"You're kidding?" Cass growled, slamming her hand against the glass of the fish tank.

"I'm not." Shepard spoke calmly, regardless of the girl's outburst.

"You're just going to leave me on the Citadel?"

"Cass." Liara intervened. "We're not dropping you on the citadel permanently."

"Then why are you?" The teen pressed her fist against the glass.

"You know we're heading to the Far Rim to meet with the Quarian admirals." The Asari explained.

"So what?"

"So, you're on shore leave during that time. We'll be returning for a dry dock before we make any moves with the Quarian fleet."

"So you're grounding me. Literally." The teen's arms folded defensively.

"Yes." Shepard concluded, mimicking the girl's position. "You'll be staying at Anderson's apartment for the next few days until we return. It should give you time to think about your actions."

"I've already thought about my actions, so this is completely unnecessary!" The girl threw her arms up.

"This isn't up for debate, Cassandra." The mother's eyes narrowed. "If anyone else pulled the stunt that you did, they would be off of this ship and out of my command before they could even blink. I understand that our relationship is much different than commander and soldier, and the circumstances are beyond ordinary, but your actions have ramifications."

"I did something good. I helped liberate an entire station from Cerberus control! I jumped through force fields and killed giant blue tentacle monsters! I shouldn't be in trouble for that!"

"You may have done something good, sure." Laira frowned. "But you disappeared with no warning…"

"And that is what was done wrong. And this hasn't been the first time." Shepard continued to stare down her daughter. "My attempts to keep you by my side have been unsuccessful, so, Liara and I have decided, that you need time away from the Normandy and the war. Maybe then you'll learn consequence."

"And if this doesn't work?" Cass growled.

"Then I'm going to get you surgically attached." The mother spoke dryly.

"Oh Haha, real fucking funny-" Cass mumbled.

"What was that?" Shepard hummed lowly, voice deepening menacingly.

"Nothing." The teen sighed.

"That's what I thought." The mother's tone lightened slightly.

"Commander." Joker's voice came through the intercom. "We're getting ready to dock."

"Got it," Shepard replied. "Thanks Joker."

"Well, I suppose you should pack up some of your things." Liara's lips thinned into a slight frown. "Do you need some help?"

"No." Cass responded roughly, stomping over to the closet she shared with, or rather took over from, her mother. The girl kicked up a familiar black duffle bag and proceeded to shove various articles of clothing inside it. Swinging the bag violently over her shoulder, the girl turned to her elders with a scowl. "I'm ready."

Liara's grimace furthered as her eyes wandered over to the sloppily packed duffle hanging off the teen's shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want any help?"

"No." Cass huffed, squeezing between the skeptical women and making her way toward the door, then whipping back around, an angry gleam in her eyes. "Let's get this show on the road then, shall we?"

Shepard shook her head and followed, clearly not in the mood to deal with the teen's attitude.

Cass stomped ahead of the Commander and Liara down the Silversun strip. Her shoulder's hunched angrily, while the muscles in her back twitched and contorted with every angry step. However, as the teen kept ahead of the duo, her steps began to lighten as she looked around. The bright lights and colors were enticing along with all of the activity bustling around the halls. It was like there was no war here and the attack that just occurred never happened. The teen's eyes gleamed as she spotted the Arsenal Arena, Silver Coast Casino, and the Castle Arcade.

As the three finally arrived at the apartment, Liara and Shepard began to share fishy gaped-mouth expressions, while the teen grinned viciously.

The girl threw her bag onto dark leather couch, and lept over the back; feet propping on the coffee table.

"I think we screwed up." Shepard whispered panicky. "I didn't think Anderson was going to have an apartment this nice!"

Liara nodded slowly. "But we can't back out on this."

"I know. We did the whole combined consequences speech!" Shepard lamented loudly.

"So, what are we going to do?" Liara's arms folded thoughtfully.

"I don't know!" Shepard half whined. "This was your idea."

"I know it was! But she's your daughter!" Liara mimicked the commander's whine.

"You practically told me she was our daughter now!"

"Well, you've been making all the parenting decisions up until now!"

"Well, I wanted to ground her on the ship! And you said that we can't ground someone on a ship, it doesn't work and that I've tried it before!"

"Well it didn't!"

"I know it didn't, which is why I was up for suggestions!"

"Well, it's not my fault you didn't check this place out earlier!"

"Well I've kind of been fighting a war, you know, if you hadn't noticed." The commander spoke with dense sarcasm.

"This isn't helping, Shepard." Liara scolded.

"I know, damn it, we don't have time for this!" The commander whined once more.

"Guys." Cass sighed, leaning over the back of the couch. "I'll be fine. I promise I will stay in the apartment the entire time. And please, god, for the love of all that is good and kind, stop arguing,"

"You were listening?" Shepard grumbled.

"You two started shouting two sentences in, kinda hard not to."

"Ugh! Fine!" Shepard relented with a grunt. "But we are going to talk about this when Liara and I get back."

"So you had better behave, young lady!" Liara finished.

Cass had to stifle a laugh as she nodded, trying to remain serious. "Yes ma'am."

As the mothering women rounded on the teen, she did her best to remain solemn as they hugged her goodbye, but as the two wandered out the door, the girl howled with laughter and began to explore the apartment to the fullest.

Suckers.

Soooooooorrrrrrryyyyyyy! I know I don't update enough, and I know this is especially short too! But school is kicking my ass! I have to write papers all the time and have so much stuff do every week! But soon the semester will end and I will be free for the summer and for fun writing! So please just bear with me! I have absolutely no intentions of abandoning this story, I just need some time. Also, we'll get back into the heavy stuff soon, but I thought it might be time for some fun and fluff. So no worries! There will be some toughening stuff coming soon! Any suggestions are also welcome, I enjoy the feedback. Please review! Thanks!