Chapter 43

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A/N: OMG I AM SO CLOSE TO 1K VOTES IM GONNA CRY!! I want to thank you all who have read this far, it truly warms my heart and makes me so happy to see people enjoying what I write, I don't know how I did it but yeah. Also celebrating nearly 31k reads, but I want to thank the people who have shown their support, who have commented on each chapter and made me laugh, and everything in between. I could not have asked to be a part of a better fandom community like this, and I owe everything to y'all. Enjoy the story!

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"And it doesn't matter that sometimes our worlds are colored different hues. Because when the colors blend together, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

~~~

As the wee hours of the morning set in, they had sat there on the floor for hours, holding each other as he slowly relayed to her everything he kept locked away in the chambers of his mind. Never had she felt more than she did then, listening as he described the antagonizing ache he was forced to carry everywhere he went. It crumbled on top of him, leaving him gasping for air, begging to escape the pressure that slowly suffocated him. His begs and pleas were ignored, and he felt as if it were over before it had begun. Yet still, he managed to carry on, despite the darkness he had learned to live in, to become. But then she showed up, causing an uproar in the school he had called home. 

He paused a moment, and she waited silently as he gathered himself once more. 

"You gave me life, you taught me how to love myself. It wasn't easy, to give it all up, yet somehow I found refuge in you, and slowly you worked me out of that dark place. I wasn't sure if I would ever be saved, but someone heard my silent prayers because you're here."

She looked at him now, as his head rested in her lap. Her hand ran through his hair, and her eyes gently trailed down to his bandaged arms, and she slightly flinched. They had discussed, among the many things they went over, a healthier outlet, one that didn't involve this outcome. A pang of sadness came over her as she slowly moved her hand over his arm, caressing one of the bandages as a single tear prodded at her eye. 

"Everything is better with you. Everything is better since you."

It was worse than seeing him in the hospital bed, far worse than that because he had gone through it alone. He had no one there to hold his hand, to guide him in the right direction. She swatted at the tear but knew eventually it would find its way out. His words lingered in her mind, haunting her more than her nightmares ever had. He had pleaded with her, apologizing over and over as he told her he wasn't asking for pity; he was asking for support. He said if she left he would understand. It pained her, the idea that someone could instill this mindset into someone, to the point they begged to be heard, and felt the need to have to explain themselves the moment they broke from the weight. He had begged her for human decency, something that was granted to each individual from birth, yet some were stripped of that right.

He slowly stirred, sitting up as he looked at her, a sad smile crossing his lips. 

Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she was looking off before her eyes quickly flew to his. He saw the pent-up sorrow that resided in her reddened eyes, and her seemingly exhausted state revealed itself in her limp posture. She immediately straightened, searching his eyes as she quickly moved to stand up.

"What do you need?"

Watching her, he stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her in and catching her in his arms. She stiffened, as the gesture surprised her, but she quickly returned the hug, wrapping her arms around him as he pulled her in further. She felt his lips graze the shell of her ear, causing a small shudder from her. He kissed her head, holding her close as he felt her heartbeat against his chest.

"Thank you," he whispered, and she pulled back slightly to meet his eyes. A glint of curiosity flashed in her eyes, and he softly smiled down at her.

"For loving the parts of me that aren't easy to love, for turning the pages gently, and helping me rewrite a happy ending to my narrative. I don't think I would have made it this far if it weren't for you, Wendy. You're all my heart ever talks about."

Her eyes fluttered, and her breath hitched. To hear those words, the way he sang her praises made her smile, and she didn't attempt to hide it. She didn't care about how much she despised her smile, or how she more than likely looked odd as she did so. For the first time, she was seeing outside of herself, and she couldn't quite name the feeling she was experiencing. A tear rolled down her cheek, and his small smile grew into a wide one. He moved his hand to wipe her tear as he leaned down, giving her a kiss. If it was humanely possible, she quite literally melted into him, and suddenly she couldn't tell her heartbeat from his. They no longer lingered on the events that had brought them there, only on what was happening in the moment.

He pulled back, and his smile softened as he watched the girl. She settled back into her blank expression, looking up at him expectantly.

