In Love and War
Chapter Twenty-Five – Banquet and Dads
Before 2100, Shepard and her crew piled into the cockpit waiting for Anderson's signal. Joker nervously scratched his short beard, "Come on, come on. Turn green for me, baby!" Shepard could see a faint perspiration line forming on his forehead, and she wasn't sure if it was from so many people crowding him or his own nervousness.
Garrus huffed standing by the entrance of the cockpit, "They just don't this, Shepard! Not sending a fleet is one thing, but grounding a Spectre's ship? Never happened before."
"Yeah, that's because Udina never happened before." Ashley was still not letting it go.
2100 on the dot, the light turned green. Joker promptly hit the button to release the docking clamps, earning a round of cheers from the people behind him.
Speeding toward Ilos, the Normandy was bustling with activities of preparation. Shepard ran through every department to talk with everyone about their tasks and made plans for the final confrontation with Saren. She also picked a few people to add to the cooking detail. Anderson's provisions had turned out to be fresh meat, vegetables, fruits and all sorts of great food items to make a banquet with. Shepard thanked Anderson silently, and she knew that the Captain still considered the Normandy's crew his as much as Shepard's. When everything was set in motion, Shepard walked to the medical lab to find Liara. The med bay was buzzing with activities as Dr. Chakwas directed Pierce and the whole medical team to pack field packs and prep the med bay surgical equipment for a major battle.
Shepard found Liara by her terminal busily typing something. "Hey, Liara. How are you doing?" Shepard walked over and sat next to Liara.
Liara quickly finished her typing and paid full attention to the Commander. "Emily Wong sent me a message after the Normandy took off from the Citadel." Liara took Shepard's hands into her own and held them possessively. "Thanks to your meticulous planning, the meeting with the Council was broadcasted on all major Council worlds. And to top it off, your exclusive interview with Emily Wong detailing the Battle Above Noveria was aired after her report of the Council meeting. Shepard, what can I ever do to repay you for what you did for my mother."
"You're here with me, aren't you?" Shepard gave the asari a big grin. "So what does Emily Wong want from you?"
"She knows we are going after Saren, and she asks me to update her on our progress. She knows you will be very busy and asked me instead. I agreed to share information that is not classified." Liara looked at Shepard for approval. "We may be facing the biggest threat the galaxy has ever seen, but most people do not even know it. Watching what you have achieved at the meeting with the Council, I think we need to take informing the public into our own hands."
"Wow, I'd never pegged you as such a renegade, Liara." Shepard smiled, "But I like your idea. People have the right to know."
The evening before the Normandy reached Ilos, something happened that had never happened on this ship, a very large banquet. Food was not squeezed out of old packages or vacuum storage crates. Every dish was made with fresh ingredients and hot off the stove or oven. The crew had put the tables in the mess hall into a long picnic table and lined up chairs and crates to form a long bench on either side of the table. It was an informal dinner, and regardless of rank, race or legion, everyone was in the same Normandy family.
Shepard was laughing at something Wrex was telling to her. "I was a bad ass ever since I was a pup. There was this kid from another tribe, his father was visiting with my father. He was a mean kid and always picked on me. So one day I talked him into walking with me outside of our compound to play. He proposed a competition to see who can toss grenades the furthest. The loser has to offer his favorite varren pet to the winner as a meal."
"I'm sure you won the competition, Wrex. I've seen your throwing arm." Shepard loved every story Wrex had shared with her.
"Well, I didn't always have it. I was very young and that kid was older than me and bigger. So he said we go on three. When he counted to three, I stuck a grenade in his pants and he took off running and screaming for someone to get the grenade off him."
Shepard laughed with her eyes wide open. "What happened then?"
"I won the game since he ran very far before the grenade exploded on his ass, and his grenade never left his hand." Wrex said casually.
"What happened to him?" Shepard was almost afraid to ask.
"He got hurt but recovered later. He didn't tell his father what happened because he was ashamed to have let a younger kid trick him." Wrex laughed, "He should have run into me and sat his ass on my face instead. Guess he wasn't that smart, his varren was tasty though."
Shepard laughed loudly again. Joker chimed in, "It always gets me when I think krogans can just regenerate like that." He was enjoying the mashed potatoes, "Wish I had some of those genes."
Liara was too busy asking Ashley what all these dishes were to pay attention to anyone else. Every time she asked Ashley about a dish, Ashley put some on Liara's plate, "You've gotta try this, it's grilled chicken. Oh, try this, it's beef roast."
Liara stared at the mushy stuff on Joker's plate, "And what is that?"
Ashley dropped a big serving spoon full of mashed potatoes on Liara's plate, "It's mashed potatoes, it's really good when it's fresh like this."
