Hello! Final prompt; for day 6 of Gajevy week I present you 'Grief'

Word count: 1.3k (record for shortest story I've ever written)


Today the rain poured down hard and the weather only helped to reflect how she felt on the inside. It was a difficult day, it always was whenever this date came around the corner but for some reason Levy thought that with the passing years it would be easier on her. Every year she was proven wrong.

"Hi." Her voice was above a whisper but she knew there was no need to speak any louder. She would be heard loud and clear.

The rain kept pouring down on her. She left her umbrella back in her house and she knew she was soaking wet from head to toes but she honestly couldn't bring herself to care anymore.

She knelt down in front of the grey gravestone and her black leggings stained with dirt and grass, but again she didn't care. She felt empty on the inside, a big contrast to the cheery smile she usually wore at the guild and at home. Right now, there was no one else with her, so she didn't have to feign she wasn't hurting. She didn't have to pretend there wasn't a void in her heart that not even the years seemed to fill in.

"I'm sorry, I know it's been a long time since I visited you." Her eyes were downcast in shame but she willed herself to continue.

"It's been so crazy the last couple of months." A faint smile graced her lips before she started telling the shenanigans that the twins had been doing.

This was something she did every time she came to this place. A part of her knew there was no need to talk about the things that happened at the guild or at home because everything that occurred on Earthland could be seen and heard from above. Still, it brought peace to her mind to talk as if her audience was right there with her in the physical plane. Words were always a comfort for her; words helped her go through the worst of the first days, when this gravestone was put up and engraved.

So, she talked. An hour passed and she kept talking. She spoke about how Shutora mastered her rune spells in record time. She bragged how proud Yajeh looked like after finishing his first solo-mission. She explained how Lily got an especial assignment from the Council regarding the official registration of every Exceed as a citizen of Fiore. And she recited the last chapter of Lucy's novel.

Levy laughed lightly while mentioning how the guild kept getting new members, most of them being the children of her closest friends.

"The guild is rowdy as usual but you already knew that, don't you?" She giggled. "Natsu and Gray's kids have some sort of rivalry but I truly believe that Nashi has a slight crush on Silver, even when she doesn't want to admit it." The mirth left Levy's eyes when she remembered something else.

"The twins keep asking me about you and I tell them what I know. I tell them stories every night of what you did and how you were when you were around. Still, they get sad that they didn't have the chance to meet you in person." A tear escaped her eyes and her shoulders started to shake trying to keep down the sob threatening to leave her lips.

"I… I try to be strong for them-" Her voice cracked. "I'm really trying to be strong for my family but i-it's too hard. It's too hard not having you here with me. And I-" a sob broke past her lips and she finally let the tears fall freely from her eyes.

"And I really miss you."

She placed a hand over her mouth trying to conceal the heartbreaking sobs that she let out. She finally allowed herself to cry like she hasn't cried since that day. Everything that had happened recently at the guild and at home brought back painful memories, memories she couldn't keep bottling up. That's why she came to the graveyard today. She felt like drowning in her own sorrow and Levy just needed to let it all out.

A hand on her shoulder made her notice that the rain wasn't falling down on her anymore. She didn't have to look up to know who was responsible for that. He always knew where to find her. She placed her own hand over the one on her shoulder and squeezed it in gratitude.

"I'm sorry I made you worry." She said and she truly meant it.

"Ya should at least have taken the umbrella with ya." A warm jacket was draped around her shoulders and just then she looked up to thank him for the gesture.

With an umbrella on one hand, Gajeel knelt down beside her and placed his other arm around her shoulders. It was his way of showing her that he was there for her. That she didn't have to go through this alone.

"I'm sorry. I didn't wanted to be a burden." She honestly said and he just hugged her tighter to him.

"Ya're never a burden, Lev. I'm always here fer ya, got it?" She expected him to yell at her for being so reckless by trying to catch her death in this unforgiving downpour but he was acting calmer than usual and much more understanding of her feelings. She was incredibly grateful for that.

"Thank you." She rested her head on his shoulder and they stayed like that with their eyes locked to the gravestone in front of them.

"I was just telling them about Yajeh's last mission." A smile crept into his face and he looked down at her for a moment before returning his gaze to the gravestone.

"He's so badass like his father, am I right?" She nodded in agreement and giggled at his modesty. "Did ya tell them about how Shutora is even smarter than her mom?" His voice showed the fondness he held for his kids.

"Yes, I did."

"Probably it's thanks to them that the kiddo will be the smartest girl in history, gihi."

She laughed and her smile reached up to her eyes. "Yes, it probably is."

She leaned further into him and he rubbed circles on her back soothingly. It was so like him to not know how to deal with emotions and painful feelings, but he always managed to find a way to be her emotional support whenever she felt the world crumbling down around her. That's just one of the many things she loved about this man.

It worked both ways. She had been there when Metallicana vanished after the battle with Tartaros and she had helped him cope with the loss of his foster father. And now, he was here showing her his support in front of her parents' gravestone. She sighed content with having such a wonderful person as her husband.

"Ya okay?" He asked her with concern and she smiled up at him.

"Yeah. I will be." And she meant it. She squeezed his hand one more time and finally tore her eyes from the gravestone and turned to her husband. "Let's go home."

He stood up and helped her up. Then, hand in hand they headed back to their home.

This day would always be hard for her. It didn't matter how old one gets, you would always miss your parents. Levy had lived her life without them since she was 11 years old. But now, on the anniversary of their death, she at least had Gajeel for emotional support. It would never be easy on her when this date would come around, but the burden will be less painful in her heart and soul. She knew this and that's why she smiled up at her loving husband.

The rain finally gave away as some rays of sunshine shone down into the wet ground. One ray of light shone brightly, illuminating the engraving in the grey gravestone.

'Oliver and Maura McGarden. Loving friends and parents.'


Say what? Yes, Gajeel's alive. I couldn't bring myself to kill him, it was just too painful for me to bear. What do you think of this story? (I must say that I love English since it's pronouns helped me greatly in this story ['you' could be interpreted as Gajeel but it was meant for Levy's parents]; hope I didn't mess up something. English isn't my first language hehe)

So finally I finished up all the prompts for Gajevy week (still, Living together will come around in the Council series, you'll just have to wait a little while for that one). Thank you to everyone that has supported me either with a review, favorite, follow or even just reading. Thank you so much!

I know I haven't answered a lot of reviews and I will get to do that soon (promise). Still, wanted to let you know that I have read each and every one of your reviews and they make my heart swell with pride at knowing there's people out there enjoying my writing.

On the side note, 'Grief' was the prompt that inspired me to participate in Gajevy week 2017 and I find it poetic that it's the prompt with which I conclude my participation in this amazing project.

To those who are still waiting on the epilogues of 'For whom do you stand for?' I will get to write those down soon. Thank you for your patience and I hope I'll be up to your expectations.

Follow me on tumblr (whereisthefood123) for updates and news about my next stories (I have several plots lined down but I have to find the time to put them down into words) I'll probably take some request if I get stuck with writer's block but I'll let you know.

Again thank you so much and I hope you'll stick around for more of my stories.

WTF (Where's The Food)