Notes:

Anam Cara - Soul Mate (Gaelic)

CGC - Center for Galactic Cooperation

CO - Commanding Officer

Ionúin Álainn - beautiful beloved (Gaelic)

Kaffe - equatorial Thessian vine, the seeds of which are used to produce a non-alcoholic beverage of the same name, the taste described as a mix of coffee and chocolate (Thessian/Source: CDN)

LEAP - League of Earth Alliance Patriots

SDU - Standard Duty Uniform

Siame - "one who is all", a loved one cherished above all others (Thessian/Source: CDN)

XO - Executive Officer

Best Intentions

Knight Shade, Mannovai Orbit, Annos Basin – 18 Feb 2189

As soon as the inner hatch of the airlock opened, Valern saw Shepard and Liara waiting for him within. He smiled and stated, "That went remarkably well for a visit that was supposed to be unexpected… yet appeared as if it was most definitely not a surprise."

"What?" Shepard asked, her sudden concern etching lines across her forehead.

On the other hand, Liara simply nodded as she replied in a forthright tone, "She was waiting for you, wasn't she?" Her words were spoken much more as a statement than a question.

"Yes, she was." Valern blinked in his lingering surprise, from both Esheel knowing of his arrival and Liara seeming so relaxed about it. "I am unsure as to how she came by this information… and she was most definitely not forthcoming regarding her methods."

Shepard shrugged, "Doesn't matter. I imagine she got wind of our invitation to you and tracked you from there. Not every Councilor gets an invite to a Spectre's home."

"Particularly from a Spectre not your own. Had you invited Tevos, it is probable none would have made any special note of it." Valern looked suddenly calmer, having a potential explanation for Esheel's knowledge of his travels. "I believe you are likely correct… but, on the other hand, that also means I must have been under surveillance during my time at your home, which bothers me greatly. If she can follow me so easily, so can Linron."

"Not necessarily," Liara responded quickly. "We didn't exactly keep your invitation a secret… so, more likely than not, Esheel's spies simply picked up on the Knight Shade's departure. It's not like we launched any of our transports as a deception tactic to disguise which ship you may have left on."

Valern flashed a smile. "Ah, yes. And it would be very unlikely that I would remain at your home after you had departed… so they assumed, correctly, that I was traveling aboard the Spectre vessel. A perfectly logical explanation, Liara."

"Don't look so happy just because your mystery is solved, Linas." Shepard's tone cast an immediate pall over Valern's sense of relief. "Because you're right about one thing." The Spectre paused for emphasis before adding, "We didn't stop at the CGC on our way here… and Esheel expected you, so it's very likely the Linron family actually does know about your visit…" She glanced quickly at Liara before continuing, "… and our involvement in your transport. If Ereda is as savvy as we believe, she will immediately make the connections we didn't want public quite yet."

"Which means we will have to be extremely careful in the future." Valern frowned. "Particularly me, when I return to the CGC."

"Do you have security you can trust?" Liara asked, solemnly.

"I will call Major Kirrahe and have him report to the CGC to meet me upon my return. It will not be the first time he has provided security for a Councilor." Valern glanced at the Asari. "May I use your long-range comm?"

"Absolutely," answered Shepard. "As soon as you finish telling us exactly what you two discussed down there."

"Ah. But of course!" Valern flashed her a smile and asked, "Shall we retire to the ship's lounge so we may speak in comfort?"

"Not only did Esheel agree with our plan to pit the Dalatrasses against one another and offer any information she may come across… free of charge… but she also offered to pay market price for your time and information services that will aid in any direct actions she can take to help push this along. She fully understands the need to make herself a primary target, to keep the opposing Dalatrasses from seeking the cause of this disruption on their own." Valern blinked rapidly before adding, "But, do not presume this stems from any sense of fair play. She is simply ensuring that her alliance will not incur any level of debt to you, in any form. She wants to remain free from any potential future favors you could possibly ask of her."

