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Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other-

"Goooood morning. Rise and shine, sunshine!"

- which includes Peri's unnecessarily loud and chipper wake-up call. Not to forget him opening the curtains and letting the light of the rising sun in. Urgh.

Dev turns around to escape from the soft glow that forces him into the land of the living.

"Hey, this is no way to greet a new day! Where is the energy?"

"Absent." Dev mutters, rubbing his eyes as he slowly sits up. The blanket is pooling on his lap, making him shiver the tiniest bit. Peri seems to notice. The soft glow of his wand is all the warning Dev gets before he is wrapped in a warm sweater. Neat. Unnecessary, but neat.

The boy looks up at his godparent, who is wearing a big and confident smile.

"What the hell has got you in such a good mood?"

Stupid question. Peri is always in a good mood as long as you let him wake up on his own. If you're the one waking him up when he's clearly not ready, you'll be faced with the bitchiest, moodiest creature alive. Dev is not kidding. He experienced it once and he will not provoke his luck again.

"Isn't it obvious?"

No, it is not. Especially since Dev's brain is still foggy from all the sleep he would like to continue catching.

Who had the idea to start school so early anyway? He would like to have a stern talk with that person. He is a Dimmadome after all, and Dimmadome's always get what they want... well, maybe not always, especially at his age, but let him dream. There must be an advantage to being his father's son.

"It's going to be Christmas soon, Dev!"

Dev is going to go blind thanks to all the neon lights that suddenly light up behind Peri. Each of them in the silly shape of something closely associated with Christmas. Like a present, a reindeer, a pine tree.

"...What?"

"It's the first of December!"

A calendar, one of those you can hang on your wall, appears next to Peri. The fairy grabs it to shove it in Dev's face, the day of the first is circled in red, not that Dev really notices, far to distracted by the picture on the top of the calendar.

Is that Jorgen? In a Christmas drag? Dev would like to erase this picture from his memory. Asap.

"Today is the start of the Christmas countdown! You can open the first door of your Advent calendar and look forward to what's to come! Are you excited yet?"

Dev blinks at his fairy. Once. Twice.

"I'm going back to bed." He does just that, laying back down and pulling the blanket over his head.

"What? Noooo!" Peri pulls it off him again, receiving a glare in return. "You can't go to bed! You should be excited! I mean, isn't Christmas something all kids are excited about?"

Timmy was!

Peri may not remember much of their time together - how could he? He was a child back then, so it's only natural that the memories have faded, no matter how hard he fights to keep them - but if there's one thing he does remember, it's Christmas being Timmy's favorite holiday!

He loved it so much that he once wished it was Christmas every day! Something that's no longer possible, thanks to a new set of rules Jorgen added after this debacle, but that just proves Peri's point!

Every day at dawn, whether it was weekdays or weekends, Timmy would get up and basically drag Peri to their Advent calendar to open the next door. The excitement of the upcoming holiday rising more and more the less doors are left.

A gentle smile caresses Peri's lips.

The fairy tries to keep up the tradition to this day. Which is strange, because fairies don't really celebrate Christmas like humans do, but he's used to being the odd one out. He has been since he was born. It's just something you can't avoid after growing up as much as a human as an actual fairy.

"Not me." Dev says, his voice pulling his godparent back from his trip down the memory line. 

He begrudgingly sits up, after it's clear that Peri has no intention of returning his blanket.

Could he wish it back? He could. Does he want the discussion that will follow? No, he doesn't. His nerves are already on edge, just from their current conversation alone.

"I don't care about these things."

"Christmas or opening the calendar, because if it's the second -" Peri laughs "- you obviously don't have the right one yet. What do you want? Sweets?"

Dev takes a deep breath.

"Clothes? Comics?"

His hands clench into fists.

"I bet you there is something you desir-"

"The only thing I desire right now is you shutting up."

His words have the desired effect, Peri becomes quiet, his excitement fades, and yet Dev isn't happy. On the contrary, he winces, guilt rising like bile in his throat after he realizes what he just said.

"Sheesh."

It's a good thing that Peri is able to bounce back quickly, not taking the boy's outburst to heart. There is no reason to, with him obviously regretting it.

"Looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

Dev's shoulders relax. He may not say it out loud, but he's grateful that Peri isn't making a big deal out of this - which is something Dev can only say because he doesn't know what's going on inside the fairy. And boy, will those words come back to haunt him later.

But for now, he swings his legs over the edge of the mattress to get up.

"I'm just... not a Christmas person."

Peri blinks at the boy. "But... everyone loves Christmas."

"I don't." Dev claps to get the au pairs to bring him his clothes for the day.

"But... you are a kid." Peri emphasizes, looking genuinely confused. It would be a funny sight if Dev's patience wasn't already running thin.

"I'm ten." Dev says, adding his sunglasses to complete his daily dress-up.

"Like I said: A kid. How can you not...?"

"Peri." Dev's voice has a dangerous edge to it. One that Peri has already come to recognize, signaling the end of their discussion. "I just don't."

Of course, the fairy can't understand his reasons. How could he? He probably never had to spend the holidays alone, unlike Dev, who has to do so every damn year.

There are no traditions for him to uphold, nothing to look forward to, because Christmas is just like any other day. Just him under a lonely tree, if they even get one! And yes, he's grateful for the presents, but in the end, he doesn't care about them, because all he wishes for each and every year is something he knows by now he can't get, no matter how hard he tries, and he did.

He tried so damn hard to get his father's love, but in the end, every single attempt was fruitless. All those countless days of waiting for a day that should have been filled with warmth and love, laughter and joy, were wasted because his father? He never showed up. Not even once.

Christmas is the best time to do business, Dev. Why spend money on stupid things like trees and decorations when you can make money out of other people instead!

Yeah... how could Dev even think about spending some time with his father, about his father wanting to spend some time with him. Ridiculous. Time is money, and spending time with your son? Couldn't be more of a waste, right?

What a joke.

Dev wishes.. that just for once, he could be more important than work. He longs for the warm and cozy feeling of love and belonging, of peace and happiness that the movies he watches to keep at least some of his sanity always depict.

A craving that won't ever fade, only growing stronger with each passing year.

Dev swallows down the tears that burn in his eyes, replacing them with anger.

"Now drop the topic." Before I lose myself. "Or I am gonna revoke your cereal bar privileges."

"Huh?" Now that gets a rise out of the fairy. He looks at Dev with something akin to shock before frowning"...You wouldn't."

"Try me." The smile on Dev's face is sickly sweet, and oh so provocative that Peri can't help but cross his arms over his chest.

"Well, jokes on you. I am a magical creature. Key word: magical. I can just conjure up my own cereal."

It's almost cute how triumphant the fairy looks. He really thinks he won this round, huh?

"No cereal for the rest of the year?" Dev shrugs. "Fine by me."

"...."

Three. Two. One.

"Okay, fine!" The sweet sound of victory is like music to Dev's ears. "Fine. Fine! I drop the subject. Consider it dropped. There it goes, down the metaphorical drain."

Peri pretends to drop something before making some swirling noises, it almost sounds like he is flushing something down the toilet.

Dev raises an eyebrow with a mixture of judgment and amusement.

"You know, moments like this make me painfully aware that you are related to Hazel's fairies."

Peri almost blossoms under the praise, lifting his chin in pride of his heritage - wait a second. Knowing Dev, that wasn't a compliment, was it? Did the boy just insult his intellect?

"Wa- Hey!" Both of Peri's hands find their way to his hips. "Don't act like that wasn't comedy gold."

"No comment." Dev snorts, packing up the last of his belongings to finally make his way to school....

They were sitting in class, Mr Guzman was explaining how to solve a new maths problem, when it happened. And by it, Hazel means the sparkling letters that suddenly appear out of nowhere on her desk. No pencil moving, no signs or warnings, just letters forming in front of her.

Cosmo lets out a startled sound and rolls out of the way in his pencil form, as if afraid to touch the glowing letters.

"...does any of you do that?" Hazel asks her fairies.

Wanda shakes her head, using her eraser body to stop her husband, before he could topple over the edge of the desk.

"No, but the handwriting looks familiar."

"Oh, yeah! It's Peri's! I would recognise that cursive scramble anywhere!"

Right, the only other logical explanation. Brown eyes dart to the side, trying to catch the fairy's gaze, and when she does, the purple eyes move down, probably indicating that she should read his message.

Hazel. Do you have some time at lunch? I want to talk, without Dev.

Ominous, but manageable. Hazel looks up and gives Peri a thumbs up, which soon turns into a innocent wave of her hand after Dev looks in her direction. He looks confused at her wave, but returns it with the hint of a smile on his face.

Hazel glances at her watch. Half an hour until lunch, plenty of time to think about what Peri might need from her.

...

..

"Alright, the coast is clear."

Thirty minutes later, the four friends and three disguised fairies are sitting around a table. With Winn and Jasmine distracting Dev, Hazel has enough space to talk to Peri alone.

"What do you want to talk about? Is it about Dev?"

Obviously it is, otherwise the boy would be allowed to listen in.

"It is." Peri confirms, looking a tiny bit uncomfortable. It almost looks like he is questioning whether he should be having this conversation right now. His gaze wanders to Dev once more before settling on Hazel's. "Has Dev ever mentioned anything about not liking Christmas?"

"Huh?" Hazel blinks at him in surprise. "Not liking Christmas? How can someone not like Christmas? I mean..."

She looks at Dev, who is laughing with their friends, as if he has not a single care in the world. She likes seeing him like this. All happy and smiling, it makes a smile of her own settle on her lips. She shakes her head.

"No, I didn't know. He never mentioned such a thing at all."

Peri makes an understanding sound, appearing deep in thought, while also looking the tiniest bit disappointed?

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Dev and I just... had a discussion today, nothing wild." He reassures the girl as soon as the first signs of concern crosses her features.

He doesn't want to brag, but he thinks he handled it pretty well. So did Dev. They have learned from their past mistakes and are trying their best not to repeat them. Peri couldn't have asked for more. And that's exactly why he needs to figure out what Dev's deal is.

"But with my history of not seeing the signs before they blow up in my face, I thought I might test the waters."

Peri runs his fingers through his hair, or tries to, before remembering that he does not currently have any fingers, thanks to the disguise he is wearing.

"I'm probably just reading too much into it."

"I don't think you are." Hazel denies. "You should trust your instincts! And if they tell you there is more to it, then there probably is! And even if there isn't. Better to worry once too much than once too little, right?"

Peri sighs.

"If only Dev could see it that way... He asked me to drop the topic and I want to respect his boundaries, I do. But doing so might do more harm than good, especially if there is something bothering him."

And that's where the real problem starts: how does he know when it's fine to push and when to stop? How much pushing is too much? Is there even a need to?

He wants Dev to open up to him, to trust him, but he doesn't want the boy to feel forced. But waiting... oh boy, waiting for Dev to come to him has never done him any good. On the contrary, it ended with him losing the boy altogether. And even though he knows it won't happen again, the fear remains. The fear of not doing enough, of letting the boy who needs his help stray too far until he can no longer reach him.

"Hmmm... that sounds like a tough situation."

"Tell me about it." Peri shakes his head. "Maybe I should ask mom and dad for advice. They always know what to do in situations like this."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for help." A different point of view can sometimes help you change your whole perspective. "Tell you what? I will talk to him too. Maybe it's easier for him to open up to a friend?

"You don't have to-"

"But I want to. Dev is my friend too. And I want to be there for him."

A gentle expression crosses Peri's face. "You're a good friend, Hazel. Dev is lucky to have you."

"Just as lucky as he is to have someone in his life who cares as much as you do." Hazel fires back.

Peri doesn't really think he deserves this praise yet. He and Dev have only been together - trying again - for merely a month.

"He deserves it." People that care for and love him for who he is, with all his quirks and flaws, that define him. "He deserves to be happy."

"And we are going to make sure that he is!"

A few hours later, after the final ring of the bell signals the end of the school day, the children say their goodbyes as they walk out the large double doors.

The wind rushing through their hair as they set foot outside, Hazel regrets not wearing a hat. She opens her mouth to wish for one before remembering that her fairies aren't here. Peri kidnapped his parents because he had to ask them some important fairy stuff (that's the official excuse, Hazel knows the truth), leaving her and Dev all by themselves.

"My au pairs can fly you home?" Dev offers, ready to climb aboard one of them.

"I'd rather walk." Hazel refuses. "But... maybe you would like to walk with me?"

Dev tilts his head to the side, thinking, before shrugging. "Sure."

He sends the au pair away with a wave of his hand and starts walking next to the girl. It doesn't take long for them to strike up a conversation that Hazel tries to steer in a certain direction:

"I can't believe it's already December! Time flies so fast, don't you think?"

"It sure does."

"If it wasn't for Cosmo and Wanda, I wouldn't have even thought about opening my Advent calendar today! Crazy, right?"

That's a lie. Opening the door that proved the Christmas season had officially begun was the first thing on Hazel's mind. It felt strange to do this without her brother, who still invested in one every year, despite maybe being too old for it, if only to share this special moment of joy with his sister every morning.

But she can't just stop doing things because they're different from what she's used to! It's not forever either! Just until Antony returns from college. The knowledge that he will soon be visiting to spend the holidays with them only raises her spirits.

"Mine is chocolate, by the way. What about yours? You probably have a lot, or really crazy ones! Maybe I should ask Cosmo and Wanda to magic me one up! Like a French Fry one, wouldn't that be great?"

"French Fries... for breakfast?" Dev raises an eyebrow, looking skeptical.

"There's no time limit on enjoying French fries. In fact, I once wrote a whole song about French fries. Good times."

Dev chuckles under his breath. "Yeah, that sounds like something you would do."

They continue walking in silence. It doesn't last long.

"So?" 

"So?" Dev echoes. "Are you going to sing that song for me?"

"Wha- no! That's embarrassing. Cosmo and Wanda aren't even here to back up my vocals."

Come to think of it, it sounds about right that the girl and her fairies had come up with that idea.

"You didn't answer my question. What kind of Advent calendar do you have?"

Dev makes a face. "I don't have one."

"You..." Hazel looks like the sky just fell on them. "What do you mean you don't have one?! What are we even waiting for, let's go and get you-"

"No!" Dev grabs her sleeve to stop her. "I didn't mean it- I have one- I'm just... not really into the whole opening doors thing."

"Oh." Hazel deflates like a balloon. "Why is that? Because you can't eat chocolate? ...Can you eat chocolate?"

"In small amounts. Preferably dark, less milk in it."

Makes sense.

"Huh, so it's not the chocolate?"

"It's not the chocolate. I'm just..." How does Dev phrase this without risking the same scenario he had to endure this morning? "...not a Christmas person."

Nailed it. Totally nailed it. At least Hazel doesn't look shocked by his confession, concerned and curious, but not shocked.

"How come...? I mean, is there a reason you're not? I don't mean to pry." Hazel raises her hands. "You don't have to tell me, it's just... it's Christmas."

Why does everyone keep saying that? First Peri, now Hazel- Wait.

Dev raises an eyebrow and looks at the girl skeptically. He didn't miss her and Peri talking on the sidelines today, nor did he buy Peri's excuse about talking to his parents about some "important fairy stuff". Could it be...?

"...did Peri put you up to this?"

"He didn't."

Dev won't pretend, that he didn't notice her hesitation. It may have been only a second, but it was there, a subtle glint of uncertainty that said it all.

"I can't believe it!"

"Dev-"

"That fairy, I swear! Doesn't he know how to take a hint?!"

He asked him to drop the subject, and he picks it up to take it to Hazel? So much for flushing it down the toilet!

"That's it! He'll never see that cereal bar again!"

"Cereal bar?" Hazel asks confused before shaking her head. That's a question for later. "Dev, how about we calm down for a second?"

She raises her hands to... what exactly? Calm him down? Put a hand on his shoulder to ground him? He doesn't care, sidestepping her attempt at comfort.

"No! He's messing with my business and I won't have it! Going behind my back to talk to you, who does he think he is?!"

"Your godparent. Keyword: Parent."

Dev falters before hissing: "That doesn't give him the right to..."

"It doesn't." Hazel confirms. "But he didn't come to me to butt in on your business or pit me against you. I talked to you of my own accord, because seeing him worry about you? It made me worry too, you know? You are my friend, Dev. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Dev averts his gaze, crossing his arms across his chest in defiance.

"There's nothing to worry about." He forces out through clenched teeth. "It's only Christmas! Not my fault I don't enjoy what everyone else seems to!"

"Dev, there is nothing wrong with you not liking Christmas for no reason." Hazel dismisses him. "But your reaction right now? I think it makes it pretty clear that this isn't about you thinking the holiday is overrated."

The boy glares at her.

"Look." She raises her hands again, as if to show him that she means no harm. "I'm not saying that coming to me was the right thing to do. But Peri's heart was in the right place. Right now he is talking to Cosmo and Wanda about how to breach the subject without stepping on your toes. He can see that something is wrong, and at the same time he doesn't want to cross your boundaries. Maybe he already has, by consulting me, but... he is trying, Dev. He really is. Don't get mad at him for stumbling on a path that was littered with rocks to begin with."

Dev remains silent. His eyebrows furrowed it's clear that he's thinking about her words, repeating them over and over in his head, slowly but surely unraveling them and deciding what he thinks about them before coming to a conclusion.

"Yeah, okay." His shoulders slump, his posture losing some of its tension. "Maybe he'll keep his cereal bar rights."

"That's... nice of you...?" Hazel guesses this is Dev's way of showing forgiveness? You can never be too sure with this boy.

Dev nods, as if to confirm that this is nice of him, which it is. He wouldn't have given in so easily if it were any other person - Hazel excluded. Hazel will always be a special case.

"...So?" The girl speaks up after a few minutes of radio silence. Dev glances at her to show that he is paying attention. "...Why don't you like Christmas?"

For the love of...

"Hazel." Dev warns.

"You don't have to tell me!" The girl makes clear. "I'm just curious, well, not just curious, it's more... that you're my friend? And I want to get to know you, you know? But you don't have to tell me anything you don't feel comfortable with. I just want you to know that if you ever want to talk? I am there for you. I will always be there for you, Dev."

How can she say that and expect him not to spill the beans? The boy sighs in frustration.

"It's not like it's a big deal." He puts his hands in his pockets. "It's just... it's hard to look forward to a family vacation when you don't have anyone to spend it with."

The answer shouldn't come as a surprise, and yet Hazel tried to have at least a little faith in Dale Dimmadome.

"Your dad..."

"-Up until this year, I always hoped we would spend it together. I waited for him, only to be disappointed each and every year. And after what happened on my birthday-" Both children cringe at the unpleasant memory. "After I realized that not even me taking over an entire magical dimension could make my dad..."

..Love me.

The words burn on his tongue, never to be spoken. He can't. They hurt too much.

"..happy with me. I decided to spare myself the pain."

No more waiting. No more gaslighting himself. Just cold and bitter acceptance.

"That's why I'm not excited. That's why I don't get up and count down to a day that's going to suck no matter what."

Hazel stops in her tracks. Dev does as well, turning around to look at the girl, not expecting the sheer determination he is faced with.

"... It doesn't has to." Hazel whispers.

"Hazel-"

"No, Dev. I'm sorry you can't spend time with your dad. I... I won't even pretend to know how you must feel." She raises her hand again to put it on his shoulder. This time he lets her. "But... that doesn't mean you have to spend the holidays alone or miserable. First of all, you have Peri now. I don't doubt for a second that he'll make sure you have the best Christmas ever!"

"But... it's a family holiday."

"And you are part of his family. He wouldn't let you down and I won't let you down either!"

What does she mean..?

"How about you spend Christmas with me and my parents?"

And it was at this point that Dev's brain short-circuited. Did Hazel just...?

"Do you mean that? I mean..." Dev shakes his head, trying to take a step back and distance himself from Hazel, which doesn't work thanks to the girl tightening her grip around his shoulders. She looks him dead in the eyes.

"I know it's not the same. We're not your father and we could never replace him, but... it's better than spending it alone, right? We can still make the best of it..."

"I.." Dev wets his lips. They are suddenly as dry as his throat. "I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You don't. You could never. The more, the merrier. But you don't have to decide now." She relaxes her grip, giving him a chance to escape if he wants to. He doesn't, feeling frozen in time. "Just... think about it, okay?"

I can't replace your father. I can't give you what you so desperately want. But I promise I can still make you happy. I will give you the best Christmas you could ever wish for. You won't even notice what you don't have, what you want, because we're going to give you everything you need.

"I..." Dev couldn't possibly- There is no way- "..I will think about it."

When Dev comes home, it's to an empty house. His father is not home yet, not that he would see much of him if he were. Dev enters the elevator and rides up until he reaches his own room. It's dark, the moon in full bloom outside his window the only source of light. Its hollow glow wraps around his furniture, painting their shadows on the floor.

Dev is oblivious to the play of light and shadow. His body moves on autopilot.

Hazel wants to spend Christmas with him. A small smile plays on his lips. This time he won't be alone.

Letting his back collide with the door he just closed behind him, Dev closes his eyes.

Whenever he imagined what his Christmas would be like, he saw his father. Obvious, right? His dad is the most important part of Christmas. So Dev imagines himself standing next to the man. There is an arm around Dev's shoulder, pressing him into an equally warm body, while they both look up at the beautiful Christmas tree. It's a peaceful image, filled with nothing but warmth and joy.

It's an illusion, a dream that will never come true. The Dev in his mind blinks, and in the fraction of a second, the image changes. The dream is overwritten by the cold reality he has come to know:

A dark room, big and lonely, cold, he is so cold. He looks up at his father - maybe he can put his arm around him again to stop him freezing? - only to realize that he's not there. He never was. He has always been alone. And he always will be. Nothing to comfort him but a dead tree standing in a forest of darkness and silence.

And yet something is off. Something is different. Because this time he's not completely alone. He can feel it - a presence.

It's there, in the corner of his eyes, a purple light, blinking weakly in and out of existence. He reaches out, his fingers barely brushing over it, and as they do, it comes alive. The light grows larger, brighter, warmer. It circles him in joy before it flies away.

But it doesn't leave him, no, it travels through the room, filling everything it touches with the same warmth and joy.

The tree, once dead, is now in full bloom, sparkling with Christmas lights that adore it. The air, until now cold and stale, becomes warm, brushing against him as if to embrace him. The room, dark and hollow, bursts with colors and lights. It's beautiful.

And just when he thought it couldn't get any better, he feels an arm wrap around his shoulder.

"Dev!" Hazel!

Dev turns to look at the girl, who lights up the room even more with her smile. As well as making his insides feel all warm and tingly. Two orbs of light, similar to the one he just touched but with a different colour scheme - green and pink, individually - float next to her. They fly up to meet the purple one and continue their journey of spreading love and joy together, as a family.

Hazel laughs and tugs at his hands to join their fairies dancing around the room.

There are no presents, no food, nothing fancy to make this day special. There is no need. All Dev ever wanted was company. Someone to hold his hand and tell him that everything is going to be all right...

When Dev opens his eyes again, he is back in reality, alone once more - no, not alone, he has friends, people who care about him and a future he can't wait to experience. He might even say that he is looking forward to Christmas.

His eyes catch the edge of his advents calendar, still untouched, until Dev let's his fingers brush over it. He searches for the one before he opens it.

"Oh?" Dev shouldn't be surprised to see his godparent popping into existence next to him. "What happened to you not waiting for Christmas...?"

It's not an attack, just an honest question. Peri carefully breaches the subject, as if testing the waters.

He is your godparent. His heart is in the right place.

"....I... Hazel changed my mind." Dev admits quietly.

Peri hums. "She's pretty good at that, isn't she?"

"She is."

There is a lot to unpack here, Peri is aware that he and Dev need to talk, but not now. Not after Hazel has given Dev the peace he deserves and- Wait a minute.

Peri squints at the Advent calendar Dev has just claimed as his, and comes face to face with none other than the face of Dale Dimmadome himself. Yiiiiiikes.

"Kid, don't tell me this is your calendar?"

Peri sounds disgusted, even judgmental. This time Dev can't even be mad at him.

"Yeah." He's not really happy about it either, but it's not like he was planning to open it this year, otherwise he would have ordered a better one.

"That won't do." Peri doesn't even ask before poofing the object of his judgement out of existence. "You need something bigger, better, something that doesn't smile at me so sleazily."

Dev chuckles. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"You even have to ask?" Peri twirls his wand around before pointing it at Dev. "Come on, kid, make a wish."

"I wish for a new Advent calendar that is bigger, better and flashier than my old one!"

Vague, but Peri already has an idea. As soon as the cloud of magic lifts, Dev finds himself face to face with Kennueth and Duckward. The boy gasps.

Hanging on his wall is a Prime Meridian Love Calendar, featuring one of his favourite scenes from the Manga!

"This is awesome!" Dev wastes no time in opening the first door. As soon as he does, the tune of the intro theme fills the air.

"Yep, every time you open a door, it plays a new song from the soundtrack."

That's even cooler! Finding out that it's filled with dark chocolate in the shape of the characters, as well as little trinkets and gadgets from the show, is even better!

"Now that's what I call a calendar, isn't it?" Peri blows on his wand as if it's smoking.

"You did surprisingly good."

Peri gasps. "Surprisingly? I outdid myself there, kid, and we both know it."

"Whatever you say, Pers."

Peri huffs, crosses his arms over his chest and - is he pouting? He totally is! Dev snorts. A certain warmth fills his insides. He doesn't know why or where it comes from, but... he thinks the fairy in front of him might have something to do with it.

"I guess it does beat the old one by miles." Dev can't wait to see what surprise awaits him tomorrow. "Thanks, Peri. I-"

This would be the perfect time to tell him, wouldn't it? About his insecurities, his fears, why he shuns the holiday everyone loves so much. To admit to his fairy that his father has once again taken something sweet and turned it into something bitter, and yet he can't.

He will, he certainly will, but not today.

"Never mind. Let's get something to eat. I am starving!"

Not when the future he has been promised looks so much brighter than the past he has experienced.

Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other-

"Goooood morning. Rise and shine, sunshine!"

- which includes Peri's unnecessarily loud and chipper wake-up call.  Not to forget him opening the curtains and letting the light of the rising sun in. 

Unlike yesterday Dev doesn't complain, he doesn't turn around to escape the dim light of the morning sun, instead blearily blinking his eyes open, before sitting up.

The blanket pooling into his lap once again - this time the air surrounding him is warm - he rubs at his eyes, and looks up at his godparent, who is wearing the same happy-go-lucky smile as every morning.

"...how can you be this.." Energetic? Happy? Awake? "..annoying this early in the day?"

"It's an art." Peri winks at him. "Now come on! Get up! I will get you some cereal. It's bad enough that we skipped breakfast yesterday, there will be none of that today!"

With that, Peri vanishes in a cloud of sparkles, expecting Dev to use his absence to get ready for school.

How easy it would be to do anything but. To give in to the temptation of warm sheets and cozy blankets and get some more shut eyes in. A doing that would probably result in a lot of complaining once Peri comes back. Better not risk that - at leats not today. 

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Dev gets up and calls for his au-pairs to fetch his clothes.

His eyes brush over the calendar hanging on the wall. The morning sun hits it just right, making the artwork glow in certain places. 

Dev hates to admit it, but Peri really did outdid himself. He normally isn't the best at granting imprecise wishes -

I can't read your mind, Dev! If you want something specific you need to be specific.

- but this time? He nailed it. 

Just looking at some of his favourite characters this early in the morning fills him with joy, especially after he remembers the implications behind the calendar. The sole reason he decided to get one in the first place.

"How about you spend Christmas with me and my parents?"

Hazel wants to spend Christmas with him.

A warm sensation floods Dev's insides once again. 

He is still hesitant about the whole ordeal. He never truly celebrated Christmas, he has no idea what he has to do, what's expected of him, how this whole thing works, but.. he wants to find out.

He feels like no matter how nervous the idea makes him - especially with Hazel's parents around - its going to be worth it. This year Christmas could really be magical.

Pun intended.

Hazel did mention that they could invite their fairies too. As long as they arrive as their human neighbours there should be no problem. That way they really could spend their Christmas all together.

An idea that he didn't breach to Peri yet.

Scratch that, he didn't even tell his godparent about his whole problem surrounding Christmas or his invitation to join Hazel's.

Maybe... he could do so now?

"And here we go. One bowl of cereal coming right up- You aren't even dressed yet?!"

..Yeah, that can wait. Right now there are more pressing matters to attend to. Which doesn't mean he is procrastinating he is just.. sorting out his priorities.

At least thats what he tell himself, unaware about just how long it will take for him to get clean with his fairy...

"Alright!" Hazel claps her hands together as Dev sits down next to her at the lunch table.

It's not the one they usually sit at, this one is much more secluded at the back of the cafeteria. Jasmine and Winn are also absent; from the table, not in general.

Dev can see them a few tables over. They smile and wave at him before continuing their lunch. Strange. 

"They got tired of me already?" Dev jokes - mostly.

Just because he's trying to fit in, doesn't mean he truly does, and after everything he's done in the past? He wouldn't blame them. 

"What? No!" Hazel shakes her head, seemingly offended by his statement. "I simply asked them to give us some privacy."

Dev raises an eyebrow. "What for?"

"Well, we all -" Hazel gestures at her fairies disguised as some milk cartons, soon joined by Peri, who poofs into a similar shape next to them. "I hope you don't mind me including Cosmo and Wanda."

It's hard to when he has no idea what this is all about?

"We all -" Hazel picks up again. "- got together and thought, since you don't usually celebrate Christmas..." 

Hazel's tone of voice makes it pretty clear that this is really all she told them, not giving away any private details that he might not be comfortable sharing.

Dev can't say he is all too happy about it, but it's fine. It's not like he expected anything else. He shows so with a nod, that makes Hazel let out a sigh of relief while Peri perks up. 

Dev doesn't celebrate Christmas?

It makes sense, with the boy not looking forward to it. He just doesn't understand why? What reason could he-

Oh. Oh.

It's pretty obvious now that he's thinking more about it, and yet Peri hopes - prays - that the first conclusion his mind came to isn't the right one, because if Dale fucking Dimmadome has ruined this kid's joy and excitement over a holiday every kid should be looking forward to, then there will be deaths. Rules be damned. 

"..you probably don't have any traditions either." 

Does waiting for an absent father who is not going to show up, and crying while watching trashy Christmas movies when he realises, count?

"Which is totally fine!" Hazel reassures him as soon as she notices Dev making a face. "You don't have to have your own traditions, we can just share ours with you!"

Dev snorts.

"Aha. Did you like sit together and make a list or-?"

Her eyes sparkling with excitement Hazel pulls a list out of her backpack. Dev can only stare at it in disbelief. 

"How did you know?" 

"... I was joking. Jeeeeez." Dev wastes no time in pulling the list closer to him.

"Everything Dev needs to do to get into the Christmas spirit and have the best pre-Christmas period ever", it says in bold, glittering letters at the top of the page.

Dev can't help but chuckle, before he continues reading:

- Have a snowball fight!

- Make a snowman!

- Make a snow angel

"There is no snow." Dev points out, as the snow-related lines just keep coming. 

"There will be!" Hazel insists. "Don't look at me like that! There will! And it will be awesome! I love snow! Antony and I always make the best snowmen! Do you like making snowmen?"

"Can't really say I've ever made one." Dev shrugs, ready to continue reading if it weren't for Cosmo speaking up.

"Never?!" He exclaims in shock. "Wait, let me try again." 

Poofing into his fairy form - 

"Cosmo, what are you doing?!" 

- At least he has enough brains to make himself small enough for Wanda to hide him from view - Cosmo conjures up a cup of tea. He takes a sip, only to spit out the contents as if they were in a silly little cartoon.

"Never?!"

"Daaaad!" Peri complains after ending up as the unfortunate victim of the tea attack.

The warm liquid - in case anyone's wondering, it's apple/cinnamon flavored - drips from his perfectly styled hair until he poofs himself dry again. 

"No time to complain, Peri! Let's get the skier and go!"

"There's no snow." Dev repeats, leaving it to Wanda to reel her husband back in and hopefully get him to change back into something less suspicious, while his eyes return to the list.

- Ice-skating!

- Decorating!

- Baking!

"Baking?" Dev reads the last one out loud. "What are you baking for? You have fairies? You can just wish for cookies? Or buy them."

"Dev, that's not the same at all." Hazel shakes her head. "They always taste better when you make them yourself. The store is missing the most important ingredient."

Pause for dramatic effect.

"Love."

Dev gags. "That sounds like a lot of work." 

Rich, coming from someone who has never lifted a pot in his life. 

"It's not. Well, it is." Hazel admits. "But it's fun! How about we all bake cookies at yours today?"

"Sounds stupid."

"I'll take that as a yes." Hazel folds up the list again, not taking no for an answer.

Dev sighs much more dramatically than necessary.

"Fiiiine, whatever. Write me a list of all the things we need and I will ask the au-pairs to buy them during class."

"Good idea, sport!" Wanda perks up. "Better to go shopping than to wish for the ingredients, don't want you eating too much fairy food!"

"Not good for your digestive system." Cosmo nods seriously, soon joined by Hazel.

"The last time I ate too much, I turned into a potato."

Dev needs a second to process this statement. 

"You did what now?"

"Huh?" Peri throws his parents a look. "You haven't told her about the dangers of eating too much magically-induced food?"

That's.. a thing?!

"You didn't explain it to me either." Dev says, offended.

Peri raises an eyebrow in his direction.

"And how often do I let you eat food that I conjured up?"

Dev opens his mouth and closes it again. "..Point taken." 

Peri: 1. Dev: 0 

Ignoring the satisfied gleam in the purple eyes Dev turns back to Hazel. 

"So, a potato?" 

A few hours and a story with as many twists as a curly fry later, the two kids find themselves in the middle of Dev's kitchen.

It should come as no surprise that the au-pairs are already packing away their groceries, or that the kitchen is enormous! It looks like it was taken straight from the cover of one of those home magazines.

It goes without saying that Hazel and her fairies are impressed. The latter are already flying around the room, inspecting every nook and cranny, their wings buzzing with excitement.

"Look at this stove, Cosmo! It doesn't even have buttons!"

"No buttons?!" Cosmo echoes, looking at the smooth surface. "But how do they cook?"

"It's touch." Peri moves between them to touch the stove, the tiniest "ping" resonating through the air before a light begins to flicker, symbolizing the heating process of the now turned on stove. "No buttons, just your fingers~"

"By the stars!"

"That's so modern!"

And as a result, they spend the next few minutes tapping on the stove, every little sound and light making their eyes widen. 

Hazel lets out a low whistle. Her fingers brush over the black marble countertop. 

"Your kitchen is amazing, Dev!" 

"It's just a kitchen." The boy brushes her off, looking the slightest bit flustered.

"Just a kitchen?!" Cosmo echoes, having already moved on from the stove to marvel at the sink. "Look at the sink!" 

It looks like any other sink, only... fancy? 

Cosmo turns it on.

"It's even got water coming out of it!"

Wanda giggles, her back pressed against Cosmo. 

"Honey, every sink does that."

"But this one changes color with the temperature." Peri proudly shows off, turning the water to hot, only to have a red light illuminate it, before turning it back to cold and watching the red dissolve into a dark blue.

"That's magic!" Cosmo exclaims, making Peri chuckle.

"No, just technology."

"I want to meet this technology, he seems like a smart guy." Cosmo whispers to his wife.

Shaking her head, she pulls him after their son, who is ready to introduce them to more secrets and surprises.

Hazel chuckles and nudges Dev with her elbow.

"How about we get the ingredients while they are busy?"

"Fine by me." Dev shrugs, watching the girl take a.. notebook out of her backpack? Dev tilts his head.

"That's my mom's!" Hazel explains as she flips the book open. "She wrote down all of her recipes, so we have an easier time recreating them!"

Makes sense. Dev looks over the girls shoulder to skim over the book. There are quite a lot of recipes in it. 

"You plan on making all of these?"

"I would love to!" Hazel sighs theatrically. "But I have to be home by six, so that leaves us..."

She checks her nonexistent watch.

"...about five hours. Which means..."

And slides the book closer to Dev.

"You get to decide which cookies you want to give a try first."

"Me?" Dev echoes. "Why do I have to decide?"

"Because this is your first time baking. So we will bake your favorite."

Dev makes a face. "... What's your favorite?"

"You can't answer my question with another question."

"I just did."

"Dev." 

"The two stare at each other. Dev's eyes are filled with the stubbornness of a mule, while Hazel's face radiates pure determination. Who will look away first? Whose will is stronger? And why are they even wasting time arguing? It looks like Dev is wondering the same thing and averts his gaze first, making Hazel Wells our winner of today's Staring Off! What a masterful performance. She can be proud of herself."

