Notes:

Anam Cara - Soul Mate (Gaelic)

CGC - Center for Galactic Cooperation

Ionúin Álainn - beautiful beloved (Gaelic)

ke'ah - type of dough similar to pasta (Source: CDN)

kotopollo - Thessian poultry animal (Source: CDN)

Siame - "one who is all", a loved one cherished above all others (Thessian/Source: CDN)

Žvanil – Turian for blabbermouth or chatterbox

Farewells and Folly

T'Soni Country Estate, Armali Republic, Thessia – 16 Aug 2188

When the couple finally emerged from their suite it was well into mid-morning; they knew it was time for most of their guests – particularly the crew of the Normandy – to be on their way. Knowing that some time might pass before they had an opportunity to see their friends again in person, neither Shepard nor Liara wanted to miss their chance to bid everyone farewell; of greater importance, they wanted to express their gratitude to everyone for coming.

So, even though it was technically the first day of their honeymoon, they had set an alarm and requested a staff wake-up in the event they didn't appear before people were ready to leave. Following an untold number of hugs, handshakes – and a few kisses for extra-special people – the Normandy crew had gradually trickled out the doorway and across the parking apron to their ship, leaving only her captain and the ship's doctor still to board.

Shepard smiled as Ashley gripped her forearms. "Take care of the Normandy and don't do anything I wouldn't do, Spectre Williams… and try to save a little action for me and the crew aboard the Knight Shade. I'm certainly not ready for the Council to retire me from combat… at least not completely, anyway."

"No worries about that, Skipper." Ashley's face held an easy grin as she released the arms of her fellow Spectre and mentor. "I wouldn't think of going to war without you on my six; at least not intentionally." Williams turned to Liara and stepped over, giving her a warm embrace. "Take care of yourselves and have a grand time these next few weeks… I don't want to receive any calls for help from either one of you. As for us, we have Kas and Bau heading back to the Rim to continue assisting us in monitoring the situation, and Miranda's told me she and Oriana have everything covered on the Brokerage side of things; so, there'll be no need for either of you to be thinking about work. All the problems we're monitoring will still be here when you get back."

Taking a couple of steps back, she added, "And thanks again for including Gabby and Ken in your reception. With dark-out protocols in place due to our mission, there really wasn't much we could do on the Normandy; they deserved to enjoy a real party like last night. It's just a shame I have to boot Gabby off at the CGC."

Liara smiled. "It truly was our pleasure, Ashley. Our only regret is that between the Quarians and our honeymoon, we don't have more time to spend with you and the crew. We miss all of you… tremendously."

"Yeah, well." Ash smiled in return as she responded, "Even if we are on opposite sides of the galaxy, it's still better than it was during the Victory Tour. At least you guys are celebrating your bonding and the Normandy is doing her job again, instead of having to endure galactic politics." She looked over her shoulder at a certain doctor waiting a few paces away. "Sooo… I'm gonna head out, but I'm not in that much of a hurry; take your time saying goodbye to Karin. I think this is hitting her harder than she's willing to admit… knowing we're headed out and you two honestly aren't reboarding the Normandy to come with us… ever."

Shepard glanced past her friend at Chakwas and smiled. "Thanks, Ash. You take care out there… and I'll send the good doctor on her way shortly. The longer the goodbye, the harder it is to actually say it."

As Ashley turned and walked slowly away, Shepard followed in trail, stopping once she reached the woman in question. "Aunt Karin."

The woman looked up and met Samantha's eyes for only a moment before looking away and wiping her own eyes. "Look at me, being a sentimental old fool. I had to realize you wouldn't stay on the Normandy forever… but this all just seems so damned… final."

"Hey, there's nothing final about this." Shepard wrapped her arms around her dear friend and held her close. "We want you to know that you are always more than welcome here, anytime you're ready for a break… even when that break is permanent and you're looking for someplace to retire. We'd love to have you here with us, Aunt Karin… and I hope to see you, along with Mom, at least on all the major holidays… assuming, of course, the ops tempo agrees and you have leave time available."

