Ashley stepped off the lift and walked around the restrooms and into the main area of the crew deck. It was five minutes before she needed to be here, but she wanted to grab something to eat and a cup of coffee. Besides that, Ashley followed her father's rule: on time is late, early is on time. She knew she didn't have to impress Shepard the way she might previous commanders, but she was taking this chance at friendship and as Executive Officer seriously and she wanted to show it.

Ashley was seated when Shepard emerged from around the corner, where Liara's cabin was. In the back of her mind, Ashley wondered what would be done about her own quarters as XO – Liara had commandeered the XO's cabin.

"Morning, Commander," she said as Shepard passed her.

"Morning, Williams." Shepard got a cup of coffee and returned, seating herself across from Ashley at one of the long galley tables.

"You look refreshed, Williams. I trust it was a good night in a comfortable bed? Lots of sleep?" Shepard grinned over her mug.

Ashley grinned right back. "Yeah, sure. Lots of sleep. Just like you got, I'm sure."

Shepard chuckled, shaking her head as she put the mug down. "All right. To business." She crossed her arms and placed them on the table in front of her. "I know you know I want you to be my Executive Officer. I don't have one and I need one. But I never actually asked you; I just said it in front of you. Usually marines aren't offered much of a choice in these kinds of things, but given our history and the circumstances with your fiancée on the ship and all of that… well, I wanted to give you the choice."

"You're asking me if I want to be XO?" Ashley said, a little dumbfounded. She'd never been offered a choice in her position.

"Yeah."

"And if I say no?"

Shepard shrugged. "Assuming you still want on the ship, I'm sure we can find a place for you here. You and Vega could clean guns together down in the shuttle bay and shoot insults back and forth with Steve all day. But you're not Gunnery Chief anymore. You're Lieutenant-Commander. You were slated to be Anderson's XO. You've certainly earned the responsibility, as well as the rank. And I need someone who can take some of this shit off my plate." She sighed, sat back a little, met Ashley's gaze. "But only if it's something you actually want."

Ashley didn't hesitate. "I absolutely want to help, Commander. If this is what you need and you think I can do it. I want to live up to that trust."

Shepard cocked her head. "You're sure? You want command of the fight up here while I'm on the ground? We'll almost never be on a mission together."

Ashley thought for a moment. Groundside had always been her thing. And with every ground mission she'd been stuck in, she'd hated it. Hated the family curse that kept her on the ground on glorified guard duty and off ships. Shepard had changed that. This was what Ashley had always wanted.

Of course, what you want and what you're good at were often two different things. Ashley was used to the ground, to holding a gun and shooting the enemy between the eyes. She was good at it. She was a marksman, a sharpshooter, as comfortable with a sniper rifle as Samantha was with a chess piece.

But that didn't change what she wanted. She could get comfortable with this. She could certainly help the Normandy's air battles be a lot more effective. Shepard had been commanding from the ground. Not very effective if you're not actually on the ship.

"I want to help you with this, Commander. I want this chance."

Shepard grinned and held out her hand. "All right, Williams," she said, shaking Ashley's hand. "And don't worry. I'll make sure you and Sam aren't always on opposite shift," she said with a wink.

Ashley snorted a laugh and swallowed the rest of her coffee.

"Now that that's over with, when are you getting hitched?"

Ashley raised a brow. "Who said I was getting hitched right away?"

"You, dumbass."

Ashley chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Uh, I guess as soon as we can find a preacher? We didn't exactly, uh, talk about it last night."

"Busy with other things?" Shepard ribbed.

Ashley knew her grin could be classified as shit-eating and she did not care one whit. "Yup."

Shepard laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I have an idea. Liara had an idea, I should say. The Citadel won't be ready to resupply us for a few days. Everyone's on shore leave until then, you included. You'll need to refamiliarize yourself with the ship and such, but I trust you can do that in your own time?"

Ashley nodded. "Yeah, no problem."

Shepard nodded. "So go see Liara before you see your family. I have some things to go over with Traynor and then I'll send her along."

