Hey! The support for this fic has been immensed. I'm seriously overwhelmed. Thank you all very much. Mucho disappointed with the episode in which Riven comes back to Alfea after being rescued from Cloud Tower. Can we say, pathetic? Where was Musa's reaction? Rant continued at end of chapter...


Unattainable- And they lived happily ever after...

It had only been a few days since Darcy had attacked Musa in her room and on her first day out from after being confined to bed rest, the quintet was attacked by a muddy creature that looked to have come straight from the Black mud Swamp.

"Sun Power!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Musa could do nothing but laugh as her friend powered up and still managed to have time to pose before she decided to attack the gruesome sludge monster that had taken them unawares.

"Sun Sweeper!"

Musa flung herself to the side and covered her eyes, making a mental note to tell Stella to at least warn them before deciding to blind them all with her attack.

"Alley-oop!" Tecna cried as she used her digital net, luminous green in coloring, to boost Bloom into the sky so that she could have a shot at its head. It was a faster method than flying and also gave Bloom a chance to really power up without worrying about beating her wings as well.

"Magma Rain!" Immediately burning coals began to pound down on to the creature; exploding on impact like miniature fireworks.

"Golden Pollen!"

"Thanks Flora!" Musa called out gratefully as a sweet sensation filled her senses and her weakening muscles suddenly felt relieved, no longer screaming in protest. "Boogie Blaster!"

"Oh this is just great! Every time we attack it, it just reforms." Stella grumbled loudly. "And it's really making me late for my date with Brandon!"

"And I wanted some time to get ready for my date tonight." Bloom lamented, shooting another ball of flames towards the creature watching as the hole formed before sealing over again. A clump of acrid swamp mud shot at her but she ducked and shot the creature a furious look. "I'm going to smell!"

Musa nodded. "Yeah this guy is so messing up our day. Just once I want a nice day out without being attac- Hey!" She dived out of the way of something green and slimy before rounding on the sludge monster. "THAT IS IT! No more Ms Nice Girl! Dance, dance, baby!" She snapped before firing red glowing musical notes at the monster, using her speed and her ability to fly to outmaneuver the creature as she sought a weak spot.

"We need to take this bad boy down and now!"

"He's charging for something." Flora called out, her own seed bullets doing no real harm except to annoy the creature.

"We need to heat him up until he bakes and then we crack him!"

Stella tossed a look at Tecna. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"Duh, you and Bloom have heat magick." Musa replied, swatting her blonde friend lightly and grinning at the belligerent look she gained.

"The magick will just bounce off him; we need a way to keep it constant." Tecna sighed defeated by her own logical thinking; then she brightened. "Musa, your magick travels in waves, right?"

"Sound waves, sure."

"Can you manipulate them?"

Musa nodded, hissing as a projectile flew a little too close to comfort for her. "Of course, that's what Sonic Blast does. Turns the air into an actual weapon. Why?"

"Can you conjure up a whirlwind?"

The blue haired fairy looked dubious before giving a shrug. "Given enough time, I guess."

"Good, I'll cover you. You girls keep him busy, when she pulls up the whirlwind, you two attack and I'll contain it with my barrier."

Flora frowned. She wasn't really needed so she'd play back up in case any of them needed her help, she decided as she floated out of the way shooting the odd sunflower projectile and ducking the opposing attacks. Then an idea hit her. "I can hold him still with my vines!"

"Good idea Flora."

Holding a palm up to her lips, the plant fairy blew out a strange neon green powder down onto the ground surrounding the creature. "Pterodactyl Vine!"

Immediately mutated vines of ivy began to burst from the ground; winding up to snake around the mud creatures' body. It roared and tried to move but the vines were acting like roots, holding the being in place.

Musa concentrated on the sound waves from everything in the countryside around her, the croaking of bull frogs, children's laughter, the buzz of insects, her friends breathing, the rustle of fabric, bird song, trees shivering, everything created sound and sound was her best friend.

"Sonic Waves," Motioning her hands and orchestrating the sound waves into a tangible form; she began to whisk them around on the ground surrounding the creature. Dancing around, holding her hands aloft, she began to raise the circling air. Music hummed through her, dramatic and fluid, she called to the air and pulled it up to form a silvery cyclone of air. "SURROUND!"

"Solar FLARE!" Light seared out of the silver staff the golden fairy wielded before whipping around the creature, caught within the whirlwind, causing the creature to shrink back with an inhuman scream of agony.

"Dragon Molten," Bloom spiraled to the ground, a dragon of fire wrapping around her like a slithering snake. Hitting the ground, she splayed her hand on the ground and the dragon wound down her hand, like a flaming ribbon, seeping into the ground. The ground began to shake dangerously as Bloom stood slowly. Standing erect, legs braced apart, she flung her hands towards the sky. "ERUPTION!"

With an almighty roar, the dragon of fire burst from the ground, carrying rocks and larva up into the wind tunnel created by the cyclone. As the raging flames circled the writhing demon, its anguished screams were drowned out by the roaring rush of blazing heat. The girls backed off, shielding their faces.

"World Wide Web!" Tecna called out, weaving a green net around the creature holding in the flames that were demanding to be released. "Keep it up girls."

All four of them bit their lips and tried to contain the volatile mixture. Strain had perspiration breaking out on their foreheads but they prevailed, keeping the intense fire inside before, under Tecnas' orders, Bloom commanded the fire to disperse and Musa dispelled the wind while Tecna broke the barrier. As the smoke cleared, the creature could be seen standing stiffly in the clearing, crumbling at various points.

