NO ONE'S PROV

Laxus tried to take a deep calming breath, taking in the heavy rain and static in the air around him as he sat at the mouth of the cave. Usually this was his happy place out on an important urgent mission, deep in the forest with a heavy rain and promise of thunder and lighting, and yet….

"Could this day be any worse?"

Laxus closed his eyes and took what had to be his millionth calming breath within the hour. He liked to think that he had changed a lot since his wild and reckless days; he was older, he was wiser, he was part of the guild again, he was…

"Seriously!? Dude… what are we still doing out here?"

He was quickly losing his hard-earned patience.

"Would you just chill out?!" came another voice, "We are on a mission for the master, so just shut up already."

Laxus turned slightly to look back at his traveling companions, Bicklow was lounging casually up against the cave wall. He had one of his floating soul dolls in his hand and a tool in the other cranking away apparently trying to reattach something that had fallen off.

While Perry glared at Bicklow and huddled in on himself, his hoodie pulled over his head and hands stuffed in his pockets, on the opposite side of the cave shivering like a leaf.

Laxus let out a sigh before moving into the cave, "We move out in an hour. Try to rest."

Bicklow twirled the small tool around his index finger before putting it back inside his armor. "Sounds good, boss." He then removed his helmet and stretched out on his back using a rock as a pillow and closed his eyes. His floating soul dolls moved to his side and their green light slowly started to fade.

Laxus turned to look at Perry when he heard him sneeze. "It is freezing. Why can't we have a fire again?" he complained

Laxus moved back to the mouth of the cave and sat down crossing his arms and closed his eyes. "We are on a mission to gather intel."

"What does that even mean?" Perry grumbled, "We are in the middle of nowhere, what could you guys possibly need to find out, out here? Which trees have the best bark?"

A soft green glow filled the cave again as Bicklow opened his eyes and looked at Perry. "You always whine this much?"

Perry bristled, "I just don't get why the hell I am here in the first place. I am not even a member of your dumb guild."

"You know why you're here." Bicklow closed his eyes again, Perry groaned. "I just sent her flowers like everyone else, man. How does that earn me a field trip with you two weirdos?"

Bicklow chuckled deep in his throat before sitting up and facing Perry, "Weirdos, hu?"

Perry frowned at the glow of green coming from Bicklow's sharp eyes. Everything about the knight mage gave him the creeps. From his bazar knight armor and black and blue triple mohawk, to his strange green glowing magic.

Bicklow smirked, "You not used to camp'in out?"

Perry let his head fall back against the cave wall, "It's the opposite. I hate camping out because I am used to it."

Bicklow made a thoughtful noise before laying back down, "I guess I can understand that."

The cave grew quite as they all started to drift off to sleep, but then a strange sound jerked Laxus and Bicklow to their feet.

"What?" Perry asked, before pulling off his hood and looking around.

"Shhhhh." Said Bicklow as he moved toward the mouth of the cave. Perry followed quietly behind him. The three mages stood in the mouth of the cave staring out at the pitch-black forest.

Laxus strained to see better through the heavy rain and darkness, stretching out his dragon slayer senses.

"There." Bicklow said, so quietly Perry nearly missed it. The Knight mage's eyes glowed green as he pointed out into the night. Laxus still couldn't see anything, but shifted his feet ready for an attack.

"How many? Laxus asked, knowing that Bixlow's magic let him see souls. Bicklow was silent for a few seconds, counting, Perry thought. Then he grunted out a noise that sounded like 8.

Laxus flicked his gaze to Perry who caught his eye, "Get ready."

VALKYRIE'S PROV

After dinner, which was homemade pot roast, I offered to help with the dishes.

"Don't be silly." Lucy tried to shoo me out of the kitchen making me frown at her. She tried to take the plates from my hands but paused when I held firm.

"Let m-me." I squeaked out, staring at her hard, I cleared my throat to try and talk better, though it didn't really seem to help. "I need to get back to taking care of myself."

