AN: Welcome back for chapter 3! This time the focus will be on our other main character of this story, Cosmo! He's my favorite so I enjoyed writing this a lot! Not every chapter will be switching between the both of them, just view this as another introductory. Enjoy!

Truly, Madly, Deeply - Chapter 3

Cosmo Cosma had it bad.

"Bad" was such a vile word that has been associated with him throughout his life. Everyone he knows has used it to describe whatever it was about him. "Cosmo, you're bad at everything!" was the most common phrase he heard. Most assume that would hurt him but surprisingly it didn't affect him at all. At least he didn't let it on the surface. However deep down he was so used to being a screw up and that was the only thing he was remotely good at.

Never in a millennium did he think he would actually find something he was good at. Something that was right. Something that was good for him. Something that made him so bad it was so good.

That something was a fairy, like him.

If you asked him, this fairy wasn't anything like him. For starters, she was absolutely the most beautiful fairy he has ever laid eyes on. She had a captivating singular swirl that laid gently upon her head as deep pink curls of her hair flowed right past her shoulders, stopping about her mid back. Her gleaming eyes of rose always harmonized her cheeks that were colored in an identical hue along with her heart-shaped, strawberry stained lips. He adored those lips, as they were the same ones that claimed his first kiss. They were the same ones that still continued to pepper his face with love to this day. He could describe her natural physical beauty for hours but she was so much more than just a pretty face

Another difference from him was that she was so smart as she was probably the most intelligent fairy he has ever met. Every time they spoke, it seemed like she knew just what to say to him to help him understand the world better. No one really did that for him, often insulting him instead of helping. Cosmo didn't quite know how to define intelligence but he did know that someone had to be it in order to deal with his many questions he would spew out.

He knew she was smart because her grades always were golden A's, something he has yet to receive in his eighteen years of life. Cosmo knew she deserved it because she worked hard, putting in all her effort and care she had no matter what it was. The rare moments where his mind wasn't racing but instead was quiet and still was when he was observing her. He would watch as other fairies approached her with words of pleas. There was never a facade when she would voluntarily agree to be there for them as helping others was something she loved. As much as he loved watching her aid other fairies, his favorite was when she would help only him. They would sit for hours on his homework in which he most definitely appreciated but then sparked conversations would start. He would never tell a soul this but it was one of his favorite pastimes just talking to her because he never had to put up a front. No matter how dense his questions would be or how silly his personality can become, she still answered without a tone of repulse. With his personality, sure she wasn't nearly as nonsensical, that didn't stop her from joining in on it, radiating with her own jokes. Seriousness was something that was thrown out the window between the two of them. He loved her because she could handle his ridiculous personality. As they both would say, "They were two halves of a whole idiot."

He would secretly add, "Two halves that were in love."

Love was something he thought he was truly good at when he was with her. She was the one to make him understand and that in itself was a challenge for him because he didn't understand most things. Before her, Cosmo had no idea what love was. Not that he was afraid, more so that was never given the chance. With no chance, it seemed foreign to him.

All he had to go off from was the woeful words his mother would share with him. Those words told him that love was forbidden and he was forced to make a promise following her strict guidelines. He had no reason not to at the time, why would his mother do something that wasn't right for him. Unknownst to him, not breaking that promise was one of the most burdenmost things he has ever had to do. To him that was a dark period of his life as everything felt empty and alone.

Before he found out he was truly, madly, and deeply in love.

"Oh my Cosmo Lo Lo, where are you~?" A feminine voice sang.

Cosmo immediately jumped awake from slumber on his desk as most papers flew off while one begrudgingly stayed attached to his face. He stretched as he stood abruptly up and then proceeded to clumsily trip over his chair like the hardcore clutz he was, "Who put this on my face- woah- AHHH!"

With his face now deep into the shaggy carpet of his unkempt bedroom floor, the door slammed wide open, "Oh my! Cosmo, dear what in the heavens happened?!"

