Author's Note:Beware this is the smut chapter. If you can't handle that turn away now, otherwise, enjoy!

It's just light smut, didn't write to me as anything hot and heavy. But there's enough.

Enjoy, and R&R please!


On her way back to her cabin Shepard stops in the mess and picks up two dinner plates of pasta and meatballs. She requisitions a bottle of red wine someone bought on the Citadel. Snagging a couple wine glasses she sets it all on a tray and carries it to her cabin.

Entering she smiles at Liara sitting at the table. As she starts to get up Shepard waves her back down and sets the tray on the table. "I promised you a nice dinner. So, here I am delivering." she pours out two glasses of the wine.

"So I see." Liara takes a drink of the wine and smiles in approval. "What about the mission? Ilos?"

"Eighteen hours away, and I always keep my promises." Shepard sets out one of the plates for Liara before taking a seat herself, picking up her wine glass to take a drink. "And I promised you dinner."

"Ok then. What shall we talk about?" Liara takes another drink of wine before starting onto her meal.

"Any number of things. What would you like?"

"I would like to know more about you."

"What would you like to know?" Shepard cringes inwardly, knowing this could backfire quick.

"What brought you to join the Alliance?"

She thinks over this for long moments, debating how much to tell Liara. "I joined when I was eighteen. I was looking to better my life and do something good for humanity." Shepard smiles and takes another drink of wine, "How did you get into being an archaeologist?"

"In asari culture my Mother was a prominent figure. I was expected to follow in her footsteps. I had always had a fascination with the history and the Protheans though. I began studying archaeology about twenty years ago. I'm still considered very young, and a novice by my peers in the archaeology field."

"What did your mother think of this career choice of yours?"

Liara smiles shyly as she drinks, "She was less than pleased with my choice. We had not spoken for many years."

"I'm sorry to hear that." the conversation falls silent for a moment while they both eat.

Liara breaks the quiet asking her next question. "What about your mother? What did she think of you joining the alliance?"

"I don't know. She died when I was teenager." She turns back to her meal and wine for a moment. Driving down the feelings that rise up, stopping them before they get too far. "Let's talk on something else."

Liara takes silent notice of Shepard's deflection to her personal life, but let's it pass. "How about your training? Being N7, it is roughly equivalent to Asari commandos, right?"

"Yes, it is. Roughly." She pauses a moment to think on the events that lead up to her being accepted to N7 . "It takes a lot of dedication and work to be able to apply for N7 training, but that's nothing compared to what it takes to stay in the training."

"Is it hard?"

"Impossibly so. They push you to your very edge, your breaking point, and then push you past it. The ones with the right stuff survive and continue. The rest…" She trails off, thinking on some of the wash outs she knew. "The rest go back to where they were before. If they don't quit the service entirely. Many do."

"Why?" Liara is so interested, she's forgotten about her meal, Shepard as well. "Why do they leave?"

"Everyone has a breaking point. A point at which the body and mind can't take anymore. The N7 training forces recruits to that point. To mental and physical exhaustion. And then they demand more from you. A lot crack under the pressure and leave, swearing off the Alliance completely. These are the ones who usually become merchs."

"But you didn't. What kept you going?"

Shepard pauses again, thinking on her answer. "Duty, honor. Really, just sheer stubbornness. I was determined not to let them beat me. I stuck it out, reminding myself it was worth it. To be N7 is the highest honor the Alliance can give a marine. It's an elite group. There are less than two hundred N7 marines serving right now."

"And now you are a Spectre as well." Liara says, laying her hand over Shepard's on the table.

"I am. Best of the best I'm told. Pride of the Human Systems Alliance." Shepard sighs, "Or I was. who knows what's waiting for us back there. Traitors, mutineers is what I've made this entire crew."

"We have all followed your lead through dangerous missions and deadly fire and you have not led us astray." Liara says, stroking her thumb lightly across the back Shepard's hand. "Given the choice we would all follow you again. Mutiny or not."

Shepard pulls their joined hands to her lips, kissing Liara's hand gently, catching the asari's eyes with her own. "You are too good for me. Thank you. I needed to hear that."

Liara blushes from the kiss and turns her hand, twining her fingers in Shepard's. "You are an incredible woman Shepard-"

"Kelly, please." She interrupts. "I've got you on a date, and Shepard sounds so formal. Call me Kelly."

"Kelly." Liara says softly. trying the name out. "It's a wonderful name. I've never heard anyone call you that before."

She shrugs in response, not letting go their joined hands, "Military tradition and all, everyone is called by title or last name generally. And Kelly isn't all that tough a name. I like Shepard. sounds intimidating."

Liara can't help but laugh when Shepard tries to strike a fierce expression. It ends up looking comical as she can't help grinning at Liara's laugh.

