Chapter Text
Larissa Weems has spent the last three and a half years since graduating Nevermore working towards getting her teaching degree and not thinking about Morticia Frump. The former has gone off without a hitch. She just has to get through this round of finals for the current semester and ace her school placement the next and she will finally be able to get her dream job. The latter is a day to day struggle; who is she kidding most days it’s an hour by hour struggle. At the most inopportune times her mind would wander to the raven haired beauty she lost because of that meddling mother of hers. Half the time she is completely shattered and the other half she is so angry she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
Larissa sits in the far corner booth of a tiny cafe surrounded by sticky notes, highlighters, pens, notebooks and textbooks. She’s been sitting here for hours focused solely on reviewing every chapter she has read this semester. She won’t settle for anything less than perfection; some habits are hard to break. The bell above the door chimes but Larissa’s hand and eyes never falter in their task.
“May I join you?”
That voice, Larissa would know that voice anywhere. Her head snaps up and blue eyes meet black and she stops breathing. Standing next to the table is none other than the woman that shattered her heart. Morticia Frump, or is Addams now? She hasn’t heard that she actually got married yet but when they parted ways that was the plan and the plan was to get married quickly. Same glossy raven locks. Same bright black eyes. Same beautiful face that short circuits her brain every time she sees it is staring right at her with a beautiful smile.
“Morticia.” It comes out as a whisper. Larissa blinks a few times trying to figure out if her mind is playing tricks on her after all the all nighters she has been putting in lately.
“Hello Larissa,” Morticia chuckles, “may I join you?” She has spent the last three and a half years trying not to think about Larissa Weems. But that is a constant struggle. Leaving her remains the hardest thing she has ever done. Did she want to leave Larissa? No. Would she give anything for things to be different? Yes. But her mother has had her life planned out since the day she was born and Hester Frump will not allow anything to interfere with those plans.
“I…um, sure.” Larissa mumbles and grabs her study materials and places them off to the side. Her brain and her heart are at war with themselves, not that anyone could tell she has always had an excellent poker face. Her brain is yelling at her to run and her heart is begging her to sweep Morticia into a hug. Larissa honestly thought she would never see Morticia again. That last day in Ophelia Hall had ended with Morticia sobbing and Larissa storming out vowing to never speak to her again. And she has gone to great lengths to keep that vow.
“It’s good to see you again, Larissa.” Morticia slides in across from the tall blonde and clasps her hands together on the table to keep them from shaking. To say their last day together was a complete disaster would be the understatement of the century. Nothing will ever erase the look on Larissa’s face when she told her she was going to marry Gomez. The absolute devastation that gave way to anger. So when she walked into this little cafe and looked up and saw Larissa sitting in the back she was completely shocked. She nearly turned right around and left but her heart overrode her brain and took over her feet and voice, the next thing she knew she was standing right next to her asking if she could sit down.
“What do you want, Morticia?” Larissa snaps. Okay, I guess today is an angry day.
“I…” Morticia flinches at Larissa’s tone and her eyes drop to the table as her heart sinks to the floor.
“You what?” Larissa's anger lowers slightly when she watches Morticia flinch. Even as angry as she is over the fact that she chose someone else she apparently still can’t stand to be a source of her pain.
“I just wanted…” Morticia says softly and raises her eyes. “I’ve missed you. I just wanted to see how you’ve been doing.”
“Don’t,” Larissa grits out, “don’t act like you missed me.” Larissa shakes her head and mumbles, “don’t act like you care.”
“How could you think I don’t care?” Morticia’s mouth drops open and her hands clench together as if they can keep her from falling apart.
Larissa’s face contorts in anger and points at Morticia, “if you recall, Morticia,” and then to herself, “you left me.”
“You know it wasn’t that simple,” Morticia’s heart cracks at the look on Larissa’s face.
“It is exactly that simple,” Larissa snaps back.
Larissa knows she is being petty but her heart and soul have never healed and she isn’t sure it ever will. If her parents had told her they would cut her off because of their relationship as Moritcia’s had, she would gladly have lived in a box on the streets if it meant they could still be together. And that pain quickly turned to anger because she constantly questions if Morticia ever cared about her at all. She sometimes feels like it was all in her head, that she was just convenient for a little while until something better came along.
“I know, you know that isn’t true.” Morticia’s eyes shine with unshed tears. She knew Larissa was angry but she didn’t know she was this angry. How can you think I didn’t care?
“See that’s the thing,” Larissa slumps back against the booth. “I don’t know. How could I possibly know? He walked onto campus and you walked straight into his arms. Two and a half years and you acted as if that didn’t mean a thing.”
“Larissa, please, I know you are angry with me about the way things ended,” Morticia pleads, her hand reaches out but she quickly clasp them back together when Larissa moves hers to her lap. “But you can’t possibly think we didn’t mean anything. I cared about you, I loved you. What we had means everything to me. Things just weren’t that simple.”
“I am angry. I’m angry at you. I’m angry at him. I’m angry at myself,” Larissa’s voice cracks and tears cling to her lashes. “I feel so foolish that I let you be my everything. Even when you started to keep us in private, even after you started draping yourself all over him around school. Parading him around in my face. I really couldn’t have mattered all that much to you.”
The longer they sit there the faster Larissa’s anger is turning into soul crushing heartbreak. She never intended to ever talk to Morticia about any of this; she never planned on talking to Morticia ever again. She spent months in bed crying over Morticia and when she came out the other side she decided she would solely focus on her career. She doesn’t think she can ever trust her heart again, so locking it away and focusing all her time and energy on her passion really was her only option. She has always wanted to be a teacher. More specifically she wants to teach outcasts, she wants to give them the space to grow and learn without the fear she felt as an adolescent and teen. And that is exactly what she has been working so hard for for the last few years. But for some reason she is sitting here having the most heartbreaking talk with the one person she never figured she’d see again.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry you ever felt that way. I never wanted you to feel that way, ever. I..I..” Morticia’s hand comes up to cover her mouth as she chokes on a sob. “I know that doesn’t make up for it but I am truly sorry. But I need you to believe me when I say I loved you very much. There is just so much pressure, so much is expected of me. Mother has everything planned out for me and I am expected to follow through with those plans no matter how I feel about it. You have no idea how much I wish things could be different.” My love for you has never changed.
“I know,” Larissa whispers and wipes away the traitorous tears that began to fall.
She remembers all too well how much pressure Hester put on Morticia, how much she demanded of her. She can still see those fear laced black eyes the day Hester came into their room to find them on her bed with Morticia’s head on her shoulder as she read to her. Her mother was so furious and physically pulled Morticia off the bed and dragged her out of the room. She also remembers how Morticia returned hours later, trembling with red swollen eyes; she couldn’t even meet Larissa’s eyes for days afterwards.
They sat that for a while both silently crying, staring at their hands. Neither knowing quite what to say after their emotional unload. Larissa never wanted to face her again. She figured Morticia had moved on and never thought of her again. And Morticia never thought she’d get the opportunity to see Larissa again. Morticia finds her voice first.
“Please believe me,” Morticia says softly.
“I do, Morticia.” Larissa says softly as watery blue eyes meet black. Gods, I hate seeing her cry.
“Really?” Morticia asks tentatively.
“Yeah.” Larissa nods.
Morticia shakes her head and offers up a watery laugh, “I really just wanted to say hello and see how you were doing.”
“Hello,” Larissa wipes the tears from her cheeks.
“Hi,” the corners of Morticia’s lips lift slightly and her anxious hands smooth over the bodice of her dress. She bites the inside of her cheek trying to think of what to say as they enter a tentative truce. “How are you?”
“Good,” Larissa feels herself start to relax and chuckles and gestures towards the pile of books, “busy.”
“I can see that. What are you doing in Oxfordshire? What happened to Columbia?”
“Hmmmm,” Larissa hums and her eyes flick to the window. Unsure of how to answer, she could be vague or she could go with the truth. But going with the truth may bring more questions and leave her feelings and heart more vulnerable than it already is. She isn’t sure she can even admit the truth out loud; it was hard enough admitting it to herself. What is she going to say? I couldn’t bear the thought of possibly ever bumping into you so I decided leaving the country was the best option. “I decided maybe a little change of scenery would be good for me. So I’m here studying at Oxford and thank the gods I’m nearly finished.”
“A change of scenery can be good sometimes, it can sometimes help settle the…mind. Are you still going for your teaching degree? I know how much that was always your dream; you never once wavered on that. Even when others in our class changed their minds every other week.” Morticia smiles her first real smile since she sat down. She knows there is more to it than that but she also knows she has no right to ask for the full story anymore.
“Yes, teaching was always the dream and still is. I just have to get through these finals and then my school placement and I will finally get my chance to help shape the next generation.” Larissa’s eyes slide back towards Morticia. Her treacherous heart does that stupid fluttering thing it does whenever Morticia would smile at her.
“That’s great, it’s good to see you fulfilling your dreams,” Morticia finally takes her first full breath.
“Me too,” Larissa grabs her mug to give her hands something to do. “What about you? What are you doing here?”
“Um…” Morticia sucks in a breath.
Morticia doesn’t know if she should tell Larissa the real reason she is in England. Telling her she finally has to marry Gomez and that is the only reason why she is even here probably won’t go over well. And she honestly doesn’t want to leave her yet. It’s been years and she has thought about her everyday and she craves just being in her presence.
“Um?” Larissa tilts her head and looks over Morticia, carefully. The nervous expression, the slight shaking of her hands. Something was off but she can’t bring herself to ask; she’s afraid of the answer.
“I’m here…” Morticia decides to only divulge the reason she is in this cafe right now; it’s safer that way. “I just wanted to grab something to eat before I went to this little outlook I read about to watch the Dragon Moon.” Deflect. Deflect. Deflect. Deflection is your friend Morticia.
“The Dragon Moon?” Larissa laughs nervously and tries to do everything in her power not to think about what Morticia isn’t saying. “Morticia, I am fairly certain you’d still be able to watch whatever this Dragon Moon is from New Jersey.”
“Yes, that is true I could have seen it back in Jersey but I was in town,” Morticia clenches her hands together so tightly her knuckles are turning white. “And this is a rare cosmological event and it only happens once every 150 years. There is no way I would miss it.”
Larissa’s focus as always is trained on Morticia; it’s always fully trained on her when she is in the room. Her eyes flick down to the white knuckle grip Morticia has on herself. The way her eyes keep darting around the cafe and slipping back to Larissa’s but the second they meet they dart away again. She has always been able to read Morticia and her anxious behaviour is making Larissa’s heart twist painfully. It makes her want to reach across the table and take her hand and help ease her anxiety but there is no way. There is not a single way that could possibly end well, she has already slipped way farther into this conversation than she ever thought she would go and physical contact would just hurt more in the end.
“Right,” Larissa says softly. “So what exactly is a Dragon Moon?”
“It sounds amazing,” Morticia breathes a sigh of relief and smiles widely, showing off her perfectly straight white teeth. She really thought Larissa would press harder but she can’t say she isn’t thrilled that she is choosing not to. She pulls out a flyer from her small black purse and slides it across the table towards the blonde. “Here look. There is this comet with a huge trail, when it moves past the moon it gets pulled in and gives it this amazing flaming effect.”
Larissa chuckles and shakes her head. She scans the flyer and smiles but she never looks at the fine print on the bottom of the red and orange page. Morticia has always loved watching the night sky, she has always seemed so utterly mesmerized by it. She can’t even count how many times she was dragged out of their room in the middle of the night to just watch the moon and the stars. Larissa can practically see how Morticia’s eyes would sparkle as she looked up into the night sky and the way the stars reflected in those beautiful black eyes. She looks over the flyer and has to admit it does sound amazing and beautiful. And of course Morticia would be enamored with something that makes the moon look like it is going up in flames.
“It does look amazing,” Larissa's lips curve up in a mirror of Morticia’s smile. “And of course you’d pick an event that can possibly heighten your abilities to their fullest potential. You always did love pushing your ability to the limit.”
“You always did know me so well,” Morticia’s heart flutters in her chest at the bright smile Larissa gives her; it has always been like that. She knows it’s a real smile by the way the corners of her eyes and her nose crinkle. She has missed that smile everyday since they parted ways. “But I just have to go and watch it and see what happens. There is no way I would miss out on this opportunity.”
“Exactly, I do know you so well. Which is why I just have to ask you to please be careful,” Larissa’s stomach flutters with nerves. “I remember what happens when you push yourself too hard. And those were some of the scariest things I have ever seen. Is…is someone going with you?”
“I know and I will try not to bring myself to that point tonight. And no, no one is accompanying me this evening.” Morticia gasps and vibrates in her seat when an idea pops into her head.
“What? I know that look,” Larissa’s eyes flare wide. She knows that look she’s seen it enough times to know that Morticia just got an idea. Oh gods, what is she thinking now?
“What if…” Morticia bites her lip hoping the blonde will agree. “What if we went together?”
“Morticia,” Larissa says quietly.
Larissa knows this would be a bad idea. Sitting here in a crowded cafe is pushing it but going with Morticia somewhere alone would be disastrous. The longer they sit here the more Larissa is feeling how much she has missed Morticia. How much she just wants to spend more time together. And all that is going to do is lead to more heartbreak when she leaves at the end of the night and goes back to her perfect life without her.
“Please,” Morticia begs; her eyes shining brightly. “Larissa, please. It would be like old times, it would be so much fun. Do you remember sneaking out and going to that clearing in the woods near school? It was always so magical and we would have so much fun. We would sit out there for hours talking and just being together until the stars started to fade away as the sun came up. “Those are some of the memories I cherish the most.” Please say yes, I want to spend more time with you.
“Yes, I remember. There is no way I could ever forget those nights.” Larissa mumbles and her eyes drop to the table. She knows if she keeps looking at Morticia and the way her eyes are sparkling at her she will crumble and say yes. She has never been able to say no to her and right now her heart is screaming for her to give in and just say yes. To allow them one more night of being together, to just sit out under the stars. But all that will accomplish is adding to the sorrow she already feels and she isn’t sure she can handle anymore.
“Then please, please say yes,” Morticia pleads.
“I don’t know, I…” Larissa’s eyes look down and see the stacks of textbooks and notebooks. “I still have so much studying to do. Finals start on Monday and I really want to do well. I have to do well" she looks back up at Morticia silently asking her to realize this is not a good idea.
“Come on, you and I both know you already know everything you need to ace your exams. There is no way you don’t,” Morticia says softly as her face falls. “You were the best student in our class. You always had every assignment turned in before it needed to be. You always got the highest grades in every class. You have always studied more than anyone I have ever known. I honestly didn’t think a person could study as much as you do. You were always prepared long before any test. At this point there is no way you could possibly learn anything more from going over your notes and rereading your textbooks that you have probably already read a dozen times already.”
“I really don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Issa, why?” Morticia asks softly. “Why don’t you think this is a good idea?”
Larissa’s heart stutters and she forgets how to breathe at the nickname. She hasn’t heard it in three and a half years and it still has the same effect as it did when they were teens. She has no idea how Morticia can still have this much effect on her after all these years.
“You know why,” Larissa says quietly.
“Please, can we please not think about that tonight.” Morticia’s heart breaks at the thought that their time together is coming to an end and that is the last thing she wants.
“I don’t…” Larissa’s words die in her throat as she looks across the table and sees the tears welling up in Morticia’s eyes. Gods, I still really hate seeing her cry.
“Please give us a little more time,” Morticia wipes away a tear that streaks down her cheek. “I’ve missed you so much. I just want a little more time with you.”
“Gods…” Larissa sighs as her eyes fall closed and she pinches the bridge of her nose.
Those are words Larissa has dreamed about hearing more times than she cares to admit. Every time she dreams about this moment she always says yes. She always gives in and goes wherever Morticia leads her but in the end she always leaves again. Yes, she misses Morticia very much but every time she wakes up or is pulled back to reality from a daydream pain hits her hard. She honestly doesn’t know if she can handle anymore pain. It’s already so much and adding to it is bound to truly break her.
“Please,” Morticia’s voice cracks and her head drops chin to chest.
That does it, hearing the pain in Morticia’s voice is what finally shatters the rest of Larissa’s defenses. She tried. She really really tried to stick to her promise to herself but seeing Morticia look and sound just as broken as she feels is just too much for her to take.
“Okay,” Larissa’s hand drops from her nose and she lets out a shaky breath. “Just for tonight, I…I can only handle one more night.”
Morticia’s head snaps back up and another tear runs down her cheek. “Really?” She breathes as black eyes keep searching blue.
“Yeah,” the corners of Larissa’s lips turn up slightly. “I’ve missed you too.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” Morticia’s hands twitch with the want to reach out and hold Larissa’s hand but she knows she can’t. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I really do think this will be a lot of fun. I’ve been having to watch the stars alone and I haven’t been doing it as much as I used to. It will be great to have you by my side again.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how much you love it,” Larissa says softly. It hurts her heart to hear Morticia hasn’t been doing something she enjoyed so much. It also makes her even more irritated with Gomez. She will never understand how someone could say no to Morticia after seeing how happy she gets when she is out amongst the stars and nature. I really hate that man.
“Yeah,” Morticia wipes away the tears from her face and nods. “At least I’ll get to have someone with me for this one in a lifetime event.”
“I’m glad to be able to go with you,” Larissa smiles softly and looks down and bites her lip. “Um…”
“What?” Morticia asks cautiously.
“Would you mind if I changed first?” Larissa asks and gestures towards her not weather appropriate cream dress and blazer set. “It wouldn’t take too long. I have a flat not far from here.”
“Not at all,” Morticia chuckles.
“Thank you,” Larissa starts putting her books, notebooks and flyer into her bag. She slides out of the booth and heads for the door but when she notices Morticia stays seated she turns back. “Morticia, aren’t you coming?”
“I…yes,” Morticia turns her head quickly and a small smile curls up on her blood red lips as she looks up at Larissa. She really wasn’t sure if she should follow or not but her heart swells when she is asked to come along. She grabs her purse, slides out of the booth and follows Larissa to the door. “I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to come with you.”
“Of course you can come with me.”
They leave the cafe and turn right and head up the street. Larissa honestly wasn’t sure she would invite Morticia to come along but when she walked away and she didn’t follow her soul screamed for her to bring her with. It took about thirty seconds for them to fall into sync, apparently some things never change. It was always like this with them, their bodies were always on the same wavelength; from day one everything just clicked into place with them. They crossed the street and Larissa walked them into a three story red brick building. They walk up to the third floor and Larissa unlocks her door and motions for Morticia to enter first.
“It’s not much but it’s home,” Larissa says softly as she flips on the light.
“It’s very you,” Morticia chuckles and looks around the small living room.
The room is light and airy with cream, sage green with light pick accents on the furniture. There is a small kitchen and three doors along one wall. Morticia watches as Larissa disappears into what she assumes is her bedroom. For a few minutes she stands just inside the door, she isn’t sure if she is allowed to go beyond the entryway or look around the small flat. After a few minutes her body seems to just take over; her soul shouts at her to get a glimpse into Larissa’s world. She really has missed her and just wants to feel that connection to the blonde again. Eventually she walks up to the small couch and lightly runs her fingertips over the back edge. Everything about this room screams Larissa Weems. The light colored walls and furniture, the pristine coffee table, the shoe rack with heels arranged by color near the door to the full bookshelf on the far wall next to the fireplace. There isn’t a single thing out of place or chaotic about this room, she can’t help but make the comparison about how much it looks exactly like Larissa’s side of their room back at Nevermore. She walks up to the bookcase and smirks when she sees the books organized alphabetically by author. Some things truly never change.
Larissa plops down on her bed and runs her hand down her face and mumbles softly, “this is probably a bad idea.” She sits there lost in thought for a few minutes before she walks over to her closet and grabs a thick light grey knit jumper. She heads to her dresser next and grabs a pair of black jeans, she also grabs a pair of black trainers. She quickly changes and checks herself in the mirror and cringes at the thought of going out in public in something so casual. Normally she only allows herself to wear something this relaxed and casual within the walls of her own home but she really doesn’t have anything else suitable to wear outside in December. She really doesn’t spend much time outside. She has been completely focused on her studies that she really only goes to class, the library and to her tutoring job. She takes one last look and heads back to the door. Halfway there she stops and goes back to the closet and grabs another jumper before grabbing a pair of leggings after she remembers what Morticia is wearing. She knows Morticia doesn’t really ever get cold but for some reason she just can’t stand the thought of her sitting out all night is just a dress. She opens the door and leans against the doorframe and watches as Morticia slowly walks around the room.
“Hey,” Larissa says and smiles softly when she sees Morticia jump.
“Hi,” Morticia inhales sharply when she turns and sees Larissa standing there in a simple jumper and jeans. Gods, she’s beautiful.
“Here,” Larissa pushes off the doorframe and makes her way over to Morticia and holds out the folded clothes in her arms.
“What’s this?” Morticia chuckles as she looks at the small stack of clothes in Larissa’s hands.
“They’re for you. The temperature is supposed to really drop tonight,” Larissa bites the inside of her cheek and looks down. “I don’t want you to get cold.”
“I don’t really get cold,” Morticia says softly and steps closer to Larissa.
“I know, I remember,” Larissa’s cheeks flush a light pink. “But I always don’t want you to get sick.”
“That is very kind of you,” Morticia reaches out and takes the offered items. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Larissa looks up with a timid smile and points to the second door. “The bathroom is right through there.
Larissa watches Morticia head into the bathroom and when she shuts the door she turns and heads into the kitchen. She sets the kettle on the stove and turns the burner on to boil some water. She walks back into the living room and lifts the top of the ottoman and grabs a light pink cashmere blanket before she pulls the sage green one off the back of the armchair sitting in the corner of the room. She folds the green one and places both of them on the small table near the door. When the kettle begins to whistle she walks back over and removes it from the heat and grabs a thermos from the cabinet. She fills the thermos and tosses in two tea bags to steep. She puts her hands on the counter and bows her head. She honestly can’t believe she is standing here waiting for Morticia to get changed so they can spend the night together. Has she dreamed about spending time with her? Yes. Did she really think it would ever happen? Absolutely not. But she can’t say she isn’t just a little happy about it. Does this entire thing make her nervous? Yes. Is she worried about how much it will hurt to watch Morticia walk away at the end of the night? Again, yes. But there is a larger than she cares to admit part of herself that just craves being in this woman’s presence.
Morticia closes the door behind her and takes a deep breath and places the clothes on the edge of the counter. She presses her back against the door and shakes the nervousness out of her hands. She can hear Larissa moving around in the other room and turns her head and listens for a minute. She pushes off the door and pulls her dress off and neatly folds it and places it on the counter and puts on the leggings and jumper. The second she pulls the jumper over her head her senses are hit with Larissa’s light fresh floral scent. She lifts the collar to her nose and inhales deeply and a tear slips down her pale cheek. Her heart aches. She has missed this scent with every fiber of her being, she has missed it every day since she had to walk away from her. She remembers nuzzling into Larissa’s neck and the scent calming her frantic mind. Every time her ability would push her to the limit and make her think she was going crazy Larissa would pull her into her lap and wrap her tightly in her arms and whisper to her until she stopped trembling and crying. Nothing else ever worked, her mother would tell her to just deal with it. She’d tell her to just press her fingers into her family ring and ground herself and if that didn’t work she was told she just needed to push past it. ‘Frumps don’t crumple under pressure’ she can still hear her mother’s voice ringing in her head. It takes her a few minutes to pull herself together enough to check herself in the mirror and wipe the mascara tracks that litter her face. She takes a few more deep breaths before opening the door and walks back into the living room.
When Larissa hears the bathroom door open she turns and frowns. Morticia is standing just past the bathroom door, her eyes rimmed red, head bowed and fingers fidgeting with the cuffs of the jumper. The sight hurts something deep in her soul and she quickly makes her way over to the raven haired woman. She doesn’t get too close; she knows she needs to maintain space between them even if it’s killing her.
“Morticia,” Larissa says softly as her hand lifts slightly before falling back to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“Noth…” Morticia shakes her head and looks into those blue eyes she loves so much. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure?” Larissa’s feet have a mind of their own and she takes a small step forward.
“I…” Morticia whispers and nods. “Yes.”
“Alright,” Larissa nods once. “I um…I made some tea to bring with us.”
“That sounds lovely,” Morticia shakes her hands out again trying to reign in her emotions. Please don’t look at me like that. It hurts too much to see the concern on your face.
“Good, are you about ready?” Larissa asks. She knows something is wrong but if Morticia doesn’t want to talk about it she isn’t going to push her.
“Mhmmm, yes.” Morticia smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Let me just grab the tea and we can head out.” Larissa walks back into the kitchen and grabs the thermos.
They walk to the door and Larissa grabs the blankets from the table and they head back downstairs. Morticia takes and left and Larissa follows. They walk in silence for a while neither knowing quite what to say. They are both too lost in their own thoughts. What they don’t know is they are thinking the same thing, ‘I wish things were different.’ After about forty minutes of walking Larissa looks around and furrows her brows in confusion.
“So, where exactly are we going?” Larissa asks.
“It’s only a little bit farther,” Morticia laughs and looks over at a confused looking Larissa.
“Okay,” Larissa smiles down at Morticia.
They walk for another ten minutes before a wooded area comes into view on their left side. Morticia walks through a small gap in the trees and Larissa follows. She has never been out this way before and never knew there was even a trail area but she soon realizes it isn’t any sort of trail as they start up a steep incline. She looks around at the dense woods and she can’t help but shake her head. Of course Morticia would lead her into the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. She also knows better than to question the woman leading her. This isn’t the first time Morticia has taken her somewhere they probably shouldn’t be but they always ended up somewhere beautiful.
“We’re almost there,” Morticia’s voice turns brighter and she really smiles at Larissa.
“How did you even hear about this place,” Larissa laughs.
“You know I always have my ways, Issa.”
“Right,” Larissa whispers. That name again. I’ve wanted to hear you say it for years.
Larissa’s eyes widen when they break the treeline and walk into the clearing. It’s absolutely stunning. The outlook looks down on a lake that sparkles with the reflection of the stars and moon. They are so far from town there aren’t any lights around to wash out the brilliance of the night’s sky. It’s always been mind boggling to her that Morticia is always able to find such magical places.
“Wow,” Larissa’s eyes scan over the water and back to Morticia.
“Exactly,” Morticia beams up at Larissa. “Did you doubt me?” Morticia arches a perfectly shaped brow.
“No, absolutely not,” Larissa laughs. “I know better than to doubt you.”
“Hmmmm,” Morticia hums and when they reach the middle of the she holds her hand out. “Here let me.”
Larissa hands over the blankets and watches as Morticia places the sage one down and puts the pink one on the corner and takes a seat. She hesitates for a second before she joins her. She sets the thermos between them. She knows it’s not much of a barrier but it’s better than nothing; she just doesn’t trust herself when it comes to Morticia.
“Thank you for agreeing to come with me,” Morticia says softly as she raises her head to the glittering sky.
“You’re welcome, it’s amazing up here.” Larissa looks over and can’t fight the smile that breaks out over her face as she sees the wide smile on Morticia’s. I’ve missed that smile.
“Isn’t it,” Morticia stretches her legs out in front of her and crosses one ankle over the other. “This is going to be so much fun.”
“I think you might be right about that.” Larissa leans back on her hands and smiles up at the stars.
“You think?” Morticia asks playfully.
“Okay, I know,” Larissa chuckles.
“Better,” Morticia smirks.
“So…” Larissa tries to ask but the words get stuck in her throat. She wants to ask but she just can’t seem to make her mouth work.
“So?” Morticia tilts her head. She hasn’t seen Larissa have this much trouble talking to her since they first met. It takes her right back to Nevermore when she was so shy. But it didn’t take long for Larissa to become more comfortable with her. It happened so quickly; they just clicked. And seeing her get this tongue tied hurts her heart. It just shoves the fact that they have grown apart straight in her face.
“What have you been up to?” Larissa’s eyes look back out over the water. She hates that she can’t just talk with Morticia like she used to. On some level she knows it has to do with the pain of losing her. And on another it has to do with her not wanting to hear about her life with someone else. A life she still wishes they shared together.
“Not…” Morticia shrugs and looks back up fighting tears that sting her eyes. “Not much, most days are pretty mundane now.” She doesn’t want to talk about Gomez. She doesn’t want to talk about her everyday life. She doesn’t want to admit that she has absolutely nothing going on. She doesn’t want to talk about the fact that she spends most days at home tending to her plants and occasionally reading. She can’t tell Larissa she spends most of her days sitting in the cemetery weeping and thinking about her. She knows all that will end up doing is hurt Larissa worse than she already has.
“I hate to hear that,” Larissa says softly as she looks back over to Morticia. She wants to ask more but the sad look on her face gives her pause. The Morticia she knew was so full of life, always the person in the room everyone else was drawn too. But now she just radiates sorrow and she wishes she could take that feeling away and make sure that smile never fades from her face. She wants to hear her laugh. The real one. The one that is loud; the one where she throws her head back and just lets go. I wish you weren’t so sad.
Larissa looks back up to the shimmering sky and her mind begins to wander back to when they were at Nevermore. Just two girls believing nothing could hurt them as long as they were together, that love was enough.
____________________________________________________________________________
Nevermore 1990
“Issa, faster,” Morticia laughs and runs through the halls.
“TISH!” Larissa yells and runs faster.
Morticia reaches out and grabs Larissa’s hand as she sprints towards the Edgar Allen Poe statue. The second they are close enough she snaps her fingers twice and squeezes them through the gap in the wall before the hidden door is even open all the way. She laughs the entire way down the stairs and into the hidden Nightshades Library. When they reach the bottom both girls are bent at the waist, hands on their knees and panting.
“Wha…” Larissa pants and turns her head towards Morticia. “Wh…what the hell was that?”
“What…” Morticia laughs through her panting and grins at Larissa. “Whatever do you mean?”
“What do I…” Larissa looks at her with wide eyes. “What do I mean?”
Larissa watches as Morticia throws her head back and laughs; she laughs so loud it echoes through the chamber. If Larissa wasn’t so afraid she’d be smiling at her raven haired beauty. There isn’t a sound in this world as beautiful to her as when Morticia laughs. It’s music to her ears and it always has been and always will be. It makes her whole face light up and Larissa is addicted to that sound.
“Yes, ma chérie,” Morticia slowly walks up to Larissa and grins. “What do you mean?”
“You just,” Larissa shakes her head in disbelief. “You just punched Jason in the face and dumped him in the fountain!”
“Oh, that,” Morticia waves her hand dismissively and comes to a stop right in front of Larissa.
“Oh my gods,” Larissa just stares at Mortica. “Yes. ‘Oh, that’. She just says oh that. Why?”
“No one,” Morticia raises on her toes and slides her arms around Larissa’s neck. “And I mean no one talks to my girlfriend like that,” Morticia growls. “I heard about how he spoke to you in AP Biology.”
“Bloody Hell,” Larissa’s arms wrap around Morticia’s slender waist and she drops her forehead against hers. “It doesn’t matter what he said. He’s just pissed that I got a higher score than he did on the last exam.”
“I don’t care what the reason is,” Morticia shakes her head. “I won’t let anyone speak to you like that.”
“Tish,” Larissa says softly as her right hand slides up to cup Morticia’s cheek. “My vicious darling, you can’t go around punching everyone who is rude to me. Even if I am flattered you’d go that far to defend me. But you are going to get into so much trouble; I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me.”
“I don’t care if I get in trouble,” Morticia whispers and brushes Larissa’s nose with her own.
“I’d never be able to forgive myself if you were suspended,” Larissa closes her eyes and shudders. “Or worse, expelled because of me.”
“It would be more than worth it,” Morticia leans in and captures Larissa’s soft lips with her own. She sighs happily against Larissa’s lips when she immediately kisses her back.
____________________________________________________________________________
Present
“It’s starting! IT’S STARTING!” Morticia yells.
Larissa is pulled from her thoughts and looks up towards the moon and she smiles. She loves when Morticia gets excited. She loves watching her practically vibrate with happiness. She loves the twinkle in her eyes. She loves the way her voice goes up two octaves.
“I see,” Larissa chuckles. She leans back a little more and grabs the pink cashmere blanket and drapes it over her lap. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes it is,” Morticia is looking straight at Larissa and smiles softly before turning her head back to the moon. “Do you remember that night we watched the lunar eclipse and it started pouring?”
“Oh yeah,” Larissa laughs and shakes her head. “I distinctly remember telling you before we even left that it was supposed to rain. And sure enough halfway through the eclipse the bottom fell out of the sky.”
“It really did,” Morticia chuckles and her body shifts closer to Larissa on its own. She doesn’t even realize it until her hand bumps into the thermos. She knows she should move back but she just can’t make herself do it. “But you have to admit it was fun.”
“Other than getting soaked to the bone in thirty seconds it was fun,” Larissa remembers everything about that night. That was the night everything changed.
“We may have gotten soaked,” Morticia bites her lip and looks over at Larissa. “But dancing in the rain was well worth it.”
“The dancing was fun,” Larissa says softly and looks at Morticia and notices she is closer than she was a few minutes before. And her heart speeds up and she knows she should put more distance between them but she just can’t convince her body to do it. Especially as her mind is filled with the memory of them laughing in the rain. Of spinning around and bumping into each other and falling into a heap on the wet grass. How she broke Morticia’s fall. How her hand seemed to be drawn to her back as if it was a magnet. How Morticia ran her fingers across her jaw before leaning down and kissing her.
“I will never be able to forget that night,” Morticia’s hand reaches out and lightly grabs Larissa’s and her thumb gently rubs over her knuckles. “I remember everything about that night, do you?”
“Morticia,” Larissa whispers.
“Do you?” Morticia asks softly. She gets on her knees and scoots closer; her heart beating widely against her ribs. She knows she shouldn’t get this close to Larissa. She just can’t find it in herself to care.
“Yes,” Larissa swallows thickly. “I remember.”
Larissa is doing everything in her power to fight against the pull that is Morticia. But with Morticia looking at her like that and her hand sliding up her wrist she is losing the battle. She knows if she lets herself get drawn in any further she will be crushed even more at the end of the night. Her mind is telling her no, however her soul is screaming yes. She can practically feel Morticia’s lips on hers.
“Tish,” Larissa’s breathing speeds up as she looks down at Morticia’s hand slowly gliding up her arm. Please, please don’t do this.
“Issa,” Morticia’s hand slides over Larissa’s shoulder and grips the back of her neck. “That was the night I was granted my greatest wish.”
“Please,” despite her pleading tone Larissa leans towards Morticia and her hand comes down to the blanket next to her hip. “Don’t.”
“I finally mustered up enough courage to kiss you,” Morticia whispers and leans her forehead to Larissa’s.
“I remember,” Larissa whispers and her hand comes to settle on Morticia’s hip; her thumb gently rubbing over the soft material of the cashmere jumper.
“Do you remember what you said when we finally pulled apart?” A shiver runs through her as Larissa’s hand finally makes contact with her.
“Y…yes,” Larissa nods as tears cling to her lashes. “I said…I said my dreams just came true.”
“Mhmm,” Morticia grins and lifts the blanket off Larissa’s and straddles her lap.
Morticia’s world shrinks down to Larissa and Larissa only. The Dragon Moon is long forgotten as is Gomez and her mother. The only thing her brain focuses on is the way Larissa’s lap feels under her thighs. The way Larissa’s warm hand feels against her hip. She has spent so much time over the last few years dreaming about being back in the blonde’s arms and she can’t believe she is finally here. All of the heart shattering despair she has been feeling just disappears.
“Please don’t,” Larissa’s words lack conviction and her other hand comes up to lay against Morticia’s cheek.
“It’s okay,” Morticia whispers. Her other arm wraps around Larissa’s neck and she rubs her nose along hers.
“I can’t,” Larissa says quietly. Her thumb strokes along Morticia’s cheekbone. “I just…”
Larissa knows this is wrong. She knows Morticia is with someone else; that she has another life that she isn’t a part of. But her entire body craves the woman sitting in her lap. It’s just like when they were at Nevermore. She is drawn to Morticia like a moth to a flame. It’s like they are magnets drawn together and they are powerless to stop it. She knows that no matter what happens tonight in the end Morticia will walk away again. She knows this is only going to lead to more heartbreak.
“Please,” Morticia begs.
“We can’t,” Larissa’s hand gently squeezes Morticia’s hip. In the back of her mind she can barely hear the voice telling her Morticia is with Gomez; that this is wrong.
“Why?” A tear trails down Morticia’s cheek.
“You know why, darling” Larissa wipes away the tear rolling down Morticia’s cheek with her thumb.
Morticia gasps when the petname falls from Larissa’s lips. She hasn’t heard it in years. Larissa had stopped calling her that even before that last day. The more she was around Gomez the less Larissa used the name. She went from Tish and darling to Morticia and it absolutely crushed her.
“I don’t care,” Morticia whimpers and presses her face into Larissa’s neck.
“You should,” the confession adds another crack to Larissa’s soul.
“But I don’t,” Morticia nuzzles against Larissa’s neck and inhales her light fresh floral scent.
“I…” Larissa’s hand slides from Morticia’s cheek and wraps around her back.
“Please, Issa,” Morticia whispers and lightly kisses along Larissa’s neck.
“Tish,” Larissa breathes and her hand comes up to fists in Morticia’s raven locks.
“Please,” Morticia pleads and kisses and nips at Larissa’s neck.
Larissa pulls Morticia’s head away from her neck and searches her eyes. She presses their foreheads together. She fought so hard to keep her distance and not fall back into Morticia’s arms but the second her lips met her skin all of her walls came crumbling down. When she feels Morticia push closer her composer slips away and she crashes their lips together. Larissa’s tongue sweeps across the seam of Morticia’s lip and slips inside when she opens for her right away; they both moan when their tongues meet. Larissa’s hand tightens in raven hair and her other arm wraps around her to pull her flush against her, erasing all space between them. They pull apart when the need for air becomes a necessity, both with watery eyes.
“I missed you,” Larissa pants.
“Gods, I’ve missed you too ma chérie.” Morticia whispers and her arms tighten around Larissa’s neck. “So, so much you have no idea.”
“I think I have some idea,” Larissa says softly as her hands flex against Morticia’s back.
“Please,” Morticia says softly before pulling Larissa in for another kiss.
Larissa smiles against Morticia’s lips as her left hand slips under the edge of her jumper. Her hand trails up Morticia’s ribs and her tongue slips past her lips and glides over her tongue. Her fingertips slip under the edge of Morticia’s bra and she feels her shiver at the contact. Larissa’s right hand reaches down and squeezes her firm ass. She groans when Morticia’s hips roll into her. She kisses along Morticia’s cheek and down her neck. Larissa nips and sucks at her neck being careful not to leave any marks. She tugs at the hem of Morticia’s jumper but doesn’t try to lift it.
“Yes, yes,” Morticia nods frantically and lifts her arms. When the jumper is dropped she reaches around and unclasps her bra and drops it next to the discarded jumper.
“Mmmmm,” Larissa hums appreciatively.
Larissa’s hands move back down to Morticia’s ass and her lips press hot open mouthed kisses down her neck. She licks across Morticia’s collarbone before she continues kissing down her chest. Larissa pulls on Morticia’s ass pulling her into a slow roll. She takes one hardening nipple into her mouth and sucks gently. When she is satisfied with the attention she has shown Morticia’s left nipple she kisses across her chest and captures her right. She grazes her teeth over the nub and grins against soft flesh as Morticia’s hand shoots to the back of her head.
“Issa,” Morticia moans as her hips keep rocking against Larissa. “Please, I need you.”
“I’ve got you, darling,” Larissa says softly.
Larissa’s right arm slides under Morticia’s thighs and her left hand cups the back of her head. She shifts to her knees and gently lowers Morticia onto her back. Larissa settles between her thighs and leans down and kisses her slowly. Larissa moans against Morticia’s lips as she rolls her hips into her. Her right hand slides down Morticia’s stomach and cups her mound over her leggings. Morticia’s back arches and her hips roll fast against Larissa’s palm. Larissa kisses down Morticia’s stomach and when she reaches the waistband of her leggings she looks up.
“Gods, yes,” Morticia nods and lifts her hips. “Yes, yes, please yes.”
Larissa smiles up at Morticia and hooks her fingers in the waistband of the leggings and slowly pulls them down her legs. She kisses her way back up Morticia’s left leg she kisses the apex of her thighs before hooking her fingers into the waistband of her black silk panties and slides them down her toned legs.
“Gorgeous,” Larissa hovers over Morticia. “Always so gorgeous.”
Larissa bows her head and captures Morticia’s lips before she kisses down her body. She settles between her thighs and hooks her right leg over her shoulder. Larissa parts Morticia with her thumbs and runs her tongue from entrance to clit and moans at the tangy musky taste. Having Morticia on her tongue for the first time is a dream come true. She tastes just as amazing as she remembers; it’s a taste she was addicted to and she could easily become addicted to again. She flattens her tongue and takes broad slow licks but never touches her clit. When Morticia’s grip on her hair tightens bordering on painful she finally relents and swirls her tongue around her clit. She alternates between slow steady circles and fast flicks.
“Shit,” Morticia pants as her hips roll faster against Larissa’s face.
Larissa wraps an arm across Morticia’s hips to hold her still. She wraps her lips around her clit and sucks gently. Larissa’s free hand glides down her thigh and she runs a finger through Morticia’s slick sex. Blue eyes meet black and when Morticia nods Larissa pushes a slender digit into her entrance. She sets a slow pace and swirls her tongue around her clit.
“Issa, more please” Morticia begs as her back arches.
Larissa pulls her finger out and adds a second. Her tongue circles Morticia’s clit as she thrust her fingers faster. She tightens her grip on Morticia’s hips as her hips roll faster.
“Mmmmm, gods,” Morticia moans and her head thrashes from side to side. “Don’t stop, just don’t stop.”
Larissa doubles her efforts and curls her fingers against Morticia’s g-spot as she sucks harder on her clit. She feels Morticia’s silky wet walls tighten around her fingers and her eyes snap up to her face. She flutters her fingers against that spongy spot and flicks her tongue over her clit. Larissa pumps her fingers a few more times and feels Morticia’s walls flutter against her fingers as she falls over the edge of pleasure. Larissa has never seen anything more beautiful than when Morticia falls apart under her. She slows her finger and coaxes Morticia through her orgasm and every last aftershock. She licks every last drop Morticia gifted her before placing a soft kiss on each hip. Larissa kisses her way back up to her lips and lets Morticia taste herself on her tongue. She tucks a few strands of hair behind Morticia’s ear and presses their foreheads together.
“Darling, you are beautiful,” Larissa says softly.
“Mmmmm,” Morticia hums and cups Larissa’s face. “Not as beautiful as you.”
Morticia raises her head and captures Larissa’s lips. Her right hand slips down from her face and slides down Larissa’s side and settles on her hip. She nips at her lower lip and grins into the kiss as Larissa moans. She deepens the kiss as her hand slips under the hem of her jumper and slides up her stomach.
“Morticia,” Larissa pants and pulls back. “You don’t ha…”
“I know,” Mortica’s free hand tightens on the back of Larissa’s neck to stop her from pulling away. “I want to. No, I need to. Please chérie.”
When Larissa nods Morticia shifts up and lays her back onto the back. Her hand kneads over a clothed breast and she smiles against Larissa’s neck when she feels an already hardened nipple press against her palm. She places warm open mouthed kisses down her neck before sinking her teeth into the space where her neck and shoulder meet. Larissa’s hand flies up to her hair and her hips buck into her. She growls when her lips run into the collar of her jumper. Her hands come down and grip the edge of the soft jumper.
“May I?” Morticia asks and smiles as Larissa nods.
Morticia quickly rids Larissa of her jumper and bra. She resumes her descent and captures a peach nipple between her lips and sucks as her hand cups the over soft flesh and her thumb circles the other. Morticia rakes her teeth over Larissa’s nipple and her hips buck up. She releases the nipple with a soft pop and she switches to the other side. She reaches down and traces the button of Larissa’s jeans and looks up at her.
“Tish please,” Larissa whimpers and lifts her hips.
Morticia makes quick work of the button and zipper and pulls Larissa’s jeans and panties down impossibly long legs. She sucks in a deep breath as she looks at the goddess for the first time in years.
“Perfection, true perfection,” Morticia says softly as her eyes rake over every inch of Larissa’s body. She has dreamed about seeing her body again but nothing compares to seeing it in person. She smiles as she sees a pink blush creep over her chest, neck and face.
Morticia settles between Larissa’s thigh and kisses up her inner thigh. She slides her tongue between her lips and up her slit, curling it around Larissa’s clit; she can’t stop the moan that erupts low in her throat at the first taste of her. Morticia’s hands press into her thighs spreading them wider for better access. She teases Larissa’s entrance before gliding back up to her clit.
“Gods, yes,” Larissa moans and rolls her hips against Morticia’s face.
Morticia hums against Larissa’s core and pulls her closer to her face. As Larissa’s hips begin to roll fast and her hand presses firmly against the back of her head Morticia core begins to heat up and tingle. Morticia sucks Larissa’s clit hard and the accompanying groan causes something to ripple between Morticia’s thighs and when she feels a weight press against her own leg she pulls back and looks down. She gasps and her eyes flare wide at what she sees.
“Tish?” Larissa pants and lifts on her elbows. She reaches out and cups Morticia’s cheek as she takes in the utter shock on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“That,” Morticia says softly and looks between her thighs.
“Wha…” Larissa’s face morphs into the same shocked expression as she takes in the hardened and already beading cock between Morticia’s legs.
“How…how is that possible,” Morticia whispers as her eyes snap back up to Larissa’s. “I…I’m so sorry.”
“Shhhhh, I don’t know,” Larissa says softly and cups Morticia’s face. “But it’s okay,” Larissa nods reassuringly, “it’s okay.”
“I…” Morticia searches Larissa’s face and she is met with pupils blown and a flushed face. She tentatively asks, “really?”
“Yes, I just need you,” Larissa nods and rubs her thumb along Morticia’s cheekbones. “I just need you, darling, please I need you.”
“I..I’ve never done this,” Morticia leans into Larissa’s touch. “I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s alright, Larissa reaches down and gently strokes the member and smirks when Morticia gasps and her hips buck. “Just do whatever feels right. I trust you.”
Morticia nods and settles between Larissa’s thighs. Her hand slides down her stomach over neatly trimmed golden curls and gently rubs Larissa’s clit. Her breathing picks up with her nerves. Morticia bows her head and kisses Larissa softly. Her free hand lays on Larissa’s cheek, her fingers continue their soft circles.
“Are you sure, Issa?” Morticia asks and searches Larissa’s eyes for any uncertainty but only sees arousal and trust staring back at her.
“Gods, yes.” Larissa nods frantically
Morticia bites her bottom and grasps the throbbing cock and slowly drags it through Larissa’s wet slit. Both their hips jerk when the head bumps against Larissa’s clit. Morticia slides her newly acquired member back down and settles it against her entrances. She presses her forehead against Larissa’s and slowly pushes into her slick heat. She gently slides all the way down to the hilt and they moan together. Morticia stays still allowing Larissa time to adjust to being filled. She gently strokes her cheek and waits until Larissa rolls her before she pulls out until just the head sits inside her entrance before she bottoms out again. Morticia sets a slow pace and kisses down Larissa’s throat.
“Bloody Hell, Tish,” Larissa moans and rocks against Morticia. She has never been this full and the fact that it is Morticia is making her brain go crazy.
“You are so tight, you feel so good,” Morticia reaches around Larissa’s thigh and hooks it over her hip. Her thrusts pick up and her hand kneads Larissa’s breast.
Morticia bites Larissa’s neck and soothes the sting with her tongue. She hisses into her neck as her nails scratch down her back. She has never felt anything as divine as being inside Larissa. Morticia isn’t sure how long she is going to be to last. Morticia’s hips snap faster as she feels Larissa’s walls tighten around her. She slides her hand between them and rubs firm circles over her clit.
“Yes, yes, yes” Larissa sobs as she meets Morticia’s thrusts.
Morticia's head pulls away from Larissa’s neck to watch her face. She feels Larissa’s legs begin to shake and she plunges harder into her. Morticia can feel her orgasm fast approaching and she swirls her fingers faster over her clit.
“Ti…Tish,” Larissa back arches and she moans. “I..I’m…oh.”
“That’s it chésie, cum for me.”
Morticia watches as Larissa’s eyes roll back into her head and feels her walls flutter wildly against her back. When Larissa cums calling Morticia’s name her hips falter before she slams deep into Larissa spilling her own release deep inside slick heat. She slows her thrusts and her fingers and helps Larissa come through her orgasm and every aftershock. Morticia leans down and kisses Larissa when she feels her arms snake around her neck and pull. Morticia slowly pulls out slowly hoping she won’t cause Larissa any pain before collapsing onto Larissa’s chest.
“Holy shit,” Larissa pants and wraps her arms tightly around Morticia.
“Yeah, that was,” Mortica nuzzles against the swells of Larissa’s breast as she feels the now familiar tingling as she shifts back to her own anatomy. “That was amazing.”
Larissa kisses the top of Morticia’s head before she lays her cheek against glossy raven locks. They lay wrapped around each other until their breathing slows and their hearts slow to the same rhythm. Larissa closes her eyes as they begin to sting with tears. Her heart breaks when reality sinks back in. Morticia feels Larissa shuddering and she lifts her head and her heart twists painfully at the look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” Morticia asks and gently strokes Larissa’s cheek.
“I just…” Larissa’s voice cracks.
“What?” Morticia’s thumb wipes away the tear that slides down Larissa’s cheek. “You can tell me anything.”
“It’s just…” Larissa shakes head. “Reality is hitting me really hard.”
“Oh Issa,” Morticia’s eyes fill with tears.
“I don’t want to lose you all over again.” Larissa whispers and her arms tight around Morticia’s back
“I wish it didn’t have to be this way,” Morticia presses her forehead to Larissa’s. “You have no idea how much I wish things were different.”
“We shouldn’t have done this,” Larissa cries. “This was wrong. You have a whole life you have to go back to and I’m not a part of it.”
“I’m sorry,” tears stream down Morticia’s face. “I just need you in my arms. I just needed you, you have no idea how much I hate this.”
They lay together silently crying, clinging to each other. They lay together until Morticia shifts and looks at Larissa.
“It’s time isn’t it?” Larissa asks quietly.
“Yeah,” Morticia’s voice cracks as she sits up.
“Okay,” Larissa sniffles and pulls her knees to her chest.
Larissa watches as Morticia gets dressed before she gets up and does the same. She folds the blanket and grabs the thermos. She follows behind Morticia as they head back down through the woods. When they reach the street she stops and grabs Morticia’s wrist and turns her to look at her.
“I hate this,” Larissa says and pulls Morticia into a hug.
“I do too,” Morticia whispers and tightly wraps her arms around Larissa’s waist.
“Where are you staying?” Larissa's hand runs through Morticia’s hair. “I could walk you.”
“I…I am staying at Blenheim Palace,” Morticia pulls back to look into Larissa’s eyes. “You don’t…you don’t need to walk me. It’s in the opposite direction.”
“Oh,” Larissa says softly. “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
“Yes,” Morticia’s voice cracks, “I suppose it is.”
“Okay.”
“Goodbye, ma chérie,” Morticia whispers before pressing a kiss to Larissa’s lips.
“Goodbye, Morticia,” Larissa says against Morticia’s lips.
Larissa gently strokes Morticia’s cheek one more time before she steps back.
Larissa turns right and heads up the sidewalk, she looks back over her shoulder one last time to see Mortician walking up the sidewalk in the other direction. Larissa unlocks her door and slips inside. She drops her head and walks to her bedroom and quickly pulls on some cream colored silk pajama set. She slowly makes her way into the bathroom to do her night routine. When she turns on the light she is met with Morticia’s dress neatly folded on the counter. She walks over and runs her fingertips over the soft velvet material. She picks up the dress and brings it to her nose and inhales deeply. Tears fall steadily down her cheeks when Morticia’s scent of ginger and orange. She takes a step and when her back hits the wall she slides down to the floor and sobs, still pressing Morticia’s dress to her nose.
____________________________________________________________________________
Ten and a half weeks later
Larissa sits in the library white knuckle gripping the table as she fights off another wave of nausea. It takes about two minutes before she trusts herself to open her eyes. She takes a few deep breaths before she gets back to sorting out her lesson plan for the next week. She looks up when she notices someone sits in the chair across the table from her.
“Hey,” Henry says quietly.
“Hey,” Larissa says softly and puts her pen down.
“Still feeling sick?” Henry tilts his head to the side and studies Larissa.
“I’m fine,” Larissa says as her eyes drop to the table.
“No you are, Larissa. You’ve been sick for weeks now and you aren’t getting any better.” Henry argues.
“Henry,” Larissa warns. “Really I’m fine, I've just been working a lot lately.”
“Honey, you are exhausted all the time and you are constantly nauseous all the time. I know you keep saying it's just some bug you can’t get over but this has gone on long enough.”
“It’s fine, I’m just a little rundown.” Larissa picks up her pen and taps it against her planner.
“Something is wrong,” Henry reaches over and places his hand over Larissa’s to stop the tapping. “I’m really worried about you.”
“I appreciate your concern, I really do,” Larissa chews the inside of her cheek. If she were being honest with herself she was starting to worry about not being able to get over this bug she has but she just doesn’t have the time right now to do anything about it. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m really okay.”
“Larissa Weems if I have to physically drag you to the physician I will.” Henry raises a challenging brow. “I will call up your school and tell them you are unwell and need a day off to get checked out.”
“Uhhhh,” Larissa groans as her eyes fall closed and she rubs her temples. I don’t have time for this.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t believe I’ll do it.”
“Gods,” Larissa opens her eyes and shakes her head. “Fine, but it will have to be the week after next. The kids have GCSE texting all next week and I need to be there. But I promise I will find a time once they are complete. Is that a good enough compromise?”
“I’m not exactly happy you are pushing it off for so long but I guess it’s better than nothing.” He shakes his head and sighs.
“Deal.”
____________________________________________________________________________
2 Weeks Later
Larissa sits on a cold metal table in her physician's office. Her foot giggles wildly the longer she sits there. She figured this would be a quick appointment but she has been sitting in here for over forty minutes. They did some blood work and said they would be back once the results came in. She shakes her head trying to dislodge the thoughts that something might actually be really wrong that seem to be swirling faster and faster in her mind. Her head snaps up when the door opens and the doctor walks into the small room.
“Good afternoon Miss Weems,” the doctor looks down at her tablet before looking back up at Larissa. “So we got all of your bloodwork back and there is a reason for why you have been feeling so tired and nauseous later.”
“Okay,” Larissa says quietly and bites her lip nervously.
“Congratulations, you’re pregnant,” the doctor says simply with a big smile.
“I beg your pardon?” Larissa’s jaw drops open and she looks at the doctor then down to her stomach and back to the doctor.
“You’re pregnant.”
“WHAT?” Larissa shakes her head in disbelief. There is no way. There is not a single way she just said that.
“You are pregnant,” the doctor chuckles.
“No,” Larissa’s breathing and heart rate increases as she looks down at her stomach again.
“Yes, Miss Weems. The blood test is always accurate.”
“No,” Larissa looks back up at the doctor.
“I take it this wasn’t a planned pregnancy?" the doctor asks.
“No, no it was not,” Larissa whispers.
“I see,” the doctor says softly. “Do you have any idea how far along you might be?”
“N…no,” Larissa closes her eyes to fight off the tears that are threatening to fall.
“That’s okay. Do you have an OB/GYN?” When Larissa shakes her head the doctor continues. “That’s totally fine, we can give you a list of recommendations.”
“I…” Larissa opens her eyes and stares at the doctor. “Okay, thank you.”
“Larissa?”
“Yes,” Larissa says quietly.
“It’s going to be okay, I understand this is a shock but it will be okay.”
“Okay,” Larissa breathes.
“Alright, I’m going to get you a prescription for prenatal vitamins and you need to start them right away,” the doctor grabs her prescription pad and writes quickly and hands it over to Larissa. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“No,” a wide eyed Larissa shakes her head.
“Okay, if you go out to the receptionist she can give you a list of OB/GYN’s.”
Larissa nods and slowly walks out of the room and grabs the list of recommendations from the receptionist. The next thing she knows she is unlocking the door to her flat.. She closes the door behind her and walks straight to the couch and sits down. She isn’t even sure how she got home. Her brain short circuited in the physicians office and it is still spiralling. She sits there for so long by the time she is pulled out of her thoughts the room is awash with golden light from the setting sun. She keeps coming back to the same question. How, how was this even possible?
“Pregnant,” Larissa whispers into the empty room.
Larissa’s hand moves down and hovers over her stomach but she quickly drops it to her lap. She continues sitting there trying to figure out how this could even happen. Tears slip down her cheeks and she decides to make herself a cup of tea in hopes of calming her down and settling her nerves. She sets the water on to boil and walks over to the arm chair and drops her school bag on the floor. She puts her elbows on her knees and closes her eyes and bows her head. When the kettle whistles she opens her eyes and they catch on a bright red and orange paper in her bag.
“Oh, gods,” Larissa grabs the paper and takes the kettle off the burn and takes a seat back on the couch. With shaky hands she lifts the flyer and reads it. She looks closer at the Dragon Moon flyer and her eyes scan the page and get caught on the small black words at the very bottom of the page. What she failed to see the first time she read the page was the fine print down at the bottom of the page that read; increased strength, heightened emotions, ability swaps, seeking out true love and increased fertility.
“Oh no,” Larissa chokes out a sob. Her sobs quickly turn into panicked breathing and full body trembling.
Everything about that night comes crashing back to the forefront of her mind. Her shock of seeing Morticia standing next to the table. Pouring her heart out to the one person she never thought she’d see again. Going with Morticia to watch the Dragon Moon. How her and Morticia fell into each other. How Morticia shifted. How neither of them ever questioned what that could have meant. The agonizing pain that came as she watched Morticia walk away. Coming home and finding Morticia’s dress still laying on the counter. How she sat on the cold bathroom tiles weeping into the dress like it was her lifeline. How she spent the weekend in bed or sitting in the armchair staring into space.
“What am I going to do?” Larissa says to herself before she looks back down to her stomach. “What are we going to do?”
Larissa’s hand comes up to cover her mouth as she sobs. Her heart and soul are tearing apart. For herself and for her unborn child. She has always loved children. She has always thought she would have a few kids but that was always a long way down the road. And here she sits pregnant without a partner. Pregnant with the love of her life’s child. Once upon a time she dreamed Morticia and her would have a few kids and live happily ever after but that proved to be just a dream. A dream that was never in the cards for them, the universe seemed to be hellbent on keeping them apart and there isn’t a single thing she can do about it.
“Tish,” she whimpers.
The small rational part of her brain is thinking about the fact that she still has options. She is only eleven weeks along and she still has the choice of not going through with the pregnancy and there is also adoption but her heart is screaming at her. It’s screaming for her to keep the baby. That she would never forgive herself if she let her baby go.
Her heart aches because she is going to have to go through all of this alone. It aches knowing she won’t have Morticia by her side. All she wants to do is call Morticia and tell her. Tell her about the baby and to come back to her. But she knows in her heart of heart Morticia will never leave her life. She will never go against her mother. And knowing she will be going through all of this alone scares the hell out of her. How is she going to be able to do all of this alone? How will she be able to raise this child alone and never tell Morticia the truth.
“Tish I need you,” one of Larissa’s hand lifts to her mouth in a futile attempt to stop the sob from bubbling out and the over rests against her stomach.
____________________________________________________________________________
13 and a Half Weeks Later
“Sweet baby girl Mummy needs you to calm down,” Larissa blows out a long breath and rubs her ever growing baby bump.
She breathes a sigh of relief when the baby calms down and picks up one of the essays sitting on the couch next to her. She sits there grading for about an hour before trying to focus but the baby is demanding her attention. She smiles down at her bump and smiles.
“Okay, okay I get it.” Larissa shakes her head and pushes off the couch and walks to the book case and grabs her copy of Frankenstein. “You are your mother’s daughter.”
The mere thought of Morticia makes Larissa’s heart twist painfully but she pushes through and lounges out on the couch and pulls the sage green cashmere blanket and lays it over her lap. She flips open the book and begins reading aloud. It never fails if the baby is moving around a lot and can’t get settled, all she has to do is read a gothic novel aloud and the baby calms down right away. Her fingertips trace over her bump as she reads. An hour into reading there is a knock at the door and her brows furrow. She isn’t expecting anyone and none of her friends ever drop by unannounced or this late at night. She pushes off the couch and makes her way to the door. Before she opens the door she pulls her t-shirt down and continues rubbing her stomach to settle her now awake baby girl who is kicking wildly. When she opens the door her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. No, this can’t be happening.
Morticia smiles up at Larissa until she sees the utter shock on her face and the fear in her eyes. She takes in the blonde expression and appearance and her mouth drops open when she sees Larissa standing before her with a very obvious baby bump.
“Larissa?” Morticia whispers as her eyes drop to Larissa’s bump and back up to her eyes.