Interlogue 2, Maiden:
Liara would remember these days, with vivid clarity, for the rest of her life. Up to 900 years or so at latest count.
She had offered to Victoria to call things off, relieve the pressure she feared was causing some of her issues, but she'd refused. She was stubborn. She wasn't going to let what she called 'emotional baggage', a curious human expression, keep her from living her life.
Kelly was eminently helpful. She'd taken up residence in the guest house, mother certainly had a lot of money didn't she, and was a constant presence helping Shepard understand what was causing her grief. Kelly even helped her come to grips with the death of her own mother. Liara knew it wasn't coincidence that Kelly had been assigned to Serrice, nor that she could take extended leave to spend time with the "Savior of the Citadel".
Liara remembered meeting the Lady Benezia's mate, Matriarch Aethyta. Over a century's worth of doubt, longing, anger, and any number of other emotions had just boiled away at the sight of her. Suddenly, surprisingly, everything was fine. She didn't even flinch at being called 'little wing'.
She remembered sharing a meal with her father and her beloved the night before the ceremony. Aethyta was captivating, the hours passed quickly. Liara learned more about her mother that evening than she did in nearly a century of living with her. She wept. It was as if a chapter of her life was coming to completion, just in time for a new one to start. She had looked at Shepard. She obviously felt the same way.
That night she had fallen asleep in the tender embrace of her intended. Pale blue Thessian moonlight illuminated the gardens outside. They swayed gently in the breeze. Shepard slept peacefully through the night.
The next morning, before the ceremony, she and Shepard had greeted guests. She recalled quite clearly Joker handing her a book of English idioms and instructing her to look up cunning linguist. Her eyes had gone wide when she did so.
She recalled Shepard's face, weeping with what looked like pride, as the Normandy arrived with a double-thunderclap sonic boom and roared overhead. EDI had mentioned doing a fly-by, she'd asked her to keep it a secret from Victoria. It was definitely a welcome surprise.
Liara remembered the ceremony, conducted in the traditional Asari way. Benezia's gardens offered a perfect locale. They were surrounded on all sides by vibrantly colored flowers from dozens of worlds. Thessian birds chirped softly and darted overhead in quick flashes of crimson, lavender, or chartreuse. She could feel the joy radiating from her beloved. Tears of happiness streamed down her face. They pattered down gently onto her uniform. She looked amazing, regal. Likewise, she could feel the happiness among their guests. This is perfection. Goddess, this is perfect.
She remembered the reception. Dear friends enjoying each other's company. Drunken dancing. Cheerful singing. A welcome respite from the recent galactic drama. She watched Kelly Chambers leaning close and whispering with Aethyta. A peck on the cheek and they walked off down one of the garden paths leading towards the guest house arm in arm. There were few beings more powerful in this galaxy than an Asari Matriarch; Kelly might not have known what she was in for. Good luck Kelly, have a good time. Liara smiled to herself.
She remembered what came next. She remembered the look on Victoria's face when, with one quick motion, perhaps a small touch of biotics, she was out of her gown and upon her mate. Her wife! She remembered a shared giggle when they realized it was much more difficult to get her 'dress blues' uniform off. She'd settled for hiking Shepard's skirt up around her waist. She remembered Victoria's salty taste in her mouth, cunning linguist, nice one Joker. She remembered feeling Shepard's heart beat in her femoral arteries through her cheeks. She remembered the muffled howling noise of Victoria crying out in ecstasy.
Liara remembered a sudden falling sensation as Shepard had gently, oh so gently, lifted her with a minute twitch of her own biotics and sent her to their bed. She fell, supine, on the soft mattress and Shepard was upon her.
They had joined. Shepard didn't hold back. Liara felt everything. She'd never realized she was hurting so much. Every friend she'd lost. Every man or woman or alien she'd sent to their death, she mourned them all. Shepard's mother, her loss was a heavy weight upon Victoria's heart. Her mother! She deeply mourned having to kill the Lady Benezia. She knew Benezia didn't deserve her fate. She was still horrified that Liara had watched her do it. On top of everything, Shepard hated herself for bringing even the smallest amount of pain to her beloved. She blamed herself for not being strong enough, in her mind, to overcome what she suffered from. She blamed herself for hurting Liara by not suppressing the sadness. She felt she was unworthy of her.
It's ok. Liara broadcasted her thoughts through the bond to her mate. It's ok. I love you. I'm here. Always, regardless, I'm here. She had felt Shepard calm substantially. This is perfect, she'd thought.
They fell asleep together, looking into each other's eyes, kissing tenderly.
Hours later she was thrown from her bed. Victoria sat bolt-upright. Her naked skin, covered in sweat, shone in the Thessian moonlight. She screamed. She stared straight ahead and screamed.