Ashley nodded, getting to her feet and scooping up her food. She wolfed it down in three bites as she made her way to the sanitizer with her mug. Odd that Liara arranged something for her. What the hell did that mean, anyway? But Ashley knew Miriam wanted to be cagey and wouldn't spill, so she let her, instead going to Liara's door and activating the signal to ask permission to enter.

Samantha looked up at the nondescript door, then behind her to Shepard. "Why can't we go in? What are we waiting for?"

Shepard shrugged. "We thought we'd show you together." She said no more.

"That is utterly cryptic," Sam said, fixing a glare on her commander.

Shepard grinned and winked.

"Arse."

"Whoa, a little respect, please!"

Sam rolled her eyes. "You're an arse, Commander."

"That's better."

"That's usually my line," came Ashley's voice. Sam turned, a grin on her face, to see Ashley and Liara joining them. Samantha had questions, yes, but she also had a fiancée to plant a kiss on and she was going to waste no time in that endeavor. She walked over to meet them, wrapping her arms around Ashley's neck and pulling her down into a short but passionate kiss.

"You guys are gonna have to get that out of your system before we all resume active duty on the Normandy together," Shepard said as Samantha pulled back.

"Just for that, Shepard," Ashley said, and instead of finishing the sentence, she pulled Samantha back in for a longer kiss.

Samantha was not complaining.

"Yeah yeah, okay, you made your point. You already ruined my cabin. Can we go inside now?"

Ashley pulled back with a grin. "Sure!" She looked down at Sam, and her expression softened. "You doing okay?"

Sam nuzzled into Ashley's shoulder for a moment, then let go and took hold of her hand. "I'm doing fine." She looked up into Ashley's soft brown eyes. "Thank you."

Ashley gave her hand a squeeze.

"We finally ready?" Shepard asked. She turned to the door, not waiting for an answer. "Let's go." She touched the red interface before her, and they heard a bell chime within.

The door slid open, and Sam was very surprised to see Sarah and Libbey at the door.

"Surprise!" they yelled in unison. Ashley's other sisters were behind them. Finn had stayed behind on Omega, as their father had survived the Cerberus occupation.

"Girls, move out of the way or they can't see the surprise!" came Beth Williams's voice from within. Sam snickered, while also feeling a pang in her heart. She missed her own mother, her efforts to find her parents and her brother utterly fruitless.

She took a deep breath and pushed the thought aside. She could deal with her sadness later. Right now, she was still so happy to have this part of her family back, alive and well, to dote on her and Ashley.

"Come in, come in!" Sarah was saying, and Shepard and Liara were pulled in, making way for Ashley and Sam to walk in hand-in-hand. The sight that greeted Sam took her breath away for a moment.

The apartment was massive. Every detail was luxurious, from the actual baby grand piano to her left, to the long fireplace with real fire in front of her, to the lofted space to the right showcasing paintings Sam immediately wanted a closer look at.

Ashley gave a low whistle. "Damn, Shepard. This place yours?"

"It's yours, dingus," Shepard said.

Sam turned to regard Shepard with large eyes. It was Liara who spoke, however.

"It seemed your family needed something larger. I had an idea yesterday and – how have I heard it put? I pulled some strings, I believe is the phrase?"

"Greased some wheels, pulled some strings, wetted some whistles, sucked some dicks – there's a few ways to put it, and to get this bad boy I imagine you did all of them," Shepard said, looking around.

"Holy shit," Sam said, wandering over to the piano and placing her hand on the wood. It was smooth and cool. She'd never really learned how to play, but she was familiar enough with the concept. She'd used a holographic keyboard to tune her ukulele for years, preferring to train her ear to hear it rather than rely on a digital tuner.

"You gonna play something?" Ashley murmured, and Sam turned to find she had been followed.

"I can't do more than pick out a melody," she said.

"Come on!" Sarah suddenly burst, and Sam and Ashley were both taken by the hand. "I can't believe we get to live here; I need to show it all to you!"

"I wanna see this place, too," Shepard said, following them. "Liara, seriously, how did you get this?!"

"It is the apartment set aside for the human representative on the Citadel Council. Udina no longer needs it. There will be no human replacement until the war with the reapers is through. So I arranged for it to be put to use by several refugee families. Namely, Williams and Traynor."

