A/N: So yeah... Insincere Apology: I am very sorry that I couldn't stop Shep and Liara from getting terribly smutty after all they had to go through. Just a simple butt-grab like in the game scene simply was not going to cut it. Hence the M rating.
Kind of nervous about this chapter, so hope you'll enjoy it. Fingers crossed and all that.
Chapter 23 - Reenacting 'Vaenia'
With nervous trepidation, Shepard prepares herself for Liara's visit onboard of the Normandy, wondering what to wear for the occasion. There is the revealing dress that she has worn for Donovan Hock's party, but she is reluctant to put something so slutty looking on, unwilling to appear desperate. In the end she goes for something she feels comfortable in, a tight pair of black jeans and a simple short white tank-top of the bellybutton showing kind.
Knowing that Liara is already on the ship, currently receiving a guided tour accompanied by Yeoman Chambers, Morgan does not hesitate in opening a bottle of red wine and cutting the chocolate cake in slices, and as she busies herself with that, Liara finally steps into her quarters, looking enchanting in a traditional red asari robe with blue stripes, carrying a bottle of elassa in her hands. "I got this for you," she says, passing the bottle to Morgan.
"Oh, excellent, that's even better than wine," Morgan smiles. "Speaking of which, where did you get it? And for that matter, where did you manage to get that robe?"
"Shadow Broker's resources are limitless, Morgan," Liara merely grins enigmatically.
"Such a tease," Morgan chuckles. "Did you enjoy the tour around the ship?"
"Yes, I did. My word, your companions truly are a colorful bunch," Liara says. "Especially that salarian professor, Mordin. He, ah... gave me this datapad with all sorts of... embarrassing advice. About the erogenous zones of humans and so on..."
"Oh yeah, he likes to do that," Morgan nods. "So... learned anything new?"
"...maybe," Liara smiles, her eyes twinkling in merriment. "So, does that mean he also gave you similar advice?"
"Maybe," Morgan laughs, as Liara playfully elbows her in the side.
"Still, it was good to see the old friends," Liara says. "I had met Garrus and Tali before, of course, but it was nice to run into Dr. Chakwas and Joker. Although, he did ask whether we would be... ah, embracing eternity, while I was aboard..."
Shepard chuckles. "That sounds like something Jeff would say." She then gives Liara a playful wink. "So... what did you reply to him?"
"I said ...maybe," Liara says, then ducking as Shepard makes an attempt to playfully grab her. "But let's be serious for a moment, Morgan," Liara's smile fades away, replaced by seriousness. "Are you truly certain about it, considering what you are about to face? The travel through Omega-4 relay..."
"Liara," Morgan takes the asari's hands into hers. "You know as well as I do that there are no guarantees..."
"Shepard, these two years have been... like a never ending nightmare that I could not wake from," Liara says, her voice heavy. "I'm asking myself whether I can bear to lose you again. And... I... I really don't think I can. I can't go through this again, I just can't." She turns away, deeply upset.
"It is a terrible burden, a sacrifice, I know that, Liara. I hate asking you to make it for me," Shepard says quietly, placing her hand on Liara's trembling shoulder. "But I need to have a reason, someone to come back to. Do you remember Ilos? Do you remember how that night we spent together made you feel?"
"I felt like I was on top of the world, like there was no force in the galaxy that could keep me down and wrestle you away from me," Liara says, her voice thick with emotion. "Oh, Morgan, I remember... I remember it so well. It made me feel that we are unbeatable. That we would survive through any odds."
"I need to feel this way, Liara," Morgan takes the asari in her arms from behind, holding her trembling form tightly. "I need to know you will be there, waiting for me to return. I need you to give me a reason to come back."
"Do I... truly mean that much to you?" Liara asks hesitantly as Shepard slowly turns the asari around to face her.
"Of course you do," she replies, managing a smile. "There are so many things that I look forward to when I think of you, Liara. Marriage. Old age. Lots and lots of beautiful blue children."
Liara laughs, despite herself. "Goddess, you just say these things, and I... I actually feel better," she says, before leaning closer and planting a kiss on Morgan's lips. "Very well. I will be your reason to come back. And perhaps... together we can provide... even more incentives for you to return..."
