Happy New Years! Hope you like this chapter! And as always, enjoy!
~On the Normandy, Present day
Tali'Zorah paced in the small hallway between the elevator and the captain's quarters. She was thinking on how to convince Liara to come out of the room that she had locked herself in. Liara needed to get out and eat something. Hell anything was better than moping around all day and night. Maybe I could tell her that...no that would probably piss her off. Tali thought to herself, thinking really hard and what she could do to help her grieving friend. Everyone on the ship was taking it hard. They were glad that they had won against all odds, but at the cost of losing the one they all know and loved. Everyone had thought that Shepard is long gone. Unfortunately, Liara was in between. Her mind wanted to believe everyone else, but her heart told her otherwise. Tali had to do something for her friend who was in so much pain. To Tali, Liara wasn't just someone who she had fought with on the battlefield, she was family. Right, here goes nothing. Tali walked up to the captain's door and gently knocked. No response. She tried a second time. Nothing. She knocked even louder the third time then she heard Liara yell for her to go away.
"Liara, you do know that I don't need you to unlock this door for me to open it right? I am an engineer after all" Tali clearly stated. Once again she heard silence. She sighed. "Okay, don't tell me that I didn't warn yeah. I'm coming in so I hope to ancestors you're descent" Before Tali could apply a application on the door's combo lock the door swished open. Liara was standing before her with Shepard's N7 jacket on and red teary eyes.
"What do you want, Tali?" Liara asked kind of quietly, trying not to make eye contact. She had her hands in the jacket's pockets. She was remembering every touch of the jacket, remembering what she had left.
"We just arrived on Omega. Thank boshet too, we were running on fumes before we got here" Tali tried to joke. Liara didn't even crack a small smile. "Anyways, I thought that you would like to get some air for a few hours. Perhaps get something to eat, you look like you need it" Tali suggested.
"I'm not hungry" Liara started to turn away but Tali grabbed her arm gently.
"Liara, we may not have known Shepard like you did, but she was our friend too. Everyone on this ship owes her our lives. We owe her to take care of you as well. She wouldn't want you to starve to death" Tali insisted. Liara sniffed a little, trying not to cry more.
"How would you know?" Liara snapped back.
"Because she cared about you more than anything. She would've thrown everything away for you! She did all of this for you Liara. She knew that if she had failed, that there were worse things than dying. She would never want you to experience those things. She loves you Liara. Even now, I bet you where ever she is, she's smiling like the idiot she always was" Tali was almost about to cry as well. Liara looked at her for the first time, small tears running down her cheeks. She then gave Liara a big huge that you could. Tali, totally surprised by this, padded her on the back.
"If we are going out though, you should probably shower" Tali smiled behind her mask. Liara gave her a small smile back and nodded in agreement.
Aria, Miranda and Shepard had made their way through Afterlife. Aria had stopped outside of the huge nightclub that she claims as her castle.
"You guys can come back later if you want. I have to do a few things first. I need to adress to my people" Aria looked up at the big screen that was a pinkish red with a asari dancing, forever looping around a pole.
"Alright. I think we'll go find some grub. I am starving!" Shepard rubbed her stomach.
"Tell me about it" Miranda agreed.
"See ya later Aria" Shepard half saluted and proceed to walk to the markets with Miranda. Miranda was right beside Shepard.
"Remember the good days when we were hunting down Mordin and Archangel?" Shepard smiled.
"'The good days'? Shepard there was a plague where Mordin was and Garrus was surrounded by the three biggest merc groups on Omega. I wouldn't exactly call that good days" Miranda shook her head. Shepard laughed.
"I did hit my head pretty hard didn't I?" Shepard pointed to her helmet that she had on.
"Yes, but I think that's normal for you" Miranda joked.
"Normal for us, remember? I think you're just as crazy as I am to be friends with the deadliest son of a bitch in the galaxy" Shepard winked.
"I believe you all too much Shepard" Miranda pointed at the noodle shop tucked in the corner through all the market shops. They made their way over to one of the tables outside of the shop. They sat down at the table and almost as they did a hanar came up to them.
"What would these two want for lunch? This one recommends something human meals" The hanar glowed as it talked. What a good idea having a hanar as a waiter. Multiple tentacles for multiple dishes I suppose. Shepard thought to herself.
