I'll Never Let You Go

Chapter Nine

"No pictorial or sculptural combinations of points of human loveliness, do more than approach the living and breathing human beauty as it gladdens our daily path"
- Edgar Allan Poe

Morticia found herself in a different cell. This one had thick, cinderblock walls and a real door. It was sparse. There was a small bed against the back wall and a toilet in the front left corner. It was so quiet compared to the larger holding cell. She could hear herself think again, which should have been a relief. Instead, she wanted to go back and see Gomez.

She sat down on the bed and thought about everything that had just happened. Her head hurt, and she could feel her exhaustion weighing on her. More than that, the emotions that came with seeing Gomez, and then being taken away from him were just too much for her. Slowly, a tear slid down her cheek. And then another. And another. Every tear that had refused to come since Gomez first disappeared was finally making an appearance. Gentle tears turned to sobs. Morticia buried her face in her hands and let herself cry.

After several minutes, she heard the door open. She looked up, expecting that guard had come back. Instead, there was Gomez, standing there in front of her. 

Her heart leaped, and they ran to each other. She threw her arms around him, and he held her tight. Despite her joy at seeing him, she continued to sob. He squeezed her tight and kissed the side of her head. Then, he pulled back and looked her in the eyes.

"It's okay, Tish," he whispered. "I'm here."

She sobbed even harder. She wasn't sad. She was overcome with joy and relief, but once the tears had started, she couldn't seem to stop them.

He kissed her forehead, and then her cheek, and then he was peppering her with kisses. He kissed every part of her that he could reach. Her hair, her neck, her hands. He was desperate, but gentle and tender. He stopped briefly to wipe away her tears. When her tears came back, he kissed them away. Soon, she was smiling. 

After several minutes, he stepped back and knelt in front of her, taking her hand in his.

"For you, my lady," he pulled her ring out of his pocket and slid it onto her finger. "I'm sorry that it took me so long."

He kissed her hand, and then her wrist. He trailed kisses up her arm and to her neck. She gently guided his face up to hers, and then she kissed him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his around her waist. They couldn't get enough of one another. They felt a desperate desire to close the space between them. He pulled her even closer to him as they kissed.

His lips were warm and soft. His mustache tickled her nose and upper lip in the way that she loved. His arms were so strong as they held her. She breathed in his scent and a warm feeling came over her. She finally felt at peace.

His hands traveled up her torso and to her breasts. He slid his hand under her dress and caressed her. She loved every second of it until she saw a security camera focused on them.

"Darling," she breathed between kisses. "There's a camera."

He stopped what he was doing and looked behind them. He hurriedly pulled his hand out and covered her back up. He would have to wait until they were back home.

"I'm so sorry, my dear," he apologized and continued to kiss her.

She kissed him back and ran her hands through his hair. She had stopped crying completely now. She was too overcome by her love for him. He lifted her off the ground and carried her over to the bed. He sat down and placed her on his lap. They continued to kiss, but more gently now. The kisses were slower and more tender. 

Morticia broke away and took him in.

"Where have you been?" she asked, caressing his cheek. "I looked for you everywhere."

He wrapped his arms even more tightly around her and explained what happened.

"Are you hurt?" she murmured, once he had finished. He shook his head.

"Just tired," he answered.

He smoothed her hair where the prisoner had grabbed her and brushed his thumb over her forehead. It was already starting to bruise.

"Cara mia," he breathed. "I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, my darling," Morticia insisted. "I'm just happy that you're here now."

She laid her head on his shoulder and he stroked her hair.

"Tish," he asked. "What are you doing here? You should be at home, where it's safe."

She sat up and looked at him.

"I was looking for you, and some policemen told me that I was trespassing," she answered. "They were being perfectly ridiculous. I was only looking in those ruins you took me to for our picnic."

"Nonsense," he agreed. "We've been there plenty of times."

They held each other, finally relaxing after the horror of the past days until someone else opened the door. It was a woman, accompanied by two officers. Morticia and Gomez both stood up, but Gomez kept his arm around his wife's shoulders.

"Mrs. Addams," the woman commanded. "Come with us."

Morticia felt a shock of panic. Her breathing became shallow and she started to shake. She turned to Gomez, eyes pleading.

"But I just found you," she whispered, fighting back tears. "I can't leave now."

She buried her face in his shoulder, and she started to cry again. He held her tight and stroked her long, beautiful hair.

"She's not going anywhere," he insisted. "She's staying right here with me."

He pressed his mouth to Morticia's ear and murmured sweet words of encouragement, trying to calm her down.

"Mr. Addams," the woman said, looking exasperated. "Your wife is injured and needs medical treatment. I'm not trying to take her away. I just want to give her a medical exam."

Gomez froze. He desperately wanted to hold her like this forever, but then he looked down at her face. Her bruise was darkening.

"Querida mia," he whispered. "Did you hear that?"

She nodded, her face still buried in his shoulder. He pulled away from her, as she tried to cling to him. Her face was full of sadness and fear.

"Shh Tish," he assured her. "It's only a short exam. I'll be waiting right here when you return."

She shook her head and continued to cry.

"Please, querida," he urged her. "You're hurt. You need to see a doctor. I promise that I'll be right here when you get back. It's not goodbye. I promise it's not goodbye."

Finally, she gave in. She kissed him one last time, wiped away her tears, and walked over to the officers. They didn't handcuff her. Instead, they each took one of her arms and led her away.

"You bring her right back to me," Gomez demanded, as they left the room. "You bring her right back!"