She is. Lifting her chin, Hazel basks in her glory while Dev rolls his eyes in Cosmo's direction.

"Can someone shut him up?"

"I got it." Wanda pulls her husband away from the booth and microphone he's conjured to rejoin their son, who's flipping through Hazel's notebook and poofing up all the utensils they'll need. A stand mixer, a mixing bowl, measuring cups, as well as a kitchen scale, etcetera, etcetera.

"So? Which cookies are we going to make first?" Hazel smiles victoriously at Dev. The boy rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest.

"...I guess... I like gingerbread?"

"Gingerbread it is!" Hazel claps her hands. "A good and very traditional choice! We need to make gingerbread men so we can decorate them and make them look like us! Oh! Oh! Maybe we can even make a gingerbread house for them to live in!"

Spoiler alert: They did, but not without running into a few problems first.

"Cosmo! Wanda! You could help by making the frosting!" They both salute before flying off. "Peri, do you-"

"Wait, wait, wait." Peri interrupts. "We're not going to do this unless we do it right."

Hazel frowns. Did she... forget something?

Peri answers her question with a wave of his wand, making a record player appear next to him. Hazel doesn't need any more to understand the task. 

"Nothing like Christmas music to get you in the spirit~ Good thinking! Hit it, Peri!"

He doesn't need to be told twice. As soon as Peri puts on a record, Dev can almost watch how the whole atmosphere changes.

Not that it wasn't comfortable before. A word Dev would never have dared to use to describe his large, luxurious, and above all sterile kitchen in the past, but now? Filled with people and sounds? It is cozy.

A fuzzy feeling spreads through the boy that only intensifies when the music really picks up. 

He always knew how much music could set a scene in a show, but he never realized that it could do the same in real life. The festive and joyful music makes the room seem even brighter and warmer, filling it with the desired Christmas spirit, just like the smell of gingerbread does. 

Speaking of! They haven't gotten very far with the dough yet. Let's see..

They need flour and eggs and honey and sugar and, of course, spices! 

"Do you want to do the honors?" Hazel asks, holding out the bag of flour to Dev.

The boy takes it, albeit reluctantly. 

"Do I just..." He nods at the bowl in front of them. "...throw it in?"

"Yes, we need the whole bag."

Opening the bag, Dev does just that. The only problem being that he never baked before, meaning he never did anything involving flour before, meaning he doesn't know that dumping the whole bag inside the bowl with no regard for losses, results in a cloud of flour flying in his face. 

Dev blinks. Once. Twice.

Flabbergasted, he lifts his head and slowly turns to face Hazel, who can't help but laugh at the sight of his face! 

How could she not? Dev himself looks like a snowman, thanks to the white powder clinging to his skin and hair alike.

It crumbles down from his lips as he lets out a small cough, sending up another single puff of smoke.

"Oh my god, Dev!" Hazel laughs until her stomach hurts. "You can't just- I am sorry! I should have warned you, but I didn't think- Haha!"

As beautiful as Hazel's laugh might be in any other situation, right now it floods Dev with nothing but a cold thirst for vengeance. 

Slowly, he twists the bowl out of its place in the stand mixer and sets it down in front of Hazel. The girl, still holding a hand to her lips to stifle her laughter, glances down, thinking this is Dev's way of quitting.

"Come on Dev, don't be like tha-"

Before she can finish her thought, Dev snatches up another bag, unceremoniously turns it over and dumps the whole thing into the bowl. Needless to say, another big cloud of flour rises, this time painting the unsuspecting girl's face white. 

"Not so funny now, is it, Hazmat?"

Hazel blinks at the boy owlishly, raising a hand to brush the powder from her lashes, glancing in disbelief at the substance now coating her fingertips, only for a grin to form on her lips. 

"Oh, you are so on!"

Hazel wastes no time in snatching up more flour to throw in Dev's face.

Gasping, the boy inhales the powder... and sneezes it out again. 

"Naaaaw." Wanda floats down, settling beside Hazel's head. Her hands framing her face, she looks at Dev as if he were something precious. "He sounds like a kitten, when he sneezes!"

Talk about embarrassing?! How dare she!

"I do not!"

It should come as no surprise that the next handful of flour is thrown in Wanda's face.

The fairy doesn't look fazed at all. 

"Do so!"

She returns the favor by making the whole bowl float, only to dump it's contents on the boy's head. His face is no longer the only thing covered in flour. 

His shoulders tense, the boy glances incredulously at the fairy, who looks rather smug despite the flour falling from her hair with every movement.

Dev can't wait to wipe that smug grin off her face.

His eyes wander to the side. The pink gaze follows them, only to widen in the next instant.

"Don't you dare- Put the eggs down, Deverino!"

He didn't put the eggs down. 

"How do we-?" Peri dodges a flying egg, that hilariously went off-target. He has to bite back a side comment about that ridiculously bad aim. "-stop them?"

"Stop them? We should join them! I have your back, Wandala! Frosting incoming!"

Cosmo lifts the bowl he just finished stirring his frosting into, uses the spoon to scoop up some of it, and shoots it at the kids, or Dev, since he's the one chasing his wife around with eggs.

"Hey!" Sounds like he hit the target. 

Peri sighs, well, he says the word "sigh" out loud, as he likes to do.

"I can't believe we didn't even finish one batch of cookies before we turned the kitchen into a battlefield."

"You know what they say, Peri." Cosmo comes up behind him and presses their backs together. "Love is a battlefield."

"Dad, this... this has nothing to do with..."

"And if you love me, you have to take the fall for me!" 

A well-timed push is all that's needed for Peri to stand in the front lines and involuntarily shield his father, who ducks out of sight. Just in time to avoid the egg colliding with Peri's forehead a second later.

The young fairy doesn't even register the sting of the impact, far more focused on the sticky and disgusting yellow egg yolk running between his eyes and dripping down his nose. 

His mouth wide open, Peri stops breathing for a second, a habit he only picks up again, after hearing his father laughing. The audacity.

"Ahaha! That was an egg-cellent cover, son!"

Taking a deep breath Peri wipes the egg from his forehead, only to smear it on his father's cheek. 

"That's nothing to be egg-cited about!"

"Ahh! You made an egg pun!" Cosmo throws his arm around his son, using the excuse of an surprise hug to mash their cheeks together. "You are really cracking me up here."

"Daaaad!" Peri groans in misery.

Poofing himself out of his father's hold, he brings some distance between them to raise his wand and conjure a massive sifter over their heads. It begins to shake and... covers them in powdered sugar. 

"Peri!" Dev starts to complain as the sugar starts to stick to his, thanks to the egg and milk - Wanda knew how to defend herself - wet skin.

That is, until Hazel chimes in, but not to complain.

"Dev, look!" She puts a hand on his arm. He is about to shake her off, not trusting the truce yet. "It looks like it's snowing!"

The boy freezes. Looking up at the ceiling, he realizes that she is right.

"It sure does." Dev looks less at the "snow" than at the girl - covered in flour, eggs, and frosting - looking up at the sky with excitement.  

She really likes snow, huh?

Dev can't really relate, but he doesn't have to let Hazel's excitement get to him.

"Come on! We have to make a snow angel!"

"You mean a sugar angel?" Wanda corrects her, and joins the children on the floor to draw a proof of their existence in the white powder coating. 

Huh. Peri's plan didn't quite get him the revenge he was seeking, but it did get the kids - and his parents - to stop throwing things around. He considers that a win.

After the intense battle and the "snow" induced truce, it doesn't take long for the group to get back on track and continue with their original plan: Making some gingerbread. 

They measured out the flour - Dev being overly careful with tipping it into the bowl - before adding the sugar, honey, and all the other spices. With the blender doing its job, it won't be long before they have the perfect dough to work with.

While Peri preheats the oven, Cosmo and Wanda conjure a bunch of cookie cutters to use. The most popular of all being the ones used for the gingerbread man. 

After the cookies are cut and baked it's time to decorate them! 

Hazel shows Dev the gist by making the first ones look like Cosmo and Wanda.

A pink and a green gingerbread cookie, with colored eyes, little wings and a floaty crowny thing residing on top of their heads. She even added little wands in their hands.

They look cute, a little messy, but cute.

Once Hazel is sure the boy understands the task, she leaves him to his own devices and starts working on her next batch.

This one will look like Winn and Jasmine, just as Dev's - albeit hesitantly - are starting to look a lot like Hazel and Peri.

A smile spreads across the fairy's lips as soon as he notices. He doesn't comment on it, though; that would be very hypocritical of him, after his own gingerbread man sports a very familiar mop of ginger hair.

At least Dev has the fairness to also be quiet about Peri's creative choice. That is, until Peri starts working on his second cookie only to falter. 

Dev, who was just debating if he should make his last cookie look like his father, notices and is just about to tease him: "Running out of ideas already, Percy?", when he notices the faraway look in the purple eyes.

An almost yearning expression on his face as he gazes at the pink food coloring, as if he is debating whether or not to take it. 

Dev tilts his head.  

As soon as Peri notices him staring, he jumps as if caught in the act of doing something bad and wraps his fingers around the dark blue color laying next to the pink one instead. 

Suspicious. Dev raises an eyebrow, a question in his eyes, that Peri answers without batting an eye. 

"I'm going make one look like Irep, so I can bite his head off."

...Wow, that is a lot to unpack there. 

Dev blinks. Talk about being resentful.

"...Sounds fair." Hazel decides, shrugging next to him . "A few months ago I would have done the same with Dev."

Wait, what?

"Hey!" The boy complains.

"Dev, you were the bane of my existence and we both know it."

"I wasn't that-" Dev stops himself, memory after memory infiltrating his mind.

Huh. He clicks his tongue.

"You know what? I take that as a compliment."

"You do that, Dev. You do that."

Once each gingerbread man, and boy there are a lot of them, has a face, they start to build them a house.

Dev isn't that big a fan of constructing it, making sure the pieces stick together thanks to the frosting is a finicky and time-consuming task that doesn't get any easier thanks to Hazel demanding there shouldn't be any magic involved. 

Hazel really takes the best parts out of the whole having fairies things, but in the end they managed to build their house without any help. A fact that does leave Dev feeling proud of himself.

He starts to understand the whole point of them doing this. They would never have had this much fun or felt this accomplished if they had just bought some cookies from the store. This is an experience Dev can't believe he's been missing out on up to now. 

They were just adding the finishing touches to their house when it happened. And with it, Dev means the door to the kitchen opening.

With a few surprised squeaks, Cosmo, Wanda, and Peri turn into cookie cutters that clutter on the countertop, one of them missing and landing on the floor with a painful squeal.

Hazel makes a face, unable to help when Dale Dimmadome himself enters the room as if he owns it. To be fair, he does.

"Dev, what is this ruckus about? I told you not to blast your music like that. Some of us have to work."

The music!

Hazel snatches the record player out of the air, turns it off, and places it on the counter.

Thank God Dale had his nose buried in his I-Pad, otherwise they would have been busted, not like Dev wastes a second thinking about that right now.

"Dad you're home!" Dev exclaims in joyful surprise that doesn't last long. 

"Of course I am at home? I am work-ing. And what are you doing here at this time of the day-"

Dale lifts his head and freezes. Dev follows his gaze only to cringe. 

They may have cleaned up the mess from their food fight - thank the Heavens they did, otherwise Dev would have had no idea how to explain the sugar coating every available surface of their kitchen - but they still made quite a mess afterwards.

Which they can't be blamed for! Baking is messy! And they will clean up after they are done. 

"Devin, what the-"

"Mr. Dimmadome!" Hazel, truly a gift from above, distracts Dale by raising a hand in greeting. "Good to see you again!"

Dale raises an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"This is Hazel, Dad. You.. already met Hazel? She's my friend from school." 

"Ah, right." Despite his words, there is not a hint of recognition in the blue eyes. "And what exactly were you and Sazzle doing?"

"It's Hazel." Hazel mumbles under her breath with more force than necessary.

Dale didn't seem to hear her, and if he did, he didn't care.

"Oh, we were baking!" Dev's eyes light up with excitement. "I even made one of the gingerbread men look like you! Look!"

He points to the countertop where their gingerbread army rests. "We also made a gingerbread house...!"

"All I see is you making a mess." His father interrupts him carelessly. "Look at you."

He lifts one of Dev's sleeves, the once white color stained with brown sugar, spices and also some egg... They got messy okay?

Dale wrinkles his nose and lets it drop again with a tsk.

Dev winces at the sound of obvious disappointment. 

"Why do you get your hands dirty, Dev? You are a Dimmadome, we have people who do that for us."

"Because it's fun." Hazel interjects, putting an arm around Dev's shoulder and pulling him to her side.

She can feel him relax a little. The boy himself probably didn't notice how much he tensed up over the last few minutes.

"Dev and I had a lot of fun...!"

"For people like you maybe. The greatest fun we have is making money, and right now you are not, you are wasting it. Just like you are wasting my time with this conversation."

"But Dad-"

"I want this mess cleaned up and your... asset." Hazel blanches at his choice of words, as does Dev, ready to intervene but not getting the chance. "-to be home, when I get back."

"But-"

"Development."

Dev deflates.  "..Yeah, whatever."

"Good. Nice meeting you, Razzle."

And just like that, Dale is gone, taking with him the warmth and joy that filled the room until now.

"How dare he!" Turning back into his fairy form, Cosmo rolls up his sleeves. "I'm going after him, don't hold me back!"

"Violence is not the answer." Wanda holds her husband back. "We should insult his boots!"

Both options sound far too tame compared to the emotional baggage this conversation has just dumped on Dev's shoulders. 

"...I'm sorry, Dev." Hazel whispers, the situation reminding her far too much of their treasure hunt.

Dev was just as excited then, happy and laughing, until he met his father's disapproval and everything came crashing down. 

"What for?" Dev whispers back, making her pause.

She doesn't know... She doesn't know what she's apologising for. For the mess they made? For coming up with the idea in the first place? For not inviting him to her house?

Or for his father's actions? The words that cut deep into his son? For not being able to speak up, to defend him, to make Dale realise the damage he was causing..

".... I will help you clean. Cosmo, Wanda, I wish-"

"There's no need." Dev shakes his head. 

"Dev." Peri hovers at his side, hands on his shoulders to show him that he's got his back, ready to support him even if he can't find the right words. A kind thought, Dev appreciates it. He really does, but there is no need.

The boy takes a deep breath and looks up again. The hint of a smile on his face, despite the sadness in his eyes. 

"We aren't done yet. No use cleaning up a mess, we will add to."

Hazel frowns. "But your dad..?"

Dev shakes his head. It's obvious that his father's words have left a dent in his mood, his self-esteem, probably even his self-worth, but.. he is not going to let it bring him down - not yet at least.

He is not going to let his father turn this sweet moment into something sour.

"It doesn't change the fact that we haven't made your favourites yet. We can't stop now, Hazel."

Hazel opens her mouth and closes it.  

"But... won't you get in trouble?"

"Not if he never finds out."

He's really doing this, isn't he? Going against his father's wishes, just to... prove a point. Even if only to himself.

"Peri."

He looks over his shoulder at his godparent, who looks at him in surprise and awe, the latter of which he will ignore for now. 

"I wish for a security system to know when my father returns, for the kitchen to be clean as soon as it is triggered and..."

His eyes wander to Hazel.

".. I wish you would stay."

Well... Peri doesn't need his wand for that last part. He exchanges glances with his parents, who giggle at the lovely exchange going on in front of them. 

"I-" Hazel is clearly at a loss for words. "I mean... we can't stop after one batch of cookies and we still have three hours left."

She shows Dev her bare wrist, as if to tell him the time. The boy's face lights up.

"Oh! That gives us time to make my favourite too!" Cosmo claps enthusiastically.

"And mine!" Wanda joins in the cheering.

"We should make all our favourites!" Hazel laughs, and they do. 

They spend the next three hours baking, talking and laughing. As well as tasting their creations!  

Dev hates to admit that Hazel is right. Homemade cookies do taste better than store-bought ones. Even though he refuses to believe that 'love' is the special ingredient needed. They are simply skilled, is all. 

Throughout all this time, his father hasn't shown his face - not even once. Of course he hasn't, he's far too busy to spare his son another glance. Dev is pretty sure that he forgot the whole ordeal as soon as he left the kitchen and this time... This time Dev doesn't mind.

How could he, after his father's absence resulted in him having the best time of his life? 

But even the best of times must come to an end.

Soon enough, Hazel has to leave. With a box of cookies under her arm, she waves goodbye to Dev and Peri, leaving behind the promise that tomorrow will be just as much fun as today.

Strangely enough... Dev believes her.

Half an hour later, Dev is back in his room. He sits in the alcove below his window, gazing silently at the night sky. The light of the moon, already in full bloom, frames his body, somehow making him appear smaller than he already is.

"Dev? Have you got a minute?" 

"Hm?"

Hovering behind him, Peri waits for the boy to turn, to take his eyes off the moon and focus on him instead... he doesn't. But there's the slightest shift of his body in his direction, a subtle hint that the boy is listening, even if he doesn't appear to be. Good enough.

"Today was quite a wild ride, wasn't it?"

Peri sits down next to him, keeping a little distance so as not to make the boy uncomfortable, all the while looking out the window at the brightly lit night sky. 

It's hard not to feel small in the face of an endless sea of stars. It's comforting in a way. Looking out at a world that big makes your problems seem so small in comparison.

Maybe that's why Dev likes to look up at the sky when he's worried. Peri can relate, he has loved looking at the stars since he was a child, but this is not about him.

This is about Dev, about something that plagues the child's mind, even if he doesn't show it. Something that Peri has not really had time to comment on yet, but he should, before Dev's thoughts start to consume him. 

"I am glad you had fun. In fact, we had so much fun that I didn't get to tell you. I am proud of you."

The boy flinches, as if he has received a physical blow. He slowly turns his head, his eyes comically wide.

"You are what now?"

"I'm proud of you." Peri draws closer with each word, until he can nudge Dev's shoulder with his own. "Want me to spell it out for you?"

He raises his wand to make sparkling letters appear above them. Dev is quick to stop him, forcing his wand back down with the tiniest blush on his cheeks. 

"I heard you! I just..." He fumbles for words, probably trying to think of something witty to say. He doesn't, averting his eyes instead.

For a moment there is nothing but silence, until a single question cuts through it.  

"...why?" 

"Do I need a reason?"

Dev makes a face that says it all.

Peri rolls his eyes.

"Well... How about standing up for yourself?"

Oh.

"And not just for yourself, but for someone else too. Standing up to your father like that... couldn't have been easy."

No matter how much Dev pretends it was. 

Dev huffs. "I wouldn't exactly call that standing up for myself."

Or for Hazel. He didn't even get a word in.

"Kid, standing up for yourself isn't only defined by talking back. Sometimes it's just... you taking a stand, you saying no when it's easier to say yes, and you did."

You didn't let your father's word consume you, you didn't draw into yourself and shut us out.

On the contrary, you kept us close, smiling through your pain and numbing it with happiness.

"You can be proud of yourself."

Something flashes through the blue eyes, an emotion that is impossible to decipher, especially since it is gone as quickly as it came. 

"Whatever, Pencil." Dev avoids his gaze, trying to avoid the conversation that has already managed to make him feel all warm inside. "When did you get so mushy anyway?"

"It's horrible, isn't it?" Peri acts as if he himself is just as affected as the boy. "I blame the Christmas spirit. Always messes with my head that one."

"Right." Dev snorts, looking up at the sky again.

There is still something weighing on his mind, something he wants to say. It's easy to tell by the way he plays with his fingers in a nervous habitat he can't seem to shake. 

"Peri..?"

Hazel asked me to spend Christmas with her and I... I want you to be there too.

It's just a few words. 

Are you really that afraid of rejection that you can't even say them?

"..." I guess I am.

 "...I wish for snow."

Oh? Surprise flashes across the fairy's face. 

Maybe Peri miscalculated, looks like Dev's thoughts weren't only preoccupied by his father, but someone else as well~

A sly smirk breaks out on his lips.

"Don't tell me..? Is this a wish for someone else~"

Dev pushes him. 

"Shut up, it's not! It's just... going to be hard to finish that list without snow."

"Of course it is." Peri doesn't even try to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Dev crosses his arms over his chest.

"Are you here to judge me? Or to grant my wish? Because I am pretty sure you are being paid for the latter."

"Bold of you to assume I get paid at all." Peri chuckles and raises his wand to grant his wish. 

It takes no time for the sky to darken, thick clouds obscuring the stars, before snowflakes begin to drizzle from the sky. Falling down, they soon cover everything they touch like a white sheet. 

It's a beautiful sight. Relaxing even, it manages to silence Dev's thoughts, if only for a moment. It reminds him that even if his father doesn't care, there are people who do. 

One of them is sitting right next to him.

Dev rests his head on Peri's shoulder. He can feel the fairy tense up for a second, it almost sounds like he is holding his breath.

Dev thinks about pulling away again, afraid of crossing a line, wouldn't his godparent relax, slowly but surely letting his cheek rest against ginger hair. It's nice. 

"Thank you, Peri."

He may not say it outright, but Peri knows that him granting his wish? Isn't the only thing Dev is thanking him for. 

"You are welcome, kid."

Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other-

"Goooood morning. Rise and shine, sunshine!"

- which includes Peri's unnecessarily loud and chipper wake-up call. Not to forget him opening the curtains and letting the light of the rising sun- oh right. 

Peri blinks at the gray sky.

He completely forgot about the snow that is still falling from the clouds, blocking out all sunlight and settling on the glass outside of the window.

If it keeps piling up like this, school won't be a problem for Dev anymore. Not that Peri would mind. 

Turning away from the window, he flies down to the bed. Looks like Dev is already awake. Sitting upright in his bed, back against the pillows, blanket pooled in his lap and rubbing at his eyes.

As soon as he gets rid of the sand in them, he looks up, not missing the frost creeping up his window. 

Eyes wide in wonder, Dev throws his legs over the edge of the bed. He goes to the window and pushes it open. 

The air is cold, freezing even, making him shiver the moment it attacks his warm skin. A light breeze runs it's icy finger through his curly hair, decorating it with a few snowflakes that melt at the touch, dampening it just a tiny bit.

And then there is the city. 

The city of Dimmadelphia stretches out before him, all covered in white. It's almost like they are placed inside a snow globe, he himself shook.

A picture of a fantasy turned reality.

It's beautiful.... and cold.

Shivering again, Dev closes the window and hugs himself, desperate for the warmth that is provided to him in the familiar comfort of his hoodie suddenly embracing his form with a poof.

Dev sags into the warmth, his fingers already finding their way into the pockets.  

"You should get properly dressed before you go back out there." Peri comments unnecessarily.

A gentle reminder that this is a picture Dev has not only painted, but can also participate in!

"Ready for a day in the snow?"

Does Peri even need to ask?

Dev wastes no time in rushing through his morning routine. He opens his calendar, enjoys the smooth and dark flavor of the chocolate shaped like Duckworth himself, before getting dressed, slicking back his hair, brushing his teeth, and storming out of the house, wearing an extra layer of clothing his godparent insisted on.

Dev can't really complain about the nagging once he sets foot outside his home, only to find himself shivering. Perhaps the extra protection was necessary. 

With the sow falling down on them Dev raises a hand. Palm up, he watches the snowflakes fall into it, only to melt in an instant, leaving a damp spot behind. 

Dev grins. 

He can't wait to see Hazel's reaction!

Arriving at the school, Dev certainly wasn't disappointed. 

"Dev!"

He hears Hazel before he can see her, and by the time he does, it's too late. Hands wrap around his, forcing him to spin in a circle with the girl in charge.

"Hazel!" Dev exclaims in surprise, almost tripping over his own feet - nope, scratch that, he does end up tripping as the girl comes to an abrupt halt.

Their little dance is brought to an end thanks to Hazel pulling him against her side, which is also the only reason he did not fall after his stumble. The body of the girl giving him support.

"Look, look, look!" Hazel points to the sky, all nerves and excitement. "It's snowing!"

"My eyes are working just fine." Dev puts some distance between them as soon as Hazel starts dancing again. 

"Isn't this great? I told you it'd happen! I told you, I told you, I told you!"

"You did." Dev confirms with a smile. "I was a non-believer and I paid the price."

Peri decides to bite his tongue. If Dev won't admit to being responsible for this little miracle, Peri won't let him run ashore. 

"Peri!"

His eyes wander to his parents, sitting as a pair of dogs next to Hazel, their tails wagging in excitement.

Unlike them - who look like they were rolling around in the snow the powdery white substance coating them from head to toe, which probably is the reason they chose this form in the first place: How could they resist the temptation to play around? - Peri still rests around Dev's neck in the form of his usual headphones.

"Did you see the snow?!"

"No, Dad, I didn't see the snow literally covering everything." Peri rolls his eyes. 

"Huh?! How could you not! It's everywhere!" Cosmo turns his body in a full circle to show off said everywhere.

"Come on, Peri, you know Cosmo hasn't mastered sarcasm yet." Wanda scolds him, causing Peri to sigh.

"... yes, Dad, I saw the snow."

"It's a Christmas miracle!" Cosmo continues without missing a beat.

Wanda isn't so sure about that, eyeing Peri with a knowing look, not like she's going to voice her suspicions out loud.

She has no real reason to assume that Peri had anything to do with it. No reason beside paternal instinct that is.

She also didn't miss the look he gave Dev earlier, the boy looking rather smug and confident for no reason. His eyes not once straying from Hazel, who is blossoming under the happiness she doesn't hesitate to share with everyone present.

"It is a miracle!" Hazel agrees. "Now we can do all the fun things we didn't get to do yesterday! Like building a snowman and making snow angels -" 

Technically, they made sugar angels, but she doesn't count those because of the lack of snow and the fact that the sugar did little more than cover the floor. 

"And-!"

Hazel is interrupted by a snowball making contact with her chest.

She looks down before meeting Dev's gaze.

The boy doesn't even try to hide his involvement, tossing another snowball into the air, catching it again in his hand, a mischievous smile on his lips.

"I seem to remember you saying something about a... snowball fight?"

"You're going down, Dev!" 

Hazel wastes no time in scooping up some snow of her own and throwing it in Dev's direction.

Their little fight continues until the bell rings. Good thing they have godparents to magically dry them before they have to rush off to class.

But even during the lesson, Hazel's eyes are always drawn to the window, gazing longingly at the winter wonderland just waiting to be explored. 

She really loves the snow, huh?

Dev is starting to do the same. 

When the school bell rings to signal the end of the lesson, the children are quick to pack their things and rush outside. 

"You really won't be joining us today?"

Hazel looks up at Jasmine and Winn with a pout, not even trying to hide her disappointment.

"We can't." Winn sighs ruefully. Their eyes follow the snow dancing all around them. "I have an appointment. Dentist."

Everyone makes a face. Well, everyone except Peri. Dentistry is a good position, with even better conditions. At least in Fairy World. A career he would have pursued if he hadn't decided to follow in his parents' footsteps.

A decision that he had almost regretted in the past, but which he can no longer do now. How could he, with him and his godchild making so much progress?

The mere though of never getting to meet him, makes an uneasy felling settle in his guts. 

"And I promised my Bà ngoai to help her out." Jasmine joins the sigh-train.

"But... The snow." Hazel protests.

"Naaaah, don't make it harder than it already is." Winn whines. "I'd love nothing more than to get out my snowboard and go down a half-pipe."

"And I would love to build a snowman!" Jasmine's eyes sparkle, only to dim in the next second. "But I guess that will have to wait until tomorrow."

"Doesn't mean you can't have fun on your own."

"Yeah! Build a snowman for me!" Jasmine cheers before she and Winn wave goodbye.

Dev is no fan of the disappointment that fills Hazel's heart as she watches them leave. He nudges her with his elbow.

"Why so gloomy? There's still the two of us, right?"

"Right." Hazel perks up, turning her frown upside down. "You and me and the task of building the best snowman ever!"

"Oh oh oh!" Cosmo is eager to share his idea. "We should make two! One that looks like Jasmine and one that looks like Winn!"

"That way they can still be with us in spirit!" Wanda agrees.

"That's brilliant!" Hazel gets ready to teach Dev how to make a snowman, only to hesitate at the last second. "Maybe we should find a more... private place?"

They are still standing right outside of the school, after all.

"So Cosmo, Wanda and Peri can actually help us?"

Their godparents surely like that idea.  

"Alright!"

Hazel claps her mitten-covered hands together as soon as they reach a rather secluded spot in the park. Surrounded by trees and bushes, it at least gives the illusion of some privacy. 

Just like Dev, who wears a blue beanie and equally blue mittens, as well as a gold scarf around his neck, she is dressed for the occasion in all shades of pink and purple to protect her from the icy temperatures that are trying to worm their way under her skin.  

"We're going to do this the old-fashioned way! Which means-" Hazel raises a finger, pointing at the fairies hovering in front of them. "-no magic." 

No magic it is! Cosmo and Wanda don't hesitate to express their agreement by changing their shape.

In front of them now stand two adult humans, also dressed in warm clothes. 

Wanda looks very elegant, sporting a long coat in many different shades of pink and white, as well as ear warmers that protect her ears without ruining her hair.

A stark contrast to Cosmo in his green and white, almost athletic outfit, complete with hat, scarf and... some google's resting on top of his head? Hazel isn't going to question them. 

The only one who hasn't changed clothes is Peri. To be fair, he hasn't changed his shape either.

On second thought... Hazel can't remember ever seeing him change his appearance. Does he... even have a human disguise?

Could it be that he never learned how to use it? Is it rude to ask? She doesn't want to put him on the spot.

Good thing Dev is present having no qualms about that.

"Hey, Peril, you heard her: No magic. Where is your human disguise?" The boy frowns, coming to the same conclusion as Hazel. "Wait, do you even have one?"

"I... do." Peri says after quite some time thinking and with a lot of hesistance. "I am just.. not fond of using it."

"Peri, thinks that he isn't good at it."

Cosmo leans closer to the children to whisper - too bad he never figured out that whispering includes the person you are whispering about not hearing you. 

"I think he just needs more practice!" Wanda lifts a finger confidently. "Can't get better without practice."

"I'll pass." Peri shakes his head. "I can easily follow the no magic rule without changing my form."

"That still puts us at risk of being found out." Dev crosses his arms over his chest. "We may try to stay hidden, but that doesn't mean there isn't a chance someone could walk by and see you."

"Are you saying I can't be careful?"

Peri glares at his charge, who doesn't hesitate to glare back. 

"I'm saying I'm certainly not going to risk losing you because you're too insecure to disguise yourself properly."

"I'm not...!" 

"It will be fine. You don't have to be good at being human, as long as you look like one. And I wish you would." Dev smirks victoriously. "Change into your human disguise, that is."

Oh that little-

Peri takes a deep breath.

If looks could kill, Dev would be toast by now. But a wish is a wish and a child always gets what it wants, that is the rule. 

All it takes is a wave of his wand for Peri to lose his crown and wings and gain a few extra inches, making him tower over them, before he loses his height again as his knees buckle and he falls flat on his behind.

All of them grimace at the painful sound escaping the fairy.

Hazel already feels like she understands the problem at play, Dev on the other hand...  

"... your wings are still out."

... Maybe he hasn't lost his crown and wings. 

Peri, who had been staring daggers at his legs until now, follows Dev's gaze over his shoulders and is surprised to see his wings still fluttering in a steady rhythm behind him.

The tips are already starting to gain some frost, not used to the cold environment.

"You really suck at this."

How uplifting.

Deciding to ignore his godchild and his very helpful comments for now, Peri closes his eyes and draws the magic from his back back into his body.

A quick glance over his shoulder proves that it worked. His wings are gone.

That still leaves him with one problem though...

"See? I told you, practice makes perfect." Wanda hums and offers her son her hand to help him stand.

An offer he gratefully accepts. As soon as he gets his legs back under him, he staggers and falls against his mother, who reacts by wrapping an arm around his middle to keep him steady.

"Are you okay, sweetie?"

"I'm fine." Peri mumbles under his breath, obviously embarrassed, and yet he doesn't distance himself from her.

He can't, with his legs shaking like a newborn deer that has yet to take its first steps.

Which brings Hazel back to her first conclusion:

"Peri, could it be that you don't like disguising yourself as a human because you don't know how to walk?"

That's ridiculous. How could he not? And why does he look ashamed as if Hazel is right?

".. How can you not know?" Dev frowns. "You have legs in like every form?" 

Even though they hover over their children most of the time, there must still be occasions when fairies walk, right?

In fact, he has seen Cosmo and Wanda walk as fairies before! - because he stole their magic and put them in chains, but it still counts. 

"I know how to walk. I am just... I told you I am not good at this whole human thing!"

"I call bullshit." A series of gasps fill the air. "Like where is the difference?"

"Maybe the length of my legs?" 

They do look ridiculously long, despite him barely reaching Wanda's shoulder, the boots clinging to his calves only adding to the illusion. 

"Or me not being able to get them right?" Peri knocks against his thighs. "They always end up being defective when I transform!"

"They look pretty right to me?" Cosmo leans forward to pat his son's legs down. "You even made them into real human legs! Look, Wanda, they match!"

"The problem isn't their appearance!" Peri complains, swatting at his parents' hands. 

"Nah, You probably just need-"

"Mom, I swear if you say practice "

"Practice~" She and Cosmo say at the same time.

Peri groans, his face buried in his palms.

"Come on, there is nothing wrong with a little practice. You know what they say: Nobody is born a master!" Hazel pets Peri's back, which only adds to his misery.

He must make for a pitiful sight to have even children patronizing him. 

Seeing his discomfort Wanda shakes her head fondly.

"How about you let me and Cosmo take care of this while you two get started on your snowman, Hazel?"

"Come on, Peri!" Cosmo puts his hands on his son's arm to shake it. "Let's show those legs who's boss!"

"I've got an even better idea." Peri pushes his father away. "I change back and we pretend this never happened?" 

"Pass." Dev refuses, crushing Peri's hopes and dreams without remorse. "I'm not going to risk losing you because you're inexperienced and can't get your legs to work. You fix that right now."

Peri starts to grumble under his breath, whatever he is saying can't be anything nice, despite him admitting that his godkid might have a point.

Maybe. A small one. 

"Come on, Dev." Hazel tugs on his jacket. "Lets leave them to it and get started on the basics. Do you know how to roll the snowball to make it bigger?"

"Of course I do, it's not like it's hard." Dev waves her off and joins Hazel in building a base for their snowman while Peri is forced to take a crash course in walking.

...

..

"I feel so stupid." The fairy mutters under his breath, a few steps in.

He must look ridiculous. A full-grown adult, clinging to his mother's arm, taking one step after another toward his father, who is waiting for him with his arms wide open, ready to catch him should he fall.

"Don't! There is always something new to learn! Whether it's through textbooks or practice!"

"Your father is right! It also took us some time until we managed to walk."

Just another reminder of how young and inexperienced he is, with everyone else around him already having mastered the skills, that are still new to him, eons ago.

"It's a lot harder when you don't have wings for the extra support."

Keeping his balance isn't really Peri's main problem, as he soon proves.

Pushing away from his mother after he is positive he can manage on his own, he begins to take some wobbly but effective steps forward. The only problem being the pain building up with each of them.

He bites his lips, willing himself to fight through. He can do this. It's not that bad. Just one step at a time, while ignoring the dull throbbing that makes his bones ache. 

His parents begin to cheer, urging him to keep going, until the next step makes him wince and his knees buckle.

Cosmo dives forward into the snow to catch his falling child, seconds before he would have touched the ground.

"Saved!" He cheers while Peri lets out a frustrated groan. His forehead collides with his father's shoulder.

As nice as it is to take some of the weight off his legs, as embarrassing is his fall.

"None of this would be a problem if I could just get the body right!"

"I don't know what you mean, kiddo." Cosmo helps Peri to stand upright again.

"That I'm doing it wrong, I-" Peri starts to rub his hip furiously, the frustration in his voice is obvious. "How do you make it so it doesn't hurt?!"

"Huh?"

His parents stock, exchanging a confused look that soon turns to alarm.

"Sweetie." Wanda walks over and puts a hand on Peri's cheek. "What do you mean hurt? Are you in pain?"

Obviously. Peri prepares to say, stopping himself at the last minute at the reminder that his parents can't know.

They probably don't hurt when they take a single damn step because they're masters of their work and transformation while he's as new to it as he is to his job.

Sometimes he loathes being the first fairy born in centuries. 

"....No, I am not."

Wanda huffs at the obvious lie and moves her fingers under Peri's chin, forcing the purple eyes to lock with hers.

"Want to try that again, honey? Without lying this time?"

Peri winces at the concern in her eyes. He glances to the side. "...It's just an ache. Not even worth mentioning."

"Like all the time ache?" Cosmo says worriedly. "Are you aching now ?"

