Greetings readers! I should let you know that this is a spin off story to my two other stories "Winx Club: The other side" and its sequel "Winx Club: Other side and back again" If you haven't read them then I strongly suggest you do. If you have read them, welcome back! Just to let you know that this story is set one year after the events of the 'other side and back again', things have changed, the girls have grown and things are about to get interesting!

Chapter One: Day to Day

It is said that the famous Winx Club girls are known for their cunning in battle, their bravery in facing their enemies and the mercy they show those lower than them. But what is less known is what the girls don't know about: How to keep a relationship going with their boyfriends.

Stella looked nervously out the window of the ship in dread, twisting and pulling apart the napkin in her hands that came with the tall strong alcoholic drink she had ordered to calm her nerves in this hectic time. Oh my god! This is SO not happening! How could my father do this to me? After all I've done and all that I've sacrificed and this is how fate rewards me? Ah fate you emotionless harpy! Stella shook her head angrily and leaned her head back on her seat, staring at the ceiling. Brandon is going to freak out! How am I supposed to tell him? "Hey honey, guess what? My father is handing me off to the next sleazy rich prince that comes into Saloria to be married, can you ever forgive me?" Gahh! The light switched on over her head signifying the end of their flight, Stella quickly stood up, grabbed her purse, checked her make up in the small mirror on the wall and walked out of the open ships door and into the sun of Gardenia.

The familiar sight of her old home didn't calm her nerves much; she barely glanced at the beautiful scenery before storming off to the nearest limo that was waiting for her. As soon as she was in her seat she snapped at the driver impatiently "Take me to the club owned by Musa"

The driver called back to her "Musa's club? You mean 'The Blue Dragon'?"

"Whatever" Stella muttered and slouched back in her seat, since she had rushed out of her own planet she had been in a foul mood. Ever since her mother had let it slip that her father had been interviewing possible husbands for their daughter in a bid to cause friction between the two. This kind of worked but what she didn't expect was for Stella to go running to her friends and leave her there to clean up the mess. So here she was speeding through the streets of Gardenia where her friends Musa and Techna lived with their boyfriends, the rest of her friends were spread across the rest of Magix on their own planets blissfully unaware of their friend's predicament. Stella knew that if she had to pick any of her friends that would be best for rooting up a plan to get Stella out of an unwanted engagement it would have to be Musa. Stella had kept in touch with her friends after graduation, they all knew of her relationship with Brandon that had to be kept a secret from her father or else all hell would break loose when he found out his only daughter was dating a page...well he was a page, right now he was one of the most trusted guards in Solaria's guard but Stella knew this wouldn't make a difference to her father.

The limo pulled up outside the building Stella could only guess was 'The Blue Dragon' owned by her friend Musa. It was a sleek and punk looking grey building with tall windows that had cool purple glass and bars that would go bright navy blue at night time. Stella spared a glance at the mechanic shop across the road that was owned by Musa's boyfriend Riven, it really did show how different in personalities the two were since the Mechanic shop looked more rustic and manly. Stella walked in her stiletto heels across the smooth pavement and into the Blue Dragon's front doors; she was not prepared for what she saw. The place was huge with a whole bar set up in the back of the club with a shinning dance floor over to the left coupled with an up to date staging area, on the right was various tables and couches. Everything seemed to be done up in a purple, blue and grey colours. But what drew Stella's attention was the hottie stationed behind the bar! Mother of all that is good and holy, give me strength! Stella thought to herself as she stared at the sandy blond haired man with tight black shirt and visible muscles that was standing all god-like behind the bar whipping down the counter. The guy looked up and noticed her standing in the doorway, giving her a brief friendly smile before lifting a box of glasses and started to shine them up.

Stella stumbled a bit upon making her way to the bar; she noted that the place was mostly empty but then again it was blazing sunlight. By the time she reached the fetching male she had regained her composure "Hello, I'm here to see Musa"

The man raised an eyebrow at her and said "You're here to see Musa?"

"...Yes" Stella replied curiously, wondering at the man's confusion.

He shrugged his shoulders "You don't really look like the type of person who would have a friend like Musa"

Stella understood this, when you looked at the girls side by side they did look odd. Her being so punkish and hard assed while Stella was fancy and royal-like "Yeah I know, It's a long story. Can you just go get her!"

"Sure thing" The guy said as he slapped down the white cloth he had been using to shine the glass and walked into a door that must have led to a back room.

