Timmy still sat on the couch, he had lost track of time while playing his game, but the dark blue light flooding into his room from the window indicated it was now early morning. Vicky had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder hours earlier, he didn't even notice that she was asleep until he heard her softly snoring.
He still hadn't given much thought to what Vicky had said, not because he didn't want to think about it, but because he had become too distracted by his game to do so.
"This isn't how I expected my summer vacation to go... so much has happened so fast..." he rested his head against Vicky's.
She wrapped an arm around Timmy's waist in response. "...My...Twerp..." she was talking in her sleep.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm yours..." he kissed the top of her head.
"I wish I could wake her up without it being my fault..."
As if on cue, there was a loud crash from outside, it sounded like thunder, a few seconds after, he heard the familiar plinking of raindrops on the air conditioner. Vicky awoke with a start. "What the?! Oh... just-" she yawned. "just the rain... Did you hear anything about rain?"
"Hm? No, I would've remembered that, I didn't see anything on the news... must be one of those freak storms or something..."
"Huh, weird... It's not my birthday..." Vicky got up off the couch and grabbed her clothes. "Too bad, I was gonna wear this today." She held up a light green sundress. "Hmph, no point in wearing a sundress on a rainy day..."
"Why? You could always wear it around the house..."
"I need to head out today and scout out some apartments, see if there are any that fit my criteria. Have you made a decision yet?"
"Are-are you serious?"
"Not really. I know it's a big decision, so like I said, take your time. I've already made my peace in all this, I've been trying to work up the nerve to move out of my house for a while now, but I..."
"Hm?"
"I was afraid, of living alone. I don't mean to put pressure on you but... it would mean a lot to me if you moved in with me, I really don't want to live with my parents anymore."
"Well, as your boyfriend, I can't exactly turn you down, I want to live with you, I do. It's just... a big decision, that's all... Sometimes, I'm afraid this is all just a really good dream, and that I'll wake up to my boring life, you and I won't be together, Francis will still bully me, and I won't remember any of this..."
"Well... I can't exactly prove it isn't a dream..." she walked over and stood in front of Timmy, then pinched his cheek and tugged, hard.
"Ow! Alright!" she released his cheek.
"Unless this is one of those new dreams I've heard so little about where you can feel pain, I'd say that it's the real deal."
"Seems that way. Thanks for the confirmation..." he rubbed at his cheek.
"Anytime!" she gathered up her clothes and left the room.
"Cosmo? Wanda? What do you think I should do?"
The two fairies poofed out of the fishbowl. "Honey, you already know what to do, you wanna be with Vicky, and she wants to be with you, why are you asking us?"
"I don't know... just to get another opinion on all this? You guys are coming with us, right?"
"Of course! There's no rule about moving in the book. Are you worried about what your parents will think?"
"Kinda... It feels... weird, to just leave them behind... Like I'm... betraying them?"
"I don't think you should see it that way, they're almost never there for you, and dump you off on Vicky at almost every chance they get."
"So... you guys are supportive? Like one hundred percent?"
"Sure sounds like a yes."
"Cosmo?"
"I'm the wrong person to ask about this, Timmy. You ask me..." Cosmo stopped and thought for several seconds, smoke began to emanate from his ears. "I think you should go with her, love is hard to find, and Vicky is definitely a keeper." Cosmo's head burst into flames and he quickly floated over to the fishbowl and stuck his head into it.
"That's why Cosmo shouldn't think too hard."
"Hm..."
"What is it sport?"
"This is just gonna be another thing to explain to my friends..."
"That's how relationships are, they're not always easy, and you might have to explain them to friends and family."
"Yeah, alright thanks. Maybe you should tend to Cosmo..."
"Probably a good idea..." she poofed Cosmo and herself back into the fishbowl.
Vicky re-entered the room, her hair returned into it's characteristic ponytail and she wore her green t-shirt and black jeans.
"How are you feeling?"
"In regards to being sick? I'm fine, I think I was better last night after that nap, you?"
"I'm good, we must've had the same thing, that's why I didn't get sick after I recovered, and after we... uh... y'know." he blushed red at his own statement.
Vicky blushed slightly as well. "Well I'm gonna head out for a bit, you gonna stay here and give my offer some thought?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later today." Vicky walked over and planted a quick kiss on his lips. She moved to walk away, but he grabbed her hand.
"What?"
"Take a coat, I don't want you getting sick again."
"But Mom!" Vicky crossed her arms and stomped her foot, before pouting and looking away.
"Just take something to keep warm and dry..."
"I don't have anything, that sweatshirt was all I had, and it was pretty torn up after that fight with Ricky..."
