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Wednesday had searched for Enid for 254 days. 8 months spent tracking her across the Canadian wilderness, the country, and finally the entire world. It had not been easy, and yet Wednesday had never once considered giving up. Enid had given up her own humanity to save Wednesday’s life; surrendering was out of the question. So, with the help of Thing and Uncle Fester, she searched. Countless days and weeks went without rest, Wednesday scarcely remembered to eat. It had been relentless. Morticia had once tried to intervene but quickly backed down after being met with a ferocity she had never witnessed from her daughter. Wednesday had made a promise; it would be upheld, no matter what.
And 8 months later, she found her.
Wednesday stared at Enid. Her blonde hair was dull, long and knotted, and the dye that had once brightened it was gone. She was completely naked and covered in dried blood, the cleaning of which would have to wait until Enid had woken up. She remained modest by way of a blanket covering her because Wednesday had, perhaps foolishly, not brought any clothes for the other girl following her transformation from wolf back to human. Fester and Thing had gone into town to fetch precisely that, with as much colour as possible, Wednesday had requested. They were staying in a small motel on the outskirts of the Canadian wilderness and had taken Enid a short way before Fester suggested they find somewhere to lay low until she had woken up and recovered physically enough to complete the remainder of the journey home. Wednesday had agreed, of course, because Enid was her topmost priority. She sat on the edge of the bed, watching Enid sleep.
She had collected a number of new scars from her time in the wild, all of which would take time to fully heal. Upon returning to human form, Enid had collapsed in Wednesday’s arms, and she’d traced every scar with her eyes twice over. Feeling warmth fill her face at the memory, she turned away from Enid. Wednesday’s eyes caught on a small cork board resting against the wall. She’d taken it with her whilst tracking Enid, and it was covered with photos taken from trail cameras and potential werewolf migration patterns Wednesday had mapped herself. Threads of red string were strewn across the board, haphazardly put together in the darkness of her tent. Wednesday’s iron gaze softened ever so slightly. Enid was safe. She had finally come home.
There came a slight rustle beside Wednesday, and she turned to be met with Enid staring up at her, eyelids half open. Wednesday froze, staring back at the other girl.
“Wednesday...?” Enid mutters softly, still coming to. And then, “Wednesday?!” She shoots up in an instant, now wide awake. "Enid." Wednesday responds, the tremble in her voice betraying her. The blonde’s eyes well up with tears and she lets out a breathy laugh. Then she smiles, and Wednesday gets to see the smile that has been haunting her nightmares for months. She suddenly reaches forward and envelops Enid in her arms, holding her like she might leave again, and Enid begins to sob, wrapping her own arms around Wednesday. The shorter girl thinks she might also be crying, but she’s too busy clinging onto Enid like her life depends on it to care. She has finally come home. They want to stay like this forever, but eventually Enid’s crying comes to a stop.
“You found me.” She whispers, so softly that if anybody else was in the room, they wouldn’t have heard it. Wednesday finally pulls away from Enid and looks at her. “Of course I did. An Addams does not break a promise.” Enid laughs again, then looks down at her hands. Her face drops.
“Omg ew, am I covered in blood right now?” Enid says, looking back up at Wednesday, who gives her a small nod. She stands up and moves over to the blonde’s side of the bed. “Come, there is a bath in this apartment. We can get you clean.” Wednesday offers her a hand, which Enid dutifully takes. She shuffles off the bed, wincing as the new scars fill her with a dull throb. Wednesday slowly leads Enid to the bathroom, never letting go of her hand.
The room is steadily overcome with steam, radiating off the warm water filling up the bath. Enid, resting against the cool and marble tile lined wall, blushes slightly, suddenly aware of how naked she is in front of Wednesday. The blonde looks up at her, occupied with preparing the bath. It’s been so long since Enid’s had laid eyes on the other girl, countless nights spent dreaming of the day that Wednesday would come and save her. She keeps staring until eventually the water stops and Wednesday turns to meet her gaze, eyes softening slightly. “The bath is ready.” Wednesday announces. “Do you require assistance?”
Enid attempts to raise herself off the floor, but she falters and squeezes her eyes shut to drown out the pain. Wednesday is beside her in an instant, who slowly helps Enid up and into the water. Once her upper body is submerged, Enid lets out a deep sigh, soothed by the warmth. A ghost of a smile appears on Wednesday’s lips, and she turns to leave.
“Wait,” Enid says suddenly, and Wednesday swivels back around, eyebrows raised by an inch. “When was the last time you let yourself unwind?”
“I do not unwind, Enid. One mustn’t let their guard down.” Wednesday answers, and Enid narrows her eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant. When was the last time you prioritized yourself?”
Wednesday stops, genuinely considering this. She’d spent quite some time neglecting herself in favor of searching for Enid, and it showed in her appearance. Her hair, normally tied into two neat braids, was significantly more unkempt than usual. Her clothes were dirty and she smelt vaguely of pine, but it would’ve assuredly been a much stronger scent to the blonde. Enid sighs, Wednesday’s vacant stare and lack of an immediate response an answer enough.
It’s quiet for a moment. Then Enid says, softly, “Would you...like to join me? There’s enough room.” She draws her legs towards her chest and stares down into the water. Wednesday feels her face flush, but she can’t bring herself to look away from the blonde. Another moment passes in silence.
