When Gray was hit by the car, Lucy became almost as comatose as he did. She barely spoke, ate, or slept, and it was nearly impossible to get her away from his bedside.
Her world had come apart, she told everyone, when she thought she had lost him.
Pushing yourself past the breaking point, everyone told her, will do nothing to help him.
She wanted to be there though, if he woke up. She wanted to see him open his eyes and tell him that he was terrible for pushing her out of the street and taking her place in the hospital bed.
The hospital was doing its best, but Gray wasn't even twitching. Medical bills don't pay themselves, and it was a matter if time before someone suggested that they pull the plug.
She was scared. Of course she was scared. How could she lose him? After all that they had been through, this was it? They would never get married or start a family?
A small portion of Lucy knew that there was no moving on. Once he was gone, she would always be broken up inside.
She could feel it now, the little shards in her stomach. It was as though she had swallowed shattered glass.
Needless to say, it hurt.
Kneeling by his bedside, she begged for his return.
"Gray, please. Please come back. I miss you."
Nothing.
Her shoulders slumped, and she cried for the thousandth time that week.
"I- I can't do it Gray. Not without you. You're most of what I am."
She held his hand tightly, as if she could transfer some of her life force to him.
"Don't leave me. Please, don't leave me." she sobbed.
He didn't wake up then, but three days later. His motor skills were greatly impaired, he forgot a lot of things easily, and he had a hard time speaking, but he was back.
"Hey princess," he had greeted Lucy, throwing in one of his trademark smirks.
"You're the sleeping beauty," she replied, then burst into tears.
"Why? Why did you have to do that?" Lucy bawled.
Gray looked at her, a little bemused, "I'm too selfish to ever lose you," he explained as though it was obvious. "It's my job to protect my princess."
Lucy held Gray tightly and resolved to do a better job protecting her prince.
