"Lucy? What are you doing out so late?" Lucy walked around the corner to nearly run straight into a man.

"Gray? I could ask you the same thing!" She answered, clearly startled.

"I take walks after dark all the time. But seriously, you can't just be wandering around. Where are you going?" He questioned as he crossed his arms.

Lucy pursed her lips and hung her head. "Natsu kicked me out."

She felt Gray's hand be placed on her shoulder. "That's okay, you can stay with me. I'm not going to kick you out." 

Lucy looked up and smiled slightly. "Are you sure?"

Gray nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm sure! Come on, it's not very far away." 

Lucy followed him around the city. It was just a little after midnight so not a single soul was walking about. The street lamps gave off just enough light to keep her from tripping over everything that was laying around. 

After a while they arrived at a small house at the end of the street. It was a chocolate color and had two willow trees standing in his front lawn. 

"What a lovely house!" Lucy grinned.

"You like it?" Gray smiled back as he opened the door to let her in, turning on the lights in the front room. 

Lucy stepped in through the door, her eyes landing on the wooden interior. The flooring was a dark cherry oak color and the walls where a light grey. All the furniture matched and the fireplace already had its fire glowing. 

"Lucky for you I have an extra room that isn't being used." Gray headed down a long hall, Lucy following him closely.

He opened the last door on the right to reveal a room with lavender colored walls and fluffy charcoal carpet. A queen sized bed was backed up against the far wall in the center. Paintings and ice sculptures lined the dressers tops and the shelves.

"Did you make all these?" Lucy questioned as she admired the elegant works of art.

"I practice things like this in my free time." He replied.

"They are beautiful! How do you keep them from melting?" She added.

"Its magic, Lucy. I use Ice Make." Gray explained.

"Ah, yes. I think Levy mentioned that at some point." Lucy smiled as she set her bag on the ground. 

"You can stay here as long as you want, Luc." Gray spoke softly as he headed for the door.

Lucy looked up at him. Luc? 

"Thanks, Gray. I just hope I wont be an inconvenience." She smiled slightly.

Gray turned back to look at her, and she noticed his face was slightly red. "There is no way that could happen." He paused slightly. "You should get some rest."

With that Gray left the room, shutting the door behind him. Lucy played the last conversation with Gray over and over again in her head. 

She felt her heart begin to ache and she knew nothing that would have caused it. Brushing it off she settled into her new room. 

It had been a week since she made it to Magnolia, yet there was still no sign of any of her spirits. She had her keys but currently summoning any of them had proved to be a very difficult task.

She knew she'd have to wait for them to come to her. But she wasn't a very patient person most times and she was getting quite worried. 

Lucy walked over to the left wall, where another door was placed. She opened it gently and smiled at what she saw inside.

The door led to the rooms very own bathroom, a walk in shower to the right. She grabbed any extra change of clothes and combed her hair before turning on the water and slipping into the shower. 

She stood there for a very long time. Today had been a long and stress filled day for her. Her muscles ached and she felt even more exhausted than before.

The steaming water ran over her as she soaked her hair and applied her shampoo. Twenty minutes later Lucy stepped out of the shower, completely clean and refreshed. 

She pulled a light pink silk nightgown over her head. It came down to her mid thighs and the chest area and straps were lace. She dried her hair as best as possible with a towel before brushing it through.

After brushing her teeth, Lucy slipped out of the bedroom and back down the hall. When she reached the end she turned the corner into the kitchen. 

Sitting at the tall oak table was Gray, a glass of purple liquid in his hand. He looked up and a small smile flashed across his face.

"Though you went to bed?" A slight hint of a chuckle in his voice.

"I decided I needed a shower before. Stress makes me feel gross." Lucy smirked.

"Now that's interesting. That color looks marvelous on you, Lucy." Gray looked her up and down, causing Lucy's face to turn the color of a tomato.

"T-thank y-you." She blushed. 

"So what are you still doing up?" He questioned.

"A severe craving of water." She answered.

Gray laughed lightly. "I see, you are a sass queen!"

"Hardly." Lucy smiled at him as she got a cup form the cupboard and filling it with ice cold water.

"Can I ask you something?" Gray asked, the smile fading from his face.

Lucy nodded. "Sure."

"What happened to you in that prison? I've never seen a girl with such sad eyes in my life." He placed down his drink and stared intently at Lucy.

Lucy took a seat next to him. She stared down at the table. She wondered if she could really bring herself to tell anyone of what happened there. Really all she wanted was to rid her mind entirely of those memories. 

To start over as if none of it ever happened. Though she was aware that would never happen. You don't forget your childhood. Hers was spent being beaten and raped. 

How could she possibly forget something like that? She looked back up to Gray. It was here where she would decide if she would reveal it to anyone. 

She opened her mouth to speak. "Twelve years ago..."