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Miranda sat in her office typing on her console her thoughts straying to Shepard and how much her life had changed. Before she had been a cold company woman caring little about other people, but since she had fallen in love with Shepard she had mellowed slightly. She liked the new her it was far better than the one who had been employed be the Illusive Man. Her console flashed as she received a message. She opened up her inbox and saw the subject of the message it read 'I was right about you and Shepard' She looked at who the message was from she smiled as she saw her sisters name under the message. Miranda was now talking to her sister something she had never done before, but thanks to Shepard she was now in regular contact with her. She opened up the message and started to read.
-Oriana
Hey sis,
I knew there was something between you two back on Illium I'm so happy for you. He seems like a good man and has kept in contact with thank him for me would you. I saw the citadel interview it was totally unfair on you saying you couldn't protect him after all you protected me for all these years. How did the mission go judging by the fact your alive I'd say pretty well. If you have time would you please come round mine for a bit I would like to talk face to face you can bring Shepard. I'll cook something special.
Love Oriana
-Miranda
Miranda read and re-read the message then keeping her composure rushed off to find Shepard. He was in his cabin, reading an OSD and looked incredibly bored with its content. She felt like she had known him for years, which was technically true but he hadn't talked to her while she was rebuilding him, he hadn't made her smile and laugh. But reading a file for two years wasn't enough to know Shepard she had thought it would be, but when he had spoken to her taken the time with Oriana that was the true Shepard. He smiled as she approached and he set the OSD down on a table. When she reached him she kissed him feeling his arms wrap around waist. The kiss lasted for a few precious moments and then they broke apart. She sat down on the edge of his bed and he joined her. Her heart fluttered, she still felt like a school girl whenever in his was presence, but she was a school girl in love so she didn't mind the feelings that were with her wherever she went.
"What was on the OSD?" She asked nodding to it.
"Nothing important the Alliance has invited me to a diner where they all talk about how great I am. Though I am allowed to bring someone with me" He said smiling at her.
"I'd be honoured Commander" She said with a mock salute. He laughed and she found herself laughing with him.
"Its ages away" He said airily "I'm guessing you're not up for social reasons"
"No I'm not I just a message off Oriana inviting us round for dinner"
"That's great news" He said. There was pause then "Us?"
"Yes us, is it a problem?" She asked knowing that it wouldn't be but she had to check.
"Of course and I quite like the sound of us" He smiled at her. "When is it?"
"I don't know I think she wanted to know whether it would be alright or not" She said glad to have a man like Shepard.
"Well tell me when you get a date and time" He commanded and she felt an illogical sense to go and message Oriana right away. He doesn't realise he's doing it she thought, he doesn't realise that he is doing it all the time. "Reckon she'll know what I've done?" He asked her and she knew it had been bothering him since she had told him. The fact was that everyone knew about the events on Akuze and always asked him about it. It must be irritating she tought to have people recognise you wherever you go.
"Probably, but I'll ask her not to mention it" She said finally.
"Thanks" He said with a hint of a smile. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.  She thought about what her life had been like before she had met him. She had been used by her father and the Illusive Man, called upon for a job but not really cared about. She had never let people get close Jacob had tried but she had ignored his advances, not because of who he was but because she was afraid he would use her like the rest. But Shepard had not once used her. This made her glow inside there was after all someone for everyone. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He always seemed to have an air of defiance about him. She kissed him again lightly on the cheek.
"Shepard" She said quietly "Don't bring your gun"

When Miranda left him to go and ask Oriana about a time and date for the dinner. Shepard stared out of the window looking to the blackness of space. His thoughts drifted back to the original Normandy. He missed it, he missed the quiet and the crew, only three of his old friends still remained. He was grateful to them for joining him. They reminded him that he wasn't alone in the galaxy. He wished that Ash had come back and not turned her back on him. He still even now couldn't believe she had abandoned him. Everyone seemed to leave in the end, his parents had died and so had his friends. His team had died on Akuze, the Alliance had left when Cerberus rebuilt him. He seemed destined to be alone. He knew that eventually Miranda would leave as well whether it was her choice or not. They all would in the end because of who he was. He was the hero who had saved so many; the only problem was that heroes couldn't stop being heroes. People would always look at him for guidance not those who travelled with him. He sighed and got up he might as well enjoy it while there was chance. He walked to the elevator and took it down to CIC.
"Good afternoon Commander" Kelly almost sung the line which Shepard had gotten so used to. He smiled but didn't stay. He walked past her and headed for the cockpit.
"Hi Joker" He said as he entered.
"Hey, Commander you know you can use the comm right? You don't have to come all the way down to talk to me" Joker said "Not that I'm complaining"
"I know but I need to ask you something?"
"What?" Joker asked stunned.
"Oriana wants me and Miranda to have dinner, how do I act?" He asked realizing how stupid he sounded.
"You're asking me Commander, the guy with brittle bones like I ever got a date" Joker snorted.
