A/N: I was watching some fan vids of ME and remembering how horribly tragic it all is, so I decided to give even more people "happy ever after's." So prepare yourselves for some crazy happy endings in the next couple chapters.

Chapter 50

"Liara?"

"Yes, love?"

Shepard couldn't help but grin when she heard the well-sexed tone in Liara's voice. They were currently sprawled naked on their bed after quite a vigorous "session" while their girls played outside with Aethyta. Their last conversation about an open relationship had been over a year ago, but still it was nagging at Shepard.

"I . . . I can't share you. Not while I'm alive, anyway. I would never be so ridiculously selfish as to demand you never be with anyone else when I'm gone."

Liara tilted her chin and began ghosting kisses along Shepard's neck and jawline. "I know, my love. Honestly I'm not even sure why you brought it up. Contrary to what the propaganda of Earth may have told you about the asari, we aren't a bunch of depraved sex demons."

"That's not what I meant!" Shepard started indignantly, but Liara silenced her with a light laugh.

"I was teasing. But I do think you have a few misperceptions about asari. We are a communal race, but we can be just as monogamous, if not more so, than humans. I have known asari who have bonded for hundreds of years. I don't know many humans who can stay monogamous for more than ten years at most. I don't feel like I would be 'missing out on something' just because we don't welcome someone else to our bed, Shepard."

Shepard lightly stroked Liara's cheek with her thumb. "I just don't want you to be alone, Liara. I left you alone once and I never want to do that again. Goddess . . . I still remember that day you came to the Normandy after we defeated the Shadow Broker like it was yesterday. It was the first time I saw you cry. I've hurt you so much, Liara . . ."

"Shepard, stop. Life, the war, the Reapers hurt me. Not you. Never you. Where is this coming from, love? That was a long time ago. Haven't we moved passed this?"

An aching yearning came over Shepard's face. "I don't want to leave you alone, Liara. I don't ever want you to be alone."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but we do have three daughters, don't we?"

Shepard chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Well yes, I suppose, but they'll be grown by then."

Liara exhaled a dramatic sigh and sat up so she could look into Shepard's eyes. "Shepard. Asari spend most of their maiden years with their mothers. I would have spent much, much more time with Benezia if she would have let me. But she was a matriarch with no time for a child. But I am a young matron with a lifetime to spend with my children. A lifetime I intend to spend with our children. Our daughters are a part of you. Do you really think I would ever give that up?"

It was only when Liara finished speaking that Shepard realized there were tears in both their eyes. Shepard sniffed and roughly brushed away her tears around another soft chuckle. "Well when you put it that way, I guess I can feel a little better about my eminent death."

Liara rolled on top of Shepard and planted a fierce kiss on her lips. "You have this bad habit of killing the mood when you say things like that. Quit it, or I will have to start punishing you every time you do."

Shepard's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Oh?"

Liara pinned Shepard's hands above her head and a moment later Shepard found herself quite Omni-cuffed to the bed. "Yes. Now not another word out of you, Commander. You might ruin the mood, and then I'd have to gag you too."

Shepard arched an eyebrow. "And you call me kinky."

Liara bit Shepard's lower lip. "Hush."

A few days later, Shepard found herself wandering down to the flower garden in search of Falere. She stopped short when she heard voices coming somewhere near the Thessian lilies. It took her a moment to recognize the voice, but when she did, she rushed down the path toward them.

"Sha'ira?" Shepard said, and smiled when the two came into view. Her eyebrow shot up when she saw Falere And Sha'ira holding hands and looking for all the world like they were about to kiss.

They pulled away and Falere blushed quite prettily, though Sha'ira looked quite a lot less apologetic about being caught.

"Shepard!" Sha'ira greeted her with a huge hug. "It is good to see you, old friend."

"What took you so long?" Shepard demanded after pulling back from the embrace. "I was beginning to think you died in the war."

"I had some business to attend to," Shai'ra shot back. "Believe it or not, Shepard, you're a difficult person to find. I found you through Falere. I contacted the Ardat-Yakshi research facility sometime ago. It's where I met Falere. When I found out she was living with you, I came as soon as I could."

Shepard folded her arms. "Well you could have called, you know."

Sha'ira smiled. "Still the same old Shepard, I see."

Shepard chuckled. "Yeah you're probably right. So you two . . .?"

Falere blushed even harder, but Sha'ira's smile only widened. "Still as perceptive as ever, I see. I've been easing Falere into a sexually active lifestyle, if that's what you're asking."

"Ardat-Yakshi such as myself have been finding some difficulty adjusting to an intimate lifestyle and Sha'ira and I . . . we . . . she . . ." Falere stumbled over her words, her face now a shade of plum.

Shepard laughed and pulled the mortified asari into her arms. "I couldn't be happier for your, Falere. You deserve all the happiness in the world. And four hundred years of sex to catch up on."

Sha'ira laughed while poor Falere continued to blush. "I'm doing my best to get her caught up," Sha'ira said, kissing Falere's temple.

Shepard kissed Falere's cheek. "Well let me know if we need to make more room for you to move in, Sha'ira. My door is always open to you."

A sly smile worked its way to her lips. "Shepard, you read my mind."