DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN WINX CLUB.

Hi, guys! :) How are you! :) I hope all of you guys are in an amazing mood today! First off, thank you so much to everyone who read/reviewed/faved/followed the last chapter! Tbh, I was really wary of even posting it because it is sort of my first long story for Flora/Helia. I didn't expect anyone to even read it, much less give such happy feedback! So thank you! ^-^ It really motivated me to pick up my pen (keyboard :3) and start writing!

And to one special reader in particular: Skylar ❤︎❤︎❤︎ Hi! Thank you so much for always leaving the sweetest reviews ever; your kind words really mean so much to me, more than you'll ever know. I don't know if you get to read this, but if you do, I just want to say: Happy Birthday! (: Wish you a very, very, very, very happy birthday! I so hope I wasn't too late in updating this, but if I was (probably the case :c), I'm so sorry! :( You're just a total sweetheart, and I wish you nothing but the very best! ❤︎

I hope everyone else too enjoys this chapter, and I'll see you down below! (: ❤︎


~ Somewhere Else - 7:30 PM ~

"I believe one's work should speak for itself, Mr. Knightly." Her olive-green eyes sparkling with approval at the seascape before her, the young woman's voice echoed in the space of the large gallery. "And yours...most certainly does," she mused, moving along to the next one.

Walking alongside her with a hand tucked into his pocket, Helia Knightly smiled politely, "Thank you." He continued, "But really, it would've been far more difficult if not for the initial push."

She turned to him, raising an impressed brow. "A man with modesty, I see," she recognized with a quaint nod. "But I disagree. Opportunities are given to everyone, though only those who utilize them have the rights to expensive privileges."

"True," Helia nodded faintly, agreeing. "And what do you think I have the rights to?" he asked with a gentle smile, maintaining his strides with her.

"A chance," she nodded. "A chance to prove your worth. I am an avid collector, Mr. Knightly, so I'm very, very picky and cautious of my investments."

Helia nodded in agreement, "Wise choice."

"Which means that I expect nothing short of perfection," she evenly reminded him, "and a full delivery within five months, for the opening of our newest venture. Should be plenty of time, I assume?"

"Certainly," Helia promised with ease.

She seemed pleased at the lack of negotiation for more time. "Then we have ourselves a deal. It's a pleasure doing business with you," she smiled, extending her manicured hand for him to shake.

He accepted it, shaking her hand firmly and returning the smile, "Likewise."


Personally escorting their newest investor out the door, Helia let out a relieved sigh before retiring to his office for the night. Dropping into the chair, he loosened his tie, happy to finally rest, when a rampant knocking on the door interrupted him. Before he could even answer with a yes/no, the door sprung open and an eager eavesdropper poked her head in with a wide grin on her face.

"Can I come in?!" she squealed.

Sheerly amused, Helia raised an eyebrow at the excited intruder. "People usually ask that before they come in, Krystal," he reminded her, chuckling.

The lavender-haired girl giggled as she shut the door behind her and trotted inside in high heels. "SO?! How did it go?!" she excitedly pressed him for the details, leaning across the desk.

"It went well actually. Really well," Helia answered with a pleased smile, resulting in Krystal's grin widening. "She said she'll send us the contract through her lawyers, so...be on your best behavior until then, will you?" he smirked.

Krystal simply laughed at her longtime friend/boss. "No promisessss," she sang mischievously. She ran to his side before grabbing his arm. "Well, what're we waiting for?! C'mon, let's go out!"

"Where?" he laughed as she latched onto his arm, impatiently tugging on his sleeve and forcing him to stand.

"Duh, we need to celebrate! Winning over Hathaway is no joke, and you, sir, are getting a treat from me. C'mon!" she grinned brightly, looping an arm through his as she ushered him out.


"Just so you know, I'm only agreeing to this cuz you said you're paying," Helia smirked as he drove, throwing a quick glance at the bubbly girl beside him.

"Please," Krystal grinned, "don't even try to pretend you're not excited."

Helia simply chuckled, continuing to drive. Oh, he was excited alright. Very excited, in fact. It was true and he won't be ashamed to say it. He had inherited his family business a couple of years ago, but this—this had been his true passion all along. To develop and build his very own art gallery, a place where only colors would dominate the walls and host every artist's creative dream. And today...today's milestone was a great leap forward to that vision.

"So. When am I getting a raise?" Krystal asked with enthusiasm, nudging him on the shoulder.

"A raise?" he repeated, chuckling. "For what? Annoying me on a daily basis?" he smirked, teasing the wide grin on her face.

