A/N: Thank you for your wonderful comments, favourites and follows. I'm really glad you're enjoying the story. Here's chapter 9, hope you'll enjoy!

CHAPTER 9

Family businesses were peculiar things, Jared mused silently as he observed his companion reading intently through the agreement of the business deal they were about to sign, especially family businesses that run into generations.

On one hand, one appreciated the comfort and advantages of coming from a wealthy family and on the other one could not help but feel like a prisoner of his family's success. How peculiar, that despite all the advancement of the modern world, they were all still very much trapped in the ancient conventions.

There was no option, for example, for Jared not to get into business with his father or well, at least no one has ever mentioned any other option. No one ever asked him what would he liked to do, who to become, what to do with his life. It has all been essentially preordained for him.

The only choice he felt he ever made for himself was marrying Ophelia. He was absolutely enticed how unusual she was. She was like no one he has ever met - an enchanting, free-spirited girl with daisies in her hair - he was instantly smitten. Was being an operative word. There was no longer anything unusual about his wife and it was his fault, he knew that.

It was all so wonderful when they were living together in Paris, just the two of them with no care in the world. He missed that time, the parties that went on until the early hours of the morning, all the interesting people they were surrounded by, the whole bohemian atmosphere of that time.

He even loved how different Ophelia's family was, from her larger than life father to her sullen little sister. He had never met a man more fascinating that his late father-in-law, there seemed no boundaries for him, no obstacles - the world just bent to his will. It seemed only befitting that his wife would be equally unusual. Except it never occurred to him that she would be a witch.

A witch, a real spell casting, potion brewing witch. A witch. Witches, all three of them.

He still remembered vividly the first time Ophelia used a spell - a simple one - to light up the candles on the dinner table. It all felt so enchanting, bizarre and almost intoxicatingly refreshing. This life was so different from what was waiting at him at home and he enjoyed every minute of it.

Until they came to live in America and the spell broke, so to speak. Until he took his wife here and saw for the first time just how different Ophelia was from anyone else he knew here. How everyone stared at her daisies, how peculiar her behaviour was outside the spectrum of their life in Paris.

And suddenly it didn't feel to him enchanting anymore, it was mortifying.

He still could recall the look his mother-in-law gave him when she saw Ophelia at the airport when they all came to America to visit them. She didn't make a single comment about the absence of daisies, as if she knew, as if she expected it to happen and was merely proven right.

It was that look that nowadays he so often saw in Morticia's eyes. It was uncanny how similar she was to her mother - not visually, because Morticia looked nothing like Hester Frump, it was Ophelia who was a mirror image of her mother. Yet it was Morticia who carried the same silent power, the same piercing gaze - and he hated that gaze more than he could put into words. This constant reminder that he caved in, that he was a coward who didn't have guts to live his life on his own terms and he forced his wife to subdue to that as well.

And she did. Gone were the daisies but with them, it seemed, also the girl he fell in love with. He still loved her, he couldn't imagine being married to anyone else but he wasn't in love, and being in love made all the difference. He wasn't in love because that enticing spark was gone and so he often looked for that spark somewhere else, outside the bounds of marriage, because sometimes he looked at his wife and couldn't stand how...normal she became. Even though, it was for the better because the alternative was to him unthinkable.

"This is certainly a deal of mutual benefit," Francois commented, taking a sip of his brandy."Father will be very pleased."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that," his companion agreed."I hope to see him still before you leave back home. How unfortunate that he was taken ill on this trip."

"Certainly," Francois nodded." Ah well, my father has little regards for his health, his doctor advised him against flying because of his blood pressure but he paid no mind."

"What did the doctor say?"

"He needs to rest and take his medication," Francois replied."He should be fit to fly back to France in time but I don't think he will be making any more trips overseas."

"More travelling for you," Jarred supplied with a sympathetic smirk.

"Well, perhaps all for the best," Francois smiled furtively, taking a pen from the inside pocket of his blazer but then suddenly hesitated." Actually, I wanted to speak to you about a certain matter."

"Oh?"

"It's not business related," he assured, sensing a slight discomfort in the other man."Your sister-in-law."

Jared frowned in confusion. This was certainly not what he expected.

"What about her?"

"She's a fascinating girl," Francois replied admiringly."I'd like to get to know her better, with your permission of course."

Jared couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"Are you serious?" he asked, highly amused.

"Why not?" his companion asked."She's smart, charming and very beautiful."

