Chapter 46

Training Bay – SSV Normandy SR1

The weights crashed onto the rest bar as Shepard finally released the handles for the machine. She was covered in sweat and breathing heavily as she did her repetition for the fifth time. Reaching over, she grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from her face, sitting on the seat of the equipment before looking out over the training bay itself.

All of the equipment was secured firmly to the floor or the wall. If the ship were to go into combat, the Alliance didn't want giant metal plates flying across the room and killing someone who may be in the room. Her eyes examined the others in the room. Two of the turian fire team were using treadmills to race each other and see who could run the fastest. Sometimes, she found herself envious of their awkwardly shaped legs. They were made for running, while a humans were made for climbing. Even the most malnourished turian could outrun the best human on their worst day by kilometers.

Looking to her left, she saw Kaidan working on one of the curling machines. Tali was standing nearby as he showed her how they worked and instructed her on what muscle groups they targeted. She found herself wondering if aliens could use human weight equipment. Thinking about it, she hadn't seen many of the turian fire team weight training at all. She began to wonder if they had to do different exercises given they had different muscles in their arms. Thinking about putting an order in for separate xeno-weight training equipment, her eyes then turned towards the treadmills against the wall, a few down from the racing turians.

She was short, slightly shorter than Shepard herself, but she had put the work in. Ever since she began training with the Commander, the lovely asari continued her regimen in the training bay. And according to Liara herself, she had also trained her biotics by using them to near exhaustion. Shepard wondered how the mess sergeant took the growing nightly excursions to the mess hall. Chuckling, her eyes looked the asari up and down. There was no doubt she was gorgeous. But ever since she began working out on the ship, her form and tightened up.

It took a moment before Shepard realized she was staring absent-mindedly at the woman's backside. Turning away, she smirked and shook her head. Too much to do to be thinking about that. That's when her eyes caught Ash over at the punching machine. The woman looked happy enough as she talked on her comm. Standing up, the commander approached the woman, only catching the end of her conversation.

"So, I've seen you on the news with that Lieutenant. Alenko was his name? He's cute! You should take a shot for once! You can't marry your work, sis. Hit me up later!" said an unfamiliar female voice before her comm went dark.

Ash looked up and noticed Shepard there and her face turned to horror. "Please tell me you didn't hear that…" she begged as she put away her omni-tool.

"Loud and clear, Chief," said the redhead with a smirk as she walked over and leaned on the machine.

"Oh my god…" groaned Williams as she rubbed her face. "Please don't tell him…"

"I'm not telling anyone anything about it, Ash. That's your personal call. And while I'd recommend taking those in a more private location, it's nobody else's business," said the spectre with a smile. "So, you've got family back home?"

Ash nodded with a grateful expression. "Yeah. Me and my sisters have always been close," said the gunnery chief with a smirk. "My sister, Sarah, keeps trying to set me up on dates. But… they don't go well."

"How come?" asked the commander curiously.

Ash reached up and scratched her bunned head. "Well, it depends. When it's with civilians, they often get intimidated by a woman who can fireman carry them through a battlefield. And if it's military… well, you know my family's history," she said with a sour expression.

"Sorry to hear that," said Shepard as she crossed her arms and eyed the chief. "So, Ash, you know I have an open-door policy, right?" The chief looked up at her in surprise and nodded. "If that's the case, how come you haven't come to me with this chip on your shoulder about me?"

Groaning, Ash leaned against the machine with one arm as well. "Because Skipper. I feel like it's an extension of a talk we've already had. I'd feel like I'm echoing myself all over again."

Nodding, the commander sighed. "You have an issue with me having a possible relationship with Doctor T'Soni?"

Ash stayed silent a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Not really, Shepard. You are an individual who can date who you want when you want. It's not my place to say otherwise."

Shepard cocked an eyebrow at her. "It is your place to tell me if you have concerns. Communication is important, Ash. We can't resolve problems if we don't confront them."

