Quick Recap: Lucy is escaping the Colosseum along with Sting and Brandon while Team Natsu unleashes HELL (pun intended) in the Underworld keeping the Emperor busy... Her sickly state, induced by the mark, has finally reached its climax. This is a memory/dream warped together. Thanks for all your support and patience thus far. We are just wrapping up the story now.

Lucy crept into her room holding a frying pan in her free hand while the other clutched her towel – the thick fabric being the only thing keeping her bare skin warm and protected from the chilly air of her apartment. She frowned at the last part – her apartment chilly? No, she was certain it had been warm enough to want her take a nice refreshing bath at midnight. She had gotten undressed and was about to slip into the comforts of the pink bubbly bath when she had a sudden craving – to drink grape juice and read while soaking in the water. She'd gotten sick of wine from all the balls she had attended as the Heartfilia Heiress years ago. Grape juice was the next best thing according to her taste buds.

Being so late and lazy, she'd wrapped a towel around her busty body and headed to the kitchen. That's when she had heard the floorboards creaking. After grabbing a pan, she had stealthily made her way out into her room.

And that's how Lucy found herself straddling an-almost naked Gray on her floor with a crazed glint in her eyes as she threatened to pound him silly with the pan.

"Ouch! Lucy, it's me!" Gray grimaced, holding out an arm to shield his face in case she struck.

For a moment it seemed as if his words had gone in one ear and out the other – he let out a sigh of relief – but Lucy's eyes returned to their warm brown hue, "Gray?"

He shifted his arm into a wave, "Yo!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Lucy yelled, still not lowering the pan

"Lucy, as much as I'd like to tell you, the pan isn't exactly encouraging."

Grumbling about stupid strippers, she lowered her arm and waited for his explanation, "Well," he gulped, "I was at home."

"And?"

"Look, I was minding my own damn business in my apartment, heading to bed but when I crawled into the sheets an arm wrapped itself around my waist..." he trailed off, closing his eyes in a grimaced as if reliving the memory

Lucy groaned, "Juvia?" She made a mental note to scold Juvia later. If the blue-haired rain woman wanted a relationship with Gray she'd have to learn boundaries. Her odds weren't the best at the moment and Lucy felt a slight pang of sympathy as she thought of her own situation with Natsu.

Gray nodded, "I ran to the first place that came to mind."

This time, it seemed, Gray had a valid reason for being nearly naked other than just unconsciously stripping.

"Oh, and Lucy," Gray coughed, looking away, "could you...um..."

Lucy shrieked in a mix of horror and embarrassment.

Gray's finger dug into his left ear, "You're so loud."

Lucy clucked her tongue in response, refusing to look at Gray. She had been on top of Gray with nothing but a towel on. She had been about to beat him for being in boxers, but she had been in a towel. How hypocritical of her.

"Hey, Luce," Gray started, his tone suddenly serious.

"Mmm?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his raven-black hair, "DoyouthinkI'mbeingtooharshonJuvia?"

"Say it again –slowly."

"Do you think," he swallowed, "I'm being too harsh on Juvia?"

Lucy blinked and turned to face him on the couch at the mention of Juvia, "what?"

"I know it seems like I really dislike her, but it's not that. I dislike the way she acts when it comes to me."

Gray met her eyes – his eyes pleading for her to understand, "Juvia is ultimately a good person. I know that much. I just can't seem to find it in me to care for her more than a comrade...You just can't expect a person to fall in love with someone who..."

"Stalks you." Lucy finished for him and he nodded in relief. Lucy would always understand him.

Lucy twirled the pan in her hand, and continued, "Gray, no one is trying to force you to love her. That's for sure. Of course we sympathize with her at times, but we aren't saying, 'Gray, love her back.' You aren't obligated to love her back."

His eyes reflected the relief and gratitude like they always would when Gray decided he had enough and had to talk to someone about Juvia's antics.

"How's it going with Sting?"

"Mmm, I don—what did you say?" Lucy jumped at the realization and the sudden change in topic.

"Natsu?" Gray cocked his head to the side, eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

"No, no. You said...," Lucy bit her lip, "said another name." What name had he said?

