Notes:
Anam Cara - Soul Friend/Mate (Gaelic)
Galea – Species of fighting fish common off Armali shores (Thessian)
Inanna - pinnacle of Asari blending, perfect unity of two spirits into one (from 'real world' Sumerian Goddess of Love, Fertility, and War)
Ionúin Álainn - beautiful beloved (Gaelic)
Kaffe - equatorial Thessian vine, seeds of which are used to produce a non-alcoholic beverage of same name, taste described as a mix of coffee and chocolate (Thessian; Source: CDN)
Maanru - type of shoaling fish; also refers to civilian skycars (Thessian; Source: CDN)
Makaheil - poisonous reptile resembling a salamander. It is able to shoot a neurotoxin from glands located in the muscles surrounding its eyes, capable of paralyzing the entire neural system of its attacker within an hour, maybe sooner, depending on the speed of absorption. Rapid emergency care is critical to survival. (Thessian)
Mea're - "new tribal sister", to address a tribal sister of a loved person (Thessian; Source: CDN)
Nara - literally "bearer"; one who shoulders another's burden (Thessian; Source: CDN)
Próidh - aggressive omnivorous mammal resembling a wolverine but weighing in at 70+ kg when full-grown. This extremely dangerous nocturnal hunter frequently takes prey many times larger than itself. As with all Thessian life, employs eezo to generate a biotic effect; utilizes a form of biotic charge to tackle and overcome prey (also Irish for bear)
Siame - "one who is all", a loved one cherished above all others (Thessian/Source: CDN)
SILC - Synthetic Intelligence Life Codes (previously known as Geth)
A Year Gone By
T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 15 Aug 2189
Bright emerald eyes met sleepy blues as Shepard whispered softly, "Happy anniversary, Anam Cara." Her words were accompanied by a soft stroke of the backs of Sam's fingers across a pebbled cheek, drawing a loving smile from her bondmate.
Liara drew a deep, lazy breath, basking in Samantha's familiar scent and the warmth of her lover's body. "Happy anniversary, Siame." Letting out a yawn, she continued, "So… are we still starting that hike today?"
"Oh, absolutely!" Smiling and planting a gentle kiss on welcoming lips, Sam whispered, "I can't wait to get you alone in the woods!"
With a tranquil chuckle, Liara whispered softly, "Don't we wish. You know if we leave the confines of the house, we'll have at least two commandos with us… if not more."
"Of course, we will," Samantha smirked. "But that doesn't mean we can't pretend they aren't there… my entire focus will be on no one but you, Ionúin Álainn. Nothing else will matter."
"Which simply provides justification as to why we can't go alone, you flatterer." Liara sighed happily, the light strokes of Samantha's fingers leaving lines of heat across her cooler skin. "But that doesn't mean we have to get up anytime soon, does it?"
Shepard's smirk became a quiet chuckle before she asked, "You want more sleep? Or do you have something else in mind, T'Soni?"
"I am very much awake, Samantha…" Liara grinned mischievously and wrapped an arm around Sam, pulling her closer. "So, definitely the latter. I am quite content to stay right here with you for as long as our hiking trip schedule allows."
When they finally emerged to wander downstairs, Riana met them at the base of the staircase with a knowing smile. "Good morning, Mistress… Captain. Chef Leyana has already prepared your day packs and is currently readying your brunch in the kitchen. Unless you have other preferences, Captain Tanni and Huntress Shyria will be joining me as your escorts, whenever you are ready to depart. Is this acceptable to you?"
Liara was prepared to answer the arrangements were fine when Shepard spoke first. "We'd actually prefer to go alone…" She paused only briefly when she saw Riana's eyes immediately widen in reaction; this brought forth a light chuckle, followed by an upraised hand to halt the protest which she knew would be the next thing she heard. "… but I already know exactly what you'll say to that, so don't bother, Ri. We'll be ready to go in thirty minutes, along with whomever Livos has chosen to accompany us on this trip… including herself, obviously."
Grabbing both a quick breakfast and the main packs they had assembled the night before, Shepard and Liara strolled out the front door and headed toward the docks, where they were met by a grinning Livos. "I hope you don't mind me choosing to come along with you, instead of tackling the pile of work sitting on my desk, Lady Liara."
