Allers: So that was when you came together, at the moment of your ultimate demise you both showed your true feelings.

Ashley: Yes, although it took one of us longer to commit to their feelings.

Allers: I take it this wasn't you?

Ashley: No it wasn't.

Allers: When did she finally come round?

Ashley: It took her a while, but it was when we were back on the Citadel that it changed.

Allers: What happened?

The kiss was magical it sent sparks all the way through my body. I could swear that Miranda's body started to hum with her biotics. Unfortunately the magic didn't last long due to Miranda's perfect brain going into overdrive. We obviously weren't dead and it had been longer than a second, so obviously she wanted answers. Her mind was battling her heart and ultimately her mind won. The kiss was broken and she immediately removed herself and checked the program that was running on her omni-tool.

"Looks like this program is field ready after all."

"Good for the program."

"What's wrong Ash?"

"Nothing just call me a romantic. Let's get of this rock."

"Ash. I..."

I headed straight back to the GRV and waited for Miranda. Once she was in we set of at full speed back to the ship. It didn't take us long to get back, once the GRV was stored at the back of the ship. I headed straight into the library and buried myself in a book. Whilst Miranda set in co-ordinates for the Citadel. I wasn't in the mood for talking. She ruined it, our moment, was ruined due to her thinking instead of allowing her heart work. Arrgh. Any magic was lost in the moment she decided to break the kiss. Even Tennyson couldn't help me through this. She clearly had feelings, it didn't feel like a heat of the moment thing. I was so caught up in my thoughts I never noticed Miranda come in and sit down next to me. Having my eyes closed didn't help.

"You know you're supposed to have your eyes open in order to read right."

"Very funny Miranda."

It was definitely done on purpose. I'd started calling her Miri, it was a form of affection. Clearly no one else had ever called her Miri, but this time I wasn't feeling affectionate. I was angry with every reason to be. The hurt on her face was fairly obvious and it definitely hurt me to see her like that. But it served her right.

"What's wrong Ash?"

"The fact that you don't know is evidence enough Miranda."

"Everything has gone according to plan so far Ash, I don't see what's wrong."

"Hmm, of course you don't. Why would you? You're a logical being you don't follow the heart."

"The heart?"

"Yes. You remember when the bomb was ticking down and we had that moment. Do you remember what happened?"

"Of course. In the heat of things we got carried away, so naturally when we were still alive after several seconds I had to make a move and make sure the bomb was truly disarmed."

"Carried away..." I was mumbling to myself, not wanting to process what I'd just heard. I knew it was more than just a heat of the moment thing. I'd had those before, this felt real. "Carried away..."

"Ash are you alright?"

I couldn't reply, I didn't want to reply. How could I? No, how could she? I knew she wasn't attune to her feelings after all, she's a creature of logic. But still it was fairly obvious what had happened, her biotics had registered the feelings. Clearly her mind wasn't. I hadn't noticed her leave, the book had fallen to the floor and my arms were wrapped my knees. The tears were flowing freely and I honestly didn't feel like stopping. I don't know how long it took for me to cry myself asleep but I woke up the next day whilst we were docking to the Citadel. I certainly didn't remember draping myself with a cover, maybe Miranda had placed.

"Good you're up Ash. We've just docked and we've got three things we need to do before you can ship back to the Normandy."

"Oh?"

"First we need to get in contact with the Illusive Man, so you can tell him whether your joining or not. Secondly I need your help. But before we get to that we need to talk."

We did need to talk; hopefully, it wouldn't end as badly as last time.

"Okay, let's go see the Illusive Man."

As soon as we left the ship Miranda led the way to the same safe house as before. When we entered the shop we used the same covers as before, and were granted immediate access. Instead of being shown up stairs to a room to change, the shop owner led us into a basement room with blacked out walls and a silver circle on the floor. Once we entered the owner left us. I had no idea what to expect, we were in an empty room.

"Holographic communicator."

It seemed like Miranda knew exactly what I was thinking

"Thanks, you must have read my mind."

"Not your mind, your face. You looked confused, so naturally I deducted it had to be this room."

"So what are we waiting for?"

"Nothing really. Just when you're ready we'll step into the circle."

"Let's do it."

We stepped into the circle and immediately holographic images appeared. I'm no tech expert but it looked like lines of code scrolling down the page, looking for a connection of sorts. For Miranda this was clearly a normal occurrence, as far as I was aware the Alliance didn't have anything like this. It didn't take long for the lines of code to change and form an image of a man. This man was sat down secured in shadows, the only things that came through the darkness were his eyes and the embers from the cigarette he was smoking.

