Chapter Text
Xavier Addams-Thorpe gazed lovingly at his sleeping wife. He wanted to wake her and get started with their day, but she was just too lovely to disturb. Every morning he made it a habit to wake up before her so he could watch her sleep. Thirteen years of wedded bliss had passed, and each day he had to pinch himself. Wednesday Addams finally agreed to marry him. It still didn't feel real. He thanked the universe each day that this was his life.
After packing up and moving out of New York, Wednesday and Xavier moved into their home in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains far away from civilization. Their closest neighbor was Xavier’s father and new stepmom who lived in a mobile home about fifteen minutes away.
While there had been changes throughout the years, Wednesday and Xavier were still the same as they had always been.
Wednesday devoted most of her time to her writing. So far she had written and published seven books, four of those books being part of a book series. The book series was about Wednesday’s journey to becoming the woman she is today and all the adventures she had with her friends along the way. When she wasn’t writing, she was composing pieces on her cello and tending to her menagerie of pets. After solving The Black Dahlia Murders over a decade ago, Wednesday decided to hang up her detective’s hat. Occasionally she would lend a hand here and there whenever a detective would reach out to her for help, but it wasn’t her main focus. Her main focus now was writing, tracking down local cryptids, and spending time with her husband.
Xavier still did commissioned work and attended the occasional art show with Wednesday on his arm, but he mostly painted for fun. He didn’t have to paint for money anymore now that his name was in the history books as the greatest artist of the 21st century. Now he painted for himself, Wednesday, and his friends. Like Wednesday, Xavier had many interests outside of his painting. He enjoyed gardening and growing his own food. Morticia, who delighted in having another plantsman in the family, helped him get started.
As Wednesday slept, all Xavier could think about was his undying love for her. He would lay his life down for her without a second thought. He would kill for her - had killed for her. Kill or be killed, it didn’t matter. He would gladly do either for the girl of his nightmares.
Abruptly in her unsettling way, Wednesday opened her eyes. Xavier smiled. “Good morning, mi amore,” he said.
She unfolded her arms and sat up. “Good morning,” she said.
“How did you sleep?”
“Like the dead.”
Xavier leaned forward and kissed Wednesday’s forehead. “I was thinking after breakfast we could head out and look for a few dead animals,” he said. “Then we can come back here, have lunch, and then I’ll assist you with your taxidermy. For dinner I wanted to make steak and potatoes – your favorite. Thing is making your favorite chocolate cake. How does that sound?”
Wednesday’s eyes glowed with excitement. “Your plan for the day sounds excellent, but there’s something missing.”
“Oh?” Xavier’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He had perfectly planned the day based on all of Wednesday’s favorite things. What could possibly be missing?
“It’s missing ballroom dancing after dinner and stargazing on the terrace,” she said, mentioning Xavier’s favorite things. “Tomorrow I would like to pose for you.”
He smiled wide flashing his perfect teeth and his handsome dimples. “You spoil me, you know that?”
Wednesday got out of bed and stretched her arms above her head, her sleep shirt rising to expose her flat midriff. “Will I be showering alone, or will you be accompanying me?” she asked.
“What kind of question is that?” he asked. Wednesday scowled and gave him a disapproving stare. Xavier chuckled and stood up. “I’ll get the water started.” He placed his hands on her hips and kissed her. “Happy anniversary, love.”
***
Showered and fully dressed, Wednesday made her way down the long spiral staircase to the kitchen. Her mouth watered at the smell of the dark roast brewing in the kitchen. “Good morning, Thing,” she said as she picked up her coffee cup.
Thing waved at her in greeting and tapped on his tablet. Thing retired from his position at Nevermore four years ago and decided to spend his golden years with Wednesday and Xavier.
“Anything interesting in the news today?” she asked.
Thing shook his index finger: no. The world was enjoying an unusual bout of peace for the past month, which Wednesday was positive was just the calm before the storm.
“Hey Thing!” Xavier said as he bounded into the kitchen, his hair wet and dripping on his shoulders. He fist bumped Thing before walking up to his wife and hugging her from behind. “Can you cut up an onion and some peppers so I can make us a skillet?”
