"Dammit. Dammit. Dammit." Shepard was pacing back and forth in her cabin, sweating with the same nervousness she had when she first let slip of her feelings for Garrus. "Where the hell is Kasumi with my dress?"
"Ms. Goto is approximately five minutes out, Shepard." The tinny, yet soft voice of EDI floated overhead. "She was delayed momentarily."
"Delayed? Since when does Kasumi get delayed?" Shepard let out an exasperated sigh as the thought of Kasumi getting distracted by some hard bod entered her mind. "She better not have stopped to get some dudes number."
"Ms. Goto did not relay the reason for her delay, Shepard. However, my knowledge of Ms. Goto's previous actions leads me to believe that she would indeed have stopped to 'get some dudes number', if she had the time."
"This is bullshit, Shepard. I told you I should have handled it." Jack yelled from the couch, she was wearing a black suit, with a cobalt undershirt, and a purple tie that was hanging loosely down to her breasts. "I wouldn't have cut it so damn close. EDI, the second Kasumi steps on this ship, tell her to hurry her ass up.
"Understood, Jack." Jack wasn't completely sure EDI would follow through with that command.
"As much as I appreciated the offer, Jack, I trust Kasumi more when dealing with the stuffed shirts of the fashion world. Last thing I need is for you to blow up the boutique because they got something wrong."
"Still, taking the time to fuck some dude when we're already on a tight deadline isn't exactly helpful, Shepard." Jack took a drink of the 30-year old whiskey Shepard had given her as a maid of honor gift. "She could have at least brought him and banged him at the reception like a normal person."
"Sounds like someone's a bit jealous. Miranda not putting out?"
"Fuck you, Shepard." Jack laughed as she flipped off Shepard while taking another drink. A few seconds later EDI spoke over the PA in the cabin.
"Ms. Goto has just boarded the Normandy, Shepard. I have already alerted her to your annoyance, and per Jack's request, I told Ms. Goto to "hurry her ass up."
"Please tell me you said that over the ship's PA?" Shepard asked, hopefully.
"Affirmative, Shepard. Several of the crew found it...amusing."
Both Jack and Shepard burst out laughing at the thought of EDI telling anyone to "hurry their ass up".
"I can't believe she did it." Wheezed Jack through the bursts of laughter.
Just then the door to Shepard's cabin dinged and Kasumi, wearing a cobalt and purple dress that mimicked her normal tactical suit, came running through the door. "Sorry Shepard, got delayed getting the dress. And did you tell EDI to say that, or..." Kasumi trailed off as soon as she saw Jack was also there. "Nevermind. It was definitely Jack, wasn't it?" Even though she appeared to have worked up a rigorous sweat, Kasumi's breathing was as calm as ever.
"Not telling you, unless you tell me what his name was?" Shepard coyly asked as she yanked the dress out of Kasumi's hands, removed it from the cleaner bag and began to put it on.
"Don't know. Didn't ask. Didn't do too much talking." A smile had creased the corner of her mouth.
"That explains the sweatiness. Please tell me…" Kasumi cut her off before she could finish her question.
"Relax, I did it before I got your dress. No chance in hell I would risk ruining the wedding dress of the most bad ass woman in the galaxy."
"But being late…"
"Is a pain in my ass." Interjected Jack before Kasumi could reply.
"Is incredibly fashionable. Like that dress." Retorted Kasumi has she gave Jack a side-eyed look. Jack responded with a middle finger and another drink of whiskey.
Shepard had finally finished putting on her dress. A backless mermaid-style dress, the body was cobalt blue, with navy striping, the same shade as Alliance dress blues, along the side from the waist down. A purple train, that was clasped at her waist in the front, and at the small of her back, flowed like a violet waterfall that pooled into a violet pond at her feet. Shepard gave a twirl, the waterfall transforming into a wild violet flower. As Shepard finished her twirl, the flower slowly fell back into the waterfall and pooled at her feet.
