End of Volume 2

Natsu opened his eyes and blinked against the smattering of sunlight through a hole in the canopy above him. Turning his head sideways to the warmth he felt at his side, he discovered Lucy. Her head was angled slightly toward him, but she was asleep. He took this moment to let his eyes wander over her long lashes and the redness of her lips. Consciously, he reached for her hand, and threaded his fingers through hers. I almost lost her. Again. A frown marred the usually happy countenance of his face as he inspected every bruise he had inflicted on her. Even now, she barely stirred.

The cart bumped over a rock and Natsu's other hand shot to his mouth. I'm going to be sick.

Volume 2

Epilogue - Chapter 26 - A Dapple of Sunlight

Lucy opened her eyes slowly. It was almost like sifting through the remnant of a dream, and waking up would ruin it. She was in the back of a cart, a blanket covering her. Outside, she heard laughter and the crackle of a campfire, but the cart she lay in was dark. Wincing, she tried to sit up, and had to attempt it several times. Her body ached in places she didn't know existed. Finally she managed to scoot to the end of the cart and dangle her feet over.

"Lucy! You're awake!" Charle and Happy flew over excited. "Are you all right?"

"Mmm," Lucy nodded with a smile. "I just feel a bit sore."

"You slept for 2 days," Happy informed her. "You must have really needed your beauty sleep." He chortled into his hand at her expense. Charle pause a moment and then wacked Happy over the head.

"Lucy! You're awake! Let me get you something to eat and drink." Wendy got up from the campfire and brought her a bowl of food with some water. Lucy tentatively sipped it while the others stood around to convince themselves that she was all right. Automatically, Lucy scanned the area for Natsu.

"Is Natsu all right?" She asked Gray, who stood beside the wagon, arms crossed.

"He's all right, he just went off somewhere to stretch or something."

Lucy nodded. "I think I would like to do the same. And I need to wash."

"There's a stream not far from here. We've all washed up, but I can go with you." Wendy offered.

"That's all right, you don't have to." Lucy gathered some things and headed in the direction the group mentioned. Sure enough, after a few minutes walk, she heard the sound of rushing water. Setting down her lantern, she stripped down and changed into a two piece bathing suit. The moon, not quite full still lent a glimmer of light to the dark water as it flowed to a few deeper pools.

Dipping her toe in, she shuddered. It was cold. Rubbing her arms she winced, turning herself to the lantern light to inspect the damage. A harsh scorch mark was healing on her stomach. Her arms were mottled up and down with bruises, and she felt the remains of swelling on her face. Her legs were equally colourful with green blue and yellow bruises in various stages of healing. Wendy must have had her hands full, or she would certainly have healed more.

She waded up to her thighs in the water, wrapping her arms around herself to stave off the sudden goosebumps at the cold of the water. I will just have to jump in, she decided, but instead stood as she was. Unbidden, a sob escaped her throat, and her shoulders shook. She didn't know why she was crying, only that there was something missing, something unfulfilled, and she desperately wanted it. Sob after sob escaped her as she stood, arms wrapped around herself.

Suddenly a warm hand touched her arm, and surprised, she turned. Natsu had waded into the water, minus vest and scarf. Now, he drew her up to him, and without preamble wrapped his arms around her. Surprised, she looked up ar him, but he only kissed her forehead softly, and stroked her hair. After a time she calmed, and embarassed to say anything, blurted out. "The water was too cold."

Natsu smiled and drew her deeper into the water, but now, she could feel the heat emminating from him. Slowly the water no longer felt so cold. And still he kept his arms wrapped firmly around her. "Do you remember anything that happened after the Games Lucy?" He asked her, and Lucy could tell his thoughts were miles away.

"Not really. Bits an pieces."

Natsu pulled her over to a rock submerged in the water and sat on it, pulling her onto his lap. She looked up at him, but made no motion to move away.

"After the Games, we had a caravan like this one to bring you home to Magnolia. Laxus and Mira drove one, Erza drove yours, and a third wagon was for Erza's stuff. During the day, to keep your fever down, Juvia and Gray would keep you misted and cool during the day. And during the night, we would camp by the ocean or a river, and I would hold you like this in the water." A blush crept up Lucy's face.

"The water had to be warm enough so you wouldn't get sick, but cold enough for your fever. And one night, I was holding you like this, and you suddenly said something. And then you kissed me." He tilted her chin up to look at her, and slowly his mouth met hers. "Like this." A surge of need coiled in Lucy's chest before Natsu broke the kiss. "Ever since then, I realized what I had done, what I had nearly lost. It scares me to think of you getting hurt or worse."

