Chapter Text
If you asked Enid Sinclair at the start of her senior year where she was going to end up after graduation; you would have been treated to a full blown werewolf panic attack. Having only been returned to her human form and taken in by the Addams’ the winter before, fully emancipated from her family the following spring-also with the help of Wednesday’s father-Enid had no idea which college she would settle on, if she was able to go to college at all. While Wednesday on the other hand had decided on her major in 8th grade and cut her options down to NYU, Morrigan University, Trinity College and Yale by the end of their junior year. Enid however couldn’t even begin to narrow down her decision-let alone finalize it until she was sure what scholarship offers and financial aid grants were available to her.
She even said as much to Wednesday over dinner one night at the Addams home during winter break their senior year. Little did she know the matter would be resolved that very evening.
*Addams Manor, December 16th, 2026*
The family was well into their meal and had been discussing the girl’s options, Gomez and Morticia’s own Alma Mater of Blackmarsh University just outside of Edinburgh being heavily hinted at; despite neither girl having applied there. They were debating the merits and drawbacks of international schooling when Enid mentioned waiting to base her final decision on what she could afford.
Chatter stopped, cutlery stilled, even the house seemed to finally settle. No one at the table moved.
Enid hadn’t been sure what she said to elicit such a reaction and glanced around the table, panic rising in her chest. When not at school she had been living at the Addams for almost a year now after Gomez had assisted with her emancipation; and while she had grown used to the family's sudden outburst and plummeting silences she had never experienced a sudden silence like this. Slowly she slid her gaze from one family member to another.
Across the table Fester looked at her with unrestrained glee. Pugsley next to him had frozen, his fork halfway to his already full mouth. He swallowed and lowered his fork, glancing at his Uncle with a matching smile. Thing slowly walked backward to hide behind a water pitcher. Abuela Eudora had skipped dinner, stating she was needed to mediate a disagreement between the local Dryad grove and the Kelpies that lived in the lake.
Pubert-now a very proud five years old-sat on the far side of his older sister, wide curious eyes darting between her and their mother. Dying to know what was happening, but aware enough to know not to ask. And Wednesday…
Wednesday sat still as a statue to Enid’s left, gaze fixed on the centerpiece of a large roast boar. She closed her eyes, as if she could prevent what was coming through sheer force of will. She knew exactly what Enid had said.
Afford.
A dirty word in the Addams house, on a good day.
A restrictive word.
A word that strangled freedom and drowned joy.
And according to Gomez and Morticia an unacceptable word when it came to Enid Sinclair.
Morticia simply looked at Enid from the head of the table, a knowing smile gracing her features as she turned warm eyes to her husband.
Enid slowly followed her gaze to the right where Gomez was sitting at the opposite end of the table. A hand gripping his fine tailored jacket over his chest, as if in pain; his eyes filled with tears as he looked at Enid. Enid felt her stomach sink.
“I’m sorry?” Still no idea what she was apologizing for, but she hoped it was right.
Gomez’s grip on his chest tightened, a strangled gasp left his lips.
Not right!
“Mon Cherie,” Morticia warned softly. Wednesday let out a long suffering sigh next to Enid.
Gomez immediately became inconsolable.
Enid startled as the patriarch flew from his chair and threw himself to kneel at her feet, sobbing. He took both of her hands in his and began a stream of Spanish that was too advanced for Enid’s Duolingo streak to grasp.
She knew enough to understand the words “my fault,” “forgive me” and “spikes” among several terms of endearment of increasing ridiculousness that he had developed for her. None of which made any sense to explain what the hell was happening.
She tried to pull the man off his knees but he refused. Still speaking in heartbroken Spanish, tears streaming down his face.
“Darling,” Morticia called. “In English perhaps?”
Gomez took a shuddering breath and clutched Enid's hands to his chest.
“Mi Lobito Colorida,” He whispered, pain etched in his voice. “I beg your forgiveness. I throw myself on your mercy and the spiked fence of penance, I will crawl on my belly across hot coals to make amends for this most egregious slight. I would rather pluck out my eyes with Things dullest tweezers than live a single moment knowing that I have upset you. And I will never stop attempting to earn that forgiveness.”
“What?” Enid blurted out, eyes wide as she glanced at Wednesday. The Raven sat there eyes still closed in exasperation, shoulders tight. “You haven’t upset me?”
Gomez barreled on. He raised one of Enid’s hands to his lips in a paternal kiss.
“I must know, Tormenta Luminosa. What have I done to offend you so, that you would deny me the opportunity of paying for your education?”
“What?” Enid was blindsided. “Why would you pay for my education?!”
