Exile
It takes your mind again
Exile
It takes your mind again
You've got suckers' luck
Have you given up?

Does it feel like a trial?
Does it trouble your mind the way you trouble mine?

Exile
It takes your mind again
Exile
It takes your mind again
Oh, you meant so much
Have you given up?

Does it feel like a trial?
Does it trouble your mind the way you trouble mine?
Does it feel like a trial?
Now you're thinking too fast
You're like marbles on glass

Vilify
Don't even try
Vilify
Don't even try

You've got suckers' luck
Have you given up?
Does it feel like a trial?
Does it trouble your mind the way you trouble mine?
Does it feel like a trial?
Did you fall for the same empty answers again?

Vilify
Don't even try
Vilify
Don't even try
Vilify...

Joker glanced over his shoulder at the tall shadow and smiled inwardly. Garrus was dressed in his best from fringe to toe and had even gone without his visor. Joker had to admit that he looked pretty damn snazzy for a Turian.

All seven foot plus of him stood near the airlock, casually leaning against the door jamb with his arms crossed in over his chest and one foot cross over the other toeing the ground. His top was a rich cream colored tunic with the same blue coloring as his markings with quarter sleeves and he paired it with ebony trousers and what one could only surmise as Turian dress shoes. His mandibles fluttered every now and then against his jaw, his eyes darting around the windshield of the Normandy.

Tali followed behind him, leaning on Samantha for light support and Joker had to hide his look of surprise. He'd always thought that Tali was attractive even if he couldn't see her face but damn. Sam or one of the other girls on the ship must have done her hair because he didn't think there was a way for her three fingered hand to be able to French braid.

She had foregone her suit and instead was wearing a tight fitting dark purple top that showed her shoulders and cinched at the waist. Her bottom half was covered in loose fitting black flowing pants and she too had a Quarian equivalent dress shoes.

"How do I look?" Tali whispered to Sam who cocked an eyebrow at her and gave her what could only be classified as a lascivious smile to which Tali blushed profusely and shook her head. "Remind me to buy Liara something stupidly expensive."

Of course; only Liara could have gotten those specially made and tailored items for the aliens on board the Normandy and Joker wondered what she and Javik would be wearing to greet Shepard after almost thirty weeks of not seeing her. He didn't have to wonder long however as EDI, Liara and Javik made their way to the others.

Liara had ditched her Shadow Broker outfit for a dark blue dress that flared at the hips and flowed like wisps around her ankles. The top was strapless and Joker hoped that she didn't cough because then all of Liara would be exposed. He caught Javik's glare and immediately smiled at him and winked. It was hard to take him seriously when he was dressed in a similar outfit to what Garrus was wearing. It was very unJavik-ey.

Liara apparently had even fixed EDI up with an outfit too he noticed when she sat next to him in her seat, ignoring the look of appraisal from him but smiling nonetheless, pleased that he liked her new clothes.

"How soon Joker?" Garrus rumbled.

"As soon as we're in the port we'll be good to go. She has no idea?"

"None. I told her we would be here in a week."

"Nice. The look on her face will be priceless. Does anyone else know?"

"Everyone but Shepard. Any word from Hackett and her mother?" Liara chimed in, looking out the window.

"Here and waiting. They were able to use a Relay, bastards." They chuckled and shifted, eager to get off the Normandy and step foot on Earth to surprise Elizabeth. "Bring us in EDI."

The Normandy slowed before coming to a halt and when they heard the familiar sound of the docking port hitting the outside, the smiled and turned to wait for the airlock to open.

"Admiral Hackett," Garrus greeted the older man, sticking his hand out in the Human gesture.

"Primarch Vakarian." He took his hand firmly and shook it in an up-down motion quickly before letting his hand drop to his side. Garrus looked at the woman to the side of the Human male and instantly recognized her features.

"Admiral Shepard," he said and stuck his hand out.

"Garrus Vakarian, it is a such a pleasure to finally meet you, sweetie," she said and ignored his hand but instead leaned up to give him a warm hug. "I've heard so much about you from Eliza." For a moment he wasn't sure what to do, but hugged her back feeling a bit shocked by the warm welcome. She pulled back and took his hands in hers. "And please, dear, call me Hannah."

"She's told me a lot about you too." She quirked a brow at him that strongly reminded him of the woman he loved and her had to suppress a smile.

"All good I hope?"

"Of course," he laughed and turned towards the others behind him. "Have you met the rest of the crew?" She shook her head and smiled at the them warmly.

