Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 12

"Lucy, you are so weak. If you were stronger, you wouldn't have gotten kidnapped." Natsu said.

"Yeah, you have no one to blame but yourself. We are tired of having to constantly save you." Gray said.

"You aren't cut out to be on the team, we are tired of being nice to you and holding your hand." Natsu sneered.

"It's funny how she thinks someone as smart and strong as Freed, could actually like her, let alone love her." Gray laughed. Both of them sneered at Lucy as she fell to her knees with tears streaming down her face.

"Boys, you've wasted enough of your time and breath on her. Let us go, we have someone better for the team now. It's time to take a mission and forget her." Erza said.

Why, why would they say these things. They are my friends. I know Freed can't love me, but he likes me, right? He wouldn't be trying to string me along. He isn't that type of person.

"Can you believe she actually believes I like her?" She heard Freed laugh as he was talking to the rest of the Thunder Legion.

"No one can like someone as weak as her. She makes the guild look bad." Laxus said. Lucy couldn't believe what they were saying.

"I know. If only we hadn't saved her. She wouldn't be missed by anyone. I regret letting her stay with me. All she does is cry about what happened to her." Freed said.

Lucy curled in on herself, putting her hands over her ears to try and block out what everyone was saying.

Lucy jolted awake, sitting up as tears started to stream down her face. She got up to lock the door, and then took the chair and put it under the handle so no one could get in. She went back to the bed and pulled her knees up to her chest. She started rocking back and forth, thinking she was stupid to believe that Freed could love her let alone like her. I'll leave tomorrow, so I'm not a burden to him anymore. I'll go lock myself in my apartment. I'll be better off by myself anyway.

She decided to pack her things, and then take a bath. She wouldn't be going back to sleep. After her bath she could hear Freed's door open. She silently hoped he wouldn't knock on her door. She went quiet hoping he would think she was still asleep and would leave her be.

He knocked on her door, "Lucy, you awake?" She didn't say anything. She heard him try to open the door.

"Why would she like the door? She didn't the other night." She could hear Freed say quietly. Tears slowly started to stream down her cheeks again. She tried her hardest to keep quiet so he couldn't hear her.

"Lucy, if you're awake please unlock the door. I would like to talk to you." He waited a couple minutes to see if she would answer. "I will be downstairs, starting breakfast, please join me when you are ready." She heard him walk away. She decided to wait a couple minutes before unlocking the door, thinking she could leave the house while he was busy cooking. She wrote a small note and left it on the bed, along with some jewels to pay him back for the dinner and staying at his place.

When she heard him in the kitchen, she quietly unlocked the door, and grabbed her bag. She slowly walked down the stairs, and peeked around the corner to see if Freed was watching for her. When she seen the fridge door open, she quickly walked past and got to the door. She quietly unlocked and opened the door and left his house. Once outside she ran as quickly as she could to get back to her place.

Freed thought he heard the front door open and close, but when he checked no one was there. He decided to go check on Lucy and see if she was ready for breakfast. When he got upstairs, he was surprised to see her bedroom door open. He walked in thinking she was in the bathroom, but the door was open, and the light was off. He looked around and noticed the note and jewels on his bed. His eyes widened as he read the note. She can't truly believe this, can she?

Dear Freed,

Thank you for letting me stay at your house the last two nights. I am sorry that I was a burden by being there. I know you were trying to make me feel better by saying that you loved me. I know now that you meant you loved me as Nakama, even though you were probably just saying that to be nice to me. I know that I am weak, and a burden to most because I seem to get kidnapped a lot.

I decided to leave so I wouldn't be a bother to you. I am going to quit the guild. I am nothing but an embarrassment to the guild. Sorry I know you don't want to hear, well read about me complaining. Thank you again for the kindness of the last couple days.

Sincerely,

Lucy

Freed read the note a second time and couldn't believe Lucy thought this. He did love her and was happy having her there because they were learning more about each other. He loved her smile, and how she brought light to everyone and everything. Always saw the good in everything. He wanted to help her move past all that happened, the whole guild did. She was the first to forgive him and the Thunder Legion after Fantasia.

Freed rushed to his room and grabbed his lacrima, to call Laxus.

