Chapter 11: Miranda

Ashley and Shepard let their team return to the Normandy. They came to the Citadel alone, looking for Miranda.

The Kodiak shuttle came to a stop in the Citadel's shuttle bay. The flight over had been very quiet.

As they stepped out of the shuttle, Shepard grabbed Ashley's hand, "Ash, wait. What are we going to say to her?"

"I think we have all said enough in the last few days," replied Ashley. "I think it's time to make some tough decisions."

"Ash. I told you. I have made my decision. I choose you," replied Shepard.

"I know, John," smiled Ashley. She turned around and gently put her hands around his waist, "and I love you for that."

She kissed him gently on his lips, "I love you, and I will never let you go."

"Let's go see Miranda," said Ashley holding Shepard's hand, and leading the way.

"Do you know where we're going?" Asked Shepard.

"Yes, I think I know where she is," replied Ashley. As a Spectre, she had access to all personnel files on the Citadel. She knew about Miranda's apartment in the Presidium. She will likely be there.


"Miranda, are you in there?" asked Ashley over the intercom. They were now standing outside Miranda's apartment.

"Miranda, it's Ash and John. We just want to talk."

There were a few moments of silence, and then the door wisped open.

Miranda had changed out of her black combat suit and is now back in her white body suit. It didn't matter the color. All her suits were figure hugging and Ashley still thought of them as swimwear.

"Ashley - I'm sorry. I couldn't stay," said Miranda as she turned to avoid Shepard's gaze. She walked back toward the large windows in the apartment overlooking the Presidium.

Shepard started to walk towards Miranda, but Ashley put up a hand and gestured for him to wait.

Ashley walked over to Miranda and stood behind her looking out the windows. From here, she could see the lower Presidium court, including the spot where John and her met and shared a kiss.

Ashley looked down for a moment and searched for words. She then looked up and out the window and began to speak, "Miranda, thank you for saving John. You know I love him more than anything else in this world. I would fight to the death to protect what we have."

As Ashley said those words, for a second Shepard thought she was going to draw her gun and have a shootout right there. He quietly walked toward them uncertain what was going to happen next.

Miranda remained motionless while staring out the window.

Ashley went on with a determination in her voice, "John asked me to marry him. I already said 'yes', and I fully intend to keep my promise. I will not let him go." She then softened her tone, "I am sorry that this hurt you."

Shepard was beginning to wonder if Ashley came to make Miranda feel better or to pick a fight. He was about to say something when Ashley began speaking again.

"I cannot give you John's love. That is not mine to give. That is his alone to give. He made his decision when he asked me to marry him." Miranda remained in her position, but closed her eyes and bowed her head when Ashley spoke those words. It hurt. Everything she was saying was true. Miranda did not blame her for feeling this way. She would do the same if she had John's love.

"But there is one thing I can give you," said Ashley. She paused. What she was about to do was already starting to hurt. But it needed to be done.

"Miranda, I want to give you time."

There was a long moment of silence in the room, and then Miranda turned around, "Ashley, I'm not sure what you mean."

Ashley looked at Miranda and held her hands, "Miranda, I want to give you and John the time you never had together. John told me about the hours leading up to the Omega 4 Relay. He said you asked him to be with you, but he declined because of me. "

Miranda remembered that day all too well. They were just hours from going through the Omega 4 Relay not knowing if they were all going to live or die. She asked John to be with her. But he refused saying he wanted to remain faithful to Ashley.

"Miranda, I will leave you and John now. I will see you both in London tomorrow afternoon for the memorial service. I want my fiancée and my XO back. I will not ask either of you about this day. This can never repay you for what you've done for John and me. This cannot replace a lifetime of memories. But this is all I can give you."

Miranda was caught completely off guard. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Ashley and asked, "Ashley, are you sure about this?"

Ashley had already thought long and hard about her decision. She replied, "Miranda. I would be lying to you if I said this was easy or that it's not going to hurt. This was probably the hardest decision I've ever made. This is going to hurt. But this is the right thing for you, John, and me. Yes, I am sure."

Shepard walked over and began to protest, "Ash, this is not what I had in mind when you wanted to talk."

Ashley turned and looked at Shepard. She gently caressed his face with her hand, "John, please don't make this more difficult for me than it already is. You said it yourself - If I had died on Virmire, you would probably be with Miranda right now. I know you love Miranda. But you've had to make a difficult decision between her and me. You've made that decision."

Now Ashley turned fully toward Shepard and put both of her hands on his shoulders drawing him closer to her, "John, while you and I felt we've had to make difficult decisions, we are only afforded the opportunity because Miranda gave us that chance. She brought you back from death after Normandy's explosion. And she brought you back a second time at the risk to her own life. John, like you said, we owe her, we can never fully repay her. This is all that we have, and it's all that we can give her."

Ashley looked at Miranda but continued to speak to Shepard, "in time, I hope she will know that we love her and that she will always be part of us. Please understand what I am saying - this is best for all of us."

"Ash. I love you and I trust your decision. What should we d-"

Ashley put a finger over Shepard's mouth, "Do what you do. Just don't tell me about it. I don't ever want to hear about this day. I won't ask you about it. That is the only thing I ask both of you to agree. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes Ash," replied Miranda, "and... Thank you."

Ashley gave Shepard a long deep kiss and walked out of the apartment.