Chapter Text
“Wends,” Enid called from her desk.
“What is it, amor?”, Wednesday asked, immediately stopping her typing.
Her writing time was sacred, and Enid always respected it, before and after they started dating. But now and only with Enid, Wednesday was more flexible, and she knew that if she spoke to her at that it was because something was bothering her. And Enid was a priority. She always was.
“Could I stay at your house this summer?”, the blonde asked.
They had been living together for two years, it was not unusual for them to live together and share a room. But it was one thing in the college dorms and another in her house with her family. Enid knew that the Addamses adored her (they had told her, repeated it and demonstrated it the times they had seen her, especially in recent months as an official couple) but she did not want to be a bother.
“Of course”, the brunette responded. She couldn't answer anything else. How could she answer anything else? “But there’s something else troubling you, what is it?”
Enid sighed, knowing that her girlfriend knew all her tell-tales, closed her laptop and sat on the black-sheeted bed. Wednesday got up to sit next to her.
“I was talking to my mother before and she told me that if I was going to stay in Cali for the entire summer, I should look for a job”, she groaned and rubbed her face before continuing, gesturing with her hands. “She is obsessed with me spending a lot of money because I’m not working like my brothers are. But I swear she just uses it as an excuse because she doesn't want me home and I'm already tired of it all. I don't want to spend two months putting up with my mother's comments and being away from you”, she sighed. “I don't belong there, I’m not wanted nor do I want to. I don't think I want to go back there”, she turned to find the dark eyes she loved so much. “And I want to be with you”.
“Of course, querida”, Wednesday rushed to answer. She gently took Enid's hands in hers and rubbed her knuckles reassuringly. “You know it is a pleasure for my parents and my family to have you. And I would be lying if I told you that I didn't want to spend as much time as possible with you”, she added, raising her hand to kiss her knuckles. “Extending our coexistence during the summer, and nowhere else than my own house, makes me an immensely blissful woman”.
Enid blushed. Even after months of dating she couldn't help it, when Wednesday spoke to her in that flamboyant and romantic language of hers, when she looked at her so intensely and made her heart skip a beat just by kissing her hand. She chuckled and gave the shorter girl a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I imagined you would say yes, but thanks anyway”, Enid said. “Anyway, I’d still like to look for a summer job. Not because I need it for uni, but I would like to save so I don't depend on my parents that much, you know?”
Wednesday nodded. Understanding Enid's situation, she knew that her girlfriend wanted to leave home after finishing college, or sooner if possible, and it was important for her to save as much as possible for when her academic scholarship ran out, even if the Addamses could lend her all the money she could need and more.
“I’ve seen that the sports center and swimming pool in your town is looking for people to do children's workshops on summer mornings”, Enid said, balancing herself slightly at the edge of the bed. “Games, gymkhanas, pool stuff and things like that. I have the counselor title that I got in my first year, and I thought I could apply”.
"Your resumé and interests align with the offer", Wednesday hummed, squeezing her hand softly. “If that is what you want, it sounds like a good opportunity”.
Enid beamed at her. Of course her girlfriend would be nothing but supportive in every aspect.
“I could come visit you and pick you up when you are done”, the brunette added.
The taller girl chuckled. “You know that public pools in summer are just sun, lots of people and children screaming, right?”, she asked raising an eyebrow, knowing it was like the environment diametrically opposite to what her girlfriend could handle.
"I can read in the shade with cancelling headphones on", Wednesday grumbled, stubbornly.
“Would you really do that for me?”, Enid asked softly.
“I would do anything for you,” Wednesday replied, fierceness and firmness in her eyes.
“Wednesday”, the blonde sighed and shook her head, “what did we talk about?”, she asked taking both small hands in hers. “You don't have to do things you don't like for me. Boundaries within a relationship are also important”.