She scoffed, playfully glaring and hitting him on the shoulder. "Careful! I can always take it up a notch, you know," she giggled.

He laughed again and shook his head at her antics. He continued to drive and soon cut into a smooth right, putting them right on the road to her favorite cafe, Swift Feast.

"What do you have in mind for Hathaway's delivery?" Krystal asked, opening a file and flipping to an empty page. "We could jot them down in the meantime and meet with the designers and clients next week."

"Already? But I thought we were here for my treat," he complained.

"Who said we can't multitask?" she reminded, giggling in amusement.

He shook his head again, returning her smile. Their chatter drowned out the majority of their trip, and it wasn't long before the mahogany brick-stone cafe stood out among the monochrome whites and greys of the snowy landscape. Helia pulled into the parking lot and parked the car in a decently close enough spot before cutting off the ignition and grabbing his keys.

"Save a seat for me?" Krystal asked, hopping out. "I'm gonna go use the restroom real quick."

"Will it be your usual then?!" he hollered after her, grabbing the file she had forgotten.

"Yes!" she chirped cheerfully, heading off inside.

He smiled, getting out and locking the vehicle. Opening the file, he casually flipped through the pages to see that she had already jotted down a few fun ideas and contacts for the gallery's upcoming exhibition. He smiled to himself, genuinely thrilled. Gaining a new investor is always, always, always a great news since it welcomed a wider demographic of creative artists and carefree talents, but gaining someone like Hathaway? It would open a whole entire world for him and especially to those he wished to support. Growing up, it was no secret that art has always been a passion for him. It was a means of expressivity, a channel to subdue his adolescent egos, and a dream that longed to be true. And despite being mocked for it by a good lot of his peers, despite being told that it was a "sissy" hobby to pursue, he didn't let that weird societal stigma around artists in general deter him. He embraced that it was a part of him instead, that it was worth believing in, that it was worth fighting for; and today was not only a reminder of that but it's a slap in the face to anyone who prejudiced otherwise. He just couldn't wait to start working on this and proving them all wrong.

Helia smiled to himself, glancing at the pages with absentminded eyes. Lost in his own reverie, he let out a surprised grunt as someone bumped into him and knocked the file and its contents straight out of his hands.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" a hysterical voice cried out in return.

Dusting off the specks of snow that splattered across his suit, he turned to see a brunette hastily picking up the papers and profusely apologizing. Not sure why she'd apologize when he was clearly the one at fault, but okay. "No, it's okay…" he started out before pausing as a wave of nostalgia hit his face when he caught faint glimpses of her face. What…? He narrowed his eyes in disbelief and craned his head to peek at the face she effectively hid behind a curtain of brown locks. While she kept apologizing and mumbling something under her breath as she picked up each fallen paper, he could only tune into how...strikingly familiar that voice was and how close it hit to home; but it's only when she stood up and straightened out the papers that he could confirm his hunch. He couldn't believe it. This...this can't be true. It...it really can't be.

"I'm so sorry again," she softly said, staring at her toes as she handed the file back to him in one piece.

He took it slowly and continued to stare at her, the one girl he hadn't seen again in years. "...Flora?" he whispered, stunned. It's incredible how the heart doesn't realize the flow of time. How many years has it been? Five? Six? Seven? But even after so long...the way his mind unfolded memories he had once kept close to his heart before firmly locking them away after...it was...it was just wow.

Flora froze in her shoes and turned back around, clearing having heard him. She couldn't believe how a stranger could possibly know her name. Raising her eyes to meet his piercing silver-blue ones, she fell speechless as she too recognized the man immediately, even after six long years of having last seen him. "...Helia?" she whispered in just as much shock before the two simply stared at each other.

The recognition in her eyes was just as instant as his was. "Hi…" he said, with wonder and astonishment in his eyes. "Wow. I...I can't believe it. It's...it's really you," he breathed in total amazement.

She recovered way faster from the shock than he apparently did. "Yeah. It is," she softly stated, nodding.

"It's—it's really been a while. Wow, how are you?" he asked as a wide smile soon filled his lips.

"I'm...I'm doing...good," she answered, fidgeting a little. "How about you?"

"I'm—" he started off, oblivious to her growing discomfort.

"Helia, what's the holdup?" a bubbly girl suddenly called out from inside the cafe, swinging the door open and poking her head out. Before long, she noticed that he surprisingly wasn't alone and indeed had company. "Oh." Narrowing her eyes out of curiosity, she headed out to stand next to him. "Hi!" she introduced herself, smiling at the startled brunette. "Well? Who's your friend?" she smiled, nudging Helia.

