The Tsar's Wife

Embraces

Maria and Anastasia had immediately crushed Alexei and Olive in tight hugs, which Olive knew was going to happen as soon as the shock settled from their faces. She was honestly surprised at the shocked expressions on each of their faces, by their teasing you'd think they had saw the engagement coming long ago. However, whenever Anastasia and Maria came bounding towards them and squeezed both Alexei and Olive so tight Olive honestly thought she may need to take a breath to steady herself. Anastasia was hugging her tightly, and Maria had an arm wrapped around her as well while the other free arm was tight around her little brother.

Alexei had pulled his arm from Olive's waist- which was quite difficult with Anastasia wrapped around her like some too tight corset-  and wrapped it around his sister, who was bubbling incoherent words into Alexei's chest, and laughed. Nicholas was smiling, his hand under his chin as if he were thinking about something or observing some kind of scenery. Olive had seen flashed of his gentle, warm smile, but she knew his teasing smile all too well. For the moment however it was gone,  and Olive noted she liked his warm smile better than his teasing one, though it was special enough to be used in situations like this.

"Maria, I think I may pass out if you keep squeezing me like this, dear." Alexei chided to his sister, and Olive smiled at his quip. Maria pulled back her face bright with a smile, though her arms were still around Alexei's waist without squeezing him again. "Oh I'm sorry Alexei! I'm just so happy and excited and I can't wait until the wedding so I can see you be so happy even though I know you are now!" Maria burbled, jumping up on her toes and rocking on her heels to emphasize her excitement. Maria always said so many things when she was happy, sad, or excited and most of the time you could grasp bits of what she was saying due to her speedy tone of voice and high pitched squeaks.

Anastasia laid her head on Olive's chest like a small child, looking over at Maria and rolling her eyes. "Calm down Mashka, there's no need for all the bubbly comments." Anastasia snapped at Maria, though Maria ignored her and ran over to hug Olive, almost squashing Anastasia in the process. Anastasia moved, going over to Alexei with one arm around his waist, which was a less painful version of Maria's tight embrace. "Oh I'm so happy! You'll be my sister! I'm very happy with the ones I have, but you'll be one of my favorites! " Maria said, letting out several squeals and Olive laughed at her excitement. "Why yes, I will be. I'm happy too." Olive said, brushing Maria's long Auburn hair back.

  Nicholas laughed, rolling his eyes at his ecstatic daughter. "Well, I think Maria is more excited than both of you, and she isn't even the one getting married." Nicholas teased, though his teasing was directed at Maria instead of her or Alexei at the moment. Olive could sense the future teasing he would surely bestow upon them both incessantly. Alexei finally let go of Anastasia,  laughing a bit. "Maybe Father, I'm very happy to be marrying Olive. " Alexei said, moving back to Olive and wrapping an arm tightly, but warmly around her shoulders,  smiling over at her. Olive felt herself blush, a small smile covering her face that matched his wide, warm, one.

"Are you sure about this Alexei?"

Tatiana' s voice sounded across the room and right over to where they were standing. Olive felt a chill roll through her at Tatiana's doubtful voice, a voice that had ceased to speak until that moment. Tatiana had always liked Tatiana, but she was very religious and all about doing things by the book, as Miss Peregrine called it. Alexei stiffened beside Olive, and she tried to loosen his posture a bit by stroking his hand that was hanging off her shoulders a bit. He loosened a bit as he swallowed and spoke. "Yes, I'm positive. I love her, and she loves me just as much I'm sure." Alexei said, and Olive nodded with his words so she wouldn't just keep standing like and idiot. "I do, I love him as well, more than anything else." Olive said, and Alexei tightened his arm just a bit tighter.

Tatiana nodded deeply,  showing her respect as Maria smiled at them both with lovesick eyes. "Then I approve of your future marriage, my blessing you may have." Tatiana lamented to them, smiling now. Nicholas laughed,  and Olive knew to expect his regular teasing with a smile. "Aren't you looking forward to all the lovely pictures your mother will want?" Nicholas said, making Olive and Alexei both groan.
"No, your majesty, I am certainly not." Olive said, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head.

Alexei shook his too, his mouth twitching in irritation as if he were raking the pictures already. "I agree, those pictures are horrible. An hour and a half of just standing and letting people take snap their cameras away, what joy." Alexei said, making Olive giggle.  She knew the torture of photographs all too well due to miss Peregrine.

But a few pictures wouldn't so bad for a lifetime with Alexei.

My chapter endings! !! Noo! I still suck at them, as you all can tell. The picture at the top is of Alexei throughout his life,  and as.  ltyytl said, his was very cute when he got older. My sister saw a picture of him and asked who he was, and when I told her all about him and how he died, she just gave a big sign and said" well that sucks, he would have been hot when he grew up." I almost died laughing, but it's not as funny if you don't know who he is. Thanks for reading,  I love you all!