I'm so sorry about this super late update I haven't been feeling well hopefully I will be better soon so here's chapter 10.....

Taking the stairs by two stairs, Gray Fullbuster was beyond annoyed as he could hear the music blasting through the apartment room he knew too well. Going to the top of the place, he saw how neighbors from every room banged on the door and curse, all of them standing outside the room in irritation. Gray felt a bit bad about it as he muttered out an apology before pushing the people aside to lean down and pluck the spare key that was right under the shabby Welcomemat. He swung open the apartment building and closed it right behind him before stomping inside and turning the radio off.

Silence filled the apartment building as everyone out cried out in relief before the slams of doors were heard from where he stood.

Finally turning around, he stood in front of the pink-haired fool who was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

He hasn't seen Natsu for the past week and when he finally does, he's home, drinking like there was no tomorrow. He looked like a slob and seemed like he hasn't moved from his spot in the last week, either.

Gray knew he should do something about it but really, Natsu was just being an idiot taking this 'breakup'seriously.

"Natsu, stop being such an idiot and fucking get your shit together! Do you know how long you've been in this rot-hole, blasting shitty break-up music, and drinking?!"

"I dunno, four days?" He slurred slightly making Gray huff in irritation. "What's going on with you, flame-head? This isn't you."

"Yeah, well, go fuck yourself." He grunted before taking another swing of his beer as Gray finally snatched the brown glass bottle out his hands. Natsu cried out in surprise as he shot up in his seat to snatch it back but ended up knocking the small portable table over and falling to the ground, groaning.

Gray scoffed and leaned over the male, crossing his arms over his chest. "Get your shit together, Natsu. You haven't gone out of this house since—"

"Don't say it!" Natsu screamed, throwing his arms in the air. "Don't say her name!"

"Her name? Who? Lucy?" He said making Natsu groan and cover his face with his hands. "Don't say her name!"

"If you're so heartbroken by this, just go grow some fucking balls and call her or talk to her!"

"She refuses to speak to me. She's not answering my calls or texts and... god, I feel like shit." He moaned into his palms, rolling around his carpet floor as Gray watched his best friend slash rival break down in front of him. It was super awkward watching his friend do this since he hasn't seen him like this since probably middle school or high school but he understood what he was going through.

Sighing, Gray plopped himself down on the sofa right next to the drunken male as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Do you want me to help?"

"You can't help with nothing," he muttered against the pillow he cuddled. "Lucy and my dad hate me."

"They don't hate you," he tried to say but Natsu only ignored it, groaning once more. "I regret my decisions greatly."

"Well... I mean, you kind of got something out of it in the end." Gray tried to say as Natsu shifted his gaze to the dark-haired policeman in front of him. "Oh yeah? And what's that? Hatred from the only woman I love and distrust from my one and only father? Yeah, totally, it was totally worth it."

"That's not what I mean," Gray hissed as he sighed and ran his hand through his locks again. "If you're so worked up, just go and talk it out. Tell her that you love her."

"How can I when she refuses to listen to whatever I have to say?" He muttered through the cushion as he stared at the empty space between the two. "Gray... I'm in love with a woman who hates me."

"She doesn't hate you..."

"I bet she does."

"Natsu," he practically hissed through his teeth as he pressed his palm against his forehead in frustration. "Lucy doesn't hate you. For what I know, she probably loves you as much as you love her."

"Bullshit!" Natsu cried out making Gray flinch slightly, staring at the fireman who was still crying and whining about the blonde the two got to know. He didn't know how everything ended since he didn't get the full story but how can the two go from lovey dovey to a couple who barely spoke to one another now. He knew Lucy liked or maybe even loved Natsu since he spoke about it with her but why was she acting like this?

Standing up on his own two feet, the policeman lightly tapped the back of the fireman with his foot. "Hey, idiot," he hissed making Natsu grunt. "Get up and go taking a fucking shower—you reek of ass. I'm gonna go out and when I call you, you gotta come out, alright?"

"No," he refused making Gray sigh. "Just listen to me for once, alright? I'll buy you some dinner,"

"Bring it here."

"No. Maybe we can go grab a couple of drinks, too." He offered making Natsu be silent for a moment before rolling over and sitting up, giving his friend a look. "Fine," he said hesitantly, frowning slightly. "I'll come out."

"Good. I gotta run some errands so when I call, come out, okay?" Gray jabbed his thumb towards his door as Natsu sighed and nodded, standing up to wobble and stumble.

Gray just sighed and walked out the door before a crash was heard from inside the apartment. Rolling his eyes, he knew Natsu was alright.

—X—

Sitting at her desk at the hospital, Lucy absentmindedly tapped her pen on the desk as she was completely out of it. She lost a couple of pounds and she looked so dead it worried her friends and others around. Her friends tried making her go talk to Natsu or at least go eat something but she refused to look weak and continued doing what was supposed to. Though, it was really painful, she went through with everything.

Leaning her cheek against her palm, she traced shapes and letters on the desk with the back of the pen.

