Chapter Fourteen: Should Anything Come Between Us

The time had come, and Timmy had been nervously sitting across from the empty chair that was reserved for Tecna. He was waiting for her and told Brandon to drop Stella's dress off and tell Tecna to meet Timmy in the secluded area of Alfea's gardens. Tecna finally emerged from along the path heading to the open area that was designated for their date, and Timmy's world stood absolutely motionless. She took his breath away, wearing the beautiful gown that Stella had made for her. The curious expression on her face told him everything as she looked wondrously at the lights strung up to illuminate her way toward him. As she walked on, her green dress trailed gracefully passed her feet along the ground, and the dress itself complimented her figure perfectly. Timmy got up from his chair and slowly walked up to her, clasping her hands in his.

"Tecna, you look… I have no words." He said in a breathless whisper, taking her to sit across from him at the table. It was covered in a white tablecloth, and elegant silver serving domes and silverware surrounded a candle-lit purple and silver centrepiece. It took Tecna a few minutes to register everything that she was seeing in front of her, and once she realized what it all was, she too couldn't find the words.

"Timmy, you did all of this for me?" She asked in just as breathless a voice as his.

"Of course, when you told me everything about Mr. Err, you said that you never got a chance to attend a school function, much less go on a date. I planned this night just for you, to give you what you missed out on."

"Timmy…" Tecna couldn't help it, happy tears began to fall from her eyes, and she tried desperately not to let him see her cry. However, he did see, and instantly went to her side and bent on his knees as he wiped the tears away with his thumb. Seeing her cry, even in happiness, reminded him of what was to come. He wished he could prolong it as much as he could. This was Tecna's night, and he'd be damned if he ruined it for her.

"Please Tecna, I hope I never have to see you cry again. You don't deserve… any of the suffering you've had to go through." He knew that his hopes wouldn't come true, he would surely see Tecna cry again, and that fact broke him.

"You're too good to me." She replied in a small sniffle as a smile crossed her lips.

"No, the world has been absolutely horrible to you and everything I've ever done is the only good you've had by comparison." Timmy said, "Just enjoy tonight, embrace every second of it." She agreed with vigour, and he lifted himself off his knees to return to his chair. Then, he gestured to a decorative silver bowl that held a small number of bread sticks.

"And for the main course," He continued with pride, "a spinach salad and spaghetti." Then, he raised the serving domes of the plates in front of Tecna as she gasped in amazement. The lights surrounding them only provided a little light, but the candles on the table made Tecna's fair complexion glow and caused Timmy to gaze at her wistfully. She was such a goddess in his eyes, and with each passing moment it still surprised him that she reciprocated his love.

"This meal is amazing," She finally said after a long silence while they ate.

"You didn't try one of the bread sticks yet." Timmy offered with a chuckle. He had already had one and could say that she was missing out.

"Oh I couldn't, I'm already getting a bit full." Tecna refused, but Timmy completely ignored it, knowing that his persuasion would eventually sway her.

"Come on, just one." He pressed, continuing to laugh slightly as he moved a bread stick towards her. Unexpectedly, he moved it too close to her mouth for her not to refuse a small nibble.

"Well, I suppose now I have no choice." Tecna admitted as she joined in Timmy's laughter before taking the bread stick from him. The rest of the meal was absolutely fantastic, and the atmosphere was something Tecna couldn't even dream of. Once their plates were entirely empty, Tecna pushed her chair away slightly, wiping her face daintily with her purple napkin.

"I don't think I could eat another bite," She told Timmy with a bright smile and a slight giggle, "I hope you didn't plan on ordering dessert."

"Maybe later, if you're still up to it." He began as he got up from his chair and came around to take her hand. She instantly stood up at his offer, "Right now, I want to show you something I have been working on for two weeks straight."

"Oh?" Tecna inquired, and he guided her to an open space where most of the decorative lights were hung. The lights gave the small space a magical feel, as if they were like sparkling stars. Tecna waited while Timmy took her to the centre of the space, and he took a deep breath. Suddenly, a soft melody began to play. However, it was when Timmy heard this melody that everything that reality had thrown at him earlier that day now struck him with horror. He held everything in, there was no way he was going to hurt Tecna right now. But this was his song, the song that promised that he would bring all the good in the world to her. He gulped, hoping that Tecna would think he was only nervous that he was doing this with her for the very first time and was afraid to screw it up. Oh how she was unaware that it was so much more than his nerves. Timmy continued on, placing his left hand around Tecna's waist, and clasping her other hand in his. Then he began to slowly sway as the words of his song dug into his heart.

"Don't be afraid,

I'll be right there.

