The first time I saw Rue look at me after looking at her I knew I had lost her, but I also knew that if she found out about you she would go to any lengths to stay with me. And as much as I love Rue I won't let her stay out of duty when her heart belongs to someone else. I did what I had to, to make sure she followed her heart. And even if every part of me is breaking, even if it feels like my heart will never stop aching, it was worth every moment.

THE DECISION

THE ASARI LEANT FORWARD GRABBING Rue's hand pulling her back in, letting her lips nibble at Rue's neck. She shuddered at the feeling of Liara's lips against her skin and she gave in once more. She grabbed at Liara's hips pressing herself against the asari. Liara captured her lips again, drawing her in, her senses merging with the asari's. She recognized the familiar feeling as their minds joined becoming one and she was no longer able to tell herself from Liara. The emotion rose like flames from a fire its heat divulging them. Love in its purest form rushed through her intensifying with each heartbeat, passion following shortly after, raw and hungry and the smell of sweat and coconut enveloped her senses. Milky, pale skin as soft as silk underneath her hands, icy blue eyes framed by charcoal black hair locking with hers, never once blinking as they lost track of time and space.

She gasped in shock at the electric jolt sent through her body as their connection broke and she stumbled backwards blinking in confusion. That had never happened before. Looking up at Liara where she sat on the counter she realized what was wrong.

"Miranda," Liara said in disbelief, a hurt look upon her face. "You were in the meld thinking of Miranda."

She opened her mouth to speak, but found no good excuse so she remained silent as she watched Liara pull her clothes closer.

"I didn't…" Didn't what? Mean to? She sighed.

"I don't smell like coconut, Rue, and last time I checked I didn't have black long hair."

"I'm sorry," was all she could think to say. This was a mess. A mess she needed to sort out once and for all. Too many were getting hurt in the process

"It's funny," the asari said as she slid off the counter. "I cried so many nights for you, for so long, it felt like I had no more tears to cry and still they kept coming."

Buttoning up her fatigues Rue watched the asari walk in to the large living room.

"I don't know what happened," she tried to explain.

Liara let out a soft huff. "Isn't it obvious?" She chuckled miserably. "I thought by bringing you back I could…I don't know, we could be together again. I went to so many dark places to get you. I discovered sides of myself that you would never have even dreamed of." Liara turned around to face her, tears streaming down her face. "And I did it all for us. Not for the galaxy, not for the Alliance and most certainly not for Miss Lawson."

Rue watched the asari, her heart breaking at the sight of her tears. She wanted to comfort her, to tell her she was sorry, that everything would be ok, but could she really promise that? All the pain and suffering Liara had gone through, Rue just wanted it to end, but what about Miranda? She loved her so much. Could she just walk away from the informant?

"I went to hell and back and I would do it again, but it…" Liara's voice broke and she had to collect herself before speaking again. "It breaks my heart to see her with you. It breaks my heart to lose you again." She cried.

"Liara," Rue whispered taking a step forward, pulling the asari into her arms, holding her tight. It was too much for her to bear, to watch the asari so vulnerable, so fragile. Over two years of grief pouring out of her. Liara had given up her dreams for her. She had become this cold, manipulating and scheming information broker all because of Rue. She owed the asari more than this. "I love you, I always have, I just…"

"You love Miranda too," Liara said. "I see the way you look at her, Rue. Yesterday, you weren't mad at Miranda because you didn't love her. Quite the contrary. That is exactly why you were so angry. Someone you love and trusted betrayed you."

She let go of the asari. "I care about, Miranda." She confessed quietly. "But I don't know if I can trust her again."

Liara smiled sadly. "Miss Lawson is many things. She is cold and heartless, everything is a challenge to her and she would stop anyone who got in her way. I have seen it with my own eyes."

"Liara," Rue said sternly, strongly disliking the tone the asari used when she spoke of Miranda.

"She may be all of that." Liara ignored her berating tone. "But if it's one thing she isn't it's a liar. She didn't lie to you, Rue. It wasn't her choice not to tell you about me."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rue frowned.

"I made her promise me not to tell you." Liara turned around to stare out the panoramic windows. It had started raining and the raindrops clattered hard against the windows before silently rolling down the length of them mimicking the asari's tears perfectly.

"What? Why?" Rue asked in disbelief.

"Because I thought you'd be angry with me. After all our dealings with Cerberus when trying to defeat Saren I knew how you felt about them. What I was going to let them do to you was…wrong. Waking you up was for my own selfish reasons because I couldn't let you go…"

"You gave me a second chance at life, Liara. How many people get that chance? I owe you everything." She said her face breaking into a smile. "How could you think I would be angry with you? You were the first thing I thought of when I woke up, all I wanted was to see you again."

