When she got home later, she was very tried and Sting and Rogue basically hang around until she crawled into bed. Gray wanted the alone time when she came back to chat about that last missing years that they haven't seen or heard from each other. He wanted to know why she left and didn't leave word as to where she went too. Gray was very worried for a long while, and when he finally phone up her brothers and father. They didn't tell him anything, but told him that she was safe. He ask if she was there, to which they didn't foreclose that information. At that time he was fine to know that she was ok and with her family. He hope that she would contact him, no word was forward. Then he got busy with school, Juiva and his son was born. The years went by and she still was kept in the corner of his heart.
The flowers were staring at her as she was watering them with the garnering hose. She had a few planters and hanging plants needed a good drink. The soil was getting dry and she didn't want any of the blue roses to die. Lucy was making a fresh bouquet to have at the till that would be eye catching to a customer, that would make them wanting to buy. Her newest employee Natsu was helping a female pick out flowers for her husband funeral.
The front door open and the wing chime made a sound of a customer coming inside the store. She wasn't paying any attention who or whom came in. Lucy greeted them and ask them if they needed help. The person shook his head and points over to Amber to speak to her. "Go ahead, she is zoned out right now and been watering the planter for five minutes. If she doesn't stop the flowers will drown."
"I'll take care of it." The man walks over to her. She is prop up on her crutch with her foot slightly bent up off the floor. He hears her sigh and keeps watering. Sting had talk her ear off about her telling Gray about Josh. She refused to say anything of the sort. Rogue like the gentle person he is, had to step in the fight before it got of hand. He could see each other point and that boy he cares for to much has the right to know. Sting and him were willing to leave it in her hands and have her think on it.
"Amber?" He waits for her turn around, but she doesn't. She was to deep in thought to hear him say her name for a second time. He frowns at her wondering what could be shadowing her mind. Gray puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Amber!" She jumps from the touch, her crutches falls to the ground. She spins around and the water hose showers Gray upper body. She starts falling backwards and he catches her before landing on the planter.
"I got ya." The hose gets lose from her hands and lands on the floor getting her crutches wet and water starts covering the floor. Natsu runs to turn the knob off. Her hand covers her chest. To what it felt like to be jump out of her skin.
"Gray, you scared the life of me."
"I called out to you three times."
He was still holding onto her and getting her shirt wet with being in close proximity and he had her dip back with his arm around her. "You have my attention, can you straightened me up? We have people looking Gray. I can't handle that." He looks and sees the predicament they are in and helps her to stand. The crutches were to wet for her to use for now.
"Do you have a office?" Her breathing has already started to quicken. Gray turns to the pink headed guy.
"She is starting to have anxiety attack where is her office." Gray lefts her up in his arms. She pats his back to put her down.
"Her office is right behind that counter." He starts walking with her over to her office door. She buries her head into his shoulder.
"You are going to be alright." He sees she has a love seat in the room. He gently puts her down. Natsu closes the door to give her some time and not have people look at her. He was told about her attacks and hasn't seen one yet. Lucy said to him that they can get very bad, if none of them were here in the store at the time.
There is a pillow on the couch and she hugs and holds onto it. "I am sorry Amber. This is all my fault, I didn't want to cause attack to flare up." She holds up her hand letting him know it was fine.
She looks up at him and sees his shirt is clinging to his body. It outline his frame of his body and made him look really sexy. "You are going to get sick if you don't take off your shirt." He was more concern about her and she was worried for him.
He starts unbuttoning his shirt and she has to look away. "You could have done that in the staff bathroom." He smiles at her seeing her a little rattle.
"You have seen me with out my shirt countless of times" It comes off and puts it on the chair.
"That was years ago and we are older." Amber was thinking back to that night when they were both drunk. Her hands sculpted his body and kissed him all over when they were doing it. Her anxiety wasn't leveling off yet. Gray takes the spot next to her on the love seat.
"I need my pills."
"No, you don't. I am here look at me."
How could she possibility do that with how close he was to her and being half naked. "Gray please. They are in my purse on the desk." He was going to get up, he wanted to help her like he used too and it work.
He turn her face towards him. "Listen to my voice. Take a deep breath in and let it out." He sees her chest left up and she lets her breath out slowly. "Do it again, until I say stop." It was minutes until she started to feel like herself again. With her eyes close and she was leading back into the couch.
"Good, now one more." She opens up her eyes after the last breath. He was holding onto her hand. Didn't know when he had taken it. It's been a long time since she was able to calm down this way. He was always able to settle her down.
