A/N: It has been a long time between chapters and for that I'm sorry. Here's the latest and a very long one at that. I thank you all for reading and bearing with me. I hope that this chapter meets with your expectations. As always, I appreciate any words you might have about it. All criticism is welcome but please remember that you can attract more bees with honey than vinegar. Thanks again for reading.

All characters belong to BioWare and I thank them for letting me play with their toys. Characters that are mine are Riley, Kallah and Renakka.

Shepard walked through the front door. The lights were still on but all was quiet. Before returning home she managed to find some flowers for Liara and tried to find a new asari commando action figure to replace Riley's broken one, but was unlucky. She quietly went into the kitchen, filled a vase with water and gently set the bouquet in it.

Knowing that Riley was likely asleep and not wishing to wake her, she tiptoed down the hall straight to the master bedroom where she anticipated finding Liara. As she came to the entrance of their room, she peeked in. Liara was nowhere in sight and the bathroom light was off. Frowning, she continued down the hall towards her office, but the light was off in there as well. Turning back around, she headed to Riley's room. As she came to the door and looked in, the light from the hallway cast itself on Riley's bed where she found Riley tightly tucked in Liara's arms, both asleep.

Jane walked to towards the bed, grabbing an extra blanket along the way and covered Liara and Riley both, tucking them in. She smiled to herself as she gently ran a finger down Liara's cheek. She turned to walk out when she felt a gentle grasp on her arm. Looking back she saw Liara studying her.

Shepard smiled and took Liara's hand in her own and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Liara smiled back, "I know, so am I."

Jane nodded, "You shouldn't be, I was a jerk."

"For good reason." Liara shifted her weight and gently pulled herself from around Riley, "You were protecting our daughter."

Liara threw the blanket back over the girl, leaned down and kissed her head, turned back to Jane and they both walked out.

Shepard took Liara's hand and led her to the kitchen, "I bought something for you."

Liara smiled when she saw the bouquet on the counter, "Narcissus."

"I couldn't find anything from Thessia, but these looked like something you would appreciate." Jane took one of the flowers and handed it to her mate.

Liara took it, "They have something very similar on Thessia. Thank you." She put the flower back in the vase and turned to Jane, "I do not like conflict with you Jane."

Shepard nodded, "I know."

"I like it less when it becomes insulting." Liara met Jane's eyes.

"I'm really sorry Liara. Truly and deeply. Please forgive me? I didn't mean to say it."

Sighing, Liara led Jane to the living room and sat them both on the couch, "I do not care that you said it Shepard, I only care if you feel it."

"I don't. Not at all." Jane turned so that she was looking at Liara, "I was just lashing out in frustration and my mind grabbed at something that I knew would hurt you. I'm so sorry Li. You are not a spoiled, anti-social bookworm."

Liara looked into Shepard's eyes, "I only want the best for Riley. I want her to be successful. She is so smart, I would love it if she chose a career in academia, but that is up to her. I feel that if we give her the best opportunities, this can be possible for her. We are giving her something that neither of us had. I also wish for us to be successful at parenting her and helping her have confidence and pride in herself and not put so much weight on what others think of her."

Jane listened carefully and patiently. When it seemed that Liara was finished she spoke, "I completely understand and I agree with you one thousand percent. I too would like all of the same things for her. I care about what you think Liara, especially when it comes to Riley, I wouldn't have her if it wasn't for you. I think that you fear that if I teach her to defend herself, that I'm saying it's alright for her to go out and practice random acts of violence, but that's not it at all. I want to assure you that part of me wishing to teach her some self-defense is so that she can have the confidence that you speak of and not second guess herself. You and I, we are fighting towards the same goal and if we work together to make sure she gets every opportunity, we can't go wrong."

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Liara nodded, "Okay then."

Jane looked at her, "Okay?"

