Shepard arrived at her apartment and quickly jumped into her shower, hoping to get back to Central Operations as quickly as possible. As she was in her shower, she felt her head literally spinning a little. Maybe I need some food, she thought. But she knew it wasn't low blood sugar alone that was giving her the dizzy feeling. I can't believe this. I just can't believe this. Shepard stood under the hot water, trying to process all that had happened in less than the last solar day. What if it's not real? What if they are not who they appear to be? What if I am losing my mind?

Shepard got out of the shower and paged her assistant.

"Lieutenant, I want some armed guards posted in Operations. I also don't want any of our guests to leave until they can be scanned and their identities verified. But do it quietly. Don't let them know that they are being watched and don't let them know that they are not being allowed to leave."

Astrea's eyes grew wider and she leaned forward. "Do you think that they are not who they say they are?"

"They probably are who they appear to be but there are a lot of strange things out there in the galaxy. It's my job to make sure the Citadel is safe from all threats. It's our job to protect the Citadel from all possible threats, even the really improbable ones."

"That makes sense, ma'am. But how do I keep them from leaving without telling them that they can't leave?"

"Think of something, Lieutenant. Delay them. Give them two years of make-up paperwork to do. Just don't let them leave and don't let them know that they can't leave."

"Yes, ma'am."

Shepard next stopped by the Medical Center and asked the doctor in charge if they could prep to do a full work-up on one of the returning crewmen. The doctor explained that while a simple omni-tool scan could ascertain if the returning crewman has the same DNA as the crewman who left, more advanced tests would be needed to make sure that they were who they appeared to be.

"Our DNA changes as we age. Our more advanced diagnostics can predict what their DNA should be and see if it's a match. It can also detect trace foreign DNA or the presence of chemicals that aren't supposed to be there. The longer-lived the species, the slower an individual ages and the smaller the changes so if you can send a krogan or an asari, it would be best. "

Oh crap. If that is really Liara, she's going to be pissed. "Good. Set it up. I'll send one of them to you shortly."

When Shepard returned to Operations, it was more than an hour later and a mutiny was brewing. Garrus accosted Shepard before she even cleared the doorway.

"What's going on here, Shepard? We have all been trapped on a frigate for two years and now we are being held here against our will!?"

"It's just a precaution, Garrus. You'd do the same thing in my position. There's a lot of crazy stuff out there in the universe and no one has seen or heard from you in almost two years."

Liara came forward with her arms folded and an extremely unhappy look on her face. "What are you thinking here, Shepard? Clones? Aliens who have taken over our bodies? Mind control?"

"Been there, done that with all of those. As I'm sure you remember if you are really you. I need to make sure. Which is why I'm going to have to ask you to submit to a complete medical examination, Liara. It should only take a few hours."

"Or I could just do this", Liara said as she moved closer to Shepard and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were black. Shepard nodded slightly and Shepard soon felt Liara enter her mind. Liara showed Shepard, in intimate detail, some of the times that they had been together. Liara showed her intimate details that could only be known by two beings in the entire galaxy. Beyond the specific memories, Shepard felt a flood of Liara, a familiar essence that had never entirely left Shepard's mind even while Liara had been gone. When Liara broke the meld, Shepard's face flushed red and her legs threatened to buckle beneath her. Shepard cleared her throat before speaking.

"Guards, dismissed. Lieutenant, make sure that everyone has their apartment assignments before they leave. And make sure that everyone on the crew reports back here at 0800 hours tomorrow morning for debrief." And with that, Shepard, eyes on the ground, moved to her office and shut the door. Once closed, Shepard could hear the laughter from her ex-crewmen and she heard a few of them thank Liara for her efforts. After a few minutes, Shepard heard a knock on her door.

"Come in."

Liara walked in and closed the door behind her. She walked over to where Shepard was sitting and squatted down in front of Shepard's chair. She put her hands on Shepard's knees.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Shepard shook her head. "I don't care about that. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. It's just hard to believe what's happened in the last few hours."