Laughing lightly, Liara smiled and answered, "Not at all, Liv. Just like Shepard and I, we all need a break from the routine once in a while. You are good company and are welcome to join us on these excursions any time you like."
Shepard playfully punched the Personal Guard Captain on the arm. "Besides… watching over Liara is your primary duty, which is tough to do from behind your desk, particularly when we're concealed somewhere deep in the woods." Looking around, she asked, "Everyone ready to go? How 'bout you, Bev? I think you're the only one we haven't heard from this morning. You up for this?"
"The Estate can be a dangerous place, outside the confines of the actual compound," she replied earnestly. "But I am as prepared as I can be… even if we cross paths with a Próidh, which I pray to the Goddess that we do not. Ready is one thing… willing is another."
Liara frowned at the words, asking, "Do you not want to come with us on this trip?"
"Never said that, Mistress," Bev answered with a smile. "I am more than happy to come on your hiking excursion… the area surrounding the lake is beautiful this time of year. I just don't care to meet any Próidh along the way!"
"I'll second that," Shepard promptly responded. "I count myself lucky to have not actually seen one up close and personal in the wild yet, and I've heard enough stories from the commandos to know I should do my best to keep it that way."
"Agreed," nodded Liara. "It happened when I was rather young, but I've seen the results of an attack. The Próidh ended up dead and one of the commandos was scarred for life, even with the best medical treatments available on Thessia."
"Ouch." Shepard frowned. "That's saying something, considering how much more advanced Asari medicine is, compared to what's available in the Sol system."
"That was a long time ago, however," Liara responded. "All I need to do is look at the miracle that is you standing before me, and I am reminded of how much our medical capabilities have improved since that time, Samantha."
"Enough of such talk," Riana replied. "Both our medicine and our weapons have improved significantly since then… and this trip is your anniversary gift to one another, so we should not have it ruined by such conversation. That is why we are accompanying you… so you can relax and simply enjoy yourselves."
"Speaking of enjoying the trip," started Livos. "Do you want to hike the whole way, or do you prefer to take a couple of the skiffs to Rushing Pond?"
"You are likely the one out there most recently… with Zan… and the creek trail was in relatively good condition, was it not?" Liara asked.
"Yes, indeed… and made for easy hiking most of the way." Liv shrugged. "But this is your trip, so… two hours by skiff or four by foot, with another fifteen or so minutes to get to the established camp on the east side."
"Your choice, Blue." A smile accompanied Shepard's words. "Doesn't matter to me how we get there, as long as we're doing it together."
"Then let us enjoy the hike," responded Liara. "Afterall, quiet time together is what the trip is all about, yes? So, why rush it?"
Leaning in to place a quick kiss on a blue cheek, Shepard smiled. "Sounds good to me!"
They moved along at a comfortable pace, with the commandos and Liara occasionally educating Shepard on the biodiversity of their small region of Thessia. At one point, Shepard noticed an extremely brightly colored salamander-like creature and walked toward it, saying, "Check that thing out! What's it called?"
A panicked, "Stop! Don't go near that thing!" brought the Spectre up short and she backed away slowly, eventually casting a wary glance at Livos, who had issued the warning.
"It's just a little amphibian…" Shepard said hesitantly. "What can be so horrible about such a small thing to make you so worried, Liv?"
Liara had moved to her side and clutched her arm tightly. "Would you say the same of some of the more venomous snakes of Sol? The makaheil shoots a poisonous, paralytic toxin from its eyes, with the effective distance boosted by biotics. The toxin has been known to kill an Asari within an hour if not treated promptly. I have no idea what it would do to you, Samantha."
"We have a horned lizard that does that." Sam stared at the creature in amazement, continuing, "Kind of, anyway, but it just shoots blood, which is meant to confuse and scare the attacker; it's most certainly not poisonous!" Shepard frowned. "I obviously still have a lot to learn about Thessia and its creatures… especially our little corner of the world. I need to know that kind of stuff if I'm going to keep our kids safe out here…"
The very idea of Samantha wanting to play such an active role in raising their children made Liara giddy, the mood immediately lifting with her comment of, "Plenty of time for that, Siame, as it will be a long while yet before I'm even capable of bearing children." She flushed at the thought before continuing, "And every time I think about it, I give thanks for what Miranda did for us, to give us the chance to even contemplate the possibility of having children together!"
