Dedicated to lazykumo who gave me the prompt for this one a looooooong time ago. Thanks so much, lazykumo for your continued feedback and support (and patience, lol)! I hope I didn't butcher your idea! Sorry if you hadn't pictured it to be majorly fluffy X)

Context: The Normandy after the Presidium commitment scene in ME3

~.~.~

Liara laced her arms around Shepard's waist from behind. She gently took the lobe of the commander's ear between her lips and nibbled, making her bondmate breathe out a soft laugh. Liara grinned. Only she knew that the great, powerful, legendary Commander Shepard was ticklish in that spot.

"Hey!" Shepard pretended to protest in a whisper.

Liara merely nuzzled into the crook of the commander's neck in response. She kissed her jaw until Shepard turned to meet her lips for a brief kiss. They smiled as they parted, Shepard returning her gaze out the port observation deck on the Normandy. Liara swayed slightly, making them both move to an inaudible rhythm.

Shepard closed her eyes, savoring the moment. "Goddess, I love you, Liara."

Liara stopped breathing. That seemed to be the effect those words always had on her. The only thing that seemed to allow her to breathe again was the desire to respond. "I love you too, Shepard. So much."

"How much?" Shepard smiled playfully at her out of the corner of her eye, peering back a little.

Liara returned her smile and planted a kiss on her nearest cheekbone. "Galaxies. How much do you love me?" she asked, fulfilling her end of the game.

"Stars," Shepard said without hesitation. She turned slightly to kiss Liara and pulled the asari in front of her. Liara reached for Shepard's hair in the back, reveling in the feel of the silky strands gliding through her fingers as the commander marveled at the feel of Liara's crest in return. Shepard guided them toward the large window, pressing Liara against it. She dipped slightly to trace her lips lightly along the curve of Liara's neck back and forth, enjoying the soft wisps of biotics that began to surround them.

The commander smiled on her asari's neck as they fell into each other's consciousness. Liara no longer bothered to ask or to prepare Shepard for their melds. There was no point. Enough pieces of each bondmate had fallen into and never left the other that it would be like asking permission to enter your own home. Shepard had long ago given Liara the key. It thrilled the human that she was so trusted and loved in return.

They both sighed softly at feeling whole and complete once again. Liara felt a twitch in Shepard's mind—a question.

What is it? Liara asked her as she returned to pulling an ear between her lips to her bondmate's delight.

Shepard chuckled. Actually I was wondering how exactly the meld works so that we can understand each other like this without a translator.

Liara smiled and touched her forehead to Shepard's. We are of one mind right now, Shepard. Is it any wonder we understand each other?

Suppose not. Shepard conceded with an answering smile. She tilted her chin forward slightly to take Liara's lips for her own. Can I hear?

Liara pulled away to peer into Shepard's eyes. Scanning them, she saw Shepard wanted it desperately. Goddess, sometimes she's wondered if Shepard could possibly be real. How lucky could one asari be?

My love… she answered, Of course. Knowing what Shepard wanted to hear—perhaps because of the meld, perhaps because they were one even outside of it—she separated them in mind and spirit slightly. She kissed Shepard's forehead to soothe her as she felt the commander lament the loss. Ok, Shepard. This is me. This is what I sound like.

Shepard concentrated, waiting. By not technically hearing Liara speak and not being fully entrenched in her mind, Liara could 'speak' to her without translation coming through. They could simply turn off their translators, but this seemed…better. It was more intimate, more real.

When she heard Liara in her mother tongue, she nearly melted. It was beautiful. As useful and necessary as translators were, she couldn't help resent them a little in that moment. She'd been deprived of hearing Liara's true beauty until now, her rhythm. It was intoxicating.

Liara pulled them back together in the meld.

Shepard kissed her eagerly. Thank you thank you thank you, her thoughts raced. Beautiful.

Liara smiled and kissed her bondmate.

What did you say?

Liara smiled again, kissing up Shepard's neck, following the curve to the tip of her chin before savoring her bottom lip. I said I love you, Shepard. I said I can't imagine a life without you and I never want to.

Shepard melted anew. She hugged Liara close, winding her arms around her tighter. You'll never have to. They held each other in bliss for a moment before she chuckled. You're stuck with me.

Thank the Goddess. Liara chuckled back.

Teach me? Shepard asked.

Liara grinned at the idea of teaching Shepard anything other than intel. What would you like to learn?

You know.

Liara did. Ok, Shepard. She pulled away from a full meld once again.

Shepard repeated the words when she heard them.

The maiden crashed against Shepard's lips and back into the Commander's mind fully when she heard Shepard say the most beautiful words in the galaxy in her own tongue. I love you too.

'Bondmate'? Shepard asked next. What does that sound like? Liara taught her then returned eagerly once again upon hearing her bondmate address her that way in Asari.

Shepard laughed against her mouth. What about 'Embrace Eternity'?

