31st October 2192 – Crucible pulse + 6 years 1 month

Miranda was awoken by crying. Again. She blinked twice before throwing off the blanket over her, grabbing the bathrobe by the side of the bed. As she moved her actions woke Shepard next to her, he groaned as he came around.

"Jesus, what do they want now?"

"I guess attention, they've had plenty of milk and their nappies were changed before bed," Miranda sighed as she headed over to the cots on the other side of the room. In their house on Earth the babies had their own room, but in the Citadel apartment they stayed in Shepard and Miranda's room. "Hey you two, are you going to be quiet?"

"Want a hand?" Shepard gave her a weak smile as he appeared by her shoulder.

"You should go back to bed, you did last nights rounds," Miranda reached down to tickle David under the chin, managing to quieten him. Shepard picked up Kaiden to give him some attention as well, and eventually the crying died down. "Hmm, guess that worked."

"Well what do you expect?" Shepard grinned. "All us boys need is a little attention, then we're content."

"So it seems."

Shepard widened his grin. "Hey, if I began to cry would I get more attention from you?"

"Yes John." Miranda rolled her eyes as she lifted David out of the cot, taking a seat on the edge of their bed.

"Whoo-hoo!" Shepard chuckled as he sat down next to her, jiggling Kaiden in his arms. He noticed Miranda was using one hand to open up David's mouth, peering inside with narrowed eyes. He cocked his head. "What are you doing?"

"Well I suspected that they've begun teething, and I'm right," She nodded at her own theory. "It explains why they've been particularly troublesome sleepers over the past few weeks."

"Elizabeth didn't really cry that much, even when she was teething," Shepard shrugged. "Strange how different siblings can be."

"Not really, it's just down to genetics," Miranda explained as she smoothed back the tufts of dark black hair on David's head. She smiled. "And they've got your genes that's for certain, identical hair to yours, identical eyes, same temperament – always seeking my affection."

Shepard chuckled. "So we have a mini you and two mini-mes, fantastic. I have more minions than you!"

"Yeah, but my minion is trained all ready," Miranda gave him a wink. "You're gonna have a nightmare training yours."

"Hmm, suppose," Shepard nodded before grinning back at her. "Though I have quite a sway over your minion."

"I know, Lizzie is such a daddy's girl," Miranda rolled her eyes. "Oh, that reminds me. Later on I need you to take the boys out, me and Lizzie have some stuff to do at home on our own."

"O..K..." Shepard raised an eyebrow. "That's cryptic."

"Uh-hu, I'll explain all later on," Miranda pressed a kiss onto David's head as the seven month old fell asleep in her arms again. "I think these two can probably go back to bed again."

"Aye," Shepard nodded. "And then we'll put them to bed in another half hour once more!"

"Hmm, probably going to happen," Miranda agreed as she placed David carefully back down in his cot, Shepard placing Kaiden next to him. "But I wouldn't change this for anything."

As both of them climbed back into bed, Shepard wrapping his arms around Miranda's body and pressing a tender kiss to the back of her neck. "Agreed."

XXXXXXXX

"Councillor Shepard!" A young Asari ran straight from her mother up to Shepard, shouting wildly. "Can I have an autograph please?"

"Uhm," Shepard scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, he hated being stopped like this in public. "I guess so, yeah."

He put the brakes on the double hover pram with the twins in and took the data-pad and stylus from the young girl. He sighed off his name and passed it back to her with a smile, the Asari blushing a bright shade of purple before running off back to her mother.

"Wow, I don't know," He rolled his eyes at the twins in the hover pram. "Girls eh? You're gonna have to make sure you avoid the really clingy ones, and the strange ones."

Both of the twins watched him with intrigue, David in particular giving him a wide, gummy grin.

"And watch out for the shallow ones, you know? Don't just go for beauty, look for brains as well," Shepard advised them. "I mean look at your mother, she's the whole package – a rather fantastic package actually. You have to go deeper than looks."

"Councillor," Shepard turned as Commander Bailey called his name, approaching with a grin. "I see you're getting your boys well trained."

"Yeah, something like that," Shepard nodded. "Don't want them bringing back brainless bimbos home."

"Too true," Bailey nodded, smiling as he looked over the twins. "Though I have to apologise for interrupting what must be an enjoyable walk."

"Oh," Shepard fixed Bailey a disappointed look. "Should have known you weren't just coming over for a social."

