Lucy emerged from the ocean after a brief swim, though she had been careful not to get her hair wet. As she climbed further out of the water, she felt the water pulling on the bottom piece of her swimsuit, threatening to pull it down. She tugged it up with a squeal and waddled from the water to the sand, where she took a towel from Cana's outstretched hand and began to dab at her wet body parts. She started with her feet, working her way upward, and when she straightened up to dry her midriff her eyes caught a troubling sight. Due to the setting sun, she had almost missed the white-haired figure running out of the woods. Lucy quickly noticed that the person was Mira, and something was wrong. Lucy threw her towel down, running toward Mira and leaving Cana behind amidst a sea of confusion. "Mira," she called, causing the woman to slow her steps. Once Lucy caught up with her, she placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?"

With a loud sniffle Mira said, "Could we go talk with Cana and Lisanna, too?"

Lucy nodded and they walked back toward the others in silence. The celestial wizard gathered the other girls and they gathered around a small campfire, seated on logs and each holding cups of cocoa that Lisanna had prepared. "Alright, Mira, spill," urged Cana as she added a few drops of whiskey to her cup of chocolate.

Mira remained quiet for a bit, delicately taking a drink of her beverage. "It's Gray. He picked another fight with a fan of my modeling." She relayed the details of the fight on the beach, leaving out how it ended since she hadn't witnessed that part.

Lisanna frowned, mulling over the issue. "So, what is bothering you so much? He just wants to stand up for you, sis."

Cana waved her mug in the air, sloshing some hot chocolate on the sand. "He acts like she is a helpless little kitten!"

Lucy waggled a finger as she argued, "I don't think she's done telling us the story, so we can't pass judgment yet!"

Mira glanced around the circle with wide eyes, overwhelmed by her choice of confiding in all of them. However, she'd already started and they would probably maul her if she didn't continue. Especially Cana. Steeling herself, she pressed on. "He has no confidence in my commitment to him. He thinks I'm going to run off with one of the guys that is attracted to me. He has no faith in our relationship." She dropped her gaze to the cup in her hands, spinning it around and around.

Lisanna scooted closer to MiraJane, patting her leg. "Aw, big sis, I bet he just got scared and acted irrationally."

Cana was the second to contribute, yet again. "No! He acts like she is some tramp roaming the countryside for a nice piece of ass! It's despicable!"

"Hey! Gray may be in the wrong, but he is also one of my best friends!" Lucy was on her feet, livid. "He shouldn't have said those things to her, and he should definitely trust her more. However, let's take a moment to look at this from another direction. Mira, last time he got into a fight, you encouraged it by going back to him."

"I know," Mira mumbled. "And he made that point, as well. I probably shouldn't have handled it that way."

Lucy nodded. "I'm glad you can see that. Now. You say that he has no faith in the relationship, and that he is too afraid of you running off. But, isn't that exactly what you've been doing?"

The other three girls leaned forward, scrutinizing her words. "What are you saying, Lucy?" Mira's frown was the deepest, but it didn't appear to be out of mere confusion, but more like she was puzzling through her actions.

"You're a runner, Mira! Every time there is something wrong between the two of you, you take off!" Lucy sat back down since her dramatic point had been made. "When your date went terribly, you ended things. And now that he felt insecure because you are gorgeous and other guys seek your affection, you ran away from the relationship again. Even while he was beating on the guy on the beach, you didn't really try to intervene. You simply marched away." She paused for a moment to let her words sink in, then she concluded with, "How can he have faith that you are going to stay put when you keep bolting at the slightest hint of rough seas?"

"Hey," a tipsy Cana stammered. "Leave her alone! She has done nothing wrong!"

Mira held a hand up towards Cana and said, "No, Cana, she's right."

Lisanna tilted her head and commented, "And, Mira, you did say that it was true he could be difficult, but you were willing to tackle all of his problems."

Mira stood, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Thank you, girls. This certainly wasn't what I wanted to hear, but it is what was necessary. You are very good friends." With a small smile, she left the circle of friends and walked back toward the wooded area. Lucy nodded quietly as she watched her go.