Tally made her way outside the family home, stealing a glance at the Asari leaning against the cement home, Tally decided to take the plunge and talk to her. "So is this why you ran away last night?"

Jilla knew Tally would need some kind of explanation, but that didn't mean she had one ready. As she stared at her dumbfounded she just shook her head no. "I'm truly sorry about that."

Tally shrugged her shoulders, deciding if they had to see each other they might as well start over. "Here it was all night, I thought it was my horrible ice cream breath that scared you away." Tally shot a classic Shepard grin towards the young maiden.

Not able to hold her laughter in Jilla just smiled at Tally.

Tally looked down at Jilla's bags. "Want me to help take them to your new home?"

"That would be nice."

Reaching down, Tally grabbed the two bags and both headed towards what would be Jilla's home.

Shepard paced back and forth in the small dining room as Liara continued to look at the data pad in her hands.

"How could you have not known about this Shepard?"

Knowing full well the implications that were meant with the use of her last name, Shepard took a deep breath. "Liara, I swear to you, I had no idea. Had the other admirals brought this to my attention, I would have told you from the start." Stopping by her bondmate, Shepard rubbed Liara on her back. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry."

Liara quickly pulled away from Shepard's touch as she stood to stare Shepard in the eyes. "Get her out of this. I don't care what you have to do. Get her out. I will not watch our daughter to suffer like you have suffered. Pull rank, pull the 'I saved the galaxy card' I don't care just do it!" Tears started to flow from Liara's eyes.

Shepard pulled her wife into a tight hug. "shhh. It'll be okay."

Liara once again stepped back from Shepard, pulling from the embrace. "It'll be okay? She joined the N7 program Shepard! She wasn't supposed to have this life! She's supposed to be an officer on a ship commanding other people to…" Liara couldn't finish the words her heart feared.

For the first time Shepard felt defensive. "Liara, had I not been one of those people sent to do things, like dying, we wouldn't be here right now. I respect all of our N7 recruits, including our daughter, if it's what she wants. You and I made this choice when we agreed to let her live this life. We agreed would stay out of it."

Liara locked cold eyes with Shepard, who for the first time in a long time was on the verge of tears herself. "If she dies, it's on you." With those final words Liara stormed out of the room.

Shepard wiped one stray tear from her cheek as she pulled up her omni-tool. She knew her bondmate didn't mean the horrible things, and she knew the pain Liara had felt when she had died. Truthfully, she didn't want Tally in the N7 program any more than Liara did; however, she also knew when they set Tally free, anything could happen. The part she was the most upset about was that Tally hadn't come to her to discuss it, and someone at the office had kept her in the dark. She would get to the bottom of it, and someone would have to answer for keeping her out of the loop.

Jilla sat on the small bed watching Tally pack up most of the small room. She couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful woman in basketball shorts and the tight tank top she was wearing. Each muscle seemed to be more defined then the next.

"I'm sorry for the mess, had I known you were moving here, I would have cleaned it up." Tally put the last handful of stuff in one of three footlockers she had in what now would be Jilla's apartment. "I can get a sheet or something to put over them."

Jilla smiled again at Tally. "It's not bad, truly. I appreciate you doing this; I know this is your space. I'm also sorry if I got you in trouble with your parents. I just assumed they knew about the N7 program."

Tally chuckled. "Yeah so did I." Tally grabbed her tan sweater and pulled it back over her head.

Jilla was a little sad about the loss of getting to see Tally's arms under the long sleeve garment. However, she forced herself to focus on the conservation. It seemed Tally really needed a friend. And she had made it clear that was all she could be. "I was under the impression your mother was the N7 program director." Jilla patted on the bed letting Tally know it was fine to sit.

Tally tentatively sat next to Jilla as she leaned against the wall. "Yeah, I assumed they knew. Hell, I assumed my mom did it!"

"Are you okay?" Jilla's voice was full of concern. She wasn't sure what it was about the human that pulled on her heart, but she knew already, she deeply cared for her.

A slight smile crossed Tally's dry lips. "Yeah, I guess so."

Jilla lightly touched Tally's hand, taking it into her own she felt sparks from the contact, as she looked into the kind eyes staring back at her. "That does not sound very convincing."

Tally held the hand as if it were her life line. "I'm just not looking forward to the lecture I know is coming." Staring over into Jilla's eyes, Tally felt the world lifting away. All her thoughts, her worries, everything for the first time in months it just felt lighter. She wasn't sure what it was about Jilla but something had her attention from the first moment she spotted her. Tugging on her blue hand, Tally spoke softly. "Thanks for that." She smiled knowing full well the Asari was using her powers to calm her.

"My pleasure." Jilla knew that holding Tally's hand and the need to kiss her contradicted everything she knew she should be doing. However, as she leaned into the taller woman she let herself not care for a moment.

Rena burst though the small door to the apartment. "Tally, mom is looking for you!"

Tally and Jilla quickly pulled away from each other. Tally stood up and looked down at her sister. "Thanks squirt." Looking back at Jilla she smiled briefly before turning on her heels and walking out the door.

Rena looked at Jilla, whose cheeks seemed a little flush. "So, you like my sister?"

Jilla was taken aback by the little Asari, "What, no! We were just talking."

Rena giggled. "It didn't look like that." She paused before plopping beside the older Asari on the small bed. "Besides, you can tell me, we have a rule."

Jilla was intrigued by the small girl. "Really, what is that?"

"Don't tell moms"

Jilla couldn't help but laugh with Rena as she pulled the child into a hug.