A/N: I would like to quickly say, once again, that I am not a doctor! I did what research I could, but I'm not an expert. But I tried my best to accurate. I hope you enjoy!


CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sunlight crept in through the blinds of Gajeel's bedroom. He winced, blinking the sleep from his eyes and stretching. His joints popped and he groaned before rolling over. It had been a long time since he'd slept that well. Cracking an eye open, he smiled when the blurriness cleared from his eyes and Levy came into view. In nothing but lace panties and one of his t-shirts, she was breathtaking. Cerulean curls were wild around her face, splayed over the pillow she was snuggled against. Pouted lips puffed out short breaths, making a stray curl bounce around each time she exhaled. He loved how she looked in the morning, when she was still sound asleep—wild and free and natural and so beautiful. She was an angel, but her sleep-ruffled hair made her look like the most adorable little lion…

He smirked and sleepily pulled her into his arms, and without waking she switched from holding the pillow to wrapping her arms around his torso. It was natural, and right, like they were meant to sleep together.

Since the first night Levy slept over, they'd been nearly inseparable. Almost every night, Levy was either at his apartment, or he was at hers. Some nights they were both so tired that they would just curl up and sleep, wrapped in each other—Gajeel had discovered that he slept pretty damn well when Levy was curled against him. Other nights, things a bit less wholesome happened. Gajeel loved every moment. And while getting her in his bed, something he'd fantasized about since he met her, was incredible, and easily his new favorite hobby, it was so much more than just sex.

Gajeel knew guys that took sex lightly, and it always pissed him off. When he was in a gang, he couldn't escape it; he'd never been one of those guys, but the other guys in Phantom were brutal. One night stands ran rampant through Phantom, and unfortunately, occasional non-consensual sex did too. While it was horrible, there was nothing Gajeel could do to stop it. It always made him sick—he used to help the ladies escape that were brought in under the influence of drugs.

Even now, Gajeel knew guys from his classes that only wanted a physical relationship. They found a girl they liked at a bar and took her home, had a wild night, and then threw in the towel. But with Levy, it had never once been about her body. It was never just sex. Sex was hot and heated and fast, in the moment and intoxicating. It was wild and intense and exciting, and it ripped every rational thought from your mind and replaced it with 'more, faster, harder.' But Gajeel didn't just have sex with Levy—he made love to her. And that was so much more than wild nights and sweaty sheets.

Making love was slow, gentle. It was soft caresses and long kisses. It was learning the rhythms together and exploring bodies. It was laughing and feeling and embracing—it was perfection. The emotion of it all outweighed any of the hormones.

Their first time had been incredible. Gajeel took the time to cherish her, body and mind, show her how deep his love ran for her. Now, that wasn't to say that they hadn't had more…heated encounters, since. They'd definitely had their share of wild nights… And though they easily destroyed his energy and made the next morning a real pain in the ass, it was completely worth it, in Gajeel's mind.

To Gajeel, each time was like the first. Exhilarating, electric. What he had with Levy was so beyond anything physical. She'd seen all his scars, all the ugliness of his past and kissed his wounds, loved him regardless of what horrible secrets she uncovered. She didn't judge him for his mistakes, but she was sad for him, for the suffering he'd endured. He was glad that he told her, because a massive weight was taken off his chest.

Gajeel smirked into her hair. Ya cheesy little shit.

Levy lifted her head, yawning. "Good morning."

He grinned. "Mornin', shorty."

"You're up early." Sleepily, she rubbed her eyes and stretched, thrusting her arms overhead. A tiny squeak escaped her lips, and Gajeel grinned. Cutest damn sound he'd ever heard.

He pulled her closer and kissed her jaw. "Got enough sleep."

Levy giggled when greedy hands tugged at the t-shirt she was wearing. Black and faded, with a few holes near the hem, Gajeel's old t-shirt reached her thighs—and she could easily fit two of her inside. Compared to his tall, muscular build, Levy was petite and short, and his clothes completely swallowed her whole. Gajeel loved it.