"Huh... I wish you had a coat that you could wear... preferably one that will keep you dry in all this rain..."
A black coat reaching halfway down Vicky's thighs appeared on her, from what he could tell by looking at it, it seemed to be a fairly expensive brand coat. "Wow! Look at that Vicky! It's almost like my wishing for a coat made it happen!"
"Isn't this a little... selfish?"
"Me wishing for a coat so you stay dry is selfish? Sounds pretty selfless to me."
"Alright fine, thank you Timmy, and thank you Cosmo, Wanda." the goldfish winked at her. "If there's nothing else, I'll head out now."
"And don't ditch the coat! I don't care how nice the rain feels on your skin, I don't want you getting sick."
"Fine, no question you care about me... Well, I already knew that, so..."
"Take Wanda with you too."
"I really think I'm the last person who needs a babysitter..."
"I don't really care that we don't have any enemies, we made the decision that if we're going to be apart, then we each get a godparent, and Wanda seems to get along well with you, so I think you should take her with you."
Vicky sighed in exasperation. "Have you even asked Wanda if she wants to go with me? Doesn't she get a say?"
"Of course. Wanda? Do you mind going with Vicky?"
"Please say no. Please say no. Please say no."
"Well... Cosmo is stable-" Cosmo had a bandage wrapped around his head, leaving just his eyes exposed. "And I like being around Vicky, so sure! I'd love to get out of the house! Girls' day out!"
"Damn."
"Then it's settled, I'll stay here with Cosmo, you go out with Wanda."
"Now do I have your permission to leave?"
Timmy scratched his head in contemplation. "Yeah, I suppose."
"Good, don't forget to think more on what I said, and don't get all absorbed in video games."
"I'll try my best."
"I guess that's all I can ask." Wanda poofed herself into the form of a pink brooch on Vicky's coat, then Vicky left the room.
"I should've just gone with her, I've pretty much made up my mind, I'm gonna move out of here and in with her. Had I gone, I could've helped her pick out a good place..."
"Mmph phm." Cosmo's mouth was still bandaged, anything he said came out as unintelligible mumblings.
"Oh, right, maybe I could try getting another opinion..." he reached for his phone and dialed Chester's number.
"Urgh... hello?"
"Chester? It's Timmy."
"I know it's you, I don't know why you're calling me so early, it's not even seven yet..."
"Uh... sorry about that, I needed to get your opinion on something."
"Is this about your and Vicky's relationship? I already told you, it's kinda weird, but I'm behind you all the way."
"Thanks, but that's not what this is about, my..." "Shit, I need a clever lie..." "Let's say someone I know is thinking of moving in with the girl of his dreams, even though they've only been together for about a month, do you think he should just go ahead and do it? And stop living with his parents?"
"Uh... Do you know how close they are?"
"Pretty... pretty close, I'd say."
"Well... if he wants to, I say he should go with it, though it depends on his relationship with his parents and how they'd feel about it. If they're supportive of it, then he should go ahead and do it, if they aren't, but they are neglectful, y'know like yours kinda... no offense."
"None taken."
"Then I still think he should leave, no reason to live with people who don't love you, right?"
"I guess..."
"On the other hand, if they love him and don't support his decision to leave, then they may feel like it's a big betrayal. Sounds like your friend is in a tight situation..."
"How is it that you're so lucid this early in the morning?"
"Good point, I'm gonna go smoke, sorry if I couldn't get you the answers you were hoping for..."
"Nah, don't worry about it, I'll let my friend know, thanks."
"Alright dude, I'll talk to you later."
"Yep."
"Good thing I called Chester, he'll never put the facts together and realize I was talking about myself."
"Well, that's enough for me. Cosmo, I wish all my non-essential belongings were packed up." Cosmo raised his wand and it emitted the light that they had become so accustomed to. Several cardboard boxes appeared next to his bed as his entertainment center was emptied of the games and consoles, which then appeared in the boxes. Several items of clothing then went into the boxes, leaving just a few outfits for the next couple days. "Huh, always felt like I owned more stuff than that... Now we just need to wait for news from Vicky."
Vicky's POV...
Vicky drove her high-end, likely not street legal sports car through the soaked streets of Dimmsdale. "I really hope he isn't having second thoughts about this..."
"I wouldn't worry too much, he asked me and Cosmo while you were in the bathroom, and we both think it's a good idea, and so does he, I'm pretty sure he's already made up his mind, at least for the most part."
Vicky breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, I'm glad you two are cool with it."
"Why wouldn't we be? We're both of your godparents, and we're not about to try and break you two up."
"No, but I figured you would have a problem with us moving in together, especially since Timmy's a minor."