"Then why didn't you come?" Liara asked angrily.

"Because…"

"Because Miranda told not to, didn't she?" Liara said begrudgingly.

"No…" Oh my God, I'm such an idiot. "She asked me why I hadn't." She looked up at Liara. It hadn't been Miranda's fault. "You said you had moved on, your file…"

She could see the colour wash off the asari's face. "Said I was taken..." Liara's shoulders slouched forward. "I meant by you."

"So Miranda hadn't made that up to keep me from you?"

"No, Rue, I made it up so that I wouldn't be courted anymore."

"Augh," she sighed covering her face with her hands. "This is all so messed up, Liara."

Liara laughed. At first it was more of a low chortling, then she opened her mouth laughing heartily or maybe hysterically, Rue really couldn't tell.

"It's not funny! Why-? What is so-? Why are you laughing?!" Rue threw her arms out in frustration.

"Because," Liara said placing her hands on Rue's shoulders. "You are the only one who can save the galaxy, but can't get her love life working."

"Well, I'm glad you're entertained," she huffed trying to stifle the oncoming laughter. Liara did make a fair point. Laughing she looked at the asari. This -she had missed this. This new Liara she had seen lacked this side. Of course she had been forced to put this side of her aside in order to get Rue back. She felt a pang of guilt knowing her death had played a major part in the asari's change. Maybe if she was around she could bring the old Liara back? Maybe she owed that to Liara? Liara had brought her back, maybe it was her time to return the favour?

"I've missed seeing you like this," she said causing the asari to stop laughing.

"Don't. Please, if you don't know who you want, don't lead me on. Don't give me hope again if you're just going...to leave again," Liara said gravely.

She knew who she wanted, but she also knew who she needed to be there for. She had met Liara before she had met Miranda and she owed it to Liara to give them another try even if that meant leaving Miranda behind. Even if it meant hurting the informant. If I give this one more try...She thought quietly to herself. One more try and no one could tell her she hadn't given them a fair chance. It was the right thing to do. Miranda would understand. It had nothing to do with her love for Miranda, but only with her loyalty to the asari. They had bonded once. She wanted Liara to be happy. She knew she could make Liara happy.

Her thoughts brushed at the informant again. What about her own happiness? Would she be happy with Liara? Did she love Liara like she had before? Like a lover. Or did she love her like a friend who meant the world to her? In the meld she had been with Miranda.

"You don't have to answer me know. I know things are complicated for you right now. Why don't you come back soon? Maybe after this thing you're doing?" Liara gave her one last hug.

"I'll come back soon, I promise," she said sincerely.

Liara smiled though her eyes shone with anguish. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Commander."

~o~

She took the first taxi she could hail back to the taxi area near the docking bay. It wasn't a long walk from there to the Normandy, but she walked slowly contemplating the night's event in her head. Being with Liara again was wonderful. It reminded her of the old days before all of this. Being near her reminded her of the evenings they had spent around the table in the mess playing cards with Ashley and Kaiden, Wrex losing all his credits. She smiled at the memories. Those were some good days, she mused as she walked up towards the new Normandy.

Dawn was breaking and the first light was carefully creeping out across the horizon, scuttling cautiously across the Normandy's shining hull. So shiny. She thought to herself. The wrong colours but still shiny. She took a deep breath revelling in the quietness of the early hours and the beauty of the new Normandy. New Normandy, new people and of course the informant was one of them. She picked up her pace. She needed to talk to Miranda. To apologise. She had been an arse. She loved Liara no doubt and the asari always would have a very special place in her heart. There would always be a connection between them, but Miranda... the closer she got to the Normandy the more intense the feeling became and suddenly she realized how much she had missed the informant.

She stepped into the ship and hurried down the bridge.

"Hey, Captain," Joker said gloomily. She could hear Garrus hum and she gave the helmsman a gentle pat on his shoulder.

"Gar beat you again?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Joker said sourly.

She chuckled. "Ok, well I've got something I need to do, catch you later?"

"Yeah," Joker scowled. "Later."

~o~

Garrus flipped the weapons mod in his hand as he walked off the bridge having thoroughly beaten Joker's ass in their latest punchline contest. Not a small feat. For a little guy the helmsman had an awfully big and quick mouth coupled with his sarcastic sense of humour Joker was not an easy guy to beat. Something to tell, Tali. He thought as he rounded the Galaxy map. It was late, or early in the morning, depending on one's perspective. Tomorrow, I'll tell her tomorrow.

