Everything chaotic in Shepard's life seemed to start and end in the damned decontamination room.

Miranda, Grunt, and Anya were suiting up in basic gear to head down to Illium. There, Miranda said she had a few contacts that would get them some leads on the Collectors and some useful resources. Instead of leaving Miranda on her own, Anya thought it best to come with.

Not because she didn't trust her; hell, if Miranda really wanted to be underhanded she could probably do it right in front of her face and Shepard wouldn't notice. It was more because she figured Miranda did enough on her own. While Shepard was the big fancy commander, Miranda was the one really running things, planning their routes, getting the right information and supplies. The least she could do was try to support her, make sure she knew that if she needed her, Shepard was already geared up and just a quick call away.

But just as she was locking her light plating into place, Miranda was giving her this nose-scrunched up, shoulders stiff, work of art kind of uncomfortable look. If she had to give Miranda anything, it was that she wasn't shy about voicing her complaints.

Gesturing to Grunt, Miranda asked, "I appreciate you seeing the value in accompanying me to a place like this, but... why did you bring our Krogran friend?"

Finishing up by pulling on her boots (which were still struggling to get worn in), Anya said, "He's never been on a space station before."

That answer didn't seem to satisfy the stern officer next to her. Her hands were still stuck on her hips. "He's never been anywhere before."

"More reason to bring him everywhere." Anya hit the decontamination button and was ready to explore Illium.

The process was quick, but Miranda wasn't done questioning her. If it was anyone else, Shepard would've shot them down. But if she learned anything about Miranda, she rarely asked questions just to piss her off. They normally came from some serious, genuine concern, even if Barbie Tits didn't bother to be sensitive at all about it. "I'm getting the feeling you've bonded a little intensely to this krogan."

Grunt started talking before Anya could. With one step onto the pristine, metal platforms of Illium, he warmed her heart more than his simple statement probably should. "She feeds me and I follow her orders. That's the strongest bond I've ever known." Shepard gestured at him like it made her point.

Mirand seemed less than impressed and upgraded to the next level of "serious" posturing: crossed arms. "Again, he's about three days old, not a great metric."

Sighing, Anya touched Miranda's shoulder and gave her the same kind of harsh bluntness that she employed. She figured it was the best way to get her point across. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact I had a fractured, complex home life as a child so I latch onto people that make me feel wanted or needed, which could take years of counseling to unravel. Or we could just keep this simple and let me enjoy showing off Illium to the krogan."

"Fair enough." After Miranda unfurled her arms and all the stiffness that came with it, Anya breathed a little easier herself. Her life was easier when Miranda was on her side. And she hated to admit it, she was starting to enjoy the Cerberus liasion's company, so she preferred not to piss her off. "Now, I need to catch up with some contacts. Will you two be okay navigating the pavilion without me?"

"Miranda. I can take care of myself."

"I know that. This is about the fact that you haven't been here before and Illium can be just as seedy as Omega, just with a fancier polish to it."

Tossing in his own two cents, Grunt smiled wide and punched the palm of his own hand. "If anyone threatens her, I'll crush their skulls."

"Good attitude on defense, but crush a skull and I crush your snack budget. Just keep it professional and try not to kill people."

"I'm impressed you didn't add a "I know that's hard for you, but..."."

Rolling her eyes, Miranda grinned at her. "I'm not a bitch all the time."

Anya kinda liked having someone around who called her out on her shit. Cerberus may treat her like a hail mary wrapped in credits, but Miranda treated her like an asset. One might think that'd be degrading, but when most of the world treats you like a legend? Just being a normal, problematic asset was refreshing.

She conceded, saying, "Touche. My bad for the assumption. We'll come back in one piece."

"Good. Rendezvous back here in three hours." Grunt and Shepard waved Miranda off and she weaved throughout the crowds like she belonged there, a posh, sophisticated member of all their social rules and ideals.

Anya and Grunt, on the other hand, stuck out like diplomats on Omega.

When it was just the two of them, Shepard had planned to take him to a krogan restaurant, see a few shops, check out the views. But she quickly realized she underestimated the wide-eyed wonder of a krogan who'd never seen anywhere or anything first hand before.

