A/N: This chapter is set before Tenrou Island. Story is cannon until after the games - then it's AU. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail and make no compensation off of this story.

Althea couldn't believe she had been such a fool. She had known he liked to flirt. In the back of her mind, she knew it didn't always stop at flirting. But she had looked away, ignored it. Thought she was different. She was the one he called his girlfriend. She had had that title for the last three years. Well, almost. Their three year anniversary was supposed to be next week.

Guess that wasn't going to happen now.

How could she let this happen? She was an S-Class mage, a member of Fairy Tail. Granddaughter of Makarov. Sister of Laxus – not that he would claim her. He never did.

She supposed it was a good thing now. She wouldn't want to claim her either.

"Althea? You alright?" Her best friends voice broke through her depression, making her turn to face him with bright red eyes. "Ali? What's going on?"

Hesitantly, she handed him the parchment she had received from Porlyusica this morning. Althea had asked her to write it down, like actually seeing it would make her believe it.

She watched as Gray's jaw tightened and he closed his eyes. Her heart dropped. He was it, the last person she could count on. If he turned her away –

"Did you tell-"

"I went there," Althea cut in, the thought instantly making her eyes burn with tears and her throat burn. "He – apparently, he's been dating that celestial mage for the last three months. I couldn't tell him."

Gray stood abruptly, shaking his head as he began pacing back and forth. "You didn't even tell me you two had broken up."

That was it. She couldn't stop it this time. The tears began to fall down Althea's face, her hands coming up to brush them away quickly. She didn't cry. She never cried. She wasn't going to cry over him. "We didn't."

Gray froze, his hands clenching and crumpling the parchment. "So he's been cheating on you. And you're-"

"Yep."

Gray walked back over, slowing sinking down in the chair next to hers. "What are we going to do?"

Althea's head snapped up, staring at the boy beside her. "We?"

Gray rose an eyebrow, shooting her a look that showed just had dumb he thought the question was. "Yeah, we. Have you talked to gramps yet?"

Althea shook her head frantically. "I can't tell him. He'll be so disappointed. I can't do it."

Gray rolled his eyes, "Ali, I think he's going to notice sooner or later."

Althea hesitated, not sure how he was going to take the next sentence. Letting out a deep breath, she spoke quickly, "Uh, not if I'm not here." At the look on Gray's face, she continued to talk, hoping he would at least think about what she was saying before arguing with her, "I can tell gramps that I want to take some time off. Maybe tell him I want to try my hand at something else for awhile. I can do it. I have to do it."

"And what's going to happen when you come back with a baby?" Gray demanded.

The look on Althea's face made realization hit. "You don't plan on coming back, do you?"

Althea slowly shook her head, watching her best friends face close off completely. "Gray?"

He just shook his head, standing once again. "I know why you want to do it – but Ali, we are your family. We can help you. I can't let you go through this alone."

Althea stood, walking close to Gray. "I know you won't. But I can't, wont, do it here. I can't disappoint them."

Gray studied her, eyes staring into her own, before finally nodding.

Althea had known it wouldn't be easy to convince her grandfather, but she had finally done so. Now, here she was, standing in an empty apartment in Crocus. There was little chance of a Fairy Tail member finding her here. There was only one person that knew where she was, and she knew he wouldn't say anything unless he had to.

She had so much to do. She had to furnish the apartment, find a healer, and get things prepared. Luckily, she had enough jewels saved that she wouldn't have to worry for awhile.

Gray would be coming within the next few weeks. He had managed to take a job close enough to swing by and help her find a place, but he had to get back before someone thought something was wrong. He was planning to come and help her set up the baby's room – which meant she actually needed things to go in the room before he got here.

At the thought of the baby, Althea pressed her hand against her still flat stomach. It wouldn't stay that way long. By her calculations, she was about three months along. Six months to go and she would have a child. A child that was all hers. A child that would always remind her of him.

Her eyes burned, but she shook her head and set about unpacking the few things she had for the kitchen. She and Gray had gone shopping to buy the necessities – she could get everything else here.

She couldn't regret it. She had only found out about the baby three weeks ago, but she already cared for it. Even with the way things had turned out, at least something good had come of it.

"I think that's it," Gray said four months later, looking around at the completed room.

