He ran the second he heard their footsteps stomping up the stairs. Deciding his own room was too far away, Timmy dove into his parents' room and scrambled to slid under the large king-sized bed. He breathed heavily, but quickly quieted when he heard them carefully step into the room.
Timmy did not want to risk being caught now; especially after what he just did downstairs.
"Oh, you're dead to us now, Timmy Turner," His godfather called out tauntingly, his shuffling feet stopping at one side of the bed.
"Boy, are we going to get you sooner or later…" Wanda teased, standing on the other side.
A long and awkward silence followed, and Timmy watched both pairs of feet suddenly lift from the ground. His stomach dropped slightly in panic; they knew he was under the bed, and started flying so he couldn't tell where they were.
Suddenly, a weight fell upon the mattress and a light 'poof' was heard. Timmy smiled; and they thought he couldn't hear them. No sound was made until Timmy felt something.
A light, tickly skittering came and went across his stomach, then across both of his feet.
Stifling a giggle, he threw his hands over his mouth, wondering just what that was!
As if on cue answering his question, he felt the tickling once again in both places. Without seeing it coming, he was unable to stifle his laughter that time. At the same time, he heard the mocking of both of his godparents:
"Tickle TIMMY's tummy!"
And:
"Awww! Timmy's ticklish on his feet!"
The tickling unexpectedly ceased, and before he could catch his breath, Timmy felt himself being pulled by his ankle with a loud yelp.
He gulped at the sight of both of his godparents smiling smugly, Cosmo (who he guessed was the one who pulled him out) stood by his legs. Wanda stood next to him with her hands behind her back.
"There's nowhere to run now," She smiled evilly. Timmy felt the light brushes up his sides this time. He squealed and squirmed, not knowing how to defend against tickling that he thought wasn't actually there.
It stopped, and he noticed his godparents exchange thoughtful glances.
Timmy's eyes narrowed, "What are you up too?"
Wanda shrugged, "We were wondering if you would recognize something…"
Whatever she had behind her back was quickly transferred to Cosmo. The green-haired fairy revealed it to the pink-hatted boy.
Timmy's eyes widened in horror and he yelled out, "PUT MY YOO-DOO DOLL DOWN."
The boy jumped up and tried to grab for it, but just as he reached upwards to grab it, he brought his arms to his side in a squeak. Cosmo had just barely tickled the dolls armpits, also affecting Timmy.
"Is that any way to speak to your elders, son?" Cosmo tried sounding serious, but ultimately failed through his chuckles.
The godchild's giggles turned soft, as they finally let him gain his breath completely. Wanda took the doll back.
"I think that's enough tickling for now. Looks like our little boy is all tuckered out!" Wanda smiled down at him gently, causing Timmy's face to go all warm. She poofed the doll away, "Well, I need to go check on Poof. He's been alone for a good ten minutes now-"
"I'm sure he's fine!" Timmy instinctively blurted out. He looked down quickly, only barely catching the worried glances.
They both kneeled down in front of him. Cosmo placed his hand comfortingly on his leg, and Wanda reached up to stroke his hair. Timmy folded his arms and turned away in embarrassment.
"Timmy," Wanda began, "Does this have anything to do with this morning?"
Timmy glanced between them, then finally nodded.
Cosmo chimed in gently, "Are you jealous of Poof?"
A moment of hesitation, he nodded again.
"Why?"
Timmy just stared at their almost-glowing colorful eyes. How was he supposed to respond? That he was mad that a toddler got more attention from his real parents than a preteen from his godparents?
After a little too long of a silence, Wanda joked, "Don't make us bring out the doll again…" Thus, causing Timmy to smile.
Cosmo spoke up, "So , are you going to tell us?"
Timmy paused but shook his head.
"Do you want us to guess?"
He nodded.
"Are you only going to respond through nodding your head?"
Timmy smiled and nodded yes again.
Cosmo and Wanda sighed, looking in each other's eyes. Their godchild was a first confused, until they both spoke simultaneously.
"is it because of all of the attention we give Poof?"
Timmy swallowed back his tears, unable to keep himself from speaking out, "Well, ever since Poof came along, you've been ignoring me! The only time you really talk to me anymore is so I can help with Poof or if I need to make a big wish. And that's the only reason I even make those extreme wishes anymore, because I know Cosmo will want to do them with me, and Wanda will be yelling at me about how it was a stupid wish. Even though I hate when you guys get mad at me, it's a least a little more than you leaving me to myself."
