Author's Note: Longer, better, and back. Oh, and there's a conversation in here you might recognize if you read the first chappie of the spin-off like you were supposed to. And, for a side note, removed the arrows used for telepathy, so, until they put them back, it's bold and italics. Yeah, I know, but won't allow any special symbols.

Disclaimer: I don't own it, you don't break my door down and kill yourself trying to sue.

Chapter Nine: Down Memory Lane, There Are a Few Potholes

Sunlight broke over a small, skinny boy's room. Timmy Turner rolled over, moaning in his sleep, a pillow clutched to his chest. Meanwhile, a crow began to cry and then, upon seeing the child, promptly quieted its song. Nothing could pierce that depression.

A small folded note flew through the window and landed next to Timmy's head. It contained the official Fairy World crest- two fairies with their wands crossed. Jorgen would have loved to rouse Timmy and tell him himself, but different matters held him up, matters from another universe. Therefore, the courier would have to do.

Cosmo, poofing in to make sure Timmy wasn't having nightmares (great job he was doing there), took one look at the note and gasped. Fairy World didn't normally grant warnings unless it was dire. Or maybe this was good news, the kind Jorgen didn't deliver. Or maybe Cosmo was just being stupid.

Wiping away a few tears he hadn't known he'd shed, Timmy stretched and looked at the note and then Cosmo. Like it or lump it, Cosmo was the only source he had of these activities and he might know what the hell was going on. It wasn't as though they habitually left notes of that nature.

Sliding his finger through to tear open the envelope, Timmy unfolded the note and gasped. While he knew little of fairy affairs, he could tell this was bad news from the get go. The wording was too general, the message too impersonal, and the phrase "mind screening" seemed a tad odd.

"Cosmo?" Timmy whispered, rereading the note again. It didn't make him feel better, in fact, it made him feel worse. Why did they want to examine his mind? What was there of such great importance? Unless…

Cosmo read the note over and frowned. Although he didn't see the obvious problem with the phrases used, it was still rather pretentious, overall. They were clearly hiding something.

"Cosmo," Timmy whispered and the fairy tore his attention away from the letter to look at him again. "When they say 'mind screening', does that mean all my memories of Lorenzo will be put on a screen for all of Fairy World to see?"

Biting his lip, Cosmo shook his head. "No, why would they do that? It's illegal."

"Then why does it seem that way?" Timmy shivered. His memories were bad enough, but forced to relive them in front of all of them? God, he needed Tootie.

"I don't know," Cosmo said simply and examined the note again. "I guess we'll find out at one o'clock."

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(Vicky's basement, 9:45 a.m.)

Vicky rolled over and refrained from screaming. She'd forgotten, for an instant, what she'd done last night. However, now that she remembered, a pleasant feeling settled in the bottom of her stomach and she gazed over at him. He was up already, making breakfast.

"Good morning, my dearest Vicky. I hope you built up quite an appetite from last night, because I sort of went nuts and cooked twenty pancakes." Mark, fully dressed, beamed at her.

You can eat in bed, if you like. Or you can eat me in bed,He teased and she blushed. You don't even have to get dressed for the second one.

Shaking her head at his suggestion, Vicky stretched, gazing at her clothes, strewn about. She really couldn't believe she'd done that, slept with him. Of course, it had been the most enjoyable moment of her life, blackmailing aside. What was funny was, unlike some of the boys she'd gotten involved with, she didn't regret it.

"I love you…" Vicky murmured and Mark, placing the plates on her nightstand, leaned over and kissed her. She pulled him in hungrily and he wrapped his arms around her in response.

But this breakfast will go waste! Mark mock protested, straddling her. And after all the work I did!

I've got some more work for you, Vicky quipped back.

Well, then, we'd better get started then.

Breakfast, needless to say, was eaten late that day.

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

(Boston, 1:30 p.m. EST)

"Why the hell are we in Boston, in some little girl's room, pretending to be dogs?" Wanda hissed. "I don't want a whiny, bratty little human godchild!"

"Because I think you need to have a life," Juan shot back, not bothering to spare her feelings. Wanda glared at him and clutched her picture tighter.

Cosmo…and this Timmy…

"I think you need to stop meddling in my affairs," Wanda retorted. "My life would have been far better if you were never born. For one thing, I'd be able to see Cosmo-"

"Shut up about him!" Juandissimo snapped. He was so weary of her resistance. God, why hadn't he killed him when he had the chance? Then she wouldn't obsess over him!

Wanda, gripping her new wand so tightly it began to crack, stood in front of him, shooting arrows at him with her eyes. If he wanted to pick a fight, that was fine with her. Lately she'd been very irritable, especially because Juan was trying to fill her head with nonsense about Cosmo. In her opinion, if he wanted to trash Cosmo's reputation, he should be prepared for backlash.

"Make me. Make me stop thinking about him every day, make me stop wanting him, make me stop loving him. Go ahead, all powerful Juandissimo- grant my wish!" Wanda snapped.

"After all, you're a fairy godfath-"

A small, mousy haired girl wearing a pink flower t-shirt and long, bell bottom jeans walked inside her pink wallpapered room, complete with a four poster bed and various sixties mementos, looked at the two of them and screamed. Juandissimo jumped, startled, while Wanda glared at her. Children, bah. They were far too skittish.

And they cry too much. Not everything is worth a boo-hoo. But Timmy, his tears were merited. Timmy…why do you seem so important to me? "We love you, champ…"

"Uh, I'm Juandissimo and this is Wanda (glaring hostilely). We're your fairy godparents!" Juandissimo grinned and produced the characteristic flash and dance routine. Wanda just stared at him.

