A/N: Hey guys. For this chapter, Shepard will be reunited with Liara. It will be slightly difference on how they are reunited from my other stories. I just want it to be different and it was nice doing it. I hope it makes sense to you guys. Anyway I hope you guys love this new chapter. Leave me a review or you can PM if you have any question or suggestion.

Chapter 6 : Come Back... Be Here

Shepard has no idea where she is now but she's pretty sure she in some sort of dream. And she is pretty certain she's not dead yet. Or maybe she is because all around her there is nothing but just white light. Well at least it's better than those nightmare she had during the war where she found herself chasing that little boy in a dark forest where all trees are already been burned by Reapers. Clearly this is an upgrade, thought Shepard as she look around her surrounding, trying to figure out where she should go that will lead her out of this dream and back to Liara.

As Shepard wonder aimlessly, she could see a door somewhere near her, without wasting any time, Shepard burst into a run before she opens the door. When she opens the door, she could see herself with Liara on board the old Normandy.

"I'm sorry if this is awkward for you, Shepard. I'm only trying to be honest. I feel as if we share some type of... connection. But none of this matters if you are already in a serious relationship with Lieutenant Alenko."

"The Lieutenant and I are just friends. Nothing more."

"My mistake, then. I am not as adept at understanding human relationship as I thought. But what about us, Shepard? Is there a mutual attraction? Or was I wrong about that, too?"

"No, you were right. There is something between us."

"I knew it! And I knew you felt it, too. But... does this not seem rather strange? Why do I feel so close to you? We have only known each other a short time. We are from two different species. We have almost nothing in common. This makes no sense!"

"These things never make sense. They just happen, and we get swept up in the storm."

Everything freezes as Shepard walks closer to the young Liara... That was the first time Liara admitted her feeling and it surprised her how much she felt the same way too. At first she was afraid that Liara was attracted to her because of her Prothean vision but she believed her when she told her it has grown beyond that... As Shepard hand briefly brushes the frozen young Liara cheek, everything changing and she found herself in her old cabin.

"It is time to be completely honest with each other. These could be our last moments together. Our last chance to show each other how we feel. I want this to be special."

"We don't have to do this. Not unless you're sure."

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life."

That night... That was their first night... It was the best night of her life. For the first time in a very long time, she feels alive again. Right there and then, she knew, she knew Liara is the one. It was a cliché but that was the truth. She knew that Liara is the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. But right now, she needs to wake up.

"I spent two years mourning you. So if we are going to try this, I need to know you always coming back."

"I'm always coming back."

"SHEPARD!" yelled Liara as she awoke from her sleep. Her heart rate is beating fast as she sit on her bed, with her hands on her heart.

Ryan, who was doing some work with Glyph, walks towards Liara before he sits down on the edge of the bed. Ever since they were stranded in the unknown planet, Ryan never leaves Liara side. Without him around, Liara would have forgotten to eat. As he said it, she looks like a zombie if he wasn't around to take care of her. Oh how much Ryan is the splitting image of Shepard... Or maybe she just misses Shepard so much that her son now looks like her.

"Another dream?" asked Ryan softly as he took Liara hand and gently giving it a loving squeeze.

Liara nods her head as tears start to spill. She closes her eyes as her mind took her deep inside her memory.

"Where is Shepard, Joker?" asked Ashley as she looks ready to beat the hell out of the Normandy pilot to find an answer of Shepard whereabouts.

"Flight Lieutenant Moreau, where is Commander Shepard?" asked Admiral Hackett as he signals Chief Gunnery Williams to calm down.

"Sh..." Joker couldn't form a word as he looks to be in shocked. Then he saw Liara, who stand in a corner with her head hang low.

"I'm sorry, Liara. It's all my fault." said Joker as he hangs his head low, afraid to look Liara in the eyes.