"No, its just when applying too much pressure."

Cosmo and Wanda start to frown. 

"That's... not normal."

"Not normal at all."

"That's what I have been telling you!"

No, you have been telling us that you are not good at walking. You never mentioned it's because you are in pain. 

Even though Peri probably thinks that him being in pain is the result of him not being good enough, by somehow screwing up with his magic, which is probably what he meant with: "Not being able to get his body right" and "His legs being defective."

And yet.. Wanda doubts that his magic is the problem at play.

"You didn't tell us that you are hurting." Wanda denies as she tugs a few loose strands of hair being Peri's ears.

The snowflakes raining down on them aren't really doing their pompadours any favours.

"... It's embarrassing."

"Embarrassing?" Cosmo shakes his head in disbelief. "Nah, concerning maybe, but not embarrassing. Now that we know, we can find a solution!"

"Like you making me a human body that works the way it should?" Peri offers, sounding so hopeful it almost hurts to crush that hope - again.

"Sweetie, I don't really think your magic is the problem here."

Peri frowns at his mother. He can't deny being relieved at the thought of his powers working just as they should and this not being a sign of his incompetence, but if it's not his magic..

".. So I'm just defective to begin with?" A laugh forces its way out of his lungs. "Just my luck."

"Defective?" Wanda sounds offended. "You are not a machine, Peri-"

"You are right. Machines can be fixed, I apparently can't."

"Don't be like that." Cosmo tightens his hold around the younger one with a frown, clearly unhappy with the way their son talks about himself. "We can fix this."

"You should know by now, that we don't do problems." Wanda takes her son's hands in hers, giving them a encouraging squeeze. "We only deal out solutions!"

"How aboooooout getting you a support?" Cosmo suggests.

"Oh! Like a cane!"

"A candy cane!" Cosmo poofs up a massive candy cane and holds it out for his son to take. 

Peri looks at it disapprovingly.

"I'm not going to walk around with that." 

In fact he isn't happy about that idea at all. He hates being the odd one out, a stigma he can never seems to escape even when doing something as simple as shifting forms. Walking around with a cane won't help him get rid of that image.

"Peri. Listen to Dev and don't let your insecurities get in the way of your thinking."

How? Seriously he hates that his father can read him like a book on some days. That's not fair!

And yet he sighs, giving in and letting a cane appear in his hands, well, it's his wand, stretched long enough to look like a cane. It's a foreign feeling, but not one Peri dislikes.

He hates to admit - while being happy about it at the same time - that walking does become easier with the pressure taken off his leg.

It's a bit hard to navigate through the snow without getting stuck, but it's working. He can walk. All on his own, and that without the constant ache throbbing up his bones.

He turns to his parents, who are watching him proudly from a distance, not to forget high-fiving each other in secret, and offers them a smile.

"I think this can work."

It did in fact work out just fine.

Joining their kids again, Hazel and Dev did look at them a bit funny when they notice the cane, but they decided to keep their tongues for now. The how doesn't matter as long as Peri is able to walk and they can all join in the fun of making a snowman.

Hazel and Dev have already done a lot of work, with them already working on the center and head of their snowman, their finished bottom happily waiting to be stacked on.

"We are making Winn! You three can start with Jasmine!"

They don't need to be told twice. Rolling the snow around and stacking it, adding some more between the sections to make them stick together even better, it doesn't take long for all their snowmen to be ready. Now all they need to do is give them some features!

They gather twigs for the arms and use some carrots and walnuts that Hazel brought along for the occasion to shape their faces. And just like that, they are done.

Two perfectly formed snowmen, one taller than the other, stand in front of them. Snow Winn even has something resembling a snowboard in front of them, while Snow Jasmine raises her hands to the sky in the middle of belting out a note.

Hazel and Dev high-five each other, proud of their work.

"Looking good, squirt." Wanda comments, conjuring up a baseball cap to put on Snow Winn's head. 

"Thanks!" Hazel smiles, brushing some snow from her cheek.

Slowly but surely, the cold begins to set in. It creeps through her mittens and under her scarf, making her shiver.

"Yours doesn't look too shabby either."

Dev agrees, slowly but surely getting cold himself. He rubs his hands together in a desperate attempt to get some warmth in them, which doesn't go unnoticed by the fairies.

"I think we all did a good job. And should be rewarded for our efforts. Maybe we can interest you in a hot drink?"

Wanda points over her shoulder at Cosmo, standing behind a stall that wasn't there a minute ago - magic is a blessing, really - just waiting to take their orders.

"I think something hot to drink sounds good." Hazel chuckles. "What do you think, Dev?"

"It depends. Will drinking it turn me into a drink?"

Hazel can't blame the boy for being paranoid after yesterday.

"Only one way to find out!" She takes the boy's hand in hers and drags him to the booth.

Cosmo cheerfully waves at them from afar. 

"Can I interest you two in some hot chocolate?" He conjures up a cup and places it on the counter.

"Or some hot chocolate?"

Another cup follows the first.

"Or some hot chocolate?"

Hazel starts to laugh.

"Oh, wow. That's a tough one." She taps her chin as if deep in thought. "I don't want to rush things, but I think we should go for the hot chocolate."

She nods seriously before turning to Dev.

"What do you think, Dev?"

The boy rolls his eyes good-naturedly and adjusts his stance.

"I'm not sure if I'm in the mood for hot chocolate." He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at their equal choices. "Maybe I will have a hot chocolate instead."

"A hot chocolate, really? Even though they offer you a perfectly good hot chocolate on the menu?"

"Yeah I am just not feeling the hot chocolate. The hot chocolate on the other side might hit the spot." 

"I'd listen to him." Cosmo leans in to whisper to them. "Because that hot chocolate on our list? Would not recommend it."

"In that case, we'll go with the hot chocolate like Dev said."

"Good choice!"

"Can I have mine lactose-free?"

"You even have to ask?"

Cosmo sets two steaming cups of hot chocolate on the counter, making all the others that were already there disappear.

The kids don't hesitate to take them. Their fingers curl around the mugs seeking out the warmth they provide. A collective sigh of relief escapes their lips after taking a sip. 

Dev was right, the hot chocolate really hits the spot. Licking some cream from her lips, Hazel is about to offer some to her fairies when she notices that one is missing.

"Where is Peri?"

"Getting our next stop ready!"

"Our next stop?" Dev echoes, exchanging glances with Hazel. "What stop?"

Cosmo and Wanda grin at them as if waiting for those words. Lifting their wands, they are all transported to the top of Signal Hill, where a periwinkle sled is waiting for them.

"Can I interest you in a sleigh ride?" 

"You bet you can!" Hazel downs her hot chocolate in one gulp. Her cup just... disappearing when she finishes.

Huh. Before she can even sit down on the sled she pulls Dev beside her, almost making his mug spill over in the process. 

"Hey, careful there!" Peri scolds them. "No spillages!"

Rolling his eyes, Dev follows Hazel's example and swallows the rest of his drink. Warmth explodes in his body, shortly followed by excitement-!

"You want us to slide down there?!" -perhaps a bit of fear as well. "I almost died rolling down there."

"I wouldn't call what you did rolling, it was more like falling." Hazel makes a so-so motion with her hand.

She admits that she deserves the shove that Dev punishes her with.

"It's going to be okay, Dev." She reassures him. "Besides, Peri will be watching over us."

"I would never let anything happen to you." The fairy confirms. 

Dev looks from the suddenly very high appearing hill to his friends, who all share the same excitement that is slowly but surely overshadowing his own nerves. 

"Fine. Let's do it!"

"We can make it a race!" A glance to the side reveals Wanda sitting on her own sled, this one green. "First one down wins!"

"You will never catch us alive!" Hazel takes the bait and pushes them off the hill.

Dev lets out a surprised squeal at their sudden departure. There is a cold wind whipping around them, freezing his face and penetrating his lungs, thanks to the speed they have accumulated in seconds. An adrenaline rush that turns his screams into laughter.

"Oh my god! We are going to die!"

"No, we are going to win!" Hazel cheers, joining his hearty laughter, until-

"You had a head start!" Wanda complains as soon as she and Cosmo caught up to them. "That's cheating!"

And gets rewarded with snowballs the fairy throws at them to knock them off balance. 

"Throwing snowballs at us is cheating too!" Hazel laughs trying her best to avoid getting hit. "Dev!"

"On it! Peri, I wish I had an unlimited supply of snowballs!"

A pile of snowballs appears next to Dev, it's a miracle called magic that they don't get blown away by the wind, that seems to pick up more and more just like their speed. 

Not sparing that any mind, Dev gives Wanda a taste of her own medicine, and successfully at that! 

"Yes!" Dev cheers once she and Cosmo fall back a bit. A happiness that is short-lived, thanks to a sharp turn that almost causes Dev to fall over his own sledge.

"Hey! Watch it, Peri!"

"You try granting a wish and avoiding all those obstacles along the way!"

"What obstacles?" There are no obstacles- oh.

There are. Looking ahead, Dev notices the trees and other things that litter their... pretty lengthy way down, considering how long they have already been sledding. 

"Were these always there?"

"No! That's the fun part!"

Dev can't argue with that, especially with Cosmo and Wanda gaining up on them again.

The next few minutes are filled with adrenaline and excitement. Snowballs flying through the air, ready to knock each other off balance, laughter echoing whenever they do so and obstacles they barely avoid.

Hazel and Dev have to cling to each other and/or Peri more often than not to don't risk falling, which only adds to the excitement.

"We are almost there!!" Hazel shouts, glancing back to make sure they are still in first place, before they reach the bottom of the hill.

Racing past the invisible finish line, the kids start to cheer, throwing their hands in the air and high-fiving each other, which thinking back on it wasn't the best idea as they are still sitting on a speeding sled that comes to an abrupt stop, throwing them right off.

Peri's own cheering stops as soon as he notices the missing weight on his back, his two passengers lying face down in the snow a good distance away.

"...Whoops?"

He would feel bad if it weren't for the fact that the kids are already sitting up again, laughing all the while. 

"We totally annihilated them!" Hazel cheers.

She and Dev offer their hands to Peri at the same time. The fairy blinks, a smile tugging at his lips.

Who is he to refuse a high five?

Especially since it's his fault that the kids are shaking in their boots, maybe he should dry them -

"What are we going to do next?" Dev asks, still riding the high of their slide.

Hazel replies by throwing some snow in his face. 

- that will have to wait. 

The ensuing snowball fight was quite brutal and resulted in two kids drenched to the bone. It is their own fault for dragging each other down into the snow, where they are currently resting. Completely out of breath, they look up at the sky. 

It has changed color by now. The muted gray getting replaced by a dark blue.

The only thing illuminating their playground are the lanterns flickering to life, as well as the stars and the moon shining down on them.

Looking at them is peaceful, just what they need to catch their breath, to get their racing hearts under control again, even if the cold burning against their necks, the snowflakes falling in their faces make the whole ordeal the tiniest bit uncomfortable.

But even that adds to the atmosphere, as do the voices in the background. 

Looks like her fairies are still at it. Good.

Their fight started out as a 3 vs 2 Hazel and her godparents vs Dev and his. The fact that they are still screaming and laughing means that there is no winner yet.

Hazel can't wait to get back into the fight once she's rested. She hopes Dev feels the same way. 

Her eyes wander to the boy lying next to her in the snow.

He watches the sky with a gentle smile on his face. That is, until he notices Hazel's stare and catches her eyes with a frown.

"What?"

"Nothing." Hazel shakes her head, the snow crunching beneath her with every movement. "Just.. happy to see you happy, I guess. You are happy, right?"

"... I am." Dev admits, looking back up at the sky again.

"..what about you?"

"Hm?"

"Are you happy?"

Hazel blinks in surprise, right before a toothy smile appears on her face and she answers Dev's question... by letting some snow drop on his face - again.

His cries of surprise are music to her ears.

"Does that answer your question?" Hazel chuckles as she watches Devs sit up in shock, his hands busy wiping the melted snow from his face.

"I am going to kill you, Harold!"

"Wait, wait no-no-no-no!" Hazel stops Dev before he can bury her face in the snow. "We should team up! Let us team up!"

Dev raises an eyebrow.

"You want us to team up... After you attacked me?" 

There is still water clinging to his eyelashes, falling down with every blink. Hazel grins at him all innocently. 

"Yeah..?" Damn Dev's heart and it's soft spot for the girl. 

"Alright, I am all ears."

If only Hazel knew what kind of power she has over the boy.

"Let us go after them! The two of us against the three of them! They will never see it coming! Plot twist of the century!"

That does sound like a lot of fun. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

"..I am in."

One can only imagine the surprise on the faces of their godparents once two kids come charging up at them, throwing snowballs left and right take them out, which they did.

Those fairies never stood a chance...

And even when the day is over, they said their goodbyes and Dev is laying in bed, looking up at his ceiling instead of the night sky;

Feeling warmth all around him instead of the freezing cold nipping at his skin;

Exhaustion creeping up his bones and numbing his mind, slowly but slowly infiltrating his body to gentle pull him into the realm of dreams;

He still feels the same happiness he did earlier in the day.

And for a second... only a second, he thinks that maybe, just maybe, he really doesn't need his father to be happy...

Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other-

"Goooood morning. Rise and shine, sunshine!"

- which includes Peri's unnecessarily loud and chipper wake-up call. Not to forget him opening the curtains to.. another cloudy morning, and dancing snowflakes.

Right. Dev's wish. The boy never quite stated how long it should snow... Nah, it's probably fine by now. 

A wave of his wand is all it takes to bring the sun out again. Its almost timid rays spread across the horizon, making the snow shimmer and glisten when it is struck just right. A truly beautiful sight that will help in waking Dev up to another day of fun and laughter! 

"Dev, it's time to wake up!" 

Normally Dev would have stirred by now. Whether it is to sit up on good days, or to bury himself deeper in the blankets on grumpy days, as soon as the sun hits his face, he tends to wake up and complain.

"..."

But he doesn't. There is no complaining, no shuffling. Peri doesn't even think he has seen the boy stir in the thick cocoon of blankets he has curled up in.

How he can breathe under all that fabric is a mystery to the fairy. But he does, breath that is, he has checked - more than once. He is called neurotic for a reason.

"Dev?" He asks, before flying low to shake the boy's shoulders. "Wake up, kid! It's time for school! Wouldn't want to miss that beautiful day outside! And it is beautiful! I made sure of that." 

Unfortunately, Dev doesn't seem to care about the beautiful world outside, or about waking up at all.

"Hngh..." The boy lets out a groan. A deep, clogged up noise, that doesn't sound like it belongs to a human being, let alone his charge.

Peri pauses, a frown finding its way to his face. 

"Dev-"

"Noooo." The boy whines.

His voice is hoarse, laced with exhaustion, and breaking around the vowels that can barely make their way past his swollen throat, while Dev himself is already busy with burying himself deeper into his pillow.

"Go 'way..."

An uncoordinated hand tries to swat Peri away. It didn't even connect with the fairy before it gave up again to sneak under the blankets, pulling them even tighter around himself.

"Wanna sleep.."

"But.. school?" Peri says puzzled, his mind already busy piecing together the puzzle pieces presented to him.

"Hngh."

That wasn't the answer Peri expected. He tilts his head to the side.

"Dev, could it be...?"

The fairy wastes no time in pulling at the blankets. Ignoring the muffled protests and feeble attempts to stop him, Peri reveals Dev's face and gasps.

"..Oh, Dev..."

There is something wrong with Dev.

Okay, maybe wrong isn't the right word, it comes off a bit too strong. Let's rephrase that: There is something... off - much better - about Dev today.

Since the beginning of class, Hazel has been staring at the boy currently taking notes. She should probably do the same.

Whatever Mr. Guzman is explaining to them must be important, and normally Hazel isn't one to zone out in class, at least not any more than your average kid.

She tries hard to be present and follow all the lessons, absorbing the information given to her like a sponge.

Today is no exception!

... At least that's what she tells herself. The truth is: Every time she tries to concentrate and take at least some notes, her mind as well as her eyes wander back to Dev. 

"Is there something off about Dev?" 

"Huh?"

Cosmo and Wanda, who are as absorbed in the lesson as she should be, look surprised at the sudden question.

They look up at their charge before following her intense gaze over to Dev. 

"Why do you ask, squirt?"

"This still about him not waiting up for you?"

"...maybe."

She and Dev started this routine of meeting up in front of the school before classes start. She doesn't know who initiated it or when exactly it happened, but that's just how things are now.

She has gotten so used to the boy waiting up for her that him not doing so today might be the reason for her whole inner turmoil.

Not that it's a big deal! It's not, and she knows, but.. her guts are pretty persistent that there's more to it, and if she trusts in one thing, than it's her guts!

"Maybe Dev is just in a sour mood?" Wanda offers.

But he doesn't look like he's in a bad mood! He wouldn't have greeted her so cheerfully when they met in class if he was in a bad mood!

But even as he smiles at her charismatically and kindly, there's still something in his face, especially in his eyes, that she can't place. 

Hazel doesn't even know how to explain it! But whenever she looks at him talking and moving, it seems unnatural? Almost mechanical?

Maybe she is just imagining it.

She will have to ask him if something is wrong when the lesson is over. And if he doesn't give her a straight answer, maybe Peri can-

Wait a second.

Hazel squints at the boy.

Now that she thinks about it, there is a foretelling lack of purple surrounding the boy. No headphones, nothing on his desk. Maybe Peri is hiding inside of it like Cosmo and Wanda like to do but she has never seen him do that before. The fairy likes to be aware of his surroundings after all. 

Suspicious. Maybe Dev's behavior has something to do with his fairy's absence? Did they have a fight?

"... Did you notice that Peri isn't with him?"

They probably did, with them being hyper aware about everything their son does. 

"I was wondering about that." Wanda says and tries to shrug, only to realize that she can't with her body being shaped like an eraser. "Maybe he had some official fairy businesses to take care of? Or maybe Dev gave him a task to complete while he is in class?"

That's.. probably as close to a logical solution as they are going to get without asking one of the two persons involved.

Sighing to herself - oh how she hates unsolved mysteries - Hazel nods at Wanda

"I suppose that could be the case."

"Nah." Cosmo waves them off. "I am pretty sure he is with Dev."

"Cosmo the whole problem is him not being with Dev." Wanda sighs patiently and fondly.

"He isn't?" Cosmo blinks in surprise. "How would you know?"

"Because he isn't! Look!" Wanda points her husband to Dev, who is still taking notes.

He seems completely unfazed by their stares. Another factor that doesn't add up. Dev always notices people staring at him. It makes him feel uncomfortable and squirmish and he doesn't hesitate to make one aware of that.

"What am I looking at again?"

"Dev!"

Cosmo squints. "Oh. Ohhhh!"

It's just like Wanda says, some days her husband simply needs some time to come to the right conclusion-

"I was talking about the real Dev duh!"

- or to reveal that their conclusion never was the right one.

"The real..?" Hazel's eyes widen with realization.

Suddenly it all makes sense! 

The boy who didn't wait up for her, was never Dev to begin with! It was a stand-in! A puppet there to take his place!

That's why his movements were so stiff and chunky! That's why looking at Dev feels so off! It's not him!

Others may not notice, but she knows the boy well enough to see the subtle changes in behavior. 

"I can't believe I fell for that!" Hazel complains with a groan. 

"To be fair, it was designed for you to fall for it."

Wanda is more bothered by the fact that Cosmo saw through the whole scheme before her.

"How did you figure it out?"

"From one non-human to another, it was preeetty easy to tell."

No, it wasn't. But if there's one thing Hazel respects about Cosmo, it's that he sees things others don't.

Especially in times like these, when people tend to overthink, unable to see the right answer, unable to even consider it, because it is so obvious, so simple, but not Cosmo! He is always thinking as easy as it gets~

But that still leaves one question unanswered: Why is there a puppet here instead of Dev?

Hazel frowns, worry evident in her eyes.

"You think something happened?"

"I wouldn't assume the worst yet, squirt." Wanda consoles her. "Maybe they are just off having an adventure?"

Hazel doesn't seem convinced. 

"Maybe." Supporting her face with her knuckles, Hazel sighs. "I still wish I knew what was going on."

"Well, in that case, I will find out!" 

"What?! No, wait, I didn't mean it like that - Wanda!" Hazel whispers.

Too late. As if waiting for those words, Wanda has already vanished. Hazel lets her head make contact with the desk. Cosmo cringes. The class begins to laugh.

"Hazel, are you alright..?" Mr Guzman!

Hazel lifts her head to smile innocently at her teacher. 

"Yes! I just... Can we pretend this didn't happen?"

"As long as it doesn't happen again, I didn't see anything."

And that's why Mr. Guzman is her favorite teacher. Letting out a big sigh, Hazel smiles at him. 

"Thank you, Mr. Guzman."

The teacher winks at her and continues with his lesson. The noisy stares of her classmates fade one by one until only one remains.

"You good, Hazel?"

Hazel looks up at Dev. The boy is frowning at her.

Actually, he isn't, his plastic face isn't capable of that, but her mind makes her think he is, so as not to ruin the illusion. This is as cool as it is creepy. 

Hazel tilts her head to the side and observes the boy. 

"You know... looking closer, you do resemble an action figure." The girl musses before returning to class, unaware of the existential crisis she has just caused the unsuspecting doll. 

Class has already ended when Wanda decided to show her face again. 

"There you are!" Hazel glances down at her fidget toy after Wanda announced her presence. "I was starting to get worried."

"Sorry, squirt. I couldn't leave without lending a hand first."

"Lending a hand? That sounds serious?" 

"It's not." Wanda assures her. "Seems like Dev has caught the flu. And since Peri has never had to deal with a human illness before, it threw him a bit out of the loop."

"He's sick? Poor Dev." Hazel laments. "Looks like we overdid it with our snow adventures." 

They did play in the snow for three days straight. The weekend was the perfect opportunity to do so. They even got Jasmine and Winn to join them! Each day was more fun and exhausting than the last.

Hazel herself got off the hook with a few sniffles and the occasional cough, but apparently not everyone is so lucky.

With Dev not really having that much experience with being out in the cold for hours on end, it's no wonder his immune system decided to kick the bucket. 

Hazel makes a face in sympathy. It must be really bad if Dev decided to stay at home. She doesn't think she's ever seen him miss class before - Wait.

The girl frowns. 

"Why did he bring his puppet to school? Is attendance really that important to him?"

".. Do you want me to find out-?"

"No!" Hazel stops Wanda before the noisy fairy can disappear again. "I'll ask him myself! Cosmo Wanda, get ready for a sick visit!"

"Like right now?" Wanda asks, making Hazel pause.

For a second she does think about skipping the rest of class to visit Dev right this instant. A thought process she doesn't follow through with.

"No, after school."

That's how Hazel came to stand in front of Dev's mansion a few hours later.

Her finger hovers over the doorbell without actively pressing it. Cosmo feels like the girl has been standing there forever.

"...Hazel? Did you forget how to knock again? It's okay to ask, you know? We listen, but we don't judge."

"That's not it." Hazel shakes her head and draws her hand back, curling it against her chest. "I am just... Wouldn't it be smarter to wish myself in there?"

"To avoid seeing Dale's face?" Wanda raises her wand. "I am all for that."

That's.. not really the reason but Hazel isn't going to correct her. 

One wave of her wand later, Hazel and her fairies are standing in front of Dev's door. Hazels raises her hand to let her knuckles collide with the wood, only to hesitate before they even have a chance to connect.

"Is.. Is Dev's father even at home?" 

Wanda opens her mouth and closes it again with a sigh.

"I didn't see him earlier if that's what you're asking." She says slowly, a bit quieter too. She must have come to the same conclusion as Hazel.

"I see."

A new determination burning inside of her heart the girl knocks.

"Peri? It's me, Hazel! Cosmo and Wanda are here too!" She adds as an unnecessary afterthought.

There is some shuffling before the door magically swings open, letting the visitors in and closing behind them again. 

The first thing Hazel notices upon entering is the dimness of the room. The curtains are drawn shut to keep the sun out and give Dev a chance to rest, and yet the room isn't shrouded in darkness, it's barely illuminated thanks to the fairy lights hanging from every available surface.

It almost looks like a thousand tiny stars have made their home in the room, providing a soft and gentle glow that soothes the soul and brings a smile to Hazel's lips. 

Her eyes follow the strings of light until they curl around Dev's bed, where said boy rests. There isn't much she can make out, with most of his body hidden by thick blankets that keep him warm, and yet there is the occasional shiver that runs through him, accompanied by a few sniffles and coughs. 

Hazel moves closer until she can see the faint sheen of sweat plastering Dev's curls to his forehead, while his cheeks seem to glow with the fever forced upon them. Hazel's face twists in sympathy.

She is on the verge of reaching out to the boy when...

"Somehow I had a feeling it would not be long before you came to visit." 

Hazel jumps, her full attention on the boy lying in front of her - at least he doesn't look to be in pain - she didn't even notice Peri sitting dutifully beside him.

Dipping a white cloth into cold water, the fairy gently taps the soft fabric against Dev's overheated skin before placing it on his forehead. 

"Wanda told me he was sick." Hazel crawls onto the bed, sitting criss-cross applesauce on the mattress after Peri gave her the go. "How is he?"

"He's got a fever and a temper."

Hazel can't help but to chuckle at that, according to Peri's smile that was the plan.

"But nothing that we can't handle."

Hazel hums watching how Peri tenderly brushes some stray strands of hair out of Dev's face. He is being so gentle, so careful, about it as if afraid that the boy might break under his touch alone. 

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Under any other circumstances Peri would gladly let the girl help, if only to keep her fidgeting hands busy and her anxious mind occupied, but today?

How could he tell her how to help after he himself has no idea what he is doing?

"You could get the onions! Nothing better to burn a fever away than onions!"

"Onions? Really?" Hazel repeats Cosmo's advice. She has never heard of that one before.

"...Or maybe it was garlic?"

"Honey, you're thinking of vampires."

"Yeah, killing them." Peri rolls his eyes, not taking his father seriously. Well, not completely. "Do onions help with human sickness?"

The girl in question shrugs.

"I wouldn't know. My mom usually gives me soup and medicine and then we have to wait it out."

Peri nods, feeling the tiniest bit disappointed at the lack of information after being painfully aware that he has nothing to work with.

It's not like he's never seen a sick human before. He had a human brother, and yet he can't remember him ever being sick, and even then his memories would be too fuzzy - full of holes - to really remember what they did to help him. 

The answer is company. Peri gave him company. Someone who was just there and present to help him get through the worst of it. A sigh escapes Peri's lips

"Don't worry. You are doing great." Wanda flies up to her son and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm sure Dev will be fine in no time." Hazel also reaches out, her hand falling on Dev's leg.

If she can't help him heal, at least she'll show him that she's there and not planning on leaving!

"I hope so. You have got now idea how much of a hassle it was to keep him down today..."

a few hours earlier

"Oh, Dev..."

As soon as Peri gets a good look at Dev's face. The runny nose, the red cheeks and furrowed eyebrows, as well as his stubbornly closed eyes to protect himself from the morning light, he understands what he is dealing with... and panics. 

Peri's frantic voice in the background - why does the fairy have to be so loud? - Dev turns around and pulls the blanket back over his head, wailing in his misery.

He can't hear what Peri is saying, only muffled sounds and hurried words reach Dev's ears. He can faintly make out something about calling in sick to school? Wait a minute. 

School!

Dev's eyes fly open. The sudden intrusion of light stings and makes him shrink back, his eyes closing on their own accord, while a migraine is working its way into his head, just his luck.

Opening his eyes again, he slowly blinks the dark spots out of his vision before throwing the blanket off of him.

He immediately shivers, the cold seeping through his clothes and under his skin, making him tremble like a leaf.

He longs for his blanket, to just lay down again and nestle into the warmth of his bed. But he cannot! He has to resist the temptation, as hard as it is.

He can't sleep. He has to go to school.

"You sure as hell don't ?"

Looks like he vocalized that need out loud.

"I do." Dev rasps, swinging his legs over the bed to get up.

Why does everything feel so hot and heavy?

Which is funny because he is still freezing, a cold ache radiating through his core. Urgh.

The day has barely begun and can already scramble to screw itself.

Digging the heels of his palm into his eyes, Dev takes a deep breath before he stands up. His feet don't even have a chance to touch the ground before his body makes contact with his mattress again.

"Dev, no." Peri looks horrified at him even attempting to go to school in his condition.

"Dev, yes."

Dev pushes Peri's hands - when exactly did he put them on his shoulders? - away from him. He at least tries to. Somehow they are really heavy and warm... And grounding. Almost comforting even... it would be easy to just lean into-

What, no! No time to lean into the touch! It's his enemy! Forcing him into the bed, still calling for him. A siren call that's impossible to resist, but he has to! He can't give in now! 

He has a goal and he will be damned, if he doesn't reach it!

"Dev, you can't even-- Dev, would you just--" Peri tries to reason with the struggling boy.

His attempts to escape are pathetic - worrisome, really. Especially with that dazed look in his eyes.

Peri lays a hand on his forehead. It's hot and wet.

"By the stars. Dev, you are burning up. You need to lie down - will you stop struggling?!"

"Can't. Have to go to school."

If only the boy would be this persistent to get up any other day.

"You are not going to school like this !"

"I am fine." Dev insists, karma stabbing him in the back by making him double over, a deep cough forcing itself from his lungs.

Peri wastes no time in pulling the boy against his side, rubbing his back to hopefully be some sort of comfort.

As soon as his body decides to let him breathe again, Dev slumps against the fairy. 

If he could only close his eyes for a second...

Peri lets out a relieved sigh as soon as Dev melts against him. He closes his arms tighter around the boy, frowning at the worrying heat he can feel where Dev's head makes contact with his collarbone.

The boy really is burning up. He needs to rest and sleep it off. The only problem left is how to lay the boy down. Maybe if he manages to conjure his wand he could -

As soon as Peri dares to move a single muscle, Dev is startled awake again. And the fight begins anew. 

"Dev, I swear to God. I will resort to violence." Peri threatens as soon as the boy struggles in his hold.

"Pretty sure that's illegal." Dev sniffles.

Weakly, he pushes against Peri's iron grip - he hardly uses any strength, there is no need, with Dev being as weak as a kitten.

"And against the rules... have to treasure your... treasured rules."

He thinks he said "treasure" twice. Whatever. Thinking is hard. Talking is even harder. And let's not start with getting up. That's a pain. Especially with a fairy stubbornly manhandling him into bed.

"Do I look like I care about the rules, right now?"

Dev lifts his head as if to check. "Nyeh."

That boy, really.

Peri rolls his eyes and uses the boy's distraction to wrestle him into bed and pull the covers over him.

What a dirty trick! How is Dev supposed to escape now that the warm and heavy blanket has a hold on him again? 

"Stay down." Peri insists. "Missing a day of school isn't that bad."

Isn't that bad? Dev almost chokes on the laughter bubbling up in his throat.

"Tell that to my dad... he is gunna kill me if I miss."

Peri frowns. "Why would he?"

"Because..." Peri sees Dev's eyes drop, only to force themselves open again. He sniffs, rubbing a hand over his runny nose. "Perfect attendance is... important."

"... Dev, you are not skipping. You are sick."

And this is where Peri is wrong.

"I am fine." Dev tries to sit up again.

Peri wastes no time to take a hold of his shoulders and force him down. He wishes the boy would stop wasting the precious rest of his energy, that should go into getting healthy again, to fight a losing battle.

God, the kid can barely keep himself awake. By now he must be running on nothing but sheer stubbornness!

"Dimmadomes don't get sick."

"Dimmadomes don't-" Peri chokes, flabbergasted.

He shakes his head, this close to bashing his wand over a certain someone's head.

"Dev, that's nonsense, you're burning up!"

"Sooo?" Dev whines in frustration. "It makes no difference... my father doesn't care. So I can't either."

Sending his sick son to school, just for the sake of appearances, is something he should have expected. It's all about reputation, isn't it?

Peri's grip on Dev's shoulders tightened. 

"Well, that's too bad." He spits out the words, frustration and anger bubbling in his chest. "Because I do care. And I won't let you hurt yourself for a person this- this-" 

The fairy has to take a deep breath in order not to say something he will regret, and most of all, not to hurt the child who slowly stops fighting. Exhaustion is taking its toll, while the call of sleep does the rest. 

".. You are not going, Dev. And that's final. "

Peri tucks the boy in and draws his hands back, as if expecting Dev to stay from the sheer power of his words alone.

"...." Dev blinks at him, his mind too fuzzy to make sense of the emotions running through him. "..You're not my dad, you can't forbid me from... going to school." 

Peri says something. Dev can't make out what it is, thanks to the ringing in his ears and the pounding in his head. He wishes his body would just shut up.

Wait a minute... why is he arguing with Peri right now? He doesn't have to fight the good intentions of the fairy or the bed that soothes his aching bones. He is a godkid after all. He can simply wish to be in school!

"Why didn't I think of that sooner..?" Dev says to himself, confusing Peri.

"You.. what?"

The fairy tilts his head to the side, watching how Dev takes a deep breath.

"Peri, I wish-"

Oh, hell no. 

"-For a decoy that goes to school for you, so you can stay at home and rest, while no one notices? Consider it done."

Peri raises his wand with a sugarly sweet smile on his face. 

"What? No, thats not.." Dev frowns. "..you can do that?" 

He gets his answer to that question when Peri's magic comes to life, as does the decoy, who is... a perfect copy of him... if he were an action figure, with overly shiny skin and ballpoint pens for joints.

This is... creepy. Cool, but creepy. 

"...What the hell, Peri?" 

"There you go." Peri thrusts his arms forward, happily showing off his creation. "Now you can stay at home and no one will notice."

Dev groans and buriers his face in his pillow. His voice comes out muffled.

"...No one's gonna.. buy that."

"Trust me they will. They always do. I've seen Hazel use them before."

Wait, what?

The boy turns his head, blearily blinking up at his godparent. 

"...No she didn't. I would have noticed."

"She did. And you not noticing only proves my point." Peri insists in a way that makes it impossible not to believe him.

Dev will have to think about that when his mind is clearer again. Right now it's still fighting a battle between resisting and just.. giving in.

The latter sounds more appealing by the second. Especially once there is a featherlight touch brushing against his temple. 

"Please, Dev, let me take care of you. Just.. this once." 

...

... That's really not fair.

Dev sighs, his body already making the decision for him as he leans into Peri's touch, his eyes closing on their own accord. 

" ...I'm only agreeing 'cause I'm too tired to fight... doesn't mean you won..."

The softest sound escapes Peri's lips. Dev can't even imagine what kind of expression his godparent is making right now.

"There is no winning, Dev."

"Damn right there isn't, and if there was.. I did..."

"Yeah, yeah, you won, kid, and your prize is to get better." 

"Sounds..." ..fair. Dev doesn't even get to finish his sentence before sleep claims him. It was about damn time. 

"Good night, Dev."

Peri pulls the blanket up to his chest. He almost leans in to brush his lips against the too-hot forehead, stopping himself at the last second to brush some of the stubborn curls out of his face instead.

"Dev has been sleeping ever since. With Mom's help, I managed to get him to take some medicine, but that was it."

And it worries him. Dev has been sleeping for so long. It's past noon. He should get the boy something to eat, he will need all his strength if he wants to get rid of this hellish fever. 

Unaware of Peri's thought process, Hazel begins one of her own.

"What I am about to ask will sound very stupid."

Probably. Maybe she has the idea of the century. She doubts it, but there is no harm in trying.

"But can't you just... You know, magic him healthy again?"

"We could-" Wanda starts to explain, only to be interrupted by her husband.

"But Peri can't! Healing magic was never his forte! Don't look at me like that, kiddo, it's true."

Peri avoids his gaze with a grumble. It's not really his fault that he's the only fairy whose powers are partially cut off by the dome around his wand, designed to keep him and his magic in check. 

"But now that we're here, we can change that!" Cosmo raises his wand, not even managing a single spark of magic before Wanda pushes it back down.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy."

Peri nods in agreement.

"It's a magically induced illness, which means ... no magic can cure it."

"Magically induced? I didn't know that could happen." Hazel frowns. "How did that happen?"

"The snow."

The purple eyes wander to the window, as if he could see the snow hidden by the thick curtains. He can't, so he turns his gaze back to Dev.

The boy is still sleeping peacefully, not even stirring despite his visitors. 

"The snow?" Hazel repeats. "I don't under-" Her eyes widen. "You made it snow?"

Wanda takes great pleasure in the knowledge that her gut instinct was proven right once again. She knew that Peri had something to do with the weather. He had looked far too pleased the last few days not to. 

"Wait, does that mean... Dev wished for snow?" 

Peri nods, a small smile playing around his lips. 

"He wanted to get your list done."

