A/N: So, undeniably, the world went insane since the last update. It's hard to find words, except that I pray, from the bottom of my heart, that you and your families are all safe and healthy.

Thank you all for your lovely messages and your support and I hope this chapter will be worth the long wait that took me to update (but then mind you it's over 30 pages long :P)

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 23

Fester Addams briefly wondered if 3:29 in the morning was even an appropriate time for visitation.

But then, he's been up all night anyway. Preparing.

He was confident and prepared. Well perhaps confident was stretching it but! He knew exactly what he was going to tell her and even how he was going to tell her.

He was also sitting on the branch of the tree outside her bedroom window since two o'clock at night watching her sleep like an utter lunatic and creep before finally deciding to knock, before stepping inside her room, even though the window was open.

Come to think of it, perhaps knocking at her bedroom window in the dead of the night wasn't his brightest moment.

Still, Fester Addams couldn't help just how absolutely wonderfully Dementia screamed, startled from her sleep. What a set of lungs!

"Fester Addams!" she screeched, yanking the duvet closer to her chin."What, in the name of all that's unholy, are you doing here?!"

He opened his mouth to reply but no sound came that would be even remotely homogeneous to any human language.

He grunted, mortified, looking around the room as to aid him in his current predicament.

"Fester. Addams."

Ooooh, she was hissing at him. The hissing was never a good sign.

Or was it? Well, suppose it depended heavily on the situ -

"You have two bloody seconds -"

Nope, nope definitely not a good sign.

"To explain what the hell are you doing here?!"

Speak! Speak! Speeeaaaaak, for the love of -

Say something, you blubbering idiot!

"I'm sorry!" He finally blurted, almost visibly shrinking in his embarrassment."I just… I came...I," another grunt and he swallowed heavily. " I'm sorry...I just… I wanted to apologise," there, he said it!

"In the middle of the night?!"

"I'm sorry, couldn't sleep!"

"So you thought it would be best to break-in into my flat?!"

"Yes!" he blurted again, immediately slapping his hand across his forehead."I mean no...no I didn't mean to break-in - I didn't break-in," he assured promptly."The window was open."

"An open window is not a damn invitation to come in, Fester!"

"It isn't?" He asked, genuinely baffled.

"One does not use open windows to enter someone's property, Fester," Dementia practically hissed at him.

"Oh, ehmmm…..well then…."

"One uses front doors," she continued."Knocks and waits until someone opens it!"

"Yes but...I thought you might be angry with me -"

"Nooooo," she drawled in a faux shock."Now, why would you think that you two-faced, despicable liar?"

Okay, he deserved that. And he expected that.

"You have every right to be angry with me," he recited exactly as he's written it down.

"Damn right!"

"And you're right," he continued, clearing his throat."I am a two-faced despicable liar and…and if you don't want to see me ever again...I...I...I will understand and accept but…," he grunted and searched her face for any reaction to his words but she only glared at him spectacularly and was apparently trying to cocoon herself into her duvet."I just wanted to...explain."

"Explain what?" She challenged."That you all had a good time making a fool out of me?"

"No! No, no, no I swear to you -"

"Ooh, you swear...hmmm that's a good one, on what?" She asked sardonically."On your cousin's grave?"

He winced as if she just physically punched him. Sheeesh, this was going well...well worse than he expected.

"We weren't making any fun, I swear," he whispered and cleared his suddenly dry throat."They just...they didn't want to lie...Gomez...or Morticia...I told them I'd tell you the truth but -"

"But you didn't," she finished."Your mother did."

He bowed his head, his cheeks burning with shame.

"I'm really really sorry, Dementia," he said.

She snorted derisively.

"Sorry you got caught lying?"

He shook his head firmly.

"I'm sorry I broke your trust," he said quietly and wrapped his arms around himself self-consciously."I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry...I made a fool out of you...I'm more sorry than I could say."

"Why did you?" She asked and watched him frown at her as if unsure of the question."Why did you lie about that? There was no reason to lie."

He bowed his head again, looking intensely at the burn holes in her carpeted floor. Acid, her recognised immediately.

"I know," he finally said."I mean...I don't know, it was stupid and unnecessary but...the thing is...I really don't know why I said that...I panicked...and it just...came out like that...but I did not intend to lie to you."

"Why didn't you just tell me that you and Morticia were friends?"

"Because you wouldn't believe me," he replied with surprising confidence and watched her blink at him, startled by his words.

"Excuse me?" She said in disbelief.

"I saw how upset you were when you thought that me and Morticia-"

"I was certainly not upset," she denied promptly.

"Ehmmm -"

"I couldn't care less."

"Well okay but...you kind of looked like you cared a lot," he retorted, utterly confused. Women were the greatest mystery ever known to a man. He decided that even if he lived to be a thousand he would still be as confused about them as he was now."The thing is," he continued gently to get her attention back to him because the woman wrapped in the duvet was apparently trying very hard to look at anything but him. Lucifer wept."The thing is," he said a bit louder and she finally turned her face towards him reluctantly."I didn't want you to think that there was anything...you know...romantic between me and Morticia."

"So you lied?"

"It slipped out, I swear."

"Why did you keep lying?" She asked coldly."There were plenty of opportunities to tell me the truth."

"I didn't want you to think I was a liar!"

She blinked.

Then blinked again, as if unsure she heard him correctly.

No, she was quite sure he couldn't have just said what he just said. It was too ludicrous for words.

"You lied to me," she said slowly."So I wouldn't think you were a liar?"

"Exactly!" He retorted happily, glad she was finally getting his point.

"Fester...this is the most absurd thing I have ever heard."

He nodded firmly.

"It is," he admitted quietly."But it's the honest truth, I swear."

Dementia bit her lips, bringing the duvet even closer to her chin and stayed silent for a few moments neither looking at him not away.

Fester stepped nervously from one foot to the other. Boy, he could really use blowing something up, this stress was unbearable.

"So Morticia and Gomez just fell for each other while pretending to be a couple?" She asked doubtfully.

"Ugh...that," he sighed wearily. That was another kettle of fish. He shifted uncomfortably. How much should he tell her?"Not exactly...those two...it's the most mind-bogglingly complicated love affair in the history of...history. Like...it needs mind-maps and charts to be explained," he admitted not even half-joking.

"Well...I guess we have time for mind-bogglingly complicated mind-maps and charts," she replied tentatively."Since it's barely three in the morning."

He was sure his heart actually skipped a beat. Perhaps he was not yet fully forgiven but this...this was more than he could have ever hoped for.

