Author's Notes: Sorry guys for a late update, I had a really hectic week at school. Even though I do prefer to hide in my room writing stories I also have responsibilities with clubs and such. While homework is also a pain in my ass I still have to do it to keep up with my "smart girl" reputation. So those are the excuses for this week but what the hell do you guys care, you sneaks. Well then without further ado… Let the awesomeness begin!

Chapter 7

"Ugh! It's like everyone is purposefully trying to give me a headache." I said with an exasperated sigh, still sitting on the bed in the infirmary. By now the 'Fairy's' had left and were headed back to the guild, I was currently surrounded my 'X' marked victims from the skirmish yesterday. They all weren't very happy with me. Minerva least of all.

"What the hell was that for Lucy?!" She yelled pointing a finger at the 'X' that was branded onto her forehead.

I raised my hands in defense, "Hey, it's not like I had a choice and that isn't going to scar I made sure that I only skimmed all of your foreheads."

"I appreciate that, Miss Lucy." Rogue said with a slight nod of his head, still showing no emotion.

"Thank you Rogue, and I thought I told you to stop calling me Miss." I said flatly, hating his name for me.

"I have memorized this, Miss Lucy." Rufus said, with an antagonistic tone.

"Well at least it's not permanent… I'm gonna go get a beer." Orga said with a reluctant sigh. Minerva huffed, sending me one last glare, and left following Orga. Rufus also left after the other two with a wink.

"Glad that's over with…" I said leaning back against the headboard of my bed, placing a hand over my tired eyes. I peaked out from underneath my fingers when I felt the bed dipping slightly under new weight, only to find Sting sitting at the end of my bed. "What happened to Rogue?" I said peeking behind him to find an empty room.

"He slipped out, I guess." He said looking over his shoulder as well. Leaning forward he slowly started stroking my hair tenderly, I moaned softly under his touch. "That took a lot out of you didn't it…" He said with worry evident in his dark blue eyes.

"It's fine…" I said leaning into his touch. We sat there in silence, him slowly stroking my hair while I lay down on the bed desperately reaching for a peaceful sleep.

Sting and I have a very special relationship, although I had various one night stands… Sting was never one of them, he refused me when I was at my most vulnerable. Sting was more old-fashioned then I had previously thought, he blabbered on and on about how I should only do that with the one I love. But instead of just refusing and scolding me, he also put me on the right path. This was when I was suffering with those wretched emotions, Sting had helped me find that spell to remove my emotions. He was with me through the whole process… even when we had first discovered my Mad Hatter side.

Flashback

"Ok, call them out again." Sting said.

"Open the Gates of Pain and Bliss!" I cried, feeling the slithering of my emotions crawling down my arms forming into two twin blades.

"Not good enough! You need to be able to call them out faster Luce!" Sting yelled, angering me in the process.

"You don't think I'm trying…" I shuddered out feeling this outrageous anger bubble out from inside, a feeling I haven't felt in a while. "Well then I guess, I'll show you how hard I'm trying… you obviously want to play with the Mad Hatter." I said feeling my other sword disappear from my left hand.

"Luce…" Sting said cautiously, wary of my current appearance.

At the time when we didn't know about the Mad Hatter I did something that I would regret forever, I hurt the one person that still meant something more to me than I knew in my current state. He was the one person who had never betrayed me… who had helped me when I was at my weakest… who had left me with positive emotions and memories when I thought I had none left. I didn't know, and I still don't know, what this feeling meant but I didn't want it to leave… I wanted that warmth, I craved it.

I was panicking.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't see.

I couldn't feel anything, which was normal… but at some point in time I had gotten used to the warmth Sting provided me with.

Sting…

With his name something clicked into place, memories flooded through my head leaving me screaming. I felt my body start to seizure under the restraints, but I couldn't do anything. My eyes started leaking tears that I could not explain… but as I watched it replay over and over again in my mind I couldn't do anything but scream. My hands slowly coming out and attacking Sting… leaving him on the ground bleeding heavily from his chest wound. Then the darkness came… where it held me captive. I started to whimper pathetically…

Until I felt it, warmth. It was lazily tracing its way up and down my arms, making me shuddered in delight. It was soothing… I felt calm… at peace… and very tired. I yawned feeling sleep embrace me with open arms.

The next morning I woke up, rubbing my eyes tiredly I looked to see a sleeping, slumped form of Sting on my bad. His face was scrunched up in pain, probably from his awkward position with his wound. I got up slowly making sure no to make so much noise as I moved from underneath the covers… apparently I wasn't quiet enough. As soon as I had tried to stand up a hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, I looked down to see Sting fully awake now.

"What are you doing?" He growled. I flinched.

"Leaving." I replied simply.

He stood up quickly making him wince, and sending him back downwards. I caught him just in time, lowering him down onto the infirmary bed I had just gotten up from. "Don't you dare…" He said dangerously low.

My face suddenly turned serious and I lowered myself to his level, grabbing his hand tightly. "Sting, I need you to promise me something…" He didn't say anything, but I continued anyways. "If I ever get like that again… I want you to kill me." I said.

"No! Absolutely not!" Sting yelled, his face contorted in anger at the suggestion.

"Yes!" I said surprising both Sting and myself with the… emotion in my voice. "I don't want to hurt you… or anyone else again!"

"You can't just give up right away! We can find some way to-" He tried to say, but I cut him off.

"You don't understand! When I was like that I couldn't control myself, all I wanted was everyone to feel my pain… the bloodlust was overwhelming. I need you to promise me." I said pleading him to agree. "If you can't find a way to control me I want you to kill me."

He said nothing. He just stared at me blankly.

"Promise!" I said desperately.

"Fine…" He said with a resigned sigh, "I promise."

With those two words a promise was made, fates were tied, and the foreboding future was still yet to come…