Bickslow's POV

I grabbed Laxus and had my babies fly us up in the air to land on the roof as Lucy ran out of the alleyway, looking around before heading towards her apartment.

'Bix, what's going on? I couldn't hear much past that damn spell Loke put up.' I quickly gave him the rundown of the conversation.

'So... blondies running off to the spirit world, huh?' He frowned, sitting himself down and glaring at the street below us.

'What do we do Laxus? You know time works differently there! She'll be gone for months!' I felt a pain in my chest, and angrily started pacing, pulling at my hair with one hand as my other clenched into a tight fist.

'We can't do anything Bix. You know what Freed said. There's nothing we can do to help her with this crap.' I froze and turned to face Laxus, shocked.

'What the hell Laxus? Are you being serious here?! How can you stand the idea of her being gone for so long!? HOW CAN YOU ACCEPT THIS?' I found myself shouting at him, my anger boiling over.

'DON'T YOU LOVE HER?' I yelled, grabbing onto his furry coat lapels and pulling him up to stand in front of me. His eyes were closed and I realised that my Figure Eyes had been activated without my knowledge.

I quickly released him and turned away, shutting my eyes and forcing myself to try and calm down. I knew it wasn't working; my fists shook with the fury and pain that coursed through me.

'Bix, you know I love her; maybe differently from you. I know she'll be back, whether it takes months or years. She loves us all too much to stay away. The only way I can accept this, is by telling myself that she's in control, that she knows what she's doing.' I heard him turn to face me and grip my shoulders. I didn't trust myself yet to open my eyes, so listened blindly as he spoke.

'I trust her. Blondie's smart, she'll come back to us, so stop being a selfish bastard and let her deal with her spirits issues, the same way you deal with the problems your babies get sometimes. Trust her.' My shoulders sagged and I leant my head forward so it rested on Laxus's shoulder, my eyes still squeezed tightly shut.

I laughed slightly.

'Never thought I'd say this Laxus; but you're right.' I smiled sadly as he scoffed.

'Tch. Shut up idiot. I just know blondie would kick your ass again if you tried to interfere.' I heard him step back before feeling him punch me in the face, knocking me down on top of the roof.

'What the hell Laxus?' I shouted, looking up at him after checking I was in control of my eyes.

'That's for messing with my coat.' He glared at me, cracking his knuckles as he approached and kicked me.

'That's for being a complete idiot.' I laughed as he glared down at me, before turning to walk back to the guild, his hands deep in his pockets.

'I'll miss her too you know Bix, so don't be a depressed ass around me, or I'll fucking kill you.' I grinned as he walked away.

I pulled myself upright and dusted off my clothes, turning to look towards her apartment, before starting to walk my way there after jumping down from the top of the building, my hands buried deep in my pockets and my babies hovering behind me.

Lucy's POV

I packed a couple changes of clothes before I sat at my desk and began to write my letters.

I wrote one to Team Natsu, and one to Fairy Tail as a whole. I paused, before I wrote a letter to the Raijinshuu plus Laxus.

I folded them up and left them on my desk. I stood up and looked around my apartment, smiling before a thought crossed my mind.

A random thought I'd never considered and tried to dismiss, but for some reason, my instincts forced me to write another letter.

I nibbled on my lip and fingered the key's I'd removed from my belt in their little pouch, before placing my final letter on top of the pouch, grinning.

I know he'll take care of them for me.

I sensed Loke behind me, and turned to face him, my bag over my shoulder.

'You're leaving your keys?' He questioned, slightly surprised. I nodded.

'I don't know why, I just have a feeling they'll be safer here.' He stared at me before nodding and holding his hand out for me. I took one more look around my apartment, and looked through the window to see Bix standing, staring up at my window.

Our eyes met, and once again I was trapped in his red gaze. I held my breath at the thought of leaving him for what for him would be months, but for me only a day.

It hurt. I flushed red, before tearing my eyes from his and grabbing Loke's hand.

'Let's go.' I whispered. He looked at me, confused, before nodding. I felt my body dissipating into light particles as he burst through the door, stealing my attention.

'Come back cosplayer! Promise me!' He called out, his eyes feverish and his breath leaving his body in deep gasps.

I smiled and nodded, before he faded from my view and I appeared in the celestial realm.

