Chapter 14: Early Delivery
Shepard emerged out of the med-ward to be greeted in the mess hall by the ground team and Dr. Chakwas. All of them with questions filling their faces. Instead of answering them she tapped a few controls on her omni-tool and replayed the whole conversation she shared with Legion.
When the play back ended Shepard held up her hand as she could see even more questions forming on the lips of her team.
"It's been decided. Legion will join our team. Tali you needed insight on the geth, we now have a resource at our disposal. I suggest we use it. As you heard there is a schism. We need to exploit it. Tali…I know what you're thinking.—don't do it. We need it functioning."
"And after the mission?" The quarian pressed.
"If it survives it…we'll figure it out then."
"Commander, what if it sides with the Collectors? Or worse the Harbinger? How do we know it isn't a plant—a sleeper agent?" Miranda asked a very valid question.
"We don't." Shepard answered honestly. "But religious schisms can be exploited, used and directed. We treat Legion with skepticism and causation but for now … it is useful. It is…" Shepard paused not out of trying to find the right words but because she doubled over in pain.
Her gasp filled the mess hall causing even those not within the conference to look at their Commander.
Her name and rank were chorused by all those around her. The expression on her face was pure puzzlement as she could not fathom where the pain was coming from. The injuries she had suffered on the derelict ship were negligible, so this was not from the battle with the husks or collectors.
Chakwas was at her side immediately. "Commander?"
Shepard gritted her teeth as another intense wave struck her. It felt as she had been kicked by a mule in the gut from the inside out.
"Doc? What's wrong with her?" Garrus pressed, he knelt down to lend his support to her, which she gratefully accepted
Out of reflex Shepard breathed into the pain, trying to find a center point of calm even as she leaned on her Trusted.
"I….if I'm not mistaken I would say she's in labor." Chakwas answered.
Another chorus of disbelief rippled out: voices upon voices.
"Not so impossible." Mordin said "Shepard is soul-bonded to Dr. Liara T'Soni, correct? It is not Shepard who is in labour…"
Shepard using Garrus shoulder as leverage she rose to her feet pushing past the pain. "My wife is!"
"Joker!" Garrus belted out now standing as well. "Get us to Nos Austra! Now!"
* Nos Austra? Our fearless leader looking for a little Blueberry-down time before we rescue the 'verse? *
"Do it, you fucking flyboy dip-shit or I'll come up there and rip your fucking spine out through your ear and Mori will fly this fucking bird herself!" Jack snarled. "Your fucking XO gave you a fucking goddamn order! Now do it and shut the fuck up!"
*Yes Ma'am.* a terrified voice answered back
All faces turned to Jack, astonished. Especially Shepard.
"What?" the ex-con shrugged. "That fuck-head needs to know how to follow his goddamn orders when there're given to him. Even if it ain't the Queen of the Girl Scouts giving 'em."
"Maybe, especially then." Miranda said in an even tone.
Everyone ignored the fact that Jack had called Miranda not Cheerleader as she tended to do in public but by a far more intimate nickname.
"Doc, how close is Liara to…uggg…" Shepard gritted her teeth once more, so tightly they nearly shattered under the pressure her jaw was exerting.
"When I learned that both Liara and Shiara were pregnant I familiarized myself with asari pregnancies. She'll be in labour for another twenty-six hours at least." Came the older woman's answer.
"This is correct." Mordin nodded. "Especially considering she is expecting twins."
Shepard shook her head. "No it's too early! Secura…we lost her… we can't lose my twins. I won't lose my daughters a second time!"
Chakwas placed a calming hand on Shepard's shoulder. "Commander…remember you and Liara are expecting twins. Often times they come early. And it's only two months early, Commander. Significant yes but not a grave health issue. Your daughters will be fine. Liara already has the best asari obstetricians both Thessia and Nos Austra have to offer on call. She will be fine and so will your daughters."
"But you can't promise…uggg…this." Shepard gasped.
"No. I can't" Chakwas answered honestly. "But, trust in my medical knowledge as you always have. Twins often come early—it isn't abnormal. Your daughters will be fine. This won't end up like it was with Secura, Commander."
Shepard nodded trusting Chakwas' word. She steadied herself. "I'm fine." she said. Then she activated the inner-ship intercom. "Joker that is the very last time you ever call my wife Blueberry or Jack is the last person you have to worry about. You get me, Flight Lieutenant Monroe?"
*Roger that, Commander.* there was a deeper quiver to the voice. Shepard rarely used his rank. When she did she was seriously pissed off. *I didn't mean…* he paused *Yes ma'am loud and clear. And I ah…apologize to you and Li…Dr. T'Soni.*
Any response Shepard was to give was answered through gritted teeth and a groan. And she knew this was only a very small fraction of what was passing through the bond. Liara must be in agony.
'I'm coming Angel-eyes. Just hold on.'
'I know. Be swift Melethril our daughters are eager to meet the world.'
'Tell them to wait for their Mamma…their Ada get to you and them to help them into it.'
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
"I already have, Melethril. But they are your daughters—they won't wait long." Liara gritted her teeth as another wash of pain flooded her womb.
"If you're talking to that dark haired bondmate of yours tell her to move her cute ass on the double and get here." Aethyta told her daughter.
Liara pushed past her pain and smiled warmly. "It was, and I have and Ada I really wish you wouldn't talk about my bondmate's bottom like that."
"Bottom? Aint that cute? Bet that's how you explained how to find azure."
Liara sucked in a bit of air and smiled once more. "I might have. When she asked about azure I told her that it was slang used on Nos Austra for a part of the asari body. When she asked me where…"
"I bet you told her it was somewhere near the bottom."
"I did" a purple blush flooded cerulean her cheeks. "She of course thought I meant the city and said 'I meant where on the asari body' and I told her 'so did I'."
"I bet she blushed."
"She might have."
The Matriarch smirked. "Yep, you're just like your ol' Ada, you like asses. Of course a nice rack is hard to pass up. Like your mother's."
"Ada! Must you be so crass?"
"Yes, of course I do." a deepening smirk "It took your mind off the labor pains didn't it?"
Liara grabbed her father's hand and gave it a squeeze. "It did."
"You know your sister Nuruodo was the same when she went into labor for the first time."
