T'Soni private estate, Thrassican Republic, Thessia

Liara was pacing slowly back and forth on the stone terrace that ran almost the length of the back of her private residence. Her personal aides were walking too but careful not to crowd her as she had already yelled at them to go away twice that morning. But they knew it was her discomfort and fear that had made her snap at everyone in her inner circle the last few days.

The trauma from Shepard's loss on her body and in her mind physiologically altered her so that she had all the abilities of her species matron stage; but she was still young in experience. She was under a hundred and twenty years old, barely even a maiden. As such she had certainly been able to become pregnant but hadn't had the years of conditioning and mental preparation to give birth.

"I am not arguing with you any further, make the arrangements and begin to move the equipment to the mountains now or by my oath to the Goddess I will banish you to some rock in the Terminus system," Liara ended the call without waiting to hear the response.

"Lady Liara," a voice called from a door behind her that led into the main hall of the house.

"What now," she snapped and her tone was as brittle as ice and she spun around to confront whoever had come to annoy her.

"We have word that Captain Shepard's shuttle is only a few minutes out," as soon as the young commando had delivered the message she disappeared back into the house.

Liara felt a small rush of relief but that didn't do anything to quell the fear and anguish which was manifesting itself in anger, abruptness and a propensity to ban people from her presence.

She began her laborious journey through the house to the front entrance to await her bondmate, both hands around her belly, anger rising to match her stress.


Incoming shuttle, two klicks out from the T'Soni private estate, Thessia

Shepard sat opposite Tash and Liselle, who was recounting another story about Liara's deteriorating mood and behaviour over the last week.

"So, at that point she threw the data pad at Matriarch T'Joan and ordered her guard Captain to keep everyone away from her until further notice."

Shepard groaned and wondered, not for the first time, how she was going to handle her seemingly out of control bondmate.

High Priestess El'Estrene had contacted her two weeks ago warning her of Liara's condition. It didn't help knowing this was common in the last lunar cycle before giving birth; that the changes were connected to the birthing hormones; or that it ensured the soon to be mother kept herself alert and ready for an attack at her most vulnerable point. It was an evolutionary throwback no longer needed given most Asari gave birth in very safe, prepared spaces, and almost always on Thessia. And none of that had given her any idea how to deal with it when she landed.

It also didn't help her anxiety when El'Estrene had called her a few days ago to say Liara we exhibiting the most extreme form of birthing rage which again was perfectly understandable given her extreme youth. And that she had now banned everyone, including El'Estrene herself, from even contacting her. Liara was one moment in full denial about needing to give birth and at other times wanted the child ripped out of her.

"All of this behaviour will pass, Shepard, but she needs to take instruction on how to begin the process. And she needs to be calm, which we can achieve with a birthing meld, but…" El'Estrene had left Shepard to work out the rest. When they concluded their conversation, she was in no doubt about her job when she got to Thessia.

She had to wrangle her bondmate and get her to the temple. And persuade her to give herself over to the help she obviously needed.

Shepard brought her mind back to the conversation where Liselle was now regaling them both with stories about just how bad birth rage could get and anyone hapless enough to get in its line of fire.

Once the shuttle had settled she jumped onto the grass and started trotting towards Liara who was waiting at the top of the steps.

"I do not want to see people," Liara said indicating Liselle and Tash who were walking very slowly, "and where have you been… you should have been here a month ago… you stopped at the Citadel, did you think I would not find out… did you see her, were you with her," her bondmate had become more and more agitated as she spoke.

Once Shepard was close enough she reached out to touch the side of her lovers' face but Liara shrugged her off and started shouting again, "where have you been, why did you let me do this… I must have still been mad to think this was a good idea…"

"OhKay," Shepard drew out the word and then continued in what she hoped was a soothing tone, "that isn't people, that's your sister, and I wasn't with anyone on the Citadel."

But as that wasn't entirely the truth Shepard realised to late her bondmate would probably catch the lie, and she did.

"How dare you lie to me… did Sha'ira give you what you needed… am I not enough for you now… I do not want anyone here tell them to go… you can go as well I do not want you here."

Liara was shouting now with a wild look in her eyes both hands clutching her hugely swollen belly the air around her beginning to crackle with energy. She looked to Shepard as if her next step was going to be physically pushing everyone away from her. And she wondered briefly how had Sha'ira get into the conversation.

