He had every opportunity to tell the man that had claimed her heart, but when he came close in stepping him aside something always interfere. The last thing he could do was talk to Amber once more before she went home. The stay in the hospital had almost all staff wanting her to leave. Her nursing shine through pointing out errors and she was less of a patient. The twins would pay her a visit every day and bought her gifts for a speedy recovery. She did get a unexpected surprise from Jason. He had a check up to see how things are progressing with being free from the confines of the hospital. Gray would come in early morning and go home late, even on the one day he had to work.
She was moving around in her hospital room in a wheelchair, getting her things together to go home. The swelling has gone down in her face, and is able to see again properly out of the left eye. Her knee was throbbing and pain in her shoulder cause her a lot of discomfort. Then on top of all that, she threw up this morning due to morning sickness. Her thoughts were in disarray and making the right choice was difficult. Her thinking was leading to running away with Emmy. A time for herself, to heal and not have any pressure of what she wants and needs or what he wants. In her mind, she wasn't to sure if accepting the promise rings was the right thing to do. She told him about her fears, he hands her the rings and they ended up in bed together. If they are meant to be together once more. Then leaving for awhile would be best. Telling her brothers would be out of the question. Now way could she mention to Gray what she was planing, he wouldn't let her go. Telling Lyon or Juiva would be a maybe, but they would end up running to Gray and telling him. The one option presented itself when he walked into the room. "Amber I need to talk to you before you leave." "I was thinking the same thing when you enter." She gives him a grin and he makes the mistake of asking her to speak first.
He sat down in the chair staring in disbelief of what he just heard. "You can't be serious. I came in here to tell you, that Gray needs to know about the baby. Here you are asking me, to help you to run away." She wheels herself over to him. "Gray will be going back to work here and has asked Juiva to help me. I can probably swayed her into my way of thinking. I will not be gone for forever, I need to do this." "Why, do you need too. Plus with Christmas coming up, it might not be right time." "Sting, I need to go. I need to sort out what I want. Seeing him again, has open my feelings for him. I had a talk with myself not to get close to him. I betrayed myself and letting the past blind me. It's a huge thing and I need to look at the bigger picture." "Then sit down and have a talk with him." "We have talked. I feel it wasn't enough. I don't want to say that I felt steam roll about the rings." She holds up her hand. "He did push it right into my face, and didn't give me the time and space to think it out." Sting crosses his legs and puts a elbow on the arm chair and puts fingers to his temple, holding up his head. "Was hoping for not getting a headache from you." She takes his hand. "Please, can you do this for me. Help me go for awhile." "Amber!" "Lot of stuff has happen in small about of time. I don't want to list them off to you, you know most of it." He puts his other hand on top of hers. "You are dangerous and so easily wrap myself around your pinkie finger. I don't know how Gray says no to you." "Is that a yes? Gray knows me to well." "Got to ask him how he does it." "Do not even ask him. Anyways will ya?" "Yeah, tell me what is in your mind."
Getting into the suv was challenging with her leg in a cast and her arm in a sling. She had a boost from Gray to be lifted up into the car. "Can't I lay in the back seat and stretch out my leg, it's cramp up in the front." "How can I hold your hand if you are behind me." "Your eyes should be solely on the road, with two hands on the wheel." "Party pooper." "Yes I am. Right now I want to see my girl." "What about me?" "I am seeing you now." Gray was sensing something from her and he was going to question about it, but the guy he doesn't really like was saying his goodbyes to his women. "I gave you the does and don't on what you can do on that leg." "Glad I can walk with the crutches." "Do not over do it." "Yes doctor." "If you need anything, call." Gray pushes on him a little to close the car door and she rolls down the window. "If she needs anything I am there." "Makes sure you see Laxus." "I will." He gives her a kiss on the cheek and wink and leaves the two. "Do you want to make a spot anywhere." "No, I want go home. I want to see Emmy and put my foot up." "There are other things you will see too. The house is deck out and the tree is up. We are already for next week." "Great." He wanted a other reaction then the one he got just now. Amber loves this time of year and the way she is acting is off putting. That hinted to him, that something was up. The drive back home had her head rested back on the head rest, listening to Christmas music. Her knee was killing her with they way she was sitting. "Are you ok?" "Of course I am." "You don't seam like you normal shelf." "If you had to sit like this all the way home with pains shooting up your leg, you might think differently." Gray didn't want to push her, he pigged it on how sore and tried she was. The rest was drop from topic. "Emmy is loving the tree she looks up at it with wonderment in her eyes." "I missed it." "You will see the look again." He reaches out and holds her hand, but she takes it back. He let it go and drives home.
