Thank you for thise who left words of encouragement; sometimes ya gotta rant and get it out, y'know? Putting things into perspective, I think I feel a little better now :).

This chapter took a bit because I started another multi-chap project on the side; it's really been helping with writer's block. That and I wanted to try writing ahead a little bit since a lot of this has been flying by the seat of my pants.


Deep-lilacs wandered in admiration, eyeing the many white stars swirled among the colorful brush strokes of an aqua and pink cosmos that colored his nursery's walls. Big and bright eyes drifted between the cosmos along the walls and the mobile hanging from the ceiling, tracking the wands and wings and floaty crowny things as they dangled in the most subtle sway. He tried to reach with the circular rattle painted with a gold star squeezed in one stubby hand, shaking it with the same fascinated excitement that kicked in his tiny legs. His pink-haired mother did her best to work around his sporadic movements, sliding the clean diaper underneath his little tush as she used the colorful markings along the diaper's front to guide proper positioning.

They were supposed to have left for Tootie's birthday at Fairy Fort ten minutes ago, but a certain fairy baby refused to take his morning nap despite much of his parents' efforts. They'd fed him, rocked him, turned off all the lights to darken the nursery, even sang him lullabies. Nothing seemed to lull the wired baby determined to stay awake. Guess that's what happens when a routine is altered to fit outside life events.

They couldn't blame the baby too much for being hyperactive; when the other godchildren and godparents had all gathered for Dwight's birthday a couple of weeks prior, Poof was still developing inside an incubator. His only interaction with the outside world was through a plastic wall, interactions limited to his parents, his aunts and uncles, and his godbrother. He had been introduced to his god cousin and his fairy when he'd become strong enough to breathe on his own, so Tootie's birthday would mark the first time meeting other fairies and godchildren outside of immediate and extended family.

Thus, it became increasingly evident that Poof would rather forgo his mid-morning nap than have his nap cut short. It also didn't help that he'd slept in that morning, something he had not done before now. Most parents would be grateful for the extra snooze, especially Cosmo and Wanda. However, in this case, everything was thrown completely off kilter. There came a point where Cosmo and Wanda had to wave the white flag, opting instead to freshen Poof up. Perhaps if Poof had a fresh diaper before they left, it would at least delay the bout of crankiness bound to occur.

"Don't worry; I'm sure Rose'll understand why we're a little late." Cosmo casually remarked, noticing the fretful lines wrinkled in his wife's forehead.

"It's not just that…" Wanda sighed, giving a few shakes of baby powder before fastening the diaper's straps to adjust the fit. "I'm worried about Timmy; he's been really quiet ever since you guys came back to the shed last night."

"Yeah…" Cosmo's brows crinkled, remembering how their godson shrunk into himself after he'd made them aware of the situation. Still like a curled, reclusive statue on top his mattress before retiring to bed much earlier than normal. "And the way he acted to everything seemed…off."

Wanda would have to agree, also remembering how easily Timmy seemed to shut himself down as if learned behavior. "I worry how distant he's becoming." she expressed, snapping the metal clasps of the purple onesie. "And I worry that it's because most of our attention has been so wrapped up in Poof."

The fairy couple looked down to their son, his stubby legs kicking rapidly as if they would get him off this flat changing table faster than his wings could. Shaking his rattle with the glee that sparkled in his deep-lilac beam towards his parents, glee that failed to reach green and pink eyes.

While they'd expected the transition from family of three to family of four to have a few road bumps, they did not expect the gravity of the challenge juggling a needy newborn with a miserable child. Regardless of the probation prohibiting Timmy from making wishes, the truth of the matter was, he still needed them. He still needed their support, still needed their love.

They should have divided more of the little time they had, even if that time was already spread thin. They'd allowed themselves to be too blinded by new responsibilities and sleep-deprivation to stop the sweet little boy dying inside…right in front of their eyes.