Liara almost always forgot that she had sisters who were half-hanar. She was the only one of Aethyta's children that was a…pure blood. She was also the only one of Aethyta's children that the not only the Matriarch hadn't birthed but the only one sired within a trinity.
Liara never felt a connection to Shi'ara as she had with Aethyta. It made her think that the Consort had so very little to do with her conception other than accenting the Joining—Matriarch to Matriarch. When Shi'ara admitted she was part of a Trinity, Liara knew it to be true.
But her mother told only Aethyta to keep her distance, yet Aethyta didn't …she never accepted the distance forced upon her, so she became as an 'aunty'. Benezia accepted the connection. The same condition was given to Shi'ara and the Consort obeyed the demand. That defiance within Athena made all the difference both to Benezia and to Liara. That defiance meant the galaxy to Liara. Only now in labor did the young prothean expert cum Information Broker understand: it had meant everything to her mother as well.
Benezia wanted that defiance. Willed it and only Aethyta answered it, it was why the Matriarch allowed her former bondmate such a close connection to Liara. Though it was on the condition the latter never reveal her true relationship. It was also why Benezia had restricted everything of Shi'ara for the Consort had not the courage to defy such a powerful Matriarch's demands.
It is why Liara now only accepted Aethyta as her sire, her Ada, her father or as her sweet beloved Spectre would have herself called…Mamma. She was the daughter of Benezia and Aethyta. Shi'ara would never picture into her life as family not to her and most certainly not to her newly to be born daughters. To the T'Soni-Shepard family the Consort would only ever be that. But if Racen and little Maysa ever wanted a connection—a relationship Liara would never deny them that. Yet since Benezia's funeral there had been no communications from that 'side' of the family. To be truthful- Goddess forgive her—Liara was grateful
"So tell me girl was it your girl's rack or ass that drew you to her?" Aethyta asked just as another wave of labor pain filtered into Liara.
It….was….ahhhh….Goddess!"
"What was it?"
Heavy panting…. "It was…it was… her eyes."
"Just like your mother. She said the same thing when I asked her about me. She said it was my eyes. Filled with passion, conviction and power and…lust. Your mother…was a hottie. Goddess…she was magnificent…."
"Arda!" Liara gasped in pain though she tried to disguise it as disgust. Aethyta was not convinced.
"Tell me about those eyes you fell in love with."
"Filled with passion and power, and yes conviction. I saw that the first day I met her."
"You are most definitely your mother's daughter. Let me guess you liked that she looked at you with desire in her eyes, and the knowledge she never looked at anyone else like that."
Liara sighed this time not out of pain but exasperation Her Ada often had a very rough sense of humor. "Yes, I suppose I did."
"You made sure she appreciated the view."
Liara chuckled softly. "Yes, I suppose I did." She repeated.
"So tell me about this first meeting with your human."
Liara breathed through her pain and began her narrative about the dig site on Therum, the geth, the prothean security bubble and how Samantha had freed her.
"She questioned what side I was on after she told me Mother was working with Saren who was no longer a Spectre but a traitor. She told me the Council had made her their newest Spectre. I told her I wasn't on anyone's side. I hadn't even spoken to Mother in years. She believed me. She was also the only one that trusted me at first.
"We took the central lift up the mining shaft, but then there was an explosion. I theorized that the seismic drill had made the mine unstable. Everyone was questioning everything. Gunnery Chief Williams thought I knew all the answers that I was somehow to blame for my dig site being attacked and that Saren wanted me for my knowledge. Because Mother was with him she assumed I was too. She also assumed I was at fault for the instability of the dig site.
"I remember the look Samantha gave her, it was in a word scathing, but it was fleeting. She was calculating an exit strategy, she knew the geth were around, she fought them to get to me. Fought hard, she was more than willing to do the same to get out.
"The geth weren't alone. They were led by a krogan battlemaster. I cowered. Samantha could have easily given me over to that krogan battlemaster, Saren had hired, but…" Liara chuckled "she told him in very simple terms he was an idiot and that I was fine with her. She absolutely expected a firefight.
"The only thing Samantha told me to do then was to erect the most powerful barrier I could summon. I never spoke of this to anyone. Not even to my bondmate, but I knew, she augmented my barriers with her own, which meant she had none to cover herself. She protected me at the expense…uhhhhhh…..of …uhhhhh….herself…"
"I bet she always will." Aethyta smiled. "It's part of why I like her. Even liking her, she's barely worthy of you, kiddo."
"Don't say that, Ada! Never say that. Samantha is…"
"Your little piece of the heavens, I know Little Wing." Aethyta used a damp cloth to wipe the sweat from her daughter's brow, "I know because that's how I felt about Nezzy. Don't get me wrong, lots of people didn't think I was worthy of your Mother, Shi'ara included. She didn't like to share despite being a Consort. She didn't like that a well trained Consort who could seduce even the most stoic of hearts, especially with her little trick of 'gift of words'. The woman is very talented I'll give you that."
"Shi'ara reads people. Watches them for the smallest tells, how they walk, talk, dress is just the minor things. It's not unlike being an archeologist. You find the smallest scraps of knowledge and you start to make a narrative, piecing together the past. You can even piece together alien languages. But Shi'ara's talents are very different, aren't they? She shows people expressions they want to see, but never what she is thinking or feeling."
"Never play poker with her." Aethyta chuckled.
"Nor with Samantha. Not even a quarian can out-play her 'poker face'. Tell me of how you and Mother began."
The elder asari chuckled. "Consorts and Matriarchs who are government leaders must appear to be free and unattached. But Nezzy found me refreshing, fun…she told me more than a few times that with me she could unwind and not have to play the Idhren'Hu'rien of the Matriarchy. Though I think she never stopped being that person. I don't think she knew how. But with me…she could just be my Nezzy." Aethyta wiped her eyes as the tears welled behind them.
"I think your beloved Spectre; your Commander feels the same about you. With you she can just be your Samantha. No exceptions to be some great military leader, not some goddess be dammed hero of the human colonies or the Citadel, or a Spectre, she doesn't have to be the woman that earned all those medals pinned to her chest. She's your Melethriland that is all she has to be." Aethyta chuckled softy "Well that and being Ada to her little girls."