"She loves you Jane and she needs you to teach her life skills that are important, but most importantly, she just needs you and to know that you find her important. I now see this as a way for you to accomplish that. Sometimes I get caught up and I want to keep her all to myself but I realize we must share her, that is why she has two parents. You and I both were without our Mothers most of our childhoods. Riley has two Mothers, she has already far exceeded what either of us ever had."

Jane chuckled, "I suppose so. Thank you for talking this out and I'm sorry again for hurting you."

Liara leaned in and stole a kiss, "All is forgiven Jane. I love you and I love the life we have together but most of all, I love our family."

"Me too. Okay. Well, tomorrow is a big day for her and for us with that big dinner you and Renakka planned, we should get some sleep."

Liara smiled and nodded, "Okay."

Jane stood up, pulling Liara up with her and led her to their bedroom, turning the lights off along the way.

"We are meeting them at a high end establishment and I want you to look sharp. Your Mother is wearing her uniform as well," Liara explained.

"This is so stupid." Riley mumbled as she went back to her room to change as ordered.

Liara heard and immediately was incensed, "Riley Jane T'Soni-Shepard! Come back here."

Riley cringed. It wasn't often that she ever got into trouble with Liara, but when she did it wasn't good and usually contained a lecture and a lesson. She turned on her heel and returned to her Mother, stopping in front of her but not making eye contact, "Yes Ma'am."

Liara hooked her finger under the girls chin and gently lifted, forcing the girl to look at her, "I do not want you to say such things. This is not 'stupid' and it will do you some good to learn a different set of table manners than the militaristic style you were taught. You were not raised in a covered dwelling for bovine and equine, so stop acting like it." She turned Riley around and gently pushed the girl off towards her room, "Now, go change."

Jane came from down the hall dressed to the nine's in her class A and moved to the side as Riley stormed past her, "Hey RJ, you okay?"

Riley whipped around and balled her fists, "No. This is stupid! This whole thing is stupid!."

They both turned their heads as Liara yelled down the hall, "I heard that Riley!"

Riley scowled down the hall towards Liara, her eyes burning with tears, "It's true! And that 'dwelling' that I wasn't raised in is called a BARN!"

Liara yelled back, "I do not care what it is called, change your clothing now and do not dare come back with that attitude!"

Riley was a shade of red Jane hadn't ever seen before and she wondered if that's the color she turned when she was mad. She looked at her daughter as the girls eyes met her own. She smiled gently and put her hand on Riley's shoulder and spoke softly, "We only have to do this once and it's for your Momma. Let's make her proud."

Riley looked back down, still fighting the tears and sighed, "But why? Kallah's probably not going to wear her class A. I'm going to look like an idiot and it's just going to give her more fuel to make fun of me with at school."

"It's going to be fine, Kallah will not make fun of you. I promise."

Riley merely nodded, her disbelief evident on her face and in her body language. This battle was lost and she shook her head as she shuffled into her room to do as told.

Jane walked into the kitchen to find Liara leaning against the counter, arms crossed in front of her and fuming.

"Hey Li." Shepard pulled at her collar, trying to fasten the eyelet.

"Here. Let me." Liara reached out and and moved Jane's hands. She fastened it easily and then looked at her bond mate.

Jane chuckled, "Do I meet with your approval doctor? Or are you going to send me to my room for an attitude check."

Liara smirked, "You look fine and no I will not send you to your room, unless of course you act like you were raised in a barn. I only wish our daughter was as accommodating."

Jane nodded, "Yeah. Well..."

Liara sighed, "She is simply having a fit and does not wish to look her best. It is aggravating, and since when has she found her voice?"

Jane chuckled, "It was bound to happen some time, she's a Shepard, remember? And, I have to admit, I don't understand why you're putting so much emphasis on our appearance myself."

Liara looked up frustrated, "It is important to send a good first impression and this is a very nice place we are going to."

Jane chuckled, "What first impression? Kallah beat the hell out of Riley and you had a heart to heart with Renakka about it. We've all sort of met already, well, except for me. I'm the one who should be nervous." Jane looked in the mirror and checked her cuff and her gig line to make sure it was straight.

