Gray was at his desk in his office finishing a text to Amber. He had found a car suitable to her needs. It would be arriving at her place soon. He wanted to present the purchase himself, but he has been stuck at company for awhile. Not able to see her for two weeks was making him feel miserable. When they were married, coming home each day and seeing her there warmed his heart and his love for her grew. To be far apart and seeing her every so often put a damper on getting closer to her. His phone lays down on his desk and he tips his chair back to look up at the ceiling. "I miss her. Does she miss me or even think of me? Then there is Emmy, how much bigger has she gotten in these weeks. Has Rae training been going well." He turns his head and looks at the calendar tomorrow would have been Luke's birthday. He had listen to his brother's words and started putting pictures up around his house. When he started doing it, it brought back so many fond memories that it almost had him in tears. "All these years I still haven't come to terms with losing him. The grief still feels so raw do not know how I can overcome this." A musical tune plays on his phone. He sits back up again to reach for the device. "She answer back fast." "It will be here today?" He texted back. "Yes, you will be able to drive it when the keys are handed to you." "Ok, I am heading back home then." "Where are you?" "I was having lunch with some co-workers." Gray was frowning at that line. "Sting?" "He was there and so was Natsu and Lucy." "Stay away from him." "Gray, it was lunch. I can see who I want too and he is a good friend." "Ha! A friend that kissed you." "He has apologized for that." "Still, stay away." "Do not be jealous. Anyways, I have to go. Bye." "I am fine with being jealous. Trying to get you back. Call you later?" "I might be home later, or be speeding down the highway in my new digs. I really got to go. Bye." "Do you miss me?" "Gray. Stop it." "What no Raven?" "Sheesh. Get back to work." "Later Snowflake. xoxoxo" "Bye Raven. xoxxo, those are from Emmy not me." "Surrrreee."
The ins and out of the company keep him busy for the remainder of the day. He had to deal with all levels of departments and make long, tiring phone calls to clients. Deal with his secretary that he believed is hinting on him, even though the women was married. When the final paper was sign and the last person left for the day. All he wanted to do was to see her. He was tempted to go over to her house, but he was wore out and needed a good night sleep. "Tomorrow Amber, you will see me." He shuts off his lights to his office and locks up. The only persons that was on after hours was security. Romeo was park on the street ready to take him home. "Good evening sir." "Same to you Romeo." Gray gets into the back seat. "Where to Sir?" "Home Romeo." "No stopping off anywhere." "No not tonight. You have the rest of the week off." "Thanks Sir." Romeo drives his boss home and he looks into his rear view mirror. "Sir?" "What is it?" "Tomorrow Sir, I wanted to say sorry." "There is no need Romeo. He has been gone for this long. His birthday and the day he died are the hardest ones in the year, not to mention ending my marriage." "Sir?" "Nothing, been doing a lot of thinking lately." "Of Amber?" "My mind is filled with her." "Anything you need help with?" "If you know a way I can win her back, that would be great." "No, I don't Sir, but what did you do when you had her the first time." Gray laughs. "Didn't have to do anything. We just clicked and I knew she was the one." "Isn't that enough?" "Maybe."
Romeo drops him off at home and he went to see his girlfriend. Gray was on his couch eating his supper while watching the news. With him being the only one in this big house, what is the point of siting at the dining table to eat. He flips the channels to see what else was on. Amber's ringtone comes on over his phone. He picks it up and looks at the text. "Suv is here, love the color. Went for a test drive already." "You could have called instead of text." He jumps a little on the couch when the phone started ringing again. He chuckles. "Hello Snowflake." "Texting is easy at times." "Yeah, but I miss hearing your voice." There was silence over the phone. "Hello, Amber...Amber?" "I am here." "What is wrong? Why be so quiet all of the sudden." "I do not want you to be pleased with what I have to say." "Alright, go on." "I miss your voice too." "Score." "Gray! I take it back." "No you can't, I have heard it now and I am happy." He hears her giggling over the line. "I miss your laughter too." She stops and there is quiet again. "I have to go, it's bath time for Emmy." "Amber?" "Yeah? "I miss you." "Goodnight Raven." The line goes dead. "At lest that was a little something."
She picks up Emmy off the floor. "Can't believe I told him. Probably right now he is on cloud nine. Emmy what am I to do? If I told him I missed him too. He would probably be crashing through the front door." The baby looks at her, sucking on her pacifier. "I will put this out of my mind for now. It's bath time then bed." She heads towards the stairs and her home phone starts ringing. A other unknown number. She lets the answering machine get it. "Hey Angel...Angel." Amber looks at the phone. "Not again, a enough is a enough." "Angel...you are going to get it...if you don't pick up now." "What I should really do is get my phone number changed and I will not have to listen to this garbage scumbag again." Amber carries on with giving a bath to Emmy. When she gets her settled into bed she goes and makes a call to the phone company to get her number changed. Then she says sends a mass text to everyone on her caller list about the new number. She rubs behind Rae's ear while watching t.v and she receives text back from everyone she sent it too. She did excused Gray from that text. If he texted, wanting to know why of the change, she would have to tell him. "Rae, I think it's bed time. Tomorrow is going to be along day anyways. Should rest up for it." The dog is placed outside and she goes into her dog house that her brother Mystogan build for the pup. Amber heads up to her bedroom and takes off her robe and lays down on the bed. "This time 9 years ago, I was in labor giving birth to a very precious boy. The labor was intense and Gray was at work at the time and the traffic was horrendous to reach the hospital. When it was all over and he was in my arms and Gray was beside me. The pain, the wait was all justified." She closes her eyes hoping to have a dream of Luke.