"She's not only a Spectre but an N7. She may not have the decades of training of our huntresses but the human N7s are formidable warriors. They can overcome impossible odds and return home victorious." Liara said. Her voice was calmer, the labor pains had subsided. She had to make herself believe it because very soon her bondmate would be leaving to go through the Omega Four relay. Before she did at least she got to see her babies.
"The labor pains have settled for now." Aethyta observed. "We have to get you to the maternity pools at the monastery. You can't have the girls on some bed in some hospital like a human, even if they are going to be half human. Besides the Nedh'bereth needs to be there for you and the girls. They are early and you want to make sure their delivery is smooth."
Liara nodded. She had been sitting upon her sofa in her very large open living room when the first wave had started. Fortunately for her Aethyta was already there visiting making sure her daughter was not overworking herself-she was – as well as eating and resting properly. For the sake of her daughters Liara had been keeping up with her nutritional needs and made absolutely sure her health was hundred per cent perfect.
"I'm worried, Ada…" Liara looked deeply into her sire's eyes.
"I know, and that's why we need to get to the birthing pools and we need to have Nedh'bereth to oversee the birthing. She will have the skills and knowledge you need. Listen Kid, as your humans like to say 'this isn't my first rodeo.' Though I have to admit I'm not entirely certain what a rodeo is. Though I think it has to do with tying up hogs whilst riding wild bulls."
"That was my understanding too." Liara said with a shrug. "Apparently it's very dangerous sport." she sucked in a breath of air so sharply that it hurt. "Childbirth shouldn't be." Liara grabbed Aethyta's hand and nearly crushed it in a vice grip. "I can't lose Benezia and Hannah like I did Secura. I can't! I won't!"
"You won't Little Wing, I promise you that. Now let's get you to the Nedh'bereth. Your twins are daughters created within a soul-bond. Little Wing that hasn't happened since your Mother was born."
Soul-Bonded daughters…were rare. One in ten-million bondmates ever shared a soul-bond.
"Mother was…a daughter of a soul-bonding?!" This was news. She knew that her ancestry dated to Matriarch Dilinaga but Mother never spoke much about her own parents, only that she too was a child of pure asari blood.
"Yeah, I guess Nezzy never spoke of it. Now I'm half krogan but Nezzy she was…."
"Pure-blood, just like me."
"If you weren't expecting my precious granddaughters I'd slap your face for the slur. Your mother was a daughter born of a soul-bond. It's why it didn't surprise me you created one with Shepard. Especially after the gestalt. Hell, Kid no one expected your two souls to interweave so perfectly and so powerfully. So thoroughly. It had Matriarchs talking and they couldn't stop the comparisons.
"Some believed that her power stemmed the fact T'Sonis can trace their line unbroken all the way back to Matriarch Dilinaga. She was the most powerful Idhren'Hu'rien of her age. Some believed her power came from the fact that Nezzy's parents were soul-bonded. Personally I think it was a bit of both. It was why she could….was able to send out her energy to others both organic and synth. And like you said she was able to seal a part of her mind away from that bastard Sovereign. It's just a theory of course. One that is pretty damn plausible. And your mother was also a daughter of two Matriarchs.
"Of course you never knew your grandparents. Nezzy's arda was killed during the Krogan Rebellions; she died whilst protecting the Monastery on Lesuss. She always said being born ardat-yakshi is no fault of the child and those that joined the monastery deserved all rites and protection of Thessia. She had always worried that Nezzy would become one, but even if she had Matriarch Jordan would never have abandoned her daughter.
"Matriarch Arihnda wouldn't have either. She was the Idhren'Hu'rien of Matriarchy for nearly five centuries. Youngest to be given the title in three ages."
"I knew that much." A sheepish look crossed Liara's face as it dawned upon the Prothean Expert that her mother the great Matriarch Benezia T'Soni: Idhren'Hu'rien of the Matriarchy had a great legacy to live up to. More so, perhaps than Liara herself.
"Matriarch Jordan was a great war hero and Saviour of Lesuss. Matriarch Arihnda was Idhren'Hu'rien for half her life! Was it any wonder that the peoples of the Asari Republics looked to Dr. Liara T'Soni to achieve greatness?! It was in her blood."
"Your daughters like Nezzy are going to be special."
"They already are." Liara declared proudly.
Aethyta smiled. "Yes they are, Little Wing. Yes they are. Now let's get them safely into this world."
"Ada, before we leave I need make a call first."
"A call? To whom? Your precious Samantha is already on the way along with your Trusteds."
"To Admiral Hannah Shepard. She'll want to be here for the birthing if she can. The Squirrels are her granddaughters too. She loves them just as much as you do. I want her to know 'her little soldiers are about to disembark'."
"Those are not your words. The Shepards: soldiers through and through."
"They are indeed." Liara gave a wry smile. "Half of me believes that Hannah wishes to see if indeed her granddaughters are born wearing Alliance uniforms."
To this Aethyta belted a full belly laugh.
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
A little over seventeen hours ago the pain had mercifully stopped. By that time the Normandy had reached Illium and the port of Nos Austra.
Despite the fact Dr. Chakwas tried to convince Shepard to block out the pain that wasn't hers Shepard would have none of it. Her pain may not be real but Liara's pain very much was and Sam would share in it if it meant her wife was alleviated only for a moment.
*Coming up on Nos Austra.* Joker said with more respect in his voice than it had held in a long time. *Normandy will land in four point two minutes, Commander.*
"Understood, Flight Lieutenant." Shepard answered letting her pilot know that he wasn't out of the doghouse just yet for his racist slur on her wife. She turned to both Garrus and Tali "As our Trusteds the two of you being there would mean the world to Li and me. And it's…sorta customary."
"Of course we'll be there." Garrus said like the proud 'uncle' he was about to become.
"I wouldn't miss it!" Tali's giddiness had a hyper-metallic sound to it was it was filtered through her mask. Of course she couldn't stop bouncing on the balls of her feet as she delivered her answer.
The last face Shepard focused her attention upon was Dr. Chakwas. "Doc….Karin," the Spectre reached out with her right hand and placed it upon the older woman's facing shoulder "you were there since the beginning; you saw the death of our first child. We'd love it if you be there to see it though to the birth of our daughters."
"The honour is mine, Commander. I want to see those two take their first breaths nearly as much as you do." Karin offered a warm smile. She squeezed the arm still upon her Commander's shoulder, taking the superior officer's touch as permission to return the kindly gesture. Typically touching a senior officer without their given permission was grounds for a disciplinary review. Not that Shepard would ever do such a thing to Dr. Karin Chakwas.