"Aye, I was about to call you in fact," Bailey sighed as he took on his customary sarcastic tone. "The Executer has requested that you attend the meeting today on the restructuring of the C-Sec Tactical Response Teams, he wants your expert advice."

"Really?" Shepard nodded reluctantly. "Fantastic, lovely."

"Thought you'd think that."

"When is the meeting?"

"In ten minutes," Bailey shuffled his feet awkwardly. "It was a last minute decision by command, I told them they were being ridiculous."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "Do I have a choice?"

"Well, technically you do have a choice," Bailey shrugged slowly. "But..."

"...I don't really," Shepard shook his head. "Well I can't go, I have these two. Miranda's chucked us out the house for some unknown reason, and if I go to a meeting they'll cry the place down in under five minutes."

"That's a good excuse." Bailey nodded.

"Yeah," Shepard grinned. "Tell the Executer I'm ever so apologetic but my parental duties prevent me from attending any meetings today and..."

"Shepard?" They both turned at the sound of his name being called once more.

"Zaeed?"

The merc nodded as he pushed off the pillar he was leaning on behind them and sauntered over to them.

"Having baby sitting troubles?"

"Not really," Shepard grinned. "It's saving me from a rather dull meeting in fact."

"That's a shame," Zaeed grinned. "I pay my taxes for politicians like you to work, not swan around the Presidium doing nothing!"

"You? Pay taxes?" Shepard chuckled. "I'll see the bloody day."

"I do pay my taxes," Zaeed grinned. "At least I do if I'm in front of a C-Sec commander."

Bailey held his hands up in innocence. "I didn't hear nothing."

"Any ways," Zaeed nodded. "I'll take these two of your hands whilst you go to your meeting. How long will it take?"

Bailey checked his omni-tool. "Only an hour."

"No, no way," Shepard shook his head defiantly. "It's not that I don't trust you Zaeed, but if Miranda found out she'd slice off my nuts and feed them to me."

"I don't doubt that," Zaeed chuckled darkly. "But I can be discrete."

"But..."

"Come on Shepard," Zaeed urged him. "I'll take good care of them, go for an ice-cream or something, go to one of the parks or a lake."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You really want to do this, don't you?"

"Erm..." Zaeed scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just happen to have a couple of hours free, may as well do something useful."

Shepard sighed, placing one hand over his face in resignation.

"Fine, but we meet back here in exactly an hour," Shepard fixed Zaeed a stern look. "But go no where near Huerta just in case of Miranda, do not go to any dodgy areas, do not leave the Presidium and go to the wards, no alcohol, no dodgy characters, no..."

"Shepard, chill," Zaeed took the hover pram firmly off him. "You have my word they'll be fine."

"Right," Shepard nodded. "Seriously, no funny business."

"No funny business," Zaeed nodded. "Got it."

XXXXXXXX

Zaeed peered over the glass railing in front of him, scanning the area around the Presidium café. He looked over to behind the bar, but there was still no sign of his target. Then he saw her, walking back to the bar from one of the tables just out of sight. He grinned to himself before ducking back, taking the hover pram again.

"Now you two, uncle Zaeed needs a favour," He leaned forwards to whisper to them. "I need you to look really, really cute. Irresistibly cute, all right?"

The twins looked at him for a second before becoming more interested in a bright neon sign.

"Ugh," Zaeed rolled his eyes as he began to walk towards the café with the hover pram. "Don't know why I bother talking to you, you won't talk back."

Zaeed spied a vacant table as he headed into the café area, taking a seat and parking the pram up next to him. He picked up one of the menus, browsing more out of a desire to appear like a normal customer than the fact he was actually wanting anything. It wasn't long before his plan fell into place.

"Hello sir, can I get you..." As Zaeed lowered the menu in front of his face the Asari waitress realised who he was. She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms rather aggressively. "Look, I thought I told you to beat it last week?"

"Yeah, you did," Zaeed conceded. "But I've come back to apologise, to make amends."

She cocked her head, speaking in a rather sarcastic tone. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really," Zaeed held his hands up innocently. "I come in peace."

"So you're not going to punch any Turians today? Even if they are being rowdy?" She spoke again before he could get a word in. "Because I've been alive since before your species discovered gunpowder, I can take care of myself without a human merc."

"All right, all right," Zaeed chuckled. "I understand."

"Well, if you're not here to cause trouble then I suppose you should order something," It was then that the Asari noticed the twins in the pram. "Who are these two?"