"Hey, birdman! What's that stupid grin for?"

He turned around to see Rue walk down the bridge behind him.

"What? Nothing." He said defensively. He'd been thinking of Tali, why would that make him grin? Why was he thinking of Tali anyway? Hadn't he just won the macho contest of the macho contest? He should be out celebrating with...Yeah... Tali had been on his mind an awful lot the latest couple of weeks. But then again he hadn't seen her since she had left the Normandy to go back to the flotilla of course he was bound to think about her little extra. They were really good friends after all. Friends...

"Nothing, huh? That why you humming?" Rue teased as she pulled up next to him.

He could feel his mandibles twitch. "Why are we talking about me, Skipper when your life is so much more interesting?"

She scowled and him and he grinned in satisfaction. That got her alright.

"Isn't this quite the late hour to be sneaking in for a young lady such as yourself?"

"Oh, shut up, Gar. It's not what you think." She muttered.

"Oh? And what am I thinking, Skipper?" He pushed.

"I'm not even go there, birdie," Rue said as they pulled to a stop in front of the lift. He chuckled. The commander had been gone for a very long time since they had finished the mission and by her new positive attitude he did wonder what had happened between the two former lovers.

"You know what I think?" He asked leaning forward.

"Mm-mm." Rue shook her head in her "Don't want to hear it" manner.

"I think you and the doctor-"

An ungracious rustling sounded behind them and they turned around. The Cerberus informant stumbled out from Jacob's room, her hair dishevelled, wearing only a too large white shirt barely buttoned halfway up, her regular jumpsuit rolled up under her arm. She stopped the second she saw them, her mouth dropping in horror.

"I just remembered..." Garrus desperately racked his brain for an excuse to leave. "I forgot to do my special victory dance. I need to go back and finish it." He looked form the informant to his friend the atmosphere so tense he thought he'd have to cut his way through it to get to the bridge.

"Good talk...I'll uuh...See you."

~o~

"That's an interesting look," The commander said sternly where she stood next to Miranda staring up at the ceiling of the lift. Miranda buttoned the shirt not speaking.

"So, what, you and Jacob? Just like that?" There was resentment in the commander's voice. She swallowed ignoring the nervous sweat breaking out in her palms.

"That's a little rich coming from you," she said dismissively.

"This is bullshit, Miranda," Rue snapped angrily.

"Oh really? Because last time I checked, you thought this was perfectly normal? In fact, Rue, isn't this the exact behaviour of a secretary?" She spat venomously.

The commander opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again. Miranda felt resolve falter and she had to look away to keep the tears from falling.

"Ri," Rue sighed. "I came here to talk you."

She blinked away the stubborn tears, she refused to cry more. "At this hour? Hm? So that's it? You shag your little blue alien and then come running to me? Why? She not enough for you?" She raised her voice, hating herself for every word that came out of her mouth.

"Stop it!" Rue shouted. "What's gotten in to you?"

"I slept with Jacob!" Miranda shouted back. "Ok?!"

Rue looked as if she had just slapped her in the face. Then again she might as well have. The lift doors opened and she left the commander standing, still dumbstruck by her revelation. She ran as fast as she could, fleeing towards the confined space of her office. Once there she slammed the locks before leaning her back against the cold metal. She clutched at her chest with one hand, the other hand muffling her sobs as she slid down to the floor. The woman she loved was going to hate her, but this was how it had to be. For the good of the galaxy, for all their sake this was the only solution. Now that she remembered what had happened back on Earth and Doctor Chakwas had gotten the results back Miranda knew that she had to let Rue go.

~o~

"Are you sure about this?" Liara asked her.

"I am sure," she smiled. "Me and Miranda we...uh...We just wouldn't work out." Rue said as she ruffled through the papers on her desk. She hadn't spoken to the informant since their confrontation in the lift a few days earlier. They kept it professional amongst the others, but never once spoke in private anymore. They rarely spoke to each other during debriefs either, there wasn't really any need for it, besides what was she supposed to say? That she was partly to blame for how things ended? That she was gutted? That losing Miranda hurt more than she could have ever imagined. Her fingers graced something thick and she saw the photo they had taken in the bar one night. She clenched her jaws shoving it under a pile of papers.

"Ah, here it is," she said holding up an old magazine. She handed it over to Liara who looked a little perplexed.

"Err...Thank you. This is a wonderful gift. I'm so glad I scoured half a planet to get you your dog tags..."

Rue laughed. "Open it."

Liara did as she was told. The picture of a young asari smiling awkwardly into the camera looked up at them from the spread. "By the Goddess! How did you find this?"

