A/N: Here is the reception to the wedding/binding scene. I love Legion. He is easily my second favorite character right behind Garrus.

2/28: Changed a little at the end of the chapter. Some of it just bothered me and my beta, so I decided to change it now so not to get all annoyed at it later.

Chapter 18

The End is Always the Beginning

Almost immediately after they had completed the binding the glow faded. But the guests where all buzzing alive with amazement. Everyone knew something happened to the couple when they where bound, but nobody ever imagined that they would glow. At least Shepard glowed, Garrus did not. Maybe it had something to do with their plated skin that they could not see the glow through the tuff layers. One thing was for sure, it was going to be another thing that everyone was going to want to know about and understand. Shepard smiled at him through all the noise and took his hand as they proceeded to the end celebration.

She could still feel him in her veins even after the paint began to dry. It was like drinking the sweetest alcohol without having to worry about getting drunk. And there was an odd musky like smell she could not identify for a while, until she realized she was smelling him. It was not a bad smell, rather smoothing when she thought about it. She clung to his arm as he led her through the masses of people, introducing her to some of his more obscure relatives.

"Garrus?" Her eyes just a little glassy.

"Yes, Jane?" He was trying to act calmly, but she could tell that it was affecting him too.

"How long are we, uh, going to feel like this?"

"I'm… not sure. I've heard it depends on how strong the bond between the mates is." Garrus visibly looked a little uncomfortable. "I've heard of some only feeling it for hours. Others days. And I think I remember hearing one that lasted a week. Shepard… I don't know if I could handle a week. We would have to keep getting Mordin to give us those injections."

Oh. Shepard suddenly remembered what he had told her about the night of their binding. It was similar in human cultures in that both consummated their rituals with sex, but Turians where a little more… rough… than humans. She knew it would be even rougher than the few times they had gone a little overboard. And she knew that there would be at least one embarrassing trip to Mordin for fix up afterwards.

They where both stand so still for a moment, absorbed in their own thoughts they never saw Legion approach them.

"Shepard-Commander." They both jumped at his voice, causing Legion's eye flaps to flicker in confusion.

"I guess I will never be able to change my name, huh? It would just sound weird having Legion call my another other than Shepard-Commander." She laughed at the Geth as it considered what she had said. Garrus just rolled his eyes at her.

"We do not understand."

"Don't worry about it, Legion. It's a human thing." Garrus sighed. Legion's eye flickered up and down with more thought.

"EDI wishes to relate that the ceremony was beautiful." Both of them gaped at Legion.

"I… how was she able to see the ceremony."

"We have agreed by neutral consensus that it would be beneficial if we are able to fully integrate into the ships system." They stared at the Geth for a good minute before exchanging a set of worried glances.

"So… EDI is with you?"

"In a sense, yes."

"Explain. Can she speak through you?"

"No. We can hear her. She can hear us. And both can hear through all, but none can speak through one." Sometimes Geth are so confusing. Shepard sighed. At least EDI agreed to this.

"Thank you, Legion. Tell EDI thank you as well." Legion's eye continued to move thoughtfully and tilted his head a few times.

"EDI also wishes to inform you that we have been recording the ceremony and that a 'new photo' would be a 'nice' addition."

"Oh, lovely. Have EDI send the video to my father when we are done for the day." Legion stood quite for another moment as his eye slowly flicked up and down.

"EDI wishes to know if there is anything you wish to say to your father."

She smiled at the Geth and both her and Garrus proceeded to talk to Legion as if he was some camera bot. Once they where done relaying their message, Shepard glanced over at the rest of the crew who was waving them over.

"Legion, why don't you join us. You are part of the crew, it would make us both very happy if you did. Someone else can take the photo."

Legion considered the request quietly. His eye barely twitching. "We acknowledge this is an appropriate request. We will participate in the photo."

Legion turned toward the group and walked over toward Tali to stand next to her. Shepard looked at Garrus in surprise. "Well, at least we can say that the Geth have never ceased to disappoint."

___

Garrus was dragging his father almost literally by his fringe. It was not like his father was not getting along with all of the guest, even the human ones. But he still had not officially met Shepard's mother.

"Son, I don't see why…" Garrus growled at him cutting him off in mid sentence.