"Nope. You take far better care of Timmy than his parents ever have, so I really don't have a problem with you two being together."
"Oh... well alright then."
Vicky drove for several more minutes before stopping in front of a shabby looking building. "Ugh... this is twenty-one Main street? It looks like a dump!"
"You ever heard the expression: 'Don't judge a book by its cover'?"
"This book is a dump."
"Keep an open mind."
"Fine, maybe it looks amazing on the inside, like the photo suggested."
It didn't, the floor was rotted and creaked, the apartment was tiny, and the walls and ceiling were stained with... something. "This is the apartment from the picture?" Vicky queried to the landlord, a short, fat, balding man covered in flop sweat.
"Oh yes, just the same. When will you move in?"
Vicky took another look at the photo she printed out, it looked nothing like the apartment they now stood in, it was far cleaner, and appeared to be a loft, like she had wanted. This apartment had no windows and was tiny, barely able to accommodate one person, nevermind two.
"I'll have to get back to you on that, there are other places I need to check out, but I'll let you know."
"This offer isn't going to be available for long, Miss. I suggest you reconsider..."
"I said I'll think about it." Vicky stared at the short little man with a deadly glare and saw his resolve break.
"Oh... okay then! Let me see you out!"
"I know the way." Vicky left the building and returned to her car. "Next... fifty-seven Plane street... Let's hope this one is truer to what the picture showed..."
Vicky arrived in a significantly nicer neighborhood, not white picket fences nice, but nicer than the last one she had arrived in. The building she was in front of was rather new, and significantly taller than the last.
"What do you think of this one?"
"Looks better than the last, though I wouldn't get your hopes up Vicky, there are apparently far more shady characters in Dimmsdale than I gave credit."
"Great, now you're becoming a cynic too."
Vicky closely examined the room, looking for anything that the landlord may have hidden when they took the picture. "Hm... no creaky floors, no unusual stains... What's the catch?" Vicky directed her question to the landlady, a middle aged woman with graying hair who was fairly thin, she seemed to have a holier-than-thou attitude.
"No catch, I assure you, what you see is what you get."
"Well... my boyfriend will have to come take a look, but I think he'll like it..."
"Fantastic! Let me just take down your name and you can give me a call when you want to take another look at it."
"My name is Vicky-"
Before Vicky had even managed to say her last name, she saw the woman's face pale considerably. "V-Vicky? You aren't ah... the same babysitter Vicky, are you?"
"I am. Is there a problem?"
"Um... I just remembered I received a call earlier today, someone in my family wants to rent this apartment, very sorry, but you know what they say, family comes first!"
"Oh... um... Thank you anyway, I'll see myself out." Vicky left the building and got into her car, it seemed that all those years of being evil were coming back to bite her. "I didn't expect that outcome..."
"Oh, cheer up. I'm sure you'll find a nice place for you and Timmy. How many more places do you have to check?"
"Just one, here's hoping third time's the charm, huh? We're heading to... six-hundred and sixty-six Perth street... That seem odd to you?"
"No, why?"
"Eh, probably nothing."
They arrived at yet another building, this one wasn't as tall as the last, but was thankfully still in the nicer part of the city. Upon entering this abode, Vicky realized this was the actual loft from the picture, the ad for this place didn't have a picture. "Top floor loft... I like it." she walked around the loft, again looking for any damage that the seller might have missed, but found nothing. "I know I'll regret this, but is there a catch? Something you aren't telling me? It's haunted right? Or the walls bleed every night at midnight? My name's Vicky by the way."
The landlady looked back at Vicky quizzically, she was a young woman, likely around the same age a Vicky, with blonde hair and wore an orange t-shirt with a dark green skirt ending just above her knees. "Nice to meet you Vicky, I'm Heather, and no, it isn't haunted, I'm just renting the space out, I own the whole building and just recently refurbished this loft." she sounded extremely bored.
"How much are you charging?"
"Make me an offer." Heather took out her phone and began typing into its keyboard.
"You know I always hate when people say that because they never really mean it- Five dollars!"
"Make me a realistic offer." Heather didn't bother to look up from her phone.
"Seven-fifty a month."
"Deal."
"Wha- Just like that?"
"Uh-huh. You seem alright, so sure, here's the keys."
"How can you afford this building, and to rent it out for so cheaply?"
"The building is part of my inheritance, and I charge the other tenants much, much more. So consider yourself lucky. Any questions? You can find me one floor down, I own the space below yours, try not to be too loud."
"Um... thanks. I really appreciate it."
"No problem."
Vicky returned to her car and sat for several seconds in stunned silence. "That went... better than expected..."