Shepard was leading Liara and her other former crewmen to Alliance Central Operations which led right by the huge Memorial Wall. As they got closer, Shepard realized with horror that the Normandy was still listed on the wall and underneath the ship's name, were the plaques with the names of all the Normandy's crew.
"Lieutenant!" Shepard barked at her assistant. "I thought I told you to get someone to take those names down?"
"Sorry ma'am. There just wasn't any time."
"I want it done now! I don't care if you have to do it yourself!"
"Aye, aye, ma'am!"
So Shepard really thought that I and the rest of the Normandy crew were dead, Liara thought as she located her name. And I don't remember Shepard ever being that surly to those under her command before. She would yell out orders but only in the heat of battle. The rest of the time, she had always been patient and even-tempered with her crew.
Shepard looked at Liara sheepishly.
"Sorry about that. I shouldn't have let them declare anyone dead until we knew something for sure. Until we found something concrete."
"The galaxy is only about 90,000 light years across and you didn't bother to come looking for us?" Liara said teasingly.
"If I had had any clue at all, I would have. I'm sorry."
"That was a joke, Shepard. We assumed that everyone would think that we were dead by this point." Liara saw the name Matriarch Benezia T'Soni above her own and felt a stab of pain and anxiety. It reminded Liara of her mother but it also reminded her that there was something that she needed to do right away. They continued walking.
"My mother's name is up there? She was never in the Alliance and she never served on the Normandy."
"She was a victim of the war as much as anyone else. And she helped us and the Alliance. I thought it was appropriate. I'll have it taken down if it makes you feel uncomfortable."
"No. That was very sweet of you." Liara paused. "Shepard, I need to talk to you about something."
They continued walking until they were right outside the doors to Central Operations. Shepard paused to allow the others to catch up.
"The good news is I know for a fact that Aethyta is still alive and well back on Thessia so hopefully, no more additions to any memorial walls for either of us for a long time." Shepard responded.
Liara smiled, genuinely happy to hear that her father was alive. But her smile faded quickly as she thought about her mother's name again. "I'm very glad to hear that, Shepard, but there is something that I need to talk to you about."
Just then, Serviceman Rodriquez came up to Shepard with a baby on her hip. She bit her lip as she addressed the Admiral.
"Ma'am, I know we aren't supposed to get pregnant while on active duty. Are we going to be in trouble?"
"Good to see you again, Rodriquez. And who is this young cadet?"
"Her name is Raquel and she was born on the Normandy 6 months ago. Those of us who had children are a little apprehensive that we will be demoted or have our pay withheld."
Normally, the Alliance would punish a soldier who became pregnant (or impregnated another) while deployed on active duty, as pregnancy was one hundred percent preventable through modern medicine but these were exceptional circumstances. Technically, it was also against regulations for any soldier or sailor to engage in sexual relations with any other soldier or sailor while on deployment, with the exception of married crewmen on those ships large enough to accommodate families, but it was probably the most ignored and least enforced regulation in the book. So long as it did not affect a crewman's job performance or create a disruption, it was widely overlooked.
Shepard smiled at Rodriquez and Raquel. "She's adorable and don't worry about it. You said 'those of us'. Exactly how many little additions to the crew are we talking about here?"
Before Rodriquez could respond, Liara grabbed Shepard's arm and said "I need to talk to you about something, Shepard."
"One minute please, Liara. Let me just get everyone set up here."
Shepard turned to address the entire group.
"Listen up. We have secure terminals set up where you can find out everything that we know about how things are. We have pulled your personnel files where you will find current information on all your known family members. We also have some communication's terminals set up so you can contact any person on any system that we have communications with." Shepard looked at Tali. "There are still some systems that don't have their relays back on line yet but I think everyone here should be able to communicate with back home."
Tali smiled. "Thank you, Shepard."
Shepard smiled broadly at Tali in return. "You are welcome."
As the rest of the crew rushed to get through the door to the awaiting terminals, Liara grabbed Shepard's arm.
"Shepard. There's something that I need to show you back on the Normandy."
"Liara, surely it can wait?"
"No. I need to show you now." Liara looks nervous. Shepard felt a queasy feeling grow in the pit of her stomach. Liara looks really nervous. What could this possibly be about? Maybe she's found someone else? Maybe she found some evidence of some other threat to the universe? What the fuck could this possibly be about?!
