'Now kiss me.'

The words come out more aggressively than I intend, but the wave of arousal that washes over me, the feelings of the human lying beside me, reassures me that I have not gone too far.

She kisses me, tenderly, so tenderly and the feeling of her lips on mine, the beautiful melding of our minds almost causes me to cry out with joy.

This is more than I could ever have imagined. More than I could have ever wanted. After so long... so much heartache, let-down, fear; that after all we had done over the time we were apart the spark would have gone. The doubts are gone, now. I feel safe, as our minds are wrapped together, our bodies pressed against each other. Safe, and wanted.

Faith deepens the kiss, and her hand gently strokes the sensitive folds at the back of my head. Does she know how much such a touch affects asari? As if in response to the thought, I catch an echo of her confused emotions. Reassurance, happiness... and a tiny touch of shame. She learned this from Morinth, the ardat yakshi who assaulted her. But I will not let that chapter of her life ruin this moment, a thought that echoes the human's exactly.

As she continues to stroke, the touch draws a groan from me, tingling through my lips, and I am very suddenly aware that we are much too dressed for the occasion. This is entirely new territory for both of us... but I know what to do. Unlike humans, my people embrace our sensuality, our sexuality, and are taught just how to use it, although the lessons always left me feeling cold and uncomfortable. I was educated before humans had arrived on the galactic scene but when I was on the Normandy I became... interested... and did some research on my own, hoping nobody would enter my room as the images flashed across the screen.

Ensuring our minds stay linked, ready to slow down or stop at any hint of fear or discomfort, I push Faith to her back and straddle her. Her eyes are wide, slightly startled, but more than a little excited. Before I can convince myself this is all a bad idea, I draw my hands to the top buttons of my red blouse, and flashing Faith a smile - that I can feel sends her heart into overdrive - begin to unbutton. Nudity holds no taboo amongst the asari... but I feel more anxious now than I ever have. As if sensing my hesitation, warm hands, tough from years of combat but the touch gentle, draw mine away and take their place, deftly unbuttoning before moving away, leaving the blouse hanging loosely. Faith can no doubt see I am bare beneath it.

I arch my shoulders back, and the garment slides from my shoulders, down my arms, and I catch it with one hand to throw it aside.

'God, she's beautiful.'

I catch the stray thought amongst the tangle of emotions coming from the human, and it reassures me that this is happening, this is ok, and that most of all, we both want this. Her hands draw up my sides, trailing fire across my skin, stopping just below my breasts. I feel her anxiety,uncertainty, and project my own excitement, anticipation. If she stops now... Goddess, I do not believe I could stop myself. The contact finally comes, and I feel another deep groan torn from me at just how gently the warrior's touch is, sending a deep heat burning throughout my body.

She grows more confident, strengthening her touches, her caresses, and my body arcs instinctively into her touch, pressing my breasts into her firm grip, and I want... need... more, and for that...

I open my eyes, vision swimming as our minds remain joined, and look down at the woman I have pinned to the bed. Her eyes are raking over my body, a wonder in them that I know just how to exploit. I reach down and touch the zipper at Faith's neck, before stopping. She gives a small nod, and I slowly pull it down, shuffling down her body as I reach the end, and draw the jacket open, marvelling at the body beneath it. She is wearing a sports bra, and my vision is drawn down to her wonderful golden body, hard muscles showing through, rippling slightly as she pulls herself up, allowing me to push the jacket from her. Rather than lying back down, she catches my eye, and gives a shy smile as she raises her arms.

It takes my overwhelmed brain a second to realise what she wants, but as soon as I do I waste no time, peeling the offending garment off over her head, and she finally lies back again, face unreadable, but emotions speaking of an excitement, nervousness, that mirrors my own.

She is beautiful.

Her shoulders are broader than my own, muscles more pronounced, but she is soft in just the right places, as I draw my hands over her smaller breasts, fascinated by the way the skin darkens at the tips... her back arcs and breath hitches as I gently stroke, and I feel the powerful urge once again, echoed throughout our minds. I lean down, loving the sensation of our bare bodies pressed into each other, hers slightly warmer than mine, and take her lips once more.

'I love you'

The thought rings through us both, always there, without an origin, a beginning, or, if the Goddess permits, an end.

'How long do you think they'll be up there?' Garrus asked, to nobody in particular. A few of the ground crew, having no immediate duties, had taken up residence in the lounge. Drinks were being shared, stories told (and exaggerated... he had a reputation to uphold, after all), and cards casually tossed around the table.

