AN: Fairy Tail Belongs to the Wonderful Hiro Mashima – hope everyone's wished him a Merry Christmas! ^_^

So, here's the final chapter ^_^ It's been a long time since I started writing 'Redeeming Lucy' and even longer since I wrote 'From Amongst the Rafters', and can I just say thank you so much to everyone who's read/reviewed/followed/favourited my stories and one-shots (or even me – genuinely honoured!), or even just messaged me for a chat, these last five and a half months! XD I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year! ^_^

Chapter Three – Life, Love and Loss

Gajeel stood, glaring at Ivan, daring him to touch his aunt again. He didn't care who was stronger, he'd get his aunt out of there – surely Laxus would help him? He'd keep his aunt at his place, he couldn't keep watching this. He couldn't let his innocent Shrimp watch this. The whole family had been through too much, adding Shrimp to that...and less than a year after losing her own mother. She'd think that Laxus was about to lose his, she'd wonder if this was what his own mother had had to go through with his father. He had to stand up to his uncle, he'd stood up to Laxus – Uncle Ivan was pathetic in comparison. He glanced to his left.

Laxus watched as his father dangled his mother in the air yelling at her. It wasn't her fault, why was he doing this? How could he do this? He'd told her that he loved her, Laxus had heard him, but yet he could still do this to her? He watched as his mother fell slowly towards the hard floor that came up to meet her, he heard the impact of her body hitting the solid wood, bile burning the back of his throat. Had he done this to Lucy? Was he just like his father? His sick, twisted father that beat his mother? He watched as his father's foot made contact with her ribs.

He heard the crack.

He felt something struggle in his hand, gripping his wrist. He seen dark eyes staring, terrified, down into his own. He felt something kicking against his thighs, just above his knees. He heard shouting. He heard crying. He felt something brushing against his hand, if felt like hair? His vision started to clear. His father's beard was rubbing against his huge right hand as he singlehandedly pinned his father against the wall behind where his father's seat had been. How had he gotten there? He'd been on the other side of the dining room – how the fuck was he suddenly pinning his father against the wall? He glanced behind him, registering the chaos behind him.

Gajeel couldn't believe it – he'd glanced at Laxus just in time to see him literally jump onto the table and run along it to grab his father by the throat after jumping back down, violently shoving the bastard up against the wall, lifting him so that he dangled as far off the ground as his aunt had just been. He'd hoped Laxus would back him up, not take the initiative. He tore his eyes from Laxus and grabbed Rogue, quickly running around the table to grab Shrimp, telling Rogue to take Shrimp out to his car. He made it to his aunt on the floor, ordering his mother to grab Takara. He picked his aunt up off of the floor carefully and followed his mother and stepfather out of the dining room. He carried her up the stairs to lay her down on her own bed, locking the door behind them.

Gajeel packed a bag for her as she lay helpless on the bed, pleading for them to stop, saying they shouldn't get involved. He'd just be angry and come after them. He'd drag her back here again. She was fine; he loved her and she loved him. She'd just upset him. It hadn't been her place to lecture Laxus, even if she couldn't remember telling him to take responsibility – she must have done, who else could persuade Laxus to do something so kind as to take care of his child? Gajeel ignored her ramblings; he knew the real Laxus, and was wondering what exactly he was telling his father right now. He didn't even know if packing this bag was necessary. Laxus could persuade anyone to do just about anything when he was pissed.

There was a knock at the door and a quiet mutter announcing that it was 'me'. Gajeel unlocked the door and let his cousin in, moving to head out of the door. A hand appeared on his shoulder. He turned to look at Laxus who looked as strained as ever. Laxus nodded his thanks to Gajeel before letting go of his shoulder. Gajeel turned back to the open doorway and walked out. He didn't need any thanks and he certainly didn't deserve any. It had taken Shrimp's presence to push him to stand against his uncle, neither of them could have done what they just had alone, but they hadn't been alone – they'd both been there for years, just watching, filled with anger and disgust. It had taken Shrimp and a damn baby to force them into action!

He sat silently in the driver's seat, glancing into the back where Shrimp was curled up, crying into his stepbrother's chest while Rogue's arms were wrapped comfortingly around her. His stepfather had gotten his mother and Takara into the other car, driving off with the hysteric woman and crying baby before Gajeel had even made it out of the house. He'd driven off in his own car, leaving Laxus' abandoned in front of the house. Laxus was going to deal with his parents, alone.

