~Jane~
'I heard that human brides wear white on their wedding day…' he had said without elaborating. What the hell is that supposed to mean?! Do I get a white dress or what?Jane battles with her racing thoughts as she blindly makes her way to a dress shop. Do people even still do that?
She feels like this idea of getting married was a big mistake, not because she doesn't want to marry Garrus but because it feels like all the work going into it is driving her insane. She also now knows why she hasn't messed with fashion and dressing up in years.
Shaking her head clear with a heavy exhale, Jane enters a store that boasts dresses of all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles in its window. Her eyes widen at the shear amount of clothing on racks lining the walls and quickly admits that she's completely out of her element.
Like a godsend, an Asari and young human woman approach from the back of the store. "Can I help you ma'am?" The Asari asks politely and by the lower register of her voice, Jane can safely guess that the woman must already be in her Matriarchal years.
"Yes, actually." Jane puts on her best confident and friendly smile. "I'm looking for a dress but have absolutely no clue what to get." She motions to the store and the multitude of colors of fabrics on the racks with a pleading look.
The older woman chuckles and nods, motioning Jane to follow. "I understand and will be more than happy to help. My name is Linia and my assistant's name is Vanessa. Now tell me, what kind of dress are you looking for?"
Jane stops in her tracks and the older woman turns, chuckling softly once she sees Jane's completed befuddled expression. "Um, I'm getting married – but it's not a huge wedding, just my fiancé and I – and I think he wants me to get a white dress."
The woman's eyes drift off, focusing on her thoughts, and she takes a moment to think before her light indigo head nods at an internal decision. "Yes, okay Miss…"
"Jane, call me Jane."
The woman nods and continues, "Miss Jane, do you have any preferences? Anything particular that you are looking for?"
"Well, not really." Jane bites her lip and runs through what she may have once seen and liked, but her mind completely abandons her. "All I know is that I'd rather not show my legs or arms – or back." Her last two words come out softly and barely audible.
Both of the other women frown. "And why would you not want to show those things?"
Jane shrugs. "I'm a soldier so I have really defined legs and arms. I don't really want to gross out my fiancé with me trying to look nice in a dress with that showing."
The young girl gasps in disbelief and the Asari woman smiles warmly. "Jane, I'm sure you're absolutely stunning. It's common for many women to feel self-conscious of their image but how about you let us find you something to try? If you don't like it then we can go with something else."
Jane sighs, defeated but willing to accept the woman's opinion. They do work in a dress store, after all, so they should know something about what they're talking about.
"One more question, if you don't mind. Is there any reason you also do not wish to have your back shown?" Jane had almost thought the woman hadn't heard her, but perhaps she underestimated the older woman's hearing.
"I have scars on my back that'd I'd rather not have invading my wedding if it's at all possible." Jane shrugs dismissively. "It kind of ruins the happy moment."
With a light nod and wave to follow, Jane is lead to the back of the store where a small platform sits in front of a set of mirrors on three sides and a door that she's told leads to the changing room. The two women then tell Jane to stay in this area and relax as they collect some dresses to start.
Over a very frustrating hour – and rejected dresses – later, the two women pull away from Jane with wide smiles on their faces. The silently motion Jane to the platform, practically bouncing in excited anticipation. Jane doesn't know what makes them think this dress will be 'the one' that they've been searching for, but climbs up the steps anyways and what greats her definitely succeeds in dropping her jaw.
Standing in the mirror is a woman in a beautiful, floor length white dress with little sleeves over the balls of her shoulders and a deep v-neckline. Jane turns to see her back and gasps at the lacey material that covers across her back, starting just below her neck and down to right above her waist.
The two women join Jane and she vaguely hears the Asari begin to describe her dress. "This is known as a Grecian or Goddess Wedding Dress with a beautiful empire waistline that flows down into the chiffon skirt." She softly touches the fabric at Jane's shoulders. "You said that you didn't like the sleeveless and spaghetti strap styles so this dress has cap sleeves, enough to put to at ease but still enough to show your beautiful and elegant arms." She motions Jane to turn and lays her hand against the lace backing. "I think that this helps to cover your scars and helping you be more at ease with very goddess-like details. What do you think?"
Jane turns completely, smiling at the feeling of the rush of air from the fabric swishing around her legs. "I love it. This is the first dress in a long time that I've actually felt pretty in."
"You're very pretty in any dress." The small voice of Vanessa rounds from her back right. Jane looks over her shoulder and the girl smiles.
