Shepard paced back and forth in her cabin, nervously awaiting Liara's arrival. She had convinced Liara to come aboard and visit her. While their kiss on the Shadow Broker's ship was a huge step in fixing their relationship, she felt that there were still unresolved issues between them that they needed to hash out in order to keep moving forward. Stepping into the bathroom, Shepard went over her appearance for what had to be the fifth time already.

She had decided to wear the dress that Kasumi had given her, the same one she had been going to wear to Liara's apartment before Vasir interfered. She fiddled with the necklace that she was wearing, not accustomed to the weight around her neck. She decided against wearing any makeup, since she was already going to shock Liara enough with her current attire. Satisfied that she was presentable, she made her way out to the living area and pulled out two wine-glasses and a bottle of Liara's favorite wine. Pausing a moment, she couldn't help but feel ridiculous. "Look at you, Isabelle. You'd think that you were going on your first date," she said to herself out loud.

"Shepard, is this your first date? I would be happy to find guides and advice for first dates. One moment," EDI's voice stated from the comms.

"No thanks, EDI. This isn't my first date," Shepard replied.

If EDI heard, she showed no signs that she did. "I have found some tips for you, Shepard. It appears that flowers are a good way to impress a potential mate during their first encounter," EDI began. "It would also appear that attempting sexual relations after the first date is frowned upon, unless she is a 'slut.' However, a kiss is a generally acceptable custom after the date concludes."

Shepard face-palmed, embarrassed that she was getting dating advice from an AI. "EDI, thank you, but as I said, this isn't my first date. Liara and I were together before," Shepard said. Maybe I should have gotten her flowers, though, she thought to herself. She was beginning to think it was a bad idea to have Liara tour the ship before they met.

"I see," EDI replied. There was a momentary pause, and EDI's orb lit up again. "I have compiled a list of erogenous zones on the asari body, as well as several dating rituals and practices in asari culture."

"EDI!" Shepard exclaimed. "Why are you doing this to me? Did Joker put you up to this?" she asked.

"No, Shepard," EDI replied. "I simply deduced that since you and Dr. T'Soni are not currently together, that there were issues with your relationship. While your death is a high possibility for that rift, I also calculate a thirty percent chance that you are no longer together due to issues with sexual relations. I simply wish to help."

Shepard was dumbfounded, her face slightly red from embarrassment. "Thank you for the concern, but Liara and I are quite good together in bed," she said. She turned even redder when she realized that she was openly talking about her sex life with an AI.

"I see, I was mistaken then," EDI said, sounding disappointed. "I will get rid of the information."

"Wait!" Shepard said. Lowering her head in shame, she continued. "Just... forward it to my personal terminal." Raising her head to look at EDI, as if that made any difference, she gave a menacing glare. "Not a word of this to anyone," she threatened.

"As you wish, Shepard. You have a visitor waiting outside of your door," EDI informed her.

"Thank you EDI," she said. Hurriedly making her way over to the door, she straightened her dress again before opening it. She had a beaming grin on her face, imagining what Liara's reaction to her attire would be. That grin was quickly turned to her mouth gaping open as she saw what Liara was wearing.

Liara was adorned in a dark maroon dress that covered the entire length of her body. On either side were slits that exposed the skin just above her hips. The fabric was covered in the same white tribal outlines that some asari wore on their faces, making Liara appear almost mystical. However gorgeous Liara's attire was, it was her physical beauty that always astonished Shepard. The way that her crests were faintly lighter than her face, the eyebrow tattoos that she had, her soft and enticing lips, and most importantly, her freckles. Shepard never understood it, but Liara's freckles had always been her favorite feature on the asari.

After Shepard was done admiring Liara's beauty, she noticed that Liara was equally enamored with her. Smiling, she wrapped Liara up in a hug. "I'm glad you came," she said. "Did you enjoy the tour?"

Liara nodded, giving Shepard a squeeze before stepping back. "I did. It is a beautiful ship, much more so when I am not strolling through here on a 'war path', as you humans say," she said with a smile, though she dipped her head slightly out of regret. "You look beautiful, Isabelle."

Shepard couldn't help but laugh an approval. "Yeah, anger has a way of taking the beauty out of things," she said. Moving to the side, she gestured for Liara to enter. "I've got some wine if you'd like," she said.

Liara nodded, and began taking in the sights of Shepard's cabin. "Your cabin is beautiful. How do you ever leave it?" she asked as she sat down on the couch nearby.

Seeing Liara sitting on her couch, Shepard couldn't help but smile. "It's always felt lonely," she admitted. "I don't like being isolated from the crew like this. It has its... advantages, though," she said with a wink, pouring Liara a glass of wine.

