Author's note: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters! This fan fiction was made only for the fun of it. I do not charge anything from people to read or comment on my fics! They will always be free, by fans for fans!
Prep another box of tissues, cuz this chappie is gonna make you FEEL.
CHAPTER 3: Guilt
The Magical Ambulance came in minutes, Levy being taken on a stretcher by a couple of worried looking nurses. She was hurried to the hospital, where she entered the operation room immediately. A couple of Fairies, including the Master, waited patiently a sign from the doctors, but no one told them anything for a couple of hours. At long last, one of the doctors who performed the surgery came through the doors and was assaulted by Levy's family.
"She's fine, the operation was a great success. She'll be able to conceive again in a couple of months, if everything goes well. Unfortunately, the baby had to be removed." All the Fairies bulged their eyes.
"Levy was pregnant?"
"And that bastard attacked her…"
"How far was she, doctor?" Makarov's calm voice could be heard from all the murmurs.
"Almost four months. She's strong, I'll give you that. Master, you have some amazing children." The doctor bowed respectfully and took his leave. A nurse came to usher them home, for Levy was in Intensive Care Unit, and was not to be disturbed for at least 24 hours.
"Send a pigeon once we are allowed to see her." Makarov gathered his children and went back to the guild.
A couple of days later and Levy was released from the hospital. Jet barked everyone off and took her home, the home Gajeel built for them. Levy looked gloomily around the empty rooms, waiting for her husband to pop out of the kitchen with an iron nail between his lips and that wide grin she loved so much. As soon as Jet snickered his indignation as to why would she still stay in that house instead of going back to Fairy Hills for the time being, she broke down. Levy crumbled to the floor, shaking with tears, big, heavy tears that rolled hot over her cheeks.
"Levy, what's wrong?" Jet hurried to her side, kneeling in front of her and trying to get her up. Levy threw her arms around his neck and squeezed hard, crying her eyes out in Jet's arms. "Hey… I'm here… It's OK… I'm here."
"But he's not!" Levy said between sobs. "He's in that… room… Being tortured… And I can't do a thing to help!" Levy's tears stained Jet's shirt. He cursed under his breath and rocked Levy back and forth, trying to soothe her. But how could he? He had no words for comfort. He had no idea why she loved that monster so much. So much she would give her life to bring him back. He had hurt her over and over again, but she was still able to forgive him. He wanted to shout and yell his exasperation, but she didn't needed one of his stabbing remarks about a certain Iron Dragon Slayer. She just needed her husband back. And this broke his heart.
"I'll always be here for you…" Jet whispered, his voice strangled by the lump formed in his throat.
"Stay… For a while… Please… I don't want to be alone…" Levy kept crying in his neck, holding on to Jet like everything would disappear if she let him go. They stayed on the floor like that more than half an hour.
Minutes turned to hours. Hours turned to days, days went by and became weeks. Thus the full moon was already upon them. The whole guild gathered to lift the sleeping curse from Gajeel. Erza, Mirajane and Levy chanted the counter spell and Gajeel woke up, the glass from his eyes breaking and dissipating completely. Levy jumped on his neck, crying with happiness, Gajeel merely stroking her head with a content look on his face. He was ordered in the Infirmary a couple more days by Polushka and Master Makarov, making him grumpy. Levy came to visit him every day, but the two elder wizards didn't let her stay for too long, fearing Gajeel would repeat history. Everyone who visited him had a sour look on their faces, but no one told Gajeel what he did, letting him get back on his feet. Jet kept a firm scowl on his face every time he saw Levy next to Gajeel, dying to go to him and punch him hard. But he knew he'd only hurt Levy in the process, so he stayed away.
A week later and everything was almost back to normal. Gajeel didn't seem to remember what he went through or what he kept screaming at, but Levy noticed he'd wake up with a weird look on his face, looking intently at his hands. Every day, his mood changed from bad to worse, feeling something was off. Everybody was too nice to him. Levy tried to usher any thought her Dragon might have, but he could see right through her. Then, one day, Levy went to the hospital for a routine check up and he followed her and blondie. Levy told him they were going shopping, but he smelled the lie. And Levy never lied to him. Why is she going to the hospital? Gajeel though it was weird and went after the two girls. He found the Registry pretty quickly and questioned the nurse that was rummaging through some files.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for my wife, she's having a check-up and I can't find the room…" Gajeel tried to fake a sweet voice.
"Name?" The lady asked bored.
"Redfox. Gajeel Redfox. And my wife is…"
"Levy Redfox, yes. She's in room 420, with Dr. Phillis. But you're not allowed there, Mr. Redfox."
"Why?" Gajeel pushed.
"Because it's a gynecologist office. You'll have to wait for your wife outside. It's just a routine check up after the abortion." Gajeel's color dropped from his face.
"The what?"
"Yes, the accident she suffered a couple of weeks ago almost killed her, but she was saved. Unfortunately, the baby wasn't. Oh… You didn't know…" The nurse saw Gajeel's shocked expression.
"I was… away… She didn't tell me…"
"Probably she didn't want to worry you. She's a lovely girl, so kind. You're a lucky man to have her." The nurse patted him on the shoulder and smiled warmly. "The doctor said she'll be able to conceive again, if you're planning for a family."