"Oh, these two?" Zaeed smiled. "Grand kids, they're so sweet aren't they?"

"Grandchildren? These are yours?"

"Yep." Zaeed nodded, placing a grin across his face.

"So you're a family guy, not just a brute?" The Asari curiously inspected the twins, giving them a smile. "They're lovely, you must be proud."

"Proud?" Both Zaeed and the Asari turned their heads as a trio of Krogan approached them. "Proud of what?"

"Ah, Borg," Zaeed tried to keep the quick flash of annoyance at Borg's sudden appearance, the Krogan didn't exactly fit into his plans to woo the Asari waitress. "What are you doing here?"

"Had some news for you, interesting news," Borg looked over at the twins before scowling at Zaeed. "Where did you steal those human babies from old man?"

"Steal?" The waitress looked shocked, before the look of shock turned to one of disgust. "Oh, I see. Bloody human!"

"What?" Zaeed momentarily appeared stunned.

"This isn't the first time I've seen this trick," She shook her head at him. "Just get screwed and piss off."

The waitress turned and stormed off, though stopped to turn back and shout at him.

"And make sure those babies go back to their parents."

Zaeed sighed before placing his head in his hands. After a few seconds he turned to look at Borg who was chuckling softly.

"What the fuck?" He snarled. "Seriously, what were you thinking shit for brains?"

The Krogan still looked amused as he cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, wasn't it obvious what I was trying to do?"

"Actually it wasn't...oh," The Krogan began to grin wildly. "I see now."

"Yes, congratu-fucking-lations ass wipe," He shook his head dismissively as he stood up and began to walk away with the pram. Borg and his two companions followed just behind. "So, what was that important?"

"Well, came across something I thought you'd like to deal with," Borg opened a data-pad, showing it to Zaeed. "A small Blue Suns weapons depo in the Presidium, not far from here. What do you think?"

"I think I need to fucking shoot something, may as well be Blue Suns," Zaeed grinned, but his face fell as he turned back to the pram in front of him. "But I can't leave these two, that would mean a rather painful death for me at the hands of their mother. And father."

"Well then, we'll go and take the loot whilst you play grandpa!" Borg and his companions laughed loudly, drawing looks from all around them.

"No, I've got a better idea," Zaeed turned and grabbed Borg by the collar of his armour. "I'll take the base myself, whilst you watch the kids."

"Really? You're going to leave them with us?"

"Yeah, but..." Zaeed leaned forwards threateningly, dropping his voice. "If anything happens to them, anything, then I'll take those micro filament explosives you're so fond of and attach a series of them to your Quad. Then I'll..."

"Wow Zaeed, I get it," Borg held his hands up innocently. "I'll look after them, you have my word."

XXXXXXXX

As Shepard approached the square where he had left Zaeed with the twins he noted, with relief, that Zaeed was there and the twins seemed fine. As he got closer though he noted Zaeed's strange companions, three Krogan. All looked rather sheepish though, and were staring intently at their feet. Zaeed also looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Hey Zaeed, who's your friends?"

"Look Shepard, it wasn't my fault."

"What?" Shepard raised an eyebrow. "What wasn't your fault? What's happened?"

"Look Shepard, an opportunity came up which I couldn't say no to..."

"...Are they OK?" Shepard hurried to inspect the twins, but both seemed pretty happy in the pram. They were more interested in staring at the Krogan. "What's going on?"

"Well I had to leave the twins with Borg here, they're absolutely fine but..." Zaeed sighed. "Show him Borg."

Borg nodded before heading over to the hover pram. He looked down at the twins before speaking.

"Talk!"

For a few seconds nothing happened, but then David spoke, followed by Kaiden.

"Ass..."

"...hole."

Shepard stood there rather stunned, mouth slightly agape. Slowly he turned to Zaeed, narrowing his eyes.

"You...idiot!"

"It wasn't my fault, blame this lumbering bastard!"

"Don't get me started on him," Shepard turned to the Krogan, lowering his voice. "Beat it, get out of here. I don't want to see you again."

The Krogan nodded hurriedly before walking off rather quickly, taking his companions with him. Shepard turned back to Zaeed, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"I trusted you, just for once I thought I might be able to be right and Miranda wrong," Shepard shook his head again. "What annoys me more is that you left them alone with a bunch of unknown Krogan, I would be concerned to leave them alone with Grunt and perhaps even Wrex – let alone a bunch of unknown mercs."

