Sound asleep Shepard is woken by a hand on hers. Opening her eyes it takes a minute for the human to realize where she is. She is still in the hospital sleeping in a bed brought in by the medical staff so she did not have to leave Liara's side.

Holding onto the hand Shepard looks over to see beautiful blue eyes looking back at her.

"There she is." Shepard props up on her elbow, "my beautiful wife."

"Are you okay Elly?"

"Me? Why are you asking me? You are the one who had a baby. How are you doing?"

"You were whimpering in your sleep. Were you having a nightmare?"

"I…I don't know, I don't remember." Shepard sits up so her legs are dangling over the edge of the bed. There is not a lot of space between the beds; she wanted to be as close to Liara as possible. "How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Do you want me to get the Doctor?"

"No, but I could do with some water."

"Of course." Shepard kisses the back of Liara's hand then gets off the bed to pour some water for her bondmate. "Here ya go."

"Where is she?"

"The nurse will bring her in soon. It is time for her feeding."

"Is that so?" Liara is surprised. "How do you know?"

"I know these things. Besides I woke up every time they came in here with her." Shepard moves her bed away from Liara so there is room around her bed. "We still have the business of naming her."

"Well I do like the name we kind of agreed upon."

"Really? I thought you wanted to think about it longer."

"Well, let me see her and I will see if the name fits."

"Sounds good," Shepard leans over and kisses her fully on the lips. "I love you Liara I hope you know that."

"What has brought this on?"

Holding her hand, "I was scared Liara. When I saw all of that blood…I …well I can't lose you." She feels the heat behind her eyes.

Liara squeezes her hand. "I feel the same way." Liara cups her bondmate's cheek and wipes a tear with her thumb. "How did you know to bring me here?"

A little surprised by the question Shepard asks, "Don't you remember?"

Liara shakes her head.

"It was Raina."

"What?" the asari is shocked. "What do you mean?"

"After putting you to bed, I was reading Eva a bedtime story. I must have fallen asleep. Raina woke me up and said to get you to the hospital."

"Oh Goddess is she alright?"

"Yes she is just fine. Valya stayed with the kids while Aethyta and I waited for you to come out of surgery."

Liara looks around.

"She is home now. I thought we could call them later using the vid phone. Then maybe we can show off our new one."

The asari smiles.

"Good morning," it is a nurse with a little bundle in her arms.

"Morning Lila," says Shepard. "Liara, this is nurse Lila."

The nurse nods to Liara. "You ready?"

Liara sits up. Shepard props up pillows behind her. "Ready," says Liara.

The nurse transfers the little one to her for her feeding. "I will be back in about thirty minutes."

"Thanks," says Shepard.

When the little one latches on Liara looks to her bondmate. "What happened?"

Sitting in a chair she brought next to the bed, Shepard asks "What do you mean?"

"I don't understand how Dr. T'Pol said everything was alright and then this happened."

"Yeah don't get me started."

"What do you mean?"

"After your surgery I saw her in the hallway. I almost threw a slam at her I was so angry."

"Please tell me she is not in one of these rooms recovering Elly."

"Ha ha. I do have some self-control Liara."

Liara tilts her head down a little while raising her eyebrows.

"Well I do."

"What happened?"

"Honest mistake," says Shepard with a snarl on her face. "She was so apologetic. Said something about how you never had issues before so she never looked for this particular issue. She said the checkup with her yesterday morning was routine and everything did come back within normal parameters. Can you believe that?" Shepard is pacing now. The thought about the doctor's negligence makes her angry all over again.

"So she called it an honest mistake?"

Stopping her pacing to yell, "Can you believe that?"

The little one unlatches from Liara and starts to cry. The yelling scared her.

"Elly," says Liara not at all happy.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. Want me to hold her?"

"No thank you." Liara starts to rock the little one to try to calm her down. "So what happens to her?"

"She has been suspended for one week while they investigate. Can you believe that? Just one week for almost killing two people."

"Elly Shepard."

"Sorry. Damn it Liara I'm sorry but she deserves to lose her job over this."

"Last time I checked we were not medical doctors. Maybe it was just an odd oversight."

"How on earth can you be so understanding Liara? You almost…"

Liara shoots her a look. She just calmed down the baby to feed again and she does not want Shepard yelling.

Shepard stops talking and puts her hands up as if in defeat. She starts to pace again.

