Fin spotted a head of coppery red curls gleaming in the sun's afternoon glow as he walked to meet his friend at the dorms.

"April! April wait up!" He called, breaking into a slight jog to catch up as she turned to look at him. "I was just about to text you. Want to ride back with me? I'm picking up my friend, but it shouldn't take long. Bren's phone died earlier and they mentioned their coach might keep them a bit late. I told them I'd offer to drive you, instead."

"Oh, um, yeah, thank you! I was wondering why they hadn't sent me any messages today. Usually there's at least a few. Lately it's been leaf pictures."

"Leaf pictures?"

"Mhm." She hummed, falling into step with Fin as he led the way across campus. "The changing colors are quite lovely. After they saw me stop to pick a rather pretty one up when we were walking last week, they've been sending me pictures of ones they find to be particularly nice."

"Oh? Thats sweet of them."

"They really are a sweet soul, aren't they? All rough and tumble on the surface, but rather kind and considerate under it all." Fin smirked slightly at the affectionate description. "Kinda like an ornery little kitten." At the follow-up, he couldn't help a snort of laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing! Nothing." He insisted with a grin, just imagining how offended Bren would look at being called a kitten. "Oh! Right, I meant to ask earlier: If my friend isn't comfortable sharing my room, could she sleep in yours tonight? Figured I'd give her options."

"Oh, sure. Chad's friend may be staying in my room, as well, so it may be a bit of a crowd, but we should be able to make it work."

"Thanks, April. If it's to many people for the space you can take over my room since its bigger." He offered, only to wave at a girl with bright blue hair. "Claire! Over here!" Once she spotted him, she beamed, waving exuberantly. Once they were close enough, she bounded forward to lightly cling to his arm.

"Im so excited! You have no idea!! I've got everything packed and-" Seemingly finally spotting April, she gasped softly, big grey doe eyes widening slightly. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be rude!"

"Its fine, really." She reassured, readjusting her grip on her books.

"Wait! You're April, aren't you! Fin talks about you all the time!" The girl gushed "Im so excited to finally meet you! I'm Claire!"

"Okay, calm down, Claire." Fin chuckled, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You two will have plenty of time to get to know each other. How about we go grab your bags and head out? Sooner we get there the better."

"Oh no need! I've already got it all right here!" Claire proclaimed, stepping aside to gesture to the duffle bag behind her. Fin scooped it up, slinging it over his shoulder as he straightened.

"Well, then let's get going, ladies." April moved to follow, Claire falling in step with her. Chattering away.

"-then Finny mentioned a trebuchet and I just about died from excitement! I just can't wait to see one in action that isn't just a model! Hopefully Pugsley will be okay with me taking some pictures and videos. My professors would absolutely love to see it!"

"Engineering degree." Fin piped up simply as he placed her duffle in the back of his car.

"Oh, right! Sorry I get a bit scatter brained when I'm excited. I'm specializing in mechanical engineering." Claire explained. "A trebuchet uses tons of physics principles that are super fun to play with!"

"Oh, right. Um, it's, uh, potential kinetic energy driven, right? Using gravity and a counterweight?" April offered, hoping she was remembering Pugsley's explanation well enough not to embarass herself. Sliding into the backseat, she was suprised to find Claire doing the same rather than sitting in the front with Fin.

"Exactly!!! Ugh, I just can't wait!!! Finny also mentioned a rack! Like a proper medieval one! I'm hoping I'll be lucky enough to get a look at it, as well!" She gushed as she clicked her seat belt in place.

"Ive used it before. Great for back pain when used correctly." Fin commented once they were all buckled, taking off for home.

"Its usable?!" Claire nearly squealed.

"Only under Addams supervision." April and Fin chorused, chuckling at the shared warning.

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"Oh my gosh!! Best. Day. Ever!"

Once they arrived, April quickly exited the car, feeling a little overwhelmed by how chatty Claire was. Especially after having been told how shy she supposedly was. Seeing Morticia in the main room upon entry, she automatically relaxed a bit.

"Welcome home, my little rosary peas." She hummed with her soft smile, setting aside her knitting as she saw Claire. Smoothly rising to her feet to glide over and greet her. "Welcome to our humble little home, dear. I am Mortica. You must be Fin's friend, Claire. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you and host you this evening! Fin assured us you had no dietary requirements?"

"Y-Yes ma'am-I mean, no, ma'am, I don't." She quickly confirmed, fumbling over her words a bit as she stared at the woman before her.

Not that anyone could fault her. Morticia Addams was a vision. Ethereal and majestic. All the devastating grace of the black swan while maintaining the warmth of her pure-driven counterpart in her expression and gentle touch.

Honestly, Fin couldn't blame Gomez for being obsessed with the woman.