The next morning Gray was drinking his first cup of coffee of the morning. "Should I go over there, phone her up, text." He wanted to spend the day with her. Over the years he wanted to call and ask how she was doing or even go to his graveside. He never could have the courage to do so. Knowing now how much pain and hurt he had caused her. "How do you start a day like this with a women you loved." "I think you should head over there." "Why don't you knock before coming in." "Miss out on you talking to yourself." Lyon helps himself to the coffee pot. "How are you this morning brother?" "Same as last year." "No this year different. You would be hold up in your office dealing with work and not thinking about this day. This year, you can actually do something about this. Like I said, go over there." "She may turn me away." "She might or not. I say go for the chance. If you want her back in your life, the risk is yours to take." Gray puts his cup into the dishwasher. "Maybe I should phone her first." "I say show up, that way there is no excuse over the phone for her to make." "True, I'll go and get ready." "Tell her I say hi." "Well do."
She was combing out her hair when her home phone was going off. "Hello." "Amber I been trying to get a hold of you for the last hour." "Sting? Why are you calling me at 10 in the morning. I have been busy." "You need to come to the hospital right away." "Why, what is going on?" "Jason is refusing to do the surgery and is locked up in his bathroom." "Amy and Erick can deal with that." "They have tried, even Rouge wasn't convincing enough. They want you to come down and get him out. The operation is schedule for 12:30 this afternoon. He needs to be prep before then." "I can't come with Emmy. I need some:one to look after her." "Start calling around." "Sting, it's a Saturday, I can't do it on sort notice." "Please, we are desperate. We all know he likes you and does as you say." "Sting, this is not the day to do this." "I know what day it is, but I am begging you. Please be a friend." "Do not use the friend card." "Amber, I wouldn't ask if this wasn't serious. As a nurse you know about crunch time." She puts a hand through her hair. "Fine, I'll try calling around." "Thank you. You are the best and I love ya." "Yeah yeah yeah. You own me."
The next hour she tried everyone she knew to take Emmy, but they where all busy. Even her brothers couldn't take her. "Who is left I could call? If I can't find anyone. I will have to bring Emmy with me. Depending how long it takes to talk Jason. I don't want her to be with strangers while waiting." A knock at the door had her putting down her phone book. "Who could this be?" She goes over to the door and opens it up. There stood the tall Raven sporting a casual look and looking very clean shaven. Her heart skip a beat looking at him. "Hi, Sorry I wanted to call but came on over. I know you might not want to see me today. I thought we could do something together." "Gray, I am really busy at the moment." Her phone starts ringing. "Go answer that." She looks at him and gives out exasperated sigh. "Come in." He closes the door behind and goes into the living room. Emmy was on her tummy on the floor and Rae was sleeping in the corner. He looks looks over at Amber as she is on the phone. "No, that is ok. I understand you are sick and I don't want Emmy to catch what you have. But thanks for calling me back. I have more people to try, but it's not looking so good." Gray wanted to know what was wrong. What she was doing sounded important. When she gets off the phone she picks up her phone book again and turns the pages. "What is wrong, you seam very stressed" "Sting called not to long ago. He wants me at the hospital. Before your mind jumps to conclusions. This is about Jason, he is suppose to have his operation today and he locked himself into his bathroom and refusing to come out. I am trying to get someone to take Emmy." Gray looks down at the floor and looks back at Amber. "Was I on that list." "What?" She flips through the book. He comes over to her and takes it out of her hands. "Amber, I can come and watch Emmy with you." She looks at him as if he has a double head. "You?" "Yeah me. You probably don't want to be away from her on this day. I can come with her, to the hospital. I'll watch her." She analyzed about it in her mind. No one else can take her, and he is offering. I don't want her to be far. She knows him compare to others with no interaction."Well. What do you say?" "Everyone else is not panning out. I would hate to say you are my last option." "Amber I am first and last. Can always depend to me." "We don't have much time to chat about this. Need to get over there right way." "Go get ready, I'll see to her." Without saying anything more. She runs up to her room. Gray turns to the baby. "Emmy, it's you and me again."
