Chapter Text
“She’s going to know,” Aria uncrossed her legs as she watched Shepard pace in her living room. Jane stopped, looked at her – doubt all over her face; in a moment it cleared, like the sky after a sun storm.
“No, she’s not.”
“She is,” Aria pointed at her, “you-“
“Aria, shut up and help distract her then.” Aria scoffed, taking a glass from Jack as she rejoined them.
“I need to be here so you don’t do something stupid; like, oh, I don’t know, fuck off to some hell hole planet where giant worms try to eat you.” Shepard glared; turned to Jack.
“Who else did you get?” Jack held her finger up and swallowed the mouthful of rum,
“Some kid who peddles shit for us, uh Connor I think? Conrad?” Shepard sighed and rubbed her hand along her neck, flushing red.
“I don’t care if his name is Susan, as long as he can play the guitar. I-“ she checked her Omni-tool as it buzzed, “come on.” She turned on her heels and stomped out of the room, only to return a moment later; “you gave him the sheet music?-”
“Four weeks ago, Shepard. Calm the fuck down, I could have taught Miri to play it in that amount of time;” she shot a look to Aria, can you believe this guy? Her eyes pleaded. She took another shot. Shepard stopped again,
“Oh my God, Miranda – Miranda is still bringing her right? I mean, if we have to get Tevos to grab her we will-“
“I’d like to see Tevos and Liara grabbing each other-“
“-Shut up, Aria,” Shepard snapped, “but she’ll get suspicious.” Aria rose, took Shepard by the shoulder and spun her around, kissed her hard; no passion, no romance; like a slap in the face. Turned away and folded her arms across her chest as Shepard sputtered and rubbed her neck again. “You-can’t-don’t do that.” Jack laughed and slapped her leg, toasting them.
“Why? Makes you all uncomfortable. Relax. Drink this,” took a bottle from the bar and shoved it into Jane’s wringing hands, “Fuck. You’re not even engaged yet.” Shepard took a swig from the neck of the unmarked bottle, shivering as the aftertaste took her, fucking Ryncol…
“Got the ring, Red?” Shepard patted down her pockets, frantically, eyes wide and searching Jack’s. Felt it in her jeans and sighed. Let her keep the trinket I bought years ago – this is the real deal.
“Yep.” She had everything. Had arranged it all, somehow. Had even called Aethyta and Benezia…
“What the fuck is this patriarchal bullshit, Shepard? Have you met my daughter? She could kick your ass.”
“The – this is lovely news, Jane. Of course you have our blessings.”
“Well, fucking blessing, yes. Permission? You better hope Liara never finds out you asked for her, like some bloody piece of property.” Shepard had felt the hot climb of embarrassment. What was I thinking?
“Some families find it – tradition – I thought maybe…” She stammered, had trailed off, blushing.
“Let us know if she says ‘yes’ or warps you through a wall, kid.” She had paled, gulped. She heard Benezia ‘tut’, and what sounded like the slap of a palm on clothing; so that’s where Liara get’s her tendency for swatting at me.
“Oh course she will say ‘yes,’ Benezia reassured her.
“For the love of Athame and her glorious tits, please do not knock her up again before the wedding.” Shepard had hung up, mumbling ‘that’s not how it works…’ while Benezia quietly, but sternly, yelled at her bondmate.
Liara laughed and held out her glass for more wine; Miranda almost poured her more; seemed to think better of it. The three of them – Thea, Miri, and herself – had shared a wonderfully expensive dinner, and were swapping stories of Aria, Jack, Shepard. Liara was just thankful Miranda had thawed from their first, cool conversations.
“Well,” Thea sighed, “I should get home to Liselle before she puts makeup on Bray again, or tries to dress him in one of Aria’s corsets…”
“Okay, you have to tell us that story next time,” Miranda laughed. Tevos stood, kicking Miranda under the table unbeknownst to Liara.
“So nice to share a meal with you again, Thea.”
“I will call you tomorrow.” Miranda stood too,
“Come on, Li; we’re going to Abyss. Jack promised she’d comp our shots – something about getting me drunk and taking advantage of me – and there’s some live music.” Liara poured herself another mouthful of wine and drank it as she put on her coat.
