"Miri, hurry up, we have to go." Vanessa yelled.

"I'm coming, goddamn it." Miranda snapped, finishing up with her shoes. She walked forward, heels clicking with each step.

"I just don't want the council yelling at me. I've had enough of that. And I'd like to retain my Spectre status, which means not shooting them tonight." Vanessa sighed as they walked out of the Normandy, each step in sync.

"Wouldn't want that, now would we?" Miranda replied, with a slight smile. Vanessa gave her a peck on the cheek as they walked out onto the docking bay.

"Skycar?" she asked.

"Yes." Miranda agreed.

"Hey, skycar! Over here!"Vanessa called and one landed. She ushered Miranda into the open car, closing the door behind her.

-x-x-x-

"Hello councilor." Vanessa greeted Anderson, pulling out a seat for Miranda before taking one across from her.

"Hello commander." he replied.

"I see you brought one of your crew with you, Shepard." Udina commented. "I thought you were told not to bring crew, or did councilor Anderson forget to tell you that."

"This would be my girlfriend, Udina," Shepard replied pointedly, before turning towards Anderson.

"How have you been?"

"Good. Yourself?" he answered.

"I'm doing well." she replied then gave a small wink to Miranda.

"This is… unusual, even for your species." the Turian councillor muttered. Vanessa scowled over at him, her brown eyes slits. Miranda gave her a "don't do anything too rash or stupid'" look, but with a small smirk that promised her something after the dinner. Vanessa blinked, and then turned to her food. She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. She'd be drunk by the time this was over.

"So, how went your mission, commander?" Anderson asked, trying to make conversation.

"Zero casualties, and I was finally able to cut ties with Cerberus. Plus, I have an information source I can actually trust when the Reapers arrive," she replied, before taking a bit out of her meal.

"Good to hear." Anderson said.

"So you're still persisting with your theory of the Reapers, commander," the Asari councillor interjected.

"They are coming. But let's drop the topic for now." Vanessa managed, biting her tongue and drinking more wine. Her vision wavered; it only took a little for her to get drunk. She shook her head slightly. As long as it was over soon, she'd be fine.

-x-x-x-

"Well, it was an honor being here." Vanessa lied as she got up from her chair.

"Yes." Miranda agreed, doing the same.

"It was nice of you to come, commander. Have a good night." Anderson wished. Vanessa and Miranda walked out of the room, hands locked together. As soon as they were at a transport terminal, Vanessa stopped. Miranda turned to face her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yes, they just annoy the fucking hell out of me." Vanessa answered. Miranda leaned against the wall and their hands pulled apart.

"I know. They don't believe a single word you say, most others don't either, but your crew does. Don't worry, when the Reapers show up, we'll be ready, Vanessa." Miranda assured her. Vanessa stepped closer and looked at her girlfriend.

"Yes, I know," she said, placing her lips on Miranda's. "Let's get back to the ship. I'm sure I still have a set of handcuffs from when I was a teenager."

"Oh? Dirty thoughts, Vanessa." Miranda laughed.

"Well, do you expect anything else from me, Miri?" she scolded with a smirk.

"No, I don't."

-x-x-x-

"This is the most fun I've ever had fucking." Miranda declared.

"Really? That's a good thing then, Miri. I mean, wouldn't want anything bad for you, unless it's part of our game." Vanessa replied, a slight laugh in her tone. Their bare bodies were pressed together, hair strewn all over and tangled in the others. Vanessa had her legs intertwined with Miranda's and their hips were thrust together.

"Why yes it is. But your right, not unless it's part of our game." she agreed in a soft voice. Vanessa felt her press on her hip and bite her ear.

"Goddamn it, you know my pressure points." she whispered.

"I did spend two years putting you back together again." Miranda pointed out through her teeth. Vanessa moved her head to lick Miranda's breasts.

"True." she managed through licks. Then she kissed up Miranda's neck.

"You naughty girl, you." Miranda scolded her. Vanessa looked at her.

"Miri, you know you can be no better." she said.

Vanessa continued to lick and kiss Miranda, and the woman just moaned with a few nips back. The commander kept pressing her body to Miranda's, knowing exactly what her girlfriend liked. She ground her hips and thighs into her XO's, then pressed her lips to Miranda's neck.

She put a hand on Miranda's lower back and ass, then moved her head to slowly and gently lick her breasts again. When she pressed harder to Miranda, the woman let out a sharp gasp.

"Damn it, Vanessa." she panted.

"Tired already?" she teased. "Well, you can sleep in my cabin again tonight."

"Alright. Just, let me get dressed. That food at dinner was horrible, worse then Gardener's." Miranda sighed. "Why don't we go get something to eat?"

"Right, sounds good." Vanessa agreed, getting up. Miranda pushed herself to her feet and started putting her panties and bra back on.

"You know, I just thought of something. Right after the crew was taken, before we met in the engine room, I talked to my mom. She was worried about me. I think I'll call her later." Vanessa asked. "Miri, would you like to meet my mom?" she added, slipping a shirt on. Miranda zipped up her uniform.

"If you want me to, commander." she replied, putting on her boots. "I don't mind, from what I read about her she's quite the woman."

"Oh? Are you saying she's better then me?" Vanessa teased.

"I couldn't say that. You've done much more then her, and I still know more about you." Miranda told her.

"Okay, maybe you should. She told me that she's got some leave time saved up. We could give the crew some time off to meet with her, and then have a bit of fun." the commander replied.

"Leave sounds good, the crew deserve it."

"Fine, it's settled. Soon, you meet my mom and the crew get leave." she concluded.

"Agreed." Miranda said, walking over to the door. Vanessa joined her and they left the cabin.