Next chapter is up:
If It Meant Living-69: Catalyst /
DA Link /
AO3.
This chapter covers the Conduit run, the Citadel, and the conversation with the Catalyst - though, rest assured, none of those events are as they appear in the game. It also includes flashbacks to how Shepard met the most important people in her life (and how she always seemed to be running when she did

).
This includes a what I
hope is an utterly adorable scene of how she met Kaidan for the first time, something I have not previously written.
Other than several of the flashbacks, Kaidan does not appear in this chapter. However, anyone who is remotely following the story should read this chapter despite that glaring weakness, for plot reasons. And don't worry, he will be in the next chapter A LOT, I promise. And the chapter after that...
I'm going to deviate from my usual and repost one of my pics - because it's relevant, darn it:
Always by Graceyn