Floating to the ground, Flora clapped her palms. "Terrain Tremor."

A gentle shaking covered the land and the creature began to quake, crumbling as the vibrations moved up its body. Soon it was reduced to dust and the five girls powered down.

Stella swiped a hand over her brow and groaned. "I can't meet Brandon like this."

"Sorry kiddo, guess you're going to have to go back to Alfea and wait until tonight." Musa replied, smothering a yawn.

"Are you still not going to the cinema with us tonight?"

"Sorry, I think I'll take a rain check and get some sleep."

"Are you still having nightmares?" Flora questioned gently as they began to follow Stella and Bloom out of the woods. Tecna was bringing up the rear after collecting a sample of the dust to analyze it later.

"Yeah but Ofelia gave me a sleeping draught so hopefully that should help keep me zoned out."

"This is all Darcy's fault. If she hadn't snuck into your room, you wouldn't be having these nightmares. I really wish I could tear that witch's hair out."

"I'm sure you could, it's pretty long."

"Do you think Riven goes for long hair-" Musa asked before freezing, eyes wide and stunned. Her expression darkened petulantly. "Oh hell. I need sleep."

Stella giggled at her friends question and replied with the same answer Musa always gave her when she was spazzing about her own looks -which didn't happen very often. "Muse, you could be bald and the guy would still like you."

"Hmm."

Sighing, Stella pulled her hair out of her face and slowed her pace, forcing Musa to slow down while the others wandered ahead. Despite how ditzy and self absorbed Stella liked to appear, she had a real soft spot for Musa. Out of the entire group, they were the ones who weren't afraid to say what they really felt. If something was stupid, then you could be sure they would be the ones to comment on it. And since their childhood, they'd formed a tight bond when they had to go to the royal parties. Musa was the one to give overeager boys the evil eye when they wouldn't take the hint that Stella wasn't interested or taken as was the case now; and Stella was the one who made up excuses so the two could get away early. It was a perfect companionship.

"Look, he told you he loved you, right?" When Musa nodded, Stella gave her a pointed look. "Then what's the matter? I hate to see you like this. Once upon a time you were totally indignant when anyone even raised the idea that you might even like Riven."

"Yeah well no one was fooled by that act; it was a waste of energy."

"Yeah, it was kind of obvious."

Musa muffled a whimper behind her hands which covered her face. "I just need some sleep. Once I get a good night's sleep I will be back to normal."

"Sure and nights pass quickly and before you know it, Riven will have graduated and you'll never see him again."

Musa flinched. "You caught that, then?"

"Musa, despite our obvious differences -i.e. the fact that I would never be caught wearing a pair of jeans with holes in them- I've known you since I was three. There's not much you can hide from me."

"If I remember correctly, you pushed me flat on my face in front of everyone!"

"Yes, I did. And then you punched me."

Musa grinned. "Yeah you cried like a baby."

"I'd never been punched before." Stella declared indignantly.

"And then when Amaryl called me fat, you bitched slapped her."

"Yeah, she never forgave me for that." The blonde Solarian princess murmured thoughtfully.

"She had a hand print on her face for days; of course she wasn't going to forgive you. She was entered in the Little Miss Magix Pageant."

Stella tilted her head to the side as she tried to remember. "Really? Pity I was sick, I could have entered and won."

"I think Diaspro won."

"Ugh, she was so stuck up."

"Was that why you were so eager to meet Prince Sky?" Musa enquired slyly, remembering just how the two blondes had disliked each other because each considered the other to be their rival in the looks department. While Diaspro had the regal looks, Stella's sunshine beauty could not be denied. Added to the fact that Stella's empire was bigger than Diaspro's, it was easy for Diaspro to hate Stella.

"Well she talked about him constantly; it was like my duty to save him from her."

Musa cackled wickedly, leaning against her friend as the others shot them bemused looks. "And then Bloom kicked her pussy ass all over Red Fountain and won Sky's heart and you found Brandon, so it all worked out."

"Too true. Plus Bloom is much better for him."

Bloom, hearing her name, looked over her shoulder. "Who are you talking about?"

"Oh we're just talking about how you kicked Diaspro's ass." Stella replied airily.

A dark look crossed the red heads face. "Oh she deserved it. Imagine thinking that Sky would be happy with her."

"Well they were engaged, it wasn't like she was an evil psycho stalker."

"Key word, were."

"Ooh, haughty Bloom. I like, I like!" Stella exclaimed cheerfully, while Musa snickered at the blush that suddenly overcame their friend. "You'll make a great Queen, Bloom."

"Oh be quiet. I'm not going to be a stuck up Queen. Once Sparx is back up and running, I'll rule it with a fair hand and let my people have as much of a say as possible."

"Yeah but your people Bloom, they're ghosts." Stella pointed out.

Bloom sighed dejectedly. "Yeah, well I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

"Sorry Bloom, I didn't mean to bring down the tone of the day."

"No, these are things I have to keep in my head. But just not today, so how about we head back to the school, get cleaned up and go out for lunch."

Musa was about to nod but a yawn forced its way out of her mouth and she sighed. "I don't think I can stay awake much longer. I think I'll just get a shower and head straight to bed. Maybe I'll be able to sleep a while now and then take the sleeping potion tonight."

