A/N: I really struggled with this chapter. Should I put it in? Should I kick it to the curb? Does it help drive the rest of the story along? Does it hinder the story? And the big question, is it really necessary to the story? These are all questions I was asking and the answers that I was coming up with didn't make me happy because truth is, the first part of this chapter isn't integral to the story at all. In fact, it stood highlighted for about thirty minutes with my finger on the 'delete' key, while I argued with my inner editor. After that thirty minute internal argument, the writer in me won because while it may not be integral to the story, it is integral me.

So, what is my story? I don't have time to tell you my entire history, but allow me to give you a look at the relationship that Connections and I have. My mom died 6 years ago and what I wouldn't give for her to come back for a second chance or to have a Liara come along and make everything better. That and I truly just love this chapter. I love everything about it. Hannah and Liara's conversation about the difference between the word 'Mother' and the word 'Momma'. I love how Liara has become an 'insta-mom' and becomes the 'glue' in the family, much like my mom was when she was here. No, none of this pushes the story in any way, but it does show you a bit about where Liara is in her effort to help Riley and Jane come together and in some ways it addresses how she would be as a parent, which we clearly see is a desire for her throughout the series.

So, the chapter stays and I really hope you like it as much as I do, because this one is from the heart (you'll probably hear me say this a few more times about other chapters too. Lucky you. :P ).

Again, thank you ALL for your kind words of encouragement and joining me on this wonderful journey of discovery as I learn more about myself not only as a writer, but as a person. I hope I do right by the world. Cheers.

"Well, some family dinner this turned out to be huh?" Hannah chuckles.

Liara smiled, sipping her wine. "Are all Shepard's this passionate?"

"All the ones I've ever met and I prefer the word stubborn." Hannah responds. "It's a wonder they find mates at all. And, if you think John and Jane are stubborn, you should've met my father-in-law. Now that man was a piece of work. Someday I'll tell you all about him, but right now, I have a little girl on my lap heavy with sleep."

Liara puts her glass down, pays for the wine and helps Hannah by lifting the girl up onto her shoulder. Riley stirs a little and then nuzzles her face into Liara's neck.

"How far are we from the penthouse?" Hannah asks.

"Not far, about a ten minute walk."

"Good. I was thinking that Riley should stay with you tonight. She can spend tomorrow night on the Orizaba with us."

"Are you sure?" Liara asks.

"Positively. It'll be nice for her to wake up to you and Jane. We can pick her up in the morning and spend the day spoiling her rotten before we give her back like all good grandparents should do." Hannah's eyes twinkle as they meet Liara's.

"That sounds lovely."

Hannah loops her arm through Liara's, "Riley has needed a Momma for a very long time now. That's not saying that my daughter hasn't been a Mother to her, because she has, just not a Momma."

Liara frowned, "I do not understand, what is the difference between Mother and Momma."

Hannah chuckles, "Well, I may be wrong, but this is just my opinion. A Mother seems so formal and respectful and sound of it makes her seem disconnected in a way. Now a Momma seems more loving, kind, gentle and accepting. Human children will usually call their Mothers 'mommy' or 'momma', it's more endearing. When they get older, it shortens to 'mom'. Momma's are the people you go to when you have no one else and Mother's are who you go to when you need lessons in etiquette," Hannah smirked at Liara, "I'm Jane's Momma and I like it that way. It reminds she and I both that she will always have someone on her side no matter what."

"What did Riley call Jane when she was little?" Liara asked.

Hannah sighed, "Before Jane enrolled Riley in the Academy, it was Mommy this and Mommy that. I think that was mostly influenced by John and I. That's what we would call Janey when talking about her with Riley. Shortly after Riley was enrolled in the academy, Jane quickly became Ma'am which is more of a term of respect and and affords a certain amount of fear."

Liara nodded slightly, "Hmm and now, Jane has requested that Riley call her Mommy. This is a very good thing."

Hannah looked at the asari and smiled, "It's a very good thing thanks to you. If you hadn't talked to Jane, she would never have looked at the issue in front of her. That was very nurturing of you Liara, very 'Momma-like'."

Liara chuckled, "Perhaps one day, if it is something she wants, Riley can call me 'Momma'." Liara put her cheek against Riley's as she slept on the asari's shoulder.

Hannah pulled the asari close to her as they walked, "I'm certain that Riley would not only love it, but she needs it."

"I will be here in any capacity that Riley needs me in." Liara states with resolve.

