Disclaimer: I do not own Fairytail.

Summary: Zeref and his brother are estranged and have not spoken for a long time. But a tragedy threatens to shatter Zeref for good. With no one else to go to, Zeref takes a chance and visits his brother. Will Natsu help him?

Warning: Character death! Signs of obvious depression!

November 22nd was Thanksgiving Day. However, Zeref sat alone. it was raining outside. Such a bleak day for such a beautiful holiday. But, it definitely did his mood justice. It was Thanksgiving Day, yes, however Zeref had no family to share it with. Just a week before Zeref had a wife and had almost had a child.

But the baby was born prematurely. Mavis, Zeref's wife, and child had died during birth. Even worse than that he hadn't a mother nor a father. They had both died a few years ago. Now, Zeref's only close family left was his brother. And Natsu hated him. Zeref had hoped he'd see him at Mavis's funeral, but Natsu hadn't come. Zeref had called him because Natsu was the only one he COULD call. He hadn't any close friends besides Mavis, and he didn't know any of his other living relatives. Natsu hadn't picked up. Zeref vaguely wondered if he was still a contact in Natsu's phone.

They never talked anymore. Because it was his fault. Everything was his fault. From his relationship with Natsu to the rain falling from the sky. Yes, those were bleak thoughts. But that was the only thing he felt mostly. Other than crippling depression. He saw a councilor to help him with his depression because he couldn't talk to anyone else. But that wasn't really helping. Zeref sighed and grabbed his phone. He dialed HER number. He knew she wouldn't pick up. She was dead. But he needed to hear her voice. Even if it was just her telling him she couldn't come to the phone. Zeref leaned back and listened to it. Over and over again. finally, he let the phone slip from his hand. It fell to the floor with a clack. Zeref only stared out the window, blankly.

Zeref then, left to go see his councilor. He had an appointment with him today. He was the last of the appointments. Zeref didn't bother taking an umbrella. He would rather be wet, then dry. If he was wet, then he would feel like he had a valid reason to still be miserable. What was wrong with him? why couldn't he just be that person in the movies. The one that lost a loved one. Had a long cry scene, was comforted, and then moved on with whatever their main goal was. maybe the problem was that Zeref didn't have a goal. Not anymore. His only real goal was to make Mavis happy. Sure, he had a career, but he'd never been particularly ambitious. He knew that meant he would never rise high in life, but Zeref hadn't minded that. As long as SHE was happy. Maybe the problem was that he HADN'T cried. Maybe the problem was that it was always the love interest that comforted him. He still remembered the day she died, like it was yesterday.

Zeref waited in the hallway. The baby was being born way off what was scheduled. The doctor had told him it qualified for a premature birth. Dr. Wendy had told him that one of his loved ones may not survived. She'd never prepared him for both of them leaving him. he still remembered Dr. Wendy's face. Resigned, when she left the delivery room. Zeref stared at her with anxious eyes. Waiting for her to smile and tell him that everything would be okay. No smile came, nor was everything okay. "I'm sorry Mr. Dragneel… your wife and child have died in child birth." Her voice was so quiet, strained. As if she'd resigned herself not to cry but was finding the task far more difficult than she had hoped.

"Dead." He echoed. He hadn't been able to see his look. But he was pretty sure his expression hadn't changed much. Zeref had never been good at facial expression. That was why most peopled tended to despise him. they thought the way he was expressionless meant he didn't care. Mavis had not thought that way. She had looked at it as a challenge. If he insisted on being expressionless, then she was determined to make him smile. And she had made him smile. At first, he'd thought she was annoying. But she was there. When his brother decided he hated him. he hadn't cried, not on the outside. Zeref was sure he'd looked blank then too. But she held him. like she could read him, even if there was nothing for her to read. That's when he knew he loved her. "I see." Zeref said after the longest time. It was obvious this hadn't been quite the reaction Dr. Wendy had been expecting. He could tell that she thought that he would looked shocked and choked-up. He didn't cry. There were no tears. People cried for lots of things. When their favorite character dies, when they are hurt, when they are scared. But his wife was dead, and Zeref didn't think his child ever got to live. if something never lived could it even be called dead? Zeref didn't know.