Althea nodded, sinking down into the rocking chair with her hands on her stomach. The baby kicked in response, always more active when Gray was around. "Your godchild is saying hi," Althea informed him, leaning back.

Gray smiled brightly, sinking down to his knees and placing his hand beside hers. "That's because he loves me."

Althea rolled her eyes, "So sure it's a boy?"

"Of course," Gray scoffed, smirking up at his best friend as she rolled her eyes. He pulled his hand off of her stomach and grabbed her hand, helping her stand to move into the front room. "I probably won't be able to come back until it's time for the peanut to be born," Gray informed her as they sat on the couch.

Althea nodded, knowing he had been coming around so often people had been asking him if he had a secret girlfriend. "You can stay for awhile, right?"

Gray winced and shrugged, "I'll try. Take an easy job and get here as soon as I can, help you out for awhile before I have to go back."

Althea closed her eyes. Two months. Two months and she would have a son or daughter. She imaged what they would look like. Would they have her light blonde hair? Or their fathers slightly darker blonde? Her grey eyes, or their fathers dark ones? What about magic? Would they even want to be a wizard? Would they want to train with her, learn her wind magic? Or would they have better luck with a form of mind magic? Maybe they would want to learn ice make from Gray. Maybe they wouldn't want to learn any of it and would do something completely different with their life.

She couldn't wait to find out. Couldn't wait to see them.

But she was terrified. What if she couldn't do it on her own? Sure, Gray would come when he could, but she knew it would only be for a few days every few months. Would they be at a disadvantage without having a father? What if she did something wrong? What if her father found out and came after them?

There were so many things that could go wrong. So very many. She had been on jobs that would leave others in a corner crying, had been held by a man trying to drain wizards of all of their magic for a month. Had almost died so many times she couldn't even count them – but the thought of doing something to raise her child incorrectly? That terrified her.

"You alright?" Gray questioned.

Althea looked at him, surprised. She had forgotten he was there. "Yeah, just thinking. What do you think they'll look like?"

Gray shrugged, sinking back against the couch. "Like you? I don't know."

Althea chuckled. She should have known better than ask Gray. "How's everything at the guild?"

"Fine, I guess. There's a new guy, Loke. Seems cool enough. Might see if he wants to team up."

Althea tried to smile, really, she did. But she had always been Gray's partner. But that time was over. Gray needed a new partner. "Sounds good – but how can you come here if you two are working together?"

Gray didn't look concerned. "We'll figure something out. He's a cool guy. I think you'd like him."

Althea just rose an eyebrow, "And everyone else?"

"Fine. Your brother is a jerk. Natsu's an idiot. One day he's going to realize Lisanna is completely in love with him. Mira is Mira. Erza is Erza. Nothing much has changed."

Althea didn't know how to respond to that. It seemed they didn't really miss her. Not that she had expected them to – the only person she really talked to was Gray. "How's gramps?"

"Same. Asks me if I've heard from you. I don't like lying to him," Gray muttered, shooting Althea a small glare. Althea sent him an apologetic smile.

"I'll tell him, I promise. I just – I don't want to disappoint him."

"Ali, gramps will be more upset that you kept it from him than anything. You know that."

"I'll tell him," at Gray's disbelieving look, Althea crossed her arms over her chest. "I will!"

Gray showed up two months later with a red haired guy in tow. Althea took one look at the young man and knew who he was instantly – she had dealt with Karen more than once. And it was obvious he knew who she was by the way he froze in the doorway.

And she knew Gray had no idea.

"This is Loke," Gray said, motioning to the young man as he hurried over to Althea, placing his hand on her bulging stomach. "You're huge!"

Althea tore her gaze away from the startled celestial spirit, glaring at her best friend. "Shut it. My back is killing me, my feet hurt, and I can barely move."

Gray let out a chuckle as Loke let out a small smirk. "I'll get you a drink," Gray said, moving into the kitchen.

Althea turned her attention to the other man instantly. "You might as well come in – and explain what is going on."

Loke winced before closing the door, making his way over to the empty chair beside her. "Well, it's a long story."

Althea looked over her shoulder pointedly, "Make it short."

