A/N: Well I couldn't figure out something good for SST this week, but for some reason writing a short ditty about Liara/Shepard as teachers worked fine? Not sure this is in the right tone or style to fit with SST so here we are, a place where I can place any spin off stories from the other side of the isle as they come to me. Let me know what you think!

Liara quietly scrubbed the erasers back and forth on the cleaning grate and listened both to the sound of the Inter-Galactic Public Radio and students leaving for the day. Overall it had been a decent day. Her usual behaviorally challenged students had only acted out a few times, she had managed to actually eat a lunch and take a restroom break, her IEP meeting had only involved one instance of pouting and shouting, and the grading database had only crashed twice while Liara had input grades. Really, that was a pretty solid day now that she considered it. To top it all off she had even gotten to talk with Jane today.

Admittedly about introducing rugby as a team sport next year.

Arguing about it really.

And perhaps it had ended with Liara implying that Shepard was still a jarhead.

And Shepard thinking it was a compliment.

And Liara folding on the whole argument in a fit of annoyance, embarrassment, and fondness.

"Hey Li, you in there? I can hear that IGPR going. Students are staring. It's so cold out here. Liara?"

Liara rolled her eyes even as she double checked that, yes, her air conditioner was still broken and yes, it was still a balmy 82 degrees in her room. Liara stretched a moment before walking to her door, pulling back the butcher paper a scant inch to peak out at the human who was caught making faces. Liara felt it was even polite that she waited for Jane to pull her tongue back into her mouth before opening the door.

"Password?" Liara asked, trying to make her voice sound threatening or grave.

"I have a bag filled with lemon drops and a thermos of tea." Jane smiled and jiggled her camo printed rucksack. Even with all her badges and name pulled off, the fluffy side of the Velcro was still on her old marine pack and it never failed to make Liara smile.

"I was looking for please, but that is much preferable." Liara smiled and stepped back allowing Jane into her room. Liara purposefully did not make eye contact with a high maintenance student who had begun to run for her door with an essay held aloft, and quickly shut and locked the door. It was 3:00 PM, Goddess go home child!

Jane had already put her bag down and swung her feet up onto a desk, the goods placed next to her. "I come bearing gifts and peace offerings." She smiled even as she drank a soda and nudged one of the erasers with the toe of her shoe.

Liara smiled and wiped her white dusted hands off absentmindedly on her dress, before realizing what she'd done and winced. Two white smudges now marred the green front and Liara rubbed at her head in annoyance, earning a laugh from her companion.

"Going for gold T'Soni? Sit down and drink some weak tea." Shepard waved lazily at the banged up thermos and failed to suppress a chuckle. "Also, maybe a damp paper towel for your head?"

"What?" Liara asked as Jane pointed at her forehead. She spared one more annoyed glance at her still dusty hands before flopping down and rubbing her arm against the spot she'd touched. "Oh shush."

Jane simply laughed harder and began to pull out papers that needed grading, pulling out a red pen to go with it.

It had come down a few weeks back at a staff meeting that teachers were no longer supposed to use red to mark papers. Apparently it hurt student's feelings too much and the suggestion had come down to use lavender instead. Jane had laughed during that meeting until she realized they were serious, and then complained that in the Marines poor performance was rewarded with extra work, yelling, pushups, and a complaint about how soft kids were these days. Something Liara had found absolutely rich considering Jane was barely two decades older than the students. Of course being asari probably had something to do with the humor there. Wrex threatened to eat her if she used red, and Jane threatened to make him present in her class. Miranda had given Jane a lavender pen and Jack had stolen it to write crude remarks on Jane's arm. With one sleeve rolled down to cover her temporary ink and the lavender pen angrily jammed behind her ear Jane had declared that the school board could fight her in person if they cared that much and invested in red pens.

Liara failed to hide her own amusement with the memory as she popped a few lemon drops into her mouth.

"Look, if you're going to laugh at me the least you could do is switch the radio to ANN instead of your liberal pinko crap?" Her tone was joking and eyes dancing as Jane grumped. "Because I have to get these grades in tonight."

Liara glared mildly at the human. "Jane, please tell me those aren't their review grades. The ones you were supposed to upload a week ago."

Jane glanced at her before looking back at the papers. "Alright, I won't tell you that then."

"Jane!"

"Shh, I'm trying to get some work done here? Wow, rude!"

Liara rolled her eyes and grabbed half the stack from her. "You are lucky I like you; give me a pen and the answer sheet. Why do you even do this in hard copy?"

Jane looked at her in disbelief, then her chalk board, then back at her. "Seriously you are not allowed to judge me miss, 'I do things the old fashioned way like my grandma!'"

Liara tried to ignore that with dignity and grace. "My grandmother was using computers and the internet while your people were probably still learning basic hygiene." Ok so maybe more like a petulant child.

"Ha! We're still learning basic hygiene. I swear the boys in my class think that cologne is an appropriate cover up instead of showering and the girls spritz their cucumber melon mist around because they like the sound it makes." Jane paused to dramatically sniff at her arm pit. "Come to think of it, when was my last shower?"

"Barbarian." Liara mumbled around the hard candy as she marked off another question on Elissa's paper. In a fit of pity she awarded half a point for a small stick figure the girl had drawn blocking an electron.

"Priss-pot."

The two continued grading in silence Stephen Trinsky excitedly talked on the radio about the way that alien cultures influence each other, with a focus on Salarians who had taken to disco like no one's business. Jane made faces every few minutes at the report even as she sung along to a few lyrics that were played. They both ignored the knock on the door from a student outside, although Jane did glare at the door until it stopped.

Liara smiled, yeah, perfect way to end the day.