"I know what you mean. When I woke up this morning, I knew we would be back at Earth but I had no idea if there was even still a Citadel. I could only hope that you were still alive and not long since dead… It must be even worse for you."

Shepard stared into Liara's eyes. "I can't begin to tell you how much I missed you, Liara. I love you so much. Not a single day went by when..." Shepard couldn't finish the thought and tears welled in her eyes. Liara pulled Shepard's head down and touched her forehead to Shepard's.

"I love you too, Shepard. And no matter how much you think you missed me, I missed you more. I'm so sorry that I left you alone."

Shepard grinned through her tears at Liara.

"It was nice to have you in my mind again."

"It was nice to be back." Liara leaned up and whispered in Shepard's ear. "Do you remember the last thing I said to you before we parted? I said that I am yours." Liara pulled back and looked into Shepard's eyes. "Well, if you still want me, then take me."

Shepard felt her face flush hot at the words and she felt the old familiar ache in her lower abdomen and between her legs. Shepard stood up, taking Liara with her. She pushed Liara against the wall of her office and kissed her desperately on the mouth. Her hands worked on the zipper of Liara's dress. Shepard pulled back and looked at Liara with a pained expression.

"I don't think I can wait until we go to my apartment. I want you right now. I need you right now."

Liara shook her head and started to undo the buckle on Shepard's pants. "Then don't wait. Right here. Right now."

The couple didn't even bother taking off most of their clothing, only removing items needed to give them access to the more important areas. They fell down together on the small couch in Shepard's office, their hands greedily seeking between each other's legs while their mouths hungrily moved together. Liara entered Shepard's mind without even stopping to give a polite warning first. It only took a few moments before Shepard reached her climax, taking Liara along with her through their meld. As their breathing and heart rates started to return to normal, Liara grinned and whispered in Shepard's ear.

"Well, that didn't take much at all."

Shepard grinned as well and remembering Liara's word's from three years before after another long-delayed reunion, said "It was a long two years and then seeing you again. I was ready." Shepard continued. "I'm sorry. I know it wasn't the long, slow reunion that we both need. Maybe I can wrap things up here and we can go back to my apartment? Take our time saying hello again?"

"Nothing would make me happier. Of course, we will have to find a babysitter. I doubt that Benezia will let us take our time with anything for the foreseeable future."

Shepard smiled and shook her head.

"I have a child, Liara. We have a daughter. Can you believe that?!"

Shepard stood up, pulling Liara to her feet as well. She pulled Liara into her arms and twirled her around a few times, laughing.

Liara couldn't help but laugh at Shepard's unguarded joyous reaction. "I do believe it because I've been feeding her and changing her for the last 14 months. Not to mention that I will never forget giving birth to her."

Shepard stopped smiling.

"That makes me kind of sad. I missed so much. Moments that will never come again."

"If you want, I will share my memories with you. But I warn you, the birth was wonderful but very painful as well and not just because of the physical pain."

"I would like that. When we are both ready to share that together."

Liara smiled again. "And if you stick around, I'm sure Benezia will have many more moments in the future."

"You couldn't get rid of me now if you tried. I don't know if you remember how adamant I can be once I set my mind to something."

"Adamant? I would call it stubborn. And thank the Goddess that you are."

Shepard smiled. "I prefer resolute, myself. Come on. Let's go see if there are any more fires that I need to handle so that we can get out of here." Shepard straightened Liara's dress and zipped up what needed to be zipped while Liara helped Shepard get her pants back on.

After a quick stop in Shepard's bathroom, they both left the office holding hands. Shepard had expected to see most of the crew gone. Instead, most of them were still milling around and when they saw Shepard re-emerge, they surrounded her. Traynor, arms folded, was the first to speak.

"I'm glad that you and Liara are reunited and were able to embrace eternity together again but what about the rest of us?"

