LOVE IS A GIFTED FLOWER | Ben X Luna ~ Fate: The Winx Saga

Chapter 1 - The Perfect Gift

It was a beautiful sunny day with birds singing and a gentle breeze blowing through the trees.
As usual, Queen Luna stopped by Alfea, where she regularly used to visit her daughter Stella. The young fairy would soon celebrate her eighteenth birthday, and her mom had been looking for the perfect gift for a long time. Now she had found it. Mother and daughter had always shared a passion for plants, especially flowers, and each had their own corner in the royal garden. So Luna had made a decision: to go to Professor Harvey and ask him to develop a new variety of flowers for the occasion.
When she arrived at the greenhouse, she found herself getting nervous. She wanted the gift to be perfect and wasn't even sure he would accept.
He was quietly preparing a potion when he noticed her presence in the doorway. She was wearing her pink suit and a white blouse, which was making this pretty lady look neat.

"What can I do for you, Your Highness?" he questioned cheerfully, going to meet her.

She shook his hand with a big smile.

"Please, Professor Harvey, call me Luna, it will be easier."

"Very well, Luna, in that case you won't mind calling me Ben," he agreed, laughing.

The light fairy blushed slightly, appreciating his warmth and faculty of repartee. She remained silent for a moment, unable to take her eyes off the botanist's face.

"So, do you have something to ask me or did you just want to see me?" he teased her shyly, running his hand over the back of his neck.

"I've come to ask you a favour, Ben," she informed him, looking serious. "I know that you are known throughout the Other World for the quality of your work, your research and your creativity. In two months, it's Stella's birthday, and I wanted to give her a brand new variety of flowers for her garden. She is passionate about plants, and I know she would love it. I thought of you straight away, it was obvious to me, but I can understand if you decline my request because it might take you some time."

"It's fine, I'll work on it in my spare time," he accepted, winking enthusiastically at her. "Stella is one of my best students, she deserves this gift, and I'm flattered that you're offering me this challenge. What sort of flower do you want? Roses? Tulips? Hydrangeas?"

She nervously twirled one of her rings around her finger.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know what would fit in this garden, and I'd like to invite you at home so you can make up your own mind and create the most suitable plant," she admitted hesitantly.

The earth fairy's heart began to pound in his chest: the Queen was inviting him to the gardens of the castle she had lived in alone with her daughter since the death of her husband ten years earlier, assassinated in an attack while he was on a diplomatic visit.
Stella had lost her dad at a very young age, she had been unlucky, just like Sam and Terra. A car accident had taken Rose's life while he was driving and she was sitting in the passenger seat with the two toddlers in the back. All these years he had felt guilty for killing his wife that day, for not reacting faster when a red car had come into oncoming traffic at full speed before striking them.
They had both experienced the same tragedy and would have to live with it for the rest of their lives.
Suddenly, the Queen's voice drew him out of his thoughts.

"Ben, are you feeling alright?" she inquired, daring to place her hand on his arm. "You look pale."

He was pervaded with soft vibrations running down his arm, gradually soothing him. Luna's presence was more than helpful.

"Yes, don't worry," he reassured her calmly. "May I come by on Saturday morning?"

She nodded happily before removing her hand.

"Of course, I'll be home, you'll come for tea and I'll show you Stella's garden. How much do I owe you?"

It was Professor Harvey's turn to place his hand on the Queen's shoulder.

"Nothing, in fact I'm glad to create this new plant for you both," he replied in a rather firm tone.

She was slightly surprised by his refusal of money, but her attention was quickly drawn to the hundreds of plants in the greenhouse. She couldn't help but step forward, attracted by a large white and purple flower with amazing detail.

"This flower is beautiful!" she exclaimed in wonder. "I've never seen one like it before!"

"It's normal, it's a passionflower, a plant that comes from the First World, and it gives fruits with an absolutely divine taste," he explained with gusto. "I found it on a trip to Brazil with Rose before our wedding, and we had been both struck by the beauty of the flowers."

Luna smiled. This man was so passionate about plants, as was she, and she had never met anyone like him. They barely knew each other and yet they were already having a good time together, he was showing her the greenhouse of Alfea, the place of all the wonders of the Other World and the First World, telling her the history of each plant. Thinking of him instinctively, she had certainly made the right decision, even the one that would change her life. They were on the same wavelength and understood each other, both in their own world, without anyone else. The Queen and the Professor.

After a moment of talking, they were surprised by a loud male voice.

"Ah, Luna, there you are, I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Ben turned around: Andreas was standing two metres away from them, his eyes on the Queen. The Queen's face suddenly lit up and she took a few steps towards him. Instantly, the botany professor felt a twinge of sorrow that he could not explain. What did this mean?