A House of Three

Ashley Williams shut her car off with a sigh, working her neck in a quick circle to get the kinks out. Flying always stressed her out, but she'd needed something to clear her head after three frustrating days of meetings in London. The Alliance was still trying to rebuild from the shattering damage of the Reaper War, and there were always more urgent requests than there were resources to meet them. The Council had been dropping increasingly blatant hints about her returning to duty as a Spectre, but Ash had held them off. No matter how they saw it, she knew her most important job was here.

Of course, it wasn't one she could exactly share all the details of with the Council.

Grabbing her bag out of the car and hoisting it over her shoulder, Ash walked down the front path and towards the airy, open beach house. There was just a hint of black hair blowing in the breeze around back, and Ash grinned softly to herself as she lowered the bag to the ground, silently circling around rather than coming in the front door. If she knew her target…Ash grinned wider as she made out Miranda Shepard, stretched out on her stomach in a black thong bikini with the top undone, paging through a book. No tan lines for her girl. Ash moved in a deliberate heel-toe over the grass, shifting her weight as it changed to sand to stay silent. She waited until she was just a few paces away, then put her hands on her hips and a mock edge into her tone.

"Lazing around while I'm away, Miri?" Miranda jumped, looking back over her shoulder with those wide blue eyes, turning over and leaning back on her arms.

"No Ma'am. All my chores are done and I finished this week's analysis last night." Miranda's voice was breathy, on edge. "You'll find everything in order when you go in."

"Mmm. I'd better." But then Ash smiled and walked forward, dipping down to give Miranda a warm, deep kiss. The other woman returned it, smiling as she leaned her forehead in against Ash's.

"Hi."

"Hi." Ash giggled, something she only let herself do around two people, as Miranda turned on her side to let Ash wrap her arms around Miranda's waist and snuggle in. She smelled like sea salt and flowers, and Ash let herself nip forward for a quick taste, her tongue running along Miranda's chest. Miranda gave a half-giggle, half moan as she curled her neck back, and Ash smirked. "I see part of you missed me, at least."

"Yes Ma'am." Ash never ceased to wonder at this side of Miranda. The tough, ruthless, manipulative femme fatale she'd met years ago had needed to control everything and everyone around her- which meant Ashley could never have guessed how she'd blossom with that control taken away. Her little Miri-slut was warm, happy, giving, relaxed- everything Miranda Lawson had never had a chance to be. Now she leaned her head back and moan. "I've been quite neglected."

Ash's eyes snapped up. "What about John?" There was more of an edge to her voice than she'd intended, and she felt her hands curl into fists unconsciously. Damn it. He'd told her specifically-

"Hackett." Miranda's voice dropped, and Ash could read the guilt on her face. "He called the day after you left. Wanted John to look at some plans for an anti-piracy campaign out in the Terminus systems. They're not talking about sending him out-"

"Goddamned right they're not."

"-but he's spaceside, in a conference on the Denali. He'll be back tomorrow night." Miranda's gaze dropped. "I tried to get him not to go. I did. But."

Ashley sighed. "But." Ever since the Reaper War, John Shepard had been driving himself too hard, as though he were trying to make up for the billions he hadn't been able to save. Try as she might, Miranda Shepard couldn't love the problem away and she hadn't been able to stop him from punishing himself. Things might have gotten bad…if it hadn't been for a chance visit by one Ashley Williams, who in the wake of the war needed a situation where she could exert control. Six months later she was still mistress and Mistress to both the Shepards, the capitalization depending on the needs of a particular day. She'd watched bits of his old personality resurface through the guilt and weariness, but it was a slow process. And now, being suddenly yanked back into the heart of the Alliance military-

Ash decided, then and there, that she and Hackett were going to Have A Talk very soon. She'd just need to remember to resign from the Alliance beforehand. Her grip tightened a bit, fingers curling, but she didn't realize quite how much until Miranda gasped out a soft, "I'm sorry." Ash relaxed her fingers, reaching up to stroke her lover's cheek in apology.

"No, sorry Miri. Not your fault."

"No?" Miranda was still looking down. "I'm not a doormat, Ash. I could have tried harder."

"You can always try harder, Miri." Ash kept her voice gentle, but firm. "This isn't on you." A pause. "Do you think it is?" Miranda nodded silently, and Ash pursed her lips. Well, well. Some guilt to work out, looked like, and suddenly she had a lot of frustration to blow off. She leaned forward and whispered in Miranda's ear,

"Then meet me in the bedroom in five minutes, slut. I think it's past time you were punished."