She heard his keys turning in the lock and her heart began to pound uncontrollably in her chest. Roxane had rehearsed what she would say to Gajeel multiple times in her mind over the last two hours; since she had awoken and realized something had happened...again. She woke up alone, in their king sized bed, and felt his side empty and cold. Gingerly she sat up, her head swimming, and rushed to the bathroom to empty her stomach of what little it contained. Upon pulling herself off the bathroom floor Roxane spotted the broken glass that dotted the floor before the front door with the stain of blood mixed amongst the shards. What did I do?!

Silently she took out the dustpan and broom from the hall closet and began to clean. Tears fell hopelessly when she found, shattered, the stone key bowl that Gajeel and her had made together during, an early in the relationship couples, pottery class. You bitch you didn't!

She called her sponsor and cried to her on the phone while emailing her boss about her sudden bout of food poisoning and that she would work from home for the remainder of the day.

"So did he go to the hospital?" Roxane was quiet; she didn't even know where Gajeel was or how much she had hurt him this time. "I'm going to take your silence as a 'you don't know' well I can tell you that the first thing you need to do is remember what is in your control right now. For example you can't control when he will come home." Judy paused and let out a deep sigh "Or if he comes back this time." Roxane placed a shaking hand over her mouth and tried to contain the scream that she so desperately wanted to let out. They talked for another twenty minutes before hanging up so Roxane could start working but her mind continued to race.

She remembered staring at the bottle while at the check out at the gas station; it taunted her. Work had been terrible that day and Gajeel had messaged saying that he was working a double to cover for another bouncer and that he wouldn't be home for dinner. Roxane had wanted to call and tell him about how draining her day had been, how exhausted she was from the extra work that had been piled on her desk at the last hour, and how long and pointless the staff meeting was. He couldn't answer though so she would have to wait till he got home around one in the morning if not later. Was he trying to avoid her? It seemed like lately Gajeel had taken more shifts than normal. She felt nervous. Her stomach growled in protest from the long line to check out and for the lack of sustenance having worked through lunch. Roxane's eyes fell to the magazine rack and she read the titles feeling even more disheartened:

'Lonely? Ten Ways to Find the Right Man!'

'Cheaters! Famous Celebrities Caught in the Act!'

'Ditch the Fat, Loose the Junk Food, and Feel Happy!'

'Five Ways To A Better Marriage!'

'The Brides Diet: To Look Your Best in Your Dress!'

"Mame?" Roxane shook her and noticed that she had spaced out completely and it was her turn finally. She looked down to the bag of chips and diet soda she was going to have with her leftovers for dinner and frowned.

"That" she pointed to the bottle and tried to hold her tears in as her mind raced. Maybe he's taking more shifts because he's seeing someone else at the bar. She carried her bags to the car and let her tears fall as she took a swig before she could change her mind. What if this marriage is a mistake? What if he wakes up one morning and realizes I'm not good enough. Roxane drove the short distance home, pulled into the underground parking garage, and smacked her steering wheel repeatedly. I'm not good enough for Gajeel. He had always been the better one in the relationship; at first he had been the one with the temper but he had calmed over the years as she only seemed to spiral out of control. She downed another mouth full in the elevator before eventually reaching their apartment door. The silence inside was defining and the last thing she could remember before waking up, alone, the next morning.

She was sitting on the couch with her files open on the coffee table when Gajeel walked through the door. He had been thankful for the spare key they had kept under the welcome mat and entered their home feeling like a stranger intruding on her. Why is she home shouldn't she be at work? He wished he would have checked her parking spot before coming up and mentally cursed for forgetting to do so.

"Hi" Roxane whispered without turning around; afraid to see what marks she had left on the man she loved this time. When he made no sound of coming any closer to her she turned around and mentally sighed with relief; he looked fine. "I thought-I saw the blood and I-"

"Just a scratch" Gajeel lied; he didn't want her to feel worse than he could see she already did. "You threw the glass and I cut my hand; ya know I heal though." He held up his hands as proof that they were free of damage and saw the relief wash over her face.

"Why don't you come over?" Gajeel stayed by the door and eyed the mug on the coffee table with suspicion. Roxane followed his gaze and laughed "What, you think I would be drinking again already?" She had tried to sound light hearted but realized that she had come off aggressive as Gajeel moved silently towards their bathroom and closed the door. She waited and heard the familiar sound of the lock clicking before the shower turning on. Shit Shit Shit

Gajeel took his phone out of his pocket (thankful that Roxane hadn't seen him pick it up as he walked in) and looked through his messages. Two missed calls from the owner of the bar that he worked at. He listened to the messages and shot Cana a text back quickly before stripping out of his dirty clothes. Though they were black he could see the faint discoloration of the blood that had pooled around the collar from his open mouth when his jaw had been broken as well as down the back where the blood had dripped through his hair from the head wound. Under the scolding hot water he tried to calm his racing heart and mind.

