Hey guys! This is my first ever fanfic, so lemme know what you think! I'd love to hear your opinions on my writing. Nalu is one of my OTPs, so it's only fitting if use them for my first ever story, dontcha' think? And Juvia is so adorable I just HAD to use her first thing. Well, enough of my babbling. Without further ado, here is "Abandoned Again".

Lucy Heartfilia and Juvia Loxar- two best friends, each an escapee from a horrifying past

Levy McGarden- A sheltered bookworm searching for a way to finally let loose

Gajeel Redfox- A lone wolf, looking for someone to love

Erza Scarlet- trying to forget the things that, according to her, never happened

Gray Fullbuster- overwhelming guilt and fear: will he finally crack?

And Natsu Dragneel- you know, Lucy isn't the only child noone ever wanted

7 friends. Each trying to figure out their own lives. Each trying to outlive the past. Will they make it? Only time will tell.

*~~0~~~*~~~0~~~*~~~0~~*

The man stared at her, eyes darkening as his face contorted with anger. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK BACK TO ME!" He roared. The little girl kneeling before him was shaking in terror, her eyes filled with tears as she waited, defenseless, for the inevitable attack. He reached down, snatching up the half-empty whiskey bottle laying atop the dingy nightstand, and-

"LUCY! LUCY-CHAN! WAKE UP!"

Lucy Heartfilia shot up in her bed with a start. She was lying in a tangled mass of sheets, her heart beating erratically, and her usually rosy cheeks were pale and streaked with salty tears. Instinctively, she reached up to touch the jagged scar that marked the left side of her forehead, just above her hairline. Only when she had confirmed that it all really had just been a bad dream did she notice the worried blunette leaning over her bed. "Lucy! Are you alright?! Juvia heard screaming and thought you were being attacked!"

"Juvia! I'm okay, thanks. I was just caught in the middle of a nightmare."

Juvia's sapphire eyes widened as she whispered, "It was HIM again, wasn't it?"

Lucy lowered her head and chuckled, still a little shaken up from her dream. "You know me way too well for my own good, Juv."

"Well of course! Juvia is not Lucy-chan's best friend for nothing. We have been together since we were 7 years old. It is only natural that Juvia should know how Lucy-chan likes her cereal, and that she's allergic to shellfish, and that she can eat carrots but gets so disgusted by the taste that she throws up anyways," Juvia stated proudly.

Lucy giggled. "You are so random, you know that? But I love you," she winked and pulled her best friend in for a hug. "Thanks for waking me up in time. I was almost at the-" she choked, "THAT part."

Her friend nodded gravely, "Yes. It is best that Lucy-chan does not relive THAT."

Even though Lucy seemed to be feeling better, Juvia could tell, from the way her best friend's hand trembled in her lap, that she was still feeling the aftereffects of the nightmare. So, after summoning all the cheerfulness she could muster at 5 in the morning, she bounced off the bed and energetically grabbed the blonde's hand. "Juvia is wondering if there are any early-morning pancakes waiting downstairs in the kitchen, and she is sure Lucy-chan could use a good dose of sugar as well!"

Lucy grinned, the nightmare forgotten entirely. "Let's go find out!"

*~~0~~~*~~~0~~~*~~~0~~*

Ta-da! There you go! To be honest, I already love you for making it to the end. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you stick around for the next chapter! Drop me a review in the box below, or PM me anytime! I'd be happy to talk to you ;D.

With that said,

Lotsa love,

Tiffany, out.