2nd September 2188 – Crucible pulse + 23 months

"Welcome to Citadel radio, our top story today – The Salarian Councillor Valern has officially resigned after the results of the investigation that began in June regarding his involvement in the attempted assassination of Councillor Shepard's family."

"Yes!" Miranda let out an uncharacteristic whoop from the passenger seat of the shuttle, startling both Shepard – who she had, for once, allowed to fly the shuttle – and Elizabeth in her travel seat just behind them. "Though that's the least the bastard deserves."

"Shh," Shepard turned up the volume on the radio. "I wanna see if they say anything about me!"

"For more on the story, we cross to our political affairs correspondent – David Evans."

"Thanks, yes we all remember the shocking news of Cerberus' attack on Miranda Lawson and her infant child – though luckily she managed to hold off the attack until Councillor Shepard could get back with Alliance forces in tow."

"Clearly they recognised my heroic rescue Miri!"

Miranda turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you wanted to listen?"

"Until now we haven't known why the Salarian Councillor was implicated as the investigation was made in private, but the report published today has revealed that he was directly involved in luring Shepard away from his residency so that the attack could be initiated by Cerberus."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Will they get to the point."

"It transpires that Councillor Valern's family was captured by Cerberus to force him to help their scheme, though this fact was highlighted in the report by Councillor Shepard himself. At Shepard's request criminal charges are not being brought to bare, however it is agreed that Councillor Valern cannot continue to serve on the Citadel Council. Ambassador Esheel of the Salarian Union is expected to be his replacement. We took to the streets to hear the public's opinion of the events."

Miranda snorted. "This should be fun."

The first voice was clearly that of an Asari, feminine and rather dreamy.

"Well I think that Valern should be imprisoned for what he did, after all Councillor Shepard is the saviour of the galaxy and any involvement with the attempted murder of his family is disgraceful."

Then the Asari changed her tone and began to laugh.

"Though it would have given other women a chance with him!"

"What a bitch!" Miranda hissed. "How can she be allowed to say that crap?"

"C'mon, you know the media always pick the ridiculous people to interview," She watched as Shepard slowed the shuttle down as it began to approach the Citadel. "I think the last part was a joke, however."

The second voice was that of a man, a rather pompous tone of voice.

"Councillor Shepard said that it should be taken into account that the Salarian Councillor had his family taken, maybe it is unfair that Valern is being punished because of the position he was forced into. After all, if Shepard thought that then we should follow his lead – look at all the times people criticised him and failed to listen when he was right."

"Well there we go, I know best!"

"You think you do," Miranda smirked, turning the radio back down as Shepard piloted into the Presidium ring. "I'm the brains of it all really."

"Probably right there."

Miranda shook her head. "And I still think you're too supportive of him."

"What, of Valern?" Shepard sighed. "Look Miri, we've been through this. You have to take his situation into account."

"I still don't agree."

"I know you don't, and don't think I have forgotten what almost happened because of him," Shepard gave Miranda a wry smile. "But you know me."

"Yes, you always try and see the best in people," Miranda groaned, she had tried to broaden her perspectives, to adopt a similar opinion on her experiences as John. But she always found her old habits resurfacing, to be distrustful and wary to the majority of people she met. "I wish I could do that as effectively."

"Hey, you're picking this stuff up really well. We knew it wouldn't be easy," Shepard smiled reassuringly. "We are 'normalifying' you gradually."

"I suppose," Miranda gave him a raised eyebrow. "And that's still not a word."

After a few more minutes of flying Shepard slowed the shuttle as they approached the research and development area of Huerta Memorial. He set it on the ground carefully, turning to Miranda with a huge grin.

"Just because you landed a shuttle once doesn't mean you can be that cocky John!"

"It proves I can fly, contrary to popular belief," He chuckled as Miranda leaned in for a kiss. As he pulled back Shepard cupped Miranda's cheek carefully, fixing her with a loving gaze. "Are you ready for this?"

"Ready?" Miranda smiled. "I can't wait, honestly. I love spending all day with you and Lizzie, but I do want to get back into working. You know how I love a challenge."

Shepard nodded. "That you do."

"Are you gonna be OK with Lizzie on your own?"

Shepard shared a look with their daughter, she was grinning madly as she tried to pry off the restraints on her seat.

"We'll be fine."

"Then I better get going."

Miranda stood up and walked to the door of the shuttle, stooped to give Elizabeth a quick kiss on the forehead, and opened the door to hop out. Shepard followed, sharing another brief kiss with Miranda out the door.

