Chapter 5

"Okay a little more to the left…now just up a little…perfect! No wait, it's slanted a bit…there we go."

"You know Lia this is going to be interesting, people will come into our home and inquire us about our beautiful paintings. 'Where did you acquire these lovely pieces?' they will ask."Jakob pointed to different paintings around the house. "I won that one in an auction, I found that in a yard sale, I bought this in an art gallery, a friend gave it to me. But this beauty…" He rubbed the frame of the one he just hung up. "A drunk elcor made it for me and my significant other since he was so emotionally touched by our love."

"Yes, quite the story!" She giggled. "I can't believe an elcor could paint like this! I can't believe he did an excellent job while he was drunk either."

"Maybe the two cancel each other out."

"Maybe. It's beautiful nonetheless, weird, but beautiful. You never did tell me what the original piece was called."

"American Gothic. It's supposed to have these two old, ugly looking humans, but instead it has our sexy selves."

"Yes indeed." Jakob had started to climb down the ladder but stopped on the first rung when he heard a deep creaking noise. He waited a bit and looked around, he shrugged his shoulders and continued down. There was another creaking noise upon stepping on the next rung. He slowly moved his foot to the next step when the one he was currently on snapped.

"Shit!" He quickly shouted as he fell. His eyes were clenched as well as his jaw, the left eye opened and looked around. Both eyes were now open as he became aware he wasn't hurt. He looked down and saw Lia's arms were under his own. He looked up and saw her luminescent eyes staring back at him. From the way her cheeks were raised, he could tell she was smiling.

"Okay baby?"

"Baby? That's new." He chuckled. "Yeah, I'm fine." The two shifted around to where her left arm was around his neck and his upper body was in her lap. "So this is what it would look like if I was our kid."

She lightly slapped his face. "You shouldn't make jokes like that." She caressed where she previously laid her hand.

"A guy can dream can't he?" He in turn rubbed the side of her helmet and her veil. He slowly progressed down her head to her arm. He continued down her arm until he reached her hand. He removed it from the side his face and placed several kisses on it. He brought up his right arm and fondled her hand in both of his.

"It's a dream worth dreaming." She cooed as she laid her visor against his forehead.

"I love you Lia."

"I love you too, Jake." She brought her legs out from under him and laid him to the ground. She lied down and embraced him. She again had her left arm behind his neck, while her right was across his chest. He was rubbing her arm with his left and her back with his right. He applied a firm pressure so she could feel it through her suit. His touch was like nothing else for her, the time between now and when she would actually be able to share herself with him was eating her away. She ordered the supplies she needed over the extranet, but it would take a week or two before they actually arrived. She plans on not telling him about it though, she wants it to be a surprise gift for him. Just the thought of waking him up one morning with a kiss gave her goose bumps.

"Hey Lia?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Whenever you do find a way out of your suit, do you think you can tell me ahead of time?"

'Damn it Jakob, are you reading my mind or something!?' Her voice was upset and shaky. "Do you mind if I ask why?"

"I was just thinking since it would be your first time out your suit and the first time you're uh…" His face became red. "With someone…I just wanted to make that day absolutely perfect for you."

"Oh, I see."

Jakob sensed something was wrong with her. "Lia please don't think I'm rushing you, I just wanted to go ahead and tell you so whenever you find out how and when you're ready you would know."

"No! I know you're not rushing me, you would never do that, it's just…I wanted it to be a surprise, but I don't want to take this away from you."

"I'm sorry Lia, I shouldn't have said anything. I really do appreciate the thought though. That would have been the greatest surprise ever."

"It's okay Jakob, I think I would rather have the perfect day with you anyway."

"I'm glad. As comfortable as this floor is, do you mind if we continue this on the couch?"

"No problem." She got up and assisted him in standing. She walked over to the couch and took a seat while Jakob headed over to his broken ladder.

"Why did I use wood? Lord knows how old this thing is. I'm going to run outside real quick and throw this away."

"Okay." She watched him as he walked outside. She then lied down and closed her eyes, fantasizing about that day to come, among other things. The weight of him on top of her, the heat radiating off his body, the pressure of his lips on hers. The daydream was interrupted by the feel of a five-fingered hand massaging her foot. She opened her eyes to see her love on the far end of the couch. "That feels…so good." She moaned.

"Whether they're human or not, women just love foot rubs." He continued massaging her foot, loosening all the muscles. He gave both of her front toes a kiss and a small nibble on the outer toe near her ankle.

She started to giggle uncontrollably. "Don't do that! It tickles!"

He smirked, "Oh does it now?" He wiggled the little toe with his index finger and his thumb. Lia was dying of laughter and begging him to stop.

"Jakob please!"

"I'm sorry! I love the sound of your laughter too much!" She eventually freed her foot from his grasp and afterwards she gave him an evil glare. Jakob realized he had sealed his fate. She pounced on him and ran her fingers very quickly back and forth on his chest and rib cage. His laughter was filling the large room, "No Lia! Please stop!"

"I'm sorry! I love the sound of your laughter too much!" She teased

"I love you so much!" He shouted as he bear hugged her. She managed to free her arms and she wrapped them around his neck.

She giggled in response, "I love you so much too!" They rolled around in what little space they could, continuing to laugh. They stopped for a moment to stare into the others eyes before they buried their heads into the others shoulder and tightly squeezed. She sat up and he followed. They both threw an arm around the other and bobbed back and forth. They looked at each other with big smiles on their faces. Jakob's eyes kept looking towards the ground while his smile slowly started to fade. He put his head into his hands and depressingly sighed. Lia was confused and upset by this sudden change in behavior, "J-Jake?"