He doesn't have to say it out loud for Hazel to read between the lines. Dev made it snow for her sake, he wanted to make her happy. 

A warm feeling erupts in the girl's chest

"Dev..." She looks at the boy with a bittersweet expression on her face.

She probably feels guilty, and yet the fondness in her heart wins over every other feeling. She can't believe Dev did that for her. She gives his leg a squeeze.

"Guess I will have to thank you by making sure you get healthy again."

Now how are they going to go about that?

"I think-" Wanda pats Peri's shoulders. "-this calls for some soup!"

"Nothing that gets you on track faster than Mama Cosma's old soup recipe!" 

"..He didn't eat a single bite until now." Peri mutters, letting himself be pulled into the air by his parents, and yet his gaze lingers on Dev. He would like to stay in case Dev wakes up.

He wants the boy to know that he's not alone, that he hasn't left his side, but he also can't expect his parents to do something that he should be doing.

Dev is his godkid, he should be the one to do everything he can to make him better, which includes cooking a soup that will give him the strength to fight this illness.

Hazel watches Peri's inner struggle from afar, and soon comes to a conclusion that should help the fairy make up his mind. 

"I'll stay with him." Hazel offers. "I'm not much of a cook anyway."

Not yet! Her mum says she makes a mean lasagne, but... that's about it for now.

"And I can use the time to start on my homework!"

Especially the reading exercises! Claiming Peri's old spot next to Dev, the girl leans against the bedpost, making her the first thing Dev sees when he wakes up! Aaand it provides her with a lot of comfort as she goes through her textbook! 

Peri doesn't look convinced, until the girl brushes a stray curl out of Dev's face and adjusts the cloth on his face, making sure the boy is as comfortable as he can be before starting her own schoolwork.

Well, she would, if it weren't for the three fairies hovering above her. She looks up at them with a smile and urges them to leave.

Somehow it feels like a weight has been lifted from Peri's shoulders. 

"Thank you, Hazel."

"It's my pleasure, really. Now go and make sure Dev has something to eat when he wakes up. He probably is one of those persons that get hangry."

"Oh you have no idea, kid." Peri shakes his head, before he lets his parents drag him away, leaving Hazel alone with their sick patient for now.

The first time Dev wakes up, it's thanks to a cough that rattles through his lungs and bones alike. The boy rolls onto his side, coughing until his throat hurts and his lungs are empty of air.

Dev rolls back onto his back as soon as his body decides he can breathe again. And breathing he does. His eyes closed, he takes one deep breath after another. 

"Here."

A faint voice drifts through the air - now that he thinks about it, weren't there hands on his back a second ago? Rubbing his skin to help him get through the worst of his coughing fit. The voice probably belongs to the same person. 

"You should drink something." 

Before Dev can even protest, there is a hand in his neck, helping him raise his head until he can feel something cold against his lips. It must be water. Dev doesn't hesitate to take a sip.

The cold liquid runs down his aching throat. It's soothing and urges him to take more sips, each one making him feel a little lighter, a little clearer, a little more like himself. 

The hand on his neck only lets go when the glass is empty.

"Thanks.. Peri.." He mumbles, his mind already drifting back to sleep.

"Close enough." The voice chuckles, far too high to belong to his fairy. And yet he knows it. Wait a second.

"Hazel?" Dev's eyes open again. 

He was right, sitting next to him on his bed, a textbook still placed on her lap, is Hazel, putting the empty glass back on the nightstand where she got it from. 

"Heyo, Dev." The girl greets him, her smile is illuminating the room, well, looking closer it could be the fairy lights - Dev has no idea where those come from - that add to that illusion. But Hazel's smile still makes him feel like there is a sun in his room, despite the closed curtains.

...Why is she in his room again? 

"What are.. you doing here..?"

Seeing him in that sorry state most of all!

The boy tries to pull himself together by sitting up, which will hopefully make him appear a little less pathetic.

Hazel helps him by fluffing up the pillows and guiding his body until his back can make contact with them. 

Dev lets his head fall against the headboard with a groan. The mere act of sitting up makes the whole world spin around him. Being sick sucks.

"I heard you were sick, so I came to see you. Cosmo and Wanda are here too. They are helping Peri make you something to eat."

Dev isn't sure if he got half of what the girl was saying. Not really in the mood to make her repeat herself, he just hums, eyes glued to the girl, to maybe distract her from the poor state he is in somehow -

"Woah." Which he does, even if it's not in the way he wanted to. And all it took was one look into his eyes. "Dev, what's with your eyes?" 

His eyes..? Dev doesn't understand until he does. He isn't wearing contacts, which gives Hazel a perfect view of two mismatched eyes. 

For a second the girl thinks she is imagining it, the lights must be playing a trick on her, unless..?

She leans forward to get a closer look, reaching out her fingers barely manage to brush against his cheek, before the boy flinches back violently.

Not like he gets far, or has the energy for an hasty escape. Even pressing himself against the headboard of his bed in his haste causes black spots to invade his vision. His whole body protesting against the sudden movement. 

"Oh!" Hazel draws her hand back as if being burned. A guilty expression on her face. "I am sorry, Dev! I didn't mean to startle you. It wasn't my intention-! I'm sorry."

She seems to have crossed a line, judging by the silence growing between them. Dev is still breathing heavily, a hand over his green eye as if to hide it. 

Hazel reaches out again. She is going to force his hand down and look, Dev knows she will. 

"Don't." He croaks out. "Don't look."

"I won't." Hazel reassures him, her hand stopping halfway to show him that she means no harm. "I just.. thought you might want to lie down again? Would you let me help you?"

Dev hesitates. "..I can do it on my own.."

"Okay."

Hazel lets her hand fall down again, just like that. She lets Dev do as he pleases, the only assistance she delivers is pulling the blankets back, so he can settle underneath them before tucking him in again.

Each of her movements is followed by a misty ocean, until she pulls back and Dev begins to relax again, and yet he is still keeping one eye hidden as if embarrassed about it. 

Hazel doesn't like it. She's not sure what to make of Dev's reaction, but she knows one thing: He shouldn't be embarrassed or even afraid of something like this. 

 "..I never noticed your eyes being like that." Hazel says after a while. She can see the boy's shoulders tensing again. 

"Hazel, it's none of your business... and I don't want to talk about it."

"You don't have to. I just... wanted to tell you that you don't have to be embarrassed? About them?"

"Hazel-"

When is that girl going to learn when to stop talking?

She and Peri truly are polar opposites, when he says too little, she says too much, but sometimes... too much is better than nothing, and pushing a topic is better than letting it drop.  

"I like them. I think they suit you."

Come again?

Dev glances at Hazel and almost wishes he hadn't, for what he sees in the girl's face is not disgust, but awe, she almost looks like she has discovered a treasure, unaware that the gold she has found may look shiny, but is worthless all the same.

Dev's eyes narrow.

"You don't have to... say that to make me feel better." The boy huffs and pulls the blanket over his head, turning his back on Hazel. 

"What? I'm not!" Hazel shakes her head frantically. "I have no reason to lie, Dev. I really think they are cool. I mean, you have not one, but two eye colors? That is sick! I am almost jealous. Maybe I am... a little. But mostly I am confused. Why do you feel the need to hide them?"

"..Because it's not normal. It's weird." Dev whispers. 

"I don't think it is. And if it is, then it's weird in all the best ways!"

She sounds so sincere. Dev's fingers tighten around the sheets, he bites his lips.

"Well, you're the only one who thinks that way."

Hazel raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.

Dev does so with a sigh.

"...My father doesn't like them. He says they make me look defective."

Defective. Hazel can't believe her ears.

No wonder Dev feels the need to hide, after his own father demands it of him. Taking something that makes him special and turning it into something horrible.

This is so wrong on so many levels. As her resentment grows, her heart goes out to the sick boy lying next to her. 

"Your father is an idiot." Hazel grumbles before lowering her voice to a whisper. "I think they make you look special."

Dev can't help but huff, a smile tugging at his lips. It's small, but it's a start.

"Peri said the same thing." He admits, turning to face her again. 

Hazel smiles.

"Yeah, I can see him saying that." Especially that first part. "You should listen to him more. He seems like a reasonable guy."

"As if." The boy waves her off. "Don't you dare say that to his face, it'll only go to his head."

Hazel starts to laugh, Dev hesitantly joins her. As soon as they stop, a comfortable silence falls over them, broken only by-

"Hazel?"

"Hm?"

The girl used the silence to pick up the white cloth that had fallen from Dev's forehead during his escape, dipping it back into the water before placing it on his forehead again. 

"You're staring."

Oh. Apparently, she was doing all this while getting lost in the multi-colored eyes.

"Sorry!" Hazel pulls back, clasping her hands in front of her as if in prayer. "I'll try not to do that in the future?"

"In the future?" Dev raises an eyebrow. "Bold of you to assume that you will ever get to see me like this again."

"Challenge accepted." Hazel has the audacity to grin at him. Dev rolls with his eyes, wincing at the pain the simple action sends through his head. 

Hazel makes a face. "Sorry, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Dev shrugs and closes his eyes again.

"Aaaaand the truth?"

"Humiliated." Dev says without missing a beat, his voice getting rougher and weaker with each syllable.

Maybe having this discussion wasn't their best idea. But Hazel needed to get a point across. 

"..Is this still because of the eyes?"

"It's because I am sick.. and you are here to witness it."

"That's not humiliating, Dev."

Because she's not the one who's sweating bullets, even though his body is trembling from a cold that's embedded deep in his core. He doubts that her thoughts are all over the place like his either.

God, he feels so weak and pathetic lying in front of her like this. But it's not like he can change it, he doubts that he even has the strength to sit up and make himself more presentable again.   

"It is. I want to die."

"Don't be so dramatic. How do you feel?"

"I feel like dying."

"Well at least you are being honest now." Hazel clacks with her tongue. "To be honest, you also look like death wrapped over."

That's not what he wanted to hear and he shows her with a groan.

"Why are you here again..? Can't you just.. let me suffer in silence?"

"Nooo, because no one should suffer in silence. I am here to help you get better."

"You are not doing a good job at that."

"Hey!" Hazel complains, even though she.. can't really deny the truth of that statement. She has the feeling that she has only made things worse for Dev, if only by annoying him.

"I also wanted to thank you."

"Thank me..?"

"For the snow. Peri kind of implied that you were the one responsible for it?"

Dev needs a second to process that. No, he needs two, more than two, he needs a lot of time to process that, with his muddled mind, but once he does:

"That fairy, I swear -" Dev complains in a way that makes Hazel laugh. 

"Don't be like that! I am glad he told me! You making a wish for my sake is.. it makes me really happy you know?"

Dev really can't deal with the onslaught of emotions that statement brings. 

"..It was the least I could do." 

"You don't owe me anything, Dev."

He does, more than she will ever know. Dev bites his tongue, afraid that he will bare more of his soul than he is willing to if they continue to talk. He is far too tired to talk anyway.

Hazel seems to notice. "Other than myself, who does owe you an apology for making you get sick. I take full blame."

"Mhm. Not your fault. It's Peri's."

"How comes?"

"Dunno yet.. I will think of something."

Hazel can't help but to laugh, and she's not the only one:

"Hardy-hard." Peri announces his presence with an eye roll. "Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."

Dev would love to respond with snark, but he can't. He has exhausted all his reserves and has to settle for a wry grin that hopefully conveys his intentions.

It does.

Putting the soup he is carrying on the table, Peri flies over to Dev and presses a hand to his cheek to check his temperature. Dev will deny that he leaned into the contact or whined after losing it. 

"How are you feeling?"

Peri helps Dev into a sitting position. Dev feels like a rag doll being manhandled like this, his own muscles barely responding to his will. 

"Like killing the next person who asks." Dev mutters as soon as his head rests on Peri's shoulder.

Every part of his dignity and pride protests against the vulnerable position, while the childish and sick part of him enjoys it as long as it lasts. He decides to listen to the latter for now. 

"He said he felt like dying."

"I told you that in private."

"And Peri deserves to know. No sugarcoating your pain, Dev."

The boy grumbles. 

"She's right you know. The more you tell us about your symptoms, the better we can help you." Wanda says.

Unfortunately, the boy doesn't feel like being more cooperative today.

"The dying thing summed it up pretty well."

"Well, hopefully some soup will make you feel more alive again." Peri hums, already picking up the spoon and blowing on the hot liquid to cool it down before bringing it to Dev's lips. "Open wide~"

He can't be serious. Dev looks from the spoon to Peri and back again.

"... You're not feeding me."

Peri clacks with his tongue, letting the contents of the spoon trickle back into the bowl, before holding the spoon out for Dev to take.

"Show me how you hold a spoon and I won't."

"Thats.. so not faaaaair." Dev whines, not even attempting to reach for the spoon and prove Peri wrong.

Why should he? He knows that he is fighting a losing battle - if it weren't for the audience he wouldn't have put up a fight in the first place.

To be honest, he is tired of fighting. All he wants to do is eat and sleep and preferably never wake up again. The latter will not happen, but one can always hope. 

"He is pretty whiny, when being sick." Cosmo notices, making Peri snort.

"When he is being sick? He is always like that."

Dev answers by elbowing him, at least Peri thinks he did. It was a cute attempt, he barely felt. Just like Cosmo didn't feel the pillow being thrown in his direction, after it failed to hit its mark. It's not really surprising with it not even making it past the bed, going down on top of the blankets with a gentle thud instead. 

Once again, a joke about his hilariously bad aim burns on the tip of Peri's tongue. But he isn't going to be snarky today. Today his charge needs all the support he can give, no matter how bratty and whiny he is behaving.

"Are you done throwing a tantrum?" Peri asks, already stirring in the soup again.

Dev grumbles. "Can't you at least pretend I got you?"

"Oh no, the pain!" Cosmo tumbles to the floor in an exaggerated act of being hit by a pillow.

He is not a good actor, but Dev seems pleased. The boy nods and turns back to Peri. 

"Good, now feed me."

"He went from whiny to demanding pretty fast." Wanda mutters. 

"That's Dev for you." Peri doesn't mind as long as the boy eats. And he does. 

Just as the cold water before the warm soup does wonders to soothe his aching throat. It even lessens the cold that was chilling his bones, letting a comforting warmth spread through him.

He didn't know how hungry he was until he started eating, dutifully opening his mouth again until he feels all those eyes on him.

"...Stop watching me or I will throw you out."

Suddenly all three of them are very busy checking out their surroundings. Until Wanda remembers the bowl of soup still resting between her own fingers. 

"Oh, Hazel! Are you hungry too, squirt?" She lifts the bowl to show the girl.

Now that Wanda asks... she skipped lunch and her stomach makes her painfully aware of it. 

"A little, but it's okay." She waves her fairy off.

"It is! We made seconds!" Cosmo confirms. "We made enough food to feed an army!"

"Not to mention." Peri says, nudging Dev with his shoulder to keep the boy from dozing off. "That you are still a guest and will be treated accordingly."

How could anyone say no to that? Especially with the soup already being placed in her lap. It smells awesome and tastes even better! It really is nice to share a meal together like this. 

Hazel makes sure to keep Dev entertained by talking his ear off. She mostly talks about today's day at school and the puppet that.. hasn't come back yet?

Peri takes care of that with a wave of his wand. Whatever. Better not to think about it too much. 

Dev doesn't seem to do so either. Hazel doubts that he heard most of what she said, his consciousness slipping away before he even finished the bowl... 

When Dev awoke again it was to fingers threading through his hair. They are strumming through the silken locks in a steady rhythm, it's soothing. A touch so comforting that it almost puts him back to sleep.

Almost.

A soft sound leaves his throat, as he blearily blinks his eyes open, getting confronted with nothing but darkness. The only source of light is the moon falling through the window, framing the figure on whose lap Dev is resting, making his wings sparkle in a rainbow of colors. 

"..Peri..?" 

"Hmm. It's just me, Dev." The gentle voice speaking in nothing more but a hushed whisper, seems almost booming compared to the utter silence around them.

Hazel and her fairies must have left by now.

Unknown to Dev, they have been gone for quite some time, and he himself has been asleep for even longer. Which is a good thing. His body needs the rest. 

"You should sleep some more."

Sleep..? Right. He needs to sleep... The more he sleeps the sooner it's Christmas. That's.. his goal right? To spend Christmas with Hazel and her parents and... oh.. he still hasn't asked Peri.

"Peri..?"

Even when he is half asleep, the boy never does what he is told. It's as frustrating as it is endearing.

"Hm?"

"Hazel... Hazel asked me to spend Christmas with her." 

"Did she now?" Dev doesn't has to see Peri's face to hear the smile he must be wearing. "That's great, kid. I am happy for you." 

It is great. Dev couldn't be happier. Well, there is one thing that would increase his happiness even more. Someone he wouldn't want to miss.

"Will you be there?"

"I.."

The fingers in his hair pause. He can hear Peri swallowing, hesitating, searching for an answer before settling on a question.

"Would you... would you like me to be there?"

Dev hums. "I wouldn't be opposed to it." 

A soft chuckle reaches the boy's ears. 

"Then I will be there." Peri promises. His fingers continue to stroke through ginger curls.

Dev seeks out the touch like a cat, how could he not? It is a comfort he has never known before. There are so many things he has missed out on.

"I..." Dev rolls over, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he tries to form words. "I didn't like Christmas..."

"Dev." Peri cuts him off as soon as he realizes where their conversation is heading. "You don't have to tell me now."

Yes, he does. If he doesn't do it now, he won't do it ever. 

"It's hard to look forward to something... To be happy when ... all you get is disappointed... over and over again."

So his theory was right. For once, Peri wishes he wasn't.

"... I'm sorry your father didn't take time for you." 

He never did. And he never will. Dev has come to accept that. 

".. it's okay."

No, it's not. It's not okay. The knowledge will never not leave a bitter aftertaste. But he can handle it. He will get through it. He has people to help him. People who care. 

"It's... Okay... I just..." The boy sniffles, sounding so vulnerable as he utters the next words. "I just... don't want to be alone anymore."

Peri's breath hitches as his heart breaks, shattering into a million pieces on the floor. 

"You won't." He promises. "You'll never have to be alone again, Dev."

"Promise?"

Even through the darkness, Peri can see the hope and despair fighting in the blue and green eyes. 

"I promise." 

Dev smiles. It's nothing more but a twitch of his lips before he closes his eyes again. 

"Get some more rest, Dev. I will be here when you wake up."

His whole body relaxes as his mind drifts back to sleep, as if the reassurance was all it needed to bring peace to his heart and soul.

This time, Peri does not hesitate to pull the boy close to him, brushing his lips against his forehead as if to seal a promise locked deep in his heart... 

"I will always be there..."

Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other which includes the blaring sound of the alarm clock waking Hazel -

Wait, that's not right. 

It's not a morning like any other because today the alarm clock on her phone didn't get a chance to wake her up.

No, siree! She already woke up on her own accord.

A little miracle that has nothing to do with the sun that is already leaking through the windows, coating everything it touches in a gentle light, including herself. Nor with the clatter of pots and pans that is coming from the kitchen, where her parents are already busy preparing breakfast. 

No, the reason she is awake before her alarm - which should be criminal, really. She loves to sleep in as much as anyone. Maybe a little more.

Cosmo was right with his past statement that she is a bit cranky in the morning, shuffling around like a zombie until her brain is ready to greet the day. She and Dev seem to have that in common.

Speaking of Dev! He is the reason for the excitement that runs through her body and forces her into the land of the living.

How could she continue to sleep knowing that Dev is going to join her for Christmas?!

The mere thought makes her kick her feet in excitement - quite literally so. The blanket leaves her body for a second, only to fall down on top of her again.

Hazel giggles, pulling the blanket up to her chin to drown out the sound in the soft fabric. 

It has been quite a while since she offered Dev to join their festivities. Nearly two weeks to be exact. Two weeks filled with nothing but fun and games! 

No matter what his decision would have been - even though Hazel was hoping for a yes. The mere thought of Dev spending Christmas alone and sad makes her heart ache. Even if he wouldn't have been alone this year.

She is pretty sure that Peri would have made Dev's Christmas as magical as possible. Still, it's not the same as celebrating it the old-fashioned Wells way!

But back to the subject at hand.

No matter what his decision would have been, Hazel was determined to make the time leading up to Christmas as exciting as the holiday itself!

Which may have resulted in Dev getting sick and being out of commission for a while. A time she spent wisely with visits, even dragging Jasmine and Winn along to make sure the boy didn't get bored.

If she is being honest, he slept most of the time, but it was still nice to be there for him. And she knows that Dev appreciated it as well!

She wonders if this is the first time someone has taken care of him when he was sick. 

Hazel shakes her head.

No time for depressing thoughts! Dev's fever broke a few days ago, and now he is back to his usual sarcastic self. He even came back to school yesterday!  

It was then that he told her of his decision to join her for Christmas, as long as the offer still stands that is. 

Needless to say her reaction was a bit.. strong. She squealed in joy as she dragged the boy into a bone-crushing hug, he couldn't escape from. Her fairies were delighted, too, apparently Peri had already told them about Dev's decision?

Doesn't matter. Dev is going to join their Christmas! Now all she has to do is tell her parents!

"Mom! Dad!"

"Hazelnut!" Marcus laughs in surprise as little arms wrap around his legs. He flips the pancake in his frying pan before placing a hand on his daughter's head. "Good morning!"

"Good morning." Hazel parrots back, letting go of her father to look for her mother, who is already crouching down to catch her daughter barreling into her. 

"Looks like someone is in a good mood today." Angela taps the girl's nose, making her laugh.

"She must be, to be up so early on a Saturday." Marcus chuckles and places the pancake on a plate with many more already piled on top.

"Yeah, I'm-" Wait, what?

Hazel pauses, looking over her parents' shoulders at the calendar on the wall, only to realize-

"It's Saturday?!" She shrieks in horror.

That would explain why Cosmo and Wanda didn't show up to help her get ready for school. Not that she needs help, but they like to greet her early in the morning and join her for her day.

Except for Saturdays. Hazel likes to sleep in, so she gives her fairies a chance to do the same, only calling them once she is up and about. 

The mere thought of her being up now, when she could have continued to enjoy her warm bed - never mind that it was her excitement that woke her, not her alarm - makes her crave it even more. 

"It's Saturday." Angela confirms with a chuckle.

"In that case. Excuse me." Hazel turns around again. "I can hear my bed calling for me."

"Oh no."

Her mother stops her by the shoulders, turning her around to make her walk toward the kitchen table instead.

"No need to lie down again. You know what they say. The early bird gets the worm. Just think of all the fun things you can do with all this extra time!"

"Like having breakfast with us."

Marcus gives the maple syrup in his hand a light shake before placing it on the table next to the pancakes.

"I'd never say no to a pancake feast."

The girl easily gives in, slips into her assigned seat, and waits for her parents to join her. Once they do, nothing stands between her and the fluffy pancakes whose delicious smell makes her mouth water.

Well, nothing but one question that has been burning in her mind since she woke up. 

"Mom? Dad? You remember Dev?"

"The Dimmadome boy?" Marcus asks. "How could we not with you spending this much time with him."

Fair.

"Are you planning to meet up with him today?"

Hazel shakes her head. 

"No, I mean." She frowns. "Maybe, but that's not what I wanted to ask. It's about his father."

Angela raises an eyebrow. 

"I mean, not really about his father, it's more about Christmas. Dale - Dev's father - won't be home for Christmas." 

He never was. 

"Oh." Marcus breathes out. "That's too bad. Will he be staying with one of his other relatives?"

"That's the point, he has no one else. It's just him and his dad, which means... he'll be all alone and I... he was so sad about it that I kind of... offered him to stay with us...?"

Her parents exchange a look over her head.

"I'm sorry! I should have asked earlier. I should have asked you first, but I-"

"Hazel." Angela stops her tirade by putting a hand over hers. "It's okay. Yes, you should have asked first."

Hazel cringes.

"But we're not mad at you for not doing so."

"You are not?"

"How could we?" Marcus laughs. "You saw someone hurting and you did everything you could to help him. That's nothing to be angry about, that's something to be proud of. You have a good heart, Hazelnut. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Hazel blushes at the compliment and rubs her neck in embarrassed delight. 

"Does that mean...?"

"As if we would let him down now." Angela squeezes Hazel's hand. "Of course he can join us. I am sure he will be a delight to be around."

"Yes, I can't wait to get to know him properly."

Come to think of it, Hazel has never had Dev over before. A mistake she is determined to correct.

"Speaking of Christmas. There is something else we wanted to talk to you about..."

Hazel pales as soon as her mother speaks. 

"Is Antony not coming?"

"What? No, no! That boy will come home, even if I have to drag him here myself. Not even Mother Nature can keep me from seeing my boy for Christmas."

A sigh of relief as well as a chuckle escapes Hazel's lips at her mother's fierce words.

Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with - Hazel would know, she met her - but so is her mother, and Hazel has no doubt who will come out on top when one of her children is involved. 

"We were talking about the neighbours, honey."

"Cosmo and Wanda?" Hazel asks unnecessarily. They never talk about other neighbours. 

"Yes! It was only yesterday that they came up with the idea of having a joint Christmas?"

A joint...? Wow, they work fast.

"It seems to be a tradition of theirs to spend Christmas with the people next door to you? Personally, I think they just want to have more people around -" Marcus whispers to Hazel before shrugging. "But who am I to judge?"

"Spending the holidays together is very unusual for us." Angela says. "So we would understand if you were opposed..."

"I'm not!" Hazel blurts out. "I think it's great! I mean, it's our first Christmas in Dimmadelphia - our new home! So we should go with the flow and make it as special as possible. I know it's quite a big change, but change can be good, right? We should accept and try something new instead of sticking to the old."

Hazel will be honest, even if she thinks so, most of the things she has just said are things she has heard from her mother before, mostly when Hazel was all mopey about moving.

She's never been a fan of leaving her old life behind to start a new one, something she has no regrets about now. Quite the contrary. This time change has turned out to be a good thing and she is sure that she has just convinced her parents of the same. 

Especially her mother, whose eyes always light up when she uses those fancy phrases.

"That's so mature of you, Hazel." Her mother plants a kiss in her hair. "You're right. We should take them up on their offer and try something new. Maybe even start some new traditions."

"They would also be bringing their son." Marcus says, finally getting back to cutting his pancakes and getting breakfast going again. "I didn't catch his name, but I think he should be about Antony's age."

If only they knew that they are talking about a fairy who probably is Antony's age, if you add a few zeros to the numbers that is. At least that's what Hazel thinks, unaware of her parents not being that off with their assumptions. 

"It will be a pleasure to finally get to know him."

It will be! Hazel can't wait! She already couldn't wait before, but now the urge to just wish for Christmas to finally arrive is even stronger!

"Maybe we will get to see him at the Christmas market today?"

She can't wait to decorate their Christmas tree - together. Eat some festive chicken - together. And -

Wait a second.

Did her mother just say something about a Christmas market? Today?

"What Christmas market?"

Both of her parents blink at her. 

"Hazelnut, did you forget?"

"....No?"

Her father laughs at her obvious lie, ruffling his hand through her hair.

"There is a Christmas market held in the town centre and your mother managed to get a stall for the weekend."

"I am going to promote my new book there."

Angela pulls out her book from god knows where and presents it to Hazel.

"A Swell time for your Well being. We talked to you about it. The neighbours have agreed to accompany you to the market while we are busy? You were pretty excited about it?"

Now that sounds familiar!

Hazel remembers their plans, but totally forgot the date. Time really does fly when you are having fun and if there is one thing she has had in the last weeks, it is fun. 

"Right! I remember now! I have to call Dev and ask him if he wants to join me!"

Hazel is about to jump out of her chair and grab her phone, wouldn't it be for her father stopping her. 

"Ah! That can wait!"

"But, Daaad!"

"Breakfast first."

Marcus points his fork at Hazel's pancakes, no longer steaming, but still smelling just as delicious as they did ten minutes ago.

She can feel her stomach growling. 

"I gueeeees Dev can wait."

The fluffy pancakes calling her name can't!

It already starts to get dark when Hazel and Dev decide to meet up. With it being winter, it gets dark pretty early, which gives the children plenty of time to actually enjoy the market itself, whilst also getting into the joy of seeing the brightly lit decorations that add a lot to the atmosphere. 

Hazel has been in awe ever since they took a single step into the town centre, in fact she has been in awe ever since she saw the lights from afar!

They are everywhere!

Hanging above their heads, strung over lanterns and buildings to guide them to the bustling marketplace, placed in trees to make them twinkle and shine, as well as dotting every single stall. There isn't a single spot that isn't illuminated by fairy lights, LEDs or lanterns!

And then there is the smell.

Goooood, even from the entrance Hazel can smell everything. From sugar to spices, there's no corner where you can't get something to eat or drink.

But the best thing about it is not the food or the sheer size of the market, which she hasn't even seen a quarter of yet, it's just so huge!

No, the best part are the people. Laughing and smiling, sitting together and talking over their food, or just enjoying the atmosphere by going for a walk.

There's so much warmth and happiness - even though the air is so damn cold - it's hard not to get infected.

Hazel can't wait to have a proper look around. It's a good thing she doesn't have to anymore:

"Dev! Peri!" 

Hazel raises her hand as soon as she sees the two of them making their way over.

Both of them are dressed in thick jackets and scarves to keep them warm, with Peri of course being in his human disguise. He still uses that cane to walk, but he seems to have got the hang of it. His steps are sturdy and full of confidence.

Well... not sturdy enough to keep his parents from toppling him over and crushing him against their chest, but that's something not even two working legs could have prevented. 

"Hey, Hazel." Dev sidesteps the complaining heap on the floor to stand next to the girl. "How do you like the market so far?"

"It's amazing!" Hazel gushes. 

"It is, isn't it?" Dev looks up at the sparkling lights.

At least something good is coming out of his father's money, even if he knows his father is only investing in this charming little gathering to make more profit. 

Sometimes you have to spend some money to make even more, Dev. It's all about investment. Losing small numbers to make big ones. 

Dev wonders if his father is around here somewhere, just waiting in his evil lair to scam people out of their money like he did on Founder's Day. At least there aren't any Dimmwatches to help him anymore.

The boy shakes his head to get rid of the thought.

It doesn't matter. He isn't here to get disappointed by his father. He is here to have fun with a friend. Friends, plural. 

"It's so big and warm and welcoming." Hazel continues. "There's so much to see and I haven't even been inside yet!"

"You haven't?" 

Hazel shakes her head. 

Right. It hasn't even been a year since Hazel moved in, which means she's never seen their Christmas market before.

This time, Dev is the one who can teach his friend something new and act as her guide. The mere thought makes him stand up straighter. 

"In that case. What would you like to do first?"

"Perhaps you could offer Hazel some suggestions on what she can do?" Peri says, once he has freed himself from his parent's clutches. 

"Or we could look around!" Wanda suggests, linking arms with her husband. "Angela has set up a stall. We could spare her a visit and get a first impression of the market on the way."

That sounds like a solid plan that's immediately put into action.

It only takes a few steps to see that Hazel is completely overwhelmed. All of them are starring, especially the fairies, who point out every little detail that catches their eye, with Peri probably being the most fascinated out of the three. 

He can't really remember ever being at a market like this before, so his awestruck expression shouldn't be a surprise.

And yet it's still Hazel, who is almost swept away by the masses - repeatedly. The reason is pretty simple: While their godparents point and walk, she literally stops and stares. 

It's endearing, really, a bit annoying too, after Dev had to backtrack several times to get the girl to move again. 

"Maybe you should take Hazel's hand to make sure she doesn't get lost?" Peri suggests, his lips quirking upwards just a little. 

"Wha- why would I do that?" Dev whispers back aggressively, making sure Hazel doesn't hear. 

"... To make sure she doesn't get lost?" Peri repeats. 

"Then why don't you take her hand?"

The fairy raises an eyebrow before shrugging.

"Fine by me. Hey, Hazel -"

"I'll do it!"

Without further ado Dev stomps back to Hazel - who already stopped to stare, again - and takes her hand in his. 

"Dev!" She jumps in surprise, after being pulled away. "What...?"

"We're never going to to reach your parents if you keep stopping every five minutes." The boy grumbles.

With his cheeks burning, he is suddenly very grateful about taking his glasses with him today. It might make him look like an douche wearing them when it's already dark outside, but he couldn't care less. 

"I can't help it!" Hazel whines, swinging their joined hands back and forth. "There's so much to seeeee!"

"And you can look at it while you walk. I'll make sure you don't run into anyone."

A promise Dev is careful to keep until they finally arrive at the stall Hazel's parents call theirs. It's easy to spot, not because of the lights illuminating it or the rows of books piled up on the table, but because of her father already calling for them from the distance. 

"Hazelnut! We are here!"

"Mom, Dad!"

Hazel wastes no time in taking the lead, now being the one to drag Dev, who has become eerily quiet, after her. 

"There's my girl!" Marcus laughs before looking up at Cosmo and Wanda. "Thanks again for bringing her here, it's really nice of you to keep an eye on her."

"It's fine, really." Wanda dismisses. 

"Yes! Hazel's always a pleasure to be around." Cosmo agrees, ruffling the girls hair.

"That she is." Angela agrees, making her daughter beam with delight.

Even a blind man can see that Hazel is loved by her parents and vice versa. Just seeing their child fills them with joy. 

Dev wonders... no, he doesn't wonder. He's pretty sure that if he went to his father right now, there would be no joy.

If Dale were to acknowledge his existence, it would be to ask him why he is here, not caring what his answer might be, because whatever nonsense his Dimm-Pad is sprouting is so much more important.

A stone settles in his gut, a dread that keeps on building until -

"You must be the Dimmadome boy."

Dev's head jerks up after being addressed.

"Devin, right?"

"Yes, sir."

Dev takes off his sunglasses for a moment to make eye contact with Hazel's father, holding out his hand for him to shake.

He would love to do nothing more than avert his gaze, but that wouldn't be polite. Averting his gaze is a sign of weakness, and if there's one thing a Dimamdome is not, it's weak. Dimmadome's are strong and confident because they have nothing to fear.

"Just Dev is fine."

"Aren't you polite?" Angela croons, happily shaking the small hand that is offered to her after her husband has done the same. "But there is no need for formalities. We are spending Christmas together after all. You can just call us Angela and Marcus."

That... Dev isn't sure if he wants to do that. It feels wrong to simply address Hazel's parents by their first names. Not like he is going to tell them. He is nervous enough without adding fuel to the fire. 

"I am happy that you are having me. I really don't take it for granted."

"It is our pleasure. Hazel told us that your father won't make it for Christmas. A shame, really. Even a businessman should make time for his family."

Dev almost snorts at that. Time for his what now? Dev doesn't think that his father even knows what that word means. 

"...It's fine. I know he is a busy man." Dev forces out between clenched teeth. Hazel gives his hand a squeeze. "Money doesn't grow on trees, well it does if you sell lemonade, but even that takes time to make."

"That.."

..doesn't sound like something you believe in, more like something you've been forced to listen to like a broken record.

Angela frowns, just looking at the boy's body language makes her brain go haywire.

".. is pretty mature of you." 

A bit too mature for a kid who's alone on the most important holiday for families, it's almost as if he is used to it. 

Dev shrugs. "Complaining doesn't really do anything, so.."

"You are absolutely right." Angela tries to turn this ship around before it can sink. "It is a motto of mine never to see obstacles in your way, they are all just opportunities to grow. If life gives you lemons, you make lemonade and if the lemonade is too sour, you put more sugar in it, it's as easy as that!"

Dev thinks he knows where Hazel's mom is going with this.

He can't say he shares her sentiment, but he gets what she is trying to tell him. He does try to look at life a bit more optimistically these days.

His lemonade may have turned sour, but there is more than one person in his life who has made sure to sweeten it up with their own. 

Dev smiles. "It's a nice motto."

"It is, isn't it?" Hazel chimes in. "Mom's got a lot of those. She is a psychologist, you know."

"But let's not get too deep into it." Angela waves them off. "You are here to have fun after all. It was nice meeting you, Dev. Feel free to visit us any time."

"Ah! Wait, we'll give you some money, before you go!"

Marcus turns around and digs into a backpack, pulls out a wallet and counts out some notes, which he hands to Cosmo and Wanda.

"I heard your son will also be joining us for Christmas? I look forward to meeting him."

"Yes, he is!" Cosmo chirps like the proud parent he is. "He's fantastic!"

"When is he due to arrive?" Angela asks. "You said he is studying in Europe, right?"

"Well yeah... but he's already here!" Wanda gestures to her side. "Come on, Peri, it's only polite to introduce yourself!"

The pink human reaches for her son, only to grasp emptiness. Wanda looks at the place she could have sworn her son was a second ago, only to see it empty.

Peri is gone.

It couldn't have been more than a few seconds between Peri teasing Dev into grabbing Hazel's hand and him hearing it.