"You have pens and paper?"

It wasn't in her nature to feel sorry for herself.

And yet.

Morticia slowly turned the opened envelope in her hands, again and again, examining it forlornly and leaned heavily against the leather chair she was currently occupying. How odd that it still hurt, with so many new problems on her way this should feel insignificant. After all, she knew very well that there were no chances of that scholarship happening anyway. Not then and even more so not now with her mother's treatment underway and God only knows how long that's going to take.

Yet, it was so unfair. She earned it, she worked so, so hard, she put so much time and effort into it. And it was all worth it and yet all for nought.

Morticia snorted gently, allowing a small willful smile to stretch on her lips. What was the point to wallow in such thoughts? Was there anything more counterproductive than indulging in if-onlys and what-ifs?

Her grandmother always despised such an attitude. Probably rightly so. It was indeed annoying.

Morticia did not have many memories of her maternal grandmother. The reason being was that, well, she died when Morticia was barely ten and also because they did not visit her all that often in her house in Paris and her grandmother rarely visited them as well. Her mother's relationship with her own mother was lukewarm at best and so Morticia never particularly enjoyed those visits to her grandmother's house, brief as they were because she didn't like seeing her mother stressed and unhappy. Also, because her grandmother's favourite subject of conversation was berating her "absentee father" as it was her habit of calling him.

Although Morticia now realized, many of those accusations weren't necessarily unfounded because up until Ophelia moved out to Paris her father was indeed seldom home. Always busy, always restless. Always chasing after something. Still, back then, such accusations made her really angry and so she really dreaded those visits, seldom as they were.

And yet, of all the women in her family it was her grandmother's one single advice that stayed with her forever. Just after the birthday trip, her father promised her has come for nought as he was delayed in South Africa because of riots and couldn't come home, neither for Morticia's ninth birthday nor for the ever so eagerly awaited trip to Mauritania. Morticia couldn't help but be bitterly disappointed and let down. Even more so when, in the end, she spent her birthday week stuck in her grandmother's house. Come to think of it, why on earth did her mother think that the trip to Paris would cheer her up was beyond her.

Her grandmother was unsurprisingly unsympathetic to her granddaughter's sorrow and told Morticia she was being spoiled and immature, even though Morticia was barely nine years old at that point. Still, what she's told her then she found so profound, she never forgot it, even though she spent days after being mad about it.

We should always strive our best to reach our desired outcome, if you need to shake heavens and the earth to reach your goal then do so but once something happened and whatever's the outcome that's it, we should not spend any more time worrying about it, we should not bother with what-if and if-onlys because what happened was meant to be and exactly as it did and it all happened for the best. It was fate. A destiny.

Kismet.

And what chance do we stand against our destiny?

It was indeed the only piece of advice Morticia has ever got from her grandmother but it stuck the cord and informed her response to many events in her later life. She took it to heart almost subconsciously.

Her father's death, heartbreaking as it was, she considered a fate - what better way for him to leave this world than while doing what he loved most?

Falling in love with her mad Castilian, that she was now fortunate to call her husband, she also considered fate. No matter what she did, no matter how much she resisted there was simply no option not to fall in love with Gomez Addams. He was her kismet, she had no doubt about that.

Some things, of course, were easier to accept than others.

She still didn't think that beating the hell out of that sorry excuse for a human being was the best choice but it happened and there was nothing she could do about it anymore and, even though the situation was far from resolved it had now some clarity. It wasn't utter chaos anymore, there was finally some clarity to it. Unfortunately, the picture it presented wasn't exactly pretty or optimistic.

There were no doubts now that Ophelia will be furious and why wouldn't she be. She had every right to be furious...but then so did Morticia and so did Gomez. Such was the situation. All anger and vengeance and who had more right to this anger and who should subdue.

"You look miles away," her husband's soft voice interrupted her forlorn musings and she looked up to see him closing the door to the library behind him with one hand and balancing the tray with henbane tea in the other.

"I was actually," she admitted dryly but smiled at him nevertheless.

"Someplace dreadful I hope," he said, placing the silver tray on the small coffee table near the window and looked at her expectantly.

"You could say that," she retorted with a small chuckle, pushing herself gently off the desk and opened the middle drawer, depositing the white envelope neatly in its place."I called the hospital," she informed him, closing the drawer and stood up, slowly making her way towards him. "I've told them we'll be away for a few days and to contact Mama or Fester if need be."

He nodded in acknowledgement and waited until she was sitting next to him on the sofa before pouring them some tea.

"How is your mother?" he asked, his tone slightly wary.

"Dr Fieldman said she's fine," she replied, sliding her legs under her." He's ordered some more blood tests. She was on her stroll when I called."

"What blood tests?"

"I'm not sure," she shrugged."Something to do with monitoring how her body reacts to the potions."

He nodded again mutely, not sure what could he add to that.

"Mama is making some new ointment for you," he said, faltering briefly before handing her the cup and the saucer with the green beverage.

"Thank you," she smiled lightly and took a small sip."Are we all good to go then?"

"Almost. We can leave in the afternoon," he said, leaning gently against the sofa, cup of tea in his hand and turned to look at her more fully."We should arrive at the cabin before midnight...or we can go tomorrow morning, it's up to you."

"I want to go today," she admitted, rubbing her forehead gently."I really need those few days away before...well..."

"Before the hell breaks loose?" he added, his tone mildly sarcastic.

She smirked, despite herself.

"Something like that," she sighed tiredly. She took a sip of the hot beverage and regarded him thoughtfully. "How badly did you beat him?"

They haven't really discussed it. The gory details, that is. She didn't ask, she felt exhausted as it was and didn't feel particularly ready to listen to details. Although, of course, she could take a pretty good and educated guess how splendidly it went.

"I swear he was in one piece when we left him," he replied before adding in a deadpan manner."A broken piece, though, still… nothing he didn't deserve."

"I know," she said in an appeasing tone, setting her teacup on the table. "Although, I'm sure Ophelia won't see it that way."

She watched him sigh wearily and set him own teacup next to hers. She knew her husband was of an opinion that she worried too much about her sister, after all, Jared did get exactly what he deserved. Still, it was regrettable, in Morticia's opinion, that any hopes of resolving this whole conflict were shot to hell.

"I really have no remorse over it, Tish," he supplied, looking straight at her."I would do it again in a heartbeat."

She didn't reply but placed her palm gently over the nape of his neck, rubbing his skin in a comforting manner.

"I didn't mean it as a criticism," she assured finally."I understand why you did it."

"But you disagree."

