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Two and a half years after the defeat of the Reapers
The large apartment on the Citadel had become a semi-permanent home for Ella and her family, at least while Dr. Chakwas insisted she stay on the station to monitor her physical and mental recovery. Downstairs in the darkened dwelling Shepard sat at her desk comfortable in her favorite tank top with one bare leg pulled into her chest, various scars visible wherever there was exposed skin. The light of the terminal reflected off the green in her eyes while her dark red hair fell loose past her shoulders and a warm smile crossed her face as she read the email,
From: Manava T'Khanna
I wanted to thank you, I know you must still be recovering so that you still went out of your way means more than you can possibly know. Lati smiled for the first time since the surgery while watching your match.
She’s always said you were more than just a soldier, that you’re a hero. Now I know the difference.
Thank you Commander.
As she finished the message she felt Liara drape herself across her shoulders, “Zia is finally asleep love, you should come to bed.” Liara nuzzled into Ella's neck showering it with kisses before the human turned to her wife and offered her lips instead.
“In a few minutes, I wanna respond to this email first.” Ella smiled as Liara sat down in her lap to read the message herself.
“This is about that Arena fight I told you was a bad idea.” Liara mildly scolded.
“Considering Garrus, James, and I broke the scoreboard I think my recovery is going quite well.” Shepard laughed.
“Yes, physically.” Liara rested her head on Shepard’s shoulder as concern crept into her tone, “Elle you still wake up screaming and shaking, your nightmares are getting worse and throwing yourself into a fight with Reapers, simulated or not was a bad idea.” She placed loving kiss on her bondmate’s forehead, “You need to let yourself heal, please for my sake, for Zia’s.” Shepard touched her forehead to Liara’s nodding as she did so.
“Ok sweetie, ok I’m sorry you’re right it’s just…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of Manava's daughter, “Her daughter just had a tumor removed and may have had her dreams of being a soldier dashed. I…” Shepard looked away feeling a burning behind her eyes, “Liara I know what it feels like to think your life has fallen to pieces, if me fighting in a simulation made this little girl happy how could I say no?” Despite her reservations Ella’s insistence only made Liara love her more.
“My Elle, always the hero" She smiled kissing her bondmate.
A grin crept across Ella’s features as an idea formed in her head, “What do you say we make this little girl’s day?
Several Weeks Later
Liara and Shepard stepped off the taxi, Zia fast asleep in the Asari’s arms as they made their way to the recently rebuilt Café on the Presidium. The message she had sent to Manava had instructed her to keep their plan a secret, Shepard wanted to surprise Lati herself. Off on the far end looking over the lake Shepard spotted an Asari, dark purple with blue markings wearing a pink and blue dress. Next to her was a young Asari girl, no more than thirteen and a lighter shade of purple with white markings, in a wheelchair wearing simple shirt and pants.
Ella grabbed Liara’s free hand and quickly made their way over, “excuse me,” The Commander tapped on the Asari’s shoulder, “you must be Manava" seeing her nod with a wide smile Ella turned to the young girl and knelt down, “which means you’re Lati.” It took a moment for the young girl to register who it was in front of her.
“You’re…” Lati's eyes went wide and with what strength she had flung herself into Ella’s arms for whatever hug she could manage.
“Oof" Ella grunted falling over and smiling as she held the young girl against her, “I guess that’s a yes.” She laughed as Liara struggled not to giggle.
“Why…but did you…?” Only a little star struck Lati struggled to ask the question burning a hole in her mind.
“I arranged this with your mom, she told me that you’re a fan and I asked if she thought you’d like to meet me and my family.” In her excitement Lati hadn’t noticed Liara standing right next to Shepard.
“You’re.....Goddess you’re pretty” Lati blurted out making Ella smirk at the purple flushing to her bondmate’s cheeks, “I, uh, I mean I’ve read a few of your studies and seen so many of your vids.” Shepard pushed herself back up and helped Lati back into her wheelchair.
Liara knelt down smiling as she spoke, “We wanted to come and see you, your mother mentioned your recovery has been difficult, that it was getting you a bit down.” She offered noticing Lati’s smile fade ever so slightly. Sitting down at the young girl’s feet Liara placed a calm hand on her knee, “You know being a hero isn’t about whether or not you can fling an enemy across the room. It’s the desire to help people, it’s finding a way to make someone else’s life better, even if it’s only a little bit.”
Ella chimed in, seeing the girl’s melancholy deepen slightly. “You know I’m here on the Citadel because I’m in recovery too right?” Lati raised a brow at Ella, “It’s true, I have horrible nightmares I sometimes waking up screaming or sobbing, we’re it not for Liara and Zia here I don’t know...” Lati tried to smile at Shepard
“But you’ve already saved everyone so many times, if I can’t even...” Lati pushed herself to try and lift her arm, she managed to a few inches but it was as if it was dead weight.
Shepard grabbed hold of the girl’s hand clasped her other hand on top of it, “Seems to me what you lack is some motivation,” feigning deep thought Shepard winked at Liara before turning back to Lati, “How about this, every few weeks you and I meet right here and we can talk about how things are going.” A childlike beaming smile stretched across Lati’s face as she turned to her mother
“Can I mom, please?!” Manava quickly nodded failing to stifle a few tears.
“Of course you can sweetheart.” Turning towards the human the Asari brought Ella into a fierce hug as she stood, “Thank you Commander,” she whispered as Ella felt a few warm tears fall to her shoulder.
“Of course, it’s nothing really, truth be told it’ll probably just as good for me,” Shepard offered smiling back towards Lati. “You know once you’re more recovered Liara and I may need someone reliable to babysit Zia every now and then.” Ella smiled seeing Lati’s mood continue to brighten, “think you can commit to recovering enough to do that for us?” Seeing Lati excitedly nod in agreement the group offered their goodbyes.
“Thank you both so much,” Lati beamed as the trio turned to head back to their apartment.