2.

The fact that Shepard woke up with a blinding headache was unsurprising: she vaguely recalled getting insanely drunk twice last night, and she was old (and experienced) enough to know the consequences.

As experienced as she was in the ways of getting drunk, however, gone were the days in the Academy of going through lovers like she went through underwear. So it was a little bit of a surprise when Shepard woke up naked and flat on her back, Miranda Lawson cuddling her from the side.

A surprisingly but delightfully, wonderfully naked Miranda Lawson with the sexiest bedhead Shepard had ever seen, with the most beautiful, peaceful smile gracing her lips.

That is, until blue eyes opened wide and Miranda practically leapt away from Shepard's form, stumbling out of the bed.

"Oh God," said the Cerberus agent, clutching at sheets to protect whatever modesty had been left after last night.

"Most people call me Shepard," said the Commander with a smile. She gestured in invitation towards Miranda. "Looks cold. Maybe you should come back to bed."

"You're naked. I'm naked," came the desperate protest.

"That would be correct," Shepard said slowly. "Is everything okay?"

"Shepard," Miranda hissed in frustration. "We slept together!" she shouted.

Black eyebrows furrowed deeply. "Yes…so? Why are you so upset? It couldn't have been that bad, could it? Because as drunk as I was, I remember in vivid detail that it wasn't."

"It was bloody fantastic, but—" was the immediate response until Miranda's face reddened, her embarrassment only incensing her anger. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "Shepard, we shouldn't have done that."

"Why?" asked Shepard, a hollow pit in her stomach already forming. She tried to brace herself for whatever Miranda would say next, but she knew that if the other woman said that it was just a drunken, regretful mistake…well, Shepard wouldn't know what she'd do, but she was pretty sure it'd be something bad. "Do you…do you regret it?" asked Shepard, suddenly looking everywhere except at Miranda and unconsciously clenching her fist. "Is this the part where you tell me you're straight, that you were just drunk and curious and bored, or—I mean, I'm pretty sure you're too old to have a sexuality crisis-"

"Shepard, no. Wait, did you just say I was old?" Miranda interrupted, finally resigning to sit down on the bed next to Shepard's reclining form. "That's not it," she conceded, the look in her eyes softening to the point where she resembled the Miranda from last night again instead of this panicky, skittish one.

"Then why?" Shepard demanded. Internally she winced, hating the desperation that colored her voice.

"Because!" Miranda huffed before she appeared to deflate, all the fight gone out of her. Subdued, she said, "You and I both know more than anyone the severity of the situation. And you know, that whole part where we probably won't come back alive from the Omega-4 relay is somewhat important." Miranda ran a frustrated hand through her hair, the other still clutching the sheets to her body. "Shepard, I…"

"Do you care about me?"

For a moment, the Cerberus agent looked stunned, until she cast her eyes downwards to the floor. "This isn't easy for me to say, Shepard. But…yes, I do."

Shepard tried to ignore the rush of relief that flooded through her at Miranda's small admission, and instead chose to sit up and mold herself to Miranda's back, resting her chin on her shoulder. "I meant what I said last night," she murmured. "I care about you too. So much that it kind of scares me."

The tension in Miranda's body relaxed a little, and she leaned back into Shepard. "I'm scared, Shepard." She sighed as the Commander's arms wrapped around her from behind. "What if this gets in the way of how we work together? What if…what if we don't make it back?" She asked quietly.

"There are a million "what ifs" you could ask, Miranda. A million possibilities, a million uncertainties." replied Shepard gently. "But I'd rather focus on the things I do know for sure." The strong arms around Miranda's middle tightened as Shepard pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Miranda sighed, but she couldn't help the little smile that grew on her face. "I suppose you're right."

Shepard flashed her a brilliant smile. "Always."

Rolling her eyes, Miranda turned her head enough so that she could press a quick but heated kiss to Shepard's lips. As Shepard's mouth grew more insistent, Miranda pulled away a little breathlessly, looking directly into Shepard's eyes. "What kind of things do you know for sure?" She asked curiously, ignoring Shepard's little pout.

