Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Lucy's POV

It was awkward. Very, very awkward. We were sitting in the back of the truck in silence, mentally contemplating what we were supposed to say.

I was about to speak, just to relieve the tension, when Erza beat me to it. "Did you miss us?" The red-haired mage asked quietly. I was surprised, since it was completely out of character for her.

"Of course I did!" More than you know.

"Then why did you stay away for so long? I thought we were friends." Gray spoke.

"We were! We are, but-"

"But what Lu-chan?" Levy asked angrily. It shocked me, but I stayed silent. "What could possibly be so horrible that you refuse to tell us, even now? So bad that you didn't even make contact with us! One phone call, one e-mail, just to prove that you were alright." Levy seemed to calm down after her outburst.

I let my bangs cover my eyes and stared at my hands. Did we have to do this now?

Natsu's POV

I stayed silent throughout their conversation. Lucy had moved away from me a bit, so our arms were not touching any more. I already missed her warmth, but didn't reach towards her. She needed space.

I said nothing, because I didn't have anything to say. I finally had her back, right here next to me, and yet I could feel the gap between us. I couldn't see it, but I would feel it. Lucy had changed. She had changed more than the rest of us.

I couldn't see her face through the sheet of hair that covered her eyes. It was a bit funny. Seven years ago I wouldn't have hesitated to brush it from her face, but now I was physically restraining myself from touching her.

But when I saw tears splash against her hands, I lost all restraint. In an instant I was next to her, instinctively rubbing her back as she cried silently.

"I-It's my fault." Lucy whispered.

"What is?" I asked.

"M-Mama. She's gone and it's my fault." She sobbed even harder into my chest and I felt her shaking uncontrollably. Erza, Levy and Gray were silent.

"Tell us." I spoke again. Even if she had changed, this was still my Luce. Sometimes, she just needed an extra push.

She nodded and sniffed, whipping her tears. "Seven years ago…do you remember the night before I left?"

I smiled. "Yeah, the concert. You were nervous because Layla couldn't make it and it was your first time performing without her in the front row." How could I forget? It was the last time we sang together before she left.

She continued. "After the concert, Father came and took me home." I noticed that she didn't call him 'Daddy' like she used to. Strange. "But we didn't stay there for long. We got a call from the hospital, saying that Mama had been in a car accident and she was in critical condition. By the time we got there, Mama had already…she was dead."

No. Layla was dead? She couldn't be dead; she and Luce were so close.

"Apparently, she had been speeding on the highway and was hit by a drunk driver. Even at the speed that the other car was going, if she hadn't been speeding she would still be alive. Do you know why she was speeding, Natsu?"

I had a pretty good idea.

"Because she was trying to make it to the concert. Because she wanted to see us perform. After that, Father flipped. He hit me, which he had never done before. Said it was my fault that mama was dead. If I hadn't been at that concert, mama wouldn't have been on the highway in the first place. And he was right. It is my fault.

"We moved the next day. Father forbid me to sing ever again, and didn't even look at me for weeks. When word got out that I was gone, he sent me to live somewhere else. I was sent here and he payed for a little apartment. Since I was only ten, he also sent Ms. Spetto to live with me until I was old enough to take care of myself. A year ago, Ms. Spetto retired and I was left on my own."

I was speechless. We all were.

"Father visits once and a while, but rarely. He doesn't call or write except for about twice a year. He always informs me a month in advance before he comes over, but otherwise I never hear from him. He sends enough money for me to live, but any time I want new clothes or new books, I have to pay for it myself. That's why I have a job."

She stopped talking. There were no tears in her eyes anymore, but I could still see the trails they had left down her cheeks. Those tears…I hadn't been able to stop them. Everything that had happened to her, everything that she had gone through wasn't right. And I hadn't been there for her. Lucy was my best friend. I promised to protect her, yet I wasn't there when she needed me the most.

I felt like such a failure. "Luce…" It was all I could say.

Erza spoke up. "I-I am so sorry Lucy." Gray nodded and Levy started crying while apologizing over and over.

Lucy smiled. How could she still do that? "No! Guys don't be sorry. Despite everything that has happened, I am really happy. I have good friends who are always there for me, freedom to do what I want to do, and I never really have to worry about anything! I don't have a bad life. In fact, I have a particularly good one."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault Luce."

She blinked. "What?"

