For once, there was no tiny body wedged between them, no tiny limbs splayed out trying to make sure she was touching both of them even in sleep. No adorable, but bossy toddler shaking them awake and demanding her pancakes and "coffee". 

Sunday arrived soft and unhurried, the soft and warm light of morning slipping through Larissa's pale curtains in golden riddons that fell across the thick duvet that hid a tangle of limbs beneath it. 

Morticia was the first to surface from sleep. She didn't open her eyes immediately. Instead, she simply lay there, enjoying the security that Larissa's arm around her waist provided, the peaceful rise and fall of her soft chest beneath her cheek. She took in her first deep breath of the morning, the smell of Larissa's skin taking over her senses in a way that made her heart warm. 

She tilted her head up just enough to look at her. 

Larissa was deeply, beautifully asleep. Her platinum hair was a disaster, half flattened against the pillow, a few curls falling across her cheek and neck. Her lips were barely parted, her breathing slow and even. Morticia's eyes caught the deep purple bruises that bloomed across her neck and shoulders, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she mentally patted herself on the back for her beautifully possessive works of art on the blonde's body. 

She pressed her lips to the center of Larissa's sternum, letting her lips linger against the warm skin. 

Larissa didn't stir.

Morticia smiled against her skin. She shifted onto her stomach, moving carefully as not to disturb the arm still resting on her back, and began to press slow, idle kisses across the blonde's chest. 

She took her time. It was Sunday morning, there was nowhere to be and no one but themselves to care for till evening, and she intended to enjoy every slow second of the day. 

She worked her way to the soft curve of Larissa's left breast, lips ghosting across the soft skin until she reached the peak, and with a glint of something wicked behind her sleepy eyes, closed her teeth around a stiff, peachy nipple. Not hard. But not gentle either.

The sound Larissa made was small and surprised, a soft, sleep-rough noise that escaped before she could catch it. The arm on Morticia's back tightened reflexively.

"That hurt," Larissa murmured, her voice low and thick with sleep.

Morticia released her. She pressed one perfectly innocent kiss to the spot, then lifted her chin to look up the length of the blonde's body.

"Did you like it?"

There was a long pause, then one blue eye cracked open. It slid down to find her, slow and drowsy, taking a moment to focus. The corner of Larissa's mouth curved before she closed both eyes again and tightened her hold around the brunette's waist. 

"Yes."

Morticia's smirk widened. Larissa's eye crinkled.

They both dissolved into quiet giggles, the sound soft and muffled in the warmth of the bedding. Larissa's low and sleepy, Morticia's a little breathless as she tucked her face back against the blonde's chest to hide how pleased with herself she was.

Larissa's hand moved up to her hair, slow and clumsy with sleep, fingers combing through dark waves in long, unhurried strokes.

"Menace," she said fondly, nudging her thigh between Morticia's legs to pull herself impossibly closer. 

"Mmm." Morticia pressed a kiss to the center of her chest, settling her cheek back against the warm skin. "Yours."

The room was quiet after that. Just the distant sound of birds outside the window, the soft drag of Larissa's breathing evening back out, and the golden light inching a little further across the duvet. Neither in a hurry to start the day. 

Their entire weekend had been like this, a blissful private world contained within the walls of Larissa's apartment. They had barely left the space, content to spend hours exploring each other in every sense. They memorised  the sensitive skin that made the other gasp, the touches that drew delightful shivers to run down their spines. They shared quiet and intimate conversations that wove their lives even tighter together. 

It had been exactly what they both had needed after weeks of stolen moments and constant interruptions from a very cute, but very demanding toddler. 

They lingered in bed for a long while before eventually dragging themselves from the soft, warm sheets they had been tangled in for hours. 

Over coffee and a simple breakfast (if you could still call it breakfast at 1 pm), their legs entwined under the small kitchen table. The easy contentment of the afternoon slowly gave way to something quieter and heavier. 

Larissa watched as Morticia traced the rim of her mug, the way her eyes drowned in the dark, bitter liquid. 

"Talk to me, darling." Larissa's soft voice pulled her gently from her thoughts. The corner of her pale, unpainted lips curved into a soft smile at how observant and attentive the blonde was and had always been with her. 

“This weekend has been perfect,” she said softly. “Just us, finally getting to explore what this is without anything or anyone between us. But now that's over… I keep thinking about what lies in the future…" She brought the still-warm mug to her lips and took a small sip. "For the three of us.”

Larissa reached across the table, covering Morticia’s hand with her own. “I'm ready and excited for what the future holds for us, and I know you are as well.” She paused, her thumb stroking gently over Morticia’s knuckles. "But I can see you worrying."