They take her new car to the hospital and he ended up driving. Amber was figuring out how to deal with Jason. "I'll pull up to the entrance and let you out. I'll go park the car." She turns to him and smiles. "Thanks." She leans forward and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Before she pulls back he puts a hand behind her head and gives her a kiss on the lips. "I prefer a kiss this way for thanks." She stares at him and he leans in to kiss her again. A car honks it's horn and the driver wants them to move. "Better go up and help the boy." She gets out of the car and runs inside. Gray gives the guy the finger. "We where sharing a moment you idiot." Amber anxiously waits in the elevator to arrive on the fifth floor. When it stops on the floor she pushes past the people that were still inside and gets out. She hurries down the hallway and see a group by his door. "Amber you are finally here." "Sting, I came as soon as a can." "It's my fault for involving you, given what day this is." "We can deal with that later." She turns to Amy and Erik. "Amber, we have tried everything we can think of. Nothing seams to be working." "Amy, I'll do my best. Is he at lest talking?" "Only in a angry way." Amber looks at Rouge. "We didn't want to put this on your shoulders, but time is wasting." "I understand that time valuable. What is my limit?" "About 20mins." "Alright, Wish me luck." She opens up the door to his room and walks over to the bathroom. "Jason. It's me, Nurse Amber." She listens at the door for movement. "Jason can you open the door for me." "No, I do not want too." "Can you tell me why?" "NO!" "Well, that is to bad. I wanted to give you a hug before the surgery. Since you are locked up in the bathroom. I will go home. It's a shame, I can't see you. Good bye Jason." She takes a few steps. "Wait." "Yes?" "You wanted to do that?" "I haven't seen you in a few weeks. I wanted to wish good luck." He opens up the door a little. "Can you come in here?" "I can, if that is what you want." He nods his head. Amber goes into the bathroom and sits on the floor. "Sit on my lap." He sits on her knee and curls up against her chest. She rubs his back. "Want to tell me what is wrong?" "I do not want to have it." "Why?" He shrugs. "Jason you have heard me say this before. If you have this operation you will be free from this place. You will able to go to school, see your friends, make new ones. Also be back in your old room." "Do you think I can?" "The way to find out for sure, is to go through with it. Do you like Rouge?" "He is not to bad. I am scared too." "I thought that might be a cause to why you don't want have the operation." "I will not be in my room, be somewhere else." "Jason you will be asleep and when it's all over you will be back here. They can't do what they need too in this small room. They have equipment and tools to remove that tumor." "Dr Rouge said that too."
Amber shifts herself on the floor and moves Jason to her other leg. "You know, I wasn't to sure if I should tell you this. I think I will now." "What is it?" "Today is my son's 9th birthday." "You have a child." "I did have one, he died when he was four." "He is gone?" "Luke, had cancer and we tried everything to keep him with us. In the end, he didn't make it. I believe he could have." Jason gives her a hug. "What is that for?" "You lost him and you can't see him no more." "I may not be able to see him, but I have my memories of him and I miss him everyday. You see Jason, if you do not have this operation. I do not want your parents to miss you." He frowns. "I know that." "Would it help if I see you to the operating room." "You will come?" "Only until they wheel you in there." "What about afterwards?" She looks into the young boys eyes. "I'll stay and wait for you to be in this room." "Really?" "Yes, I have someone else I want you to meet?" He tilts his head to one side. "Who?" "I have a daughter." "You do?" "She didn't grow in my belly, she is my niece, but I am raising her as my own child. I am not going to go into details at to why." "Can I see her afterwards." "Why about now. She might be to tired to keep her eyes open to see you later. She is still very small." He gets up from the floor. "Ok, I would like to meet her." Amber stands up too. "You will do the surgery." "If you are going to come with me." "I will." "I want you on your bed. I'll go get her." Jason opens up the bathroom door and the group that is waiting outside comes in. Amber holds up her hand. "Hold on." "Amber we can't wait." "Sting, two more minutes. Is Gray out there?" "Yeah he is." "Good." Amber walks to the door and peeks down the hallway. She waves for Gray to come to her. "Is everything ok?" "It will be." She takes Emmy out of her stroller and kisses her cheek. "I have someone you are going to see." She walks back into the room and everyone is standing around the bed.
She sits down on the bed and Emmy goes on her lap. "Jason this is Emmy. Emmy this is Jason." "Hello Emmy." He takes her little hand. "Who is this Amber?" "Amy, Erik this is my daughter Emmy." "We didn't know that you were pregnant, and you where not even showing." "Erik, Emmy is my niece, but I am legally her mother." "You never told us." "I am sorry Amy. I try to keep my personal life out of my work life." "Mom, Amber had a boy too." "A boy?" Gray steps around the bed and puts his hand on Amber's back. "His name was Luke, he is longer of this world. Today is his birthday." "How old would he have been." Amber turns to Amy and gives her a small smile. "9." "Amber we have to go." "Alright Sting." She gets off the bed and hands Emmy to Gray. "I have request. Allow me to come to the operating room." "You would have to be in scrubs." "I am not going in. Let me be with him until the doors." Amy and Erik look at each other and look at Rouge. "It's alright with us." Amber takes Jason hand into hers. "Ready?" "I am, you will be with me." "They need to get you prep first, then we can go." Rouge steps forward. "I need to ask all of you leave so we can get him set up." Sting motions for everyone to vacate the room.
