Setting: Set in season four between "Diana's Redemption" and "The Fairy of Justice" (episodes 20 and 21).

The Last 5 Years

"If I Didn't Believe in You"

Riven

"I really don't want to go to a stupid party!" Musa exclaimed as she stomped away from their group of friends and onto the beach.

Riven quickly followed her out of the Frutti Music Bar and grabbed her arm. "Hey Musa, wait! What's going on?"

Musa stopped and turned to face the boyfriend she had just reconciled with. "I-I just think it's a waste of time! What's the point?"

Riven couldn't help but to get upset and raise his voice, "What's the point? There's going to be a party where the guys and I are getting honored for how well we've done at Red Fountain. How well I've done, Musa! I'm going and I want you there with me. That's the point!"

Not liking Riven's tone, Musa raised her voice to match his. "Well I have better things to do with my time!"

She tried to storm away again, but Riven caught both of her arms and kept her still. Normally Musa would be excited about a party, especially one paying tribute to people she cared about. Something else had to be going on.

"Muse, stop. What's this really about? Is it really about a party, Musa?" He paused and took a wild guess. "Is it just that you're disappointed that you're struggling so much with Morgana? Did you think this would be easier than it's turned out to be?"

Musa looked away from him, trying to hide the frustration and disappointment on her face. Riven knew he was right on the money.

"Musa, you know this will all work out, right? You may need more than your Believix powers, but you'll get through this."

Musa scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"You do know you'll get through this, right?"

"No, I don't know that, Riven!" she shouted. "I don't know if I can do this," she admitted.

"Well I know you will."

She gave him a look saying she didn't believe him. She was in her stubborn mood.

"Look Musa, if I didn't believe in you, we'd never have gotten this far. If I wasn't certain that you'd pull through somehow, I wouldn't be standing here now."

"We just got back together. A few days ago we wouldn't have been here now," she snapped.

"And whose fault was that? I didn't end it, Musa!" he shot back.

"Well I'm sorry that I didn't feel like you were being very supportive!" She yanked her arms away from him and took a step back. "You were rude to Jason, you were rude to Andy and the guys, and you left me, Riven. You left me alone at the audition!" Tears started to form in her eyes and she wiped at them furiously. "How do you think that made me feel, Riven?"

His voice softened. He knew very well that he had hurt her. "I'm so sorry about—"

She interrupted him as she started pacing. "How do you think all of this makes me feel, Riven? A whole world is hanging by a thread and it's up to us to save it! Again! I didn't ask for this, you know? I didn't ask for some fairy hunters to come crash-land at Alfea demanding the last fairy of Earth. I did not sign up to unleashing a group of vengeful fairies who are stronger than we are!" She shook her head. "The fairy hunters, the psycho vengeful fairies, the pet shop, the record deal, and our band. It's just so much. Now you want me to go to a party when I have all these other things to worry about, huh?" She dragged a hand through her hair, like fixing her hair would help fix her dilemmas. "I'm barely hanging in now. I needed you to believe in me, Riven, and you walked away."

He stood watching as she tried to quiet her sobs. It was hard for him to see her like this. It was hard because it was moments like this that reminded him that she truly didn't realize how special she was. He remembered that she didn't see what he saw when he looked at her.

"I do believe in you, Musa. And you know what I think? I think you'll be fine."

She looked up as he approached her and cupped her cheek.

"You are so strong, Musa. And at the same time, you're one of the most gentle and caring people I have ever known. You're beautiful, talented, and powerful. I already told you I was upset about the music thing because I was afraid of losing you. I knew that once you got started, nothing would be able to stop you. It never took much convincing to make me believe in you."

"Riven…" The music fairy allowed the magenta-haired specialist to pull her to him. She rested her head against his chest as he continued talking.

"For the last four years, I have had nothing to believe in but you." Riven heard a noise and looked up to see their friends peeking out of the Frutti Music Bar, watching them. He straightened and began to pull her toward their friends. "If I didn't believe in you, I wouldn't be able to stand in front of all of our friends and say: This is the life I choose. You are the thing I can't bear to lose." He squeezed her hand and wiped away one last tear. "Trip us or trap us, but we refuse to fall. That's what I thought we agreed on?"

Musa smiled at him, thinking back to all the promises they'd made. She nodded. "'Til the worlds explode."

He leaned in to kiss her and they pulled apart blushing when their friends started cheering.

"You're going to be fine," he assured her again.

That night the whole group took a night off from their mission and went to Red Fountain to celebrate the specialists.

While on stage Riven looked out to see Musa's bright smiling face cheering him on. He smiled at her. Once again, he was reminded that he also had someone who believed in him wholeheartedly. She had as much faith in him as he had in her.

The fact was if they hadn't believed in each other, they wouldn't have fallen in love at all.


A/N: Okay, so I have to rant just a bit. I feel like in season 4 Musa lost some of her Musa-ness, you know? And I personally got really upset when Riven was trying to make it up to her and she was just getting upset and dismissive. ALSO wtf is up with Bloom being the lead singer when they formed the band? Like, why is that okay? Jason Queen wanted to sign Musa, then he's okay with a new lead singer. If ANYONE besides Musa should be singing regularly, it should be Stella because we've at least seen Stella perform before. Sorry, it just really bugs me. Like, Bloom has the Dragon Fire (Flame, whatever) but that does not mean she should be the center of everything. There are times when I just find her to be really irritating and this thing with the band drives me crazy.

Okay. Done.

Thank you, my loves, for reading. There are only two more chapters left for this fic and I'm really excited about the last one. It's really the whole reason I started endeavor. Anyway, I love you all!