Hello, thanks for clicking on my story! This can be read as either Wenclair pre-relationship, or purely a friendship fic. I hope you enjoy!

Wednesday was typing away, working on her next novel when Enid burst through the door in tears.

She rolled her eyes and drew in a breath, reminding herself to be patient. Not everyone could be composed as she and Enid was always emotional, which was exhausting. But, she had promised she would try to be more openly compassionate when she was upset, something that Wednesday was admittedly not very good at.

It wasn't that she didn't care, because she did, she just never knew the right way to handle it so she typically didn't bother. There were other people far more equipped to provide emotional support than she could ever be.

That didn't mean she couldn't at least try.

"Who hurt you?" Wednesday demanded, "I will cut off their fingers one by one and make them eat their dismembered digits…"

"Jeez Wednesday," Enid sniffed, giggling softly through her tears, "no need to overreact."

"But you're the one crying," Wednesday said.

"It's nothing," Enid wiped away her tears, "I just had a fight with my mother."

Is that all? She thought.

"Oh, I see," Wednesday said, "I suppose that violence would not be the best course of action then in this case."

"Wednesday, violence is not the best course of action in most cases," Enid pointed out.

"We'll have to agree to disagree on that," Wednesday said, "I find it to be an effective way to convey the message to not mess with me or my people, and that includes you, so just say the word and…"

"I'm not going to sic you on my mother. She's a werewolf, she'll rip your throat out."

"It's not a full moon tonight. I dare her to try," Wednesday shrugged. She turned back to her typewriter and resumed writing, expecting Enid to go to Yoko like she usually did when she was upset, someone who was much better at comforting her than she could ever be.

But instead, Enid sat on the leather chair by her desk and continued to cry quietly.

Wednesday continued typing for a moment, but Enid crying in her leather chair was distracting. She glanced at Enid out of the corner of her eye and that's when it occurred to her that this might be a test. Wednesday took pride in her ability to excel at anything she put her mind to, but this was something that was harder than anything else she tried, but like with everything she would do her best.

"Enid uh…do you want…to um, talk about it?" she asked, a little uncertain if that was what she was supposed to say or do.

But then she regretted her words because she didn't actually want to talk about anything right now. Certainly not about feelings and family drama and definitely not during her writing time. She just wanted Enid to not be upset anymore, but Enid couldn't turn off her emotions like Wednesday could. Wednesday's new court-ordered therapist had surmised that Wednesday was actually suppressing her emotions because that was easier than confronting them, but Wednesday had to disagree.

Enid smiled, though her eyes still leaked tears so she clearly didn't feel better but at least Wednesday's question alleviated at least some of her emotional pain.

"It was nothing…"

It was obviously not nothing, but Wednesday held her tongue. She had learned that this was just her way of working towards talking about what was bothering her and calling her out on her tiptoeing around what she clearly wanted to talk about had not gone over well in the past.

Enid sighed and after a moment said, "You know how last term I wolfed out for the first time?"

Wednesday reflexively rolled her left shoulder, the remnants of a still-healing arrow wound from that night tugged at her damaged nerves and reawakened a dull, throbbing ache. "How could I forget?"

Enid gave her a knowing look of sympathy. Wednesday tried to hold back her expression of disgust at Enid's pity, but judging by the slight kicked-puppy look she got on her face, she clearly didn't do a good job.

"Well," Enid continued, "over the break, she saw my wolf form and… she wasn't impressed. It was all she wanted for me and I thought, now that I wolfed out, I would stop being the family disappointment and be welcomed to the pack."

She suddenly stopped to choke on a sob, overwhelmed with emotion. Wednesday wondered why she would want to talk about it if it was going to make her even more upset. Didn't that defeat the purpose? Pugsley had said that crying was cathartic, but Wednesday didn't think so. Why would anyone willingly go to such an uncomfortable and painful (and not the fun kind of painful) place for the sake of catharsis when you can skip that step and just not be bothered?

"But she said that I was too small and too weak and I'm still a disappointment to her! We're supposed to go on a family hunting trip during the full moon during Spring break, it was going to be an extended Sinclair family reunion and I'm not even invited! Can you believe it? She even told everyone that I still haven't wolfed out and that's why I won't be there! She's embarrassed by me!"

"That's not right. Are you sure you don't want me to dismember her fingers? Or maybe rip out her teeth? Should be an interesting sight, a werewolf with no teeth."

Enid seemingly ignored her, wrapped up in her own turmoil, "She called me a runt! A runt! Do you know how bad that looks? I'm going to be shunned from the family, I know it."

"Why would they shun you? Why would your mother lie and say you haven't wolfed out yet?"

"Because I'm a runt! Being a runt is shameful! It's worsethan never wolfing out!"