"Xav, let's go on a walk. We shall move past this, there is no need to dwell on it any further. It is finished."

And with that she turned and grabbed their coats, throwing his to him as he caught it and put it on. She wondered how he would cover the bandages, perhaps he had enough long sleeve shirts to hide them. Sliding on her coat, he interlaced fingers with her as they strolled out of the shed, leaving behind the memories of the previous night.

The sun was rising, and they silently walked to the clearing she had been to the day before. They stood there, admiring the deep scarlet and copper hues of the sky; it seemed nature was painting its own new beginning. Their warm breaths hit the frosty air, and they pressed their shoulders together, letting their bodies warm each other. He squeezed her hand, and she dragged her eyes away from the sky, a look of hope glistening in his eye as he smiled at her. 

She admired the way the light highlighted his blue eyes and made his hair shine different shades of gold, enhancing his already perfect features. She turned back to the sunrise, attempting to hide her slightly pinked cheeks, as he did the same. They stood a little longer, basking in the sunshine of the new day. It seemed as if she was supposed to be getting ready for something, an itch that she couldn't quite reach as she tried to place her finger on it, and that's when the realization hit her; it was Monday.

She turned to him, her eyes widening as she stared up at him. Her sudden movement caught him off guard, and he whirled to look down at her, lifting his eyebrow.

"School."

His face froze before he nodded swiftly, and they both began to run back to Nevermore, hand in hand, as the leaves crunched beneath their feet. The birds sang a cheery tune in the bare trees around them, and the sun stretched shadows out in front of them, warning them of the approaching time.

Wednesday Addams was never late, rather always precisely on time. It was what she did best, one of her many admirable traits in her opinion. But now she was more than likely going to be on the dot, rather than 5 minutes ahead. It perturbed her, and she huffed as she did her best to keep up with Xavier, as he dragged her along. But she knew in her heart, that she would pick this option every time if it meant being there for him. She would rather be late than have him suffer without someone. It calmed her slightly, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try and be early.

They approached the gates, and he quickly swung one open, letting her in before pulling it shut. A few students were in the quad, giving them odd looks before shaking their heads and continuing about their business. It wasn't exactly new to them, seeing the pair together.

"Art shed, 10 tonight," she panted, resting her hands on her hips a moment, meeting his eyes. He nodded, and they parted ways, heading to their dorms.

Wednesday burst through the door, causing Enid and Thing to jump as they gave her a crazed look. Enid hopped off her bed, running over to her as she waved her hands around. 

"Wednesday! Are you okay?! I hadn't heard a thing, and your phone was here and-"

Wednesday made her way to the bathroom, ignoring the werewolf as she showered. Once she shut it off, she hopped out, hitting her ankle in the process. She quickly inhaled, clenching her jaw as she patted her hair dry, throwing on her skirt and blouse and buttoning up her jacket, cursing the person who made them wear the wretched things. She flew out of the bathroom, her hair cascading around her shoulders as she grabbed her books, stuffing them into her bag. Plopping down on her bed, she quickly threw on her shoes, before laying back on the mattress. 

Enid and Thing watched with wide eyes as she rushed about, and then seemed to pass out on her bed in mere seconds. Enid walked over to the colorless side, standing over Wednesday as she cocked her head.

"You know you are about 15 minutes early, right?"

Wednesday opened her eyes and glared at the girl, closing her eyes as she tried to get any sleep she could before the day started. She flipped restlessly for about 5 minutes, eventually giving up as she sat up. She began walking over to Enid, giving the blonde a hug, who in turn squeezed her back tightly.

"Are you doing better since last night?"

Pulling back, Wednesday nodded as she stepped back, going over to Thing. 

"I'm sorry," she muttered in a low tone. He tapped quickly at her, to which she smirked at him. 

"Xavier and I are fine now, it was just a long night."

Enid declared it was time to go, and she swung her bag over her shoulder as she followed the girl out. It relieved her that she had successfully managed to get completely ready and get to class on time, and she smirked in satisfaction as she walked down the steps.