"Holy shit, Shepard…" Jack stared as Shepard looked over her wedding dress in the mirror.
"It's beautiful. Garrus is going to lose his mind." Shepard began to make sure the twirl had not messed up her hair, which was tied into a loose bun. The same way her hair had been when she first met Garrus. Shepard noticed through the mirror that Kasumi was staring at her with a little more than friendly admiration. "See something you like, Kasumi?" Shepard turned, a wide smile on her face, placing her hands on her hips, cocking them, and raising her eyebrows.
"Just admiring the view, Shepard. That's all. You know I prefer men. Although...that's not to say I wouldn't be willing, if the right woman asked." Kasumi said with a bit of laughter in her voice.
"Not a chance, Ms. Goto." Shepard turned back around to admire the dress more. "EDI, how much time do we have?"
"A few minutes, Shepard."
"Thanks, EDI. Kasumi, head on down. Jack will make sure I get down there. Thanks again for the dress. You'd make a pretty great fashion designer, you know." Shepard continued to twirl in the dress as she spoke.
"I know. But thievery is my real passion. Not to mention better pay. See you down there." Kasumi stole one more look at Shepard as the cabin doors slid shut behind her.
"What do you think, Jack? I know you're not big into dresses, but you are my maid of honor. So I want your honest opinion." Shepard had turned to face Jack and held the train of her dress in her hands, pulling it up slightly to show it off.
"Logan." Jack stood and walked over to Shepard, placing her hands on Shepard's shoulders. Jack, along with Garrus, were the only ones Shepard allowed to call her by her given name. "You look great. Garrus is gonna flip when he sees you. Now can we cut the emotional shit before I start crying?" Jack tilted her head toward the cabin door.
"Thanks, Jennifer." Shepard was also the only one allowed to call Jack by her birth name. Aside from Liara, but that was because she was the one who found Jack's birth name. However, due to either respect, fear, or a bit of both, Liara refrained from calling her Jennifer. Most of the time. "Shall we then?" Shepard offered her arm to Jack.
"Let's get you married. And then we can party. It might even rival that post-war party you had at the apartment. That night was fun as hell." Jack hooked Shepard's arm and escorted her to the elevator.
"Speaking of, how're things with you and Miranda?" Shepard asked as the elevator doors closed.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but things are...good. And I mean emotionally. Physically it's always…"
"I don't need those details, Jack." Shepard waved her free hand in a dismissive manner that signaled for that line to be done.
"Sorry, I just never thought I'd find something like what you and Garrus have. And especially with the Cerberus cheerleader.." Jack ran her hand nervously over her hair, which was tied back in her usual ponytail. "But we're doing good. Thanks again for pushing us to get to know each other better. I, we, really appreciate it." Jack hesitated for just a moment. "And if you tell anyone…"
"I know, I know. You'll flay me alive." Shepard gave Jack a small jab in the ribs with her elbow and smiled. The elevator doors opened to the shuttle bay shortly after. The soft sounds of the piano began playing from the PA as soon as they stepped off the elevator. It was the song Liara once played shortly after Anderson left Shepard his apartment.
"I can't believe Liara remembered how much I loved this song." Shepard gently wiped away the tears that were beginning to form.
As Jack and Shepard made their way to the back of the shuttle bay, it's door open to the cool breeze of a springtime earth, Shepard looked around at the crew who had gathered for the wedding. Westmoreland and Campbell, the guards who were stationed at the entrance to the War Room, both now Corporals, after glowing commendations from Shepard and Garrus. To other crew members who names she could almost remember. Mostly because they were in dress blues and not at their normal stations. Shepard then noticed Admiral Hackett sitting among the regular crew, rather than with the more esteemed crew toward the front. Daniels and Donnelly, who Shepard pushed to admit their feelings for each other. Only to eventually wander in on them in a state of partial undress down in the belly of engineering. Man the look on their faces. Even better when I told them, 'about damn time'. Shepard also saw Karin Chakwas and Samantha Traynor.
