Chapter 39

Levy hummed softly to herself as she read the only book she'd found in the safe house. It was a bit boring, some sort of sappy love novel, but it was more entertaining than doing nothing all day. Everyone was so busy these days, trying to help the family recover. She wanted to help, too, but nobody would let her.

"You should rest, you've been through alot," They would say. Or, "Just take some time for yourself," or "We've got it covered, you should be focusing on healing."

I'm already healed, already recovered. Why can't they see that? I just want to help, Levy pouted, flipping a page. Already her bruises were gone and the cut around her eye was almost healed. But nobody would let her help.

She would have asked Gajeel, knowing he would let her help... but she barely even saw him anymore. She knew he slept with her in their bed, but he always came home late and was always gone before she woke up. She only knew he was there by the messed up sheets on his side. Plus she'd woken up a few times to find herself wrapped up in his arms. But he was never home when she was awake, during the day. She missed him... she understood why he was gone so much, but she missed him.

The sound of the front door opening startled her. She jumped a bit in surprise, quickly looking up from her book. Surely it was nobody dangerous, as Natsu was once more watching the grounds. But who on earthland would be coming here in the middle of the day?!

Levy's eyes widened as Gajeel walked into the living room, hands tucked behind his back. He looked around and found Levy on the couch, curled up with a book and a blanket. He smiled at the surprised look on her face. She had not been expecting him at all.

"Gajeel? Why are you back so early?" Levy asked as she stared at her fiance in awe. He stared at her a moment before letting out a soft sigh, then giving her a charming grin.

"I realized somethin today, shrimp." he hummed as he approached her. It only took a few large steps for him to be standing in front of her. "I haven't see you awake in weeks. I haven't kissed ya in weeks. Haven't made ya smile or laugh, haven't seen ya blush or get angry... in weeks. And that's... not okay." he met her eyes with a firm stare, taking a deep breath as he did so.

"I'm sorry, Levy. I've been neglecting ya, and it took someone else tellin me ta realize how my absence was affecting ya." he moved his hands in front, and held out a bouquet of a dozen roses, startling Levy, who gasped in surprise. "I'm so sorry, Levy. Please forgive me."

"Gajeel..." Levy sobbed, tears freely falling from her eyes. She bypassed the bouquet, and threw herself into his arms with a soft cry. He dropped the flowers onto the couch so he could wrap his arms around her and hold her close. He buried his nose in her hair and just let her cry it out. He knew she was hurt, knew she was lonely. It was his fault, and he'd do anything to fix it. For now, he just held her.

"Yer the most important thing in the world to me, Levy. I know I ain't good at showin it, and I know that hurts ya, sometimes." Gajeel sighed into her hair as her crying was drying down. "But you mean everything to me, and don't you ever think otherwise. Ya might have ta smack some sense into me sometimes, but that doesn't mean ya aren't my whole world. Cause you are."

"You dummy." Levy sniffled against his chest. "I know all that. I know why you were gone... I understand." She looked up at him with watery eyes and tried to give him a smile... but failed and resorted to burying her face in his chest again so he wouldn't see her break. "The family comes first..."

"No, Levy." Gajeel said firmly, putting his hands on her shoulders and pushing her back so he could see her face. "You come first. The family is important, yes, but the family can wait. They can function without me for a while. But you need me here, with you. It's okay to need me, Levy. It's okay to be selfish and hog me to yerself for a while. Cause you will always come first, to me." he swore to her, staring her firmly in the eye.

As much as he hated seeing her break down and cry, this time it was necessary. After his talk with Makarov, Lily had spoken to him. Confirmed that Levy was extremely lonely, but that she felt selfish for wanting to spend time with him when there was so much work he had to do. Gajeel knew she would feel guilty if he came home just for her... but she needed to understand that she shouldn't feel that way. And the relieved tears filling her eyes now told him he'd gotten the message across. She hugged him again, letting out quiet sobs as she cried into his chest, and he held her close.

He really needed to make this up to her...

"You're still here..." Levy breathed out as she woke up to find herself still wrapped up in Gajeel's arms. She'd cried herself to sleep last night, and Gajeel had simply held her through it all. He'd taken her to bed and gone to sleep with her. Now, as the sun's rays hit her eyes and woke her up, Levy was realizing that her fiance was still there. He hadn't left for work. No, he was even still asleep, which was quite rare. He was always awake before her, barring any nightmare, of course. Levy's eyes softened as she realized that must mean he was utterly exhausted.