Master Makarov's POV

My head rested on my desk. I was fed up of doing all the paperwork that had clogged up my office for months, and Mira was being a demon about me completing it without Laxus; she even threatened to nail the door shut and tie me to the chair with magic restraining ropes.

I groaned as I picked up another request for payment due to the old team Natsu.

'I hope they've changed since what they did to Lucy.' I muttered, angrily signing off on the compensation request, before reaching for another one.

I heard a knock at my door and eagerly called out for them to enter, to see an unmasked Bickslow sombrely enter, holding several pieces of paper and Lucy's keys in his hands.

'What's wrong Bickslow?' I asked, my eyes locked on those keys.

'Read this Master.' He said, handing me a letter addressed to all of Fairy Tail.

Dear Everyone,

I'm sorry I left with no goodbye's so soon after I've recovered. Please understand, I can't tell you why, no matter how much I want to. I will be gone for a few months, but I promise, I will return.

Levy, when I get back I'll shut myself away with you and you can watch me write the ending to my book, I already have the plot lined out!

Gajeel, get off your big iron butt and ask her out before one of her followers does. She'll say yes, Heartfilia guarantee!

Cana, please don't sober up again!

Mira, try not to make any new couples get together without me there to see it! Also, please stock up on strawberry milkshakes, I will be back and will be craving your stuff!

Master, I'm sorry I couldn't say where I'm going. I love Fairy Tail more than anything, and I wouldn't hesitate to tell you everything if I had a choice. Please forgive me, and I'll even give you a hand with your paperwork when I return!

Lastly, please have fun for me while I'm away! I'll be back before you know it!

All my love,

Lucy

I slowly lowered the letter to my desk, staring at her neat calligraphic handwriting.

'Why do you have her keys?' I asked Bickslow, looking up at him.

'She asked me to look after them for her.' He stuttered out, staring down at the objects that linked Lucy to her friends and family in another realm.

Hmm... maybe Bickslow and Lucy... no! Surely not...

'Have you told anyone else?' Bickslow shook his head and held up two more letters.

'She left one for the Raijinshuu and Laxus, and this one for Team Natsu. I thought it would be best if you gave Erza this...' He muttered, handing me the letter as I smiled, nodding my head in agreement.

'Probably.' I chuckled as I held team Natsu's letter in my hands, smiling sadly.

'It will be strange not having her around. She only just woke up, so I hope no one reverts to how she was when she was injured. I hate seeing my brats depressed.' I mumbled, before smiling up at Bickslow.

'Thank you Bickslow, go talk to your team and tell team Natsu to come see me.' He nodded before exiting the room silently, his totem spirits floating behind him sadly.

Erza's POV

My breath hitched and I felt as though my heart was about to stop as I read the letter Master handed me aloud to Natsu, Gray and Happy.

"Dear Erza, Natsu, Gray and Happy,

I've had to go away for a few months to deal with some problems. I'm sorry, I can't say any more, but please don't bother looking for me. I love you all so much, so be careful without me- maybe you should get someone to come along just so you don't have to handle Natsu and Gray by yourself Erza?

Erza, good luck with them either way. Try not to get too annoyed at their fights, it's what their like, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Please don't cry, I'll be fine and I'll return as soon as I can.

Natsu, try not to destroy Erza's cake anymore, and if you dare break into my apartment while I'm gone, I may have to Lucy Kick you as soon as I'm back!

Gray, clothes!"

'How'd she know?' He muttered, puzzled as he found himself stripping out of his shirt. He quickly pulled it on as I continued reading, tears blurring the letters in front of me slightly. I angrily wiped them away before continuing with a shaky voice.

"Anyway, Gray, you might not realise it yet, but you do care for her. Just sit her down, talk to her, get to know her, and then decide. I'm betting that you'll be dating before I'm back. Please take care of Natsu and Erza for me, I know that you're sometimes the more sensible one, unless Natsu's involved.

Please, have fun, or else I'll beat you all to a pulp when I get back, including you Erza! I love you all.

Good bye.

Lucy"

We stood silently in Master's office. My fingers dropped the letter as I touched the tears running down my face. Gray slumped to the floor, staring at the ground, and Natsu just stood as still as a statue.

