"I'm here," Musa said walking through the doorframe. She looked about the room at the smiling faces and let out a sigh of relief when she didn't see the face that she was dreading to see.
"Musa! You're here," Stella squealed. She got up and ran over to Musa to embrace her in a tight hug.
"Hi Stell," Musa choked out. Stella was squishing her lungs up against her ribcage which made it uncomfortable for Musa to breathe.
"We've missed you," Bloom came up to stand by Stella and Musa. Once Stella relinquished her hold on Musa, Bloom embraced Musa. It was a much gentler huge than the one Stella had given her.
"Is that Daphne?" Musa asked, looking at the small child that was sitting at Sky's feet.
"Yeah, the nanny couldn't look after her so we decided to bring her along and introduce her to her extended family," Bloom smiled and let go of Musa.
"Tecna," Musa said happily as she slung her arms around the pink-haired fairy. She and Tecna had been roommates and close friends, but they had lost touch when they had gone their separate ways after Alfea.
"Musa, it's been so long," Tecna mirrored Musa's embrace.
"It really has," Musa said, pulling back, "where's Timmy?"
"He's setting up the communications system with Brandon."
Musa roamed her eyes around the room and realized that Brandon was indeed missing. Her eyes rested on the soft spoken nature fairy that had made her way over to the group.
"Hey Flo," Musa said.
"It's been a long time Muse," the nature fairy took Musa into her arms for a bear hug.
"How's the little one?"
"He's growing up to be the opposite of his father, although I think Riven has something to do with that," Flora commented. She placed her hand over her mouth when she realized she had mentioned the very person Musa had hoped to be avoiding at the shindig.
"That's nice," Musa said, still giving her best smile even though behind it she wanted to run and hide from the episode that was about to take place.
"Thanks for coming Musa," Layla walked over to the girls.
"Wouldn't miss it," Musa turned to look at Layla. Layla understood that Musa very much wanted to miss it, but had come because she was a good friend.
A figure walked into the room, but the girls and the guys didn't notice. The figure swiveled his head about the room taking in the people and pictures on the walls. His eyes scanned over the group, but had to go back when they registered a figure that they hadn't seen in a long time, five years to be exact. He looked at the girl in the center of the group up and down. It couldn't be, could it? He definitely hadn't expected it and when Layla had called and asked him to do it for the government he hadn't thought that she would have called the girl at the center of attention. Even if he backed out, his superiors would no doubt make him rejoin the group again so he wasn't going to argue against it. Musa began to look about the room and he saw that her eyes were filled with worry. Her eyes scanned the doorway and narrowed in on the shadow the light casted over the doorway. He saw her body go stiff and her mouth slack. She had seen him, no doubt; he might as well make his presence known.
"Hey guys," his husky, deep voice traveled to the girls and then rippled out to the edges of the group to where the guys were hanging out. Everybody, minus Musa who had turned her back to the doorway, looked towards Riven. He couldn't help but release a smile onto his face. Deep inside he had been pleasantly surprised to see Musa, although he would tell you that he was smiling because he became the center of attention instead of her.
"Riven," Bloom nodded in acknowledgement. Her feet stayed firmly planted on the carpet and the other girls gave their greetings, but stayed where they were. The guys were glancing from their wives and girlfriends to the figure standing in the doorway, unsure of whether they could greet their friend or if they would get yelled at for it later.
They are seriously whipped Riven thought to himself. Riven looked over to Musa and saw that she was nervously twiddling her thumbs.
"What's up?" Helia was the first to venture over to the former specialist.
"Not much. What's up with them?" Riven tried to make a joke as he gestured with his head over at the group of girls that was now huddled and talking quietly.
"You know what's up with them," Helia rolled his eyes.
"Are they still angry about that?" Riven ran his hand through his hair.
"You did break her heart," Helia replied, telling the truth which wasn't welcome on Riven's ears.
Riven grunted without replying to Helia's comment. He had hoped that the topic would be avoided, but knew that it definitely would not be ignored.
"How's the special tasks unit suiting you?" Brandon asked. Brandon gave a worried glance over his shoulder at Stella, knowing that she didn't want him to be friendly with Riven, but she wasn't looking and Riven was his friend.
"Fine," Riven replied simply. He was looking around the guys and trying to catch a glimpse of Musa. He really hadn't seen her in five years. Both of them had been great at the avoidance game.
"Okay, let's start," Layla halted all conversations. Everyone turned to look at her.
"You might as well get comfortable," Layla suggested. The former Winx and the former Specialists moved about the living room to try to find a seat. Musa sat on the couch without noticing who was sitting next to her. When she turned to look she saw Riven. Her heart sank in her chest and her brain froze over. The two looked at each other and sized the other up. She scooted closer to the armrest in an attempt to get as far away from him as possible.
Riven noticed her move and noted that she looked as uncomfortable as a fish out of water. He could always play with her by moving closer to her, but he wasn't in the mood to get an earful out of her so he let her be.
"There has been some stuff going on lately," Layla stated even though everyone had already deduced that that was the case, "so far we're not sure what we're dealing with. There have been various attacks on government buildings and it seems that the evidence that is left behind that connects all the attacks is that the buildings are left in chaos and all of them looked like a tornado had gone through them."
"Stormy?" Tecna asked.
"We're not sure. There were no signs of ice and none of the workers were dazed or confused. If it was Stormy then she's working alone," Layla replied.
"Could it be someone that we've never seen before?" Bloom inquired, asking the question that most were thinking of.
"That seems the most probable case," Layla answered.
