Miranda rubbed her brow trying to make sense of the information Jack shared with her earlier. They are currently on a shuttle headed towards a max security juvenile center. It was so hard to wrap her head around Jack having an Asari daughter.
Jack moved towards one of the window's and whistled as they got closer. The place was massive. Almost the same size as the prison Shepard rescued her from a few year's ago.
"Damn," Jack remarked. "Kid's only 12 and getting into way more shit than I ever did at her age."
Miranda sighed. "Compared to a human child she is barely 5. Hardly something to brag about."
Jack slummed back into her seat and crossed her arms. "I'm not fucking bragging cheerleader. You think I want this for my kid?"
Miranda arched a sculpted brow and Jack flipped her off. "Whatever precious, I don't expect you to get it."
Miranda's eye's scanned over Jack. Her body language screamed uncomfortable, but she just couldn't let this go. "How can you not remember who you slept with?
Jack's face scrunched up and she stretched her hands behind her back. "I was constantly on the move back then. Hell, did you know you knocked up Liara the first time?"
Miranda's brow's knitted together. "No. To be sure we -" She paused for a moment. "How the hell do you know about that?"
"I didn't," Jack replied and clapped her hand's together triumphantly. "You just confirmed it."
Miranda rubbed her temples to calm herself. So much for keeping her personal life private. When they reached the front gate they were greeted by two heavily armed Turian. One was sitting behind a monitor and watched them suspiciously. "State your business."
"We're here for inmate 3847," Jack said.
The Turian exchanged a look with another guard before speaking. " Leech? Good luck with that one. She's caused nothing but problems since she arrived here."
"Leech?" Miranda repeated shaking her head. "Charming name. What's she in for?"
The Turian clicked away at his monitor. "Theft and trespassing. She also recently blew up an orphanage. No casualties."
"Chip off the old block," Jack said and chuckled. Miranda shot her a glare. This was hardly the time for games.
The metal door's near by opened and more guards walked out. In the center of them was a small deep blue Asari. Miranda tried to hold back a laugh at the Asari, barely above her knee, trying to be intimidating. Her eye's scanned over the weapons pointed at the child. "Is all this necessary?" Miranda asked.
The closest Turian to Leech motioned to her with his gun. "You can never be too careful with this one. I hope you have a good insurance plan."
Jack stepped forward and got down on one knee. Leech scowled at her. "Who the fuck are you?"
Jack chuckled and bit her lip. "I'm getting you out of here kid."
Leech gawked at her. Then jerked forward, biotic energy from her forehead slammed into Jack and knocked her off her feet. Miranda watched her fly into a wall and laughed. Leech spit in her direction. "What? Did you want a hug? Fuck off!"
One of the guards pressed a few buttons near by and leech shriveled up in pain. She screamed.
Miranda pulled out her gun and pointed it at them. "Enough! She's a child!"
"A dangerous child," Replied one of the Turian's. All of the guards were now aiming their weapons at Miranda.
The Turian behind a monitor shouted that was enough and the guards lowered their weapons. Leech slowly returned to her feet and sniffled. They walked her back through the doors and the leader informed Miranda they would keep her in holding until her funds cleared.
Miranda put away her weapon and nodded. She walked over to Jack who was laying on her back groaning. She looked down at her and crossed her arm's. "Not the family reunion you were hoping for?"
Jack sat up and rubbed her neck. "Could you not right now."
Something wasn't sitting right with Miranda. She tilted her head curiously. "And who's funds are we waiting for exactly?"
Jack smiled up at her and rubbed her neck nervously. "You know you're my favorite XO right?"
Miranda's eye's bugged out and she slowly frowned. "You have got to be kidding me!"
Jack stood up and lifted her hand's defensively. "I swear I'll pay you back! Think of the kid!"
Miranda was ready to scold Jack into oblivion, but stopped when she received an alert from her omni-tool. She wasn't hurting for money, but someone just transferred a large sum of credits to her account. She could only think of one Asari responsible. She would definitely need to have a chat with Liara about listening in on her conversations. Miranda released an annoyed sigh. "What are your plans for this child anyway?"
Jack shrugged. "Some people I use to run with are doing really good, They have a few kids of their own. She could have a fresh start. A good life..."
"Without you," Miranda finished.
Jack looked away and nodded.
Miranda's features softened. She hated the thought of one day having to explain why she worked with Cerberus to her daughter. Jack's past was significantly rougher. She reached out and rested a hand on Jack's arm. The gesture caused them both to flinch. "Jack, she has a right to know who her father is."
Jack glanced over to the metal door's with an unreadable expression. "Maybe one day. I'm just not ready."
"I don't think anyone is truly ready for parenthood," Miranda said. "It just happens and we make the most of it." She watched her closely. "For what it's worth, I think you'll make a great father."
Jack shrugged her hand off and put some space between them. She nodded her head slightly. "Yeah well, thanks. I still hate you, but that'll do."
Miranda laughed. "I guess I'll take what I can get these days."
"The condition is impossible to identify until maturity, by which time it is too late to correct..."
Miranda hummed to herself as she looked over her notes. She swiveled in her chair towards a hologram of two Asari nervous systems. One was infected. The other healthy. She zoomed into the peripheral nerves in the infected Asari and jotted down note's. The door to her office slid open and Liara walked in holding a sushi tray. She gently placed the food down onto her desk.
Miranda grinned, but continued to work. She glanced over to her. "Calamari? You shouldn't have."
Liara leaned against her desk and stroked her stomach. "You've been so focused lately. I just wanted to make sure you're eating."
Miranda closed her notes and moved over to her. She placed a light kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. I do have a bad habit of letting my research consume me."
Liara tilted her head and examined some of the books on her desk. Half were on Asari physiology. Miranda noticed and smiled. "Just a little side project I'm working on.." She trailed off. "How did your talk with Shepard go?"
Liara inhaled deeply and went over their conversation. V is less than happy about there being a pregnant Asari on her ship, but would allow it for now. At least until their final mission. If Miranda was honest, she agreed with Shepard and was already making plans to move her to a safe location.
They enjoyed lunch together and Miranda tried to cherish every second. Time felt like it was speeding up for her. The Reapers have been spotted in Earth's solar system. The final battle could be any day and she was starting to think she wouldn't get to see the birth of her daughter. Liara rested a hand over her's. "What are you thinking darling?"
Miranda blinked a few time's back to reality. Right now is all that mattered.
Miranda smiled. "Honestly, I've been thinking of names."
AN: ty so much for reading!