Wednesday cocked her head to the side, confused, "But you're not."

"I am by my mother's standards. We're a prominent family in the werewolf community. The Sinclair Pack is one of the more powerful ones and my mother is the leader. We have to be held to higher standards. That's why she's been so disappointed in me for not wolfing out and why she's disappointed in me still. I should've known I would never live up to her…"

"Enid, you're not a runt. That's ridiculous, you went up against a Hyde, you saved my life," Wednesday pointed out, "did your mother take that into consideration for her very inaccurate assessment of you?"

"A fluke, she says."

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?"

Enid frowned, "No?"

Wednesday raised a skeptical brow.

She shrugged, "Maybe?"

"She's wrong. I would be dead if it weren't for you," Wednesday pointed out.

"And I would be dead if it weren't for Sheriff Galpin," Enid retorted.

Wednesday flinched at that, but thankfully, Enid didn't notice. The thought of losing Enid was more than Wednesday could possibly bear. She owed Enid her life, and she was forever indebted to Sheriff Galpin for Enid's life. Wednesday didn't know what she would've done if Enid was killed that night, but she probably would've ended up spending the rest of her life in Willowhill after all the blood she would've shed.

"From what I heard you held your own just fine," Wednesday said, "and you did considerable damage. I would like to see your mother try to do what you managed to do."

"She would've been fine," Enid sighed, "she's small, but she's strong and fierce and would've kicked its ass."

"Maybe, but she's got years of experience of being a werewolf and you had what? Not even five minutes? Tell me, did you have any time at all to adjust to having an entirely new body before going up against a Hyde?" Wednesday challenged.

Enid sniffed, "No."

"From where I'm sitting, you are incredible and your mother is an idiot for not seeing it."

Though she was still teary-eyed from crying, a genuine smile crossed Enid's face. "Aw, thank you, Wednesday."

Wednesday gave a quick nod and returned to her typewriter. Good. Enid was smiling and Wednesday could get back to working on her novel in peace, knowing that Enid was feeling better.

"But she's my mother and what she says goes," Enid said, prompting Wednesday to hold back a sigh and turn again to face her. "If she says I'm a runt, then I'm a runt in the pack's eyes, whether it's true or not," Enid continued with a slight whimper to her voice. "I'm never going to live up to her expectations, no matter what I do or how hard I try. I'm always going to be a disappointment. I will never be good enough for her."

"Good," Wednesday shrugged, "I'm glad you finally realized that."

Enid gave her a sharp look, reacting as though Wednesday just slapped her in the face, "What?!"

Wednesday shrugged, somewhat confused by her reaction, "Now you don't have to waste your time or energy trying to impress someone who will never be satisfied. People like her are not worth the effort."

"Oh," Enid said, relaxing.

"If I were you I would just say 'good riddance'," Wednesday continued.

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because she's my mom."

"So?"

"So, she's my mom."

"Doesn't matter," Wednesday said, "that doesn't give her the right to hurt you or walk all over you like that."

Enid smiled, "No, I suppose not."

"No one has the right to treat you like that," she added.

Not even me, she thought, guilty, not liking how this conversation had unexpectedly led to her feeling sorry for herself. She still wasn't used to having friends and was still figuring out what that meant. Most of her life she went in for the attack before people could get the chance to know her or hurt her. It made her not a very nice person, but Enid saw past that and made far more of an effort at being her friend than Wednesday deserved.

She was suddenly doubting her advice. If Enid had said 'good riddance' to her, Wednesday would've been the same person she was when she first arrived at Nevermore. Perhaps it would've been not that bad, because then she would be working on her novel right now like she would rather be doing and not stepping out of her comfort zone, trying to make Enid feel better. And Enid would be talking to someone who would've been doing a much better job at comforting her than she could. But, assuming she would still even be alive if she and Enid weren't friends, she would've still been alone. And while she liked her solitude, she had recently been forced to confront the fact that it did sometimes make her feel lonely. And there was a difference.

"You need to stand up to her," Wednesday said, amending her earlier statement, "she'll respect you for that."

I sure did. Wednesday was used to people being scared of her, but Enid wasn't, and that had been refreshing.

"She won't," Enid sighed, "I tried. It only made things worse for myself."

Hearing that made Wednesday angry, she frowned, "Are you sure you don't want me to rip out her teeth?"

"Yes, Wednesday, I'm sure," Enid giggled lightly.

Wednesday studied her face curiously, trying to decide if she was feeling better. "Well, the offer still stands if you ever change your mind."

"Noted," Enid said, wiping away the last of her tears. "Thanks, Wednesday for making me feel better. Everything you said means a lot to me, especially coming from you."

"Really? Why? I mean, you're welcome, but…" she stammered, wondering what exactly she did right.