"No— Gajeel!" She squealed when he grabbed her by the waist, effectively stopping her from leaving the bed. "Gajeel, I have yoga this morning! My second performance is tonight, you know I can't miss yoga today."

"Can't ya be late?"

"No!" Levy laughed and squirmed out of his arms, jumping from the bed. "I can't be late again. Don't make this decision hard on me…"

Always the logical one. Gajeel saw no problems with laying in bed all day, but she had to be smart about things….

He watched her running around the room for several minutes, searching for her clothes. A sports bra, leggings, and a fleece jacket were folded neatly in his bottom drawer, and she pulled those out and got dressed. He laughed when she saw her reflection and quickly brushed through her hair, tying it back with a headband. Once she was dressed, she turned back to him and frowned when she found Gajeel still in bed, half asleep.

The bags under his eyes were intense, and his skin was looking a sickly pale—not to mention the hollows under his cheekbones… Gently, she rubbed his back. "Gajeel?"

He jolted. "Sh— Shit! I'm sorry, I fell asleep. Let me go get dressed…"

He stood up from the bed too fast and almost blacked out, falling back to the mattress. The nausea this morning was way too intense. He needed to take his medicine… The only problem about sleepovers, as incredible as they were, was that it made taking his medications a real pain in the ass. He had to hide them so Levy wouldn't find out, and take them without her seeing. Sometimes he actually forgot to take them entirely, and he always ended up in a hell of a lot of pain. But she was worth every second of it.

Levy helpfully pulled some jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket out of his dresser, handing them to him where he sat dazedly on the edge of the bed. For weeks now, he'd just been looking really rough. Maybe he wasn't sleeping enough, or maybe he was just working out too much. Come to think of it, Levy couldn't remember the last time he went to the gym.

She frowned and touched his forehead, feeling for a temperature. "Has everything been okay lately?"

Gajeel nodded. "I'm fine, shrimp. Just tired."

Levy was starting to see straight through him. Gajeel knew he should've told her months ago, but every time he thought about having that conversation, it's like his throat closed up and he couldn't find the words. He could barely summon up the energy to move lately, let alone get out of bed. And with the newer, more…active side of their relationship, what little energy that remained had completely vanished.

It felt like death was knocking on his door, and he didn't even have the strength to get up and answer.

"Are you sure?" she asked softly. "If you want to stay here and get some sleep, I can get myself to yoga. I am a big girl, after all."

"I told ya, I'm fine." Gajeel pushed himself off the bed, trying not to wince from the exhaustion screaming in his muscles. "Just give me a sec to get dressed."

She didn't look convinced, but she bent over and kissed him before bouncing out of his bedroom. He laughed when he heard her talking to Pantherlily in the living room. Sometimes he worried that his girlfriend liked his cat more than him…

It took way too much effort to get himself upright properly. When he made it to the bathroom, his first priority was digging through the box hidden under the sink, his new hiding place, for his morning round of medications. One injection, two tablespoons of a liquid medicine that could've passed for tar, five pills, and now two vitamin supplements. Gajeel lifted his shirt, scowling at the angry purple bruise on his stomach from constant injections. Unfortunately, it was necessary. That was the strongest pain medicine they could give him at this point, and he was having to take it three to five times a day now… The pain had spread from his stomach to his chest, and every time he pulled in a breath, it felt like his lungs were going to explode.

He hissed when the needle pierced his skin. It was becoming more and more painful to take the injections, and the area was starting to swell with how often he was having to have them… And with the new physical level their relationship had reached, Levy had been very concerned with the sickly bruise. Gajeel had been forced to lie about it and say Natsu kicked his ass at the gym—that was a lower blow to his confidence than the cancer ever could be. And that lie would only hold her off for so long.

After taking the remainder of his medicine (minus one pill he couldn't take because he forgot to call in a refill, like a damn moron), he brushed his teeth and pulled on the clothes Levy set out for him. He didn't have time for breakfast this morning, not that he was hungry anyway. It made a good excuse for Levy—she always asked why he wasn't eating. Today, not having the time was actually a decent excuse. And not a total lie. A cup of caffeine boost at the coffee shop was all he really needed.