Laughing could be heard when they walked into the house. "We are home." "In the living room." Amber hurries along to see her little girl that she has missed these last few days. Lyon was on the floor with her and tickling her sides. "Emmy, mommy is home." She turns her little head and sees her mother coming to her. She rolls onto her tummy and crawls away. "Hey do not crawl away." Lyon laughs and lifts her up. "I was chasing her earlier." "Awww that must of been fun." She kisses Emmy cheek. "Did you miss me at all, or did you have to much fun while I was gone." "No, she has missed and been looking for you." "Mommy has missed you very very much." She reaches out to hold her and Lyon hands her over. With her good arm she holds onto her with Lyon's help. Emmy laughs as she is being hugged. "Have you been a good girl for everyone." Gray comes and stands next to her. "A perfect angel." Gray takes Emmy from her and tells her to sit down on the couch. Her leg gets elevated and Emmy gets put on her lap. "Want anything?" "No. I have what I need right in front of me." She smiles at everyone. "Thanks for looking after her." "Anytime." Amber wanted to hold Emmy close to her. What she had plan with Sting was going to happen in a day or two. She knows the time away is going to hurt, and Sting told her to leave a message behind. What she vision to write was very little and not give away where she was going. She would also write down, that she loves him and ask for space that she is looking for.
With her being home now, time was spent on the couch. Gray didn't want her walking around or standing for long periods. She ended up sleeping on the couch and Gray carried her to their bed. He watch her sleep for a bit then left her to do his own things. He knows her well enough to keep a eye on her because his gut was saying to him that something was up and that made him exceedingly worried. What it made it worse is the fact that he has to go into work for the next couple of days before Christmas. "I have to tell Lyon to keep on eye on her. Do not know what is going on, but I am not liking it at all. When she wakes up again I'll try and get her to talk." Emmy was in her playpen when he took Amber up to their room. "Well little one has your mom tell you anything." She picks up the toy and puts into her mouth. The Amber necklace was around her neck. Her gums have been bugging her for a possible of her first tooth coming in. Gray picks her up out of the playpen. "Should we play together before eating." The smiles she was showing for him was making him fall in love with the her even more. "Your first word should be da da. If that came true, mom will hit me." She lay her head on his shoulder. "Emmy giving me a hug are you." He kisses her cheek and goes and gets a snack for the both of them.
Waking up in the bed and laying there looking out the window and seeing a few stars shining at night. "How long did I sleep for?" She pushes herself up using her good hand and rubs the sore one when sitting at the edge. "Stupid, I was so stupid. I should have ran from Nick at first site. No, I had to try and fight him." "Is that what has been on your mind and pushing me away." She turns to see Gray come out of the bathroom. "Didn't know you were there." She was going to blurt out about Sting. When she heard his voice, she bite her tongue. "I was going to wake you up when I came in. I gave you more time to sleep." "Hmmm ok." She tries to stand up on her good leg. "What are you doing?" "I am awake and need food?" "Lay back down I'll get it for you." "Gray, I want to go downstairs and sit on the couch, watch a movie while I eat." He comes and puts a hand on the other side of her. "Take it easy as you walk." "I am not breakable glass. If I fall I can get back up again." "If you fall you could re injured your leg and be right back in the hospital driving your co-workers insane." "Whatever, I am going downstairs." "What is up with you." "Nothing." They walk down the stairs and helps her over to the couch instead on the loveseat. He kneels beside her by the couch. "What is going on up here." He points to her head." "Like I said nothing. I'm mad at myself over doing what I did." Amber was going to partly lie to him. Dealing with Nick was a huge thing, she wasn't going to spill about her leaving for a while or tell him about the baby. "You did what you thought was best. Emmy was with you and Juiva." "I wanted to protect them. I knew I was putting myself in danger. I couldn't allow him to get near Emmy. I was mad at him for what he did to my sister." "You can rest assured that he is in jail now. Will not get out for awhile." "What of retaliation towards us for putting him in jail." "If by chance he came here, I will protect you." She gives slight smile. "Ok" He hands her the remote. "Turn it on, I'll get ya fed."
