Sam shifted her camera over to her right hand and groaned as she stretched her left arm out, her bicep protesting vehemently at the movement. Nothing like a cramped muscle to bring you back to reality. Glancing at the screen on top of the camera Sam decided she'd taken enough images to justify a download.

Crossing the floor to the small work area she and Liara had set up in the underground room Sam looked sadly at Liara's powered down console as she walked past it to her own. The asari had left for the Citadel a few days prior, ostensibly to collect some research notes from her apartment that might prove helpful though Sam couldn't help but feel that wasn't the whole reason.

Shaking her head slightly she tried to put Liara out of her mind, half smiling at the futility. Relax Sam, you like her, she likes you... it's just a little complicated. Setting up the download, Sam browsed through the images as they loaded onto the console to make sure everything was in focus and the images overlapped sufficiently for the stitching program to work properly.

Stretching out her left arm again Sam gave her bicep a quick massage while she verified the rendering program on her console had access to all the new images. Satisfied the imaging was progressing as it should be Sam hefted her camera again and moved to the next section of wall.

"No rest for the wicked."

MWMWMWMWMW

Passing by the statue of Shepard that stood proudly on its plinth near the embassy offices, Liara barely glanced at it. For many years after its installation following Shepard's death the asari had been unable to look at the statue without her heart breaking all over again with the loss she felt. Eventually, in desperation and because there was no alternate route to her apartment that did not take her past the statue, she began to imagine it not as its creator had sculpted it but in a way that would not cause her pain.

In her mind the statue was not wearing a hard suit, but rather a simple t-shirt and a pair of well worn jeans. No helmet, instead a swagman hat sat at a rakish angle atop the head. Gone was the stern stare, replaced with that crooked grin, a smouldering cigar clamped in the corner of the mouth. That was Del, that was woman she had loved for so long. Still loved. Let the galaxy have its hero soldier, Liara had had so much more. Sparing the statue a small glance, the asari hurried on to her apartment.

MWMWMWMWMW

Taking a small sip of the pris para Liara set the glass down on the table and slowly walked towards the shelf in front of her. The items set on the shelf were the only personal ones in the apartment and by that virtue alone were the most valuable, far more precious to her than the Prothean artefacts and asari artwork that was dotted around the space. Reaching the shelf, Liara stood a moment gazing at the photographs before reaching out and gently drawing forward the timber box that rested between them.

Raising her hand to her throat Liara dipped her fingers beneath her collar, snagging the chain that hung around her neck with her fingertips and slowly drew it forth. As the chain settled over her tunic she lightly brushed her fingers along the thin metal tags resting against her chest. Pleasantly warm from her body heat the tags chimed softly together at her touch. Pausing a moment as though about to change her mind, she raised her other hand and gently lifted the tags from around her neck, pooling the chain in one hand. Sighing softly as she closed her eyes she ran the pad of her thumb over the raised lettering on one of the tags.

Shepard
Delilah S

Closing her hands around both chain and tags she pressed her lips against her curled fingers, trying to overcome the feeling she was about to lose a part of herself. Finally opening her eyes she gently spooled the chain into the waiting box of carved timber, carefully arranging the tags to sit on top. With one last look at the tags she closed the box and pushed it back into its place between the photographs of her daughters, her fingers unconsciously stroking over the design inlaid in the top of the box. In a sore test of all her willpower Liara eventually managed to draw her fingers away from the box, tears standing in her eyes as she turned from the wooden container and all the memories it now held.

MWMWMWMWMW

"Thank you for staying while I ate Sam, though you did not have to. It is quite late and I can see how tired you are."

Turning towards the asari as the pair stopped outside Liara's dome Sam reached out and briefly squeezed Liara's hand. "No I didn't have to but I wanted to. I missed you Li."

"I... missed you as well. I take it you have not been pushing yourself too hard?"

Sam shook her head. "Nothing more strenuous than lifting my camera I promise. The stitching program has been doing most of the heavy work. I can show you how far along the render is if you have some time tomorrow?"

