Hellooooo! I have returned..

I hope you enjoy this next chapter & I want to say again: thank you so much for your reviews and follows. Honestly, the only thing that keeps me writing this story is the harshly awesome reminders for me to update. It lets me know that you guys really like what I'm doing and that makes me beyond happy!

Following up with an all Gajeel chapter next! Things are gonna get interesting...

;) AJ xx


It had only been four days, but to Levy, it felt like four months. She felt a growing sense of isolation filled with regret. It wasn't helped by the fact that she sat, staring at her phone, rereading the messages that Gajeel had sent her after that night. Apologies, irritation, apologies, confusion. She just stared, unblinking, unfeeling, at the screen, until her eyes were dry and hurt. She couldn't type back, no matter how much she wanted too. She didn't know what to say, she had no idea where to begin. Her mind reeled with questions. Was she in the wrong? Did she start a fight for nothing? Why did she even say anything to begin with?

Levy groaned aloud, so fell back onto the grass, startling Cana who was sitting beside her.

"Jesus, Levy," Cana said, a little shocked and scared. She put her phone in her pocket, and lay back next to Levy. "Just call him, or do something," Cana said. Her tone was edging annoyance. "You're so boring like this."

"Like what?"

"All moaning and silent and boring," Cana said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. She sat up again. "If you have a problem, you gotta fix it. No one else can fix it for you."

Levy let out a huff. "You're so supportive, Cana."

Cana sighed, "I don't know what to tell you, Lev. You're a smart girl. You're right that he's probably underestimating you. But, what have you done to really find out what he's so afraid of?"

Levy sat up, defensive, and opened her mouth to retort. Of course she had. Except… that no, she really didn't know anything. The realisation hit her like a slap to the face. She didn't know anything about Gajeel. She closed her mouth, ashamed of herself and sat back. Cana titled her head knowingly, but she didn't say anything else. Levy was grateful for the silence. She swallowed, considering how selfish she had been. Had she really been that self-involved, so concerned with what she was feeling she had ignored or disregarded him? Considering everything that had happened, all the conversations they'd had, she knew it was probably true.

"Cana," Levy said slowly. "Can you help me?"

"With what?" Cana asked.

Levy bit her lip, "I need to find out more about him."

Cana looked at her and grinned wickedly. "First, tell me I'm right."

Levy rolled her eyes and smiled. "You're right."

"And then tell me I'm the best friend ever."

"You're the best friend ever, Cana Alberona," Levy said with a small laugh.

Cana stuck her tongue out with a wink. "You're in luck, Levy McGarden. I happen to know the perfect person to help you out."


Juvia wasn't quite what Levy expected. She spoke in the third person about herself, which was definitely odd. But at the same time, somehow it was strangely endearing coming from her. Also, she seemed to be really close with Cana, in the way that Cana was not usually close with people. Cana was friendly and loud and outgoing, but she didn't open up easily. The way she interacted with Juvia was unusual: she wasn't putting up defensive walls of sarcasm. It made Levy feel glad. She always believed the more you can connect with people, the happier you'll be. Her friend Lucy was the best example of that.

"Juvia is so, so happy to meet you," Juvia said excitedly, bending down to do the two-cheek kiss thing that Levy was not prepared for. She was almost overwhelmed with the happiness rolling off of Juvia. "Juvia has heard so much about you."

"Oh, really? Good things I hope," Levy said weakly, surprised. She glanced at Cana, who was looking at Juvia with a soft smile.

Juvia smiled. They sat at the coffee table. "Yes, and sad," Juvia said.

"Sad?" Levy asked, slightly alarmed.

Seeing her face, Juvia cleared her throat. "Gajeel is Juvia's best friend."

"Told you I knew the perfect person," Cana said smugly.

Levy nodded, "Of course you do." The surprise Levy felt wore off quickly. This whole situation was awkward, but considering it was Cana, it was a wholly unsurprising turn of events for her to know Gajeel's best friend. Levy looked at Juvia again and decided to be brave. If she wanted to be part of his world, she needed to know why he kept his walls up.

"Juvia," Levy said slowly. "I need your help."

Juvia waited patiently for her to continue. Levy almost lost her nerve, she could see that Juvia knew exactly what she was going to ask. She clenched her fists, bracing herself and just said it.

"Can you tell me about him? About Gajeel? His life. I want to know what he won't tell me." Levy felt herself blushing furiously as she stumbled over her words. How was it that Gajeel made her nervous when he wasn't even around?

There was a pause. Juvia stared at her, assessing, and Levy felt the need to move or look away, but she didn't. She looked right back. If she couldn't convince Gajeel's best friend she was strong enough, why should Gajeel believe her?

Juvia cleared her throat. "Juvia will tell you some, but not all. It is not all Juvia's story to tell."

Levy nodded, "I understand." She clasped her hands in her lap and waited.

Juvia sighed. "Gajeel is Juvia's best friend, it is true. But he is also like Juvia's brother. We grew up lucky because we stayed together. It… it was hard." Juvia took a breath, seeming like she was trying to push away past memories. She shook her head and grimaced. "But we had each other, for a while. At least until we were eleven. Juvia was sent away, and so was Gajeel. He went…Juvia went to a nice enough place. But Gajeel went to a bad place, and found bad people." Juvia closed her eyes and Levy felt her heart pound with nervous anticipation. She felt sick. "When Juvia saw him again, he was different. He did bad things, he said bad things. But it got better slowly, when we were sent to the same place again." Juvia took a drink from her water. Levy glanced at Cana, whose hand was half way reaching for Juvia, a soft, caring expression on her face, before she caught Levy's gaze and hastily dropped it before she looked away in embarrassment. Levy wanted to ask her something, but the sound of Juvia putting down her glass down drew Levy's attention.

"Bad things," Levy mused. "What kind of bad things?" There were so many different thoughts that ran through her mind. Most of it was based on the way he looked, and Levy hated herself for thinking like that. She felt her palms sweat and wiped them on her jeans.

"Juvia will tell you where you can find him, but that's all." Juvia shrugged. "Like Juvia said, it's Gajeel's story to tell."

Levy took a sip of her own water, thoughtful. She had learned that Gajeel was a foster kid, who had done bad things - whatever that meant - in the past. No wonder he looked uncomfortable in her neighbourhood. Levy felt her cheeks flush, embarrassed and indignant. She couldn't help where she was from, anymore than he could.

"Juvia," Levy said suddenly. "Can you find out where he is right now?"

Juvia looked at her with surprise, and nodded. She pulled out her phone and sent Gajeel a message. Levy swallowed, feeling like she was trying to force a ball down her throat. Everything felt tight; her throat, her shoulders, her hands, her legs. It was like her body was preparing to be thrust into danger.

"Are you planning to see him now?" Cana asked her.

Levy gave her a little smile, "I'm try to be proactive. Like you, Cana."

Cana's eyes widened a little in surprise and then she gave Levy an eye roll and a grin "I'm a good influence."

"You are the worst influence," Levy laughed. "But in the best way."

Juvia's phone buzzed and Levy froze. Her eyes followed every movement Juvia made.

"He's at Magnolia Park," Juvia said. "At the statue of Mavis."