Disclaimer: Do not own Fairy Tail! Forgot to place one like this in the first chapter, oh well...

Sorry again, like the previous chapter, I re-uploaded this chapter with a spelling and grammar correct one. Hope it looks cleaner… Thank you, and enjoy!

A Dragon's Mother

Chapter 2: A Loner's Walk

Weeks have passed since I was removed from Team Natsu, and the guild has continued to act as if I wasn't there. It was pure torture to enter the guild everyday like this, no one noticing you, no one greeting, no one even passing even a curious glance at you! So many times had I debated with myself into just screaming at the top of my lungs right there in the middle of the guild just for all of them to realize, I AM RIGHT HERE, DAMMIT! But it was too obvious that wouldn't have worked either, if my yelps and sudden yells of annoyance after being shoved or pushed forcibly by random guild members weren't given any thought, they'd probably just think I was a crazy person who entered the guild and just started screaming for no reason and be kicked out like nothing.

Unable to just stand around and be ignored, I reasoned to myself that doing nothing would not help me, so with heavy heart I walked up towards the mission board and picked out a job, easy enough to survive and finished but rewarding enough to sustain me. With a sad smile, I would examine the request form and forcibly will myself not to cry and instead think of the positive outlooks on my upcomming solo missions.

Still, it was hard, whenever I decided on carrying out on the missions, I would had to seek out Mira to record the request form on the log book since she was in-charge of that. I would call out to her, waving my hand to gain her attention, but a blank look was her only reply before turning away to happily tend to other customers. My eyes widen in horror, my body frozen for a few seconds before berating myself for even believing and trying.

I brought my hands down and let out a low pained laugh, before smiling sadly. I'd walked around the bar to look around behind it, knowing Mira wouldn't notice nor care, for a pen and a paper, I would write down all the information Mira needed to record and just place the note above the book below the counter, after that I'd walk out slowly and only turn around once I reached the guild doors, I'd say my goodbyes then turned around and quietly close the doors behind me with a single tear flowing down my face before I disappear alone.

Another painful reminder of my loneliness was that after returning from my solo missions, I'd return home bruised and alone with no-one there at my apartment to greet me. No stripping-and-almost-naked exhibitionist, or a stuffing-his-face fire mage, or a rummaging-through-my-drawers-and-blushing-like-a-t omato red head, or even an annoying blue cat eating a fish fresh from my fridge while blatantly insulting me. Going home to that just added more pain to my already battered body.

Many times I'd get lucky, if you can even call it that, and pass out bleeding before I could reach my apartment and feel that suffocating pain of pure loneliness, dying then and there on the cold street seem so inviting. However, a certain lion spirit flat out refuses to let me die, so with a poof and a struggling pained face, he'd pick me up bridal style and slowly walk me home, all the while willing himself not to be engulf in pure rage for my current state.

My spirits, specifically Virgo and Loke since they were my only ones who could pass through their gates without my aide, would always be there to tend to my wounds. Virgo, known to be emotionless, would furrow her brows in a hard attempt to concentrate on my physical state and not be affected with her also growing rage, Loke however would look at me with an angered face then a sad one and finally guilt, after his mixing emotions, he'd settle with a forced smile and just sit down near my head and brush my golden locks while Virgo continues to bandage me.

After awhile though, they'd leave, leaving me alone again in my empty apartment, trying hard to fall asleep, when tears instead fall from my face. It was already dark out, no need for the window to be open to tell, the room got even darker and sounds of my sobs very audible, and just as new tears would fall my eyes, a glowing of light caught my eye, it was clear where it was coming from so I sat up from the bed and reach over the glowing light on top of my desk beside my bed.

My keys...

They were giving me a soothing warm light, ensuring me that I wasn't alone tonight. I smiled softly down at them as I lay my head back down all the while holding them close to my chest as drifted off to dreamless slumber, my keys never once dimming their light for me. They would do this every night, and I was truly thankful of it, who knows how many sleepless night I'd have undergone if not for them, still even they're comfort had limits.

I'd still visit the guild alone and unwanted, Loke would question me relentlessly as to why I keep torturing myself there, I'd just smile at him and he'll look at me with a desperate face. After a minute of determined staring, he'd finally look away, signaling he's lost once again in the argument, he knew why I still force myself back towards that empty void of a guild, he knows perfectly why. With that thought he smiles warmly at me which I return with the same warmth before he poofs away and I prepare myself for the crushing feeling at the guild.

I'd open the guild doors, pained and sad with how people still treated me like a ghost but the feeling would slowly ebb away as I spot a small group off at the far end of the guild, sitting at a round table with one last unoccupied seat. I'd walked towards them, seat myself down before finally greeting them.

"Good morning! Gajeel, Juvia, Wendy and to both of you as well, Lily, Carla!" I greeted with a warm smile.

"Good morning to you too, Lucy-san!" Wendy replies happily, a bright smile gracing her features, as she looks up from a medical book, Carla giving me an equal warm smile from her spot on Wendy's lap.

"Juvia greets you a good morning as well, Lucy-san." Juvia says with a soft smile.

"Morning to ya, Bunnygirl." Gajeel gruffly says, as he pauses from his literally-iron-only-filled breakfast, but the worried and relief tone was clearly evident underneath. Lily giving me firm nod then a smile as he crosses his arms and sits silently on the table. We chatted and laughed for God knows how long, not one of them leaving my side.

This is why I'd continue bracing myself everyday here in the guild, enduring every day the heavy weight of loneliness from the others, willing every inch of my body to remain even when pain was there. Because inside this hell of a place still exist a small family I treasure dearly. And they vow never to let me feel the pain, alone ever again.

Except, I never realize how early that promise was to be stolen from me.

There done with the cleaning and adding with this chap! Hope you all like. Sorry again!

Stay tune for my next update, see you all soon, bye!