Disclaimer: I do not own any of Mass Effect characters or materials. They belong to BioWare. I simply borrowed their concept and let my own mind do the rest. I do, however, own my own thoughts. Enjoy!

Please leave feedback, thank you.

Fem Shepard/Paragon/Spacer/War Hero/Soldier.

Favorite weapon: Assault Rifle; Maggie. Favorite Alien: Liara. BFF: Tali Zorah/Dr. Chakwas.

Pride and Joy: How well she thinks she drives the Mako.

Small note: I re-wrote this several times, on my last attempt I was convinced by friends to write the conversations just as the game had. However after reading other people's comments on other stories, I will not being doing that again in the future or even later in this story.

Nothing to stand in my way Chapter 1

Staring out the shuttle window, thick layers of dirt coat my throat and my limbs are tired and sore from the intense battle just moments ago. The small shuttle shakes and hums its way through the outer atmosphere as it heads back to the Normandy. Not breaking my gaze from the window, I hear my fellow squad members grumbling behind me, restless from exhaustion and minor injuries. My thoughts should be focused on the successful mission that just occurred; about the lives lost and lives saved; some at my very hands. However, these thoughts do not receive my current attention. As I lean against the window, shifting my weight, exhaustion begins to take hold; a powerful memory flashes before my eyes.

I don't remember what day it was or even what planet we were on, I only remember the words spoken between Liara and I on that particular evening. It was late in the evening and I was exhausted from the day's mission.

I walked into the small med lab, "Hey Liara, you got a minute?"

Liara happily stood up and faced me, "I always have time for you, Shepard."

I started, "Perhaps we could pick up where we last left off? You were telling me about your fascination with Prothean technology."

Liara's face turned a darker shade of blue as she rubbed her forehead in embarrassment,

"No, I believe I was telling you how much I was fascinated by you and making a fool of myself in the process. As I said, I'm not used to dealing with people, especially humans."

I unconvincingly replied, "Are you sure you're interested in me? Or was it my visions of the Protheans?"

Liara began to pace nervously, "You're connections to the Protheans had something to do with my initial interest. But it has grown beyond that."

She stopped, took a deep breath and bashfully stammered, "You intrigue me, Shepard. I wanted to know more about you. To understand what made you the woman you are today. There's something compelling about you."

Liara searched deep in my eyes for any hint of a reaction. Seeing none, she continued,

"I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to act on my feelings. I thought there might already be a relationship between you and Lieutenant Alenko."

Surprised I asked, "What do you mean?"

Looking off into the distance she continued, "I thought that perhaps you and the Lieutenant were more then just friends."

Frowning my brow I answered, "No, we're just friends. Nothing more!"

Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Liara returned her gaze to me and continued, "My mistake then, I am not at adept at understanding human relationships as I thought. May I ask you another question, Shepard?"

Smirking I crossed my arms, shifted my weight back and quickly thought to myself, "Oh this is going to be good"!

With great excitement and yet with deep self control, Liara questioned, "What about us, Shepard? Is there some sort of mutual attraction between us or am I wrong about that too?"

The question hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't expecting anything like that. I thought it would be another innocent mix up of words or emotions from the young asari professor. It seemed to knock the very air out of my chest. I dropped my arms and my jaw hung open. Rubbing my own forehead I began to pace. Rapidly, a million excuses went through my head as to why I didn't like the young asari even though I spent all my free time with her. I suddenly felt very much on the spot.

As I stared back at her, I was torn; do I lie or tell the truth? Just as I had made up my mind to lie, I looked up at her and suddenly all hopes of being dishonest melted away. My own words betrayed me,

"Yes."

I paused and now found myself searching her sparkling eyes for a response as I continued, "I feel a very strong attraction to you."

Liara let out her breath which she seemed to have been holding in. Her eyes widen and she sheepishly smiled. She began pacing again,

"I knew it! And I knew you felt it too..But.. does this not seem rather strange? Why do I feel so close to you?

She inhaled sharply and began nervously shifting her weight side to side, "This is all so new to me, I do not know what to do about us... About you! It's all so overwhelming!"

I tilted my head and was slightly confused by her response. "Had she not thought of this before she asked me?"

Witnessing the panic blanket her face, I told her, "Liara, stop thinking like a scientist. Just go with it."

Liara stopped abruptly and stared at the ground. She innocently admitted,

"And as you can see, I'm not very good at reading people. I guess that's why I've never.. um.. I mean…

Under her breath she almost whispered, "Melded before."

I should have been shocked but knowing Liara's innocence, I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, it only made me feel worse. She was far too young to have a serious relationship. She was barely 100 years old and had another 900 years or so to go; being an asari. I would only live another 120 years, if I was lucky. Hell, I might die any day on this dangerous mission. It did not seem fair to her. But staring into those deep blue eyes, my heart pounded harder than it ever had before. I felt like a desert soaking up a single raindrop that had fallen from the sky, I just wanted more.

It was Liara's words that came next that struck me down from an unimaginable height.

Liara stammered, "We have only known each other for a short time. We are from two different species! This makes no sense! I … I need some time to process this all. We need to focus on the mission first. We can explore us later."

So assuredly she pronounced, "Are you in agreement?"

Awkwardly, I nodded my head in agreement but I certainly did not feel the same way. Being a risk taker, I believe that if you find something you want, grab onto it, with both hands and don't let go. I wanted to be with her and I wanted to be with her now! There might not be a later, especially in my line of work. It was hard me to admit I liked her. Fighting a Thresher Maw was easier then telling Liara how I really felt about her. Now she was telling me to not to be concerned about those feelings. My gut retched.

My head sank as I slowly turned around and headed out the small med lab.

I muttered, "I should go now."

Moving through the med bay, my pace rapidly grew with each step I took. Even Dr. Chakwas noticed that I was almost in full storm by the time I exited the room. I headed straight to the Captain's Cabin, hoping I wouldn't run into some poor crewmember, whose day would look like the first contact war, had we intercepted.

I was staring at the ground as I walked, fist clinched. The more I thought about what Liara said, the madder I became. By the time I made it to my cabin door, I was outright pissed. I let out a loud groan of pure frustration as the door swished closed behind me, "Damn it!"