(no subject)

[soulfulsin]

Fandom: Fairly Oddparents
Canon or AU: AU

Fic: Blank Space

A/N: I’m nowhere near caught up on the latest A New Wish eps. Just FYI. Although it feels weird to call Poof “Poof” instead of Peri.

I had a weird dream involving Perry the Platypus having an office and then the door opening to reveal Periwinkle. lol

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Mr. Turner hadn’t left the house. Too inebriated to drive or consider calling a taxi, he lay down on the front lawn and stared up at the sky. No one seemed to know he was here, which was for the best because the last thing he wanted to do was encounter Dinkleberg in this fugue.

Vicky had stepped past him twice without noticing, probably because he was outside of the porchlight. He’d considered calling out to her, but he didn’t want to talk. It was almost amusing that she’d walked into the house and then back out a foot away from him. Mrs. Turner hadn’t noticed him yet, either, but she hadn’t expected him to be there. That might’ve been why Vicky hadn’t spotted him.

Timmy’s bedroom window was open, and Mr. Turner heard him yelling at a video game. Mrs. Turner’s words reverberated in his head. He was bitter over losing Timmy to Dinkleberg, and he resented Mrs. Turner insisting that he treat Timmy as if nothing had changed when everything had.

He couldn’t see how he could embrace Timmy as a son when he wasn’t his father.

Something crashed upstairs, and Mr. Turner pushed himself upright. He swayed and crashed back to the grass. Blades shot up his nose, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d mown the lawn. It was probably before Mrs. Turner had let Timmy’s paternity slip.

It was dark outside, and he would’ve failed a breathalyzer test. Nonetheless, he considered mowing the lawn at night in the dewy grass except he wasn’t sure if he could stand. That seemed like an important prerequisite to mowing the lawn. Holding a conversation was one thing; remaining upright and walking in a straight line was something else. He couldn’t touch his nose, either.

Timmy’s controller flew out the window, and he snarled.

“Stupid game!” he snapped. “Stupid fucking cheating boss!”

“Hey, now,” Mr. Turner called up to him. “Your mother didn’t raise you to use that kind of language.”

Timmy poked his head out the window and searched for the voice’s origin. He looked down; Mr. Turner thought he’d seen a green flash near Timmy’s head. That might explain the other voice he’d heard; it wasn’t uncommon to hear strange voices from Timmy’s bedroom, though his parents seldom paid much attention to it.

“Dad?” Timmy said. “What are you doing in the front yard?”

“I, uh…” he faltered. “This is embarrassing. I don’t know how to return to the hotel. I don’t know how I got here, either. All I know is that I broke my cell phone earlier, and I’m too drunk to call a taxi.”

Timmy groaned, facepalming. “I’ll be right down.”

“No,” he said before Timmy disappeared from the window. Timmy turned back, and though the light was dull, he saw him flinch. Mr. Turner’s stomach lurched. Goddamn it, he loved him, and he didn’t want to, not when he wasn’t his son.

“I don’t want your mother to know I’m still here.”

Timmy sighed. “Then what do you want me to do?”

“Nothing,” he said.

“Mom’s probably going to hear us talking in the living room,” Timmy pointed out. "It’s not like the front yard isn’t right in front of the windows.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Can you even think that drunk?” Timmy asked. “I could smell the whiskey on you when you came through the door.”

“I can still think,” Mr. Turner said defensively. He tried pushing himself up, but his palms slid on the wet grass, and down he went. Timmy sighed, pinching his nose bridge.

“I didn’t want to be here either!” Mr. Turner snapped in response to his exasperation. “Do you think I wanted to be reminded, again, that you’re not my kid? Or that my married life has been a lie? I can’t stand looking at you and knowing you’re a…”

He shuddered and snarled with utter revulsion, “A Dinkleberg.”

He spoke the name like a pejorative like it was one of the worst things Timmy could be. In Mr. Turner’s eyes, that was true. Dinkleberg was the enemy of everything good and decent in the world. He was evil, and Mr. Turner would die on that hill. For Timmy to be Dinkleberg’s spawn was wrong and disturbing on too many levels.

Not his child. His spawn. Mr. Turner couldn’t imagine any child of Dinkleberg being less than a demon in disguise.

“I’m still the same kid you raised with Mom,” Timmy protested. “It’s not like I wanted him as a father. He doesn’t want me as a son.”

He paused and added softly, “Then again, neither do you.”

Mr. Turner felt simultaneously vindicated that Dinkleberg didn’t want Timmy either--it served him right, the smarmy bastard and also hurt, as if Timmy weren’t good enough for Dinkleberg. Timmy was a good kid. Or so Mr. Turner had thought before he’d learned the truth. Now that he knew Timmy was Dinkleberg’s child, he wondered whether there were other demonic signs he’d missed or overlooked.

