A/N: Uh, surprise? So I've been cross posting this to my AO3 account and ended up discovering an almost finished Ch8 that apparently I just...never posted? So happy "I know it's been just over 6 years since I updated but have a final chapter" to you!

Well it had almost worked out Jane reflected as she stopped the urge to spin lazily around in her chair. She had begged and pleaded and finally gotten help, admittedly it was help from Wrex and Joker and she should have known it was a bad idea from the start. Jane had just wanted to be stand out, be unique, and not awkwardly give Liara something stupid like flowers or chocolates. She had justified it by convincing herself that explaining human romantic tropes to Liara was pathetic and overdone, so it was better to ask for date ideas from other people.

So instead of anything too mushy, she had brought food and a movie to watch while finishing up their preparation for reviews. It was solid. It was a good plan. Which is probably why her brain had insisted on her reasoning being: Hey I'm stuck and you're stuck and since we're stuck here together, not that being here with you is like being trapped or anything, not that you should think about being trapped, don't think about Therum, so we should hang out and maybe I can shove delicious food in your face and you'll get what I'm getting at and be like, "Oh Jane, you try so hard and I love you!" and it'll be cool and then we'll go to your place to kiss for the first time because who wants their first kiss to be in a dusty old room? So, you're pretty awesome; please snuggle me?

Maybe that's why it didn't turn out well?

Jane cringed and looked morosely at the timer on her desk, begging time to pass quicker. Heck, maybe time could break a few laws of physics as a treat.

Pop quizzes were the literal devil when nothing happened during them. None of her students had actually asked her any questions, but she was also pretty sure that they didn't want to cause her to explode. They had a bad habit of assuming that when she wasn't smiling or being silly that she was going to take people out with an M-920 Cain gun or something. Which, admittedly, she'd abuse the power if she had access to said gun…wait, maybe she could work it into a lesson? The thought brightened her day for a few precious seconds before Liara's frowning face swam into view with the warning to not threaten students lives, even inadvertently. Jane's hand twitched towards her soda and slowly pulled back. She had only had one today, and if she could hold out this would make two. Then Liara would smile and be proud and impressed at her being such a well put together adult and not think of her as a child. Which was good! That was the right direction!

And her stupid date idea had ended up being the two steps back the universe deemed required to humble her.

Look.

Okay, it-

So here's what happened.

Jane had basically barged into Liara's room arms laden with food (which it turned out was a kind that Liara hated) and a fun action flick (that it turned out had a plot line that Liara hated) and only succeeded in distracting the woman of her dreams from actually grading, which caused her to stay even later to finish (which Liara, also, hated). On top of the hate sundae went too much whip cream made of the appetizer being mildly alcoholic and causing Liara a headache. And the cherry pit on top was when it turned out that Joker had ALTERED the flick she'd borrowed to include a few seconds of Vania into the end of the film.

There had been many, many apologies.

Liara had rightfully asked her to leave.

Shepard was pretty sure she had ruined their chances of having anything, and may have been indulging in the kind of adolescent moping she often accused her students of. The timer finally buzzed at her, as if it too was angry at her and Jane heaved a sigh.

"Alright class, pencils down. Holopens. Whatever. The next thing we're going to do will hopefully not require me to call custodial staff again, because I don't want to make enemies, alright? Spare me from the mutter of Zaeed folks and I will be grateful. So first thing you want to do is check in the second bin, make sure that you have everything you-"

The funny thing about Jane's classroom was the way her door squealed almost like a failing geth platform when opened. She may or may not have worked with Tali to put that in along with a long since stolen zombie head toy that had jumped and jiggled in time to the door. Vega's huge eyes and bigger grin had been worth it, but apparently the decapitated head was not school appropriate. She kept the door noise because it was still funny. It also made it hard for students to sneak into or out of class. Like Elissa Ha Levi, who had managed to somehow break her own record and get to class with only ten minutes left until the bell. Shepard liked the kid well enough, but man alive she could drag her feet when she wanted to!

"Ms. Ha Levi, how nice of you to join us at last." Shepard said, with only a hint of sarcasm. She gestured at the clock with one hand and watched as the girl instantly looked faint.

