"Midnight, sweetheart, what happened after you went home?" Morticia started in a quiet voice.

"Nothing," the little girl replied, unwilling to tell the woman how her father had mercilessly beat her.

"Midnight, please," Morticia bit back a sob, "you need to tell us so we can help you."

"Midnight, if you tell us, we might be able to get you away from them," Gomez added, sadness evident in his voice.

Midnight looked between them, and then looked to Wednesday.

"I'd rather not say anything with Wednesday here," she whispered.

Wednesday stood and left the room without having to be told. She desperately wanted to hear what had happened to her best friend, but more than anything, she wanted her to get help.

With her head down, Midnight recounted the whole story. Morticia, despite being overwhelmed with sadness, was consumed with a burning anger. Gomez's blood was boiling, and he wanted nothing more than to take one of his pistols and end the people who had done this to the child. The only thing that stopped him from doing just that was his wife's hand on his arm. He could feel the tension in her hand and knew she needed him now.

Morticia clutched the child to her breast as she dissolved into tears. Close to tears herself, the only thing that stopped her was the knowledge that she needed to be strong for the child nestled on her lap. Besides, she had not cried once in her life, and she wasn't about to begin now, no matter how much she'd like to. She looked at her husband over the top of the child's head and nodded once. He got the message and left to make a long overdue phone call.

…...

"I'd like to report a case of child abuse." He paused, listening to the sergeant on the other end. "Of course it's severe, what case isn't?...Gomez Adams...What do you mean you can't take my calls seriously?! So what if I've made minor charges before?! This one actually matters! A little girl's life hangs in the balance and you won't investigate!...Same to you, jerk!"

He slammed the receiver down, sat down, and buried his face in his hands. They'd vehemently refused to take the case, just because of who he was. He was an emotional wreck. He was a failure, and he didn't want to face the woman and child upstairs anymore than he wanted to dress in pastels. At this point, he didn't know what they were going to do.

Gomez jumped up at the sound of a door closing. Morticia descended the stairs, a faint air of hope wavering around her. Her face fell when she saw the slump to her husband's shoulders.

"They said no?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He hung his head in response. Her hand covered her mouth, and she finished coming down the stairs to embrace her husband.

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Tish. I just don't know."

She pulled back and looked at him with fear filled eyes.

"You don't think they'd..."

"At this point, I'm sure they're capable of it. He might even have considered it, figuring if she was gone his life would be easier. And who knows, he might have killed her if he hadn't passed out."

"Gomez, we have to help her."

Gone was the fear in her eyes, replaced with an anger that burned so deep he almost pitied the two people that caused it. Almost. On cue, a crash was heard upstairs. They looked at each other before rushing up the stairs.

Opening the door to the girls' room, they saw the lamp in pieces on the floor. Midnight was curled in the furthest corner of the bed, eyes wide and fearful. Morticia elegantly stepped around the glass shards and went toward the bed to make sure she was all right.

"It was an accident!" Midnight cried, causing Morticia to stop short. "I-I didn't m-mean to, I swear!"

"Midnight, calm down. We know you didn't meant to. I just want to make sure you didn't hurt yourself."

Cautiously, the little girl lifted her head out of her arms and looked at the woman. Reluctantly, she crawled over to her. Morticia thoroughly checked her body to make sure there were no new cuts and that she hadn't pulled any stitches loose. She was okay, and she promptly hugged the child.

"Midnight, we will never, ever hurt you. We love you, do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good girl."

Gomez was about to join the two on the bed when the doorbell rang. He heard shouting and Lurch's bellowing voice. A minute later a man and a woman appeared in the doorway. Midnight paled and hid her face in Morticia's shoulder. Gomez stood to meet the couple.

His voice was cold when he spoke. "You must be Midnight's parents."

"We are," Matt spoke, though he fidgeted, unnerved by the venomous look the raven haired woman was shooting him. "We've come to take our daughter back home."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

"Oh, but you will. There are police right outside, ready to arrest you for kidnapping unless you give us our daughter."

Gomez strode over to the window and sure enough, there was a police cruiser outside. He turned to Morticia, who was gripping the child like a life line.

"Morticia," That was all he had to say before the child burst into tears. "You have to let them take her."

Slowly, the vixen unwrapped the child's arms from her waist, kissed her on the forehead, and, though her heart broke, gave her a nudge toward her parents. They smirked as she approached them. Before they could leave, Gomez was across the room, his hand firmly grasping Matt's shoulder.

"If you ever, and I mean ever, hurt her again, I will kill you. You will be buried and no one will ever find your body."

Matt just smirked at him and left. Morticia and Gomez followed them, serenaded by Midnight's cries. Morticia squeezed Gomez's hand tightly, unable to listen to the girl's screams. Unable to help, they watched as the couple dragged their daughter to the car. As it pulled away, they knew they would never erase the sound of Midnight's cries from their memories.