"Mama? Why is it dark?" He asked, a paper still stuck to his face. Mama Cosma sighed as she bent down to pull the paper off her son's face. Glancing at the paper, there were numerous algebraic problems. Most were unanswered but the ones that were erroneous or just had haphazardly drawn doodles of dinosaurs. All she could do was shake her head as Cosmo rubbed his cheek. "Oh! I was working on my math homework and then I got sleepy!"

"Cosmo, it's summer! Your school ended weeks ago!" she said shrilly, "And do you know what that means?"

With a small cheer, Cosmo smiled as he nodded, "Yeah! No homework!"

"No! Well I mean yes… I suppose you're right but there is something else." His mother was serious now, as if she was about to share the worst news in the world.

Sure she was serious with him all the time but this seemed like something that was extra important. Now confused, all he could do was raise a brow, "What does that mean, Mama?"

She lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet with him. With another sigh, she finally spoke, "It means that you are starting your summer job! You're almost eighteen… as much as I hate to admit it… but you need to start paying for your own 'accidents' now."

She looked up as he stood dumbly.

"You remember when you destroyed fourteenth street a few months ago… with an earthquake, do you Cosmo?"

Cosmo nodded again, "Of course! How could I forget? That T-rex was vicious! Maybe I should poof him up again?"

Mama Cosma just stared, not that surprised that he had just said that. Then she began to start her ramblings, "No, Cosmo dear! Your endeavors cost mommy lots and lots of money! I can't keep paying for them all forever! So you have a job at the local diner down the street, which you start later today! You know I love you very much because you're my little Cosmo Lo Lo and I only just want what is best for you! I want you to grow up… but not too much just yet! I'm still young and- and- it's not like I'm 20,000! Since you're not so little anymore… and… and…" Then the mint haired fairy began to sob, "Why does time go by too fast… I wish you could stay my little boy forever… someday you're going to leave me… tell me that won't be true."

Cosmo began to frown as he embraced his mother. This wasn't the first time she had gotten upset over him growing up. Even though fairies experienced changes in growth their first few decades of life, they normally stop around twenty five. From there, fairies stay the same size but leisurely grow older with wrinkles for eternity or until they turn into fairy dust. A part of him didn't quite understand when she kept saying that someday he will leave her. He couldn't conclude for any reason as to why he would? It wasn't like he was going to disappear for thousands of years.

He knew she didn't take separation lightly especially since his father… flew off. Cosmo hated to admit it but it was all his fault. He was a baby when that first of many accidents happened so it wasn't like he willingly turned his father into a fly on purpose. Since he was so young he doesn't remember anything about his father at all. He didn't know if he was as dim as he was or what he even sounded like. All he knew was that he inherited almost all of his genes from the many pictures he's seen. Besides the squared glasses, he was a carbon copy of his father, with the same bright green eyes, the shaggy hair, and of course smile. Although his teeth were imperfect as he still needed to wear braces, Mama Cosma would tell him that their smiles always curved in the same way. His mother also always said those were the things that made her fall in love with his father when she was young. She also told him that those traits scared her.

Finally coming up with words to calm her down, Cosmo held her tighter while whispering, "It's okay mama… I don't understand why you think I'm going to leave you? I am getting older but that doesn't mean I am going to disappear, I mean we are practically immortal after all."

Mama Cosma had her face shoved into his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably now as she spoke in undefinable babbling. Cosmo just let her as it always made her feel better to release negative thoughts. However, after a few minutes of this, Cosmo caught something he wouldn't have expected. She finally ceased and mumbled to herself, "You'll want to leave me when you fall in love."

With widened eyes, Cosmo was struck with confusion as he frowned again. "Love? Fall in love? Mama what-"

She cut in finally releasing everything at once, "Yes… I don't want you to find someone and fall deeply in love with them! Because- Because-!" She hiccuped. "Because then you'll become even more of a fool and you'll leave me forever! I know there isn't anyone out there who will take care of you like I do!"

