A/N: Formatting issues still not resolved, but I finished this so I might as well post it. Also thanks to anyone who at least looked at this story, even a single view makes me want to write more, haha. Now onto the chapter.

Chapter One

New or True Self?

Shortly Before..

Serena finally stopped coughing as the sudden explosion of what she could only think was dust- from where however she wouldn't be able to explain- seemed to subside but not settle on the floor or on anything that stood about the upstairs hallway. "What the hell was that about? Where did that dust come from? Mrs. Negron doesn't even own a vacuum.. although maybe I should ask her for a bit of money for one. It couldn't hurt, and I am tired of sweeping every inch of this house every other day when she's gone from town."

She continued down the hallway, realizing that she had a headache as her temple throbbed. She went into her room, towards the bathroom where she knew she had some aspirin with Nick's fairy godparents following her, unsure what to do with both what had happened and what the couple currently saw when watching Serena. Eyes closed from a particularly strong throbbing in her temples, she opened the mirror and extracted the bottle of Aspirin, drawing water into the cup she used while brushing her teeth (to rinse) to down the pills. She closed the mirror as the throbbing immediately started subsiding, an advantage to barely using the medicine unless absolutely necessary which Serena found to be almost none of the time and opened her eyes.

Juana and Ricky, disguised as the two toothbrushes Serena kept in their own separate little cup (and of which one was ironically Nick's old one), winced as Serena screamed loudly enough that the entire second story of the house shook.

"W-what happened? Why is my hair pink?!" Indeed, Serena's blood red hair had turned pink, a shade somewhere around Sakura Blossom pink. And her nails were painted a pink just lighter enough that it looked white at some angles. Her eyes had stayed her natural off-violet and she thought about whatever could have happened. "Just like when I was a.. Hmm.. Being honest, this is like some kind of magic magic. I wonder if Nick would like it?" She bit her lip, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

Juana and Ricky poofed out to find Nick. As clueless as they were about the situation, they knew Nick had to know something had happened. Serena, meanwhile, snapped her fingers as she heard the doorbell ring distantly through the house. "Oh, dinner! Nick's going to be so happy it's still hot when he gets home." She said, rushing herself out of her room and to the door.

-_-_-

Ten Minutes Later..

Nick almost blew the front door off of its hinges as he rushed inside, slightly freaked out at the silence present. "Serena? You here?" He called out.

"I'm in the kitchen, Nick! Come here, dinner just came a few minutes ago." Well, she sounds pretty much the same. What did those two mean by Serena's changed?

He noticed the first difference as soon as he entered the kitchen, with Serena leaning against the wall that separated a closet from the pantry, the nineteen year old standing in the pantry section. "Welcome home, Nicky." She smiled at Nick as she took her weight off from the wall, her now pink hair flowing gracefully down her back, not in her signature ponytail. "Like it?" She asked, spinning around with a giggle as her hair billowed out from her body.

"I.. yeah. Yeah, I do, actually. It kinda suits you, but, why?"

Serena shrugged. "No idea, but I agree that it feels right for me. Are you alright, now?" Her voice's worry flowed towards Nick as she looked down, holding onto one arm with the other crossed behind her back. "I was getting worried.."

That's.. Not entirely new, I suppose. "My bad, Serena. Everything that happened last night, from the things I did to you before you gave in to it to moving location to my bedroom and beyond. It has me a bit messed up. I'm sor-"

Nick froze when Serena was suddenly on top of him, hugging him tightly to her body. "No, don't, Nick. This is my fault, you said so yourself earlier. I made you angry, upset enough to twist everything. You never deserved how I treated you all this time, and I never should have started acting like such a collosal bitch. How are you even alright with all this right now?"

Nick shrugged in her arms. "With mom not around much, you're the closest thing I have to both a sister and mother, at least in a sense of consistency. I can be mad, upset, even pissed at you, but that doesn't mean you aren't considered family to me. Where's this new outlook coming from, Serena? Even with what happened last night, I.. I expected you to strike back even worse at me."

Serena smirked playfully, although to Nick it was somewhat menacing. "Oh, I thought about it this morning. For maybe about five minutes. Unfortunately, sweetie, you're pretty much the only constant in my life these days as well so I can't get rid of you. Plus, last night wasn't all bad.." She looked away shyly, something Nick knew he'd never seen her do before as he put a hand to her forehead. "Hey! What's the big idea?" She pouted, something Nick was beginning to find pretty adorable from the multiple times he'd seen Serena pout that day alone.