"That's a fact!" Shepard grinned, the incident with the small lizard almost forgotten as she leaned in and kissed the suddenly flustered Asari on the cheek. "With lots of time for practice to make sure we get it just right!"
Liara's blush deepened at the comment and she took Shepard's hand, pulling her along to change the direction of the conversation as they resumed their walk. With the remainder of the hike being comparatively uneventful, the happily tired group easily arrived at the lakeside base camp in time for dinner. After opening the secured storage boxes, the team got to work setting camp as they chatted about the day's events. "Just how many of these established basecamps do you have in these woods?" Shepard asked.
"Of this type?" Bev grinned teasingly as she responded, "If you had agreed to help plan the trip, you would have known we maintain only three such stations."
Barking out a laugh, Shepard countered, "Hard to help when, quite honestly, I have surprisingly little knowledge of what's outside the main compound. I haven't spent near enough time here during good weather and the Estate is huge! That's one of the reasons Liara and I decided to do this… probably even more important than simply wanting to hide away from the galaxy for a few days before we have to leave again."
Bev responded with a smile as she willingly explained, "There's this one, then one in the northwest notch of Lake Altera, and one on the eastern side of the Altera River, up near our northern boundary. Absolutely wonderful fishing on the lake so, without a doubt, we should be having fresh fish for dinner the two nights we spend at the notch."
"Sounds like a place where I might need to invite Wrex, Bakara and Grunt for a visit." She paused and pursed her lips for a moment before adding, "But it's not like they could all come at the same time… having three key Krogan leaders in the same place at the same time could pose an unnecessary risk."
"That's true… but that simply gives us an excuse to make a few more trips up here, doesn't it?" Liara immediately lightened the mood with a chuckle before adding, "Krogan certainly do enjoy their fish, don't they? We would likely have to place a limit on just how many they can catch while they're here."
Laughing in response, Shepard shrugged and answered, "That's easy… we just let them catch what we plan on eating for dinner and no more. Sounds like fun, but I'm not sure I see them as the hiking type…" She paused and looked around, reveling in the quite of the woods they were walking through before finishing, "And I don't think I want them flying in, disturbing the peace and quiet. We'll tell them it's hiking access only."
"That would actually be the truth, Samantha." Liara's expression was dominated by a joyful smile that only Shepard's comforting presence could bring to her face. "Other than the working portion of the Estate, the remainder is designated as a woodland preservation zone… which is why we always arrive at and depart from the Estate over the northeastern shore."
"Huh," Shepard grunted, before offering a smirking reply. "And here I thought we always came and went that way because you wanted to impress people with the awesome view presented by that particular flight path."
Dodging Liara's playful swat, Shepard chuckled. "Speaking of fishing and food, what's in those storage boxes to put together for a pre-dinner appetizer? After all that hiking, I'm hungry!"
Lake Altera, T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia – 16 Aug 2189
An indigo, pre-dawn sky greeted Shepard as she crawled from the tent to add another log on the fire; rather than return to the snug confines and the loving embrace of her mate, she sat just outside, lost in her thoughts as she stared into the glowing embers and dancing flames. Within a few minutes, she heard Captain Tanni approaching from the side. Placing a cup of hot Kaffe into the woman's hands, Livos asked, "Everything alright, Nara? It's early. Should you not still be snuggled in with your bondmate?"
Shepard happily accepted the mug of steaming liquid and gave Livos a wry smile. "Yes, I should be… but I was restless and didn't want to wake Liara earlier than necessary." She let out a quiet chuckle before adding, "We all know how much she likes to sleep in."
Tanni nodded in enthusiastic agreement. "That she does! Always has, that one. She would sleep the day away if nothing in particular was planned." She shook her head and shrugged, a grin pulling at the corners of her mouth as she continued, "But on the other hand, give her an interesting project or a hint regarding a potential artifact location? You'll not see her sleep until she either finds what she is looking for or, quite literally, falls asleep on her feet."
"That dedication and drive served us well during the war." Shepard was a bit more somber as she continued, "And most definitely saved me."