"This I can see already and it makes me happy. I don't know how much Jane has shared with you about how Riley came about, and I'd rather she tell you herself, but you should know that seeing her with Riley now is the most responsible I've seen her in a very long time. Thank you for that."

Liara stopped walking, "I only know that she was very young but she has shared nothing else with me. I respect her privacy. It surprises me to hear her responsibility lacking in this area because she is a very responsible Commander."

Hannah looked sadly into Liara's eyes, "A responsible Commander does not make a responsible Mother. I can speak firsthand to that. If it wasn't for John being the responsible parent, Jane wouldn't be the person she is. He can take all the credit for that, I was barely home."

Hannah rubs the back of the child tucked under Liara's chin, "You are a very good Momma Liara."

Liara blushes, "Thank you." She stops in front of an apartment complex, "Here we are."

Liara keys in the code and the door hisses open, the lights turn on and the two women walk in.

"Forgive me, if I did not have my hands full, I would offer to serve you myself, but the wine is in the cabinet and the glasses are in the cupboard. I'm going to put Riley to bed. Make yourself at home."

Hannah smiled, "Do what you do best."

Liara walked to the bedroom where she laid Riley on the bed and started to remove the girls clothes. Finding that Riley had an undershirt on already, she skipped changing her into one of Jane's. She moved the girl onto a pillow in the middle of the bed, covered her and placed a kiss on her forehead, "Good night Little Star."

She turned to see Hannah leaning against the door frame.

"A very good Momma indeed." The Captain smiled causing Liara to slightly blush.

Jane sat at a table in Flux staring at her father who stood at the bar nursing a beer and halfheartedly paying attention to the volus bartender in front of him.

She finally got up and came up on Johns right side, "Mind if I sit?"

John tilted his head and sighed, "Sure."

As Jane pulled the stool out and took a seat she started, "I'm not trying to take her away from you."

John looked at his beer and grunted, "I know Jane. It's just," He turned his body to his daughter, "I love that little girl with all my heart. Everything I have given her was to make up for what I withheld from you, I didn't know how much I'd fall in love with her."

Jane looked down at her hands resting on the bar in front of her, "I don't think I've ever thanked you and told you how much I appreciate all that you've done for RJ and for me."

John looked down again and nodded, wiping his eye.

Jane continued, "I have missed a big portion of her life, most of it in fact and I'm a little jealous also."

John met her eyes, "Jealous? Of what?"

Jane smiled, "I want to fall in love with Riley too Dad. I realize that I've kept myself from her out of fear and she deserves to have a Mom. On my way here I did some thinking and it came as a shock to me that I don't even know how to be a parent to her. I'm going to need some help with that and I was thinking..."

John looked down at his beer, then at his daughter, pursed his lips and smiled, "Of course I'll help you with that. I love you Jane, I really do. I just want you to be happy and I want Riley to get to know you and be happy too. I'm sorry. I'm just scared of losing her."

"Dad, you can see her anytime you want. It's not much different than when she was at the academy and if you need me to bring her to you, just tell me when and where to drop her off." Jane smiled.

John smiled at his daughter, "I'm sorry I made you feel like shit."

"It's okay, I'm pretty sure I've made you feel like shit before too." Jane smirked.

"Right." John smiled.

They sat quiet for a moment before Jane broke the silence again.

Taking a deep breath, "One more thing. About Liara," Jane looked at her Father.

John lost his smile, but was still listening.

"I love her. I've never loved anyone like I love her. She's special to me and she makes me happy. She may be non-human, but she is dead set on making Riley and I her priority, so you can't knock her for that. She has a heart of gold and if there's anyone at all that you can trust with your Little Star, it's Liara."

John cast his eyes down again a moment, thinking, then met Jane's, "I may not be a fan of aliens Janey but I think I can get to know your non-human girlfriend and at least give her a chance. Who told you about 'Little Star'?

"Who else?"

"Your Mom is something else. You know, your grandpa O'Malley gave me the hardest time when I was dating her. There wasn't one thing I could do right in his eyes. I gave his daughter everything she ever wanted, I helped her with her career, I gave her a daughter. I don't know how much more I could've done to prove to him my love for her. I don't want to be like him and I don't want Liara to feel like I did. If she loves you and Riley as much as you say she does, then she's alright by me."

Jane smiled at her Father, "That's all I ask Dad. Just give her a chance to make you love her. It won't be hard, that I can promise. She has a way with Riley and it's truly beautiful to see. It's also inspiring me to be a better parent."

John smiled holding up his beer to his daughter, "To parenting."

Jane clinked her bottle to his, "Here here."