He also noticed her choice of nickname for him. Sweetie. It was a step up from jerk, at least, but where was all this coming from? Was it the effects of whatever Serena had wished for that- impossibly enough- his fairy godparents granted? If it was, then why had it been granted? He had to get to the bottom of this, and the only way to do so.. was to go to Fairy World. "I'm gonna go wash up, alright? Be back in a minute." Serena nodded and finally let him go, Nick missing the warmth from their embrace almost immediately. What's wrong with me? He thought to himself as he left the kitchen. "Juana, Ricky. We need to go to Fairy World. Something is off about all this, and that's the only place we'll find any answers. I wish time was frozen here so Serena doesn't get suspicious." The two fairies glowed as the magic activated, Nick disappearing from the hallway outside the kitchen.

-_-_-

Fairy World..

A world made of somehow solid clouds, Fairy World sat in a pocket dimension outside of reality itself but was still tied to real-time on Earth, hence why Nick had time stop back at home while he was here. Juana and Ricky appeared by his side as there was a loud crack and boom of thunder as a fairy three times the size of the average human appeared, dressed in army fatigues and, well.. Look, she looked like a female Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime and that alone freaked Nick out to a degree. "Hi, Mal." Nick waved upwards as the giant fairy scowled down at him before picking the teen up.

Malverne Von Tangeel was a patient fairy, most times. But she drew the line when humans brought themselves to her doorstep all willy-nilly. "Negron!" She said, her heavily Austrian-accented voice amplified by her size as she squeezed the boy lightly, Nick tensing up so his muscles fought back against the constriction Malverne put on him. "What are you doing here? The council has not run into another issue created by you. As of yet."

"Here to see the council on my own accord, actually. Not for doing something wrong, although I did I won't lie. But, it wasn't related to my wishing.. Alright, it was but nothing about the effects have added up since last night and I want answers."

"What is the issue, then? You know you cannot just waltz into the Fairy Council Chambers."

"Have you ever heard of someone close to but not a human godchild in question get their wish granted before- ahh!" Nick groaned as he hit the soft yet durable ground, Malverne's shocked glare the only indication of an answer from the drill sergeant of a fairy. "You have!"

"Quiet! Such things are not to be discussed in the open! What the fuck did you do this time?!" It was rare for Malverne to curse, her obvious military training showing her usual restraint.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here asking questions, Mal! Please, just announce me to the Council. It's been a really long day, and I'd love it if I could just go home with the knowledge of just what the hell is going on."

Malverne regarded the most troublesome godchild she had encountered with curiosity. Nick was smart, much smarter than most kids entrusted with fairies. He had single-handedly stopped several nearly world-ending disasters, even if one or two of those were of his own making. He stopped the Pixies from taking over, and Gemma the Genie from creating a dictatorship over the fairies where his race got all the political power.

Nick had even risked his own existence to stop his teacher from becoming an evil dictator of the entire world using a magical remote control which- ironically- Nick had wished for to be able to have more fun with his friends, bringing television to life. Thankfully, the insane teacher (somewhat at least, since he kept his job despite his ridiculous plots to expose Nick's fairies) had gotten his memories of that ordeal erased although that didn't stop him from going after Nick. Malverne had tried to erase whatever memories Mr. Tock carried in his mind pertaining to why he adamantly thought fairies existed, but for some reason, nothing worked. Something kept bringing fairies to the forefront of his brain and drove him to reveal their existence.

But, that meant nothing to what he had just asked her. Another human getting their wish granted by another's fairy wasn't unheard of, but that was usually a small wish, something that wouldn't impede much if any of the natural state of things. And if Nick wanted to hear what she and the rest of the Fairy Council knew, then he would have to tell her the specifics first. "Negron. Nick. What happened? Tell me everything."

Nick sucked in a breath. "Fine, but don't judge my actions." Confused by his words, Malverne had no time to ask before Nick delved into the previous night and past day's events.

After several minutes of Nick's explaining of the last twenty-four hours, Malverne held up a hand, frowning. "Your use of a wish backfired hard, Nicholas. The magic may have been to blame for the actions themselves, but as the wisher it is you who is responsible."

Nick nodded. "And I regret what I did to her, at least in the heat of the wish. It wasn't all bad."

