Chapter 53

"I hate dresses." Shepard groaned for what she felt was the thousandth time.

"You look nice." Her mom said, a little sick of reassuring her. "Are you sure this is just about the dress?" She asked, a little concerned and Jane frowned a little.

"Yes, Mom. I'm sure. Is this the part where you try to talk me out of this because I gotta tell you, it's a little late for that." Her mom rolled her eyes in response as she put her hands on her hips.

"Jane, I'm not going to try to talk you out of anything." She said and Jane raised her eyebrow.

"Uh-huh. You're just doing your 'worried mom' thing for no reason." Her mom sighed at that.

"I can't help it. I'd like to see your attitude when your daughter gets married." Jane sighed a little at that.

"Seriously, Mom. You've been like this ever since I told you we were dating. I know something is bothering you so just spit it out." Her mom sighed once again, sitting next to her on the bed of her quarters on the Normandy.

"First of all, you never told me you were dating. It was 'nothing' and then 'getting married'. Which is fine, I understand that you couldn't get the message out because of Cerberus and then you wanted to tell me to my face. It was just a bit of a shock, that's all. And secondly... well..." Jane sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Mom... Is this because he doesn't fit 'The Rules'?" Her mother sighed at that.

"The Rules exist for a reason, Jane." She told her and Jane rolled her eyes once again. Years ago her mother and her friends aboard the Einstein had set up a list of rules about what kind of person their daughters should marry. Jane had never really paid close attention to them (why would she when she couldn't even get a boyfriend?) but as far as she could remember, Garrus fit all but one.

"It's only one of the rules and it shouldn't even count for me." Her mom raised an eyebrow at that.

"Really? Why not?" She asked and Jane sighed.

"Because I am never going to find someone who grew up in the same 'culture'. I grew up on ships, my 'culture' is an amalgamation of every culture I've been exposed to, which does include a little turian." Her mother sighed, nodding.

"I know, Jane. It's just, you know that it's hard enough between your father and I and that's just a mix of small-town, Christian American life with metropolitan, UK city life. I mean, it was especially hard when we were deciding how to raise you, like deciding what religious values to teach you." Jane nodded at that.

"Yes, you let me decide on my religion for myself when I was old enough." She said and her mom pulled a face.

"Yes, and you know how well that turned out..." She said sourly, causing Jane to sigh.

"Mom, just face it. If you don't introduce a kid to religion until they're old enough to decide for themselves, it's not going to sound plausible. You're only upset about that because I sided with dad, not you." Her mother refused to be deterred by that.

"So what if you have kids and they side with turian culture over your own?" Jane just shrugged at that.

"Mom, like I said before, I don't have a culture of my own. It's a mishmash which really, isn't so uncommon nowadays. Let's face it Mom, this isn't the same galaxy you grew up in. We're no longer so isolated within our respective cultures and Garrus and I have been doing a good job of meshing ours so far. So what if we're making it up as we go along? It's working." Her mother nodded at that.

"I know, Jane. I just worry about you." Jane smiled at that.

"I know, Mom. But I'm fine. I'm a big girl now, you don't have to constantly worry about me." Her mother sighed again, nodding as the door to the loft chimed. "Come in." She called and the door opened to reveal Tali who was wearing a few very ornate pieces over her enviro-suit.

"Jane, hurry up. I'm going to make a pretty pathetic maid of honour if I let you be late to your own wedding." Jane smiled at that.

"I know, I know, I'm coming..."


"Garrus?" Jane said as she entered the Normandy's airlock and removed her heels.

"Yes, ani?" He asked, lowering his head to nuzzle the side of her neck as he pulled her closer to him and she smiled.

"Let's never do that again." She joked and he chuckled a little.

"Agreed. Although, as big parties go I think it was alright." Jane nodded at that.

"Yeah, it wasn't too bad. And it got us married so it did it's job." She said, grinning.

"We got a day at the beach out of it as well." He pointed out and she smiled.

"Yeah, Virmire was a good choice. I guess I wanted to remember all of the people I had lost as well as the ones that could be there." He nodded, understanding as they entered the CIC to find Joker already in the pilot's seat, still in his tux.

"Hey guys. I'm surprised you two didn't sneak off to your cabin immediately." He joked and they smiled at that.

"Not yet. I need to know what everyone's plans are." Shepard said. It had only been a month since she had woken up and they had planned the fastest wedding they could. Everyone had gone their separate ways for that month before reconvening for the wedding. Now Shepard needed to know how many members of her crew would stay and how many would depart to help rebuild. Joker sighed a little before replying and EDI placed her hand on his.