"You and me both" Shepard said.
"You serious? You have never had a date?" Joker asked sceptically. Shepard shook his head. "Well just be yourself Commander I mean like you are with the crew"
"Thanks Joker" Shepard said "Set a course for Illium"
"We'll be there in a few hours" Joker said typing the co-ordinates into his console.
Shepard turned and left the cockpit and was sure he heard Joker say to EDI "Shepard never had a date, you gotta check that out"

It took them three hours to reach Illium. Shepard was talking to Jacob and Garrus when they arrived.
"We're here Commander" Joker said over the comm.
"Here?" Jacob asked "Where's here?"
"Illium" Shepard answered "Time a bit of well deserved shore leave"
"I here that Commander" Jacob said looking at Garrus "I'm sure Garrus will enjoy the location" Garrus punched Jacob in the shoulder and he laughed.
"What?" Shepard asked. The idea of Garrus being embarrasse was strange.
"Liara" Garrus clarified making it clear he didn't want to pursue the subject. Shepard smiled to himself he was not the only one coming to Illium for relationship reasons.
"EDI tell the crew we're having some shore leave on Illium"
"Of course Shepard" EDI replied. He noticed Jacob's console flash knowing that the whole crew was now aware. Shepard heard footsteps and turned to the door. Miranda walked in and Shepard stared at her. She had replaced her usual attire with a black cocktail dress that stopped just abover her knees. She had added make up to her already beautiful features making her face glow. Jacob and Garrus both got up and walked out getting ready for their shore leave.
"What do you think?" She asked.
"You look amazing" He said looking at his own attire "I'd better go change"
"Don't be too long Oriana's expecting us" Miranda said a hint of her old commanding tone.
"Yes ma'am" Shepard said with a mock salute.  She kissed him lightly on the cheek and he left nervousness settling at the pit of his stomach. He rode the elevator up to his cabin and went to the bathroom. He ran the cold tap and washed some water over his face trying to make him look refreshed. He looked at himself in the mirror noticing the scars on his face. They were small and barely noticeable these days. He hoped Oriana and her family didn't mind them. He ran a finger over one on his cheek feeling how shallow it was. He walked to his wardrobe and found the suit he had worn for the heist with Kasumi. It went slightly wrong he reflected and he hoped the dinner wouldn't go wrong. He put it on and looked at himself in the mirror; he didn't look to bad he thought. He reached for his pistol on the table and remembered he wasn't going to be shooting people. It had been so long since he had gone out without his gun. He stepped into the elevator realising that his hands were shaking. He tried to banish any feeling of nervousness as the elevator descended.

  Oriana and her family now lived in Nos Astra. Cerberus had suggested it because so many people lived there the family could blend in. Shepard and Miranda walked through the capital, they were accompanied stared and whispers wherever they went. It took them ten minutes to reach Oriana's apartment and Shepard was getting sick of people whispering as he past. He was trying hard not to let it show, but he could tell Miranda knew. She stepped forwards and pressed the door bell. Shepard noticed how up market the place was and had to admit Cerberus had done a good job in the relocation. Ten seconds later the door was not opened. Miranda tried again but nothing happened. She looked at him and she was thinking same thing he was. Why was no-one answering?
"Where is she?" Miranda asked.
"I don't know, shopping" Shepard suggested lamely. Miranda was about to start speaking when a muffled cry came from the other side of the door. Shepard had no alternative something was wrong. "Overload the lock and open the door" He whispered and she nodded. A few seconds later the door opened with a hiss and they looked inside. The apartment was white walled and had many paintings hanging from them. There was a table and three chairs at the centre of the room and two doors leading off to separate rooms. There was a large window at the back of the room that looked out onto Nos Astra. One of the chairs was occupied Shepard couldn't see the occupant but he guessed it was Oriana. Three men stood around her guns pointing at her head. He looked at Miranda her eyes wide and frightened.
Then a voice spoke from inside the apartment "Don't kill the girl until we've had a word with Shepard" It was the Illusive Man had he planned this had the message been a fake? Shepard was sure Miranda was asking herself the same thing. She was shaking with anger he could see it, he wanted to comfort her but that would comprise them and Oriana.
"Hey the doors open" Shoutwed one of the thugs.
"Probably just some kids go check it out" Ordered another thug. One of the thugs walked towards them. His gun was by his side not up ready to fire. The thug was getting nearer and nearer and then he was out the door. Shepard moved quickly batting the gun out of his hand and putting him in a choke hold. The thug struggled for a few seconds and then fell limp in Shepard's arms. He let him down and picked up the fallen gun. He walked into the apartment and fired the gun deliberately missing and shattering the glass. The two remaining thugs ducked instinctively and Miranda used her biotics to send one into the air and then slammed him back down with a sickening crunch. The last thug looked at them dropped his gun and fell to the ground begging. Miranda acted before Shepard could stop her. She used the same biotic move she had before tossing the thug like a rag doll to the floor. Shepard watched her as she rushed to Oriana. Hurriedly removing the gag from her mouth Miranda helped her sister to her feet.