"Freed what's wrong? Is Blondie, okay?"

"I don't think she is okay Laxus."

"What do you mean?"

"She isn't here. When I woke up the bedroom door was locked, and I tried to get her to come out to talk and eat, she never answered. Then I heard the door, thinking you or one of the others were stopping by, but no one was at the door. So, I went upstairs to check on her again and found that she had left. She left a note and money."

"What do you mean she left? She shouldn't be on her own!"

"I know," Freed sighed. He read the note to Laxus.

"Damnit! I'm going to contact gramps. Maybe she went back to her apartment. Go there and check, I will meet you there with Ever and Bix." Freed nodded and ended the call. He quickly got dressed, then locked up his house and headed towards Lucy's apartment. Lucy please be at your apartment and please be okay.

-With Lucy-

She finally made it to her apartment, quickly locking the door and windows. She made sure her blinds were closed as well. She then curled up in her bed. I'll take a nap, and then go to the guild and talk to master to let him know I am quitting. As soon as she laid down, she heard knocking on her door, she didn't move to answer or ask who was there.

"Lucy? Lucy, are you there? It's Freed." Lucy curled farther on her bed, silently hoping he would go away. Every couple of minutes he would knock again. She then heard other voices join Freed's. No, please go away! I'm just a burden. Please stop pretending to care about me. A flash of golden light revealed Loke.

"Princess, you need to let them in. They are just trying to help you. You are not a burden. Princess, please allow them to help you." Loke kneeled in front of Lucy. Lucy just stared at him with dull eyes. He sighed and started to walk to the door. Sorry Princess, I will not let you go through this alone. He unlocked and opened the door for the Thunder Legion.

"Where is she Loke?" Freed asked.

"In her bedroom. I'm glad you guys are here. She shouldn't be alone right now. I'm going back, if you need anything call me and I will help." He said before going back to the spirit world.

Everyone walked into Lucy's bedroom to see her sitting on her bed, looking forward, with dull eyes. Bix and Laxus stood by the door while Freed and Ever walked to the bed careful not to scare her.

"Lucy, can you look at me please?" She slowly moved her head to look at Freed. "Why did you leave?"

"I—I left you a n-note. I didn't want to continue being a burden for you."

"You are not a burden to me or anyone. We enjoy your company."

"Lucy, Freed is right you aren't a burden. Also, I spoke with Gramps, he won't let you quit the guild. Before you try to argue, he said you cannot quit because everyone loves you and we all want you around. We are all here for you and always will be. That is what Nakama do for each other." Laxus said. Lucy started crying.

"I'm sorry to make everyone worry."

"Why did you write that note and leave?" Freed asked.

"I had a nightmare, where team Natsu told me I was weak and a burden and kicked me off the team. In the dream you guys were also saying how weak I was, and you wish you hadn't saved me. That I was an embarrassment to the guild."

"Blondie, none of that is true. It was just a dream. You were the first to forgive us after Fantasia, and we are grateful to you because of that. We all want to get to know you better."

"Freed, would it be okay if I came back and stayed with you? I'm still not ready to see my team. I also want a few more days before going to the guild. I can at least call master and speak with him.

I-I also don't want us to move too fast Freed. I know you said you love me, and I said it back, but I don't want you saying it just because of what happened. I don't want the worry and fear to be what made you say it to me. I can say I do love you but let's get to know each other more before saying it again. I want to be better and not be so broken."

"I understand Lucy, please forgive me. I will help you in any way I can. Then once you're better, I want to take you out on a date."

Lucy gave a small smile. She knew she had a bit to go before she would be more like herself. Now she knows it's okay to go slow, she doesn't have to jump into being out and surrounded by people when she really wasn't ready to be. I just need to take it one step at a time and one day at a time.

"Thank you all for coming to check on me. I'm sorry for worrying everyone."

"Lucy, it's okay. Would you be okay if we all come and spend time with you this evening? Watch a movie and have some pizza?" Evergreen asked. Lucy smiled and nodded.

"I'd like that, as long as Freed is okay with it to?"

"I'm okay with them coming over, as long as it won't be hard on you Lucy." Freed said. They made the plans for the time to come over, and what kind of pizza she would like.