"What time will you be finished?"

"Well as it's my first day, I may be late if I need to get anything sorted," Miranda paused for a second. "Probably about four, though you'll be done well before then."

"That doesn't matter, we can come and watch you work."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Do I want you in my new, expensive, and rather high stake laboratories?"

"If I turn up then all you sciency types look more intelligent," Shepard winked at her, prompting a second eye roll. "But in all seriousness, can I ask a favour?"

"I all ready know what you're going to ask," Miranda ran a hand down his arm. "I've been told there is a wide portfolio of projects, if it's there then I'll start on it."

"Good," Shepard nodded. "Thanks."

"I guess I'll see you later," Miranda leaned forward to share one final kiss with him. "Love you."

"Love you too."

With that and a wave to Lizzie Miranda turned away from the shuttle, heading into the doors of the laboratory wing of Huerta. She headed over to the reception desk but before she got there a Salarian called her over.

"Miss Lawson."

She turned, recognising the alien immediately.

"Maelon!" She narrowed her eyes, Miranda had been one of the squad on the mission to rescue him on Tuchunka – and she had not forgotten what he had done.

"Yes," The Salarian cocked his head. "You are wondering why I'm here?"

"Just a little."

"Well I now work here, as a research scientist," Maelon smiled. "I have been doing so since the end of the war."

Miranda folded her arms. "I wasn't informed that Huerta condones brutal live testing."

"Ah, I imagined you'd bring that up. You should know that I regret ever having to use such barbaric methods, it was not my intention to do so," The Salarian's expression grew defiant. "But I am not sorry to have done the research, where would we be without the Krogan?"

"That is true, but from what I heard from Mordin the cure could have been done from scratch."

"That may be so, but I believe it would have been difficult," Maelon rested a long finger on his chin. "Professor Solus was a genius, but I doubt he would have been able to save any of the female Krogan without my data."

"Perhaps, I suppose we will never know," Miranda looked around, moving to leave the Salarian. "I have to get going now, it was...interesting...to see you again."

"Ah yes, I heard you start today," Maelon smiled once more. "I have recently been transferred to your department, I will be working directly under you as part of your team."

"Well, by recent you must mean in the last two hours – you weren't on the staff list this morning."

Maelon nodded. "Yes, it was only confirmed just after lunch."

"You know where to go then?" Maelon nodded in reply. "Then I guess you can show me to my office."

Miranda gestured for Maelon to lead ahead, they only stopped to key in her DNA at the reception desk and to pick up an ID tag. They ascended several flights of stairs as Maelon pointed out different areas and departments of the various research labs. Soon they passed through a set of double doors marked 'Advanced research and development' and into a long, open corridor with lots of doors off to each side.

"This is your department Miss Lawson."

"Actually, it's Doctor Lawson." Miranda corrected the Salarian.

"Of course, Doctor Lawson."

Miranda headed over to one door on her right, marked with her name on a brass plate. She was about to go in when she turned at the sound of chattering from the main doors they had just passed through. A group of fifteen people had entered, a variety of Humans, Salarians, Asari, Turian, and even an Elcor. Miranda knew everyone of these people, with the exception of Maelon, they had all been on the detailed staff roster. Miranda had memorised the entire backdrop and history of each of the staff, she knew all of their qualifications and achievements. They were all experts in their various fields, the best minds the galaxy had to offer. In a way, they were the medical equivalent of Shepard's squad.

The chatter immediately cut off as the group noticed her presence. As she knew all about them, so did they also know a lot of her experience. They had all been told that she had worked with Cerberus for many years, as many things other than a scientist. As a scientist, they had been told that she had achieved the impossible – beating death. Miranda wasn't sure if they had been told of her ruthless and cold nature however, and she had spent a great deal over the last few weeks of time thinking about how to present herself to her staff. She didn't want to be that cold and harsh person any more, it wasn't as engrained in her nature to be like that any more. She wanted to find a balance, to be far more approachable and encouraging whilst retaining the efficiency and control she had always possessed.

"Good morning everyone," Miranda placed her hands behind her back, straightening her posture, and taking two clipped steps forward. "I'm Miranda Lawson, as you know I have been asked to lead this research unit to find cures or solutions to some of the most challenging and destructive diseases that we have in the galaxy. In essence – to achieve what is considered the medically impossible."

Miranda paused, letting her words sink in.

"I have read your files and am very impressed by your skills in your chosen areas, I look forward to working with a talented group of people," She made sure to give them a smile before continuing. "I hope to be able to bring all of that talent and ability together into outstanding results, but for that I need your absolute best – which I am sure you'll give to me."

