I was actually planning to update this chapter in July, but once again I was creatively blocked. I apologize for making you all wait for so long. To make it up to everyone, this chapter is long and sweet. HOPEFULLY, I will be able to update more chapters within this month.

Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Two weeks later, the offensive rumors regarding Heidi had finally eased down. Majority of the students in Alfea, Cloud Tower, and Red Fountain seemed to have forgotten about everything and moved on with their lives. Like Bloom said, rumors are basically false and temporary. They are fabricated and spread out of jealousy and boredom. Despite the verbal spite, Heidi decided to ignore it. The fairy of warfare had experienced worse situations than mere rumors. Since infancy, she went through hell. Heidi witnessed, suffered, and committed unspeakable acts. She will not crumble over mere words.

Heidi's schedule had become increasingly hectic. She was juggling school with work at the same time. The fairy of warfare didn't face too much difficulty in school. The material that was being taught in her classes wasn't too challenging. However, the only issue she had was punctuality and completion. Sometimes, her occupation interfered with her learning. Although she had been given special permission by Faragonda, she still had to be responsible for her assignments and exams. However, with the help of the Winx, her time management skills had improved. She was completing and turning in her assignments on time, and attending office hours to take her exams. So far, the fairy of warfare was doing fairly well in Alfea.

Ever since Heidi had appeared in Edgar Clyde's advertising campaigns, she became noticed by designers, photographers, editors, casting directors, etc in Magix. The fashion world was intrigued by her unconventional beauty. She was an unusual combination of ethereal and exotic. Due to the immense success of her first stint, she was heavily demanded by numerous clients. The towheaded beauty had landed several advertising campaigns for high fashion houses, and blue-chip editorials for reputable fashion magazines. Despite her status as a newcomer, she had proved herself to everyone that she was a capable model. Her clients praised for her professionalism, humility, and versatility. Although she was not as vivacious as other models, she was a dedicated and intelligent model. What her clients admired the most about her was her mystique. They found this quality about her very enticing. After gaining experiencing in print, Heidi had to face the most difficult part of modeling: runway.

Magix Fashion Week will take place in less than a month. This event was very crucial for designers and models. Fashion week allowed designers to feature their latest collections to buyers and the media. If the public took interest in their collections, the designers will be able to start new trends. For models, if they appeared exclusively for an acclaimed designer or walked multiple shows, they would gain more hiring, payment, and fame. Heidi had attended many castings and every audition was different. The towheaded beauty encountered clients who had different opinions about her. The designers and casting directors were either friendly or cutthroat. She also encountered models who were more attractive and experienced than her. Occasionally, she would watch the models flaunt their runway walk and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Every model was unique in posture, body movement, and facial expression. Majority of the time, she would study or complete her assignments while waiting. When it was finally Heidi's turn, she formally introduced herself to her clients and handed her portfolio. At their command, the towheaded beauty performed her runway walk. As she sashayed across the room, she felt the cold stares coming from the other models. However, she did not let them get to her. Heidi only focused on herself and carried out her task.

Once Heidi had finished attending all of her castings, she immediately reported back to her agency's office. When she arrived, she was told by the secretary that she had to wait. The CEO was currently unavailable. The towheaded beauty understood and walked over to the lobby. She sat down on the red sofa and waited. To kill time, she picked up a fashion magazine off the coffee table and studied it. As she was flipping through the pages, she studiously viewed the images and read the words. Suddenly, she felt a very close presence. Heidi looked away from the magazine and saw a beautiful male child, who was about five years old. For someone his age, he was dressed very stylishly. He had dark brown hair and blue-green eyes. The boy was curiously staring at Heidi with two action figures in his hands. Heidi stared back at the boy with a hint of confusion. The towheaded beauty was surprised to find a child in a place like this.

"Are you a nymph?" asked the boy, abruptly.

"Excuse me…?" asked Heidi, with a hint of puzzlement in her voice.

"My teacher told me that nymphs are one of the most beautiful creatures in the universe!"

"I'm not a nymph."

The boy looked down at the floor in disappointment. "Oh…"

"...I am a fairy," revealed Heidi.

The boy quickly faced her in excitement, "Really?!"

