Posting this after midnight cuz why tf not.

Who's ready for 2020 to be over? I sure am.

Didn't realize how long this chapter was 'til I edited it here, but I wanna be positive that it'll be well worth the read! This is pretty much where things start to take a very...very dark turn.

Also, dunno if anyone cares, but there's just some 'sentence enhancers' that pop up more than usual in this chap; nothing too vulgar I don't think, but FYI cuz I'm paranoid.

McSgwizzle: Ha, yeah, the triplets are based off those cheerleaders no one cares about since I was gonna make Blonda a cheerleader and whoop-de-whoop.

I too think it's adorable how Rose has been the only female fairy to bring out more of Spike's teddy bear side. They're disgusting lol

Cosmo let out a frustrated sigh as he sat with Wanda on her bed, still not understanding a word Wanda said after the fourth explanation of the subject. Godparents had so many rules to follow to ensure their godchildren wouldn't lose them, so much material to remember, and they hadn't learned more than a quarter of the total number of rules. Some rules were practically the same thing just in different wording, some rules almost contradicted the other, and some were just plain stupid. Like why can't a godchild wish for an electric car? What kind of rule is that?!

Sensing Cosmo's frustration, Wanda reached behind his back to rub just below his wings. Even with her help, school was still pretty difficult for Cosmo. "I know it's a lot to learn, babe." Her warm smile mirrored Cosmo's defeated frown. "But you're doing so well!"

"You're just saying that to be nice…" Cosmo pouted, scooting his textbook off his lap so his elbows could prop against them. "I'm gonna fail for sure…"

"With that attitude, you will." Wanda raised Cosmo's chin to face her. "You should give yourself more credit; the questions you ask mean you at least get the general concept, and that's a huge improvement for you!"

"I guess…" Cosmo looked away, once again trapped in self-criticism. The fact that he had questions to ask only proved his subpar intelligence…Wanda hardly ever had to ask questions; everything seemed to come so natural to her. Why can't he be like her?

Scribbling a few notes in her binder from a passage in her Da Rules textbook, Rose glanced at Susie to her right, leaned against the bed post with her textbook in her lap. "Where's Alewandro, Susie?" Rose inquired. "He could have studied with us."

"His dad asked him to come home because they needed to talk to him in person." Susie explained, flipping a page in her textbook. "So he left sometime after his last class."

"Wow." Rose chuckled to herself; her parents were too busy living their own lives with their new partners that she hadn't seen either one of them since Fall Break. "Must be nice to have parents who actually want to talk to you."

"I certainly wouldn't know…"

Rose and Susie looked over across the room to their best friend as Cosmo shove his own problems aside to rub below his girlfriend's wings for a change as her eyes cast down somberly.

"Oh…I'm sorry, Wanda." Rose recalled Wanda telling her about her father basically kicking her out of the family after her mother died and how she hadn't spoken or heard from him since. Rose could only imagine how hard it was going through something like that. "I didn't mean-"

"You don't have to apologize." Wanda lifted her gaze, not asking for sympathy. "It just reminded me…my uncle Carmine texted me a couple weeks ago how he had a stroke from basically drinking away his stress." she scoffed in resentment; so much for Fairywinkles 'upholding themselves to a higher honor, knowing their worth' bullarky. "…karma's a real bitch."

"Well, dang Wanda." Susie half-heartedly commented on Wanda's unusual cynicism, Cosmo staring at his girlfriend in his own surprise. "Tell me how you really feel."

"I'm serious." Wanda remarked. "I've stressed less in a semester of collage than I ever did in all my years in school without his constant disapproval of everything I ever did or didn't do…" she bitterly folded her arms, creasing her brow. "…he's not gotten nearly what he deserves…"

"Baby…" Cosmo knew Wanda's whole mood changed in any reminder of her father. Her mind would flood with memories she'd much rather forget, reverting back to the miserable little girl in fear of her father's wrath.

"…well, it's a good thing you don't have to deal with him anymore." Susie grinned in hopes of lightening the dampened atmosphere of the room.

"Yeah." Rose agreed, adding her own grin as Wanda lifted her eyes to them. "He can't hurt you anymore. Not if you don't let him."

"…thanks, you guys." Wanda sighed, reaching behind her back to gently remove Cosmo's hand. "…didn't mean to make things about me."

"Well, considering how you hardly ever talk about yourself," Rose lightheartedly commented. "I think we all agree that you deserve to have a moment every now and then."

"A savage moment at that." Susie smirked. "I don't think I've ever heard you talk that way before, Wanda."