This puzzled Cosmo, not really knowing what she meant by this, like most things. There hasn't been a fairy… or any creature for that matter… that has caught his attention like that. Sure he had crushes like on the Tooth Fairy but it was just a joke he had with his friend, Binky, not anything too serious. Someone like her was way out of his league and wouldn't give him the time of day at school anyways. He knows that he would never get with anyone that beautiful, he didn't deserve love because he didn't understand it.

Not knowing what to do all he could do was ask, "But Mama I haven't fallen in love ever in my life! How do you know that's what I'll do?"

She pulled away from him as she answered, "Because… that's what I did!"

Cosmo couldn't believe this. She was paranoid because she thought that he was going to do the same thing she did? The thing was that he felt there wasn't anyone out there for him. He had trouble making more friends than just the school runt, Binky. If it wasn't for him Cosmo would probably be the number one target for everyone's aggression. Hell, if he barely had any friends then how could he even find a lover? Love wasn't something he even thought that much about anyways.

They stood in silence as she took a deep breath, clearing her thoughts, "I'm sorry, I realized you and I are not the same, Cosmo. I just feel overwhelmed because of how much you're changing and I have my worries. My mind is telling me that there will never be anyone good enough that can take care of you, dearest. You're unbalanced, I doubt some arrogant and stuck up girl will stick up with that for more than a year." She paused again, shaking her head, "I've feared this since you were a baby but I do think I am being rather harsh. If you ever did think you have found someone, you must promise me that you let me meet them so I can approve of them. If I don't approve, they're not the right one for you. Is that promise clear?"

This left him stumped because he truly believed he wouldn't find anyone so this promise felt pointless. Knowing that this will cheer her up, he didn't put much thought into it. "Yes, Mama, I promise. I mean why wouldn't I introduce you to them in the first place? I'll still love you."

This made her smile with satisfaction, "Oh my little Lo Lo, I love you so much, more than anything else in this world."

"Love you too, Mama."

"That's right dear, now you better get going! Your job starts soon!" She gave him a quick squeeze, ruffling his fluffy hair of green.

"Right." He sighed before poofing up his new uniform and away.

Over the next few weeks, the topic of love seemed to be popping up a lot especially at his new work place. The diner he worked at had about five other employees all around his age not including the older manager of course. The manager looked to be forty thousand, which is estimated around sixty something in human years but that's besides the point. Running this diner alongside angsty but halfwitted teens made him want to pull his hair out most of the time. Especially when the newest employee rolled around with his clumsiness, dimwittedness, and all.

Like all employees at this establishment, training had to be completed. Cosmo was assigned to be trained alongside another fairy who had worked there already for many years. His name was Zephyr and was about a year older than him. Apparently he had just graduated from Cosmo's high school, Fairy High, as well so that made an interesting connection.

On the first day however he had asked Cosmo if he was on any sports team. Huge mistake.

"Well I tried out for the basketball team, but then Luther convinced the team to use me as the ball. Then for the football team, they said I could help out with kicking… but I was used as the ball for the starting kick… and I don't want to get started on the volleyball team… but again my face was the ball. Then for the dance team... Oh boy, those girls really knew how to kick where it hurts. "

When Cosmo finished, he looked up, finding Zephyr gawking at him. All the azure haired fairy could do was awkwardly laugh as he felt sorry for him. Sharing this landed him a couple of more weeks of training. On the other wing, he luckily didn't know of Luther and his cronies so he wasn't anything like them.

"Man, they sound like assholes." He replied. "I was on the varsity basketball team and since the school is so damn big I haven't heard about them."

Cosmo just chuckled at this while scrubbing the rugged stains of the plate before then dropping it causing it to shatter all over the ground, "Heh… sorry…"

Zephyr just sighed as he went to get the broom, "Look, I feel bad for you and all but you still gotta clean this up."

Cosmo just scratched his head and replied, "Right."