Shepard squared her shoulders and from her full height held Liara's glare, "Liara T'Soni that is enough, we are going into the house to sort this out… now," she used her outside command voice hoping it would break through the young Asari's red mist.

To Shepard's surprise and relief, Liara seemed to sag a little and despite the continued look of anger she turned and walked into the house without a word.

Before following her bondmate in Shepard looked back at Liselle and Tash who were both at the bottom of the steps. She indicated they should follow her but they both gave her big grins and shook their heads. Tash went as far to give her thumbs up while mouthing good luck.

With a deep breath she went to find her raging bondmate.


Large living room, T'Soni private residence

When Shepard entered the room, she closed the door behind her and looked across to where Liara was standing in front of a sideboard pouring herself a drink.

"Should you be drinking."

Liara turned more quickly than Shepard thought it possible in her current condition and only just dodged the glass that had been aimed at her head.

"Do not think you can walk back in here when it suits you and start telling me what to do…"

"I didn't mean it like…"

"You knew I needed you with me… and you could not even come straight home," this time Liara picked up a bottle and threw it in Shepard's direction.

"I'm really sorry… I should have…"

"Yes, Shepard, you should," Liara was shouting again, her face flushed and tears rolling down her cheeks, "am I not attractive now, do you need to seek other Asari instead of coming home."

Shepard had no idea where all this was coming from and decided to risk moving closer but watching for incoming missiles as she did.

"Hey honey, you know I love you and you're the only one for me," she was a few feet away when Liara picked up another bottle, "just tell me what's going on, come on we're a team we can do this."

"We… there is no we," Liara was shaking now, her eyes wide, still holding the bottle, "I do not know how to get this… this thing out of me… why did you let me do this… bring a daughter into a world that is ending… I feel as if I will explode…"

Shepard had a thought and before she could stop herself it just came out, "hey come on beautiful, the only thing to be worried about is if you've got a Reaper in there," the look on Liara's face made her worry that going for humour might not have been the best idea.

She fought the grin that was trying to pull up the corners of her mouth knowing this could all end really, really badly.

Then Liara's mouth opened in a silent 'oh', "that terrible film you made me watch, you called it one of Earth's great science films."

Shepard couldn't hold the grin back and her shoulder's rocked with silent laughing, "well science fiction but yeah."

"Are you calling our daughter an alien," Liara's tone was much more like her usual self and her eyes were brighter.

"Never, we're the aliens, you were here first," Shepard closed the distance between them and pulled Liara into her arms, expertly taking the bottle and placing on the table behind them.

"I am scared."

"I know baby, but everything's going to be OK. Shall we let Lady Nara come in and do her stuff… you know get things started," Shepard had guided them to the sofa and they sat down, she still held her bondmate close.

"I am so sorry… I have been awful to everyone," Liara was softly sobbing into the side of her neck and so she just held her quietly making soothing noises.

"My fault, I've been away too long… back now… we're a team baby… it's all going to be fine."


Dining room, T'Soni private residence

"How do you think it's going," Tash finished the last forkful of food from a much welcome meal that had been waiting for them when they arrived.

"I'd have preferred to face down a thresher maw," Liselle laughed and beamed a grin at her.

"Yeah I wouldn't want to face you as pissed as that. Although I'll be long gone by the time you're ready. Aw shit, Leece, I'm sorry, me and my big mouth." She realised what she'd said too late and her last words were both sad and apologetic.

Liselle reached a hand over the table for one of hers and she welcomed the warmth and connection.

"I can think of plenty of ways for us to have a kid if that's what you want," Liselle spoke in a playful tone to match her wide grin, "and I think you'd look great pregnant."

"Hell no… maybe… you're not being serious, are you?" She was glad not to have spoiled the mood by her crass remark knowing only too well Liselle would never be able to have a child the Asari way.

Before they could continue their teasing Shepard came and sat at their table looking exhausted and a little the worse for wear.

"Is there still food, I'm starving."

"How did it go boss," Tash couldn't keep the smile off her face, "she's certainly her father's daughter."

"Hey that's my sister you're talking about, but you make a solid argument."

"Little respect for my very pregnant about to explode bondmate please," Shepard sighed and continued with a smile, "she's with Lady Nara and they're doing the birthing meditation now, so buckle up we're in for a long night."