~~

"DUDE, what happened?" Ajax asked, looking at Xavier's arms.

Oh shit.

He had forgotten about the many bandages that covered his arm, and he had foolishly thrown his coat on his bed in search of a long-sleeved shirt to cover it up. But he had failed to recognize the fact that Ajax was in there, and he now had to either come up with the perfect lie or tell him the truth.

"Oh well, you know, I was thinking about changing my look slightly. How do you like it?"

Ajax frowned, looking at Xavier who stood there now, attempting to disguise the fact he looked like a sleep-deprived college student who hadn't showered in a week. Along with the bandages that ran up and down his arms.

"I'm not digging it. Seriously, what happened?"

"Well, let's just say that it was a long night," Xavier muttered, looking down as he fiddled with a loose string on his shirt.

Ajax walked over to him, examining his arms a little further until his eyes shot to Xavier's, a concerned look in his eyes.

"I thought...I thought you were getting better," Ajax asked quietly.

"Well, I am from now on. Wednesday was the lucky one that found me, and she stayed the night and helped me find another way to...deal with my habits. But honestly man, I thank you for your concern, but I've been on the road to recovery since Wednesday and I got involved. It was just... I-"

Ajax laid his hand on his shoulder, giving a nod as he offered a smile.

"I understand, you were triggered. I'm glad you are working through it, man."  Ajax leaned to give him a hug, and Xavier allowed it. He hated feeling pitied, but he knew with Ajax it wasn't as bad.

"Alright, enough with all the emotions. I'm going to take a shower and get ready," Xavier stated, pulling away and reaching for his brush.

"Enough with all the emotions? I think you've been around Wednesday too much," Ajax joked, waltzing back to his side as Xavier rolled his eyes. 

Maybe he had, though it didn't feel like it, but he wouldn't wish it any other way.

~~

Wednesday sat at her lunch table, letting Enid talk her ear off as she looked off into the distance. She watched everyone move through the lunch room, sitting down as they talked loudly with their friends. She was listening to Enid, yes, giving her short responses and asking a question when she could, but she had her eye out for a particular girl. Amanda walked out of the lunch line, and she locked eyes with Wednesday, who peered at her. Immediately she noticed her piercing blue eyes, catching the monotone girl off guard. The girl chuckled nervously before walking to the right, going to sit with a certain group that wasn't exactly on her good side; the Sirens. They welcomed Amanda, smiling as the tall lanky girl eased her way beside their queen bee, Bianca. 

Her eyes narrowed, causing Enid to lower her head down to try and see what she was staring at. She heard the girl gasp, covering her mouth with her bright pink fingernails. 

"What is she doing over there? They literally walked all over her, and now she seems to be best friends with them," Enid stated, frowning upon seeing the group. 

"I can say I enjoy the fact she has found someone other than us to keep her company. Or rather, she is trying to gain alliances for something."

Enid looked at her with wide eyes, her eyebrows lifting as she looked back at Amanda.

"Like what-" Wednesday shushed the girl, and Enid quickly complied.

"Like what?" Enid whispered.

"Like she could possibly be planning something, some sort of escapade that would require the assistance of manipulating people. Sirens have powers that can easily be used against anyone who stands in their way. It isn't like them to just accept Amanda into their group out of the blue, there must be more to the story. That would explain why her eyes were the piercing blue that they were just now."

"Wait what?!"

Again Wednesday shushed the girl, who sighed as she sunk into her chair. 

"I've told you this, don't you remember? Amanda is a shapeshifter, meaning-"

"I know what that means, I'm not completely clueless. But it still doesn't make sense, they saw her before and I don't remember- ohhhh," Enid said, smiling as she came to a conclusion. Wednesday waited for her to share, but the girl just dove back into her food.

"Enid, if you've come to a conclusion on your statement, I would like to know about it."

"Oh yeah! I remember I looked at her eyes, and they were that brilliant blue. But then they weren't, so I figured maybe I was going crazy. I mean, they crowded around her, and then all turned at me when I tried to break them apart, you know the pressure was a lot with them all there. But I managed to pry her from their claws and get her away."