They had talked about it, because they both needed reminders. Enid didn't have to force herself to endure macabre or gory movies and then suffer nightmares or pass out from the shock, and Wednesday didn't have to force herself through too many social interactions, crowded places or noises and then feel overstimulated afterwards. Wednesday said she would do anything for Enid, and she really would, but without regard for herself. Over time she had learned that she didn’t have to leave everything for her partner and they could have time apart, that they both had to maintain her independence and priorities. She worked her jaw, pondering.
“Maybe just one day a week”, Wednesday mumbled, understanding that her previous proposal was going to be too much for her.
“That’s better”, Enid nodded giving her a fond smile. “And it's not necessary if you really don't feel like it, seriously”.
“I enjoy the smell of chlorine,” the brunette replied. “And also seeing you work”, she added in a low voice.
It was true. The times Wednesday had seen Enid work with children in a volunteer or workshop at the university, it had filled her with a sense of pride and admiration. She could see that Enid enjoyed what she did, that she made every child matter and feel heard and included, while remaining strict and professional. She could make them understand when they did something wrong and avoid conflicts, she could play and laugh with them being one more in the game, she could comfort them and put words to the feelings they didn't understand.
“Sorry I can't say the same about your work, babe”, Enid chuckled. “Things about the guts and blood and death give me the ick”.
“You know it doesn't bother me,” the shorter girl said quietly, placing their joined hands in her lap. “I feel supported even if my work is not to your liking”.
“Ah! You're so sweet," Enid squeaked, grabbing Wednesday's face with both hands and squeezing her cheeks.
"I'm not," she growled as best she could in the position she was in.
“But you give me those eyes”, the blonde crooned in a caramel voice. “You're so in love with me you can't help it”, she added, coming a little closer and caressing her cheekbones with her thumbs, cupping her face more gently.
“That I am”, Wednesday admitted softly, her eyes carelessly dropping to her girlfriend's lips.
“I still don't know how I didn't realize it sooner”, Enid smirked almost against her mouth with her gaze downcast, their noses touching.
“Me neither”, Wednesday murmured in barely a whisper before connecting their lips.
They had been together for four months, and they had kissed before that, but every time they kissed it felt electrifying and special again. Although what Wednesday really liked was how familiar she felt every time, it was warm and safe. Enid was her safe place, where she could feel sheltered, cared for, and loved without restrictions or judgment. The blonde had made all of her mental barriers fall away from her and she could exist simply by being herself.
And Wednesday felt so grateful that she made sure that each kiss showed it and transmitted all those words that still kept getting stuck sometimes. She felt Enid's warm hand move and rest gently on her waist, the taller girl deepening the kiss by getting even closer. At some point she had reached out herself and brought one hand up to caress the back of Enid's neck, the other hand balancing her on her thigh. It was so easy to get lost and carried away with Enid, to let her warmth and the scent of vanilla and chamomile gently envelop her.
“I had agreed to meet Eugene at the hives in thirty minutes”, Wednesday said, breaking away as soon as she guiltily realized she had forgotten about the boy for a moment.
“We have time then”, Enid responded with a mischievous smile, placing her forehead on the shorter girl's, their faces still very close.
“Enid”, the brunette groaned.
“Just ten more minutes”, the blonde pouted, pulling back to show her best puppy eyes.
Wednesday stood back and looked at the clock on the bedside table, working her jaw. She exhaled slowly through her nose and blinked once.
“Make it fifteen”, she said with a smirk, leaning back in.
Wednesday and Eugene met at the hives surprisingly on time. They had planned it as the last club meeting before the holidays, to leave the cabin tidy and take some last jars of honey. Eugene was happily telling his friend about his summer plans while they were organizing the cabin's filing cabinets and instruments. He and his moms were going to spend a couple of weeks in a natural park, and he was going to take one of the entomological manuals that Wednesday had given him the previous year.