Crying.

It's soft and heartbreaking, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.

Peri looks around, searching for its source, expecting his parents, the children, everyone, to do the same.

They don't.

He is the only one to stop, as if frozen in place, while the rest of his family continue on their way, oblivious like everyone else.

Hundreds of people and not one of them stops. He doesn't understand. Why does no one stop? Don't they care?

How can no one notice the heartbreaking cry of a child, miserable and in pain, alone and frightened, after the sound rings so loud in his ears as if it is the only thing that exists?

He doesn't understand, but he doesn't need to to continue his search, that comes to an end, as soon as his purple eyes lock on a small child sitting under a tree. She has her legs tucked against her chest, her arms wrapped around them as she sobs into her knees.

She is... quite a distance away, and yet, despite the hundreds of people separating them, the child is the only thing the fairy can see. 

Peri's legs move on their own accord. He can't just stand there and stare after all. Maybe it is the godparent in him that speaks, but to see a child so miserable? It hurts. 

Everything in his core screams at him to go over and help, so he does. 

He approaches the child carefully, quietly so as not to frighten her. She can't be more than ten, maybe a little younger. Her long brown hair is adorned with a pink ribbon that keeps the longer strands out of her face. 

"Hey." 

Despite Peri's voice being as soft as a feather, the child jumps and lifts her gaze to look at him with big blue eyes framed by thick black glasses.

For a moment, Peri feels as if time has stopped. A strange sense of familiarity washes over him, filling and draining his heart at the same time. 

His breath hitches, his lungs constrict, and yet breathing has never felt easier. His whole being is filled with so many contradictions he can't make sense of them all.

So he doesn't.

It doesn't matter how this child makes him feel, how her face tugs at his heartstrings for some unclear reason - it must be the tears, of course he would get emotional over a child crying - and yet he knows it's not that. There is something else. Something he can't put his finger on, and never will. 

And it doesn't matter, all that matters is that there is a kid in need of help.

"My legs are pretty tired." Peri wriggles his cane. "Would you mind if I sit next to you?"

The girl shakes her head, lifting a hand she wipes the tears from her eyes.

"I.. I don't."

"Thank you. That's very kind of you."

Peri carefully sits down next to the kid, leaving enough space between them not to make her uncomfortable. The silence that falls between them is deafening, broken only by the occasional sniffle and Peri's voice picking up.

"My name is Peri, that's short for Periwinkle." He introduces himself, lifting a hand in a wave instead of a handshake. "What's yours?"

The girl hesitates, before carefully waving back.

"I am Tammy, that's short for Tamara."

"Tammy." Peri lets the name dissolve on his tongue before humming. "That's a nice name. It has a beautiful ring to it." 

"Thank you..." The girl whispers, slowly uncurling the tiniest bit. No time to act like now. 

"Say, Tammy... why are you crying in a place that is supposed to be fun?"

The girl sniffles.

"I... I lost my mum. I just wanted to see the ponies..."

They have ponies?! Peri almost turns to look before remembering that there are far more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. Far more pressing. 

"And suddenly she was gone!" Tammy digs the heels of her hands into her eyes as she begins to cry again. "It's my fault! I should have been more patient instead of running off on my own!"

"Hey now." Peri puts a hand on the girl's shoulder, waiting for any sign of discomfort before continuing his speech. "It's not your fault, you hear? Maybe you shouldn't have run off."

Tammy cries even harder.

Peri makes a face. He was never good at the whole emotional talk thing. 

"But-" He emphasises the word. "- accidents happen. Everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is what we do to fix them. So how about it?"

Peri offers the girl his hand.

"Shall I help you find her?"

Even though his words have the desired effect of stopping the girl's tears, she still hesitates, looking back and forth between his hand and his face.

"I.." She bites her lips. "Mom said never to go with strangers..."

Peri makes an understanding sound and immediately withdraws his hand. 

"Your mother is a wise woman and you are a good girl for taking her words to heart."

Doesn't change the fact that this child needs his help, though... maybe if he...?

The method seems a bit unorthodox and could get him into trouble if anyone ever finds out, but... who's going to find out? There is no one around to witness what will happen. 

It's a shame Dev isn't here. He would be thrilled to see Peri break the rules for his own gain.  

"Strangers can be very dangerous. But I am no ordinary stranger, you see..."

Peri closes his eyes, letting his magic curl around him. He can feel his wings unfold on his back, the tiny crown appearing above his head, there for a moment and gone the next.

Just visible enough to make the child in front of him aware of his true nature without revealing himself to anyone else. 

The blue eyes look like they might burst out of the girl's face at any moment. 

"You... you are..."

She can't even finish the sentence, her every word lost in the surprise that washes over her entire being. Not that Peri would have let her finish her thoughts. 

The fairy puts a finger to his lips. 

"I am. But you cannot tell anyone. My magic won't work if the wrong people find out about my true nature, which means this... is a secret."

He changes his cane back into his wand - the girl's mouth falls open at the open display of magic.

"Between you." He points the wand playfully at her, then at himself. "And me."

Tammy gapes at him, there is so much awe in her face. Her eyes are brighter than the stars, while she looks at him as if he were a dream come true.

To be fair. Meeting a fairy must be a dream come true for a small child. 

"Are you my fairy godmother?" Tammy whispers, making Peri giggle.

"Something like that?"

He thinks he is familiar with the human tale. Cinderella, if he remembers correctly? He can remember his mom telling him an abridged version of it a long time ago.

"I am not exclusively yours, in fact I am helping another boy who is positively miserable, but your crying? It called me."

He doesn't even have to lie about that part. It really felt like the sadness of the girl sucked him in, leaving him no escape.

"And now I am here to grant your wish. If you wish hard enough, anything is possible, you know? So how about it? Do you want to try and wish with me?"

Does the fairy even have to ask?

Tammy nods so quickly that Peri worries about her poor neck, before placing her hand on the glittering wand and closing her eyes. It's kind of adorable, to be honest. 

"I wish... I wish my mum was here..."

"Consider it done."

The wand gives off a soft glow, followed by a mist that spells out the words: Lost and Found, and just like that, Peri can hear the cries of a worried mother in the crowd. 

Tammy seems to do the same, her breath catching in surprise and wonder.

"Mom...?"

"Let's stand up so she can see you."

Peri stands and offers the girl his hand. This time she takes it, letting him help her stand, and even after that she doesn't let go of his hand, letting him guide her in the direction of the desperate calls. 

"Tammy! Tammy, where are you?!"

"Mom! I'm here!" Tammy calls back before running in her direction, only to be pulled into a warm embrace. 

"Oh my God, Tammy! There you are! I was so worried!"

Tammy's mother hugs the girl to her chest in a heartwarming reunion.

It looks like Peri's work is done. He should take his leave, and yet he hesitates when looking at that woman. Tammy's mother.

The same sense of familiarity washes over him. No, it's not the same, it's different. Familiar, but in a different way. It's almost like he's seen this woman before.

The long black hair, the thick glasses, they irritate something in the back of his mind and yet he can't recall ever seeing this woman before. How strange.

He wonders what it is about this family that makes his brain go haywire. 

Peri shakes his head. It's probably just his imagination. He turns around, ready to search for his own family -

"Oh!"

- if it weren't for little fingers suddenly wrapping around his.

"Mom, Mom! That's Peri!" The girl smiles up at him. "That's short for Periwinkle. He was very nice to me and helped me find you!"

Tammy's mother makes an understanding sound, gratitude shining in her eyes.

"Thank you. That was very kind of you. Is there any way I can-"

"God, no." Peri waves her off immediately. "It was my pleasure, really. Just make sure you stick by your mom from now on, okay, Tammy, short for Tamara?"

Tammy laughs, letting go of his hand to take her mothers instead.

"I will!"

"Then that's more than enough for me." He nods at her mother, who nods back, her lips still adorned by a grateful smile.

"I hope you have a good day, Peri."

"You too."

And with that, they take their leave, leaving Peri alone under the sparkling glow of the lantern towering above him. He wonders... why his heart feels so heavy. 

"Hey, Pencil!"

Dev!

Peri glances down at the boy who comes to a halt next to him. Hazel and his parents are not far away.

Looks like he was gone longer than he thought. Ups.

"There you are! What's with you and disappearing? You're even worse than Hazel!"

"Hey!"

"Don't pretend I didn't almost lose you three times on the way here."

Hazel tilts her head to the side. ... Yeah, okay, fair enough. 

See? Dev raises an eyebrow in response before focusing back on Peri. 

"What were you doing?"

"I..." Peri opens his mouth, only to close it again. "I guess I got lost without anyone taking my hand to guide me."

He teases the boy who starts to blush, ready to throw back a snarky comment if Cosmo and Wanda hadn't beaten him to it. 

"Well, why didn't you just say so?" His mother drawls, linking her arm with his. 

"You should know that we are always ready to take your hand, son!"

His father does the same on the other side. 

Oh boy. Looks like he dug himself a hole there. He looks at Dev for assistance, of course not finding one. On the contrary, the boy looks quite pleased with himself.

Traitor. 

"Problem solved~" Dev clicks his tongue. "Come on now! Hazel wants to win something for her brother at the game booths!''

"He'll be amazed when I win him the biggest stuffed animal there is!"

With the glittering stars shining down from above, the group begins to make their way through the marketplace and their adventure begins in earnest...

Chapter Text

They couldn't have walked more than five minutes, if that, before Hazel and Dev started walking ahead of them, not enough to be out of sight, but enough not to hear every word their godparents say. Something Wanda immediately takes advantage of.

"All right, spill the beans."

Cosmo frowns. "... Why would Peri do that?"

Wanda silences her husband. "Because the beans are the truth and he is going to deliver it to us."

"Oh." Cosmo makes a sound of understanding. "You heard your mother, spill the beans, kiddo! ...About what exactly?"

"About whatever distracted him so much that he lost sight of us."

"Doesn't sound like something you would normally do." Cosmo agrees and looks expectantly at his son, who shrinks away from their gaze almost guiltily.

"I mean, there were ponies."

"They have ponies?!" Cosmo turns to look, only to have Wanda grab his head and make him face Peri again. "Riiiight, don't try to distract us, mister!"

"We're just curious, that's all."

"Well..." It's not like it's a big deal, right? And yet Peri feels like it is. Not the encounter, but the things it made him feel, the memories it unlocked. "There... was this girl crying. She lost her mom and I helped her find her, that's all."

But was it really? 

"I.." Peri speaks up again. "Somehow she reminded me of-" He can't say it. He shouldn't say it. Biting his lips, Peri cuts himself off. "Nevermind."

Little does Peri know that it is already too late. He didn't have to finish his sentence for his parents to know exactly who he was referring to.

They exchange a glance over his head. 

Even after more than 10.000 years, the pain is still fresh. Well, 10.000 years for them, for Peri it was only around 14? Which is still a big number, but... there is no time limit to heal such wounds, no way to completely recover from such a loss. It gets easier with time, of course it does, every wound heals, but the scars will always remain. And on some days... it's hard not to look at them and reminisce. 

Today should not be one of those days.

"She must have had one special set of teeth for you to say that." Cosmo elbows his son, successfully making him chuckle. 

"You know what?" He looks up at his father. "Thinking harder about it. I think she actually did."

The three of them start to laugh, sweetening the bitter memories just enough to not get lost in them. How could they? They have so many more important things to focus on, like two kids urging them to get a move on!

"Less laughing, more walking!" Dev complains, if it weren't for the cane in Peri's hand helping him walk, the boy would probably have stopped behind his godparent for a good, hearty shove by now. "We will never make it around the whole market if the three of you fall asleep walking."

Peri rolls his eyes. "Cease your yapping, kid, we are already there."

True to Peri's words, they have just entered the part of the market that is filled to the brim with Carneval-like games.

Hazels breath hitches with every booth she sets eyes on. 

There is one with darts, one with balloons, one with ducks and so many more! The only thing they have in common are the massive prizes just waiting to be claimed! 

"This. Is. Awesome!" The girl exclaims, shuffling from one feet to the other in her excitement. "I don't even know what I want to try first!"

In that case, Dev will make the decision for them. 

"How about a shooting game? Those are pretty classic."

Like the shooting gallery right in front of them! It's Western themed, with targets that appear and disappear from time to time.

"Have you played one of these before?" Hazel asks after the boy leads them to the booth.

"Not really." 

Not because he wasn't interested! He was and still is, maybe that's why he made them go to the one that piqued his interest the most, but no. He was never the problem, his father on the contrary...

His father has always had a problem with Dev doing things where he has to put in an effort to win.

Why should we invest in such a rigged game? We have money, we can just buy you a plush toy, if you want one that desperately. 

They did. They always did, but it's just not the same. Dev wants to be the one who earned it, played for it, and win it. It's too bad his father never understood that principle.

"Have you ever played before?" He asks the girl, after putting some money on the table. The man who runs the booth takes it and replaces it with a blaster to shoot down the targets.

"Nah, but Antony has... which makes this the perfect place for me to win something for him! He will be so amazed when I tell him I beat the same game he did!"

"I bet he will."

But first they have to win.

Dev takes the blaster and turns it around in his hand before offering it to Hazel.

"You want to go first?"

"No, you can go ahead." Hazel lets Dev make the first shot. As if on cue, the first target appears.

Dev takes aim, fires, and... he hits it! He hit it! The target goes down with a satisfying sound that proves he really did not miss!

The boy's eyes light up. Filled with pride, he looks around as if he needs to let everyone know that he did it! The fairies laugh and give him a round of applause while Hazel tugs at his sleeve.

"Don't let your guard down, there are more!"

Right! Back to the game!

The boy continues to shoot, missing as many targets as he hits, but he has fun all the same! The waiting for a target to appear, the trying to be fast enough to shoot and still have a perfect aim, the cries of joy and disappointment in the background, and the fact that everyone is so into the game that they scream and point whenever the next target appears, makes the whole experience even more fun than playing alone could ever be. 

Dev wears a smile the whole time, something that doesn't change when it's Hazel's turn. Just like the girl did earlier, he cheers her on, gives her advice, points out when he sees a target before she does, and helps her in any way he can. 

In the end, she managed to get about the same amount of points as he did. They both get cute little key chains as a reward.

They are nothing special. They are not even big or anything, no comparison to the big plush toys and prizes they could have gotten, and yet the little plush toy now dangling from his jeans makes Dev just as happy as a big prize would have, heck, any prize would have made him happy at this point. 

In the end, it did not matter what he won or if he won, all he wanted was to play. Without anyone telling him he was stupid for wanting to do so.

"It's a little small." Hazel turns the keychain in her hand. "I hope Antony will still be happy."

"We can still try out other games." Dev urges her on, this time being the one to elbow her. "Maybe you'll get the checkpot in one of them."

Maybe she will. And maybe... Dev can also win the girl something? Just a little thank you for everything she has done for him in the past and is still going to do for him in the future.

But not before Wanda had her try! 

"You mind if I go for a round, squirt?"

"Of course not!" Hazel hands the blaster to Wanda, she and Dev step back to make room for the pink fairy.

"Show them who is boss, Wanda!" Cosmo cheers before she even starts.

"Is Mom good at this kind of games?"

"Oh, Peri." Cosmo can only shake his head, placing one of his hands on his son's shoulder. "Your mom's the best."

And as soon as she plays, she proves just that. The first target appears and is shot down just as quickly, the same goes for the second and the third... and the fourth, and there isn't a single target she lets escape! Even the small and moving ones! She hits one after another, after another, after another-

Peri's eyes go wide, his mouth is wide open, and the kids are no better off. 

"What the...?" 

Who could have seen this coming? Well, Cosmo did. 

"That's my wife!" He cheers, followed closely by Peri.

"Go, Mom!"

"Wanda! Wanda!" 

Her concentration not faltering in the slightest, Wanda begins to smile and soon finishes her perfect game with a new high score. Even the booth owner seems impressed. He tips his hat to her - a real gentleman - and hands her one of the largest plush toys they have: A mint green bear with a pink scarf. Even sitting, it is bigger than Hazel and Dev combined. 

Happily accepting her prize, she turns around and receives another round of applause, she could not be more proud of.

"It was nothing, really." She dismisses them, basking in her victory, before taking a step toward her husband and holding the stuffed animal out to him.

Cosmo is in awe, looking at the toy and even petting it, chuckling softly at its softness, ready to praise his wife once again -

"Its for you."

- were it not for the fact that she pushes the toy against his chest, as if hugging him. The awe in his eyes only intensifies, manifesting itself in the form of stars that take over his pupils.

"For me?" He repeats.

"For you..." This time she is the one who cannot answer, thanks to a pair of lips already colliding with hers.

Ewww. Peri quickly averts his gaze, only looking up again when he hears his father squeal with delight, hugging his mother close to his chest... or rather smothering her against the bear. She does not seem to mind, smiling and giggling as she makes her husband's happiness her own. 

"I will call him Mr. Panda, even though he is not a panda, but his biggest dream is to become a panda... or a mermaid." 

Peri will not question that. No one will question that. 

"I think he should never stop following his dreams." Wanda nods seriously. "Maybe we can get him a mermaid tail for Christmas."

Cosmo opens and closes his mouth. "And that is why I married you."

And there they go again. Ooookay, Peri is this close to regretting that his parents and kids found him, maybe he should have stayed with Tammy and her mom. She seemed like a nice person.

Thank God, or in this case Dev, that said boy isn't interested in all the flirting going on either. He is a kid, he has better things to do than watch two adults make goo-goo eyes at each other. Like winning a game. 

He walks over to Wanda and tugs on her sleeve. Her eyes fall on him.

"I want you to teach me how you did that."

"Oh, me too, me too!" Hazel raises her hand in excitement. 

"Well..." Wanda begins, stepping away from her husband to concentrate on the game again. "It's all in the flick of your wrist."

Haaaah. Cosmo could spend all day watching his wife explain to the kids how to knock down the targets. Thinking about it... Her being distracted gives him the best opportunity to go and win her something in return!

"Peri!"

The young fairy, who was just as invested in the lesson as the children, almost jumps at his father's sudden call. Especially with him tugging at his arm out of the blue.

"You have to help me win something for your mother! We are not leaving this place until I got her a nice gift in return!"

Without even waiting for his son to answer, Cosmo drags him away.

....

Fifteen minutes. It takes about fifteen minutes for Wanda and the kids to notice their absence.

The reason for this is Dev, who for one reason or another - not because he cares or anything like that - turns around proudly after managing to get through most of the game without any mistakes, only for him to realize that the person he wanted to share this moment with is not here.

Wait, no, that doesn't sound right, he didn't want to share this moment with Peri of all people, well, he did, but only to gloat! To shove the fact that despite missing his first target, he now has a pretty solid high score in his face! ... but yeah, the fairy's gone. 

"Where does he keep disappearing too? Why does he keep disappearing? Isn't it like his job to hover over my shoulder?"

"I guess he went somewhere with Cosmo?" Hazel guesses. "He's missing too."

Right, Dev hasn't even noticed the green fairy's absence. 

"Hmhm..." Wanda looks uneasy. "My idiot senses are tingling. It's never good to leave those two unattended for too long."

"Nah." Hazel dismisses. "Cosmo may be a scatterbrain with a habit of fooling around, but Peri is with him. Surely he will keep him in check."

Wanda doesn't look so sure, even Dev snorts as if she said something funny. In Hazel's defense, it's not like she knows Peri that well.

Yes, they've spent a remarkable amount of time together in recent weeks, but that doesn't mean she has a perfect grasp of his personality.

"Won't he?"

Hazel gets her answer in the form of what sounds like an explosion in the distance. There is a loud boom that makes the ground beneath them shake for a second. 

"Knew it." Wanda sighs, shaking her head affectionately.

Her mouth open and eyes wide, Hazel - the only one who seems startled, well, Dev's sunglasses are sliding down his nose, his eyebrow raised, but it's more an expression of confusion than the surprised shock Hazel is wearing - looks in the direction of the noise, only to see a column of smoke rising in the night sky and two laughing fairies running back in their direction.

Well, in Peri's case it's more of a stumbling, which almost sends him tumbling towards the ground more often than not, if it weren't for Cosmo keeping him upright every time.

"What did they do...?" Hazel asks. Dev can only shrug as he watches Cosmo and Peri arrive in front of them. 

Both of them are smiling so carefree that Wanda can't keep her scoulding expression on for long.

Especially when Cosmo - she notices that the bear has been magically shrunk and placed on his shoulder, magic keeping it there - thrusts a white lama, whose fur is a blotchy mixture of pink, purple and green, in her direction. 

"Wanda, Wanda! I won something for you!" He jumps up and down like an overexcited puppy, the stuffed animal in his hands shaking in time with his body. "Isn't it pretty?!"

"Ohhh..." Wanda wastes no time hugging the cute toy and looking at it lovingly, an expression that is soon directed at her husband. "You didn't have to do that! I love it. Thank you!"

A gratitude she shows with a kiss on the cheek, it's needless to say that Cosmo lights up like a Christmas tree, while Peri once again avoids his eyes, which is quite easy, with him still being doubled over, catching his breath and holding on to his father, afraid that his tired legs will give up on him if he doesn't.

"What did you do?" Dev asks him incredulously.

"Technically..." Peri raises a finger. "We didn't do anything."

"Yeah!" Cosmo confirms. "He totally deserved it. You could almost say it was fate."

"Karma, even." Peri agrees with his father. Whatever they did in the end, they have no qualms to hide how proud they are of it. 

"Karma!" Cosmo perks up and points at his son, acknowledging the good point he just made. "I like that! Karma came and bit him in the butt, like a cat."

...Wanda was right, Dev decides, those two are total dumbasses when paired together.

"That doesn't answer my question." Dev shakes his head.

Quite the contrary, it added even more, like who that mentioned he is, and what he did to warrant such a reaction from the normally so peacefully acting fairies. 

"Don't think too much about it." Peri says unhelpfully as always. "Are you hungry, Dev?"

"I-"

"Oh, I am hungry!" Cosmo raises an arm. "I could eat a horse! Well, not literally, of course. Let's go get us all something to eat!"

"They have the best sweets at the Christmas markets!"

Peri perks up at this, not even resisting when his mother takes his arm, happy to let his parents lead him in the direction of said sweets.

Hazel and Dev can only watch them go with a conflicted look on their faces, at least Hazel looks conflicted, Dev couldn't care less.

"Should we...?" - demand an answer? Go and look what they did? See if anyone was hurt?

Smoke is still rising in the distance, but... since there are no people screaming or making any ruckus, it's okay, right? Right?

"Nah, it is what it is and it's not my problem." Dev wipes his hands on his jacket, as if to clean it of any dirt and involvement that might stick to them. 

Hazel hums. They both look at each other for a second before shrugging and simply continuing on their way. 

Sampling all the different sweet and sugary items on offer was the best decision the gang could have made.

They tried everything: From chocolate-covered fruits to glazed apples - Dev really enjoyed those. From cotton candy to roasted almonds - these were Hazel's favorites, she really liked the sugary treat, that warmed her up from the inside.

Dev liked them too. To be fair, there wasn't anything the boy didn't like, and let's not get started on the fairies, who act like vacuum cleaners when it comes to sweets. 

They were just about to get something warm and less sweet, something hearty and nutritious - they can't eat sweets all day long, no matter how much they want to - when Dev notices a crowd forming to their right. 

"What's happening over there?"

Ever the curious child, he doesn't hesitate to tug at Hazel's hand and lead her through the crowd of onlookers, twisting and turning until they are standing in front of them all. 

Once they have a clear view, they notice that the crowd has formed around a single round table, relatively small in size, with little more room than for the single jar of coins that sits upon it.

Standing next to it is a sleazy looking man - Dev wouldn't put it past him to be one of his dad's employees, he at least looks the part - with a microphone raised to his lips, talking about how the one person who can guess how much money the "pot of gold" - it's a jar, no need to be so dramatic - contains will win gigantic prizes!

"Dev, look!" 

Hazel points to a giant stuffed Patty Possum sitting in the corner of the trivia table. Could this be the prize he is talking about? Now that Dev has a chance to really take the place in, it looks like the whole "booth" is themed after the restaurant, with streamers and flyers, and a big cutout of the robot standing at the edge to lure kids in.

Huh, maybe an attempt to raise enough money to restore the place to its old glory? Or just someone trying to cash in on something kids used to enjoy. Dev bets on the second. Not that he really cares. 

He is about to turn around when he sees the excitement in Hazel's eyes. Right, she's a fan of that possum, isn't she?

Well... if there's one thing Dev has longed to do since they were at the shooting range, it's to win the girl a prize. And if his hunch is correct, then she is totally interested in the plush that is bigger than she is. Time to spring into action.

"For the small sum of one dollar, you can come up and give your best guess!"

People scramble for money, trying their best to guess the right amount. Every single one of them fails. Of course they do, Dev snorts, they obviously have no idea what they are talking about. 

"A guessing game, huh?" Wanda says with a hand on her hip. "You want to try, squirt?"

"Nah, that's way too easy." Cosmo waves them off.  "I bet there's at least five bucks in that glass."

Dev glares at him. "Are you stupid?" Stupid question, of course he is. "There's obviously more than five dollars in that jar."

"Which means there are definitely five dollars in there~ Maybe even six!"

That... Dev frowns. He hates that he understands the fairy's logic, doesn't mean he is not going to shake his head with a scoff. What an idiot. 

While Cosmo is still doing his mental math, Dev goes to the table.

"Are you interested in guessing?" Peri comes up beside him, Hazel in tow.

"Guessing? Please, that's for babies." Dev makes a dismissive hand gesture. "I'm interested in winning." 

Peri raises an eyebrow. "You seem pretty confident."

"If there's one thing a Dimmadome is good at, it's money. It's in my blood."

"Of course it is." Hazel shakes her head, as ready for a surprise as Peri is. "Then go ahead and win!"

As soon as Dev approaches, the owner of the jar bends down to him. "Hello, little fella~ You wanna give it a try?"

Dev doesn't even give him an answer, just slams down the dollar bill before clearing his throat. 

"In the jar are 113 dollars and 23- No, 24 pennies."

It's almost comedical to watch the man's face fall, for a second he seems frozen in time, his mouth forming a silent "O", which is all the confirmation Dev needs that his guess is correct.

Still, he waits patiently for the man to tell him that it was. Even though patience has never been Dev's strong suit.

"So... can I go get my prize?"

That seems to bring the man - let's call him Frank for now - back into action. "How... how did you know?"

"Wait, he's right?" Peri speaks up to confirm. His eyes are as wide as saucers.

It's not that he didn't trust Dev, but the kid's 10 and even he wouldn't have known how much money was in that jar. Heck, he doubts that anyone present would have known.

"...to the last cent." The man confirms.

No one but his kid. A fact that makes Peri feel strangely proud, which he shows by patting Dev's shoulder. 

"I have to admit, that was pretty impressive, kid."

Dev looks up at him, ready to retort something, wouldn't it be for Hazel suddenly claiming his arm.

"Oh my God, Dev! You won! You did it, you really did!" She shakes his shoulder and by default his whole being in her excitement. "That was awesome, Dev! How did you even know how much money was in there?"

"I just... saw it, I guess." Dev shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant with all the praise suddenly thrown his way. Something he fails spectacularly at, even a blind man could see his whole being bursting with confidence.

"Well, you have the eyes of an eagle, young man, and here is your prize!" Frank sidesteps to reveal... a scooter? "The newest model on the market, the Thunderbringer 200."

Dev looks almost disappointed, strangely so does Hazel. Peri frowns.

"Dev...?"

"I thought the main prize was the stuffed animal." He points to the large Patty Possum toy sitting in the corner. 

"Oh no." The man waves him off, still wearing that giant grin. "That's just for decoration. You won the scooter." 

"Oh." Dev's frown deepens. His eyes dart between the toy and the scooter. "Can I have the stuffed animal instead?"

Now that is something no one could have seen coming. 

Frank makes a confused face. "...You want...?"

"Yeah." Dev nods. "The plush toy."

"But- you- the scooter? It's brand-new and-"

"Listen, sir." Dev removes his glasses, looking all business while doing so. "I just need you to tell me if I can have the stuffed animal instead or not."

"I mean..." The man wets his lips before shrugging. "I guess...?"

It was cheaper than the scooter and if he still has that, he can set up another game, so it's a win-win for him and the kids. 

"Why not?"

"Great!" Dev's mood changes like a switch. He and Hazel grin at each other before running up to the giant toy, the girl already throwing herself against it. 

"This is so cool! Her hand is as big as my head!" Hazel puts the hand on her head to prove it. They will definitely have to shrink it down if they want to take it anywhere. 

"It is!" Dev chuckles. "And she's all yours!"

"Huh?" Hazel blinks at him, confused. The hand falls from her head. "What do you mean?"

"That she is all yours." Dev repeats with a snort. "It's not a difficult concept, Hazel."

"I know what that means." Hazel rolls her eyes fondly. "I want to know why? It's yours, Dev. You won it fair and square."

"Yeah." The boy agrees with a shrug, appearing nonchalant even though he is anything but. "I won it for you."

"You... won it... for me?"

"Well, yeah? I just said that!" Dev rubs his neck, embarrassed. "Stop making me repeat myself. I get to spend Christmas with you, I have to show my gratitude somehow."

There is no need. Dev doesn't have to thank her or shower her with gifts to show his gratitude, and she's just about to tell him that, wouldn't she realize that there's no need.

Judging by the look on Dev's face, he knows that Hazel didn't expect anything in return, he wanted to give her something anyway. He is not doing this out of some strange obligation, but out of the kindness in his heart. Who is Hazel to deny him that?

With a high-pitched squeal, Hazel throws herself at the boy to hug him. He freezes for a moment, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden closeness, before awkwardly patting her back.

Is this the right thing to do? Judging by the thumbs up Peri gives him from a distance, it is. 

Dev responds with a glare. The fairy slowly raises his hands in defense and averts his gaze to give the children some privacy. 

"Thank you, Dev! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome, really, it's no big deal." The boy says as Hazel steps back.

"It is. A very big deal. 50 inches to be exact." Hazel laughs, pointing at the oversized plush. "I can't wait to show it to Jasmine and Winn!"

"Are they here?"

Hazel nods and pulls out her phone to show Dev the message she received a few minutes ago.

"They just arrived and are waiting for us at the ice rank! We can join them whenever we want."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Picking up the stuffed animal in a team effort, the two children run off. Leaving their fairies behind, who will surely follow them soon. And they would, if Cosmo weren't still mulling over the jar of coins.

"Cosmo." Wanda pats him on the shoulder. "I think the kids have already solved it."

"They're disappearing from our sight at an alarming rate." Peri confirms, unable to make out the kids in the crowd.

"Shh." Cosmo shushes them. "I almost got it. You add the 3 to the four 4 and then divide by three and... aha!"

Looking like he just solved all the problems in the world, Cosmo makes his way through his family to stand in front of the jar.

"Good sir, I would like to guess!"

"The game is over?"

"I bet you -" Cosmo doesn't seem to be listening. Peri and Wanda exchange glances in the background, the former pinching his nose with a sigh, while Wanda can only shrug affectionately. "- there are at least 5 dollars, no.. 5.50."

He says the words proudly, makong Wanda wonders how anyone could not love this man. "In that jar."

Frank looks between Cosmo and the jar in disbelief and confusion. 

"What? Man, did you not listen, the kid already said there was $113.24 in there."

Cosmo looks at him in confusion. "That's... more than 5.50, right?"

"Yeah." Frank nods. "That's a lot more than 5.50."

"So I won? There is at least 5.50 in the glass!"

"What? No, that is not how it works!"

"Wanda, honey, I won!"

Wanda cheers for her husband, while Peri groans and hides his face in his hands. Cosmo wastes no time in getting on his new scooter and holding out his hand to his wife as if he were a fairy tale prince.

"Come on, honey, I'm going to take you for a ride."

"He's such a gentleman." Wanda whispers all smitten and takes her husband's hand to drive with him towards the horizon or in her case into the direction of the kids.

"Hey!" Frank complains. "You can't just take that and leave!"

"I'm so sorry." Peri shakes his head and pulls a bill out of his pocket. "He didn't even pay you for that guess, I'll take care of it. Good luck next time~"

"Peri! Hurry up before we lose them!"

"Coming, Dad! Excuse me."

And with that, he is gone, leaving behind a very confused gambler, who still cannot believe that any of this really happened... 

Chapter Text

"Hazel! Dev!" Jasmine calls as soon as she spots them in the crowd. "We're over here!"

The girl jumps and down in excitement, while Winn, who is standing next to her, simply raises a hand to greet them. 

"Hey!" Hazel waves back, well, she would if there wasn't a plush toy twice her size being carried by them right now. 

"Is that Patty Possum?!" Winn is the first to recognize said stuffed animal and helps their friends place it on a nearby bench that is normally used to put on their skates. 

"It is!" Hazel agrees, a smile as bright as the sun on her face. "Isn't she cool?!"

"The coolest!" Jasmine says, already running forward to take Patty's hands in hers. 

"Dev won her for me!"

"Dev what?!" Winn stares in awe at the boy Hazel proudly presents with outstretched hands, as if he were the prize in question. "Dude, that's awesome!"

"It was nothing, really." Dev rubs the back of his neck. 

"Nothing? Are you kidding?! There was this jar of money." Hazel does not hesitate to explain. Her hands move in tandem with her story, giving some visuals to the tale with Winn and Jasmine hanging on her every word. "And this guy wanted people to guess how much money was in it. Nobody could do it, they all failed, and then Dev went up. Slammed the money down and got it right."

Jasmine and Winn gasp. 

"Down to the last penny! First try!"

"Duuuude!"

"No way! You are like a genius!"

"I just know my money." Dev shrugs, bathing in the praise with a mischievous smile on his lips. 

"Well, it's pretty cool." Winn admits, placing a hand on each of Hazel's and Dev's shoulders. "But you know what else is pretty cool?" They turn them around to reveal the ice rink in front of them. "Tadaaa. Who's ready for some fun on the ice?"

Hazel and Jasmine cheer while Dev remains silent. He can't remember the last time he went ice-skating. He knows he did once..? Maybe twice? But the memories are vague and... not really something he is fond of. Time to change that. 

"Why not." He shrugs. "I'm up for it."

"Neat. In that case, let's go rent some skates." Winn suggests. "Or did you bring some?"

Both kids shake their heads. A grin forms on Hazel's lips. 

"But I know where we can get some for free. Cosmo, Wanda." She turns to her fairies to wish for some rad ice skates for everyone present-

"They're gone." 

"Oh." Hazel deflates at Dev's observation. 

Looks like losing their fairies has become a habit of theirs.

"Their job. It is literally their job to hover over us." Dev points out again. "And yet, the second they are literally unable to do so, they bust it."

"Maybe they just got lost?" Winn offers.

Hazel has to agree. She and Dev have been running ahead, the possibility that their godparents are simply unable to find them is on the table. 

"How come they get lost all the time and we don't? We are the kids, we should be the ones getting lost." Dev comes this close to getting lost on purpose, just to send a message. 

"Ehhh, I don't think they're lost." Jasmine says, tilting her head to the side. "Isn't that them over there?" 

It is. Cosmo and Wanda drive in their direction, waving happily, with Peri trailing behind. 

"Kids!" Cosmo calls, jumping down from the scooter mid-drive. With the driver gone the scooter threatens to fall, taking Wanda with it, were it not for Peri quickly grabbing hold of the handlebars to keep them upright. "You won't believe it! I won the scooter!"

"You won a scooter?!" Jasmine cannot believe her eyes. 

"That's so awesome!" Winn exclaims, storming over to get a closer look, making Dev frown. 

"Technically, I won the scooter." He says, tilting his head. "How come...?"

"There were at least five dollars in the jar." Peri answers him, making Dev stock.

"...That's a joke right."

"Not for my dad." 

That's... fair. Dev almost feels bad for the salesman. Almost, but not really. 

"So you found Jasmine and Winn?"

"Hi Peri!" The girl perks up and waves at him excitedly. Peri smiles at her and waves back. 

"We're going ice skating!" Winn nods just as excitedly, 

"Ice skating?" Peri repeats.

"Oh, I love ice skating!" Wanda gets off the scooter and turns it into a small keychain that she puts in her pocket.

Being discreet has never been the fairies' fortune, it is a miracle that they have not been found out yet, but to be fair, the place is buzzing with people, no one probably pays them any attention.

"I still remember the one time we went ice skating on Uranus! It was magical."

"You did what?"

The kids shouldn't be fazed anymore. Cosmo and Wanda always come up with the strangest stories, the knowledge that they are true, doesn't help with not being amazed though. 

"It was during our 10,000-year vacation through time and space." Cosmo explains, a fond sigh leaving his lips. "Good times."

