On October 1, 1989, 43 women around the world give birth simultaneously, despite none of them showing any sign of pregnancy until labour began. Six of the children are adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves.

Klaus Addams was not one of these people…. At first.

However, in hindsight, this was for the better. Gomez and Mortica were thrilled at the unexpected, new addition to their family.

"Klaus." Mortica gently pried tiny fingers away from her hair, "Behave yourself my little devil."

Gomez chuckled, wriggling his fingers in front of his son's face, watching as Klaus practically crossed his eyes trying to focus on them.

"Ex-cuse Me Please."

The pair turned as Lurch slowly made his way through the crowd, handing Mortica a bunch of headless flowers.

"Oh Lurch, they're lovely." She pricked her finger on one of the thorns and beamed in delight, "Are these from your garden? These thorns came in lovely!"

Lurch beamed, shuffling shyly from side to side.

No-one noticed how Klaus's eyes seemed to focus on something unseen in the corner.

"I know this was very unexpected for everyone…" Gomez began, "… but on behalf of my son, we would like to thank you all for your wonderful gifts!"

"What about my gift!"

Grandmama tottered up, beaming at her daughter-in-law and new grandson. "I've been preparing this one for quite some time."

Knowing that Grandmama's blessings were some of the best around (and her curses the worst), everyone watched with bated breath as she waved some hemlock over the baby, muttering a few Latin phrases.

"It is done." Grandmama then kissed the baby on the forehead, "He is blessed."

"Thank you Grandmama." Mortica then turned to her husband and handed Klaus over, "Mind his head dear."

"… I forget how small they are."

Klaus was clearly thrilled to be in his Dad's arms, reaching up to try and grab Gomez's moustache, before his eyes turned to something else, tiny hands reaching out for that instead. After a couple minutes of contented silence, Klaus eventually yawned.

"Sweet nightmares my little surprise."

"How sentimental…"

Everyone turned to the entrance of the room, frowns on their faces at the sight of the unfamiliar man standing there.

"The door was open…" the man walked further into the room, "… I believed it to be an open invitation." He strode right up to Gomez and Mortica, holding out his hand.

"Reginald Hargreeves."

Slowly, Gomez returned the handshake, "How do you do…" he began, "… my apologies, but do we know you?"

"No." Reginald then focused in on Klaus, "A surprise, wasn't he? You didn't start the day pregnant I believe."

Eyes all around the room narrowed, and you would have to have been an idiot not to notice the tension building in the room.

This Reginald was either just that or ignoring them.

"Forty- three women suddenly pregnant, and forty-three surprise babies… For those who have survived, I believe they have or will be all blessed with gifts that can benefit society, and possibly prevent the end of the world. Which is why I am here."

It was then that he seemed to notice how Klaus was focused on something on the other side of the room.

"Now, what are you looking at?" He asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Uncle Vlad." Mortica smiled, a dangerous undertone to it, "He always had a way with babies."

"He can see the dead." Hargreeves smirked, "Fascinating." He then pulled a wallet out of his inner jacket, "How much do you want for him?"

The temperature of the room dropped, and Klaus started to cry.

"I beg your pardon?" Gomez hissed.

"The baby. How much do you want for him?" Reginald glanced around, "More than the others did I gather."

The couple just stared at him, and Hargreeves winced at the large hand that came down on his shoulder.

….

After the humiliation of being thrown out of the home… and out of the gardens by the over-enthusiastic plants, Reginald made a hasty retreat to the motel that he'd rented out.

"Pogo!"

Pogo limped into the room, having had to remain hidden whilst Reginald was out. "No luck Sir?" he asked, frowning as Reginald stormed past him.

"I need him!" Reginald snarled, "This boy is crucial to the apocalypse, I just know it!"

"To stopping it Sir?"

"Yes… to stop it."

The brief pause made Pogo worry.

"They actually seem happy to have him." Reginald took a seat on the bed, "Not like the others, they couldn't wait to get rid of their new-borns… but these, Addam's are acting like this is the greatest thing that's ever happened to them!"

"Is that not a good thing Sir?"

"No, because if my suspicions are correct, this child is going to play a key part in my plans."

He pulled a leather-bound notebook out of his bag, muttering frantically to himself. "I need him…" he kept muttering over and over again, "I need him. Think of the potential!"

"Sir?"

Reginald slammed the book shut, taking a deep breath. "We need that child Pogo… I'm not leaving this city until I have him."

"But Sir, if the family doesn't want to hand him over, how exactly- "Pogo fell silent, suddenly realising what Hargreeves was implying.

"Listen carefully to me Pogo…"

…..

A few days later, night fell over the town.

Klaus was cuddled up to his headless teddy, tiny fingers grasping at the black sheets as he slept peacefully…. Unaware of the shadow creeping across his room.

In the next room over, Gomez and Mortica were startled awake by a loud crash and the cry of a baby.

"Klaus!" Mortica cried out, leaping out of bed and racing towards her son's room, throwing open the door as the rest of the family joined her… only for her to fall back in shock.

"No…" Gomez whispered, when he realised what had shocked his wife so, "… NO!"

"Klaus!" Mortica called out, moving over to the over-turned cradle and the abandoned teddy lying beside it, "Klaus!"

…..

Hearing the bellow coming from the home, Pogo winced and quickened his steps, making sure to avoid the graveyard.

He didn't know what it was, but something told him not to go in there.

He couldn't believe he'd actually done this. From what he'd seen in that house, there was every chance that his punishment would not be swift and merciful. Pushing himself to move faster, Pogo winced at the pain in his legs.

The baby in his arms started to cry as he left the grounds, heading into a nearby alleyway, where a car was waiting for him.

"Just get in the car." Reginald ordered him, "The quicker we're away from here, the better."

"Sir, are you really sure this is such a good idea? If anyone were to find out- "

"- They won't."

As they sped away from the scene, they failed to notice how the baby focused on something else in the back seat.

Something unseen.

"Don't worry kiddo." Vlad whispered, "I'm going to take good care of you."

…

It was tragic…. And not in the good way.

Mortica and Gomez gathered the entire Addams clan together to lead them on a frantic search for their son, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

Klaus Addams was gone, and Number Four had taken his place.

However, if Reginald Hargreeves was expecting something incredible, Number 4 ended up disappointing him.

The apocalypse came and went.

The Hargreeves children went back in time to prevent it… and that's when everything started to change.