"See no pills. I don't like you taking them. Now you are better because I was here. Like all those other times." He rubs his thumb on her hand. Gives her one of his charming smiles. It was good that he was here when this happen. It was mostly his undoing that cause all this. She still had question for him.
"Why are you here?" He thought it was obvious to why.
"To see you of course. I only briefly saw you when you came back that night we hardly talked due to Sting and Rogue being there. Then you got to tried and went to bed. I haven't come by because of my work. Right now it's lunch time and here I am."
"Sorry, I didn't give you a proper good bye. It was a long day and to end up crashing on the floor, wipe me out. Not only do I have a twisted ankle. The bruise on my hip is very painful. When I saw Laxus, he gave me t3's to take. You know how those can work do a number on me."
She tries to focus on his face and not his bare chest while there conversation continues. His upper body has improved from back then. Even his face has fine out as well. If she didn't look at him instead of the wall or her desk he would know something was up.
"It must be painful for you to walk." He was enjoying looking at her eyes they still have a sparkle to them. Her looks have change over the years. Her hair was very long when they were younger. Today it was pulled back into her a ponytail compare to the other day it shown the length down past her shoulders. Her body was still the same size, but he knew she has no self conference in herself. She never saw her own true beauty.
"What are you plans for lunch?"
The clock on her wall read 12:45pm. "My lunch break is going to be a short one. We have a couple coming in later to view the flowers for their up coming wedding. They have been in 3 times already and still can't pick what they want."
"You can't go out to eat?"
She shakes her head. "My lunch is over there in that bag." Gray gets up and walks over to bag and looks into it. It was nothing special to it at all. There was a drink, sandwich and a salad. He wasn't to sure if should ask if she was trying to lose weight again. To him it didn't matter what she looked like, Amber was Amber.
"This is what you are going to eat for the whole entire day?"
She sits up more on the couch and looks at him. "I normally bring that much with me. I don't want to go over board. Plus I been trying to lose weight, It's a on and off again kind of thing. Josh wants to go away on summer vacation. I thought I would try."
"Summer isn't for other month or so." He hands her the bag. She pulls out the sandwich to start eating it.
"I try to plan ahead for summer. Now he is getting older, he would like to stay at home on his own while I am working. I have had he come here for summer vacation and doing things around the store. He will also go over to the brothers or my dad. Sting and Rogue takes him camping. This year he wants to go somewhere. I am still looking into that."
Her drink gets comes out of the bag and he opens it for her to take a drink. "What have you been thinking of doing?"
"Have no clue." She takes a sip and hands it back and takes a other bite. He wanted to start talking about the past and plan to do it during lunch at a different location. He will hold off for now.
"I am in the same boat. Shawn wants to do something this year. I have the company starting up and it's been going crazy good. There is Lyon and my parents to take him."
"Whatever we plan, they at times end up not liking it." He laughs knowing how true that is. Shawn hated some of his dad's ideas but ends up warmer up to them and later has a blast because his father knows what he likes.
"If you want some ideas for him let me know." He pats her leg and keeps his hand there.
"I might just do that." With her fork she stabs her lettuce not thinking about his hand on her leg. It was warming the skin underneath her and sent a shiver down her spine. She puts it into her mouth quickly.
He picks out a tomato out her salad and pops it into his mouth. She looks at her salad and looks back at him. She raise her brow at him. "Do you want some?"
He smiles. "I am getting hungry and it looks good." She puts some more on to her fork and gives him a bite. He opens his mouth to claim it. Then she smirks and puts into hers instead. "Hey."
"Couldn't help myself."
"I'll remember that."
She gives him a teasing laugh and a smile. Amber could always do these things to him and didn't mind in the lest. When he gets her back it was ten fold, but it was all in good fun. Her office door opens and Lucy pops her head in. She sees them on the couch with his shirt off and Amber laughing. Lucy wanted to know if more was going between them. "Amber, Evergreen and Elfman are here."
"There is my appointment."
Gray looks at her. "Did she say Evergreen and Elfman."
"Uh huh." She didn't want to tell him it was someone that they went to school with. They were a year ahead of them. Everyone knew who they were, they were the talk of the school besides her brother Jellal and Erza.
"Wow, haven't seen them in a long time." He stands up and starts putting on his shirt.
"Gray it's still wet."
"I am feeling a little hot right now. I am sure my shirt will dry in no time." Her empty salad bowl gets put back into the bag and she stands up. She hops over to him and touches his shirt. "Maybe Natsu has a extra shirt here. I can go ask him for you." She hops over to the door and he pulls her back.
"No need." His hands where on her hips and she had to hold onto him from the force of being pulled. She looks up at him and frowns.