Wednesday sat there, an annoyed expression resting on her face as she looked at the girl.

"Why wasn't I made aware of this sooner?"

Enid shrugged, taking a bite out of her apple.

"I mean, you had seen her before I did. You aren't one to miss things like that, so I figured nothing of it."

Wednesday knew that was checkmate on that, and looked down at her sad tray of food. It was cold at this point, as she had been so focused on everything else she had completely forgotten about the food. She took her tray, along with Enid's, to the trash and came back to Enid smiling at her phone.

She slid in beside the grinning werewolf, who looked elated over something. Wednesday side-eyed her phone, finding her only texting Ajax. Rolling her eyes, she looked away from the emoji-ridden conversation and down at her hands. 

"Ok ok ok. I'm planning this really cute date night with Ajax, but we wanted to know if y'all would want to go on a double date with us!! It would be us going to an amusement park just outside of town, then going and getting ice cream together!! GAH, it sounds amazing! You got to come!"

Wednesday looked at her, trying to process what Enid had just proposed to her.

"A double date, and we would be going to an amusement park, then getting ice cream?" She repeated, looking at Enid.

"Yes!! Please?"

"I'll discuss this with Xavier later this evening," Wednesday concluded, and with that, it was time to go.

~~

"You've never been to an amusement park?!" Xavier asked, taken aback by this revelation.

She looked at him, an amused glint in her eye as she nodded slowly. It was true, she had seen the contraptions before, but she had never attempted to go on one. It wasn't exactly a wish to either... but if Xavier so insisted she tries it, then she would.

"Well then we definitely have to go," Xavier smiled, walking over to her.

"You have paint all over your hands-"

"I know," he said, walking closer to her as she shrank back, and he smirked at her. She attempted to move out of his reach, but he caught her hand and pulled her to him, getting paint all over her hands as she looked up at him, vengeance in her eyes. She freed her hand and went to smear the paint on his cheek, causing him to gasp in surprise. 

He reached and grabbed his paintbrush, holding it over her as she shook her head, a small smile gracing her lips. He wrapped his arm back around her, giving her a kiss on the head before bringing the paintbrush down. She managed to narrowly avoid it, and she turned to him. They froze a moment, smiles still sitting on their faces. He set the paintbrush in his apron pocket, keeping his eyes glued on hers. She moved closer to him, looking up at him as his hands slowly made their way to her cheeks, holding her face as she watched him.

"Your love always makes me feel like I'm home again," he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes. Her smile eased into a gentle one, his eyes moving back and forth as she searched for the words; his eyes seemed to steal all her words away. She never needed a reason to be happy when she was with him, and only certain people had achieved that side of her. She couldn't comprehend how she had gotten here, what path she had taken to get to this point, but oh, she didn't regret a thing. Somehow the stars had aligned perfectly, and Wednesday Addams had found her heart softening for the tortured artist, ecstatic werewolf, and collected gorgon.

"Xav, you taught me how to love," she whispered back. 

Everything had changed, yet she was more herself than ever before. Such a strange feeling this was, to know you are the same, but that you are also different. 

He smiled, and he pecked her forehead before heading to a drawer, pulling out wipes to clean up. She missed the warmth his hands had provided, but slowly took a wipe and began to clean her hands and neck.

"Oh, I completely forgot!"

She looked up at him, her hands rubbing against each other in an attempt to get every speck of paint off of her body.

"My father has the date for his wedding...and he invited the both of us to attend, of course, you don't have to, but I was going-"

"That sounds intriguing," she interrupted, offering a small smile. He stopped, grinning at her as he silently celebrated, glad that she was willing to go with him. Part of him expected her to decline, as she wasn't the biggest fan of large gatherings. But once again, he found himself foolishly misguided by his fears.

"It's formal, and guess what makes it even better?"

"Hm?"

"It's a black-and-white theme," he said, walking up to her. 

"That is better, yes you are right."

His hand lifted to under her chin, and he slowly tilted her head as she felt a cold wipe

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