Oi I'm back everyone!

After a few days of torturous attempts at finding a job D:

I tried EVERYWHERE and lemme tell you, its way harder than i ever woulda thought..

Anywho, once again i don't really know where to go from here, but i shall attempt!


Salamander POV

"So, tell me again why you vowed to protect her?" Gajeel asked me for the fifth time. He and Levy had gotten back from their little vacation and were instantly greeted with the news from Wendy, who i might add is beyond psyched to have her 'mom' back. Levy and Wendy went off into my room to pack her stuff and so that leaves me and Gajeel in the living room.

He was leaned against the wall in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes burning holes into me. He saw first hand how I was before Wendy got here, so he unlike Gray or Erza has learned to dislike Lucy, even though he doesn't know her too well.

But he doesn't get it, "I. Don't. Know." I let out an exasperated breath again for the millionth time. I really didn't know what took over me, but when I heard Bellboy say he was going to protect her, i kinda lost my shit for a minute. Who the hell does he think he is? He ain't shit and he won't ever be, not to me, not to Sabertooth, and definitely not to Lucy.

"Well where the hell is she?" Gajeel questioned again. Now he's just trying to get on my nerves, I just know it.

I pressed my palms into my forehead and set my elbows to my knees so i held my head up. I didn't bother looking up from the couch at him, though I knew he still watched me. I'm not going to dignify his stupid questions with an answer anymore.

I could hear Gajeel push off from the wall and start walking toward me. He laughed, "Oh yeah, you already told me. Sorry boss, just so shocked."

I shrugged my answer and rolled my eyes, even though they were hidden from him it felt necessary.

"Why don't you just tell her never mind? Call it off and save yourself the trouble," Gajeel attempted to help. He was obviously a complete moron. I can't go back on my word, that would destroy my reputation, not to mention my morals. Yeah I'm a terrible, blood thirsty gang banger but I still have morals, that would make me inhumane if i didn't.

"Wendy," Was all i offered as an explanation. That alone would be reason enough not to turn her down now.

I imagined Gajeel was nodding when he let out a small, "Oh yeah."

"We're ready!" Wendy suddenly screamed. She has been like this since yesterday when we left Lucy. Today was the day that Lucy gets discharged from the hospital and it was up to us to go get her and safely bring her somewhere safe.

And even though we agreed to come get her at 2 in the afternoon, Wendy has been up since 6 planning everything out and begging me to go earlier. She didn't sleep lastnight, I know because she's clumsy and while I tried to sleep she kept bumping things and making all kinds of noises. So I didn't sleep either.

I was exhausted, irritated, and honestly don't know what to do with myself.

But I gotta make the most out of this shitty situation, right?

I groaned loudly and looked up to find Gajeel smirking down at me, Levy standing in the doorway to my room and Wendy standing directly in front of me, a giant face splitting smile stuck on her face. "Alright, let's go get her."


The ride there was quite annoying, much like the entire day. Wendy couldn't keep still in her seat next to me, and I was bombarded with questions from Levy. Thankfully Gajeel decided to stay in my apartment and keep an eye on our product.

Shit my house was still full of blow, even if we lacked the progress and time to sell it lately, so it's too big of a risk to leave it unattended.

Oh yeah, that reminds me! My house is officially off limits for Lucy. I can't risk her habits again, I see my mistake now. I put a professional job in the hands of an addict. She did have absolutely no self control in the situation, but that choice didn't help either.

And no. Thoughts like that do not mean I have forgiven her. She's made other mistakes besides the drug use so I can't let it go. I don't think I'll ever be able to let it go.

"Thank you very, very much again, doctor." Lucy spoke, interrupting my scattered thoughts.

She was dressed in her normal clothes and ready to be discharged. When I walked in, I was taken back at how normal she looked, almost like the first time I met her. But I quickly shook that thought from my head and sat down while we sorted out her bill-that I paid for. I know I'm just so nice.

The Doctor, a younger guy dressed in formal attire underneath his white coat, walked up to where I was seated, Lucy next to me, and said, "No need to thank me Ms. Heatfilia, that's what I'm here for. I'm just glad you made such a speedy recovery. You should be thanking your boyfriend for getting you here so quickly, or else this could've taken a completely different turn."

I felt my jaw drop and I glared up at the dumb ass doctor before me. Boyfriend? Does this guy want to die?