"What do you mean? I don't know what you think you saw but there are different kinds of melds. That was purely an information exchange." Shepard said defensively. "It's just like giving someone a report on a datapad."

Tali was standing with Benezia sitting on her hip. Tali laughed. "Yeah, Liara has been 'getting reports' from Shepard like that in front of the whole crew since the very beginning."

Now Liara got defensive. "Shepard's right. That was just a report of sorts. There was nothing sexual about it." Now what happened in Shepard's office just a few minutes ago…

Joker grinned and piped up. "I don't know, Garrus. Liara's given me plenty of reports over the years and she's never melded with me before. How about you?"

"Nope. I got all my reports on actual datapads." Garrus laughed. "Shepard's the only one that Liara has provided enlightenment to in that black eye's way." Liara glared at Garrus.

"Regardless of what kind of melds you two engage in, in public, in front of other people, what about the rest of us? We have all been trapped on a small ship for over two years staring at the same 46 people, day after day." Samatha explained emphatically.

"Don't worry, I got you all free luxury apartments! Didn't the Lieutenant tell you?"

"So instead of being trapped on a small ship, now you want us to go sit alone in an apartment? After two years? Two years with no shore leave, no bars, no new people, no extranet, no communications, no extranet…" James asked.

Joker was even less subtle. "No new porn!"

Shepard folded her arms and said, "Okay. What do you want?"

"Money! I want to go out and have a real dinner tonight in a real restaurant with real people in it!" Samantha demanded.

"I spoke with Hackett and he is already working on getting your back pay reinstated. You should have it in less than a week. That's the best I can do. If you need food, I can give you a pass to the Alliance mess here on the Citadel." Shepard said.

The entire remaining crew surrounded Shepard looking very unhappy. Shepard sighed and returned to her office. After a moment, she returned holding up a credit chit.

"Okay, I'll let you use my credit chit but I trust you to use it sparingly and responsibly. Nothing illicit! And remember, this is my personal credit chit and I am not a rich woman."

Samantha moved forward to get the chit from Shepard. Shepard was about to hand it to her when she pulled it back.

"There's just one catch. I need a volunteer to babysit Benezia."

The assembled crew groaned. Shepard took Benezia from Tali. Shepard held Benezia out in front of her, began bouncing her in the air and started talking.

"Look at how cute I am. All I want is for my mommy and daddy to be reunited and to have a strong relationship so that I can grow up in a loving home. My poor daddy was all alone for the last two years…"

"Shepard!" Liara yelled. "You can't use your daughter like that!"

Benezia, for her part, didn't seem to mind at all as she laughed from being bounced in the air. The assembled crew groaned again, some shaking their heads and others rolling their eyes.

Tali finally spoke up. "Fine. Garrus and I will watch her but whoever gets that chit had better send us the best Dextro meal currently available on the Citadel!"

Shepard gave the chit to Samantha.

"I'm trusting you to be moderate and responsible, Traynor."

Samantha smiled and was already leaving with the chit before Shepard could finish the sentence, the rest of the crew trailing behind her.

"And I better not get any reports from C-Sec about unruly crewmen!" Shepard yelled after them.

Shepard held Benezia close for a few moments before giving her to Liara. Liara held Benezia a while longer and gave her several kisses before handing her over to Tali.

"Just go with Auntie Tali for tonight, Benezia. We'll see you in the morning, sweetie."

Liara looked a little sad as Tali and Garrus left with Benezia.

"Are you okay?" Shepard asked.

"Of course. Benezia is in good hands and she won't be upset because she is so used to everyone on the crew. I've just never spent the night without her since she was born. Of course, for the last two years, I thought of nothing but getting to spend the night with you again so my fondest wish is now coming true."

Shepard reached forward and gave Liara a kiss, completely unconcerned that she was standing in the middle of Central Operations.

"You will both have me every night from this point forward if you both agree. Let me just finish up a few things here and we can be on our way."