Sam turned even as she was pulled into the living space to regard Liara. She looked so unimposing. Such a sweet, short, baby-blue-colored soul. Who could move mountains at the mere impression of an idea.

After a tour that left Samantha completely at a loss for words – Seriously, when does that happen? – they settled in the kitchen, where Beth Williams was cooking something that set Samantha's stomach into a whole new level of hungry. She'd had nothing but ship rations for months. She used to be overweight because of her mother's cooking, then underweight when she went to university and the home cooking was no longer available. Whatever was being cooked by someone's mother, even if it were simply scrambled eggs, would be so beyond welcomed by one Samantha Traynor.

"Ah, just in time," Beth said as she began dishing food onto plates. Sam and Ashley were pushed into seats at the kitchen island, and a feast of bacon, eggs, and pancakes was placed in front of them both.

"Holy shit, Mom!" Ashley said, and immediately dug in.

"I'll choose to ignore your crassness," Beth said, eyebrow raised, "and instead focus on the compliment buried somewhere in there."

Ashley was unrepentant, alternating between shoving food into her mouth and closing her eyes to savor as she chewed.

Sam was a little more restrained, but still spared no time to speak more than a murmured "thank you, Beth" as she chewed, swallowed, and took another bite. In fact, it was suddenly very quiet, the only sounds those of plates and forks making contact as they all tucked into the fantastic meal Elizabeth Williams had prepared. At some point, a tumbler of orange juice was placed in front of Sam, which upon closer inspection was producing bubbles.

"A mimosa?" she asked, looking up to Beth.

Beth smiled, inclining her head in answer to Sam's question. "I wanted to have a small celebration, and I have a toast to make."

Sam put her fork down and picked up the glass. "What are we toasting?"

Beth reached over and pushed Sam's hand back down to the island. "You."

Sam's cheeks heated, and she looked around to see everyone wearing large smiles as they lifted their glasses in her direction. Even Liara's smile looked warm. She looked back to Beth.

"I-"

"Hush and let us acknowledge your heroism, Specialist," Shepard said. Ashley took Sam's hand.

"All right," Sam said, speaking through her fierce blush. She squeezed Ashley's hand.

"To Samantha Traynor," Shepard said, her lips pulled up in a grin. "Baddest of all asses. Or arses? Whatever. I'm putting you in for an N7 commendation."

Sam's face somehow grew hotter even as she laughed at the suggestion.

"Seriously, Sam, you held your ground and got us out of too many scrapes. You helped save the Council and, more importantly, you got Ash's family out. And you did all that without proper training for special forces. Imagine what you could do with your big brain, your problem solving, and the training to do covert ops? You'd be unstoppable, and I'd be needing the brown pants at all times."

Ashley snorted laughter next to her.

Shepard lifted her glass. "Sam Traynor, Hero of the Hour."

"Sam!" everyone echoed, and drank.

Sarah and Libbey both had something to say, Abby merely coming over and giving Sam a big hug and a "thank you."

Then Beth spoke.

"Samantha," she said, speaking right to her. "You were brave, as Commander Shepard said. You were smart, you thought on your feet, and you kept going even when things didn't go the way they ought to have. You were very impressive. You saved us. You. You had help, yes, but you saved us.

"More than all that, though," Beth continued, moving closer so she could look down into Sam's eyes like the mother she was, "I am proud of you. I am proud of how smart and brave and heroic you were, yes, but I am also proud of you as a fifth daughter that I get to welcome into my family and take under my wing. I hope you'll accept my mothering of you and your brother while we're all together here. And, if you're amenable, we want to throw you a wedding party before the Normandy leaves again."

Samantha blinked up at Beth, then looked to Ashley. Ash looked just as flabbergasted as Sam felt. She turned back to Beth, who waited expectantly.

"I… yes, all right," Sam said quietly, and then she and Ashley were engulfed in a hug from all of the Williams women.

"Somehow I never pictured you getting married in uniform."

Samantha looked up to her brother, who was sitting on the bed and watching as Sam buttoned the white uniform jacket of her dress whites.

