The evening had finally grown cool, but not unpleasantly so. The outdoor cafe was only moderately abuzz with the people from the surrounding businesses who were using this time to enjoy dinner, after work drinks, or the company of each other.

One couple however was noticeably quieter than others. Neither were drinking, and although one was focused on her companion, her companion was staring into the distance.

Finally, the silence would be endured no longer. "You seem quite displeased my captain. Can you not put your concern aside long enough to enjoy the meal?"

"I am not unhappy Denai, and I was never your captain."

"And yet your food is untouched, and you glare across the mall as if you can see through the wall into the restaurant. Eliata would have reported if there were any concerns. Liara is fine. You cannot possibly think that Shepard is a threat to her."

Shiala gave Denai a foul look. 'How can she not see the problem?' "Shepard would give her life for Liara without a moment's hesitation, and she certainly is a threat."

"You make no sense."

"Liara is in no physical danger. The danger is in the feelings she is developing for this spectre. I have nothing but respect for Shepard, but the influence she's having on Liara will impact House T'Soni for centuries to come."

"It is Liara's house to rule."

"Yes, but Liara is changing, and changing rapidly. Would the Liara we knew Name a human? Would she challenge Cylenia? Stallura? Tevos? It is her House to rule, and I will support her decisions. However, I fear her becoming reckless, costing the House allies that I know we'll need."

"Shepard has a penchant for acquiring allies."

"Possibly another reason that Liara seems unconcerned with maintaining the ones we have."

"Perhaps the ones we have are not the ones we'll need."

"You defend Shepard as well."

"I see no need to defend Shepard. I am defending Liara's choices."

"Yet you swore an oath to Shepard, not to Liara."

"I swore an oath to a member of the House I serve. An oath you yourself have taken, and have not asked to be released from."

They were talking in circles. Shiala was finding it difficult to make her point to Denai without attacking Shepard - something she had no desire to do. There had to be a different tactic she could try.

"I believe that Liara may be making the decisions that she is because she believes they are the decisions that Shepard would want her to make."

Denai considered. "That is... possible. However, Liara is in no way a thrall of the Human. In fact, despite the benefits Shepard gains with her change in status, she has largely been following Liara's direction since Benezia's release. Hardly the behavior of someone adhering to an agenda."

Shiala momentarily closed her eyes. "This Shepard is very different from the spectre I saw on Feros."

"I would expect her to behave differently in the heart of the Asari Republics as opposed to in combat on a remote Human colony. Shepard isn't the problem here. You've told me the stories, and you all but look upon her with hero worship. What's really bothering you?"

"She's in love with her!" Nearby diners turned at Shiala's shout. Remembering they were in a very public place, she lowered her tone. "She's in love with her."

"I know. Of course I know."

"Nearly a century of practically begging her to so much as date, and now this? How can it possibly end well? Shepard was already becoming influential in her limited way. Elevating to the status of spectre and becoming a member of House T'Soni only increases her influence. Liara is virtually a child. Shepard will likely either ignore Liara's feelings, or break her heart. She'll have no interest in a relationship with an unsophisticated youth."

Denai just looked at Shiala impassively.

"You think otherwise."

"I think I have sworn an oath to House T'Soni, in the form of Sarah Jane Shepard T'Soni. Sarah would never hurt Liara. You said that yourself."

"I meant that she would never allow Liara to come to physical harm."

"I agree, but she has demonstrated that she supports Liara in many ways, not just in defending her person."

"She cannot serve multiple masters. Or perhaps you believe Shepard would support the House over her oath to the Alliance?"

"Sarah would resign from the Human military if such a conflict of interest arose."

Shiala was so incredulous at Denai's comment that for a moment she found it almost impossible to speak. "Are you deranged? Are you also so taken with Shepard that you believe that she would put Liara, put us, over the needs of her own race?"

"Yes."

"For Goddess' sake why?"

Denai smiled a small smile. "Because we are family."

Shiala couldn't believe what she was hearing. Shepard was very impressive, but how had she managed to have this effect on Denai, a matron known for her practicality? Was this quality of the spectre what allowed her to build her multi-species team? Was this trait what caused Liara to fall in love with her? She had never seen someone with the ability to evoke such loyalty with so little apparent effort. Still, even loyalty was not the bond of blood that Denai was crediting Shepard with. "Cari'ssi'mi doesn't mean to her what it means to us Denai. To her it is a legal term that gives her rights and responsibilities. We are not blood to her."

"I say we are."

"I don't mean to imply that she isn't an honorable person, but look at your own experience. Liara had to intervene before Shepard would allow you to swear fealty. That's how little we mean to her."