"Natsu stop." She had to get the words out before he said any more. "If you're going to say that I should stop being a FairyTail magician because I could hurt or killed then save it. I couldn't stop being a mage any more than I could stop breathing."

"I don't want you to stop being a mage Lucy. I want you to never leave my side again." Lucy gasped. "You want me to..."

"I love you Lucy Heartfilia. Don't ever leave my side."

Lucy's heart swelled and tears welled up in her eyes. "Mm!" She gave a small happy nod which Natsu mimicked. "Good. Now kiss me again." And as he wrapped her in his arms, her lips met his again, slowly, softly, sweetly.

"Whew." Wendy sat up and lowered her hands into her lap. "All done, how do you feel?" She shifted on the bed and regarded her patient. Juvia gave a small nod. Her breathing was easier and even though it had taken her a good few days to breathe normally again, she was feeling a lot better thanks to Wendy. Juvia's blue hair spilled down on either side of the pillow in loose waves and she lay dwarfed in the large bed, her face pale. After such an intensive healing, her eyes fluttered closed, dark lashes settling peacefully.

"Is she all right?" Wendy turned and slid off the bed, taking in the form at the door.

"Gray! She's all right. I think it still hurts her. She should be dead. If she didn't have the ability to reshape her organs from water, I think she would be dead." Wendy stretched her arms over her head and noticed a second person behind Gray.

"Are you done Wendy?" Romeo crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked over at Juvia. "You've been in here a long time." Wendy smiled and nodded. "I'm done for today in any case." Without preamble, Romeo took her hand and led her out the door, ignorant of Wendy's creeping blush.

"Watch her please Gray." The girl called, already down the hallway. Gray shut the door slowly and pulled a chair up to Juvia's bed. Sitting beside her, he watched the tiny rise and fall of her chest, and took her left hand in his. His dark eyes were inscrutiable as he brought the hand to his face and kissed the palm gently.

"You're kidding right?" Erza folded her bandaged arms across her chest and glared at Jellal.

"I have to go Erza. There's so much I still have to do."

"To make up for what you did?" Jellal started at the honest question. "Yes."

"I saw everything Jellal. I know that you feel guilty. I know you don't want to drag me into your life, but I'm in your life." She spun around frustrated and glared at the lake beside which they stood. Water gently lapped against the shore, and the sun beat down on them. Jellal watched the red haired beauty for a moment. The gentle lake breeze tugged her red her and it flowed like silk over one shoulder.

He laid a hand on her shoulder, and when she turned was surprised at the tears threatening in her eyes. "Erza," one hand cupped her cheek and he let out a frustrated breath. "One day, there might be a chance for us. But I don't want to bind you to something like that. Every time I leave I don't want you wondering if I'm ok, knowing I'm out there hunting dark mages. I want you to find someone that you are happy with. Someone that can protect you when I'm not here. I want..."

"Oh for fucks sake.." She took a step forward and grabbed his shirt, pulling him toward her until her mouth met his. For a moment she felt him resist, before he wrapped his arms around her, his mouth exploring hers. Tentatively his tongue met with hers, exploring, loving.

After a time, it was Erza who stepped out of his embrace. "I expect to see you the next time you come through Magnolia." She glared at him one last time, and walked away. Even though it was a small heartbreak in itself, a smile tugged at both their lips. Jellal watched her go, running a hand through his hair. What a woman!

Laxus drew a finger down Mira's naked back as she slept beside him. It was odd that someone so bright and sunny should be attracted to someone so stoic and dark. After everything Laxus had done to the guild, it was amazing that she still believed in him the way she did. The way she turned to him for help, or even when she didn't know he was near.

He rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt. It was a wonder she put up with him. One day he would have to make an honest woman out of her. He left the apartment and headed down the street to get some breakfast. They were both too adult to care about frivolous things like the younger generation did, but there were parts of himself he had been forced to recognize these past few days. One of them was that he cared for Mira, deeply.

Levy knocked on the door. "Lily? Is Gajeel here?" She knew the answer even before the Exeed shook his head. Gajeel was avoiding her. Levy sighed, annoyed. Why was he doing that. "Do you know where he went?" The Exeed paused a second too long and Levy's eyes narrowed. "You do know! Come on Lily. I need to sort this out. He's in too much pain to let this go." Lily tipped his black head sideways and one cat ear twitched slightly. He crossed his small arms and sighed. "He told me to tell you he went on a mission, but he's in the forest east of here."

