Shepard lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to the steady breathing of the Asari lying next to her. Reluctantly, she slipped out from under the covers, and began to get dressed. Glancing back, she re-adjusted the sheet in the preservation of modesty. She smiled. Liara looked so peaceful now. Shepard envied that in a way. Now she had to plan for an assault on a long forgotten planet, against unknown numbers, with only six teammates. She didn't even have an idea of what the terrain looked like. Shepard let out a low sigh.

At least the dreams last night were pleasant for a change.

Shepard blushed recalling some of them.

They're usually much worse.

You could be dreaming about tomorrow soon.

No.

It could easily become another Virmire. Or Akuze.

It could, except that I won't let that happen.

Shepard finished dressing just as Liara began to stir. She turned to see the Asari sitting up, eyelids fluttering. They stared at each other for a few moments.

"By the Goddess, that was incredible Shepard."

Shepard smiled. "You were incredible."

Liara smiled back. The intercom sounded.

"Five minutes to the Mu relay Commander." Joker's voice echoed throughout the room.

"Be right there Joker." Shepard leaned over and helped Liara out of the bed. "I'm sorry." She mumbled

"I understand. Duty calls." Liara whispered in reply. She leaned in and gently kissed Shepard.

"Just be safe." She breathed.

"Same to you."

Shepard recalled those calm moments several minutes later, they contrasted completely with the chaotic scene she was now witnessing on the bridge. Saren was closing in on the Conduit, and there were no possible landing zones anywhere close to his location. Except for one. That was the source of conflict on the bridge. Shepard almost regretted calling her team up for a quick briefing. At least Wrex had the sense to stay below decks, and Garrus was prepping the Mako. It was hard enough to reach a consensus without their input.

"That's too far, we'll never make it in time on foot, get us something closer." Ashley nearly shouted at Pressley.

"There is nowhere closer, I've looked!" Came his reply.

"Can we deploy in the Mako?" Shepard demanded, calmly. Pressley shook his head.

"You need at least a hundred meters of open terrain to pull off a drop like that; the most I can find near Saren is twenty."

Ashley looked incredulous. "Twenty meters? No way we could pull off a drop like that."

"We have to try." Liara seemed desperate. Ashley seemed to ignore her.

"Find another landing zone." She ordered Pressley.

"There is no other landing zone!"

Tali shook her head in frustration. "The descent angle's too steep."

Liara balled her hands into fists. "We have to try, it's our only option."

"It's not an option," Ashley shouted in frustration, "It's a suicide run! We don't-"

"I can do it." Joker stated quietly.

"Joker?" Shepard whispered.

"I can do it."

Shepard nodded. "Everyone gear up, head to the Mako. Joker, drop us right on top of that bastard, Ashley, take Garrus and Tali, deploy at the safe zone two clicks out, then draw off as many Geth as possible, try and make your way towards this bunker." She pointed at the tactical display. "It's a hike, but it might be your best option. Evac after you confirm that we have incapacitated Saren." Ashley nodded, and then she and Tali left the bridge. Shepard turned to Liara.

"You're with me."

Liara nodded, a cold fire burning behind her eyes. "Always."

The operation hadn't gone as planned. Saren managed to close off his escape route, by the time they had opened it, the second squad was close to being overrun. She had to order them out as she began to pursue Saren deeper into the ruins of Ilos. There they had discovered the true fate of the Protheans, and why Saren sought the Conduit. They followed him through, and began to carve a path up Citadel Tower in chase. There they confronted him, and their combined fire brought him down. Shepard then accessed the station's commands, and opened a channel to the Normandy. The Council was under attack, and the Arcturus Fleet stood ready to save them. All that was required was for her to open the Relays.

"What has the Council ever done for us?" Wrex asked, "I say, let 'em go, see if they can't take out a few more Geth before you send in the cavalry."

"Shepard, you can't do that!" Liara stared at Shepard. "This is bigger than humanity, we need all the races together if we have a chance of beating the Reapers."

"Exactly," Wrex nodded, "we need as many ships as we can spare, we shouldn't throw them away just yet."

