Boundaries

Coping

Wednesday Addams paced furiously around the room. Pugsley was sitting on his bed, a bit afraid of Wednesday. Last time one of their own had been humiliated, she ended up beating up a neighbor's child and anyone who tried to defend him. This time though, she had her sights on one person; and that person was down in the dungeon awaiting judgement from the Addams Family.

"Wednesday," Pugsley hesitated. Wednesday turned to look at him. "What did you mean by defile our family honor?"

"Somebody hurt Mother beyond your imagination," Wednesday scorned. She was enraged by what had happened to her mother, and she was not about to let that person get away with it. "You wouldn't understand. Jut know that what they did has also made Father infuriated; he's just not showing it for Mother's sake."

"What could be so horrible?" Pugsley asked. "And how do you know about it?"

Wednesday turned and glared at him for a moment before her gaze softened a bit. "I think it's something to do with the girl talk she and I had around my 10th birthday," she replied, thinking about it. "You don't want to know the details. Otherwise I'd have to kill you."

Pugsley cringed and Wednesday went back to her pacing. Father had said that he wasn't leaving their Mother's side until she was well enough to be left alone, that gave Wednesday a few days to plan what she would do to their prisoner downstairs.

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Morticia woke up the next morning with a start; she'd had the most horrifying dream- and not one that made her smile. This one made her fearful. She gasped as something touched her shoulder, turning to see Gomez looking at her lovingly. "Cara Mia," he whispered, enveloping her in his arms. "Are you alright? You've been crying out in your sleep all night."

"Was it not a sound you enjoyed?" Morticia asked, trying to make it seem like she was recovered. Although, In reality, she was still shaken, and she could see Gomez saw right through it.

"As much as I adore your screams," he said, kissing her head as he caressed her face with one hand. "Those broke my heart into a million pieces."

Morticia looked at him, then buried her face into his chest. "It's alright, Tish," he soothed. "We will survive this. Especially you."

Her hand reached up and slowly stroked his cheek. His hand went on top of hers and their eyes met briefly; the small spark she saw told her that he believed they would pull through this together. He was probably going to refuse to leave her until he was certain she was out of the woods, and back into the swamp.

The door opened, interrupting their moment, and Morticia turned to avoid whoever it was gaze. "How is she?" A high raspy voice asked. Morticia recognized it as her mother-in-law's.

"Distraught," Gomez replied, sitting up as his hand went to her shoulder. "She was crying out in her sleep during the night."

Morticia's hand reached up and squeezed his gently. She heard the clinks and splashing sounds of liquid being poured into something and silverware being dropped into it. "Have her take this," Grandmama said. "It'll help with the shock of things."

"Thank you, Mama," Gomez said, turning to his wife. "Tish, Cara Mia, do you think you can eat something?"

Morticia looked up at him wistfully, then sat up. "I don't have much of an appetite," she admitted. As he wrapped his arm around her.

"It's eye of newt stew," Gomez coaxed, picking up the spoon and tried to encourage her to eat. "One of your favorites."

Morticia smiled weakly, scratching his cheek. Her hand shook as she tried to take the spoon from Gomez. He ended up covering her hand, and helping feed her. When they were done- which was only about a quarter of the way through the stew- she turned on her side and began to cry again.