A/N: A friend told me that I should "actively" ask for reviews in order to connect with the readers of this story better. Even though I have no idea how I'm supposed to do that... But I'm sure if you guys want to say something you will, right? Feel free to mention the things you like and things you don't. I guess I should also ask if you're liking the story so far? I will be looking forward to your reviews. :)

Chapter 2 - All the "Why"s

"How is she doing?"

"I'm sure you can guess."

"Oh God. I shouldn't have let her go last night."

"Why are you blaming yourself? You couldn't have known what it was about."

"But the thing is, I did know. I had more or less of an idea why he'd call her there at midnight of all times, after not being in contact with her for over three months.. Yet I hoped that I was wrong and-"

"It's not your fault. This was bound to happen sooner or later. And Lucy isn't stupid. I believe she knew that too."

"But still...this is so frustrating."

"Miss Mirajane, Mr. Laxus wants to see you regarding the documents you submitted yesterday."

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute."

"Sucks to be working on Sundays."

"I can't disagree with that", she chuckled before continuing, "but I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I know but still I'd expect him to go easier on his fiancée at least." He smiled as despite telling her that, he was very much aware of the fact that it was an impossible condition. For Laxus, everything and everyone was the same when it came to work.

"I think that's partially because he knows that the day he becomes more generous towards me just because I'm his fiancée, I'll quit this job." The smile was evident in her voice but Gray knew that she was completely serious.

"Okay okay, you win."

"I always do! Anyways, I have to go. But Gray..."

"Yeah?"

"Please take care of her... You are the only one who can right now."

"I know. Bye, Mira."

"Bye. I'll call again."

The phone call disconnected as Gray sighed leaning back on the couch that he had slept on the previous night. Slept? No, that was a bit off. The couch that he tried to sleep on the previous night. He had stayed with Lucy in her room until she was exhausted enough to fall asleep and when she did, he sneaked out into the living room and made himself home on the couch beside the small balcony. Yet despite his countless attempts at sleeping the anxiety of not being helpful enough to her, kept him up. He had lost count of how many times he went to her room to check if she was sleeping okay. Something that he was going to do again but Mira's call distracted him.

Mira. Gray thought back to his conversation with her.

"You are the only one who can right now."

He did say that he knew, implying that he understood what she was talking about. But in reality, he was plain confused. To Lucy, he was just a friend who happened to see her in her weakest moment. That was probably only why she allowed him to stay by her side. Because knowing Lucy, she hated troubling others more than anything. There could be no other reason why she'd let him see her when she's falling apart. Or maybe that's really what Mira meant after all.

The thought was convincing and made the most sense to him. But he couldn't help the loneliness that followed along.

Realizing that he wasn't going anywhere with this, Gray more or less dragged himself out of the couch and to the kitchen.

Lucy hadn't taken a single bite the previous night and even though he had tried again to get her to eat something, it was to no avail. He was not going to allow her to continue like that so as the good reliable friend he was, he decided to make her the only thing he's actually good at making. Pancakes.

Lucy's morning was much more different than that of Gray's. She woke up to the sound of a bird tapping on her window glass. Squinting her eyes to the brightness in the room, she slowly sat up on her bed while stretching her arms above her head. For a single moment, everything was fine. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She was going to get up, wash her face, have a cup of coffee, get dressed and leave for work. Oh of course she had to text Natsu as wel-...

Natsu.

And the next moment it all came crashing down on her. Reality seemed to slap her on the face and this time she was awake for real.

She had woken up in a reality where he did not belong anymore.

She remembered his words. The way he looked at her oh so casually. As he told her that he did not really love her. She remembered how it felt hearing those words. And touching him the last time. The coldness of his skin tingling her warmth. It was all too real. As if she had gone back to that exact moment. The moment where she saw her world crumble. The world that she had created in her mind. The world where no one but him and her belonged to.

There were ups and downs in their relationship. Rough phases, occasional fights, frustration, hurt, detachment. But she always believed that they could make it through all. Only to learn that she was so up in her head that she denied to see the harsh reality.

A reality where he never felt the same.

She didn't know why she was doing this to herself. All the memories of him, but just the good ones, flooded her senses. She tried so hard to find his flaws and to tell herself that he did not deserve her. And that she needed to let go. But all she could see was just how perfect he was for her. Every single thing about him gave her a new reason to fall more in love.

She was in pain. Everything about her hurt. Hurt like nothing she experienced in her life ever before.

He was there for her when she lost her parents, when her dog died. He was there for her when she was too drunk to stand on her feet, when she was locked outside of her apartment. He was there for her when she had forgotten her umbrella on a rainy evening, when she had sprained her ankle during her dance lessons. He was there for her when she cried to sleep for no reason, when she accidentally deleted her first presentation for her dream job. He was always there. Always.

How was she supposed to remember a life before him? How was she going to live that life without him? How and...why?

Why did it all have to end like that? Why did she let him in? Why did she give him so much of her? Why did she show him her deepest secrets? Why couldn't she stop herself from falling so deep? Why? Why? Why?

Why couldn't she make him love her as much as he did?

Lucy didn't realize herself when the tears had started clouding her vision, until it was too hard to breathe. It hurt. It hurt so much. Everything about her was being torn into pieces and she had no way to prevent any of it. She was losing herself with each passing moment. She let out a scream, clutching her sides as the pain showed no signs of lessening. She had broken into a crying mess. Whimpering and wiping the tears away with the back of her hands as she tried to get a grasp on herself, except it did not work. At all.

"LUCY!" Gray came crashing into the room, swinging the door open and rushing to her side. "What happened? Lucy! Talk to me!"

She could not answer him. There was a lump in her throat and she couldn't find her voice to be able to speak. Her body was shaking uncontrollably and Gray hugged her to calm her down. She grabbed on to his shirt, like her life depended on it. He rocked back and forth with her in his arms and once she was too exhausted to even move, the room fell quiet again.

The front of Gray's shirt was soaked from her tears but that was the last thing he was bothered about at that moment. "Are you okay now?"

She stayed silent for a long moment, before nodding slowly and loosening her grip on the sides of his shirt. He let her go, creating some space between them. He then leaned down to look at her face. Her pale skin was tinted with redness, her eyes swollen and displayed the same shade of red as her skin. Her hair was frizzy and a mess. She was sweating profusely despite the A/C in the room operating on a very low temperature.

The bright, positive, always cheerful and energetic Lucy Heartfilia he had known for so many years, was reduced to the Lucy Heartfilia that was in front of him at that moment.

"You need a shower." Gray told her, ignoring the sudden burst of pain in his chest at the view in front of him.

She gave him a small nod.

"Don't take too long in there and think about unnecessary thoughts. I made breakfast so I want you on the dining table as soon as possible." Another nod from her before Gray gave her a gentle smile. "Now go, I'll be waiting. We're going out after that."

Lucy finally looked up at him and he could see that she was about to say no to his last proposal but he gave her his best puppy eyes instead. She had opened her mouth but shut it again and sighed as she stepped out of the bed.

"I'll be out in fifteen minutes."

"That's too long!"

"I am a girl, Gray. I need time to get ready."

"Fine!" He sounded like he was complaining yet the smile on his face defied his tone. He was happy to finally have a casual conversation with her. And he knew that it did not go unnoticed by her, as she turned to him and gave him a small smile of reassurance.

"Thank you."