Lucy POV

Although Laxus and I had several plans of dinners and hikes, we ended up spending the remainder of our holiday locked in our hotel room, solely relying on room service. Between the job reward and Laxus's wallet, we were able to extend our vacation by an additional two nights.

After the night Laxus sensually undressed me, we didn't put clothes on once. It got to the point where Laxus even answered the door naked once, much to the chagrin of the waiter. I insisted on him at least wrapping a towel around his waist before opening the door the next time.

We fucked almost constantly, taking breaks only to eat, sleep, or recover. Every night I fell asleep thinking that I was all sexed out, but the next morning, when Laxus would wake me up with his mouth on my pussy, I would be ready to go again.

On our last morning, I woke before Laxus did. I crawled on top of him, lying over his chest and peppering his face with gentle kisses.

He sighed, his arms slipping around my waist.

"Mm, good morning, baby," he rasped sleepily.

"I don't want to leave, Laxus," I whispered.

"Me neither, my love, but we got to," he mumbled with a yawn.

I groaned, letting my head drop to rest against his.

When we made love that morning, it was slow and deliberate, like we were trying to cling to our vacation for as long as we could. A drawn out shower and extended breakfast later, we grudgingly admitted that we had to leave at some point. With our bags on our shoulders, we sadly walked to the train station holding hands.

"I had such a good holiday," I cried. "Let's not leave, Laxus," I tried begging one last time.

"Baby, I promise to take you on many more holidays, where we can break several beds together. But I had an amazing time, too. Thank you for agreeing to come with me," he said, kissing the back of my hand.

"Thank you for offering. And thank you for making this one of the nicest holidays I've ever been on." I felt bashful all of a sudden, and I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

We boarded the train and Laxus immediately lay down in my lap. I ran my fingers through his soft hair, soothing him as the train began to move. He dozed off at some point, his arm slung across my thighs.

I watched him sleep, his breathing even and his face peaceful. I was so in love with him. More than I felt comfortable admitting to. I truly could have spent the rest of my life with him in that hotel room, and I suspected that it would have been a happy life.

GildartsGildartsGildarts

His name echoed as a refrain through my mind. Though I had loved every second of my holiday with Laxus, my brain didn't let me forget Gildarts. At one point on our holiday, soon after waking up next to Laxus, I even tried convincing myself that Laxus was the only man I needed. But then, the memory of Gildarts's face, and his warmth, and his smell, and his kindness, hit me like a truck. I felt so incredibly guilty for thinking that I didn't need him, that I suddenly became nauseous. I had to run to the bathroom and hunch over the toilet, genuinely feeling like I was about to throw up. Laxus, of course, had run in after me, his face full of worry, but I passed it off as a random wave of queasiness. It took a little convincing, but when I showed him I was perfectly fine, he backed down.

My body physically rejects the idea of being with only one of them. How fucked am I, huh?

The horn of the train brought me out of my reverie and Erza's words echoed in my head. There presently wasn't anything I could do about the situation I was in. And so I tried to let myself relax, not allowing intrusive thoughts to distract me from feeling my dragon slayer's blond locks slip through my fingers.

Laxus POV

Lucy shook me awake as we pulled into Magnolia station. Worry lines creased her face, but she smoothed them out when she caught me staring at them. I couldn't understand what she was worried about, but I suspected it had something to do with the other guy.

It hurt, knowing that she didn't intend to leave him. I wanted to shake her and demand why I wasn't enough. What did he give her that I couldn't? And how could she love me when she loved him too? I didn't know what I had to do to convince her that I was enough, but I was willing to do whatever it took. Because, somehow, the blonde woman in a skimpy white dress that I had picked up at the guild bar had quickly become the most important girl in my life.

We left the train, but unlike when we boarded, Lucy didn't hold my hand this time. It felt weird. We'd spent the last few days in pretty much constant physical contact, and I missed feeling her skin against my own.

"What do you want to do now, baby?" I asked. Lucy hadn't said much since waking me up.

"I think I want to go home and shower? Then unpack, do my laundry, restock my fridge. Just errands," she responded absentmindedly.

