Shopping

"Why are we here?" Shepard grumbled aloud.

"Because we need food, I can only take so many dinners at restaurants,' her companion replied smartly. "And besides you promised me the chance to try Barbie."

"Bar-B-Que," Shepard corrected.

Liara T'soni's brows creased in confusion, "There's a difference?"

"One is only possible through strict diet, possible genetic manipulation, proper breeding and a lot of luck, skill and passion, the others a doll," Shepard replied.

Liara bit her lower lip, "I-" she paused. Tried again "Shepard could you please-" and, her shoulders slumping a bit, gave up, "Let's just get the shopping done."

Containing to grumble to herself Shepard allowed herself to be lead by the arm into the small store on the corner of the street. There wasn't much selection, five or six rows spaced evenly offered pretty much any staple desired; baked goods, seafood, butchers, breakfast cereals and the ever popular soda pop and potato chip aisle, second only to the cookies and cake row.

Which is the one Shepard's feet gravitated toward. Without looking up from her Omnitool, where she was reading the list of things to purchase, Liara reached out and snagged Shepard's elbow, "No," she said sternly. "Necessities first, desserts later."

Her human exhaled huffily, crossed her arms and said, "Fine, but no broccoli!"

"I am not sure I- Oh yes, I remember. The tiny trees vegetable," Liara exclaimed.

"And they just got more unappetizing; thanks for that."

Liara shook a finger in her human's face, "They're supposed to be good for you!"

With a swift movement Shepard grabbed the offending digit and lazily ran the tip of her tongue under Liara's fingernail. The suddenness of it, coupled with the sudden heat nearly drove the asari to her knees.

With her free hand Liara grabbed the back of the commander's neck and pulled her close, "You're not playing fair," she hissed into Shepard's ear.

Shepard stopped suckling on the fingertip with a loud pop,"not even a little," her human's grin was audible. "Besides, I saved the galaxy three times; if I don't want to eat broccoli, then I'm not going to eat broccoli."

With an exasperated sigh, Liara turned away waiting for Shepard to follow. Somehow in their heated exchange from a moment ago the asari had gotten turned around for she now found herself stalking down the dessert aisle. Without look back she held up a finger, "Not a word, Shepard."

Instead of the expected laughter there was only actual silence; Liara glanced over her shoulder to find her lover bent, hands on her knees and staring at one of the lower shelves with intense concentration. Moving to rejoin her human, the asari couched down herself, "What is it?" she asked.

Nodding in the direction of the shelf, Shepard gave Liara a pleading look.

"Oh no!" Liara said flatly, straightening up. "No more chocolate syrup, you ate too much already."

"Hey!" Shepard protested, "Are you saying I'm getting fat?"

"Not at all," Liara shot a wicked grin over her shoulder, "I just still can't get the stains out of the bedding from last time."

"Oh my," a passing shopper gasped.

"Now come on," Liara urged. "I am eager to eat your chick."

"From menage a troi to cannibalism in less that a second," Shepard muttered.

"Chicken," Liara corrected. "Oh and Shepard, it wouldn't be cannibalism in my case."

"You did that on purpose!" Shepard cried, "No fair!"

With an extra sway to her hip and laughter bubbling around her words Liara said, "Not even a little."

Shepard hurried to catch up.