Lucy let go of the plate and grabbed a towel, "I will dry."

I filled the sink with hot water and soap as the kitchen fell into silence. Natsu and Gray had moved to the living room and seemed to be playing some sort of game on the TV.

"Ya know," Lucy started gently, after I handed her a plate to dry. "You don't have to take care of yourself alone."

I kept my eyes down scrubbing at the left-over grease on one of the pans. "I know I am not alone." My voice was small and weak and I lifted my head in frustration. "But I have to be able…" I cleared my throat again, "to be able to take care of myself."

"Why?" Lucy asked,

"Many reasons." I went back to scrubbing, enjoying the feel of hot water on my hands. It was practically burning my skin making my hands red and raw.

"Such as?" Lucy pressed, I handed her the clean pan to dry and sighed.

"Well," I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Gray and Natsu were still out of ear shot. "I can't rely on them to save me all the time."

Lucy let out a laugh making me turn and look at her with my own smirk. "I know I can't stop them."

"Damn straight." Lucy giggled, "Those boys live for the hero moments. Not on purpose mind you, but they can't help it, they will always run to the rescue." She leaned forward and gave me a wink, "It's kinda like we each have our own real life white knight."

I looked back at the bubbles and continued washing, letting that idea sink in. It was a nice thought, a heroic white knight rushing in to save the helpless lost maiden from harm. Then whisking her away on his mighty white stallion to their happily ever after.

But what if the knight was too late? What if by the time the knight showed up to save the day the maiden was already broken? Damaged beyond repair? What then? How did that story end?

"Hey?" Lucy's voice broke through my thoughts making me blink and whip my head up to look at her.

"Val?" her voice was gentle and her face was worried, "What is it? Your crying?"

I blinked in surprise at her before realizing she was right, "Oh," I tried to say but my voice failed, so I shook my head and wiped at my eyes with my wrists, accidently getting a bunch of soap bubbles in my hair.

"I'm f-fine." I wheezed out and moved to finish the dishes hoping Lucy would let it drop. I hated feeling this way; weak, sad, pathetic. Yet I was at a complete loss on how to move forward. I couldn't just will or wish my feelings or memories away I had to find a way to… cope.

Gray's words from earlier swam around my head, the white room as my canvas? I wasn't sure if I was creative enough to do anything in there, and talking… I wasn't sure I was ready for that kind of "healing" either.

But maybe the exercise wasn't a bad idea. I used to meditate and train all the time before coming to fairy tail. Before I had people in my life. It had helped pass the time and helped me to feel confident in my abilities. Yes, that was what I should do focus on training, getting stronger and figuring out my role as an Dragon Slayer Alpha.

I was so deep in my own thoughts I must have missed his footsteps, but as soon as his large hand landed on my shoulder I let out a loud screech and jerked so hard to the side that I slammed myself into the counter top, dropped the glass I had been washing and flung my arms out in front of me to cover my face. I heard the glass shatter at my feet and let out another yelp of panic.

"Woah, woah, woah!" came Natsu's voice, "It's just me."

I was shaking hard and my breath was coming out in fast harsh puffs sending the bubbles that had been on my hair flying into the air around me. I heard Natsu but my mind was flashing with all the memories of Tray. His angry out bursts that often let to braking glass and his hatful painful hands on my skin. I let out a harsh gasp trying to catch my breath.

"Shhh shhhh, Val? It's alright. It's just us, you're here with us." Lucy slowly crouched beside me making me realize I was cowering on the floor in the corner.

"I'm sorry, Val." Natsu stepped back away from us looking pained, "I didn't mean to scare you."

Just then Gray quickly came into the Kitchen, his dark eyes darting around, obviously having heard the commotion. "What happened?"

GRAY'S PROV

"What happened?" I asked when I saw Valkyrie on the floor shaking like a small caged animal, with broken glass around her.

She was gasping for breath and her eyes were wide and darting around in a panic. Lucy was kneeling near her, but was also trying to keep her distance so as not to freak Valkyrie out more.

