Do you like poetry? I do. I like it a lot. If you read any of my stories, expect to see a lot of poetry. A trait all of my Shepards share is that they love poetry (my way of putting a piece of myself in all of them). Anyway, my point is: be ready for a good amount of poetry references in this chapter. Ashley, of course, has her Tennyson, but I have my favorite time period from 1830-1970. I try my best not to beat you over the head with it if you don't like poetry, but you can let me know if I succeeded. Anyway this is the last background chapter before we get into the romance.

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Expectations

Shepard used to live in fear of her alarm clock. Now, it was a saving grace that rescued her from nightmares about the destruction of all life. The visions flashing through her head intensified during sleep. They mixed with her memories of Mindoir until she was just running - from slavers, from the Reapers, from everything. Normally, she would awake exhausted and relieved to not have to face the visions again. Sleeping was an activity she had always enjoyed; it was worth sticking it to the Reapers if only because they took that away from her.

Rolling out of bed, she stumbled to the mirror on the far wall and examined her haggard face. She looked like she hadn't slept in days. Luckily, the darkness beneath her eyes could be covered with makeup and her disheveled, black hair could be combed back. Slapping her cheeks sharply three times to bring color back into them, Shepard thought, Just act like you're alright and you will be. It's all in the mind. No one needs to see you like this.

After dressing in a crisp uniform and making herself up into the picture of professionalism, she stepped out of her room into the mess hall and headed straight to the coffee. Scanning the area quickly, she noticed that only Liara was seated at the table, reading a datapad while eating a bowl of cereal. It had been around two weeks since they'd first rescued her from Therum and Liara had slowly seemed to adjust to living on the Normandy. She'd also proven capable and useful out in the field with her biotics. That had been quite the surprise. Liara was so innocent, maybe even a little naive, but she was skilled when it came to using her biotics in battle. Maybe all asari were. It hadn't been what Shepard had expected though.

Bringing her coffee over to the table and taking the seat across from Liara, Shepard examined the cereal that the asari had chosen. She'd adapted well to only having human food on the ship - that or dexro-amino foods for Garrus and Tali. The cereal appeared to be one of the generic brands that was mostly fiber based flakes. But, interestingly, the asari had put water in the bowl instead of milk which made Shepard begin to chuckle.

Liara looked up from her datapad at the noise, startled to see Shepard sitting across from her. She quickly put down the pad saying, "Oh, Shepard, I did not see you there." Then a little more suspiciously, "What is so funny?"

Shepard took a sip from her coffee with a grin before answering, "I just thought it was funny that you put water in your cereal instead of milk. Does it taste good?"

Liara looked down at her bowl and then quizzically at Shepard. "It tastes fine. Certainly better than some of the prepackaged meals I have eaten while on archeological digs." Tilting her head she added, "You normally eat this with milk? I thought only infants drink milk."

Shepard shrugged. "Yes, but humans sometimes drink cows' milk, or we'll put it in cereal. Just one of the strange things we do." Shepard took another sip of her coffee while she thought for a moment. "Actually, it's probably good that you didn't try to put milk in your cereal. Asari are probably lactose intolerant. Some humans are too. It wouldn't be a fun experience."

Liara looked at her bowl of cereal with a sort of scientific curiosity; Shepard could only wonder what kind of conclusions she was drawing about humanity. Smiling, she said, "I'm afraid you're going to get a bad impression of our cuisine from living on the Normandy. You'll have to let me cook you something that hasn't been military approved sometime."

Turning a dark shade of blue and refusing to meet Shepard's eyes, Liara said quietly, "I would like that, Commander."

Shepard hid her smile behind her coffee mug. It was oddly endearing to see Liara embarrassed or flustered. She really was an innocent and sweet person. Not at all like Shepard, which was probably what made her like Liara so much.

There was the sound of the elevator doors opening and footsteps heading towards the mess hall. Shepard craned her neck to see Ashley coming around the corner with a mug in her hand. Before the gunnery chief saw her, the commander called out, "In my dreams I am always saying goodbye and riding away, whither and why I know not nor do I care."

Ashley blinked at the words and when her eyes fell on Shepard, she sighed and said, "It's a little early for this, don't you think, Skipper?"

But the commander wagged a finger and said, "Rules are rules, Chief."

Ashley sighed again, though also smiled, as she poured herself another cup of coffee and thought. Liara watched the two women in confusion. Finally, Ashley responded, "Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark."