"Are you even a fairy?" The girl, her long plaited braids dangled over her shoulder and her glasses slipped as she examined Wanda on the floor. "You look like some sort of, I'm sorry, but a freak."

"I used to be a fairy," Wanda said darkly. "And then I met him." She jerked her head around to indicate Juandissimo and, instinctively, caressed her pocket.

"Anyway," Juandissimo said curtly, shooting her a dirty look, "we grant your wishes. You wish, we grant. It is our duty. However, you cannot tell anyone about us, or else we have to-"

"Go away forever," Wanda mocked, placing her hands on her hips. "Why don't you just start wishing, kid? That way, you can be a spoiled brat quicker. C'mon, use and abuse us. That is what you humans do."

"What?" The girl whispered, taken aback. "Why would I do that? You look like gentle creatures." Well, maybe not the black one, but the other one looks like nice enough.

"What my wife means to say is, feel free to ask us for anything at all. We are, after all, your fairy godparents."

Nodding and gulping at the sight of Wanda, Sophie settled down on the bed and tried to make peace with her fairy godmother. Perhaps she really was a fairy and, if she were, according to every tale she'd ever heard, she ought to warm up to her eventually. All she needed was a catalyst.

"So, uh, what do you want to do?" Sophie inquired, being courteous. Juandissimo floated near her, eyeing Wanda with distaste. Good fairy and kid, bad former fairy- fun for the whole family.

"Isn't it your job to boss me around?" Wanda shot back, fingering the photo unconsciously. Timmy…

"You're the bratty, spoiled kid that needs fairies to make her life cushy. C'mon, twerp, use and abuse us. I know you're itching to make us your slaves."

"I told you! I'm not like that!" Sophie cried defensively and froze. Footsteps echoed on the stairs and all three cocked their heads. They should transfer into a less conspicuous form.

Scowling at her, Juan turned into a dog- she did too, reluctantly. Heh, well, if she got to be a dog, then she could be the queen bitch. It was only fair.

"What's going on in here?" Sophie's father, a lanky brown haired figure with cropped hair, a white shirt and tie, and slacks, asked. "I heard voices, arguing voices. Are you becoming a ventriloquist, Soph?"

"I wish," Sophie muttered and Juan, hidden beneath the bed, held up his wand. A bright flash enveloped her for a split second, the indication of a fulfilled wish. Hmm, she hadn't know that only the words "I wish" were required to activate a wish- useful. Still, perhaps Juan had bent the rules slightly because usually a full sentence was mandatory.

Unconsciously throwing her voice, Sophie imitated her mother, pretending she needed help in the kitchen. Like a jellyfish, her father vanished down the stairs, dashing to his wife's aid. That got rid of one problem.

"You guys! You can't stay here!" Sophie cried, panicked. "What if my parents find you? You'll have to go away forever!"

"And we all know what a pity that would be," Wanda muttered dryly.

Shooting her yet another nasty look, Juan said quickly, "We can stay as dogs. Your parents are not adverse to canines, are they?"

"No, they like dogs…but they're allergic."

They like dogs, just not bitches, Wanda thought with a smirk.

"Plus they might try to get you neutered and spayed-"

Juan nearly passed out from the shock. Meanwhile, still atop the bed, Wanda started guffawing. The thought was just too precious- poor Juandissimo without his little friend. Oh, how would he live? Whom would he screw? Hey, you know, the kid might be on to something…

"Are you all right, Juandissimo?"

"He's in mourning," Wanda explained, sniggering. "It'll be a hard loss."

"In mourning?" Sophie said, bewildered. "Did someone die?"

"His sex life just did."

"Okay…" Crossing her legs (and blushing as she did so), Sophie bit her lip, thinking. What to keep them as? They couldn't stay as dogs, and, if they did wind up having little puppies, she couldn't raise them. As much as she loved dogs (they were her favorite animals), they were out.

What about goldfish? No, the last time she'd had goldfish, her mother had inadvertently dissected them and fed them to a neighborhood cat. She didn't want dead fairies (although she wasn't sure she liked Wanda much).

What about cats? Was her mother allergic? She didn't know. Perhaps she'd go ask- yes, she'd ask. What was there to lose?

"You guys, stay here. And, uh, please don't kill each other…" I don't know why I should warn them about that, but Wanda looks murderous. Wonder what her problem is. She must have a chip on her shoulder- could it be Juandissimo's fault? Why did she touch her pocket?

"I wouldn't dream of it," Wanda muttered, glaring hatefully at Juandissimo. "Just like I wouldn't dream of Cosmo and-"

"Shut up!"

Who's Cosmo? Why do her eyes light up when she says his name? Is she having an extramarital affair? Is Cosmo the one that got away? What's their story? Even if it takes me forever, I'm going to find out!

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

(Outside Timmy Turner's house, 12:40 p.m.)

Lorenzo DeMedici was growing weaker. Don't ask how he knew, he simply did. It wasn't in the large-scale magic he could no longer accomplish, but in the little things, like being beaten by Mark. Of course, he also recognized the lethargy's source- his sire, still feeble from his previous treatment.

At first, he was unclear as to why his feet had dragged him unceremoniously here. After all, what was here he wanted? Cosmo wasn't going to let him get that close to Timmy again and he was weary of trying. Sure, he'd love to have a tryst with him, but was it worth it?

He felt so ineffectual (Timmy's projection of his feelings onto The Other). Remy's training was going nowhere fast and he'd thought he'd have a use for the boy, but he hadn't found one yet. His anti-fairies had fled to the Devil knew where and he was short henchmen. There was nothing left for him to do.

