Chapter 2 – His secret

Meanwhile…

Lucy POV

'Where the hell is it!' Lucy thought to herself in a panic. She was having a meltdown of epic proportions. First, she rushed all the way to the damn train station only to find out the stupid thing was broken down, again! Gray, thankfully, had stayed behind to wait for her as Erza and the others readied her ship. So, not only did she run to the infernal train station, they also had to run all the way to the dock. Lucy was exhausted, she still hadn't caught her breath and now this!

"Hey Bunny girl, you okay over there?" Gajeel asked, standing across the boat from Lucy, looking out from the starboard side; watching Magnolia slowly disappear from view on the horizon.

"Yeah." Lucy said with a sigh, while continuing to frantically search her belongings.

"You sure, I can smell your anxiety and fear from over here?"

"Yeah Luce," Natsu chimed in mid groan. "The smell is making my stomach even more upset." He clenched his middle, curling into a ball on the deck making gagging sounds.

"If you throw up on this deck, I will make you clean it up!" Erza shouted down to him from the helm.

"Sorry Natsu, you know if I preform the Troia all the time it'll be useless." Wendy said sadly.

Gajeel flashed a grin in Natsu's direction pleased he didn't come on missions with Team Natsu often and Wendy could use the Troia on him this time.

"What Gajeel fails to realize, is if Wendy uses the Troia on him now, he won't be able to use it again on the return journey." Pantherlily said off handedly to the other Exceed's causing Gajeel's smug grin to quickly vanish.

"I just can't find something, it should be in here, I must have lost it somewhere." Lucy cried plaintively. She mentally prayed it'd magically reappear as she continued her fruitless search for her notebook. She threw her bag down in anger, gripping the port side railing. It was gone, there was no use checking for it again. Exactly where she'd lost it, she didn't know but Dear Mavis, please let it have fallen into the ocean. If it anyone found it, it's not like she'd used fake names, her dirty little secret could be all over Magnolia by the time she'd return. 'Fuck!' Lucy thought, as she watched the waves break across the bow of the boat, trying to focus on anything but the awful pit in her stomach.

"I think I'm going to be sick." She said quietly.

Freed POV

Last night he dreamt of her. Ravishing her ample body in the library just as she had described it. He woken up stiff and panting. Not since he was a teen in the throes of puberty had his body been so out of control and Freed was rather disgusted with himself. As he sat up, his mind replaying the events of the day before. How he allowed himself to be overcome with lust, then to act on it, touching himself the way he did. He blushed as he readied himself for the day. He couldn't allow himself to continue reading the celestial mage's notebook, those were her private thoughts and desires, how dare he intrude upon them. He needed to get out and put space between himself and the all consuming lust he was starting to feel for her. 'Damn that wretched notebook!' He thought to himself. Now, all his usual places of refuge were constant reminders of her, even his own study! Nor did he dare enter the guild library, his dream and her story were far too fresh in his mind. The celestial mage was wreaking havoc in his orderly world and the damn chit wasn't even there in the flesh.

Deciding to go the guild bar, hoping a stiff drink might calm his nerves, he dressed and headed out. The day was beautiful in Magnolia. On his walk over to Fairy Tail, every time he saw a flash of golden hair, he found his breath catching in hopes it was Lucy. By the time he'd finally arrived, Freed was beyond frustrated with himself, he was downright livid.

Upon entering, he noticed Bickslow, his 'babies' and Evergreen at their usual table, nursing what seemed to be hangovers. He walked over and took a seat next to Evergreen.

"Morning Freed. Not hiding yourself away in the library today, I see." Evergreen greeted groggily.

"No!" Freed said, rather forcefully and completely out of character.

Bickslow looked like he was about to say something until MiraJane walked over.

"Good morning Freed. What can I get for you?"

"The strongest whiskey you have, make it a double." He replied, earning more shocked faces from everyone.

Mira stood there for a second, probably waiting to see if it was some sort of a joke, when Freed nodded she left to finally fill his order. As soon as she departed the concerned questions started.

"Hey man, everything ok?" Bickslow asked, his babies repeating 'everything ok' as they floated around his head.

Freed nodded in answer.

"Freed are you sure everything is okay, it's not like you to drink, especially this early in the morning?" Evergreen asked, worry apparent from her tone of voice.