Malverne's frown deepened. "Be that as it may, Negron. Your world has its own rules to deal with such things, and you could have potentially caused much worse damage than it seems you did. Now, you said the girl made her wish, it was granted, and when you got home, she was different?" Nick nodded rapidly. "Different how?"

"She has pink hair now and she's being oddly affectionate. Like, she even called me sweetie, and that shit ain't happened before, Mal. I fear it's due to the backfired wish, but I don't see how they're connected."

Malverne nodded. "I'll be back." She said, making Nick's eye twitch at the almost perfect mimicking of the Terminator as she poofed away.

Juana looked at Nick, who was deep in thought. "What's on your mind, hun?"

"I'm still trying to figure this out on my own, Juana. Nothing is making sense today, and all I want is to get to the bottom of it."

"We will, Nick. If anyone knows why things happened the way they did, it'll be the Council." Nick nodded as Malverne appeared again.

"Negron, come with me. The Council will see you. Now!" Nick's eye twitched again as Malverne whisked him and his fairies off to the Council Chambers.

Once there, Nick bowed respectively to the three Head Fairies Mama Cleo, Hugh and the Tooth Fairy. "I'm sorry to disturb you all, but I'm in need of some help."

Mama Cleo smiled down at him from the high platforms the Council deliberated on. "Oh, Nick. You've done much for us in the few years you've had your fairies. It would be rude not to hear you out, at the very least."

Nodding, Nick cleared his throat. "Well, you've no doubt heard the cliffnotes from Malverne, so I'll make the issue short. I made a wish that backfired on me in ways I can't explain, and ever since, my babysitter Serena-"

"The same babysitter who caused you to gain your fairies, correct?" Asked Hugh with his hand on his chin.

"Yes, mostly at least. Remember it was more because my mother isn't around much of at all. Inadvertently, Serena has become like a sister and a mother to me, due to her constant presence in my life. But, she's been different since last night. It wasn't much earlier today, she was just more worried over me, probably trying to deduce why I am acting like nothing happened. Which, of course is actually what I've been trying to do to no avail. So after that little talk, Serena went home and, while Juana and Ricky were there leaving me to think on my own for a while, she made a wish. Something along the lines of wanting to be her true self around me or something? I'm not sure. But, for whatever reason, Juana and Ricky granted the wish. Now, she has pink hair and is more affectionate in general. I don't even think she really knows what happened to her, obviously, but on the other side of that fence neither do I. I came for some answers, if any, and I'll be on my way and deal with whatever comes next. I don't want Fairy World freaking out again like the last time something happened."

"Noble of you, Nick. It is good to see a godchild trying to fix their problems without using their fairies." The Tooth Fairy said, teeth just appearing around him as he collected them.

"Well, T.F., Magic caused whatever is going on to start, so I'd rather not use it to fix the situation due to the double-edged nature of wishes."

Hugh hummed. "The lad is smarter than most fifteen year olds, that's for sure. Alright, Nick. We will tell you what we know, as you no doubt know that we do indeed know something. From what it sounds like, I would bet on a soul bond."

"A.. Soul bond?"

Mama Cleo nodded. "Yes, despite all humans having what you call a soulmate, it is highly rare for a pair to find each other. In fact, we were beginning to think the kind of love needed to facilitate a Bond ceased to exist. Humanity has shown more than enough reason to justify such connections as gone. Until, that is, today. The simple answer to your question, Nicholas, is that this girl's wish was granted only because of this love and bond. Due to the bond you no doubt activated with your misguided wish, her wish registered as well today. It shouldn't be permanent but you should probably be prepared to endure a few wishes that are not your own."

Nick frowned. That really wasn't what he had been expecting, not that he had anything truly in mind pertaining to the possibilities of why. "But, that would mean that I'm.. no, that's impossible. I can't be in love with Serena. Not after the stress and bullshit she's put my through the past five years. Sorry, bad habit with the cursing these days."

"We understand your confusion and.. hesitation at such news, but that's the best explanation we can offer you. Perhaps it isn't exactly as we believe, but the facts point to it being as such. Now, go back home and monitor things. That's all you have to do, Nick. If things get even more unexplainable then you may come seek our council again. Malverne?" The huge fairy nodded as her staff-like wand glowed and Nick, Juana and Ricky were all whisked back to Earth, even while Nick was trying to say something as he was poofed home. The Tooth Fairy hummed as he leaned forward onto his bit of the podium stand. "Are we sure hes going to be alright with this? Mal?"

