Chapter Five: The Peak of Infection

Timmy leaned so close to Tecna that he could actually feel her faint exhales of breath on his face. Tears still streamed from his eyes down his cheeks and he didn't care that he was crying in front of his girlfriend. He was so afraid to lose her at that moment that nothing else mattered. Tecna could plainly see the agony in her loving boyfriend's eyes, she had never seen him cry before, but all she wanted to do was close her eyes.., it was the only way.

"Timmy.., I feel so weak." She struggled to tell him, the magic virus had taken every bit of her physical and magical energy, by now it felt like there was nothing left of her, despite looking at the desperate expression on Timmy's face and knowing he'd never forgive himself if he let her go, the exhaustion was too much. The pain had been too much, and she was ready to have the magic virus take her.

"I know.., I know." He whispered softly in her ear, "I swear at this point I would do anything to take this all away.., even at the expense of my life."

"No Timmy.., just let me go.., please." At those words, the tears in Timmy's eyes multiplied, and he squeezed Tecna's hand as tightly as he possibly could.

"You've always been so strong, you're such a fighter.., I never wanted the day to come when I would see you give up... Just hang on Cupcake.., for me." He pleaded hopelessly. Tecna gathered every ounce of strength to speak again, but every part of her body just wanted to give up.

"You know the famous saying.., that if you love someone.., set them free.., and if they come back to you.., then they're yours." She breathed. Timmy just heaved a deep sigh, he didn't want to keep Tecna in so much pain and exhaustion, but he was terrified to lose her. He knew Tecna was already his, but he guessed if he let her go and she miraculously survived like in the Omega Dimension, then perhaps she was meant to be his for all time. However he couldn't go on that hope alone, what if this magic virus was going to take her from him, and he could never get her back?

"It's time," Nurse Ophelia had been standing there this entire time, watching the passionate couple in their moment of agony, "it's time to take Tecna to the Magix Hospital. There's nothing else we can do here. You won't have to let go." At this, Timmy turned toward the nurse, wanting to thank her endlessly, the problem was that he didn't know how this was going to end, but all he had to go by now was that little ray of hope.

Once Tecna was in the hospital, Timmy waited for what felt to him like endless hours before Nurse Ophelia came out of the emergency room. His heart was pounding in his chest, he didn't know what to do, or what would come next.

"So.., what are they doing to Tecna?" He swallowed the lump in his throat. By now there was sweat down his forehead, bags under his eyes and his hair was totally messy. He had been pacing the waiting room the entire time, and starting to get the other occupants of the room a little uncomfortable.

"They have a strong potion that can prevent her body temperature from drastically dropping while she sleeps," she told him seriously, "unfortunately this means that she has to remain put to sleep until they can cure her. There is nothing you can do now." Timmy had to keep reminding himself that Tecna was not lost, he did not lose her yet, the doctors will do everything they can to save her. Though by now he was petrified out of his mind, after the events following Tecna's sacrifice and during the search for her in the Omega Dimension, it was the first time in his life that he ever felt this scared. He didn't know how to describe it, there was not a word in the dictionary that could pinpoint his emotions at this moment. He sat in a nearby chair with his hands burying his face, and gathered up all the strength he could.

"I want to see her." He forced the words out, there was so much pain that he couldn't stand it.

"There's no point, they've already put her to sleep. She's at peace now.., she is no longer in any pain." Nurse Ophelia tried to reassure him, he let out a deep sigh and knew that it was pointless to stay here. He wasn't giving up on Tecna, he'd die before he ever did that, but he also knew he had to remember that the love of his life was in good hands. He returned to Red Fountain, but remained isolated in his bedroom he shared with Brandon and Sky. The crowned prince of Eraklyon and his squire knew what had happened, and knew to leave the ginger haired Specialist alone.

The next day, Helia and Flora went out for a beautiful stroll around Alfea to attempt to clear her mind. Along with the other Winx, they had all been worried sick about Tecna and whether she was going to be okay. As they walked, Helia looked passionately at Flora, he envisioned butterflies surrounding her, seemingly trying to comfort her as flowers seemed to sense her distress and bloom in her presence. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and turned to face her, his dark cobalt blue eyes met her emerald green ones, and they bore into his heart. When they first met, she felt his eyes were mysterious and distant, and she found that attractive with his artistic talent and poetic nature. Now that they have fallen passionately in love with each other, those dark eyes provided reassurance, trust, and compassion. Staring at her, his thoughts began to race. He was terrified, but didn't want to show it in front of her, at least not yet. He thought, what if whatever happened to Tecna would happen to her as well. Based on what Timmy told him, it was the worst experience of his life. Seeing his beautiful carnation in so much pain, screaming at the top of her lungs every time she felt it.., and there was nothing he could do about it. It would just be too much for the young pacifist to take.

"Flora, I have to ask you.., are you scared that the Trix might strike again?" He questioned gently, taking her hands in his own. He felt the need to be extra protective of Flora now that one of the other girls was affected, just like Timmy, he would do anything and everything to spare her any harm.

"Yes, but then again, Timmy managed to figure out that it was them who infected the brownies." She told him, "Why would they continue to do the same thing if they've already been found out?"

"Those witches are conniving, they've learned from their mistakes over the years and they could actually be unpredictable this time." He told her, "I'm just afraid you're going to be the one who's going to be targeted next."

"Helia, this is actually very scary.., Nurse Ophelia doesn't even know that much about this magic virus and if any of the other girls get infected, even me, it could be the end of the Winx as it is!" Flora began to panic, this walk was supposed to take her mind off the situation at hand. However it just made her think about it even more. At those words, Helia froze, he slowly raised his hand to touch her cheek, and cupped her face in his hand. Her soft caramel skin was alluring to him.

"Don't think that way, you know that I'd never let anything happen to you." He reassured her in a soothing whisper, "You are my enchanting rose, and you'll always be as long as my heart beats. And even longer than that." Just his voice in that soft, reassuring whisper made her weak in the knees, his words were always like poetry to her ears, and being so close to him at the moment, everything stood still. Her sweet lips peaked into a small smile, and he pecked the top of her forehead quickly. As they continued their walk, Helia spotted a rare species of flower that he never thought they'd be able to witness in their lifetime, and after getting a closer look, he called Flora over.

"This is a very rare species, and it's so beautiful." She gasped.

"It can't be as beautiful as you, the fairy of nature." Helia commented, and Flora's cheeks began to turn a deep pink, "What does it smell like?"

"Hold on a second, the voice of nature is telling me something." The nature fairy warned, her voice beginning to shake, "This flower is dangerous, but it's not a harmful species. I know about every species of plant in the Magical Dimension."

"Can the voice of nature tell you anything else?" He asked her as she concentrated her powers and became one with the plants around her.

I normally stick to TecnaxTimmy romance because I find myself so emotional about the whole sacrifice thing and how Timmy must've felt during the whole ordeal. Though I thought it might be interesting to try my hand at FloraxHelia romance since it appears to be the purest and most innocent of all the couples in Winx Club. Please tell me if I did a good job writing the Flora and Helia scene.