(no subject)

[soulfulsin]

Fandom: Fairly Oddparents
Canon or AU: AU
Fic: Blank Space
A/N: That might be a placeholder until I find something better.

Loads of notes here, girls and guys!

I’ve taken some creative liberties with FOP’s “timeline.” This fic is set during the height of the marriage jokes, which is season five. However, it includes Poof (season six) and Chloe Carmichael (season ten.) I’ve also rewritten why there’s a fairy godparent shortage because the canonical reason is stupid.

On that note, I’ve rewritten Chloe’s reason for having godparents. Those of you who have been following Dark Ocean/Back in Black probably know that my mom passed recently. Chloe’s reason for sharing fairies will become obvious soon enough. She’s also not going to be forthcoming about it because it’s deeply personal.

I’ve been digging through some old unfinished fanfics. I wanted to throw in a couple more elements from other fics, but they don’t quite fit. I might be able to squeeze something else from a fic I wrote in 2017 that’s only on LJ, but I don’t know yet. I guess we’ll find out.

Probably to everyone’s profound relief, there will be no rape in here. LOL. It’ll be darker than the show but not a bottomless pit of despair.

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



Closing her eyes, Wanda took a deep, steadying breath and resisted the strong temptation to throttle her husband. Lately, he’d been acting like a jerk instead of the loveable idiot she’d married. Snide comments about her appearance and her “nagging,” along with his offer to marry Man Die, had gotten under her skin. Timmy wasn’t helping; if anything, he was actively contributing. Wanda’s mood was at an all-time low. She’d been escaping to Tootie’s when she could--Tootie needed guidance to control her powers, which had finally appeared on her tenth birthday.

It vexed her, too, that Cosmo and Timmy hadn’t noticed her disappearances. She entertained the notion of walking out, leaving them, and seeing how long it took them to notice. Cosmo and Timmy didn’t take her common sense into account when making increasingly stupid wishes; they ignored her whenever she pointed out how dangerous said wishes were. She was starting to wonder if she had a purpose here.

At present, Cosmo and Timmy were playing a video game and ignoring her. She didn’t bother to announce her disappearance. Let them figure it out if they cared. She sincerely doubted they did.

When she arrived in Tootie’s bedroom, Tootie was curled in a ball and sobbing hysterically. Wanda’s heart instantly went out to her. Little purple sparks came out of her fingertips and then fizzled and died on the comforter. Wanda sighed, drifting down to Tootie. As of yet, the young halfling hadn’t noticed her arrival.

“Hey, hon,” Wanda said gently. “Is there anything you wanted to talk about?”

Tootie lifted her head; Wanda lifted her wand to clean up her face. For a moment, Wanda thought Tootie might confide in her. Instead, Tootie shook her head, sobbed, and returned to her ball. Wanda sighed, too, laying down so she could hug Tootie. After a moment, Tootie hugged her back.

Wanda stroked Tootie’s hair. It was good to feel appreciated and wanted instead of left in the dust. Tootie pressed her face into Wanda’s chest and sobbed.

“Sssh, sssh, it’s okay,” Wanda soothed. “What did Vicky do now?”

Rather than answer, Tootie lifted a trembling arm and gestured to her surroundings. Occupied as Wanda had been with Tootie’s state of mind, she hadn’t noticed the destruction around her. Vicky must have taken a flamethrower to everything Tootie prized. The Timmy shrine was in ashes. Tootie’s fake fairy wand box had been destroyed (Tootie kept her real wands elsewhere, in a magically locked drawer, to prevent Vicky from discovering them). Everywhere Wanda looked, there was a vast swathe of destruction. Sighing, Wanda raised her wand and repaired and replaced everything. She added an extra dose of protection so that Vicky’s various implements would have no effect on Tootie’s belongings.

“What happened?” Wanda murmured, smoothing Tootie’s bangs back from her forehead. Sometimes, she wished she were Tootie’s godmother and not Timmy’s. Tootie would appreciate her and want her around. She sighed. The only way she could be Tootie’s godmother would be to divorce Cosmo and file for an appeal for Tootie. There was no guarantee either of those would be granted.

After a few minutes, Tootie calmed down enough to speak. She gazed at Wanda adoringly, which made Wanda wonder if Timmy might be the only object of Tootie’s affections. It might’ve been the first time someone preferred Wanda over Cosmo in centuries.

“I was trying to be more assertive like you told me,” Tootie said. She straightened and sat up on the bed. Wanda did likewise and nodded for Tootie to continue.

“Vicky didn’t like that. I refused to do her chores for her, and when I told her that I wouldn’t spy on Timmy for her, she flipped out and did…that.”

“Bullies don’t like when their victims stand up for themselves. I have to ask, though, hon--why did Vicky want you to spy on Timmy?”

Tootie grimaced, looking askance. Wanda had a bad feeling she wasn’t going to like where this was going.

“She’s starting to get suspicious with all of those wishes Timmy’s been making lately. He’s been getting kinda…ridiculous with them.”

Wanda groaned, facepalming. The wishes Tootie was referring to were those Cosmo had granted without a second thought and those to which she’d objected vociferously to no avail. It would almost serve Timmy right to lose his godparents because he’d been too flashy with their magic. Almost. Her heart clenched. As irritated as she was with Timmy (and Cosmo), she didn’t want to lose her godson. Timmy had been reckless as hell lately.

His parents had been arguing almost non-stop over finances. Once, when she’d been unable to sleep after Timmy’s bedtime, she’d heard his father snap that they would’ve had a lot more disposable income without Timmy. Wanda’s heart had clenched. She had hoped Timmy was fast asleep, but when she swam around to look, Timmy stared back at her.

It didn’t justify his abuse, but it helped to explain it.

“You know I’d never betray his secret,” Tootie said. She squeezed Wanda.

“I know, sweetie,” she said. “I know how much you love him.”

Tootie frowned, pulling back. Startled, Wanda frowned and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“He’s been treating you like crap lately,” Tootie said.

It was Wanda’s turn to look away. “Don’t worry about that. That’s my problem, not yours.”

“He doesn’t deserve you,” Tootie proclaimed. “Him or Cosmo.”

