Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. I've had other things on my mind, and most of this was written today. I just sat and wrote for hours. I hope you enjoy! (And please review!)

Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to say I do, I really don't own FOP. The nice people at Nick (coughs "evil monkeys that canceled Invader Zim cough), Butch Hartman, Federator, and Viacom do.

Chapter Ten: Solemn Vigil

Timmy had yet to awake. Cosmo kept a constant vigil, only stirring to eat or guard the window in case The Other returned. Part of him yearned for Wanda to join him just as she had briefly during the "screening"; nonetheless, he knew there was little hope of that. All he could hope for was Timmy to recover soon.

Settling down next to his godson, Cosmo stroked his hair affectionately, not noticing a black figure slink inside the window he'd foolishly left open. Perhaps if Timmy understood there was no danger, he'd awaken. Of course, Cosmo didn't know that Timmy was suffering extreme shock from re-experiencing all the horrors of his recent past. He just assumed, well, nothing. Cosmo was ignorant of pretty much everything so he hadn't the foggiest notion as to why Timmy was unconscious for going on three hours.

Gripping the shredded bits of her photograph, Wanda, standing at the head of Timmy's bed, peered at Cosmo. She bit her lip, desiring his closeness yet abhorring herself for being weak enough to pursue it. Essentially, she waged an internal battle, to be with Cosmo or just to be in the same room as him.

Finally, she settled for enjoying his company, and, heart pounding, rested her hand on his shoulder. If only her heart wasn't fit to burst by this simple act. C'mon, you can do this. Why does he make me feel this way?

She pulled herself up on the bed, lying beside him. His green eyes widened in astonishment but he immediately held her tightly. Yet again, she relished the touch. The warmth of his body against hers was exquisite, like nothing she'd ever experienced before. Risking her life was worth this for him.

"I saw you before. What were you doing there?" Cosmo murmured, his right hand resting on her thigh. Wherever he touched her, she reverted to her former state, slowly turning pink again. It was sort of like heat sensitive material, only Cosmo sensitive.

"I couldn't stay away. I couldn't stop thinking about him just like I can't stop thinking about you..." Wanda murmured, listening to his heartbeat. Like nothing else, it calmed her. What was it about him?

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Cosmo said, his left hand gently cupping her breast. She didn't mind, to the contrary, it sent delicious shivers down her spine. He wasn't Juandissimo, he was Cosmo, and that gave him the liberty to do anything he wanted to her.

"What?" Wanda said, guarded. Frowning slightly, he shifted position so he could look her in the eyes and instantly cringed. She didn't have pupils anymore, at least, any he could see. Her eyes were like a void, so very black.

"Why are you all black? And how come I don't hear your heartbeat anymore? And where's your wand?" Cosmo bubbled, oblivious to her trembling in anger. Quivering, she shoved him off of her, grabbing his wand and pointing it to his chest.

"Wanda?"

"You...you're just like him! Are you going to force me to have sex with you, too? Relieve your machoness while I just lie there like a bump on a log?" Wanda snapped, biting back tears. God, she'd thought him to be different, better than this. No, men were all alike. They took what they wanted and to hell what anyone else thought.

Cosmo, taken aback by her hostility and sudden mood change, began to cry. Tears streamed down his face (meanwhile, Timmy was out like a light), and he flung himself at her legs, knocking her over. They landed ungracefully in a heap, the wand slipping from her grasp. She was defenseless again.

"I'm sorry!" Cosmo wailed, his head lying on her stomach while his arms were tightly wrapped about her legs. "I didn't mean to make you mad! I don't think you're a freak-"

"You think I'm a freak?" Wanda retorted. "Fine. Fuck off, I don't want anything to do with you-"

((I'm sorry! I don't think you're a freak! Wanda!)) Extracting his arms from her legs, he gained momentum, sliding down so he could lie directly atop her. She was so stunned at the ease of his telepathy she didn't object. An odd sense of peace settled over, as though he was meant to talk to her in that fashion.

((You can...speak to me mind to mind? And it doesn't hurt?)) Wanda replied, dumbfounded.

((Why would it? We're married and soul mates!)) Cosmo grinned slyly at her, caressing her neck, supporting her head so he could kiss her.

((We're married? But how? I'm married to...)) Wanda trailed off when Cosmo's lips touched hers. Pure exhilaration raced through her- she wrapped her arms around him in response, pulling him as close as possible to her. Briefly, the thought occurred to her that she was cheating on her husband, but what if Juan wasn't her husband? What if Cosmo really was? Wouldn't that be grand?

((Hey, when I touch you, you turn pink!)) Cosmo said, delighted. Wonder if it works for other parts of you too.