Of course, the barrier was no longer present since he'd broken it before. Perhaps he'd simply pop in and take a gander at what havoc Cosmo had wreaked on his beloved. Moreover, after that, he'd see if Mark had dropped dead and he could have his way with Vicky. At least then he'd be happy.

"Why am I so weak?!" Lorenzo muttered and poofed up to Timmy's room, but this time making sure to be invisible as he did so. If he couldn't read his mind, at least he could know what was going on.

"Dammit!" Timmy cursed. Cosmo, playing the X Cube, glanced over at him. He didn't understand why his godson was so worked up. Fairy World wasn't making a big deal of this, why was he?

Lorenzo, settling down on his bed, was so close to his sire he could touch him. God, he wanted to. He wanted to hold him and understand why he was close to tears.

"They're going to go through my memories, Cosmo! All of them! Even the ones…Lorenzo…god!" Flinging himself atop the bed, Timmy narrowly missed The Other. Damn, if only he could just caress his shoulders.

Muffled (Cosmo paused the game to float over to him), Timmy whispered, "All of them…they'll see Lorenzo raping me…they'll see everything…"

Why? What's the matter with seeing everything? The past isn't that bad, other than failing to kill Cosmo and Wanda.

I didn't rape you, I made love to you. Those aren't tears of happiness, are they? But I never hurt you! I mean, I did, but only to teach you a lesson. C'mon, stop that!

Frozen because he wasn't sure exactly how much he could console him, Cosmo wrinkled his nose. Something was off, but what? It seemed as though there was an anti-fairy in the room. Was that possible?

"I don't want to…to relive those…when Lorenzo made me…" Timmy whimpered. "Dammit…"

Why? What did I do to you that was all that bad? You're exaggerating.

"Why would they do that? It's just a mind search! They're not going to-" Cosmo began and wrapped his arms around the boy. Timmy shivered and clung to him.

"What was so bad about what I did to you?" Lorenzo demanded and shed his invisibility. "Honestly, you make it seem as though I hurt you intentionally. If you weren't so weak, none of that would have happened."

Biting back more tears, Timmy turned his head and stared, eyes wide and terrified.

Cosmo's grip tightened around him and he could feel the butt of his wand press up against him. Grand, so he was going to defend him. This should be memorable.

"Why the hell are you crying?" Lorenzo snapped and brought his arm back to slap him but Cosmo deftly caught it. No, Timmy wasn't going to get hurt on his watch. He'd been lax enough.

Carefully placing him down, Cosmo floated above the bed, holding his wand out and pointing it at The Other's chest. He was going to defend him, no matter how badly he missed. It was the thought that counted, wasn't it?

"You're standing in my way, fairy," The Other spat. "Get out or be killed. I'm in no mood for games."

"Good, because I'm not playing. The game is on pause, see?" Cosmo shifted his wand from his chest to the TV. "I'll play it later."

Mentally slapping his forehead, Timmy glanced up and watched The Other's body movements. He was preparing for an offensive move now that Cosmo's guard was down. Unfortunately he was too terrified to speak and telepathy no longer worked due to Tootie's absence.

Cosmo! I know you can't hear this, but he's going to steal your wand and break it in half. Then he'll tackle you and throw you into the wall. I know that determined look all too well.

In fact, Timmy was correct. The Other lunged, swiped Cosmo's wand out of his hands, snapped it in half, and used his wings to throw him into the wall. There was a distinct cracking sound when he hit- Timmy knew it instinctively to be the sound of a broken nose. And with that sort of pain, he'd be oblivious to any advances on The Other's part. (Not to mention he'd blacked out upon impact).

"Now, tell me, Timmy, why were you crying? Are you afraid of him? Has he been hurting you?" Lorenzo whispered and Timmy, completely paralyzed, did nothing while The Other gathered him into his arms. The only thing he could do was glance helplessly at the clock and pray either Cosmo would get it together by one or Jorgen would appear and whisk them away. In either case, he had at least fifteen more minutes of him to endure.

"Why are you unresponsive? What did Cosmo do to you?" Drawing his sire's face up to his, Lorenzo captured Timmy's lips in a kiss. Finally, at long last, Timmy felt his muscles stir and he pushed against his chest. Could he stop him? Was it within his power to do so?

Enraged now, Lorenzo forced Timmy's arms behind his back and wrapped his legs around him. He couldn't possibly fight back in that position. There, he'd get to the root of Timmy's problem. Perhaps he'd even have a little murder while he did so.

Let go of me! Not again, please…I can't stand it anymore! Timmy sent, his defenses down to the point Lorenzo could read his mind again. You're hurting me, Lorenzo…(sob)

"Me? I'm hurting you?" Lorenzo said in surprise. "Is that why you're crying? You're frightened of…me?"

Nodding (but still terrified to do so), Timmy glanced up at him, tears streaming down his face. For a second, Lorenzo was taken aback. He didn't why know one objection should affect him so much. After all, he'd proceeded with Timmy struggling at full strength. Now he was concerned about his feelings? What gave?

"It's…almost one. I guess you'd better go…" The Other murmured, releasing him. His brown eyes were somber, reflective. Unable to restrain himself, he ran his hands through his sire's hair affectionately.

"Timmy, please don't hate me. I love you…" With that, he vanished, waking Cosmo before he did. How else was he to get to Fairy World, anyway, with his fairy out of action?

I'm sorry, Timmy…

That was weird. He almost had his way with me but backed off. Like he was considering my feelings or something. Was he being serious? He said he loved me before but I think he's beginning to care about me. He doesn't want to hurt me…

Rubbing his head and nose in bewilderment, Cosmo glanced over at his godson. "Hey, did anything happen while I was out?"

