Chapter 4
Morticia Addams couldn't say she had any particular expectations with the regards to her pregnancy prior getting pregnant and she didn't see any particular need to educate herself on the topic - partly because, after all, women were getting pregnant since forever without any books to aid them and, partly, because her step-daughter took it upon herself to educate her - relentlessly and obsessively - on this particular subject so she really really didn't feel like reading anything more on the subject pertaining pregnancy and childbirth. Also, she found those books mind-numbingly boring. That being said, she was infinitely glad the stage of morning sickness has finally passed and she could resume her everyday routine without constantly feeling nauseous.
Except - except, there was one aspect of the pregnancy that took her by surprise and no, it wasn't the fact that she already was showing more than she expected she would at barely the fourth month into her pregnancy and had to replace her dresses with the ones made of a more stretchy material because her hips got wider, which she could do without but it was acceptable...ish. It wasn't the fact that her breasts got larger since that actually found hilarious because her husband seemed to have suddenly lost his ability to look her in the eyes.
Nevertheless, all those changes Morticia expected at some point because she was, after all, pregnant. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, expected as they were, her changing body made her burst into tears. The more she thought about it the more she couldn't, for the life of her, explain why the hell was she feeling so emotional about it? She couldn't even explain to Gomez why was she crying so ardently when he struggled to console her and was clearly taken aback by her peculiar behaviour as much as she was.
It suddenly seemed to her as if she lost control over her own feelings and one moment she could be ecstatic about practically anything and have a complete meltdown ten seconds later.
She was pretty sure she would rather take constant morning sickness instead of this disaster, this utter mayhem, this tragedy that were pregnancy hormones.
It made her feel as if she was going insane at times and not in a particularly pleasant way one usually went insane. Just like now, for example, at this very moment, Morticia Addams was absolutely sure she was going insane -
"I had to see it with my own eyes," her husband's announced in a tone of amused disbelief the moment he entered the parlour in an abrupt manner.
"This isn't funny, Gomez," she tried to glare at him but failed miserably because the tears just wouldn't stop falling.
"You mean to tell me that Ivy didn't make this up? You really -"
"I shall not talk about it," she announced, wiping her eyes carefully with her black handkerchief.
"I would give away half of the Addams fortune to be there when it happened," he declared dramatically before kneeling in front of her."Do it again."
Oh, if look could kill….
"I want a divorce," she deadpanned.
"Never," he grinned, placing a soft kiss to the side of her knee."You're stuck with me forever."
She smiled at his word, despite herself, even though she really wanted to just glare the hell out of him but failed miserably.
"The snake eggs hatched," she announced suddenly and watched him blink furiously in confusion."I came home and Ivy dragged me upstairs to see the baby snakes and…" she explained a took a deep breath to calm herself down before finally explaining:"They looked so precious, Gomez, so...cute."
She watched his eyes twinkle with a barely concealed amusement as he bit his lips into a thin line.
"And that's the reason you've been sitting here for two hours crying your precious eyes out?"he finally asked.
"Yes!" she exclaimed and burst into tears again.
Gomez Addams almost died with all the effort he was putting into biting his cheeks to prevent himself from laughing but this was just absolutely hilarious.
He arrived home not ten minutes ago, from his business meeting, only to find Ivy waiting for him at the bottom of the stair in the hall with a very worried expression on her face and then informed him that his wife - his wife the dark witch, his darling querida - burst into tears when Ivy showed her the baby snakes and has been sitting in the parlour crying about it and no one was able to console her and Ivy started to worry her stepmother was going crazy - and not the fun kind.
These sudden bursts of tears started practically the moment her morning sickness ceased.
The first time it occured was when Morticia came home from the council and burst into tears the moment she saw Gomez stepping out of the library to greet her and practically threw herself at him. It took him few good minutes to find out why was she in tears before she finally told him it was because she missed him so much. He thought it was adorable. He also made a mistake of telling her so and she almost murdered him there and then and refused to speak to him for the rest of the day.
"Come on, querida, it's nothing," he tried to appease her."It's just hormones."
"It's not nothing, Gomez," she hissed at him and he blinked in surprise, taken aback but such an abrupt change in her tone. She grabbed him by the collar and bestowed at him such a ferocious glare he had to surpass an almost overwhelming urge to gulp."What's next? Fluffy puppies and rainbows? Gomez…" she whined and bit her lips in a miserable gesture before burying her head into his chest and bursting into another fit of cry."I'm turning into my mother," she moaned pitifully.
"You're not turning into your mother, Tish," he placated, kissing her forehead tenderly and caressing her back in an appeasing manner."You're still as vicious and deadly as you ever were."
"Do you really think so?"
"From the bottom of my rotten heart," he assured."Besides, think of how wonderful it's going to be once the baby is here and you can bask in a glorious misery of postnatal depression."
