A/N So, here we have the first chapter featuring Lizzie's point of view... Should be entertaining...

8th March 2190 – Crucible pulse + 3 years and 5 months

"And the big bad wolf huffed and puffed, but he couldn't get into the house made of stone," Elizabeth closed the book she had finished reading aloud and looked up at her father. He still had his arms around her, but he was fast asleep with her in his lap. "Daddy?"

Shepard didn't stir, and that was a good thing for Elizabeth. She now had an opportunity.

She slowly put the book down on the table and crept out of her father's arms without waking him, carefully dropping onto the floor. She tiptoed around the sofa and headed across the Citadel apartment towards the kitchen. Her actions still didn't wake Shepard, though Legion woke up from his snooze underneath the piano and trotted over to join her.

"Shh doggy," Elizabeth continued her stealthy advance into the kitchen with her target in sight on the top shelf above the central worktop. "If you're quiet, I'll get you a cookie too."

Now Elizabeth was faced with a problem, how to get to the biscuit tin? It was much easier back at home on Earth, the biscuits were kept in a large tin on a worktop that she could get to by climbing up one of the bar stools, but in the flat it was a nightmare. Here the stools were the wrong shape for her to try that, and the cupboards offered no way to ascend. It was a puzzle, a particularly intriguing puzzle for a rather hungry two and a half year old child genius.

"Maybe you can help?" Elizabeth motioned for Legion to come over, getting him to sit down next to one of the bar stools. "Stay."

She carefully jumped onto the St Bernard's back, shuffling up onto it's shoulders. Now she was more than able to reach the stool and she climbed up onto the seat with a big grin. She gave Legion a thumbs up before turning around to check on how to get to the actual tin. It was still out of reach to her unless she stood on the cooker but she wasn't going to do that. Her mother had told her to never touch the cooker.

Elizabeth stood up slowly on the stool to try and reach for the tin on the shelf above. She strained and stretched as far as she could but it was still out of her grasp. She sat back down on the stool and sighed, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes. She looked around her for something to hook it down with, but there was nothing that she thought would work.

She decided to try again and reached as high as she could, flexing her fingers in the air. She could feel a strange fuzzy feeling at the back of her head, but she ignored it and was focused on trying to get the biscuit tin. Then there was a small flash of blue light and, to her immense surprise, the tin fell down into her arms.

"Elizabeth!"

She turned at the sound of her mother's shocked voice, smiling happily as she opened the tin to get at the home-made cookies. "Hi mummy!"

"Oh my god," Miranda had dropped the bag in her hand and hurried over to Elizabeth, concern written across her face. "Are you OK?"

"I'm OK thank you." Elizabeth couldn't understand exactly why her mother looked so concerned.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting a cookie."

"Lizzie, look at me," Miranda dropped down to be eye level with her daughter. "You mustn't ever do anything like this again all right? You could fall really easily and hurt yourself badly. If you want a biscuit, let daddy get it for you."

"OK," Elizabeth looked down, she knew she was in a bit of trouble. "Sorry."

"No that's...wait a second," Miranda raised an eyebrow. "How did you get on the stool?"

"Oh," Elizabeth pointed down at Legion who was still patiently sitting next to the stool, staring at the biscuit tin with unblinking eyes. "He wants a cookie too."

"Oh god, Lizzie you really shouldn't climb on the dog. I know you're only small, but still...wait," Miranda raised an eyebrow again. "How did you get the tin from there?"

"It fell."

"It fell?"

"Yep," Elizabeth smiled again as she fed Legion a biscuit, patting him on the head. "Good boy."

"How exactly did it fall?"

"I don't know," Elizabeth cocked her head as she thought back to it. "There was a blue light, then it fell."

"A blue..." Elizabeth watched her mother's eyes widen. "Did you get a fuzzy feeling before it happened?"

"Erm, sort of."

"Wow! Lizzie, I think you have biotics," Miranda smiled. "That's really good!"

