It was their one-year wedding anniversary.
Gomez decided to surprise Morticia by taking her to a place his company recently acquired. Traveling overseas, the two stayed at exotic locations until their 365supth/sup day arrived.
"Come," Gomez held out a hand to his wife, "I want to show you something,"
The two trekked through the jungle, Gomez leading the way with a map he'd printed and laminated prior to their departure from America. Morticia smiled to herself as they weaved in and out of the thick forest of trees; she'd never seen this adventurous side of her husband before, and she was eager to find out what exactly he'd obtained on the other side of the world.
After about an hour of hiking, the two reached a small mouth of a cave. "It may not look like much from here," Gomez said as he ignited two lanterns and handed one to Morticia, "But I can assure you what's inside is spectacular,"
The two ducked inside the formation, Morticia grateful she'd decided on wearing her combat boots for this journey. The further inward they traveled, however, the higher and wider the space expanded, making it much easier to maneuver.
"Gomez!" Morticia gasped in wonder as she spotted something on the cavern floor. Kneeling, Gomez brought his lantern closer to the ground for a better look.
A small cluster of crystals sparkled in the artificial light. And not just any crystals-these were colored a deep blood red.
"I've never seen anything like this," Morticia said as she traced her fingers along the gems.
"Would you like to see more?"
Morticia's eyes widened. "Oui, Mon Cher,"
Larger clusters appeared as they continued inward, increasing in number until they came upon a cavern filled with them from top to bottom. A section of the ceiling had been carved away by Gomez's workmen, allowing sunlight to illuminate the fantastical world. A waterfall on the other side flowed freely into a spring, the red hue giving it the illusion of blood cascading down. From the spring emerged a trail of rose stems leading to a king-sized bed.
"It's beautiful!" Morticia breathed as she looked at the wonderous sight around them.
"Not as beautiful as you," Morticia turned to her husband, and in his eyes, she knew he meant it. Yes, the cavern was exquisite, but it did not hold a candle to her Gomez. In him she had love, security, and comfort; with him, she would never feel alone again.
"Whatever did I do in this life to deserve someone like you?" Morticia asked as Gomez gently folded her into an embrace.
"You were merely you,"
They stood in the middle of the cavern, enveloped in the macabre beauty and one another. Every trace from Gomez's fingertips left an electric static on Morticia's skin, until he whisked her off the floor and carried her to the bed.
Starlight streamed into the cave, bouncing its soft light off the crystals and casting pointed shadows into various corners of the cavern. Within the dimly lit darkness Gomez and Morticia lay in the bed, her head resting on his chest.
"This is wonderful," she said, closing her eyes and listening to the trickling of the water as she felt the warmth of his body beneath her.
"We can stay here forever if you wish, Cara Mia," Gomez whispered as he gently stroked her back.
Morticia placed a hand on his cheek. "What I wish," she said, "Is to spend the rest of my life with you,"
Gomez's smile lit up the darkness. "That's all I could ever want,"
