*.*.*.*.*

I stared at the hand extended to me. Then looked at it's owner. The famous Dr. Iila that Juvia assured me was helpful. Reluctantly, I shook it.

"How are you feeling Lucy?" She asked me as she sat down on her office chair. "Sleeping well?"

"I'm good." I told her. "Migraines often."

"Oh." She nodded, opening her notebook to jot some stuff down.

"My doctor said it was normal since I had some head trauma."

"And your other injuries?"

"They're mostly healed."

Dr. Iila looked pointedly on my bandaged left arm that covered the burns. "And that one?"

I frowned at her. "Doing well. It doesn't hurt anymore."

*.*.*.*.*

"How did this happen again?" The ER doctor asked me. He looped the gauze around my arm over the ed swollen skin on my forearm and I bit my lip, trying not to scream.

"Hot water. Bathtub." I croaked and winced as he tightened the bandages to secure.

"It looked like it was there for some time." He says, meeting my eyes. "These are some serious burns."

What should I say? 'Well I did test the water to see if it was alright and it was. It was warm. It wasn't until I was deep in the water did I realize it was fucking hot. It felt like something grabbed me and wouldn't let go until I passed out.' It didn't sound right. And he was looking at me like I was crazy.

I looked away.

I didn't remember much about how I got to the hospital. Except that Juvia was at the backseat cradling me, and ice pack in her hand, Gray at the passenger side and Natsu was driving a car that was definitely not Juvia's. I couldn't recall how it was maybe Natsu or Gray that pulled me off the bathtub and loaded me into the car as they did.

When the doctor finished with my bandaged, he rolled his chair at a nearby table, scribbling something on a piece of paper then handing it over to me. "I'll prescribe you some pain killers and ointment. Bandages should be changed everyday."

"Thanks."

"Come back here in two weeks so we can assess the wound."

I nodded at him. I stood up, paper in hand and walked towards the door. I will not think about the searing pain. I will not think about where I am. I focused myself on the antiseptic smell that was filling my nose and hurting it at the same time. I slid the door open, only to find Juvia guarding it.

"Oh God!" She gasped as she ran over to me, hugging me to her. "Are you alright Lucy-san?"

I smiled weakly at her. "Just a burn." Juvia sighed. "Why'd you get home so early?"

"You went missing. You didn't tell me you were leaving. Natsu-san told me you took a cab home." She frowned at me. "Juvia was so worried since you're not familiar with the place, I rushed home to see if you made it alright. Imagine how worried Juvia was even more when she found you passed out beside the tub with the water running."

"…" My eyes widened. "The… The water was running?"

"Yes. It overflowed so much all the floor mats and towels were soaked."

"Juvia…" I spoke out. "I'm-"

"No apologies." She stopped me. "Juvia is so glad you're alright." Behind her, I saw Natsu and Gray walking up.

"Oi." Gray called out. "You feeling any better?"

"I-I'm fine." I stuttered. "How… how did you two, or rather why were you two there?"

"We live across from you guys." Natsu answered me. "Juvia kept screaming for help."

I looked at all three of them. "I'm so sorry." I said, guilty and embarrassed.

Juvia placed a hand on my shoulder. "What happened?" She asked, nothing but concern in her voice. I sighed and clicked my tongue.

"The earring you lent me fell into the tub. I had to get it before I unplugged it." I answered her weakly.

"Did you?"

I shook my head. "No." My voice cracked. "I'm really sorry."

Juvia's eyebrows knit together. She stepped closer to me, her hand raising up to touch my right earlobe. I felt her unhook the back of an earring. She held the emerald green earring in her flat palm. I lifted my hand to my other ear and took of the other pair and placed it in her hand; tears welling up in my eyes.

It wasnt real. I had imagined the whole thing.

*.*.*.*.*

She smiled sincerely at me. "So, have you been sleeping properly?"

I stared directly at her. "I dream a lot." I told her. "I can't remember what I dream about."

She nodded at me and wrote down. "What do you feel after you've woken up?"

"Scared."

"I see, why?"

