You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness

What does he want to talk about? Why the random message? Every time we're in the same room I can feel his eyes on me, does he think I don't notice him? Is he going to explain his behavior? Are we going to finally be able to have a conversation? Should I tell him what I've been thinking?...

Levy swallowed the acrid feeling rising up her throat. She did not know if it was the acid reflux or the impending doom of a long conversation that was upsetting her stomach. BUMP. She paused her panicked thinking and smiled down at her stomach. "Are you telling me to calm down little one?" She placed her hand on her belly to rub it as her cat Lily jumped on the couch to comfort her. Three more weeks and I get to hold you. Mew. Lily made a soft, tired sound as he climbed on top of Levy's 35-week belly and settled in to nap at its apex.

BUMP. BUMP.

Levy laughed as she watched the cat jump off and settle underneath the coffee table, an obvious annoyance in its movement. "Well, that's what you get. She's not a pillow and I am not a bed. Even if I am the size of one." She stuck her tongue out at the cat as she wrapped both arms around her belly, all anxiety going out of her mind as she focused on her soon to be daughter.

Like resignation to the end, always the end

Suddenly there were three hard knocks on the door to her dorm and all the knots came back to her stomach as she slowly made her way to answer the door. Levy steeled her nerves but the shaky hand reaching for the knob gave her away to her inner turmoil. She opened the door to a pensive man and despite her best attempt not to, her heart could not help but stutter every time she saw his broad stature. He'd already replaced all of his piercings by then. Levy counted each stud on his folded arms before moving up to his face. His thin lips were tightened even more as he had them in a tense position and his windswept hair was sticking out at odd ends.

He's been on his bike again. Levy could not stop the memories that they shared on his motorcycle from invading her mind. It took all her strength to meet his eyes as they gave no emotion or hint to the short woman as to why he was here. What felt like hours, but were probably just a few moments, later, his mouth slowly opened into a half-grin, "Hello Levy."

-Gajeel POV-

So when we found that we could not make sense

Tch. Gajeel did not like this feeling in his stomach. Like iron was just sitting there and twisting up his insides. he wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans as he continued down the familiar hallway. Squaring off to face the door, his hand paused mid-air, hesitating on his knock. Gajeel could hear Her from outside her door. His ears filled with musical laughter, "That's what you get..." Mavis, how he missed her laugh. He missed her smile. He missed her scent. He missed her.

Shaking off his momentary weakness, he steeled himself to show no emotions as he wasn't sure how welcomed he would be.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

His heart quickened for a moment when she appeared at the door. A lump formed in his throat as he took her in and had she looked up first, she would have seen all the love he held for her shining through his crimson eyes. Get a hold of yourself! This is not the time to lose control. Gajeel resist the urge to stare as he took in as much detail as possible.

Despite having just seen her at her appointment last week, he took this opportunity imprint this image of Levy into his mind. Her hair had grown just past her shoulders and she rested her hands on her lower back to help support the extra weight of pregnancy. The swollen belly threatened to tip the small woman over but Gajeel couldn't help but think of how stunning she looked, even more so by the sudden blush that rushed into her cheeks.

He tried his best attempt at a calming grin and spoke evenly, unable to trust his voice if he put in any emotion into it, "Hello, Levy."

"Gajeel" Levy made room in the doorway for him to enter her dorm, but the tall man still hesitated when he heard the coolness of her voice.

I guess I deserved that. He thought back to all the times he gave her an equally if not more aloof tone as he finally entered the dorm. Gajeel could tell that she had made herself comfortable in the living room. Blankets and pillows lined all the furniture looking like a makeshift nest of books, papers, and her laptop in the center.

He moved a stack of notes from an armchair so he'd have a place to sit as Levy waddled back to her couch and got comfortable by putting her feet up on the coffee table. Her body relaxed as she took a deep breath in and said, "What did you want to talk about?"

Well, you said that we would still be friends

Gajeel hesitated, again thrown off by the lack of emotion in her voice. Lily came from underneath the coffee table and jumped onto Gajeel's lap, purring and rubbing his fur along his lap in an obvious welcome. It spurred Gajeel to just get it over with. "Well, wouldn't you like to know who gave me a visit today..." and he proceeded to tell her exactly who, despite the old couple's wishes. Fuck them, she deserves to know. He told her everything. Why he stopped talking to her. His father slipping him the narcotics. The hit he had on him that was apparently taken care of. Everything.

-Levy POV-

Levy just sat there. Stunned. Relieved. Angry. Sad. A plethora of feelings ran through her mind. Of course, they come and try to 'fix' her life again. Her parents were notorious for controlling everyone around her. It made her sick to think they can force Gajeel into this corner. "You don't have to listen to them you know. Oscar and Lisbeth Mueller do not rule the world."

But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

"I don't know Shrimp. They just might."

She pretended not to care at the term of endearment used by Gajeel. It had been ages since he's called me that.She shook the thought out of her head and re-affirmed. "Seriously. If they say your name is cleared, you don't have to worry about the other bullshit." An unfamiliar feeling ran through Gajeel's eyes but it happened so fast Levy wasn't sure she even saw a change. "Just don't be high around our daughter or take her around shady people."