Why did I lie to Roxane? She'll figure out something is off she always does. He looked down and watched the water turn copper as it fell through his raven hair and removed the dried blood from his matted locks. He lost track of time in the shower and only got out when the water began to turn cold. The second Gajeel turned the handles off he heard Roxane knock on the closed door. "Gajeel? I-I'm sorry for what I might have said last night. I-" He could hear her shuffle from one foot to the other uncomfortably "I made a mistake but relapses happen you have to understand. Please you have to forgive me. I am trying. I promise."

Gajeel opened the door and stood before Roxane in just his towel. Beads of water dripped down his chest and off the subdermal piercings that dotted his collar bones. He could see the longing in her eyes; to make things better, to be as one, to feel close again. He turned and walked towards the bedroom and began dressing in silence. Roxane sighed and moved to collect his dirty clothes from the bathroom floor. She breathed deeply to fight the tears that were desperately trying to escape; she could smell the blood as she picked up his shirt and frowned. She felt the harder texture in a large pool around the collar. This is more blood than he would have if it was just a cut on his hand. Why is it here? Did I do something more? She had to know but was afraid to ask directly.

"Gajeel, babe, there's blood on your shirt." She paused hoping that he would continue without her needing to ask but heard no reply. "Did-did something happen at work?" It was then that her eyes fell on his phone on the bathroom counter. Had that always been there? Why did he take his phone into the bathroom with him? She thought and moved towards the counter when Gajeel appeared again and stood in front of it with his back to her to grab his toothbrush.

"Nothing happened at work." he said as he brushed. He could sense that there was a fight coming and his heart began to race. I wonder if that cup was just coffee.

"Why-why did you take your phone into the bathroom?" Roxane crossed her arms over her chest as Gajeel pocketed his phone and left the small bathroom. He walked around the kitchen silently opening and closing cabinets and the fridge to prepare something to eat.

She couldn't stand the silence "Answer me Gajeel! Is there another woman?! Is that why you didn't come home?!"

Gajeel turned and stared at Roxane in astonishment. He couldn't stop himself and despite the fact that he didn't want to start another fight he would not let himself be turned into the bad guy either. "I took my phone into the bathroom to check my messages for work. Read them if you don't trust me." Gajeel removed his phone from his pocket and threw it onto the counter towards Roxane.

She didn't touch it. If I take it he'll think I don't trust him. "Then where were you all fucking night?" Her voice was starting to shake. He's hiding something, I know he is.

Gajeel slammed the fridge closed and placed his frying pan on the stove top with more force than necessary. "Didn't get a good look at the street signs when you forced me out last night." He was done sparring her feelings. Silence fell as he began to cook. He didn't like the idea of his back to Roxane but he didn't want to show fear either.

"You didn't answer me." Roxane sat at one of the counter top stools and waited. She watched Gajeel fry his bacon and crack his eggs with delebrite slowness "Answer me!" she demanded before grabbing his phone; unable to control herself any longer. She scrolled through his messages and call log. She opened his browser history, photo albums, listened to his voicemails, and moved through any corner of his phone that she could think of where evidence that she was right to worry would be. Nothing. Gajeel had been telling the truth like always. His boss Cana needed him to come in early for a whole staff meeting followed by help with delivery.

She glanced up to see Gajeel, with disappointment in his red eyes, finishing his breakfast and moving towards the sink. She opened her mouth to apologize but closed it and handed him his phone which he pocketed without a word or another look in her direction. Roxane returned to her work on the sofa while Gajeel cleaned the kitchen. The silence was deafening. She let her tears fall freely while she sent emails and tried to keep her mind busy. Finally he sat down next to her and pulled her into his firm pierced and tattooed arms. He kissed the top of her head, letting her cry into his chest, and rubbed her back soothingly. "Why am I like this?" she whispered to which he only sighed. He wished he knew. "Why do you stay with me?"

"Because I love you." even as he spoke it Gajeel wondered if he still meant what he was saying.

"But why?" She wondered too. Roxane removed herself from Gajeel's lap and looked into his eyes. He could tell she had been crying even before he had come home. He shrugged his shoulders and knew it was the wrong answer but didn't know what else to say. Roxane opened her mouth to speak but stopped when his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and spoke quickly. It was his boss; Cana. He moved from the couch and walked towards the hall closet and took out his coat. She heard him laugh and turned her head frowning.