"That was so weird…"

"Did he hurt you?!" Cosmo cried, suddenly remembering why he'd been thrown into the wall. "Are you all right? Did he try anything?"

Thunder boomed and Jorgen appeared in Timmy's room. In his hands was his gigantic wand and he wrung his hands around it anxiously. However, he managed to hide his anxiety by barking orders at a pair of cadets who instantly seized Cosmo. Ah, the glory of power.

"HEY!" Timmy and Cosmo snapped in unison, Cosmo wrestling his way out of the cadets' grip. "What gives?!"

"Cosmo must be sedated!" Jorgen hissed at Frank, who nodded reluctantly. Two humungous hypodermic needles materialized and imbedded themselves into Cosmo's arm. Within seconds, the green fairy was unconscious again.

Sighing heavily, Frank handed Cosmo off to the second cadet and nodded at Timmy. Scowling, Timmy lunged at the other cadet and tried to extract Cosmo from his arms. He didn't like this- why did Cosmo have to be knocked out? What did this entail, anyway?

Actually, after Jorgen paralyzed him from the waist down, he discovered exactly what it entailed. A large open auditorium awaited him, filled to the brim with all of Fairy World minus two- Juandissimo and Wanda. Of course he hadn't expected her to be there, even if he'd secretly wished she would be.

Gulping hard, Timmy barely had time to fathom the possible implications of so many witnesses when he was shoved unceremoniously into an iron chair with a harness atop, complete with a metal helmet, one that slammed down on his head when he landed. Suddenly reality dimmed and vanished, replaced by darkness. Beautiful, welcoming darkness, he could stay here forever…

"No!" Frank yelled and the darkness disappeared, replaced by reality again. Damn, he'd grown accustomed to it. Nothing in it could hurt him or betray him. In the darkness, he could cocoon himself and hide.

Timmy glanced back at him, hurt and vulnerable. If only he'd know how absolutely he'd opposed this, how greatly he'd been outnumbered. He didn't want to make this kid suffer anymore than he had to. And now he was defenseless, about to be examined at someone else's leisure. It was sickening.

"This machine, it will project your memories onto here-" Frank indicated a large screen behind him, "- so they can determine The Other's threat."

"I can tell you his threat. It's big," Timmy muttered. Memories flashed in his mind and he gripped the arm holds so tightly they ground into his skin. He needed Tootie so badly right now.

"I'm really sorry, Timmy," Frank whispered, strapping him in. "This will hurt quite a bit, but I'm afraid Fairy World found no recourse. I only hope you won't die like the last one did…"

"DIE?!" Timmy shrieked, straining at the leather. "Are you insane?! Get me out of this crazy thing!"

"I'm really sorry…" The world vanished yet again, only this time it faded into a different time not so pleasant. Lorenzo loomed before him…

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(Four months ago, the training shed)

"What the hell is your problem?!" Lorenzo snapped, chucking yet another fireball at him. "You keep this up and you're toast! Do you want to fail?"

"Don't tell me what I want!" Timmy retorted, scarcely dodging it. "I want my parents back, dammit! You told me I could have them back if I killed Cosmo and Wanda."

"Don't act like a spoiled brat," The Other shot back, kicking Timmy in the side. He landed hard on his back, the breath knocked out of him.. Visions of Cosmo and Wanda injured and screaming filled his mind and he laughed mercilessly.

"Get up!" Propelling another kick, this time into his spine, Lorenzo propelled him into the wall. However, a conflicting image presented itself- Cosmo and Wanda crying for compassion and him sobbing. Tootie…

Timmy didn't rise and Lorenzo grew weary of him lying there, panting. He knew that look, full of thoughts of Tootie, and it irked him. None should be in his head but him.

"She's a dirty whore!" The Other growled but to no avail. Timmy still saw her in his mind. It never truly occurred to him how much he loved her until now. For some odd reason, no matter what he said about her, Timmy wouldn't fully believe him.

"She's a slut!" Drawing his hand back, The Other slapped him as hard as possible. A tingle of exhilaration ran through him- if only he could do the same to Tootie. God, why did he love her? She wasn't even that attractive.

"No," Timmy said slowly. "No, she isn't. She loves me-"

"Wrong!" Infuriated, Lorenzo yanked him by his pants' waistband, slamming him into the wall repeatedly Every time, he visualized Tootie suffering the same and he smirked at the thought. She'd scream, that little whore.

By the stairs, they could hear footsteps and Lorenzo dropped Timmy hurriedly. However, before he departed, he wrenched him up again by the arm, twisting it behind his back at such an angle that it instantly cracked. Once this is done, he sniggered as he marched up the steps.

"And don't even bother calling for Cosmo and Wanda- you aren't ready to fend them off!"

Groaning, Timmy rolled over, pain rippling up and down his broken right arm. He knew he wouldn't have it for long, The Other would heal it, but in the meantime, it hurt like hell. The Other thrilled in breaking bones and then healing them later, letting the victims languish in agony for prolonged periods of time.

A pink face appeared amongst the weapons and a green amongst the shields. Cosmo and Wanda were checking up on him again. Naturally, he wasn't surprised, but he wished he could talk to them on his own, free of dominance. (Lorenzo forbade him to unless they were "mentally linked" and he was without control of his thoughts).

"Timmy?" Wanda asked anxiously, swiveling her head to scan for The Other. Upon finding the proverbial coast clear, she heaved a sigh and transformed into her fairy form. Her eyes were bloodshot and the way she held herself indicated insomnia.

"Why are you bothering to talk to him?" Cosmo spat, joining his wife. "He'll just get up and try to kill us. He's a lost cause."