“I’d want you if you weren’t a demon,” Mr. Turner said. Timmy almost fell out the window. A green glow surrounded him and pulled him back before he did.

“I’m sorry. What?” Timmy said. “I’m not a demon. What are you talking about? I don’t have horns and--seriously, where are you getting this?”

“You have to be evil,” Mr. Turner said. “Dinkleberg would only create foul creatures, and the worst I can think of is a demon. He probably sold his soul to the devil.”

Timmy’s window shut. Mr. Turner rolled his eyes and then, finally, successfully, pushed himself into a sitting position to retrieve Timmy’s controller. The fall had jarred the rechargeable battery out; Timmy must’ve been playing one of his older games since Mr. Turner couldn’t think of any newer consoles with a swappable battery pack.

“What on earth are you talking about?” Mrs. Turner asked, stepping out onto the front step. “Timmy is not a demon spawn. He’s a perfectly normal, happy human child. What has gotten into you?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “He was perfectly happy, anyway, before you rejected him.”

Mr. Turner’s bleary eyes took a second to focus.

“Dinkleberg couldn’t produce a human child,” he snapped. “He’s everything that’s wrong in this world. I refuse to have anything to do with dark magic.”

Mrs. Turner facepalmed so hard that Mr. Turner winced.

“He is a child,” Mrs. Turner said, enunciating each word clearly. "Timmy is not demonic spawn. He’s not dark magic. He’s an eleven-year-old kid who needs your support, and you’re throwing him to the wolves because of something he can’t control.

“I know you’re upset with me, but stop taking it out on him. Please. He needs his dad.”

“I’m not his dad,” Mr. Turner said grumpily.

“You’re the only one he knows,” Mrs. Turner said. She sighed. “I’m not talking to you on the front lawn. Get up.”

Mr. Turner sighed, swaying again, and she grabbed him before he fell. Growling, she yanked him into the house, kicked the door shut, and then flung him onto the couch in disgust. Mr. Turner slid onto the floor, and Mrs. Turner glared, arms folded.

“You’re pathetic,” she snapped. “I’m an adult. I can handle your anger, stupid as this whole situation is. Timmy can’t. You’re making him completely miserable, and I won’t stand for it.”

Movement from the landing caught Mr. Turner’s eye. Timmy was standing near the banister and watching them. Mrs. Turner turned to look, too, and sighed.

“It’s past your bedtime,” Mrs. Turner said.

“I’m not tired,” Timmy said defiantly. “Besides, this is the longest I’ve spoken to Dad since he found out about the Dinklebergs.”

His lower lip quivered. “He might disappear again.”

Timmy’s sorrow stung and vexed Mr. Turner, who didn’t think Timmy had a right to it, not as a Dinkleberg. Mr. Turner used the couch to stand and then crashed back onto it. He wasn’t going anywhere tonight, not unless that same magical device that had brought him here deigned to send him back. Sometimes, he felt like the devil’s plaything.

“Go to bed, mister,” Mrs. Turner said sternly, but her face softened. "I’ll tuck you in once I’m done talking to your father.”

“I’m not--”

“I know, I know,” Timmy said sadly. “You’re not my father. You’ve made that abundantly clear.”

Sniffling, Timmy turned around and walked back to his room. Mrs. Turner waited until she was sure he was out of earshot before rounding on her husband.

“Can you think of someone else besides yourself for a change?” she snapped. “Or something besides your stupid feud with Dinkleberg? Yes, Sheldon can be a jerk, and yes, I know, he dumped me because he came into money. That doesn’t mean Timmy is part of that.”

She glowered. “You can’t tell me you hate Dinkleberg so much that you’re willing to throw away your relationship with Timmy to spite a man who couldn’t care less about him.”

Throwing her hands in the air, she snapped, “Oh, never mind. You’ll do what you want. I’ve been defending Timmy for months, and you don’t care. If you don’t want to be a part of this family, I won’t stop you.

“Just don’t come around here and expect me to roll out the welcome wagon when you treat Timmy like dirt. I love him, even if you don’t.”

“I love him, too,” Mr. Turner said, and her jaw dropped. A few weak sounds came out, but nothing intelligible. Mr. Turner burst into sobs.

“I love him, and I don’t want him because he’s not mine!” he wept. He shoved himself to his feet and swayed slightly, but he managed to walk toward the front door. The alcohol must’ve been wearing off. Mrs. Turner grabbed his shoulder before he walked out.

“If you love him, then you can fix this,” she said softly, urgently. "He’s a good kid-you know he is-and he loves you, too. He’s terrified of losing you.

“You don’t really believe he’s a demon, do you?” she added.

“No,” he said flatly, shrugging himself out of her grasp. “I don’t. But I still don’t want anything to do with him. Or you.”