'Keelah Garrus, did you really have to ask that? Some of us are trying not to think about it.' He turned to the quarian at his side, amused. Tali was such fun to tease, but before he could reply a voice rang over the intercom.

Speak for yourself. I'm sure I'm not the only one... thinking... about it.

'Joker you sick bosh'tet, are you going to come down here? It's not like we'll be going anywhere any time soon.'

Jeff has expressed the desire to remain on the bridge, though his enthusiasm diminished when I informed him that I would not play the video feed from Shepard's cabin.

A cough rang through the speakers, and everybody present had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable, before Samara, an unexpected guest tonight, spoke up gently. 'Liara is a beautiful young maiden, full of passion and the desire to explore. I suggest we make no plans involving Shepard for some time.'

'Err...' It was not often Garrus could not think of a suitable quip, as the elder asari smiled mysteriously and took a sip of water.

'Operative Lawson, do you have an update?' The figure, sitting in its characteristic relaxed pose, cigarette and whisky in hand as always, asked in an emotionless voice.

'Yes sir. Shepard and T'Soni eliminated the Shadow Broker as intended, but our own plans will have to be placed on hold for some time.' Miranda had played this conversation out in her head several times... The Illusive Man did not like changing his operations.

'Explain.'

'Rather than take the Broker's knowledge on the Reapers and join Shepard as we expected, T'Soni has expressed her intention to take the place of the Shadow Broker herself.'

Silence. The Illusive Man took a drag of his cigarette, and looked contemplative. Not usually one to allow a silence to fill the air, Miranda continued. 'I already gave the order for our ships to hold back, and have a recommendation.'

'Go on.' He swirled his drink, the pixellated liquid shimmering in the light of the communications room.

'T'Soni is capable. With her in the Broker's position, we will have indirect access to the largest information network in the galaxy. She will share it with Shepard, and by extension, us.'

'You place great trust in Shepard's willingness to share this data with Cerberus.'

'She's shown her desire to work with us several times now, sir. In reality, she has little choice, while the Alliance and Council continue to turn their backs on her.'

'The plan was to secure the Broker's resources for ourselves. Tell me how this is preferable.' His voice was cold, and Miranda swallowed. Things were easier, before Shepard had taken an interest in her, helped her find and meet her sister. No amount of self-delusion could hide the fact that, if it came to it, the choice between Shepard and Cerberus was one she could no longer answer with certainty.

'The parameters changed. With T'Soni in the Broker's position, any direct move on our part could compromise Shepard, and our relationship with her.'

'Their relationship was one thing we could never ascertain. Are they romantically involved?'

'If they were not before, they are now. T'Soni is on the Normandy as we speak.' Stay cold, stay calm, stay detached... you can make this work.

The Illusive Man was silent for a little while longer, before nodding. 'I'll trust your judgement, Miranda. If I am displeased with the results of this new plan, we will review.'

'Yes sir.'

As the image faded away, Miranda let out a deeply held breath.

It was never supposed to get this complicated.

'Any other business?' spoke Councilor Tevos wearily. It was a private meeting amongst the Council, held in a small meeting room rather than the usual position in the Citadel Tower, the kind of meeting that tended to last far longer than any of its attendees wanted it to.

'I have one.' The newest member of the Council looked as tired as she felt, but they all knew that he was a pragmatic man, and would not waste time with petty requests or trivial matters.

'Go ahead, Anderson.' replied Sparatus, sounding frustrated. Both were military men, and more than once she had restrained herself from telling them to fight it out in the gym, and come back when they were ready to do politics.

'It's about Shepard.' A round of groans, her own included, sounded. Every few weeks, he would raise the issue. 'Come on,' he continued, 'she's one of our Spectres, her current allies aside.'

'What about her?' snapped Sparatus.

'I've received news that she's prepared her ship and crew, and is ready to hit the Collectors through the Omega four relay.'

Tevos shook her head. Shepard was formidable, no doubt, but she had caused the Council far more trouble than she was worth. Just this morning she had received news, rumours with unreliable witness statements, that Shepard had killed one of her own species' star Spectres on Illium. There was no proof... but it was just one more item on the list of frustrations at the woman. With any luck, she would die on this ridiculous suicide mission of hers, and the complications would disappear.

'From where are you receiving this information?' she asked.

'Shepard herself. She still sends me abbreviated reports of her activity. I bring it up now because we should discuss what happens when she gets back.'