After all the introductions were over she looped her arm through Hackett's who gave her a loving smile then looked back at the crew of the Normandy.

"How about we go surprise her? It's been years since I've seen her and I'm dying to see my daughter."

As they made their way towards the building Shepard was staying in Hannah turned towards him with a frown on her face.

"This may sound funny and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, sweetie, but I think we should save the best for last." Garrus looked down at her, his mandibles fluttering in confusion and she laughed at the look on his face, placing a hand his arm. "She's going to be looking for you the whole time, more than everyone else because she loves you."

"Great idea!" Tali exclaimed, visibly bouncing on the balls of her feet, her pants jiggling in time with her movements.

"I totally want to make Shepard think that you're not here, you know as kind of payback for making us think that she was dead. Just sayin'," Joker piped up, smiling like a dumbass.

Part of him wanted to say no but the other half of him wanted to be completely alone with her so he could hold her, kiss her and caress her skin. That part one out and nodded reluctantly. "Okay, sounds good I guess," he scratched his head. Hannah patted his arm and with a smile she was tugged away by Hackett who was just as eager to see Eliza followed by the rest of the Normandy crew with Garrus trailing behind them, planning out what he was going to say to her.

It had been almost seven months since he had held her in his arms, since he had ran his hands through her hair, and trailed his mouth over her throat. Seven months since he had watched her walk in front of him, since he had heard her voice in person, since he had eaten any meal with her.

He was nervous, he was overjoyed. He was unsure, he was doubtless.

He patted his pants pocket, feeling for the velvet black box that held a silver ring with two diamonds flanking the blue sapphire in the middle to match his markings. With all of his research he had stumbled upon the Human tradition of giving a ring to the woman to mark her as his and though he had already asked her to be a "one Turian kind of woman" he wanted to make it official by both his culture and hers. She wasn't the most feminine woman he knew but Tali had said that she would love it.

On their last shore leave at the Citadel he had asked Tali if she would go with him since he needed a female's opinion and when he had seen the ring he knew it was what he wanted. Tali had agreed, commenting on how it matched him so he had bought it, paying a hefty one thousand credits for it, but he would have spent all of his money if he had too.

He heard Jack say, "Fucking finally. I suck at this."

"What?" Shepard said and he closed his eyes, letting her throaty voice wash over him.

"Nothin'. You'll see in a minute. I gotta go. Don't go anywhere or I'll hit you a shockwave." The door opened with Shepard's laugh drifting out and the crew, including Hannah and Hackett, hurriedly moved to the side hoping to avoid Shepard seeing them, shushing each other. Jack strode out then smiled at them, something that they were all getting used to. "Jesus fucking Christ, I thought I'd have to chit-chat with her all damn day. Good to see you guys all in one fucking piece."

To everyone's surprise the first person she hugged (hugs – from Jack?) was Tali commenting on how "fucking hot" she was. Tali rolled her eyes and smiled at her. Jack turned to EDI and smirked at her. "Like the sexbot look." Joker glared at her and she laughed, waving him off before jerking him (albeit lightly) to her in a soft hug. "Your snarky attitude is the shit, you little crippled fucker." Joker snorted and pulled away with an embarrassed look on his face. "Vakarian! Damn have I missed your dry humor, buddy." Garrus found himself pulled down into a tight hug, with her hand patting his back and he reciprocated the action, shaking his head. She noticed the odd looks and shrugged after she pulled away. "Blame the bubbly butt cheerleader."

"I heard that, Jack." Miranda walked around the corner followed closely by Wrex, Grunt, Samara, Kasumi, Zaeed and Jacob.

"Garrus!" Wrex, Grunt and Zaeed cried while Kasumi darted with Samara following at Tali smothering her in tight hug and conversing in hushed tones with her and Samantha over her appearance and hair. Jacob greeted Kaidan, Steve and Vega while Miranda and Jack crowded around EDI, Joker, Liara and Javik. The Krogan's punched him in the shoulder and he laughed.

"Took your sweet time, Turian."

"Didn't think you'd ever get here."

"I had faith, sort of," Zaeed said greeting him with what Shepard called the "bro-hug".

After about fifteen minutes of well deserved reunions amongst the different crews, Hannah and Hackett palmed the door and entered. Each time the crew entered the room Shepard practically squealed. Finally it was Garrus' turn to enter and he turned to towards the door with an encouraging smile from Tali.

He took a deep breath and pressed his fist against the door.

