A/N: I can't even believe that I'm updating so soon, it's really a miracle. I'm basking in the temporary halt in writer's block.

A few days later….

"Thanks for coming everybody," Layla to the small group that was huddled once more on the couch and surrounding chairs.

"I've been doing some research and I think that I've found something pretty interesting," Tecna said while staring down at a device in her hand, "here, let me show you guys she got up and projected what was on her device in hologram form in front of the group.

"What is it?" Stella asked and although she was still upset with Stella, Musa had to agree with her in the fact that whatever was displayed in front of her, she didn't understand.

"It's something that humans on Earth have developed. Basically it's a program that they use to measure sound wavelengths and they can slow it down or speed it up. I've used my powers along with this technology to analyze the data from the attack and I found something interesting that Musa might want to know," Tecna looked in Musa's direction.

Musa automatically looked right at Tecna and forgot that Tecna was sitting right next to Timmy…and Riven. Her gaze quickly averted downwards and she could feel the heat rising like a volcanic eruption on her face and ears. She was sure that if anyone looked at her they would wonder what shade of red she was.

Riven looked up when Tecna had said Musa's name. He had been looking down at his hands the whole time and replaying the scene of his last encounter with Musa in his head. He couldn't figure out why she had fled and he really wanted to talk to her. He saw her look at him and could feel the tension suddenly clog up the air around them when their eyes met. She had quickly looked away from him and he could feel his heart deflate a little bit.

"What is it?" Musa finally spoke up, her voice faltering as she could feel Riven's gaze searing into her skin.

"Well the reason I used the Earth technology was because there was a sound during the attack and I was wondering if you knew what it was. It doesn't sound right to me, but I'm not sure," Tecna furrowed her eyebrows and bite her lips, her mind going deep into thought.

"Play it for me Tec," Musa nodded, her voice slightly less hesitant.

Riven kept staring at the fairy in front of him and although she had been sure to sit as far away from him as possible, to him it felt as if she were sitting right next to him, so close that he could feel her soft skin against his. His thought sent a shudder down his spine and he shivered.

Musa glanced over at Riven and saw that his eyes were still on her. She glanced down in her lap and saw the individual threads in her black jeans as she was trying to concentrate on anything but Riven. Her hands found each other and clasped together, fidgeting under the unwarranted gave of her ex.

"Okay, here goes," Tecna pressed a button on the device.

A strange sound, almost like a melody began to play. It was almost a minute long and Musa strained her ears to listen to every part of the tune, or what seemed like a tune. Not many people understood the complexity of a musical composition and thought it was only notes, but Musa was listening to the beat and timing, crescendos and decrescendos, repeats, rests, minor and major scales along with the many intricacies that go along with a musical piece. The complexity and difficulty of music was what made Musa's powers so much more than a sonic blast or a sound wave hit, not that many people understood how powerful Musa's musical powers actually were.

"Hmmm," Musa mumbled, her eyes to the ceiling, lips pursed and head nodding as if trying to figure out the breakdown of what she had just heard.

"What do you think Musa?" Bloom piped up from beside her on the couch.

Musa was lost in thought. The tune seemed to be in a minor key, but something about the notes and the melody were somehow off, as if it were somehow artificial and not real music; though that didn't seem possible at all. She wondered if she could even call it a tune or a melody because there was just something off with it all and yet, she vaguely felt as if she had heard it before.

"I'm not sure what to think," Musa finally mumbled, "there's something so off about it, I'm not even sure if I can call it a song because it almost seems artificial. I can't really explain it, it's music, but it doesn't sound like it's music. For some reason it sounds awfully familiar and I don't know why," Musa relayed everything she was thinking to the group.

"First a tornado or a storm like attack and now a weird piece of music, who is this person?" Sky asked.

"This just keeps getting weirder and weirder," Helia quietly agreed from his perch beside Flora and Bloom.

"Do we know the motive behind attacking the government buildings yet?" Riven's voice drawled from the very end of the couch and set Musa's heart racing faster.

"Nope, nada. Magix is still trying to document everything to see if anything was taken. The attacks left everything in bad shape which is the reason for the holdup," Layla addressed the whole group.

"What buildings and areas haven't been attacked yet?" Flora curiously asked.

"Anywhere outside of downtown Magix, but most of the buildings have been attacked," Layla replied.

"I wonder if they're planning on going to the other realms now," Musa thought aloud.

"That's very likely, good idea," Riven's voice floated towards her and she could feel her heart pounding against her chest. She had to tense every muscle in her body to keep her from looking towards the specialist.

"I have a feeling that they'll head to Melody next," Musa stuttered, Riven's praise having an effect on her.

"Why do you say that?" Brandon peered out from behind Stella.

"I think that piece of music was a clue. It just seemed like fake music, I know that sounds weird, but I know music best and that was not music, but to the untrained ear it sounded like music," Musa replied matter-of-factly, "how long ago was the Magix attack?"

"A month ago," Layla replied.

