After Shepard had revealed what had happened on the Citadel to Liara she had a renewed spirit and seemed to be coping with the events of the war better. She had thrown herself back into her therapy sessions with a renewed vigor, which reminded Liara of the women she had fallen in love with all of those years ago. She was also sleeping better now, and her mood swings were no were near as bad. She had also been able to move out of the hospital completely, and was staying in a small apartment with Liara near Alliance HQ in Vancouver.

After about three weeks Shepard was on well on track for a full recovery. But, her implants had greatly sped up the healing process, as the doctors told her if not for them even if she had survived the explosion she never would have been the same again. Now they expected her to make a full recovery within six months. But, she was not there yet she still had some of the really burns which still had not healed, and she still had to wear several soft casts to support her newly mended bones.

On this particularly cold winter day in Vancouver Liara and Shepard were getting ready to head off to a bar that was typically frequented by Alliance officials in order to talk with Admiral Hackett, who wanted to talk to Shepard about her reinstatement, though currently they were still in the apartment because Liara was in the bathroom as she did not feel well.

"Liara, are you sure that you are okay, you have not been doing well for a while now. This is about the third time that you have thrown up today, you are not eating, and the slightest smells are making you feel sick. If you want you can stay home, I am sure I can handle this by myself."

Just then Liara came out of the bathroom straightening out her clothes and said, "No, I am fine Shepard it must have been something I ate because I do not feel bad at all."

Shepard looked at her skeptically but said, "If you are sure that you are all right, I am not going to argue with you. You know your body better than anyone else. Are you ready to head off to meet with Admiral Hackett?"

Liara nodded, and they both headed out the door to the street. While Shepard was particularly excited about this meeting Liara was not, she could not get over the fact that they were meeting only with Admiral Hackett who was not on the board and were meeting in public. No, Liara had a very bad feeling about this meeting; and more importantly she was worried about what would happen to Shepard's recovery if she was discharged from the Alliance. The Alliance had been her whole life since she was 18 years old. If did not have the Alliance she might completely spiral out of control even worse than she had before.

When they reached the bar light and fluffy snow started to fall on the dark streets of Vancouver. Shepard opened the door to the bar, and the warmth and light hit Liara as they stepped through. As soon as they stepped into the room they were surrounded by Alliance Officers of all ages, from new recruits fresh from the academy all the way up to old and grizzled veterans of the First Contact War.

However, one young female officer caught Shepard's attention; she pushed to the front of the group and said, "Commander, Commander Shepard can I please get your autograph?"

Shepard smiled and said, "Sure, I guess, what's your name?"

"My name is Emily Jones I am sure that you don't remember but…"

"Sure I do you were the little girl on Bekenstein. My you sure have grown since the last time I saw you, you enlisted in the Alliance I see."

"Yes," the young officer said proudly as Shepard handed her back the napkin. "After you saved me from that slave ring I vowed to grow up and help others the way that you helped me. I figured that I owed you that much, after you gave me a second chance."

Shepard looked at her, and Liara could tell that she was thinking about what she had told Liara the other day about her reasons for joining the Alliance all of those years ago. Then, she looked the girl straight in the eyes and said in a serious tone, "You owe me nothing, I was merely doing my job. I want you to live your life how you want to, that is the greatest thing that you can do for me."

The girl looked confused for a second as she was considering what Shepard had just said. Then, she saluted and said, "Yes, ma'am."

Just as she said this every else pushed her out of the way and started to crowd around Shepard until Admiral Hackett walked up and said, "Okay everyone the Commander is here for business please leave her alone until she is done. Shepard, I have a table in the private lounge if you will follow me"

Liara had meet the Admiral several before once, and had talked to him on several occasions but she was still impressed by the way the old veteran carried him. Despite everything he carried him with the grace and power of one of the elder matriarchs on Thessia. In fact, it was she felt the same way she did when she was young and saw her mother talking to other officials.

Shepard instantly snapped to attention, and said, "I would be honored sir; do you mind if Liara joins us?"

Admiral Hackett looked at Liara, then back to Shepard and said, "Of course, Dr. T'Soni is more than welcome to join us. Do either of you want a drink.

Shepard nodded, and said, "I will have a pint of ale, Liara do you want anything?"

"No, I am fine," said the Asari.

Admiral Hackett signaled for a waiter, placed there orders, and then turned back to the couple and said, "Okay, if the two of you will follow me we can get started."

The couple followed Admiral Hackett through the maze of officers who were in the bar, Shepard receiving many handshakes and praise from the assembled officers. And much to her surprise many of the officers thanked Liara for all she had done during the Invasion. The Admiral led then through a room in the back of the room, and pointed to a table.

Shepard and Liara moved over to the table and sat down next to each other while Admiral Hackett sat down across from them. As they were sitting the waiter came up to the table and set down Shepard's and Hackett's drinks. As Admiral Hackett took a sip he said, "You look amazing Shepard, it is hard to believe that a few short weeks ago you were barely hanging onto life."

"Yeah, say what you will about Cerberus but they sure did a good job putting me back together," said Shepard as she took a drink of her ale. "I heard an interesting rumor that you were appointed to replace Councilor Udina on the Citadel Council, congratulations sir. Is this true sir?"

Liara could have sworn that she saw the old veteran roll his eyes. Then he sighed and said, "To tell you the truth Shepard I am not sure that I am going to take the job. I am not a politician; I would rather face down the Reapers all over again then have to sit through those meetings."

Shepard and Liara looked at each other and smiled, they were both thinking the same thing but it was Shepard who spoke up and said, "I think Anderson said the same thing to me when I first suggested him for the position. But, we need people like you Admiral, you were the one who led the fight against the Reapers, you are a born leader and I do not think that they could have picked a better person for the job."

