Chapter 3 --- Vacation

Cosmo turned to the voice and hugged his son. "Hi, Poof! Where's your mother?"

Norm watched as Cosmo hugged the round child. That was his son?

"Mama," Poof replied, pointing to the fishbowl, indicating that Wanda was doing something in there. The fairy baby stared at Norm and gave his father a quizzical look.

"Oh! Poof, this is Norm." Cosmo grinned.

Poof blinked and floated over to his sleeping god brother. He sat beside Timmy and watched his father and Norm. He remembered Timmy mentioning someone named Norm, and that Norm was a bad guy. Poof didn't understand why his father brought a bad guy home.

A pink POOF announced Wanda's return from whatever it was she was up to. She took one look at Norm and a cloud of annoyance fell across her face. "What are you doing here?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.

Before Norm could respond, Cosmo spoke. "I brought him here."

Wanda turned on her husband. "You did WHAT?! Cosmo, why would you bring him back here? Did you forget everything that's happened?" She paused, dropping her mask of anger for a moment, wondering if she was overreacting, but after everything Norm had pulled on them, she concluded she was not, and the anger returned.

Cosmo shook his head. "No, I didn't forget. But, I don't think Norm's all that bad."

"How did you get him?"

"I took his lamp from Jorgen's house."

Wanda looked at Cosmo as if he belonged in a padded cell next to his Anti self. "You what?! You stole the lamp from Jorgen?! What ever possessed you to do something like that?!"

The green-haired fairy tilted his head to the side, looking at his wife. "Nothing possessed me. I went to visit Jorgen, but he wasn't home. Norm's lamp was there, unguarded, so I took it."

"Why would you do something like that?! Do you have any idea what Jorgen will do to you when he finds out?!"

Wanda's yelling had finally woken Timmy. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Hey… What's going on, guys?" He asked drowsily. Timmy opened his eyes and saw Norm. So that's why Wanda was yelling. Now, Timmy was fairly concerned. "Norm! What are you doing here?!"

The genie rolled his eyes. Looks like Cosmo had to explain again.

Wanda looked at Timmy. "Cosmo brought him," she answered, an annoyed calm in her voice.

Norm shivered. Wanda had a temper he wasn't aware of. Norm had seen Wanda annoyed before, but never angry. And Cosmo was different, too. What did the green-haired fairy mean by 'Anti self'? Talk about major confusion… Norm thought. Why me? He glanced at Cosmo, who seemed like he wanted to disappear. Norm figured the fairy didn't intend to get in trouble by bringing him here. And yet, here the poor guy was; getting yelled at by his wife and godchild. In front of his son. That's a great confidence builder.

Why do I care? This is his problem, not mine. So why did Norm feel bad about Cosmo's situation? The genie tried to get rid of Cosmo before. That wasn't sympathy. Why did he feel it now?

Wanda turned on Norm. "Since Cosmo let you out, why don't you leave and never come back?!"

"What, you want me to destroy Canada?" Norm smirked, crossing his arms. "You don't want me free, I can guarantee that much. Sure, I've tried to get rid of you guys once or twice… But, I don't think I like how you're treating him." He motioned to Cosmo. "You're treating this like a murder or something. All he did was bring me here. Have I done anything wrong yet?"

"Key word: yet," Timmy scowled. "You are a tricky and untrustworthy genie! How do we know you aren't plotting something as we speak?!" He pointed an accusing finger at Norm.

Norm just shook his head. "Believe what you want, Bucktooth the Wonder Boy. I'm not up to anything. Well, again, that's yet. So… I'm in a fair mood since Cosmo let me out, don't push your luck."

Timmy leaned against the headboard and crossed his arms. Why would Cosmo do this? Why did it have to be Norm? That was the question screaming in Timmy's mind: Why?

"Timmy, can I have a vacation?" Cosmo asked suddenly.

His godchild looked up at him. "A vacation? Can you do that?"

Cosmo nodded. "We gave Wanda a day off, remember? Give me a week. Just wish it. I'll take Norm with me, so you guys don't have anything to worry about."

Timmy looked at Wanda, who was still seething. Seeing he wouldn't get a response from her, he sighed and turned back to Cosmo. "Okay. I wish you could have a week-long vacation."

Cosmo and Wanda raised their wands and with a POOF, the wish was granted. Cosmo turned to Norm, smiled and POOFed to a warm beach.