Liara blushed slightly. Shepard saw and grinned, kissing each lilac cheek as she cupped Liara's chin reverently. She soothed Liara's mind, not knowing why Liara still felt shy at times, but nevertheless enjoying the sight. It's alright. It's just you and me. Please tell me, she caressed her bondmate's cheek tenderly. Closing her eyes to bask in the gentle touch, Liara told her at last. This time it was Shepard that crashed their lips together, feeling a wave of raw love flow with the words as Liara spoke them. Gladly, she responded, caressing Liara's back as she held her in a firm kiss. Hold on. Let me try it aloud.

Liara reluctantly ended the meld, her eyes fading to blue.

"Ok, let's see if I can do this with my tongue instead of my mind."

"Now where have I heard that before?…" Liara teased.

Shepard's eyes widened and her cheeks rouged. "Sheesh!"

"You were asking for it," Liara stuck out her tongue slightly to continue the tease.

Shepard glared, but undermined herself with a smirk. Stepping forward slightly, she turned off Liara's translator then hers. "Ok, let's see. Can you understand me?"

Shaking her head, the asari in front of her merely smiled and gave a slight shrug to indicate she didn't understand what Shepard had said.

"Oh good," Shepard smiled. She brought her closer and gently tapped a finger on Liara's lips to indicate that she should speak. "Talk to me."

Liara blinked and bit her lip in slight confusion. "Shepard? I don't know what to say."

Shepard smiled and said "Goddess, that's beautiful. How do I say 'I love you' again?"

Liara furrowed her brows and frowned slightly. "Love, I don't understand."

Pursing her lips to the side, Shepard pondered how to make her request. Her eyes darted as she thought until they locked with Liara's and she flashed a smile. She stepped near Liara and cupped a cheek, gazing into her eyes with all the adoration and affection she held for this beautiful creature alone. She gave a smile that only the asari in front of her had ever witnessed and said "I love you" though everything else she was doing already said it.

Liara gazed back, her heart hammering and her lungs suddenly feeling empty. "I love you, Shepard."

Shepard's smile broadened. "I rove you, Liara."

Liara's eyes widened and she laughed suddenly. She covered her grin that followed, but the attempt to hide her amusement was in vain. Shepard looked at her puzzled with a small grin in sympathy with Liara's. She turned on their translators. "What's so funny?"

Liara bit her lip before laughing again. "I'm sorry, Shepard. It was just too cute. You said 'I rove you'."

Shepard's grin widened along with her eyes. "I did?" she laughed and rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Ok, clearly we need to work on this. I'd hate to be making love to you one day without the translators and ruin the moment."

Liara tucked her lips in to avoid a renewed fit, but couldn't stop herself. She doubled over in hysterics until her eyes stung and her mouth ached with the strain of laughter. "Oh Goddess, Shepard," she said between fits. "Yes, we had better work on it. I don't think I'll be able to stop laughing until we do."

Shepard grinned back, unable to help it with Liara laughing so hard, but she stepped back and crossed her arms in her asari's favorite—well, second favorite—pose. "Laugh it up, Li. You haven't tried to speak my language yet."

Liara wiped a tear and made an attempt to calm herself. "Chm," she coughed to stifle further laughter and brought Shepard back to her so that the commander was now against the window. "You're right. I'm sorry, but it really was the most adorable thing you've ever done."

"Most would not use the word 'adorable' to describe me," the commander raised a brow.

"'Most' are not bonded to you," Liara grinned still. She looked down to Shepard's lips and pecked them. "I've heard you say 'practice makes perfect'. Perhaps we should follow that doctrine."

Shepard shook her head slightly. "Well, you've certainly given me a boost in confidence."

Liara pressed herself against Shepard, taking her lips for hers once again for a kiss that soon proved to be her commander's undoing. She trailed her bondmate's form as she did so, enjoying the commander's strong arms around her in return, giving her a soft moan in appreciation. Shepard was panting slightly when they finally parted and Liara smiled, pressing her forehead to the commander's. "Feeling more confident, yet?"

"No, my morale is at an all-time low," Shepard laughed slightly. "You better encourage me a bit more."

All else fell out of focus as Liara melded with Shepard. She poured every ounce of adoration into the meld she could before saying Tell me, Shepard. She pulled their connection apart slightly, turned their translators off, and waited. When Shepard spoke next it was aloud as well as in the meld. "I l/rove you, Liara T'Soni."

Liara closed her eyes with a smile to enjoy the sentiment and attempt. Finding Shepard's core again, she placed her hands on the window behind Shepard to trap her there. She hummed happily on Shepard's shoulder. Not quite, Love. You'll have to try again.

Hmmm, Shepard smiled. Someone did once tell me that practice makes perfect.

They sound very wise. Liara grinned on Shepard's neck.

Well, Shepard smirked. She has her moments.

I wouldn't trade this one for anything.

Neither would I. I love you; no matter how I say it, no matter how much I wreck it, please know it.

Liara smiled and gave her bondmate a small peck. I do. We can practice later. For now, show me.

Wrapping her arms around the asari, Shepard smiled as she kissed her bondmate with no translation necessary.