Riley opened her eyes and they slowly began to focus on her surroundings. The faux sun was shining through the blinds that covered the windows in her room and she could faintly hear the gentle murmurs of her parents in another part of the penthouse. Throwing off the covers to her bed she jumped up and pushed the button that pulled the blinds apart and opened the glass door leading to the balcony attached to her room. There wasn't a crispness in the morning air like she would have experienced on Earth, and everything from the sky to the sun and the birds in it were holo-projections, but she still inhaled the air around her and felt suddenly alive.

She thought she remembered what happened during the night and what Liara had shared with her, a small smile crept across her gentle face and then just as quickly faded. What if it was just a dream? But, it felt so real. I saw where Momma grew up and I even remember the smell of that wonderful library, and what about that pretty asari lady, was that Momma's Mother? Riley thought on her shared experience with Liara while watching the skycars pass overhead. The meld, if it was even real and not a dream, was an odd feeling for certain. The ability to actually know how another person felt, without an inkling of doubt was more than Riley expected.

She turned and quickly moved to her desk and looked at the computer, "March 28," she softly spoke to herself, "Two more weeks until my birthday. And Mommy's birthday! Mommy and I are going to get a birthday together!" She squealed and clasped her hands.

Riley hastily made her bed, ran from the room and down the hall, bursting with energy towards the kitchen where she saw her Momma sitting at the counter, while her Mother made breakfast. The asari startled a bit and chirped as Riley popped up next to her, wrapping her arms around her and giving her the tightest hug she'd ever felt the girl give. Jane looked to see what was going on and there wrapped around her bond mate was her daughter, looking more vibrant than she'd ever seen the girl look before. Her eyes darted to Liara and when she caught her look, she could see joy at the change in their daughter reflected in Liara's deep blue eyes. Liara merely shrugged her shoulders and smiled broadly, taking in the sudden attention from the little girl.

Riley eventually let go, met her Momma's eyes and smiled, then climbed up and sat on the stool.

"Hey RJ. What's up?," Jane turned back to the pan in front of her and turned the eggs and the heat off so she could walk away and pulled the girl into her arms.

Riley grinned as she fell into her Mother's embrace, "Two things."

Liara smiled at the girls excitement, curious. All this energy she has, could this be because of the meld? Taking a sip from her mug she nodded, "What two things are exciting you Little Star? We have never seen you quite so happy."

Riley blushed a tad and pulled gently away from Jane. She didn't want to ruin her feeling and the bond she shared with her Momma by speaking about it, and most importantly, she didn't want to hurt Jane's feelings. In a small voice, "Just, last night Momma."

Jane looked between the two and smiled at her daughter, tilting her head to the asari, "It's okay RJ to have a bond with your Momma. It doesn't hurt my feelings, I want you two to be close and to share."

Riley shyly smiled back and nodded, "Okay Mommy." Trusting that what her Mother said was the truth, she looked back at Liara, "I love you Momma. A whole lot."

Liara smiled and dipped her head, "And I love you, a whole lot too."

Riley let out an embarrassed giggle and nodded, "I know."

Liara laughed, "That is good." She reached out and caressed her daughters cheek, "It is a very good thing to know. We can talk more later, that is, if you would like."

Riley looked at Jane for reassurance and the soldier smiled, "It's okay RJ. I promise."

Riley nodded again, "Okay Momma."

Riley looked at Liara's mug and her big eyes met Liara's and smiled. The asari smiled back and handed the girl her mug as Riley took a sip and smacked her lips, "Mmmm."

Jane turned and grabbed a glass from the cupboard, filled it with milk and set it in front of her daughter, "You're too young for coffee, it'll stunt your growth."

Liara's eyes got big as she looked at Jane, "Is that true?"

Jane's eyes twinkled, "I should be three inches taller, what does that tell you?"

Liara frowned pulling the mug further from the little girl.

Jane and Riley laughed.

As they calmed and Jane turned back to making breakfast Riley looked up, "Uhm, another thing is," looking at Jane as she worked in the kitchen, "It's going to be our birthday soon Mommy, and we get to be together this time."

Jane's expression changed. She turned and looked over at the calendar on the wall and realized that her daughter was correct, "That's right!" Quickly moving to the counter, she lifted the girl in her arms and swung her around laughing, then set her gently back down. "You know, I can't remember the last time I celebrated my birthday," she chuckled embarrassingly, "it seems like I'm always on some mission or another," She paused, realizing that her daughter hadn't celebrated hers much either, "but this year, things are going to be different. For both of us. We're going to throw a party for the Shepard girls!"

Liara, smiled and gently corrected, "The T'Soni-Shepard girls."

Jane looked at her bond mate and their eyes met. This was their family and she loved them dearly. She'd do anything for them now and for the first time, she relaxed into the role of Mother and protector. This was her chance to make it different for her girl, a chance to make some memories, and she wasn't going to fail this year.

Jane spoke animatedly, "Yes, the T'Soni-Shepard girls. I'm thinking that we'll have a big party, with streamers and balloons, and all of our friends and family. What do you think Momma?"

Liara couldn't help but smile at the two in front of her, "That sounds fabulous and it will be my first time celebrating a birthday as well."

Riley looked at Liara puzzled, "Don't asari have birthday parties Momma?"

"Every fifty years there is a celebration of sorts, but it is generally a very ritualistic ceremony and quite boring." Picking up her mug, she took a small sip and smiled at the two sets of eyes looking at her and their matching smiles, "What?"