Karin sniffled and laughed at the same time. "Thanks to that damned war, I have more accrued leave time than I could ever think about using… so I'll keep that in mind, Sam." She finally wrapped her arms around the younger Shepard and squeezed tight before stepping back, a tearful smile on her face. "You two take care of each other, and don't become strangers. I know it's not as convenient as an elevator ride down to deck three, but I expect to hear from you on a regular basis, you hear me?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Shepard grinned and snapped a salute. "I told Ash that I wouldn't keep you too long; the Normandy has a schedule to keep." She reached out and gently took the older woman's hands in her own. "I love you, Aunt Karin. Be careful out there… please." She heaved a heavy sigh. "I'll be honest with you… I'm a bit worried by just how unpredictable Xen and Gerrel are; the whole situation on the Rim concerns me greatly, for more reasons than one."

"Gerrel in particular." Karin's eyes flashed in unbridled anger. "I would not look kindly upon him putting any more of my crew… my friends… at risk, like he did during the war. I will never forgive him for causing Bethany Westmoreland's death. If anything happens, Hippocratic Oath or not, I'll kill the wanker myself!"

Shepard looked her in the eye as she answered, "You won't have to, Aunt Karin, because I promise you… I will beat you to it."

Once the Normandy had departed, Shepard and Liara sat down for an early lunch with their remaining guests so they could send the Sol System folks on their way with full bellies. The tables still had a sizeable crowd, even with the entire crew of the Normandy now gone. Once lunch was done, Hackett, Sanders, Culver, and Falk were the next to leave. Their shuttle was still visible in the distance when the shuttle from the CGC – a larger version of the diplomatic shuttle departing the planet – rapidly approached and descended to land in the same parking slot so recently vacated by the Alliance shuttle.

"Thanks again for loaning Sha'ira to us, Rae." Shepard smiled warmly as she faced the councilor and clasped her hand, raising it to her lips to softly kiss her knuckles. "I don't know what we would have done without her immense patience to temper Aethyta's gruffness."

Tevos drew the woman in for a quick hug. "I would say it was my pleasure… but I would be lying." She laughed at the surprise evident on Samantha's face as she added, "Well, just a little. I would never begrudge your need of her services, Samantha… not in the least; that said, I certainly did miss her… tremendously, so am extremely happy to have her returning back home with me."

Liara released Sha'ira from a loving hug and turned to Tevos to embrace her as well, saying, "Yes. Thank you! She was a savior during the ritual memorizations. There is no doubt in my mind that we never would have made it through the entire process so quickly without her help."

Sha'ira smiled softly and dipped her head to the young leader of House T'Soni. "It is my pleasure to serve, Liara, but we did have an entire month to spare in the event you and Shepard had not proven to be such apt students." Glancing between the two bondmates, she continued, "I know you will enjoy the retreat center but, please, if there is anything amiss upon your arrival that is not immediately remedied, do not hesitate to contact me… I will ensure it is taken care of promptly."

"I'm certain everything will be fine, Sha'ira." Shepard waved her hand dismissively. "If not, we'll handle it. Your gift to us is extraordinary… so we will not impose on you any further. We certainly don't want to interrupt your homecoming to the CGC." She grinned as she looked at Tevos and continued, "Last thing I want to do is turn my strongest proponent on the council against me!"

Tevos laughed softly and smiled, "There is very little chance of that happening, Shepard, as you have many more friends than me on the council now. Your position as a Spectre is undoubtedly secure for many years to come."

While they were chatting, Liara had turned to Engineer T'Rori. "Selina. It was very good to see you, as well… especially given your news! When do you anticipate leaving the Destiny Ascension to return home to us full time?"

"Thank you for being so welcoming, Lady Liara. As for your question, I will submit my sixty-day notice upon my return, so they have time to bring in a replacement from the Fleet…" Selina offered a timid grin and continued, "So, I anticipate returning here sometime in mid-October... I hope that is acceptable?"