Tash could see how tired and worried her cousin was. She could also see and hear the wonder and excitement, and love. She wondered what it would be like if it was Liselle who was about to give birth to their daughter and looked across at her, now, secret bondmate.

She thought her heart would explode with the feelings she had for the young asari commando across the table. The thought that it was she who had taken away Liselles' ability to have a child, had caused her all that pain, that her lover had almost died surged through her for a moment.

Liselle must have noticed something because she squeezed her hand and gave her a questioning look. She responded with an assuring smile and pushed away the negative past and drank in the moment.

"By the time I've finished eating they should be ready and we'll take a shuttle over to the temple."

"So, she's going for a temple pool birth, nice and traditional," Liselle nodded.

"We… as in you and Liara?"

"All of us babe that's why we're here, it's the best part."

"But in a different room, not actually…"

"If she's going to the temple then she's going for a traditional Asari birth ceremony. Which means blood relatives, close family and friends get to be with her and at the moment of the birth. If you get an invite it's pretty special if you're not Asari."

Tash looked at her lover and wondered why everyone was acting so normal about being invited to watch someone give birth. She'd only see extranet vids of live birthing, which was not as common as it once was, and it looked painful.

"Looking a bit pale over there mate," Shepard laughed even as she was eating her food.

"It's… I've never been… do we have to do anything."

This was greeted with laughter from both Liselle and Shepard and once again she had a rush of love and realised how much this felt like she was finally home.


T'Soni family temple, T'Soni private estate, Thessia

When Shepard had finished grabbing some food she returned to Liara who was much calmer and more like her usual self. Her bondmate was still scared, as she was herself, but the rage had gone.

They travelled in a shuttle and Liara made no objection to her sister and Tash joining them for the short flight. They travelled in silence, Liara leaning into Shepard's arms throughout.

Once at the temple she accompanied Liara and her circle of priestesses led by Lady Nara to a part of the Temple buildings she had never been. They walked along a corridor whose walls were smooth cream tinted, warm stone, their way lit by the soft white light emanating from the wall itself.

The sound of singing drifted towards them, the same ethereal voices from the choir at their naming ceremony when Liara had taken her place as the leader of the Thrassican Republic and the T'Soni family. Once again, she was drawn in and could almost see the colour and taste of the sounds, a feeling of complete peace and safety flowed through her mind. She felt Liara relax her grip on her forearm and turning to look at her bondmate was met with a calm smile that warmed her heart.

The light seemed to shift and Shepard's eyes were immediately drawn to the end of the corridor, which was now sloping downwards. Towards the end of the corridor the walls had been transformed with blue light dancing and drifting in waves.

If she didn't know any better she would have thought they were in a glass tunnel underwater. Through wide open doors ahead she could see a circle of water fifteen or twenty feet across and the whole of the chamber had the same light effect on the walls and its high ceiling.

Just before entering the main birthing temple they stepped into an ante room and she nodded to Liselle and Tash who continued into the main room.

"How you doing," she almost whispered to her lover their arms still linked.

"Much better my love."

"Now we will strip off your clothes Lady Liara ready to enter the pool. Captain will you be joining your bondmate," Lady Nara said her voice calm and matter of fact which was reassuring as hell to Shepard.

"Yes, but…"

"You will of course keep on whatever clothing you wish," Nara said with a knowing smile. Shepard wondered if she'd ever throw off her species strange reluctance to get naked in front of strangers.

Once Liara was undressed the six priestesses began to massage her all over with oil. Shepard stood back a little with Lady Nara and took in the sight of her beautiful, strong and vulnerable bondmate and thought her heart might burst with love.

Liara's eyes were closed while she was being massaged, then they opened and looked straight into her own, all the way into her feeble human soul, and she felt their connection deep in her mind.

"You are ready Zandee'Abhiti," Lady Nara said and she led them into the main chamber.

Shepard had stripped down to shorts and a vest; Liara reached for her hand as they walked side by side her attending priestess's behind them.

The singing in the chamber changed a little. To Shepard's ears individual voices were standing out but she couldn't follow the ancient Asari tongue enough to understand the words; yet somewhere in her mind or her soul she felt their meaning.

They walked down steps cut in the side of what Shepard now realized was a tidal pool. As they reached the final step Liara let go her hand and dove under the surface. She launched out from the side and began to tread water as the six priestesses', who had joined them in the pool, followed her bondmate down.

Lady Nara, standing at the edge of the pool, started some kind of prayer which wove its way in and out of the continued singing.

