"Thank you again Nabu, and don't worry about Flora, she'll be fine." With those final parting words Helia escorts Flora - who is wrapped in Helia's oversized coat - to his car away from a still worried Nabu.

The two teens walked through layers of fresh, crisp snow to get to the blue haired male's car. Having stayed two nights at Nabu's house they were finally leaving. It was strange for them to have so much free time on their hands, with the school closed from the snow and Christmas approaching, everything just seemed like it was going too fast.

The car heater was quick to blast away the cold as the two entered the car, the lingering shivers quickly vanishing as Helia began to drive the two.

He considered driving Flora home straight away, with everything going on it would probably be good for all of them to get some time to themselves, but the images of dark bruises tainting her delicate, tan skin was enough for him to reconsider. He settled on driving the two of them to his house knowing that - whilst they may not have to go to school - his parents were at work.

It took a while for the house to warm but the two teens were more than content, sprawled over sofas with copious blankets between the two of them, giggling over the silliest things.

"Flora," Helia starts, clearing his voice as the seriousness of his words became evident to her, "we both know that when I said I needed to talk to you I didn't just mean a normal chat..."

Anyone could see how anxious Flora was waiting for Helia to continue. A multitude of possibilities running through her head, each scenario playing too fast for her to even consider a single one. Is he getting annoyed by her? Does he not want to be friends anymore? Does he want to be more than friends? Or worse, did Aisha say something?

"When you fainted I was so worried. Then the paramedics arrived and they were checking you over but I just didn't want to leave you alone, I had to make sure you were okay. I guess I was a bit panicked but I insisted on staying with you, I couldn't leave you - not like that." Helia pauses for a soft intake of breathe.

His eyes glisten briefly under the sunlight but the despair was evident on his face. He made no effort to hide his sadness, his worry - part of that was down to the fact that he was too tired to do so after the sheer amount of overthinking he'd done in regards to the situation.

"Flora, your skin was so bruised up. If it weren't for everyone being so concerned about your body temperature the police would've been called, that's how bad it was. You need to tell me what's going on, there is no way I can just sit back and let you get hurt, get beaten around like this."

Her fingers play with a loose thread on her shirt, wrapping the small strand lightly around her fingers and twirling it between her nails. Briefly, she glances up to look at him but she couldn't stay staring up at him. The only thought on her mind is that he was close to figuring it out, too close.

She trusts Helia implicitly, there's no denying that, she probably trusts him most out of every one of her friends. The thing is, she knows he would want to do something - whether she agreed or not. He could be incredibly stubborn but this was her family on the line - what's left of it. Regardless of what they do she can't help but want to keep the few fragments of what was once a happy family, but if this secret were to get out it would be impossible to do so.

Flora sighs softly, giving in to what she has to do. She never wanted it to be like this.

What she says next causes Helia's eyes to widen ever so slightly and a small involuntary shiver to be sent down his spine, unable to keep his shock at bay.

"Helia, you know I can be very clumsy at times. I suppose it's just the ice, it's everywhere and it just makes it that much easier to slip."

Flora had never lied to him before.

It was more serious than he thought.

A/N Hey guys! The fourth day is officially up and I hope you like this part. I must admit that I do like writing these short chapters for a special advent short story. It's only about 700 words per chapter but it is really getting me back into writing on here :)

For those of you interested I have decided that I'm going to rewrite the four chapters for 'Blind Eye' and then continue AND finish (finally) the story although until I get around to doing so the old chapters will stay up :)

I hope you guys like this chapter and once again thank you for the two new reviews I read before writing this, your reviews make me want to write even more :) Please leave some more reviews on this chapter and the next part should be posted at some point tomorrow.

Love all you guys!

- Mae xxx