"No, he isn't!" Wanda said fiercely, a fierceness born of love. "Timmy, please, just listen to us…is your arm broken?"

"Go away…" Timmy murmured, dropping his head and glancing down at the floor instead of his fairy godparents. "Just go…"

"Please listen to us," Wanda pleaded, holding up her wand and healing him. "I know you think The Other has a good idea, but you can't kill us. You just can't!"

"Yeah, how do you think the world would be without me and my loyal fans?" Cosmo piped up.

"What fans?" Wanda muttered, eyes narrowed.

"Er, never mind."

"Anyway, please. Don't, it's not in your nature to be untowardly cruel-"

"Sure it is! Remember when he threatened to drop the water balloon with a Crimson Chin tied to it on Tootie's head? That was funny!"

"No, it wasn't," Wanda hissed and gagged him before any more stupidity could escape. "He wasn't going to really do it, either. He was just being a stupid ten year old boy."

And now he's being a stupid twelve year old boy. What's the difference? Two years and a planned hit.

Not helping!

A peculiar sensation seized Timmy and he gasped, evil currently running through his veins. Lorenzo was coming back and Cosmo and Wanda had to either find a suitable disguise or depart. Since The Other could track their magic, the second choice was better.

"Get away from me!" Timmy growled, his eyes growing cold again. "Now!"

What's up with his eyes? They're glowing creepily.

That's because he's becoming an extension of The Other. We need to go and tell Tootie what happened. C'mon!

Desperate, Wanda attempted one last time to convince her godson how wrong it was to not only consider but to carry this out. Perhaps she could do so while he was under his influence, then it might penetrate. She didn't know anymore. Sometimes, she was not sure she knew her own godson.

"We love you-"

"Like I give a shit," Timmy snapped, pulling himself up. "Get out of my face, frach. You too, moron."

There was a conflict behind his eyes as Tootie fought to reach him. She did for a split second, long enough to him to apologize and plead with them to leave before The Other saw them. They did, Wanda tentatively hugging him before rejoining Tootie.

"I'll kill you, frach," Lorenzo muttered, having seen the whole scene. "No one touches my Timmy and lives to speak of it. If Timmy can't do it, I'll do it myself."

"Huh?" Timmy whispered, his blue eyes clouded.

"I'll kill her!" Lorenzo roared, then, whispered something. "Through you, I will vanquish my greatest foes- the frach and the whore."

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(Present day)

Where's Cosmo? Timmy thought desperately, scrutinizing the auditorium yet again for any sign of him. And Tootie…where is she now? Where? Dammit, I just want to know if she's okay.

Frank sighed and placed the headset back on his head. Unfortunately, they hadn't determined his threat from one memory, needing more than one to cement their opinion. Therefore, another, or perhaps more than one more, recollection was needed.

Reality was replaced again, this time by a memory he'd relived in his dreams, greatly familiar to him.

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(Five months ago)

"Nice night for a stroll, isn't it, Timmy?" The Other chuckled and pat him on the head. "I dare say this wasn't an aimless walk, now, was it?"

"How did you know?" Timmy said, looking for pink and green things but finding nothing.

"Come in. You must have had quite a night," Lorenzo said sympathetically and opened the black, metal door. It shut behind them with a finality that made Timmy wonder if he'd made the right decision. Should he really be here?

"Like it?" The Other said (indicating the morose background), knowing fully Timmy's distaste. "One morning, I just awoke and it was like this. Perhaps we ought to thank Cosmo and Wanda for finally doing something right for a change."

Timmy flinched at the names, remembering their last conversation. Again, the thought struck him he shouldn't be here. Where was here, anyway?

"I used to live in Boston, but I couldn't abide it, so I just decided one day to move my house. Lo and behold, here we are."

Having absolutely nothing to say to this extraordinary statement, Timmy wandered towards the kitchen. His head was spinning and he stopped, just outside the doorway. Tootie was screaming inside his head.

Choked with sobs, Tootie was having a mental breakdown at the other end. God, Timmy, it doesn't matter where you are, just get here. He, The Other, God…

Timmy doesn't want to talk to you, bitch. By the way, how's Cal? The last time I checked, he was dead, but you never know anymore, do you?

You son of a bitch! You motherfu-

Tsk, tsk. Such language out of a young lady, it's undignified.

You killed him!

Your point would be…

Timmy, he's a murderer!

Funny thing is, I think he already knows that. Don't you, my sweet Timmy?

"I'm not yours," Timmy muttered and folded his arms across his chest.

Lorenzo ignored this and offered him a hand up (he was leaning against the door frame). "Of course, you'll want something to eat, won't you? I dare say you haven't had dinner and you must be fairly starving."

Timmy glared at him distrustfully and bit his lip. All he heard in his head was Tootie wailing, absolutely heartbroken. In all sense of the word, she was now an orphan. He wanted to wrap his arms around her for some strange reason, hold her and protect her.

Am I in love with Tootie?

The Other snorted derisively. "You love Trixie, not that crazy bitch. Who needs some psycho following you around in hero-worship? She's fucking insane."

Although Lorenzo had a point about the stalking, Timmy still wasn't convinced. Her poignant cries were painful to listen to. Part of him wanted to block her out, even if it were a tad cruel, but as for the rest, he wanted to hold her tight.

TIMMY!This last was a howl of anguish. It felt as if she were dying, being murdered by the sheer magnitude of the situation.

Timmy isn't here right now. Can I take a message?

"SHUT UP!" Timmy roared, shaking with anger and indecision. "Leave her alone!"