"I had to get cleared by Chakwas ma'am." Elissa said. Her hand lifted up revealing a classic purple piece of paper in it. She shuffled awkwardly for a moment before walking over and holding it out.

Shepard took it with a grunt and gave it a quick glance, students had once tricked her by giving her purple slips with nothing on them so she'd been forced to actually concede to the paperwork. As usual there was an explanation of the physical symptoms (had cough, queasy, etc.) and a time in and time out. At the very bottom of the note though was one extra sentence, with a small heart drawn at the end. Jane narrowed her eyes in annoyance. If it wasn't students it was her coworkers reminding her how she had yet to ask Liara out. Meddling old coot and her meddling ways with candy and forthrightness. Like it was that simple! Remembering her now very shiny looking student Shepard shrugged casually and pointed her to her desk. She quickly jammed the note away where students wouldn't see it and get ideas.

Well, more ideas. More sound ideas.

Ugh.

Grabbing the pen for her prometheus board Shepard noticed Elissa, for once in her life, had her hand raised. Jane had long ago realized that she had something like a sixth sense for moments that could be life changing. A feeling like standing at the edge of a cliff knowing you can make it across if you just trust in an invisible floor. For the first time in a while it spiked. This was a tipping moment for something. Even as the hand started to come down Shepard made the call. "Ha Levi?"

"Why are you wearing, uh," Elissa coughed and made a few unhelpful hand motions towards her own neck, "why are you wearing that Shoni pin?"

The room fell silent and Jane suddenly felt like the pieces went into place. This was about Liara, how was everything about Liara these days? Students leaned forward, Seif had lifted up his hand and started recording with an omnitool. Shepard's mind whirred as she suddenly realized what the pin was actually for. For a split second Shepard was drawn back to watching Jack and Tali fall into each other with laughter and asking after her pin, followed by the cafeteria lady grinning lewdly before getting a surprise double helping of the mac and cheese. Grunt, her baby Grunt, presenting it to her with all the pomp and circumstance of any of her military awards and medals with his proud smile on his face the traitor. And finally, Liara flushing and then smiling fondly at her when she saw it.

Liara smiling fondly at her.

Shepard smiled at her pin lovingly, a firm decision finally in her mind. No more second guessing was allowed when she had been a walking billboard for what she wanted anyways. "It's great right?" Jane struggled for a second before talking about the real reason she had accepted the pin, with perhaps a healthy dollop of feigned ignorance to boot. Students would see what they wanted to see anyways. "I mean, over a hundred years old but still so fine right?"

She managed to not laugh as her entire class broke into fidgets. Yatoi looked ready to cry, the back row was actually paying attention, and the front row wasn't demanding more of her attention than was fair. A captive audience. This was almost as good as the time she played dumb soldier in front of the council. "I was so excited when they opened up at the corner, seriously, Shoney's has the best honeydew ever and the pie is killer."

Oh man she was hungry, pie sounded perfect. As her class grumbled and fussed, and she tried to not die of laughter on the spot. God, what would even happen if they knew she was playing them? She'd be ripped limb from limb!

Elissa finally asked, "So, she, wait, she makes pies?"

Oh MAN she was so hungry! Jane made a mental note to get pie on the way home and give Ha Levi an extra few credits somewhere for setting her up so perfectly in class.

"Oh yeah, the best pies! I think she uses dark magic, it's the only logical answer. Wish the burgers were better but whatever." Shepard knew what she needed to do, and dramatically she looked up at the class as if she just remembered they were there. "Any particular reason?"

And for some reason, that was the thing that did it. It solved her problem. This dumb joke gone too far had broken her out of a self spiral just enough to find a little emotional courage. Five minutes. She needed to wait just five more minutes. Jane smiled serenely at her class, both amazed and distraught that it was something this stupid to help her make the jump.

"Miss? Would you mind saying, I love Shoni? It's for a project." Seif asked with a serious face.

Jane considered calling him on his BS before curiosity struck her, it could be, wasn't Kaidan doing a video project right now? "Do I get a discount or something?"

"Sure?"

Jane could feel the happiness radiating out of her, she would do a good turn for him and good things would come her way in return. The universe was screaming at her and she was going to listen! "Ok, my name is Jane Shepard, and I love Shoney's."

