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Tyler was sprawled across his bed, scrolling through Instagram when he heard his window lift up. Craning his neck, a smile bloomed over his face at the sight of his girlfriend climbing in. He hadn’t known if she was going to drop by today. Tossing his phone to the side, he sat up, feeling happiness burst through him. “Hey.”
Without so much as a greeting, she gave him a neatly wrapped package--in black of course. “Happy birthday.”
“You remembered!” His face lit up. He shouldn’t be surprised, but it did kind of come as one. Wednesday wasn’t a celebratory person, wholeheartedly refusing to do anything for her own day. He didn’t think she’d want to be a part of anything for his either.
He received a look he knew all too well. That one she gave him when she felt he was acting particularly stupid. “Why would I not?”
Shrugging, Tyler did not open the present right away. “I don’t know. I didn’t think you’d want to.”
“It is your day,” she clarified. “I can put aside my own dislike for celebrations so you may enjoy yours.”
She would be sickened by how profoundly joyful he was by her declaration. He’d never sought to change her. He liked all those little details that were uniquely Wednesday. In truth, she’d softened up all on her own. Most people couldn’t tell. Those that weren’t closest to her, a select few, had asked him why he was with her in the first place
As per Wednesday’s orders, Tyler wasn’t permitted to defend her. She viewed anyone else’s opinions, including his own most of the time, he was sure, worthless. So he simply smiled. I love her , he’d tell them. Earnest, proud . Who wouldn’t be if they had Wednesday Addams in their life?
“Now do you intend to open your gift or not?” She tapped her foot, lips pursing in annoyance.
It was soft, his fingers gently squeezed it. There was clothing inside, he presumed. Taking off the wrapping paper, he lifted out a jersey from his favorite baseball team--the Vermont Reds. She’d also given him a cap. His old one was worn out, faded from years of use.
Aww, baby, he almost said out loud. Wednesday was iffy on pet names. She allowed it on occasion, begrudgingly admitting that they didn’t bother her as much as they used to. But , she’d poked him in the chest to emphasize her point, that didn’t mean she wanted to hear them all the time.
“Thank you,” he said to her, hoping he was able to convey to her just how much the gift meant to him.
She nodded in return. “Is there anything you would like to do today?”
“Oh, I don’t know...” He trailed off. There were a couple ideas in mind, but none that she would go for.
“Tyler,” she prompted.
“We could just stay here,” he offered.
“Is that what you want?” She pressed.
“I’m fine with it,” he said and it wasn’t a lie. He was content with her being here with him. They didn’t have to do anything extravagant or much of anything at all.
Tilting her head sideways, she studied him. “Are you only saying that for my benefit?” She didn’t give him a chance to answer. “It is your birthday. We will do as you please, regardless of my feelings on the matter.”
“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” he still wasn’t sure she’d be okay with it once she heard his request.
“You are being ridiculous,” she scolded him. “Now tell me what you have in mind or I will leave.”
“Okay,” he exhaled. “I’d like you to stay with me for a while and lay with me.”
She stared at him, her face blank. “You want to cuddle?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. We already partake in cuddling. I would have assumed there was something else you’d rather be doing,” she said.
He shifted. “I know, but it isn’t for very long. Not that I’m complaining , I know you aren’t keen on touching and that’s fine. I’d just like it to last a little longer, if that’s okay.”
Wednesday contemplated on this. Then she slid her shoes off, placing them under his desk for the meantime, stopping at the foot of his bed after she’d also taken her sweater off.
“What?” He wondered if she was hesitating, if she was re-thinking it, if-
“Move over,” she said concisely.
“Oh,” he said dumbly, scooting to the side that was adjacent to the wall. Planting himself down on his side, he faced her. She was on her back--and out of her element, he could tell. She usually was when they cuddled, as she was not accustomed to it.
“Do I need to be on my side as well?”
“If you want,” he said.
She did, getting closer than he would have thought she would. So close he could see the freckles dotting her cheeks. It was at that moment Tyler’s breath was taken away, struck by just how pretty she was.
Wednesday, out of the corner of her eye, noticed his lingering stare. “What?” She said curtly. She was mildly uncomfortable by the attention, he guessed.
“Oh, nothing-”
“Don’t think I won’t cut you--birthday or not,” she warned.
He smiled. “I’m just admiring you.”
“I’d rather you admire my knife collection.”
“I’ll do that too. But seriously, you’re gorgeous, Wen,” he was delighted to see a flush creep up her cheeks, accentuated by the general paleness of her skin. His widening grin didn’t escape her.
“ What ?” Her tone was snippy.
“You’re blushing,” he said delightedly.
“That is impossible. I wouldn’t do such a thing,” she didn’t sound confident.
“Oh, but you are,” he poked her cheek.
Wednesday quickly turned over to face the other side of the door. Tyler threw his arm over her, snuggling up to her back, cheek-to-cheek. “I finally made you blush. This is definitely the best birthday ever.”
“You didn’t,” she said stubbornly. “It’s warm in here, that is all.”
“It’s warm in here?” He repeated.
“Yes.”
“Really? Because I turned it down to like sixty nine degrees earlier,” Tyler knew he had her there. “Try again, Addams.”
When she said nothing, he knew he’d won this round.
