Flinging the door open, Lucy stormed into her apartment, ignoring Galen's concerned calls of her name, seeking refuge in her bathroom, slamming the door shut before he could follow her and locking the door.

"Lucy! Lucy! Let me in!"

She ignored his pleas to open the door for him, his voice but a faint echo, growing fainter and fainter, as she slid down the door, pulling her knees up to her chest, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks.

"I'm with Galen now, and what I felt for you, you killed off those feelings. I'm sorry Laxus... I no longer love you, and I intend to keep it that way."

Her words rang out through the silence she now found herself in. She could no longer hear Galen, her words the only thing she would hear. Like a broken record they repeated over and over again, like a taunt. She bit her lip, trying to hold in her sobs, body shaking as she recounted their encounter.

"Is this what you really want?" Laxus voice washed over her, the remembrance of his deep voice comforting her.

But that comfort didn't last.

"Yes." She had answered him, and as if Aquarius had sent a wave of water crashing down at her, the comfort left her, washing away ever trace to be replaced by a cold and empty feeling. It was a filling she remembered. The very same thing she felt after willing her bond with the blue haired mermaid to break. It was the same cold and empty feeling that nearly lead her to a stupidity that would have hurt her friend and family had Loke not shown up in time to stop her.

Just the thought of breaking Aquarius's key and the knowledge that Laxus had let her go... it broke her.

Lucy couldn't find the strength to hold it in any longer. A loud sorrowful wail left her lips, her body hunching forward, arms coming up to hold herself, body shaking as she sobbed.

She didn't want to lie to him! More than anything in the world Lucy wanted to be with Laxus, to be his. She had wanted to tell him yes, to give in to his advances, but she couldn't. And now he was done with her. He had let her go. He had stopped fighting for her.

He wouldn't fight for her anymore.

Her cries grew in volume at the realization.

She wished she could take it all back. She wish she could have another chance to replay the night and just give in to Laxus. She wanted so badly to leave Galen and run back to Laxus, to apologize and kiss him senseless, but her mind argued that he would hurt her again. Her heart bleed knowing that he would no longer try, that she was free of him when she didn't want to be, and her mind told her she would heal in time.

Confused and filled with regret, filled with sadness, Lucy couldn't do no more than cry, forcefully barring Loke and the others gates closed once she felt them trying to come out, wanting to be left alone.

So distraught, she didn't notice her door break open, nor did she notice as warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her back into an ever warmer chest.

It wasn't until her throat was raw enough to cause her considerable pain that she had to stop, that she noticed she was being held by someone.

Hiccuping, body tired and stressed, drained both physically and emotionally, she weakly tilted her head back to see who was holding her, hoping that Galen hadn't managed to get in. She didn't want to talk to him right now. She didn't even want to see him. All Lucy wanted was to be left alone in her pain.

Familiar dark eyes gazed down at her sadly, face serious as he rocked them on the floor. "I've got you, Lucy. It's okay, I've got you."

Brown eyes reader back up, her anger at being distributed gone at seeing his face. With a weak, croaked cry, she launched herself into his arms, face burrowing into his chest.

"Natsu!"

Word Count: 713 (Holy shit! That's the longest chapter ever lol.)