Christmas Carols blasted throughout the guild hall as members of Fairy Tail decorated for the Holidays. Mistle toe sure to go up by yours truly, the Christmas tree being decorated. Laughter could be heard throughout the hall, everyone just having a grand magical time.

Except for a certain blond who was watching the merriment in silence. She had stolen Gajeel's table far away from the guild as her Nakama decorate and having fun. Lucy Heartfilia used to love Christmas. It was her favorite time of year, until everything happened. Seven year gap, her father dying, the games, Tartaros, Alvarez. Everything just took a tole on her. She never had time to grieve for anything. Loosing her father, loosing herself in the games, loosing Aquarius… just everything happen so suddenly. So fast. She had no clue how to even think properly anymore.

Her bubbly personality was a facade. She didn't want her Nakama to worry about her, hell she even doubted any of them new about her sacrifice. Apart of herself was lost a long time ago and she didn't know how to get it back. If it would even come back.

"What are you doing over here, Blondie?" Lucy jumped at the sudden gruff voice, glancing up in shock to see Laxus Dreyar looming over her with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be in the merriment with the other idiots?" He asked with a roll of his eyes. That was another thing that changed. Laxus was now the guild master.

Lucy laughed light heartedly as he sat down at the table with her. "You know you love them," she teased, making him once again roll his eyes. Another thing that changed was they were somewhat close now. They weren't best friends or anything, but they had a few moments and were now decent enough friends.

"Really though, why are you over here by yourself?" He knew when something was wrong. She hadn't been herself in a long time, and at the time it wasn't his place to question her. Laxus had figured one of her idiotic teammates would talk to her, but they obviously had not.

The blond girl cleared her throat. "Nothing's wrong. I just feel like being by myself is all," she shrugged, shooting Laxus a fake bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her hand reached up to touch the broken key that hung loosely around her neck, caressing the hilt of the key. While she knew that finding her key would take a miracle, having it on a necklace made her feel closer to Aquarius. Loke had told her that Aquarius would resurrect in a few more years, but Lucy was impatient. She wanted her first friend sooner than later – she couldn't risk someone else finding the water spirit first.

Laxus rolled his eyes at that answer. "No you're not," he stated bluntly, making the blond female's eyes widen in surprise at being called out. "Don't think I haven't noticed, Blondie. What's going on? You've been mopey for a while now." He pointed out flatly, wanting to know what was wrong. Beyond most beliefs, he cared. A lot more than he should, specifically for the small blond that was sitting in front of him.

Her mouth open and closed a few times, not knowing what to tell him before she huffed. "Why do you want to know?" She snapped finally, pissed off at herself that her facade didn't work. Nearly everyone else didn't question it, so why was Laxus, of all people, questioning her mood?

His eyes narrowed at her attitude. "Lucy," he warned with narrowed eyes. No one else would come back here and if they did, Laxus would make them go away. Lucy needed this conversation, whether she wanted it or not. With that, he stood up before tossing Lucy over his shoulder. The blond girl gawked as he carried her up the stairs. It suddenly got quiet as the guild watched the two blonds walk up the stairs. "Freed, make sure no one comes up here!" Laxus demands, making the green haired man scramble after the lightning dragon slayer to put up silencing runes.

"Oh my…" Mira trailed off in fits of giggles, amusement showing on her face as the others blinked in confusion at what just transpired.

Meanwhile, Laxus tossed Lucy onto the couch – making sure to lock the door. Lucy scowled at the man as he smirked at her, leaning back against his desk as he watched her. "So? Do we need a therapy session?" He teased, though he was serious.

"You wouldn't understand," she scoffed, suddenly feeling awkward. She never thought in a million years that he would force this. Laxus didn't seem like the feelings type. He raised an eyebrow as if to say "try me", making her sigh. "I haven't had time to… ya know.. grieve about anything. I feel overwhelmed, now that everything is over and we have a semblance of normal. Not that we were ever truly normal, but when not so much chaos was happening all at once…" She admitted, her hand reaching again to caress the key that used to be Aquarius.