Liara was now staring at a heap of food in different colors and texture on her plate, and she was trying to decide which one to try first. Garrus put some long green stem-like things on her plate, "Try these, I love them. They're called asparagus. I've had them in one of the Earth food restaurants. They're really good." He was feeding Mimi small grilled chicken bits he has patiently cut for her, and the cat is chewing loudly sitting on the table between Garrus and Liara.
"Garrus, I thought you couldn't have human food." Tali asked as she drank the same specially purified dextro drinks as Garrus.
"They had to pulverize them for me and put dextro additives, but they still tasted delicious!" Garrus had never turned down a drink offered or a taste of non-turian food even if it meant he might have a rash the next day. "We don't get nutrition unless we eat turian food, but these taste really good. You should try them, Liara."
By the time Liara finished the food on her plate, she was completely stuffed but there were still so many kinds of dishes she hadn't tried. She turned to Shepard, "I had no idea there were so many kinds of dishes in Earth cuisine as I have not visited Earth or lived with humans before."
Shepard enjoyed watching Liara having so much fun. "Honey, you haven't seen anything yet. We have so many kinds of cuisines on Earth, many kinds of European cuisines, Mexican, Islanders, Chinese…we will have to try them when we visit Earth." Shepard talked loudly so that Liara could hear her across the table.
Joker put a hand up. "Wait a minute, did you just call her Honey?"
Shepard stopped herself and looked at Joker, "I did?"
"Yes, Commander. You most certainly did. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it. Remind me to lend you a vid that I think you two will enjoy before, you know, doing it. It's called Vaenia." Shepard hit Joker with a pea.
Doctor Chakwas came over to Shepard with a bottle and a glass, "Commander, I would like to share a glass of Serrice Ice Brandy with you and thank you for such a wonderful feast." The doctor raised her glass.
Shepard turned around and let the doctor pour some brandy into her glass. "Well, we should thank Captain Anderson for this."
Dr. Chakwas nodded and smiled at Shepard, "Commander, any words of wisdom to share before we throw ourselves into the fire?"
Shepard thought for a moment and she stood up. Everyone stopped talking and turned their attention to their Commander. "Well, if there was any time to say something, I guess this is it." Shepard cleared her throat, "I know we haven't been together for long, but it feels like we're a big family already. We watch each other's backs in the field, we risk our own lives to protect one another, and we work, fight and bleed together, and that makes us a family on a spaceship." She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.
"And the Normandy carries us through thick battles, holds us together when she is limping on one thruster with only one core working, she carries us even when nobody but us wants to go up against impossible odds because we know what's at stake here, and that makes her our home." Shepard looked at the faces around the table; feeling tears at the corners of her eyes. "Dr. Chakwas is right. We might be throwing ourselves into the toughest and fieriest battle any of us have ever seen. But we will get through it because we are stronger as one, and the Normandy will help us through it." Shepard raised her glass to eye level, "To victory!"
"To victory!" her crew bellowed in unison. Joker shouted, "And nobody touches the Normandy but me!" The crowd laughed.
Shepard took Liara's hand when most of the crew had left the table, "Would you like to spend the night with me?" She whispered to Liara. The asari had hoped Shepard would ask. When they left the table, Garrus, Wrex and Ashley were still playing a drinking game that nobody wanted to back out of.
Shepard walked to her cabin with Liara holding Mimi T'Soni in her arms. The cat had fallen into a deep food coma and she was sleeping soundly even when Liara put her down on Shepard's sofa.
Shepard and Liara took off their clothes and laid in bed in each other's arms. "Shepard, I wanted to tell you that I feel at peace even knowing what we are walking into. As long as I have you by my side, I am not afraid." Liara brushed her fingers lightly on Shepard's cheek.
Shepard felt content, and after thinking for a moment, she went to her drawer and pulled out the scarf Benezia had left with her to keep for Liara. She returned to bed and showed the asari the scarf. "Liara, I think it's time I gave you this."
Liara looked at the scarf, puzzled, "A scarf?"
"Your mother gave this to me on Noveria after you left. She asked me to give it to you when you're ready to receive it. I think you're ready." She handed the scarf to Liara, and watched her examine it.
"Shepard, please explain why my mother left me a scarf." Liara sat up in bed.
"It'd probably be better if I showed you." Shepard took Liara's hands and gave her a nod. Liara understood the offer and turned her eyes black and entered Shepard's mind.
On top of the platform, Matriarch Benezia unfolded a piece of fabric that was the size of a small scarf from her sleeve and presented it to Shepard.
"When Liara's sorrow from her loss lightens and she is fully under your protection, please give her this. This is from a shroud uncovered in a very ancient temple of our goddess. It holds immeasurable value to me as it's the only thing I have left of Liara's father."
Liara's eyes suddenly returned to blue. Shocked by the news, she stared at Shepard, not knowing what to say. Then she looked at the scarf again in her hand. This was my father's. She gave it to my mother, she must have loved my mother. Did she love me as well? Why did Benezia want nothing to do with my father? "Did…did my mother say her…my father's name?" Her voice was mere a whisper.