"She's untamed, insolent and headstrong," Jared countered."She will eat you for breakfast."

"All the better," he smiled." I abhor meekness in women."

Jared laughed heartily again.

"Francois, she's more trouble than she's worth, trust me, "Jared replied sardonically."She's a constant battle, this one."

"Let me be the judge of that," he countered.

Jared shook his head in amused disbelief. He watched the man for a few moments. He could not imagine his sister-in-law falling for someone like him. He was handsome, alright, but just too...tamed for her. Although perhaps tame was exactly what she needed, she could certainly use some taming herself. He might be a good influence on her.

Not to mention, Jared would certainly appreciate being related to one of the wealthiest families in France and their connections to the tough French market his father was trying to access for years.

They had to arrange for marriage for Morticia quite soon anyway, very soon actually, and this was a truly two-birds-one-stone opportunity. If this fellow liked her so much, God only knows why, all the better.

"By all means, "Jared agreed with amusement."But so that you won't tell me later that I didn't warn you, she'll drive the hell out of you, mark my words."

"Your mother took all my books away and forbade me to study a minute longer," Morticia complained, entering the living room where Fester was working on his latest project and he looked up at her, regarding her with an amused smirk.

"Good, you're overdoing it anyway," he supplied."Your exam is in three days -"

"Please don't remind me," she groaned and sat at the chair next to him.

"You won't learn anything more than what you already know," he pointed out and hissed sharply when the device short-circuited, sending the sparks flying."You're as prepared as you can be," he added and laughed when she groaned and flopped dramatically against the table.

"Where is Kitty?" she asked, propping her head on the pillow of her hand. She decided it was best not to think about the upcoming Monday exam, even though there was little else she could think about but Kitty was a cute distraction nevertheless.

"Probably chewing on Gomez's shoes," Fester snickered, eliciting a gentle snort out of Morticia.

Apparently, her precious pet was determined to rid Gomez Addams of all the shoes in his possession.

"Speaking of, were you aware that your brother wears shoes worth almost ten thousand dollars?" she asked." A pair of shoes. Is he insane?"

"Yeah, he likes fine things, expensive taste," he agreed, looking through the attached to the table large magnifying glass."Whereas I wore the same shoes for fifteen years, Gomez spends over four thousand dollars a month on his cigars alone," he remarked fondly.

"How can you afford him?" she teased.

"We probably can't," he laughed."Which is why he is currently out in the business meeting and I'm having fun."

Morticia smiled and nodded at him before narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"What is this, exactly?" She asked pointing to the complicated device on the table.

"A gift for Dementia," he smiled."An explosive device."

"An explosive device," she repeated slowly, raising her shapely eyebrows in mild surprise and watched him nod at her eagerly."Sure, I guess you can say it with flowers or...with a hand-made explosive device."

"Exactly," he smiled." Can you hand be the protective goggles?" he requested, pointing to a case with tools in the desk.

"Everything well between you and Dementia?" she asked tentatively, handing him the goggles.

"Sure, why?"

"It's Thursday afternoon," she pointed out but when he turned towards her with a confused expression on his face, she clarified further."You're usually at the library."

"Ah, well yeah...we've decided to you know…," he faltered, looking for the right word."Cool it."

Morticia blinked.

"Cool it?" she repeated, not quite sure she understood him correctly.

"Yeah, cool it," he confirmed slowly without stopping his work."We've decided things were progressing way too fast, it was a bit overwhelming. We have to slow down and just let the things settle."

Morticia's eyes widened as if he just told her he decided to become an orthodontist and move to the suburbs.

"Fester, you've been staring at that girl for months," she reminded him." You went out for a coffee a few times and once we all went to dinner, just how much slower can you actually take it?"

"Slower than you and Gomez," he teased good-naturedly and laughed when she punched him in the arm.

"Ha ha," she rolled her eyes but smiled, nevertheless, before getting up from her chair."I better go check if Kitty hasn't devoured all of Gomez's shoes."

Fester snorted in amusement.

"Plenty to devour on," he replied, zapping another cable in the process."You and I combined probably have fewer clothes than Gomez."

"That's probably entirely accurate," she smiled."Still not the reason to spoil Kitty, I'm determined to teach him good manners."

"Ha! Good luck."

Morticia was about to make her way out of the living room when the front door creaked open and a very irritated Gomez Addams stepped in, ubiquitous cigar in one hand and a leather briefcase in another.

"Tough day?" she teased, leaning against the doorframe, and watch him turn towards her, his vexed expression melting away instantly at the sight of her.