“Of course,” she said. Walking out of her husband’s arms, she selected her favorite knife from the knife block and got to work. That’s how it worked in the Addams-Thorpe household: Xavier did the cooking and Wednesday did the cutting while Thing played on his tablet.
After breakfast, Wednesday and Xavier headed out into the woods in search of a fresh body, leaving Thing behind so he could watch his reality shows without Wednesday’s criticism.
They walked through the woods quietly without saying much to each other. Both were content to enjoy the fresh air and early morning light without having to fill the silence. When they did need to speak, they chose to communicate telepathically rather than interrupting the still air with their voices. About an hour had passed and all they had found was a snowshoe hare. They agreed to look for another twenty minutes before they would head back for lunch. Wednesday stooped to the ground to observe a pair of animal tracks when she heard a twig snapping nearby. Her head shot up and her body went stiff.
Did you hear that? she asked Xavier.
Yeah, it sounded like it came from over there, he said, pointing east.
Wednesday stood up and slowly walked towards the sound. Xavier stood back and watched, by now knowing better than to ask her a million questions.
It’s a girl, she said.
A girl?
Approximately thirteen years of age. Maybe younger. She’s alone and carrying a small backpack.
Are you going to try talking to her?
Perhaps you should. People - children especially – tend to run away from me.
Xavier nodded and quietly walked up to Wednesday. He peered around the tree trunk she was hiding behind and saw a little girl dressed in clothes that were much too big for her. She had long blonde hair that was almost white. She was short and her skin was as pale as Wednesday’s. The girl was standing with her back turned towards them as she looked around. She looked lost.
“Excuse me,” Xavier said, stepping out from behind the tree and dragging Wednesday with him. “Are you lost?”
The girl turned around, eyes wide and fearful, and took a step back. “Don’t come any closer,” she said. “I’m armed.”
Xavier held up his hands. “We’re not going to hurt you,” he said. “We just want to help. My name is Xavier, and this is my wife Wednesday. What’s your name?”
The girl cautiously looked between Wednesday and Xavier, not sure who was the bigger threat. The grown man twice her size or the woman holding a cooler big enough to hold a body who still hadn't blinked. “You don’t need to know that,” she said.
“Okay, fair enough,” Xavier said. “Well, Wednesday and I live around here so we’re fairly familiar with the woods. If you’re separated from your parents, we can help you find them.”
“I’m not separated from my parents. I’m running from them,” the girl said.
Xavier looked at Wednesday uneasily. She gave an uninterested shrug and nodded for him to take the reins. “Why are you running away from them?”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Do you always ask so many questions?”
“Unfortunately,” Wednesday said. Xavier frowned at her while a ghost of a smile appeared on the girl’s lips. “Now, I grow bored of this useless beating around the bush. Either you give us a clear answer or Xavier and I will go back to enjoying our Saturday afternoon while you wander aimlessly through the woods. Hopefully you find out where you are going before nightfall when the cryptids come out to play.”
There was a pregnant pause as the girl considered her options. She bit her lip and absentmindedly tugged on the ends of her long hair. “My name is Lilith,” the girl said.
Wednesday raised an eyebrow. Of belonging to the dark, she told Xavier. Lilith is the name of the feminine demon.
Sounds right up your alley.
“I’m running away from my mom,” Lilith said. “I’m trying to get out of these stupid woods so I can get into town and find a job and a new place to live.”
Alarm bells went off in Xavier’s head. “Is your mother abusive?” he asked.
Lilith shook her head. “Not physically,” she said. “It's me, her, and my stepdad and four dogs trapped inside a two-bedroom trailer. The water stopped working a few months back so I’ll let you imagine what that smells like.”
We have to help.
We can just point her towards the main road. She can figure it out from there, can’t she?
Wens.
Fine.
“Lead us to your family,” Wednesday said.
“Why? So you can give me back to the people I’m trying to run away from? No thanks,” Lilith said.
