A/N : First of all, I am so sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter. With that being said, sadly I have come to a conclusion that after this chapter, you guys will get at least 5 more chapters before Forever After is coming to an end. Believe me when I say that I tried to keep this for as long as I can without repeating a same idea for a new chapter, unfortunately I can't give you guys a commitment to post a new chapter without waiting an eternity for it. But I can promise you guys that those 5 chapters won't be short. I will keep it as long as I always did. Know that it was not an easy decision for me because this is the first ever story I ever publish. I will focus on finishing this story before I think about my other stories and what I'm gonna do with it. But I give you guys my word that I won't abandoned it, I will give it an end, it might take a while but it will end the way it should be. I hope you guys understand but that doesn't mean I will stop writing, I don't think I can stop myself from writing no matter how busy I am because I always have a knack for writing. So expect a new story from me as I end one by one my stories I'm currently working on. And let's me be honest with you guys, I've been meaning to finish this chapter before Mass Effect Andromeda came out, but in a way it gave me more ideas how to finish this chapter. So all is good I think although I apologize it took so long. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 37 : Something Just Like This
As Liara was so deep in thought at her desk, she didn't even realize Shepard has sneaked up from behind her. When she could feel the warm embrace from Shepard and soft kiss on her forehead, she leaned into her wife embrace like a second nature.
"You looked so deep in thought. What were you thinking about?" Shepard asked.
"I'm just looking through old pictures." Liara answered.
"Oh yeah? What's the occasion?" Shepard asked as she took a peek at Liara datapad.
"Nothing in particular. But tomorrow is Elaina birthday after all." Liara answered as Shepard shuffle through a few pictures before stopping on one picture of her holding Elaina.
"I remember that day. It was the day after she was born. You were out doing some check up when she decided to wake up and start crying. Even after I fed her, she still fusses over who know what. After holding and singing to her had done nothing, I decided to talk to her about the things I love about her and what I would do for her."
"Is that why when I got back you were in deep conversation with our one day old daughter? I still remembered she responded ever now and then on everything you said. Like she was agreeing or wanting you to know that you made a promise to her. So what did you told her?"
"I told her that it doesn't matter how much she fuss, it will never be enough to push me away from her. She can keep crying all she want but I won't left her crying by herself because I will be there for her and there's nothing a problem too big that she couldn't tell me. I would have burn the entire galaxy for her if that will keep her safe and happy... When I told her all those things she went silent and start making this little noises and then she managed to grab hold of one of my fingers. My heart swelled at how much I felt her loves towards me even when she's so little."
"No wonder you didn't even realized I sneaked up on you and asked Glyph to take the picture." Liara said as she leaned her head up to give her wife a kiss.
"When I first hold her in my arms for the first time, there was no word to describe how happy I was. After everything we have been through and to have her born through all that... When the Reapers war started, I saw a little boy died and he was one of the first causalities. And before it ended, she was conceived. We both could have lost her even before we knew we are going to be a parent but I'm glad that we didn't. Because when the war ended, it hasn't been an easy road for either one of us, but we made it through because of her."
"I was so afraid that you won't wake up and when I found out I was pregnant, it gave me some relief that no matter what happened, I will have a piece of you that I could cherish for the rest of my life."
"Now look where we are."
"But one thing hasn't changed, Elaina still have you wrap around her fingers."
"Are you jealous, Liara?"
"At one point, yes. But I know that in your heart you have just enough love for all of us." Liara said as Shepard leaned in for a kiss.
"I'm sorry that I made you jealous but know that no matter how much I love our daughters, you were and always will be my first true love. There won't be our daughters without our love so don't you ever forget that."
"Flatterer."
"I try to." Shepard said with a smirk.
"Where's Irene and Carissa?"
"They just finished their homework and after I read them a story they seem to have drifted to sleep."
"Only you could have lulled our twins to sleep no matter the time. It always has been since the day they were born. Remembered when you were at work and I couldn't get them to sleep? But as soon as you were home and holding them, not five minutes after that you got them to sleep. And I knew then that you should be the one getting up when they woke up in the middle of the night."
"Didn't I always do that ever since Elaina was born?"
"Well before that I didn't have a perfectly good reason for you to always be the one getting up when our daughters woke up in the middle of the night."
"Other than the fact I'm being a great partner?"
"You always have been a great partner." Liara said as she received another kiss from Shepard.
"I love to stay here with you but I have to get Elaina from work and pick up Kate from Alliance academy."
"Rain check?"
"For you, always." Shepard answered with one last kiss before reluctantly part away from Liara.