When he entered she was turned towards the window, her back towards him. He let the door shut behind him and quietly leaned against the wall, drinking in the sight of her standing merely five feet away from him. It would only take him a few strides to reach her, turn her around and crush him to him, but it wasn't time yet.

It seemed that whatever Wrex had been feeding her had helped. She looked healthy and normal, not at all how she had looked when he had seen her for the first time after the battle on Earth through the QEC. Her hips flared out and her waist was still small but he could see the weight she had gained.

Her hair was longer, he noticed. It came to almost her shoulder blades in golden red waves and he longed to touch it, but he wanted to just look at her.

At least when she had turned herself in to the Alliance for destroying an entire Batarian system he had an inkling that he would see her again but when she shoved him and Tali aboard the Normandy telling him that she would always love him before taking off for the beam and Harbinger he didn't know, he had no idea if he would see her again alive, whole and in front of him, warm and breathing.

She sighed and tilted her head, her shoulders slumping; now it was time. "What're you thinking about?" he asked, his voice rumbling through the room. He knew what she was thinking, but he wanted her to look at him, wanted to hear her voice.

It was as if time stopped and they were in slow motion when she turned, first her head, then torso then her hips followed by her legs and she sprinted at him. He caught her, his arms curling around her back, his face burying in her hair, breathing in the scent and he couldn't control his sub-vocals as they cried in joy.

He pulled back to cup her face, thumbing away the happy tears that streamed down her face and swallowed at the hard lump in his throat. Most didn't think that Turians could cry, but they were wrong. She wiped his own tears away, tilting her head up and he captured her mouth, moist and pliant beneath his own barely pliable, leather like ones.

She opened her mouth under his, her soft, rose like tongue sliding into his mouth and he knew that this was what heaven was like. Her cool slim arms slipped around his neck and she pressed herself against him, molding her soft Human body against his hard Turian one.

"I missed you so much," she whispered, her eyes looking over his face while her fingers traced his blue markings. "I saw everyone else, but when I didn't see you I-"

"That was your mother's idea," he amended quickly. She laughed and kissed him again, squeezing him tightly.

"Remind me to kill her later, but right now I need to feel you against me, to know that is real and not just a dream." He tipped her head back and sucked on her pulse point, growling at the sigh that escaped her parted lips.

He walked them backwards towards her bed, tugging her shirt out of her pants and running his hands over her smooth abdomen, relishing in the softness of her, the warmth of her skin against his hands. He pulled at the hem and she lifted her arms, letting him pull it over her head and throw it to the side, his mouth descending to the tops of her breasts pressing heady kisses against the soft swells of flesh.

His fingers jerked at the button on her pants and he pushed them down over her hips, before stepping back and memorizing her every curve, mole and freckle. He didn't have long since her hands reached out and undid the fastenings on his tunic, pushing it over his shoulders; her hands caressing every inch of plates and flesh that she revealed and her mouth kissing every part her hands hadn't touched.

"Eliza," he moaned, his deep voice reverberating off the walls. Her nimble fingers played at the top of trousers, dipping in and out quickly. He unclasped her bra, pulling it off her shoulders and down her arms his eyes feasting on her breasts taking in the light pink of her areoles and the hardened peaks of her nipples.

He dipped his head down and ran his tongue over the textured nipples, gripping her hips when she moaned. "Garrus I need-"

He pushed her back onto the bed and stripped himself out of his clothing as she peeled her panties off and then he was atop of her, his mouth at her neck running his tongue over the scar he left while her hands scrambled to find purchase on his shoulders, her hips tilting up to meet his erection.

He slid into her and buried his face in the crook of her neck, groaning as he placed her legs on his hips. Her eyes fluttered shut, her breath coming out in a fast exhale and her body clench around him. When she was ready he pulled out until the tip of him was inside of her before thrusting back inside, sheathing himself with her wet warmth.

He lifted away from her and her legs slid down with her feet planted on the bed, her hands squeezing and kneading her breasts as his finger found her clit, rubbing around it in circles before softly applying pressure to the swollen bud of flesh with a filed talon.

Unable to contain himself he pulled out of her, much to her dismay if her frustrated cried were any indication, and kissed his way down her body, swirling his tongue inside her naval breathing in her natural and arousal scent.

He slid a finger inside of her to coat him in her juices before running the appendage over her folds, stroking downwards and dipping into her before pressing against her clit. He nipped at her thigh, encouraged by her breathless sighs and licked at the abused flesh, kissing his way up her thigh to the junction that connected her hip to thigh.