In the hallway Gray puts Emmy back into her stroller and Amber goes up to them. "Gray, um Jason wants me to stay until it's over. You two don't have to stay here. If you could take her home, I can see if my brothers can pick her up later so you don't have to take care of her. I can get a taxi ho..." He touches her cheek. "We will stay. If she gets to tired. Can always ask my brother." She looks up at him and nods her head. She removes his hand from her cheek and holds onto it. He looks down at the two hands and he holds her tightly. He leans closer to her ear. "Lean on me, if you need too." "Might have to do that." "Amber, he is ready." "Be right there Sting." She looks back at Gray. "We will be waiting." She heads back into the room. "Jason, are you ready." "Yes, Nurse Amber." She takes the head of the bed while a other nurse takes the foot and starts heading him out into the room. Erik and Amy kiss their sons cheek and give him a hug. Tells him they will see him soon. The journey to the operation room was on the same floor so they didn't have to take any elevators, but it still felt long. Jason watch as the other rooms went past him and he saw the big green doors at the end. "I am going in there?" "Yep, that is where you will be. A nurse or a other doctor will inform us of what is going on through out the surgery." "Will it hurt?" Amber comes around to hold his hand. "No, you will be sleeping. As soon as you are sleep, the next think you know you will be awake again." "You will be there right." "Your mom and dad first ok." "Ok." The door opens they wheel him in. Rouge comes to stand beside her. "That tumor will be removed. I swear to it." "Rouge, you better do as you say. If anything happens to him, I don't want Erik or Amy to go through what I did." "I promise." He goes through the doors to commence on what he is sent out to do.
Emmy was picked up by Lyon and Juiva they were more then happy to take her for the night. Gray had put the playpen in the car in case if they needed to have it. With his brother taking her she has something to sleep in. The visitor room was packed filled with Jason family. The surgery was going take more then 12 hours to complete. They where only half way through it. Gray had gotten everyone supper while they wait and Amber wasn't up to eating anything. She was walking the room, all the chairs where being used. "Here have something." "No I am not hungry." "You need to eat." "No, I am fine, but I am going to get some fresh air." She heads out of the room as he continues to pass the food around. "Gray, you didn't have to do all this for us." "It's not problem Erik, there is no reason for any of you to go anywhere. Your mind is focus on your son. Believe me, I can relate." "We didn't know that you had a son, and your father never mention him." "Luke was our joy, he was a good boy." Amy comes up to the both of them. "Thank you Gray." "Again no problem." "I saw Amber leave the room." "She wanted some air." "You know Amber doesn't have to be here. We can explain to Jason that it was best for her to go home." "Amy, Amber likes to keep to her word. If she was at home, she would be thinking about being here. Emmy is with my brother, that is load off her shoulders. I am here for her." She looks right at him, saw the sincerity in his eyes. "You're still in love with her." He was taken aback by those words. He takes a moment to ponder what she said. "I am. I don't think I ever really stop." She smiles. "I hope that love will heal what is between you two." "It's a work in progress."
When all the food was pass around, he still had his share and hers. He leaves the food on the table in the bag and decides to go find her. He checks Jason room and rest of the 5th floor and there was no sign of her. He then goes over to the nurses station to where Sting was standing looking over a chart. "Have you seen her?" "She said something about going to the court yard." He heads for the elevator doors. "Gray!" "What?" "Glad to see you here for her today. These last few years hasn't been easy." "You don't have to tell me that." He pushes the button for the elevator to come up. When the doors open he goes in and goes down to the main floor. From there he goes right to the court yard that is in the center of the hospital. The August night air cools his skin as he goes outside and he scans the area for her. When he spots her, she was sitting on a bench looking at the fountain and rubbing her arms. "Should have brought a jacket along." He begins to walk over to her and when he is behind her, he puts a hand on her shoulder. She looks up at him. "Gray..." "Time to come in." "There is news?" "No, but it's a little cold out here and you need to eat." "I can't." He comes and sits beside her and puts a arm around her to keep her warm. "You can't what? Eat or come back inside?" "Not in the mood to eat or think about food." "The food is there for when your are able to eat." She looks at him. "Today is never easy." "I know how hard it can get." "Will it always be like this?" "I am not to sure." She puts her hand on his cheek. "See you are better shaven then whiskers." "I wanted to look good for you." "You always do." She gives him a sweet smile. "Thanks for being here with me, Raven." She leans closer to him and kisses his lips. "I didn't want you to be alone again." He brushes her lips with his thumb and leans in for a other kiss. "I'll stay for as long as you need me." "You don't have too." "But I am going too." She puts her head on his shoulder.