Shepard noticed that even Doctor Chloe Michel had made the trip. She was sitting up near the front along with Karin and Traynor. First time I met Dr. Michel, Garrus shot the asshole who had taken her hostage, nearly took her head off in the process. Turns out he was just that good a shot. Reminded of Garrus, she looked straight ahead, Garrus was standing in the center of the small arch way erected for the ceremony. Wearing a black suit with white accent markings that went from the shoulders, to down across his chest and back. Shepard noticed that everyone was wearing matching suits, dresses, or armor depending on what side of the arch they were on. To his left, the groomsmen: Wrex, Grunt, Zaeed, James, Cortez, and Javik. To his right, the bridesmaids, and in the case of Joker, bridesman: Liara, Kasumi, Tali, Miranda, and Joker. Standing behind Garrus, was Kaiden. When Kaiden learned the wedding would take place on the Normandy, he immediately requested to be able to preside over the ceremony. Shepard accepted without hesitation.
Jack and Shepard arrived at the archway, with Jack heading over to join the rest of Shepard's bridal party. Shepard turned to face Garrus, and as she took his hands in hers, she noticed the subtle quiver in his mandibles. The same nervous quiver he showed after Shepard asked if he wanted to test his reach...and her flexibility. Or when Shepard awoke from her coma after destroying the Reapers. That same quiver that betrayed the calm and collected poise when Garrus asked Shepard to marry him. That subtle quiver would always be one of Shepard's favorite things about Garrus. Unless you knew how to read and understand turian facial movements and sub-harmonics, you'd never even notice it. It was something private between the two of them. No matter how famous they became across the galaxy.
"Wow...Shepard...you…" Apparently the dress had worked it's magic. Garrus was speechless. Shepard didn't need to be able read turian facial expressions to know what Garrus was thinking.
"I take it you like the dress?" Shepard leaned in and whispered so only Garrus could hear her. "Just wait until I twirl in it. Then you'll really lose your mind." She kissed him on his scarred cheek and leaned back.
Kaiden let out a clearly fake, attention grabbing cough. "If you two are done flirting, I'm sure you'd still like to be married. Unless you want to skip straight to the honeymoon." Kaiden cocked an eyebrow as he looked at them both.
"Sorry." Shepard and Garrus spoke at the same time, though neither seemed to be embarrassed about the flirting.
"Thank you all for coming." Kaiden looked past Shepard and Garrus, addressing the crowd. "We are gathered here today…"
"Really Kaiden. That cliched opening?" Shepard interrupted with a smile and a soft chuckle. Several people in the small crowd laughed.
"Very funny Shepard. Now can I get back to officiating your wedding? Without further sarcastic quips from either of you. Kaiden turned his head and gave Garrus a rather serious-like face, or what Kaiden could muster as serious anyway.
"Best behaviour from me." Garrus gave a look that Shepard could tell, thanks to sub-harmonics and facial reading, meant that he was only being half-serious.
"Uh-huh. As I was saying. We are gathered here today.." Kaiden delayed for a second to make sure no further quips would be made at his expense. "to celebrate the union of Shepard and Garrus, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Shepard and Garrus to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
"Marriage is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most challenging adventures. A challenge, unlike your previous adventures, that can not be tamed with epic displays of biotic power or a bullet from a sniper rifle. No, this challenge must be met with love, patience, and understanding in order to be overcome. Love, for each other that will help guide you through the dark days. Patience, for when anger and frustration are not easily abated. Understanding, for when you not only talk, but listen to each other, you will gain a better understanding of your partner. Making your bond that much stronger. We are having this ceremony today not only to witness, but to affirm the choice you have made to stand together as partners and lifemates."
"Now I believe you both wanted to say some vows?" Kaiden tilted his head, turned his hand palm up toward Shepard, as if to say "After you."