Liara smiled at the glow in Sam's eyes, knowing how often her own eyes lit up in the same way when she was discussing her work. Nodding slightly she was rewarded with a broad grin from the woman opposite her. "While I am sure Norlan has plenty of work for me to catch up on I should be able to sneak out at lunch for a time."

"Great. I'll see you at the dig tomorrow then." Sam began to move forward then halted, hesitating briefly before reaching her hand out again to squeeze Liara's. "Goodnight Li."

Capturing the woman's hand as she withdrew it Liara stepped up to Sam, quickly pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. Blushing some she stepped back again, releasing Sam's hand as she did. "Goodnight Sam."

Watching the asari as she turned for her dome Sam found her fingertips drifting over her cheek where Liara had kissed her. Huh. Smiling to herself she wandered over to her own dome, pausing as she felt a tingle between her shoulder blades. Looking around she caught Liara gazing after her, the asari colouring further as she ducked into her portal and latched the door.

Maybe not so complicated after all.

MWMWMWMWMW

"This is amazing Sam. I would never have expected you to progress so far in only four days." Her blue eyes dancing with gold as she stared at the holographic image before her Liara marvelled at the detail. The 3D render of the room had one corner completed and a section of adjacent wall.

"I prefer to photograph in small sections and get the render started while I keep going. Saves time overall, even with the fairly frequent breaks to download the images. There's something else I wanted to show you too."

Liara almost sighed with disappointment as the image collapsed into itself and disappeared. Glancing at Sam as the woman's fingers flew over the holographic keyboard Liara could see the knit in her eyebrows that she always got when she was really focused on something.

"Here." Turning her attention to Liara Sam entered the final few commands, intent on watching the asari's face while the holographic image coalesced. Frowning slightly as the image became clear Liara looked at Sam.

"The pedestals?"

"Each has a slightly different pattern remember? I think... well, I'm going to have to run the images through a pretty advanced analytical program... but I think the pedestals are keys. The patterns designate the order in which the pedestals have to be activated." Sam tapped a foot on the floor. "There's are least four other rooms beneath us so there has to be some was to get to them."

"Keys... I will have to check my notes but I believe Javik mentioned something about keys during one of our conversations. It was only in passing but I am sure I noted it down."

Liara stared at the hologram for several minutes, her eyes unfocused as her thoughts drifted. "How much time will your program take to analyse the pedestal designs?"

Sam shrugged and shook her head slightly. "That's a good question. While the major design on each pedestal is quite different – enough to notice with the naked eye at least – there's a sub-design on each one that is practically identical. After staring at the images for hours I think I can differentiate two of the pedestals but the other eight... It could be days."

Eyes still fixed to the hologram, the gold light flickering across her skin in a manner that Sam found very intriguing, Liara nodded. "That being the case there is somewhere I would like to visit." Sweeping a hand through the image to shut off the projector Liara turned to Sam and reached for the woman's hands, clasping them gently in her own.

"I think that it is time I went to visit Shepard and... I would like you to come with me."

MWMWMWMWMW

"You know, I think I could build a house here," Kaidan murmured as he sat on the outcrop of rock near the edge of the waves, looking out over the sea. The afternoon had long since died, the sun casting like blood and fire over the waves as it slowly melted toward the horizon.

"It is beautiful," Liara agreed, also watching from nearby as day slowly surrendered to night.

"Your people…they have a tie to the ocean, don't they?" he asked, looking over at her.

"Yes. The asari once lived in the seas," she answered softly. "We still feel a very strong bond to the shifting tides, the feel of salt water. The sea is alive, ever-changing and yet…eternal. Commander Shepard loves the sea as well. She often chooses such a location as her place of peace during the knowledge bonds."

Kaidan smirked a little, letting out a faint chuckle. Blinking, Liara glanced over at him.

"What?"

"Nothing," he replied. "I just find it amusing you still can't have a conversation without eventually bringing Shepard into it."

