Pugsley wasn't very talkative. Neither he nor his sister particularly were, especially the older they got. He wasn't exactly socially adept either, with his sister the more socially aware of the two of them. They had always been close, despite him being two years older. Out of everyone, Wednesday had always understood.

  It was an Addams thing. While parents may give every tortured effort to understand you...your sibling would always see you with clearer eyes and keener ears. Just like Father and Uncle Fester's bond screamed to one another...his and Wednesday's had always spoken in quiet confidence. It was rather helpful in social situations together where she could help him understand when he missed something, which happened often enough. Even he, however, was not dense enough to not catch on to a few things.

  Like how Fin looked like he was about to pass out from pure joy as he held Claire.

  Pugsley found he rather liked Claire.

  Of course, he enjoyed their current company in general...even if a few of them were particularly boisterous and had less concerns when it came to personal space. Claire, though, felt similar to April in a way.

  They were certainly very different people, but that same comfort was there. The wordless assessing of boundaries and comfort in a conversation, specifically. Ensuring that they weren't overstepping while seeming to truly enjoy whatever conversation you were having with them, even if it wasn't in their usual vein of interest. It was nice. Claire was nice.

  Fin was nice, as well. Out of everyone he and Fin weren't terribly close, but that was fine. They both were quiet sorts with different interests. Nothing wrong with that...though even he had been a bit concerned at one point for his particularly tall cousin and his isolation.

  Now, though, he sat wrapped comfortably around someone who brought a specific peaceful smile to his face. One that echoed the slightly more open grin on Claire's as she cuddled into him while languidly stroking Kitty's fur. They would be good for each other.

  Hearing the applause indicating the conclusion of the piece, he quickly joined in. Kazarious and Chad were rather talented, after all. They earned it. A soft smile of his own appeared at Chad's beaming grin as he plopped down on the floor next to him. Close, but still leaving a bit of space. Chad had taken the most time to figure out his personal space preferences, but despite the blonde's touchier nature, he did his best to remember.

  "Your performances were exemplary." Pugsley informed, gently knocking his shoulder against Chad's for a moment as Kazarious sat a bit more gracefully nearby. The poor fellow obviously caught between preening at his mother's ongoing praise and being embarrassed at all the attention.

  Chad leaned in to lightly knock his shoulder back. "Thanks! Gotta work on that French pronunciation a bit more, though. Apparently I sound a bit brutish with it, still. Heard the clunkiness a bit once or twice." Chad mused, only for his eyes to finally latch onto Fin and Claire over in their quiet corner with Kitty, confusion furrowing his brow as the gears started turning.

  Three...two...one-

  A barely restrained gasp strangled itself in Chad's throat as his eyes lit up with glee. "Oh my God was I the soundtrack to the beginning of their romance?!?!" Pugsley chuckled softly.

  "It seems likely. They looked especially snug and happy around three songs in." Chad's expression shifted from giddy to horrified in an instant, some terrible realization in his eyes.

  "Shit! That one was la Donna e mobile!" He exclaimed, forgetting to keep his voice down as he dramatically fell back to sprawl on the floor in supposed agony, his arm draping across his eyes. "That can't be their song at their wedding!!!" Pugsley simply arched a brow at the theatrics.

  "...wait, who's getting married?" Jace questioned, opening the door to chaos.

  "I ruined Fin and Claire's wedding!!" Chad insisted miserably, which prompted a particular shine in Pugsley's father's eyes.

  Oh this might be more entertaining than the pillow war.

  "Oh my boy I'm so proud of you! When is the wedding?" He demanded . His Mother gently dabbed at her eyes with a black, lace edged handkerchief that had been produced by Lurch.

  "Claire, dear, I am so terribly pleased you shall be taking care of our dear Fin! Oh you would just look perfectly dreary in a dove grey satin gown!" She insisted passionately as Lurch looked sentimental in his own stoic way. Thing giving him a gentle squeeze on his shoulder.

  "We'll need music! Dancing! Swords!" Fester proclaimed merrily as Grandmama started muttering to herself about wedding punch. He'd had her's, once, at Cousin Itt and Cousin Margaret's wedding anniversary. It certainly packed a wallop. Took two weeks for the bruises to fade.

