Gomez had never been so happy to be home. The week he spent on his honeymoon was so exhausting and miserable he thought he had crossed the depths to hell. Ophelia was relentless, constantly needing his attention. Now that he was home, he thought he might have a chance at hiding. He was sitting in the library enjoying a cigar when the phone rang. He was about to answer when the ringing suddenly stopped. He shrugged it off, assuming someone answered it from the other room. A few minutes passed, then Thing was wildly warning him that Ophelia was on her way. Sure enough, she ran into the room her buzzing energy already tiring him.

"Husband! I have just received marvelous news!"

"I'm dying?"

"No, silly. My dear sister is getting married, and to a relation of yours."

"Morticia?"

Gomez felt his heart drop into his stomach. He knew Mrs. Frump wanted Ophelia to be married before she found a suitor for Morticia, but he was surprised that she had found someone so quickly.

"Of course, Morticia! Her betrothed is Balthazar Addams."

"Balthazar!? No! No greater rake has ever lived. Morticia cannot marry him."

"It seems he has settled down, Gomez. Mama says he is very dedicated to Morticia."

The thought of his womanizing distant cousin leering at Morticia, or worse putting his hands on her, infuriated Gomez.

"Oh, I'm sure he's dedicated. Once he finds something he wants, he will do anything to obtain it. I am worried about his attentiveness after the wedding."

"Gomez!" Ophelia was appalled by his blatant words. "He is an Addams! How can you speak so ill of him?"

"Because your sister deserves better. She deserves the world, and Balthazar cannot give her that."

"Well, you are being ridiculous. Balthazar is a fine man, and I'm sure he will make a fine husband."

"Oh, are you, Ophelia? Are you sure? What exactly do you consider traits of a fine husband?"

Gomez's volume surprised Ophelia. Her instincts made her take a few steps back. It was the first time in their short marriage that Gomez raised his voice to her. She tried to shake off her original discomfort, and return to her natural conversational demeanor. Her lilting voice softened as she carefully chose her next words.

"Balthazar may not be perfect, but he apparently adores Morticia. He can provide her a stable home and she will not want for anything."

"He's rich." Gomez scoffed in disgust. "Don't you wish more for your own sister?"

Ophelia stared at him wide eyed. Her confused and naïve expression annoyed Gomez even more. Her lack of response gave Gomez the time to realize why his wife had no response.

"Of course." He ran his hand through his hair. "You married for those reasons, why shouldn't she?"

Ophelia's gaze went to the floor. It wasn't because of embarrassment, only because she did not know how to handle his tone. Minutes of uncomfortable silence passed between them. Gomez's heartbeat echoed in his ears, each pounding rush of blood mocking his desire to die.

"When?" His hoarse voice broke the thick silence. Ophelia gently ran her fingers across the petals blooming on her head.

"Tomorrow. They waited for us to get back. Mama says it is going to be quite the party. We are to wear our best."

Gomez nodded. Nausea seeped over his being as the reality of Ophelia's words took hold of him. Suddenly, he was running passed his wife in search of the bathroom. Ophelia stood dazed for a moment looking after her fleeing husband. Although he seemed sickly before their marriage, she did not expect it to get worse so quickly. She sighed and pulled on the noose that activated Lurch's bell.

"You rang?"

"Lurch, my dear. It seems that Mr. Addams has once again taken ill. Will you have mama Addams cook up some lizard stew?"

Lurch nodded and began to leave.

"Oh, and Lurch?" He waited for his new mistress to continue. "Do make sure you lay out Mr. Addams' best suit for tomorrow. Ill or not, he will be the most handsome man at the event tomorrow."

"Yes, Mrs. Addams."

As Lurch left, Ophelia smiled to herself. She was looking forward to mingling with more people, it seemed like ages since she had been to a social gathering. For a moment, she wished she had had a bigger wedding instead of an intimate ceremony. All the fun she imagined she missed haunted her.

"Oh! A gift! I need to get Morticia and Balthazar a wedding gift." She told herself, going over all the possibilities of what to get the newlyweds. Just as she decided, she went to tell Gomez that she would be going out, but decided against it. He would not notice if she was gone a few hours, and she was growing weary of seeing him hunched over on the bathroom floor. She hummed to herself as she gathered her purse and coat, and called Lurch to bring the car. As she drove away, she glanced at the old mansion she now called home and wished that her husband would notice her absence.