"…well, it's true." Wanda hugged herself tighter. "he deserves a lot worse…"

Cosmo watched as Wanda lowered her eyes once more, upset knowing she was upset. Oh, how he wished he could just reach inside her brain and zap those painful memories away…

"Literally all the guys I ever talked to at parties were either straight or already in a relationship!" Cupid complained after a sip of his coke, slumped in his student union chair. "I'm the freaking god of love for crying out loud! It shouldn't be this hard for me to find a partner!" He turned to Juandissimo who had his chin propped in his palm, nonchalantly sitting beside him. "Do you think it's me?! Am I too much?!"

Juandissimo arched a brow in his otherwise emotionless expression. "…hypothetically, or…?"

"Juan, I'm serious!" Cupid whined. "I'm destined to help others find love; why can't love find me?!"

Even after being thrown under the bus by Blonda and her minions, Cupid still wanted to be his friend. Cupid preached love, not hate, and he wanted to listen to Juandissimo's version of the truth. In his mind, he figured he could still be friends with Juandissimo as well as Blonda as the triplets…he just won't make the same mistake of hanging out with both at the same time, not until they're able to actually talk things out and come to a resolution. In Juandissimo's mind, the day that happens is the day humans become immortal…

As the diapered fairy released a dramatic sigh, sulking in his first world problems, Juandissimo's phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Reaching to retrieve it, he read 'Mamá' in the caller ID, and while Cupid decided to scroll through his own phone, Juandissimo flipped his phone open. "…hola, mamá."

"Hola, mijo." Mrs. Magnifico greeted in her undying motherly tone. "¿cómo estás?"

Juandissimo automatically shrugged. "…bueno, supongo…"

"I have missed hearing from you…" she expressed with a hint of sadness.

"…Lo siento…" he sighed, feeling a bit guilty for actively avoiding talking to her. "I have just been busy…"

"I understand, mijo; finals can be very stressful." Mrs. Magnifico sympathized before she stated. "I would like for you to come home this weekend. Your father and I need to talk to you."

His brow scrunched quizzically. "…About what?"

"It is more of an 'in person' conversation." She clarified. "And, as you know, Juanita has her license now. She wants to come get you after she is out of school so she can see you. You know how much she misses you as well."

"Si, I know..." Juandissimo replied, aware he probably wouldn't be able to refuse or make up an excuse to get out of it. "I will text her where my dorm is."

"Oh, mucho graicias, mijo!" Juandissimo slightly rolled his eyes at the dramatic gratitude in her voice. "¡Te amo, mucho!"

"…Te amo, tambien..."

When Juandissimo ended his call, Cupid took another sip of his coke, looking up from his phone. "Y'know, even if I understood like 2% of your entire conversation, I just love when you speak Spanish! I even learned a few more phrases the other day! Like this!" he cleared his throat, posing in his teasingly sensual manner, speaking ever so softly. "Dalemo, bebé..."

Slitting his eyes, Juandissimo greatly wished he did not just hear that. "…Can you not?"

"Ay papi…"

"Cupid…"

"Fóllame duro, pap-"

"Stop that!"

With other cooks in the back preparing food for other orders, Thornton set out the orders for one of Cosmo's tables as Cosmo approached the window to the kitchen. Friday nights always equaled more customers, and this Friday night proved no different in all faculty and staff keeping their heads above the water.

"Thanks, Thorn." Cosmo wearily thanked, attempting to balance the plates on his arms.

"Just a couple more hours, Coz." Thornton reminded, sensing his best friend's weariness. "Then we're off for a week."

"Yeah, just to drag through finals…" Cosmo grumbled.

"Which would you rather do?" Thornton theorized. "Drag yourself through final exams, or drag yourself through a full shift waiting tables?"

Cosmo sighed. "At least with one I get paid to be miserable."

Thornton chuckled as Cosmo took his plates and flew out to the main dining area, heading over to the table who've been asking for their food the last ten minutes, as a dissatisfied customer from one of his other tables called out to him as he passed. "Where's our food, sir?!"

"Sorry…it's coming."

"We've been waiting for twenty minutes!"

Rolling his eyes where the customer couldn't see, Cosmo hurried to his table, setting down the plates in the order he tried to remember. Mr. Wonka promised to hire more staff for months now, yet here they were, still understaffed and overworked. Not to mention other employees calling in left and right…

How will Cosmo survive?

"Oh, Cosmo lo-lo?!"