They came back inside after while the night air was getting cooler. Gray handed her the food to which she ate what she could. The hours leading up to when Rouge would finally come out was tiring and long. Amber and Gray were sitting beside each other and she was resting her head on his shoulder again. Some of Erik and Amy family left for the night, but told them that they would welcome any news through out the rest of the night. "What is taking the surgery so long. It's past the hour that it was said it would be done. The last update we gotten was three hours ago." "Erik I am sure everything is fine. They probably making sure to take their time. Sometimes it's best not to rush." "Amber I know you are giving me what I think I should hear, but it's not working." "You need to settle down or your nerves are going to be a wreck." "It's been more then 12 hours I am in title to it." "Erik darling, take Amber advice and come sit beside me." He walks over to his wife and sits on the couch beside her. "If you two want I can check to see if there is any word." "No, that is alright. Erik and I can wait." A other ten minutes goes by and Rouge finally enters the room. He takes the cap off his head and looks at the Jason parents. Everyone in the room was on the edge of their seats. "Rouge how did it go, what is the final word of my son." "Erik please sit down." They both had worried expressions on their faces. Hoping that bringing this doctor in to deal with their sons case has paid off. "The operation went reverently well, there was some hiccups along the way. The end result is.." "Yes. please tell us we can't wait anymore." "Your son will be able to go home in a month." There was shouts and cheers through out the whole room. "That means it was remove, you were able to get all." "Yes, Amy." She wraps her arms around his neck and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, thank you so much." "You are very welcome." "Can we see him?" "He is being brought into his room soon. I'll have a nurse come and get you in a few." Rouge turns his attention to Amber. "Me being here has worked, I must admit I was skeptical of myself. I assure you, what I did here today is warranted of your acknowledgement" "The road head is still unwavering Rogue, he still has to endure a month of being in here." "He is free and clear." "When he leaves that room for good then he will be." Rouge shakes his head. "You are hard to please aren't ya." "From my eyes and experience of being a nurse and a mom. You can't let anything get pass you." "You have said something close to that before." "Repeating what I know and feel is true. What you take from that is up to you Rouge." "I'll think about what you have told me. If you excuse me I would like to have a shower before seeing my patient. The surgery was long and we all need rest." He shakes hands with Erik and Amy before he goes.
Amber saw the joy on their faces when they enter Jason room. Knowing he is a survivor compare to her son that didn't precede past this point. "He lives." Gray stands beside her and looks on. "He does. You must be happy?" "I am. Rouge set out to do what he plan and he was successful." "After tonight, he will have long life." "I surely hope so." After awhile Amy comes up to Amber at the nurse station while they were waiting for her turn to go in. "He is asking for you. First thing that came out of his month was where is Nurse Amber." "Sorry." "Don't be. It shows how much he admires and looks up to you. I think he has a little crush on you too." Gray's ears pick up on that. "I will not be to long in with him." "Please take your time. It will give me and Erik a chance to freshen up a bit as well." "Ok," She heads down the hallway to Jason room. At his door, she wasn't to sure if she should knock or go right in. She puts her hand on the handle and turns the knob. "Here I go." She slowly walks over to his bed and he is laying there with his head wrap up in bandages. He looked so small and fragile, it scared her to even get close. "Jason?" He slowly opens his eyes. "Nurse Amber, you did stay?" "I said, I would." She sits down on the chair by his bed and take his hand. "How are you feeling?" "Tired, hard to keep my eyes open." "You will have a good night rest after I go." "I been sleeping all this time." "That is because of the drugs they use to put you to a sleep and the operation took a toll on your body. It's very common, do not worry about." "I had dream before I was woken up." "Oh? A good dream?" "Yes, A other boy was in it as well." "A friend of yours?" He shakes his head. "No, he had blue black hair and your eyes and he said his name was Luke." "His name was Luke?" "He said, he was your son and he was happy that Emmy was his sister." "He did." "Uh huh. He said that soon you will have a other baby." "A other baby?" Amber wipes a tear from her eyes. She wasn't to sure if she should believe what he was saying. It could have all been made up. "Luke said, that over time it will get easier for this day and the day he died. Also, he says that dad hasn't stop loving you." "Anything else." "He said to say He loves and misses both of you and he loves Rae too." Amber never told Jason about the puppy. She was bewildered as to how he would know that. Unless, his dream is true. "That is all I can remember." "Thanks for telling me that. You two are good boys." He smiles at her. "I should let you get some rest and your mom and dad will want to come back in here." "Will I see you soon." "You need to recover first. I will try and come by." He tries to sit up to give her a hug. "Rest." She pushes on his shoulders. "I want to give you a hug." "I'll give you a kiss on the cheek instead. It will help you to heal faster." She plants a quick kiss on his cheek. His eyes light up and he smiles. "Goodnight Jason." "Goodnight Nurse Amber. She tucks him in and wishes him good dreams.