Malverne sighed. "According to what my wand told me, he's in denial because of the forceful nature of last night's wish and the following consequences he has garnered. Whatever happens from here on, it all falls on Nick to see the truth within himself. As for whether or not he will be alright, I have no misgivings. He has proven himself a much more resilient child than most, it's the main reason you three have let him keep those two fairies with him, despite almost causing the Genie Regime to take over completely. Humans are foul creatures in the current times, but Nick makes me see the hope the next generation still carries with it."

Mama Cleo nodded with a smile. "I agree. Malverne, keep an eye on the situation, won't you? And don't watch. For fairy's sake you don't need to watch if anything more does happen between them. We all remember Serena and why she is in fact the way she was before apparently making this wish with Nick's godparents granting it. If what I believe is true, then it's only obvious that somehow fate itself brought those two together."

"Yeah, like we believe all that much in fate when we can avoid most instances of such ordained happenings." Tooth Fairy laughed.

"You guys might be right about this, but only time will tell. The wish that turned Serena into the version Nick first met? That was a permanent wish, and no physical changes harbor means to believe it in any way reversed. But with Nick's track record? I'd put faith in it, but just a bit. From what it looked like when Malverne showed us his memories, he can only deny how he truly feels about that babysitter of his for so long before it explodes. I'm honestly looking forward to how this all develops."Mama Cleo finished the rambling.

Hugh chuckled. "You're too much sometimes, Mama C. It looks like, for now, all we need to do is monitor things from a distance. You'll take care of that, won't you, Mal?"

Malverne grimaced but nodded. "Of course, Councilman Hugh. Right away!" Malverne said before poofing herself away.

-_-_-

Human World, Two Hours Later..

Nick, thankfully, had gotten through dinner with his babysitter, Serena sending him small smiles throughout. Now, he was situated in his room, laying down and staring up at the ceiling. Juana and Ricky were floating next to him. "Are you sure you're alright, hun?" Juana asked.

Nick shook his head. "Not really, but I'll be alright. You don't think that's really the reason why all this is happening, do you? Am I actually in love with Serena?"

"Oh, the woes of youth. Big guy, listen. We don't know exactly what's going on in your head, or Serena's for that matter. What we do know is that you do care a lot about her, even if she irks you something fierce. And in all honesty, what if you are? It seems like, maybe, Serena has feelings just the same and is still a bit shy to tell you. Maybe it's because of the forceful nature of your late night escapades last night, maybe it's rooted more deeply than that. Only time will truly tell for you both. You just need to-" The two fairies poofed into the iguana tank as a knock sounded at the door of his bedroom.

"Nicky? Mind if I come in?" Came Serena's voice, not like his mother was going to miraculously be back from her extended upon extended trip.

Nick sat up, grabbing his Switch controller as he turned everything on. "Yeah, come in."

Nick- in a way- regretted letting her in as he saw Serena standing in the doorway, dressed in a white and pink sports bra and matching booty shorts. "Are you alright, Nick? Like, really alright? You hardly even spoke at dinner.."

"I'm.. okay, I guess. But, Serena, are you sure you're okay? Nothing feel.. off about yourself? Anything at all? No errant thoughts or feelings?"

Serena looked at him smugly, which still made Nick want to look away although she had his full attention; or at least he was trying to keep it on her face. "What are you, my therapist now? Jerk. No, I'm fine as could be. It's my job to worry about you when you start acting strange, even if I'm the reason why. If it would help to talk about it.."

"No offense, Serena, but we already spoke about it earlier in the car and I still can't just look at you. Not without some serious effort not to look elsewhere than your face, alright? It's nothing against you, you're.." He sighed. "You're gorgeous, I just don't want to go back on what we both already agreed on then."

Serena blushed. "I.. I know that, Nick, but.." She audibly growled. "I can't stop thinking about it! And don't you even think of lying to me and saying you haven't had replays of us from last night still running through that hormonally-imbalanced mind of yours." Now she was pouting, one hand on her hip.

Nick chuckled. "What good would lying about it do? Yeah, it's still driving me crazy, and I can't fucking figure out why. Plus, you aren't helping dressed like that right now."

Serena looked down at herself, her blush deepening slightly. "Pervert. You know this is how I go to sleep."

