Chapter Text
They say a girl never forgets her first kiss.
To test the theory, Wednesday had willingly let Xavier kiss her during their second year at the Rave’N, where they went as a couple. But her heart didn’t skip a beat the way Enid said she should. In fact, she pictured a certain brown-haired green-eyed boy in her mind, which made her less than impressed with herself.
She was never one for romance. That died along with any potential more-than-friends relationship that she thought she was going to have, when Tyler had turned out to be the Hyde and had gone on a whole master plan behind her back. But as weeks, months, and eventually two years go by, she still hasn’t been able to find someone else that made her feel the same way.
Someone that’ll bring her on dates in a crypt, someone that gives her dead roses, and someone that’s actually twisted, pained and has a penchant for murder.
In other words, the dream boyfriend.
Ever since the day he was locked up, Tyler had no visitors. Strictly speaking, considering how they kept him in a straitjacket most of the time, in a maximum-security mental illness ward at prison, any sort of human contact is impossible.
But did he blame them? Not really. He knew he’d done some terrible things. They say he killed a couple of townsfolk and kids at Nevermore, although at the same time, it wasn’t him. He thinks it was the Hyde within, beckoning to come out every so often, although with no master pulling the strings anymore, it was as if the Hyde had also lost a huge purpose.
The Hyde had made him feel powerful and strong, but when it goes away, the real Tyler was forced to face the consequences. While it enjoyed all the highs, Tyler had to deal with all the lows, including the guilt of murder.
He deserved to die. He wished he’d drowned himself back in the tub at home, but every time he was close to danger, the Hyde would stop him, reminding him of his mission. It was the same when he tried to kill himself in prison. And if he couldn’t physically die, for all he’d done, Tyler would’ve gladly stayed locked up in the loony bin forever; If not for the fact that one day after two years, the one person he least expected to see would appear before him.
“I’m Morticia Addams,” she waved a hand, with fingers that looked like she could slice his throat. “You may know me as Wednesday’s mother.”
Turns out, someone had fought for his release out there. However, he wasn’t allowed to go to Nevermore after killing and seriously injuring certain students, and his criminal record prevented him from working or schooling anywhere else in Jericho. The only option that somehow managed to slide is by moving into the Addams’ macabre mansion and working for them. Morticia Addams would oversee Tyler’s recovery and give him a job, and if she manages to keep him in check, it’s a possibility Tyler could have a future after all.
As Tyler stepped out of prison for the first time, Morticia asked him, “Did you know who it was that’s been fighting for you the whole time?”
“It wasn’t you?” Tyler wondered.
“It was your father, Sheriff Galpin. As much as he so clearly dislikes my husband Gomez, he’d reached out and spent the last two years working with us, to give you a second chance.”
Tyler swallowed. “Aren’t you guys worried? I think I could hurt someone.”
“Oh, you polite boy. We’ll love nothing more than that,” Morticia smiled. Tyler could see exactly where Wednesday gets her morbid interests from.
As Tyler climbed into the back of the Addams’ car, with Lurch at the wheel, he noticed it was drizzling. He hadn’t seen the outside in such a long time. He’d forgotten what rain smelled like and how an overcast sky looked. When their car passed the worn-out “Welcome to Jericho” signage, Tyler felt overwhelmed.
“Will I be able to see my dad?” he asked quietly.
Morticia looked at him. “I’m afraid not. He’s been strictly instructed to keep a distance physically, for his own safety.”
He nodded. “And…Wednesday? Does she know?”
“She will when she’s back, although the new semester just started. We think it’ll be good to keep it from her, for now.”
When they finally reached their destination at 0001 Cemetery Lane, Tyler was greeted with a large and looming mansion. Morticia mentioned something about it having been an asylum back in the 1800s, as she led him in. Staring at all the oddities and statues in just the foyer and living room alone, Tyler almost lets out a chuckle, especially when Morticia mentions she and her husband’s disappointment that it ‘wasn’t haunted’, which they thought it was when they first bought it.
Morticia had also briefly told him about his duties in the house before sending him to the family guest room, where he’ll stay. Besides helping out with some meals and taking care of the conservatory, Tyler would spend time studying and learning about his abilities with her.
Before Tyler turned to leave with Lurch, he had to ask. “Why are you guys choosing to help me?”
Morticia takes a step towards him, her eyes staring straight into his. “Did you know, like my daughter, I get psychic visions too. And I have seen some…interesting things about you, Tyler. Although, I understand it must’ve been devastatingly hard to leave the appeal of a maximum-security prison.”
As Morticia Addams turns to walk away, Tyler had a feeling.
This chapter of his life is definitely going to be one for the books.
The last day of school was a gloomy one. Surprisingly, Nevermore had turned out decent, which Wednesday never would’ve guessed when she first stepped foot onto the school grounds two and half years ago. Sure, it was painful in some areas, but Wednesday secretly enjoys it.
“And you promise, absolutely promise, that you’re gonna text?” Enid was practically sobbing while grabbing her arm. “And Thing! I’m going to miss our late night mani-pedi sessions and heart-to-heart talks so much!”
How unnecessarily dramatic, Wednesday nearly rolled her eyes, except it isn’t in her nature. She prefers giving death stares after all (although Enid is so bad at picking her signals up sometimes).
Wednesday picked up her bag and made it to the front of the school, where she waited for Lurch to pick her up in the family limousine. Everywhere, students were meeting with their loved ones, or running for the bus. Just as she was admiring what a beautiful day it was, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey you,” the voice said. She turned around to see Xavier.
“Hello. I suppose you’re going to remind me to text as well, like Enid, Eugene and Bianca,” Wednesday said. What was it with everyone today?
“Well yeah, that too, but,” Xavier appeared squirmish, “I just wanted to ask if you’ve decided where you’re gonna go after Nevermore. You haven’t decided the last time.”
Wednesday looked at him thoughtfully. “I think I might take some time off before college. Focus on my writing career.”
“Your murder-mystery novel?”
“Yes. It’s a series. And if possible, skip college, although it’s what my parents want. We’ll see if I can get out of that.”
Xavier half-smiles. “Hey, I’m uh, sorry it didn’t work out between us. You know, romance-wise.”
“It was never going to work,” she replied bluntly.
“Ouch,” Xavier pretended to be wounded in the chest, “That’ll have really hurt if I didn’t know you any better.”
From behind Xavier, Wednesday spots Bianca hovering around a distance away, her eyes fixed with concern on them. Just in time, Lurch rolls up with the limousine and Thing practically scrambles towards it.
“Bianca’s waiting for you,” Wednesday said. “Goodbye, Xavier.”
It wasn’t that she wouldn’t miss Nevermore, or the friends and alliances she made here. In fact, she quite enjoyed the time more than she thought she would. But she also missed home; maybe not so much her parents, but definitely being home, with Pugsley, uncle Fester and Lurch. Nevermore had been fun, but it wasn’t home.
An hour later, the limousine pulls up the Addams family driveway. As she helped herself out of the car, the smell of dying flowers in their front porch had never made Wednesday feel more at home. She never thought she’ll be homesick, but it appears she’d just been holding herself back.
She rapped on the door, her face barely able to contain excitement. She can’t wait to see her pet tarantula, visit Uncle Fester in his lab, maybe rough things up with Pugsley in the play room (he’d better be prepared to let her strap him to the electric chair and turn the voltage up as a welcome back gift)-
But when the door opened, Wednesday’s excitement disappears almost immediately. With an all-too familiar boyish grin, Tyler Galpin was greeting her at her doorstep.
“What, you just gonna stand there and not come into your own house?”