Wednesday listened to him in silence and watched how he smiled to himself and pushed his glasses up on his nose every so often. It was hard for her to admit it but she was going to miss him. In these months he had been working with Enid on being kinder and on vocalizing her emotions better, although most of the time she only informed Enid, she was too embarrassed to say anything to others. How was she going to tell Barclay that she admired her fencing work? Or to tell Tanaka that she found that when they were silent together she was a suitable company? Or to tell Thorpe that when he stopped being so cringey and a pain in the ass he was almost fairly tolerable?
But Eugene wasn't them. Eugene was her best friend, after all. They could be considered that, right? He had seen her at her worst, and had helped her, without judging, without repressing. He had been there even when she thought she didn't need him. He wasn't Enid, but he made things a little easier.
“I know I haven't told you explicitly before but…”, Wednesday said out loud, interrupting the boy’s rumblings about her upcoming vacation. He looked at her curiously, leaving the last jars in the bag and waiting expectantly for what his introverted friend had to tell him.
“You are a good friend, Eugene”, she said, looking intensely into his eyes. “I appreciate everything you have done for me over our friendship and I regret the times I have not lived up to it. I hope to be able to vocalize it better in the future”.
Wednesday stood with her clenched fists at her sides, slightly uneasy in anticipation of his reaction. Eugene beamed at her, brighter than ever. “You are too, Wednesday! I know you care about me, and you take care of me a lot, even if you don't believe it”.
He adjusted his glasses and scratched his head. “I understand if you say no, but could I give you a hug?”, he asked.
The brunette worked her jaw. Although the physical displays of affection (except for Enid's, of course) were not to her liking, she saw no reason to deny him. Although she didn't want it to become a custom either.
“Being an emotional farewell as this is, I suppose I would find it acceptable”, she hummed.
Eugene smiled wider again and took a step closer to put his arms around the girl's waist. Wednesday stood stiffly for a second, before raising an arm and giving him an awkward pat on the back. The boy separated from her without her having to warn him after four and a half seconds, being aware that any longer would have resulted in her reprimanding him.
“And I want updates from you”, he demanded. “You can't do to me like last summer and leave me on read all the holidays!”
“You know I am not a fan of technology”, she huffed rolling her eyes.
“I will text Enid to tell you off if you don't answer me”, the boy replied smugly, adjusting his glasses once again.
Blackmail using her weak point. Wow, it seemed like a bit of her evil had rubbed off on Ottinger. Wednesday gave a hint of a smirk before answering.
“An ordinary weekly update, with the option of extraordinary ones if circumstances require it”, she replied.
“Deal”, Eugene chuckled extending his hand.
“A hummer keeps its word”, she said with a firm handshake.
Most people had already left Nevermore. Ajax had left a week ago because he preferred to catch his flight to Greece early (he didn't mind missing an exam, he already dropped a few subjects anyway). Xavier had gotten an artistic residency scholarship and had also left early to prepare everything. Meanwhile, Enid, Yoko and Divina were at one of the tables in the quad, to have one last meeting there as they did in their free time, before leaving for the summer vacation.
“We'll stay one more week here”, Divina said as she opened a cookie package she had bought for the occasion.
“Both of you?”, Enid asked.
“Yup”, Yoko smirked, raising her eyebrows and looking at Divina from behind her sunglasses, “this pretty girl is coming to spend the summer with me in Europe”.
“Oh-em-gee, guys!”, the blonde squealed. “That 's so cool! Romantic girlfriend trip!”, she said in a singing voice.
“Gay and European”, Yoko snorted.
“But don't you wanna spend time at home this summer, Divi?”, Enid asked.
“And having to put up with my dumb brother?”, Divina huffed. “I already have to put up with him during the school year. We’re cool with it, I’ll just see him again in September”, she chuckled swaying her hand.
“Let's not talk about September, please”, Yoko grumbled, stretching her arms over her head with a yawn. “The holidays have literally just begun, to think about our junior year”.
“Well, I was gonna tell you guys that for our junior year I was thinking about applying for an internship at the local school”, said Enid enthusiastically, who had already looked at the next course curriculum.
“That's pretty cool, Enid”, Divina smiled, taking a cookie from the package.
