A/N: This short takes place when the team returns to the estate from Ilos … it would take place in Riana's and Traynor's shared quarters.

Alban Eiler - Druid festival of the Spring Equinox, means 'Light of the Earth' (Gaelic)

Amantia - Lover (Thessian)

Breá Ber'ah - Combined form meaning beautiful and strange lover; Breá being a close lover, somewhere between Amantia and Siame (Thessian)

Janiris -Springtime fertility ritual, named for goddess Athame's guide Janiri. Marks the start of the Asari new year; frequently coincides with St Patrick's Day (Thessian; ME Wiki/CDN)

LEAP - League of Earth Alliance Patriots

OSD - Optical Storage Device


Change of Heart

T'Soni Estate, Thessia, Parnitha System – 20 Dec 2191

Riana was seemingly lost in thought, studying the springtime addition to her everyday wear – the Promise Bracelet on her wrist – purchased by her amantia during their time home for the Janiris and Alban Eiler celebrations. The Asari grinned at what the platinum cuff symbolized; Samantha Traynor's solemn promise to love her forever – and to marry her in the manner of her people on her homeworld in the Sol system on some yet-to-be-determined future date.

Sammi wore an identical bracelet on her own wrist, signifying Riana's commitment to the Human, a woman who chose to resign from the Alliance Navy – who chose to leave her career behind in order to be with her. Words were incapable of describing the depth and intensity of her feelings.

As she contemplated the bracelet and its promise for her future with Sammi, she also studied the pair of OSDs she had retrieved from the bottom rear shelf in her wardrobe. They contained copies of old Shadow Broker files she had surreptitiously downloaded in late 2188 – in the aftermath of the Human-planned and executed, conspiracy-driven murders of Prime Minister Reuben Trost and Admiral Steven Hackett. Other than the originals still buried deep within the Shadow Broker archives, these files were very likely the only other copy in existence regarding the murderous history of former Cerberus assassin Maya Brooks.

They were very complete, including everything anyone had discovered regarding Maya's past that had occurred prior to her firing a bullet through the indoctrinated brain of Jack Harper in the Citadel control compartment. After pouring medigel in Shepard's most egregious wounds and then successfully escaping through the Keeper tunnels, she had remained out of sight for a number of months. Riana had later learned that Maya had used that time, quite literally, to erase the entirety of her previous existence.

Immediately following the war, Brooks had dedicated her time to thoroughly deleting every one of her aliases – Maya Brooks, Rasa, Captain Channing, Hope Lilium… and likely a few more no one had ever discovered – from every database in existence, galaxy-wide. Only after that was complete did she create and adopt her current persona of Zoë Lawrence.

At the time, Riana had been fully averse to allowing the permanent loss of the entire record of Maya Brooks' lifetime of criminal acts, even after being told to stand-down by Lady Liara and Captain Shepard. While following that order and taking no direct action against the woman, Riana did download and save these copies from the Broker database… just in case. Now, with control of the Brokerage having been recently transferred to Barla Von – along with the total absence of any hostile activity on the part of 'Zoë Lawrence' and her new organization, Atlas – Riana was trying to decide what to do with the information in her hand. Should I continue to hold onto these OSDs, or shred them?

She stiffened slightly at the faint sound of the entry hatch sliding into its recess; without turning to visually confirm her identity, Riana lovingly acknowledged, "Sammi… I wasn't expecting you."

A pair of warm hands settled on her shoulders beside her neck and gently squeezed, as she brought her head up beside her blue lover's ear. She placed a chaste kiss on a warm temple and replied, "Just wondering what you were doing, Luv." A brief pause, then, "What's on the OSDs?"

The Asari turned her head as Traynor leaned into her a bit more; after thoroughly kissing a succulent pair of lips, she returned her attention to the objects in her hand. With a heavy sigh, she replied, "All the records concerning Maya Brooks, going backwards from her creation of Zoë Lawrence to her beginnings, even before she was the Illusive Man's future number one assassin."

Samantha was intrigued. Considering the subject matter, Riana had replied in an incredibly even tone of voice… virtually emotionless, even… with none of the hateful vehemence she usually employed when speaking of the former Cerberus assassin.

Moving around to stand in front of her, Traynor grasped a pair of muscular upper arms. She frowned, her tone reflecting deep concern as she queried, "Are you still contemplating ending the life of Zoë Lawrence, Ri?"

Riana smiled indulgently at her promised. "As a matter of fact, Sammi, I am not. After a great deal of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that Maya Brooks is no longer alive, having most likely died during her escape attempt from the Citadel, just after killing Jack Harper and pouring medigel into Shepard's open wounds." Heaving another sigh, she continued quietly with, "Goddess! Several times during the Council mandated Victory Tour, Atlas was responsible for helping to prevent LEAP from successfully assassinating my mistress and Captain Shepard! Zoë may be the same Human previously known to us as Maya Brooks, but I have – over time and somewhat reluctantly – come to the conclusion she has changed, Sammi."