A gentle hand lands on her shoulder, drawing her attention the Asari Matriarch. "Vanessa is right. Though they weren't the perfect dress for this special day, you were very beautiful in all of them."
Jane silently nods in thanks and Linia accepts with a smile and forward nod. "So," Jane flips some of the sheer fabric around her legs with a hand, "let's see the damage this dress will do to my wallet. I still have my hair and makeup to get to." Linia chuckles and leads Jane back down the platform.
Once she has her dress and some sandaled heels in hand, Jane decides to head over the Ward with the chapel, already knowing where it is by Garrus' ping earlier, and see if she can work out her hair and makeup situation there.
When she arrives at the Ward, she is lucky enough to find a place that promises both speed and the chance to get both of her needs taken care of so she doesn't hesitate to test out that promise. She really hopes she doesn't show up late to her own wedding because she was too picky to pick out a dress in time.
With barely a moment to spare, Jane rushes to the chapel, her hair loosely pinned off her temples and left to curl down her back because she figures that she might as well use this day as an excuse to finally 'let her hair down' and a subdued style of makeup consisting of a pearlescent shadow and coral lip stain.
She will definitely have to recommend that place to someone in a hurry if they always work at the rate they did her. Should she ever find herself knowing someone who would need that kind of thing, they will definitely be getting that business. They even let her change in their offices though they could very well have done it out of pity for a stressed out bride. Either way, Jane's thankful as she sees the chapel in the distance.
At the sight of two Turian figures outside the building, seeming to be in conversation, her heart starts to pound and she inwardly hopes she doesn't start to sweat and ruin her makeup, hair, and dress.
She gets close enough to see that Garrus has his back turned almost completely to her, but when his cream plated company with white colony marking along his mandible and chin motions behind he turns and his eyes widen at the same time hers do at the sight of each other.
His suit is a deep ebony with silvery white accents along his shoulders and down his chest. The clothing it made of different textures of fabrics, from smooth silk like accents to textured ribbing along the sides of his waist. He even removed the visor that always seems plated to his head and his colony markings shine in the lights like they've been touched up.
"Jane," he purrs as he takes her hands into his. "You look gorgeous. And you're wearing a dress." He drops his head to hers. "You should wear them more often, you look amazing."
"You took the words out of my mouth." He pulls by with a lighthearted chuckle. "Wow doesn't even describe how good you look." She smirks. "Who would have known you clean up so well?"
He laughs, taking her hand and turning to his companion. "Jane, this is Decian. Decian, this is my soon-to-be wife, Jane."
Jane nods in greeting but Chellick offers his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Jane." She takes his hand, curious because normally Turians don't take kindly to touch. "I figured that if you're willing to greet me as a Turian, I might as well greet you as a human." He solves her internal conflict before she can ask. "Congratulations to both of you. This fledgling couldn't seem to shut up about you, I was starting to question if he was really speaking truth but I see now that there's no doubt."
"Um, thank you?" Jane is sure she does not want to know what Garrus has been saying to his friend and would rather not give them the opportunity to let her in on their 'guy talks.' The two laugh at her reaction and she definitely agrees that yes, she does not want to know.
"Come on you two. I'd rather we not spend more of the evening out here making small talk." Decian motions them in. "I have no idea why you decided to do this so late in the night. Unlike you, I have work."
Garrus chuckles and tightens his grip on her hand. "You wouldn't be doing anything besides working after hours and you know it." Chellick only grunts in response as they approach the front desk.
"Why, hello!" A Salarian happily greets. "Welcome, welcome to the Castle of Love, where all can be King and Queen for their wedding!" He looks among the group of visitors. "Now, how are the lucky bride and groom?"
Garrus and Jane both step forward, their faces bright in a joyous smile and the clerk clasps his hands together with a happy gasp. "Why, we've never been treated to helping a human and Turian couple! How wonderful! Come, come… I'll get your papers so we can begin."
The clerk ducks down and pulls out a real paper copy of documents and a datapad. "Now, we like to have two forms of documentation, just to be safe." He smiles and hands each an ink pen. "Please fill here where we've highlighted and I believe you must be the witness? Here I need you…" Jane lets him direct Decian as she and Garrus fill out their forms.
