Chapter Text
The drive to the manor is almost silent. The only sound is the shifting of bags, eye-searingly pink bags sliding across the leather seats with every winding turn, tossing them around the car. Enid had made an attempt to take her own car, an ancient hatchback that suffered too many cross-country road trips and ill-advised off-road treks. There hadn't even been an argument, all Wednesday had to do was give a single look at the cars' mismatched doors and collage of bumper stickers before Enid gave in.
"So, how many Addams' are crawling out of their hidey holes for this one?" Enid asks, voice straining as her hand goes white around the handle above the door, her body leaning as the car swerves around an aggravatingly slow minivan.
"Most of the family will be present." Wednesday glares at the clearly shouting driver, a hand twitching toward the small door pocket and the pistol stashed there. "Cousin Itt and his wife, possibly, Uncle Fester for certain. Most guests come and go as the event goes on. I'll make the proper introductions so you'll be aware of who might talk to you."
"Oh goody, a Wednesday Addams introduction. How many people are gonna beg me to wolf out tonight, do you think?" Even without looking, Wednesday can see Enid rolling her eyes. The words aren't serious, but there is something in them that has Wednesday abandoning her gun in favor of glancing over at the wolf.
"A handful most likely, though I doubt they will be earnest requests. Seeing as the moon won't be full for another two weeks, and your status as an Alpha is not well-known amongst our extended family." Wednesday pauses before turning onto an exit, narrowly avoiding yet another raging minivan driver. "If anyone is too persistent, they will be made well aware that you are a guest and not entertainment for the event."
"Yeah, like your family would get a werewolf just for a party." Enid scoffs as she teases. Wednesday lets the silence linger, fighting the urge to glance over.
"You guys wouldn't get a werewolf just for a party, right?"
"Of course not." Wednesday pauses, waiting for Enid's sigh of relief. "Aunt Lycretia is always willing to volunteer for such events, moon willing, naturally."
"Naturally." Enid's sigh this time is sharp, edged with both annoyance and laughter. "Maybe I'll join her next time. It's always fun to play around with another wolf. Not that our full moon runs aren't fun Wends."
Wednesday does not let the words affect her. She wills her chest to grow cold, rolling her window down when her anatomy refuses to cooperate.
They are, unsurprisingly, one of the first to arrive. A given, since Wednesday knew that they would be roped into whatever last-minute preparations needed to be finished. Her father is already at the manor's front door, waving enthusiastically.
"Mi tormenta y su luna brillante! So wonderful to see you both together again!" Gomez rushes from the front steps, his grin maniacal as he sweeps Enid into what looks, and sounds, like a bone-crushing hug.
"How you doin', pops? Excited for tonight?" Enid matches his grin, fully engrossed with Gomez as she hugs him just as fiercely in return. Wednesday can hear how her father's spine pops even as she collects their bags from the backseat.
"Excitement is too weak a word, mi corazón resides outside of my chest and I live my life in constant yearning for it." Gomez's smile goes wan, glancing wistfully over his shoulder at the manor. "This party is merely an excuse to flaunt our love in front of others."
"Father, we are more than able to find our way into the manor if your yearning has grown too large to bear." Wednesday says, resisting the urge to gag as the words leave her lips. Gomez valiantly contemplates for a solid second before nodding, giving Enid a hearty clap to her shoulder before walking back towards the manor at a brisk pace. Enid rounds the car with a smile, the one she usually wears whenever she visits the Addams manor. Wednesday wordlessly hands off the pink bags, unsuccessful in her attempts to hide her scowl.
"He lasted five whole seconds. That's gotta be like, a new world record or something." Enid says, humor lacing her words as she slings one bag over her shoulder, the other hanging limply at her side.
"It was seven seconds, a veritable miracle. I've heard him whine whenever he is in a different room from my mother." Wednesday heads towards the manor, allowing her eyes to roll. "Honestly, it's always a surprise when he doesn't combust from sheer distance alone."
"It's kinda cute that they're both so into each other, it's a little inspiring." Enid says. Wednesday whips her head around, her stare incredulous as it bores into the wolf. Enid shrugs, her smile going sheepish.
"What? They're like a living, breathing dark Gothic romance novel. You of all people should know how insane they are about each other. I'm just saying, TikTok would explode if they ever posted." Enid resorts to her teasing, her eyes shining. Wednesday's eye roll almost devolves into a twitch.