"Shepard, I've got no one left. Just you guys and EDI. So, I'm staying for as long as you need me." He smiled, although it was tainted by the loss of his father and sister.

"Joker, we'll always need you. Both of you." She told them and they both nodded at that.

"So, what's the plan you two? A romantic get away somewhere?" Shepard and Garrus both smiled at that.

"Joker, what are the chances of Shepard and I doing anything normal like that?" Garrus asked, causing Joker to sigh.

"We're hunting mercs for your honeymoon, aren't we?" He asked and Shepard laughed.

"Oh Joker, you know us so well." She said, smiling. "Okay, I'll leave you and EDI to it. Liara has the coordinates for the bases of merc gangs that have been hijacking supplies meant for refugee camps. We'll head for them as soon as we've dropped everyone off." She said.

"Yes, Ma'am." Joker replied and she smiled as Garrus followed her to the galaxy map where they found Specialist Traynor, as if she had never left.

"Traynor. So, what are your plans now?" Shepard asked and Traynor shrugged.

"I don't know. Wherever my next assignment is, I guess. Although, I just wanted to say that if you still needed a communications expert, I'd like to stay aboard the Normandy." Shepard smiled at that.

"You know that I'll be following my own rules and whimsy, right? No Alliance authority here." She pointed out and Traynor just nodded.

"I know but I figure whatever you're up to, it's got to be the most exciting thing in the galaxy at that moment. And I wouldn't miss it." Shepard smiled at that.

"Then you're welcome to stay aboard." She told her before she and Garrus headed to the elevator and went down to the crew deck where they were quickly attacked by an excited young girl.

"Good thing you never have to wear that dress again." Garrus joked as Kara hugged Shepard.

"I missed you, Aunt Jane." She said, upset that she had been away from her for two months.

"I know, Kara. I missed you too." She said as they approached her gran who was sitting at the counter in the mess with Sol. "So, what's everone got planned?" She asked, directing her attention to the two adults.

"Well, Kara and I are headed back to Earth. We've been helping to organise refugees while they rebuild." Her gran said and Shepard nodded.

"I'd much rather stay on the space ship..." Kara sulked a little but Jane laughed a little.

"Don't worry, Kara. You can come back and visit all the time. I promise." Jane told her and she perked up.

"Do you know what Mom and Dad are doing?" She asked her gran and she nodded.

"They're heading back to earth with Kara and I. The Alliance have them both aiding with the rebuilding efforts." Jane nodded at that before turning her attention towards Sol, although it was Garrus who spoke.

"What about you and Dad?" He asked and Sol sighed a little.

"The same. We're heading to Palaven to try and help rebuild. Most damage is superficial like on Earth but we have to check the house and stuff. Although, they say that they should be finished rebuilding the Citadel next year and I put a lot of thought into what you said." At that she turned her attention towards Shepard.

"And?" She asked.

"And I think I'm going to give it a go. C-Sec, I mean. Someone has to keep family traditions alive." She joked at her brother who rolled his eyes.

"You want to put up with all of that red tape, then be my guest. I'm much happier in my current position." He said and she laughed.

"I bet you are." She joked back as the duo headed towards Liara's office.

"Hello. I wasn't expecting you two to drop by this evening." She said as they entered and Shepard shrugged.

"I'm just checking with everyone what their plans are." Liara shrugged at that.

"Honestly, I have no idea. After I destroyed the Shadow Broker base I headed straight for Mars. I still have my apartment on Illium, assuming it's still standing, but it's hardly a secure location." Shepard shrugged at that.

"Well, why don't you just stay put? All of your equipment is set up and we're going to be randomly hopping from system to system to avoid detection so we're as secure as it gets. Plus, we're using you as our source on which targets to hit to help the galaxy as a whole the most so you being here would hardly be a bother." She nodded at that.

"I suppose you are right. And, this really has become my home since I have returned." She reasoned, smiling. "If you're sure it's okay with you then I shall alert Feron to the change in plans."

"I'm sure, Liara. Now, if you'll excuse us we have to check on the rest of the crew." Shepard told her and the asari nodded.

"Of course." She replied and they left the room, heading towards the med-bay.

"So, doc. Have any amazing offers that you're going to leave us for?" Shepard joked as they entered the med-bay and Doctor Chakwas shook her head.