She shrugged and looked away briefly.

"Not necessarily," she mused quietly and looked at him for a few seconds before continuing slowly."I feel…I don't know...conflicted, I guess."

"I don't understand why?"

She sighed and licked her lips.

"You did what you had to," she said carefully." I understand that and…," she faltered, compressing her lips gently."He deserved it and part of me is glad that you did it, but...it's a difficult situation...and beating him up doesn't solve it."

He bit inside of his cheek to prevent himself from exhaling impatiently but...it infuriated him. It upset him that she was seemingly unable to make a decision to just do what's best for her when she had every right to do just so. He couldn't understand why was it so hard for her to see that she couldn't please everyone, that there was no exit from this situation where everyone's happy, there never was. Still, he supposed it was a conversation for another time because he wasn't interested in having that discussion neither now nor today and probably neither was she. He was glad she agreed to those few days at the lakeside because, God knows, she needed a break. She needed a few days away from all this, to think or not to think, to heal, to just be and Gomez was determined to give her just that.

"You know Mama said she might pop in into the hospital to check on your mother," he said lightly in a blatant attempt to change the subject...well, sort of, and it didn't go unnoticed by his darling wife who regarded him tenderly, obviously grateful that he did not pursue the subject any further.

"Dear Mama," she smiled fondly."But it might not be the best idea, she might encounter my sister there."

"This is Mama," he laughed gently."She doesn't care if she was to encounter the devil himself."

"Fair point," she admitted, smiling at him gently before snuggling next to him and his hand immediately went to cares her dark tresses, twiddling it lazily in between his fingers.

"Wasn't that the letter from that French school?" he asked and she felt him nod his head towards the desk.

"It was " she admitted, placing her palm over his heart."I had a brief moment of weakness where I was feeling pathetically sorry for myself that all my work was now for nothing but I'm over it now," she added brazenly and smiled as she felt him press a soft kiss to the crown of her head.

"If it's meant for you, nothing in this world can prevent it from happening," he murmured softly."If it's not meant to be then nothing in this world can make it happen."

"It sounds like a quote," she replied but smiled at his words nevertheless.

"From the book of wisdom of Gomez Addams," he quipped and she laughed gently.

"My grandmother once told me something similar, actually," she said softly."Kismet."

"Like you and me," he agreed, placing a gentle kiss to her hand before adding cheekily."Just as I've told you, Cara."

"Hmmmm," she murmured, lifting her head off his shoulder to look lovingly into those half-lidded eyes before adding facetiously: "One should never doubt the profound wisdom of Mr Gomez Addams."

"See?" he smiled at her and placed a gentle kiss on her lips."Now you're talking."

It wasn't often that Francois Chalon was at a loss of what to do. Indeed, he considered himself well equipped to deal with whatever life decided to throw at him, particularly since his wife's death. Nothing could possibly equal with that pain, that overwhelming loss, that utter hell he went through.

Hence, granted, his current predicament was nowhere near as traumatizing but he was nevertheless at a loss of what to do. The reason being was that he had no bloody clue what the hell was going on around him. The last...what...how long was it...twenty-four hours or less? Regardless, it was one of the most bizarre twenty-four hours he's ever experienced.

Truly.

When Jared called him yesterday early afternoon with the request to come over to his house Francois didn't think much of it.

Admittedly, Jared's voice was muffled and he sounded like he was in pain but he merely asked if Francois could come over because he needed a ride so there was really no reason to suspect something was amiss. Unexpected? Certainly, but nothing out of ordinary. Francois figured the man had a few drinks too many - it was indeed early to be drunk but still not exactly out of ordinary when it came to Jared (which apparently ran in the family, Jared's father never said no to a drink either no matter what time of the day it was) so Francois figured that perhaps Jared's driver was unavailable. Well, he could have called him a taxi but...okay, for some reason such an option didn't occur to him, and it would be rude.

The fact that upon his arrival he noticed that the house was practically deserted was his first suspicion that something was off. The front doors were unlocked. Finding Jared in his office with a bloodied face, leaning heavily against the window behind his desk was the second.

It felt unreal. Or unthinkable. Or both.

And so here they all were, Jared in the hospital, Ophelia and Dorothy at his bed and him, Francois, feeling as out of place as one could. Unsure whether he should comfort the two women and if so how exactly or leave or...hell, or what? What exactly was the protocol in such situations? Perhaps, they could start with someone kindly explaining to him what the hell was going on here because Jared, despite being severely injured and seemingly only half-conscious, only asked if he could drive him to the hospital - without an ounce of explanation why did he look like a human jigsaw puzzle. He was eerily calm about it, though. He also passed out twice on their way to the hospital, from the sheer pain of his injuries.

"A damn animal," Dorothy Diamond seethed, clutching the paper coffee cup in her hands. Her eyes red and puffy as they were all sitting in the half-empty hospital cafeteria after Francois convinced them to have a small break while the doctors performed necessary tests. Hence, each of them sat with a cup of coffee in their hands, still untouched. "How dared he? How bloody dared he? Good God, who does he think he is?"

Francois had no clue who the damn animal in question was but it was clear that both women knew who was responsible for Jared's current state in the intensive care unit. An animal was quite an accurate description because the range of Jared's injuries were truly horrific. He could not imagine what kind of psychopath could have done something like this. It was also bizarre, something straight out of Cosa Nostra or something similar. It was horrendous and so bizarre that his brain refused to register it as anything more than bare facts. Broken nose, broken leg, hands and ribs, stab wound right in the middle of Jared's palm and cigar burns on his skin. Who could do such a monstrous thing? It was unthinkable. What was even more unthinkable was how calm Jared was about it. Perhaps he was in shock after the attack? Francois couldn't think of any other reason.

"I just can't believe it," it was Ophelia this time, wiping her eyes again. Why did women bother with the mascara in the times like this was a mystery."This isn't happening," she said covering her face with her hands."Oh, God...this just…what a nightmare, this isn't happening, it couldn't be happening -" a sob escaped her and she wiped her wet cheeks furiously.

"Oh, my darling," Dorothy whispered softly, wrapping her fingers gently around Ophelia's left hand."My poor child."

"The doctors are confident he'll make a full recovery," he pointed out gently, for the lack of anything better to say since he was still trying to get his head around the situation, and Ophelia lowered her hands slowly to look at him."His injuries are extensive so it will take time but...he'll be fine….I know it's not easy but try to focus on that," he added and watched her draw her bottom lips in between her teeth before closing her eyes and shaking her head in resignation.

Gods, she looked exhausted. She probably didn't sleep at all and who could blame her.