Jane shook her head, "Nothing, not a thing," Looking at her daughter, "So then we'll have to have a birthday party for all three of us."

Riley giggled, "Yeah!"

Liara shook her head, "I do not need a party. I have far many more years to celebrate than either of you and I would rather enjoy the time I have with my first two loves."

Jane sighed, "Liara, where were you on your one-hundredth birthday celebration?"

Liara looked up and shrugged, "I think I was on Afkarak on a dig."

"And on your fiftieth?" Jane asked.

Liara rolled her eyes, "I had just graduated from University and was on my way to Shrikasa for my first field expedition."

Jane looked at Riley looking at Liara and then she looked back at her bond mate, "So, even within your own culture, you haven't celebrated a birthday at all? Ever?"

"I suppose if you put it like that, then no, I have not celebrated my birth." She smirked, "But Celebrating a birth is hardly for the individual considering they have no real choice in the matter of being born or not. It is purely for the parents. So I shall celebrate the birth of my daughter and my spouse."

Riley frowned and Jane rolled her eyes, "Then I'll also celebrate the birth of my daughter and of my spouse. How 'bout you RJ?"

Riley looked between them, "I think that maybe I should celebrate the birth of my Momma and my Mommy."

"Good answer." Jane piped in.

Riley continued, not letting Liara off the hook so easily, "Momma, I think that since we have birthday's every year, you should have one too."

Liara tilted her head, "Oh, really?"

Riley nodded, "Yes. It should be a rule. If you're a Shepard, then you have to have a birthday party."

Jane looked at Liara, "No argument here."

Liara looked between them both, "There is one problem," Both humans frowned when they looked at her, "I do not know when I was born. I mean, I know the year, but the date, is a mystery."

Riley inhaled in surprise, "Is that true Momma?"

Liara nodded solemnly, "That is true."

Jane smirked, "So, was it recorded somewhere? Maybe there's someone who will remember?"

Liara shrugged, "Honestly? I do not know. The celebration of a child's birth is not something the asari practice and it tends to be a very private affair shared solely by the mother, the father and their parents." Liara looked down trying to hide her emotion at the thought that the day her own daughters come into the world, she will not have her mother there to share in the celebration.

Jane took Liara's mug from her and set it down, then took both of the asari's hands in her own, "Then it's time for a small excursion to Thessia to see what we can find."

Riley saw the gesture and she put her hands over the ones on the counter in front of her, "We're not alone anymore Momma. We have each other now."

Liara looked between her daughter and her bond mate, "You are correct, we are not alone and I cannot imagine not having both of you here." Then to Jane, "Do you really mean for us to see Thessia?"

"Absolutely." She squeezed Liara's hands in her own, "We are your family and because we're human and you're asari means that we have that much more culture. Our little clan is rich with history, so let's go learn something about being asari. Who better to teach us than an expert archaeologist? We can even take Nana and Papa, I'm sure they'd be able to get some time away." Jane smiled, "And besides, that's what I want for my birthday present anyway. I want to spend my birthday with both my ladies, doing something fun together and learning more about our family."

Liara giggled, "Okay, okay," Then a serious look crossed her face, "Wait, we get birthday presents?"

Riley nodded exuberantly, "Uh huh."

The asari smirked as she looked at them both out of the corner of her eye, "Then I should get one hundred and six birthday presents to make up for time lost." She said before taking a sip from her mug.

Both Riley and Jane laugh aloud and Jane paused, "Well, if there's one hundred and six things you want, I'll do my best to get them for you."

Jane smiled and returned to the pan sitting on the stove, "But, first things first. Breakfast."

Riley moved from her chair into Liara's lap and snuggled against her and met blue eyes. She quietly spoke, "Momma, I was wondering if maybe, on my birthday, you could meld with me again?"

Liara wrapped her arms around her daughter and chuckled, "Yes, of course, and not just on your birthdays Little Star. I am yours, here for you always and whenever you need me."

Riley blushed and nodded, looking down at her hands in her lap.

Liara was concerned at Riley's display of shyness when it came to melding, an act that the asari likely take for granted, "Melding is very special to you, I can see this. However, that does not mean that we only do it on special occasions. The asari share between themselves all the time. It is like talking, but a different form of it."

Riley looked up, "That's what Kallah said, but she told me it's a weakness. She's wrong though Momma. Having to rely on a meld to know without a doubt that you are loved isn't a bad thing at all," Riley felt the most confident and alive than she'd ever felt, "I think it's wonderful."

Liara was surprised to hear that Kallah and Riley had talked about melding. It became quite clear that her daughter put a great deal of weight into the act, even going so far as to labeling as a form of love but she didn't need to hear her daughter admit to that thought, she could see it in the girls eyes. She realized yet again, how much weight Riley put into this act among the asari and she knew that she was responsible for helping to create this overwhelming feeling in the girl by not being more open with her from the start of their relationship. She held her daughter a bit tighter, "A Momma's job is to always share with her child. Always. So, whenever you need reassurance and need to feel safe, you come to me and not just on special occasions, okay?"

Riley nodded slightly, "Okay."

Liara tilted her head down to catch her daughters eyes with her own, "Promise?"

Riley looked up and met Liara's blue eyes, "I promise."

"I do not ever want you to doubt my love for you. Ever." She pulled Riley close and tucked the girls head under her chin, "Ever."