"Because. That is what one does when one is blessed with a new family member. Shepard's family is now yours just as much as the rest of ours. And you haven't even said a word to her yet. She is going to think you are a stubborn old man if you don't."

Papa Vakarian remained silent for a while as he led him through the swarm of people who where dance and eating. They where able to provide a generous buffet style meal in both human and Turian foods. Thankfully, since the food was properly and openly marked, no one had eating the wrong thing and gotten sick. At the moment, there was a large group of people, consisting of a good part of the Normandy crew and even Shepard, following Legion as he taught them his robot dance. It was leading into a good number of falls, bumps, and laughs as the group tried to mimic the Geth.

Miranda and Jacob even where trailing off toward one of the more remote tables with the heads very close together. Good for them. Garrus nearly bumped into a couple who just so happened to be a human and a Turian as he zigzagged through the crowd. Another good thing about the wedding being such a success. After a few close run ins, they finally made it to where Shepard's mother was sitting. Garrus pulled his father up next to him as he cleared his throat.

"Father, this is Shepard's mother." Hannah Shepard smiled at the older Turian as she stood up to shake his hand.

"It is great to finally meet you, Vakarian. You have a wonderful son."

Papa Vakarian returned the hand shake and nodded his head respectfully at her. "And you have a very lovely daughter, Mrs. Shepard."

Hannah chuckled softly. "Just call me Hannah. Garrus told me you where a stubborn old man. However, I find a wise gentleman who is quite fond of not wanting to dance with so many young people just to break a hip."

Papa Vakarian's mandible flared out into a grin like state. "Well then darling, Hannah. Would you care for a drink?" He reached out his arm as an invitation to walk with him. She took it while giggling at Garrus.

"Be careful, Vakarian. My husband doesn't take kindly toward such invitations." She winked at him as they strolled off toward the bar just off to the side. Garrus sighed and started back toward the dance floor. He was just happy everyone was getting along so well. Now if this damn part will just end, I can get Shepard alone and… Well that was a thought for later.

___

Shepard nursed her right shoulder where Garrus had bitten her last night. It was not too hard but it was enough to draw a little blood and required Mordin to patch it up. Of course Mordin had voiced his disapproval of them engaging in such an act leaving Garrus to explain that Turians were much more aggressive once bonded. He did not want to accidentally hurt her fragile body so it was the only thing he could think of that would be less harmful. They argued heatedly for a good while before Mordin agreed to up the dosage of the injections. Afterwards he had stared at the two rather intently and said "… don't ingest.". Jane was pretty sure it was directed more at Garrus, but as they left the room they heard Mordin mumble something about "a pillow or a mouth guard." which caused her to laugh at Garrus's confused expression.

The effects of the binding still had yet to wear off, it seemed time only lessened them a little. They where both afraid they where going to have to get a few more injections to make it through the initial binding. She did grin to herself a little remembering how she somehow managed to make the leathery skin directly under his jaw a little darker than normal. Garrus was even surprised at that and checked it often in the mirror.

Sighing deeply she pushed away from the reading of the accounts of their wedding by Emily Wong to look at the newly framed photo. There was two there actually. One of the whole crew on Virmire crowding around them all smiling happily at the camera. She grinned, you could still see Dr. Chakwas holding Joker so he would look a little normal standing next to everyone. The other was one of her and Garrus after the ceremony, their faces turned into each other, foreheads touching. It looked like one face the way their markings flowed into each other across the photo. She could see the joy in both their eyes. She set the photo down gently, placing a hand over the tight stomach. Too bad we can't have children.

"After the great success of the Wedding of Spectre Shepard and Officer Vakarian, there have been a great number of groups emerging. There is one dedicated to finding out how Turian Clan Rites and Rituals effect the cultures of the council races and its people. On another note, there have been a greatly increased relationships between the Alliance and the Turian Military unites,. Both who are attempting to find new ways to better their forces. Also there is a growing group of Hanar who are attempting to recreate a play based on the fall of the Collectors.

-Emily Wong, Galactic News of the day."

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this. Please don't be upset that this is the last chapter. I do hope to make a sequel to this after I have finished polishing this fic, with the lovely help of Kyuubi. She has been a great help. The sequel will take place after ME3 since I don't want to contradict too much of the storyline. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy this over and over. I will be update this regularly until it is in great quality. And let me know what you think, I do need some inspirations for the sequel. ;)