Liara laughed and clasped her hands. "Oh! Absolutely! My only regret is I have no idea where the Knight Shade will be by then, so we may not be home to greet you. But, do not let that trouble you; you are welcome here and I am confident that either Lyessa or Lyria will have a permanent position in mind, long before you actually arrive home."

Bashful or not, Selina couldn't quell the robust laugh that originated from deep within her. As she regained her composure, she apologized, "I am sorry, my Lady… but you are more correct than you realize. Within two hours of hearing about my planned departure from the Destiny Ascension, Captain Tremi informed me I would be assigned to the maintenance division of the T'Soni fleet… where my focus will be on engineering maintenance, upgrades and testing for our heavy corvettes, Liberation and Freedom, as well as the flagship, the Aletheia."

Shepard slid over and wrapped her arm around Liara's waist, giving her a quick squeeze. "That sounds like an excellent assignment for you, Selina! We'll most certainly look forward to having you here. However, the shuttle pilot is starting to make noise about her schedule and returning late to the CGC, so we have to let you all go, whether we are ready and willing or not." She released her bondmate to turn to the last guest preparing to board the Council Shuttle – her mom.

Hannah, who had enjoyed getting to know the entire staff over her full two weeks with the T'Soni household, looked at her daughter and forced a smile onto her face. "You know how much I hate goodbyes, so I'll make this quick. Assuming you are home for Christmas, I will see you for Alban Arthan, because Karin and I both plan on coming, if possible. Otherwise, we'll simply figure out some other time to visit... that said, I do promise it won't be horribly long before we see you again… especially me. I am just a shuttle hop away, after all."

"I love you, Mom… so, of course, I'll look forward to anytime we can manage to be in the same spot at the same time." Samantha drew her mother into a long embrace and continued in a soft voice, "And, even though I doubt she'd come, we'd love for you to bring Aunt Kay along for the ride."

Hannah pushed back and smiled at her daughter. "What a great idea! I'll do that, Kiddo." She quickly walked toward the doorway, where Tevos, Sha'ira, Nizia and Selina all waited for her to join them before heading out the door to their awaiting shuttle.

The door to the residence had barely closed behind their departing guests before Shepard was accosted by a rather boisterous Krogan. Picking her up and nearly crushing the life from her in a powerful hug, Grunt practically shouted, "It was good to see you again, Battle Master! Keep me informed on how Commander Jatok does. He gives you any trouble or lets you down, you let me know and I'll send someone to fix the problem, no matter what it is."

Wrex simply chuckled, "What he said, Shepard. Been good to see you and Liara. Maybe you can find your way to Tuchanka, so you can see Bakara and little Eve. She's growing faster than a Varren pup and pretty soon you won't recognize her." He looked her in the eye and growled, "You're my Krantt… You're not allowed to make her forget what you look like by staying away too long."

"You've got it, Wrex." Shepard clasped forearms with the big Krogan as she finished her farewell. "We'll make a point of stopping in to see how the rebuilding is going." She then turned to Grunt. "As for you, I definitely want to head out to Garvug and see what you've done with the place… particularly Dhazil. I trust your reports, but I still want to see it for myself."

"Heh, heh, heh." Grunt offered up his signature laugh with a toothy grin. "Happy to show you around, Shepard. Maybe even accept a little help on a couple of the strongholds we've yet to crack." He turned his grin to the Asari at Shepard's side as he continued, "And make sure to bring Liara along. You're good… but the two of you together are downright scary… even to Krogan!"

"Don't worry, Grunt. If Shepard's there, I won't be far away." Liara reached out and laid a gentle hand, glowing with biotics, on his chest. "And I'll be sure to have the full arsenal available when we arrive."

"Thanks, Liara." He chuckled again. "They do say the best presents come in tiny packages."