"Oh my God, you're the best husband ever," she whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck before attacking his lips in a ferocious kiss."You always know how to make me feel all gloomy again."
He didn't even have a chance to reply before she captured his lips into a ravenous kiss and was only vaguely aware of his daughter annoyed groan and the loud thud of the door closing that followed.
It took all of her willpower not to let out a large sigh of exasperation at the scene before her and the baby apparently sensed her annoyance, reciprocating with a strong kick and she smiled, despite herself, caressing the spot where the baby delivered its masterful kick.
It was merely ten o'clock in the morning but Morticia was almost ready to call it a day. She barely got any sleep during the night because the baby decided suddenly that the middle of the night was the best to be active.
Her second trimester went so disappointingly smoothly, sans the madness of hormonal changes, she's barely noticed she was pregnant at all, except for her growing stomach, nothing much changed at the third trimester came and the baby was much bigger now and very active which came with an increasing fatigue but also lovely discomfort of a backache so she couldn't really complain. She absolutely loved feeling the baby moving and so did her husband. Perhaps, she could do without being woken up in the middle of the night with a kick in the ribs but, all in all, the discomforts of carrying new life were just heavenly.
What she really could do without, though, was the increased blood pressure she was currently experiencing as she watched her group practice defence against a demon's attack.
She was starting to understand why Aurora Addams was so cynical when it came to an institutionalised study of witchcraft. Besides the understandable governing and necessary control over what was taught to the young and impressionable witches and wizards, all sorts of politics were in place behind running an institution such as The American Council of Witchcraft. It wasn't, though, until Morticia started to work for the said council that she realized the true extent of those politics. To say that she was not impressed was a vast understatement.
To say that the young man, she was currently assessing, wasn't going to last two seconds in a real encounter with a demon was another understatement. Whatever got him a place in this program it wasn't his abilities. Whereas she understood their desperate and constantly increasing need for funding, this was pure insanity as she was quite sure the young man wouldn't recognize the dark forces even if he tripped over them.
The demon was hovering above his red head for over two minutes and it was only for the fact that it was well aware that if he tried to kill the boy, Morticia would turn him into a pile of dust in a split second, that Karl Evans had still his head attached to his body.
"Geoffrey," she said in a matter of greeting even before he announced himself, without taking her eyes off the boy.
"Mrs Addams," Geoffrey replied, taking a stance next to her with a well-practised causality which, Morticia knew, indicated that whatever his business was with her it was nothing to look forwards to.
"Anything I can do for you?" she asked conversationally.
"Just came to let you know that I've got a word from the upper echelons about Aurora's budget proposal for the next year," he started.
"I reckon it's some truly fantastic news since you're delivering it to me instead of Aurora," she said sarcastically, shading her eyes from the sun.
"Indeed, they've accepted but with a fifteen percent slash," he revealed and Morticia couldn't help but groan at the news."They said we have to lay low, things are getting tense."
"When are they not getting tense?" she countered jadedly. Gods, she really didn't look forward telling her aunt the news. The old lady will go ballistic."Is it finalised?"
"No, not yet but I don't expect them to suddenly have a change of heart and start throwing money at us."
"No," she smirked despite the unfavorable news."I don't suppose they'd do that."
"How is he doing?" Geoffrey asked, nodding at the tall red headed young man in the middle of the field. His eyes closed, clearly focused on whatever he was doing.
"He's a dead man walking," she quipped, still in the process of writing extensive to notes with her elegant cursive. She didn't bother to acknowledge Geoffrey's amused snort."How much has his father paid to get him into this program?"
"A lot," he admitted."My brother has powerful friends at the Centrum, nothing I could do. Besides, in the current climate we can't afford to be picky with the fundings."
"Is that your brother's way of getting rid of him?" she asked saltily."Because he's as good as dead in the field," she remarked, finally looking at him. To his credit, he had a decency to look extremely uncomfortable and she knew it was not only because his nephew shouldn't be here in the first place but, what was probably more accurate, that he was the very person who accused Aurora of nepotism when she first helped Morticia arrange the transfer to the Council.
"This is why I insisted on placing him in your group," he remarked and laughed mirthlessly when she raised her eyebrow in bemused gesture."I figured either you perform some kind of miracle - "
" - no miracle will get him through this program, Geoffrey," she stated coldly but it was the truth. The boy didn't have what it takes to merely survive within the depths of the field that was dark magic.
"- or you'll scare him to death and he'll quit by the time he reaches his second year," he divulged camly before flashing her, what she reckoned was supposed to be a charming smile.
Morticia Addams didn't find it the least amusing. There were plenty of talented dark witches and wizards who would thrive in this program. Instead she was forced to waste her time on some privileged, arrogant half-wit who didn't even take it seriously. Ah well, perhaps she could allow the demon to have a little fun since it was so patient today.