Liara took a sip and let out a pleasant hum, which always drove Shepard crazy. "I guess Cerberus does have its uses," Liara said. Setting the glass down, Liara's expression turned serious. "Shepard, we still need to talk."

Shepard nodded, sitting down on the couch next to her. "I know," she said. "I've hurt you, Liara. I was impatient, stupid, and inconsiderate and I betrayed you. I am so sorry," she said.

Liara shook her head. "I have forgiven you for that, Isabelle. Yes, I was extremely hurt that it happened. There are some things that happened between the two of us that you are not aware of, but I will keep it like that. I have never felt so betrayed in my life, but I cannot blame you because I myself share blame in it. In the end, though, you came back to me and proved yourself, and that is what matters to me." She took another sip of wine and looked past Shepard at the far wall. "Two years, Izzy. Two years you were away from me. The only reason I survived was through the hope that Cerberus could bring you back to me, and even then I almost didn't," Liara admitted, small tears falling from her eyes.

Concerned, Shepard shifted closer and ran a comforting hand across Liara's cheek, brushing away the tears. "What do you mean, Liara?"

Instead of replying, Shepard felt Liara's presence hovering at the edge of her consciousness. Accepting the meld, Shepard opened her mind to Liara. She felt the familiar sensation of them becoming one, but also felt apprehension and extreme regret and fear coming from Liara. Sending reassuring thoughts, Shepard encouraged Liara to show her whatever was bothering her. There was a brief pause, and after a moment, a scene started to emerge.

Liara was curled up on the bathroom floor, sobbing dry tears. It had been three months since she had handed Isabelle over to Cerberus, and there was still no word on how she was doing. Liara's very will to live was in the hands of Cerberus, and she had no indication of what was going on. Miranda Lawson had assured her that she would be receiving updates on the project status, but so far, there were no messages. Liara was so desperate for news that she had taken to checking her private terminal for messages twenty times a day, sometimes running to the terminal to check it.

She was tired. Her eyes were dark hollows from constant crying and lack of sleep, draining the very life from them. She was noticeably thinner, barely able to eat anything. She had no leads on Feron, no updates from Shepard, her mother was dead, she didn't even know who her father was, and she had lost contact with everyone she had considered a friend. She had never felt so alone before, cursed with having something sonly to see it yanked away from her cruelly and forcefully.

Liara just wanted to sleep. It felt like weeks since she had actually rested. She pushed herself up and made her way over to the cabinet above her sink. Opening the door, she pulled out a bottle of sleeping pills that she had been taking just get enough sleep to stay functional. Moving back to her spot on the floor, she took off the top and swallowed one of the pills. 'So tired', Liara thought. Without even thinking, another she downed another pill. 'Just want to... sleep.' Two more pills entered her mouth at this time. She felt herself becoming slightly groggy, knowing that sleep was not far now. Reaching in the bottle again, she pulled out two more and downed those as well. Here eyelids started to droop, and Liara finally smiled for the first time in months. Her eyelids finally slid closed, and Liara embraced her slumber.

"Liara," a voice sounded, snapping her eyes open momentarily.

Looking around lazily, eyelids feeling heavy, Liara couldn't locate a source for the voice. Deciding that she was just hearing things, she shook it off and let her eyes close.

"Liara, wake up!"

This time there was no confusion. 'That's Isabelle's voice!' Liara thought to herself. "Isabelle?" she said lethargically, the pills taking their effect. Confused, Liara didn't see anyone in the bathroom with her.

"Liara, wake up!" the voice repeated.

Looking down at her right hand, Liara found that the bottle holding her sleeping pills was now completely empty. Letting out a shriek, Liara flung the bottle across the room and rushed to the toilet. Lifting the lid up, she forced her fingers down her throat and vomited into the toilet. She heaved several times before she collapsed to the ground next to the toilet, exhausted. She broke down in sobs, fighting to cope with the despair and exhaustion she was feeling. 'Please, Isabelle. Please come back.'

The meld ended after that, Shepard feeling wetness covering her cheeks. "Liara... I'm so sorry," she whispered, not knowing what else to say to the asari.

"It was so hard, Isabelle," Liara replied, wiping away her own tears.

"I got better. I came back, thanks to you," Shepard said, trying to comfort her.

"But for how long," Liara asked calmly. "It seems like you just came back, and now you're going to go through the Omega-4 Relay to a suicide mission. You died once, and it nearly killed me. I won't survive it again," she said.

"I will come back," Shepard said, scooting close to Liara, taking her hands. "For you, I'd come back from the depths of Hell."