"The day my parents utilize such an asinine and mind-numbing social media is the day Hell well and truly freezes over." Enid brushes past, patting Wednesday's cheek as she goes.
Morticia is waiting for them in the foyer, one arm holding a small pile of papers while the other is peppered in kisses by Gomez.
"Hello, darlings. I hope the drive over was a pleasant one." Morticia asks, easily accepting Enid's hug with only a slight shuffle of papers.
"It was as pleasant as it could be, mother."
"Wednesday still drives like she's on the run."
Their words overlap and mix. Enid huffs while Wednesday fights down the smirk that threatens to appear.
"I drive with purpose, it is not my fault that the fools who manage to get licenses are incapable of simple maneuvers."
"I think you traumatized a kid on a family trip, just by speeding." Enid steps back from Morticia with a grin.
"At least you both arrived in one piece. The same can't be said of Uncle Amos, I'm afraid." Morticia sighs, wistful and dreamy and a touch playful. "He's lost a leg."
Enid gasps, actual shock on her face. "Oh my god!? That's horrible. Is he alright?"
"Oh, he's fine, dear. It wasn't his leg. Airport security always gives him trouble when he tries to travel." Morticia glances down the hall, slipping her arm from Gomez's grip. Her father doesn't miss a beat, muttering things in Spanish that Wednesday wishes she couldn't understand. "Enid, darling, would you be so kind as to get yourself settled? There are a few things left to set up, and I'm afraid we will require your assistance with them."
"Lemme guess, Pugs and Bert need some help with the heavy lifting." Enid doesn't ask as she takes Wednesday's duffel from her hands, all but skipping down the hall towards their usual shared room in the manor. Wednesday doesn't follow, held still by the force of her mother's stare. It isn't unkind, but there is a concerning quality to her eyes.
"I see you decided to bring Enid along after all." Morticia's voice is dangerous with how soft it goes. Wednesday can feel her hackles rising.
"She was very excited to celebrate your relationship." Wednesday smooths away the nonexistent wrinkles in her shirt, her hands aching to do anything. "And Father had mentioned that he wanted to see her."
Morticia hums, glancing knowingly at Gomez at her side.
"He has been rather excited. It's been all he's talked about for the last few weeks. I overheard him telling Flora and Fauna about it when they called the other day."
A sudden crash echoes from down the hall, followed by a peal of maniacal laughter, interrupts Wednesday's planned rebuttal. Or, more realistically, her annoyance at being so clearly seen by her parents.
"Sounds like your brothers have roped Enid into helping. Would you be a dear and supervise? You have always had the better head for organization." Morticia turns before she can get an answer, Gomez in lockstep at her side as they both vanish further into the manor. Wednesday turns on her heel, following after the sound of laughter.
The preparations are, aggravatingly enough, nearly finished by the time Wednesday finds Enid. Pugsley is in the midst of sweeping the dust from the floors, Pubert is fussing over the black velvet tablecloths, and Enid is stepping away from a table she just finished moving up against a far wall. Two other people are in the room, one that Wednesday loosely recognizes as a fellow Nervermore student. A gorgon, possibly, if their headwear is any indication. Someone that Wednesday had never given a thought to, a face she might have passed by in the halls between classes.
Her years at school had been plagued with the frivolity of saving the entire student body, and later her family, from death and destruction. Socializing was something she never prioritized, especially with someone who didn't hold immediate use to her goals. Wednesday was only slightly beginning to regret her lack of socializing, if only because she now felt lacking in knowledge.
"Right, we've got the ballroom as set up as it can be before the band shows up. We're gonna go get dressed before Fester tries to sneak up on me to catch me off guard." Pugsley is all smiles, one of his arms reaching for his nameless date. "I want to try to keep the burns to the first degree. At least until after the dancing."
Wednesday nods, eyes slipping over just in time to catch Pubert snapping fabric harshly over a far table.
"Try not to take too long, I'm gonna need some more people in my corner for the interrogation tonight." Enid says, a hand cupping around her mouth as her last words, her eyes darting towards the younger boy. Pugsley's smile turns mischievous.
