Shepard Stories - Chapter 17: The Squid

Main Characters: Shepard, Liara, Miranda and Alex

It had been a week since Annabelle's tenth birthday party and the Shepard's were on their way to Mayneau Paradise Beach Resort with their families. Mayneau is a massive resort that can accommodate almost any outdoor activity.

Milizkia's hands and face were plastered to the shuttle window as she looked down at the beach resort. She could see activities for miles, a large water park, people riding dune buggies to the other side of the resort, crystal blue water, and white sandy beaches. Pure excitement came out of her mouth "Wow Tev, Lena are you seeing this? This place looks amazing! I'm so glad that you, mom, and dad agreed to this."

Alex wrapped an arm around his daughter as he said, "They have it all kiddo! Anything you want to do while we're here then we'll try to do it. I can guarantee you that you're going to have a blast. We all love it here, it's why we come back every other year."

"Why every other year?" She asked as she looked up at him.

"Oh, because the other time we go to a ski resort. Not as many of us like that one as much, but it's still fun." He replied.

"I've never been to a ski resort. Will we get to go to that one next year?" she asked.

"Of course! You all will be joining us from now on. Well, as long as it's ok with your mom and Tevos. Our family also goes on trips without Uncle Jon's family but they're not as elaborate."

Milizkia smiled as she nodded then looked over at Tevos "Hey Tev, do you think mom will let us continue to go on these trips?"

Tevos smiled at her "Let's see how this one goes first dear, then we can talk to your mom about continuing them. Ok?"

Milizkia's smiled faded as she looked down "Yea… I'm sure she won't let us. We never do anything like this."

"I know Mili, it's just that your mom has a reputation to uphold on Omega. Her job makes it hard to get away, and that's why she agreed to this. If everything goes smoothly, then I'm sure she will continue to agree to these vacations. Ok? We'll give her a call after we get settled in our room."

Milizkia nodded then turned to her dad, "What are we doing today?"

He shrugged "I'm not really sure sweetie. I'll ask Uncle Jon whenever they land. Ok?"

She smiled, "Alright!"

-/

Everyone exited their shuttle and piled into the hotel lobby and talked amongst each other. Shepard looked let out a breath that made his lips flap. He stretched his neck then let out a loud whistle. When the majority of the people stopped talking "Listen up." He said loudly then pointed to the special hotel band on his wrist "Everyone needs to make sure they get an all-access band. These are a new thing the hotel is testing out with us. These will get you into your room, use these for your meals and any activity you wish to do." He pointed to a few of the hotel employees then said "These people here will give you your band." He looked over at Liara as she tapped at her omni tool said "Liara, will send you your hotel room info shortly."

Once everyone had their band on Shepard made another announcement "Now, that ever one has their band. Let's get to our rooms and unpack. It's still early enough if you all want to hit the beach. That's what Liara and the girls want to do. If you would like to join us, then we can meet here in the lobby at 1400 hours. If you want to do your own thing then, by all means, do so. If you're not joining us, then let's plan to meet for dinner at 1900 hours."

-/

Once they were in their room, Shepard looked over at his girls and said, "Ok girls front and center. Let's cover groups." He pointed to his two eldest "Anna and Bene, you two are a group and are sharing the same room as always. I don't know how you two feel about Mil…"

"Oh oh she's cool dad." Said Anna

Benezia nodded "Yea. Can she come stay with us in here or does she have to stay with Tev?"

Shepard looked at his wife for a moment and waited for a nod then turned back to his girls "Well, that's what I was about to ask. We'll get with Alex and Tevos on that because we're not sure how their handling that situation." He then looked over at his next youngest Gwyn "Gwynne the same goes with Lena. We'll get Tevos on that ok."

Gwyn nodded then said "O-ok. Wh-what about Ma-Madi and St-Steph?"

"Right. As always that's your group. If you want them to come here or you go with them, just let us know. Until then just stay with your older sisters."

Gwyn smiled then nodded "O-ok."