So, Tootie had witnessed a few of their latest altercations. Wanda shouldn’t be surprised. After all, it wasn’t like Timmy had bothered being quiet when talking with them. Nonetheless, her heart felt heavy. She wanted to reprimand Timmy about his recent behavior, but she knew a lecture would fall on deaf ears. He’d probably accuse her of nagging and then blow her off again.

“I wish you could be my fairy godmother,” Tootie said. “Timmy probably hasn’t even noticed you’re missing.”

Wanda looked down. Since he hadn’t called her, she knew Tootie was right. She didn’t know how to respond; heaven knew she was a terrible liar. Instead, frowning, Wanda opted to say nothing. It seemed to be the safest bet.

Tootie frowned. Wanda could see wheels spinning in the halfling’s eyes.

“What are you thinking, hon?”

“Maybe you can be my fairy godmother,” Tootie said. Wanda blinked, taken aback.

“That’s not how fairy godparent assignments work, kiddo. Jorgen tells us where we’re going. We don’t pick and choose our godchildren.”

“But I’m not like the other godchildren,” Tootie said, puffing out her chest. “I’m a half-fairy. That means I’m more dangerous than normal human children.”

“I…I’m not so sure about that…” Wanda said, grimacing. “Timmy might give you a run for your money.”

“That’s another thing!” Tootie declared, jumping out of Wanda’s arms and onto the floor. “It’s not like Timmy would even notice you’re gone. I bet a whole week could go by before he suspected anything.”

Wanda winced. “I’m not sure I’d go that far.”

“Wanda!” Timmy’s call echoed in her mind. She raised her wand instinctively, thought about it for a few seconds, and then lowered her arm. Tootie’s room had no clock, so Wanda converted her wand into one to determine how long she’d been missing.

Fifteen minutes. She wondered if he wanted a wish or if he was genuinely worried about her disappearance. She would bet on the former. If that was the case, then Cosmo would suffice. Timmy didn’t need her around.

“He just summoned you, didn’t he?” Tootie said, and Wanda nodded.

“Do you have to leave? You should stay here with me. Make him come get you.”

“Sweetie, Timmy doesn’t know where I vanish off to. He’d have to use Cosmo to either bring me back or arrive here in person.”

“So? Make him do that!” Tootie said. Wanda sighed, pinching her nose bridge.

“I don’t see the point. Timmy always gets what he wants in the end,” Wanda groaned. Her shoulders slumped, and she raised her wand again. Tootie pushed her arm back down.

“Stay here. With me.”

Wanda grimaced. “That’s not how this works, hon. Technically, I’m only visiting you because Jorgen wanted me to keep an eye on you. Cosmo and Timmy don’t know that you’re a half-fairy, and they definitely don’t know that we’re friends, you and I.”

“They should know,” Tootie said decisively. “That way, they know they’re losing out.”

“Where the heck are you, Wanda?” Timmy snapped, sounding exasperated she hadn’t jumped to his tune immediately.

“I have to go,” Wanda said.

“Then take me with you,” Tootie said imperiously. “They’re going to find out somehow. I want to throw it in their faces.”

“That’s really not a good idea,” Wanda said, hesitant to make her situation any worse than it already was. She knew Timmy couldn’t wish her association with Tootie away, which would’ve probably been his first move. On the other hand, he’d be livid that he was sharing Wanda with someone he disliked, especially someone related to Vicky. He might even argue that Wanda was in danger by being in such close proximity to the evil babysitter.

Whatever tone appeared in his next tone would decide how she played this. If Timmy’s irritation and entitlement increased, Wanda might follow Tootie’s suggestions just to spite him. Then again, Timmy might cave and become desperate. He hadn’t evinced that yet, but it might be coming. Timmy’s parents had mostly argued at night after Timmy went to bed, but their arguments were slipping in during the daytime hours now, too.

“Why not?” Tootie said, folding her arms across her chest. “He should stop taking you for granted.”

Wanda sighed. “I don’t disagree, hon, but I’m not sure this is the right way to go about it.”

“I wish Wanda was here right now and told us where she’d been!” Timmy ordered. She frowned, mulling over his tone. It wasn’t as authoritative as he might’ve ordinarily been. If anything, he sounded frightened. Perhaps her non-response to his first two calls had rattled him. She doubted it, though. More than likely, he was responding to something regarding his parents or Cosmo. Right now, she had a hard time imagining he cared enough about her that her failing to heed his summons meant anything.

Cosmo’s magic roped her in and brought her to Timmy’s room. Wanda facepalmed, dragging her palm along her face. There was a faint breeze, and a piece of purple fairy dust appeared on her forearm. Wanda lowered her hand slowly. There were three individuals she knew with purple fairy dust. Of the three, only one had the right to be in this room.

Tootie stood beside her defiantly, wand out, and pointed at Timmy’s chest. Wanda facepalmed again. Like her many times over-grandmother, Magdalene, and her half-sister, Vicky, Tootie could be stubborn as a mule when she wanted to be. Wanda just wished it’d had to do with Vicky and not her.

Wanda scrubbed her eyes and hoped she had imagined Tootie hijacking a ride with her back to Timmy’s room. Sadly, she had not.

“What the hell is going on?” Timmy demanded. “Why is Tootie in here? Is that a real wand? I didn’t wish for her. Why is she pointing it at my chest?”

“Maybe you wished for her and forgot?” Cosmo suggested. Timmy, Wanda, and Tootie ignored the inane comment.

“Tootie, sweetie, lower your wand,” Wanda said. Reluctantly, giving Timmy and Cosmo dirty looks, she obeyed Wanda. Unfortunately, because Tootie’s magic wasn’t under strict control yet, a few warning sparks shot out anyway. Wanda groaned, rubbing her temples.

“In answer to your questions, yes, sport, that’s a real wand. Tootie’s feeling a little antagonistic at the moment, even though I explicitly warned her not to interfere,” Wanda said, shooting her own dirty look. Tootie smiled, unrepentant. Wanda hated when children managed to exacerbate the situation.

Folding her arms across her chest, she regarded the halfling. “Looks like Timmy and Cosmo aren’t the only ones ignoring my advice.”

