Chapter 13

What can innocence hope for, When such as sit her judges are corrupted!

-Philip Massinger

Sneaking through what was another night-cycle on the Presidium, Shepard and Liara found their way back to the same hotel they had stayed at previously. Garrus and Ashley had split off from them, their role at its end, and had gone to locations unknown, likely to recover from recent events and revelations as well as find some enjoyment in the waning days of their "break".

Shepard held Liara close as they made their way through the lobby of the hotel. She did her best to shield the asari from prying eyes, afraid someone might notice the stains and wear of battle on her. They had managed to grab some outer clothing, cloak like garments that Garrus and Ashley had procured for them before they parted. Fortunately, most people were so wrapped up in themselves that evening that it seemed no one noticed the pair. As the elevator lifted off from the floor, both of them exhaled deeply, as if in that moment they finally felt the weight of their subterfuge lifted.

They had not spoken since they left Finch's body to rot in some broken down building in the Wards. Shepard, now careful to protect Liara's name, would do her best to cover her from being implicated in what happened that night. Liara had gloves on, part of her combat outfit, when she had pulled the trigger. Though the gun still lay beside a broken body, it could not be traced to the asari. If anything, it would show up in Shepard's name, and she would take what blame, if any was to be assigned, for killing such an unsavory character.

As the door to their room opened, Shepard finally broke the long silence that had prevailed between them.

"Liara, get yourself cleaned up. Hell, I should, too…" she said, looking down on her own blood-splattered armor, "give me your clothes and we will wrap them all together. We'll burn them the first chance we get…"

Liara nodded, almost in a daze. Her knees were wobbly and she looked a bit pale.

"Liara, are you alright?"

The asari just stared.

With a guiding arm around her waist, Shepard helped Liara to a seat, letting her rest for a few moments.

"You just wait here until you feel a bit better. We'll talk soon…I should…I should wash myself as well." Shepard said.

As she made her way to the restroom, she turned and looked one last time at Liara. The young woman was sitting, her face expressionless and her hands resting on her knees. It was almost as if she didn't know what to do with herself.

"A hell of a lot to take in for one night…" Shepard said under her breath. She still felt an incredible guilt that gave her a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Biting her lip in regret at the fresh memory of what had transpired, she then turned and made her way to the shower.

Her armor came off easily, dropping to the ground with thumps as each piece came undone. The clothes underneath stuck to her flesh, glued with perspiration to her body. She stripped off what felt like a second-skin and made her way to the shower.

She let the hot water rain down upon her, superficially erasing the sins of that night. She saw a faint red color circling the drain, the evidence of murderous deeds now leaving her body, if not her mind. In that moment, she finally had a chance to reflect on what had happened. Standing beneath a stream of hot water, clouds of steam rising all around, she let her thoughts wander and memory wash over her.

She should feel better about this. She thought this would be a joyous moment. Alden Finch was dead, his organization broken, and the wrong done against her avenged. Yet, at what cost? She had left a trail of dead long before this night and now it had finally ended but not by her experienced and terrible hand. Instead Liara T'Soni, the woman she had grown to love and cherish, the one who she sought to protect had committed murder in her name. Was this righteous? Was this just? She didn't know. What had been such a sure and seemingly noble quest now, at its end, felt so empty.

She should feel better about this. She should feel happy. Then again, happy about another death? Another body? Wouldn't that make her sick? Maybe guilt was natural, the human feeling? Was it really guilt about Finch's death as well as all the others or was it because someone else had done the killing?

As her body was cleaned her mind still raced with second-guessing and conflicting emotions.

Her thoughts were broken with the sound of the sliding door that surrounded her opening. She heard careful feet pitter patter and then find their footing behind her on the shower's tile. Almost as if leaping, she felt Liara's arms around her, her embrace tight. The asari's head lay against the back of her own, allowing Shepard to hear the labored breathing of the one now holding onto her.

Another kind of rain could be felt now. Shepard could discern the warmth of tears running down Liara's face and onto her back, being quickly swept away by running water. Taking the asari's hands from around her body, she massaged them with her own, as if ritually washing them. They were spotless, without blemish. The acts they had done, the stains that were invisible to the eye, would never go away. Shepard knew all too well that kind of dirt and its permanence.

"Sheena," Liara said through struggled breaths, "please don't hate me. Please do not be angry with me…"

"What are you talking about? I am not angry with you at all..."

