Day of the Reaper attack

Miranda looked around Oriana's bedroom, looking at the struggle that must have occurred. She noticed the shattered glass from the window on the ground. She walked around, pacing back and forth, looking for clues along the way. She continued walking deeper into the room, she noticed Ori's desk. 'This was an unexpected attack. Looks like 3-man-ops. Well armed and knew exactly what they were doing. No blood stains.' She continued her assessment of the room, analyzing everything, and noticing if Oriana had left anything behind which would point her in Ori's direction. Miranda didn't know who would be stupid enough to kidnap Oriana but someone was and Miranda wanted to know who. She kept looking around and searching for clues.

"Did you find anything yet?" Rebecca asked Miranda as she looked in from the door frame. With her arms holding each other, a comforting hug, during this difficult time.

Miranda lifted her head and shook her head no. She continued looked and walking around the room searching for some more clues that would point her in the right direction. Miranda looked around the bed and spotted a small piece of paper with a drop of blood on it. 'Good job, Oriana. Good job.' Miranda said to herself. She picked up the piece of paper, unfolded it, and found a message, just a few words. Hope this help. They know who we are. Will be alright. Just find me. Miranda hid the paper from Rebecca to prevent from giving her false hope. Rebecca started walking towards Miranda.

"Did you find something, Miranda?" Rebecca said as her voice cracked and her eyes pushed back the tears. She never thought that this would happen. Not with Miranda protecting them and fighting for them but now that Oriana is gone, Rebecca's fear paralyzed her.

"Just blood. Possibly Oriana's. It's hard to tell but if I take it into the lab, perhaps I can find something that will help me." Miranda looked at Rebecca who looked like she was ready to pass out at any moment. Miranda placed her hand on Rebecca's arm and squeezed it. Rebecca looked like how Miranda felt on the inside. Miranda knew that she had to be strong and rational. Oriana needed her to be right now. "She will be alright, Rebecca. I know it. She is smart." Miranda looked down to the ground, staring off to the distance, feeling the emotions of confusion and fear coming to the surface. She moved away, knowing that she needed to regain that strength that once drove her into the gates of hell.

"How are you going to find her, Miranda?" Rebecca barely whispered. She didn't have the strength anymore to worry. She needed Miranda desperately figure this all out.

"I don't know but I will find a way. I promise you, Rebecca that I will find her and bring her back home. Nothing or no one will stand in my way." Miranda started walking out of Oriana's room and heading down the stairs. She had wasted enough time searching for clues. She needed to talk to Liara, see if she could used her resources to search for any Cerberus chatter. She knew that they were behind this in some way but she needed to find out how and the only way that she could do that was through Liara. "I need to get going Rebecca. I'll keep you and Al posted on what I find. I will use Ori comm only when I have discovered something new. We need to keep that channel open in case she remembers it and tries to contact us through it."

"Thank you, Miranda." Rebecca said while reaching out for Miranda's arm. Miranda looked down and held Rebecca's hand. "Al will be home soon so you can talk to him. He got on the first shuttle back from Earth once he heard of what happened."

"I will need to speak to him once he arrives. I need to see this internal network." Miranda patted Rebecca's hand as she slowly moved away.

Rebecca simply looked down and nodded. She couldn't believe that this was happening but she was thankful for Miranda. Miranda hugged Rebecca and with that, started walking out the house. She looked over at the Shadow Broker's shuttle that was still waiting for her, hopped on board, and signaled the pilot to depart. 'Ori. Where are you? How in the world am I going to find you?'

Shepard, laying on the right side of the bed, looked over to the left side and noticed that the bed was empty. He looked around and heard a slight noise coming from the other room. He sat up, with sleep and tiredness overwhelming him every step of the way, he decided it would be best to go and check up on her. He knew that something was up. Shepard started walking downstairs to the kitchen when he saw a light coming out from the nursery and decided to check that out first. He opened the door and walked in slowly, noticing Miranda sitting on the rocker, swaying back and forth. When she noticed that Shepard was starting at the door, she winked at him and smiled. She continued rocking, fixing her eyes on the baby boy that rested peacefully in her arms, unafraid, unaware of the dangers that would stand in his way. Pure and wonderful, this small creature felt in her arms. Shepard walked in and kneel down before Miranda and his boy, Marcus. At four months, he was still a ray of sunshine to the two of them and they couldn't help be the parents that show off pictures of their little prince. Miranda never thought that she could be a mom and she was thankful that Shepard convinced her enough to find a way and to fight for what she wanted, their marriage included. She never pictured her life like this.

"You finally got him to sleep." Shepard whispered to Miranda as he rubbed Marcus's head. He looked so beautiful, her eyes, his nose. "Thank God. It's been way too long since he's had a solid night's sleep."

