A/N: Thank you everyone for the faves and reviews! :) I'm sure more lemons are to come. They're just too much fun to write between this amazing couple. So this chapter continues the EPIC adventure of Liara and Shepard . . . ah who am I kidding? This is a total "Plot? What plot?" fic. XD Oh yeah. This chapter may contain some pretty ridiculous domestic cuteness. You've been warned.

P.S. I am once again taking artistic license on asari traditions because I have no idea if there is something out there about it in some obscure Bioware archive somewhere. Plus . . . this is a fanfiction. If you're going to get all offended because I get some silly little thing wrong . . . uh . . . I don't really have anything to say to you. Other than: stop trolling. Nobody likes a troll.

Chapter 8

Shepard marveled, not for the first time, at the incredible beauty of asari scales. Liara was curled up in her arms and a small smile played across her blue lips, though still deep in slumber. Shepard loved these moments, waking up next to Liara, feeling her naked body against her own, Liara's sweet scent filling her nose with every breath. Her ribs were pretty sore from the previous night's activities, but it had been worth every moment. She felt like a new person. All the burdens and weight she'd been carrying felt infinitely lighter. She felt like she could face the galaxy and all its problems now. She'd found her strength again, and here it lay in her arms.

She ran a partially bandaged hand along Liara's soft crest, memorizing every curve, every line. Her hand traveled down to Liara's lavender freckles on her cheeks and traced them down to her neck. Her lover stirred in her arms and sleepy blue eyes drifted open.

"Good morning," Shepard crooned, nuzzling her nose against Liara's.

"Mmm," Liara purred in reply and placed a soft kiss on Shepard's lips.

"I think I could get used to this," Shepard said, sprinkling soft kisses on those lovely freckles. "Waking up next to you every morning like this."

"As could I," Liara agreed. "I may have to put a 'no clothes allowed' rule in place, permanently."

"Oh really?" Shepard said, arching a suggestive eyebrow. "And what would happen if I disobeyed the rule?"

"Disobey at your own risk," Liara replied, suddenly awake, and suddenly on top of Shepard. She pinned Shepard's hands above her head and gave her an incredibly seductive look.

"Well that escalated quickly," Shepard said with a cheeky grin.

"What am I going to do with you, my insubordinate Commander?" Liara said, her voice taking a deeper, more suggestive tone.

Shepard's pulse quickened to about 200 beats a minute. "Whatever you want," she replied rather breathlessly.

A wicked smile spread over her lover's blue lips. She was about to act on "whatever she wanted," when the doorbell buzzed, startling them both.

"Saved by the bell, Commander," Liara growled softly. "But don't think you're off the hook."

Irritated at the interruption, Shepard activated her omni-tool and barked, "Yes?"

"Shepard, it's Garrus."

"Shit!" Shepard cursed under her breath. She completely forgot she had asked him to help her find a ring for Liara today. "I'll be down in a minute."

"You completely forgot, didn't you?" he asked, his voice amused.

"I didn't forget!" she said indignantly. "I just . . . lost track of time."

"I'm sure," Garrus said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah." Shepard turned off her omni-tool and sighed in regret. "Rain check?" she asked, wincing as she sat up.

Concern filled Liara's sapphire eyes and she placed a gentle hand on Shepard's ribs. "Are you okay?"

"Better than I've ever been," Shepard replied and meant it. "Sore ribs are a very small price to pay for last night."

Liara still looked worried so Shepard allayed her fears with a soft kiss. This seemed to ease her bondmate's worry. "Okay. Where are you and Garrus going?"

A mischievous grin teased the corners of Shepard's lips. "I'll never tell. It's a surprise."

Shepard enjoyed the watching dark purple spread through Liara's cheeks as she slipped into her N7 robe. She didn't say anything as she left to let Garrus in, but she rewarded Shepard with a shy smile. Shepard shook her head and the grin, which seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her lips, widened.

She slowly dressed in black cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and put her N7 hoodie on over the top. She scowled when she reached the hardest part of getting dressed with her injuries: shoes. She really needed to get some boots that didn't require laces. All she had now were military boots, and there wasn't a shoe in existence that required more laces than those. With a sigh of resignation, she set to work on the laces. Her ribs protested excessively when she put pressure on them, but she had mastered the art of ignoring pain at this point.

After taking another minute to freshen up in the bathroom, she grabbed her cane and made her way downstairs. When she arrived in the kitchen, the wonderful aroma of coffee, and breakfast filled her nose. She went straight for the coffee and poured herself some in the biggest mug she could find. She took a moment to enjoy watching Liara, who was standing at the stove fussing over a skillet. She loved that Liara continued to wear N7 merchandise. It was a nice touch that the satin robe was incredibly flattering, but knowing Liara was wearing it for her, made it all the more sweet. And to top it off, in front of Garrus. She marveled at how much Liara had changed since they met. The once timid, slightly (but adorably) awkward asari had blossomed into a mature, strong, confident woman.

"Hey Garrus," Shepard greeted him with a smile, then took a huge drink of the hot, dark liquid. Her eyes rolled shut as she enjoyed the sensation of it burning down her throat.

"Would you like a moment alone with your coffee there, Shepard?" she heard Garrus say in a teasing voice.

"Hey," she said, eyeballing at him defensively, "I've been living off hospital food for weeks. Besides, it's your fault. You got me the best damn coffee in the galaxy."

"Glad to help. It's good to see you up and about, old friend," he added. "And glad to see T'Soni is taking good care of you. We'll need you in top shape to take care of a certain little one I hear is on the way."

