I do not own characters or anything originating from ME1 or ME2 everything else is from my head.

Wedding plans were coming along slowly. There were many disagreements about a ceremony composed of both cultural traditions, what to leave in, what to take out... Most of it was Thane, in Shepard's opinion. They'd never really had a fight before. To have one over something like this be their first was frustrating to say the least. Shepard was not religious. She meditated and believed in a kind of 'soul', she was more spiritual if anything. What Thane believed in was very different. She knew they would work it out, she hoped anyway. Thane didn't really have out bursts. He just withdrew and became cold, reverting to that blank, stern look he wore when being 'professional'. Other stresses were straining them, as well. The universe didn't stop because a couple had a fight or was planning a wedding.

Shepard was picking up all the non-priority missions she'd ignored for the greater good. Feros was first on the list. It was kinda on the way to the Citadel, and she wanted to get whatever information Cerberus wanted back so badly before they sent someone else after it. She had her hard suit on and was headed to the shuttle. The elevator stopped on the Crew Deck on the way down. She wasn't surprised when Thane got on. The door hissed shut. He silently took up a professional stance beside her. He didn't go on many missions because of humidity on many of the planets. This one was pretty arid, so he got to get off the ship. When the elevator neared the shuttle bay he spoke.

"Siha, I will not have us arguing or standing in angered silence over this issue." He stated in his 'assassin' tone.

"Thane, now isn't the time for this..." she said, exasperated on the subject.

"I understand, I will not speak of it again, until after the mission."

He gave her a side long look. She was staring at the back of the elevator doors. He sighed.

"Siha... I," he cut himself off.

"What is it, Mëha?" She said, softly.

The sound comforted him. He did not like to hear her angry with him.

"We will work through this. I promise you."

"Why can't we just simplify it a little?" She asked him, still staring at the doors. "We would still be giving the vows that will bond us together and no one does anything they don't want to do."

"I will consider it."

He'd give her that much. They'd already done so much they shouldn't have, things that should have been saved for the ceremony or after it. But that was before he had time to do things the correct way.

The doors opened and Shepard left the elevator. Thane followed her a few seconds later. Garrus was waiting for them. She was not going to bring anyone who might be a Cerberus sympathizer with her. Miranda and Jacob were staying because they disagreed with the Illusive Man, but that didn't mean she completely trusted them. She felt tactically stupid for bringing two snipers with her, but they were also good with close range combat. Thane actually specialized in it, which she found interesting with him being an assassin. She'd always assumed assassins killed mainly with sniper rifles. Maybe others did.

On the surface they quickly found the compound where the Cerberus agent had been taken. Inside they found the expected Eclipse mercs. They took them out easily enough, found some interrogation logs and a few loose supplies. Shepard hacked the door to the interrogation room to find the agent dead on a med-bed. He had been brutally tortured by evidence of his wounds and the amount of blood. Garrus was used to such displays. Thane had seen his share of such as well. Shepard had not and it made her sick to her stomach. Gang violence was different from this. She tried not to look at him as sheaccessed the terminal near by to find the info. It was still encrypted. The agent never gave them the encryption key.

"Poor smuck." She thought.

The info could be sent to any location of her choosing from the terminal. She hadn't yet decided exactly what she was going to do with it. She'd hoped to read it first before having to make a choice. That was not an option.

"You could send it to the Alliance. You're still a Spector, as peripheral of one you may be. Though the data would probably just be filed away until it was to late to be of use."

Garrus always had a way of verbally kicking himself.

"Or give it to Cerberus. Though, I wouldn't."

"I'm not giving it to either." She decided. "I'm going to keep it until we know what it is. This man gave his life to protect whatever secret is hidden here. It has something to do with the rachni. I want to know why it was so valuable."

She tapped a few buttons and sent the data to EDI.

Shepard went strait to the Galaxy Map and set course for the Citadel before going to her quarters. There was a message on her lap top. She was almost certain it would be from Thane wanting to continue their 'discussion'. Frankly she could care less right now. She had no intention of singing anything in front of anyone, especially close friends and people that would soon be family. No way. Nothing in the universe could make her take on that embarrassment for the rest of her life. She'd rather take on the Collectors again.