He felt extremely reluctant calling her from the hospital, once he made sure Jared was being looked after and...well, there was nothing else for him to do. It was far better, or so he thought if the family was informed of the situation by someone close...or at least closer than an ER nurse.

"I just can't understand how Morticia could have done such thing," Dorothy mused aloud, shaking her head in disbelief and Francois looked at her sharply, drawing his eyebrows in confusion but Doforthy paid him no mind, focusing solely on her daughter-in-law."How much more pain is this girl going to bring upon you, you poor thing?"

"It can't be true, mother," Ophelia whispered hoarsely."She...no...no I swear, there must be some other explanation...anything…," she paused, obviously trying to contain another sob."God, anything. She wouldn't -"

"I can't tell you how it breaks my heart to see you in such pain," Dorothy continued in such a painfully soft voice, Francois was sure she would melt away any minute now."You're too beautiful of a soul, Ophelia. You want to see good in everyone, even despite all the evidence to the contrary."

"But mother -"

"Think about it, darling," Dorothy pressed."Why didn't she report it to the police but instead she sent over this...this savage?" she asked and let the question hang in the air for a few seconds."Because she knows it's all her damn fault. She knows she provoked him until he lost control. She could have just left," she reminded her."But she didn't. She goaded him and goaded him until he just couldn't take it anymore. She knows she's responsible. Tit for tat then."

"Jared couldn't take what?"Francois interjected slowly."I can't make an ounce of sense of what you're saying."

"Jared and Morticia had... a fight," Dorothy informed him stiffly.

"What do you mean they had a fight?"

"I mean they've argued and he struck her," she explained."She said really awful things -"

"So awful he struck a woman?" He retorted angrily in disbelief.

"You were not there, Francois," Dorothy replied frostily."Because if you were you wouldn't sit here in your holy outrage. She was at fault and now she's crying a victim."

His lips parted in an attempt to say something but no sound came. He could not comprehend the fact that this woman was telling him that her own son hit his sister-in-law in such a blase tone and he was so stunned by the viciousness in the older woman's voice that for a few seconds he was simply unable to react.

"That damned man," Ophelia spat angrily. The shift between sadness and anger was so swift and profound, Francois had to blink to make sure it really happened."That bloody son of a bitch, I curse the day she's met him."

"Well let's face it, the Addamses are well known for their temper," Dorothy pointed out."She's manipulated him into this marriage, obviously, she has him wrapped around her little finger so it really wouldn't take all that much to convince him to take revenge for her. As I said, tit for tat."

"Hold on," Francois interrupted gently."Dorothy...I know...this...what's happened to Jared is horrible but...this is a lot of speculations without proof. Addams? Why would Morticia do something like that? She's…," he faltered and turned towards Ophelia."Your sister is not like that, she was willing to go through an arranged marriage to help your mother," he pointed out."Why are you saying those things about her? She's not some -"

"Oh yes, what a noble creature," Ophelia snorted contemptuously."What a noble creature that whored with that bastard for weeks without any concern for our mother or anyone else."

"Hold on-" he tried to reason but Opehalia was not going to have any of it.

"She made a fool out of me, and everyone else...even you ...she's manipulative and dishonest," she retorted hotly."Everyone's told me that but I didn't want to see it and now my husband pays for my mistake," she added and burst into tears again.

"No, my dear, please," Dorothy pleaded, wrapping her both hands around Ophelia's in a comforting gesture." You must absolutely not blame yourself for any of this. You've done all you could for her and more. It's not your fault the way she is."

"I admit that I don't know your sister very well," Francois remarked warily, choosing to focus on Ophelia."But she didn't strike me as any of those things you've just said."

"Francoise…," she turned towards him with such a pained expression on his face he thought his heart might shatter. These sudden emotional shifts were mind-boggling." You don't understand. She's fooled you, she's fooled all of us. She's never had any intentions of marrying you, she's married that man behind our backs to get the money," she admitted and closed her eyes briefly shaking her head."And then she's had the audacity to come back to my own house to merely inform us of her decision."

"She didn't fool me," he replied promptly before he could have even thought the merit of this idea through.

Ophelia frowned and blinked at him.

"What do you mean?"

He dropped his gaze briefly onto the white, plastic table and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I mean...we spoke about this, me and Morticia," he explained slowly, choosing his words carefully."I knew... she'd told me she was involved with him, she didn't lie to me."

He could practically feel Ophelia's jaw stiffen.

"When did she even-?"

"During the weekend in Rhode Island."

"Oh for fuck's sake," she swore in a low hiss."What a piece of work she is, so she really had it all planned."

"Didn't I tell you?" Dorothy interjected firmly.

"I don't think Morticia's planned anything," Francois defended gently."She was just being honest."

"The hell she was," Dorothy interjected firmly."Delilah. I swear to God, it seems she just wraps men around her little finger and you go like a lamb for the slaughter."

"She's exactly like him," Ophelia whispered, more to herself than to the others, pressing her fingers into her temples."She's exactly like my father, selfish and self-centred, incapable of any sacrifice - for anyone."

"Ophelia," he tried to appease but the woman before him turned towards him swiftly, looking ready to bite his head off if he dared to contradict her but how could he not? What they were accusing of Morticia was too ludicrous for words but it was more than obvious that this whole situation was a ticking time bomb. Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure the said bomb was still ticking so he needed to tread extra carefully."I agree that marrying in secret was not her best move but I'm sure she had her reasons."

"That's for bloody sure," Dorothy muttered sarcastically.

"She obviously knew you were going to be against this marriage," he pointed out calmly.

"Of course I would be against it," Ophelia hissed at him."Every woman with a half a brain cell would know to stay away from that whoreson."

"Then why is it so surprising that she went behind your back?"

Ophelia tilted her head back and let out a short, mirthless laugh as if she found his question too ludicrous to grace it with the answer.

"Oh, please," she finally said, looking at him." She knew exactly what was expected of her," she continued fiercely."She agreed to it and then acted like we were forcing her hand. Jared was right, she acted like a victim in a situation that was hardly the end of the world."

"I'm sorry but what did you expect her to do?" He asked in disbelief."Marry against her will? The man you all chose?" he asked and was pretty sure that if there weren't a few people around then in the cafeteria Ophelia Diamond was ready to rip him into shreds.

