AN-Hopefully this chapter is edited a little better. I still suck at editing but I made myself spend more time on it, hopefully it's better. I'm going to try to end the story and tie stuff up in the next 2 or 3 chapters. I started this story so insanely anxious and nervous and with no plan. I had only intended it to be 4 or 5 chapters but when I sit and write it's usually without a plan and that's another thing I should probably work on. Thank you all for follows, favorites, and the reviews and please as the story closes or when it ends please fill free to message me with and suggestions, help hints, constructive criticism, or thoughts so that I may learn and improve. I know I am babbling but I need to say again thank you, it's a wonderful feeling knowing there are a few people that enjoyed what I wrote.

God his head freaking hurt, and his mouth was dry. That fucking beeping wasn't helping at all. He was going to strangle Leo. Gajeel had warned him about his stupid video game that he talked the staff into finally letting him have. Leo was always playing it at night the least he could do is mute the stupid thing. Beep, beep, beep, it was infuriating! He couldn't take it!

"If you don't turn that dumb machine off I'm going to break it." Gajeel mumbled, his voice not coming out as strong as he had intended. His throat felt like it had gravel in it.

"I could stop the beeping but then the nurse comes running in shouting code blue and flipping out. The pink haired kid tripped over a cord and the machine stopped taking vitals. The nurse came running in which made all your friends freak out. The blue haired girl started sobbing and then when they figured it all out she nearly beat the shit out of the pink haired boy. The blonde girl pulled her off him and by the time it was all done they were forbidden from coming in your room without asking a nurse 1st and only one or 2 at a time at least until you woke up."

Gajeel opened his eyes suddenly as all the memories of the past few days came back, and that voice, he knew that voice. Everything was a blur and he had to close his eyes tight from the light blinding him. "Ugh," he groaned as he brought his forearm to cover his eyes also.

"Here let me turn off this overhead light that should help."

"Yeah thanks," Gajeel mumbled. When he heard the light click he slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times before he moved his arm from his face. He blinked a few more times and slowly the room can into focus. White walls, beeping machines, and the last person he expected to see standing at his bedside. Gajeel gazed up at his older brother and a flood of emotions crashed over him. He was alive so there was relief but also a whole lot of anger and sadness at finding his older brother here. If he was honest with himself he would also admit he was incredibly happy at seeing Lily but Gajeel was pushing that part down. "What are you doing here Lily?"

The brother sighed, "Let's not do this now Gajeel."

"Sure, sure we just pretend like you didn't abandon me and mom for the 3 years." Gajeel snipped.

"Gajeel…"

"No really we can pretend like you've been around the whole time." The injured teen's face got animated with his false dramatics. "Do do you remember holding mom's hair while she puked at like 4 am every morning. Or last November remember when we woke up freezing because the heat got shut off. That was exciting wasn't it?"

"Gajeel please just stop and listen-"

"Oh hey what about on Christmas? That was great wasn't it. If i remember right I woke up in the house alone. I was pretty scared I hadn't heard from mom in like 2 days but you know how it is. Oh wait, you don't because you haven't fucking been there. It's been me taking care of everything because you took off just like dad did." Gajeel turned to face the white wall letting his brother know he was done.

"I didn't leave like dad did and you know that." Lily's voice remained calm.

"Pretty sure you did because you haven't been around," Gajeel spat back as venomously as his dry throat would allow.

"No!" This time Lily's voice did raise a little causing Gajeel to turn to him. "Dad left because he was a irresponsible jackass. I left because I wasn't going to drown with her. I had a scholarship Gajeel, I couldn't give up my future to take care of her when she wasn't willing to get help. It wasn't my job to take care of her!"

Gajeel's teeth grinded against each other as he let his fist clench and unclench by his side, "Yep I know, learning a lot at camp in between getting stabbed." Gajeel's voice took on a mocking tone, "It's no one's job to save her, she has to hit rock bottom, she has to want help. All that is fucking fine but what the hell am I supposed to do, huh? I didn't have anywhere to run off to like you did. Fuck I had to take care of her so I wouldn't end up by myself." Gajeel's voice start to raise and crack, "What the fuck was I supposed to do Lily? Dad left, you left, she keep leaving. WHAT IS SO FUCKING WRONG WITH ME THAT YOU ALL JUST NEED TO GET AWAY FROM ME?!" A tear actually escaped Gajeel's eye but he quickly wiped it away. When he spoke again his voice was raw and soft. " I had to keep her from choking on her own vomit other wise one way or another she would've left too. I didn't want to be alone."