Nick nodded. "I do. Now, however, I have intimate knowledge of every inch of your body. What you sleep in only fuels how crazy you drive me for whatever reason keeps escaping me!" He huffed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a jerk, alright? I'm just stressing over this and honestly? It might be a little while before I can figure it out."

Serena frowned then, hurt flashing in her eyes. "Oh.. Y-yeah, you're right.. I'm sorry for bringing it up so much, Nick. I just.. nevermind. Don't stay up too late, alright?" Nick noticed the hurt flash through her eyes, making him frown.

"Yeah, of course. Night, Serena. Sleep well." Nick flashed her a smile, making the older girl's mouth twitch up in a half-smile.

"You too, Nick. Goodnight." She turned and closed the door behind her, sighing as she let herself slide to the floor. "Fuck. Why can't I just tell him? I know what I said earlier, but.. I would think a smart kid like Nick would see the signs I don't want that. Maybe tomorrow, unless he has plans.." She picked herself up as she went back to her room, hoping the next day wouldn't be as bad as it had been already.

The Next Morning..

Nick awoke to the sound of the faulty lawn sprinkler splashing at his bedroom window. I really have to figure out how to adjust that stupid thing. He thought as he sat up, yawning and stretching until he heard his shoulder crack. Listening to the otherwise silence of the room, he heard the distant sounds of pans clanging against what he figured was the stove, meaning Serena was already awake and cooking breakfast for the two of them. He hoped she had slept well, as her cooking breakfast early- as it was a good hour earlier than she usually would- usually meant the nineteen year old had been restless. It also usually meant she would be a bit grumpy, but with the last twenty-four hours he didn't know how accurate or not that assumption was.

A Half Hour Earlier..

Serena tossed in her bed as flashes, scenes she recognized but didn't running through her head in her sleep.

"I wish Serena would always hurt the ones she loves as long as she lives!" A very angry little girl cried as she looked at a child Serena with pink hair and stomped her foot as a sudden flash of light shot through Serena's being as her younger body fell to the ground. Minutes Later, Serena got up, holding her now aching head as the other girl was nowhere to be seen, her pink hair darkening to crimson red. In the shadows where the girl had called to them from, were Ricky and Juana, both with expressions of extreme sadness at the severity of the wish. Using always in a wish made it stronger, more permanent in some ways. Most fairies considered these wishes as such, having never seen their effects reversed. The girl's further driving of the point would make it seem the most permanent of all..

Flashes of middle school and the beginning of high school, when her feelings for Nick had begun bubbling up and causing her to act out against him, as per the wish's parameters. She had tried getting closer to others, but they always left her in the dust except for Mela, whom Serena sometimes believed took it as a pity friendship, although she was thankful Mela had stuck with her through the shit back then.

The night with Nick.. She couldn't stop herself from remembering every moment. Each touch, caress, thrust. No detail of the night strayed from her recollection. It has felt like a dream, even though Serena had known she was wide awake for it all..

Serena shot up in bed, her skin shining with sweat from the memories she couldn't fully decipher whether they were real or not. She looked at the wall of her room, the direction where Nick's own stood as she sighed, biting her lip as she sat up fully. Nicky.. I should start cooking. Nick always gets up early on Saturdays, and maybe it'll take my mind off of the other night for a bit.. She thought as she stood to get ready for the day.

-_-_-

Nick entered the kitchen to find Serena missing, but a plate of food waiting for him with a small note. Morning. Went for a run, had to think a bit. -S.

"Huh, it's been a while since she went for a run, actually." Nick said as he read the note, loading his fork up with eggs and a strip of bacon. It was true, Serena only went on runs in the morning when she had had trouble sleeping, and that realization made Nick frown. Seriously, Serena.. Are you alright? He thought to himself as he decided it was too quiet in the house., going to put the kitchen television on, switching the input to YouTube. Thank God for Smart TV's.

A little while later, Serena took a deep breath as she entered the house. Another rare case of running from my demons, I guess.. She thought as she heard music playing in the kitchen. She stopped at the doorway and giggled as she watched Nick wash the dishes as the music video for the YouTube Channel JT Music's Become the Knight- based off of the semi-recent Disney Marvel series- played on the TV, making Nick's head sway side to side as he sang along. Deciding to leave him be, she instead went to the living room and sat down, thinking about the things she had seen in her dreams.