  "Shit, Finny boy moves fast!" Bren mused, grinning as they enjoyed the chaos. Happily feeding it. "You know, Gomez, you should officiate."

  "What a perfectly brilliant idea!"

  "Oh but Fin, dear, you haven't even gotten her a ring!" Mother fretted. "Fin, you were raised better than that! We Addams are known for our good taste, we can't have people thinking otherwise. I know such things are easy to forget in the throes of passion, though. Gomez nearly forgot, himself, the last time he proposed to me. Bubele, do go upstairs and fetch my jewelry chest. The large one. I think there's a lovely ring in there that should suit Claire. The one from Great Aunt Obsenia. With the Trapiche emerald and black tourmaline. Yes, I think that one will do nicely until our boy finds a special piece for her." She declared.

  This was, indeed, shaping up to be far more entertaining than watching Wednesday mercilessly destroy her opponents with a brocade pillow in his honor.

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  "But, that jewelry chest is the size of dresser?" Bren pointed out, confused, earning their own confused looks from a few of them. "What? She's asked me to help her choose between a few pieces a couple times before."

  "Bren has exceptional taste." Mother confirmed.

  "Besides, don't bother with the whole chest. The ring is second drawer down, back left corner. Next to a ruby one, should draw the eye." Bren mused.

  "You remember where one ring is...out of the entirety of Mother's collection?" Wednesday demanded, crossing her arms as she stared at them. They nodded.

  "Yeah. Trapiche emeralds are known for their starburst pattern. Pretty memorable. The ruby ring it's next to matches the earrings in the second smallest jewelry chest. Perfect color match despite not being of the same set." Bren informed like it was the simplest thing in the world to actually recall where everything was in their Mother's massive collection. "Fourth drawer down, second layer. Between a set of onyx earrings and a set of bone ones. It's not like it's hard."

  Pugsley watched as Wednesday actually looked mildly impressed.

  "Anyways, that's not important. Morticia I'd be happy to go fetch the ring for the happy couple! Fin, when's the wedding date?" They egged on, the attention instantly back on Fin and poor, confused Claire.

  "We will host the wedding here, of course!" Father insisted, standing proudly. "The swamp is wonderful in the winter! Or the height of summer with mosquitos hatching everywhere! Fester! We must begin preparing seating! At least for 500, keep it intimate. All the more romantic!"

  "F-Five hundred?" Claire finally managed to squeak out, clinging to Fin's arms around her with a white-knuckled grip, eyes wide in an ashen face.

  "You're right, best make it suitable for 1000. A few always bring plus ones without approval." Father mused, pacing. "Fester, we'll need candles, as well."

  Uncle Fester nodded eagerly. "We can order the same ones from the last funeral!"

  "Yes! Yes those were wonderful! The dripping blood effect was perfect!" Father agreed, looking over as Thing started tapping on the table he had migrated to. Listening to the taps for a moment before nodding.

  "True, we'll need double the amount, at least!"

  "We're getting married?!" Claire's terrified squeak cut through the chaos, quieting everyone for a moment before Fin's chuckle filled the silence that crept after it. His arms tightened, pulling her closer as he shook his head.

  "No. Not yet." Looking up at everyone, he spoke a bit louder. "While the enthusiasm is appreciated, we're not getting married right now." Mother gasped softly.

  "Why, Fin, don't tell me you broke off your engagement to her? Oh my, Claire! Has he done something to upset you??" She demanded, already sounding a bit heartbroken.

  "N-No! I mean, he hasn't-" Claire gave up, turning to look up at Fin. "Help." Shaking his head slightly, the amused smile stayed as he kissed her forehead. The terror on her face turned to a different sort of shock as he addressed everyone else once more.

  "I just said we're not getting married right now, it's to early to make that kind of decision. Besides, I feel it would be entirely un-Addams like to jump straight to marrying. Shouldn't I need to woo her first, Gomez? Morticia, you can't really expect her to marry me if I haven't properly earned it? After all, certainly you wooed Morticia, right?"

  Pugsley had to give it to him, Fin was making excellent points. Especially good, considering how well it would de-escalate the situation.

  "Of course you can't marry her!" Father insisted fervently before focusing on Claire, who still seemed to be in the throes of shock. "Claire, you deserve a man who would crawl through the deep, burning coals in the underbelly of hell for you! Don't settle for him if he hasn't earned your hand!"

