Garrus stood and hugged Athera. One arm encircled her waist, his hand pressed firmly against the small of her back. His other hand tangled in her hair, both pulling her as close as he possibly could to himself.

Athera felt the strength of his hands where they held her. She knew even if she struggled she wouldn't be able to break his hold, and yet, she trusted him him completely. She trusted this man, the man she just agreed to marry, with her life and with the life of their daughter.

He pulled her face closer to his and kissed her deeply, rough and passionate, and full of love, longing, and lust. He broke the kiss first; out of breath, his chest rising and falling in time with Athera's. Garrus rested his forehead against hers, his bright cobalt blue eyes locked with Athera's grey ones.

"I am yours. And. You. Are. Mine," he spoke slowly, his voice heavy with a growl. His subharmonics reverberating through his chest.

Athera could only recall one other time he had said those words to her.

The Normandy had stopped back off at Omega, Athera had received a message from Garrus requesting that they talk. She hadn't heard anything from him since the night she had asked him to join her against the Collectors. It had been a little more than a month since that night, and Garrus had asked if she would meet him in the VIP section of Afterlife, to talk, and she had accepted.

Thane had accompanied her to the main floor of Afterlife, Athera had wanted someone to be there in case she choked. In case she couldn't go through with it, and Thane was the only person besides Garrus that she would let see her vulnerable.

Thane hugged her there on the main floor, his arms strong and solid against her. She could feel his heart beating in his chest, almost a match to the tempo of the bass of the nearly deafening music.

"I am here if you need me Siha," he whispered into her ear.

Knowing he was here if she needed him gave Athera the courage to make her way to the back of the club, and up to the VIP section.

She spotted Garrus quickly enough, sitting at a table overlooking the main floor of the club. An empty high ball glass sat in front of him, another half full one in his taloned hands.

"You can stare at that glass all night, but I seriously doubt it will answer you," she said as she slid into the chair across from him.

She could see now that his shoulders held a lot of tension.

Garrus' eyes raised to meet hers and Athera could feel the anger in his gaze.

He broke the stare to down the remainder of his drink.

"You asked to talk, and I am here," Athera choose to ignore his anger.

Garrus looked at her again, relaxing his shoulders, and he spoke, his voice carefully restrained.

"I changed my mind. I want to help you take on the Collectors... if you will have me."

"Are you sure about this Garrus," she couldn't keep the surprise from her voice.

"Yes. I am positive Athera," his voice tight.

"But you were so against it...,"

Garrus cut her off...

"...I just needed time Athera. You waltzed back into my life after being dead for two years. I just needed time to think things through," he paused and reached across the table. He took her hands in his, stroking her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.

"I'm sorry I left like I did. I just... I just needed time. And now I am here, and I want to face hell with you again."

Garrus looked her in the eyes, his cobalt blue eyes, deadlocked on hers, pleading her to let him back aboard the Normandy. To forgive his shortcomings. Athera's heart ached and she knew she couldn't say no.

"Welcome aboard the Normandy, again, Garrus."

Garrus' mandibles stretched wide into a grin.

"Thank you Athera," and he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it.