"So have we." Miranda said as her and Shepard shared a look at each other. "Amongst other things." She winked at Shepard as he simply nodded his head and winked back at her.

"Well, the moment we put that little nugget back in bed, maybe I can correct our second problem, Ms. Lawson." Shepard stood up, grabbed Marcus from Miranda's arms, and placed him back in his crib. He took a deep breathe as he placed him down and noticed that Marcus was still asleep. Miranda got up from the rocker and walked over to Shepard, placing her hand on his shoulder, kissing his cheek repeatedly. Shepard positioned her body to face hers. He placed his hands around her waist, rubbing his hands against her skin and pulling her closer to him. They started kissing, attempting to contain the fire that always sparked when they touch one another, something that they haven't done in a while since Marcus's arrival and crazy sleep schedule. This was something that they had both missed from their dating days. Miranda pulled away when she heard Marcus moving around.

"We should probably go, babe. We wouldn't want to wake up the little one." Miranda grabbed Shepard's hand and lead him out of the room. Shepard simply nodded. As they walked down the hall, Shepard pulled Miranda in and started kissing her neck, gently pressing her into the wall. Miranda gasped for air, startled by Shepard's affection but she wanted more. She ran her fingers through his head and wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting more of him. He carried her into their bedroom, placing her down on their bed, and staring at her. He "admired" his wife, the woman that he had fallen deeply and madly in love with. The woman that was worth it all for him. It took him just a second to admire her before giving in to her, a moment of closeness between a husband and wife. They fell into each other, passion and love overtaking their bodies, admiring each other. They had nothing but time on their hands.

Morning came and Miranda found herself wrapped in Shepard's embrace, his arm around her waist, her head on his arm like a pillow. There was something about waking up next to the man of her dreams, to the one who had changed her in such a good way, and given her so much. She turned her body to face Shepard, placing her hands on his cheeks, and started kissing him. At first, Shepard started grunting, signaling that for a second his sleep was more important than his wife, while his body had a different reaction to her kisses. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Miranda smiling at him, sweeping her fingers across his cheeks. He moved closer to her, closed his eyes and rested his head on her chest, kissing her chest. They had been married for two years now but it felt like just yesterday when they met. That raw passion lived very much inside of them.

"Shepard." Miranda faintly whispered, moaned out his name, as she rubbed her hand against Shepard's hair. The last thing she wanted to do was to stop. She wanted more of Shepard. She squeezed the back of his neck and released. Shepard raised his head from her chest and looked up at her, eyebrows raised, waiting for her. He knew that she was going to say something that would require them to get up from bed and the only way to stop her is to give her a reason to stay in. "Do you think we should check up on Marcus? I haven't heard anything."

Shepard sighed and nodded his head. He wanted to ease his wife's concerns. "Yeah. I'll go check up on our boy." He removed the covers, put on his briefs which were on the floor and looked back at Miranda, who had decided that the covers were completely unnecessary. "You. Stay. Here." He uttered. His tongue felt heavy as he stared at Miranda. He swallowed heavy, flustered. He stood up straight and walked over to her side of the bed, bending down, kissing her passionately. He ran his hand down her body, reaching parts of her that only he was allowed to. He pulled away soon enough to leave her wanting more. Miranda nodded, left completely speechless. There was something attractive about Shepard wanting her and how he showed that. He is a man who fights for what he wants. With that, Shepard got up and walked out of the room. He took a few seconds to regain his thoughts, gratitude overwhelmed him. He was more than honored to call Miranda his.

"PETE! MAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER HERE?! HAVENT' SEEN YOU IN YEARS!" A man yelled right outside of Shepard's room which woke him up. Shepard, opening his eyes, started rubbing his forehead. The last thing he wanted to do was woke up from that dream especially at 6am in the morning. The dream felt so real, a reality that knowing his life, could never happened and knowing that Miranda could never have children on her, seemed what it was a dream. It was something that she was unaware that he knew but that didn't matter to him. He wanted a future with her but if he was being honest with himself, he wasn't sure if she would want that from them. Their lives just seemed too crazy to even obtain a sense of normality.

'It's 6am. I guess I should wake up and start getting ready for the day. After a dream like that, I don't think I could sleep in anymore.' Shepard said to himself as sat up on the edge of the bed, removing the covers just as he did in his dream. He was shaken up by the dream because it felt so real. It was too real for him. His thoughts focused solely on Miranda, something that he had done in a long time because he knew what kind of door that would open for him. He didn't want any distractions even if they were good distractions. He got up and headed over to the shower and get ready for his day. He didn't know how the day would turn out but the way that it did was not in his plans.

Author's notes: FINALLY AT ME3! It has started! Promise you all that this story will more at a quicker rate now! Will focused more on Shepard and Miranda since ME3 did not (in my opinion) give them a good romance story! Enjoy!