"Then you should be refreshed and back to our old Musa."

With a nod, Musa muffled another yawn and let her friends lead her back to her dorm.


Riven entered his dorm room to see Brandon sitting on the bed putting away his holophone. He frowned. Wasn't Brandon taking the loud mouthed blonde on a date or something? He was pretty sure he had the dorm to himself, so why was Brandon still here? He glanced at Helia who was sitting in the corner with a notebook in front of him but the dark haired warrior had nothing to say for the situation. He simply gave Riven a slight shrug before returning to studying his notebook with a deep fascination.

"Why are you here?"

Brandon rolled his eyes. He didn't think he'd ever get used to how rude Riven could be, especially after having just talked to Stella; it was just a stark contrast.

"Stella needs a rain check, she and the girls got into a fight with a mud monster."

"Girls?" Riven asked warily, his eyes already moving to the window that looked in the direction of Alfea as he pondered just how long it would take him to get over there and give that pixie a damn good shake.

"Yes, you know Stella's friends. You've met them a couple of times. They go by the names, Bloom, Flora," Brandon quickly cast a glance at Helia, noting the way the dark haired boy tensed. "Tecna and this name might be particularly familiar, Princess Musa of the Harmonic Nebula."

Riven grit his teeth. "I know who her friends are."

"Then why did you ask?" Helia wondered, not bothering to look up as he scribbled out a word and replaced it with another. Sometimes he couldn't get the beat, words with extra syllables took up too much space and had to be replaced and that interrupted the flow, he thought with a scowl.

Riven simply growled and grabbed a jacket.

"Where are you going?" Brandon asked as he tossed the Leva bike magazine he'd picked up to leaf through, off to the side.

"Out."

"Are you coming back tonight?"

Riven leveled him with a dark glare. "Since when did you become my mother?"

"Cool your jets Riven, he simply asked you a question as a concerned friend. As for you Brandon, Riven's a big boy. If he wants to stay out all night, that's his prerogative." Helia played the peacemaker without much joy. He was trying to think and these two were ruining his concentration with their childish sniping.

Riven just grunted and walked out of the dorm; grabbing his helmet from the back of the door and the keys from the small bowl on the dresser. Brandon watched him go before rounding on Helia.

"You know where he's going, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. Now if you don't mind, I would like some p-" he sighed as he caught sight of Brandon's incredulous look. "Ok, what is it?"

"Riven. He's going to make himself sick. He doesn't sleep and when he does he has nightmares. He's never here because he's over at Alfea watching Musa in case she gets attacked again."

"If something happened to Stella, you'd be there too." Helia pointed out fairly.

"Yeah but I wouldn't keep it a secret. Besides, Stella's my girlfriend; I have the right to watch over her. He won't even tell Musa he cares because he's scared she'll leave just like his mother."

Helia sighed heavily. "Brandon, I know you care about Riven but this is his problem to work out. Let him do it in his own time."

"Hmph." Brandon muttered, folding his arms and staring stonily out at the rain that was pounding against the windows. "He's going to get wet too."

Helia smothered a chuckle. Brandon really did sound like Riven's mother.


The black thunderous clouds mirrored his mood as he raced down the narrow winding paths that led towards the school of Alfea. He didn't feel like going via the main road or the translocator, he wanted the speed. Maybe the rush would wash away this bubbling fury underneath his skin but he doubted it. It was consuming him from the inside and the only way to delete it would be to take out his frustration on something that felt pain. However what he really wanted to do was slap some sense into that stupid pixie.

What the hell had she been thinking? He wondered mentally as he zoomed over a low branch and swerved onto a narrow path, startling a rabbit before pushing the throttle and gliding through over the undergrowth. She had just had a battle with Darcy the other day, she wasn't sleeping, she was barely eating anything that he could see because she just didn't have the energy and she decided to fight? She needed her head examined.

He shouldn't even care, he thought with a scowl and the scowl darkened as he remembered thinking the same thing over the past couple of years but the simple matter was that he did. She'd gotten under his skin to the point where she was the only thing he did think of. The only time she was pushed back was when he was fighting. The rest of the time was spent wondering what she was doing or if she was safe. It was driving him mad.

He didn't want to care about Musa. She would demand so much. She was a girl; that was what they did. Bloom was constantly on the phone to Sky, the guy never got any peace. Brandon was reduced to a babbling schmuck around Stella using stupid baby names and Timmy was a stuttering fool without a mind of his own. At least Helia had managed to keep his head screwed on, so far. Riven had no doubt that sooner or later, cool as a cucumber Helia, would fall too.

It seemed to be fate that the five of them would be paired up with the five girls. It was sickening and so structured he felt it was his duty to rebel against how perfect it all lined up. Of course, the fact that he had ended up with the most unruly of the group made things easily. The more he pissed her off, the more she rebelled against the forces shoving them together.

Maybe, if everything hadn't been so clear cut, they might have made good friends. He enjoyed her humor and her witticism but that was always overshadowed by the fact that he found her pretty and desirable and every time she was angry with him, it did funny things to his insides and they weren't unpleasant or fear based either.

She was firmly lodged under his skin, growing like a tumor and while part of him wanted to grab his phantoblade and cut her out, the other part wanted to keep her there. This torture was penance for his transgressions during his younger years.