Liara glanced at Shepard, who nodded in the affirmative to the question that made its way through the link. Turning her focus on Valern, Liara quietly began, "You do need to know that Shepard and I spoke about our way forward after you departed for the surface. We are going to treat everyone equally… by that, I mean we are looking into all the Spectres… no matter their allegiance."

"At this point, they are all suspect," Shepard continued, before adding, "And then, we will be vetting members of the STG, so I know who is available to the Council as potential replacements for those who end up terminated from service."

Valern stared back and forth between the two of them, his jaw working, but no sound coming from his lips for a few seconds. He stopped and cleared his throat, finally managing to ask, "Every single Spectre? Including Turians… and Asari? Not just Salarians?"

"Yes, Linas." Liara answered promptly. "Every single one currently allowed unlimited access to all the classified Council files and records."

"That will be a monumental task…" Valern paled slightly. "I just informed Esheel we were beginning our operation immediately. This comprehensive vetting could significantly delay our start date!"

"Relax, Linas." Shepard smiled softly. "We're going to prioritize the information requests, so we can start putting the first few tidbits out there to begin building the mistrust between the Linron allies."

Liara stepped in to continue the explanation. "It has to build slowly; else they will immediately suspect foul play and question any new information that comes to light. Every bit of incriminating information we leak will be completely true but, if we arouse suspicion, they could be stubborn about believing any of it. That will necessitate we proceed very slowly… giving us plenty of time to thoroughly check out the records of the current Spectres."

"Exactly what kind of information are you expecting to leak?"

"You have no idea how many trade agreements between families have been violated over the past few years." The Asari chuckled quietly. "One simple example: Dalatrass Chada of Halegeuse promised one-third of their Helium-3 sales profits to be split between two of her allied clans… Edra and Wius… in payment for the manufacture of the advanced shielding necessary to colonize Halegeuse' moons. They expected fair payment, as that shielding plays a critical role in enabling said Helium-3 collection and refinement."

That piqued Valern's interest, so he leaned forward quickly and asked, "Violated how?"

Liara's chuckle transformed into a smirk. "It would be a terrible shame if the unaltered House Chada profit statement records for the past five years or so were to be released… accidentally, of course… to their business partners, to be compared to the altered ones they have actually received each year. From a Salarian perspective, how do you believe Dalatrasses Cha'ak and Salova would deal with that?"

"Best case?" Valern leaned back with a satisfied smile, immediately catching the drift of Liara's statement. "They would demand immediate reparations… including added penalties and fees for falsification of records and potential lost investment interest." He shook his head. "Worst case, they would contract either a thief or assassins, depending on just how many credits you are referring to and just how angry they become. Honestly? I do not believe I wish to know how you could have possibly come by that information, Doctor T'Soni… but I find myself extremely curious and I cannot help but ask, even if you choose not to answer."

"I am an information broker, Councilor." Liara smiled smugly. "An information broker good enough to find what we needed to win our war against the Reapers. I am confident getting the data we need about the Dalatrasses will prove no greater a challenge, especially given the extended timeframe we have in which to do our work."

"Yeah, we can take our time to do this right." Shepard chuckled softly. "It's not like we have an imminent extinction looming over our heads this time."

"Ah, yes." Valern glanced between his two new partners, allowing a small, optimistic grin to flash across his otherwise straight-line lips. "I see your point."

Spectre Vessel Nalotir, Arcturus Stream – 21 Feb 2189

Spectre Ashley Williams sighed as she carelessly tossed the datapad she'd been studying on her desk, only to curse under her breath as it skidded on the polished surface and fell clattering to the metal deck as it slid off the other side. Well, shit! With a grunt of exasperation, she waited as Leon chuckled slightly while bending down to retrieve it.

With an amused expression crinkling the skin beside his eyes, he handed the datapad back to his captain while quietly observing, "Still can't discover where your potential propulsion engineer is stationed… or hiding?"