The last remaining guests were Garrus and Desis, who had the luxury of time. After Shepard and Liara departed, Estate Team 2 would be heading to Palaven to pick up a restock of dextro-based foodstuffs that had somehow not successfully made it into the last planetary supply shipment. With the Knight Shade having four dextro-dependent crew, they had gone through their on-hand supplies at the Estate faster than anticipated and would be departing before the next monthly shipment arrived on Thessia. Since the team were headed in that direction anyway, they offered the couple a return trip to Palaven aboard the VIP-1. It was hard to turn down a ride on such a richly appointed transport… especially one that offered door-to-door service with a drop-off directly on the rooftop landing pad of their apartment building.

As such, Shepard and Liara had packed up and were ready to leave before they had to say their final farewells. Garrus started out all business. "I'll be looking into the screw-up concerning the Thessia food shipment, Shepard. We've had some issues with piracy, which makes me wonder if the freighter carrying the dextro foods got hijacked." Subharmonics adding an unfriendly emphasis to his words, he continued, "If it was, I have a pretty good idea who may be behind it… and I think our upcoming conflict with the pirates may have an effect on your conflict with two certain rebel Quarians."

Liara's eyes widened in surprise. "Garrus? What makes you say that?"

He chuckled, "Nice try, T'Soni, but I'm already speaking with Miranda about some intel I've received… and my theories. You two are going on your honeymoon and I'm hoping we'll have this sorted out before you get back… though a two-week deadline might be a bit tight."

Desis flared her fringe in irritation as she turned to glare at the big Turian. "Don't be a Žvanil! You've gone and said too much already… and now, Liara's just going to worry about it until she knows what's going on! They're leaving on their honeymoon, Garrus!"

Chastised, Garrus cast an apologetic look at his companion before looking back at Liara. "Well, shit; may as well just lay it all out for you then. I'm reasonably sure the shipments are being intercepted by Quarian raiding parties… for one thing, all their liveships are accounted for; secondly, the Heavy Fleet must be getting pretty desperate for food after all this time. If it's not the Quarians, it's most likely someone that's profiteering off their clandestine need for supplies."

"So, they'll get it however they can to keep from starving to death… and with their new stealth technology… they could very well be conducting the raids themselves." Liara shook her head and looked at Shepard. "We promised each other this two weeks would be ours… and I'm going to stick to that promise, Sam. We'd have to find the proof we need before we can take any action, anyway, so we simply have to trust our Broker teams to do the job without us."

"And, we'll have Riana with us so, if something significant comes up that we absolutely need to act on, she'll tell us… Right?" Shepard raised a brow in question.

"She will definitely not like it, but if we tell her to do so, then yes, she will tell us." Liara sighed in resignation.

Shepard looked back at Garrus. "So, that's the solution; you guys figure it out. If something comes up, it will take time to work up an action plan anyway…" She paused and pointed at Garrus. "But… if it all comes together faster than you expect? Well, you're a superb tactician, Garrus, and I totally trust Ash and the crew of the Normandy. Just do what you need to do. Simple as that." Samantha reached over and took her bondmate's hand. "I also made a promise and, like Liara, I intend to keep it. We are going on our honeymoon as planned."

Desis elbowed Garrus in the ribs and answered for him, "As well you should. You two deserve every minute of personal time you can get!" Her silver-flecked violet eyes bored into the blue-grey eyes of the Turian beside her. "Don't they?"

"Yes!" Garrus nodded emphatically. "Absolutely! We'll handle it should anything break open sooner than expected… and the galaxy will still be in one piece when you get back. I promise!"

The Záhrada S'Vatyne Resort, Sanves, Ialessa System – 16 Aug 2188

The Aletheia remained cloaked as they entered atmosphere coming into Sanves. They were a significant distance from Sanves' capital of Etheai and, once they had cleared the planetary defense control point with the codes provided by Sha'ira, they were directed to specific entry coordinates where there would be no traffic control region other than the one operated by the resort center for incoming and departing clients. Their arrival was a timed window and, even though cloaked, a repeating message with their specific identification code was being broadcast. It provided very specific approach and landing instructions, including elevations and speeds to ensure no undesired contact or interference with other clients currently staying within other areas of the resort.

