Disclaimer: Mass Effect is copyright of Bioware. Many of the characters contained herein—Shepard included—are property of Bioware. Shepard is partially of my forging, since I am able to choose many of his reactions to events within the parameters of the game. The sequence of events and their outcomes are property of Bioware. The interpretations of and reactions to the events are largely my own. Ci-Ci is mine. Please do not repost this story or any parts of it herein. Always give credit where it is due. I owe the Mass Effect Wiki a great deal for helping me figure out timelines, details, and other such things that I did not pick up during the game.

I welcome constructive and/or encouraging reviews/critiques. Thank you for reading. Enjoy!

16 June 2185—Shepard's Quarters, Normandy SR-2, the Citadel, Serpent Nebula

Corinthia was still slung over Shepard when she woke. She blinked, trying to sort out where (and when) she was. The holo clock next to the bed was ticking, still humming whatever music she'd put on the night before. Her dress was in a small heap on the floor, along with her and Shepard's shoes and jackets. Shepard was shirtless underneath her, breathing calmly with a slight smile on his lips. She grinned, remembering, and kissed him lightly.

Though they hadn't made love, they'd probably had the best time that she could remember. Admittedly, it was mostly her fault they'd ended up half-naked on his bed and cuddling a bit more intimately than usual, but he'd wanted the little black dress, so he got the little black dress... and a leather jacket and combat boots. Corinthia couldn't take herself seriously dressed as Ariadne, so she added the rebellious twist. She could sum up Shepard's reaction thusly: John likey; John likey very much.

He opened his eyes slowly. "Cassie?"

She rubbed his chest. "Morning!" she answered brightly.

He smiled (another genuine one that made her shiver with pleasure) and brushed her hair over her shoulders. "I think my shirt on you is better than that dress."

Corinthia had decided against wearing that dress about half-way through their evening together and forced him to give her one of his shirts instead. He'd agreed, though she'd forced him not to look (he peeked anyway because the hero always peeks).

"Yeah, well, you are not wearing any of my clothes. That'd be just wrong."

"Agreed." He pulled her closer for another languid kiss. "I missed this," he murmured, stroking her cheek and running his fingers through her hair. "You're so beautiful in the morning."

She giggled. "With my make-up smudged, hair knotted..."

"And crud in your eyes. Exactly."

"Mmhm. And I get your beard in the morning." She rubbed her cheeks against his. "Ci-Ci likes that."

"I won't shave, then. I'll have a full beard in a week. You're going to hate it."

"If I do, it goes. Can you grow your hair out, too?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

"Please? I want to see it."

He rolled his eyes. "If I do, you're going to mess with it all. The. Time."

"As if you'd care. You like me touching you."

"True..." He kissed her throat. "And I know you like me touching you."

She bit her lip. "John..."

He stopped. "Oh... Sorry."

She rolled off him. "It's fine. Thanks, but..."

"Yeah, I know... I still don't know how we didn't... Last night."

"Yeah..." Corinthia breathed deeply. "Joker is going to give us hell for this."

"Let him."

"So's Sumi."

"She understands."

"True... And she did tell me to have fun."

"And she was probably being completely serious about that, too."

Corinthia shifted and cuddled up against his side. "I'm keeping your shirt."

"Why?"

"It smells like you."

Shepard rolled his eyes. "Or you could stay in here and have the real thing."

She thought for a long moment. "Nah. This wouldn't be special otherwise."

"Not true."

"Alright, fine, but I'd be nervous about what we'd end up doing."

"You think I wouldn't be nervous if it happened, either?"

"That isn't what I meant. I meant that we wouldn't be able to... hold back."

"We did last night."

"Barely. I wanted to rip your clothes off of you—"

Shepard sat up, glaring at her. "Why didn't you?"