"What are bio...bio..."

"Biotics?" Elizabeth watched intently as her mother demonstrated by floating a cookie out of the tin and into her other hand with that strange purple aura she had seen before. "That's biotics sweetie."

"I can do that?" Elizabeth opened her eyes rather wide.

"Yes, though you'll have to learn to control it," Elizabeth allowed herself to be picked up by her mother who carried her back over to the sitting area. Shepard was still asleep. "I can teach you, but can you wake up your daddy please?"

Elizabeth jumped down onto the sofa and shook her father, he sort of jumped awake with a bit of a shock whilst still mumbling from his sleep. "No, not the cheese, please!" Elizabeth laughed at the ramblings as Shepard began to properly wake up.

"Oh," He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Hiya darling."

"You fell asleep daddy."

"What did I miss?"

"Well," Shepard jumped, only now realising that Miranda was here. She folded her arms and gave him a bit of a glare. "Elizabeth was munching through the biscuit tin in the kitchen when I got in."

"Oh, I see. Lizzie you shouldn't eat too many..." His eyes widened as he flipped back his gaze to Elizabeth. "How the hell did you get the biscuit tin down?"

"She climbed onto the dog, onto the bar stool, stood on the stool, and then used her biotics to pull down the tin."

"She did what what and what what?" Shepard raised his eyebrows and gave Elizabeth the most surprised expression possible. "Wow. So she's got your biotics then?"

"Seems so," Miranda took a seat next to the pair as Elizabeth felt her father wrap one arm around her, she snuggled up to him as Miranda opened her omni-tool. "God, it's half eight, well past your bedtime Lizzie."

"Oh, I'm not tired."

"It's late, you'll be tired tomorrow," Miranda closed down her omni-tool again. "And you don't want to be tired tomorrow, especially if we're going to go shopping eh?"

"I suppose so." Elizabeth nodded, she rather enjoyed shopping.

"OK then, come on little missy," Elizabeth squealed as Shepard jumped up with her in his arms and slung her around onto his shoulders before marching her up to her room. "Right, we'll be up in ten to put you to bed. What have you got to do?"

"Pyjamas, wash, clean teeth, floss." Elizabeth counted off the list on her fingers.

"Ah, good girl." Shepard gave her a little kiss before heading out of the room.

Elizabeth started off by retrieving her pyjamas first, they were a bright pink and covered in little cartoons of cute, Tuchunka Varren. Her mother didn't think they were that cute, though her father approved of her choice thoroughly. She slipped on the pyjamas and put on her furry dressing gown on top and slippers on her feet before heading to her bathroom.

She moved up onto the steps Shepard had put in so that she could reach the sink and filled up the basin with hot water for a quick wash of her face before cleaning her teeth and flossing. After finishing Elizabeth went back to her bedroom and climbed into bed. Sure enough her parents arrived exactly ten minutes after Shepard had left.

Miranda leaned over her as she pulled the duvet and blanket up to cover Elizabeth. She methodically tucked the duvet down Elizabeth's side with a smile whilst smoothing out the creases of the sheet. Then she leaned down to give Elizabeth a kiss.

"Night sweetie."

"Night mummy."

"So," Elizabeth turned her head to look at her father. "Do you want a story?"

She nodded enthusiastically, Elizabeth loved her father's stories."Yes please."

"I'll leave you to it." Miranda smiled at them both as she left with a wave, closing the door quietly behind her. Elizabeth turned her head back towards her father with an anticipative expression.

"Right, lets think," Shepard manoeuvred himself onto the bed next to her, lying down next to Elizabeth with his arm around her. "Once upon a time there was a grizzly bear called James..."

XXXXXXXX

"You took your time John."

"Hmm," Shepard settled onto the sofa next to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Well I told her a story about a bear called James – yes it is Vega in grizzly form – and she did enjoy it, but she questioned me to no end on any points that were mildly ambiguous."

