Note- This series is a sequel to two prior stories "The Wedding of Commander Shepard" and "Shepard and Liara Versus the Terminus Ring" However both do not need to be read to understand what's going on.

Chapter 1

Apollo Station, April 11 2169

Her parents didn't bother getting out of uniform. Her birthday was never much of an event, much like any holiday Shepard spent months in foolish anticipation only to be disappointed when her parents told her they would be working. However for the first time in a long time Hannah and James Shepard stood in front of their daughter. James' arms were crossed and he tapped his foot as Hannah hugged her daughter.

"Happy birthday sweetheart!" Hannah said.

"Thanks, Mom." the young Shepard replied as he mother walked back across the table.

James reached behind him and placed a heavy pistol on the table in front of Jane. "Happy Birthday." He said gruffly.

Shepard softly picked up the gun with both hands. It was the first time she had held a firearm. "Thanks, Dad." she said meekly. She didn't know what she expected. Certainly not a gun.

"Oh, James! She's 15!" Hannah protested.

"I was younger than her when I learned to shoot." James grumbled. "It's time she learned."

"She's a young girl. She doesn't..." her mother's words became muffled to her ears.

Shepard sat in silence as her parents fought. They only ever seemed to fight when they were together as rare as it was. Softly she ran her fingers along the gun before setting it back on the table top. Her shoulders slumped and her ears caught her father calling her name. "Jane!" he barked.

Jane looked up. "Yeah?" part of the young girl foolishly expected a second present. Something she would actually want, not that her parents knew her well enough to give her anything she'd enjoy.

"I said I can take you shooting at the Alliance Range. You'd like that right?"

Jane's eyes dropped. "Yeah, Dad." she lied.

Thessia 2188

"Shepard!"

Jane Shepard's eyes jolted open and she scrambled to her feet and sprinted down the stairs towards the sound of her lover's voice. She rounded the corner and Liara sat before her, belly swollen and exhaustion in her face. "Are you alright?" Shepard asked trying to hide the exhaustion in her own voice and the nap she was just woken from.

"Yes, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind..."

"Getting you more Aaris chocolate?"

Liara smiled. "Yes..." she said with a blush.

"Of course." Shepard moved to her side. "Anything else?"

The asari shook her head. "No." she placed a hand the human's face. "I'm sorry. I know I've been such a pain these past few months."

Shepard chuckled. "Not at all. You're pregnant Liara. I think I can handle picking up a few groceries." Liara kissed her wife on the cheek and jumped when the baby kicked again. Shepard placed her hand over Liara's stomach. "Another kick?"

"Yes, she seems quite active recently. I think it's almost time."

"Just a few more weeks the doctor said."

Liara placed her hand over top Shepard's. "Nervous?"

"Nah. But you better believe i'm excited. Any more ideas on names?"

The broker shrugged. "A few but nothing I love. How about you?"

Jane walked over to the front door to slip into her boots. "I don't know. All my names are human."

"Let's hear them."

"Jennifer?"

Liara's face twisted. "No."

"Well what do I know? I don't even like my own first name. I'll be back as soon as I can. Love you." Shepard said and after a short goodbye from Liara the former Commander left their home in search of the asari candy her pregnant wife seemed to have a never ending craving for.

The asari grocery store was crowded and the sight of it was enough to make Shepard groan. She reached back and undid her hair from it's bun and let her black hair fall down past her shoulders hoping it would give her some reprieve from the constant recognition she received everywhere she went. She had long stopped wearing her old uniforms in public and now usually wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, sometimes she even wore her old eye-patch. But still "Fans" seemed to recognize her more often than she would like.

It wasn't that it was annoying, even though it usually was plenty annoying, It was constantly receiving praise for her actions that she hated. Not everything she had done was something to be proud of but nobody seems to remember those things like she did.

The entrance doors swooshed open and she made the increasingly familiar trek to the back of the store to pick up her wife's snack. Aaris chocolate wasn't like typical human chocolate. Like most food on Thessia it was so caked in element zero that non-asari could hardly digest it. One misguided bite was enough to discourage Shepard from ever attempting to taste the "treat" again.