Shepard bent down and poked his youngest daughter's belly as he said "Ry, you're going to hang out with me and mommy. That, ok?"

She giggled as she grabbed her belly then nodded. "Yea."

As Shepard stood, he said "Ok, ladies get unpacked and get your swimsuits on."

The girls ran to their rooms as they yelled, "Yay! The beach!"

Shepard looked over at his lovely wife that was leaning on the door frame of their room. Liara smiled and curled her finger at him to come over. A devilish smile crept across his face. He looked down at his youngest daughter then at his right-hand commando Kirre. "Kay, umm can you help Riley with her suit?"

Kirre nodded as she replied "Of course, Shepard."

"Thank you." He said then walked over to Liara and when he reached her, he kissed her lips. "Mmm, how many times am I going to get you alone to myself while we're here?"

Liara pulled him through the door and as it closed "Mmm several times I hope so. I look forward to these vacations. Usually, the kids tire themselves out so bad that they pass out when they get back to their rooms."

He kissed down her neck. "Mmhmm we're normally tired too, but I always have reserves for you, my sexy blue goddess."

"Mmm, you better." She said then pulled away gently. "I have something for you."

Shepard smiled as he looked at his wife "Oh yea?"

Liara smiled as she pulled her tank top off then erotically slid her shorts off to reveal black sexy lace lingerie. Then dragged a finger down her lip and into the valley of her breasts, she looked at her lover. "Do you want some?"

Shepard locked the door then eagerly walked up to her as he shed his clothes quickly. They kissed each other hungrily as he shimmered his hands over her erogenous zones and caressed them. "mmmm Daddy likes." He said.

As he lifted her, she wrapped her legs around him, and quickly said "Did you lock the door?"

Shepard kissed down her neck as he carried her to the bathroom then said "Yes."

She moaned softly "Good, take me to the bathroom."

The moment Liara's ass touched the counter Shepard trusted himself into her. She rocked her hips into him to meet his trust. She was gripping on to her lover just as he was gripping on to her legs, thrusting himself into her.

There was a banging at their bedroom door "Mommy…mommy."

Breathing heavily and moaning quietly, Liara was barely able to yell out to her children in the other room, "I'll be out...in a minute!" She leaned her head back as she let out long breathless moans then murmured. "Yessss… Goddess…mmm" Liara braced herself on the counter and arched her back as her husband was plunging himself into her wetness that clamped on to him with every chance she could get.

She closed her eyes as her body prepped for what she was about to do next and that was scent marking. It was something asari could do to their bondmate to deter other asari. When her body was ready brought one hand up to the base of her neck then ran her fingers up the middle of her neck and into the crevice to her fringe. When she brought her fingers down, she ran them down her lover's neck, across his shoulders, and down his back.

When she finished scent marking him, she buried her face into his neck to muffle her moans as the fierce pounding of her husband's hard penis into her wetness was sending her body overboard. She leaned herself back into the mirror, bit down on her lip to prevent from moaning loudly and could feel herself about to erupt.

Shepard looked down as he watched himself move in and out of her then watched her tits bounce around as he continued to thrust into her. Breathing heavily, he growled out, "Mmm…your pussy feels so damn good." He wrapped an arm around her and braced himself with the other as he pulled her in closer.

Liara gripped on to him as her eyes blacken over and their breaths rapidly accelerated into an orgasm. Her body convulsed as waves of ecstasy rippled through her body. When the pleasure wave came to an end, she held on to her husband's body with one hand and braced herself on the counter with the other when he slumped into her. She kissed his neck "Mmm I love you."

-/

Benezia and Anna were waiting impatiently out in the living room. Benezia grunted "What's taking them so long? A minute was like forever ago."

Kirre scratched the back of her neck. "Umm, I'm sure they're just changing Bene. It shouldn't be too much longer."

The master bedroom door swooshed open; the girls saw their dad walk out in his black knee-length swim trunks that had blue fabric accents. He was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with black piping and a small left chest logo. "Ok, ladies who's ready for the beach?"

The girls ran around in a circle as they chanted "We are! We are!"