“What do you mean, you ‘warned her not to interfere?’” Timmy snapped, outraged. “You two know each other? Why does Tootie have a real fairy wand? And why…how…”

Words failed him, and he gulped down the air like a goldfish out of water. Cosmo moved to placate him, and Timmy stepped aside. Tears filled his eyes, and she winced, wondering if she’d missed something momentous in the last fifteen minutes. She wanted to say that Cosmo could have handled it, except she knew, in her heart, that wasn’t true. Timmy had wanted her, specifically her, for a reason she couldn’t quite fathom.

Searching for clues and stalling her response, Wanda gazed around the room. A controller had knocked over his TV, and both electronics lay broken on the floor. Wanda repaired them.

It was silent in the house, but that was a red herring since Timmy’s room generally had a soundproof barrier unless he wished it otherwise.

“You’re mine!” Timmy snapped, sounding younger than usual. “You’re my fairy godmother.”

“I know I--” Wanda started, but Tootie interrupted. Sometimes, Wanda wondered whether Tootie’s ADHD might trump Timmy’s.

“She should be mine. You don’t appreciate her,” Tootie countered. “You use and abuse her magic, you ignore her or insult her three-quarters of the time, and my life is ten times worse than yours.”

Timmy’s jaw dropped. Wanda moved in between the two children lest a stray spark hit Timmy. When she glanced at him, she saw a deep well of hurt in Timmy’s eyes. He was looking at her like she’d betrayed him.

“What’s going on?” Timmy said, sounding subdued. “Why didn’t you come the first two times I called you? Is it because of Tootie? How do you know Tootie? She can’t be related to Da Rules because if she were, I would’ve lost you by now.”

Wanda gritted her teeth. Tootie dropped her head.

“I told you not to press the issue, hon,” Wanda said. “Timmy has enough going on without spilling a secret that was meant for me, Jorgen, and Juandissimo alone.”

“Okay…if you want to start clarifying things, now would be a good time,” Timmy said. He tried to maintain his irritation with her, but anxiety crept in. She felt a pang in her chest; he was worried about losing her. Or maybe not her specifically. Maybe just the idea of her. She shouldn’t flatter herself.

“I hadn’t planned on telling you any of this, sweetie,” Wanda said. She frowned. “I’m not sure I can. The Fairy World Council has high-level clearance on this information.”

“Lemme guess--I’m gonna have to ask Jorgen about it,” Timmy said, rolling his eyes. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. He pointed, and Wanda spun in midair. She clapped a hand to her mouth. This was worse than she’d feared.

Tootie was floating.

“I’ve never been able to do that before!” Tootie exclaimed, sounding thrilled. She swam through the air like it was water, and Wanda cursed inwardly. Pointing her wand at Tootie, Wanda reeled her back in before she hurt herself. Baby fairies floated intuitively. It was a good thing for Tootie that she hadn’t done that and revealed herself, but she’d have a difficult time explaining it now.

“Please come down,” Wanda begged. Tootie blinked.

“Um…I don’t know how…” Tootie admitted. Wanda wanted to bang her head against a wall. Thus far, she had no answers to why Timmy’s summons had been so urgent, why Cosmo couldn’t have handled things, and had a new mystery on her hands. She felt overwhelmed and wanted a time-out. She hadn’t had a break in months.

“You don’t know how to stand on the floor again?” Cosmo said. He glanced from Wanda to Tootie and back. “How come Juandissimo knows about this and I don’t? Are you cheating on me?”

She meant to reassure him and tell him that he had nothing to worry about. The tension in her body argued otherwise. Between Cosmo and Timmy’s mistreatment, handling Tootie’s affairs in a clandestine matter to avoid attracting attention, and Timmy’s parents arguing, Wanda’s fuse was dangerously short. She told herself to breathe deeply and calm down before she said something she’d regret.

It didn’t work, but at least it didn’t come out as venomous as it originally would have.

“If I were, hon, could you blame me? It’s not like you’ve rolled out the welcome wagon lately. I’ve been poofing off to Tootie’s for months, and I’m shocked Timmy finally noticed.”

Timmy and Cosmo’s jaws dropped so far that a fly flew into Cosmo’s. He choked, and she let him struggle; eventually, the fly escaped, and Cosmo conjured water to soothe his irritated throat. Wanda’s eyes narrowed.

Timmy glanced from Cosmo to Wanda. “What…what is going on between you two? You’ve been at each other’s throats for weeks.”

Wanda folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t know, sport. Why don’t you tell me? You’ve been joining in.”

“Joining in on what?” Timmy said. She laughed harshly at his bewildered expression. It was a dissonant sound that caused everyone to cringe.

“Insulting me. Degrading me. Calling me a ‘nag.’ Running roughshod over me when I tell you, for the umpteenth time, that a wish is dangerous. Vicky’s onto you, by the way. In case you thought that your wishes were going unnoticed.”

“All the more reason not to hang out with Tootie!” Timmy said and then shook his head. “You never answered my questions about that.”

He blinked. “Wait. What do you mean, ‘Vicky’s onto me?’”

“She suspects something supernatural,” Wanda said. “She can’t prove anything yet, but if you keep making these outlandish wishes, hon, she’s bound to eventually put two and two together.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Timmy growled.

Wanda barked a laugh. “You wouldn’t have listened. You’re probably going to ignore my advice again and do whatever you want. I don’t know why I bother.”

Timmy’s eyes widened. Alarmed, he glanced at Cosmo, and Wanda snorted. If Timmy thought Cosmo was going to bail him out, he had another thing coming.

“I thought we were having fun,” Timmy said uncertainly. “We were all laughing.”

“You and Cosmo were,” she corrected. “I wasn’t. Almost all of those jokes were at my expense, sport.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” Timmy said. “I didn’t mean to upset you, and--”

He stopped. Loud slamming echoed in the hall, and with the other doors open, they could hear Timmy’s parents arguing. Wanda had omitted Timmy’s parents’ troubles when she’d discussed him; Timmy’s problems weren’t hers to tell.

“Sometimes, I wish we hadn’t had a kid!” Mr. Turner groused. “Look at all the money we’ve spent on him so far this year!”

“Maybe if you stopped going to the office parties and spent more time at the house, we wouldn’t have to hire Vicky so much to watch him!”

Timmy whispered, “Did…did my dad just wish I’d never been born?”