“But you should still sign off a club or two”, Yoko pointed out, sipping her diet Pepsi. “You won't physically have time if you don't”.
“I was thinking of doing it anyway”, the blonde sighed, resting her chin on the heels of her hands. “This year at the end I was in too many things and I got a little overwhelmed. I don't want my third and fourth year to be like that. I'll probably leave the student council”.
“You've broken the code so homies can be homos”, Yoko laughed. “Your work there is done, wolfie”.
“We've managed to change and improve a lot of other things as well!”, Enid frowned.
Yoko waved her hand to show that she was joking and her girlfriend slapped her on the shoulder before reaching for another cookie.
“Speaking of improving things”, the physicist said, looking at Enid with a raised eyebrow, “how are things going with your little terror?”
Enid smiled and felt warm inside. She loved talking about her girlfriend, she could talk about her all day. She was already thinking about her all the time anyway.
“Well, we're great, actually”, she sighed with a dreamy smile. “In fact, I'm going to spend the whole summer with her, at her house”.
“Oh really? And what did your mom say?”, Yoko asked, her usual joking tone tinged with seriousness, knowing how sensitive the topic could be with her friend.
“She doesn't care what I do as long as I get a job”, Enid rolled her eyes, speaking with her mouth full. “For her, I’m nothing but a nuisance back at home. Or in her life, really”.
“Better with Addams then, pup”, Yoko raised her can. “That way you don't have to see that old hag for a long time”.
“And how are things with Wednesday's family?”, Divina asked.
“They are great!”, Enid smiled sincerely. “They really like me and I think I'm going to have a good time there”.
“Too much time alone”, Yoko clicked her tongue. “You two won’t be able to keep your hands off each other”, she smirked looking at her over her sunglasses.
“Yoko!”, the blonde scolded her, throwing her the empty cookie package.
Still she couldn't help but smile thinking about her girlfriend. Wednesday wasn't much of a fan for PDA, but she was unexpectedly sweet and clingy when they were alone. And Enid just loved that so much. She had to make a titanic effort not to think about kissing her and continue the conversation. She shook her head to snap back to reality.
“But seriously guys, I'm so happy”, she sighed. “You don't know what Wednesday means to me, she is just so sweet and-”
“And I thought you couldn't get more corny!”, Yoko fake-gagged. “I'm happy for you tho”, she then added with a soft smile.
“Me too”, Divina seconded. “The truth is that since the fight you had a few months ago you two seem better than ever”.
“Yeah, let's say we just had a pending conversation”, Enid chuckled softly.
In the end they had agreed not to tell anyone, with the exception of Eugene, who swore (by hummer’s code) to keep it a secret. It was weird lying to her friends, but it had been such a rollercoaster and such a crazy story, that they preferred to continue naturally. Enid read a lot of fanfics and she never thought that that actually happened in real life. But she couldn't be more grateful. She really thought that she had the best girlfriend in the world, and every day she didn't want to stop proving it to her.
At that moment Wednesday and Eugene arrived at the quad from the path that came from the hives. The brunette left a heavy bag on the table and went over to sit down next to her girlfriend , who gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“What do you have there, babe?” Enid asked with a wide smile.
“It's honey”, the shorter girl answered.
“Okay. What do you have there, honey?”, the blonde said, winking at her with a toothy grin.
The pun produced various reactions at the table, Divina giggled after a whispered “wow, Enid”, Yoko fake-gagged again, and Wednesday rolled her eyes.
“That's low even for you,” she deadpanned, intertwining their fingers nonetheless.
“Well, I liked it!”, Eugene exclaimed with a smile and a giggle. “You are an honorary member of the club if you make bee or honey pun, so you're entitled with a welcoming honey jar”, the boy grinned handing her one from the bag.
“Uh, lucky me!”, Enid giggled, grabbing it with both hands.
