Disclaimer: Bioware probably has a museum somewhere where they've got all the characters on display with signs on them saying "DON'T TOUCH THE CHARACTER, RABID FANBOY/GIRL!!" Because they can. Because they own all. That museum must make a killing on entrance fees.

- - - - - Eyes - - - - -

- - - - - Chapter 3: Shepard - - - - -

The back room of the Eternity Bar had been rented for the evening, closed to the public. A lone Asari sat at the round table, her legs tucked beside her on the couch that wrapped around the wall of the private room. She ran a finger around the lip of her wineglass, coaxing a soft note from the crystal. Her gray eyes eyes were unfocused, a storm brewing behind them.

There was a friendly chime at the door, and she looked up to see the door slide open and shut with a click. A hesitating smile found its way to her lips as she welcomed the one who had just entered.

"Shepard. As always, it is good to see you."

"Liara. Thank you for agreeing to meet me on such short notice, I can imagine how busy you must be."

"We both are, I am certain. But, in any case, how could I refuse? I was honestly quite surprised to see your message. I did not think you would wish to see me after..."

Her words trailed off, the faint smile vanishing, eyes dipping down to the sapphire drink in her hand.

Shepard stepped forward, setting a stout glass down on the table. Serrice Ice Brandy. Dr. Chakwas favorite, Liara remembered with a sting of guilt. Chakwas, Joker, Tali, Garrus. So few compared to Shepard's former allies, but these four had returned to her side. Loyalty? And yet, here she was, obsessed with the Shadow Broker, and no intentions of leaving Illium. No, this was also for Shepard's sake. Liara raised her eyes from her glass, instead studying the human woman standing before her, her former lover.

Shepard was staring out the window with bright, curious eyes, taking in the view of Nos Astra by night. The stars could not be seen, but the synthetic lights of the city glittered beautifully, each one certain it was a star in its own right. The magenta-lit towers jutted into the sky, their numbers continuing to the horizon and then obscuring it.

Liara had seen it enough times for the glamor of the city night to lose its attraction for her. Instead, she admired the glow that the city gave Shepard's face. How it accented her cheekbones and sparkled in her eyes.

"Gorgeous." Shepard murmured, "Reminds me quite a bit of the Citadel. I can see why you wanted to set up here for your search for the Shadow Broker. Lovely locale filled with lots of contacts."

"Appearances are deceiving in this case, Shepard. Nos Astra may resemble the Citadel, but I can assure you, underneath the veneer, it is as stained and dangerous as Omega."

Shepard slid onto the couch, taking a seat at Liara's right. Had this been... before... Shepard knew she would have sat beside Liara, rather than separate the two of them with the corner of the couch as she had just done. She needed to keep her distance. For both their sakes. The thought had a bitter taste. She swallowed a mouthful of brandy.

"You do know I dislike being kept in suspense. Although I have some idea regarding what you would like to talk about, I will ask anyway. Why did you want to meet with me, Shepard?"

Another gulp of brandy. She wasn't savoring it as she usually did. Somewhere in her head, she was praying for the alcohol to blur her nervousness, wishing to make this easier to say.

"We need to talk. About what you told Garrus, about what he told you... about us. I think want some kind of closure with all of this. Hell, I'm not even sure what I want, Liara."

Liara regarded her quietly for a moment. A blush touched Shepard's face, and not due to the alcohol.

"I understand, Shepard. I wanted to talk with you about the very same things. Assuming that your 'open door policy' is still in effect, may I ask you something of my own?"

"Shoot."

"Garrus told you of... my part in obtaining your body?"

"He did."

"And... are you... that is... do you... resent me... for what I've done...?"

"Oh God, Liara..." Shepard gripped her hand into a fist, wanting to reach out to Liara and comfort her. She restrained herself, "How could you even think that?"

Misunderstandings between them, black smog that obscured happiness. Shepard didn't regret what she had with Garrus, but part of her wondered how things would have turned out if there were no misunderstandings. If she and Liara had been open with each other, clear about their motivations... She stifled the thought. One didn't move forward if they only focused on the "if only"s of the past. Misunderstanding or not, she had made a choice and she would live with it.

"I'll admit that I was angry when I first learned about it... Angry that you brought about the reason I was forced to work with Cerberus... and, I was confused at how you acted when I first saw you again. But, no... I could never bring myself to hate you, Liara."

The Asari leaned back with a sigh, her face in her hands. "By the Goddess, Shepard. You have no idea what a weight that is off my mind. I apologize for how I acted when I saw you alive again... In truth, I wanted to do far more than simply kiss you... but, thought that if I reached out to you again, I would simply distract both of us from what needed to be done." Her hands dropped to her lap, and she met Shepard's eyes. "I am sorry that my actions put you in such a position."

"Don't be, Liara. I'd sure as hell rather be working with people I hate and be still among the living than be dead on some frozen no-name planet. I've got you to thank for my second chance. I'm not going to waste it."

"That was... partially what I meant. I am also sorry to have not been your support when you needed it... Sorry that you thought I rejected you, " Liara hesitated, focusing her eyes on Shepard's "There is nothing left? No hope between us?"

The question brought an ache to her heart.

"No, Liara."

"I see." She fell silent, swirling the drink in her hand. Long seconds passed by before she asked quietly, "Garrus... you are... happy with him?"

This question brought its own sort of ache. Liara was backing down. Shepard could hear it in her voice.

"Yes..."

"Then, I believe that is everything we wished to discuss... I wish the best for you, Shepard." Liara rose to her feet, palms on the table as she tried to gain her balance. Tried to hide what she was feeling. She stepped toward the door, but then turned back, her voice thin, choking back her emotion, "My one regret is... that we were childless... Any daughter of yours would have been both beautiful and strong, a credit to the Asari race. Be well, Shepard."

"Be well, Liara."

She turned once more, her back to the woman she loved deeply even still, and she left Eternity.

- - - - - Chapter 3 : Shepard : End - - - - -

- - - - - Eyes : End - - - - -

A/N: I'm sorry it's short. ; While I was writing it, Shepard and Liara told me they wouldn't want to drag things out. They would say what they needed to say, rip the band-aid off quickly. Who am I to argue?

Even though this wasn't a long fic by most standards, I enjoyed it immensely, and feel that I've grow quite a bit in the process. Thank you for reading to the end. ^^ Please look forward to future work from me! Also, review please? =3 I'll give you a cookie?