He blinked. "Hmm? Oh, she...um...she was my classmate back in high school," he shrugged, keeping the details to a minimum for his nosy best friend.

Classmate? I see. The brunette listened quietly, tightly smiling at the new girl. Then she remembered the tinier hand she was holding onto for dear life. "Look, I'll um...I'll go. You guys have fun," she shrugged, nodding at them. This has been swell and all, of course, but she really had other priorities, like getting her baby home before this horrendous cold got any worse.

"Flora, wait—" Helia called for her before pausing to get Krystal's hold off him. "Are you walking? In this weather?" he asked in surprise, gesturing to the snow.

The brunette bit her lip, frustrated with the nosy questions. But it's not so much that she was irritated with him per se; it's just that she hated herself for the disappointing answers she had. "Um...I live nearby," she lied with strain.

"Oh. Um. Well, if it's okay with you, I can drop you," he offered with a smile.

"No, I—" she tried to deny, but he had instead shifted his attention away to his friend.

"How about we do this later?" he asked Krystal, informing regretfully.

"Yeah, of course, No problemo," Krystal smiled, patting him on the back. "You make sure to get her home safely, and I'll just eat my souffle alone," she finished, sighing dramatically.

A small fond smile filled Helia's face. "Krys—"

"No, it's okay, I can go home—" Flora cut in with alarm.

Krystal simply laughed. "I was just kidding, doll. Have fun. I'll see you guys later," she smiled.

Helia smiled after her, watching her as she went inside.

Eyeing the adoring look in Helia's eyes, Flora wondered if that perky girl was his girlfriend. It actually reminded her of someone else that she used to know, someone just as perky and bubbly, though Flora wondered how someone like that could be his type. Wasn't it...too noisy? Actually, she gasped to herself, quickly shaking her head and not daring to remind herself of any of those repressed memories again. She didn't know how she even let herself pry away into her past like that. It's none of her business anyway. She didn't have any room to ignore her own business, let alone mind someone else's. Not a luxury she can afford, thank you. Her only concern now was how colder it was getting by the second, to the point where even her teeth were beginning to chatter; she couldn't imagine how it has to be for her young daughter. "Helia, listen...it was nice seeing you and really, thank you for the offer, but we can manage," she informed him with gritted teeth. Honestly, she really needed to go.

It's only when she said 'we' though that he noticed the much tinier human clinging by her side. "Who is this…?" he softly asked before he could even stop himself. And he almost wished that he hadn't. The little girl was hiding behind Flora, but even from the little peeks she offered, he could easily tell that she was a spitting image of the brunette next to her. His eyes widened at the daring resemblance between the two. Could it be…?

Flora remained quiet as she saw his face go through a mixture of emotions. And then she knew that he understood. Not that she confirmed or denied his hunch. Her baby wasn't his business. "Take care," she nodded.

He blinked. "Wait, Flora. At least allow me to drop you off."

"No, thank you," she said, brushing past him. Honestly, why was he so insistent? She didn't have it in her to play twenty questions right now.

He held out an arm in front of her, halting her strides. "Flora, c'mon...you can't possibly walk in this storm," his gentle voice quipped.

Flora bit her lip. Well, she can...but her baby can't. She looked at him, genuinely perplexed at why he cared so much over two nobodies. One look at his suit, tuck, and tie, and anyone would guess that he was on the pricier side. Or at least...that's what anyone in her shoes would think.

"And I do have a car seat for her too," he informed, pointing to the young girl. "I can take you guys," he offered with a smile. "And maybe we can even catch up on the way."

She bit her lip, considering it. He was right; it indeed was too cold to the point where it was starting to seep into their coats, rendering them nearly ineffective. "Oh...well, um. O-Okay," she relented eventually, though ignored the part where he wanted to catch up. Although she did wonder why he would have spare car seats lurking around. Did he have kids too? Not my business, not my business, she reminded herself.

"Great! Give me a sec," he smiled, traveling around to the back of his car. He fished his keys out to pop the trunk open before pulling out a black backed booster seat.

Flora quietly watched as he started to set it up in one of the rear seats. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder what the odds were of running into him after six years. Six years of having last seen him, six years of no contact...just six. long. years. She's gone through so much since then. She's been on the streets ever since, left to fend for herself and her child. Hungry, homeless, and desperate. No one had reached out to help then, no one cared—the world just never paused for her. For years, she had either gone sleepless for the night or went to sleep with her pillow soaked with tears. It had been more than enough for her to realize that in this cruel world, it was best to strip herself of all hopes and realize that the only one who could help her was herself. So what's with this sudden farce? Why was tonight so different? What changed? It honestly left her in disbelief that someone actually wanted to help her for once. Like really. Imagine a car stopping for two random nobodies on a snowy sidewalk and the owner canceling his plans for the night to make sure they got home safely. Like...what gives? And why now? She couldn't imagine that this has to be for anything other than for noble reasons. All the beautiful things she had imagined the world to be, she learned the hard way that it was nothing like the sunshine and rainbows she had envisioned in her adolescent years. Flora deeply sighed and quietly shook her head to herself; sometimes, it was best to not think about these things or pay attention to them at all. She'd just drive herself nuts again.

