Chapter Four: 100 Different Ways

Thirty-year-old Timmy Turner sat on a wooden bench in the middle of Dimmsdale Park, alone and miserable. He had screwed up big-time and he knew it. Nothing could change the past, not even Cosmo and Wanda, since they had long since been taken away from him by Jorgen Von Strangle and he couldn't remember them anyway.

It all started three long weeks ago. Everything seemed so perfect back then; he had his loving wife, Tootie, and his adorable, ten-year-old twins, Tammy and Tommy. He was sure the happiness would last forever, but he was wrong...

One bright, sunny afternoon, he opened the fridge to find that, yet again, it was empty.

"Tootie!" he called into the living room. "I'm going grocery shopping, so I'll see you in a while!"

"Don't go yet," she said as she came into the kitchen. "Our favourite film, Love and Lust Collide, is on in five minutes. Don't you remember when we first watched that?"

"Yeah," he replied, "and that's not all we did that day."

"Shhh," she hissed with a smirk, "we don't want the kids to hear."

"Sorry," he said, blushing slightly.

"It's okay, but please stay and watch it," she begged.

As I tried to say goodbye

You wouldn't let me

Kept holding me back

"Sorry, sweetie," he apologised, kissing her cheek. "I promise I won't be gone long."

With that, he exited the front door and headed for the Wall 2 Wall Mart. Once there, he grabbed a customised "scooter trolley" as people called them, and began to shop.

He was just pulling a Chinese meal for four down off the shelf, when he heard an all-too-familiar voice behind him.

"Hi, Timmy. I didn't expect to see you here."

"Hello, Trixie," he answered, turning round, a slight bitterness in his voice.

"There's no need to take that tone with me," she said coolly.

"Whatever," he replied.

"Look," she said, becoming serious, "I'm sorry for all that I've done to you. Maybe we can sort this out and be friends."

"Well... okay," he replied, relieved to have at last made peace.

"Or, if you want," she purred, wrapping her arm around his waist, causing him to shiver in pleasure, "we can be more than that."

"Yeah..." he said dreamily, "I mean no! I have a family and I love them more than you could ever imagine!"

"Aw, come on," she teased, wrapping her other arm around his waist and interlocking her fingers, trapping him in her grip, "just once. No one will ever know..."

"Fuck off, Trixie!" he shouted, his voice growing weaker. Damn hormones!

No more was said as she gently pressed her lips against his. A warm tingling rushed round his body, making him forget everything. All that mattered was her... kissing him...

Later that afternoon, Timmy awoke to find himself naked in Trixie's luxurious, king-size bed, with Trixie, also naked, snoozing away beside him.

"Shit," he mumbled to himself. He had betrayed his own wife.

When he finally got back home (he had to speed-dress and run) and looked into Tootie's loving, sweet, innocent eyes, he broke down in tears. He couldn't stand it.

"What's the matter, darling?" she asked with concern.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed, "I... I... I betrayed you!"

Tootie's heart shattered. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"How... how could you?" she shrieked.

"I'm... so... sorry..." he choked. "Trixie...

"TRIXIE?" she screamed at the top of her voice. "THAT'S IT! I'M GOING TO MY PARENTS' HOUSE... AND TAMMY AND TOMMY ARE COMING WITH ME!"

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That was the story. There he was, on that wooden bench, in that park, alone and miserable.

Now I see your face in the crowds

But it's never really you that I'm looking at

I've tried my luck calling night and day

And now I'm stuck

'Cause everything you throw away

Three weeks and Tootie hadn't spoken to him. He seriously doubted she'd told Tammy and Tommy (she wouldn't want them knowing about that kind of stuff at their age) but all he cared about was Tootie... She was his world.

I'd hold my breath and walk through fire for you

I've tried my best, but all my letters will not do.

He hated Trixie more than he had ever done in his life and just wished there was a way to undo the past. He just wanted to hurt that bitch for causing him so much pain and just be able to talk to his wife.

(Aye, aye, aye) I wanna tell you

(Aye, aye, aye) My love is so true

(Aye, aye, aye) You've got me holding on, yeah

(Aye, aye, aye) What was I thinking?

