Chapter Text
At five years old, Wednesday was already fiercely independent. She insisted on braiding and caring for her own hair, Morticia only permitted to assist when she was physically ill and unable to do it herself. But because of that fierce independence, Wednesday did not interact with other children, claiming most were idiots and beneath her. At least until she met a certain blonde werewolf.
Morticia insisted Wednesday accompany her to the park for some fresh air and indirect socialisation, to which Wednesday reluctantly agreed to, only after a small bribe of her favourite licorice ice cream afterwards. Wednesday entered into the park begrudgingly holding Morticia’s hand, at least that’s what she claimed, despite being inwardly shy and nervous about the rambunctious children running around chaotically. She carefully surveyed the children, categorising them by level of threat and intrigue, until her eyes landed on a small blonde girl wearing blindingly bright colours.
Letting go of Morticia’s hand, Wednesday slowly approached the little girl, observing from afar as the blonde watched the other kids playing from the shade of a nearby tree.
“Hi,” she greeted with a bright smile, almost making Wednesday blink in surprise. “I’m Enid. What’s your name?”
“Wednesday.”
“Like the day of the week,” Enid confirmed, shifting slightly to better face Wednesday. “That’s really cool.”
“Why are you here?” Wednesday asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
“O-oh…” Enid murmured, fiddling with her fingers until small claws grew from her nailbeds, the sharp points pricking her legs as she tried to hide them. “Ow!”
“Are you injured?” Wednesday asked, curious and confused by her own concern for someone she had only just met, getting closer in an attempt to check the blonde.
“It’s nothing. Just a scratch,” Enid replied, trying to hide her claws. “You don’t have to stay. No one ever does once they see.”
“Why?”
Enid shrugged, sniffling as she tried to keep the welling tears at bay.
“They’re scared of me. They think just because I have claws that I’ll hurt them. O-or they make fun of me,” Enid continued, her breathing shaking with hiccuping sobs as the tears rolled freely down her face, trying to swipe them away with the heels of her palms without scratching herself. Wednesday regarded her for a few moments, unsure how to process this information or situation, before her feet brought her closer regardless. She knelt down on the grass beside the crying girl, pulling out a black monogrammed handkerchief, holding it out in offering.
“I am not afraid,” she said simply, waiting patiently for Enid to take it before sitting down on the grass beside the blonde, while still maintaining her personal space. Enid looked at Wednesday with shocked, eyes wide, claws slowly retracting as silent tears continued to roll down her cheeks. When she had composed herself more, Enid used the offered handkerchief and dried her face, holding it back out to Wednesday with a shy smile.
“Clearly you are an Outcast of some description,” Wednesday stated plainly, waiting for Enid to provide the information.
“Yeah. Werewolf. Or at least I’m supposed to be,” Enid replied, peaking Wednesday’s interest.
“Explain.”
“My brothers all wolfed out, sorry, transformed, when they were like three or four. But I’m nearly six now and I still haven’t.”
“At what age do werewolf children on average ‘wolf out’, as you put it?” Wednesday asked, turning slightly to better face the nervous blonde.
“My brothers were earlier than most, so I think my mum believes I’m supposed to have by now. She gives me this look every full moon. Like she’s waiting, and then she’s just disappointed. I think she’s mad at me I haven’t yet,” Enid replied, sniffling again, wiping under her nose with her sleeve.
“That is not what I asked,” Wednesday replied calmly.
“Between five and ten, I think. At least that’s what dad tells me.”
“Then you are still within the range of average, and adding unnecessary pressure is unfair,” she replied, her hands fisting before smoothing them along her black dress.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Enid asked, resting a hand closer to Wednesday and leaning her weight on it, ever so slightly invading her personal space.
“Being normal is overrated. Unique is far more interesting,” Wednesday replied simply. “May I see your claws?”
“Wait, you’re not scared of them?” Enid asked, eyes wide in surprise, Wednesday shaking her head. “No one’s ever asked me before,” she continued, meeting Wednesday’s eyes and finding not even a spec of judgement, only curiosity. A tiny, nervous smile quirked in the corners of Enid’s mouth as she held out her hands and extended her claws, Wednesday’s pupils widening subtly with intrigue as she visually inspected them.
“Fasinating,” she marvelled, shifting closer to better inspect her claws. “Turn your hands.” Enid did so, showing the curved undersides of her claws, deceptively thin for something so strong and deadly. “Have you tested their strength?”