What do I do? They both have good points.

Then pick one.

I can't.

Why not? You can let the council die to save the Alliance some losses, or you can send them in and save as many Council forces as possible.

I can't order them to throw their lives away.

Can you order them to let others do it in their place?

Then a memory drifted forward, and replayed itself in front of her eyes.

Your species is one of action, you pursue your goals with an almost indomitable determination. An admiral trait, but also an intimidating one."

"Pardon?" Shepard asked, puzzled.

"Unfortunately the other species see humanity as something of a bully. You run over any in your path to get what you want. It is up to people like you to change their minds."

She's right you know.

Shepard smiled inwardly.

I know.

"Joker, stand by, I'm opening the relays now, sent the fleet through when they're active."

Wrex shook his head. "I sure hope the council appreciates this." He mumbled.

Liara exhaled, relieved. Shepard smiled at her, and then turned to look at the reinforcing Alliance fleet as it battled what remained of the Geth armada. She cringed for every hit sustained by an Alliance vessel; her heart grew heavier every time one burst into flames. She looked away.

Oh God.

It had to be done.

That doesn't make it any easier.

Saren's body caught her eye, was it her imagination, or did it just twitch. She waved at Wrex to get his attention.

"Make sure he's dead." Wrex grunted happily. He hit the floor with a dull thud, and fired several rounds into Saren's corpse.

"He's dead." Wrex muttered.

As if to contradict that statement, the body began flailing wildly, red bolts of energy flying into it. Then it erupted, the blast knocking Wrex to his feet, and sending Liara and Shepard tumbling down from above. What remained of Saren were now a smoking crater, and a misshapen skeleton. The skeleton; however, was very much alive, and shooting at them. So they returned the favor. Soon the room was pocket-marked and filled with scorched plants. Shepard was covered in burns, bruises, and various wounds. Most of her guns had overheated, and she was forced to rely on her biotics. Liara faced a similar problem, and Wrex's shotgun had nearly melted. Shepard fired her pistol twice, following it with a flurry of biotic energy. Saren's corpse dodged the bullets, but Shepard re-directed the energy towards his new position. It slammed home, knocking out Saren's already weakened shields. In retaliation, it set its sights on the closest target, and prepared to fire. Shepard froze. It was Liara. Shepard dove to the side, tackling her lover microseconds before a large sphere of energy flew over them, crackling the air where Liara had been standing. Saren then appeared above them, the three fingers on its left wrist clamped together, the fingertips forming a sharp point. It began to drive its hand downward, when the creature's face was turned into slag, courtesy of Wrex's shotgun. What had been Saren howled in rage, and Wrex charged it, and pinned it to the wall. He stepped away, and it slid to the floor. Shepard and Liara stood. They glanced at Wrex, then at the abomination. Together, the three of them unleashed a wave of biotics that left nothing but a smoldering crater where Saren used to be.

With that done, the trio stared out the nearest window, watching the Alliance fleet destroy Sovereign. They saw the reaper stop moving, the Alliance ships firing with renewed passion, and the flight of the Normandy as it delivered the fatal blow.

Shepard closed her eyes, her shoulders sagged, and an inaudible sigh escaped her lips.

It's over.

She looked back up, just in time to see a large chunk of Sovereign headed towards her. Time slowed to a crawl as she tried to grasp what was going on. The piece, it was too close. They couldn't run. Not fast enough. Not far enough. She looked over her shoulder, to look at Liara. She looks in her eyes almost froze Shepard. She saw sorrow, pleading, but above all else love. She looked, above all else, like she needed a hug.

You know what you need to do.

Shepard lanced out with biotic energy, sending both Wrex and Liara to safety under a large outcropping. It pained her to see the anguish on Liara's face as she realized what Shepard was doing. But it needed to be done. With her comrades safe, she turned to face the flaming debris, as it continued closer. Her radio buzzed with various people shouting at her to evacuate. She switched it off. She closed her eyes, and with a picture of Liara's face in her mind, smiled. The wreckage hit, and the world went dark. The last thing she heard was a lone voice calling out her name. And then there was nothing.

