A/N: I am so sorry about my slip up with my chapters... My fault entirely. SORRY!

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It would take us another week to get to the Citadel, and so far that was looking promising. We had been aboard the Normandy for a week so far; Shepard still had to run missions every now and then. We were okay with that, or at least the others had to be okay with that. Shepard had already contacted Admiral Hackett and informed him of the situation. Adams had calmed down some from earlier, he was livid when Mordin finally let me back down to grab my stuff. Since the others wouldn't let the Doctors Currently, Adams was talking to Hackett with Shepard and Mordin. I was sitting in the Observation Lounge just looking out the window. Earth's atmosphere was filled with so much smog, pollution and light that we could never see the stars from anywhere that was considered populated. Although going to rural areas let you see them like never before- this was different. The rest of the group was content of staying downstairs in the cargo bay. Shepard had provided them with extra sleeping units, pillows and blankets and another things. They were fine staying down there; truth is, they would rather have been back asleep and didn't trust anyone here. If only they knew of this view they would change their minds. After asking EDI if there was a space I could go, she directed just down from the Galley to the Starboard Observation deck. Apparently the Major spent a good amount of time here but at the moment he was very busy with taking care of the group downstairs. Major Alenko had already judged me on my leaving of my family quite harshly, and I'm sure those who were aware did the same, although they weren't verbal about it like he was.

I let out a soft breath of air and relaxed more still staring at the stars. There was so much light in that blackness. It was beautiful, captivating, stunning, entrancing…

I could hear they faint clack of footsteps. That was normal since a lot of people walked in this area. The steps got closer and the door opened.

"Oh hello O'Reilly. I didn't know you were here."
I leaned back and twisted my body slightly. Liara T'Soni, the Asari, was standing there.

"Hi Liara." I smiled. Liara was in the all sense of the word: nice. If she ever thought about something negative towards what I did she kept it to herself and for that I was grateful. I didn't need another Alenko at the moment.

"May I join you?"

"Please do." Instead of sitting on the couch that to the right of me she lowered herself to the floor, folding her legs under her.

"What are you doing here?" she finally voiced after a minute or so of comfortable silence.

"Hiding from Alenko, Adams and Mordin. You?"

She stifled a small smile behind her hand, "Hiding? I can understand Mordin and possibly Adams. But Alenko?"

"He… questions my morality of leaving my family all the time."

"That does not sound like him at all. Are you alright?"

The door opened again. "Why should she be? She left her family." Alenko.

Liara and I turned around seeing Shepard, Alenko and Garrus standing in the doorway.

"Kaidan!" Liara stood quickly and half-glared at him. That was uncalled for, even from her view.

I stood as well. Guess this place wasn't good to camp out at now. I'd have to ask EDI for another spot, hopefully one that had a view just like this one. Unlike Liara however, I completely glared at Alenko.

"She left her family Liara. She didn't even care that she hurt them! Says a lot about her. What if it had been anyone else? What if she was your partner? Would you trust someone who left her own family not to leave you, a person who isn't even related?"

I clenched my fists as I felt my chest silently rumble. The growl rang from my throat and I didn't even care at that moment; it was semi-deep and throaty, I sounded like a dangerous animal… Garrus' mandibles flared out and he put a hand on Kaidan's shoulder. He opened his mouth and warned Kaidan to back off, taking a step closer. Guess that type of growl meant exactly what I was feeling.

"I am not some cold hearted bitch," I got out. Shit I thought don't do it… I felt the sting of my eyes which meant that I was tearing up. "That left her family without feeling anything! Leaving them was the hardest thing I have ever done. I watched my family lower a casket into the ground and I watched them shatter. I wished that I had never even considered leaving but I couldn't back out because my father taught me there are commitments that you don't considered breaking" I stepped forward. Kaidan's body tensed up, he was ready for a swing. "I don't need anyone to remind me of that aloud." I shoved past him another growl escaping my throat.

Shepard whispered Kaidan's name harshly and I could hear someone getting punched.

"O'Reilly!" Kaidan called.

"Go fuck yourself Major!" I snarled. I could see some of the crew that milled about stop their actions, staring at me in shock. I'd probably pay for that later but at the moment it just hurt too much. I made my way to the Port Observation deck just across the hall with someone following me. The door opened. This was pretty much the same, except there was a small bar and a gambling table at opposite ends of the room. This deck was ore frequented by others which is why I wanted to go to the other but right now there was no one. The window shutter was up and I could see the stars again.

"You need to calm down." Garrus' baritone voice resonated behind me. "Alenko doesn't know the extent of it but you threatened to harm him."

I sat down on the floor and brought my knees up to my chest, resting my chin on them.

"Whether you meant it or not, I will not allow any harm to come to a squad mate of mine, even if,"

I took in a shaky breath and lowered my head burying my face into my legs. A whine of some kind left my throat. Garrus didn't even move and I could feel his gaze on me.

"What he said was true or not." He trailed off, his voice gentler it seemed. The door lightly swished open then closed just a quickly.

"O'Reilly?" I didn't answer Liara, if I did the tears would threaten to pour out. Stupid human psyche; always wanting recognition in some way, sympathy in this case. My body shuddered and silent sobs threated to show. Get yourself together. Dad would have already gotten you a dink and shaken some sense into you. You're an O'Reilly, 'Fortitudine et prudential'; 'With fortitude and prudence '. Fortitude and prudence. Fortitude and prudence. Fortitude and prudence…

I took 2 deep breaths before I pulled my head away from my legs and quickly dabbed my eyes. No tears, good. I stretched my legs out before I sighed and stood up.

"O'Reilly? Are you okay?"

I turned and sent a small forced smile to Liara. "Well I'd be better if you called me Aurora. I've been here for almost a week and no one has called me by my name." I laced my fingers together and lifted my arms above my head in a stretch. Liara returned the smile.

I shrugged. "Need to find the Major."

"Absolutely not." Garrus said.

"Oh come on." Garrus didn't respond; guess that was his answer for 'still, no'. I huffed and the sound ended with a groan. The next thing I heard surprised me, Garrus laughed.