Lily watched silently as his younger brother rubbed his face with both hands trying to stop and hide any more tears. After it looked like Gajeel had control over his leaky eyes Lily spoke, "Gajeel I'm sorry. There isn't anything I can say to fix what has happened. We got a piss poor excuse of a father and mom who is messing up big. I can't change that but I'm sorry for how it affected both of us and how much it has hurt you. I'm sorry I didn't visit, i could of helped a little and that was selfish of me but I'm not sorry I left. I'm not sorry I wanted better."

Gajeel stared down at his hands for a moment before breathing in deeply, "Yeah, well I guess I can't blame you for going to school and making something of yourself. Who would I'm ever thought you'd end up as a cop. I just wish you would've visited even called or something, maybe it wouldn't been so lonely." He looked up at his brother, "Not that I was all needy or anything. I'm not weak."

Lily chuckled and pulled a chair from the wall to sit beside the bed. "I know you're not weak. You are actually one of the strongest people I know little brother."

Gajeel nodded in agreement then asked a question he'd been burning to hear an answer too. "Do you know anything? Everyone's ok? All the guys from camp?"

"I know most of it, as far as your friends you were the only one who was in danger of losing his life. Laxus the big guy who brought you back to camp broke his ankle but other than that all campers have been accounted for as safe."

"Good. So where is mom? In the parking lot having a smoke or drink or something?" Gajeel asked.

Lily watched his brother carefully, "Moms not here."

"Shouldn't she be here? They would if called her she's the emergency contact."

Lily sighed, "Yes she should. I guess now is as good a time as any to get all this out."

Gajeel gave him a curious look, "Get all what out, what's going on?"

"I changed myself to your emergency contact. They did try to call her after me but she didn't call them back."

"Well she was going to do that rehab thing," Gajeel reasoned.

"Gajeel she left it after a week. The rehab called to inform me as her next of kin that she had abandoned the program." Lily watched the hurt wash over his brother's face, "I went to visit her and it took me a few hours to find her. The house had no electricity, running water, it was trashed. She pretty much let it go and moved in with some guy in a filthy trailer park and they were half out of it when I found them."

Gajeel's eyes got big, "But she said she was going to get it together! Why would she let the house go, what about me? Where am I supposed to go?"

"I asked her all that. She said this guy had a room and was going to let you stay in it after camp til you finished school but the room wasn't much bigger than a closet. She said she had it all worked out but the guy kept making comments under his breath about you better pull your weight. The situation wasn't one that would of been good for you and I told her as much. We argued about what you needed she assured me you were strong and would be fine. That she needed you to help with the bills and stuff anyway."

Gajeel chewed on the inside of his cheek, "Yeah ok," he mumbled.

Lily pulled the chair more directly in front of Gajeel, "That's not the end of it Gajeel. I got mad and told her that she should be taking care of you not the other way around and that this shit couldn't go on anymore. She wasn't her normal self, she didn't seem to empathize with the situation she was putting you in. What I was saying only made her roll her eyes. She laughed it off and told me to mind my own business. We argued some more until she was yelling at me to get the fuck out and stay out of it. I told her no I was making it my business and her boyfriend started yelling too. In the end me and him ended up throwing fist after he followed me outside screaming. Someone called the police and he got arrested they found meth in his pocket so they searched the house. In the end both mom and her guy got arrested Gajeel."

"Can't believe she was shacking up with a tweaker. Why did they arrest mom? People are allowed to be drunk. What did you say to them," Gajeel asked in an accusing tone.

"I didn't say anything Gajeel, mom lived there they had drugs in the house she got arrested too. Gajeel mom was fucking high. She probably been doing it longer than you think because you wouldn't of wanted to believe it anyway. She's has a serious problem, a horrible addiction and it's to the point her sense of wrong and right are all but gone. She gave up everything and was going to bring you into that situation. I offered her much better options for you if she decided she didn't want to get clean so she wouldn't drag you through the dirt also and she turned them down selfishly."

"But, what, where am I going now? What's happening to me? I don't want to go to some group home."

"You're not. I can't fix the past but after the visit with mom I went and got a lawyer then called CPS. Gajeel you deserve to be a kid at least for a little bit, you deserve to wake up and just worry about high school and girls and stuff. I couldn't do anything back then but I'm in a position now that I can give you what you deserve."

The younger brother ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know what you mean. If mom's in jail or doing that shit where do I go?"