Cosmo shot her a worried glance. She didn’t know how to respond; for one thing, she hadn’t wanted Tootie’s involvement. Wordlessly, she raised her wand and transported herself, Cosmo, and Tootie to the fish bowl. Thirty seconds later, Timmy’s door banged against the wall.

“Why’s Tootie a fish?” Cosmo murmured.

“Sssh,” she snapped. “I’ll explain later.”

Later on, she’d have to teach Tootie how to properly shapeshift. For now, this would suffice.

Timmy’s parents stood in the hallway. Tentatively, her hand shaking, Mrs. Turner advanced toward his bed.

“Timmy, sweetie,” Mrs. Turner said with a strained smile, “here’s $20. Why don’t you go see a movie with your friends?”

“I want to know what’s going on with you and Dad,” Timmy said defiantly. “Why’s everyone arguing all of a sudden?”

“Money’s a little tight right now,” Mrs. Turner admitted. “There’s so much competition for new houses that it’s gotten cutthroat.”

She glowered at Mr. Turner. “And someone spent so much time complaining about the Dinklebergs being hired at his office that he wound up suspended.”

“They only have extra money because they don’t have kids!” Mr. Turner said. “I wish we had that kind of disposable income.”

Wanda tensed, hoping Timmy wasn’t about to make a stupid wish. She shifted into a pillow beside him on the bed, and Timmy pressed her to his chest. Tears slid down his cheeks and wetted her face. She wished she could offer him more comfort than that, but it was too risky with his parents in the room.

“Maybe I should be glad no one’s granting your wishes,” Timmy mumbled.

“If we get divorced, you think your money problems will disappear. Just like magic,” Mrs. Turner said scathingly.

“Divorced?!” Timmy choked. “Who said anything about divorce?”

Cosmo nudged Wanda mentally. It had been so long since they’d shared any mental connections that she was shocked it still worked.  Their psychic link had atrophied during their marital difficulties. She’d thought it all but gone. Cosmo’s nudge became more forceful, and his worry flooded her mind. She scoffed; he had no reason to be so worked up.

“We weren’t going to mention it--we were supposed to try counseling, but we couldn’t afford it,” Mrs. Turner said. “We’ve also had a hard time getting our schedules to coordinate. That’s partly why you’ve been seeing more of Vicky lately.”

Timmy’s shoulders shook, and he squeezed her. His chin brushed against the top of her pillow form. When Timmy’s parents looked elsewhere, she draped her tassel over his shoulder.

“You’re not getting a divorce,” Timmy said. “You’re not.”

“We might,” Mrs. Turner said. Since Timmy hadn’t accepted the bribe, she tucked the money back into her pocket. “We’d have to move, possibly out of Dimmsdale. California is a very expensive place to live.”

“Move?” Timmy repeated. “Away from all of my friends?”

Tootie squeaked, and Wanda placed a piece of tape over her mouth to prevent her from attracting undue attention.

((Wanda?)) Cosmo cried. His mental voice echoed like it was in a tunnel far away. One of the ways to patch their frayed relationship would’ve been to be more intimate with each other. She hadn’t had the desire for months. With his untoward behavior, Cosmo was deeply unattractive.

“Can’t I just wish for you to have an easier time selling houses? Or for Dad to stop sniping at Dinkleberg?” Timmy said, pleading with them.

“It’s not just that,” Mrs. Turner said. She shook her head. “It’s a lot of things, Timmy. It’s the house. It’s the money. We haven’t spent much time together lately, and when we do, we snipe at each other. We’re not the same people we were when we got married.”

“And that’s my fault somehow?” Timmy said. Wanda flinched and patted his shoulder with her tassel. She brushed a few strands against his face.

“I’m not saying that,” Mrs. Turner said quickly. “I’m saying that sometimes, people fall out of love.”

Genuine alarm shot through Wanda’s link with Cosmo, so much so that she lost track of Timmy’s parents’ conversation. Startled, she looked over at Cosmo in the fish bowl. He was quivering with anxiety. A large part of her wanted to reassure him, but she also didn’t know what was bothering him. It could’ve been anything. They hadn’t been in sync in months.

((You didn’t fall out of love with me, did you?)) Cosmo demanded. The alarm was chased by terror. ((You’re not going to leave me for Juandissimo, are you?))

((No…)) she said, frowning. ((No to both questions.))

Cosmo relaxed minutely. ((So, you’re not mad at me, then?))

Wanda scoffed. ((Oh, I’m furious with you. You have no idea how infuriated I am. But I didn’t intend to leave you, nor have I fallen out of love with you.))

Cosmo’s green eyes shimmered with tears. ((There’s something wrong between us, isn’t there?))

((Yes…)) she conceded. ((There has been for some time. You’ve been taking me for granted, hon, and I don’t appreciate you flirting with other women. Or treating me like you’re shackled to me. If you really feel that way, then…))

She choked back tears. Timmy stroked the back of her pillow.

((Then you can leave,)) Wanda whispered. ((Find greener pastures somewhere else.))

((I don’t want to!)) Cosmo protested.

((Are you sure?)) she asked darkly. ((Because that’s not what your behavior is telling me.))

“We’ll discuss this later,” Mrs. Turner said. “I have a Zoom meeting at six, and I need to prepare.”

Fussing with her earrings, she left the room. Her “I love you, sweetie” to Timmy sounded perfunctory. The top of Wanda the cushion’s head was getting soaked.

“Dad?” Timmy said.

Mr. Turner held his gaze for a moment and then shook his head.

“I, uh, I have things I need to do, too,” Mr. Turner said, pivoting toward the staircase.

“You didn’t mean what you said, did you? About wishing I’d never been born?” Timmy said desperately. His fingers dug into her cloth covering, and Wanda’s heart ached for him. Divorce was never an easy thing for children.

“Eh. I’ll see you later,” Mr. Turner said, closing the door behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Cosmo, Wanda, and Tootie shifted back to their normal forms. To Wanda’s profound relief, Tootie was no longer levitating.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” Wanda said.

He scowled, flopping backward onto the bed. “My parents are getting a divorce, and there’s something weird going on between you two. I was watching your faces in the fishbowl. Cosmo was one step away from freaking out. Were you talking somehow?”