After a few minutes of silence Shepard looks over and sees Liara is nearly asleep. She approaches the bed and supports the baby. "Liara, you okay?"

Opening her eyes, "Huh? Oh yes…sorry I must have nodded off."

"Is she done?"

"Yes."

Shepard cradles the infant and helps Liara cover up. "You get some rest okay. I will be here when you wake up."

"What about the call?"

"Call?"

"To the kids."

"Oh we can always call later. You sleep now." Shepard kisses her on the forehead.

Liara settles further into the bed and closes her eyes. It does not take long before she is asleep.


"Do we have to go to school today?" asks Mia. "When do we get to see Mom and our sister?"

"I am not telling you again Mia," says Aethyta, "yes you are going to school today."

Mia's lower lip starts to quiver. When Raina puts her arm around her and gives the Matriarch a dirty look, Aethyta finally says something. "Look kid I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap." She places her hand on her shoulder. "I just think your parents would be angry if you did not go to school."

Mia wipes a tear from her cheek.

"I'm sorry Mia," says Aethyta. She has never really taken care of children. When Liara was their age she was no longer a part of her life. She is doing the best she can which it turns out is not all that great.

"It's okay."

"No it's not. I'm sorry. Look." All three kids look to her. "If you go to school I will see about bringing you to the hospital afterwards. How does that sound?"

"Really?" asks Mia. Raina doesn't say anything but the look in her eyes says it all.

"I want to go to school!" yells Eva as she gulps down the rest of her breakfast.

The three of them exchange looks with each other and laugh a little. It is nice that Eva broke the tension though they doubt it was intentional.


"Honey wake up," Shepard is softly shaking Liara's shoulder. It is time for another feeding. She feels awful that the asari can't get more than two to three hours of sleep at a time, but the little one has to eat.

"Hmm?"

The asari nurse Lila is holding the little bundle of joy while Shepard helps Liara sit up.

"You awake honey?"

Liara does not open her eyes she just nods.

Shepard opens her top and takes the baby from the nurse then hands it to Liara. It does not take long for the little one to find her mother's breast. Shepard holds the baby for her because Liara is barely awake.

"Is this normal Lila for her to be so tired?"

"She is recovering from surgery Shepard. Plus her sleep continues to get interrupted."

"Yeah I know that part thanks."

"Sorry." She recognizes Shepard's sarcasm. She likes the human. Plus it is an honor to help the Savior of the Galaxy.

"When is the Doctor coming to check on her?"

"I would say right now Shepard."

"Hey Doctor. Hey Liara can hardly keep her eyes open."

"Let me check her," says the Doctor. She runs a scan then another and then another. "Lila."

"Yes Doctor?"

"Extract more from her please. I would like to see her get more sleep."

"Mind telling me what you are talking about?" asks Shepard. She continues to hold her daughter to Liara's breast while she sleeps sitting up.

"I am going to have Lila extract more milk from Dr. T. T'Soni. That way you can feed your daughter while your bondmate sleeps."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not at all. Besides, since she is already sleeping she won't feel a thing," says the Doctor.

The little infant unlatches from Liara. Shepard lifts her to lay against her shoulder to burb her. "There ya go little one." She walks around the room while the nurse does whatever she is doing.

The Doctor starts to head for the door. "Hey Doctor."

"Yes Shepard?"

"I want to talk to you about Dr. T'Pol."

"Shepard I thought I made myself clear. I have nothing to do with that."

"Then who do I talk to because that is just not good enough."

"The hospital administrator. I will tell her you want to speak with her."

"Today."

The Doctor nods, "I will relay the message."

"Thank you Doctor. I do appreciate everything you have done."

"You are welcome. Permission to leave Captain?"

Shepard knows she is joking. "Yeah yeah," she says with a smirk, "carry on."


Feeling a hand on her shoulder Shepard opens her eyes.

"Shepard?"

"Hmm?"

"Hey wake up. We are here."

Shepard rubs her face with her hands. She stands and turns to see Aethyta holding Eva while Raina and Mia are in the doorway. She quickly kisses Eva on the cheek then motions for the other two girls to enter. "Come on in."

"Won't we wake her?" asks Raina.

"She won't mind."

"You look like shit Shepard."

Raina, Mia and Eva all point to Aethyta but they don't yell bad word because they don't want to wake up their mother.