They said goodbye to Eugene, who had to leave because his mothers were waiting for him at the campus entrance . Enid got up to give him a big hug, and Wednesday simply nodded gravely, to which the boy responded with a wide smile and a promise to send her photos of his trip.
“This has been our sweetest batch of the year”, Wednesday pointed out in a monotone voice once the boy disappeared around the corner, nodding to the jar in her girlfriend’s hands.
“I’m sure not that as sweet as you, babe”, the blonde winked at her again, unable to hold back her laughter.
“Enid Phoebe Sinclair, I’m begging you”, Yoko groaned, bumping her forehead on the table.
“For once I agree with Tanaka”, Wednesday complained, “this saccharine flattery will get you nowhere”. Enid bumped her shoulder to smugly look at her out of the corner of her eye with a smirk. “Don’t”, the shorter girl cut her before she could say anything else, a blush creeping up her neck, “Cease this mockery”.
“At this rate I don't even wanna know how you’ll be when you get back from the break”, Divina snorted.
The girls laughed, and the conversation changed, all chatting happily with the usual familiarity, except for Wednesday, who listened silently, caressing Enid's knuckles with their intertwined hands in her lap.
“I am going to pack my things,” she eventually announced.
“I'll go in a little while, you know I work better under pressure,” Enid chuckled. She knew she really should pack already, but she didn't want to say goodbye to her friends yet.
“Don't be too late, querida”, Wednesday said softly, squeezing her hand before letting go. “Lurch will come pick us up in three hours”, she reported.
“Got it,” Enid grinned with a salute.
Wednesday stood up and looked at the two girls in front of her for a moment, then at Enid, then at them again. She thought about Enid's words about being kinder and unclenched her jaw before speaking.
“I hope the break period results beneficial to both of you”, she deadpanned.
Yoko and Divina smiled, understanding that by the shorter girl's standards it was the friendliest goodbye they could hope for.
“You too, Wednesday!”, Divina smiled at her. “Have a good vacation”.
“Don't get arrested, Addams”, Yoko snorted behind her sunglasses.
Wednesday gave her the hint of a smirk before turning on her heels and walking away.
The dorms were mostly empty, except for a few students who were overstaying their stay and packing up their things, so Wednesday didn't run into anyone as she crossed campus, until a familiar figure dragging a suitcase spotted her.
“Addams!”, Bianca exclaimed to get her attention.
“Pestering me until the very last moment, Barclay”, Wednesday scoffed.
“Don't die during the break”, the physicist smirked. “I need someone to kick their ass in fencing next year”.
“I hope you get hit by a bus”, the shorter girl growled through clenched teeth.
Bianca let out one last laugh and continued on her way to the bus stop at the campus gate. Wednesday continued on her way to the dorms with a satisfied smirk.
Enid had spent the previous hour and a half removing all the posters, photos, and garlands that decorated her side of the room, commenting fondly on each of the good moments they brought her. Thing had returned to the manor a few months earlier, with the excuse that he missed Pugsley, but in reality it was to give the new couple more space, now that they had finally confessed their feelings to each other. And the truth is that the spider needed a vacation after all the drama, if you asked him.
At that moment Enid was folding the endless pile of clothes on her bed, humming a song that was playing from the speaker on her cell phone. Wednesday had already collected everything from her, her trunk and suitcase were placed and ready on her bed without sheets, and with an almost theatrical gesture she put her typewriter in her briefcase, giving her work for finished.
“Something on your mind?”, she asked, seeing that her girlfriend had been folding clothes for a while without humming nor saying anything.
“You”, Enid smirked, throwing a ball of socks into the pile of her suitcase.
Wednesday rolled her eyes, already used to her girlfriend's flirting antics. “Packing would be a much more efficient thought right now”, she suggested.
“Then stop distracting me”, Enid chuckled.
“I am not doing anything”, the brunette replied, raising an eyebrow.
“You're standing there being my beautiful girlfriend”, Enid sighed with an exaggerated exasperated gesture, completely forgetting her socks and approaching the now empty side of the room.