"A reference to the aftermath of Alchera, no doubt." Livos quietly answered in a somber tone. "Liara was never going to give up on you after that attack. She knew something was wrong with how everything played out there and wasn't about to let it rest until she figured it all out. I believe that puzzle was one she would have taken to her grave rather than give up on you, so it is good it worked out the way it did…" She finished with a smirk, "for all involved, not just you. You are important to us all, Nara… more than you can possibly know."
"Thanks, Liv." Shepard took a large sip of her Kaffe and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath through her nose to enjoy the aroma of the seemingly magical elixir as its flavor slid across her tongue. "Gods, this stuff is good… especially on a chilly morning. Thank you."
"Yes, it is… and you are very welcome." Tanni watched the expressions travel across the face of her House Captain before inquiring, "But all of this aside, Shepard, what made your sleep so restless? May I be so bold as to ask if you are experiencing nightmares again?"
"Yes, you may; you're a friend, Liv, and that gives you the right to ask me anything you like." Shepard looked up at her as she continued, "And no, I'm not, so you can rest easy on that one." Looking back into the flames, she added, "It's just that I think I'm done, Liv. I'm only 35… and barring a major accident, I'm going to live some 900 years." She huffed and shook her head. "Sometimes, I still have a hard time dealing with the whole idea of living that long."
"What are you saying, Shepard?" Liv blurted, stared at her in concerned surprise. "Do you not want to…?"
She never finished the question, Shepard cutting her off with a quiet chuckle and a hand raised between them. "Don't go jumping to conclusions, Liv, but I will say that what sounded good in my head came out sounding very wrong when verbalized… even to me. I have absolutely no intention of leaving this material plane anytime soon… but that's part of my point."
Shepard glanced up to meet the questioning gaze of her Mea're. "I think I may be done with being a Spectre, Liv… done with laying my life on the line time and time again, risking my future with Liara and House T'Soni after all we did together to secure it in the first place. By all that's reasonable, it's a miracle I'm still alive… and I have no intention of squandering that gift and losing my chance to raise a family with Li. I need to start thinking about visiting Tevos to talk to her about leaving the Spectres… and to decide on a path forward for Liara and I."
"Does Liara know all this?" Livos' voice raised in her surprise.
Shepard laughed, a grin spreading across her face as she used a finger to tap her temple and reply, "She's in my head, Liv. Our heartbeats align. We are… Inanna." The woman shrugged and finished with a warm smile, "The details may get buried in the everyday events and concerns, but deep down? She knows. She feels that love and commitment and understands my intent, I'm sure of it."
Livos smiled softly as she responded, "And we are barely into the second day of our ten-day journey. It gives you and Liara a lot of time to come up with your strategy, does it not?"
Shepard slid down to the ground and leaned back against the log on which she had been perched, looking once more into the dancing flames. "Yes, it does… and if we need more time after that, we'll take it." Her eyes drifted up to meet Liv's. "This isn't a decision to be rushed and I still have a few things on my Spectre list that need doing."
"Like what?" Livos challenged. "What could there possibly be on such a list that only you can do? Something so critical you could not leave it to another capable Spectre?"
"Things that involve personal debts and favors," started Shepard. "For one, the reef revitalization project on Dhazil, for the Krogan." A small smile crossed her lips as she continued, "All that talk about fishing and inviting our Krogan friends to visit reminded me of my promise to Grunt. I need to pay a visit to Dhazil and check on their progress, to make sure Dalatrass Gurji is fulfilling the intent of our agreement."
"I can understand why you would want to see things like that through before you leave the Spectres," Livos stated with a nod of acceptance. "Seeing as your departure would certainly alter the direction of the rest of your life…" She suddenly grinned and added, "Though, I imagine, you could still change your mind at any time in the future."
"Not necessarily." Shepard gave her a light smile in response. "At least in respect to the Spectre job. That may not be something I can leave and then go back to on a whim. That's one of the reasons we need to speak with Tevos; to figure out exactly what the options are."