She opens up the door and leaning against the wall was Gray. "He has a crush on you, you give him a kiss." She frowns at him. "Where you listening this whole time?" "No, I came at the end when you where telling him goodnight." She was glad that he hadn't listen in to the whole thing, hearing about Luke, baby and everything else he said. "He is a little boy Gray, no harm done." "I suppose not. Time to leave?" She looks at her watch. "Yeah it's almost 2 am time to go home." "I will get our things and meet you at the elevator." Amber says her goodbyes and waits at the elevator doors. It was a long day and her bed was calling for her. "Here is your purse and jacket." She puts it on with his help and when the doors open they go in. "What a day?" "Didn't think I would be spending it here." "When I shown up at your front door was thinking about something else to do." "What did have in mind?" "Whatever we end up doing, I wanted it to be with you." She turns to hide her blush from him. The drive back to her house had them talking about Jason and how happy they were for him and his family. When they pulled into the driveway and Gray handed her the keys. He walked her up to her front door and she puts the keys into the lock. "Amber?" "Hmmm?" "I know it's late, you want to go to bed." She opens up the door and turns to him. "I was wondering if I could see his room?" "You don't have to ask Gray." "I know I don't, but with how late is it. I thought..." She grabs him by the wrist and pulls him inside the house. "Go up. Do want me to make some tea, coffee." "No need." He takes off his jacket and shoes and walks up to his son's room. He hasn't step foot in it since the day he left. With what they dealt with today, it was time to open up his grief. Just like Amber did at Jason door, Gray was doing the same thing at his son's. He closes his eyes and turns the knob. With his hand he flicks the light switch on. He steps in and reopens his eyes. The room hasn't change at all. His toys where in a toy box. His bed was in the corner with toy story bed sheets, a night light was still plugged in. The walls still were blue from when he painted them when finding out about having a boy. Gray goes over to sit down on his son's bed and pick up a stuff toy tiger. "Can't believe I forgot he liked tigers." Gray took it all in. Remembering the sounds the room use to make with him playing or getting him in the middle of the night from crying in his sleep.
He was in there for a good while and what he was feeling had open up the pain. It was a title wave that was crushing at his heart. Amber stood in the hallway after changing her clothes into her night gown. She sees him on the bed holding on to the toy. That stuff animal was her son's favorite. She walks into the doorway and he looks up. Tears were streaming down his face. "I miss him so much. It hurts my heart. My little boy is gone and I will never see him again." Amber comes into the room and kneels in front of him. "Shhhh it's ok" "No, I never wanted to feel the pain from loosing him. I wanted him to stay and to live." "Gray..leave the room. You been in it long enough." "No!" He gets up from the bed and walks over to the window and right below it he picks up a picture frame of three of them together. "I was coward. I ran away, I couldn't take it." He kneels on the ground and cries harder. "Gray...don't do this to yourself." "I left you, I thought I wasn't the right man for you. I handed you the papers, thinking that there was someone better out there for you then me." Amber comes around to his front and kneels back down. "Oh Gray. Lets get out of the room." She puts her hands on his cheek and makes him look at her. "I know how much you are hurting, Come with me." She puts her arms around his waist and lifts him up with her own strength. He moves automatically to her well and they walk to her bedroom. "Lay down." He looks at her through his tears. "You have let me cry on you. Let yourself cry on me." She takes the picture frame and toy out of his hands. She makes him lay down on the bed first. The bedroom door shuts and she turns off the light and comes over to the bed. He feels her movement, shifting on the bed. She is higher then him and his head gets placed on her chest and he feels her arms circle around him. "Cry Raven, let out. You need to let it out. Can't keep it bottle up. This is your time to morn." He responses by wrapping his arms around her and crying into her bosom. "Shhhh let out." One of her hands moves to his hair she combs her fingers through it. Took awhile for Gray to settle down. There was a lot of built up grief that needed to be release and he allow it to crash in on him. They stay that way until both of the fallen a sleep.
A few hours later, Amber was the one that woke up first. The first thing she realize is they had switch potions. Gray was now above her and she was facing him and snuggle into his chest. She wanted to move a little on the bed and she was kind of stuck in his arms. With her hand she picks up the arm that was placed around her to put it at his side. Every easy she moved a little away from him. Then the arm shot out and circle around her and pulling her in close. She gives out a little gasp and sees he is awake. "Gray..I thought you were sleeping." "I was, then there was movement." "How did we end up like this?" "I woke up earlier and got out of bed to check on the house. Then when I came back here and got into bed you snuggle right close to me." "I was the one that was suppose to be there for you." "You were, I feel lighter then I have been in a long while." "That is good." She rubs his arm that is on her, as the beating of her heart quickens. When giving him comfort and the time he needed, there was no thinking of how close she was to him or for her heart to skip a beat. "It's still the early hours of the morning we can sleep more." "We can do that." Gray moves the arm that was around her and lifts up her chin to look at him. "Or I can do this." He leans down and kisses her lips. He brushes away the hair from her face to put behind her ear. The kiss deepens when she opens up her mouth and he slips his tongue in to explore her mouth. A hand goes to the back of his neck to pull him closer to her and she trails the hand down his chest.