"He's hiding?" Levy said louder than intended. "What in Magnolia will that accomplish?" She turned about face and stalked out. Getting her things together took less time than she imagined, and she set out before dark. It didn't take long to get there, but the forest was big, and Levy wasn't entirely sure where to start looking.

When it became too dark to see, she set up her tent and went to sleep. Early in the morning, she was roused by crashing sounds not too far away. Packing up, she headed in the direction of the carnage. The closer she got, the more trees were uprooted, or simply broken in half. Gajeel stood some distance away with his back to her. Levy smiled, for a moment taking in the muscles and hard body of the man she liked.

"Come here often?" She quipped just as he turned his arm to metal and punched through a thick tree trunk. Surprised, he spun around, ripping the base from the tree. Slowly it teetered toward her. Levy's eyes widened and she dove aside just as a thunderous crash of branches descended over her. A thick branch knocked and pinned her to the ground. and she lay for a moment stunned.

"Levy!" She could hear Gajeel ripping up branches trying to find her. "I'm over here!" She tried to shimmy out from under the branch but hit held her firmly. "I'm pinned." Above her branches shifted and she Gajeel's face appeared. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" Levy shook her hair but grimmaced. "I'm all right I just can't get out." Gajeel grunted and his left arm and legs became metallic fulcrums lifting the weight off her. With his right arm, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him before setting the tree down.

"You scared me shrimp. You shouldn't sneak up on people."

Levy knew she should say something about why she was here, but it had only then occured to her that Gajeel was shirtless, and she was touching his chest as he held her. A blush crept across her face. "You all right? You're all red?" Gajeel said tilting her head up to look at her. His gaze swept over her, coming to stop at where her hands rested in his pectorals.

A humming started up in her chest and her mouth suddenly couldn't find the words. Gajeel smirked and brought his lips down on hers, softly. His free hand cupped and curled protectively over her smaller one. After a moment, he set her down. "Let me put a shirt on, or this could get really fun, really quick." Even though Levy gave a little sigh of disappointment, she acquiesced that it was for the best.

A short distance away, gajeel pulled a hand towel from his bag and wiped down his sweaty torso while Levy secretly watched. When he was done, he pulled a simple white t-shirt from his bag and pulled it on. The fabric fit comfortably but snugly, and Levy had to admit that the image of him shirtless was seared into her mind too much for the shirt to make a difference. "Why are you here?" He asked finally sitting down on fairly level tree trunk. One leg was propped up on a jagged spot and he wrested an arm on this knee, watching her. He had never looked sexier.

"I came to find you." She said simply, standing before him.

"Why?"

"Because you are avoiding me?"

gajeel looked away. "I'm not avoiding you. I just..."

"Gajeel, I was there, remember. I know that you think about that day a lot. You need to put it behind you. I forgive you."

The big man sighed. "I know." He regarded her for a moment. "But every time I see you, I wonder if today will be the day something happens to you because of me."

"Tshhh" Levy waved her hand. "Accidents happen, enemies happen. Heck, I saved your life and you ended up defeating..."

"That's not the point."

"It is the point. This is life Gajeel. How we choose to live it is what matters. You can leave me behind, you can pretend you don't like me, but what will that do?" She stepped forward and laid a hand on his knee. "Some other enemy will try to hurt me. Some other accident will kill me. Some stupid decision will destroy everything." She paused for a moment and looked skywards, gathering her thoughts.

"You know how I remember you? I don't think of the guy that pinned me to a tree out of spite. That's someone else to me. You are the person who had my back in the Grand Magic Games. You believed in me enough to let me fight my own battles. When Eco dropped out and was replaced, you let me fight Mockfiend because you believed in me." She took Gajeel's hands in her, and moved them behind her so that he held her.

"You lifted me up to be a better person. A stronger person. I love you Gajeel. I don't care who knows it, and I won't let you bring yourself down. Not when we can be together and fly." A small hand touched his cheek and Levy lifted herself up on her tip-toes to kiss his mouth.

Thank you all for reading Volume 2, I hope you enjoyed it. I loved reading the reviews and gauging how you feel about my story. Is it worth a Volume 3 do you think? I enjoy the characters, but the last volume I received only a moderate response to, so perhaps it is best left to rest? I don't know, what do you think?

-Kami