Geoffrey watched Morticia nod her head ever so slightly and within split second his nephew let out a surprised and clearly terrified shriek and he was unceremoniously flung on the other side of the field. The glacial expression of Morticia's face didn't even flinch as Karl barely had a chance to pick himself from the ground - a bewildered expression on his face, his nose bleeding profusely before he was thrown against the side of the building.
Geoffrey could't help but wince at the sound of a dull hit what could only be Karl's head connecting with a concrete wall.
"That's enough, don't you think?" he offered with a force indifference but Morticia could sense he was getting nervous and allowed a gentle smirk to grace her face as she tilted her head slightly, casually observing as the boy fell to the ground, clutching his middle and groaning painfully.
"I haven't decided yet," she remarked calmly but raised her hand nevertheless when she noticed the demon was ready for another lunge - a lunge that the boy was unlikely to came out alive from, and the creature freezed in mid-movement.
"Mr Addams must be a very brave man to have married you," Geoffrey said, before covering his discomfort with a small cough. "Or absolutely mad."
"Or both," she smirked."Most importantly, Mr Addams is not an imbecile. What certainly couldn't be said about young Mr Evans here."
Geoffrey tilted his head and raised his eyebrows in a half-amused, half-worried manner but didn't comment verbally on her assessment.
"Karl," she called the young man and they both waited for the young man to pick himself up from the ground and shakely make his way towards them."Are you suicidal or plain stupid, I really can't decide?" Morticia asked bluntly.
"Ma'am?" Karl blinked, entirely surprised by her hostile manner while at the same time trying to stop the bleeding with the sleeve of his maroon shirt. He was so taken aback he didn't even acknowledged his uncle.
"There was a demon hovering above your very head for almost five minutes," she explained."Have you not sensed it at all?"
"No, Mrs Addams."
"And why is that?"
"I was..." he swallowed heavily. In all honesty, he was otherwise occupied, trying to woo the Suddenly, to his utter horror, he let out a shakely laugh."I was trying to impress the girls, ma'am," he supplied lightly in a desperate hope to charm her but Mrs Addams didn't even blink and his smile evaporated as quickly as it appeared.
"I hope you'll find it equally amusing when you're going to be ripped apart by a demon," she predicted coldly."As it will inevitably happen because, if you keep this attitude, there's no way you will last two seconds in front of a demon. What you've experienced now is nothing in comparison to the real thing. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," he agreed politely and Morticia had a sudden urge to headslap the hell out of him.
"You don't understand a damn thing, Karl," she assessed frostily."You may go clean the blood off," she added and without paying him any further notice, turned to the rest of her group."Celeste," she addressed the young girl with a head full of curly hair and the girl nodded at her politely, already flexing her fingers."You're next."
It must be her old age, Aurora Addams decided as she sat in the parlour, listening to the gentle sounds of harpsichord. It had to be her old age, there was no other explanation because Aurora Addams was never one prone to wistful reminitions. Yet, nowadays it happened to her more often than not. She couldn't really tell what prompted those reflections in the first place but they seemed to be her constant companions as of late.
Yet, as she took in the people currently occupying the parlour it was increasing difficult not to feel simultaneously blessed and regretful.
She wouldn't go as far as to claim that she regretted the way she lived her life because she certainly didn't. She always put her needs first and lived her life the way she wanted, the way she chose - despite countless obstacles on her way and she never regretted a single thing, she was proud of the life she lived.
She didn't have regrets and even if she had she wouldn't waste her precious time pondering upon what could have been, she couldn't think of a less productive task to devote herself to.
Except, sometimes, rarely but still, she found herself wondering if, perhaps, she could've played her cards differently, if she wasn't so stubborn, if she had less of a tunnel vision, if she allowed him to be there for her. If she had more balanced approach...then maybe, perhaps, possibly…
She turned her eyes, again, to the sofa opposite her armchair, where Morticia and Gomez were sitting together, well Morticia was actually spread on the sofa, her head propped against the arm of the sofa, a purple cushion - a gift from Lurch - placed securely under her neck, her legs placed over her husband laps and her hand placed protectively over her pregnant stomach, listening attentively to her husband reading from a book of baby names and she periodically either laughed or wrinkled her nose in dismay.
Aurora saw a great deal of herself in her niece. Morticia had the same passion for the dark arts Aurora had, or once had more accurately, nowadays her look at things was more jaded. However, where once she was of an opinion that there was no place for love and family in the life of a dark witch, looking at those two love-sick fools, made her reconsider he stance...sometimes, maybe, a little.