"U-uh... he's not my boyfriend, but I guess you're right." Lucy muttered like an even bigger idiot than the doctor. God, I think the only person I can stand in this room right now is Wendy. Even Erza is pissing me off with her stupid smirks from the other side of the room. As soon as the doctor said that, I saw her in my peripheral vision wiggling her eye brows at me and holding back laughter.

She's gotten outta line since she started hanging out with Lucy. I'm gonna teach her how she should be treating fuckin' boss because this is definitely not the right way.

I looked over to Lucy took another step closer, her arms crossed behind her back and her eyes darting everywhere except to meet mine. She looked nervous when she whispered, "Thank you Salamander, I wouldn't be alive if you didn't come and get me and bring me here."

I felt a small smile tug at my lips and without thought I purred, "It was nothing, Luce."

At the sound of her name, she finally matched her eyes to mine and she smiled back. That small moment confused the shit outta me but at the same time made me feel slightly warm and... happy. Not your everyday happy though, no it was nothing like the happiness you'd get from the small joys of life. This happiness was the kind I'd imagine one would get when they won the lottery. But better.

"Well Lucy, I'll have to ask you to take it easy for the next week or so. You've only just stopped bleeding but we don't want to risk it and have you end up back here, now do we?" The doctor laughed slightly and started to walk out of the room. He waved and cheerfully called out, "Now you kids have a great night and stay safe!" Before disappearing around the corner.

Wendy grabbed hold of Lucy's hand before giggling, "C'mon Lucy!" She started pulling Lucy out of the room and I heard Lucy yelp before Wendy continued, "Levy's waitin' downstairs for us, she's such a nice person. Oh and so is her boyfriend Gajeel. I stayed with them for a while. And they brought me to school for the first time. I can't wait for you to bring me to school..."

I decided to block out the word vomit coming from Wendy's mouth and pushed myself up and out of the chair. Once I started walking, with Wendy and Lucy ahead of me, Erza fell into step with me. She still had a shit eating grin on her face as she asked casually, "So what's the plan boss?"

I growled back, "If you don't cut that shit out, the plan won't be any of your business. I see you mocking me, Erza. Learn your place." I stuffed my hands into my pockets and whispered, "Wanna end up like Lisanna? I'm sure she'd love if you took her place."

Instantly Erza's expression sobered up and she bowed her head. "Sorry boss."

"The plan," I finally answered after a moments silence between us, "Is to move her in next door to my place. I already had it set up before she ran off so it's fully furnished."

Erza suddenly raised her voice, "You don't mean...?!"

I chuckled and looked around to find Levy. "Yes, Lucy'll be between me and... her."


Lucy POV

The car ride to the projects was hell. I was still slightly in pain so with every bump that we hit, I had a knife like pain stab into my abdomen. Wendy didn't seem to notice because I was great at concealing my winces. But Salamander sure as hell noticed. Every time we hit a bump, he would lift his head slightly and look around Wendy and right at me. His head was always cocked to the side, his arms were crossed over his chest and he had his hood pulled up. And no matter how much pain I showed, he seemed almost amused.

Speaking of that, he decided he should ride with me and Wendy instead of letting Erza or even that Levy chick. When he told them to get their own cab, I started to protest but he just laughed at me and called a cab over to us. I was irritated with him almost instantly. Even now, he had his head down and he was pretending to sleep. Ha, I know he wouldn't ever sleep in a public place like this. He would be too open for an attack, he's more cautious than that.

Then I had Wendy talking nonstop next to me, which wasn't a problem at all, but it made me feel bad. She told me about everything she's been up to since I left. She started 7th grade, only a year behind what she should be in. She told me that the teachers said she was very smart for a kid her age that didn't have any type of schooling in 5 years. Then she told me about the many friends she already made, with the help of Romeo who evidently failed a grade too because he got kicked out so much. Not the best influence but I can roll with it...

She then told me that a boy picked on her the first day and Romeo beat him up for her, or as she liked to say it, 'Romeo put him in his place.' She sounded just like Salamander when she said that. He noticed it too, I could tell from the small smile that formed on his lips right after she said it. The only way I could react was just to laugh it off because what else can I do? She's turning into him and I don't know how I feel about it.

The cab suddenly stopped, making me squeal with pain. Salamander laughed and Wendy squeezed my hand tighter and asked me if I was okay. I nodded my answer and listened as the cab driver said, "We're here, how will you be paying for this?"

I took that as my queue to leave so I opened the car door and gently slid myself out. Wendy followed after me and we walked around to the side walk to wait for Salamander. When he stepped outta the cab, I took a few seconds to look him up and down. He was dressed like a complete bum. He wore a pair of heavy black sweat pants, he had a plain white t-shirt that was partially hidden underneath his plain grey hoodie. He looked bad but oddly good. Like he didn't give a single fuck what anyone thought about him. Kind of like the first day I met him.

