Sarah's grip on Scott's hand went from hard to rigid as she stood in front of the great panoramic window, watching as they approached Aya.

"Fifteen minutes" Kallo informed in his emotionless voice, but he cast a worried glance at the Ryder twins.

"You okay" Scott whispered, squeezing back as Sarah's grip turned painful.

She swallowed hard, slowly moving her head in a way that could mean both no and yes.

"I have to be" she replied, just as quietly.

"You look stunning" he told her, wondering if it'd help. Sarah had never cared much about her appearance.

"Like a bride?" She asked, eyes huge and anxious.

"Like the prettiest bride in the entire galaxy."

She shook her head.

"You've only seen me."

"Maybe. But you're still stunning." he smiled at her, doing his best to hide his own apprehension.

They stood in silence, seeing as the planet approached rapidly.

"Five minutes!" Kallo called.

Scott squeezed Sarah's trembling hand one last time, then led her towards the docking bay.

"Showtime, little sister."

The ramp seemed to take an eternity as it lowered, but maybe Scott thought so because Sarah's grip on his arm was now making his fingers go numb. He looked at her from out of the corner of his eye, noting her clenched jaw and pale cheeks. But she didn't cry, shake, or try to hide. She stood tall and proud as a queen, every bit the representative of the Milky Way that she was expected to be.

They walked slowly down the ramp, Scott hoping desperately that he looked more confident than he felt. He had seen angarans before, of course, but never this many. They were everywhere; all of them still and quiet as they watched the human party descend from the Tempest. Scattered amongst the angarans were humans, turians and even a few salarians, and once more Scott promised himself that the moment he was able to leave he was going to find the asari. It was wrong Lexi and Peebee alone had to represent their people.

Sarah made a small questioning noise, and he turned his head slightly towards her.

"See the tall one, holding flowers?"

"Yes" Sarah whispered.

"That's Jaal."

"Oh."

Three angarans stepped forward from the crowd; Jaal, Moshae Sjefa, and one Scott had never seen before. He felt reasonably confident that it was a female, but he wasn't completely confident.

"Paavoa, pathfinder." the Moshae said, inclining her head in respect. Scott bowed in response.

"Thank you, Moshae. We are honoured."

"The honour is ours, for you bring the finest gift your people can bestow on ours." The Moshae turned to look at Sarah, who was obeying Avela's instructions and waiting silently to be addressed.

"Paavoa, Sarah."

Sarah curtsied, shyly murmuring a "thank you, I am honored."

There was a pleased glimmer in the Moshae's large, dark eyes. Then, she stepped aside so that Jaal and Sarah could actually look at each other.

He was taller than she had expected, Sarah thought as she looked up at the male that was to be her husband. He was dressed in a long white embroidered robe, which Avela had explained was traditional. It hid his bulk almost completely, but she had seen a picture of him in his usual gab and knew how big he was. He was also carrying a rather large bouquet of flowers, which had her confused. Avela hadn't said anything about bouquets, only wreaths.

"Sarah" he began, and she wondered if the odd note in his voice was nervousness. "I welcome you to Aya, and thank you for the honor you have bestowed on me." He held out his hand, offering the bouquet. "I have been told that human brides carry flowers. I picked these for you."

Sarah felt something small and shy and warm bubble inside her. Jaal had actually gone out and picked flowers for her! She stepped forward and accepted the bouquet.

"Thank you" she said, not knowing what else to say. She lifted the flowers to her face to smell them. They smelled wonderfully, like something she couldn't name, and their deep vivid colours were almost completely unlike anything she'd seen before.

Then, the third angaran stepped forward, looking at Sarah up and down. Then, much to Sarah's surprise, they wrapped her in a warm hug and said, in a voice that was distinctly feminine: "I am Sahuna, mother of Jaal. Paavoa, daughter."

Sarah made an undignified squeaking noise somewhere in the embrace, but when the angaran let her go she was smiling.

"Thank you… mother."

Scott wondered if he was allowed to laugh at Sarah's expression, but figured that even if he was she'd make him suffer from it and kept his amusement to himself as he watched Jaal and Sarah approach the Moshae, who had stepped over to an arch of flowers and leaves. It almost made the ache in his chest disappear, seeing his sister stand next to Jaal under the arch as the Moshae began her traditional speech.

