The soft luminescence of the Citadel's skyline filtered through the expansive windows of the apartment casting a warm glow over the sleek furnishings. Though the apartment belonged to David Anderson, Shepard has added personal touches here and there, making it feel somewhat more of a home rather than a simple retreat. A traditional krogan war crest of Clan Urdnot hung on the wall above the fireplace, a symbol of the respect he'd earned from Wrex and other krogan; a small technical puzzle sat on the mantle, a gift from Tali during their time battling the Collectors, and something to keep his mind busy in troubling times. A handwritten letter from Miranda sat opened on the coffee table, read and re-read a number of times. Though simple, Miranda's heartfelt, handwritten letter expressed things she found difficult to say aloud. Thoughtful and carefully written, detailing how much Shepard's presence in her life has changed her outlook and made her reconsider her path.

There were items and gifts from Liara too, reflecting the space they often shared and harmonized. In the bedroom, a personalized holo-recording held memories they'd shared together. Liara was someone who held onto memories tightly, particularly those involving him. It served as both a sentimental keepsake and a way to preserve their moments, knowing the uncertainty of their future with the Reaper war. On the nightstand, a hardcover book written in the asari language 'Echoes of Lost Worlds', the cover faded, the pages well worn. A gift from her mother early in her life, a classic asari science fiction novel written centuries ago told of the journey of an alien archaeologist who travels the galaxy, studying the ruins of extinct civilizations. As she uncovers remnants of lost worlds, she begins to question her own identity and the meaning of existence in a universe that is constantly evolving. She'd been reading it to Shepard whenever they could find the time.

As he stepped out of the bedroom stretching his limbs, a faint, hesitant melody coming from the grand ebony piano caught his attention.

He followed the sound to the living room where the piano stood. He'd always wondered how and why Anderson had learned to play the piano, and now it would seem another key figure in his life held the same, endearing secret. Seated at the piano was Liara, her back to him, fingers delicately pressing the keys in a simple, melancholic, yet serene tune. Her posture was relaxed yet focused, the soft blue of her skin contrasting beautifully with the piano's polished ebony surface.

A smile tugged at the corners of Shepard's mouth. "I didn't know you could play," he said softly, not wanting to startle her.

Liara turned her head slightly, a gentle smile appearing as she recognized his voice. "Oh, Shepard. I don't, really," she replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I learned a few notes once, on a dig. We were trapped in a storm, and one of the other archaeologists had a keyboard. She taught me to pass the time."

"All this time, and you're just now telling me?"

She shrugged lightly, turning her gaze back to the keys. "Life got in the way. There were always ruins to uncover, Commanders to save." The playful lilt in her voice made his heart swell.

He leaned against the piano, watching her hands as she began to play the simple melody again. "Could you teach me?" he asked.

Liara looked up, surprised. "You want me to teach you piano?"

"Could be fun," he said with a casual shrug, wrinkles forming around his eyes. "Unless you'd like me to go back to sorting through reports."

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But I'm not much of a teacher."

Shepard slid onto the bench beside her to her left, their shoulders brushing lightly. The proximity was comforting, though he could feel her tension. "I'll bet you could make a prodigy outta me."

"Prodigies are typically children," she smirked.

He nudged her with his shoulder, "And by asari standards I'm a child, so…"

"Very well," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. She placed her fingers on the keys, indicating for him to watch. "This is middle C," she explained, pressing down to produce the clear, resonant note. "It's the center point of the piano."

She gently took his right hand, guiding his index finger to the same key. "Go ahead, try it."

He pressed the key, the note sounding slightly louder under his less delicate touch. Liara laughed softly. "A bit lighter. It's a piano, not a krogan."

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Force of habit."

She nodded understandingly, playfully pushing back against his shoulder. "Now, place your thumb on middle C, and your other fingers on the next keys—like this." She positioned his fingers on C, D, E, F, and G. Her touch was cool and soft, sending a pleasant tingle up his arm.

"These are the notes for a basic C major scale," she continued. "Let's try playing them in order."

She demonstrated first, her fingers moving gracefully across the keys, the notes flowing smoothly. Shepard mimicked her movements, but his fingers stumbled, producing a discordant sound.

Liara smiled encouragingly. "Not bad for a first try. Here, let me help." She placed her hand over his, guiding his fingers with gentle pressure. Together, they moved through the scale, the notes sounding more harmonious.

"See? You're getting it," she said.

"Only because you're doing most of the work," he replied with a grin.

She laughed softly, then narrowed her eyes at him. "Maybe just a little. But you've always been good with your hands."