"I expected that she would put our mother's wellbeing before her petty desires," she replied coldly."I expected that she would value her family's good name and her own reputation. I bloody expected a little gratitude after all we have done for her but that was obviously too much to ask. And don't you dare to defend her," she spat."Because you know absolutely nothing about her, she doesn't know the meaning of the word sacrifice and if you believe a word she's said to you then you're an even bigger idiot than I am," she continued hotly and then looked at him with a chilling determination."Well...I was because no more. If this is her game then by all means... let's play it."

Next to the conservatory, the kitchen was probably her most favourite place in the house. Perhaps, it was because from the very beginning Morticia spent so much time here doing things she was convinced were lost to her for years to come. Even the endless sorting of Eudora's paperwork she didn't mind. It was a comforting place, dark and dusty and filled with magic. Her mother-in-law was the epitome of disorganised but she was indeed a brilliant witch, a patient teacher who took great pride in her work. Her potions were indeed excellent.

"Put your hair in a hairband," Eudora instructed, vigorously mixing the ingredients in the small wooden bowl."This salve comes out particularly sticky and it takes about fifteen minutes for the skin to absorb it."

"What's in it?" Morticia asked curiously, dutifully twisting her black hair into a low bun at the nape of her neck.

"Yarrow, arnica, witch hazel, manuka honey and some tongue-twisting spells," her mother-in-law replied, nodding her head to the open spellbook mounted on the book holder at the kitchen table.

Morticia leaned over to glance where Eudora was pointing and almost winced.

"Hmmmm, is it a real spell or someone just picked the longest words in Latin and strung them together?" She asked facetiously, leaning back into her chair.

"Probably a little bit of both," Eudora retorted in a deadpan manner."Although mind you, I have met a witch from Gujarat and this," she pointed at the spellbook."Is peace of cake comparing to the spells they have - ancient Sanskirt. I would have to live a thousand years to learn how to pronounce it."

"I can imagine."

"Okay, tilt your head back slightly," Eudora instructed, lifting the bowl from the table and proceeded to chant the spell with such a mind-boggling speed Morticia couldn't catch a single word but did as requested."It may tingle a little," she said as she gently spread the salve on the prominent bruise under Morticia's left eye."Tell me if I'm pressing too hard."

"It's fine," Morticia assured gently and for a moment they fell into a comfortable silence as Eudora busied herself with covering Morticia's bruises with the ointment.

"I'm glad you've decided to get away for a few days," she mentioned off-handedly."It's important to recognize when we need time to recharge and take some time off."

"Time off," Morticia repeated sardonically."More like delaying the inevitable, Mama. Going away is not going to solve anything."

"Neither will rushing things," Eudora countered patiently."The conversation with your sister is not going to be easy. You need to be in the right frame of mind for it, firm and decisive. You're neither now, you're raw and vulnerable and you need to take time to acknowledge and accept that."

Morticia nodded gently in agreement but then dropped her gaze to her entwined hands.

"Acknowledging my vulnerability is quite a novel concept to me," she admitted lightly."In my family we tend to keep difficult feelings to ourselves until they break us," she added and touched her face inadvertently, immediately wrinkling her nose as the sticky substance of the healing salve attached itself to her fingertips."I forgot I had this on my face."

"Told you it was sticky," Eudora smiled."But it's healing properties are amazing. I have been using it on my boys since they were little. There wasn't a day when they didn't come home with bruises. They were magnets for trouble, Gomez especially."

"Oh, I believe it," Morticia replied, amused, wiping her fingers into the linen cloth.

"Morticia," Eudora said softly and sat down on the chair opposite Morticia's. She took the linen cloth from her hands and poured some water from the jag onto the material to get it wet, before gently wiping the remnants of the salve from Morticia's hand but didn't let go of her hand."This is going to take time," she said.

Morticia looked up at her and frowned in confusion.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," she replied tensely.

"You don't need to act as if nothing happened."

"I don't. "

"Okay... I might have said it wrong," Eudora smiled mirthlessly."I can see that...you're trying to be strong, like it's business as normal but... we're your family."

"I know -"

"And we want to help you."

Morticia dropped her gaze to their entwined hands and swallowed heavily.

"I understand," she said quietly.

"But?"

"Nothing, Mama," she assured but even to her own ears it didn't sound convincing, so she wasn't surprised when Eudora regarded her sceptically.

"Come on," she encouraged. "Out with it, I can see something's bothering you."

"A lot of things are bothering me," she replied and unsurprisingly was met with a firm gaze from her mother-in-law.

"You know what I mean."

"Mama, it's nothing, really...I just," she shrugged and looked away briefly."I know it's not, it's really…God, it's probably so stupid," she whispered and let out a small, mirthless chuckle.

"Tell me," Eudora encouraged."And I promise not to laugh openly."

Morticia smiled gently but shook her head.

"It's ridiculous," she admitted quietly, as if afraid someone might overhear, and gently bit her lower lip, which was not the greatest idea since it was still bruised."I can't help but feel that… that...I put a burden upon all of you, more than it's worth."

Eudora frowned at her words and blinked like it was truly the most ridiculous thing she's ever heard of.

"Well, that is ridiculous," Eudora admitted firmly."Darling, if we ever gave you any impression-"

"No," Morticia interjected promptly, shaking her head."No. That's the problem."

"I'm afraid you don't make any sense."

"Okay, I feel…," she paused, searching for the right words."You see... you've all done so much for me. You, especially, I owe you so much and I'm so grateful...and Fester and...Gomez and...I feel that all I've brought you are...my problems," she admitted finally and immediately felt her eyes fill with tears. God, will this ever stop? She was so tired of constantly feeling so vulnerable. She felt pathetic."My mother and Jared and...this whole blasted situation. It shouldn't be that way."

"And why not?"

She frowned, taken aback by the question.

"What do you mean why not?"

"Forgive me for saying this but you didn't exactly get a perfect package when you've married my son now, did you?" Eudora asked.

"Mama, Gomez is the most wonderful husband a woman can have."

Eudora couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Aha, he's also hot-tempered, has a maturity level of a thirteen-year-old, he's a jealous lunatic and his reputation is crawling somewhere in the gutters."

"Yes, but -"

"When you fall-in-love, you fall-in-love with the whole package," Eudora pointed out gently."Life is not perfect and it's not meant to be, people are not perfect either but you are not your problems, Morticia."

"Can one really separate a man from his problems?"

"None of it is even your fault," Eudora said firmly but Morticia only shrugged."It may not look like it now," she continued gently but paused briefly, wrapping her hands more firmly around Morticia's."But in every tribulation, there's a blessing. You know, for a long time, my relationship...my marriage brought me nothing but pain and despair, or so I thought, and even though I would never wish to relive the experience, I can appreciate it now… because it made me into a person I am today. It didn't break me even though there were times when I felt very much broken."

