A/N Looked out the window this morning, a pig flew by, so yeah, time for an update.

I thought about dropping my ME stories all together. Why? Because after having invested so much time into the games, after having loved the characters for 5+ years, to get an eenie-meenie-moe ending just felt cheap. And with each DLC, I kept hoping the betrayal so many fans felt would be addressed. The Citadel DLC was an obvious lip service, but still not what most fans wanted, although enjoyable.

But that's why we have FF. If anyone won that crazy US powerball, buy Bioware and fire Hudson. There are a number of talented writers here, myself excluded, who could easily give us a quality ME4 game.

Let's make our own universe, and logical endings.

Bioware (unfortunately) owns all, I just make them cry.

Piece by Piece

"I can only hypothesize, but my best guess is yes. By my calculations she will live close to 1000 years naturally." This will surely please Liara; only best make sure she's out of the woods first.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

3 weeks later…

"Has there been any change?"

"Liara." Chakwas gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "not since last you checked an hour ago. Although, her brainwaves and REM seem to be more active." Before the Asari could object she countered; "but she could just be dreaming."

Chakwas looked over to her and felt a stab in her heart. Young love, so uncertain and painful. "There is something you should know."

Liara turned around and glared at the old doctor. Pain. That was the only emotion she felt. She didn't know if she could handle more. Holding her tongue, she answered with one word. "Yes?"

"If… no when she wakes up, my scans have detected a rather fortunate anomaly. She could have the lifespan of an Asari. Or close to. My readings cannot be 100% accurate, but of this, I'm fairly certain."

"…S-she…?"

"Sweetheart, she once told me she wanted marriage, old age and a lot of little blue children. Well now it seems, you willing of course, she could have a small army of them." Chakwas chuckled at the thought of Shepard running a small platoon of Asari toddlers through a backyard, makeshift N7 training course. Their reward: Lollipops. To that she laughed out loud.

"Senistive souls with piercing eyes indeed."

Liara knew Chakwas was hurting as well. Missing Shepard. She scolded her self yet again for diminishing another being's pain. She reasoned that just because it wasn't the same, it didn't mean it hurt less.

Liara had a thousand questions, a thousand theories but did not want to tax the doctor further. She stood in silence for a few moments and chose her questions carefully.

"She is not in any physical danger?"

"No."

"She will possible live to be as old as I?"

Yes.

"Has she suffered any brain-damage other than her amnesia?

"Although I can not be 100% certain, I'll say no, eventually she will regain her memory."

Her heart began to race as she pondered the final, and real question she wanted to ask. What happened to her bond-mate on the Citadel? Where was she? Could she wake her? Could a meld help? She had shared a shallow meld at Shepard's request earlier but had seen nothing but walls.

Anderson had somehow survived, and his report had not offered much insight into what happened. "We ran for the conduit. Harbinger's beam hit us. I'm in a hospital room."

Liara steadied herself, took a deep breath and looked Chakwas straight in the eyes. Almost as if reading her mind Chakwas answered; "yes."

Liara, confused, asked "what?"

"You want to initiate a meld. I'll bet my UK card it'll be a deep one or you wouldn't be looking at me like that. Let me get some wet towels and hook you up to my monitor. Any sighs of distress from either of you and I'll end this… and before you ask, a bucket of ice water, no matter the species will grab anyone's attention, including yours."

"I.. ah… th-thank…"

"No need to thank me my dear girl because I know despite the shortages, the shadow broker can still get her hands on Serrice Ice Brandy, am I right?"

As they both enjoyed the lightened moment Liara promised a crate would be delivered tomorrow. As the laughter died, the mood sobered. They both knew what was coming next. Ugliness. Pain. Death. But beneath all that lay hope. Silent words were spoken, nods exchanged. It was now or never.

Liara closed her eyes and focused on slowing her breathing and heart rate. Entering Shepard's mind in a panicked or excited state would likely be unproductive, and damaging. Chakwas was monitoring her vitals, she looked over and got the go… she was calm and centered.

"Embrace eternity."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Gottta keep fucking running. Oh god, Liara… She's safe… I saw them leave… FUCK! Shit, that was close… Christ, oh god, I'm gonna die here. Liara, I love you. God, I love you. There are so many… FUCK!'

"Anderson!"

Liara was over-whelmed. A memory meld was much like watching a vid. She saw everything that happened after she was forced to evac, and was powerless to help her struggling bond-mate as she took on a passive "voyeur" role. She also felt every one of Shepard's emotions, fear, hopelessness and physical pain. She wanted to run, but was rooted to the ground. She yelled to Shepard, but her voice was muted. She could not tell if the panic she felt was hers or Shepard's.