Who was that girl? Why can't I remember why she looks so familiar? She huffed at the frustrating question.

Upstairs, Juana and Ricky watched everything going on with a small cloud-like bubble, showing them Nick and Serena side-by-side. "I think we need to tell Nick, Juana."

"I agree, but he's going to hate us for it. If it wasn't for that wish, Serena never would have been how she was when she met Nick. If what the Council said is true, then we've had the chance to fix our mistakes for five years already. Now it kind of makes sense that her wish was granted yesterday."

"What do you mean, Juana?"

"Think about it. Our wands granted the wish that first changed her. Call it irony or fate, but now it seems our magic is correcting it, little by little. You remember how kind Serena was as a child, and all that was rendered moot when that little witch we used to belong to made that selfishly screwed up wish. I'm just thankful she had us taken away because changing a person's personality so drastically as it had Serena's was against an entire chapter of Da Rules."

"But, even still.. How do we know we broke the first wish? I mean, she has her pink hair back, yeah, and she's definitely being more affectionate with Nick. It just seems like something is wrong with all this. Honestly, whatever happened with that girl, anyway?"

Juana shrugged. "I don't know, Ricky. But, Nick deserves to know, either way. He can't keep running from his feelings because of his fear of the situation. The Serena he can get to know now, the one we first met, is nowhere near the girl he's known, and his feelings aren't something to run from when it's obvious the two of them can't stop thinking about each other. As soon as he comes back upstairs-" Juana was cut off as the two fairies both heard Serena's voice in their heads. I wish I knew who that girl was, and why she seemed to hate me so much.

The fairies looked at each other as their wands glowed and, downstairs on the living room couch, Serena screamed.

-_-_-

"No one likes you, Sameera. Why are you so nice?!" Said seven year old Mona Harper, a girl who the then seven year old Serena thought was her best friend.

"What do you mean?" Serena frowned, her lip quivering. "I thought we were best friends?"

"Oh, yeah, we were. All so I could ensure you had no more friends! Now you've made me angry enough with your stupid goody-goody personality. I wish Serena would always hurt the ones she loves for as long as she lives!" She stamped her foot as the two fairies who floated invisible behind her, both looking odd with their bat-like wings and blue, unnatural skin tones, raised their wands, two other wands reacting as Mona was supposed to be their godchild as the four magical signatures combined as the wish knocked Serena onto the ground unconscious, her hair slowly turning darker until it was crimson red as her mind and personality began warping themselves..

-_-_-

Serena's screams had brought Nick into the room to see Serena, now quiet, slumped over and sobbing, her head in her hands. "Mona.. Bat wings.. wish.. twisted.." She said as if chanting, repeating the three words over and over until Nick sat down on the couch next to her.

"Serena? Are you alright? What the hell was that about?"

Serena managed to calm herself down enough to look at Nick. "I.. I don't really know. I need to go take a shower, clear my mind." With that, the older girl rushed herself upstairs as Juana and Ricky poofed into the room, both looking guilty and shocked.

"Guys? What did.. she made another wish, didn't she?" He pinched his nose. "What should I expect?"

Juana looked away towards where the bathroom upstairs was located. "Umm. Well, you see, sport.. we fucked up about twelve years ago.."

Nick narrowed his eyes and looked at Ricky. "Cliff Notes, Rick?"

Ricky sighed. "Before we were assigned to you, we were assigned to a girl named Mona Harper. Like you, Mona's parents weren't around much and she actually had a mean babysitter, a shrewd woman whose name escapes me. We couldn't prove it, but over a period of about six months, Mona became much more hostile with wishes, but never anything big or fatal. Her best friend, or not if her own words that day meant anything, was Serena. With the pink hair, that's natural for her." Nick's eyes widened as Ricky continued. "Twelve years ago, Mona suddenly got very upset at Serena and made a wish that neither of us could ever forget because of the consequences since. Mona wished that Serena would, for all her life, hurt the ones she loves. That wish came back with a vengeance when she met you, for reasons we couldn't figure out until we heard what the Council thinks of the current situation. And yes, it was our wands that granted such a wish and maybe, this is payback for that, making us grant her wishes as retribution for screwing such a pure soul up in the first place.