"Dammit to the black abyss, Leon… this guy is keeping an extremely low profile, and the Batarians… those that will even speak with me, anyway, are not very forthcoming!" Leaning back in her chair, she clasped her hands across her mid-section as she mulled the problem around in her mind. "I've asked them to get in touch with him… have him contact me without revealing his location. Nothing! Cannot understand it for the life of me!"

"How about a diplomatic solution, Captain? Can Councilor Osoba speak with the delegation from Khar'shan? Perhaps one of their representatives would be willing to assist us."

Williams responded with a bitter laugh. "You missed the part of the Victory Tour when Shepard attempted to thank them for their help during the war. We were still beside the relay when Ka'hairal Balak threatened to turn the Normandy into space dust if Shepard didn't immediately get the Hell out of Batarian Space." She shook her head as she added, 'No… Humans will probably never be welcome in the Kite's Nest… not until Batarians go extinct, so, not an avenue for information."

Leon sat back and stroked his chin. "Perhaps Commander Voight in the CGC Propulsion Lab could help… have you asked him?"

Ashley thought about it briefly before answering. "I hardly spoke with the man while I was there. Gabby was so upset about her husband's death, I don't think we exchanged two words afterwards. Hardly even spoke with him at the funeral."

"Want me to contact him to see if he has any thoughts on the matter?"

Ashley nodded slowly. "Do it, Leon. Maybe you'll have better luck than me. I don't care what you say to him… Hell, tell him I'm a total harpy if you like. Just find me that engineer."

Shadow Broker Warehouse, Juxhi, Skyllian Verge – 22 Feb 2189

Roshida pinged the entry notification and stepped into the Regional Commander's office. "Hey Solo, you wanted to see me?"

"Ah, yes, Captain. Please, come in!" He flashed her a welcoming smile and picked up a datapad, gesturing toward the small bar in his office. "Grab something to drink and have a seat. I have news."

Knowing there was only one topic that would be worthy of Solo calling her to the office – Orestes Station… the location for Project Phoenix – Roshida went to the bar as directed and poured herself two fingers of her favorite Asari honey mead. She needed to keep her head clear and the stuff was powerful, so dared not pour a full glass. Taking an initial sip, she turned and walked back to his desk, taking a seat. "What have we got on Orestes?"

Solo gave her a quick, acknowledging nod before responding, "That's why I like you, Roshi. Direct and to the point… and you always know what's coming at you before I say a word." He slid the datapad across the table and continued, "Based on what happened to you and your team at The Barn, we sent our best infiltration team to Orestes. They very quickly discovered Project Phoenix is a bit more… no, a lot more… horrific – if that's even the word for what our scouts discovered – than we ever imagined. I honestly believe the Broker will want that facility destroyed, no matter what Doctor T'Soni desires. I have forwarded an exact copy of the information you are now holding in your hand to the Broker… and am awaiting a decision. I wanted to give you a copy, as well, so you could begin study and preparations in the event he actually approves some form of a mission other than to simply destroy the facility."

Roshida had remained focused on Solo as he spoke and frowned as she glanced down at the pad. "What could possibly be going on there that is so bad the Broker would demand immediate destruction, rather than an intelligence collection mission first? He deals in information!"

Solo shook his head. "There is some technology that is so powerful, so unique… such an aberration from what is considered civilized and normal… that the Broker feels there are not enough credits in the galaxy to allow a single person to ever possess it, as it would destroy the natural balance of things. The Broker files restricted to the highest classifications are filled with such information… and Project Phoenix may be one of those technological deviations that belongs with those files."

"So, why would you let me read this?" Roshida cast him a nervous grin. "If the Broker decides to shove this data into a dark corner with those file boxes, am I going to be… terminated?" She had asked it semi-jokingly, but Solo's failure to respond to her query suddenly had her seriously worried. She stood from her chair and glared at him. "Commander! Should I be concerned?"