"And what about the rest of us?" this came surprisingly from Jack. "Not everyday you see someone feel their wife's labor pains-light years away."
"Most intriguing to have bore witness." Mordin nodded eagerly. "Would like to see the conclusion of this development."
"Easy. Asari babies hatched." Grunt rumbled. Frowned, no that wasn't correct: smooth-skins were not hatched in a clutch they were…"Birthed."
"As much as I'd like to share my daughters' being born it just can't happen. Liara won't be in a hospital. She'll be with the Nedh'bereth…um she's a…" How best to describe the duties of a Nedh'bereth? They were more than an obstetrician.
"The closest translation might be a midwife but she is also a priestess who observes both the traditions of Athame and Sari. Their minds are carefully attuned to ease new lives from the safety and warmth of the womb into the chaos of the world. Their minds are so very vulnerable at this stage. Too many minds present will be harmful. The Nedh'bereth is a shield against all such things, allowing their mothers and arda to join their minds and souls." Samara translated.
"And Shepard is also correct that only a couples' Trusteds may be present. Certain concessions might be offered to Dr. Chakwas for as the Commander pointed out that she was there at the beginning and saw Shepard and Dr. T'Soni through a dark time in their lives. The Nedh'bereth also creates a mental bridge between Trusteds and the children they swore to protect. It is an exceedingly dangerous moment in a youngling's life. And in the case of twins—even more so."
It seemed to settle the protests from the other members of the ground team. Still they had decided to wait for the news at The Eternity Lounge and toast good fortune to their Commander and her wife.
The Concierge in employ to Liara, Careena…(Shepard frowned as she tried to recall the maiden's family name, but for the life of her she could not recall it. Had the Concierge ever given it? Not that it mattered.) was there to greet the Commander as she and her party disembarked from the Normandy. At her side were a guard detail of security mechs. Being this close to the Terminus Systems warranted extra caution.
And considering what had happened to Liara and Secura with bounty hunters hired by the Shadow Broker, Shepard was grateful for the added security. LOKI mechs were effective deterrents against unexpected attacks. Of course a LOKI's IFF could be easily hacked by a skilled tech and they could also be overloaded by the same tech-agent regardless the clankers were useful especially as guards for someone who had no combat skills—such as a Concierge.
"Greetings and Salutations Spectre Shepard: honored Trusteds of the Shepard-T'Soni House…" when she same to address Dr. Chakwas the young maiden paused and frowned a little, though one had to be swift to catch the expression. Shepard had picked up on the asari's body language.
"This is Dr. Karin Chakwas my ship's physician and a trusted friend of the family." Shepard supplied the necessary introductions.
The smile on the Concierge was almost placid if not vapid. "Of course." she tipped her head towards Chakwas then turned her attention back to the human Spectre. "Spectre, I was given very specific instructions to escort you to Nos Austra's Athame Monastery or more specifically the Monastery's cleansing chambers to prepare you for the birthing pools."
"Lead the way." Shepard gestured for Careena to escort her and the rest of the party to the awaiting skycar. No doubt the vehicle belonged to Liara's fleet of skycars or rather they belonged to her Information Brokerage firm—a company car.
It would be a tight squeeze especially in the backseat but it was a short ride and no one had to sit upon anyone else's lap. Though Tali made it quietly known she wouldn't have minded if had been required for her to cuddle up a little more snuggly to her husband.
Concierge Careena expertly navigated the Nos Austra traffic and it took little more than fourteen and half minutes from the Normandy's docking bay to the Monastery proper. The asari swirled the car around the back of the structure to a more private garden area. She landed the skycar carefully.
As the doors opened Careena turned towards her passengers, "Through that chromed doorway is the preparation area. The acolytes will greet you and guide you though the cleansing ceremonies."
Shepard nodded her head in understanding. Only those closest to her saw that the Spectre was barely reining in the urge to run to her wife and her expected daughters. As for Careena, she was completely oblivious to the burning urgency behind the human's eyes. Yet she knew of course any expectant parent would want to be at their bondmate's side was swiftly as able.
Shepard turned her attention away from the Concierge to the massive building before her.
The Monastery was as the rest of Nos Austra in a word beautiful. Asari architects surely knew the value of aesthetics and function and form. Considering Athame was a three-fold goddess: combining aesthetics with form and function was not outside the norm. Then again in a word that was the asari.
Whilst the Grand Cathedral of Athame-Sari on Thessia was crystalline coral this building was more dome-shaped and open-aired. There was no great statute of Athame as there had been in the Grand Cathedral but rather the Asari Republic trisklion. That particular symbol always reminded the Spectre of a certain part of a human woman and asari anatomy. Once she saw the resemblance she couldn't unsee it. It was something she had kept close to the chest even from her wife, though she knew Liara suspected just what part of a female's anatomy Shepard had envisioned. At the time the asari had practically admitted she had seen it too.
"Do you know that this cleansing ceremony involves?" Tali asked as the three of them climbed out of the car.
Shepard nodded. She did indeed know what was to come. She had studied in length the traditional rituals centered on a typical asari birth when a bondmate be they another asari or alien were involved and more so when there were Trusteds. Newborn asari were highly empathic which put their very vulnerable minds at risk as they searched to Join with their mother and their Arda's minds.
"It's…a full cleansing of the body. Nowadays the first thing is a decontamination chamber. After that an acolyte helps the sire out of their clothing and gives them a sponge bath before they lead them to a whirlpool of sorts.
"They are then scrubbed down with exfoliating soaps. Getting out of the pool their bodies are then scraped free of old flesh and oiled with soothing ointments that won't endanger newborns."
"Sounds a lot like visiting an ancient Roman Bathhouse or even Feudal Japan. Scrub down, bathe, rub down and oiling up." Chakwas nodded. "I'm game."
"Hope you still feel like that Doc after you find out we stay in the nude. Naked the siring parent and Trusteds are lead to the birthing pools where the mother is already waiting. See Asari are semi-aquatic more like whales and dolphins than cephalopods or amphibians, they ah…always seek spring-feed natural tidal pools in which to give birth.
