Chapter 11:The Concerns of a Friend

A/N: This is gonna be chapter two of three today so be ready! Thanks for the love guys! Enjoy! …Finally I can do this in peace!

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Same Day- That morning (Levy POV)

"Hurry it up shrimp, I wanna see the fight from the beginning!" Gajeel says as he drags me along. Today there is a sparring match between Erza and Lu-chan, and everyone is excited, mainly because it'll be an escape from the attackers who are terrorizing the guild right now. "Oi where should we sit, close right?" He asks as we arrive at the sparring field.

I look to see that it is extremely crowded already and can't help but share in the excitement. Everyone is here including a heavily bandaged Elfman who was finally released from the infirmary, the Lamia Scale group are here as well, even Mavis is here. This really has turned into a big event. "Yes, close enough to where I can cheer for Lu-chan and she can hear me." I tell him and look to see Max working the betting pool, "Go find us our seats, I'll be right back."

I walk over to Max and see a lot of money already placed on someone. "Oh hey Levy, here to put down a bet? Odds are for Erza winning: 20-1, with bonus odds of her knocking Lucy out at: 10-1. Gods know she doesn't understand mercy." He tells me as I become annoyed.

Does no one know how strong she actually is? I cross my arms and ask, "Has anyone put money on Lu-chan?" When he checks and shakes his head no, I become extremely irritated, but then a smirk crosses my face and I pull out 1,000 jewel, "Put half on Lucy winning and half on she knocks Erza out/Master calls the fight." He looks at me like I'm crazy but puts the bet down and I turn to go and find Gajeel. I find him sitting next to Juvia and Gray about a hundred feet away from where the fight's taking place. I walk over to them and take my place next to Gajeel and ask, "Did you guys place a bet on this?"

"Yeah, 500 on Erza, I was the first one and thought some people would bet on Lucy, but I was wrong." He said as I became annoyed again, everyone was trying my patience. "Has anyone bet on Lucy yet?"

"Yes, I did. 500 on her winning and 500 it ends before the half an hour is up." I said defiantly as they looked at me in surprise, Gajeel laughing it up at their faces. "What? Something wrong with betting on Lu-chan?" I ask now obviously annoyed.

"Well it's just that Erza is…Erza, she doesn't understand the meaning of mercy. She'll probably go close to all out." Gray responds, earning my quiet ire, how can they really not know how strong she is?

Before I could answer I look at the sound of a gong and see the fight begin in earnest. Lucy quickly calls out three of her spirits and charges, whip in hand. She quickly lands a good combination on Erza as Erza requips into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. Wow she was getting nervous, but so would Lucy… right? I watch in shock as Lucy taunts her, then uses her whip to cause Erza to fly up, right to where Gajeel, er Gemini I think is and he smashes her into the ground. Everyone gasps in shock, jaws hitting the floor and mugs dropping. They had never seen Erza going so hard, yet be overmatched, it was simply astonishing to them. However Erza had requipped into her Adamantine armor and lessened the blow, she then requipped back into her Heaven's Wheel Armor and attacks Lucy directly, going at her at full power. I wanna yell for Lucy to dodge, but am too shocked by Erza going at full power against a guild member, yes she knows no mercy but this is too far. Or so I thought, but Lucy simply dodges all the attacks like they were moving in slow-motion, dodging the last one by lunging out of the way. Mid-lunge she puts out her hand and yells, "Celestial Beam!" as a beam of light pours out from her hand pushing Erza back to where Capricorn had snuck up to and he sends Erza flying in the air to where Lily is now waiting for her, Gemini I presume as Lily is sitting here with us. I see Taurus moving into position and I know what's about to happen. I look away in fear, and Gajeel sees this and asks, "Oi, Levy what's wrong… HOLY SHIT!" Everyone inhales sharply and I hear a loud cry of shock from someone. I finally look back to see a body laying next to Taurus standing at it's edge, Erza nowhere to be seen. I pause and look around for her only to understand she's on floor next to Taurus. My mouth is open in shock as master rushes out and ends the fight, saying Lucy is the winner.

This breaks me out of my shock as I jump up and yell, "I win my bets!" Jumping up and down in joy for a moment before realizing that everyone else is just looking on in shock. I turn my head and see Lucy helping Erza up, and look at everyone and say, "Hey come on guys congratulate Lu-chan." This breaks them out of their trance as they begin a very weak applause, causing me to become infuriated with them. I grab Gajeel and say in a very annoyed tone, "Come on let's go congratulate her!" He nods dumbly still in shock as we both go to where Lucy is. I realize that Erza is gone now, walking off with Jellal. "Great job Lu-chan! That was amazing! Where did Erza go though? I thought she was still here…" I watch as she looks around and sees Erza with Jellal.

I see her face and mood darken and she says quietly, "Thanks Levy-chan, I'm a little tired right now, so I'm going home to take a nap ok?" She says as I grow worried for her, concern written on my face. Don't worry its just a stressful week and I wanna get some extra rest, Mira is due to be able to leave and resume the wedding planning schedule soon so I'm gonna rest up before that. Bye Levy-chan!" she says to reassure me.