"It is just...I...it is important to me, that is all."

Jane smiled and looked her wife up and down. Liara was wearing a dark blue form-fitting, sleeveless, silk gown that showed off her feminine curves. The style was not uncommon among the asari but the dark blue color was and that's what made Jane take notice, "Okay, we'll be on our best behavior. You look amazing by the way."

Liara blushed, "Thank you." She walked slowly up to Shepard and reaching up, pushed a stray hair behind the Commander's ear, "You look amazing yourself. I shall be jealous if anyone looks at you admiringly."

Jane laughed, "Well, I could say the same for you." Resting her hands on the asari's waist, she kissed Li on the lips.

Riley came around the corner and saw her parents in the middle of a public display of affection and she turned red, "Ewe! You guys are being gross again."

Liara and Jane laughed. Jane looked down at her daughter and smirked then back up at Liara, abruptly grabbed the asari and dipped her, planting a deep kiss on her lips before tilting her back up again.

Riley covered her eyes, "This is so not right. There's innocent children around!"

"Love is a wonderful thing RJ." Jane pulled her daughter close to hug her. Riley was still upset and tried to squirm away. When Jane was finished, she looked at her daughter, "Huh, well would you look at that. We all match." She led Liara and Riley to a mirror. The trio were dressed in blue and looked like the perfect family. Riley leaned against Jane, putting her arm around the Commanders waist when she saw their reflection. For the first time she noticed her own resemblance to her Mother and it made her feel good to finally be with her and that everything that was happening seemed oddly worth it.

Riley's display of affection didn't go unnoticed by Shepard and the Commander squeezed her child a little tighter, making a connection.

Riley didn't know what to do and was nervous at having to sit still with nowhere to run. She tried to occupy her mind by observing the wait staff milling about the restaurant and the patrons eating their various meals from the many worlds they were from, each dish looking like a foreign delicacy to the eight year old human. She grimaced as a tray of something that looked definitely alive and moving was served to a krogan male sitting at a neighboring table. Her stomach lurched at the thought of whatever it was and she decidedly turned back around to stare at the empty plate in front of her.

The family had gotten to the restaurant too early and after nearly ten minutes of sitting quietly, Riley became restless, pulling at the uncomfortably tight collar on the school's dress uniform.

"Sit still and stop fidgeting Riley." Liara sternly told her for the third time, "And for the love of Athame, stop pulling on that collar." She reached out and batted the girls hands away from the focus of her attention, "There is no reason to be nervous, this is simply a dinner and we are here to get to know one another."

Riley pouted and looked at Liara out of the corner of her eye and mumbled, "That's easy for you to say, you didn't get your face smashed in by the person you're having to have dinner with."

Liara looked down at her daughter and pursed her lips, "No I did not, but never forget that we are a family now and whatever happens to one of us, happens to all of us."

Riley's retort was to simply cross her arms over her chest and pout.

Liara glanced at Shepard who was sitting at attention across from her, a sheen of sweat across her brow, "The both of you are acting ridiculous."

Jane frowned and looked around before she brashly whispered across the table, "What did I do? I'm doing exactly as you ordered doctor and you shouldn't complain, you're not wearing a uniform made from the thickest cloth the Alliance could find. It's hot Liara and because you demanded it, Riley and I are suffering for appearances." After finishing her air quotes, Jane reached over to Riley, lifted the girls chin and unfastened the eyelet, "Is that better sweetie?"

Riley nodded, "Yes. Thank you Mommy."

Liara scowled at her mate after throwing her arms up and crossing them over her chest.

Jane continued, "Don't look at me like that. Who are you trying to impress anyway? The Doctor and her Commander wife with their perfect child. None of this matters Li. What message does this truly send?"

Liara rolled her eyes, "That is not the point."

"What is the point Li? Why go to this great length to just make friends?"

Liara bit her lip, "Because it is a very serious thing to take over the caring and well being of another woman's daughter and she will scrutinize every detail."