The day came when she was ready to go. Gray was at work, his parnets where traveling, Juiva and Lyon where working too. She texted Gray to make sure he was still at work and busy. "Raven, how is work?" "Can't text or call right now." "That is fine, enjoy your day." "Did you need something?" "Nope, all is good." "You sure?" "Yeah, got to go. Later." She puts the phone down and turns to Sting. "I am ready, I have gotten everything packed while he has been at work these few days." "Amber it's almost Christmas." Sting picks up the playpen. "I know the timing sucks. If I don't do this and serious think. I do not want to be the one walking away." "Aren't not doing that now." She holds up the envelope. "I have tried to explain it in here." "Did you mention being pregnant." "No." "Amber!" "Sting if you can't do this, I can get Natsu." "I am here and I said I would help out. I think what you are doing is not right. I can understand why you need to." She gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks having friends close to me all these years have been blessing." "I wish I was the one instead of Natsu." She looks at him and touches his cheek. "I would have ended up with anyone that day, that includes you." "Do not make me kick myself now." "I think you already did that when you had to work and Natsu shown up." "If we do not leave, someone could come home." "Alright." Sting packs everything she had ready in his truck. The highchair, playpen, suit cases, car seat. The lasts things were her, Rae and Emmy. When they get into the truck and he starts driving away. Amber starts to crying, looking back at the house.
The lights were all out in the house when he gets home. Even the sound of Rae not barking or running up to him as he walks inside. Had him feeling anxious and nervous. When he sees the envelope his heart sink. The briefcase goes on the table and he picks up the envelop and opens it up. He had a feeling in those texts this morning, that something was going on. He starts reading.
"Gray, My Raven,
I want you to know, I am safe. I need to leave for awhile. Lots of things have happen this year and I have been overwhelmed by it all. This thing that happen with Nick made me want to do this. From losing Angel, getting Emmy. Being support to Jason, seeing you again. Is a lot to take in, right now I can't handle anything else going wrong. I am asking you to allow me the space a need and the time to have it. I could be gone a week, weeks or month. If you are angry at me I completely can't disagree with you. I have put you in a place where you will be worrying about me. I ask of you, not to look for me. I am were, I know I can be happy. I will tell you, it's a lovely area. Been there many times after Luke died. My little own retreat. To share this with Emmy will be a experience for her, and new. As you can tell, Rae is with me. I am sorry, I am doing this right before Christmas. Your gifts from us is underneath the tree. I will come back to you. You have always been my sole mate. Again, let me do this. I can always swing talk lots of people except for you. If I said this in person to you, your foot would have come down and hogwash me going. Give me a little independence and give yourself some time too.
I LOVE YOU,"
The paper lays down the table. "Give you time, you want time." His hand slams down on the counter. He reaches for his cell and dials her cell number. It wasn't a shocked to him it went to her voice mail. He tries to calm down. "Amber, I have read your letter. You should have talked to me about how you were feeling. You ask me to not to search for you. I am not to sure I can do that. You have put me in the position to which I have to come after you. I am not letting anything stand in our way of being together again. I love you too. To say those words over the phone and not in person, kills me. I also don't want to put pressure on you and I am thinking I have been doing that. I put those rings right in your face and gave you no time to think of answer. I see no ring on the table, that matter's to me. Knowing you still want a future." He sighs "Right now I want to hold you in my arms. Work is busy at the moment. You did pick the appropriate time to go when I am distracted. I will give you that time. I want you to text me at lest. Love you, talk to you soon I hope.
