The common area was bustling with soldiers spending their free time drinking, chatting, and playing games. Whenever one passed our table, a crusty and cramped spot meant for eating, they didn't bother trying to hide their unblinking stares. Garrus and Tali didn't seem to notice as they were caught up in their fifth game of cards. Tali had been winning so far, but I suspect it was because Garrus was letting her. It was unlike him to so willingly and quietly lose, but something in his eyes lit up every time Tali pumped her fists in the air and gloated at her victories. Meanwhile, I scraped at a red food stain stuck to the surface of the table. I had been working on it for at least an hour and had only managed to carve a small dent into it.

"Are you tired of losing yet, Garrus?" Tali teased.

"To you? Never," he replied as he began shuffling the deck.

"Oh, get a room," I grumbled.

They both paused and fell silent. When I raised my gaze, I found them watching me. "We tried to contact you, you know. All of us."

I bit back the building guilt and scratched harder. "I know, Tali," I spoke with a soft sigh. "I've just been so caught up in work among other things. Not to mention…" I trailed off with a shake of my head. "It doesn't matter."

"Liara," The quarian started, only to be interrupted by a beeping from her omni-tool. "Sorry, I need to take this." She quickly left the room before I had the chance to ask who was calling.

I turned to Garrus, whose mandibles twitched. "So, how are things?" I asked.

Simultaneously, he said, "I should probably check on Tali."

I blinked. "I suppose so." And with that, I was left alone. I contemplated turning in early when the nearby elevator opened with a whoosh. Out of curiosity, my eyes darted towards it, expecting a stranger. Instead, I found Ashley striding out, her boots thumping heavily against the floor. Her hair was shorter, chopped just passed her chin in a way that complemented the features of her face. The soldiers fell quiet as she entered, but only momentarily. I was rather impressed with the aura of authority she had gained in Shepard's absence.

She finally noticed my observant gaze and strutted over to the table with a "Liara, it's good to see you." She folded her arms over her chest and shifted her weight onto her right hip. The chain of her dog tags, nuzzled in her collarbones, glinted in the light. I adverted my gaze before I was reminded of Shepard.

"Likewise, Lieutenant."

There was a smile in her voice as she replied, "C'mon. There's no need for formalities. Though, I'm a little hurt that you haven't called."

"It seems you aren't the only one who feels that way."

"I mean, can you blame us? After London you just kind of disappeared."

Although my throat felt filled with sticky syrup, I pushed the words quietly through. "I know, but everyone grieves in their own way."

Her mouth scrunched, her mind searching for a reply. Before she could respond, Garrus and Tali returned. "Something's come up, Liara," Garrus said. "Unfortunately, we won't be coming with you."

"Why? What's going on?" What could possibly be more important than this?

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh…well. Tali and I are…adopting a kid." Every muscle in my body tensed, like a wounded rubber band seconds away from snapping. I looked at him, waiting for the punchline of his stupid joke.

"Are you serious?"

"One of Aria's men found an abandoned human baby in the lower levels of Omega," Tali continued. "Aria has been reluctantly caring for him until she can find someone to take him off her hands. If you ask me, though, I think she has a bit of a soft spot for-"

"You can't actually be considering raising a human baby," I cut in sharply. "Where would you even raise him? Palaven? Rannoch? He'll grow up ostracized by the other children. I doubt he'll make it to ten years old without developing severe depression."

"We'll just raise him around other humans. Problem solved."

"No, Garrus," I bit back. "Problem not solved. You can't just spontaneously adopt a child without any prior research or experience. Especially when that child is an entirely different species. You have no idea of the problems you're setting yourself up for."

"If you don't think we're fit to be parents just say that," Tali commented coldly.

"I don't think you're fit to be parents."

The turian's blue eyes narrowed to black slits as his large hands firmly grasped the table, leaning in until our faces were inches apart. "Grief is not a good look on you." As he spoke in a low rumble, my nose instinctively crinkled against the stench of something meaty on his breath. "If you ask me, you're being a huge-"

"A huge what, Garrus?" I asked through gritted teeth. My back straightened and my neck arched as I glared up at him. I felt the numerous gazes of soldiers watching us, placing bets with harsh whispers and throaty chuckles. Might as well give them a show. "A bitch?"

"Be careful, Liara. Your krogan is showing," He chastised.

"Excuse me for not being as chipper as the two of you. You have no idea what losing Shepard has done to me."

"You aren't the only one who lost her. We all loved her and mourned her death. Of course, you wouldn't know that because you were too busy being selfish." My shoulder knocked against my chair as he jabbed a hard finger into my chest.

I shot up. "Selfish?" My voice rose with each word. "That's rich coming from you, Garrus."

"Enough!" Ashley barked, pushing herself between us. "Stop making a scene in front of my crew or I'll send you all home and find Shepard myself."

I curled my fists, my fingernails cutting deep into the skin of my palm hard enough to leave crescent imprints. My nostrils flared with each exhale. They were waiting for me to fall apart again, the way I had with Hackett. I shoved passed Ashley and stormed off to the sleeping quarters. Thankfully, I wasn't followed, and the room was empty. My shoulders fell slack as my temper dwindled. I let myself sink down onto the first cot I reached, not caring who it belonged to. The corner of a small, rectangular box slid towards me, poking my thigh. Upon examination, I found it to be a half-empty carton of cigarettes paired with a nearby red lighter. I'm not usually one to smoke, and I certainly don't steal, but I craved a cure for my stress. I checked the closed door before pushing a stick between my lips. As I sucked back nicotine, I ran my thumb over a faded JV carved into one side of the lighter. I breathed out a dark cloud of smoke with a faint sigh, racking my brain as to who could possibly be the lighter's owner. The J could've stood for "Jeff," but I was sure his last name didn't start with V. Besides, I would've recognized Joker limping around the hallways. When I reached the butt of the cigarette, someone behind me cleared their throat. "Help yourself, I guess," said a deep voice. With the cigarette still hanging out of my mouth, I turned to see James Vega towering in the doorway. JV. Ah.