That caused a reaction from him, "Careful, doctor. Wouldn't want an inappropriate teacher/student relationship, would we?"

"We certainly would not," Liara replied, adjusting her posture, encouraging Shepard to do the same. "Sit up straight," she advised gently. "It helps with hand movement."

He complied, mimicking her elegant posture. "Like this?"

"Perfect," she affirmed. "Now, let's revisit the C major scale. Place your right thumb on middle C." She guided his thumb to the key. "Your index finger on D, middle finger on E, ring finger on F, and little finger on G."

Shepard looked down at his fingers, trying to relax his hand. "Feels a bit awkward."

"That's normal at first," she reassured him. "Now, press each key in sequence, smoothly transitioning from one finger to the next."

He began to play, the notes ascending in order. The transitions were a bit choppy, but the melody was recognizable.

"Good," Liara encouraged. "Now, let's try descending—go back from G to C."

He attempted the reverse, his fingers stumbling slightly over the keys.

Liara smiled. "You're doing well. Remember to keep your fingers curved slightly, like this." She demonstrated, her fingers arched gracefully over the keys.

He adjusted his hand accordingly. "Better?"

"Much. It allows for more fluid movement." She placed her hand over his again. "Let's try playing together. Follow my lead."

They started the scale once more, their hands moving in unison. The harmony of their notes blended seamlessly, creating a soothing sound.

"Now, let's add the left hand," she suggested. "Place your left pinky on the lower C, and align your fingers accordingly."

He positioned his left hand as instructed. "This is starting to feel like a workout," he joked.

Liara giggled at the ridiculousness of it. "It gets easier with practice. Let's play both hands together—slowly."

They moved through the scale, Liara's hands guiding his when needed. The coordination required made Shepard concentrate intensely, his brows furrowed in focus.

"You're a natural multitasker," she observed playfully.

"Years of practice," he replied with a wink.

They continued for a while, the music becoming more fluid as Shepard grew more comfortable. Liara introduced a simple melody, demonstrating first.

"Watch my hands," she instructed. "The right hand plays the melody, and the left provides harmony."

She played slowly, each note clear and deliberate. Shepard watched intently, noting the way her fingers moved with precision and grace.

"Your turn," she said, gesturing for him to try.

He took a deep breath and began to play. His rendition was hesitant, with a few missteps, but the tune was recognizable.

"Very good," Liara praised. "You're picking it up quickly."

He smiled modestly. "I have a good teacher."

She glanced at him, a softness in her eyes. "Thank you."

They continued practicing, Liara patiently guiding him through simple melodies. As they played, their hands occasionally brushed against each other, each touch lingering slightly longer than necessary. The warmth between them grew, an unspoken connection strengthening with each shared note.

"Let's try a simple song," Liara suggested. "The only one I know." She began to play a melody, her fingers moving slowly to allow him to follow along.

"Relax," she said softly. "You're too tense."

He exhaled, shaking out his shoulders. "This is tough stuff, T'Soni."

"It's just us here," she reminded him gently. "No pressure."

He nodded, and they started again. This time, he allowed himself to enjoy the process—the feel of the keys beneath his fingers, the closeness of Liara beside him. The melody flowed more smoothly, their movements more in sync.

"There you go," she praised. "Much better."

As they reached the end of the song, Shepard deliberately hit a wrong note, causing a jarring sound. Liara raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. "Sabotaging our duet, are we?"

He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest causing her to shift slightly. "Just keeping things interesting."

"Music is as much about feeling as it is about technique," she explained. "Let yourself become part of the melody."

He looked at her thoughtfully. "Is that how you play?"

She nodded. "I try to. But I'm not very skilled, either."

He considered her words, then attempted the melody again, this time allowing himself to relax. The notes flowed more smoothly, the transitions cleaner.

Liara began to play another simple melody, and Shepard joined in, their hands moving together across the keys.

As they played, Liara spoke softly. "You know, on that dig where I learned this, we were studying ancient artifacts. The storm outside was fierce, and we were trapped for days."

She hesitated, her fingers pausing on the keys as she continued, "It was a remote excavation site in the Attican Traverse. We had uncovered what we believed to be a Prothean communication device. The structure was almost completely buried, and we only managed to unearth a fragment of it before the storm hit."

Liara's gaze softened as she reminisced. "It was fascinating—lines of glyphs I'd never seen before, detailing what seemed like a network of Prothean colonies, all connected through this device. But then the storm came, and we had to stop everything. I just wanted to get back out and continue the work. I was so restless. Goddess, I was so young. " She smiled faintly, fingers gently tapping out another note.