"I not going to get sick. I take vitamins every day and exercise." He looks into her green eyes that he could get lost in them.
"Never say never Gray. To get sick now before the days really get hot, you will feel miserable." She pats his chest and takes a step back and holds onto the desk.
"At lest I have someone above me to help in my recovering if I do." Her heart skip a beat with the way he said that. After all these years he still has a effect her. With her hops over to the door, she waves to the couple and tells them she will be there in moment.
"Lunch for me is over. You have to get back to work too."
"Can I ask for a rain check on lunch?"
"I don't know Gray going to be busy with Wedding orders, it's the season." She holds onto the door knob for support.
"Let me know when you are free." She hops out of her office and sees her crutches up against the counter. Gray gets to her quickly and puts a hand on her arm and helps her over. Elfman and Evergreen see him beside her.
"Gray? I can't believe it." Elfman and him shake hands. "Didn't know you were in town."
"Me and Shawn move into apartment complex. I am starting up my Wine business."
Evergreen with her long green hair comes over to them. "Wine, did you say wine."
"Ice wine. I have them selling in stores now." She claps her hands together, she bats her eyes at her soon to be husband.
"Why not get our beverage through Gray. Do you discounts on friends?" Gray didn't want to discuss his business in her store. He pulls out a card out of his wallet and hands it her.
"Come by and I'll show you around. If you are getting flowers from Amber. I am sure we can set something up for you."
"Your the man, Gray." He gives him a big man's hug and Amber thought she could hear his bones breaking. When he was release he had take a few steps backwards. She turns her head and tries not to laugh. He looks at her and sees her shoulders moving.
"I have to get going and see you soon. Be sure to buy the flowers from here. You know Amber will do a wonderful job."
"That is why we are here. Been buying flowers for Evergreen from her." Elfman pats her head and Evergreen gives her a hug.
"Maybe we can decide on what you two want today. Your nuptials are coming up." She picks up her crutches from the counter and points over to were they need to start looking.
They again said their goodbyes to Gray and he walks over to the front door with Amber sending him off. He gives her his card too. "My phone numbers. If you have a other attack call me. I can be here like that and can bring you home." He snaps his fingers.
"Gray, I would not want to disrupt you when you are working. The pills work, no need to call you." She puts the card in her pocket and puts her hand back on the crutch.
"I call Sting when it gets bad." He didn't like hearing that. Sting may have known her for 12 years, but he has known her since they were kids. The idea of him being call to comfort her. Kind of unnerve him even though the man is gay.
"Does he do the same thing as I?"
"No, I take the pills. His method is different."
"Does it work?"
"Half and half." He was glad to hear that, because he could always settle her down. Gray on impulse lowers his head down and kisses her cheek.
"I'll see you later." He gives her wink and leaves the store before she could utter a goodbye. She stood there looking out the door. He has never kissed her on the cheek, he has given her hugs and when she crawled into his bed he would wrap a arm around her. Nothing more has ever happen until that one night.
The store grew quiet and she turns to attend to Elfman and Evergreen. Everyone was looking at her with grins on their faces. "What?" They all shook there heads and shrugs. If she couldn't see it, they sure could. The wedding couple knows how they were in school. They were always very close. If Amber was hurt or picked on or talked about. Gray was right there to defend her. If he had a girl on his arm Amber tried to not show her jealously but they could tell she liked him. She watch him from a far and kept her distance when he was dating someone. When she was abuse by her mom it was a different story. Amber choose to hide the pain that cause her. They figure that is why her anxiety attacks have become worse, she hasn't dealt with that part of her past and her mom.
"Lets get you two start picking out your flowers now. Lucy, Natsu get back to work." She wasn't to sure why she was getting the strange looks. There was no point and figuring out why, she needed to do her job. She goes over to the couple and starts advising them on what the best flowers could work in their wedding.
Gray was back at work walking around the building looking at the wine being made from his workers. "I should give her a bottle to see if she would like it."
"Give who a bottle brother?" He stops walking to see his brother coming to him from the other direction. He wasn't suppose to meeting up with him today. Then anything can come up in business.
"You will not believe this Lyon."
"Try me." He stops right beside him and eyes the wine barrels. The wine was being pour into them.
"Guess who is my neighbor above me?"
"I presume is someone I know and given we grew up in this town. It could be anyone. Need a hint."
"This hint will give it away pretty fast."
"Ok, do 20 questions. Male or Female"
"Female."
"Old girlfriend."
"No, but a good friend."
"Married or single."
"Haven't ask if she is dating someone. She has a kid who is 12."
"Where did she lived?"