"Liara, please just tell me."
Instead of answering, Liara turned and started walking back towards the docks and the Normandy. Shepard followed behind, the sense of dread increasing with every step. As they passed the Memorial Wall again, Shepard could see Lieutenant Astrea on a ladder attempting to pry the names off the wall.
Shepard sighed. "Lieutenant. Please get down from there. I'm sorry that I barked at you. The names can wait until a maintenance crew arrives."
The Lieutenant, not seeing the Admiral approach again, jumped when hearing Shepard's voice and nearly fell backwards off the ladder. The poor woman needs some time off. Shepard made a mental note to order her to take some leave once the crew was settled.
Liara was almost running ahead of Shepard. "Liara! Would you wait up, for Christ's sake?" Liara didn't listen and instead started walking a little faster. What could this possibly be about? If she didn't love me anymore or if she were with someone else, would she have kissed me like that? Not to mention the shallow meld that she initiated. Maybe she was just sparing my feelings? Letting me down gently, away from the public? But why does she have to drag me back to the Normandy to do that?
When they got to the airlock, Shepard hesitated at the door. I'm going on my ship again! The Normandy is actually here! Liara was still ahead of Shepard, not pausing to allow Shepard her nostalgia. Instead, she turned sharply right and headed directly for the elevator. Once in the elevator, she wordlessly hit the button for the crew deck.
"You're making me nervous here, T'Soni. Can't you just give me a little warning about what this might be about?" Goddess, I've missed her, Liara thought. Just hearing her say my name makes me feel alive again, makes me feel real. Hearing her say my name makes me feel like me again. I just hope she can still bear to say it after she knows what I did.
After getting off the elevator, Liara made a beeline for her room. Shepard looked at the Normandy's Memorial Wall as she got off the elevator, saw Anderson's name and felt the familiar flood of conflicting emotions: pain, guilt, and affection. She looked again and noticed that her name was not there. I gave up on them but they never gave up on me.
As Shepard continued around the corner, she wondered idly if any of Liara's Shadow Broker equipment still worked. The 'Shadow Broker' had gone silent after the Battle for Earth and the rumor was that he or she was killed by reaper forces. Shepard got her answer when the door opened ahead of Liara and Shepard saw that all the monitors had been removed and all the terminals were gone except for a standard issue Alliance terminal at Liara's desk. Shepard could see Traynor in the back of the room, her head down.
"Samantha! I wondered where you'd run off..."
Shepard stopped dead in her tracks when she saw what Traynor was looking down at. At Traynor's side and holding her hand was a little blue girl, walking towards Liara, a little unsteady on her feet but determined. Liara went to the girl, bent over and picked her up. She placed the child on her right hip and turned to face Shepard who was still in the doorway.
Liara let out a deep breath before saying, "Shepard, I'd like you to meet your daughter, Benezia."
Shepard stood frozen in the doorway, her mouth open. She looked from the child to Liara and then to Traynor and then back to Liara. Samantha was now at the door, trying to get around Shepard so that she could escape.
"Well, don't look at me. I had nothing to do with it. Shepard, can you please move? I really want to get out of here now!"
Shepard took a few staggered steps into the room. Samantha ran around her and out the door with a sigh of relief.
"Whose is it?" Shepard said, more out of confusion than accusation.
Liara tilted her head and said quietly "Shepard", the hurt in her eyes plain to see.
Shepard moved towards the two and looked into the child's eyes. Her eyes were very close to being the same shade of blue as her mother's eyes but her skin color was perhaps a little darker.
Liara began speaking. "I'm sorry, Shepard. I know what I did was wrong but I just wasn't thinking. The last time we were together, I just felt so afraid. I felt so desperate to hold onto to you, that I just let go. The thought that I might lose you again made me feel so lonely. I knew that it was wrong but I just couldn't stop myself. I just let myself go completely even though I knew what might happen if I did. I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with either of us."
Shepard looked into the girl's blue eyes and a smile broke on Shepard's face. Shepard could feel tears start to well up in her eyes. "Well hello, Benezia. It's nice to meet you. It appears that I'm your…father?" Shepard reached out and stroked the child's cheek with the back of her fingers. The girl smiled back at Shepard. "Would it be okay if I held you?" Shepard held out her open hands in front of Benezia until the girl reached out her free arm to her. Shepard gently pulled the girl away from her mother and then pulled her in tight to her chest, turning away from Liara as she did. Tears from Shepard's eyes fell on top of Benezia's head. After a moment, Shepard snaked out one of her hands to her side until she found Liara's hand. She entwined her fingers with Liara's and squeezed.