Morticia met her eyes. “I feel guilty sometimes. Gomez and I tried so hard to give Wednesday a stable family, even when we both knew it wasn’t right for us." She let out a heavy sigh, digging her elbows into the table. She let her forehead rest against her open palms, a dark curtain of hair obscuring her face. " And now here I am, happier than I’ve been in years, already imagining you as part of our everyday life. It feels selfish. Like I’m rushing something that might confuse her.”

Larissa’s expression softened. "Wednesday made sure I was a part of both of your everyday lives since her little Mary Janes made contact with the school grounds." She stood and rounded the table, pulling Morticia up into her arms. “You’re not selfish for wanting to be happy, Tish. " She brought the brunette's arms around her waist and her own hands up to cup her cheeks, fingers gently playing and pushing away strands of dark hair from her cheeks. "Wednesday… she already treats me like I belong to both of you.” Morticia leaned into her, arms wrapping around Larissa’s waist. "Which I am." 

A small smile played on Morticia's lips, resting her chin on the blonde's chest. “I know. But she’s only four. She’s already so possessive of you, of us. What if she feels like she’s losing part of me to this relationship?”

Larissa exhaled slowly, her own vulnerability surfacing as she rested her chin on Morticia’s head. “I worry about that too. I’ve never done the parenting thing before. What if I’m not enough for her? What if I do the wrong thing and she resents me one day for taking up so much of your time and affection?”

Morticia pulled back just enough to cup Larissa’s face with both hands, kissing her softly, reverently. “You already are enough. She trusts you. She loves you, almost as fiercely as I do.” A small, fond smile curved both of their lips. “We don’t have to have all the answers today. We can figure it out together."

“Day by day,” Larissa agreed, her voice thick with emotion. She pulled Morticia closer, kissing her deeply, slow and full of promise. “I love you, Tish. And I love her. I want the three of us. Tantrums, jealousies, and all the beautiful chaos.”

“I love you too,” Morticia whispered against her lips. “And I’m not letting you go. You’re stuck with us now.” 

The afternoon slipped away in a comfortable silence and occasional touches. As the time for pickup drew near, Morticia glanced at the clock. “I’ll head down. You finish getting presentable for the public,” she teased, pressing one last kiss to Larissa’s lips.

Larissa laughed softly. “I would have been ready if someone hadn't wanted to share the shower." 

A mischievous little glint swept across the brunette's eyes, her bottom lip catching between her teeth. She shrugged her shoulders before slowly swaying out of the bedroom. "I don't remember anyone putting up much of a fight about that." 

Larissa rolled her eyes and turned back to the vanity to finish getting ready. "I'll be down in a few minutes." 

Morticia descended the stairs and stepped out onto the front steps of Nevermore just as the familiar black hearse rolled up the long driveway. The car had barely been put in park when the back door opened, and a tiny dark shadow came barreling toward her.

“Mama!” The toddler launched herself into Morticia’s arms. She caught her easily, hugging Wednesday tight and breathing in the familiar scent of her daughter’s hair.

“My darling girl,” Morticia murmured, pressing kisses to her cheek. “I missed you so much.”

Wednesday's tiny fingers trailed into her mother's hair, letting the strands glide between the chubby digits. She gently brought her forehead to her mother's, resting there for a blissful moment before pulling back. "I missed you, too." 

"Did you have fun with Papa and Mr. Thing?" She bounced the toddler once in her arms, adjusting her. 

Wednesday nodded, her eyes trailing from her mother's face to her hands playing in her hair. "I got to visit the cem-tary again. Papa got me a new shovel, and I got to dig up graves! They had bones in them, Mama! Real ones. Mr. Thing helped me find a whole skull, but it was only a squirrel one. Lurch made-" Her sharp gaze fell straight on Morticia once again. "Where's my Rissa?" 

“Right here, little bat!" Larissa’s warm voice floated from the top of the steps.

Wednesday’s head snapped up, and her face lit up with pure delight as she spotted the blonde descending toward them. “Rissa!” She wriggled wildly in Morticia’s arms, reaching both hands out. Larissa hurried the last few steps and took her, pulling both mother and daughter into a tight embrace.

“Welcome home,” Larissa said softly, kissing Wednesday’s temple before meeting Morticia’s eyes over the toddler’s head with a look so heartfelt and warm that any worries Morticia had in that moment melted away.

Wednesday pulled back just enough to look between them. Her sharp little eyes were narrowing thoughtfully. “Did you miss me?”

“Terribly,” Larissa answered, turning her gaze back to the tiny terror in her arms, eyes crinkling at the edges at how genuinely happy she was to have her little family back in her arms. 

“Good.” Wednesday nodded solemnly, then wiggled to be put down so she could grab both of their hands. “Papa said grown-ups need special time sometimes. But I’m back, so you have to share with me again.”