Chapter Text
When Morticia awoke from the bad dream she'd just had, she was reminded that nightmares aren't always pleasurable. She was however, very glad to rouse in her husband's embrace. Both lay on their backs, his arms around her, and they'd been fondling each other's hands before falling asleep, Gomez's hands still rested on her arms. She turned around and for a millisecond debated waking him up. She remembered him once telling her to wake him up if she ever needed to. She very much wanted some comfort now.
'Gomez?' She whispered. His sleeping form remained undisturbed. Morticia tried again.
'Darling?' She asked softly. He mumbled something, but his slumber pulled him under again. She got closer to his ear and purred: 'mon cher,' and that got him waking up like she'd thrown a buck of ice water over his head.
He said something inaudible when he rubbed his head, then she heard clearly: 'Hmm?' like he was waiting for her to continue speaking even though he had trouble keeping his eyes open.
'I had a troublesome nightmare,' she said, her voice low. 'Will you hold me?'
'Naturally,' he answered quietly, tenderly putting his arms closely around her while she rested her head on his collarbone. He slowly rubbed her spine.
'Want to tell me what your dream contained?' She took a deep breath.
'I had a massive spat with Ophelia,' Morticia said. 'And I didn't remember what it was about, which angered her more. I was at my wit's end. Should I apologize? I didn't know for what. We argued back and forth. She didn't want to tell me, because she reasoned I mustn't care as much if I couldn't even call back what it was about. I absolutely couldn't recall! Then I woke up.' Gomez was silent for a moment, still stroking her back and occasionally kissed the top of her head.
'From how I know both of you, this could never happen,' he said. 'It's your mind playing tricks on you.' She sighed.
'Reasonably I know that, but the feeling in my gut remains. I'll give her a call tomorrow,' she said, sounding resolute.
'Or stop by,' Gomez suggested. She patted his cheek
'That might be even better,' she mused. 'Very wise, darling.' He nuzzled against her hair.
'Feeling more at ease now, querida?' He asked.
'Yes,' she said, canoodling closer. 'Very much so.'
--
The next day after breakfast, Morticia kissed Gomez on his cheek before departing toward her sister's house. The walk wasn't long, and it was nice sightseeing, although she thought the sun was too harsh. She'd brough her black lace parasol and sunglasses which made it bearable.
She found her sister in her backyard, tending to her own garden. Ophelia had her back to her. When Morticia came closer, she could hear her sister hum a song.
'Hello, Ophelia dear,' she said. Her sister shot up and turned towards her. Her hand over her heart.
'Sweet Morticia! Please don't ever do that again. You scared me to death! I know you'd enjoy that but give me some peace!' Morticia laughed and promised to do that. Ophelia smiled and gestured towards her cultivated flowers. Daisies, mostly, but also tulips and roses. A sweep of sand stained Ophelia's white dress.
'It has become very beautiful,' Morticia said. She knew her sister liked the colourful garden. She herself was more a fan of muted colours. She'd gotten some darker flowers from Ophelia, which she tended to very closely.
'Thank you,' Ophelia said. 'I only need some sunflower seeds, but I don't have enough time to do the whole backyard and go to the shops today. It is quite a plot of flowers I have managed to create.' She wiped some sweat from her forehead, leaving some dirt there too.
'What do you say I get you those seeds and you can continue on tending to your flowers?' Morticia suggested. Ophelia jumped up at that.
'Delightful! But first a small break for tea and biscuits!'
They sat on the terrace, staring out at the flowers. Morticia felt much better ever since coming here. Gomez was right. The way everything had turned out in her dream was unlike them, but the authenticity of it had shaken her. More than a dream had before.
When they'd finished tea Morticia walked towards the small shop area.
First she stopped at the book shop, browsing some, then she bought a nice fountain pen for Gomez. She knew he liked to sign his paper with a nice felt-tip, and this was just the one for him. Afterwards she went to the garden center.
She easily found the rack with the flower- and plant seeds, but the sunflower seeds were more hidden. She put her index finger on her lips while she scanned the sachets. It was then she heard a major ruckus on her left.
--
Gomez had asked Lurch to bring him to the garden center to buy a nice gift for Morticia. He'd soon found a cactus he was sure she'd like. He walked around with the plant in his shopping cart. He browsed around to kill some time, when he did a quick double take.
That was his wife! Here in this place, looking at a rack.
'Morticia!' He yelled, pushing the trolley away from him and running around the plants and small trees to get to her.
He grabbed her arm, which made the sunglasses she'd put on top of her hair when she went inside the building fall back over her eyes. This made him kiss her arm more frantically. She put the arm he was holding around him when he had gotten past her elbow and with her other hand she pushed her glasses back up.
