Part 1, Chapter 8, Maiden:
Liara T'soni stretched. A broad smile crossed her delicate blue face, this is perfect. She was content, complete. Opening her eyes she took in the vista. Beyond her feet, through the massive windows, Mt. Rainer dominated her entire field of view. This was her favorite spot so far. Indeed, two weeks into a month-long holiday every new stop brought sights she could only have dreamed of.
It had taken some coaxing. At first Shepard didn't want to play the tourist. "Large chunks of the galaxy are smoking rubble, seems wrong to be going on holiday," she'd said. Fortunately for Liara, Shepard just couldn't resist her. She'd promised that they wouldn't get in the way of any recovery efforts, and besides, they could certainly use the tourism credits. That'd clinched it, they were off.
They'd landed at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, one of the ancestral homes of human spaceflight. Shepard was so excited to show Earth to her, a rapid departure from her initial reluctance. Despite being a 'space-baby' as she'd put it, and only visiting it occasionally, she loved her home world. She was eager to share it with her.
Then north to New York City, what was left of it anyway. The Reapers had concentrated on the dense population centers; New York was one of the largest. Manhattan Island was a moonscape pockmarked with dark craters. Central Park, until recently the only green patch for 100 kilometers in any direction, was blackened ash. A few dozen kilometers out, on Long Island and in New Jersey, a few darkened metal frames marked the graves or former skyscrapers. Yet, amongst the wreckage, hundreds of miniature suns flared. Thousands of workers toiled with cutting torches and earth movers to sift through the rubble. The city that never sleeps was waking up.
From there to Normandy, France, SSV Normandy's namesake. Victoria had gotten a far-away look on her face when she described what had happened over 200 years ago. She looked at the 'Atlantic Wall' and thousands upon thousands of neat grave markers, each lovingly maintained for over two centuries. She'd been getting those looks lately. If Liara wasn't having such a great time she would have worried over it more. Off to the north a haze lay on the horizon, London still smoldered.
From there, eastward to Olduvai and further to the Fertile Crescent, "This is where it started Liara. This is the cradle. Look how far we've come in only a few lifetimes," she looked coyly at her, "Asari lifetimes at any rate." Shepard was bearing herself to her in a fundamental way. This is who I am, this is who we are.
Further east to the ruggedly beautiful Hokkaido, then south. They flew past the smoking crater that was the Greater Tokyo Megalopolis. Tokyo was in worse shape than the big apple, if only for the greater area of devastation. Here too, however, the ground teemed with workers starting to rebuild.
Then on to Hiroshima, totally unscathed in a bit of historical irony. Shepard got another faraway look in her eyes when she described the importance of this city. We're capable of so much, but with good comes bad. Are you comfortable with us? Liara had taken her hand and squeezed it gently, this seemed to quite her lover's nerves somewhat.
South, to the Great Barrier Reef. Goddess, even more colorful than Thessia! They'd spent several days snorkeling and relaxing with the locals who were still in a state of shock over the war, but grateful and delighted to have visitors.
Then, finally, on to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Shepard had explained that while her family now made its home in space, she had deep roots in the area. They'd spent the last five days in the shadow of Mt. Rainer, crisply beautiful in an uncharacteristic series of clear days. The scenery was perfect. There was no indication of the war devastation, some as close as 150 kilometers.
Liara T'soni rose quietly from the bed lest she wake her sleeping beloved. She's very tired after all, she thought to herself with a grin. Wrapping herself in a silk robe she stepped out the door onto a large porch. The morning air outside was cold and crisp, she breathed in deep, it stung her lungs. Birds chirped in the distance. A mild breeze rustled the tops of the pine trees. Perfect.
Liara inhaled sharply. A cold hand had reached from behind and into her robe, it gently cupped her left breast. The nipple immediately hardened. "I thought you were asleep," she said to Shepard. Victoria didn't respond. She pulled Liara closer and gently bit down on one of her 'hair' folds. Another yelp, she was tingling all over now.
