EVERMORE ─ marvel

III. Wedding Jitters & Existential Dilemmas

Chapter Three
Olivia

Analiese promised to cover my shift at the hospital while I do some wedding preparation. She and I have gotten into a habit of doing that for each other; covering at the institute lab and hospital for one another when something comes up. It's nice having someone I can count on like that, as well as having a friend who understands what it's like being a doctor, even if Ana isn't a medical doctor, though she can operate as one with ease. She had jokingly wished me luck when I left the hospital an hour ago, but now I'm starting to think I need some luck. I'm in the palace now with Aunt Nakia, Aunt Shuri, and Mom, who are helping me memorize how the ceremony will go, what I have to say, and getting me fitted for my outfit. It's a lot more complicated than I had thought it would be.

"You'll get the hang of it," Aunt Shuri assures me as she measures my arms and shoulders, noticing my uneasy expression. "If Nakia did, anyone can."

Aunt Nakia glares at her briefly before sending me a smile. "You'll do great, there aren't that many words to memorize and once we do a couple of rehearsals, this will be a breeze."

"Was it hard?" I ask her, watching Aunt Shuri begin measuring my chest and hips. "Adjusting to being queen?"

"A little," She admits. "T'Challa took care of running Wakanda, all I really did was go to ceremonies and out of country missions with him. He knew that my purpose in life was to help Wakanda more hands on, not giving orders and going to meetings. I stayed a spy throughout most of my time as queen, just as you'll stay a doctor. All you'll really have to get used to is being addressed as a queen, that was certainly a jarring change for me."

Queen Olivia. That will definitely take some getting used to. Mom takes a few steps forward and links her fingers with mine, her smile warming me to my core as she says: "You'll have all of us here to help you, honey. It may seem overwhelming now, but after you and Zy are married, everything will be alright."

"You'll be called the 'queen mother' you know," Aunt Shuri points out to her with a smile. "I can't wait to see your face the first time someone bows to you."

I don't think Mom has thought of that before, she looks stunned. "Does the father of the queen get a name?"

Aunt Nakia shakes her head. "No, just the mother of the queen and the king. I'll be called 'queen mother' as well."

"Speaking of names, I was wondering what I should call you from now on," I begin, addressing Aunt Nakia. "I've always called you my aunt, but you'll be my mother in law...should I call you mother? Mama? Just Nakia?"

Aunt Nakia ponders this for a moment before replying with a shake of her head. "It would be strange to hear you call me anything other than aunt."

"I second that," Mom adds. "I can't imagine Zy calling me his mother or anything else."

"You'll certainly get a lot of looks when you call your mother in law your aunt." Aunt Shuri points out.

"We've always been an unconventional family." Mom says with a squeeze of my hand and wink Aunt Shuri's way.

"That's one word for us." Aunt Shuri says with a chuckle.

"Ana has your shift covered for the rest of the day, yes?" Mom asks me.

I nod, holding still while Aunt Shuri's Kimoyo Beads scan my body for the rest of the measurements she needs. "Yeah, why?"