I stopped walking, gripping her wrist and pulling her to a halt too.

"Lucy, what's happening? I thought we had a great holiday, but you're acting all strange now… What happened on the train while I was asleep?" I interrogated.

She silently wrapped her arms around me, pressing her cheek to my chest.

"I'm sorry, Laxus. We did have a great holiday, and I loved every minute of it. And I love you. I'm just distracted. I have some stuff on my mind, but it's nothing major. I promise. Please don't worry."

I listened carefully as she spoke, waiting for her voice to waver or crack, something to tell me that she was going through more than she was letting on, but I got nothing. I kissed the top of her head. Maybe it was as simple as just being distracted.

As we walked back to her house, she reached out and held my hand, slipping her fingers between mine. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze that she returned with a dazzling smile. Outside her apartment, she let my hand go to hug me.

"Thank you, Laxus," she whispered.

I crushed her to my chest, unwilling to be away from her. "What're you thanking me for?" I asked gruffly.

"For everything." She leaned up to kiss me. "I'll see you soon, baby," she said with a smile.

"Shall I come pick you up for dinner or something?" I asked. I really didn't like the idea of being away from her. Maybe some part of me was doing this because the more time she spent with me meant the less time she was spending with the other guy.

Lucy kissed me again. "I think I just want to eat something simple and turn in early. I didn't nap on the train, unlike a certain someone," she teased.

It stung. I couldn't tell if she was blowing me off, but it felt like that.

Grudgingly, I acquiesced. With a final soft kiss, I let her go.

"Alright, Blondie. I'll see you when I see you, then, I guess," I mumbled.

"Hey," she called, noting my tone. Her palm cupped my cheek. "Laxus, I will see you very soon, okay?"

I nodded, knowing I was acting petulantly.

"Give me another kiss," she demanded, and I complied, bringing my lips to hers passionately.

"I love you, babe," she whispered into my mouth.

"I love you, too," I whispered in response.

She stepped back, and with a wave, walked into her apartment.

Lucy POV

I knew Laxus wanted to spend more time together, but my mind was going a million miles a minute, and I needed time alone to process everything. As much as I wanted to heed Erza's advice and just let things unfold, I couldn't. Gildarts had made it abundantly clear how hurt he was, and while Laxus tried to be subtle, he wasn't happy with our situation either. I laboured over this tangle, trying to figure out something that would make everyone happy. But no matter which way I looked at it, one of us at the least would have to suffer.

The only solution that I found was if one of them broke up with me. Yes, I'd still suffer, but it would not be as bad as having to choose. It was the coward's way out, and I knew that, but in this situation, I didn't know what was the right thing to do.

I loaded my washing machine before running a bath. Armed with a glass of wine, I settled into the tub. Between the wine and an exciting novel, I was able to defocus from the messy triangle I'd created for myself. I sat in my bathtub until my skin was wrinkly, and would have continued to stay there had it not been for a knock at my door.

Natsu, probably. Or all of them. They're probably dying to know how my holiday was. I smiled at the thought of my crazy friends.

I climbed out of my tub and was wrapping a towel around my chest when they knocked again.

"Coming, coming!" I yelled.

It was only when I was a step away from the door that I realised it wasn't my friends. No way they'd have knocked twice. I wasn't sure if Natsu even knew I had a front door, considering he exclusively used my window.

Before I could fully process that it could very well be a stranger on the other side and that I was still in my towel, I had turned the handle.

"Hi baby girl." Gildarts was leaning against my door frame, smirking at me. He walked in, kissing my cheek as he entered.

"How come you're here?" I asked, stunned. He was dropping a bag onto the couch.

"Laxus dropped by the guild. Figured you were back," he said stiffly, before instantly reverting to his positive demeanour. He sauntered up to me and pulled me into a fiery kiss.

"I've missed you," he said thickly.

And how I'd missed him. I melted into his arms, clutching him to me. Our fight, waking up without him, his note, it all came rushing back as I inhaled his scent. Tears welled in my eyes.

"Fuck, baby, what's wrong?" he exclaimed, wiping away the errant drops that slipped down my cheek.

