This chapter has bothered me for almost two months now! It didn't work at first, and after I fixed it, I still didn't like it. Yesterday I came across a little bit of text on my Ipad, and suddenly, I thought it needed to be in here. For those who already read the chapter...I mainly changed the part after Obelix says goodbye to Asterix and Phyllis in the Forest House. That scene was way too heavy and dramatic the way I first wrote it. I like it much better this way, and I can finally start on the rest of the story!

That afternoon they were all gathered in Manilla's office. Manilla was pacing up and down, seemingly fighting over her first line. It took her quite a while.

"You liked Quintus, Phyllis." She finally said.

Phyllis glared at her in response.

"He liked you too. That's why he told you exactly what was going on. I'd appreciate it if you helped out if we go pay them a visit tomorrow."

Phyllis turned away from her, looking at Bonny. Who hadn't spoken yet, apart from dismissing Asterix' apology about attacking the legion. "They deserved it," she had simply said. Which he fully agreed with, but he could see it was not an act the Forest House would benefit from.

He could see how Bonny calculated her words now.

"We should pay them a visit sure, but I don't expect Phyllis to come along."

There was more being said as the two friends stared at each other, but Phyllis seemed satisfied with that answer.

"I won't," she said. She was glad her parents had left that morning to make living arrangements nearby. At least they couldn't complicate this argument.

Manilla sighed. "Fine." Asterix was a bit surprised. Manilla seemed quite serious about giving the day-to-day to lead of the Forest House to Bonny. He studied her for a moment. She was, like Getafix, quite old, but just like him, she had never looked frail. Her gaze was less piercing than he remembered though, and he was quite sure this was the first time he heard her give in to an argument that easily. She looked a bit defeated.

"Joci can come if she wants?" Bonny asked cautiously. She dared a careful smile at Asterix and Obelix. "We might as well use the opportunity to have them learn something."

Asterix raised an eyebrow. "You want to go heal that legion? Seriously?"

Bonny shrugged. "It's what we do."

He turned to Phyllis, who shrugged as well. "It's what they do," she confirmed. She didn't look worried. "Joci is your student now….she doesn't need my approval."

Getafix stepped forward. "I should finish the magic potion. It's high time we returned home."

Asterix barely believed the way this was turning. He didn't like to hear what their attack was causing, and he didn't understand why they were all so calm about it. As if it was perfectly safe to go heal an angry roman legion without magic potion. And without Phyllis, if she meant what she said.

Luckily, Obelix agreed with him. "But we have to make sure the romans behave nicely, we can't leave now!"

Impedimenta snorted. "They will be a lot nicer without us. The romans at home will not." Asterix was ready to argue with her, but he felt Getafix' wrinkly hand on his shoulder. "Impedimenta is right, the romans at home will hear about us being here. We need to be home before the village runs out of magic potion."

Asterix knew he was right. But he still objected. "They have known for over two weeks, there have been romans here all the time." He wasn't exactly supporting his own argument, he realized. Getafix gave him a knowing smile. He knew it was not necessary to convince Asterix their village needed protection.

"They had no reason to blab around it before now," Impedimenta sniffed. She saw Asterix and Obelix both look away ,and she regretted her own insinuation a bit. After all, they had only followed Phyllis' lead, defending her, even if she didn't really need it. Asterix obviously realized he had cut his own time with Phyllis' short, there was no need to rub it in. Impedimenta turned to Phyllis. She looked disgruntled by her comment as well.

"You could come with us, visit the rest of the village. Heroïx would be glad to see you. The rest of the village as well." She soothed.

"She can't. They'll be totally unprotected." Asterix' words stopped the softening expression Phyllis carried, freezing it somewhere midway. Impedimenta was surprised, and Phyllis looked away. Impedimenta was sure she had been about to agree.

"I'm perfectly capable of defending the Forest House if necessary," Bonny informed Asterix, obviously realizing it too.

