Their marriage

“I also own your marriage” you state nonchalantly, hoping your powers work on something abstract. However, you quickly deduce that it must have worked because the couple’s first instinct isn’t to contradict you.

In fact, Olivia’s next words only further confirmed your suspicions.

“Oh my god, I’d completely forgotten we’d agreed to that!” she exclaimed, taking a step back. She turned to look at her husband, a horrified expression on her face. “We even held the ceremony on a day you couldn’t attend!”

“I can’t believe we did that!” he said while glancing back at her, echoing his wife’s sentiment. "I'm so sorry John."

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” you say while holding your hands up defensively, hoping to pacify the situation. “I would’ve said something if I’d objected. Besides, with the amount of time, money, and effort you put into the ceremony, it felt wrong to delay it on my account.”

Your words seem to calm the couple, the pair visibly relaxing before you. Still, Olivia apparently felt guilty enough to continue pursuing the matter.

“Even so, it was a rather selfish thing for us to do. When it comes to our marriage, you’re just as important as Bill and I.”

Her husband nodded alongside her, in full agreement. “Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?”

You pause, choosing your next words carefully. How does one even own someone else’s marriage? “Well, that’s part of the reason why I’m here - I was hoping we could discuss the logistics of the marriage now that you two are properly wed. May I sit down?”

With that, the three of you shuffle deeper into their living room, the couple sitting on the love seat while you settle on a large cushioned chair. You take a quick moment to examine both Bill and Olivia, noting that the two seem genuinely upset with themselves over what they’ve done. It was incredible; with one simple sentence, you’d successfully integrated yourself into their relationship! As its owner, no less! The only thing that remained was too see how far you could push this.

“First thing’s first,” you began, eyeing the newlyweds, “May I have a copy of your vows?”

At that, the couple’s eyes widen once more, their guilt evident within them. “Right away!” Olivia says while rushing to her feet, exiting the room in a hurry. While she’s gone, you try and make eye contact with Bill but he seems intent on staring at the floor, unable to look at you. A small awkward silence falls between the two of you while you wait, the moment only broken when Olivia rushes back with a pair of papers in hand.

“Here you are!” she says while handing them to you before sitting back down next to her husband. “Sorry, we should have let you go over them before we had the ceremony.”

You ignore her, instead choosing to look down at what she’d just given you. The couple watches you silently as you quickly glance over the papers’ contents. Olivia’s vows are first and you skim over the small paragraph, seeing the usual. “I, Olivia, promise to love and cherish you as your lawfully wedded wife...” and so on. You flip the paper over and quickly pass over Bill’s, noting his are similar, if not the same.

“We haven’t consummated the marriage yet.” Olivia blurts out while you’re half-way through Bill’s vows, her words lifting your eyes from the paper to look back at them.

“Wait, really?” you ask, genuinely shocked by her statement. Olivia, flushed red with embarrassment, is unable to meet your gaze but Bill takes his wife’s hand and sighs deeply, talking in her stead.

“We… haven’t had the time” he begins to offer as an explanation. “The days leading up to the wedding were beyond hectic. When it was all said and done and we’d become husband and wife, we got to the hotel room, drunk, and promptly passed out. In the days that followed, we’ve been hosting family members who came from out of town and prepping for the honeymoon. Olivia has a large family and not only hasn’t she seen most of them in a while, but each wanted to individually congratulate us.”

“Frankly, today’s the first day we’ve had to ourselves.” Olivia finished, the exhaustion palpable in the glance she shared with her husband.

“We, uh… we were hoping to consummate it tonight.” Bill quickly adds, Olivia blushing in agreement.

You nod once, glancing back at the papers in your hand. “Well, that’s a relief.” At your tone, the couple sighs, relieved you weren’t immediately angry with them. “We should still consummate the marriage tonight, before you depart for your honeymoon. But, I’d like to make a few changes to your vows before we do so. Is that alright with you?”

“Absolutely!” they both exclaim at the same time. You chuckle, seeing why they got married. “It’s only fair, after how selfish we’ve been.” “Like we said, you’re just as important in this marriage as we are. We want to make sure you’re included as much as possible.”

You give them your brightest smile. “I’m happy to hear that.” Still holding their vows, you quickly stand, stretching. “I’ll need a couple hours to go over these and decide on what I want to edit. In the meantime, how able you two continue with whatever you had planned and I’ll be back at, say, seven with my revisions in order to properly consummate the marriage together?”

“That would be wonderful” Bill says as he also stands, quickly giving you a handshake to finalize the arrangement.

“Thank you for not being upset with us!” Olivia adds, unable to mask how relieved she is.

“Take care; see you at seven!”

As you leave their apartment, you chuckle to yourself, relishing your new powers and the countless possibilities.