(warning mentions of cutting)
Erza's POV
Rose had come up to me crying and when I asked her what was wrong she didn't say anything all she did was hug me tightly. I wiped her tears and told her we should talk outside. We went and sat under the cherry blossom tree and I looked at my daughter. The wind was blowing a cool breeze on a sunny day. "Rose, what's wrong, why are you crying?" I ask her softly as I look at her wiping away more tears.
"It's Gale he won't eat, he hasn't eaten in days, he used up too much magic and isn't doing well, and he is cutting and it scares me because I love him, and I can't get him to eat, I just don't know what to do" she sobs and I pull her into a hug, I didn't really know how to help.
"Hey it'll be ok, I'm sure he'll start eating soon" I tell her softly.
"He hasn't eaten in a week mom" she says and I sigh.
"Honey look at me, he needs someone and that someone is you. You and only you can get him to eat, and be happy again. Gale needs you, your the only one that can help him, I heard from his parents that he has tried to...kill himself...so go be with him, it will help him, you just have to be patient and stay with him, and he will soon start getting happier...I hope" I tell my daughter as I look at her and she nods.
"Ok I'll try thanks mom" she hugs me and then runs off.
Gale's POV
I knew that if I didn't eat soon, I would die but I was fine with that. I have no purpose in this world, I can't even fight well because of my magic condition. I layed there, I was too weak to move and my breathing had increased but it wasn't an anxiety attack, it was me getting weaker. Rose had left while I was asleep so I figured she gave up and got tired of me. I start coughing as I hear Rose walk in. I stop coughing and weakly turn over to look at her. "Rose you came back" I whisper as I smile.
"Gale how are you feeling?" she asks.
"I'm feeling much better" I lied as I weakly sat up, Wendy had healed my leg so I could move it.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," she smiles. I nod and look at her trying to hide how hard it was to move my body. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
"No" I admit looking down. She sighs and looks down.
"Yea, I didn't think so...let me ask you this, what would your family do if you pass away? How badly would it hurt your family? What would I do without you?" She asks her words pleading and her voice breaks as she talks.
"Y'all will forget about me within a week, so I think it will all be fine" I shrug and she looks at me dumbfounded.
"Are you fucking crazy? We wouldn't forget about you within a week...we would never forget about you. It hurts that you think that, we all care deeply for you and love you...I love you, and if you want to die fine whatever I don't care anymore, but just know you will regret it forever and the guild will never be the same" Rose hisses walking out of the room, and I start to silently sob. I don't know what to do anymore, I never actually wanted to die, I just thought it would be best for everyone, because that way people wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. They wouldn't be held back by my weakness anymore, but I don't want to hurt anyone, especially not Rose. I end up falling asleep hoping the answer will come to me as I sleep.
TIMESKIP
I wake up and see food and some iron with a note attached to it. It read 'if you decide to eat here is some food, I'll be waiting in the guild hall for you, I'm sorry for screaming and then leaving. Love Rose.' I sigh and eat a little bit of food with a little bit of iron, I make sure not to eat too much so that I don't get nauseous. I have to build my strength back up slowly. I then walk downstairs and only see Rose. This confused me so I went and sat down beside her. "Hey Rose"
"Hey Gale, um did you get my note?" she asks as she plays with her hair.
"Yea, I did and you'll be happy to know I'm eating again" I smile and she looks at me, her eyes sparkling. She was so beautiful. She hugs me and stands up.
"Come on, there is something you need to see" she says pulling me out of my seat and begins to run, I wince and take my hand out of hers so I can stop running. She turns around and looks at me with worry in her eyes. "Gale are you ok?"
"Yea it's just that Wendy said she couldn't heal my leg the whole way because it had been crushed too much, and that it would still hurt to do anything more than walk on it or if I carried something heavy.'
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know"
"No, don't worry about it, it's fine now, show me what you wanted to show me" I smiled at her and we walked outside together. We headed to the cherry blossom tree, but there was nothing there.
"Rose what is it that you wanted to show me?" I ask her.
"Just watch" she whispers as she lets go of my hand and walks over to the tree knocking three times. The guild members all come out of hiding, and I was confused.
"What is this?"
"I asked the guild to help me set this up, she looks at me and begins to sing.
"Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to doNow that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way"
"Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm"
My eyes widen as I listen to her beautiful voice, and the words she was singing
"Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over"
"And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Marry me
Mm-hmm"
"I know it's normally the guys that propose but I couldn't wait any longer" she gets down in front of me on one knee. "Gale Redfox, will you marry me?"