Then Liara broke the surface and swam towards her and initiated a meld. Through the connection Shepard felt her lover's trepidation and a little fear still remained. But there was also excitement, joy and she could feel their daughter.

A sense of awe and wonder rose in her and Shepard kissed her bondmate and held her close. As they continued their long love filled, tender kiss, Liara pulled them both under the water.

When they broke apart she felt the edges of the pain and discomfort and could sense, almost feel, the baby was close. They both headed for the surface for another lungful of air and dropped again this time circled by the other Asari in the pool.

She sent love and support through the meld and rising to the surface once again she held her bondmate from behind against her chest as Liara gasped and cried out and with one final push their daughter was born into the sea that had given birth to the Asari.

Liara reached down under the water for her daughter and raised the tiny body to her breast. With the help of Shepard and the priestess's they made their way back to the steps. Shepard could feel through the remnants of the join how weak and shaky her bondmate was but only followed her up the steps, ready in case she was needed, but giving no assistance.

Lady Liara needed to walk out of the pool with her daughter on her own, a powerful Asari carrying the next in line to one of the first one hundred families of Thessia. Warm towel robes were placed around their shoulders and she watched as Liara handed their daughter to Lady Nara who applied oils and sang a welcome prayer.

Once back in Liara's arms Shepard drew close and had her first real look at her daughter who seemed to be contentedly sucking on her fingers. Her heart almost stopped looking at the tiny blue baby, a little bigger than a human at birth, but still all wrinkled and eyes tight shut.

"Your daughter, Shepard," Liara's voice was soft as she offered the small, new being towards her.

"Hey little one," Shepard felt tears welling up and couldn't hold them back. Feeling Liara's arms around her in a circle of love and protection their daughter between them she didn't know if she would ever stop crying with relief, joy, sadness she couldn't pick one emotion out of the storm that was pounding her soul.

She noticed the singing had changed again and was much softer now. She let Liara guide her still holding their daughter out of the birthing temple and back to the ante room where they could sit and be alone for as long as they needed. Shepard wondered if they could just stay here like this for the rest of their lives, in this moment, their dark future frozen in time.


Cerberus research station, Attican Traverse

Vega moved quietly, purposefully, inconspicuously along the corridors of the research station. She had been here before; her last stop before meeting Shepard on the Citadel.

She let her mind go back to her last visit and make sure she hadn't missed anything.

It had been the next location on her list and it had been a recon mission to prepare for its take-down. And, as always, to search for any mention or record of where John Shepard was being held.

Then as now she was posing as a medical engineering tech which just might get her into the right rooms. There was no doubt Cerberus was going to use John in one of their sick Reaper tech programmes. Most probably tying to secure Asari traits for their super soldiers.

Her cover was solid. After all she had access to all the information and resources of one of Cerberus's own top-ranking operatives. She wondered occasionally how long it would take for someone to realise their operative and her team were missing. But Brookes had been a self-determining, deliberatively off book agent; so, it could be years.

She remembered her surprise when walking into a small control room she had stumbled into the end of a conversation between two Cerberus scientists.

"But the Illusive Man said nothing too invasive or permanent until he can get here," the older of the two men said who had a whiny tone to his voice.

"That won't be for another month at least and we need more stem cells now," the second one was pasty and thin, and when he flashed a look at her his eyes were burning bright.

She excused herself but not before looking through the glass into a sterile room full of equipment and monitors. Technicians in white suits and face masks were taking readings or adjusting machines. And in the middle was a small child, strapped onto a table much too big for him, multiple tubes in and out of his small body.

The rage she felt in that moment was coursing through her body again. She had and still did want to kill everyone in the facility, by hand, and take her son to safety. Her son? Her feelings told her he was, but that was a complicated set of conflicting emotions she would deal with later.

Remembering back to being in that room pretending to check the ports cut into the tiny body and being caught by a piercing set of blue eyes that reminded her immediately of Liara. Then she felt the child trying to reach her, reaching out with a rough and ragged weak meld. But it was a connection and through it she could feel his fear and confusion and pain.

She leaned in close and pulled down her white mask and held his eyes sending as much reassurance and love as she could through the meld while she whispered, "stay strong kiddo, I'll be back for you, we love you." She just let her lips brush a kiss to his forehead her action shrouded by her body and hands pretending to adjust a port on the side of his head.

