Dear Readers:

It's been a long time coming, but we are finally approaching the point in which the sad, angsty stuff is less prominent than the happy, Lucy-is-a-badass stuff. Thank you so much for sticking through it!

If you want something that's got a little more humor and a lot more snark? Check out 'Major Problems' - my new multi-chapter fic.

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail. Desna owns the Pradesh Family.

Enjoy!

With everything in him, Gray wanted to run back to that damn infirmary and hold his friend hostage and not let her leave. He hated that she was putting herself in danger, that she was doing it alone. It made him more anxious and disheartened than he ever remembered being.

He felt helpless. If he couldn't help Lucy, what good was he?

Gray clenched his fist, fighting the urge to freeze the whole guild hall in his self-directed frustration. He stopped at the bar, resting his weight against it and taking deep, calming breaths before he had to face anyone else.

After a few moments, he regained his composure. Everything Lucy had done so far, everything she'd sacrificed and every bridge she'd burned would mean nothing if he gave her away because he was too emotional.

'Lucy… come back safe. I don't know what I'd do with myself if you were gone…' he thought sadly, looking back over his shoulder and down the hallway toward the infirmary.

He heaved a heavy sigh and released the bartop, scowling at the thin layer of ice coating it where his hand had been. It was, to him anyway, proof that he couldn't control his emotions, and it only served to anger him further.

He shook his head as if to clear dark thoughts from his mind, and arranged his facial features into his typical mask of annoyance and overall indifference. He stepped away from the bar and observed the main hall. It was nearly three in the morning, so he wasn't surprised that no one was there, nor was he surprised at the damage he saw. Natsu caused all that when he was leaving, and Gray couldn't blame the idiot this time.

He could only guess at how harsh Lucy's words had been to him. The guy was dense as hell and loyal to a fault, it would take a lot of convincing for him to actually believe his best friend was a traitor.

He wanted to be disappointed in the pink-haired man, because if Gray could see through her, why couldn't her best friend? But he just couldn't find it in himself to be angry at Natsu. As close as he was to Lucy, he'd never been able to tell when she was lying - especially not when it was for his sake. Like when she said the stray attack she'd gotten caught it hadn't bothered her. Or when she told him she was 'fine' whenever he asked. Or when he'd asked about the strange tattoo on her collarbone that he'd seen when her clothes got destroyed on a mission, and she'd simply told him she got it while she was drunk and was embarrassed by it, and not to mention it to anyone.

On top of that, there wasn't much Lucy didn't know about her teammates. If she had decided to exploit every vulnerability Gray had ever told her about? He wasn't sure he'd have had the strength of will to see past it, either.

So, no. This time Natsu was excused, in Gray's opinion.

*Flashback*

The hall seemed to glow in front of him as a pink-haired figure approached. The glow made more sense when the man stepped out of the hallway leading to the infirmary and Gray saw the flickering of barely contained flame escaping Natsu's body.

Seeing the man's face, the ice-mage understood why. His close friend (though he would never admit that they were friends) was out of control, more furious than he'd ever seen him (and that was saying something, the guy was a literal hot-head). Beyond that rage, Gray saw soul-crushing betrayal reflecting deep in his eyes, and it made Gray's own heart plummet.

He knew in that moment, whatever answers Natsu had gotten out of Lucy, were most definitely not the answers he had been hoping for. Not even close.

Gray found himself wanting to approach and comfort his pink-haired friend - an urge he wasn't exactly used to having - but his experience as Natsu's teammate advised strongly against that action, so he held himself back. Even a hand on the guy's shoulder would likely be met with a punch to the face. Likely a flaming one.

The fire wizard stalked past him angrily, not even taking notice of the ice mage looking at him expectantly, and started punching through any and all of the tables and chairs that found themselves in the unfortunate position of being in his way, as he launched himself straight out the guild entrance without looking back. He left a trail of singed and splintered wood in his wake, some flaming spots that Gray was forced to quickly snuff out with ice magic, lest they burn the whole place to the ground after they'd just spent days making it habitable again.