"That's the thing, Commander. I don't know if it is a problem. Every time you two are around each other anymore, I see it in both of you. The looks, the body language, everything about you two changes," she said as she patted her face with her towel to get rid of some of the perspiration.

"So, it's about professionalism?" asked the spectre with a smirk.

Ash chuckled lightly. "No, Skipper. I don't care if you two are schmoozing each other on the bridge. It's your ship, you can tongue tussle with anyone you want." Reaching up, the chief rubbed her face gently as if preparing herself. "It's really two things. First, I don't think it's a good idea to be dating a woman who is, by all accounts, still a person of interest."

"I disagree that she's still a person of interest when it comes to Saren, especially after she helped to bring in her own mother. But noted," said Shepard calmly. "What's the other thing."

"Well…" said the woman as she looked around to make sure others weren't listening in. "We had the talk about working with aliens. And I understand your position one hundred percent. If we don't work with them, we're at a disadvantage, and focusing too much on being suspicious of them tends to make us ignore the humans at our back that are capable of the same thing. But that was just working with them."

Shepard was slightly surprised at the remark. "So, you think my speech was restricted to just professional relationships with them?"

Ash sighed heavily. "No, I know it wasn't, Shepard. I'm just still struggling internally. When I see you with an asari, I see a wasted human. You passing your genes on with another human could potentially make another, better human. But with an asari, even though they can breed across species, they only make asari. I'm still coming to terms with interspecies dating."

"I appreciate the honesty, Ash. But let me ask you something," said Shepard as she stepped slightly closer and lowered her voice. "Say you found a human who was perfect for you. They made you laugh, you found yourself smiling at all their odd little quirks, and they had the perfect personality that fit with your own. Would you date them?"

Ash went wide-eyed at the question, then looked at the ground as she thought about it. "I… don't really know. I suppose so if they were that perfect for me. Assuming I was actually interested in dating, I mean," said the woman with a small smile.

Nodding, Shepard raised her hand and swished it as if she had performed a magic trick. "Now, wipe away the human and slap an asari, turian, salarian, or whatever species you can think of on top of that. Same personality, same sense of humor, same compatibility. What would you do then?"

"I'd…" said Ash with another sigh. "I don't know, Skipper. There are too many differences between species for me to just go off personality."

"I can see the concern. But there are easy ways to get around those kind of physical incompatibilities. Even easier for asari given how closely they resemble humans. But that aside, even turians aren't that hard to get used to," said the commander.

As eyed her suspiciously. "Are you speaking from experience here, Skipper?"

Smiling, Shepard nodded. "Yes, and that's private information. If the scuttlebutt gets it, you and me are gonna be training in here for a while."

Snorting in amusement, Ash nodded. "I understand. It's nobody else's business."

"That's right. Now…" said the commander as she poked Ash in the chest right where her heart would be. "I'm not saying that you should erase your concerns and make a profile on the XenoTindr website. But what I am saying is that your cautions are aimed in the wrong places. You can't change what you're attracted to, but you're also assuming that you can never be attracted to another species. This creates a barrier in your mind that dismisses the possibility of it regardless of how compatible they actually are."

Ash reached up and gently rubbed her cheek with her taped hands. "I think I kind of get it," said the chief as she looked deep in thought. "Before I came onto the Normandy, I never thought I'd date a woman. Ever. They're mostly…" she said as she moved her hands in a circle as if trying to find the right words. "Well, let's just say that I like more aggressive, muscular types that know how to command." Shepard's eyes narrowed slightly at the fact that Ash was no longer making eye contact. "But I met someone that proved me wrong. And in another universe where they weren't already seeking the attention of someone else, I might have tried to take that next step."

Smirking slightly, the commander nodded. "Exactly. If you tell yourself you could never be attracted to someone based on physical traits, you tend to miss a lot of amazing people that could make you happy." Shepard finally stood straight again and stretched. "Even if we aren't from the same planet, we're from the same galaxy. We're all made of the same exploded star dust. And we're all seeking not to be lonely. It's important to recognize the differences, but not to let those differences make us think lesser of them."

