The day had come to bury Balthazar, and his entire family was returning to his large estate to watch as he was lowered into the ground. They all expected to find Morticia distraught with grief at the loss of her new husband. She would be shrouded so heavily in black fabric that every distinct trait of her form would be unrecognizable. The news of her miscarriage spread through the relatives in sympathetic whispers. They all expected a solemn scene of heartache, but were all disappointed.

Morticia wore the fitted black gown she had worn at Ophelia's wedding, taking comfort in the fact that it was something Balthazar had not picked out or paid for. The black veil from her wedding covered her pale expressionless face. She glided down the make shift aisle with a new confidence. Her movements exclaimed that she was no longer the shy, nervous young girl they had watched get married, in her suffering she had become an enigmatic and enticing woman. All eyes watched as she went to her designated seat near the casket. Before she sat down, she scanned the faces of those around her, searching for where Gomez was planted. Luckily, he was only two rows back. He flashed her a charming smile which encouraged her to sit down and try to breathe. Endless agony pressed on her inflating organs as her ribs were moved with each influx of air. She tried all she could to relieve the pain, her bosom frantically lifting as she only allowed the top of her lungs to drink in oxygen.

Hester's arms reached out to aid Morticia, gently easing her broken body down to rest on the chair. As soon as she was positioned against the hard back of her chair, Morticia's hands folded in her lap. Hester covered Morticia's interlocked hands with her own, offering a small reassuring squeeze. Gomez's gaze bore through the back of her head and went straight to her heart. Just knowing his eyes were glued to her form gave her comfort, it meant that she was safe.

Various family members took their turns speaking about Balthazar. Morticia didn't hear anything they said, lost in her own thoughts. It wasn't until she repeatedly heard her name that she finally looked up to watch the speaker. It was obvious that this distant cousin of Balthazar loved being the center of attention, and he was shamelessly using his family's tragedies to keep his spotlight. Everyone else had carefully avoided speaking about the miscarriage, knowing it was salt in a festering wound, yet he thought it was appropriate to discuss in his eulogy. Morticia barely remembered him, unsure if they had even met at her wedding or if he had just been in the sea of faces. Now he was speaking about her and her lost child as if he was her dearest confidant. As he claimed the loss of Balthazar's child as a senseless tragedy, Morticia's heart burst with sorrow.

She wanted to scream that Balthazar had nothing to do with the little life that had been planted in her womb, nothing except being responsible for its untimely demise. She wanted to tell the entire Addams clan that Balthazar was horrid, that he didn't deserve their sympathy, yet her voice was stifled by the thought of Gomez's child being brutally taken from her. Trembling hands wrapped around her abdomen, trying to remember what it felt like when her body was a vessel. Tears were forming in her blue eyes when suddenly a familiar voice caressed her ears.

"My beloved family, "

Morticia's gaze shot up to land on Gomez's handsome face. Somehow, he had wrestled away the cruel narcissist that was speaking, and managed to take over the speech. Gomez was staring at her, making it clear that he had known she was upset and he was there to protect her.

"I think we have all expressed what a terrible loss Balthazar's death is. Let us not selfishly wallow, Balthazar would want us to celebrate! He has beat us all to dancing with our beloved ancestors. Now come, let us all pay our individual respects."

With that, Gomez walked down and casually took the seat next to Morticia. To everyone else, it seemed as if it was an easy place to sit and get out of the way of the line that was forming to the coffin, but Gomez made his true motive known to his love by taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips.

They sat together, hands intertwined as all the attendees walked up to steal one last look at Balthazar. Neither Morticia nor Gomez moved towards the open casket. When most everyone had left, Hester left her daughter's side to give Balthazar one final curse. As she passed the couple on her way back down the aisle, her hand squeezed Gomez's shoulder stealing a second of his attention.

"I'll clear everyone from the house."

"Thank you, mama." His use of the word took Hester by surprise, but it seemed to mean nothing to him or Morticia. They were a family, and Gomez was simply reacting to the fact. Hester nodded, and gave another little squeeze to his shoulder before making her way to the house. She glanced back before walking through the door, and saw her daughter securely protected in Gomez's arms, her veil suddenly missing.

"Querida?"

Morticia sighed and leaned into his warm side, breathing in his strong, intoxicating scent.

"What happens now, mon amour?"

Gomez grunted and pulled away, taking Morticia's hand to his lips and proceeded to make his way up her arm.

"Tish, your French." He managed to say between kisses.

"Darling," she tried to divert his attention back to her worries, but Gomez was focused on his task. "Gomez, I feel trapped. Darling, tell me there is a spider waiting in this cobweb and I am not just a starving fly."

"Morticia Mia," Gomez gazed into her eyes. "You are the spider, my love. This life is your cobweb, and although the wind may have shaken your stability, you will continue to spin and kill. You are not trapped, querida, you are the weaver of the world! Together my love, we shall conquer anything!"

"Oh Gomez" Morticia sighed, her hands embracing each side of his face to pull him into a kiss. Gomez devoured her, wanting to possess her entirely. She was melting under the growing pressure of his body pressing against her. Morticia was ready to deepen their connection, letting her hands roam down Gomez's back encouragingly. He growled at her touch, but pulled away without explanation. Both her hands were clasped tightly in his, and he dropped to his knees before her.

"Gomez?"

"Cara Mia, my goddess, Tish, you are the light my soul clings to in the darkness of life. To me, you are more beautiful than the moon! Gentle yet striking, reserved yet overflowing with wit, everything about you is irresistible, and Tish, I want every part of you to be mine. I need you querida, more than I need air. All my thoughts are of you. I cannot imagine my life if you are not in it, I would cease to exist! Morticia, since the first day I saw you pulling kitty cat into the conservatory, I knew you were meant to be mine. I was a coward then, but now I refuse to let you get away again. Cara Mia, I want nothing more in this life than to call you my wife. Will you marry me, Tish?"

She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to her lips. He could feel the cold streaks of tears on her pale cheeks. Gomez caressed her long raven tresses as he broke their connection.

"I'll take that as a yes"

She laughed. "Oiu, mon cher."

"Oh Tish, that's French."