A/N: Well, it's been a fun story but alas, all great stories must come to an end. This is the final chapter so please enjoy and remember to review. I'm grateful to everyone who's taken time to review and give me wonderful feedback. You're all awesome! :applauds you: Enough mush, on with the finale!
Behind the Musician
Chapter Twelve: Assess the Change
It was a beautiful sunny day in Dimmsdale. The birds were singing, joggers were jogging, the ice cream man was running his rounds, and two squirrels raced around in the backyard of an ordinary house in the suburbs.
"Wanda look!" the green squirrel exclaimed with his cheeks packed full of acorns, "Check out how many nuts I can fit in my mouth at once!"
The pink squirrel sighed being used to her hubby's senseless behavior by now. "That's great sweetie, but I wouldn't go around bragging about that at the next Fairy Convention."
"Oh don't worry," he assured her playfully, "I learned my lesson after the last one."
Rolling her eyes Wanda thought back to the time when Cosmo had floated around during the last convention boasting to everyone that his trumpet blast could clear a whole city block. None of the other fairies really figured out that he had actually been taking trumpet lessons back then.
Their godchild came outside with a baseball bat and glove. "Hi guys!" he greeted, "Guess what? Dad took a vacation day today so he gets to stay home and play catch with me!"
"That's great Timmy," Cosmo answered with an acorn-packed grin, "Check out how many nuts I-"
"So I take it that's what your good mood's all about?" Wanda interrupted.
"Partly," Timmy smiled, "now that Vicky's dating Chip she's got less time to baby-sit. Plus she's gonna start college in a few weeks."
"College?" Cosmo laughed, "Why would anybody wanna go there?"
"To further their education," Wanda stated matter-of-factly.
"Aaahh!" Cosmo screamed, "Not more learning!"
"Yep," Timmy nodded, "and the best part is that it's somewhere out of town, so now she'll only be free to baby-sit on the weekends!"
"Wow," Wanda was happy for him, he deserved a break from his tormentor every once in a while, "looks like you'll have lots of Vicky-free time during the weekdays."
"Totally, there's no downside!"
The two oddly colored squirrels exchanged doubtful glances but kept quiet.
Over in her garden Mrs. Turner was trying desperately to get something to grow...or at least stay alive.
"Everything I touch dies!" she balled.
"Aw cheer up honey," Mr. Turner cooed, "I'm sure you'll manage to make a lovely garden. Much better than the Dinklebergs' garden next door. Grr...Dinklebergs."
"Maybe you're right dear," she sniffled, "after all, with Vicky out of town at college during the week I'll have lots of time to stay home and work on it."
"Good thing she'll still be available to work weekends."
"Yes, we'll just have to start spending extra time out of the house then to make up for it." Mrs. Turner concluded brightly.
"I'm sure Timmy won't mind," Mr. Turner added, "He loves Vicky!"
Said evil babysitter was currently up in her room packing for college. Well, she was supposed to be packing for college, but she was actually chattering away on the phone with her new boyfriend.
"Okay Chip darling!" she swooned, "Enjoy the rest of your concert tour. I'll see you in a few days after I get settled in my new apartment!"
"You sure you're gonna be cool with living away from home?" Chip asked.
"I'll be fine," she answered confidently, "I've got a roommate and everything. Plus I can't go to school here in Dimmsdale, they don't offer the right courses for the Early Childhood Development degree I need."
"Still got your heart set on building that daycare center huh?" he chuckled.
"Yep!" she chirped, "Lovable Vicky's Center for Precious Gifts From Above is just a few short years and one lousy degree away from becoming a reality!"
"Awesome," he smiled, trying to be supportive despite his better judgment, "my crew should be at Brightsburg and settled in by nine tonight so drop me a line then okay?"
"Sure," she agreed fishing the number to his new hotel room out of her jeans pocket, "love ya Chip sweetie!"
"Back at ya babe, later!"
Vicky hung up and turned to find Tootie standing by a box of her stuffed animals holding up a plushy Chip doll.
"Oh Chip," she teased kissing the doll, "I'll count the seconds we're apart!"
Smooch! Smooch! Smooch!
Vicky's cheeks went bright red. Curse nosy little sisters everywhere!
"TOOTIE!" she screamed taking off after her giggling sister, "GET BACK HERE YOU BRATTY DORK!"