“I love you.” He received no response, no reaction. Yeah, she was irritated. Luckily, Tyler knew what to do. His remedy would either cause her to knock him out cold or break her out of her embarrassment. It was the anticipation of not knowing what would happen that made things exciting.
Chastely, he repeatedly kissed that side of her face. Wednesday was trying her hardest to pretend he wasn’t there. He had to give her props, she was a difficult one to break. “I love you. I love you. I love you ,” he mumbled in between kisses.
“Enough!” She commanded. Victory ! He grinned. “You are quite the pest today.”
“I’m the birthday boy, I get to be a pest,” he defended himself. “What’s your excuse?”
“Not that your pathetic excuse for a retort deserves a rejoinder, but clearly being your girlfriend has ruined me-- what?” She demanded when she saw how elated he suddenly looked.
“You referred to yourself as my girlfriend.”
“Am I not?” She said sarcastically.
Wednesday rarely ever said it, or that he was her boyfriend. Tyler grinned like an idiot. How could he not?
She sighed when he told her as much. “Eres un idiota.” It didn’t take a genius proficient in Spanish to know what she called him.
“But I’m yours,” he murmured, their noses brushing against each other. “All yours...”
Wednesday’s lips caressed his own, deepening the kiss little by little. Tyler felt himself melt by her initiation of affection. Breaking apart, her fingernails lightly grazed his cheekbone, her gaze so intense it made his heart beat faster. “Yes,” her eyes drifted to his forehead, leaning forward to softly kiss it. “You are mine.”
His arms snuck around her, bringing her fully into his personal space. Wednesday dropped her head on his shoulder, their legs tangling together. Tyler closed his eyes, immersed in the pleasure. This was all he’d ever wanted, and to know that she did this for him even though she had her own complicated feelings with being touched--it meant the world to him.
The minutes passed by. For a while, the two of them simply laid there, nestled in the warmth they were receiving from each other. They said nothing to each other but they didn’t have to. Simply basking in the silence was enough for them.
Tyler almost thought Wednesday had fallen asleep with how quiet she’d gotten. That is, until she made a noise of contentment.
“Is this okay?” He asked softly.
“I would have told you if it wasn’t.” She didn’t shy away from speaking her mind, but that didn’t mean Tyler wasn’t going to feel apprehensive about possibly crossing a boundary of hers.
“I know,” his words were a mumble against her hair, lips curling into a smile.
“You needn’t worry about me,” she said, her fingers trailing over his collarbone. He shivered at her touch. “I would do most things for you.”
“Just most ? Well, most people would say they would do anything for the person they loved.”
“Yes, but coming from me, that would be a lie,” she said bluntly.
“So if I was trapped in a super colorful room with unicorn wallpaper and hoards of stuffed animals like Enid’s, you’d leave me to die?” He grinned.
“Most likely.”
“I’d say you’re mean, but you’d probably take it as a compliment.”
“It’s a poor attempt at one, but a compliment nonetheless.”
“Mmm,” he said. “Do you want me to grab a blanket or are you good?”
“That isn’t necessary,” Wednesday murmured. “You are giving off enough heat to stay warm.”
He could have teasingly asked her if she was calling him hot but knew better than to try. She’d probably set him on fire and say, “Now you are.”
“I do have to ask,” she started.
“Yes?”
“As it is your birthday, I should be the one holding you, correct?” She said.
“You don’t have to.” Tyler didn’t mind in the least. Being here with her like this , it was all he needed to feel satisfied. A change of position wasn’t necessary. “I’m fine like this. Why don’t you tell me about your new chapter you’ve got going on? Have you made any progress so far?”
“It is impossible to work efficiently with all the racket Enid insists on making....” Wednesday was unhappy with that and the writer’s block she’d acquired in the last week. She thought a bit of grave digging might do the trick to snap her out of it, but she’d try it over in the neighboring town in hopes of finding a particularly intriguing corpse.
Tyler listened to her; lulled by the sound of her voice, his eyelids fluttered shut and he was sound asleep before she got the chance to tell him how she enjoyed the smell of decayed flesh.
The lights were off in the house when Donovan returned. That was odd. Tyler usually left the one over the sink on for him so the house wasn’t completely plunged into darkness by the time he got back.
“Ty?” he called, but there was no answer. His son couldn’t be asleep already. It was only after nine and on a Saturday night no less. He’d gotten off work early deliberately so he and Tyler could do something for his birthday.
Elvis ran ahead of him, right over to his water bowl.
Donovan went up the stairs, grumbling to himself that Tyler better be in his room and not out in the town with Addams without having told him first. The door to his son’s room was cracked open. Pushing it, he expected to find the two of them kissing as they often were. They couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other.
But that wasn’t what he found.
Tyler and Addams were asleep on his bed. His son was spooning the girl, his face buried in her messy hair, one arm underneath the pillow she was laying her head on and the other thrown around her waist. Addams was even smiling slightly in her sleep.
Sighing, Donovan shook his head. He supposed this was better than something else he could find them doing.
Elvis entered the room, daring to take a sniff at Addams’ face. He made a quiet whining noise.
“Ty’s sleeping,” he told the dog. “He’ll play later. Come on, let’s let them rest.”
But Elvis did not want to go. He hopped up on the bed, going behind Tyler’s legs which were bent forward, lowering his chin to rest on top of the side of one of his knees.
Donovan rolled his eyes. “Really? Fine. Just don’t expect me to join.”