The ice wizard watched as Natsu disappeared in the distance, brooding. He wanted his own answers, but wasn't sure he was ready to get them.

Freed poked his head in the newly-broken guild doors (good job with that one, Erza) moments later, shooting a questioning look in Gray's direction. For some reason that pissed him off, it wasn't like he had any of the goddamn answers.

"Don't look at me like that, Freed! Just do your job keeping watch and mind your own business!" It was harsh, likely uncalled for - as Freed hadn't actually said anything at all - but Gray wasn't exactly in a reasonable kind of mood.

The green-haired mage squinted his eyes in annoyance at his guildmate, but otherwise made no move to antagonize him. After all, Freed did have some experience in being a friend to someone that had turned their back on the guild. It wasn't exactly a comfortable place to be. Freed, after a moment, did turn back around to resume his careful guard over the mostly empty guild hall. He was silent and didn't peek in again, seeming to accept that saying anything in retaliation, or pushing for some sort of explanation, would likely get him nowhere.

Gray, thankful for Freed's acceptance of his behavior, turned around and started up the steps to see Lucy. He thought she was hiding something more, about the whole thing. Something big, if she was willing to hurt both Erza and Natsu this badly to keep it hidden.

Or at least he hoped so.

*End Flashback*

Gray sighed as he walked through the rubble that was once considered furniture. He didn't want to think about who was going to have to keep track of Natsu all day, because the man was not going to be easy to handle. He really didn't want to consider who was going to be stuck dealing with Erza's emotional outbursts, or how they would manage it.

Actually, it would probably be Jellal, and thinking about it, Gray decided he really didn't want to know the details of how he was going to handle it.

Stepping through the guild doorway, he expected to see Freed still standing watch. Instead, when he glanced over, he spotted Laxus leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, seemingly bored out of his mind. Though, that was Laxus' default expression, if he really thought about it.

Gray was somewhat surprised that the blonde lightning mage was the one who took over guard duty, as it was a pretty menial task. Not the kind of thing normally done by an S-Class mage - let alone the infamously grumpy 'Thunder God'.

Deciding not to question it - and assuming it had to do with the fact that Laxus was of the few people who knew of Lucy's real plans - Gray simply tilted his head at the lightning mage in a silent greeting.

Gray was surprised when, instead of Laxus' signature silence, he received a question in response, "I'm guessing Natsu finally confronted Blondie?"

Though his face was a mask of indifference, and his voice held no real emotion, Gray could tell that Lucy's decision was likely hurting Laxus as much as it was him. Not being able to take action to protect their friends and family? It wasn't a position Fairy Tail mages often found themselves in, and frankly, it didn't sit right.

"Yeah, earlier," Gray answered truthfully after a moment's consideration, "Not sure he's ever going to be the same after all this, if I'm being honest…"

Laxus only grunted in response (which was more typical of the man than conversing with guildmates was), crossing his arms over his muscled chest.

Laxus took a moment to think that through, and he couldn't help but agree. He nodded, conveying as much to Gray. Probably. Laxus wasn't entirely sure how many people understood his method of communication.

Before Lucy, Natsu had been obsessed with finding his dragon father, and had found very little time to actually spend with his guild family. That didn't change until he'd dragged (literally) Lucy into the guild and called her 'Luigi' to get her riled up. Once he teamed up with her, he gradually became a true part of the family. Finally started trusting in his family, to the point where trust became something he gave out freely, openly, and to people who had wronged him in the past - likely because he took the cue from Lucy herself.

That trusting nature was likely shattered now, something he was sure would kill Lucy if she realized it.

Glancing around to make sure they were alone, the ice-make mage stepped a little closer to Laxus and spoke in a quiet but firm tone, "Listen. I know there's something more going on here. And I know it's dangerous."

Laxus stared wide-eyed at him, about to deny it, but Gray held up a hand before he could refute him.

