Hello there!

I'm back for another chapter!

Goodness, that last one really did hurt ya'll huh? I hope you enjoy this one!

I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fairy Tail. I do, however, own the rights to this story and OC characters that might appear in the future.

Chapter XXX: The Blinding Heartbreak

X—X

Sting pushed the doors open of the wooden cabin. After those words left Wendy's lips, he was up in a flash and out of the guild in another. Lector trailed behind him, at a much slower pace, but he knew he would eventually catch up. He knew where he was going. Running at full speed, he ignored the smacking of the dewy Autumn wind against his skin and found himself in the woods. Dashing through the familiar dirt path, it was not long before he stood in front of it.

He looked up to see Ivy, in all her glorious form. She sat on the bed, carefully and slowly raising a shaky hand to her mouth. He gulped, trying to ignore the fresh batch of tears in his eyes. The spoon in her hand shook, but she still carried it up, taking careful sips. He closed the door softly behind him and waited.

"Good, you're finally here." Porlyusica rolled her eyes. "Hurry up and talk to her. The quicker you do that, the quicker you both can get out of my house and leave me alone."

"Sting." She spoke, her voice raw.

"Ivy." He stepped up to the foot of the bed. "May I?"

"Of course you can."

"I'll be outside." The medic rolled her eyes and left.

He sat down next to her, careful not to jolt her too much. She watched him in silence, and while he was glad that the glow was back in her eyes, he could see that it had diminished. Quietly, he offered her a spoonful of soup, and she let him feed her. Only when the bowl was empty did he speak.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired." She admitted, her voice no more than a whisper. "And you?"

"The same, but for different reasons." He chuckled dryly.

"What happened?"

"…are you sure you want to know?"

"Please. Lector told me he made it back to you, but you weren't there when he woke up." She swallowed with difficulty, and Sting gave her a glass of water. "Where were you?"

"Tracking you down. Saving you."

"I'm sorry." She lowered her head "I should have been stronger."

"No. I'm sorry. I should have gone with you regardless." He gulped. "You were ambushed, Ivy. That… I failed you. Please forgive me."

"No, Sting." She grabbed his hands. "This wasn't your fault. Please, don't put this on your-!"

"Don't push yourself." He licked his lips.

He looked into her eyes. Periwinkle glow with no pupil, a shade that he had fallen in love with. Bandages on her hands and forearms, across her forehead, peeking out from under the robe over her chest and shoulder, and he was sure her legs were also covered. He gently caressed her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. She smiled sadly, and he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair.

"Tell me."

"… I couldn't help it. It wanted blood. So, I… I gave him blood."

"How many?"

"I don't know. But they were quick. Merciful. They didn't suffer too much." He admitted.

He did know. And they had indeed suffered. But he did not want her to suffer with that knowledge. "And… him?"

"…do you want a pretty lie to ease your conscience?"

"No. I want the truth." She gulped. "Did he suffer?"

"Yes. I made sure of it." He sighed. "He suffered a lot. He begged me to kill him by the end of it."

"Did you?"

"…no."

"Because you didn't want to?"

"Because death would have been mercy." He declared. "I want him to suffer."

"Sting…" She cupped both cheeks. "Come back to me."

"I'm right here, Ivy." He frowned.

"No, you're not." She shook her head. "Come back. Please."

"Ivy…"

"I know there is a part of you still deep in that darkness. I can see it; I can feel it. I want my mate back, dragon. I want Sting. You are not welcomed among us for as long as you are shrouded in that cloak of darkness and fear." She declared, eyes locked with his and hands tightening their grip. "I want him back."

Boy, control your mate.

She is not to be controlled. Never was. Never will be.

Control your mate, I say!

I have no use for you anymore.

Boy!

Leave.

"Come back to me."

