Iiiiit's a big couch of denial…iiiiit's a big couch of denial…iiiiit's a big couch of denial…it's a big, big couch!

(…) means twin's telepathy and ((…)) means Cosmo and Wanda telepathy.

No, I don't own FOP or any reference to its varied characters mentioned herein, and unless the new episodes that follow 'School's Out' begin showing the love again, I wouldn't want to. So, for now, Butch Hartman can keep his name tacked on…even if it is for nothing more than the royalties at this point.

Oh…and I don't own The Big Comfy Couch either. That belongs to some broadcasting company in Tennessee I think. : )

Fairly OddParents : The Next Generation

Chapter 7. The Other Side of the Fence

Wandissimo was insulted beyond words.

Never in all his life had anyone dared treat his sexiness in such a manner. Oh, those jealous of heart had tried, but none had ever come close to handling him as roughly as he had just been. To be snatched right out of the air from behind! Where was the honor? Where was the justice? Why had they simply not approached him from the front and dared him? He would have accepted a challenge. But no. NO! They had taken the coward's way, leaping from the shadows when he was unaware and unable to defend himself as a fairy of principles should be allowed. This was a travesty! They had denied him his right to bravery and pride. What barbarians!

The Latino fairy seethed over his mortally wounded dignity.

'¡Justo déme una ocasión! Just give me one chance!' he thought as he ground his teeth while smoothing back his hair and checking his ponytail, 'One chance is all I need to show these infidels who they have dared defame!'

Only moments later his little prison was opened and with the light that now poured in, so too did faces reveal themselves. Human faces. Adult faces…

Wandissimo froze. He had not expected this. Jealous fairies, Anti-fairies, insane pixies…anything else he might have expected and been able to handle. But human adults looking in on him as if he were nothing but common place? No, this was indeed a great surprise.

Before he had time to think of anything further, a strangely made wire net came in and swiftly scooped him up inside it, the end made to quickly draw shut so he could not escape it and could use no magic against it. He was pulled out and held aloft a moment as one human stuck his face perilously close.

"What is the meaning of this? What do you want with me?" Wandissimo asked in anger.

No answer came. In fact, the way the man seemed to ignore his questions made Wandissimo feel as if he didn't truly exist to these humans.

"Black hair, purple eyes," the man said with a grimace. "Not even close boys. Dump him in with the others."

In with the others?

"¡Espera! Wait! What others? What are you doing? Where are we going?"

Wandissimo's net was carried gingerly through a doorway and into a huge warehouse style facility.

One look around, and the fairy gasped.

He'd been wrong entirely. This was not just about him.

It was about every fairy that existed.

xxxxxxxxx

"So, you're sure Tommy will be okay alone with Cosmo for so long?" asked Tammy doubtfully as she walked along the street slowly, the small shoulder bag flopping against her back carelessly as Wanda hovered near her ear as a tiny pink bee.

This was one of those rare occasions where the twins separated because of their own interests. This day would be a particularly long one however. With her weekly library visit, her art classes and visiting her friend Kiki LaRue's house for dinner all in one day, Tammy and Wanda would be out of the house from 10am until after six o'clock. The plus side was that they would be free and away from the Vic-Bot for the entire day. The downside was leaving Cosmo alone with Tommy for such a long time. Tammy found it rather surprising that Wanda seemed to have little problem with this.

She looked out of the corner of her eye to see Wanda give a small smile.

"I'm sure they'll be just fine, Tammy. Cosmo maybe be a little over eager to do his job, but he always means well and does his best."

"And that justifies his doing some really crazy things?"

Wanda's smile faded to something just a bit more melancholy.

"Well, no. It doesn't. But that's just who Cosmo is."

Wanda said no more, but flew along as Tammy continued to take side long glances at her godmother.

