Natsu rested his head on the window of the van and watched the stars pass by. Everything that had happened running through his brain. It still seemed unreal that he had been through such an adventure. Well to him it seemed like an adventure but he was sure some of the others saw it in a different light. It had been a very real life or death situation for some. Laxus had woke up the yesterday evening and Gajeel had woken this evening. Laxus would remain with his grandpa at camp when he was released but Gajeel would end up going home with his brother to finish healing. Gray had about 24 more hours on his hold then it was up to his foster mother to decide if he a Lyon were coming back to camp. Lucy's father had came for her but they had exchanged numbers to keep in touch, she would be a friend for life. Freed's mother had came wanting to take him home but he had insisted he finish out his program. Freed explained that he was going to work closely with the camp psychiatrist to find the right combination of medications to help with his ocd and schizophrenia. After talking to the staff she left her son in their hands. In the van Zeref, Leo, Levy, Freed, and himself were going to be going back to camp to finish their programs with parents approvals. Mavis would also be going back since gramps was her guardian. He sighed as tiredness overwhelmed him. As he drifted of he thought of Gray and hoped his friend would be able to finish his program as well. His mind drifted to Gray, they had actually grown very and Natsu was going to miss having someone to talk with when he couldn't sleep. He hoped Gray was able to sleep well.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

It had been almost 2 weeks since they had came back to camp. Leo sat in the little office and let his mind wander. Gray and Lyon had returned which was awesome. Gajeel's brother had brought him by once he had been released to get his things, visit, and exchange numbers and addresses with friends. Last Leo had heard he was recovering nicely. Laxus was back hobbling around on crutches and doing mostly office work. Leo was doing well on the outside but inside he was a wreck. He really was trying like he and Gray had promised to do. It just wasn't working, he still had dreams of the crash and he still couldn't shake the overwhelming guilt and it was drowning him. He didn't deserve to be forgiven. Of course he kept all those thoughts inside. No sense in making people worry. Maybe he could fake happy long enough and he would fall for it himself.

Leo heard the sound of Laxus's crutches on the other side of the door. Laxus was actually outside the office at the moment checking in a visitor that was here to see Leo. The ginger haired kid couldn't guess as to who it was, his parent's were traveling for work and the only friends he really had were the one's he had made at camp. Leo heard the door behind him click and open, he straightened himself in the chair and smoothed his hands over his shirt.

Leo turned his head to see the visitors and his heart fell out of his chest. There was 2of them a middle aged couple.. Leo stared at them long enough for it to be awkward before he stood to make introductions. Leo stood and tried to say hello but his voice wouldn't work and he ended up only staring more.

"Hello Leo, it's been so long since we have seen you." The woman finally spoke. Leo only nodded in agreement as he brought both arms around himself grasping both his elbows.

Leo looked down at his shoes and finally found his voice and stuttered through pleasantries, " .Hello Mrs. Lilica." He looked up, Leo didn't know what to say after that. The norm would be to start off with 'Hi, How are you, or how have you been' but asking something like that to the parent's of the girl he had killed seemed empty, the answer would probably hurt anyway.

Karen's father spoke next, "Why don't we make use of the chairs and have ourselves a seat?'

Once again Leo nodded without sound he pulled a chair out from behind the desk in the small office and set it in the floor space with the other chairs. He sat in the desk chair and across from him sat karen's parents. Leo gripped his hands together in his lap as his kept his eyes cast down. Silence once again enveloped the room.

Mrs. Lilica gave her husband a sad look before she reached forward and placed one of her hands over Leo's. Leo looked up at her tears streaking his face. The boy whispered, "I'm sorry." rose and kneeled in front of Leo and grabbed his face with both hands.

"Oh honey, we know you are." Leo shook his head and pulled her hands down.

"It was my fault." He was sobbing now, "I killed her. If it wasn't for me she'd be here now. Oh God, I'm so sorry, it's my fault, it's all my fault, i shouldn't of, I'm so sorry, I sorry," Leo voice became distorted with sobs as the words fell out, in the end repeating "I'm sorry" like a mantra.

couldn't stop the tears from her eyes now either and her voice failed. She turned to her husband. rose crouching down in front of Leo and he wrapped both his arms tightly around the distraught boy. "Shhh, Leo I know, shhhh." leaned back so he could see Leo but kept both hands on Leo's upper arms squeezing comfortingly. "Leo look at me please."

Leo took a shaky breath and raised his eyes to make the eye contact Karen's father had requested. "Leo, we don't blame you. We have never blamed you for what happened."