"Yeah...I know..." Zaeed looked down, staring at his feet shamefully again. Shepard hadn't ever seen Zaeed look that remorseful, not even after the mission on Zorya. "I'm sorry Shepard, really."

"Jesus," Shepard sighed. "You know this would've perhaps been funny in another circumstance, but I guess what's done is done."

"Shepard, I..."

"Look I'm not angry really, just disappointed," Shepard explained, Zaeed's face fell again. "But I guess no harm was done, so I won't mention this to Miranda if I can avoid it. But Zaeed, I'm never leaving any of my kids alone with you again."

"I guess that's fair enough."

"Yeah," Shepard nodded. "And if I can't stop them from saying ass hole and Miranda finds out then I'm gonna have to tell her the truth."

"Again, that's fair enough," Zaeed cracked a wry grin. "But if you do please let me know in advance, I want a chance to hide in Omega so she doesn't blow my balls off."

Shepard rolled his eyes, before beginning to walk on. "Look, I've got to get home with these two – try to stop the foul language as well."

"Right, OK," Zaeed nodded as Shepard headed away. "Sorry, again."

"Yep," Shepard sighed. "See you around Zaeed."

Shepard headed straight to a nearby skycar park, opening up the vehicle. He detached the seats one by one from the hover pram, placing David's seat securely in one of the back seats of the skycar. As he attached the seatbelt to the babies seat David looked up at him with a wide smile.

"Ass, ass ass ass," He giggled. "Asssss, assassass, ass!"

"No, stop that," Shepard forced a stern look onto his face, pointing a finger at his son. "Seriously, you'll be in trouble!"

His son giggled manically again, clearly finding Shepard's attempt at discipline rather amusing. Shepard shook his head as he turned back to Kaiden who was happily chanting the word 'hole' over and over again in varying tones. As he strapped him in too the two began chatting to one another, giggling crazily to themselves.

"Ass!"

"Hole!"

"Ass, Assassass!"

"Hoooole!"

"No!" Shepard raised his voice slightly, and that quietened both kids. After a few seconds of silence both began to screw their faces up, tell tail signs of the beginnings of a tantrum. Hurriedly Shepard began to apologise, speaking softly to them. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to shout. You guys just need to not to stop saying that, otherwise mummy won't be very happy."

His grovelling apology appeared to have worked, both of his sons deciding not to begin any wailing. Shepard sighed with relief as he packed the frame of the hover pram away into the boot of the skycar, climbing into the driving seat. As he lifted the vehicle off the ground he began to think of ways to tempt them from repeatedly insulting everyone around them.

"Hey look at those shops we've just gone..." Shepard turned to face them, emphasising his last word. "Pass!"

Both twins stared at him before shouting out at the same time. "Ass!"

"Oh great," Shepard turned back and sighed. "Now they're both saying ass."

He kept quiet during the rest of the journey and whilst removing the twins from the skycar, placing them in the hover pram, and heading towards the lift for the Tiberius Towers apartments. He hit the button for their own flat and ascended, making sure to keep quiet – the twins were beginning to fall asleep gradually.

As the lift stopped he slowly and carefully headed into the apartment, cautiously passing through the front. As he entered he noticed Miranda in deep conversation with some unknown old lady, so he went straight past them and immediately to their room, settling the twins in their cots. Amazingly they stayed asleep, and he tiptoed away from them and back downstairs. Shepard approached the sofas in the living room, both the women on the sofa turning to look at him.

"John, I wasn't expecting you back quite so soon," Miranda said. "This is Mrs Owens, a piano professor from the music conservatoire on the Citadel."

"Ah, this is for Lizzie," Shepard nodded with understanding. "I see."

"I would love to teach your daughter."

Miranda nodded, though Shepard could see a strange glint in her eyes. "Yes."

"So, you're a proper pianist?" The woman nodded, Shepard humming as he stroked his chin in thought. "Can you play that really dramatic piece then?"

"Erm..." The woman slowly turned to regard Miranda, clearly unsure of what to say. "You'll have to give a little more information than that."

"You know, the one that's always used in the comedy vids – when something bad or dramatic happens," He received a pair of rather dumbfounded looks from them, so resorted to humming the tune. "It goes, du du du duum, du du du duum."

"Oh!" Miranda rolled her eyes as she realised. "You mean Beethoven's fifth symphony?"

"I think so," Shepard nodded. "Yeah, can you play that?"

"Well, of course not!" The woman bristled. "That's a piece for a full orchestra, I'm a solo pianist!"