"Maybe you should go try to talk to him?" Cosmo guessed, sounding somewhat uncertain as he reached to scoop Poof into his arms. Uncertain because of his own ungraceful experience in handling Timmy's moods, yet he was not uncertain of Wanda's ability to get through the barrier. She'd always been better than him at gaging a child's emotions, reaching them on a more emotional level. Almost as if she was always meant to be a mother.

"I can try." she agreed, rubbing the back of her neck. She couldn't recall a time where she'd had the chance to speak with Timmy one-on-one…would he open up to her? Especially now?

As if sensing her internal doubt, Cosmo leaned to give her cheek an encouraging and loving smooch as Poof squealed in his arms. "Your boys are rootin' for ya."

Wanda couldn't help but smile, her doubt melting away. She can always count on her husband for moral support when her confidence fleeted.

Reappearing in a pink cloud inside the shed, it didn't take long for her to find her godson Indian style on his bed. Nails scratching at the inside of his arm, blue eyes dull. Empty of any hint of emotion, though just attentive enough to be aware of her presence.

"Hey, sport…" her concern greeted, wings careful in their flutter towards him. She'd already guessed the answer when she asked "What're you doing?"

The pink-hatted boy raised dull eyes to her before averting her gaze, using his palm to cover scraped lines of repeated scratching reddened into his skin. He knew doing this was futile, but hiding the damage felt akin to hiding the burdening shame that followed.

She hovered before him, her voice gentle as she gestured to his concealed act already unhidden "…may I see?"

He winced, wrinkling his nose. Internally cursing himself for getting caught…again. First by Cosmo, now by Wanda. Any hope of keeping some things to himself was now gone because he'd assumed his godparents would be too busy to notice. Apparently, he'd assumed wrong. When had he ever been right about anything?

Frowning tight lips, Timmy stiffly removed his palm. Unveiling numerous red scrapes riddled along his arm like a prisoner clawing for freedom from their cell. He cringed when his godmother quietly gasped at the tiny dots of crimson poking from welts that burned swollen. He may have indulged a bit too much, but he'd also been left to his own devices for hours. Left to bad thoughts spiraling, edging him towards a more permanent release that he'd been prohibited to give into. Left to silence these thoughts on his own, even if it created more scars than the ones tattered in his spirit.

He expected his godmother to scold him, to condescend his ridiculous behavior. Instead, he found himself flinching when the softness of her fingertips took his arm into her grasp. Shrinking as she observed the damage he'd inflicted onto himself, grimacing when he mustered the nerve to look at the faint hint of gloss in her eyes. Crap…did he make her sad?

No, she wasn't sad because of him…she was sad for him, and if she tried to voice that in that moment, she'd be choking back tears. The faint hints of blood reminded her of her own past, the struggles of seeking external pain to soothe the internal pain ruthless and never-ending. Her own scars had long since healed, long since faded on her body, though never in spirit. No, she didn't want this for any godchild, let alone hers…

She met his taut stare lingering with both the pain and shame, the regret he failed to hide away behind his eyes. As a first step, she took out her wand. Activating her magic to glisten around his scratch marks, pink sparkles washing the redness away. He could feel the sensation of burning subside like a local anesthetic, see specs of blood drying as the swelling went down.

He recognized the same healing magic that had washed away physical evidence of the time Francis had blindsided him into Mr. Birkenbake's classroom, beating him senseless to then leave him like discarded trash. Magic that the coldness within found a warming comfort in as his grimace softened.

When the skin in his arm fully reverted to normal, she lowered her wand and returned her gaze to his. While she knew this could have been a lot worse than it was, she knew this self-destructive behavior had to be nipped in the bud. If nothing else, at the very least, she can start by talking him through his pain.

"…Timmy?" she found a soft yet steady voice to speak with "…do you wanna talk?"

He could've guessed she wanted to talk about what he'd done to himself, yet he squeaked "…about?"

"Anything."

He stared, not expecting the free reign he'd been given. Instead of stifling him, she was giving him the voice to speak. Then again, even if he wanted to talk…where would he even start?