"I never did, either," she said. "But they issued me a perfectly tailored dress white uniform and this is basically my only chance to wear it." She sighed. "Plus, where would I get a dress right now? I never did much like them, anyway."

Tim laughed. "True! I guess I never pictured you getting married in a dress, either. Or a suit. Maybe jeans and a flowery shirt? Damn, Sam, you're not femme or butch or anything else. You're just… you."

Sam smiled. "Somehow, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

She watched Tim's face flush a little in the mirror. "I know me and Rich are pains in your arse, but we do love you."

Sam turned and punched him on the arm. "I know, little brother. And I love you, too."

"Sorry I wasn't there yesterday," Tim said after a moment.

"It's all right, Tim," Sam said, turning back to the mirror to fiddle with her tie. "I imagine C-Sec is pulling a lot of overtime after the coup."

"You could say that again," he said. "Do you want help with that?"

She turned to him, nodding. "Dear God, yes. Why is it a real tie? Who uses a real tie anymore?"

Tim snickered as he came up to her. He might be her little brother, but he was big enough Sam had to look up to see into his face.

"It's fancy," he said, grinning. He quickly tied the tie, and Sam stepped back, tucking it down into the jacket. "You really do look good in that, Sam. All your pictures in uniform you sent us were in your shirt and fatigues. This is different. You look military, not just chess geek with a job."

Sam chuckled. "That is basically what the R&D lab was."

"I know." Timothy sat back down on the bed. "Wish I had something nicer to wear."

"You look fine. Besides. The goal is for the brides to look the best. You're just contributing, making us look shinier by comparison."

Tim grinned. "Okay. That's what I'll tell Mum when she sees the pictures."

Sam laughed. She left unsaid the if Mum ever saw the pictures. Not right now. I'm getting married. I'm sad she's not here, but I want this to be happy. A bright spot.

Sam finished smoothing the jacket and took up the white cap. "Do you think I should put the hair up or leave it down?" she said, turning to the full-length mirror.

A voice that was not Tim's answered. "Definitely down."

Sam turned to find Diana Allers standing at the door.

"Diana!" Sam said, rushing to her friend. They hadn't had a chance to speak since before the Normandy had arrived at the Citadel. There was so much to say.

"The announcement only went to the crew, but James let me know you're getting hitched," Diana said, holding Sam at arm's length. "I came to beat on the glass above the church."

Sam smirked. "See, I knew I liked you. References to movies that are literally hundreds of years old?"

Diana blushed. "I've never actually seen the original Graduate. Several remakes, though."

"Well, while there's something to be said for the first one, the newer ones are more relatable." Sam squeezed Diana's shoulders, then dropped her hands to her side. "Diana, this is my little brother, Timothy."

"Hi," Tim said, holding out his hand from his seated position.

"Tim, get up and greet a lady on your feet," Sam said, rolling her eyes.

Tim grinned and got up, holding out his hand again. "Sorry."

Diana looked Tim up and down. Sam's jaw nearly dropped. She recognized that look. She'd been given that look when she first met Diana. The interest had quickly settled into friendship, but still. Diana had checked Sam out when they first met, and now Diana was turning that same discerning eye on her little brother. And her little brother's eyes now sparkled with the attention.

Very disconcerting.

You know he attracts the eye of the ladies.

Yes but this is just a bit weirder than usual. Plus Diana is probably ten years older than him.

She's probably not looking to get married, Sammy. Just a nice wedding hookup.

Ewwww.

Sam cleared her throat. "So, hair down, you said?"

Diana turned back to her, nodding. "Definitely. I know it's not strictly to uniform code, but your hair is so nice, you should show it off." She raised a brow. "I assume Commander Williams likes it down, too?"

"As a matter of fact, she likes it either way." Internally, Sam added, But there is something to be said for giving her a handle to tug on.

Sam turned back to the mirror and placed the cap on her head. It was heavy, but settled into place without moving around. She took a step back and looked herself up and down, taking in the polished cap brim, the pressed jacket and trousers, the so-shiny-it-was-reflective boots.