He breaks the kiss and looks at her. "That was amazing." "You could be dreaming of this you know." "I doubt it, this is all real." She smiles up at him and she sits up in bed. She wanted to know something and had to ask him now. "Gray, why did it take you so long to grieve for him." He lays on his back and covers his eyes with his arm. "You want to know now at this time of morning. When I have other things I want to do" "I guess we can wait until later and go back to sleep." "It's ok." She waits for him to speak and might be to hard for him. "Loosing him was to much for me. I couldn't think of him as not being here when clearly he isn't. So I bottle up my emotions. Try to shut it all out and ended up doing more then that. I turn my back on you, didn't give you the support you needed and I walked away. Amber slumps back down on the bed and turns on her side. "Why not say anything to me at the time." "I felt hopeless. I couldn't reach out to you when you were offering your hand." "I see." She rolls onto her other side. "Amber." He uncovers his eyes and moves and puts his arm around her. "I now know I have hurt you a great deal. From seeing you again at the hospital I am making it up to you." "Gray I don't want you to make it up to you me. I wanted you there beside me through it all. When you weren't, it broke me. Then when you handed me the papers for me to sign and waiting for it to be finalize. My world was flipped upside down." "How did you handle it. You aren't like me, not grieving anymore." "I still do, and I had my friends there for me and brothers. The day the divorce came through was hardest and I completely dropped to the floor. If Natsu wasn't there that day. I don't know what would have happen. "Natsu? Why was he there?" Amber closed her eyes. She didn't want to tell him the truth. He rolls her over to face him and her eyes were still closed. "Amber?" Shakes her head. "I think we should stop this conversation." "No we need to carry on. Why was Natsu there?" "He came by to see how I was." He starts thinking back to a talk they had before about people they were with and she even told him it was right after the divorce went through did she sleep with someone. His eyes got really big. It finally click in his head. "I'll kill him." "Gray please." "He was the guy you slept with." She could tell he was mad, not just in his facial appearance but his voice. Amber gets out if bed. "Gray do not get mad." "How should I be, happy? What were you thinking." "Excuse me." She crosses her arms. "You were the one that ended us. As for as I can tell you have no say. I did not cheat on you. We were already finished." Gray gets out of bed. "Who insulated having sex, Natsu or you?" "I was on the floor crying my eyes out, I couldn't get up. He picked me up in his arms." "So Natsu started it." "It does not matter, Gray. Do you want me to ask about your conquests. How long did you date them? Where they good in the hay? Did you compare love making to each one, to me. Did you consider marriage. Where there any that I know." She herself didn't see the right to tell him anything. Gray could tell she was rattled and he was equally unhinged. "Look, it didn't need to be him." "Oh really who should have I slept with, Sting, Laxus. The way they both kiss, they might be animals in bed." "Amber!"
She walks over to her bedroom door and opens it up, letting the knob hit the wall. ,"Out!" Her posture was straight and stiff and arms at her sides. He realized that maybe he gone a little to far. He sighs. "I'll go home." "Good." She storms down the stairs and waits for him at the front door. When he emerges at the bottom, she doesn't say a thing. "I'll call?" "Get out!" He goes past her and was going to say something when he was outside. The door gets slammed in his face. "Amber!" The porch light gets shut off and he hears the clicking of the door being locked. "Great, now I am in the dog house." He looks at the door and he wonders if she still behind it. "Snowflake, I'll call or text, ok." He walks to his car and Amber slides down the door and cries. She was willing to go further with him, if he didn't find out about this.
Before he goes home he makes one stop. A stop to the one person he know that was still up and working. He heads right for the second floor of the hospital. When he goes to the nurses station he sees Lucy. "Hey." She looks up from her work. "Gray why are you here?" "Where is Natsu?" "Down the hallway in the supply room." She points in the direction to where he is. "Thanks." Lucy wasn't to sure what was going on. But she could tell that Gray wasn't happy. He heads to the open door with the light on. All the other doors he goes past are closed with patients. He sees Natsu in his line of vision and knocks on the door. The pink headed nurse turns his head and sees Gray standing there. He was puzzled and looked at his watch. "It not even six yet why are you here?" " I wanted to see a friend and give him something." "Something?" Gray punches him right in the eye. Natsu staggers backwards. "You son of bitch. Sleeping with my wife." Natsu knew sooner or later he would be told. "You know now." Gray cracks his knuckles. "It was a mistake what I did, I regret it. She wanted comfort and her life fell apart." "That makes it ok." "I said, I regret it. What is it to you who she bed with? You no longer was in the picture." Gray goes for a other hit and Natsu was ready to block the fist. "Gray if you care for her, drop this." He hits him in the stomach and bends over. "The ink wasn't even dry yet on the divorce papers. You took advantage of her." "I did no such thing. We are both consenting adults." Natsu charges and slams him in the shelves. Bandages, cloth, tubes all fall on the floor. Gray could feel the harsh impact to his back and almost got the wind knock out of him. "You could have walked away." "Leave her to her pain and hurt. She was suffering to much and we were all worried about her. You left her when she was still in love with you." Natsu was ready for a counterattack. Gray stands up and takes his leg to aim it to the side of his head. The foot was blocked by Natsu arm and he takes a fist and hit him in the jaw. He wipes the blood from his mouth. "I did what I thought was best at the time."