"I dunno…" he breathed, looking away. There was so much buzzing and spinning in his head, his sanity could barely keep up.

His arm was still held by her fingers, using her thumb to lightly brush his wrist. "Do you…wanna talk about yesterday?"

Ah, he should have known. Guess he could try to sort through that mess first. Bunching his chin, he fought his diffidence to look at her again "…is it weird that I feel everything and nothing at the same time?"

"Not at all, hun." she assured him. "Losing a loved one so suddenly and unexpectedly can be a bit of a shock."

"But I'm not shocked…I don't think." his voice drifted on the latter part of his sentence. "I'm…um…" he started to fidget, attempting to calm himself by focusing on Wanda's tender touch. "I-I guess…like…" until he chewed on the twitch in his lips with a low growl in his throat, his struggling eye contact grasping at straws for words. Why was this so hard?

"It's okay, sweetie." Her tone lacked judgement, giving his hand a squeeze. As if to let him know that he had an anchor if he felt himself sinking. "Take your time."

But how much time did he have before she'd have to go back to being a mom to her real son?

"I dunno…" his shoulders hunched. Having one godparent was a lot better than no godparent, so he better get on with it while he still had her attention that seemed undivided. He forced himself to look at her. "I guess…I-I feel sadder for grandpa, but when it comes to her, it's like…good riddance."

Wanda's thumb continued to caress the inside of his wrist, just below his palm. "Well, your relationship with her was quite complicated, sport."

"She hated me, I hated her." His brows creased in his mutter. "Not that complicated."

Good point…she almost said aloud except for how pitiful it was for that to be his truth. Wanda let out a deep breath. "I guess a better word would be 'estranged.'"

His face scrunched up "…astranged?"

"Estranged." Wanda clarified patiently. "A relationship with someone you loved or a loved one, one that's broken down and lost due to conflict and hostility."

His face scrunched even more, insides involuntarily curling repulsively. Turning his head away as an unsettling chill crept through the veins that had just started to warm. "No way…she never loved me." he hissed, contempt etched in his downturned mouth. "Just like my parents never loved me."

Damn, that stung, and it wasn't towards her. She tried to brighten his dark aura, letting go of his arm to cup his cheek. "Well, you know Cosmo and I will always love you. And Poof loves you to pieces."

"Yeah…" Timmy chose to grumble instead of what he really wanted to say. That love, even if reciprocated, was futile. She, Cosmo, baby Poof…his true family. The family that had no choice but to leave him someday, erased from his life as if they'd never existed. Their love can be nothing other than temporary.

"Wanna go see if Gary and Alondro are ready to go? Check on your grandfather?" Wanda removed her palm, figuring now was best to drop the conversation. His furrowed eyes and the tenseness in his tone said 'I don't wanna talk about this anymore' more than if he'd spoken directly from his mouth. "I can come with you if you'd like."

"But…" Timmy loosened his tension, frowning up at her "…what about Cosmo and Poof?"

"We don't have to be gone long." Wanda dismissed, adding a gentle grin. "Plus, I think Cosmo can handle a few minutes alone with the baby."

Somehow her reassurance made him stiffen, shifting uncomfortably as he uncrossed his legs. Guess it was safe to assume he wasn't taking time away from her immediate family if she was offering to tag along. Part of him felt a little guilty about that, yet part of him didn't want to go inside the house alone. It's why he'd couped himself in the shed all morning; there'd be a gaping hole in the atmosphere, a hole once occupied by his grandmother. Clean air was now polluted by death, and just the thought nauseated the little appetite he couldn't find.

He heard the ding of a 'poof' before glancing down to his arms now cloaked by a fuchsia jacket, seeing Wanda smiling up at him. A gesture intended to solidify that he was not alone, something that started to put his distress at ease. He found comfort in how nurturing she always was to him. The very thing denied by his grandmother and his own mother.