Shepard put her chin in her hand as she dug through her memory for a response. Liara continued to looked inquisitively from one woman to the other, not sure what was happening. Then Shepard's face lit up and she winked at Liara before turning to Ashley and saying, "Into the dark night resignedly I go, I am not so afraid of the dark night as the friends I do not know."

Coming over to the table and setting her cup down, Ashley crossed her arms over her chest with a smug smile and said without pause, "I cannot rest from travel: I will drink life to the lees: all times I have enjoy'd greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those that loved me, and alone."

Shepard frowned and once more put her chin in her hands as she thought. There was a long pause before Ashley interrupted, "Just admit it, Skipper. You can't top that. You shouldn't have made travelling one of the main topics in your first line. You can't beat Tennyson when it comes to writing about an epic journey."

Shepard gave a sly grin. "Well, if I don't play to his strengths, then there's no way you'll ever win."

Laying a hand dramatically over her heart, Ashley replied, "Ouch, Skipper. That wounded me right here."

Laughing Shepard said, "Well, I guess you win this round. I can't think of a comeback."

"I look forward to the next round so I can whip your butt again."

Liara had no idea what the two women were talking about. When Shepard saw her confused expression, she explained, "Ash and I have a little poetry competition going on. Her favorite poet is this old hack -"

"Hey!" Ashley objected.

"This guy named Tennyson," Shepard amended with a grin. "And my favorite poet is a woman named Stevie Smith. We have a little game going on where one of us will pick a line of poetry and the other person has to match it with a line from their favorite poet. All lines have to be related to the subject or subjects of the first line and to the line just before. And it all has to be from memory. Whoever can't think of a line first, loses."

"I was not aware that you both liked poetry," Liara commented.

Ashley let out a derisive snort, but Shepard said, "Yeah, it doesn't fit into the image of tough marine most people have. I was surprised when Ashley started quoting Tennyson at me. It's a part of our lives before the military. Part of the people we used to be."

Ashley jabbed the commander with her elbow and said, "Don't get all sentimental, Skipper."

Turning her palms up and shrugging, Shepard answered, "It's hard to quote poetry and not be just a little sentimental."

Grabbing her coffee mug and turning back towards the elevator, Ashley waved her free hand and called over her shoulder, "Well, I'm going back down to my work bench to be a productive member of the crew. Let me know if you need someone to watch your back, Skipper."

Shepard just shook her head with a smirk. Liara examined the commander's amused expression with curiosity while she moved her cereal about with her spoon. When she heard the elevator door close she ventured, "Shepard, may I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I do not want to offend you, but I have noticed that the way you act with some of the human crew is different here on the Normandy than when we are out in the field. This is the first time I have ever heard Chief Williams call you Skipper, or make fun of you like she does with everyone else."

Shepard leaned back and nodded. "You're right. It is different. With Ash and Kaidan things are a little weird because I'm both their commanding officer and their friend. When we're on duty and out in the field we have to keep an appropriate distance from one another. But when we're off duty, we're just people and we can be casual. It can be difficult because if they ever slip up and call me Shepard, or say something inappropriate while we're on duty, then I have to reprimand them for it."

Liara raised an eyebrow. "But if you are the commander, then do you not make the rules? Can you not just decide to not enforce the regulations?"

"I suppose I could, but I wouldn't do that. The regs are there for a reason. When I'm leading soldiers into battle, I'm not the same person who is sitting here chatting with you. I can't have the people following me ever doubt my motivations. I can't have them wondering if my personal feelings are clouding my judgment. The same applies to those of you who aren't a part of the Alliance. Though none of you have to show the same formality that Ash and Kaidan do, I can't treat you any differently than I do them. Everyone under my command needs to see me as professional and willing to fulfill my responsibility."

Liara frowned at her now soggy cereal. "I suppose that makes sense... but it seems awfully hard on you. It must make it hard to get close to people."

"I'm not really sure," Shepard said while studying Liara's somber expression. "I've been doing it for so long that I hardly notice anymore. I can still be friends with my squad. I just can't do anything that may make them think that my ability to command is compromised."

Liara's blue eyes met Shepard's stormy violet one's for a moment. "I do not think I could doubt you, Commander."

The dark haired woman fumbled for a response, not quite sure what to say. Something in Liara's stare was able to completely disarm her. "Thank you, Liara. That means a lot to me," was all she managed to say.

Smiling, the asari picked up her bowl and left the table. Shepard was surprised to find that she had been holding her breath and quickly took a few deep gulps of air. She had never expected to reveal so much of herself to the young prothean expert, but something about Liara made Shepard comfortable telling her these things. She was a good soul, someone Shepard could trust. She wasn't what Shepard had expected, but that was a good thing.