"I got custody of you Gajeel. I took her rights away. I planned on having everything in order when you got out of camp but then all this happened." The younger brother's mouth dropped and he stared at his brother in shock. "I can't fix mom she has to do that on her own but I can keep her from taking you down too. I have a deposit on a 2 bedroom apartment not far from your school in Magnolia. I put in my notice at the Edolas PD and accepted a job offer as at deputy on Magnolia's sheriff department. I will make enough to pay the bills and keep us eating. You won't have to worry about any of that. Mom's pissed but eventually she will get clean and see that I did what I had to for you."

Gajeel just stared at his brother and Lily stayed quiet waiting for the younger brother to process all the information. Finally Gajeel found his voice, "So i'm staying with you and it's all legit. Mom can't make me move back with her? Did she even try?"

Lily reached for his brother's hand, Gajeel started to pull away but then left it. "No, I have full custody, she didn't show up in court, but you have to remember she's sick Gajeel. None of this happened because we wanted to get away from you. Our mother is sick with a very tricky disease. It sucks, and I can't tell you she will be ok because I don't know that but I can tell you I'm here and you and me, we will be ok." Lily felt his brother squeeze his hand signaling he understood.

The brother's turned to the sound of the door opening and Lily went pale at the sight of a tiny gray haired nurse standing there with her arms crossed across her chest. The lady had to been in her 80s and weight maybe 100 pounds. She glared at Lily and he gulped audibly with made Gajeel laugh.

"So am I to assume he just woke up and you were just about to get off your rump and let me know? Because surely when I told you to inform me immediately of any changes waking up after being out for 2 days is certainly qualified as a change. Hmmmm?"

Lily stood quickly and stuttered over his words, "No ma'am, I mean yes ma'am. He just woke up. Just now, not 20 minutes ago, no, yes, ma'am."

Mongolia

"I see. Well maybe you could go request a soft meal for him while I take vitals and call the doctor."

"Yes ma'am," Gajeel burst out laughing when Lily actually saluted the nurse.

"Oh and one more thing, after you order his meal wait about 15 to 20 minutes then you may let his friends know. I do not want them all rushing here at once. Send the blue haired girl, and the boy with the almost white hair, they can visit tonight with you and . They others can wait for visiting hours tomorrow."

Lily nodded and then headed out to follow his orders while the nurse tended to Gajeel.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Gajeel took a bite of the green jello and made a sour face. "Who make kiwi flavored jello?"

Lily's eyes shot up, "Really?! Kiwi?! Are you not going to eat it because we shouldn't let it go to waste."

Gajeel rolled his eyes as he handed to wiggly dessert to his brother and watched inhale it. Shaking his head he turned his attention back to the girl sitting on the edge of his bed her feet dangling kicking back and forth as they dangled off. He wasn't sure if he believed in soulmates or destiny but he knew she was someone important to him. She turned to him smiling, "I think maybe I will go to the 2 year college and stay in Magnolia for now. I pushed myself so hard during my senior year last year. I think if I do the 2 year school I can stay home relax and not be worried about every little thing. I can transfer to a 4 year school after I get my associates as long as I keep my grades up." She gave him a thoughtful look. "It's crazy sitting here making plans for the future and not stressing to the point of a panic attack about it. That's the whole reason I went and helped at the camp in the summers to get away from the pressure for a couple months."

Lily watched the interaction between his brother and Levy. He could see the girl clearly had feelings for Gajeel and by the way Gajeel watched her the feelings were reciprocated.

Lyon smiled and pushed himself off the wall he'd been leaning on, "Well i'm glad you are doing well metal face but I gotta get back to Gray's room. They my foster mom is waiting for me to get there so she can go get a shower and changed. They are trying a new sleep med tonight and he doesn't want to be alone."

"Well I understand that. Thanks for stopping by punk."

Levy sighed, "I should probably get going too. Gramps said the van was leaving by 9pm to head back to camp." The short girl hopped of the bed then turned to press a small kiss to Gajeel's cheek before she turned red and headed to the door. Lily chuckled as he watched a blush creep up his brother also.

"Well Gajeel I think that maybe tonight I'm going to go grab a shower and fresh clothes now that you are awake and everything is ok.' Gajeel nodded to his brother. "Do you need anything while I'm out, I'll probably head back here 1st thing in the morning."

The pierced teen shook his head, "No, I think I'm good. That nurse promised me some pain meds before bed so I'll probably be passing out after that."

"Ok, I will see you in the morning then."

"Alright, see ya then."

Gajeel rested his head back on the pillow after the nurse gave him his promised pain medication. He found himself genuinely smiling. Not everything was fixed but for the first time in a long time Gajeel didn't feel like everything was falling on him. He had someone, a few people actually that he could rely on and that was a comforting feeling. He found he drifted off to sleep with no problems.