“Never mind that,” Wanda said. “We should talk--”

Timmy glared, sitting upright. “Yeah, we should. About how you’ve been seeing Tootie behind my back. About how you apparently think I haven’t noticed you vanishing for hours over the last few months. About how you’ve been drooling over other guys, and Cosmo’s been chasing other women. There’s a nasty undertone that scares me when you two argue now.”

Feeling uneasy, especially with her dirty laundry being aired in front of Tootie, Wanda waved her wand to send Tootie back to her house. Hopefully, the halfling would remain there this time and not cause more trouble.

“I haven’t been fawning over other guys as much as Cosmo’s been skirt-chasing,” Wanda said weakly, defensively.

Timmy’s eyes narrowed. “The way you two rip at each other, it’s way worse than it was on your anniversary. It’s like you genuinely want to hurt each other. You’re supposed to be in love.”

“See?” Cosmo said. “Even he thinks we’re supposed to be in love.”

She balled her fists and resisted the temptation to punch Cosmo’s smarmy face.

“The more you two fight, the worse it gets,” Timmy added. “And the longer Wanda’s gone. Like…”

He gulped. “You don’t really want to be Tootie’s godmother instead, do you?”

She sighed. In for a penny, in for a pound. “It may have missed your attention, sport, but Tootie is a half-fairy. Traditionally, half-fairies are brought to Fairy World and sequestered because their magic can be highly volatile. Jorgen asked, well, demanded that I attend to Tootie when I could and prevent her from spilling the beans. Tootie may have grown rather attached to me as a result.”

“But you’re my fairy godmother,” Timmy said despondently. “I love you.”

“It might surprise you to learn that I have a hard time believing that lately,” she said quietly. “Or believing that I have any value to you beyond granting your wishes.”

Timmy’s lower lip quivered. Tears streaked his cheeks, and she felt slightly guilty about snapping at him. Only slightly, however. Trying to get Cosmo and Timmy to stop attacking her had been like asking a brick wall to move.

She sighed. “I’m not trying to hurt you, hon. I’m only pointing out that you and Cosmo have treated me like garbage, and Tootie hasn’t. Tootie seems to value my opinion and affection.”

“Yeah, right,” Cosmo scoffed. “She’s only doing that because she hasn’t had a godparent assigned to her yet.”

He grinned. “Everyone prefers the fun one to the nag.”

Wanda bristled. “That. That, right there. That is why I’ve been more than happy to take Tootie on.  Timmy summoned me back today, but if he hadn’t, when would you have known I was gone, Cosmo? A day later? More?”

Cosmo looked stunned.

Timmy glanced between his godparents. “I don’t want you two to fight.”

“You seemed to enjoy it earlier,” Wanda countered. “You sided with Cosmo. It’s very hard to stay somewhere that you’re not wanted.”

“Fuck…” Timmy breathed. It was a mark of how vexed she was that she didn’t call him out on his obscenity. Maybe he’d understand the gravity of the situation better this way.

“I want to make it up to you,” Timmy blurted. “Please, let Cosmo and me make it up to you. I don’t want you to go.”

Her throat tightened; he sounded earnest. Timmy and Cosmo had a way of wearing her down, which she resented. She drifted closer to Timmy, who flung himself at her and hugged her. It was the first time she could recall him seeking her out and not her and Cosmo or, more likely, Cosmo without her in a while.

“Don’t leave…don’t leave…” Timmy pleaded. Wanda forced herself to look up and meet Cosmo’s eyes. His lower lip quivered; she was less sympathetic toward him. Timmy was eleven and not necessarily old enough to know better. Cosmo, on the other hand, should have kept his damn mouth shut.

“I can’t stand the idea of losing my birth parents and my fairy godparents simultaneously,” Timmy said. “You guys have always been more like my real parents. I don’t like it when you fight.”

Wanda smiled bitterly. “What makes you think I do, sweetie?”

Cosmo drifted closer. He seemed at a loss. It occurred to her that she couldn’t remember the last time Cosmo had shown her affection and meant it. She felt so disconnected; she couldn’t remember ever experiencing loneliness in his presence before.

“Well?” Wanda said softly. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I…” Cosmo stared at the floor and then glanced at her. “I love you. I do. I just…”

“You just what, Cosmo?” Wanda snapped.

For a minute, she thought he’d leave it open-ended. She prepared to end the conversation and perhaps check on Tootie. Instead, to her surprise, he squeezed her shoulder and brushed his fingers against her cheek. He’d done it gently, and her heart skipped a beat. It’d been so long since he’d shown any hint of affection. It was pathetic how her body reacted and how much she wanted him to continue. She wanted to be furious with herself, but she couldn’t. Depression had been beating at her for a long time now.

“Timmy’s the first godkid we’ve had that we’ve kept for more than a few months, right?” Cosmo said. Wanda and Timmy exchanged glances; neither was quite sure where Cosmo was going with this.

“Yes…” Wanda said.

“And he and I get along great,” Cosmo continued. Her eyes narrowed.

“And?” she said tersely.

“I thought maybe he’d like me more if I, you know…” Cosmo faltered, clearly stalling. Wanda wanted to slap him. Timmy froze and then turned to face Cosmo.

“If you what?” Wanda spat.

“If I…I mean…you are kind of a nag…” Cosmo was still stalling, and her temper rose. “I thought maybe Timmy would like me better if I was even more fun.”

He dropped his gaze. “I got caught up in trying to impress him that I might’ve forgotten about you.”

“Might have?” she snarled. “Might. Have?”

“I never meant to hurt you,” Cosmo protested. He blanched. “I don’t want you to leave us, either. I love you. I won’t do it again. I promise. Please, please don’t go.”

Wanda sighed. “Tootie needs me more than you two do. I’ll discuss this with Jorgen. I doubt he wants Cosmo to stay on as your sole godparent, Timmy, especially since you two share a brain cell.”

Cosmo was eyeing her warily. Impulsively, he leaned forward and kissed her. Heat rushed to her cheeks; she couldn’t remember the last time he’d done that. Their mental and magical link pounded at her and demanded reconciliation. Now was not the time, especially when she was still upset with Cosmo.

“We’ll see,” Wanda said stiffly. “I’ll be back.”

She raised her wand but didn’t budge. Timmy and Cosmo were latched firmly onto her; they gazed at her with big blue and green eyes. Downstairs, Wanda heard another argument starting. Timmy must’ve heard it, too, because he whimpered and pressed his face into her stomach.