"Ok, I see everyone has a beach towel." He said then called out to his wife, "Hey babe, we're going to head down to the lobby. I'm taking Kirre, Zenulo, and Lindanux with me. I'm also taking the snack bag and cooler. Grab the sunscreen and whatever else you think we need!"

Liara called out from the bedroom "Ok honey, I'll see you down there in a few I'm almost done here." After a few minutes, Liara walked out in her new teal two-piece swimsuit and a sheer tunic swimsuit cover. The top of her suit had two triangular fabric pieces that covered her nipples and thin braided strips that connected them together and the other straps clipped at back of her neck and behind her back. Her bottom piece just barely covered her private and most of her rear. Her sheer tunic had loose three-quarter sleeves that stopped just near her elbow. The body had a peacock feather graphic along the edges of the fabric that extended just below her rear. The tunic fabric was cinched together at the bottom valley of her breasts in a tied bow.

Shandri shook her head slightly as she smiled. "Lia, Shepard is going to love you in that swimsuit. It is absolutely stunning against your body." She laughed softly, "I also noticed you marked him with your scent already."

Liara giggled as she posed for her friend, "I saw this in the store the other day and absolutely loved it! You're damn right… "

She was interrupted by one of her newer young commandos, Sanava "Why do you do that? And how come you never mark him at home?"

Liara's smile faded as she turned to Sanava with pinched brow markings and snarled, "What did you just say to me?"

The moment Liara finished her right-hand commando Shandri glared at Sanava and snapped "How dare you!"

Liara raised her hand as she looked at Sanava with glaring eyes and spoke in a scorching tone. "Sanava, your job is to protect me and my family. That is your job! It is NOT to question what I say or do within this household. It is definitely, none of your DAMN business what I do to my bondmate! I should NOT have to worry about marking my bondmate in my own home! The purpose of doing it here is because he tends to be a gravitational pull for women. It deters the majority of ignorant asari on this resort, and unfortunately, humans don't sense it. This has nothing to do with me not trusting him, but it gives me less bullshit I have to deal with!" She took a breath then continued. "Now, I consider all of you part of my family, some of you are my friends, and a select few of you are my very close friends. I hope that my bondmate will NEVER be a problem. Am I understood!?"

Sanava lowered her head as she shallowed hard then softly said "Yes, Mistress."

(Are you ok? What just happened?) asked Shepard via their mind link.

(I'm fine. Just a discussion I had to have with Sanava. We're about to leave.)

As Liara turned to walk toward the door Shandri called out to her, "Mistress, you forgot your sunglasses. Why don't you check the bedroom? I'll check in here."

"Oh, thank you for reminding me that sun is going to be brutal." She said then walked toward the bedroom.

As soon as Liara walked through her bedroom door, Shandri turned toward Sanava "Don't you ever do that again. You never question the Lady of the House or your General. Liara and I are friends, and we have a playful banter. I have earned that right, you have not!" She curled her lip then continued "I've seen how you look at him, if I can see it, then she sure as hell can see it. You will learn quickly that our Mistress can be very possessive of her bondmate, and you will NEVER sexually look upon him in their presence. I don't care if he walks through this room naked or if they're having sex on that couch. You will go on about your way as if no one is there. If you have sexual thoughts about your General, then you will keep them to yourself, and I highly recommend that you NEVER act on them. The love that they have for each other runs very deep, they have NO secrets, and she knows all. If you DO decide to do something as ignorant as propositioning your General. I will guarantee you that our Mistress will act violently, and you will lose. She may be half your age, but she can be vicious and is an extremely powerful biotic. This will be your only warning. Do you understand?"

Sanava looked down as she replied "Yes, Captain!"

-/

Liara squinted her eyes as she exited the hotel then quickly put on her sunglasses. "Goddess…"

Shepard chuckled as she put on his own shades "Yes, it's bright all right. You grabbed the sunscreen."

Liara nodded as she lifted it from her bag "Oh yea. Got it right here."