“You mean like, have I clawed anything?”
“Yes.”
“Not intentionally.” Wednesday hummed thoughtfully, standing up and walking over to the tree, Enid silently following. Wednesday pointed to the tough bark, Enid cocking her head to the side in a way that made Wednesday’s stomach flip slightly. “You want me to claw the tree?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, Wednesday simply nodding. Rolling her eyes, Enid squared up in a strong stance and raised her hand, bringing her claws decisively down across the bark in a powerful arc. Wednesday watched as the wood gave way to her claws like it was nothing, leaving deep scars and sending flecks of bark and splinters flying.
“Fangs?” Wednesday asked, blinking once to recentre her thoughts, leaning in slightly to try and inspect the blonde’s teeth.
“Yeah, I lost my baby fangs last year. My adult ones just came in,” she grinned, showing off her more pronounced canines, now understanding why some children were put off by Enid's smile.
“Do they change as well?”
“When I’m stressed. They get a little longer,” Enid clarified, licking her tongue over one of her fangs.
“You are my first werewolf. My investigation must be thorough,” Wednesday explained. Enid giggled, making Wednesday’s eyes snap up, staring into the wolf’s soft blue eyes.
“You’re weird,” she said with a friendly smile, before continuing with a conspiratorial whisper. “I like that.”
Wednesday returned regularly to the park without complaint, searching for Enid each time, silently disappointed when she was absent, moody and sullen for the rest of the day. After a week of meeting up at the park, Morticia exchanged contact information with Enid’s mother, Esther, and arranged for a playdate at the manor. Esther was somewhat reluctant, agreeing to a supervised playdate at first, Wednesday proudly showing Enid her pet scorpion. Much to Esther’s horror.
Enid was apprehensive of Nero, but appreciated that Wednesday liked him, getting little butterflies in her stomach when she watched her new friend interacting with her pet. Wednesday explained that she took him for walks, wanting him to explore and stretch his legs beyond his enclosure, which Enid thought was incredibly endearing as she watched the braided girl carefully attach his tiny harness.
“Would you like to accompany me for a walk?” Wednesday asked, Enid smiling and nodding. “Mother, we are taking Nero for a walk,” Wednesday informed her mother, walking with Enid out the front door while Esther sputtered and went to go after them.
“They are only going around the block. They will be fine,” Morticia assured her, the werewolf mother reluctantly staying behind.
The girls walked side by side out the front gates and towards the park, slowly making a loop around the block, Enid watching with interest as Nero skittered along the footpath.
“He enjoys the sun on his exoskeleton,” Wednesday murmured, Enid closing her eyes, equally enjoying the sun on her face.
“Don’t blame him. It’s nice today,” she agreed with a content hum, rounding the corner towards the park. As they reached the ice cream store across the street from the park, the girls were suddenly surrounded by a group of young boys who grabbed them, Wednesday dropping Nero’s leash in surprise. “Let go!” Enid screamed, thrashing around and trying to get free of them.
“No!” Wednesday cried out, watching as Nero walked towards the edge of the sidewalk and onto the street. “Please! NO!” Wednesday screamed, watching helplessly as one of the bullies took off at speed on their bike, a sickening crunch solidifying her greatest fear.
“Stop it!” Enid growled, claws and fangs extending as she shrugged off the two boys holding her, slashing one of them across the thigh and biting the other’s hand. She spat out the blood before rushing over to Wednesday, who remained frozen as she helplessly heard the repeated crunch of her beloved scorpion as the bully cackled menacingly. Enid looked at what was left of the once proud and loved pet, a feral fury bubbling up and overtaking her as she lunged at the boy on his bike, knocking him onto the street with a furious growl. Snarling and gnashing her teeth, Enid’s eyes glowed a luminous blue, retracting her claws as she raised a balled fist and punched him hard in the face.
Shoving him again in warning for good measure, Enid scrambled off him and carefully scooped up as much of Nero as she could, the other boys turning tail and running as she approached. Wednesday stood there silently, shaking as tears welled in her eyes, the blonde wolf silently taking Wednesday’s hand in hers and walking them back to the manor. Enid didn’t say anything for the simple fact that nothing she could say would change what happened, instead focusing on getting them both back safely, where Wednesday could feel safe and give Nero the burial he deserved.
When they walked up the driveway, Morticia’s smile instantly fell when she saw her daughter, the braided girl numbly walking to the graveyard. Enid’s hand never left Wednesday’s, giving it gentle reassuring squeezes as they slowly walked up the hill.