“I love you,” Timmy murmured.

“I still need to talk to Jorgen, hon,” she said, relenting. “Tootie needs supervision and a godparent to teach her. Her situation is too stressful and difficult to stand for long without assistance.”

Cosmo’s emotions filtered through their link. He was terrified of losing her; he’d needed a reality check. So, too, had Timmy. She ought to be relieved and pleased with herself. The depression made that difficult.

Cosmo cupped her cheek in his palm and brushed his lips against hers. Remorse ran alongside fear, and she sighed. She wanted to forgive him. Hell, she wanted more than forgiveness. She craved the intimacy they’d lost.

“We’ll see,” was all she said in response to Cosmo. Her shoulders sank. “We’ll see.”

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

Though their link had weakened, Cosmo could sense Wanda’s misery and despair. His behavior had deeply wounded her, and she had tried to conceal it for months. When she vanished to Fairy World, Cosmo and Timmy were subdued. The former fussed with his wand and wondered if it was possible to repair what he’d broken and whether Wanda even wanted reconciliation. He whimpered, sending himself and Timmy to Fairy World.

Wanda was floating in Jorgen’s waiting room and flipping through a magazine she couldn’t concentrate on. When they arrived, she glanced up, scowled, and returned to the magazine. Cosmo hugged her; he was treacherously close to losing her, and it terrified him. He had taken her for granted for a while and was now reaping what he’d sown.

“Please don’t go,” he pleaded. “Don’t leave us. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I love you, baby.”

She groaned. He held her so her arms were crushed against her sides. Reluctantly, he released her enough so she could move in his embrace. She looked exasperated. He probed her mental state to see that she was frustrated with him but also worried. She doubted his sincerity.

He didn’t know what to do. They’d never had a schism in their relationship like this before. She’d also never openly mentioned leaving him; he hadn’t considered that a possibility until today. Moreover, she hadn’t explained Juandissimo’s role in this, which, despite her earlier words, made him fret that she might have returned to her old ex-boyfriend or was planning to.

“Please,” he begged. “I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. I swear.”

She sighed. “We’ll discuss this later, Cosmo. In private.”

“What if there isn’t a ‘later?’ What if Jorgen decides you’re right and that you’re better off godparenting Tootie and ditching me and Timmy?” Cosmo said, a plaintive tone in his voice.

“She would be better off godparenting Tootie than the current situation,” Jorgen boomed, startling them. Cosmo whimpered, latching onto Wanda like a life preserver. He buried his face in her curls and inhaled her familiar scent. He caught a flash of her emotions--irritation passed quickly, replaced by longing. She wanted to forgive him but feared the consequences.

Jorgen scowled. “However, I do not like the idea of Cosmo godparenting Timmy without a stabilizing influence.”

Cosmo and Timmy sighed, relieved. Unfortunately, Jorgen wasn’t finished.

”Unfortunately, we are experiencing a godparent shortage. Children today seem to be more difficult to manage and less appreciative. The pay office is also in arrears for many months, which has produced an untenable situation.”

”What does that mean?” Timmy said.

”It means, tiny Timmy Turner, that being a godparent is both more stressful and pays less. Some godparents are owed thousands of credits in payment.”

Baffled, he looked at his godparents. “Is that true?”

Wanda grimaced. “Yes and no, sport. We have decent savings, so this wouldn’t break us. But for others, especially fairies who are living paycheck to paycheck, it’s a dealbreaker.

“Fairy godparents receive a pay scale based on their experience.”

”So, you two would be paid a lot, then?” Timmy said. Wanda scoffed at the dollar bill signs in Timmy’s eyes.

”We’d be paid more if I didn’t have to pay Fairy World for every time Cosmo screws up-“

”And that’s a lot!” Cosmo piped in, and Wanda facepalmed.

”Yes. But we’re also owed six months’ backpay.”

Timmy frowned. “Is this why you wanted to switch to Tootie?”

She shook her head. “This has nothing to do with that. Single godparents make less than couples, and besides, at this rate, who knows when the money will come in? It’d make no financial difference, sport.”

“I just thought because my parents have been fighting about money, that maybe you two were…” he looked down, and she gently tipped his chin up.

”We’re also nearly ten thousand years old. Even if we were terrible with money, which Cosmo can be, we have a safety net to fall back on. Most humans don’t.”

”Oh,” Timmy said. He huffed, looking unhappy that a simple problem couldn’t be rectified that easily.

“As distressing as your personal situation is, Turner, it has no bearing on the current crisis,” Jorgen snapped. “We are short on fairy godparents. By assigning Wanda to Tootie that does not remedy the problem.”

”What are you saying?” Timmy said. His lower lip quivered, and Cosmo floated behind him. His gut sank in anticipation of worse news.

“If Tootie’s powers had manifested earlier or later, this would have played out differently,” Jorgen said, sighing. “As it is, Wanda is Tootie’s only viable option to godparent her. However, we cannot trust you alone with Cosmo. We can barely trust you alone with Cosmo when Wanda is there.”

His eyes narrowed. “Since there are no new volunteers to godparent, we have been forced to reinstate certain problematic former godparents whose records have been cleared by the Council and Cupid.”

”Cupid?” Timmy said. Cosmo, too, felt like the conversation had taken an abrupt turn without notice. “What does Cupid have to do with anything?”

”Magdalene Bernhardt,” Jorgen said, rubbing his temples. “She is the only former godparent who fits both criteria. Azalea remains behind bars and will not see her sentence overturned. Magdalene has the experience and is willing to return to her station, provided we accommodate her requests. Since she has us over a barrel…”

Jorgen glowered. “We had no choice but to agree.”

He slammed his wand down upon the floor, and two fairies appeared. Cosmo gawked. It might’ve been his imagination, but the duo had to be younger than him and Wanda. That wasn’t impossible. After Cosmo’s birth, Fairy World had a ban on fairies.

He tried to remember who Magdalene and Nathaniel were because those names seemed significant, but nothing sprang to mind.

”It appears that this one’s records were falsified upon entering Fairy World,” Jorgen snapped, pointing his wand accusingly at Magdalene. “Evidently, her original world feared we might reject her and modified memories, cast glamor, and altered records to make her look as old as the youngest fairies in Fairy World.”