Zeref had waited that night. To cry, to start sobbing and trembling with grief. It never came. He didn't cry because he wasn't sad. he was broken, and that was far deeper. Tears were too shallow for the earth-shattering despair he felt everyday.

Zeref got out of his car and walked into the office. "Mr. Dragneel, you're soaking wet!" the receptionist cried. Zeref didn't even know how she remembered his name. he hadn't been coming here for very long after all. "Invel is almost done with his previous client. You can wait over there." So Zeref waited.

He waited for 30 more minutes. His session was SUPPOSED to happen 30 minutes ago. Zeref guessed that Invel had gotten caught up with his last client. Invel was lucky that he wasn't the type of client to complain about such a thing. "Goodbye now, I have to see my other client." Invel said, pushing a young woman out the door.

"But-."

"I'll see you next session, yes?" the woman blinked and then sighed resignedly.

"Yes." She grumbled. Invel smiled and waved goodbye.

"Excellent!" then he turned to Zeref.

"Do forgive me. Some clients just won't get out." Zeref nodded and followed Invel into the office. "So, how have you been feeling?" Invel asked.

"I've been feeling as I always feel. Empty, like nothing I do really matters. I'm worthless." Invel nodded and Zeref paused. That was really all he'd been feeling ever since her death.

"I see. And how have you been coping?"

"I busy myself with work, stare out the window when there's absolutely no work left to be done, and listen to her voicemail." Zeref said. He was aware that this was not coping and was pretty much the exact definition of avoiding the problem, but Zeref had little care for that.

"Yes, yes, have you tried talking to someone you are close to for help?"

"The only one I'm close to is my brother, but we are not on speaking terms. I've called him, but he won't pick up." Invel tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Well then, if he won't pick up then there's only one thing left to do." Invel said. Zeref sighed.

"I know, I know, give up and try a different method." Invel leaned forward.

"You have to talk to him in person." Zeref had probably the biggest emotional reaction he'd had in weeks. He fell out of his chair. Zeref had always wondered how that was possible on television. Now he saw that it simply, happened.

"Oh no, I can't do that." Zeref said shaking his head.

"Of course, you can. It's Thanksgiving. The time of giving anything. Even forgiveness, but especially love. No one should be alone on Thanksgiving. It is one of the most family orientated holidays out there!" Invel exclaimed. Zeref shook his head.

"I can't do it, he hates me." Zeref whispered.

"I'm sure that's not the case. Just go over there, you'll see!"

"Unannounced. That seems rather rude." Zeref said.

"Send him a text message. If he won't pick up, then you can text him."

"It's rude to invite yourself over to other people's houses." Zeref countered.

"So is not picking up the phone when someone is repeatedly calling you, but that never stopped your brother." Zeref blinked. He supposed Invel was right, but he just wasn't sure. Zeref took a deep breath and sighed.

"Alright, but I won't enjoy it."

"Just spending time with him is all I ask." Invel said. Zeref nodded and stood up.

"That's all I need to talk about today." Zeref said. Invel nodded and Zeref left his office. Visit Natsu, huh? He could always not and say he did. But Zeref doubted that would work. Invel would find out eventually that he didn't actually visit his brother. Invel had a weird way of always knowing something. Zeref didn't doubt he'd figure that out too. Zeref got in his car and sent Natsu a quick text telling him he'd be over for dinner. Zeref took a deep breath and hit the send button. Then he started the hour-long drive to his brothers. Questions were running furiously and relentlessly through his head. Would his brother slam the door in his face, be happy to see him, what if Natsu didn't even recognize who he was? Zeref knew he looked different from when Natsu last saw him. Paler, skinnier, blanker, darker circles under his eyes. Zeref had developed insomnia. He barely slept, and when he did his sleep was plagued by nightmares and worse, memories.