"Oh," Shepard was a little taken aback. "I see, sorry."

"Right," Miranda turned to the woman, suddenly taking on her old icy tone. "Well, I have work to get on with and I'm sure you are busy."

"Well not really, I..."

"No, I have to go," Miranda headed over to the door, opening it rather finally. "We will contact you when she is ready to learn."

"OK then," The woman nodded slowly as she headed out of the door. "Goodbye."

"Yes, goodbye," Miranda keyed the door to close, snorting as it closed. "Didn't like her."

"Really? Wow, I didn't suspect that," Shepard grinned. "But now what's going to happen? If you don't like her then we can't have her teaching Lizzie."

"Yeah, and?" Miranda shrugged. "The next guy may well be better, if not then the three others afterwards might be."

"Wait, let me get this right," Shepard raised an eyebrow. "You're interviewing piano teachers for Lizzie? Without me?"

"Yes. Lets be honest John, you know nothing about classical music. Or music in general," Miranda chuckled. "But they're not just any piano teachers, I've messaged the best concert pianists in the galaxy for a chance to teach Lizzie."

Shepard raised the other eyebrow. "That's...slightly crazy."

"No it's not, Lizzie's only gonna get the best," Miranda told him. "Now I guess you can help me interview the rest, but keep quiet about anything related to the music."

"So I should stay completely silent the whole time?" Shepard dead-panned. "When is the next one coming?"

"In 3...2...1..." As Miranda said one the doorbell rang, and she turned to Shepard with a smile. "Perfectly on time, I like him all ready."

She opened the door to reveal a very smartly dressed middle aged man with slick dark hair and a black briefcase to match. He smiled at them, speaking in an Australian accent similar to Miranda's own.

"Hello I'm Mr lewis, here about the chance to teach your daughter?"

"Yes, come in." Miranda smiled, Shepard noting she seemed much more friendly with this man.

"Well obviously you know my extensive resume, though I am happy to answer any questions you may have," He paused as he looked around the room. "Though I would rather like to meet Elizabeth."

"Oh yes, of course," Miranda chuckled. "I'm amazed, you're the first person who's even bothered to want to meet her."

"That's ridiculous," He shook his head in disbelief. "How can you possibly know if a teacher is suitable for the child if they don't meet?"

"Tell me about it," Miranda agreed. "I'll go and fetch her."

As Miranda left the two men alone Shepard felt a little at odds. He cleared his throat awkwardly, thinking of something to say.

"So...erm...I don't actually know anything about you, I had no idea Miranda was doing this today," Shepard started. "Do you want a drink or anything?"

"No thank you."

"Right," Shepard nodded. "So...you're a concert pianist?"

"Yes," He nodded. "I travel the galaxy to perform, and to give master-classes at various music schools. My main teaching occurs at the conservatoire in Paris however."

"Wow," Shepard remarked. "Yet you're happy to teach our almost five year old?"

"Of course," He smiled. "Your daughter deserves nothing but the best, and I am the best."

"Right," Shepard nodded, and then had an idea. "Oh, can you play this piece I'm thinking of? It's really quick, something to do with an insect?"

"An insect?" The man stroked his chin for a second before his face lighting up. "You mean The Flight Of The Bumblebee? Of course!"

He strode over to the piano in the corner of the flat, flicking back the bottom of his jacket. He spread his hands out slowly, and then descended on the keys. Shepard had seen Miranda play before, and she was rather fantastic, but this man was something else. The sheer velocity of his fingers was incredible, Shepard had never seen anyone move that quickly.

As he finished Miranda and Elizabeth came to stand next to Shepard, both watching with intrigue. When the pianist finished he turned around, cocking his head.

"Was that the piece you meant?"

"Yeah, think so," Shepard nodded. "Damn impressive, you have some skills."

"That's very true, though excuse John's crudeness," Miranda smirked. "His music taste only extends as far as songs where the band destroys their instruments at the end."

"That's not true!" Shepard protested.

"Don't worry, we'll make a Mozartarian out of him yet," The man laughed before turning to Elizabeth. "But first, we're gonna make a concert pianist out of you!"

XXXXXXXX

Miranda sighed. Again. She dropped the data-pad from her hands onto the bed next to her, scowling at it again. As she did that she felt the hands around her waist tighten slightly, one of Shepard's hands reassuringly stroking her stomach.

"What's up?"

"It doesn't matter," Miranda gave him a weak smile. "Honestly."