"Thanks…" Gajeel replayed his nightmare in his head. He attacked Akumu. He caught her and tried to rip her guts out with his bare hands. Her shocked expression when his claws ripped through the flesh. Her wicked smile as she licked her lips. And, then, there was Levy. In Akumu's place. How relieved he felt he found her again, but something was off. Levy's shocked expression. He motioned to hug her, but his right hand was stuck in something. Something warm and sticky. He looked down and saw his right hand covered in iron scales inside Levy's belly. Oh, my god… It wasn't a dream… Gajeel's hand started trembling and he felt sick. He had to sit down, and fast. You killed her! Akumu's voice still echoed in his head, making him clasp his hands over his ears. He looked at his trembling hands and saw them covered in blood. Levy's blood… My child… What have I done…?
"Gajeel?" Levy's voice brought him back to reality. "What are you doing here?" The strained look on his face made Levy realize he knew. Everything. He rose from his seat, turned on his heels and walked out of the hospital. "Gajeel, wait!" Levy ran after him, fearing he'd do something stupid.
"Levy, where are you going?" Lucy yelled after her best friend.
"Gajeel! Please! Gajeel, stop!" Levy ran after her husband, trying to catch up. "Please, hear me out!" He turned abruptly a couple of meters in front of the bluenette.
"Is it true?" Gajeel looked worse than he sounded. "Was I the one who did it?"He was hoping for a negative answer, but he already knew. His memory came back. He could smell Levy's blood on his hands. Levy looked torn at him.
"I'm sorry, Gajeel, I didn't want you to find out…"
"IS IT TRUE?" He yelled, squeezing his fists. Levy looked down.
"Yes… I'm sorry…"
"Why the hell are YOU apologizing? I am the monster! I'm the one who killed our child! Why didn't you tell me?" Levy approached him.
"I was trying to avoid useless conversation on this matter, nothing more."
"Useless? USELESS? I AM A MURDERER! I MANAGED TO KILL OUR CHILD AND I ALMOST GOT YOU KILLED AS WELL!" Gajeel was shaking when Levy reached him.
"You were being controlled! You were cursed! Don't you dare blame yourself! Because it wasn't YOUR FAULT!"
"It was my hand… My own… flesh and blood… Ripped from you by… my own hands…" Gajeel looked at his hands and hated what he saw. He hated the creases that followed his thumb, he hated the way his fingers looked. Levy tried to caress his hands, but he pulled them away like her touch would burn him. "Don't… I… I need to be alone for a while…" Levy felt a knot forming in her throat.
"Take as much time as you need. I'll be here if you need me." Levy looked down, not being able to watch him walk away. She felt her insides squirm uncomfortably as her instincts yelled in her head. He's leaving… Levy started walking back home, hoping with all her being he'd still be there. And he was. Levy exhaled heavily seeing him in the kitchen, with Lily behind him. The black Exceed turned to look at her, and his eyes made her stomach drop. Lily folded his paws and waited for Levy to come inside the small kitchen.
"What do you want for dinner, Gajeel?" She asked, hopefully, but, when he turned and passed by her like she wasn't even there, she felt her eyes get moist. "Gajeel? Please, talk to me." She followed him to their bedroom, where she saw a half filled backpack on the bed. "What's this? Are you going somewhere?" Gajeel rummaged through the drawers with a blank look, not looking at the bluenette. Lily flew quietly inside and sat on the bed. "Gajeel… Please…" Levy stopped him from shoving the socks inside the pack, making him look at her. His red eyes were filled with pain. A tear escaped down Levy's cheek. "Don't go… You promised…" Gajeel turned and grabbed a hold of the drawer.
"I'm only hurting you… I'm leaving before I kill you, too. I'm too dangerous…" Gajeel's voice broke.
"You protected me so many times…"
"After what I did, they don't even matter…"
"They matter to me!" The tears that pooled in her eyes started falling freely. "You matter to me! You vowed you'd stay next to me! Don't break that promise! Don't break… me…"
"I can't…" Gajeel whispered. He never felt so much pain in his life. He never felt such a burden choking the air in his lungs. "I won't endanger you like that ever again!" He turned abruptly, grabbed a hold of his pack and hurried to the door. He stopped to look at Levy one more time. "Lily… Take care of her for me…" The tears he was holding back left lines on his face as he left his home. Levy crumbled on the bed, crying silently with Lily next to her.
Lucy's hurried footsteps filled the heavy silence a couple of minutes later.
"Levy-chan! Where are you? Oh, there you are. You left without a word… I was worried. And I bumped into Gajeel on my way here. He didn't look good, did you guys fight? Levy?" Lucy went next to the blunette and noticed she was crying. "What's wrong? Ne…" Lucy took her hand and watched her friend as she looked on the ground, looking lost.
"He… left…" More tears stained her blue dress.
"He… What?"
"He found out about…" Levy placed her hands on her belly and started sobbing hard. "And… He left…"
"Loke!" Lucy yelled angrily, not bothering to grab her golden key. As soon as Lucy ordered her Lion to come, Loke materialized next to the Spirit Mage.
"On my way!" Loke ran down the stairs, out into the warm summer day, heading for the guild.
"He's coming back! You hear? He's coming home! Loke will bring him home!" Lucy cupped Levy's face and looked fierce in her lost eyes.
TBC
How about it? Did you liked it? Loved it? Hated it? Please review, your opinion matters to me as a writer.