Cosmo shut his eyes as if to block out whatever monstrosity he just heard…

Dealing with her was the last thing he needed…

Once the guests received their orders, Cosmo turned around to the turquoise beehive sitting on one of the barstools, seeing her wave like she'd greet a long-lost friend. He didn't show it in his face, but he imagined himself strangling her with a dish rag tied around her neck…

Reluctantly, Cosmo hovered towards her. If he must entertain her, then he might as well try to make it quick; he had three other tables waiting on orders and barely had time to breathe as it were. "…yes?"

"Why do you keep ignoring my texts and calls?!"

Goodness, here go this witch again… "I've been busy."

"Well, when are you not busy?"

"Why?"

"To fix our relationship, of course!" Mama Cosma wished her son could see how much she missed him. All she wanted is a second chance…why did he have to make that so difficult?

You're not the same little boy she can push over anymore. Cosmo remembered Wanda's words from a month ago. She can't just force her way back in your life, especially when you don't want her to…

The dusty lightbulb flicked in his mind.

If now was the time, then the time was now. This needed to be settled, once and for all. "…I get off work in a couple hours." Cosmo advised, settling for a compromise. "We can talk then."

"How about you come over?" Mama Cosma generously offered. "I can keep the porch light on for you."

He was hoping for somewhere a bit more public. Settling for a compromise apparently wasn't going to mean comfortability on his end. "Sounds good."

"Great!" Mama Cosma rose from her seat, embracing her son in a squeeze he was too tired nor did he care enough to return. "I love you, my little Cosmo lo-lo!"

If only he could say the same.

. . . . . .

With dorm keys in hand, Wanda searched her purse to ensure she had her wallet and her phone before she used her keys to lock the door. Considering Rose and Spike were out on a date, Cosmo and Thornton were at work, and Alewandro visiting his parents, Susie thought it'd be a good idea to forget about the stress of finals for a while and have a 'girls night' like old times. She suggested they visit the local pub, enjoying the musical stylings of the Friday night live band over some drinks. Wanda and Susie hadn't had a night to themselves in quite a while, so, of course, Wanda was fully on board.

Remembering Susie telling her that her door was unlocked, Wanda twisted the handle to float inside, met with yet another argument ensuing between Susie and Minty.

"I'm so sick and tired of seeing that boy of yours!" Minty complained, firm hands on her hips. "He's never not here!"

"Well I'm tired of seeing your drunk AF drinking buddies!" Susie refuted, arms crossed over her chest. "One or more of them always ends up crashing on my bed without my permission!"

"Ugh, your so freaking whiney!" Minty groaned, rolling her eyes. "How can anyone put up with your constant complaining!"

Susie cracked her knuckles, brow creased in aggravation. "Hoe, my fists are equal opportunity employers, and YOU, miss ma'am, can catch these hands!"

Stopping Susie from any decisions she'd regret later, Wanda cleared her throat, loud enough to gain both girls' attention. After acknowledging her best friend, Susie glanced back at Minty with an arrogant smile. "You're lucky I have other plans to attend to."

"Ha, you're lucky I probably won't be here when you get back!" Minty sneered. "Otherwise, I'd show you a thing or two about 'catching these hands!'"

"Trick, you got one more time to try me-"

"Susie, come on!" Wanda pulled Susie by her arm, dragging her towards the exit. "We're gonna miss the live band!"

Minty had enough time to flip Susie the bird before Wanda shut the door, holding a riled Susie back with her other hand. "Susie, would you chill?!"

"I swear Imma kill that hoe!" Susie exclaimed, fuming as she her arm free. "I'm sick of her B.S!"

"Look…we only have one week of finals and then it's Christmas Break. We're already confirmed to be roommates next semester." Wanda calmly reminded, holding Susie by her shoulders to calm her down. "You've managed to last this long; do us a favor and not ruin that by getting yourself kicked out."

In between her deep breaths, Susie could always count on Wanda to be her voice of reason. "I know…but Minty's face would look sooooo much better with a black eye and a bloody nose."

Wanda laughed at such a crude joke, linking Susie by her arm as they floated down the corridors. "I think this girl's night is more for you than for me."

"Ha…chile…" Susie sighed jokingly, reaching into her purse to make sure she didn't forget her car keys. "You have no idea…"

Alewandro sat across from his mother and father at the kitchen table while they waited for Juanita to return home, engaged in civil conversation.

"How is work?" Alewandro asked them both, finishing the water his mother offered earlier.

"It has been nice working days again." Mr. Magnifico replied, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his lilac shoulder length hair. "I can feel like a normal fairy with a normal sleep schedule."

"And I have no real complaints as well; most of the families in my clientele have been corporative in improving their home life." Mrs. Magnifico added, recalling the number of cases in her social work. "How has school been?"