"Ha!" Miranda chuckled. "That's hilarious, a two and a half year old is analysing and critiquing your stories."

"Meh," Shepard pressed a kiss to her temple as Miranda hoisted her legs up onto the sofa as well, fully moving into his embrace. "I worry about telling her stories sometimes, I get scared I'll have a bad review."

"Ha!" Miranda leaned her head into Shepard's shoulder, pulling his hands around her body to link up in front of her stomach. "So, did you two have a good day?"

"Not too bad, we lazed about the house in the morning. We had a nice fry up, and watched some cartoons, before going out for a bit. Lizzie decided she wanted to go to and see the Krogan memorial as Grunt had shown her a picture, so we spent some time on the Presidium before getting some ice-cream. I stopped off at the office to pick some Batarian related stuff up before we went to a few food shops to get stuff for tea, we made 'Pollo Milanese' and those biscuits were home-made chocolate cookies."

Miranda rolled her eyes. "So you spoilt her rotten?"

"Hey, that's what I'm here for," Shepard kissed the back of her neck, causing Miranda to shiver a little. "To spoil my girls rotten."

"Hmm." Miranda moaned and closed her eyes as Shepard moved his hands down to massage her thighs, still maintaining his ministrations on the back of her neck.

"There's a whole chicken fillet left, I can put it in the oven for you if you want. Make some spaghetti too."

"I ate in the office, got a take away," Miranda paused. "But thank you for offering, I'm sure it's lovely."

"You've been working all day, actually you have been for the past few days," Shepard rested his head on her shoulder. "We've hardly seen you for the three days."

"I know, sorry," Miranda spun so that she was now straddling Shepard, knees on the sofa either side of his legs. "We're really close to a break through with Kepral's Syndrome, so very close."

"That's great Miri," He smiled, rubbing one hand along her left thigh in circles. "I know your work is really important but..."

"It's only for the next week or so, I promise," Miranda leaned her head forwards, resting it against Shepard's own. "It's just addictive at the moment, you know how I love a challenge."

"Tell me about it," Shepard rolled his own eyes. "You do get a little...addicted...to your work."

"That's not quite..."

"Come on Miri, you do a little," Shepard carefully tucked a stray strand of hair around her ear. "But it's a good thing for the people you're helping I guess."

"Well, maybe," Miranda allowed a smirk to cross her lips. "But I can repay you a little."

"Mmm," Shepard grinned as Miranda pressed her lips to his own, running her hands down his chest at the same time. She stopped to give him a sensual look and a wink. "Oh god, that wink Miri."

"I know you love it."

Miranda grinned again before resuming her assault, placing her hands on his cheeks and pulling him closer for a passionate kiss. As their tongues duelled she felt Shepard's hands slip around the small of her back and trace their way down to her rear, Miranda moaning with pleasure into the kiss. As the continued to grapple she raised her arms up, allowing Shepard to pull her tight white t-shirt up. They had to momentarily break apart as she pulled the top off over her head, but as she threw it over to the other couch she saw Shepard grinning as he stared at her chest.

She gave him a mock glare of disapproval. "Ugh, you're such a dog John."

"You love the attention really."

"Ah..." Miranda cocked her head as she jiggled her chest at him. He kept his eyes trained on the lacy white bra and it's contents before looking up at her with his lopsided grin. "I suppose I do."

With that she dove at him again, pushing him left and down onto his back on the sofa. She crawled on top of him whilst yanking off his own shirt, exposing his defined torso. She kissed him several times on the lips before trailing down his neck, manoeuvring her knee in-between his legs and applying some pressure with a mischievous grin. Miranda then placed her lips on his chest, dragging them down to his stomach before reaching his belt. She undid it whilst giving Shepard one of her smouldering looks as he stroked her hair slowly.

"Mmm, I suppose this is a better snack than any chicken escalope..." Miranda leaned her head down towards his manhood and was about to make contact when there was a series of loud bleeps.