'Darling!' She said, surprised. 'What are you doing here?'
'Cara mía! I am so glad to run into you here. I was buying you a gift which I'm positive you'll like. I have it-' when he looked around after kissing up to her shoulder, he found he'd lost his cart. She stroked his cheek, which made him look at her. He smiled adoringly. She looked back at him with a smitten look.
'That is very sweet of you, Gomez dear,' she uttered softly, closing her eyes in happiness when he kissed her cheek. 'I bought you a present as well.'
'Let me see!' He said eagerly, already reaching towards her bag. She put her hand over his.
'Later, darling,' she said. 'I am looking for sunflower seeds for Ophelia.' Gomez saw the seeds in an instant and put it in her hand. Then he looked at her expectantly. She checked her watch.
'You'll have to be patient, darling,' she said. 'I promised Ophelia to be back promptly so she can plant these as soon as possible. It's already past two.'
'Your watch is late,' he replied, checking his own two. 'We have time. Can I get see my treat now? No, wait,' he said. 'By Jove, I got it. When we both get home we give each other our gifts. Capital idea, if I say so myself.' She touched his cheek and smiled at him.
'Capital idea, indeed,' she said. 'See you at dinner, darling.' She kissed his jawbone before leaving.
He waved until she was out of sight after she'd paid for the sunflower seeds. Then he scratched his chin when he thought back to where he'd put the shop basket with the cactus.
--
It was well before dinnertime when the darkness set in. Gomez was in his study, signing some forms before the ink in his pen ran dry. He sighed but took it as a sign from the universe that he could stop now. He rubbed his eyes, and when he looked up he saw twilight had passed already. It was fully dark outside. He checked his watches, then got up quickly. Morticia wasn't home yet, and he didn't want her to walk home in the dark all by herself.
He was about to ring the noose for Lurch when he remembered their car was in the garage for maintenance. He groaned, not unlike their butler. He hoped his wife hadn't yet left Ophelia's home. He debated calling but thought it was quicker to march there himself. He quickly went down the stairs, got his coat, and was out the door in less than a minute.
--
Morticia and Ophelia were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn't noticed it had gotten full dark in the span of half an hour. It was Ophelia who noticed first.
'Good heavens, I missed twilight!' Morticia frowned, then looked out from the porch on which they sat as well.
'Is it dinner time yet?' She checked her watch, which made her look even more puzzled. 'It has gotten dark much too early.'
'I think the sky is overcast,' Ophelia said. She'd gotten up from the chair and walked toward the railing on the porch, looking up. The moon wasn't visible yet, but she could see some clouds drifting over.
'I think the weather is changing,' came a voice from the dark garden. Ophelia screamed. Morticia had startled as well, her eyes had grown big and her heartrate had gotten up, but when Gomez emerged from the backyard, her heart steadied. Ophelia had her hand over her heart.
'Please, can't I get a moment of rest without someone scaring me half to death?'
'Don't you think that can be really enjoyable?' Gomez asked. He'd put his hands behind his back, because he had a suspicion that comment might get him hurled over the railing back into the garden.
--
When Morticia and Gomez walked back they held hands. Gomez led her to a front garden close by.
'Look, Tish,' he said, pointing towards a bunch of flowers at the front, near the footpath. 'I spotted these when I walked here earlier.' He gestured towards the ink black flowers. Roses, dahlia's, even sunflowers. All Morticia's favourite colours.
'This is very beautiful,' she marveled, looking closer at the flowers. 'Thank you for showing them to me.'
'I notice everything you love,' he answered. 'And seeing it through your eyes makes me love it too.' She hugged him and patted his cheek.
'Then you must love yourself very much, darling.' He chuckled, then kissed her head before they walked on.
When they arrived home Lurch informed them Gomez's work had called. Gomez was clueless as to what that could entail at this hour. Dinner wasn't ready yet, so Gomez wanted to take the bull by the horns and immediately called back. He couldn't stand not knowing what was so important to be called around dinnertime.
The company didn't pick up, so he decided to ask one colleague who generally knew everything that was going on at the work floor, for better or worse.
Morticia gave Cleopatra her dinner of meat balls and decided to check on her husband after five minutes.
'I don't understand how everyone can agree on this,' she heard her husband say. 'Aren't nearly all of them married as well?' When she heard him sigh a sorrowful sigh, she stepped into the study and walked towards him. He hadn't noticed her, too caught up in the conversation.
She put her hands on his shoulders and massaged them. He put his hand on hers to tell her he appreciated her comfort.
When he ended the call, he didn't say anything at first, which was nothing like him.
She sat down on the armrest and put her arms around his neck, resting her head on his.