"Eh, it is going." Alewandro shrugged. "Cannot wait for finals to be over."

A muffled car engine pulled into the driveway, the glare of the headlights shining through the front window. "That must be tu hermana." Mr. Magnifico announced, scooting his chair back to leave as he gathered the empty cups on the table to set by the sink.

"I cannot believe she is driving now." Alewandro commented, the rumble of the ignition quieting as the headlights switched off. "It feels like just yesterday she learned how to ride a bike."

"Ugh." Mrs. Magnifico lightheartedly groaned. "Do not remind me."

Hearing the front door unlock, all three of them turn to that direction as Juanita opened the door. Unbenounced to Alewandro, Juanita had a guest he wasn't prepared nor did he want to see.

"¡Hola a todos!" Juanita excitedly greeted, shutting the door after Juandissimo flew inside. "You would not believe the traffic!"

The two Magnifico brothers caught sight of the other, faced with the unexpected shock of occupying the same space at the same time. Juandissimo and Alewandro had not been on speaking terms over the last four weeks; they were hardly in the room at the same time. Juandissimo would leave early in the morning before Alewandro was awake, and Alewandro would return late in the night after Juandissimo was asleep. If they shared a class, they sat separate from the other. This was intentional on both parties…they figured it'd be better to just avoid each other if they wanted to prevent another heated argument.

Apparently, their parents didn't get that memo.

Alewandro released an aggravated groan as he sprung from his chair "Joda esto…"

"Alewandro Milagro! Sit down." Mr. Magnifico firmly ordered with a creased brow, stopping Alewandro from leaving passed his chair "Right now." While he grumbled in protest, Alewandro promptly took his seat, knowing not to disobey his father when he's that serious.

In no mood to deal with the lights of him, Juandissimo muttered under his breath as he attempted to leave back out the front door, but Juanita grabbed him by the arm, pleading for him to stay.

"Juandissimo Nubarrón!" Mrs. Magnifico sternly called, pointing to the empty chair next to Alewandro with ice blue eyes like daggers. "Sit. Now." Grunting in objection, Juandissimo did as told and took his seat, Juanita anticipatingly taking the seat at one end of the table between him and where her father returned to his chair.

"Now that we have you two together…" Mr. Magnifico began, scooting in his chair closer to the table with stern eyes on both sons. "Tu mamá and I invited you both separately because we believed it would be the only way for you to meet."

Alewandro crossed his arms, his glare in the direction of the living room connected to the kitchen, and Juandissimo propped his chin in his palm with his forearm leaned against the table, his glower in the direction of the front window next to the front door. Juanita could tell neither one of them wanted to be there, and as she listened quietly, she feared things might turn for the worst.

"Tu hermana has told us that you two are not speaking, and both of you have not been so kind when talking about the other." Mr. Magnifico continued, unbothered by both sons' insolence. "It seems you both have forgotten that tu eres familia, and as familia, if there is a disagreement, we resolve it! We do not let it fester into something it does not need to be!"

Knowing they were listening even though they weren't looking his way, Mr. Magnifico crossed his own arms, leaning over the table. "So this is what is going to happen; neither one of you will leave this table until you squash this!" Mr. and Mrs. Magnifico were unfazed by their sons' irritated groan of opposition. "We refuse to deal with you two at odds all Christmas break!" Mr. Magnifico firmly added. "So I suggest you start talking, because we can sit here all night; it is really up to you."

Juanita absently twirled a strand of her side ponytail, feeling the weight of the tension prevalent in the air. She knew her parents would not be happy about Juandissimo and Alewandro's behavior towards each other, but she knew their relationship was in danger of reaching the point of no return. Judging their actions, she worried that point had already been reached…

Juandissimo hated every minute of this; why was he forced to say anything to that traitor?! It's not like he'd actually hear what he had to say, it's not like he'd care. As far as he was concerned, Alewandro could care less about him, seeing as how he cared more about some green-haired moron and his two-faced match made in heaven!

Alewandro knew for a fact that Juandissimo wouldn't listen to a word he said. When has he ever really listened? His head was so far up his own butt; everything was everyone else's fault and never his. Everyone was to blame, and he was the pathetic little victim. He was sick of his complaining…that's all he ever does!

Looking over to see Juandissimo clearly wasn't going to be the bigger person and speak first, Alewandro sighed, shaking his head in discontent before turning to him, keeping his voice as calm as possible. "…I know it is awful getting dumped for another guy…pero, eventually, you are going to have to stop the pity party."