"Not if you spend your energy healing up the army that might attack it," Phyllis countered. "Asterix is right. And Impidementa is right too, you guys should go home as soon as possible." She turned to Getafix. "Asterix and I were going to gather supplies for the potion. If we split, we can have them in another hour."

Getafix smiled, "We'll leave tomorrow morning, there is still a little time."

Soon however he witnessed Asterix and Phyllis discuss where to find several supplies, only to leave separately and coming back exactly an hour later with everything he needed. They were both frighteningly practical.

Asterix arrived moments before Phyllis, at Manilla's office, where Getafix had chosen to prepare his potion. As he handed Getafix the supplies, the old man apologized.

"I know you didn't plan things this way, Asterix, I'm sorry."

Asterix'only response was a slight frown and a question: "Is Manilla ok? She looks a bit under the weather."

Getafix had times when he had trouble following the reasoning of his younger friend, and this was one of them. But he knew it was no use trying to force Asterix in a direction he was obviously not prepared to go, so he just answered.

"Her decision to pass the lead of the Forest House on has nothing to do with health issues. Phyllis' unforgiving attitude towards her makes it nearly impossible to continue. But Manilla wanted her to return and so she decided to step down."

"She wants Phyllis to be here because of Bonny."

Getafix turned to Asterix. "I do not think you realize just how much Manilla regrets what happened to Phyllis. Having her and her family here was extremely important to her, but it is also extremely hard. Phyllis does not hide her resentment. It hurts."

"It's hard for Phyllis too," Asterix said.

"I know. But she has her family, her best friend. And I dare say she has you," Getafix added softly. "Something tells me that despite her past, Phyllis will be okay. I'd like to see Manilla be okay too."

"She will be. They just all need a little more time." Asterix responded, ignoring that almost a year had passed already. After all, Phyllis and Manilla had only recently met again.

They both looked at the door as it creaked open and Phyllis entered, carrying all sorts of supplies. Getafix pointed at a table in front of them, in Manilla's office. She started stalling them out, and Asterix took this has his cue to leave Getafix to his potion brewing. Expecting Phyllis to follow, he left.

"Do you still need anything?" Phyllis was eyeing the table, now carrying everything they had collected.

Getafix observed the kettle he had prepared. "No. But you could make sure the water starts boiling and then lower the fire. It shouldn't boil too hard." He ignored her surprised look. Phyllis did as told without further questions, and he started chopping some ingredients. He held up the beetroot. "Much better than rock oil." He smiled. "But Asterix absolutely doesn't appreciate me stressing that."

Phyllis turned to him. "Why not?"

"Because he travelled the desert to find me some. I managed to substitute it with the beetroot by the time he returned."

"You could have tested it before he left."

"That's what he said too." Getafix joined her, investigating the boiling water. "Just right." He paused to look at Phyllis. She was studying the cauldron, and the table behind them.

"There is more to making magic potion than collecting ingredients," He told her. " Much more. But in case you are wondering….that's more or less all of them." Phyllis frowned. She looked up at him. "So Asterix knows more or less all the ingredients."

Getafix hesitated. "Well…he's helped me find all of the ingredients at least once."

"Not more or less then."

"No. He knows I don't mind him knowing. But he prefers to ignore that."

"Of course. Only druids should know the ingredients. I bet he remembers all of them though."

"Do you consider the secret of the magic potion less safe with Asterix knowing the ingredients?" Getafix' question held no doubt, he just wanted her opinion. She had no idea why, but she answered quite forcefully.

"Of course not. I just wanted to say, that's why he's ignoring it. It's the right thing to do. Oficially."

"Exactly. So if Asterix tells you to stay here, it's because he thinks it's the right thing to do. Oficially," Getafix replied. " Don't read into it to have it mean more than that, because it doesn't." He returned to the table, peeling two carrots before slicing them.