When Gajeel turned off his phone she was next to him by the door with distrust in her eyes. "What's so funny?"

He looked down at her astounded "You're seriously jealous of my boss? I thought we've been over this already. She's in a relationship with her girlfriend Mirajane."

"She's bisexual." Roxane blurted out defensively causing Gajeel to snort.

"So what, that means that she is going to what-jump me on a whim? Ruin her relationship and break her girlfriends heart?" He paused and turned towards the door to leave. He felt Roxane grab his jacket to turn him around and shook her off "Why are you like this?" with that he slammed the door closed and left for work feeling truly thankful that he had somewhere else to be.

Levy smiled as she strolled down the main street in the bright afternoon sunlight. Her long navy dress swayed as she walked and twice she had to return a wayward strap to her shoulder; but she carried her bags and continued on with confidence in every step. She was having a great day grocery shopping and running errands. Her last stop was to the apothecary for another healing potion. The chimes jingled joyfully as she entered the store and moved her sunglasses to the top of her large straw hat. Levy gave a small wave to the elderly gentleman who owned the shop and moved around the shelves before discovering two books she had yet to read on wild herbs and cooking with fungi.

"Hello" she said quietly after placing her books on the counter and dropping her other three full bags to the floor with a loud thud.

Blush crossed her cheeks as the eldelry man looked down at her shopping and laughed "Did you buy bricks?" he asked in a raspy voice.

"Books actually and some food for my shop and home." He nodded with a light chuckle as she continued "I was wondering if you had any healing potions in stock currently please?"

The man nodded but then stopped and shook his head to her confusion "I do have one but I have another gentleman here who was also looking to purchase it." Levy frowned and turned to the man he was gesturing to and felt her heartbeat quicken.

"Well now, if it isn't tall, dark, and bloody." Levy laughed and smiled up at Gajeel who looked just as surprised to see her as well. "Was one potion not enough?" she joked and tried her best to act as normal without coming off too strong. She had no idea how the rest of his night might have gone and didn't want to upset the strange man who she had already had a difficult first encounter with.

He seemed to think over his next words carefully before speaking. His voice was deeper that she remembered though it had only been one word prior. "I was actually going to replace your potion."

Levy blushed and shook her head to Gajeel's confusion. "Really Sir it's not an issue." Gajeel laughed; he couldn't remember the last time he had been called Sir.

Gajeel moved to the register where the owner had begun to wrap the healing potion up for him and noticed the books on the counter top that Levy had been about to purchase. "These too."

"No, seriously I mean it I can replace my potion and you don't need to buy my books!" Levy moved towards Gajeel with an open hand to place on his arm but stopped short when he flinched and stepped back from her. She lowered her hand and nodded; accepting his purchase and stepped back.

"That will be two thousand and six." Gajeel felt like he had been hit over the head all over again. He blinked repeditily before looking in his wallet at the under the table cash he had on hand. It was nowhere near enough and he didn't dare to put it on his credit card for fear that Roxane would see the bill in the mail and question the purchase. Before he realized what was happening Levy had handed the gentleman her card which he had swiped without him noticing.

By the time he had registered what she had done Levy simply shook her head and said "It's done." She collected her bags, returned her sunglasses to her face, said goodbye to the owner, and left the shop with Gajeel following closely behind still speechless.

"I can't let you pay for that potion." Gajeel muttered as he followed Levy down the street. She laughed and handed him one of the bags she had been struggling with and walked a little ways further before stopping at the bus stop and turning to look up at Gajeel.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are so tall you block out the sun?" Her smile was warm and reminded him of something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. "Do you know when the next bus is coming?" she asked while sitting on the bench and stretching out her legs.

Gajeel shook his head and tried to not look at her too long; his eyes lingered on a dress strap that had fallen and on her white back tattoo; he recognized the symbol and smirked. "I have a car, do you want a ride?"

Levy peered up at Gajeel through the tops of her sunglasses. Her carmel eyes seemed to question his intentions but the grin spreading across her lips showed that she was interested just the same. "You think I would get into a car with a stranger I don't even know the name of?"

"Yes?" Gajeel snorted as she nodded and stood with her bags which he took another one of. It wasn't long before they reached his dark green jeep that was missing the roof. He thought she would complain about her hair but as they began driving she took off her hat and let her hair roll in the wind. She reached for the radio and tapped the outside of her door to the beat with surprising accuracy while giving him directions.

