Chapter Text
Ariadne Shepard was ready. She stood in the center of the Catalyst and took a step forwards. The Star Child had finished it's monologuing and left the decision up to her. She could take control of the Reapers, Synthesize organic and synthetic life, or Destroy them, alongside all other forms of synthetic life. Though it wasn't even a choice for Ariadne, the other options were just white noise after she was told she could destroy the reapers. So she staggered towards the power conduit, every step was agony but she grit her teeth and kept pushing forwards. As she began to take aim with her pistol. Victory was within reach, and she knew what it was going to cost. EDI, the ai who had become one of her closest friends. The Geth, a race of machines who she went out of her way to save, who were helping the Quarians rebuild on Rannoch. And herself, the Lazarus project made her partially synthetic, necessary to ressurect someone who was dead as her. So this was going to be her end as well.
But despite everything this would require her to sacrifice, Ariadne was unmoved. The woman who would have hesitated had died in this war. So she pulled the trigger.
And then she did again, and again. Each gunshot splintering the glass as she took a step forwards. Until she hesitated for a single shot. Thoughts of Liara entered her head, the promise she made to her. 'Marriage, old age, and a lot of little blue children.' A promise that she was never going to fulfill now. But the hesitation faded nearly as soon as it appeared. She wouldn't be a good father, her life had been shaped by war. She couldn't imagine a future for herself outside of it. So she fired the last shot and the Crucible fired.
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Liara T'soni was lost. She laid curled up on the bed in the Normandy's captains quarters, wearing an old N7 hoodie. The Normandy had crashed a week ago and she had been in this room for most of it. The room of Commander Ariadne Shepard, Hero of the Citadel, Savior of the Galaxy, and her bondmate. But she was nowhere to be found. The firing for the Crucible had disastarous consequences. The mass relays were severely damaged, the Normandy's systems had been fried, EDI was gone. And in the Normandy's desperate flight to escape the energy pulse they had abandoned any chance of saving her. Of course it wasn't a guarantee that she was dead, but most of the crew already acted like she was. And Liara could understand that line of thought. It was easier to just accept the most likely outcome no matter how painful than keep holding on hope for an unlikely better one.
But Liara couldn't bring herself to accept that she was dead. The thought of living for hundreds of more years without her, mourning the life they could have had was too painful. And the knowledge that she would have to raise their daughter alone, and that she'd only know her father through history books and statues hurt even more.
Liara's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. She looked up to see Ashley stepping in with a plate of food. Ever since Liara had stowed herself away in the cabin the rest of the crew let her mourn. Though they made sure to stop by with meals to check on her. It was most commonly Ashley or James, as they were the least involved in the ships repairs. The soldier stepped forwards and picked up the plate from the last meal off the nightstand before putting the new one down.
"Tali says progress with the engines is coming along well," Ashley said. "We should be able to take off in a few days. And Garrus has been able to get the comms working. We haven't gotten in contact with anyone yet but it's just a matter of time."
"Thank you," Liara replied. Referring to both the meal and the updates on the Normandy's repairs.
"No problem, we're all here for you," Ashley remarked. "If you need anything, feel free to tell us, we're all one push of a button away."
"I will." Right now what Liara needed right now was time and closure.
And with that Ashley silently left, leaving Liara once again with her grief and thoughts.
Tali's estimations were right, it didn't take long for the Normandy to be able to take off, navigation was online and they had started to move towards the Sol system. And in those days Liara had descended from the captains cabin. She did some work towards maintaining her presence as The Shadow Broker. But she left Glyph in charge of most of that. And for the rest of the time she had pulled up a chair in the Communications room where Garrus was tirelessly working.
"Found something else to calibrate Garrus," She commented with a small smile.
"Okay fine, I've said the word too much," The turian responded. "Is anyone going to let it go?"
"Well I can't speak for anyone else but I certainly don't intend to," The asari replied.
"It's good to see that you're up and well enough to make jokes then," Garrus said, chuckling a bit as he went back to combing through every galactic communication frequency he could think of. Waiting for something to respond until finally one day in the middle of his standard speech into a new frequency there was a response.
"This is Admiral Hackett speaking, we read you loud and clear Normandy."
With that Liara shot out of her chair as Garrus stood to attention. The exhaustion from the repetition of his task gone.
"We read you Admiral, we're making our way to the Sol system," He replied. "Whats happening over there?"
"We're making do, we've started work towards repairing the mass relays as soon as possible. The Turian and Quarian fleets have departed to start making work progress in other systems."
"Have you heard from Commander Shepard at all?"
There was a moment of silence and Liara feared the worst before Hackett spoke.
