Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm really glad you are all enjoying the story so far! I will try to update a few times a week. However, if I get really busy I might only get to update once a week. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Liara sat curled up swinging back and forth on the porch swing Shepard had built for her on their last anniversary. Sometimes she questioned its stability, but it hadn't spilled them yet. Liara had been glad when they built this home when Shepard first got stationed on Eden Prime; they had thought to put a sliding glass door to this private porch. Even though they loved both of their children dearly sometimes it was nice to have a break to just enjoy each other. However, as she looked out at the night sky all she felt was dread. She had awoken and trailed out of her and Shepard's room, surprised she had not awaken Shepard who normally never slept through her walking out of the room.

The night's dinner had been stressful on the whole family when Tally had begged her to understand why she wanted to follow in Shepard's footsteps; she had not taken it kindly, storming upstairs to the bedroom. She had fallen asleep crying thinking of all the pain the life of a solider had brought to her heart over the years. The thoughts of having two soldiers in the family were almost too much to handle. Her thoughts trailed back to a time she hated to remember.

Stranded on the planet Liara cursed Joker once again for running instead of holding fast to rescue the Commander. Now as she stood in front of the memorial wall with Shepard's wall plaque in her hands all she felt was anger. She hated to admit the odds of Shepard being alive after the citadel exploded were almost nonexistent. However, she thought she should feel something if her lover were no longer among the living, it had happen the first time she had died this time she didn't feel anything. In the corner of her eye she watched as Tali clung desperately to Garrus. Her heart broke as a single tear rolled down her face. Ashley's voice broke the silence. "Do you want me to do it?" The Spectre reached for the plaque, Liara in return clutched it tightly to her chest, shooting an ice cold glare to her 'friend'. "NO! No one is doing this! I won't allow this…this…I won't!" All words lost Liara as tears finally were let out of the flood gate that had been holding them back, slumping on the floor all she saw was blackness.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Liara turned to see Shepard as she sat beside of her on the swing. "I'm not sure why you always insist on a silly phrase when you see I'm upset."

Leaning in to softly kiss her wife, Shepard sat back and pulled Liara into a hug as they looked out over the night sky. "I do it just to confuse you. It helps break your train of thought."

The grin that Liara loved so much crossed Shepard's face. It was that grin that had stolen her heart so many years ago. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"You didn't, well not by coming out here anyway. I reached for you in my sleep." Shepard paused treading lightly as she spoke "Liara I didn't want to wake you when I came to bed tonight, but Tally is really upset."

Liara tried to calm herself as her heart beat faster. "I shouldn't have run upstairs like a child. I'm just scared Liz." Nuzzling her head under Shepard's chin Liara just wanted everything to be okay, and the only time everything truly felt okay was when she was in Shepard's arms like this.

"I'll never forget the first time Tally brought a C home on her report card." Shepard chuckled. "Do you remember that?"

Liara rolled her eyes at the silly memory of a seven year old Tally looking as defeated as any child could ever look. "Yes. How could I forget she brought me a history data pad, with all the pros and cons of knowing about history."

"She was so upset, she came to me first did you know that?"

Pulling herself out of Shepard's embrace Liara turned to face her wife. "No I didn't."

"Well she did, she came up to the CIC knowing good and well she wasn't supposed to come up unless it was an emergency. I pulled her to the side, squatted down and feared something was horribly wrong." Gazing out onto the stars Shepard let herself get lost in the silly memory.

Shepard gazed into the sky blue eyes of her seven year old. Her long brown hair pulled in a braded ponytail that Liara had just managed to finally get right that very morning before Tally went to class, with some of the other kids now living on the Normandy. Tally had just undergone a growth spurt but still was just less than four feet tall. Her eyes were glued to the floor trying her best to hold back tears as she clutched a data pad in her tiny hands. "What's the matter sweetheart?" Shepard asked genuinely worried. Tally normally never broke the rules, and being on the CIC was a big no-no for the child who pretty much had free roam of the ship except for this area. "Momma is going to kill me!" Tally's hands clutched harder to the data pad. "I doubt that, can I see?" Shepard had glanced down at the data pad and now reached for it. Finally pulling it out of the child's hands and looking at the report card Shepard had to stifle a smile as she gazed into her daughter's eyes. "Honey, its okay a C isn't that bad!" In reality Shepard thought it was better than "I" ever got! Deciding not to tell that to her child she pulled her into a hug instead. "It wouldn't be that bad, but it's in history! History mom I mean I ace math, and get a C in history." Pulling away from her mother the child still looked dejected. Shepard thought hard; she had uplifted a whole universe to help fight the reapers but in this moment was at a loss as to what to say to help the little girl who brought so much joy to her life. "She's not going to love me, some of the other kids said she's not my momma that I lied when I said she was my momma, they said I would be blue like Rena if I were her daughter. Now I get a C in history maybe they are right." Tally was now fighting back tears. Shepard's heart was breaking. "Honey, Liara is your mother. I just carried you that's why you're not blue, you know that!" The truth was more complicated and painful, but it was all the child needed to hear. Liara was her mother; no DNA could take that away. Tally looked into Shepard's eyes for the first time. "So it doesn't matter I got a C in history?" Finally letting the smile cross her face, Shepard smiled at her daughter. "No it most certainly does not." Tally looked a little brighter as she thought of this. "I think I should tell her on my own." "Really why is that?" Shepard was confused by this sudden boost in confidence from the young girl. "Well, if you're there she might blame you. I mean you always fall asleep when she reads to me about history." The littlest Shepard couldn't stifle a giggle as her mother tickled her sides, drawing attention from the bridge crew, however for once Shepard didn't care she just enjoyed the moment.

"Why didn't you ever tell me that?" Liara asked.

"I don't know, by the time I got back to our quarters all three of you were curled up reading with ice cream, it just didn't feel like she wanted you to know." Shepard paused. "The point is she has always been afraid of letting you down now more so than ever. I know it's hard Liara, hell I don't really want her to go into the Alliance either, but the point is it's her choice."

Liara stood up walking to the wood railing she rested her hands on the cold surface. "I know that. I just don't know if I'm ready to let her go. Look what that life did to you. God Shepard you died! Had it not been for…" Liara stopped herself; she wouldn't let that man's name cross her lips ever again.

Shepard stood beside of Liara, the fact her last name was used was not lost on her. Hugging her wife from behind she whispered in her ear. "Liara, I love you I have always loved you and our family. We're not even at war now, I can control what assignments she gets."

Turning around in her lovers arms Liara shook her head. "No Liz, if she is going to do this, we will not interfere. Benezia tried that with me and I never forgave her." Putting her head down she ached sometimes for her mother's guidance. Feeling the soft touch from Shepard's hand her chin was lifted in the air and her lips met with Shepard's.

Breathless Shepard pulled away. Marveling at how pure Liara still was even after all the horrible things they had to endure throughout the life they led. "That's why I love you Liara."

A shy smile crossed Liara's face. "I just worry Liz, Rena and I will outlive you both or I assume we will. That's hard enough to deal with on its own…." Shepard's index finger stopped Liara mid-sentence.

"Liara, we have no idea how long any of us have. We should just enjoy what we've been given."

"Since when did you start talking like an Asari?" Liara teased.

"I suppose when I fell head over heels in love for one."

"Flatter." Liara once again pulled Shepard in for a kiss as they made their way back into the bedroom.