"Because I... Look, Shepard, I don't know how I feel about us going there. I want it, terribly, but I've been told it's just about the most intimate and amazing thing anyone could do to someone else and... and I love you so much... but if I lost you again... If I lost myself... I couldn't do that to you. To us. Not until Imreas is gone or I know that she won't do something about it, alright?"

Shepard nodded and kissed her gently. "I understand. Really, I do. I am not going to push anything on you."

She smirked. "Or in me."

He chuckled. "That's my girl. Look, if you're scared that Imreas is going to show up, you're scared that she will. Hell, I am, too. I want to keep my tongue, thanks, but she didn't show up last night, which is saying something. Fact is I'm just as... scared about it, too. Nervous. Whatever. I want it to be perfect, and if you're not going to be comfortable, it's not happening."

Corinthia wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely. "I love you, John. So much."

He laughed. "Weren't you trying to leave?"

"Kinda. Sorta. Not really."

"Well, I need a shower." He extracted himself from her grasp and got out of bed. "We're heading to Tuchanka after this. Mind telling Joker?"

"Sure thing." She stretched and started gathering her things. "Uhm... Where's my other shoe?"

"I don't know. Under the bed?"

She crawled around, searching, not particularly caring that she didn't have pants on and that his shirt wasn't quite big enough to be a dress on her. Shepard took a deep breath and quickened his pace to his bathroom. He undressed, set the temperature dial to cold, and stepped into the icy water.

17 June 2185—Clan Urdnot Encampment, Tuchanka, Aralakh System, Krogan DMZ

Tuchanka was exactly how Shepard had imagined it: a barren, desolate, nuclear wasteland. it was exactly what the humans had feared would happen during the mid-twentieth and early twenty-first centuries as nations battled for the ultimate detrimental power. Krogan warriors stood about, guarding the moldering walkways from the rival clans.

Next to him, Grunt looked about, unable to decide if he was enraptured or enraged by his people's homeworld. The other krogan looked down at him, their eyes narrowed in disdain. Grunt snorted. "I don't get it. They look at me like I'm a whelp."

Corintha snickered. "Well, you're a teenager. Of course they're going to glare at you. Everyone glares at teenagers because everyone hates them and doesn't understand them."

Shepard coughed, trying not to laugh.

"Are you thinking of writing poetry?" Corinthia pressed.

Grunt growled. "My blood is boiling. I don't know why. I have to do something. I have to kill something. Maybe. I don't know. I just have to... Something."

Corinthia patted his arm. "It's alright, Grunt. I bet it's just hormones. And since you krogan have four of everything, you probably get four times as many of them." She shivered. "Shepard as a teenager... Shepard as a hormonal teenager... I bet you acted exactly like Grunt, didn't you, Shep?"

"Just about, but with different kinds of itches thrown in."

Corinthia frowned. "Oh..."

He moved closer to her, whispering, "If there weren't all these krogan around, I'd give you a kiss to remind you that you're the only one I want anymore."

"I know, I know, but that doesn't mean I'm not jealous."

"I'm sorry. I wish I hadn't."

"You told me that before. Now, no more mushy stuff. We're dealing with Krogan right now, aren't we?"

"Yeah... Just don't let Imreas come out, alright? If we got into a fight with all of them, I'm not sure I could win."

"But you brought Xerxes..."

"Yes, and you wore your armor."

"That was for you."

Grunt pushed past them and plugged his ears. "Humans..."

Corinthia laughed. "You'll get used to it, Grunt."

"I don't want to. You annoy me."

"I've dealt with krogan warlords before. They're all secretly gushy on the inside."

"Not Grunt," Shepard muttered.

"Yeah, not me," Grunt echoed.

Corinthia shrugged and skipped past them.

"I don't understand," Grunt said.

"What?" Shepard asked.

"How a warrior like you ended up with a... a... her."

Shepard chuckled. "I ask myself the same questions every day. Just wait until you see her in a fight. You'll understand."