The kids don't doubt it one bit.

"I can't wait to have the same fun on Earth! But we'll need ice skates for that, right?" Wanda asks, reminding Hazel why she was looking for the fairies in the first place.

"Right! Cosmo, Wanda, I wish we all had some cool ice skates."

With a dim glow and a silent poof, all the children are carrying a pair of skates, each one designed after the child about to wear them. 

"Nice!"

The group marvels at them, thanking the fairies with a laugh before running ahead to exchange their shoes for the new skates. The fairies, carrying their own equipment, follow a little slower. 

That's when Peri notices that Dev is trailing a little further behind. There is an uncertain look in his eyes, his gaze fixed on the unfamiliar skates. An understanding hum leaves Peri's lips as he goes up to Dev.

"Come on, kid." Peri pushes against his back. "I'll help you put them on."

"I'm not a child, you don't have to help me." Dev grumbles. 

The boy is currently sitting on a bench right in front of the ice rink where Jasmine, Winn and Hazel are already twirling around. Cosmo and Wanda too are busy skating across the ice, hand in hand, while lovingly gazing at each other.

All of them offered to wait for the duo before entering the ice, an offer Peri politely declined, demanding that they have fun while he and Dev get ready. 

"I know I don't." Peri answers without missing a beat, fastening the clasps a bit tighter against Dev's ankle. "But I want to." 

It has become pretty obvious that Dev has no idea how to fasten his skates, Peri doubts that he even knows how to hold his own on the ice. Otherwise the boy wouldn't be sitting here all nerves and excitement, his feet tapping against the floor in an uneasy rhythm while he plays with his fingers in a nervous habit he can't seem to shake.

"Now tell me how they fell."

Dev looks down at his feet, now clad in very fashionable ice skates. "Heavy."

"That is quite normal, they can feel a bit uncomfortable at first and it is hard to get used to them, but you will get the hang of it in no time. Once you are out and about you will stop feeling them." 

Dev highly doubts that, twisting and turning one of his legs in and out as he watches. 

"Hm." Is all the answer Peri gets, not like the fairy minds.

Standing up again, he brushes some dirt from his pants before holding out a hand to Dev. "You want to try standing?"

Dev looks at Peri's hand as if it somehow offended him and averts his gaze with a huff. 

"I'm not a child, I can-"

"Do it yourself. I know, but something tells me you don't have that much experience." 

An embarrassing blush settles on Dev's cheeks. 

"I can skate. This isn't my first time on the ice." The boy snaps, standing up on his own, which ends with him reaching for Peri's hand anyway after he stumbles and almost falls. 

"I never said you couldn't." Is all Peri says, not commenting on Dev's fall. He doesn't need to, the smirk tugging on his lips says it all. Jerk. "I still offer my assistance in case you need it."

"I don't." 

It's funny how Dev's every word contradicts his actions, with him clinging even more to Peri's hand as he takes his first step. It is strange, as if he is walking with weights attached to his feet, each step feels clunky and stiff. He hopes the feeling will disappear as soon as he takes his first step on the ice. Thinking off...

Dev frowns in Peri's direction. "Can you even skate?"

"Of course I can skate? In fact I am quite good at it, even Irep of all people once complimented me on my skills-"

"I meant because of your leg." 

Oh. Peri looks down at the mentioned limb. He hasn't really thought about that until now. The fairy tilts his head, looking like a confused puppy. 

"I am.. gonna make it work, trust me." 

Dev has no reason not to, it's not like he cares if the fairy joins them on the ice or not, he can just sit this one out if he doesn't feel up to it. Something he would make clear to his godparents if they hadn't not already reached the ice.

Its surface is smooth and clear, not so clear that he could see his reflection in it, but clear enough to marvel at its beauty...and danger. Dev swallows. His whole body tenses as he gazes at the icy surface just waiting to be claimed.

"... Shall I help you?" Peri asks after some time has passed. Dev does not answer, no, wait, he does, but it is too quiet to hear. "Pardon?"

"I said: no, thats embarrassing." 

"What? No, its not. Since when is getting help embarrassing?"

"Since I am the only one in the need of it."

That doesn't make it embarrassing at all!

"You, in fact are not." Peri gestures around them, where many, many people are laughing and falling together, struggling to get up again, especially children who have no experience.

To be fair, most of the kids are younger than Dev, but that doesn't mean there aren't any adults fumbling and failing on the ice. Heck, Peri's dad stumbles more often than not, the main problem being that he watches his wife more than his steps. 

"..." Dev makes a face, crossing his arms over his chest. "...That doesn't make it any less embarrassing."

It does. Peri knows that Dev isn't against the idea anymore, it's just his stupid Dimmadome pride talking. Maybe it's his father's voice, drilled into his head over and over again. 

Dimmadome's don't fumble, they don't fall. They don't need help. A Dimmadome can and will do everything on his own. A Dimmadome is respected and not an embarrassment. 

Well, time to change the voices in Dev's head to something more to Peri's liking, to something actually useful for a change.

"Falling is even more." The fairy clacks with his tongue. "Don't you think?"

He offers Dev his hand again. The boy doesn't look happy about it, but he takes it with a grumble. 

Peri takes that as a win. His fingers curling around Dev's, Peri steps onto the ice. As soon as he does, his shoes magically transform into skates. His cane now useless, he is forced to rely on his own balance and wits to stay upright. Maybe he should have tried this before offering Dev some help. But what is done is done, and he will not disappoint the boy now. 

Correcting his stance to make sure he does not fall, he turns back to Dev and tugs at his hand. The boy looks unsure, not moving as he stares wearily at the ice.

"Come on, Dev. You can do it." Peri urges the boy, sending him a smile. Dev takes a deep breath.

He can do this. He has done it before. It is just ice. Nothing to be afraid of. He will not fall, Peri will not let him. Everything will be fi- he is standing on the ice.

Lost in his thoughts, Dev did not even notice that Peri's encouragement and tugging slowly but surely made his body move on its own until the solid ground turned to slippery ice. 

He did it. He did it! His eyes are filled with nothing but happiness as they connect with the purple ones. His whole being lights up.

"See? I told you you could do it." 

He did. The fairy believing in him fills him with a strange kind of warmth.

Now all he has to do is take one step forward and-

"Dev, wait!" He slips. 

Dev tries his best to keep his balance somehow, his feet working overtime to keep their grip on the ice, while Peri gives his all to somehow balance out the boy's weight and keep him upright.

A battle that was lost from the start. There is no force stronger than gravity and no matter how much they fumble and scream, it does not change anything about the fact that they are falling. 

It hurts. Not a lot, but enough to make Dev a little irritated. He looks up at Peri accusingly. "You let me fall."

"If we are going to point fingers, you are the one who made us fall." Peri sits up again, rubbing his head, only to be glared and pouted at. "What? I'm just saying."

Dev grumbles, pushing himself up to somehow regain his footing. "Didn't you say you were good at this?"

"I am. When I am a fairy, with wings and floaty crowny things and-" Without a busted leg.

Peri does not have to say it out loud for Dev to understand. The grimace the fairy makes when he somehow manages to get up speaks for itself.

"Ever thought about sitting this one out?" 

Dev takes the hand Peri offers and lets himself be pulled back to his feet. They threaten to give out underneath him again, wouldn't it be for Peri helping him keep his footing. A sigh of relief escapes Dev's lips as soon as he is upright again, no fumbling, no falling. Just two feet firmly planted on the ground. 

"Cant really teach me how to skate if you can't do so yourself."

"I can skate." Peri stubbornly insists.

"Uh-uh. Prove it."

Peri raises an eyebrow and looks down at their clasped hands. Dev pulls his hands back. It is strange to stand on his own, without anyone to support him, but he manages. He can keep his balance as long as he does not try to move. A very challenging task, but a manageable one. 

Crossing his arms over his chest, he nods at the open space in front of them, urging Peri to show him what he is made of. A challenge the fairy gladly rises to.

Even a blind man could see that Peri has experience and skill. He glides over the ice as if it were second nature, holding himself with the grace and confidence of a king. Which makes it even clearer that the only thing holding him back is his human form and the lack of support and balance his legs give him.

Dev makes a face as the fairy falls again, his legs giving out just as they did the first time he tried to walk. Frustration emanates from Peri in waves. 

It is funny. Dev feels like he should be angry with his godparent. He was counting on him to be the one to guide and teach him and yet he cannot. He kind of prefers it this way, to be honest.

Yes, he would have loved to learn something from him, but seeing him fumble and fall just like himself is even better. It really makes him feel like he has no reason to be embarrassed. Peri isn't superior to him like the rest, no, he is sitting in the same boat. Time to make that clear to the fairy.

Taking one step, after the other - Dev must look as ridiculous, as he feels, walking on the ice instead of skating over it - he stops in front of his godparent. 

"Looks like we could both use some help." He offers Peri his hand.

His godparent looks up at him, shame in his eyes, before looking away again, muttering something under his breath. Even if Dev cannot hear it, he probably refuses his request, just as stubborn as himself. 

"Nothing more embarrassing than falling, right?" 

You told me that I do not need to be embarrassed to falter and fall, do not take the power out of those words by not letting them apply to you. Not when you have the chance to prove their truth to me.

Peri does not need to hear Dev's thoughts to know that he is right. It would be hypocritical of him to refuse help now. With a sigh, the smallest hint of a smile appears on Peris lips. 

"I suppose you have a point." He takes Dev's hand in his and lets the boy help him to his feet, only to realise that the small child is not really fit to carry both of their weights, causing them to fall once more. 

This time, when they look at each other with twin expression of surprise, they start to chuckle.

"And what exactly are you two doing?" The two boys look up to see Hazel, Jasmine and Winn smiling at them in amusement.

Peri and Dev exchange a glance. "Falling."

"And failing exponentially." They reply in unison.

"We can see that." Winn chuckles. "Need some help?"

"..I think so." Dev shrugs and lets Winn help him stand and keep his balance, while Jasmine and Hazel try their best to help Peri do the same. It doesn't take long for the two of them to stand with the added support of their friends.

"Why didn't you tell us you were having trouble keeping your balance?" Hazel asks. "We would have helped you!"

"I didn't want to be the only one fumbling and falling." Dev admits. ".. But now Peri does too it's fine."

"You are a menace." Peri rolls his eyes.

If he cannot help the boy skate, he can at least help boost his confidence, if only by being as inexperienced as he is. Peri takes that as a victory too. A small one. At least he is helpful in one way or another. 

"Are you kidding?" Jasmine waves them off. "I fumble and fall all the time!"

"I think I saw Cosmo and Wanda fall three times in the last five minutes." Winn points to the couple stumbling at that very moment, only able to remain standing thanks to a miracle called Wanda, who has the strength to balance their weights for the time being. 

"Falling is part of the fun." Hazel nods.

Dev isn't so sure about that, but he gets what his friends try to tell him. 

"Would you allow me to teach you the art of ice skating, Dev?" Hazel holds out her hand like some sort of charming fairytale prince asking the princess for a dance. The boy rolls his eyes with a huff.

"I guess it can't be helped." He takes Hazel's offer, blushing at the radiant smile she throws his way, while she slowly starts to pull him away from the rest.

"In that case, follow my lead!"

Peri watches how Hazel helps Dev get used to the ice by simply pulling him along, he himself doesn't even move at first, only focusing in keeping his balance. And yet he looks as happy as can be as he slowly makes his way across the ice, soon to be conquered on his own.  

Peri can't help but smile. 

"They'll be fine." Jasmine interrupts his thoughts. "Hazel is a good teacher! Dev will be running around on his own in no time."

Peri does not doubt that at all. 

"And you will do the same!" 

...that Peri does doubt. He shakes his head.

"I think I will sit this one out." He denies, lightly knocking against his thigh. "I can barely stand without support, gliding over the ice on my own seems impossible."

"Nothing is impossible if you try hard enough!" Jasmine insists. "Giving up is not the example you want to set here, is it?"

Well... no, but...

"Me and Jasmine can support you!" Winn agrees. "You can hold on to us as long as you need to!"

"And if it gets too much, we can stop! You don't have to force yourself if you're hurting, but... at least try, will you?"

How can he not with the kids being this persistent? They look up at him with big eyes and pouty lips, unable to see him not joining in their fun. He cannot disappoint them now. 

"Cant really say no now, can I?"

"You bet you cant!" Jasmine laughs as she takes one of Peri's hands in her own.

Winn mimics her actions by taking Peri's other hand before they drag the fairy along with them, ready to make this experience as much fun for him as it is for them. 

And they do.

If there is one thing that Peri and Dev cannot deny, it is that they are having fun despite their inexperience, or maybe that is exactly what makes this whole encounter even more fun. Who knows. All that matters is that they enjoy every second on the ice. Whether they are skating, stumbling or even falling. 

Does this mean that Dev doesn't get irritated from time to time when he stumbles?

It doesn't, he does gets irritated and frustrated from time to time, but Hazel is good at keeping him in check and once he glides over the ice on his own - no hands to hold or guide him, just him and his own two feet - he knows his efforts have been worth it. 

And Peri?

Well, he cannot skate on his own for too long, but they make sure there is always someone around to help. Winn and Jasmine, Cosmo and Wanda. Dev is especially happy when it is his and Hazel's turn. Taking his godparent's hands in his, he and Hazel pull the fairy along.

"Looks like you got the hang of it." 

Dev blossoms under Peri's praise. His stance as well as his steps growing in confidence.

"You're not so bad yourself." 

Peri snorts. "I can barely move on my own."

"But that doesn't stop you!" Hazel chimes in, forcing them all to turn in a circle. "That's what I call courage."

"Or stubbornness." Cosmo says in passing. 

It is pure stubbornness that keeps Peri going, well, that and a promise he made.

"I told Dev I would make it somehow." 

"And you did." Dev says. "We both did."

"... We both did." Peri agrees. Somehow he feels that skating is not the only thing they talk about anymore.

The group spend a long time on the ice, really tiring themselves out, before moving on to the next attraction, and the next, and the next, and the next - you get the idea. There is not a single corner of the whole fair that they have not visited, not a single stall that they have not stopped in front of and not a single piece of food that they have not tried. 

So it should come as no surprise that the day ended with the clock striking an unholy hour and four completely exhausted children. 

"We told Angela and Marcus that we are taking Hazel hom- oh." Wanda trails off with a soft sound at the sight in front of her.

While she and Cosmo made sure that the Wells were informed of their daughter's whereabouts, Peri decided to stay behind, sitting down on a bench with the four exhausted kids, while waiting for them to come back.

The only difference between then and now is that two of the children are missing, while the other two are snuggled up against Peri's sides. Their eyes closed, they look as if they had fallen asleep with their heads resting on his shoulder.

It is a lovely sight, especially with Peri looking at them with a mixture of fondness and anxiety. 

"Oh my God, that is soooo cute!" Cosmo exclaims, already pulling out a camera to take some pictures.

"Dad, be quiet." Peri scolds him, shaking his head with an exasperated sigh as Wanda walks over to them. 

She brushes a few stray strands of hair out of Hazel's eyes, tucking them behind her ears, as she looks up at Peri questioningly.

"Winn and Jasmine already got picked up by their parents."

Wanda makes an understanding sound. 

"It couldn't have been more than five minutes before we ended up like this."

This being him being the unwilling pillow for two kids in desperate need of a bed. 

"They've had a long day." Wanda says. "Time to take them home."

Peri could not agree more. Wanda carefully scoops up Hazel, the girl stirring and muttering something incoherent but not waking up, and carefully places her on Cosmo's back. Once she is sure that her husband has a secure hold on the girl, she asks Peri to help her settle Dev on her own-

"I am going to carry him."

Wanda tilts her head to the side, unsure of the idea. 

"Do you think that's a good idea, sweetie?"

Her eyes wander down to his wand, still stretched out to help him walk, resting beside him. The younger one's expression darkens for a second, a shadow of uncertainty soon replaced by a burning determination. 

"I do. Dev is my godkid, so I will make sure that he gets home safely."

Wanda looks from him to her husband, who shrugs at her.

"He's an adult, Wanda, he can make his own decisions."

He absolutely is, and its time they started acting like it! Peri could not be happier to hear his father's words, even if the happiness is followed by the tiniest bit of surprise. 

"I guess you are right." Wanda sighs. "But just because you are an adult doesn't mean you can't count on us anymore."

"I know, mom." Peri rolls his eyes, there's affection behind what he's doing, even if it's overshadowed by his usual annoyance. "I'll tell you when it gets too much and you have to cover for me."

Both his parents snort as if he has just told them the best joke ever.

"You won't." His mom shakes her head.

"As if." His father agrees.

Peri opens his mouth to protest. "I-I would! I totally-"

Only to realise that he cannot. There are days when his stubbornness knows no boundaries, anything surrounding his godkid and the chance to prove himself included.

"Yeah, okay, I won't."

Doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the sentiment. And they know. Of course they know. Which is why Wanda gently takes Dev into her arms. Peri takes the opportunity to stand up and get ready for the weight that will soon be on his back. 

It's strange. The extra weight added to him makes it difficult to stand. Especially with him having just one hand to secure the boy on his back, the other still wrapped around the cane he needs to move forward.

His balance is fragile, and for a second he fears that he will have to step down and let his mother take over, lest he accidentally hurts the child who relies on him, until he feels arms wrapping around his neck.

Peri lays his head to the side to look back at Dev, who raises his head the tiniest bit.

"Peri...?" He slurs, his voice thick with sleep. "Whaaa...?"

"Hey, kid. We're taking you and Hazel home. Sound good to you?"

Dev is silent for a second, as if thinking about his words, which don't really make sense to him at the moment, before he agrees with a hum. 

"Well, in that case, do me a favour and hold on, will you? I don't want you to fall."

"Hm." Dev does as he says, tightening his grip around Peris neck and getting himself into a position that makes it easier for the fairy to carry him. "Don't let me fall."

"I won't. Trust me."

He does, letting his head fall down again the boy starts to drift off. 

The new position makes it easier to carry the boy. It's stil hard, but manageable, which Peri proves by taking his first step. It is slow and will probably take him a while, but in the end all they have to do is carry the children out of the market, somewhere devoid of nosy stares and watchful eyes, to transport them home. He will manage until then. 

A soft smile playing around his lips, Peri turns to his parents to tell them that they are ready to go, that is until he sees the look in their eyes.

"What's wrong...?"

"Nothing." Wanda shakes her head. "It's just..."

"We are happy that it works out between the two of you, kiddo."

Oh...

Peri looks back at Dev sleeping safe and sound on his back.

"Me too."

For the first time since he and Dev have been reunited, Peri feels like he really does make a difference, that he really is able make this boy happy if he just tries hard enough. 

Chapter Text

It was a morning like any other-

"Goooood morning. Rise and shine, sunshine!"

- except it wasn't. Today is not a day like any other, today is special.

Dev's eyes open without a struggle. How could they struggle when sleep had barely graced them?

The Sandman never really showed up, and even if he tried to do his job, Dev was far too excited to react in any way to the sand strewn over his eyes. 

Sleep was not even an option with all the nerves racking his body, the joy and happiness overtaking his entire being, for today is Christmas!

It's Christmas and he's not going to spend it alone!

There will be Hazel and Peri and their parents, and even though his own dad won't be there - his heart twists painfully in his chest, a pain so prominent and yet so distant. It almost seems muted by all the positive emotions washing over him.

Maybe Peri was right, maybe it will get easier, maybe he will stop feeling hurt if he covers his pain with enough happiness, burying it deep down until it can no longer reach him.

Dev shakes his head. There is no point in thinking about his father, why should he when he can instead think about all the people who will be present and make this the best day ever! He just hopes he doesn't screw it up, he kind of likes to do that, accidental as it is.

What if he says something wrong? Does something wrong? He doesn't want to upset Hazel's parents. A fear he has already voiced to the girl out loud.

All she did was laugh. It wasn't a mean laugh, she didn't laugh in his face, she laughed in fond disbelief, promising Dev that there is nothing he could do to anger them, as long as he stays true to himself. 

Yeah, because that worked so well so far. 

Well, to be honest, it kind of did...?

Ever since he has become more true to himself and less like his father, things took an upwards spiral. He is still sassy and mean and sarcastic, but.. there is more heart and less ego in his answers. He teases others for the sake of teasing them and not to insult them as before. 

Growth.

That's what Peri called it. He is growing and expending his horizons with each and every day. Today will be no different.

Today he will make new experiences, new traditions and maybe.. just maybe if he behaves well enough he will get to join them again next year? And even if Hazels parent don't want him around, Peri will, right? 

He said, he would never leave him. His memory of that day may be hazy, thanks to the sickness that haunted his body, but he can clearly remember that promise and somehow.. Dev believes him. He trusts the fairy to stay true to it.

Does he deserve it? Probably not, but he is working every day to become deserving of the happiness everyone tries to hand him on a silver platter. 

Today is no different. 

"Looks like someone is excited~" Peri comments on the big smile adorning Dev's face that only seems to grow in volume.

"So what if I am?" Dev replies, throwing away the blankets to get ready for the day.

He should start looking for something to wear for the special occasion. He thinks, as if he hadn't planned an outfit ages ago. (He got an early Christmas present from Peri - a sweater made for him and him alone - which he decided to wear, after Hazel said to dress casually. They want to be comfortable after all). 

"Nothing. It's nice to see, I guess." Peri likes seeing his godkid happy and if his excitement promises one thing, than its happiness. 

"Aren't you too?"

"Hm?" Peri watches as Dev opens his calendar, his last present being a piece of chocolate, which he happily pops into his mouth, and a snowglobe with Duckward and Kennueth inside.

Dev lights up as soon as he shakes it, and snow falls on the pair of friends who have become enemies and will hopefully become friends again. 

"Excited? You look pretty excited too." Dev says, pointing behind Peri.

The fairy turns to look at whatever the boy is about to show him, seeing nothing but his rapidly beating wings. Ah. It seems his body has decided to betray him by showing his current emotions.

"I am! This is my first Christmas with you after all!" Peri taps the boy on the nose, who swats him away like an annoying fly, making Peri laugh. "The first of many."

Perhaps it is selfish to think so. Hoping, praying that there will be many more Christmases to come. He should not. A good godparent should hope that this is the only Christmas. Because a happy child does not need a godparent.

The less time he spends with Dev, the better for the child, once he is no longer needed his job is done... yeah, a good godparent probably thinks that way.

Well... Peri has always been different. Because even though he wishes for nothing more than this kid to be happy, he still longs to be by his side for as long as he can. 

"The first of many." Dev echoes, the words meaning more to him than he could ever put into words. So he doesn't, reflecting is more his style anway. "How do fairies usually celebrate Christmas? I mean... do you celebrate in the same way as humans?"

"No." Peri shakes his head. "To be honest, I don't know much about fairy traditions, I don't think we really have many? Apart from giving most of our magic to Santa."

"Hang on a second." Dev cuts him off, disbelief in his eyes. "You give your magic to... Santa?"

The boy repeats, as if he has heard wrong, waiting for Peri to give him a slow nod that shatters his entire world picture.  

"Are you saying Santa Claus is real?"

Peri gasps as if offended. "Of course he is real! Why wouldn't you think-" Peri stocks, his gaze darkening. "Dale." 

Dev never heard someone say his fathers name with so much venom before. If words could kill, Peri's would be a fatal blow. 

The fairy seems to realise his outburst and takes a deep breath to return to a neutral face again. 

"Yes, Santa Claus is real, don't doubt him or you will end up on his bad list."

Dev snorts. "As if I am not already on it."

"Dev." Peri's words are strict, far stricter than they should be. "You are not a bad kid. You never were."

Making mistakes doesn't make you a bad person, a lesson his fairy tries to hammer into his head until it stays there. And it does, Dev still finds it hard to believe, but the words stay with him, he just needs to be reminded of them from time to time.

"I know. I know." Dev waves his godparent off. "I was just kidding. So Santa is real and you give him his powers? Does that mean I can't wish for anything today?"

Not that it would be a problem, he just wants to know, especially since the fairy still needs some magic to disguise himself, spending the holiday together will be a challenge otherwise.

"No, you can. I'm kind of... an exception to the rule." Dev tilts his head sideways. "It's a long story."

The fact that his powers have been cut off means that he cannot really empower anyone else, it would be too dangerous anyway. At least that's what the fairy council deemed him to be. Too dangerous to walk around with so much magic... and he agrees. He knows about the damage he caused when he lost his brother, how his cries made the world shake and storms collide after he lost Dev.

"But yeah, this is going to be my first Christmas in a while, too. So I am pretty excited~"

"How come...? Christmas is an annual thing, it seems odd to skip it." Dev says while getting dressed, Peri politely turns around and makes his bed in the mean time. "Unless it gets too repetitive over the years."

Fairies are much older than they look. Thinking back, Dev has no idea how old Peri actually is, it must be a pretty big number since his parents went on a 10,000 year vacation - oh. Oh. 

Suddenly Peri's words make sense, even without him having to answer. 

"Your parents."

Dev forgot that even if Peri has a loving family, he has not seen them for a long time. Maybe his first instinct when he avoided telling Peri why he disliked Christmas was wrong, maybe the fairy could have understood his feeling of loneliness to some extent. 

Peri nods quietly. "It just... wasn't the same without them. It hasn't been ever since..."

A hint of pink flashes before Peri's eyes, a boy's laughter echoes in his mind. It is a memory, all fuzzy and fraying at the ends, and yet he clings to it. 

"... Forget it."

"Ever since?" Dev asks, curiosity in his eyes.

Peri shakes his head. He smiles at him, a feeble attempt to hide the longing melancholy that lingers deep within the purple irises.

"Doesn't matter. Let us not dwell on the past when there is a bright future waiting for us~"

Dev looks uncertain. It does matter, he knows it does, but he also knows that his godparent will not give him any answers without him demanding them. They are both too stubborn for their own good.

He guesses he will let it go. For now. But only because Peri is right. There is a bright future waiting for them, and they better get ready to welcome it.

... Not to forget that Peri isn't the only one able to give him answers.

A few hours later, Dev stands in front of the mirror. It's almost time for them to leave. The clock behind him is ticking down the seconds to their departure. And yet he cannot take his eyes off the image staring back at him. 

A pair of mismatched eyes, framed by thick curls. A familiar face, yet unknown to so many. 

He should gel his hair down, make sure every single curl is plastered to his head. He should put in his lenses, make sure his eyes match the way they should. He should ditch the periwinkle sweater, make sure he dresses in all white and gold instead. 

He should make sure that he looks like a perfect copy of his father, just like he wants him too.

...But is that really what Dev wants?

Does it matter, what he wants? 

Dev makes a face. It is filled with so many emotions, especially conflict, showing the battle his mind is waging against his own. Which team is on the winning side becomes clear when the boy reaches for his contacts.

"I think you should leave them out."

Dev jumps, and turns his head. He has not noticed the door opening, nor Peri standing in the door frame, using the sturdy wood for support. He must have been there for a while, watching him in silence. Dev averts his gaze, looking back at the lens case, just out of reach.

"...You do?"

"They are special. A part of you that makes you who you are, you don't need to hide them."

How many times has he heard those words? How many times has he chosen to ignore them, to let his own insecurities get the better of him? 

"But I understand if you don't feel comfortable."

If you're not ready. 

He is not. But just this once he wants to be. Dev pulls back his hand. "I mean... it's just Hazel, right?"

A hopeful look crosses Dev's face.

"Her and her whole family." Aaaand it's gone again.

Dev's face falls, a frown working its way on his forehead. "...Peri."

"I'm just saying." The fairy defends himself. "Not to stop you, but to remind you. I do not want you to be surprised and regret your decision later. Not that there is any reason to. They won't judge you, Dev."

They won't. Because they aren't his father. If the last few weeks did one thing, then work wonders for his self-esteem. Dev takes a deep breath - 

"And if they do, I will not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind."

- and lets it out in the form of a chuckle. 

"You gonna yell at Hazel's parents for me?" 

"There's no one I wouldn't yell at for you... depending on the situation."

"Of course." Dev can only shake his head fondly. That fairy, really. 

"Alright." Taking one last look at the mirror, Dev turns away from it. "I'm ready." 

It was late in the afternoon when Dev and Peri, as well as his parents, knock on the Wells' door. 

It only takes a few seconds for the door to open, revealing Angela and Marcus. Their eyes light up as soon as they see their guests. 

"You made it!" Marcus greets them with overwhelming joy. "Hazel, Antony! Dev and the neighbours are here!"

Angela already makes herself smaller to properly greet the small boy, her focus on making him feel as comfortable as possible. "It's a pleasure to have you here."

"Thank you. I really appreciate you having me." 

She smiles at him, ready to say more if it weren't for her own children deciding to join them. Dev shrinks into himself as soon as Antony looks at him.

The last time he saw the older boy, or rather the first time he "met" him, he was busy overthrowing a magical dimension, so... it's not like they had the best introduction. And yet Antony smiles at him, greeting him like an old friend. 

"Hey, little buddy." Dev doesn't know what to think about it. But he will not complain. "I like the new hairstyle." 

Dev's hands unconsciously go up to his curls. "Ah, thanks."

"Dev!" Hazel throws herself at the boy, grinning up at him and gasping as soon as she sees his eyes. "You're not wearing..." Her grin gets impossibly wider, lighting up the room and dispelling any lingering fear that has taken root in his heart. 

"It's no big deal." Dev denies, averting his eyes. 

"It's not. It's a huge deal! I am so proud of you!" And with that, Dev has an armful of Hazel again. He chuckles and awkwardly pats her back.

"Yeah, me too, I guess." Dev clears his throat. "Can we go in now? I want to ask you something."

"Uhhh~ Now I am intrigued!" Hazel pulls the boy away from the entrance and into her house.

Once inside, the unfamiliar interior distracts the boy from his primary task. He looks around, curious and impressed, before Hazel nudges him and the two children begin to whisper.

Peri watches them with the hint of a smile on his face, that is until the conversation in front of him continues.

"This is our son, Antony. I believe you already have met?" Angela asks uncertainly. Antony nods.

"We have." He still shakes Cosmo and Wanda's hands firmly. Marcus and Angela nod proudly in the background. This is their upbringing, after all.

"And this must be your son, right?" Angela smiles warmly at Peri.

The fairy stands up straighter as soon as he is spoken to. It is easy to put on a charming smile, to appear confident to make a positive impression... until his parents decide to chime in:

"Yes, this is Peri!" Cosmo wraps his arms around his shoulders and pulls him back to hug him to his chest. "Isn't he beautiful?!" 

"He's our pride and joy!" Wanda joins in, pinching his cheek as if he was a little child. 

Peri slaps her hands away, his face flushing.

"Mooom, Daaad, not in front of our neighbours!"

The Wells chuckle, while Antony gives the fairy a sympathetic look. 

"Hey, Peri. I am Antony." Technically, they already know each other, but the Wells cannot know that. It is also good to keep the conversation going, if only to keep Peri out of more embarrassing situations. "But I suppose you already knew that."

"I did." Peri seems grateful for the change of subject, especially after Hazel's parents use it to introduce themselves. 

"I'm Angela." She shakes his hand. "And this is my husband Marcus."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Peri!" Where Angela introduced herself with a calm and gentle grip, Marcus shakes his hand much more enthusiastically. Peri can see where Hazel gets her energy from. "Peri... is that short for something?"

"Ah yes." Peri nods before he can stop himself. "It's short for Periwinkle." Which... probably is not a common human name. He already regrets opening his mouth, but it's not like he can go back now. "Like.. the flowers?"

"Well... can't say it doesn't suit you." Marcus points to his hair with a chuckle. "But where are our manners? Come in, come in!"

Marcus opens the door wider to let their neighbours in. 

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"Just water is fine."

"Are you sure? We have lots of different things to choose from." Marcus offers. "Including eggnog, that is."

Eggnog. That rings a bell in Peri's head. Isn't that the drink Timmy's dad liked to indulge in? He can remember his brother rolling his eyes at the beverage, especially the day he tried it for the first time, only to spit it out again. The disgust on the older boy's face is burned into his memory.

"You laughing at me? At me? You won't laugh anymore once you tried it!"

He was not allowed to back then, he could not have been more than five years old. But he is now, even if it lacks the same purpose, the thought still makes him smile.

"I'd like to try it. Later." Peri clarifies. 

"He's right, darling, we should save that for after dinner." Angela elbows her husband. "Gotta be responsible and eat something first. Oh, excuse the mess, by the way."

The mentioned mess is not really a mess, more like the preparations they have made to cook dinner. 

"We've just started getting everything ready for dinner, so just sit down and relax while we -"

"Oh no!" Cosmo cuts her off before she can finish. "We can help! It's the least we can do!"

"But you are our guests." 

"And we would like to show our gratitude by helping you." Wanda says. "It would be our pleasure, really."

Angela and Marcus exchange a look before smiling. 

"Well, can't say no to a few more helping hands." Marcus decides, handing them their drinks. "How about you kids go to your room in the meantime? We'll call you when dinner's ready."

Under normal circumstances Hazel would have offered to help, normal circumstances don't include getting to show off her room to Dev or the conversation she and Dev need to continue. 

"Okay! Call us if you need any help!" Hazel takes Dev by the hand and pulls him towards her room. 

Antony claps his hand on Peri's shoulder, ready to steer him into the same direction, much to the surprise of the fairy, that already got ready to help with the cooking. He raises an eyebrow at Antony.

"When she says kids she means us too."

Peri starts to frown. "... I'm twenty?" 

Which is a very small number by fairy standards, but even there he is considered a young adult. Keyword: adult.

"And I am eighteen." Antony shrugs, wearing the same emphatic smile as before. "Numbers do not change the fact that we are their children. Even when we are well into our forties, they will still see us as such."

A cruel reality that makes Peri groan in misery. Antony pats him on the shoulder and leads the compliant fairy to Hazel's room.

It must have been around one hour since the kids were sent to their room.  Dev looked oddly at Peri and Anthony when they entered, not expecting them to join them, unlike Hazel, who was already counting on their presence. She gave them a broad smile before turning her attention back to Dev, whose gaze lingered a little too long on Peri before he too continued talking to the girl, occasionally glancing back at him as if to make sure that Peri was not sneaking up on them, or worse, eavesdropping. 

Peri does not know what to make of it. Especially after it prevents him from having a pleasant conversation with Antony.

Not because the boy is an unpleasant person to talk to, quite the opposite. Peri cannot remember the last time he had so much fun talking to someone who was not part of his family.

To be fair, he doesn't have many friends, and the one friend he does have thrives on his misery and tries to kill him at least once a month. It's complicated. 

And another reason for him to appreciate how easy it is to get along with Antony. 

Still... hard to concentrate on a conversation when two secretive and giggling children are sitting just a few metres in front of you. 

"They're up to something." 

Antony looks up at Peri, surprised at the abrupt change of subject. 

"You think so?" Antony follows his gaze to the children still engrossed in each other, which is strange, especially for Hazel, who under normal circumstances would have tried to get all four of them to do something together.

"I know so." Peri clarifies. 

It may have only been a few weeks - he's known Dev for much longer, but he's talking about the time he spent with the boy after he got him back - but he can read the boy by now, and that face he's wearing? Totally up to something. Something he does not want his godparent to know about. The way he glances back at him proves as much. 

"You might be right." Antony agrees, shifting his position slightly to get a closer look at Hazel's face. "That's Hazel's scheming gaze, and the little I'm up to something smile."

Not to mention that she is glancing at them too, unlike Dev's look of paranoia, hers is filled with nothing but excitement. 

".. I don't like it."

Antony chuckles. 

"Don't be like that." He raps his knuckles gently against the fairy's shoulder. "Whatever they are planning, they surely mean no harm. We should just let them be."

Peri frowns at him. "Do you know what they are planning?"

Antony shrugs. "Can't say I do, but I know Hazel would never do something to hurt anyone."

He has a point.

"And I know Dev wouldn't either."

Not anymore. Peri's shoulders start to relax.

"That's... true." He hates to admit it, but it is what it is. He should probably just drop the subject. Antony is happy to help him do so. 

"How are things going by the way?" 

Peri tilts his head to the side, a silent question etched into his expression. 

"You and Dev? Hazel told me that you got him back and that you are making progress, but I would like to hear it from you."

"I..." Peri's eyes sweep over the curly-haired boy again, laughing with Hazel as if he had no care in the world. A smile tugs at his lips. "I think this time things are working out just fine. We are going to be fine."

The road is long and bumpy, but it's worth every stumble and fall.

As Antony and Peri exchange pleasantries: Peri tells him more about his time with Dev and all the progress the boy has made - sounding like a proud big brother, maybe even a parent, while doing so.

Antony in exchange tells him about his time at college - Peri can relate to his struggles and is surprisingly good at dishing out some advice on managing his free and study time, which leads to another round of questions about which college Peri went to and how the whole system works in Fairy World, which somehow leads them to Antony talking about his crush on Dejah. 