"Rough night." Freed said with a shrug, the only explanation he was willing to give. Being such a private person his friends knew better than to pry. They also knew if anyone would find out what was bothering the rune mage, then it would be Laxus.

"Laxus was talking about taking an s class mission last night, maybe you should go up and talk to him about it." Bickslow said almost as if reading his mind and giving him an alternative reason to see Laxus to save Freed's pride.

"Mission! Mission!" Bickslow's babies repeated.

"I'll go up in a bit." Was all Freed said. MiraJane brought his drink over to the table and Freed got lost in thoughts as he slowly sipped the whiskey.

He was certain, no one in the guild had any knowledge of reasons he was so devoted to Laxus, save for maybe Makarov. Freed was however, aware that many of his guild mates suspected he harbored romantic feelings for the Lightning Dragon Slayer. He did not. Moreover, his guild mates would probably never suspect the roles they'd played in each other's lives since childhood.

Freed was born Frederick Edward Forestgail in Foire's capital city, Crocus. He didn't remember much from the time before he and his mother moved to Magnolia, but they lived in a big elegant estate, not far from the shore. Growing up he had the best tutor's money could buy and was raised to be a gentleman. When he was 10 everything changed. His father unbeknownst to him had contacted his mother, for the first time since they lived in Magnolia and he insisted on Frederick entering a prestigious school for the upper class. His idyllic childhood now shattered in the wake of torment from his fellow classmates. Never had he'd been treated so abysmally, nor had he had such harsh things said to and about him. Upon learning his mother was unwed, he became known as 'the forest bastard.' And so Frederick retreated from others, he learned to hide in the library and discovered an escape in the form of books. They could take him anywhere, away from the horrible children who mercilessly teased and tormented him. By the age of twelve they'd moved on from name calling, which he learned to ignore, to physically attacking him. The first time took him by surprise and the second time a group of four boys, slammed him into a wall, Frederick had tried to defend himself, but everything went black and he woke up later in the hospital.

It was there at a hospital in Magnolia, when Frederick first met a young Laxus. Upon waking up, with 2 broken ribs, a mild concussion and severe bruising all over his body, Frederick noticed another boy in the bed next to his. Automatically fearful of the other boy, Frederick said nothing. It wasn't until Laxus noticed the green haired boy was awake that he said Hello and introduced himself in a friendly manner. Frederick couldn't understand why this boy was in the hospital, he seemed happy and full of life. It wasn't until the two got to talking, becoming fast friends, that Frederick learned of the boy's illness. Magic was slowly killing Laxus. Magic while it seemed wonderful and powerful, didn't always help he'd learned. No, if you weren't strong enough, magic could harm just as easily as protect you, draining the life force from your body. After two nights at the hospital, Frederick promised to come visit his friend whenever he could. For Laxus told Frederick amazing stories about the great heroics by the members of The Fairy Tail Guild. Frederick's love of reading could not even begin to compare to the tales Laxus told, fact somehow now minimizing his enjoyment of fiction. Laxus even then, knew how to connect to Freed probably by recognizing a kinship in the sense of adventure both boys shared.

Frederick was understandably upset, when after a month of visiting Laxus he began to notice his friends' slowly dwindling hyper personality and sudden pallor; even his hair, a once golden blonde began to whiten. Frederick couldn't let his only friend in the world die. So, he went back into his haven and researched everything about magic that he could get his hands on. It was in the back section of the library at his school - reserved for only staff, that he found the answer he was seeking. Waiting until after dark, hiding under a desk in the library until the librarian left, Frederick found files on rare case studies talking about experimental scientific trails involving the implantation of lacrima's. He even found a file detailing the use of a lacrima on a child whose body wasn't strong enough to handle the magic affinity he already had and remarkably the study was a success! Frederick had found the answer; he knew how to save Laxus!

So they very next day, after stealing all the files, he brought what he'd learned to Ivan Dreyer, Laxus's father. Frederick didn't know what the repercussions would be nor did he care, first and foremost he needed to save his friend. Two weeks later, Laxus was recovering from the implantation. The right side of his face, now bore a scar, Ivan having decided to follow the study's example and implant the lacrima behind his son's right eye. Laxus hadn't woken up yet and Frederick was anxious, he couldn't bare it if Laxus died and his time was cut shorter due to a failed operation. After two days, Frederick couldn't take it waiting anymore and left. The next morning Laxus awoke shortly before Frederick came to check on his friend. Despite the horrible pain he suffered, Laxus after learning how his father had learned of procedure, told Frederick he owed him his life.