They entered the Urdnot clan camp, Tuchanka's newest capitol. In 2183, the clan had taken over from the others and had been working to unify the tribes. So far, the Urdnot had been relatively successful. The camp itself still looked like a war zone. Like the rest of the planet, it was falling apart, covered in dust, and desolate of any life except Krogan and varren. The paths were fallen beams or slabs of concrete. The Krogan glared at the three of them, muttering behind their backs as they passed. Shepard put his palm on his pistol and returned the cold gaze.

Corinthia giggled.

"What?" Shepard demanded.

"You look scarier than they do."

"Watch it," a krogan growled.

"No, you do," she snapped. "I know Wrex!"

"Hah! Weak threat."

"Oh, so he didn't tell you about me?"

The krogan advanced on her. "An annoying human whelp?"

Shepard made to step between them, but Corinthia stopped him. "I'm Commander Cass Corinthia. Ci-Ci."

"You're Ci-Ci?" The krogan laughed uproariously. "That's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. And I bet that's Shepard."

Shepard nodded. "You bet your ass I am."

The krogan stopped laughing. "That I believe. Mostly. The Clan Leader's over there. You might want to talk to him before you do anything else. We don't take well to strangers."

Shepard put his hand on Corinthia's shoulder and guided her away. "Are you insane? Pick—"

"Yes."

He opened his mouth to scold her, but couldn't since her answer took him slightly aback. "That was supposed to be rhetorical."

She patted his cheek. "Oh, I know. But don't worry. I can handle myself just fine."

"I'm worried that it won't be you handling them."

"They why did you bring me out?"

"Because of how you begged."

She raised an I eyebrow. "I only said please..."

He smirked and put his arm around her waist. "Coupled with a few other gestures two nights ago."

"Huh? Oh... Oh. Oh! Right." She turned crimson. "Best not talk about that kind of thing here. We're already squishies in their eyes."

They approached a stone throne, where several elder krogan were gathered around the leader. Corinthia grinned. "Wrex!"

The leader narrowed his eyes. "Ci-Ci? Shepard?" He looked them both up and down before laughing. "Damn! You're both harder to kill than krogan!"

Shepard almost smiled. "It's good to see you, Wrex. I see you've done well for yourself."

Wrex shrugged and glared at the other krogan around him. "It is what it is. Clan Urdnot has been trying to unify the clans for the fights to come. It isn't easy. They think me weak." He smirked. "Then I crush them."

"Convert or die, huh?"

"No. We need as many krogan as we can get. I compromise. Listen. Bah. You don't want to hear this. Ci-Ci can tell you what's going on here."

Shepard glared at her. "Ci-Ci..."

"You didn't ask," she answered weakly.

"I'm asking now."

She gave Wrex a dirty look. "Two years ago, Wrex came back here and kinda took over Tuchanka. He's putting the krogan in their rightful place."

Shepard raised an eyebrow. "And you approve?"

"Sure. This is Wrex we're talking about. Any chance of a hug, big guy?"

Wrex snorted. "Was there ever one?"

"Aw..." She widened her eyes as much as she possibly could and looked absolutely pitiful.

Wrex looked at Shepard. "She's gotten better at that. Has it worked yet?"

"She doesn't have to do that to me to persuade me," Shepard answered, smirking.

Wrex chuckled. "The most dangerous man in the galaxy is completely whipped."

Shepard groaned. "Thanks, Wrex. Tell every krogan that and I'll have more fights than I know what to do with."

"You're already risking that, bringing a tube-born here." Wrex glared at Grunt. The young krogan returned the stare coldly, baring his teeth and growling slightly. Wrex laughed. "He's got spirit."

"Tell me about it. He threatened to snap me if I touched him!" Corinthia protested. "All I wanted to do was pat his arm reassuringly..."

"That threat still stands," Grunt hissed.

Corinthia shrugged. "Eh. Whatever. You're probably not a very good hugger, anyway."

"And Shepard is?"

She winked. "You know it."