"I feel broken, Mama," she admitted in a painful whisper, trying desperately to blink the tears away and swallowed heavily."There are...moments when I feel like I'm going to get through this, that... I can manage and the next thing...I know I can't," she paused and inhaled deeply to stop her voice from trembling." Because...I really don't know how to deal with all this. I just want things to be finally normal."

Eudora swallowed heavily and wrapped her arms around Morticia, bringing her closer to herself.

"We all love you, Morticia," she said softly."You will get through this, you'll see... and we will help you however we can."

"I don't know how, Mama."

"We'll have to figure it out on the way," Eudora replied gently."Whatever you need, you tell us. You're not a burden, Morticia, don't ever think that. Ever."

Morticia nodded and gently freed herself from the comforting embrace. Too comforting and she didn't want to completely fall apart.

"You know, sometimes I wish I was more like Gomez," she admitted and let out a small chuckle when Eudora arched her eyebrow in surprise."To stop overthinking, stop constantly weighing the pros and cons and just be able to just...go and… beat someone up because it's the right thing to do without worrying about consequences," she explained.

"Sometimes, that's the only way, Morticia," Eudora nodded with a small smile."Sometimes, there's nothing left to do but say fuck it all and just... let the world burn."

In the end, they've decided to go to the lakeside the next day. Mostly, because Fester came home in a hyper-excited mood (courtesy to which they all now had a very sizable hole blown on the first floor) and proceeded to tell them all (mainly Morticia) how masterfully he managed to apologise to Dementia. Not only has she forgiven him his misdeeds but she's also invited him to meet her parents this coming Sunday for dinner. Was he out of the woods or what?

Most importantly, Fester managed to shift Morticia's focus, however briefly, from the events of the past few days and Gomez was grateful for that because he prided himself in reading his wife's mood like a book and he certainly noticed the change from the morning, when she was still rather weary but otherwise seemed alright, to when Morticia emerged from the kitchen looking suddenly like someone's put a ton of bricks on her shoulders. Her eyes were red and she suddenly announced she was tired and would rather prefer to go tomorrow instead. So when Fester came home with that absolutely ludicrous story of his nevertheless successful apologies to Dementia and proceeded to tell Morticia all about it, eliciting first an amused sparkle and then an actual laugh he was so happy he almost kissed his brother in sheer gratitude.

Gods, it was so difficult for him to see her like this. He hated that she worried so much, that she didn't sleep well and wasn't eating much and there was nothing any of them could do, except wait out the storm and let her heal. So, the least he could do was to make sure his wife had the time and space for that healing to happen...which was certainly not here, not in this city, with her family in such close proximity, like a sword of Damocles constantly over her head. She needed some time away from it all.

Today, though, Gomez was pleased to notice that Morticia seemed in a better mood. She had even insisted on having breakfast in the kitchen with everyone else so there was some progress. Her face looked less swollen as well, still badly bruised but certainly less swollen, thanks to whatever salve Mama gave her to use.

Unfortunately, just as they were finishing preparations for the trip this lovely afternoon, another problem arose. As if life wasn't painful enough. As if there was not enough misery, Gomez Addams was faced with seemingly another unsolvable problem. Although, apparently, his wife did not see it as a problem at all.

"I'm telling you, for the last time," Gomez sighed in exasperation."You're not going anywhere."

Alas! Yet again, he was met with a pair of those large, dark pleading eyes but there was no way he was going to cave in, not this time, no way in hell. He's made his decision and he was going to stick with it.

"You can stare at me all day," he insisted stubbornly."Not going to change my mind."

"Darling," Morticia said softly, tilting her head."I don't think there's much you can do about it."

He let out a weary sigh when his words produced no desired results. Surely, this must be the most stubborn creature in existence.

"This will not do, Tish."

"Just what do you think you can do?" came his wife's amused reply.

He held the gaze steadily, barely blinking. He was not going to back away from his decision and that's that. He made his stance explicitly clear but if need be he can make it even clearer.

"Kitty, you insufferable little devil, for the last time...get out of the car," he commanded firmly.

Kitty roared at him happily.

"He just wants to go for a trip with the parents," Morticia pointed out, highly amused."Don't you find it adorable?"

"That's that, querida, we need to urgently go over the definition of adorable you obviously got it all wrong, Kitty - out!" He insisted, ignoring his wife's amused laugh behind him, because the damned animal did not budge from the back seat. The hell with it though, it was music to his ears to hear her laugh again...even if it was at his expense.

"Oh darling, let him go with us," she insisted, amusement still dancing in her voice."I'm sure he will behave."

"I'm equally sure he's going to be his usual insufferable, spoiled self," he retorted, still glaring at the cub who now dared to roll on his back at the back seat and playfully wriggled his tail at Gomez, roaring happily."See?"

"How can you resist this little ball of fluff?" she asked, patting Kitty's furry tum, but Gomez only groaned dramatically, making her laugh again. "You want to go with us for a trip, don't you darling?" she cooed at the lion who was obviously delighted with his mistress attention and rolled around on the back seat of the car like a lunatic."Gomez, let's take him."

"Ugh, Tish, come on...what in the seven hells is he doing here?"

"Who?"Morticia frowned at his annoyed tone and turned, noticing that Gomez suddenly looked very much like the thundercloud above them before finally noticing the reason for his displeasure.

The man in a fedora hat, dressed in a light-grey suit with a small, white package in his hand was walking slowly towards them, his body posture tense, looking very much like he wasn't sure he should be here.

She frowned in surprise but didn't make a move to greet him, she waited patiently for the man to approach them and, unsurprisingly, felt Gomez's possessive hand on her hip and he took a stance next to her. She resisted an urge to sigh in annoyance, visitors were the last thing she wanted. Any visitors at all.

"Francois," she greeted him somewhat warily as he came nearer and she watched him swallow heavily as he looked at her briefly, obviously suddenly unsure where to direct his gaze. Well… this was shaping to be a spectacularly awkward meeting."What a surprise."

"Yes, well...I bet it is," he replied uncomfortably.

Morticia was about to politely introduce the two men but apparently her husband had other ideas. She couldn't help but widen her eyes in utter shock but then blinked and promptly schooled her features.

"Please forgive my husband," she stated in a matter of fact tone."I assure you that his manners are usually impeccable and he seldom growls at people."

The man before her, however, didn't look taken aback at all by Gomez's peculiar behaviour as if all was in order. Perhaps, it's perfectly normal for the grown men to growl at each other.

