Epilogue

Commander Anastasia Shepard stood tall as she stared out at the setting sun shining in the distance. It had been ten years since the end of the Reaper War, and it had taken six of those years to reconnect the galaxy to a point where she was confident to leave it in the hands of others.

Stepping away from active duty had not been as difficult as she thought it would have been many years ago. Then again having Kasumi at her side made retiring all the more easier. Now the redhead served as a sort of ambassador of peace for the entire galaxy which didn't require her to leave home that much.

The wounds dealt by the Reapers were still very fresh in the minds of the galaxy and the people who had lived through it. All of the respective leaders of each race knew the alliances made were the only reason they survived and had no intention of breaking those bonds forged in the fires of war.

No one would ever forget the cost of victory or the great peace they had found afterwards.

Many events had happened in those six years of galaxy repairs, some of which were fond memories and some that she was not too fond of looking back at. Those events, though, were all passed over by the great events of the last four years.

After leaving the Normandy in the capable hands of Spectre Kaiden Alenko and some of their friends who had yet to retire, she and Kasumi had finally started following after the dreams they had shared with one another what was now ten years ago.

They had found a secluded beach on Earth far enough away from the main cities to be in privacy yet still close enough to fly in for supplies and such. Their house on the beach was not overzealously large yet also not too tiny that they would bump into anything just by turning.

She still owned her apartment on the Citadel, which finally got moved back to the Widow System in the Serpent Nebula about two years ago. It still got use when the crew would get together to see one another or when the couple would go together because Shepard herself was called to the Citadel.

Usually, though, she allowed her friends to use it if they ever stopped in at the Citadel and she wasn't there so they didn't have to stay on their ship or pay for a hotel.

About a year after they moved into their beach house they adopted two Asari twins, Zenia and Denia, who were currently five years old and still the cutest little Asari's ever.

Parenthood was definitely a new experience for the two adults, but together they had raised their children with tons of love.

The same year they adopted the two children Anastasia had become pregnant with their first human child via a sperm donor. The red-haired bright green eyed bundle of joy—who was going on four years of age in a few months—was named Xandria.

The trio of children were very close with one another and never fought unless it was fun bantering, similar to their parents in that way. A year later Kasumi had become pregnant as well, giving birth to their fourth and final daughter. Little Miyako, like Xandria, was a carbon copy of her mother save for her electric blue eyes.

She was turning three soon and already had a natural stealth like Kasumi did where Xandria had a more straight forward way of going about things like Shepard. Denia and Zenia weren't much different in that aspect, they too had picked on different traits of their adopted mothers.

Still, Shepard and Kasumi were both very happy with their four children who were growing to be great children. Maybe that was parental bias, but they loved their children equally and unconditionally.

So much has happened, Shepard thought as she watched the sun dropping. Despite everything that happened, she found her heart still firmly in the hands of her lover. Their love had only grown more as the years had passed and even more when they became parents.

A smile pulled its way onto her face as she heard the shouts, laughs and giggles of her daughters approaching as they were chasing one another. She turned to look at them, seeing Zenia carrying Miyako on her back with a smile as she chased after the others who were in the midst of trying to reach Anastasia first.

Kasumi was walking behind them wearing a deep purple semi-sheer sarong tied around her waist that fell a little below her knees. She had a black bikini on under it and for a top with her long black hair free of a ponytail and the N7 tags around her neck. The thief still wore her purple lip paint and despite having a child had gotten back to her old lithe body.

She was gorgeous.

Anastasia had done the same, except her body was back to its more muscular shape as it had been at the peak of her condition. Couldn't sit around getting lazy when she wanted to be healthy enough to see her children grow to be grown women.

The thief thought she was still the most beautiful woman she knew, probably says that to make me blush. Spirits knew she got a kick out of it every time she managed to do it. Then again so did the former commander when she was on the offense in their flirt battles.

She herself was wearing her old N7 hoodie zipped up to her navel with a dark blue bikini top under it and a pair of black shorts on.

Anastasia crouched down with her arms out as Denia and Xandria reached her, the pair tackling her back to the ground causing a fit of laughter from all those present. The sand was soft under her and also cool with the sun no longer beating on it. It was quite comfortable as she began to get her retaliation by tickling her two daughters.

The two squealed and giggled as they attempted to break free, only managing to do so when Zenia and Miyako "held down" their mother to help them. Teaching them teamwork was equally great as it was a pain when they teamed up on their parents in these cases.

Of course she could have easily broken free, but where was the fun in that?

The little band of girls ran off to continue playing as Kasumi reached her, giving her a loving smile as she reached her hand out. Anastasia smirked at her and grabbed her arm to pull her down to her so the thief was on top of her, receiving a yelp of surprise for her efforts.

"Cheater." Kasumi gave her a peck on the lips.