Wednesday pinched the bridge of her nose with fingers, her patience worn incredibly thin. “Would you like help or not?”
Wednesday, chill out. She’s just a kid.
Exactly. I hate children.
The sooner we call social services, the sooner we can go back to enjoying our anniversary. We just gotta get through the next hour.
This day is becoming unbearable.
Lilith watched them curiously as Wednesday and Xavier argued telepathically. “You two are weird,” she said. Then she turned around and headed in the direction she came from. “Come on, the trailer is this way.”
Wednesday sighed and lugged the cooler with her through the brush. Xavier tried taking the cooler from Wednesday’s hands only for her to slap his hand away, grumbling something about feminism. Letting out his own sigh, he kept his mouth and mind shut and followed behind Lilith.
***
Wednesday was utterly appalled when she saw the kind of living conditions Lilith had been forced to endure. The land around the trailer was littered with trash and dog poop. A broken-down car sat off to the side with its tires missing and the windshield smashed. The two garbage cans were tipped over and rummaged through by the local wildlife searching for food. Wednesday looked over at Xavier and saw he was thinking the same thing. The smell was putrid, and they weren’t even inside yet.
“This is actually pretty clean,” Lilith said. “Wait until you see the inside.”
“Wednesday, stay out here,” Xavier said. “I’ll go inside with Lilith to talk to her mother.”
Wednesday angrily dropped the cooler. “Why do I have to stay out here?”
“Because you’re not a people person and you will immediately resort to violence.”
Wednesday huffed and crossed her arms but nodded for him to go ahead. Xavier kissed her above the eyebrow and went inside with Lilith. The dogs barked wildly at their unexpected guest until Lilith offered them a treat to quiet down.
Wednesday stood outside and counted down the seconds and then the minutes as she checked out the perimeter. After ten minutes, she decided to peek through the windows to see what was taking Xavier so long. She couldn’t see Xavier or Lilith through the mountains of trash piled ceiling high. The smell from inside flowed through the cracked windows and filled Wednesday’s nostrils with decay – and not the good kind.
The screen door squeaked open and out stepped Xavier. His face was cold and solemn, eyes dark and tortured. “That bad?” Wednesday asked.
“You would have a stroke,” he said. “Her mom isn’t even awake. She’s passed out on the floor with a needle in her arm. Lilith thinks her stepdad left to go grab more beer.”
“We should alert the authorities,” Wednesday said.
Xavier nodded. “I told Lilith to pack up her stuff,” he said.
“She already had a bag packed.”
“Yeah, with a couple outfits, but that was it,” he said. “I told her to pack everything she could carry and bring it to our house.”
“What? Why our house?” Wednesday asked.
“The trailer reeks of dog piss and they have bed bugs. She needs a place to wash her clothes, take a shower, have a hot meal, and get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow we can take her to the police station.”
Wednesday leaned against the side of the trailer and immediately regretted it when her body came away covered in dirt. Groaning, she wiped it off as best as she could and glared at her husband. “Xavier, I haven’t said this to you in a while, but your savior complex is sickening.”
He rolled his eyes and helped her clean her back. “I know,” he said. “I just feel bad, okay?”
“Ready!” Lilith said as she came out of the trailer, dragging a garbage bag filled with her things behind her.
Wednesday pinched the bridge of her nose for the second time that day. “Let’s just get this over with.”
***
After dinner, Wednesday stomped up the stairs to the master bedroom and locked herself in her room leaving Thing and Xavier to clean up after dinner. She threw herself on the bed and placed a pillow over her head, screaming into it. If she hadn’t already destroyed her reproductive organs when she was a teenager, she would be carving them out tonight and feeding them to her snakes. Children were messy, loud, and tedious. She couldn’t wait to have her house and her husband back. The next time they see a strange child wandering lost in the woods, Wednesday was going to club Xavier over the head and drag him back home and lock him in her playroom.
Her nerves had just started to calm when someone knocked on her door. She got up, expecting it to be either Thing or Xavier, but was greatly disappointed when a pair of ice blue eyes stared back at her.