"I think I get it now, Shep," said the gunnery chief with a pleasant smile as she swung the towel over her shoulders. "Headed to the showers?"

"In a bit. I've still gotta get my cardio in," said the commander as she grabbed her towel and nodded her head towards the treadmills.

Ash turned and saw the asari now making a quick pace on the running pad as she watched some kind of documentary on her omni-tool. Turning back to the spectre, she smirked. "Try not to take your eyes off the road, Skipper," she finally said as she turned and headed for the door.

Shepard sighed and made her way over to the treadmills. Stepping onto one, she placed her ear buds in just as Liara looked over and smiled at her. Smiling back, she started the music, then started the machine before her legs began to work, running in place.

Legion Military Dock – Republic of Serrice – Thessia

"Nobody, under any circumstances is allowed on or off this ship without my presence. Do I make myself clear to both of you?" asked Shepard pointedly as she looked between the nervous asari and her XO.

Pressly saluted sharply and responded. "Affirmative, Spectre. Any attempt to board the ship without you present will be met with force."

"I… I'll have to get that cleared with the dockmaster," said the asari as she tapped away at a datapad. Getting a nod from Shepard, the young asari turned and scrambled off towards the main facility as Shepard pulled Pressly close.

"Commander?" he asked curiously.

She pulled him down to whisper in his ear. "I don't know how long we're going to be here. Place members of my team, Ash, Kaidan, Garrus, Tali, Wrex if you can get him off his ass, and the turian fire team on rounds to guard the prisoner. Tell the crew the brig is off limits, but do not tell them about the guard duty. And make sure the team goes down there privately. We don't know if there are any Cerberus sleepers aboard, and I don't want them having contact with the prisoner while I'm away."

"You got it, Shepard. If someone tries to get to him while you're gone, we'll take them down," said the man firmly with a serious look on his face.

"Good. Now, get back aboard and make sure Joker doesn't end up doing donuts in the ocean," she said with a smirk, getting the XO to chuckle as he turned around and boarded the ship again.

Liara stared at her in shock for a moment. "Is that amount of security really necessary? You've had to have background checked everyone aboard the ship."

Shepard sighed as the pair of them walked away from the dock and towards the easy transport units nearby. "As confident as I am in my skills, I can't take any chances. My background sweeps don't pick up on things that aren't on the record. And many Cerberus recruits work for long periods of time before being contacted. So even a tiny little slip up could result in our only other Cerberus lackey ending up 'committing suicide' in the brig," she said, using air quotes.

Liara went wide-eyed at the gesture before looking at the ground. "Oh my. Every time I feel I get a grasp on how terrible the galaxy can actually be, I get a little peek further into the void showing me just how naïve I am."

"That's how it is. The Conclave here on Serrice, the Council, Alliance High Command, all of them don't show people what really happens out there," she said as she recalled her excursion into a batarian slave compound. "That's probably for the better…" Suddenly, the commander was snapped out of her thought as the asari reached out and gripped her calloused hand. Looking up at the doctor, Shepard stared at her for a moment before looking down at their clenched hands. "Is that gonna be a problem?" she asked curiously.

"My people prefer cross species partners. It's… a social thing," said the asari as she tapped the console. Turning to the redhead, she looked her straight in the eyes. "Being in an interspecies partnership is seen as being progressive, moving forward. When we partner with other species, we're learning more, moving beyond our origin horizons. And while mating with another asari isn't forbidden, there's a bit of a stigma involved. To have an asari mate with another asari condemns you to only knowing through experience of other asari."

Shepard cocked an eyebrow as they waited for the car. "Wait, so it's not a DNA thing?"

Liara smirked playfully and shook her crested head. "We do not take DNA from our mates, Jane. We simply select certain traits from the father species and implant them in the framework of the child."

"So, no asari are going to be running around with flaming red hair?" asked the commander with a grin.