"Hmm…" the Commander said, feigning intense concentration. "Two things. The first is that I like you. A lot. It's almost obscene."

Charmed, Miranda smiled. "So you're not entirely rough around the edges. Who knew the great Commander Shepard could be so sweet?"

"Mm-hmm," Shepard preened.

"What's the second thing?"

Shepard's pleased look turned into something a little more mischievous. The Commander slowly dragged a hand down the curves of Miranda's body and down the front until it reached its destination, eliciting a scandalized gasp. "That I also really like that cute little birthmark you have right…about…here."

"Shepard!"

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Later that afternoon, Shepard strolled into the tech lab, whistling. She smiled when she spotted Mordin Solus fiddling away at something as usual.

"How're those upgrades coming? Everything okay?" asked Shepard brightly.

"Yes, yes," Mordin said in his typical clipped fashion. "All going well. Will be finished tomorrow. Then IFF can be obtained."

"Perfect," Shepard said, leaning casually against a table. "I think two days off was more than enough. The crew gets restless when their lives aren't at stake," she joked.

Mordin looked up from the specimen he was analyzing, looking at Shepard with the same sort of scrutiny. "Hmm," he murmured to himself.

"What?"

"A little flushed. Happier demeanor. Jovial almost. Practically glowing. Good night's rest? No. Still bags under the eyes. Same symptoms found in Operative Lawson. Perhaps—" the suspicious look in the salarian's eyes turned knowing. "Ah. I see. You and Miranda have consummated your relationship, yes?"

Shepard spluttered. "What?"

"Human species have post-coital phenomenon called 'afterglow,' typically occurring the morning after copulation, and –"

"Okay, okay," Shepard interrupted, raising her hands and trying to curb the raging blush that dusted her cheeks. "Are we that obvious?"

"Crew has had betting pool about when intercourse between you and Operative Lawson would occur for past two months," Mordin said matter-of-factly. He returned his gaze back to his specimen.

"A betting pool?" she asked, incredulous.

"Yes," Mordin replied, until he looked at her curiously again. "Commander. Repetition of what has been said usually indicative of problems hearing. Can run tests if you'd like."

Shepard sighed. "No, Mordin, I'm just a little shocked, I suppose."

"Understandable. Subject of sex within human species still somewhat taboo."

"Well, yes, but…" Shepard paused, then sighed again. "Whatever Miranda and I do together is our business," she said.

"Of course, Commander," said the salarian absently.

Shepard awkwardly turned to leave. "I'm…ah…going to check on the status of…something. Somewhere else."

She was halfway out the door when Mordin called out after her.

"Talk later? Interesting recreational uses of mass effect fields and biotics to discuss. May be useful for you and Operative –"

"Goodbye, Mordin."

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Kasumi was reading one of her trashy bodice-rippers when Shepard walked into the observation room, heading straight for the bar.

"Rough day, Shep?"

Shepard only grunted, nursing a tumbler of brandy. "Want some?"

"Pour me some of that bright blue stuff over there," Kasumi said, pointing.

"What is it?" Shepard asked curiously, after she poured it and brought it over to the other woman. She flopped onto the couch with a huff.

"Oh, I don't know," said the thief lightly. "I just like the color."

Shepard snorted. "Let's hope it doesn't kill anything with double-helical DNA," she joked, before sighing and running a hand through her hair.

Kasumi sipped at the bright drink. "I think I'll live," she said. "Now what's up, Shep? You only go for the hard stuff when you've had a rough day. And earlier this morning you were all sunshine and rainbows."

The Commander swallowed back some more brandy, the burn of the alcohol tracing from her mouth down into her stomach. "I don't know. Mordin said something weird today. Caught me off guard, I guess."

Kasumi looked thoughtful for a moment. "Oh, was it about you and Miranda sleeping together?"