Taking in Wanda's now slightly troubled countenance, Tammy couldn't help but suddenly feel a little down herself. Wanda had been nothing short of completely understanding and helpful to her in these past two weeks and Tammy had found herself starting to look to the female fairy for assistance and support when dealing with her brother. She just seemed to have a knack for dealing with nutty boys. Of course dealing with it from her own husband had probably taught her how to do that well. That, and she just seemed so smart. So much like herself in some ways.

She should have been thanking Wanda and Cosmo for accepting the job to come and help the children of one of their favorite past godchildren, but all she'd done instead was knock Cosmo for being a little on the odd side.

' "You're the smart one, aren't you?" '

Even though she'd said that to Wanda, what she'd been meaning at the time was the overtly clear difference between Cosmo's senseless ramblings and his wife's reasonably more thoughtful and able dialogue.

' "Are you sure he's supposed to be here?" '

What kind of line was that to ask about someone who had, as far as she knew, voluntarily taken up a job to help others?

' "So I couldn't wish for you two to get a divorce…" '

Geez! She'd even insinuated that Wanda should divorce him!

She'd hardly listened to Cosmo even once since he'd arrived, hardly even spoke to him unless he spoke to her or did something stupid and had practically written him off already as someone not worth looking too.

What a moron she'd been. This was a terrible way to begin a relationship that could go on for some time. No wonder Wanda was so quiet. She'd been insulting the poor fairy's husband from day one!

She didn't want to upset Wanda. She really did like her, but what could she do? Cosmo was just so clueless and it was just so annoying. Wanda had to see it. Of course…what if she did, but didn't mind it?

Tammy bit her lip. Maybe it was time to look at it from another side. And maybe it was time to consider an apology.

"Wanda?" started Tammy slowly.

The fairy gave her a short glance.

"Yes?" she asked politely.

"I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean it the way it probably sounded. What I said about Cosmo… He really is a nice guy and godfather and all…its just…he…well…"

Wanda gave an understanding smile.

"He's not exactly your cup of tea?"

Tammy gave a downcast look by way of confirmation.

"It's okay sweetie. Cosmo doesn't quite fit anyone's bill most of the time."

"Except yours."

The fairy couldn't help but smile broadly at that.

"Very true."

"Why is that? I mean, how did you end up with him?"

"I didn't just end up with him, Tammy. We choose each other. Well, there's that and Cosmo is sort of my lifesaver."

Tammy stared at Wanda wide eyed at the thought of Cosmo actually saving someone.

"He really saved your life?"

"Not in the physical sense, no. You see, when Cosmo and I first met, I wasn't sure who I was or who I was supposed to be. Everyone in my life had their own idea of who and what I should become and do with my life. I hated it. All I did was work and study constantly so I didn't have to see how everyone was shaping my life for me. My father thought I should go into business or accounting and help him with his things. He wanted me to marry some nice associate's son or someone he knew with money and power. My boyfriend at the time just wanted me to sit at his side 24/7 and just look pretty…or make him look pretty. Sometimes I'm not sure what he really wanted. But I can tell you he was possessive and jealous of the least little thing and insisted that I couldn't go anywhere without a couple of girls he knew to watch over everything I did. I was so bored and sick of it. But it was all I knew. I didn't know what else was out there or how else to live and I just turned numb to it all. Sometimes, I used to think that breathing was actually more of a chore then it was worth. I felt like I was lost forever. But then one day I met Cosmo…and the whole world changed.

"Suddenly, I found smiling was the easiest thing to do. For the first time in my life I actually relaxed and enjoyed myself. I found out I could laugh just like anyone else, as loud and as long as I wanted to. With Cosmo, I completely forgot about what everyone else wanted me to be and for the first time I could think about myself and what I wanted. I could actually think about what I might like. Cosmo asked me what I wanted to do. Cosmo asked where I wanted to go. He asked what I wanted to get and he asked what I was thinking about. He's never told me what I had to be or do or like."

Wanda gave a sweet smile of remembrance of the first day she met him.

"He just popped right into my life and I never looked back," she said softly.

Tammy blinked in surprised amazement.

"Wow. I didn't think it would be like that."