He hangs up and sits down in a chair at the table. The letter was staring at him and he pushes it away. He felt like his world is flip upside down. "Is this how you felt when I left you." He gets off the chair and he heads over to his brother's place to tell him what about the letter and the phone call. To see if maybe she has told him what was going on with her. What he finds out from Lyon didn't help him at all. "Brother sorry, she didn't say nothing to us." "Juiva thought everything was good." "It was going good, or I thought it was." "What are you going to do?" "Wait for to message me or call." "You aren't going after her." "I want to find out where she is." "Need us to do anything." "I'll let you know. I have to call her brother's first. She said in the letter she has gone to place a few times it has put her at peace I guess. They might know where that is." His phone was buzzing in his pocket. He pulls it out and sees the text. "It's Amber!" "What does she say?" "Thanks for giving me my space. Love you." He texted back. "I am not happy to do so. You are at the place now." "Yes, very lovely." "Can I call you?" "No." "Amber! Why?" "If I hear your voice. I would want to come home." "Then I'll call." "Gray please." "Fine, no calls." "Do not be mad." "I am Snowflake, you and Emmy should be here with me. Going to miss you and her." "We will miss you too. I got to go." "No don't." "Emmy needs me." "I will text later." "Later" He turns to his brother. I need find her." "Gray maybe give her space." "I will, but I need to know where she is." "Lets find her."
The twins knew the place where she went off too. He ask them if one of them took her there. When they said no. Gray was curious to know who the person was that took her to this location. He phone Natsu, Lucy, Amy and Erik. The one other person he didn't want to talk to our see was Sting. He went to the hospital to confront him. Luckily he was working when he arrive to speak to him. Sting knew sooner or later that he was going to show up. "This didn't take you long to appear in front of me." "So it was you that took her." "I didn't want to do this so you know. I told her no many times, but she isn't a person you can say no too." "It's not that hard." "With her puppy dog eyes and the way she tilts her head. I can't be hard." Gray rolls her eyes. "What did she tell her to make her go." "No, I am staying out of this. Whatever she going through she needs to tell you." "I am not thrilled that you two are friends. You where there for her when I wasn't." "I will be her friend forever. If she didn't end up with you, I wanted to be in your shoes." "I don't think you never had a chance with her." "Because she was still hang up with you." "Good isn't it." "Gray, if you want to ask me where we she is, I am not going to tell you." "I already know where she is. I told her I would give her some time." "How much time?" "Do not know." Sting taps his pen on his desk. "I suggest not to take to long." "Why?" "That is all I am going to say. Now if you excuse me I have to get back to work."
On Christmas day Gray sat on his couch with his brother and Juiva coming over. They wanted to share the day with Emmy and Amber, to see the look on the little girls face when she opens up her presents. He wanted to see Amber open up hers too. They still wait underneath the tree and when they come back. A special day will commence when it will be their Christmas. Amber had texted Gray to open up the gifts that she got him and the rest of the family. He had them line up beside on the couch. "Shall we open them up brother." "This is what she wanted Lyon." Wrapping paper was falling onto the floor as gifts where being open. She got what Gray a few items off his wish list and few others that were not written down. When he got to the last box, it was really small and there was a card attach to it. He opens up the card first and reads it out loud. "I wanted to see your face when you open up this one. I know you will be elated. Merry Christmas Raven." "Juiva wants to know what it could be?" "Same here my wife. Open it Gray." He rips the wrapping paper and opens up the box. He puts his hand inside of it and takes it out and unfolds it. The shirt is a fit for Emmy. He smiles big and turns it around for them to see. Juiva reads the front. "I am going to be a big sister." Gray puts the shirt down. "I got to go." "Brother, we are all going. We got to spend this day together." "Lyon, this is moment for me and her." "We are here when you open it, we want to share in the news." "Lets pack up the gifts and suite case and go." "We should let her know we are coming." "Have her run again. Not this time."