Wow that seems so far away...

We let Salamander take the lead into the apartment building. Once inside, I decided to finally ask him, "So where will I be staying?"

Salamander took the first step up the stairs so I couldn't see his face, but he sounded like he snickered before simply stating, "You're not aloud in my house, that's for sure."

His words cut right through me. I let out a small, "Oh," and let my head fall. What does he mean by that? Why am I here if I wont be staying with him? Does he have some secret torture chamber that he keeps Lisanna in and does he plan to keep me there too? I can't g through any more torture. Not after I escaped Sting in one piece. Does he plan to make me pay because of everything I did to him?

We walked the rest of the way up in silence. It didn't take long to get to the top, but once we got there, I ran into Salamander who was just standing there on the top step. I had my head down so I didn't know he stopped.

I could feel his eyes boring into me so I braved looking up and almost laughed with relief when I saw that the evil expression I was expecting was not there, instead he held the same humorous look he had in the cab. Salamander chuckled, "God, Luce. Stop with the sad face, I got you a place for yourself. It's on me, I only ask that you follow a few rules I put in place."

I nodded at the same time that Wendy suddenly yelled, "Natsu don't treat her like a little kid!"

I looked over to the bluenette that was defending me and gave her a sad smile with a shake of my head, silently telling her it was okay. If he wants to make rules, that's fine by me. I so badly want to make things right. Not just to him, but to Wendy for not being there, to Gray and Erza and the rest of the gang for betraying them for my own selfish reasons, and to myself. I want to put myself in this gang and follow the rules and try to better myself. As long as I don't work with coke, I think I'll be alright.

I was literally pulled away from my thoughts by Wendy. Apparently Salamander started walking down the hall so she yanked me up the last stair and after him.

He spoke as he walked, "You already know rule number 1, you are not aloud in my house unless I, myself bring you inside. And that's not likely to happen. Rule number two, Wendy is not aloud with you unless I am there, and that's only after she completes her homework-"

"No fair!" Wendy shrieked in outrage.

I giggled at how childish she sounded but nodded my head in agreement. "It sounds like a good plan, Wendy. But I can also help her with it too."

I waited for a few seconds as Salamander contemplated my proposal. I couldn't see his face once again so I was completely unsure of what he was going to say. Though he has been rather hard to read lately. The only sound was the soft pounding of our footsteps as we got closer to my unknown new apartment.

I wonder what other rules he's going to give me? I really hope he isn't aloud to just barge into my place, though I wouldn't put it past him.

"Alright," Salamander finally said. We stopped at the room right before his, and he turned and faced me. "Welcome to you're new home. One more rule and I'll leave ya be for the day." A wicked smile pulled at his lips, the exact same one that he gave me the first time he and I spoke, and he said, "No Bellboy. Not in this apartment, not in this building, not even in this damn complex. I don't care if you communicate with him through the phone I bought for you, I just don't want to see his face anywhere near here again. Got it?"

I looked down at the ground again and I unintentionally made a fist with my free hand. I searched for the words to agree, but they were lost. How could I kick my only friend out of my life? I couldn't. I shouldn't.

But I have to.

"O-oh...Okay," I mustered up the courage to finally say. I looked back up to meet the stern black eyes that watched me with a new kind of courage that I've never felt before. I felt like I could take on the world and then some. I gave Salamander the biggest smile I could and said, "I only agree if you'll agree to give me a second chance in Fairy Tail."

"You'll get the tattoo?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'll get the damn tattoo."

"Then it looks like we have an understanding. Welcome aboard, Luce." Salamander's hand outstretched toward me, so I grabbed it. It was so formal, but it felt like we sealed the verbal agreements we just came to with that small handshake.


Ello there loves

So did ya like it? Did ya hate it? Lemme know

Sorry if it was kinda eh, It's 4 am where I am right now and I havn't slept in a while so im kinda like . right now xD

Oh and there was something I was going to tell you... something important... hmmm...

Oh yeah, I decided to do a liitle thing where you guys can get to know me better! Since I feel I connected with some people through this and I figured if ya want you can do a little Q and A with me :D

only if ya'll want though.

And heads up, I will not answer questions like "Where do you live" ect because I don't play that shit xD

Well stay lovely my friends and I really hope you liked this chapter

xoxo

-Bean