A/N: metaladdict suggested I name these little blue girls. I whole-heartedly agreed—I've felt clumsy without names so far. I've also, however, been reluctant to name them because it might break some sort of 'pretend' barrier that one has reading a fanfic. Perhaps you always pictured our pair naming their firstborn Benezia (I can't deny that it's a sweet gesture). Or maybe you hate that (I know some of you do). I've opted for some of my own and hope you don't mind :)

The following chapter is a prequel of sorts to let you see my reasoning behind my choices. Normal chapters will resume after this.

A/N 2: First visual inspired by "Trying to Read" by Arilynazure on deviantART. Go check it out :D

Prequel: Names

Liara stared at a list on her datapad, lounging on the couch with one hand resting on her swelled abdomen.

"Hey," Shepard said, leaning over the back of the couch. "Whatcha doin?"

Liara smiled and handed Shepard the datapad. "Attempting to decide on a name for our daughter."

"Hmmm," Shepard pondered it. "I've been thinking about that too, but I only really know human names and I want her to be able to fit in as much as possible with crazy parents like us. Having a human name wouldn't help her fit in at school down the line."

A corner of Liara's lips pulled up until she smiled warmly at her bondmate—of course she was already worrying about something like that. "She will likely stand out, it's true, but should we not embrace that rather than shy away from it? I for one am very proud of who her father is," she grinned now.

Shepard grinned back. "Me too. And even prouder of who her mother is." she walked around the couch and motioned for Liara to scoot a bit so they could share it. She held Liara with one arm and the datapad in the other hand, kissing her shoulder. "In fact..." Shepard continued.

"What?" Liara asked after Shepard looked away and rubbed the back of her neck in awkward nervousness.

"Can we name her after you?" Shepard asked, her eyes pleading.

Liara frowned slightly. "That would seem a little…indulgent of me, wouldn't it? And how would that work? You'd call one of us and we wouldn't know who you were talking to."

Shepard laughed. "Well humans sometimes use a middle name or 'Junior' or something, but no, I was thinking of a slight variation of your name—Riala. Riala T'Soni."

Liara smiled. "Not bad, if I do say so myself."

Shepard laughed and tickled her bondmate's ribs.

Liara squirmed before freezing Shepard's hands in a small stasis bubble. The human pouted a little, making Liara laugh. She kissed her then continued "I've been thinking of names that will speak of her heritage from you, funnily enough."

"Oh? Poor thing," Shepard teased.

Liara narrowed her eyes and swatted her. "Stop that," she smiled. "What do you think of 'Valla'?"

Shepard furrowed her brows. "Not bad. Valla T'Soni has a nice ring to it, but I'm a little lost on how that has anything to do with me."

"It is from an ancient Earth tongue—Latin. It means 'to shepherd'," she smiled again. "What do you think?"

"Not bad if I do say so myself," Shepard teased. "I know that's not all you thought up. What else?"

"Sidera."

"Which means?"

"Stars."

Shepard smiled warmly and brushed Liara's cheek. "Where we all come from and where she most certainly did. I like it."

Liara savored her bondmate's touch on her cheek by resting her own hand above it. "Why don't we strike a deal, Commander?"
Shepard raised a brow and smirked. "I'm not sure making deals with the Shadow Broker is advisable, but sure, I'll bite. What do you have in mind?"

"All three."

"All three…?" Shepard frowned in confusion at first before it dawned on her. "Three daughters?"

Liara nodded with a grin.

"At least," Shepard answered with a smile that simply refused to leave her expression as she kissed her bondmate. "But which name first?"

"Hmmm," Liara pondered. "I suppose whichever one of us obtains the data file that will go on record when she is born will decide that." Liara smirked.

"You'll be exhausted from giving birth!" Shepard frowned. "That's not exactly fair to you."

"You forget that I can access records at any time I wish. I could make the arrangements anytime …even now."

Shepard narrowed her eyes. "I see…Challenge accepted, Dr. T'Soni. I wish you luck."

"I don't need luck, Shepard. I'm a very good information broker," Liara gave her a smug grin.

Shepard narrowed her eyes still, but an amused corner of her lips pulled up. "Yes you are. Excuse me for a moment."