He didn't do anything like a kid would, like it was all a magnificent wonderland. Most of the time, he walked normally. But anything that wasn't part of Okeer's imprinting always caught his eye and he'd start asking questions.

It was mostly manageable, but made Anya realize how little she knew about the world.

She only lost any semblance of control when they walked past an Illium pet shop.

Grunt saw the variety of different creatures and, other than doing this low, deeply unsettling growl at a pyjack, he stared at everything like it confused and fascinated him. While the store was filled with asari, turians, humans, Grunt was the only krogan in sight.

If Shepard didn't know what Miranda said about Illium, she;d be more amused by the bull in the antique shop, scaring all the locals with his wide eyes. But since she did know, she kept a wary hand on her pistol holster.

After a few minutes of staring and wandering, Grunt settled himself in front of a couple cages with various different fluffy hamsters. When Shepard stopped and stood next to him, that's when the questions started.

"What is this creature? What's its purpose?"

Anya cocked her head, looking at the tone right in front of Grunt. It had a mix of orange and white fur, its beady eyes staring back at them before running on the wheel. The others were all doing different things, napping, nibbling, the like, but they weren't doing too much, really. "That's a hamster. It's uh... It doesn't really have a purpose. To look cute?"

Grunt frowned. Guess her answer was unsatisfactory. "What do you mean? Does it distract enemies in battle? Will it destroy enemy technology? I know Varren are good in a fight."

She didn't mean to snort at his suggestions, but she did. The image of a battle hamster was too much. "No, people just kinda keep them in their homes, feed them, and enjoy looking at them."

"So it does nothing and gets rewarded?" Peering at her, Grunt only looked more bemused.

"I mean... Yeah, I guess." Gesturing at the orange fluffy one in the cage in front of him, they watched as the shopkeep, a Salarian, took it out to hand to a human. "It does make people smile. They like that."

"Hmm. This thing is smart, manipulating human emotions. I prefer a good fight, but if fighting becomes too easy... Making some idiot species take care of me sounds great, since I'll never find anything that can take me down." Then, Grunt looked her directly in her eyes with such seriousness that it made her jump a little. "I want one."

Shepard wasn't sure if this was the cutest or most terrifying moment of her life, watching a krogan get so intense about a hamster. But she settled for bubbling, uncontrollable laughter. Raising a finger at him, she glanced around the shop. "Sure, I guess, just give me a sec-"

Before she could take any control of the situation, there was a shriek next to her and she swiveled her head back. Apparently, Grunt thought it best to take the orange and white one out of the human's hand next to him and claim it as his own.

The human was getting indignant, and fast. "Hey, you can't just take-" Shepard could already see the Salarian shopkeep coming back to them in a hurry.

Her own cheeks flaring, she grabbed Grunt's elbow. Ten minutes in a store and everything was already batshit; just another day in the life of Anya Shepard... "Grunt, put that one down. We'll get one from the other cages, not out of people's hand."

Grunt shook his head and stroked the hamster in his hands with a surprising amount of gentle care. "But I've bonded with this one. I've seen its power in action and we understand each other. It's mine now."

Past Grunt, she could see the human throwing up his hands and the Salarian looking understandably uncomfortable about the whole thing. He winced and asked the human, "Would you mind...?"

"I mean, yeah, I do. I wanted that hamster." A little too fast for her to stop him, Grunt growled at the human. But in proper, human fashion apparently a krogan wasn't enough to scare him off a purpose. He stood his ground. "I-I have a right to buy whatever hamster I want, right?"

Just as things felt a little too intense for a conversation about hamsters in a pet shop, and Shepard was uncomfortably fingering her gun hoping she wouldn't have to use it, especially not on her own krogan if he went rogue, the Salarian flicked open his omni-tool.

With a simple step between them, he gave the most fabulous customer service smile she'd ever seen. Honestly, she was impressed. She could have used a power like that during her old chats with the Council.

Not the Illusive Man, though, asshole deserved every frown.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Another patron has exceeded the price point to ensure the hamster goes to this woman and her krogan. Let's find you a good substitute..."