"You're taking care of Riley. She's my daughter and you adopted her, do I scrutinize every little thing you do?"

"Jane, you must understand that there is no such thing as abandonment let alone adoption among the asari. The birth of our daughters is strategically planned, there are no accidents, it is simply not done. Asari Mother's do not leave their children. What Renakka has in regards to Kallah is extremely rare and must be handled with a delicate touch, as should Kallah. If I make a mistake, everything that she is now could turn much worse."

"I knew it! I knew this wasn't about making sure Riley's needs are met. This is so you can play the great hero."

Liara bolted forward and defensively whispered, "That is not true!"

Riley looked between the two of them, her eyes like saucers.

"So then why are you doing this Liara?" Shepard asked point blank.

Liara thought for a moment. She truly didn't know the answer as to why and now that she is being put on the spot, she doesn't know what to say.

"I do not know exactly. I see that Renakka needs help and that there is no one else willing, but here we are with our own unique situation...," Liara looked at Riley and then back to Shepard, "...and...it seems appropriate to at least try."

"I understand everything you're saying, but I'm pretty sure that Bentoh Renakka could give a rats ass about our way of dress, or the kind of restaurants we eat at." Jane took that moment to look around, "Have we even eaten here before?"

Liara glanced at her and pouted, "No."

Jane shook her head and rolled her eyes, "That's just great. We're early, uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the menu." She had half a mind to grab Riley up and take the kid out for a burger.

Riley watched the heated exchange between her parents, "It's okay."

Jane and Liara both looked down at the girl between them but it was Jane who spoke, "What?"

Riley looked down and mumbled, "It's okay. Just...stop fighting."

Liara's face and body language softened and she looked at Shepard, then down at Riley, "We are not fighting, we are bickering. I am-," She was interrupted by the beeping of her omni tool. Looking down, she tapped it and a small display of Bentoh Renakka materialized.

"Doctor T'Soni."

Liara tilted her head in concern, "Bentoh Renakka, is everything all right?"

Renakka looked down wearily, "Not exactly. Kallah is having a tantrum that would put a krogan clan leader to shame. I don't think we will be able to make it and I wish to express my deepest apologies."

Liara's brows knit in concern, "This is a very large concern and not for us but for Kallah. May I come and help?"

Jane looked at Liara at that moment and tried to get the asari's attention. Shaking her head and mouthing the word 'no', she waved at Liara who ignored the silent pleas of her bond mate.

Bentoh Renakka hummed for a moment, appearing to look over her shoulder and then back at the holocam, "It would not go unappreciated if you came doctor."

Liara nodded her head, "We will be there in thirty minutes." She ended the call and looked up to find two sets of green eyes frowning at her, "What? She needs help."

Jane slumped forward and her mouthed dropped open. She couldn't say anything, and more than couldn't she shouldn't, and so she didn't. Silently, she pushed her seat out from the table, grabbed Riley's hand, helped her from her seat and ushered the girl out, leaving Liara behind.

They were almost outside when Riley worried about what was going on, "Mom?" Riley tried to get Jane's attention but Jane was pulling her along quickly. She looked up to see that her Mother was quite obviously angry. They reach the front of the restaurant and Riley puts all of her weight on Jane's arm to make her stop, "Mommy, stop. Please?"

Shepard turned and met Riley's innocent eyes and she softened a bit, "What?"

Riley was very worried and looked at her Mother, "We can't leave Momma."

Jane looked around and made room for a group of people walking out of the restaurant behind them. She looked back down at Riley and sighed. Still holding the girls hand she led her outside to a quiet corner, she knelt on one knee and took both of Riley's hands, "We're not leaving her. I just can't be there right now and I want to make sure you get something to eat."

Riley looked down into her Mother's matching eyes, "I'm okay Mommy, I promise. Just...please stop fighting about me and please don't leave Momma."

