Levy's POV
My brain was on a roll. I wanted to cheer it on, but at these times it was best to just let it roll. Thus far I hadn't come into any problems. I was pretty sure that I would be able to have the words to break the spell by noon.
"Gajeel, can you spare a moment?" I asked, not taking my eyes away from my book. I skimmed the pages, looking for a specific page. Thus far I hadn't found it, but I knew I would soon.
"Gajeel?" I repeated. I sighed and took off my wind-reader glasses. I set them down on the table and blinked a few times. Sometimes if I used those glasses for too long, they'd start to hurt my eyes. I rubbed my eyes and then opened them again, "Gajeel, I asked if you could—"
I stopped talking as soon as I realized that Gajeel was fast asleep. His head was slumped on top of one of the books I'd given him to read. He wasn't very helpful, but I admit, I'd wanted him to stay with me. It wasn't just because I would get lonely; actually, I'd probably have been fine. I just wanted Gajeel by my side, just like we'd promised.
I smiled and soon up, stretching my arms above my head. They dropped to my side. I deemed it appropriate to take a break from all the reading, figuring that if I kept exercising my brain it would explode. I sat down next to Gajeel and carefully slid the book out from under his head.
"Oh…this is the one I was going to ask you to find," I whispered to him, though I knew he wouldn't hear me. I set my head down on the table beside his. His eyelids fluttered and I wondered what he was dreaming about. I stared at him for a long time. Occasionally he would twitch, but other than that he was completely still. I reached forward and brushed a bit of his long, black hair from his face. I didn't like Gajeel without his piercings. It didn't seem like it was really him…but I knew it was. All I had to do was figure this out, and then I would have my Gajeel back…the one I knew and loved.
I froze up with that thought. I loved Gajeel. It was obvious. I guess I'd always known it, but this spell really opened up my eyes. I took a deep, semi-shaky breath. I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "I love you," I whispered. I stood up and walked out of the room. I would get a quick walk in so that I could clear up my head before I started research again.
Gajeel's POV
She didn't think I was awake. I held in a laugh, forcing my face to remain neutral. I was going to scare her or something. Yeah…that was it. I was going to jump up and yell. She'd probably have a heart attack, but it would be priceless.
I listened closely and she walked over to me. She sat down beside me and slid the book out from under my head, "Oh…this is the one I was going to ask you to find." Seriously? She'd just handed that book to me a few minutes ago. Did she not remember that?
There was a long moment of silence. Somehow I didn't want to break it. I would wait until she stood up to scare her. That was my plan. She brushed some of my hair away behind my ear. I could never have guessed what she was about to do.
"I love you," she whispered. I didn't move. I didn't make a sound. I just stayed there, shocked. She got up and walked away. I raised my head and opened my eyes. I blinked a few times. A flurry of emotions flew past me. Shock…mostly shock. A little bit of anger, because she'd never told me before. There was also another emotion, though. My chest felt strange…tight. I sat up, walked around the room, and then sat down again. What was that last emotion? I didn't know.
"Gajeel, I'm back. Nice to see you're awake," Levy said, re-entering the room. I froze up and turned around, pretending to look at the oh-so-fascinating bookshelf.
"Yeah, I noticed," I said, but my voice sounded husky. I cleared my throat, "Welcome back."
"I swear I've almost got it. Just a little longer," she said. I heard the legs of her chair slide along the ground as she pulled it out from the table. She stayed silent after that, focusing on her books and research again. Even after minutes ticked by, I didn't relax.
Jellal's POV
"I'm sorry I left," I said. It took a lot of courage to say those words, but they were true. Erza and I had been sitting at the bar for a long time, waiting for Levy to finish her research. We'd sat in silence until I'd spoken.
"Don't be. It was your choice. You shouldn't regret it," she said, sipping her drink.
"But I do," I said, staring at her. She looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"Then why didn't you come back?"
I was silent for a moment as I considered my answer, "When I first left I felt…empty? I thought it was because I didn't have a guild. I thought it was because I was alone again."
"And that wasn't why?" she asked, looking at her drink or anywhere other then at me.
"No…that wasn't why," I said quietly.
"And…"
I took a deep breath and leaned forward. I took her drink from her hands and set it down on the bar. I took her hand in mine, making sure that it was hidden underneath the bar table. She squeaked, which was very unlike Erza.
"The reason I felt empty was because you weren't there," I whispered. She looked away and I smiled. Every word I'd said was true. I didn't tell the truth as often as I should have. I lied when I left the guild. I said that it was for training…that I wanted to become stronger. The truth was…well…I didn't have a reason. I just couldn't stay in Fairy Tail any longer. I'd thought there was nothing there for me…but I was wrong. So wrong.