Shepard cursed his omni-tool. "Oh, fuck it!"

"Just ignore it babes," Miranda was about to try again when it continued to bleep. She sighed. "Oh, just tell who ever it is to piss off and let us have sex in peace."

"Yeah I bloody will," Shepard sat up, Miranda lying down on the sofa and draping herself across his lap. She watched him snap on his omni-tool, a man that she had never seen before appearing on the screen. Shepard was careful to only show above his neckline, keeping his exposed torso and Miranda – who was covering his exposed manhood – out of view. "Yes?"

"Good evening Councillor Shepard, my name is David Thomas and I'm from Citadel Film Productions Ltd," Miranda could tell that it was a rehearsed line, and she could also see Shepard's jaw tense as if he knew what was coming. "I was wondering if I could speak to you about..."

Shepard interrupted rather firmly. "No. No you can't."

"But I haven't even..."

"No you haven't, but others from your company have already asked me," Shepard shook his head. "And the answer is still no. Now please leave me in peace."

"Very well," The man sighed in resignation. "If you change your mind, you can always contact us. Good evening."

Miranda looked up at him as he closed down the omni-tool. "What was that about?"

"Oh, never mind."

"John," She gave him a significant look, easily seeing past the smile he put on top of a rather uncomfortable look. "Seriously."

"Fine, I've had a few of these calls over the past couple of months," He sighed. "As essential things are back on track the less important businesses are starting back up, including the film makers. And of course the first film everyone wants to make is..."

"Commander Shepard defeats the Reapers," Miranda nodded as she finished his sentence. "I see."

"And I've even had some enquiries from a couple of video games companies."

"Wow," Miranda raised an eyebrow. "So what happened to you and Garrus living off the royalties from the vids?"

"Ah. Yeah," Shepard scratched the back of his neck. "I think that was just an attempt at joviality before the last push."

"So you don't want a film about your exploits?"

"Well for a start it shouldn't be about just me should it, it was all a group effort."

Miranda sat up next to him. "You never said no just then."

"I meant to," Shepard redid his belt. "Lets go upstairs, it probably isn't good to have sex in the living room these days, Lizzie could be anywhere."

"That's true," Miranda placed a hand on his thigh, forcing him back down. "But I want to discuss this now."

"Really? I don't."

Miranda gave him a significant look. "I want to know what you're thinking."

"That I wanna take you upstairs and..." He stopped at Miranda's look. "Fine. I just don't want it to happen."

"Why?"

"I don't want the Reaper war commercialised. I don't want a galactic death toll in the tens of billions to be made light of," Shepard glowered darkly. "Think of it, first there will be films, games will follow, how long before you can buy toy Reapers for your kids off the shelves?"

"Though that does make sense it's a little hypocritical, you had a Sovereign model in your cabin on the SR-2."

"Yeah I..." Shepard paused. "I don't really have an answer there for you. Though I only had it before the war began, I binned it as soon as I saw what happened on Earth."

"That's understandable," Miranda nodded, leaning into his arm. She had forgotten to ask where that model had disappeared to. "I know we knew what to expect, but there was no way to prepare for those...scenes."

"Yeah."

They fell quiet for a few minutes before Miranda spoke.

"You are proud of your achievements right?"

Shepard cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"It's quite simple," Miranda repeated herself. "Are you proud of your achievements?"

"Well..." Shepard looked at her with a confused expression. "What sort of a question is that?"

"You're a modest person, despite the superficial bravado you have with Garrus, you have always been modest at heart," Miranda cupped his cheek with a hand. "But don't be too modest. You have to own your achievements, to stand up and claim them."

"I did that in front of the entire galaxy just after the war."

"You were cringing the whole way through the service, I know you didn't want to be there," Miranda gave him a smile. "I want you to be proud you know, I know it's not in your ridiculously kind nature. And I'm ridiculously proud of you."

"What's this got to do with a film?"