By the time he finished that rant, tears had started falling and Cosmo and Wanda found their way to pulling him close to both of them in a tight hug. Timmy thought he would feel less weight on his heart. While that did happen, the space was filled with guilt, which seemed to way even heavier.
"And now I feel all bad about telling you guys this because Poof is your actual child. I'm only the kid you grant wishes for because HIS real parents don't even remember his name. And that sucks because I don't even care about wishes anymore!"
Cosmo and Wanda let out a small gasp at his last sentence, as well as he. But, it made him feel better. At least he realized he cared more about them than what they could provide.
"Really, Timmy?" Cosmo brushed his hair out of his eyes.
"That's how you feel…" Wanda rubbed his arm in a relaxing manner, soothing his falling tears, "Timmy, Poof is just a small child. Even though he's not an infant anymore, he's reaching the fairy equivalent of the Terrible Twos. That means he'll be even harder to handle."
He bit his lip. Here it comes…
Cosmo chimed in, "But, even then, we promise to be with you so much more. With or without the wishes to do it. We do love you, Timmy, and we do want you to be happy, whether it's our job or not."
Timmy let his mouth hang open in shock.
"And do you realize how we've played with you all day instead of Poof?" Wanda said softly, "That's proof that we've loved you so much all along! And, see, we didn't even use any wishes."
"Except and the end. That was cheating," Timmy said just above a whisper, giggling slightly.
"Call it cheating or not," Wanda bopped his nose with her finger, "We still did it."
There godchild finally gave a large, genuine smile. That is, until they heard the whining from Timmy's room.
Wanda and Cosmo exchanged more glances, and Timmy suddenly found himself being carried by Cosmo as Wanda raced down the hall. Timmy wrapped his legs tighter around Cosmo's torso and buried his face in his shoulder. His godfather's winter forest cologne gave off a soothing vibe.
As they entered the room, Cosmo playfully dumped the ten-year-old on his bed and pulled the blankets up to his neck, making sure the child couldn't get up.
"Shh! Just go to sleep!" Cosmo jokingly stroked his face creepily, emitting a few laughs from Timmy.
They both looked over to see Wanda picking up a needy Poof.
"Oh, just really missed us," Wanda grinned, placing Poof on the bed.
The second the small fairy was placed on the bed, his face lit up at the sight of his older brother. Poof immediately went up and slipped under the covers. He was quickly found to be laying on Timmy's stomach, his head on his brother's chest.
Timmy, although he wouldn't out rightly say he enjoyed the contact with his beloved brother, wrapped his arms around his small frame.
Yawning, Timmy finally closed his eyes.
Cosmo and Wanda watched them for a bit, then Cosmo turned to his wife when she sighed.
"Wanda," He began gently, "What's wrong?"
"Cosmo, I already felt bad enough knowing it had to do with us not being around him as much anymore," Wanda bit her lip, "But he even went as far as saying the extreme wishes were his way of getting attention. And if the one thing we know him best for is a lie, then I don't even know what's true anymore."
"Aw, Wanda," Cosmo went up and hugged her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, "Don't worry. We really do know Timmy. How we played with him today with no wishes involved? That was all real."
"But, still-ACK!"
The green-haired fairy sneered down at his wife, "What? You don't like that?"
He dug his fingers into the base of her wings again, and she suppressed a squeal.
"Good thing Timmy didn't try tickling your wings too hard, or we'd BOTH be doomed." Cosmo laughed, until they turned into shrieks. Wanda had snaked her hands up his back for her own dish of revenge.
They spent maybe the next ten minutes trying to out-tickle the other, that is, until they looked over and saw Timmy sitting up, Poof still in is lap and leaning on him, staring at them with an EXTREMELY devious smile.
"I told you I was determined to find a fairy's most ticklish spot."
The two fairies laughed quite nervously, raised their wands and disappeared into their fishbowl before their godchild could have done anything too demonic.
Woo hoo! Glad I finally got the tenth chapter up!
I have a question for the fans of this fanfic.
I think this is a good ending point for "Lullaby", mostly because it has an "all-is-well" ending.
Should I end it here, or keep with my "I'll make this one of those 'no plot' stories and add a chapter when I think of something fluffy" idea?
I really would like to know, because either would be fine by me! (but I'd still miss this fanfic so much )
Read and Review, please!