”You’re telling me she’s not?” Timmy said. “I thought-wait, what world is she from that they were so scared she couldn’t come here? I’m confused.”

”Magdalene and her former godchild, Nathaniel Bernhardt, are six hundred and twenty-one and six hundred and eighteen years old, respectively,” Jorgen said. He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon, and his lips puckered distastefully.

”The Council was under the impression that Magdalene was over nine thousand years old when she applied to be a godparent. She was eighteen years old. A mere child.”

”I wasn’t a child,” Magdalene said sullenly. She glared at Jorgen. Her brown hair had pink, magenta streaks running through it; it was wavy, like she was trying to grow it out of tight curls. Cosmo assumed the glamor was gone because Magdalene looked like a kid, at least compared to him and Wanda. Her expression didn’t help.

She wore a black t-shirt with an old European metal band on it and fish nets covering her arms to her thumbs. Her skin-tight leather pants hugged her body so tightly that he didn't realize he was drooling until Wanda slapped him.

“Sorry,” Cosmo said sheepishly, and she glowered. Wanda’s eyes blazed with fury and jealousy.

Knee-high leather boots and a small pendant around her neck completed her look. The pendant looked almost as old as she was.

“Once Cupid revealed that there was less than three years age difference between the two, we had no choice but to rescind our judgment,” Jorgen said, then shot Magdalene a dirty look. “We had only exiled you for a century. For six centuries, you took it upon yourself to stay on Earth with a faulty wand and dwindling resources.”

”I’ve already explained that,” Magdalene said, folding her arms across her chest. Cosmo’s gaze drifted to her ample bosom, and this time, when Wanda slapped him, his ears rang. Behind the fury and jealousy lurked hurt. She knew he was comparing her to other women, and she was coming up short.

”Keep your eyes in your head,” Wanda snapped at Cosmo.

Jorgen frowned, glancing from Magdalene and Nathaniel to Cosmo and Wanda. “Is there something I should know about?”

”No,” Wanda said and balled her fists. She plastered on a tight smile that made Timmy wince.

“As I was saying,” Jorgen said, looking disturbed, “since we cannot trust Cosmo to godparent alone, he must do so under supervision. As Magdalene and Nathaniel were the only candidates to apply…they are now your supplementary fairy godparents.”

”Why not Magdalene alone?” Timmy asked, and Cosmo nodded.

”Over my dead body!” Wanda snapped. Their mental link, which had started to heal itself, fractured again. This time, he could feel it splintering. He winced.

“You want to ogle other women so much that you don’t care what happens to me? Be my guest!” Wanda snarled. She held up her wand, but nothing happened.

“You are not dismissed,” Jorgen retorted. “None of you are.”

”I know I’m only a godparent in training, but I feel like I’m missing some pretty important context,” Nathaniel said.

He had long brown hair that fell to midback. Wearing a plaid button-up shirt and blue jeans, he looked like a woodsman. Oddly enough, his blue eyes, the same shade as Timmy’s, narrowed at Cosmo. Uneasy, Cosmo glanced at Wanda, but Wanda’s gaze was locked onto Cosmo’s. She looked like she wanted to skin him alive.

“Is this going to be a problem, Wanda?” Jorgen said tersely.

Wanda’s smile was so fake that Cosmo flinched. What little he could sense from her was seething in anger. He’d heard that there was a thin line between love and hate, and he hoped Wanda wasn’t close to crossing it.

“No,” Wanda said and shot Cosmo a death glare. “No problem at all.”

“Until the situation improves, Wanda will be Tootie’s godparent and teacher. Cosmo, you will be a godparent along with Magdalene and Nathaniel,” Jorgen said.

“What if I don’t want them?” Timmy protested. “What if I want to keep Wanda and let Magdalene and Nathaniel be Tootie’s godparents? What about me?”

“Tootie is in a very delicate state, both magically and emotionally,” Jorgen said, grimacing. “It would not be wise to separate her from the one fairy she knows and trusts.”

“She can know and trust Magdalene and Nathaniel, too!” Timmy exploded. “This is bullshit! Wanda’s my godmother, not Tootie’s!”

“Tootie has specifically requested Wanda,” Jorgen said. Timmy, too, was seething.

“Kids don’t get to pick their godparents! They get assigned! Assign Magdalene and Nathaniel to Tootie and leave me with Cosmo and Wanda!” Timmy snapped.

“I accepted the request,” Wanda said quietly. Timmy whirled on her, and she scoffed. “Don’t fall off your high horse, sport. As I said before, you and Cosmo have treated me like garbage for weeks. If Tootie hadn’t forced the issue, I doubt you’d have noticed I was gone.”

“Can we move this along? I have other tasks to attend to with less drama,” Jorgen growled. He restarted without letting Timmy object.

“As I have said, Cosmo will remain with Timmy with Magdalene supervising, and Wanda will be Tootie’s new fairy godmother. However, there is one more child we have not spoken of.”

“What?” Cosmo and Wanda said, shocked. It was the first time she’d looked at him since they’d arrived in Fairy World without rage in her eyes.

“Chloe Carmichael,” Jorgen said. “She is moving to Dimmsdale, and due to exigent circumstances, she requires a fairy godparent.”

Timmy squeaked. He was so outraged that he had no words for it.

Jorgen grimaced. “I cannot disclose personal information about why she requires one. I also do not condone asking her yourself, Timmy Turner.”

“What? Why me?” Timmy said weakly.

“You are to share Cosmo and Magdalene with Chloe Carmichael. This was the only arrangement the Council would agree upon, especially since Cosmo and Wanda have been separated.”

Timmy gawked, dumbstruck. Cosmo looked uneasily at Jorgen and then at Wanda. Wanda wouldn’t meet his gaze, and, again, he sensed nothing in their link. It was threatening to crumble further.

“Now, you are dismissed,” Jorgen thundered, slamming his wand down. Cosmo caught one last glimpse of Wanda holding her wand so tightly that her knuckles were white. She was trying not to cry.

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

“This is fucking bullshit,” Timmy snarled, kicking his schoolbag across the floor. “I don’t want to share you with some random girl. It’s bad enough that Wanda’s gone--she’ll be back, I know she will--but I’m not losing you, too.”