“Enid”, Wednesday grumbled, not being able (nor wanting) to escape her girlfriend's predictable hug. Enig just ignored her and nuzzled the crook of her neck. “Lurch will pick us up in an hour”, the shorter girl reminded her, trying to keep her voice from shaking as she felt the warmth on the side of her neck.
“Plenty of time, I don't have that many clothes”, the blonde replied. Those damn puppy eyes.
“Yes, you do”, Wednesday deadpanned, clearing her throat and lifting an unimpressed eyebrow. “And your stuffed animal collection is going to be a nightmare to pack-”
“Ugggh, fine”, Enid groaned, letting her head fall back dramatically and letting go of their embrace, dragging her feet back to her side.
“We are literally going to continue sharing a room and living together, querida”, the brunette tried to be the voice of reason. It made no sense to prolong the transfer when there were going to be no different outcomes.
“But aren't you sad to leave the room again?”, Enid pouted. “We have so many memories here!”
“Yes, a lot of events have happened here this year”, Wednesday hummed.
“Like when we kissed the first time”, Enid sang, clasping her hands and fluttering her eyelids theatrically.
“Indeed. And many others”, she pointed out.
“Or like when I had to take care of you because you were a little stubborn gremlin”, the blonde added in the same sing-sang voice.
“Thank you for reminding me of my past regrets”, the shorter girl huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Aw, you know I don't mean it like that, babe”, Enid replied with an apologetic smile. She skipped back to stand in front of her girlfriend and uncrossed her arms, holding both her hands and swinging them between them. “It was a wacky ride but it got us together. We're just such drama queens”.
“You know I do not align with that term nor with anything monarchy related”, Wednesday scowled.
“Alright, my precious little anarchist”, Enid gave her a quick peck, scrunching her nose in a smile. “I'll go back to packing”.
“Thank you”, the brunette replied, and lifted their hands to gently kiss Enid's knuckles. “We will create new memories at the manor, amor. This year was nothing but the beginning”.
Enid's smile widened and her eyes lingered over her girlfriend’s for a second longer before she was able to force herself back to the task. With that thought, she continued folding and placing her endless stack of clothes into her suitcase (seriously, how many striped T-shirts did she have?).
Wednesday also thought about what she had said. That was just the beginning, right? It seemed like they had a life together, but at the same time they had just begun, and she could no longer imagine a life without Enid. She regretted many things that she had said (or rather that she hadn’t said) at the time, but she also understood what had grown since a year ago. Because Enid brought out the best in her without realizing it, and Wednesday couldn't help but wanted to be the best version of herself.
She had started her career without any direction in life, and now suddenly, she not only found herself excelling in her field and having an extremely wide social circle (by her standards), but also someone with whom to walk that uncertain path towards the future. She was going to spend the summer with Enid, and then they would share a dorm again for their junior year. And then they still had a lot left together. Wednesday placed her hand on her chest and sighed, embracing the warm feeling that enveloped her inside. It was a new sensation in her life, but she hoped it would never leave.
A vibration from her pocket brought her out of her thoughts. She must have been in her head for quite some time, her hip resting on her desk as she stared into space. Enid had finished packing and was closing the duffle bag on top of her bed and was humming although there wasn’t more music playing.
“Lurch informs me that he just parked at the door”, said Wednesday, putting her cell phone back in her pocket and dragging her things to the door.
“Okay, just a sec”, Enid said, after leaving her things next to the others and standing in the center of the room. She turned around, observing how the space had changed now that it was completely empty.
“You coming, querida?”, Wednesday asked from the threshold, extending her hand to her girlfriend to take.
“Yeah”, Enid said with the widest grin, who didn't hesitate for a second to intertwine their fingers.
Wednesday raised their hands joined to her lips and without stopping looking into her favorite shade of blue, she gently kissed her girlfriend's knuckles one by one. She gave her a quick, sincere smile, and took a deep breath.
She just couldn't wait for what was ahead of them.