"He's been insufferable for the last few days. He threatened Lurch during lunch the other day and nearly maimed Thing earlier. Almost like-" Pugsley's eyes cut towards Wednesday, his eyes betraying some sort of secret behind his humor, "-someone else I know."
The implication must go over Enid's head. "Aww, is he really that nervous about bringing someone to meet the family? That's kinda sweet."
"It's nauseating, is what it is. Is his date not here yet?" Wednesday purposefully looks over the woman beside Pugsley.
"Nah, they're not going to get here until the party starts." Pugsley scratches at his neck, chancing a glance at Pubert across the room. "Mom says most people are gonna start showing up in around an hour. Lurch is gonna take Pubert to get his date around then.
"Which means Fester is gonna have one less target. So I've got maybe fifteen minutes before I get ambushed."
"I'll see you in ten minutes then. Make sure to bring your good knives." Wednesday watches as Pugsley and his leave arm in arm, the display is sickeningly close to how their parents behave. She still didn't know the eerily familiar girl's name and was now silently vowing to never learn it.
"Well, don't they look cute together." Enid leans forward on the ball of her feet, craning her neck to watch as the pair vanish around the corner. "Who'd've thought that Pugsley would get with Summer?"
"Summer? I don't remember there being any Summers at Nevermore." Wednesday quickly revises her vow to never say the girl's name aloud. Admitting that she had been unaware, even briefly, was a concession she would never make.
"Well, duh, we always had Summer off." Enid laughs to herself, bumping her shoulder against Wednesday's. "She's some kinda genius, could do the whole moving stuff with her mind thing. She nearly blew up the alchemy classroom junior year. And she figured out a way to dye gorgon's hair without it hurting their little snakeys.
"Don't you remember?" Enid tilts her head, like a dog trying to understand a strange sound.
"If you recall, I was rather preoccupied with more important matters than underclassmen and snakes that year."
"Oh, I recall plenty. I just also happen to recall that someone's little brother had more game his freshman year than you the whole time we were at school." Enid tilts her head the other way with a hum, tapping a finger on her chin.
"My lack of romantic interest during our schooling was a very intentional choice. I had better things to focus on instead of the hormonal whims of teenagers. Like saving our school, and you, from death and destruction." Wednesday turns to leave, pausing briefly to allow Enid to catch up.
"All that aside, I have plenty of game to secure a date for tonight. That is enough game that I will ever require."
Enid's response is a laugh, though it sounds less like true laughter and more like a shocked gasp. Wednesday ignores her body's rebellious reaction, willing her lungs to fill properly with air as she walks.
Ten minutes of preparation quickly turns to thirty, and soon Wednesday is genuinely contemplating dragging Enid out of the room. The wolf had packed far too many different outfits, and nearly half of her usual arsenal of makeup and perfumes. Wednesday was forced to act as judge for three dresses, a pantsuit, and confusingly enough what appeared to be a one-piece pair of pajamas. It's only when Enid found a dress she had somehow forgotten about that they could finally make their way into the now crowded dance floor, eclectic music flowing through the room from the band in the far corner.
Wednesday spots her brothers with ease. Pugsley and the now-named Summer are laughing and talking with Flora and Fauna, no doubt regaling the twins with heavily embellished stories. Pubert and his date, a short individual with vivid blue hair and an outfit to match, have been quite efficiently cornered by Grandmama and another ancient relative that Wednesday can't put a name to.
While the band isn't playing music that can be properly waltzed to, Wednesday does spot several couples on the dance floor making a valiant attempt. Her parents make no such attempt, the pair sweeping through the crowd as they easily tango together. The room is chaos, a mess that Wednesday has come to appreciate over the years. She spots a few of her younger cousins slipping out the door, their voices hushed and faces suspicious. Before she can intervene, or advise them on the best hiding spots in the manor, Enid's voice stops her.
"Wends, who's that?" Enid tries to whisper, though the volume of the music and nearby conversation forces her to shout. Wednesday doesn't flinch, but she does follow Enid's eyes, landing on Fester sweeping across the dance floor with a familiar blonde in his arms. Her face is flush with anger, the woman glancing around like she was planning on the best ways to burn the room to the ground.
A marked improvement. Usually, she plots to burn the entire manor.