"Seems they are in a hurry" Liam muttered somewhere behind him.

"It's tradition" Suvi whispered back, "Avela told me that they must be wedded within the hour, and with so many people-"

"Hush, both of you!" Cora hissed.

The speech was held in angaran, so Scott only understood a few words. Something about unions, and family, and fate. Well, at least that's what it sounded like. The melodies of the angaran tongue sounded like birdsong to him - very pretty, but completely incomprehensible.

After what seemed like an eternity during which he tried his damnedest to look attentive, the Moshae signaled to him to step forward. Greatly relieved that Avela had made him practice this part, Scott knew exactly what was expected of him.

He picked up the large wreath of flowers from the table to the right of the arch, and turned to Sarah. He handed it to her, accepting her bouquet in return. Then, he kissed her forehead in a gesture the angarans would understand as the affection of an older sibling. Meanwhile, Sahuna did the same with Jaal.

The bride and groom faced each other, each holding a wreath of flowers. Sarah drew a deep breath, then spoke in a voice that was surprisingly strong and calm. Her words were the ones that Avela had made her memorise earlier that morning.

"I have left the skies of the planet of which I was born, and for many long years I journeyed across the stars in order to stand beside you today." as she spoke, she laid the wreath of flowers around Jaal's neck, her hands careful and hesitant as she dared to touch his cheek before drawing back.

For a moment, Jaal seemed at a loss for words as he stared wide-eyed at his bride. Scott wondered if he was aroused, and immediately felt guilty for the thought. Perhaps the angaran was just nervous.

Then, Jaal raised his hands and placed his wreath of flowers around Sarah's neck, speaking slowly and clearly as he did.

"I have waited for many years in my loneliness, aching for your presence long before I heard your name. I loved you long before I saw your face. I stand before you open and waiting, asking you to stand beside me for the rest of our days."

Sarah blushed, even though she'd heard Liam say something similar as he pretended to be Jaal for her earlier. Then, still blushing, she turned to Scott, who handed her the small flower wreath. She gave him a quick, slightly nervous smile, then turned back to Jaal who now also held a second wreath in his hands.

"I shall walk beside you wherever your path leads." Sarah promised as she placed the wreath on Jaal's head. It fit perfectly.

"I shall support you, whichever challenges you face." Jaal replied, sounding as if he meant it from the depths of his being, as he placed the wreath in her hair. It slipped down a little over one eye, and he carefully pushed it back. Then, for an eternal moment, he stood very still, his fingers still resting on her cheek.

The Moshae cleared her throat, and Jaal pulled back, clearly embarrassed.

"So he has crowned his bride, and she has crowned her groom. May this union be as the flowers, strong and vibrant, fair and beautiful. Jaal, Sarah, make your vows before your people."

Jaal fell to his knees, which Avela had explained was optional. It showed that the one kneeling was giving themselves wholly to the other. "It's usually only warriors" Avela had explained, "it's a way to show that they will lay down their life for their mate."

Sarah hesitated, then stepped forward and placed her hands on each side of Jaal's face, her slim fingers coming to rest in the folds on each side of his face.

"I give you my heart" Sarah said softly as she leaned forward, "And trust you to keep it."

Jaal raised his hands, placing them over hers, entwining their fingers. His eyes half-closed in what Scott interpreted as pleasure.

"I give you my life, and trust you not to waste it." he said.

"And so, it is done" the Moshae said, pride in her voice. "Jaal ama Darav, Sarah of Ryder, your hearts are one, your souls are one. May the stars shine favorably on you both."

For a moment, all was still. Sarah hesitated, but then she made a decision. There was one part of the human wedding ceremony she wanted on her own wedding, even if she was a bit scared. So she leaned down over the kneeling man, over Jaal, and carefully pressed her lips to his in a sweet, chaste kiss.

Somewhere, someone began to sing, an angaran voice raised in words that she did not know but that felt warm and welcoming as Jaal's lips parted under hers as the kiss deepened. More voices joined in, until every angaran apat from the one who still knelt before her sang.

Jaal slowly stood, clasping her to his heart, deepening the kiss. And as he stole her breath away, Sarah came to a realisation.

They are singing for us.