"Oh? What do you have in mind, Dr. T'Soni?" Shepard grins, as together they spin towards the large, soft bed in her quarters.
"I think we could do what Joker said... reenacting some scenes from 'Vaenia'..." Liara manages, between kisses and struggles to get each other out of their clothing, seeking to feel each other's skin against skin again.
Shepard's tank-top gives way quickly to Liara's nimble hands, and she takes a sharp intake of breath, feeling the asari's fingers tracing her skin, the touch almost electrifying to her, so great is her need. She is struggling to pull the robe over Liara's head, almost succeeding at suffocating Liara with her clumsy, hasty efforts, and the asari has to take her hands away from Shepard's burning flesh, helping Morgan to undress her. As Liara sits astride of Shepard's legs, unbuttoning her jeans with teasing slowness, Morgan can do nothing but to stare and admire her lover's body, shaking with desire, feeling the raw, burning necessity to pull her close and to never let go.
Their union is exhausting, draining and satisfying like never before, the suppressed need, desire and passion finally finding release like a ferocious torrent, sweeping them both along for a ride like insignificant slivers. They cling to each other like two desperate, shaking leaves, tossed about by a whirlwind of pent up emotion, but even as everything crashes and burns around them, they manage to hold on to each other, tooth and nail, desperate to never let go, now that they have found one another again, wanting, needing for this union to last forever.
The release is so powerful that for a long while they both simply lay huddled one against another, drenched in perspiration, unable to speak as the room, the whole Normandy and space around them is spinning, leaving them dazed, filled with tiring satisfaction that cannot be put into words.
"Am I alive?" Liara finally manages to speak a few words. "Or did we both just die?"
Shepard chuckles tiredly. "I don't know what that was, but... gods, I thought I was going to die for sure. Remember what I told you on Ilos?" Liara gives her a curious stare. "I'm totally coming back for some more of this. And I held that promise. Now I'm promising you the same again."
"Oh, Morgan," Liara sighs. "I believe you. I don't know why, but I believe you."
They continue to lay in each other's arms for a long while afterwards. "We'll probably have to leave in a few hours," Shepard says reluctantly. "Much as I hate to, there's work still to be done. Light years to travel before we can rest."
"I know, I have my hands full too," Liara sighs. "Still, another hour with you... I would not say no."
"I suppose we could always use that time to create even... more reasons for me to come back to you," Morgan grins.
"Goddess, I don't think I can survive another union now, Shepard... unless your plan is to kill me!"
"Oh, there are... many other less exhausting ways for us both to still have fun," Morgan grins, disentangling from a quietly protesting Liara. She turns her asari lover on her back, leaning over her and starting to slowly explore her body.
"Ah, you mean... that," Liara smiles, as the first quiet moan escapes her lips. Shepard's tongue circles around her bellybutton before moving lower and lower, as Liara's hands dig into the bedsheets as she struggles to retain a measure of control while Morgan is sweetly torturing her with her lips and tongue.
Liara's cries quickly intensify, and Shepard runs her hands upwards across her lover's body, travelling over her stomach, lingering on her breasts, gently squeezing and toying with them, before she slips the fingers of her left hand between Liara's parted lips to silence her cries. The way the asari's sharp teeth nibble on her fingers, together with her muffled cries and her body arching and aching for release, it drives Morgan completely wild as she finally witnesses Liara's body shuddering and growing limp in her arms, the asari's chest rising powerfully with short, ragged breaths, her eyes closed in pleasure.
"I thought you said 'less exhausting'," Liara says, having spent some time recovering. She gives Shepard a very satisfied smile as Morgan leans over her for another kiss.
"Well, you look pleased enough, so don't complain," Shepard chuckles, then suddenly finding herself getting flipped over in the bed, her asari lover rolling on top of her.
"My turn," Liara grins, before starting to repay Shepard with the same sweet torment that Morgan had just delivered to her. Liara's tongue quickly finds a way to her breast, circling around a rock hard nipple, as her right hand slips between Morgan's legs, inescapably moving upwards, pushing her legs apart, ignoring her protesting whimpers, realizing them for what they truly are, aching demands for pleasure and satisfaction.