"Sometimes, that's the way love is. It hits you when you least expect it, but usually when you need it most."

"Even true love?"

The fairy gave a knowing smile.

"Especially true love."

Tammy looked appreciatively at a now contented Wanda. She really did believe that there was nothing better for her out there than Cosmo. It was an odd concept to so young a mind, but strangely, Tammy found it fitting and even admirable. To love someone with that much loyalty and faith… In some ways, Cosmo and Wanda's relationship almost mirrored her view of her and her brother. They rubbed each other the wrong way some times…they argued and got mad at each other sometimes…they even had to deal with the same people looking at them in totally different ways…but they still loved each other and Tammy could certainly not imagine being a sister to any other. They were even especially loyal and trusting of each other.

And even with as different as she and her brother were, Wanda had no trouble giving them equal time, attention and understanding. She was as good as any human mother.

'Okay. She's a fairy and she treats us like we're both totally important even though we are so different. Maybe…maybe I can do that too. Cosmo is really nice. He's just so goofy and weird and empty headed. Maybe I just need to get to know him better.'

Tammy smirked.

That's what Cosmo had suggested about Buck Landrunner, and that hadn't turned out too well. But Buck wasn't a real creature with real feelings. He was a one dimensional character with no depth or life experiences. Cosmo on the other hand… He was alive. He had feelings and he thought. Well, in a slightly vapid and absent sort of way for the most part anyway. But he had over 10,000 years of life and almost 10,000 years of marriage under his belt and she had to give him credit for that.

At any rate she could at least try to get to know him a little better. That's what she would have told anyone else if they had asked her about it.

"Hey, Wanda?" started Tammy as she stopped at the bottom of the library steps after making sure no one was around.

The pink bumblebee buzzed in front of the girl's face.

"Yes?"

"Do you think maybe next time, we could switch?"

Wanda gave a curious look of pause.

"Switch?"

"Yeah. Maybe next time we have to separate, you can go with Tommy and Cosmo can stay with me?"

Wanda smiled broadly. With nothing more than that one question, she'd understood completely.

"Sweetie, that's a wonderful idea."

Tammy smiled for a brief moment before asking almost worriedly, "Do you think Cosmo would want to though?"

"Tammy, I think Cosmo would love to."

xxxxxxxxx

Wanda had never been more pleased with any godchild as she was with Tammy. What she had asked that morning was like a breath of fresh air.

She really did want to try to get to know Cosmo.

Every other godchild they had ever had, had either liked Cosmo, or didn't. There were never any fence sitters with him. End of story.

Not that she minded completely. It did take a special kind of person to be able to handle his special brand of humor, emotion, cheer and often pointless ramblings. Goodness, even she, his wife, needed a break from it once in a great while. She understood completely.

But Tammy was the first child they had ever watched who had ever considered changing their opinion about Cosmo. It had been clear since day one that Tammy had not found Cosmo to be someone she would have ordinarily gone out of her way to really get to know. If he'd been human, she probably would have had nothing to do with him at all. She might not have made fun of him out rightly, but it was doubtful that she would ever have come running to his aid.

Yes, Tammy had made some comments regarding Cosmo that in any other venue Wanda might have been truly upset over. But to be fair, the girl was only nine years old. She hadn't said them with any intention to hurt. They'd just come out. Secondly, the girl's analytical nature made her far more likely to just say it as she saw it. It was a fact to her and didn't need to be minced around. The girl just didn't take emotion into account very well yet. She might someday figure that out, but in the meantime Wanda could see that it would prove to be the girl's one downfall in her human calculations. She had to remember that feelings always factored in when it came to people. At least wanting to spend some time with Cosmo was a step in the right direction.

Cosmo was going to like spending time with Tammy. Lately, he'd actually been unusually worried about her indifferent responses. He didn't always notice most things people said about him. Either that or he just ignored it. But he did notice that Tammy always seemed to have very little to say to him and it did upset him. Of course the fact that he was actually right in this instance made it all the more difficult to convince him the girl did like him and was just slow to warm up. Poor Cosmo. Things would seem to go along smoothly for a bit and all of a sudden he'd just get quiet as he looked at the girl dejectedly.