“Oh… Wednesday…” Morticia murmured sadly, her hand covering her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.
“Will you be able to watch Enid? I need to go pick up my boys and take them to their afternoon activities,” Esther asked, checking her phone and sending off a message.
“Yes, of course. And she is welcome to stay the night if you wish,” Morticia offered, suspecting that separating the girls might prove difficult after today’s unfortunate events.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks,” she replied, heading down the front steps towards the car, starting it and driving off without a word to her own daughter. Morticia disappeared inside, just seeing Wednesday picking up a shovel more than twice her size on the way to the graveyard, her daughter making it to the plot Wednesday had picked out when she had first been given Nero on her third birthday.
Wednesday didn’t say anything, simply let go of Enid’s hand and started digging, the blonde awkwardly standing to the side with Nero’s remains cradled in her hands. Her heart ached seeing her friend roughly digging into the firm soil, silent tears rolling down Wednesday’s face in wet trails, shaking off her chin with the force of her digging. Enid swallowed hard as she simply stood there, Wednesday continuing to dig until a suitable size grave was dug, not meeting Enid’s eyes as she dropped the shovel to the ground and walked over to her. Straightening up, Enid knew the gravity of this moment, even as someone so young. When Wednesday’s hands were cupped under her own, Enid carefully placed Nero’s remains in Wednesday’s trembling hands, tenderly cupping them and stroking her little thumbs on the outsides of Wednesday’s hands.
She watched as Wednesday walked back to the mouth of the grave, lowering herself to her knees, holding his lifeless body one last time with a whimpered sob before carefully placing him into the fresh soil.
“Goodbye, Nero,” she whispered, running her fingertips over his exoskeleton one last time as more tears rolled down her cheeks with a faint whimper, collecting a handful of dirt and placing it over him with a haunting finality. Enid rounded the back of the headstone and knelt beside Wednesday, helping bury his body, not commenting on the streaming tears on her new friend’s face, nor the hiccuped sobs coming from her. Morticia quietly approached, resting a comforting hand on Wednesday’s shoulder before kneeling down beside the freshly covered grave, holding out a freshly cut black dahlia to her. Wednesday took it, leaning forward and threading the stem into the carved tail of Nero’s headstone.
Morticia rested a light hand on Wednesday’s back, the small girl’s composure finally crumbling as she turned into her mother’s side and broke, the tall woman scooping her up and hugging her close as Wednesday sobbed heartbrokenly. Unsure what to do, tears welling in her own eyes as her bottom lip wobbled, sniffling as a few tears finally slipped free. Morticia shifted Wednesday into one arm, holding out the other to Enid, the blonde hurrying over and wrapping her arms around Morticia’s side as she too cried.
They stayed there for several minutes, the Addams mother letting the five year olds cry out their feelings before scooping up their tired bodies onto a hip each and carrying them inside the manor. She carried them up the stairs into Wednesday’s room, carefully laying them on the bed side by side before taking off their shoes.
“I will be right back after I check on Pugsley,” Morticia murmured, cupping Wednesday’s cheek and lightly pressing a kiss to her forehead. She quietly left the room, leaving the two exhausted girls on Wednesday’s black bedsheets with dirty knees and wet faces.
“Wednesday?” Enid whispered, rolling onto her side. “Can I hug you?” she asked softly, carefully holding out a hand in offering, the darker girl wordlessly rolling over and curling into Enid’s chest. The little blonde wrapped her arms tightly around her, rubbing her hand along the expanse of her back, tucking Wednesday’s head under her chin. Enid felt totally helpless for what to do, whining softly as Wednesday continued to cry against her, resting her cheek against the top of Wednesday’s head. Enid started to feel a rattling in Wednesday’s ribs as she breathed, then heard her starting to wheeze, pulling back to see her entire face breaking out in hives and her lips starting to turn blue.
“HELP!” Enid screamed urgently, too panicked to realise that letting go of Wednesday would be better, holding her tighter as she screamed again for Morticia. The tall, elegant woman came rushing in, Gomez with Pubert in his arms at her side. “She’s blue!” Enid panicked, starting to hyperventilate in her panic.
Morticia rushed to Wednesday’s bedside table, wrenching the draw open and taking out what looked like a hand sized cylindrical tube pen? Whatever it was, Enid wasn’t familiar with it, and watched with horror as Morticia took it out of its protective casing, popped off the cap and violently jabbed the bright end into Wednesday’s leg. She held it there for several seconds, slowly pulling back and returning the used device into its plastic tube container.