Zeref got out of his car and slowly walked up to his brothers house. He lived with his wife, Lucy, and they had a child named Igneel, but Zeref had never met him. Zeref knew this because Mavis had been friends with Lucy. They had never lost touch despite the brothers being on such bad terms. Zeref listened to her voicemail one last time and then rang the doorbell.

"Coming!" A voice said frantically. "Just a minute!" Zeref waited silently. The rain was falling even heavier than before. still, Zeref made no move to try and shield himself. Suddenly, the door flew open and there, before Zeref, was Natsu. He looked energetic and tanned and happy. When his eyes landed on Zeref his expression darkened slightly. "Oh, it's you." Natsu squinted. "You are Zeref, right?" Zeref nodded mutely. Natsu had to ask? Zeref wondered if he really needed elaboration, or if Natsu was just subtly trying to tell Zeref that he was still mad. Zeref had learned a long time ago that Natsu could hold a grudge.

"Yeah, it's me." Zeref said softly. Natsu sighed.

"Well, don't just stand there in the rain, come on." He said irritably, motioning for Zeref to come in. Zeref hesitated for a moment, before walking in. "You're soaked. If you're not careful, you'll catch your death." Zeref was aware that no one said that anymore. And Natsu couldn't have known that was what Zeref was vaguely hoping for. He had no goals, no family, no friends. Just a job, a house, and more mental illnesses than he could count on one hand. Zeref hadn't even realized Natsu had left his side until he returned with a towel. "Why did you come here anyway?" Natsu asked.

"It is Thanksgiving. I haven't seen you in a while either. It seemed like a good excuse." Natsu rolled his eyes.

"I thought I made it clear that I don't want to see you." He said coldly. "Not until the day they bury you." Zeref wouldn't lie, that hurt. But his expression didn't change. Natsu's scowl deepened.

"And that's another reason why I hate you. You're too emotionless."

"Just because I do not go flaunting my emotions, does not mean I do not feel them." Zeref said quietly.

"Flaunting, is that what you call it?" Zeref didn't respond. He didn't know how. Was that a rhetorical question? Was he supposed to answer it? Apparently, the answer was no. "I just don't understand you." Natsu said, shaking his head. "You think you can come here, barge in without any warning and pretend you didn't do what you did?" Zeref was silent for a long while. Finally, he said,

"I sent a text." Natsu growled and grabbed his collar lifting him up to meet his eyes. Zeref almost hoped Natsu would punch him. then he'd feel something besides the void in his soul.

"Don't you remember? How could you forget? No, you didn't forget, you're just running away! You always run away from your problems! How can you just stand there and pretend nothing happened!" Zeref bit his lip. He did remember. But pretending was what he did best.

Zeref was standing there, frozen. Natsu had already left. The phone lines were down, there was no time to get a cell phone. They were blocked. Natsu had run out the back door to get help. Zeref had taken a bullet for him. their parents were on the other side of the room. They were talking to Zeref, telling him to be brave. Zeref knew that the consoling was more for themselves than for him. when they told him to be brave they were really telling themselves to be brave. After all, they knew that Zeref had no real potential to do anything brave.

Zeref never moved. Neither did the robbers. Everyone was afraid, and the stakes were high. One wrong move and all of them died. The only way out was the back door. That was where Zeref was standing. The police officers were by the front door. "Come out with your hands up!" they were screaming. The robbers eventually decided they'd had enough.

"NO DON'T!" his mother screamed. His father followed her as they ran across the room. The both of them shielded Zeref as the police finally broke down the front door. The robbers shot, twice, before they were tackled and shocked by the tasers. Both shots had hit. One for each of his parents. In the head.