That was when she couldn't hold it anymore. She couldn't stop herself from crying as she knows that Shepard is gone. She didn't want to believe it and she's not ready to let her go. She wishes she could turn back the time, to hold Shepard for one last time, but she couldn't. Shepard is already gone. That was when an offer was made by Cerberus and she didn't think twice to accept their offer. She would have done anything to have Shepard back and two years later she have her back, only to push her away. It was because she was afraid to open her heart to Shepard again, afraid that Shepard will die again.

That was why she wanted Shepard to promise her to always coming back. She knows it's not fair of her to ask such thing from Shepard but when Shepard promised that she's always coming back, she believes her. She believes Shepard meant it. And Shepard did come back from Omega 4 Relay.

"I told you I'm coming back." said Shepard as she surprised Liara by showing up on the Shadow Broker ship as soon as they came back from destroying the Collector base.

Liara could remember how she hugs Shepard tightly, almost for an eternity, just to be sure that Shepard is real, alive and in front of her. They then retreated back to Liara cabin in the Shadow Broker ship and spend that night in each other warmth.

"Do you have to go back to Earth tomorrow?" asked Liara as she lays her head on Shepard chest, listening to her heartbeart as if to make sure Shepard is still alive.

"I have to, Liara. I need to take responsibility for what happened in Bahak system."

"You did what you had to do, Shepard."

"That still didn't justify all those lives I killed."

"You didn't kill them, Shepard. You tried to warn them."

"I know. But I still need to take responsibility. I made that choice and I alone should be held responsible."

"What are they going to do to you?"

"If I'm lucky, they probably will dishonourably discharge me. If I'm not, they either send me to the Batarians or they might judge me as war criminal."

"Can they do that?" asked Liara as she now facing Shepard.

"Let's not worry ourselves with what will happen. Let just enjoy this moment we have, right now." said Shepard as she kisses Liara.

When Liara awake the next morning, Shepard was nowhere to be seen. So does the Normandy. But Shepard made sure she left a note which she attached on the pillow.

'Liara... I'm sorry for leaving while you were sleeping. I always love watching you sleep. It hurt me leaving you like this but I know that it will be even harder to leave when you wake up. I'm not sure if we ever going to meet again but know that I'm always coming back. Just promise to wait for me. And maybe you can come visit me on Earth sometimes.' - Love, Shepard.

"Any news about the Normandy?" asked Miranda as she stood in front of James, Jack, Steve Cortez, Wrex, Grunt and Samara who waited in a waiting area of a hospital in London.

"The Alliance is still working on fixing the comm buoy." answered Cortez.

"This is loco. We should go find them!" said James.

"And where exactly should we find them, Mr. Vega?" asked Cortez.

"Anywhere but here."

"When are you going back to Tuchanka, Urdnot Wrex?" asked Samara.

"I think I will stay here until that princess over there decided to wake up."

"That could be days, weeks, months, even years." said Miranda.

"Without Shepard, the Krogan won't have anything worth going home over. I think that's the least I could do for everything she had done."

"That is very noble of you." said Samara.

"What about you, Justicar?" asked Miranda.

"I will stay for a few days. After that I'm afraid I have to go back to Lesuss."

"I'm sure Shepard will understand."

"How is Shepard doing?" asked Jack who finally decided to speak up.

"She's getting stronger each day. With all of her implants I managed to fix, I'm real positive that she will make a full recovery."

"I guess Cerberus did one thing right..."

"Don't worry. Shepard is strong. No one can stop her." said Grunt.

"If anything, I think we all know there's one reason why she will make it through this." said Samara as everyone nod in understanding.

Ryan look out the window in Liara quarter as Liara fall asleep on her bed after hours of crying. Whatever memory she decided to drown herself into, it made her cry. Either from happiness, sadness or both, Ryan didn't know. Honestly he wants to do exactly what Liara is doing but he still confident that her mother is still alive or at least fighting for her life. He just knows that her mother is still alive out there. It might be a false hope but he's not ready to give it up yet. He needs to be strong not just for him but also for her step mother. Whatever happens to her mother, he promised to take care of Liara and he's not willing to break that promise because it was his promise with his mother. A knock from the door interrupts Ryan from his daydream.