"Do we have any idea what their motive might be?" Musa chimed in from the couch. Riven looked over at the pixie, she was pressed to the armrest, as close as she could get herself. He let out an inward chuckle at her expense.
"Not yet, but they seem powerful," Layla said.
"So we're basically going in blind," Tecna stated.
"Basically," Sky muttered. Daphne was crawling all over his arms so Bloom leaned over to take her so that Sky could concentrate. Daphne quieted down when she was given to her mother.
"I don't like the sound of that," Brandon remarked.
"I don't think anybody does," Flora put in her two cents.
The whole group agreed on one thing, the whole operation would be risky considering they had no idea what they were up against. The likely answer would have been Stormy, but it was highly unlikely that Stormy would be working without her sisters. The other possibility would be that it was a new foe or a foe that was working with Stormy. Whatever it was, everyone agreed it was going to be tough to go in blind.
They debated about details and went over different hypotheses and scenarios of battles until all of them were exhausted. Musa had given up on trying to be as close to the armrest as possible and instead was leaning calmly against the back of the sofa. Riven was still sitting close to her, but she barely noticed him there anymore. Layla had seated herself in a folding chair and was discussing details with Brandon and Sky. Bloom had taken Daphne to the bathroom and had been gone for a while. Flora was talking with Helia, Tecna and Timmy, who had returned midway in the briefing. The only ones who weren't engrossed in conversation was Riven and Musa.
"So," Riven began, "how's it going?" he asked awkwardly. Neither was very sure what to say to each other since the old feelings of anger were still there. They hadn't left on great terms and weren't returning on terms that were any better than the original.
"Fine," Musa replied simply. She didn't bother to look at him and instead scanned the room. She watched as Sky, Brandon and Layla were having an in depth conversation about battle tactics and couldn't help but smile at the awkward couple of Tecna and Timmy. They may not talk a lot, but they were perfect for each other.
"I heard you were, um, a big superstar now," Riven said, running his hand nervously through his hair. He was only trying to converse because for the mission they needed to trust each other which involved some level of communication.
"I guess," Musa shrugged. Her eyes were focused ahead of her and she could feel the anger below the surface of her skin.
"Look, if we're going to be working together we have to have some level of trust and communication," Riven attempted to be diplomatic. Despite his best efforts, Musa was not in the mood for diplomacy.
"I'm communicating right now," she hissed, the sides of her mouth were beginning to curl up in a snarl.
"Fine," Riven muttered.
"Fine," Musa's temper began to calm down.
The two sat in silence for the remainder of the meeting. They would occasionally be asked a question by the other group members and would answer it, but they mainly kept their eyes straight ahead and their body parts as far away from the other person as possible. It was easier that way.
"I think that concludes our first meeting," Layla said, wiping the sweat from her brow after a heated argument on which was the better strategy with Brandon, Sky and Helia.
Bloom and Sky got up from their seats and Bloom handed the sleeping figure of Daphne to Sky to carry.
Flora and Helia said their goodbyes and left right after Bloom and Sky.
Riven left after Flora and Helia saying goodbye to everyone, including Musa who halfheartedly returned the farewell.
Brandon and Stella bid their goodbyes and left to go back to Solaria until they had to meet with the group again.
Timmy went to grab the levabike for him and Tecna which left the three remaining fairies with lots to talk about.
"I can't believe you didn't claw his face off," Tecna stated in surprise.
"I wanted to," Musa replied honestly. As much as she wanted to, she knew she would never be able to. He just had too much of a hold on her heart, much to her displeasure.
The girls heard a honk outside of the house.
"That's Timmy," Tecna said, "I'll see you later Musa."
"Bye Tecna," Musa called out as Tecna walked through the doorway.
"How're you doing?" Layla asked once Tecna was gone.
"I'm okay. My manager has me working like crazy though," Musa sighed. Before she had come to Layla's house she had been in the recording studio for a good six hours.
"That's not what I really meant," Layla raised her eyebrow at Musa.
"I know what you meant. I'm trying to be civil which is hard when you leave on terrible terms with someone," Musa shrugged.
"I had to ask him. He's the best at what he does," Layla exaplained.
"I know," Musa hung her head.
"He's probably got a good idea about what to do and who it is," Layla said.
"He didn't vocalize it if he does know," Musa mumbled.
"He was sitting next to you," Layla joked.
"Well, that is true," Musa agreed.
"Anyways, how's the music going?"
"Stardom is not as good as everyone says it is. I don't really enjoy getting bombarded with crazed fans," Musa explained.
"That sucks, a lot," Layla mused.
"No kidding. I have to go to Linphea tomorrow for one of my concerts. I was planning on surprising Flora so don't tell her," Musa let out large yawn.
"Will you be back by next week?" Layla questioned.
"Probably, it's only a minor tour. I'm hitting Linphea and Solaria then going back to Melody. I should be available for next week," Musa was trying to remember her chaotic schedule.
"Okay, I'm checking with my supervisors for more information and then I'll probably call another meeting, but it'll be at the office rather than here since my technology isn't as up to date here," Layla informed Musa.
"Okay," Musa yawned, she was too tired to be concerned about her issue with the group, "I think I'm going to head home. I have a long week ahead of me." She headed for the door as Layla called out to her.
"Take care of yourself Musa," Layla chided. All of Musa's friends have been worried about Musa. The breakup hit Musa really hard and the girls, and even the Specialists, could tell that she didn't take it lightly. That was partly the reason the girls were still angry with Riven. The fact that he "ruined" their friend was enough to hold a grudge in their opinion.