Besides, most of all, he was bad luck. His mother had left him because he hadn't been good enough for her. His father had died and his grandfather… Everyone just left him or something happened to them and the same would happen to Musa. He had almost killed her the last time and because of him, she'd been injured. He should stay away from her and he would, just as soon as he gave her a good talking to for fighting that sludge monster. Dumb stupid fairy!

As he roared up to Alfea, he cast a glance around the grounds. The heavy rain had forced the girls to take shelter apart from one girl who seemed to be enjoying the rain and was splashing about in puddles but he paid her no mind. Instead he steered his bike to the back of the grounds, towards where he knew Musas' dorm was, mindful to keep out of sight.

Faragonda didn't approve of boys being in the girls' dorm area while Griselda constantly gave him beady looks as though she believed him to be the male version of Stella. He hadn't blown anything up in Red Fountain never mind Alfea, but mud sticks, he remembered. He'd made one mistake and that would always remain in everyone's minds no matter how they pretended to forget it. You only ever had one chance at a first impression and he'd blown his at the first opportunity. After all, if people didn't have high expectations for you, then they weren't disappointed when you failed.

Except for Musa, his mind reminded him snidely. She always seemed to be disappointed in him. Despite everything he had done, she still believed in him for reasons he just couldn't understand. She said she loved him, but what was love? At nineteen years old, he still wasn't sure. It was probably one of life's mysteries. Sky believed he had found it with Bloom and Brandon with Stella but what of himself? Sure, he was attracted to Musa. Who wouldn't be? She was cute, feisty and had the longest legs imaginable. But that wasn't love… was it?

He had, in the heat of the moment, told her he loved her. But did he really? He cared about her certainly. Enough to come over here to strap her to her bed until she was graduated and out of danger. It wasn't that hard to care about someone, once your walls had been cracked enough to let people in. And he didn't really mind caring about her, but love implied more.

It implied forever.

To be with Musa forever was a daunting thought and she couldn't possibly want to be with him forever. Forever was a long time, it was the rest of their lives. They could barely spend twelve hours together without having at least two or three fights which resulted in one of them sulking. Forever was too many fights. Too many for her to be happy, anyway.

Pulling off his helmet, he swung his leg over the leva bike and headed for the tree that Flora had grown suspiciously close to the girls' balcony. With easy, fluid movements, he conquered the tree and landed deftly on the floor of the balcony, glancing in the rain sluiced window to see if it was empty. Luck, for a change, was on his side and after jimmying the locks -something he had picked up from lounging around the streets causing all sorts of trouble in the attempt to gain some kind of attention from someone- he entered the warm common.

In the corner, a small grey rabbit looked up warily and twitched its nose before deciding Riven was no danger and settling back to sleep.

As he wandered to Musas' room, he tried to decide what exactly he wanted to say. There was a lot building up inside him ready to spew out at her. All his insecurities, his doubts and his failures created a black mix.

He flicked a look at the name plate on the door. Tecna and Musas' names were scrawled onto two individual plates while on the other side of the small common was a door leading to Flora and Bloom's room, the only one who slept on her own was Stella which he figured was good for her wardrobe. Trees were randomly growing in every spacious plot and on the coffee table magazines were scattered. It wasn't your typical girls' room but there were definite feminine touches from all five personalities.

Sighing at the disorder, he slowly opened Musas' door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He'd expected to find her lying on the bed with her earphones on or scribbling out some lyrics on her notepad or playing her flute or something that he could rudely rouse her from. Instead, though, he found her curled up in her bed with her covers wrapped tightly around her.

Sighing, he approached the bed. Music was floating out of the radio on the study table in the corner, something soft and sleepy. It seemed to be having a soothing affect on her as she clutched the corner of her pillow cover in her small hand while her dark lashes rested softly on her pale cheeks flushed from the snug warmth of her bed. Her hair had fallen loose from the bunches she usually wore, reminding him of the way it had been curled the other night. The night Darcy attacked. The night of her date.

His blood froze over. During the attack it had been easy to forget how angry he had been with her; to forget how she had turned to another, just days after saying she wanted him to accept her feelings for him. Typical woman, he thought annoyed turning away and walking to the door. She had abandoned him just as his mother had done.

A sharp breath caught his attention and he flicked a stony look over his shoulder to see Musa begin to sit up in her bed, rubbing her eyes and moaning softly. She looked up at him with confused bafflement coloring her expression.

"Riven? What are you doing here?"

He snorted. He hadn't even made a noise and yet she had sensed someone had been in her room. Why hadn't she done that when Darcy had been there? He wondered.

"You planning on answering or are you just going to continue standing there?" she demanded with an arced brow.

"I'm just wondering how you sensed me here." He said truthfully.

If anything, her brow arced higher. "Well duh, I am a fairy. We're trained to sense presences!"

He made a show of frowning in a befuddled manner. "That's funny. If that's the case how come you didn't sense Darcy in your room? Or were you too caught up in your little fantasies of that geek you went out with that night?"

Musas' eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Was Riven jealous? Oh please say it was so, it would be so nice to have the tables turned for a change. "Jealous?" she asked sweetly.

His eyes blazed for a second before coolly, he turned on his heel and marched out the door.

"Damn it!" Musa cursed. Silly her for thinking she could play with Riven because Riven was a high strung moron who just couldn't be teased for fear of blowing a stupid gasket!