It was strange, to see him sleep. He looked so peaceful and relaxed, unlike when he was awake. His hair hung in his face and he was snoring softly, completely out of it. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her firmly to his chest, though one hand was planted firmly on her ass. He squeezed it on occasion in his sleep, making Levy blush just a bit.

She tried to get out of bed, gently prying his arms from her. It was harder than she'd expected. His arms were quite heavy, and he didn't seem to want to let her go. She managed to wiggle herself to freedom at last, and she hurried into the bathroom to take care of some business and take a quick shower.

The sound of the shower starting up a few minutes later was what officially woke Gajeel. He'd woken up slightly at the shrimp trying to squirm her way out of his arms. Figuring she had to pee or something, he'd set her free and gone back to sleep. Fuck, he was exhausted. This was his first time sleeping in in years, and did he need it or what? But then he heard the shower start up, and he realized the shrimp was gonna shower without him. Not on my watch, he grinned to himself as he opened his eyes. He forced his tired body to work with him, having years of experience in working despite exhaustion, and he hurried to the bathroom.

He waited by the door, listening to see if she was already in. He heard her step into the shower, and he made his move, walking silently into the bathroom with a grin. He moved stealthily, easily getting into the shower without detection. Quickly, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand coming up to her mouth to silence the scream he knew was coming. She jumped and screamed instantly, her scream muffled by his hand. His laughter made her relax, as she realized who he was, but she turned around in his arms to glare at him.

"You jerk! You gave me a heart attack!" she smacked his chest with an angry huff. He just grinned and took her face in his hands.

"Yer so beautiful when yer angry." he chuckled softly before kissing her. She huffed against him again, but it didn't take long for her to give in to the kiss. She always melted for him. He pulled back after a while, grinning at the slightly dazed look she had on her face. "So beautiful." Then he sighed softly and pulled his blushing girl into his arms. "I really am sorry, shrimp, fer everything."

"I know you are. It's okay." she mumbled against him, leaning into his embrace. "I forgive you."

"Still... lemme make it up to you, Lev." Gajeel pulled back to look at her. "I'm all yours, til you get sick of me and send me back to work. Anything you wanna do, anywhere ya wanna go?" Levy fidgeted a bit, thinking.

"Er, well... we haven't been on a real date in a really long time." she said quietly. Gajeel grinned.

"Perfect, we'll start with that." he kissed her forehead at this. "How'd you like to go back to that one place? Where I took ya for our first date." Levy's eyes went wide at this and she looked up at him in surprise.

"I... I liked it, Gajeel, but it's so expensive... a-and I can't even read the menu." she told him.

"So? I can read it for ya... and you know very well I can afford it. Besides, yer worth every penny." he gave her a charming grin that had her melting just a bit inside. Still...

"I don't have anything to wear to a place like that, Gajeel." she frowned. "Most of my clothes were destroyed in the attack..."

"I will buy ya a new dress, then. Simple." he chuckled. "A new wardrobe, even."

"But..."

"Levy, let me spoil you." Gajeel sighed softly as he pressed his thumb to her lips to silence her. "Please."

"Gajeel... you can't buy my love..."

"I know that." he gave a wry smile. "Yer not that kind of girl. And I love that about you. But I want to spoil you." Levy just stared at him before giving a soft sigh and nodding.

"Alright, Mr. Softy." she teased. He just grinned and leaned down to be eye level with her.

"Only for you, baby." he winked, pressing a kiss to her lips. "Let's shower before it gets cold, and then we can go shopping."

Levy felt nostalgic. It was just like their first date. Virgo helped her with her hair and makeup. Then she'd gone downstairs to find Gajeel looking dashing as ever with a blazer and a dress shirt that matched her beautiful silver dress.

"You look beautiful." Gajeel grinned at her as he took her hand. He looked her over unashamedly, which made her blush as usual. "You just need a necklace to complete it." Gajeel hummed then, and Levy pouted a bit. The necklace he'd given her so long ago, which she'd loved and never taken off, was broken and left behind during the attack on Phantom Lord, when Gajeel threw it at Brain.

Gajeel suddenly grinned and pulled a small pouch out of his pocket, handing it to her. Levy looked at him with a raised brow before opening the pouch. Her eyes went wide at what was inside, and she quickly pulled it out to confirm it. It was her necklace! But... something was off... the dragon looked similar, but it was definitely a different pendant.