"It's about to get better," he replied cheekily and smiled as he approached her, throwing the briefcase carelessly on the floor and his arm immediately encircled her waist."Hello," he greeted her and promptly placed a firm kiss on her lips before she could voice any protests. He knew she didn't feel entirely comfortable with being affectionate with him when others were present but God, he had a such a hellish day (and not in a good way) the only thing that kept him from killing someone was the thought that he'll be able to forget all about it in her arms.

She was about to point out to him that his brother was mere two feet away from them but the moment she felt his lips on hers, he was the only thing on her mind and she wrapped her arms around his neck, surrendering into the delicious kiss.

"Don't mind me, you two," came Fester's gruff voice but he barely looked at them. He generally refrained to even think about the fact that his brother and his very best friend were having an affair but he was slowly getting used to that. In fact, he recently decided that he would absolutely love if Morticia was to become his sister-in-law, she was already a family to him. He was secretly hoping things were going in this direction. His brother certainly seemed over his head for Morticia.

"We don't," Gomez murmured against Morticia's lips, apparently not eager at all to interrupt their affections.

"We do," came Morticia's amused reply as she pushed him back gently."Later," she promised and laughed at his defeated growl.

"How did your meeting go?" Fester asked.

"I was bored out of my mind," Gomez groused, linking his hand with Morticia's and led them to the vintage sofa opposite the table where Fester was working. "I'm starting to regret we bought those shares in the first place."

"Give him time," Fester placated, quite surprised at his annoyed attitude. His brother was usually very forgiving, even indulging, to their business associates, which told him that perhaps there was something else on his mind that got him so vexed."He may bounce back."

"No time in the world will save that pitiful excuse -" he started to complain when suddenly felt a set of small claws digging into his calf and sighed in exasperation." Kitty, you insane ball of fluff," he remarked in a mock-annoyance, shaking the cub off his leg and tried to nudge him away but Kitty, in his usual insufferable manner, started to bite at his shoes.

"Kitty!" Morticia's scolded in a soft yet undeniably stern voice the lion immediately sat obediently next to Gomez and roared happily at his mistress." I saw what you did, you naughty boy."

"Can we put him in a stew now?" Gomez asked menacingly and, unsurprisingly, was rewarded with a swat on his chest from Morticia.

"See, this is why he keeps doing it," Morticia remarked, picking the cub and placing him on her laps." You're constantly threatening to put him in your mother's stew."

"It doesn't have to be mama's stew," Gomez assured. "Any stew will do."

"He doesn't mean it," Morticia assured the pet, gently rubbing Kitty behind his ears.

"I do so," Gomez insisted, his words muffled by the cigar between his teeth."I'm telling you he would be a delicious dinner," he remarked and laughed when Morticia covered the cub's ears and glared at Gomez.

"I know you secretly find him cute and adorable," she insisted, grinning at him and kissed Kitty's faint mane affectionately.

Gomez immediately snorted at her insinuations.

"I don't even have such pansy words in my dictionary," he replied in a mock-offence.

"Kitty peed on Gomez's shoes this morning," Fester revealed gleefully." Mama almost died laughing."

"It's not funny, Tish," Gomez glared at her when he noticed her biting her lips together in an obvious attempt to prevent herself laughing.

"I know, I'm not laughing," she assured but then promptly laughed anyway. "He wouldn't do it if you were nicer to him."

"I am nice to him," he insisted but then tilted his head and massaged his neck tiredly."Let's go play with the crossbow," he proposed.

"You two go, I want to finish this," Fester replied, focusing closely at the two wires that were currently sticking out."It's high time Morticia learnt how to use a crossbow anyway," he added, looking at his friend pointedly."I can't believe you never got a crossbow for Christmas as a child. If that's not child neglect, I don't know what is."

"Focus on your target," Gomez reprimanded in a mock-exasperation when Morticia grazed gently at the skin of his neck. His hands rested gently on the curve of her hips as he stood behind her, making sure her posture was just right.

"Isn't that what I'm doing?" she asked, turning towards him again and batted her eyelashes coquettishly.

"Sex, sex, sex," he muttered teasingly against her lips." Is that all you think about?"

She laughed, turning towards him fully and abandoned the crossbow on the next to her on the barren ground.

"Actually, lately," she whispered, fisting her fingers into his shirt." Yes," she purred, capturing his lips in a playful kiss and was pleased when he let out a low growl and pulled her closer to himself. Still, he was really tense today, his business meeting must really have gone in a less than spectacular manner.