Tommy, being a boy and a little more like his father, had quickly grown used to Cosmo's silliness and in most cases looked forward to it as the boy was far more rambunctious and impulsive. Much like Cosmo himself. Those two stood a good chance of bonding well for the next few years.

If they made it that long that was.

One of the downsides with god parenting twins was that double the children, double the chance of someone making a mistake and revealing their fairies. These two though…they just weren't ordinary. With their own ability to communicate through telepathy, they were far more likely to waylay any accidental incidents of exposure. But still, one never knew. There were always surprises.

Like Tammy wanting to change sides of the fence.

Wanda smiled to herself as she watched her goddaughter work on painting a floral arrangement.

She couldn't wait for the day to end so she could tell Cosmo.

He was going to be thrilled.

So can you all tell that something will finally be happening soon? Very soon? Maybe next chapter even? He he. I'm so bad.

Thankies this week are extended to the following wonderful reviewers!

The-3-Amigos (aka: Squirt-Anne) - Teaming up can be pretty cool when you're working on a story as it gets ideas and creativity from more than one mind. Its amazing what a couple of people can come up with…as long as they all agree! Glad you liked my last offering. I thought the statue bit was pretty funny too. Somehow, I could so see Cosmo doing something like that!

Wanda Wish - We meet again! Thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you think its good! I try to keep everyone in character and when I go over what I've written, I try putting their voices and mannerisms to it to see if it fits them. Tommy and Tammy were difficult because I had to come up with personalities for them and I did try to make them a reasonable combination of Timmy and Tootie. I literally have mini bios written for them so I don't forget what I came up with. And I'm glad to see also I'm not the only one obsessed with Doctor Who! Though your sister would might know them better, Tom Baker (#4) would be my fave doctor so far, followed by Sylvester McCoy (#7) and than Jon Pertwee (#3). My fave side kicks include K-9 and Ace. You just gotta' give props to Ace. Put a bat in her hands and she'll take on anything!

Commander - Welcome back from vacation! I hope you had a good and relaxing time. Its good to see you updating your fics as well! Thank you for the supportive review and thinking this is going well. Its been a lot of fun writing so far and I'm pleased that everyone has been relatively happy about it. Personally I agree with you about the kids. Tommy and Tammy seem to be taking a hold of me as well and I've been coming up with possible story ideas for them for the future. Of course I need to finish this one first. ;) And good guess on the villain. To be honest, I haven't absolutely made up my mind who it will be yet. It does seem the obvious choice though, doesn't it? I took a moment to read "Origins" the other day, though I will admit that I've never read an Animaniacs fic before. I thought it was pretty cute and covered all the bases very well. Definitely not half bad for an early work. I'll agree too, now that I think back to the show, that a little telepathy between Yakko and Wakko is another apropos touch. They did a lot of the same thing with "the look" and automatic in sync actions.

Thank you again everyone for the reviews. It absolutely makes my day!

And lastly...my Spanish comes to you compliments of Alta Vista Babel Fish, so if they gave me the wrong translation, I apologize. I did take Spanish in school, but half way through my first year the teacher kicked me out. She thought I was making fun of her by sounding exactly like her when she would give us a phrase to say. I wasn't actually. Its just that she was a native from Spain with a wonderfully strong accent and a naturally low toned voice like myself. She just didn't want to believe that I have a very special ability to assimilate accents. Seriously. I went to London a while back and in one day I was sounding like a natural born Brit without all the cockney dialect. In school and church plays I have never used my true New Jersey sound. I always use accents with my characters. Personally, I'd say my fave accent is Irish. I'll spend the whole of St. Patrick's Day talking with it and driving everyone nuts!

Oh, and super cyber points to who ever can tell me where the original use of "Babel Fish" comes from.

And now that you're done being bored stiff... Later all!

Trixie21

8/12/05