"Yeah yeah," says the Matriarch waving them off.

"You guys being good for your Grandpa?"

"Yes Dad," says Raina, "you know some of us are not kids."

Shepard leans down and places both hands on her shoulders, "You are for a little while longer honey okay?" Standing up she says, "Hang on." She approaches Liara. "Honey? The kids are here to see you along with your Dad. Are you up for a visit?

Liara shifts a little.

"Honey?"

"Maybe you should let her sleep Shepard."

"Yeah she is supposed to but when she woke up earlier she said she wanted me to wake her for you guys."

"She needs her rest Dad. I told Grandpa we shouldn't come," says Raina.

"Know it all," says the Matriarch.

Raina sticks her tongue out at her.

"Hey now Raina," says Shepard. "You do not disrespect your Grandfather do you hear me?"

"Yes Dad."

"What do you say?"

"Sorry Grandpa."

"Don't worry about it kid. I still needed to bring all of you no matter what you said."

"Oh wow Shepard is this the rest of your family?" asks Nurse Lila.

"It is yes. Lila, this is my father-in-law Aethyta. This is my oldest Raina, this is Mia and Eva."

"Hello everyone nice to meet you. I bet you are here to meet this little one."

Shepard takes the infant and kneels down to show the kids. "Here she is."

"What is her name?" asks Eva.

"We have not decided yet."

"So what have you been calling her?" asks Mia.

"Ahh well…little one."

"Nice Dad," says Mia sarcastically.

"They have settled on a name Mia, they will tell us when they are ready," says Raina.

"Yeah, not even going to ask how you know that," says Mia.

Shepard looks around to make sure they are alone. She is glad Lila stepped out to give them some privacy. She looks at Mia.

"I knew we were alone Dad otherwise I wouldn't have said anything."

"Thanks sweetheart."

"Elly?"

Shepard carefully hands the infant to Raina then stands up to go to Liara. "Hi honey."

"Are they here?" Liara starts to sit up.

"Yeah they just got here." Shepard helps her sit up and props up some pillows. She grabs Liara a glass of water which the asari gladly consumes.

"Hey kid how are you feeling?" asks Aethyta.

"Hi Dad. I am fine just tired. Thanks for watching them."

"Are you kidding me? It's my pleasure. You take all the time you need to recover, I got everything covered."

Liara hugs her Dad. "Thanks Dad, but I hope I can go home soon. I miss my bed."

"Ma Ma!"

"Shhh Eva," says Shepard. "You need to keep your voice down honey. Inside voice remember?"

"Sorry Da Da," Eva says a bit quieter.

"Hello Eva," says Liara. Shepard sets her on the bed and she hugs her mother.

"Easy with her Eva."

"She is okay Elly, I am not going to break," says Liara. She relaxes more into her pillows. Eva is sitting on her lap in her arms.

"Can I come up?" asks Mia.

"Of course honey."

Shepard lifts Mia and places her on the foot of the bed. She and Liara hold hands for a few seconds. They let go after giving each other a slight squeeze.

Shepard moves the chair closer to the bed then lifts Raina onto it so she can stand on it with the infant in her arms.

"Elly be careful," says Liara.

"I got her."

"It's okay Mom. How are you feeling? You look tired."

Neither parent can get over how old Raina acts for an eight year old.

"I am a little tired still honey, but I am fine."

"So that Doctor only got suspended huh?" asks Raina.

Shepard and Liara look at each other.

"No need to worry about that Raina," says Shepard.

"The Doctor made a mistake honey and she has some consequences to face," says Liara.

"Not harsh enough you ask me," says Shepard under her breath.

"Amen to that kid," says Aethyta. "I tell ya if I made a mistake like that I would have been fired."

"You are not helping Dad," says Liara.

The Matriarch waves her off.

"When you coming home Ma Ma?"

"Soon honey. Don't you want to meet your little sister?"

Eva looks at the little bundle in Raina's arms. "Was I that small?"

"You were a little bigger," says Liara.

"Remember honey that she is a few months early so she is smaller," says Shepard.

"But she is okay?" asks Mia.

"She is perfectly okay," says Liara.

"So what did ya name her" asks Aethyta.

"Well we haven't really settled on a name," says Shepard.

"I think we have Elly."

"Really?"

"Yes. And before you ask, I am sure."

"So?" asks the Matriarch.

