Greetings readers! I bring unto you a new chapter, enjoy and as always, review!

Ethan's POV

Ethan laid there in bed, tossing the covers around as a million thoughts raced through his mind. Ethan kicked the covers aside as he got up and walked out of the room before throwing on a jacket and leaving the apartment. Ethan walked down the hallway past the windows where hover cars zoomed by and bright neon signs lit up the way. He stuck his hands into the pockets of his jacket as he walked up to the building elevator before pressing a button and waiting for the doors to open. Ethan took out his small arm bracelet that doubled as a communicator and pressed a button as he waited for the elevator.

"Ethan, what is wrong?" came Liara's voice as a holographic image of her popped up onto the screen as Ethan looked at her with a stern look.

"Can we..meet up? I need to talk to someone and I don't know who else to go to, I can't go to Shepard though." Ethan said, watching as Liara studied him for a bit before nodding her head in agreement.

"Meet me at the Silversun Casino near the bar, I'll be there shortly." Liara said as she hung up, Ethan frowning as he heard the elevator door open before boarding it and turning around as the doors closed.

A Half Hour Later

Ethan walked across a walkway as he watched a few casino patrons walk out of the building, smiling and laughing. Ethan moved out their way as he leaned up against a railing, looking down the massive abyss of the Citadel, countless other walkways and buildings below him. Ethan looked away as he felt himself growing nauseous from the view before he made his way into the casino, looking around as people gambled and drank together. He spotted Liara over by the first floor bar as she leaned against the counter and talked with the Krogan bartender. Ethan debated turning around right then and there but knew he couldn't, he had to talk to someone. Ethan took a deep breath before walking forward as he moved across the casino towards the bar, catching Liara's attention as he got closer. Ethan smiled at her as he walked up and took a seat at one of the many bar-stools that came up from the floor.

"Are you okay? You look troubled." Liara said as she walked over closer to Ethan and leaned her side up against the counter as she looked at him.

"Yea, I'm fine. I...just needed to talk to someone about something that's been on my mind. I couldn't talk to Shepard about it...it had to be someone else." Ethan said as he set his hands up on the counter and began to fidget with his hands as he stared down at them.

"What is it Ethan?" Liara said with a sincere overtone in her voice as she took a seat next to Ethan, the bar-stools pulling up right under her as she sat.

"I've been having these dreams lately, it always use to be about my family and the void that I came through when I was blasted into this universe. Lately though, I've been dreaming about the time I first awoke in my new body. At first it was small glimpses of what I could remember, but ever since we went out for sushi a few nights ago all I can see is Shepard's face. I thought at first it was because he was one of the first few things I saw when I woke up, but I think it's more than that. When I see his face, I feel safe and secure, I feel at peace. With everything that's been going on here lately, peace is the last thing I should be feeling, but yet when I look at him it's as clear as can be. I don't know what to think or do, what do you think it means?" Ethan asked as he rambled on, finally turning to look into Liara's synthetic green eyes.

"I'm not a expert at this kind of thing, but it sounds to me that you like him in more of a sense than friendship or leadership. What does your heart feel when you look at him, when you talk or interact with him?" Liara said as she continued to stare at Ethan who looked away once more as he began to fidget with his hands again.

"I feel this...sense of happiness inside me. I...I feel like I don't have anything worry about, that there isn't anything that can hurt me with him there with him. I can't like him though, he's going to be my Commander soon, I just can't!" Ethan said in a fit of emotional distress as he bunched his hands up in his hair and laid his head onto the counter. He remained that way for a few minutes before he felt a hand on his shoulder, looking up to see Liara looking at him with sincerity on her face.

"Ethan, I have served with Shepard for awhile now. Shepard is a generous and caring man who has been through a lot in his life. Back during the Reaper War, Shepard saw many of his friends and crew killed in battle. When it finally came down to it, Shepard even gave his own life to finally quell the war once and for all. He was presented with three choices, destroy them, control them, or create a whole new way of life that could bring peace among the galaxy. Shepard chose the third option, which combined synthetics with organics, but at the cost of his own life. When we found him...there wasn't much left we could do, but we persevered so we wouldn't lose him. He was born again just as you were, and given a second chance. Now normally I wouldn't go on about Shepard's personal history but I've seen the way he looks at you, and it's the same way that you look back that gives it all away. Shepard has been through so much in his lifetime, I think having something to hold close to him would be just what he needs now." Liara said as she rubbed Ethan's shoulders before finally standing up and giving him her hand.

