The Reaper War was over, at long last. The galaxy was rebuilding, trying to restore society to how it was before the Reapers came. Not just physically, but in the hearts and minds of those who had witnessed it. Many were left mentally scarred, having seen so much death and destruction in just a few short months. One such woman who was left scarred was Commander Jane Shepard, commanding officer of the Normandy SR-2. She suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and survivor's guilt.

It was late, probably around two or three in the morning, and Shepard was still awake. Her bondmate, Liara T'Soni, however, slept soundly on the bed that the two shared. Jane sat at her desk, orange light from her private terminal shining bright in the darkness. Her eyes were bloodshot and below them were two large dark circles. She was exhausted, horribly so, yet she couldn't sleep, try as she might. She stared at her screen, toiling away at work for the next day, as she had nothing else to do. Her eyelids were heavier than lead and Shepard could barely keep them open, but even when they did close, she was only asleep for but a few precious seconds before she roused herself.

Each time Shepard briefly fell into slumber, she woke with a start, which took the form of a loud-ish gasp. One of these such times, Liara was woken by Shepard's sudden noise. She stepped out of bed and over to Shepard, who didn't notice the blue Asari approaching. Liara wrapped her arms around her bondmate from behind.

"Can't sleep?" Liara asked thoughtfully.

Shepard looked back at Liara and gave weak smile. "Yeah."

"Come back to bed, my love."

"Anything for you, Liara." Shepard closed her terminal and stood up. Liara guided her back to their bed and lied her down.

"I'll stay up with you, dear." The Asari pulled the covers up and hugged her ginger companion tightly.

"I love you, so much, Liara." Jane said softly and hugged Liara back, resting her head on the blue alien's shoulder.

"I love you, too, Shepard. Now please sleep; for me."

"Anything for you…."

Liara rubbed Shepard's back until she fell asleep an hour later, at which, the Asari drifted off as well.

Shepard's dreams had been horrifying and that night would be no different. I am the very model of a scientist Salarian… Shepard heard. She stood in the black, dead forest, which was no longer black and dead, nor did the child still appear there. It was lush and the sun shined bright through the trees. I've studied species Turian, Asari, and Batrarian….Mordin.That night, she remembered Mordin. I'm quite good at genetics as a subset of biology…. Shepard fell to her knees and the forest began turning black and dead once more. The memories were getting to her. And I am an expert (which I know is a tautology)…. The sounds of Reaper destroyers began blaring in her head. My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian, I am the very model of….

Shepard woke with a start and looked at the clock on her nightstand. 6:55, it read. Liara still slept peacefully in her arms, her breathing steady. Jane eased herself out of bed and lied down on the ground, and started doing sit-ups, sweat slowly forming on her forehead as her repetitions neared one hundred. Once she reached one hundred, she adjusted her position and began doing pushups.

Liara woke with a loud yawn and looked around the room for her bondmate. Once her eyes found the red-haired woman doing pushups on the hard floor, her expression brightened. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Morning, Liara." Shepard half-grunted.

The Asari got out of bed and started dressing in her white and blue suit, then sat cross-legged in front of Shepard, admiring her beauty, but mainly her breasts, which were on full display.

Shepard finished and stood up, then wiped her forehead off with a washcloth. She took a quick shower, then the two lovers went down hand-in-hand to Deck Three to have breakfast. The rest of the crew was there, eating and talking amongst themselves. The two women sat next to Ashley Williams, who had her own mental problems to deal with and without a partner for her to lean on for support, she wasn't dealing with her issues as well as she could.

Liara took the seat next to Shepard, who had taken the seat next to Ashley.

"How are you feeling, Williams?" Shepard asked and put a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Fine." She lied and nursed a cup of black coffee.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm… I'm… not…."

"It's alright, Ashley; we're here for you." Shepard squeezed Ashley's shoulder.

"I didn't sleep. Couldn't."

"You're not the only one."

"You get to sleep with someone. I have to sleep in the crew quarters on a tiny bunk under Engineer Daniels, who, it turns out, snores. Loud. Very, very loud."

"I'm sorry, Ash. I wish there was something I could do to help you."

"There might be a way to help her." Liara whispered into Shepard's ear.

"What is it?" Shepard whispered back.

"Let's talk about it in my room." The two went off into the old XO office, which was where Liara slept before she and Shepard stared sharing a room. Once inside, they locked the door. "You know how we both wouldn't mind adding a third woman to our relationship?"

"Yeah." Shepard said skeptically. "Are you saying that we-"

"Invite the Lieutenant-Commander to be a part of our relationship? Yes."

"I don't know…"

"She's lonely and needs support and has shown interest in both of us in the past. I do not see how this could fail."

"I suppose we could try…. But, you have to ask her; I get so anxious…."

Liara pulled the commander into a warm embrace. "Of course, my love."

They went back into the mess and invited Ashley up to Shepard's quarters. The three of them went up to Deck One.

They walked into the small room. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Ashley asked.

Liara begins. "Ashley, we invited you up here to ask you if… if… if you're willing to be a part of our relationship." She asked with a purple blush on her face.

Ashley was silent for some time before she opened her mouth to speak.