She brought herself back to reality as Helia finished strapping the seat and fastening it securely.

"There you go," he smiled.

Flora bit her lip, a large part of her still in hesitation. Was there still time to refuse his offer? Should she…? She could...and she was tempted to, but...she had already wasted a solid ten minutes gossiping out in a blizzard. The storm was picking up...meaning businesses would start shutting down for the night, and that meant that they probably wouldn't even be able to make a pit stop at a restaurant on the way and warm up again. It would be an even longer and colder walk home. Alright, she sighed to herself, taking a deep breath and making up her mind. It can't be that bad, right? A ten-minute discomfort can't be worse than an hour of face-numbing pain. Okay. I got this, she breathed to herself before turning to her daughter and bending down to her level. "Honey, we're going to ride in there, okay?" she softly told the young girl. "Be a good girl for me?"

Confused but intent on obeying her mother anyway, the five-year-old meekly nodded.

Smiling at the answer, Flora adjusted the coat and scarf on her daughter before standing up to take her hand again. They walked towards the car, where the brunette paused momentarily to turn to Helia. "Thank you," she softly told him. She didn't know at what cost he was giving them this ride for...but it certainly meant a lot to her.

He nodded, giving her a faint smile as if to say it was nothing. Heading over to the driver's side, he gave them both the space they needed.

Holding her daughter's hand for support, Flora helped her get into the car and climb onto the seat. "Tell me if this is too tight, okay?" the brunette asked, pulling the straps and buckles around her child.

The five-year-old didn't answer; she instead remained unnaturally quiet and simply stared into her lap.

Flora noticed how her daughter hasn't uttered a single peep since leaving the cafe. But she had always been a quiet little thing and didn't say much, especially in front of strangers, so it didn't necessarily surprise Flora, but it did worry her in case her baby might be scared to be here. And Flora couldn't blame her if she indeed was. Colors and warmth were all luxuries they were just not used to. "Hey," the brunette attempted to cheer her up, lifting her chin gently and cupping her face. "It's going to be okay, alright?" Flora softly spoke to her. "You'll see. We'll be home soon," she reassured, smiling.

The five-year-old timidly stole a glance at the big man sitting in front. She didn't trust him; he was just so big. And he was wearing black, which is a scary color. But...if mama trusted him...then maybe it's okay. She turned back to her mother, whose eyes were always kind and gentle. She loved and trusted her mom. So if her mom trusts him, then...she can too.

Smiling faintly at the slow and innocent little nods that came her way, Flora kissed her daughter's forehead before stepping back and gently closing the door. She walked around the car and went over to the other side. It's okay. It's okay. Do it...for her, the brunette sighed before opening the door to get in. It'll be fine.

Or not, since that gesture somehow didn't sit too well with Helia, and he wasted no time in raising a complaint. "Uh, Flora...there's no one sitting out in the front, you know," he chuckled, motioning to the empty seat next to him.

Flora winced, eyeing the hideously unoccupied seat. Ugh...why? "Right. Sorry," she mumbled, obeying anyway before awkwardly coming to the front and getting into the passenger's seat beside him. She closed the door slowly, unable to digest the way her stomach churned. Being so close to him somehow made her feel as if she was sitting on a hot pan, ready to be fried. God, this is a disaster. I…I shouldn't have. Maybe I should just leave. Thank him for his time and just get out of here, she quietly rambled to herself. But...one thought of her daughter, and Flora knew she wouldn't be able to do it. It hurt that she was being so nitpicky about her rare good fortune, but she couldn't help it. Why couldn't she have run into someone else? Why him? Why now? Why not another blast from her past instead or rather just a good samaritan?

"Ready to go?" he asked, blind to her fears.

The brunette shakily nodded. "Yeah. Thanks," she breathed.

Locking the doors and turning on the heater, Helia quickly pulled out of the packed parking lot and into the quiet dismal streets.