"Garrus", Shepard began, her voice faulting as she tries to hold back her tears, "Five years ago when I met you on the Citadel, I had no idea you would become someone so important to me. From our long talks on the Citadel elevators, to your growing need to calibrate the Thanix, to testing your reach, and to shooting empty bottles on the Presidium, every moment we have spent together I have treasured. Treasured like a jewel in the crown of a queen. A queen, who is finally happy to have found her king. And I promise to continue to treasure those moments, and every moment yet to come, until I'm nothing more than a speck of dust, floating on the winds of space."
Jack moved up and handed Shepard a small cobalt colored handkerchief, which she used to gently wipe the tears and runny makeup from under her eyes.
"Shepard. Logan." Garrus' voice sounded even and unchanged. However, Shepard, who could easily hear and understand the subharmonics of the turian language, knew he was just as nervous as she was. "Before I met you, relationships were something I never thought of. Being a cop, furthering my career, always took point. But then we fought Saren. And it made me realize how wrong I was. For what was the point of being the best rouge C-Sec cop in the galaxy, if you didn't have someone to share it with. I never told you how I felt before you ended up spaced, just a few months after the Battle of the Citadel. But then you showed up on Omega, two years after being spaced, requesting help to fight the Collectors, I knew then and there I needed to tell you how I felt. But I never got that chance, I ended up in med bay with half my face blown off. And a few weeks later, before I could work up the nerve to tell you how I felt, you told me how you felt. You wanted to test your flexibility, and of course I was more than willing to help. And since then, you have helped me become more confident in situations outside my comfort zone. Which mostly means boardrooms and meeting halls. Because no matter how much I might mess up, I know you'll be right there on my six. I promise, until I'm spaced for good and with the spirits, to always have your six, just like you've always had mine."
"Beautiful words by both of you." Kaiden spoke has he wiped tears from his eyes and cleared his throat. "Shepard, do you take Garrus to be your wedded husband?"
"I do." Shepard reached up and ran her hand down Garrus' mandible.
"Garrus, do you take Shepard to be your wedded wife?"
"I do." Garrus grabbed Shepards hand and kissed the back of it. Like he'd seen in those old movies Shepard loved to watch. Shepard blushed knowing the importance of the gesture.
"The rings, please." Just then Sophie, the mechanical dog that normally roamed the Shuttle Bay, wondered up the aisle, a cobalt and purple pillow resting on it's back. Kaiden retrieved the rings and handed the small silver ring to Garrus, and the large silver ring over to Shepard.
"Now repeat after me," Kaiden gestured to both Shepard and Garrus. "I give you this ring, as a physical and daily reminder of the promise I have made, as well as my love for you." Shepard and Garrus slid the rings on each others fingers.
"Then, by the power vested in me, by your love, your friendship, and the Systems Alliance, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss."
Garrus took Shepard's right hand, raised and twirled it above her head, before pulling her toward his arms, tilting her down, and pressing his mouth against hers. Shepard kissed him back and ran her hand between his fringe. A soft sound, a mixture of a growl and purr, imminated from Garrus. A few seconds later they leaned up, turned and faced the crowd, bowed, and made their way together, as husband and wife, back toward the elevator.
"We did it." Shepard hugged Garrus as the elevator doors closed. "Mr. Shepard." Shepard gave a short chuckle as she let go of Garrus.
"Don't you mean Mrs. Vakarian?" Garrus playfully shoulder bumped Shepard.
"Fine. Shepard-Vakarian. Oooh, I like the sound of that. Definitely going with that." The elevator doors opened to the top floor of the Normandy, where Shepard's cabin was located. Garrus and Shepard would be staying up here as the rest of the crew prepared the Shuttle Bay for the reception party. "Now that we've got some privacy", Shepard slowly began to slip the top part of her dress over her head and arms, "why don't we test your reach? And my….flexibility?" Shepard pushed the rest of her dress down and beckoned Garrus toward the bed.
"Best two-out-of-three?" Garrus joked as he removed his suit jacket and made his way over to the bed.
"You're on Vakarian." Shepard laughed and smiled as she pulled Garrus down to the bed and began to kiss him.