As Joker began to speed away from the battle, James rushed up to the cockpit as fast as he could, though his body was crying out to slow down. He had taken some serious hits on the field, but he didn't care at this point.

"WE CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT HER!" he yelled

"Vega, she's on the Citadel right now; how are we suppose to get her? Plus, what good would it do to get us killed, after she made sure we got out of the fight safely?" Garrus explained

"But...!"

James remembered what she had said to him before they parted their last time.

. . .

"Jane! What are you doing?!"

"I'm calling Joker to pick you all up! It's far too dangerous at this point! I will not have my friends sacrificed! I won't have YOU sacrificed!"

Tears rolled down her face. He knew he couldn't reason with her.

"I will come for you, no matter what! Even if it takes the rest of my life to do it! I will come back for you!"

"And even if I don't make it, please... don't forget me, but don't make me hold you back from living!"

"You won't die...!"

"Promise me!"

James cringed.

"I... promise. I love you so much! I will always be with you!"

She planted a desperate, but passionate kiss on his lips.

"And I with you. I love you, James! Now go!"

. . .

A tear rolled down his face.

"I... I can't leave her... I promised..."

Garrus punched him in the jaw. Not hard, but enough that James felt to the ground.

"THERE'S A REASON SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO GO! ARE YOU GONNA MAKE HER EFFORTS IN VAIN?! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYMORE THAN YOU, BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE... FOR HER!"

James could see the pain in Garrus's eyes. He knew right then that this decision hadn't been any easier on him than anyone else.

"After this, we will look for her... together. I promise."

. . .

"And that's how we saved the galaxy!"

"Wow! That's so cool, dad! I wish I could have been there!"

James laughed. He was now a few years older, sitting on the swing on his back porch, and he had let his hair grow out to a more classy look. His son sat on his leg as he retold the story of the Reaper War.

Garrus stepped outside.

"Vega."

"Vakarian."

The son lept off of his father's lap.

"Uncle Garrus!"

"Hey there, David! How's my favorite nephew doing?"

"Great! Daddy just told me about the war you all were in!"

"Is that so? Daddy didn't gloat about himself much, did he?"

"Nuh uh! He was talking more about Mommy than himself!"

"Good, since she did more work that he did."

"Hey now! I have my share of battle scars in the fight!"

Garrus laughed.

"I know."

"Anyway, why are you here?"

"I was in there area, so I thought I'd see how you all were doing."

"Uh huh, I'm sure that's all you're here for..."

A woman yelled from inside the house.

"WHY IS THIS SO HARD?! COOKING SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT!"

Everyone sighed.

"She still taking cooking lessons?"

"Yup, though I told her to let the maids do it. She never listens..."

"Always stubborn..."

The same woman who had yelled stepped out of the house. She was probably seven months pregnant.

"Garrus! I didn't even here you come in!"

"You're maids told me you were busy, so I came to talk to your husband."

She sighed.

"Trying to cook again."

"So we could tell. Hey Junior, wanna play some ball?"

"YEAH!"

Garrus and the boy ran into the yard. The woman sat down beside her husband.

"How the baby, dear?"

She sighed.

"The doctor said it'd be a girl. I was thinking of calling her Ashley."

"Because of Gunnery Chief Williams?"

"Yeah... what do you think?"

"I never met her, but if that's what you'd like to call her, it's fine with me."

The woman laid her head on his shoulder as the two watched their child play with Garrus.

"I love you, James."

"I love you too, Jane."