“Hey,” Lilith said. “Where do you keep your blankets? It’s cold as hell in this house.”
Wednesday shouldered Lilith out of the way and padded down the hall to the linen closet. Lilith trailed behind her with an air of irritation surrounding her. “You didn’t have to take me in for the night, you know,” she said. “You could have left me at the trailer and let the sheriff and social services find me.”
“Xavier is too kind to allow that,” Wednesday said.
“Look, I’m sorry for inconveniencing your night. It wasn't like I planned this.”
Wednesday took a mental step back as she opened the linen closet and sorted through an assortment of blankets. She was being childish. Xavier was right; no matter how much she hated children, she needed to cut Lilith some slack. "Today is Xavier and I’s thirteen wedding anniversary,” she said. “We had the perfect day planned so pardon me for being irritable.”
“Damn, now I feel really bad,” Lilith said. “Thirteen years though, that’s pretty good. How’d you two meet?”
Wednesday handed Lilith a black crochet blanket. “At a funeral,” she said. “He hid in his godmother’s casket, and I pushed the big red stop button before he could be cremated.”
Lilith took the blanket with a small smile. “Seeing how spooky this house is and how creepy you are, that sounds pretty fitting.”
“It took quite a bit of time and some convincing, but I am glad I chose Xavier for a husband,” she said. “I am oddly content with our life together and I would not change anything.”
“Jeez, stop gushing. You sound like a Nicholas Sparks novel,” Lilith teased.
Wednesday raised a judging eyebrow. “You read that drivel?”
Lilith’s hair tickled her cheeks as she shook her head. “Not really. I just read whatever I can get my hands on which isn’t much. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“So you like to read?”
“Oh yeah. It’s a great escape from everyday life.”
Wednesday nodded and clasped her hands together behind her back. “Follow me,” she said. Lilith followed her down the spiral staircase and down a long corridor lined with paintings of black dahlias and skulls, all done by Xavier.
“You guys are really into this dark and depressing theme, huh?” Lilith asked.
“Xavier and I have unique taste,” Wednesday said. At the end of the long hallway was a bulky door painted black. She pushed the door open, flicked on the light, and stepped aside to let Lilith walk through.
Lilith let out an awed gasp as she walked into the massive Addams-Thorpe library. Each wall had an expansive book collection from floor to ceiling. Ladders were installed so Wednesday could easily pick out any book from the top shelf. The library reminded Lilith of her favorite Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast.
“Wow, how can you afford all this?” Lilith asked.
“Xavier’s net worth increased substantially over the years. As of last year, he’s worth approximately $10 million. I’ve accrued my earnings by publishing a handful of books. My four-part book series is being adapted into a Netflix series,” Wednesday said. “However, the spell books and tomes are part of my family’s collection that was passed down to me.”
Lilith wandered over to one of the bookshelves and started perusing book titles. “You’ve got Frankenstein?” she asked.
“Mary Shelley is one of my literary heroes,” Wednesday said.
“Frankenstein is one of my favorites. You know Mary Shelley came up with the idea during a horror story writing competition with her husband and some other dude?”
“I am well aware.”
Embarrassed, Lilith turned away to hide the blush growing on her cheeks. “This collection is incredible,” she said. “I only recognize a handful of books though.”
“If you would like, you can select one book from my collection,” Wednesday said. Lilith turned to her and smiled. “Of course, I will have to approve of your selection first.”
“Really?”
“Today’s youth must be educated somehow.”
Beaming, Lilith took a step back and tried taking over a thousand books at once. “I don’t know what to pick,” she said. “What do you suggest?”
Wednesday squinted her eyes. She had every book memorized and knew exactly where to find it. The real question was, which book was she willing to part with? Finally, she reached for a hardcover copy of Fahrenheit 451. “Have you read this one?” she asked.
Lilith shook her head.
“This was written quite a long time ago, but the idea behind the story still holds up,” she said and handed the book to Lilith.
“Thanks, this means a lot.”
“Don’t get sentimental.”