The class broke into pure chaos. "If I knew you liked it so much I would've scheduled a field trip." And finally, the bell rang for the end of the period. The hair on her arms stood on end as electricity ran through her veins. It was time. "Now everyone get out!" Shepard essentially herded the students out of her room, and ran alongside the last one. She just had to do this quick, in and out like the spec ops she was!

Miranda shouted for her to not run in the halls and Garrus made room for her to dash down L hall. Skidding in front of Liara's door Jane walked in and was grateful for the first time ever that they had staggered prep periods. Heart still pounding and breath a bit shallow Jane smiled as Liara smiled in confusion. This was it.

"Jane? Don't you have class right now?" Liara glanced at the clock and Jane walked over with purpose.

She hesitated at the desk, mouth opening and closing a few times, and finally asked what she had wanted to for a while. "Do you want to go out sometime? For a real dinner instead of a fake one here at school. There's this great place down the road, Shoney's, they serve milkshakes and have amazing fruit pies." Jane paused for a moment, and when Liara stared at her in surprised silence, she blundered on, confidence gone but determination would get her there. "Because I screwed up the other night and I am so sorry, with the whole food and Joker and- look, I just want to make that up to you. I also kind of want to...go out with you. Someplace. Go out with you someplace as a date. To, uh, to...would you go out with me?"

She mentally slapped herself.

Round of applause please, Commander Jane Shepard herself, giving one of her award winning speeches. Ace in the hole right there.

Liara blinked at her and then a wide smile began to bloom across her face. "So, you're asking me out for a date, like, romantically?"

"Yeah. If you want to, if that's ok." Jane searched for her suave self and could only imagine the time she had wanted to impress Anderson and instead twisted her ankle during a training exercise.

Liara stood up and slowly walked towards her, the way Jane was sure she'd seen professionals approach wild animals who were frothing at the mouth in terror. Somehow Liara maintained eye contact as she reached out and gently took Jane's limp, cold, and still miraculously sweaty hands in hers. Warm and rough, callouses from dig sites not fully softened yet and her smile was warm and sure. Was she wearing perfume? Definitely some lipstick. Jane felt herself relaxing a fraction. Blue eyes with small streaks of yellow near the center. Purple freckles and apple cheeks. Liara squeezed her hands and Jane squeezed back, finally centered and feeling well, if a bit queasy from the adrenalin. Fingers sliding against her palms tickling as she drew back.

And time started back up.

"I'd love that, but can we go somewhere else? Shoney's is just not that great and a bit expensive for what they serve." Liara asked and crossed her arms.

She frowned. "They're good!"

"Jane," Liara huffed.

Right, right, not the point, hill to die on later! She nodded quickly, "Ok, sure, somewhere else. Anywhere works. I'll even put on my little black dress if you want."

Liara's smile was almost evil and Jane decided she didn't care. She would go wherever she was told with the dress on and the makeup done. As long as there was a decent fish dish and an amazing dessert list she was good to go. Good to go with Liara.

Eating overly expensive food in a dimly lit snobby restaurant…with Liara. With Liara. Who said yes.

"...you said yes?" It was suddenly hitting her, Jane had somehow stepped in it while asking her out but still got a yes.

"Yes," Liara chuckled fondly, face flushed.

They had to be wearing matching smiles. The universe had stopped to allow their little timeless bubble. She took a small step closer, grabbing both of Liara's hands. "Yes, you'll go out on a date with me?"

"Yes!" Liara laughed softly and kissed the back of her hands, which was so unfairly amazing and perfect and the polar opposite of what she'd expected. "I want to date you!"

"Oh. Wow. Thanks for that." Jane's heart was probably not supposed to feel that big but oh well. Liara was holding her hands, and kissed them, and said yes to dating and-

The bell rang and Shepard found herself forcibly torn from her daydreams. Oh no, there was a whole class full of teens who thought the 15 minute rule was real were unsupervised in her room. She blanched, practically running backwards as she pointed at Liara, "Just tell me when and where babe!" Jane managed to not choke herself out for calling Liara babe and ran to her own room praying the next class hadn't flooded the floor already.