Contrary to popular belief: I am, in fact, alive. Just been very busy with school, and I had some severe writer's block on this chapter. I tried to make the Quarian bonding unique, without being too different from human ceremonies.

I'd like to set a release date for the next chapter, but I don't think I really can. I will write it though. Eventually!

Shepard didn't know why he was so nervous. He and Tali had run through the whole process several times, so it wasn't that. He knew he wanted this, he knew it would make both he and Tali happy. So it wasn't that, either. He had gotten used to wearing a suit; a tuxedo wasn't too much different. Besides, nothing that minor bothered him much in general. He couldn't figure it out.

Shepard glanced over at Garrus, who was standing nearby and was dressed in what he had assured the ex-Commander multiple times was the most formal attire a Turian could wear. Garrus had just been cannon fodder for Shepard and Joker, the other person up there. The pilot was next to Garrus, staring off into space, no doubt thinking of more jokes about the Turian's frilly, flamboyant outfit. Garrus gave Shepard a warm smile when their gazes met, but it didn't help much. Shepard quickly threw back a fake smile before turning back around to bore holes in the door with his eyes.

Once the door started driving him crazy, he looked out across the assembly of people in front of him in an effort to calm his nerves. Liara was seated in the front row, fairly close to the aisle. Chakwas was next to her, and gave Shepard a small, reassuring smile when their eyes met. It made him feel a little better; the good doctor was the closest thing Shepard had had as a mother figure for a long time. Her support was comforting, not that he would let anyone else know that.

Nevertheless, Shepard was still feeling anxious, so he kept going, searching for more to calm him down. The rest of the front rows offered little help. Mordin, Adams, Ken, Gabby, Miranda, Jacob, Brynn, EDI, Wrex, Legion, and Koris; while he was happy they were all there, didn't greatly boost his peace of mind. Neither did the large group of the Normandy's crewmen and Quarians in farther back rows. Xen was sitting in the midst of the Quarians and, as far as Shepard could tell, was glaring at him. His eyes went even faster as they passed over her.

Watching the small group in the back was the closest he got to being relaxed. Zaeed was telling another one of his tales in a hushed voice, with Grunt giving him his rapt attention. The Krogan was between Zaeed and Jack, who was using Grunt as a shield to avoid being seen listening closely to the mercenary's story. The fact that she was sitting close at all was a dead giveaway, but Zaeed seemed too immersed in his own story to notice. And Grunt just didn't care. Watching them all go about like usual took the edge off to some extent. Especially when seeing that Jack and Grunt, just like at dinner a week ago, still weren't really dressed up.

Shepard's gaze lingered on his less people friendly friends for a short while, until he saw a blue figure out of the corner of his eye. Samara was sitting in the seat closest to the door, probably so she could get going to her duties and/or daughter when the ceremony was over. The justicar was looking sternly over at the more casual trio, which quickly brought Shepard's mind back to its more nervous state. He remembered that Jack, Grunt, and Zaeed were the odd ones out in the situation.

The twenty seconds it took to look around the room felt like an eternity to Shepard. His insides continued to turn for a little while longer, until he finally heard the door in the back of hall swish open quietly. Everyone stood, Wrex and Grunt a bit later than the others, once they heard it as well.

Raan was through the door first, heading towards Shepard at a slow and steady pace. Tali had explained that there were three people that walked with each mate to the front center stage. The most influential and guiding person in their lives lead the way; a close friend walked with them; and the most supportive person brought up the end.

Shepard had gone through the same process already, but lacking somebody in front. The only person he would have allowed to fill that position was Anderson, so of course it ended up being empty. Garrus had walked next to him, and Joker behind him. Shepard already knew Tali's ensemble: Raan first, Kasumi with Tali, and Reegar in the back.

But when Tali actually came out, Shepard didn't really care about the other three around her. She was absolutely stunning, dressed in a completely new environmental suit. There were no armor or belt attachments, it was solely the cloth and other covering materials. Most of the suit was an eggshell white, with the highlights colored her signature purple instead of the common black. The patterns were much more elegant than usual, having extra curves and complementing lines. She wore her same faceplate, but there was no shawl. It was a symbol to her openness to Shepard without having to remove her mask. The mechanical parts on the back of her helmet were still hidden though, some by positions since the suit wasn't an all-purpose, and some by a more rigid thread that looked similar to her hair.

And while Shepard tried to tell himself that it didn't matter what she was wearing, he couldn't help but admit she looked exceptionally beautiful. All of his worry and fear melted away when he saw her. For once, Kasumi was hiding without meaning to. Shepard couldn't take his eyes off of Tali, whose arm was linked with the thief's. A wide smile came across his face, and he knew even without seeing that Tali was returning it.

It was really happening. They were going to get married. Nothing else mattered as Tali took her place facing Shepard. She had gone through the same mental phases as her partner. She knew she wanted it, but she still had been very nervous. Fortunately, she had three of her closest friends around that she was able to talk to. They helped, but only when she walked through the door and saw Shepard waiting for her did it all go away. Everything seemed surreal as she walked down the aisle, even though she knew it wasn't.