"I forced my gate open to teach Karen a lesson. Karen ended up getting killed on a job because she couldn't open two gates at once. As punishment, I've been forced out of the spirit world. Joined Fairy Tail."

Althea nodded slowly, her mind catching two different pieced of information. First, Karen was dead. She tried to feel remorse at the thought, but nothing happened. She had never the celestial wizard, had absolutely hated the way she treated her spirits, but the woman had also broken up her relationship. Not that it was just her fault. No, but Althea couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for the now deceased wizard.

Leo, on the other hand, had her full sympathy. She had wondered more than once why the King of the Zodiacs hadn't stood up to the woman. She was glad he finally did, but felt sorry that such a thing had cost the life of his contracted. And that he was forced to live in the human world. Wait…

"How long?" She asked, narrowing her eyes as she noticed the celestial spirits pale complexion.

Leo the Lion shrugged. "No idea. I'm trying to last as long as I can."

Althea slowly nodded, trying to process all the information. Leo – Loke- looked down at her stomach hesitantly, "So, uh, is Hibiki-"

"There's something I need to tell you," Gray said, handing her a glass of juice as he sat beside her on the sofa. Althea turned to face him, ignoring the question Loki was obviously getting ready to ask. She felt herself grow cold at the tense look on her friends face.

"Gray?"

Gray hesitated, eyes flickering to Loke before turning back to her. "Uh, the last time I was here, Mira took Elfman and Lisanna on a job. An S-Class job."

Althea tensed, the cold feeling growing stronger. Something happened. Something bad. "Who?"

Gray started at her, obviously wondering if he should continue. "Lisanna."

Althea felt tears fall as she thought of the younger girl. They had never been close – Lisanna always hung around Natsu while Althea was with Gray – but Althea had always liked the other girl. "How?"

"Elfman lost control," Gray said quietly, making Althea let out a sob as she buried her head in her hands. She felt her body shake in pain. Elfman – he had to be a complete mess. He had always felt bad that he wasn't as strong as his sisters. To know that he was the cause of his younger sisters death…

"Mira cant use magic," Gray continued, knowing it was better to get it over with. "Gramps thinks it's the trauma."

Althea shook with sobs at the thought of her Fairy Tail family going through all of that without her. She should have been there, should have helped them. Althea clenched her fists as the pain she had felt all morning grew more intense. It must have been a sign. Telling her something was wrong.

Either that or-

"Gray?"

"Yeah?"

"My water just broke."

Twelve hours later saw Althea resting in bed, a small baby boy resting in her arms. "Told you it'd be a boy," Gray told her, perched on the edge of the bed. He stared down at the small baby, a smile on his face.

"Now really isn't the time to say I told you so," Althea told him softly, not able to take her eyes off of the baby. Her baby.

"He looks like you," Loke commented from where he stood behind Gray.

Althea shot a tired smile at the celestial mage. "As much as a baby can, I guess."

He chuckled as Gray moved his arms forward to take Damian from her. "Get some rest. We'll be here in case anything happens."

Althea nodded tentatively, not taking her eyes off of her son as Gray moved him toward the crib by the bed. She didn't close her eyes until he was resting comfortably.

Gray and Like had been a great help to Althea the two weeks they stayed, but now they were gone and Althea was alone with her son for the first time.

And it was not going well.

He wouldn't stop crying. Why was he always crying?

Althea felt like crying as she moved around the apartment with Damian in her arms. "Please go to sleep. Please. I know Gray's gone, I know. It's alright, he'll be back as soon as he can. I promise. Please stop crying…"

How was she going to do this? She needed help. She shouldn't have moved out of Magnolia. She should have met some friends when she moved. She shouldn't have thought she could do this all on her own.

"Please, Damian, please…"

"Where is my godson?" Gray demanded three months later, moving past Althea when she opened the door.

"Nice to see you, too!" Althea called as he moved into her bedroom.

"Althea," Loke greeted, smiling at the girl as he moved into the apartment. "Heard you had a hard time after we left – everything okay now?"

Althea nodded, feeling a blush spread across her face. "I was a little overwhelmed at first. But everything is fine now. I wouldn't change it for the world."

Loke nodded, smiling as Gray walked out of the room, Damian in his arms. "This little guy seems happy to see us."