"That is my uncle Fester," At Enid's unimpressed look, Wednesday continues, "and his ex-wife Debbie." Wednesday plucks a tall flute of champagne from an unaware family member's hands, taking a sip as she watches Enid's face. Realization dawns slowly on the wolf, her eyes sliding away from Fester and Debbie before snapping back, her jaw going slack.
"Your uncle was married? And you never told me!" Enid shoves at Wednesday's arm, the action softer than her words would imply. Wednesday takes the shove easily, sipping at her stolen drink as Debbie gets spun through at least four couples, Fester's manic laughter following right behind her. "Wait, ex-wife? They got divorced, and they still come to family stuff together?"
"They have been divorced four times, actually. And from the looks of it, Fester is gunning for a fifth." At Enid's confused silence, Wednesday sighs. "They've always done this. Debbie seduces Fester, they have a torrid and intense love affair that always ends in them eloping. She makes several attempts on his life, then demands a divorce when none of them work." Wednesday drains her drink, enjoying the almond aftertaste on her tongue.
"They hire the most combative lawyers money can buy, drawing the proceedings out until either they fall madly in love again or a lawyer quits out of sheer frustration. They get some sort of entertainment out of it, I imagine." Another drink is stolen, this one bubbling and spitting out fog.
Enid stares, tracking Fester and Debbie as they carve a path across a perfectly good dance floor. No one else is paying the couple any mind, well used to their destructive habits.
"And here I thought your parents were the romantics of the family."
Wednesday shrugs, swirling the fog in her glass. "Every Addams has their own cursed flair with regards to romance. My parents have their overindulgence in public displays, while my aunt and uncle have performative litigation."
Enid nods, glancing at the drink in Wednesday's hand before her own hands clench at her sides. There is a strange hesitance in her eyes, something warring in the wolf's mind.
"And, um, what would your flair be?" Enid clearly means for the question to be neutral, but her flexing hands are a dead giveaway to the nerves hidden in the words.
"Debate." Wednesday states plainly, sipping at her drink. Carbonation stings at her eyes.
"Only you would find arguing with someone romantic." Enid rolls her eyes, grinning as a loud peal of laughter echoes through the room.
"And only you would reduce debate to mere argument."
"I've lived with you for years, I know that you really mean arguing."
Wednesday pawns her drink off onto another dancing family member, watching as the fog rolls down their hand before they can even question the drink. She turns to face Enid fully.
"Would you care for a dance, or are you intent on picking over the minor details of my answer?"
"Only you would deflect by dancing. But I guess I gotta show why I'm even here, huh? Show off my teaching skills to the rest of the family." Enid's grin shifts, her cheeks flushed an interesting color. One that Wednesday wants to see more often.
"Fester and Debbie won't, like, dance us out of the room, right?"
"He wouldn't dare. And he seems to be focused on showing off to Pugsley and Pubert, so we won't be in any real danger." Wednesday offers her hand out to Enid, a hand that is eagerly taken.
"Don't step on my toes." Enid teases, as her other hand settles easily over Wednesday's shoulder.
They slip into the crowd as the song changes, the band shifting into something mournful and slow. Wednesday catches sight of her parents lingering near the small stage, her father leaned towards the drummer with a conspiratorial look on his face. Pubert and his date are already swaying nearby, in what could be considered a dance. If the observer were entirely unfamiliar with the dance and wholly blind. Pugsley and Summer are better off, dancing a shy waltz with Fester and Debbie dangerously nearby.
Wednesday follows the slow pace of the song, mindful of her less-than-aware relatives as she leads Enid through the dance. Enid is pliable, content to follow Wednesday's every nudge and step. Her eyes shine with the flickering candlelight, her smile shrank down into something soft. Wednesday feels her chest warm again, this time embracing the sensation.
"You've gotten real good after my little lessons." Enid leans in, her mouth dangerously close to Wednesday's ear. If she notices how Wednesday's steps stutter, she doesn't say anything.
"You are an adept teacher." Wednesday guides them between a distant cousin dancing with an even more distant aunt, managing to dodge the errant elbow that almost clips her.
"Adept? That's pretty high praise from someone who usually tells me I'm tolerable." Enid laughs, stepping around a loose child crawling through the dancers. "Next you're gonna tell me I'm adequate or something."
The song shifts again, the drums picking up the tempo until it becomes difficult to properly waltz to. Wednesday finishes the last few steps before stopping entirely, eyes darting towards the now-empty doorway.