"Y-yes" I stutter and she gets up, and puts the ring on my finger then pulls me into a passionate kiss. I smile and the entire guild cheers throwing rose petals all over us.
TIMESKIP Fifteen ears Later
Rose's POV
Dejix and Rala was fighting...again Dejix was thirteen and Rala was fifteen. "Dejix, Rala, are y'all fighting again?" I ask.
"N-no" Dejix lies as I glare at him.
"Than why is there iron swords all over the place?" I ask him.
"Because uh..."
"Because I was helping him train" Rala says quickly.
I didn't believe them but Gale walks up behind me and lays his head on my shoulder.
"Hey what's going on?" Gale asks.
"Nothing just catching your children in a lie" I respond.
"Oh ok so nothing new" Gale says and I chuckle.
"Rala come with me, I wanna ask you something" I tell her as we walk to her bedroom. We get in and I shut the door. "Rala I've heard that you like someone at the guild...who is it? Tell me everything" I smile.
"Mom it's nothing plus he doesn't like me back" she mumbles.
"How do you know?" I ask her.
"He's told me"
I frown "He most likely said that because he was too nervous to tell you the truth...no one could not like you"
"Thanks mom"
"Your welcome"
Gale's POV
"Dad can I talk too you about something?" Dejix asks me.
"Sure what is it?" I ask as we sit on the couch.
"It's actually about Rala...I caught her doing something..." he trails off.
"What was she doing?" I ask concerned.
"She was cutting herself" he mumbles looking down tears in his eyes.
"Oh, thanks for telling me, this isn't good...I didn't think she was depressed she sure doesn't act like it, she must be good at hiding it" I mumble to myself as I look down remembering my teenage years.
"Rala, Rose can y'all come here please?" I shout knowing Rala would hear me with her dragon hearing.
"What is it?" They ask as they enter the living room.
"Well um sit down, Dejix told me something...about Rala"
"What did he say?" Rala asks me as her eyes widen.
"Rala I'm going to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me"
"Ok"
"Are you cutting?" I ask her and Rose gasps.
"N-no" she says looking down.
"Rala let me see your arms" Rose demands. Rala just keeps her arms hidden. Rose grabs Rala's hands and lifts her sleeves up and gasps tears fall down her face. "Rala sweetie you can't do this, it's dangerous"
"Rala look at me" I demand and she turns her head to face me. "I'm sorry I didn't realized you was like this and I think you might have depression, we'll have to take you to get tested for it, but look I know that it seems like the physical pain takes mental pain away, but it doesn't really...it makes it worse...trust me I should know" I sigh "But Rala please stop cutting, we can help you find another way to cope with what you're feeling"
"I-I'm sorry, I just have to live up to mom's and your expectations and I'm too weak...when I said I was helping Dejix train, I lied he was actually helping me train I just feel like I need to get stronger so I can make y'all proud. I mean I'm one of the requip mages in the guild just like Erza was and just like mom is, but I'm not strong enough to become S-class like Dejix and y'all was S-class when y'all was very young, and I feel like I disappoint y'all because I'm not as strong as I should be" she mutters tears falling down her face. I look at her and realize her eyes look just like mine when I was depressed. I could see the hurt in them, I pull her into a hug.
"Rala sweetie we don't expect you to do any of that, if you don't do any of that, it's fine we will still love you no matter what. I'm so sorry you thought you had to be really strong and all but you don't" Rose says and holds her daughter close. Dejix had left without us knowing and I look at Rala who was crying. I can't believe I didn't see this before...I should probley tell them about my past but that can wait for now...for now I should just help Rala get through this.
"Rala we will help you get through this, you aren't in this alone and just remeber we always love you, now why don't you get some sleep it's getting late" I smile at her.
She nods and stands up, and Dejix comes in with a bunch of knives and swords "I was just remvoing these out of her room for her" Dejix says putting them in a pile in a cabinet and locking it. Rala looks down tears fall down her face.
"I'm really sorry"
"Thank you Dejix and Rala it's ok...I understand what your going through, we just want to make sure your safe" I tell her as she nods hugs me than goes off too bed.
"I'm worried for Rala" Dejix mutters.
"She'll be ok don't worry, now off to bed" I tell him and he nods running too his room.
"Rose what should we do about Rala? How should we help her?"
"I don't know right now but we'll figure something out" Rose assures me and I nod.
"Do you think this is my fault? Do you think she see's me when I get depressed? I try to hide it from them, I didn't want them knowing"
"It's not your fault I promise" Rose smiles at me and I nod as we head off to bed.