A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life

(A short about a normal day for Tali and Colin Shepard)



The way the ring sparkled was beyond beautiful. The fact that the love of her life gave it to her as his wish to marry her made it even more beautiful.

"Tali?" Colin walked into the room to find Tali at his desk holding the ring. "Has there been a moment that you haven't been looking at that?"

"No." from the way she answered he knew she was wearing a smirk.

"Are you giving me lip?"

"No, but I would like to." Shepard's eyebrows shot up.

"Now that's what I like to hear." Tali got up and walked slowly toward him.

"Do you?" she wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled at her. Bending down he put one arm behind her knees, the other went to the small of her back. With a quick jerk he picked her up effortlessly. Instead of walking toward the bed like she thought he would he moved to the elevator. Didn't she make it obvious what she wanted? Maybe she did it wrong. Colin must have read her mind because he gave her a squeeze.

"Today I just want to spend time with you. Let's pretend that there is nothing in this galaxy but the two of us. No Reapers. No work. No stress." Even though the Commander couldn't see her face it was blushing.

"Shepard." EDI greeted over the elevators COM.

"What is it EDI?"

"Jack and Grunt are sparring in the cargo hold. Twenty-three percent of the supplies have been ruined."

"What?!? Do those two know what shore leave means?" heaving out a huge sigh he set Tali down and leaned over to change the elevators destination. "Can you wait by the airlock? I'll take care of this as quickly as I can." The elevator slowed to a stop.

"Don't take too long, I have plans for you later to night." Tali told him as he got off.

"Oh? What do you have planed?"

"You'll just have to find out."

"That's cruel to keep your Commander waiting."

"Are you pulling rank on me?" a sly glint came to Colin's eye.

"Maybe." Tali reached out to move the elevator up a couple of floors. Just before the doors finished closing Tali called out.

"You still have to wait."

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Forty-five minutes later Tali was still waiting. Her omni-tool pinged, activating it she saw a message from Shepard.

Tali it seems that Jack and grunt did more damage then we first thought. We're going to have to put our time alone on hold for now. I need you down in engineering to see what power lines they cut.


Commander Colin Shepard

Tali sighed. She had a feeling that this was going to happen. He must have been really mad if he used his rank and name. She was going to have to ask Joker to give her the video footage later. Resigning herself to that fate she walked to the elevator.

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Three hours later Tali knew she was going to kill that Biotic and Krogan. They had not only screwed up the whole power grid but they had also disabled one of the engines. One hand stoked her shotgun entertaining the thought. Colin was still out buying the parts needed to repair all the damage and to replace the supplies lost. A pair of arms made their way around her. That touch she knew very well. Turing she found the Commander's eyes looking deeply into hers.

"As much as I want to sweep you off your feet right now…(sigh) I got all the parts you need. How long are you going to be?"  Tali took a moment to think about it.

"No less than two hours." Colin's shoulders slumped.

"I'm beginning to think that one day without any interruptions is too much to ask." Tali rubbed his arm comfortingly.

"I'm thinking the same thing. Why don't you wait in your cabin? I'll come up when I'm done."

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Two and a half hours later Tali was in the elevator on her way up to Shepard's room. When the doors to his cabin opened she couldn't see him. Walking farther in, she saw that he had taken one of his nightstands and moved it to the middle of the room. On top were a chess set with two drinks on either side of the board. Moving down the steps she saw something move to her right. Turing her head she found Colin asleep on the couch. His hair and the front of his clothes were wet. Looking down a little she saw a wet spot on the floor. By the looks of it he had tried everything to stay awake for her. She brought a hand to her chest. He was always thinking of others and never of himself. As gently as she could, she laid down next to him. She snuggled up to him, her back pressed against his chest. His arms instinctively pulled her tighter to him.

"Time to get up already?" He joked.

"I'm sorry I woke you up."

"And miss seeing you? Don't be." She could hear the smile in his voice. "What did you have planned for me today?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm going to do it another time." there was a moment of silence while Shepard yawned.

"So you ready to spend the rest of the day, I mean, night together?" Turing her head so she could see him out of the corner of her eye she reached out to put her two fingers on his eyebrow. Sliding them slowly down she forced him to close his eyes.

"This is perfect."