"I'm sorry. She didn't." The geth ships were at their doorsteps; there just wasn't time for that conversation. "I'm really sorry, Liara."
"No, Shepard. It was not your fault. My mother never wanted to tell me, I doubt she would have told you even if you had asked." Liara lowered her head remembering the old wound that probably would never heal now that Benezia was gone, as the true identity of her father might as well had vanished with her. "What if she, my father, is alive but does not want to know me?"
Shepard saw the deep sorrow in Liara's eyes, she wrapped her arms around the asari, pulled her close so that their bodies molded into each other. She cupped her hand on the asari's face. "How could anybody not want to know you? If your father knew just ten percent of who you are and what you've accomplished, she would love you and wish she'd never left."
"Shepard, you forget, I am a pureblood. My father may be ashamed of that, of me." Liara's tears started to fall.
Shepard kissed her face and wiped the tears away. "If she's that much of a jerk, when we find her, I'll pull her head out of her ass and make her look at how amazing you are. Well, I'll ask her to wash her face first."
Liara laughed through the tears. "IF we can find her."
"Nothing is impossible. You've helped me find Saren when nobody knew how." She let her suggestion sink in a little, "After we take down Saren, I'll help you find her, anyway I can. I promise." She kissed Liara on the cheek again where the tears were drying. "Let me show you something else."
"Shepard, I could see that you care for my daughter." Matriarch Benezia tested.
"Deeply." Shepard said without hesitation.
"Do you wish to protect her under any circumstances?" The Matriarch wanted to be certain of this.
"With every ounce of my being. I would give my own life to protect her." Shepard again responded quickly.
"Would you stand by her side when she needs your strength?"
"Gladly."
"Would you make and keep her happy?"
"If I know any way to achieve that, I will do whatever it takes."
"Would you be willing to swear it?" the Matriarch pressed again.
"On my honor as an Alliance Officer, a Spectre and as a human being."
Both Benezia's persistence and Shepard's steadfast answers moved Liara deeply. She looked down at the scarf again and she couldn't help but let a flicker of hope shine through her mind. The love reflected in her mother's words for her and her father amplified that hope, and the usual hurt she felt when she thought about her father was greatly lessened. "Shepard, share another story about your father with me." Liara loved every story Shepard had told her about her father and grandmother. It had become the favorite topic of comfort for her.
"Haven't I told you everything about him already?" She settled against the pillows and invited Liara into her arm. "Well, have I told you how he showed me what flying feels like?"
Liara shook her head and smiled in anticipation. "I would like to hear that very much."
Shepard smiled back and she gave the asari a light kiss on her forehead. "As you know, I grew up on ships traveling through space at high speeds. When I was 6, we spent our shore leave with dad's family on Earth. He took me to a luscious meadow to show me the plants, bugs and his favorite hiding place when he was little. A shuttle flew over us, and I stared at it thinking it was going very fast. My dad asked me 'would you like to feel what flying feels like?' He put me over his shoulders so that I could sit up on top of him. He held my hands out like spreading wings and he started to run. When everything slows down and becomes blurry, you can only feel your face cutting through the wind and the smell of the meadow rushing into your nose…" Shepard shook her head, "There isn't anything that feels freer. All parents should do that with their 6-year old, I tell ya!"
Liara giggled at Shepard's delightful voice as she looked up at the human's face. It was flushed from the exciting memory and her lips were bright red. Liara could feel the warmth from the human's breath and the smile from those lips was mesmerizing. Liara leaned in and touched the red lips with her lush blue ones, and the Commander's words turned into moans that were most certainly not intelligible. Liara rolled on top of Shepard, she wanted to touch every inch of the human's body, starting with those red lips and making her way down. She wanted to explore every sensory input spot on the human not only based on the data she researched after their last union, but she wanted to find them on her own by observing Shepard's reactions to her lips and her tongue.
Shepard was happy to let Liara take the lead as she savored the reaction her own body made to every little tease until she couldn't stay still anymore. She held Liara's shoulders as her body shook from the pleasure and she raised her head to reach for the asari. But Liara had her own plans. She pushed Shepard back down, "Patience, Commander." She whispered and continued her tracks through the human's mid-section and onto the journey below.
"Liara, please!" Shepard begged in between deep breathing and sudden jolts of her body, reacting very strongly to Liara's merciless tongue and gentle teeth.
"Please what, Shepard?" Liara didn't stop her teasing.
"Please, please, just please." A small chuckle escaped Liara. She loved this moment and she didn't want it to end. As she replaced her tongue with her fingers, Shepard arched her back off the bed.
"Oh, god!" That earned a giggle from Liara.
She crawled up and whispered, "Embrace eternity."
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and PMs. All comments, reviews, suggestions and PMs are welcome.