Flora couldn't help but glance out the window, mesmerized at how fast the trees and buildings were rushing by. They didn't go by in footsteps; no, they went by in blurs. In a quick breeze, in a—in a flash. Before she could memorize one, she kept seeing another. She couldn't watch flurries of snow settle by the sidewalks anymore. She couldn't feel the crisp snow being crunched under her boots. Instead of precise and counted details, all she saw was random and impulsive swipes of nature. She didn't feel the need to dust her coat off every now and then. She didn't see her breath come out in wisps of fog anymore. And her hands, albeit coarse and rough, still looked a healthy caramel tan; the frozen green and purple veins she was used to seeing were now nowhere to be found.

"So. Where are we going?" Helia asked with a smile.

"Oh…" she trailed off, pausing. She could've sworn this question alone heated her up faster than the actual car heater did. "...It's just a little past Gardenia Bridge," she quietly finished, ashamed to give out the exact address. How could she possibly describe a moldy run-down building?

His eyes widened. What? "You said you lived nearby," he commented, giving her an incredulous look. Crossing that bridge is at least a fifty-minute walk from here, and that's assuming the snow and traffic were kind enough to pedestrians. Would she have really walked all that?

Flora remained silent at his silent accusation underneath. Well. What's life without a little optimism, right?

"So. How have you been?" he tried to initiate a conversation.

She bit her lip, not knowing how to answer that. How has she been? Oh, just peachy really. She just got fired a few minutes ago, she was months behind on rent, she had power cut off to her apartment, and all she had in compensation for her tears was this fragile and miserable wad of cash that was shoved in her tattered coat pocket. So how has she been? Great. Just great. Today was done and over with...but tomorrow? That was yet another impending battle for survival, another prayer for a lucky break.

"And...her?" he softly asked, his voice sloping down by notches as he gestured his head subtly towards the back. "She's...yours?" he gently presumed.

A tad bit grateful for the change of subject, she blinked back the pain in her eyes and nodded slowly in response.

"What's her name…?"

"...Aurelie," she quietly answered in a tender voice, her eyes softening. Her voice grew somewhat thick with emotion. She never usually spoke about her daughter. Mostly because she never had a chance to. No one ever cared to ask about her. There's no one interested in her, the tiny voice in Flora's head answered and she found herself in tears again. If there was anything she wanted more than money, it was for someone to be interested in Aurelie's life, someone other than her desperate mother. Flora knew that she'd never be able to give her daughter what she deserved, but despite that, she had never once heard her daughter ask or complain about anything. Aurelie was just a child and only five years old at that; she was allowed to complain. It was in her right to, but...she never once had. Flora didn't know how she'd be able to handle it if she ever faced disappointment from her own daughter. And she was grateful for that. Aurelie was really the reason things are a lot easier than they could've been. Her sweet angel never complained about anything. And Flora just wanted everyone to know how amazing her daughter was for that.

Helia's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "That's a beautiful name," he murmured but mostly to himself. "...And you? What have you been up to these days?"

Flora winced, seeing that he was back to square one again. "I…" she bit her lip, shame filling her eyes. She was up to nothing these days. And she would be up to nothing in the coming few days either. She was unemployed, jobless, and without a means to provide for her daughter. Useless and worthless. "I'm looking for something," she quietly said, swallowing her pride. A terrible mother like her didn't deserve to live with pride or dignity.

Oh. Helia nodded quietly, sneaking a glance or two at her. Correct him if he's wrong, but she didn't really seem to be in a talking mood. Which was...odd. To say the least. In his defense, it's been years since he last saw her, so of course he wanted to catch up and see how she's doing. But with no other ongoing conversation from her, he wondered if she was maybe just having a bad day. Which he...understood. Sort of. But he still wanted some conversation anyway...even if it's best to just drop it instead.

Flora was grateful for the silence that followed. It allowed her to regroup with her thoughts, something she wouldn't have been able to do out in the desolate streets. She needed to think about her next move. She didn't have anywhere to go tomorrow. And for someone like her, that wasn't an option. Seeing how the car was still traveling across the bridge and huddling through the slow traffic, Flora cursed at how long of a walk this really was. In her defense, she had heard that Swift Feast was paying its employees a few dollars above the average, so of course she had rushed there without hesitation. But this hassle...it wasn't worth it. Not in the dead of winter at least. With only paper-thin coats to keep them company, crossing this bridge every day had been a total nightmare so far. The whole walk would take about an hour, which shouldn't be something for a child especially to endure in such icy conditions. Flora sighed wearily. She...she really can't afford to have either of them get sick. She needed to look for something close to home. Being closer meant that she could work for even longer hours and worry less about Aurelie or the weather.

"Hey, Flora, where are we going?" Helia cut in, halting her thoughts.