Shepard grabbed Corinthia's arm and dragged her aside. "Mind cutting down on the giddily in love act?" he whispered.

"Embarrassed?" she asked, grinning.

"No. Alright, yes, but we're dealing with krogan right now. Mushy does not go over. I will gladly make out with you in public anywhere else, but not here."

Her smile faded and she nodded soberly. "Of course, Commander."

He raised an eyebrow. "That is still you, right, Ci-Ci?"

She smirked and winked.

"Yeah. Definitely you."

Corinthia moved back to stand next to Grunt. "So, the youngling's been acting all antsy and angsty lately... Well, more than usual. I thought it was just teenage hormones, but he thinks there's something wrong with him."

Wrex looked Grunt up and down. "Wrong with him? There's nothing wrong with him. He's just coming of age. If he'd been in a clan, he'd know this already."

"So what do I have to do?" Grunt asked, trying to mask his desperation. "Find a clan? Make my own?"

"You go through a trial. It calms your blood. Shows how much you know. Proves yourself to the clan and gives you a place among them."

One of the krogan elders stepped forward. "You can't seriously be considering letting a tube-born be part of the clan!"

"If he fights with Shepard, he's worthy," Wrex snapped. "So shut up and let me rule."

Corinthia snickered. "Yeah, Shepard isn't exactly the kind of person you want to get into a fight with. He brought Xerxes."

Wrex looked at Shepard for explanation. Shepard shrugged and took out the Cain. "It's a very big gun. And her baby."

"That's the name you chose?"

"She chose."

"You let her near that?"

"Not on purpose."

Corinthia held up her hands. "Look, I get it. I'm not the most responsible person when it comes to explosions. But my aim's improved. Promise."

Wrex pointed at her. "I'm going to let Grunt go through the ritual, but she can't be a part of it."

"Why not?" Shepard demanded.

"Because she'll destroy everything in sight."

"Isn't that kinda the state of the planet as it is?" Shepard answered snidely.

"She'd create another nuclear winter. The only reason nothing bad happened on Virmire was because she was unconscious for most of it."

"Hey, I resent that statement!" Corinthia protested.

"It's done," Shepard said. "Besides, I have a feeling I couldn't use you on this mission, anyway."

"What? Why?"

"Because it's a krogan test. They fight like me."

"Oh... Oh. Yeah. You're right. I'll just go back to the Normandy, then, shall I?"

"Nah. Just call in... Uh..."

"Thane? Zaeed? Mordin? Jacob? Miranda? Sumi? Garrus?"

"You don't need to list them off!" Shepard growled. "Garrus."

Corinthia stepped away to hail the Normandy. Wrex nodded. "So the turian's still kicking?"

"Yeah, but he got himself as fucked up as Ci-Ci on Elysium."

"Damn... he's one tough bastard."

"That he is."

Wrex snapped his fingers and pointed to one of the krogan elders. "Take Grunt to the shaman. Have the ritual explained to him. Everyone else, go away. I want to talk to Shepard alone."

The krogan muttered and filed off. Wrex glared after them and then sighed. "Damned fools don't know what the hell they're doing."

Shepard shrugged. "It happens. So, how about you?"

"Got a lot of good advice from Ci-Ci. She's one hell of a smart kid."

"I know..." Shepard glanced at her.

"She's slippery, too. More than most anyone I know except you. Escaping death..."

"I didn't," Shepard said softly. "She just faked hers."

"And got one hell of a lot of enemies off her back. If I wasn't fighting here, I would've been fighting with her."

"She asked for your help?"

"She asked everyone for help. Tali had to go back to the Flotilla, Alenko was assigned half-way across the galaxy, and Garrus was training to be a Spectre. So far as I know, Liara and Anderson were the only ones to help her out. Then she just disappeared. What happened to her?"

Shepard smirked. "She became an art dealer and an artist."

Wrex blinked. "Seriously? Her? Hah!" He laughed uproariously. "I know she was girly, but that?"

