Haha... hey, folks. So... it's been a year. But we can chat at the end of the chapter. Anyway, enjoy.

Tecna

Musa didn't waste any time hanging around Magix Square. Ignoring the confused eyes of the people (who had probably never seen a non-hovering vehicle in person before), Musa booked it down the street to Alfea as fast as the van could go. As we neared the towering pink school, I could feel the van rattling beneath us.

The van careened through the open gates and screeched to a stop at the front steps. The girls and I clambered out first to greet Faragonda, leaving the Specialists with the kids in the van.

"Girls, what is the meaning of this?"

Students that were scattered in the quad started to gather at a distance, peering curiously at us.

"Mrs. F, we need help. Earth isn't safe anymore," Bloom pleaded.

"Voices down, girls. Where are the children?"

"They're in the van with the Specialists," Aisha said.

"Alright, alright, calm down. Drive away in your van and come back tonight. Until then, stay out of sight. No one can know that the Winx are back."

"Why not?" I stopped to ask as the other girls crawled into the van.

"Not now, Tecna. Magix is dangerous."

I climbed into the van and took my spot beside Eddie. Timmy, who was distracting the distraught boy with the spinning bauble on his key chain, stood up and asked, "What's going on?"

Musa started up the van.

"Nothing."

I brushed off Timmy in favor of a whispered conversation that Bloom and Musa were having at the driver's seat.

"What about a hotel?" Musa suggested as she drove away from Alfea.

"We don't have any money," countered Bloom.

"I'm sure Stella's or Aisha's parents would cover the cost if they knew we were back," I said, jumping into the conversation.

"Uh, Tecna?"

"One second, Timmy," I said, ignoring the tap on my shoulder. I had never really been the type to ignore my problems, but then again, I had never been the type to sleep with my ex-boyfriend/baby daddy either. Focusing on the girls, I said, "We could convince Stella or Aisha to reach out for help."

"You don't have to."

"What?"

Musa, Bloom, and I turned to face Timmy, who shrank under the sudden attention.

"My- my parents," Timmy stammered. "They live in Magix."

Like a light flicking on in a dark room, I suddenly remembered that Timmy's parents owned a giant lab on the outskirts of Magix.

He went on to explain, "They're in between experiments right now, so all of the overnight study pods will be empty. We could stay there. That way, you can stay out of the spotlight."

I was reluctant to agree, but it was unfortunately a good idea. Timmy sat up front to navigate Musa to MagixLabs while Bloom and I took our seats in the back of the van.

"So… did you two-"

"I did what I had to, Bloom."

We were both quiet on the ride to the lab.

"Woah, Timmy! You never told me your parents are loaded!" Stella exclaimed, pressing her face up against the window as we approached the front gates of MagixLabs. Before us sat a glistening white dome that was nearly the size of Alfea's courtyard. People in white lab coats scurried around the platforms encircling the dome and disappeared into airtight doors on the dome's surface. The gates opened and Musa drove the van up to the front steps.

"Give me a second. I'll explain," Timmy said, climbing out of the van to greet his parents on the steps.

We watched from the van as Timmy spoke to the short round woman on the steps and the mountain of a man beside her. Where Timmy got his scrawny frame seemed to be a mystery, but the roots of his ginger hair were no question. Both his parents sported messy hair in two different shades of orange. In sharp contrast to her matronly build and appearance, Timmy's tiny mother wore a stern expression while his Herculean father had a jolly smile beneath his orange beard. Timmy stood awkwardly between the two, gesticulating with his hands between the lab and the van.

"Those cars are flying!"

I turned and saw that Eddie had unbuckled himself from the seat to press his face against the window. The other kids quickly followed suit.

"Stay in your seats," I instructed, but just then, Timmy returned to the van.

"You can all come out now. Just park the van to the side."

We all climbed out of the van. Each Winx girl held tightly to their children. Dr. and Dr. Magellan zeroed in on me almost immediately.

"Tecna!" they exclaimed, rushing towards me with open arms. Eddie squeaked and ducked behind my legs as I was enveloped by the burly doctors. Over his mother's shoulder, I could see Timmy awkwardly scratching the back of his neck with an apologetic face.

The doctors pulled away and Timmy's father began, "So your mission was successful then! It is so wonderful to see the Winx Club return to Magix!"

"Actually, our mission is still active," I said, thinking on my feet. "That's why we've come to you. We need somewhere to say to keep our identities under wraps."

"Yes, yes, dear. Timothy explained," Timmy's mother said curtly. She turned on her heels and bounced towards the door. "As usual, Timothy was correct. Several study pods are open for the current season. You girls may stay there."

"Uh, Mrs.- I mean, Dr. Magellan?" Bloom spoke up.

"Yes?" both doctors said in unison.

"It isn't only us that needs room and board," Bloom said, placing a hand on each of her kids' heads.

"Oh."

"I see."

The doctors looked at each other, having a silent exchange that spoke to their decades of partnership in science and in marriage. I had always envied them for that.

"That's alright, dear. We have room."

They turned again and began towards the lab with a less brisk step than before. I knew they were trying to puzzle out who the children were. It wouldn't be long until they figured it out.

They led us through the pristine white halls of the lab and Noah trailed behind us, wide-eyed and silent. I knew we'd eventually have to explain to him what is going on, but I was still struggling to keep my own head on straight.

We went to Alfea under the cover of night. I was worried about leaving the kids with the Specialists back at the lab, but there was no other option. As the bus pulled up at Alfea's gates, I had to choke back a sob. It had been so long.

Faragonda was waiting for us at the gates.

"Quickly, girls, we must go inside," she urged, rushing us through the courtyard and up to her office. Even at such a late hour, girls were lingering on the balcony, watching us with curious eyes. I remembered when that was us. When we got to the office, Faragonda closed the door behind them and told us, "Conjure a seat for yourselves, girls."

We shared an awkward look before I spoke up to say, "We can't."

Faragonda's brows furrowed before her eyes widened and then shrank again in sympathy. With a wave of her hands, six seats were sitting before the desk. I sat down and felt transported back to a time when her whole life was just saving the world and loving one boy.

"Thank you for meeting with us, Ms. F," Bloom said as Faragonda took a seat at her desk. I winced when she sat because she looked so frail that she could break. I guess we weren't the only ones aging. Bloom continued, "I think we are being targeted by whatever it was that the boys were facing on their missions."

"Which is three people in cloaks," Stella added.

"Do you have any additional information?"

Flora started crying and dropped her head into her hands. I didn't pay any attention. I wanted to cry too.

"No," Bloom said. Her voice sounded as sorrowful as Flora's tears. I felt it in my throat.

I hate this story so much. Like, I appreciate what it's done for me and I love the readers as always. But it cast this giant shadow over all of my work that I can't seem to shine a light bright enough to get out of. Even to this day, when I post stories, I get comments about SY, which is super discouraging. And I have improved SOO much. If you don't believe me, check out my stories Apocalypse Trilogy or Through the Years.

I love all my readers, I really do, and I feel like this is a chapter of my life that needs to be closed. So I am going to finish Secretly Yours out of spite. I hope you enjoy the following chapters and I hope you give my other work a shot. I pour a lot of love into my stuff, but not this one. So strap in folks.

As always,

Love, Ru