"Another archeologist, Dr. Olena, taught me these few notes on an old portable keyboard she'd brought."

"It's a good song," he commented.

"It is," she agreed. "In that time, I discovered that the unexpected moments—the ones where everything else stops—can be the most meaningful."

He glanced at her. "Like now?"

She met his gaze. "Yes. Like now."

They finished the song, the final notes lingering in the air. Shepard turned toward her. "I'm glad you shared this with me."

"Me too," she replied. "Thank you for convincing me."

He placed his hand over hers on the keys. "Anytime."

"Well, we've reached the limits of my teaching abilities."

At that moment, Glyph floated into the room. "Pardon me, Dr. T'Soni, Commander Shepard. If I may, I can provide a more comprehensive tutorial on piano playing."

Liara smiled. "Thank you, Glyph, but I think we've had enough for now."

Glyph hovered closer. "Would you like me to play the piece you were attempting? It is quite lovely when performed correctly."

Before they could respond, Glyph began playing the melody, the notes emanating from his speakers with flawless precision. The music filled the room, rich and full.

Shepard sighed dramatically. "Show-off."

Liara laughed, a light, joyful sound that warmed his heart. "Well, I suppose that's that."

She moved to stand up. "I should get back to work. There's still so much to analyze."

Shepard gently caught her hand. "Wait." His eyes met hers, a hint of vulnerability in his gaze. "Dance with me."

She blinked, surprised. "Dance? I keep telling you, you can't dance."

"But I can sway," He nodded toward the open space in the living area. "We've got music. And I promise not to step on your toes too much. And I really don't want to go back to those reports. I'd much rather stay here with you."

Liara hesitated finding it difficult to say no to those soft brown eyes, then smiled softly. "Alright. But only because you asked nicely."

He stood, still holding her hand, and led her to the center of the room. The gentle melody continued to play, providing the perfect backdrop. Shepard placed one hand on her waist, the other still holding hers. Liara rested her free hand on his shoulder.

They began to sway slowly, moving in time with the music. In these moments, Shepard strained his memory to hold onto every detail about her. Her body, usually poised with the tension of constant readiness, felt soft against him, though there was still a faint tautness in her muscles—like a coil that couldn't completely unwind.

Her grip was gentle but secure, her fingers curling around his hand with quiet confidence. There was no hesitation in the way she held him, knowing she was safe with him.

The subtle scent of her filled the air around him, a faint, sweet blend of something natural and calming, like wild flowers after a rain, mingled with the clean, crisp scent of her clothing. It was delicate, soothing, and unmistakably her.

As they swayed together, he noticed how her breathing gradually slowed, the tension in her frame beginning to melt away. At first, she had been stiff, her mind clearly still half-occupied with the weight of their responsibilities, but slowly, the rhythm of their bodies moving together had drawn her into the moment. Her body began to relax against his, molding to him like a gentle wave meeting the shore.

Her head rested lightly on his shoulder, and Shepard could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of their clothes. For a fleeting moment, they were just two people, swaying in each other's arms.

"This is nice," she murmured.

"Yeah," he agreed softly. "We should do this more often."

She glanced up at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of contentment and something deeper. "After the war," she said quietly.

"Every day after," he said with conviction.

She looked away briefly, a shadow passing over her features. "Shepard..."

He squeezed her hand gently. "Hey. We'll get through this."

She nodded slowly. "I want to believe that."

He lifted her chin slightly, so their eyes met again. "Believe it. I need you to."

She searched his face, then offered a small smile, saying nothing because what was there to say.

They continued to dance, the silence between them comfortable. When the song ended, neither of them moved to pull away.

"Liara," he began hesitantly. "No matter what happens, I want you to know—"

She placed a hand on his cheek, silencing him gently. "I know," she said. "And I feel the same."

He covered her hand with his own, lowering it slowly. "We'll make it through this."

She nodded. "I believe you."

He leaned in, their foreheads touching, and after a moment of shared stillness, he tilted his head slightly to kiss her. Soft, tender, and long, the kiss spoke of everything they couldn't put into words—affection, fear, hope, and love, all wrapped into one quiet moment.

They lingered there, their lips brushing in a slow rhythm though the music had faded, savouring the closeness. They remained like that, finding comfort in each other's presence, drawing strength for the battles yet to come.

"Take me to bed?" she asked, her voice quiet yet pleading.

Shepard gently lifted his head, his eyes searching hers, seeing the weariness behind her usually composed exterior. He nodded, his grip on her hand tightening slightly, silently promising he would always be there. "Of course," he whispered, and together they moved toward the bedroom, leaving the weight of the galaxy behind, if only for a little while.