Heidi decided to prove to the boy that she was a fairy. She told him to put his toys on the coffee table. The eager child listened and placed his action figures on the table. The fairy of warfare casted a spell on them and made them move. The boy smiled and clapped his hands. To amaze him even further, she puppeteered the toys to battle each other. The child was entertained as he watched. After a minute passed, Heidi stopped and immobilized the action figures.

"Do you believe me now?" asked Heidi.

The boy vehemently nodded his head in happiness. "Yeah!"

"Did you enjoy it?"

"It was so much fun!"

"...I'm glad you liked it."

"Are you a model?"

"Yes, I am."

"My mom is a model too, so is my dad!"

Heidi tilted her head in curiosity and asked, "Who are your parents?"

The boy turned around and pointed his finger at two portraits. Heidi looked towards the direction that he was pointing. The two people behind the portraits were Levent and Yvonne. The child was definitely theirs. He resembled both of his parents and inherited their good genes. In the future, he will surely become a handsome man.

"You are a very lucky boy. You have a beautiful mother and father, who love you very much…" said Heidi.

The boy turned around and faced Heidi, "What about you? Are your parents the same too?"

Heidi was struck by the boy's question. The softness of her expression reverted back to tough stoicism. Although his question wasn't perplexing, it was difficult to answer.

The towheaded beauty looked down with a hint of somberness and replied, "I don't know…"

"What do you mean?"

"...I have never met them before."

"Why?"

Heidi lifted her head up and looked at the boy. The child was full of innocence. She was honestly quite envious of him. As a child, she never possessed innocence. The fairy of warfare was never given a chance in the first place. The fiends of her past stole it from her before she could experience it. What she knew from the beginning was turmoil and servitude. Despite the envy, Heidi sincerely felt relief for the boy. She was glad that he did not have to go through the bad experiences like she did. He was currently living his youth with love and freedom. The towheaded beauty couldn't dare to taint him by telling her past.

"It just happened that way…" answered Heidi, obscurely.

As time gradually progressed, Vincent grew increasingly uneasy and frustrated. He heard from Helia that Mason will not harass him anymore. However, the amnesiac didn't believe it. Mason was a pathological liar, a sadist who took satisfaction in other people's torment. Why would he suddenly decide to end the harassment? It didn't make any sense. Despite two weeks of inactivity, Vincent was still paranoid. Whenever he was alone, he would feel anxious. The amnesiac constantly worried that he would be ambushed. Nobody blamed him for feeling this way. He was a target of two enemies. One wanted to hurt him, and the other wanted to kill him. The paranoia was slowly consuming him, leaving him little peace.

Vincent stood in front of a wall and stared intently at the calendar. "Only two weeks left…"

"Vince!" shouted Brandon.

The startled amnesiac jumped and turned around. "Huh?"

"Geez, man! I called out your name three times!" said the squire, "Didn't you hear me?"

"Oh, really? Sorry, I was in a daze…"

Sky raised a quizzical brow at Vincent. "You don't look so good. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything's okay. Anyway, what were we talking about?"

"We were talking about an upcoming party," answered Helia.

"A party?"

"There's going to be a huge party at the seashore tonight. Almost everyone is going," said Timmy.

"You should definitely join us, Vincent. This event will be enjoyable," said Helia.

"...I think I'll pass," declined Vincent.

"What?! Why?!" asked Brandon.

"I… don't want to go out looking like this. My bruises haven't completely healed yet," said Vincent, stating a half-lie.

"It'll be dark. No one is going to see your bruises."

"But still…"

"Vincent, are you still worried because of him?" asked Helia, referring to Mason. Vincent let out a sigh and nodded his head in admittance. "Mason has been inactive for two weeks. He has been keeping his promise."

"I don't want to take any chances."

"Relax, Vince! You're not gonna get jumped like last time. You'll be at a party with tons of people. It'll be really hard for Mason's friends to even find you," said Brandon.

"Brandon's right. There's no need to be so concerned," said Sky.

Despite the reassurance, Vincent was still unconvinced. "I'm also afraid of getting killed. What if the assassin comes out of nowhere and kills me?!"