((What do you mean, 'other parts'?)) She gasped as his right hand slid from the nape of her neck to her breast, kneading it between his fingers. Surges of bliss ran through her; she was jubilant for the first time in her life. Desire- she wanted him, all of him. And it looked like she was about to get her wish.

Trailing kisses down her neck, he removed her shirt and gently unhooked her bra. Smudges of pink appeared wherever he touched her, anywhere he touched her. It soon became a game for him, rolling his palms up and down her chest and marveling at the difference.

Wanda moaned, raising her arm to stroke his hair. Nothing could ruin this moment, nothing. Juandissimo was watching Sophie and he was the only fairy she needed to worry about. He couldn't tell if she'd slept with Cosmo just by looking at her, anyway.

Grinning widely at her reaction, Cosmo continued, sliding his tongue around to softly suck on her belly button. This time, she was engulfed in a wave of sinful pleasure, especially because his tongue was swirling about, slowly making its way down to her waist. His hands were on her hips, his mouth drawing her pants further...

((What the hell do you think you're doing?!)) Juan sent, the pleasure beginning to be dulled by the agony he was causing her mentally.

((Wanda? What's the matter?)) Cosmo sent, sensing her withdrawal, literally. She curled up in a ball, wrapping her arms around her legs. Hot spasms whipped through her body; he was intruding upon her private thoughts, pillaging her of her precious sanctuary.

((Get. Out.)) Wanda snapped back. ((What I do with Cosmo is none of your damn buis-))

((You whore. You charlatan. You weren't content with just sleeping with me-))

((Sleeping with you? Oh, so that's what you call it. I thought it was stick tab B in slot A. And do it with as much bravado as possible, so it looks like I'm a battlefield and you're winning one for your side, resplendent with charges and war cries. Meanwhile, I'm getting trampled, abused, and treated like crap. Glad to see you know how to fuck grass, Juandissimo.))

Cosmo gasped, stunned at her cruelty. Then, naturally, he began to giggle. A battlefield? That was a funny way to describe having sex! The thought that she might have been entirely serious didn't strike him.

((So you go to the green haired idiot like the slut you are?))

((I guess screwing with you is like screwing with ten fairies, if you really think I'm a slut. You groan enough to make it seem that way. What's the matter, Juan? Insecure in your masculinity? Is your package that pitiful?))

((Do not insult my genitalia.))

((Yes, I know, because you grew them yourself.))

((I did not! I was a breach birth-))

((Because even your mother didn't want to give birth to that. C'mon, your ego is bigger than you are!))

((How dare you insult my-))

((What? Your mother or your pride and joy? Oh, you'll get over it. One little cuddle with mini Juan and all your liquid dreams will come true.))

((Get out of her head!)) Cosmo snapped, shifting to a sitting position and cradling Wanda. Gently, he stroked her face, watching her grimace and shudder with each violent invasion. If it was the last thing he did, he'd kill Juan for hurting her so badly.

((Why? So you can get inside her? Fat chance, buffoon. You lost your chance. She's mine now, for better or for worse.)) Juan retorted, sensing Cosmo pull his wife in for a kiss. Despite the agony she currently suffered, she returned it hungrily, wrapping her arms around his neck.

((Whore!)) With that, Juan recalled her as though she were a pet of his and thin air was all Cosmo was left embracing. Through the weakest link, Cosmo could feel hatred for him, repugnance for what Wanda became, and naturally, excessive pride. As for that, a word came to mind (not to his mind, mind you, but to Wanda's)- hubris. Pride cometh before a fall and, if Cosmo had anything to do with it, how he'd fall.

(Sophie's room, 10:00 p.m. EST- Do you know where your godchildren are?)

With utterly no regard for Sophie, Juandissimo proceeded to admonish Wanda. His arms were folded across his very muscular chest, his rage evident in his face and his posture. He didn't care; this was his wife and therefore his property. She had no right to seek out Cosmo, none at all.

"You are supposed to stay here and take care of Sophie, not tramp around!" Juandissimo hissed to an apathetic Wanda. "This is your job!"

"Guys, I'm right here!" Sophie protested, sitting upright on the bed. "Don't argue, please. You're upsetting me."

Wanda cast a sidelong glance at Sophie before retorting. Recent events had made her doubt her antagonism towards her goddaughter, especially Timmy's mind "search". Cosmo had imbued her with a peculiar idea, that she might have a heart, albeit buried in hatred.

Nah, never mind. No matter what, Sophie was just a spoiled brat. She didn't deserve special treatment. Besides, Juandissimo had made it abundantly clear that nothing she thought was important, so why bother to try to clear her goddaughter out of the room?

