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It was one of those unfortunate mornings where instead of feeling rested and rejuvenated Wednesday just felt groggy and sore. She hated the uselessness of feeling old, she remembered being able to fight multiple grown men by herself, now she sat in her insipid rocking chair and lamented the loss of youth. It was annoying to have a wife so in tune with you that she could pick up unorthodox melancholy from the baseline RBF.
“How are you this morning darling?” Enid chirped.
“You’ve always been the morning person while I am the night owl.” Wednesday deadpanned. Enid hummed as she set Wednesday’s iconic black coffee beside her and put her hands on her hips.
“I don’t like midnight stakeouts, there’s a difference.”
She stalked off on a mission as Wednesday watched her leave admiring her ease. Enid returned with a large book covered in colorful paper.
“What’s this?”
“Darling you’re not just cranky, you’re upset about your birthday aren’t you?”
“I’ve always hated birthdays. Self-indulgent practices.”
“Yes but this is different. You resent getting older.”
Wednesday huffed, furious that her stoic expression could be read so easily by her wife. Enid only blinked, smiling mischievously. How could she keep such a lively spirit when energy was so drained out of their brittle bodies?
“What is the problem with that Enid? We both took steps to slow it down but here it came anyway.”
Enid placed the oversized book on the table, careful not to disturb the coffee mug and flipped open the pages to show a scrapbook of her own making, what looked like the most expansive one yet.
“Because love you’re terrible about gratitude unless it’s right in front of your face. We’ve lived a beautiful life and it's not even over! We can’t run a 5K anymore but we don’t need any mobility assists.”
Wednesday hummed pensively looking at the opening photo which was the first one they had ever taken of the two of them: their roommate photo to which Enid insisted on taking to commemorate the first day. A young Wednesday stared back at an older one, as Enid was close but not enough to brush shoulders, their iconic window tints present behind them.
“I encourage you Wednesday to remember time is a gift, that’s why we call it the present.” Enid said gently, prompting a snort from Wednesday. “I know it’s corny but it’s true! God Wednesday just look at the pictures, there’s tabs so you don’t touch any color.” And with that Enid stalked off with a huff. Stubbornness fought curiosity and eventually Wednesday carefully lifted an unpigmented corner of the page to see what was next.
You turned me into the softest bitch I know
I used to wilt flowers, now I make them grow
Wednesday was hit with a wave of memories, starting with the time at Nevermore. Typically Wednesday thought that nothing was worth photographing unless it was a crime scene but here was Enid’s archive, having protected memories that had faded from Wednesday’s mind from their trophy from the Poe cup to Wednesday looking interestedly at her own black Dahlia and in the next photo burning it for vengeance in front of a crowd of shocked students.
I was sour, I was mean, kids would cry when they looked at me
But that all changed
The faces in the background turned from fright and shock to admiration and comradeship. It was jarring enough to remember, but Wednesday looked at each page like an archaeologist to her own past fascinated at the woman she used to be.
Love made me approachable
Love made me sweet
The most untoward part of it all, Enid photographed when the two of them had switched bodies. Wednesday saw Enid's smile on her face as she had a day of exploration. That special day they reaffirmed their love for one another alongside acknowledging their differences, the power they held when they stuck together.
It's fucking miserable
But it can't be beat
Graduation photos were emotional, Wednesday saw the twinges of uncertainty in every photo. People she had grown to love and trust all around her and being resigned to the fact that this was a goodbye perhaps forever for some as Wednesday intended to study abroad.
Love made me cordial
It never ends
And then Enid proposed, what a photo. Wednesday could see in her face the torment of intending to depart from such restrictive bindings, but knowing in her heart of hearts that a connection to Enid would be nothing less than a life of adventure. The fear of ambition and relationships not being able to coexist had shed away that night as they hugged under the fireworks and promises of a beautiful future, such a stark contrast to their cold first meeting.
I want to terrify you
But instead we're friends
Enid was quite the sneak, placing a duplicate of their first photo together next to a wedding photo, yin and yang black and white wedding dresses. Wednesday saw her genuine smile, soft and easy through the candid. She remembered the panic Enid had over the flowers and cake leading Wednesday to comfort her in that the only thing that mattered to her was that they were never to part for the rest of their lives.