"Oh my god! Your paranoia is starting to irritate me!" said Riven, with an annoyed expression. "Try being rational for once! Do you think it would make any sense for an assassin to try and kill you at a party full of fairies, witches, and specialists? That will be like a man fighting against an army by himself. The only chance you will get killed is if you separate yourself from the crowd and wander off."

Everything the maverick said was correct. It would be extremely stupid and suicidal for an assassin to attempt murdering him in a crowded area. If the assassin did appear to kill him, everyone at the party would use their power to stop him. Although Riven was acerbic, he was practical.

"Alright, I'll go," decided Vincent.

"Excellent!" exclaimed Brandon. The squire walked over to the amnesiac and wrapped his muscular arm around his neck. "You're not going to regret this, my friend! It's gonna be fun! There's going to be awesome food, drinks, music, games, and a lot of beautiful ladies!"

"Sounds tempting."

"And out of all the beautiful ladies there, there will be one girl that will steal your heart away!"

Vincent widened his tri-colored eyes in shock. "Wh-What? Who?!"

"Don't act dumb, Vince! You know who I'm talking about!" Brandon grinned cheekily, referring to Heidi.

The amnesiac pushed the squire away out of embarrassment. "Don't be ridiculous! Why would she be there? She's a busy person!"

"Oh, she'll be there alright! Stella is never gonna let Heidi miss this party."

"How do you know that?"

"Vince, you can be so naive. Ever since Heidi started working, she's become incredibly busy. This party is a chance for her to catch up with the rest of us and hang out. Also, this is a chance for you to chase her!"

"He's right, Vincent," agreed Helia, "Don't waste this chance when you have it."

Brandon and Helia were right. The career Heidi had chosen had taken away a lot of her time. Because of this, Vincent was unable to see or communicate with her as often. His shyness and indecision were also hindrances to his desire. The amnesiac knew that he could not let this chance slip away. It was time to man up and go after what he wanted.

While she was waiting, Heidi was playing with the child in the lobby. She entertained the boy by performing small magic tricks. The boy was very amused by the enchanting display. He couldn't stop smiling and laughing in joy. Seeing the child's smile and hearing his laugh alleviated the her thoughts. His innocence seemed to made her forget the horror that haunted her.

"Liam!" called a familiar voice.

The child quickly turned around when he heard someone call his name, "Dad!"

Levent smiled and picked up his son, who jumped off the sofa and ran into his arms. "Whoa, you're getting bigger! Were you playing by yourself all this time?"

Liam cheerfully shook his head. "I was playing with a fairy!"

"A fairy?" Levent curiously looked up and saw Heidi. "Oh, you're here!"

"Good afternoon," greeted Heidi.

"Heidi, this is my son, Liam. Liam, this is Heidi," introduced Levent.

"Hi, Heidi!" exclaimed Liam, happily waving his hand.

Heidi stared at Liam silently and waved back at him in a subtle manner.

"Hey, Liam," said Levent, "Heidi and I have to talk to each other for a bit. Can you wait and play by yourself during that time?"

"Mmm hmm!" replied Liam, with a nod.

Levent thanked his son and put him back on his feet. Liam scurried back to the lobby and returned to playing with his action figures.

"Alright, Heidi. Let's go in," said Levent. The towheaded beauty followed the CEO into his office and sat down on the black sofa. "Thank you for playing with my son. Today was supposed to be my turn to look after him, but I got carried away with work."

"You're welcome."

"Alright, let's get straight to business. For the past two weeks, you constantly went to castings and auditioned for upcoming shows. How was it?"

"It was endurable."

"Good. After being notified by your clients, you booked a startling amount of shows: twenty-five."

"Is the amount insufficient?"

Levent chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all. In fact, you booked way more than I expected. It's very unusual for newcomers to book over ten shows. You're impressive, Heidi."

"I was unaware…"

"What's even more impressive is that majority of your bookings consist of A-list shows."

"...Thank you."

"Be proud of yourself, Heidi. All your hard work has paid off. From this point on, your life will change dramatically."

Heidi remained silent to let all the information to sink in. Everything seemed to be moving at such a fast pace. However, the towheaded beauty did not mind at all. She accepted this change of lifestyle gratefully. It was much better than the one she had. Heidi earned everything she obtained and deserved it.

"Heidi," called Levent.

