Chapter four: Final.

I don't own Fairy Tail.

Enjoy!

After two hours of walking through streets, the park and the library even, strolling around aimlessly, she put the key to her door hesitantly in the lock. With one sigh, she turned.

She was prepared to work it out, to fix things and talk reasonably. Erza would've calmed down after two hours and would feel the same. But no matter how she turned the situation in her head, she saw no satisfactory solution. Neither she nor Erza were ones to bend easily, so they had to find something in-between. Maybe moving somewhere entirely else was the right thing to do, but Lucy loved her city. She knew all its corners and had made so many happy memories, her friends, her work, her everything. But Erza surely felt the same. Lucy had come to love the little town there, with its idyllic quiet and peace. It was so different from here.

They would find a solution together, she was sure. They had to.

She opened the door and immediately saw Erza sitting on the couch, her hands between her head. Lucy spotted the letter on the table and bit her lip. She was busted.

Despite her inner turmoil, she closed the door with shaking hands.

"Hey, Erza", she couldn't help her insecure voice as she slowly walked over to the redhead. Finally, she lifted her head and looked the blonde in her eyes.

They were empty, but Lucy knew Erza was trying to control her anger, love, doubt, sadness, al at the same time. At this moment, Erza wanted to hurt Lucy, to make her feel what she felt, to betray the one person she had briefly given her heart to. It was devastating to see her like this, and to, above all, know that it was her fault.

"I saw it." She began. "You found my letter and published it. You came to me and made me fall for you, made me think I meant something for you. Why did you this? Was it so that you could interview me, but simply found me attractive physically? Why, Lucy?"

"It didn't go like that!" Lucy said tearfully. She was glad Erza didn't start to shout at her, but this way of fighting was so much more painful. Erza had given up, she honestly believed Lucy had no feelings for her. This conversation would have consequences for the rest of their lives.

"I did find the letter and I read it, what was I supposed to do? Throw it away? And then, Levy saw it, too, and she encouraged me to publish it."

Erza stood up and pointed accusatory at her. "You had no right to do that. don't blame your friend, it was your own fault, so take responsibility. Why did you publish it?"

"I was convinced that the people would want or need to know. Every once in a while, they need reminders of their strengths and how beautiful life is. That letter was a living proof of it. It showed true love and loyalty, it was beautiful."

"Even so, I might have forgiven you. Why did you came to look for me? You couldn't just let it rest, then this wouldn't have happened. You weren't hoping to get more letters out of me, were you?"

"No! I don't know what I was thinking", she lowered her voice, "I just read something I wanted more of. I saw something I thought lost long ago. And when I saw you for the first time, the only thing I could think, was: 'I had forgotten what an angel looked like.' It was my first impression of you and it is the same until now. I knew you were a beautiful person, but to be so strong, such… I didn't meet and got to know you to use you or sleep with you, I wanted to love you. And I do. I love you." She shrank under Erza's sad gaze and looked down.

"I love you, too. But I don't know if it's enough." Erza said, almost helplessly. "I don't know what I should do."

"Please, forgive me. I made a mistake and I want to show you I'm sorry. I'll move to your place, if you still want me."

"Maybe you just need to stay away from me for a while", Erza's own voice didn't seem hers at all and she looked almost surprised at her own words. "I'm taking the next plane back and I'll call you sometime, okay?"

She grabbed her ba, that lay at her feet and left. Lucy hadn't noticed Erza's attire until now, she was ready to leave and never come back. Every second that passed seemed like a century, she wanted to shout and call Erza back, keep her there no matter what, but couldn't open her mouth.

Neither could she look away. The picture of Erza leaving her would be burnt into her memory forever.

XoXoXoXo

The next day, Levy called in. She was shocked to see her best friend, crying and a mess. She looked more dead than alive. The petite girl realised something was wrong with Erza.

"Lu-chan, what happened last night?" she said cautiously, pushing a cup of tea in the blonde's hands.

"She left. We fought about who had to move and then she found the article and then she left." Lucy said broken.