"Lia, I'm sorry…but I can't keep this to myself anymore, I have to come clean with you."

"Wh-What?"

"All this time you've been thanking me for how I saved you and such…but that isn't your place to say." Lia was greatly confused, but somewhat relieved he didn't say something worse. He took her hands in to his and looked at her with tear-filled eyes. "Thank you Lia'Karia…for saving me."

"What do you mean?"

"The day we first met…I was on my way back from the pharmacy…with high strength pain killers." He could see in her eyes she knew where it was heading, but she did not want to believe it. "I was going to kill myself, Lia."

"What!? Why would you that!? You're so happy and kind! You said that people who commit suicide go to hell!" Her hysterical rave continued, tears choked her words as she gripped on tight to him.

"I was in a spiraling depression, after I lost my family I became disconnected from the world. I didn't eat or sleep, you can ask Rax about how bad it was if you don't believe me. I moved here hoping maybe it would brighten up my spirits or something like that, but I just saw the same anguish filled scenery. I bought those meds to do the deed…then I saw you." Her sobs halted completely as her head lifted up to look into his eyes. "I thought I would do one last good thing before departing to the next realm of existence, but some fire erupted in me when my eyes first met yours; some longing, a reason to carry on through the sorrows I am forced to endure, something to love and live for with every fiber of my being." Her heart melted after those last words. She found enough strength to wrap her arms around his neck before she collapsed.

"I love you Jakob! I love you and I'll never stop loving you as long as I live!"

He brought her in close and squeezed her tight. "I love you too Lia! I love you with such a passion! I'm going to give you all I have to give just so you can be happy!"

"I have you! There's no way I can ever be happier!" They didn't bother going into their bedroom, they stayed there on the couch holding each other and crying until they fell asleep.

---

The two woke up the next morning feeling very stiff, but as long as they were together no physical pain could phase them. The sound of Lia's omni-tool was the reason they had awoken; she was receiving a call from her parents. "We really don't need this."

"Lia please answer it, while you can still talk to them." She answered it for his sake alone. Her parents looked like they were greatly upset, and they had every right to be in Lia's opinion. Her mother was the first to speak.

"Lia, we feel terrible about what happened two weeks ago."

Ken joined in. "We thought someone was stealing our baby girl from us and our people. We were too blinded by these illusions to see the love between you two. I'm sorry for the things I had said."

"I'm sorry too, Lia."

It felt like a great weight was lifted off her shoulders. She bowed her head and said, "It's okay, I understand. I'm sorry Mom for those hateful things I said to you."

"It's okay sweetie, it was for a good reason."

"I think there's someone else you two should be apologizing to."

"Yes." Her father said. "There is." Jakob brought himself closer to Lia so he can be seen in the call. "Jakob, I am so sorry for all those things I said. A kind person like you doesn't deserve that kind of treatment, especially the one who saved our daughter and showed her nothing but love."

"It's perfectly alright, sir, you were a father defending your daughter."

"I'm also sorry for what I said, Jakob. I know you wouldn't do that to Lia, let alone anyone."

"It's okay ma'am, and thank you."

"We would still love to meet you in person Jakob."

"Is there any way you can leave the Flotilla to visit the Citadel?"

Ken replied, "We could ask for leave, but actually getting on the Citadel could be difficult."

"I can take care of that, don't you worry."

"We're looking forward to it."

Mari bid the two farewell, "Goodbye Lia, goodbye Jake. We love you."

Jakob and Lia said in unison, "We love you too." The call then cut out.

Jakob looked at Lia and said, "That went...rather well."

"Yeah it did."

"I'm surprised that y'all could forgive each other just like that."

"Even though that was probably our worst fight, it wasn't the first. We've had plenty of bickering, so we're use to putting it behind us. Regardless of that we're quarians, family is the most important thing. If it wasn't for that I don't know how we would act towards each other, I'm just glad I can still have a relationship with my parents."

"As am I, Love. If you didn't have them you always have Rana."

Lia shook her head. "Rana."

"Do you not like her?"

"No, I love her with all my heart but she is just…off. She always was obsessed with boys, and now that she knows what sex is and is out and about with no guidance."

"I think Rax still wears a chastity belt, so he should be good."

Lia laughed at that last remark. "Tell me about you and Rax."

"Let's see, I was about nine years old when he moved across the street from me. We lived in a small town so it would seem aliens wouldn't want to live there, but for whatever reason they moved there. Maybe his mother came there for work, but again I'm not sure. A lot of the kids had family that fought in the First Contact War, so they were relentless when it came to hurting him, both physically and emotionally. One day during recess, I saw him sitting far away from everyone else all by himself. I approached him and sat down next to him, he didn't talk to me at first, I think maybe it was from fear. I introduced myself to him and tried to make small talk with little success. Over time he started to trust me: talking to me, walking with me."

"I'm sure the other kids didn't let you go without any insults."

"I already received my share of teasing for believing in God. But from those days forward to the day I left Earth, we were the best of friends. You cannot imagine how happy he was when he found me here and saw me smiling. I told him it was all because of you, and even if he didn't seem like it over the call, he was overwhelmed with joy he finally got to see you. He's still dying to meet you in person."

"Well I can't wait to meet him either. You know Jakob, I'm not sure if there is a god, but if there is, He definitely sent you."

He bashfully said, "I don't know about that, I'm just doing what He asks." He slowly rubbed her arm. "I know for a fact He sent you though."

"Thanks God for all the failed job interviews!"

"Be honest with me, would you have rather got a job then leave for the Flotilla, or live here with me?"

She looked away from him. "Hmmmm." Then she jumped into his arms and said seductively, "What do you think?"