Heidi snapped out of her brief daze and faced Levent. "I apologize. I was briefly lost in my own thoughts."

"That's alright. I understand how you're feeling right now."

"I will...do my best to succeed."

Levent smiled at Heidi's drive for success. "Alright, enough with the business talk. Let's switch the topic. How has life been treating you, Heidi?"

"Excuse me?"

"Is everything in your life going fine?"

"...So far, it has."

"Are you doing well in school?"

"Yes, I am."

"This career has taken a lot of your time. Have you been spending time with your friends?"

"Not very often."

"I understand that you've been working nonstop, but you shouldn't invest too much time in success. This may sound difficult to do, but you should find the time to get together with your friends and catch up. Everyone needs a break once in a while, right?"

"...I'll try."

"Good, you can leave now," said Levent, giving her permission to leave. Heidi stood up from the sofa and approached the door. "Heidi, wait." The towheaded beauty stopped in front of the door and turned around. "Before you go, I have one last question to ask you."

"What is your question?" asked Heidi.

"Are you satisfied, providing service for an organization like Alfea?"

"I don't fully understand your question."

"Prestigious institutes such as Alfea, Red Fountain, and Cloud Tower offer protection to the universe. They teach and train gifted ones to use their power to fight against evil. The idea of it sounds honorable; however, it's destructive. Once these students master their powers, they are sent off to the bloody battlefield. In the end, these young warriors meet their untimely demise," specified Levent, "Will you still continue to serve an organization like that?"

After a moment of thoughtful silence, Heidi answered, "Alfea is the reason why I am here. The organization has given me shelter, knowledge, and companionship. I cannot abandon everything they have provided me. So, I will continue to remain loyal to Alfea and fight for their cause."

Levent formed a small smile and replied, "Alright, then. That is all. You can go now."

Heidi opened the sleek black door and walked out of the office.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Stella?" asked Bloom, with an uncertain expression.

"Of course it is, Bloom! This party is a perfect opportunity for Heidi and Vincent to get together and learn more about each other! Also, this party is going to make up for the time we had to sacrifice back at the island!" replied Stella, looking at herself in the mirror.

"A blossoming romance at the beach! It sounds so beautiful!" exclaimed Flora, gazing dreamily.

"I doubt there's gonna be any romance at the beach. This is party is going to be a wild one. People are gonna get drunk and high, and run around the place half-naked," laughed Musa.

"Oh my!" gasped Flora, with a startled look.

"Don't worry, Flo! It's still gonna be fun!" assured Musa.

Layla stretched her arms out and said, "I can't wait till tonight! All this studying and training have been dragging me down. I've been dying to go out and party!"

"You'll also get to see Nabu too," reminded Bloom.

Layla nodded with a smile on her face. "Yeah…"

"Heidi is never going to agree to go to this party," said Tecna.

"Why not?" asked Flora, with a curious expression.

"Think about it. Heidi's been constantly juggling with school and work. The last thing she wants is a party," argued Tecna.

"Wow, Tecna. The party hasn't even started yet and you're already being a killjoy," Stella argued back.

"It'll be selfish to force her to go to a party when she's exhausted."

"We'll let Heidi decide," said Stella, confidently.

The Winx immediately turned their heads when they heard the doorknob twist. When the door was finally unlocked, someone from behind opened. As anticipated, it was Heidi. The towheaded beauty returned at a perfect timing.

Stella rushed over to Heidi to greet her. "Heidi, you're back!"

"Hi, Heidi!" greeted Flora, "How was your day?"

"Good," replied Heidi.

"Hey, guess what!" exclaimed Stella, "There's gonna be a huge party at the seashore tonight! It's gonna be a LOT of fun! You have to come with us!"

"Don't listen to her, Heidi," said Tecna, "It's better to rest than-"

"I'll go," answered Heidi, cutting Tecna off.

Tecna's mouth dropped in awe. "What?!"

"I'll go," repeated Heidi.

"Really?1" asked Stella, with an eager smile. Heidi nodded her head. "Yay! I knew you would make the right choice!"

"Excuse me, I need to clean up."

"Sure, go ahead!"

Heidi entered the bathroom and locked the door, leaving the Winx alone.

Stella faced Tecna and stuck her tongue out in victory. "Ha, see! I didn't even had to convince for the second time!"