Phyllis picked up a root with large holes in the middle. She was quite sure Asterix had not collected that. She had no idea what it was in the first place. "Do you think it's the right thing to do? And what's this?"

"Lotus root. Only to be found in India…. And I think the Romans react because they fear the combination of my magic potion and your powers."

"Mesmerons' powers."

"Mesmeron is gone. But the Romans were powerless against him and they have not forgotten."

"They have no power against the magic potion either. Combining the two is not necessary."

"No. But just like Julius Caesar would like to have the magic potion, he would like to have you at his side. Maybe it was even something he took for granted."

Phyllis pondered it. "That's not really an answer."

"I don't think he has any intention of attacking the Forest house. He has a perfect example of what that would led to for Mesmeron. I do think he wants you and Asterix to separate ways as soon as possible."

"Well, he has what he wants then." Phyllis gave the ground a dark look. "Quite easily too."

"Our village IS unprotected when the magic potion runs out. Your sister IS going to visit a Roman legion that was attacked on your initiative. I do think it is right to be cautious. But I would regret you not paying us a visit later."

Phyllis sighed.

"And now, young lady, it's time for you to leave." She grinned and got up. She wasn't going to learn any more secrets today. Getafix watched her go, not sure he had achieved what he had wanted to reach. If there was one thing both Phyllis and Asterix had in common, it was their talent for ignoring what they did not want to talk about.

…..

Asterix was waiting at the other side of the door.

"Obelix still hunting?" Phyllis asked.

"Yes. I'd better hunt down one or two boars myself, or I will have to lend some from Obelix tomorrow. He does not lend them out easily."

"Well, have you ever given him back one after borrowing it?"

He grinned. "No."

She nudged his ribs. "Then he has a point." She smiled at him. There was no point wasting the remainder of the afternoon crying over spilled potion. Asterix was right, it was an annoying habit of him to be so even if being wrong was more convenient, and just like Obelix, she would have to live with that.

"I'll show you where to find them." She whistled for Goliath on their way out.

They found Obelix soon and Phyllis' had gave them a tour of the forest, which she, despite not having visited it for years, knew almost as well as they knew theirs. Once or twice she was surprised over discovering a fallen oak, a clearing that had disappeared. But she knew where to find the stream that crossed through it. The rocky waterfall surrounded by a small pond. It was a beautiful forest, but more dense than their own, and without Phyllis, they would have missed the clearings that allowed sun to seep through. They had had dinner (roasted boar) in one of them, talking about the past year and all the little things that happened during it. Romans or their departure did not enter the conversation once. Goliath was grazing nearby, and Phyllis stretched out in the grass, Bravura jumping on her belly as she did. Her eyes were closed, the neat bun she had worn that morning was long forgotten and had turned into a loose ponytail. Luckily her dress was already green, since it would certainly have become so the way she nestled herself in the long grass. They spent the reminder of the afternoon relaxing in the summer sun.

It was Obelix who probed them to return to the Forest House, finding both Asterix and Phyllis extremely hard to convince. By the time they arrived it was well past sunset.

Obelix looked at Asterix as they arrived at the entrance.

"I am going to say goodbye to a few people," he announced. "I'll see you at our room if that's okay."

Asterix smiled. "Of course."

Obelix waved them goodbye and dashed away.

Which left Phyllis and Asterix alone and somewhat awkward. Asterix had just spent days helping with the renovations of the place, giving him a tour was somewhat pointless. Still, they managed to wandered the corridors for over half an hour, examining the various paintings and talking nonsense about them. As they passed the Phoenix that Phyllis had painted, Asterix thought of something to say.

"It looks very lively." Belenos, did that sound lame.

"You would now, wouldn't you," Phyllis smiled. His blank look made her nod in the direction of his helmet.

"Oh. The wings…well, I don't see them move that often, unless I look in the mirror or something." He frowned. "They don't move when I don't wear it."