And then the human was whisked away like nothing happened.

Anya turned around and glared around the store. While she appreciated the diffusal, she didn't need some Illium asshole assuming they just earned themselves a favor out of her. "Whoever just did that, I can take care of buying my krogan's first pet myself, thank you. I am a capable adult. You're just being an annoying asshole."

"Even if it's an old friend?" Walking around a shelf corner were deep blue eyes, beautiful freckles, and a sweet smile. Anya knew that face anywhere. While she still was a little annoyed, it all was overrun by the excitement of seeing someone she missed so much.

Taking a few quick bounds to reach her, Anya pulled Liara into her arms. "Dammit. You ruined my speech by being you." When she pulled back, she felt her heartstrings tug. There was a very faint scar below her chin, and she was wearing a long dress instead of her old research outfit, but here she was. Liara T'Soni in the flesh. "It's so fucking good to see you, Liara. How did you find me?"

"A troublemaking krogan with a beautiful soldier escort doesn't go unnoticed, especially when a popular pet shop suddenly clears out during its peak hours." Liara laughed, that pure, genuine way she always did. Hell, on a ship full of thieves and mercs and vigilantes, a frustratingly good person was a welcome sight. Even if she was getting more comfortable with the gray nowadays. Liara added, "I think it's more surprising when it's not hard to find you."

"Fair." Gesturing over to the krogan collecting hamster care items, Shepard tried not to laugh too much. Half the time, she didn't know what to make of him, but somehow he managed to be adorable, holding his hamster so soft. "This one's name is Grunt. He's a little new to... everything so I'm trying to be a good Commander."

As if on cue, he walked back over to them with the hamster back in its full cage and some supplies tossed over his shoulder. "I now have this tiny, fuzzy warrior so this is the best day of my life."

Anya could tell Liara was also trying hard not to laugh. "Really?"

"Yeah, during the other two, Shepard and the salarian stuck me with needles and did all these tests. Said it was for my health, but I'm perfect so it was a waste of time."

Slowly, Liara's head turned towards Shepard, at best bewildered. At worst, sincerely looking like she might've just lost her mind. "Did I hear something wrong, or did this fully-grown Krogan just say he's only been alive for three days?"

"It's a long story." Grabbing a couple things from Grunt to help him carry, and sending the appropriate credits for the gear to the shopkeep (and then some, for the trouble, Anya offered, "We were planning on getting lunch nearby. Wanna join?"

"Of course."

Walking the pavilion with Liara, it was like being transported back in time, to when she was a more idealistic Alliance soldier falling apart while trying to save the world. They did the normal song and dance; she told Liara she was with Cerberus, Liara told Shepard she was an information broker now. Even though she was enjoying every moment with Liara, it was like they were high school friends meeting up for a class reunion. That's how far away they felt.

And that was only made even wilder, considering for Anya it'd only been a month or so since she'd seen her.

Guess not everyone was going to feel like hers still, not like Garrus. Liara was still sweet and kind, but there was so much more lurking under the surface that Shepard didn't know how to address. It wasn't like she could just ask, after all this time.

But she could ask other things. "You've been keeping in touch with anyone? Tali? Kaidan?"

"Tali and I exchange messages every so often. But Kaidan and I... we had a falling out a long time ago."

Anya tried to reach for Liara's hand, remembering how red-faced and adorable Kaidan had been walking out of her room on that 4 am stroll. She wondered what happened, between that and now. "I'm sorry."

Then. Liara's face darkened and she shook her head. "I'm not." But before Anya could ask, she added, "And you?"

"I ran into Tali but had to part ways, and Joker and Chakwas are on my ship, but otherwise nothing. Well, except Garrus. He's been by my side almost from the beginning." Anya didn't mean to get so sentimental, and then was embarrassed by it, and then realized her cheeks were turning red all over again.

Christ, was she useless.

Liara just patted her hand, though. "I'm not surprised by that at all." Then she sighed. "I have to get back to work, but next time you're on Illium, come see me, okay?"

