Hard Choices

A/N: When I started writing this, my intent was to have this story to be just about Liara and Shepard. but after I started writing. It started to take a life of it own. I am sorta bridging the gap between ME2 and ME3. I don't think any Cerberus crew members outside of Joker, Chakwas, Donnelly, and Daniels will be aboard the Normandy at the beginning of ME3. So, I'm going with my thought on that.

I have contained a few spoilers about ME3 sorta.(what I know of) Or I hint at them anyway. You've been warned. :) Most of this is pure speculation on my part. But isn't that the fun of fanfics?

Also, I don't own any of the characters or Mass Effect, but I think BioWare for allowing their fans to have fun playing in their universe.

Enjoy.

Chapter I

Commander Leia Shepard, first human Spectre, hero of Elysium and savior of the Citadel is in the middle of a debrief from Admiral Hackett about the destruction of a bartarian system. The very system that Hackett asked Shepard to go to so she could rescue Dr. Kenson from prison. Dr. Kenson was being held on terrorism charges. Shepard got her out without any major issues, but once on the shuttle Dr. Kenson told Shepard that she had information about a incoming Reaper invasion. Once back at their project base, Kenson betrays Shepard to the Reaper artifact. She fought off the guards, a heavy mech, but eventually Shepard was knocked out by the artifact. By keeping Shepard sedated for little over two days, Dr. Kenson forced Shepard to kill 305,000 batarians. Shepard did try to warn the colony, but Kenson didn't allow the communications to go through.

Hackett is speaking, "...when Earth calls, you make sure you're there with your dress blues on, ready to take the hit..." Hackett hands back the data pad of Shepard's report.

Shepard's only response was, "Yes, Sir." Hackett then leaves the Normandy. Shepard just stands there dumbfounded that one, Hackett was aboard the Normandy in the first place with it being a Cerberus vessel. Even though he didn't think it was a Cerberus ship now days. Which he was correct on. Shepard never was with Cerberus. She was used, lied to, and set up by The Illusive Man more than one time in their brief time working with each other. The second thing that left Shepard speechless and dumbfounded was she was going to be the Alliance's scapegoat in all of this.

Dr. Chakwas returns to the medical bay where the Admiral Hackett debrief the Commander. She notices the dumbfounded look on Shepard's face, "Commander, are you alright? You look a little pale."

Shepard barely heard the doctor's inquiry. After a brief moment, Shepard finally snapped out of her daze and asked, "What did you say, doctor?" A slight barely noticeable smile crossed Leia's lips.

Chakwas repeated her inquiry, "Are you alright, Commander? You looked a little pale, but now some of the color is coming back."

Commander Shepard thinks before speaking, Am I alright? Hell, no, I'm not alright, but I will be. Leia finally speaks, "No, doctor, I am not alright, but it isn't anything you can help with."

The doctor places her hand on Shepard's shoulder, "You sure I can't help?"

"Yes, doc, I'm sure. I just have to figure out what to do next is all. I don't think you can help with that," Shepard said with a hint of frustration in her voice. Dr. Chakwas nodded to Shepard as Shepard left the medical bay to go back to her cabin to think about what happened over the past few days.

Dr. Liara T'Soni is busy looking over the terminals at her new home, the Shadow Broker base flying in Hagalaz' atmosphere. Liara was right about one thing, you couldn't hear the constant lightning storm the ship always flies in. One message makes her blink and she re-reads it. Oh, Goddess, the whole Bahak gone? How? Another report comes across the screen. This one mentions the Normandy. Goddess, Leia, what did you do? Liara puts her hand over her mouth in shock. Could she really believe what she was seeing? Could Shepard really destroy a whole system?

The asari walks away from the terminals and sits on the couch, opens the storm shutters, so she could look outside at the constant storm. T'Soni is unsure whether or not to contact the Commander. Even more unsure what to say if she did sent a message. Liara sighs heavily thinking, What do I say to her the next time we are together? There has to be an explanation for what happened, but none of the reports state any. Just the Normandy was seen near the system and now the system is gone. I know Shepard, this isn't like her. She couldn't kill the rachni queen that her mother, Benezia had in a tank and extracted information from and gave to Saren. Benezia also gave that info to Shepard before she died in front of both Shepard and Liara.