Stella stood by the bar for a moment, looking at her surroundings, she let me mind wander. This place is nice. Very Musa. I wonder how she is, will she look different? Is she going to be wearing her god awful punkish clothes *Shudders* I hope her and Riven are okay. Those two have always been at war with each other, even after we defeated the new evil they were at each other's throats but I suppose that's just the way they are. Stella automatically glanced down to the covered up scar she had sustained along with the rest of them in that last battle, it was on her left shoulder, right above her heart. It was also always a strange purple colour and cold to the touch. Stella knew that her friends thought of those days often and to this very day none of the girls would fully open up about the crimes they committed when they were in the service of Valtor, it seemed like a different life that you wanted to forget.

It didn't take long for Stella to hear Musa's loud voice through the wall, she sounded like she was arguing with someone and as she trudged out of the door. She looked mostly the same, not very tall, pale skinned, violet eyes with blackish blue hair and her usual god awful punkish attire. Her attention was mainly on the phone she held to her ear "Well it's important to me! Why can't you just agree with me this one time?!" She listened for a moment for the person on the other line of answer "No! Y-you...why is...ugh! Fine whatever!" She snapped the phone shut with a shout of annoyance and focussed her gaze on her blond friend "Riven!" She explained gesturing to the phone.

Stella gave her an annoyed look and said quickly "My father" The two girls yelled in frustration. After that Musa seemed to really notice Stella and yelled in delight at seeing her friend and swept her into a tight hug "Stella! What in the hell are you doing in a place like this?"

Stella stepped out of the hug "I had to come as quick as I could. There's a situation"

"Oh god is Valtor back, the Trix; don't tell it's the new evil again!" Musa put on a mock surprise but inside she still dreaded to hear that her old demons had come back.

"No it's not that kind of situation! It's worse" Stella dropped her voice into a whisper. Musa for once dropped the smug attitude and looked at her friend closely "Oh no, you're not here to tell me you're pregnant are you?"

Stella's cheeks went a bright red and her mouth dropped open a little "N-no, if I was...that...I would've gone to Bloom or Flora with the news, I don't think you would take it very well" Musa rolled her eyes "So what are you doing in my sweet and sleek bar in the middle of Gardenia then?"

"Oh my god, I wish I was back home in my castle but my stupid father has just dropped a bomb shell!" Musa raised an eyebrow but continued to look at her with a devil may care expression "He's looking for a husband for me! Can you believe that?!"

"Well...aren't you kind of a princess?" Musa asked curiously as she walked in the direction of the bar and lifted the box of shinned glasses into her arms. Stella followed her quickly "Yeah but come on! In this day and age you'd think I'd be able to choose my own husband instead of my father doing it for me, it's like my mother choosing out what dress I'm going to wear: It just can't be tolerated!"

Musa chuckled as she carried the box over to the other side of the bar and started to stack the glasses into the over head holder "So you've come to me to try and get me to help you break off the imminent engagement?"

"Yes!" Stella exclaimed, relived that she got it.

Musa looked at her friend for a moment blankly before shaking her head "No" and staking another glass. Stella looked at her friend in utter amazement "Umm...what?"

"I'm not going to help you Stella. I think this is something you, your father and Brandon have to work out...ON YOUR OWN" Musa explained as she continued her work without looking at her friend. Stella dropped her purse and took hold of her friend's wrists pleadingly "No no no Musa! You have to help me! I don't want to have to deal with this on my own, please please please!"

Musa gently wrenched her wrists away and said steadily "I'm sorry Stell, but no"

Stella slammed up hands down on the bar and rested her head on the wooden surface "Damn it!"

"Why did you come all the way into Gardenia, you could have just called?" Musa asked as she finished her work and tucked the empty box under the bar.

Stella didn't raise her head "I thought this required a physical appearance of myself to ask you for help, this is important"

Musa leaned over the bar and whispered in her friend's ear "You mean you just wanted to run away from home because you were afraid of what daddy would do" Stella's head whipped up from the bar and she glared menacingly at Musa "No!" Musa smiled and walked away smoothly.

"So what's up with you and Riven?" Stella asked curiously while just wanting to get back at Musa for refusing to help her.

Musa screeched to a halt and turned around with a stern face "Oh don't even ask me about Riven, Okay? The whole situation is just...Blah!"

Stella gave her friend a sympathetic look "Tell me"

Musa slumped down on a nearby bar stool and looked glum "He just so hard to read, one moment he's acting one way and I think I know what's going through his head and then bam! He completely switches attitudes and I'm left feeling left out and...Lonely"

"Sweetie, he's just being a guy" Stella replied gently.

"I know how guys act; Riven is on a whole different page, different book, different library!" She sighs heavily "Sometimes I just think that it would be so much easier if we stayed apart for a while"

"I'm sorry, I really am. I'm sure he'll come round" Stella said as she put her arm around her friend "On another note: Who is that fine example of male physique that you have working the bar?" Musa let out a huge laugh and got up from the stool "That's Brad, he works here as my main bartender. Pretty cute huh?"

"Hellz yeah!" Agreed Stella.