A hero will keep you from sorrow…"

No, he wouldn't be right there, not anymore. And if he wasn't…, he was sure that she would be afraid, and he wouldn't be her hero. No, Timmy couldn't crumble, not yet. Not when Tecna was so happy. But it was killing him, eating him alive that these words would soon be lies. This very song that had soothed her fears, chased away her nightmares, now would be a lie. Timmy continued to waltz with his beloved in the illuminated space, holding back any sense of his troubles.

"A breeze will blow softly,

Whispering gently, that you're not alone…"

Yes, after tonight, Tecna will be alone. And who knew what would happen to her then. Timmy tried desperately not to tear up, he wanted nothing more in the whole world than to make sure that Tecna would never be alone again. He wanted to give her the entire universe if he could. But that was not his job anymore, at least not according to what his placement suggested. It didn't matter to him what he was being paid to do, what was in his heart was far stronger. However, he didn't have the power to disobey his superiors. If he was fired for going against Mrs. Faragonda's orders, that would be far worse than this. At least he would still be able to see Tecna despite how limited the time was. But then, there was the matter of breaking the news to her. He couldn't do it now; not when he made her so happy.

"There will always be a place where you can find me…"

Where, though? Where could Tecna find him if she needed him? And right now is when she needed him the most. With all the uncertainties of her future and the whereabouts of Mr. Err, she needed the guidance of someone she could trust. How could Tecna be independent, Timmy thought, if she mental state was plagued by anxiety and fear? It was at that moment that his strength shattered like glass. Before he knew it, he had pulled Tecna close to him, still swaying back and forth while her head was on his chest. Then, he froze.

"Timmy, what is it? What's wrong?" Tecna asked as she noticed him become quiet.

"I'm sorry Tecna." He said softly, nearly choking on the words, "I can't do this, it's not right." It wasn't right to play this song, to dance with her to the song that gave her promises that he was unable to keep. But he wanted to keep them, more than anything. It was then that the music stopped, and Timmy glanced over to see Musa hidden in the trees. She too had noticed his distress, so she stopped the music in order for Timmy to do whatever he needed to do. She would wait for his signal.

"What do you mean?" Tecna's face suddenly became horror stricken, and he was unable to read her thoughts. There must've been a million possibilities haunting her at that moment. He was afraid that she was thinking that the one person she thought she loved and trusted had betrayed her.

"Mrs. Faragonda called me into her office this afternoon." Timmy finally confessed, "She knows I am spending too much time with you, and now I'm only allowed to be with you at mealtimes and if you need assistance at night."

"What, but doesn't she know you're the only one I have ever gotten enough courage to speak to? She knows I don't trust anybody else." Tecna said, unable to find a rational response to the information she had received.

"Yes, she's aware of that, but she thinks you've become too reliant on me and need to start being independent. So she wants me to bring you to the fairies' cafeteria to eat instead of your room. And… if nobody comes to take you… Mrs. Faragonda is going to set you up in Alfea's relocation program. They're going to provide you with living arrangements and employment. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be so worried. In fact, I'd be happy, but…you and I both know you are not in normal circumstances." It was at this point that Tecna was paralyzed with fear, unable to speak in full statements.

"I don't know… on my own? And what if… Mr. Err." With the mention of that psychotic man's name, Timmy wrapped his arms around her again, tightening the embrace as much as he could.

"Ssh, Tecna, I know." He whispered soothingly to her, "If I can't do anything else for you, I will continue to find Mr. Err. I will bring him to justice, I promise. But I want you to promise me something too."

"What?" That was all that could escape her as she grasped on to him for dear life. She couldn't imagine a moment without him anymore.

"Promise me that you'll do what Mrs. Faragonda and the other staff tell you to. They want to help you thrive as much as I do. I would be absolutely gutted if I found out you reverted back to starving yourself and hiding from everybody, especially after I left you like this. Believe me, Tecna, I would never… ever leave you if I had the option. Just…, help yourself, thrive like the beautiful butterfly I always envision you as. I wanted to help you feel that you are that butterfly…, free to spread your… exquisite wings." With every passing second, he was losing the strength to speak. Tecna was just as wordless, unable to process everything. What would she do now? Seconds of utter silence passed, haunting the passionate couple. Then, Tecna thrust herself into him, her lips claiming his in a kiss as her own tears finally spilled over. For the second time in the period she had known him, she knew she was not alone in crying. And Timmy knew that his hopes to never see Tecna cry again had been dashed entirely.

I must give credit to soseztheleadr for the formal dinner idea which was originally meant for The Omega Mission: Alternate Ending, but was better suited here