Commander Shepard is staring at her fish tank watching the school of Thessian Sunfish swim around. Leia finds it odd that she could relax while watching fish swim around. Shepard is a little more relaxed, but still has too much on her mind. Why me? Why do I have to take the hit? I keep trying to do the right thing, but it seems to blow up in my face. Damn you, Kenson. This is your fault, I tried... Shepard sat down on the top step next to the fish tank. She puts her hands over her face to hold back the tears she feels coming. Steel yourself, Leia. The crew needs for you to stay focused. Maybe this is the time to let them know that I will turn myself in to the Alliance. If anyone wants to leave, I wouldn't be surprised. Kenson was right, the Reapers are coming and they are close. Too close. The Alliance isn't ready and neither is the Council.

EDI's blue avatar appears in the Commander's quarters, "Shepard, both Garrus and Tali'Zorah would like to speak with you."

Shepard wipes her face with a tissue then blows her nose. She never understood why tears brought a runny nose too. It's just weird. "Let them in, EDI. Thank you."

EDI unlocks the door without any response. Both Garrus and Tali see Shepard still sitting on the top step. Tali gives Garrus a concerned look, but she wasn't sure if Garrus noticed through her mask. Tali asks, "Shepard, you okay?"

Garrus just stood there not sure what to say. Neither him nor Tali have ever seen Shepard in this state before. They both were eating when Admiral Hackett was debriefing Shepard and he didn't look all that pleased when he left. Maybe that is how he always looked, they didn't know. They did know that Shepard looked like she was hit with heavy warp field when she left the medical bay. Garrus finally spoke up, "Shepard, we are here if you need anything."

Shepard finally got rid of the lump that was in her throat so she could speak, "No, I'm not okay, but like I told Dr. Chakwas. I will be fine. I just need to figure out what to do next." Shepard is now just looking at the floor instead of looking at two of her closest friends. Garrus puts his hand on Shepard's shoulder and Tali sits next to her.

Garrus says, "Shepard, maybe you should head to Hagalaz and spend some time with Dr. T'Soni. After what happened, I think you could use the time away from the Normandy."

Tali comments, "That would do you some good, Shepard." Tali turned her head to Garrus and gave him a nod that let him know that they should go. "Shepard, if you need anything, please, let us know. We are here for you if you need us to be." Tali stand back up then Garrus and Tali head back out of the Shepard's quarters.

Shepard stand up and faces them both, "Thank you, Garrus. Thank you, Tali. I appreciate your concern, but I will be fine. I'll think about going to Hagalaz, not sure right now if even that is a good idea. I would think Liara has gotten intel on that, but I don't know. What she knows I don't know and I haven't heard from her either."

Garrus was about to hit the down button when Tali walked back out of the elevator. She turns to Garrus saying, "I'll be down in a few." The door to the elevator closes and Garrus goes back to the forward batteries. While Tali decided to talk to Shepard some more and admire her quarters. "Mind if I stay a while, Shepard? You seem like you could use some company?"

Shepard smiles at Tali, "Thank you, and yea, you can stay. Like my fish?" She was trying to change the subject.

"Yes, they are very nice, Shepard," comments Tali as she watches the fish swim around. "I see you also put model ships together too. When do you have the time?"

Leia grins, "I don't sleep much, Tali. I still have some nightmares and after what happened today, I'm sure they will get worse. Instead of sleeping, I put models together. It relaxes me too. That is very helpful."

Tali notices the model of a ship from the Flotilla, "Wow, Shepard, you even have a ship from the Flotilla? Where did you get that?"

Commander Shepard grins more, "When we were on the Alarei."

"What?" There was a shock in Tali's voice. "When did you have time to grab a model, Shepard? We were fighting geth."