"Absolutely not, Roshi… Please, sit down." Solo was dead serious, any trace of relaxed conversation that had been present vanishing with her questions. He sighed quietly and explained, "When you came here, you came with nothing but the highest qualifications and recommendations. I had never seen any rated to highly… and it only took your first few missions before you were trusted enough to be cleared for this level of data." He shook his head and held up a hand to keep her from asking the obvious question, continuing, "You were never told because our clearance system has a strict need-to-know policy. Before now, you had no need to know."

"By the Goddess!" B'Sayle slumped down into her chair and took a big swig of the ale remaining in her glass. "You fucking scared me, Solo! My team and I have carried out a few of those contracts… never even considered being on the receiving end of one… until now! Shit."

"I apologize, Captain." Solo drew a deep breath before continuing, "I assumed you were secure in the knowledge the Broker considers you one of his top assets. Unless you do something entirely out of character, you and the members of your team will not have to worry about such a thing. Never." Finally allowing himself a small smile, he quickly added, "This is information rarely distributed, but given the circumstances, I will confirm that you are currently one of the Broker's top three operatives. He would never terminate one such as yourself without proof of a grievous breach of trust. Even then, you would be given an opportunity to rebut or reconcile the charges against you. Such procedural actions have been undertaken only five times in the entire known history of the Brokerage… and only two of those ended with termination."

Taking a smaller sip of the ale in her glass, Roshida relaxed a bit more into her chair. "Damn. You should inform new recruits of that policy and the history that surrounds it." With the threat of death no longer looming over her head, she chuckled earnestly and added, "It might be enough to keep all of them on the straight and narrow."

"Or scare them out of wanting to stay with the organization. Money is not always the sole motivator." Solo laughed with her. "We may never recruit another agent, and then where would we be? Even Asari don't live forever!"

Emptying her glass, Roshida stood up and went to the bar, rinsing it in the sink and placing it into the cleansing unit. "Alright, Solo. Now that you've scared the shit out of me, I'm going to go review this data." She met his eyes and queried, "Am I correct in assuming that it's too soon to share this with my team? That I should wait until we get approval from the Broker to undertake this mission?"

"Again, that is why I like you, Roshi." A wide grin split the commander's face. "Exactly right."

Spectre Vessel Nalotir, At Large – 23 Feb 2189

Spectre Ashley Williams, having just finished her morning shower, sat on her bed with both hands up, massaging and drying her hair with a fluffy towel. Unlike most days when she literally flew out of bed and raced around her compartment to get cleaned up and dressed to meet whatever crisis was unfolding before them, she had the small luxury of time this morning, thanks to a brief lull in reported pirate attacks in the lawless region between the Traverse and Alliance-controlled space.

She chuckled mirthlessly at the phrase 'Alliance-controlled'. The Systems Alliance may have exerted some control over parts of the galaxy, out to the Voyager Cluster or the Armstrong Nebula – before the damned Reapers poured in through Kite's Nest and began their harvest – their destruction – of technologically advanced races, but with the near total destruction of the Human and Turian space-fleets during the war, response times to pirate and slaver attacks in the region was now measured in weeks – if the victims were lucky.

She rose from the bed in order to get dressed, studying her reflection in the mirror as she pulled on her underclothes, followed by her SDU. She had just finished pulling on her boots when the desktop comms unit quietly trilled to announce an incoming message. With a sigh, she reached over and tapped the ACCEPT control; the image of her XO appeared on the small screen.

Without preamble, Leon Rensch said, "Ma'am, I have a location for your Batarian engineer. He traveled to Omega Station after the war, then served on a freighter as a relief engineer… made multiple trips among a number of worlds before going ashore on the newly completed CGC, where he now lives between assignments."

Ashley asked, "Between assignments? He still hiring on to freighters?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm sending you his contact information."

"Thanks, Commander. Be out shortly. I'll contact him as soon as I have some coffee. I want to see if he'll agree to meet me on the CGC."

"Let's have breakfast together; we can discuss his qualifications."

"Sounds good, Leon."

Civilian Residential Area, CGC, Widow System – 23 Feb 2189

Garok Ferank cracked one of his four eyes open just enough to see the softly-glowing chrono beside his bed. 0745… really? Who the fuck… at this unholy hour… on my week off?