"From what I understand it's not as shocking for asari daughters to go from the womb into a watery world before they take their first breath of air." Shepard drew in a stilted breath of air. "I-guess you'll have to wait this one out, Tali. I might be able to get a work-around…"
Even if the hood and sarong of Tali's environmental suit were freshly laundered and the environmental suit scrubbed down it wouldn't be quite enough to satisfy the traditional birthing-ceremony.
"No need, Shepard. I'll go through with it."
Two faces stared stunned at the proclamation. Tali tilted her head to the side. "Shepard….Sam ….you said a decontamination chamber, right? Effectively the first 'sponge bath' is done in a clean room. Right?
Shepard nodded "The bath after?"
"Guessing it's not private but it is utterly sanitary."
Again another nod.
"My body has already adapted to Garrus." there was a distinctive shift in her pitch of voice that indicated slight embarrassment. "Considering our…very frequent…how did you once phrase it…nocturnal matrimonial Joining activies." a gloating smile now. "It will be the same as Joining-Suits. I told you before, you and Liara are the only ones beside my husband I'd ever willingly do so with."
"Tali. No…" Shepard went to her friend's side. "It might seem be the same as Joining-Suits but it won't be just me, Liara and Garrus in there. The Nedh'bereth will be there and the acolytes as well and of course Dr. Chakwas."
"Tali, it's too dangerous." Garrus shook his head.
"I am Liara's Trusted, Husband. I will not stand by and watch my nieces being born. Aunty Rhanna was there for me, she was there for my Mother. Granted they were in a clean room during my birth but she was there! She is as much my Aunty as if she shares my blood. " Her voice determined and unyielding. "Zia and Han will claim the same of me. 'Aunty Tali was there for us and she is our family even if she isn't of our blood.' To quarians shared DNA doesn't mean always mean family." she folded her arms over her chest much like her Commander did, perhaps mimicking the stance without realizing it.
Shepard found herself fully agreeing with the sentiment. Of all the would-be fathers in her life: from John Sheppard who didn't want the job but reluctantly took it anyway, to her biological father Steven Hackett who couldn't have the job because of military regs and politics got in the way, it was David Anderson who Shepard had identified not simply as her former CO, but as her father more perhaps more aptly…as Dad. Anyone could be a father, it took a special kind of man (or with the asari…person) to be a Dad.
"I won't let my life in an environmental suit define who I am." Tali said more defiantly.
"If I may," Chakwas interjected with mediating words. "Due to the fact Tali has been taking mega doses of antibiotics so much so I'd swear she is swimming in them, as well as herbal supplements and antihistamines because of her 'nocturnal matrimonial activities.' her immune system is very heavily bolstered. Enough perhaps to see the birth, surely the asari traditions would not disallow Tali to use an air-filter."
Several Acolytes entered the room ready to take charge over individual members of the group, two came for Sam. Being the bondmate of Liara she was given special attention. But it wasn't the handful of asari Maidens that grabbed the attention of the party; it was one Acolyte in particular. A quarian woman. What was most incredible was that she wasn't wearing an environmental suit! Well not fully. She was wearing a respirator, her robes were sheer just like the asari but there was a shimmering to her purple skin as if she were wearing a translucent second skin overlay.
Tali was agog: other than her own mother, Tali had never seen another quarian outside their own environmental suits and never in such a public forum and everyone else was utterly staring. Only Garrus had ever seen Tali without her faceplate, no one else had ever seen a quarian without their helms. They looked remarkably like humans save for their slightly smaller pointed ears. She also sported light white tiger striping and her eyebrows were more vertical than arching over her eyes. Whilst Tali's glowing silver eyes could barely been seen behind her faceplate the Acolyte's were very visible, they were almond shaped and indeed they were very much like Tali's in that they glowed silver.
The dark maned quarian approached Tali with a bright smile on her face. "I believe I see your dilemma. You are Trusted Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."
"Tali'Zorah-Vakarian vas Normandy." Tali corrected automatically. "Garrus is my husband; I took his family name as well."
The other smiled once more. "Of course." She looked up to the turian and nodded understanding. "I am Leigh'Malacar vas Nos Austra."
"vas Nos Austra?" Tali frowned a little.
"After my Pilgrimage I decided to stay here. You see during the development of my second-skin-medi-gel I sent it to Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh as my pilgrimage gift, I had intended to join the Moreh's crew. She was impressed with the results. She said it may actually help the quarians adapt to different environments including synchronized suits or cut down on illness due to suit repairs. I have to constantly apply new layers every hour if I want to be outside my suit for any length of time."
"You don't suffer?" Tali pressed.
"Less than in synchronized suit environments. I'm only sick for three days and my fever isn't as high."
"May I ask how long have you been using this…second-skin medi-gel?" The question came from Dr. Chakwas.
"For nearly a year now. I am trying to refine it, but for our marines in the field it has helped aid them with suit repairs, minimizing the length of sick-time if they didn't properly seal or were unable to seal-off their suits. It works just like medi-gel dispensed by one's omni-tool. Only it floods the suit with gel and adheres to the naked flesh under the suit.
"Would I be able to use it?" Tali asked the obvious question.
"I believe so. And as I said you'll only be sick for three days…your life isn't in danger as it would be if you shed your environmental suit entirely. Something I would never recommend and even the Nedh'bereth would not accept either.
Tali didn't look at her friends knowing they all sported variants of the 'I told you so' looks.
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
The Nedh'bereth entered Liara's private chambers with an expression of serenity and calm. "Liara." her voice was a gentle purr. "Your bondmate has arrived with your Trusteds and ship's doctor."
Liara smiled. "I know. I felt her presence as soon as she landed. "
"It always surprises me the extent of how powerful soul-bonds are." The Nedh'bereth smiled.
"Hell my girl can feel her human light-years away." Aethyta proclaimed proudly. "I'm just surprised Shepard isn't storming in here looking for her wife."
"I believe she had an issue with Liara's Trusted."
On hearing this Liara sat up straighter. "Tali? What's wrong with her? Is she okay?"
Nedh'bereth held up her hand to stall any undo stress seeping into the soon-to-be mother. That would be no good for mother or the daughters about to be born. "Yes, I assure you there is nothing wrong, apparently she wanted to take full part in the birth traditions and her friends were trying to persuade her to wear her environmental suit. Fortunately we have an answer to that. One of our converted Acolytes is also a quarian. Leigh'Malacar is a very skilled bioengineer and chemist. I believe she will be able to assist your Trusted. She also happens to be my bondmate; it is why she took the name vos Nos Austra after her Pilgrimage."