"How come they move when you do wear it?" Phyllis asked. She had wondered about that since the day she first saw him.

"I don't know."

Phyllis looked very skeptical. Asterix held up his hands in defense. "I really don't know!" She smiled at him. It wasn't that she didn't believe him, it was just strange that he had such a curious item, for years and years without figuring out how it worked. Not very like him.

"I got the helmet from my dad when I turned 18. He made it years before, and in the beginning, the wings didn't move. The first time Obelix noticed that, I had already worn it for weeks."

"But surely..."

"My dad was always interested in artifacts and pottery and this and that. He owns a shop that deals in that sort of things." Phyllis saw Asterix roll his eyes just a little, showing he couldn't care less about those "this and that's" She grinned. Because she was, despite his indifference, 100% sure he loved the helmet dearly.

"So maybe there is some form of enchantment on the wings…or the helmet. Anyway, my dad couldn't explain it. Unlike the magic potion, the effect seems to last."

"That would be because you make them move yourself."

Asterix looked suprised. "How can you tell?"

"You said it yourself, in the beginning they didn't move. There must be some enchantment involved, of course, but still, you're the one who triggers it."

They stopped at his door. Asterix wanted to stall, but he had no idea how. They had shared a room before, but he could hardly invite her in, could he? In the end, he lifted the helmet and put it on top of her head. The shiny metal and white wings contrasted wonderfully with her raven locks. Phyllis' fine face made the wings look even longer. It looked marvelous...a true warrior woman.

He took his time studying her, and it made her somewhat nervous, as the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed. Before he could comment, they heard footsteps behind them, and giggling. A few of the Forest House new residents were on their way to their rooms. Phyllis looked in the direction of the approaching sound. There was a split second of doubt in her eyes, but she pushed him inside his room a second later, letting the door fall shut behind them.

Phyllis fell against him the moment it did. And he wasted not a second more before he kissed her. A kiss that she deepened in an instant, knocking of his helmet in the process. The metal made a sharp sound as it hit the ground. Asterix barely registered it, too focused on Phyllis'hands that eagerly pulled him closer. He felt slightly light-headed, and got his own hand stuck in the ribbon of her hair as he tried to stroke it. He took a step back to free it and they both toppled backwards as he hit the bed. Phyllis landed on top of him.

"Sorry," he breathed.

She ran her fingers through his hair, examining his deepening blush. She gave him a mischievous smile before continuing her assault, catching his hands and entwining their fingers to prevent him from getting any stupid ideas of stopping her. It was quite an unnecessary precaution.

They were both completely startled when the door was tossed open with a bang that almost made it fall from its hinges. Obelix peeked inside.

"I'm back," he announced "I…." he paused as he caught sight of Phyllis and their entwined hands. He gave Asterix a confused, somewhat worried look. "Is you're hand still not healed?" he asked.

Asterix was at a loss for words. He simply couldn't believe…. "No?" he tried. He felt Phyllis shake with laughter against his chest. Damn.

Obelix plopped down on his own bed. "Well, Since Phyllis won't be there on the way back, you should have Getafix look at it if it's not ok tomorrow," he advised. "Sweet dreams." He turned his back at them, and was soon fast asleep. Leaving Asterix to wonder if his best friend really had no idea what was going on, or that he was simply cutting them a break. "Goodnight," he answered lamely. Phylis didn't respond, still too busy laughing, apparently. Asterix chuckled a bit. Though he did not find the interruption remotely as funny as Phyllis did. He rested his chin on top of her head, waiting for her to calm down. She was still shaking, leaving him quite puzzled. Surely it wasn't thàt funny? Only when her tears seeped through his black shirt, he became painfully aware that she wasn't laughing anymore. Asterix tightened his grip around her, stroking her black locks.

'Come with me.' The words were on his lips, but they felt too heavy, and too soon. Deep down, he feared what would happen if she did. It felt like a mission that he had a good chance of ruining completely.