"Because you don't sugarcoat or give empty praise. I know that you're not just saying something to make me feel better, when you say something nice, you mean it," Enid said.

"But I didn't solve your problem," Wednesday said.

"You don't have to," Enid replied, "that's not what this was about. I know this sort of thing isn't something that comes easily to you and makes you uncomfortable, but I really appreciated you listening. You were here for me and that's all I needed."

Wednesday was taken aback. She blinked. And then she said, "You deserve better."

"Thanks, but she's the only mom I've got," Enid sighed.

That's not what I meant.

"And she's a fool," Wednesday said, "if she hasn't come to her senses by spring break, you're always welcome to come to my house."

"Really?"

"Of course. My family adores you," Wednesday said. And if she was to be honest with herself she wanted Enid there. More than anything. She found the winter break rather empty without her around and realized how much she had grown fond of her.

"Aw, thanks!" Enid sniffed. She stood up and approached Wednesday.

Wednesday stiffened because Enid's body language was telling her that she wanted a hug. But with one life-or-death exception, Wednesday still wasn't comfortable with too much human touch. She was willing to try and work on that, for Enid's sake, and for her own because that one hug they shared had a lasting effect on her that was pleasant and even a little therapeutic, but she still wasn't ready yet. It was hard enough simply trying to get a good grasp on just being the kind of friend Enid deserved.

To her surprise, instead of holding out her arms, Enid held up a pinky finger. Wednesday did not understand why so she looked up at Enid in confusion.

"You're not a hugger," Enid shrugged, "I thought this might be a good compromise."

She wiggled her pinky finger encouragingly.

Making her best guess on what Enid was asking for she held up her own pinky finger and Enid reached and curled her pinky around Wednesday's.

Oh!

"Maybe instead of a hug, this can be our thing," Enid offered.

"I like that," Wednesday's lips curled into a slight grin.

"Yay!" Enid squealed excitedly. "Thanks, so much Wednesday. For everything! Now go, get back to writing your novel, I'll leave you alone."

Wednesday nodded and turned to her typewriter as Enid headed for the door. But before Enid could leave she frowned and turned to her, "Enid?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything."

"Why did you try so hard?"

Enid tilted her head in confusion.

"To be my friend?" Wednesday elaborated, "I was horrible to you."

"Honestly?" Enid replied, "At first, it was to be spiteful."

"Really?" That was not the answer Wednesday was expecting.

"You know the phrase, 'kill them with kindness'?" Enid asked.

"I've heard of it," Wednesday said, "and while I have an appreciation for various methods of torture, that one never made much sense to me."

"At first, I was like, 'since I'm stuck with her I may as well be nice since she seems to hate it so much'," Enid admitted, "but the real reason I worked so hard to be your friend was because of Nero."

Wednesday furrowed her brow and silently urged her to elaborate.

"When you told me that story, I think that's when I first saw you. The real you," Enid explained earnestly, "and I think I understood then why you are the way you are. That had to have been so traumatic."

"So…you tried to be my friend out of pity?" Wednesday frowned, almost offended.

"No. That's not it…well maybe a little," she admitted, "but that's only because I had assumed you were somehow above being hurt and I realized that I was wrong and that, consciously or not, you push away people on purpose. But when I saw who you really are, underneath the surface, I knew then that you were worth the effort."

Wednesday blinked again, taken aback.

"So, does that answer your question?"

Wednesday nodded, suddenly overcome with feelings she was only recently getting to know but still had no idea how to process. Her breath hitched and she looked Enid in the eyes and held up her pinky finger.

Enid's eyes lit up and she scurried up to her and locked her pinky with Wednesday's, giving it a firm shake, a big smile on her kind face.

"Thank you," Wednesday said quietly.

"No, thank you!" Enid replied, "I truly appreciate you being here for me; you really helped me feel better."

"I am glad," Wednesday said, "and I…I do hope that things work out with your mother. And if they do or don't, I…I am here for you."

"Thanks."

"I know I'm not…the greatest friend, the kind of friend you need when you're upset," Wednesday said, "or the friend you deserve, but I am trying."

"What? Wednesday you're a great friend," Enid exclaimed, "my best friend. I like you just as you are. But if it helps, I can see that you're trying, I know emotional stuff makes you uncomfortable and the effort you're making to overcome that has not gone unnoticed. But you don't need to do that for my sake."

Wednesday looked her in the eyes. "Yes, I do. It is hard for me, yes. But you're worth the effort too."

Enid smiled and tightened her pinky finger around Wednesday's before she released her. "Thanks."

With that, she left the room and Wednesday turned back to her typewriter and resumed her writing, a small but genuine smile on her face.

A/N Thanks for reading! Please, good or bad, let me know what you think!