I shook my head, pressing my face back into his chest.

"Lucy, what the hell is happening? Why are you crying?" His voice was full of panic.

"Nothing, nothing. I just missed you," I sniffled.

"Did something happen on your holiday? I'll fucking kill Laxus," he threatened.

"No, nothing happened. It was a good holiday. I really just missed you, Gildarts," I pulled back and dried my eyes.

"Are you sure?" he didn't sound convinced.

"Yes, I promise. It's good to see you. I wasn't sure if you'd still be here…" I confessed softly.

"What does that mean?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Our fight… I think part of me was scared you weren't going to be here when I got back…" God, I felt idiotic admitting this to him.

"Lucy, I told you that nothing was going to change. Plus, I'd never leave you like that, I swear," he committed with a deep kiss.

Pacified, it was time to address my main question.

"Gildarts, what's with the bag?" I asked, pointing to it.

"Do you have anything important you need to do over the next couple days?" His eyes were twinkling.

I looked at him suspiciously. "No…"

"Good. That's some of my stuff. We're not leaving your house for anything. Literally, for nothing. I even picked up groceries and alcohol. You and I are spending the next couple of days locked in this apartment, because, baby girl, I have missed you like crazy and I am holding you hostage until we're sick of each other," he pulled me to him and kissed me fiercely.

"Mmm, I'm a very happy hostage, then," I giggled. "And if you're holding me here till I get sick of you, then we're here forever, because I'm not ever getting sick of you."

Gildarts groaned at how cheesy that was, but kissed me again. My heart was beating so hard I was worried it would burst through my chest.

"Gildarts?" I started, still pressed against his chest.

"Hmm?"

"Iloveyou." I said it quickly and in one breath before he could stop me again.

He inhaled shakily. And exhaled sharply. And didn't say anything.

"You don't have to say it back. It's okay. But I wanted you to know," I tried to not feel bad.

Again, several seconds passed in silence.

Gildarts POV

I couldn't say it. I had, so far, only told two women that I loved them - Cornelia and Cana.

I knew that I very possibly did actually love Lucy but everything was easier when I didn't. In my note I had implied that I loved her, but the actual words wouldn't form on my lips. What was the point in loving her when she'd just leave one day?

"Gildarts, I'm not trying to replace Cornelia. And I know you love me, even if you can't say it. I'm not trying to fill the hole she left. Please don't stress," I heard her say softly, rubbing soothing circles on my back.

And suddenly, something clicked. I wasn't sure if it was what she said, or the way she smelled, or the epiphany that I could love her without forgetting Cornelia, but I was no longer hesitant.

"I love you too," I whispered. It was so soft that I wasn't sure if she'd heard, but when her arms tightened around me, I knew she had. It was a relief to say the words but, it was equally nerve wracking. I loved Cornelia, and she left. I loved Lucy, and she would too.

"What about Laxus?" I blurted out.

A firm "Don't," was her only response.

She pulled back and slipped her hand through mine.

"I was in the middle of a bath when you interrupted me, you know," she said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Sorry," I grinned sheepishly.

Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. "Come help me finish up." She pulled me to the bathroom, undoing her towel with her free hand and letting it fall to the ground.

My fears and worries fell away as I watched her round ass sashay.

A/N: I gotta admit, I'm less and less happy with the chapters I've been writing off late, but try as I may, I'm not able to fix them. They are all falling flat, in my opinion, and are lacking any excitement. I've also been just really cabin fever-y, and some mental health stuff is kinda flaring all over the place, so not only is the quality of my writing taking a hit, but I haven't been writing much in general. I am still gonna try my level best to do a one-chapter-a-day thing, but I do want to write nice chapters for you guys, so if I skip a day here or there, please forgive me. Uploading a chapter every day was pretty important to me, and I will try and maintain that, but my brain's super fuzzy and motivation+inspiration are at real lows.

Anyway, enough with the heavy TMI! We got a smut chapter coming up next, and I promise promise promise the fight scene is right around the corner.

Also, I got mixed feedback on the longer story path vs the shorter one, and I think I've settled on a third, in between kinda one. Let's see!