Prompt about Aethyta as a grandparent. Set post-ME3 is a some fluffy happy-ending AU. MShep/Liara.
"You know kid, you're a natural born headbutter. 1/8th krogan, and your daddy headbutts krogan for fun. Its all in the neck. Don't worry, I'll teach you the technique when you get older." The baby in her lap giggled, reaching out with soft blue hands to play with her necklace. Aethyta smiled down at her granddaughter, and rocked her gently with her legs. Nezzy was a little darker than her mother, and her markings were still coming in, but she was still absolutely gorgeous with playful grey eyes that roved constantly.
"Liara wouldn't be happy to hear something like that." Aethyta looked up to see Shepard standing in the doorway. His bright green eyes danced with amusement, softening into love as he looked at his daughter. He had allowed his chestnut brown hair to grow out a little from its standard military crop, and his slightly hooked nose and too-strong jaw stopped him from being classically handsome, but Aethyta could see what Liara saw in him. Not to mention that ass.
"What the girl doesn't know won't hurt her. Besides Shepard, she's your daughter. If I don't teach her these basic skills in life, it'll just fall on you eventually," she replied tartly. "She'll be a troublemaker, and heartbreaker and she'll give you both sleepless nights aplenty." Aethyta raised the child her arms up to her eye level and leaned into nuzzle her stomach. "You will, Nezzy, won't you. Just like your grandmother. Yes you will."
"Are you ready, dear?" Liara's voice sang out from the upper floor of their house. Aethyta saw Shepard glance down at his gleaming shoes, the crisp edges of his uniform, the medals catching his daugher's attention as she turned towards him in her lap, arms outstretched. He walked towards her, unable to resist the need to hold his daughter. She crawled into his arms from Aethyta's lap as he crouched down, and immediately start chewing on one of his medals.
"Yes. Downstairs with your father and daughter. We're all waiting for you," he replied patiently, smoothing one hand over Nezzy's scalp crests.
"You two enjoy tonight. Having a baby can sap the passion from any relationship. I hope you booked hotel room for the night." Aethyta projected practicality itself, but she couldn't stop the hint of a smile from playing over her lips.
"I have, and Liara's the one to get all flustered by mentions of sex remember," he replied dryly. He always had been more difficult to get a rise out of than Liara. "Thanks again for coming by to babysit."
"Bah, spending more time with my granddaughter? What kind of grandfather would I be to turn down a chance for that?" She waved away his thanks airily. "Maybe you two could work on making another tonight?"
"Father!" Unseen by both Shepard and Aethyta, Liara now stood at the doorway. Shepard took a minute to drink in the sight of his bondmate, looking stunning in a long black dress that contrasted perfectly with her pale blue skin. Her eyes swivelled from Aethyta to her daughter, shedding the light glare in the process. Nezzy tried to climb out of Shepard's arms towards her mother, and he gently held her back before walking over to Liara. Aethyta felt a warm glow settle over her as she watched the three of them, Liara and Shepard sharing a quick kiss as he transferred Nezzy to her. They fit together so comfortably, like they had meant to be together, basking in the hard-fought peace they had won for the sake of Nezzy and the children like her.
"Alright, time for you two to go. I know they won't start without their guests of honour, but don't keep the dalatrasses and matriarchs waiting too long. Those biddies will get bored and start plotting and then Shepard will have to become a hero again." Aethyta walked over to her daughter and her bondmate and retrieved their child back into her arms. They started moving towards to the door.
"Call my omni-tool any time father, and make sure she gets to bed and-," Liara's voice had that same nervous tone all young mothers had throughout the galaxy before Aethyta cut her off.
"Alright young lady, I've been raising asari children longer than you've been alive." She smiled to take the edge out of her words, and Shepard grinned as he hustled Liara towards the waiting car.
Aethyta shut the door using her biotics and brought Nezzy back inside, the baby's eyes goggling wide at the blue aura that just enveloped them.
"Ah you like that did you? Well, maybe I'll show you how to make a singularity today..."