'I don't know where to begin,' he said, the conversation still rotating in his head. 'I don't think I have the words.'
'Why don't you start with the first thing they told you,' she suggested kindly, kissing the top of his head. He sighed again, which she took as a bad sign.
'They want us to strengthen the bonds between us and our European colleagues, and the way they want to do that is with a sort of exchange. They want each of us to go to Europe for three months, alone.' It took a moment before that sank in.
'Three months?' She echoed. He let out a deep breath at that.
'I'm not going to do that,' he said. 'And I told that immediately. I thought most of my colleagues would protest, because nearly all of them are wed. But it seems like I am an outlier here. Some have been quoted to say they like being away from their nagging spouses.'
'That is beyond my understanding,' Morticia said.
'Mine too. I can't and won't stay away from you for that long.'
'And I wouldn't want you to, darling. I'd miss you dreadfully.' He held her arm and squeezed it softly in reassurance.
'There is the official assembly tomorrow, that is what they called for. But the proposition has already leaked. No distractions for three months to focus on the job.' He was silent for a while.
'I am going to stop showing up at my job and get myself fired.'
'Darling, you can just hand in your resignation,' she countered.
'I know, but I am too much of a sniveling coward to do that.' She patted his shoulder.
During dinner Gomez was quiet. Mama looked over at her son a few times but didn't say anything. Fester was none the wiser; he kept talking, which distracted Mama.
Morticia found and held Gomez's hand under the table. He squeezed her hand gently in appreciation.
'I am going to practice some Zen-Yogi,' Gomez announced when everyone had finished their plate. Mama and Fester nodded, then each went their own way.
'Can I do something to make you feel better, darling?' Morticia asked, a note of concern in her voice. She put her arms around his middle and leaned her head against his shoulder. He rested his hand on her upper arm and softly stroked it.
'Want to join me in the drawing room?' He asked. He turned his head to smooch her temple.
'Of course,' she said. 'I'll bring my book.'
Gomez stood on his head while smoking, but he didn't feel more at ease. He couldn't stop thinking about the phone call. He heaved a big sigh when he rolled onto his back to stand up. Morticia was at his side in an instant and linked her arm through his. She felt the strain on his muscles. He needed a distraction from his misery.
'I wish I could do something for you, bubele,' she said softly. His muscles tensed even more at the word. He turned to her and looked her in the eye. She stared back. An understanding between them.
--
A couple of hours later, when they tried to get to sleep, neither of them could slumber. Gomez felt more at ease, but the nagging feeling hadn't vanished completely. He liked his job and was sad to see it go. He knew Morticia was still awake as well, as she was gingerly stroking his shoulder blades while he had his head in the crook of her neck.
'Darling,' she said. 'We completely forgot our gifts.' He shot up from the bed and looked at her, a glint in his eye. They got up and went downstairs.
Morticia gave her present to him first.
'Querida! How did you know my ink had run dry!' He exclamated when he opened to see the luxury ballpoint.
'I didn't,' she said. 'I just thought this suited you well.' He hugged her and kissed her jawline.
'Darling,' she said after a minute, patting his cheek. 'You want to give me your present?'
'Ah, yes!' He said, remembering. 'I'm sorry, my dear. I got carried away there for a moment.' She patted his shoulder in solidarity.
When he showed her the cactus he'd bought, she was awestruck.
'Taking your breath away, cara mía?'
'This is a stunning plant from my endearing husband,' she said, viewing it from all sides. He beamed at that.
'Of course,' he said, still with a big grin on his face. 'Only the best for my wonderful wife.' Her lips curled up at that.
Then she looked around and walked toward the conservatory to see where to place it. Cleopatra stretched her neck to see it better. Morticia brought the cactus closer to her pet plant.
'Where do you think the best place is, darling?' She asked Cleopatra. The plant reared its head as if in thought.
'I think the window,' Gomez answered, thinking she had been talking to him. Cleopatra reared her head again, this time in anger. She tried to hit Gomez on the head.
'Cleopatra!' Morticia scolded gently. She stroked the plant's head. 'He only thought I was talking to him. There is no need for violence, you know I don't like that.'
'I apologize, Cleopatra,' Gomez said, trying to stroke the plant as well but she wouldn't have it. 'I am a fool for thinking the window would be the best place. The conservatory is your home. I am sure you know what the best place is.' Cleopatra calmed down, and if she had eyes she would have narrowed them at him. Cleopatra wanted the cactus closer to her, and so it went.
Morticia stood back and watched the place in concentration, trying to picture it. Then she nodded in approval.
'Excellent idea, darling,' she said to the plant. Gomez pressed his lips together to keep from answering.
--
While Morticia and Gomez slept, it began snowing. At first, it drifted down gently, then the flakes began to be bigger and came down with more fervent.