"I…did not realise I was doing so. I'm sorry if I am being boorish-"

"No, no…you're not boorish," Kaidan smiled. "On the contrary, it's good to hear. It's kind of like the sunset, you know? It reminds me that no matter how ugly things are, or how bad things seem to get…there's still beauty around us, you know? Joy. That's how you sound when you talk about Shepard…joyful. Even when you're sad, if that makes sense."

Liara was silent, only lowering her head with a faint darkening of her cheeks. After a long moment she said, "We are…we have decided, the mission comes first."

Kaidan nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, mission's important," he agreed. "But so is life, right? Keep your head in the game now but…doesn't mean that you can't think about the future, you know? Way I see it, everything is going to come around again. Life, wars, evolution…even the Reapers will, I suppose. What's never going to happen again is us. Me, and Chakwas, and Ash and Wrex and Tali…and you and Shepard. I mean, we gotta do all we can but we also have to remember…we're what's important right now. Universe gets an infinity of chances but we only get one, right? We gotta make it count."

"Li?"

Looking over from the pilots seat at Liara Sam could see the asari was light years away, staring out the front screen of the shuttle.

"Hey, Li? We're almost there, where do you want me to set down?"

Liara closed her eyes for a moment as she returned to herself, taking a shaky breath as she did so.

"I am sorry Sam, I was... remembering a conversation I had once with a friend. His words ring just as true now as they did then." Accessing the map, Liara directed Sam towards a large grassy plain set back slightly from the coastline.

As they flew in low over the coast Sam couldn't help but marvel the how beautiful this planet was. The beach beneath them was more rocks than sand, the waves crashing over smoothly polished stones, their vibrant colours flashing in the light each time the water receded. Further back from the erosion of the water the rocks were more jagged, their shapes tempered by wind and heat from the sun rather than the persistent action of the waves. Small trees clung tenuously in almost impossible places while patches of emerald coloured moss cascaded over cliffs and adorned the rocky outcroppings.

Gently setting the shuttle down Sam powered it down before turning to Liara. "You still ok to do this?"

Fingers nervously worrying at her tunic Liara nodded slowly. "Yes. I can see now that it is something I must do."

Alighting from the shuttle first Sam offered her hand to Liara as she disembarked also. The woman could feel a slight tremble in the asari's grip and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Smiling softly Liara entwined their fingers before setting off towards to coast. "This way."

The pair walked in comfortable silence, each content with their own thoughts. As they neared the beach Liara slowed, finally stopping as Sam drew up beside her.

"You would not dare!"

The answering grin was all the cue Liara needed to dance away from the waters edge as a spray of crystal droplets showered over her. The cause of the spray laughed at the asari's indignant squeal, her mirth cut short when a weak slam toppled her off her feet and into the cold water.

Standing almost instantly Shepard stared in shock at the asari who was desperately trying not to laugh at the sight before her.

"Oh. So that's how it's going to be?"

Dripping wet, Shepard removed the sodden and now extinguished cigar from the corner of her mouth and regarded it a moment before flicking it away. Setting her sights on the asari she all but launched herself up the beach, rapidly catching Liara as she tried to flee and gently tackling her to the ground.

"Shepard! You are all wet."

"And whose fault might that be?"

Somehow Liara managed to keep a straight face, her expression the very picture of innocence. "You always did have a knack for getting yourself into trouble Delilah Shepard."

"Hmm, know anyone who can get me out of this trouble Doctor T'Soni?"

"Perhaps."

"We lived here for a time, after the war ended. Because it was uninhabited when the Reapers invaded they simply passed right by. It was so peaceful, exactly what we needed. Just Shepard, myself and the sea. Virmire was one of the few garden planets left habitable, but even now few people wish to settle here. I think many are still hesitant about radiation, even though it has been centuries since we destroyed Saren's facility."

"You used a nuke?"

"Yes. It was all we had at the time. Ensuring that bomb went off cost a friend his life, and almost cost your great grandmother hers also."

Sam stared out to sea for a few minutes, trying to reconcile the age difference between herself and the asari standing beside her. What was but a brief mention in a history lesson for her and yet another war story in her family history, was a collection of vividly painful memories for Liara.