He pushed her aside, yanked open the front door, and then stood with his back against it to prevent her from opening it again. Sober enough to read his phone, he called a taxi back to the hotel. Maybe it was time he stopped coming home; he’d let her have the house if she wanted it so badly. There was nothing but tainted memories, anyway.

-------------------------------------------

Cosmo waited until he was sure Timmy was fast asleep before checking on Wanda. She hadn’t told him he could, but she also hadn’t forbidden him. In Cosmo’s mind, that meant she wouldn’t complain if he popped in. Plus, he needed to talk to her and know whether she could feel him mentally, too. It felt like progress, but he was worried it wouldn’t last. Or that he was imagining it.

He found her sitting in Tootie’s dollhouse and staring at the walls. Sitting upright in bed, she had her covers drawn around her, and she looked miserable. His throat tightened, especially when tears spilled down her cheeks.

“What did I do now?” he asked, and she whirled, tensing until she realized who it was.

“Cosmo? What are you doing here?” she said.

“I was worried about you,” he said. He sat beside her and raised his eyebrows. The bed was full-size, not a twin, which meant there was enough room for two people. Wanda shifted over slightly to allow him more space, but she didn’t leave or move away. He took that as a good sign.

“I’m fine,” she lied. Cosmo thumbed away her tears, and she turned her head toward him. His heart pounded like a jackhammer, and he caught himself staring at her lips. He wanted to kiss her so badly.

“No, you’re not. I know you’re worried about Timmy.”

He turned his head away. “I don’t know if you’re worried about me, though.”

“Oh, hon…” she said softly, gently moving him to face her. “Is he okay?”

She bit her lower lip. “Are you okay?”

“No, because I miss you!” he blurted and latched onto her. “I can’t do this! I can’t stay separated from you, even by a few houses! Take me back! I love you! I’m sorry!”

She sighed as he blubbered onto her shoulder. Slowly, she shifted and rubbed his back like she always did when he was upset, right below his wings and in a circular fashion. With her non-dominant hand, she raised her wand and transported them to the fish bowl, then the castle and her bed. Cosmo squeezed his wand, too, and produced the larger four-poster bed rather than the tiny one she had been using for months. He didn’t want his race car bed. He wanted to hold her.

“I didn’t want to risk waking Tootie,” Wanda explained. “I figured we’d have more privacy back in the fish bowl.”

“You’re not going to stay her godparent forever, are you?” he said. “You’re gonna come back to me and Timmy, right? We need you. We want you. I promise; we’re sorry. We’re so, so sorry. Take me back. I can’t--”

He choked. “I can’t stand being away from you. I never had anyone before you, not even as a friend. All I had was Mama.

“You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted. I swear. I’m sorry about everything. I’m sorry about my wandering eye, I’m sorry I hurt you, and I’m sorry you felt like you had to leave to prove a point. Or because I hurt you so badly that you couldn’t stand to be near me.

“Whatever it is, whatever the reason, I’m sorry!”

Wanda smiled weakly. “You sound like a broken record, sweetie.”

Cosmo didn’t know how to respond. She hadn’t affirmed anything he’d said. Sniffling, he pulled away to study her and see if he could figure out what was running through her mind. After all, she thought a lot more about things than he did. He tended to react first and worry about the consequences later.

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

“How’s Timmy?”

“Miserable,” he said and then looked away. "His dad thinks he's a demon spawn or dark magic. He rejected him again, and Timmy cried himself to sleep.

Wanda winced. “Our poor baby.”

“You said ‘our!’” he exclaimed.

Wanda smiled. “He is ours, isn’t he? Even if I’m temporarily on reassignment, he’s still our godson.”

“Temporarily?” Cosmo repeated.

Wanda facepalmed. “Now, you really do sound like a broken record. You don’t have to repeat everything I say, Cosmo.”

Cosmo desperately sought her gaze. “You’re coming back, right? You said it was temporary, which means you’re coming back. You have to come back. We need you.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to re-earn your trust. I’ll…I’ll turn into anything you want just to make you happy. I swear.”

Wanda pressed her forehead against his. “I told you before, in Chincinatti, that I’d explain what happened with Jerry and Spatula Woman.”

He didn’t understand why she was changing the subject or how this was related, but he wasn’t about to argue with her.

“‘Jerry?’”

“The handler who electrocuted me,” she said, sighing. “Repeatedly. When I tried to escape, he snapped a shock collar on me and hurt me so badly that I couldn’t walk for a while. Then he and Spatula Woman shoved me into a cage dangling above a vat of boric acid. If Tootie hadn’t arrived when she had, I might not be here.”

Cosmo’s heart lurched, and he hugged her so tightly that he heard her bones creak. She lifted her head and then brushed her lips against his. His heart skipped a beat; he was terrified he’d mess this up somehow, like everything else he’d done recently.

