As the Seconds Drift: Surprises

Shepard was panting, her voice was deep, hoarse and demanding. "Say it Liara, say it!"

Liara's voice was hoarse as well but where Shepard's had been low, hers was high. "Oh… Shep… oh… Sarah! oh … mercy! mercy! MERCY!" Liara shrieked as Shepard pushed them over the edge into ecstasy.

From their melding, Shepard could tell that Liara's legs were about to give out. She sat down on the shower floor, pulling Liara with her and into her lap. They sat there with their arms wrapped around each other, trying to catch their breath. Liara feathered kisses along Shepard's face then laid her head on her shoulder. Shepard began to gently rock them both as they came down from their peak together. Several minutes later, Shepard picked up the bottle of soap she had used the day before and began to bathe the both of them. When she got to Liara's breasts, she found herself lathering them up over and over again.

"Sarah… I don't think I can just yet…"

"It's OK, I'm not sure I could either. It's just... well once they got all soapy, I couldn't help myself." She shrugged her shoulders while continuing her lathering process.

Liara lifted her head, looked deep into Shepard's eyes then turned her body and straddled Shepard. "You are an incorrigible, wonton woman, Sarah Jane Shepard… and I wouldn't have it any other way!" She laughed as her lips met Shepard's in a deep kiss.

Shepard pushed Liara back a little. "Wait. Did you hear that? It sounded like…" Both women froze in place, listening intently.

"Hello? Sarah? Liara? Is anyone here?"

"Mom?"

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. "Sarah?"

"Uh… I'll be out shortly."

"OK, take your time."

The bondmates quickly rinsed and dried off. Liara looked around the bathroom in a panic. "Sarah, our clothes – I don't want to greet your mother in nothing but a towel."

"Neither do I." She began to look over the shelves and found two more dresses. "OK, now that is just weird."

"What is?"

"I swear there was only one dress here yesterday and that one is lying on the bedroom floor."

They stood staring at each other for a moment. Liara shook her head. "What is that human saying? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth? For now, I am thankful they are here. We can investigate their appearance later."

"Yes, agreed."

Hannah Shepard had been looking around the apartment while she waited. When she spotted clothes strewn here and there, she wondered at Shepard's sloppiness. "She used to be so tidy." The bathroom door opened, she turned and saw not only Sarah, but Liara walking out as well. She laughed to herself. "Oh, I see."

Sarah approached her mother. "Mom?"

Hannah's face changed from stoic to one of utter love. She pulled her daughter in for an uncharacteristic embrace. "I thought… I thought…" Hannah began to cry.

"Mom, it's OK, I'm fine." Shepard wasn't sure what to think about her mother's behavior – she was glad for it, but it was so unusual. Her mom wasn't the hugging type and she could count on one hand the number of times she saw her cry.

Liara stepped forward. "Hello Hannah. It is good to see you again."

Hannah gently released her hold on Shepard and took Liara's hand. "You too, Liara."

Shepard cleared her throat. "Not that I mind you being here mom, but how did you get in?"

Liara nodded her head. "Yes, I made sure I locked the door last night…"

"I thought one of you had let me in. It was the strangest thing – it was locked when I first arrived so I waited. I had been outside in the hall for twenty minutes or so when all of the sudden the door unlocked."

The bondmates eyed one another. Liara said what they were both thinking. "I wonder…"

"Yeah, I'm beginning to as well…"

Hannah looked between the two before turning to Shepard. "Would someone like to tell me what's going on?"

"I, that is we think the Keepers may have something to do with it."

"You mean the one outside the door let me into your locked apartment?"

"It would seem that way…"

Hannah had a look of confusion on her face. "I see. Is it because they helped you?"

"Among other things. We don't know what the Keepers are up to, but at this point anything is possible."

"I see. Is there anything else I should know about?"

"Yes, actually." Shepard pulled Liara close to her side. "Liara has agreed to marry me…"

"That's wonderful, I…"

Shepard held up her hand to signal her mother to wait. "And, we're having a baby."

The last traces of Hannah's stoicism fell away as she squealed in delight. She wrapped her arms around the both of them. "I am so happy for you! I can't believe I am going to be a grandma!"