Fate - Chapter 4 - Duty

Chapter 04 - Duty

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"I found this in the wreckage."

"My dog tags?"

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Shepard adjusted the dress, resisting the urge to return to her cabin and check it yet again.  Normally she didn't wear things like this, but she wanted to be perfect for Liara, so she'd dragged out the dress Kasumi found for her, and put it on for this visit.  They'd just returned to the Shadow Broker's ship after picking up some supplies.  Liara had promised they'd talk, really talk, about the future once they got back, and she was looking forward to it.

"Stop worrying, you look fine,"  Tali nudged her.  The quarian was leading a small team to help repair the damage they'd caused to the ship.

"Sorry, just a bit nervous,"  she smiled slightly.

"I'm just glad you two finally made up,"  Tali replied cheerfully.  "You're so much better when you're not pissed off at everyone."  The quarian laughed softly.  "I mean, we already have Jack for that."

Further conversation was halted as the airlock finished cycling.  She gulped nervously and walked into the Shadow Broker's ship.  Despite what Tali thought, things still weren't back to where they had been.  She hoped they could fix things now that there was no longer the pressure of the rescue mission on them.

She walked down the corridor, giving Tali a brief wave when the quarian peeled off to start her repairs.  The rest she had to do alone.  Knocking on the side of the large office, she cautiously called into the room.  "Liara?"

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"You don't always get back everything you lose."

...

"Sometimes, you get lucky."

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Liara glanced over at Shepard as she showed the other woman around the restored office, giving her a tour of the various databanks and what they contained.  Shepard had listened to her, asked about some of the things she'd found, and had been genuinely supportive of her.  And...

She smiled when she looked down at where their hands were joined.  Even something as simple as this was making it hard for her to keep her mind on everything she had to tell Shepard.  And yet, she wouldn't give up a moment of it.  The gentle warmth of the human's hand threatened to set her whole being on fire.  And made her want even more.

Apparently, she wasn't the only one.  Part of the tour took them by the room Feron had claimed...  "You... must be glad he's doing much better now."

Liara almost laughed at the hesitant, worried tone Shepard had, but she knew why the woman was wondering.  She turned towards the human and took her other hand.  "You don't have to worry.  He knows I'm... ah... how do you say, taken?"

"Ah."  Now she did giggle a bit at the relief in Shepard's reply.  "I've been meaning to ask you, now that the Shadow Broker is dead, what do you intend?"

"Well, there is something that I've been thinking about.  A rather long term project."

"Oh?"  That note of worry returned to Shepard's voice.  "Are you leaving again?"

"There would be some travel involved."  She confirmed, hiding her grin.  Maybe it wasn't right to tease like this after all the trouble they'd had recently, but she couldn't resist.

"I... understand."  Shepard sounded let down.  Liara decided to show mercy.

She pulled Shepard to her and kissed her.  As the human stared at her in shock, she smiled at her.  "It's you, you idiot."

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"Yeah, that's kind of the idea."

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Shepard snuggled closer to Liara, nuzzling the asari's neck as she slept.  She was rewarded with a soft moan and a closer embrace as the other woman unconsciously moved towards her.  She felt so unbelievably happy.

They'd talked some more, then Liara had joined her back on the Normandy.  And from there, things had proceeded rather nicely...  She smiled at the sleeping asari.  From how they'd torn each other's clothes off, Liara wanted it as much as she had.

Even better, Liara wanted a future with her.  They were going to make it work this time.  She was determined nothing was going to screw things up for them.  I love you, Liara.  I'm not going to lose you.  Not again.

She kissed the asari's shoulder.  Liara started to wake up, mumbling.  "Shepard?"

"I'm here."  She hugged the asari.  "Did you think I'd go anywhere?  After last night?"

Liara giggled.  "I'd hope not."  She sobered a bit.  "I will have to stay here at Haestrom for a bit, until I can get full control of the Broker's network."

"I know."  Shepard sighed.  "I need to go back to Earth soon, clear up some things."

"We'll make this work, I promise you."

"We will," she agreed.  "I love you, Liara."

"I love you too, Shepard."  The asari kissed her.

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"So, if we win this war, what do you see in store for us?"

"I don't know, marriage, old age, lots of little blue children?"

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Tali watched Liara and Shepard embrace and smiled.  It was about time those two fixed things between them.  The commander had been actually happy for the past week, really happy.  So much better than when she'd been moping and angry.

"Try to stay safe."  The human spoke quietly to the asari.

"You're telling me to be safe?  Are you serious?"  Liara giggled softly.

"I know, I'm not exactly the best person to be saying that.  I don't want you to be hurt."

"I'll make you a deal, I'll be careful if you will," Liara smirked.

"No fair,"  Shepard pouted.  "But I guess you have a deal.  After all, I'm just going to be reporting to some committees, giving a few debriefs.  You're the one trying to get full control of a network of criminals."

"Oh?  I thought those people you report to include politicians?" the asari asked lightly.

"True enough.  I guess I'll be careful too."  She paused, holding Liara's hand lightly.  Tali tried to get closer without being noticed.  She wanted to be sure to hear everything.  "Liara?"

"Yes?"

The human gulped, her voice lowering a bit.  Tali had to really concentrate, and at first she thought she missed something, but apparently Shepard had been gathering her thoughts before speaking.  "It's nothing.  I'll tell you next time I see you."