Chapter Text
Sitting comfortably behind his desk, exhausted from his day, Ben finishes correcting the botany homework of his new students. Since transferring to the new school, the teacher has taken his marks, as has his son, who has made new friends. The two men have finally found some semblance of serenity, even though they miss Terra and Flora awfully. They couldn't go on like this, not with Rosalind as headmistress and the regime of terror she imposed. When Ben demanded a transfer to this school, he got it as soon as possible, thanks to a rather cooperative queen. The latter has made it a habit to visit him in his office after class to make sure that everything is going well, as she has always doubted the teacher's competence. From time to time, she gives him news about Alfea, especially of Terra, Flora, but also of Stella, whose grades she deplores since he left. It is also thanks to her that he learned of Rosalind's death, and even though Luna has already offered to take over his position at Alfea, he prefers not to follow up for the moment. He doesn't feel like moving again, and this time leaving Sam alone, without a family, after all he's been through as a child. Even if Saul is back as Headmaster of the Specialists, nothing will ever be the same, because Farah is dead, she'll never come back, and he doesn't know what kind of maniac will take his friend's place.
Whereas he is lost in his thoughts and painful memories, Professor Harvey hears the doorbell ring that brings him to his senses.
"Come in!" he orders almost mechanically, without looking up from the paper he is correcting.
The door creaks open slowly, revealing a little brown lady in a beige and black suit, her hair tied up in a severe bun, her eyes piercing: Queen Luna. For once, she seems to be in a good mood.
"Hello Ben, how are you today?" she asks in a cheerful tone.
His attention drawn by this familiar voice, he raises his head and, in response to this friendliness, smiles at her.
"Well, like any other day, I'm just finishing correcting some papers, to what do I owe this enthusiasm?"
With a hurried step, she rushes to the desk and sits down on one of the purple velvet chairs facing the botany professor. Luna's excitement seems to drop a notch and her face immediately darkens, as if the world is about to fall away.
"I bring you good news and bad news," she begins hesitantly.
Ben exhales loudly, struggling to hold back the tears that well up in his eyes and the knot in his throat as he thinks of the many losses Alfea has suffered.
"Silva told me about Beatrix, may she rest in peace, poor thing, it's really sad and unfair that she died, especially in such a way," he confides with a heartbroken look, touched by the loss of his former student. "The same goes for Bloom, who has gone to the Realm of Darkness for an indefinite time..."
Luna nods with compassion, obviously relieved not to have to tell him the terrible news.
Professor Harvey, eager to know the reason for her visit, straightens on his chair and continues:
"So how are my daughter and niece? And Stella? What is the good news?"
The queen lays her hands flat on the desk and stares at him, leaning towards him cheerfully.
“Let's just say that your daughter has all the qualities of a great fairy, since she has succeeded in her transformation, and she has found love in the person of Kat," she replies in a low voice, her eyes sparkling. "As for Flora, I think she will follow in her cousin's footsteps."
This news puts a broad smile on the teacher's face, who can't help but burst out laughing, glad to know that his daughter is thriving.
"Wow! She hasn't told me yet, and I'm so happy for her and to know that she's gaining confidence!" he rejoices, storing the papers in a drawer. "And what about your daughter?"
Watching her, he can see a certain tension running through Luna's body when he talks about the girl, as if something seems to be bothering her, or that she is ashamed.
"Well, she made it too but..."
"But what?!" he cuts her off harshly, slightly annoyed that she still has things to say about Stella. "Can't you, just once in your life, be proud of your daughter and tell her so? Is that too much to ask, damn it?"
This brutal remark seems to have the effect of a slap in the face, because she remains speechless for several seconds. Deep down, she knows that Ben is right.
She has always been stingy with compliments, she has tortured her daughter throughout her childhood and adolescence in order to shape her in her own image, she only realised this a short time ago, and she will never forgive herself. She regrets having put her through this pressure, this blackmail, this torment, under the guise of wanting to make her a legendary queen and the most powerful fairy in the realm. She ruined everything, she destroyed her, she knows it, and now the pain is immense.
"Yes, of course, you're absolutely right," she admits, on the verge of tears, moved to the core. "I am proud of her as I have never been, but I am too prideful to tell her. Every day I think how lucky I am that she didn't deny me. Stella is an exceptional daughter, willing to help others, especially Beatrix when she was lonely and had no one. She would not hesitate for a second to give her life to save the lives of others. I destroyed her, I ruined her childhood, her life, everything..."
The fairy's voice breaks as she bursts into tears, racked with remorse. The queen, usually so reserved about her feelings, no longer even tries to hide, trusting him.
"You know, Ben, I love my daughter," she adds, tears streaming down her cheeks. "The worst is that she doesn't know, because I've never told her and, more importantly, I've never shown her. It's the most heinous thing a mother can do to her child, I can't even imagine how she must feel."
Tenderly, he hands her a kleenex before clasping her trembling hand in his. The oak wood of the desk seems to be consoling her with its warmth.
"It's never too late to tell her what's on your mind."
She nods frantically and, feeling faint, gets up, trying to leave the room in a hurry, too upset to continue this devastating conversation.
"Excuse me..."
Ben follows her resolutely, determined to keep her in the office longer to calm and comfort her, because he knows she needs support and reassurance.
"Wait, Luna!"
She doesn't have time to get to the door that she vacillates, dizzy, before she passes out and collapses in the arms of the professor, who has arrived just in time to catch her before she hits the floor. He holds her close with a sigh of relief. The worst has been avoided, if her head had hit the floor or furniture corner, she could have stupidly lost her life. He takes her in his arms and carries her to the sofa, where he carefully lays her down while she recovers. After measuring her blood pressure, which is too low, and gauging her pulse, which fortunately is normal, he takes this moment to prepare an energizing tea and a salty snack to raise her blood pressure.
When he puts the plate on the table, she seems to be slowly emerging from her lethargy.
"Ben...," she groans in a plaintive voice, glancing around in a panic, her body shaking with tremors. "What's happened?"
Her eyes meet the smiling, benevolent face of her friend, who hastens to explain why she is lying on the couch.
"You've had a fall in blood pressure, but you'll be fine," he reassures her, grabbing a blanket and covering her to keep her warm. "Probably because of too much emotion."
She's so pale, he knows she's shivering and would be willing to wrap his arms around her to make her feel less cold and more secure. However, they are not yet intimate enough to indulge in this kind of familiarity.
He helps her up, tucks a soft pillow behind her back and hands her the cup of tea, adding:
"Here, it's a tea made from rosemary, sage, liquorice and hawthorn, it will boost your blood pressure, as will the crackers."
She takes the steaming cup, her eyes filled with gratitude...and full of stars. In the past, the light fairy has had great doubts about him, about his ability to be a good teacher, so she quickly accepted his transfer, thinking she could get rid of him and recruit a better teacher for Alfea. She made a big mistake and she regrets not giving him a chance. By letting him go, by replacing him, she realised that she had lost a gem, because since the arrival of the new botany and potions teacher, the students' marks have been dropping, including those of her daughter, who was recently blamed for an accident that ravaged a laboratory room during a practical lesson. More than ever, Luna wants Ben back, especially with all the qualities he is showing her; he is so sweet and caring. Plus, he's an excellent doctor whose naturopathic skills are beyond belief.
"Thank you, Ben, I should hire you as my regular doctor," she murmurs with a knowing smile, before tasting the natural beverage. "It's delicious."
He laughs, blushing, slightly embarrassed by this remark, handing her the plate of crackers.
"As for you, I assume you're my spy at Alfea," he jokes charmingly, catching her eye.
She gives him a wink:
"You could say that."