A/N: I'm in a very creative mood.. O.o I cannot help this. =3 Enjoy

Chapter 19

A couple months passed by after the fight against the Reapers over Invictus. What remained of them was nothing more then space junk floating about in deep space. It was all over the media while Katelyn Shepard, former soldier, Spectre, and now savior of the galaxy took to hiding out in the Normandy since the funeral services.

She had given herself a chance to grieve along with sort out emotions and thoughts. She officially had nothing to do now but plan for a wedding with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

The Asari was four months pregnant by now, as it began to show now more clearly, just enough of a swell to notice. Though she'd be pregnant for another 6 or 7 months. She read up on Asari pregnancies on the extranet some time ago. The usual periods for pregnancy was 10 to 11 months. Just a bit longer then a human pregnancy, but not by much.

The pair were on the couch in Kate's cabin, Liara laying back on the sofa, her bared feet in the woman's lap as she received a most generous foot massage. Kate had ditched the usual uniform she had been so use to wearing for more.. civilian casual wear. It had felt a little odd at first but she was beginning to get use to it.

"Do you want.. a more earth style wedding, or asari?" Kate asked quietly as she looked down at the blue feet in her hands as she massaged every inch of her bondmate's skin. Liara watched Kate intently prompted against the arm rest of the couch as she almost purred at the rub down she was getting.

"Asari weddings aren't too different from Human weddings." Liara murmured as she squirmed slightly feeling tanned hands trail up her legs, fingers rubbing at her muscles under blue skin. Kate smirked some as she continued to massage Liara's legs as she looked up at her. "Oh?" She asked curiously.

Liara nodded as she gently pulled her legs away from Kate's hands as she sat up. She then scooted over to the human before leaning against her. She laid across Kate's chest her head resting onto her right shoulder as she looked up blue eyes meeting brown. Kate wrapped her arms around Liara lightly.

"They tend to be more centered on friends and family of the couple rather then a religious aspect. We also never had this best man/woman in our traditional marriages. Though we do have a figure that can legalize such a marriage." Liara said as she ran her own hand gently over her growing belly. Kate smiled gently as she rested her head against Liara's her own hand running over Liara's stomach as well. "I like that idea better." Kate finally replied.

Liara looked up at Kate again as she smiled. She snuggled up into her as their hands met, fingers lacing together as Kate knelt down gently kissing Liara's lips. It never ceased to amaze Liara how amazingly tender Kate had become since they first met on Therum so many years ago. Especially in the past couple of months.

It was like Kate had just done a complete 180 in personality. She was still strong willed, and would put up a fight if she had to, but she was more at peace with herself now as well. She cared more then she use to. She was more open. It actually made Liara remember the old words spoken to Kate by the consort on the Citadel long ago. Is this what she meant by who she'd become?

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The wedding was a private matter. No media, no big figures, just what remained of the crew. Close friends, people Kate had fought with, bled with, people who had been willing to die with her. People Liara had gotten to know as well. She already knew some of them. Chakwas, Joker, Tali, Garrus. They were apart of the original crew, and even now they still followed Shepard where ever she went.

They had gathered around a small party hall on the Citadel Presidium. The Council had given them the hall for the day at no expense. A way to repay them for their efforts Kate assumed. The wedding remained a secret, at least for now. No one was to know aside from Kate's crew and the Council. It was a request Kate made a few weeks back.

Kate was dressed in her old Alliance mess dress. Liara had requested it, claiming it made her look sexy. Kate flushed at the memory as she looked herself in the mirror. She had to ask Hackett for the attire, and he was only happy to oblige. He even commented she could rejoin the Alliance at any time if she desired, but she turned it down. She was done with it.

The Asari Councillor had offered to be the official figure to legalize the union, Kate had taken the offer. She didn't know who else to ask who had the rights. "Come on, Skipper it looks fine." Ashley Williams said from behind her former Commander who made a face at herself in the mirror. "It just feels weird I guess. Being in an Alliance uniform again." she replied.