Her hips lifted in a silent plea and he obliged, running his tongue along her lips and pulled them apart to give special attention to the engorged, glistening bud nestled at the top of her labia. He flattened his tongue, laving at the pink bud, closing his eyes when her hips lifted against his face, silently begging for release.

It had been so long since he tasted her, felt her pussy around his finger as his rough, blue tongue danced across her clit and sucked on her lips, pulling them into his mouth.

When her body went rigid, her cunt clenched around his fingers and he lapped up every drop of her, trying, desperately, to memorize the taste of her against his tongue and the spasmodic tightening of her pussy around his finger.

He needed to feel her orgasm around him and he pulled away, letting her hands coax him up her body until he slid inside of her, tossing his head back.

Feeling her orgasmic tremors around his cock was almost enough to send him over the edge, but he wanted to feel her come around him, milking his cock to completion.

He thrust in and out of her, pulling her left leg around his hip while pushing her other leg up towards her chest, snapping his hips back before slamming them against her, getting lost in her breathy moans and his name tumbling from her Human lips like it was life line to pull her away from the dangers of the open sea.

"I love you," she whispered against his neck before her mouth found his mandible, her wet mouth sliding over the scarred one and sucking diligently. His movements stuttered for a moment at her proclamation before he found his rhythm again, breathlessly uttering the same words to her before sinking his teeth into her neck.

She cried out in a mix of pain and pleasure as her orgasm ripped through her, her body clenching around him as she moaned his name pushing him into oblivion before her blunt white teeth sunk into his hard flesh, bringing him to the highest depths of ecstasy.

The heat of their combined orgasm, twining with one another through time and space, sent shocks like a supernova exploding through their bodies, radiating into one another before they finally fell and settled in the burning afterglow of their love making.

After he caught his breath he cupped her face in his large palm and placed a soft kiss on her lips, both of her cheeks, her lids and back to her lips.

"I love you more than anything, Eliza." She smiled up at him, her lids heavy with their post-orgasmic love making.

"I know you do," she whispered, her hand gliding over his face. He pulled away and groped for his pants. She laughed at him, asking him what he was doing but he just smiled, as he found what he was looking for.

He pulled the black velvet box out from his pocket, curling his fingers around it and flopping back onto the bed near her side watching as she turned to him, throwing a curious look at his fisted hand before looking back at him.

"I," he cleared his throat, propping himself up on his elbow. "I wanted to this properly, but I can't wait." She quirked a brow at him, her arm sliding around his waist. He opened his hand and let her take the box.

When she opened it, her face fell into a shocked look that not even Commander Shepard could have hidden and he smiled.

"Will you be my wife?"

Epilogue

His shuttle touched down as he grabbed his bag and paid the man for his services as the door opened. He hopped out, eager to get to inside and greet his wife and kids. It had been a week since he had seen them and he was bursting at the seams to hold them in his arms.

He and Shepard had talked about Turian-Human babies, but had been ever doubtful that it would work so they had approached Liara asking if she would help them. She had agreed wholeheartedly and they had conceived two beautiful human baby girls.

Jane had Garrus' blue eyes and his affinity for sniper rifles, even at a young age while Chelsea had inherited her mother's green eyes, freckles and thoughtful expressions.

It wasn't until the girls were older that Eliza had confessed that she wanted a Turian baby and that was how they had ended up with David and Cleobis. They had searched for a surrogate Turian mother until his sister had almost slapped them both saying that she was more than willing and Liara had once agreed to be a bridge between the two Turians and Human.

He opened the door to their house on Aite and was rewarded with cries from his children screaming that he was home as their little hands and arms engulfed him, almost toppling him but he laughed and kissed each of them on top of their heads, smiling as Eliza stepped out of the kitchen tossing a towel over her shoulder.

"You're early," she said, crossing the space and giving him a light kiss on the lips.

"I couldn't stay away for long," he replied as his kids darted off to their playroom in a fit of happy giggles that their father was home.

"Good thing too. They were getting restless." He raised a brow at her, his mandibles flaring in a grin.

"You've handled a full crew. Surely you could handle a few children." She shrugged and motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen. He caught her waist in his long arm and turned her towards him, sliding his hand into her hair while giving her a long kiss. She pulled away with a blush and a promise in her eyes that they would have time to themselves later.

"Sure, but that was years ago."

He laughed and nodded, understanding her plight but knowing that her words were just that. Words.

This was their heaven and it was a damn good one.