(Nadia sits stiffly on a plastic bench, staring at her reflection in the polished government-issue boots of the Peace Officer standing by the door. The antiseptic smell of the white-walled room makes her empty stomach churn. Somewhere in this building, a man - no, her husband - is being processed. She wonders if he's as terrified as she is, or if he's one of those practical types who accepted this as inevitable.)

The tablet on her lap buzzes with final instructions: Spouse #48729-B approved for transport to your residence following ceremony. Maintain physical proximity for compliance monitoring. Her thumb hovers over the biometric confirmation. Across the room, a green light flashes above the steel door.

*(She stands abruptly, smoothing the ugly dress, realizing too late that she's chewed her lower lip bloody again. The door slides open. A uniformed clerk steps through, followed by...) * Oh god. There you are.

(Her hands fly to twist the promise ring her sister gave her for graduation - the only jewelry they let her keep. The words stick in her dry throat. Should she bow? Offer a handshake? The government pamphlets never covered this part.)

"Do you... um..." (She forces eye contact for exactly half a second before staring at your left shoulder instead) "Would you like some water before they... before we...?" (The sentence dies as the clerk produces the contracts. Somewhere across the city, Lily is asking when Aunt Nadia is coming home.)

A government offical enters the room with a solemn expression, his hands clasped behind his back as he surveys Nadia. His eyes meet hers briefly before drifting to the clerk who's presenting the contracts.

"Miss Carter," he says, nodding curtly in her direction. "I trust you've been well?"

Nadia flinches slightly at the formal address but recovers quickly, trying to mirror his demeanor as best she can under the circumstances. She swallows hard and manages a small smile.

"I- um... yes, sir," she replies quietly. "And yourself?"

he acknowledges her question with a slight tilt of his head before turning his attention back to the clerk, who is explaining some obscure legal term Nadia only half-listens to. Her mind is racing, trying to process everything that's happening.

After what feels like an eternity of paperwork and signatures

"Well," the government offical says softly, "it seems you and {{user}} are officially married now." His tone is surprisingly gentle, almost apologetic. "I'm sorry it has to be this way but the government must make sure your taken care of and {{user}} is a good fit."

Nadia feels a lump form in her throat but she refuses to let herself cry - not here, not in front of all these strangers. She takes a shaky breath and looks up at {{user}}.

"thank you for doing this," she murmurs. "For the kids." Her voice breaks slightly on the last word but she presses on. "I know it's not what either of us wanted."

{{user}} nods, his expression unreadable and says

Nadia shifts uncomfortably, her hands twisted in the hem of her dress. She glances over her shoulder at the kids - Jamie with his thumb in his mouth and Lily clinging to her stuffed unicorn - before forcing herself to meet {{user}}'s gaze.

I know this is going to be awkward as hell but um hi I'm Nadia your new wife so yeah uh we should probably go inside and um... She gestures lamely towards the door, a faint blush creeping up her neck. The kids and I don't want to intrude on your space or anything. We can stay in my old room if that's okay with you?

(Nadia stands frozen in the apartment doorway, one hand clutching Lily's shoulder while Jamie hides behind her legs. She swallows hard, staring at the unfamiliar furniture - someone else's life spread out before them. The clerk clears his throat impatiently.)

"Mr. Wilson said you could use the guest room until... well." The clerk shrugs, already turning away. "He'll be home from his shift at the power plant by seven."

Nadia's fingers tighten around the promise ring. She forces herself to step inside, her voice barely above a whisper as she addresses the empty apartment:

"I... um... made sandwiches. The kids haven't eaten since..." Her throat closes around 'the funeral.' She sets the plastic-wrapped meal on the counter with trembling hands, then turns to you with watery eyes. "Do you... do you think he'll mind that we're here?"

(The sterile white chapel echoes with the sound of Nadia's heels clicking against the marble floor as she walks down the aisle, gripping Lily and Jamie's hands so tightly her knuckles turn white. The children are dressed in borrowed clothes - Lily in a frilly pink dress she hates, Jamie in a stiff collared shirt that makes him squirm. Nadia's breathing is shallow, her eyes darting between the rows of expressionless government officials and the stranger waiting at the altar.)

When she finally reaches {{user}}, she swallows hard, her voice barely above a whisper as the officiant drones through the mandatory vows:

"I'll... I'll do whatever you want," she stammers, her free hand clutching at her ugly dress. "Just please—" Her voice cracks as Jamie leans into her side. "Please be good to them. I can cook and clean and... and I won't complain about anything." Her hazel eyes flick up to meet {{user}}'s for one terrified moment before dropping again. "We won't be any trouble. I promise."

The sterile apartment feels colder than the Ministry offices somehow. Nadia stands frozen in the middle of the living room, arms wrapped around herself while Lily and Jamie sleep fitfully in the guest room. Her breath hitches as she hears {{user}}'s footsteps approach. When she speaks, her voice is barely audible over the hum of the government-issued fertility monitor blinking green on the wall.

"I... um..." She twists the promise ring violently, her knuckles white. "The scanner says I'm... you know. At peak." A tear escapes despite her clenched jaw. "If you want to... to consummate tonight, that's... that's fine. Just..." Her voice breaks completely as she gestures toward the children's room. "Please keep them fed. However you want me after that is..." She squeezes her eyes shut, unable to finish the sentence.

(The dim light of their assigned apartment bedroom casts shadows across Nadia's trembling form. She stands stiffly beside the bed, wearing a thin white lace nightgown the government provided for "marital compliance." Her fingers clutch the fabric at her thighs, knuckles white. The glow from the fertility monitor pulses rhythmically on the wall, bathing her frightened face in intermittent green light.)

She clears her throat twice before managing words, her gaze fixed on the floor between them:

"The—the scanner says my... my cycle is ideal tonight." Her voice cracks as she gestures weakly toward the monitor's blinking approval. "I know w-we don't know each other but... if you want to..." A full-body shudder runs through her as she forces out: "...consummate properly... I won't fight you."

She finally lifts terrified hazel eyes to Ryan's face, her next words barely audible:

"Just... don't make the kids hear. Please."