He closed his eyes, a few tears escaped from under his black lashes. She left as quickly as she could. If she let her rage and vengeance take her over she would kill some of them, maybe a lot of them. But without proper planning and an escape she would die and her son would still be in the hands of these torturers.

So, she had started planning. If things had gone badly with Shepard she had a pre-programmed message that would be sent with all the details of where John was and her plan to get him out.

Why she didn't just hand over the information on the Citadel was still not clear to her. Something was driving her to do this. This one real thing that was hers, not the other women's deeds and memories, but her own decision and action.

And although it made no logical sense to her at all, she wanted to be the one to rescue Liara's son and return him. Her own gift to the women she loved more than life itself, who meant everything to her, and who she would never hold again.

Shaking off the thoughts Vega arrived at her destination. She had been on the station for almost a week. Although not back to that room as she didn't think she could trust herself not to do something crazy.

Her team, recruited from the across Council space, were human security contractors and on another day might more accurately be described as mercs. But she'd made sure she recruited professional ex-soldiers who did jobs for pay and not politics or because they got their jollies from hurting people.

And she was paying them all small fortunes in credits, half in advance the rest on success, and insurance for those who had families or commitments in case they didn't make it. They all knew the risks.

She had three inside and four more ready to drop in with their ride and protect the exfil. They had been busy since their arrival. Watching the security and work shift patterns and setting explosive charges in key areas to both aid their escape and to erase the base and everyone in it once they had made their escape.

It was the middle of the night and hours before there would be another shift change. Two of her team had fallen into step with her as they walked along the corridor and one of them passed her a weapons belt with a pistol and grenades the other passed her an assault rifle.

They walked past the empty and dark control room and stopping at the door to John's room they were surprised when it opened and the thin scientist, who headed up her son's research team, almost walked into them.

"What are you doing….," but before he could finish his words she had him around the neck and walked him backwards into the room.

She was choking him so hard he couldn't make a sound and his arms flailed around as if out of his control.

"Get him disconnected from everything and ready to move," she motioned with her head to the medic in her team who started carefully working on the various tubes and lines.

The other merc went back to the door after closing the blinds on the control room window.

Backing her prey against a work bench her eyes never leaving his she released her grip just a little so her could respond to her and she spoke with their faces almost touching, "what have you done to him you fucking turd."

"I… can't… breath… who," she tightened her hold again and his eyes popped as he gargled.

Again, she loosened her hands slightly, "I said what the fuck have you done to my son you miserable piece of shit?"

"You… Shepard…," but before she finished squeezing him tight again he continued, "it's… in log… my log… over there… no pain… haven't hurt…"

She looked where he had indicated to what looked like the rooms main console and turned her attention back to him, "say goodbye fucker." She didn't bother choking him to death, with one swift twist she broke his neck.

"Get everything from that console," she spoke to the merc at the door then turned to the burly medic who had finished disconnecting everything from the child.

"Can't take the ports out and you're going to need a good surgeon for the one in the kids' head," his voice was soft and when she looked at him she saw his disgust. These were ex Alliance soldiers and they'd all left honourably. She was glad she'd gone for the best despite worrying that they might recognise her.

"Understood, you carry him," and as she turned her other team member stepped away from the console and handed her a data tab. She nodded and then broke comms silence for the first time and knew the clock would start ticking from this point. If the station guards were doing their job of course.

"This is alpha we are go for extraction," then she moved into the corridor the medic carrying John behind her, the other merc covering their rear.

Her third team member would keep eyes on the main guard station while she headed for a service entrance. Her nerves were on edge, ears straining at every sound, heart pumping, her breathing shallow. But the only noise was the squeak of their boots on the polished floor. Once they reached the service area full of massive recycle bins and burner stations she hacked the exit doors.

Surely at this point they would trip security, but when the door clicked open nothing happened. She was a good hacker and made sure to keep the contact alarm system connected but it seemed they were going to get away without a fight.

A part of her really, really wanted a fight, "this is alpha converge position xray, repeat converge position xray."

That command would summon her scout to join them and their escape shuttle to drop into their landing zone. The door was open, it was almost pitch-black outside and deathly quiet. Her third team member joined them and she led them out of the building.

They were a few yards away from the building when sirens started raging and security lights splashed the ground around the facility with bright light.