Natsu rushed in despite the police trying to hold him back. "Mom, dad, Zeref!" he cried rushing forward. He stood there in shock. His lip trembled. "Are they… are they…" he couldn't finish the sentence. Zeref only nodded. Again, he did not cry. Natsu watched a moment longer before silent tears started streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry." Zeref said. "They did it to protect me. If I hadn't been in the way this never would've-."

"SHUT UP!" Natsu screamed. "Just leave me alone." he whispered. The two of them had come for the holiday. For Thanksgiving. Zeref said nothing. He knew Natsu only blamed him to blame someone. So, Zeref sat back and let Natsu blame him. he honestly thought he deserved it. He'd do anything for his only family left. He'd let Natsu blame him now. He'd let Natsu blame him for the rest of his life it made things easier for him. Zeref didn't experience emotions the way everyone else did. He couldn't even bring himself to feel angry at the robbers. It just wasn't there. All that was there was that sense of hopelessness. Zeref tried not to think about it. If he did then the feeling would only grow. His parents would never smile again, and neither would she.

"How can you come here at this time of year and pretend nothing happened!" Natsu demanded. But at the same time, Zeref was tired of letting Natsu do this. Being actively accused was worse than knowing someone accused you.

"BECAUSE IT WASN'T MY FAULT! IT WAS NO ONE'S FAULT!" Zeref knew he was as close to anger as he was ever going to get. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE ANGRY AT ME ANYMORE, NONE! NOT WHEN YOU NEVER LET ME IN. I DIDN'T MAKE MOM AND DAD JUMP IN FRONT OF ME. THAT WAS THEIR DECISION! YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S DECISION? NOT INVITING ME TO YOUR WEDDING. THAT WAS YOUR DECISION. NOT BEING INVITED TO THE BABY SHOWER, THAT WAS YOUR DECISION. NOT FOR CHRISTMAS, OR THANKSGIVING! BUT MAVIS WAS INVITED! SHE WAS ALWAYS INVITED. MY OWN BROTHER DIDN'T WANT ME THERE. BUT HE WAS WILLING TO LET MY WIFE COME OVER! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT FELT LIKE! And then you didn't come." He finished in a whisper. "And you never picked up. Lucy came. But you didn't. I needed you to be there. I needed you to pick up. And you didn't. just because I don't show my emotions doesn't mean that I'm unaffected by how others treat me. I am… I'm more affected then most people are." Natsu was only staring at him.

"Let me ask you something."

"What?" Zeref asked glumly.

"When she died, did you cry?"

"No." Natsu sighed.

"Not even one tear?" Zeref shook his head.

"What I feel is much deeper than any single tear can describe. I feel incomplete. A part of me is missing. A vital part. Natsu I need you. I don't have anyone else to talk to. It's pathetic, but I don't. she was my world. They were my world." Zeref squeezed his eyes tight. He knew that telling Natsu wasn't enough. He had to show him. his heart was clenching, and emotions of deep hurt and sadness were swirling inside him. "And they aren't coming back." Zeref whispered. He finally looked at Natsu and let all the emotions flicker across his features. Hurt, desperation, grief, loneliness, anxiety, depression, torment, guilt, pathetic. But most of all he felt vulnerable. He was showing Natsu all of this. He'd never been more vulnerable in his life. but there was one bright side to all of this. It looked like Natsu finally understood.

"Zeref…" he whispered. His expression was one of understanding. Of comfort. "I'm sorry I didn't come. I'm sorry I've shut you out, never invited you because I was scared. The only one who deserves how I treated you is me. I was a horrible brother. I should've gotten over my petty rage and realized how much you needed me. I should've picked up when you called. I promise that I almost did every time but… then I remembered what I'd done to you. I never realized that the reason you were calling wasn't because you wanted to tell me that you hated me but because you wanted me to tell you the exact opposite." Zeref knew that Natsu was good at reading emotions, but that was even deeper than Zeref had understood it. Natsu embraced him tightly and cried and Zeref held him. he didn't cry, he didn't need to. "Why don't we celebrate? Our coming back together. Let's have a good dinner and have fun. Heaven knows you could use it. You look, not to sound offensive or anything but, you look horrible. Like you haven't slept in days." Zeref didn't bother to tell him that he hadn't. "And you look like you haven't eaten much either." He had briefly been trying to starve himself, but then realized that it was too uncomfortable.