"The psychiatrist at the hospital said that I couldn't remember what happened that night because my 'mind was protecting me'." I gestured with air quotes. "Maybe I dreamed about what happened that night. I don't want to remember." I answered her straight.

"Why do you not want to?"

"I…" I trailed off. "I don't want to see Arana die."

"Arana?"

"My best friend. She, Angel, and Dan died."

She nodded again.

I silenced myself for a moment before speaking again. "I kept telling myself that I was okay. Capricorn told me I was suffering from PTSD. I didn't believe it until two."

"Why didn't you want to believe it?"

"Because I don't remember anything." I sighed. "How can I be traumatized when I don't even remember what happened to me?"

Dr. Iila nodded in understanding. "Alright, then what happened yesterday?"

"I hallucinated. I thought my room mate's earring was fell into the bathtub and I reached down to grab it."

"Was this the first time you hallucinated?"

I shook my head. "No." I told her the story of Angel in the bathroom mirror. Of Dan popping out of places where he shouldn't be. Of dreams that I could not remember. "I think something's happening to me."

She nodded again. "I'm aware that you've just recently moved here. How were things back home?"

"I ruined a business deal for my father. And I kept screaming in the halls. He sent me here." I leaned back into the cushion of the couch. "I don't want to be crazy."

"I don't think you're crazy."

"So it's normal to see things that aren't there?"

"For someone who's been in a traumatic experience, yes."

"Even though I don't remember it?"

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Any of it?" I shook my head. "I think… you're starting to. Slowly." She emphasized. "In a way that you wont hurt your mind from the process. I want to explore this on our next session. I think seeing Dan, and Angel could be your minds way of expressing the unresolved feelings you have them. Let's talk about Angel first, is that alright?" I nodded. "How do you feel about her?"

"I don't like her. She's arrogant, and she steals Arana away."

"And Dan?"

"I liked him. But a month after we started dating he just… I was starting to lose interest." I stifled a yawn. "So, what do I do? To make it stop?"

"We can talk about making a plan for therapy?"

"Like meds?"

"I would recommend you taking some medicine. It would also help you sleep, in my expert opinion it would help the hallucinations go away. Along with the migraines. However, if you don't feel comfortable taking them, you don't have to."

"I'll try them. I guess."

She smiled, grabbing pad from her desk to write a prescription and handing it to me. "That'll be all for today. I just wanted to get to know you a bit today, see about your condition. We'll talk things more on detail next week."

"Alright." I grab my purse, heading for the door but then I stopped myself. "Dr. Iila?" I turned my head back at her.

"Yes?"

"Is… Is having PTSD bad?" I asked quietly.

The psychiatrist smiled sincerely at me. "No." She answered. "It's not bad, but we'll work on you getting better."

I nodded at her and left the room.

*.*.*.*.*

Juvia was waiting patiently at the lounge area. She stood up when she spotted me. "How'd it go?"

"Okay," I told her. "She gave me a prescription." I held the paper up. Juvia reached to grab it.

"Quetiapine." She asked when we started walking.

"Do you know what it is?"

"Yes, it helps you sleep."

"She said the same thing too." I sighed and as we exited the building, I spot a small Italian restaurant right across. "Do you want to get something to eat?"

Her gaze lifted from the piece of paper to the place across the street. "Oh of course. Juvia just remembered we didn't have breakfast."

"Because you shoved me out so quickly we didn't have time to?"

She blushed and looked down guiltily.

"I'm joking Juvia. It's not like slept anyway." I pulled the girl's hand and we crossed the street. We stop in front of the host of the restaurant. "Table for two." He nodded, opening the door and leading us to a table.

Since it was still eleven in the morning, the place wasnt crowded yet. Just some families or working people having brunch.

"Juvia's never been here before." The blue haired girl commented, as she settled herself. "It looks nice."

"Well today's your lucky day then." I smiled at her as the waiter handed us the menu. I glanced at her. She was frozen, staring at me. "…Juvia?"

She blinked, dragging herself back to reality. "Oh yes." She opened her menu. "Sorry."

"You okay?"

"It just occurred to Juvia. That was the first time you smiled, a real smile, since you arrived."