The Aletheia's new pilot, Lusmeni Thoni, expertly settled the ship onto the designated landing pad; as soon as the ship settled on its landing gear, a dome immediately rose around the vessel, concealing it from view by any other flights that may pass above. As Captain Tanni opened the hatch and the full commando team disembarked, a lone Asari emerged from a small building at the side of the parking apron and quickly approached them with a large luggage cart and a contented smile on her face. "Welcome to the Záhrada S'Vatyne Resort. I am Acolyte Selana and will be your point of contact for the duration of your stay. Please, place your belongings on the cart and I will show you to your quarters."

Once Shepard and Liara joined them and they had all the bags loaded, Selana directed them to the small building from which she had come; this proved to be nothing more than the ground-level access for an elevator that dropped them down to a subterranean tram network. "Please note the shuttle address on the wall, Area 23; this is your designated parking apron number as well as your residence code." She then pointed to the wall of the tram they had stepped into. "Every shuttle within the resort contains an interactive map." She pressed a keycard to the dot on the map that indicated the residential area and the vehicle began to move.

"Záhrada S'Vatyne provides all the amenities of a standard resort… along with any level of privacy you desire. We will proceed directly to your private complex, which contains a variety of entertainment options within but, should you desire to depart your complex to venture over to the lake or any other area designated as 'public,' your privacy is forfeit, as is the privacy of any other guests who may have chosen to go there. All we ask is that you conduct yourselves in a respectful and considerate manner as you would at any other resort. You are welcome to engage with other guests at any public location within the resort but, as a security measure, we must insist that under no circumstances are you to bring anyone back to your private complex without prior consent of the resort staff."

As their car glided to a stop, Selana declared, "We have arrived at the residence selected for you by your sponsor, Consort Sha'ira. Please, follow me." She led them up a relatively short ramp, emerging gradually at ground level of a stunningly beautiful courtyard. "You have a variety of amenities – a pool, a biotic target range, a meditation garden and a library reading room to name a few." She smiled and continued, "There is much more, but discovery is part of the fun, is it not?"

They made their way past the pool and into the main house, entering via a full kitchen. "While the kitchen is stocked with the basics, the resort does have a variety of restaurants, each of which also has a delivery service, should you desire. I am unsure if Sha'ira informed you, but your sponsorship by a fully accredited Consort allows you to access resort amenities at the 'all inclusive' level… An exceedingly rare gift for an obviously exceptional couple."

Selana's last words were the first indication she had any idea who the people were that she was showing around the place. Liara's insatiable curiosity finally won out and she asked, "So… you have yet to use our names, but you do know who we are?"

The acolyte's laugh was full of mirth. "But, of course, Lady Liara. Even though Sha'ira gave us only those details necessary to ensure the selected complex was the best fit for you, I doubt anyone here would fail to recognize you… either of you. But fear not; your presence here will not be advertised in any way, so if you remain within your complex, you shall not be bothered by anyone. As an added bonus, the 'all inclusive' amenities also include privately guided tours through any part of the resort, such as wilderness safaris, guided trail hikes… or a private dinner cruise on the lake, to name only a few of your options."

She walked over to a small, corner desk. "Here, you have access to outside communications… which are routed through a communications scrambler to hide the call's location of origin. This console also provides a search capability of the entire list of entertainment options available to you. It has been preset to full access in preparation for your arrival."

"One last thing." Selana entered a code and opened an administrative window on the console. "I need to register each of you to this residence. I have a bypass card that I am issued so I can come and go to this location as necessary, but for you to do so, I need a biometric scan of your hand." She pulled out a scanning plate. "Please, as I call your name, place your hand on the plate and leave it until the indicator goes green."

Once they had all completed their registration, Shepard looked around the small group and grinned before focusing back on Selana. "It all sounds great… only question I have is, should we decide to do something outside the complex… Do we need to notify you before we step out?"