He had a comms unit repeater on the small table on the other side of his berth; unfortunately, he couldn't afford to ignore any calls he received, since he needed to work in order to eat. He waved his hand through the ACCEPT VID / SEND AUDIO control, as he didn't feel like having to be visually presentable to whatever pile of Pyjak dung who dared to interrupt his sleep.

"Garok Ferank," he growled. "What the Hell you want?" He struggled to focus on the bright image being displayed – a Human female. How do they cope with all that hair? Do they really need it so long?

"I'm Spectre Ashley Williams, Mr Ferank. My apologies for contacting you so early… sounds as if you were sleeping."

"Fuck your apology… Spectre… just tell me what you want." Garok put as much hatefulness into the words as he could; although he got along okay with other races, he didn't care for Spectres at all – of any race, or gender.

Surprisingly, the female's expression didn't change at his tone. Instead, she pressed on without hesitation as she simply continued, "I'm in need of a propulsion engineer on my ship; your qualifications and work history are impressive. Would it be possible for me to meet with you on the CGC tomorrow… over lunch… to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement?"

"Ashley Williams, you say?" Ferank's brain had finally begun to wake up – Why in Hell did I drink so much last night? "Yeah, I heard a few rumors you been lookin' for a propulsion engineer. Must be really desperate to even think of hiring a Batarian!"

The deep chuckle he received in response to that was even more surprising than her initial calm response… as was her next statement. "I'm sure you know I'm the CO of the Galactic Council's flagship… the Normandy. Both my engineers were killed by a Quarian missile that struck the belly amidships. I've found a replacement systems engineer, but good propulsion engineers – of any race – are quite scarce since the war. Meet me tomorrow… it'll give you time to sober up… and lunch will be my treat."

"How did you know…?" he started to say, but the smirk that crept into her expression told him she didn't need a vid-feed to see – and hear – that he was terribly hungover. "Okay, Spectre. I'll send you a location where we can have a discreet lunch. If I decide to walk away, I don't want any of the few friends I do have seeing me talking to a Human… especially a female, as if you are an equal. I wouldn't be able to get a job on an Elcor shit-hauler!"

Ashley chuckled again. "If you decide to work for me, I believe it will help you as much as me." She looked down for a moment, then returned her gaze to the camera as the image flashed. "My contact info; send me a location. Once I see where you wish to meet me, I'll decide whether I need to bring backup."

Ferank quickly decided he liked the style of this 'no-shit' Human female. Watching her as she spoke, he appreciated her directness. If she was as forthright when he met her in person tomorrow, she just may have found the propulsion engineer she needed. A chance for a Batarian to work on the Normandy? I may just take her up on her offer, came the thought as he gratefully eased his aching head back down onto his pillow.

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 23 Feb 2189

"Exactly how long were you going to keep this a secret from me, Liara?" A very angry Shepard, having reviewed the latest Broker traffic, glared at her Ionúin Álainn, very uncharacteristically raising her voice as she continued, "People died for me, Liara! Not even really for me… they died for the chance to give me a few more years of life! We don't even know if this search will uncover what Miranda needs! What then? They will have died for nothing!"

"I understand you're angry, but what you just said is not entirely true, Shepard." Liara was not in the least bit sorry over the actions she had put in motion. "First of all, eight hundred more years are not exactly 'a few,' Shepard!" Even though she was not repentant, tears ran down her face, upset that her siame could possibly be so angry with her over this. "But even more importantly, you promised to do everything within your power to stay alive, be with me, and help raise our children! I refuse to feel guilty about putting you first… because I love you and I am tired of constantly worrying about losing you! Every time we have a chance at a future together, the Illusive Man, alive or dead, and the Cerberus network still somehow manage to threaten to take it all away from us!"