"You'll look at me differently now, won't you? You won't see me as being the same anymore…the one you fell in love with…"

"That's foolish talk. You are the very same person you always were…" with those words Shepard turned and grasped Liara, allowing the distraught women to nuzzle herself into her neck. Their two bodies were pressed against one another, offering comfort in a time that was confusing and trying for both.

"I did what I thought was right. I did what I had to prevent you…to prevent us from being hurt anymore. Was I right, Sheena? Was I?"

Shepard couldn't give an answer. Who was she to sit in judgment of this one's conscience?

"I wanted us both to be free. I wanted you to be avenged…your sister…those things that were done. I couldn't make them right…he had to die, didn't he?" Liara said.

Shepard sighed, her mouth unable to form words.

"It's going to be alright now? You're free aren't you?"

"Yes," Shepard said finally, "Yes, Liara. I am free. I have you and my heart and mind are free."

That answer seemed to suffice.

"I love you, Sheena Shepard" Liara said.

"I love you, too Doctor T'Soni"

Liara mustered a smile at the formality of Shepard's response.

For a time they just held each other, the only sound the water beating against them.

Eventually, they made their way back to the bed that they shared and rested in one another's arms. Both of them, unbeknownst to the other, was trying to think of some way to bring some happiness to their situation. They felt compelled to comfort the other, to heal the other in some way.

It was Shepard who finally took the initiative. She pulled Liara closer and kissed her on the forehead, letting her lips linger before pulling them away. She kissed her again, slightly lower than before and with a hand pulling the asari's head upwards. Her mouth went on a gentle trail downwards, just to the side of Liara's own mouth. She responded to Shepard, her lips parting slightly as if in anticipation.

Liara needed this. They needed this. As Sheena's lips finally pressed against her own, her yearning exploded into desperation. She rolled on top of the human, her tongue swirling in the other woman's mouth. She pulled back only when her body forced her to breath. Their eyes met at that moment and both faces expressed a deep desire for the other.

A thought interrupted the intensity of Liara's passion. Was Sheena ready for this? After all she had been through and the fact she had seemed unwilling to give her body for this purpose earlier…was it the wrong time?

"I…I don't mean to rush you…" Liara whispered.

"No," Shepard responded firmly, "it's time Liara. I want this. I want this to be for us so badly."

Liara nodded, a single hand brushing against Sheena's chest. For a moment, it looked as if the other woman winced.

"Just…" Shepard began, "Just…go slowly."

Shepard moaned softly as years of pain and fear were undone by the soft kisses and gentle hands of Liara. Tears welled up in her eyes, but not of sadness. A kind of pleasure she had never known was overcoming her in an act that for so long had been corrupted and ugly. Now, as the two women's bodies came together, sex was something beautiful and special, shared between people whose hearts were overflowing with love and affection.

Like a gentle tide the two bodies flowed one into the other. There were no more words, just sensations and sounds. Liara was so happy she could finally give back to Sheena, but she wanted to give more of herself to her lover, more than even her body could express.

Sliding herself upwards against Shepard's body, their faces met again.

"Sheena," Liara said, her words punctuated with short but deep breaths, "we've seen so much ugliness tonight. I experienced so much pain in your mind. I want to share my happiness with you…my peace and my joy…"

Shepard's eyes scanned the asari's face, trying to discern her meaning.

"I…I don't understand…" she said.

"I want us to become one tonight, with our bodies and our minds. I want to open myself, to overflow all of my love into you…to deposit my being in to yours so we are joined…"

"Are…are you sure, Liara?"

"I have taken in your sorrow; now let me soothe you with my bliss…"

Shepard nodded slowly, being still unsure of what was about to happen but willing to do anything the one above her said.

Liara propped herself up with her elbows, her hands now gently held Shepard's head. A soft light shone out from her face, her eyes went dark.

The familiar words were spoken.

"Embrace Eternity…"

Then Shepard felt it. The veil of the world lifted, and it felt as if the entire universe had been condensed into the space around their two bodies. Nothing else mattered, not the stars and planets and not the billions upon billions of others that lived. All there was were two people and the darkness of the world they lived in now passed.

There was light now, not harsh but gentle and soothing. Then, Shepard felt as if her mind exploded and she was drawn into a rushing stream. Every nerve in her body felt a superabundant and rapturous delight. She opened her eyes and saw only into Liara's own. There was nothing between them now, not even flesh.