"Tish," he whispered softly.

"Gomez," she replied in kind.

He smiled at her playfulness and kissed her again slowly and tenderly but then looked at her inquisitively for a few moments.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and regarded him curiously.

"Are you ok?" she asked with evident concern and caressed his cheek gently."You're very tense today."

"Who's Francois Chalon?" he asked suddenly and watched her frown, obviously taken aback by the question.

"He's one of Jared's business associates, why?" she answered and cocked her eyebrow at him in surprise.

"So you know him?" he inquired, watching her intently.

"Yes," she confirmed slowly." I do know him."

She could practically feel him tense even further but didn't really know what to make of this sudden question.

"And how well do you exactly know each other?" he asked with surprising sharpness.

She immediately glared at him frostily.

"I'm not sure I appreciate your tone," she replied stiffly and detached herself from his embrace."Or your insinuations."

"I apologise," he said in a tone that suggested he wasn't very apologetic at all." You see, the rumour has it that he has some serious plans towards you," he explained firmly, watching her closely."Something you want to tell me, Tish?"

She stared at him in disbelief, both at that he was telling her and the hidden accusation behind his words and she felt growing increasingly angry.

"Do you really think that I would cheat on you behind your back, Gomez?" she asked bluntly with such hurtful anger in her voice that his posture immediately softened.

"No," he replied uncomfortably."I don't, but such gossips do not come out of thin air, something must have prompted it," he pointed out.

"I have met him at the soiree two weeks ago," she retorted frostily. She had no idea where such gossips could have originated from but she doubted it was from a Francois himself. He just didn't seem the kind of man who would spread stupid rumours, especially when he was probably aware that she would not appreciate it.

"The soiree where your dear brother-in-law was looking for a suitor for you?" he scoffed."I guess he was quite successful then."

"If you insist on talking to me in that tone then we might as well end this conversation and come back to it where you don't behave like an ogre," she informed him and turned to make her way back to the house but he grabbed her wrist to stop her. She looked at his fingers, curled around the pale skin of her wrist and glared at him."Let go of me."

"What's going on, Tish?" he asked insistently but his tone was no longer mocking, rather he looked like he was dreading the answer."Because I would rather find out from you."

Her hostile posture relaxed immediately at his implication and she shook her head, coming closer to him.

"Gomez no, it's nothing like that," she assured, framing his face between her hands." There's no one else, I swear," she kissed him softly and if to prove her point but his body language barely relaxed at her words.

"Who is he to you, Tish?" he asked tensely as his hands rested softly on her hips.

She shrugged.

"No one. I've only met him two weeks ago," she repeated."I saw him once at that soiree and once we went to an art gallery. I was supposed to go with Ophelia and we were all talking about it and it turned out he wanted to see the same exhibition," she explained softly."So Ophelia suggested we go together, that's all."

"You didn't say anything to me," he pointed out.

"There was nothing to say," she assured."It didn't mean anything to me."

"Obviously it meant a lot to him," he insisted.

She took a deep breath and exhaled impatiently.

"What do you want me to do about that?" she asked. She really didn't understand what the problem was? It was a business necessity to indulge the prospective business partners, surely she didn't have to explain that to him.

He stayed silent for a long moment, not exactly looking at her, contemplating his answer before finally looking back at her.

"I'm tired, Tish," he said suddenly."I'm tired of keeping this a secret."

She felt suddenly cold and her hands prickled with apprehension. She bit her lips into a thin line so hard she was afraid they might bleed.

"I can't," she whispered finally.

"Why not?"

"I already told you - "

"No," he interrupted sharply." No, you didn't. You don't really expect me to believe that you don't want anyone to know about us because that bastard doesn't like me? I really hope you don't think of me such an idiot."

"I don't think you're an idiot," she replied softly.

"Then do not treat me as one," he interrupted sharply. "Don't give me lies."

"I'm not lying to you," she whispered insistently.

"You're not telling me the whole truth either," he accused." You might as well lie to me. If all there is here for you," he continued, motioning between them." Is casual sex, then tell me so, at least I will know where I stand."

He watched her posture tense further, if that was even possible, and bit her lips into a thin line again, staring intensely at the ground but she didn't say anything and he felt his patience with her wearing thin.

"You said you love me," he pressed and she looked at him then, letting out a small, mirthless laugh.

"I thought we were pretending you didn't hear that," she replied sardonically.