"You've been doing that a lot," Laxus noted, making Lucy's eyebrows rise in surprise. She didn't expect him to notice anything. Much less a new quirk that she picked up. She paused, contemplating telling him what happened before sighing. Taking out the pendent she placed it in the palm of her hand, caressing the water symbol at the hilt. The blond males eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "A broken key?" He asked, confusion echoing his voice before his eyes widened at the implication.

"It happened during Tartaros…" She trailed off, biting her lip. "Everyone was trapped. Horologium had saved me from the spell Mard Geer casted. It was the only hope. I was surrounded by demons, and on my last strand of magic – summoning Loke, Virgo and Aquarius…" She trembled, trying not to sob at the memory. Laxus couldn't keep his eyes off her as he listened to her story, one that she kept bottled up for way too long. By the time she could tell someone about it, it was too late. Master Makarav had disbanned the guild and everyone immediately left. Like Magnolia meant nothing to them. Like she meant nothing to them. No one came to check on her, make sure she was okay and could get on by herself. No one asked how she was feeling after Natsu left with only a letter.

She was not okay.

She cried herself to sleep most nights. Had nightmares of Tartaros, of her future self dying, of the infinity clock. She had become depressed, the lonely feeling seeping back into her veins and helplessness returning. Hell, she didn't even summon any of her spirits for months – Loke had to basically force his way out to comfort the blond and tell her it was alright and it wasn't her fault.

Everything came at her at once as she sobbed, making Laxus frown. He wondered how long she's been keeping this bottled up. "The… the only way to save you all was to summon the spirit king. And the only way to do that was too…" She trailed off, unable to continue that sentence.

However, Laxus had heard enough. He cleared his throat roughly. "Is to sacrifice a key…" He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Not in irritation of Lucy, but of himself and his guild mates who hadn't a clue that she was torturing herself inside.

"Not just any key," she clarified through sniffles, "a golden key. Aquarius sacrificed herself to save you all, and the thanks I get? The guild gets disbanned. Everyone leaves. No one makes sure I'm okay. I know that they all had stuff they were going through, and I didn't blame any of you for not staying with me. You guys had lives to live, but I lost a part of myself that day. A part of myself that I can never get back. Not only that, I haven't had time to grieve for my fathers passing, or future me basically dying in my arms. Saving me." Lucy's throat constricted with emotion. Every memory, every stab to the heart coming back in an instant. Had she cried over any of those? She didn't think so. She didn't give herself time to grieve, not wanting to be a burden. Even to herself.

Laxus sighed, running a hand along his face. It was rough having to listen to this, but she had to deal with all of this bottled up and no one asked? Not even her team mates who seemed to be so close to the hip? Though, he recalled that they haven't been a team in a while. Not sense they finally got back together. "Lucy…" He trailed off, not even knowing what to say.

"So no, Laxus, you wouldn't understand the pain I'm going through right now. You know how many nights I just stay up so I don't get nightmares? Or how many nights I just cry myself to sleep, than have Cancer make sure that nothing shows that I was not feeling myself?" Lucy scoffed, wanting nothing more than to leave the guild and go to the safe zone that is her apartment. She was so over the Holidays already.

This was definitely not the bubbly Lucy that he knew. The Lucy that would have given her shirt to the next person if they needed it, whether or not she was wearing something underneath. Without thinking anything he walked over to her and, without a word, engulfed her in a hug. Lucy stiffened in his arms, only to relax and hug him back just as tightly. She'd missed human contact. She's gotten so few of it these past few years.

They stayed like that for a moment, not moving an inch as Lucy buried her face in his chest. Laxus rested his cheek against her head, rubbing his hands up and down her back in a comforting manner. "You don't have to be alone anymore Lucy," he stated softly, squeezing her shoulders.

"I'm not sure I know how to lean on people anymore…" Lucy replied, sniffling a little bit. His shirt would be stained but he found he was alright with that. This was what she needed, and he would do this for her.

"Then let me teach you."

AN: Honestly? I felt this was a much needed therapy session lol. I always found it odd how no one thought to see if she was alright, or even asked. Plus, I love me some LaLu 💖 I wanted to do a little holiday themed thing and even though this really wasn't holiday themed, I enjoyed writing it. Angst is my thing, ngl lol. There is an inkling that I could make this into more parts, but meh~