Chapter 16: Apologies

A/N: WHOOP! New follower in .3! I have decided to make this chapter two of three today, so Enjoy! Chapter 16 everybody!

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The Next Day (Levy POV, 2 weeks 6 days to wedding)

I sit in my kitchen and watch as Joi and Lily eat their breakfast. I usually am eating with them, but today I don't feel hungry, instead I feel empty… and extremely guilty. It had not even been a full twenty four hours yet, not a full day since Jet and Droy, and others, had retired from being mages and promptly left the guild. 'I had known what was going to happen the moment they walked into the guild, the told me the night before but I don't know. I guess I thought it was a ploy of theirs to get my attention, so I didn't really believe them but seeing the guild mark disappear in front of my eyes and seeing the looks on their faces, the looks of men who seemed to be free from expectations and now free to live life like they would actually like made me feel bad. Like I was part of the cause of their unhappiness.' The conversation of the previous two night still fresh in my mind…

FLASHBACK, Two nights ago

I hear a knock at my door and look at Gajeel, 'who could it be this late at night?' His thoughts mirroring mine he turns into pure steel and stalks quietly to the door and checks who is at the door. He sighs, frustrated at who it was, and throws open the door saying, "Oi shrimp it's your fan club."

I know he means Jet and Droy and I get up to greet them, and say cheerily, "JET! DROY! HI GUYS!" But the look they have on their faces make me lose the spirit I just had and ask them, "What's wrong?"

"We have something we need to tell you. May we come in?" Jet asks, I look at Gajeel concerned, a look he reciprocates as his brow furrows in confusion of their tone. They were normally super excited when ever they saw me so the look of sadness and seriousness is a shock to us both. I nod and show them and tell Joi and Lily, "Hey Lily, could you take Joi and tuck her in for the night?"

Being extremely aware, he was already picking Joi up and says, "Of course, take your time." As he walked over to Joi's room I turn around and look at the duo, they look like something horrible had happened.

"So, what do you need to tell me guys?" I ask looking at the two of them.

They both look at each other and sigh, Droy being the one to break the silence, "Levy, we have both decided to do something and we hope you aren't going to be mad.." I look at them my concern growing by the second. I had never seen them so serious or nervous before. What could it be? Were they going to tell me that they're gay or that Shadow Gear is disbanding? Gay I wouldn't be surprised with nor would I have any serious qualms with our team disbanding as I felt the need for them to branch out and get out from under my shadow. And Gajeel's accompanying shadow. "Levy we have decided to retire from being mages and from the guild in general."

"EHHHHH?! What did you just say?! RETIREMENT?!" This was a curveball. 'Retiring? Why would they do that? They have been mages for so long and they have been a part of Fairy Tail for even longer! Why would they just up and quit? Wait a minute.' Then it hit me, this was a ploy to get my attention, it has to be no way would they just up and quit like this. "Alright now I get it. You know if you guys wanted to hang out with me and get some attention you should have just said so. You definitely almost had me there, looking all serious like that. Haha, very funny."

They looked surprised before that surprise changed to frustration. Jet was the first to speak and he said, "We're serious Levy we're retiring tomorrow first thing in the morning and taking a long vacation with Nab, Warren, and Max. Us plus Macao and Wakaba are all retiring tomorrow. ALL OF US."

The fact that they were being deathly serious eluded me and I laughed and said, "Uh-huh sure, next thing you'll tell me is that you two have been secretly dating since the whole Natsu incident. Haha very funny, good job guys. Now seriously what's the problem?" I look at them expecting to see the faces that usually accompany being in the prescience of these two.

Instead I look to find angry scowls in place, Droy this time responding, "OK. First off Levy we're not GAY! We both have had girlfriends before and have no feelings like that for each other and secondly and more importantly… WE ARE SERIOUS! WE ARE RETIRING TOMORROW MORNING AND WILL BE LEAVING AFTER THE WEDDING FOR A SIX MONTH VACATION." The looks on their faces grew even more intense than before.

However it doesn't register with me and I look at them and laugh saying, "Wow, I'm impressed. Usually you guys can't lie to me for more than five minutes consecutively, but now you are able to! I'm happy you guys are moving past you're infatuation with me. And ok I get it you are not gay as of right now." I laugh at the last part, proud of my little joke that a person like Gajeel would make.

"YOU KNOW WHAT, FINE! DON'T BELIEVE US! I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! JET LET'S GO HOME." And with that they both got up and walked to the door and before leaving Droy turns around and yells back, "AND LEVY? FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU AND YOUR MOCK PITY FOR US! ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" With that they leave, slamming the door so hard that it falls clean off.