"You didn't mean it?"

"I meant it."

"Then why can't you commit to me?" he asked, phrasing it deliberately as if she was being unable to commit to him because he couldn't bear the thought that she simply didn't want to be with him beyond the sphere of passionate encounters." I think I deserve to know at least that, don't I?"

He watched her swallow uncomfortably but was still greeted with her stone silence.

"You cannot avoid those questions forever, Morticia," he challenged." How long do you want to carry this on?"

He could feel his temper getting the better of him and decided it was in the best interest of everyone involved if he just left before he told her something he would, inevitably, regret later.

"Gomez wait," she called after him and he stopped but didn't turn towards her." Please," she requested softly and swallowed heavily before continuing:"I can't allow him to know, because he explicitly told me to stay away from you."

He turned to her then, his face creased with confusion.

"Why?"

"Because... he thinks you will use me and discard me and nobody likes used goods," she replied bluntly, deliberately quoting her brother-in-law. It was crude, alright, but it got the point across." Nobody will want a wife that was Gomez Addams' bed toy," she added and watched him flinch and swallow heavily.

"Is that what you think as well?" he whispered.

"No," she replied slowly and he relaxed visibly but his posture was still tense. "I think when you say you love, perhaps you really mean it," she continued deliberately looking him in the eye."You mean it now. I just don't believe that this will last for you."

"Give me a chance to prove it to you," he pleaded.

"I can't," she whispered.

"Why not?"

She shifted uncomfortably and looked away from him. He was half-expecting her not to answer, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

"My mother," she said finally in a painful whisper and swallowed heavily." She's very sick. He...Jared pays for her treatment. I could have never afforded it without him and I can't put my mother's well being in jeopardy by going against him, do you understand?"

"I can - "

"No," she interrupted immediately, shaking her head." I could never accept such a commitment from you just because you think you're in love, Gomez."

"I don't think I'm in love, I am in love with you" he insisted." I would rather die than live without you."

She smiled gently.

"It's just words, Gomez," she whispered." I can't put my future and my mother's well being in line for pretty words... no matter how much I want to."

If she commits to him, if she allows herself to love him fully she would never be able to leave him. She was certain of that. She would become her mother, her sister, she would become like all those women who turned a blind eye to all sorts of infidelities, who then became bitter and disillusioned all because they loved too much.

She didn't want that.

"Give me a chance to prove you wrong."

"How, Gomez? You marry me and after two years, if lucky, you'll get bored with having the same woman in your bed and will look for some entertainment outside the old ball and chain?"

"No," he denied fervently." I swear to you that will never happen."

"I wish it could be so, I really do," she said and his heart almost broke at how painfully soft her voice was."But you're a gamble I cannot afford...I simply don't trust you to be there for me in the long shot."

He thought it would hurt less if she ripped him apart, in many ways she just has. He wanted to assure her, desperately, but what did he have to offer her? The certainty of his feelings against all the glaring evidence that he was indeed unreliable cad who never had a serious relationship in his life.

She would have to believe him, to put his trust into him and she was not going to do that because too much was at stake.

It all seemed hopeless but he would rather be damned than lose her. He would prove it to her, somehow, he will show her every day for the rest of his life that she's everything to him.

"You and I," he said slowly." Are destined to be together. We belong together and I will prove it to you, I swear."

"Don't say things like that," she whispered." I don't want promises you can't keep. I don't want us to become resentful and bitter when this ends," she added and kissed him softly. "I want to be with you," she assured." As long as this lasts."

"Forever," he insisted.

"And how long is that, Gomez?" she asked and smiled humourlessly when he didn't provide her with a reply." I want to enjoy this thing between us," she continued slowly." But if it's a commitment you're seeking from me then I can't give it to you."

He started to wonder whether he would ever get a good night sleep again without constant longing for her gnawing at his insides. He had this horrible, sinking feeling that she was slowly slipping out of his grip and he was powerless to stop her.

It made him hurt and angry that she thought his love for her was unreliable, that she didn't believe he would be the for her for the rest of the forever.

He didn't understand what did she expect of him, that he would forever live in this twilight of a relationship? How the hell could he prove himself to her if she won't let him, if she won't give him a chance?

She can't accuse him of pretty words and at the same time deny him any chance to prove to her that she was everything to him.

Was he supposed to feel guilty about his lifestyle? Is she going to hold it against him indefinitely as an excuse not to commit to him? Surely, she could see how ridiculous it was.