'Luuuussshyyy!' Happy cried suddenly, tears spilling over his eyes as he bit down on his lip, before he let out his loud sobs.

'Stop it Happy.' Natsu muttered, still standing completely paralysed.

'But... Lushy...'

'She asked us to have fun, or do you want her to be angry when she gets back?' He snapped, before taking a deep breath and smiling at his cat.

'Come on guys. That's the last thing she wanted us to do.' I sighed and wiped my eyes before standing tall.

'Natsu's right, for once.' I said, yanking Gray to his feet and pulling Happy into my chest for a hug.

Come, let's take a mission. I need someone to stop you two from committing murder while my backs turned. I mumbled, forcing myself to smile as we exited Master's office, Gray still in a state of shock.

Evergreen's POV

I smiled at Bix as he made his way towards our table, but when I noticed his serious expression, my smile faded.

'Bix, what's wrong?' I asked, leaning forward, before gasping as I saw Lucy's keys in his hands.

'Bickslow, where's Lucy? Freed whispered as he too noticed what Bix was holding.

'She's... gone. She left us a letter.' He whispered, handing it over to Freed. Laxus pulled his sound pod from his ears as Freed opened it up and began to read it for us.

"Dear Ever, Freed, Laxus and Bickslow,

I'm sorry I didn't say good bye. I had to leave suddenly, and there was no option but to leave without saying anything, or else you'd all question me and try to stop me. I can't tell you where I'm going, or why, but I'll be gone for a few months or more, depending on how long this takes.

Ever, you've become like a sister to me, and I know you struggle in a team full of insensitive macho men, but I get the feeling you and Erza have gotten pretty close. I know she's a handful sometimes, but she's a great friend, so please look out for her for me.

Freed, sorry I can't tell you anything, I know it's killing you that there's no information about what I'm going through for you to read, but you'll just have to deal with it. You can borrow as many books as you want from the Konzern or my apartment, and I'd be really grateful if you could get rid of the runes around my house. I asked for them not to break in, but I don't mind, seeing as I'll be gone for a while.

Laxus, you can be a jerk, and are really annoying, but you're really nice too. Stop trying to be aloof, that's your one and only weakness. Try being nicer to the rest of the guild too; I know you care about them, even if you hide it really well. Thanks for inviting me into the Raijinshuu, and for being there for me, I really owe you one.

Bickslow, you dare look in my underwear drawer again, you'll regret it. I'll make sure of it! All joking aside, you've been amazing, and I want to thank you for being there to support me, along with everyone else, and for making me smile.

I love all of you, a lot, so don't be upset that I'm away. Look out for each other and the rest of the guild for me, and I'll be back before you know it.

Finally, would you guys mind popping into the Konzern to help Julia and play with the kids every so often while I'm away? You're the only ones who know about the orphanage, and I'd like to keep it that way.

They should be fine financially while I'm gone, but they could do with some more role models.

I'd be over the moon if you'd be there for them.

All my love,

Lucy."

I could barely believe it. She'd just become conscious again, only to disappear to a place where we can't see her, can't protect her.

'Damned blondie. I'm not annoying.' Laxus mumbled, pulling on his sound pod again and walking away into his office before slamming the door.

'Why'd she have to go so soon?' I whispered, ignoring the tears that slipped down my cheeks as Freed put a comforting arm over my shoulder having dropped the letter on the table.

'It's something she has to do. More trouble in the spirit world probably.' Freed said, sighing sadly before looking at Bix again.

'Why do you have her keys though Bickslow?' He asked, staring at the small leather pouch with the golden and silver keys gleaming in the light.

'She asked me to look after them.' He said, clutching them tightly in his hand as his babies hovered silently next to his head.

'Lucy... I hope you're okay.' I whispered, hiding my head in Freed's shoulder as Master stood on the balcony railing, holding a similar letter in his hands as he called for silence.

As he told the guild what Lucy had written, there were sad silences, and small snickers at her little jokes towards people.

However, everyone knew that the mood of the guild had dropped once again. No one was nearly as happy as when Lucy was here.

It's going to be a long few months with you gone Lucy. I thought, sighing as I walked to my apartment at Fairy Hills to clean myself up. She'd hate that I cried for her, when she asked us not to.