"That's how much we mean to her, not how little. She takes her position in the family very seriously. She was unwilling to accept an obligation to me that she might be unable to fulfill. Once she accepted, it became part of who she was. You weren't there, you didn't see her bearing or the look on her face. I think my oath means more to her than it does to me, and it means a great deal to me."

"I'm sorry, but that isn't possible. Shepard has only been a member of the House for two days! You're projecting. You make her a paragon in your mind. This allows you to justify swearing fealty to a Human."

"I did no such thing. I swore my oath to one of the two living members of House T'Soni. Not the one, I might add, that you are expressing distress over."

Shiala closed her eyes. She should have kept her own counsel. It had been less frustrating to keep her grievances to herself than to voice it and have it discounted or misunderstood. However, now that Denai knew how she felt, Shiala needed her to understand. "It isn't that I'm against Liara expanding her involvement in managing House affairs. In fact, I'm very much for it. I even endorse the way she's challenging the status quo around here. The long term is what concerns me. What is she going to do when this mission of theirs is over? When Liara is here, and Shepard has moved on to the next assignment, the next crisis? The Systems Alliance isn't the only power Shepard is beholden to. She also answers to the Council, to Tevos specifically. Tevos will not be forgiving of her pet spectre being distracted by House T'Soni affairs."

"The Citadel Council is a very conservative body, as is the Conclave of Matriarchs. Thessia was a founding member of the Council. It is improbable that the goals of the Council and of Thessia will ever be at odds to any meaningful degree. Liara now seems to be aligning the goals of House T'Soni with the needs of Thessia. I find the likelihood of conflict between the needs of the Council and the needs of Thessia to be unlikely. In fact, Councilor Tevos will likely approve of the influence that being a member of the House will have on Shepard. It will temper her priorities in Thessia's favor."

"You seem so satisfied with how you believe events will play out. Does that mean you would do nothing?"

"I intend to do my part to ensure that House T'Soni meets the goals set by Liara and Sarah. They believe that Saren is a threat, that the Reapers, whatever they are, are also a threat. They need us to fortify, to stand ready. I will work with Eliata, Stallura, Iryra, Alaya, Jedis, and others to do everything we can to ensure that House T'Soni is prepared for what is coming."

Shiala bowed her head. "That's what Benezia was trying to do. She was trying to act against the threat of Saren as she thought appropriate. It cost her her life. It cost the lives of many acolytes and commandos. It would have cost my life as well, if not for Shepard. I will be long indebted to the colonists of Zhu's Hope because of the decisions made by Benezia. Benezia was one of the most powerful matriarchs of her generation. She had the strength and wisdom of ages. If she could fail, what will happen when Liara follows the same path? How much devastation will this course of action bring on House T'Soni? What will happen to her?"

Denai was becoming more and more confused. Shiala had no tendency towards emotional outbursts. If anything, she was a stoic. What was the trigger here?

Finally, it started to come together. When Benezia was busy with her businesses, her writings, or her work in government, it was Shiala to whom it fell to keep Liara on track and engaged. It was Shiala who oversaw Liara's self defense training. Shiala who coached her when she played skyball. Shiala who had been there when Liara graduated from university, and again when she received her doctorate. Even when Liara and Benezia were at their most distant from each other, it was with Shiala that Liara remained in contact. Denai knew that Shiala had no children of her own, and realized now who had filled that need in her to this point. Liara had never stopped loving her mother, but she had become a surrogate child to Shiala. That would explain why Shiala was always so concerned about Liara's well being, and why she would go so far to protect the maiden.

Denai reached across the table, and took Shiala by the hand. Shiala turned back from looking at Jiirae's, down at her hand, then up at Denai. The emotion on her face was raw and blatant. Denai considered her suspicions confirmed. Shiala wasn't worried about Liara, she was worried for Liara. Denai rubbed her thumb across the back of Shiala's hand, and gave her another small smile. "It's going to be all right. We're going to get through this. Benezia acted alone, but Liara has Shepard."

When Shiala continued looking at her silently, Denai continued, "Sarah loves her too, you know."

"I know."

A/N: Assumptions here include:
FemShep/Liara (still pre LI, but apparently others are getting tired of waiting)
Later ME1 - after Suspicions and Omissions
After Noveria, before Virmire

Shepard is:
Colonist / Vanguard / War Hero

No, *sigh*, we didn't finish the story with Chapter 10. This wasn't even what I intended to write. When I took a step back from the restaurant, I found Shiala watching it too, and thus this short chapter. One thing that came out of it though - I really, really like Denai.

As always, feedback is welcome and desired.