Gajeel couldn't say anything to comfort Shrimp, what could anyone say after what she'd just seen? As far as he could tell she hadn't said anything since she'd asked Laxus about his 'forward planning'. She was probably blaming herself for what had just happened. How could he have put her in that situation? He watched as Rogue stroked her blue hair soothingly. He felt a knot in his stomach – his damn stepbrother was doing a better job of looking after Shrimp than him! ...but it had been Gajeel that had told him to take her out to the car...Gajeel had had to take care of his aunt for his cousin. He hoped that she understood that he'd had no choice but to ask a man she didn't even know to take her away from that.

He smiled, a strange sight given the circumstances. He saw Shrimp look in the mirror back at him, drying her questioning hazel eyes.

"I was just thinking about that first night in the club. I'd introduced myself eight times in one month and didn't even think twice about doing it a ninth. I was a complete stranger to you as far as you knew, but you spoke to me anyway. You even let me walk you home. I can still picture that flustered look on your face when you'd realised I'd actually stayed behind after the rest of the group had left just to walk you home. You said you weren't 'ready yet', you were totally embarrassed about your 'untidy' appearance after you'd just finished a six hour shift in a night club – you were absolutely friggen adorable!" He grinned at her, noticing her pink tinged cheeks, "it was a really hectic couple of weeks, wasn't it? We hadn't even had our first date yet and you agreed to meet my mum, and here you are now. I warned you six months ago about my family but you dived in anyway. You were so cute when you found out I was twenty-nine, you're entire face went bright pink and then you told my mum you were only twenty-three – you didn't even know how to feel about the age gap, never mind how my mum would feel! Gihe, you know, you look pretty comfy in my stepbrother's arms, he is only twenty-five – that any better for you Shrimp?!"

"Gajeel!" Levy sat up, furious at Gajeel just suggesting that she could replace him so easily with his brother! How could he think that?!

"I was teasing, Shrimp. Remember what I said to you after I got you out of the club about what I wanted to do to Laxus? If Rogue thinks he can just take you from me, he'll actually get that treatment. You're mine, Shrimp, remember that. Even if I shouldn't have been here, chances are you would have met this idiot, or maybe even Shiruba...They'd have looked after you, or I'd have haunted the bastards! Gihe, although I doubt Rogue here would have been scared of the ghost of a ten year old boy!" He grinned at her, hiding his inner pain beneath a cheery facade.

Levy let out a gasp. Had he seriously just told her he shouldn't be here? What had he even meant by that?! She wanted him here! How could he threaten to just die on her like that!? Had he tried to do something stupid? ...who's Shiruba? The name certainly wasn't familiar, why would someone be called 'silver'? And why would Gajeel haunt him?! Why would 'Shiruba' want to protect her? What did he mean by ten ye...

"Shiruba is your brother! You were supposed to be in the car! You were supposed to be in the passenger seat, not him! You didn't go so that he could spend time alone with your dad!" She clapped her hands over her mouth – was she an idiot?!

"Yeah, Shrimp, Shiruba was my little brother, well done. Yes, I should have been in that car, and I sometimes regret that I wasn't, Shrimp. I need you to understand that. I can be a little grumpy, and I can be a little over protective...and I can even get a little jealous – you've maybe noticed over the last couple of months. I didn't mean to offend you with my 'suggestion'; it's just that after what we've all just been through...I was thinking about my dad, and...the thought that everyone would have been so much better off if I had been in the car. My brother would still be here, laughing his god damn silver hair off, his damn pale blue eyes constantly smiling, yet knowing him he'd still remain a down to earth, serious guy," he glanced at Rogue before looking back at the road in front of them, "my dad would never have turned into an abusive drunk, my mum wouldn't have shot him. I would never have knocked on your door and you'd never have met Laxus; you'd never have been harassed by him...and you wouldn't have been put through tonight...my dad used to get in between my aunt and Uncle Ivan – he wouldn't have let this shit go on as long as Laxus and I have. I'm sorry Shrimp."

"Gajeel, you could have both died if you'd been there. Your dad could have been worse. Your mum may have died by his hands or killed herself after she'd been left all alone; her husband gone and her two sons dead. I'd already met Laxus, I knew Lucy for god's sake! If Laxus hadn't hit on me then Lucy might still have been confused about whether or not she should be with him or Natsu. Your aunt wouldn't have been rescued tonight." Levy carefully wrapped her arms around his neck from her seat in the back, resting her forehead against his cheek as he drove, "It could have just been her and Ivan at that table tonight; she could have been dead by now. Tonight was horrible, and I can understand why you warned me, but I love you, Gajeel Redfox, and I'm not going anywhere."

Yonde kurete arigatō, min'na!

Merīkurisumasu to happīnyūiyā!