"I think your fiancée will be pleased," Diana murmured, coming up next to her. "You know, I was disappointed when I learned about her? I had all kinds of fantasies of an on-ship fling when I first saw you. Geeky, beautiful, looking good in your uniform, comfortable hanging around giant marines. Maybe I'd even get a story about Shepard from a different perspective." She took Sam's hand and turned them to face each other once more. "We became friends so easily, but I held out hope. Then I learned you were taken and I was disappointed for all of a minute."

Sam lifted an eyebrow. "Then you realized it would never work because despite your glamorous appearance we're actually far too similar to ever be involved romantically?"

Diana chuckled. "Something like that."

"So why tell me all that?"

"To impress upon you just how much I mean it when I say that you look amazing and Ashley Williams is a very, very lucky lady to get to marry you today."

"She's right, Sam," Tim said. "Though I could have lived without hearing about how much she wanted in your pants."

"You're just jealous," Sam said immediately, throwing a wicked grin at her brother. "Millions of straight women around and I still get more attention from women than you do."

Tim rolled his eyes. "And on that note, I'm going to go try to smarten up." He pointed to his fluffy hair, in need of a haircut. "I can at least try to tame this, even if I don't have anything nicer to wear than my uniform."

"Oh! I have just the thing," Sam said. She rushed over to the basket she'd retrieved from the ship and grabbed the jar of coconut oil, handing it to him. "If I don't get this back, I will murder you."

Tim grinned. "Good to know." Then he walked out of the bedroom, murmuring "excuse me" at the door.

Sam turned curiously to see Shepard at the door. "Mind if I come in?" she said.

"Of course, Commander!"

Shepard stepped in, closing the door behind her. "Ashley has her whole family with her, while you only had Tim. And Allers, I see. Hello Allers."

"Commander," Diane said.

"Is there some reason you're in your dress blues, Commander?" Sam said. Her heart fell in a sudden panic. "Oh no, I didn't get it wrong, did I? Should I be wearing the blue one?!"

"Calm down, Traynor, you're fine!" Shepard was grinning. "That was too cute. No. I was, um, informed by Mrs. Williams that I could not also wear white, and neither could anyone else in the Alliance. Dress whites are definitely appropriate for a wedding, especially your own. But we were not to outshine the brides." Shepard scratched the back of her neck. "Honestly, Sam, good luck marrying into that family, that woman is scary."

Sam lifted an eyebrow. "She has four children, the first of whom is Ashley Williams, and is a military spouse so she did a lot of it on her own, and nobody is dead or in prison. Did you honestly expect anything other than absolute authority, even over you?"

Shepard pursed her lips. "Okay fair point. Anyway, I decided to save everyone else her wrath and told them to leave the dress whites in their footlockers."

"Well," said Sam. "Thanks?"

"You're welcome. Now." She quirked an eyebrow. "You look good, Traynor. They really go above and beyond tailoring the whites perfectly."

"If anything, it's a little loose," Sam said, fluttering the pants a bit. "I've lost weight since Vancouver. I guess I cook better than ship's rations, at least."

"Well, better than the opposite problem. Your hair is going to get a dent in it if you don't put it up, though." Shepard winked.

Sam sighed. "Hell. All right. Hold on, let me see if I can still get the military bun." She took off the cap and went hunting for hair supplies.

Ten minutes later, Sam was alone, looking herself up and down in the mirror. Her hair was in a braid, not a bun, as her hair was just not long enough for a military bun at the nape of her neck. But it was perfectly smooth and should avoid the dreaded Cap Line Shepard had mentioned. And a braid definitely still provided a handle for Ashley.

She was astounded at how she looked. She looked military, which up to this point she'd never felt, despite actually being in the military. But she was just an R&D techie, not a soldier. She'd never planned to see battle or serve on a ship while in the Navy. She was just going to serve her time in the lab and then probably join a private-sector R&D team with some corporation and continue innovating communications tech while wearing cargo pants or coveralls all day.

But now? Now the reapers were here. Sam was on a ship, team leader of the communications staff. They'd actually picked up several new crew members, raw recruits who had barely finished their training on the Citadel before the Cerberus attack. She would be leading two new members to her team. She was no longer researching tech, but implementing existing tech while winging new, untested techniques on the fly while the ship she served on was in battle.