"Right beside us on the left. You where friends with her brothers."
"Amber! wow haven't seen her in long time."
"I know, me either. The last time was back in collage."
Lyon was surprise that he has run into her all this time. He was very hurt that she didn't contact him at all after school. Wouldn't even allow her brothers to tell him where she was. If she was with them, he was fine in knowing that. Gray wasn't himself or a long time. Getting involved with a ex girlfriend that he liked and had a child with. Put a strain on their relationship for a while. Lyon now adores his nephew. He has helped Gray start on this venture with loaning him money which he has almost paid back.
"The wine you want to give is to her."
"Josh, her son has said she drinks wine. Thought I could bring it over to her place or cook her a meal and talk about old times." He picks up one of the bottle from the crate and tells his brother how he saw her again.
"Sucks that she still gets the attacks. Her mother is the cause. I remember when mom found out she was hitting her, it was also the first time she found her in your bed. She was sporting that bruise cheek. Then she continue to sneak in, mom allow it."
"Mom at first didn't allow it, I convince her to let Amber come over when it got bad. That wasn't the first time she was there. That was the first time she found out." Gray takes a other bottle to give to her.
Lyon looks to his brother. "Is she going to crawl into your bed now." Gray almost drop the wine out of his hands and turns to look at him.
"What? No..."
"Come on. With all the times she was in your bed, didn't you ever wanted to make love to her."
"Lyon!" He looks around him to see if any of his workers heard him.
"I never took advantage of her in that way. She climbed in and I hold her tightly. I never went beyond those bounds." He didn't mention to his brother the feelings he had for her in the past.
The brothers leave the area and go to a other part in the building. "Have you asked her?"
"Plan to take her out for lunch today to find out. It didn't happen, hoping to find out soon if I can. Even at times I know what she is thinking or what she is about to say. She can be a closed book if she choose too."
"I grew up with her too, I know what she is like. What if she doesn't tell you brother."
"We use to tell each other everything. I don't see a problem."
"Really, you think all that time together she didn't keep some secrets to herself." He opens the door to where the grapes are being smashed down. Gray knew he had a point, but would she not tell him.
"Do you think there are?"
"Every girl has keep things close to her heart. She is one of the many women that do."
"I'll find out soon enough brother." Then a sneeze can be herd in the hallway as a few workers walk by.
"Gray don't sneeze on me."
The next few days Gray couldn't see Amber and give her the wine. The company had him being pulled in each direction. He was also showing symptoms of coming down with a cold. He did get a message from her one day saying that Shawn was spending the night there. Put a smile on his face when the message pop up on his cell. His mind would wonder to her and seeing her again made him think of the past. When work finally died down the first thing he did was head on over to the apartment to see her.
He had a shower and changed his clothes before heading up to the next floor. Shawn was already up there playing with Josh. Those two had become so close, they wouldn't do anything with out the other one.
With the two bottle of wine in his hand. He goes up in the elevator. It was like meeting a girl for the first time, but this time he already knows her. Josh was the one that open up the door.
"Hello Josh."
"Hey Gray, you want Shawn to come home now."
"No, I am here to see your mother."
"Oh, well she is on the couch." He opens the door widener and lets him in. Amber was waving at him from the couch. The position she was in, he could tell that she was laying on it with her leg up.
"How is the foot." She lifts it up showing the compression bandage wrap around her ankle.
"I'll be crutches free soon." The foot goes back on the pillow. He walks over to her and hands her the wine.
"For you to try out." The label had his company name and his name on it. She grins up at him.
"Gray this amazing, I am happy for you. Your company is going to skyrocket."
"That is the plan." He comes around the couch and she moves her foot so he has a place to sit down.
"I can't wait to try a glass."
"Why not now?"
"Going to be cooking supper soon. One or two glasses of this goes to my head."
"I can cook while you rest." He rolls up his selves and goes into the kitchen and sees the chicken on the counter.
"Stir fry chicken rich with veggies."
"Mmmm that sounds yummy."
"I have made it a few times."
"You and the dozen of girlfriends you have had." He takes out the cutting board and grabs the things he needs from the fridge and search the cupboards.
"There haven't been that many?"
The look she gave him, told him otherwise. "I beg to differ on that. The girls fall down at your feet in school. You were Mr. Playboy."
"I think you are wrong on that."
"Nu uh." He points the knife at her. Gray knew what she thought of him and he didn't think of himself as a playboy. Yeah he had women on his arm, he was kid, didn't know any better.
"It's true Gray. It didn't take long for you to go through one girl then have a other." He throws a piece of carrot at her.
"Believe what you well."