Lucy had seen the brawl going on and she went to call security, but she hangs up the phone when Sting and Freed came off the elevator. She rushes up to them. "You got to stop them." "Stop who?" "Sting, Gray is here and he wanted to know where Natsu was. I told him and when he went down there, he started a fight." "Shit, Freed lets go." Running can be heard down the hallway. Their fight was now moved into the corridor. Sting pulls Gray off Natsu and Freed stands in between them. "This is no place for personal fights." Gray shakes Sting off him and pushes him away. "What is wrong with you, coming back here after the night she had with Jason." Gray glares at him. "She told me to go home after I found out about her and him." He points at Natsu and was ready to go a other round. Sting steps in front of him and puts up his hand up. "Enough! That is in the past. I don't think she would appreciate knowing you came down here to have a an all out war with a friend." "Friend, I am not calling him a friend any longer." "Gray go home, you need to chill. When your mind has wrap itself around this whole thing you will know you are in the wrong." "Me!" "Yeah you, If you didn't do what you did. She wouldn't have had to sleep with him. It was only the one time, they didn't go beyond that." Gray looks at Sting then at back at Natsu. "You told him." Natsu turns and looked away. "I can't believe this. You bragged to him about sleeping with Amber." "Yeah, I told him, but not for bragging rights." "Then why?" "If It wasn't me showing up at her place that day. It would have been Sting. We wanted to know how she was doing. Gray there were days when she was at work that she would break down crying. All of us kept a eye on her and if she needed a shoulder to cry on, will we were there for her." Gray runs his fingers through his hair. "What, did you two flipped a coin to see who would go over to see her." "I wanted to go over there, but I had to work. So I ask Natsu to check on Amber instead." "Maybe I should be hitting you as well." "You already got a hit on me. Don't need a repeat." "Ok, we don't need to be discussing this out in the open. We need to break this up now." All the guys turn to Freed, and he was motioning for them to head down the hallway.
Freed finds a room that was empty for the moment and ushers them in. "I don't know the whole story and right now I don't care to know. This is a working environment and the people that are here are sick and need their rest. If Amber was here right now, she would tell you to high tail it out of building. I have work that I need to finished before calling it a night. I suggest to you Gray to walk away. " Freed leaves the room to the tree men in silence. No one spoke for a awhile. "Did you at lest use protection?" "Amber was still in her rightful mind not to deal with any consequences. So yeah, we did or at lest I did." "You could have gotten her pregnant." "If that did happen. I would be responsible and looked after my child." "Marriage, too?" "I would have put it on the table." Gray walks around the room, he was starting to get a spiting headache. "Gray, I am sorry that you found out and like Sting said, if you didn't end your marriage to her. We wouldn't be standing and talking about this or throwing punches." "I have realize and understood the mistake and hurt, pain I have cause her. I couldn't deal with my own grief for losing Luke and I give up. Tonight, I found out I am very much in love with her." Sting looks at Gray. "She is still hung up on you too." "Did she say something?" "A little, but I don't think she would admit to it." "Right now I am in the dog house." Sting laughs. "At lest you are on a leash. For now, give her space. We need to get back to work. No more fighting Gray, it's not worth it."
Sting and Natsu start to head out of the room. Gray stop Natsu in his tracks first before moving on. "Thanks for being there for her, but I am not keen on you sleeping with her." "Then don't break her heart again." "People have to stop saying that to me." Natsu flicks his forehead. "Making sure it sinks into that skull of yours." "I get it." Her rubs his fingers over the sore spot. "Go home, put some ice on that jaw." He pats Gray's shoulder and resumes his work. Gray opens up his phone and was going send Amber a message. His fingers couldn't more and he couldn't write down what he wanted to say. "I'll give her a few days. She may pull on my leash to bring me back in." Gray heads out to go home. The next time he will see her, he will truly tell her how sorry he was for his attitude and getting mad at her discretion. "Will she forgive me, talk, even kiss me again." He didn't want to know where this could lead him. He looks at himself in the rear view mirror in his car and can see the bruise on his jaw. "Yep, going to have stay away from her or she will know. Hell, Natsu might even tell her on his own." He drives on back home and remembers that Emmy is at Lyon's. "I can't see her looking like this, she will get scared. I can't take her home." He swears to himself, knowing his brother is going to be finding out about last night and what he just did at the hospital. "I feel like I have been taking two steps forward and one step back. No more of that, I have my sight set on her. I am not taking in more steps. I declare, that no more mistakes will be made. Amber, I will have you fall in love me again, if you aren't already."