Title: Happy Privilege
Fandom: Mass Effect
Rating: PG
Length: 776
Pairings: Kaidan Alenko/male Shepard, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy/Garrus Vakarian
Content notes: 16 months post-Reaper war (Mass Effect 3, destroy ending)
Author notes:This takes place on the Citadel approximately fourteen months after the Reaper War was won. This is Shepard's voice. Khelish is the quarian language. The summary is from the quarian movie "Fleet & Flotilla".
Summary: Free as the dust in the solar wind

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"Are you ready for this, Shepard?"

"This isn't exactly something they taught in N7 training."

Kaidan straightens the collar of my tuxedo and leans close for a kiss. "You'll do fine. At least you don't have to speak Khelish or Turian. When she asked you to marry them, Tali had been researching old Earth customs. I think they wanted to stick with those traditions."

I nod, rolling my neck and shoulders to try to make the formalwear more comfortable. "I'm not even a real Captain."

"You were Tali'Zorah's Captain when you spoke for her at her trial. She never forgot that."

Linking my fingers with Kaidan's, we leave the apartment, heading for the Presidium – one of the new parks there has a waterfall. Even before we can see it, I know the park will be decked with flowers from every world.

"Tali was always such a romantic."

"I remember. She was appalled that I'd never seen all of "Fleet & Flotilla" so she made me watch it with her one night... and she sang along to all the songs."

"You know she loved you, John."

I squeeze Kaidan's hand. "I know. She all but told me... and I had to find a way to let her know that she meant so much to me as my friend. But that it couldn't be any more than that for me."

"Did she understand why? You and I weren't even together yet..." There's an undertone to his voice, sadness... maybe regret. "I wasn't even part of your life during those days."

We stop walking for a moment, and I wrap my arms around Kaidan. "I don't know. She said something about us being two lonely people from different worlds... I told her it had nothing to do with her being quarian. It was just that I wasn't built that way. She said she understood, and pulled my head down to touch her mask to my forehead for a moment."

Kaidan is silent for a long moment. "I love you, John. You were so kind to her. And it never affected your friendship."

"No, we were good. When you rejoined the Normandy after you were injured on Mars, she caught me alone one day and said now she finally understood what I'd meant... and told me she was happy for us."

Before I let him slip from my arms, I add one other thought. “And just so you know – you weren't with me on the Normandy then, but you were far from being no part of my life. I don't think a day passed that I didn't miss you."

He kisses me, both of us oblivious to our being in public, a kiss that reminds me that all of that is past and forgiven.

We continue our walk. I'm glad to be able to do without the cane today. The Presidium is in sight. Our friends have gathered already. I don't see Tali, but Garrus is there, looking dapper in his formalwear. He waves as he sees us approaching.

"You should join him, Kaidan. Aren't you his best man?"

"I am. He told me my only duty was to provide plenty of whiskey. And to make sure he didn't drink it all beforehand. Done and done. I'm sure Tali is planning on dancing half the night at the reception. He wanted to be prepared.""

He gives me a quick kiss and goes to stand beside Garrus near the waterfall. The string quartet shifts from Bach to the Pachelbel Canon. I smile, remembering how Tali had enjoyed discovering Earth music after the war. She always had some new song on her omni-tool that she wanted to share with me whenever she visited me in the hospital.

After I take my place next to Garrus and Kaidan, the guests turn toward the pathway as Liara enters, dressed in a pale blue gown. Tali follows, escorted by her Auntie Raan, Admiral Shala'Raan vas Rannoch. Wearing a filmy skirt tied over her environmental suit, Tali carries an armful of white flowers. I remember her telling me once she wished she could smell a flower. I'm glad she can enjoy them anyway.

As she approaches the waterfall, Garrus joins her, taking her hand after she passes the bouquet to Liara. I don't need to see the face behind her mask to know that she's beaming. And Garrus never takes his eyes from her.

I take a deep breath and glance over at Kaidan. His smile is all love, reassuring me that I really can do this – carry out this ancient prerogative of ship's Captains.

"Dear friends, we have gathered here today... "

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Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters have had one happy privilege: that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony.
- Captain James Kirk, Star Trek