Liara started crying. She wouldn't control the emotions that overcame her. She searched for the Shadow Broker for two years, rescuing Shepard's body yet losing Feron in the process. This journey had changed her and formed her into something else. She wasn't the innocent doctor searching in the ruins. She was different.

Shepard leaned forward and touched her shoulder. She turned around. Shepard could see the tears down her eyes. He couldn't help but feel the need to comfort his dear friend.

"It's over. it's finally. For two years."

Shepard stepped up and hugged Liara. He could feel her shaking and whispered in her ear. "It's all right." They hugged for a couple of seconds and separated. He held her hands and smiled at Liara. She moved her thumbs through Shepard's index finger. She smiled back at Shepard and step away.

"I spent two years mourning you and Feron and now, I have you both."

"And a ship that needs some color to it."

Liara laughed and so did Shepard. "Shepard thank you for everything. I can't think of the ways to repay you."

"Having a drink with me is enough. Come up to the Normandy?"

Liara nodded. "Give me a couple of minutes, Shepard. I need to go get my things."

Liara greeted by Joker, who waited behind the main airlock doors.

"Liara! Whoa look at you. That dress fits, well, perfectly." Joker looked at Liara and cleared his throat. He missed Liara and it was good to see her.

Liara leaned towards Joker and hugged him. It was something that he was not expecting.

"It's so good to see you Joker. It's been too long!"

"I know. Two years. You would think that nowadays, someone somewhere would have built a software to freeze time."

"After what happened with the SR-1"

"Liara," Joker said, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"I thought I lost you Joker." Liara whispered as she stared at his hands. She noticed that Joker had a habit moving his index finger up and down when he was nervous or upset. It was something that he probably didn't know he did.

"So, um, moving away from all of this touchy feely stuff, have you 'embraced eternity' lately? I always thought that it was something interesting that you could do that. I just embrace my bone disease."

Liara simply laughed. Joker looked at her, confused as to the reasoning of Liara's giggles. He was asking a serious question.

"I believe Shepard is waiting for me, Joker. Maybe we can continue this conversation later? I will tell you everything."

"All right." Joker said as he walked back to the bridge. "I'll be here, just flying the ship."

Liara hugged him again and watched him walk to his chair, She noticed the blue sphere near Joker on a terminal.

"You might want to go see Dr. Chakwas. She wants to see you." Joker told Liara as he regained control of the Normandy from EDI.

"She will be down at the medical bay, Dr. T'Soni." EDI said.

Joker looked over at EDI and then Liara. He rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders at the sphere.

"Welcome Liara. Just make sure you don't try to unplug her. She might end us all."

"My purpose is to serve the Normandy and it's crew, Mr. Moreau. I do not think The Illusive man would find humorous to find the Lazarus cell dead."

"Save yourself, Liara. Don't take the red pill"

Liara turned around and walked towards the elevator. The SR-2 felt nothing like the SR-1. Everything was different with Cerberus on board.

"Liara! Oh it's so good to see you!"

Dr. Chakwas said as the doors from the med bay opened up. Liara smiled and went to hug the doctor. Two years had passed and the doctor looked older. Worry consumed her.

"Hello Dr. It's been too long. How are you? I didn't expect to see you here."

"On a Cerberus ship?"

Liara nodded. "You have been with the Alliance for years. Why leave to work with Cerberus?"

Dr. Chakwas pulled up a chair next to Liara and offered her to sit. She offered Liara some tea which Liara accepted. It was a wonderful feeling to reconnect with an old friend.

"I don't work for Cerberus, Liara. I work for the Commander. He needs people he can trust to fight along side him. The battle against the Reapers has only began and we both know that we cannot trust Cerberus."

Liara nodded and thought about what the doctor was saying. People he can trust. Did she fall under that? She felt horrible for not joining Shepard and the rest of the crew in this fight but she couldn't drop everything. Not even for Commander Shepard.

"It is a good thing then that he has Tali, Garrus, Joker and yourself along side him. He needs friends, people that he can trust, to fight the Reapers."

"And he needs you, Liara. If you were to drop everything and just join us, Shepard wouldn't even blink. Hell, he would give you his own cabin if you decided to join."

Liara smiled and reached out for Dr. Chakwas's hand. The doctor grabbed Liara's hand and shook her. Dr. Chakwas was always someone who Liara could talk to. She reminded Liara for her mother. Liara stood up.

"I shouldn't keep Shepard waiting. It was a pleasure to see you, Doctor. Please take care."

"Likewise Liara. Please come and visit."

"I will try." With that, Liara went up to Shepard's cabin.

"I'll regret doing this in the morning."

"Shepard! Do you regret helping a friend?" Liara said, placing her hands on her hips, smiling from ear to ear. Shepard always 'admired' Liara long before Miranda was in the picture. Maybe it was those piercing blue eyes.

"I mean, punching that yahg. My body will be sore from all the running." He smiled and Liara started laughing.

"Yeah. I never thought I would fight a yahg during my lifetime."

"No one should plan on fighting a yahg. Maybe we should let them fight the Reapers."

The conversation then came to a close. They both stood by Shepard's desk in silence. Shepard stared at his old tags. Sadness covered him. He couldn't believe that he was dead for two years. He couldn't believe that Liara sacrificed so much to get him back from the Shadow Broker. He was thankful.

"So how are you doing, Shepard? I mean really, not what you tell your squad to keep morale up."

Shepard stood there. With his arms folded across his chest, he thought about the answer. It was one that he didn't expect.

"I'm okay, really. It's been rough but we'll get it done."

"You've made a good start though I doubt the council will admit it. You and your team destroyed the collectors and walked out alive."

"Fought them in their own base and won."

Liara couldn't help but smile. She knew that Shepard wasn't one to boast but stopping the collectors and coming out alive with his team, that's something to be proud of.

"So tell me Shepard, now that the collectors are gone, what are you fighting for? For the future of humanity shown by the perfect Ms. Lawson?

Shepard laughed and walked to his bed. He knew where Liara was going with this. Working for Cerberus and the Illusive man, Shepard knew that Miranda had developed a certain 'attitude.'

"Yeah." He said, smiling. "She trusts me and I care about her."

"She was so cold when I first met her. Always focused on the mission."

"I don't know if she's changed a lot."

"She has Shepard and that's because of you. I wish you both happiness."

Shepard got up from his bed and walked towards Liara. Hearing the nice things that Liara was saying about his relationship with Miranda felt good.

"Thanks Liara. It means a lot."

Liara hugged him and nodded. "Well I should get back to my ship. We should do this more often Shepard."

"Come back at any time, Liara."

Author's notes: The poll is up! It's up on my profile. Please feel free to cast your votes. The poll will close in about two weeks (4/22). So please cast your votes!

Also this chapter is longer than the rest. I'm trying my best to make my chapters longer. :) Enjoy.