"Okay, you ready to go?"

Levy looked up when Gajeel entered the room, yoga mat hanging from her shoulder. "Yup!" She reached down to scratch Pantherlily behind the ear. "Bye, Lil!"

The brisk autumn air hit hard when they stepped outside. A clouded sky brought harsh winds, blowing maple leaves across the sidewalk. It was, as Levy had dubbed it once, sweater weather. But also, with less meat on his bones, it was freezing for Gajeel.

Wendy smiled, writing something on her chart. "Well, I'm glad these medications are helping!"

Gajeel could see the lie in her face. Her smile was too tight and big, and it didn't reach her eyes, like it usually did. "Wendy, I really appreciate what you're tryin' to do, kid, but ya don't have to lie." She blinked, then sighed. "I know it's bad, alright?"

"I'm sorry…"

Out of everyone at the clinic, Wendy looked absolutely heartbroken with Gajeel's decline. When he came into the clinic that morning, she pulled up his charts and her face fell from happy to distraught in a heartbeat.

She shook her head. "You know what? I have faith that you're going to be just fine!"

Gajeel sighed. "Look, kid—"

"Gajeel."

He snapped his mouth shut and looked up at her, shocked. Though they hadn't fallen yet, tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes. And her voice was so…angry.

"You're going to be fine, okay?" Then she smiled, wiping her eyes. "Because I said so. You'll be fine."

Finally, he got the hint, and he smirked. "Yeah, kid. I'll be alright."

"Much better! Now, please step up to the scale. We'll check that before Porlyusica comes in."

Gajeel did as he was told. He knew the routine—jacket and shoes off, for more accurate reading. He tossed his hoodie on the chair he'd been sitting in, stepping onto the scale. The digital screen blinked three times, just as predicted, before the number appeared. His eyes went wide.

"A-Ah… You've lost a bit more."

Gajeel blinked. "A bit more? My weight hasn't been this low since before my balls dropped!"

That actually managed to make her laugh.

They arrived at the coffee shop, stepping up to the counter to order their coffee, as usual. Levy got her blueberry muffin like always, and when Gajeel went to order, he hesitated. Seeing such a low number on the scale at his appointment on Monday was…shocking, to say the least. He should probably try to eat more… Wendy had warned him that he needed to really try to gain weight. Up his calorie intake, more protein and clean carbs. She even said that if gaining weight for him meant eating chocolate cake, burgers, and pasta—whatever his favorite foods were—to just eat them. There wasn't time left to focus on being healthy. He just needed to get his weight up. Gajeel ended up coming back to his seat with a mug of coffee and a croissant. It was a start, anyway.

Gajeel took a bite of the food, chewing slowly. He looked up when Levy reached across the table and touched his hair. "It's gotten so long," she said, smiling. "Don't cut it. I like it."

Like hell he'd ever cut it… He supposed it had gotten really long, though. He couldn't remember the last time he got it trimmed. It hung low to the band of his jeans now, and still just as wild as ever.

Gajeel smirked and caught her hand, kissing her wrist. "You think I'd ever cut it when you think it's so sexy?"

"E-Eh?"

"I know you like it," he said, leaning forward to brush his lips against her ear. "You run your fingers through it enough while you scream my name."

Oh, it was so worth it… She stammered and blinked, finally leaning back in her seat and grumbling into her coffee. "Stupid Gajeel…"

The end of term was coming, and Gajeel had three exams and a report due next week. Next week also marked the start of Christmas vacation, and he could take a much needed break from classes. And sleep…pretty much the whole time.

Once he dropped Levy off at yoga, he needed to run by the library and find some books for his report, then he had class at noon until two. Hopefully he could make it back to the library to see Levy at again. She worked today, and any time he got to see her, he would fit in. After classes, he was going to go home, take as much pain medicine as he was allowed, and take a nap until it was time to go to Levy's performance. The second in a series of three before her big solo for the scouts.