Liara shook her head, but made no effort to move. "You cannot promise me that, Izzy."

Shepard let out an agreeing sigh. "No, I can't. But I can tell you that I'm going to fight like hell to come back to you. I want marriage, old age, and lots of little blue children. I would give anything for that to happen," she admitted. She wanted so badly to have a regular life with Liara, one away from killing and fighting.

Liara punched Shepard on the shoulder, but a smile came to her face. "You just say these things," Liara said.

"I don't," Shepard replied. "And if those roses on my Widow mean what I think they do, you want that as well," she said, leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on Liara's lips.

"I do," she said with a smile. "I guess we will just have to promise that neither of us is allowed to die. It's the only way this will work," Liara said.

"Agreed," Shepard replied.

Liara cuddled up against Shepard, reveling in her embrace. "I need you to come back to me. I do not wish to feel that emptiness again," Liara said, looking Shepard in the eyes.

"Make me an offer," Shepard said teasingly, bringing her lips intoxicatingly close to Liara's.

"What did you have in mind?" Liara asked, already knowing what was next. The next moment, she felt Shepard's lips pressed against hers, arms around her waist and being led to bed. Finally, they were truly whole again.

"I wish you didn't have to leave," Shepard said, holding Liara in her arms.

"I know, but with the Broker network I finally have resources that can help you more than I can on your team," Liara replied.

As much as she didn't like it, she knew that Liara was right. A part of her was also relieved that she wasn't going with her through the Relay, she doubted she would be as strong as Liara was if something happened to Liara. "I know," she replied.

Liara reached behind her neck and unclasped something, handing it to Shepard. "I believe these belong to you," Liara said.

Looking at what Liara was holding out, Shepard shook her head. "Keep them. I already have new dog tags, and that way, you'll know I'm coming back. I'll always come back for you," Shepard said, kissing Liara again.

Liara nodded and put the dog tags back on. "Thank you. Truthfully, I am grateful you are letting me keep them. They have become a part of me," she said. Knowing that a long goodbye would only make it worse, Liara hugged Shepard tightly and placed a sensual kiss on Shepard's lips. "Please be safe, Isabelle."

"I will, Liara," she said.

With that, Liara turned and exited the cabin and into the elevator. She turned around just in time to give Shepard a warm smile. "I love you."

The door closed, and Shepard placed her hand over the elevator door. "I love you too, Liara. Be safe," she said.

After some time, Shepard made her way down to Miranda's office. Stepping inside, she was unsurprised to see her working diligently at her terminal. "Don't you ever take time off, Miranda ?" she asked.

Miranda looked up from the terminal and smiled at Shepard's presence. "Not normally. I suppose your visits would be a regular break from my work," she said. "I saw that Liara was on the ship, how did it go?" she asked, her tone genuine.

Shepard was beaming. "It went rather well. I promised her I wouldn't die again," she said.

Miranda nodded her head. "I would prefer you not die as well. I don't think I can bring you back again," she said. "And I would greatly miss my friend." Removing herself from the desk, she went over to her couch and took a seat. "Shepard, I just want you to know that I'm happy for you. While I cannot say I'm not disappointed that you cannot be with me, I am happy for you. Seeing the way you are after being with her, you two were made for each other."

Not used to such compliments coming from Miranda, Shepard rubbed the back of her neck. "Thank you, Miranda. That means a lot to me," Shepard said. "How's Orianna doing?"

"Quite well, she's adjusting to her new home rather quickly," Miranda stated proudly. "I'll save you some more awkward small talk and say that we are friends, and it will stay that way. You've shown me great kindness, when I deserve none, and I am eternally grateful to you. I will be beside you until the end, and will do everything I can to bring you back to T'Soni," she said.

Smiling, Shepard nodded. "I just hope you don't do anything stupid doing so."

"Not a chance," Miranda replied. "Now, I have more reports to do. You may come back later, should you want to talk more," she said.

"Sounds good," Shepard said with a smile.

Shepard exited Miranda's office and made her way back up to her cabin. Grabbing Liara's photo from her desk, she plopped down on her bed and rubbed her fingers over the picture. One day the fighting will be over, Liara, and I promise we'll have those little blue children. Feeling weary from the days events, Shepard kicked off her boots and scooted back to her pillows. She gently placed Liara's picture on her night stand and laid her head on a pillow, drifting gently off to sleep.

A/N: And that's the end! What happens after this is entirely up to your imagination. Thank you so much to Rae D. Magdon and OriginalAlcy for providing valuable feedback/advice to help make the fic what it is. Thank you to all who reviewed/favorited/followed this as it means a lot to me, and lets me know that I'm doing my job in writing stories that people love to read.