Miranda sat in one of the chairs angled toward the windows in the starboard observation deck. She had turned off the lights when she had entered and was now enveloped by the vast emptiness of space. Her bright blue eyes flickered as she gazed into the black depth beyond her. Leaning back, she crossed her legs and brought her hand to meet her temple. She rubbed small semi-circles with her fingers in an attempt to alleviate the pounding in her head… and simultaneously wished she could turn back time.

Just as Miranda shut her eyes, the sound of the door opening broke her thoughts. She opened her eyes in time to see Shepard enter.

"I assume you had EDI locate me," she said with annoyance.

Shepard's eyes narrowed as he moved toward her, "I didn't need to, actually. This is usually where you retreat to when you have something on your mind," he responded. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall opposite her.

'Damn him for knowing me so well," she thought, 'He can never make things easy, can he?'

Adjusting herself on the couch, she unconsciously took a defensive posture, "What makes you think I have something on my mind?"

Shepard pushed himself off of the wall and took a seat in the chair in front of her. He leaned in and looked hard in her eyes as he responded. "I don't have to be genetically modified to see that something's bothering you," he said, "You've been acting strangely ever since you went for breakfast this morning. Tell me what's going on… please."

That final word hit her like a concussive blast. Here the invincible Commander Shepard was practically begging her not to shut him out – again. Unable to hold his piercing gaze, she lowered her eyes and prepared to tell him the truth.

'I can't lie to him any longer…"

In that moment, her eyes found the dot on her arm that was far more ominous than it looked. The Agent's words came back to her and a shiver rolled down her spine.

'No. I won't put him in danger simply to appease my emotions,' she convinced herself.

Shepard waited for an explanation as her mouth opened, but none ever came. Instead, her jaw clenched shut and her eyes continued to avert his.

"So that's it then?" he asked with irritation, "After everything we've been through, I'm not even worth an explanation?" He lowered his head, trying to catch her gaze, but she refused to look at him.

Finally raising her head, she looked at him with a blank stare. "I don't want to lie to you."

"Then don't, Miranda," he pleaded, "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on. I'll help you – whatever it is. You know that."

She shook her head softly and turned her focus to the viewport, "I… can't." She spit out the word like a bitter poison.

"Why can't you?" It was evident by his tone that he was trying to be patient with her, but Miranda could see how much this upset him.

She stood from her chair and walked to the viewport. Even in the darkness, the brilliance of the stars before them illuminated her, casting her silhouette for him to admire. He followed her lead, but stopped beside her, looking down on her as she continued to stare into space.

"This is an impossible situation…" She turned her head slightly and looked at him from the corner of her eye, "And I don't even believe in 'impossible'," Her face wrinkled with frustration.

He remained silent, waiting for her to continue while his eyes went over her body, trying to discern her body language and get the slightest clue at what was troubling her.

Miranda turned her face fully toward him and smiled slightly. What little light there was illuminated every feature of his face and she reveled in her work. Just looking at him gave her hope for their situation. After all, everyone had told her bringing him back to life would be impossible, but she had done it.

'And with damn good results,' she thought.

Taking strength from the mere fact that he was here in front of her, she found the words to say what she needed.

"It's not that I don't trust you Shepard, it's far from that…" Her body turned in his direction and she inched closer to him, wanting to savor this moment - in case it turned out to be their last.

'No! I'll find a way out of this.'

Her hand moved to his chest as she looked up into his eyes. She could feel them start to fill with tears, but she held them back as best she could. She needed to be strong for them both.

Catching a glint of light from her eyes, Shepard's face flooded with worry.

"Miranda-"

Before he could say any more, she put her fingers to his mouth and shook her head slightly.

"There's nothing more to say, Shepard."

Her fingers moved from his lips, lightly grazing them against his cheek as she relished the feel of his skin. Slowly she pulled her left hand up to mirror her other. He stared at her in confusion and, for reasons he couldn't understand right then, sorrow. Her shimmering eyes stared in his as she gave him a weak smile that was overflowing with emotion. With his head in her hands, she kissed him. It was a starved, yet timid embrace – something that implied a longing for something she'd never taste again - and Shepard couldn't discern its meaning. He felt the hot tears fall from her eyes and hit where their cheeks intersected. His hands entwined in her hair and he pulled her closer – not out of lust, but a desire to keep her with him, a desire he didn't understand.

Realizing she would never have the strength to leave him if she didn't go right then, Miranda pulled from him more unwillingly than she'd ever done with anything before. Staring deep into his eyes once more, she said everything she needed to without a single word. His muscles clenched in response while the expression of a man in torture overwhelmed his features. With one more quick kiss that they both held a second longer than was intended, Miranda let go of him and grabbed his arms, pulling them away from her as well.

She turned and walked toward the door, stopping in front of it as it opened. She flashed Shepard one last enigmatic look – and then she was gone.