Rue shrugged. "I found it at the Citadel in some shop selling old vintage stuff. I recognized her face and I thought of you. Figured you might like it."

Liara smiled. "My mother, just the way I remember her. She used to tell me about this magazine she was once in. Thank you, Rue." Liara placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Rue smiled and returned the kiss as she wrapped her arms around the asari's waist. "Are you sure you have to leave so soon?"

"I wish I didn't...trust me," Liara murmured into her kisses.

"Ok, but Tali wanted to say hi." She said walking with Liara towards the lift.

"Are you going to tell her?" Liara asked as the lift arrived.

"Yeah, I owe her that at least."

"Good luck, I'll wait for you in the mess once I've talk to Tali," Liara said giving her a quick kiss before she exited the lift.

Taking a deep sigh she walked up to the informant's office, clearing her throat before stepping inside.

Miranda sat behind her large desk seemingly lost in thought.

"Can we talk?" Rue asked politely.

"Oh," the informant said sounding surprised. "Of course," she stood up as she shut off the pad she'd been holding in her hand and put it down on the desk. "Do you want sit?" Miranda motioned for the chair. She shook her head, both of them remaining standing.

"I know things have been..." She paused slightly. "Weird lately." She looked at Miranda for any signs of remorse or anything, but the informant remained indifferent where she stood.

"I know I was a great part in how things turned out. I certainly didn't handle it well," Rue said earnestly. "And you were the bigger person in allowing me to figure things out, but..." She let her eyes lock with Miranda's. "I can't...you slept with Jacob. I know I'm in no position to judge, but I can't just act like it never happened. I can't forgive you, Miranda."

It hurt to speak the words she had rehearsed in her head. It had sounded so much better in her head than what it did now. Now the words sounded weak. She watched Miranda. The informant's face remained undaunted, but she could see Miranda's eyes grow increasingly damp.

"I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say. What did one say during a breakup anyway?

"Don't worry, Shepard, I...Understand." Miranda's gaze shifted and she took a deep breath. "You should go, she's waiting..." The informant's voice broke then and she lifted her hand towards her mouth.

Please don't cry. She hated the sight of Miranda crying and she took a step forward in an attempt to console her, but Miranda withdrew quickly waving her hands dismissively at her.

"No, don't...mind me. I'm fine, I just...I'm just tired." The informant's voice trembled when she spoke.

"Are you sure?" Rue asked. Miranda was lying. She knew the informant wasn't just tired.

Miranda nodded once, clearing her throat. "I'll see you around, Commander. I... hope the two of you find happiness."

Rue sighed. This wasn't how she had envisioned things. Parts of her had foolishly envisioned something far more romantic involving a white dress and little biotic children. Looking at Miranda where she sat she berated herself for letting things get to this point. They had had such a great shot at greatness, but it had just slipped right through her fingers. She gave the informant one last nod before turning to leave.

She heard the all too familiar sound of Miranda's doors closing as she walked up towards the asari. Liara wrapped her arms around her waist.

"You ok?"

"Yeah," she replied pulling Liara into her arms. "Come on, let's get you back to your new ship."

She kept her arm around Liara's neck as they moved towards the lift. No more secrets, no more surprises around the corner. Now all she had to do was to take out the Collectors then she was going to go on a long vacation. She had died and been brought back to life, surely the big guy in the sky couldn't have more curveballs to throw her way.

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THE END

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Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters, objects, places, names, items etc that you recognize belong to Bioware and so does my soul. This is just my way of showing the creators how much I love their work.

A/N: Ok, so...this is it. The final chapter of this story. I can't believe it's finally here. It's been a long journey here over the course of 3 years. My God I'm slow! Haha!

Now I know you guys have opinions on this last bit. Happy, sad, angry, did Rue pick the right person? And before you ask, yes, the sequel is in the works. Where we will find out, well, basically what happens next really. Is Rue and Miranda really over? What will Miranda do after the Suicide Mission? Why did Miranda sleep with Jacob?! What was the favour she wanted from him? And now that we all know she's pregnant how will that all end? And Miranda's father and Dr. Grenway what are they up to? So many questions left to ponder.

The sequel will be posted this weekend so keep your peepers pealed. ;)

Before I let you all go there is something I have to say:

THANK YOU all SO much for sticking with me and supporting me throughout this story! You have all been WONDERFUL and amazing with all your feedback, subscriptions, faves, reviews. This could not have been done without you guys. And to those of you who supported me when a crazy person started trolling this story it meant a lot and I am so grateful that you stood up for me. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Elm