"Tecna, can you give me a copy of that song. I think there's more to it. I feel as if it's holding more clues as to what they're doing and when they'll attack next. I can't help but feel as though that was made specifically as a threat to me, it just sounds so familiar to me, like I've heard it before, but it wasn't quite how I remembered it. I'm sorry for being so vague, but I really can't explain it," Musa stuttered, her mind unsure as to what the song meant.

"I'll send it to you," Tecna replied.

"I think that until Musa decodes or figures out what the song means we should just be on guard for something and look specifically at Melody as the next target area," Layla announced.

"I think that's the best plan," Timmy, who had been fooling around on his own technological device, raised his head and said.

"Meeting adjourned?" Stella asked, eager to leave and go back to the comforts of her castle in Solaria.

"For now," Layla nodded.

Everyone, except Musa and Riven, rose and stretched, eager to go home as it had been a long night.

"Thanks for letting us use your apartment this time Musa," Bloom thanked Musa on her way out.

One of Musa's apartments was located in Magix which was generally central for everyone. Her house was in Melody and she shuddered as the threat to Melody crossed her mind. She had multiple apartments and condos around the other realms because she often traveled to perform and she didn't like staying in hotels since they weren't as homey.

Musa watched as her friends left, but she could still feel a presence in her living room and she turned around to be faced with the man who sent her heart racing and her mind spinning.

Riven watched Musa curiously as she sat on the couch and watched her rise as everyone else walked out of the door. Once he saw the last person leave he pushed himself off the couch and walked up behind her. Before he could tap her shoulder though, she had turned around and he could see a bright cherry tomato red flush over her cheeks and reach to the farther reaches of her ears. Her eyes were wide in shock, but her muscles were tensed as if in a fight or flight reaction.

"What are you still doing here?" Musa stuttered, her voice giving away her anxiety.

"I was wondering if we could talk," he paused, "about what happened in Solaria."

She could feel her body moving from side to side and looked down to see her shuffling feet.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she murmured.

"Why not?" he asked, taking a step closer.

She could feel the heat that was radiating off of him and her mind screamed that he was too close so she took a step back from him, her hands fidgeting and her eyes looking everywhere but at him.

"Because," she choked out, "there's nothing to talk about," she stammered.

He could sense that she was uncomfortable and felt a little bad, but he really wanted them to talk everything out because he wanted to know where they stood.

"Musa, I told you I loved you and then I kissed you and you, ah, you kissed me back. There was nothing innocent about that kiss," he ran his hand through his hair and tried to get her to look at him in the eyes to no avail.

She didn't know what to say for everything that he had said was true. He had said that he loved her and he had kissed her…and she had kissed him back. Her emotions had been in such disarray since that day she wasn't sure how she could function through her day. Her lyrical writing had been put on hold and the song that she was working on was on a break.

He looked at her was almost sure she could see the worry and the pleading seeping from his eyes. He wanted her to talk to him, to tell him that she loved him too and to just make him the happiest person by giving him a second chance.

"I don't know what to say," she finally whispered, "I don't know what you want from me. Forgiveness? I just don't know if I have it in me."

He released a sigh and felt his heart deflate even further. She raised her head to look him in the eyes and he could see the pain that was laced with love. He felt his heart flutter a little at the hope that she still had feelings for him.

"Then don't forgive me just yet. Let me have a chance to make it up to you. I want to prove to you that I've changed. I'm different and that's because of you. I've finally grown up, Musa. I realized that I made a huge mistake when I lost you and I will never forget how much I've hurt you, but at the same time I've realized that I needed to learn from that mistake. I'll never take you for granted again," Riven started to say.

"I'm just not used to this," Musa's lips raised in a slight smile and he could feel his heart melting to see her smile again.

"Not used to what?" he asked.

She saw his head cock to the side.

"I'm just not used to you talking about your feelings so much," Musa gave out a small chuckle.

She heard his baritone chuckle resonate throughout the room and she basked in the feeling of the sound. She remembered why she loved his laugh so much, the first reason being that it was so rare to hear him laugh and when she did make him laugh it was like a symphony of sounds that warmed her heart.

"It feels right to tell you everything that I'm thinking I guess," he tried to explain.

"Maybe you really have changed," she tilted her head in thought.

"I have, I really have," he nodded enthusiastically.

"I'll think about it," she whispered, not noticing that he had taken a few steps to be closer to her.

When she looked up her face lit up in surprise and her mouth opened in shock when he carefully reached out his palm and put it on the side of her face, softly stroking her cheek.

He felt like his heart was going to fly out of his chest when she didn't move away from him or his touch. He could feel the heat in her cheeks and it warmed his hands quickly.

"Riven," she murmured.

"I love you Musa, you're everything that I've ever wanted and I'm not afraid of telling you that anymore, though I don't know if I could tell the whole group," he sheepishly admitted, "but I'm learning how to express myself more. I was stupid for pushing you away and I've regretted that ever since it happened. Please, give me another chance."

"Riven," she said a bit louder, "there's something you should probably know and I guess now is the best time to tell you."