"Lieutenant Williams." said Ryan after he opened the door and saw Ashley.

"Is Liara asleep?" asked Ashley as she signals Ryan to take a seat at the dining table.

"Yes." answered Ryan as he follows Ashley before took a sit in front of his acting Captain.

"There's something I have to tell you and I doubt Liara will like it."

"What is it?"

"We don't have enough resources to fix our comm or the ship. All of our resources have been used to fix EDI. I have ordered some of the crew to scout around but so far there's no luck."

"So we're stranded her for the time being? How long has it been? A month?"

"More or less... Finding resources to fix the comm is our first priority but our foods supplies is getting lower each day. That will be our main concern. So far Dr. Chakwas and EDI have identified some foods around here that we can eat but Tali and Garrus have to save up their foods before it ran out because we find no such luck for dextro-amino acids foods."

"I hope someone find us here."

"Me too. I don't even want to think what will happen if we can't fix our comm and no one find us here."

"I'm sure the Alliance is looking for us."

"They better be... So how are you doing?"

"As good as I can be. I haven't lose hope yet..."

"Good. Don't lose it. Hope might be the only thing that can keep all of us going."

Miranda let out a long sigh after she checks on Shepard vitals. It was damn luck that Major Kirrahe, Grunt, Wrex and Jack found her when they did, a month ago. And it was another damn luck that Shepard organs can operate without the support from all of those implants she planted on her. Even with Shepard organs can work without all of those implants, Miranda still reactivated those implants because whether Shepard likes it or not, it's already a part of her. And also she didn't even want to think what will happens if Shepard organs decided to stop working. After all it has been a long time since it works by itself.

So far no one has caught wind of the fact that the saviour of the galaxy is still alive. The Alliance and the Council have agreed to let them believe that Commander Shepard is still missing in action. That was what they told the media on Admiral Anderson memorial. This section of the hospital is only accessible to everyone with clearance. Such as everyone who know and has work with her. Wrex, Grunt and James rotated with each other to guard the door leading to where Shepard is being treated and no one has ever dare to cross them, especially when the Krogan guarding the door.

There were a few suspicions but the Alliance have squandered the suspicions by saying there's some high classified lab work being done. With the Council backing, no one ask any question when the Council admit they are well aware with it and they give their approval. But of course, the truth is far beyond that. Honestly, she is glad that the Alliance and the Council are letting Shepard to have a full recovery without media or some stranger hovering over her just because she just saved the galaxy. Shepard deserves some peace after everything she had done to the galaxy that at one point, called her a disgrace and never believed her story about the Reapers until the Reapers show up at their front door.

"How is she? Any progress?" asked Samara who walk into the room without Miranda noticing.

"Justicar Samara. I didn't hear you come in. She's doing well but no progress worth mentioning... I heard you're leaving today?"

"Yes. I want to see Shepard first before leaving for Lesuss."

Before Miranda could say anything, she catches a glimpse of Shepard fingers moving slightly.

"Shepard?" said Miranda as she briefly watched the monitor before look at Shepard again.

Shepard slowly tries to open her eyes before briefly shut it as she adjusting her eyes to the lights. As she slowly regains consciousness, Shepard starts to open her mouth.

"Li-Liara." mutter Shepard.

Miranda looks at Samara, hoping the justicar might know what to tell Shepard what's going on.

"Where is Liara?" asked Shepard.

"Shepard... We don't know. We lost contact with the Normandy after the Crucible fired." answered Miranda.

"What?"

"When the Crucible fired, it malfunction our comm buoy, the relays, VI's and even the Geth. We only just repaired the comm buoy and now we're trying to reactivating the relays. Hopefully once the Quarians fix some of the Geth, we can have an idea on how to reactivate the Mass Relays. But the Alliance has tried to contact the Normandy, but so far, no such luck. Every ship is trying to find them. But it might take us some time. Especially with the relays still inoperable."

"I need to find them." said Shepard before she was being stopped by Miranda from trying to get up.