Cosmo realized he doesn't exactly make a good first impression which is probably why he had trouble starting new friendships. No matter where he went, he was always the laughing stock or the rear of a joke. Growing up as well he was always one of the easiest to pick on out of all of the other fairies as he wasn't quite self aware of surroundings. It didn't matter who it was, the popular girls, especially the jock sporty types of guys, the mellow kids who liked to keep to themselves, and even the nerdiest of fairies even found a way to mock him. He supposed they saw him as an advantage to climb the social ladder.

It seemed like he had more people who despised him than actually liked him. Well for one thing, there was Fairy Council as he has caused so much destruction due to his reckless magic use. He didn't like to think about it too much as that wasn't an everyday thing. However everyday in the school year he had tougher battles to deal with. For one thing Luther just loved persting him and seemed to mainly target him. Without a doubt Luther was his most fearsome bully. Sure he had the rest of the football team detest him but that was just because of Luther. Any guy who was on any sports team, Luther had connections to him and immediately had them torment poor Cosmo.

He thought things would change when he made it to high school but then he forgot he was attending Fairy High. Fairy High wasn't known exactly for having the nicest fairies around mainly because there were so many students that attended. The high school itself didn't exactly have the best track record either as it was viewed as dingy and sometimes even unsafe especially compared to all the other prestigious schools that were located throughout Fairy World. Inevitably it was destined for him to go there as it was the closest school to his house on the more trashy side of town. Cosmo didn't have much of a choice for his education as his mother is already scraping by for money just to pay for all the accidents he has done.

In order to get into all the privileged private schools, he would need a scholarship to be affordable. Knowing him, he wasn't exactly the best student either. The previous school year he had an average of straight D's, not F's because the teachers refused for him to be in their class for another year. It wasn't that he didn't try, believe him he did, it was more so that he hadn't exactly found the best study strategy and he was an awful test taker. Remembering large amounts of information was just something he couldn't improve on alone. Considering that Binky was one of his only friends, he didn't have many options for a study partner. His mother encouraged him as much as she could but she seemed busy with other things, like her daytime television programming, oh and again paying for Cosmo's expenses as she would add. Studying without her help was the least he could do.

His reputation for his first three years at Fairy High wasn't something to write home about either. If he wasn't smart, athletic, or attractive so there was no chance for popularity at this school. Unfortunately for him, Cosmo considered himself a low score in all of those departments of highschool popularity, especially in the attractive category. Even though he was on the opposite spectrum of genius and had the athletic capabilities of an infant, being attractive seemed to be the top priority through it all. He was waiting for his pubescent phase to pass but here it still was as he was going into his last year of high school. It didn't help that his competition was all past this with muscular toned bodies and clear faces. Not that he cared about his appearances all that much, he wasn't exactly fairy teenage dream boyfriend material. He knew that having a pepperoni acne face, the chunks of metal on his teeth called braces, and having an awkwardly lanky body type didn't exactly have all the girls floating right over to him.

Ever since his conversation with his mother, she made it seem like falling in love was something that would come to him eventually. To Cosmo, that felt further from the truth. The more he thought about it, there hasn't been a single girl who has shown the least bit of interest in him due to many obvious things not worth stating.

On the other side of the spectrum, he has shown interest in only a handful of girls, all of them being out of his league. The top contender nowadays was one of the most popular girls in school, the Tooth Fairy. She of course was associated with the highly acclaimed crowd of the school that everyone knew of. Other than her, Cosmo didn't really know nor care about the girls in the group. Even if it was harsh, he knew that if he attempted to speak to any of them, they would probably laugh right in his face. Which was expected as mostly everyone does.

The reason the Tooth Fairy seemed appealing was because when he and Binky were eating lunch on the floor of the cafeteria, Luther had punched Binky, causing one of his teeth to be knocked out. In the moment, Cosmo had backed away in the midst of shaking in his boots but saw this gesture he thought was so wonderful. Before Luther could give the smaller fairy even more of a beating, none other than the Tooth Fairy intervened. He could recall the exact wording of the situation.

"Luther, what the hell do you think you're doing?" she said, gritting her teeth as her cold stare stunned him.