"Good because we're going to need it." He said as they walked toward the beach. As they approached the beach he stood there and searched for a large spot for his entire family. When he saw a spot, he pointed then said, "We should all fit over there."

Liara nodded as she stepped on to the beach. When her feet sunk into the sand it was warm to the touch "Woo, the sand is warm but not scorching."

"Good, I hate when it's too hot and your feet are on fire. Even with sandals you can't escape it." Replied Miranda.

When they made it to their location Shepard placed the cooler on the ground and said "Ok, everyone let's unload right here." He looked at the men in the group and said "Let's go grab whatever chairs, loungers and umbrellas we can find. Ladies, we shall be back." Said Shepard.

After a few minutes, they returned with minimal items tucked under their arms "Well, we only found these umbrellas and these folding beach chairs… that have no legs. Maybe we'll have better luck another day." Said Shepard

Liara nodded as she laid out a large blanket then said "It'll have to do." When she saw her older kids running toward the beach she yelled "Anna, Nez get back here and get your sunscreen on!"

They both grumbled then turned around to head back.

When they returned, she sprayed them down then out of the corner of her eye she watched her bondmate take his shirt off. Her eyes flashed when she saw his back. (Babe, come here and sit in front of me for a minute)

Miranda's head slowly turned to Liara with wide eyes after she saw the light red marks on Shepard's back. "Bloody hell, Lia! Already?"

She closed her eyes at her words then glanced over at her kids as they were now out of ear range "Yes, Miri right before we came down. I thought they'd be cleared up by now. It's hard not to make those marks when he's pounding the hell out of you on the bathroom counter."

Surprised at her friend's response, Miranda just laughed "Seriously? Wow…"

She snickered, "Well, then don't ask me about it."

Liara looked up when a shadow was blocking her sun. She smiled at her bondmate then pat the ground in front of her. "Come sit."

He looked at her with a cocked brow then turned and sat (What's wrong?)

Liara rubbed his back as she applied sunscreen to try and mask the marks on his back. (Goddess, I thought the gripping finger marks I put on you earlier would be cleared up by now.)

He chuckled then said. "Damn babe. Mmm but that does feel good."

Liara looked up when another shadow was blocking her sun and saw Alex standing there. He smiled at her then said "Ohh what's going on over here? I want one next." Then sat near his brother and Miranda.

Jon playfully pushed his brother away, "Get out of here."

Alex looked at Liara with his eyebrows raised "Holy Shit Liara! Can you wear anything less revealing?"

Miranda elbowed him hard in his side. "You're such an ass!"

Alex grabbed his side. "Babe! Look at what she's wearing; it's practically nothing. Your two piece has full fabric that covers your tits. She has a tiny piece of fabric that covers her nipples only."

Miranda glared at her husband. "Will you just shut up!"

Shepard smiled when his youngest came barreling toward him then grabbed his hand and tugged at it "Daddy… daddy… I wanna go swim."

"Ok, just a minute sweetie. Mommy is almost done." Said Shepard

She jumped up and down as she said "Daddy…Daddy… water… daddy pwease."

Liara smiled then kissed his back. "All done love."

"Thank you, babe." He said then turned to kiss her. "Mmmm, you are absolutely gorgeous. I love that swimsuit on you."

She smiled, then purred in his ear. "Just for you baby."

He kissed her one more time then stood up. "Alright babe, spray me down." After his wife sprayed the rest of his body with sunscreen, he ran after his youngest daughter. "Come on, Riley, it's water time!" He said then picked her up, and she squealed as he tossed her in the air. "You coming, Lia?"

"In a minute babe, I want to talk to Miri then I'll be out." She watched her bondmate toss her daughter up in the air again as he walked to the water.

Miranda smiled as she relaxed on her towel and watched her husband walk toward the beach with a few of the kids. She turned toward her friend then said, "I swear I don't see how you do it all."

Liara sat back down then leaned on her blanket "Well the commandos help when we're in a bind here and there."

Miranda rolled her eyes as she laughed. "Lia, we've only been here an hour is what I mean."