An hour has gone by since Shepard left to pick up Elaina and Kate. Hit by a sudden craving for something sour, Liara left her office and head straight to the kitchen. As she was about to open the fridge for something to eat when she saw a note Shepard left.
"I know you have been craving something sour this week, so before I left, I cooked a little something for you. Love, your wife."
That's when she realized there is a pan on the stove; clearly Shepard has been cooking before she left. When she opened it, she saw that Shepard has prepared her Omelette with Pressed Caviar and Sour Cream, a recipe she saw with Shepard a few nights back during a cooking show. Liara could only smile at her wife loving thought as she picked up a plate to give her wife loving cooking a try. Not that she ever hate Shepard cooking, Shepard is pretty good in the kitchen and she has no doubt this will be no different.
After finishing her "little" snack and washed the dishes, although she knew Shepard will be upset once she find out, even though she always insisted that she is not fragile and she could do home chores if needed be, Shepard always insisted that she rest and let her and the girls do all the work. Liara know it's not something she really should complain but sometimes she just wanted to do something when she's bored out of her mind. She loves the fact how protective and caring Shepard is, sometimes she could be too protective but she knows that Shepard mind was on the right place. No matter how protective Shepard is, she always knows that Liara more than capable of taking care of herself and she always let Liara do that if needed to be. But usually Shepard is more content of protecting Liara herself, something about if she could protect the entire galaxy from Reapers destruction; surely she could protect Liara and the girls. Liara let out a little laugh as she reminiscence when she had that conversation with Shepard. She was soon pulled back to the reality when she heard Irene and Carissa running while calling out for their father. Before long they found their way to the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" Liara asked before she received a hug from her twin daughters.
"Irene had a dream..." Carissa began to explain before being cut short by her twin sister.
"More like a nightmare."
"What is it, Irene?"
"I saw daddy... got hurt." Irene answered as she started to sob.
"Oh, Irene. It just a dream. You father is alright, she just out picking your sisters. I promise you that she is fine."
"How do you know?"
"I have spent years worrying about your father. Had my heart stop beating whenever she got hurt but she always came back. Nothing is going to stop her from coming back home to me and you girls."
"You promise?" Carissa asked.
"Yes. But know that her time with us is less than what we wish for. But it won't be now, we still have time to make memory with her, take strength from that and cherish everyone moment." Liara said as she gave her twins a tight hug.
As soon as Shepard back from picking up Elaina from work and Kate from the Alliance academy, she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. As always, no matter how tiring Elaina was from work, she always by Shepard side, giving a helping hand. Kate also volunteer to help, but she was dragged by Irene and Carissa to come and play with them before dinner. Liara on the other hand is on a video call with her father, Aethyta.
After dinner they sat in the living room, watching a movie that was picked by Irene and Carissa. As the twins got absorbed watching the movie, Shepard start asking Kate about her new assignment.
"How was it? The last day at the academy?" Shepard asked.
"It almost felt like a dream. At first I thought it was a dream until I realized that the envelope containing my next assignment felt so real in my hands."
"I know the feeling. So did you open it yet?"
"Yeah. I open it just before you arrived."
"Stop with the suspense. Tell us already." Elaina asked.
"I'm being assigned to the SSV Shepard!"
"No way!" Elaina asked.
"Yes, way."
"Kate, are you sure about this?" Shepard asked.
"Yeah. Of course I am." Kate answered.
"I know that it's exciting. I have no doubt SSV Shepard is the best Alliance ship out there and the fact working under James Vega is making it more interesting but I hope you know what you signed up for."
"There was a reason why the Alliance decided to name the ship after their hero, I'm sure you will do fine but are you ready with the responsibility they put on your shoulder just because of who you are to Shepard?" Liara asked.
"So you both don't agree with this assignment?"
"Neither one of us are saying we are not agree. We are just saying do you understand what this means? You're a great person and you will make a great soldier, you will do your mother proud but I don't want you to give up or feel like everyone is pushing you to a failure. I'm sure you can figure out one of the reason why the Alliance assigned you to SSV Shepard. We all know it's for best of the best and you got to have at least 5 years of experience before they even think of letting you serve on SSV Shepard. I'm just trying to protect you, Kate."
"I know you are. Regardless of why Alliance assigned me to SSV Shepard, I'm going to show everyone that I belong there."
"I know you will. And no matter what happened, there's nothing you will do that will disappoint us. You're already making me proud." Shepard said as she hugged Kate.