A shiver ran down his spine and his eyes fluttered closed. He could feel every speck of that homicidal rage leave him, run down his body and disperse through his fingertips. He felt his skin tingle as the scales transformed back into fairly tanned complexion, and his eyes turned back to their natural, dark blue shade with round pupils. When he opened them again, he saw Ivy smile sweetly.

"There he is. My dragon."

"My little phoenix." He pressed a short kiss to her forehead. "Only you can bring me back."

"I will always bring you back to me." She leaned up to kiss his mouth softly.

"I love you so much." He gulped.

"I love you too." She nodded. "But you're not done."

"What do you mean?"

"You have not told me everything."

"What else is there to know?"

"Porlyusica told me Wendy had made her promise that she would let you inform me of… everything. She only told me about my voice."

"What did she say?"

"That I have a long road ahead of me. My lungs were severely damaged, and though someday they might…" She took a deep breath "...return to their capacity, they were pierced through by my ribs. So, they are covered in scar tissue. My throat with take some time to heal too. She said I have… years of recovery ahead of me. And that I may never be able to do some of the most powerful spells again because of the scar tissue."

"I'm so sorry." He wiped the tears falling down her eyes.

"It's okay. It was time I paid for my sins."

"You were tortured, Ivy."

"I had it coming." She shook her head. "I did kill them."

"You saved them. From dying alone, in pain and from feeling themselves wither away."

"They died, Sting."

"By their own terms."

"But I helped!" She exclaimed, followed by a coughing fit.

"Because you wanted to help them." He gave her some water. "They forgave you. You know they did. You heard their final words, as they were released. They all thanked you."

"I took their lives."

"So did I. The difference being, you had no way out." He declared and she nodded slowly.

He knew the conversation was not over, that Ivy would relive that conversation time and time again until she finally found it in herself to forgive and let go. But he would be there, time and time again, to have the same arguments and to tell her the exact same things, to bring her back to the light. He leaned against the headboard and let her fall in his arms, cuddling against his chest.

"I want to know."

"I know. I want to tell you." He gulped. "I'm trying to find the best way to start."

"With a story? That's how you did it the last time." She tried, and he chuckled.

"If this was just that… a story."

He started with her hand, pressing a kiss to her bandage. He explained what Wendy had told him, the nerves and the joints had been severely damaged. She listened attentively, but dared make a joke about how she was in luck since she was left-handed. He had rolled his eyes at that, but smiled.

Then, he told her about her leg. How though the bone was healing back into place, the tendon was not following suit, so there was a possibility that she might have a limp for the rest of her life. That had created a little worried line on her forehead, but Sting suggested he could simply carry her everywhere. She giggled then, and snuggled closer.

"I do love being in your arms." She whispered. "Is that all?"

"No." He gulped. "There is one more thing."

"It's bad… isn't it?"

"…yes."

"Tell me."

And so, he told her. He told her that Wendy and Porlyusica had found out that she was one week pregnant when she left for the mission. That, due to the trauma she suffered, she had lost the baby. She hid against his chest, sobbing. He had stopped to comfort her, but she had not let him. She wanted to know everything.

And so, he told her the consequences of it. The dangers and the worries should she get pregnant again, for both her and the child. He had assured her, much like Wendy, that it was possible, that she could have children, but that it would be a dangerous pregnancy. And she cried. She cried for her loss, his loss, their loss, of a child they had never gotten the chance to meet. She begged for his forgiveness, for having robbed him of the future he wanted. And he assured her, time and time again that it was not her fault, that she had done nothing wrong.

She begged him to stay, even though he may not want to. She begged for his love, despite their heartbreak. She begged for his forgiveness, for his care, for his smile, despite the both of them being in tears.

And Sting forgave her, time and time again. And Sting smiled at her as he wiped her tears. And Sting told her he loved her, more than life itself, and more than he could ever love himself.

And Sting stayed.

A/N: I wrote this as closure. I'm sorry about the dark themes, flag me if you want, idc.

Let me know your thoughts on this new story!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)