Warning: Contains spoilers for "Lair of the Shadow Broker" and "Mass Effect: Retribution"
The M rating is for later chapters in this fic.
The events of this fic take place between ME2 and ME3.
Players: Urania Jane Shepard and Liara

Shepard picked up the soup spoon from off the table. "A golden spoon, Liara? A solid gold spoon? What the hell are we doing here?" Shepard raised the menu, flapping it wildly. "A salad here would buy at least a dozen thermal clips. Come on, let's just go back to the Normandy and -"

Liara waved for Shepard to calm down. "I just thought we deserved a little respite. Something nice for a change, but if you'd rather -" Shepard took Liara's hand.

"I'm sorry, Liara. You're right. All those people killed by the Collectors, my crew still shaken, the Reapers still … reaping or whatever it is they do. I just feel guilty."

Liara looked into Shepard's deep azure blue eyes. Shepard knew Liara was right and god how she wanted this night. The two of them together, talking, being normal as if nothing mattered. The asari placed a whisper of a kiss on her lover's hand.

"I understand. There were times when you were … gone that I would catch myself laughing and -" Liara couldn't finish her sentence.

"Hey …" Shepard leaned across the table and gently stroked Liara's cheek. The Commander began to speak, but really, nothing else needed to be said.

"By the way, I thought you had some intel you wanted me to see?"

"Oh, goddess, how could I forget? Sorry Shepard. I just have so much on my mind."

"Give."

Liara pulled out a small data disc and handed it to Shepard. "I thought you'd like to know that the Illusive Man is on the run. Turian infiltration teams launched an attack on the Cerberus base. They were looking for some man the Illusive Man had been experimenting on. Another victim of his twisted schemes. "

Shepard read the data. She wasn't sure if it was good news or not. "Thanks, Liara. I don't think he's out of the picture, but if he's on the run that means he's out of my hair, at least for now."

Liara smiled. "Some good news for once?"

"Yeah, thanks, Liara." Shepard stared blankly at the disc. "At least now when I tell people I'm not working for Cerberus I won't feel like a complete hypocritical jackass."

Lirara's withdrew; her smile faded. "You did the right thing, Shepard, just like I knew you would. You fought Cerberus at every turn. You even destroyed that dammed base. I wish I could have seen the Illusive Man's face." Liara huffed. "Bastard." There was a long silence. Liara shifted her weight uncomfortably as she studied Shepard's million mile stare.

"I'm sorry, Shepard."

"What?" Liara's words jolted Shepard back into reality. "Liara …" Shepard said the asari's name as if she were about to scold a child, but caught herself before she continued. "Liara," she said in a much calmer tone, " You have nothing to be sorry about. I know why you gave my body to Cerberus, and I don't blame you. If it were you, I would have done the same thing."

Liara smiled sadly. "No. You wouldn't. You would have moved on, like you always do, like you always have to do."

Shepard reached across the table and took her lover's hand. "I would now."