Jane smiled gently, "Okay baby, we're not fighting about you, we're not really fighting at all. It's just a disagreement, and to reassure you, I would never leave you or your Momma, not in a million years and even if I was so angry that I couldn't see straight. I don't ever want you to be afraid of me leaving because that's not going to happen again, alright?"

Riley looked down at her Mother, "Okay."

Jane caressed Riley's head, "I just need a time out, my uniform is itchy, I'm hot, I'm hungry and admit it, you are all of those things too."

Riley nodded, "Yes, but I'm worried about Momma and I was worried that we were leaving her."

Jane nodded and smiled, "We're not leaving. We'll wait for her." Since when did she become this mature little negotiator?

Liara sat at the table, in shock. She had irritated Jane before, but never to the point that she walked away and this time she took Riley with her. It made her afraid. If Jane should ever decide to leave she could take Riley and there was nothing Liara could do about it. Were her rights protected at all in this adoption? Were Riley's? Oh goddess Liara what are you thinking? She is not leaving you. She's upset but we will work it out.

She was at a loss, embarrassed and sure that she had a large hand in confusing Riley and making her feel second best. Jane bringing that up in front of their daughter deeply hurt Liara, but she was sure some of it was true. She tried to stem the flow of tears but was unsuccessful.

As soon as the waiter came with the check, she put her credit chit out, paid for everything, stood and made her way to the restroom. Finding a stall she locked herself inside and cried. How could I do this once again? Riley should be my priority, always. Have I really put Kallah's needs over hers? I certainly have not meant to do it but I can see now how I may have confused my daughter. And to make them dress up, who was I trying to impress indeed. Silly little archaeologist Liara. I should have stayed in the ruins with unemotional objects whose lives I cannot ruin. But then, I would never have known what I know now and loved these two wonderful humans. Learning about cultures is what I do best and I have the best teachers living with me. I will not give up. I will not give up because I love them and I know they love me. Mistakes happen but I will learn from mine.

Liara wiped her face, took a deep breath and stepped out of the stall. She went to the mirror and looked at herself with reddened eyes. She breathed in and let out a long sigh, "I can do this." She said aloud, "I will do this." She straightened up and walked out.

The two Shepard's had been waiting for twenty minutes when Liara finally came out of the eatery. She immediately saw her family, straightened her dress and walked to them.

It didn't escape Riley that Liara had been crying and the little girl felt horrible. As her Momma approached, she walked to her and threw her arms around her waist, "I'm sorry Momma."

Liara smiled down at her, "You did nothing wrong Riley, absolutely nothing. There is no need for you to apologize, your mother was right, I have been trying to play Hero and I have not truly taken into consideration how you or your mom feel. Making you both dress up in such uncomfortable attire was an attempt at making myself look better. It was selfish of me and for that it is I who am sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" She looked up from her daughter and met Jane's soft stare.

The Commander smiled when Liara looked at her. She shuffled over and put her arms around her, giving the asari both comfort and support, "It's okay Li. What you are doing is a really nice gesture. I know I can speak for both Riley and I when I say that we are both proud of you and that you are our Hero. No matter what."

Liara buried her face in Shepard's neck and they stayed there for a few moments comforting each other.

The door buzzed and Bentoh Renakka rushed to answer as fast as a krogan was able to rush. All members of the T'Soni-Shepard family were present and accounted for. Renakka moved aside allowing the family to enter.

Shepard was immediately impressed by the Bentoh house and it was a far cry from what she imagined. She noticed many religious statues, mostly asari but there was some krogan mixed in. She assumed it was to help Kallah learn and feel comfortable with who she is and where she came from. Shepard knew from Liara that the asari didn't put much weight in their bloodlines, because everyone in their culture was simply asari. However, lineage was deeply important among the krogan and clan was everything. She imagined it must be very difficult for Renakka to be apart from all that she knows, raising a daughter by herself. She felt bad for ever questioning Liara's motivations for helping and now she truly understood why this was important to her bond mate. For all intents and purposes, Liara and Renakka had a great deal in common when it came to the confusion in raising daughters who were not of their same species. Hell, it was bad enough for her, Riley is as human as she is and she still didn't understand her daughter.