This led to Juandissimo turning to Alewandro with an irritated side eye, he too keeping his tone civil. "…how would you feel if Susie dumped you to go back to some puta of an ex? You probably would not get over it so easily…"

"That is where you are wrong." Alewandro nonchalantly responded. "Because I would have enough common sense not to fully commit to a girl I find out is not fully committed to me."

…so much for keeping things calm.

"Are you kidding me, right now?!" Juandissimo glared. "Do you seriously believe that all of this is my fault?!"

Alewandro returned his own glower. "How is it not?!"

"Wanda stomped my heart just to leave it bleeding on the ground, and you think I brought that upon myself?!"

"Juandissimo, you did not want to listen to me when I warned you Wanda was spending a lot more time with Cosmo when they started talking again!" Alewandro refuted, his blood boiling by the second. "You kept having sex with Blonda despite knowing she caught feelings and ignored the huge risk of losing her as a friend! You did not want to listen when I told you…not to confront Cosmo the day you got yourself suspended because you were already upset! You could have beaten Cosmo to a pulp if I did not stop you!"

"Why do any of those other things matter?!"

Alewandro rose from his seat, eyes mad with rage as he motioned to his temple with a pointed finger. "It is to show you that you do not listen because of that thick head of yours! Your stubbornness is why bad things end up happening to you!" He let his hand fall to his side in a balled fist, his chest heaving hitched breaths as he spoke darkly "…just like with your mother."

Juandissimo's glower soon turned to that of shocked pain, Juanita's hurt expression glaring towards Alewandro as Juandissimo fell speechless.

"Alewandro…" Mr. Magnifico warned; Alewandro treaded extremely thin ice. "Do not dare-"

"Your priority should have been to get her somewhere away from your lunatic of a father!" Alewandro continued anyway; in the moment, he didn't care whose feelings he hurt.

"Alewandro, stop-"

"Instead of doing that, however, she ended up losing her life because you knew damn well you were not strong enough to stop him!"

"Alewandro!"

"Your mother is never coming back because of your obstinacy!" Alewandro hovered dangerously close to Juandissimo, pointing a finger at Juandissimo's chest "She died…because of you!"

His heart plummeted to his stomach, air escaped his lungs. That familiar twinge in his heart throbbed all the way into his head…his soul felt numb. Though his mouth was fixed in preparation of a rebuttal, his throat couldn't project any words. Just the very thought of breathing brought pain to his chest, and hot tears threatened the back of his eyes…

Juandissimo fled from his chair, knocking it to the ground as he sped to the front door. Alewandro's fixed glare watched as Juanita and Mr. Magnifico hurried after him, catching the door before Juandissimo could slam it shut.

"…Alewandro, you had no right!" Mrs. Magnifico berated through gritted teeth, Alewandro slumping in his seat as he tried to calm himself. "How dare you!"

But Alewandro felt no sympathy, felt no remorse. He finally spoke his truth, and that was all that mattered.

Cosmo's heart twitched in his chest as Thornton drove his motorcycle into the driveway of his childhood home, parking behind Mama Cosma's car by stepping down on the brake pedal. He always told himself that if he never came back to the mauve concrete walls filled with horrible memories, it'd be too soon. Not even a year later, and he found himself staring face-to-face with Hell. At least if he and Mama Cosma met somewhere public, she'd have less of a chance to revert to old ways. Here he was on her own turf; she could do whatever she pleased without much consequence. Taking off his helmet, Cosmo stared at the porch light glowing above the haunting front door, masking the little boy in his soul screaming inside.

No way could he back down now…

"Thanks for the ride, Thornton." Cosmo set his helmet on the back of the leather seat, using most of his mental strength to keep his limbs from trembling.

"It's no biggie, Coz." Thornton hung his own helmet over one of the grip handles, getting off his motorcycle. "You sure you don't want me to go in with you?"

"I don't plan on being here long…"

"Aight, then." Thornton reached into his pants pocket, grabbing his pack of cigarettes, heading to one of the street lights next to the driveway. "If ya need me, I'll be by this post."

"Kay."

Wiping the sweat from his palms onto his uniform pants, Cosmo approached the front door, quick enough not to waste any more time yet slow enough to catch his breath from the shallowness in his chest, trying to calm his racing heart. Fear shouldn't be a factor; he was stronger than the Cosmo she remembered. He needed to tell himself this, otherwise, she would continue to assert her 'right' to intervene in his life unwarranted.

After pressing the doorbell, Cosmo waited with his hands in his pockets, observing Thornton flick his lighter to his cigarette before inhaling its smoke. Thornton always seemed so chill. Even if under large amounts of stress, he never showed it. Almost like nothing ever bothered him…

If only he could be like him right now.

