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“Larissa, I know you are excited but you need to let her explore everything today like everyone else.”
Morticia was trying her hardest to keep her voice firm and her words kind but to leave no room for arguments. However seeing the way her wife was nearly bouncing out of her heels with excitement was making it incredibly hard.
“I know, I know, but it’s finally time.” Larissa’s normally controlled voice had a bit of a higher pitch today and she was pacing the length of her home office to keep calm.
“My love.” Morticia hummed, stepping closer to stop the taller woman. She reached for her wife's hands, lacing their fingers together. “You have a job to do, you are the principal. It would be unfair to the others and to her if you gave special attention to her.”
The red lips opened in argument, but Morticia hurried to speak. “We will get to do the proud parent routine after everything settles down. I promise you.”
Larissa pursed her lips, everything in her body tense as she was clearly weighing in her wife’s words. It wasn’t often Morticia saw Larissa like this but whenever she did, she couldn’t help but find it delightful.
She couldn’t resist and pressed her lips against the pursed ones above her. There was a surprised hum before Larissa responded to her kiss. It was familiar and comforting, Morticia pouring in every bit of love she had for the taller woman.
This first day of term for Nevermore Academy was different from any other ones they had ever had. They had gone through their own as students and when they returned as professors. And Larissa had had her first day as the principal.
But this was different.
It was their daughters first day of school.
The fall they had been experiencing had been the gloomiest and rainiest one in everyone’s memory and Larissa could see her pregnant wife nearly vibrate with happiness. More often than not she had to remind her that while her raven haired goddess loved the rain, getting sick was not going to be safe for their baby.
Morticia’s pregnancy had been a joy from the start, even when the beginning had been clouded with doubts and worry. They had been trying for years, sometimes not even having luck in conceiving and if they had been lucky enough to get pregnant, they ended up miscarrying very early.
This was their third confirmed pregnancy and when they had made it past the first trimester, there started to be more happiness than worry, although Larissa found herself overthinking through some nights.
But here they were, only days away from welcoming their daughter into the world and Larissa had handed over her school to Miss Duskridge so she wouldn’t be missing anything by accident. She loved her school and her students, but there were two people on Earth she was willing to give it all up for.
The rain was hammering on the roof, the air around them smelling like cinnamon and tea leaves and Larissa couldn’t help but stare at her wife who was waltzing around their kitchen, blissfully unaware that there were eyes on her.
She was cradling her stomach gently, taking small dance steps as she hummed happily. Her lips were bare of her normal lipstick, but her smile was just as visible if not even more so. She looked devastatingly beautiful and so incredibly happy.
Larissa could feel tears gather in her own eyes. They had wanted to become parents for years, but despite their numerous attempts, they had suffered losses no one ever really warns you about. They had been tested, they had reached out for help but while everything that could be done had been done, they had kept on failing.
Until now.
Her wife was carrying a baby who was ready to be born. They had created a new piece for their universe, someone who was going to become the center of it. Their tiny starlight.
Without hesitating for a moment longer, Larissa got up from her chair and walked over to her wife. She wrapped her arms securely around her body and belly before pressing her own frame tightly against Morticia’s back.
Gentle humming turned into gentle laughter.
“Is everything alright, my love?” Morticia chuckled.
“Yes.” Larissa muttered into the raven hair. After a beat she added, in a much more quiet tone. “You are amazing.”
“Amazing, huh?” Larissa could hear the smirk in her wife’s voice and she couldn’t help but smile as well.
“Yes, amazing.” Pressing a kiss to the side of her wife’s head, she focused on her hands that were holding both her wife and their unborn child securely in her arms. “Are you ready to give birth?”
“Yes.” Larissa couldn’t see her face but she was sure there was a serene smile on her wife’s face. Morticia had never been scared of being pregnant or giving birth. After they had gotten their confirmation their pregnancy might be viable, nothing had swayed the dark haired woman, her demons seemingly vanquished.
Humming some more, Larissa tried her hardest to silence her own fears. But as per usual she was failing miserably and without her permission her body was going rigid against her wife.
But as always, her partner was there to catch her.
“I know you are going to be worried until you hold her.” Morticia laid her own hands over Larissa’s, pressing them even closer to her pregnant belly. “And afterwards your mind will be filled with new fears and worries. But I promise, it’s going to be alright.”
Larissa could feel her body relax and she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Her demons were so much quieter when she was around her wife, her calmness settling Larissa’s soul like no other.
