Once again Gomez found himself standing in the kitchen, only this time he was chopping up salamanders for dinner. Mama was bustling about the kitchen getting everything ready, only acknowledging him when she needed a new task done. Gomez knew now that something was terribly wrong, and his family was not just tormenting him for fun. Edgar had introduced Mama as his Mama, Morticia was cordial but aloof, and the children… The children were not his.
Gomez was briefly introduced to them before they put on a show for Edgar and Morticia. Their ages matched those of Wednesday and Pugsley, but his children were gone. Instead there was a little girl with raven braids named Thorn and her mischievous brother Ivan. There was no denying their parentage. Ivan looked like a miniature version of Edgar except for his blue eyes, and little Thorn was the doll like version of Morticia except for the faint mixture of features from her father. Shocked, Gomez felt like he had been hit by a train. It was one thing not to understand what was happening, but his entire life was stolen from him. His family, his reason for living was not his. Sitting in his place was a man named Edgar. It was Edgar that Eudora called son. It was Edgar that married Morticia, and fathered their children. Edgar was an Addams, not Gomez. Gomez didn't know what he was anymore.
"Good, you left the eyes!" Mama complimented. While he had her attention, he decided to ask her what he could in an attempt to figure out what happened to him.
"Mrs. Addams,"
"Don't call me that. I haven't been Mrs. Addams for a long time. Just call me Mama like everyone else." Her casual tone put him at ease.
"Mama, can I ask you about a potion?"
She stopped what she was doing and looked at him with a wide smile. "Ask away."
"Can a potion change your life completely?"
"Most do. Or they end it."
Gomez was going to elaborate when the gong shook the whole house calling him away. He took a deep breath before walking into the living room, not ready for whatever he was about to deal with.
"Gomez," His name sounded so beautiful in her silky voice. "It seems that Ivan has used my knitting needle as a makeshift arrow and gotten it stuck in the Moose's head, would you be a dear and get it down for me?"
He couldn't help but have a smile while she spoke to him, his heart still beat her name despite his sudden change in circumstance. "Of course, Mrs. Addams."
Gracefully, Gomez managed to reach the needle and pull it out of the Moose head. He hoped that Morticia was watching his daring rescue, but when he turned around Morticia was sitting in her wicker chair with Thorn on her lap. Gently, Morticia was brushing the girl's wavy hair with a cactus brush. Gomez felt like an intruder as he watched Morticia mother her child. Trying to stay unseen, Gomez placed the needle in the basket of yarn next to Morticia's chair. As he turned to leave, he felt her long fingers grasp at his sleeve. He turned, his heart revived with her touch.
"Thank you." she smiled. Burning a hole through his clothes, her skin seemed to scream for his touch. Without thinking, he let his hand caress her fingers just as she pulled away. Morticia didn't seem to notice his small caress, her attention once again dedicated to Thorn.
Gomez found himself alone for most of the time before dinner. He could hear the children running around laughing as he set the table.
"En garde!" Ivan yelled as he appeared at Gomez's side with another one of Morticia's knitting needles. Gomez couldn't help but laugh.
"You have a mighty stance young man!"
Ivan beamed at the compliment.
"Mother taught me." he said proudly as he lunged at Gomez.
"She is an excellent teacher."
"Ivan, I'm sure Gomez doesn't have time to play with you right now. If you're good, maybe he will fence with you later. Now, go wash your hands."
"Yes, mother." The little boy started to rush off, but Gomez grabbed him.
"Wait!" He grabbed the needle from Ivan's hand before letting the little boy run away. "I believe this is yours, Mrs. Addams."
The few seconds that her fingers touched his palm, ignited his desire for her. It took every bit of his restraint not to take her in his arms. His eyes were locked with hers and he wouldn't let her go. Morticia was becoming visibly uncomfortable, she was about to say something to break the silence when Mama entered the room holding the night's entree.