Lorenzo smiled demurely. "Why, whatever have I done to deserve your hostility? Surely she's lying. All girls are good at twirling men around their fingers. Obviously, your little Tootie is quite an actress."

Somehow, Timmy doubted it. The emotions were too real, too raw to be faked. Besides, didn't Wanda say something about an inability to lie in telepathy? However, if Wanda was lying as The Other said women did, then she was acting.

But was she? He honestly couldn't remember a time when Cosmo and Wanda had lied to him; they had striven to always tell him the truth. That meant Tootie wasn't acting, which meant…

No. Lorenzo couldn't be lying to him. Lorenzo had his best interests at heart, he said so himself. He wanted to help bring his parents back to life, but wasn't it he who cost him them in the first place?

"Stop thinking. It obviously pains you. Come now, don't bite the hand that feeds you," The Other lifted Timmy up and led him by the hand into the kitchen.

"You're in no danger here. In fact, you're far safer here than with them any time. Look, there are your parents!" The Other said cheerfully and removed a plate of surprisingly warm casserole from the refrigerator.

"Timmy, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Turner asked, shooting a nasty look at Lorenzo. He smirked at her in response.

"I don't know," Timmy said slowly.

"I don't think you should be here," Mrs. Turner said, also shooting a nasty look at Lorenzo.

"Oh, heavens, why not?" The Other crooned. "We're a big happy family. True, two are dead, but why should that ruin things?"

Mr. and Mrs. Turner folded their arms over their chest and glared. They both wanted to speak to the two in private, but The Other shook his head at them. No warnings.

Splashes of color appeared on the table, a set of pink and green salt shakers. Even with Timmy's parents there, they remained and began whispering to him. On a side note, the pink shaker had a bandage around her bottom but blood still seeped through.

"Timmy! Please listen to us and come-" Wanda hissed but Lorenzo, picking her up, stopped her.

"I don't think this really needs salt," he said with a frown and flung her into a wall. She made a sickeningly thud and blood smeared the wall. Timmy stared.

The green shaker, enraged, lunged at Lorenzo. Who was this guy to hurt his wife? He could seriously kill her at this rate.

Sweeping his hand down adroitly, he caught Cosmo in one hand and squeezed him tightly. Timmy watched him slowly suffocate Cosmo, but, then, Lorenzo grew weary of such an easy kill and threw him atop Wanda. Neither were in any condition to fight or protect Timmy.

Upon masticating the last bite, Timmy slumped over the table. He was snoring softly. The fool had just digested a large amount of sleeping draught. He'd be out for a good while.

Lifting him gingerly, The Other half carried, half cradled Timmy to bed, his bed. Tonight was going to be interesting…

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

(Present day)

Tootie was pulling for me that time too. She needed to talk to me and I shut her down. I always seem to do that to her. I wish I could apologize, but I don't know where she is.

Lorenzo…it hurts so much…I remember what happened afterward, too. If only I had listened to Tootie…then The Other wouldn't have gotten that close to me and I'd still be happy.

I wish I had. I wish Tootie were here, holding me. I'm sorry! God, Tootie, I didn't mean what I did to you. I didn't mean to put you through all that. You hate me, don't you?

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(Three months ago, the week before the What-If Spell)

If there were any doubts that Timmy could kill Cosmo and Wanda, they were soon squashed that day. Standing in front of the sire and his creation were two life size replicas, thoroughly gutted. In fact, if it were not for the simple fact Timmy was slightly squeamish about proceeding with a trial run of murdering Tootie, The Other would be practicing it right now. He was proud of his progress, he had gone from an innocent naïve boy to a cold-hearted killer, his type of person.

"Good job, that's enough. That's enough!" Lorenzo chuckled, watching Timmy slice the Wanda dummy's head off. "Leave some of that anger for the real frach."

"But I wanna do it now!" Timmy whined, the transistor contorting into bizarre shapes in his hands. His heart skipped a beat- Tootie, it was now her glasses…

"Now, now, patience. I have a reward for you, my love," The Other whispered, bending down to pick him up. "It's for being such a good assassin-"

The transistor turned into Tootie and Timmy dropped it in shock. Not just her glasses, the whole shebang, a magical replica of her stood before him. His heartbeat doubled and then tripled. Tootie…

Trembling with suppressed rage, Lorenzo shut his eyes tightly and the replica exploded, turning back into its original form. But this wasn't nearly enough for him. Of course not, one death was not nearly enough. He had to kill Tootie as much as anti-fairily possible.

Timmy gasped, it felt as though his guts were wrenching apart. Every time Lorenzo killed the replica, complete with its panic and plaintive cries, a strange sensation seized him. On one hand, The Other had taught him girls were never to be trusted much less loved; however this was Tootie and he couldn't help but love her. And, despite Lorenzo's sage words, an instinct told him not to enjoy her misery but to try to help.

Cosmo and Wanda no longer showed up at trainings. It probably had something to do with Lorenzo nearly murdering them the last time, or it could be they had a trick up their sleeves. Since The Other (and, in turn, Timmy) sincerely doubted they were intelligent enough to do so, it was probably fear holding them back. Why not? They were terrifying when they wanted to be.

"Wasn't that a great show?" The Other crooned, caressing Timmy's back. His right hand was drifting down the boy's front, nearing closer and closer to his underwear and the "treasure" beneath. Nothing got him off like Tootie dying repeatedly (it never occurred to him that his obsession with Timmy was a bit like Tootie's, only hers was innocent).

"No…" Timmy murmured, wondering why he thought Lorenzo was up to something. Why would he do that? He was only doing what was in his best interests, right? Right?