"Ok, so I may not be camera worthy tough." She grins her crooked grin. Liara feels a strange pull in her gut from that grin, flushing her skin. She stops laughing abruptly and tries to fight back a blush as she realizes she is wanting the commander. More than the small kisses they've exchanged.

Shepard can see the change in Liara's expression and smiles softly. She cups Liara's chin and cheek in her hand. "It's ok." She says softly, comfortingly.

"I don't know...I haven't.." she stumbles over her words in nervousness. This wanting, this needing, it astonishes her, scaring her how much she wants this.

Shepard leans close, kissing Liara softly, slowly. Liara sighs as she feels her skin flush with heat. she returns the kiss, hesitant and needing. She runs her hand through the commander's hair, drawing back from the kiss. "I'm scared." she whispers softly, letting her hands fall back to the table.

"Shh, it's ok." Shepard stands and draws Liara up, taking her hand lightly in hers. She kisses Liara's hand softly, trailing slow, soft kisses up her wrist and arm. Liara pales and can't stop a soft sigh escaping her at Shepard's touch. She had no idea those areas could be so sensitive. As she reaches her neck, Liara instinctually leans her head to the side, allowing the commander more access. Shepard takes advantage of this, lightly holding Liara's cheek as she kisses the joining of neck and jawline. The soft hums coming from Liara tell her she's on the right track.

She draws back, looking the asari in the eyes. "Tell me to stop, and I will." she says, her voice going rough with her own need.

Liara nods slowly, hesitantly before tracing the commander's cheek and jawline with her fingertips. Revealing in the softer, smoother skin. "I will, Kelly."

Hearing her own name from those lips, from her voice is enough to undo Shepard's restraint. She kisses Liara deeply, slowly as she caresses her hands up and down Liara's body, from hip to breasts, and back. The soft moans from Liara and the feel of Liara's hands tugging roughly at her shirt at her waistband has her drawing back from the kiss, grinning a very different crooked grin than before.

She lays her hands over Liara's softly, holding them, "Easy does it. We have all night." She grins again as she sheds her jacket, and untucks her blouse. In one swift motion she draws it up and off, exposing the pale white plane of her abdomen and chest, her sports bra still on. She kisses Liara softly, deeply as she runs her hands around the asari's waist. Slipping her hands under the hem of her shirt she caresses lightly at her skin. Shepard can't help be surprised again by the smooth supple feel of asari skin.

She kisses Liara and draws back so their lips just touch. "You are overdressed."

Liara looks taken aback a moment before she shyly smiles and unzips her shirt, not opening or taking it off.

Shepard rests her hand lightly on Liara's waist, "I won't hurt you." Liara nods and draws her shirt off. Shepard smiles slowly, and lightly runs her hand up the middle of Liara's chest and between her exposed breasts before cupping her chin lightly, "You are beautiful."

Liara shivers and steps close, kissing Shepard deeply, her hands holding the commander's hips and abdomen tight. Shepard breaks the kiss softly before drawing her sports bra off and pushing Liara lightly toward and down onto the bed. Kissing her deep and slow, their hands wander each other's body wantonly caressing and memorizing every point that brings pleasure. It is not long before their pants and underwear follow their tops to the floor. Each revels in the feel of the other. Bare flesh to flesh.

Liara draws back reluctantly from the kisses, her hands pausing over the commander's breasts, she caresses her face lightly, "Shepard," She starts off before amending, "Kelly, there is something asari do during..well, this."

Shepard can't help grin at Liara's continued shyness, as she rests her hands on Liara's hips. "Yes?"

"It, it is a meld..a um, joining. It is something I would like to share with you."

"Tell me what to do." Shepard draws Liara back for a soft slow kiss as she caresses the asari's hips.

"Find your serenity." Shepard tries to imagine her meadow but finds where she is now to be more at peace, she kisses Liara again before Liara draws back and says, "Embrace eternity." her eyes flash black as she captures shepard's gaze.

Suddenly Shepard feels every touch of hers against Liara's skin as a ghost of a touch along her own skin. She grins as she kisses Liara again. Feeling momentarily distracted by the shared sensation.

She runs her hands along Liara's skin, enjoying the feeling of her own touch. Liara is flushed and glowing slightly with biotic energy. It pricks at the hair's on the back of Shepard's neck. The feeling of Liara against her is more than she can stand.

She gives in to her feelings, kissing her roughly, pressing tight against her, needing to feel their bodies as close as the shared thoughts and feelings of their minds.

This joining is more than Liara ever expected, feeling Shepard with her sends her own mind reeling, her hands acting on instinct, seeking to please every part of Shepard she can.

The two of them lose themselves to the joining, 'I' and 'you' losing meaning as they become one, 'us and 'we'. Their minds and bodies tumble together into joyful bliss.