"I'll have the chicken noodles with some toast please" Miranda smiled at the hanar.
"Really? I didn't think you for a chicken noodle kind of gal Miranda. I'll have top raman if you have it. Beef please…or is it roast? I don't remember, surprise me" Shepard smiled.
"Very well, do you wish some liquid while you wait?" The hanar shook as it asked.
"Oh yes, do you have human soda called Dr Pepper?" Shepard asked giddy.
"This one does. What would you like miss?" The hanar looked over at Miranda who was thinking kind of hard.
"Milk will do" Miranda quickly decided. The hanar bowed and walked to the kitchen in the back of the shop.
"Man, you never cease to surprise me Miranda. First chicken noodle, and now milk? Who has milk with soup?" Shepard questioned.
"Unlike you, milk is pretty healthy when it comes to calcium. Which you would do well to remember Commander. You did break every bone in your body when the collectors killed you in the attack at least twice" Miranda smirked.
"Not my skull though!" Shepard wittily replied back.
"As far as you know" Miranda leaned back in her chair when the hanar walked back up to the table and sat down their drinks in front of them.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Shepard said in a higher pitch of tone.
"Oh, nothing" Miranda picked up her cup and sipped her milk. Shepard shook her head in disbelief. Inside her helmet her small computer picked up something in the background behind Miranda. The computer zoomed in and identified a certain person that Shepard automatically recognized.
"Oh my god, Miranda!" Shepard gasped. Miranda sat her drink down with concern.
"What is it? Did your implants fail?" Miranda asked.
"No. It's James! James Vega, my LT!" Shepard couldn't help but stare in utter disbelief. Miranda turned around and focused in on the Lt.
"Oh yeah. If he's here then wouldn't that mean that your ship is here on Omega as well?" Miranda looked at Shepard who she can only imagine had her jaw dropped to the floor. All Shepard could do is nod in response. Miranda turned back around to see Vega getting closer but unaware of the both of them.
"Lt. Vega! Over here!" Miranda waved at the beefy dude. He waved back and walked over to the table.
"Miranda! Mierda! What are you doing here on this hell hole?" Vega excitedly completely blind to the person in the N7 armor who was obviously his apposed MIA Commander. Shepard couldn't believe her eyes.
"Came here with Aria. They got a few relays up and working. Unfortunately, the engineers had just started working on the relay here. So we're stuck here for a while until we can get back to the Citadel" Miranda shrugged at the notion of being stuck on Omega. You have got to be fucking kidding. My own lt doesn't know that I'm sitting right in front of him. I thought I had taught this jarhead better? Shepard huffed thinking to herself.
"Well, at least that's news for us. We just got here a couple hours ago. We were running on fumes on the Normandy. Some of us had to go into hibernation. Say, who's your friend here?" James leaned on the table a bit. Shepard shook her head at Miranda. Then she held out her hand to give James a handshake.
"Well, you can call me Lola" Shepard shook James hand, smiling big behind her helmet. James had a confused look on his face, trying to put things together.
"Lola...huh...I know a person who I call- wait a minute!" James jumped. Miranda burst into laughter almost spilling her drink. Shepard stood up and gave Vega a half hug.
"I'm one indestructible soldier Vega. You should know this" Shepard took off her helmet to show that it was really her if there was any doubt.
"Increible! Oh boy, when blue hears about this she's going to freak!" Vega padded Shepard on the shoulder.
"Speaking of which, where is she? I've been missing her everyday since...well certain doom. I'd very much love to surprise her" Shepard winked.
"Let's see. I think sparks wanted to get her off the ship to get something to eat. The doctor hasn't left your cabin hardly at all since" Vega explained.
"Wait. For ten months she locked herself in my cabin?!" Shepard said worryingly.
"Not really. Only to get some food from the mess late at night or to get something from her cabin" James rubbed the back of her neck. Suddenly, Shepard felt a pain in her chest while hearing this. My poor girl. Goddamnit! She's been grieving me? Again!? Fuck, I might be the worse bondmate in history! Shepard cursed to herself.
"Where is she now? Do you know? Please James. I need to know where she is!" Shepard insisted.