"Hmm?" she mumbled, turning to him in confusion before realizing that they were off the bridge already. "Oh." She bit her lip, turning red. The images of her crusty old apartment flashed before her eyes, and...she found herself at a loss for strength. Again. She didn't want anyone, especially him, to know where she lived. As much as she could use the help, she wasn't strong enough to bear anyone's sympathy, pity, or one of those artificial "everything will be okay" type of condolences that people give out when they don't know what to say. "Actually, you can drop us off right here," she said suddenly, her eyes filling with both shame and dread.

"...Here…?" he blinked, staring at the empty nowhere. All he saw was a bunch of streets filled with bistros, boutiques, clubs, and other shops, but none of those really screamed residential material. "Are you sure?" he asked in confusion, hesitantly pulling over to a roadside parking space.

She let out a soft inaudible sigh. Why was this so hard? "Yeah. It's just nearby; we can go by ourselves," the brunette assured. "Thank you, Helia. It was nice seeing you," she told him meaningfully. It had certainly helped them out a lot, that's for sure. The brunette then quickly turned on her heel (before he could say anything else, really) and got out of the car.

"...You too..." he mumbled as she hastily got her little girl out of the car seat in the back. He watched in confusion as she bid him another quick bye before the duo quickly resumed on their way. But why even risk that? As nearby as it was, he could've still dropped them. He already drove a few miles; a few more wouldn't hurt. He wouldn't have minded.

Ignoring the cold air that stung their cheeks, Flora firmly gripped her daughter's hand and began to walk towards their apartment. It was thankfully only a few minutes away from here, so they should be home soon.

Confused, Helia continued to keep his eyes on them as they both walked along the icy sidewalk. It was only the loud honks in the nearby traffic that pulled him out of his trance, but granted, he remained just as confused. Shrugging, he soon turned around anyway and made a U-turn, heading back to Swift Feast again.


Heading inside their cold apartment, Flora softly sighed as she shut the door behind her and locked it firmly.

Finally.

They were home. She could hardly believe that it's been only fifteen or twenty minutes, max, since they left the cafe. Who would've known? In one way or another, every return trip home would usually be some sort of a hassle. The weather would either be too hot or too cold, Aurelie would be too tired to walk, or they'd just return so late at night that the brunette would usually end up carrying her sleeping five-year-old in her arms. If not that, then something as equally tiring as that. So even if the ride had been uncomfortable, Flora had to admit that she was grateful for it nonetheless. In a way, it was a blessing in disguise; all evening, she had been worried sick about getting caught in the storm. She had begged for at least a thirty-minute window.

Who knew all her worries would've been for naught?

But no more. This was a lesson for her; there's no way she's putting herself or her daughter through these long walks again, at least in this season. Hearing the wind howl outside, Flora knew that if she kept this tirade up, it was only a matter of time before one of them caught chills or a fever. And she can't afford that. So tomorrow, the first thing she'd do is search somewhere around here for a job. Anywhere within a one-mile radius will do, and preferably somewhere where having a kid isn't a problem, she resentfully finished, recalling the reason she was fired in the first place. She sighed, shaking her head. But these were all her problems. At least for as long as she could, she'll try to keep Aurelie well away from it all.

But how can I? She sighed again wistfully as she looked around their small apartment with a dismal frown. It was so dark in here, so unbelievably chilly, and arguably so too, considering the lights have been cut off by the electric department two weeks ago. Except for water, there was no other working outlet or vent in here. And that meant no heater or warmth. Honestly, a few more degrees and the weather in here would start to mimic a lot of the whiteout outside.

Flora sadly sighed; her poor daughter really deserved so much better. "C'mon, honey, let's get some sleep, okay?" she softly gestured.

The little girl nodded obediently, following her mother into the bedroom.

Letting Aurelie sit down, Flora bent down and took off her shoes before observing their state. Should last for a good while, the brunette thought as she keenly observed the footwear for any holes or other wear and tear; she had made it a hobby to do this ever since Aurelie ripped through the soles a year or two ago. The brunette had ended up carrying her as she simply refused to let her daughter walk on the ground like that; and besides, seeing how they're always walking about, this was a necessity anyway. Flora set the shoes back down before taking off the young girl's coat and placing it aside. "Get some rest, okay?" the young mother gently coaxed, helping her daughter lay back and tucking her in. The brunette was at least relieved for these major comforters she had found a few months ago at a generous donation bin a few blocks away. When she found them, all she could do was cry in relief because she knew they'd come in handy. Gardenia's winters were far too brutal and she probably wouldn't find any spares if she went to search for them now. Pulling the blankets all the way to Aurelie's chin, Flora sat by her bedside, caressing her cheek gently. As tiring as today was, she was relieved that it was at least over.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?" Flora softly answered, caressing her daughter's long brown hair.