She lay back down and pulled him on top of her. By now, he could almost taste his heartbeat; his heart was pounding that hard and loudly. They shifted so they lay side by side, and she held his cheek when she broke off the kiss. Cosmo whined; he hadn’t had a chance to kiss her back.

“You have to do better,” she said quietly. “I know you and Timmy are sorry. For what it’s worth, I miss you, too. It’s hard to know you’re not right beside me, especially when I need you. I needed you in Chincinatti, and I have no one to blame but myself for that. I could’ve died; Tootie’s arrival was fortuitous, but it was also good timing. I can’t count on that.”

Cosmo’s throat constricted until he couldn’t speak. Instead, he watched her warily.

“You have to prove I can trust you again,” she said and gulped. “But…I think…”

She faltered, shaking her head. “I don’t think staying away is the answer. We’re miserable without each other, hon, and I also don’t see how we can fix this if we’re not together. If we’re in mortal danger, we need to save each other. We can’t leave things up to chance again.”

“Exactly!” Cosmo said, but it came out muffled because of his tight throat. She kissed him again, and this time, he responded immediately, kissing her back passionately until she opened her mouth to him. He could sense her mind better now, and he could feel her heartbeat race through her wrists. It matched his. Their tongues wrestled, and he loved the feeling of her body against his. He didn’t want this to end.

They made out, and when she broke it off, he pursued her. She let him and pressed against him with her arms wrapped around his waist. This was good, right? This was progress. She still wanted him and vice versa. Maybe he was right. Maybe things would work out.

Unless this was a sign they wouldn’t, and she was leading him on or--

Wanda broke off and started laughing. Confused, Cosmo gawked

“You don’t often think that much, hon, but when you do, you run it into the ground,” she said and smiled. “You’re overthinking this.”

They both paused. Cosmo had been unaware that Wanda could hear what he was thinking.

“I can hear your thoughts. I haven’t been able to do that in months. Maybe…”

She frowned, contemplative. “Maybe it required a leap of faith on both of our parts.”

“Maybe?” he said. He was willing to take her lead if she was willing to have him. Her leg slid between his legs, with her knee brushing against a sensitive area, and his breath quickened. Color suffused her cheeks, and he thought she’d never looked more beautiful than she did now. She blushed deeper; he wasn’t lying or exaggerating, and she knew it.

It must’ve taken her a few seconds to unscramble her thoughts.

“I’ll stay here tonight,” she decided.

“Really?” he said, pulling away so he could cheer. She wouldn’t let him, which made him flush, too, as well as sending blood elsewhere.

“Yes, really,” she said. “Timmy needs me, and…”

“And?” he pressed, wondering how that sentence might end. “And what?”

“That issue terrified me,” she whispered. “I could’ve died, and so could Poof.”

“I could’ve lost you!” he whined and stroked her cheek. She leaned into the affection, and their lips met again.

((I want to be here, with you,)) she said. She smiled against his lips. ((If you don’t mind.))

((I don’t mind!)) he said brightly. ((I’m the exact opposite of minding! I’m, uh…))

She chuckled, and it warmed him up inside.

((I get it.))

Cosmo relaxed slightly, and she rested against him. Breaking off the kiss, he pressed his lips against her wrists, where he could still feel her heartbeat fluttering. He wanted to make her feel wanted again and try to undo the damage he’d caused. Or, if not that, mend it.

Wanda’s breath caught. She cleared her throat and tried to speak. When that failed, she cleared her throat again and rolled her eyes.

“You know what’s odd?” she said.

“What?” Cosmo said. He’d lost track of her train of thought, and honestly, he didn’t think it mattered. She was here, in his arms, and that was all he cared about.

“We haven’t heard from or seen Juandissimo in a while,” she said. “I thought for sure he’d be capitalizing on our marital problems.”

Cosmo shrugged. He didn’t want to think about Juandissimo. She shifted against him, and this time, his breath caught. All he wanted to think about was her and what she was doing to him. She was making him crazy, and he loved it. He loved her.

Wanda smiled brightly. “That’s a start, hon.”

She snorted. “I’m not going to complain about people leaving us alone.”

Cosmo trailed kisses along her cheek and neck. He paid particular attention to where her neck met her shoulder, and she held him tighter. Nothing about the real world needed to intrude. This moment was perfect as it was.

She was perfect.

Wanda beamed.

“We’ll get there,” she murmured, carding her fingers through his hair. "I know we will. I’m not going anywhere tonight, and tomorrow, we’ll figure out what we’re doing together.”

Cosmo’s heart leaped, and he grinned back.

“Thanks for defending me earlier, sweetie,” she said. “And for having my back when I needed it.”

