Look out everyone, Its about to get a bit darker in here! But seriously, all things considered, Im very happy with this chapter. I feel like it adds a little more depth to Jane as a character, and helps to move the relationship with Jane and Liara along. Still not sure what Im gonna do with Janes dad, but Its probably going to come into the picture more.

Anyways, I hope everyone likes this chapter, and please feel free to leave criticism. Im always trying to improve my writing.

Can I come over? I need someone to talk to.

Liara stared at the message, trying to decide what it meant. It was a little late, and she had been getting ready to go to bed when the message had popped up on her omni tool. She had figured that it was an add or a reminder from her service provider to renew her contract. Instead, it was from Jane. It was so simple, and something about the time that it came and the way it was worded made Liara feel a little uncomfortable, like something was wrong with her friend.

You can come over. Is everything alright?

Liara went back to brushing her teeth, but hardly got very far before she felt her Omnitool buzz again. She opened it, her toothbrush hanging from her mouth, and read Jane's message.

Yeah, sure, everythings fine. There was a little frowny face emoji next to her response, and while Liara found it a little weird considering Jane's very vocal disgust for all things "teenagery," it still got the message across quite nicely.

Jane was at the door in a good 30 seconds, and when Liara opened the door, she came bursting in. Janes face was twisted up, in a look of frustration and sadness. She walked into the T'Soni living room, and began to pace. Liara, still holding her toothbrush, watcher her friend. It was strange to see her like this. Jane was always so happy, and for her to be in such a visibly unhappy mood was far from the norm.

Jane paced, and Liara watched from her place in the doorway. She had only known Jane for a month, but they had become fast friends. It made her feel bad to see Jane so upset, and she wanted to do something to help. Liara stepped forward, and placed her toothbrush and the mug of water she was holding on the coffee table, before reaching out and putting her hands on Jane's shoulders, steadying looked at each other, Liara quietly observing, Jane breathing heavy. She hadn't gotten a good look at Jane when she first entered, but she saw now that Jane''s eye was red and swelling, and she would probably have a black eye in the morning.

"Whats going on?" asked Liara, "what happened to your eye?"

Jane looked at Liara, as if she was deciding whether to answer or not. "Where's your mother?" she asked.

Liara stopped a second, and thought about the question. It seemed like Jane was stalling something. "She's out of town for the weekend. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I just, I don't know. I was just curious." Jane twisted her shoulders from Liara's hands, and started pacing again. Liara stood a second, before chasing after Jane and putting her hands on her shoulders again.

"Jane, Jane, stop." she said, and looked at her friend. They had another pause, and Liara looked at Janes eye again. "Whats going on?"

Jane looked back at her, and her eyes changed. The angry exterior melted away, and she looked down at her feet. "He hit me," she said. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

"What?" said Liara, her crush on Jane making her feel even more angry, "who hit you?"

Jane didnt respond, just stared at her feet. Her hair was a mess, more so than usual, and her eyes were red rimmed. She was a mess, like she had been sleeping on a floor.

"Jane," she said, "who hit you?" Liara was lowering her head, so that she could try and look Jane in the eye, but she just kept shifting her head away. Her hair was hanging down in front of her face.

Jane took in a breath, "My dad." She said it almost as much to the floor as to Liara, as if she wanted to just disappear.

Liara stood a second. She wasn't aware that Janes father was a part of her life, and she took a moment to process it. As she did, Jane leaned forward, and Liara found herself hugging her. It would have been a dream accomplished for her to hug Jane Shepard, had it not come in such a strained moment. Liara just held Jane. She didn't make any noise, but Liara could tell that her friend was crying. They stood like that for a long while, just quietly, until Liara stood back and asked in a manner that she hoped was soothing, "do you want some tea?"

Jane stood back and nodded, wiping away tears. Liara turned and went to the kitchen, and Jane stood there in the T'Soni living room, looking at the paintings on the walls. She sat down on the couch, and stared at her hands.

