The mansion was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of twilight as the sun set behind the trees. Inside, everyone was winding down after a long day, preparing for a quiet evening. Most of the Winx and the Specialists were off doing their own things—Bloom and Stella were chatting in the living room, Layla was practicing some new dance moves, and Tecna was working on a new invention in her lab. It was one of those rare, peaceful nights when the usual chaos of their lives had quieted down for just a moment.Flora, however, was taking the opportunity to have some alone time. After weeks of feeling overwhelmed by her own emotions, she had decided it was time to give herself a break—not just from the others, but from the constant pressure she'd been putting on herself to keep up appearances. Helia had noticed Flora's quiet mood earlier in the day, and as always, he had been gentle with her. He knew the weight Flora carried—her guilt, her frustration, and her need to prove herself to everyone, even when she was struggling. But tonight, he wanted to give her a chance to relax, to just be herself. He had a special evening planned for the two of them, a time when Flora didn't have to be the strong one or the caretaker—just Flora, and him.---Flora was in her room when she heard a soft knock on her door. She was sitting by the window, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the night sky, lost in her thoughts. When the door opened, she turned to see Helia standing there, his expression warm and inviting."Hey," he said softly. "Are you doing okay?"Flora smiled faintly. "Yeah, just... thinking."Helia walked in, his presence calming. "I thought you might want to take a break tonight. Just the two of us, no distractions. I have something planned."Flora raised an eyebrow. "Something planned? What is it?"Helia grinned. "It's a surprise. But if you're up for it, I promise it'll be something that helps you relax."Her heart fluttered at the thought. Helia always knew how to make her feel special, even when she felt at her lowest. "I'd like that," she said, her voice soft but genuine.---Helia led her downstairs, and they made their way into the garden behind the mansion. The air was cool but comforting, and the sky was clear, filled with stars. Flora felt a sense of peace as she walked with Helia, his hand gently brushing hers. He'd always been one of the few people she could truly relax around, and tonight, she allowed herself to enjoy the quiet company.They reached a small area of the garden that Flora didn't often visit—a secluded spot with a wooden bench surrounded by flowers and twinkling fairy lights. A small picnic blanket was spread out on the grass, along with a few lanterns that cast a warm glow over the area."Helia, this is beautiful," Flora said softly, her heart warmed by the thoughtfulness he'd put into creating such a serene space for them. "I thought you'd like it," he replied, his voice gentle. "I wanted to make tonight about you—about giving you the space to just be yourself, without any pressure."Flora felt a lump form in her throat. It wasn't often that she allowed herself to be this vulnerable, to just let go of everything and be cared for. But Helia made it easy for her. "Thank you," she whispered. "I don't deserve this."Helia looked at her with a mix of affection and understanding. "You don't have to keep saying that, Flora. You're so hard on yourself. You deserve all of this and more. You've been so strong for so many people, and now it's your turn to just... be."Flora looked down at the soft blanket beneath her, feeling a mixture of gratitude and guilt. "I don't know how to be anything but strong," she admitted. "I feel like I've always been the one who takes care of others. And now... it's like I can't even take care of myself. It scares me."Helia sat beside her, his voice soft as he spoke. "You're allowed to be weak, Flora. You're allowed to need help. No one expects you to do everything on your own. Not me, not your friends, and definitely not yourself."Flora's heart ached as she turned to look at him, her eyes filled with emotion. "But I'm not supposed to be like this. I should be stronger. I shouldn't be so... dependent."Helia took her hand, gently squeezing it. "Flora, the people who love you don't see you as weak. They see you as someone who has been through a lot, and still keeps going. You're strong, not because you can do everything alone, but because you trust others, and you allow yourself to feel vulnerable. That takes real courage."The tears that had been threatening to fall for days finally broke through. Flora's chest tightened as she let the emotions spill out, her voice trembling. "I'm scared, Helia. I'm scared that I'm losing myself. That I won't be able to go back to the way I was."Helia immediately moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her gently against him. He held her quietly, letting her cry without judgment, without trying to fix anything. Just being there for her, the way she needed."I'm right here," he whispered softly, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "You're not losing yourself, Flora. You're just going through something difficult, and it's okay to be scared. It's okay to lean on me."Flora clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt, but she didn't mind. In this moment, it was just the two of them, and for once, Flora allowed herself to let go. She didn't have to be the protector, the one who always had everything together. With Helia, she could just be Flora—fragile, emotional, and human.---After a few moments, Flora pulled away, her face flushed and tear-streaked but calmer. Helia reached for a tissue and gently wiped her face, his touch tender. "Feeling a little better?"Flora nodded, a weak but grateful smile appearing on her lips. "Yes. I just needed to let it all out."Helia smiled warmly at her. "That's okay. You don't have to carry everything on your own. We all need a moment like this sometimes."Flora's heart swelled with affection. "Thank you for doing this, Helia. For being here for me when I don't even know what I need.""Anything for you, Flora," he replied, his voice soft. "Now, how about we enjoy the evening? No talk of stress, no talk of everything that's going on. Just us, together."Flora smiled, a little lighter now. "I'd like that."Helia reached for the picnic basket beside them and began to unpack. The meal was simple—a light salad, some bread, and fruit, but Flora felt at peace in that moment, as if all the worries in the world had faded away, if only for a little while. They ate, laughed softly, and talked about anything and everything, enjoying the simplicity of being together.As the night wore on and the stars above grew brighter, Flora leaned back against the soft blanket, her head resting on Helia's shoulder. For once, she felt at ease, surrounded by the warmth of someone who cared for her deeply.Helia turned to her and smiled, his hand gently brushing her hair. "You're amazing, Flora. You may not see it right now, but you are."Flora's heart fluttered, and she closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her. "Thank you, Helia. You make me feel like I can get through this.""I know you can," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "And I'll be here with you, every step of the way."For the first time in a long while, Flora felt a sense of peace. With Helia by her side, she knew she didn't have to face her fears alone. She could take each day as it came, one step at a time, with the support of those who loved her.And as they lay there, the soft sounds of the garden around them, Flora finally allowed herself to rest. The road ahead would be long, but for tonight, she was safe, loved, and exactly where she needed to be.---