Erza's POV
My face was on fire, (and it wasn't because of Natsu's flames). I looked away from him, trying to hide it. I knew it wouldn't work, though, because I was pretty confident that even my ears were turning bright red. I repeated his words over and over in my head. 'The reason I felt empty was because you weren't there'. The one person I loved the most in the entire world had just said those words to me.
"Erza," he said, "I'm sorry I left." He held my hand tighter as I turned back to him.
"I just…I was stupid. I didn't think it through…and I left you here," he said. He covered his face with one hand and I reached forward and lowered it with my own hand.
I smiled at him, but he wouldn't meet my eyes. "I told you…don't be sorry. You're here now, aren't you?"
He finally looked at me and slowly nodded, "I'm here."
"Thank you…for that," I whispered, not releasing his hand.
There was a long silence in which we simply held each other's hands. We didn't need to say anything. We just sat in silence. It was uncomfortable or awkward…it was blissful silence.
"You're welcome." I smiled at his words.
Juvia's POV
"So…do you think they'll be done soon?" I asked excitedly.
"It's only morning, Juvia. Calm down," he replied. He tossed his dark hair out of his eyes with a flick of his head. He grinned at me. I was pretty sure it was directed at my impatience, though.
"You're right…sorry," I said. I felt a little unhappy, I suppose. Actually, I felt very unhappy. I wasn't going to show that to Gray, though. I was determined not to.
"You seem sad," he said. I snapped to attention.
"I'm not sad!" I insisted, but it sounded too false. I couldn't hide the truth. I was sad. Well, I felt a little farther from sad and a little closer to devastated. I'd told him. I'd told Gray that I loved him. He didn't care. That's what I saw. That's what I knew. And that hurt.
"I don't believe you," he said.
I sighed and nodded, "Of course not."
"Juvia?"
"It's fine. It's not like you care anyway…right?" I said. I got to my feet suddenly and left the table. He stood up too and followed after me.
"Juvia just tell me what's wrong. I'll fix it if I can. I don't like seeing you like this," he said.
"I think you know what's wrong…you just don't want to acknowledge it. Leave me alone, Gray. I can't do this." I felt tears well up as I walked away from him. I didn't dare look over my shoulder for fear that I would run into his arms. Now wasn't the time to do anything like that. I knew that. I knew it all too well. And it hurt. It all hurt.
Gray's POV
I stared after her and she walked away. My chest hurt. I clutched it and furrowed my brow. I felt a cold sweat break out and went to sit down. I practically collapsed into the booth, putting my feet up on the table. I closed my eyes. Yeah, Juvia. I know. I know, but I don't know. I can't give you an answer. All I know is that right now I feel like shit…and it's all because I hurt you like that. Another stab of pain pierced my chest.
"Gray!" yelled a voice. Judging by how obnoxiously loud it was I figured it was Natsu. I opened one eye to see if I was right. Just as suspected, Natsu was running towards me. Lucy followed behind him. I closed my eye again and groaned. It was so not a good time to do this Natsu. I anticipated his words and placed mental bets on whether or not I guessed correctly.
"Let's fight! I want to see what it would be like to fight as a lady," he said. I opened my eyes and sat up straight. Yep…I'd guessed it correctly.
"No," I said.
He frowned, "What?"
"I said no, Natsu. Not right now."
"You're just a stupid stripper-popsicle," he grumbled. Normally I would have gotten up the moment he said those words and whoop his ass, but I couldn't right now. I felt horrible and I wasn't up to a fight. Natsu waited for me to react, no doubt expected me to leap up and battle him. I didn't.
"Gray, are you ok?" Lucy asked. I nodded exhaustedly.
"I'm just a little out of it," I replied.
"That's not a little…that's a lot," she said. Natsu scooted over and pulled himself onto her lap. She didn't protest. Instead she whispered something into his ear. He nodded and whispered something back. This went on for a few minutes, them whispering and me straining to hear their words. I didn't manage to hear a single one. When Lucy started giggling and Natsu grinned I stood up, annoyed.
"I'm leaving. Don't follow me. I need to find Juvia," I recited as if I were reading it from a paper. I walked away, shaking my head at how close those two were.
Natsu's POV
"Juvia?" Lucy asked.
I shrugged, still sitting on her lap. "Like I would know."
"I sort of want to find out, though," she said.
"Let's follow him, then," I said, sliding off of her lap. She grabbed me around the stomach and pulled me back on her lap.
"Where are you going? We can't do that! That's called an invasion of privacy!" she hissed.
I nodded, "Yeah…that's the point."