Lilith scoffed. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, rolling her eyes. “My mom used to read to me every night before she went off the deep end."
“What do you mean by 'off the deep end'?” Wednesday asked.
“My dad had a heart attack when I was two. From what I heard, he wasn't the best guy in the world so it wasn't too devastating when he died. My mom cracked under the pressures of being a single mom and then she started dating my step dad. Things went downhill pretty fast. I guess also I didn't make it any easier for my mom when I started acting out."
“Why did you act out?”
Lilith shrugged. “Could be as simple as I did it for attention, or maybe it was because I was hoping someone would notice and take me away. I never really felt like I belonged there - or anywhere really,” she said. “I don't want to be anything like my mom."
“I see.” Wednesday began to look at Lilith in a different light. This girl wasn’t like other children. She was well spoken and presented herself in a way that reminded her of Xavier. The part about not feeling like she belonged reminded Wednesday of herself when she first started at Nevermore, along with not wanting to be like her mother. It was interesting for her to see herself in someone else, yet it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant feeling.
Thing scuttled into the room and gestured to Wednesday.
“Thank you, Thing,” Wednesday said, picking him up. “I will show Lilith to her room and meet Xavier in ours.”
Thing swiped his index finger and pointed towards the door.
Wednesday scrunched her nose in disgust and shook her head. “We will take care of that in the morning,” she said. “Go get some rest.” She placed him back on the floor. He waved goodnight at the two girls and went to his own room.
“That’s so cool,” Lilith said. “How do you know what he’s saying?”
“Practice,” Wednesday said. “Come. It is time for you to go to bed.”
They went back upstairs to Lilith’s room. Wednesday stood awkwardly at the door feeling too much like a parent, wondering if she was supposed to turn off the light and say something nice like sweet dreams. Thankfully, Lilith seemed to read the room and diffused the tension for her.
“You’re not going to be the monster hiding under my bed, are you?” Lilith joked.
“I prefer the closet,” Wednesday said seriously. “My body isn’t as nimble as it once was.”
Lilith laughed and tucked herself in. She rolled on to her side with the blanket pulled up to her nose. “Thanks for everything,” she said, her voice muffled through the sheets.
“If you hear someone say your name, no you didn't,” Wednesday said and turned off the lights and closed the door behind her, leaving Lilith in total darkness. She waited outside the door expecting Lilith to start crying and begging for a night light as young children. But nothing came and there were no tears.
***
Xavier was already in bed by the time Wednesday returned. He was lying on top of the blankets in just a pair of sweatpants. His arms were crossed behind his head, showing off his muscles and exposing his tattoos. Wednesday’s favorite of his tattoos was her name written in her handwriting across his chest. She had a matching tattoo of his name under her left breast. Xavier smirked when he caught her staring.
“See something you like?” he asked with a wink.
“There’s nothing about this day that I like,” she said as she walked into their closet and changed out of her clothes into her sleepwear.
“I’m sorry, Wens,” he called from the bed. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Wednesday emerged from the closet wearing her favorite silk negligee. Xavier sat up a little and licked his lips. “The child - Lilith - isn't so bad," she said, sitting down on the bed next to her husband.
Xavier pried his eyes away from her body and found her face. He gave Wednesday a look. Her body language and refusal to speak to Lilith during dinner told a completely different story. “Yeah, she’s very mature for her age,” he said. “Seems like she had to grow up pretty fast.”
“Her father is dead and her mother might as well be. She’s been essentially on her own her whole life.”
“Damn, that’s rough," he said sadly.
Wednesday linked her pinky with Xavier’s and squeezed, giving him the comfort she knew he needed. Xavier’s own upbringing wasn’t that different from Lilith’s. He still had his father and he didn’t grow up in a run down trailer in the middle of nowhere, but he was on his own from a young age and had to learn to be self-sufficient. He had nannies and assistants taking care of him, only that could never replace the love and care given to a child by their own parents.
Xavier looked at their fingers and smiled warmly. “I love you,” he said.