"Wonderful! We are all so excited to have so many young people in the house. It is almost as if we are hosting a wake!" Morticia declared happily. "You three go ahead and get settled in, we will wait until the others have arrived to begin the festivities. I will have Lurch sound the gong before beginning, so no worries about missing out."

"Thank you, Morticia." April hummed before looking to Claire. "Oh, Fin mentioned you possibly being uncomfortable staying the night in his room. If so, you're welcome to stay in mine." Fin relaxed as Claire giddily accepted, soon lugging her duffel up the stairs to deposit in April's room.

"Yo! We're here- Oh hi Morticia!" Chad's voice drifted from downstairs as Fin set Claire's bag down, the trio soon returning to the sitting room. Chad looked over, practically lighting up like a Christmas tree.

"Hey! Morticia says Gomez and Fester are finishing setup for the bonfire. Even bought extra axes so we can all get in on the action later!"

"Sounds like fun." Fin assured with a chuckle.

"Axes? What do we need axes for?" A larger boy with meticulously tidy cornrows asked cautiously, the ends of the braids swaying gently just below his shoulders as he glanced between them all for answers.

"Oh! Yeah, forgot to mention part of the celebration is us hacking a Trebuchet to pieces so we can burn it!" Chad chirped happily. Morticia excused herself to go check on dinner preparations, leaving the group alone. Chad's other friend, a taller girl with long black hair held in a loose bun, glared at him once the coast was clear.

"Chad. Do not tell me you dragged two POC with your white ass to an old manor in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a graveyard to go to a big bonfire with a bunch of what appear to be overly friendly goths weilding axes. I'm pretty sure thats the plot of some C-rated straight to streaming slasher flick kind of bullshit!" She hissed.

A laugh burst from behind them, the group turning to see Bren nearly doubled over laughing in the entryway.

"Fuck! You're totally right!" Bren wheezed through the laughter as the girl watched him appraisingly. "I didn't even think about that with all the other weird shit that goes on around here!"

"...I like him." She declared with a wry smile.

"Them." The correction came as a nearly perfect chorus from Fin, April, and Chad.

"Huh?"

"I-I use they/them pronouns. Non binary." Bren explained, finally getting their giggles mostly under control.

"Ah, gotcha. I'll try to remember."

"Slip ups happen." They assured "I get it. Anyways, I've been rude long enough. Those who don't know, I'm Bren. This is Jace." The sandy blonde with a fading farmer's tan gave a lazy wave as Bren continued. "I suck at names, but tell me anyways and I'll try to not forget immediately."

"Claire." Fin said simply, gesturing to her as she gave a hesitant little wave, sticking close to his side.

"Purnima." Chad's female friend declared with a smile that edged more towards a smirk. Though with how easily it settled and how unconcerned Chad seemed at the sight it seemed she just had that sort of smile.

"Kazarius." His other friend offered before Chad piped up.

"For the other new ones: I'm Chad! Bren introduced themself already. Tall dude's Fin. Redhead is April! Cool, now we got the awkward bit out of the way. Let's get everyone's stuff settled. It's gonna be a wild night!"

"Okay, Bren. Other than the admittedly unique decor I don't see what you're always going on about. I mean, not to be a downer, but what sounds like a supervised bonfire isn't exactly what I'd call a wild night, either." Jace admitted, only for all the newcomers to get a slight chill as the residents exchanged knowing glances.

"Trust me, Jace. You haven't met the rest of the family, yet." Bren said giddily.

"I haven't met any of them, actually." Bren paused, then chuckled slightly.

"Sorry, they call us their cousins so often I kinda consider us as Addams at this point." They admitted.

"Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?" All but the residents startled slightly, Claire partially hiding behind Fin. Who didn't seem to mind her being clingy at all. All looked to the stairs to see Wednesday looking down on them. For a brief moment looking remarkably like her mother in certain ways before the spell was broken as she continued down the stairs to join them.

"Everyone, this is Wednesday Addams. Resident witchlet and spider breeder." Bren announced, letting everyone introduce themselves.

"Charming to meet you all." She offered in return, mimicking her mother's example of being a perfect hostess before changing the subject. "Father has insisted none enter further into the house past this time, and remain in the sitting room or outside until informed otherwise. You may leave your bags here, Lurch, our butler, will tend to them. It appears Father and Uncle Fester are planning some grand reveal of whatever their entertainment for the evening is and intend to begin building it shortly and take turns doing so throughout the evening."

The residents all shared looks just before a gong sounded through the house, shocking the newcomers as their gazes darted around for the source.

"The fuck?" Jace muttered as he caught sight of Lurch at the entryway, setting aside the mallet before opening the door for them. "How is anyone that big?"

"This is Lurch, everyone." Chad introduced happily, leading the way. "Guess its time to get this party started! Thanks, man!" He chirped happily, holding up a hand for a fist bump that was stoicly met by Lurch with a slight grunt of acknowledgement, the others soon following Chad out the door to join the rest of the family.