"Can you join me?" the five-year-old girl asked, scooting over.

The warmth of the covers was indeed awfully tempting to dive into, but Flora still had a few things to do before shut-eye. Then again...as shambled as her mind was, she still couldn't say no. Without thinking, she painted a smile and joined in, draping the covers over them both and hugging her daughter dearly close. Gosh, this felt wonderful. With the joy of her life next to her, Flora shut her eyes for a few moments, breathing softly in relief and peace. If only all the other twenty-four hours were this peaceful...life would just be...so perfect. But hey, the one good thing they have now is that even if the rest of the apartment was cold, they were at least warm enough in these blankets. Hot chocolate warm.

"Mommy?" the young girl perked up again.

"Hmm?" the brunette sleepily answered.

"Can we go again in that big car?" Aurelie asked, with a grin on her face that enthusiastically widened with each word. "I like it!"

Flora's eyes opened, her relaxed smile fading at the question. It was honestly a little uncharacteristic of her daughter to be so chirpy and perky, but she knew why Aurelie was so excited. It was her first time riding in a nice and fancy warm car. "I don't know, baby," Flora brokenly answered with an anguished frown. For once…she really wanted to say yes to something her daughter asked for.

"...Who was that tall man?" Aurelie curiously asked.

Too curious, Flora would say. "He's just someone that mommy used to know," the brunette wistfully answered, keeping it short.

"Oh…" Aurelie nodded. A long moment of silence passed before she spoke up again in curiosity. "Mommy?"

"What is it, baby?" Flora gently chuckled. Regardless of the nosy little questions, she couldn't help but be amused. Her daughter was full of questions today. But they were all still a nice change from the usual quips of "I'm hungry" or "I want my bed".

"...What does my daddy look like?"

And with that, any remnant of a smile on Flora's face vanished without a trace. She fell slack and lay there frozen and shocked. Her heart both shattered and pounded in her ears at the same time, and all she could feel was that familiar sense of loss that came whenever her life's been flipped upside down, a feeling she was all too familiar with. And before long, she was blinking back tears and even...a newfound sting of betrayal. Flora couldn't believe her own daughter would ask such a thing, but...why would she not? She should've known it. She should've known that riding in that dreadful car would be a bad idea. Seeing Helia must be what brought this on. It was Aurelie's first "male figure" introduction. And Flora knew that it won't be long now before Aurelie will continue with these questions. She's growing older, she's becoming perceptive of her surroundings. Seeing kids play around in restaurants with their mom and dad must be painful enough as is. And it's only natural for Aurelie to wonder why she's only being raised by her mom. Flora swallowed, dread and sweat filling her throat. What could she possibly answer to that? What could she possibly say, so as to not break her little girl's heart? How can she answer it without breaking her own heart? "...Your daddy...is a good man. And he loves you very much, sweetheart." Her heart tugged with pain. Lies. Blatant lies. In this already icy enough world, Flora thought the last person she'd have to lie to is her daughter.

"Oh—"

Flora didn't want to hear anymore. She feared what other doubt nested in Aurelie's mind; it was hard enough answering this one, let alone a sequel. "Go to sleep, okay?" Flora softly said, urging her before she could talk again. "It's already very late."

...


Feeling her daughter lay limply against her, Flora knew that she was asleep. Oh, good. It didn't take as long, but it sure felt like it. Her heart was still racing from the last thing she heard from her daughter today. It was far too blunt, far too sudden to not leave any impact.

Gently separating herself from Aurelie and sliding out of bed, Flora escaped into the living room as quietly as she could and let out a long worn-out sigh. She quietly took a seat, something she often did before bed to collect herself. But for tonight, it was for a different reason. There were far too many happenings today. And call it as it might, but the fact that she was unemployed again was far from her mind at the moment. Even tomorrow's impending job hunt didn't seem as morbid anymore. All she could think of was that question that Aurelie had asked.

Flora sat quietly in the dark living room, hurt and pain flashing across her face. The more she thought about it, the faster her eyes watered with tears. "Aurelie..." the brunette whispered sadly. Her beautiful baby didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve any of this. The struggle for scraps, this matchbox that they lived in...why is it that none of it was getting easier? As if they didn't have enough on their plates, Flora now had this weighing in on her heart. It forced to relive the memories she was so desperately trying to forget. She didn't want to remember anything. She didn't want to revisit these memories. She didn't want to see anyone from her past. But most importantly, she didn't want Aurelie to question anything. She would never be able to answer any of those questions. Why or how things ended up the way they did...those were questions that Aurelie didn't need to know the answers to. No child did.