The acolyte smiled. "Absolutely not. You are free to move wherever and whenever the shuttle system allows you to go. Just remember, should it block access to a location, try it a second time by leaving your hand on the screen for a duration of at least five seconds, as it may be an event or area restricted from guests with a lower authorization level. Also, should, any of you choose to take one of the special tours, please contact me through this communications protocol." She raised her omnitool and keyed in a sequence, broadcasting it to everyone in the party. "I will help you make the necessary arrangements, for whatever it is you wish to do. I am your facilitator for all things Záhrada S'Vatyne and am available at any hour of the day or night to make your stay the best it can possibly be."

Selana smiled. "So, let me see… console registration, unlimited access, resort directory… Oh, Goddess! Your living quarters!" She laughed cheerily and started to walk away. "Please, come this way and I'll show you to your individual rooms!"

Obviously, Liara and Shepard had a master suite with an anteroom, the latter of which Riana immediately claimed by tossing her bag down on the bed. The suite itself was magnificent, including a private bath and a small indoor garden with a sunken jetted tub in the middle. The rest of the rooms, while smaller, were similarly appointed, minus the private garden. Shepard had asked if all the complexes were as large, to which Selana had answered to the affirmative.

"You have to realize, Captain, the primary customers here are Consorts. Each frequently has their own security team and at least two or more acolytes. The last time someone of Sha'ira's renown stayed here, they came with two security teams and six acolytes." She saw the expression on Shepard's face and continued, "Yes; she came with eighteen… yet she came alone." She sighed sadly before whispering conspiratorially, "I recognize the importance of what they do, but I do not understand the how or why. I cannot imagine the loneliness such a life must bring along with it… holding the secrets of the galaxy in your mind and never being able to fully share yourself with anyone because of it. It would be too much of a sacrifice for me to bear. I would never consider beginning the training for such a service; being a simple acolyte is demanding enough."

Shepard looked at Liara and squeezed the blue hand that seemed to have been almost constantly connected to hers since they had disembarked from the Aletheia. "Every profession has its benefits and its sacrifices, Selana. It's simply a matter of weighing your personal priorities that determines how you select your own path."

Selana stared at the woman in silence for a long moment before responding, "You sound very much like a Consort, Captain Shepard, and I believe it extremely likely you have sacrificed more than any of us outside of your crew could ever know. I can see why Consort Sha'ira holds you in such high regard." She shook herself and continued, "I… apologize. You are easy to talk to, but I have no business speaking of such things. I am sorry if I have offended you."

"No." Shepard smiled and shook her head. "No offense taken… and, while you have no wish to become a Consort, I can see why you chose to be an acolyte. I get the distinct impression you're a sensitive."

Selana closed her eyes and dipped her head. "You are most observant, Captain. The majority of those employed here who interact directly with our clients hold such a specialty. It helps us understand your true desires… even those which people are generally unwilling to speak of aloud, for any number of reasons."

Liara drew a deep breath and chimed in, "Well, you need not concern yourself with that here. We are exactly as we appear; recently bonded and ready to relax for two weeks without the demands of my house or of the Galactic Council."

Selana offered a quick nod. "In that case, I shall depart so you are free to begin your quest, Lady Liara. Again… if there is anything at all you desire, please do not hesitate to call me. I am solely at your disposal for the duration of your stay."

Once Selana was out the door, the group went their separate ways, each to their own room to unpack and get settled in for the duration of their stay. Shepard was hanging her last few things in the closet when Liara stepped up behind her, gently running her hands over the Spectre's well-developed shoulders. "Samantha? Do you have any thoughts on what you'd like to do for our first night here?"

The captain pivoted around slowly and placed her hands on Liara's hips, pulling her close and placing a gentle, yet sensuous, kiss on soft, blue lips. "Hadn't thought that far ahead… even if it is… like… now," she whispered, then chuckled lightly. "I'm actually kind of tired of all the people and the pomp and ceremony, Li. I do believe I would be most content if we simply stayed in and relaxed, Blue. Is that okay with you?"