It is easy to talk about. Talking to Peri is generally quite easy for the teenage boy. The fairy seems genuinely intrigued and interested in everything he has to say, being as good a listener as a storyteller, although it is pretty obvious that he is not used to or very fond of talking about himself, but that is what he has Antony for.

He is pretty good at getting people to open up, especially during the flow of a conversation that could go on forever. 

But back to the beginning: 

While Antony and Peri exchange pleasantries, Hazel and Dev are indeed plotting something. They have been since Dev first set foot in the Wells household, pulling Hazel aside while their fairies and her family get to know each other. 

"What do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Peri."

"Peri?" Hazel repeats, looking back at the fairy who seems a little tense. "Is he okay? Has something happened? Did you have another fight?"

"It's not like that." Dev assures her. "He's fine. I'm fine. We are fine." At least he hopes the fairy is all right. He suspects this conversation is to find out exactly that. "At least I think so. Never mind."

The boy shakes his head and continues before Hazel has a chance to reply. "Do you know why Peri likes Christmas so much?"

"I don't? I mean its Christmas, everyone likes Christmas. I'm not sure what this conversation is about, Dev." Hazel admits, completely lost. "Maybe you want to backtrack a bit? Give me some more context?"

The boy groans. "Me and Peri had a conversation today, and he mentioned that this too is his first Christmas in a while."

"I guess he didn't celebrate during Cosmo and Wanda's absence?" Hazel concludes, her heart aching with sympathy.

She knows that Christmas is not a big deal for fairies, especially those without a godchild, and yet it seems that the same does not apply to Peri. 

"Yeah." Dev nods, grateful for the girl's quick thinking. "He said it wasn't the same without them. It hasn't been the same ever since..."

He stops talking, leaving the rest of his sentence open.

"Ever since what?" Hazel prompts. 

"Thats it! He didn't finish and when I prompted him to do so he didn't elaborate, said the past is the past and just closed off." 

It could be nothing. It probably is nothing. Dev has no idea why he obsesses so much over those words, but he just can't shake them! The longing look on Peri's face as he refuses to answer. It is obvious that there is more to it.

The fairy is hurting, and if he is unwilling to tell him, then he must go to the next best source. 

Is that fair? Probably not, but it is not like Peri has done anything different than going behind his back to talk to Hazel about Dev's problems. Which, in retrospect, was the best thing he could have done, otherwise the last month would not have turned out the way it did, and he would probably have spent Christmas all alone.

And that is the point! Peri has done so much for him by trying to dig deeper, he... somehow wants to repay that? 

"Maybe I'm just thinking too much and it's nothing."

Hazel chuckles softly. "You know, Peri said the same thing when he asked me about your problems with Christmas. It's kind of funny that your roles are reversed now."

Dev frowns. "I don't think it's funny at all."

The pout that appears on his face in tandem with his words makes Hazel chuckle louder. 

"Well, I do~" 

It shows that you care enough about him to seek help for his sake. It shows that you have learnt enough about him to pick up on the slightest sign that something is wrong. It shows that you have opened yourself up. Not only have you let others in, but you have become accustomed to their presence and their needs. 

"Especially because I'm going to give you the same advice I gave him: Trust your instincts! And if they tell you there is more to it, then there probably is! And even if there isn't. Better to worry once too much than once too little, right?"

"... I am not worried."

"Of course you aren't." Hazel pats his shoulders. The boy glares at her with a grumble. She draws her hand back with a chuckle. "Look, Dev. I can't speak for Peri. This is really something you should talk to him about."

The boy deflates. 

"But.."

Only to perk up again. 

"... Cosmo and Wanda did tell me about Christmas time being bittersweet for them, because of their former godkid. Apparently it was his favourite holiday?"

"Their former godkid?" Dev echoes. Why should that have anything to do with Peri? He is just about to voice that question out loud, wouldn't Hazel already continue.

"Hmhm, his name was Timmy. Cosmo and Wanda told us about him, remember?"

He does. After Peri gave him his early christmas gift in from of the sweater he is wearing, he wanted to give something back. Which meant also creating a early gift for his godparent, a gift Cosmo and Wanda helped him with. They do know their son best after all.

They decided to knit a sweater vest, the one Peri is currently wearing, and during the process they told him a lot of tales. Most of them were fantastic adventures they went on during their vacation, fun stories about Peri growing up or even the adventures they had with Hazel while he wasn't present. But one of them mentioned Timmy. Their previous godchild, the kid thats responsible for Peri even being alive.

"That was the boy who wished Peri into existence, wasn't it? The one who had three fairies?"

"Dev." Hazel can't help but be amused that Dev is still stuck up on that part. 

"I say it as I see it."

"Of course you are." Hazel snorts. "But yes. Cosmo and Wanda told me a bit about him."

Not much, they didn't want to dwell too much in the past. It also seemed painful for them to talk about it. Like they don't know if they should laugh or cry about the memories. This is probably what losing someone close to you does to you. 

"Apparently he was so unhappy that he needed their support for years to come. It was the longest time a godkid ever had godparents. The longest time they ever had one. They watched him grow, raised him even. He was like a son to them... like a brother to Peri."

A brother.

"I don't really know a lot about fairy traditions."

Could that be why? Because Peri grew up in the human world instead? There were no other fairy babies to keep him company, just a human child who loved him unconditionally. 

And yet... Peri never mentioned him. Not even once. Unlike Cosmo and Wanda, who for one reason or another told Hazel more than one story about Timmy, Peri never even mentioned his name in front of Dev. There must be a reason for that.

An uncomfortable feeling settles in Dev's stomach as he remembers the longing look in the purple irises. 

"It's never been the same ever since... forget it."

"...What happened?" 

Hazel makes a face. She tries to smile, but it does not reach her ears. 

"The same thing that happens to every godchild when their job is done." She shrugs. "He forgot them."

He forgot them. Just like Dev did, just like Dev will once he is too old to have a fairy anymore.

"... That's not fair."

He is no longer just talking about Timmy. Hazel knows, she too feels frightened and betrayed when she thinks of the future that awaits them. The knowledge that one day all the memories they have made will not be there anymore. 

"No, it's not." She agrees softly before taking a deep breath. No point in moping, especially on Christmas. Today is supposed to be a happy day! No point dwelling on a future that is still years away, when they can simply enjoy the present. "But I suppose it is necessary."

"Screw this."

"Dev-"

"No! Screw this!" He hisses, loud enough to show his anger but not loud enough to be heard by the others. "Screw the rules!"

Which, in his experience, only ever managed to hurt people. 

If it were for them, he would have no memories of Peri, he would not even have his fairy. It was all thanks to Peri fighting tooth and nail for him in the bloody court, not giving up against all odds, that they even had a second chance. If it were up to the rules, Peri would not even exist! 

"This is bullshit!"

It is not fair that their memories get erased! Its not fair that they have to forget the people who stopped their lives from being miserable! Its not fair that they have to forget the family they made, and its not fair to said family that any evidence of their existence is erased from the minds of the people they care about. 

It is obvious that Cosmo and Wanda, Peri, are still hurting from a loss they suffered years ago. Someone they lost and can never get back because he doesn't remember them.

Hell, they were probably not even allowed to see him afterwards! If they even wanted to. He cannot imagine how he would feel. Passing by, seeking out Hazel or Peri, only to have them look at him as if they had never meant anything to each other, as if he were a complete stranger. 

The thought sickens him. The whole damn system sickens him.

"There's nothing we can do, Dev." Hazel squeezes his shoulder.

And she is right, there is nothing they can do. Their godparents always do so much for them, and in the end it is still them who suffer. Dev will not stand for it any longer. 

"What if there is?"

Hazel opens her mouth and closes it again.

"What do you mean?"

"What if there was something we could do?"

There is a fire in Dev's eyes, but it is not malicious. Not purely, there is hatred stirring the flames, ready to burn the people responsible for this cruel twist of fate, and yet it also carries warmth, a need to protect those close to him. Whatever Dev is planning, it is not an evil scheme like back then, he has no intention to hurt someone. This time he wants to help.

And if she has to be honest, that's all Hazel needs to be on board.

"I am all ears."

Chapter Text

About half an hour after Dev and Hazel finalized their little scheme, all of them are called to help set the table. 

"What exactly is the plan for today?" Dev asks quietly as he sets the plates down. He was so focused on their planning that he completely forgot to ask Hazel about her own Christmas traditions, alias whatever is awaiting them today.

"Well..." She drawls as she folds some napkins.

Dev watches with both fascination and disbelief as she somehow manages to fold them into the shape of a flower, which she carefully places on the single plate he has placed on the table. 

How the hell...?

Noticing his fascination, Hazel chuckles, as does Peri, who gently nudges Dev with his elbow before taking the plates from his hands and motioning for him to join Hazel. The girl wastes no time in taking one of Dev's now free hands in hers to pull him beside her and show him exactly how she works her own little magic. 

"We celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day." Today is the 24th after all. "Today we all get together to eat and decorate the tree."

They have a tree? Of course they have a tree, if there's one thing you can't miss at Christmas it's a tree. Dev really wonders how he didn't notice the giant pine tree standing in the corner of the living room until now.

It is big and beautiful and... empty.

Dev tilts his head. "Decorate it? As in... you put the ornaments on yourself?"

Hazel stops what she's doing to blink at Dev. "Yeah?"

"They're not going to fly themselves up there, little buddy." Antony chuckles, polishing his cutlery before carefully setting it down. 

"I know that." Dev blushes, but the damage has already been done.

"... Your dad doesn't even get you a Christmas tree?" Hazel whispers.

"He does!" Dev protests, as if defending his father, until he realizes... that there really is no need for that.

 "... Sometimes." He admits, shaking his head and nudging her to continue with her folding lessons. "But they were always ready to go, I guess. Fully decorated and all. Always looked like he stole them from a mall, to be honest."

Hazel, Antony, and even Peri, look amused. 

"Well, I can't wait to show you the joys of decorating your own tree." Hazel says.

"You can put your own ornaments on it. Whatever you like. Hazel, for example, likes to put stones on it and then complain when the branches can't support their weight." Antony grins teasingly at her, making the girl huff and blush.

"Hey! That was one time!"

"One time each year."

"Yeah? I have to try it again every year! Who knows, maybe one day there will be a tree strong enough to carry the weight of my rock collections."

"Unfortunately, that day has yet to come." Antony says dramatically.

"Just you wait!" Hazel crosses her arms over her chest. "Perhaps today will be the day!"

Antony chuckles and ruffles her hair. "You have my thoughts... and prayers, you are gonna need them."

"Antonyyyyyy!"

"Antony, are you teasing your little sister again?" Angela chimes in, placing the bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. 

"I wouldn't dare." Antony gasps dramatically, Hazel shows him her tongue in response. "I'm just telling Dev and Peri about Hazel's rock collection."

"One day they will hang on our Christmas tree, and then you will eat your words, Antony. You will eat your words!" Hazel promises. 

"You are free to prove your brother wrong after dinner, pumpkin."

"I will." Hazel promises. "You're on my side, right, Dev?"

How could he not with the girl looking at him with big, pleading eyes.

"You know we can just wish for them to defy gravity, right?" He reminds the girl. 

"But that is not the saaaaame, this is about honor, Dev. Honor and respect, and today we are going to make sure it is granted to us, because we deserve it!" Hazel exclaims.

There is a fire in her eyes that no one would dare put out. Satisfied with the respectful silence, she continues her lesson.

"So..." Peri breaks the silence a few moments later. "Is today all about putting stones on the tree or do you also have other traditions?"

Antony chuckles. "Well, after we decorate the tree, we usually talk and drink before watching some Christmas movies together."

"Then we go to sleep so Santa can come and deliver our presents!" Hazel says. "In the morning we open them and then we eat breakfast and spend the rest of the day just being together and having fun doing whatever we want!"

It sounds great. Relaxing, even. Being together as a family without really being forced to do everything together, just enjoying each other's presence without any expectations or pressure. 

Others might say it sounds simple, but to Dev it sounds perfect. 

"Sounds good."

He lifts the napkin he has successfully brought into shape and shows it to Hazel, who begins to clap and cheer.

"It does, doesn't it? I am glad you are joining us today, Dev."

"Me too. I am..." Dev falters, choosing his next words carefully. "I'm really grateful for the chance to be here."

"Well... you can show your gratitude by eating until you are as full as you can be." Angela puts the turkey on the table, the smell alone makes their stomaches howl.

"Gladly."

Dinner with the Wells was... something else, and not at all what Dev had expected. Not that he had any expectations or much experience.

Family dinners always were a foreign concept to him. His father never really took the time to sit down and eat with him, except for a few restaurant visits here and there.

Dev cherished those moments.

Them just sitting across from each other to enjoy a meal together. It was nothing special, but to Dev it felt like paradise. It was the closest thing he ever got to a family dinner - even though his father never really talked to him, far more focused on his phones and tablets than having a meaningful conversation.

But Dev did not mind - he did, deep inside he did - but his happiness to spend some time with his father was stronger than the disappointment that they did not converse all that much - or at all really.

All that changed when Peri came into his life. Well, it really changed after he came into his life for the second time. Both more in touch with how the other works and what Dev needs, the fairy tried his best to make his daily life at home seem more... normal. 

By cooking him dinner, for example. He could always magic something up - not that Dev really trusts magic food anymore. Thanks for that, Hazel - or let the Au-Pairs do the cooking like they did until now, but he insists to do so himself. Dev isn't going to complain. On some days he is even generous enough to lend him a helping hand, before they settle down to eat. 

They use the time to talk about his day, which isn't really necessary since they spend most of it together anyway, but it's still nice to have company. It makes him feel seen - important.

But this. This is something completely different. There are not two people trying to fill the silence of a too big house, there is a whole family! So many people, so many topics.

Everyone is talking and laughing. There never seems to be a second of silence, and not in a bad way - it's a little overwhelming for Dev, but it's manageable. He would rather be overwhelmed than miss any of this. The joy and the warmth, the companionship and the sense of belonging.

This is what it means to have a family, huh? 

Dev would be lying if he were to pretend that he isn't jealous, especially with Hazel's parents looking out for him this much.

"I hope you eat turkey?" Angela double-checks as she places a large piece of turkey on his plate.

"I do. Thank you." Dev nods politely. The smell of the chicken is already making his mouth water. He did not realize how hungry he was until the promise of food is right in front of him. 

"Hazel didn't mention anything about you having allergies either?" Marcus makes sure. 

"Except for lactose." Angela chimes in.

Wait, what?

"Except for lactose." Her husband agrees, causing Dev's head to jerk up. 

"You... know about that?"

How could they? Why should they? 

"I told them." Mismatched eyes wander to Hazel. 

She told them? Just like that? And they remembered? No, they didn't just remember, they decided to act on it.

"Why?"

"Why?" Hazel echoes, tilting her head to the side, looking like she might burst out laughing at any moment. "Um, maybe because you eat with us? And I didn't want you to get sick or... I don't know. To be honest, I don't know what happens when you drink milk, do you get sick?"

"Stomach ache." He replies on autopilot, still unable to wrap his head around the fact that the Wells were avoiding milk because of his intolerance. 

"See! Good thing I told them! Otherwise you wouldn't get to enjoy Mom's famous macaroni and cheese." 

"I can't even taste the difference." Antony says, already shoving a forkful into his mouth, which immediately results in him getting scolded. 

"Just because you don't live under this roof anymore doesn't mean our rules don't apply to you."

Especially the one about waiting until everyone has their serve before digging in. 

Antony grins innocently at his mother. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. You know I love your macaroni and cheese. And now that I've had a taste, I can confirm that it has never tasted better."

"You say that every year." Angela rolls her eyes, unable to stay mad at her son after he knows exactly what to say to pacify her. 

"Which means you improve with every year passed, soon you will be able to open up your own restaurant."

"Let's not. Then we would have to share her food." Hazel dismisses the idea, causing Cosmo and Wanda to laugh.

They remember a story from the past with a similar outcome, even though Timmy's mother never had a natural talent for cooking. 

While the rest of the table jokes and laughs, Dev's finger curls into the fabric of his pants. 

"You... You didn't have to do that." His voice is low, barely there. "Going out of your way for me. You shouldn't have."

Angela tilts her head, sensing the boy's inner turmoil and responding with a friendly smile. Her voice carries nothing but patience and care. "But we wanted to. It didn't bother us at all, really."

Tears sting Dev's eyes. Maybe he is overreacting, blowing this out of proportion, but how could he not?

His own damn father doesn't even remember, doesn't even care about his intolerance, but Hazel's parents - strangers, because that's what they are, they owe him nothing. There is no reason for them to care - remember - but they do.

The knowledge leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. A whirlwind of emotions rushes through his body. 

He doesn't know whether to laugh with joy or cry at the unfairness of it all.  

"Thank you." He whispers. The words almost catch in his throat. It hurts to say them, but that doesn't make them any less honest. "That's very kind of you."

Angela and Marcus exchange a glance. 

"It was our pleasure, really." Marcus smiles at him as gently as Angela does. Even a blind person could see the effect such a simple gesture has on the boy. "Don't hesitate to let us know if you need anything, okay?"

Dev opens his mouth and closes it. He wants to answer. Their love and care for someone who is not even part of their family is overwhelming in the best of ways, so why can't he form words? Why is there a stone in his stomach, blocking his throat and robbing him of every breath? 

He should be happy, damn it. He is happy, so why can't he express it? Why can't he just be grateful? Why can't he breathe?!

"He will." A hand rests on his shoulder. A weight so familiar it pushes the air out of his lungs and lets him breath again. "Dev's not one to hesitate to speak up when he wants something. Right, Dev?"

Dev looks up at Peri. The fairy smiles at him, his thumb slowly rubbing circles on his shoulder to anchor him in the present, while the look in his eyes, the casual way he addresses him, is so comforting that his shoulders begin to sag. He didn't even realize how tense he was until his muscles loosen again. 

"Right." He agrees.

In the end, it's not about what his father didn't do, it's about what other people are willing to do. He should be grateful for the people who care, instead of mourning the ones who don't. As hard as it is some days, but that is why he has people to remind him, right? People to catch him when he is about to fall.

He nods to his godparent. Whatever came over him just now, Peri managed to snap him out of it in seconds and Dev couldn't be more grateful. He looks back at the Wells.

"Though I doubt there is anything I could need that you didn't already provide." He tries himself at a light joke, successfully lightening the mood again.

"They do have the tendency to overdo things." Antony agrees. The myriad of different foods only prove the point. 

"You don't say." Dev murmurs with his usual snark.

"You have to try the candied yams, Dev!"

"The what?" Hazel wastes no time in explaining to the boy what candied yams are, including a taste test. 

As soon as his charge is swept up in the girl's enthusiasm, completely forgetting the storm of emotions in which he almost lost himself, Peri pulls his hand back. Feeling eyes on him, he glances at his parents, who give him a thumbs up. He can't help but snort in amusement and return the gesture before asking them to pass the mashed potatoes.

Once everyone has some food on their plates, it's time to dig in! And dig in they did. Dev swears that despite countless visits to fancy restaurants - he was never a big fan of those, the portions were always too small and too exotic, filled with food that no ten year old would ever eat willingly - he has never eaten food this good! 

Everyone else seems to agree. Compliments fly everywhere. Food is shared, seconds are passed around, the fairies even ask the Wells for some of their recipes. Some things cannot be recreated with magic, and a meal like this is one of them.

And the meal got even better:

"Don't forget, there's still dessert." Angela reminds them, a little bit too late with all of them already being full.

But how does the saying go? There is always room for dessert? Especially in the presence of three sweet-toothed magical creatures. Needless to say, there wasn't even a crumb of dessert left. At least they didn't have to worry about leftovers. 

"Urgh..." Hazel's head collides with Dev's, both children leaning against each other, a hand on their stomachs. "I'm so full I don't think I'll ever be able to move."

"I second that." The boy agrees, making the Wells chuckle.

"Me three." Cosmo raises a hand, unable to do more, thanks to his body being slumped over the table. Which is very bad table behavior, but no one is calling him out on it, so it's fine for now.

Wanda chuckles and runs her fingers through the shorter hair at the back of his neck.

"You can make yourself comfortable on the couch." Angela offers, getting up to clear the table.

"Ah, let me help you." Peri starts to get up.

"There's no need." Angela shakes her head. "You are our guests. You are free to sit and relax while we put the leftovers in the refrigerator."

Something tells Peri that the leftovers will turn into the whole table being cleaned without any help. He's not going to let that happen, not on his watch, not after he's already been forced to sit out the actual making of dinner. 

"And you treated us accordingly." Peri reassures her. "You made us feel very welcome, and now I would like to show my gratitude by helping you out a little."

Angela opens her mouth to argue further.

"I insist." Peri is already gathering the plates. "And I won't take no for an answer."

Marcus chuckles at the attitude. "You raised a good one. Very proper and polite." 

He helps the fairy by showing him how to load and operate the dishwasher. A foreign concept to Peri, who usually just poofs his plates clean. 

"He got that from his father."

"And his stubborn head from his mother." Cosmo hums, an equal love for both members of his family shining in his eyes. "As well as his good looks~"

"Then he must have gotten his natural charm from you." Wanda counters, a flirtatious back and forth that could have gone on forever and would have ended in a very embarrassed fairy if Antony - bless his soul - hadn't stepped in to save Peri from his parents flirting at his expense.

"Well... you heard them, guys." Antony mentions to Hazel and Dev as he stands up. "Guess we need to step up our game."

"Sure!" Hazel is up in seconds. "If we all work together, we can settle down even faster!"

"It's only polite to help after you have already given us your hospitality and a meal." Dev says so the Wells don't feel bad for everyone getting up to help them clean. 

"I guess if you put it that way." Marcus chuckles, looking at his wife, who isn't all that happy with the way things are going, which doesn't mean she isn't grateful. A gentle expression crosses her face. 

"It's our own fault for raising them to be this caring." Wanda shrugs, causing Angela to sigh.

"I can't argue with that."

And so the whole group cleans the table and the rest of the kitchen before sitting down in front of the Christmas tree. A warm mug in their hands, and a plate full of cookies on standby... as well as a bowl of popcorn?

"What's with the popcorn?" Dev asks.

He can get behind the cookies and the warm beverages, but the random idea of popping popcorn after dinner? Maybe for the movies they announced earlier, but right now?

"We make popcorn garlands with it!"

Dev raises an eyebrow. Hazel falters.

"You don't know what popcorn garlands are?"

Judging by Peri's expression, he doesn't either. He and Dev exchange a look before shrugging. 

"I guess we string popcorn together to make garlands?" Dev guesses.

"It's a Christmas tradition that goes way back." Wanda says, leaving the rest of the explanation to the Wells.

"Our family's been doing it forever." Angela agrees, a wistful look on her face as she looks at the bowl of popcorn. "It's a tradition I like to pass on."

"It's a nice way to get the family together!" Marcus agrees. He himself loves the idea of everyone just sitting down and creating something together! It's a fun family activity that he wouldn't want to miss. "It's also meant to show gratitude for a successful harvest!"

"And when Christmas is over, we can hang them outside for the birds to eat!" Hazel hums.

"Also a cheap way to decorate the tree." Antony shrugs.

"Huh." Dev looks down at the table where a bunch of needles and some twine are already waiting to be used.

"So we just..." He picks up one of them. "..take a thread and string them together?"

Sounds simple enough.

"It's supposed to look like this!" Cosmo proudly shows off the string of popcorn he created while they were talking.

"Oh!" Looking at it, he has an idea! He ties the end of the string together until the popcorn forms a full circle. "Popcorn crown!"

He turns to his wife, motioning for her to bow her head. 

"This one belongs to Wanda!" The popcorn is placed on her head. "Because she is the queen of my heart."

"Awww..." As soon as she raises her head again, Wanda puts her hands on her chest and looks at her husband with hearts in her eyes. "Isn't he just the cutest?"

She wastes no time in placing a hand on Cosmo's cheek and... yes, a kiss happens. Yikes.

Peri looks away with a disgusted sound that makes Antony laugh. He has already saved the fairy once today, he is allowed to laugh now.

Peri frowns at him and Hazel. "Why aren't your parents like that?"

Marcus chuckles. "He's right, honey." He puts an arm around his wife's waist. "Why aren't we like this?"

"I don't know. Maybe we are the ones who need to step up our game?"

"I was waiting for those words."

And... there goes another kiss.

"Oh, gross." Antony holds his hands over Hazel's eyes, who makes a disappointed sound. "You just had to encourage them."

"I'm not going to be the only one leaving this party traumatized." Peri clarifies as he grabs some thread and a needle he looks at with doubt. 

"I can show you how to do it." His father offers.

Even though Peri isn't the biggest fan of accepting or asking for help, at this point he'd do just about anything to keep his parents from making goo-goo eyes at each other.

Don't get him wrong. He loves them. He really does, and he is happy that they are as in love with each other as they were eons ago. But he is still a kid, okay, maybe not a kid, but their kid, and no kid likes to see their parents get all mushy and sappy with each other.

Well, almost to no kid. Hazel would have had no problem. She thinks it is cute. Just you wait until you get older, Hazel, wont be as cute then. But back to the popcorn garlands.

"I would like that." 

Just as much as Cosmo likes teaching his son something. He shuffles close enough to let their shoulders touch before explaining the simple act of stringing popcorn together until it's long enough to form a garland. 

And even after the explanation is over, and Peri's focus is on his working fingers, he doesn't move away, staying as close as possible to his son, who does gives him a odd look, but since he doesn't complain or create any distance, he must be okay with it.

"Just like that! Looking good, son!"

It took Peri only a few minutes to string together a few popcorns, at least enough to mirror his father's actions and form a circle - a small crown, if you will - which he unceremoniously drops on his father's head, before already stringing up a new thread.

Cosmo blinks at him, his fingers reaching up to touch the popcorn that weighs down his hair. 

"You.. made it for me?"

"Yeah?" Peri says as if it were obvious, because it kind of is. "A queen needs a king, right? I thought you should match." 

He says it so casually that Cosmo starts to tear up.

"You made me a crown." 

"It's not a big deal, Dad?" Peri averts his gaze clearly getting embarrassed.

"It is! It's the biggest deal."

Especially since Peri is not one to show his affection openly, which makes this gesture mean so much more and results in him being hugged against his father's chest.

"Daaad!" Peri tenses up, clearly unhappy with the way things are working out for him. "It's really not- Sigh. Mom? Can I get some help here?"

The teary-eyed look she gives him is all the answer he needs. "Oh boy."

And there is another pair of arms around him. Just his luck.

"He had it coming." Dev says, watching his fairy twist and turn, pushing against every body part he can get his hands on. He doesn't even know whom of the two he is pushing, just that he is pushing to escape, complaining all the while. 

"Totally." Antony agrees, eyeing the young boy who still hasn't started. "Need help with your chain?"

Dev's original plan was to ask Hazel for help, but a look at her shows him that she is pretty busy chatting up her parents at the moment. He could wait for them to finish, but... there's no real reason to.

Dev shrugs. "How hard can it be?"

"Not hard at all." Antony chuckles, looping a thread through the needle and knotting the ends together before sticking the sharp point into the popcorn and stringing it on the thread. "Here."

The older boy hands the string to Dev while he grabs another for himself. 

"You just add to it, and when you're done, you can tell me. Simple as that."

"Simple as that." Dev repeats, taking the string without a moment's hesitation.

Giving Dev a smile, the two of them get to work. Only a few minutes later Dev has the desired result. A perfect chain that he knots together to join the train and make a crown.

He tugs on Hazel's sleeve, making her look up at him in surprise, the perfect opportunity to place the crown on her head without a word. 

Hazel blinks at him. Once. Twice. Before a grin tugs on her lips. The reason becomes clear when she reveals her own popcorn crown, which she crowns him with. Once the deed is done, they look at each other and begin to laugh. 

Looks like they just got a new tradition to add for next year. How could they not, with them looking so stylish? Everyone present should wear a crown made of popcorn, just for fun!

"We should make one for your brother." Dev nods in Antony's direction. The boy in question is busy giving his own mother a crown, which she gratefully accepts. "I don't want him to feel left out."

Hazel's whole being lights up at the suggestion, the subtle hint of her best friend and brother getting along. 

"And that's why you're one of my favorite people, Dev." She puts a hand on his shoulder before going back to work. Dev swears he can still feel her touch minutes later. 

Now that everyone has a popcorn crown in their hair - thank God they didn't put salt on the popcorn or there would have been complaints - and they have finally started and finished their original goal of making a popcorn garland to wrap around the tree, its time to get to the actual decorating part.

A task that looks daunting, but turns out to be quite simple: You choose one of the ornaments or baubles, place it on a hook, and hang it on a branch. 

"Sooo, I can just hang it anywhere?" Dev asks, just to be sure. A purple bauble studded with gold stars rests between his fingers, just waiting to be placed on the tree. 

"There are no rules for decorating." Angela agrees and shows him how to attach the hook to the branch. "Just make sure the branch can take the weight."

She looks at Hazel, who - how could it be otherwise? - is already trying to hang one of her stones on the tree. If Dev remembers correctly, it has to be Glinda... or Ronda. He always mixes them up, but in his defense, they are all stones.

As soon as she feels them staring at her, her shoulders tense as she glances at them slowly, as if she had been caught doing something bad.

"...What? One day they will hold."

Antony sighs affectionately, pointing at his sister as if to say: See? What did I tell you?

Peri and Dev make a different amused sound respectively.

"Trust your dreams, Hazel." Cosmo chimes in. "Everything is possible if you believe in your dreams."

"Thank you." Hazel emphasizes the words with a trill in her voice. "At least one of you that gets it."

Her gaze makes it pretty clear how disappointed she is that everyone else does not. In their defense... she is literally trying to hang a rock on a branch, they are allowed to have doubts. Just as Cosmo is allowed to help her find a strong branch, as long as no magic is used to make it stronger. 

No, Hazel plays by the rules, even if it means admitting defeat. Wanda watches them with a fond shake of her head. 

"We also need to make sure the ornaments fill out the whole tree." Wanda helps them get back on track as she hangs a bulb of her own. It's a lovely shade of pink. Dev looks down at the purple bauble in his hands. 

"And I can use all of them?" He nods at the box filled to the brim with all kinds of decorations. "There's no particular color scheme?"

"No color scheme." Marcus confirms, the ornament in his hands dipped in an icy blue. "We like our tree to be as colorful and special as possible~"

A goal that shouldn't be too hard to achieve. Looking at the orb in his hands once more, Dev reaches for a branch to place it on. He tests it to see if it holds the weight before letting go, successfully placing his very first ball on the tree. 

It's such a simple concept, such a simple task, and yet... the sight of the purple ornament flashing between the green branches makes him feel strangely happy, so he adds more!

They all do! Whether it is the front of the tree or the back, the lower branches or the top, it takes no time at all to decorate the tree in all the colors of the rainbow.

There are even decorations in the shape of reindeers and even a train hanging from the tree!  Not to mention the actual candy canes that add to the colorful picture. And then there's the stone, which unfortunately has no place on the tree. It is just too heavy.

"I told you so, small fry." Antony pets the disappointed girl's head. She pouts at the stone in her hand for a moment before looking up with determination. 

"Just wait until next year. It will be Ronda's -" Ah, so it was Ronda. "- time to shine, and all of you will be there to witness it. Mark my words!"

All of you will be there to witness it. 

It's just a sentence, spoken without a thought, but it still makes Dev's heart beat with hope. Maybe... this will become an annual thing. A new normal he can't wait to experience. 

"Marked them down." Antony grins. "Just like every year."

"Antony!"

"Kids, kids..." Marcus interrupts their playful banter. "We'll have time to tease each other when the tree is finished."

It's not done yet? Dev frowns. It looks pretty done to him. A glance at the boxes also confirms his suspicion that there are no ornaments left, what else is there to do?

"Dev." The boy's eyes snap to Angela. "Would you do us the honor?"

The... honors? Dev looks down at the angel presented to him, not quite understanding?

"The tree is not finished until you put the angel on top." 

Oh. Oh! 

Dev's eyes widen. "You want me to...?" He points at himself in disbelief. The Wells nod. "But... it's your tree, shouldn't you...?"

"It's our tree." Antony points out. "You put as much work into it as we did."

"Aaaaand you are the guest of honor. So the honor should be yours." Hazel hums. 

Once again Dev can't put a name to the feeling that is welling up inside him.

"I mean... if everyone is okay with it?"

"I'll help you get to the top." Peri offers, a hand on his shoulder in subtle encouragement. 

How could Dev say no with all of them looking at him so expectantly? Not that he would want to refuse such a heartwarming request. 

He carefully wraps his fingers around the angel, inspecting it from all sides and making sure he has a good grip before nodding to Peri.

"Are you sure you don't want us to...?" 

"I got it." Peri cuts his mother off before she can finish her sentence.

Kneeling down on one knee, he puts his hands on Dev's waist and lifts the boy as he slowly gets up again. Once he is high enough Dev carefully places the angel on top of the tree, adjusting it to make sure it stands straight and has no chance of falling, before pulling his hands back. 

It is done. The angel is placed at the top of the tree. The people around him begin to clap as if he has just performed a miracle. He chuckles, and looks down to meet the purple gaze, mentioning him with a nod to be let down again. 

Peri does not waste a second to take a step back, only to stumble. A gasp escapes from his throat and he cradles Dev close to his chest, wrapping his arms around him protectively as soon as he falls back and... hands are placed on every part of his shoulder and back to keep him from falling. 

A sigh of relief escapes Peri's lips. 

"Thank you." He says to no one in particular, far too busy checking on the child in his arms. "You okay, Dev?"

Oddly enough, the boy does not look troubled at all. Why should he? Despite the stumble, he trusted Peri not to let him fall. And even if he had, it wasn't like he would have done it on purpose.

... Wow, they really came a long way, didn't they?

"Why shouldn't I be? I am not the one that fell over my own damn legs." Dev rolls his eyes. "You should sit down."

Not caring about his protests the boy pushes against Peri's chest to make him stumble back, not that that would be possible with all those hands still on him. Cosmo and Wanda are the first to withdraw theirs, if only to hold onto their son's arms and gently guide him to sit down on the couch.

As soon as he does, Peri subconsciously starts rubbing at his hip as if soothing an ache, while Dev crawls out of his lap and sits down next to him. 

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't." The hard edge in his voice says something else entirely. 

"Liar." Dev says without remorse.  

"Is something wrong?" Angela sits down next to them, though her eyes shine with worry, she still gives them the option of not answering.

It's almost comforting to have an option. No one demands an answer, even if Peri feels like he owes them one after almost dropping a child in their living room. He can't believe he almost let Dev get hurt just because of his own stupid pride.

"I told you I am fine." Dev rolls his eyes as if he read his mind. He didn't, Peri just has a bad habit of muttering some of his anxious thoughts out loud. "And not mad, so stop overthinking. Anyone could have tripped there."

Even someone who can hold his own weight without support. Not caring at all about the stupid arguments his fairy might use to oppose him, he shifts his focus to Angela. Answering her question just like Peri did for him earlier. 

"Nothing wrong. Peri just likes to forget that he isn't using a cane for fun and giggles."

Peri opens his mouth and closes it again, clearly unhappy about being called out like that. He glares at Dev.

"What? Don't tell me this couldn't have been avoided if you wouldn't be so damn stubborn."

"... Like you are one to talk."

Dev raises an eyebrow. You were the one that almost let me fall two minutes ago, you sure you want to argue with me right now?

Peri hates that he can read full sentences out of Dev's expression without him even needing to vocalize them. 

"He has a point, you know?" Wanda speaks up. Peri sighs. 

"... Okay maybe, just maybe, this could have been avoided if I wouldn't be so stubborn. Happy?"

"Depends." Wanda crosses her arms in front of her chest. "You gonna stop being so stubborn?"

"... Anyways, what do you guys think about the tree?"

A perfect reflection of her question. Wanda can't help but shake her head while Hazel starts to snicker. As if they should have expected anything else. 

Wanda sighs. "I guess, it wouldn't be fair not to admire it after Dev risked his life to finish it."

"Mom." Peri complains about her choice of words, still feeling guilty and insecure after almost dropping his kid. Which she knows of course she does that's exactly why she said it. She laughs at her son, who is quick to pout at her.

Dev can't help but chuckle. The Wells soon join him.

"She has got a point you know." Dev mirrors Wanda's words. Peri isn't a fan of the two of them teaming up to make his life miserable.

"Fine. Then let us all celebrate Dev's survival by taking a look at the tree. Hurray."

"That sounded kind of sarcastic." Antony chuckles. 

Peri raises an eyebrow at him. You don't say.

"You saying you are not happy about my survival?" Dev acts offended.