The coffee was starting to wake him up, too, so his energy was getting a bit better. It was really just in the mornings. He had so much difficulty getting his day started, but once he managed to get out of bed and move around a bit, he was usually okay. Also, an afternoon nap, and more medicine, and he was usually on his second wind. Evenings were usually relatively normal. Just a little bit of pain, which he could handle. He would probably feel fine for her performance tonight, and the mandatory dinner with the group afterward. Perhaps he'd even feel well enough to take Levy home and give her an unforgettable reward for all her hard work…

Gajeel smirked and watched Levy sipping her coffee. Golden eyes met his and she blinked, lowering her cup. "What? Is something on my face?"

"No, ya look good."

Levy giggled and stood up, moving to throw her muffin wrapper away. The tight leggings were like a second skin, and they were too much for Gajeel. He reached out and gave her rear a good pinch, laughing at her squeak.

"Really good." Her pink cheeks and wide, sparkling eyes made him laugh, and he kissed her. "Come on, we gotta leave."

After dropping her off at yoga, Gajeel made his way to the library and checked out three new books. Damn report was taking up too much time that he could be studying for his exams…or sleeping with Levy. Or sleeping with Levy. Both meanings of "sleeping" with her were completely fine with him.

Another cup of coffee and Gajeel was making his way back to his apartment to feed Lily and get in a bit of studying before class. It would be a long day. A good day, but long. So long as Levy was in his arms at the end of the day, he was satisfied.


Levy's foot pointed and angled as she moved to the music, her white floating cloak shedding away to reveal glittering, tattered black fabric. Gajeel was dumbstruck in the audience, too mesmerized to look away. The way she moved was more precise, more defined than the last performance. Her body was fluid like silk, moving to the music effortlessly.

He'd seen this performance nearly ten times, but only once completely—at her first public performance. All the times he'd seen her dance, this part was his favorite. The part when she shed all her light, all her goodness, and became the goddess of death. This darker side of Levy was sexy as hell, not to mention the technicality of the dance became so much more intense, and the moves were more powerful. Her flexibility was incredible, and the way she moved across the stage, glimmering in the candlelight, was breathtaking.

Levy went into a graceful pirouette, moving across the stage into a grand jeté, and Gajeel smirked when her splits went past their usual point. He bet she was happy. All that flexibility training was paying off.

"Damn," Gray said, wincing. "That's got to be painful…"

Natsu grinned. "That's amazing! How in the hell does she do that?"

Gajeel puffed up. Damn straight. That's my girl!

The music faded to a close, and Levy straightened from her finale position, giving a graceful bow. The audience went crazy over her second performance, just as much or more as they had for the first one back in August. Gajeel remembered the headlines from the week after Levy's first performance. 'Magnolia University's Star Dancer, Levy McGarden, Stuns the Crowd!' and 'Magnolia's Best Dancer: Levy McGarden's Journey to a Pro Career.' People were so amazed with her talent, and Levy had three interviews that week for local papers and magazines.

The curtains closed and everyone filed into the entry hall. There were talks of going out to eat again, hopefully more casual than last time. Blue Pegasus was nice, but Gajeel was more into small places where the ambience may be subpar, but the food is delicious. When Levy emerged, and Natsu and Lucy suggested hanging out at their place for a bit and ordering pizza, Gajeel was relieved. Familiar territory, and he could lose the damn tie.

Over the last several months, he'd gotten more comfortable with their group of friends. The guys in his dorm had always been rowdy, and he knew them for a while, but it wasn't until Levy came around that he really started to hang out with them. But in retrospect, he was honestly glad he got to know them. Gatherings were a bit uncomfortable for him at first, but once he relaxed and got to know them, Gajeel realized that they were all a bunch of freaks just like him. Natsu was a psychic pyromaniac (admittedly a good guy, but Gajeel preferred to keep that to himself) and Gray was almost always half naked. Erza was…terrifying, at times. Mira had a way of manipulating people in a sugar-sweet voice that made you completely unaware of her scheming, and Laxus had a temper that rivaled Gajeel's. And while Lucy and Juvia were considerably more normal than the others (okay, another lie—Juvia was highly possessive of Gray, and thought anything he did was praiseworthy), they were still weird. Even Jellal, the suave professional graduate of the group, had some quirks. He was just too perfect—Gajeel was convinced he was hiding something. Together, they all made a band of misfits, a classic group of freaks. But that's why he liked them so much.