Love made me soft
For the best
There was one lone picture of their honeymoon, Enid overdressed in a ginormous sunhat and Wednesday looking bored. Wednesday smiled faintly before turning the page, remembering what happened next: the interruption of an environment too quiet for the two of them in order to storm the conversion camp Enid was almost sent to and just about burn it to the ground.
You turned me into Gandhi's littlе cousin
The prison photos made Wednesday audibly laugh. She remembered fondly that there was no other honeymoon that could further prove they made the right decision to stay together for the rest of their lives.
I spread peace and joy, likе I'm not above them
Honeymoon skirmish aside there were many small photos of their bigger, thought out projects to fight immigration laws, Gomez and the larger Addams family participating in taking down xenophobic institutions. Enid stuck out like a sore thumb being a pale blond in the sea of loving Mexican and Hispanic Addams family, but it worked as the group was framed intelligently, each member close to one another. Wednesday thought nothing of it until she saw one of Enid’s family photos underneath: all of her brothers combed and dressed fine, looking bored, while Enid’s smile looked tight and forced as her hair was uncolored and her limbs shaved, femininity enforced in werewolves tenfold.
But that all changed
Each member stood at attention stiffly for the photo compared to the chaotic mess of the Addams piled on top of each other with clear adoration. Enid had drawn hearts around the photo of the Addams family, in fact it was a pocket with a dozen almost-duplicates compared to one lonesome of her own family with her mother’s face crossed out. The message was clear and powerful: The Addams family is love, You are love. Wednesday stared at the photos longer than felt natural before the page with her eyes burning.
Love made me approachable
The next couple of pages were not chronological in the slightest, clear to Enid’s ADHD. Some more photos of their honeymoon, specifically the crowd of werewolf children clinging to a younger Wednesday’s skirt uncertain at the implicit trust in their eyes.
Love made me sweet
There was a dump of meals Wednesday had made for Enid, taking pride in the Addams’ ability to provide nourishment. Wednesday originally protested the sheer photography of all the food saying it was pointless, but a wiser Wednesday berated her ignorant self as tucked in a little accordion fold labeled “only for private eyes” was progress photos for Enid gradually recovering from her eating disorder one homemade enchilada at a time. Their promise to longevity for each other was seen through the colorful pages as Wednesday won fencing championships and Enid continued to dance, free from the crushing expectations prior to fit a body type. The two of them were in a photo with Enid’s trophy and Wednesday’s medal as they had easy arms slung around each other, pride for each other evident.
It's fucking miserable
But it can't be beat
What a master of juxtaposition, Enid had put on the very next page their celebration; the day Wednesday had graduated Ivy league by sheer determination and the day their nonprofit had secured the outlawing of all conversion camps. Everyone Wednesday knew was there celebrating her. The frown she knew was fake.
Love made me cordial
It never ends
Like some sort of twisted justice, the next photo was a caught of guard smile as Enid kissed her cheek while the real Enid snuck up on her and did the same giggling at startling Wednesday.
I want to terrify you
But instead we're [wives]
“I’m losing my hearing, I would’ve noticed sooner.”
“I love you too Wednesday.”
With no shortage of grumbling, Wednesday leaned into Enid’s side, soft with the fatty tissue she worked so hard to build back as they looked through the remaining photos. Each was a promise of time not wasted in the slightest. In finally turning to a blank page Wednesday looked up uncertainly to see Enid smiling. The way her smile was so everpresent that it had carved lines onto her face Wednesday couldn’t help after decades of marriage be speechless at the sight of her. Enid rubbed a gentle slightly shaking thumb by Wednesday’s cheek and then kissed her head gently. The kiss was a promise that these blank pages would be filled, that their love was immortal beyond thinning hair and tired bones. Wednesday couldn’t help but soften under the touch and marvel at how far she had come, how far was left to go with the most wonderful wife anyone could ask for.
Love made me soft
For the best