I looked over at Natsu and any anger I had toward the hot-headed dragon slayer vanished at the look on his face. He was standing back staring at his sister with shock and pain clear on his face.

I moved to him and placed my hand on his shoulder drawing his attention toward me. It took a second for his eyes to register me, "I didn't mean too. I was going to ask to help her with the dishes."

I shook my head, "It's not you, man." He stared at me for a second before looking back at Valkyrie and grinding his teeth. He closed his eyes and gave me a tight nod.

I squeezed his shoulder once then slowly moved toward Valkyrie, "Val?" she was less panicked now but still a bit shaken. I moved past Lucy closer to Valkyrie which got her attention and her head jerked up to look at me. I saw the change in her face immediately.

She bit her lip, your beautiful eyes filling with tears as I slowly knelt in front of her shaking my head. "Don't say it, Val." I said as calmly as I could. "No sorrys."

She choked out a small sob before wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. "Not sorry." She wheezed out.

"That 'a girl." I smiled at her and slowly moved to wipe away the last of the bubbles in her hair. She froze but didn't pull away and I smiled wider. "You ready to get back up?"

She gave a nod and move to stand, I stood first and offered her my hand. She looked at it for a moment before placing her small hand in mine and letting me gently pull her up.

She let go once she was steady and turned to look at Natsu. "It's okay." She said moving toward him. Natsu looked like he was going to back up but his eyes flashed with his fire as he watched her. Valkyrie walked up to her little brother and looked up at him.

"I'm going to be ok." She gave him a small smile and gently took one of his hands in both of hers.

Natsu let out a pained breath and I could see his hand tighten around hers. "I'll be more careful, Val."

Valkyrie nodded at him, before releasing his hand and moving toward the stairs. "I think I am going to go to bed." She paused at the door and looked back at each of us, her face pale and weary. "Thank you, guys. It's good… to be at home."

I watched as she disappeared from the kitchen and left the three of us standing there in silence. After a few minutes Lucy moved to clean up the broken glass, but Natsu moved toward her and gently took the broom from her hands. "Let me."

Lucy leaned onto the counter and crossed her arms, as Natsu started sweeping up the shards of glass. "I haven't seen her that way before." He said

"It is normal for someone who has gone through everything she has. It will just take time. And our patience." Lucy said as she placed the towel she had been holding on the counter.

I moved to sit at the small four-person table in the middle of the kitchen before wiping my hands over my face and through my hair.

"I wish I could say that it was new." I said flatly, making them both look at me.

"What do you mean?" asked Natsu as he dumped the glass pieces into the trash.

"She has been dealing with all this since before we all even met her. She used to have nightmares at my place." I leaned back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling.

Natsu moved to sit across from me at the table, "What kind of dreams?"

I shook my head remembering the first time I had had to wake her up, "Bad dreams, dreams about being on the run and dreams about her time with… him."

I couldn't bring myself to even say the bastards name and I noticed Natsu's hands clench and steam come off them.

Lucy moved forward and gently wrapped her arms around him, moving her hands soothingly up his arms and shoulders causing him to instantly relax and let out a hot steaming breath.

"I want to help but I don't know how." He said helplessness clear in his voice. "I am not gentle or tactful and it's clear that is what she needs. I just seem to keep making her flinch and jump out of her skin."

"It is only her first day out of the infirmary, Natsu." Lucy said as she gently rubbed his shoulders, "It will take time. You'll see, Valkyrie is going to need you to help her. Even if it is just being here beside her for now."

I watched as Lucy gave Natsu a casual message while she spoke encouraging words to him. I felt my chest pinch and I let out a sigh before standing. "I'm going to turn in too."

They both said good night as I left the kitchen and went up the stairs careful to not make any noise. I paused at the top of the stairs and turned to look at Valkyrie's door. It was half way opened so I moved toward it, figuring I would just check on her.