Smiling, Shepard says, "Let me introduce you to Aethyta Ashley T'Soni."

"Ah…" Aethyta is speechless. She never imagined a grandchild being named after her.

"Do you like it Dad?"

"Like it? I am honored, I…I don't know what to say. Though I don't know how I feel about another asari with my name. I am one of a kind ya know."

"That you are Dad," says Liara as she holds her father's hand.

"What do you girls think?" asks Shepard.

"Why Ashley?" asks Mia.

"It's after Aunt Ashley Mia," says Raina."

"Oh yeah."

"I like it!" yells Eva.

Little Aethyta wiggles a little when she hears the voice.

"Inside voice remember Eva?" says Shepard.

"Sorry."

"Dad can you take her."

"Yeah I got her." Shepard takes baby Aethyta and hands her to her Grandfather.

The Matriarch shows Mia. They both smell her and coo at her. "She is beautiful Liara." She transfers her grandchild to her daughter.

"Thank you Dad." Liara shows Eva, "So what do you think Eva?"

"She's so tiny."

"Excuse me," it's the asari nurse. "I am sorry to interrupt but she needs to eat. Dr. T'Soni are you up to it?"

"I am yes thank you."

Shepard scoops Eva into her arms and sets her on the floor to stand on her own. Aethyta lifts Mia off of the bed.

Liara opens her shirt and starts to feed the little one.

"I want to see!" yells Eva.

"Hey hey," says Shepard as she kneels in front of her. "You need to stop yelling honey. Your little sister gets scared at loud noises okay?"

"Okay." Eva droops her shoulders.

"We should get going anyway," says Aethyta. "You rugrats ready to go?"

"Ready," says Mia.

"Mind if we have a quick word with Raina?" asks Shepard of Aethyta.

"Sure." She lifts Eva into her arms and places her on her hip. "Come on Mia."

"Bye Mom, Bye Dad."

"Bye you guys. We should be home soon," says Shepard.

"We will be in the hallway," says Aethyta.

Raina turns toward her parents. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Quite the opposite," says Liara. She pats the side of her bed.

Shepard lifts under her arms and places her on the bed.

Liara takes her hand while Shepard takes the other one. "We wanted to thank you Raina. I wanted to thank you for saving my life," says Liara.

The asari is a bit caught off guard.

"Your father told me what you did. Thank you honey. Little Aethyta and I thank you." Liara leans forward and kisses her on her crest.

Shepard also leans in and gives her a hug. "Thank you Raina."

Overcome with emotion the asari is not sure what to say. She manages a small smile. After a minute to compose herself she says, "I am just so glad you are okay."

They all do a group hug. Shepard helps Raina off the bed. She walks her to the doorway.

Shepard kneels down and gives her another hug.

"Don't be too hard on that Doctor," says Raina.

"What?"

Ignoring her Raina says, "I love you Dad."

"I love you too Raina."

Shepard returns to Liara's side. "You did good my blue beauty."

"I think we both did."

"Hey you did all of the work. I can get Lila in here to extract more milk from you if you want to sleep longer after this feeding."

Liara smiles.

"What?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"You are a wonderful bondmate do you know that Elly? I don't think I tell you enough."

Shepard kisses her forehead and sits back down. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me Liara. I want you well rested."

Liara starts to laugh.

"Now what?"

"I think I will be tired for quite some time Elly. We have four children now. I don't think being well rested is in either of our futures."

"Maybe I should have asked Raina."

They both laugh.

"What did she say to you before she left?"

"Huh?"

"Raina? She said something to you."

"Oh that. She said not to be too hard on Dr. T'Pol."

"I agree."

Shepard lets out a sigh. "I don't…I really do not understand how you can be so forgiving Liara. You could have…"

The asari places her hand over the human's, "But I didn't Elly. We did not die."

Shepard won't look at her.

"Elly look at me."

She looks up her. Tears are welling in her eyes. "Oh Elly." Liara lifts her arm and Shepard hugs her as best she can with an infant between them.

"I can't lose you Liara I…I just can't."

"You are not going to lose me." Liara scoots over on the bed making room for her bondmate. "Come here."

Looking at her, "You sure?"

"Yes."

Shepard lies down next to Liara and hugs her while the asari continues to feed their fourth child.

"We are going to be alright Elly. You will see."

"I love you so much Liara."

"I love you too."