“Why would I not?!” Gomez cried.
Enid gaped looking between Morticia and her husband. “No, you both already do so much for me. You helped with my independence, I live in your house, I don’t pay any bills. I can’t expect you to pay for me to go to college too!”
“Expect is the wrong word, Mon Chu.” Morticia chimed in. “We prefer privilege.”
“You are family, and as such it is our honor,” Gomez insisted. “You deserve the finest education. Wherever you choose will be the better for having your attendance! Money is no object and if you will allow, ‘Tish and I will send you to the school of your dreams!”
“I don’t know, that’s kinda insane guys.” Enid glanced at Wednesday who had finally opened her eyes and was now watching her.
“My parents are kind of insane.” She replied evenly.
“All the best people are!” Gomez replied with a grin, his tears now dry. He squeezed the werewolf’s hand again. “But tell me, my colorful doom. Do not think of scholarships, of grants or students loads with interest rate crueler than the oldest of hexes. If Enid Sinclair could study anywhere in the world, at any institution; where does she dream of learning?”
“They’re not going to let this go, are they?” Enid asked her best friend.
“Do you remember the mini-cooper incident?”
“Oh god,” Enid paled at the memory of Gomez and Morticia refusing to let Enid purchase a used car off Craigslist for her first car. Instead flying her out to Germany to custom design a car for her birthday the previous summer. “That bad?!”
“Worse if you resist.”
“Are you sure?” Enid looked between both adults skeptically.
“Completely!”
“Of course, Darling.”
Both Morticia and Gomez answered at the same time.
“Okay.” Enid bit her lip, mind spinning through her options. Eventually her heart settled on the school she had been the most excited to apply for. The one she had researched for hours, had taken virtual tours of, the one she imagined eventually putting alumni stickers on the Mini-Cooper for.
“Morrigan University is like a dream come true.” She whispered nervously. “And I did get accepted to their Fashion Design program, The Cheéruit Institute.”
“Of course you did!” Gomez cheered. “They would be fools not to see your natural talent.”
“Will Morrigan make you happy?” Morticia asked.
“Yeah,” Enid smiled shyly back. “Like so beyond crazy-I never thought it was possible-Happy.”
“Then Morrigan it is!” Gomez shot to his feet. “Lurch fetch the champagne and cyanid. Our Lobita, is going to Morrigan University!”
Celebration erupted.
Later that night after the chaos of dinner dissolved into the calm eccentricity of evening in the Addams house. Wednesday sat at her typewriter but found her attention pulled away from her desk.
Enid lounged on the Raven’s four poster bed in bright pink pajamas, finishing the topcoat on Thing’s nails. A vibrant island against an ocean of midnight black sheets. They had spent the evening as they spent most nights. Lounging in each other’s company. Not discussing anything particular, just existing near each other.
Unable to focus on her newest revision Wednesday watched as Enid capped the polish and began cleaning up. A bolt of unease shot through her before settling like curdled milk in her stomach. There was a very real possibility she would lose this.
Enid would go to Morrigan, Wednesday would go elsewhere. Enid would make friends who shared her interests, friends who weren’t difficult to love. She would gain employment and move out of the Addams home. Wednesday would maybe see her at holidays and family gatherings, if that. Enid would grow and they would drift apart. A pack shattered by time and distance. The sun that kept Wednesday’s dark work intolerably bright, would vanish.
She would fall in love. A dark voice in the back of her head whispered. The words settled like a blade between her ribs. Wednesday felt the now familiar burn in her lungs that indicated blood welling. She clenched her jaw and bit back on the sensation. Not now, not where Enid could see.
It was when Enid stood from the bed with a languid stretch that the words Wednesday had been wanting to say since dinner finally fought their way up her throat and into existence.
“They have an acceptable literary program, as well.”
Enid froze, arms still lifted over her head; pajama shirt riding up enough to expose a strip of tan skin. She cocked her head to the side in a gesture that reminded Wednesday of her werewolf form. “Who does?”
”Morrigan. Their Literary program is well known and respected. They also offer exceptional education in Occult studies, and Outcast History, unlike most normie schools.” Wednesday tore her gaze from the exposed skin of her best friend’s hip and met piercing blue eyes. “They also allow freshmen to lodge off campus and Wyldhaven has an adequate supply of rentals walking distance to campus. And as you know, I would rather endure your k-pop beach day playlist on repeat, than endure living in a dorm again.”
Wednesday swallowed down the anxiety building her her throat, or maybe it was blood. “Morrigan was actually within my top considerations for continued education.”
Enid lowered her arms, a slow grin splitting her face; understanding dawning.