When they are both finished with electronic and actual forms, the clerk takes a quick look before giving a quick nod. "Right, now…Would you like to participate in the human tradition of exchanging rings?" They both look to each other with frowns, they hadn't even thought about that. "We have rings here, no need to fret! Here, here," he leads them to another section of the desk and clicks something under the surface that washes a secret chamber with light. "We have plenty of sizes. I'm sure we can even find one to fit the groom."
He gives them a quiet moment as Jane scans over the rings, she sees a set of two silver bands with a groove that runs down the center and points, turning to Garrus in silent question. He shrugs and nods, clearly out of his element with the strange custom.
"How about those? Are they large sizes?" The thicker, most likely male one seems quite large, but she's never really had the need to actually size Garrus' fingers to get an idea. And that brings up another question: where is he going to wear it?
The Salarian nods and says something in agreement while pulling the two rings out, but Jane is distracted by taking Garrus' left hand. She frowns at it, trying to determine with finger will fit better for his ring. The larger forefinger or the smaller pinky-esque finger? Which is more comfortable if a ring was put on it?
Garrus must feel her inner turmoil because he drops his free hand over hers and softly purrs, quickly snapping her out of her stupor of needless worry. She smiles at him and turns to the rings, taking the one meant for her and testing its size.
When it proves to fit and lay nicely under her engagement ring she removes it with a nod and hands it back. She then takes the larger ring and turns to her fiancé. "Does it matter which finger?"
"The outer one is more similar to yours." He helpfully offers with a flick of a smile.
She nods at his easy decision while she had nearly had a panic attack and takes his hand, slipping the ring over his plates and down to the base of his finger. It's a bit loose but if his wider knuckles are taken into consideration, then the ring should be a perfect fit so long as he agrees. "Try that. Is it comfortable? Can you easily bend your fingers?"
He flexes his fingers while turning his hand over, testing the fit on his differently shaped anatomy. After he comes some conclusion he slips the ring off and hands it back. "It fits."
"Great!" The Salarian chirps. "Now, let's get everything paid for and then we can begin!"
"Jane, why don't you go in and decide what you want to be said. I have no clue so I'll stay back and get this taken care of." Garrus motions to the back of the room where two double doors stand.
"Oh yes, Polorth, our official, is back there. Go on ahead and speak with him about what you want to have said." The clerk waves Jane off as he pulls out a datapad and starts to point out information.
In the chapel itself, Jane finds an older Salarian, hunched from obvious age and quietly cleaning a table where some candles sit. "Excuse me," Jane politely calls. "I was told to come to you to talk about what will be said at the wedding?"
"Mmmm?" He slowly turns to her and as soon as his eyes lay on her, his face brightens up. "Oh hello Miss. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Please, tell me what you'd like said at your wedding."
Jane scratches at her bare arm. "Well, I'm not really picky. I'm fine with the basics."
"And your groom?" He politely questions.
"Oh, my fiancé is Turian, so if you want to work some of his culture in too would be great. We don't need anything fancy."
The old figure thinks for a moment. "You two seem sound like very to-the-point people." He chuckles. "You sound more like a stuffy Salarian couple than a blushing human bride and her knight in living armor." Jane tilts her head in confusion at his remark but he just laughs. "Please take no offense. This old slug has lived most of his life in a society that moves to fast to enjoy the little things and I'm trying to use what little chance I have left to live like an exact opposite to the typical Salarian man. I am more than happy to help you get married and I'm thankful that you and your fiancé have chosen to come to us in this special day."
Jane nods, thinking that this little man is quite the odd one, when she hears the door reopen and Garrus and Chellick enter, followed closely by the desk clerk who's holding a small pillow.
The older Salarian, Polorth she remembers the younger man called him, lightly taps her and motions to the center of the aisle between the chairs. Decian takes a seat and Garrus follows the clerk up the aisle to stand before Jane, taking her hands gently with a soft thrum and looking deep into her eyes with his crystal blues.
The young clerk stands beside the older official, whispering quickly into his ear before he turns to address the other three in the room. "Dear friends, we are here today to share in joy with Garrus and Jane as they take a memorial step in their lives. Through their time together, a love and special bond has taken hold and they have decided to follow their hearts' desires and become joined as one.
"Love knows no bounds, sees no difference in race or origins, and links those together thought to be completely different. Side by side, two people that may seem so different can become one by the acknowledgment of that which makes them the same.
"I have never had the pleasure of ordaining over such a lovely couple who are so clearly in love. They have found a love that transcends species and it will be the pleasure of this small place of love to give them that opportunity to becoming as one."
