Nearly forty minutes had passed and not one of them had bothered speaking to each other. Shepard was at a desk in the back writing notes about supplies they needed. She wasn't really taking anything in as she was still sulky about the outcome of her spa with Jacob. Miranda and Liara were whispering to each other a few desks below Shepard. Jacob was sat at the back row too but a few seats along and Thane still remained at the window.

"You can ask." Miranda dismissed.

"Oh, okay fine." Liara said before looking up at Shepard. "Shepard, what age did you first have sex?"

"What?" Shepard repeated slowly, somewhat shocked that Liara of all people had asked that when she was usually a lot more shy- she clearly had changed.

"Miranda and I were talking about who in the group did it first." Liara replied.

"Who did you say?" Shepard asked them both.

"Jacob." Miranda replied and Shepard felt him smirk slightly.

Shepard shook her head to indicate she did not want to play this game.

"Oh come on," Liara replied and then sighed in defeat, " fine mine was Feron."

Miranda burst out laughing and even Thane smiled.

"Just kidding, Shepard!" Liara added as Shepard pulled a sarcastic smile. "Obviously it was Shepard. Everybody knows this."

"I think you'll probably win for the oldest." Miranda admitted.

"Asari life cycles are very different." Liara replied.

"Mine was when I was seventeen. It was this older Cerberus guy, in his lab- the smell of antiseptic still turns me on." Miranda and Liara laughed again.

"Jacob?" Liara asked after she regained composure.

"Fifteen. Linda Bates, in our stock room- she was another assistance at this shop I worked part time at." He explained.

"The stock room?" Liara asked, eye brows raised.

"Yeah, we were on a break..." Jacob replied.

"Ironic." Miranda muttered. "Okay, come on, Shepard. Just say whether you were older or younger and then we can give out the prize."

"There's a prize?" Shepard asked playfully.

"Don't get your hopes up." Miranda warned, but with mirth.

"Okay, I was twenty three." Shepard replied.

Liara and Miranda exchanged surprised looks.

"What?" Shepard asked. "I didn't want any relationships for a long time. I focussed on my work."

Shepard shifted uncomfortably. It's not that she was ashamed but Mindoir had jaded her and it took her a long time to get close to anybody after that.

"Don't I get to play?" Thane asked, mercifully sparing Shepard the tortuous silence.

"Sure. We didn't think you'd want to." Liara admitted.

"Today has been strange...but nice, besides from the blood lust." Thane admitted. "It's good to be among a team and not just on my own although it's taking some getting used to."

"So do you or Jacob get the prize?" Liara asked.

"Jacob. My first time was with my wife..."

The room tensed once more and Shepard traded an easy look with Miranda. Thane seemed to sense their uncertainty.

"It's a good memory, don't worry." He reassured them. "I haven't talked about it in a long time. We were very much in love when we finally found each other...it's okay, it's okay."

Thane laughed nervously to reassure them but silence resumed once more.

"You must have loved her very much." Liara remarked kindly.

"Of course, she is always with me in my soul..."

Thane's eyes flashed once more and he descended into memory. He described how beautiful his bride had looked and then broke off into the vows he must have uttered for he spoke in the Drell language. It was so haunting and beautiful that the room was swallowed by it. Miranda and Liara stared at him with tears in their eyes, full of admiration. Shepard gaped and turned to look at Jacob who looked equally as stunned and they both recognised their earlier childishness and immaturity in fighting for their attention. Thane finally broke off and laughed nervously again at the looks Miranda and Liara were given him.

The door opening loudly gave them all a start.

"Sorry, I'm late." A bumbling man declared. "It took forever to get my damn shuttle started. I didn't think anyone would still be here so I appreciate you all waiting. Come forward and we'll get started."

They all got up and took up seats in the front row.

"Thanke Krios?"

"Here." Thane replied, sitting at the far end.

"Miranda Lawson?"

"Here." Miranda replied, sitting to Shepard's left.

"Jane Shepard?"

Shepard raised her hand briefly.

"Jacob Taylor?"

Jacob nodded.

"And finally...Liara T'soni?"

"That's me." Liara replied.

"Okay then, let's get started..."