Shepard ran her free hand down Liara's right side, its passage left a path of gooseflesh in its wake. She gently reached forward between Liara's legs and briefly let a fingertip enter her. It lingered a moment and she drew it away suddenly. Liara gasped, her pulse raced. "Victoria!" she spun rapidly to look into Shepard's emerald eyes, "You tease! What will the neighbors think?" she asked jokingly.
Shepard looked down at Liara. She stood just shy of 190 centimeters, about fifteen taller than the Asari. Her face softened significantly. "I want the whole universe to see this," she said as she took a step back. She hiked up the hem of her robe, a twin to the one she'd picked up for Liara in Japan, and dropped to her knee with the alacrity of a veteran infantryman preparing to fire a rifle. "The past several years of my life have been one big blur of fear and uncertainty. Through it all, though, I've known one thing for true. Ever since I first met you on Therum, even before I'd freed you from that Prothean security barrier, I've loved you." She reached into her robe's pocket.
Oh, goddess! Liara's heart nearly leapt from her chest. Shepard slipped a white-gold ring hosting a large blue diamond onto her finger.
"Liara T'soni, be my wife." She paused, "Embrace eternity with me," she said with a wink and a beaming smile.
"Goddess! Of course!" she replied.
Hours later, exhausted, contented, Liara nuzzled against Shepard and looked at the ring. "It's beautiful, where did you get it?"
Victoria looked into her eyes, blue-within-blue eyes, and spoke, "The setting was my mother's. Remember that Alliance reception we went to? The one on the night the war started?" Liara nodded. "Before all hell broke loose, I took my mother aside and told her how much I loved you." She squeezed Liara, "I was actually afraid of what she might say. I figured this was probably the first time she heard I was into aliens. Or women." She chuckled, "Like it mattered to her."
"What did she say?"
"She said that she saw the way my face lit up when I was with you. She said that she'd been watching us from across the reception hall, and that she couldn't help but approve of anything that made me so happy. Then she reached into her tunic and pulled this ring off of her dog-tag chain." She interlocked her fingers with Liara, "She said that this ring had been in our family for a long time and that she had been waiting for the day when she could pass it down to me."
"Your mother was a wonderful woman," Liara almost bit her tongue, "I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine," Victoria said flatly. Shepard was finally coming to grips with the loss of SSV Orizaba and her mother along with millions of others who had just lost loved ones, "she really was." Shepard sighed, "I wish she had the chance to get to know you better. I was going to introduce you to her when, well, when everything started happening. So, that's where the ring came from."
"And the stone?"
"The stone," Shepard paused for a moment, unsure, then plowed ahead, "Is a blue diamond which was originally a gift from the Lady Benezia to her bond-mate."
Liara propped herself on an elbow suddenly. She looked her love in the eyes, "Her bond-mate? You mean her mate, my father? You know who she is?"
"Yes. I pieced it together from some conversations I had on Illium, and some video archives I watched on the Shadow Broker's ship." She looked into the Asari's eyes terrified that she'd somehow upset her. She found no animosity, just a profound curiosity, eagerness, "When I told the Council that I was retiring, I knew what I wanted with the rest of my life. It didn't feel quite right without asking your dad," she smirked, "If it was ok to marry you. I hopped a quick transport to Illium, and asked her.
"I walked right into her bar in Nos Astra. She gave me the usual greeting," she dropped into a throaty sensual voice, "Hey babe, welcome back. Can I get you anything? Sorry, no sex, just cleaned the bar." Shepard actually giggled slightly. "I just said: I want to marry your daughter." Liara's eyes bulged slightly. Go on, they said silently. "To her credit, she didn't miss a beat. She asked me how long I'd known she was your other parent. She asked me how I felt about you. She said that she felt a coward for never seeking you out, and that she wouldn't blame you if you hated her for it." Shepard paused, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that I…"
Liara stopped her speaking with a kiss, "It's perfect. It's overwhelming, but I can't think of a more touching gesture from all three of you." Before Shepard could say anything she gasped as Liara slipped a finger inside of her, "Though this is a fairly touching gesture, yes?"
They nearly missed their shuttle to Fleet Base Vancouver that evening.