Traynor grinned at her amantia. "I am so happy to hear that, my love!" Glancing down at the OSDs in Riana's hand, she returned her gaze to the happy brown eyes regarding her. "So, what are your intentions regarding those disks? Will you continue to hang onto them?"

"I have not decided, Siame." She briefly looked at the OSDs. Returning her gaze to the honey-brown eyes studying her, she explained, "These are copies of records that still exist in the Shadow Broker's data banks; data I imagine would be quickly available to Lady Liara should we ever have need of it again." Riana returned her attention to the devices in her hand as she concluded, "Besides… barring accidents or hostile acts, I have a very long life ahead of me – a portion of which you will accompany me as my loving wife. I believe continuing to hold onto my antipathy of Maya Brooks is a waste of my energy, as well as a thief of my time… time the Goddess has granted me to be with you. So, I suppose, it is time to truly let go of it all… including the disks."

Traynor's happy expression remained as she responded, "And I believe you should listen to your heart, my love. We… you… no longer have any need of the information on those disks. That you are now able to speak of Zoë Lawrence without hatred coloring your voice tells me you have finally accepted her change of heart, as well as her new opinions concerning the worth of alien lives. I am so proud of you, Riana!"

"Do not be too quick with your praise, my love. I still believe she needs to be held accountable for her previous crimes." The commando set the disks on her desk, then reached around Samantha's torso, drawing her into a close embrace as she continued. "But the responsibility for such a task is not mine. Zoë is living on the Human home world, leading a group working on behalf of every race and species in the galaxy. If any action need be taken, it is an Alliance issue, not mine."

Sammi tilted her head slightly and thoroughly kissed her blue lover… her promised. Drawing back to take a breath, she remarked, "And that is how she began redeeming herself in the eyes of your Goddess, as well as Shepard's gods… and my own God. It is a journey I believe began on that day in Athame's Temple… when you were so terribly injured by that Cerberus thug attempting to kill Lady Liara." With their faces so close, Traynor could not resist placing a quick kiss on the tip of Riana's nose. "I love you, my darling… forever."

Riana chuckled with her reply. "I will love you forever as well, Sammi… it's the love we share with each other that has lessened my desire to see that woman pay for the criminal acts committed in her former life. Just as Miranda Lawson came to see the evil being done by the Illusive Man, I firmly believe Maya Brooks came to regret the role she had played in his ascent to power, even if her revelation did come so much later in the war." With a shrug of her shoulders, she added, "Come with me to the communications room. You can witness my destruction of the disks."

Sammi's face held a tremendous smile as she responded, "There is nothing better I would like to do at this moment in time… so long as you promise me that afterward, we celebrate!"

Riana cooed, "What do you have in mind, Breá Ber'ah?"

Sammi giggled mischievously as she grasped a blue hand and left their room. "Oh, I have nothing in mind, my darling. Spontaneity! That's what makes our lovemaking so special!"

Riana rolled her eyes and smirked. "As I recall, you were extremely shy when you first took an interest in me, Sammi. If I didn't know better, I might think you possess a few strands of formerly recessive Asari DNA inside your lovely body."

"You opened my eyes, Ri… you, and living here with all your sisters. The Asari are a lot less inhibited than Humans, particularly regarding their sexuality." Sammi ducked her head for a moment. When she returned her attention to her lover, Riana noticed a face slightly reddened in apparent embarrassment. "I don't think I can completely overcome a shyness that's been part of my psyche my entire life, but when I'm alone with you, all my inhibitions vanish. I think being totally in love with you makes all the difference in how I act… and react… when we're together."

By this time the couple had reached the communications compartment; Sammi waved her activated omnitool through the haptic interface, then entered ahead of Riana once the door disappeared into its recess. Stepping up to the heavy-duty shredder, she stood aside so Riana could insert the OSDs into the machine.

Riana held the disks up, as if contemplating changing her mind. This prompted Traynor to say, "Let go, my darling. You really have no need to keep them any longer, Ri. The Maya Brooks you knew during the Reaper War is well and truly dead. Zoë Lawrence may be the same Human, physically, but she is most definitely a different person inside, where it counts. She turned her life around, just like Miranda Lawson."

Riana smiled at her Breá Ber'ah; she quickly shoved the pair of OSDs into the machine's feed slot. After self-activating and chewing on the disks for a couple of seconds, it fell silent. "It's done, Ri. Come on." Sporting what Riana felt was a truly wicked grin, she added, "I have some things in mind for our celebration."