Liara had tried to maintain an air of civility ever since she landed. After all, she was the daughter of a fallen powerful matriarch who had yet to live up to her mother's name. But all of those thoughts crumbled, and she covered her mouth and almost cackled at the image of an asari youth running around with Jane's head of red hair. When she finally recovered, she tried to look serious, but couldn't help but smile. "I'm afraid not. We cannot add features that asari are not already capable of having. However," she said as she reached up gently and brushed the tip of her blue finger from under one of the spectre's eyes, over the bridge of her nose, and then under the other eye. "If I wanted, I could give any child we have these lovely… freckles, you called them?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah…" said Shepard with an awkward smile. "Aliens are weird about freckles. I had a salarian once lock me up in containment because he thought I was diseased."

Liara snorted but stopped her laugh as Shepard gave her a playful glare. "Well, I don't see them like that at all," she said as she reached up with both hands and gently framed Shepard's face. "When I look at them, I see the night sky with the stars of the galaxy. Two bright, green suns with a blanket of stars all around them."

Shepard was slightly taken aback at the statement. "I've never really had my appearance summed up so poetically before."

Liara gave her a true, full smile as she released her face and crossed her arms. "You, Jane, are poetry in motion. Everything you do, whether in battle, in speech, your look, your decisions. All of these could be plastered on the walls of ancient ruins to be studied for generations."

Returning the genuine smile, Liara could see Shepard's blush turning her ears red. "Coming from an archaeologist, I'll take that as the highest form of compliment." Turning, she looked around for the rapid transit, but shrugged. "What's going on?"

Liara sighed as she spotted something heading their way. "Oh dear. I should have known they wouldn't let us do this the quiet way…" groaned Liara as a large aircar, a limousine style flew over their heads and landed a few feet away.

Shepard stared at the car wide-eyed as two asari women opened the door and allowed another, much more regal asari step out. Shepard's face immediately began to burn as her robes were specifically cut to allow her breasts to hang out with nothing but gold chains crossing them to block the view. "Ohhh, this was a bad idea," groaned Shepard to the asari as she turned herself at an angle to prevent herself from looking directly at the woman.

"Please, Shepard. I will need your support here," said Liara as she squeezed the spectre's hand.

The asari flourished her red robes and made her way towards them as if gliding, with both of the attendants following behind at an even pace. "Welcome back to Thessia, Yranessa T'Soni," said the woman with a graceful bow. Shepard inhaled sharply as she clenched her fist, then finally turned back to the woman. "And you as well, Spectre Jane Shepard. Your presence has been awaited. Please, follow me."

Turning, the woman led the way back to the limo aircar and Shepard reached up to pinch her ear. "Please tell me they're all not going to be dressed like that or my face is going to be red all day."

"No," said Liara with a curious stare on her face as she leaned close to Shepard to keep from being heard. "I believe she may have done it intentionally."

"Why?" asked the redhead in annoyance.

"I do not know. But keep in mind that Citadel politics closely model asari politics. So, if you had issue with the Council…" said the asari with an apologetic smile.

"Oh good. More games…" said the spectre as she reached up and rubbed her head. "Look, I'll keep from staring, but there's nothing I can do about the blood rushing to my face. It's pretty easy to spot on my pale skin."

"Noted. Do not worry, Shepard, I will handle things," said the asari confidently as she ducked into the car with the other asari. Shepard eyed her for a moment, rarely ever seeing her this confident outside of talking about Protheans. Smiling to herself, she ducked inside as well.

Meeting Chamber – T'Soni Estate – Thessia

After getting dressed, Liara waited near the balcony of the room that looked out over the ocean. She had expected something when coming back here. Perhaps a flood of emotions as she remembered her mother. The times they played Biotic Ball together out on the fields, or the time her mother had one of the servants build her an actual underground tunnel to crawl and search through with her little light. It was made of wood mostly, but it was still an amazing adventure to her as she found the golden prize at the end.

