Setting: Set in "The Secret of the Lost Kingdom" at the ball at the end of the movie.

I really recommend listening to this song just because it's so damn beautiful.

The Last 5 Years

"The Next Ten Minutes"

Musa and Riven

Musa was pulled away from her conversation with Tecna when she heard someone clear his throat from behind her. The music fairy turned to find her boyfriend greeting her with a small smile. Tecna quietly excused herself, leaving the couple alone.

"Hey," Musa greeted with a warm smile.

"Do you want to dance?" the magenta-haired specialist asked as he offered his hand.

It was very unlike Riven. Normally at these kinds of things he was only good for one dance, and they had already used that on the dance to kick off the celebration.

Musa lifted a brow, "I thought you weren't much of a dancer?"

Riven smirked and gave a half shrug. "We just helped save Domino. It's a special occasion. Plus, I talked to the band and they agreed to play a couple of slow songs for us. I'm not too bad at those." He cringed, no doubt thinking about how spaz-y he was when fast songs played. He had gotten better at dancing over the past couple of years, but it still wasn't a pretty sight.

She giggled, thinking back to all of the times she had watched the guys try to teach him a few moves. None of those experiences ever ended well, but man did he try. And like he said, he was actually pretty good at slow dances.

Her laugh made him smile again. "So what do say, Musa? Will you share your life with me for the next ten minutes?"

She nodded as she took his hand, and he led them out onto the dance floor. The song was exceptionally slow so instead of attempting to waltz, they opted to gently sway with the music. Musa placed her hands on his shoulders as his landed on her waist. He gazed at her for a moment then leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

She felt the familiar sensation of warmth spreading across her chest. "Someone's feeling affectionate today. Normally you're not too big on the PDA."

"It's been a long day," he reasoned.

She nodded. She couldn't believe that just a few hours prior they had been fighting three ancient hags and the slightly less ancient hag, Mandragora. There was still a faint ache in her back from Riven's blade when she had jumped to protect Sky. Musa had been able to heal herself after receiving the injury, but magic couldn't always get rid of all of the pain.

"Musa, I just want you to know I meant what I said."

His voice pulled her away from her thoughts. She looked up at him curiously. "You say a lot of things, Riv. What specifically are you talking about now?" she asked with a small smile playing at her lips.

Riven looked at her with a look that was hard to comprehend. It was a soulful look that was remorseful, apologetic, and sincere. "I meant it when I said I was fighting for you."

"Oh," was all she managed to get out. She wanted to say more, but couldn't find the words. That look, him holding her, his words, it was all so overwhelming.

Evidently he could see that she was struggling with herself because he simply smiled at her. A small, secret smile that he reserved for teasing and joking with her.

"Musa, today made me realize that I've always been fighting for you." When she didn't say anything, he continued. "All my life, I've been alone. My mother abandoned me after giving birth to me, and though I was moved from home to home I really grew up on the streets. My life has been hard, and I never really forgave her for that. It's never been easy for me to get along with people. I learned a long time ago that finding loyal and trustworthy people is hard, and people are good at manipulating others to get whatever they need. I always kept my distance to avoid being used." He let out a mirthless laugh. "As you can tell, that's worked really well so far. First Darcy, now a handful of ancient hags."

He turned away slightly as another look of regret flitted over his face. When he looked back to Musa it melted away. "But with you, Musa, I couldn't help but want to be close to you. There was something about you that intrigued me. It was instantaneous. It scared me for the longest time. That type of thing didn't happen to me; I wasn't supposed to feel connected to anything. So I acted cold, and I know you didn't deserve it, but I didn't know how else to deal with this." He moved a hand to gesture between the two of them. "I think I've known it for a long time, but today I finally accepted the fact that you are the greatest thing to ever happen to me and my reason for everything I do. I know I don't say it enough, but I love you. I am so in love with you, Musa. I can't imagine a life without you."

The music fairy inhaled sharply and Riven wiped a tear away from her eye. With the end of his speech came the conclusion of the first song. The next song was a waltz, so they adjusted their stances slightly and found a rhythm before Musa sighed.

"Riven, I know you're not perfect, and I know I'm not either. You're cold and distant. I'm overemotional and sensitive, though I try to play it off. We both have parental issues of different natures. This relationship hasn't exactly been an easy one." She stopped and considered what to say next. "I told you a long time ago that something changed when I met you. That I think it was supposed to happen. I still believe that today."

She had to stop as more tears streamed down her face. She cleared her throat as it began to tighten. "I'm not sure if it really was meant to be, it's just what I believe. I don't know everything." She paused and shook her head, wishing she would stop crying. After a few moments, she realized that wasn't going to happen so she went on. "I don't know why people run. I don't know why things fall through. I don't know how anybody survives in this life without someone like you. Riven, I love you so much. I love every moment of the time we've spent together – even the moments I hated. Our relationship is such a unique and special one. It's not like our friends' relationships, but we're still here and together just as much as they are. I just want you to know that I am in this. I have always been all in. I want to die knowing I spent a long, full life in your arms. For the next ten lifetimes, I will be all in."

"I am too, Musa. Forever." He wiped the remaining tears away from face.

She leaned into his chest. "Forever," she confirmed. "'Til the worlds explode. All of them. Not just one because, honestly, with our luck at least one world will explode at some point."

He chuckled. "'Til the worlds explode."

The waltz came to an end.

They looked at each other before leaning into each other and sharing a kiss.

Sharing ten minutes hadn't been enough. They weren't sure any amount of minutes together would be enough for either of them.

But it was a start.