Luther immediately dropped Binky just from being in her presence, "Uhh nothin' toots, I was just giving this nerd a piece of my mind, that's all."

She rolled her chilled minty eyes at this, "Well if that isn't the most pathetic thing I have ever witnessed, then I don't know what is. How about you grow the hell up and stop beating up on fairies who don't deserve it!" Her careful hands then retrieved the small from the unsanitary floo. "Look! He lost a precious tooth because of you! If you don't get out of my face right now, I'll poof all of yours away too."

Luther was shaking now, "Uh- Um! Yes, ma'am!"

Cosmo in the moment was impressed with the entire exchange. None of the girls from her group of friends would ever do something like that. Even if it was just over the smallest tooth, it was still an amazing gesture he thought. Not to mention he also thought she looked pretty hot while doing it too. Which is unfortunate because he could never end up with someone like her.

Then he would think to himself that in order to get those kinds of girls to like him, he would need to change almost everything about him. He felt like that wasn't true love. Hence the name with "true," in order for it to be real, Cosmo needs to be his authentic self. The problem was finding a girl who was willing to take on that challenge.

Not that his goal was to outright go looking for love. He had other things to worry about and besides his mother would kill him if he did even though they made a promise. If he barely had one friend, how could he find his soulmate he was pretty sure he didn't have?

It wasn't until one day out of the blue at work till Zephyr attempted to strike up conversation once again. It has been at least a week and they have gotten to know each other more. Out of all his other colleagues, Zephyr seemed to give him more of a chance. Cosmo appreciated this as this never happened.

Zephyr had just begun his break as the diner was desolate during the three o'clock hour on a random Tuesday. Cosmo was just wiping the tables as it was the easiest task that he could possibly do when he was approached. "Hey Cosmo, I don't usually ask anyone this but do you have a girlfriend or anything?"

Ah, the topic of love couldn't help but to mess with him again. Cosmo just raised his brow as he shook his head, "No, does it look like I do?"

Zephyr groaned, "Ugh no, you don't. Why did I even bother with this? I'm so clueless on this type of stuff."

"You're clueless on love?" Cosmo asked.

Zephyr was surprised he actually read him well. "Yeah, how did you know?"

Cosmo just smiled at this. "Well because I'm even more clueless on that than you are. I haven't even talked to a girl besides my own mother."

This got Zephyr laughing at this at least, "I mean I can't relate to that but I have never even held hands with a girl and now I'm going on a date tonight! What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"I dunno. You could always talk about cheese with her." That's all the green fairy could reply with. Nothing more, nothing less.

The look the blue hair fairy gave was priceless with cheeks puffed out to stop from inevitable laughter before eventually failing. Cosmo didn't understand what was so humorous exactly but he was glad to cheer him up

After the laughter ceased, "Well damn, that's so weird that I may consider it!"

"I have never been on a date before but that's what I would do! If my date doesn't like it then I guess they aren't for me." Cosmo said, not exactly knowing where this was coming from. It was as if these are thoughts he's hidden deep down are what he hopes happens on his first date. The topic of cheese would be significant. Yes, very.

His coworker was shocked at this but was appreciative, "Never expected that to come out of you, no offense. This actually cheered me up and you're right. This date is to see if we are right for eachother. Thanks Cosmo."

Without Zephyr walked off to what Cosmo could assume was his date and was unofficially named the "Love Guru." Well Cosmo called himself that because that is how he felt. He thought he knew absolutely nothing about love whatsoever but here was dishing out advice like he has been dating for centuries. He sometimes thinks of how many fairies he would need to date to eventually become the self-acclaimed "one." Most fairies from his school were sleeping with different ones every week and to that he thinks how the hell that is even possible. Let alone with someone they have barely met or remember from the party they got wasted at.