"Anderson, you have to get up!" Shaking him, she realized me probably was unconscious or dead. 'Shit shit…' She was 20 meters from the beam. "I'm sorry, sir." And she ran.

Just then Liara's feet started moving as well. The scene was one of absolute horror. Dead Alliance soldiers piled up to the left and right. Dead trees. Oily shadows. A downed helicopter… Whispers. 'Get to Shepard, I must pull her out.'

The next thing she saw was a white flash of light and pain as Harbinger's beam reached them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"The council chambers." 'Thank the Goddess, she's almost there.' She was surprised by how pristine everything looked… Just then the walls and ground shifted as Shepard appeared. Everything closed up, so constricted. The smell. The bodies. Looking around this hallway of horrors Liara noticed… she noticed… 'Oh Goddess… these soldiers are all. Kaidan.'

Liara continued to watch Shepard struggle forward. Not being able to do a thing to help. "This has already happened… it can't get any worse…" 'Could it?' Panic rose in her chest as she watched Shepard calling for Anderson, and heard him respond. 'That isn't possible?'

Shepard walked passed the bodies into a clearing. Ledges, lightning. Still talking with Anderson. 'Still moving, I see that clearing.'

Everything suddenly made sense. The Shadow Broker's ship. The Collector base. All the pieces fit. Alenko's body 1000 times over. "Noooo!" Was this why her bond-mate wasn't waking up? Was this the cause of her coma? "Sheeeepardd!"

Nothing.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back in the hospital room Chakwas pondered ending the session as Liara and Shepard's vitals were spiking close to an unacceptable level. As she reached for Liara, she decided to give the Asari one more minute.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The council chambers faded in out with a room she had never seen on the Citadel. It was a circular room with 1 pathway leading to it. The changes were giving her a headache, as they shifted every 3 seconds.

"I've seen what they've done to you." Shepard snarled.

As the room kept shifting, now at a slower pace, she could see Anderson and the… Illusive Man in the illusionary room. But the one constant was that Shepard had a gun held to her stomach.

This proved too much once again for Liara to watch as she yelled: "You're indoctrinated!" Much to her surprise the voice she projected was that of Anderson.

"You're playing with things you can never fully understand… No one is ready for this sort of power. You can't control them!"

Liara stood frozen as she watched her lover shoot herself. She felt Shepard's confusion, pain, and … promise?

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You must choose."

"Choose?" Shepard did not want to spend her last breath laughing, she had a promise to keep… 'But seriously? These are my opinions?'

As she rationalized she weighed her options. Laughable options. 'Had anyone told me 4 years ago the Reaper war would end with 3 color-coded multiple choices, I would have shot them.'

Liara, watching from a distance could do just that, watch. She could feel Shepard's emotions, and hear her internal monologue. It was a terrifying decision.

"The ever evil Illusive Man wants me to pick control. Reapers win. The Star-brat Reaper wants me to pick synthesis, which is what evil Saren wanted. Reapers still win." Looking over to the Reaper child a wicked grin spread across her face.

"I am not your agent, not your puppet. I'll take my chances, you're done." Shepard stood upright and began to fire at all 3…

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Liara awoke, eyesight blurred.

"Liara! Dr.T'Soni!"

"I'm ok… Light-headed but… oh Goddess…" She grabbed Shepard's hand and began to sob.

"Li? L-Liara?" A hoarse voice whispered.

"Shepard? Do you know who I am? Where you are? Who you-"

"Yeah, you're the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on… You were especially cute strung up in that Prothean bubble… oh, and do me a favor… first kiss me, then throw Traynor out an airlock will ya?"

"Yes… and Goddess yessss… a thousand times over." As Liara leaned down to capture Shepard's lips she knew there would be much healing involved. Likely in the form of "professionals", which Shepard would surely object to, thinking Johnny Walker would be her best confidant…

As the kiss ended, Liara blushed and playfully asked; "Now now Commander, are you sure you want to declare your memory fit because you now have almost an Asari lifetime to remember things like my birthday, our first kiss, first meld... and the birth dates of our daughters."

"What? Liara? Yeah you were born in 2077, but what? Are you… pregnant?"

Liara laughed at Shepard's complete state of confusion. Yes, she had her love back. "Not yet Commander, but how about we mark this day on the calendar?"

A/N Ok can I say finally? Sorry wanted to finish this, sorry if to some it felt rushed, but I just did not have anymore story left in me for this one. Oh writing angst just … well I cannot do it anymore. It's too depressing. Some sassy PMs from a few regarding this story didn't help either, but whatever, may return the favour.

One of my fav authors and I have something brewing… utterly ridiculous… just the way I like it. Stay tuned.