Chapter 3

Jack had already woken up and made herself and Miranda cup of coffee. Not being able to have hangovers was a definite plus of having an overcharged biotic amp. However some part of her wondered what the experience was like. Jack glanced over at Miranda. Lawson currently had her naked body sprawled out across her bed. It was actually kind of adorable Jack had to admit.

Jack leaned in close to Lawson's ear. "Wake up Miranda." She whispered.

Miranda's eyes groggily pried open. Instantly she shielded her eyes from the light pouring through the sole window in the apartment. "God, What time is it?"

"Noon." Jack said and handed Lawson her cup of coffee. "Drink that. Might make you feel better."

Miranda took a sip. "I think I'm dying." she moaned. "Thanks for the coffee. That was very thoughtful."

"Hey I can be thoughtful." Jack said with a smile.

"Of course you can." Miranda said taking another sip from the hot mug.

Jack threw her a fresh suit and underwear. "Figured you'd wanna get dressed. Although I'm not complaining if you wanna stay like that."

Miranda looked down and cupped her hands over her bare breasts. "Did we have sex last night?"

Jack smiled widely. "Yeah, pretty good sex too."

Miranda began putting on her clothes and examined the grin on the biotic's face. "What's gotten into you? Did we talk about something last night? I'm having trouble remembering."

"Nothing big. Don't worry about it Cheerleader."

Miranda shrugged and then her eyes fell on the tree in the corner with two gifts lying underneath. "Merry Christmas Jack." She said in a husky voice. Jack rolled her eyes and polished off her cup of coffee. "You got me a gift?"

"I said I did didn't I."

"Look at you getting in the Holiday spirit. Never would have believed it myself."

"Yeah yeah shut up."

Miranda giggled. "For what it's worth I'm glad your here."

"Me too." Jack dropped her present on the bed next to Miranda.

Lawson smiled and looked at the horrendous wrapping job that was really more tape than wrapping paper. But she was surprised by the size of the gift. "You really didn't need to..."

"Bullshit, yeah I did. Don't make a big deal of it."

Miranda began tearing into the present and revealed a familiar shaped black box. She unlatched the box and gazed at the gift inside. It was the most beautiful violin she had ever seen. "Jack...how did you know I played?"

"You know I do actually listen to the crap you tell me. You said you missed playing so..."

Lawson pulled Jack into a hug. "Thank you Jack." Miranda could never explain how much the gift meant to her. As a child the instrument was one of the only escapes she had from her father's control. It had been years since she'd even seen a violin. She never expected such a thoughtful gift from Jack.

Jack rubbed her back. "Don't mention it. Seriously don't." Jack decided she didn't need to tell Miranda how hard it was to find and how expensive the gift was.

Miranda laughed. When they separated Miranda took hold of Jack's hand. "Really Jack, Thank you."

Jack smiled. "Figured maybe I owed you."

"You don't owe me anything."

"I disagree."

Miranda gently removed the Violin from the case and brought it her chin as she set the bow on the strings. "Let's see if I still know how to play." Miranda ran the bow along the strings and played a tune she had always loved as a child. It was slow and at first it took a moment for Miranda's skills to return but quickly the song came together. Jack sat back and listened to the woman's song and decided it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard. Jack wouldn't tell her, she couldn't. But the love she had for Miranda was apparent in the way she looked upon her now. Before she could stop it Jack pictured having a future with Miranda. She didn't care much for marriage or children, but the thought of waking up next to Miranda everyday brought a smile to her lips.

As the song came to a close Jack had to bring herself back to reality. "Shit, you really do know how to play."

Miranda blushed. "I'm sure it wasn't very good. I haven't played since I was a little girl."

"Hey I don't know shit about music but I know that was awesome."

Miranda walked over to her gift and picked it up before tossing it to Jack. It was smaller and given it's shape Jack guessed it was a datapad. The biotic tore into the wrapping paper and her suspicions were confirmed. She powered the device on a series of numbers and names began showing up on the display. "What is this?"

"Those are coordinates. It took some digging and I had to use a few of my old Cerberus connections but those should lead you to a city on Eden Prime."

"Why? What's on Eden Prime for me?"

"You'll find your mother there."

Jack wasn't quite sure how to respond. "My mother?"

"The rest of your birth family too I imagine."

"I don't have a family." Jack said she was hit with a confusing flood of emotions and feelings long repressed.

"You did. Cerberus stole you from them when you were four years old."

"So what? I'm supposed to see her and say what?"

"I don't know. You don't need to do anything with it. I just thought maybe you'd like to know about who you were before Cerberus. Consider it my apology."

Jack didn't understand why she was crying but tears fell from her eyes. "Why would you do this for me?"

"You're my friend Jack." Miranda said. "Don't get your hopes up. This is all based on old Cerberus operations intel. But I spent enough time locating it to know that's the best bet you have for finding her. If you'd like to that is."

Jack wiped her eyes dry. "Thanks. I uh...think I need to go."

Miranda rushed to her side. "Jack, I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm fine. I just want to be alone right now." Jack left Miranda behind as she walked out of the apartment. Once she was away from Miranda's door she began sprinting towards her skycar. She had no idea what to do with this. Jack had once thought about what her life had been like if it wasn't for Pragia. But she had long dismissed such nonsense. What did it matter? Knowing where she came from wouldn't change what had happened to her and it wouldn't change who she was now. But now she held in her hands the closest she would ever be to finding the answers. She had a family, a real name. Somewhere on Eden Prime Jack could discover who she would have been.