"What do you mean, 'no'? Oh, I'm sorry. I should have given you a chance to kill her. Here, take the transistor, it'll split off into two forms. You can kill her yourself." The Other reproduced the deadly weapon and it did, as he suggested, split into two. The first form was, like before, Tootie, but the second had yet to settle into any definite shape.

"No, I mean..." Timmy could feel his attention drifting but he had to keep focused. He had to refuse this one thing, even if he never refused him. Lorenzo would understand, wouldn't he?

Finally, he managed to gather enough of his mind to voice an objection. "No, I won't hurt her. I love her, and I won't kill the transistor version of her either. I can't…"

This was dragging down the good mood Lorenzo'd worked up. Now he was flat out declining? That's what he thought. Timmy couldn't rebuff him, not while he was mucking about his mind.

"You will kill her and you will like it. Are we clear?" Lorenzo snapped, dropping him.

"And, if you don't…" He left the threat hanging but he knew what it meant, another round of deep-throat sucking. If only he knew why he did it so willingly…

The duplicate turned into a long and deadly scythe. Ahead of him, the true transistor began to cry, defending herself blindly against Timmy's advances. She begged and pleaded for mercy. Mercy, did he know that word? In a past life, perhaps he had, but not now.

Nevertheless, he cornered her, leaving only enough room for him to strike. Tears streamed down her face and his heart ached. The Other had to up his power over him for Timmy not to begin crying himself. Dammit, this was going all wrong. Timmy wasn't proving his superiority at all.

"Please…" The transistor, projecting itself as Tootie, murmured. Clenching his eyes shut tightly, Timmy caressed her face and tried to block out everything Lorenzo was screaming at him. He was completely deceived by this replica.

"MORON! IMBECILE!" Lorenzo thundered, clapping him in the back of the head. "If you weren't such a fucking wimp, you'd have her dead already! Can't you even kill your girlfriend?!"

Unbelievable rage filled Timmy, shaking him to the core. This was Lorenzo, taking control of his body and mind. He was powerless against him and merely watched as though outside him as the scythe raised and neatly sliced her head off. It rolled off, tears still streaming down.

"TOOTIE!" Timmy screamed, falling to his knees. "Tootie…"

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

(Present day)

"Sir, he's shaking like a leaf," Frank whispered, watching Timmy from a safe distance. Jorgen was right next to him, frowning as Timmy ceased shaking only to jerk violently. Grand, now the boy was having seizures. Just as the other fairy had right before she'd died- this was why mind searches were illegal!

"Continue," Jorgen snapped. "I said continue!" (Two fairies had snuck out of the balcony seating to try to and rouse him).

"But sir!" Frank protested, his eyes both on Timmy and also on Cosmo, who was also shaking badly. The tranquilizer was wearing off and he was beginning to realize just what was going on. If they weren't careful, they could have an incident on their hands.

"I said proceed!" The head fairy screamed. Veins bulged in his neck and he clenched his wand so tightly a couple of knuckles cracked. You couldn't really blame him- things were going badly in another universe as well as this one.

"Sir, if we don't do something, he's going to die!" Frank snapped. "You have to unhook it now!"

Meanwhile, on the platform, Timmy was drifting in and out of consciousness. Memories were flashing by, too quick for anyone to catch, but he could feel The Other all over him, like a thousand parasites sucking his life away. The only thing he regretted was not speaking to Tootie one last time…

Tootie! Timmy sent desperately, doubting she'd even hear him. Oh, well, he gave it a shot. He could die knowing he'd tried.

Timmy? It was the weakest cry he'd ever heard, but it was her. After all that time, she was alive? But where was she? Oh, who cared? He could hear her, suddenly his grip was a little stronger on life.

Where have you been?! He demanded, wishing he could hold her. The memories were finally slowing to a tolerable rate and he found he could space out while they ran.

Never mind that. What are they doing to you?! Concern rippled through the feeble connection, growing only slightly stronger by Cosmo, who was fending off a huge crowd of fairies to help him. Apparently, he sensed telepathy at work now too.

No, he was wrong. He couldn't space out, they were too strong. Lorenzo wrapping his legs around his, thrusting in, deeper, deeper. Screaming his name while Timmy desired to scream in anguish. No…

They…the pain…Lorenzo…(sob) This was all he could manage, spots were appearing before his eyes and the darkness threatened to consume him again. He needed to stay here for Tootie, he couldn't go until he knew where she was and how soon she could get there.

TIMMY! He felt her try to propel herself through the link into his mind room but something held her back. Briefly, he wondered what it was. She was the only thing keeping him tethered to this world- if she could be with him, even in spirit, he'd be ecstatic.

Tootie, where are you? Tootie? Why did you leave me? Timmy sent, realizing he sounded like a lost child but caring little. The connection was growing steadily weaker, like whomever was holding it was too.

Sobs flooded his consciousness- wherever she was, she was weeping for him. He sensed a sinister force behind her, lurking just beneath the surface. Where was she?

I had to! I was drafted to do something I didn't even want to do. God, I wish I could be there with you. Timmy, I love you and I don't want to be here!

Then why are you? Come home. Timmy replied, angry. Lorenzo lurked beneath his consciousness, menacing him. If she came home, all of this would be over. No more teasing, no more torture. Plus he wanted to show her just how much he loved her…

It isn't as easy as that and-No, why was she cut off? Who was doing that? Grr, why was he so out of the loop? What the hell was going on?

I can barely hear you. There's so much static. What's the matter? What's going on over there? Dammit, Tootie, answer me! In fact, there was more static than her present. He had to strain hear her and her answers were taking forever to come. It was as if she had to move heaven and earth to speak to him.