Hours later, various search teams combed the Council Chambers, in a desperate effort to locate any survivors. After so many hours, the search grew increasingly grim, its members unsure if they would find anyone alive. Liara waited. She did not call out, nor did Wrex.

They will find us eventually.

Her thoughts drifted back to those final moments, when Shepard was consumed by the fiery remains of Sovereign. How she pushed them out of the way, but didn't make any attempt to run herself. She smiled weakly. That was Shepard. Liara nearly choked on a sob.

Oh Goddess.

Try as she might, all she could picture was that face. Her ordered red hair, scars, her stoic expression. That smile that only she ever saw. The one that always lurked behind the expressionless mask that Shepard wore in front of all others. She remembered comforting Shepard after Virmire. And the night they'd spent together before Ilos. A single tear traveled down her cheek.

And now she's gone.

A flashlight blinded her momentarily; the rescue team had found them at last.

"Captain Anderson, they're over here!" The voice seemed distorted, as if coming from a great distance. Another man ran into their enclosure. He put his arm around Liara, trying to help her out.

"It's over. You're safe now." Then he saw the look in her eyes. He glanced around.

"Where's the Commander?" He asked, looking back at Liara. She looked back at him, tears streaming out of her eyes. "Where's Shepard." These last words dropped to a whisper, as he realized what must have happened.

They both looked away, and he started to guide her towards the exit. As they made their way out, a dull thud echoed around the chamber, causing everyone it to look around. A second, softer, thud followed, then a large screeching sound tore at the air. At last, all was still. Liara gazed intently towards the upper levels of the room, hope beginning to flicker inside her.

Could it be?

She looked, along with everyone else in the room, but no movement appeared in the rubble above, and as the minutes dragged on, that flickering hope seemed to sputter and die down. Liara shook her head vigorously, continuing to watch, desperate for something, anythi-. A figure moved out from between two large pieces of rubble. It took a few limping steps towards the stunned rescue team. Then Liara realized that something was wrong. The figure stood there, shaking, but not moving forwards anymore. Liara sprinted towards the figure, the one that could only be…

"Shepard!"

Her ribs ached, her left arm would not respond, and lances of pain shot up her right leg with each step. She didn't break a stride. Shepard began to collapse, darkness eating away at the corners of her vision, she was dizzy, the room span.

Stop it room.

Thinking became harder with each passing second; she fell, and was caught.

"Oh Shepard." Someone was crying into her hair. Ashley? No. it was…

"Liara?" Liara smiled brightly at this, and embraced Shepard, who tried to return it, but was thwarted by the darkness dissolving her vision. She went limp, unable to continue the embrace.

"Shepard!" Was all she heard, as she spiraled into darkness.

"Shepard." Liara whispered.

She was currently in the ER for major surgery on the various internal organs that had been punctured after the demise of Sovereign. The operation was a success, but a large amount of damage had already been done. Many organs were in danger of simply shutting down. Shepard now had a one in five chance of living.

It's better than it was before, and Shepard's faced worse odds than these and lived.

But now it's not her skill that will determine the outcome. Now it's chance.

Liara glanced at the monitor in front of her. A series of beats emitted from the machine as it monitored Shepard's heartbeat.

Beep.

Liara leaned over Shepard, tears welling in her eyes.

Beep.

She placed her free hand on Shepard's face, gently brushing a few loose locks of hair out of her eyes.

Beep.

Liara smiled.

Beep.

This is only the second time I've seen her hair like this. Usually she's meticulous about it. It always looks perfect.

Beep.

Liara sighed.

Beep.

She looks so peaceful.

She glanced at the monitor to her right, apparently Shepard was sleeping dreamlessly.

Beep.

That's why. Very well. Sleep tight Shepard.

…

Wait.

…

Oh Goddess.

…

No.

…

Liara stared, eyes wide in horror, as doctors rushed in, working in a flurry, trying various methods to save Shepard.

"Clear!"

Liara simply sat in the corner, and cried.