Loving hands settled on her shoulders as Liara abruptly joined the conversation. "And, while leaving the Spectres completely behind is certainly the option I most prefer, we highly doubt Councilor Tevos will let Shepard go quite so easily, even after we clean up our few remaining loose ends." As she spoke, Liara maneuvered herself onto the log where Sam had been previously sitting, her legs and feet straddling the Spectre, who leaned her head back to peer up into the azure, adoring eyes of her Ionúin Álainn.
"Good morning, Blue. You're up earlier than I anticipated."
"After you crawled out, I got a little chilly." She used a finger to push an errant lock of hair off Shepard's face as she added, "And, given your involvement in conversation with Liv, I simply opted to get dressed and join you out here by the fire, rather than try to coax you back to bed."
"If I had known you were cold, I would have come." Shepard smiled up at her and winked. "You do know that, don't you?"
"Of course, you would have… which is exactly why I didn't ask. It would have been selfish of me to interrupt your discussion."
"Not at all, Mistress." Livos smiled. "This is your anniversary trip, after all. I wouldn't think of keeping Shepard from you, had I known you were awake." With a wry grin on her face she continued, "But, now that you have joined us, I do have some hot water ready. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Oh! Absolutely! I should have thought of that before I sat down!"
Liara started to shift in order to stand up without bumping Shepard, eliciting a chuckle from Livos. "Stay put, Liara, and relax with Shepard. It's my pleasure to prepare it for you."
As Livos walked away, Liara leaned forward to place a kiss on the top of Sam's head before adding, "We also still need to finalize the arrangements regarding the Monastery and the SILC escorts, to fulfill our promise to Samara, Falere and Aresia."
"Oh, Gods! That one's probably the bigger of the two main issues that have been nagging me." Shepard tensed slightly under Liara's hands and continued, "How could I possibly forget that?"
"You didn't… not really." Liara began to massage her siame's shoulders in an attempt to relieve the stress she had inadvertently caused. "It was just pushed to the back of your mind. It would have made its way forward when we got home and actually started making our checklist."
"Checklist?" Shepard closed her eyes and rolled her head around with a quiet groan, fully appreciating the massage, especially since it was being augmented by the biotics of her Anam Cara. Even knowing the intent behind Liara's comment before she spoke, she still asked, "What checklist?"
Hearing the thoughts running through Samantha's mind, Liara chuckled quietly. {The one we are going to put together to make sure we don't leave anything we honestly care about to chance, Shepard. And, to set a reasonable timetable for the completion of each and every one of them… before we even think about scheduling our discussion with Raesia.}
{So, we enjoy the rest of our vacation, then take whatever time is necessary to go to Rae with a complete plan.} Shepard sighed in contentment and opened her eyes, reaching up to gently pat Liara's hands as Livos returned with her tea. "An awesome suggestion, Blue, as always."
Livos gazed endearingly at the couple, an expression of loving admiration crossing her face as she handed Liara the mug, asking, "And what suggestion would that be?"
"Breakfast!" fibbed Shepard, a teasing smirk on her face as she rolled sideways to her knees before standing up and stretching, careful to not bump the newly arrived tea. "We're starving!"
Lake Altera, T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia – 17 Aug 2189
The group had stayed the whole day on the eastern shore, enjoying the waterfalls at the head of the stream that led to Rushing Pond. Then after a good night's sleep, they rose early to begin their next trek. The day's traverse around the western shore of the lake was positively gorgeous and the small group had walked for hours with only occasional conversation, simply reveling in the natural serenity that surrounded them.
For the most part, the journey consisted of quiet contemplation, with only the skitter of animals in the brush and the quiet swish of the travelers' feet on the hard-pack, sandy shore. Samantha and Liara continued to discuss their plans for the future, sometimes with quiet whispers but generally through the link, quite literally at the speed of thought.
The group had stopped and chatted a couple of times during the journey to the northwest notch – once for lunch and then a second time for a dip in the cooling waters of the lake, taking a break from the hot afternoon sun. During those times, they more than made up for the quiet of their hike, with the sounds of playful splashing and joyful laughter echoing across the lake to shatter the normal, hushed stillness of the region.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Shepard immediately noted the camp at the notch was even better than their first overnight location. "You really know how to camp, T'Soni." Shepard grinned at her bondmate as she continued in a surprised voice, "I mean… seriously? Cabin tents and a sailboat?"