"Are you saying what I think your saying?" Ethan said as he looked up at her, watching as a smile creased her lips.

"I'm not saying anything Mr. Morgan, now come on and I'll walk you home." Liara said as Ethan took her hand and let her help him up as they began to walk out of the casino together.

Jane's POV

Jane Morgan walked into her classroom with a packet in her hands as she saw Jake and waved at him, smiling as she sat down and opened the packet up before spilling out a bunch of pictures.

"It's been like four months since my birthday trip but I just got these developed yesterday night. What do you think?" Jane asked as she fumbled through some of the pictures, smiling at one of her and her mom making faces by the fire-pit.

"Oh God, I look horrible in this one!" Jake said, brushing one of the pictures towards Jane with a smile on his face as he began to laugh.

"You think that's bad, look at this one. I've got red eye from hell!" Jane said as she burst out laughing, holding her side to keep the laughter down, not hearing the classroom phone ring as the teacher got up and answered it.

"Ms. Morgan...your father is here to pick you up." the teacher said as she looked over at Jane as her laughter died down, a slight frown developing on her lips as she looked at Jake before gathering up the pictures and putting them back into her bag next to the teddy bear.

A Hour Later

Jane walked down the hospital hallway, the sterile white floors and walls all around her as she wiped at her eyes. She finally came to a doorway as she looked inside and saw her mother laying there inside a hospital bed. Jane looked up at her father who nodded his head before she hesitantly walked inside and came to her mothers side. Jane could see how pale her mother was, her hair beginning to look thin and dull as well as the dark circles under her mothers eyes.

"Mom...I'm here mom." Jane said softly as she watched her mother open her eyes and turn her head to look at her.

"There's my baby...girl. Come...here...and give mommy a hug." Samantha said as Jane let a sob burst out as she went to her mother and wrapped her arms around her mothers frail body.

"Don't cry...don't..cry. Mommy's here." Samantha said as she slowly wrapped her arms around Jane's body and began to rub her back.

"What happen mom! You looked so healthy a few weeks ago!" Jane said as she leaned back and looked into her mothers eyes which were filled with pain.

"I don't know sweetie...these kind of things...happen. There's...nothing mommy could have...done." Samantha said as she reached out and took hold of Jane's hand. Jane squeezed her mothers hand in return as she began to sob once more.

"Listen baby...I need...to ask you something...before I go." Samantha said as she reached her other hand over and put it on top of Jane's.

"Don't talk like that mom...your not going anywhere!" Jane said softly as tears ran down her cheeks, wiping her eyes with her jacket sleeve.

"Jane...please listen. Your...going to have to look after your father now. You two...must be there for each other now. Your...all he has now sweetie...and he needs you more than ever." Samantha said as Jane nodded her head as she let a few more sobs break, trying her best to hold it all in for her mother now.

"I want you...to...promise me something. Never give up on what you love...always give everything your best effort baby girl...always. I want you to shoot for the stars...and when you do...think of your brother and me...and know that we both love you very much." Samantha said, her voice raspy and drawn out as she squeezed Jane's hand.

"Mommy...please don't go...don't leave me." Jane whispered, trying to prevent her voice from cracking as she bit her lip and held her breath in.

"Don't be scared honey...mommy will always be right there with you...even when you feel like your alone...I'll be there. Here...I want you to have this." Samantha said as she slowly reached behind her neck, taking off her diamond necklace and placing it into Jane's hands before clasping Jane's fingers over it.

"Your father gave this to me after we had you, symbolizing our family was complete. I...want you to have it now." Samantha said with a smile, reaching up to wipe a tear away from Jane's cheek and run her hands through her hair one last time.

"It's time...for mommy to go now...I love you so much. Your mommy's baby girl...never forget that...shoot for the stars sweetie...shoot for the stars." Samantha said as she closed her eyes once more, no longer opening them again. Jane looked at her mother for a bit as she slowly began to shake her mothers hand.

"Mom...mom wake up...mom wake up!" Jane said as she began to shake harder, her mother's face frozen with a smile on it.

"Don't do this to me mom! Wake up, please wake up! Mommy!" Jane screamed as she laid her head into her mother's chest and began to sob heavily, gripping onto her mother's gown. Jane felt a hand on her shoulder as she lifted her head up and saw her father standing there, his face red from crying himself as she stood up and embraced him. She stood there crying into her father's jacket as he held her, sunlight streaming in from the window over Samantha's body as a butterfly fluttered over by the window.

Sorry guys, I'll cover the charge of any tissue boxes used up in this chapter! Review!