I look up, my attention towards her.

"Juvia was afraid you weren't adjusting to well, or that you didn't like it here." Juvia sighed, relief flashing across her face. "You didn't leave your room for two whole days. I was really worried."

I looked down, playing with my fingers. "I'm really sorry Juvia. I didn't mean to make you worried. I'm so so sorry."

"Juvia understands." She set her menu down. "Juvia understands what Lucy-san is going through. It was not a while ago that Juvia was in the same state herself."

I looked at her, intrigued. Then I remembered her words. Juvia has bipolar disorder.

"At first Juvia thought you were… different, but someone like me. But after the first night, Juvia knew you had horrible things on your mind." She smiled at me sadly.

"The first night?" She nodded at me sadly.

"Lucy-san… screams in her sleep."

I scream in my sleep.

"Juvia I-"

"No apologies Lucy." She told me seriously. "It doesn't bother me. Gray-sama and Natsu-san hear it too. But they understand, and after seeing you the other day…"

They knew.

"Juvia always sees that you space out a lot. You panic a lot. You're always on edge." She tells me. "Juvia does not want you to feel uncomfortable because this is now your home. Juvia wants you to know that she understands." She reaches over to take my and in hers. "Juvia knows how horrible it is to be stuck in a dark place in your mind. At least, when you're here, let Fairy Tail take care of you, like they did for me."

*.*.*.*.*

After our heart to heart talk at brunch, I felt at ease. I didn't feel like the pressure on my shoulders like the first day here. Back at Juvia's car, we talked about random things. Normal things.

I picked up the paper bag that Juvia had placed in the center console after she stopped at the pharmacy and rummaged through its contents. It had two bottles. Grabbing both with one hand, I take them out.

"I thought I was only prescribed one?"

"You are. The other one is Juvia's."

"Depakote?"

"Yes. Dr. Iila says it helps with my mood. I don't really feel any different but Juvia hasn't really had a breakdown, so I guess it's working."

I nodded, placing the other bottle back. I then stared at my meds like it was going to talk and give me some answers.

"Quetiapine is really strong." Juvia commented. "It'll knock you out in five minutes and you'll sleep for twelve hours."

"You've taken this before?"

"Yes. It was the meds Juvia was first prescribed. Juvia begged Dr. Iila to change it after Juvia missed swim practice two times." She sighed. "Juvia could not afford being late to trainings."

"But she prescribed it on me…"

"Perhaps it would be better suited to your condition. Finally get some rest and calm you down. It'll help the visions your having."

"Don't call it visions Juvia. I'm not a clairvoyant." I rolled my eyes, and they landed on a donut place. "Do you think we can stop by there?" I pointed.

"Lucy-san wants donuts?"

"Yeah."

"But we just had brunch." She reasoned, however she slowed her car down to pull over.

"They're…" I trailed off, biting my lip. "They're not for us."

*.*.*.*.*

Juvia giggled she saw me almost drop the box of donuts in my hand. "Stop it." I glared at her playfully. She was starting to lose control, like one push could send her cackling like a damn maniac.

"Lucy-san looks so neighborly."

"I thought the new girl was supposed to get the pastry when she moves in?"

Juvia gasped. "Juvia made you buffalo wings! She had dinner with you."

"We live together, of course you'd eat with me." I laughed with her. We stopped at our floor, though we went the opposite direction from our door. I handed the box to Juvia. "You do it."

"But Lucy-san is the one who wants to apologize to Natsu-san and Gray-sama."

"I'm scared." I pushed the box to her, persistent. She pushed it back towards me,

"It will mean nothing if Juvia gives them." She pouted. "Come on Lucy-san, it just donuts."

"They're apology donuts."

"In the first place," Juvia started. "Why would you even apologize? Having a panic attack isn't a fault. It's not something you should be sorry about." She looked at me right in the eye, serious.

"They saw me, at a state where I didn't want to be seen by anyone…"

"They would've helped you either way. I've known them a long time, they're not gonna judge you. I bet they're thinking about how you are right now, seeing as they don't see you coming out of the apartment at all."

"Then they're thank you donuts."