“I will always worry, but I find myself worrying a little less with you.” Larissa whispered, letting her thumbs make gentle patterns against Morticia’s belly. “I will protect you both.”
Morticia hummed deeply, pressing her head back against wife’s body. It would never stop amazing them how well they fitted together, in body and soul.
“I know you will, my love.”
They made it to the school early in the morning. The car had been packed the night before and they had time to carry things in without the corridors being filled with people. There was unusual silence between the family of three as they made their way towards Ophelia Hall.
Both Morticia and Larissa had agreed that the best place for their daughter was in their old dorm under the watchful eyes of Miss Duskridge. The older woman was a figure in their family but she was able to separate work and homelife better than the two mothers.
Their daughter would be sharing a room with another girl and while that had initially brought on a fight, they had all agreed that maybe it was worth testing out.
The black trunks had been carried into the middle of the room, the few dress bags were hanging in the closet and they were all standing by the door. None of them really knew what to say but eventually a phone alarm made them all snap back into the moment.
As Morticia silenced her phone and slipped it into her jacket pocket, Larissa zeroed her eyes on their daughter.
Wednesday was standing in front of them, already nearing her dark haired mother in height. She had definitely inherited Morticia’s love for anything black as her entire wardrobe was favoring that color. Her dark long hair was parted in two braids that framed her face, her bangs just about covering her eyebrows.
She was so fully her own person, very specific in her needs and wants. Her outlook on life was unlike anything either woman had ever seen, and they were the proudest parents.
“Are you ready, my little bat?” Larissa asked, reaching to caress her daughter's cheek.
Wednesday wasn’t the most physically affectionate person, but she generally allowed her mothers casual touches and the physical shows of love. Her mothers were her only exception for the rule but even with them she had very clear boundaries.
“As ready as I can be, Mama.” Wednesday said, her tone giving nothing away.
Morticia reached for her other cheek, her emotions leaking through for the first time that day as her eyes glistened with tears.
“I talked with your Mama and she promised we’d give you space for the official part of the day. But be warned, we will morph into your adoring mothers the second we are off duty. So soak up your day before that.” Her voice was slightly wobbly and Wednesday shot an eye roll towards Larissa which in turn made the taller woman laugh.
“While I promised that indeed, I’m pretty sure it’s not me you have to worry about.” Larissa mock-whispered while non-subtly pointing towards her wife.
Morticia reached over to push her gently as she wiped under her eyes not to smudge her makeup. The air around them was less charged and more comfortable, all of them feeling more at ease.
“I think we need to head down so we can welcome the staff and finish tying any last minute ends.” Larissa said as she looked down on her watch.
“Would you want to-” Morticia started but a pointed look from Wednesday made her close her mouth with a small laugh.
“We will be on our way.” Larissa winked before reaching over to pull both her daughter and wife towards her body into a hug. They had always hugged like this but as Wednesday got older she got more selective with her responses to physical affection. She allowed the hugs, sometimes with some muttering, but she very rarely responded.
As they separated, Larissa took a hold of Morticia’s hand and pulled her wife with her out of the room. As they were closing the door, Larissa couldn’t help herself.
“Be down at 10!”
And she closed the door behind them.
Larissa had always known her wife to be a strong woman, but after seeing her give birth to their daughter she had to adjust her assessment. Her wife was the strongest woman she had ever met.
Seeing them place a small bundle against Morticia’s chest was the most magical sight to Larissa and she couldn’t hold in her sobs. Leaning over her wife she pressed several kisses to her forehead, being unable to do much more than that.
It felt like a whirlwind after that. Larissa felt like her heart was being pulled apart when they took her newborn daughter away from them so Morticia could be checked over and fully situated for her first night in the hospital.
She didn’t really know where she should stay but it was like Morticia knew exactly what she was thinking. With a gentle squeeze of her hand the dark haired woman gathered her wife’s attention.
“Go and keep an eye on her for me.” Morticia muttered, her eyes closing and her breathing getting heavier.
Larissa knew that while she was worried and didn’t want to be apart from their daughter, her wife who had actually carried her must be feeling something that she could never fully understand. So with a final kiss to Morticia’s forehead, Larissa left the room to follow the nurse who was transporting their daughter.
