Ashley
"Another time Chey refused to speak to our mom until she went through basic, because mom strongly objected to her joining the Alliance. Granted it wasn't years, but it can happen." She finishes proving her point. We talk a bit more and once gain she tenses when I jokingly say we should ask Liara about asari sex. "I should go. I have reports to file." She says and like usual she bolts away. " Something was definitely up she hates filing reports and usually has Chey do it. She had told me that herself. " I thought. I really should confront her about this behavior. I return to my station and begin my usual cleaning duties. "I'll talk to her the next time she comes down." I decided. No more waiting or hesitating, this needs to be put to rest. I do not get the chance to speak to her for awhile, she avoids me for the next 2 weeks as she takes out a few Geth outposts. I wish she would have let me go, but she didn't and Chey was not asked to go either. I noticed in that time that both Shepards and Tali went to speak to Liara a lot. Rumors started to spread that they were both vying for her attention, just the Shepard siblings not Tali. They seemed to think she was too innocent for such things and was merely curious about Asari in general. Quarians don't really meet a lot of other species, at least until they go on their pilgrimage.
Frustratingly enough Liara and Tali were always asked to go groundside and either Wrex, Kaidan or Garrus accompanied them. Chey could care less if she went but it really ground my gears. I can understand why Chey was left on the ship she was a loaded cannon and seemed to be apathetic to whether or not she lived. It was disheartening how everyone who tried to reach her couldn't. At first I thought I couldn't reach her because she blamed me, but she insisted she blamed no one but Saren. She didn't even blame herself anymore. I had seen Kaidan, Tali, Karin, and even Garrus try to reach her but to no avail and Wrex seemed to love and respect her Krogan like battle lust. He might think differently if he knew that her battle lust was less about the fighting and more about the lack of interest in living. The only reason she just didn't toss her gun away is because she wanted Saren to pay first.
I had heard they destroyed the last of the outposts, which was awesome. Tali was bouncing with joy after she returned. I waved her over. "What's got you in such a good mood did you get a kiss from your fair maiden?" I ask in a teasing tone. "I wish. Liara seems more interested in the Shepard sisters right now. No Shea just gave me a copy of some data that would make an excellent pilgrimage gift. It so awesome that any ship would be clamoring for me to join their crew and I know my father will be impressed and super proud." She says excitedly. "That's really great Tali! I'm happy for you, I really am." I said. "But you are wondering why you keep getting stuck on the ship?" she asks. "Very astute. Yes it's been really driving me crazy." I said. "Ashley, Shea is just testing the waters with different teams, figuring out how well we work together. Different teams are needed for different conditions." She explains. "That is actually very logical, I would do the same, but still.." she places a hand on my shoulder. "You love her, and want to fight by her side literally." She says. I nod and for once I allow an alien to hug me. We chat for a little longer about the women we love and how maddening it is that we can't say anything for various reasons. The elevator dings and the very object of my affection we were just talking about walks over towards me. Tali waves at her and says good bye and returns to her post. "You seem to have adjusted well to our unconventional crew. Listen I'm sorry about not coming to see you more. I have just been swamped with reports. Chey's apathetic behavior is getting worse, and she just won't listen." She says. "And your too busy talking to your little blue friend." I say snidely. "You go to med bay everyday and are there for hours, and scuttlebutt has it Liara is into you." I keep going. Her eyebrows raise.
Shea
I do not get where this is coming from. I want to interject and figure this out, but it seems I can't get a word in edgewise. "I get it though she is a female form of beauty and she's not Alliance so it's not against regs." Now I am pissed and I don't care if it's rude. "You think I'm interested in her because she's the only person I can date?" I said, her eyes light up with fury. "So you admit you're interested in her. What if you put the mission in jeopardy because of your emotional entanglement." She says and now I feel even angrier. "Williams you are bordering on insubordination! I am the Commander of this ship, and if I need to speak to one crew members more then others then that is my business!" I shout at her. She is taken aback I have never yelled at her before. "Yes ma'am. You tell me to jump I'll ask how high. You tell me to kiss a Turian I'll ask which cheek." She says. This is not what I had come down her for. "With all due respect ma'am, I spoke out of line." She says. She turns away from me.
"Ash." She ignores me. "Please don't make me order you to look at me." I said and she sighs and turns to face me. "Ashley, I am aware of Liara's attraction to me and I have already told her that I just wanted to be friends. Everything I do is for this fucking mission. I know emotional entanglements can negatively effect teams and missions. This mission is always in my mind, and I fucking hate it. I go to med bay everyday, because Liara is trying to look up leads where her mother and Saren might be, what her mother's motives could be. I talk to Liara every couple of days and it's always briefly. The rest of my time there is spent trying control and ease these fucking migraines that I get because of the vision from that beacon on Eden Prime." Her features soften. "If you know about how feelings and emotional entanglements can effect the mission, why are you touchy feely with everyone?" she asks. I think I get it now. "Not with everyone." I said. "Not with me your not." She says. "No, I'm not." I reply. "Why?" she asks.
"Because their touches never do to me what yours do Ash. When you touch me, my whole body sings, my heart races, sets my blood on fire but in a good way, and it steals my breath. That is why I try not to touch you or let your touch linger as much as my heart longs for them too. These feelings I have for you overwhelm me, and I worry that they will get in the way of our mission." I admit. "I feel the same way about you and confusion." She says. "Why confusion?" we step a little closer. " Whenever something intimate or sexual is mentioned it doesn't matter from who you bolt like a skittish cat. I can't figure out why and Chey won't tell me." She says my face turns red. "Are you going to run again?" she asks in a soft tone I had never heard before. I shake my head and lean into her ear and whisper. "Sexual and relationship stuff makes me nervous." She breathes in deeply. "It does that because I have absolutely no experience in either thing." I add. She looks at me and her eyes widen. "You've never.." I shake my head. "I never had an inkling of desire for either things until I met you." I confess.
"Shea we just reached Feros." Joker says, "Suit up Ash. You, Chey, Liara, and I are going groundside." I walk away from her stunned and red face. I know I have this great big grin on my face. "She likes me too." I say to Chey. "About damn time you found that out." Chey says with a grin on her face. "Oh my God are you actually smiling. Is the world ending?" I tease. "Not yet. I'm happy for you and I am absolutely ecstatic to get off this tin can." She says. "Don't you insult the Normandy like that." I said. "Alright, she is a beautiful ship. I just need to stretch my legs." She says. "You didn't seem to mind before." I said. "True, but that's because I knew that you were trying to figure out how well everyone works together and what teams would suited for certain mission. I also think you were trying to get Liara and Tali more at ease with each other and their feelings that are burgeoning. Now please can we go."