"Thank you." Zeref whispered. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

"Oh, but I do. your welcome, and you have nothing to thank me for. I'm just doing what I should've done in the first place." He said smiling. Zeref nodded.

"Right. But where's Lucy and Igneel?"

"They went to Lucy's father's for Thanksgiving. I… I got your text message actually and I faked sick, so I could be here. I knew today was the day. I gathered up all my courage to do it and I'm glad I did." Natsu said smiling.

So, they ate. It was cereal, but it was the best meal Zeref had ever had. The last time he'd been this happy was when Mavis told him she was pregnant. And that was a very long time ago. "Natsu." Zeref whispered. The two of them were lying on the couch. The movie was finished and Natsu was half asleep.

"Hm…" Natsu mumbled sleepily.

"I can't tell you how happy you've made me." Zeref whispered.

"I know I'm awesome." Natsu said and yawned. Zeref closed his eyes and laid his head on Natsu's. they fell asleep like that and Zeref could never have asked for anything more.

In the morning Zeref left Natsu's house. It was still raining. Zeref still didn't take an umbrella. He listened to her voicemail again. it was becoming a habit. One that he wouldn't break any time soon. but he heard other words rather than she'd get back to him later. Instead he heard the unspoken question. Do fairies have tails? It was random. The logical answer would be that fairies don't even exist. She would say it was a never-ending adventure. Zeref himself didn't know the answer. And even if he did he would never tell her. it would spoil the fun of it. Zeref thought that, even if he never found the answer in this life he would find it with her in the next.

Two weeks later Zeref was sitting in Invel's office again. His depression, however, wasn't as severe as it had been on their last visit. Zeref didn't really have anything to say, the silence was enough for him. still, he knew he had to say it. "Thank you." He told Invel.

"For what? I'm just doing my job." Invel said.

"For suggesting that I go to Natsu's. we've worked things out. I'm happier than I have been in weeks. I don't feel so empty. Things don't feel so hopeless. And the best part is I have a new goal."

"Oh?" Invel looked intrigued. "And what is that?"

"My goal is to live happily-ever-after. It sounds cliché, but it's what I want. It's nothing less than I deserve, and I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to work hard and do whatever it takes to keep on living. It will be my purpose to go out, have fun, make friends. I've decided that I have to make a new world. It's what Mavis would want. And it's what I want." Zeref said. Invel nodded.

"That sounds like a fantastic goal! It was about time you made a new world for yourself." Zeref tilted his head in acknowledgement.

"Yes, I have been thinking on it ever since I told Natsu that my world was Mavis. I've decided that there's more to life than dwelling on someone who's never coming back and that I should keep on moving even though it hurts." Zeref said. "She would want me to be happy."

"Yes, she would." Zeref finally smiled.

"So, thank you." Zeref whispered getting up. "And I don't think I'll schedule anymore appointments." Invel nodded. Sad to see him go but happy at the same time.

So, Zeref left that office for the last time. "Goodbye." He said.

"Goodbye." Zeref walked outside. It was still raining. But things didn't look so bleak anymore. So, where to next my love? He could almost hear her asking him. "Let's find out if fairies have tails. Let's go on another adventure. Let's find ourselves and believe and dream and live like we never have before." he answered. But really, he was saying, let's find happiness.

A/N Here's your Thanksgiving special! I hope you liked it and I'm sorry for any mistakes. Thanks for reading, reviews and constructive criticism appreciated! Happy Thanksgiving!