"She's alive but in intensive care," he said. "We managed to retrieve her from the ruins of the Citadel when we realized she was alive. But I can't promise she'll stay like that."
And with that Liara began to sob, tears of joy ran down her cheeks. Ariadne was alive, even if it was just for now. She was alive, and Liara had to get to her.
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The next time she died Ariadne hoped she was sent to a less painful afterlife. She didn't know what she expected after dying but blinding lights, an uncomfortable mask, and agonizing pain through every fiber of her being wasn't it. Though maybe this was what she deserved, she may have saved the galaxy but she wasn't exactly the best person while doing it, an endless cycle of swimming in and out of consciousness in this strange space may just be the specific punishment that she was given, it didn't make sense but who was she to question the whims of the universe.
But soon enough she realized what was happening, she came to full consciousness and blinked as the hospital room came into focus. The once muffled noises of activity outside and the heart rate monitor became clear and it was at that moment she knew, she was still alive. She tried to sit up only for the pain to worsen as she let out a cry of pain and resigned herself to staying in her current position. She looked down at her torso and saw that it was covered in bandages, bits of skin poked out from the white wrappings and it looked raw and irritated.
'That explains the agonizing pain' She thought as she looked around the rest of the room. It was nothing special, probably just whatever was still standing after the reapers were defeated. But she was alive, somehow despite all odds, she was still here, and she had no idea what to do with herself.
When the nurses realized she was conscious she had the situation explained to her in more detail. She'd been out for nearly 3 weeks after they found her body on the Citadel. Not dead but barely clinging to life. Ariadne was just glad that she hadn't died and lost two years of her life a second time. Then there were the mundane parts regarding her injuries, the synthetic parts of her body were struggling at first but had returned to functioning at normal levels. But her skin had been severely damaged. The blast from Harbinger had partially melted her armor, burning the skin before it began to cool and basically fused to her. Removing it required many delicate and difficult surgeries alongside a lot of medigel. She likely wasn't going to be capable of strenuous physical activities for a while now.
And after the nurse finished explaining everything, Ariadne only had one question.
"Where is The Normandy?"
"Umm, I don't know," the nurse replied.
"Then find me someone who does," Ariadne snapped.
"Ma'am, please calm down," the nurse said.
"I don't need to calm down I need to know where The Normandy is!"
The nurse was about to say something else to try and calm the angry Spectre before she watched the womans expression shift ever so slightly to the side and immediately soften. She looked behind her to see a blue Asari standing in the doorway. Her face awash in love and relief as not a single word was spoken between the Asari and her bondmate as Liara ran forwards and wrapped Ariadne in a hug as she began to cry.
"I thought I lost you."
Chapter Text
Ever since Liara landed on Earth she had been impatiently dealing with protocols. The war may have been over but even the galaxy being left in shambles wasn't enough to make The Alliance ignore it's precious procedure. No matter how obtuse and annoying they could be sometimes. But finally she was now at the hospital, politely following a doctor as they explained the specifics of Ariadnes condition until they were cut off by a voice echoing throughout the hallway.
"I don't need to calm down I need to know where The Normandy is!"
And upon hearing that Liara abandonded any adherence to politeness and protocols and took off down the hallway. Ariadne wasn't just alive, but she was awake. After all this time not knowing whether she was alive or dead. She could hear her voice, she was finally going to see her again. And she'd be damned if she waited any longer. She rounded a corner and saw through an open door the woman she was looking for. Sitting in the hospital bed, her torso covered in bandages, was Ariadne Shepard. Her normally well combed and swept back purple hair was messy and disheveled. Her face still bore the glowing orange scars from the lazarus project, scars she refused to have covered up or hidden. And her beautiful blue eyes were filled with rage as she glared at the nurse standing across from her as she readied another retort. And then she caught sight of Liara standing in the doorway and in an instant all her anger vanished. Her annoyed expression softened to one of pure relief as she stared at her bondmate.
Liara was overwhelmed with emotion at the sight, she really was alive, the woman she loved most in the galaxy was sitting in front of her, alive and well despite all odds. And there was only one thing Liara could do, embrace her bondmate and begin to cry.
She felt unsteady arms wrap around her and soft breath against her crest as Ariadne placed a kiss atop her head.
"I thought I lost me too."
Liara silently climbed onto the hospital bed, curling up next to Ariadne, and resting her head on her chest. Listening to the muffled sound of a heartbeat and slow breathing. Two signs that she was alive, and for her they were the most beautiful sounds in the galaxy right now.