Quickly flinging off her covers, she began to scramble around the floor for a pair of shoes. Why was it that she was always chasing him? Honestly, she should just leave him. She was always mocking girls who ran after their boyfriends and here she was doing the same thing for a boy who wasn't even her boyfriend. He wasn't even a friend. She was pathetic!

She shouldn't have to justify her actions to some jumped up loner with an attitude. Yet, if she didn't say something or smooth things over, things would just continue to fester until they became mortal enemies. And things were so close between them. He had kissed her just a week ago and told her he loved her. She couldn't let all that progress go down the drain just because she had been feeling flustered about finding him in her room.

Shoving her feet into her shoes, she raced out of the dorm and looked around, noting the open windows that were rattling in the brewing storm, the billowing curtains and the rain that was spitting in. He'd left via the balcony and if she didn't hurry he'd be on his leva bike and out of there.

Cursing, she rushed to the balcony, not bothering to try to jump for the tree; she simply shifted into her winx form and landed on the ground before him, breathless and trembling with the adrenaline rush. The rain lashed down, soaking her hair, plastering it to her brow and drenching her revealed skin above the sparkly material of her costume.

Riven nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of her but he was too cold, wet and miserable to flush and when his blood began to simmer, he swore it was because he was angry with her. "Get out of my way, pixie."

"Fairy." She corrected automatically. "And no, I'm not moving. Not until you tell me why you were in my room."

"Disappointed I wasn't your little boyfriend? Now move!"

"Make me." She hissed, planting her feet and slapping her fists on her hips in an effort to control the shivering in her limbs. Her winx form wasn't that warm but the boots gave her some height.

He wasn't in the mood for this, so grabbing her firmly by the shoulders, he lifted her out of his way before striding towards his leva bike.

Musa snarled at his retreating frame and stomped after him. "Stop running away from me Riven."

"I'm not running away from you, I'm walking."

"Why are you here in the first place?"

"It doesn't matter because I'm leaving."

Musa watched him go before deciding to let him go. If this was the way he wanted to be then fine. She didn't have to wait around for him. "Fine, leave. That's what you're best at. No wonder I went out with someone else. At least he likes me and didn't want to run away at the first sign of anything."

She watched him freeze and tense before he swung around and strode up to her. "You're just like every other girl. First sign of difficulty and you jump ship."

"I'm sorry, I think you've got me mixed up with you!" she chimed pettily. "The first sign of difficulty was you dating Darcy!" she snapped poking him squarely in his chest. "And another sign of difficulty was you leaving me at their mercy which may I point out, they don't have! And let's not forget the fact that you weren't there to help us fight off the army of decay until the last moments. And you spied on us for them and you were a big fat moron and guess what, you still are. And I'm still here, you jerk. I haven't run away, that's you!" With every emphasized word, she drilled him harder on the chest until he snagged her hand and pulled her flush up against him, temper making his eyes brilliantly purple. Her body bumped against his and her stomach hopped, sending a tingly feeling straight down.

"I told you I loved you and you went out with another!" he snarled.

"Well duh! You told me you loved me and ran away! I shouldn't have to wait around for you to finally wake up to yourself. You're leaving at the end of the year. I might not ever see you again."

"So that's why you dated the geek?"

"He's not a geek; he's a far better man than you."

His eyes smoldered before he replaced his tense expression with a blank mask. Water ran down from his scalp, rolling down his nose and dripping down onto the ground.

She bit her lip to stop herself from pressing her lips to the small rivulet moving along his jaw. Her fingers clenched in his shirt and her breathing became unbearable and tortured. He was so devastatingly close, his scent was unavoidable, wrecking her senses until her head began to grow faint and her heart pounded in her ears.

"Fine, go back to him. Hope you're both happy." He told her in a bland tone that belied his churned up emotions.

Every part of him screamed to get away. He couldn't handle being this close to her. He couldn't handle all the emotions that threatened to boil over when she was there. He had to get away to gain some control and yet…

He wanted to keep her soft warm body pressed up against his, to feel the silken lily white skin under his hands moist with rain. Her eyes were so dark he could drown within them and droplets clung to her lashes, glistened on her lips. Her breasts were crushed against his chest and his mouth went dry when she nervously licked a drop of water from her lips. He swallowed hard.

"I'm not." She whispered; eyes large and eloquent, as deep as the ocean and just as dark.

His eyes narrowed shrewdly. "Not what?"

"Happy. At least, I won't be with him." She took a shuddering breath and wished for thicker clothes, something that would hide her body from his dark knowing gaze. "He's not you and the thing is he's nice and funny and interested. And I spent the whole night wishing he was you even if you were horrible to me. That's how pathetic I've become." She growled, her voice growing stronger with each voice. "The silly thing is that Stella thought that if I went out with someone, you might become jealous enough to do something. But that only works if someone really cares, right? You obviously don't or you won't." She ripped her hands out of his grip and walked back towards Alfea, leaving him in the pouring sheet of rain.

He raked a hand through his hair and growled. Watching her go, he felt his chest seize in unbearable agony at the thought of losing her. If he let her walk away that was it. There would be no more chances. He pushed it away. "I'm bad luck."

She froze and looked over at him. "Who says?"

He faltered at that. "Everyone I care about leaves."

"My mother died, my father's always away, is that my fault?"

"Well… no. But…"

"Oh whatever, Riven. I never pinned you for the self pity type. I told you, everyone is responsible for their own lives and you can't control fate. What happens; happens. Live with it because no one knows how long they have." With a jerk of her shoulder, she began to walk again.

