Gods, she was beautiful. Joker had dreamed of this moment more often than he cared to admit, not that he ever would. He was sweating in his rented dress tunic, fervently hoping she wouldn't notice his nervousness.
Remy Shepard strode down the aisle, resplendent in an old-fashioned white dress with lace that frothed like seafoam. A silver veil, finer than a whisper, made her features soft and slightly unfocused—etheral. She looked perfect. Kelly had spent an hour twisting and braiding and curling the ebony locks just so until the Commander could've put the ancient goddess, Aphrodite, to shame.
She didn't wear make-up—you don't need to when you're glowing with happiness.
Everyone had come, and was wearing their best. Wrex's ceremonial armor had to be sandblasted before it was deemed clean enough for such a formal occasion (although it had taken Miranda's fearlessness to broach the subject). Garrus was in his customary blue—he'd traded his old scarred and pitted suit for the shiny new Spectre-grade armor he'd earned three weeks ago. Kasumi had yet to make an appearance, but Joker had the feeling that quite a few of the guests would be leaving approximately one wallet lighter. Kelly had borrowed the Commander's black leather dress, Liara was a twilight vision in a dark blue kimono…it couldn't have been a better turnout.
All in all, it really was perfect. He thrilled inwardly when her eyes met his, aching to reach out for her when she blushed and ducked her head. Perfect…except she wouldn't be marrying him.
When she raised her gaze, those amazing gray eyes belonged to the man next to him. Joker managed to tear his gaze away from the bride for a moment; Alenko practically shook with pride. Jeff couldn't blame him. He couldn't hate either of them, no matter how much he'd wanted to over the past month-and-a-half. He'd even smiled and nodded when Kaidan had asked him to be best man.
Kaidan was a friend, and Shepard…he could never hurt his Commander.
So he watched as Zaeed escorted her up the aisle, as Tali lifted the train so she could ascend the dias. He watched as she took her vows, as Alenko slid the platinum ring onto her slender finger—he watched the look of private joy that passed between them, something pure and golden that he could not hope to touch.
He averted his eyes for their first kiss as husband and wife, studying the blue reflection on his polished shoes as Kaidan's biotics shimmered to life, the biotic's ecstasy overwhelming his control.
He watched as they left for their happily-ever-after, an unbearable ache in his weary heart.