(Please note, I do not own Fairy Tail or Beauty and the beast)

Chapter 9: Because I love her..

After dancing for an hour, Gajeel took Levy for an evening stroll in the gardens. It was a beautiful place, many stone made items and beautiful flowers. There was even a water fountain in the center. Gajeel took Levy to a gazebo on the other side of the property and sat down with her on a stone bench.

"Levy," he began "are you happy here with me?"

"Y-yes." Levy said hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"I- If only I could just see my father again. Just once." Gajeel thought for a moment and looked at her.

"There is a way." he told her "Don't move, I'll be right back." He began to run across the gardens and left Levy waiting for him back at the gazebo. Ten minutes later, he returned holding the magical lacrima.

"A-a Lacrima?" questioned Levy.

"It's no ordinary Lacrima." Gajeel explained "This lacrima lets you see anything or anyone you want. All you have to do is ask it to show you that person, place or thing." Levy cleared her throat that moment and then clearly spoke to the lacrima.

"I- I would like to see my father, Please." She told it. At that moment, a bright light came from the lacrima and both began to see an image form. The image was of Makarov in his lab trying to invent a new spell that could help him save Levy. His clothes were tattered and he looked exhausted. It seemed like he hasn't slept in days.

"I got to keep trying." He said to himself "This is for my Levy." He formed a small hand symbol and before he knew it, he was sent flying to the wall on the other side of his lab. He grunted and didn't get up.

"O-Oh Mavis, Father!" Levy screamed "H-he's hurt. Badly!" tears began to form from Levy's eyes and ran down her cheeks. Gajeel watched the whole situation and felt terrible for Levy's father. He put an arm around her and embraced her in a hug as she cried.

"Go see your dad." He suddenly told her. Levy looked up at him in shock. She couldn't believe the words she was hearing.

"Y-you mean…. I'm free?" she asked.

"Yes." He replied solemnly "But promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Promise me when your dad is better, you will return to the castle." Levy smiled at him and immediately replied: "It's a promise!" Levy then hugged Gajeel again and was unable to stop thanking him. She ran to the castle to change out of her ball gown and into something more comfortable. Levy then went up to Gajeel and gave him a hug goodbye before taking the nearest carriage back to Magnolia.

"I'll be back soon." She whispered to him. Before she left, Gajeel gave her the Magical Lacrima. So that way; they were always together even when he wasn't there. She then ran out the main door and into the carriage which rode off into the early night sky. The Servants suddenly arrived in The West Corridor where Gajeel retreated after Levy's departure.

"She's leaving?" Natsu questioned "Your just going to let her go?!"

"Yes." Gajeel sadly replied.

"Why?" asked Gray "Why are you just letting her go like that?!"

"Because…" Gajeel replied "I love her." The Servants looked at Gajeel wide eyed with shock. They never heard him say that.

"D-Did you hear that guys?!" Natsu excitedly whispered "He said he loves her!"

"But it's not enough." Juvia replied.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Didn't you pay attention to what The Enchantress said that day?" Gray retorted. Natsu shook his head "no". Seeing that, Gray heavily sighed and replied "The Enchantress told The Master that the girl needs to love him as well in order for this curse to break!"

"And so far…" Carla chimed in sadly "She hasn't told him she loves him." They all looked down sadly realizing this fact.

"And from the way things are going…" Juvia suddenly added "Were running out of time, look!" The Servants looked up at the rose that was sitting on the table and noticed how it only had three petals left on the stem.

"This isn't good." Gray spoke out "By the time she gets back, The Final Petal will be ready to fall."

"Hey guys," Natsu spoke out suddenly "has anyone seen Happy?" realizing that Natsu had a point, everyone began to search the room for Happy.

"Where the hell could he be?!" questioned Carla.

Levy rode the carriage back to Magnolia for two hours until finally appearing at her doorstep. Levy let out a small smile when seeing the familiar doorstep. It's been over a month since she moved into Gajeel's castle. She jumped out of the carriage that moment and ran to her father's lab. There, she found him waking up from his unconscious state.

"L-levy!" he screamed in surprise.

"Father!" she replied happily. She immediately ran over to her father, grabbed the first aid kit and began to tend to some of his wounds.

"Is this a dream?" he asked.

"No father." Levy chuckled "I'm here for real."

"How did you manage to escape? He told you that you were to never leave!"

"I never escaped." Levy explained "He let me go free so I could be by your side." Makarov's eyes widened when he heard her say that. Levy helped her father up and then took him to the house and sat him down on a chair.

"He let you go free?" he pondered.

"He's not that bad." Levy replied "After I got to know him this past month. I learned that he wasn't the monster he seemed to be. My whole stay there I guess you can say he's been treating me like a princess." Levy blushed when she told her father those words. Makarov's eyes widened when he noticed the pinkish red streak going across his daughter's cheeks. She may have found the one man she wanted to be with.

"Levy," Makarov smiled "I'm happy to hear that things are better between you and the beast-"

"Gajeel." Levy corrected him.

"Right, Gajeel. And I approve of what feelings you may have for him. From what you told me, he sounds like a great man. You can live in that castle as long as you wish." Levy smiled at her father's words and then ran over to him, embracing him in a large bear hug. Before they could break away from their father-daughter moment, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Who could that be at this hour?" questioned Levy. She got up from hugging her father and opened the front door. There, in all his glory was Laxus. But he wasn't alone; the whole town was with him. They were an angry mob and Levy noticed right behind him was a carriage which was meant for people who are to be sent to the Magnolia Mental Health Institution.

"Hello Levy." Laxus grinned.

"Laxus." Levy snarled "What the hell are you doing here?"

"To take your Father where he belongs." He replied "He was claiming that you were taken by a 'Horrible Beast' who lived in a castle. But seeing that you're alive and well I guess it was just another one of his loony moments." The village laughed when they heard Laxus state that.

"My father was telling the truth!" Levy said through gritted teeth "I was gone for a whole month. I was released earlier this evening."

"Sure you were." Laxus snorted before giving an order to his friends "Take the old man."
Freed, Bixlow and Evergreen then entered the house and grabbed Makarov and prepared to throw him into the carriage.

"NO!" Levy cried "Not my father, please!" She tried to move away from Laxus who was blocking her from getting close to her father.

"I'll let him go." Laxus replied evilly "IF you marry me."

"No way in hell!" Levy screamed.

"Then… Take him away!" Levy watched in horror as her father began to struggle against Laxus's friends. Even using his Titan Magic against the mages apprehending him.

"He's telling the truth!" Levy screamed "I swear he is!" Tears were falling down Levy's face. The town just laughed. She had to do something, something quick. Something that could save her father from a horrible fate when she remembered; The Lacrima Gajeel gave her before she left. She grabbed her bag that was hanging at the front door and immediately felt the lacrima inside. She held it in her hands and screamed.

"Please, show me him! Show me Gajeel! Please!" At that moment; the lacrima began to glow a brilliant light, which caught the attention of the mob and Laxus. The image of Gajeel then appeared on the Lacrima, he was roaring. Roaring out of depression, He wanted Levy by his side. Laxus looked at the Lacrima in a combo of astonishment and shock. There were screams coming from the women in the crowd when they saw Gajeel's appearance. At that moment, Levy realized her mistake.

Oh Mavis, She thought to herself what have I done?!