"I'm saying, next time I'm going to drop you for real."

Dev shakes his head in disbelief. "And you wonder why I have trust issues."

"I never wondered for a second why you have those."

Dev opens his mouth and closes it again. 

"... That's fair." He decides. Peri chuckles and raises a hand to ruffle his hair before looking up at the tree. Dev follows and soon they are all looking up.

"It's beautiful." Hazel hums. 

It really is. A beautiful mix of colors, that all of them are responsible for. They did it. Pride swells in Dev's chest, followed by another feeling he can't put a name to yet.

Leaning his head against Peri's shoulder, he looks up at the tree, just... being, while the Wells, as well as Cosmo and Wanda, take a picture of the tree, followed by a picture of all of them huddled together on the couch. 

Pressed against Peri's side, with Hazel's arm around his shoulder; The girl laughing in his ear as she makes a peace sign, raising her hand for him to do the same;

Chatter and laughter in the background as everyone pulls and pushes each other to get into position; Antony running over and throwing himself against Hazel in the last second before the shutter goes off and their evening is recorded for eternity;

Dev decides that he has never felt more at home than he does at this moment.

Chapter Text

Dev wakes to warm rays of sunlight tickling his nose. Taking a deep breath he blearily blinks his eyes open, unable to make out more than vague shapes and colors.

He brings a hand up to rub at his eyes, missing it and brushing over his cheek instead. He pulls a face and is about to lift his head, weren't it for the soft yawn escaping his lips, reminding him that he's not ready to wake up just yet. 

Instead of lifting his head and facing the day, he would rather snuggle deeper into the warmth that surrounds his entire body, so he does. He buries his nose deeper into his pillow and lets out a content hum.

He feels warm and safe. A feeling of security that not even the sun could take away from him. It wouldn't dare to. As if respecting the boy's wishes, it dims its brightness just enough to let him sleep comfortably...

When Dev awoke the second time, it was to hands shaking his shoulders. 

"Dev! Dev, you have to wake up!" Someone whispers in his ear, the soft voice a stark contrast to the harsh shaking his body has to endure. 

Dev groans in protest, slapping at the hands that disturb his slumber, but they don't let up, if all they redouble their efforts to wake him, a melodic chuckle following. 

Dev frowns. That voice, could it be...?

"Hazel...?" The boy blinks his eyes open to see the misty silhouette of a person right in front of him.

Drowsily, he rubs his eyes, not missing this time, to get the sand out of them. Blinking them open again, he can see the girl in front of him more clearly. As soon as his mismatched eyes meet her brown ones, her whole face lights up like a Christmas tree.

"You are awake!"

Yes, awake and confused.

His mind is still in tatters, every thought process obscured by the thick fog of sleep that's trying to sink its fangs into him and drag him back under. He would like to let it. To curl up again and rest a little more.

A wish that will not come true thanks to Hazel, or rather her next words, which make even the thought of resting a bit more sound ridiculous. 

"Merry Christmas, Dev!"

If Dev thought her smile was blinding before, he was clearly mistaken. This smile is even brighter, so bright that it touches even the darkest part of his soul, lighting up his entire being and filling it with the same excitement she feels.

Well, her words, which he can barely process, might have something to do with it. "Merry... Christmas?" But as soon as he does, any urge to sleep is erased from his mind. 

"It's... Christmas." The boy realizes, his eyes wide and full of wonder. 

It's Christmas, and he's not spending it alone. He didn't have to wake up in his room, which, despite the regulated temperature, feels as cold as ice, because his heart does. Frozen to the point of not caring anymore. 

But now he does. Care. His heart is warm, as is his body, every fiber of his being is filled with a happiness he could never put into words. So he doesn't, rather reaching out to hug Hazel against himself. 

To say the girl is surprised would be an understatement. A  gasp escapes her lips as she looks down at the smaller boy. She can't remember him ever being the one to initiate a hug.

Touch, yes, he was beginning to feel more comfortable touching others without them doing it first. Grabbing her wrist or even her hand to pull her somewhere, nudging her with his shoulders or elbows to get her to notice him, but a real hug? That's new. 

Hazel will treasure it. In fact, she already considers this - The happiness rolling off of him in waves as he holds her tight, joyful tears running down his cheeks, he probably doesn't even realize that they do - the best Christmas present she could have ever asked for. 

Returning the hug, Hazel pats Dev's back for comfort. 

"It's Christmas." She confirms in a quiet whisper. 

Dev chuckles wetly and pulls away. The mismatched eyes sparkle and shine with joy. 

"Merry Christmas, Hazel."

Oh, how he longed to say those words to someone on this special day. 

"Merry Christmas, Dev." She repeats once more.

She pulls her sleeves over her fingers to wipe the tears from the boy's cheeks. Whether the reason is good or not, he should not cry, not today. 

Stunned, Dev blinks at her before his own fingers find their way to his cheek, collecting some of the remaining moisture and making a face.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be." Hazel waves him off before his happiness can be replaced by shame. He already looks like a deer caught in the headlights, no need to add to that feeling. "No one will judge you for being happy, in fact I am happy that you are happy."

And he is, he is so damn happy he cannot even put it into words. And he has her to thank for it - well, not just her, but she played a big part in him being here, him finally getting a glimpse of what it feels like to have a family.

"Thank you, Hazel." He blames the Christmas spirit for him being so open and honest with his feelings. He can't believe they're so mushy this early in the morning. 

Something he apparently said out loud, judging by Hazel's giggles.

"If there's one day you're allowed to be mushy, it's Christmas. And on that note, you are welcome, Dev. You are always welcome."

The implications behind her words almost make him cry again, almost. He bites his lips to keep his emotions under control, which doesn't work at all and ends in another hug.

This one is accompanied by a grumbling sound... although it is not coming from either of them...?

The kids freeze.

"Did you just...?"

"I did." 

Not letting go of each other for a second, the children slowly look down and realize that the pillow they were resting on was never a pillow at all - but a body. The body of a sleeping fairy turned human.

The even breathing that leaves Peri's parted lips is proof that he is still trapped in the realm of dreams. The sun brushes over his closed eyelids and yet the fairy doesn't even twitch, the only thing that seems to bother him are the kids, until now pressed against his side and using his body as a pillow, moving so much.

Huh, now that he is aware of it, it is impossible not to notice the constant rising and falling of a chest beneath them. 

How they hadn't noticed it before is a mystery to the children, as is how they got into this position in the first place. 

The last thing Dev remembers is watching some old movies, they lacked color but not entertainment. He enjoyed watching these old specials, which Antony said were not to be missed at Christmas.

Later, they moved on to more colorful movies, classics that Dev recognizes if only because he has spent his Christmases doing nothing but indulging in them until now.

It is easier to forget one's own troubles when one is immersed in the happiness of others, even if they only appear on the screen. 

But not this year, this year, the happiness he felt was completely his own. Maybe that was why it was so easy for him to truly relax.

He faintly remembered being snuggled up against Peri's side. His head resting on his shoulder while the fairy put an arm around him. It felt warm... safe. Hazel's laughter and the soundtrack of the movie played in the background as his eyes slowly closed.

He tried to keep them open, he really did, whenever he noticed them drooping, he forced them to keep watching. A battle he must have lost, there is no other way to explain the gap in his memory.

And yet.. there is something else he can remember. Voices. 

"Naaaw, they are so cute!" The high pitched voice makes Dev frown.

"Shshsh, you'll wake them." Another voice, this one quieter, softer, followed by fingers running through his hair.

Dev relaxes again.

"Isn't that the plan...? We should get them to bed."

The words are followed by hands on Dev's body, trying to move him, but he doesn't want to? He is warm and comfortable. He is safe, so why are they trying to tear him from his safety? He wants to stay. He wants to sleep. 

A sound of protest comes from his lips as he curls up more tightly against the warm body next to him, his face buried into his side, the arm around him also tighten, even if only subconsciously, unwilling to let go of the children resting against him.

Well, their stubbornness paid off, and the hands that had been tugging and pulling at them eased away. 

"Oooor we could let them rest here. They look too comfortable to move anyway."

"I suppose... there's nothing wrong with that."

"Doesn't look like Peri is ready to let them go either way."

There are chuckles, the voices soften, not that Dev cares, as soon as he knows he can keep his safe haven, he falls asleep again.

"Looks like we fell asleep..." Hazel is the first to speak up, slowly but surely letting go of Dev.

"Did you...?"

"I didn't." Hazel shakes her head, a smirk on her lips. Dev laughs at the ridiculousness of their position. 

"We should probably wake him up."

"We should." Hazel agrees, catching the mischievous smile on Dev's lips. 

"On three?" The boy says, raising his hands. Oh, Hazel knows exactly what he is planning and she is all for it. 

"On three." She confirms, raising three fingers into the air and slowly lowering them.

3. 2. 1.

"Peri!"

Both of them slam their hands down on his chest at the same time. His reaction is instantaneous.

Eyes fly open. A surprised gasp fills the room as Peri jerks into an upright position. His wand appears in his hand, pointed in front of him as if facing an unseen enemy, while his lungs work overtime to overcome his surprise. 

"Where is the fire?"

The fire? Hazel and Dev look at each other before bursting into laughter. Peri looks at them, blinking so slowly that Hazel isn't sure if his eyelids move at all. The look on his face makes her laugh even more. It is confused and yet calculating, as if trying to make sense of the situation he has just been thrust into, not liking the conclusion he has come to at all.

Peri groans and let's himself fall back into the sofa again. 

"You're terrible." He mutters, putting an arm over his eyes to block out the sun and get a grip on himself.

The children laugh even more at this, holding their stomachs as they begin to hurt from being used so much so early in the morning. Dev's body has not even woken up properly before it has been abused in the best possible way.

He wipes a tear from the corner of his eye and watches as Hazel does the same. Their eyes meet, they exchange a glance before shrugging.

"We know."

Peri huffs. It could be an affectionate or amused sound, it could also be an annoyed one, Dev isn't quite sure, but decides to go with the first. Of course he does.

"That doesn't change the fact that you have to get up!" Hazel motivates Peri by grabbing his wrist to remove his hand from above his eyes. The purple color doesn't look amused at all. 

"All I have to do... is sleep."

Without waiting for an answer, he grabs the blanket covering their bodies and pulls it over his head. Huh, Dev didn't notice they had a blanket before, Hazel's parents must have tucked them in. 

Hazel blinks. She too is surprised by the blanket, but even more by Peri's behavior. 

She glances at Dev. The boy shrugs. 

"He gets reeeeally grumpy when you wake him up before he is ready." 

Seems she and Peri have that in common, she wouldn't have guessed. The fairy always struck her as a morning person, well, maybe he is. The one doesn't cancel out the other. Never mind. Morning person or not, there is no being grumpy on Christmas!

"But Periii!" She pulls down the covers to reveal the fairy's face. His hair has become even more disheveled as a result, a few individual strands falling into his eyes in a chaotic mess. It's a funny sight, Hazel would laugh, wouldn't that risk upsetting the fairy even more. "There's no time to be grumpy on Christmas! That's the exact opposite of how you should feel!"

Peri squints at her. "I am not grump- Christmas..?"

He blinks, distracted enough for Hazel to pull the blankets completely off him, eliminating the chance of him reaching for them again. 

"Christmas!" She confirms with sparkling eyes. 

Peri sits up and looks around. He soon notices the beautiful Christmas tree with countless presents underneath, just waiting to be opened. He must have been really tired not to have noticed Santa's arrival.

"It's Christmas." He echoes, his gaze wandering down to the children, or in his case to Dev, only to see nothing but happiness reflected in the mismatched eyes. 

"Merry Christmas, Peri." The boy smiles at him sincerely. Peri can feel the corner of his own mouth twitch upward in response.

"Merry Christmas, Dev."

May this day be everything you earned for and more. 

He ruffles through the ginger locks, being a total child by showing the kid his tongue once he starts complaining, before turning to Hazel.

"Merry Christmas, Hazel."

"Merry Christmas, Peri!" She parrots back, looking at him expactingly. He chuckles and ruffles her hair, too. The girl starts to beam even more. 

"I take it you decided to wake me up first?"

Just his luck. 

"We all fall asleep on the couch, so -" Hazel shrugs.

"- no need to feel special, you were just there." Dev finishes for her.

"I would never dare to." Peri answers, searching through his memories, only to realize that he really can't remember anything beyond watching some movies, so they must have fallen asleep at some point. "That means our next task is to wake everyone else up?"

"You bet we do! You and Dev can wake up Cosmo and Wanda, and I will go wake up my parents."

Seems like a good plan, which is immediately put into action. With the kids splitting up to cover more ground, it only takes a few minutes to wake everyone up and get them to gather around the Christmas tree where the presents are ready to be opened. 

A task that the kids gladly start working on, while the grown-ups - yes, Peri included himself with them, despite Antony sitting in front of the Christmas tree with the other kids - sit on the couch and watch them with fond expression on their faces. 

Peri even gets his promised eggnog!

"Thank you." He smiles at Marcus as he hands him the to the brim-filled cup.

Peri has to admit that the steaming contents irritated him at first, but apparently eggnog can also be drunk when it is warm? 

"It tastes even better that way." Marcus promises him, and Peri can't wait to see if he's telling the truth.

"What?" He snaps in his parents' direction before he can take a single sip.

How could he, with them watching him like a hawk? His father has even started recording him with his cell phone. Peri's irritation grows.

"It's your first time drinking it!" Cosmo explains.

"We want to know what you think!" Wanda nods.

"You act like I never drank alcohol before." Peri mutters, shaking his head, even though he know that's not the reason for their interest. Looks like his parents are just as invested in the past as he is. 

"You did?"

Peri raises an eyebrow at Dev.

 "Why do you sound so surprised?"

"Because you're a stickler for the rules and all that?"

The boy answers while already opening his next present, a pair of knitted gloves and a scarf to match his new sweater. He knows exactly who to thank for that. He nods at Cosmo and Wanda, who smile at his obvious sign of joy.

"So? I also was a teenager once." 

Once. If anyone was going to ask Cosmo and Wanda, he never stopped being one. He is only twenty, for God's sake. He is still a child for their standards, maybe that has something to do with him being their kid, still. 

"I can remember that one time-" Because it wasn't more than that. "-when you came home drunk." 

"Okaaaay." Peri cuts his father off before he can continue. "No need to go into detail."

"Now I am intrigued." Antony says with a wicked smile on his face.

"Are you now?" Angela says. "Well, I also remember that one time Antony called me when he was-"

"You know what?" Antony interrupts her. "Never mind. I just realized I'm not that interested."

Peri makes a sound of amusement and gives Angela a sideways glance. The woman chuckles and winks at him.

"So how does the eggnog taste, Peri?" She urges him to finally try it. 

So he does. It's warm and creamy, sweet with a hint of bitterness. But it's not bad, in fact he kind of likes it. 

"It's..." He remembers Timmy's face of disgust, him sticking out his tongue to get rid of the taste he deemed disgusting. He remembers himself laughing at his brother's demise.

"You laughing at me? At me? You won't laugh after you try it!"

He was right. He doesn't laugh. He would. In a world where they were still together, he would. But such a world doesn't exist.

"... good." Peri finishes in a whisper. A bittersweet smile adorns his lips. "It's really good."

He wishes... he could tell Timmy. What he wouldn't do to see his shocked expression, to hear his protests about how he could enjoy something so vile. The thought makes him chuckle. 

His parents seem to have the same thought, exchanging a look and letting their fingers intertwine. A scene Hazel and Dev watch, their minds running a mile per minute, until Hazel nudges Dev. 

"This one's from me." She surprises Dev by handing him an envelope.

He tilts his head and opens it to reveal.

"Tickets to a Chip Skylark concert?!"

What the...? How did she...? Where did She...?

"I noticed that you have a CD of his and concluded that you like him..."

He does, but- He frowns at her. "When did you notice?"

Back when I tried to steal your all-powerful microchip to power Cosmo and Wanda's wand to reverse a wish that almost changed the laws of science forever?

"It's a long story." Hazel nods at her parents, indicating to Dev that this is not a story she can easily tell with them around. 

Huh. He still thinks that she is hiding something from him. Nevermind, he can think about that later. All that matters right now is that he has tickets to a Chip Skylark concert - wait a minute.

"I didn't know he was still doing concerts..."

"He's not." Hazel leans in to whisper in his ear. "Look at the date."

The date? It's... 14 years in the past? What?

"You gave me expired tickets to a concert that took place before I was even born? That's..." Dev wets his lips, trying to think of something to say. "...nice of you."

Which may not sound very sincere, but it's the nicest thing he could come up with in the short time he had. He doesn't want to hurt Hazel's feelings. It is the thought that counts and this is a nice thought. That she somehow found out about his fondness for his music makes him feel seen. 

"What? No!" Hazel protests. "They're not... well, they kind of are, but... they're for the past."

Dev blinks at her slowly. "I noticed."

"Nooo, Dev!" Hazel complains, nudging him with her elbow as if that simple gesture is all he needs to understand.

He doesn't. He has no idea what the girl is trying to tell him. "The concert's in the past, so when do you think we're going to see it? Hint. Hint."

"You mean..." She can't mean that, can she? Judging by her expression, she does. "Can we even do that?"

"I asked Father Time if it was possible, and he agreed. Which means-" Hazel taps on the cards. "-whenever you are free and in the mood, we can just hop into the past and give this concert a try."

"That... so cool." Dev's eyes begin to sparkle with a newfound respect for the girl in front of him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." 

Dev is truly lucky to have her in his life. 

After they've exchanged all their gifts - he himself got Hazel tickets to a museum of natural history that apparently has over 3,000 minerals, rocks and gems that she can't wait to see. He doesn't really understand her fascination with rocks, but he'll gladly accompany her on her tour if it makes her happy - it's time for breakfast!

At least it would be. Looking at the clock, Hazel and Dev nod at each other.

"Mom, me and Dev would like to go out before breakfast, if that's okay."

"Go out?" Angela raises an eyebrow. 

"Yes, Dev and I have something planned, it won't take long." Hazel promises. "But we can't tell you where we are going! It's a secret."

"A secret, huh?" Marcus echoes.

"They've been plotting something since yesterday." Antony reveals with a grin. "Don't look at me like that, small fry, I know you by now. You had your plotting face on."

She did, and so did Dev. Peri didn't think he would see the fruits of their scheming so soon. 

"What's going on?" He asks Dev, who is clearly avoiding looking at him. 

"You'll see." Is the only answer he gets. 

"Yeah, we might have been up to something. So... is it okay if we grab Cosmo, Wanda and Peri -"

All three start to frown at the mention of their names, exchanging glances to see if the other knows what this is about. No one of them does.

"- and go?"

Angela looks at her child calculatingly before humming. 

"I don't see any harm. As long as you make sure to be back for breakfast, you are free to go."

"We'll get everything ready in the meantime." Marcus smiles at her. 

Hazel nods gratefully before grabbing Cosmo's and Wanda's hands and pulling them towards the exit. Dev does the same with Peri, though a little more carefully.

"Hazel, what's going on?"

"Where are we going?" 

"We have a present for you!" Hazel's answer only confuses the fairies more.

"But... you already gave us one." Hazel made sure to knit a scarf for everyone she cares about. 

"But this one is special." Hazel insists, letting Dev do the talking.

"You always make our wishes come true, so we wanted to return the favor."

That... sounds even more cryptic and makes more questions appear in their minds. It also makes their faces soften, an expression of wonder and awe, of love and care hovering over them, but the confusion is still there, lingering, only to be lifted when they arrive...

"Aaaaand here we are...!"

Cosmo, Wanda and Peri tilt their heads as soon as their destination comes into view. 

"You took us out for breakfast?" Wanda guesses, seeing the busy christmas themed cafe/restaurant/bistro - she has no idea what kind of ensemble it is, but it looks like a nice, cozy place to go out and eat. 

"Ohhhh your parents won't be happy about this." Cosmo shakes his head. "You should have told them! Now they are making breakfast for no one but themselves."

"We're not taking you out to eat, idiots." 

"Dev-" Hazel elbows him. 

"What? I know they share one brain cell that Peri holds on to most of the time."

"Thanks...?" Said fairy says, unsure if that is a compliment or not.

"But you could at least try to use it sometimes."

"...Rude." Is all Wanda answers.

"Ultra rude." Cosmo puts his hands on his hips. "But true!"

"Yeah, okay, maybe." Wanda gives in. "So why are we gathered here?"

Hazel and Dev exchange glances and take a deep breath. What they have planned is a great plan, or so they think.

This could go either way, to be honest, and maybe it wasn't fair not to talk about it with their godparents first, but... it was meant to be a surprise, so...

Hazel just hopes they don't do the wrong thing, that something they planned with the intention of joy and happiness, of closure, doesn't end in tears and pain. She swallows and nods to Dev.

"Look inside." The boy urges the fairies.

"Look.. inside?" Cosmo repeats.

"Look inside." Dev confirms. "You can't be that stupid, get a move on." Before their whole plan crumbles to ashes.

The three fairies exchange a confused look, Peri shrugs, and then they look through the window. The inside of the bistro looks as warm and cozy as it looks from the outside. Christmas decorations are hung everywhere and if you listen closely, you can hear the chatter of the patrons and soft music through the glass.

Thinking back they must make for a pretty creepy sight looking through the window, not even aware what they are looking for until- Wanda gasps. 

She reaches out and tugs at Cosmo's shoulder. "Cosmo is that... is that who I think it is?"

Confused, her husband follows her gaze and also gasps.

"Is that.. is that..?"

Who are they looking at? Peri frowns, trying to figure out why they both sound so surprised, so out of breath, so... emotional. When he gets his answer, he doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

"Timmy...?"

That... that's his brother, isn't it? No matter how much time has passed, how much he has grown, he would recognize him anywhere. That's Timmy. That's his brother. His brother is here. And he... he...

Peri stumbles back from the window, almost tripping over his own legs, and looks down at the kids.

"Wha.. What? I don't--"

"They always come here to eat on Christmas morning, at least they have for the last 4 years or so?" Dev looks at Hazel who shrugs in agreement. 

"It's their Christmas tradition! I am so glad they decided to come here again."

"Would have been pretty embarrassing otherwise..."

"But... but how..." Peri emphasizes again, his thoughts swirling just like his emotions. He does not know where his head or his heart are at the moment. 

"You said Christmas hasn't been the same ever since... you never finished what you wanted to say."

"It wasn't important." Peri denies, his eyes going back to the glass, back to Timmy, before he has to avert them again.

It's strange, he wants to look, he has to look, and at the same time he can't. Looking makes his heart ache and his lungs tighten, but not looking feels like being burned alive. There's no good option to choose from, just a bunch of emotions he can't make sense of. 

"But it was. You... made sure I had a great Christmas. The best Christmas I could have ever wanted." 

Dev smiles at him, at Hazel, even at Cosmo and Wanda, who can't take their eyes off their boy. How could they? Who knows if they will ever get the chance to look at him again? To see how much he has grown, to see how happy he is, even without them.

That's all they wanted, for him to be happy, and he is. He has a family now. And they got to see that. They got to see what their guidance has lead to. They don't have to exchange words with Timmy to know that they couldn't be prouder of the man he's become. 

"And I wanted... to return the favor."

Peri swallows. "You... went behind my back to... ask Hazel?"

Even in his current state, the fairy is as observant as ever.

"You did the same thing, didn't you?"

Peri almost laughs. He did. He totally did. What goes around comes around, huh? "...True that, I guess." 

Wow, that is a lot to take in. Peri still doesn't know how, but he knows one thing:

"Thank you..." He smiles at Dev. " ..for caring."

Dev's mouth opens and closes before he simply returns the smile. "You... make it easy too."

And isn't that the best compliment he could ever get?

Leaning down with a chuckle Peri runs a hand through ginger hair before standing up again and gazing through the window with a wistful expression on his face.

"You... can go in, you know?" Hazel prompts them. "I mean, you were wondering how he was doing. This is your chance to go in and check on him, talk to him, ask him, just... be with him." 

Even if he doesn't remember, it's still something, right?"

"No." Wanda takes a step back, brushing her hand over her cheek to stop the tears from gathering in her eyes. "We shouldn't. We... What would we even say?"

"Hi, I saw you through the window and you looked like a nice guy who reminded us of our son, so we just came over to say hello?" 

"Well... yeah?" Hazel agrees with Cosmo's rather accurate words, which may or may not sound creepy. "I mean... it does sound weird."

Cosmo chuckles, mirroring his wife's action, he takes her hand in his and squeezes it. 

"It's okay, Hazel, this... this is more than enough."

But is it really?

Hazel watches with conflict in her eyes as the three fairies take one last longing look through the window before taking a few steps back. Each step is as heavy as the last, it must take a lot of willpower for them to separate themselves from the window. From their son and brother. 

She looks at Dev, who feels the same way.

"We can't force them." Dev whispers. They have to believe that this is really enough. 

Hazel sighs. "I guess... we can't. I just wish..." She stops herself at the last moment, knowing better than to blurt out words mindlessly. "Never mind."

As soon as the kids rejoin them, Cosmo and Wanda pull Hazel into a hug. 

"Thank you, that was very nice of you."

"You made this a Christmas we will remember forever."

Hazel sees the love and gratitude in their eyes and knows that their feelings are real. This really is enough, more than they could have ever hoped for, really. Still, she wishes things could be different. That they would have the chance to talk. 

Kinda funny. Even without muttering the words out loud, someone must have heard them. She can't explain the next thing that happens otherwise.

"Wait! Peri?" 

The fairy, who was just about to leave, flinches once the unfamiliar and yet all-too-familiar voice calls out to him. He turns back to the restaurant and freezes as he comes face to face with his brother. 

How do you react when the person who means so much to you, the person you looked up to and worshipped like a hero, is suddenly standing in front of you? Calling your name, even though he has no clue who you are. 

Peri's breath hitches, his lungs constrict as a lump forms in his throat, making it impossible to speak or even breathe. His eyes begin to water all by themselves. 

"You are Peri, right?" 

Dev and Hazel gasp in the background, his parents probably too, not that he notices, his entire focus revolving around no one but the person in front of him.

It's funny, even though he has ears for him and him only, his words still sound like they are underwater. 

Peri nods, slow and hesitant. 

"Oh, thank God, for a second I thought - that would have been embarrassing!"

"Huh?" Peri somehow forces out. Timmy seems to see his confusion and slaps his forehead.

"I'm sorry, this must be so weird for you, a stranger knowing your name. It's just... you're the one who helped my daughter."

His daughter?

"She got lost at the Christmas market and you helped her find her mother."

Tammy! 

Peri's eyes widen in recognition. That's why he felt like he couldn't breathe, that's why looking at her made his heart ache. Her face, her eyes, her teeth, she was his splitting image and he was just too blind to see it. No, that wasn't it.

He told his parents that she looked familiar to him, but he didn't- he could never have guessed- he would never have dared - he met his brother's daughter. He is... looking at his brother right now. Talking to him as he had dreamed so many times before. 

He always wondered what it would be like to meet him, he planned what he would say to him, how he would introduce himself, but now that he is really facing him, he can't find the words.

How could he put what he feels into words anyway? Especially knowing that the person in front of him could never understand. Could never remember. 

"It was..." Peri swallows. "It was no big deal." He says, trying to avoid his gaze, the fingers on his cane tightening, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. 

Timmy seems to notice his discomfort and smiles softly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, I was just..." He chuckles, a warm sound that could be ripped straight from Peri's memories.

He would like to look up, see what face his brother is making, burn it into his memory so he won't forget, but he can't. He doesn't dare.

"My daughter, she wanted you to have this... as a thank you. And I... it's Christmas, I couldn't say no. I guess you know how it is."

Timmy nods to Hazel and Dev. Peri follows the movement, a breathless sound that could be - should be - a chuckle leaving his throat. 

"I guess I do." He too, realizes that there aren't many things he wouldn't do for his charge, no matter if bound by blood or not. He wants to make this kid happy, no matter the cost. 

Taking a deep breath, Peri looks at the picture Timmy holds in front of him. It is a crayon drawing of... himself? At least he thinks it is, the drawing has his hair color and his hair swirl, as well as two beautiful wings and a crown on his head.

Huh, looks like he really made a lasting impression.

"She kind of went on about how you were like her fairy godmother that day." Timmy rubs his neck in embarrassment. "She means no harm, she just has a big imagination."

"I know she doesn't. It's cute. I'm glad I could help her-"

"Peri...!" The door of the restaurant opens and closes again with a bang, thanks to Tammy running up to them. "Did Dad give you my drawing?"

The answer is pretty obvious, and yet Tamara looks up at her father as if his answer could make or break this moment.

"He did." He flips the drawing around. "It's pretty. Thank you."

Tammy beams at him, pleased with the praise.

"You could have done it yourself, you know?" Timmy says, now that his daughter is present. 

"I know, but I didn't... you know, I... I couldn't just..." Tammy continues, clearly embarrassed, before her eyes fall on Hazel and Dev, who are watching the scene with amusement. "Oh! Hey! Who are you?"

"We?" Dev points to him and Hazel.

Luckily, Hazel has more social skills than he does, and immediately goes over to Tammy to greet her. 

"I'm Hazel! And this is Dev!"

"Oh! You must be that boy! The one thats miserable!"

"Tamara!" Timmy gasps, while Peri has to hold back a laugh at Dev's expression.

"The what who is what now?" He glares up at Peri, who does a comically bad job of putting on a poker face. 

"Well... it's not like it's a lie."

Dev huffs and crosses his arms over his chest. "I'm not miserable."

At least... not anymore. Right now he would consider himself pretty happy. 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be rude! It's just how Peri introduced you when he was talking about you."

"Uh-uh." Dev says. "And how exactly did you two meet?"

"Well..." Tammy begins her explanation of what happened on the day of the carnival.

"They seem to be getting along pretty well." Timmy chuckles, happy to see his daughter bonding with these kids. "I was promoted here not too long ago." Timmy explains himself. "Maybe we will see each other more often?"

It's a question, an offer from one parent to the other, he assumes. 

"M-Maybe we will." Peri nods, forcing a smile on his face that Timmy gladly returns before turning back and - freezing. 

When Peri follows his gaze, he understands why. His eyes soften. Timmy has just seen his parents. There are so many emotions on his face, he looks so pained and happy at the same time.

He is frowning like desperately trying to remember something, while his parents look like they stopped breathing. Scared, hopeful? That their mere presence will spark something in the boy. 

"Do I...?" Timmy wets his lips. "Do I know you?"

Hearing these words almost makes Wanda sob, is it from happiness? Or from pain? Who knows, probably both. Happy that he remember, while also hurting that he doesn't. 

"No." Cosmo replies in his wife's place, squeezing her hand. "No, you don't."

"That's strange, I could have sworn..." Timmy interrupts with a shake of his head. "I'm Timmy, that's short for Timothy." He holds out his hand to the couple. 

They both shake it, a soft smile on their faces at his politeness. 

"This is Cosmo and I am Wanda."

"Cosmo and Wanda."

He lets the name dissolve on his tongue, thinking about them, desperately trying to get behind the itch in his brain. The strange feeling of déjà vu, the strange whirlwind of emotions he feels just by looking at them. It's not like looking at strangers, it feels like looking at family. 

"That's funny. When I was younger, I had goldfish with the same name, which... is a very strange thing to say when you meet someone."

Cosmo and Wanda don't react, they just keep staring at him, and Timmy notices him doing the same.

"Are you sure we haven't met before?"

No, we have, we certainly have. 

Wanda shakes her head, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice. "We're pretty sure you don't know us."

And it hurts. It hurts so much, to see someone - her son - looking at her without any resemblance in his eyes. It tears open a wound that never fully healed, and yet he remembers them, if only faintly, him looking at them and just being present mends the wound again, letting it heal. 

"Strange." Timmy says, not sure what to make of the aching hole that has opened up in his heart. All he knows is that these strangers? He would like to meet them again. "Well. Maybe we can get to know each other?"

"That would be great." Wanda smiles at him. Timmy returns the sentiment before looking down at Tammy. 

"Come on, Tammy. Your mother and brother will be waiting for us. Say goodbye, darling."

"Bye! See you soon!" 

Everyone begins to wave as the two say goodbye.

"Can we cry...?" Cosmo whispers, sounding like he is already crying.

"Wait until they are inside." Wanda whispers back.

She bites her lips to keep from sobbing, until the door to the restaurant closes and they both begin to cry. Clinging to each other like a lifeline, they mutter incomprehensible phrases, and they're not the only ones. 

Peri also has tears streaming down his cheeks, though it's obvious he's trying to keep them to himself. He muffles his sobs with his hand, trying to swallow his emotions, not like his parents let him. Reaching out, they pull him into their arms and continue to cry. 

Dev and Hazel exchange glances. They don't really know what to do, so they do the only thing they can, hugging themselves against their godparents' legs, providing all the comfort they can.

It takes them a few minutes to calm down, and when they do. Cosmo puts a hand on Hazel's head.

"Thank you." He mutters. "You have no idea how much this means to us."

No, she doesn't. She has never been in such a situation, and she probably never will be, but... one day in the future she might be in Timmy's.

And even if she does not have the kind of connection with Cosmo and Wanda that he has, she still hopes... that she will meet them again. Even if she can't remember. She wants to give them and herself that closure.

Wanda agrees with Cosmo and expresses her gratitude by hugging Hazel, then Dev as well.

It's strange. He has never been hugged by anyone but Peri and Hazel. But he doesn't mind, nor does he mind that Cosmo ruffles his hair or that Peri is the last one to approach him.

There are so many emotions in his eyes, even if he had eons of time, Dev wouldn't be able to decipher them all.

"Thank you, Dev. I... thank you."

Dev shrugs, avoiding his gaze after being put on the spot like that. "I... it wasn't a big deal."

But it was. For Peri, it was the biggest deal.

Dev bites his lips. "I guess... It was time to give something back."

Peri shakes his head and kneels down to be at the boy's level. "Give something back? Dev, you already gave me everything by giving me a second chance."

Okay. He doesn't have to be so sincere when he says that. How embarrassing.

"Nah, I felt like I got more out of that one." 

He always thought he didn't deserve Peri to come back to him. Yes, the fairy made mistakes and Dev loathed him for it, but in the end Peri tried. He failed, boy, did he fail, and maybe he could have done more to show that he cared, but he did, it was Dev who didn't. He was the one who instead of working to fix their relationship, went behind his back, stabbed him in it too, by imprisoning him.

God he almost let him die and yet Peri thinks he is the one who is more to blame? Because he should have done more, said more, listened more? Because he should have been better and read the signs? What kind of reasoning is that? 

"You did not. Trust me, you did not."

It doesn't matter. Because right now, with Peri looking at him like that. He believes him. And maybe... just maybe that makes him deserving of him. 

Not like Dev feels the need to say that out loud. 

"So that was your brother, huh?" He tries to change the subject.

Peri looks past him to the restaurant. A longing expression on his face. "Yes. That's my brother."

"How come you never mentioned him?"

"It's not something I like to talk about."

It's funny how dejected Dev looks. Oh, looks like he thinks he is the reason he is not talking about him. Silly boy. He should know by now, that Peri trusts him with his life.

"But maybe I will." He nudges the boy's shoulders with his knuckles. "If you're willing to listen."

Dev shrugs, a smile forming on his lips. "I don't think I have anything else to do today."

"Except for having an awesome breakfast." Hazel chirps in.

"Except for that." Dev agrees.

"I'm not sure I can stomach anything after that." Wanda mutters. 

"Huh?! What do you mean?" Cosmo sniffs. "I can eat even more after this! I mean, we got to see our boy, Wanda, our boy! He grew up so much!"

"He has two kids of his own!"

"Do you think we could meet them one day?"

"He did say, they moved." Wanda says before she sighs. "Ahhh, that goes against so many rules."

"As if that ever stopped you before." Peri rolls his eyes.

"Shouldn't you be the one arguing against it right now?" Wanda prompts her son, who shrugs with a smirk.

"Maybe I should, but.. someone taught me that it's okay to bend the rules a bit." Peri winks at Dev, who can only laugh. 

"Bending isn't breaking." He defends himself.

"It sure as hell isn't."

Maybe Peri was right, maybe he needed Dev, just as much as Dev needed him. Maybe they both managed to grow on and with each other.

And now that he thinks about it, he thinks that despite the odds being against them and everyone, including himself, telling him that the one thing he wanted, the one thing he truly wished for is something no fairy in the world could grant him, this one did.

Peri may not know it, may not fully understand it yet, but he did. He made Dev's one true wish come true, and he is not only talking about Christmas.

"Well, time to go. The Wells are going to wonder where we are at."

They probably do. Casting a last glance at the restaurant the group departs. There still is a Fairly Odd Christmas waiting to be celebrated after all...