Larissa didn’t leave her side, not even for a second, sitting by her tiny bed, marvelling at the miracle they had created. Not once did their baby cry, her big eyes looking around curiously before she fell asleep once more. Only when they were taking the baby back to Morticia did Larissa move, pushing the bed happily towards her wife while asking every question she had ever wondered about babies.
Seeing Morticia being reunited with their daughter was magical, like two pieces of the same soul finally being made whole. As Morticia fed her, Larissa sat next to the bed, just silently observing at the moment she was allowed to witness.
“Have you thought of a name?”
The sudden question made Larissa jump in her seat as she had so fully focused on her family to remember there were still other people in the room. She quickly glanced at the nurse who was smiling understandingly at her before locking eyes with her wife.
Morticia’s smile was blinding.
“We haven’t yet.” She answered before turning to look at the baby who was still resting against her chest.
“You don’t have to decide now, as long as I have something to put on the paperwork later.” The nurse was smiling before she gathered her things and headed for the door.
For the first time since they arrived in the hospital, they were alone.
Only sound in the room was the gentle cooing of the baby who had finished her meal and was now content against her mother.
“We have to decide on a name.” Larissa said, not able to tear her eyes away even for a minute. The moment in front of her was captivating and she was sure she might never actually want her eyes to see anything else.
“Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is-” Morticia was gently reciting the nursery rhyme she had fallen in love with when they had first gotten pregnant quite a few years ago. As she was about to finish telling about Wednesday’s child, the room was suddenly filled with a sharp scream.
Blue eyes met brown in shock before they focused fully on their daughter again. Her tiny brow was wrinkled and she was waving her tiny fists around wildly.
“Full of woe.” Morticia’s smile was blinding as she was gazing down on her daughter. “Wednesday.”
“Morticia?” Larissa could see her wife melt in front of her eyes. They had been talking about names before but they had agreed to wait to meet their baby before deciding. But it very much looked like her wife was leaning towards a name already.
“Doesn’t she look like a Wednesday?” Morticia lifted the baby higher on her chest, presenting her to Larissa. There were stars in her eyes, her tone already giving away every ounce of love and pride she had towards her daughter.
Larissa couldn’t deny that their baby indeed looked like her name could be Wednesday. And she knew what this nursery rhyme meant for her wife.
“Let me get this straight.” Larissa wondered out loud, gaining the attention of her wife, who just tilted her head expectantly. ”It’s Friday the 13th, one of your favorite days that comes around ever so rarely. And you want to name our daughter Wednesday?”
Morticia was smiling so widely it was reaching her eyes. Her cheeks were coloring pink and her dark brown eyes were shining. She was nodding her head eagerly, resembling a very excited Labrador.
Larissa knew that their daughter was now called Wednesday and there was nothing she truly wanted to do about it. But gently teasing her wife was one of her favorite things.
“And you think our child is full of woe?”
“I can already tell.” Morticia was beaming at her, running her finger gently against the baby’s soft cheek. That made Larissa laugh. Ever since they had shared a room at Nevermore when they were teenagers, she had known that Morticia viewed the world through a different lens than anyone else she had ever met.
To anyone else telling them their child might be woeful would be an insult.
But not to them.
“Wednesday it is.” Larissa whispered, leaning closer towards her favorite girls before pressing her lips on the baby’s forehead. She was rewarded with a blank stare but a small hand grabbed at her silver hair that she had long ago taken down from its normal updo.
It was just held in a tiny fist and Larissa could feel tears gather in her eyes.
“I knew you’d see it my way, darling.” Morticia hummed and pressed several small kisses against Larissa’s cheek. “Isn’t she perfect?”
They spent what felt like an eternity just staring at the tiny baby laying between them. There were few strands of dark hair on top of her head, perfectly matching Morticia’s. Her skin was pale and there were flecks of blue in her otherwise brown eyes.
“Absolutely.”
The first day of the year went just as smoothly like it always did. Larissa gave her speech in the quad, introduced the staff and everyone got on their way to be situated in their dorms.
Morticia was around helping students find their way and greeting the returning students after the vacation. Everyone was in incredibly high spirits, the halls once again alive with chatter and laughter.
Larissa waltzed around, talking to parents, filling her principal role with pride as always. But she would be lying if she said that her eyes didn’t scan over the hallways looking for the dark haired first year she had only briefly seen in the morning when she had opened the doors to Nevermore.