But, as she stared at the ocean, the only thing the young maiden felt was emptiness. A sense of being out of place. She felt like this most places she went before she finally settled in. But it took a lot of prothean relics and writings littering every surface for her to be comfortable enough to call a place home. Her office back in the University of Serrice was a home for a time, but it, like this estate, eventually faded from her mind. It was no longer her place.

A door behind her opened, causing her to turn around in her white robes. But her eyes widened immensely as she saw Jane Shepard, the scourge of the galaxy, the commander of the Normandy and Council Spectre who rained hell down on enemies of the Council now standing awkwardly in a matching set of robes to her own. They were pure white, almost blending with her skin were it not for the freckles that dotted her arms. Her face was painted with red, signifying that she was a military asset. And her hair had been presumably washed and slicked back on her head, almost to a point. Were it not for the coloration of her skin, she would almost look like an asari with her hair nearly the shape of a crest.

Liara let out a held breath as she looked her muscular frame up and down. The robes were slightly tighter due to her muscle mass, but they looked great on her regardless. It was then that she noticed that Shepard's face was flushing red as she stood and held her gaze on the floor. Moving forward, Liara lifted her chin so their eyes aligned and gave her a smile. "You look magnificent, Shepard."

The look on the spectre's face nearly melted her heart as the woman awkwardly smiled. "T-Thanks. I don't normally wear dresses. Or anything this tight…" she said as she tried to adjust the chest area slightly. "But… I thought it looked alright. I'm… glad you like it too," said the woman as her eyes began to wonder. "Soooo, what's gonna happen here?" asked the redhead as she patted the large table.

Liara snickered at Shepard's attempt to change the subject away from her enjoyment of women's clothing. Walking over, Liara sat at the head of the table and patted the seat next to her. "I'll tell you under one condition."

Shepard's eyes narrowed. "You said you needed me T'Soni. Why are you placing an ultimatum now?"

"Because there's something else I need more," she said with a playful grin. Reaching out, she tapped one of the silver bracelets on Shepard's wrist. "Even if it's just for my eyes only, when nobody else is around, I'd love to see you like this more."

Shepard's eyes widened slightly as she sat back in the chair. "Oh… uhhh…" she said as she reached up to scratch her head, but then remembered that her hair was styled. "I-If you like this… this kinda thing, I-I guess I c-could find some dresses on the Citadel," said the woman as dorky and awkward as the asari used to be.

Liara giggled for a moment before nodding. "I would adore that, Jane," she said as her smile finally faded. "As for what is about to happen here, we will have a meeting." Shepard finally loosened up and her war face came back, almost making the asari smile again. "In order to be given the title of Yranessa of House T'Soni officially, I will have to be approved. Given normal circumstances, there's little reason they shouldn't approve me. But the meeting offers discussion. And one of those topics discussed may be contesting my right as head of the estate."

Shepard cocked an eyebrow curiously. "Wait, so someone can claim that they have more right to the estate than you?"

Liara nodded knowingly. "It's happened several times in other households. If the heir has a criminal history, you can almost guarantee that they will be contested."

"But your record is spotless. What would they have to use against you?" asked the spectre as she sat back in a more relaxed position.

"Probably my age. That is also a common reason asari are contested. I can't say for sure, but in order to keep control of the estate, we will need to respond to everything they say and refute it. If the Conclave can be convinced that I am worthy, then I will keep the title of Yranessa," she said as another asari, painted very delicately in white offered them drinks.

"Lissa, Yranessa?" asked the asari who was dressed very professionally in red and gold robes.

Liara's face lit up at seeing her and she stood up from her seat. "Serraia!" she said excitedly as she stood and greeted the woman. The two greeted one another with the asari embrace. The woman smiled back at Liara as well.

"Hello, Little Wing," she said with a cheeky grin.

Liara gave the woman a playful glare before releasing her and turning to Shepard. "Jane! I want you to meet someone!" said the asari as she grabbed Shepard's hand and pulled her to her feet. "This is Serraia! She was my caretaker for… well, my entire life."

