A/N: *sigh* you guys have spoiled me.

For any newcomers, this is a sequel. For returning customers, welcome back. Let's roll.

Slowly, things were beginning to change. A sense of unease had begun to permeate throughout the worlds of the universe. Reapers had shown up on Earth; that was the topic of choice for those prone to gossip these days. Even the less populated planets, ones out of the way and rarely visited, were covered in whispers of the dark times ahead.

Miranda Lawson knew this because in the last few weeks she felt as though she had been to every one. Oriana was missing, their already spotty correspondence had gone dark, and she was the only person who could help. Of course, her gut reaction was to point fingers at the Illusive Man, but there was this gnawing feeling deep down that something far more sinister was going on.

And so, while the threat of the Reapers loomed ever on the horizon, Miranda found herself scrambling along the backwater countryside of the galaxy, searching for the only person she had left. On the bad days, she was meeting in shady back alleys with even shadier characters for most likely unreliable information. On the good days, she lay curled up on the bed of a dingy hotel room, stomach growling and heart aching.

It wasn't until she had returned to the Citadel that she had finally heard word on what she was so desperately trying to convince herself she didn't care about. Miranda had caught the bit of information as she was traveling through one of the rapidly growing refugee camps. An old human was speaking about it to his young charge, a glimmer of renewed hope in both their eyes.

Commander Shepard, savior of the Citadel, was back aboard the Normandy and meeting with the Turian Primarch to strike an alliance that was going to save every world.

Shepard,

I'm glad to see you've finally been released. I don't know what the Alliance has planned, but

*Message deleted*

Jane,

I'm still not sure exactly what happened on Earth, but you have made it pretty clear that

*Message deleted*

Shepard,

I'm not sure where we stand, but I want you to know

*Message deleted*

Shepard,

I hear you're aboard the Normandy again. If you have the time and want to talk, I'll be at the Citadel for a few days, near Docking Bay D24.

*Message sent*

There was an unsettling flurry of emotions scrambling about her insides as Miranda waited around the docking bay. She was anxious about possibly being stood up, angry with herself for being so willing to stand out here in public while Cerberus assassins were hunting her down, furious with the commander for going dark for just about six months without so much as one word, and oh god was she excited to see Shepard's face again.

Everything disappeared when she saw the Normandy slowly pull in to dock, her mind seemed to go blank, and she wanted to kick herself for having no idea what she wanted to say. So much for Miranda Lawson always having a plan.

Garrus, and a man Miranda didn't recognize were the first to exit the ship, clearly deeply engrossed in conversation and headed toward a specific location. Joker was the next to depart, arm in arm with some sort of mech? Her interest in that development waned immediately though, as Shepard was the next person to step out into the crowded room, surveying the area with tired eyes.

It wasn't long before she caught sight of Miranda, leaning on the railing next to the window in a way that she hoped looked casual. As Shepard approached, pushing through the chattering crowd, Miranda tried to find the perfect words to express everything that had been welling up inside of her those past few months. Of course, as always, nothing even remotely close came out.

"Shepard, it's so good to finally see you again."

She clammed up in embarrassment, realizing it had come out sounding quite suggestive. Shepard didn't seem to notice however and nodded, "You too, Miranda."

Miranda resisted the urge to hit the woman, no way was it going to be her responsibility to bring up the past, was it? Feelings were Shepard's forte, not hers. She wondered if that was on the commander's mind at all, or if she had genuinely come to hear something else she thought Miranda had to say.

In the silence that followed, Miranda tried to come up with something else, something that would steer the conversation in the right direction, but allow her to get out of saying anything too expressive.

Finally she settled for speaking as nonchalantly as possible, "I couldn't get anywhere near you when the Alliance had you locked up." There was an unspoken question in the statement, and to distract herself from what Miranda was sure was going to be a frustratingly evasive reply, she began to walk slowly to another corner of the room.

Shepard followed without question, "Relieved of duty, it was complicated."

This time, Miranda wanted her annoyance to ring through in her words, "I'm sure it was."