"Shit, I don't really know Lola. I could call Tali" James activated his omni tool and started to call Tali. The omni tool buzzed and buzzed until a mask was on screen.
"This better be important James" Tali finally spoke.
"It is. Where are you right now? Are you with the doctor?" James asked.
"Yes, we're heading to the taxis right now. In front of Afterlife in fact. Why do you ask?" Tali seemed confused on why James would be asking about their whereabouts. Before James could reply however, Shepard took off running. She shoved through Omega's huge crowds.
"-wait! Aye, you guys need to stay put where you are. You got a surprise heading your way" James clicked off his omni tool. By the time he looked up, the Commander was long gone. He looked at Miranda, not knowing what to do with himself. Then the hanar came back up to the table.
"Would the other one like a to-go bowl?" The hanar asked Miranda.
"Might as well" Miranda shrugged, finishing off her milk.
Tali stopped in her tracks, making Liara stop as well.
"What is it?" Liara asked curiously.
"I don't know. It was James, he sounded excited. He said that there was a surprise heading this way" Tali deactivated her omni tool.
"Goddess Tali, I cannot deal with any surprises right now" Liara started to walk away towards the cabs but Tali jumped in front of her stopping her.
"Liara, don't be like this. A surprise will be good for you" Tali smiled behind her helmet. As Liara started to say something she saw someone standing still a few feet from them. Then she realised.
"That boshet! That wonderful boshet!" Tali cursed under her breath. Liara looked at her confused.
"What? What is it Tali?" Liara looked at her for an answer.
"Turn around Liara" Tali insisted.
"Tali, if the whole crew is behind me about to cheer me on for whatever reason, I swear to goddess I will-" Liara got interrupted by the sudden twist by Tali. Turning her a 180 to the person who was watching them. At first Liara didn't recognize the woman in front of her. She almost blended in with Omega's crowds in the background. Then it hit her and oh boy did it slap her in the face. She found that she started crying again. This time, it was tears of joy.
"Shepard!" Liara cried out. She ran towards her bondmate.
"Liara!" Shepard could barely speak her name. She started running towards her as well. She too found that she was crying. As soon as they reached each other, they hugged in a tight embrace. Liara had almost knocked both of them over, but luckily Shepard had held both of them up on impact. Liara buried her face in Shepard's shoulder, as did Shepard as well. Onlookers passed by them with confusion on their faces, not bothering to learn why the crying women were hugging. After some time of hugging, they both parted a little so they can look at each other.
"Liara, I...I am so, so sorry" Shepard confessed trying to wipe a watery eye.
"What do you have to be sorry for, Shepard? You're the biggest hero in history as of now" Liara corrected while holding her lover's face, studying it to make sure it was really her or if this was somehow a taunting dream.
"No, I'm not sorry that I destroyed the blasted reapers. They can go rot for all I care. I'm sorry for leaving you in more pain than I ever went through after the beam!" Shepard looked into those beautiful blue eyes that she loved to stare at. Just as Shepard did, Liara looked into those green eyes she always seemed to get lost in.
"Shepard...now that the reapers are gone, you have the rest of your life to make it up to me" Liara teased stroking Shepard's short hair in the back. Liara gave her a big smile. Shepard laughed a bit then leaned in for a kiss that both of them was yearning for.
Meanwhile in the background was a crying quarian recording the whole thing with her omni tool. Her helmet seemed to be filling up with tears. She was always a hopeless romantic.
"The crew is going to melt when they see this!" Tali sniffled. Shepard broke their kiss and looked over Liara's shoulder to Tali. Her eyes suddenly widened.
"TALI!" Shepard almost pounced on Tali like a leopard if it wasn't for Liara holding her still.
"Commander, I wasn't finished with you" Liara looked at her bondmate with dreamy teary eyes. Liara gently pulled her face away from Tali and learned in to kiss Shepard. Shepard almost resisted but unfortunately for her, Liara had seemed to put a spell on her. Spell or not, I won't ever complain. I'm hers forever. No matter who knows about us. The whole damn galaxy can know about us. I don't care. I don't want for our relationship to be in the shadows anymore. Shepard thought to herself. As if Liara was inside her head listening, Liara smiled through their kiss. Shepard had smiled back and both of them couldn't help but giggle like children.