She decided to meditate to calm herself down, maybe some new positions for stress relief. She was trying out some advanced techniques with aroma therapy and 'mood' music, as Mordin called it. She was humming a mantra when the door hissed open. She didn't hear the door or the quiet foot steps coming down the stairs. Eventually she became aware of a sent that was not one of the candles, and a presence... she peeked open an eye. Someone was on the sofa watching her. She lost her concentration and crumpled to the floor in a heap.

"Thane! What are you doing? Do I need to block your entrance access?"

She tried to regain her composure, smoothing her hair back into the braid. He continued to sit perfectly still, expressionless on her sofa.

"You ignored my message."

"I needed some time to relax."

"I see." was all he said.

She looked at him with unter disbelief. She crossed her arms.

"Ok. What? What is so important it must be said right now?" She asked.

Thane stood up. In three swift movements he was over the table and in her personal space. One arm was around her waist, his other entangled in her hair. He exhaled a warm, spicy breath on her face before taking her lips. Shepard, shocked and paralyzed in his arms wondered what the hell was going on. His tongue penetrated her defenses, exploring her mouth thoroughly . He tasted sweet, and tangy like chardonnay. His kiss was persistent, forceful. Was he really doing this now? She found the strength to push him away. When she did she ended up on the ground, head first. His fingers were still tangled in her hair. He quickly mounted and pinned her down.

"What the hell are y.." She was cut off by another vigorous kiss. He waited until she stopped struggling to release her mouth.

"Are you willing to talk calmly?" He asked, almost whispered in her ear. It sent chills down her spine.

"Ok..." she breathed.

He released her and re-took his seat. She sat on the edge of her bed, rubbing her sore scalp. She'd have to remind herself not to argue with him, or at least to be prepared for... whatever this was.

"I apologize, Siha. I will not tolerate discordance between us." He looked at her sternly.

"Thane, I only..." She was cut off again, this time by a raised hand. She felt strange being the one taking orders.

"You do not have to sing. It is only tradition. We will... simplify." He didn't look happy about it, but at least he was willing to work with her.

"Thank you. Trust me, you're doing everyone who can hear a huge favor." She offered a smile. He did not return it.

"In return," He paused.

'Here it comes,' she thought. 'The catch. The proverbial compromise.'

"I will not wear a 'tux'." His face still stern.

"All you had to do was tell me. I didn't even know you were uncomfortable with that."

"I was willing to wear it for you." He said. His words caught her off guard. She was silent for a while.

"I sorry." She sighted and uncrossed her arms. "Mëha, you're right. I don't really have any Earth traditions that I really care about keeping that aren't matched by drell ritual. In fact I like the drell attire better."

She noticed a hint of a smile he was trying to hold back when she said that.

"The music and prayers... I don't mind those either. I think it's beautiful that we give our bonding vows as a mantra. Just don't make me sing the Vipula song."

Her brow was furrowed, but she was smiling. He had relaxed, and actually looked like he might be satisfied with the resolution.

"Besides," she continued with a smirk. "I don't think you would look very good in a tux anyway."

In a second he was across the room, pinning her to the bed.

"That got 'em!" She thought.

She had a huge smile on her face and was laughing at him trying to keep a stern one. Her laughter quickly melted the mask and he smiled and laughed with her. Her eyes were a brighter green today, he noticed. Looking down at her, he felt something stir in his pants. He knew she felt it too when her eyes widened and her pupils dilated.

"Thane, shouldn't we wait until after the wedding?" She teased him and rolled her hips into him. A low moan rumbled in his throat.

"Why?" He asked, slyly. "I am already your Mëha!"

"Thane!" She said in surprise at his wit.

Her eyes grew even wider in her shock. His laugh vibrated through her. In mere moments she was face down on the bed, sheets between her teeth and naked, with an equally nude drell, throbbing inside her. She barely retained enough thought to wonder if he had always been this horny, and if so... why he had only one offspring. A wave of intense pleasure washed away any further thought.