"That isn't the word I'd pick..."

Wrex snickered. "Is that so? Well, you're worse now than you were then."

"Yeah. And it's only been a couple months... for me, at least. I only came back in April."

"That's good. You didn't want to see her before. I know that humans are weak, but you two aren't and she looked like she was about to roll over and die."

"Let's not talk about that. Please. What exactly am I supposed to do with Grunt?"

12 hours later...

Shepard stormed back into the camp, a very pleased-looking Grunt and a battered Garrus just behind him. Aside from the fact that his armor was still smoking, Shepard was mostly intact except for the usual scratches, burns, and bloody grime on his face.

He went up to Wrex. "A FUCKING THRESHER MAW?" he shouted.

Wrex smiled. "And you killed it. Damn, Shepard. You are good. And so's that whelp." The krogan stood, putting his hand on Grunt's shoulder. "Welcome to the clan."

Grunt nodded, trying not to look as satisfied as he felt.

Shepard shook his head. "So that's it?"

"Pretty much. Just don't get him killed. Then we'd have to come and kill you."

"Bring it on. I just slaughtered some krogan pussies."

Wrex snorted. "Cowards and weaklings. You've done me a favor."

"Good."

"Good."

Shepard glanced around. "Where's Ci-Ci?"

Her maniacal laughtere echoed throughout the area. Wrex winced. "She's been killing pyjaks for the last four hours."

"What?"

"She called them 'space monkeys'."

"Oh, those damned things. You were there when we were hunting down that data module, weren't you?'

"That was me, Shepard," Garrus said, raising a hand. "I remember that you wanted her to run them over with the Mako."

"And she wouldn't."

"Until you distracted her. I lost a hundred credits from those three pyjaks you made her hit."

Shepard shrugged innocently. "What can I say? I'm just a naughty boy."

"Does she know it yet?"

Shepard's eyes glinted dangerously. "Not yet."

"HELL YEAH!" Corinthia shouted. "TAKE THAT YOU DAMNED SPACE MONKEY THINGIES!"

Shepard rubbed his eyes. "Her cursing could use some practice."

"At least she's getting rid of the pyjaks. They've been annoying the hell out of us for the last six months," Wrex continued.

"So you told Ci-Ci to get rid of them?"

"No. She decided to do that all on her own after one tried to bite her."

Shepard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Note to self: Don't bite her unless she asks for it. Or wants it and doesn't know it."

Wrex and Garrus rolled their eyes. "Humans..."

Shepard spread his arms out, feigning innocence. "What?"

"Just ask her to live with you already," Garrus answered. "The sexual tension is killing the crew. Do you have any idea what those Cerberus people talk about? It's you two all the damned time. And they're not discrete like the first Normandy's crew was. They want to know what your favorite positions are and all this other stuff."

"And this is a problem why?"

"Because we aren't doing the dirty?" Corinthia offered, popping up like a prairie dog.

Garrus shouted in surprise and jumped away. "Damn it, Ci-Ci!"

Shepard laughed. "Serves you right!"

Corinthia smiled. "It's alright, Gary."

"DON'T call me that," Garrus warned. "I've got a sniper rifle, you know."

Corinthia snorted and crossed her arms. "And I've got a Shepard. Your argument is invalid."

Wrex nodded. "She's right."

Shepard held up his hands. "No more arguing. Ci-Ci, you've destroyed enough things for today."

"I know. But those space monkeys… They're coming back. I can feel it in my blood," she finished dramatically, narrowing her eyes and looking around like someone out of an old black and white detective movie. "I can feel their eyes, watching me."

"Yeah, and you hate all the attention," Shepard answered sarcastically.

She grinned. "You know it. Oh, Mordin radioed seventeen times. He says it's urgent."

"And you didn't deal with it?"

"Well, I know what he thinks is urgent and it usually isn't."