His heart skipped a beat when the sound of unhatched locks caught his ears. He turned to see Mama Cosma open the door, leaving room to let him inside. Cosmo wasted no time flying in, taking in the familiar scenery of the living as Mama Cosma shut the door. Blurry snippets of the day she smacked him around the living after coming back from Wanda's house blinked in his mind, as if to give him the momentum to do what he came for.

"Do you want anything?"

He snapped his head around to face her, not expecting her voice to sound so motherly. "…I have someone waiting on me outside." Cosmo informed, keeping his voice low to keep his nerves from flaring. "I can't really stay long."

"Well, that's quite alright." Mama Cosma smiled weakly, just glad her son even came over at all. "I know you just got off work and you must be tired." She flew passed him over to the couch, taking her seat as she motioned for him to do the same. "I'll try to keep this short."

Cautiously, Cosmo flew to take the seat next to Mama Cosma on the couch, his eyes locked on her. He sat on the opposite end of the couch from her; he wasn't taking any chances, so he had to stay out of her reach in the event she felt froggy.

After a deep breath, Mama Cosma held a hand over her heart. "I'm so…so sorry, Cosmo."

He stared at her, searching for any deception. "…for?"

"For everything…" Mama Cosma simply stated. "…everything I've ever done, ever said, that made you feel as if you meant nothing to me…"

"I've heard all of this before." Cosmo bluntly reminded, noting the many apologies she sent in texts. "What is it that you want me to do about that?"

"I still want to start over." Mama Cosma replied, solemn turquoise staring back at skeptical shamrock. "…I love you, and I hope you can forgive me."

He wanted to trust her words, yet the damage done to his core prevented him from doing so. All the times she belittled him, all the times she called him worthless, all the times she called him stupid…all the times she beat him and left him in a heap of his own wounds...how can he forgive her for that? If the tables were turned in some alternate universe, even he wouldn't forgive himself.

Stern in his brow, Cosmo mustered the grown man he knew he could be, and in a firm tone, he put her up to one, final test. "…there's only one way I'd accept you back."

"Which is?"

"…accept Wanda as my girlfriend."

The flip of a switch turned her eyes of remorse into eyes of reluctance. "Why in heavens name are you wasting your time with that lowdown Fairywinkle?!"

The simplest of test, and she failed miserably.

Mama Cosma hadn't changed at all.

His lips fixed in flat agitation, Cosmo lifted himself from the couch in attempts to exit through the front door, but somehow, Mama Cosma flew quick enough to clutch his arm, holding him back.

"I want a relationship with my son!" She complained, doing everything in her power not to shout at how ridiculous her son was being. "Not my son's tramp of a girlfriend!"

"Your son's girlfriend is a part of him!" Cosmo spoke, the adrenaline of irritation fueling his defiance. "Wanda is a part of me! She is me!"

"She'll only end up hurting you! That's all Fairywinkles ever do is hurt people!"

He yanked his arm from her grasp, rebellion in his scowl. "You're one to talk…"

His words slashed her ego more than anything, slitting her eyes. "…You really think that Fairywinkle would still break up with that other boy if you succeeded?!"

Color drained from his face, balling his fists. She did not just say that! "Wanda's not like that!"

"And you're clearly not that smart!" Mama Cosma snickered, holding her hips with arrogant hands. "She's probably only dating you because she feels guilty for driving you to suicide in the first place!"

His eyes widened by the sheer frustration growing within. Not only had Mama Cosma not changed, she hadn't learned a damn thing about accountability! "Wanda didn't drive me to suicide…YOU did!"

"Was it not her that moved on with that boy so soon after you two broke up?!" Mama Cosma refuted. "Was it not her that called you delusional when you confronted her about it?! Was it not her that called you an idiot Cosma who blamed others for how they wronged you?!"

"She only said those things because I said mean things to her!" Cosmo defended, his chest tightening from aggravation. "And if I remember correctly, the ONLY reason we even broke up was because YOU forced me to! I was stupid enough to let you beat me until I couldn't take it!"

"That's exactly what you are; stupid!" Mama Cosma bitterly retorted. "Stupid for giving that Fairywinkle another chance after how much she hurt you!"

Gee, that very sentence couldn't be more relatable. "…you're right." Cosmo gritted his teeth, firm in his glare. "I am stupid…stupid to give YOU another chance after everything you've done! Well, guess what 'mama'!" Cosmo pointed a finger to her, trembling in frustration. "You can forget about EVER hearing or seeing me AGAIN!"