His body rippled over hers the way it always did that made her so hot for him. He planted passionate kisses on her neck and shoulders, breathing heavily and groaning into her ear sending shivers through her. One arm was wrapped under her to fondle her breast. The other he used to hold himself up, his hand on her throat.

Sometimes he liked to do that. It had started her at first, but she grew to enjoy it. He also seemed to like it when she touched herself while he was inside her in this position. Or he would pin her hands beneath her throat so he could still apply pressure if he desired. The more exotic sex was not something she ever expected from the reserved, spiritual drell. While he was usually tender with her vaginal region, he sometimes enjoyed some rougher contact. Today was one of those days, probably due to the arguing. This was stress relief/make-up sex. It didn't matter to Shepard what kind of sex they had, as long as they had it. She would find excuses to seduce him or provoke him into seducing her. She was addicted to him. Garrus had teased her saying 'It seems like all you ever do is have sex now, Shepard. I've been running the ship. Hey, maybe you should start calling me 'Commander.' She'd punched him in the arm and done her best to abstain that week. Thane couldn't go that long, it seemed. They made it three days before he attacked her like a wild animal in the observation room. A passionate, tender animal... but wild.

He continued to have his way with her until the sheets were soaked with her climaxes and her body was full of his, forcing screams of ecstacy from both of them. It had been a few months and she was still almost to tight to accommodate him. He kept going until his cum was coming out of her around him. She wondered how drell had so much to give. Another reason she wondered about the single offspring. Mordin's data had informed her that drell males were capable of multiple orgasms, but she never dreamed it would be like this. He finally collapsed on top of her, sliding out and rolling off onto his back. They were both panting heavily. They both had stupid happy grins on their faces. Their was never a doubt of satisfaction.

A few dream filled hours latter, Shepard woke to her sill sleeping drell lover. He was usually up before she was, but sex right after a mission sometimes took a little more out of him. He said it was because he enjoyed sleeping next to her and her warmth and smell kept him under longer. She took it as if he were giving her a compliment. She lay there a moment, watching him dream. Listening to him breath and purr. Feeling his warm body and cool, scaly skin. Pressing against him so the stickiness between them made wet, sloppy sounds. She knew he really got into those sounds during their love-making. It always made him cum quicker the sloppier is sounded. She sighed and left him to shower. When she emerged, the bed was clean, made and empty. Thane was also clean and dressed, meditating on the sofa.

She was going to just go down for breakfast, then head to the command deck, leaving him in peace. He spoke when the doors hissed open.

"Wait."

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him. He was coming up the stairs.

"I will join you."

She smiled as he offered her his arm. She took it and they walked that way to the elevator. He seemed so regal. He stood tall and strait, like he had when he'd first come on board. She liked that pride he carried himself with, that confidence. It wasn't that he always felt that way, because he didn't. His confessions the night before the Collector base was proof of that. But it was an integral part of him. When they reached the crew deck she expected him to release her for protocol sake, but he didn't, placing a hand gently on hers on his arm. He didn't speak or look at her, just escorted her around the corner to the table. If there were any crew members that were unaware, they knew now. Shepard was worried this might weaken her command. But she thought better of it. Any one that she knew was staying already knew about their relationship and didn't care. If anything it had strengthened her position with them because, let's face it, most of them were aliens. She relaxed into a chair next to Garrus while Thane fetched their breakfasts.

"So, Commander, letting him parade you around now?" Garrus teased. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Garrus, he's not 'parade'-ing me around anywhere. I'm showing him off." She laughed, teasing back. Garrus chuckled, shaking his head.

He was getting used to it. He'd honestly hoped the drell would die, either on the Collector base or from his illness, and she could be all his, again... as much as she had been anyway. But she and Mordin had collaborated and now their was pretty much a cure. Thane was cured, and that was the only drell that needed to be to screw it up for him. He just had to wait it out for the next forty years. Right. He was starting to like Thane, though. The guy did make her happy and Thane was good to her. Garrus supposed he could live with it, for a while. "Just take it a day at a time." He'd told himself. That's how he got through it. A day... an hour at a time.