There was a moment of silence before one of the doctors stepped forwards, a human of Chinese origin – Doctor Mae Lu.

"It's an honour to meet you Doctor Lawson," The young woman smiled enthusiastically. "We can't wait to be working with you."

"Thank you," Miranda noticed the pile of data-pads in Lu's arms. "What have you got there?"

"These are the first cases that have been forwarded to our department from the hospital."

Miranda took the data-pad and began to flick through the list of patients and conditions. It wasn't long before she found what she was looking for.

"We'll start with this, Shepard asked me if we could – a good friend of ours suffered from it," Miranda handed it back to Lu as the entire team began to inspect her choice. "Kepral's Syndrome."

Miranda began to walk away from the group to her office, though she stopped and turned in the doorway.

"By the way, this here is Maelon – he has just been transferred to us," Miranda smiled. "Everyone take half an hour to get themselves organised, we have a brainstorming session in the conference room in thirty five minutes."

XXXXXXXX

"Lizzie!" Shepard grabbed the escaping child as she attempted to crawl off his lap and onto the table. "Sit still!"

Elizabeth had started crawling in the past few weeks, and she was a nightmare to deal with now. Not because she was naughty, or even because she was careless, but because she was so curious. If she saw anything she wanted to investigate, then she would investigate most closely. She was incredibly quick when at peak crawling speeds and was rather skill full at climbing and even making the occasional leap. The problem came with how quick she was able to sneak off, he had taken his eye off her for literally a second earlier that morning and she had cleared half his office towards the fish tank before he got to her. All of this meant that he hadn't exactly done much work, it was rather tricky to type whilst trying to keep her still in his lap.

The buzzer on the side of his desk made a noise that startled both of them, Shepard pressing one hand onto it. The voice of Shayla, his assistant, sounded over the comms.

"Councillor, Admiral Hackett is here to speak with you."

"Hackett?" Shepard was surprised, the Admiral hadn't mentioned of coming to see him. "Send him in."

A few seconds later and the door whooshed open, the Admiral striding into the room.

"Councillor."

"Hackett," Shepard stood up and transferred Lizzie to one arm to walk over and shake Hackett's hand. "Nice to see you."

"You too," Hackett looked down at Elizabeth in Shepard's arms with a kind smile. "And it's nice to see Elizabeth, she looks like she's doing well."

"Oh yeah, she's great," Shepard ruffled the mop of raven black, as he called it, 'Miranda hair' on her head. "Though she's at the crazy crawling stage."

Hackett smirked. "So she's a handful then?"

"Sometimes, I don't usually have her here but Miranda's started to work at Huerta in R and D," Shepard grinned. "And mother has gotten herself a date so she couldn't have her."

"A date?" Hackett looked up in surprise, though Shepard was sure he saw a glint of disappointment in the older man's slate eyes, as if Hackett was a little jealous. Shepard decided to pursue that possibility, he had always loved causing mischief by setting people up together. He had resulted in James and Ashley, Joker and EDI, Garrus and Tali, even Liara and Javik, after all.

"Though I'm pretty sure she's just getting herself back on the market, so to speak," Shepard grinned. "She appreciates a night out in a fancy restaurant, but she's much happier with a shooting range and a six pack of beer."

"I can imagine."

Shepard nodded enthusiastically, giving the Admiral a knowing look. Hackett raised an eyebrow.

"Where exactly are you heading with this Councillor?"

"I'm just saying, my mother is looking for a partner, I would rather it be someone who is more similar to her," Shepard winked. "Perhaps someone who has worked with her?"

"Shepard, just because you now outrank me doesn't mean you can be this embarrassing,"Hackett frowned. "And I have no plans on your mother, and I'm not even sure she would be interested."

"Ih, I think she would be..." Shepard left the statement hanging as he moved back over to his desk. "Now what can I help you with?"

"Ah, yes. There was a raid on an Alliance facility yesterday," Hackett followed him a placed a data-pad on the desk. "It's serious."

"Lets have a look at..." Shepard stopped as Lizzie tried to escape from his grasp once more. This time she even actually tried to leap straight onto the desk, and he sighed as he regained control. "Do you mind if we sit on the sofas by the fish tank? That's where she's trying to get."

"Not at all," They walked to the other side of the room, settling on either side of the coffee table as Hackett chuckled. "She seems to have picked up your habits, what with liking the fish."