It was only when it was time for the parents to leave did Larissa finally see her wife come towards her. Just like always, Morticia took the opportunity to tease her during the first day. She was wearing a tight pair of slacks and a suit jacket cinched tightly at the waist. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun and her heels were so high she was much easier for Larissa to kiss.
Which she didn’t hesitate to do.
Pulling her wife towards her body, Larissa attached her lips to the painted ones in front of her. They might have been together for years but she was never going to get enough of kissing Morticia.
“Are you two quite finished?”
They pulled apart to meet the unimpressed eyes of their daughter. Larissa tightened her arm around her wife, smiling widely at Wednesday.
“You know we are never finished.” Morticia hummed and pressed her lips behind Larissa’s ear. “You smell divine, my love.”
Larissa could feel the heat coil in her stomach and she tried her hardest to breathe normally. However even she herself could hear the raggedness of her own breath which in turn made Morticia chuckle as Wednesday stepped in.
“Enough!”
The mothers smiled as they turned their focus on their daughter. She was wearing the same outfit she had put on in the morning, her braids just as fresh and the scowl on her face was somewhat of a permanent thing for her.
“Can you two be any more disgustingly in love?” She muttered under her breath, looking around her subtly.
Morticia’s laugh was deep as she reached towards Wednesday. She laid her hand on her cheek, letting her thumb trace her cheekbone ever so slightly.
“How was your day, my tiny starlight?”
“People my age truly are rowdy, loud, obnoxious idiots.” Wednesday's tone was unimpressed, but she didn’t seem quite as tense as she had been in the morning. “I have no idea how I will ever survive it.”
Larissa let out a small laugh. “I’m sure you will love it here. I’m sure you will find your fellow students disposition… Intriguing.” It was no news to either of the mothers that their daughter was not the biggest fan of the general teenage age, but at the same time she enjoyed things that annoyed her so maybe this was going to be even better than any of them realized.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath.” Wednesday muttered.
“How about we walk you to your room so you can go get ready for dinner.” Larissa suggested and without saying anything Wednesday turned around and headed for the stairs.
The two mothers shared a small smile before lacing their fingers together to follow their daughter.
The walk to Ophelia Hall always brought back such memories for Larissa. It felt like she was a teenager again, taking the first steps towards what ended up being the rest of her life. She remembered having to carry her own bags as her parents had merely dropped her off at the gate.
It had been Miss Duskridge who ended up helping her up with her belongings. She had brought her to the room on the top floor, the one with the most room and the biggest window. Larissa had been speechless, unsure if the school had gotten it right with her. And then she met Morticia.
Turning to look at her wife now, Larissa noticed the same far away look on her face. A smile tugged at Larissa’s lips as she focused on the stairs once more as there were many before they’d reach their destination.
When placing their daughter, Larissa had avoided putting her into their old dorm room. That had just felt a bit too weird. Instead she had opted for a room just below it. It was still sizable for two people as she knew her daughter needed her space.
She had been the one to approve of the roommate, and while they had written an application letter, there was not much information on what kind of girl she actually was. Larissa hoped it was going to be an alright match because there was not going to be a day she wasn’t going to hear about it.
Wednesday pushed the door open and walked in front of her mothers, but she came to a sudden halt which in turn almost made Morticia walk into her.
“Honey?” Morticia looked down at her daughter before lifting her gaze.
“Oh my.” She muttered under her breath.
The other side of the room was already decorated in bright colors. There were posters of several different bands already on the wall, the bed was made with pink sheets and there was a mountain of colourful clothes on said bed.
“Mama.” Wednesday’s tone was nearly homicidal as she turned towards Larissa.
As Larissa was opening her mouth to calm her daughter, a twirl of colour appeared in front of the family. The shoulder length blonde hair was mildly windswept looking, the ends faded colours of blue and pink. There was a pink tint to her cheeks and her smile was blinding.
“Howdy, roomie!” Even the way she spoke was chipper and happy.
“Wednesday, this is Enid Sinclair.” Larissa offered the information she had memorized.
It was not very often Wednesday was left speechless but the girl in front of her had caused that. Wednesdays lips were pursed, and her back was ramrod straight. But as the two mothers turned to inspect their daughter, they came face to face with an uncharacteristic blush.
Wednesday was blushing.
“Here we go again.” Morticia muttered, looking between Wednesday and Enid with a smile of her own.
“Indeed, my love. Indeed.” Larissa beamed as she gave her daughter a small push so she could shake the offered hand Enid was still patiently holding in the air.