"Perhaps I wouldn't have to resort to it if you'd just told me the truth," the former pink fairy hissed. She was sitting astride the bed (pretending it was Cosmo), her fingers tightly wrapped about her wand. The harder she clutched it, the more a vague memory gained clarity. Perhaps if she continued to do it, she could see Cosmo vividly.

"I am telling you the truth!" Juandissimo lied, tempted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. How dare you try to sleep with that buffoon! You are mine!

"Slut."

"Excuse me! You're the one who compares our sex with having sex with yourself! I guess that would make you a man whore, huh?" Wanda spat. "Is your hand good for a quick fuck?"

Curling up, her arms wrapped around her knees, Sophie whimpered, tears streaming down her face. She was extremely sensitive to this sort of thing; that was why she required fairy godparents. At school, children taunted her to no avail, rendering her a sodden mess of tears, spitballs, and paper airplanes.

"Bitch!" Juandissimo snapped.

"Look at your creation, Frankenstein! Look what you made! If I'm a bitch, it's because you made me that way! You stole my memories of Cosmo and Timmy, you planted lies in my head, you used me as a sex toy, you-"

Trembling with rage, Juandissimo closed his eyes and allowed his temper to take over. After all, what good was it to contain it? She deserved whatever was coming to her.

And, so, to him, it was no surprise that he punched her in the face, giving her a black eye. If Sophie hadn't interceded, he might have beaten her further.

"Stop!" Sophie screamed, sobbing. "Don't hurt her! Sure, she's cruel to me, but she doesn't deserve this! She's a fairy just like you, you don't have the right-"

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, child," Juan said coldly. "You may be my godchild, but that entitles you to little when it comes to Wanda. Do not interfere."

Seizing her by the collar of her black shirt, he flung his "creation" into the pillow (narrowly missing the wall). Wanda glared at him, her wand poised. However, she never got an opportunity to fire because right as she thought of a proper spell, Juan vanished in a purple poof, leaving them.

Shaking her head and shuddering, Sophie helped Wanda up. Surprisingly enough, Wanda was so furious at Juandissimo for striking her she'd forgotten why she was angry with her goddaughter. All that existed was hatred for the one who'd stolen her from Cosmo. He'd pay dearly.

"Who is Cosmo, anyway?" Sophie inquired innocently, folding her limber legs beneath her. Wanda, positioned next to her, acquired a look of sheer rapture. This was the first time Sophie had ever seen her godmother like this (discounting the fact she'd only known her for a short while) and she yearned to know more.

"Cosmo ," Wanda said dreamily, her grip loosening. "He's wonderful. Goofy, but wonderful. His smile is magical..."

"Tell me more." As long as she wasn't being hostile, Sophie had little qualms with her godmother. She was acting almost normal.

"When I'm around him, I can't control myself. And weird things come to me. Like I knew him before or something.

"When he touches me, surges of joy run through me. I crave him with every cell in my body. I...I want him-"Wanda began, but Sophie, figuring out where she was heading, met the conclusion before her. She had some experience with this sort of matter, albeit on a small scale. What she deemed to be Wanda's fixation was actually love. Wanda was in love with this green haired fairy.

Shaking her head and deciding to retreat temporarily from the issue of an affair, Sophie switched tacks and selected another related topic. To her, it appeared as though Juandissimo exercised far too much control over his wife, more than was warranted. Such relationships were both unhealthy and, in her private opinion, forced. Something peculiar struck her when she watched them interact. They didn't feel right to her, as though tearing her from her love had been Juandissimo's original intent.

After all, with her limited exposure to the idea of affairs, she felt that they tended to be more lustful than actually love. From the sounds of it, this wasn't so for Wanda. This led her to question their marriage and its legitimacy.

"Where were you two married? I mean, you and Juandissimo," Sophie corrected herself idly, wondering why her thoughts too strayed towards her and Cosmo as an "item". (Wanda was projecting without realizing it. With Juandissimo off, she was free to use telepathy).

"I..." Wanda murmured, casting her mind about for that memory. It came to her, but it was so contrived, too perfect. The ceremony, the party, the honeymoon, nothing about it seemed real. In fact, if she didn't know better, she'd think it was the product of an overambitious, desperate, spurned lover.

"What's the matter?" Sophie inquired when it became apparent Wanda was lost in thought. "Don't you know where you two were married?"

"I'm not sure. I can remember it, no problem. But there's something distant in the back of my mind that whispers it's a lie. That everything I know is a lie. And, when I focus too hard on my memories, they scatter."