"I am not sure that it is not a form of punishment against me; because from what Anderson told me they are the worse form of torture imaginable."

Shepard just smiled again and said, "Please Admiral Hackett does this for me, consider it the repayment of the favor that you owe me for saving Earth."

The Admiral looked at her with sad eyes and said, "There is nothing that the human race could ever do to pay you back for what you did for us, but if it will make you happy I will take the job."

As he took another sip of his drink he said, "Shepard, let's get onto the matter at hand, you know that I called you here to talk about your reinstatement."

Liara looked over at Shepard, and she could see that Shepard did not look as confident now as she had a couple of minutes ago. However, she just nodded and said, "Yes, sir, do you have any news on my reinstatement."

For the first time ever, Liara say shame and regret in the Admiral's eyes as he said, "Yes, Shepard, but I am afraid that it is not good news. The board, after listening to the testimony of your doctors, especially the military psychologist, and reviewing your military records has decided that given your current mental state and past actions to postpone their decision for six months and suggest that you continue to seek treatment during that time."

It was just as bad as Liara had feared coming into this, this news was the worst thing that could happen to Shepard right now. She looked over at Shepard expecting her to say something but she didn't say anything and Hackett continued, "Don't give up Shepard I am going to make sure that they reinstate you. I have never met a more qualified soldier, or a greater hero in all of my time in the Alliance. Some of us know all that you have sacrificed over the years to keep us safe."

For a few excruciating seconds Shepard just state there, then she stood up, saluted, and said, "Thank you Admiral I am grateful for all of your help, and I will make sure that I redouble my efforts."

But, before Liara or Admiral Hackett could say anything Shepard turned on her heels and walked out of the room; Liara quickly got up out of her chair and said, "I am sorry Admiral, we have another appointment tonight."

The old Admiral looked at her, and Liara could tell that he could see through her poor lie. But, he just looked at her and said, "I have been where she is right now, I know that it is the toughest challenge that she has probably ever faced in her life. She needs you now Liara more than ever, please take care of her the galaxy needs someone like her now more than ever. Please just take care of her."

Liara could hear the sadness and pain in his words. She knew the Admiral viewed her like his own daughter, and that it had truly hurt him to have to break this news to here. But, Liara also knew that it was a good thing that it came from him, and that it needed to be done. But, this did nothing to quell her anger at the Alliance for tossing away the greatest hero, in her hour of need.

She knew it was not the Admiral's fault but she didn't have time to worry about this now she had to find Shepard. So, she ran back to the front of the bar and quickly scanned the room looking for Shepard but she could not find her. Then, the girl from before came up to her and said, "If you are looking for the Commander she just ran out the front door in a hurry. If you…"

Liara didn't even wait for the girl to finish her thought, she knew it was rude but she had to find Shepard. When she got outside, she looked down the street both ways but she didn't see Shepard. But, she did see new foot prints leading away from the bar in the fresh snow so she decided to follow them and hope for the best. She followed the footprints down the street a little ways then even before they turned down a side alley she knew that they were Shepard's because she could hear her crying.

She stopped, and turned down the alley and saw Shepard sitting there in the snow. She walked over to Shepard, sat down next to her and said, "Shepard, it is going to be alright. We will keep working on it, and you will be ready in six months' time."

Shepard looked up at her with blue blurry eyes and said, "Liara I don't know what I am going to do with myself without the Alliance. It was the only thing in my life that I was ever good at. Plus I have spent the past twelve years going from one mission to another, especially these past four years battling the Reapers. But, now I am useless with way too much time on my hands, if I can't go back to the Alliance I have nothing left in my life." Liara knew she was just hurting but that statement really hurt her.

"It will be okay love."

"Maybe they are right Liara maybe I am not longer fit for duty. If I really think about it, I am not even sure that I can stay on earth anymore; there are too many painful memories here. And I think it will be the same way in the Alliance, I have had a long career in the Alliance and I have lost a lot of good friends." She paused then slowly said, "Maybe it is time for me to retire."

Liara was shocked to hear her say this; Liara had always assumed that Shepard would go back to the Alliance whether or not it was the best thing for her. "Well when my mother died she left me our family estate on Thessia, if you want we can move there."

Shepard looked at her, and said, "That might be nice, at least then I would be away from all of the memories her. But, I can't just sit around being a burden, I am going to have to find something to do; if it is not the Alliance it is going to have to be something else."

Liara smiled, she knew that she was right, as much as she might want to Shepard was not the person to just go into retirement and spend the next fifty years just sitting around a big estate on Thessia. Shepard had to be out their helping people and saving the day, it was just the type of person that she is; and despite, or maybe because of , this difference Liara still loved her.

"If it is not the Alliance, the Council will take you back. I am sure that they will let you work on missions on your schedule. That way you can retire but still do some things to help out and keep active. And if they will not take you back I am sure a certain Shadow Broker could always use your help; you and I could go out there and save the galaxy by ourselves just like the good old days."

Shepard smiled and said, "Great, then it is a date."

Liara stood up, offered Shepard her hand and said, "Ok, in the morning I will make the plans for us to get back to Thessia, and you can tell Admiral Hackett that you are going to retire. Now, let's go back to the apartment it is freezing out here. I do not know how you humans live in weather like this."

"I know how we can warm up," Shepard said coyly as you got to her feet. Then, she put her hand around Laira's waist and kissed her.

Notes- I hope that you like the latest chapter. I am sorry for not posting last week but I have just been so busy between work and playing the new Assassin's Creed game. But, the good news is that I have another chapter ready to go. So, it should be posted within the next day or so. And this will bring the story to its first major arc.