Liara positively beamed at the remark. "Garrus, you charmer," she said with a soft blush.

Shepard came up behind Liara and kissed the back of her shoulder. "Thanks for breakfast, Love. And thanks for waiting, Garrus."

He held up a mug of his own coffee. "I keep a secret stash of turian coffee in your cupboards for just such occasions. Plus, this gives me a chance to catch up with my two favorite ladies. When can I tell Tali about your baby? She already knows something's up, and I'm starting to worry that she'll kick my ass if I don't start spilling details."

Shepard smiled and wrapped her arms around Liara, resting her hands over the asari's stomach. "We could probably announce something soon, don't you think?"

"Mm hmm," Liara agreed. "I was thinking maybe when you are officially named an ambassador?"

"Yeah, but I'd like to tell the team first. Say, how about another party? It's a good way to get everyone together, and a good time to make an announcement. Only, perhaps this time we could make it a tad less . . . rowdy."

"What, no shattering fish tanks, target practicing in your living room, and booby-trapping your apartment?" Garrus chuckled. "Damn, T'Soni. You're turning Shepard into a responsible adult. How'd you do it?"

Liara laughed softly, a sound Shepard cherished. She decided right then and there that her new life mission was to make Liara laugh more. "Patience is the key, Garrus," Liara said.

"I'm standing right here, guys," Shepard said, rolling her eyes.

"I know. And we love you," Liara said, giving Shepard an apologetic kiss on the lips.

"I'd kiss you too, but I'm pretty sure T'Soni could break me with her mind. So . . . yeah."

A sly grin curved Liara's blue lips. "You learn quick, Vekarian."

"So, Shepard, I know this was going to be our one on one bonding time, but seeing as I know nothing about human or asari marital rituals, is it okay that I already called Samara to help? She is our resident asari expert, aside from T'Soni."

Shepard and Garrus were wandering the Silversun Strip in search of jewelry stores. "Thanks for the heads up," she replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Well I couldn't exactly bring it up in front of T'Soni, considering we're doing this for her," he retorted.

"Kidding, Garrus," she said with a smile. "It's a good idea. Where are we meeting up?"

As if on cue, Samara materialized through the crowds in front of them.

"Here," Garrus replied and Shepard laughed.

"Hey Samara," Shepard greeted the Justicar.

"Shepard," she replied, bowing her head deeply in respect. "It is good to see you."

It took a moment before Shepard realized something was profoundly different about Samara. Her outfit was more or less the same as it had always been, only it was black and gold instead of red. And sewn into the front left shoulder was an N7 symbol.

Shepard blinked back sudden emotion. "You can . . . do that? It doesn't violate the Code?"

"Justicars swear off all material possessions other than a few weapons and some armor. This is now my armor. So I am within the Code."

"But didn't you have to buy it?" Shepard pressed.

"I gave my previous set of armor to an university on Thessia, and in turn, they gifted me with this armor and the material to make this," she said, pointing to the N7 symbol.

"But . . . why?" Shepard asked. She had to know. She didn't know why, but it seemed very important.

"It is important to me, Shepard, that the galaxy knows that this Justicar has sworn herself to you. That she, first and foremost, is a servant to Commander Shepard, the protector and champion of the galaxy," Samara replied in her eloquent way.

"Thanks, Samara," Shepard said quietly. She didn't know what else to say. What else could she say?

"For what reason have you summoned me?" Samara asked.

"Right," Shepard said, allowing the moment to pass. "When an asari takes on a bondmate, how do you . . . seal it? Do asari get married?"

Surprise flickered briefly through Samara's ice blue eyes, then turned to Garrus. "This was the 'emergency' of which you spoke?"

"This is an emergency," Garrus replied, his voice unapologetic. "Shepard can kill Reapers with the best of them, but she's hopeless when it comes to romance."

"I'll have you know," Shepard started, then paused when she actually thought about. "Damn. You're right."

"We are a fluid, ever-changing race," Samara answered. "We tend to take on the customs of the species to which we bond. Humans 'marry,' so it would not be uncommon for an asari to do the same. When two asari become bondmates, they sometimes have a private ceremony involving only their closest friends and family. Usually they have a Matriarch present to seal the bond with what is called a Biotic Seal."

"Biotic Seal?" Shepard asked. "What's that?"

"I am unsure how to explain the exact science of the biotic power, but I do know it uses an ability similar to a meld. The Matriarch combines the bondmates' biotic field, and in essence, makes them one. It is a sealing, a permanent exchange of the very molecules that make you who you are."

"Damn," Garrus said. "Apparently the asari are not only going for the 'most attractive race in the galaxy,' but they're going for the 'most romantic' record too."

Shepard snickered. "Well what do you expect from an all-female race?"

"So, Samara, any chance we could get your opinion on rings?" Garrus asked. "We soldiers are pretty helpless when it comes to what women like."

"Hey," Shepard attempted to say in her defense, but again realized he was right. "Damn. I wasn't exactly the type of girl who daydreamed about my wedding when I was little."

"What every asari truly wants is for her bondmate to put effort into understanding her," Samara offered. "We strive our entire lives to understand the galaxy around us and other species, but they spend little time doing the same. Put effort into understanding her and always strive to be accepting and respectful of her ways. If you do this, your bondmate will never know an unhappy day with you. But you already know this, Commander. I have never met a human as accepting of the ways of other species, and who understands them, as well as you."

"Careful, Samara," Garrus teased. "Go around complimenting Shepard too much and her head will get to big to fit through doors."

"That's what I have you for, Garrus," Shepard said, giving him a playful shove.