"Like cupping water in between your hands," Sophie murmured. But why would they do that? If she remembers things, she ought to be able to recall them, well, not crystal clear, but enough so they don't vanish. Unless someone's played with her mind...

Ignoring her entirely, Wanda shut her eyes, focusing with all her might on another elusive recollection. It was her first day at fairy school and she was all alone. Her personality felt different to her, not driven by hatred as it was now. What had altered her so greatly? Or, rather, who?

No, it wasn't just then. It was the other memories she had, full of blank spots as though she'd suffered blackouts in her childhood. There were far too many to be natural and most revolved around one fairy-Cosmo. Someone was trying to obliterate any mention of him in her mind.

Oddly enough, if she went into her mind room (Sophie yelped in alarm- to her it appeared as though her godmother had fainted), there was a tome in there, newly added. It was the memories Cosmo had showed her. Juandissimo, through his daily pillaging, had all but removed them. There was only one left, one delicate page.

Pressing her face to it like a small child introduced to the wonders and blunders of television, Wanda viewed her true past voraciously. Unlike the other reminiscences, this fit her like a snug blanket, enveloping her in comfort. It was like a cold wintry night, but she was safe with a warm mug of coca, a tender kiss on the forehead, and the memory of summer to keep her content.

For a second, outwardly, her hair and her eyes reverted to their normal color (the eyes, however, weren't evident). Her wings flickered before they too returned. Sophie, marveling at the difference, noted with a smile her normal attire, far more welcoming than the Goth look.

This must be what she really looks like. But, then why is she all black normally? Could the person playing with her mind have changed her physically too? Why would they do that?

Meanwhile, inside her head, pixies floated above a makeshift mini-golf course. Cosmo was in a business suit, speaking into a cell phone and ordering her around. She felt resentment, but, still love. No matter how he treated her, she knew he loved her.

This was more than she could say for Juandissimo. Juandissimo didn't love her at all, this much was certain. If he did, he wouldn't put so many limits on her liberty, place such significance on preventing her from seeing Cosmo, nor would he care less how miserable he made her.

Supposing all this was true, then why did she marry him? Did she marry him at all? She couldn't honestly say the memories didn't feel like a Fairywood production, resplendent with actors.

Another thing nagged at her about the ceremony. In a memory Juan had left intact, of their first meeting, he'd informed her he was an orphan, his parents murdered in a great fairy war. Yet there they were, beaming from the front aisle. They were fuzzy around the edges, too, as if he'd strained to place them there.

Juandissimo, unwittingly, hadn't created anything tenacious. Everything he'd inserted was pliable, once examined at length. Real memories weren't this way.

The memory had ended a while ago, but now she was replaying it beside her and another 'godchild' Juan might have made up (he had actually done so). Timmy's actions seemed genuine to her, the real mannerisms of a ten-year-old boy. Conversely, the other boy Juan proposed they'd guarded over, a child named Bryant, behaved too woodenly. Was it possible that only one existed? Could the blond boy be imaginary?

As she continued to debate her past, her goddaughter, glancing down at her worriedly, bit her lip. They wouldn't be able to remain like this; Juandissimo had to be coming soon. Even so, she had one last question for Wanda. She just hoped she could do it before he returned.

"Wanda?" Sophie whispered urgently, lulling her out and back into consciousness. "I have a question for you. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I was kind of wondering...if you and Juandissimo are married, you guys have to have a marriage license. I sort of wanted to see it. Should I put that in wish form?"

"Huh? A marriage license?" Wanda murmured, stirring. Getting married at a local Fairy World version of Las Vegas, with a shadowed figure bubbling over with enthusiasm. Sneaking around, she wasn't supposed to elope, her family disapproved of him. But why would they disapprove of Juandissimo? He was everything they wanted, everything the ceremony he'd said they'd had wasn't.

"Yeah, you know. My mom and dad had to get one. Dad put it in a glass case over the mantelpiece to remind himself of the day he lost his freedom. Mom doesn't like to refer to it like that..." Sophie smiled, thinking of how her father called her mother an oppressive, egomaniacal witch, but only when she was out of earshot. Otherwise, he called her an angel.

"I don't remember getting one. I guess I'll go check, if you want," Wanda murmured, too busy lost in memory to realize she was taking orders from a human child. "I'll be right back."

Sophie smiled as her godmother poofed off to wherever it was fairies lived, perhaps underground like in Artemis Fowl. She couldn't imagine living down there, but when in Rome...