"Jesus," Shepard said, shaking her head after she finished off her drink. "Does everybody aboard this damn ship know?"

Kasumi nodded sagely. "They probably know in other galaxies. You guys weren't exactly subtle."

"What are you talking about?" Shepard insisted. "I didn't even really think she liked women up until last night!"

"To be fair, Shep, you're a little blind when it comes to your own love life," Kasumi pointed out.

"I am not," the Commander said sullenly.

"That green asari on Ilium, Shiala? Totally flirting with you. It was obvious you didn't even realize she was practically molesting you with her eyes until she semi-asked you out."

"I thought she was being friendly," Shepard said defensively.

The thief scoffed, sipping again at her drink. "Besides, you and Miranda either bicker like an old married couple or make googly eyes at each other when the other isn't looking."

Shepard eyed the other woman suspiciously. "That's not true," she said, skepticism coloring her voice.

Kasumi sighed. "Deny it all you want, Shep. Point is, you slept together, so it kind of supports everything I'm saying. It didn't help matters when you went undercover at Hock's as Ms. Alison Gunn. The way you looked in that dress? Told you it was hot. Miranda was staring at you like you had the answers to the universe hidden in your cleavage."

"Whatever," Shepard groused, knowing she was defeated.

"And you know you were being the bully pulling on a girl's pigtails because you secretly liked her. How many times did you go against everything she suggested just to get on her nerves?"

"Okay, okay," Shepard conceded. She sighed heavily. "I'm worried though. I don't care what people think, but this can't affect team cooperation."

"I wouldn't worry. Almost everyone already knew something was there, and nobody cared. The only thing you'd have to be concerned about now is probably Jacob secretly trying to catch you guys making out," Kasumi said brightly.

"Thanks," responded Shepard in a dry tone, standing up to put away the glasses. "I should go. I'll see you later, Kasumi."

Watching her leave, Kasumi said to the Commander's retreating form, "Tell Miranda I said hello!"

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"Did you know that everyone fucking knew?" Shepard asked without preamble, bursting into Miranda's office.

Unperturbed, Miranda sighed, leaning back into her chair. "Unfortunately, not until late this afternoon. Jacob asked why I was practically 'floating around the Normandy,' and Jack made a crass comment about how I must have finally removed, and I quote, 'that ten foot long spiked pole' from my ass. They sort of figured it out from there."

Shepard grimaced at the image until her expression cleared. "Huh. Well." Shepard sat back, settling into the couch. "I suppose you and I are both oblivious idiots. Come over here and let's be idiots together. It's been a helluva day." She patted the spot next to her, smiling as Miranda got up from her desk.

"I think I'd prefer to sit here," Miranda said coyly, settling onto Shepard's lap and wrapping her arms around the Commander's neck.

"I like the way you think," grinned Shepard.

"Is that so, Commander?" Miranda asked, looking down at Shepard with hooded eyes. "What else do you like about me?"

"Mm, how you're such a wonderful narcissist," Shepard said, her reply muffled as she painted Miranda's neck with kisses and swipes of her tongue.

Miranda merely laughed, a delightful sound Shepard would never tire of hearing. As the operative tangled her hands in Shepard's black hair, she pulled away momentarily to regard the Commander seriously. "Are you sure you're not bothered by everyone knowing?"

Shepard's hands continued to roam. "I was going to ask you the same question."

"I thought I would be, but it's not as big of a deal as I thought. I'm not bothered at all," said Miranda.

"Good. Neither am I," said Shepard, her caresses of Miranda's body getting bolder. "Let's see if I can't get you all hot and bothered though," she grinned wickedly.

Miranda looked horrified for a moment. "Oh god, do you actually say these things to women? Does it work?"

"I dunno," said Shepard, smoothly lifting Miranda up and taking her to the back of her room where the bed was. She muffled her own laugh as she pushed Miranda onto her back and hovered over her, hands flat on either sides of the other woman. Miranda's eyes darkened with desire, her breath hitching. "You tell me," Shepard said with a grin.