"The point, big guy, is that Serena needs you right now, no matter what she says and how she acts. You broke the wish on her, her hair is already proof of that. Granted, it didn't make much sense that it darkened to crimson after the wish in the first place. As for what she wished for just now? She wanted to remember the truth of why she was how she acted.. and hes gone." Nick had heard the last statement but he was indeed out of the room as he hurried upstairs. He opened the door to the bathroom, hearing the shower on and thanking everything Serena had closed the frosted glass door to the shower/bathtub.

He didn't say anything as he crossed the room, hearing Serena now openly sobbing as he watched her body sluggishly move from behind the cover. For a minute, he just stood there, unable to speak again until he swallowed whatever lump was in his throat, sitting down with his head leaning back on the glass. "Serena?" There was a surprised squeak from both Serena and her foot as she almost slipped from the surprise of hearing his voice. "You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry for just barging in.." He sighed. "Just listen.

"I know about Mona. I can't explain how I do, I just need you to trust me on this. You didn't deserve it, any of it. What that little bitch did to you.. it ruined you in ways I couldn't even imagine. I know you're just as confused about why you're suddenly.. changing, for lack of a better term, back into the girl you would have been had the last twelve years of being a spiteful, mean girl never happened. I'm just as confused, but I won't say I don't dislike it."

Serena was now leaning with her back against the glass door, listening as Nick spoke. "Ever since we.. ugh, why can't I just say it.. Ever since we slept together, I haven't been able to get it, or you more specifically, out of my head. And I think it's fair to assume it's been the same with you, judging by how much you have wanted us to talk it out. And avoid, as you did yesterday just after school let out. But.. I want us to get to the bottom of all this, okay? I guess what I'm trying to say is that.. when you want to talk about it, I'm ready. I.. I don't like seeing you hurt like this.." Serena was about to speak when Nick got up from the floor. "Don't say anything, you let yourself calm down knowing someone is here for you, whoever wasn't in the past can stay in their lane." The last thing she heard before Serena slid down to hug her knees while the shower ran over her hunched over body was the bathroom door clicking shut behind the fifteen year old.

Serena couldn't help but smile to herself as Nick's words ran through her mind. "You do care, Nicky.." With a quiet giggle, she threw her head back and let the water wash over her face as her shower continued.

Back downstairs, Juana and Ricky watched the one-sided conversation with smiles. Until Juana remembered something she heard Serena utter earlier. "Ricky, Serena said something about bat wings when Nick went to her after her wish for the truth. You don't think..?"

"If it was them, then it makes sense why our wands responded to the wish as well. The real question there is why Mona wound up being just as evil-spirited as the bitch who babysat her."

Unless it was them. The Anti have been after full rule over wishing and godchildren for centuries. If there was a chance they were involved, then Malverne would know something. She's the one in charge of the Anti prison."

"What about the Anti Prison?!" Malverne's voice sounded as the giant fairy appeared in the living room.

"The possibility of all of this drama between Nick and Serena being because of them, Malverne. Now what do you know about the state of the prison twelve years ago?"

Malverne began sweating as she looked down at the- quite possibly scary- fairy godmother in question. "Well.."

-_-_-

Upstairs, Nick was somewhat dreading the talk he felt was imminent between himself and Serena. He honestly didn't even know what he was supposed to tell her, but that didn't stop him from knowing he had to talk to her. No matter what happened from here on out, the both of them needed to clear the air. Nick made a mistake with his wish the other night, he knew that, but he would be lying if he said it hadn't been one of the best nights in his fifteen years of life. And Serena had obviously been into it enough, her struggles had stopped and become synchronized movements with his own within minutes after all. And her usual scent of cherries and vanilla.. He shivered at how close he had actually been from practically repeating their nighttime romp in her car yesterday, all triggered by the scent of her shampoo.

Nick's now red-tinged cheeks burned hotter when a soft knock was heard at his bedroom door. "Nick?" Came the voice he'd been both dreading and waiting for.

"Come in, Serena." He answered, finding his throat suddenly much drier than he figured it should be. The door opened slowly, and Nick found his eyes glued to the young woman who stood in the doorway before closing the door behind her softly, leaning against it.

Her hair was down, dripping slightly from the few remaining wet strands from her shower. She was wearing a cropped white t-shirt, the word Jak printed in big bold letters across the front and black shorts tied at her waist by a tiny bow made out of the shorts' drawstring. While she wasn't looking at him, Nick found himself absolutely mesmerized by the stray drop of water that ran down Serena's left shoulder, diverting at the crest of her breasts and rolling down in between them.

