Nala's distressed cry roused her parents almost at once. Shepard rolled over grumpily and rubbed her eyes. "Is it my turn or yours?" she asked.

"Yours," Liara replied.

"Mmf, okay." She flipped the covers off and struggled to her feet.

"The joys of child rearing," Liara said sleepily.

"Eh, could be worse." Liara rolled back over; she was sorry for both her daughter and her bondmate, but far too tired to overlook an opportunity to go back to sleep. Shepard brushed her hair from her eyes and made her way back across their bedroom, her bare feet softly slapping against the marble floor.

Nala was crying and lightly flailing her arms when Shepard came into her room. "Hey baby girl."

She turned to her but continued crying, as if she was saying "Can't you see I'm unhappy?"

"Come here." Shepard carefully plucked her from her crib and held her in her arms. A quick examination showed she didn't need changing, she was just grumpy. Maybe she'd had a nightmare or something. Shepard gently brushed the tears from her eyes and whispered to her. "Shhhh, it's okay. You're okay. I'm here. I gotcha." Nala slowly calmed down, and blinked up at her father, still sniffling a little. Jane gently rocked her back and forth, holding her close against the warmth of her chest. Even though she wasn't too happy about being woken up, Shepard wasn't mad at her. How could she be? She was so young, so many things in the world were new and frightening. She didn't know any better.

The tiny asari made another little noise of uncertainty and Shepard bounced her up and down in her arms. "Baby girl," Jane cooed. She whimpered again and patted gently at Shepard's chest. "Ah…oh!" the human laughed lightly and looked down at her. "You're hungry, right? Sorry, I'm a little out of it right now." Shepard carefully rolled up her tanktop and lifted the child to her breast. "There you go little one." Nala gently latched onto Jane's nipple and suckled. Shepard slowly sat down in the large comfy chair next to the window. Nala suddenly gummed her a little and she bit her lip. "Ach, careful baby girl, I'm still gonna need that when you're done."

While the infant asari had her fill, Shepard looked out the window onto the beach. The stars were bright, illuminating the white sand to create a wondrous view. Though the sounds of the ocean started to blend together, when Shepard focused she could still pick them out. They were wonderfully smooth and relaxing.

Shepard looked down at her daughter and unavoidably, her breasts. They were larger and more sensitive than usual. She gently bobbed her free side, comparing it to her memories of before she started estrogen. It wasn't too cumbersome, just enough to feel off.

Nala stopped suckling and Shepard eased her off. "Better?" The child responded with one of her trademarked noisy belches and Jane giggled lovingly. "Much better." She kissed her forehead, rolled her top back down and carefully carried her back to her crib. Nala's eyes were already starting to droop again. Shepard set her down and fondly stroked her cheek. "Don't go taking this as an invitation to keep us up forever, but I'll always come when you need me." She scooted Nala's favorite teddy varen over to her. She nestled up against it and closed her eyes. "Sleep tight little one."

Shepard slid quietly from the room and heard a small noise around her ankles. "Hey Nezzie." The cat rubbed up against her leg and purred. "I'm goin' back to sleep. You wanna come?" The cat marched back and forth between her legs and kept rubbing her. Shepard sighed and carefully overstepped the little cat. Nezzie trotted after her back towards her room.

Liara felt the bed next to her shift and smiled wide as Shepard tucked her arms around her waist. "Is she all right?" the asari mumbled.

"Yeah, she was a little hungry, that's all."

"Did she eat all right?"

"Mhm."

The bed shifted again, followed by the little bounces of a few pawsteps. "Mrow."

Liara laughed sleepily and opened an eye to glance downward. "Hello miss Nezzie. Do you want some attention too?"

"Mowww."

Shepard lifted the covers behind her and patted the mattress. Nezzie sniffed quickly at the newly created opening and then climbed in. Shepard carefully flipped the covers back and Nezzie poked her head out before lying down on her side. Jane let her eyes drift shut and pressed her lips against Liara's neck. "Hey."

"Mmm," the asari replied.

"I love you."

Even in her sleepy state, Liara flushed with warmth and snuggled back into her arms. "I love you too, Shepard."

Morning came with the loud cackle of a strange bird outside the window. Jane stirred and pulled her bondmate towards her. Liara mumbled something and tucked her arms around Shepard as well. "Hmhm. Hey sleepy girl," Jane sang quietly, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. Liara gave her a little squeeze in response and nestled against her breast. Shepard summoned her omnitool and looked at it over Liara's shoulder. It was a little after seven. She was about to lie back down when something else caught her eye. A little notification next to the date. Her heart sank. She exhaled sharply and stiffened.

"What is it?" Liara asked drowsily.

"I..uh…it's…"

Liara thought for a moment, then smiled and blinked her eyes open. "Ah. I see now." She propped herself up a little. "Happy anniversary, Shepard."

Jane sighed and nervously scratched her neck. "I...Happy anniversary. I've got nothing. With Nala and all I didn't even mmf."

Liara suddenly climbed onto her, cupped her cheek and brought her forward into a deep loving kiss. "I completely forgot too. So don't worry." She gently brushed her hand over Shepard's cheek. "All I want is to spend my day with you, and our daughter."

"Mrow."

They both giggled and Liara pet the cat now perched expectantly next to her. "And you too Nezzie."

"We have two babies to feed after all."

"Brrrr," Nezzie affirmed, nuzzling Liara's hand.