Althea smiled at her son, "He's happy to see everyone."

Gray rolled his eyes. "No, he knows his godfather is here. And Uncle Loke."

Loke blinked, startled at the reference, but Althea just laughed. She moved to the sofa, grabbing Damian's favorite stuffy and placing it in Gray's hands. "He loves it," she informed him, noticing Loke's eyes widen as they landed on the stuffed lion. She didn't miss the appreciative glance Loke threw her.

"How are Mira and Elfman?" Althea asked as they all sat, Gray continuing to play with Damian.

"Mira is working at the guild," Loke told her, wincing slightly. "Still doesn't use magic. And Elfman wont try a full shift – only does one arm."

Althea nodded understandingly. "How's Natsu? He and Lisanna were always so close."

"Natsu is as much of an idiot as always," Gray muttered, ignoring the disapproving look Althea shot him. "Anyway, we probably wont make it back here until your birthday."

Althea's eyes widened. "That's in five months!"

"The S-Class tournament is coming up," Loke said, sending her a small smile. "Gray's convinced it's his year."

Althea fought against rolling her eyes. Gray always thought it was his year. And he was wrong. He wasn't ready. "Ah, so I guess you two will be busy."

Loke sent her a small smirk as Gray nodded, "Of course. But I'll send some things for my amazing godson," he told her.

Althea shook her head. Gray had insisted on sending her some of the jewels he made on jobs, even though Althea had told him she still had some in savings. There was no doubt she's need to get a job within the next year or so, but that should give her time to find someone to watch Damian.

But Gray had stated that she needed to stay home with Damian, so he had been sending her jewels. Althea hadn't told him that she had been putting them aside for Damian when he got older. It could be used as a fund for Damian to do whatever he wanted when he got older.

"We'll make sure to be here for your birthday," Loke cut in, trying to stop an argument before it started. "A girl only turns seventeen once."

Althea laughed, taking Damian from Gray as he started to get fussy. "Alright, but you both have to contact me to let me know you're alright."

"Deal."

Those five months passed quicker than Althea thought possible. Damian was eight months old and crawling around the apartment. Althea had called Gray in excitement when it had happened – Gray had cursed for missing it. But he and Loke should be in the city any day and Althea had been telling her son all about his godfather and uncle.

The reaction had been much, much worse when she informed them Damian had called her mama. Gray had been ready to give up on his current job and head over, but Loke had reminded him about the trials. Gray had made Althea promise to keep a record of everything for him to look at when they next saw each other. Which was why there was now a full baby book / scrapbook sitting on Althea's table.

"Ali!" Gray's voice called, floating through her door as he knocked.

Althea ran toward the door, throwing it open and throwing her arms around the other boy. He hugged her back just as ferociously. This had been the longest they had been apart since they met at the guild years before. "Where's Damian?" He demanded, pulling back and looking around the apartment.

Althea motioned to the playpen in the room. Gray broke into a huge smile, running over to the playpen and lifting the small boy out. "Hello, Damian! I've missed you so much…"

Althea turned her attention to the other man in her doorway, letting herself be wrapped into two strong arms. "Althea, great to see you again."

"Loke," Althea laughed, hugging him back. "Heard you now have… three girlfriends?"

Loke shrugged, pushing his tinted glasses up. "I wouldn't call them girlfriends."

Althea rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say."

Loke ignored her, moving over to Gray and Damian. Damian stared at the newcomer with a frown on his face before reaching up to touch the glasses on Loke's face.

Althea smiled fondly at the three. She was so glad they were back here – she had missed Gray like crazy for the last five months and she had become good friends with Loke. As quietly as she could, she moved to grab a camera, snapping a picture of the three. Gray and Loke turned to her with raised eyebrows. She just smiled back. "Scrapbook."

After her birthday, Like and Gray had managed to stop by every couple of months, spending almost two weeks with them for Damian's first birthday. And, of course, they had spoiled him rotten. Althea had to rearrange her apartment to fit all the toys.

"New girl at the guild," Gray told Althea on his last visit. Loke hadn't come this time, Gray had said Loke had been tired lately and going on shorter jobs. Althea didn't like the sound of that and had made a mental note to call the celestial spirit as soon as possible.