“I’m yours, aren’t I?” he said, lifting his head to meet her gaze. “And you’re mine. That’s all that matters.”

“Maybe not all,” she demurred. “But…”

“But what?” he pressed, worried for a second she was about to add another condition or pull away.

“But,” she said, cupping his face in her hands, “we can worry about the rest later.”

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Timmy woke screaming from a nightmare in which his father had dumped him at the Dinklebergs, who didn’t want him, and then his mother had forfeited all rights to him. Fairy World had created a stupid new rule that said because his parents had rejected him and he had to move, Cosmo and Wanda had to leave. When Timmy had forced himself awake, the nightmare had placed him in an orphanage across the country with nothing but the clothes on his back and his silly pink hat.

His mother had hung up on him when he’d pleaded with her to take him back.

”You knew what you were getting yourself into,” she scolded.

Timmy sobbed uncontrollably, curling into a fetal position. The bedside table light went on, and he lifted his head to scan the room. The door remained closed, and he didn’t see his mother anywhere. Slowly, he looked from side to side.

”Cosmo? Wanda?” he said and then facepalmed. “Right. Wanda’s not here.”

”I wouldn’t count on that, sweetie,” Wanda said. Timmy turned around and then saw his godparents floating before him. They looked like he’d woken them up, bedraggled hair and all, which ought to make him feel guilty, but he was so relieved about Wanda that he didn’t care. Springing from his bed, he tackled and hugged them.

“You’re here! You’re home! You’re-wait, if you’re here, then who’s with Tootie?” he said. Wanda grimaced, looking away. Unlike him, she had no problems feeling guilty. It was written all over her face.

”No one,” she admitted. “Cosmo came over to talk to me earlier, and I followed him back. One thing led to another, and…”

She went scarlet and then gave Cosmo a warning look. Timmy figured Cosmo was about to say something embarrassing, stupid, or both and appreciated Wanda’s discretion. Whatever had happened between them meant that Wanda was here when he needed her, and he wouldn’t worry about the rest yet.

”Wait,” he said. “Does that mean you two made up?”

” We’re getting there,” she said and took Cosmo’s hand. Their fingers intertwined, and she kissed Cosmo’s hand. Cosmo grinned, moving so that his arm went around her waist. She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.

”Never mind us,” she said. She lifted her head. “What was the nightmare about, hon?”

They sat on the bed with Timmy between Cosmo and Wanda. He felt safe and loved; his godparents were back together. Maybe some small amount of normalcy could enter his life again.

“Dad dumped me on the Dinklebergs, and Mom said she didn’t want me anymore,” Timmy said. The good cheer elicited by Wanda’s return vanished, and his lower lip quivered. “That’s not true, right? Mom would never leave me in an orphanage, right?”

”That’s not legal at your age,” Cosmo said, and Wanda jabbed him in the ribs. She glared.

”Not helpful, hon,” she chided. Her tone softened when she turned to look at Timmy. “I doubt your mother would do that to you, sweetie. She loves you.”

”But, just in case…” he faltered, and his throat tightened. His mouth dried out. “You guys wouldn’t leave me, right? Jorgen wouldn’t reassign you because you couldn’t stay with me after my parents ditched me, right?”

Cosmo and Wanda gawked.

”That has never happened in the history of Fairy World,” Wanda said. “Children lose their godparents for breaking Da Rules, revealing their existence, or aging out. They don’t lose them for their parents’ misbehavior.”

“Your mom might be neglectful and kinda selfish,” Cosmo said. “She might even leave you with Vicky way too often-“

”Cosmo, is this going somewhere? Or are you just insulting my mom?” Timmy said, folding his arms across his chest. Wanda gently tugged his arms open, and he responded by leaning against her. He couldn’t believe how good it felt to see her and Cosmo together again. When they looked at each other, Timmy saw none of their earlier hostility. Instead, he glimpsed fondness, which was encouraging.

”It’s going somewhere,” Cosmo protested. “Now, where was I?”

”Let’s see,” Timmy said sarcastically. “You were about to give my mom a Parent of the Year award.”

”I was?” Cosmo said. “I don’t remember that.”

”That’s because it didn’t happen, hon,” Wanda said, facepalming. “What Cosmo means to say is that your mother may not be the best parent, but she loves you. She would never abandon you, especially when you need her the most.”

”Is that why you came back?” Timmy asked slyly, and Wanda blushed.

”Partly, yes,” she said. Cosmo ran his finger along her earlobe, and she shivered. Cosmo flashed her a grin, prompting her to flush. Again, Timmy had no interest in whatever had happened after he went to sleep and before he awoke from the nightmare.

“The other part is that I missed you two,” she said. “I was worried about you.”

She frowned, fussing with her wand. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about Tootie, though. I can’t abandon her, either.”