In the morning, it was still coming down. After breakfast the white blanket was at calf length and still getting higher with the hour.
'Where is Kitty Kat?' Morticia asked Mama, the only one downstairs in the living room.
'Beats me,' she answered. 'I saw him outside before breakfast, haven't seen him come in.' She looked over at the conservatory. 'No wet pawprints either.' Uncle Fester came downstairs, grinning; he had some dynamite caps in his hand.
'I am going to blast the snow away to clear a path!' He announced happily.
'First we need to find Kitty, Uncle Fester,' Morticia said. 'He might still be outside.'
'I know he is,' her uncle answered. 'I just saw him when I looked through the window.'
'Oh no,' Morticia said, more to herself than to her conversation partners.
Without another word she went to get her cloak and ran outside to find her pet.
A minute or so later Gomez came downstairs, rolling his muscles after a Zen-Yogi session.
'Lovely storm,' he remarked, sitting next to Mama. Then he noticed his wife was missing.
'Is Morticia in the playroom?' He asked Uncle Fester, who had a sour look on his face.
'No,' Mama answered, glazing into her crystal ball she was cleaning.
'That silly kid is outside looking for Kitty, while I am stuck here waiting to get to blasting that snow away.' Gomez looked outside in alarm. He couldn't see the first row of graves through the white haze.
He shot up from his chair and had clearance of mind to get his coat before he also ran outside.
Morticia couldn't find Kitty Kat anywhere. She couldn't even see much in front of her. She began regretting her decision but soldiered on finding her pet cat. She was starting to feel very cold, and her cloak began soaking through to her dress.
A blur of light brown ran past her toward the house, which she took as a good sign. She was about to turn around to follow the lion when two hands grabbed her. She made a high-pitched noise in fright, before she heard her husband's voice close to her ear.
'It's me!' he hollered in her ear to drown out the voice of the wind. 'Let's go back.' He held her close while they found their way back to the house.
Inside they shivered close to the heat of the fireplace.
'Tish,' Gomez began. 'You can't just run out in weather like this. What if you'd frozen to death?'
'I'm sorry, darling,' she said. 'But I had to look for Kitty.' Gomez understood.
'Next time, ask me to join you. We can freeze to death together.' She patted his cheek.
'For a moment there I thought you were the Yeti,' she then said, thinking back to that moment.
'That would've been something,' Gomez said. 'Would you rather it be the Yeti than me?' When she didn't answer negative immediately, he looked in horror at her devious smile. His look changed from incredulous to a devilish grin.
'Tish!' She laughed when he embraced her. 'Teasing me, Mrs. Addams?' He asked close to her ear. 'You little minx.' She looked at him and smiled before planting a kiss on his jaw.
When they'd warmed up the snow had stopped, the view was breathtaking.
'We can take a walk now,' Morticia suggested. Gomez nodded.
They made it halfway past the graveyard when it all happened very quickly. They didn't know who slipped first, but a second later they both lay in a heap on the ground.
Gomez landed on top of Morticia. He scrambled to get off her, then felt a sharp pain go through his wrist. He ignored it.
'Querida! Are you all right?' Morticia lifted herself off the ground with her arms. Gomez helped her up. He had to use his other hand.
'Yes,' she said, looking around and patting the snow from her clothes. 'Are you, darling?' He was about to say yes when a sharp jolt ached through his joint. Morticia saw the pain flash across his face before he could say anything and bend over to cup some snow in her hands. Gomez thought she fell again and wanted to prevent this. The agony that went through his whole arm made him yelp in pain. Morticia quickly put the snow on his wrist and held her hands gently around it.
'You'll get cold hands,' Gomez said, looking at her fingers, which had begun to colour red.
'I'll warm them up inside,' she said. 'Let's get back.' She held his wrist delicately until they were back inside. She sat him down on the sofa in front of the roaring fireplace while she went to look for an icepack.
Gomez's wrist throbbed painfully. Whether from the injury of the sudden change in temperature he couldn't say.
He hissed when she put the cold on his joint, but it soothed as well. She put a blanket around both of them to keep them warm.
Morticia felt she was to blame. She was the one to suggest a walk after all. When Gomez looked into her big eyes, she didn't have to say it for him to see it. He put his head closer to hers and rested it against her temple. He tried to stroke her cheek with his smarting hand but was quickly reminded that that wasn't possible. He touched her jaw with his other hand at an awkward angle.
'Don't feel guilty,' he said softly. 'There probably was some ice underneath which we couldn't know about.' She closed her eyes and nodded.
She found him a sling to rest his arm and after he'd swallowed two aspirin he began to get ready for his meeting. He left immediately after lunch.