Sorry for late update! My dog ate my the powercord for my computer and so I haven't been able to write for over a week.

It's a little bit different now, but don't worry, you are going to follow most important parts of Lakshmi's life and in chapter four I will finally start working on Aria's and Tevos' relationship.

Chapter 3 – Another day

It had been almost 120 years since that day when Lakshmi had entered Aria's life, and there hadn't been a day when the human had not been on Aria's thoughts at least briefly. But there was one thing that Aria had not remembered when agreeing to take care of the very human girl. Asaris live for hundreds of years, a human was lucky if they reach just one hundred and as much time as Aria got with her adoptive daughter it was never enough.

…

It was a usual day. Aria was back on Omega after a longer trip visiting a certain human family on Illium. She was feeling… well, she was feeling something more than just her usual emotional spectrum of boredom, amusement or anger. But there was no time to dwell on it, life is what it is, and Aria had no time to show weakness, not in her position. Not to mention that there were rumors of the famous Commander Shepard coming to Omega.

A smile formed on Aria's lips when she heard one of her trusted batarians telling her visitors that they should talk with her. Apparently her bouncers had simply let Shepard walk into Afterlife.

She stood up and turned her back to the stairs, anything for a little dramatic effect, and when she heard steps behind her she motioned for her underlings to hold their guns up.

"That's close enough," she said and smiled at the sound of guns clicking. Oh how good it is to be in charge. Without turning around, and still reveling at the feeling of being in power, she nodded for the closest batarian to start scanning Shepard to confirm her identity. She had been dead after all.

"I was told that you are the one to talk to if I had any questions." An impatient female voice said and started arguing with the batarian holding the scanner. A small struggle commenced with the batarian eventually giving up and stepping aside.

"They seem clean," he said and Aria finally turned around.

She eyed Shepard curiously.

"Depends on the question," Aria said and couldn't help to smirk just a little bit.

"You run Omega?"

This made Aria laugh. What a question!

She spun around, facing the swirling of pink and purple behind her and raised her hands up.

"I am Omega!" She turned around to see the questioning expression that had formed on Shepard's face. Aria continued smiling.

"But you need more," she said, "Everyone needs more something. And they all come to me. I am the boss, CEO, queen if you are feeling dramatic. It doesn't matter. Omega has no titled ruler and only one rule," Aria sat down, and tilted her head to the side, "don't fuck with Aria." With those last words she couldn't help but smile again. She loved the feeling of power she got when saying those words. She also loved presenting herself; it gave her so much satisfaction especially if it was to someone who was nearly as powerful and deadly as herself.

She eyed Shepard as she would an opponent, wondering what reaction she would get from the woman in front of her. To her absolute glee, the commander smiled and flashed an equally cocky grin.

"I like it," Shepard said, "it's easy enough to remember. And I have something similar."

Aria liked the answer but could never let her guard down. She gestured towards another batarian.

"If you forget, someone will remind you." As much as some people claimed that it was cowardly of Aria to have other people take care of her fights, ordering people around was incredibly satisfying. And no one could say that Aria could not take care of her own fights. She was undefeated since the time she was a mere 79 and her younger sister's girlfriend had cheated on her; needless to say Aria had been on thin ice taking on the much older and skilled asari.

But Shepard seemed okay and Aria gladly gestured for her to sit on the sofa, and that is not something she did every day. Not many people were invited to sit on the famous couch of Omega.

Shepard sat down and Aria gracefully turned her head in the human's direction, as if playing the role of a gracious monarch.

"So," she said, "what can I do for you?"

…

After Shepard had left, Aria sat back on the couch feeling boredom settling over her like a familiar blanket. What was she going to do the rest of the day? She hated the feelings of apathy she always got after her visits to Illium.

…

Aria had quickly come to the solution that little Lakshmi couldn't actually stay on Omega. It was no place for a child and Aria led no life that could include the girl. But Lakshmi was healthier and stronger and the queen of Omega felt like she had finally found a family that was perfect for her.

"Lakshmi?" Aria called out to as she walked into the little room that had served as Lakshmi's bedroom during the past couple of months. She needed to do this carefully, as tactless and heartless as the asari could be she knew that this issue had to be approached with care.

"Aria!" The little girl jumped up from the window where she was sitting gazing out into space and ran to throw her little arms around Aria's waist. "Where were you?" The girl asked sounding so bossy it made Aria chuckle.

"I had some matters to take care of." She said and sat down on a little sofa that stood by the door and pulled the girl onto her lap. She kissed the girl's forehead but couldn't help to cringe at the feel of human hair. Aria hated hair.

"But you are staying with me now, right?" The girl prodded, talking with the selfishness of a child who thinks the world revolves around them.

Aria sighed and asked Lakshmi to look at her. The little girl looked up and a frown formed on her face.

"What is it?"

Aria sighed again, but then swallowed any conflicting emotions.

"Listen, little girl. It is time that you move to a proper family."

"What do you mean?" The girl's voice carried a hint of stubbornness. "You said you were going to take care of me. You are my family."

"You can't stay on Omega. It is no place for a child." Aria knew this was for the best but it didn't make it any easier.

"You don't want me anymore?" Tears were forming in the little human's eyes.

"You know I do…" Aria started despite herself but quickly lost her patience when Lakshmi actually burst her tears.

"Stop crying," Aria said, now in a stern voice, "I will come and visit you. I will still make sure that nobody will hurt you again. But you can't, under any circumstances, stay on Omega."

Lakshmi stopped crying, she was not used to Aria almost snapping at her. She dried her eyes quickly and pulled away from Aria's embrace and stood up.

"Where am I going?" She asked, any emotion gone from her voice. It hurt Aria that the girl had so clearly retreated into herself again but the queen knew that this was for the best.

"There is a nice human and asari family that lives on Illium. They have several asari daughters, who will be your sisters, but the human wife wants a human child as well. You will be that child. They will take good care of you."

Lakshmi nodded without looking at Aria, making the asari feel desperate.

"Lakshmi," Aria tried in a soft voice, "I will come and visit you, okay? I promise."

Later that afternoon Lakshmi was put on a shuttle with several of Aria's most trusted batarians. The girl had been completely quiet and solemn until the shuttle doors shut between them, then the girl had suddenly jumped up and started banging with her little fists on the door.

"Aria!" she had called, "Aria, don't make me go! Please, Aria, I want to stay with you! Aria, Aria, Aria…!" The queen had ignored it; she had not even turned around to see the shuttle leave.

Instead the asari was walking with confident steps back to Afterlife, to another day of fighting and strippers. Behind her the cries of a scared little girl echoed.