  Mother stood, gently taking his hand to calm his ire. "Oh, Gomez, do you remember that night in the Siberian wilderness? With the hounds?" Father melted, looking at her adoringly as he turned to take her in his arms.

  "Of course, how could I forget?" He kissed her sweetly, languidly, before continuing. "You were a raging goddess of the hunt. Resplendent."

  "Oh, you were so dashing under the blood moon, Mon Cher." Mother hummed, and Pugsley smirked slightly. Yeah, Fin had picked the perfect questions.

  "Tish, you spoke French." Mother gave a sly smile as Father raised her already offered hand to his lips.

  "Oui, mon amour." Father quickly worked his way up that arm, taking her other hand when given the opportunity to begin the same treatment, there.

  "Children, I do believe Gomez and I are retiring for the even-oh!" Mother gave a little cry of surprise as she was hoisted over Father's shoulder. Looking up to smile as he immediately started for the stairs. "Do enjoy yourselves throughout the rest of the evening! Goodnight my little terrors!" She barely managed before Father had them up the stairs and out of sight. "Ah! Gomez! We have company!" The scolding was barely heard, a meeker reply following. "Just until the door is clo-oh!" The slam of their bedroom door thankfully cut off whatever was to follow.

  "So...no wedding?" Uncle Fester asked, still looking a bit confused. Bren laughed, going over to pat his back.

  "No wedding. Just lovestruck idiots." They confirmed, then looked to Chad who had sat up during the show. "How were you ruining their non-existent-" Pugsley fought a chuckle at seeing Fin silently mouth a 'for now' to himself at that "-wedding, by the way?"

  "Because Pugsley said that they snuggled closer and looked happier during the third song!" Chad whined. "I sang La Donna e mobile! They can't use it in their wedding!" Kazarious immediately nodded.

  "Oh, yeah, nah. They can't use that for really anything in the wedding. Not the procession, not the first dance-"

  "Which means I ruined their one-day wedding!!" Chad wailed, flopping back down once more. "They'll go to tell their children about the beautiful day and have to tell the little tadpoles that they couldn't use the song they fell in love to in their wedding because Uncle Chad ruined it!!!"

  "Uncle Chad?" Claire questioned, finally seeming to calm down, at the same time Fin questioned.

  "Tadpoles?"

  "Yeah, because you're Fin like little fish fins and she has frogs on her bag so you're gonna have sweet little Tadpoles together." Chad explained miserably, earning a laugh from Fin as Pugsley chuckled from where he'd stayed through the chaos.

  "Okay, that's it, we need to get that one in bed." Purnima declared, gesturing to Chad. Grandmama nodded in agreement as Chad let out a huff.

  "I'm not tired."

  "You might not be, but the rest of us are." Grandmama countered, ambling over. "Come on, up you get! It's time for bed, children. Especially you, Chad. You can all chatter the night away once you're settled and far from my old ears. Girls go get showers and such first. Boys and Bren, go help Fester and Thing finish setting up the library with the mattresses for your sleepover."

  April gave a delighted gasp, eyes gleaming like lit uranium glass. "We're sleeping in the library tonight?" Once Grandmama confirmed it, April beamed, grabbing Purnima's hand. "Come on! Claire! I'm sure Fin won't mind you using his bathroom!"

  "April, use mine." Bren insisted calmly, the mildly possessive tone lost on her as she nodded excitedly.

  "Perfect! That way we can finish up quicker since Purnima and I won't have to take turns! See y'all in a bit!"

  Shaking his head, Pugsley stood as the two set off up the stairs with Wednesday close behind. Bren ran a hand down their face with a sigh. "Damn it. She's not gonna be wearing my clothes anymore." Walking past, he gave their shoulder a sympathetic pat as Fin went to show Claire where his room was, Kitty following them.

  "Sorry, Bren. Guess you'll just have to make sure you end up sleeping near her tonight. It's everyone for themselves as far as spots go." Immediately, Bren took off sprinting for the Library as Pugsley's smirk faded into a smile on the accompanying laughter from those remaining.

  He didn't particularly like loud or crowded spaces...but a room filled with his family and friends laughing was pretty nice.