Ashley smirked as Shepard turned to face the other woman. Ashley was younger then Shepard but she now looked older then her. Chakwas, on her last check up, mentioned the implants in her body had slowed the aging process. Something Shepard probably had Miranda to thank for that. She felt a guilty ping in her heart as she thought of her former XO.

"I'd never thought I'd say this Chief, but I feel nervous as hell right now." Kate said with a chuckle. The irony of it all. She could face hundreds of Geth, Husks, Batarian pirates, the Collectors and the Reapers and not feel the least bit worried. Yet she was going out of her mind when she thought about the commitment she was about to make with Liara.

Oh she wanted it, she never wanted anything more in her life. She was just naturally nervous. Ashley smirked at the woman before her. "You'll do fine. Liara is excited she wont stop talking." She teased as she motioned with her thumb over her shoulder. Liara was off in another room getting ready herself. The ceremony was to start in 20 minutes.

Kate sighed as she went back to fiddling with her uniform. "Well I had better go get my seat. Just relax, be happy. I'm glad one of us has found true love." Ashley said with a teasing tone as she walked out the door. Kate glared half a moment over her shoulder at where her former crew member had stood.

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The party hall was made up with flowered decorations, low lighting, and a small orchestra. Chairs lined up for the guests to sit in with an isle between the seats. They all murmured amongst themselves as the small orchestra worked to tune their instruments. The room was filled with an atmosphere of an old yet still new love about to join together as one.

The orchestra began to play as everyone fell silent and turned in their seats to watch the couple involved appear on either side of the room. To the left Liara gracefully stepped in her gown flowing behind her. It was a light shade of purple. It was sleeveless and she wore arm length gloves that went up her arms just past her elbows.

She wore no veil but more of a reith made of sky blue colored flowers over her crest. She held the most stunning smile as she stepped forward slowly and into the room fully. Her dress had a low v-cut on her back exposing her soft blue skin as the front of the dress covered her breasts but exposed the valley between them elegantly.

She felt her heart pound as she placed one hand over her stomach lightly rubbing her unborn child gently. To the right of the room Katelyn walked in more stiffly in a military style. Stiff but showing the regal air of a strong willed person that Katelyn was. They smiled at each other from across the room as they began to walk towards each other.

They agreed on this approach verses the more formal Earth styled wedding where one would wait at the end of the isle for the other. To them it felt more like a journey together then apart. After all love was a journey both people would take, and not separate. They were willing to break tradition to represent how they felt.

Once they met in the middle Kate grabbed both of Liara's hands and smiled at her lovingly. "You look beyond beautiful." Kate said quietly so only they could hear the words. Liara flushed brightly, her cheeks turning a violet color. Kate just smirked as she turned looping Liara's arm around her own.

They walked together down the isle as they smiled at the friends around them. It was a union graced by their friends, the people they considered family. They all knew that apart they would be lost and incomplete, but together... They formed something beyond amazing.

Once Liara and Kate stopped at the end of the isle and just before the Asari councillor they turned to face each other. "It is my honor to allow these two people to exchange vows to each other. To witness a union of unions, to grant them the blessing of a joining." The Asari said with a regal voice. Liara felt her heart skip a beat as did Kate.

"Please, let us hear your vows to each other." Liara squeezed Kate's hands gently to let her go first. She was about to explode with anticipation over what Kate had to say. Kate cleared her throat before swallowing her nervousness. "Liara T'soni... Ever since I saw you on Therum I knew there was something different about you from everyone else in this galaxy. Your constant excitement over anything Prothean, the eagerness you showed to help me in any way you could.. The spark of curiosity in those beautiful eyes." Shepard started as Liara flushed at these words.