"I know Miri, one of the commandos were watching the kids as we were having sex in the bathroom. As you know, I scent mark Jon when we go on these vacations to deter other Asari. The only way to do that is to be having sex." Said Liara

Miranda grunted, "I wish I could do that to Alex. Why do our husbands have to look so damn sexy?"

Liara let out a small chuckle, "That's what they say about us."

Miranda smirked at her friend. "Well Lia, when you strut your stuff across the lobby it tends to turn heads." She said then nudged Liara softly, "Ugh, I hate when you wear gorgeous shit like that it makes Alex all ass-holish."

She giggled, "I know you do, but Jon loves it when I wear stuff like this. Besides, I love how it makes me look and feel."

Miranda nodded, "I know, I'm right there with you and you know I have similar outfits. It's just, he gets all jealous of his brother because for a split second you're wearing a more gorgeous outfit than I am."

Liara laughed. "Maybe we should sync up outfits. Goddess Miri, if you think this is bad, you're going to hate me when we all go on our date night out dancing."

Miranda smiled as she rolled her eyes. "Oh no, you don't. I have you out beat this year, Lia!"

As they talked Miranda's sister Oriana and Shepard's sister Kathleen walked up to them, "Hello Ladies! What are we talking about?" asked Oriana

Miranda placed her hand over her brow to block the sun as she looked up "Hey, hey! Oh, I'm giving Lia here the third degree about her ridiculously sexy outfits."

Oriana let out a huff "Pffft Randa, you're not any better!"

Kathleen gave a quick swoosh of her hand "All of you, just suck!" She said then jiggled her small belly fat roll with her hands. "Look at this, I'm still trying to get rid of my baby fat."

They all laugh the Liara said "Whatever! You barely have any fat on you."

Hannah walked up behind her daughter, slapped her ass, as she said, "Oh, please, Katie! Will you get your fat ass out of my way."

Kathleen's mouth dropped open as the others laughed. Then slowly turned and replied to her mother in a sarcastic tone, " Well, I love you too, mom."

Hannah smiled then gave a kiss to the air toward her. She turned to Liara then said "Oh Liara, what is this I hear from your father of you scent marking my son?"

They all looked over at Liara as she lowered her head and covered her face with her hands. "Oh, by the goddess dad."

They pause for a moment, then all start laughing.

Katie plopped down on a towel as she said "She's messing with you, Lia. We all know you do it every time we go on these outings."

Liara grunted "Goddess, that's even worse. I should know better because you all are a deterrence anyway.

They all laugh as some replied "Yea, No, kidding."

"It won't matter what you do because some species are just plain stupid." Replied Hannd then nodded her head toward a group of men "Like these men that have probably been ogling you for a while."

Oriana looked over as she said "Where?"

Miranda quickly slapped at her sister as she said "Bloody hell Ori, don't look!" then grunted when the men began to walk their way.

Four young men walked up to them, and one stood in front of the rest. He smiled then looked at Miranda as he said "Hello, there sexy. You are the probably the sexy women I've ever seen."

Miranda looked at him with an arched brow "That's very flattering, but I'm not interested. Thank you."

He jerked his head back slightly then said, "You're not interested?"

Miranda shooed him with her hand as she said "Nope, I'm married. We all are so you can move along."

Liara nodded then said, "That's correct we are not interested, and we all have husbands that are right over there with our children."

The leader of the group angrily kicked a chunk of sand at Liara and snarled, "I wasn't talking you. You fucking ugly squid bitch!"

Liara gasped then wiped the sand off her as the other ladies stood defensively. While her commandos quickly stood between her and the young men.

Miranda jolted from her towel and stood before him as she fumed, "What the hell did you just say?"

He pushed her back as he snapped "Bitch, sit the fuck down!"

Shandri quickly moved between them "I suggest you all leave, now!" she demanded.

The man looked at Miranda for a moment then turned toward Shandri, and spit in her face "Fuck you! Why don't you leave you fucking squid!"