"Unquestionably, yes." Liara smiled softly and returned the kiss. "I was thinking the same thing… with a slight twist." As Shepard quirked an eyebrow in question, Liara leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "I wish all the commandos would go out for the evening and leave us by ourselves. I would love for you and me to cook dinner together, just the two of us. I too am done with all the fancy meals we've had since our guests began arriving – so, you and I cook and eat… in private… followed by a glass of Elasa in that delightful garden jetted tub."

"I'm with you so far, T'Soni." Shepard ran her hands gently up Liara's sides and slid them past her shoulders to her throat before continuing up to cradle Liara's face. After placing another tender kiss on her Ionúin Álainn's lips, she extended her arms, simply resting them atop the Asari's shoulders as she queried, "After that?"

"After that, I have absolutely no idea." Liara shrugged lightly and huffed, "I am simply… tired, Sam. I think what I honestly want to do then is just cuddle up with you and get a good night's sleep. We can have the follow-on discussion… for what comes next… tomorrow morning, or whenever we wake up and can actually think past the next five or ten minutes."

Laughing quietly, Samantha drew the Asari close and wrapped her gently in her arms, kissing her on the temple. "That, my dear Anam Cara, sounds like a wonderful plan… except for one little hitch; we can't send all the commandos away… That would be against the new House security rules." She pushed back a bit and ran the backs of her fingertips caressingly down Liara's cheek. "So, let's discuss it with Livos and see if we can reach a compromise."

It was a relatively short period of time later when Captain Livos Tanni and three of the T'Soni commandos – Iryna, Sella and Allia – were on their way to the restaurant sector. Chosen for first watch, Lieutenant Tra'ana Iremi, Riana, Lusmeni, and Sellis stayed behind but, in deference to Lady Liara's wishes, set up outside by the pool, merely as a safeguard should anything happen. Their proximity would also mean they would be available as escorts should the newly bonded couple within change their minds and decide to go out.

As long as the couple stayed put, each of the private complexes was surrounded by a protective shield, designed primarily to protect the visitors from the potentially dangerous animals that lived in the surrounding tracks of untamed forest. The strength of the shield, however, also allowed it to serve a secondary purpose of protecting against intrusion of all kinds – including those of the mercenary or pirate varieties.

Inside the house, Liara and Shepard were otherwise engaged and gave little thought to what was happening outside as they dug around in the pantry and decided on a very simple meal of koto ke'ah with a cream sauce and a side salad. Liara's idea of them cooking together made Shepard extremely happy. While Samantha was the one actually doing the cooking, Liara prepared the salad and then stood at Sam's back; she had started with light, teasing massages… but was now simply standing there, leaning against the woman with her arms wrapped around her Siame's waist, humming softly in contentment.

"Hmmmm. You're warm." Liara said softly. "And you smell good."

Samantha glanced over her shoulder at her and chuckled, "Don't know why… other than I have an Asari blanket and I'm cooking dinner." She grinned and continued, "Probably as good an explanation as any for both of your observances." A pair of warm lips brushing the back of her neck at the hairline sent a shiver down Samantha's spine and she jokingly added, "I thought you were tired."

"I am," Liara laughed. "But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate you being here and us being together, does it?" Her hands settled on her siame's hips before sliding slowly up the woman's sides. "You have a wonderful body, Samantha; very strong… yet cuddly and warm. You always manage to make me feel safe when I'm with you, without even trying, I might add."

Shepard set down the spoon she was holding, shut off the cooktop and turned to her Ionúin Álainn. She wrapped an arm around Liara's waist and pulled her around to stand beside her before placing a quick kiss on the Asari's cheek and turning back to the stove. Picking up the spoon and a set of tongs, she gently folded the ke'ah into the buttery cream sauce as she very matter-of-factly stated, "That's because you know we make a rather formidable team, so you are safe with me, Liara. Always. Except maybe when I'm cooking. Your kotopollo is a bit different than my chicken, so I hope I don't end up poisoning us." Laughing, she added, "Do me a favor and grab the plates; it's time to eat."