The commander's eyebrow cocked as the asari grabbed her hips as well in greeting. Letting out a sigh of nervousness, she mimicked her movements until they both embraced, their foreheads touching gently. At first, it looked like a rather intimate greeting, however Shepard quickly realized that it was more than just a physical show of affection. She felt the joy from the asari in meeting her, which caused her own nervous feelings to dissolve into happiness.

She had done this multiple times with Liara, but through contact with the hands rather than embracing. Perhaps it was her practice that allowed her to pick up a bit of nervousness from the emotions she felt from the woman. But she wasn't sure, so she let it go. The woman finally released her, folding her arms behind her back pleasantly. "It is good to meet you, Spectre."

"You as well," said the redhead as Liara stepped up next to Serraia.

"She has been in charge of the daily operations of the estate for nearly three hundred years. When my mother was away, which was quite often, she would step in as my mother figure," said Liara happily as she turned to the woman again. "I am very grateful for everything you taught me."

The red-robed asari hid a conflicting expression that Shepard almost immediately noticed. "It… was nothing, Liara. Raising you to become the figure you are now was an honor," she said, bowing her head respectfully. "I must go now. I have other matters to attend to," she said with a pleasant smile before bowing one last time, and then exiting the room.

Shepard took the drink that Serraia had left and swirled it around in the almost egg-shaped cup. "I don't think she likes me…" said the spectre casually as she sipped from the glass.

But Liara sat down in her chair once more and reached out, grabbing Shepard's hand gently. "She only recently found out about my mother's passing. I'm sure she's still mourning." Sitting back again, the maiden redirected the conversation back to the meeting later in the day. "So, about the contesting of my title…"

"Look, I can just belt them in the jaw if you want," said the redhead after swigging from the fruit drink. "Does that count as a retort?"

Liara chuckled lightly and shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Jane. As much as I'd love to see some of them taken down a peg, violence is forbidden."

Nodding, Shepard looked down at the table solemnly. "But the question is, do you really want the title?" she asked as her eyes flicked back up to Liara's.

The maiden sighed heavily and leaned back herself. "Under any other circumstance in the world, I'd say no. I'd sell the estate to the highest bidder and use the credits to fund more prothean expeditions," she said as she locked eyes with the spectre. "But that's no longer an option. With what we know about the galaxy, Jane, every ounce of power and influence matters. Giving up something like this would be like throwing away a lifeline."

"Gotta love galactic responsibility," said Shepard with a sigh as she finished off the juice.

"Indeed," said the asari as she smiled gently. "But, before the responsibility comes, let me show you around."

Laysia Zen Garden – T'Soni Estate – Thessia

"No way…" said Shepard as she looked around the peaceful estate. "Your mother got into Zen Buddhism?" The entire garden was one long winding stone walkway surrounded by shrubs and greenery that poked out of islands surrounded by fine sand that almost looked like powder. It was all grey colored sand, raked into flowing wavy patterns that almost looked natural to the eye, as if the wind had blown them this way.

"Many asari appreciate the culture of Zen Buddhism and its message of releasing oneself from the burdens of the world," said Liara with a small smile on her face as she watched the fascinated spectre look around the area. My mother was… less interested, but Serraia knew that many asari serving on the estate practiced zen meditation, and therefore she arranged to have this garden installed."

Shepard looked around and saw a few asari sitting near a small creek that had been carved into the ground, all of them with their legs folded, their eyes closed, and their minds no doubt searching their inner selves. "I had no idea it was this popular," she said as a small congregation of asari from the house passed them on the walkway, all of them dressed very minimally as they prepared for meditation. Then, she turned to Liara and smirked playfully. "Sooo… about those pictures…"

Sighing to herself, the asari planted her hand on her face. "Oh Goddess, I knew you would bring those up," she said, getting a toothy grin. "Follow me…" Walking through the massive estate for a few minutes, they finally came up to a door. Turning to the commander, Liara put on her sternest face. "Promise me that whatever you see in here never gets to Joker. He's already asking how asari crests work."

