Five knew he shouldn't have been sneaking around after lights out, but he wasn't tired and everyone else was asleep.
The risk was low.
And then he spotted the light coming from his Father's study.
Quietly he crept closer. He knew where every squeaky floorboard was in this house, so it wasn't hard to get a little closer to the door, where he could hear Father muttering, and Pogo's soft tones.
"What do we know about his power progression?"
"Not a lot Sir." Pogo replied, almost warily, "The Addams' mansion is a rather vast estate. We can't keep an eye on him all the time."
"So, what do we know?!"
There was a moment of silence, prompting Five to lean in a little closer, just in case he missed anything.
"Number Four appears to be able to speak to anyone once they've passed away, often holding full conversations with them. On occasion he can- " Pogo paused.
"- He can WHAT?!"
Five too, had to admit that he was curious, leaning in closer.
"He appears to be able to manifest them in the physical world, sometimes even touching them and allowing them to interact with the real world."
"Can he raise the dead?"
"Not-not that we can see."
Five was carefully filing all this in his memory.
Number Four.
Who was here and where could he be found?
"His powers are progressing at a remarkable rate." His Father muttered, "More so than the others. Why?"
"If I may make a suggestion?" Pogo carefully spoke up, "Perhaps it's a difference in pa- "
"- Increase the children's training." Pogo was interrupted, "Two more hours a day. Let's see if that won't get them up to a similar level."
"Sir, I really think- "
"- IMMEDIATELY!"
"… Yes Sir."
Carefully, Five backed away from the door, until he was far enough away to jump to safety.
Maybe now, Father would permit him to try and incorporate time travel into his jumps.
….
"…and Mama promises that I can get my own sword for my birthday." Klaus babbled, sitting on the shoulders of his great uncles' statue, "What do you think about this shade for my eyes?"
His Great Uncle, seated at the foot of his grave, smiled warmly up at the boy, "Very morbid."
"Thank you!"
The make-up kit had been a gift from Wednesday and none of the family were surprised to see that Klaus was a natural at using it.
Morticia often remarked that her son was a catch, and that they'd be feeding any potential suitors to her garden.
"Maybe I should use a darker shade on the edges." Klaus mused, looking into the mirror, putting it down to ask his Great Uncle… only to spot an older boy slowly moving through the graves.
He didn't look like an Addam's ghost, but there were always exceptions to the normal family look.
"Hello?" Klaus called out, tilting his head to the side as the older boy yelped and jumped back, eyes scanning the graveyard, before he spotted Klaus sitting on top of the statue.
"What the- "
"- I've never seen you before?" Klaus frowned, "Are you new?"
"N-No." The older boy stuttered, "I've lived here for a while, but my friends dared me to come in here and- "
"- You're not a ghost?"
The older boy frowned, "No? Do you… often get ghosts?"
Klaus gestured around them, at the cemetery. "Where else would you find them?"
"Most people can't… see them." The teen moved a little closer, not looking as tense, "What's your name?"
"Klaus. What about you?"
"David… but my friends call me Dave."
"Dave." Klaus beamed down at the teen, "Do you want to play hide and seek?"
….
"Ben!"
Ben yelped as Five suddenly ported into his room, causing him to drop the book he was reading.
"Twelfth Night?" Five questioned, picking the book up and frowning at the cover, "Shakespeare? Really?"
"It's one of his happier ones." Ben defended, taking his book back, "Mistaken identity, crossdressing, things like that."
"…. Where did you even get it?"
"Pogo."
Five nodded in understanding. Pogo had always indulged in Ben's love for books. Before Ben could get back into his book, Five spoke up again.
"Have you ever heard Father mention a Number Four?"
Shake of the head.
"Not even once?"
"No… why?"
"Well, don't you think it's strange that we don't have a Number Four?"
Ben was silent for a time, before he shrugged, "A little bit, but you know what Father is like." His voice lowered, "I don't think he'd want you asking questions like this."
"I don't care." Five waved his hand in dismissal, "This is a mystery, and I'm going to solve it."
Ben was already reading his book.
The next morning, Five ran away… and never came back.
…
A uniformed teenager calling out for his family in the wreckages of crumbled buildings.
A young man torn apart by some sort of creature, terrified screams of children echoing all around him.
Gorgeous brown eyes looked up at her, before they were glazed over by death.
Death was a beautiful thing, but not for one so young and not when she believed it could be prevented.
Grandma woke up with a muted scream, glancing around her room.
It wasn't an apocalypse dream… but it might as well have been for all the horror she felt in her bones.
She recognised the uniform the children were wearing though, and that gave her a head start on stopping them.
"Wednesday!" She called out croakily, only to stop.
Oh yeah, she'd forgotten.
"Klaus! Klaus!"
….
Grandmama's death had been quick and peaceful in her sleep many years ago, and the Addams Family had celebrated her passing for almost an entire week.
Grandmama had enjoyed every minute of it, clapping along to the beat.
She had loved every minute of being a ghost so far, so when Klaus heard the cries from her old room, he rushed there immediately.
A pity really, because he had been having a wonderful dream about his new friend.
"Yes Grandmama?" He entered the room quickly, eyes immediately going to the bed.
Ghosts didn't really need to sleep, but Grandmama had found it hard to break out of small habits.
"Gather the family!" She ordered, "I have important news!"