Just as she returned, empty-handed because no such document existed, Juandissimo poofed in front of her, a seemingly innocuous test tube in his hand. Periodically, black bubbles fizzed in the concoction and Sophie was leery. Nothing good was ever constructed in a test tube filled with an oozy black liquid, nothing helpful. Here was another attempt on his part to control her, but why? Cosmo? Was he really that great a threat?

"What were you two talking about?" Juan said nonchalantly, loosening the stopper. A rank smell filled their nostrils, making the two females gag. He, on the other hand, was not affected.

"If we're married, why is there no record of it in Fairy World's library? Even if we eloped, to be legally married you need to fill out a form. When I cross-referenced my name, I found it with Cosmo's. What the hell is-"Wanda blurted out, really about to let him have it for all the inaccuracies and gaps in her past.

Juandissimo, sensing how dangerous these thoughts were, seized her by the throat, jamming the test tube in before Sophie could stop him. That's a good drone, drink every last drop. No more thoughts of Cosmo, at least not without repercussions.

"What are you doing to her?!" Sophie cried in horror, watching her godmother shift back to the black she knew so well. "She was almost normal! What...you're doing this to her! Why aren't you allowing her free will?"

"Free will is dangerous, and not only for her." Juandissimo, dropping Wanda on the bed harshly, spun on his godchild. I can't have her blurting out things to her. Even with this spell, I can't control Sophie. I have to make her fear me.

Wanda, choking on the vile dark magic infiltrating her body, writhed in pain on the bedspread. Every breath she took, every time she was reminded of Cosmo in any way, would equal a seizure. Right now, he was paying her back for before. He hadn't needed to give her such a large dose, but he was furious at her.

"You're hurting her!" Sophie cried, reaching to comfort her but, as Wanda was in convulsions, trembled to touch her.

"Love is painful," Juan said simply. "Do not repeat what has happened here to anyone. Anyone."

"Why?" Sophie whispered, recognizing a threat when she heard one. Teasing wise, she was the most picked on kid in her school. Many a time she'd faced a fist and heard those mocking words.

"Because you do not wish to know what will happen if you don't," Juan snapped, watching his 'wife' roll about the bed in agony and gloated over his triumph. Blood was dribbling out her mouth.

In other words, 'or else'. God, I hope Wanda's all right. I know one thing for certain- I need to seek out Cosmo on my own. If Juandissimo is restricting her this much, I have to do it myself. Too bad I have no idea where he is...

(The Other's creepy, badly decorated mansion, 9:45 p.m. PST)

Remy glowered at the pile of books he'd accrued from the library. Utter nonsense, down the spines. If only that brat Lorenzo was in love with hadn't stolen his only shot at locating her!

A mischievous grin spread across his face. No one had said he couldn't simply reacquisition it. Even if it were beneath him to steal normally, he'd do anything to escape Lorenzo's wrath, growing steadily greater by the day. Now, all he had to do was find the insufferable Turner's place and snatch it back.

(Marseilles, a small café just within the city limits, 7:00 a.m. local time)

"You know I would not have called you if this were not a matter of great importance," Juandissimo said, sipping his sorely required coffee. He was seated in front of his former accomplices, who, up until now, had enjoyed a brief respite. They were causing mayhem; they were doing little than taking a vacation at The Other's expense.

"Yes, sure," Anti Cosmo said impatiently. Under his tough veneer, he secretly fretted over his wife's condition. She was positively pink! To boot, she grew kinder by the day. If he knew the person who caused her to change so radically, he'd make sure they were never heard from again.

"Oh, no! A human is crying. I need to go help them!" Anti Wanda said, no trace of her former stupidity evident. In fact, she was now downright smart. In every way, she was transforming into the mirror image of her fairy counterpart.

"Absolutely not!" Anti Cosmo retorted, seizing her by the wrist and glaring at her. "What do you think we are, fairies? We don't help people, we hurt them! My dear, what is wrong with you?!"

"I see you're having a few problems of your own," Juandissimo murmured, sipping his scalding hot beverage luxuriously. It was good to be out of the house for once. When he'd left, Sophie had just barely fallen asleep and Wanda was still in the grip of seizures. Life was good.

"And they're all your bloody fault!" Anti Cosmo snapped, leaning over the table to grab the fairy by his collar. "My wife was normal until you played Cupid! Some things you're not supposed to fuck around with and true love is one of them!"

"Let go of me," Juandissimo said calmly, producing his wand. Anti Cosmo glowered at it, but, reluctantly, released him. It would not do to tangle with a weapon of that caliber without being armed himself.

"Now, then. Ignoring that, my wife isn't adjusting as you said she would be. Those spells you gave me were worthless! She didn't forget Cosmo at all! In fact, she nearly slept with him today!" Juandissimo ranted, his fingers entwined so tightly on the handle that it began to crack.