Chuckling lightly, the commander nodded. "Your secret's safe with me, Liara." Finally nodding, the asari opened her room. Shepard stepped inside and her eyes widened. "Wow… you're… devoted," she said as she saw painting after painting of prothean structures and imagined civilizations plastered on every surface aside from the far wall, which was a large plasteel window with a view out into the nearby ocean.

"What did you expect?" asked the doctor curiously as she entered the room behind the woman.

"I don't know, unicorns? Princesses?" said Shepard as she turned and eyed a small workstation that was stacked with books across from the bed. "The usual little girl stuff?"

Snorting lightly, Liara shook her head. "Jane, I was seventy when I left the estate. I wasn't a little girl running away from home," she said in amusement. "Also, I have no idea what a unicorn is."

"It's… a weird human thing," said the spectre as she eyed a small table with dozens of small devices scattered across its surface. "You're a real Indiana Jones, you know that?" she said as she reached down and picked up one of the prothean models.

"I… also don't know what that is," said the asari as she held her arms behind her back nervously.

She turned and eyed the woman in surprise before remembering that she was an entire separate species, and probably didn't have much interest in human cinematography. "We'll have to fix that," said Shepard as she set the trinket down again and eyed the picture on the table. Reaching out, she picked it up and her eyes widened. "Oh… my god…" she gasped as she smiled wider than she had ever recalled.

"Oh Goddess, here we go…" groaned Liara as she stepped up next to Shepard.

The picture held a young, very young, smiling asari holding a small golden statue of some kind. Next to her was a younger Serraia, smiling with love in her eyes as well down at the younger one who couldn't have been a day over fifteen. But the most notable feature in the picture was the young asari's crest, which had grown out away from the scalp instead of flush with it. The result was what looked like a small blue, smiling child with a pair of wings on her head.

Shepard fell to her knees staring at it. "This is the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life."

"I highly doubt that," said Liara as she flushed deeply.

"I had a hamster! A hamster! A cute little rodent who does nothing but stuff fruit and nuts into its bulging cheeks and that doesn't even compare to the adorableness that radiates from this picture!" snapped Shepard as she stood up again and faced the asari with a stern look. "I would die for this child."

Liara snorted again and couldn't help but smile. "Well, I'm happy to inform you that the feeling is mutual," said the asari, her deep purple blush deepening slightly. "Though, she is a child no more." The asari looked back up to Shepard, her smile now gone.

Shepard immediately sensed the change in her tone. The change had affected her as well, closing off her protective nature of the child in the picture and filling her with something more needy. Setting the picture aside, Shepard stepped up to the asari and reached forward, placing her hands on her hips. Liara mimicked the action until they were embracing, their foreheads together, staring into each other's eyes.

Gently, Shepard's hand slid from Liara's hip up her bare side and circled around her back until she gripped her firmly, then pulled them together even closer, their bodies now fully pressed together. Liara gasped as her eyelids sank heavily, her breath coming out laboriously in gasps. The commander leaned forward and pressed their cheeks together, her warm breath spreading across the asari's neck and causing her knees to weaken.

Unfortunately, Liara's communicator lit before they got any farther. "Uuuugh…" groaned Shepard as she pulled herself away and hurled herself onto Liara's old bed, pounding it like a child throwing a tantrum.

Liara giggled lightly, her hand over her heart as she tried to calm herself before finally answering the call. "Doctor T'Soni speaking."

"Apologies for interrupting, Yranessa. I wanted to inform you that the Conclave has arrived and are ready to meet at your request. They are currently receiving refreshments in the lobby," said the young asari on the other line.

"I appreciate the information. Please tell them that I will be with them shortly," she said before ending the call with a bow. Turning to Shepard, she wanted to laugh again at the sight of the woman lying face down on the bed while glaring up at her in frustration. Walking over, she sat next to the spectre and gently ran a hand over her back. "Sorry, Jane. But it's like you said. You have to love galactic responsibility."