Most surprising was that she'd now been in battle on the ground. She'd shot a firearm at something other than a target and hit it. She had injured, killed, and not skipped a beat in carrying out the mission. She'd almost been killed herself, a few times. Someone had died to save her.

And yet Samantha still felt like an imposter.

"This was never an ambition of mine," she murmured to her reflection. She fingered the pitifully small collection of ribbons on her breast, mostly earned for her brain power rather than the physical brawn and stamina required for Ashley's much larger collection.

Now you're here, though, you want more.

Sam sighed. Yes. I do. She shook herself physically and took a step back. This wasn't the time for feeling inadequate. She was here to get married. To Ashley Williams. She'd asked the woman to marry her. Pursued her doggedly in the beginning. This was absolutely somewhere she wanted to be, the fruition of an ambition of hers. Maybe she hadn't intended to marry the hot marine with the sexy arms when she'd first seen Ashley. She'd wanted to shag her. The marriage had sort of sprouted naturally from there.

Sam looked upon her uniform in a new light, unable to keep a smirk off her face. "Oh, I am absolutely going to make her shag me while still in uniform tonight."

The hair handle would be used yet.

Ashley fidgeted.

"Quit that, you look wonderful," Beth said. She placed her hand on Ashley's arm.

"It's not because of how I look" Ashley muttered. She sighed. "It's been an eventful three days."

"True," her mother said. "And not quite three days."

The door opened and Shepard popped her head in. "Ready?" she asked.

Ashley nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Let's get this show on the road."

Ashley emerged from the bedroom, marveling at how the dress whites glided like butter over her skin. Why do they spend so much money on this kind of thing? The regular uniform should fit like this, and the dress whites should be stiff and uncomfortable. She smirked. Maybe I should hire the Alliance's tailor for my day-to-day.

"We'll see you in a minute," her mother said, bestowing her cheek with a quick kiss and then moving past her and Shepard to find a spot in the crowd.

Sam stepped out of the bedroom across the hall a moment later, and time stopped for a moment. Sam almost looked like a different person in her uniform. Maybe not a different person, just… so polished? Ashley couldn't quite figure it out. Her fiancée was so goofy and quick-witted and funny and that didn't quite jibe with the image before her now of the military professional.

Maybe it's because I know what her boobs look like?

It fit Sam, though. Ashley wanted to kiss her, embrace her, but that was taboo and would also fuck up their uniforms. So she gave a salute with a smirk, instead. "Specialist," she said.

Sam's grin was much more mischievous. She lifted a hand in salute. "Lieutenant-Commander," she replied, and winked.

Oh. This woman has plans.

A shiver ran down Ashley's spine in anticipation. She dropped the salute and turned to Shepard. "Let's go, Miriam."

Shepard eyed them both, then turned and led them down the short hallway to the living room.

Milling around was everyone important to Ashley: Ashley's family, Tim, James, Joker, Dr. Chakwas, Liara, and Garrus. There were also a few others Ashley didn't recognize. People important to Sam, perhaps?

Shepard led them to the platform by the piano and moved up next to the window, leaving room for Ashley and Sam in front of her. They moved into place and took each other's hands, finally touching.

Ashley was a little disappointed by both their gloves.

Shepard cleared her throat, and the low level of chatter still filling the room subsided.

"Welcome everyone. I'm sure you're aware of why we're here but I'll go ahead and run through the script." That got her a good few laughs. "We are gathered here today to join Samantha Traynor and Ashley Williams in marriage. What better way to celebrate that we're all here, together, alive and healthy, than to make sure these two get to keep making eyes at each other forever?"

Another chuckle or two.

"When I look up the traditional wedding script, I see I'm supposed to ask here who's giving these women away. But that was written when women couldn't marry each other and belonged to their fathers, so screw that. I assume Ashley and Samantha give themselves up?"

Ashley cracked a smile, imagining all the ways she'd like to give herself up to Sam right then and there. Miriam's answering grin confirmed she knew exactly what Ashley was thinking. So did Samantha's mock-glare at the two of them.