"I will have to take your word on that," he replied and smiled feebly before extending his hand towards Gomez."Francois Chalon," he introduced himself and the man before him shook his hand with such an ostentatious reluctance it was almost comical."Sorry for just walking in unannounced but your gate just...opened."

"Gomez Addams," he muttered moodily."I guess I will have to remind the gate of its terms of employment."

Truly, Morticia didn't know whether to laugh or scold him or both.

"I apologise," Francois turned towards her with that annoying gaze people were now regarding her with, even her husband, that look without seeing. It annoyed her to death, even though she understood they were simply trying not to stare at the bruises on her face. Perhaps, she should just tell them it didn't make it any less awkward."I should have called first. I hope I'm not imposing."

"Not at all," Morticia lied silkily, entirely ignoring yet another annoyed low growl coming from her husband.

"I...ehmm...I was worried...about you," he said hesitantly."I wanted to make sure you're…," he faltered, unsure how to phrase his thoughts."Your sister told me what happened...and I just…," he paused again and shrugged as if unsure what to do with himself, before continuing in a half-whisper:" I just wanted to see you, to see if… if you're alright."

Morticia cleared her throat gently, shifting somewhat uncomfortably.

"Well, I've been better," she replied curtly.

"Yes, I...I'm...I don't really know what to say," he admitted and swallowed heavily."I just wanted to make sure…"

"I understand," she assured and forced a gentle smile on her face."I appreciate it."

"God, I'm sorry...this is terribly awkward," he said."I really should have called first," he felt beyond embarrassed. Somehow, it didn't occur to him that to see her like this would make her feel uncomfortable but, in his defence, he really only wanted to make sure she was…well, fine is a stupid word in this situation. He didn't expect her to look this bad. "I just wanted to see you."

Morticia nodded at him, not exactly sure where to go from here.

"Well, why don't we take this awkward afternoon to a whole 'nother level?" Gomez supplied in a tone that was hard to decipher, somewhere between jolly and blatantly sarcastic."Would you like to come in?"

"Oh no, I don't think -"

"We insist," Gomez pressed, motioning towards the front door, to the obvious surprise of both his wife and the man before him."Our butler makes refreshments to die for...literally."

"Gomez, darling -"

"I jest, my dear," he assured jovially, leading them both into the house.

"Indeed?"

"Maybe," he deadpanned."Time will tell."

Francois smiled uneasily but reluctantly made him way inside the mansion, trying very hard to resist an almost overwhelming urge to run.

He was really trying no to stare but this house was...what? Bizarre? Eccentric? Eclectic? Enchanting and terrifying? Something, straight from a gothic novel. Yes to all of the above and even that didn't adequately describe it. He has never seen a house like this in his life and he had quite a few eccentric relatives. He just couldn't help but stare around as the couple led him to the parlour.

What the hell was he thinking, showing up here like that? What a spectacularly stupid idea that was. Yet, he told her the truth, he just wanted to see her, maybe talk to her...get some clarity but the bruises on her face spoke volumes. It was clear that the bastard didn't just hit her. He could not comprehend how either of them, Ophelia or Dorothy, could sit in their holy outrage when they both obviously knew what he'd done to her.

"I'm sorry for making this awkward," Francois said as they entered the parlour and Gomez excused himself to call for some refreshment but not before ostentatiously placing a soft kiss on Morticia's temple and asking if she would be alright on her own… like what on earth did Addams think he was going to do?"I really should have called first."

"Don't worry about it," she replied softly as she sat gracefully on the vintage sofa near the fireplace and motioned for him the armchair opposite.

"Your husband seemed irritated," he pointed out as he took his seat and put his hat on the arm of the chair.

"Well, it's been a rough couple of days," Morticia replied tensely."For everyone."

"I know...I…," he sighed and swallowed uncomfortably."What he did to you...I couldn't believe it, it's…," he paused and inhaled deeply when she dropped her gaze from his."I'm sorry. It's...hard to find the right words...I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's hard to make it anything else but uncomfortable," she admitted."It's hard to know how to behave… even I don't know how to behave, so don't feel bad."

He nodded and looked at her intently for a moment.

"How are you holding up?"

She shrugged.

"Just another thing to survive, isn't it?" she retorted cooly but then her posture softened and she shrugged again."I don't know, not that well I suppose," she replied and swallowed heavily.

"Just take it one day at the time," he advised."There's no timeline. Take it easy."

"Taking things easy is not exactly an option at the moment."

"I understand," he replied carefully."But it's important you focus on yourself now," he added and couldn't miss a slight wince that crossed her features.

"Have you seen my sister then?" she asked instead, eager to find out what the situation was.

"I have," he nodded."Seen Jared too. I took him to the hospital."

"You?" she frowned, well, she didn't expect that but then it explained how he found out about the whole thing so quickly.

"He called me," he told her. "He asked if I could come over as he needed a ride, so I came and ...well, he passed out on the way to the hospital soon after so I didn't really get a chance to find out what happened," he admitted and dropped his gaze from hers briefly."Because had I known what I know now, I would have left him to crawl his way to the hospital."

She couldn't help but smile at his words.

"Did Gomez beat him very badly?" she asked tentatively.

"Oh yes," he nodded immediately and couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle."Really badly."

"Just how badly?"

"The doctors said they are confident about his full recovery," he informed her."But it will take him a few good months to get there. Broken hands and a broken leg will most likely take weeks to heal...among other things."

Morticia raised her eyebrows in response to his words. Her husband certainly didn't hold back...but then again, it was quite possible that he did indeed hold back.

"Gomez was so furious," she explained slowly."I thought he was going to kill him."

"I almost wish he had," Francois replied somberly but Morticia smiled at his response.

"It seems to be the opinion of the majority," she admitted.

"But not yours?" he guessed and watched her shake her head gently.

"What did my sister tell you?" she asked apprehensively, placing her hands on her knees and smoothed the invisible wrinkles on her long, black dress.

"Dorothy told her you've provoked him," he told her tensely."That you've argued with him and deliberately provoked him."

"I expected that," she nodded and tilted her head slightly."Did she believe her?"

"She's very angry," he replied instead."Furious, really so...I would say so."

"I didn't want any of this to happen," Morticia said quietly."I only wanted to speak to her, to explain. I didn't want...this," she explained, waving her hand gently in a circular motion."I really didn't mean for any of this - "

"Morticia, you can't allow them to put the guilt on you," he retorted fiercely.

