“Mom, another story! Please!” Benezia’s voice was insistent, her eyes wide as she clutched her blanket. Liara smiled softly, shaking her head. “Benezia… I’ve already told you three stories tonight. That’s quite enough for one evening.” Aveline groaned, and Benezia let out a dramatic whine. Hope, predictably, had been asleep since the first story had barely begun. “Liara,” Glyph’s voice cut in, calm and measured, “sleep deprivation negatively affects energy levels and may impede cognitive and physical development.” Liara gave a small laugh, glancing at her assistant. “Yes, Glyph. Precisely. Hope has already fallen asleep, and as I’ve explained multiple times, your father’s first mission… while noteworthy… is hardly the sum total of his accomplishments.” Benezia tilted her head, eyes shining with admiration. “But he was so young… and he saved everyone.” Aveline nodded eagerly. “It’s like he always knows what to do. He joined the Alliance as a teenager… maybe I could do something like that too?” Liara’s brow lifted. She took a breath, careful to temper her instinctive protectiveness. “When I say I want you both to find your own paths… this is not quite what I meant. Your father and I… we fought for the chance for you three to have choices, to explore your own potential. There are many ways to contribute, many ways to be… extraordinary.” She paused, realizing how tense she sounded, and let out a soft sigh. “Still… whatever you choose, I will support you. Always.” Leaning down, Liara pressed a gentle kiss to each girl’s forehead. They giggled, squirming happily. She tucked Hope in last, planting a soft kiss on her tiny forehead. “Good night, my little explorers,” she whispered. “Good night, Mom!” the twins said together before curling under the covers. Liara deactivated Glyph and made her way to the bedroom she shared with Shepard. He was engrossed in an article on his omni-tool. “It’s… unusual to see you reading something that intently,” she said softly, a teasing note in her voice as she changed into her nightgown. “What has captured your attention so fully, Commander?” she asked, sliding into bed beside him, settling against his side. Her hands folded gently in her lap as she regarded him with that mixture of curiosity and warmth Liara often reserved for Shepard.