"Layla's death is not your fault. Jude is wrong, and you shouldn't blame yourself for something that you had no control over."

Lucy smiled sadly. "Can we not talk about this right now? It's my birthday, so I don't want to cry."

I nodded and Erza changed the subject.

When had things gotten so complicated?

1 hour later

Lucy's POV

"Where the hell are Gajeel and Bacchus?" Jellal asked.

We were in Juvia and Gajeel's basement. It was set up like a living room, with two couches, a recliner, and a large TV. But instead of a coffee table, there was a pool table. And we only came down here when we were having a party.

I was lying down on one of the couches. My feet were in Jelly's lap and my head was in Natsu's. Juvia and Levy were sitting cross legged on the floor and Erza and Gray were on the other couch talking. My eyes widened.

"Did they go to the moon?"

Everyone looked at me. Natsu, Erza, Gray and Levy looked confused while Jellal and Juvia rolled their eyes. "What?" Erza asked.

"The moon! I told them that we needed to build wings and go to the moon, but they just scoffed and ignored me! I bet they stole my idea and got somebody to build them wings and then went to the moon without me!"

Just then, we heard the door open upstairs. Moments later, Gajeel and Bacchus were tromping down the stairs with numerous bags in their hands. I jumped up and crossed the room quickly, pointing my finger at Gajeel's face. "I hope that you have a good explanation as to why you went without me! You better have brought me a souvenir!"

"Um…does this work?" He held up one of the bags and opened it.

I smiled. "Well, it's not a Martian, but it will do."

"Martians live on Mars baka!" Jellal said.

I turned and through a beer at him. "Well maybe they took a detour! Did you ever think about that?"

He popped open the beer and took a swig, rolling his eyes.

Erza stared at up with wide eyes. "You are underage!"

I sighed. Should have known this would happen. "Relax, Titania. It's just a little alcohol. It's not like we went to a bar and started table dancing. We don't do that."

Erza started to relax a bit, until Juvia said "Anymore."

"What?"

"Well someone lost our fake IDs and never got around to replacing them." I glared at Gajeel and he shrugged.

Erza looked like she was going to explode. I gave Jellal a pleading glance. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Scarlet. We have never gotten in trouble for it and only drink on special occasions anyway. Besides, it's been forever wince we went to a bar. Most of our alcohol experiences never make it out of this basement."

The effect was instantaneous. Erza's shoulders relaxed and she smiled, even taking a beer for herself.

3 hours later

I hadn't had this much fun in a while. Everyone was drinking, even Levy. Though Erza and the others were only a little buzzed, since they had only had one or two beers, Juvia, Jellal, Gajeel, Bacchus and I were all completely wasted.

Bacchus and Gajeel were loudly shouting out lyrics and laughing until they couldn't breathe, Juvia was crying and being overly dramatic about everything, and I was walking around on all fours like a cat.

But Jellal was the worst. It was funny to watch actually. He had disappeared for a few minutes only to come back with a complete makeover. He was shirtless and wearing a pink, fuzzy scarf wrapped around his neck. There was glitter in his hair and he was on top of the pool table, dancing to imaginary music.

Speaking of music. "Nastuuuuuu!" I called, before breaking into a fit of giggles.

He stumbled over to me. "Yes Luuuushiiiee?" Maybe he was drunker than he looked.

"Give this to Gajeeel." I handed him my iPod.

"Kaaay." He took it and handed it to Erza, who was gaping at Jellal. "Here Gajeel."

"I'm not Gajeel you idiot!" She walked over and gave it to Gajeel. He took one look and knew what I was thinking.

He connected it to the speaker and turned the volume up loudly before pressing play. I didn't know what song was playing; all I knew was that I was singing along. At some point Juvia and I ended up on top of the pool table dancing, Bacchus was passed out on the floor, Levy was flirting shamelessly with Gajeel, and Gajeel was looking embarrassed. I turned to see Natsu and Gray fighting (big surprise) and Erza…

"OMYFREAKINGGODJUVIALOOKERZAANDJELLALAREMAKINGOUT!" I shouted at the blunette.

"Huh?" she asked, still dancing.

"Erza. And. Jellal. Look. Now." I spoke.

She turned and immediately started blushing. On the recliner in the far corner of the room, Jellal and Erza were wrapped in each other's arms, lips locked together and completely oblivious to our squeals.

That's the last thing I remember before I passed out.