“Gomez, get the car,” she said urgently, grabbing an extra pen before scooping Wednesday’s limp body into her arms. “Come on, Enid.” The little blonde followed after her with a nervous whine.
“What’s wrong with her?” she asked, running to keep pace with Morticia’s fast long strides.
“Wednesday needs the hospital. She’s allergic to colour. Specifically, unnatural dyes,” Morticia explained, climbing into the car with Wednesday across her lap, her breathing still laboured but slightly easier.
“This is my fault?” Enid asked, choking up and sobbing guiltily.
“You didn’t know, darling,” Morticia soothed gently. “What are you wearing beneath your coat?”
“A-a white shirt?” Enid replied, unsure.
“Take off your jacket and come here,” she murmured, Enid doing her best to shrug off her pink jacket before snuggling close to Morticia, climbing onto her lap and wrapping her arms around Wednesday.
“I’m so sorry, Wednesday,” she whispered, whining and whimpering against the back of her neck as she cried the entire drive to the hospital, the wheezing girl resting her hand weakly on top of Enid’s. The blonde outright refused to let go, Morticia carrying both girls as they rushed into the emergency room, a nurse taking in Wednesday’s gasping and rash before immediately getting her into one of the bays after Morticia informed them what happened.
“Anaphylaxis, urticaria, and dermatitis. One pen of epinephrine administered en route,” the admissions nurse informed the doctors, Enid trembling as she remained frozen in Morticia’s arms, the mother quietly shushing her as they walked back out to the waiting area.
“They need to do their job, darling. Wednesday will be alright,” she soothed as Enid broke into a fresh wave of tears, hiding her face in the tall woman’s neck, guilt still gnawing at her insides.
“It’s all my fault. This is why I can’t have friends. They just get hurt,” Enid whimpered, snivelling against Morticia’s black dress, the Addams mother unconcerned it was now covered in tears and snot.
“No no no, Enid. This was an accident. A very unfortunate accident,” Morticia murmured softly, continuing to rub her hand over Enid’s back, the little blonde’s cheek resting against Morticia’s chest as she slowly but surely calmed down. “¿Mi amor? Would you be so kind and get some replacement clothes for Enid?”
“But of course, mi corazón,” Gomez agreed, standing up with Pugsley in his arms.
“¿Adónde vamos, papá? (Where are we going, dad?)” Pugsley asked, tapping at his father’s chest to get his attention.
“Para comprar ropa para la lobita rubia (To buy clothes for the little blonde wolf),” Gomez replied fluidly. “Vamos, hijo mío (Come on, my boy).”
“Enid?” Morticia called softly a few minutes after Gomez had left, the little blonde humming in acknowledgement, reluctant to meet her gaze. “What did you mean when you mentioned friends?” she asked gently, Enid whining again as she gripped fistfuls of Morticia’s dress.
“People are scared of me. Be-because I’m dangerous. I don’t mean to be, but they always get hurt or run away. And the only friend I have… She’s gonna die because of me,” Enid swallowed thickly, desperately trying to hold back tears as Morticia ran her fingers through Enid’s bright hair.
“Wednesday will be fine, Enid,” she assured her, hugging her a little closer, the blonde whining again as she nuzzled in closer against Morticia’s neck. “And you know that it is not your fault you haven’t had the best luck with making friends, sweetheart, right?”
“Mum says it is. That I should be better and control myself. If I did, then maybe people would stick around,” she continued, fresh silent tears rolling down her flushed cheeks, Morticia’s heart breaking for the broken five year old on her lap.
“Oh, my darling little wolf…” she whispered, at a loss for what to say as she carefully sat Enid back, cradling her face in her hands and brushing the tears from her cheeks with a gentle touch. “May I give you a kiss, sweetheart?” she asked, seeing a flicker of nervous but deep need in her bright blue eyes. “Here, and here,” she continued, pointing with her finger to Enid’s forehead and cheek. Bottom lip trembling, Enid nodded, closing her eyes as Morticia leant forward and pressed a light kiss to her forehead first, then the apple of her cheek.
“More?” Enid asked, nervous claws digging into the fabric of her dress and scratching the skin beneath, Morticia ignoring it as she pressed her lips to the other cheek and Enid’s temple.
“Is that better, sweet one?”