"As we told you… wonderful fishing here, Sam, so the commandos spend a lot of their off time out here." Liara smiled teasingly, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "As for the boat, how else are we going to get offshore to the best fishing spots on the lake?" Liara dropped her pack as they approached the camp storage boxes, nestled into the trees along the shoreline. "But we don't leave everything out here all year long. The commandos use the irrigation canal to bring supplies and equipment west in the spring and will do the same… likely at the end of October… to bring whatever is left back to the Estate for winter storage."
"A job they sometimes compete for," grinned Livos. "Everyone loves coming out here, but there's no need to deploy it all until the spring weather breaks, so it's a welcome task… and the spring fishing is always the best."
"Yes, but the hardest part is the paddle back with all the fish in the skiff!" Bev chuckled. "But I have to admit, the look on everyone's faces when a team brings in a record haul? Priceless."
"Paddle?" queried Shepard. "Aren't the skiffs powered?"
Liara raised a brow and responded, "Yes, which they can use while on the lake… but the irrigation canal is also used as our fish hatchery and farm, so no power is allowed through that portion of the transit."
"Ah… so the canal serves as the main source of food fish for the House?"
"Yes, but it's a combination of that and the markets. We trade our excess with various vendors for the fish we can't procure here, locally… particularly the more northern ocean fish, like the galea… unlike the maanru, which we occasionally harvest directly off our own shores, depending on the season."
Shepard shook her head in amazement. "The more I learn about the operations of House T'Soni, the more respect I gain for Lyessa and Aratiana… and the more I understand your need for Matriarch Mozia and your father while we're out and about with me doing Spectre business."
Liara chuckled softly, a smile spreading on her lips. "It may seem overwhelming to you… the same way going into battle with you, that first time on Feros, was for me. But…"
Shepard smirked and gave a small laugh in response before finishing Liara's sentence for her. "When you're raised in a certain way, it seems the most normal thing in the galaxy."
"Exactly." Liara gave Shepard a quick kiss on the cheek before adding, "So… dinner?"
Lake Altera, T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia – 18 Aug 2189
The day at the lake started late. The cabin tents were amazingly luxurious, including a 4-poster bed – in Shepard and Liara's case, the traditional setup normally occupied by the House Matriarch – and a small chiller fan which was more than adequate to keep the steamy heat of the hottest summer night at bay. Shepard had awoken early and teased Liara awake with kisses and gentle caresses along the ridges of her crests, only to unintentionally spark a fire that Liara demanded be sated.
As such, it was mid-morning by the time they had washed up in the small water basin, also located inside the tent, and stepped outside to join Riana at the cookfire. Seeing the questioning look in Liara's eyes, her First immediately answered, "Liv and Bev are out doing a quick patrol and collecting more wood for the fire. They should be back shortly." With a quick nod at the fire, she added, "There is hot water for tea in the short kettle for you, Liara, and some Terran coffee in the tall one, for Nara."
"Ah, Ri," Shepard sighed happily. "You're a lifesaver!"
Riana actually chuckled and gave a slight, teasing bow to the Spectre. "It is my pleasure to serve, Shepard. Just like Lady Liara, I will be forever at your side, as long as the Goddess grants me the ability to properly protect the both of you."
"Not that I always need protecting, Ri, but always happy to have a helping hand." Shepard grinned. "So, what's on the day's agenda?"
"Whatever you and Lady Liara want to do. It is your trip, after all." Riana glanced at Liara and waited patiently for her to chime in.
"Well, breakfast first, and we can talk about the rest of the day when Liv and Bev get back." She smiled lovingly at Shepard and added, "Though I fully imagine we'll be spending some time out on the lake, either fishing or swimming… likely both."
"We have all eaten, so…"
"Of course you have," Shepard chuckled. "I've got it, Riana. I don't often have a chance to cook, so I'll be happy to make some campfire eggs and potatoes for us."
"Eggs and potatoes?" Liara's smile broadened at the thought. "You haven't made that for me in… I don't even remember how long!"
"Not since the apartment on the Citadel," replied Shepard. "So, yeah. It's been a long time."
"But we don't have any potatoes with us, Nara." Riana looked disappointed, as if she had somehow failed the couple by not anticipating Shepard's desire to cook a meal during the hike.
