As she approached Gajeel's apartment, she honestly felt nervous. When she knocked on the door she didn't receive an answer. After waiting a few minutes, she opened the door and entered. The apartment was dark and she immediately headed for his bedroom, knowing he was still asleep. As she approached, she could hear him turning in bed. She slowly creaked the door open and walked in.

He mumbled something in his sleep and quieted again. He didn't look distressed like all the other times she'd seen him sleep. For a moment she wondered if maybe his nightmares had finally left him. She sat down on his bed, setting her bag on the ground. As she did, he stirred, opening one sleep-filled red eye.

"Good morning," she smiled.

"Is it already?" he sighed, turning to lie on his back, "I don't like this,"

She suppressed a giggle, "What can you possibly not like when you've just woken up?"

"You're not here next to me,"

She felt herself start to blush, "I'm sitting right here,"

"You know what I mean," he said, a purring sound sliding past his lips.

"If we're going to do this," Levy started, pulling the covers down and starting to get in, "then I want to know everything," she met his gaze, "the good and the bad,"

He was silent for a moment, then moved his arm so she could nestle there, "Ok,"

She crawled in next to him, the warmth of the bed and his body next to her making her cuddle up tightly next to him. He turned and pulled her close, resting his chin on her head. His arm circled her waist like an iron restraint, never allowing her to leave his side. She didn't protest, only snuggled closer.

"So, what do you want to know?" he said softly, sleep evident in his voice.

"Your scars," she said, "I want to know where they came from,"

She heard him sigh, as if that was the only question he wished she hadn't asked. He pulled back, pushing the blankets to the side and exposing his torso. He ran a hand down his pectorals and abs, as if trying to find a place to start.

"This one," he said, running his finger across a white scar just under his belly-button, "I got when I was sent to kill a man who had crossed Jose. They had made some kind of deal that didn't pan out, and so he wanted me to rough him up pretty bad. I was new and lost my temper when he pulled a knife on me. When I realized what I was doing he was dead,

"This one," he traced one that went from his side, crossing his ribs, and almost coming to his heart, "I was new to Phantom Lord. It was an initiation, I guess you could call it. They beat me up pretty bad and I was fighting back, so one of the older boys got me good. I ate his knife after that,"

"What about these?" she ran her fingers over the scars on his arm and felt him stiffen.

"The one on my shoulder," he started, staring at the ceiling, his gaze distant, "It was my first alone-job. I was hired to take out some guy…" he closed his eyes as the memories came back, along with his nightmare, "he was easy, the job took me less than ten minutes…"

"If it was that easy, how'd he leave a scar on you?" she could tell he didn't want to finish, but pressed him anyway. She had to know.

"His wife left it on me," he looked away from her, "I found her after I'd killed him. I…" he gritted his teeth, not wanting to finish, "She was the first,"

She could feel how tense he was, how much he didn't want to talk about it, but she had to know. What had he done in his past with Phantom Lord?

"What about this?" she ran her fingers across a scar that ran across his upper arm, "Where'd you get this?"

"Another assassination," he said, gazing at the ceiling as if the memories were playing there, "along with the other two on my arm. The guy had been messing with some kids, I guess. I was just commissioned to go out and rough him up, but he put up a pretty good fight."

"Put up a fight against you? I find that hard to believe," Levy mused, running her fingers across his chest. He grabbed her hand and held it still above his heart.

"I'm surprised you're not running away by now," he said quietly, turning to her.

"You're not done yet," she said, "We haven't done the scars on you back yet,"

"You don't want to hear about those," he growled, nuzzling her shoulder, "Maybe I'll tell you about those one day, but not today,"

"Ok, then tell me about this one," she turned and faced him, her fingers trailing up his side to a new scar white scar on his side, "and I'll leave you alone,"

He wrapped an arm around her, "That one might be my least favorite," he growled, resting his forehead against hers, "That one's from the day I almost lost the only good thing in my heart…"

"What happened?"

"I went on a mission with a couple of guild mates," he growled, pulling her as close to him as possible, "I was with my partner and someone I didn't work with much. I was worried when we took the mission, but figured it was just because she was with me. When we met our target, I let my guard down and he got me down. They stole her away from me and almost killed me…"

Levy felt her heart start to beat harder. The day was still fresh in her mind…

"Leaving me for dead was probably the worst decision they could've made," he growled, "And I didn't stop until I found her again. I thought I was too late and when I was finally done fighting and I cut her down…"

Levy was shaking and buried her face into his chest.

"You were so frail…" he whispered, "I thought just touching you might kill you. When you didn't wake up, I thought the worst. When I got you to the hospital they told me they didn't think you'd live much longer, so I stayed by your side. I told them you were stronger than that, you'd live. Then one night, the thought hit me that you might actually never pull out of it, so I stayed by your bedside and… I begged you to come back to me."

"Gajeel…" she looked up at him, her eyes glistening.

His grip tightened around her and he leaned down until his breath was brushing her face. His hand stroked the side of her face, caressing her cheek gently. Their lips brushed each other's and she felt like a fire had just ignited in her core. He pulled her into an unbearably hot kiss that sent fire dancing from her lips all the way down to her toes. She sighed into his mouth as his lips parted so his tongue could slide across her bottom lip.

She heard his bed groan as he turned and got onto all fours above her. He kissed her again, his tongue sliding past her lips and searching her mouth. She felt her insides catch on fire from his kisses, so deep and passionate she felt like she might turn into nothing but heat. Her hands traced up his arms, feeling each defined muscle. She felt his breath shutter as her hands ran down his back, tracing invisible lines across his skin.

He released her from his kiss, taking her breath with him. He immediately started kissing her throat, lingering at the sensitive flesh at the crook of her neck. She felt like her skin was on fire where he kissed, making her elicit sweet moans from her lips. His tongue slid across her skin, leaving searing trails across her flesh. She tangled her fingers in his hair and he let out a soft growl. Each touch sent shivers down her spine and she gasped as his kisses started trailing lower and lower.

"G-Gajeel…" she gasped, digging her fingers into his scalp, pulling his hair.

He stiffened, bringing himself back up to meet her eyes. They were filled with lust and he relished the thought that she'd want to be with him. Her breath was ragged and he allowed himself to steal another kiss while she was trying to gather herself. He desperately didn't want to stop but held himself back for her sake. More than anything, he desperately wanted to make her happy.

"Levy…" he growled, burying his face into her hair, "I don't want to stop,"

"Gajeel, I…" she started, unable to finish whatever was going through her head. Blush came to her cream-colored cheeks but she didn't break her gaze from his eyes, "I don't think I'm ready for this."

A deep growl came from his lips and he pushed himself up to sit back on the bed. The sudden cold that hit her made her shiver. He ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to get a grip over himself. He looked down at her out of the corner of his eye and smirked at her, trying to calm himself down.

"That's not fair," he half-smiled at her, "I'm not very good at this holding back thing,"

She gave him an apologetic smile and he sighed, jumping of the bed. She could see the results of their kisses in the bulge in his boxers. Looking at him made her blush and turn her head but he didn't seem to notice. He promptly pulled on some pants and a white tank top, disappearing into the bathroom.

"You wanna go to the guild today?" she piped happily, getting up to follow him.

"Sure…" he growled, splashing cold water on his face, "Why the hell not,"