said, "Ten minutes!" He was carrying the baby back toward Shepard when Jack came running up.

"It's about damn time!" Shepard admonished her. "Where have you been? And what the hell are you wearing?"

The biotic glanced down at her attire in confusion. "What? Everything's covered!"

"Barely," Shepard retorted. Jack wore skin-tight, low-rise black pants tucked into knee-high black boots, covered with multiple shiny buckles. This was topped by a low-cut, form-fitting black shirt that barely skimmed the waist of the pants. The sides of her head were newly shorn and her Mohawk was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Well, this is as good as it gets, Shepard. I'm not wearing any pansy-ass uniform like the rest of you," Jack sneered. "The only reason I came to this thing is because my kids made me. They want to see me on the vids."

"Yeah, but I'm not sure the rest of the galaxy is ready for that," Joker teased. Jack snarled and made as if she were going to lunge at him, but drew up short when she saw Hope in his arms. "Hey, the ankle-biter's getting big!" The baby gaped at her in wonder. Hope seemed to have a fascination with Jack and her tattoos, which made Joker just a little bit concerned for the future.

"It's show time! Let's go!" They followed the event coordinator down a path that approached the stage from the rear, out of sight of the crowd, with Joker and Shepard bringing up the rear. As they climbed the steps of the riser and emerged onto the platform, Joker gawked in astonishment at the gathering before them. Spectators were packed tightly into the square - around the meticulously landscaped bushes and flowers, and on top of the various benches and retaining walls. Even more overflowed around the edges, their views obstructed by the memorial itself. There were people as far as the eye could see.

"Holy shit," Joker breathed as they claimed their seats in the front row of the assembly. The chairs were arranged perpendicular to the front of the stage, but he couldn't avoid shooting frequent sideways glances at the masses. He didn't think that he'd ever seen so many people gathered in one place, at one time, before today.

There were onlookers gathered off-stage, on the far side, and Joker spotted Ashley, Sabrina, Camille and Lance among them. Ashley refused to meet his eye, but Sabrina held his gaze and winked, and he smiled at her. Next to her stood a tall, handsome man holding a tow-headed toddler, and Joker guessed that they were her husband and son. He wondered if Shepard had arranged special access for all of them. As the guest of honor, he knew that she'd been able to pull quite a few strings.

A hush fell across the gathering as Admiral Hackett made his way to the podium at the center of the stage. He paused for a moment, gazing out over the crowd, before he spoke.

"We're here today to honor the sacrifices of the valiant men and women of the Alliance. Every name etched into these walls represents a heroic life lost in the line of duty. We owe humanity's continued existence to their bravery and courage.

At the forefront of these selfless soldiers was the crew of the SSV Normandy. For years, they battled the Reaper threat while their warnings went unheeded and their valor went unrecognized. The Normandy's crew hailed from all corners of the galaxy, united by a common goal – to protect all organic life from the sentient machines who sought to destroy it. They were human, turian, asari, quarian, krogan, salarian, and drell, and we are here today to ensure that their contributions do not go unnoticed."

Hackett began by announcing the names of the non-human crew – Liara, Tali, Wrex, and Grunt - as they stood in turn and were acknowledged by the applause of the crowd and their teammates. This was followed by the awarding of medals to the human crew, who approached the podium in succession. There was a moment of comedic relief when Hackett looked stymied by where to place Jack's medal, and then Joker's name was being called. He handed Hope to Shepard and heard the infant begin to fuss as he moved toward center stage. He flushed with pride as Hackett pinned the medal to his uniform, and he saw the sincerity in the older man's eyes as he straightened and said, "Congratulations, Lieutenant. The Alliance appreciates your service."

"Thank you, sir," Joker replied as he saluted smartly. He shuffled back to his seat as the applause washed over him. Shepard met his gaze, and the joy and admiration he saw there filled him with satisfaction. The public acknowledgment was nice, but all he'd ever wanted was to make her proud. When he was once again beside her, Shepard reached out and gently pressed her hand to the spot where the Star covered his heart. Hope stretched her scrawny arms out, as well, and when Joker took possession of her, she grabbed immediately for the shiny award.