She was fed up nursing his bloody ego. It was about time he noticed that no matter what he had done, she had always been there for him. She had always believed in him, despite even what her common sense told her. Her heart knew that he was It for her. He just had to be so stubborn about it. But if it wasn't worth working for, it wasn't worth keeping.

Besides she had to get in from the rain, she was so run down she'd probably be in bed with the cold for a week. Not a pleasing prospect. Even fairies suffered from the common cold and no amount of fairy magic could get rid of it.

"I won't make a good boyfriend. I'm not a nice person, I can be moody and a git-"

"Preaching to the choir!" She snapped.

He tucked his tongue in his cheek in an effort to suppress the smirk at her sassy retort. He swallowed before saying the next sentence. "I won't share you, so no bringing your friends along."

Along where? "I'm not into orgies."

Now he smirked. "And I don't shop."

With a heavy sigh, she turned to face him. "That's nice; neither do I. You're mixing me up with Stella, you know the perky blonde?"

What was with everyone describing the Jinx club to him today? He knew fine well who they were. He didn't need picture images. "I can't be affectionate in public."

Slowly things were beginning to sink in for Musa. It had taken a while because she had been so angry with him but now… well why else would he be telling her these things? A spark of hope that had never really died began to flutter delicately with his words. Unless, he was playing a cruel joke her mind pointed out with Tecnas' voice. But still the spark began to glow and with it came a giddy feeling low in her gut.

"What are you talking about?" She asked suspiciously as she began to slowly approach him, being sure to keep just out of the way.

His eyes lit up at the expression on her face but he didn't answer her. "I'll be a difficult and demanding boyfriend and I'll be violently jealous of any boy who looks at you. But I do love you." He said the last words a dead serious tone and a sincere look warming his eyes.

She froze, cursing the fact that her heart had taken up permanent residence in her throat so she couldn't breathe past it. Struggling to regain some sanity, she managed a wry smile. "Hey, look you're not bleeding." She quipped at the fact that he had said the words without getting hurt.

Whether he got the joke or not, she didn't know because his eyes hardened and his jaw clenched so a muscle fluttered in his cheek. "Damn you Musa."

She watched surprised as he turned and strode for the leva bike. "Oh crap." She hissed. "RIVEN!" She jogged after him and grabbed his arm yanking him around to face. "Look, ok, I make stupid comments when I don't know what else to say or when I'm scared."

"Scared?" He demanded exasperated. "I thought this was what you wanted."

"I do!" she snapped, then frowned. "Don't you?"

"I wouldn't have said so if I didn't." He seethed.

"Ooh, don't make me mad." She snarled furiously. "This is a big step but you better be sure you're ready for it because if you do anything to hurt me, I will kill you."

"I'd like to see you try." He retorted but it was lacking some of the heat it usually held.

"Oh bite me." She bit out turning back towards the school; the guy was just a pain in the ass. Before she got a step, she was jerked back to face him, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I told you I'd be difficult, if you can't cope, you better say now."

"I've been coping well enough so far." She replied coolly but a smile was beginning to curve her mouth.

"I meant what I said. I love you. If you want me-"

She sighed heavily. "We're going to have to work on your self confidence. I haven't put up with Darcy for the past couple of years to just let you walk away from me. I love you too; don't know why because you can be a jerk." She said with a smile, looping her hands around his neck.

His hands slid around her back, holding her close to him. "So, you're stubborn, you get angry over the slightest thing and stomp off; you constantly snipe at me-"

"So be a man and find a way to shut me up, Riven." She dared with a quirk of her lips and a flash of a challenged in her eyes. Up close, he realized that they were blue. A deep, vivid, navy blue.

She watched with mingling triumph and apprehension as his eyes narrowed, dipping down to her mouth that began to burn with anticipation. His hand moved to cup her cheek, his thumb sweeping over the curve of her cheekbone. She swallowed nervously, unnerved by the focus in those eyes as they watched her. His eyes studied her with burning intensity, roving over her face hungrily as though committing the image to memory. He didn't even seem to notice the rain streaming down in rivulets past his face, running into the dips and crevices of his profile. It was almost as though he was seeing her for the first time.

"We won't be able to go back to the way things were." He told her finally, knowing that if he kissed her, right then, that there would be no turning back. He wouldn't ever be able to be her friend, not that he ever really had been but there had been a possibility for it.

"That's what I'm kind of hoping for." Musa told him rolling her eyes only to take a shaky breath when she was snared in the dark heat of his gaze. "Oh boy." she breathed.

A smirk curved his lips, slow and sensual before he lowered his lips to hers. They closed over her mouth, hot and sweetly until she trembled. A hand slowly traveled down the smooth column of her throat to feel the skittering of her pulse under his fingers. He lapped gently at her lower lip and, with a soft sigh, her mouth opened to his. Their tongues met tentatively, luxuriously sliding against each other in a familiar dance. A soft growl rumbled in his throat as he moved a fraction closer to feel the softness of her body against his. As her mouth began to respond to his, he tried to sink within her. Her warmth, her heart, her passion, he wanted it all.

With a murmur of approval, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulder, pressing him against her as her mouth avidly moved under his. His taste and scent plagued her daydreams ever since he had kissed her in the swamp and now she had him, she wouldn't give him up. Not for anything. He was what she wanted, had always wanted because she recognized that he was what she needed.

