A/N: Here's another intermission! I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday with another chapter.

"What's your normal skin care routine?"

Shepard shot Miranda a skeptical look over the back of her chair. "I wash it?"

"That's a start. What face wash do you use?"

"The soap kind."

Miranda let out an exasperated sigh and ran her fingers through Shepard's hair. "Let's make this easier. Go through your morning routine with me."

"Wake up, dress, brush teeth, eat, fight."

"And your shower routine?"

"Shampoo hair - I'll apply conditioner if I feel fancy - then I use a non-scented soap for my body and face, and rinse."

"You use those harsh soaps on your face? No wonder your skin is so dry!" Miranda rustled around in the cabinet behind them. "Don't worry, Shepard, I have you covered. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be unrecognizable."

Shepard had no idea what half the products that Miranda used were, but she could tell that Miranda thought they were very important.

"So we're going to start with your basic AHA exfoliation, which will give us a fresh plate to start with. I think want to use a hot cloth steam to open up your pores, followed by a mud mask to brighten your skin. We can then move on to a cream for dry skin, let it sit while we put rollers in your hair, and then we can begin your makeup!"

"This sounds like it will take hours."

"Only about two, but don't worry, it will be worth it."

Shepard didn't argue. Growing up, her mother had never been the type to fawn over herself and Zoey had taken after her. "There are more important things to do with your time and money than make yourself look pretty," she had always said.

But Zoey had to admit, it felt nice to have someone take care of you.

That was, until Miranda pulled out the evil tweezers.

"Why are you attacking me with those?" Zoey growled, after letting out a string of profanities. "I already have thin eyebrows."

"Just giving them a little bit of shape," Miranda responded as she nearly sat on Zoey's lap to best attack her eyebrows.

"Miranda? I wanted to come take a lot at that encrypted fi-"

Shepard's eyes fell to Jacob who was standing at the door way with his mouth ajar, staring at Miranda who was straddling his commander's lap with her chest surprisingly close to Shepard's face.

"I should go," he muttered, backing out the door slowly, his gaze remaining on the women.

"Don't listen to him," Miranda growled when she heard the door close. "He was taking mental pictures the whole time. When we were together he wouldn't stop asking about 'watching me with another woman'." The two women laughed heartily. "Alright, let's finish making you beautiful."