I sit there shocked, completely floored. Thy had never said anything so mean to me before and made me wonder, 'Were they serious? Were they really going to retire? No, no way they would, it's all just part of their ploy. Yeah that must be it.' I get up and say, "Alright Gajeel, let's go to sleep it's late and I wanna rest."

"Levy…" He says quietly making me look at him, "They were serious you know, they will quit tomorrow."

"HA! Unlikely, now come on let's go to sleep!" I say confidently, but my gut doesn't match my voice. 'I really hope they were kidding.'

The Next Morning

I watch the doors eagerly and wait, getting here early so I could watch and see that I was right. Then they enter with Max, Warren, Macao, Wakaba, and Nab in tow. 'Coincidence, that's all' I see them walk to the stairs and Max goes and asks Mira something, her face growing concerned. 'Umm…' I watch as they all go upstairs and walk into master's office. 'No…' A few moments later they all walk out but Warren and make their way out of the guild doors. As they get half way out they all stop and my heart breaks into a tiny million pieces. The place where their guild mark would have been shines and a light begins to glow and fly off of their bodies. I stare dumfounded, 'They were serious and I had laughed at them in their faces, and now they were leaving and who knows if I'll ever see them again. What kind of friend does that?' I watch as they all leave and make their way home for the day. I watch as my heart lies on the ground before me; shattered, battered, and broken beyond repair.

Later that Day

I walk down a familiar path alone, it's a path I had walked many times before, but this time it's seemingly longer and stretches on for what looks to be miles. It was the path to team Shadow Gear's secret hiding place aka the guys' house. I finally reach the door and knock loudly, my heart racing in millions of pieces in my chest. Jet opens the door and I walk right in. "HOW COULD YOU GUYS?! I THOUGHT WE WERE A TEAM!"

"WE WERE, but now… we no longer feel welcome here, we feel like bunch of outsiders looking in at the rest of the guild while they have their fun. We feel like outcasts and everyone is to blame," Jet said as he looked directly at me now. "You included,"

"We began to realize that we were secondary to the guild life and we were tired of treated as such. We have feelings too, you know? And we weren't about to watch them be trampled anymore. Sorry but this has to be done." Droy added

I look at them and begin to grow increasingly sad and ask, "Have I really gone that far? I never meant to treat you guys like that. Please forgive me, don't retire!" I was pleading with them now.

But it was to no avail as they both shook their and Droy said, "I'm sorry Levy, but this is the end for us, we no longer have the will nor the strength to continue being mages. It was just a matter for us, and with everything that has happened lately, we decided that it was time for us to leave this life. We lived a fun a life as mages, but know it's time for us to move on, we do want to thank you very much for everything you have done for us and doing it with us. We hope that Gajeel and you live long lives and happy ones as well. Don't be sad for us we are ok with our choice and are actually a little relieved as well since we won't have to risk our lives daily anymore." He smiles at me and I realize there is not stopping them.

My eyes begin to water and I say, "I'm-I'm happy for you guys. Really I am. I'm gonna go home now, so please take care." I say and leave quickly, before my tears fall freely and I rush home and upon entering break down fully and sobbing myself to sleep. Gajeel had come home at some point and moved me to the bed, holding me as I cry into his arms again until I fall asleep.

END FLASHBACK

'When did I lose them? If they're gone who's left? I know I have Gajeel and Joi and Lily, but is that it? No I won't let that be! I will win back at least one of my best friends back. LUCY!' I get up quickly and tell Lily, "I'm going to Lu-chan's house, I'll be back, take Joi to the park in the meantime." He nods and I am off in a flash. I run to her apartment and run as fast as I can, going alone so I can talk to her best friend to best friend.

I arrive and quickly go up to her door and knock rapidly, until she opens the door. I immediately throw my hands around her and say, "I'm so sorry Lu-chan! I have been a terrible friend! I treated you differently, like you were some porcelain doll! I should have treated you like before when I trusted you fully and allowed you to take risks and we had fun together. I'm so sorry!" I begin to cry and I try and stop it so I can continue.

But she begins to cry and says, "I'm sorry too! You are one of the only people who has treated me at least a little bit like before! I should never have shut you out though, that was partly why you pulled away from me and treated me so differently, you thought I was in need of that. I'M SORRY!"

We begin to cry and we do so for at least five minutes. Finally we regain our composure and look at each other, I ask her, "Friends again?"

"Friends Forever and Always, Levy-chan" She says and smiles at me, and smile back at her, 'This is the turning point in my life. I got my best friend back."

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A/N: What a tearjerker! So glad I got them to make up! Well one more chapter today so be ready! Remember to answer the question in the previous chapter! READ AND REVIEW! PLEASE REVIEW! ADIOS!