"Listen," he continued, "I won't stop her and I won't tell anyone, I owe her that. She trusted me to know about it, so I owe it to her to trust her to come back safe."

The dragon slayer relaxed slightly, and found himself a little surprised by Gray's comments, and the fact that Lucy hadn't been able to lie to him. Though he shouldn't have been surprised, really. Laxus was fully aware that Gray knew things about his kin that he'd never know, it was just the kind of bond the two shared.

"But," Gray spoke up once more, "I need you to know, if anything happens to her I won't forgive you for letting her go through with this. You or master. I don't even care that she tricked you, backed you into a corner, whatever. I'm holding you responsible for making sure she comes home."

Though it was most definitely some kind of threat, Laxus didn't feel any ill will toward Gray for it. He felt the same way, honestly. Lucy was important to him, too, and it wasn't like he'd ever forgive himself if something happened to her.

After a few moments of silence, Laxus just nodded toward in Gray's general direction, and for once decided to follow up the motion with actual words, "I'll do everything I can to keep her safe."

Gray accepted this, knowing it was the best that Laxus could promise him, and walked away. He was heading home to try and come to terms with everything.

Laxus watched him leave, realizing for the first time just why Lucy had always seemed so close to the man.

It was consistently Gray who was in her corner when she made an unpopular decision, like taking a solo mission. Or generally behaving like she was an adult who could take care of and protect herself.

Sure, everyone else in the guild would fight to protect Lucy from harm no matter the cost, always. Without question. But Gray would forever be the one mage in the room who had complete faith in Lucy, her plans, her experience, and her abilities. He didn't treat her like glass, or like some princess to be protected. Considering the way Lucy grew up, and how ridiculously overprotective her spirits had always been, he could see why sometimes her guildmate's efforts would chafe.

Even at the cost of her own life, or even his, Gray would help Lucy stay true to herself and her beliefs. Laxus had no doubt that Erza and Natsu would disregard her wishes entirely if it meant keeping her safe, and he'd found himself struggling with that very thought when she'd first told him what she intended to do - when it would mean the cost of her magic if to keep her in the guild.

More often than he'd like to admit since he'd practically adopted her into the family, he'd had to wrestle with himself not to just knock her out and handle her issues for himself. No matter what the issue was. Even if the issue couldn't be solved with his brute strength (which, more often than not, was the case).

Thinking on it, Laxus couldn't help but admire the kind of strength Gray possessed to support someone so completely in a decision like this, when it meant you might lose them. He wasn't sure he'd ever have that kind of faith - not because Lucy wasn't strong, she definitely was, more than she gave herself credit for - but because his fear of losing her if she left his sight was very real.

Laxus found himself feeling grateful that Lucy had someone like Gray to lean on. He was sure it was a large part of how she'd managed to remain so strong in the face of all the losses she'd suffered.

Lucy cleared the last of her depressing thoughts as she felt the door click closed when she leaned her weight against it.

Though she berated herself for being so weak as to let herself acknowledge her situation to Gray, she felt… oddly stronger. More prepared to do what she needed to do. Gray's faith in her had the tendency to make her feel like she could do anything, and right now she was extremely grateful for it.

And it felt good, now that she's alienated everyone else, knowing that she had at least one more person who knew her real goal. One more person who still cared for her.

If she could come back some day - if she managed to live that long - she'd have at least one teammate who'd still love her in spite of everything. Even knowing that she'd lied to him, he didn't hold it against her. It gave her hope, and pushed the last of her lingering doubts away, strengthening her resolve to protect her family.

And she knew, without a doubt in her mind, that Gray would keep her secret. He always had.

She smiled at the thought.

Pushing herself off the door and standing straight, she decided she'd sleep. She'd have to be up in a few hours, but she was going to get whatever amount of rest she could before heading out tomorrow and facing the world alone - or as alone as she could be with her spirits around.