"I will." She sticks her tongue at him.
"Watch it or there will consequences." She holds up her hands in surrender.
The meal he made was the best supper she had in a long time. The boys ate it up and left nothing on the plates. Afterwards they went back to playing in Josh's room and they both sat back down the couch siting side by side.
"That was delicious Gray. I give five stars." She flashes with her hand five.
"At lest I don't burn my food and have to eat cereal."
"Not all the time I do that. It's when I feel stressed."
"Have you taken more pills?"
"I have."
"Amber!"
"Gray I can't phone you up like want me too. You have been very busy." She crosses her arms and not wanting to discuss this.
"Ok, I am not going to argue about the pills tonight. We can talk of other things."
"Like?"
Gray takes some of her hair puts it behind her ear and then takes one of her hands in his. "It's been what 12, 11 years. I think the last time I saw you was on the last day of college. Our first year, they had that party." She was wondering when he was going to start talking about the past. He emotions where targeted of fear that a attack will strike.
"Yes I believe so." Her heart was thumping thinking that he was going to ask about Josh. Then to her surprise it went differently, it was what she expected him to say that caught her off guard.
"I know right, the next morning I woke up naked in my bed. I don't even remember the girl I slept with."
"You don't remember?" He shakes his head at her.
"It's all very blurry. Can't make out her face when I think back to it." They both had a lot to drink that night. It started with Amber first after seeing Gray talking to a girl, who desperately wanted him. She had enough of not being view as one of the girls on his arm.
Her body shifts on the couch. She was amazed that all of the girls he has had, it's her that he doesn't remember making love to. Then again it may be a blessing for her that he doesn't have to know about conceiving Josh. Even after Sting talked to her about saying something to him. "It's been so long Gray, why would you want to try and remember."
"It's something that has always stuck in my mind. I have tried everything to make it clear. No luck so far."
She let out her breath slowly in knowing that he may never find out. "Besides the last day of college, you have a son." Her smiles brightens at the mention of her boy.
"He is my pride and joy. Love him from the first moment I laid my eyes on him. You have a boy too. Shawn is great."
"Like you said about Josh is how I feel about him. His mother was a girl I dated in college."
She thinks back to who he has dated that she would know. Then her face appears in her head. Shawn had some of her facial expressions when he talked to her. "Juiva?"
"Yep, you guess it. We got together again and one thing lead to a other and here he is."
"You got married?"
"No. We shared custody of him. Then she got sick and passed away." He feels her hand squeeze his. "Sorry."
"There was no love there, we were friends." He looks into her eyes. "We were not as close, like we were." His hand comes up and touches her cheek.
"Have you thought of me over the years Amber."
She couldn't very well lie and say no. He knows her to well to know when she would fib. Sometimes he would read her mind and answer her own thoughts.
"There have been moments that I would think of the past." She bites her lip from saying more. The look he was giving her she wasn't to sure what was going on. Right now she was going to change the topic.
"The wine you brought over, maybe I'll have a glass."
"You are changing the conversation."
"The past was mostly me raising Josh. There was Sting and Rogue there too." His head moves closer to hers.
"Don't want you talking of Sting tonight."
His hand moves from her cheek and puts it behind her head. He pulls her closer to him.
"Gray what are you doing?"
"Don't be scared." He brushes her lips with hers.
"Gray..." She says softly.
He smiles. "Glad to have you back in my life."
She tries to pull back from him but he is not going to stop.
"I don't think..."
"Shhhh."
"Gray.."
"Amber, be still and let me kiss you." He softly presses his lips against hers. She tries to say something but she started to melt with the kiss. It was gentle and tender and Gray wanted access into her mouth by licking her bottom lip. She wasn't willing to give him dominance over her. Then she hears Josh door opens and she pushes away from him.
"Can we have a snack mom."
Gray stares at Amber and she had to turn away. "Go ahead." She watches Josh and Shawn raid her fridge. A pair of lips nears her ear and he whispers. "Next time you will open your mouth."
Without turning to him. "There will be no next time."
"I am not a betting man, but I will bet to say that we will." He gets off the couch to tell the boys that he saw ice cream in the freezer.
The fingers of her hand touches her lips, the kiss was just like him and it made her heart flutter. There is no way she will be kissing him again or he will remember that night. "Can I tell him before he figures it out on his own." He turns his head to look back at Amber and a flash of memory went through his mind of that night.
He thinks to himself. "Why did a memory appear when I kissed her?" He gets some bowls out of the cupboard and some spoons.
"If kissing her will regain that part of my past. Then a second kiss will be imperative. She may try to push me away. I will not let that happen."