==[o0o]==

Standing at the door, her hand shook slightly. She had attempted to leave several times that past month. But she kept coming back to him. She couldn't bare to leave him. He had caused her to become cut off from her friends. Monitoring her every move.

She truly loved the man but whenever he drunk he flew into a fit of rage, furious that she could even attempt to talk back to him. When he was sober he would go out of his way to make it up to the girl, buying her thoughtless gifts in attempts to make amends. This time he had gone too far. After burning a large collection of her books he took the one that she held dearly to her heart. The one written by her late mother.

Begging for him to stop he tore off the front cover throwing it against the wall to teach her a lesson. Swearing that the next step would be far worse than her stupid book.

Tossing the book uncareingly onto the floor he stood trying to tower over her small frame. He wasn't a particularly tall man. In fact the average height for a man. He wore his hair short, cursing the bluenette for her long hair, her pierced nose and ears. He went to put his hands on her shoulders, as he always did to shake sense into the woman. She was his. She had married him.

"Let go." She tried to keep her voice calm through the fear. Whenever he touched her it caused her skin to crawl, he had dark thoughts each more unsavoury than the last.

"I hope you're not threatening me" he snarled.

"Please. It's late you have an important meeting in the morning." She tried to hold firm although she could feel her legs turning to jelly with each passing second.

Just let go.

"Hmph." he smirked as he slapped her face.

Hard.

"Don't speak to me like that again" as he stormed off down towards the bedroom slamming the door loudly, causing the building to shake slightly from the force.

The bluenette held her face down, still in shock from the sheer force of the slap, as she held back the tears that wanted to fall.

Grabbing her late mothers now torn book, she knelt down by the front door, moving away the floor runner, and using her hair pin to prise up the easily movable floorboard holding her most precious possessions. Periodically she took them out to reminisce. This time she couldn't hide her book in time before her husbands return. Kissing the detached book cover she placed it back into her collection before replacing the board and rolling back over the runner.

Dusting herself down she looked down the corridor. The bedroom seemed so far away. She didn't want to entertain the man that evening. Taking her coat off the rack she grabbed her keys and headed out into the streets. Pulling her hood up over her head as she protected her hair from the drizzling rain.

She lost track of how long she walked for, the lights of the bar called out to her, she missed talking to her old friends from all those years ago. Perhaps they had forgotten about her.

Pushing open the heavy door she felt the warmth cover her cold bones, taking off her coat she hung it up along side the other patrons. Embracing the smoke and alcohol smell that hung in the air, welcoming her.

Moving slowly to the bar she listened to the amateurs playing up on the small stage on the far side, she pulled herself up onto the bar stool and ordered a bottle of beer. Sighing slightly as she handed over her ID to the barman who raised an eyebrow before nodding in acceptance.

Hitting the edge of the bar with the top of the bottle causing the cap to fly into the air, using his free hand he caught the cap and tossed it into the bin, spinning the bottle over to the bluenette, a small smile sat on her face as she turned to watch the musicians.

She couldn't tell you how many people she watched stand up on stage and play. Some where exceptional, others definitely needed more practice.

She gave a small yawn, perhaps its been long enough away from home.

As she turned to finish her second beer her ears caught the sound of a name she had not heard spoken in such a long time. The bar had begun cheering to the sound of his name, as if he was the star attraction.

Slowly her head rotated around looking at that same person who she used to know inside and out.

Only she couldn't fully recognise him.

His once beautiful long black mane now sported short black spikes and a white bandana sitting on top of his head keeping the hair from his face. However his piercings were still there. In all their glory.

Holding his metallic looking guitar he looked out into the small audience, giving a woman a small smirk before he began strumming. Allowing his lungs to take in the oxygen, before singing along with the bars house band. He seemed to be the most popular of all those that played. His husky voice enthralling the woman that swooned at the foot of the small stage.

Those crimson eyes trying to catch with each woman, smirking as he finished his set.

She never took her eyes off the man the entire time. She blinked, her eyes stinging slightly from the lack of moisture. He clearly looked happy. However the underlying tone of his songs caused the bluenette to think otherwise.

She shook her head.

Stop being foolish...

She wiped away a tear she didn't think still existed for the man as she paid her tab, the barman nodded appreciatively and told her to have a good night.

Grabbing her coat she replaced it on her shoulders, looking back over to the man now standing in the audience as a brunette latched tightly around him. Pressing herself close against his body, he seemed to be revelling in the attention as he pressed his lips hard against hers.

As the bluenette pulled the door towards her, she fell backwards as another patron pushed it open, falling on top of her. His short black hair in her face, he was promptly pulled backwards by a taller bluenette with a large bust. She blinked at the small woman on the floor.

"Levy-chan?" the busty bluenette exclaimed loudly in the now quietened bar as she helped the short black haired man help her up.

Gingerly the petite nodded, looking up at two of her old friends. Gray Fullbuster and Juvia Lockser. However now they were married it was Juvia Fullbuster.

She remembered receiving the wedding invite, elated about the chance to catch up with everyone. Before she could reply her hopes were taken away from her as her husband banned her from seeing any of them, saying they were no good to her and only wanted to take advantage of her good nature.

"Oh.. Um.. Sorry I must get back.." she quickly scampered past the couple her long locks flowing behind her as she left.

She was unaware of how the man who sung on stage had pricked up his ears to her name being spoken, trying to prise away the woman on his hip, hoping to see that woman once more. Only catching a small glimpse of her wonderful blue hair as it slipped between two of his friends who looked shocked, turning their attention back to the man at the stage, his slight tanned skin, now turning pale as he recognised her scent. The wonderful bookish scent.

==[o0o]==

AN: Going to have slightly shorter chapters for this story.
I'm literally waiting for the fangirl hate on the characters
but I have my reasons... Just give me time :)

Let me know what you think, i've had this idea for awhile
and i'm really excited to bring this to you guys now I have a little break!