'If she even makes it back.' muttered Sparatus, shaking his head.

'If anyone can do it, it's her! What if she comes back and cuts ties with Cerberus? What if she comes back with proof of the Reapers?'

Another chorus of groans. The rumours, which seemed to be getting more out of hand every day, of "The Reapers" were troublesome enough, but Anderson truly believed Shepard's warnings.

In truth, it worried her as well. But... she could not act on superstition and rumours. To move an entire galaxy, she needed proof so overwhelming nobody could question it.

'If that happens, Anderson, we will deal with it then.' she said, closing down the debate. They were all busy people, and did not have time to spend on theorising. 'If there is nothing else, we shall reconvene tomorrow.'

I lie back, panting, feeling every nerve in my body humming to me, an absolute euphoria singing through our minds. Faith was perfect... willing to learn just how to please me, just how to touch me in the ways that left me gasping her name, wishing for more. And judging by the way she lies, arm and leg crossed across my body, skin shining with a thin layer of sweat, I was able to do the same for her.

Faith held nothing back from me. Every memory, every thought, every emotion, she left open to me, even when I told her that she simply had to wish I not see it, for that to be so. As our bodies entangled, minds dancing together, she showed me everything she was. The strength, the convictions, the pure essence of herself. But... there was so much pain there. Everything she endured, from her home burning, to the horrible decisions she made and those she had ordered to their deaths... she held nothing back.

And neither did I. Being the passive partner she could only see what I allowed... but I showed her everything. Opened myself to her, showed her my very core. It was terrifying, but after all we have been through... I would not have it any other way.

And as we made love, all I felt was her warmth and acceptance, despite everything I have done.

As sleep tugs at me, I begin to draw my consciousness back from hers, when I feel her gentle touch on my face.

'Please, Liara... don't go.'

I am exhausted, just as she is... but I hear the absolute need in her voice, feel it echoing throughout my own thoughts.

Leaning in to gently take her lips as she slips into the embrace of sleep, I sink my mind back into hers, revelling in the one clear thought, the one thing she does not question about her life.

Her love for me.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I apologise to my regular readers for the delay in this, I have had some unavoidable things happening in my life I've needed to spend a lot of time with, now luckily all sorted for the time being so I can spend my free time writing again :-)

As always, big thanks to Jay8008 for beta reading this!

As my previous two stories have been roughly canon, but heavily focused on Liara, I have decided to write all of her sections in this story in first person :-) I would love to hear any and all feedback on this. It is the first time I have written this way, so all comments are welcome.

To any first time readers: Thank you for reading! This story jumps in ME2 just after Lair of the Shadow Broker, before the Suicide Mission and Arrival. I would highly recommend reading my ME1 (A Memory Shared, A Connection Forged) and ME2 (Parallel Lives) pieces first, but otherwise here is a summary of everything that has happened to date:

Faith Shepard is a rather private, stoic soldier with a background as the survivor of Mindoir, and the Butcher of Torfan. I don't classify her as "paragon" or "renegade"... she does what she believes is necessary, is not always right, and feels the weight of the responsibility placed on her. Of the main decisions in ME1, she saved the colonists of Feros & Shiala, killed the Rachni Queen, Ashley died on Virmire (Wrex was shouted down), and she saved the Council. In ME2 (up to this point) we have Maelon's data saved (Maelon dead by Faith's hand), the Geth heretics rewritten, Overlord allowed to continue, and Tali was exiled (I just do not believe that a good speech would convince a board of admirals).

There are of course others... but they are the main ones. In ME1, Faith & Liara became close, but in the end Faith turned Liara away, for reasons that make no sense in hindsight :-P One thing that may pop up now and again is that Faith was sexually assaulted by Morinth before Samara could arrive. Also, Cerberus upgraded her biotics, giving her power she has never been trained to use.

I also spent a lot of time with Liara, writing a more complete story for her in ME2, providing some context for the abrupt shift in character we see in the game. I wrote that her work as an information Broker was largely to gather resources she could use to learn more information out about the Reapers, though as yet she found nothing game-changing. She too suffered a horrible attack: Nyxeris tried to prise information from her with a "sleep meld".

Ok I think that's everything! This story will continue all the way through ME3, providing a more satisfying bridge between ME2 and 3, plugging the enormous holes and with any luck providing a better ending (no starbaby. Ever.).

Thanks for reading, and enjoy!