Kate smirked once at her. "The patients and kindness you have shown me over these long years. How you willingly put yourself into danger.. just to save my life. For seeing something in me that no one else did for so long." Kate reached up and gently ran her fingers over Liara's cheek. "For all this and so much more, I love you with everything I am, and it would be my honor... for you to accept me as your wife. I will always be here to protect, to comfort, to make sure you are happy. To help raise our little one." Kate's hand dropped to Liara's belly as it rested there lightly.

"Will you have me until the day I part from this life?" Kate then asked as a tear formed in Liara's eye from the words that spilled from Kate's mouth. She had never realized just how deeply the human felt for her before. To some extent she did, but not completely as she did now. She nodded quietly as she felt Kate's thumb rub the tear away with a soft touch.

"Yes... I will." Liara said her voice choked but sounded so happy at the same time. The Asari Councillor looked to Liara and nodded to her once to indicate it was her turn to speak. Liara took a moment to recollect herself as she laced her fingers with Kate's as her blue eyes looked deeply into brown. "Katelyn Shepard. From the moment I saw you... Even though I've never needed a protector," she started with a playful grin as Kate chuckled at the obvious joke.

"I knew I would be safe... I knew from that moment I didn't have to worry. You have always been there for me, saved me from not just the dangers of the galaxy, but myself. You've kept my course true and steady when I went down a bad road. You've brought me back to myself. You've always believed in me, and for that I'm eternally greatful." Liara said as she stepped closer to Kate oh so tempted to throw her arms around the human and kiss her.

"The honor would be mine.. if you took me as your wife. To share a life with you, and our daughter, to find a new peace and happiness. To give you new peace and happiness." Liara finished as she watched Kate smile gently at her. "I will." She said gently as she let her forehead rest against Liara's.

"These vows run deep. I have never seen a more beautiful pair in my long years of life. I here by give my blessing to these bondmates, to grant them the rights of marriage. I wish you both long lives, peace, and fortune, be it in a large family, or how you see fit." The asari before them said.

Their audience clapped in unison for the newly weds as Liara could no longer resist her urges as she wrapped her arms around Kate her lips meeting soft red ones. Kate was only happy to comply as her own arms moved around Liara's form as they shared a deep, slow, and passion filled kiss to seal the deal.

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"That was beautiful." Tali chirped to the newly weds as they all stood amongst ship mates and friends. Kate's arm was around Liara's waist as they smiled down at the quarian as Garrus joined them. "Congratulations you two. We all were starting to wonder when you'd tie the knot." He teased. Kate shook her head as Liara just grinned.

"So what do you guys plan to do now?" He asked as Tali nodded in agreement. "Oh yes what will you guys do?" She chimed in with the questioning. Liara and Kate looked at each other as they smiled. "We were thinking of settling on a backwater planet." Liara said for Kate who kissed her forehead gently.

"The crew is welcome to join us if they want. Hell I think we all deserve it by now." Kate added as she looked to the others around them. Honestly it sounded like a good idea to Garrus. He had no where else to be. "The Council has agreed to keep us as far from media as possible. At least until we are ready to face them." Kate then said.

"That sounds like a great idea." he replied with a contented sigh at the concept. Liara looked to Tali and tilted her head. "What about you Tali?" She asked lightly. She was curious as to what the Quarian had in mind. Tali shrugged lightly as she wondered herself. She got so use to being around Shepard and the crew.. Life on the Flotilla almost sounded boring now.

"I dunno yet." She replied with a thoughtful tone. "Well you can stay with us until you do." Kate offered with a smile. Tali smiled behind her face plate as she hugged the woman. She then hugged Liara who hugged her back. She was so glad to have friends like them. She knew she'd always have somewhere to go if something didn't work out.

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Next chapter will conclude my series. I'm kinda sad now that it's one chapter away from being over. It's been alot of fun working on this project, but alas... All good things must come to an end.

See you all next time.

P.S: The Best I ever had from Vertical Horizen.. I listened to that song the whole time I wrote this. xD Random tidbit.