"And this is my problem how?" Anti Cosmo said coolly. "If she had slept with him, the spell would still be in effect. You know it can be removed one way and one way only."

Anti Wanda, sipping her tea with a pinky in the air, left their business to them. She really was only accompanying them, she had no real reason to be here. It was only her husband holding her back, because he thought she was too dangerous to be allowed on the streets. (That and those clear wings of hers just creeped him out).

"Yes, well, that potion you gave me, how can I tell it will work? The last one you gave me worked for less than a week. I need something strong enough to-"

"To combat nature," Anti Cosmo said coldly. "You'll find I can garner little sympathy for your cause. You see, you are ruining my life and my wife's. I bid you good day, Juandissimo Magnifico and I pray to the Devil that our paths never cross again."

Then, in a move that stunned the muscular fairy, Anti Cosmo rose, threw his scalding hot tea in his face, and, along with his wife, vanished. Now what was he to do? His supply of cheap, ineffective dark magic had dried up. Oh, well. At least he knew one thing- Wanda would not seek Cosmo out again, unless she wanted to die doing so.

For every time she thought of him, convulsions would seize her. The more she thought of him, the stronger they became. If she actively sought him out, the convulsions would become lethal. She'd die because of Cosmo. It was delicious, and a definite way to keep her in check.

He'd warned her. He'd told her never to seek him out. But she hadn't listened and now it was time to show her who was in charge. Him.

(Under the slide, Dimmsdale Elementary, 10:30 p.m. PST)

Gary shuffled his feet, trying to keep out the cold. February wasn't notorious for warmth. Still, he had his anger to keep him warm.

Sometimes he thought his release was the butt of some cosmic joke. Mention him once or twice, release him, and then throw him into the background. After all, he knew nothing of what was going on, nothing at all.

He knew how much he wanted to make Timmy suffer for hurting Tootie. Although he wasn't sure where she was exactly, he knew he had something to do with it. Didn't he always? Everything supernatural in Dimmsdale could always be traced back to him, him and his stupid wishes.

Not that he really begrudged him one particular wish. If he hadn't wished him outside his mind in the first place, he couldn't be separate now. He'd just be another parasite, like The Other. (The thought nauseated him).

And living in Timmy's mind was a nasty place, full of cobwebs and tumbleweed from inactivity. Not to say he was stupid, just that he didn't try too hard to dispel that notion. He'd rather play video games than study or beat his ADD. Timmy was, in his opinion, a loser.

But where were Tootie and Wanda? He'd seen neither hide nor hair of either recently, especially Wanda. Given Timmy's recent history, he didn't doubt he'd done her in.

If only he'd return to school so he could prove his hypothesis. However, Timmy had been every day this week so far. Supposing he missed Friday, that would be all week. Was he in hiding, covered in fairy blood? Or was he laughing it up, living with Lorenzo again while he gazed up and admired his handiwork, Tootie's and Wanda's heads fixed to the wall.

The anger against his creator temporarily distracted him from his true focal point. He wasn't doing anything except pretending to be happy. (Just like his creator, ironically). God, how he weary he was of it. Day by day, out of the loop while the world passed him by.

No more! He'd follow whomever he needed to follow, even go as far as to visit Timmy just to find out. And look, here came his chance.

Darting forth like a bat out of hell, Remy Buxaplenty rushed past the elementary school. Well, beggars couldn't be choosers. Besides, he'd always wanted to know what was so good about that pipsqueak, anyway.

Stretching, Gary set off at a speed unknown to ordinary humans and proceeded to trail Remy, all the way to Timmy's house.

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

She wished he'd let go of her. As soon as he came home, he'd started gloating over his accomplishment, his 'taming of the shrew'. He decided this was a moment to celebrate, and there they were. The selfish pig was trying to appease himself in her.

"That's it!" Wanda snapped, inside a doghouse (the only place Sophie could offer and it was outside to boot).

"I don't care if I freeze to death! I'd rather die than have you fuck me again!"

"What? What do you mean, my love?" Juandissimo said, maintaining a calm indifference. Dammit, he thought if he'd broken her ability to think of Cosmo without mind numbing pain, she'd quit fighting him. Why wouldn't she just lie there and let him please her?

"If you want to masturbate again, don't ask me to join in so you have a warm place to insert yourself!" Wanda snapped, turning into her 'fairy' form.

"I'd rather spend the night with Sophie than you!"

"Oh, is that so?" Juandissimo retorted. "I'm not as good as Cosmo in bed, huh?"