“No way,” She whispered, stepping closer. “Are you saying…?”
Wednesday felt a sharp sting in her chest at the sight of canines on full display and turned her gaze to stare out the window. She paused, swallowing hard again before continuing in a level voice.
“Our current dynamic is acceptable and I refuse to break in a new roommate. If we are to attend the same University, we could continue to be roommates…if you are amenable.”
“No way!” Enid shot across the room and wrapped her arms around the other girl, squealing in her ear, pulling her from her chair. “Oh my god this is perfect!”
“Unhand me.” Wednesday struggled to free the arms pinned to her side, though something in the back of her mind whispered this was exactly where she wanted to be.
“We’re going to be roomates again! We can go apartment hunting and pick out furniture!” Enid lowered her feet back to the ground but didn’t release the raven from her embrace. “We can make sure you have space for all your creepy little taxidermy animals and a writing corner, with all your records. And I can set up a little studio space with a machine and a drafting table. And plants!”
Enid gasped and pulled back to look her best friend in the eyes; wide grin still in place as she searched her gaze. She still hadn’t released her arms and Wednesday felt every millimeter of movement as a thumb absentmindedly stroked back and forth against the shoulder of her sleep shirt. She hated it.
No she didn’t.
“Do you really mean it?” Enid whispered. “You really want to still live together after high school? Go to college together and everything?”
Wednesday felt a dozen biting remarks dance across the tip of her tongue, but the sight of wide ernest eyes dulled her irritation.
“Yes,” She settled on instead. Quiet, sure. “I do.”
”Really? Even though I’ll be just as loud, and have fabric and stuff everywhere-like worse than I do now, and I’ll spend the next four years driving you even crazier than the last three?”
“Maybe living with you full time will be the push I need to finally reach actual Addams insanity. If so, I would be in good company.”
Enid rolled her eyes. “But you’re really sure? Because if we do this you’re probably like never going to get rid of me. Even after college.”
”If I wanted to be rid of you I wouldn’t have brought you into my home, or my family.” Wednesday tilted her head to meet bright eyes, before cutting her gaze away to study a new cobweb above the bed. “Besides, are we not a pack? I thought we were supposed to stick together.”
”Well yeah, but-!”
Wednesday’s felt her irritation spike.
“Enid.”
Sharp, calm. Final. Enid clamped her mouth shut and Wednesday took a deep breath, truly observing her friend. The other girls’ shoulders were tight, the muscles in her jaw jumped with anxiety and something uncertain swam in her eyes.
“I meant what I said.” The goth continued, calmly. “I want to live with you beyond Nevermore, and all the mess and brightness that entails. Though if you continue to question my resolve, I can’t guarantee you’ll survive to graduation.”
Wednesday watched the tension melt off the other girl, a soft smile taking over her features.
“Okay then,” Enid squeezed her shoulder and Wednesday didn’t fight as the other girl pulled her into another embrace. But this one was different. Not frantic excitement but softer, steadier. This felt less like a hug and more like Enid was cementing something as strong arms encircled her. One suntanned arm wrapped around her waist, the other across her shoulders. Wednesday felt a warm exhale against her scalp as Enid rested her face against black hair. It was warm, it was intimate, it was excruciating.
Wednesday thought about pulling back, shoving the other girl away and regaining distance before her walls fully crumbled under blonde warmth. But that phantom blade pressed deeper between her ribs at the thought, prodding at her lungs. Wednesday allowed the embrace, every instinct that she had conditioned into herself telling her to fight it. Something else telling her to succumb. Enid squeezed her waist softly, something bright flared in her chest.
Suddenly Wednesday realized the strength or height of her walls never mattered: Enid had burrowed under them a long time ago. And after a moment at war with herself, Wednesday’s own arms slowly raised to wrap around Enid’s waist. She gave the briefest tightening of her arms and in reply Enid held her tighter, warm hand stroking between her shoulder blades. A soft hum rumbled from the blonde’s chest.
Wednesday let herself be held and felt something melt away. A tightness in her muscles, the weight that constantly sat in her lungs. The sharp sensation of needles in her stomach. She both longed for and resented their absence.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when Enid finally pulled away. The blonde grinned at her before bolting through the no-longer-so-secret passage in the wall to her own room. Wednesday actually couldn’t remember the last time it had been closed. Returning a moment later with her laptop and a sketch book, apparently revitalized; all thought of sleep forgotten.
And that was how Wednesday found herself sitting again her own headboard, watching as her best friend and roomate scrolled through apartment listings in Wyldhaven, New York.