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Never before had Ariadne been in so much pain while wanting to change nothing about her situation. She lay in her hospital bed with a sleeping Asari curled up next to her and she didn't know how to feel. She was alive, Liara was alive, and they were reunited. She should have been overjoyed right now. But she just felt empty and lost. She wasn't supposed to survive, she was supposed to die when the Crucible fired. Go out with the reapers. But she didn't, and now she was a soldier living past her war.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Ariadne was startled by a sudden voice as she looked towards the door to see Garrus standing in the doorway.
"Nothing much," Ariadne replied sarcastically. "Just my only moment of peace and happiness in the past several months."
"Good, nothing important then," the turian remarked as he walked in and took a seat in one of the few plastic chairs in the room.
"So I assume the Normandy's okay?"
"More or less, the Crucible fried it's systems for a bit, but we were able to get it back in working order after the crash."
"Wait the Normandy crashed?"
"Long story, not very interesting."
"My ship crashed, I'd say that's an interesting story."
"Fine, don't say I didn't warn you."
Garrus then explained the aftermath of the Crucible firing. The Normandy's escape and subsequent crash. The process of restoring the ship and how Liara refused to put her name on the memorial wall.
Ariadne silently listened and nodded along. And when Garrus finished she had one question to ask.
"And what about EDI?" She knew what the response was going to be, but if she survived she had hope the starchild might have been wrong.
"After the Normandy crashed, she vanished," Garrus replied. "Wasn't responding to anything, the ai core was irreprably damaged, her mobile platform ceased functioning. She basically died."
The turian examined his friends somber expression and it took him only a few seconds to put some of the pieces together.
"That information wasn't a surprise to you."
Ariadne sighed before she met Garrus' eyes.
"What I'm about to tell you, you will tell no one else."
"Are you sure this wasn't just a coma dream?" Garrus asked, sitting in silence
Ariadnes glare quickly informed the turian that his joking was not appreciated.
"Sorry, it's just that everything you just said sounds completely outlandish."
"I know, I wouldn't believe me either," Ariadne replied. "But it happened, I promise you."
"Don't worry, I trust you," He said. "And I won't breathe a word of this to anyone else."
"Good, now lets talk about something else," Ariadne remarked. "I've definitely got the worse scars now."
"With the state you're in I don't think I want to try and contest that."
"Smart bir-." Ariadne was cut off by a loud knocking on the door.
"Yo Vakarian, we good to come in or do the Lovebirds need more alone time?"
With James' sudden interruption, Ariadne and Garrus just looked at each other and laughed.
"We're good Vega, so get your ass in here," Ariadne said with a grin as the door opened and the crew of the Normandy began to pile in. The once quiet hospital room was flooded with noise and Ariadne heard a small half awake grumble come from Liara as she buried her face into her chest.
"Hey settle down, this is a hospital," She barked. Ignoring the fact that she was yelling in a hospital not too long ago.
The rabble of noise quieted and the rest of the crew noticed the half asleep asari clinging to the Spectres chest. Prompting a mix of snickers, groans and awws from those assembled. And now a slightly quieter reunion commenced and Liara happily returned to sleep.
Chapter Text
Ariadne was once again left alone in her hospital room. Well mostly alone, a certain Asari had slept through the entire reunion and Ariadne would be damned if she let hospital staff ruin her bondmates rest. So as the sun began to set Ariadnes forced smile faded. She was happy to see her friends again, but with their relief of seeing her alive. She didn't want to ruin that by showing her real emotions. The fact that she didn't think she should still be alive, that she deserved to keep going. How after all this war and death, she had no idea how to find a way to live peacefully. Though this true expression only lasted for a few minutes as she heard Liara begin to stir.
"How long was I asleep?"
"You were passed out for a while," Ariadne answered. Wearing her best attempt at a false smile. "But I made sure no one disturbed you."
"My hero," Liara said as she gently kissed the human woman. "Are you doing ok? I heard from the nurses about your condition."
"Well everything hurts and I can't fully feel my legs. But I'm feeling better now that you're here."
"I guess I should inform the hospital staff that my proximity is vital to your continued recovery," Liara remarked with a small chuckle. "But how are you really doing? And I'm not asking about your injuries this time."
Ariadne let her smile fall at the question. She knew there was no point in hiding anything from Liara. She could read her like an open book.
"I knew that firing the Crucible would destroy all synthetic life," She replied with a tired sigh. "And I knew that due to the Lazarus project, a not insignificant amount of me is synthetic."
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Liara began to comfort her bondmate before she spoke again.
"It's not just that, I knew all that and it didn't make me hesitate for even a moment," Ariadne said. "I knew it was going to genocide the geth a species that had just made peace with the rest of the galaxy, and I didn't care. I knew it was going to kill EDI, one of our closest friends and Jokers girlfriend and I didn't care. And I was willing to die there, because I thought that someone who would pay those costs without a second thought. Wasn't someone who could live outside war."