"Is there another guy you like?" Gray inquired, scooting just bit closer so their knees touched.

Lucy's eyes darted to their knees, and then flickered up to his dark blue eyes, "No."

"Liar."

She cringed; she had felt the insincere meaning behind the word as her mouth had formed it, but it had automatically spilled out of her as a defense. How was she to explain it to someone when she hardly knew what she, herself, was feeling?

"Does he happen to have beautiful eyes? Blue eyes that ensnare you in their stunning brilliance and depth?" Gray continued

Lucy stared in stunned silence at the currently sparkle-eyed Gray, "What is wrong with you?"

"With delicious abs on display through his great fashion sense?" He continued, not paying attention to Lucy's horrified reaction.

She choked on her response, unable to process his words for two main reasons. One, Gray would never in a million years describe anyone that way. Two, she could almost see who he was talking about.

"A smile so bright it radiated golden rays of sunshine," Gray was now singing the words, clutching at his heart dramatically, "His lips plump and tempting for the taking."

"Shut the fuck up," Lucy growled, filled with sudden aggression. Since when did she curse?

Gray fell back onto the couch, quieted down for the moment, "Now, what are you talking about?"

He smirked, "I'd like to know that as well. I was reciting some lines from your diary."

WHAM.

Lucy threw the pan at him without a second thought.

Gray rubbed his forehead, holding one of his hands up, "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I deserved that, but I think it's about damn time you woke up."

Unable to make sense of his statement, she answered, "I'm awake."

"No, you aren't, idiot." Gray flicked her forehead, playfully, "You're forgetting something, remember?"

"Obviously, I can't if I'm forgetting it!" Lucy quipped, frustrated.

"To think you'd forget me." A new voice entered their conversation

"Wh—?" Lucy gaped at Natsu

"Yo, Lucy!" He raised his hand in greeting and gave her a toothy grin. He glared at Gray, "What's stripper doing here?"

"Get the hell out of here, Natsu. She doesn't love you."

"Gray, you can't decide that for me!" She slapped his shoulder, but she somehow knew he was right.

"I know," Natsu mumbled, surprising both of them.

"Then why are you here?!" Gray snapped

"Because she has my mark! Obviously, I would be here whether you like it or not," Natsu retorted and he added, "stupid stripper," as a final thought.

As they bickered like children, Lucy's head began to throb, "G-Gray...Natsu..."

Her vision became blurry and their figures merged together, "It's okay, Lucy. You'll be fine. You're going to be better than fine."

That's when the first memory of him hit; it ripped a scream from her throat that suddenly felt raw and dry. She had seen him during the GMG. His rippling muscles clearly seen through his clothes...

The scene changed to a public bathhouse. She was frozen as she watched him take another woman in front of her.

That's when the feelings arose – the raging passion filled with lust that turned to warm, bubbling feelings in the pit of her stomach when they walked side by side at the festival.

Her determination to have him mark her only to have him reject her because her heart wasn't his entirely.

Her running toward him, wanting to save him from Natsu's uncontrollable beast only to black out as the wrong fangs bit into her.

And that was it.

But she had finally remembered.

She had remembered Sting Eucliffe.

She had remembered the blossoming love they had begun to share.

And she cried. She cried for everything she had lost and everything she had wanted.

And then the only voice she had been aching to hear for so long in the corners of her mind rung in her ears, "Lucy," and she knew everything would be okay.

A/N: Has it really been two weeks? It didn't feel like two weeks. I'm sorry this is another filler chapter pushing things to the end. FINALLY. NEXT CHAPTER: STING AND LUCY REUNITE (WITH MEMORIES INTACT) !

Thanks for reading and for all your support!

Bonus chapter(s) at the end for all I have put you guys through!D: Both Mature and Fluff Chapters for those who have different preferences. I start school this Monday so my writing will be inconsistent but I will try my best to finish it up soon. I'm sorry. Thanks, again.

P.S- Did you guys notice the merging of Lucy and Filia? Sorry, I just wanted Lucy to have more fight in her (not that she didn't before, but I wanted her even more strong-willed and sassy).

P.S.S- I am working on my stories for Graylu week starting this September 1st! Keep an eye out for that!