She cannot stop a cry escaping her lips as she feels Liara's probing fingers reaching her center, slipping and sliding through her pliant strength, even as the asari's lips and tongue work on her breasts. The cresting pleasure builds rapidly and she sinks her teeth in the pillow to muffle her moans, arms and legs moving wildly, trying to anchor herself to something to avoid getting picked up by yet another torrent of pleasure, but it is to no avail, Liara slowly and mercilessly brings her to the point of no return, as Morgan finally succumbs, surrendering herself with a loud cry and begging Liara to stop her sweet torment.
Liara pulls herself up, giving Morgan a quick kiss on her sweaty brow. "Sounded like you enjoyed that," she says, looking proud at her accomplishment.
"...did you have time to study Mordin's datapad before coming here?" Morgan manages, still breathing heavily.
"...maybe," Liara replies cheekily, earning a mock-glare.
"Oh, Liara..." Morgan smiles, wrapping her hands around her lover, as their allotted time together slowly comes to a close.
Before Normandy leaves the Hourglass Nebula, Shepard decides to address her team, inspired by her newfound motivation and confidence. No more wallowing in self-pity, she tells herself. Now we're going to be totally committed to stop the Collectors, and it's up to me to get this strange assortment of individuals to work like a cohesive team. And I'll be damned if I don't get them to work together as a finely tuned engine!
"Certain recent experiences that I won't go into detail about, have taught me how important it is to be completely at peace with yourself before taking on a mission like ours," she tells her team. "We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by lingering personal issues. If anyone has a concern of personal nature that needs to be addressed before we pass through Omega-4 relay, I urge you to bring it forth and I will help each and every of you to find closure and peace with the past."
"Commander, ten years ago my father disappeared along with a privately held frigate, Hugo Gernsback," Jacob is the first one to speak up. "Last week, the ship's beacon sent out a distress call from planet Aeia. I would like to investigate."
"There's still that matter to liberate Eldfell-Ashland refinery from the Blue Suns mercs on Zorya," Zaeed reminds her. "You've been putting that off for far too long."
"Shepard, do you remember me telling you about Sidonis?" Garrus asks. She nods quickly. "He's been spotted on the Citadel. I'd like to head there and see if we can track him down."
"Alright, that should keep us busy for a while-" Shepard starts, but gets interrupted by Thane.
"Shepard, as long as we're going to the Citadel, there is... an issue I must address urgently," the drell speaks, looking concerned. "It is about my son, Kolyat."
"Disturbing news, Shepard," Mordin pipes up too. "My old apprentice Maelon. Captured by Blood Pack mercenaries. Held on Tuchanka. Should investigate. Would be very appreciative."
"Shepard, I think I may be seriously ill," Grunt roars. "I feel this... intense desire to destroy and maim everyone in my way!" Shepard is about to ask how is this any different from normal krogan, when Grunt quickly elaborates. "This is something different, Shepard. I do not even care if the enemies are worthy or not, I simply wish to kill... this is not normal. As long as we are heading to Tuchanka..."
"Yeah, alright... maybe Wrex will know what to do. It'll be nice to catch up with him, at least," Morgan sighs. "Well, I guess that's it then. The rest of you are normal and well adjusted individuals not bothered by terrible crisis of personal nature?"
"Actually..." Tali speaks up, looking very subdued and depressed. "The Admiralty Board has accused me of treason. I... I must travel to the Migrant Fleet and answer these charges. If you would accompany me..." Shepard nods reassuringly towards her old friend. This sounds very serious, and she wants to be there for Tali in what for the young quarian must feel like her darkest hour.
"We should stop by Omega soon, Commander," she hears Samara's voice. "The fugitive I'm looking for is there, and I cannot pass this opportunity to track her down."
"Oh yes, and I want to go to Pragia and deploy a big fucking bomb to blow up the Cerberus facility I was raised in," Jack chimes in.
"Right..." Shepard groans. Gods, I'm almost sorry I asked. Well, let's get cracking, I guess... "I guess that's... yeah, pretty much everyone covered. No well-balanced individuals here, no sir."
"Commander," Yeoman Chambers calls her on the comms at that very moment. "The Illusive Man wishes to speak with you in the debriefing room."
"...if he has a lost niece somewhere in the Shrike Abyssal he wants me to find..." Shepard launches into an angry tirade, startling the surprised Chambers, "...he can well do it himself!"