Liara entered the kitchen and stood for a second, trying to organize everything she had just learned about Jane in her head. She had never factored Janes father into the picture. She just figured that it was Jane and her mother against the world. It seemed like they were doing pretty well for themselves anyways. But, it seemed like that wasn't the case all the time. She opened a cupboard, and took out a teapot before filling it with water from the sink. She wondered it it would be right to ask Jane what the situation was with her father, and why he had turned up so suddenly. She placed the teapot on stove. She let it sit for a while, before turning and rummaging through the cupboards again, trying to find the tea. She found three boxes, Green Leaf, Peppermint and a flavor from Thessia, Schudin Flower. She looked at the three, and put them on the counter before leaning over and opening the drawer that was under the oven, and pulling out a tray.

She put the three tea boxes on the tray, and then went to take two mugs, which she put on the tray as well. She waited, and watched the teapot until it started to whistle, when she took it off and put it on the tray. She picked it up, and carried it out to the living room again. Jane looked up at her, and quickly wiped at her eyes. It made Liara sad to see Jane acting like this. It was such a diversion from her usual happy go lucky self, and it seemed unnatural.

She sat down next to Jane, and poured the water into both mugs. "What would you like? I have Green Leaf, Peppermint and Schudin Flower." She said this quietly, like she was trying to sooth a young child who had scraped their knee. But instead, it was a girl who was almost an adult that she was soothing. Liara realised that they were both almost adults, and it made her feel strange.

"Green Leaf would be good," said Jane. Liara leaned forward, and took one of the packets out. She dipped it in the water until it became a golden brown, before picking it up and handing it to Jane, who took it in both hands and sipped it gingerly.

"Do you want me to get you some ice for your eye?" asked Liara.

"Sure," replied Jane. She smiled at Liara faintly.

Liara stood, and went back into the kitchen, and retrieved a plastic bag. She opened the freezer door, and took out an ice tray, before putting half of the cubes into the bag. From the top of the fridge she also took a dish towel, which she wrapped around the ice bag. Liara went back into the living room, to where Jane was sitting and sat down on the edge of the couch, turning the body so she could hold the ice to Janes eye. It was starting to look purple.

"You know," said Jane, "my birthday was supposed to be tomorrow. But I guess that isnt happening now."

"Its okay," said Liara, "you'll have plenty of other birthdays."

"I know," said Jane, "but its my eighteenth birthday. I would have like to celebrate becoming a legal adult."

Liara was silent, she just looked at Jane.

"I still have to do two more years in highschool though. I repeated seventh grade. Did I tell you that already?"

"I think you may have mentioned it," said Liara. In fact, it had been mentioned more than once. It seemed like the only thing Jane was insecure about was having to retake the seventh grade. Whenever the subject came up, Jane always made sure to explain how the only reason she retook the grade was because of her and her mother moving in the middle of the year.

Liara looked at Jane. She wondered if the happy face she was always wearing was real. It seemed like there were a lot more demons in Jane Shepard's life than she was aware of at first, and it seemed like Jane's happiness was just a facade. She hoped not. She hoped that she was really happy.

Liara took the ice away from Jane, and looked closely at her eye.

"I think thats going to be black in the morning," she said.

"I know," said Jane.

Liara put the ice in Janes hand, before lifting it up so that Jane was pressing it against her own eye.

"Do you want an early birthday present?" asked Liara.

Jane smiled. A sad smile, but a smile. "I would love that," she said.

Liara stood, and went to her room. A minute later, she came back down, her arms laden with a heavy cage. She brought it into the living room, and placed it on the coffee table before taking the top off, and lifting out a small, brown and white hamster.

"I got you Wilson." She said, handing the little animal over to Jane. "Also, the lady at the pet store said that Wilson is actually a girl."

Janes face had lit up. She still looked disheveled and nervous, but it was now mixed with the giddynes of a child. When Liara had gone to buy Wilson, the lady at the petstore had tried to stop her. It was only when Liara explained who she was buying wilson for that the woman relented. She told Liara that Jane had been coming into the store for a year and half to visit Wilson.

"Thank you so much Liara," said Jane. Wilson was in her hands, seemingly content with her situation as Jane lifted her to hold her little body to her chest. "Ive wanted this hamster for a long time now."

She looked at Liara. Before Liara could look away, Jane leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. It wasnt long, it wasnt wet, but it was loving.

Liara was taken aback, and didnt say anything for a few seconds. She meant to say something witty, or sweet, but instead all that came out was "what was that for?"

"I don't know," said Jane, "It just seemed right in the moment."