"Cosmo is-"Wanda began, but, just as she'd spoken his name, convulsions gripped her again. Her body jerked back and forth violently (spasms whipped through her rapidly). Juandissimo, smirking, watched her bemusedly.

"Cosmo is...?" He pressed- he loved how her body shuddered when his name was uttered.

"Cat got your tongue?"

It took her a full hour to cease. When she did, she stared unseeingly up at the roof, unconscious. Well, beggars couldn't be choosers.

(Timmy Turner's room, 11:50 p.m. PST)

Remy couldn't believe how trustworthy the Turners were. Then again, he was ignorant of the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Turner had been dead for some time and no one, in their right mind, was really watching the house. So, while it seemed extraordinary to him that the door was unlocked, it wasn't, all things considered.

Meanwhile, behind him, Gary scowled. Tim-Tim left the door unlocked, the moron. What's he waitin' for, the robbers to put him outta his misery? Well, don't mind if I do.

Climbing the stairs slowly and straining his ears because he could swear he heard something behind him, Remy gazed at nothing, his mind focused entirely on his objective. He didn't know how he would find Timmy (especially because he didn't go to the same school as him and didn't know he'd been comatose for five days) so he didn't know how prepared to be. Would he be like The Other? Or would he just be a pushover?

Gary, muttering curses under his breath, silently compelled the boy in front to pick up the pace. If he kept taking this long, it'd be morning before he arrived at the landing. What was his damn problem?

At long last (Gary counted twenty minutes alone to climb the stairs), they reached their destination. Of course, he didn't expect Remy to barge right in. Instead, he knocked.

You don't knock on their door if you're breaking into their house. God, how stupid can you get?! Gary grumbled in his thoughts. Then again, what he did next was also laughable.

"I'm Remy Buxaplenty and I'm here to...uh...take back a book I borrowed. Yes, that's believable."

Not if you add that clause! What a moron, he's almost as bad as Cosmo...

Interpreting the silence as consent (you know, oddly enough, most people liked to sleep at that hour of the night, excepting internet addicted authors), Remy barged right in. Another unlocked door, he was in luck. Or not.

"Who dares come in?" Cosmo snapped, his eyes cloudy. His wand was held out as a weapon, unbeknownst to him. He was having, as Timmy knew it, another flashback. In other words, he didn't know what on earth was going on around him, he was lost in the past.

"It's the mailman!"

Gary would have laughed if it weren't so sad. Cosmo was haunted by specters of the past, all because of his stupid godson. Perhaps if he pummeled Timmy into oblivion, he'd remember what was going on.

"Er, right..." Remy muttered, tossing articles of clothing and books aside to locate the magical book. Some landed on Timmy, nearly smothering him. (Gary uncovered him- no one killed Timmy but him).

"Where is it?!"

While the ditzy blond occupied himself with a fruitless search, Gary examined Timmy. Scars on his wrists, skin just dangling off of his bones, Timmy was in worse shape than he had been under Lorenzo's tutelage. If he weren't furious at him for killing Wanda and Tootie, he'd be worried about him. Beneath the resentment and deep-seated antagonism, he did concern himself a little about him.

Cosmo, floating above them, turned into a manner of objects, including cheese. He was utterly oblivious to what was going on, much to Gary's chagrin. Of course, he didn't know that Cosmo was growing insane due to Wanda's absence, that the only lucid moments he shared were few and far between.

"Found it!" Remy proclaimed, hoisting it up despite its frantic struggling. "Feh, this was a piece of cake. I wonder why Lorenzo didn't make me do this a while ago."

Unfortunately for him, the book didn't take too kindly to abuse. It bit him in the right hand, the one holding it, kicked him in the shin, called him a "rip-off artist", and fled the room. If Gary didn't know any better, he'd say the book was emulating a certain other blue character in a show on Cartoon Network, but he thought he'd keep silent just in case he was wrong.

If Gary thought he was going to heroically rescue the book, he was sadly mistaken. For when Remy turned his head to note the book's passing, he noticed Gary. There was a moment where both stared at each other, Remy wondering what to make of imaginary boy and Gary wondering why Remy was such a wimp.

"Get out of my way," Remy growled, shoving Gary aside. Closing his eyes tightly, Remy did a bit of dark magic, teleporting himself instantly to Lorenzo's mansion. It seemed that merely touching the book endowed one with a bit of magic.

Gary, not one to be left holding the torch, cast one quick glance at Timmy, straightened his pillow, and vanished. No one other than Remy had known he was there.

