AN: Consider this the first in a series of drabbles. As opposed to putting them in short and single stories.

What will they be about? Well Talimance more than likely. Other subjects will appear akin to Humanity and whatnot.

Like this first one.

The setting is in the A New Life universe. If you'll recall, I wrote Samara's idea as simply spending time together as friends. Well, here's something that happened then.

Ciao

Fortunately for Tali, Samara's idea was really paying off. Just getting to be near Shepard made her happy. They had already had so much fun already and that was only on the first day. Thanks to the Citadel's rapid reconstruction, there were people celebrating all over. Fortunately, they brought some of their culture's methods of celebration with them.

She didn't think she'd ever see that many happy Hanar on the human festival of Mardi Gras ever again.

Softly giggling to herself, she made her way back to Shepard's apartment on the Silversun Strip. Amazingly the place had sustained little damage from the Reaper War and the Crucible activation. She recalled Shepard's expression upon first seeing it when the war had just ended. To him, it was a damaged memory of his mentor. They held a moment of silence for the departed Anderson there.

The years had helped Shepard to cope with Anderson's death. It still brought a sad smile to his face but it wasn't as bad as it used to be. Tali was much the same when she lost her father at first. Lucky for her, Shepard was there to console her. It wouldn't be fair not to return the favor.

However as she approached the door, she could hear music being played from inside the apartment. At first she thought Liara had stopped by as she did before the party they had during the war. But the tune wasn't the same one she had played for all to hear. It was…sad.

She headed inside and found Shepard at the piano surprisingly. The door didn't muffle the tune now and the haunting melody carried through the apartment. She found herself drawn to the sound despite how somber it sounded. Perhaps it was really the fact that Shepard even knew how to play that drew her closer.

As she approached, she saw his eyes were closed yet he still hit each key perfectly. Whatever this tune was, he either knew it well or was more talented than they all thought. Either case wouldn't have surprised her. Shepard could be so modest and full of hidden skills sometimes. She stood next to him for a while, watching him play in silence.

His eyes opened and he noticed her standing next to him, his hands fumbling on the keys creating an awful sound. She visibly flinched at this and looked at him in-is that a blush on his cheeks?

"Tali! I-I didn't hear you come in. Sorry." In truth she hadn't heard his apology. She realized that seeing Shepard blush was quite the rare sight.

It was also very cute.

She smiled behind her mask and looked back at the piano. The song may have been sad, but now she wanted to hear it again.

"I didn't know you could play the piano Shepard. You're just full of surprises aren't you?" He chuckled softly, standing up and moving towards the windows.

"I couldn't at first. I spent my time being a soldier rather than a musician. If you can believe it, Glyph taught me."

That made Tali's eyebrows rise. Glyph knew how to play the piano? For that matter, Glyph could teach? She voiced these questions and Shepard chuckled again. She could spend days listening to that laugh…

"Liara left a copy of him here to help clean up. When I had an extended leave a couple years back and nothing to do, Glyph suggested music. A couple weeks after that, I could play the piano pretty well. I'm no Liberace but I have some talent."

Tali didn't recognize the name Shepard mentioned, mentally noting to look it up later. She moved to stand next to Shepard, looking upon the Strip with him.

"What was that tune you were playing? I can't claim to know a lot of music but I've never heard it before. Is it human?" She turned to look at him and saw his expression had darkened, that sweet smile now an upset frown. She immediately regretted asking.

"I-I mean you don't have to tell me I was curious but if it's too much y-you don't have to tell me and I wasn't trying to upset you and I'm sorry and-"

She felt her worries wash away instantly as Shepard's arms wrapped around her suddenly. Happy to let her rambling stop, she wrapped her arms around him, sighing in contentment. She could feel herself being pressed tightly against him and she loved every second of it.

"That is still so cute when you ramble." She giggled and blushed at the compliment, eventually being pushed back gently by Shepard. She looked at him but unfortunately, that somber expression was still on his face.

"Shepard?"

He sat back down on the piano bench and started to play the haunting melody again. Quickly it echoed around the apartment, and Tali felt herself shudder at it.

"This was a song I heard once somewhere long ago. It always stuck with me and I found myself humming it whenever I was sad. It brings me some peace actually."

Tali listened to the tune for a while longer, letting it sink into her before replying.

"It's…"

"Sad I know" He smirked. "But I like it. It's almost therapeutic to me by now. I play it when I'm sad, when I'm happy, mad, hell I sometimes play it just for the sake of it." He looked at her and grinned.

"Like how you kept checking over all your work on the Normandy."

She giggled again and playfully punched his arm.

"You complain but I saved lives with all that checking!"

He laughed and turned back to the keys.

"So you did Miss vas Normandy."

They stayed there in silence for a while, Shepard playing the tune to fill the void. He paused suddenly and moved over on the bench.

"Want to learn it?"

She nodded, smiling wide as she sat next to him, getting as close to him as she could as friends. He guided her hands to the right keys and taught her to play.

Tali would look upon this fond memory some time from now, as she sat on their piano at their home on Rannoch. Shepard would play the tune and look into her beautiful face all the while.

It helped that the piano was very sturdy as well.