Comparing square footage, to kitchen layouts, weighing the benefit of parking spaces vs a private balcony. Making lists of prefrences, personal requirements and deal breakers for both of them. Sketching room layouts and design plans into her notebook.
She currently had open a page featuring a charming bungalow for rent on a large parcel of land, just a short walk from campus. Wednesday regarded the antique wood panels, the dark hardwood floors, a quaint breakfast nook with large windows. The massive backyard that bordered the picturesque woods, the wrap around porch shaded by towering trees, the bright, overly cheerful red door.
Like something out of one of Enid’s insipid romcoms, where the couple would end up settling after resolving some absurd misunderstanding. It was only missing a tire swing.
It was vile.
“And look,” Enid slid closer, their shoulders brushing as she clicked through the next picture; showing a small loft space looking out over the vast backyard that melted into the trees. Enid tilted her sketch pad for Wednesday to see; showing a rough outline of the loft space in dark charcoal, filled in with bookshelves, a desk by the large window, a chair in the corner, rows of shelves. “I can have the breakfast nook downstairs to keep my design stuff out of the way; and then you can have your own personal library and writing room upstairs, away from everything. We could even get black out curtains! Your own private cave of creativity where you can work on Viper or a case, or whatever your dark little heart desires. What do you think?”
Wednesday observed the sketch, eyes glancing back at the photo. It would be nice to have her own space to retreat to for work or for solitude. And Enid had done a fantastic job mapping out exactly where she would want her furniture. It was almost as if Wednesday planned the room herself. Enid even included a roughly doodled murder board.
Wednesday regarded the house again and began to think of it not as a movie prop. But as a place she and Enid might call home.
The house was old. Possibly haunted. A bonus. Antique wood panels and dark hardwood floors that likely held termites, waiting to wreak havoc. A space off the kitchen for Enid to fill with color and plants gifted from Morticia and Abuela Eudora, while she brought her designs to life under the natural light of massive windows. A backyard big enough for her to practice archery and knife throwing with enough space to keep nosey neighbors out. Picturesque woods that Enid could run free through on full moons. The wrap around porch where Wednesday could watch storms roll by with a book and cup of wormwood tea. A loft; dark, quiet, and hers. The blood red door.
It was perfect.
“It will suffice.” She said instead.
’Yeah?” Enid grinned at her.
“Yes, it has promise.” Wednesday leaned back against the headboard. “As long as you keep your technicolor shedding contained.”
”Rude,” Enid laughed; making a face at Wednesday as she flipped to a new page in her sketchbook and changed pictures on the screen to show the breakfast nook. Her pencil began scratching away.
Wednesday sat quietly and watched her roommate focus. Dark eyes drawn to the concentrated scrunch of her brow, the way dexterous fingers moved the pencil across the page, the tongue sticking out from between her canines. Bright blue eyes flicking from the photo, then back down to the notebook. Enid tilted her head just so and Wednesday found her eyes drawn to the long line of her neck and the cord of muscle there. A lock of brightly dyed blonde hair slipped from behind her ear, slightly obscuring her face; brushing against the scars on her jaw. And Wednesday felt the urge to brush the hair back, run her fingers along those marks of bravery and strength etched into the other girls skin.
She clenched her fist to suppress the urge.
Suddenly Enid’s eyes flicked up and caught hers. Wednesday felt heat crawl up her neck but didn’t look away as she usually would. Enid let out a soft laugh and settled slightly closer, tucking the hair back as she went back to work. The brush of shoulders having turned into the blonde resting fully against her side. Wednesday should hate it.
She didn’t.
And as a calm warmth filled her chest, Wednesday felt that familiar clawing work its way up her throat. She grabbed a handkerchief from her nightstand and allowed one quiet, clearing of her throat as she forced the feeling back down. Enid was so caught up in her sketch that she didn’t notice the raven calmly dab at her lips. Didn’t notice the small red drops of blood against the white linen.
Wednesday discreetly tucked the handkerchief under her pillow, eyes catching on the way Enid’s teeth caught her lower lip in concentration. The sensation spiked again.
Wednesday closed her eyes, tilting her head back to rest against the dark carved headboard. Dread and contentment waring in her chest.
Wednesday Addams was many things, a fool was not one of them and neither was she a coward. She could no longer ignore, hide from or refuse the truth.
After over a year of fighting against reality with every fiber of her being and denying with all the conviction of her dark soul; Wednesday was now positive of three unrefutable facts.
Fact 1: She is completely and irrevocably in love with her best friend and roommate: Enid Sinclair.
Fact 2: She has fallen victim to the Addams Curse.
Fact 3: The Curse is slowly killing her.