“I love you too,” she said. The words came out easily and naturally after years of practice. It didn’t matter how many years passed or how many times she said it, Xavier’s eyes still softened and sparkled whenever he heard her say it.
He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Tomorrow I’ll send Thing to visit my father and then we’ll have the house entirely to ourselves,” he said. “We’ll do anything you want.”
“Anything I want?” she asked, a devious gleam in her eye. Xavier nodded. “That can be quite dangerous.”
“Sounds like fun.”
Xavier’s smile made Wednesday’s heart flutter and skip a beat. She truly had a beautiful life. “Since you love to spoil me," she said as she swung one leg over Xavier and moved to straddle him, “let me spoil you.”
“Oh fuck yes.” Xavier looked like a boy on Christmas morning surrounded by a sea of presents as Wednesday removed the straps of her negligee, exposing her breasts. Being careful mindful of the sleeping child down the hall, Wednesday made love to Xavier and then fell asleep in his arms.
***
The next morning Xavier and Wednesday took Lilith to the police station to be interviewed by the social worker. Lilith requested that Wednesday stay with her as she felt most comfortable with her in the room. Xavier and Thing were surprised but sat patiently to the side while Lilith’s situation was sorted through.
“Excuse me,” Xavier said as a social worker came around the corner. The woman stopped and looked at him expectantly, taking a sip from her coffee. “What’s going to happen to her? To Lilith?”
The woman held on to her coffee cup with both hands and regarded him with a sad smile. “She will be placed in a group home while we look for another, more suitable foster family,” she said.
The woman nodded, ending the conversation, and walked away leaving Xavier and Thing feeling sorry for the girl. Thing tapped out a message on Xavier’s shoulder.
“We can’t just take her in. She’s not a stray cat,” Xavier said. “Besides, Wednesday barely wants you in the house. What makes you think she’d want to adopt Lilith?”
Thing’s knuckles shook with a sigh, and he nodded his index finger. Xavier was right: Wednesday would never allow another child in her home unless it was stuffed.
A door swung open and Wednesday stepped out. “Is everything all right?” Xavier asked.
Wednesday wrinkled her nose. “They want to place her in a group home with a bunch of other children,” she said. “She will be placed in the system and become another statistic. Her chances of greatness will be severely diminished.”
“I mean, it’s better than her living with her negligent mother, right?” Xavier said.
“Is it?”
Xavier stared at her wide eyed. Wednesday’s hostile response was completely unexpected and blindsided him. “So what do you think would be better?”
“I want to adopt her.”
“What?” Thing nearly fell off of Xavier’s shoulder in shock. “I thought you hated kids.”
“I do,” Wednesday said. “But Lilith is different. As we already established last night, she is well-spoken, mature, and not like other children. I see potential in her, and I would like to take her home with us.”
Thing clung on to Xavier’s hair and tapped frantically on his shoulder.
“Yes, I am aware a child is a major responsibility. We are financially stable and she is old enough to take care of herself,” Wednesday said. “Xavier, you said that if I ever changed my mind about children, you would consider adoption. Well I’ve changed my mind.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit on it?” Xavier asked. “I mean, it’s a pretty big commitment. Maybe we should think about it for a while and circle back.”
“I have already decided,” Wednesday said. “I believe it to be in her best interest if we were to take guardianship of her.”
Xavier stepped closer to Wednesday, searching her eyes as he did so. “You’re really serious about this,” he said.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“I feel compelled to take her under my wing,” Wednesday said.
Xavier was an expert at reading between the lines. “You care about her.”
Wednesday blinked, slowly like a cat.
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do,” he said.
Wednesday gripped his hand tightly. “Thank you.”
Xavier went to go look for the social worker and left Thing in Wednesday’s care. He looked at her for a long time, trying to read her mind. Finally she batted him away with the back of her hand, taking pleasure in the thumping sound of his body hitting the cold tile floor.
Xavier came back shortly after with the social worker following behind him. “You sure you want to do this?” he whispered to her.
“Ask me again and I will break your knuckles,” she whispered back.
He smiled and held her hand, listening closely as the social worker described the adoption process.