Shandri flared her nostrils as the spit slid down her face. She clenched a fist while the other hand wiped the spit away.

Miranda curled her lip as she stepped toward them.

Liara tried to calm her family and friends around her "Ladies, Miri…" then quickly looked toward Shandri and calmly said "Both of you take a breath." Then looked at her other commandos, "Please step aside." When they didn't move, she firmly said "I said step aside!" When Liara emerged from behind her commandos she said in calm tone toward the group of men. "You're not welcome here and I highly suggest you leave before this escalates any further or before our husbands arrive."

Hannah glanced toward the water to see her two sons running up the beach. "Young man, you are about to be in a world of hurt."

Their leader stood there unafraid of the women before him and laughed "Oh, is this some sort of scare tactic?" He trembled his hands as he said "I'm shaking in my skin from a bunch of women."

As Shepard arrived on scene a smile crept across Liara's face "Young man, let me introduce you to my husband, Jonathan Shepard an Ex-Commander in the Alliance Navy, a War Hero, The Hero of the Citadel, an N7 graduate, a military advisor and a member of the Special Reconnaissance and Tactical Unit."

The young man turned to see two six foot tall, very chiseled, and angry men staring back at him. The leader was a bit nervous at the two men standing in front of him. "You don't look like no Commander Shepard to me. You look like a pussy ass bitch with that long fucking hair!"

Shepard let out a laugh then looked at his brother and said "He called me a pussy ass bitch." Then looked at his brother's shoulder length hair then pointed to him as he said "That makes you a pussy ass bitch."

Alex flipped his hands as he shrugged slightly "Guess we pussy ass bitches, bro." Then swiftly turned and decked the young man in his mouth. He looked down at the young man grabbing the side of his face "How was that for a pussy ass bitch? Bitch!"

The young man quickly scrambled to his feet and raised his fists. Alex looked at him and smiled then quickly slapped him hard to the ground "Stay the fuck down." He said then knelt down in the sand as he bared his teeth "Did you put your hands on my wife?" he snarled.

He shrugged as he said "Maybe. Who's your wife?"

Alex rolled his shoulder then back handed him then wrapped his hand around his neck as he snarled "Get up!" He held him in front of Miranda then yelled "Did you put your fucking hands on my wife?"

The young man nodded "Yea. I did."

He squeezed the young man's neck as he looked at him then turned when his wife softly said "Babe…" He took a deep breath then quietly said "If all these people weren't here you be a fucking dead man." Then released him and pushed him toward his brother.

Shepard looked at the young man and said "What's your name?"

"Umm Derrick." Replied the young man.

"Ahh… Derrick. You're a dumb ass, aren't you? Walking into a situation such as this and NOT knowing who you're dealing with and making threats."

"Pffftt… what were they going to do. They're nothing without you two." Replied Derrick

Shepard let out a hardy laugh as did Alex. Alex shook his head as he said "Wow, you're fucking dumb."

Shepard shook his head then said, "These lovely ladies don't need our help, they could have crushed your body into a liquified pile of goo and your friends over there, would have had to take your dumb ass home in a souvenir cup." He looked over at his friends then back at the young man. "I believe you owe them an apology."

"Pffftt. I'm not apologizing to anybody."

Shepard sucked his teeth "Ya know, unlike my brother here I normally don't like to use violence in these types of situations. Not really my thing but my brother loves it." He said as he looked over at his brother then continued "Right bro?"

Alex began to laugh wickedly then jerked his head as he said "Oh yea, I love it." Then laughed some more as he began to twitch "Love it!"

"See what I mean." Said Shepard then twirled his finger by his head "He's crazy." He let out a long breath "What were we talking about?" he said then snapped his fingers "Oh yea. Apology."

Derrick glanced over at Alex then back at Shepard as he mumbled "I'm sorry."

Shepard leaned into the young man as he said "I didn't hear that."

"I'm not apologizing to these fucking women." Replied Derrick

Shepard quickly grabbed the back of his neck "Oh, yes you are!" he snarled then brought him over to his wife "I want you to apologize to my lovely wife. If you don't, I've going to snap your fucking neck."