"Really?"

"Natsu brought her. She's a celestial wizard."

Althea had frozen for a moment. A celestial wizard. No wonder Loke had been acting strange. He was probably panicking.

"She's teaming up with Natsu."

Good luck to the girl. Natsu could be… hard to handle.

Loke had shown up only a few weeks later, telling her how Gray had been pulled into a group with Erza, Natsu, and the celestial wizard, Lucy. Althea had known why Loke was there as soon as she saw him. He was pale, his magic weak. He was fading. He had come to say goodbye.

He stayed a week, spending every moment he could with Damian. Althea had spent the entire time taking pictures of the two of them, fighting back tears the entire time. She would always make sure Damian knew about his uncle Leo.

Before he left, Loke placed a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you." Then he was gone.

It was three months later that Gray appeared again, and it happened to be Damian's second birthday. "My big man!" Gray said, smothering the little boy with a hug. Damian just giggled.

Gray had an amazing story to tell. First he told her about the mission Loke had talked about, then he told her about Phantom Lord and Lucy. That brought him to Loke.

"You knew, didn't you?"

Althea nodded. Gray glared. "You knew he was dying and didn't say anything?!"

"It was his choice," Althea said, trying to defend herself.

She was happy to hear that Loke had been contracted to Lucy and allowed back in the spirit world. She felt the sadness in her heart let up to know that her friend had survived.

Gray continued to tell her about how they had been captured and about Erza's past. Althea couldn't say she was shocked by such events – Althea had known Erza had been through something horrible.

"Anyway, this is the first chance I've had to come see you two," Gray continued, setting Damian down and watching as he walked over to his toy chest. "He's so big."

Althea nodded, smiling down at her son as he grabbed his stuffed lion and made his way back to her. She picked him up, setting him on her lap. He curled up against her, hugging the lion to his chest.

"Fantasia is coming up," Gray told her mildly. "Might be time for you to come back to Magnolia."

Althea winced. "I don't – I'm not ready yet."

Gray scowled in irritation. "You said you would tell them. You've been gone two and a half years."

Althea ignored the comment, mentally shaking at the thought of returning to the guild. Here, in Crocus, no one knew her. But if she returned, the news that Althea Dreyer showed up with a two year old son would be everywhere.

And then he would find out.

Althea had fostered the guilt for years. It continued to grow stronger each day. She should have told Hibiki years ago. Even if he hadn't wanted to do anything about it, she should have told him about Damian. It wasn't right for her to keep it from him.

But the thought of coming clean now, after so many years, terrified her.

She couldn't do it.

The next time Gray appeared, it was with horrible news. Laxus, her brother Laxus, had tried to forcibly take over Fairy Tail. He had lost, barely from what Gray said, but had been kicked out of the guild.

Althea had cried that night. She and her brother had never been close, but he was her brother.

Laxus had blamed her for years. He thought it was her fault their dad had been kicked out of the guild. Althea had told him that it was their fathers fault – he had been the one to implant Laxus with the lacrima. But Laxus had told her the only reason he had done that was because of Althea. Because Althea had been powerful even as a child and he couldn't have one child be powerful and the other weak.

Laxus had blamed her and Althea had let him.

Gray didn't come back for months. When he did, it was only for him to tell her about Edolas. She knew there was something he was keeping from her. Something big. She demanded he tell her what it was. He refused.

"I'm going to get ready for the S-Class trials," Gray told her, not meeting her eyes that last day. "I'll be by after – hopefully this is my year."

Althea nodded, this time fully believing him. "Call me when the participants are announced."

Gray nodded, giving her a small smile before leaving.

She got the call a few months later. Gray had been chosen for the S-Class trials. And Loke had come down to help him out. "How's Damian?" Loke asked, pushing Gray out of the way.

Althea smiled brightly at her friend. She hadn't seen him in almost a year. "Great. Missing you. You have to come by when you two are finished. We can celebrate together."

Loke shot her a grin, "You got it."

It was only two weeks later that Althea had been walking home from the market with Damian when she heard the news.

The entire island had disappeared. Acnologia had attacked during the trials. Everyone on the island was presumed dead.

Althea barely made it to her apartment before breaking down, Damian cuddled beside her.