"You love me."

"Maybe," Kasumi replied with a smile.

In retaliation, the former commander began tickling her lover, causing her to try to fight back as she too laughed. Yes the last four years of parenthood had taught her the ins and outs of ticklish spots.

Although it also taught Kasumi them as well.

Anastasia remembered that the hard way when her lover, who clearly had the better leverage at the moment, began tickling her in return. The two were laughing fairly hard when they stopped, their grins never leaving them.

Kasumi was sitting on her lap now, caressing her cheek as she got her laughs under control. "I- I received a message from Ghost and Garrus," the thief tried to get out between breaths.

"Oh?" Ghost had become a great friend during the six years of working on repairing the galaxy and he too retired a year after she did. So far he had five Asari children—three adopted and two of his own—and Tara was expecting another. He liked to joke about being outnumbered by his horde of girls, but he was truly happy as was Tara.

Their crew remained close after the N7 Talons officially resigned just as the Normandy team had.

Garrus and Tali were still together as well with two adopted children—one Turian girl and one Quarian boy. The two, like Shepard, were ambassadors for their people and had done a great job ever since taking the roles.

"Yeah. They're both wondering if it's a good idea to surprise Miranda like that."

"What? They don't think putting up a banner saying 'Congratulations on having your first child' will be funny?" she asked, chuckling lightly as she did.

"Garrus said it might end badly and Ghost thought it hilarious but to warn him so he could be on the opposite end of the galaxy when they saw it."

Ana chuckled again. The two biotic's were still together and Jack had recently told her she was pregnant with twins after going through the same thing Shepard and Kasumi had. Miranda wanted children but could not have any herself, so as a surprise the tattooed biotic went through with this.

Miranda was still in the dark, though. Jack wasn't that far along and their anniversary was coming up which was when she was going to tell. The former commander thought it would be entertaining to put up a streamer, but if Ghost and Garrus thought it would end badly then it probably would.

"All right, fine."

"Aunty Jack and Miranda are having kids?" Zenia asked from behind the two lovers.

Kasumi looked over Shepard with a smile. "Yes, but we have to keep it secret for now. Aunty Miranda doesn't know yet."

"Like when you surprised Mommy, Mama?" Xandria questioned.

"Yep." The thief smiled.

Anastasia could still remember the day Kasumi had sprung the surprise of having Miyako on her. Just as it was when they adopted Denia and Zenia and the day she had Xandria, it was the happiest day of her life among the list of happiest days.

"Sun is setting, Ana," Kasumi whispered to her.

She nodded and grabbed the thief firmly before standing up and turning around to watch it. Kasumi got comfortable between her legs as their little band of girls joined them.

Together as a family they watched the sunset. It was full of beautiful yellows and oranges with some pinks mixed into them. Their children watched in awe as always while the two lovers felt the wave of warmth and comfort at having this dream of having a family becoming reality.

They smiled fully the entire time until the sun finally set and they began escorting their children back into the house. As they walked the two lovers held hands, never leaving the others side as their girls headed in first allowing Anastasia and Kasumi a moment of privacy.

Anastasia stared out at the ocean for a moment, thinking about the events leading up to this wondrous time in her life.

A time of peace, tranquility and love after living through what was certainly hell.

Maybe it was selfish of her to be living like this in her early forties when she could still be a part of the Alliance or further involved in an ambassadorial role…But for once in her life she was allowing herself to be selfish to fulfill a promise she had made.

A promise she would keep and had no issue with being selfish to do so now because she was finally at peace with everything she did in her life. Something she had only ever seen in Thane before his death—it was truly amazing.

Being here with Kasumi and their four kids was better than any feeling dreaming ever gave her about it.

I'm lucky to have them.

"What are you thinking about?" Kasumi asked curiously.

Anastasia breathed out a short laugh. "Just how lucky I am to have you and the girls."

Her lover smiled her beautiful smile. "Honey tongue." She wrapped her arms around her neck and brought their bodies together. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about ten years ago and tell myself how lucky I am that you made it. That your feelings brought me from my own dense ignorance to find you there patiently waiting for me to realize you cared."

The former commander felt her heart beating a bit harder in her chest as Kasumi spoke the words for the feelings they both had. "I thank the spirits of our fallen friends for sending you back to me all those years ago so I could find this love. Because if you hadn't then I wouldn't have this…amazing feeling every time I wake up. This drive to live in the moment instead of inside a graybox."

"They're so sappy," a childish whisper sounded off from behind the door.

"What's a graybox?" one asked.

"Ahem!" Anastasia cleared her throat in a way her daughters knew meant to give them privacy. The sound of scurrying feet sounded off, granting the two adults their time together. The redhead turned back to her lover who was grinning sheepishly. "They get that from you."

"I know. I think it's cute."