Over the course of a month, Frederick watched as his friend's personality slowly began to change. While Laxus was again full of life and energy, he became more distant and quick to anger. But what was most concerning, the kindness his friend had once so easily shown others became replaced with an all-consuming need for power and notoriety. After promising himself that he'd address his concerns to Ivan Dreyer, Frederick left Laxus's house to meet his mother. That night while walking home together from a restaurant, Frederick and his mother were attacked.

While he and his mother lay bleeding and broken in the street, barely hanging on to life, she looked at him while grasping his hand and said "I love you my little prince."

"I love you too mother." Frederick whispered back tears freely falling down his face as she died.

Frederick thought he'd died as well, until he woke up a week later. Freed almost at the point of death had been discovered by a Fairy Tail Guild member who'd taken the boy to Polyushka. Polyushka, knowing the boy was a friend of Laxus, informed Ivan Dreyer. Ivan demanded she do something, anything since the boy was the sole reason for his son being alive, he couldn't just stand by and watch Frederick now die. Polyushka tried explaining there was nothing that could be done for Frederick, he was almost gone, but Ivan had an idea. If a lacrima could save his son, then maybe one could be used to save Frederick. While he didn't have another Lightning Dragon Slayer lacrima handy, the only one other one in his possession was a dark magic lacrima that he'd obtained on a recent mission. One he'd contemplated using on his own son but thought better of it. He very well could be forcing this boy to live a fate worse than death, but at least he'd be alive. Ivan told Frederick later if it came down to it and he became truly evil, then Ivan would end Frederick himself.

And so upon waking Frederick slowly began to change too, his personality morphing just as Laxus' had done. Frederick feeling power surging through him unlike any before vowed to himself; no longer would he be weak, no longer would he cower, no longer would he let anyone harm him or those he cared about but in doing so no longer would he truly be Frederick. No now, he was freed of the sad, lonely, pathetic sniveling boy he had once been. Yes, he was freed, so now he would be Freed. And yet still the loss of his mother, weighed greatly on his heart. In memorial of her, he would take her name as his surname and no longer would he be a bastard. The thought of the darkness inside him making evil, frightened him; so in order to control that aspect, he would also gather and retain as much information about magic as possible and live by a code of the ethics to keep himself in line, god help any and all who break his rules. But above all he would serve the Dreyer's faithfully and with fealty, for without them he'd be dead and there would be no one to avenge his mother.

Freed was broken from his musings with Laxus slamming his hands down on the table.

"Freed, I've been calling your damn name for five minutes now. What the hell!" The lightning dragon slayer said.

"Pardon my rudeness, I seem to have been woolgathering." Freed said apologetically, putting down his empty drink, not even realizing that he had finished it.

"No shit. Come on up to my office, we need to talk." Laxus said making his way up the stairs, not bothering to wait for Freed.

To be continued...

A/N: Let me just say this chapter was not AT ALL what I thought it was going to be. I totally went in thinking; okay, Freed's gunna read some more of her notebook, Lucy's diary is going to get a whole lot more descriptive. You know less talky, more naughty. Then Freed's backstory took over the whole dang chapter. I mean yikes. First it got dark, a whole lot darker than I was honestly comfortable with – I didn't even want to touch the story, it was just such a joy killer. So I reigned it back in or well Freed did – does that sound weird? Maybe make me sound crazy… "We're all mad here." (-Alice in Wonderland) … Anywho, Freed was dying to tell his story, at least the significant parts about him and Laxus first meeting and how they both got lacrima's implanted in their eyes! (I've been incessantly wondering about his story and while there is still more to come, in more detailed flashbacks; I felt like I should at least touch on the most important aspects in my version of why Freed is so devoted to Laxus. Freed is very much an oddity in many ways, but he's also a man and for him to truly have an HEA, he needs to come to terms with, well things – specifically his control issues. I do like his character the way he is, however to just put him and Lucy together without any fanfare, well it wouldn't be doing either character justice imho. They're both very broken characters, I thought it'd be interesting that the world Lucy so willingly left & rejected, is the world that shut its doors on Freed – kind of ironic. But, the best story in my opinion is a hard won romance, hope you enjoy their journey through my eyes. This is only the beginning, chapter 3 coming soon… Happy Reading!