Chapter Seven: Goodbye

A/N: A short but important chapter. Tell me what you think.

Shepard felt himself fall into the darkness and finally onto the wet ground only moments later. He gasped as the air from his lungs escaped from the hard impact. He was surrounded by darkness and only managed to hear the small droplets of water that fell into puddles. With little breath in him, he called, "Liara!"

He heard a faint groan come from a few feet away from him, he reached out and felt Liara's waist in which he pulled towards him.

"Don't move me." she whispered.

"How injured are you?" he asked as he managed to take in a few deep breaths. He turned on his suits emergency light. His eyes widened.

Liara lied on her side clutching one end of a metal beam that penetrated her chest. Blood oozed from her in a steady stream with no signs of stopping. Her eyes seemed distant as they stared into the darkness and her lips quivered as chills began to take her into their grip.

Shepard gasped loudly as he hovered over her, lost for words he picked her head up and rested it on his lap.

"You're gonna be okay." he said, "you're gonna be okay... baby, please don't"

He stared into her eyes and to his dismay he knew she was slipping away. He knew the worse had happened and there was absolutely nothing he could do to take back what had happened.

"Shepard..." she whispered, her voice hoarse as blood filled her lungs.

"Liara, please... you're gonna be okay. Come on, stay with me." said Shepard as he felt his tears run down his face.

"No, Shepard," She began, "I didn't tell you."

"Tell me what? What didn't you tell me?"

"You didn't notice?" she asked smiling weakly.

"No, what?"

With little strength she had she took his hand and placed it over her stomach. Shepard felt his heart skip a beat. No, no it couldn't be. His heart felt like exploding, he felt like his whole world beginning to turn itself inside out and there was nothing he could do to reverse it.

"Are- are you?"

She nodded.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. This was the first time I had a small being inside me... I didn't know how you would react. I'm sorry. I should have told you." she said weakly.

"It's okay, it's okay. We're going back to the Normandy and everything is gonna be alright. I promise," he peered up and scanned his dark surroundings, "it's gonna be fine. I promise."

He suddenly felt her hand touch his cheek.

"Shepard, don't make promises you can't keep."

"What are you talking about," he said giving her a nervous smile, "I'm gonna get you out of here."

She gently guided his face down to hers.

"Love, you cannot save me."

Tears continued to stream down his face, his voice shaking with every word.

"Yes, I can!" he said frantically searching for a way to help her.

Liara gasped in pain.

"Shepard, find someone to make you happy. Live your life the way it meant... I'll miss you." she said lowering her hand from his face.

"Liara, "he said begging, "don't leave me."

"I love you."

Her hand fell to her side.

"LIARA!!" he yelled clutching her to his chest. He screamed in sorrow as he continued to hold her close. Tears fell like never before as he felt his soul brake. He felt his heart collapse. He felt his very meaning for being disappear.

He gently placed her onto the ground. Suddenly, he slammed his fists against the rock floor in pure rage. Again and again, he plunged his fists onto the floor causing them to numb and bleed severely as he cursed and swore to the full extent.

"Oh, I really didn't mean for that to happen." said a voice. Shepard withdrew his pistol and aimed randomly. It was pitch black and the only thing he could see was two feet of light that his suit emitted.

"Who the hell is there!?" he called out wiping his eyes.

"Don't worry yourself that. I was looking forward into killing you both myself but I can see that I went too far and killed one of you too soon."

"Show me where you are! You piece of shit! I'll KILL you for what you did!" Shepard roared as he fired off several of shots into the darkness, his suit lamp flickering in all directions.

"Now, now. There's no use in hostilities. Maybe it was best that she died, she was weighing you down."

Shepard fell to his knees.

"Just kill me."

"What?"

"I said... kill me."

"Oh, that would be too easy. I actually want to use you." '

"No deal."

Shepard cocked his pistol.

"What are you doing?" the voice asked.

Shepard opened his mouth and placed the head of the gun between his lips.

"I wouldn't do that."

Shepard took in several short breaths before pulling the trigger.