Here is chapter 10! Thank you everyone for your reviews! And I am sorry (not sorry) for all the cliffhangers! ;p

Fate or Destiny?

Chapter 10

Cobra sighed as he allowed Makarov to finish bandaging his hand. He had already figured that walking in and just saying that they needed to talk wasn't going to end well. However, he hadn't been prepared when those damn dogs began to bark at him when he stepped toward Lucy! Not to mention, that damn Golden Retriever had attempted to bite him, but only gave his wrist a good scrape.

"I thought the boys would have warned you about her pups. I am so sorry." Makarov stated, causing him to sigh and wave it away as the small man moved away from him.

"It's fine. Although, now I'm curious about those flea bags as well." He muttered, listening as the old man chuckled and began to put up the first aid kit.

"Well now, that is an interesting story. Let's see. It happened about three years ago, right before Lucy graduated high school. She and her brothers had just been wondering around town when they had come across some teens who were abusing those two. Poor things were nothing but bones, hair falling out, and I wouldn't be surprised to say near death. The boys just figured to let fate be, but Lucy had other ideas. She had marched right over to the group of teens and got between them and the dogs. At first, the teens had been surprised, but one of the boys in the group went ahead and punched her. Trying to get her out of the way I assume." Makarov stated, and Cobra raised an eyebrow.

"Let me guess, her brothers quickly intervened and pummeled the daylights out of them before bringing the dogs home." He stated, blinking when Makarov laughed and shook his head. Mirth causing his eyes to gleam.

"You would think that, but no. The boys had been about to step in, but the dogs beat them to it. It seemed that little bit of kindness from Lucy, just attempting to stop those teens, had been enough for them to take a liking to her. They suddenly started growling, barking and snapping at the teens. To say the least they back off, and then Lucy begged her brothers to help her get them home. After that, they've stayed true to Lucy, listening to her silent commands while also giving her the greatest comfort. I'd say they've helped her more than me or her brothers ever have." He stated, causing him to blink before looking toward the stairs.

Once again Lucy was proving that she wasn't anything like Jude. Which was leading him to feel more like an ass, and all the more wanting him to apologize.

"They wont attempt to bite again, will they?" He asked, watching as the man thought before shaking his head.

"I'm sure Lucy is scolding them about now. I just hope that you don't take any action against them." Makarov stated, causing him to blink and stare at the man. Only to wince a moment later, if it had been a while back, he would have in a flash, having them put the dog down for biting.

"No, I wouldn't do that to her. Not after putting her through the shit I've put her through." He stated, before finally getting to his feet.

"Going to try again? Well, I'll be down here if you need anything." Makarov stated, he gave a nod and then started up the stairs. His thoughts going back to when he had seen Lucy.

He gave another sigh as he recalled the fear that entered in her eyes, and on her face. It made him wonder if he even deserved forgiveness this time. He had insulted her, blamed her for her father's deeds, and even ignored her when she attempted to explain.

A growl caused him to freeze, and he glanced up quickly. Remaining still as he saw the Doberman at the top of the steps, glaring down at him and giving low growls in the back of it's throat. He heard a small sound from behind the dog, and watched as its ear twitched before giving him a huff and quickly turning to go down the hall.

Releasing the breath he had been holding, he started up the stairs again. This time paying attention to what was before him, just in case one of those dogs decided to try and take another bite from him. Because he was certain that Lucy wouldn't mind letting them give him a good scare, not after all he had done.

He blinked as he saw the dog go into the second room on the right, only to wince as it quickly shut afterwards. Inhaling silently he approached the door, and softly knocked. Listening as he heard nothing but growls, before leaning his forehead against the wood.

"Lucy, please. I..I just want to talk." He stated, listening as he heard faint shuffling, more growls, and then straightened as the lock clicked, before the door knob turned. He watched as the door opened slightly before she peered out. He swallowed, before running a hand through his hair, trying to recall everything that he had been wanting to talk to her about. But, he found everything that he had been wanting to say leaving his mind as he stared into her wide, frightened eyes.

