Elysium: Waterfalls

On the Elevator down to the Presidium:

"Goddess I forgot how long these things were." Liara was bouncing with impatience. The idea of dragging her bondmate through various waterfalls filled her with glee. Oh yes...that Specter would be hers for the evening.

Shepard grinned at her date, "Ahh yes....Elevators." She did a fairly good impression of everyone's favorite turian council member. Complete with air quotes. "Besides Liara, remember all the fun conversations we used to have in these things? Explosions, Krogan Wrestling, Tali's shotgun, oh aaaaand whos a better biotic. Plus Ash always had these awesome quips on how much politics sucked." The grin on the Commander's face melted away. Her eye's darked abit as she remembered her former team mate and friend.

Liara squeezed Shepard's hand in response. They would have gone much futher but the presence of two elcor passengers within the elevator stopped them from getting too out of hand. Shepard could hear it now: Alliance Hero of the Frakin Universe Snogs Hot Asari Scientist while Speechless Elcor look on in Aroused Lust. The amount of ale and other things in her system was playing havoc with her imagination........what if the power to the waterfalls didnt work....maybe the lake would do. She turned to her asari and smiled somewhat lavasiously. Blue eyes reguarded her Commander with some curiousity mixed with exaspiration. Why wasnt this miricle of modern science going faster!

Tentative Statement: "Commander....thank you for saving my family from our homeworld.....we do not wish to intrude but could we have an autograph?"

His companion, mate really, nodded enthusiastically.

The elcor held a small blasto toy in a carryon on his back. His baby daughter snoozed contentedly next to it. A strange look came over Shepard. It was a mixture of hope, longing and a suprising gentleness. Liara gazed at the tiny elcor sleeping away her eyes softened. Shepard could still suprise her in the best of ways. She was a deadly weapon, trained by the best, to over come any obsticles but undernieth it all she was still an ordinary human. Or at least thats what Liara felt from her bondmate when they melded. The Commander always saw herself as someone just doing thier duty and trying to stay true to friends and allies. Her heart was bruised by loss and other things but the bright spots outweighed the tarnish. Liara was determined to guard her bondmate from futher tramas if she could.

Next time she would speak to Joker and see if they could get off the grid for a while. Shepard finished signing the toy and smiled at the Elcor couple. The elevator stopped and adorable family exited. His wife turned back around and said:

Gratefully: "Live long and happy lives Commander."

Tears formed at the edge of Shepard's vision. A blue hand cupped her cheek and gently wiped them away before they could fall. She felt like a heavy weight had finally been lifted. The Reapers, TIM, the betrayals and frustrations with politics in the face of everything faded away. All that mattered now was the person standing next to her and whatever would come thier way. Peferablely a decent house, white fences, gravity and real oxygen for a while. Being a spacer kid made Shepard realize she wanted to raise her family planet bound. She would always love ships and consider the Normandy home but she wanted to give Liara and her parents a stable place to come together. A solid foundation to start a new Shepard legacy.

Presidium Level: Quanish Botantical Gardens

The smell hit first. Enticing and exotic with a hint of cherry blossoms in the air. Shepard and Liara could hear the raging waters near the back corner of the plaza. Birdsong floated on the breeze as a variety of speices chooed and chipped with contentment. Appearntly the lack of gunfire and reaper forces aggreed with the small avarians. Feeling extreamly bold the Commander lifted Liara off her feet in a hug and spun her around. Both of them started laughing. For months the worry of the war and everything else had put a strain on thier relationship but today for once it would be just them. Here they could just be two people rediciously in love and none would damn them for it or critize.

"So where to first doc?"

Still encircled within Shepard's arms the doctor in question thought.

The Shadow Broker was more then content to keep her head nestled against Shepard's chest. She took her time savorying the rapid exicted beating of her bondmate's heart. "Hmmm......I know this sounds silly but how about somewhere quiet. Like a meadow...I cant remember the last time I slept." Shepard smiled and nodded then with suprising grace and speed for someone as iniberated as she was she gathered up her lover in her arms and swaggered into that forest for the best mission of her life.

Near the center of the level there was a plesent shady meadow with vibrant green grass and a gentle breeze. Shepard removed her costom made leather jacket and made a pillow near the base of a giant willow. As Shepard stretched out on the ground Liara settled down next to her and felt altogether drowsy. She could feel her bondmate smiling as she found the best spot to lay her head down. "All comfy now doc?" Liara could only mumble in response. Shepard nearly laughed. The big bad Shadow Broker was nearly purring if such a thing was possible. Her breathing evened out and she was asleep. The commander just looked on dowsily until her eyelids became heavy. Eventually Liara's warm presence and the chiming calls of birds lulled the Specter into a dreamless slumber. The first kind she had since high school. Nothing in this whole damned universe could hurt them now.

At the edge of the shaded area the black orbs of Keeper 20 noted the occupants then left on its silent predetermined journey.

((Lunch Break...Ill finish the rest in a bit :D))

Liara usually didnt dream much...well if she did usually it wasnt worth remembering but in this instance the supressed emotion was so vivid she couldnt turn away.

"Mama!"

Her feet struck the pavement as she ran frantically after Benezia. Her mother was always 2 or 3 steps ahead always just out of reach but so far away. This frustrated Liara to no end. First the short curt comments about her supposed father and now her mother was refusing to speak with her. She was already 50. Surely that was old enough to know some truths. 

The buildings around her started to crumble and fire arced across the sky. Omnious shapes appeared in the prestine skies above and tore through Thessia, scorching the planet and all who lived on it. Her mother's fine dress ignited and from cracked bloody lips: Liara, little wing, fly from here. 

The ground benieth her feet caved in and swallowed her whole...

"Please....dont leave me here alone..."

With a start Liara awoke trembling. At first she didnt realize why she couldnt move but then reality came flooding back in. Shepard was still asleep and her right arm was still wrapped around Liara in a protective embrace. Even in her exshausted state it seemed her bondmate still wanted to watch out for her. Tears pricked at the edge of her vision. Still the shade of her mother haunted her. As quietly as she could Liara left the Commander slumbering peacefully. Then with one more fond look she turned and made her way down to the waterfalls.


A few minutes pass and a somewhat grumpy Specter awakes to find that her sexy scientist decided to wander off on an adventure without her. With a determined glint in her eyes Shepard decided to rectify that situation post haste.

Liara did a full scan of the area with her upgraded Omni tool. Wouldnt do any good to have live camera feeds active in this particular area. The water was moderated to stay at a stable temperature. This particular waterfall had quaint enough surroundings. The thermal rocks kept the heat from dissipating and allowed for extended visits to the various lakes and eddies surrounding her. Confident that nothing would disturb her she quickly removed all her garments and sank greatfully into the water. At a stable 79 standard degrees she could easly see herself taking forever in this pool. Maybe even have enough time to gather her thoughts before seeing to Shepard. It wouldnt do any good to ruin the Commander's restful slumber now. If anyone in this universe deserved 2 weeks of off the radar R&R is was her bondmate.

Of course Liara's enthusiastic silly half had other plans.....

Shepard scanned her surroundings and grinned. She spied the slight imprints left by one bearfoot asari and decided things were definately looking up. Quietly she crept forward and through the foilage spotted Liara near the base of the waterfall. Her clothing was neatly arrayed along the shore and the commander was somewhat crestfallen that she didnt think to wake her up but then a familar confidant grin bloomed. Ahh yes....suprises. Shepard knew what she had to do then.

If Liara had any clue on what the human movie "Jaws" was she might have had a chance at spotting Shepard's devious little plan but alas the asari was still learning the common cultural asides or cornball references.