"All the more reason you should give it to them yourself." She raised her hand and knocked on a door that I didn't realize we were standing in front of. Half a minute later, Gray opened the door. My eyes fell lower and lower, until I realized he was only in his boxers.

"…" I looked away in embarrassment.

"Oh hey, haven't seen you in a while." Gray greeted. "How have you been?" He asks me casually.

"Gray-sama, clothes."

"Ah!" He gasps, as if realizing it for the first time before heading back inside.

"Gray-sama has a habit of stripping no matter where he is." Juvia giggled. "Don't stare at him."

"I wasn't."

The door opened again, this time, it was Natsu. He stopped at the sight of jumpy, shivering me.

"H-Hi." I waved awkwardly.

"Lucy…" He stepped out, staring at me. "You're out." He commented.

"Yeah! And um-" I pushed the box at him. "I wanted to thank you for your help the other day. And Gray too." I sputtered, my tongue dancing over my words. "And also I'm sorry you had to see that."

Natsu blinked, slowly taking the box. He was just looking at me.

Juvia gave a sweet laugh. "Well, why don't we all have tea at our place. It'll go well with the sweets."

"Um…" I looked down on my feet. I then felt Juvia drag my arm.

"Come Natsu-san, Gray-sama would follow once he's decent."

I found myself sitting at the dining room table, Natsu right in front of me while Juvia prepared drinks in the kitchen.

"So…" Natsu started. "How's the injury?"

I look at him as I replied. "A lot better now."

Gray saunters inside our apartment like he owned the place. I smile shyly at him.

"What'd I miss?" He asks, grabbing a donut and shoving it in his mouth.

"Um…" I breathed. "I wanted to thank you guys. For helping me the other day. I didn't know what was going on, and I don't think I was in my right mind." I smiled at them sadly. "Also… Juvia told me. About what happens while I'm asleep." I clasped my fingers together. "I wanted to apologize for that too."

"Why?" I heard Natsu ask.

"E-Eh?" I look at him, questioning and nervous. "What do you mean why?"

"Why do you have to apologize? You couldn't help it. You didn't ask for it. Why apologize?" He clarified.

"I told you." Juvia says as she placed the pitcher on the table, setting glasses filled with drinks in front of us before she settled herself beside Gray. "I told you they understand."

Natsu grinned at me. "I don't think I ever head you talk that long in the three days I've known you." He laughed.

And then I laughed.

Unlike the first few days, I was a bit more relaxed this time.

*.*.*.*.*

Natsu and Gray stayed for almost an hour. They had asked me a few things about myself, what year I was, my major, the reason I moved.

I was still a bit on edge, but I answered them as truthfully and safely as I could.

Juvia had flirted with Gray the entire time. And when he doesn't think I'm looking, he flirts back, a hand on Juvia's knee.

Natsu in particular was interested in what I had to say. No matter how boring it was.

Gray then stopped to look at his watch. "Oi Natsu, is five pm." He pointed. The pink haired man frowned.

"Why, what's going on?" I ask.

"Soccer practice." Natsu shrugged. Juvia stood up to clean the table.

"Natsu-san and Gray-sama are in the soccer team. The interschool competition is coming up soon."

"Oh, that's so cool." I smiled just as Natsu and Gray stood up to leave. "Have fun. Thanks again."

Gray nodded in acknowledgement before heading out. Natsu, remained unmoving.

"Natsu?"

He ruffled his pockets as if he's looking for something, and he was. He took out a sleek black phone from his pocket then handed it over to me. I look at him in confusion.

"Give me your number." He says. I blink and stare at him for a bit more before taking his phone into my hands and dialing in my number. I open his message icon to send a random text to my number. As soon as my phone beeped, I handed it back to him.

"Here. I got your number too." I smiled. He grins at me before waving to Juvia and left the room.

"Ooh." Juvia grinned. "Maybe Natsu-san will ask you out on a date."

"He's not." I rolled my eyes at her. My phone beeped again. I grab to open it, reading my latest text.

Thanks for the donuts.

I blushed.

"Natsu-san is handsome." My nosy room mate commented.

"Stop it."