Shepard groaned. "It's probably another errand…"

"They're paying off, though," Corinthia assured him, patting his arm. "Randy's completely civil, Garrus is calm, Kasumi is finally talking to Jacob instead of stalking him all the time…"

"They had a conversation? When?"

"When we were busy with each other."

"Oh…" He cocked his head to one side. "Why aren't you blushing furiously?"

"I dunno… Because it's a given that we're physical….. ish."

Shepard rolled his eyes. "Sure. Garrus, mind grabbing Mordin?"

"Not at all, Commander," the turian answered. "Wrex, it was good to see you again."

"Garrus," Wrex replied, watching the turian leave. "He's lost that pole up his ass."

"Something like that," Corinthia answered. "Oh! Shep! I have to show you something! They've got the coolest armor upgrades…" She grabbed Shepard's hand. He could only offer Wrex an apologetic look before she dragged him to a small shop.

A fierce-looking krogan leaned against his stall, a varren sitting morosely at his heels. "Back again, Ci-Ci?"

"Mmhm. No more space monkeys," she answered cheerfully.

"I saw. Now we've got a shitload of pyjak meat to move." The krogan shook his head and Corinthia picked up a piece and offered it to the varren. The 'reptilian doggie thingy' (to quote Ci-Ci) sniffed the meat and then gently took it from her hand. She grinned and started patting its head. "Who's a cute varren? Yes, you are!"

Shepard rubbed his eyes. "And she won a Star of Terra…"

"So did you," she answered.

"I don't sound like an idiot."

"I'm going to put a baby in your arms and then we'll see."

Shepard smirked. "So long as it's my kid with you."

"Later. Much later. Years later."

He shrugged. "You never know."

She wagged a finger scoldingly. "Kill the Reapers first. Sexy time with Ci-Ci after."

"Damn it…"

The varren rubbed his head against Corinthia. The krogan chuckled. "I think it likes you. About time it imprinted on someone else. Ever since its master got killed, it's been sitting here whining."

Corinthia's smile widened and she looked at Shepard eagerly.

"No," he said sternly. "It is not coming with us."

"But—"

"Jack would murder it on sight."

"Oh… But I can't just leave it here…"

Shepard knew where the conversation was going (and she had a particularly adorable look on her face). "Fine. It can stay in my room. But you're taking care of it, alright?"

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

He disentangled himself from her. "And I bet you've already got a name."

"Rufus," she answered immediately. The varren perked up and cocked his head to one side. "Hah! He knows his name!"

Shepard turned his gaze to the heavens. "What have I done?"

Before Shepard could question it more, Mordin arrived. "Shepard. Must talk. In private. Urgent matter. Regarding former student."

Shepard nodded and moved aside with the salarian. The krogan vendor shuddered. "I don't like that guy."

"He's not so bad," Corinthia said, shrugging. "But I get why you wouldn't like him."

"Damned salarians... giving us the genophage."

Corinthia blushed a little. Though Shepard (nor many others, for that matter) knew it, Mordin had been part of a team to re-deploy the genophage, as krogan had evolved to overcome it. Corinthia only knew because of she'd been bored whilst in school and practiced her hacking skills, but she'd kept it secret. She could only imagine that was what Mordin was telling Shepard and, from the look on the Commander's face, he was not liking it.

He returned a moment later. "Get Rufus onto the Normandy and tell Miranda to come."

"Miranda?" Corinthia repeated.

"Trust me."

"Alright... C'mon, Rufus." She patted her thigh and the varren fell into step.

Shepard glanced at Mordin. "I hope you're right about this, Professor. Rescue missions are just elaborate traps in my experience."

Mordin stroked his chin. "Should be. Calculated all outcomes. No other option.

Shepard nodded. "I hope you're right."

18 Hours later...

Shepard wearily walked towards the Normandy. EDI radioed in. "Commander, the krogan wish you to know that they highly value Grunt. There have been nearly twenty breeding requests for him so far."

Shepard sighed. "Great. Someone else to keep alive..."