Liara looked up at Ariadne with an expression full of love and care as she gently stroked her bondmates cheek. And there was a moment of silence as she considered her next words carefully.
"Are you saying, you don't want to be alive right now?"
"No, it's not that. It's just, I don't think that the woman who came out the other end of the war against the reapers. Is one who would be suited for a quiet, peaceful life."
"The life of Marriage, Old age, and a lot of little blue children?"
"Yeah that," Ariadne replied. "I've devoted the last year of my life to fighting, to destroying the reapers, fueled by such raw hatred and rage. What kind of person does that make me? And what kind of father would that person become?"
"It would make you the kind of father who would do whatever it takes to keep her children safe," Liara answered. "I know you Ariadne, you were angry but not without reason. You weren't fighting to destroy, you were fighting to protect."
"The sentiment sounds nice, but I'm not sure I really believe it," Ariadne sighed.
"Well how about this then?" Liara replied. "You don't have to believe it, just know that I do. And the entire crew of the Normandy does. And the entirety of the Galaxy does."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The fact that such an overwhelming majority opposed her belief helped dissuade her current thoughts. It wasn't enough to fully banish them, but it was a step in the right direction.
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The next several weeks Ariadne spent in extensive Physical Therapy. Starting with simple exercises of her hands and moving on to beginning to walk again. The injuries she'd recieved had left a significant toll on her body. Her body had been practically engulfed in scar tissue, the fact that she could even stand this early in her recovery was practically a miracle. But despite the difficulties she pushed forwards. And she was accompanied every step of the way by Liara. The Asari had practically started living in the hospital room alongside her bondmate. And of course the other crew members of the Normandy stopped by when they had the time.
"Damn Lola, I knew the Doc missed you but I didn't know she'd be leaving you like this."
James stood in a doorway watching as Ariadne struggled to walk forwards with the aid of a set of parallel bars.
"Oh shut it Vega," She replied with a small chuckle.
"I feel sorry for everyone else here," Garrus remarked as he peered into the room as well. "These rooms definitely aren't soundproofed."
"You two becoming friends has to be one of the worst things that's ever happened to me."
"Well where's it ranking?" The turian asked. "On a scale of, 'dying' to 'that time you forgot to turn off your comms before dirty talk'."
"I'd say around, 'learning the existence of thermal clips.'"
"Damn, I'm honored to be that high up there Lola."
"It should be illegal to torment someone in this much pain," Ariadne groaned.
"We'll make it up to you when you're outta here," Garrus said. "Head out for a night on the town."
"That sounds good, you two are paying though," Ariadne replied.
"Well that's just cold Lola."
"I saved the god damn galaxy, I'm allowed to be as cold as I damn well please."
The three friends laughed at the remark as James and Garrus said their goodbyes and returned to their duties outside the hospital. And eventually Ariadne was cleared to leave the hospital. Of course she was going to be returning regularly for continued physical therapy, but she didn't need to be monitored as heavily now and was free to stay somewhere else. So she and Liara exited the building. Ariadne walking with a set of crutches and leg braces to compensate for the muscle weakness as a result of the burns.
"Ah, fresh air and sunlight," She remarked. "I'd almost forgotten about these."
"Oh don't be dramatic," Liara remarked. "I watched you take walks in the courtyard."
"Yeah, but something about freedom just makes them feel so much more refreshing."
"You've been released from the hospital not prison."
Ariadne just chuckled as they hailed a taxi to take them to the space port. With the state the galaxy was in there wasn't exactly many spare apartments just lying around. So instead Ariadne was going to return to the normandy's captains quarters for the remainder of her stay. As she walked into the familiar room and proceeded to collapse on the bed.
"Ah, there's that sweet mostly uncomfortable alliance issue matress."
"For someone who complains so often about the bed, you sure make good use of it," Liara commented as she walked over and lied down next to her.
"Well I have such great company," Ariadne replied with a smile as she stared over at her bondmate.
Liara smiled at her remark before taking a deep breath.
"There is something I have to tell you," She said.
"Okay, I'm all ears."
"Well it might be easier to show you this," Liara said as she held out a hand and Ariadne understood immediately as she took the Asari's hand in hers.
"Embrace Eternity."
The two consicousnesses melded into one, thoughts and memories flowing freely between them like water. Liara could see the memories of the Starchild, feel the anger Ariadne felt through the war. But she dared not dig deeper. This was not the purpose of this meld, so instead she showed the memories and knowledge she needed to. That last kiss before the final push on earth, and exactly what she did during that meld.
Ariadne's eyes flew open in shock as the meld ended, the new information practically sending her mind haywire.
"You're pregnant."
Liara nodded in response.
"I'm gonna be a father."