Their suite was one of the finest in the Presidium, even before the battle. Liara stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows and looked out over the lake and the green trees spread out below. The sky was darkening toward the night cycle, and soft footlights were glowing to life beneath the trees. Behind her, Kate was making minute adjustments to her white dress uniform. She actually liked the things - once she settled into them, which took a while.
"Kate," Liara said, "We are going to be late. I have been ready for over twenty minutes."
"We'll be fine," Kate said, straightening one of the gold oak leaves on her collar.
Liara stepped over and seized Kate's tie.
"You're mess-" Kate managed to say before Liara pulled her into a kiss. Their arms went around each other. The room was darker when they broke apart, gasping, a thin strand of wetness briefly joining their lips.
"You can fix it on the way down," Liara said. "If we do not go now, I am going to do worse than that, and then we shall be very late."
"Promises," Kate said. They walked out of their room and down the thick-carpeted hallway to the elevator. Liara was quiet during the long ride down. Kate knew that meant she was nerving herself to say something, but she didn't push.
As they walked, she looked at the shops, at the people walking past, enjoying the feeling of not being shot at or even in a hurry for once, of having Liara's hand in hers as their arms swung in rhythm. No one even stopped them or shoved a camera in their faces. The Alliance brass had made it clear what would happen if anyone from the Normandy's crew was bothered today -
"Kate...do you think they will let me stay on the Normandy? With you? I do not wish to impose, but - "
Kate squeezed her hand. "I'll let you stay on the Normandy. If you're good."
"Yes. You are a hero. They will let you - write your own ticket. And I am sure we will see many more fascinating places. Places like Ilos."
Kate shuddered. She never wanted to see a tomb like that again. She said, "The Normandy is your home, Li. For as long as you want it."
"As long as you are there."
There was another silence before she spoke again.
"It is lonely, being the captain."
"Sometimes, yes. The Normandy is like my family. In fact it's all the family I have. But...I'm still the captain. The Old Man, they used to call it."
"Uh-huh," Liara chuckled. "The Old Man. I am glad they do not call you that now." Her smile faded. "Kate...just so you know..." Her words came in a rush. "It is all right if you do not want to hold hands when we are around the crew."
"Oh?" Kate lifted an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"I have heard that humans have certain...unwritten rules about when and where to express affection. Apparently it even varies between relationships. It is very confusing. I know that, as the captain, you have to be somewhat more...formal than, for example, Joker."
Kate laughed. "That's not saying much."
"No, perhaps not. I just mean...I do not want to make it difficult for you."
Kate stopped and pulled on Liara's hand so that the other woman turned to face her. Her free hand reached up and slid around the back of Liara's neck. She looked into Liara's blue eyes, almost clear, like water, with little flecks seeming to radiate outward from the center.
"I love you, Liara," she said. "I don't care who knows it, or what they think."
Liara's lips parted. Her breath tickled Kate's face and had a faint, very faint, scent that made her think of the lemon tree in the back yard of her parents' house, before - she pulled Liara's mouth to hers.
They stood there, an island in the sea of people flowing around them, until finally a man bumped into them. Kate caught a glimpse of a badly scarred face and a startling pair of mismatched eyes before he vanished back into the crowd, muttering, "goddamn honeymooners". In his accent - she thought it was Australian - the words struck her as funny. She giggled. So did Liara. Laughing, they walked, holding hands, to the wake.
They walked in under an archway that streamed with brightly-colored banners. On a small stage, a jazz band played, including Mr. Presley, who seemed to play his saxophone with his whole body. Liara smiled to watch his contortions and grimaces. Between notes, he winked at her. There were tables laden with food and drink. Around them were a couple of dozen people, talking, eating, dancing, drinking, and laughing.
"It is...fitting," Liara said.
Kate nodded. "I think it's what they would have wanted." The more solemn services for Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko and Corporal Richard Jenkins had already been held by their crewmates aboard the Normandy, and by their families on Earth and Eden Prime.
Dr. Chakwas came up to them. "Liara, you are beautiful," she said. Liara wore a traditional Asari festive gown, white and demure, with single threads of blue-gray in just the right places to highlight her curves. She smiled. "And you, Doctor."
Chakwas said, "Thank you, but I never was much for dressing up. At times like this I'm glad to have the uniform to fall back on." Then she stiffened and muttered, "Brace yourselves."
Ambassador Udina came over to them and shook their hands. Liara still found the custom a strange one. "I want to say one thing first," Udina said. His voice and accent were harsh, almost a bark.
Chakwas said, "This is hardly the - "
"You were right," Udina said. "And I was wrong. We are fortunate that Commander Shepard has the courage of her convictions, and that she had all of you to aid her."