“I thought your tastes ran more ‘tattooed goddesses’ than ‘boys with guitars’ these days?” She giggled and realized she maybe should have skipped that last glass.
“I’m married, not dead, Liara. Plus, who knows who’s playing.”
Miranda pulled her through the doorway, both of them laughing and loud. Liara sobered almost immediately. Abyss wasn’t exactly empty, but it was quiet and she seemed to know more than half the people inside. Candles burned on every surface, flickering in the dark, reflecting in the mirror behind the bar, and the lights had been dimmed. Miranda shoved her forward and she took a stumbling step; nothing to do with the booze, just the absolutely surreal atmosphere. She turned to Miranda, “What-?”
“Go.” Miranda took a place at the bar, while Liara wandered in. Saw Jane sitting at the piano, flanked by Jack and a young man she didn’t recognize. Liara opened her mouth to walk to the stage, her face a mask of calm inquisition despite her twirling, fluttering insides. Her heart pounded in her chest. She was transported back in time, back to a Coffee House so many, many years ago, here, on this very spot she realized; standing in this very spot, watching her play; for me.
Shepard began to play, the piano tinkling like raindrops; like the snowflakes that had fallen around her as Shepard looked up from under her window; like her laugh, light and lovely; like the lights of Serrice, sparkling in her eyes.
‘Someday, I'll stop trying and I'll know
How much time I've wasted always wanting more,
I doubt you'll end up where you need to be with me
I tend to run in circles wallowing in my own sea,
She stared right at her, a smile in her green eyes.
I can run and play and dive into the ocean
I can touch the sand and feel it slip away.’
‘You could follow me
I don't know where I'm going
You could follow me
You could follow me
It might not be the smartest thing to do
But you could follow me’
Liara gasped, almost silently; unheard by anyone. Clasped her hands over her face, hiding a grin.
‘I want you to be happier than me
I'm a poor example of a carefree human being,
Here's a list of things I wish to be:
Your pillow and your blanket and your lifetime guarantee,
I can love you all the way across the ocean
And I doubt that that will ever go away.’
‘You could follow me
I don't know where I'm going
You could follow me
You could follow me
It might not be the smartest thing to do
But you could follow me’
‘If I ever stop believing there's a reason for my life,
I might as well stop trying to make sense of what is right…’
Shepard began to grin as well, nodding to her so much like that day.
‘You could follow me
You could follow me
I don't know where I'm going
You could follow me
You could follow me
It might not be the smartest thing to do
But you should follow me’
Winked. Liara wiped at her eyes, laughing softly. Looked back at Miri, who seemed to be having the same problem. The song ended and Liara looked on as Shepard stepped around the piano and jumped off the stage. She stopped in front of her, licking her lips and rubbing the back of her neck. Liara’s stomach boiled.
“Liara,” she cleared her throat; had barely spoken above a murmur. “Liara, you have followed me across the galaxy; I followed-“ the tears welled in her eyes and she choked on her sob, “followed you back from death; but this is where we really began. This is where I want our new life to start.
I will follow you anywhere; will you follow me?” She dropped to one knee, eyes shining, and opened the box in her hand where a ring flashed in the candlelight. “Will you marry me?” Liara began to openly cry, hands covering just her mouth; nodded, over and over,
“Yes.”
Shepard let out a whoop and slipped the gold ring onto her finger, the diamond sparking; the sapphires inlaid along the band the same colour as her eyes. “Of course, Jane, yes.” She pulled her to her feet and kissed her; hard, fierce, full of joy and tears. Shepard lifted her, spinning her around and holding her tight. When they stopped twirling she leaned into her ear,
“I love you.” She fished around in her pocket and brought out another box, longer and leaner. “I didn’t know-uh, I didn’t want to offend, and Aria was no help- here.” She held out a bracelet, silver and rose gold intertwined; like them, red and blue, rusty and shining. Liara smiled as she clasped it around her slender wrist.
“I will follow you anywhere, Shepard.”
The End