She takes a sip of her tea as she watches Emmy play with her toys and The Grinch is on the t.v. "It's so beautiful here Emmy. The view of the lake the smell of pine tress around us. It's the perfect get away to refocus on your perceptive on life. It's been a week and feel more relax and think clearly. There was to much going on this year and not really taking it all in. I think I keep pushing it all aside and thinking I was ok with it all." She looks down at her wedding finger. "I was unsure at first with having this ring on me, maybe there is still a little uncertainly. I want to go down this road with him. It's a huge redo. I feel like baby steps need to be taken. Then there is a baby now, you are going to be a big sister. Well this all work out." Amber didn't hear Gray's car pull up to the house or all three of them get out. She was in her own thoughts, until she hears a knock on the door and Rae got up from her spot to start barking. "Settle down Rae, it's probably the next door neighbor asking for sugar again. Lay back down." Amber pulls herself up off the couch and uses her only crutch to go over to the door. She starts opening up it up and she gets pushed back and her crutch goes on the floor as strong arm wraps around her and hand goes on her cheek and she is being kissed. The people behind them say "Surprise." Gray stops the kiss and looks at her. "Gray..Why are you here." "You don't think I should be here after finding out." "Finding out?" She gives him a perplex look. "Having baby brain already." "Baby brain." Her eyes goes wide and covers her mouth. "I left the gift under the tree." She closes her eyes. "I was going to take it with me." "You were not going to tell me?" "Can we come in first before we freeze to death." "Sure, of course. Lyon"
Gray helps her to walk away from the front door as her walking stick was on the ground. She goes and stands up against the couch. "Amber?" I was going to tell you when I came back." "When would that have been." She shrugs. "Couple months." "Months." "Miss our child growing in you." He puts his hand on her stomach. "I don't want to be part from the both of you." "Gray, I am not in a frame of mind of wanting to come home." "We need to discuss this and work it out." "No, I need to work it out. That is why I am here." "Where is the bedroom." "The one that I am using is down the hall at the end." He swipes her up into his arms. "Brother, we will be a few minutes, watch Emmy." "We will get her to open her gifts." "I want to watch that Gray." "Not right now." He walks down the hallway to the open bedroom. He puts her down on the bed and goes and closes the door. "Gray." "Let me speak first. I can understand that you have been through a lot this year. You want to figure yourself out, but now there is a baby. I can't have you here alone." "Gray, I am fine. We still text and talk on the phone." "There is that, I don't want it." She puts her hand to head. "I don't want to feel pressured about a choice I made and feel guilty about being here." He kneels down in front of her. "I am not going to do that. I am going to do this."
He pulls out a little box out of his pocket and he opens it up. "While you are here, I want you to wear these. I want to come here on the weekends." She looks inside and sees the rings on a necklace that she once wore. "Gray?" "Remember I had the warranty on them, there is a little difference to the old ones." "Difference?" "I have add something to the bands." She takes them out and reads inside hers. "There is only numbers?" "It's a day, month and year." "To what nature?" "Look at it again." "I still don't get it." "This baby has you stumped." She slaps his arm. "Amber, my love. It's the date we met again." "At the hospital." "That is when I knew my life wasn't complete with out you in it. Then that kiss that we had after that dream, sealed it." She touches his cheek. "My question for you is. Do you think, you will be ready to walk down the aisle on the date we met." "Gray, what are you doing." "I am asking you to be my wife." "I thought that we would wait." He puts his hand on her stomach. "With this one coming. We need to be together, man and wife." "We are together." "I want to fully be, I want Emmy to be my daughter and carry my name." "For real?" "Yes, I love that girl since day one." He wipes tears from her eyes. "Amber, will you marry me once more. For better and for worse, for richer and poorer. In sickness and health, till death due part us." "Talk about not giving me anymore pressure." "Last one." "Oh Gray." He rubs her belly. "The baby would want this, and Emmy." She puts her hand on top of his. "You are being unfair." "What is your answer." She puts the necklace around her neck. "Yes." He gets up and pulls her up and kisses her. "Snowflake, I love you." She puts her hand on her chest. "What?" "The words, to hear them...I love you too." He puts his hand on her cheek. "I'll say it every day." "I will too." "Time go back out there. Lyon has way to many presents for her." "I see where he gets it from now." He kisses her hand. "Lets see what he has gotten our daughter." "Emmy Fullbuster." "Has a nice ring to it." "It sure does, my raven."
The End.