"So this is the part where I impress upon you how serious a choice and commitment marriage is. It's life-long and meaningful and you have to return the gifts if you get divorced before the first year is out. But that's a stone-cold bummer, so consider yourselves properly schooled.

"On to the vows. Take off the gloves, ladies, and enjoy the one time it's not against code to wear the dress-whites without gloves."

Ashley rolled her eyes, but dutifully took the gloves off, folding them and placing them in the pocket of her uniform pants.

"Do you guys have a ring-bearer?" Shepard asked.

"That would be me!" James broke free from the small crowd milling in the living room and ambled up, unwrapping something in a white handkerchief.

"Ah, appropriate. It is tradition to have a child do it," Shepard snarked.

James just grinned, holding his hand out. Inside were two plain white gold bands.

Ashley looked from them, up to Sam, who was giving her a Look. "Your mother placed the order," Sam whispered. "I just provided the sizes."

Ashley was dumbfounded. She hadn't even thought of this detail.

Samantha reached for the items, and time absurdly slowed for Ashley as she watched those dark hands that she loved so much against the silky white of the handkerchief. Then James withdrew and Sam was holding out her hand for Ashley to take something. Ashley held out her own hand, and in dropped one of the bands.

"This one's for me," she said, indicating Ashley's cupped palm. "I have yours."

Ashley just nodded dumbly, still a little mesmerized watching Sam's hands. This is ridiculous. Snap out of it, Williams, she told herself. She blinked, took a deep breath, and refocused on where she was and what she was doing.

Samantha took Ashley's left hand in her right. Ashley's skin felt electric when they finally touched.

Shepard spoke. "Do you, Samantha Traynor, take Ashley to be your lawfully-wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, to love and protect, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

Ashley watched a tear form in the corner of Sam's eye. Sam nodded. "I do," she whispered. The ring slid onto Ashley's finger, feeling strange and perfect at the same time.

To Ashley's honest surprised, as the question was repeated for her, she felt tears gathering in her own eyes. She blinked, realized Miriam had finished the question, and nodded.

"Yeah," she croaked, then cleared her throat amidst a few chuckles. "I do." She slid the ring into place above the engagement ring, another perfect fit.

Miriam placed one hand on each of their shoulders. "Then I pronounce you married and insist you finally kiss."

Ashley let out a laugh and closed in. She wrapped her arms around Sam, felt Sam's warm hands on the back of her neck above her collar. At the last moment, as they closed in for their kiss, a classic image, more than three hundred years old, flashed into her mind. Ashley twisted, bent, and swallowed Samantha's yelp of surprise as she imitated the classic World War II navy sailor kiss. Samantha's cap fell to the floor. Neither seemed to care.

Shepard laughed. "I present Samantha Traynor and Ashley Williams!"

Ashley didn't let go. Sam's arm around her neck, her warm hand on her collarbone, her creamy taste as they kissed – all combined to make Ashley feel just a little bit drunk. They were married. They were safe, alive, and now married and Ashley had never felt both so elated and so drunk without drinking all at once.

"Um, you guys can stop now," Miriam said.

Ashley held up a hand with a one-finger salute as she allowed Sam a millimeter of space. "When I'm done," she breathed, and felt Sam melt a little further in her arms. Sam pulled her in, closing the distance once more.

"Well, that's definitely a court-martial or something," Miriam mumbled. "Whatever. While they finish that, let's get this party started! Go change so you don't fuck up your uniforms! Be back here in twenty minutes!"

Ashley finally broke the kiss and straightened, engulfing Sam in a bear hug.

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you, too, Ashley Williams."

The party was in full swing by the time Ashley and Sam finished with holo-photos with their families. Music, food, dancing. James, Steve, and Joker had begun a drinking contest. Tim wandered over to watch, bidding Sam a temporary goodbye from the photos. Sam eyed the men he was going to join, silently promising to castrate them if her brother got alcohol poisoning.

"Come on," Ashley said, taking her hand and tugging gently. "Let's go change."

"I just wish I had something other than my uniform to change into," Sam lamented with a dramatic sigh.

Ashley grinned. "I could loan you my sweatpants and tank top?"