Finding the motivation to scoot himself off the bed, Timmy searched the scatters of dirty laundry littered across the floor for the blue sneakers that'd been mindlessly kicked off upon his return last night. Finding one by the foot of the bedframe and the other in front of the door as he stuffed his feet into them one at a time.

After adjusting the heel of his left foot, he braced himself with a breath and exited the shed. Unaware of what was instore when he'd enter through the back door.


Turquoise starts twinkled throughout purple skies above towering valleys of purple mountains topped in caps of white. Near the highest peak stood a grand, castle-like structure mounted within the mountains' purple mass of rocks. Pointed roofs of amethyst spires crowned in gold, crystal-teal vines climbing the buttress of orchid stone. Rainbow colors assorted within stainless glass of all the windows. Ogival arches arching various gravel paths that led both away from and towards the building, also framing the plum wood of the medieval-like double doors. Angel oak and bushes of passion flowers landscaped the building's foundation as well as the surrounding area, patches of teal grass peaking through the stepping-stone walkway leading to the entrance.

The entrance to what was formally dubbed Fairy Fort.

A dark-blue fairy, a teal-eyed fairy with marmalade curls, and two raven-heads materialized from prismatic clouds at the entrance of Fairy Fort, and as one fairy soon figured out, they were the first and only godparent/godchild pairs to appear.

"Wonder where everybody's at?" Swizzle had expected more to show up.

Rose retrieved her flip phone, seeing the current time of 12:12pm. "I know we're a little late ourselves, but everyone knows to meet here around noon."

Arms folded casually, Molly glanced over at the birthday girl. She was standing off hugging herself as her eyes flickered around like she was expecting a monster to pop up any second. "What is it?"

"…a-are you sure I look okay?" Tootie's voice cracked a little. The soft touch of heather eyeshadow and the thin line of eyeliner behind her glasses was relatively light compared to Molly's more pigmented eyelids and thicker line application. Rose had also applied a finishing touch of the lightest coat of clear lip gloss, using the excuse that being exposed to Fairy World's clean air for multiple hours might dry out her lips. Her face still felt like it was wearing a painted-on mask, an awkward disguise itching in her skin to wash off.

"For the thousandth time, you look fine." Molly faintly rolled her eyes. Man, that kid can be a worrywart.

Molly did not come off intentionally irritated, but Tootie's lips still pursed. Timmy had never seen her with makeup before. What if he takes one look at her…and doesn't like it?

As if picking up on this, Molly tossed a teasing smirk. "And I'm sure your little boy-crush'll like it, too."

No amount of blush could make Tootie's cheeks burn a brighter red "…I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

With cellphone in hand, Swizzle listened to the relentless drone of the dial tone in her ear. The more each ring droned, the more increasingly clear it became that her girlfriend was, yet again, leaving her unanswered on the other end as the dark-blue fairy huff a grumpy sigh "C'mon, Nye…"

"Nyekundu's not answering?" Rose hovered forward when Swizzle eventually gave up and clasped her flip-phone shut.

"No…" Swizzle groaned. They were well outside the magical barrier around the fort, so her call should have gone through. "In fact, I haven't been able to get a hold of her at all lately…"

Hmm, that's odd. "What about Irving or Alondro?" Rose questioned.

"I can try Irving next…" Swizzle was about to open her phone and search for Irving's number when both fairies and children heard audible poofs ding near them. Turning to the rainbow sparkles that a ginger with glasses and a large-nosed fairy materialized from as Swizzle snorted "…speak of the devil."

"Hey, sorry for our tardiness, ladies." Irving sheepishly scratched behind his neck in his float towards Rose and Swizzle.

"It's okay." Rose excused, giving Irving a friendly hug. "I'm just glad you guys could make it."

Shuffling his feet towards the girls, Dwight acknowledged the birthday girl first. Finding the grin to greet her with despite the achy throb in his temple. "Happy Birthday, Tootie."