I looked inside her room toward her bed and went cold when I saw her bed was empty, I pushed open the door farther to look around her room and let out a quite puff of relief when my eyes landed on her huddled up on the window seat of the largest window in her room.

She looked beautiful sitting there her long legs pulled up to her chest and her arms gently wrapped around them. She was wearing black leggings and a too large white sweater with her long pink hair hanging free around her. The moon light was bright tonight shining in and flooding her room with pale blueish light. It making her large eyes practically sparkle.

Her head snapped around to look at me when I shifted my weight and the floor groaned under me.

I quickly held my hands up, "Just me." I said and felt warmth bloom in my chest when she gave me a small smile.

"I was wondering if you were going to come." I blinked in surprise as she turned and looked back up at the moon.

"Were you?" I asked leaning up against her door frame, "Did you want to talk about something?"

She was quite for a minute before looking back at me and letting a small frown fall on her lips. "Are you not coming in on purpose?"

I gave a small chuckle, "Yes."

she straightened up a bit and her eyes went wide, "Oh."

"But not for the reason your thinking." I quickly clarified, making her look at me in confusion. "Then why?"

I straightened up to and waved an arm around her room, "This is your space. Just yours, I want you to feel safe here, Val. One hundred percent."

She smirked at me and swung her legs over the side of the window seat, "I don't know if I will ever feel a hundred percent."

I locked eyes with her, "You will."

She stood up and slowly walked over to stand in front of me. "How can you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked watching as her eyes squint while she searched my face for something.

"How can you make impossible promises that still somehow have me hoping?" she asked quietly,

I gazed at her face seeing all her doubt and fear, but also seeing her strength and the hope she just mentioned.

I smiled and slowly, so she could see my intention, I lifted my hand and gently moved to touch her cheek. Her eyes widened but she leaned slightly into my touch so I moved to fully cup her cheek.

"I can make impossible promises, because you do the impossible, Valkyrie." I watched as her eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't name and a smile slowly formed on her face. "Thank you, Gray. For everything."

She leaned a little more into my hand gently rubbing her cheek against my palm and I had to force myself to not wrap both my arms around her and pull her tight against me. Instead I asked, "Val?"

"Mmm?" she hummed quietly,

"Can I kiss you?" the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them and I held my breath as I waited for her reaction.

She pulled back from my hand slightly and looked up at me, her face unreadable to me as I watched her thinking.

"I think you had better." She said finally,

It was my turn to be surprised and confused, "What?" I asked lamely.

"I think you should." She said again, "I need to try to move forward and I care about you, Gray. I remember everything we have been through…" she stopped to clear her throat because it started fading again. "I want to be able to move forward from this, not just with you, but with everything. So, I think you had better kiss me."

I stared at her for a minute before I let out a bark of laughter and I smiled even wider when I saw her give me a small smile. "Your something special, Valkyrie."

A small blush formed on her pale cheeks as I moved my hand back up against her cheek and slowly leaned forward, I watched her eyes close as she went up on her tip tops to meet me.

I couldn't help but smile as our lips met, I gently stroked her cheek with my thumb as I slowly moved my lips over hers. She surprised me even more by pushing her lips harder against mine.

I lifted my other hand to hold her other cheek cupping her face gently as her tongue touch my bottom lip and I opened my mouth to allow her in deepening the kiss.

She pulled back taking a gulp of air as I rested my forehead on hers, both of us breathing hard.

"Wow." She said looking up at me with a blush,

"Ya." I agreed feeling pride swell inside my chest, 'You alright?" I asked pulling back more to look at her better.

She let out a small giggle that nearly had my face split in half with my own smile, her laugh, how I have missed that sound.

"I am." She looked back at me and gave a small nod, "I am alright. No flash backs or bad memories."

I gently rubbed both her cheeks with my thumbs and moved in again to gently kiss her forehead. "You should try and sleep."

She took in a deep breath before stepping away from me and nodding again. "Alright. See you in the morning, Gray."

"Good night, Valkyrie."