It was no surprise that Cosmo was a clean fairy. Yes, he was dim but he did know about some things. Of course that included "the wands and the wings" as well as the overuse of plant based 'fairy dust' in the school bathroom. His mother was always so overprotective on these things that he wouldn't dare do anything stupider than usual. To him those things were a whole other level that even he knew was unwise.

No matter how hard his mother tried to enforce her rules, Cosmo had found out through his lovely peers at school all about these subjects. He would say that most of these incidents happened at the parties he was never invited to but that would be false. The most well known party host was Cupid as his house was one of the largest and his parents were never home. Hell, his parents didn't care as they were doing their own spreading love business elsewhere. Cosmo only knew about this because he had bumped into the fairy of love before during his second year.

"Eh hem!" groaned a voice from behind him.

Cosmo was just at his locker putting his textbooks away as he turned to meet bright baby blue eyes. The bright pink hair as well as the more extravagant, feathery wings gave away who it was. There wasn't much variety in wing type at school besides the standard small round ones like the ones Cosmo had. However in this case, this particular fairy was special as he also didn't have a floaty crown as well. "Uh…can I help you, Cupid?"

"You're Comet, right?" he asked simply, hands behind his back. Cupid was a little shorter than Cosmo so it was odd having to gaze down.

Cosmo shook his head, "No, my name is Cosmo."

Cupid just rolled his eyes at this, "Whatever! They're both spacey names, quirky, and start with 'C' so who cares! Anyways I have a little question to ask you!"

This was odd because the popular crowd never associated with him, so Cupid willingly wanting to ask him a question was beyond him. "Sure?"

"Okay! I am absolutely dying to know but are you and Binky…" He made some sort of gesture by bending with his wrist then dangling his hand but Cosmo couldn't tell what he was trying to portray, "you know?"

Cosmo just stood there silently waiting for more of an explanation.

Cupid repeated the same hand gesture.

Cosmo just stared, not knowing what the hell was going on.

Cupid kept repeating except more vigorously before groaning and giving up, "For pete's sake! Are you and Binky together? Like in love?"

Cosmo jumped, taken aback by this. Him? In love? With Binky?! Cosmo didn't question his sexuality as he has never had a partner to begin with but him and Binky?! That was just absurd.

"No!" Cosmo yelled, horrified at the idea of him and Binky being together. "Binky is my friend, barely one if that!"

Cupid started laughing with a smidge of disappointment. "Aww but me and my girls totally thought you two were together! When Luther told us you two were, I just had to see for myself if it was true or not!"

Of course it was Luther who was spreading this around, go figure. Cosmo sighed as he should be used to this by now as it has already been a year of Luther's torture, "No, it's not true."

For some reason, Cupid now had a frown on his face with a twinge of sadness in his eyes, "Yeah… guess that was just him being an ass again."

Cosmo didn't know how to respond to this so he thought an awkward chuckle would suffice, "Yeah! Here I thought you were training to be like your dad and get me a date!"

Cupid for some odd reason got extremely pissed at this and started to yell, "I'll have you know that in the future I can make you dateless! You know that? My dad may have the power of the arrows now but someday they will be mine! Actually, I could take them right now if I wanted to since my parents are never fucking home anyways and you're not gonna like that, Carl!"

"It's Cosmo."

"Whatever! Same shit, Carl, Cosmo, they sound the exact same!" Cupid began to sway his hips as he floated off, "Waste of my fucking time! I have a party to plan!"

Cosmo did bump into him other times before but none were as strange as that one. Even the fairy of love proclaimed that he would be dateless so what hope did he really have left in finding true love? He did think back to that stereotypical gesture that Cupid made which led him to wonder if he wasn't looking at the right group? Understanding all the orientations and identities was mind boggling to him but it was something he did want to learn about. However most fairies in his school were disrespectful to the point where he didn't know who was available to ask. He was unsure if there was anyone at his school who also questioned the same thing but was too afraid to ask. With taking all of that into consideration, love just became even more confusing for him as it comes in all sorts of different ways.

Eventually the day came where it started to become clear as a crystal. The day he met the beautiful fairy with swirly hair.