A/N: Time for Miranda to have her say! Next up, Kasumi.

Shepard eventually decided to fetch something to eat, expecting the core crew to be long since asleep. She turned from gathering her meal and nearly had a heart attack at seeing Miranda seated at a table, staring at her.

"I certainly hope you've let your guard down for some reason tonight and that the Collectors won't catch you out like that."

Shepard was sorely tempted to engage in an exchange of verbal banter with her but really, after the day she'd had she just wasn't in the mood.

"It's been a long day." She said instead, seating herself opposite Miranda.

"Yes, I thought there was something weighing on you when you came to see me earlier."

Shepard winced. "You're the fourth person today to bring that up. I used to pride myself on being unreadable."

"Love does funny things to us." Miranda offered, and when Shepard's head snapped up to fix her with an accusatory glance she raised an eyebrow. "What? Am I wrong?"

"I think it's none of your business." Shepard ground out.

"Right, but you'd tell Kelly?" Miranda shrugged. "Fine by me, I'm not going to force you. But if you think I wouldn't have noticed anyway you're deluding yourself. I don't think I've ever seen someone greet their 2IC quite like that before."

"Kai- Lieut- Commander Alenko served under me on the first Normandy." Shepard said, stumbling over the reality of his rank rather than her memory of it.

"Hmm, I'll bet." Miranda teased.

Shepard fought to reconcile this potentially friendly confidante-type person with the cold bitch of a woman she'd first met. She was suddenly reminded a little of Ashley and a wave of fresh nausea filled her stomach. She sat back with a sigh and pushed her food away.

"He's a good man." She said finally, crossing her arms defensively in front of her.

"Oh sure, I can see that. He has a funny way of showing it though. You didn't deserve that." Miranda said, unconsciously mirroring Shepard's pose. When the other woman remained silent, she decided to take a flying leap into the unknown. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not particularly."

"Come on." Miranda prodded. "I've spilled all about Father. I'm not entirely sure how it happened but you know significantly more about me than I thought I knew about you. I think you owe me."

"I can owe you one thoroughly awkward girl talk, or I can owe you for helping me out of that godforsaken medical facility." Shepard offered. "One or the other, take your pick."

Miranda laughed. "Please, you think I'm still hung up on the latter of those two choices? That was just protecting the Illusive Man's investment, you don't owe me anything. I'll take one thoroughly awkward girl talk thank you."

Shepard sighed. She'd got herself into it here, should have known better. But then... a small part of her was secretly happy at having the chance to discuss something with the only woman on the ship who wasn't psychopathic, nymphomaniac or a some time drunkard.

"What do you want to know? A question which comes with a disclaimer, naturally." She settled on as a suitable response eventually.

"Naturally." Miranda agreed. "What is it?"

"I refuse to answer anything that could damage either of our reputations."

"Well as far as I'm concerned you can fire a missile into his reputation. He deserves no less." Miranda said.

Shepard sighed. "Stupid though it may be, I'm not going to risk alienating him. If we make it back from this damn mission, he could still be a useful contact."

"Sure, that's why." Miranda muttered. She unwound her arms slowly, reaching for her drink. "I think you're being too generous with him, and untruthful with yourself."

"Perhaps." Shepard allowed. "But that's my problem, not yours. Now, questions?"

Miranda leant forward over the table eagerly. "Is that backside as good out of armour as it is in it?" She asked.

Shepard laughed, despite herself. "Oh no. It's better."