Chapter Text
Warm rays of British Columbian sunrise crept lazily through the balcony glass door into the master bedroom, and onto the queen bed, standing in the middle of the room.
The bedsheets stirred slightly, and an annoyed groan escaped from underneath.
“Goddess, I thought you would’ve gotten used to this by now,” a voice echoed through the open bathroom door tucked away in the far right corner of the room.
“Ugh…” was the only sound Shepard could muster in response.
Liara’s melodic laugh reverberated against the walls of the spacious bedroom. “Please John, the physiotherapy sessions won’t complete themselves, and you’re an hour late already.”
“Liara, it’s only been a week since they’ve stopped giving me stims.” He replied with a tired tone. “I’ve been feeling like a car crash victim the whole time.”
Mustering all the willpower and physical strength he could find at that moment, he tossed the sheets to the side and sat up.
“Besides, my physical therapist keeps pushing me way beyond my physical limits, even while knowing that I won’t be able to fully recover in time for the next session.”
He lifted up his arms and rubbed his eyes. His right felt like it was filled with lead, while his left, while still weak, seemed to be much more capable. The mix of cybernetics and synthetic muscle sure made a fine replacement to his lost organic appendage.
Liara appeared at the threshold of the bathroom door with a towel covering her body from the chest down almost to the knees. Her lips shaped into a smirk, she shot back with a mock scolding tone: “Is that so?”
Shepard’s brain, still adjusting to being awake and aware, didn’t seem to pick up on the implication in her words.
“Gosh, Liara, you’ve seen it first-hand. Honestly, I don’t know what the docs were thinking stopping the meds. I’m still very far away from not being a cripple.”
He moved to the side of the bed, feet touching the soft carpet flooring. Then, rolled over on his stomach and struggled to prop himself up with his arms.
“Uh, any help would be much appreciated!” he half-yelled in a light, sarcastic tone.
“John, this is the eight consecutive time you’ve asked me for help from this exact position…” Liara chuckled from behind him.
“Uh, yeah, because I’m damn useless at this. How the hell do they throw someone, who spent over a year not moving at all, to the wolves, and then expect them to start doing everything on their own in a matter of months!?” A frustrated sigh escaped through his nostrils. “I’ve got the movement and the energy of someone with motor neuron disease, and for some reason, my pleas for help keep being ignored. Even by my wife. Or is putting your husband down just another strange asari cultural quirk that I wasn’t aware of?”
She laughed again. “Those are some very heavy accusations, Commander . Though, I have to say, you make for a terrible liar.”
“Ugh, here we go again.” He complained, his voice muffled since he had pressed his face into the bedsheets while she was talking.
“These complaints and pleas only come through when you have to get out of the bed in the morning.”
Her biotics flared, gently lifting Shepard up from the bed and standing him up on his feet. However, he quickly lost his balance and sat back down.
“Your biotics are well and good, but they won’t give me the energy required to move about on my own, y’know?” he said sarcastically. “I need those damn stims.”
“I don’t remember you complaining even once about the lack of energy when you wanted to get it on in the evening, though!” Liara shot back, crossing her arms over her chest.
“C’mon Liara, the doctor did say that mornings would be tougher for me for a while, because my muscles are still getting used to physical activity. They need to warm up every morning after staying still for hours.”
He finally rose to his feet and stumbled to the wheelchair which was standing nearby.
“And don’t tell me you don’t enjoy those evenings. I may be disabled, but I distinctly remember you telling me that sex–” He plopped down onto the chair with a groan. “--was amazing.”
“Or is there something you’re not telling me?” He asked with a smirk.
Shepard was about to continue with something funny, but was cut off by Liara bending down and meeting his lips with her own. They parted after a few moments, which had felt like heaven, and Liara pulled her head back to gaze into him with her blue eyes.
“John, I–” just like before with him, her words got interrupted by a kiss as Shepard wrapped his hands around her neck and pulled her back towards himself. He gave her lips a couple of quick pecks before going back for a third and slipping his tongue in her mouth. The usually light stubble he sported had grown into a beard, and the coarse facial hair tickled the soft skin of her face slightly.
“I– it was amazing, John.” She stammered out with a shy smile after Shepard loosened his grip.
“What was?” he asked smugly, placing his forehead against hers.
“The sex, the foreplay, the kisses, this. Well… everything.” she answered in almost a whisper.
“I’m glad that my abilities still hold up in your estimations, Doctor T’Soni.” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “Still room for improvement, though. Nothing that a few morning sessions couldn’t fix, right?”
“You’d make a great salesman, you know?” she giggled.
“Really? I recall you calling me a terrible liar just minutes ago.”
“Good salesmen don’t have to lie, John. They can either show off their services, or present them in a manner which makes them more attractive to a potential customer.”
“Oh? And which am I?”
“A bit of both.” Liara said. “Nothing that can’t be improved …” Biting her lip.
“I take it we’ve found a deal, then?” he asked, caressing her cheeks.
“We have.” She said, and kissed him once again.
They stayed quiet for a while basking in each other’s presence, until Liara brought up her omni-tool and a gasp of surprise escaped her lips.
“Let me guess, no rehab with the physio today?” Shepard asked, feigning sadness.
“Well, you’re over an hour late by now.” Liara responded in a mock-irritated tone. “What will your excuse be, John Shepard?”
“That we’ve managed to find some alternative forms of rehab.” he said with smugness now back in his voice.
Liara laughed and moved behind him to push the wheelchair towards the door.
“And what about the stims?” she asked. They had now reached the kitchen.
“Alternative forms of medicine.”
She couldn’t manage to stifle a snort coming through her. “Goddess, I love you so much, John.”
“Love you too. Thanks for getting me out of bed, again.” He paused, before continuing sincerely. “And thank you for allowing me to get here. I couldn’t, wouldn’t have done it without you, without your love, your care. Thank you for everything.”
She had heard his words of affection, of how grateful he was to her, many times. But each time he said them, it never failed to fill her heart with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and push her on the verge of tears. Happy ones.
Sensing her hesitation, Shepard turned his head, and caressed the knuckles of her hand.
“C’mon Liara, let’s make something for breakfast,” he said with that heart-melting smile of his.
***
Liara was in bliss.
She resisted the urge to open her eyes, and instead, basked in the warm rays of Thessian sunshine gently touching her face.
After a while of taking in the tranquil atmosphere and listening to herself breathe, she opened her eyes, and lazily turned her head to the side.
She caught a glimpse of the man next to her, who hadn’t yet woken up from his afternoon nap. John’s lips were parted slightly, a light snore escaping them once in a while. She admired the peaceful expression on his face for a few moments until her eyes drifted down his body.
His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, bringing a small asari, lying on top, with it, as fast asleep as her father. Her lips tightly shut, small hands unconsciously clenching the folds of John’s t-shirt as if her life depended on it. Little Benezia, despite being just two, was surprisingly calm for her age, and loved her afternoon naps as much as her parents did.
It had become a weekend tradition of sorts for them. Having lunch together, struggling to get Benezia to eat her vegetables, and finally going back to the bedroom to rest for a few hours.
John would have to go back to his cushy desk job at an Alliance office, and she – to teach at the University of Armali, eventually.
But all that would come later.
They weren’t in a hurry at present, and Liara wondered what they would do in the evening. Maybe go out to eat at a fancy restaurant? Or perhaps take little Benezia to play at the local park? She’d have to ask John about it once he woke up. But for now, she was content with just a little daydreaming.
She rolled onto her side and shifted closer to John, taking his hand into hers, and enjoying the warmth it radiated.
Maybe the foolish dreams and plans she’d made all those years weren’t so foolish after all.