He broke away with reluctance and rested his brow against hers. It was cool and damp from the rain that continued to fall leisurely around them, surrounding them in a cocoon of silvery mist. His breathing was unsteady as he struggled to calm the scramble of his heartbeat and the desire to just press his lips to hers once more. She was habit forming. It would be so easy to kiss her, to touch her and have her respond and the fact that he could because she allowed him sent a rush of exultation through him. Mine, he thought fiercely.

A soft sigh escaped Musas' swollen lips. Her body was trembling uncontrollably but it had nothing to do with the temperature of the air around them and everything to do with the emotions and sensations coursing through her. Riven loved her, was in love with her.

She lifted her gaze to his and a smile curved her lips. Something flared in his eyes sending a bolt of lust through her and then he pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. Stunned, she could do nothing but wrap her arms around him and hold him to her as he sought some sort of comfort. Idly her fingers began to trace circles on his taut back as a wicked part of her wondered what his skin underneath was like but she blocked out those thoughts. That wasn't what he needed right now.

"Hey what's up?" She murmured, turning her head to brush a kiss against his hair. It felt so natural as though this was what she had been born to do. To hold him close and comfort him when things became too much, just as she knew he would do for her. It was a startling and scary realization. For someone so strong to realize that they were dependant on another but it was oddly soothing. As though it had been what she was yearning for all along. Him.

"I almost lost you." He whispered as he pulled back.

"I've been standing right here in front of you Riven, how could you- Oh." She lowered her gaze. "That's not your fault." She told him sincerely.

"How can you say that?" He demanded roughly. "I left you at the mercy of those bitches and you say that's not my fault?"

"Under. A. Spell."

How many times was she going to have to keep pointing that out to people? It seemed like a broken record to her. She was constantly telling people he was under a spell and now she had to defend Riven to himself. Well that was really whack.

"I wasn't under one at the swamp or here when Darcy attacked you." He snapped gesturing wildly at the school, his eyes were blazing with temper and his mouth was strained.

"You're psychic now? Way to go on keeping that to yourself, Riven. Tell me, do you use a crystal ball or tarot cards?"

He wasn't amused. Why couldn't she see how much danger he had put her in? It was because of him that Darcy attacked her. It was because of him that she had been hurt over and over again. It was because he had been so stubborn that she had ended up with her feelings bruised. How could she so easily forgive him? How could she still want him?

She matched his venomous look. "It wasn't your fault Darcy attacked me. You can't help it if she's a psycho."

"I should have known that she'd attack you." He yelled stepping away from her. "What else was she going to do after I said your name? I might as well have painted a target on your back?"

She tucked her tongue in her mouth sensing that making a comment about her naked back and the target probably would only serve to infuriate him. "Well you probably shouldn't have said my name." She acknowledged slowly.

"It wasn't like I meant to!" He snarled, frustration bubbling over every word as he glared at her.

A brow winged up and her lips quivered and he cursed which only made her smile unfurl, brightening up the evening. "Oh please, do continue. Why did you say my name?"

"Shut up." He groaned.

She grinned at him, before sobering on a long breath. "Look, Riven, you shouldn't beat yourself up for things that are beyond your control. You can't keep living in the past or brooding about your mistakes, everyone makes them."

"I told you I could be difficult. If you-"

"Wow, this is called a circle. You start at one spot and you move round to finish at it again." She drawled sardonically as she drew the imaginary circle with her index finger.

"A circle?"

"Yes, a circle. We're going around in a circle. I get it; you don't think you're good enough for me. Fine, you think that. I'll continue thinking that the only person I want is you. I love you Riven. You love me. Let's just keep things simple."

"Darcy is still going to attack you." He said with a sigh, stepping close to her again and pulling her close so that he could press his lips against her brow. It may be weak and selfish not to give her up but he had never claimed to have much honor. He did what he wanted for his own reasons. Everyone else be damned.

"And Icy is going to continue to attack Bloom. It's just something we have to live with. Besides, Darcy hasn't once attacked me with my friends nor has she attacked you when you were with others."

"She attacked the two of us." He told her, referring to that time in the swamp.

Musa nodded. "By accident though. She didn't know I would be there and she fought me, up in the sky where you couldn't help and I held my own. If it wasn't for Stormy, then we'd have called it a draw."

"Or she might have gotten in a lucky strike." He pointed out grimly.

Musa bristled stepping out of the circle of his arms. "Give me some credit. I can fight just as well as you, just in a different way."

"You can't fight, you just fling your stupid fairy powers around and-" He broke off as a fist slammed into his gut. He blew out a breath and rubbed his stomach gently. "That was pathetic."

Musas' eyes narrowed to slits. "Keep insulting me Riven-"

"You aren't bunching your fist correctly. If that had been a real fight and I had been anticipating it, I'd have easily deflected it and broken your beautiful little neck."

"If that was a real fight, I wouldn't have used my fist." She growled, stepping closer to him, her fists bunching once again of their own accord. She didn't seem to feel the cold since she was too fired up with her agitation. He was just so infuriating.

"What if you didn't have time to change, Muse?" He asked, tucking a strand of dark hair away from her face.

She was getting wet. He should get her into the school. Her skirt was dark with rain and her boots were slick with it. Her wings glistened and the ribbons around her arms hung limply as did her hair. And it was strange. It didn't matter how irritated he was with her, he simply couldn't help wanting to touch her and keep her safe. That was what was different. He could be angry and still care.