I tried to get off her lap again but she held me tight, "Don't be stupid, Natsu."
I slumped against her chest, "Fine." I sighed, "What are we going to do then? I'm bored."
"We'll just wait patiently until Levy is done with the spell," Lucy said matter-of-factly.
"I'm not a patient person," I mumbled, letting my head slump against her chest.
"Yeah, well…I'm not either. That doesn't mean I'm about to entertain myself by stalking people."
"It's not stalking. It's innocently following unknowing victims."
"That's my exact definition of stalking…without the 'innocently' part. You just added that in to make it seem like it was socially acceptable."
"I bet it is in some countries."
"Not here, though."
"Doesn't mean we can't do it."
"Yes it does."
"Fine. You win."
"Wow, you gave up easily."
"I don't like arguing with you."
"I don't like arguing with you either." I craned my neck to look at her.
"Great minds think alike," she said. She smiled. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Yeah," I said, sighing and curling up in her lap.
"You're just going to sit on me?" she asked, "Because I can't feel my legs."
I reached up and put a finger on her lips, "Shhh, Lucy. Don't ruin the moment."
"What moment?"
"The moment where I'm about to go to sleep on your lap," I said, smiling and shutting my eyes.
"No! Natsu! I won't be able to move my legs if you—"
"You're ruining it."
She growled but didn't say anything else. I laughed a little and then actually began to fall asleep. Pretty soon I was slipping towards unconsciousness, surrounded by Lucy's warm arms.
Lucy's POV
Natsu was asleep. Great. My legs were starting to tingle and cramp up. Somehow, though, it was ok. I leaned back against the wall and thunked my head against it. Natsu moved around in my arms and then relaxed again. I smiled and propped my chin up on his head. He mumbled something, but I wasn't sure what it was. After a little while he started giggling in his sleep, which I thought was absolutely adorable.
"Luce! Luce I got it! Everyone!" Levy shouted, running into the room. I perked up immediately and shook Natsu awake. Admittedly, I was a little sad to disturb his giggle fest.
"Mmm?" Natsu said.
I smiled, "Levy did it. Come on." I practically picked him up and carried him to the other side of the room where Levy was sitting down at the table.
"We knew Levy could do it," said Jet.
"Of course!" Droy chimed in.
"Shut up," Gajeel growled. They complied. Immediately.
"Come on, Lev. Let's do it!" I said, "I miss my cute body!"
"I think you're cute," Natsu said sleepily. A yawn quickly followed.
"Shut up, Natsu," I said though my face got a little hotter.
"We're back," Gray said as he joined us.
"Sorry, everyone," Juvia said as she made a point of standing far away from Gray.
"Looks like there's something going on there," Natsu whispered. I nodded.
"They're probably in love…if you think about who was in that room it makes sense," I said.
Natsu nodded and then his eyes went wide. I raised an eyebrow but he didn't answer my silent question. He just seemed to be…thinking? His face contorted and he stroked his chin. He looked weird when he was actually thinking.
"Alright, everyone is here right?" Levy said, "Well, it doesn't matter. It will work even if they're not here."
"Just do it, child," Gramps said. I smiled. Clearly he wasn't too fond of his female body. Honestly, neither was I.
For some reason I was nervous. I'm not sure why. I guess I wondered to myself whether everything that happened while we were under the spell was just that: a spell. I found myself wishing that the spell wouldn't wear off so that we could stay like this. I didn't want it to all fade into distant memory, just like a dream.
"Luce," he said. I looked at him and he smiled. He reached out and took my hand. That's when I knew it wouldn't fade away. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't just a spell. Somehow I'd grown closer to Natsu through all of this…and I knew when he held my hand that nothing would change.
Levy took a deep breath and recited some words from a piece of paper that was pretty crumbled. I was pretty sure they were in a different language because I had no idea what she was saying or how she managed to figure those words out. They didn't sound anything like the ones Sonoma had given us.
Once she'd finished we all waited for a flash of lights or a loud noise. Nothing happened.
"Did you do it?" I asked, looking down at myself. I was most definitely still a man.
"I-I recited it perfectly. I don't know what I did wrong," Levy said. She started to shrink back, which was hard for such a tall person, but Gajeel put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. I felt my stomach drop and a sense of dread descend upon me.
It didn't work.
A/N: Aaaand disaster strikes! You'll just have to read the much anticipated final chapter to find out what happens next, (and trust me, you don't want to miss it). Thanks for keeping with it and don't forget to leave a review telling me how good/awful it was!
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"Lucy, come here," he said. His voice sounded firm and determined.
I turned around. He grabbed me and pulled me to him. I didn't protest or pull away. This was what exactly what I wanted, after all.