"It is," she agreed. Anastasia leaned her forehead onto her lover's. "I know how you feel. I think about it too, how lucky I am that everything turned out the way it did. That I somehow lived to see you again and tell you how I feel, and then to be able to experience this."

"I love you, Anastasia Shepard." Kasumi nudged her nose with her own.

Ana smiled and nudged her back. "I love you more, Kasumi Goto."

They shared a long passionate kiss, putting all of their emotions into it as always. The feel of her warm soft lips against her own felt like the first day they kissed after the lame one.

The feel of their tongues dancing with one another made pleasurable shivers run up her spine at the familiar dance. Their bodies pressed together brought back memories of their first night making love and every night they had shared together afterwards for the last ten years.

These feelings that had not once ever ceased to make the former commander's heart pound faster and stronger as the love she felt from Kasumi swarmed her body.

She was the happiest woman alive.

As they parted for much needed air Kasumi kissed the bottom of her chin and smiled at her. "Happy Anniversary, Ana."

She smiled back. "Happy Anniversary, Kasumi."

They intertwined their hands and made their way into the house through the door leading from the dining room out. Much to Shepard's surprise, there were streamers hung up around the house and a cake on the table where there hadn't been when she left the house.

The banner hanging above the table read Happy Anniversary and in front of the table were her four daughters all grinning. "Surprise! Happy Anniversary!" they cheered.

Anastasia brought her gaze to her lover who was grinning at her. "Surprise," she offered sheepishly.

Tears welled in the eyes of the former soldier but she fought them by hugging her thief tightly, who embraced her tightly as well. "I love you. Always," Kasumi whispered into her ear.

"I'm yours, forever," she replied before letting go and going over to her four daughters to wrap them up in one giant hug. "I love you all. Thank you for this."

"It was Mama's idea, but we helped to set it up. Miyako put up that streamer, Xandria did that one, Denia that one and I did that one," Zenia explained as she pointed out the different streamers around the room.

Anastasia smiled at them all and gave them each thanks for doing it. Not what I meant, my little ones. I meant for being such great children and allowing me to be your mother. For giving me a family away from the Normandy.

She didn't speak those words, not wishing to ruin their sparkling good moods. One day, she promised, when you're older and will understand better, I will tell you those words.

Kasumi rested her hand on Ana's shoulder as she spoke to their daughters, knowing exactly what the commander really meant.

"Okay, so who wants the first piece of cake?" Ana asked as she stood up.

To the cheers of me firsts and the like, both parents smiled as they helped to pull out the chairs for their children and put them in them.

As Anastasia cut the cake, she spared her lover a loving smile.

Good surprise, my love.

Kasumi gave her a sly yet loving smile in return with a wink.

Stole your heart, knew you would love it.

"Isn't it weird when they have those silent grown up conversations," Xandria whispered to Denia.

"I think they have telepathy or something."

Both lovers smirked at their children before cutting and passing out each piece of cake on a paper plate to each of their children first.

Ana took her place at Kasumi's side as they ate their cake. As she watched their kids eat their cake, she smiled. I love you all, thank you for making my dream a reality.

A bit of frosting suddenly being smeared on her face caused the former commander to break out of her thoughts and away from the guilty finger. Kasumi was trying to contain her laughter at the look of frosting smeared onto the side of her face. "You missed a spot," she said while trying to contain her laughter.

Anastasia smirked. "Care to help me clean it off?"

Their children started making disgusted noises as Kasumi licked it off with a smile on her face. "I have plans for you later," she whispered so their daughters wouldn't hear her.

She was successful in that endeavor as well as making the redhead blush. She had an idea of what plans she had, and she was certainly thankful for making the room soundproof as well as setting up trackers in the hallways to know if their daughters were getting close to the door.

Ana was looking forward to it, but for now she would bask in the happiness of their children and her lover.

This was her beautiful family.

This was home for her.

The End

A/N: I'd like to thank all those who have read, faved, followed, reviewed and stuck with this story from start to finish and all those who stumbled upon it half through and to those who find this later on after its completion. I had an incredible time writing this and if I'm honest I never expected it to be more than a few chapters long, but 327 pages, 147,607 words and 8 months after the initial publishing date later here we are. It's bittersweet for me to end this, but every journey has an end, and for now Shep and Kasumi have reached their journeys end.

For anyone interested in seeing more of those two or the biotic duo, my story Stolen Hearts: Untold Tales currently has seven one-shots of the Stolen Hearts duo at the time of editing and reposting this in Feburary of 2018. I also am working on a continuation of this story universe in the form of a Miri/Jack story taking place during the Stolen Hearts timeline/universe with appearances from Kasumi, Shep and other familiar faces.

Again thank you for reading this and have a great day. I hope you enjoyed reading this story and its end as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Until next time.