"No, Commander. Given the frequency with which you and Garrus get yourselves injured, I figured you would need a full time medic on staff." Shepard laughed at that.

"I guess you're right. Plus, if I remember correctly you still owe me a drink." The doctor smiled at that, nodding.

"That I do. Now, go on you two. I've wasted enough of your time." They grinned at that, heading back out the door and Garrus sighed a little with frustration.

"We're going to check on my least favourite Spectre, aren't we?" He groaned and she nodded.

"Garrus, behave." She warned before sighing herself. "It's not as if he's going to stay with us, I just want to say goodbye and find out where he's heading." Garrus nodding in agreement, sighing a little and she smiled. Typical Garrus, she thought to herself. But that's what she wanted. Typical Garrus, by her side for the rest of their days.

"Hey, Kaidan." Shepard said as she entered the observation deck. His expression seemed a little pained but he smiled and nodded to them as they entered the room.

"Hey. What are you guys doing here?" He asked and Shepard shrugged.

"Just checking in with everyone. Finding out what everyone has planned." She explained and he nodded.

"Well, I'm going back to the Alliance. They need every helping hand they can get." She nodded, she hadn't really expected any other answer. "You should come back too. They need you and the Normandy to help rebuild." She laughed under her breath at that, realising that she should have seen it coming.

"Kaidan, I've done everything I can for them. Let's face it, I'm doing the right thing here. There are plenty of people who are using the remaining chaos to cover up their criminal activities. They're getting away with it because no one has the resources to spare to stop them. But we can." Kaidan nodded at that.

"I wish you would reconsider but I know that you won't." He said and she just nodded.

"This is my home Kaidan. I'll help the Alliance when they ask me to but I'm remaining independent. It's the best way to get the job done." He nodded again and they left him alone with his thoughts. She frowned a little as they headed down to engineering, feeling how tired Garrus was.

"You know, you don't have to come with. I'll only be about half an hour and then I'll be right back up to our quarters." She told him but he shook his head.

"I like this. Watching you do your rounds and interact with the crew. It's nice." He admitted and she smiled.

"Really? Because I'd imagine it's as boring as hell." She joked and he shrugged.

"I don't mind. Is it a bad thing that I want a little bit of boring before we go chasing down merc gangs?" He asked and she shook her head.

"No, as long as it's only a little bit." She teased before they entered the cargo hold where Javik was staying.

"Hey, Javik. Got a minute?" She asked as she entered the room. The prothean nodded. "I just... I know that you said that you wanted to find your crew and... join them but I would urge you to reconsider. I don't think the galaxy is quite ready for you to say goodbye just yet." She said and he folded his arms.

"The protheans are gone and I have done my duty. The Reapers are finished and there is nothing left for me here. I do not belong in this time." He reasoned but Jane shrugged.

"You belong here, Javik. No one staying on this ship has anywhere left to go. Your situation isn't as unique as you think. And I... I've lost enough friends to this war, Javik. I don't want to lose another." She admitted and the prothean nodded.

"It will take time for me to find their resting place. I shall... stay for the meantime. Perhaps I will find a reason to stay longer." Jane nodded at that.

"I hope you do." She said before leaving with Garrus in tow, headed towards main engineering. He expected her to head to the drive core and talk with the engineer but she instead headed down to where Jack used to stay.

"I figured I might find you down here." Shepard said to the woman across the room. Garrus still couldn't get used to seeing Jack in a dress but Shepard had told her that if she had to wear one, Jack had to, too.

"Fuck, Shepard. Don't sneak up on me." Shepard grinned at that.

"So, are you heading back to Earth to teach your students?" She asked and the biotic nodded.

"Yeah. Although after fighting on Earth I don't think they need me so much any more. I figured that if I was going to keep teaching them after this, it would have to be in the field not the classroom. Not the entire class at once, obviously, but I thought small groups at a time getting some real world experience before they joined the Alliance proper wasn't a bad idea." Shepard nodded.

"Sounds like a plan. If you want, we're going to be a little understaffed and could use the extra hand so you and your students could tag along with us. We're going to be hunting merc gangs and, who knows, we might even run into the remainder of Cerberus." Jack grinned at that.

"You're on. I'll have to clear it with Sanders but if she's cool with it then fuck yeah." Shepard grinned back, nodding.

"Alright, we'd better get going." She said, moving away and Jack nodded.

"See ya, Shepard." Garrus just chuckled.

"What?" She asked him, grinning herself.