Shepard simply patted her on the shoulder, saying, "Yes we do, Ri, so don't fret. While we were eating brunch at the Estate, I talked to Leyana about what foods we had packed for the trip. We still had some in the storehouse, so I had her pack a small cooler pouch with a few small potatoes… and, then, she also suggested throwing in the last of our bacon. My bet is she ordered replacement stock before we got outside the secure area of the Estate."
Liara's eyes lit up and she asked, "Is that the honey-smoked bacon?"
Laughing, Shepard grinned and answered, "Yes, Li, it is. Nice and sweet… just the way you like it!" Glancing up at Livos and Bev, who were now close enough to hear what she was saying, she added, "And plenty enough for everyone, should anyone want some."
"Keep your bacon, Shepard," countered Livos, "But I'd be happy to have some of your potatoes… especially if you are adding peppers and onions, like the last time you made them."
"Of course, I am." Shepard's happy grin never faded as she continued, "Leyana wouldn't think to pack a bag without them, knowing what I wanted them for."
"Then count me in as well, Captain." Bev smiled at her. "Including some of that sweet bacon!"
After brunch, Riana joined Shepard and Liara on the sailboat, leaving Livos and Bev behind at the camp, to head out onto the Lake. The summer winds were rather weak, so the actual sailing was unexciting, prompting them to quickly settle into a fishing spot. As Riana made her first cast, Shepard and Liara stretched out in the sun on the bow of the boat to relax yet continue their conversation about their near future.
"Are you truly sure you want to do this, Siame?" Liara gazed into Samantha's gorgeous emerald eyes as she finally asked her last question. "I can sense your hesitation, no matter the words you speak, and I don't want you doing this for me. You have to want it for you."
"I want it for us, Blue." Gently squeezing Liara's hand, the Spectre replied, "My only concern is that the rest of the galaxy won't actually let me do it. I'm afraid Rae will say no… and I'm not sure what I would do at that point."
"I think you underestimate Councilor Raesia Tevos, Spectre." Liara let a teasing smirk cross her lips. "I think the friendship between the two of you, along with your record of service and the sacrifices you made for the cause will add up to her being in complete agreement. I believe you have done more than enough… we have done more than enough for the Council… for you to be released from additional service." Liara paused, Shepard suddenly feeling the ache in the Asari's heart over the multiple losses they had suffered over the course of the war, the most poignant being the losses of Matriarch Benezia and David Anderson.
"Hey." Shepard rolled up on her side and leaned over to look into Liara's eyes. "It's over, Blue. We make a great team and we pulled through… giving ourselves the opportunity to make our dreams come true… to become the masters of our own destiny. Let's not spoil it by letting all the sadness, despair and guilt come roaring back. We've worked too hard to give in now, just when everything good is truly within our reach."
An appreciative smile shined in Liara's eyes, gratitude sweeping through her for the woman who had stolen her heart. "Thank you, Siame. Who knew it would be you reminding me of such things, instead of the other way around?" Reaching up to stroke the cheek of her bondmate, she used her other arm to push herself up, placing a passionate kiss on Shepard's lips, silencing any additional spoken discussion. {You're lucky Riana is with us.}
{You consider that lucky? I'd rather we were out here alone, because if we were…}
A husky chuckle erupted from deep in Liara's chest. {Then, just perhaps, it is time for us to go in for some private time and an afternoon nap before dinner.}
{I certainly don't disagree with that plan of action, Lady T'Soni.} Shepard gave Liara another soft kiss, massaging blue lips with her own before pulling away. Rolling back onto her back and sitting up, the Captain of the T'Soni Guard issued her order.
Riana saw the happy grin on Shepard's face as the woman looked at her, a definitive twinkle in her eyes as she spoke. "Hey, Iregos. Lady T'Soni would like to return to shore now, please… and make it snappy."
Riana's brow arched and she chuckled softly, a knowing smile spreading across her lips as she began to reel in her line and lure. "Aye Aye, Captain! We'll be on our way as soon as I store the fishing gear!"
A/N: Life has been busy, so I apologize for the long gap between chapters. The good news is that I'm changing to part-time at my job, a shift long in the making, so I will have a chance to get 'caught up' a bit on my story!