"Guess I should go check on number two then." Shepard started to get up but the asari caught her arm.

"Um, Shepard?"

"Hm?"

"There…there is one thing." Shepard stopped and turned back to her. "It's…it's foolish, really. Old tradition, not a big deal." Nezzie hopped off the bed and wandered off toward the rest of the house.

Jane took Liara's hand and pressed it against her heart. "Tell me."

"Since asari bonds aren't always monogamous and don't always last an entire lifespan, bondmates planning to stay together renewed their vows every year or so. It's sort like bondmarks in that way but I…"

Shepard leaned in and cut her off with a tender loving kiss. Liara's eyelids fluttered as she pulled away and Jane rested her forehead against hers. "Tell me what I have to do."

Liara summoned her omnitool and closed her eyes. "Join me, and read your side. Since you asked for my hand, you start."

Shepard took a steadying breath and sighed with pleasure at the familiar sensation of their minds joining. This was a gentle meld, emotions and sensations, meant mostly just for traditions sake. Shepard carefully opened her eyes and read from Liara's omnitool. "I as before offer myself to you. My body, my mind, my soul. I offer my love, and my hand and I pray you'll accept. Extend hand to oh! Sorry." Shepard laughed and offered her hand.

Liara giggled musically and took her hand. "I accept, and in turn offer my own. I bond myself to you as sun bonds to sky and lyric to melody."

"I claim you, Liara T'Soni. All that you are, and ever shall be."

"And I claim you, Jane Shepard."

"Embrace Eternity," they said together. They sealed each other in a long loving kiss as their meld deepened and fell slowly back to the bed in each other's arms. Every time they kissed, no matter the circumstances they kissed like they hadn't seen each other in years.

Slowly, their minds and their lips separated, wanting to enjoy every second. Shepard opened her eyes and beamed at her love. Liara rested her forehead against hers and gently held the crimson haired vanguard in her arms. "I love you," they said together.

"Hmhm! Jinx," Shepard teased.

"What?"

Jane smiled knowingly and gave the tip of her nose a little kiss. "Never mind. Human thing." Nala made a noise from down the hall. "Nala's awake."

Liara gave her another quick kiss. "You go and get her, I'll start breakfast." Shepard reluctantly slid away and went to retrieve Nala. The asari sighed with love and watched her bondmate go. She fell in love with her all over again every time she walked into a room. The asari had learned the sound of her footsteps, the unique rhythm that meant the woman she loved was coming. Perhaps just to greet her with a smile, perhaps to hug her from behind and whisper in her ear, or perhaps to kiss her with a smoldering hunger, slide her hands under her clothes and make love to her like she knew no other could. Liara shook herself from her happy stupor, donned her silken robe and made her way towards the kitchen.

Shepard sat on the couch with the windows open to sea breeze with their daughter while Liara put food together. The asari watched them fondly, again seeing a rare glimpse of Shepard's nurturing side. She tickled Nala's little blue belly, making her flail and emit little squeals of joy. She set her down on the couch and played with her tiny feet. The infant asari continued to giggle and gaze with wonder upon her father. "Hey baby girl. Did you know you're loved?"

"Ada," the child replied.

"Eep! Did you hear her!?" Shepard exclaimed.

Liara put a hand to her lips to stifle her laugh. "I did. Goddess she's already talking." The asari put breakfast onto two plates and carried them over to the couch. Shepard scooped up the child and passed her to her mother. "I don't think I can keep her comfortable and eat at the same…" Liara started.

"Say no more." Shepard grabbed a sling from beside her. "Tada!"

Liara smiled. "You really do think of everything," she said, curling it around her shoulder and carefully settling the infant in it.

"Not too long ago that careful thinking might have saved someone's life." Nala nestled up against her mother and Liara caught Shepard giving her a long loving look. Motherhood hadn't done a thing to diminish her beauty, Jane thought to herself. "Right now though, I think I'm happy with it just saving you a little hassle." Her bondmate giggled and exchanged a quick kiss with her before they both took their plates.

They talked while they ate, mostly about how best to go about maintaining their work while taking the best care of their daughter possible. A minute in, Nezzie remerged with Twitchy riding on her back. Shepard had been understandably concerned for the space hampster's safety once Nezzie had started growing up, but she quickly found that she didn't have to be. By having her grow up side by side with him, they'd become the best of friends. More than once they'd come home to find them napping or playing together.

"No matter what she's going to be taken care of. I just want to make sure she doesn't see way more of one of us than the other." Shepard took her hand. "We both know what that's like."

Liara nodded. "She'll have both of us. We'll make sure."

"I won't lose myself in the arena, you don't go out on too many digs."

"Agreed."

"If we both somehow need to go somewhere, we talk to AethyTA!" Twitchy had crawled up her arm and dropped into her tanktop. Shepard squirmed a little and peered down after him. A little furry head popped out and sniffed at her. "Comfy you little furball?"

"Squeak!"

Liara giggled and rested on her bondmate's shoulder. "That's a yes." Shepard sighed and gave the space hamster a little pat and shifted over to give her love a more comfortable place to lie. Liara scooped her datapad off the coffee table, double checked that Nala was content, and resumed her work on contextual prothean language translations. Shepard stroked her bondmates' crests and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Happy anniversary love. Today, I'm yours." She gently slid the tip of her crest into her mouth, drawing a quiet sigh of pleasure from the asari. "And tonight, after Nala's asleep, you are mine."