"What? But you... oh, Lu-chan. You hadn't told her?" Levy asked while sitting down.

"No."

"Alright, you made a mistake and you were wrong, but I've heard from you who she is and how you feel about her. It can't just be over, even though…"

"It is over, Levy", Lucy interrupted. "She told me so and I believe her. I've done the worst thing possible to her, so now she's gone."

"You can't give up yet! I'm sure she regrets it and wants to give her a second chance! She's in love with you, right? She'll forgive you, if you don't give up now." Levy shook at Lucy's shoulders to wake her up.

Lucy smiled and nodded through her dried tears. "You really think so?"

Her petite friend nodded encouragingly. "I know it. You go find her."

She packed her bag, while Levy ordered the last-minute plane ticket. It might have been expensive, but she put it on her name. Lucy's happiness was worth that little.

Levy even drove her to the airport and waved one last time, before Lucy was left alone, waiting to arrive.

Back in her apartment, it was so easy to think that Erza would forgive her, with Levy's encouraging smile next to her. Right now, alone and tired and insecure, she remembered their words all the better. Erza had looked hateful and hurt, and still she was the most beautiful woman Lucy had laid eyes on. She felt so powerless, she wanted to help her so badly, but maybe she couldn't. Maybe she should give up and let it go. Lucy could never do that, to let Erza go when she just found her.

The flight was spent listening to music and restlessly thinking about her arrival and Erza's reaction. The rest went by in a blink, she hardly remembered stepping out and taking a taxi, before arriving at her house. She only came to herself again when she was knocking on Erza's door, seconds away from seeing her face again.

Erza opened. She was looking tired, in her sweats and a top, her hair loose and cascading over her back, her eyes red and swollen, but still beautiful. Lucy drank in the sight and immense relief flooded over her. How had she not realized the gap in her heart was Erza not close to her?

"Lucy? What are you doing here?" she sounded surprised, but in a pleasant way. In that moment, Lucy knew it was going to be alright. She felt confident now, and hearing Erza's voice made her happier than she could've imagined a month ago.

"I came here to apologize. Erza, I am so terribly sorry for lying to you. It might have been wrong and selfish, but I wanted to be with you so badly I didn't look at it in the right way. Yes, I published your letter, but I never, ever would've thought it would lead to this. I travelled to this place because I wanted to get to know you, and maybe because I sensed I would find someone I could love." Erza wanted to say something, but Lucy interrupted her.

"I didn't come to you because I only want you back. I would like you to understand and maybe forgive me, but I just wanted to explain. Could you forgive me?"

Erza's mouth stood open for a long time, until she closed it and wallowed hard. "I… I did forgive you, Lucy, but I don't know if we're still worth fighting for. Can I trust you again? I always knew for sure I could, but now, I don't know anymore. My feelings haven't changed, but I feel like you're keeping ore secrets from me."

"But I don't! I swear to you, I don't keep secrets from you! Ask me anything, questions or I don't know what, but please, give me a chance again! I know that I can do this for you."

Erza cast her eyes down. "I know, but I don't want to get hurt again. I've been hurt enough, I don't want it again."

Luc was at a loss for words. If Erza, brave, courageous Erza, daren't take the chance, what was she to do?

"You can do this. You'll be hurt again, but it'll be worth the pain. I promise I'll be by your side, I'll do whatever it takes so we can fix this."

It wasn't much, but it was said with such power and love that Erza looked up and smiled. Then she embraced Lucy with all her strength. Gentle, caring arms were put around her and she was finally home.

"I've missed you", the sweetest voice whispered.

"I missed you, too."

Erza laughed and kissed her and Lucy lost herself in that kiss. She was home and it was good and she was safe.

In the end, Erza did have that courage to take the chance to forgive someone and take the risk to get hurt again, and it was worth it. Even though she had been hurt terribly and said to herself she never wanted to fall in love again, she had done so and she had been hurt, but it was worth it to get hurt again if it just meant that she could see Lucy, talk to her, love her.

One can only hope that they have the same courage as her, when faced with such dilemma's.

The end.