"I'd ask you to come with me, but I think I already know your answer." Liara looked guilty and fiddled with her dress, but she didn't correct her. It was okay. She didn't expect everyone to come running back to her, not the way she left them. And even though it hurt, it didn't make her care about her old team any less.

Anya pulled Liara back in for one more hug. No matter what was different or how she changed, Liara T'Soni would always be her awkward doctor who loved Protheans and she loved her, even if she wasn't in love with her. No matter how complicated things always were between them, and how much more tangled they were starting to feel, none of that changed for Anya. "Take care, Liara."

"You too, Shepard."

And then Anya and Grunt made their way back to the Normandy. When they got to the docking bay, Miranda was already there, her arms crossed. Her eyes were not looking too friendly. "You two are late."

"Got a hamster. Also ran into an old friend."

Rubbing her temple, Miranda gave a slow, pained laugh. "We can discuss the hamster later, who was the old friend?"

"Dr. Liara T'Soni. Works as an information broker now, somehow. A bit of a jump from researcher, but I jumped from dead to alive, so who am I to judge?"

Miranda laughed again, and Anya took personal pride in doing that one on purpose. It was nice to have Miranda think she was funny for her jokes sometimes instead of her ill-conceived life choices. But Shepard didn't expect what came out of Miranda's mouth next while they walked into decontamination. "Makes sense, since she went undercover in the business to find you."

"Pardon?"

With a pristine, curved eyebrow, Miranda shrugged. "Hmm. Seems the good doctor neglected to tell you that The Shadow Broker got your body first, planned to sell it off to the highest bidder. She's the reason we ended up getting to resurrect you, instead."

Anya grumbled. She was just going to let Liara's secrets and changes slide, since she was the one who dipped out two years ago. They were her own to keep, right? But there was a pit growing in her stomach that said Liara's weird reaction about Kaidan had something to do with this whole story. "No, somehow Liara neglected to mention that."

"If you need to go talk to her-"

Shaking her head, Anya placed a hand on Miranda's shoulders. "No. I'll have that conversation with her later. Right now, let's get back on the Normandy, talk about your contacts, and get Grunt's hamster settled in."

"But she's your old team. I would've thought-"

Shepard didn't mean to keep cutting her off, but all she had to do was look between Grunt and his hamster and Miranda's tired face to know this was the right choice. Liara wanted to stay distant and keep secrets, and they'd have to face that eventually to be friends again. But Miranda was here, working her ass off, and deserved credit for it. And at the very least she didn't deserve to be saddled with the hamster prep. "You just spent hours working your ass off to get this intel together. No matter how much that information about Liara bothers me, you're my team now. You take precedence."

Even though she furrowed her brows, Miranda's face eventually melted into this grateful smile. "Thanks. Shepard."

And it was worth it, that smile.

She left her team fractured last time and she hated that. Anya could still see the horrible effects whenever she found a new, lost member. Hell, sometimes she could still see the echoes of it on Garrus' face when he thought she wasn't looking. Joker and Chakwas, too, even. But this time around, she was determined to leave them better off, even if they lost her.

A great way to start was to make the two genetically perfect people feel appreciated and loved.

/

Author's Note:

I have been intending on giving Grunt a space hamster for WEEKS so I'm so excited to finally put it into action.

Also, considering how secretive post-Shepard death Liara is, I was happy to make her a little more guarded and secretive once the pair met again. While Anya loves her first crew, I think it's good for her to acknowledge she kept them at a distance, which made that emptiness after she left all the worse.

Anyway, I'll give an exciting tidbit for the next couple chapters: a first date is coming up!

Time for my awkward attempt to hype up the patron aspect of this all (Anya's awkwardness had to inspired from something). Patronage helps me spend more time on my writing and interactions with you guys, as well as get closer to my goal of making a super creative Twitch channel (gaming, write with me's, fun readings; I plan on making a big step in April). For the lowest tier ($1), you guys get access to my T-Day Blogs talking about my stories and ideas and future plans, access to a fandom-friendly discord, and vote on the monthly "beach episode" for Drunk Punch Love.

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