He swiftly turned away, speeding towards the front door. After all of this, he was more than done. Done with her antics, done with her victimization, done with her false narratives. He was done with her; the rest of his life would be perfect if he never saw her again!

"…that father of yours blamed me as well…"

Though her voice was low, he could still hear her spite, stopping him in his tracks. He didn't have to face her to see the grimace in her eyes.

"…in his suicide note…he blamed everything on me." She continued, crossing her arms. "…said I drove him crazy…said he couldn't deal with me anymore…"

His fists balled tighter, his jaw throbbing from the force in his gritted teeth. How dare she bring him into this…

"…if that's how you really feel…then you might as well have left me the same way." A shiver shot down his spine at the coldness in her words. "…I wouldn't have to deal with you hating me if you were dead."

He shot a glare towards her icy glower, fuming with rage he hadn't felt in a long time. Oh, so the "I'm sorry's" were all an act, right? All the "I wanna make things right" was all for show?! She never loved him, she never cared about him, she never wanted him! She wanted the false image of how great of a mother she was, to raise her son all on her own after her husband took his own life, leaving poor little ol' her alone! Her crying and screaming when he almost died must have been fake too, huh?! He didn't want to believe it when Spike told him that happened. He thought he was kidding. She needs an acting agent; please, somebody give this witch a roll in Fairywood!

Floating dangerously close to her face, Cosmo scowled into her eyes, unfazed by her resentment. "…I may come from you…" his voice grew eerily low. "…but you're barely what I would call a mother!"

"And I may have brought you into this world…" Mama Cosma grunted. "…but you're no child of mine!"

The venomous rage in the pit of his stomach released in his snarl, growling the very words he's wanted to say yet never had the courage to until now. "I hope you rot in hell you fat cun-"

A crack smacked across his face, burning red in his cheek.

The malice in her eyes quickly dissipated upon realization of what she just did, watching her son cup his face as he glared at her. "…Cosmo…" she released an unsteady breath, shaking her head in denial. "…Cosmo I…I'm sor-"

"Take…your fake apology…" Red veins popped in his neck as he snatched the 400 he never cashed from his back pocket, shoving her square in the face with it. "…take your blood money…" her eyes blinked from the impact, watching the bills flutter to the ground. "…and shove ALL of it…straight up your ASS!"

She stood frozen, almost numb to any reaction. After all she ever did for him; bathed him, fed him, clothed him, provided a roof over his head, gave him anything he ever wanted…loved him. After all that, he had the audacity to talk to her like that? To disrespect her like that?! She didn't have to keep him after her husband died and left her to raise a child on her own. She didn't have to, but she did. She did because he was her everything. Sure, her form of discipline was questionable at best, but she did it out of love! She wanted to make things right and show him how much he loved her!

And yet…he threw her love in her face…crushing her heart with his bare hands.

Controlling his breathing grew more difficult the angrier he became. She stared at the fallen money before raising her eyes to him, and for the first time in his life, he couldn't give two cares about the threatening tears swelling in her eyes. She wanted to cry? How about living in his shoes the last eighteen years of his life! Getting yelled at, getting screamed at, getting berated, getting belittled. Getting slapped in the face over trivial grievances, getting stomped on for looking at her the wrong way, getting knocked out and left unconscious on the floor…getting hospitalized and having to lie in the doctor's face.

Her tears meant jack compared to his suffering by her hands…

Without another word left to be said, he stormed away to the exit. The sweat from his palm almost couldn't turn the knob, his rage blurring his vision.

"That Fairywinkle's gonna dump you when she realizes what a stupid…PATHETIC excuse of a being you are!"

Her shrieks rang through his eardrums in her attempt to gain the upper hand. He didn't need to see her to know that her guilt came pouring from her eyes.

"She's gonna realize what a waste of LIFE you are, and you'll be left with NOTHING!"

He's heard her angry, yet never this furious. The cracks in her shouts made him surprised the police hadn't been called for a disturbance.

"YOU…are NOTHING without me!" her hitched breaths continued to scream, bloodshot eyes staring daggers into the back of her son's neck. "YOU…will ALWAYS be NOTHING!" Tears streamed waterfalls down her cheeks, her chest burning with the same rage glossing over her eyes. "YOU HEAR ME?!...NOTHING!"

Though his heart bled from the many knives stabbed into its core, though his soul clung to life by the many shreds in its fabric, he did not look back. He simply opened the door, flew out, and slammed it from behind, never to see her crying face again as she slid to the floor, bending over her knees as her wings quivered with grief.