With Darcy it had been purely about wanting to be accepted, to belong. He hadn't belonged with the guys at Red Fountain. They all came from relatively strong familial backgrounds and Brandon and Sky were like brothers. Sky had everything that Riven had wanted. And then Bloom and her fairy pals had happened and once again he felt as though he didn't fit. The three, Brandon, Sky and Timmy, were falling for the girls and spending more time with them rather than with him. He had felt left out.

And then the Trix girls had come along. They had brought them into their little group and told him a little about their plans to have a little fun with the fairies and the heroes. He had been so bitter at the time that he had been happy to join in, to be part of their little secret. A dark part of him enjoyed knowing what would come, of knowing something they didn't. It was like revenge for the fairies pushing him out of his friends' life and against his friends for choosing girls over him.

But then he had realized something. The witches had been using him all along and the people that truly cared were those that stuck with him. Who had accepted him back despite his many mistakes. And still, he let them down by returning to Darcy because he had been so damned afraid that Musa would never really care for him the way he cared for her.

With Darcy, it had just been an escape. Empty and meaningless.

With Musa, it was so much more. He belonged to her. She accepted him in a way that none of the others could. She could yell at him and punch him and it wouldn't matter because he knew that she still cared. The day she stopped getting angry with him would be the day that he would start to believe that she didn't.

"I could teach you to fight, just some basic maneuvers."

She watched him thoughtfully for a brief second but there was no mistaking the calculating glint in her eyes or the way her mouth curved despite the way she tried to stop it. "Really? Aren't they top secret Red Fountain stuff?"

"Not really. Just simple stuff that anyone should know to protect themselves."

"So anyone could teach me, not just you?" she asked idly, but he could see the glimmer of laughter and it humbled him that no matter how emotionally hard her life was, she still continued to tease and take pleasure out of just living.

"Probably, but they wouldn't be nearly as good a fighter."

"Ah, but what about a teacher?"

"I could make it worth your while." He murmured, shifting her closer to him so that their bodies bumped intimately.

Musa flushed, unused to this side of Riven but not unaffected by it. Her blood began to heat and her legs went weak as jelly at her knees, so that her hands came to clutch at his arms as they cradled her against him. "When…" She cleared her throat. "When can we start?"

A slow smile moved over his face. "Right now. But first we head back to Red Fountain."

"Huh?" She blurted out as he grabbed her hand and led her towards the leva bike. "Why Red Fountain?" She demanded as he shoved a spare helmet into her hands.

"It's raining here."

"So? It'll be raining there too."

"Ever heard of a training room?" He deadpanned.

"But I'm soaked through, I need to change." She argued.

He rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "Fine then, but I'm not waiting all day. You have exactly ten minutes."

"I told you, I'm not Stella." She grumbled petulantly.

The pout was endearing enough, -not that he'd ever tell her that- to prompt him to brush a kiss over it. "Go on, hurry up."

"Fine."

"And wear something you can get your cute butt kicked in."

"Oh gee, all these compliments are making me blush." She muttered dryly as she stomped away from him, listening to his laughter behind her. And despite her words her cheeks tinted.

She flew back up to her room and quickly began to change her clothes, pulling on a pair of navy bottoms and a matching crop-top with a sleeveless jacket. Summoning a drying spell to mind, she quickly chanted it, feeling the water soak into her hair leaving it in its usual silky state. She crossed to her desk where a notebook and pen sat at the ready for any inspiration surges. Picking up a pen, she giddily scribbled out a note she'd never thought she would ever have cause to write.

Gone out with Riven. Don't know when I'll be back. Don't wait up.

Musa

xoxo

Then, with a stylish spin, she left the room and headed out for a sparring session with her boyfriend.

She would never know what really compelled Riven to say her name to Darcy, but whatever the reason, she was incredibly glad he did. Maybe it was simply an accident, after all they do happen. Even to heroes in training, and even more importantly, to heroes themselves but not nearly as often because that would diminish their hero status. Maybe on a subconscious level, he knew what he was doing. Perhaps he just couldn't go on with the way things were, living a lie and denying what he knew was right. Or it simply just could have slipped out because he was thinking about her, Musa, instead of the girl in his arms.

Whatever the reason, whatever his motives, she was glad he did because despite the repercussions and the dangers she could face, she had him now. He loved her. She loved him. That was all that mattered.

Well that and saving Magix.


THE END


I can't believe she didn't have any reaction to him at all. She should have hit him, heck I would have hit him for her. Ugh! IF they don't interact they can't become a realistic couple. -Scowls-

Anyways, ignore the typos. I'm really sorry about the wait, the internet is not my reliable friend at the moment. The only reason I'm on is because of a power cut and my laptop's battery is about to die.

Oh the powers were all made up, you may have guessed but it's not a winx thingy if there's no action so I had to make them beat up something.

I may have another fic. Dunno yet. Been toying with it but I have loads of other stories to write. But if I do write it, it will be kind of AU, since I'm ignoring the ending to the 1st series and the entire second series because I'm bored of the Dragon Fire saga. Time for the other girls to have the spotlight... or so that's how I'm thinking of it. I hoped you enjoyed this and i hope the ending wasn't too crappy. Thank you for your support. I can't believe I've finished this. I may do an epilogue butI don't think it needs one.

Zadien