"Now that it worked, you say that," Chakwas said, but her tone was light.
His mouth quirked in a half-smile. "My decision to ground the Normandy hasn't done my career any good, no." To her surprise, Liara liked him better for his direct answer.
Liara and Kate walked around the room. Liara was surprised at how relaxed she was. Because of her tie to Benezia, the crew at first had regarded her with suspicion, even hostility. Shepard, Chakwas, Joker, and Alenko had been the only ones to welcome her. Now she was one of them. And she was happy to be here with her Kate. Everyone had good wishes for them.
She heard Engineer Adams say, "Are you sure you won't stay on? You'd have my job inside of a month - though hopefully on another ship, no offense, Miss Nar'Rayya."
Tali said, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you, but the Migrant Fleet is my home. I'll always remember the Normandy, but, frankly, there's too much space and not enough noise."
Adams laughed. "I'll let the folks at Cord-Hislop know about that one. But when the SR2 comes out with lower ceilings and cheaper plumbing, you have to come back and suffer with the rest of us."
At one of the serving tables, Garrus said, "They went all out. Serrice Ice Brandy. Batarian ale. Even Ryncol."
"And cookies," Wrex said.
"Cookies?"
"Yes. We have no such things on Tu'Chanka. This should be remedied."
The band finished a song. Into the sudden quiet, Captain - now Councilor - Anderson tapped the small podium and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we'll have a few words about the guests of honor at our little gathering this evening, though they are with us only in memory."
Udina spoke first. "It wasn't my privilege to know Lieutenant Alenko or Corporal Jenkins personally. But I know what every human owes them. A month ago, the Council and the galactic community saw humanity as childish, even dangerous. And no Asari, Krogan, Quarian, or Turian had ever served on a ship of the human Alliance. But this gathering is a testament to what we can do together. Thanks to the sacrifices of the two we are here to remember, humanity has stepped out of the shadows and stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the galaxy, ready to do its part. What we make of the gift they've given us, is up to us."
Two Salarians in uniform stepped forward. The first said, "My name is Captain Kirrahe, and this is my second-in-command, Commander Rentola. It is our honor, as representatives of the Salarian Union, to present Lieutenant Alenko with the Order of Aegohr. His actions on Virmire saved the lives of many of my men. We cannot speak of what happened that day, but we can tell our hatchlings that we lived to see them because he held the line."
Wrex's voice needed no microphone. "You humans have an apt saying: better to die on your feet than live on your knees. Alenko and Jenkins died on their feet to save all of us from living on our knees. They were where they wanted to be, in the heart of the fight. Alenko helped me remember what it is to be Krogan. To fight for something more than myself. Tomorrow I am returning to Tu'Chanka to unite my people. I'd be proud to take him with me."
Ashley Williams said, "The Ambassador spoke of what we owe our two friends. I owe Kaiden more than that. He saved my life, though he gave his for much more." Her eyes glistened, but she held together. "Until we meet again, I'll make it count." She cleared her throat.
"'Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'"
Joker said, "All right, this is getting too solemn." Hatless, clean-shaven, in dress whites heavy with decorations, he was a different person until he spoke. He launched into a tale of one of Alenko's romantic exploits when he and Joker were together at the Academy, which became more highly improbable but hilarious by the minute. By the time he finished, Liara was leaning on Shepard, shaking with laughter, tears streaming down her face.
Kate Shepard said, "Richard Jenkins and Kaiden Alenko let us look to the future, not with fear, but with hope. But what I'll remember about them is the time I spent talking, eating, fighting at their side. What they taught me, what I'm still learning - " she looked at Liara - "is that these are the days, with all their decisions, all their unknowns, that we will one day look back on and say we'd give anything to live again. Some of you are leaving the Normandy, to continue the fight elsewhere, or just to go on with your lives. We may not meet again, but we, and Richard, and Kaiden, will always have these days together."
In the elevator back to their suite, Kate said, "I hate giving speeches. Being shot at is easier."
Liara said, "It was hard for me, at first, on the Normandy. Lieutenant Alenko helped me to fit in. I once heard him say that non-humans were 'jerks and saints', just like humans. That is the best thing he could have said. His kindness and his fairness are how I will remember him."
Kate said, "Chakwas was right. You are beautiful." She stepped forward, backing Liara against the wall.
Liara said, "Kate, this elevator is transparent."
Kate slipped her arms around Liara, who pretended to struggle, but her hands were pinned at her sides. Kate kissed the side of her neck. "But we can do this with our clothes on," she whispered.
"I will be exhausted. You will have to put me to bed."
Kate's fingers began stroking the small of Liara's back.
"Ooh Goddess..."
"Come on, T'Soni, all I want are two little words."