Leo shook his head, "I was driving drunk, I was the one who wrecked and it killed her. It's my fault, it's all my fault.'

spoke now, "Oh child, My heart is breaking knowing that this is how you have felt. This is what you've been holding inside. You made a huge mistake Leo but you are a kid and kids mess up. You and Karen were both making a bunch of horrible decisions at the time. Karen chose to drink that night and she chose to get in the car with another drunk person. Honey we could sit here and pass blame and pin faults but none of that would bring Karen back. In the end you both made a terrible decision and sadly she's not with us anymore but honey you are!"

"We both made a decision but she's the only one of us who was punished for it!" Leo choked out.

"Leo, do you think drowning in the guilt is going to bring her back. You can punish yourself all you want but it will never be even. She died, you didn't. There's nothing we can do, and I know it hurts, it was a tragic mistake, one that we never blamed or hated you for. It's ok to forgive yourself and move on with your life Leo." stood up, "We don't want to lose you too Leo."

Leo looked up at Karen's father, all the hate and anger he had expected to see when they faced each other again was non existent. "I don't understand how you can just let it go, how you can forgive me."

smiled, "Well maybe you will someday but for now it's ok if you don't understand it. All you have to do is accept it. We came here because we care and even if that makes no sense to you know it's ok, just know it's true. Leo it's ok to forgive yourself. You can't make it right so don't try. You can't keep feeling guilty just for being alive, you know that's not what she would've wanted."

'

Leo nodded mutely as he chewed in his bottom lip. "I killed her, I don't know how to be live with that." His voice was barely above a whisper.

spoke, "You can start with being honest about these thoughts and your feelings. You have loved ones who are ready to support you but you have to speak about what's really going on in your mind. No more bottling it up ok?"

"Ok." Leo looked up at Karen's father, " What made you come here? Did a counselor call you, is this suppose to be like a form of therapy?"

"We wanted to see you for your birthday." Leo looked up confused continued, "I know it was a week ago but this was when we were able to both take off work. Before the accident you spent as much time at our house as your own. We care about you and we miss you."

Karen's father bobbed his head in agreement as he did he pulled a small gift box out if his jacket pocket and handed it to Leo. "That arrived a few months ago. We were shocked to say the least. After she passed we closed all the accounts, stopped subscriptions, and cancelled anything she had in order. She had went to a small custom jeweler and ordered it. She paid it off just a few weeks before the accident with cash. The jeweler waited for her to come back for it when he was finished but she didn't. He tracked the address down and delivered it himself. We told him the news and he said it was made for someone special maybe we could figure it out and get it to the right person. We knew exactly who it was for when we opened it. I'm sure it was suppose to be a birthday present for you and I am more than certain she would still want you to have it."

Leo gazed at the box in his hands. It was from her and somehow even after she was gone she made sure to give it to him. He carefully lifted the black kid and peered inside. There was a simple gold chain with a gold charm or medallion hanging on it. He picked the chain up pulling the necklace out of the box letting the medallion come to rest in his other hand. On one side etched into the gold was the head of a lion sticky poised. The detail work was beyond brilliant. With a shaky hand he turned the gold over to see the other side. Etched in a beautiful calligraphy it said-

My lion, if you can't find me look to the stars and there I will be.

Everything was blurt through the tears. Maybe he would never stop crying. As he shook he felt both Karen's parents wrap him in their arms. They stayed like that for a while before finally pulling back. Silence followed for a while until it settled into easy sat and talked about Karen, the good memories and about the camp and how Leo was doing and plans for the future. They made Leo promise to come to family dinner every Wednesday and he was happy to oblige.

After a few hours they had to part ways. As they said goodbyes Leo actually smiled. Maybe he was going to be able to keep that promise about really trying that he had made with Gray. Maybe someday he would be able to to give himself. Not yet, but someday and until then he would get by with the forgiveness of others.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Lyon stood in front of the mirror and studied the shirtless replica he saw. His hand came up to his side and pulled at the skin around his stomach. He had gained some weight, not enough to leave and deposits of fat on his slender form but enough so that the jut of his hip bone didn't show sharply. If he sucked in his but he could still make his ribs show but any skinny guy could do that. It was still a battle he would gaze in the mirror and poke soft skin his warped mind would say if it's soft its fat. It would be worse if he indulged in a sugary dessert, his mind would distort his own vision of himself and instead of a still skinny person he'd see plumpness and rolls.

The difference now was how he would react to his mind's exaggerations. Instead of panicking, puking, and not eating he would be logical. He would get put his food journal and go over what he ate. He would remind himself of his healthy calorie intake goal and how he couldn't be getting fat because he stayed in target. If he still was worked up about it he would do one of the work out routines Gajeel had taught him. He wasn't fat but if he needed reassurance he had all the tools and evidence he needed. Lyon heard Gray call from the cabin door so Lyon pulled his shirt on and left the bathroom.

"Hey I'm going for lunch. Are you coming?"

Lyon grabbed his notebook from his bunk, "Yep let's get some grub."