But this wasn't about her, nothing in the past 9 months had been about her. That's how she wanted it, Liara was going through all the work of having a child, but Jane could't deny how much stress she had been under these past few months. Something she had gone to great lengths to hide form Liara.

Shepard had discussed it casually with Liara on many occasions but a fact she desperately attempted to hide when they melded was Jane never planned on having children. It wasn't that she didn't like kids, it's that she had no idea what to do with them. Most of her life was spent in the company of soldiers not children. Jane had no idea how to be a mother...or father. Her own parents had hardly raised her, and that wasn't even touching on her having almost zero experience with asari children.

Liara had Benezia, she'd lived for over a century and she knew how this worked. Certainly more than Jane did. Shepard was feeling more useless with each passing day. And she was scared of what Liara would make of her if she turned out to be the parent she feared she would be.

A few asari in the grocery store shot her looks as she passed by and she dipped her head as Shepard made her way down the aisles. Then out of the corner of her eye Jane saw a young asari girl who couldn't of been more than four. The child was alone and frantically spinning around looking for what Shepard assumed was her parent. Suddenly the girl caught sight of Shepard and her eyes lit up. The girl padded over to Jane and looked up at her.

"Um...hello?" Jane said awkwardly.

"Commander Shepard?" the girl said in a soft voice.

"Can I help you?"

"I lost my mother." The young asari's big blue eyes welled with tears. "You can help right?"

Jane knelt down and nervously placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Yeah sure, sweetie. Just...stop crying. Please. Who's your mom?"

The girl shrugged. "I don't know."

Shepard narrowed her eyes. "You don't know?" Jane sighed. "Okay." She took the girl by the hand and led her to the front of the store.

Suddenly an asari came running towards her and took the child into her arms. "I told you not to wonder off, Naoti!" the mother said before turning to the human. "Thank y-" her sentence stopped and her eyes widened. "By the Goddess! You're Commander Shepard!"

Jane sighed. "Yes."

The asari's words summoned what appeared to be everyone else in the store. They proceeded to surround Shepard and bark questions her way.

"What happened on the Citadel?!"

"Did you really work for Cerberus?!"

"Are the Reapers really gone for good?!"

Shepard's heart rate began to rapidly increase. Her PTSD had been manageable ever since she and Liara had dealt with the Terminus Ring and Baron Decker, but the stress of being surrounded by strangers shouting questions at her and a baby on the way began to add up and her old issues began to resurface. Her breath was shortening as she felt the unmistakable first steps of a panic attack. Her biotics flared when she screamed. "I just want to buy some damn chocolate!"

The crowd fanned out and stared wide eyed with their mouths agape.

Liara studied her datapad as the vidscreen played some vid she had seen a dozen times since getting pregnant. Inside her belly the baby kicked and Liara softly rubbed her stomach. Being a mother was daunting but the idea was becoming more and more exciting with each passing day. When Liara thought of raising a child with Shepard the asari could only smile.

A synthesized voice chimed from behind her. "An urgent call from Operative Feron, Doctor T'Soni." Glyph informed her.

"Feron?"

"Shall I patch him to the comm room?"

"Yes." Liara struggled to get off the couch and waddled to the comm room.

The drill's digital image manifested itself on the hologram podium. "Hey boss, sorry to disturb you but something urgent has come up."

"It's quite alright, Feron. I could use the distraction."

Feron's response was too eager. "Why? Everything between you and Shepard okay?"

"Yes. Everything is better than okay. Shepard has been amazing with the pregnancy. I'm just bored i'm afraid."

The drill's shoulders slumped. "Oh...good."

"You said you had something urgent?"

"Right. I assume you've heard of the plans to officially reconstruct the council when the Citadel is properly repaired."

"Of course."

Feron groaned. "Well with Udina's death that means the human chair is currently vacant."

"And a new representative for humanity is being chosen." Liara finished. "So?"

"So Operative Morat did some investigating in who the Alliance is pushing. His name is Admiral Charles Shaw."

Liara rubbed her belly. "I've heard of him."