Liara sucked in a sharp breath; her daughters obviously decided that their mother's attention had waned from them. The young mother placed a settling hand over her very round belly. "They are ready." Liara said. "I feel them shifting."
Nedh'bereth placed a hand over Liara's hand her body slowly glimmered in the pale electric blue light of dark energy, asking to meld with Liara. The young maiden allowed it, trusting in the skills and talents of the Nedh'bereth. She felt comfort swell around her and ease the tension that had been building up. The meld pushed past her mental unrest that was so common to new expecting mothers, the uncomfortable aches in her body that hadn't seemed to ease up for the past three days and the simple worry that her daughters would be taken from her just as Secura had been.
Liara could feel Nedh'bereth's soft voice filter into her mind. 'Your daughters need to feel your confidence, your strength and your ease of mind. Your body's ease will come once you've given birth. Draw on the strength of knowing your bondmate is here for you, for them. Draw on that—always.'
'I always do.' Liara responded. "Since Therum, I always have." she said aloud.
"Since Therum…what?" the voice that asked the question belonged to that one soul in the entire galaxy that could cause her heart to thump harder, her breath catch and her whole body smile.
"Samantha!" Liara moved as fast as her pregnant body allowed, but Sam was faster getting to her wife's side in an instant.
Their arms enfolded one another tightly. Kisses became hungry and desperate, tears fell from eyes. Then Liara gasped as did Sam.
"Time to get everyone to the pools." Aethyta said firmly.
"On it, point the way." Sam said and swiftly picked her wife up and into her ever capable arms and cradled the asari to her chest.
"Samantha!" Liara half-heartedly protested, but she wrapped her arms around her beloved's neck and rested her head upon the finely muscular shoulder.
"HA! Guess you're a true romantic, Spectre." Aethyta chuckled approvingly.
Sam's reaction was to flash a very cocky grin.
"Commander Shepard…." The mid-wife…er… Nedh'bereth...voice was smooth as liquid velvet, started but was stopped by Sam interrupting her.
"Call me Sam, please." She looked down past Liara's very pregnant—very naked body to her own nakedness. "Out of my armour or dress blues I don't ah…well feel very Commander-ish."
She gave a wry smile towards the young human. "Of course." Behind her as another human female who seemed to be in the human Matron stage, a quarian maiden and a young turian male appeared. All looked a little awkward to be so exposed. For asari nakedness was nothing to be ashamed of it was simply part of being.
For all her earlier bravado about playing her role as the Mother's Trusted in full: Tali was hyper-aware and skittish. She was frequently glancing at her slightly shimmering second skin and making sure that the transparent facemask was well fitted. She apparently was also wasn't accustomed to her facemask being clear rather than rose-tinted.
Fortunately the facility had low lighting in preparation for newborns were bright lights could prove harmful to them. It was also why the temperatures within the birthing chamber were slightly higher than asari normal to help facilitate the cozy environment of a womb to the open world. The birthing pools were also closer to asari body temperature than warm bathwater, again to make the transition from womb to world that much easier on the newborn or in this case newborns.
It was two small steps from the intricate filigree tiled floor of the birthing chamber into the pool. The pool itself was only four feet deep and at the far end was a very comfortable looking cushion which Liara's backside could rest upon, it was large enough to accommodate Sam as well. On the floor of the pool were not stirrups per-say but footholds to brace against when Liara was required to bear down.
"Good." Nedh'bereth nodded approvingly as Sam took position and eased Liara down into the water. "Now our Trusteds, it is customary for you to take either side of our expecting couple. Aethyta as Liara's Arda you make take position near me." the matron looked at Dr. Chakwas, paused and readjusted her thoughts. "As Sam's mother isn't present you can take that…."
"No I'm afraid that spot's take. Sorry Karin." as familiar half-grin came across a much older Shepard's face.
"Ma!" Sam grinned "You made it!"
"No thanks to you telling me that my granddaughters are about to born. I got the news from my favorite daughter." Like everyone else. Hannah Shepard was stark naked, though in her mid-fifties her body wasn't only very fit, she was quite stunning. Her body had its fair share of battle scars and even a few tribal tattoos from the Salish peoples.
Aethyta appreciated what she was, the matron human may not have the rack of a matriarch but well….she had a nice pair on her.
Hannah walked up to Chakwas and gave her a hug. "Thanks for being here for them, Kay."
"But of course, Han."
Nedh'bereth looked at the newcomer and smiled. "You are Sam's mother."
"Admiral Hannah Shepard SSV Orizaba."
Despite her nudity Nedh'bereth got the distinct impression that Hannah Shepard expected to be addressed by rank not name. "Welcome Admiral. Now if you could take position at your daughter's side Dr. Chakwas can take position by me."
Once more Liara hissed in pain as did Sam, though the later was more of a grunt.
Nedh'bereth looked to the Spectre, "Sam…you'll have to dim your connection to your bondmate."
"What? Now? Cha'yeah as if I'll let her suffer alone. No way…"
"Please understand if Liara is in unnatural birthing pains I need to know about it, it will mean your daughters are in distress. If you take half her pain what Liara will feel and believe to natural birthing pains may not be. I know it is difficult. I know it goes against everything instinctual with your soul-bond but you have to dim it as much as possible. I'll not ask you block it entirely, that will not do either mother or daughters any favors either. Your daughters need to know you are here. They are accustomed however minuscule to the touch of the link between you and Liara. They will seek that connection once they are born."
Liara's gasp was much larger and longer. Her grip on Sam's hand nearly crushed the Specter's fingers. She pushed against her bondmate's chest, her teeth gritted against each other. She gasped out a cry of desperate pain. Automatically Sam's body enveloped her and Liara's body in a barrier-bubble.
Nedh'bereth didn't chide the Spectre. This was expected reaction when the asari were more primitive and birthing was far more dangerous out in the tidal-pools of the Thessian oceans. Expecting mothers and often their bondmates covered their bodies in barrier bubbles to protect the child from outside dangers.
In those same ancient days if the Trusteds were present they expanded their own barrier bubbles to expand over the tidal-pool, Nedh'bereth own biotics were sent out to meld with expectant mother and child an aura of calm. Neurotoxins churned from being overly-stressed could be just as dangerous to a telepathic infant mind as outside dangers such as predators.