"So, you honestly believe exchanging the life of one Asari and three Krogan… a potential four thousand years of existence… for my 800 more is a good deal?" Shepard shook her head and spat out, "You're the smartest person I know, but you need to redo the math, Liara, because I come up with an entirely different answer regarding that lack of balance… especially since the quest for the necessary info has just begun. Are you truly willing to sacrifice them for me?"

"Yes, I am." Liara briefly crossed her arms defensively across her chest. "As far as I'm concerned, Samantha…" She dropped her arm and placed a hand in the middle of Shepard's chest, grabbing onto her shirt as if she could physically keep the woman from being taken from her. "Compared to the millions you saved from the Reapers, if a few have to die defeating the last remnants of Cerberus in order for us to finally, truly realize the promise of a peaceful future, then yes, I am completely okay with that!"

Shepard pulled away and flopped down into a chair, her stomach tying itself into knots. "I don't think I can be, Liara."

Growling with frustration, Liara questioned, "Have you even considered adding all those you saved during the Reaper War into that equation, Shepard?" Her voice broke but she pushed on. "You gave your life to a largely ungrateful population … nearly twice… and people still didn't fully appreciate what you were doing! Even when they finally saw how real the threat was, most still wouldn't come to our aid! They hid on their homeworlds! The only reason we won was because you simply refused to die… and dragged everyone else along with you to victory, whether or not anyone was willing to help you! You refuse to see it this way, but I say they owe you, Samantha, and it's time to call in that debt!"

"You're right, there, Liara. I do refuse that logic." Shepard huffed and shook her head. "I only did what needed to be done; that's all."

Liara stifled a sob and momentarily turned away. "You always say you never expect anything in return but, this time – if you are honest with yourself – you did want something… you wanted a future… you wanted time for us; it was the only thing we truly desired as a reward. But then, after the war, gratitude and consideration for our personal circumstances were nearly as scarce as the Reapers you destroyed! Have you already forgotten how they made our lives a living hell? Heroes of the galaxy be damned; some even went to the extreme of trying to assassinate us!"

"Watching you go down after that sniper shot? No matter how hard I may try, I will never get that terrifying vision out of my head, Liara." Fighting back her own tears, Shepard continued, "But that does not give you the right to command others to die for my personal benefit!"

Liara spun back, her own anger at Shepard's intransigence springing firmly into place. "You know that LEAP and the other remnants of Cerberus wanted us both dead… and, as we've recently discovered, even some of the Salarians still plot against you! What will it take for you to understand what I feel to be the main issue, Shepard?" She huffed and shook her head in frustration. "Let me make how I see this issue very clear. If we lose this last fight… If I lose my 800-year future with you… which is the only thing I have ever truly desired… I will lose everything I have worked for; it is the one sacrifice I am simply not willing to make!"

"That's not fair, Li… You know damned well my promise to you is what kept me going… and it's not like I want to give up an extra 800 years with you… you are my Anam Cara!"

"Which, apparently, doesn't matter!" Liara was seething as she spit out, "With your damned tenacious propensity toward self-sacrifice, you will give it up, whether you want to or not… So, if you can't care enough about us and our joint future to do what needs to be done to change that outcome, we have absolutely nothing more on this topic to discuss!"

The link crashed painfully closed, making Shepard wince as Liara turned away and stalked out, the positively livid Asari vanishing quickly down the hallway. Samantha stood quickly, pleading, "Liara!" only to be met with a stony silence. It had been a long time since she had felt so completely and utterly alone… not since their link had formed on Illium. Shepard stared wistfully at the empty doorway for a few more moments before slumping back down into her chair, realizing that Liara had no immediate plans to return to their conversation. "Well, you certainly stepped in the shit this time, Spectre… So, what are you going to do about it?"

T'Soni Country Estate, Thessia, Athena Nebula – 24 Feb 2189

Gabriella Daniels was attempting to find a comfortable position in the chair she had chosen to sit in while she awaited being called into Doctor T'Lori's office; the day before, they had completed an 8-month checkup on her health and the health and progress of the twin babies she was carrying, and this appointment was to go over the results. The early afternoon sun was slanting through the large windows overlooking the expansive gardens that surrounded the immaculate field of grass – or whatever the Thessian equivalent of Terrene grass was called here – and it made for an amazingly relaxing view while Gabby waited.