Despite it being years down the road, Flora could still vividly remember the last few moments she had spent with her family. Everyday was a struggle to forget them. She could say that not a day went by where she didn't think of them, but that would be a lie. Even if they don't exist in her mind every second, the life she led was a constant reminder of them nonetheless. Every day was a painful grapple for survival; and it was another addition to her already bulky stash of bruised memories. Starting with the first one.

"Leave!"

"Dad—" Flora's pleaful voice was filled with tears.

"Don't you dare call me that!" Rhodos yelled with rage, his eyes glowing red. "Allie, tell her to get out!"

And with that...she had walked away and had Aurelie a few months later. Nothing could've ever prepared her for that. There were no parenting classes or fancy maternity leaves to help her prepare (not that she had even been in a place to afford any of it); she had to work all different odd jobs to support the growing life inside of her. Even up until the day Aurelie was due. And to Flora, that memory was still as vivid as the day it happened. She had been on her way to work when she had suddenly collapsed on the street, and someone had been kind enough to race her to the hospital. Then...that was it. When Aurelie was born, no one came to visit, no one came to congratulate. No one came to hold her or tell her how cute she was. She was just...unwanted.

Flora knew that that was the moment her life had changed forever. It was one thing to feel your baby kicking around, but it's another to hold those little legs up close. She had found a new purpose. A light amongst the shadows, a song amidst stillness. She couldn't afford to care for all that she had cared so deeply about before. This baby wouldn't be unwanted. Every penny, every tear, and every prayer would be for her and her alone. That was the first promise Flora ever made to her daughter, that she would never be unwanted or unloved. While she had seen the cesspit of humanity at its worst, Flora knew she'd never allow her daughter to bear the same.

...Then came the moment when reality took precedence over sentiment. It wasn't easy finding or holding a job with a newborn. Flora didn't know how she possibly endured those nights as a new mother. The enchantment over the googly eyes and chubby cheeks didn't last long; it had been a complete nightmare to look after a baby. With no one to look after her, Flora had no choice but to carry her around. She had to admit though; as hard as things still are, they were much easier than they were a few years ago.

And Flora's only saving grace now was that Aurelie could start school in a few months. She could at least get a free meal there everyday or some form of reduced lunch. Though as any mother would, Flora did fear kids making fun of her. But...it still beats going to bed hungry, right? Sad as it sounds, that was all she could come up with to reassure herself. With no other choice but to work to make ends meet, she just had to trust that someone will be there to protect her daughter. Someone. Anyone.

Flora sniffled freely, crying in silence. It's so easy for people to say that there's a light at the end of every tunnel. But what light? How was she supposed to find the strength to keep walking? How will she find the way? And why isn't giving up an option?

Unable to stop herself, she let out a soft sob. She just wanted to cry, wail, and scream at everyone. She's been through the coldest of winters, but she hasn't yet braved through a single one. The world just kept getting more and more cruel.

Sometimes...she just wanted to run. Run away from all this and just give up. She'd be free of all these responsibilities and especially of the past that haunted her daily. Why shouldn't she take that chance? Is it so bad to give up? She was barely hanging on as is already.

Walking into the room where her daughter soundly slept, Flora fell to her knees, her shoulders shaking with desperation as she prayed for strength. One night. One night of sleep. That's all she asked for. Not knowing what to do, tears splashed across her cheeks before she eventually cried herself to sleep.

Just as she did most nights.


A/N: Thank you for reading! :D :D :D Also, huge thanks to everyone who suggested baby names! Before I published this story, I was googling for names when I came across Aurelia, and I absolutely loved it! It was the first time I came across it, and I thought it was such a gorgeous and unique name. And I was so pumped actually when another reader, Goldenwriter17, suggested the same name to me! What a coincidence! Anyway, I absolutely love the name and I think it's so beautiful and just really, really unique. I did tweak it a little though and used Aurelie instead. I also did think of names that were related to nature, like Rose, Lily, Ivy, etc., which were also names I saw other FxH authors using. I also looked at all of your suggestions too like Holly, Camellia, Sage, Winter, etc., and I just love them all! Wow, naming babies is hard xD Anyway, enough of me rambling! I really, really loved Aurelie because I never heard of it before, so that's what Flora's daughter's name is. I hope you guys like it too! :) But...now I have another issue and that's finding cute nicknames xD Any suggestions for that? :D