Thessia

The elevator door opened out into the TCU, and Liara made her way back to Mira's room. If she had judged Treya Valen's character with any accuracy, she had full reason to believe that Sen would still be with Mira, visitor's time limits notwithstanding. She approached Mira's room, witnessed the scene beyond the glass walls, and smiled.

Sen stood at Mira's bedside, examining her lover's chart. Every now and again darkness would cross Sen's face as she read some bit of information that pained her. But through the entire review, her lips moved. Liara read them, seeing the words Sen spoke to Mira.

Calm explanations of what had happened, whispered words of comfort and affection, and promises that all would be well fell from Sen's lips to Mira's unconscious ears. The cardiologist conveyed nothing but the utmost love, and a light shone in her eyes that made tears well in Liara's own.

No matter the trials that have defined our lives, Liara thought, there is nothing more beautiful in all the galaxy than love. Even the scars left by love have their grandeur. They set us apart and make us unique while simultaneously bonding us with every other living creature that has loved.

Liara felt an old, familiar smile cross her face. The expression she wore was a scar in its own right. It was tremulous hope, a pleading heart, and the love that had dominated and defined her. She had stood so many times where Sen stood now. Those moments had been horrifying, soul-shattering, gut-wrenching, and yet Liara would trade them for nothing. They had made her the asari she was. They had made her capable of standing beside her friend in this moment. They had made her capable of living again. And living well.

Liara watched as Sen closed the chart. Adoring eyes looked down at Mira, a gentle hand took the human's limp, weak fingers and held them with great care. Passionate lips descended and the barest, eloquent kiss was pressed against Mira's brow.

"Sleep well, my love." Liara read Sen's lips.

The cardiologist walked away and exited the room. Liara met her eyes and watched the strength in them disintegrate. The scar/smile remained on Liara's face as she opened her arms, letting Sen fall into them. Liara made herself a friend and fortress, holding Sen as she wept with the full force of all that she knew. Some believed that not knowing was more difficult than knowing when it came to situations such as these. Others held that full knowledge of the situation was more devastating.

Liara held neither of those opinions. Both held their own terrors and benefits. All of it was hell. Liara rubbed her hand along Sen's back as it bucked and spasmed with forceful, silent sobs. She absorbed the grief that swarmed around her friend, sharing the burden in the only way she could. A few moments later, Sen's body stilled and her tears dried.

She pulled away from Liara's embrace and looked at her friend with wounded, tired eyes.

"Is everything all right, Liara?" Sen asked. "I saw you speaking with security and watched you follow them. Is anything wrong?"

Liara shook her head at the words Sen spoke. For all she knew, she had gone back in time and heard another voice speak those words, with that tone and inflection.

"All that was wrong has been remedied." Liara answered. "Ela T'Vari will be a thorn in your side no longer, Sen. She has seen the error of her ways, dropped the investigation, lifted your suspension, and says that, when you are ready, your position is waiting for you."

Sen's eyes narrowed. "And you're not bleeding anywhere? You weren't thrown out of her window or through her door? Or has giving me this bankrupted you?"

Liara laughed, drawing the disapproving gaze of several nurses. "It cost me nothing but a few words, Sen. Of that, you may rest assured. The Chief of Medicine is not entirely unreasonable."

"What world do you live on?" Sen asked, incredulous. "Are we on Thessia any longer?"

Liara frowned as she noticed Sen's pallor and how she trembled with exhaustion. She wrapped an arm around Sen's waist and guided her to one of the couches in the waiting area.

"I am a very powerful asari, Sen." she said, keeping their eyes locked. "And am made so by more than my reputation or past deeds. No harm was done, no sacrifices were made, and all is as it should be."

"I don't…I don't know how to thank you." Sen breathed. "Through all of this…you've been so kind. It's difficult to remember that our relationship began with you under my care. I owe…"

"Nothing." Liara interrupted. "Because our mutual debts cancel each other. I am a recluse, Sen, and I do not deny it. I have simply never had the need to be anything else for quite some time. Those I called friends died centuries ago." Liara's expression became faraway and wistful. "I watch over their children now." she whispered. "And their children's children. I protect the families of the ones I loved…so long, long ago."

Sen's lips trembled. She had just entered a room that held nothing but pain for her, but that pain seemed as nothing compared to the anguish emanating from Liara. The matron's stoicism and calm acceptance impressed her because Sen knew, beyond any doubt, that Liara felt every emotion, every loss, every day spent alone, deeply.

"I cannot even begin to imagine." Sen whispered, feeling her strength return. She rose from her seat and looked at Liara. "Can we…can we leave, Liara? I hate to seem weak but I…I cannot bear to be here and not be with her, and the way I am feeling now, I would hinder her healing more than help it. Nothing is worse for recovery than a fractious, worried person inhabiting your hospital room."

Liara stood. "Of course." she answered. "If you like…you are still more than welcome to stay with me during her recovery. It is further distance from here, but…"

"Thank you, and I will." Sen nodded. "If you do not mind letting me gather a few of my things. Mira is in good hands. Her father will be here tomorrow, and when she wakes…I do not know if I'll be welcome. If that is the case then…then I know I shouldn't be alone."

Liara shook her head. "You have Zhira's infuriating common sense." she murmured as they entered the elevator and journeyed to the ground level.

"That I do." Sen laughed, before stopping and staring, bewildered, at Liara. "Wait…what?"

"I do recall mentioning that I knew your mother." Liara reminded the cardiologist as they left the sterile air of the hospital behind them.

Sen searched her memory. "You mentioned it but did not elaborate." she recalled at last. "You…you knew my mother? When? Where? How?"

And why did mother never mention knowing Liara T'Soni!? Sen wondered. I idolized her as a child. An asari who had changed the world, and saved it…at only one-hundred and six…I wanted to be Liara.

Liara laughed in the open air. "On Illium." her tone darkened. "In Eternity. Through…unpleasant circumstances."

Sen's heart leapt into her throat and her stomach fell to her feet. "I am not…I am not certain I wish to know this story."

Liara closed her eyes and nodded as the skycar rose. "Trust me a little further, Sen." she said. "Because this is a story that you will want to hear, and moreover, it is one I need to tell you."

Author's Note: Merry meet and blessed be! Thank you all so much for all of your support for this story. I know that I've been to some dark places, and written some questionable content up to this point, but the light at the end of the tunnel is due to make an appearance. Your reviews have been inspirational, encouraging, and an absolute gift that I want to thank you all for. It might be a few days before the next update, as Samhain is tomorrow and my weekend is getting more packed all the time. But I wanted to wish all of you peace during the Thinning of the Veil, and I hope that your Halloween is filled with fun, delight, and joy.

Bright Blessings,

~Raven Sinead