I- Now she was gone. All that was left was hollow, devoid of life. He could die safely because she wasn't there. Damn, he really had longed to clasp her, though.

"STOP!" Frank screamed and the memories blissfully ceased. Instead, there was only darkness, its welcoming arms reaching out to embrace him. Yes, he'd come to it.

TIMMY! This wasn't Tootie, unfortunately, but a puny male voice, Cosmo. Cosmo was, in fact, floating right next to him, holding out his wand threateningly. He was ready to wage war with the World (Fairy World, that is) for treating his godson like this.

"Are you all right?" Frank asked, extremely anxious. Jorgen was swearing a blue streak up on the balcony, not paying attention to the events on the podium.

"I talked to…Tootie…she loves me…where is she…?" Timmy whispered before collapsing into Cosmo's arms.

A black flash popped in and, just as quickly, back out. Cosmo didn't need to ask, he knew immediately who it was. He dropped everything to pursue it, including his godson. Fortunately, Frank saw this coming and caught him in the nick of time.

"Wanda!" Cosmo yelled gleefully and froze when he heard someone begin cursing her name.

"That Wanda isn't even a fairy anymore!" One fairy screeched and many joined in. Pretty soon, there was a huge group of people decrying her. Among them was one complaining she received a godchild when assignments were supposed to be suspended until further notice.

"A former fairy got a godchild, an illegal mind search was performed, a human anti-fairy is roaming the Earth, and another child, this one's lover, is a foot soldier. What the hell is wrong with government today?!" Frank muttered.

"Don't answer that. Human government is worse."

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

(Sophie's room, 12:00 p.m.)

"Timmy…" Wanda sighed, not noticing she'd been obsessing over him. Juandissimo was away, mixing another concoction to control her. Sure, she knew about it, but she also knew he'd have to cram it down her throat before she took it willingly.

"Who's he?" Sophie, reading a Beverly Cleary, inquired curiously. "You keep saying his name with that odd look in your eyes. I thought you didn't care about humans."

"I don't!" Wanda snapped but her eyes would not meet the girl's. "I'm just…oh, screw it! What do you care?"

"I care because you're my godmother and, as such, I feel I should love you. Don't you want to be loved? All humans want that."

"In case you haven't noticed," Wanda said coldly, "I'm not human. Thanks for degrading me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." All day she'd behaved this, repudiating her every time she tried to get closer to her. It was as if nothing she could say would either interest her or be taken lightly. What could they converse about? What did Wanda like?

"But you keep mentioning his name like it bears some significance," Sophie murmured, protesting. Finished with Ramona's adventures for the day, she leaned her head on her palms and scrutinized her godmother. What a peculiar creature she was, too, only the barest of color on her. What made her so miserable, she wondered.

"And you disappeared for a few seconds before. What's going on? You can tell me. I'll be your confidante. Won't that be cool?"

"For a little kid, you sure know a lot of vocabulary. Wonder who's writing your dialogue, a seventeen year old?" Wanda muttered.

"And no, it 'won't be cool'. How old do you think I am, six? Shove off, brat," Wanda spat. "My life is none of your concern."

"But I'm just trying to be nice!" Biting her lip, Sophie fought back tears. "Why are you being so cruel?"

"Life's a bitch and so am I," Wanda snapped. "You don't like it, too damn bad. I've got better things to do than deal with a snot nosed runt. I don't care who you are, kid, you're nothing to me."

Involuntarily (she was too frightened to desire showing any weakness to her), Sophie howled in misery. Tears slid down her cheeks while Wanda sat on the bed and glared at her. Bah, wailing, another sign of a pathetic human. She was damn sensitive, no wonder she got teased to the point she needed fairy godparents.

"Please! Be nice…I'm really sorry that I upset you, but I can help you. Give me a chance. I'm not like all the adults I know, I care. Please, Wanda, just let me try," Sophie begged, weeping unabated. Just don't hurt me!

"The only way you could help was if you died. Then I wouldn't have to take care of you. Don't get in my way." Holding her wand out at arms' length, Wanda pointed it squarely at her goddaughter's chest.

Juandissimo, back from the wand store, halted in mid air, mouth agape, taking in the scene. His new goddaughter was bawling because his wife the freak had her at wandpoint. God, he was gone for no more than an hour and mass chaos had erupted.

Growling, Juandissimo launched himself at his wife, knocking the wand out of her hands. They struggled for a few moments on the bedspread before Juandissimo pinned her to it. Sophie stood, irresolute. Somehow, this didn't seem like something she should be witnessing.

"Get off!" Wanda growled, struggling against him. "Dammit, Juandissimo, I'm sick of you!"

"And I'm sick of this!" Juandissimo snapped, reaching into her pocket to retrieve the photo. However she wasn't going to let him get away with it without a fight. After all, this was her only memento of Cosmo.

"Leave it! Get out of there!" Unfortunately, she couldn't fend him off properly and the photo landed in his waiting hands. He ripped it up in front of her. Sophie watched her godmother's face carefully, a glimmer of a tear shone in her eyes.

"I hate you," Wanda hissed. "I love Cosmo, how dare you keep me from him! He's my world."

Anger rippled through his veins and he lost control. Drawing his hand back, he slapped Wanda as hard as he could. His eyes widened in surprise but he didn't apologize. Instead he stared calculatingly at her.

"For how long?" Juan said calmly to her. Wanda held her cheek, stunned. "Until when? When I kill him? Will you stop loving him then?"

Sophie, paralyzed with fear, watched as her fairy godparents ranted and raved at each other. She discovered one thing, though- Cosmo was an important fairy. And she wanted to know more. If it meant going behind her godfather's back to do it, well, then…onward ho!

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