"Hey," she breathed when they came to stand face to face.

Shepard only smiled wider. "Hey yourself," he whispered back. "You look amazing."

"Same to you," she replied, working hard not to reach over and touch him. He was having a very similar struggle while they waited for Raan to make the opening statement.

Raan, along with Anderson if he could be present, was going to start the procession. Next would be the commitment speeches, basically the equivalent of vows. Then the people who walked with the couple would present the bond gifts. They had already decided beforehand to do rings, to be more like a human ceremony. Finally, the supporters would ceremoniously remove the faceplates, so that the newlyweds could access the other's face. Of course, it would only be Tali's mask being removed, but Joker was still going to be there for his symbolic purpose. The couple needed access so they could complete the bonding by adding another line to their love's face.

The Quarians viewed the two branched, black lines on their foreheads as representative of their parents. Adding a third line showed just how committed they were to their spouse; it was a new family. It started out as an actual tattoo in earlier Quarian history, but the tradition evolved to usually just be a temporary, washable ink. Shepard would still be getting the branch drawn on, even though he didn't have the original two.

Both Shepard and Tali had been worried about all the details and procedures earlier. There were several problems with putting a human in the traditional Quarian procession, let alone that Shepard didn't have the guiding person. But when they were standing there, looking into each other's eyes and listening to Raan talk, it just didn't matter anymore. They were bonding, they were getting married, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. The lack of Anderson, and what Joker was going to do when Reegar was removing Tali's mask, became completely irrelevant to them.

Raan's speech was mainly formalities and introductions, so it got to the vows fairly quickly. Shepard went first, looking at nobody but the Quarian woman across from him as he spoke. "Tali, I couldn't be happier that we're standing here together. There's absolutely no place I'd rather be. You make me feel better, calmer, and happier than I thought I could be for a long time. I know I usually have big speeches and explanations, but that's not the case here. You make everything simple, and I love that. I love you. I'll always love you. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life proving that."

There were a few quiet 'aws' from the ladies in the front row. There was also a snort from Zaeed, which earned him a menacing look from the same group.

Tali was too focused to notice any of this, though. She was beaming beneath her mask, going over what Shepard had said and relishing it. His simple, but not simplistic, expressions were different than what he usually did, and it made her feel set apart and special. More so than usual, given the setting in particular. She allowed a short, comfortable silence to pass before speaking.

"Shepard, before I met you, I didn't really have any people I knew that I could be involved with. Following my father's example, I was so busy all the time and was always rushing around, so I never developed very many meaningful relationships. When I left on my pilgrimage, and joined you and got to know you, I was instantly interested. I kept telling myself it was just because I never had the option before.

But as time went on, I realized that I was interested for other reasons. You always were, and are, caring and kind and protective. Which isn't as common as it should be, but was also why I was so drawn to you. You treated me so well, even when we barely knew each other. You made sure I was safe, and you wanted what was best for me.

As you know, it took a while to develop. We've been through a lot of hard times, and several things got in the way. There was one big thing in particular, that probably caused the hardest time in my life. But we stuck through it. Just look where we are now. And you know what?

It was totally worth it."

Shepard grinned even larger at her last statement as Raan stepped forward to explain the transition to the gifts, and the sort of mix they were doing.

Garrus stepped out next, smiling happily at the couple. He presented a fairly large, gold ring to Tali, which had a relatively sized diamond encrusted in it. He held it up to her in both his palms as he asked the question: "Do you accept this gift, as a symbol of the bond you are forming, and vow to keep and honor this sacred connection?"

"Yes," Tali answered quickly but significantly. Garrus gently placed the ring in her palm, and she slid it over her left middle finger. The Turian's mandibles flared wider as he stepped back and Kasumi filled his place.

She asked the same question of Shepard, to which he promptly responded, "I do."

Shepard put the ring on as Raan came forward yet again to explain the third line tradition. Joker and Reegar took their places next to the couple as she finished. Shepard and Joker stood and watched as Reegar carefully unlatched Tali's mask, exposing her pale, smiling face. Both Garrus and Joker tilted their heads slightly, taking in the sight, as everyone in the crowd leaned and craned to see as well. Tali started to blush heavily, but didn't wring her hands or fidget. She took the small container of ink and thin brush raised up by Reegar, while Shepard had to reach over and grab them from Joker's idle hands.

Tali and Shepard stepped closer to each other, dipped the brush in the ink, and each used their right hand to place the raised brush on the top right corner of their love's forehead. Neither spoke as they simultaneously gently drew a solid black line across the width of the other's forehead. It was strange feeling for both of them, but it was a good strange.

When it was done, the supporters took back the supplies and Reegar gave Tali her faceplate back. But before she put it on again, she stepped even closer to Shepard and pressed her body against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Raan started to say something, most likely a conclusion, but Shepard tuned it out as he looked over into Tali's glowing eyes and brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you more."

"Not possible," he said, inaudible to anyone but Tali as he brought his lips to hers.