"Thank you…" shyness curled in her glossed lips. She had feeling 'Happy Birthday, Tootie' would be the phrase of the day, so she might as well try to get used to it now.

"You look pretty." Dwight thought to remark when he noticed what he'd not seen from Tootie

"Thanks." Tootie repeated, cheeks flushing all over again. 'Pretty' was always associated with girls like Trixie, never with girls like her. Or was Dwight just being nice because it was her birthday?

"What took you guys?" Molly asked of out curiosity.

"It was kinda difficult getting away from Elmer and his parents long enough to wish up a clone without getting noticed." Dwight explained, finding it more difficult to mask fatigue from his voice than from his face.

"Hmm, sure been spending a lot of time with them lately." Molly remarked from observation.

"Well, looks like that'll become more permanent."

"Permanent?" Tootie piped, both eyebrows raised as if anticipating clarification. "What do you mean?"

For a moment, his carefully crafted mask slipped, brows knitting into a pensive frown. "I'd…rather not get into it right now..."

Another set of dinging clouds announced other tardy arrivals, seeing an ebony fairy and her platinum blonde godchild appear from rainbow light.

"Susie!" Rose zoomed to her friend, greeting her with a sisterly hug that Susie willingly returned. Gently swaying side-to-side in their embrace before Rose pulled away, seeing Susie's weak smile. "Are you okay? I never got a response to my text last night."

"Sorry, gurl…" Susie's dreary voice lacked its usual spunk, gently rubbing her neck. "It's been a lot goin' on."

Dragging her sandals towards the other kids, Chloe wearily held one arm. The space beneath her eyes darkened into sickly purple shadows that Molly was quick to call attention to.

"Why you look like what the cat dragged in?" the playful taunt in her comment resulted in a rough elbow to the arm from Tootie.

White bandages decorated with artsy flowers were taped in the inner elbow of Chloe's left arm and above the back of her right hand. Locations that Dwight recognized as places most IVs are inserted or where blood is drawn, lines of worry creasing his forehead "…were you in the hospital?"

She furrowed, concealing one of the bandages with one hand over the other in her shame "…I-I'd just gotten discharged. But I wished for a clone to take my place so my dad wouldn't notice…"

"Wait…" Tootie started to hate how utterly oblivious she felt to the lives of kids she cared about. "Why were you in the hospital?"

Chloe diverted her gaze. The physical evidence was too blaring to tell a lie, but this day's occasion was not about her. Thus, remorse and guilt opted to omit the truth. "It's…a long story."

"You must feel like crap, and yet you came here straight out tha hospital?" Molly commented as if impressed. "You're not as weak as ya look, Carmichael."

She's sort of gotten used to Molly's knack for back-handed compliments, yet she felt weak regardless. She was weak, weak and pathetic. She didn't need her mother haunting her mind to tell her that.

"…I'd already promised Tootie and Rose I'd be here…" she whimpered. Her chin lowered as her fingers clawed at her band aid "…I-I didn't wanna let anyone down…"

Tootie jutted her lip. No one should feel like they have to attend an event out of obligation. She knew what that felt like, and she'd never want that for anyone else.

Another set of rainbow clouds revealed the Hispanic fairy with his young billionaire godchild, catching the others' attention.

"Heyyyyyyy, it's Richie!" Molly greeted with a facetious wave.

"Hello, Tyke." Remy dully jabbed back, spite absent in his tone of voice. Following their truce, their dynamic had naturally fallen into giving each other somewhat petty yet joshing nicknames that neither party took much offense to.

Drawing near the rest of the fairies, Juandissimo was met with Susie to his left and Rose to his right, both embracing him simultaneously. In return, he laced an arm around each of them, pressing them to him. "You have no idea how good it is to see you two right now…"

"Aww, why?" Susie looked up when she heard his somber exhale. "What's wrong?"

Juandissimo removed his arms from around the female fairies, eyes lowered with a creased brow. "I promised Remy I would keep it between us."

"Something happened with Remy?" Rose quizzed, worried it was something bad.

