Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delay, but I have a hard time finding the rhythm again. Might take some time before I update WITS the next time. Sorry for that. And the obvious shortness of this chapter.

"Don't you dare leave right now!"

Liara had waited for Shepard to fall asleep, before she had gotten up to undress. Sleeping in her uniform hadn't been an option, not with a soft Commander lying in her bed. Stripping quickly, the Asari had gotten into bed again, pulling the clothed body of the human close to her. Snuggling close to the muscular form, sleep had come naturally, slowly, engulfing her in velvety soft goodness.

In the middle of the night Liara had woken to the sound of Shepard mumbling in her sleep, thrashing about and shedding the covers. She knew the Commander had nightmares from time to time, but she hadn't actually been there to witness it yet. Plus, the Human never talked about it. Everything was always fine.

She had tried soothing the other woman, and, surprisingly enough, it had actually worked. Shepard had relaxed into her arms and Liara had been able to go to sleep. For a short time at least. The moment she had woken again, she had known something was wrong. The warm, strong body of the Commander had been missing. For a second Liara had been confused, her sleepy mind not being able to grasp the obvious yet. But then reality had kicked in and she had realised that Shepard was nowhere to be seen. Grabbing some sheets to cover herself, she had jumped out of bed, hoping that Shepard hadn't gotten far.

So here she was, standing in the elevator, covered in sheets. Liara felt strangely vulnerable, even though no one could see her. Except the Commander, standing there, her head resting against the wall.

When she had seen the lightly clothed woman turn the corner towards the elevator, anger had risen up inside of her for no apparent reason. Hurrying after her, she had gotten into the elevator just as the doors were about to close, and then... she had blurted it out:

"Don't you dare leave right now!"

The Human had stared at her wide-eyed until she had turned around, bumping her head agains the elevator wall.

And now Liara was at a loss for words. The Commander looked so vulnerable, so defeated, she just didn't know what to do.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

The Asari went up to the Human and rested her hand on a tight shoulder. A slight shudder went through it and Liara couldn't resist the temptation of taking the tall woman into her arms. Resting her head on the soft fabric of Shepard's top, she let her arms wander around to hold the Commander close.

"But don't just run off like that. Please."

A tiny nod was all the answer she got, but it would have to be enough for now.

"Let's go to bed, hm?"

When the elevator doors opened, the Asari grabbed the Commander's hand, pulling her towards Shepard's quarters.

Inside, she pushed the unresisting woman onto the bed and climbed on top of her, pushing her down.

"So... What is it? What do you dream of that hurts you so much?"

Shepard was trying to evade her eyes, her face a mask of grief and sorrow. In her attempt to hide, she lifted her hands and covered her face, mumbling unintelligible words as she did.

"Tell me, Shepard, ... is it Earth?"

She pulled firm hands away, so she could look into teary eyes.

"Just tell me."

The Human sighed heavily, lifting Liara with her breath as she did.

"I just..."

More sighs, slight shudders and mumbled words. Liara wanted to take the Human in her arms and make everything alright again. Knowing that she couldn't, that was what made her lean down and snuggle into the nook of her neck. At least she could be close to her.

"... Earth ... I see Earth ... the little boy ..."

Slowly, words were spilling from Shepard's mouth, forming a story, short and angsty. Liara listened, stroking the tender skin of a muscular arm, placing gentle kisses along the fluttering pulse of the other woman's neck.

Lying there, listening to the the beginning of Earth's destruction, Liara felt closer to Shepard than ever before. Maybe, finally, the two of them could let go of their past shadows and just be ... themselves.

TO BE CONTINUED.