They all made their way to the parking lot. Grand plans of pizza, beer, and video games were being made (Gajeel could totally handle that), and Levy was more than excited to get out of her costume (he could really handle that).

"What kind of pizza does everyone want?" Lucy asked as everyone made their way to their vehicles. "Natsu and I can go ahead and order some! Levy, you like pepperoni, and Juvia likes Hawaiian."

"Sausage and pepperoni!" Erza called from across the parking lot.

Gray held his hand up, on the opposite side of the lot from Erza and Jellal. "I second that!"

Lucy laughed, shoving Natsu away, who kept biting her ear. "I'm going to get you food, so stop biting me!" He whined and she pushed him away, laughing. "Anything else?"

No one answered. To have made it out with only three types of pizza to order, Levy would say that was a success.

Levy buckled into Gajeel's car, sighing when he pulled out of the parking lot behind Juvia and Gray. "I'm so glad that's over with…"

His fingers splayed on her thigh, his other hand on the wheel. He gave her a squeeze, his thumb brushing her skin. "You were amazing. Even better than before, Lev. And ya look freakin' hot in that costume…"

"I think you like this costume a bit too much," she teased.

Gajeel grinned dangerously. "Damn straight, shorty."

Levy looked at him curiously when he pulled into an empty parking lot. "Gajeel?"

He parked the car at the end of the empty lot, hidden between an old building that was no longer in use and a lake. Wordlessly, he loosened his tie, unbuckled his seatbelt, and kicked Levy's seat back. She gasped when his hands greedily took in all of her skin, his fingers splaying across the bare sections of her stomach showing through the fabric.

"What—" Her eyes rolled back when his hands found the skin of much more intimate areas. "What are you doing?" She could hear him laugh, but he sounded so far away. She could barely think straight.

"Making a quick stop," he said, as if it were obvious.

Oh, she thought dazedly. That's nice. Stopping is good—

Her eyes snapped open when realization crashed into her awareness. "Gajeel! People could see!"

"No one will see, shorty. We're in an empty parking lot hidden by a building. A vacant building." She didn't look convinced, and he sighed, getting out of the car. She watched curiously as he went around to her side of the car, opened her door and pulled her out of the car. With an unceremonious plop, he tossed her into the back seat and crawled in over her.

"Gajeel!"

His lips brushed her neck. "Relax, Lev," he murmured huskily. "The windows back here are tinted."

"But—" Another gasp. "But we… We'll be late, and… Natsu and Gray wanted to play that game…"

"Dragneel and the snow queen can wait."

Levy sighed, her breath hitching when his teeth found the exposed strip of skin between her breasts. "We made out last time remember? On the way to the restaurant." Her face went red and her eyes darted around like she was looking for something—what, he wasn't sure. "They'll know if we do that again!" she whispered.

Gajeel pulled away and gave her such a serious, sultry look, she felt the cage of butterflies in her stomach explode. "Oh, I'm going a lot further than that…"

Her head felt like it was full of clouds. His lips were at her collarbone, his hands continuing their sinful trail. She gasped when he hit a sensitive spot, her fingers digging into his bicep and her head falling back against the seat with a thump.

"You were saying, Lev?" he murmured, smirking.

Levy groaned. "Oh, shut up, Gajeel…." And then she kissed him, and they really lost track of time.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Natsu's place, and when they tried to say the car broke down, Mira just giggled and casually asked, "So Levy, when did you decide to wear Gajeel's undershirt? Inside out, no less."

Cover blown. At least they tried.


A/N: Well hello again! I am so excited, you guys. While chapter 13 was my favorite, all the other chapters I really love are coming up in the second half of this story (which we are entering now!). Things are about to get interesting!

Thank you so much for reading! Leave a review and let me know what you think! Until next time :)