"Move," she shouted and waved her team to run towards the now landing shuttle. She kept her eyes on the building, her rifle up, scanning the top of the building. The Cerberus guards came bursting through the service door they had cleared only a few moments before.

She knelt and fired continuously into the clump of soldiers emerging and despite their armour four of them dropped immediately. Holding her rifle tight to her shoulder while still firing she used her other hand to reach for a frag grenade and threw it hard at the area in front of the door.

The plumes of dirt and blood and body parts obscured her view but she kept firing.

"All secure on the shuttle," the message from the pilot came over her suit comms.

The heavy gun on the shuttle was now raking the side of the building shattering windows and tearing huge chunks of metal and cladding out of the structure.

She stood and took out the lights in the area before turning to sprint to the shuttle hovering over the brush a minute away. As she ran she pulled up the interface on omni tool as heavy weapons started to strafe the ground around her feet and ping off the barriers she was generating.

Stopping suddenly and turning she hit a code sequence on the tool and a split second later the whole facility rocked with a series of explosions that seemed to tear its walls to pieces. She made it to the shuttle before setting off the second sequence which erupted from the very heart of the already burning building and its blast rocked them a little.

The fireball that chased across the ground would guarantee no one had a chance to get out and survive.

"Now that's what I can blowing the shit out of something," the medic said with a smile in his voice.

She looked around and saw smile and nods from the rest of her team and for the first time allowed herself to breathe easy and enjoy the moment.

It felt good to be in combat. Testing herself, to find out if she was a merely a pale copy or the real thing. Well not the real thing. But that she was who she thought she was. Could actually do what she remembered.

Would it always feel so fucked up she wondered, me but not me? Then she caught sight of John, his eyes were open and the medic was tending to the wounds some of the intravenous lines had caused.

He reached his pale thin arms out for her and she moved to the cot and she picked him up holding him close. Feeling his hands grab onto her clothing, burying his face in her neck.


They travelled back to the space station in the Terminus system where they had started their mission. She paid off her team giving them the shuttle that would get them back to Council space; transferring John to her own ship. The credits Shepard had given her had paid for a frigate that was ex merc so had decent, if a little old, defence and combat systems.

She tried to settle John in the med-bay and he wouldn't let go of her when she tried to put him onto a med-bed to check his vitals and for injuries. In the end she had kept him on her lap and let the scanner do its job on the both of them.

The port in the side of his head was concerning as was the one on his spine which seemed to be causing him pain. The rest of his injuries were cuts and bruises what they had done to him wouldn't be known until he had been checked out properly. She followed the instructions the medical VI gave her and applied medigel externally but didn't set up a saline drip knowing it would upset the child.

She had to give him an injection of medigel, specific pain relief and nanites but didn't want to cause him any more trauma than necessary so loaded up the infusion pump while he sat on her hip. Then they moved to the galley because she really needed to get his fluids up and he was malnourished.

Continuously talking to him and asking him questions about what he could remember from home and nothing about his time after being taken. She set about putting food together with him still clinging to her. Then explained she needed to give him good medicine to help with the pain and showed him how the infusion pump worked and suggested he help her by having him guide her hand to the side of his neck, which worked better than she thought it would.

Finally, she managed to coax him to sit next to her while he ate and she kept chatting to him. She showered him; put him in clothes she'd brought from the Citadel, and then put him to bed.

As she pulled the covers up his eyes welled up with tears.

"Hey buddy what's up."

"Mama."

She gave him a smile, "no I'm going to take you home to your mama. I'm Vega remember."

His lips puckered up and he looked as if he was going to start crying again.

"Vega not go?"

She brushed his hair off his face, "no I'll stay right here till you go to sleep, then I'm going to fly you home, safe."

His eyes closed but he was still holding her hand and only when his breathing settled and his grip had loosened did she lean in and kiss him on his forehead.

"Night little guy."


She'd been flying for about six hours when she heard screaming coming over the comms from John's bunk room.

Making it into this room in ten seconds flat from the bridge she found him sitting up in bed sobbing and screaming as tears rolled down his face.

"Hey, hey… I won't let anything happen to you… it's OK little man," as soon as she sat down on the bed he climbed into her arms.

He was calmer but still sobbing and a strong memory came back to her of being with her mother watching the light dance across the windows of a ship while sitting in her lap. So she carried him to the cockpit.

And that's where they both fell asleep a little while later; in the pilot seat with the ship on full auto heading for Thessia.