At that moment the front door of the club burst open and in walked...or hobbled...a heavily pregnant Flora "Hey guys, where's Techna?"

"Flora?!" Musa and Stella both exclaimed at the same time. If they had excepted anyone to come through that door, the last person they thought it would be was Flora. They knew for a fact that Flora was supposed to have a baby soon and that she was under strict instructions not to leave her house on her home planet which she shared with her husband Helia, who was strangely absent from her side.

"What the hell are you doing in Gardenia?! You should be at home resting!" Musa exclaimed as she gestured to Flora's huge stomach.

"Jeez Flora, you're really packing on the pounds" Stella muttered as she started at her friend. Flora whipped her head in Stella direction with a scornful face "Shut up Stella!" Ever since Flora got pregnant she had become occasionally more...snappier. It always threw her friends off when she would snap at them and yell, they were so used to their old sweet Flora that they still hadn't gotten used to mean pregnant Flora. Stella raised her hands in defence and walked away. At that moment to everyone's surprise Bloom came rushing through the door looking outraged and puffed from the running she must have been doing "Flora what the hell! You can't just get on a ship a leave like that, Helia's been going crazy trying to find you and of all the places to come, you come to a bar!"

"Hey!" Musa yelled in defence for her property.

Flora turned to Bloom with a sorry expression, back to old Flora "I'm sorry sweetie but I got an urgent call from Techna saying she needed me to come to Gardenia and help her"

"Help Techna with what?" Bloom asked still looking angry but more composed.

"Nothing!" Techna herself yelled as she too stumbled through the door of Musa's club, surprising everyone.

"Sweet Hell, what is everyone doing coming into my bar!?" Musa asked frustrated at the lack of explaining and the rapid showing up of friends that she hadn't seen in months.

Techna walked in the door and gave Flora a fixed look "This doesn't concern you guys, this is between me and Flora"

"Like hell!" Stella yelled from her spot leaning against a post by the door.

"Okay everyone calm down!" Musa scolded her friends "Guys, don't any of your realize that this is the first time we've been together since the party to celebrate Flora's pregnancy, it's been months! Come one let's bring it in!" The girls all let go of their feelings for a moment and came together in a big startled hug with laughs and jokes.

...

The girls all sat around in the couch area at Musa's club, it had been twenty minutes since everyone had started arriving unexpectedly and they had calmed down enough to tell each other what they were doing here.

"You're not going to marry some stranger Stella, you know we won't let it happen" Bloom reassured her friend who sat beside her on the navy blue couch with cold drink in their hands. Techna piped up from the other couch which also held Flora "But it's logical for her father to start interviewing possible candidates for Stella's future spouse, she shouldn't mess with the system"

"But it's her life, she should at least try to get out of it" Bloom replied insistently.

"Yeah but on her own, this is something she needs to work out herself" Musa said from her place where she was seated on the floor leaning against the couch. Stella rolled her eyes at the comment and said "I am going to fight it. I want to be with Brandon, he's the one for me and I won't let the princess status get in the way of that"

"That's very sweet of you Stella" Flora said kindly as she took a sip of her juice.

"It still doesn't help me find out how I get out of it" Stella said gloomily.

"Umm, I think it's pretty obvious. Tell your father about Brandon" Techna suggested. Stella shook her head frantically "I can't, he'd freak out. Brandon would be banished from Saloria and I would never see him again!"

"Sometimes you've got to take the hard road to get what you want" Bloom said as she took her friends hand gently and gave it a squeeze. Bloom suddenly looked beside her into thin air with an annoyed expression, the girls knew what this meant. Bloom's evil self was talking to her, it always was a bit creepy when things or objects would suddenly float into the air but they had gotten used to the selfish evil invisible fairy. Bloom shook her head and turned to Stella "Other Bloom agrees with Techna about telling your father but she suggests you do it in a way that really gets the message across, like making out right in the middle of the throne room" Stella smiled and was lifted slightly out of her bad mood, she looked at the empty air she assumed was where evil Bloom stood "Thanks, noted"

Bloom turned he head to Techna "So what are you doing here Techna?"

"I live here" Techna stated bluntly but a little confused.

"No I mean what are you doing bringing a heavily pregnant Flora all the way across Magix to ask her for help when a simple phone call would probably have done the trick!" Bloom said sternly at her friend, she had never known Techna to ask such a big thing of anyone. Much less ask for help.

"I had too!" Techna defended herself quickly "Flora is the only one I thought wouldn't be too judgmental about my problems"

"Whoa hold it!" Musa yelled suddenly. Stella joined in with her outrage "Judgmental?! When have I ever been judgmental?!" "So not fair!" Bloom said lastly crossing her arms angrily.

"Guys come on! Let her speak" Flora said loudly to get their attention. The girls quieted down and listened grudgingly.