“That could prove to be...beneficial.” Wednesday says finally. “I suppose you are right. I...haven’t prioritized my own wellbeing in some time.” Slowly, Wednesday undoes her braids, removes her clothes and climbs into the bath, facing the other girl. Enid smiles, and Wednesday, impossibly, gives her a small one of her own. A comfortable silence falls over the two for a while, both content to rest in the warmth. Wednesday closes her eyes and breathes a soft sigh of relief, having forgotten what it was like to take care of herself. Enid’s scars no longer hurt, her werewolf abilities quickening the healing process.
“How did you find me?” Enid says after a while, and Wednesday opens her eyes to tentatively gaze at the other girl, musing. Her focus shifts from Enid’s face to the scar that abuts her neck. Enid’s smile falters for a brief moment and Wednesday has to suppress a small sob.
“I had been searching for you for 8 months.” Wednesday starts, and Enid’s breath catches. “I did not have much to work with, but it was still enough to pinpoint your average whereabouts. I followed you across the Canadian Wilderness, then further.” Wednesday stops and makes a small noise that Enid recognizes as her attempt at a laugh. “I even followed you across France at one point.” It’s Enid’s turn to laugh now, a bright and beautiful sound that makes Wednesday feel faint. “Holy shit, really? France?”
Wednesday nods. “Indeed. Despite my success in following you, I had failed to encounter you in person. I had failed, that was, until I managed to intercept you while following a path that was a rough estimate of where you were travelling next. Luck, I suppose.” Enid was watching Wednesday almost breathlessly, her chest slowly rising and falling. “And my wolf...she...?” Enid trails off, desperately waiting for her to continue. Wednesday tilts her head upwards.
“From the moment you saw me, you were docile. You did not move as I approached you. When I was in close proximity to you I pressed a hand to your muzzle. Still, you did not move. And...” Wednesday stares into the overhead ceiling light. Enid blinks a few times, letting out a short breath. “And...?” She echoes.
Wednesday moves her head down and gazes directly into Enid’s eyes. “And I asked you to come back to me.” Her voice breaks slightly and she looks down into the water, feeling the weight of the blonde’s eyes. Enid draws in a quick breath and her expression softens. She’s never seen Wednesday like this, never seen her this vulnerable and emotional.
“It was a fruitless attempt, I thought.” Wednesday suddenly continues. “Useless words that I knew would do nothing. I hoped they would anyway.” She’s still staring at the water. Enid feels like there’s butterflies in her stomach, but she still can’t bring herself to look away. “That was when you began to shift. I almost couldn’t believe it, and yet, within mere moments you had collapsed into my arms a human.” Wednesday shifts her focus back to Enid. “That is everything, up until now.” She says softly.
Enid stares at her. It doesn’t feel like she’s breathing anymore, lost in a kind of trance. Wednesday’s eyes feel more alive than they ever have, rapidly flicking between Enid’s face and distant corners of the room. She huffs and lowers more of her upper body underwater. “I have yet to discover what prompted your detransformation. It bothers me significantly.” She admits, and Enid lets out a small laugh.
Wednesday raises herself out of the water. “What’s so funny, Sinclair?” She’s suddenly stoic, eyes narrowed by a margin. Enid hesitates for a second, before she blushes and runs a hand through her hair. “I think it’s...because you’re my pack...Wednesday.” It comes out quieter than she’d imagined, but Wednesday hears it all the same.
Her expression softens, the stoic look immediately gone. She feels faint again. Wednesday thinks Enid might be the most beautiful person she’s ever laid eyes on. Wednesday knows that she will never see someone more beautiful because she’s already seen Enid. Wednesday has seen every shade of her, all of them radiant and bright. What she once might have called nauseating can now only be described as something that makes her so dizzy she cannot think straight. There are so many things that Wednesday could say to Enid, and there are so many ways she could say it. She cannot string together anything that perfectly captures what she feels when she looks at her. So, she says the next 8 words that appear in her head.
“Enid Sinclair, I am in love with you.”
Enid blinks. Her mouth is slightly ajar; fingers tangled in hair suddenly frozen. A few seconds pass. Then a couple more. Wednesday has always appreciated silence, but this feels agonizing, and not in the good way. Enid moves her hand from her hair and back down to beside torso, and a smile appears on her face. Both girls stare at each other for a moment before surging forward at the same time, pressing their lips together. Enid wraps her arms around Wednesday’s waist and pulls her closer, while the dark-haired girl does the same, awkwardly shifting around in the bathtub. They pull apart after a couple of seconds, and Enid lets out a breathy laugh. She looks at the other girl and smiles, wider and brighter than she ever has, and Wednesday thinks she might die.
“Wednesday Addams, I’m in love with you, too.”
Wednesday reaches out a hand, and Enid meets it with her own, intertwining their fingers. Both fall silent, gazing into each other’s eyes with an overwhelming feeling of content. Eventually, the silence comes to an end.
“Okay, now that that’s done, can we please clean this blood off? It’s seriously starting to gross me out and I am staaaarving!!” Enid groans and Wednesday smiles slightly. “Alright, hold still while I scrub it off.”
Enid does not hold still. Wednesday never really expected her to. They emerge from the bathroom almost half an hour later, and Enid – now completely free of blood – finds a fresh pair of clothes to change into waiting for her. She collapses onto their bed, still tired from her time as a wolf. Wednesdays supposes that joining her would be an adequate way to spend the rest of the night. So she does.