It was not without its challenges, but Gomez and Morticia managed to go through each obstacle and only to grow stronger and stronger as a couple. Aurora never seen a bond like the one that existed between those two people and she lived quite a long life.
Ivy Addams barged into the parlour with a stack of books under her arms, interrupting Aurora's musings and the older lady smiled affectionately at the interruption - that too, she considered a sign of an old age. Once upon a time, she would have glared the hell out of the little girl for her blatant disregard of good manners.
"You need to read those," she declared to her step-mother who was obviously trying very hard not to groan with an exasperation and that too made Aurora smile.
"No, I do not," Morticia countered gently."But thank you for your efforts."
"Tish, these are essential guides to raising children," Ivy insisted."How are you gonna raise this baby is you don't read the manual first."
"I have raised both of my children without any manuals whatsoever," Eudora announced from behind her knitting work where a grey baby onesie was already taking form.
"You see?" Morticia agreed, pointing her open palm towards her mother-in-law.
"Oh, gee, no offence grandmama but this specimen here is hardly an example of a child well-raised," Ivy rolled her eyes, pointing at her father who didn't even have decency to act offended at her judgement.
"Hear, hear," Aurora supplied with a mean smirk from her place next to the fireplace where she was nursing her usual glass of brandy and almost laughed when Eudora glared at her.
Eudora stopped knitting and looked at Morticia with an exasperated expression on her face.
"Everybody's a critic," she muttered in disbelief to which her daughter-in-law nodded sympathetically."I think Gomez is a fine specimen of a child well-raised, thank you very much."
"I think so too," Morticia agreed, smiling at her husband."He's a truly rotten apple."
"Cara," he grinned and leaned towards her, placing a loving kiss on her lips.
"Oh come on, he didn't even notice he had a baby until I was five years-old," she reminded, eliciting an amused snorts from Aurora and Salvador.
"That's not what happened and you know it," Gomez pointed out, jabbing at her with his half-smoked cigar.
They've all turned curiously towards the direction of the hall when they heard a loud commotion and not two seconds later Wedge Addams stood at the entrance to the parlour, looking very much as if he was about to burst into tears.
"My son is possessed," he declared dramatically looking straight at Morticia."Help him."
He watched everyone's expression turn from a concussion to panic then to an utter disbelief before switching back to confusion.
"That's absolutely impossible, Wedge," it was Aurora who spoke, frowning at him."Whatever makes you think the child is possessed?"
"He is, trust me," Wedge insisted, making his way further into the parlour before flopping dramatically on the sofa, next to Eudora, covering his face with his hands."Either that or he's going completely insane."
"Maybe he's hormonal," Ivy piped out thoughtfully."It happens to Tish all the time."
"It is certainly does not," Morticia countered immediately, narrowing her eyes in a mock reproach."How dare you?"
"Well, excuse me," Ivy insisted, putting her hand on her hips."May I remind you that just yesterday - "
"- whatever happened to the poor boy for you to think he's possessed?" Morticia asked immediately, deliberately interrupting Ivy before she could say anything further and next to her Gomez was trying very hard not to smirk.
"Oh, it's so horrifying, I can hardly talk about it," Wedge declared in a heart-broken tone."Lith is beside herself, she hasn't stopped crying ever since..." he tried to explain but his voice broke miserably.
"Oh, my dear," Eudora said comfortingly, abandoning her knitting, and wrapped her arms around him."Tell us what is it, I'm sure we can help."
"He brought….he brought a bat home," Wedge declared finally and looked upon them for a reaction but they just all looked at each other in confusion.
"Oh, come now, that's a perfectly fine pet," Salvador spoke, frowning his brows."Perhaps a bit messy but certainly nothing to warrant such a despair, my boy."
"No, uncle, a baseball bat," he stressed pitifully."He wants to play baseball," he nodded as they all exclaimed in horror."It's true."
"He wouldn't," Gomez said in disbelief."He's an Addams, he would never…"
"He did," Wedge admitted miserably."We can't get through to him but that's not the worst of it."
"There's more?"
"Unfortunately…," he nodded."I don't know what to do, we tried talking to him but he just won't listen...oh, my heart just won't take this anymore!"
"Come, come," Aurora said gently."I'm sure it's not ad bad as - "
"He wants to join boy scouts, auntie!" Wedge declared and closed his eyes tightly as if the very idea was physically painful and soon after there was a sound of Aurora's glass hitting the floor.
"No," she exclaimed in horror."I don't believe it."
"We caught him trying the uniform on," he revealed, his eyes already tearful at the memory."Lith almost got a heart attack."
The minutes passed, tense and filled with horror as they all pondered the best way to tackle the family crisis of such magnitude.
"You see?" Ivy turned to Morticia and sighed with an overdone exasperation."This is what happens when you don't use manuals to raise children."
A/N: Thank you for reading!