"It's not the original," Gajeel said as he took it and placed it around her neck, "but I hope its a good replacement. Everyone that sees it will still know what it means."

"Gajeel, I don't care that it's different. It's from you... and that's all that matters." Levy smiled sweetly at him before turning to admire her new necklace. It was still a black dragon with red eyes, but this one was poised in a roaring position, and the tail curled around under it in a half circle, almost reaching the beast's snout. Its wings were spread out wide behind it, and it looked fierce yet elegant. It went very well with her silver dress.

"Glad you like it, then." Gajeel smiled. He extended his hand to her with a charming grin. "Come on, shrimp. We have a reservation to keep."

They went to the very same restaurant they'd had their first date at. Once more, Levy was in awe as all eyes were on them the instant they entered the building. Everyone was scrambling to make sure the future leader of Fairy Tail, and his future wife, were happy, even the patrons. They were seated promptly, then quickly left alone to look over the menu.

"It's just like our first date." Levy marveled quietly. Gajeel flashed her a grin.

"Sure is. Nice, eh?"

"Yea." she smiled back. It was nice, feeling nostalgic this way. There was the same bewilderment at the way they were treated and the cost of the food, but getting to spend time with Gajeel like this was wonderful.

"What are you in the mood for, shrimp?" Gajeel's question snapped her out of her memories. She blinked at him as his question registered in her mind.

"Um... I'm not quite sure, actually." she hummed. "Surprise me?" Gajeel just chuckled at this and nodded.

"You got it, Lev. Want to get dessert this time?"

"That would be lovely." she smiled at him.

Dinner seemed to fly by. Gajeel ordered her a wonderful salmon dish that had her mouth watering the moment she laid eyes on it. It was delicious! And dessert was fantastic. She didn't even know what was in the dessert, but it was so good. A glass of wine and a long talk later found them walking back to the car with happy smiles, hand in hand.

Gajeel suddenly got a wicked grin on his face and, before Levy knew it, her back was pressed against a brick wall and she was caged between Gajeel's arms. She looked up at her fiance with a blush and questioning eyes.

"How's this for nostalgia?" he chuckled gently, leaning forward to press a sweet kiss to her lips. "Ya know... I was beyond nervous, when I asked ya to be mine, back then on this very spot." he admitted as he pulled away. "You got no idea, Lev. I think I'd fallen for ya already."

"Really?" she asked with wide eyes. He nodded.

"That night, that date... fuck, Levy, I already knew ya were the one for me. I was so fucking worried you'd say no." he breathed. "Ya had every reason to, ya know. I'm a dangerous man, living a dangerous life, and anyone associated with me gets drawn into all that. You knew that. You had other options... and not that I'm complaining... but why the hell did you say yes?"

"I... Gajeel, I think I fell for you, too." Levy told him with a small blush. "By the end of the date, all I could think about was how perfect you are. A-and that made me think. If I said no, I would have been walking away from a really great relationship. And I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. That... that's why I said yes. And I'm so glad I did."

"Even after all the danger, after everything that's happened?" he questioned softly. Levy just nodded.

"Gajeel, saying yes back then was the best decision I ever made." she told him seriously. "I can't even think of life without you. I love you so, so much." She was silenced with another kiss, this time a deeper one. She gasped cutely in surprise before giving in and eagerly returning the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. Gajeel pulled her away from the wall so he could wrap his arms around her and hold her close.

"I love you," he breathed when they finally parted. "So fucking much, Levy. I know I ain't been there for ya lately, but I swear that's gonna change. I love you so much, and I want you by my side forever."

"I will be there, Gajeel." Levy promised with a gentle smile. "By your side. Always and forever." Gajeel smiled at this and rested his forehead against hers.

"Always and forever."

I finally got my butt to a computer to finish this for you guys. Sorry about the delay, at least it wasn't months this time! I kind of don't have my laptop right now so updating is hard cause I have to find time to get to a computer. And this chapter was uploaded with the fanfiction app, hence the weird formatting which I will fix later. (Edit: Have fixed, but lemme know if I missed anything)

Anyways, my laptop is in the shop, so I should have it back in about 2 weeks. Then expect regular updates. Yay!

Please, please tell me what you guys think! More reviews equals more motivation to get another chapter out lol.

Like always, thanks for reading!

-Everythingnerd12