"I've got you babe."
Liara's answer grunted in pain, then gave out a full cry as her body tensed and she pushed hard up against Sam's body, hard enough to almost take the breath out of the human.
"That's right, Liara bear down now -the pain is telling your body what to do, flow with it."
Liara cried out once more and again. She was panting and Sam recalled her lamaze training and guided her wife to breathe in and out with pain of a new life pushing its way out of a very narrow birth canal. Sam felt only a fraction of what Liara was and it was enough to make her want to curl up in the fetal position. But she didn't, she concentrated upon breathing: in and out. In and out.
Liara's cry was enough to make those who had given birth previously recall what it was give birth. How painful it was. And it made Tali nervous. Because after she had the fertilized ova implanted within her womb she had this to look forward to. Great…but she could do it. Just like Liara was now. And in way so was Shepard.
Liara felt the strength leave her body and she melted in her bondmate's arms, panting. The water had churned, small ripples of water lapped up over the lip of the pool. Then she grunted once more.
"That's it….just a bit more….there I can see the crowning. She's almost here." Nedh'bereth encouraged.
"Can't it be done already!?" Liara demanded.
"Sorry Kiddo, that's not how it works." Aethyta said.
"Yeah they come on their own time." Hannah echoed the sentiment. "Now I wasn't in labor with my Sammy for seventy-three hours, but she had me tangled in agony for a good ten hours before she decided to crown."
"MOM! Not helping!" Sam frowned at her mother, momentarily telling herself to scold her mother for using her childhood nickname out loud where everyone had heard it.
Liara howled. Her breath was rasping and she screamed again.
"Here! Here she is!" Nedh'bereth cooed. And then with an odd feeling slup-slip Benezia Shepard-T'Soni made her appearance. Still underwater there was no cry. Nedh'bereth pointed her chin towards Aethyta, "Care to cut the cord."
The Matriarch nodded eagerly, then shifted in the pool to take the sanitized scalpel and proceeded to carefully cut the umbilical-cord.
Liara was still panting heavily but anxious to see her baby as did Sam. Lifting the babe up out of the water, Benezia sputtered out water, and took her first breath of true air and burbled but did not cry out. Liara wept in seeing her daughter. Alive. She was alive! Liara could feel fluttering pounding heart against her skin. Sam leaned in her own eyes streaming with wonder and amazement. And she fell in love all over again. The pool had washed away all the purple blood.
"Hi there." Sam softly cooed. She reached out with a gentle forefinger and stroked the microscales. "I'm your Ada…Mamma." She whispered. "Mommy and I are so happy to see you, baby." she shifted just a little to place a kiss on the very tiny blue scalp.
Liara had done so as well. "Naneth loves you baby-girl." She softly whispered then tensed. "Your sister…is coming." she gritted out.
"Quickly then, we have little time." Nedh'bereth commanded. She nodded towards Tali "Hand me the blanket that is on stool next to you Tali." The quarian did so without hesitation, Nedh'bereth wrapped the tiny little body in a blanket. Carefully holding the babe's neck she handed the infant over to Tali's waiting arms. Gingerly the young woman cradled the newborn to her chest; Zia fussed a little but settled, she could still feel her parents' presence. The bond was still there but like an after image of lighting against closed eyelids.
Tali for her parted started to sing in a very soft tone a quarrian lullaby. Which brought a smile to those who had heard it.
"You're a natural." Garrus said proudly almost boasting on his wife's behalf. Then to the child he said. "That's Aunty Tali. I'm Uncle Garrus. And we'll always look out for you. And who knows you may have little hybrid quarian-turian cousins."
"Zia is less than a minute old. Garrus she has no idea what you're talking about." Sam scoffed
"Hey just give her time. Considering who her mothers are it's just a matter of time."
"Zia?" Aethyta raised a non-eyebrow.
"We can't very well call her Nezzy can we?" Liara said panting into her pain.
"Good point." The Matriarch nodded in agreement.
Faces became more concerned but it was Nedh'bereth expression that they should have focused on. She seemed amused.
"I'll be."
Liara groaned this pain was almost worse than it had been with Zia. But muscles were still very tender despite her uterus being fully dilated. Her breathing came in hiccups, her muscles ached and she was so tired…
She cried out a hoarse scream. Her grip on Sam tightened and left bruises upon bruises. In response to her mother's distress Zia began to fuss, but was rocked by Tali trying to reassure the babe that everything was going to be okay once her sister came. She continued to sing her lullaby soothing her precious charge.
There was less than two minutes between the delivery of the two infants but to Liara if felt like two decades. This time it was Hannah who cut the cord. Honored to have done so for her name sake and try as she might she couldn't stop the happy tears slipping down her cheeks, especially watching her daughter greet her newest granddaughter with such remarkable tenderness. As she had with Zia, Sam kissed little Hannah or Han as she was nick-named.
As with Zia, Han was bundled up in the softest swaddling cloths and handed to Garrus to hold, he was awkward at first but then he calmed his nerves. "I might was well get used to this, if I'm going to be a father." he said trying to keep his flanging voice in a low purr that he knew turian babies responded favorably to. Apparently so did asari infants.
Sam graced the turian with a warm grin she felt the same way. Sure she could field-strip a heavy gun, clean it and reassemble it under a minute. Jump feet-first into the muck from a high orbital drop and charge ahead into a hot zone, but care for a teeny-tiny baby or babies well that was…intimidating and more foreboding than the first day of N7 training.
Liara gave a sound of discomfort while her body rid itself of the placenta, nearly exhausting whatever energy her body held. Nedh'bereth drew the Spectre's attention by calling out her name formally. "Samantha, take your bondmate to the cleansing pools so that she might be fresh when she cradles your daughters."
Without protest, Sam obeyed. She took Liara's weary body gently into her arms and stood up and moved through waist high waters—stained a pale lilac purple from the blood of the birthing. Liara pressed her body warmly against her wife's, grateful for the strength on offer.
"You are amazing." Sam uttered reverently as she carried precious cargo to a new cleaning pool. There she lowered Liara into the new pool, making sure she was comfortable before retrieving the conditioning soaps that exfoliated the microscales of Liara's flesh and enriching oils.