Juandissimo crossed his arms. "To Remy."

"What happened to Remy?"

Irving's inquiring question led three pairs of eyes towards him and Swizzle hovering before them. Irving's expression sharing in Rose's concerns, Swizzle's arched brow more so morbidly curious. Something Rose and crew had quickly learned when they'd become acquainted with Swizzle's group was that there are no skeletons in the closet. One fairy or one godchild's problem is everyone's problem.

Juandissimo sighed nevertheless. His godson trusted that his deepest, darkest secret was safe with him. He can't renege that. "Something I cannot talk about…"

"Hi, Remy." Tootie did not hesitate to advance towards the other godchild she'd gotten closer to, putting any negative feelings in the back of her mind.

"Hey." Remy did not hesitate to lower his chin to the top of her ponytails when she pulled him into a tight embrace, resting her head on his chest.

Over the weeks, his icy shield had melted enough to accept hugs when offered from those outside of his fairy. Of course, he didn't just give hugs to anyone. Affection was reserved only to those with the trust that could chip away his heart's protective armor.

"Hey, man, it's been a while." Dwight stepped forward with a painted grin, having not seen Remy since his birthday a couple weeks ago. Remy was in the dark about the extent of his seizures, and Dwight preferred to keep it that way. Attempting to make it less and less obvious that a cluster of focal seizures also nearly prevented him from coming here. "How've you been?"

When Tootie gently pulled away from him, Remy let her go just as his chest ached with tension. If he told the truth, they might think he was crazy, so he settled to choke out "I've…been."

"You seem better…or…at least a little." Chloe mustered a smile when she stepped up beside Dwight, noticing the reduced bags under Remy's eyes. Issues with sleep had been the extent of what she knew of his troubles.

Glancing her way, he noted her dark circles and prominent red veins in the white of her eyes, along with the sickly pallid in her skin and bandages in certain areas. "And you seem worse…no offense." he quickly realized how rude his comment could be interpreted, following up with "Are you sick?"

"Sort of…" Chloe frowned before she feigned another smile. Wearing a coat of strength to cover up bone-weary weakness as she raised her chin and pushed her shoulders back. "But I'm here."

Dwight's searching gaze could see right through her cloak, see the sorrow haunting her eyes of tristesse blue. He really didn't like this front of hers, even though he was putting up his own façade. But this was his own choice, and it was easy for him to assume Chloe felt she has no free agency. Pulling herself by the bootstraps is how she always had to be, starting from the time she'd developed self-awareness. And he hated that for her.

Two more poofs materialized not far from the others, and when dark-blue laid eyes upon bright-red, she bee-lined passed the other fairies straight to her girlfriend. "Nye!"

Nyekundu winced at the fierce impact of Swizzle's squeeze, not entirely surprised considering the lack of communication on her part. After minutes passed by like hours, Swizzle parted from her to grip onto her by both shoulders.

"Are you okay?! Why haven't you called or texted me back!?" she probed, her sternness derived from days straight of unresolved worry. Last she heard from Nyekundu, Hazel's sack of shit for a father had grabbed Nyekundu, disguised as a ferret, by the tail and dangled her squirming body two stories from the ground out Hazel's open window. Threatening to 'make her snap into pieces' if Hazel 'talked back' one more time.

"I am so sorry, mpenzi…" Nyekundu apologized ruefully. She didn't mean to make Swizzle so uneasy. "Things have been so crazy-"

"You're not hurt, are you?!"

"No, I am fine." Nyekundu assured, then furrowed dubiously. "At least…I think so."

The huddled group of godchildren gravitated towards the little black girl whose lowered gaze stood in place, arms stiffly crossed with vertical lines between her brows. Aside from her rigid stance, the first they noticed was a dark welt scarred across her right cheek. A welt that was not there when Molly had seen her at Dwight's birthday.

"Did that bastard do that?" Molly pointed to her cheek, the care for her friend mixed with sour resentment towards a man who didn't deserve the air he breathed.