(Aye, aye, aye) I've started sinking

(Aye, aye, aye) Told you time and time again I was wrong

He wanted more than anything for his life to get back on track. He couldn't live without the love of his life, but no matter what he did to try and get her back (letters, phone calls, pushing through crowds), nothing seemed to work.

100 different ways I could say I'm sorry, oh

And every other day I try something new, oh

I'd write it out in blood if I thought you'd change, but

Oh, it's not enough for you

He put his face in his hands, remembering... The day after they made love at sixteen, he proposed to her in the schoolyard. His memory consisted of Tootie bounding around like a hyperactive three-year-old and screaming, "YES!" as loud as she could. The thought normally made him smile, but he didn't feel capable of smiling.

When they turned eighteen, they had a beautiful white wedding. The photograph that his dad took on the day, still resting on the mantelpiece, lingered in his mind.

He would also never forget when they had their twins, Tammy and Tommy, at twenty. Both his and Tootie's parents were over the moon and he was thrilled to finally be a father. He would kill for a glimpse of them as he sat on the lonely park bench...

Remember how we laughed together?

Said we'd be like this forever?

I know so much has happened, baby, oh

Why did I hurt you so?

Silently, he sobbed into his hands, fully regretting the extent of the actions.

Why did I have to fall pray to her again? Why did my lust have to overpower me and ruin my life?

He knew that someone somewhere must have been watching him (it was, after all, a busy park), but he didn't give a damn. He didn't give a damn about anything anymore...

Remember how we stayed up dreaming

Of all the things that we believed in?

I know too much has happened, baby, oh

And every day I wonder why I let it go

Unbeknownst to him, someone he knew had been watching him from the other side of the park. She started walking towards him, steadily closing in on her target.

Timmy was too busy grieving to notice anything strange. He was still desperate to speak to his wife and tell her exactly how much he loved her.

(Aye, aye, aye) I wanna tell you

(Aye, aye, aye) My love is so true

(Aye, aye, aye) You've got me holding on, yeah

(Aye, aye, aye) What was I thinking?

(Aye, aye, aye) I've started sinking

(Aye, aye, aye) Told you time and time again I was wrong

Trixie, you bitch, I hate you! Goddamn it, woman, I hate you!

His sobs increased, as his thoughts turned to suicide.

I can't go on like this anymore. My life just isn't worth living... Maybe I should just kill myself and be done with it...

100 different ways I could say I'm sorry, oh

And every other day I try something new, oh

I'd write it out in blood if I thought you'd change, but

Oh, it's not enough for you

The mysterious figure was only a few steps away, but still Timmy failed to notice. He was deciding what the best way to kill himself was.

Should I use a knife? No, I don't like knives... A rope? No, it's too slow. I want it to be quick and painless... A gun to the head, maybe?

100 different ways I could say I'm sorry, oh

And every other day I try something new, oh

I'd write it out in blood if I thought you'd change, but

Oh, it's not enough for you

"Timmy?" she queried.

"Tootie!" he exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "It's you! It's really you!"

"Yeah," she replied. "I just came to see how you were... I missed you."

"I missed you too," he said, tears of joy forming in his eyes, rather than of sorrow. "I kept thinking I saw you in crowds, but it was never really you... I love you so much, I... I don't know where I'd be without you..."

"How about in Trixie's bed?" she spat rather acidly, narrowing her eyes.

Timmy cringed. Just the thought of it made him want to retch.

"Please forgive me..." he begged, his tears becoming sorrowful again. "I love you."

"Then why would you do that to me?" she snapped. "When you and Trixie were... sleeping together, didn't you once think about your family? WE HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW! HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'D FEEL IF THEY EVER FOUND OUT?"

Timmy once again buried his face in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Watching him, Tootie's expression softened a little. He looked so helpless.

"You really mean it when you say you're sorry, don't you?" she asked quietly.

He nodded, hardly able to speak. He was sure he was running himself dry.

With a heavy sigh, Tootie said, "Okay, I'll give you one more chance... only because I love you more than the heaven and the Earth... but, I swear, if you do it again..."

"I promise I won't!" Timmy squealed, jumping for joy.