-Title Undecided- pt 3

A few days later the pair waited just to the edge of the landing area on their small island property, Sorcha all but bouncing on her toes as she waited for Liara's transport from the spaceport to land. When the door hissed open Sorcha squealed and rushed to hug the Asari stepping out of the shuttle.

"Li-Li!" the Irishwoman shrieked, squeezing her tightly. The other woman laughed and hugged her back.

"Sorcha, it is good to see you." Liara said, a fond smile on her lips. "And you as well, Garrus."

"Hi, Liara. Glad you could come. She hasn't been able to talk about anything else." Garrus teased, earning him a swat on the arm as Sorcha released Liara. "Let me help you with your ge-AUGH!" The Turian yelped in surprise and stumbled backwards as Liara's VI drone popped out of the ship just as he went to step into it. "Spirits, Glyph!"

"Greetings, Commander Shepard and Garrus Vakarian." Glyph chirped, bobbing around them. Liara frowned at the drone but could not help but join Shepard in laughing slightly. "I apologize if my appearance startled you." Garrus grumbled noncommittally and stuck his tongue out at the two for laughing as he stepped into the shuttle to grab some of Liara's things. Between the three of them they got what she had brought with her into the house fairly quickly.

"I'm surprised, Liara. I thought you'd have brought more of your...stuff." he commented as he sat the last of the bags down.

"Operative Feron is acting for Dr. T'soni at this time." the drone informed them. "I accompanied her to assist in keeping her appraised if a situation occurs that requires her attention."

"Feron insisted that I have a vacation and would not take no for an answer." Liara said, her cheeks tinging a slightly darker blue.

"How is Feron these days?" Sorcha asked, grinning broadly.

"He is fine, as I am sure he has told you. Really, Shepard." she chastised with a smile as the three of them settled into the living room chairs, Liara in a lounger and the other two curled up in a modified loveseat. "What kind of an information broker would I be if I didn't know who my agents were in contact with? But you didn't ask me to visit to talk to the Shadow Broker, did you?" Sorcha glanced at Garrus as she bit her lip nervously before sighing and wringing her hands.

"You always could see right through me, Li-Li. No, I don't need the Shadow Broker...I need my best friend." she confirmed, a nervous quaver in her voice.

"Sorcha, you know you are my sister in all but body. Ask me and if it possible I will do all I can to make it happen for you." she promised as she scooted to the edge of her chair, reaching across the floor to lay a hand on the other woman's leg. Sorcha bit her lower lip, worrying at it for a moment before speaking, or trying to. She opened her mouth a few times, barely managing to make a sound, before turning to look helplessly as Garrus.

"Sorcha told me an interesting story the other day, Liara. Apparently her grandmother didn't give birth to her mother, but she wasn't adopted." Garrus prompted helpfully, squeezing his mate's hand lightly. Sorcha smiled gratefully at him. She hadn't been sure how to breach the subject.

"Really? How is that possible? I mean, I thought your people's medical technology was still primitive around that time. Compared to where it is not that is." she asked, her interest piqued.

"Oh, it was. Sometimes I'm amazed we made it this far just because of looking at the tech from before we found the archives." Sorcha finally managed to say. "Back then if a woman couldn't have a baby for some reason another woman, preferably a close female friend, would have the other woman's fertilized egg implanted into her womb and she would carry the baby for her. They called the women "surrogate mothers." I'm not really sure who came up with it, but that's not the point. Anyways, for one reason or another Gran couldn't have kids. Oh, she was fertile enough, she just couldn't carry them. She miscarried two babies before she gave up hope, but then her best friend offered to carry a child for her. After she thought about it for a bit Gran agreed and nine months later, Ma was born. She was another Gran to my cousins and me; Gran ended up adopting some of the Shanxi orphans after that shyte-fest." she explained.

"Fascinating! I don't think I have ever heard of another species that has done such a thing." she exclaimed, shaking her head in amazement. "Mordin always did say that Humans were the most adaptable species he had ever seen. That is one example of why."

"Oh, it gets better, Liara. Just wait." Garrus piped up, watching the Asari's reaction.

"So anyway, surrogate mother gave birth to my ma and when Ma was growing up she had this friend...."

"Who later ended up having a pair of twins who each had a different father." he interrupted before shutting his mouth at the Look Sorcha gave him, his mandibles fluttering slightly.

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(Yeah, I know...pathetic place to cut it off, but that's where the muse stopped for the time being.)