Tecna crossed her arms in disappointment. "Whatever."

Stella grinned and rubbed her palms together. "Oh, I can tell this is going to be amazing!"

By the time the sun had set, the beach became packed by college students. Since there will be alcohol consumption, majority of them arrived at the scene through public transportation. The group of people who planned this event arrived on their own and set up everything. Once everything was arranged, the party began. The fairies, witches, and specialists were having a great time together. They were all involved in various activities: eating, drinking, singing, dancing, playing games, etc. The atmosphere of the party was energetic and untamed.

The Winx and the Specialists met at the bus stop and greeted each other.

"Brandon!" exclaimed Stella, hugging her boyfriend.

Brandon embraced his girlfriend back and kissed her in the forehead. "Hey, Stella. I missed you, beautiful."

"Hey, Bloom! I'm glad that you could make it. I thought you would be at the White Horse working," said Sky.

Bloom shook her head with a smile. "Miss Greta was in a good mood and allowed to me to rest today!"

Layla looked around to see if Nabu was nearby. Suddenly, her vision went dark when someone covered her eyes with his hands. The fairy of morphix pulled the hands off of her eyes and turned around. To her joy, it was her wizard.

Layla hugged and kissed him in the cheek. "You came!"

"Of course! I had to come and see you!" said Nabu.

While the official couples were continuing their intimate conversations, Vincent and Heidi stood several feet apart from each other. The amnesiac was surprised that the towheaded beauty was here. He was actually very pleased that she came. If she hadn't, he would have been disappointed. Vincent secretly stole a glance of Heidi. Quickly, the glance turned into a stare. She was calm and collected as always. Her attire for the night was simple: a gray low-cut tank top, high-waisted denim shorts, and black sneakers. Even in simplicity, she was mesmerizing. Suddenly, Heidi looked up and caught Vincent staring at her. The amnesiac was a bit startled by her penetrating gaze, but he quickly shook off his nerves. He gained the courage to smile and wave at her. Heidi acknowledged his presence by subtly gesturing her head.

"Alright, shall we head down to the party?" asked Brandon.

"Yeah, let's go!" exclaimed Musa.

The Winx and the Specialists walked down to the seashore and entered the party. Immediately, they got accustomed to the vibe. Tecna and Timmy joined a group of avid gamers and played with them. Flora and Helia walked off to a quieter area where they could spend time together. Bloom, Stella, Sky, and Brandon went to the grill to grab something to eat. Musa, Layla, Riven, and Nabu stood by the dance circle and watched talented dancers show off their moves. Meanwhile, Vincent stayed in the crowd to avoid any potential danger. He slowly walked around the area and observed the scene. Then, the amnesiac spotted the towheaded beauty twenty feet away from him. Heidi was sitting on an isolated rock, viewing the party. Since she was all by herself, this was the perfect chance for him to talk to her. Before he could even reach her, he was confronted by three attractive witches.

"Hi, there!" greeted the first witch, in a flirtatious tone.

"Hi…" greeted Vincent, with a cautious expression.

"Hey, what's your name?" asked the second witch, coquettishly playing with her long hair.

"Vincent."

"So tall and handsome," complimented the third witch.

"Oh, thank you…"

"Are you a specialist, Vincent?" asked the second witch.

"Yes, I am."

"Are you single?" asked the first witch, eagerly.

"Uh…"

"Sorry, ladies!" apologized Brandon, who came just in time to save Vincent, "His heart is already set on someone else, but don't be sad. You can find other handsome, available guys nearby!"

"Hmph, whatever. We'll meet again, Vincent," said the first witch.

The three witches walked away and left the amnesiac and the squire.

Brandon grinned at Vincent and hit him in the chest. "Damn, Vince! I don't know what you did just there, but you got game!"

"I didn't do anything," confessed Vincent.

"That's even better! You didn't have to do anything to get the ladies!"

"Anyway, thanks for the help."

"No problem! Now go get her, Vince!" encouraged Brandon, running back to where he came from.

Vincent grabbed two cans of beer from the cooler and took a deep breath. "Alright, I can do this."