"You just can't be on a ship with the domestic element, can you?" She raised her eyebrows at that.

"Garrus, this is a ship run by a married couple. I don't think it gets more domestic than that." She joked as they entered main engineering and found Tali, Engineer Adams, Ken and Gabby all chatting away.

"Hey guys." She said as she approached and they all nodded to her.

"Hey, Shepard." Tali replied and Shepard gave her a sad smile.

"Ready to head by to Rannoch?" She asked and Tali nodded.

"Thanks for agreeing to give me a ride." She said and Shepard nodded.

"It's the least I could do." She said, shrugging as Tali hugged her.

"You have to promise to visit all of the time, Jane." She told her friend sternly and Shepard smiled, widely.

"I promise, Tali." he told her friend before turning to the other engineers. "So, what about you three? What do you guys have planned?" She asked and Adams was the first to reply.

"I'm heading back to Earth, I have a new assignment from Hackett." He answered and Shepard nodded before turning to Ken and Gabby.

"So, what about you two?" She asked and Gabby answered, smiling.

"If it's alright with you, we're staying put. Someone has to keep the ship running." She joked and Shepard smiled.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if you'll all excuse us we only have James and Cortez left to speak to." They all smiled and nodded at that as they headed downstairs to the shuttle bay where they found James packing.

"I guess you're off to N7 training, huh?" She asked as she approached and he nodded.

"Yep. But once I'm done, Hackett says I'm allowed to head back here and serve with you. I think he wants more Alliance personnel on board so you don't forget to do favours for them." Shepard smiled at that, nodding.

"Well, it's not as if I could run this ship with just Garrus, EDI and Joker so it's a mutually beneficial trade. Just so long as none of the crew leak any of our flight plans. I want to stay as off-the-radar as possible." James nodded in agreement.

"You deserve the chance to do that, Lola." He said before turning to Garrus. "Take care of her, Scars." He told the turian who nodded in return.

"Of course." He said as they moved back across the shuttle bay to Cortez.

"So, you leaving us too, Steve?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"Are you kidding me, Shepard? With your driving I'm staying put to make sure you don't kill everyone. You're worse than Vega..." He joked and she pulled a face.

"I'm Commander Shepard, I get paid to take down bad guys, not drive shuttles. Or makos, for that matter..." Garrus chuckled at that as Cortez nodded.

"Yes, ma'am. Now, I know you two have better things to do than hang around here. It is your wedding night, after all." He said and Shepard grinned at him.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you, Steve." She said, still grinning, as she pulled Garrus into the elevator. He gave her a questioning look.

"Is this a human tradition that I don't know about?" He asked and she laughed.

"That's what we get for planning a wedding in a month. Come on, I'll show you once we get upstairs." She grinned, wrapping her arms around him.

"I have to say that I'm impressed by how quickly you put this together." He said and she shrugged, still grinning and wishing that the elevator was faster.

"I had a month. You can do a lot with a month. They say Rome wasn't built in a day but I reckon that they would at least have had a good start within a month." She joked as they finally arrived in their quarters. "I guess I'd better explain that tradition now." She said playfully as they entered the cabin.

"Indeed, Mrs Vakarian." He said and she raised an eyebrow at that.

"While I like that, Garrus, you do know that I'm going to have to keep my own name?" He laughed at that, nodding.

"Of course, ani. Although, I do have a surprise of my own." He told her, grinning as she raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" She asked and he nodded.

"Yes. Now close your eyes." She frowned a little but did so as he sat her down on the edge of the bed.

"Garrus?" She asked just before she felt a cold brush across her cheek. She jumped a little in surprise.

"You have to keep still..." He told her, his sub-harmonics telling her that he was concentrating. Eventually the cold brushes stopped. "Okay, open your eyes." He told her and she opened them, frowning a little. He handed her a mirror and she laughed as it showed her face painted with his blue colony marks.

"Garrus... they're perfect!" She told him, still grinning as he grinned back. "Although, I guess the paint isn't permanent?" He shook his head at that.

"No, it doesn't remain on human skin like on turian plates. It'll wash off in about a week. But I figured people would stare if you wore them all the time and I know that you don't like that and it doesn't really help us to disappear. But you can apply it whenever you want to." He told her and she smiled at him.

"I love you, Garrus." She told him, her voice low as she touched her forehead to his.

"I love you too, Jane." Her smile widened at that.

"Now I think it's time to show you that human tradition..."