The older man stops and looks to the young couple and directly addresses them, knowing full well that to expect them to look away from each other is mad. "It is now time for the vows. Would you like to say something to one another?"
Garrus flicks a mandible in a warm smile. "Jane, I give myself to you, body and spirit, flesh and soul, for the rest of my days, living and gone. Your happiness is mine, your pain in mine, your anger and sadness all echo within my own heart and mind as I bind myself to you for eternity. Our love will never bend, never weaken, no matter what may come in our way. If you shall ever find yourself unable to continue, I will gladly carry your burden because I love you and I shall always love you until my end and beyond."
Jane smiles, tightening her hands in his, and Polorth nods with a smile. "Jane, would you like to say a few words?"
She inhales, preparing to try to lay out in words all the love she has for the man before her. "Garrus, my love, my desire, my salvation, I love you more than my words can ever come close to describing. If I had the power, I would show you all the joy and deep happiness I only feel with you in my presence, but since I do not, I will gladly spent the rest of our lives making sure to show you in every way. I will be your support and strength in difficulties no matter the cost to myself because your struggles are mine. I love you and happily be bonded to you for the rest of eternity." Garrus smiles, his bass harmonics rumbling through their clasped hands.
Polorth turns to his younger companion and motions him to approach with the pillow, their rings laying in its center. "Now Garrus, take her ring and repeat after me." Garrus drops Jane's hands to follow the direction. When he turns back, Jane helps him by holding her hand out and spreading her fingers as the official starts. "I, Garrus Vakarian, give you, Jane Shepard…"
Garrus repeats the words, his beautifully musical voice ringing in Jane's ears. She's so in love with this man and she can't even bother to care about the giddiness a simple thing like his voice brings her.
"…this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you."
"…this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you," Garrus rumbles with a purring tone flowing through his subvocals. He slides the ring up her finger and strokes along her inner hand before drawing away.
"Now, Jane, take his ring and repeat after me." Garrus mimics her earlier move and smiles as she takes his long fingers in hand. "I, Jane Shepard, give you, Garrus Vakarian…"
"I, Jane Shepard, give you, Garrus Vakarian…" She smiles openly at her soon-to-be husband, her heart beating so fast and hard in excitement she's afraid everyone in the room can probably hear.
"…this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you."
She pushes the rings up his plated finger as she repeats, "this ring as an eternal symbol of my undying love and commitment to you." He softly quirks a mandible at her little adlib but doesn't complain, taking her other hand in his instead.
"If there is nothing else that the couple would like to add?" He looks to them and they both shake their heads softly in the negative. "Then by the power of the Citadel and all its inhabitants, I now pronounce you husband and wife, bondmates eternal. You may now kiss the bride."
With a soft purr Garrus leans down as she raises a bit on her toes, his arms moving to her back as she wraps around his neck. He first tilts his head to the side to kiss her with a human-styled marriage kiss, a slow, but gentle pressure against her lips before pulling back enough to caress her forehead with his own with a soft thrum.
She's too lost in his gaze to notice the cheerful applause around them until they pull apart and see the two Salarians and Chellick all standing and clapping with smiles. She smiles, embarrassed, and feels Garrus' soft caress against her hand in gentle comfort.
The din lowers to a stop and the older Salarian quickly clears his raspy throat. "Everyone, I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Vakarian."
She inwardly smiles at her husband's shocked tensing of the hand in hers at the declaration and softly urges him onward, deciding to give him a break and explain when they get home. He quickly recovers, clearly not in any mood to want to stay longer than possible and easily leads her out to the sounds of the room applauding again.
The doors close behind them and he turns to her, clearly about to ask when she raises a hand to stop him. "I'll explain at home." He purrs at the sound of her finally acknowledging his apartment as her own. "Right now I want to know if we need to stay."
He smirks with a soft growl. "Nothing is keeping us here besides our immobile feet. How about we go home and complete the Turian bonding?"
She matches his smirk with a wide, happy smile and lets him lead her to the nearest terminal to hail a cab. He certainly doesn't want to wait to complete their marriage so why should she?
~SquigglySquid says: It's 5:30 in the morning where I'm at (I haven't yet gone to bed) and though I really want to get the last chapter out, I can't, for the life of me, manage to stay awake. Sorry, but just know that next in a Turian bonding, the somewhat-stay-at-home honeymoon, and lead up into ME1.