He must have been staring for a bit longer than he thought as he heard her giggle. "You know, my eyes are up here, Nick." She said playfully, her shy smile sending a wave of warmth through Nick as he blushed. "Not that I really mind all that much anymore. I mean, you've seen every inch of my body naked, already." Explored it all, too..

Nick nodded hesitantly. "That's true, I suppose. Bold of you to just joke about it like that, though."

Serena raised one eyebrow, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. "What's that supposed to mean, huh jerk?" Oh, so they were back to the name-calling again. Or was it a term of endearment for her at this point? "I know how our latest generation thinks and acts, you know. You mean to tell me you haven't once been with one of your little friends before you ravaged me the other night?" She seemed to realize what she had said, ducking her head to look down at the floor to try and hide how hot her face felt.

Nick poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, clicking it before he answered. "Yeah, of course. I've fucked half my graduating class at this point, Serena." His tone was such a deadpan that Serena sucked ina breath for no real reason. "No, that was.. the first time for me as it was.. for you.. Is that what this is? We can't stop thinking about each other and what we did the other night because it was us swapping virginities," Serena locked eyes with him as he said it, having been too preoccupied to even remember that little fact from that night. "You know what they say, right? You never forget your first."

Serena was breathing heavier than she had been when she'd walked in, something shared within the pair's eyes making her feel just as frightened into temporary submission as Nick had done that night. She bit her lip and crossed her arms. "Be that as it may, there is no way that was your first time. Not with how.. Ugh, this is so bad to admit.. Not with how utterly fucking perfect you fit inside me." She shuddered as memories floating to the surface of her brain. "Not to mention how ruined I feel after just one time. I'm still sore, Nicky!"

Nick threw his hands up. "Sorry! I don't know what the fuck came over me then, but it was.. it was amazing, Serena. Perfect. Also, porn is a hell of drug."

Serena's face seemed to pause as if there was a progress bar that read processing crawling by slowly until she tossed her hair around with her hands, shaking her head. "No, no, no! You did not just fucking say that! Nicky! This is serious! Serious damned conversation right now."

Nick smirked, liking how frazzled he was getting Serena. "You know, you actually look really hot with your hair like that. Although, you probably do since that was how round.. five started?"

Serena went to grab the doorknob from behind her. "I'll fucking walk right out of here. Right now that is not what I want to talk about. You deserve to know about Mona and the weird shit I saw the day I started being a real bitch to the people I cared about."

Nick nodded. "I agree, but we have the rest of the weekend to get to that conversation. It's one that can wait. But the one we need to have right now has to do with just why you gave in so easily that night. What's really going on in your head right now, Serena?"

Serena looked away, one hand running up and down the opposite arm. "Too. Fucking. Much. I could ask you the same thing, though, couldn't I? We're both seemingly trapped in this game of.. What game would this all be attributed to?"

"Due to what we did in bed, the breeding game. You begged me not to stop after even so many times that I-"

"I get the point. I'm sorry it felt too good to stop. You don't know what you've done to me, especially over these last two years.." She froze, realizing she'd once again said something she definitely had not planned on saying in that context. "Forget I said that."

Nick shook his head with a grin. "Oh, no. You're not running away from this anymore, Serena. Please, just tell me what's going on." Serena looked at him as he patted the spot on his bed next to him. "I'm not going to bite you. Again."

"This isn't a bite, Nick, this is a sign of ownership." She pouted, Nick finding even her angered face adorable as she pulled the shoulder of her shirt off to reveal the still-visible mark. "You know, everything you did to me that night.. Ugh, why can't I just say it?" She tapped her foot a few times before sighing and walking over, sitting down with her head leaning towards her right shoulder and her gaze away from Nick's face. "I want it, Nicky. I know it's bad, and I said it's something we can't just up and do and whatever else but it's driving me crazy. Ever since my hair turned back to pink, it's like.. like a dam has burst open and now I'm truly.. feeling like I think I've been supposed to, but I don't know if that's really the case. What the hell happened to me, what the fuck is wrong with me, Nicky?" She hung her head, Nick cursing to himself. He'd made her like this, all because of his selfishness to get back at her.

Nick knew what he had to say, what his own mind had been driving through to him over the day and night before. And now, with the object of his initially misguided affections inches away, Nick was determined to mend the issue now, before whatever was changing with Serena got worse and- God forbid- more erratic.