"You need to stay in bed, Shepard. You just got up. I assure you, we will find them once you're better."

"And when that will be?"

"Not today. It might be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But now, you need to rest."

"We will find them, Shepard. But you need to fully recover first." add Samara.

Although Shepard hates it, she hesitantly nods her head in agreement. But deep down, she wished she could get out of this hospital bed and start scouring the galaxy for her wife, son and her crew."

"What is our sitrep?" asked Ashley to the Normandy engineers as they hold a meeting in Crew Deck.

"Good news or bad news first?" asked Engineer Adams.

"Give me the bad news first."

"The bad news is we only one part away from fixing the comm. But we have scour this entire planet." answered Engineer Daniels.

"And the good news is?"

"That just it. We only need to find one more part." said Engineer Donnelly in his British accent.

"So what? Pray that the part fall from the sky?" asked Joker in annoyance.

"Calm down, Joker."

"Calm down? We have been stranded here for six weeks! SIX weeks! In case you haven't notice, we are running out of food. Especially for Garrus and Tali. And who know how long we will be stranded here."

"Yes, Joker. I notice." said Ashley as she took a deep breath to calm herself down from yelling at Joker.

"But don't worry, Ashley. We manage. At least for another few weeks." reassured Tali.

"As long as you promise to order a buffet of dextro-amino acids food when we got back." add Garrus.

"Deal. Liara, any luck with your Shadow Broker network?"

"Engineer Adams just gave me the last part needed to fix my Shadow Broker network. Hopefully Glyph and I can get it running by the end of today."

"Liara, don't forget to rest. Don't stress yourself by trying to fix the network by the end of today. Remember that you're pregnant."

"Don't worry. I will make sure she won't." said Ryan before Liara could answered.

"If that is all, everyone can return back to duty." said Ashley before she let out a long sigh. She has no idea how to deal with their situation right now other than hoping for the best.

It has been two months since the war ended and the Normandy still stranded on the unknown planet. Their plan to fix their communication has come to an abrupt end due to lack of part to fix it. Even Liara and Glyph failed to restore the Shadow Broker network. They have no idea why because in their part, everything was alright, but perhaps it was because the galaxy communication is still in chaos. Or it might be because the communication is only available for military purpose. With the Normandy communication is still inoperable; there is no way for them to contact the outside world.

Liara has tried to work day in day out but she was stopped by Ryan from overstressing herself in figuring out a way to send a message to the Alliance. Even Dr. Chakwas helped Ryan on dosing Liara to sleep if she's being stubborn. Ryan hated to do that to her step mother but he knew it was for the best, for Liara and her baby. After all he already promised his mother that he will take good care of his step mother in his mother absence.

"Still no luck?" asked Ashley as she broke the silence in the Post Observation Deck.

"If I don't keep Liara away from her monitor, I think we already find a way to message the Alliance." answered Ryan as he watched Ashley took a seat in front of him.

"It's understandable."

"She really misses her so much. I feel bad for doing this to her. Even if it is for her own sake."

"What about you, Ryan? You must miss her too."

"I just reunited with my biological mother in years and to have it taken away from me again? I don't even know how to describe what I'm feeling. But I need to be strong for Liara, that's what my mom will want me to do."

"It's alright if you want to cry every now and then."

"Who said I didn't? I cried every time I saw Liara cried herself to sleep. I cried each time I lose myself with my memories of her. But I take strength in believing that she's still alive and I know that she will find us."

"If anyone can do the impossible, it's Shepard."

"This is a long shot, Shepard." said Miranda as she looks at the datapad containing a coordinate that Shepard gave her.

"It might be our only clue about the Normandy whereabouts."

"The Commander is right. It's the only place the Normandy could have crash landed." said James.

"Are you sure about this, Shepard?" asked Miranda.

"This is our only clue, Miranda. The Mass Relay in that system confirmed that a ship matching the Normandy IFF went through that Mass Relay just before the Crucible damaged the Mass Relay... We need to find them. I need to find Liara and Ryan. I need to know that they still alive."

