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Navigating through the skies above Liara's new ship was more easily said than done. The constant storms of Hagalaz were murder on the shuttle, which was part of the security system, after all. But with the Shadow Broker guiding her through the minute opening in the storm systems from inside the ship, Shepard was able to make it through all right.

Liara was waiting for her when the shuttle docked, the smile on her face as warm and genuine as it used to be, not closed off and worried as Shepard had seen it most recently.

"Being the Shadow Broker suits you," Shepard said, hugging her friend.

"More than I could have imagined, yes." Liara returned the embrace fiercely, then held Shepard at arm's length. "And you, retirement seems to suit you as well."

"Not retirement, sadly. Just … a furlough, and a shorter one than I'd hoped for, at that."

The smile faded from Liara's face. "Yes, the Alpha relay. That was ... unfortunate."

"It couldn't be helped."

"I know that, Shepard. Not because I'm the Shadow Broker, but because I know you, and I know you would not have let that many people die, regardless of their species, if you had had any other choice."

"It was them or let the Reapers into the galaxy, and we are not ready. Maybe we never will be."

"We will be. You'll get us there."

Shepard shook her head. "I wish I had your confidence."

They were in Liara's command center now, the little ball of light the former Shadow Broker had used as an assistant hovering around them, offering greetings. Liara waved it away, with some difficulty. It reminded Shepard of the over-friendly dogs she had seen in vids. Briefly, she thought about what it must be like to have a pet, someone who was actually happy to see you when you came home, unlike the fish, who couldn't have cared less about her. But you couldn't keep a dog aboard a ship, and Shepard had never considered a life anywhere else, not since she shook the dust of Mindoir off her feet.

"You came for a reason," Liara observed, breaking into her thoughts.

"Yes." Then, more happily, remembering that reason, "Yes!"

"Tell me."

"Thane and I are getting married."

Liara's eyebrows flew up. "Married? Shepard, you know he doesn't have much time left."

"Exactly why, Liara. I want … I want a lifetime, but this is what I have, and I intend to enjoy every last moment as if it was a lifetime."

"I can see why you would want that. I—" She frowned in concern. "Shepard, you don't want to look in his file."

"That's not what I came for," Juniper said in surprise. "Why would you think that?"

"There's a letter … He wrote it for you."

Shepard frowned. "And you've read it?"

"Only the beginning, enough to know it wasn't meant for my eyes. Even more than most things weren't meant for my eyes. Just … you know how much he loves you."

"I do. I'm grateful for it every day."

Liara nodded. "Good."

"So, what I came for, what couldn't be said over a vid chat or an email—Liara, will you be my bridesmaid?"

"Oh." Tears filled Liara's eyes. "Oh, Shepard. Of course I will. Name the place and the time, and I will be there."

"Thank you."

They embraced again, and then Liara led Shepard down the hall to her private rooms, where wine and a light meal were laid out. "Now, tell me everything."