Shepard seemed unfazed though, and so Miranda continued begrudgingly, "I'm surprised they didn't court martial you, the Alliance isn't known for its flexibility."

"It doesn't matter now," Shepard responded flatly.

Miranda flinched with a twinge of guilt, she was being selfish. There was too much going on in this galaxy, and in Shepard's mind, without her petty attitude adding to the troubles.

She took a deep breath and reminded herself of what was truly important, "Shepard, about Earth…"

Shepard turned away from her, "Countless people lost their lives within minutes, the Reapers are everything we've feared."

Miranda stood still, fighting the urge to run to the woman who seemed so broken, "They should have listened to you a long time ago."

She settled for taking a few steps closer, "I'm sorry, Shepard."

It felt like a worthless offering, but there was nothing else to say. Shepard turned to face her slowly, truly taking Miranda in for the first time since they had met up.

She seemed almost smaller somehow, and not just due to the fact that she was clearly not getting enough to eat and looked borderline unhealthy weight wise. It was something in her eyes that was missing, that glint of confidence that the crew used to complain about behind her back. She felt so fragile now, a delicate girl, used to experiencing nothing but fear and rejection.

Shepard swallowed hard at the sight of her, hating herself for leading Miranda into falling so far from grace, and then being forced to disappear without so much as a backward glance. She was surprised the woman didn't seem furious with her, as she had every right to be.

"What about you?" Shepard finally offered lamely, "What brings you here?"

Miranda sighed and kept walking forward past Shepard, it wasn't good to stand in one place for too long, "I need to talk with a few people, like you. The Citadel is a good place to meet," She hesitated, "for now. What's the Alliance's next move?"

Shepard fell into step with her easily, as though she had never left Miranda's side all that time ago, "We have a plan, it's a long shot."

Miranda scoffed, as she turned to face Shepard once again, "Not surprising."

She paused; looking off to the side, wishing Shepard would just say the words she wanted to hear. This was ridiculous, there was no reason to focus on themselves at a time like this, and yet Miranda reluctantly accepted that it was the only thing she could bring herself to focus on.

And yet Shepard stood before her, understandably distracted, clearly not picking up on Miranda's unease. It was becoming quite apparent that if Miranda wasn't the first to broach the topic, it wouldn't be brought up at all. She would have to swallow her pride, break through her inhibitions, and do it herself.

Shepard had better be worth it.

Miranda tried to catch Shepard's confused gaze, but as soon as she did, dropped it and focused on the wall to her right. She was being foolish, Shepard had moved on, had more important things to be doing. Miranda was just wasting her time, unable to let go of the past, and making an ass out of herself.

But you have to try.

"Shepard," She hesitated, glancing over at Shepard just to pull her gaze away quickly once again, "am I… still part of your plan? It's been so long…I wasn't sure where we stood."

Her entire body flushed with hot embarrassment as soon as she spoke the words, and she immediately wanted to disappear into herself. This was stupid, she was an idiot, this wasn't the time-

Is she laughing at me?

Miranda had focused back on Shepard to find that the commander was indeed biting back a mischievous grin, a playful light in her eyes that she hadn't realized she missed.

"Oh my god, Miranda, are you serious?"

Miranda felt her cheeks beginning to heat up and she tried to turn away, looking for some sort of escape, but Shepard caught her arm.

"Wait, are you serious?" She sounded genuinely surprised now.

When Miranda didn't meet her eyes, Shepard shook her head slowly, and took the woman's hands in her own, "Miranda, don't be so ridiculous. Clearly things are never going to be easy for us, but I don't know how I've left any doubt about the fact I'll always want you in my life."

Before Miranda had a chance to respond, Shepard had gently pulled her closer, planting a quick kiss to her lips. It was over in an instant, but after so long, Miranda felt herself being rejuvenated at the simple gesture.

"I just thought we were playing it cool," Shepard finished with a smirk, "what with your revulsion concerning PDA and the fact that any sort of actual human emotion being expressed sends you spiraling into a frantic state for days."

For the second time that day, it took everything Miranda had not to smack Shepard across her smug little face.