Sam made a face. "Ugh, no. Though," she said, eyeing Ashley's unfortunately covered arms, "maybe you could wear the tank top…"

Ashley laughed out loud, leaving Sam at the room she'd changed in to go to where her own things were. Sam went through the door and began unbuttoning her jacket.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and wandered over to it. She took off the cap, holding it at her side as she took in her reflection. Her braid was still perfect, unmarred by the cap as promised. She didn't look or feel any different, but then she reached up to touch her own cheek and saw the glint of new metal on her finger. She held out her hand to look at it properly, and the weight of it settled on her.

She was married. That happened. She stood across from Ashley, slid a ring on her finger, and said "I do." Ashley did the same for her.

Sam thought of her mother and father and the photos she'd seen of their wedding. Had her mother felt how Sam did now?

"What do I feel?" Sam asked herself softly, looking back up to her reflection. She took in the smooth lines of her uniform again. She didn't feel different, but she did at the same time. Something undefinable had changed in the last hour. She looked more grown-up but felt less so. Or maybe she looked less grown-up than she felt. She wasn't sure. It was very strange.

One thought of Ashley took her out of her reverie, however. Ashley was solid, and fun, and made her feel good. She was a simple woman of simple joys, and yet with a depth no one would guess from the surface. She enjoyed poetry and was religious, and yet could drink and talk shit with the best of her fellow marines. She made Sam feel good about herself and challenged her in ways Sam wanted to live up to.

She did not regret marrying her, even if she was a little off kilter for the moment.

Sam began to shrug off the uniform jacket, then thought better of it. Instead, she grabbed her clothing and slipped out the door. She hurried down the hall, hoping not to be seen, and gave a quick knock on Ashley's door before entering.

She found Ashley standing in her uniform pants and a ribbed tank top, her jacket and shirt already folded and stacked on a chair beside her, the cap sitting on top. Ashley turned, startled for a moment, before her face settled into a pleased smile.

"Hey, Sam," she said.

"Hey, Soldier," Sam said softly. She eyed the bare arms on display, the ribbed tank tucked into perfectly tailored and pressed pants. "You look good like that."

Ashley smirked. "Do I, now?"

Sam moved further into the room, unceremoniously depositing her change of clothing on another chair as she went. "Yes. You do."

Ashley reached out as Sam came closer, seeming to scoop her up. They kissed, Sam running her hands up Ashley's arms to enjoy the subtle play of muscles moving as they both shifted together. The kiss grew heated quickly, Ashley running her hands under Sam's jacket and trying to pull her shirt out of her pants.

Sam's heart hammered in her throat as she pulled back. "Ashley Williams," she said.

Ashley kissed down her jaw to her throat. "Yeah? Help me get this off of you," Ashley said between kisses.

Sam's breath hitched as Ashley latched on gently with her teeth. Then she pushed Ashley back a little, giving herself some room to breathe.

"It's not coming off."

"Oh? You're gonna go drink and party in your dress-whites?"

Sam shook her head. "No. But you are going to shag me in them."

Sam needn't have worried that Ashley would disapprove. Ashley's eyes dilated immediately, and her grin grew wicked. "Oh, Sam."

Sam smirked. "I thought you might like that idea."

"Once in a lifetime opportunity to get my wife off in the fancy uniform? Sign me the fuck up."

"Ashley, stop talking and kiss me."

"Yes, ma'am," Ashley murmured, and then her tongue was in Sam's mouth and her arms were around Sam's waist and all Sam could really think about was how thrilling and frustrating it was to feel Ashley through her clothes but not on her skin.

Then Ashley's hand was down the magically unzipped front of her trousers, and Sam couldn't even focus on the tantalizingly muted feel of Ashley's body. All that existed was Ashley's arm holding her steady on her feet, and Ashley's fingers circling her clitoris. Everything else fell away as the waves came crashing over her, safe in Ashley's arms.

It was a mussed pair that emerged twenty minutes later in their service uniforms, hand-in-hand and satisfied smiles on their faces. "Come on," Ashley said, squeezing Sam's hand. "Let's go celebrate with other people now."

Sam smiled. "Yes. Let's."