The young man quivering as he said, "I'm so sorry, Sir."

"Don't apologize to me you piece of shit. You apologize to my wife." Snapped Shepard

Derrick looked at Liara for a moment then said "I'm sorry ma'am. That was a very ugly thing to say. I am so sorry."

Shepard released the back of his neck then clamped his hand down on his shoulder and squeezed hard as he said "You bow when you're in the presence of royalty. Now try it again, this time use Lady Liara and with more oomph."

Then young man winced as he knelt down "Yes sir!" The young man bowed at Liara. "I apologize for my inexcusable ignorant behavior, Lady Liara."

Shepard smiled at his wife who nodded at him. "Good that was better." He said then pulled him by his neck over to Shandri. "Now, apologize to my friend here."

Derrick whimpered as he said "I am sorry that I spit in your face."

Shepard jerked the young man around one last time. "Now, apologize to all my family here for your rude behavior and for interrupting our vacation."

Derrick looked at everyone as tears streamed down his face. "I am very sorry for my extremely rude behavior, and I'm sorry we interrupted your vacation."

Shepard squeezed his neck harder as he brought him back to his wife. "Again, say it again. This time ask for forgiveness then thank her for sparing your life. I want everyone here to hear you."

Before Derrick could speak Shepard pushed him into a bow. "I told you to bow when you speak to her. Actually, you know what? I want you to grovel at her feet as you apologize." Shepard released his neck and waited.

The young man looked around with tears in his eyes to see them all looking at him. He dropped down and groveled at Liara's feet. "Lady Liara, I'm truly sorry for my actions. Please forgive me and thank you so much for your very kind generosity."

Liara looked at Shepard then at Derrick. With her lips clamped together and an eyebrow marking arched, she nodded in approval.

"That's your cue Derrick, and I hope you learned a lesson. Now get out of here before we all change our minds."

Before he could take off. Alex said "Woah woah woah. You apologize to them for your foul mouth, but you don't apologize to my wife?"

Derrick looked at Alex and said "I just did."

Alex's hand ignited blue as he gripped Derrick's face and turned it toward Miranda "Let me break his face, babe. Can I?" He looked at his wife as he slurped on his spit for a moment then said "Let me do IT!" then laughed with a hissing sound

Miranda clamped her lips for a moment to suppress her laughter then said "Not today baby. Maybe another day."

Alex quickly turned to Derrick and said "SHE SAID YES!" then laughed again.

"No no no. She said another day!" stammered Derrick.

"Are you sure? I heard her say Yes do it!" replied Alex

Derrick shook his head then turned to Miranda and said "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for pushing you."

Alex smiled then released Derrick "Run away!"

As Derrick ran away Alex ferociously started barking. When all the young men ran away, he turned and started laughing as he walked over to his wife.

Miranda laughed then wrapped her arms around him "You are a clown." She said then kissed him.

Shepard laughed at his brother then took Liara by the hand. "Come with me. I want to talk to you for a minute." He walked her over to the side and said. "Look at me."

Liara removed her sunglasses and looked at him with sad eyes. "Yes?"

"I know he hurt you babe and I'm sorry I wasn't there to prevent it."

She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his chest. "It was just a stupid, hateful word. Everyone here stood up for me, and I love them all for it."

He pulled her in close and kissed her crest. "There will always be stupid people like that in the galaxy, and I'm truly sorry that it happened to you. I hope it never happens to our children." After a moment, she giggled and said. "You bow when you're in the presence of royalty?"

He chuckled. "I knew you would like that."

Liara smiled at him. "I did. Thank you, I love you." She took a deep breath then said. "I'll be fine honey."

He squeezed her softly. "I love you too. Are you sure you're, ok?"

"Yes, now let's get back to our vacation. I refuse to let people like that ruin it."

When they get back over to their group. Everyone asked Liara if she was ok. She smiled at them all. "Yes, thank you. I appreciated what everyone did for me back there. I love you all."