"There is more. There seem to have been two for you as well."

Miranda smiled. "How much do you want to be Ci-Ci was behind those?"

"I'd be the first to know if she requested breeding," Shepard answered. "You also wouldn't see me for a week."

"Everyone needs to relax every once in a while."

"Can you tell her that? Please?"

Moridin nodded. "Will convey message. Human intercourse stimulating. Eases tension. Can provide useful videos."

"NO!" Shepard barked. "I don't need or want your help in that department."

"Understood, Commander. Simply trying to be useful. Ci-Ci is a virgin. Can be painful. Tips to ease the—"

"Shut up before I shut you up," Shepard growled, getting into the shuttle.

The ride back to the Normandy was near silent, but they entered the cargo hold and a near riot.

Rufus was running around, chasing Kasumi, whose omni-tool had been set to squeak whenever she moved. Corinthia and Jacob were falling over with laughter as Rufus attempted to bit Kasumi's arm.

"This isn't funny, Ci-Ci!" Kasumi screeched.

"It's pay-back for all you're spying," Jacob answered, pounding fists with Corinthia.

"His idea," Corinthia added. "I'm just the handyman. Woman. Whatever. Shep! You're back! How did it go?"

He shook his head darkly. "You didn't tell me he was responsible for the genophage."

"You never—"

"Stop it with that. I don't want to hear it."

"It's not my place to tell and you know it. I don't go telling people your past—the one that isn't in the files—because you don't deserve that. People need to trust you enough to tell you that on their own. And he did."

"If you can call it that..."

"Did he Illusive Man you?"

"Pretty much."

"Wow... I'm sorry."

Shepard shook his head. "I need to sleep. This forty-eight hour shit is killing me..."

Corinthia looped her arm in his. "You aren't allowed to die again, you know."

"Yeah, I know." He leaned on her wearily, staggering as Rufus bumped into him. "That thing really is attached to you, isn't it?"

"And you. Well, by default."

"Why?"

"We are a royal we, aren't we?"

"I guess... I just want to sleep, alright? I've killed thresher maw, dealt with more damned krogan than I care to count, and I don't think I could stand to talk to the Illusive Man."

"I'll do it," Miranda offered. "He prefers dealing with me, anyway."

"Thanks, Randy."

"You're welcome, Sheppy."

Corinthia snickered. "Careful, Miranda, or he'll bite your head off."

"It's only fair," Miranda answered. "Only you can call me Randy and get away with it."

"I give you permission to think up a terrible nickname for me, too."

Miranda smirked deviously. "Ginny."

Corinthia shivered. "Oh, that's good... and terrible. I hate you so much right now."

"Do you want me to call you Iphigenia instead?"

"NO! I mean, no, thanks, Ginny's just fine. Shep, we're going to bed."

"We?" he repeated, bemused.

"We are a royal we, aren't we?" she mocked. "Besides, you're in a better mood if we cuddle a bit."

He nuzzled her cheek, almost drunkenly. "You're the best..."

"Any sappier and you're getting a smack," she warned. "Unless it's the three magic words."

"Rainbows and unicorns?"

"As magical as they are, no. Try again."

He kissed her cheek. "I'll tell you that all you want when we're alone. I'm not that tired."

She jammed her finger repeatedly against the elevator button. "Move faster..."

Shepard grinned. "That's what she said."

She looked at him in shock. "Oh my God..."

"And that, too."

"Who are you and what have you done with Shepard?"

"And that."

She rolled her eyes. "And now we've switched places."

Shepard smirked.

"You're so going to get it."

His grin widened.

"And you thought I had a dirty mind," Corinthia said, putting her hands on her hips.

"You're only making it worse for yourself."

"Because apparently neither of us is ever satisfied."

"It's only because you're that good."

"And don't know when to stop."

"Or can't stop."

The elevator doors opened. "Thank God..." Corinthia groaned. She held up a hand. "Don't say it. I know."