A/N: Inspired by Evanescence "Bring me to Life", Salser's amazing story "Forever as One" and my own loss… Title inspired by Garbage's verse from "My Lover's Box."

Can I just say wow? I never in a million years expected such positive feedback to my menial, little story. Um, so truthfully I hadn't expected to have to write a 2nd chapter. I hope I can live up to the praise you've so kindly given me through reviews, adds and favs.

Having loved and lost I hope I can properly convey the sh*t-storm of emotions involved.

Thanks to Salser for proofing, you're the best. I want my blue babies…

Bioware owns all, I just make them cry.

Piece By Piece

"I can't… I… I just…" She then drops the plaque and covers her face while sobbing. "This can't… it just can't…"

Her world is a blur, time feels like it is at a standstill. She can faintly hear whispers emanating from behind her. The plaque is still at her feet, dropped only moments ago.

Goddess, I have felt this before…

Disbelief, denial, numbness, anger.

Joker. This is all his fault. Goddess-damned stubborn man. You should have left him there. You would have been on the escape pod with me. I would not have been utterly destroyed. I would not have been forced to do the things I did…

"Liara…" Garrus cautiously takes a step closer to her, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "None of us wanted it to end this way, and she wouldn't want you to stop living. You… we all have to move on. She gave us this, our lives, our future."

Sidonis. Now I've got you. Shepard, by the spirits move the hell out of the way. What the…? WHY did you warn him? Damn it Shepard I'm taking the shot, MOVE!

{'Look at him, he's already dead, there's nothing left to kill.'}

Spirits be damned I hate you right now! But… you're right; I'm not a murderer. This will take time, but… ultimately, you're right…

'So where are we going, anyways?'

'Some place we shouldn't be… and right now, I just don't give a damn'.

I know you let me win. Hell you're the worst dancer I've ever seen, but I know you're the best shot in the galaxy. King of the bottle shooters huh, I can live with that.

Damn it Shepard, I hope you've saved me a spot at the bar…

His look is one of genuine pain, sorrow. She covers his hand with hers and briefly rubs her thumb over his talons while still looking away.

"I know," her answer is barely a whisper.

How can they so quickly conclude that she is dead? Where's the proof? We know nothing… They claim to love her but why are they so willing to accept that she's gone?

Liara shrugs off Garrus' hand and slowly turns around to face the mourning group. She studies each one of their faces; they all look stricken with grief. The atmosphere is so thick, she feels like she's choking, she can't breathe, her legs feel as if they will buckle any second now from the weight of the sorrow on her shoulders…

Ashley steps forward and bends down to pick up the Commander's memorial plaque, when she is suddenly accosted by the grieving Asari.

"Don't you dare Ashley. She isn't dead." The group looks dumb-founded, shocked expressions on each and every face.

Goddess, what am I doing? These are my friends… They are hurting too. But… not as much as me. They could never. I wish they would stop pretending to understand, none of you could even come close…

Her anger swells, her heart races. She feels flushed as she is slowly consumed by undeniable rage. The monster has awoken again after being kept at bay for what she thought was forever. She thought it dead… A flash of biotics; then, she leans down, picks up the plaque and storms off into her office.

Back in the isolation of her office Liara desperately asks Glyph, "any news on the recovery of Commander Shepard?"

"Negative, Dr. T'Soni. Our agents are just getting their feeds operational in the Sol system, and no new communications from the Alliance have been recorded. I have, however, been able to deduce with 89.613% certainty that neither the mass relays nor the Citadel have been completely destroyed."

Goddess, Shepard could still be somewhere on the Citadel…

"Thank you Glyph, please keep monitoring all Sol system communications as a priority, and please notify me of immediately of any information, rumors or channel scuttlebutt pertaining to the whereabouts of Commander Shepard."

The Bahak system is gone. I call you via vid-com; I have never seen you look so defeated. I try to reassure you that you did the right thing to buy us time. You lash out at me. I don't know how to console you, and Goddess, I don't know how you keep yourself together. You are remarkably strong-willed, Commander.

You come to Hagalaz for a final night with me before you turn yourself in. I can't stand this, knowing you'll be systems away from me, not knowing what will happen to you. I try not to dwell on what might happen. You tell me with a heavy heart you may not be able to communicate with me. I know… Goddess, if they sentence you to life or worse, I will use all my resources to break you out. The galaxy needs you, I need you. I will never let you go.

As we make love that night I try to convey my desperation, my fears. I kiss you repeatedly, deeply, cursing the fact that we both need air and will eventually have to break our embrace.

'I love you Liara, so damn much.'

Your mouth traces my jaw line, I gasp as you dip lower, slowly kissing my neck, shoulders and breasts as your hand skirts over my body, southward and finally reaching the treasure reserved only for you. I am completely enamored by you; your touches, kisses, and throaty, aroused gasps have me falling in love with you over and over again.

The Alliance arrests and puts you on trial for the Bahak system. What a joke. If only they'd listened to you, if only anyone had listened to you. Relieved of duty, locked up and caged like a common criminal. A Spectre, the Council's finest. Yet, what have they done? Nothing. Goddess-damned nothing. Athame have mercy on them all…

Liara snaps out of her daydream and solemnly looks over to the plaque, the same one adorning her bond-mate's name. It is now cracked in two, having been hurled against the wall with a biotic throw by the grief-stricken Asari.

At least they won't be able to hang this up anymore… Good.

A small smirk crosses her face. She continues to pace back and forth, anger, frustration and disbelief festering, rearing its ugly head. Fists clenched, biotics flaring again.

Not one of them offered to help me retrieve your body, I contacted them all… They said I was on a "feathered avian animal's chase" of some sort. And now they again have given up. Goddess damn them all. I'm stuck here, Goddess knows where and for how long, with a bunch of cowards. Not a week has passed and they have already deemed you dead. A plaque… a damned PLAQUE as thanks for saving the galaxy… I want to die, Goddess I wish I could take your place, at least I'd know you were safe…

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Meanwhile, back at the Normandy's memorial wall.

"What the hell was that?" a clearly stunned and flustered Ashley asks.

TBC if there's continued interest in this story, this was very difficult to pen as it hits so close to home, sorry this is a bit shorter than the last chapter. Please review to let me know how I'm doing and if I should continue.