"Bright Eyes, I'm...No, I can't say sorry. I can't receive your forgiveness this time. I messed up big this time. But, will you please give me a chance to just talk? Then, once everything has been said, you can choose rather to tell me to get lost, or...whatever." He stated, watching as she stared at him for a moment, before opening the door and stepping out. Her dogs right behind her, both giving him a growl. He blinked as she placed a hand on both of their heads, and both stopped but continued to glare at him.

"Can I take that as a yes?" He asked, watching as she nodded. Releasing a relieved sigh, he attempting to give her a small smile, not surprised when she hugged herself and avoided his gaze.

"Is there anywhere we can talk in private? Or would you rather talk where the old man can hear?" He asked, watching as her hands twitched, but blinked when she merely turned and walked farther down the hall. He started to follow, but stopped when her dogs gave quick growls before moving in front of him. Scowling at the animals, he followed behind them and blinked as she stepped into a room that turned out to be a small study. Ignoring the shelves stacked with books, he instead watched as she eased into one of the overstuffed chairs, leaving him to take the couch that was across from her.

Moving over, he sat down and stared at her for a moment. Wondering why she wasn't telling him anything, but then blinked as she reached onto the table between them and picked up a pad and pencil. He watched as she scribbled something down before handing the tablet over to him. Frowning, he looked at her.

"You know it would be better to just use sign language." He stated, watching as she flinched and stared at him with fear filled eyes. Frowning, he stared at her for a moment, wondering why she didn't want to use sign language, but then tensed as he remembered. He had slapped her hands away last time she had attempted to explain, or talk to him...just like Jude had beaten her whenever she talked. Damnit!

"Lucy! Please, I...I...Jumped to conclusions. I let my emotions get the better of me! I...I...Damnit!" He growled, slouching over and pressing his palms into his eyes. Damnit! He should have thought of this better! He should have...damnit!

"I shouldn't have done any of things that I did. I shouldn't have yelled at you, I shouldn't have slapped your hands. There are so many things I shouldn't have done, but I still did it. There is no apologizing for them, because I hurt you far to bad to be forgiven. I...Hell, the only reason I'm here is to see if we could work through this." He muttered, looking up hopelessly to see that she was still holding the tablet out to him. However, he saw that the first part was scratched out and that she had written another part.

Giving in, he took hold of the table, feeling his chest tighten when she flinched back when his fingers slightly brushed hers. Instead of letting her see, however, he straightened and look down at what she had written;

I can understand, trust me you're not the first person to accuse me of Jude's crimes. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. Because of me, you cannot have a happy life with a soulmate because of me. With everything that you went through, because of my father and me, you deserve happiness and I'm sorry that it couldn't be me. I'm just too tainted.

Cobra blinked, and then stared up at her. Blinking again as he saw that she was slouched down, her arms crossed as she held herself tightly, and tears rolling silently down her cheeks. He gritted his teeth together, laid the tablet down, stood and moved in front of Lucy. Aware that her dogs were watching him closely, but he merely sat down on the edge of the coffee table and stared down at the carpet.

"Midnight told me how all of you met. That he had also been a victim of Jude's. That at first, he hadn't known anything about you being Jude's daughter, and had gotten close to you, only to snap when he finally found out. He told me everything, even how Gajeel and Natsu were also victims of Jude's. He even admitted that all of them had tormented you, doing everything in their powers to make you cry each day. Until, eventually, the nuns caught them and told them everything. That after that, they had promised to make up to you however they could. That when Makarov and Laxus came to adopt you, they practically begged them to adopt all of you, just so they didn't lose you." He stated, looking up to see that her head had risen, and that her eyes were wide and uncertain.

"Before you left, Laxus gave me something. Saying that I should read it before I make any decision. Lucy, what you went through, I have no right to say that you had any blame because of what Jude did. His crimes are his own, because you, of all of his victims, was effected the worse. Which is what I don't understand. You, the one who was tortured the most, who was traumatized the most, is still able to smile, and to make the others smile. How? How can you find any reason to smile and be happy after all of that? Why are you not bitter and distant from everyone?" He asked, watching as she blinked before looking at the tablet on the table beside him.

Without thinking, he placed his hand on it, and stared at her.

"Tell me, however you can without writing." He whispered, watching as she met his gaze and bit her bottom lip. Before looking down at her hands for a moment, and then squeezed her eyes shut.