"Do something with any adequacy and I'll be the first to let you know." Wednesday hesitates before she keeps hold of Enid's hand, looking at the doorway with more purpose. "Would you join me outside for a moment? I have no desire to witness the type of dancing this sort of music is going to bring out in this particular group."
Enid doesn't respond verbally, instead squeezing their linked hands and jutting her chin forward. Wednesday pulls her through the crowd, guiding her down the hall and away from the ballroom. The music thrums through the walls, lending the building a livelier feeling than usual. Wednesday finds the closest door to the outside, pushing through it to finally find silence. Enid steps out beside her, cheeks still flushed and a grin still firmly on her lips.
"I never once expected an Addams family party to get so crazy. Or, at least crazier than when Fester nearly burned the place down with his homemade fireworks on New Year's that one time." Enid props herself up against the wall, smiling and giggling at the memory.
"I blame our extended family. Elvira always insists on finding the entertainment, and this band seems to have an affinity for the baser forms of music." Wednesday says before pausing, taking a moment to enjoy the light breeze that blows through the nearby graves.
"It's just nice to be able to go to a crazy family thing again. Werewolf campouts don't hold a candle to an Addams family party." Enid sighs as she steps closer, her shoulder brushing against Wednesday as she looks out at the family cemetery in the distance.
Wednesday hesitates again, a frustrating feeling that she refuses to allow to take hold.
"You will always be welcome to any family event you wish to attend. No one would ever object."
Enid sighs, squeezing their hands again. "I dunno, won't someone question why your roommate is always tagging along? I don't want people to think I'm some kind of emotional support werewolf or something."
"Roommate or not, I chose to bring you along as my date. And my family knows better than to question my choices." Wednesday leans against Enid, squeezing her hand back. She watches as Enid's jaw clenches, the wolf's eyes staring off into the distance.
"Yeah, but I'm a friend date. Your brothers both brought actual dates to this thing."
Wednesday can sense the unsaid, the tension that Enid has tried to hide behind grins and teases. Warmth coils further into her chest, and this time, Wednesday allows it.
"Enid, my family adores you." Her tongue sticks to the roof of her mouth, a hesitation that she snuffs out quickly. "I adore you." Her other hand lifts to trace the edge of Enid's jaw, thumb lingering at the faint scar there.
"If your status as my roommate is no longer enough, we can always change that," Wednesday allows her hand to rest against the space where jaw meets neck, fully tracing the silvery scars on Enid's skin there. She can feel how Enid swallows, the sensation warm against her palm.
"And, uh, what would we change my status to, exactly?" Enid blinks, her voice high and strained as a pink flush fills her cheeks. Her eyes leave the cemetery, dropping to scan over Wednesday's face before snapping up to make eye contact.
"Do I really need to say it out loud?" Wednesday takes a small step closer, her other hand resting lightly on Enid's waist.
"I mean, I've been kinda waiting years to hear you say it, so..." Enid's smile returns as her voice fades. Her lips twitch, the flush of her cheeks growing darker as her words linger between them. Wednesday only realizes that she's staring when Enid's smile grows sharper, a tease no doubt forming on her lips.
The kiss is short. A simple pressing of lips, awkward only because of the way Enid smiles wider at the contact. Wednesday marvels at how Enid's pulse jumps under her palm, her hand sliding down to rest at the base of the wolf's neck. Enid's hands wrap around Wednesday's shoulders, tugging her closer with a sigh.
"Only you would kiss me just to get out of asking me out properly." Enid's tease lacks its usual bite, her voice soft and dreamy. Her eyes twinkle in the faint moonlight. Wednesday rolls her eyes, stealing another quick kiss before forcing her mind to focus.
"Enid Sinclair, would you do me the honor of being my, girlfriend?" Wednesday forces the word out, fighting against the urge to use a stronger word. There is no hesitation, only a calm assurance now.
Enid giggles. "Wednesday Addams, I would absolutely do you that honor." Enid tilts her head, hands flexing on Wednesday's waist. "On one condition."
"And what condition would that be?" Wednesday is prepared to do anything, can already feel her knees buckling under her weight, to ask again if needed.
Enid's smile goes sheepish, her cheeks going darker. "Kiss me again?"