After fifteen minutes they arrived in front of the Cafe he had wondered upon just the night before. "I live in the connecting brick beyond the courtyard." She stated while she removed her bags from the back seat and noticed Gajeel still eyeing the bag with the potion inside. It was then that an idea occurred to her and an excited grin spread across her face. "Could you help me get these inside the shop?" Gajeel nodded and grabbed the two overflowing bags he had been carrying earlier before following her into the empty shop. It was dark and once inside Levy dropped the bags on the counter and headed towards the back kitchen door to his confusion "Follow me!" she yelled, waving him on, and moved out of view through the door frame.

Gajeel paused at the counter She's gorgeous but I won't cheat on Roxane I- His thoughts were interrupted when Levy came back through the frame and looked up at him puzzled. "I have a fiance" he said which was met with silence. Levy looked into his red eyes from the door frame and leaned against it sighing. Is that disappointment?

Levy frowned but in an overly exaggerated way with her bottom lip jutting out and then whispered "Do I look like the type of girl who sleeps with a man she doesn't know the name of?" Silence fell then after an awkward minute where they each tried to not break eye contact Gajeel felt himself laugh and Levy began to laugh so hard that she held her side for support. "Listen you want to pay me back for that potion; which you don't need to" she quickly added "Well I have an idea. I have this space that I wanted to repair but I'm not that handy with tools. I have the supplies but not the knowledge or strength." Levy made muscle arms causing Gajeel to chuckle again. "So do you think that sounds like a fair trade?"

He thought about her offer. It seemed fair to him, especially when he thought about how long it would take him to pay off the debt he would accrue for the potion out right. His mind drifted to Roxane however and he frowned thinking about just how little time he could dedicate without her growing jealous or angry towards him. It was as though Levy could read his mind. "I could meet your fiance if that's the problem I'm sure she-"

"No" Gajeel cut her off so fast that he realized he needed to explain but also change the subject "I have a nightly job; heck sometimes one during the day too. I think I might only be able to commit to an hour or so a week. I wouldn't want to stall your project out longer than you need it to go."

To this, Levy nodded in agreement "I understand but I'm in no hurry, I don't even have a vision for the space yet to be honest. If you don't want to help me it's fine you can still call the potion a gift too." she paused when he shook his head, his long raven hair hiding his face momentarily. "Care to see it now?" Levy led the way up a large set of spiral metal stairs, just beyond the door frame next to the Cafe's kitchen, to a large, sculpted, closed oak door.

Once through Gajeel couldn't help but grin at the large open room. The walls were covered in the same brick as the exterior and Cafe below. The same wooden beams covered the tall vaulted ceiling but the rest of the room was empty aside from the framing of what should have been bathroom walls, and where he noticed a kitchen might have gone. He walked around the open space; taking in the large full wall of windows that over looked the garden below. "I thought it would make a great apartment and I bought all the materials but yeah" Levy made muscle arms again and left Gajeel to look around. He found another set of spiral stairs and the framings of what looked to be a loft at the top.

"What's that door to?" he asked after descending the stairs again and walking past another large sculpted oak door that was locked when he attempted to turn the handle.

"Odds and ends and storage. Mostly books but you don't have to worry about fixing anything in there unless you want to later perhaps." Gajeel glanced towards Levy and saw her watching him with curious eyes. "I'm in no rush" she reminded him and her eyebrows raised as he crossed the room closer to her.

Gajeel took a deep breath before putting his hand out before Levy "Gajeel. My name is Gajeel."

Levy took his hand and shook it. "It's nice to officially meet you Gajeel." With her other hand she tossed a set of keys into the air that Gajeel hadn't noticed her carrying before. He caught them and eyed her questionably. Levy shrugged "I had a feeling you would say yes"

"You are giving me keys to this apartment?"

"And the shop below. If it helps I'm a bit of an insomniac so it won't matter when you come to work." She led the way back through the door, down the stairs, and into the Cafe; where she started to unpack her bags as though nothing was odd about what she was doing.

"You trust me?" Levy nodded but Gajeel didn't seem to understand her "Why?"

Levy put down the vegetables she had been handling and moved closer towards Gajeel; he backed away instinctively which caused Levy to stop moving and nod understandingly. She looked into Gajeel's red eyes; it was as though she could read in them all the pain he had ever felt in his lifetime and spoke with such confidence her next choice of words that he still wondered if she could read his mind or even his soul. "I trust you Gajeel because you look like someone who deserves it and deserves better. Simple as that."

He left the Cafe and drove towards work still hearing Levy's words ringing through his head and gripping tightly the keys she had given him in his hand.