"Sam?"

Tearing her eyes from the azure water Sam glanced at Liara, concern plain on the asari's face amongst a tumult of other emotions.

"Sorry Li, it's just... a little hard for me to process the fact you lived through the Reaper invasion, fought the Reapers even. That all happened a very long time ago for me."

Lifting her free hand Liara gently brushed her fingers down Sam's cheek. "It happened a very long time ago for me too Sam. That is part of the reason why I am here." Liara gently tugged at Sam's hand as she turned toward a nearby headland that jutted out over the ocean. "Come, we are almost there."

Walking almost reverentially out along the promontory both Sam and Liara found themselves lost in the peace of the crashing waves and sea-tinged air. Ankle deep grass waved gently around a haphazard scattering of stones and boulders that dotted the ground. Drawing to a stop near one of the stones Sam noticed something had been etched into the surface. Reaching down to brush the obscuring moss aside she revealed three letters.

DEL

Feeling Liara's hand tighten around her own Sam drew the asari's hand up and cupped it with her own. No words were needed. Liara simply nodded as Sam looked into her eyes, the woman nodding in return before releasing Liara's hand. Gesturing back down the headland with a tilt of her head Sam left Liara standing quietly before the stone marker, her eyes downcast as the wind gently plucked at her clothing.

Slowly sinking down in front of the marker, Liara knelt in the soft grass before placing a hand palm down on the ground before her and murmuring gently, "Hello Shepard."

Bowing her head, she paused a moment to gather her thoughts.

"It has been so long Del, yet some days it seems like only yesterday I had you by my side. I miss you so much sometimes. I still feel blessed by the Goddess herself that we were able to share the time together that we did. I see much of you in Melara – her drive, her determination, "Liara laughed softly, "her stubbornness. Your stubbornness. Our daughter has done well and she carries your name forward proudly. Irie is well also, she is currently on Thessia. Her voice has become even more beautiful over the years." Smiling sadly Liara flexed her fingers lightly in the grass. "It is quite lucky that the one aspect of your musical talent she did not inherit is your singing voice."

Liara breathed slowly in and out, her gaze resting unfocused on the marker stone. "I... I know I promised you I would move on one day and find someone else. I always meant to keep that promise though I could never see how. Our time together, our happiness, our... love... I could never find that with another, never. I have realised now how true that is. Our happiness and love was ours, and ours alone. I could never find that with someone else, but... I can share in a different happiness, in a different love.

Shepard, I... I have met someone. She is resourceful, caring, funny, intelligent... I truly think you would like her. Her name is Samantha, Samantha Williams." Liara smiled to herself, imaging the look on Shepard's face. "Yes, that Williams family. It would seem the universe has a sense of humour after all."

Running the soft strands of grass through her fingers, Liara reached forward and brushed some errant moss from the stone.

"I will never forget you Del Shepard. You will be in my heart always, and our daughter's hearts. You did so much for the galaxy, for humanity, for... for me. I will keep my promise to you. Rest now Del, you have earned your peace."

Rising, Liara smoothed her tunic and turned from the marker as a single tear traced down her cheek. As her eyes followed a flock of wheeling sea birds, their vivid green and violet plumage flashing in the fading light, Liara spotted Sam a short distance down the headland.

The woman was seated on a rock, her back to the asari, watching the same flock of birds as they moved almost as one, mesmerising in their flowing undulations through the sky. As Liara approached Sam and her eyes traced the lines of the woman's shoulders and back she felt a heat flare across her skin that hadn't touched her in more years than she could remember. Barely containing her gasp she stepped forward quietly and gently wrapped her arms around the woman.

Leaning back into the embrace Sam laid her own arms across the asari's. "Hey, are you alright?"

Liara placed a kiss on the woman's temple, briefly tightening her embrace before she withdrew her arms and moved around the rock to sit next to Sam. Each with an arm around the waist of the other they drew close and watched the sun slowly sink into the sea.