"Yeah, she's obsessed with them. We have another tank like this at home and she can sit there in front of it for hours," Shepard placed her to his right so that she had a clear view of the tank, immediately her gaze was on the snapping eel that sauntered past them at the front of the glass. "So, you were saying?"

"Yes, the raid. It was enacted by the Blue Suns, they killed a few dozen Alliance troops, a lot of which were spec ops. They nicked some equipment and escaped, we haven't been able to trace them so far."

"Special ops troops were guarding it?" Shepard raised an eyebrow. "What kind of equipment was it exactly?"

"The facility was a re purposed Cerberus base, a science laboratory," Hackett paused. "It was the lab where they grew and stored your clone."

"My clone?" Shepard was genuinely surprised. "That's interesting, what exactly did the Blue Suns nick?"

"All the cloning equipment that we were studying."

"Ah," Shepard sighed as he perused through the list of missing equipment. "Why would they want that stuff?"

"We don't know, but that's where we were hoping you could help us."

Shepard immediately shook his head. "Admiral, last time I got involved in..."

"I know Councillor," Hackett interrupted him. "We don't want anything happening to you, not like last time."

"Then how can I help?"

"You have a...friendlier...relationship with Aria T'Loak than most of our staff, and our intel states that she runs the Blue Suns now."

"Yeah, and the Blood Pack and Eclipse too as a matter of fact," Shepard paused. "You want me to ask if she ordered the attack?"

"If you please," Hackett stood up. "I'm sorry Councillor, I have to shift. If you can let me know how it goes I would appreciate it."

"Sure thing," As Hackett left Shepard looked back down at the data-pad, then looking over to Lizzie. "Suppose there's no time like the present eh?"

He headed over to the QEC in the middle of the room, keeping one eye on Elizabeth, and connected to Aria's QEC in Afterlife. A few seconds passed before she answered, her form coming into view clad in her usual outfit.

She spoke first, her usual cocky grin fixed in place. "Shepard, always a pleasure."

"Likewise Aria."

"I can see your little girl over there Shepard, She really does look like her mother," Aria pointed over at Lizzie on the sofa. "You know we hear about her all the time, not even a week can go by without the media doing some overage about your family. Even on Omega there were celebrations when she was born."

"I know, it's embarrassing really," Shepard knew all to well about the ridiculous media hype over his families private life. Too say it was over the top was an understatement, he had been trying to avoid becoming a celebrity – for Miranda's and Lizzie's sake as much as his. "There were even street parties on Earth."

"That's just sad."

"I know," Shepard shook his head before continuing. "Anyway, I have a question for you."

"Shoot."

"Did you order your Blue Suns to hit an Alliance facility yesterday and nick a whole bunch of cloning equipment?"

"Well that was subtle, lets see..." Aria folded her arms, giving him a sneer. "No."

"Are you sure?"

She replied sarcastically. "Oh let me see, I'll just admit to ordering a strike against the Alliance."

"In that case I'll get a Council fleet sent over," Shepard played along with her. "Get some Krogan commandos to pick you up."

"Yeah sure," Aria laughed bitterly. "Then you have a war with the Terminus systems..."

"...Which have reduced by half as they were so desperate for Council aid in rebuilding," Shepard grinned. "We could take Omega with ease if the Council ordered it."

"Maybe, maybe not," Aria repositioned herself, flaunting her body at him with an innocent expression. "But why wouldn't you bring that macho muscle of yours over and pick me up yourself?"

"Look, did you do it or not?"

"No, I promise you I did not order it," Aria shook her head defiantly. "However, I can't promise it wasn't some of the men in my employ. You know how fickle mercs can be, bands of them do jobs on the side all of the time."

"Right."

"I will look into it though, I don't want to be seen to allow my men to defect without reprisals," Aria gave him a quizzical look. "And why would I want cloning tech any way? Nothing good ever comes out of that kind of thing."

Shepard quipped back. "An army of mini Arias?"

"Yes, I can see that," She laughed in return. "I'll be going now, though remember – that offer I made a while back still stands."

Shepard rolled his eyes. "Look Aria, I'm not going to sleep with you OK? By rights I should hate you but surprisingly you've grown on me, however Miranda wouldn't really appreciate it."

"I never said she couldn't bring that perfect body of hers along as well," Aria grinned as she leaned forward to terminate the connection. "Let me know if you're ever passing by."

XXXXXXXX

Shepard slowly pushed the door of Miranda's new office open, peeking around the corner with Elizabeth in her carry chair. Miranda was seated behind her desk, typing furiously on her terminal. She was clad in a lab coat, though it was a rather normal one – not like the old combat armour, lab coat, catsuit crossover that she used to wear. Shepard grinned, he liked that outfit.

