Liara knew April was off balance at being ejected in such a manner for she could see her bondmate in the rearview mirror, standing there in bemusement as she watched the skycar depart. As she turned her head back for another quick look, a pair of uniformed asari officers were making a beeline for her bondmate. She'll be fine, she told herself. Casting a last look, she saw the officers had engaged April in conversation. She set a new destination, put the skycar on autopilot and settled down to deal with the load of messages she downloaded earlier. Having no idea how long the impending dialogue would take, she didn't want to have an entire morning's backlog to deal with when she returned to her work at the medical center.

The skycar moved smoothly with traffic flowing through the city, automatically changing lanes and directions when required. A warning from the autopilot beeped as the skycar approached its objective. Closing down her omni-tool, Liara took over the controls, exited from the main lane and drove straight into the traffic tunnel leading to a blue white complex with spiralling skyward spires. She landed the skycar at the parking lot near the lobby of an entrance marked Research and Development. As she approached the main doors, security sensors swiftly scanned her. The doors open readily.

The large lobby was crowded. People of various races, humans, salarians, elcor, though most were asari, throng the lobby and branching corridors. The sound of their voices and movements formed a humming contrast against the soft music playing over the public speakers. A piece from one of her favourite composers. She would have listened to it attentively if her mind was not preoccupied by her appointment. She took a lift to the upper floors. Up here, it was not as crowded. Recognising several familiar faces, she exchanged greetings but did not stop to talk. She headed further away from the main facilities and turned into an office. After a brief word with an assistant, she was ushered into a room.

It was a nicely furnished room with a plush couch, cushy armchairs and a coffee table before a wall covering window overlooking the garden of the medical center. Potted plants and a small indoor waterfall graced the far corner. At her entrance, an older asari got up from a desk at the back of the room and moved to greet her, stretching out both hands in welcome. "Liara."

"Weia." Liara grasped her hands lightly, meeting the other's eyes steadily.

"Come, sit." Weia gestured to the sofa and sat down in an armchair. "You're looking bright today."

"I try," said Liara.

"Is the Discipline not helping?" Weia looked at the young asari sharply when she did not answer. "You are maintaining it," she prodded gently, sensing Liara's turmoil.

"It is not the discipline that troubles me but my bondmate," Liara said softly.

Her evasiveness did not go unnoticed but Weia only said, "She's still having nightmares."

"Yes. She has another one last night. It is not about the Reaper War, the burning or the shadows of the nightmares before but something that happened when she was a lieutenant. I asked her for the memory."

"How did she respond?"

"She was reluctant to share at first."

Weia nodded. "But this time, it is different. She shared with you. What did you feel with her?"

"Anger, hatred, pain. Deep down, there is fear that she is adrift in illusions." Liara swallowed and looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. "I want to help her."

"You are helping," Weia said soothingly to ease Liara's anxiety. "With patience, by listening to her and encouraging her to speak her fears. By getting her to meet with the military task force, you are helping her to move forward in her recovery. It is not an easy thing to experience the war and survived it. The scars are deep and relentless. It takes time."

Liara took a deep breath to calm herself. "I cannot begin to describe what she has gone through."

Weia understood. Shepard was universally hailed as saviour but not many knew what went on behind the public facade. The political and personal obstacles she had to face when the threat of the Reapers were discovered. Time and again, the Council and the Systems Alliance failed her. Unsupported, she relied on those few who trusted and followed her. The struggle against the Reapers exacted a terrible toll that left her deeply stressed and psychologically scarred. It changed her, becoming less approachable, impatient, irritable and prone to angry exchanges. Liara had shared the conflicts they had over the years with her.

"Your impression is she is less volatile for the last few months," she said.

"It certainly feels that way," Liara said. "But she is still unsettled."

"She needs more time, as do you."

"I know."

Liara shivered as she recalled the many instances years ago when she and April could hardly have a conversation without either of them throwing heated words at each other. The tension was so taut she had wanted to physically throw something and strike out. Unable to bear it any longer, she had tried to force April to face up to what was happening to her, to them. That had brought about a storm of words she never thought she would have with April. It left both of them in shock. An extremely contrite April finally conceded she had a problem and decided to do something about it. She decided to resign from the Systems Alliance.

It was not a good decision, Liara thought. It was made in the heat of emotions but April could not be dissuaded. Admiral Hackett did not think it a good idea either when contacted. Liara did not know if he was cognizant of the distress April was under but she suspected he did. How could he not? Chakwas had on several occasions left heavy hints that April had problems she had to face up to. She may not have reported in detail but she would have recommended something to Hackett. He refused to accept April's resignation and instead told her she was assigned indefinite leave, that she more than earned it. That had left April in a quandary but she persuaded her to see the better side of it and thereafter, they came to Thessia.

Getting away from military life lifted a weight from April but her nightmares did not abate. Nor did her unsettled disposition though she made an effort to control her outbursts. There were fewer arguments between them. She had believed the situation would improve. April would improve. They would improve. The most happy occasion in their lives was when April proposed to her. She had high hopes that her bondmate would find some peace. But after five years, April was still irresolute.

"Perhaps I should remind her of a promise," she said. Should? She wanted to but she did not say it aloud.

"What do you have in mind?" Weia asked curiously.

"She said we will have little blue children." Liara's lips curved into a smile as she remembered that moment when they stood next to the aquarium in the loft onboard the Normandy. "Starting a family may restore to us our belief and our balance."

A slight frown creased Weia's brow. "You would not have made such a choice lightly," she said, more in warning and reminder that Liara had not reached her matron stage.

"I have considered carefully. I have passed the first phase. I am ready," Liara said with a confidence that she wasn't really feeling.

"Is Shepard fully cognizant of the implications?"

"I...have not discussed it with her."

"Liara," Weia said softly, "there is another matter to consider. You have admitted that your Joinings with your bondmate is not as complete as they once were. Should you consider taking such a step?"

Liara stared at her hands, unhappy with the reminder that the joining merge was no longer as they once were. Maybe it was because April was afraid of imposing her problems on her, maybe she didn't trust herself, especially with the current state of affairs of the galactic community. It was not because April didn't love her. She knew she did. However it was an unspoken barrier between them. She had no idea if April was aware of it. Nevertheless, her bondmate would support the idea of a child, she was sure.

"I am ready, I believe she is too," she firmly.

Weia regarded her silently. "For a successful outcome, you must both be open, receptive. Once you start to deliberately shield from your bondmate, questions, uncertainties, feelings of guilt will arise, reinforcing the barrier. Those feelings will be an additional burden, furthering misunderstandings and doubts. Your effort may ultimately fail. To build the future, to have children, both of you cannot have such an impediment."

Conflicting emotions flitted across Liara's face.

"Shepard is showing signs of improvement. So are you," Weia said softly and persuasively, mentally willing the young Asari to hear what she was saying. "It is better to wait a while longer."

In Weia's analyses, it was better to wait for the TI conflict to be over. In human years, Shepard was still young and would live for many more years. More than enough time to see her heal from the scars of the war and more time for Liara to mature. She had said as much to the young Asari opposite her but inner fears were driving her. Liara was not ready when she herself was not any more stable than Shepard. Would the young one heed her words or would she forge ahead? If she chose the latter, there was nothing she could do to stop her except take steps to make sure she made it through.

Liara closed her eyes, thoughts whirling in her mind. She remained silent for several minutes. Finally she opened her eyes and looked at Weia. "I am ready."