"Well I think you'd be ashamed of a film that is all about you," Miranda summarised without breaking eye contact. "You'd feel it an insult to everyone who died in the war. You would feel it to be capitalising on the near genocide of the galaxy."

"Hit the nail on the head."

"But what if it was done well, really well?"

"Miri, all any of these companies would do is create a CGI filled action film with crap actors who can't even grasp how...horrific it was for us, about what we went through," Shepard shook his head. "And to understand just what it took it couldn't just be a couple of hours of blowing up Reapers. People wouldn't understand the relationships, the little things, the..."

"Shh." Miranda placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. She opened her omni-tool, beginning to type away.

"What are you doing?"

"I said shh." Miranda pouted at him whilst continuing to type on her omni-tool. She did this for several minutes, Shepard attempting to get a look at what she was writing, before closing the omni-tool. "Done."

"What did you do?"

"Well, what if a film could be made. One that shows exactly what happened and how it happened, who was wrong and who was right. What we all faced, and what we beat from the Collectors to the Reapers. It would show how far you went, and the rest of us too, how much we all did for the galaxy," Miranda placed herself on his legs again, straddling him. "Something like that would be a great thing for the galaxy. It would prove everything to all of the sceptics, put an end to the rest of the speculation."

"Maybe, but how could it be done?" Shepard sighed. "There is no way to get everything across. Besides, I can't remember everything that happened."

"There's someone who can," Miranda smiled. "Just trust me, I'll explain in good time."

"Right," Shepard nodded. He paused before mumbling. "You know I was thinking I would write a book when I have time."

"You should, it would be a good idea," Miranda scratched the underside of his neck affectionately. "When there's time."

"Yeah."

Miranda pulled herself closer to him, straddling his thighs and placing her arms around his neck. She kissed him once, pulling back and giving him a suggestive grin.

"You know, this bra could really do with being ditched."

"Hmm, I agree," Shepard suddenly stood upright, causing Miranda to chuckle. She locked her legs around his lower back, keeping herself thoroughly attached to him. She grinned again as Shepard rolled his eyes. "Guess I have to give you a lift upstairs too eh?"

"Yep."

"OK and..."

"Daddy?"

Shepard got such a shock he nearly dropped Miranda on the floor, only by tightening the grip of her legs did Miranda prevent herself from being dropped. Both looked up towards the balcony where Elizabeth stood clutching her plushy seal.

Shepard regained his composure quickly enough. "Why are you out of bed Lizzie?"

"I forgot to tell you something."

"Oh?"

"Bears can't talk."

"Right," Miranda looked between Shepard and Elizabeth with both eyebrows raised in confusion. "What's that got to do with anything sweetie?"

"Daddy told me a story about a bear who could talk, I just wanted to tell him that bears can't talk." Elizabeth finished her sentence ever so kindly, and Miranda couldn't help but laugh.

"Lizzie, I think your daddy probably knows that," She laughed again. "Go back to bed."

"OK, night mummy, night daddy."

With that she turned and skipped off, heading back to her bedroom without any hassle. Miranda slowly turned her head to meet Shepard's gaze, both looked at each other for a few seconds. Then they burst out laughing.

"Wow that was funny," Shepard began to walk towards the stairs, still carrying Miranda. "I'm glad she always thinks of me, I would look like an idiot if I went around thinking bears could talk."

"Hmm, that is true," Miranda chuckled again. "Oh, I'm gonna make a great little genius out of her yet, she'd be a fantastic analyst."

"Yeah," Shepard paused at the top of the stairs. "I was right about one thing though."

"What?"

"Having sex in the living room would probably be a bad idea."

A/N So that was a fun one to write. I'm not sure exactly how biotics work with genetics etc, but it's exposure to eezo and as I've assumed that a biotic who was carrying a child would be giving the exposure then or something like that – guess it sort of works. Regardless, Lizzie is a biotic. Again, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!