It's the morning of Elaina birthday and as Shepard and Liara agreed to Elaina request, after breakfast they went to the zoo. The kids could spend the entire days at the zoo and still running full of energy but with Liara is heavily pregnant, after a couple of hours Shepard decided to let Elaina and Kate took Irene and Carissa around the zoo as she and her wife sitting in one of the bench provided by the zoo.
"If we let them, they could spend the whole day here still full of energy. It's like watching all these animals gave them some sort of superpower." Liara said with a sigh as Shepard handed her a water bottle.
"At least we know as soon as they get home, they will go to bed without any fuss."
"I'm surprised that you let Kate and Elaina took their sisters for another round around the zoo."
"I always trusted them. And I always thought them to take care of each other."
"You know that's not what I mean. You could have gone with them, I'll be fine here by myself."
"And let you be alone?" Shepard said as she leaned in to kiss Liara.
"How do I ever get so lucky?"
It's the weekend and one more week before Kate report for duty on board the SSV Shepard. With SSV Shepard on shore leave, Ashley decided to take the weekend off and head out to Earth to give her old commanding officer a visit. James was more than happy to come along as he can't wait to see Kate ever since he found out she was assigned on his ship. With their almost one year old son, Kaidan in tow, they arrived just in time for lunch. After lunch, they sat in the living room, chilling out as the girls play with Kaidan.
"So what vids we should watch?" Shepard asked as she scrolling through lists of movies she had.
"Do you have any action packed movie?" Ashley asked.
"What about some comedy?" Liara added.
"Let's watch a romantic movie instead!" Kate chimed in.
"What kind of romantic movie? I'm down if it's good and will not bored me out of my mind like that "Fleet and Flotilla" movie Tali insisted me to watch." Ashley said.
"She dragged you to watch that too?" Shepard asked.
"Yeah. I asked Tali if she got any good movie I should watch and she recommended that to me and insisted on watching it together... Lesson learnt, never asked Tali to recommend a movie ever again."
"I hear you."
"I heard it's a great movie. Something about a girl who everyone can't help but felt in love with her but she's looking for a true love in a world where true love is just a fairytale. The storyline is more complicated than that but that's the lowdown I got from my friends."
"I don't think I need to watch a movie about that. I mean if you have seen how many people felt in love with Shepard..." Ashley said before being interrupted by Shepard.
"How many times did you guys have to bring that up? Because in the end you know Liara is the one, the one I chose to spend the rest of my life." Shepard said before receiving a kiss in the cheek from Liara.
"See. Your parents love story is worth more than any romantic movie out there."
"So action movie then?" James who has been silent the whole time finally speaks up but to everyone disapproval of his choice.
"Umm, guys. I think Irene and Carissa already made a choice for us." Elaina said as she point at the TV as the opening of Finding Dory start playing.
"Good luck convincing them to change it." Shepard said.
"Well it's what we signed up for when we decided to be parents." Ashley added.
A week leading to Kate deployment, she has spend as much time as she possibly could with her family. She knew that it will be months before she would see them again and even though there's an option to video call or email, it won't be the same. It's not like it's the first time she went away for a very long time, but it is the first time she will millions light years away.
Kate was so absorbed in doing a final check of her luggage that she barely heard the soft knock on her bedroom door. Once she realized it, the door was already half open as Shepard walked in.
"Hey, Kate. I have something to give you." Shepard said as she gave Kate a keychain with a cute charm.
"This is a lucky charm your mother gave me before my first assignment. She hoped this will be my lucky charm and kept me save. I thought I lost it when the first Normandy blew up, but then I remembered I gave it to your mother because I was worried of her new assignment. She told me she felt bad because not soon after that, the Collectors destroyed the Normandy." Shepard added.
"Guess it really is a lucky charm."
"I guess. She gave this back to me before we touchdown in Arvuna... So in a sense..."
"None of that. It's already written in the stars that she will go first before you do. But I will cherish this gift and hope it will be my lucky charm too. Although I'm sure wherever my mom is right now, she's looking down at me." Kate said before she wrapped Shepard in a hug.
A/N : I'm sorry if this chapter was a mess and lacking something. But if I keep this chapter on my laptop any longer, I will never post it. Just think of it as something that will give it character. Haha. But seriously though I've been finding it hard to write maybe because I know this story is coming to an end and I'm trying to give this story a proper goodbye because of all my stories, this is the story that received the most feedback and with this being the first story I ever publish in public, it's hold a sentimental value to me. I'm sorry again if it's a bad chapter, writing wise but I just can't keep trying to improve this chapter when honestly I don't know how to do that. I hope it still a good chapter and you guys enjoy it.