It was almost too much. She didn't know how to react. She dug her fingers into Liara's back, not realizing she was tearing into her flesh in her ecstasy. Her legs, as if trying to hold onto something solid, wrapped around the other's torso. She opened her mouth but her sense of sound was muted, not even allowing her to hear her own screams. She had completely lost control of herself, and now relied totally on the asari above her to guide her through this wondrous experience.

Anger, hate, pain, anguish, all these things were being drawn out from so many open wounds. They were being filled by Liara herself, her very person. Everything good and pure in the young asari was overpowering everything ugly in Shepard.

Sheena didn't know how long their coming together lasted. All she remembered was returning to her senses and finding she was resting in Liara's arms, her breathing now slowed and relaxed.

"I thought I lost you there…" Liara said with a smile.

Shepard blinked as if testing her vision, still barely recovering from her heavenly journey.

"What…wow…" were the only words she could muster.

Liara laughed, a sweet and melodious sound.

"Ouch…" she said as Shepard ran her hands over her back.

"What did I…oh…I am so sorry!" Shepard said with surprise as she rose slightly and looked at the asari's back, now looking as if it had been savaged by some clawed beast.

"It was worth it my, love. It's lucky these walls are thick and windows sealed against vacuum or else the entire Citadel would've heard you…"

Shepard's blushed.

"I…I was that loud?"

Liara smirked. "I guess I am THAT good"

"Better than good." Shepard said breathlessly.

"Well, you build up a lot of tension being alone and waiting for that one special person. I guess I just couldn't control myself…"

"I had better keep a good eye on you…I am afraid you might grow bored of me with your appetite for such things…" Shepard said with a pout.

Liara drew Sheena closer and kissed her.

"No, it just means that I will be very demanding of your time…and just YOUR time. We asari can be particular and, as a young maiden, I have many more experiences I'd like to share with you…"

"I had better brace myself then…"

They laughed in unison.

Burrowed into one another, they soon drifted off to sleep. They would not wake for some time, dreaming of one another, perhaps even with one another.

They were one now. Liara was Sheena and likewise Sheena was Liara, parts of the others being imparted deep into one another. They could grow closer or could grow apart, but they could never dig out what was planted within that night.

What but death itself could tear them apart?

"Well, it's time we let it all out," Ashley said, "I think we have unfinished business with one another."

"I am always willing to work out stress. To test my reach and flexibility…" Garrus responded.

The two began their slow dance around each other, making a circle with their movement across the floor. The room was darkened but for a single light focused on the center of the room. Seeking to alleviate their burdens, both personal and professional, they had arranged this test of skill.

"A lot of wild shit tonight…" Ashley said.

"Yeah, I wonder what Liara and Shepard are doing…" Garrus said, his eyes narrowed as they continued their war-like ritual.

"I'm not wondering at all. Liara is the equivalent of a horny teenager with an experienced woman as her first girlfriend. Take a wild guess…"

"I'd prefer to take my first strike…"

With that, they gripped the two long staffs in their hands, now both prone to attack.

"Enjoy this Ashley. This is about as much action as you are going to get in awhile…" Garrus said with a smirk.

"Oh, I will. I'll be gentle with you. This won't be the last time you are thoroughly embarrassed…"

With that, the melee began, a flurry of blows and dodges. The battle would last long into the night, the victory of one over the other not as important as the friendship, however odd to themselves it may seem, they now would share.

Both friends and lovers would be put to the test in the days yet to come. The existence of both a testament to the vibrancy of life, the endurance of hope, and the will to resist enemies that could never know such.

Note: It actually made me feel very sad to end this. Knowing what Bioware has done in the sequel by never giving the two lovers a moment to share in enjoyment of one another is a terrible thing to make these characters endure. If I could, I would drag out their love story for many thousands upon thousands of words more, but I fear even the most loyal reader would be overwhelmed by that.

I do intend to continue the story of this Shepard and Liara. Things will, by necessity, be different and harder to swallow. While Bioware may never consider my stories canon (though in my fantasy world they would!), in my little corner of the ME universe, there is always a single, silver strand that binds these two together, no matter what is yet to come.

The next phase of Liara and Sheena Shepard's romance begins soon.

Please review this story and let me know what you think. I am eager to hear your reactions.

~KL