”Why can’t Magdalene and Nathaniel be her godparents, and you two can be mine?” Timmy suggested. He grimaced. “Oh, yeah, and I guess I can share you with Chloe if we have to.”

He’d added her as an afterthought, but he didn’t want Chloe to be without a fairy when she was entitled to one. Wanda stroked his hair, and he flung himself at her. To his surprise, he burst into tears. That nightmare had disturbed him.

“Oh, hon…” Wanda murmured, kissing the crown of his head. “Sssh. We’re here for you. Sssh. We love you, and we’re not going anywhere.”

”Unless you wish us away!” Cosmo said.

“Cosmo,” Wanda said, sounding exasperated, “I know we made up a few hours ago. But…”

”But what?” Cosmo said, his eyes widening. “You’re not taking it back, are you? You can’t! I’ll-“

”I’m not taking it back,” she said, snorting softly. “Before you go into meltdown mode. But, please, if you can’t say anything helpful to Timmy, then be quiet.”

”I can do that!”

“For how long?” Timmy muttered darkly. “I bet he won’t last five minutes.”

”A minute,” Wanda said. “Five minutes is a little too generous, sport.”

“You’re probably right,” Timmy said. His sobs caught up with him, and he rested his head on her chest. Her heartbeat was faster than a human’s-it reminded him of a hummingbird. Her presence comforted him. He felt safer with his godparents united and supporting him.

”Do you want us to stay with you until you fall asleep again?” Wanda said.

Timmy nodded and whimpered. The look on his mother’s face in that dream as she’d packed him off to the orphanage lingered. Wanda stroked his hair. Cosmo came up behind him and sandwiched him between him and Wanda.

“I love you guys,” he said.

”We love you too, sweetie,” Wanda reassured him.

“I wish you were my real parents,” Timmy muttered. He was about to add something else when he realized his godparents had frozen. Lifting his head, he glanced from one to the other.

“Is something wrong?” he said.

”I don’t know if we can grant that wish…” Wanda said, looking uneasy. “That’s going to involve a lot of magic.”

”Not to mention figuring out how to rewrite history and give you fairy powers,” Cosmo added.

“Wait,” Timmy said, and his heart raced. He was excited. “You mean you could do that? You two could be my real parents? There’s nothing against it in Da Rules?”

“Timmy, a wish that big would require a Council hearing first,” Wanda said weakly. “You might’ve broken the baby ban with a wish, but that doesn’t mean the Council will be predisposed to you. You’ve also caused a lot of problems.”

“And fixed a bunch, too!” Timmy said defensively. “I’m sure they’ll listen.”

“Listening is one thing,” Wanda cautioned. “Granting the wish is something else entirely.”

”You two love me,” Timmy said. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

”This type of wish hasn’t been done in centuries,” she said. “It’s on par with a magic muffin level of power.”

”So, you can’t do it?” Timmy said. His heart sank just as quickly as it’d risen.

”We’re not saying that,” she said.

”I’m not saying anything at all!” Cosmo added, and Wanda and Timmy groaned, facepalming in unison.

”What? What’d I say?” Cosmo said.

”I’m not surprised he forgot to be quiet,” Timmy muttered.

“Join the club,” Wanda muttered back. She frowned, looking thoughtful. “We can bring it before the Council and see what they say. We can’t grant the wish until we have their approval.”

”But it’s possible?” Timmy said. His spirits were bouncing around so much that he felt like a yo-yo. “You could be my parents?”

”We’ll see,” Wanda said and exchanged another worried glance with Cosmo. “Why don’t we try looking before we leap and seeing what the Council says before you get your hopes up?”

”Or you could get your hopes up anyway!” Cosmo offered. “Get them way up!”

”Ignore him,” she said. She cradled Timmy’s cheek against her palm. “One step at a time. I also can’t be your godmother again without being reinstated and figuring out how to handle Tootie’s situation. That has to happen before we approach the Council. We can’t leave Tootie high and dry like Fairy World has done for the past ten years.”

Her eyes flashed. “That poor girl has it bad enough as it is. Vicky threw her into a closet after using a flamethrower on the shrine tonight.”

Cosmo shivered. “Man, I bet Tootie’s really upset you’re not there.”

”I’m hoping she hasn’t noticed yet,” Wanda admitted, looking askance. “I should probably check on her.”

Timmy latched onto Wanda’s arm. “She’ll be okay. I need you.”

Wanda’s expression was pained. “I’ll be right back, sport. I promise.”

”No!” Timmy cried. He didn’t care if he was being a selfish brat. “I wish you’d stay!”

Wanda groaned, burying her face in her hands. Cosmo had granted the wish without asking her first, as he was wont to do. Timmy was amused, although decidedly less so when Wanda lifted her head and glared at him.

”It’s on your head when Tootie finds out I left her alone all night,” Wanda warned.