Brown eyes rose diffidently, weakly nodding in response. She could have wished for Nyekundu to rid her of the unconcealable scar. That way, there'd be no troubled or unnerved eyes all on her. But it had served as a stark reminder to never test the patience of a man capable of much, much worse.

Molly hissed, clenching her fists as Remy narrowed his stare. It all started to make sense why Hazel had been missing at the country club. Assuming something fishy with the Wells was no longer an assumption, just a dark fact yet to be brought to the light of public scrutiny.

"…Remy?"

His narrowed stare softened when she crept towards him, speaking just as mousey as her hunched shoulders made her appear.

"There's…something I need to talk to you about…" her eyes averted his for a brief second. Now was not a good time to bring up the mysteries of Missy. "But later…okay?"

Remy had a pretty good idea what it could be, nodding to respect Hazel's wishes. He had to agree; now was not a good time to bring up the family of devils in disguise. A family not as 'picture perfect' as they tried too hard to make everyone believe.

Squeezing herself as if her arms were the glue holding her together, Hazel shifted her attention from Remy to Tootie standing next to him. "Hi, Tootie." she squeaked, wanting to be courteous. "Happy Birthday."

"…thank you." Tootie coyly expressed her gratitude, slowly starting to warm up to the phrase seldom spoken to her in her old life where such innocent words held corrupt connotations. She couldn't help but stare at the welt on Hazel's cheek. One similar to that of the many Jim used to whip and slash behind her legs as she gestured to her own cheek questioning "…does that hurt?"

"I don't really wanna talk about it."

"Oh…" Tootie puckered her brows, stung by instant regret. She didn't mean to pry, she just wanted to show that she cared…

Susie scanned the crop of fairies and godparents, noting that not everyone was present. "…where's Londro?" she asked to no one in particular. "And Coz and Wan aren't here, either."

"I can try calling Alondro." Nyekundu offered.

"Already on it." Irving had his phone at the ready, dialing Alondro's number. Out of everyone there, he'd had the most interactions with Alondro since their godsons attended the same school. "No te preocupes; peque and I shall be there" Alondro had assured him. He was a man of his word…maybe they were just late like everyone else?

"And I'll try Wanda." Susie took out her phone, her best friend's contact on speed dial by pressing the button to the number 3.

"Hmm…" Irving bunched his protruding chin, holding the relentless dial tone to his ear. "Phone keeps ringin' but nothin' else…"

Not even a second after Susie dialed Wanda's number, a voicemail greeting played in place of a ring.

Hey, this is Wanda. You know what to do after the be-

Susie snapped her phone shut, huffing a groan.

"No answer?" Juandissimo queried.

"Nah, went straight to voicemail." Susie felt a sense of dread rattle her nerves. Sure, Wanda didn't always answer on the first ring, even before she became a mom. But that's the thing…the first ring. Wanda never turned her phone off.

"Then I'll try Coz." Rose retrieved her own phone. Meanwhile, Swizzle thought to question Chloe and Remy, the only two godkids in that bucktoothed runt's grade.

"You two heard anything from Timmy?"

"No." Remy denied. "Hadn't seen nor heard from him since school on Friday."

"Same…" Chloe concurred, shoulders sagging with a tinge of remorse.

"And same for Gary…" Dwight added, the unknown of his best friend's whereabouts pulsing more throbs in his temples. Last he'd seen, Gary seemed fine for the most part.

"I hope they're okay…" Hazel frowned, fearing worst-case scenario.

Tootie felt her insides churn, corrosive waves agitating her stomach lining as if Hazel's silent fears latched on to twist her guts. Anxious thoughts spiraled in a dizzying whirlwind. Drowning out sound reason, leaving her feeling helpless. Oh no…was Timmy okay? If anything happened to him…

"Cosmo, hey!" Rose let out a breath of relief when she managed to reach the other half of the Cosmas on the third ring. "Everybody's wondering where you guys are."