Thornton turned to the loud bang, having just put out his cigarette. The fire in Cosmo's reddened face and bloodshot in his green eyes shined in the full moonlight. This was a sight he'd never seen before. Cosmo always seemed so gentle; even when he grew frustrated, he's never reached such a level of pissed off. He heard someone shouting, presumably his mother, though the events leading up to said shouting remained unclear. "Cosmo, what happen-"

Cosmo stormed passed Thornton into the dead of the night, fueled by boiling rage. He couldn't stop, wouldn't stop. Rationality far from his mind, he couldn't think straight, couldn't see straight.

"Coz!" Thornton rushed after him, wondering if he should have gone inside with him anyways. "COSMO!"

. . . . . .

Returning from their evening at the pub, Wanda and Susie turned the corner of the corridor down the hall to their respective rooms. It was two in the morning, the longest either one of them had ever stayed up before. Despite the fatigue, they wouldn't trade the experience for anything; good music and good booze were just what the doctor ordered. At least it was the weekend and they could try to sleep in.

Susie searched her purse for her dorm keys while Wanda held hers in hand. At first, she thought maybe her eyes were just that tired, but the closer she got to her door, the more she realized the little green fairy sitting on the floor next to her room wasn't a mirage. Susie noticed Wanda's distraction and soon caught sight of Cosmo, burying his face in his knees as he hugged himself. He still had on his uniform which means he never went back to his room. Wanda and Susie looked to each other briefly before turning back to the fairy shrouded in despair.

"…Cosmo?" Wanda slowly approached with Susie behind her, uncertain if he heard her by his lack of movement.

Gradually lifting his head from his knees, Cosmo veered his glossy red eyes to his girlfriend, the pink imprint of a hand in his cheek damp with glistening tears.

"Cosmo…" Wanda hurried to her boyfriend, kneeling down to his level. "…honey, what's wrong?"

No reply came except the lowering of his head, closing his eyes to stop the burning as silent tears continued to fall.

"…Susie." Wanda turned to her best friend. "I'll see you later, okay?"

As concerned as she was, Susie nodded, understanding Wanda's intentions. She used her key to enter into the darkness of her room as Wanda used her delicate hands to take Cosmo by the arms, drawing him closer to her.

His head rested in her chest as her arms blanketed him, coming his hair with tender fingers. He circled his arms around her waist, his tears trickling into her blouse. She laid her chin in his hair as he squeezed her, bundling into her comfort. For a while they stayed in their embrace, the brightness of artificial hallway lights peering down the darkness surrounding Cosmo's heart. Wanda sensed this darkness and wished she could take it away, but for now, all she knew to do was hold him close.

"…sweetie, do you want to come inside?" Wanda whispered to him, hoping that would motivate him to at least get off the cold floor.

She felt his subtle nod in her chest, breaking apart slightly for him to lift his head to her worried gaze. A faint tremble in his lips, he allowed her thumbs to cup his face and brush the faucet of tears from his eyes.

Rage gradually melted into pain once Thornton finally talked him down. His anger and frustration came out as rivers of tears, and he couldn't stop himself from crying. No sobs pinched his chest, just quiet, flowing sadness. Poor Thornton had no idea what to do other than lead him back to the motorcycle to take him back to campus. He wanted to wait for Cosmo to make it to his room before he retired to his own, but Cosmo insisted he need not worry about him. He believed Thornton had done enough for him giving him a ride to and from his mother's after a full work shift, and didn't want to risk waking Spike with his crying.

Wanda informed him earlier about her plans with Susie, and part of him didn't want to bring down her mood to his level of dismay. He was such a wreck, but he didn't know where else to go but to wait for her by her door. He felt as if he didn't deserve her; why would he be so upset when he expected nothing less from his confrontation? Mama Cosma didn't deserve not one of his tears, yet he's shed so many that his eyes throbbed. He didn't deserve her comfort, he didn't deserve her love, yet here she was, picking up the pieces like the angel he always knew her to be.

"C'mon." Wanda smiled, stroking his cheeks. "Let's go inside."

He sniffed as he used one arm to rub his eyes, letting her gentle hand pull him from the ground by the other. She laced her fingers into his as she used her free hand to take her keys from her purse and unlocked her door. With a twist of her handle, she opened the door, and after planting a soft kiss on his imprinted cheek, she led him inside before gently closing the door from behind.

AN: Yeeeeeeeah Mama Cosma got dat axe! She annoying lol

Juan and Wandro tho...all the yikes.

...yup.

See you next year! (haha, get it? Cuz it'll be Jan 2021 when I post aga-*siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*)

ight Imma head out...