The next day Wendy's grandfather went back home to live with her uncle. Both of her parents were away at work and Wendy attended school like she always did but she couldn't help but feel a little upset over what she had learned yesterday. She had grown very fond of her new friends. Her only friends. So if the day came that they had to move on, in other words she'd be all alone. Yes she still had her parents and she did love them but they weren't always around. She didn't voice her feelings to anyone especially not the ghouls because she didn't want them to feel guilty for something they couldn't control.
When she came home she went straight to her bedroom, sat on her bed, and started doing her homework. She hoped that it would be able to take her mind off of how upset she was for a little while. Wendy was very good at hiding her feelings but the deceased as I mentioned early have a way of sensing how someone really feels.
"She's sad." Juvia said to the others.
"We know." Gray said. "We can feel it."
"And it hurts." Natsu said. "I'd be crying if I still had tear ducts."
"What's got her so upset?" Lucy asked.
"Yesterday I told her that once we solve our unfinished business we would move on." Juvia explained.
"Well she knew about that."
"Yes but she didn't know once that happened she'd never see us again. At least not while she's still alive."
"Oh..."
"Well it's not goodbye forever." Natsu said. "She'll see us again when she's dead."
"I wouldn't tell her that if I were you." Gray said. "That wouldn't exactly help."
"Should we talk to her?" Lucy suggested.
"I don't know. I sense that she doesn't want us to know how upset she is." Gray said.
"She's afraid of being all alone." Juvia said. "The poor thing thinks we're the only ones who will be there for her when she needs someone."
"What about her parents?" Lucy said. "Sure they work but we can all feel how much they love that child."
"That's thing Lucy. She is a child and like most children she doesn't always understand how working parents struggle. They don't want to work so much and they'd rather be with their children but they have to be able to provide too."
"I wish there was something we could do."
"Maybe we can?" Natsu said. "Bosses make people work right?"
"Duh." Gray said.
"No problem. I posses the bosses and give the parents a few days off. It's brilliant."
"Yeah brilliant. But what happens when the bosses gain control of their bodies again and have absolutely no memory of giving them a few days off so they fire them for not coming into work?"
"Alright so that plan is a dud. I'll think of something else. It'll come to me. I just need something to get my thinking going." He looked over at Juvia's dress and before anyone could react he lifted up her skirt. "Oh yeah now I've got something!"
"Ahh!" Juvia screamed.
"You sick bastard!" Gray shouted before bashing on Natsu on the head five times.
"Ow...I lost it." Natsu groaned.
"No kidding." Lucy said.
For the rest of the day the four of them watched Wendy quietly and out of sight. Observing just how she was feeling. Her father was working late so he wouldn't be home for a long time, Erza came home but she had still had work to do. She didn't even come down to dinner. At nine o'clock when Wendy went to bed her friends finally decided to talk to her.
"Are you okay sweetie?" Juvia asked.
"I'm fine." Wendy answered.
"You don't look fine." Natsu said.
"And you don't feel fine either." Gray added.
"How do you know how I feel?"
"Ghosts and ghouls are highly empathetic. We have a sense that allows us to feel what living people feel. At least when they're nearby."
"So you guys can feel what I feel?"
"In a sense."
"And we can feel how sad you are." Lucy said.
Wendy looked down at her knees.
"Honey we know you're upset about us moving on one day." Gray said. "We know you're going to miss us and we're going to miss you but Lord knows when we'll ever sort out our business. None of us can even remember what it is."
"You'll probably have passed away and moved on yourself by the time we get around to it." Natsu said.
"Do you guys want to move on?"
The four of them looked each other before Lucy decided to answer for them.
"Wendy we...We do want to but... There's nothing for us here in earth. We don't have a living body any more so we can't really enjoy anything on earth. We can't be seen or heard or touched by anyone except you. We can't feel or taste or smell and being on earth is a constant reminder of that."
"I never thought of that. I didn't know you all were so miserable here."
"We're not miserable. We just want to feel alive again and moving on will allow us to do that."
"Then I won't be upset about this anymore."
"Wendy it's okay to be upset about this." Juvia said.
"No. If moving on we'll make you all happy then I'll be happy for you. I won't cry or feel sad. I won't be selfish."
"Kid you're anything but that." Natsu said.
"Thanks Natsu." She said with a smile. "Listen I have a big day at school tomorrow so can you guys leave my room so I can get some sleep."
"Sure thing." Natsu said. "Goodnight kid."
"Goodnight Wendy." Gray and Lucy said.
"Goodnight guys." Wendy said.
Natsu, Lucy, and Gray quickly disappeared into the wall. But Juvia stayed behind a little longer just to make sure that Wendy was fine.
"You sure you're alright?" She asked.
"Uh-huh. I feel so silly getting upset about this. I kind of wish my dad was here though. He usually helps me in these situations."
"How so?"
"Well when I was little and I would get sad he would sing to me to make me feel better."
"Really? I sing a little. If you'd like I could sing to you."
"Okay."
"Now I'm no professional opera singer so please don't be too critical of me." She joked which made Wendy giggle.
Juvia chose to sing a lullaby that she remembered from her past but couldn't place where she had heard this song or learned it. But it was a sweet little song. Perfect for this situation.
"Je t'aime, je t'aime toujour
I am forever yours
Sweet dreams, sweet dreams mon cher
You're always in my prayer.
Softly, sweetly
Wrapped up in heaven's arms
Sailing, soaring over the moon
Gathering star dust.
Be still, be safe, be sure
Je t'aime, je t'aime toujour."
Her voice was very beautiful and gentle much like Juvia herself and the song helped Wendy get more comfortable. Now unknown to both of them, Gray had come back to see what was keeping Juvia and when he heard her singing he couldn't help but feel a sense nostalgic and familiarity. Like he had heard that exact song bring sung by that exact voice.
"Wishing, praying
All of your dreams come true.
Please remember
Where'er you are my heart is with you.
Sweet dreams, sweet dreams mon cher
Always in my prayer
I am forever yours
Je t'aime, je t'aime toujour."
By the time her song had finished Wendy had fallen asleep. Juvia kissed Wendy's forehead and moved toward the wall where she saw Gray.
"When did you get here?" She asked.
"Just a few minutes ago." He said. "Nice song. Where did you hear it?"
"I don't know. I remember the song but not where it came from."
"Huh..."
"Something wrong?"
"No. No. We better leave now."
"Agreed."
Then quietly they disappeared into the wall. Shortly after they left Erza came upstairs and creaked the door open to Wendy's bedroom. She thought that she had heard someone singing in this room. A woman. But all she saw was her daughter sound asleep in bed.
"I must be overworking myself way too hard." She told herself. "I'm hearing things."
She quietly closed the door and went back downstairs.