While Sam tended to Liara, Nedh'bereth and Chakwas checked-over the twins while they were still held in the Trusted arms. Smiles formed on both physicians' faces: the children were…
"…How are they?" Liara called out as Sam carried her over to the warmth of a bed that was nestled in the far corner of the birthing-chambers.
"Perfectly healthy." It was Chakwas who answered.
"Their hearts?" Sam pressed. The question was not without motivation; Secura had perished not simply because of the trauma Liara had suffered at the hands the Talon assassin. Secura suffered from a heart infarction-the tiny undeveloped organ simply couldn't cope with the trauma of that day.
"They are healthy." This time it was Nedh'bereth who gave the answer. "I am well aware of-the difficulty Secura suffered. I assure you both that Benezia and Hannah's hearts are hail and hearty."
Gingerly Garrus and Tali surrendered their precious charges, into eager arms now that Liara was nestled in the warmth of the 'nesting bed.' Almost as if in anticipation the twins fussed letting their own eagerness be well known. The Trusteds bent down and placed tender kisses on the babe they held. Tali even lifted her face-shield and gave a tender kiss on the tiny brow. When she looked up to see several astonished faces staring at her she smiled. A rare sight to behold to be sure. Not in Tali smiling but actually seeing it rather than hearing such an expression in the voice or body stance.
"It will be so worth it." Of course she meant the illness she would suffer for exposing herself to the shared air of the birthing chambers. However the illness would be mitigated by the fact that the birthing chambers were nearly as sanitary as a clean room without actually being one.
Hannah…the elder likewise placed a kiss on her daughter's brow—something she hadn't done since her daughter was a child. This astonished Sam to the very core of her soul. Mom was never so very open about her emotions even if it were just the two of them in earshot.
"I am so proud of you." It was Mom speak for 'I love you.' This was more normal and more comfortable for both of them. 'I'm proud of you' was something Hannah could say within public without coming across as overly emotional—something to be condescended.
To this day human women still suffered such stigma if they uttered 'I love you' out loud as being too soft-hearted and weak. Yet if a man were to say those three little words: 'I love you' to his spouse and especially his children others would say he was such a good-caring -family man. Something to be praised.
"You did good Little Wing." Aethyta pressed her forehead to her daughter's. Then she did the same to Sam which shocked the Spectre even more than her mother's kiss. "Yeah, you're finally worthy of my girl." she winked one brown eye.
To Hannah the elder she said: "How about you and I toss some clothes on and then toss back a few glasses of Sarrice Ice Brandy toasting to our granddaughters?"
"Ooohh! Sounds like a date to me."
"That's the idea babe." The matriarch flashed a very flirty grin. Together the two elder women bid their farewells and started for the door. "We'll see you four tomorrow." the matriarch tossed over her shoulder.
Liara and Sam stared after the departing women opened mouthed.
"Did your moms just…" Garrus asked.
"I don't think it's our business if they are." Tali said softly.
"No." Sam shook her head vehemently. "No. No…its just…banter. Aethyta is a bartender. She's uses harmless flirtations as a tool. It sells more booze. Hell she told me once when I went to Eternity: 'What can I get you babe? And don't say sex. I just cleaned the bar.'"
"You don't know my Arda." Liara uttered. "She can be very persistent when she wants to be." She sucked in a bit of breath as she felt Han nuzzle against her breast beginning to suckle.
In her arms Zia started to try the same with Sam, who frowned. "Ah baby I'm so sorry you're barking up the wrong tree. Mamma can't…"
Tali softly pulled Garrus aside and started for the door through which Aethyta and Hannah had vanished. In her eyes were the unspoken words in the secret language that all married couples share. Oftentimes words were simply not necessary. Entire conversations could be shared (even without a mental bond) without a word being uttered'
Tali: 'This isn't for our eyes.'
Garrus: You're right. Besides you have to get back in your suit. Not that I mind gazing at that beautiful body of yours. But I'm not willing to risk your health.
Tali: I'm fine!
Garrus: Really?
Tali: SNEEZE.
Garrus: Ah-ha
Back in the birthing chambers Nedh'bereth addressed Sam. "I can actually aid you if you wish to nurse your daughters, Samantha."
When Sam looked up with questioning eyes the elder asari began to explain.
"As Nedh'bereth my biotics are particularly attuned to connect to nerve-endings they must be to ease the birthing processes should there be any complications. They also aid Ardas to connect to their daughters. However because the soul-bond I need not need to connect you to your daughters, your soul-bond has already made such connections.
"My abilities allow me to stimulate your mammary glands to lactate. I have done this several times for the mammalian females—and of course other asari so that they can share in this intimate act of motherhood."
Sam opened her mouth then closed it then opened it once more. "I…ah…need to make a rain check on that. Believe me I don't want to. I want to be that close to my daughters. But I'll be going a very dangerous mission in a few short days." She didn't add 'I might not be coming back.' She didn't need to. Everyone in the room knew it.
Sam looked down to her firstborn, who was still seeking her first meal. Sam became more dismayed that she could not provide such a very simple thing for her child. All she could do was to offer a pacifying fingertip and that wasn't enough. The suckling action wasn't going to fill an empty belly.
"I understand." Nedh'bereth said sympathetically which only serve to add to the guilt brooding within Sam.
'Melethril, you haven't failed our daughters. You haven't. I'll see to Zia's needs soon. Just keep her preoccupied.'
Sam mutely nodded trying to make herself believe in her wife's words. She looked down at the wide blue eyes of her daughter and found herself smiling.
"Mamma has to go a way for a little while. I have to go stop some monsters, but when I get back I promise I'll be able to give you what you need. Until then you'll just have to take turns with your sister. Okay? Of course, we'll get bottles ready too. Probably before then, cuz' your Atardi will be helping to take care of you and your sister."
It was her imagination of course but Sam imagined she saw full understanding in her daughter's eyes.
When she looked up to Liara, she saw her bondmate's eyes filled with warm tears, her smile was equally warm.
"You are incredible." Liara uttered.
"I should be the one thanking you. And you're the remarkable one. Look at them! They are amazing!" Sam beamed in pride. And it dawned on her that today…April 11…her actual birthday Sam had completely forgotten what day it was outside that fact her daughters were making their appearance. Today she had just become a family woman.
It was a good day!