"I'm not - "

"But you are," he insisted and then leaned closer towards her and continued in a slow, low voice."Listen to me...you've had every right to make a decision to live your life on your own terms. You're not a damn puppet for them to pull the strings at. Don't let Ophelia...or anyone else...look, whatever your sister will say to you...don't compromise. They need to realise that this," he paused and gestured vaguely in a circular motion around the room."Is permanent. This is your life now, you're married and they have to come to terms with it, they have to accept it."

"What if they won't?" Morticia asked quietly."What if she never forgives me?"

"You have done nothing wrong," he retorted and then tilted his head slightly to the right."Granted, marrying Mr Addams in secret was probably not the best move," he told her facetiously and was pleased when it elicited a small, amused laugh from her.

"It wasn't planned at all," she admitted."I didn't think it through farther than the fact that I wanted to be married to him as soon as possible, I didn't do it to spite anyone."

"I know," he assured with surprising confidence."I don't think it's in your nature to do anything for the sake of spite."

"Is that your professional opinion?" she asked, slightly amused.

"I can certify it if you wish," he retorted, smiling gently but then he bit his lower lip and regarded her more seriously."You need to stand your ground on this one, Morticia. No matter what."

"Even for the sake of losing my sister?" she asked hoarsely.

"Then so be it."

She shook her head at him.

"I can't do that."

"What she wants from you," he replied instead."You cannot give her. What they all want from you is cruel and unfair. You can't compromise on your values and you shouldn't be asked to. This is your life, Morticia. No one is going to live it for you. It's your choice and you have to choose what's best for you and that requires to sometimes just let the things run their course."

"I don't want to lose them," Morticia whispered."My nephew and Ophelia...I don't want them out of my life, I want them to be a part of it. I can't stand the thought that she might not allow me to see him anymore, that he might think I don't love him, that I have abandoned him."

"I understand," he told her gently."I'm not saying it will be easy, it won't be...but you must stand your ground on this, Morticia, you mustn't back away. It takes time to heal...it takes time to see things for what they really are, do you understand?"

She nodded and swallowed heavily.

"Don't worry so much about Ophelia," he continued knowingly."She's tougher than you think. Tougher than you all think, she won't break… but you can't allow her to break you instead."

She thought for a long moment, not quite looking at him.

"It's really difficult for me, Francois," she admitted quietly.

"You're not alone in this," he continued."Let the people around you help, okay? They want to be there for you...let them be there for you."

She nodded faintly.

"I'm trying," she assured."I'm sorry you have been dragged into this mess,"

"Well, I'm not," he smiled gently."I really meant what I said to you on the beach, I would love for us to be friends. I hope you consider me your friend."

"Me too," she whispered and smiled at him gratefully."And thank you for being a good friend."

He returned the smile and dropped his gaze briefly.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, looking at the white, cardboard box in his hands."Sandrine wanted you to have it. She wanted to come over to see you but I've told her you were...feeling poorly, so she made you a gift."

"Oh, how sweet, thank you," she replied and smiled happily, genuinely touched and took the box from his hands.

"Just...be careful, this might be a dead frog," he warned."My daughter has an odd idea of what constitutes a gift."

Morticia opened the box slowly and peered inside.

"What do you know, it is a dead frog," she laughed and then regarded him warmly."You must tell her I absolutely loved it."

"What a wonderful gentleman, this Chalon," his mother whispered to him as she focused on blatantly overhearing the conversation that was currently taking place in the parlour despite Gomez's ardent protests."Pity it didn't work out for them."

"Thanks," he replied dryly, trying to glare the hell out of her but was absolutely ignored.

"Oh, dear, you know I didn't mean it that way…," she waved at him in a dismissive manner."Still -"

"I can't believe you, Mama."

"They would have made a very agreeable couple, don't you think?"

"Here," he handed her a large kitchen knife." Just stab me, it will be less painful than this conversation."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic."

"Worst mother in the history of forever," he murmured, folding his arms moodily."Where did you even get that thing from?" he asked, referring to some listening device that Eudora whipped up on the table the moment he informed her about their very, extremely uninvited guest.

Eudora turned to him with a blatant smirk on her face.

"A spy shop," she deadpanned.

He deliberately waited until the man was at the gate before catching up with him. Not that he was interested in spending time with him, he wasn't, (he very much wasn't) so he really appreciated that Chalon wasn't insisting on staying longer than was politely acceptable. He could also do without his wife bidding him goodbye with an affectionate hug but ...ugh, he reckoned he had to deal with it. He might not like it but one had to give the credit where credit was due.

"Chalon," he called after him gruffly and waited for the man to turn and face him. Gomez was pleased to notice that Chalon looked as excited at the prospect of talking to him as Gomez was and he tried not to smirk. He inhaled deeply and drew his lower lip in between his teeth, siding his hands into the pockets of his trousers.."Thank you," he said finally."What you've said...she really needed to hear that...thank you for telling her that."

"Wh...how on earth do you...," he shook his head and smiled to himself."Never mind. Probably don't want to know anyway."

"You probably don't," Gomez agreed, allowing his lips to curl into a small smirk."I mean it though. I appreciate it."

"I didn't do it for you," Francois replied brazenly.

"I know," he nodded."But I appreciate it, nevertheless."

"She put her whole life in the line for you," he remarked somberly."And you should make sure to prove to her, every day for the rest of your life, that she's made the right choice."

"I know that," Gomez replied stiffly.

"Good," Francois nodded."But it never hurts to be reminded," he added pointedly before touching the rim of his fedora hat in a lazy gesture of salute."It was interesting meeting you, Mr Addams," he said and again made a move towards the gate.

"Francois," he called after him and the man turned again with a bemused expression on his face."I would…," he paused and winced, as if it was almost physically painful to get the words out."God, I have a feeling I'm going to regret this," he muttered under his nose, loud enough for the man before him to hear."If...you'd like to visit...you know, sometimes...we'd love to have you, and your daughter."

Whatever the man was expecting it certainly wasn't this if the look of utter surprise was anything to go by.

"Well...I wouldn't say no to a tour of this house," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Sometimes."

"Anytime," Gomez assured and smiled back.

A little.

He waited until Francois was a good few feet away from the gate before making his way back slowly towards the mansion where his wife was already waiting for him at the door, her arms crossed loosely against her middle.

"Don't say it, Tish," he warned, noticing a knowing look on her face.

"I wasn't going to," she assured, obviously biting her cheeks.

He joined her at the door, sneaking his arm around her lithe waist and watched her eyes sparkle with amusement before lowering his lips to hers.

"Don't even think it, then."

A/N: Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed!