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The Naming of Cousins was one of the most sacred rituals conducted by the Addams family. It was a centuries old tradition, formed in the days when there were state sponsored hunts and persecutions being done all over the world. The different and misunderstood were often thrown away by their families, left to try and fend for themselves if they were not just outright killed. It was then that a member of the Addams line came up with the ritual of the Naming of Cousins. It allowed the family to grow and strengthen the bloodline, spreading their influence as newly made extended family went out into the world and lived as freely as any other Addams.
Tonight they were going to Name two new Cousins, a husband and wife.
***
Fester had found them while going on one of his spur of the moment vacations. He found them hiding in an old cemetery, the husband holding his heavily bandaged wife close to himself to shield and protect her from any harm. He nearly took Fester’s head off with an axe when he got too close to them, growling out a warning against coming any closer to his beloved wife.
Fester immediately took a liking to the pair, finding that they reminded him of his brother and his wife. It took some time but he was eventually able to convince the husband to come with him, promising that his wife would be well taken care of at the manor. “We know all about this kind of stuff! You’re not the only ones who need the occasional charge from a bolt of lightning now and again, ya know!”
They were given a room close to the roof, allowing for the wife to be cared for by Fester and Grandmama whenever the weather was perfect for it without needing to be carried too far by Lurch. “We’ve got lots of spare parts and replacements. It’s no problem at all. I’m sure most of them would donate them anyway if they could still speak,” the old woman said as she measured out lengths of skin to help tend to the wife’s damaged body.
Gomez stayed with the husband during these times, comforting him whenever there was a scream from upstairs. “Easy! Easy, young fellow! Mother knows what she’s doing. Your wife will be able to see and walk again in no time!”
The husband could only stand near the door, staring up at the ceiling as if he could see through it. He wrung his hands, chewing on his bottom lip.
“Catch!”
The husband caught the sword being thrown at him in surprise, blinking as Gomez came at him with his own blade. Where did these swords even come from?! He didn’t remember them being in the room before. He moved without thinking, blocking the blow and moving sideways before holding his sword up in a defensive pose.
“Aha! You’ve got some training in you!” Gomez cried. Happily he started to swing his sword, going on the offensive. He watched as the husband moved to block his blows and shifted his body, nodding his head in approval. “You’ve got old training in you,” he noted, “very old! I haven’t seen anyone use that stance in years.”
The two dueled for what felt like hours. Sometimes Gomez was on the offensive and sometimes the husband was. There were a few times when they nearly made contact with each other, just barely dodging or deflecting a blow that would have caused some form of damage.
Both men were sore afterwards and Gomez happily offered the husband a cigar and a glass of whiskey. They sat by one of the large windows, watching as the storm outside continued to rage on outside. “Do you feel better?” he asked.
The husband seemed to hesitate, unsure of himself. Slowly he nodded his head, looking at Gomez. “Yes,” he whispered.
Gomez smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s hard when the love of your life is suffering. All we can do is wait and hope for the best. I promise you that she’ll be okay.”
“She’s my beloved,” the husband whispered.
Gomez nodded in agreement, clinking their glasses together. “As a wife should be, my friend! As a wife should be!”
***
“Wednesday? Let your new cousins know that the family is starting to arrive,” Morticia said, smiling to herself as she added more monkshood to a bowl of punch.
“Yes, mother.” Wednesday stopped spinning her bolas over her head, catching the heavy metal balls she had intended on aiming at her brother while he placed some spiders in the corners of the room. Setting the weapon down, she went off to collect the two newest members of the family. She knocked on the door to their room before pushing it open, peeking her head inside. “It’s time to start coming down for the party,” she said.
The husband, also known as Creature, turned to his wife with a small smile. “Are you ready?” he asked, brushing a lock of her hair from her face. It had taken a lot of time and patience but eventually Morticia and Grandmama had been able to help Lisa’s hair grow back, albeit now with a large stripe of white running through her usual brown hair.
The wife, also known as Lisa Swallows, nodded her head, adjusting her grip on the cane she used to help her walk. She had been almost completely healed thanks to Grandmama’s potions and Fester’s lightning treatments. The only thing different about her were the few patches of skin that didn’t exactly match the rest of her skin.
She reached up, adjusting the polished turquoise stone Creature wore at his neck, its twin set into a choker she wore around her own. They were a gift from Grandmama Addams, talismans meant to protect them against unnatural deaths. “Lightning and potions don’t grow on trees!” she had said.
“I’m ready,” Lisa said with a warm smile, pressing a kiss to Creature's cheek.
Wednesday led the couple down to the main room of the manor, perking up at the sight of the many members of the family that had arrived. The young girl ran off to play, leaving the couple to take in the sight of their new family as they remained at the top of the stairs.
“Ah! There they are!” Gomez smiled, holding up a flute of champagne towards Creature and Lisa. “Our new cousins! Lisa and Creature!”
Lurch was at their side with a tray of champagne flutes. He and Creature had bonded over their love of music, often playing together after supper. Lisa happily took one with the Creature and they held them in the air with the rest of the Addams family in a celebratory toast.
Their family now.