"What are you going to do?" Liara asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing…" she darted from the living area for her office. The door was blinking red when she got there. Liara had already cut off her access preemptively. "Liara!" she called in protest. She pulled up her omni and dialed Dr. Chakwas. When the good doctor came into focus she smiled. "Commander? How may I help you? I assume everything with Liara is fine since your last check-up?"

"Doc!" Shepard skipped pleasantries. "I need you to print out the records you have of our daughter so far and delete all electronic copies!"

The doctor looked puzzled but obeyed immediately. "Done, Commander. Is everything alright?"

Shepard sighed in relief. "Yeah," she chuckled. "Can you write our daughter's name down on her files?"

The doctor smiled. "You have a name finally! That's wonderful. What is it?"

Shepard grinned in triumph. "Riala."

Shepard tip toed back into the living area. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the grin on Liara's face was not it. Hadn't she won? "Why are you smiling like that?" Shepard looked at her with suspicion.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Liara smirked.

"You changed the files already didn't you?"

"Karin loves me as much as you, Shepard."

"Sheesh!" Shepard slumped. She straightened. "This isn't over, T'Soni. I'm having a little blue Riala T'Soni, dang it."

"I look forward to your endeavors, Commander."

Shepard chuckled, arms akimbo as she looked down and she shook her head in happy exasperation. "I love you."

Liara's grin softened to a mixture of happiness and wonder as she regarded her bondmate. "I love you too. How did I get this lucky, Shepard?"

"That's my line, Love," Shepard sidled up next to her on the couch again. She decided to let Liara have today. She had a number of months to change the name still. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to be encompassed in her asari's arms.

"You came back to me. Twice. Sometimes I wonder if this is real. If," Liara rested her hand on her abdomen, "if she's real. Goddess, Shepard, I'm just so happy." She ran her fingers delicately through Shepard's silky hair.

A grin plastered itself on Shepard's face again and she leaned in for a kiss as she spoke. "That makes two of us, then."

As if in answer to Liara's blissful but faint hold on what was real and Shepard's last remark, they both felt a solid thump! from Liara's stomach. They stared at the spot for a moment with wide eyes. A smile crept to Shepard's lips and she kissed her bondmate briefly. "Did she kick?"

Liara was still wide-eyed though with pursed lips from the kiss. Shepard laughed, bringing her back to reality. "Love?"

"I'm sorry, Shepard, yes…I think she did."

Shepard leaned down to kiss Liara's slightly swelled abdomen. "Hey there, sweetheart, we're trying to figure out what to call you. Wanna pitch in your vote?"

Liara raised a brow at her bondmate's ridiculousness, a smirk playing at her lips. "Shepard?"

"Shh!" Shepard smiled up at her after shushing her, making Liara smirk all the more. "Ok, here goes, little one. What do you think of Bob?"

Liara swatted the soldier.

Shepard laughed. "Ok, what about Daddy's little girl?"

A small kick thudded against Liara's abdomen, surprising them both.

"Well, I'd say that's a vote for Valla," Liara chimed in.

"What do you think, sweetheart?" Shepard asked her daughter once more. "Valla?"

No response. Shepard raised her brows at Liara as if to say 'nope'.

Liara rolled her eyes.

Shepard kissed her abdomen and said "What about Riala?" A soft kick against Liara's stomach made the commander grin giddily. "Ha!"

Liara narrowed her eyes. "Shepard, she's hasn't a clue what you're saying. She just likes your voice," she continued to stroke her fingers through her bondmate's hair. "She has good taste," she added with a fond smile.

Shepard returned her smile and sat back up. "Well right now it's two against one, Love." She pecked Liara's lips.

The asari sighed happily, nuzzling onto her bondmate's chest to rest there, closing her eyes. "We still have a number of months, Shepard. We'll see."

Shepard stroked her bondmate's shoulder. She smiled rather than responding. She had her heart set. She'd only felt that way once before. As soon as she'd set her eyes on Liara, her heart had followed suit. It had granted this very scene of her personal happily ever after to be laid out before her. She cradled Liara's abdomen reverently. No matter the name of her daughter, she already loved her. Naming her, caring for her, and being the father she deserved were just blueberries to top off her happily ever sundae.