Timmy snorted. “Pfft. She’ll be fine. It’s not like she’ll burn down the house or attack Vicky in a fit of rage. Nothing bad is going to happen. I promise.”

Wanda’s eyes narrowed. “Not for nothing, Timmy, but your predictions have a way of failing miserably.”

”So? I wish I was right!” Timmy said.

”About what?” Cosmo said. Timmy groaned, facepalming.

”I wish that Tootie would sleep okay tonight and not need Wanda or notice that she was gone!” Timmy said.

”Done!” Cosmo said happily. He nuzzled Wanda’s cheek and then ran his fingers through her hair. Her expression warmed, and she kissed Cosmo on the cheek. Timmy grinned. He liked seeing his godparents being lovey-dovey again. They were two halves of a whole idiot, and they were meant to be together.

”Now I can sleep,” Timmy pronounced, lying flat on his back. Cosmo and Wanda curled up against him as stuffed animals, and he hugged them while closing his eyes. Hopefully, he’d have no more nightmares.

Timmy stifled a laugh. Since Cosmo and Wanda didn’t have to pretend they were inanimate objects, he could feel their bodies rising and falling as they breathed against his sides. It was oddly relaxing.

”Love you…” he murmured, resting a hand on either godparent.

”We love you too,” Wanda whispered back. “Sleep well, sweet dreams, sweetie.”

”Night…” Timmy mumbled before the world melted away.

-----------

“So…how’s Wanda?” Big Daddy said behind Juandissimo’s back, which prompted him to jump. He and Cupid were having brunch at a very trendy new fairy cafe that was only open until one. They’d gotten a late start to the day, and Juandissimo had, until Wanda’s father arrived, felt relaxed and content.

Cupid raised an eyebrow. Cupid sat across from him with the blue and green striped umbrella over his head. They were sitting outside the cafe with its white walls and wooden fence surrounding the property to block it off from the street. Other patrons crowded the small restaurant, and the line went out the door and along the walkway. Juandissimo suddenly wished, despite the bright, sunny weather, that he’d opted for an indoor booth.

Juandissimo smiled weakly. “I may have lost track of her.”

Cupid watched him with knowing eyes. He leaned back in his chair, and Juandissimo knew he had no reason to fear Big Daddy. Cupid was an immortal god, after all. Juandissimo would’ve been more frightened of Big Daddy if he knew he was enraged. Big Daddy never vented his spleen on Juandissimo, so the Latino fairy figured he was safe.

“You never went after her in the first place, did you?” Big Daddy accused.

”I did,” Juandissimo said. He straightened up. “However, it was a useless venture. She will either take Cosmo or no one. She made up her mind thousands of years ago. Alas, she is lost to me.”

Big Daddy scowled. “How hard did you try to win her back over?”

”You can’t force an interest where there isn’t any,” Cupid warned, wagging his index finger reproachfully. “It will only make both parties resentful.”

Big Daddy growled. “Don’t tell me that the little shit wormed his way back into her heart.”

“I cannot tell you either way because I have spent the last few days in Fairy World,” Juandissimo said. “I have been…otherwise occupied.”

Big Daddy huffed, rolling his eyes. “Congratulations. I have a son-in-law to hunt down on Earth.”

He disappeared in an angry cloud of fairy dust. From the sounds of things, Big Daddy hadn’t expected Juandissimo to succeed. Juandissimo’s stomach clenched, and he felt sick. Big Daddy preferred him to Cosmo, but he wouldn’t if he discovered that tape. Then he’d want Juandissimo’s head on a platter.

”What’s wrong?” Cupid said. “You knew Wanda would never go for you again. That ship sailed millennia ago.”

“Si, I know that,” Juandissimo said. “The reason she broke things off with me was not because she discovered Cosmo.”

”I know,” Cupid said, smirking. “I’m the love god, remember? I know all about relationships.”

His smirk disappeared for a second. “I wonder why Turner never thought to ask me for help with his godparents’ marriage. Or his parents.”

Juandissimo grinned, leaning across the table. “Did you enjoy it, then?”

”I can see why she was pissed,” Cupid said. He shifted backward to create more space between them. “She’s not an exhibitionist, Dissimo.”

Juandissimo grimaced. “If I had known that would be the final straw, perhaps I would have exercised more discretion.”’

”I don’t believe you,” Cupid said, rolling his eyes. He moved forward and held Juandissimo’s hands. “It’s over. She wasn’t meant for you. You’ll survive.”

“I would feel sorry for Cosmo if he had not dug his own grave.”

”He’s getting along better with Wanda than he was,” Cupid said, snickering. “Let’s see if he can handle Big Daddy’s rage. Wanda is far more forgiving than her father.”