Truth be known, Gabby was growing increasingly tired the further along her pregnancy progressed, and there were times that she felt like simply throwing up her hands and opting to endure the next month or so with her bare butt firmly planted on the toilet within her private bath. Doing so would save her the seemingly thousands of steps it cost her to make the necessary trips back and forth, given the number of times a day she felt the need to reduce the pressure building in her now very crowded bladder.

Taking a sip from a mug of Kaffe, she sighed in happiness as the smooth liquid warmed her insides, even as she noticed Alyna T'Lori – her reflection in the window, actually – frowning in her direction from behind her. She was sure the doctor disapproved of the caffeine intake, but it was one of the few pleasures Gabby could still enjoy, and she was unwilling to give it up.

"Gabriella? With the number of times you have to empty your bladder, you know dehydration is an issue." Alyna sighed, sounding almost as weary as Gabby felt. "And I know you'll never quit, so why do I bother?" She chuckled quietly at herself, and her frown turned up into a smile as she continued, "So come on in; we have much to discuss… all of it good."

They discussed, in great depth, what the Asari considered a normal process – a water birth – which most definitely required an assistant, other than the attending physician. Though not a routine Human birth process, particularly when involving multiples, Alyna had assured her it was perfectly safe.

They eventually compromised on using the warm tub for the labor portion only, gaining the many benefits that come along with the warmth and buoyancy, followed by the actual delivery done in typical Human-fashion… from a high-and-dry medbed. When Alyna had brought up the subject of a birthing assistant, Gabby had sat in stunned silence for a few moments before breaking down in tears with the realization it could not be Kenneth.

Once Gabby regained control of her emotions and following a bit of discussion about the necessity, Alyna gave her a rather short list of names. "Of course, you can select anyone you choose… so these are merely a few recommendations. Though, I would highly suggest they be someone who has both delivered a baby of their own, so they understand everything that comes along with that process, and who is readily available to stay at the Estate for a prolonged period of time. It is my understanding that Human babies can arrive at the most inconvenient and unpredictable times, so the person has to be available on what could end up being rather short notice."

Gabby had agreed with both of those conditions and now found herself staring at the list of names. She had actually hoped Tamiko would be able to come, but after a relatively short call, understood it was impossible for her best friend to be away from work for the required length of time. Looking again at the so-called list, it included only four names – one of whom Gabby didn't even know.

The first recommendation was Luana Stura; the Steward of House T'Sere, who had acted as the birth coach for the daughter of Lady Sashia when she delivered the Grand Matriarch's first granddaughter. I've heard mention of the family during ship acquisition discussions, but I certainly don't know them! Why on Earth would I want Luana as my coach? Gabby didn't hesitate to scratch the first name off the list.

The next wasn't much better… Moises T'Dura. She was, at least, a friend of Liara and Shepard's whom Gabby had met. What surprised Gabriella was that Moises was actually bonded and had acted as the birth coach for her bondmate. Together, they now had a daughter who was 80 years old. She seemed so… uncompromising… and gruff! I never would have guessed she was bonded and had a kid! I do believe Alyna must have been hard-pressed to come up with options for me!

The next on the list actually made Gabby think – Aethyta. God help me! I don't really know her… she cusses like a sailor… and, quite honestly, she scares me! I don't believe that's a very good recommendation for the position of birth coach!

Gabby chuckled quietly to herself and moved to the last name on the list, immediately happy that she easily recognized the name. Lyessa! Now that's someone I think I can work with, but… why don't I know that she's had children? I guess the only thing to do is ask her, but … what if her daughter is dead… killed in the Reaper War? With a sad sigh, Gabby picked herself up and readied herself for the long walk to the Estate Steward's office. "I can't imagine Alyna would have suggested it, if it would be painful for her. Guess I'll never know for sure until I ask her."