(inside Timmy Turner's mind)

There's nothing for me out there. No matter how many times Cosmo calls me, I know there's no point in answering. Why should I? Tootie's gone, Wanda's downright evil, and the school in general is out to get me. I think I'll lay here like this forever.

I wish I had killed myself. What's there to live for? Gifoalski's taunting? Lorenzo's rape attempts? Gary's insinuations? Cosmo's loss of sanity?

I remember when I was little and I had a bad dream, if my parents weren't "otherwise occupied", they'd let me cuddle up with them. This is no dream. I can't cuddle up with them because they're six feet under. All because of a dumb wish.

God, I hate myself. Everything that's happened has happened because of me. I deserved to be raped...

I deserved Lorenzo using me as a sex toy. At least there I was of use, in and out, in and out. The pain...

Cosmo doesn't know I kept all those blades. I still cut myself, only not in places easily visible. After all, who exactly is going to look at my inner thigh? (Aside from Gifoalski).

When I cut myself, a rush of adrenaline fills me. I can control this pain; it doesn't haunt me like Lorenzo's touch. Sure, there are scars, but it's not nearly as bad as the internal bleeding. Besides, my pants cover them up nicely.

In a world where wishes are valued and fairies exist, you'd think my wishes would mean something. Did they turn their backs when they saw how reckless I was? Is that why they're taking away everything from me? Does it make them happy?

I know I'm as far from happy as it's humanly possible to be. If it weren't for Cosmo floating over my bed, catatonic, I know I'd be in the darkness.

He wants me to wake, but I won't. I prefer the darkness; it's soothing. This is where my parents went after Lorenzo was done with them. It's the only place I feel safe.

I could have lived here forever but Cosmo stopped me. Even now, I don't really understand. I guess somewhere in that empty head of his, he loves me, but still...Why did he wait so long to tell me? Is he really that scared of The Other that he'd do anything to appease him? Did he just stop me because The Other told him to?

I wish I knew where Tootie is. She didn't even leave me a note, nothing. If she had been there, I know she wouldn't have let things go so far. I know she at least loves me, if no one else.

I wonder how I would have reacted if I went back in time and told my ten year old self that my parents would be dead because an evil anti fairy killed them and ruined my life. I bet he'd laugh it off and call me a nut. I wish I could go back to that time and unwish everything that made this happen. I'd rather not have Tootie if it meant a normal life.

Normal, what is it anymore? I can't even look around without thinking of what Lorenzo did, all the trouble he caused, everything that's my fault. I might as well have killed Principal Waxelplax, Tootie's parents, Cal, and my parents since it was my own selfish wish that did it. You might as well say I raped Vicky. Okay, maybe not, because that is so creepy.

It's ironic, though. If Lorenzo hadn't come and made a date with

Vicky, Tootie would never have lived here because she was camped out on our doorstep. My parents probably would have stepped on her or something...and the old me would have found it funny. The new me feels like that doormat, always stepped on.

Sometimes I wonder just what it is I see in Tootie. Is it her loyalty to me? Is it my desperation? What's so damn attractive about her? What is about her that I need so badly that I can't focus?

It's ironic. Twice I've fought the darkness, only the first time did I have the will to live. Even after The Other murdered my parents, something told me not to let the bastard get away with it. I should have listened to that voice and not let him get away with everything he did. If he hadn't, I wouldn't be here, wishing I were dead.

Maybe I should have realized when I was ten, with all those people after me, that there really was no point to my existence. What is it but pain and suffering? Why am I alive? What purpose does it serve?

I can feel arms encircle me. Cosmo? No, it doesn't feel like him at all. He smells slightly of cheese unerringly. It feels like Tootie...

Opening his eyes, Timmy pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He wasn't sure he knew what exactly incited him to perchance leave the darkness, but if she really was here, then it was worth it. True, her warmth radiated from her, warming his soul.

Yes, it was her. For some indiscernible reason, whip marks covered her torso. His finger traced them, sliding under her shirt and daring himself to follow it beneath her training bra. His breaths were ragged just thinking about it...

Just before he reached a location of no return, Tootie rolled over. Sensing possible ramifications, Timmy returned his hands to a more chaste location on her waist. Besides, if she awoke while he tried that stunt, he wasn't too sure she'd be appreciative.

Still, he wanted to do something while she looked so peaceful. Leaning over her shoulder, Timmy kissed her lightly on the lips, savoring it. Hmm, her lips were slightly salty, as though she'd been crying. He wanted to kiss away her tears.

Tootie, moaning something about a "Lorelei" in her sleep, accidentally sent something. I wish...it hurts...I killed someone...Timmy...I'm not worthy of you anymore...