-----------------

Tootie awoke alone in her room. The sun shone through the windows, and it ought to have cheered her up, but it felt more like the winter sun--all light and no warmth. Wanda was MIA--Tootie could sense other magical creatures, and she knew Wanda had left hours ago. Worried about what that might mean, she got up, dressed, and headed for the door. The knob turned, but the door wouldn’t budge.

Vicky must’ve blocked her in. Tootie screamed, grabbing her wand and blasting the door indiscriminately. It was a bad idea, she knew it was, but she couldn’t help herself. Wanda’s absence, combined with Vicky’s shenanigans, did not make for a good morning. Tootie shouldn’t be so flashy with her magic; Fairy World might come down on her.

Tootie didn’t care.

What had Fairy World ever done for her, anyway? They’d ignored her need for a godparent, and then they’d only given her one because Wanda wanted to separate from Cosmo. Jorgen would never have approved otherwise. Tootie had no idea how long Fairy World had intended to sweep her under the rug.

There was a dresser parked in front of her door. After blasting away part of the door and the back of the dresser, Tootie tried to move it out of the way. She couldn’t, and her jaw dropped. However much crap Vicky had placed in front of her door, she wasn’t getting out in a hurry. Either she had to blast her way through, which would be a giant red flag, or she had to jump out a second-story window. What the hell was Vicky’s problem? Why was she so pissed at Tootie? Tootie hadn’t done anything.

Tootie knew Vicky was upset with Timmy for his parents’ divorce, even though he had nothing to do with it. She was lamenting the loss of income. Unfortunately, nothing with Vicky stopped at “lament”--it had transformed into white-hot rage.

Tootie growled. She almost expected to find a magical repellent within the stuff crammed in front of her room.

She didn’t, thankfully. What she found, however, made her blood run cold. Draped over an armoire to the left of the dresser was a giant butterfly net. Wanda had warned her about them, though the jury was out whether butterfly nets worked on half-bloods. Vicky must’ve suspected something, though, or she wouldn’t have added it.

Tootie was angry at Wanda if she’d reconciled with Cosmo (and Timmy), but they had a far worse situation on their hands. She’d have to swallow back her grievances.

“Wanda?” Tootie called.

As soon as Wanda’s name left Tootie’s lips, Wanda materialized.

“What’s up, hon?” she said. She had bags under her eyes, and her hair was disheveled.

“Have fun with Cosmo last night?” Tootie said bitterly.

Wanda flushed guiltily and then shook her head. “Never mind that. What’s going on?”

Tootie huffed. “So you did go back to him.”

“My romantic life isn’t any of your business,” Wanda said stiffly. Tootie snorted.

“You’re having second thoughts, aren’t you?”

“You didn’t summon me here to chastise me, did you?” Wanda snapped.

“No, actually, I didn’t,” Tootie said. Even if she was disappointed in her, the butterfly net worried Tootie too much. She pointed toward the dresser she’d blasted and the armoire which had a butterfly net draped over it.

Wanda blanched. She glanced from Tootie to the hodge-podge in front of the door.

“She suspects something,” Wanda said quietly. “For all we know, she could’ve been talking to Crocker.”

“What do we do?” Tootie said. “If I blast this stuff away or wish it gone, she’ll know something is up. I could use my bedsheets as a rope to slide down to the first floor, but if she’s already using butterfly nets…

“They don’t catch anything besides fairies, do they?”

“If it floats and has wings, a butterfly net can catch it,” Wanda said. “I almost never see humans with butterfly nets unless they’re hunting fairies.”

“I’ve been so careful until now!” Tootie protested. “Timmy’s the one who’s been extravagant with his wishes.”

“I know,” Wanda said. Her grave expression wiped all thoughts of Cosmo from Tootie’s mind.

“Oh, twerpette!” Vicky called, and Wanda shapeshifted into a nightlight. Tootie concealed Wanda’s presence by standing in front of her, though she worried that wouldn’t be enough.

“You’re getting out of there one of two ways,” Vicky continued. “Either you ‘fess up that something’s going on between you and the twerp, or you magically escape. Your choice!”

Tootie’s knees felt weak, and she held onto the wall to remain upright.

“I may have a way out of this,” Wanda murmured. “Vicky can’t remain vigilant if someone distracts her.”

“Not you!” Tootie objected, frightened anew for her.

“Not me,” Wanda said, sighing. “Let’s hope Vicky isn’t too rough on Timmy.”

She disappeared, and Tootie’s throat constricted. She fingered the butterfly net uneasily. Butterfly nets nullified magic. Touching the strings numbed her hand, and she felt like she’d dumped it in a bucket of ice. She shuddered.

“What’s it going to be?” Vicky called.

I sure hope Timmy comes through…and doesn’t get attacked for it…Tootie thought desperately. With her luck lately, she wasn’t holding her breath.