Cosmo winced at Timmy punting his belongings.

“I don’t think Jorgen and the Council are giving us a choice,” Cosmo said quietly, subdued. Ever since they’d returned to Fairy World and Wanda had packed her bags without saying goodbye, Cosmo had been silent and passive. If Timmy weren’t so vexed about this whole situation, he’d be worried about his godfather’s reaction.

“Do you know why Chloe’s getting you as a godparent?” Timmy snapped. “You must. They have to tell you these things.”

“We’re not allowed to say,” Magdalene said, answering for Cosmo. She floated a few feet away from Cosmo and leafed unenthusiastically through an old literature magazine. “None of us are. It’s also against Da Rules to wish, so you’ll have to wait for Chloe to tell you herself.”

“That’s such bullshit!” Timmy said, kicking his bed and nearly breaking his foot. Magdalene sighed, looking up from her magazine.

“I can’t replace your godmother, and I’m not going to try,” Magdalene said.

“Good,” Timmy spat.

“But you might want to watch your language,” she said. “Especially if you want to make a good first impression on your new godsister.”

“Fuck that!” Timmy said and then howled in pain when a bone broke in his foot from kicking the bedside table. Magdalene groaned and healed him.

“Timmy,” Magdalene said, pinching her nose bridge. “Profanity doesn’t make you sound cool. It doesn’t impress anyone besides uncouth bullies, and I doubt you’ll earn brownie points with any girls for cursing like a sailor.”

Timmy wanted to snarl back, but she was right. He sighed.

“I miss Wanda,” he said. “I don’t want to share Cosmo with some random girl. I want my parents to stop fighting and for everything to go back to normal. Is that too much to ask?”

Magdalene floated beside him while he sat on the bed.

“Have you discussed this with your parents? And Cosmo and Wanda?” Magdalene asked gently.

“‘Wishes can’t interfere with true love,’” Timmy quoted in a mocking tone. “Or any kind of love, I guess.

“I don’t even know what’s wrong with either set of parents. Everything feels like it’s gone from zero to a hundred without stopping or explaining anything.”

“I understand,” she said, smiling wryly. “I’ve been in similar situations.”

She glanced at Cosmo. “What is going on between you and Wanda? She looked like she wanted to drop you in a vat of acid.”

“Cosmo was ogling you,” Nathaniel growled. It was the first thing he’d said since coming home, and Timmy jumped.

Magdalene laughed. “I’m used to it. If you’re going to flip out every time someone stares at me, Thaniel, we’re gonna have a problem.”

“I wasn’t ogling her!” Cosmo protested, but it was a weak defense. “Okay, maybe I was.”

“You’ve done this before,” Magdalene said softly. “She wouldn’t have flown off the handle if it was. I’m guessing there’s a pattern here.”

She sighed. “This isn’t a discussion to have around children. I can’t do much about your relationship problems with Wanda, Cosmo, but you need to talk to her. I saw how badly the magical link between you two is faring. It’s fraying at the seams.”

Cosmo blanched and nodded, looking somber. Timmy would feel sorrier for him if he knew what Magdalene meant.

“As for your parents, well…that may also not be an area we could intervene in,” Magdalene said. “Do you know what they’ve been fighting about?”

“Money, mostly,” Timmy said. His stomach clenched, and he felt sick. “And me. I cost too much money.”

Magdalene, Nathaniel, and Cosmo winced sympathetically.

“They never should’ve said that,” Magdalene said. “A parent should never make a child feel unwanted or unloved.”

The doorbell rang. Timmy raced down the stairs with his fairies following in disguise. When he opened the door, a girl with blonde hair, a chipped tooth, and a bow around her head awaited him. He gawked at her.

She was pretty, which bothered him. He didn’t want to like her. What he needed was a reason to hate her or for her to hate him. Otherwise, he might end up falling for her like he had for Trixie Tang.

“Hi!” the girl said brightly and held out her hand to shake. “My name is Chloe Carmichael! I’m your new next-door neighbor!”

That was a good enough reason. Timmy slammed the door in her face.

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

Chloe’s lower lip quivered. She didn’t know what she’d done to earn his loathing. They barely knew each other.

She had moved across the country after her father’s untimely death. Although her father’s life insurance policies had helped them stay afloat for a while afterward, the money ran out. Chloe’s mother’s relatives lived in California and had offered to help her rent a house if she helped them with their wildlife preserve. Hard up for cash, Connie Carmichael had agreed.

It’d been less than a month since Clark Carmichael had passed. Chloe was nowhere near used to his absence. The strangest things would set her off, and she’d be unable to stop crying. She hated that they’d moved; she hated the necessity, and she hated feeling like she’d been torn away from her father again after losing him once.

Back in Boston, she’d had no friends. Considered “mature for her age” and “a teacher’s pet,” she was teased unmercifully. Dimmsdale might be a fresh chance, which was what Chloe tried to tell herself. Maybe someone in Dimmsdale would want to befriend her.

The door opened in front of her, and the boy yanked her inside.

“You might as well stay,” he snapped, sounding like he’d rather pitch her into an active volcano. “And meet your new fairy godparents.”

“Fairy godparents?!” she squeaked.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said. “My name is Timmy Turner. Magdalene and Nathaniel are new to the gig. And Cosmo…”

He faltered, tears filling his eyes. Chloe frowned.

“Did I come at a bad time? I can come back later,” she offered.

Timmy swallowed hard and glared scornfully. “Cosmo is my fairy godfather. It used to be him and Wanda. Jorgen von Strangle says that I have to share you with my godparents, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

His eyes blazed with hatred. “I’m not going to go easy on you, Miss Sunshine. If it hadn’t been for you, maybe Cosmo and Wanda wouldn’t have split up. I definitely wouldn’t have to share Cosmo if you hadn’t come around.

“We may share godparents, but we will never, ever be friends. Got it?” Timmy growled.

Chloe gawked, not knowing what to say.

Magdalene sighed. “I’m Magdalene, the brown-haired fairy is Nathaniel, and the green-haired fairy is Cosmo. I’ll give you a quick crash course on having fairy godparents.”

Magdalene led the procession upstairs. The entire way up, Timmy glared daggers into Chloe’s back. She only knew one person from Dimmsdale, and he already hated her guts.