He winced suddenly, as he felt his wrist seem to tighten slightly. Lifting it up, he figured that it was probably just nerves, but stilled as he saw...words beginning to form!

"B..Because...M...My mother...Didn't...raise me like that." Lucy choked out, raising tear filled eyes to him. He looked to her, and then glanced at his wrist to see the words fading once more. Lowering his hand, he faced her, studying her for a moment, and then carefully began to reach for her, only to wince as she leaned away from him. Shaking her head as she hugged herself tightly.

"You're right about one thing, Cobra. I...I can't forgive you. Not just yet." She whispered, causing him to blink, before looking away and giving a nod.

"I understand. However, can I...talk to you again, later?" He asked, watching as she thought for a moment, before she gave a nod. Cobra gave her a small smile, and then stood.

"See ya later." He whispered, wanting nothing more than to pull her into a hug, but resisted and instead walked out of the room. Stopping in the hallway, he sighed and started down the hall to the stairs, pausing when he heard her beginning to sob. Looking back to the door, he felt his heart clench. How could he have hurt someone so pure, just because her father had been the one to destroy his life? Hell, her life had been destroyed as well. She didn't need someone like him, who would only cause her pain.

"Goodbye, Bright Eyes." He muttered, starting down the steps. He didn't even wave to Makarov as the man looked at him in wonder. He merely saw himself out, and didn't look back once.

Lucy sobbed into Sting's fur as she held the dog close. Knowing that she was worrying her pups by the way they were whining and licking her face. She blinked her eyes open as she heard the door to her room open, and peered up to see Makarov stepping inside.

"Lucy, my child, what happened?" He asked, she gave a sob and sat up. Rubbing her eyes as she attempted to calm down.

"Grampa Makarov, I've messed up! B...But I don't know how to fix it." She cried, watching as he blinked, staring at her in shock. She blinked as he pointed to her, his voice attempting to come to him.

"L...M...Child! You're talking!" He stated, causing her to sigh before giving a nod. She didn't understand it either, but...When Cobra had told her to tell him without writing, her voice had just come to her. She hadn't been expecting it either, but she had been terrified when she had heard it. Nothing but her father flashed through her mind, especially when Cobra had reached toward her.

She could tell that he had regretted everything he had said to her, but it confused her when he said that he didn't deserve her forgiveness. She didn't blame him for anything, she was the one tainted. She was the one whose father had tormented so many, and she knew that he was doing it. It wasn't until she notified the police that they caught on to what was going on.

"Child. What happened?" Makarov asked, crawling up into her bed and sitting on the side, and she could only stare at him for a moment.

"I've hurt him even more, Grampa. He..He wanted to try 'us' again, but I'm just too messed up. He knows all about me now, and I know that he must see that I'm tainted by Jude. All I could see was Jude punishing me, and I just can't let it go! He asked me why I can be happy after everything that happened, why I could still smile, and...and I told him because that wasn't how my mother raised me! However, the moment those words left me...I..I freaked! I could only hold myself tightly, expecting some sort of slap, a punch, some form of punishment! He doesn't need someone like that!" She shouted, breaking down again, only to look up when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

"What about when you're talking now?" Makarov asked, causing her to blink for a moment, then straighten quickly. She stared at the man before her, she had just shouted, screamed, and ranted about everything that had been on her mind. Yet, she wasn't scared!

"I..I'm not scared at all. B..But then, why...Why was I scared with Cobra?" She asked, watching as he thought for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

"Didn't you say that he slapped your hands last time. Maybe you were just slightly frighten he might strike again, but now that he hasn't..."

"There shouldn't be anything to be afraid of...Grampa...I've messed up! I...I have to go back to college!" She stated, about to get off the bed, but stopped when he held up his hand.

"Not yet. Both of you just opened yourselves up to each other on a whole different level. Think about it first, and then tomorrow, if you still wish, we'll go back to the college." He stated, and she gave a sigh, only to give in with a nod. He was right, she needed to think things through first. She couldn't just rush back to him, she had to approach this carefully. She just hoped that this wasn't the final thing between them.

Hope you enjoyed! ;) Until next chapter