Feron opened his omni-tool. "But what you haven't heard is Shaw isn't exactly the shining beacon of humanity the Alliance seems to think he is."

"Oh?" Liara arched an eyebrow. "I believe I know where this is going."

"Morat and I did some more digging on this guy and it turns out he has some shady connections."

"What kind of connections exactly?"

Feron chuckled. "Cerberus."

"I see. And naturally we don't want someone with former Cerberus ties on the council."

"Naturally."

"So why call me? Isn't this something you and Operative Morat could deal with yourselves?"

Feron sighed. "Actually no. I hate to admit it but I fear this is a job for Shepard."

"Shepard? Why do you say that?"

"Next week the Alliance upper brass will all meet in the human city of Vancouver for an annual party of sorts. It's not much more than a brown nosing event. Every human of importance will be attending. Shaw included." Feron said. "We've been able to obtain encrypted files sent between Shaw and the Illusive Man prior to the fall of Cerberus that prove he was involved in the organization."

"Enough to get him kicked out of the Alliance I hope."

The drell shook his head. "No. But enough to ruin the bastard's chances of a council seat for good."

"I still don't see why we need Shepard to do this."

"The party is invite only. High security. Nothing I haven't dealt with before but a drell will obviously raise suspicions once I'm inside. We need a human who can get in without an invite."

"And the Alliance won't turn away Commander Shepard. Yes I agree it's our best bet. Well i'm sure another opportunity will arise before the council selection. I'm due any week now hardly an ideal moment for a mission."

Feron sighed. "Sorry boss, but if Morat's intel is good. The selection is being made the day after the party. And Morat's intel is always good. You should sit this one out and send Shepard alone, I can help her."

"Not a chance, Feron." she said. "How have you been by the way? I feel as though we've hardly spoken for quite some time."

"Been busy. With you taking time off and all."

"I appreciate that by the way. You've gone above and beyond for me."

The drell smiled. "Don't mention it. Actually Liara, there's something I want to tell you..."

Suddenly the front door opened and Liara heard Shepard come inside. "Oh, Shepard is home! I have to go, Feron."

Feron sighed. "Talk to you later then."

Liara closed the comm and made her way into the living room to greet her wife. "Did you find any?"

Shepard groaned and dropped a large bag of Aaris chocolate on the coffee table. "Yeah." She reached inside and removed a bottle of beer before poping the cap off. "Sorry but I need a drink."

Liara opened her treat and sat on the couch next to her lover. "Everything alright, Shepard?"

Jane sighed. "It's just...everywhere I go people are all over me. And when the baby gets here that still won't change. That's not how I want to raise our daughter, afraid to go into public."

"What happened?" Liara asked as she rubbed the human's leg.

"Had another panic attack."

Liara wrapped her arm around Shepard and pulled the woman close. "Oh Shepard, I'm sorry. I thought you were doing better."

"I am...I was." Shepard decided she needed to be honest with her wife. "I guess I've been under a lot of stress recently. I know that sounds ridiculous coming from me, you're the pregnant one."

"It's not ridiculous at all, love." Liara said as she stroked Shepard's dark hair. "I've been so selfish recently. I hadn't stopped to think about how you were dealing with things."

"No you haven't done anything wrong. Things made sense when I was in the Alliance, now...I don't know what I'm doing, Liara. I'm lost."

"Well I have something that will cheer you up."

Shepard perked up. "What?"

Liara smiled. "A mission."

Notes- Alright, "The Veiled Asari" is behind me :(, so it's time for me to move on to my next big series. I figured I'd get all that lame set up stuff out of the way so we can focus on the good stuff quicker. The second episode of the Shepard and Liara Versus series will be a little different than the first and like "Veiled Asari" before it, will be setting a few big things in motion for the future. I'm not sure what I'm gonna end up length wise but as I've confirmed before this story is going to be a hybrid of sorts, part Miranda and Jack story and Part Shepard and Liara. Hope you enjoy it, feel free to follow and review. Oh and credit for the creation of Aaris chocolate goes to the awesome reddit user MrSnippets.