"May I get you something to drink? Perhaps something to eat? I know you must not have eaten yet, my deepest apologies" Rennaka had followed them into the living room.

Liara looked at Jane and Riley and then answered for all three, "I think something of a snack would be lovely Rennaka. Thank you."

The krogan lumbered off towards the kitchen.

Jane looked down at Riley who was sitting incredibly close and sweating profusely. She took a moment to unbutton Riley's uniform jacket to let in some air. When she had unbuttoned her own, she met Liara's gaze, "Uhm, sorry, is it okay if we get comfortable?"

Liara smiled gently, "Of course it is alright." She pushed her fingers under Riley's hair, gently gathering it and lifted it off the girls neck. Leaning down, she softly blew a steady stream of air over the back of the girls neck to cool her faster. Riley scrunched her neck and giggled, a shiver running down her spine, looked up at Liara then leaned against her asari Mother and placed her head on a blue shoulder. Liara met her eyes and caressed the baby soft cheek of her daughter, "I love you so much."

Riley was about to return words of affection when Renakka came into the living room with a plate of fruits and cheeses which completely impressed Jane. She half expected raw varren and barbequed pyjack, not something actually edible. Renakka sat across from the family and nervously held her hands in her lap watching them.

Liara started first by grabbing a plate and putting small morsels of food on it and handed it to Riley, she did the same again for Jane and then she spoke, "Can you explain her behavior? What happened?"

Rennaka sighed heavily and then began, "She knew we were going to dinner and she has known about you and your desire to help her. She seemed fine, until it came time to get ready, then a Kallah I have never seen came out. She was screaming and throwing things, using her biotics...she only calmed when I assured her we would not go and has been in her room ever since."

Liara nodded. Looking at her family and then back at Rennaka, "May I see her?"

Rennaka pointed, "Her room is the last on the left, down the hall. I am sorry for the condition it is in, like I said, she was using her biotics and smashed everything."

Liara gently smiled.

Jane gently touched Liara's shoulder, "You want me to go with you?"

"No, I will be fine. I have biotics too," The asari chuckled then got up and left.

Liara walked down the hall, apprehensively. When she got to the closed door that was Kallah's room she stood up tall. She tapped the pad and the door beeped.

She heard Kallah's voice on the other side, "I don't want to talk."

Liara's eyes squared and she tapped the pad again causing the door to beep and Kallah to answer, "I said I don't want to talk!"

Liara tapped again and this time she heard the girl move swiftly to the door and open it. Kallah was ready to scream when her voice hitched. She wasn't prepared to see a tall asari. Following the body line up she saw Riley's Mother looking down at her. She swallowed and moved aside. Liara bowed her head and walked in, taking a seat on what was left of the girls bed.

Looking around, Liara could see the burn marks on the walls and could smell the stench of burning eezo. The remnants of shattered toys and broken furniture lay strewn and in the middle was this fragile child trying to understand herself. Liara looked at Kallah and they met eyes. She gently patted the bed beside her indicating that she wanted Kallah to sit.

Kallah looked at her meekly and moved slowly to sit next to the asari.

Liara looked down at the girl, "You broke your bed."

Kallah looked at her bed and sheepishly nodded.

"Your Mother says that you are troubled and it would seem your actions say the same." Liara continued to look at the girl.

Kallah looked up and locked eyes with Liara, "What does it matter? No one likes me anyway. My own birth Mother doesn't even want to be around me."

Liara took the girls hand in her own,"Why would you think that?"

Kallah's eyes filled with unshed tears, "I've asked her if I can go live with her on Thessia. She says no and that she's very busy with work but I know that she doesn't want me. If she did, she'd be here for me."

Liara understood that feeling but she also knew that Kallah was feeding herself the negative thoughts about her asari Mother, "She likely loves you deeply and feels horrible that she cannot be here with you but she has left you with a very good krogan Mother who loves you more than the breath of life. At least there is that, right?"