"How are we going to get to them? We need a ship."

"That is why I need to meet with the new Alliance brass. But I can't meet them until you give me an all clear." said Shepard as she held out a piece of paper.

"I will give you an all clear if you promise to let me come with you. I would have preferred to have you stay in the hospital, but I know nothing is going to stop you from finding Liara."

"Done." said Shepard as she watched Miranda took the piece of paper before she signed it.

Ashley was busy checking on the progress made by the Normandy engineers when EDI informed her that an Alliance ship is heading to them. Ashley and some of the crew members got outside, eagerly waiting for the shuttle arrival from the Alliance ship. The first one out the shuttle was Lieutenant James Vega, followed by Jack, Steve Cortez and Miranda. The last one out was Shepard.

When Shepard step out from the shuttle, everyone didn't know how to react, they still can't wrap their head around the fact that their Commanding Officer is not only got out of the war alive, but also in one piece and seem in a good health, like what happened in the past months were nothing but a training.

While everyone was dumbstruck on how to react when they saw Shepard, Ryan steps out from behind some of the crew members before he took a long look at his mother. Shepard found herself unable to move as she saw her son. She still can't believe they found the Normandy in one piece and now her son is standing right in front of her. It all seems like a dream. That was when Ryan took a few step forwards towards Shepard before he gave his mother a hug.

"I knew you weren't dead." whisper Ryan.

"You did order me to come back in one piece." said Shepard to a light chuckle from her son.

"Good. Because I would have hated it to lose my mother again." said Ryan as he pulled away from the hug.

"Where's Liara?"

"She's in her room. Sleeping. But I'm sure she will be happy to see you when she wakes up."

"You should go check on Liara. I'm sure we can handle everything in the meantime." said Miranda.

"Yeah, Shepard. After all I did keep the crew together while you bail on us." said Ashley.

"Bail on you? Last time I check, I was saving the galaxy."

"Yeah, yeah. Oh dear saviour of the galaxy, I think we will manage while you spend some time with your wife." said Jack.

"Go, Shepard. I'm sure Liara would love to see you." said Tali.

"Liara will kill us all if we keep you away for any longer." add Garrus as Ryan lightly shoved his mother towards the Normandy.

When Shepard stepped into Liara's cabin, she could see Liara sleeping peacefully on the bed. Liara looks beautiful and it took Shepard breath away. After looking at Liara from afar for a few seconds, Shepard then close the gap between her and Liara. As she stood next to the bed, she slowly sits down next to Liara sleeping body. She slowly caresses Liara face with her fingers, gently, as she didn't want to wake Liara. Before long, she found herself lying next to Liara and felt asleep.

A few hours later, Liara can feels someone warmth body wrapping her. She could have sworn she felt Shepard warmth but then she remembered that she is stranded in an unknown planet and Shepard might not even survive the war. As Liara slowly opens her eyes, she sees someone lying next to her with her face facing her. After a few seconds, Liara's brain finally registered who's sleeping next to her.

"Shepard?" said Liara as she still in shocked from seeing her wife. She not even sure if this is a dream or not but she wish if this is a dream, she won't wake up from it.

Hearing Liara voice calling out her name, Shepard slowly opens her eyes as she flash Liara a sleepy smile.

"Hello, beautiful." said Shepard.

"Shepard, is this really you?"

"Yes."

"Am I dreaming?" asked Liara before Shepard answered her question by giving her a passionate kiss.

"What do you think?" asked Shepard as she pulls away from the kiss.

"I thought you..."

"I promised you I'm always coming back, didn't I? I never break my promise." said Shepard as she lean in and kiss Liara to give her a reassurance.

A/N: I think I will just leave this chapter like that... I'm sorry that this chapter is a little short than my previous chapters for this story but I hope it was a great chapter. I'm also sorry if some of the scene is ridiculous. It was the only way to give Shepard some more time to wake up and recover before she reunited with Liara.