"Are you alright?" Miranda asked holding her sister tight.
"I'm fine" Oriana said in a shaky voice.
"Shepard glad you could make it" The Illusive Man from a T.V on the wall.
"What do you want?" Shepard asked impatiently "You failed"
"Not quite yet I haven't" He snarled. A door opened behind Shepard and a man walked in. He was tall and had dark hair, he was well armoured and Shepard knew it would take a lot of firepower to get through the armour. He held a small device in his large right hand. "As you can see my associate is holding a detonator. I'll let you decide what it does"
Shepard was panicking now there was no way out that he could see "What do you want?"
"I want you Shepard, there is a pill on the table take it and you will do whatever I say, you have ten seconds"
"No Shepard don't" Miranda begged but he had no choice. He looked down at the table and saw the green pill. He stepped forward and picked it up realising how such a small thing could change your life.
"Can I have some water?" He asked the man and he nodded and turned and walked through the door. He looked at Miranda tears were forming in her eyes. He walked to her but she looked away. He put both hands on her cheeks tilting her face to his. He felt the pill in his hand and so did she. He began moving it slowly towards her mouth using his hand to conceal what he was doing. She had her back to the screen and he took his chance and slipped it into her mouth and kissed her making it look like a passionate good bye.
"I love you" He whispered to her as the man re-entered the room. Shepard took the glass from him and put his free hand to his mouth to keep up the act. Then he drunk the water making it obvious he was swallowing. He set it down on the table and Miranda let the tears fall from her eyes. He closed his eyes hoping against hope this worked.
"Very good Shepard" The Illusive Man said "Now take the detonator" Shepard obeyed and the man handed him the detonator. Now Shepard had the object that would have forced him to give up who he was.
"Use it" The Illusive Man said. Shepard looked at him through the T.V and set the detonator down on the table. "But how?" The Illusive Man spluttered and Miranda spat the pill out onto the floor. He let out a cry of anger and then the man attacked. He charged into Shepard spending him sprawling against the far wall. Miranda picked up a fallen gun and fired point black into the man's chest. The bullets ricocheted uselessly off the armour and the man laughed. Miranda tried to warp his armour but failed. She was getting desperate now nothing was working. She fired the gun again aiming for the head, but a kinetic barrier swallowed up the bullets. Shepard picked himself up from the floor; he cursed Miranda for not letting him bring his gun. The man was now advancing on Miranda who had dropped her gun. Shepard reacted without thinking; he picked up the detonator from the table and charged the man. The man turned as Shepard was feet away. He swung a punch but Shepard avoided it and smashed the detonator onto his face. He man bellowed in pain as the detonator smashed into pieces. Shepard punched again and the man staggered backwards shielding his face.Shepard used the last if his strength to push the man back even further. He fell backwards and plummeted out of the broken window. Miranda and Oriana stared at him to shocked to speak. Shepard looked at the T.V not surprised to see the Illusive Man was gone. He checked the other rooms for any other men but there were none. When he got back to the main room Oriana was sitting back down and Miranda was picking up the remnants of the detonator.
She lloked up as he entered and asked "How did you know it wouldn't blow up?"
"I didn't" He said sitting down in one of the free chairs staring at the blank T.V screen.
"You didn't?" Oriana asked incredulously from the chair. Shepard nodded and she shook her head disbelievingly.
"No I didn't" He repeated trying to remain calm.
"This is what Shepard does" Miranda said standing up "He makes ddecisions in a snap second and there are usually lives on the line"
"Can I ask a question?" Shepard asked turning to them "Was the dinner for real?"
Oriana stared at him blankly and then said "Yes it was I was about to start cooking when they came"
Shepard nodded and then said "Well we'd better get started then"
"Yes I'll show you where everything is" She said getting up and walking in to the kitchen.

It took them an hour to cook the meal and get the apartment back in order. They ate quickly and Miranda asked Oriana about colony development. Oriana answered her questions with ease and Shepard remained silent. He wanted to join in the conversation but he didn't know anything about colony development. He wondered how the Illusive Man had found out about the meal, but was interrupted by Oriana saying his name.
"Sorry?" He asked looking up startled.
"I asked how did you two meet I mean before the Cerberus mission"
Shepard looked at Miranda for guidance but she just stared at her plate. He decided on the truth.
"Miranda rebuilt me" He said simply noticing Oriana's eyes widen.
"What do you been rebuilt?" She asked.
"I mean I was dead" Shepard said trying to remember what it had felt like "Cerberus found me and put me back together I don't know all the details"
"I wasn't expecting that" She said "It is one of the strangest ways to meet someone"
"Tell me about it" He said it was good to talk about something different about him for a change. They spent the next few hours talking about the latest news and their past. When they left Oriana Shepard promised himself that next time there wouldn't be a fight to deal with at the start.