He wasn't a monk for God's sake. He liked good fun, what was wrong with that? He never coerced anyone, they were all willing participants, in for a good time. Was it his fault that some women expected from him more than he was able to give them? What the hell did she expect him to do? Apologise?

It was then and she was now, and she was all that mattered to him now.

"Whatever happened to my darling, son? You look very gloomy tonight."

He turned towards the soft voice and forced a smile on his face. His mother seemed to be all ready to rest for the night, attired in her nightgown and green, velvet robe, her long grey hair plaited into a solitary braid, a half-finished drink of her usual vodka martini in her hand as she sat in the armchair opposite his, crossing her legs.

"Any reason you're staring into an empty fireplace?" she asked, smiling at him before taking a small sip of her drink.

"Does anyone stare into an empty fireplace without reason?" he asked sardonically but kindly still.

"Something on your mind? A certain raven-haired girl perchance?" she guessed, swirling the clear liquid slowly.

He hesitated for a moment, licked his lips slowly and looked at his mother somberly.

"I told Morticia that I love her," he said slowly, watching his mother for any reaction but her face remained merely politely expectant. "She doesn't believe me."

Eudora snorted scornfully.

"Shocking," she remarked mockingly, taking another sip of her drink.

"How can I prove it to her, mama?"

"Gomez, consider her position on this...arrangement," she said for the lack of better word."How can she trust a word you're saying when you slept with half of the women in this city alone?"

"That's a bit of exaggeration…" he replied gruffly.

"All that time you go through women like a wildfire and you expect her to just accept your declarations because you've suddenly decided you're in love?" she asked sardonically. "Just what kind of fool do you think she is?"

"I don't think she's a fool," he spat." But how can I prove myself to her if she won't let me?"

"This girl doesn't owe you a damn thing, Gomez," his mother told him firmly." You can cry unfairness of the situation all you want but this is your fault, it's the choices you've made that makes you now unreliable in her eyes. What do you expect her to do? Put everything in line for you?"

"We all make mistakes," he insisted."It's rather unfair to hold them against me indefinitely."

"Did you think you were making mistakes when you slept with all those women? When you bestowed your pretty words and useless promises on them and then left them when they served their purpose?" she asked bluntly."Have you ever considered, how did that make them feel?" she paused, waiting for his reply and after a stretch of silence, she smiled at him knowingly."Of course, you didn't. It was all good fun for you, wasn't it? Never for a second have you considered their feeling, have you?"

He looked at her sharply, gripping the armrest of his armchair so fiercely he thought it may crumble any minute.

"That girl you were seeing before you met Morticia," his mother remarked, tilting her head and regarding him curiously."Did you even broke up with her?" she asked and without waiting for his reply continued."You haven't, have you? You simply stopped calling because your eyes were set on a new prize."

"Morticia is not a prize," he hissed.

"This is the same damn thing your father did to me all through our marriage, this is the same boys will be boys attitude he had," his mother remarked spitefully.

"Father loved you."

"He did," she admitted."But he was never faithful to me," she added hurtfully." Do you have any idea what it feels like to be betrayed like that? It makes you feel inadequate, worthless, makes you feel like you're not enough, that you can never be enough and I kept forgiving him like a bloody fool," she swallowed heavily before continuing in a firm tone. "You're exactly like your father, Gomez."

"I'm not," he defended angrily." I love her, she's everything to me."

"Oh really?" she asked sardonically." What did you tell her? That your heart never beat so fast for anyone before? That she's all you can think about?" she continued mockingly." She's the love of your life and you shall worship her forever? There will never be another woman in your life but her? Tell me, Gomez, what ground-breaking declaration have you bestowed upon that girl?"

He stayed silent and she watched him carefully.

"All of the above?" she guessed." These are the same things your father told me. The same pretty words and empty promises," she said. "Honestly? I'm infinitely glad that Morticia has enough brains not to believe a single word you say to her because that's all there is to it - words. How long will this emotional high last for you? Another month, another year at best."

"Forever," he insisted.

"Your father promised me forever too, Gomez," she remarked bitterly."And his forever lasted less than two years," she said pointedly. "You're my son and I love you, whatever there is between the two of you I shall not interfere but do not expect any help from me in throwing that girl off the cliff."

He stood up abruptly and swallowed heavily, he was so angry his whole body felt aflame.

"You're wrong about me, mama," he insisted in a low whisper."You're all wrong about me. I love her and, if she lets me, I will spend the rest of my life showing her how much."

A/N: Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think. :)