Anger glinted through Gajeel's eyes so Levy was careful with how she approached the sensitive topic. "In fact, I'm glad you're finally talking to me because I wanted to discuss your visitation rights."

-Gajeel POV-

But you didn't have to cut me off

Those last two words hung between them. A weight bearing down right on Gajeel's shoulders. He had stopped petting Lily and tried his best to remain as calm as possible. "Visitation rights?" Gajeel notice her eyes flicker to his stilled hands, which were now grabbing at Lily's fur as he made them into fists. Lily hissed at the sudden change of demeanor and ran off into a corner of the dorm.

"Y-yes." Except for the small stutter, Levy was resolute. "I plan on breastfeeding so for the first year or two, she'll have to be with me constantly or at least until I can get a good back up supply going." With every word, Gajeel could see his future falling away. "You are more than welcome over to our apartment but I don't see the possibility of you taking her on our own for a while." She paused to gauge his reaction to her next words, "And if you do decide to come over please call ahead to make sure I'm here and not busy or something. And I want to make sure its never just us. So please bring Laxus or Mira or let me know so I can have a friend come over. It's for the best that someone else is there to help buffer out the awkwardness..."

Gajeel clenched his teeth, his nails digging into his palms as she continued. What the actual fuck?This was not going as planned. He was here to apologize and move on with Levy. It was all a misunderstanding. He wanted another chance. "Shorty, what the fuck are you talking about?"

Levy looked shocked, either at the interruption or at the anger in his voice. "Well, Gajeel,... I-I was just being p-prac-"

"Well Levy," He emphasized his words to mimic her own. "I think this is all bullshit. She's my daughter too and I want to raise her with you. I want to be there with you. The sleepless nights. The dirty diapers. The baby vomit."

Gajeel could not help the frustration coming out of his voice. He was losing his family. He was gonna miss her first word. Her first steps. Her first everything. He was so focused on his losses that he did not notice the tears spilling from Levy's eyes "Dear Mavis Levy. Can't you see why I did what I did? I know better now! I don't want to be on the sidelines while we grow further apart. I don't want to be left out! She's my daughter too!"

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing

"Shut up!" Gajeel finally looked up to see Levy looking furious. Her whole body was shaking and her face was red with anger. "Just shut up Gajeel!"

Levy tried to stand and he went immediately to her aid. Gajeel could see the reluctance in Levy to take the help but had no other option really. When she gained her balance, she pointed a finger at him. "YOU can NOT ignore me for a month and pretend that I don't exist and then suddenly swoop in here with some explanation and expect me to take you back."

At this point, Gajeel was letting himself be pushed back towards the door by the strength of Levy's finger. "You are an adult. You are about to be a father for Mavis' sake. This 'ignore' bullshit is childish. You cannot expect me to go through this on-again off-again relationship while trying to raise a human!"

By the time his back hit the door, Gajeel realized Levy was right and with no more distance to push him, Levy began to punch into his chest in anger. He let her get a few swings in before wrapping his arms around here and embracing her in a hug, no longer angry himself. She resisted at first but quickly gave up and began to cry, gripping his shirt for support as she hid her face in his chest.

And I don't even need your love

"Shh-Shh" Gajeel rubbed small circles for comfort on her lower back as she sobbed into him. "It's okay Levy. It's gonna be okay." He kept repeating this until she stopped crying. Breaking the hug, Gajeel looked down at Levy as she began to wipe her face and suppressed a smile at the woman he loved. Her face was splotchy from crying but she was still the most beautiful person he's ever seen. My little fairy. He moved his hands to her belly and rested them on either side of it.

BUMP.

Gihi. Hey kiddo. This time he could not stop the smile that spread across his face.

"Look, Levy, you are right. I've treated you like shit and I've felt like shit while doing so." She took a step back, now in control of her emotions, to add space between them, and he let her. Gajeel clasped onto her hands and moved down to his knees. Begging. "I am going to make it up to you." His own eyes started to tear up as he gazed imploringly into her hazel ones, praying that she'll take him back. "I will be better Shorty, but you gotta give me a chance to. Talk is cheap and I could promise the world but if you won't let me prove it, it is all for nothing."

Gajeel waited for her to respond and after a few breathless moments, Levy gave the smallest of nods in agreement. He stood and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead and he could feel her relax into it. "You won't regret it Levy. I promise. I WILL show you that I can get my shit together." Gajeel opened the door and left Levy. A plan already forming in his head of what to do next.

Now you're just somebody that I used to know


~~~Author's Note~~~

ALRIGHTY. Are we ready to have a baby? I'm ready to have a baby! So let's have a baby!

Song Credit: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye or Three Days Grace (pick your favorite version)

SPECIAL SHOUTOUT:

XXRISXX : I'm glad to be back! Thank you so much for the kind words. Not gonna lie, that was the first time I picked writing up again so I didn't know if it was still in me. XD

RAO HYUGA 18 : Welcome to the party. I hope you enjoy what I have left of the story! Thank you for reading!

A GUESTS GUEST : Thanks for the review! The songs are there to put you in the mood for the chapter! Also, thanks for the kind words!

LEVYMCGARDEN18 : AAAAAAHHHHHH! There. We are screaming together! Thanks for coming back! And Happy New Years to you too!