Heidi was sitting alone on a large rock, observing the party meticulously. She was examining the people in the area. The fairy of warfare was studying their interaction. She was puzzled by emotions such as happiness and excitement. They were very foreign to her. The most confusing emotion to her was love. For someone who grew up without knowing love, it was perplexing. After observing intimate couples such as the Winx and the Specialists, she began to wonder if it was really sweet and pleasant. From the corner of her eye, Heidi spotted Vincent.

"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" asked the amnesiac, politely. The towheaded beauty moved over to the side and gave him space to sit. "Thank you." Vincent sat down next to Heidi and shyly handed her a can of beer. "I got you a drink." Heidi stared at the can of beer silently. "If you don't like it, I can bring you something else."

"...It's fine. Thank you for the drink," Heidi accepted the can of beer.

"You're welcome," replied Vincent, feeling glad. "By the way, why are you here all by yourself? Aren't you bored at all?"

"I don't find boredom in my solitude. Instead, I find peace."

"Really, you do?"

Heidi nodded her head. "When you're alone, no one can hurt you…"

Vincent stared at Heidi in suspicion and concern. There was no doubt that she went through a huge crisis. The anger and darkness that dwelled in her eyes must have been rooted from pain. He wondered what kind of pain she was suffering and who inflicted it on her.

"If you spend too much time in solitude, you become lost," said Vincent. Heidi turned and focused her attention on him. "You don't have to be alone to feel safe. You have an amazing group of friends who care about you a lot. They would never do anything to hurt you, right?"

"...I suppose."

"Definitely!"

Suddenly, Heidi raised her hand and gently touched Vincent's face. The amnesiac was surprised by this action. He felt her slender fingers softly trace certain parts of his face. The sensation was electrifying. He was beginning to turn lightheaded. Then, Heidi pulled her hand away from his face.

"You are injured," said Heidi.

Vincent became startled. He realized that Heidi was touching his face because of his bruises. Although they were faint to others, they were clear to her. Quickly, he recoiled from her touch and looked away.

"...What happened?" asked Heidi, displaying a hint of interest.

"I got into a small accident," lied Vincent.

"...Are you being tormented too?"

The amnesiac faced her in shock. "What?!"

"I'm sorry. I am to blame for all this," apologized the fairy of warfare.

"What are you apologizing for? This has nothing to do with you. I told you that it was a small accident! I got hurt because I'm such a klutz!"

Despite his ardent denial, Heidi seemed unconvinced. The fairy of warfare gazed at the amnesiac with her penetrating eyes, which made him feel uneasy. Vincent was honestly a bad liar. He couldn't deceive anyone even if his life depended on it.

Vincent closed his eyes and sighed in defeat. "Fine, you got me. I didn't get into an accident."

Heidi looked away from Vincent and stared at the sand. "You didn't have to lie to me…"

"I'm sorry, Heidi. I didn't want to worry you."

Vincent opened his eyes and looked at Heidi. Despite her apology, she didn't seem contrite. Her expression was cold and detached. The fairy of warfare's stoic demeanor was beginning to disturb him. Although it made her seem cool and sophisticated, it also made her look apathetic. She rarely displayed any form of emotional outbursts. The amnesiac started to wonder if she was traumatized.

"How long have you been in pain?" asked Vincent.

A sudden trace of shock emerged in Heidi's eyes. "What…?"

"I won't ask you about your past. I'll wait until you're ready to tell me. I just want to know how long you've been in pain."

Heidi quickly recovered and returned to her composed state. "Since the day I was born…"

"Are you still suffering?"

"...I'm in the process of healing."

Suddenly, Vincent rose from the rock and faced Heidi. The fairy of warfare stared at the amnesiac in slight curiosity. The frown on his face turned into a smile.

"Come on, let's go," suggested Vincent.

"Go where?" asked Heidi.

"To the party! Let's go and have some fun!"

"I don't know…"

"If you're actually in the process of healing, you wouldn't be sitting here by yourself."

Vincent made a good point. Isolating herself and dwelling on the past were not beneficial to her. If Heidi truly wanted to be healed, she should make an effort in trying. The amnesiac reached his hand out to the fairy of warfare, waiting for her to grab it. After a moment of hesitation, she finally grabbed his hand. Vincent pulled Heidi up from the rock and led her back to the party.