Kallah frowned, "Why do you care so much anyway?"

"Because you should know who you are, where you come from and that you are loved. If you allow it, I can help you. Knowing who you are as an asari will build pride in you. It will answer your questions and perhaps you will stop trying to hurt others because you are hurting."

Liara had nailed the point and Kallah was worried. There was no way she could be tough anymore, not if someone knew what she was hiding. The hurt that was stewing inside her, the pain of not having her birth Mother, the unanswered questions she had about being an asari, these fueled her anger and her anger bent into rage. She needed help, she wanted help and here was someone willing and able.

Jane sat forward listening to every word Renakka said, "That must have been horrible for you, I'm so sorry for your loss."

Renakka, "It is what it is and I have found a way to have a child, genophage or not. She may not look like a krogan but she is still a part of me and will be forever."

Riley looked at the krogan as she talked, no longer as afraid of the species as she was before. She was bored and it had been nearly an hour since Liara had left them, the girl was curious as to where she was. Thoughts of Kallah and her Momma filled her head with irrational fears. She kept looking towards the direction that Liara went and she wanted to go to her.

"Clan Bentoh, is it a very large clan?" Jane asked, genuinely curious about Renakka and krogan culture. Wrex barely ever talked to her, always choosing to shoot things and Shepard was always asking but never getting any answers.

Renakka chuckled, "Not very big at all and full of elderly krogan nearing their final days, which makes not being able to bear children all the more sad. With no more children to carry on the clan name, the clan will die and with it, our history.

Jane nodded sadly.

Rennaka looked deep into Shepard's eyes as though she was sharing something deeply sacred, "You seem interested in krogan culture and I thank you. As a token of friendship, I have many relics from my home world that I would be willing to show you, if you would like to see them."

Jane smiled, "That would be wonderful, thank you. And Renakka, I have a friend, a clan leader who can help you if you would like to go back to your people."

Renakka studied Jane and knew the Commander was sincere, "That would be nice, but, my life is with my daughter now. Her needs are more important than mine and she needs to be with her people."

"I understand, it's just, sometimes we do things that we think are best for our children. We make decisions for them and in the end, we find that we made a mistake."

The krogan looked at the human, "That is true. Mistakes are going to happen Commander and we will have to answer for them, but sometimes, sacrificing for our children rather than ourselves is the only answer and in the end your child will appreciate all that you have done and all that you are."

Jane met the krogan's wizened eyes, "Yes. I suppose you're right." Standing up she stretched her neck, "You want to come RJ?"

Without looking up Riley shook her head no.

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Rennaka and Jane slipped away and into a room at the opposite end of the penthouse.

Riley sat for a moment and sighed. She could hear them talking but she was curious about what was going on with her Momma and Kallah. Looking towards the study where her Mother and Renakka went, she stood up. Turning her head, she again looked down the hallway towards where Liara was and decided she wanted to see.

The door to Kallah's room was wide open. Riley peered around the corner and saw Liara sitting with Kallah on the asari girls broken bed. They were in a meld and Kallah was wrapped in Liara's arms, sobbing.

A sad look crossed Riley's face. It always hurt her to see another in pain, even if the person was her enemy. She walked in quietly and took a seat next to Kallah. She gently placed her hand on the older girls shoulder, comforting her in the best way she knew how.

When Liara ended the meld, Kallah didn't move right away and stayed there in her arms. She missed her Mother and she didn't know how much until she opened herself to Liara. She whimpered and Liara hugged her tighter, reassuring Kallah that she was there for the girl.

Neither had seen nor heard Riley come in and both were a bit surprised that the little girl was present. Liara saw that Riley was trying to comfort Kallah and this gave her hope that the girls would one day be good friends. Kallah looked at Riley and after a sniffle or two, managed a slight smile at the little human. She buried her face back in Liara's neck and all three sat there quietly.