I don't believe her for a minute but say with a concerned tone, "Ok Lu-chan, take care of yourself." I watch as she leaves and goes off to be alone again, my level of concern as a friend reaching a new high.

I watch as she eventually disappears from sight and sigh deeply, wondering to myself, 'When did it get this bad? Since when has she been unable to confide in me and not trust me with the truth and what's bothering her? When did I lose that trust, that camaraderie with her, that understanding of we feel, that closeness that made us best friends? When did I lose my best friend, the girl who was the one I told everything to, the one I cried long nights with, the one I had be my maid of honor? When did I lose Lu-chan?' at the last mental question I begin to feel tears welling in my eyes and escaping down my face.

I feel the strong hand of my husband grasp my shoulder, trying to comfort me. He says, "Come on Levy, we'll get the money from Max and go home for the day. Let's go." I nod and turn to look for Max and find him trying to fend off the angry losers.

I lose my composure and run over to them and yell, "IF YOU'RE STILL UPSET THAT ERZA LOST AND COST YOU MONEY INSTEAD OF BEING HAPPY FOR LU-CHAN THEN YOU IDIOTS CAN HAVE THE MONEY! I DON'T CARE! TAKE IT!" and begin to run home tears freely flowing from my face as I lose any shred of resistance to my emotions that I had left, and as I reach the house I Quickly open the door and slam it shut. I slump down to the floor and begin to sob uncontrollably into my knees as I curl up into a small ball. I keep crying even as Gajeel arrives and opens the door to see me crying.

He quickly closes the door and scoops me up into his arms and says, "Shhhh. Levy it's gonna be ok. The guys are just being idiots and being oblivious like usual. Shhh, shhh I'm here for you." He says and strokes my head with his rough calloused hands, doing so uncharacteristically gentle, showing me his love and understanding, "Don't worry Bunny-Girl will come around, you didn't lose your best friend yet, shhh I'm here shhh." He attempts to soothe me but fails as I continue to sob until eventually I fall unconscious from the stress. Sleep being no better than awake, as nightmares of losing Lucy haunt me there as well.

Several Hours Later

I awake to find myself on the bed, being held in Gajeel's strong, muscular arms, I try and sit up but am held in place by his steel vice grip. I sigh and say, "Gajeel wake up I'm hungry." I say as he opens his eyes and looks at my pouting face and chuckles, releasing me only to plant a kiss on my forehead. I smile at him and we both sit up, stomachs rumbling in protest of the lack of food. "Come on I'll make us something. Where's Joi?"

As if waiting to hear her name Joi walks in looks at me with a face of concern, she asks, "Is momma ok? I heard her crying earlier, and I was worried." Wow so aware and yet so young, she definitely my kid, "Who made you cry momma? I'll beat 'em up!" And she was Gajeel's daughter as well.

I sigh and say, "Don't worry Joi, I'm ok now. Hey why don't you go the kitchen with Lily and get out the stuff for Iron-Beef Stew?" I ask of her as she nods happily and runs off with Lily behind her. I look at Gajeel and hug him saying, "Thank you for what you did earlier, it meant a lot to me, so thank you. I hope I didn't cry too much again." I say chuckling lightly at the last part.

He smiles at me and pulls me into a hug saying, "Yeah, yeah. I know. I love you a lot you know that?" He asks and, to show him how much I understand, I pull his head down and kiss him passionately as he melts into the kiss, pulling me up onto his lap as he slips his tongue past my lips and our tongues begin their usual dance, battling for dominance. We pull away to catch our breath as he says, "So I guess you know." I giggle at his statement and smile up at him and jump off his lap and land on the floor.

I walk to the kitchen and see Lily and Joi hard at work, Lily grabbing the ingredients while avoiding Joi's attacks as she practices her dragon slaying magic. 'How is she even able to use magic, she's only three years old…' I wonder as Gajeel walks up behind and pulls me into a hug and I look up at him and say, "She's definitely your daughter."

"Gihee, yeah she is! Oi shrimp, turn your hips more, that's where the sword get its power from. And don't be afraid to finish the punch or else your punches won't connect." He advises her, Joi eating up every word he says as he is her idol. She looks up to him and basically worships him.

She does what he says and connects with Lily's head sending him flying into the wall, knocking him out cold and creating a giant mess. "JOI! GAJEEL! LOOK WHAT YOU TWO DID!" I yell angrily as the two run to each other and cower in fear, the sight causing me to remember the day and remember just how lucky I was. "You missed a spot!" I say as I throw some flower on Gajeel's face starting a massive food fight. These were the moments I live for and am glad that I get to live through. I hope these days never end and the next one like them are just around the corner.

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A/N: Man I am in a sappy mood, back-to-back sad and depressing chapters. Well as I finish writing this, the story is at 1,170 views worldwide! Crazy! KEEP THE LOVE COMING! READ AND REVIEW! ADIOS!