“Mmmhmm,” Enid hummed, nuzzling back under Morticia’s chin with a long, relaxed exhale, feeling the tension sap out of her little body.
“Do you not receive affection at home?”
“Daddy gives me kisses like that, but not mum. She says I’m a big girl now and don’t need them. Or that I haven’t been good enough,” Enid replied honestly, Morticia fighting back tears of horror for the treatment of such a sweet and kind child.
“If you like, I am more than happy to give you affection. My Wednesday does not care for it, but my heart is more than big enough to hold you in it, should you wish it,” she offered, almost wishing she could whisk the young wolf away and show her what the meaning of familial love truly is.
“But I didn’t do anything.”
“And you don’t have to, Enid. Love and affection do not come with conditions.”
“Really?” Enid asked apprehensively. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. You need only say the word, and you will have it.”
“Ca-can you keep holding me?” Enid asked, unsure if this was okay to ask.
“Until you want me to let go,” Morticia assured her, pressing a kiss to the crown of her golden head.
It was over an hour until they came to get the Addams family and Enid, Morticia having offered to help her get dressed when Gomez returned with the newly acquired black cotton pants and white cotton shirt and a black and white checkered knit woolen jumper. The group was led through the pediatric ward and into a room covered in colour, sitting stark against the sterile white hospital sheets, heart monitor beeping softly in the background.
Wednesday was hooked up to a ventilator with a tube in her mouth, her airway needing to rest and recover after being so inflamed and deprived of oxygen. Enid swallowed hard as she walked up to the bed, holding Morticia’s hand, the tall woman carefully lifting her up and onto the bed beside Wednesday.
“She’s alright, darling. Just resting now,” Morticia soothed, smoothing Enid’s hair back from her face.
“Is it okay if I hug her now?” she asked, unsure.
“I think she would like that,” Morticia agreed, watching as Enid carefully crawled closer to Wednesday and curled into her side with her head resting on the dip of her shoulder.
“I promise I won’t ever let that happen again.” Enid was surprised to feel a hand resting on her back, surprising the blonde into pulling back, meeting Wednesday’s soft brown eyes. She moved her open hand in a pinching motion over her face, drawing it away as her fingers pressed together before pressing her fingers to the ridges of her palm and curling her thumb below her nails. Enid didn’t recognise the motion, but Morticia stepped forward with a soft smile, waving her hand in Wednesday’s peripheral vision before moving her hands in what Enid could only assume was communication.
“What are you doing?”
“Sign language,” Morticia replied, doing the same sign Wednesday had before.
“What’s that one?” Enid asked, completely lost.
“Your name, darling.”
“But it doesn’t look like my name. I think I learnt how to spell it at school,” she replied, awkwardly finger spelling E-N-I-D slowly.
“Yes, but Wednesday has given you a name in sign language. It’s the sign for Wolf ending with the letter E,” Morticia explained, showing it to Enid again much slower, the blonde repeating it carefully. “Very good,” she praised, Enid beaming from the praise. “Wednesday’s name is like this,” she explained, demonstrating a W with the ring, middle and pointer finger facing knuckles out.
The sun dipped low to the horizon before Wednesday was stable enough to be released, her parents informed to look out for a delayed secondary reaction, and which topical treatment to use to help with her skin issues. Not long after walking in the front door, Morticia whisked Wednesday away and helped her daughter out of her clothes, drawing her an oatmeal bath to help soothe her itchy skin. Enid tried to busy herself with playing with little Pugsley, surprised the three year old was able to give as good as he got for a Normie child.
Wednesday came down later, braids wet and rebraided, Enid’s head perking up the moment she heard her walking down the stairs.
“Enid,” Wednesday murmured, surprising her mother when she took Enid’s hands in hers, squeezing them gently. “I apologise for scaring you. I should have told you about my allergy.”
“No, I’m sorry I was the reason you were in the hospital,” Enid insisted.
“It was not your fault. I… I knew what would happen when I agreed to the hug,” Wednesday explained guiltily, avoiding Enid’s gaze.
“Wednesday! Why?! You could have died, and that still would have still been my fault,” Enid insisted, cheeks flushed with emotion, seeing the unfiltered pain and sadness in Wednesday’s eyes, softening slightly. “I know you are sad, but that’s still not fair. Y-you… You’re my only friend, Wednesday,” Enid swallowed. “And you’re not allowed to leave like that. Promise?”
“I promise,” Wednesday agreed.