"No, it does matter if it's bothering you," Shepard sat up in the bed. "You've been staring at that data-pad for hours."

"It's work stuff."

"Ah, I see," Shepard nodded slowly. "Yeah, maybe I can't really help you there."

"It's just really pissing me off."

"Stuck?"

"Hmm," Miranda nodded, reluctantly picking up the data-pad. "It's for Keprals Syndrome."

"Oh," Shepard looked over at the data-pad, various close up pictures of all sorts of micro-organisms scattered around the display. "Looks complex."

"It is," She scowled. "Thane didn't let you know anything that could help?"

"No, all he said was that it occurred in Drell that spent a long time on Kahje," Shepard recalled his many conversations with the assassin in the Life Support room. "The more humid climate of the Hanar homeworld causes a bacterial lung disease that eventually kills."

"Precisely," Miranda nodded. "The entire team has been working flat out on this one, but we're not making any headway."

"OK, just throwing something out there – what about antibiotics?"

"No," Miranda shook her head. "The bacteria evolved to be immune to all antibiotics within a couple of generations on Kahje, and it's done the same for everything the Salarians and Asari have tried."

"That's crazy fast evolution, isn't it?"

"Well, you wouldn't believe how fast bacteria and virus' can adapt," Miranda narrowed her eyes at the images. "But the bacteria for Keprals is highly aggressive, unusually so."

"Oh," Shepard scratched his head. "Well, doesn't the aggressiveness depend on individual cases?"

"Of course, but as a generalisation it is rather aggressive."

"I see," Shepard paused for a second. "What about discovering the history of the disease?"

"But we know the history, it started when the Drell moved to Kahje."

"Could it have been created artificially?" Shepard theorised.

"No, we know it formed naturally due to the drastic climate change around the Drell who survived," Miranda shook her head. "There's overwhelming evidence to prove that."

"Right," Shepard nodded. "So that doesn't help cure it then?"

"It gives potential leads, but we've explored every known avenue for treatment, advanced antibiotic courses, radiological treatments, chemical treatments, surgery and transplants..." Miranda sighed. "I don't know where to go from here really, I'm sure there's something I was missing."

"Well, what if I just throw some random ideas out there?"

"Guess it couldn't hurt?" Miranda shrugged.

"What about trying more antibiotics?"

"Pointless, the bacteria is so aggressive it'll just evolve almost instantly."

"Right then," Shepard hummed. "Can you do something to the bacteria itself? Change it's own DNA somehow?"

"Again pointless, you have to do it to the entire colony of bacteria," Miranda shook her head. "And we don't really have the technology to do that en masse, it could only be done in tiny sample sizes."

"The Collectors had that technology, so did the Reapers and even the Protheans," Shepard shrugged. "Maybe you could find something?"

"The Collectors did..." Miranda's eyes opened wide as she had a sudden strike of realisation. "The Collectors! You amazing man! You genius!"

She spun on him and pressed her lips to his own feverishly, pulling back with a huge grin. He grinned back.

"Did I stumble on something?"

"A hunch, something I've been missing," Miranda picked up the data-pad and begun to type rapidly. "The plague on Omega, it was an airborne bacterial plague – highly aggressive and prone to rapid adaptation. I remember seeing snippets of Mordin's research on the SR-2, quoting very very similar features to these bacteria."

"So, can you use the cure from Omega?"

"No no no, I don't mean that," She shook her head. "I mean that I think the Collectors were involved with this disease, like you said they had the technology. I don't think they created it, but they may well have modified the bacteria somehow."

"So, what's the next step?"

"I need to get a far larger sample size of Drell, and a wider cross section," She hummed to herself. "I'll need a variety of Drell with and without the disease and who have undergone various experimental procedures to see how the bacteria has reacted – to test this hunch."

"And if it's correct?"

"Then I may need your help, but I'll get back to you on..." She was interrupted by crying from the cots. Miranda rolled her eyes before rolling her body out of bed, heading over. She leaned down to stroke both of the twins, getting them to be silent. She was about to leave when David and Kaiden both opened their mouths.

"Ass..."

"...hole."

Miranda slowly turned to face Shepard, narrowing her eyes.

"Explanation. Now."

A/N That was a fun one to do.

The Keprals Syndrome storyline that is starting now was suggested by xXserialkillerXx – a huge thanks to him for his suggestions and also the help he's giving me on the next set of chapters.

As ever, read, review, and thanks for your feedback.