Walking over, she pulled her bag from under the bed, and grabbed some fresh clothes. She wasn't going to have time tomorrow to do anything besides push away more of her close friends, get her guild mark removed, and leave Magnolia for good. She picked up shorts and a long-sleeved navy shirt to change into, and decided she'd just wear them to nap in so she could face the day as soon as she woke up.

She threw the bag back under her bed after changing, and summoned Virgo and Capricorn.

"Lady Lucy"

"Punishment, Princess?"

Rolling her eyes at Virgo's greeting - because she'd literally just done that hours ago - she smiled at her two spirits and asked them for a favor, "I know it's a lot to ask, but can you guys go over to Strawberry Street? I won't have time to pack up tomorrow, and honestly… I don't want to get caught up going through everything. It would only make me sad, and I can't afford to be sad right now… Can you pack up the essentials?"

She'd asked it with desperation in her eyes. She really didn't want to spend time thinking of every memory she had attached to every item in her apartment.

"I'm going to need to move stuff into storage in another town and square things with the landlady, but after tomorrow I won't be welcome in Magnolia anymore, and I just… I don't want to lose all those memories because I couldn't pack, you know?" By the time she finished speaking the smile had dropped off her face and she had turned her single-eyed gaze to her lap, hands hanging limply by her sides.

"Don't worry about it, Lucy," Surprisingly, it was Loke who spoke, having summoned himself. She was so caught up in thinking about her apartment that she hadn't noticed the slight pull on her magic.

"I told you to get some rest, Loke…" Lucy growled at the Zodiac leader with no real malice in her words. She had never been one to order her spirits to do anything, in her opinion they were friends. This wasn't the military and she wasn't their superior, they were all comrades and they could do as they wished. She just really wanted him to relax and heal.

He only grinned in response and put a hand on her shoulder, ignoring her comment entirely.

"We've got it handled, princess. We will make the arrangements on everything for you, don't worry about a thing except getting prepared for your journey."

Lucy looked to the two spirits she'd actually summoned for help, and both nodded in agreement.

Sighing, she relented, "Okay. Thank you. And… I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. You deserve better."

All three spirits smiled, each of them spouting something about how they aren't upset with her, and disappeared - presumably going to her apartment to start their newest task.

She smiled to herself, silently thankful that she was a clean person and that she didn't hide anything embarrassing in her home for them to find.

She shook her head and walked into the bathroom, turning on the steaming water and stepping in after stripping her clothing and remaining bandages. The few bruises, cuts, and burns that hadn't been fully healed stung at the contact, but the heat of the water soothed the sore muscles she'd been dealing with since she woke up, so she wouldn't complain.

She stayed in the shower far longer than she should have, but she just couldn't bring herself to shorten after realizing that she wasn't sure when she'd get the next opportunity to shower. Let alone the next time she'd have access to hot water at all. So she took her time.

Finally, when the water ran cold, Lucy sighed and reluctantly exited the shower. She changed into her clothes before climbing into bed with still-dripping wet blonde hair, feeling the exhaustion start to seep in as she brushed through it sleepily.

She felt the drain on her power that meant both Capricorn and Virgo's keys were still active. Though it was strictly speaking, rather stupid for a celestial mage to sleep while maintaining magical gates - lest they never wake up due to magic depletion - Lucy knew her magic reserves wouldn't be depleted for several hours. That, and Lucy wasn't an ordinary celestial mage, her relationship with her spirits was unparalleled. She fully trusted her trusted spirits to go back on their own if they felt her power failing.

They often had a better read on her power than she herself did.

She knew it was dumb, considering she was already maintaining two zodiac gates, but she couldn't stop herself from summoning Plue as well - so she could cuddle him for comfort like she often did when the nightmares kept her from the sweet embrace of sleep. Three gates was a bit much, even with her magic energy slowly increasing over the last few years, but she really didn't care. The chance to actually get a few hours rest was worth the risk, especially considering Plue hardly counted.

Clutching the dog close to her chest - she heard a happily chirped "Puuun-Puunnnnn" from him at the action - she fell into the last bit of restful sleep she'd get for a long time.