After Shepard placed a piece of crusted kotopollo and a healthy serving of ke'ah on each plate, they sat down at the eating bar; Shepard watched as Liara scrutinized her plate. "I will admit, I have never seen koto ke'ah prepared this way." She put a small, tentative bite into her mouth and her eyes lit with wonder. "Goddess, Shepard! This is delicious!"

"It's a variation of a Human dish called chicken alfredo." Shepard smiled. "I'm glad you like it because, as you witnessed, it was fairly easy to make, using readily available Asari ingredients."

Liara closed her eyes and rolled the flavors around in her mouth before swallowing with a sigh of contentment. "This really is good. You had better be careful, Captain, or I'm going to assign you to the kitchens with Chef Leyana." Liara's voice carried a teasing lilt and her eyes twinkled impishly, making Shepard laugh.

"I highly doubt the Council would release me to join the House T'Soni cooking staff."

"I love that sound, Sam." Liara set her fork down and looked lovingly at her siame. "To hear you laugh so freely… It is a balm to my soul and warms my heart." Reaching over to take the woman's hand, Liara continued, "But I can't help but feel a little guilty… when so many are still in need following the war… about us spending this time so frivolously."

"Liara." Shepard spoke her bondmate's name softly, with only the slightest hint of rebuke in her tone. "We have sacrificed so much getting to this point in our lives. I died – twice! I feel no guilt whatsoever in sitting back for two weeks and taking this time to celebrate our bonding." She smiled and squeezed Liara's hand as she continued, "And you shouldn't either. We need this time… You may think it foolishness and folly to be doing this, but it's the best way I know to rest a tired soul." She paused before asking, "When was the last time you honestly took a vacation… one that wasn't dictated to you as a mandatory medical rest period? One of your own choosing that lasted more than a weekend?"

"I don't…" Liara stopped almost as soon as she had begun. "It was when we defeated Sovereign and we visited your mother and then came to Thessia."

"That was not entirely a vacation." Shepard's voice was even, but her tone still carried a bit of a bite, unable to keep her mind from remembering what happened shortly after that visit to Thessia. "That was a mandatory downtime while the Normandy was being repaired… Yes, I had the chance to introduce you to my mother but, on Thessia, I was introduced as House T'Soni's new Captain, worked with your commandos to upgrade their weapons, armor and the House defensive systems… all while we mourned the loss of thirteen members of House T'Soni. We got through it, but it wasn't exactly fun."

"You are correct… it was not all fun… but we did get through it." Liara squeezed her hand and smiled. "And I most certainly remember how that vacation ended with a certain dashing Lieutenant Commander asking for a Promise Vow from me." Liara leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on Samantha's cheek before adding, "One which I most joyfully granted."

Samantha turned her head to meet the Asari's lips for a kiss that made Liara's heart race. As they separated, Shepard whispered softly, "Okay. I'll give you that one…" Her mind skipped over the two years she missed as Cerberus worked to rebuild her and continued, "… but it's been five years since then! We were at war for the first four years of that and then, without a break, tossed directly into that damnable Victory Tour… which was, in its own way, nearly as bad as the war itself! I say it's about time we took a break. Consider it selfish or not, I don't care… because we deserve it, Liara. I firmly believe we deserve every bit of personal time we can steal to finally sit back and enjoy our hard-sought victory. Don't you agree?"

Liara looked at her for a moment, her expression gradually shifting to a playful smirk before she finally answered, "You are absolutely correct, Samantha." Her smirk faded to obscurity as she continued, "I suppose I'm feeling unnecessarily culpable for everything bad that is still going on. So, while it's a stretch to think the galaxy would ever leave us alone for more than just a brief period, we can most certainly do our best to ignore the outside world for a bit and, like you said, relish in whatever time we can steal." She leaned in again for another quick kiss before finishing, "With that said, let's finish up dinner… and let our carefree follies begin!"

A/N: It is likely I will not have a chapter ready for next week. Sorry to skip, but I have to travel for a 3-day conference for work, so won't have time to write. I know… great sadness and I'm sorry to disappoint. But, no worries, I'll be working on the next whenever I can and get it published on the earliest possible Friday!