Chapter 11:

The next week and a half flew by virtually uneventfully. Loke and I returned to Jamestown the next day, and continued our daily routine of training, with each day getting stronger and stronger with my spirits.

"Are you alright, hime? You seem a little down." The lion asked, holding out a water bottle for me.

I graciously accepted the water. "It's nothing." I spoke as I sat down on a nearby rock, catching my breath after the long training session ended. Loke frowned at my answer, but said nothing as he sat down next to me.

A moment passed, causing him to sigh. "You can tell me anything, hime. I am always here for you."

"I don't want to worry you. Really, it's nothing." I gave my response quickly, hoping the spirit would drop the subject.

"If you say so, hime, but if you feel like telling me, I will always listen." I smiled sweetly at my loyal lion spirit.

As tempting as it was to talk, I sighed instead and got up, dusting myself off. "I feel rested enough, do you want to start walking back now?"

"If you wish," the lion spoke coolly, adjusting his glasses as he grabbed my hand. Together, we walked back to the inn in silence, leaving me alone to think.

Ugh, why do I have to feel like this? It's bothering Loke that I'm hiding it from him. But, how can I tell him, when I don't even know what it is that I'm feeling. I'm lonely; I want a guild again, but I can't move on from Fairy Tail, can I? Would it hurt Loke if I did? It was Loke's family too. He lost his guild alongside me. Would he be able to move on? Hell, do I even want to? How can I join another guild? It's selfish of me to even think about it. Thinking about moving on?! How could I? Loke shook my shoulder repeatedly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Lucy, what's wrong?" He spoke softly; wiping away the tears I didn't even realize had formed from my eyes. "You're shaking, and crying. Clearly something is bothering you." He brought my face up, looking me in the eyes. "Please talk to me, Lucy. It breaks my heart to see you sad." Loke's eyes showed nothing but sincerity and love.

"I don't know where to begin." I spoke in between sobs, not caring about anything other than venting my thoughts. "I'm lonely. I'm a terrible person; I thought about moving on and forgetting about Fairy Tail." I sobbed out, wiping my eyes from the constant falling tears. "It's so selfish of me, but I miss being in a guild. I miss my guild. I miss my family, and I miss my team. I thought I was ready to join a different guild, just to make myself feel better; but I can't! How can I?! How could I even think that way? I don't want to replace anyone! I just want my nakama back." I broke down completely, laying my head on Loke's shoulder. I clenched my fists, as my tears began to stain his shirt. My spirit held me tighter, running one hand through my hair, and whispering sweet nothings in my ear in attempt to calm me down. "I want them back. I want it back to how it was before. Why did they have to leave? I can't join another guild. Joining another guild would mean Fairy Tail is really over, and I can't do that. I don't want to believe it's over.

"Shh, Lucy. It's going to be okay. No one is going to make you join another guild, if you don't want to. I only want what's best for you. That's all I have always wanted, and that's all I will continue to want for you." Loke's words were heartfelt as he spoke. He held me tighter as I continued to cry on him.

"I'm so selfish. I didn't even think if you would want to join one. You lost your family too, when it disbanded. I was only thinking about myself-"

Loke interrupted. "Hime, look at me." Loke lifted my chin until I met his gaze. "I don't know where this is coming from, but I need you to understand something." He spoke calmly to me. "I am yours, Lucy. I will follow you wherever you go. I will be at your side always. I love Fairy Tail, but I love you more. I owe you my life, so in return, I will be with you through whatever you wish. Whether that is here in this town, back in Magnolia, or someplace else; whether that is with Fairy Tail, Mermaid Heel, or hell even Sabertooth. As long as you are happy, that is all that matters to me." Loke smiled, as he brought his hands up to wipe away more tears. "Please, hime, tell me, where is all this coming from?"

He deserves to know. I took a deep breath, attempting to clear my thoughts. "I don't know, really. I was just sitting there, thinking about the shoot coming up, and how we have to be leaving tomorrow for Crocus. Then, I thought about how last time we were in Crocus, we ran into Sting and Rogue, and that got me thinking, you know, about what Sting said?" I paused, attempting to not break down into more tears. "I thought that maybe we could stop by to say hi. I haven't been in a guild hall in so long, and I missed it. Missing it made me think that, maybe, I was ready to, maybe, move on. You know? Next thing I knew all these terrible feelings came to me, and I started thinking about how me joining another guild would be like abandoning them, or forgetting about them." I tried to hold in the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Lucy, you aren't terrible for thinking this way." The lion hushed. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to join another guild, and I know everyone will agree with me. If you want to join another guild, do it. No one will be angry with you or upset at you for doing that." Tears began forming in the lion's eyes. "Listen Lucy, do what makes you happy."

His words were spoken with pure love, touching me deeply. I sat there stunned at the words Loke spoke, thinking about how much he cares about me; tears stained both of our faces. Loke pulled me closer in his arms, leaving no space between us whatsoever, as he tried to sooth my crying.

We stayed there for hours, not caring in the slightest about how tear stained and wrinkled our clothes were, how puffy our faces were from crying, or how red our eyes were. Loke's embrace eventually calmed my crying, and we used the silence to relax.

"Hime, you should go to sleep." The spirit's tender voice pulled me from my thoughts. "It will help you feel better." I nodded my head, causing Loke to loosen his grip on me. I moved off of him, and got into bed, grabbing Loke by the hand as he stood up.

Loke looked at me at my sudden action. "Stay with me? Until I fall asleep?" The spirit blushed slightly at my request.

"Of course, hime."

He got into bed with me, and immediately pulled me into his arms, allowing me to rest my head on his chest. The lion kissed the top of my head softly, and I began to feel myself drift off into sleep.

"Say, Loke."

"Hmm?" Loke spoke quietly.

"Do you think after my shoot we can go visit Sabertooth?" I asked, uncertain about what his response would be.

"Of course, hime. If you want to."

"Good." I smiled softly at that thought, before finally letting myself drift off to sleep.

Author's Note: Hey Everyone! I apologize for the shorter chapter, but I feel like I need to write it seprate because it wouldn't flow with my next chapter, if that even makes sense. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy regardless! Thank you for all the feedback I've gotten from this story. It really means a lot. Thank you to everyone who has followed/favorited and reviewed, I really appreciate it. Please continue to read/review/follow/favorite. Enjoy! Bye! :)