"Can we come in?"

"Oh, hey you two!" Miranda jumped up from behind her desk, rushing around to grab Shepard into a big hug. She kissed him on the lips before ducking down to kiss Elizabeth.

Shepard grinned. "Wow, someone missed us."

"Yeah, you have no idea how strange it is," Miranda stood back up, straightening her hair carefully. She flashed him a smile. "But it's been a brilliant day. It's fantastic, the set-up here, I mean."

"How are the staff?"

"As their files said, they're very very intelligent. The best, at what they do."

"I mean how are they to work with, not just their records."

"Brilliant. They all seem to co-operate together, and they're all open to a variety of different ideas about how to get things done," Miranda walked back over to the desk. "And they listen to me very well, and not because they're scared of me. They respect me, I'm hoping that they perhaps even like me."

Shepard sat down on one of the chairs, placing Elizabeth next to him. "That's great Miri."

"However, turns out we have a new member of the team," Miranda turned around with a slightly anxious expression. "Maelon, he was transferred this morning."

"Maelon?" Shepard blinked in surprise. "You mean Maelon, as in Mordin's student?"

"Yes."

"I see." Shepard frowned, he had no liking for the Salarian. He remembered the grisly scenes that he had encountered with Mordin, Miranda, and Garrus on Tuchunka, and he was sickened by it. He understood Maelon's intentions, in fact he had thoroughly agreed with a genophage cure even before he became a SPECTRE and met Wrex. But Shepard thought there was always a right way and a wrong way to go about even the most noble of causes. Maelon's way had been wrong, and Shepard had only saved his research data on the off chance it could be used one day. Luckily, that had indeed been the correct choice.

Miranda noticed his reverie. "Are you all right with that?"

"With what?"

Miranda rolled her eyes. "Citadel to Shepard, I mean Maelon."

"Well if he's a good researcher, and Mordin said he was, then I suppose it's good that he's working here," Shepard paused. "And I'm guessing that you're going to keep him in check."

"Most definitely, I'm not having barbaric experiments in my department," Miranda grinned. "I like that – my department."

"Got anything nice and challenging to work on? I mean, you'll have to find something that stands up to curing death."

"We're starting off with Kepral's Syndrome."

Shepard couldn't help but smile, he hoped that Thane would have been happy with that. He owed a lot to the Drell, and had been surprised to find such a great and loyal friend in an assassin. Kolyat would be pleased as well, and Shepard made a mental note to inform the young Drell of the decision.

"Thank you, Thane would have liked this."

"And how was your day?" Miranda turned around with a grin. "Lizzie wasn't too much trouble was she?"

"Tried to make several great escapes, but that was about it," Shepard paused. "Hackett stopped by."

"Oh?" Miranda raised an eyebrow. "What did he want?"

"The Blue Suns attacked a Cerberus facility that is being looked after by the Alliance. They nicked all the stuff that Cerberus used to make that clone of me."

"The cloning equipment? Why would mercs want that? Suppose it's possible that they want to make themselves an army or something but..." Miranda paused her theorising. "What has he asked you to do? After last time, you're not getting involved in investigations."

"Don't worry, honestly," Shepard gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "He just wanted me to talk to Aria, see if she ordered it or if they were defectors."

"That's OK then," Miranda moved around to her desk, pressing several buttons on the terminal. "I'm just shutting it down, then I'm ready to go."

"Great, also – I've had an idea."

Miranda quipped back in return as she closed the draws of her desk. "Oh no."

"I think we should go on a holiday."

"A holiday?" Miranda frowned. "I've only done one day at work so far!"

"I didn't mean right now, I meant in a bit. Maybe a few months?"

"I suppose so, but I still think Lizzie is too young to be in a completely foreign place," Miranda stopped to correct herself. "I mean, I know she's been on the Citadel loads but only in the Presidium which is kept very clean. If we went to a completely alien world there's all sorts of bacteria that her system won't be very used to. If we wait till after Christmas, when she's over a year old..."

Shepard rolled his eyes this time, picking up Elizabeth and opening the door. "C'mon Miss fussy."

"That's not fair," Miranda chided him playfully. "I'm just being cautious."

"Yeah yeah," Shepard winked as they left the office. "You're just too much of a workaholic!"

"Not funny."

"Though I prefer your old lab coat."

"You mean the catsuit?" Miranda leaned in closer, whispering alluringly. "I'm sure we can dig it out the draw every now and then."