"Miranda, Williams. The mission was a success I take it."

"It was."

"Anything to report?"

"All human lives were saved. The Batarian terrorist group that were behind it were eliminated apart from their leader. The only way to save lives was to let him go."

"Have you thought on the offer Miss Williams?"

"I have."

"Well."

"I'm in."

"Good. Miranda you know what to do."

And with that he was gone, we stepped out of the holographic circle and left the room. The shop owner was waiting for us and after a brief discussion with Miranda, he led us upstairs and into the same room we had used last time.

"Are you sure this is what you want Ash?"

"I'm sure Miri."

There it was, that smile. It seemed more passionate this time, something had happened that made her feel more attached, maybe our moment had meant something.

"That's good to hear Ash."

"What did the Illusive Man mean when he said you know what to do?"

"Your Cerberus now Ash but your also Alliance. Normally we'd ask for you to leave the Alliance and solely work for Cerberus, but in this instance we can't do that. The mission that you're on is too important to interrupt. Once it's over we may have to revisit the idea. At the moment though you're my responsibility. I'll be the one to give you your assignments and I'll be the one that you come to. Your Cerberus alias will be Carina Miller, only myself and the Illusive Man will know your real identity within Cerberus. I think that's everything, oh the cat suit is yours to keep."

"Well that's definitely a reason to join then. Hang on why does it now have a Cerberus logo?"

"You're part of Cerberus now Ash, the suit is linked to your Omni-tool. Your omni-tool has just downloaded a program that every Cerberus operative has, but yours is more advanced due to the nature of who you are. Once it's finished you'll have control, just remember if you're ever aboard a Cerberus vessel or facility it needs to be shown."

"Okay anything else before we get to this talk?"

"No everything else can wait till after."

"Okay."

You could see the emotions playing across her face, clearly she wasn't used to such feelings. This conversation could clearly go either way. The struggle was plain across her face, not being able to decide what to say she took to actions instead. Her hands attached to mine and she brought us into a tight hug. I wasn't sure what to do at first, the initial shock of Miranda making any kind of move had me frozen. When she squeezed tighter wanting some kind of response I finally came out of it and moved my hands round her back and returned the feeling. It was then that Miranda spoke.

"Ash, I've never done anything like this before, never experienced any feelings like this. In that moment I was terrified I'd die alone, but you'd always been there since we met. You treated me as an individual an equal, even when you found out about Cerberus. You made me happy, no one before you had called me Miri, those who had I'd made sure they wouldn't again. At first I didn't know why I let you, but I didn't mind at all. But I ruined the moment, I got scared when we didn't die and I reverted back to Miranda the Cerberus Ice Queen. Even when we were back on board the ship I was still the Ice Queen not wanting to admit any feelings. After I left you in the library I went to the cock pit and allowed myself to come back. I did a lot of thinking at that point. I came back to check on you but you had clearly cried yourself to sleep. There are so many things I've never told anybody Ash, but with you I'm willing to make an exception."

"I'm so glad you've said that Miri. I've been struggling ever since you went to Ice Queen mode. It was hard you made it out to be like there was nothing between us, even though the blindest pyjack could see something there. In that moment you opened yourself up to me, your biotics flared with the passion. Even your smile, every time I called you Miri you face lit up with this special smile which I've only seen directed towards me."

We were still enclosed in each other's arms having finally voiced our feelings to each other. It was then that Miri acted again, slowly bringing her head of my shoulder she moved until she was looking directly at me. Her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were damp, she had been crying all the way through. I moved a hand up towards her face and wiped any remaining tears away; when they were gone I moved my hand underneath her chin and brought her close pressing our lips together. This time Miranda closed her eyes and allowed a new moment to be created, our tongues entwined and lips melted together. We were in heaven it was brought to a swift end when Miri's omni-tool went off. To her credit she kept it waiting, until she was finished. When she finally broke the kiss her face showed the love that she had found within herself. Her omni-tool still flashing she wasn't ready quite yet to remove herself from the embrace, so she just moved positions. She moved to the side and I placed an arm round here, as she rested her head against my shoulder she activated her omni-tool. The message when opened displayed three words.

We've found her.

A/N Well yeah this chapter kind of came out of nowhere. I had no intention of writing this but it just arrived. Don't worry we'll be back on the Normandy soon, just give me a couple more chapters. I have plans for the next chapter. Who could they have possibly found, I guess your just going to have to wait and find out.

Need to give a big thanks to pachecoissa123 for the constant reviews. This chapter is for you.