Leia now starts to laugh, "I'm that good, Tali. Thought you knew that already." Shepard then flashes a mischievous grin. A beep comes from Shepard's personal terminal. She just ignores it for now and continues, "Tali, I grabbed it before we left the Alarei after wiping out the geth. I didn't get it while we were fighting. I'm surprised you didn't see me take it."

Tali just stood there shaking her head at Shepard, "You still amaze me, Shepard. You do things I've never seen done before and it usually works out in your favor."

The human just shrugs her shoulders then grins at the quarian, "What can I say, Tali' Zorah vas Normandy."

Feron walks in and sees Liara staring out the window. "What's wrong, Liara?" Feron asks. He noticed that she looks a little shaken.

"I'm fine, Feron," replies the asari. I just got some intel that I needed to think over before I decide what to do with it."

"Anything I can help with?" Feron asks.

Liara did appreciate his offer, but knew this wasn't something she wanted to share with him, not yet anyway. Not until she talked to Shepard first. T'Soni sighs slightly while getting off the couch and goes back to the terminals to try and find out more information on what is going on in Bahak system or what happened there. She finally replies to the drell, "No, Feron, there isn't anything you can do to help. I will let you know if you can help later."

Feron nods to the asari then says, "I'm making something to eat. Want anything?"

"Yes, thank you. Food does sound good. Come and get me when your done cooking, please," replied Liara as she once again has her eyes glued to the computer terminals. Liara finally decided to sent a message to the love of her life, Commander Leia Shepard. Just to let her know, she should stop by and talk. Dr. T'Soni knows that is probably what Leia needs to most right now. She has a few trusted friends aboard the Normandy, but more Cerberus personal than actual people Shepard trusts. She starts typing out a message:

Leia-

I would like for you to come and visit me soon. I miss you, Leia.

Love,

Liara

Liara sighs again, thinking that she needed to say more, but didn't want to put much information in the message. Even though we are light years apart, I know you are hurting right now. I hope you come soon. I would join you, if I had the information about how to defeat the reapers. I'm still working on that. So many files to go through. Goddess I hope, I find something before they arrive. I know they are coming. Liara hits the send button. Not the best message in the galaxy, but then Shepard always likes hearing from T'Soni. No matter the subject.

About twenty minutes later, Feron tells Liara know that their food was done and ready to eat.

Tali just looked at Shepard then shook her head, "I think you are feeling a little better now, Shepard. I'll leave you alone. I know you have a message. I bet you 25 credits that message is from Dr. T'Soni."

Leia gave Tali a huge friendly hug, "Thank you. It's either from Liara, Cerberus, or the Alliance. I know The Illusive Man still thinks this is his ship. Well, it's not, it's mine now. Screw him. It's not the first ship I've stolen." Shepard watched Tali leave before looking at the message she received. It reads:

Leia-

I would like for you to come and visit me soon. I miss you, Leia.

Love,

Liara

The message was very welcome. Shepard loves hearing from her lover. I just wish Liara could be with me now. Instead of being cooped up on that ship with Feron. I know Liara, she is spending all of her time looking for ways to help with the reapers. I just hope she finds something before they finally show up. They are coming. "EDI, inform Joker to set a course for Hagalaz." Suppose I owe Tali 25 credits too. Good call, Tali.

EDI's mono-toned voice replies, "Of course, Shepard. I will inform you when we reach the system."

"Thank you, EDI. I think I'm going try and sleep before we get there," comments Shepard. "Also, EDI, my quarters is off limits until we get to our destination."

EDI didn't reply to that last command, but Shepard heard the door to her cabin lock.

Shepard wrote the following reply to Liara:

Liara

I just told Joker to head to Hagalaz. I will be there soon.

Love,

Leia

Yawning, Shepard gets up and head down the few steps to her bed. Leia didn't even change clothes before getting into bed. Shortly after her head hit the pillow she was fast asleep. Tali had calm her down enough for Shepard to finally be tired enough to actually sleep.

See you next week. Reviews are always welcome.