"Check mate." Traynor said with a huge grin, leaping up from the table. Her chess set had been recovered… or she had bought a new set, Liara didn't know which. The Asari was venturing out of her room for the first time, heading to get some food. She was eating regularly once again, mostly because, as her father had pointed out, she needed to feed the possible child inside of her. If not eating for herself, she had to sustain the possibly last remaining piece of Shepard. If Shep was dead… and if Liara actually was pregnant, the child would be all she had left. She had to ensure the little one's health as much as she made sure she searched for Shepard.

"Doctor T'Soni, if you have time later, would you like to play a game with me?" Samantha asked, obviously tired of little wins against Aethyta and Vega. Playing with Liara would certainly be a fresh challenge, at least.

"I don't really have time to play games…" Liara said, trying not to sound too harsh. She jumped a little when she heard Aethyta's deep chuckle in her ear.

"Little Wing, you're only 100, you've still got at least 900 years to look forward to. You have time for a game of chess with the little English lesbian." The older Asari teased and smirked. "She's pretty good at it. Even beat me a couple of times."

"I beat you every time." Traynor said with a cocky grin, leaning back in her chair.

"And all this work will eventually stress you out." The Matriarch had a point and Liara allowed herself to be pushed gently down into the chair across from Traynor. "Don't go easy on her like you do when you play me. She needs the distraction. Too much work, no play." Aethyta told Traynor then headed to make Liara some lunch. She soon realized she was horrible at cooking and got one of the others to help her instead.

By the time the Matriarch returned, Liara had gotten properly immersed in the game, her brow furrowed as she leaned forward, examining the other woman's last move. Good… Aethyta thought to herself… Liara really did need a distraction, even for just a little while. She placed the sandwich at her daughter's shoulder and took a seat watching them. Glyph started heading out of the doctor's office and the older Asari quickly jumped to intercept it, turning the glowing orb around and back into the office.

"Glyph, she needs a little time away from all of this… what is it?" The instinctively maternal nature of the woman kicked in. Liara was working herself too hard and it killed her father to know the pain she was feeling.

"Another unsuccessful search party… it has been so long… even if Commander Shepard made it out of the fight alive… she'd be now three weeks without food or water… chance of survival is less than 1 percent." Aethyta sighed softly, rubbing her head.

"Do not tell Liara that."

"But I am programmed to…"

"I know…I know, but she is in a very delicate position right now. She cannot know about this right now." The Asari said firmly. "I am her father, I know what is best for her at this moment and hearing that will devastate her." She went to the shadow broker terminal and deleted news of the search party's lack of findings. She then deleted emails from Liara's mail as well to cover up the horrible news.


"Check!" Liara said a little too loudly and, Aethyta was happy to hear a little excitement in her tone.

"What? No way!" Traynor argued a little in shock and the game continued.

"I'm going to Earth." Aethyta said, heading for the elevator as she walked past her daughter and the human female.

"Wait, I want to come with you…" The younger Asari insisted, though she wasn't about to be drawn away from the game. She pushed another piece into play with a little hint of a smirk on her face.

"I'll be right back, Liara. Don't panic. I just want to see what kind of damage was done. We need fuel if we're going to get to Thessia."

"Wait, Thessia?" Liara looked up.

"As one of the Matriarchs, I need to be back on Thessia to help rebuild. It might be nice for you to see home as well. I remember my first pregnancy; it was nice to be around other Asari for a little while. They know what you're going through where other species have different baby making processes."

"Check." Traynor said and Liara's head whirled back to the board.

"Dad, don't leave…" Liara insisted and, not even wishing an angry Liara on her worst enemy, Aethyta sat back down.

"I'll take you with me, if you win." She said and Liara's eyes lit up even more, almost looking alive again.

The blue youth made a few more plays and she was soon cornering Traynor. Samantha's queen, rooks, and knights were all gone leaving her a king, two pawns, and a bishop. She was going to lose, but she refused to admit defeat and just knock the king over. She drew it out as long as possible, but before long, Liara said, "Check mate." and leaned back in her chair with a big smile.

"Oh we're so going to have a rematch when you get back!" Traynor insisted, wiping sweat from her brow with her left hand as she extended the right for a show of good faith. Liara shook the girl's hand with a smile and nodded.

"Fair enough… Now, you." She turned on her father who smirked a little.

"Eat up and we'll go, feisty pants." Aethyta promised and Liara never thought she could eat so fast.


A/N: Chapter 2 everyone :D

Well meaning critiques are always welcome, but I don't like the rude ones, that's so not necessary.

I'm enjoying Aethyta/Liara bonding. They only got to do a very, very little in the game and Aethy is already 1000 so who knows how long she has left. She wants to be a grandpa before that happens. ;D and a good dad lol

Let me know any thoughts and suggestions. They're always welcome. I have the basic idea of where this is going, but a lot isn't even written in my head yet so totally open to suggestions.