Racing down the stairs Tootie held the Chip doll close and kept right on mocking her (now she knew how her indestructible Crimson Chin doll felt), "Runaway with me Chip darling! Let's get married!"
"URGH!" Vicky fumed, Where's Mr. Hammer when I need him!
"Then we can have twelve kids and name them all Chip Jr.!"
"YOU LITTLE TWERP!"
Outside Chip's hotel...
"Sorry about the limo driver coming down with the flu like that Chip," Tony Platinum apologized (a stern warning from Chip concerning his constant butting in had humbled the materialistic manager a bit), "but I promise the tour bus will work just as well."
"No biggie," Chip shrugged as the last of his suitcases was loaded into the back of the bus, "I'm just ready to hit the road and get back to the music."
"That's the spirit," Tony cheered, "and just so you don't worry, we've found a replacement to act as your new temporary personal assistant."
"What?" cerulean eyes widened, "Already?"
"Of course!" his manager stepped aside to reveal a perky blonde girl with mint green eyes and the IQ of a doorstop, "And the good news is Vicky recommended her herself!"
"OH MY GOSH!" the teen girl squealed, "CHIP SKYLARK!"
A bead of sweat rolled down the back of Chip's neck, Guess Vicky's mean streak is still there.
Well, if she was trying to make sure that her replacement didn't steal her boyfriend she had definitely succeeded.
It's just until the end of summer...it's just until the end of summer... He kept repeating in his mind as the bubbly blonde proceeded to twitch and giggle about her massive collection of Chip memorabilia.
"Chip, meet Mimi Clutterstaff." Tony announced, "Oops, look at the time, we'd better be off then! Just a half dozen or so cities left to visit!"
The hyperactive ditz followed the two men into the tour bus and sat right next to—you guessed it—Chip.
"Oh Chip!" she babbled, her mouth going 100mph, "I just love you Chip Skylark! I really do! I have every album you've ever made and-"
"She eats her Frosty Chip-O's every day for breakfast," the passengers recited, recalling Mimi from the interview and countless disturbingly obsessive fan letters.
Drawing back in fear as she latched onto his arm Chip tried to coax himself out of jumping through the window as the bus started off on the ride to Brightsburg. A trip which would take longer than usual due to rush hour traffic. It's just over a month until fall. I can make it...I can make it...
"OOO!" Mimi exclaimed shoving one hand into her purse and pulling out a carefully folded envelop. Shoving it into his face she chirped, "I always carry the wad of gum you gave me Chippy!"
Chip stared at his reflection in the window as if he were silently begging it for help, the sign outside read 'You Are Now Leaving Dimmsdale...WHY!'
Sighing he pressed his face up against it, Because absence makes the heart grow fonder.
The End!
Amanda/Artiste: And there you have it! The fic is hereby FINISHED:party streamers, balloons, and confetti rain down from the ceiling: Whoo! Vicky/Chip 4 Ever! I'll also be posting the first chapter of this fic's sequel today. Look for it, "Phantom of the Music Biz", subtitled "Genie Gypped"! Now review and go read some more! Ooo, and the Fairly OddParents Gallery link is on my profile page, duh.
Timmy: Why do I get the feeling that my weekends just got a heck of a lot more complicated?
Wanda: Aw, cheer up honey. Vicky's in love now, love makes everything better!
Cosmo: :obliviously: Yeah, just like marriage makes everything duller!
Wanda: :glares:
Cosmo: :gulps: Uh—I mean— :pulls out a nickel: It was Phillip!
:Timmy and Wanda stare half-liddedly at Cosmo in unmasked annoyance.:
Cosmo: :nervously: Ah ha ha ha! Well Phillip, what do you have to say for yourself!
Phillip: ...
Cosmo: Riiight.
:The sound of a train whistle is heard.:
Wanda: :snatches Phillip: Okay Cosmo, I'll be right back.
Cosmo: :blinks: Uh Wanda? Where are you taking Phillip?
:The train whistle is heard again, this time closer and followed by Wanda's evil laughter.:
Timmy: :questioningly glances at Wanda: Don't they press pennies on railroad tracks?
Cosmo: :realization hits: AAAAHH! PHILLIP! NOOO!
Timmy: :smirks: And that's a wrap!