"Well, not real sure about Alondro and Gary; haven't seen 'em yet." Cosmo cradled his baby blowing bored raspberries, gently bouncing him with one arm. "But I know Wanda had left me and the baby check on Timmy."

"Susie had tried to call Wanda a little bit ago, but the call went straight to voicemail."

Balancing the phone against his ear with his shoulder, Cosmo repositioned Poof to rest on his hip, keeping him from squirming towards freedom. "She must've forgotten to charge her phone last night…probably didn't take it with her, either." he assumed, switching Poof to his other hip and his phone to his other shoulder. His giggling son purposefully went limp as if hoping to slide his way out. "Um, I can go try to find 'em and let cha know."

"Okay. Thanks, Cosmo. I'm sure Tootie wouldn't wanna start anything without Timmy and Gary, so…check in when ya can."

"You got it, dude!"

With Poof more secure, Cosmo reached to end the call before closing his flip-phone, trading it for his wand in his pocket. Sparking his magic to transport himself and Poof out of the nursery and into, what they soon discovered, a quiet and empty shed.

"Huh." Looking around, Cosmo then turned to big eyes full of the same wonder. "Where's mama and big brother?"

"…Poof, Poof?" Poof chirped, and Cosmo tilted his head.

"Maybe they went to the house?"

"Poof, Poof."

"Welp, c'mon then, Poofy!" Cosmo exclaimed, keeping spirits light and bright. "Let's go check!"

"Poof, Poof!"

His son squealed excitedly as Cosmo sparked his wand. Poofing them into a house, smackdab in the midst of horror.

An elderly man, early in his seventies, lay motionless in the middle of the living room floor. Stiff with eyes closed as if glued shut, crumpled as if a loss of consciousness sent him tumbling him out of his recliner. Potentially left unchecked throughout the night and through the morning, indicated by the bluish paleness in his skin. Unmoving, unresponsive.

The fairy baby cried out, clinging to his father who cradled him close. Poof buried his thick, wailing tears into Cosmo's chest, damping his shirt. Cosmo was too petrified to care, his jaw slack as though awaiting an oncoming scream. Eyes transfixed with horror, unable to look away no matter how much he wished to.

"Peque?" Near the hall's archway, Alondro shook his godson's shoulders, having transformed into his fairy form the moment blue eyes went vacant like empty windows to the abandoned house of awareness. "¡Peque, háblame!"

Gary could hear someone talking to him, yet it felt as if his brain couldn't send a signal to his mouth to respond. Barely able to feel a grip on his shoulders, the corner of his vision blurred like some surreal dream that he couldn't wake up from. His mind felt detached from his thoughts, as if his ghost had possessed a stranger's body. Arms limp at his sides, fingers stiff as if carved from stone.

Fluttering from the back door, Wanda shuddered from the unnerving surge shooting up her spine. Left with enough sense amidst the pounding pulse between her ears to lean two trembling fingers to the side of Vlad's neck, expecting to feel an ice block. To her surprise, he felt as warm as a cake cooling in the fridge. But to her horror, the tips of her fingers could barely register signs of life. Miniscule thumps of blood pushing against thin veins, faint. Irregular.

"Sweetie, we need to contact the authorities." she kept her tone deceptively calm, turning to the ten-year-old still frozen in place by the back door after discovering his grandpa in this horrible shape. "And you're the only one of sound enough mind to do so."

His godmother's words blurred into one disjointed haze, his cognizance fragmented like pieces of a puzzle scattered across the table. A baby's screechy wails echoed in and out his ears, echoed as if from another room and not right in front of him. Timmy struggled to control his quavering, muscles in his arms and legs clenching to the achy point of tense trembles.

"Timmy, do you hear me?" Wanda's voice grew shrill, growing difficult to mask her own pickling stress. "If he doesn't get medical attention, he'll die!"

Anguish etched its way into his glassy stare. Too overwhelmed to move as the bottom of his chin quivered.