"Thanks. Look you guys...I need help" After a long pause "It's Timmy, he's been very distant lately. And you know how we've always been; romance is not our strong suit. So I've called in Flora to help me, to see if she can maybe get Timmy to notice me more"

There was a heavy pause in the room "You know you could always wear a dress for once in your life" Muttered Stella looking into her drink. Techna lifted her hand and pointed at Stella "Judgment!"

Stella laughed at her friend and let her eyes rest on Flora "But are you going to be okay, I mean you're like...really pregnant Flora"

"I'm fine! You guys need to stop worrying. For the last eight months it's been 'Is Flora ok?' and 'Should Flora really be doing that?' but guys really I feel great!" Flora said happily as she rubbed her tummy affectionately. It still made her friends smile when she was in this mood, they were beyond happy for their friend. She was only twenty but she was already married to the love of her life and they were expecting a child, what more could they want for her?

"But you should really call Helia and tell him you're going to be staying here" Bloom suggested as she took another sip of her drink and put in down on a nearby table.

"And you have to call Sky" Stella said as she stood up and strode over to a nearby fish tank with hundreds of blue fish inside.

"Aren't you going to call Brandon and tell him what's happening?" Flora asked as she pulled out her phone from her pocket, glancing curiously over at Stella.

"Nope. I don't want to give anything away, not in this train wreck of a situation" Stella kept her eyes on the fish and refused to face her friends "I'll just call my mother and tell her I'm staying here" While she spoke Flora had typed quickly on her phone with a determined look, when she was done she looked at her watch.

"Okay and what gives you all the impression you'll be staying in Gardenia?" Mus asked suddenly, drawing all their attention.

"Well we have stuff to do. Obviously we have to stay and work it out" Bloom replied with an uncertain look.

Musa stood up from her spot and crossed her arms "No way. Look I know you all have problems but these things can be fixed at your own homes, use a phone!" A strange noise started to sound outside and slightly distracted the girls from what Musa was saying, it sounded like sirens from the police that were stationed in Gardenia. It started to sound like a whole bunch of ships were flying over head in one big jumble; it was annoying and kinda loud. Musa continued "You may think I'm only saying this because I do everything myself but seriously, if you just talk these things out, it'll get better!" By the end she had to shout over the noise.

Brad appeared behind her "Ugh Musa?!"

Musa whipped around to face him "Yes Brad?!" Behind her Stella smiled and Bloom's eyes kinda bulged "Whoa!" she whispered none too quietly as she eyed the Blond bar keep.

Brad pointed to the door "You want me to go see what the noise is about?!"

"Yeah yeah, go go!" Musa relied impatiently and turned back to her friends. Brad quickly ran out the door curiously as the girls watched him go, kind of curious themselves at what all the commotion was about "So guys really you can't stay here!" The sound suddenly cut off outside and the girls all looked curiously at the door.

"Musa, we're staying" Stella said stubbornly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Techna needs me" Flora said simply.

"Flora needs me" Bloom shrugged and caused Flora to roll her eyes.

"Please!" Techna begged pleadingly.

Musa shook her head "No! Look..." She sighed heavily and pointed at Flora "You're going to go home and rest" Pointed at Bloom "You're going to follow her, make sure she gets there" Pointed at Techna "You, wear a dress" Techna gave her a look while Musa turned to point at Stella "And you're going to go home and talk to your father!" All her friend opened their mouths to argue but she cut them off "No! My word is law!"

The front door of the club suddenly opened and in burst of frazzled looking Layla with bright eyes and puffed breath "You guys! Guess what?!"

"Layla!" All her friends exclaimed at her sudden appearance except for Musa who stared at her with an open mouth.

Layla walked further into the bar quickly "You'll never guess what! There's been a bomb threat on Gardenia, they've completely shut the place off, no ships in or out, the place is a hazard zone!"

"Are you kidding?!" Bloom asked as she stood up and walked forward a couple of steps, as shocked as everyone else.

"Nope! And word with the police says the tip came from this club!" Layla relied loudly with an astounded look.

Musa shook her head in horror "What?! There was no Bomb tip from here! Who could have possibly-" Musa paused for a second before whirling around to stare dumbstruck at a calm looking Flora with her sweet little smile. Musa could only think of the few seconds she had been typing on her phone not only minutes before.

Flora glanced down at her watch again and smiled "Wow only sixty seconds shut off all of Gardenia, the police certainly are dedicated" She looked up at Musa "We're not going anywhere Musa" She said simply.

Musa sucked in a big breath before turning her face up to the heavens and yelling "Son of a bitch!"

Question: Did this whole chapter go a bit fast for you guys? Or was it just when I re read it, it seems fast because I know what's going to happen next?