"Hey, that's daddy's medal," Joker whispered into her hair. "Get your own." Hope looked up at him and frowned with such intensity that he couldn't suppress a chuckle. He recognized that particular look of displeasure as pure Shepard.

The din of the crowd diminished as Hackett once again approached the podium. "Today, it is my honor to award the exclusive Platinum Star, for bravery far above and beyond the call of duty, to Commander Samantha Shepard. Commander Shepard overcame a turbulent upbringing to distinguish herself as the sole survivor of a thresher maw attack on Akuze, the first human Spectre, the savior of the Council and the Citadel during the initial Reaper attack, and the soldier who very nearly sacrificed her life to ensure that the Crucible would succeed during the final battle. She exemplifies the best that the Alliance and humanity have to offer. Commander Shepard, will you step forward, please?"

Shepard rose and strode across the stage to thunderous applause from the audience and her squad. Hackett pinned the medal to her uniform and she saluted, then took his place at center stage. The ovation continued, undiminished, until Joker saw her composure begin to slip. Finally, the gathering quieted, and Shepard cleared her throat before addressing them.

"Thank you for that welcome. I know that many of you here today have friends or family whose names are on these walls. They were children and siblings, spouses and parents...and they were heroes whose loss will always be felt, and who will never be forgotten."

Another swell of applause greeted this, and Shepard waited patiently for it to die down. Joker noticed her hand at her side, hidden by the podium, and realized that she had put Garrus' visor in her pocket. It was only half-concealed, and as she spoke, she rubbed it like a talisman.

"The names on this wall in front of me, and the people on this stage today, are also heroes. They're more than my crew – they're my friends. We lived, laughed and fought together for years. They believed in me when no one else did. They taught me the meaning of the words courage, and honor, and family. It's easy to be a great leader when you have a great team. And my squad is the very best.

So, while I appreciate this recognition, I'm here today to honor them – the living and the dead, the men and the women of the SSV Normandy, with whom it was my great privilege to serve. I respect and admire each and every one of you, more than you'll ever know."

Joker wasn't sure who rose first – he thought maybe it was James – but the rest followed quickly, and soon, they were all standing and saluting their commander. He stood there with his daughter cradled in his left arm, his right hand pressed to his forehead, and goose flesh crawling over every inch of his skin. Tears pricked at his eyes. The crowd roared in approval as Shepard turned to her crew, blinking back her own tears, and returned the salute. Hope grabbed at his hand, trying to pull it down, and he saw Shepard notice and grin through her tears. After a long moment, she turned to the front, saluting the memorial wall, and the rest of them followed suit. They stood, remembering their fallen comrades, as the unrelenting appreciation of the gathering poured over them. Suddenly, the heavy clouds broke and a soft snow began to fall. And for the first time, it felt to Joker like the war was truly over.

A/N: Well, placing that "complete" tag on this story is bittersweet, indeed. I want to say a huge, heartfelt "thank you" to each and every one of you who have read, reviewed, and invested your time in this story, but special thanks go out to - HopeLearningSerenity, my wonderful friend and beta who has now read 40 chapters more Shoker than she ever wanted to, even after I killed off her true love, Garrus; Harl0w, who offers her unflagging support and boundless enthusiasm when I need it the most; and jay8008, who graciously shares the male POV and has taught me that whenever you're stuck for ideas, just insert a good gunfight.

I get a lot of reviews/PMs that say "I don't usually read Shoker, but I like your story!" This makes me very happy, because I aim to spread the Joker love around (wait, that just sounds...wrong.) Shoker is an extremely under-represented genre, but there IS good stuff out there - you just have to search. Two of my faves are "A Star to Steer Her By" by ShadesOfMauve, and "Quotable Moments" by ice princess deluxe. Check 'em out, if you haven't already.

For those of you who aren't yet tired of Sam and Jeff (if you exist,) my immediate plan is to write some oneshots, based on LJ prompts, that fill in some of the gaps in their saga, particularly from Shepard's POV. I also have a concept for a sequel, tentatively titled "Last Stand", that's currently in progress. So, if you're interested, keep an eye out! Thanks again for reading! Jacks - XOXOXO