Later, Garrus was bending over Tali, who was peering intently at the screen in front of her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shepard walk into Operations. Liara and Shepard were holding hands and Benezia was perched on Shepard's hip.
"Well, that answers that question." Garrus nodded towards the threesome.
"Did you really expect another result?" Tali asked. "It's Shepard. She's been gonzo about Liara for years even though she tried to hide it for the longest time."
"Still, there's only so much shock a person can take. You saw our names on the wall. When Shepard woke up this morning, she thought we were all dead. Now, a few hours later, we are all here. She finds out that her bondmate is still alive and that she has a kid. I half expected her to have a heart attack and keel over." Garrus shook his head trying to imagine how all this must feel like for Shepard.
"She does look like she could use a drink. She looks a little dazed. Kind of like that time a Krogan got through to her and gave her that concussion. I still can't believe that Liara didn't tell her!"
"From what Liara told me, she was hoping that nothing would come from her momentary lapse of control and she didn't want to give Shepard anything more to worry about before the big final push. When she did realize that she was definitely pregnant, we were already lost in uncharted space."
"I can't believe that Liara told you and not me." Tali said. "She's supposed to be my best friend!"
Garrus sighed. "I'm starting to get concerned that I'm the guy that all the women go to for 'girl talk'. I hope that doesn't mean I'm really gay."
Tali smiled behind her mask and tilted her head flirtatiously. "Believe me, Vakarian. You're not gay." Tali leaned in closer and whispered. "You're my very strong, very big, very hard Bird."
Garrus cleared his throat and moved away slightly, obviously embarrassed by Tali's words but Tali noticed that he also puffed out his chest just a little as well.
"Shepard, you're getting Benezia dirty. You need to go change."
Shepard looked down at her smudged and torn uniform. She had completely forgotten about it. That morning seemed like it happened years ago.
"You've got a point. But can't I take you both with me?"
Liara chuckled. "I think that it would be more efficient for you to go by yourself. I'd also like to take a look at what's going on in the galaxy. I've been out of the loop for a bit."
"Okay. Good idea."
Liara moved to take Benezia from Shepard's arms but encountered resistance.
"Shepard, you have to let go."
Liara looked in Shepard's eyes and felt her heart jump. Goddess, right now she looks as young and vulnerable as Benezia. Liara felt the tears well up in her own eyes seeing her fear. Liara placed her hand on Shepard's arm and gave it a squeeze.
"It's okay, my love. We'll be right here when you get back. I promise."
Shepard handed Benezia over to Liara.
"I'll be right back. 20 minutes, 30 minutes tops."
"We'll be here."
Shepard reached out her hand and caressed Benezia's cheek. "I'll see you in a little bit, Bene."
Liara gave her a look. "Her name is Benezia."
Shepard grinned at Liara. "We'll discuss it later."
Before leaving, Shepard saw Tali and Garrus huddled around one of the monitors. Shepard went over to them, pulled Tali up out of her chair and gave her a long hug. Tali hugged her back and laughed.
"I didn't get to do that before", Shepard said when she released her. "I'm so happy to see you Tali."
"I missed you too, Shepard. We were all so worried."
"Shepard. Didn't you already get your bondmate back? Do you really have to go around molesting other women on the crew?" Garrus said while eyeing Shepard suspiciously.
In response, Shepard hugged Garrus and actually lifted the much taller and heavier turian off the ground.
"There. Now no one can accuse me of not being equal opportunity in my sexual harassment anyway." Shepard said with a smirk. Shepard's smile widened and she stood a little taller. "Hey Garrus. I have a kid", she bragged.
"We know. We've seen her and heard her for the last fourteen months." Garrus responded.
"And smelled her, too", Tali added, laughing.
"I should go. I'll see you both again soon", Shepard said as she bounded out of Central Operations.
"I think she might be on the verge of losing her mind." Garrus said as they watched Shepard run out of the area.
"Poor thing. I think it could go either way at this point." Tali responded.