Without realizing, Gray came walking in the hospital to approach the nurse. He leaned against the counter and waited for her to notice but she seemed so out of it she didn't even notice the male in front of her behind the glass. The other nurses flashed Lucy a concerned look and gave an apologetic look to Gray as he sighed and shrugged.

"Excuse me, miss?" He spoke, tapping the glass lightly to have her blink and look up in confusion. When she realized who it was, her expression turned into worry. "G—Gray?"

"Hey baby-girl," he joked, cracking a grin as Lucy just stared at him. Awkwardly clearing his throat, he brushed the awkward silence away, readjusting his posture against the counter. "Can I take you out for lunch, possibly?"

"Sorry," she apologized, shaking her head and trying to organize random papers that were laid on her desk. "I'm busy and my lunch shift doesn't start till one."

"It's twelve forty two. I'm sure leaving eighteen minutes early won't hurt anyone." He said, trying to convince her to come but the blonde just shook her head making him frown. "Lucy, c'mon, please? I really want to talk to you."

"If it's about Natsu, I don't want to hear it." She said, her voice trembling slightly making Gray sigh in frustration and run a hand through his hair. "Lucy."

"I told you, I don't want to hear it! Please, I just—I just want to be alone and I don't want anything to do with him anymore, okay?!" She cried out, her voice trembling even more as it sounded like she was going to cry, her eyes watery.

"Lucy," Mirajane and Levy both said in a worried tone, standing up to come over to her but Lucy just shook her head and stood up. "Excuse me," she muttered, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. "I—I'm going to use the bathroom," she said before walking away and disappearing into the hall.

The two nurses watched her leave and soon turned to look at Gray who looked equally worried and frustrated, the policeman staring at them as if they were silently communicating.

Just then, Mirajane came over and gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry Gray," she sighed. "Lucy is really heartbroken."

"No kidding," he sighed. "Natsu is the same. Been drinking all day, blasting shitty break-up music in his apartment, and he hasn't taken a step out of his home for almost a week now."

"Unbelievable," the silver-haired nurse gasped making Gray nod. "Yeah, I'm worried, y'know?"

"Gray, just go find Lu-Chan and drag her out for lunch, will you please?" Levy said from behind Mirajane as the two looked over at the blue-haired nurse. "She hasn't eaten in days, she lost so much weight, and she's just so out of it, I think she needs to relieve some of that stress. Please—carry her all the way there if you have to. Just... please make her eat?" She begged making Gray press his lips into a tight line, nodding in determination.

"Do you know where the girl's bathroom is?"

When Mirajane told him the correct directions of where the women's bathroom was, he came face to face with the wooden door which had a large pink sigh which indicated it was the women's bathroom. He looked around nervously and debated weather or not if he should do this but he had to remind himself this wasn't for him—it was for his two friends.

Finally taking in a deep breath, he pushed open the door and entered to have Lucy leaning against the sink counter staring at herself in the mirror. She had tear-stains on her face and she looked like a wreck making him frown at her.

When Lucy realized somebody else was in the bathroom with her and staring, she turned her head and almost screamed bloody murder when she realized it was Gray in the bathroom with her.

"What do you think you're doing, pervert?! This is thewomen's bathroom! The male's bathroom is next door!" She screeched as Gray took a step forward. "Lucy, come with me." He said making her shake her head. "Itold you—"

"And I told you to come with me. It wasn't a fucking yes or no question, it's a command and I demand you listen to me."

"You're not my father, I don't have to listen to you."

"You better listen to me if you know what's good for you," he muttered under his breath as Lucy shook her head. "You better leave before somebody sees you and kicks you out."

"I don't give a shit. I'm not leaving until you come with me."

"Well looks like you won't be leaving because I'm notgoing." She denied once more, turning towards the mirror once more to wipe away her smudged make-up. "Besides, I have nothing to say." She added as Gray scoffed, stuffing his hands in his pocket. "Bullshit."

"Gray, seriously, I'm not going to talk to you about this in the women's bathroom." She sighed, trying to make him leave once again but he just crossed his arms and stood his ground. "Then come with me and we can talk about it somewhere else."

"I said no!"

"Fine, you want to play like that?"

"Just leave already," she said but Gray just took a step forward, flashing her a devilish grin. "I can play like that.

—X—

"Gray Fullbuster, I swear to god that if you don't put me down this instant, I'm never going to talk to you again! I will fucking trash your office and spray-paint your house pink and—and put me down!" She screamed as the policeman appeared out of the bathroom and walked down the hallway of the hospital as everyone stared. "Are you even listening to me?!"

"I'll have her back by two." Gray ignored the blonde on his shoulder as he waved goodbye to Levy and Mirajane who waved back before the two disappeared out of the hospital making Lucy scream bloody murder. "Gray!"

"Even if you don't have anything to say, I do, Lucy, alright?" He hissed as he reached the parking lot, looking for his car as Lucy finally stopped trashing. "What do you have to say? Isn't this about Natsu?"

"Yes, it is about him. He's my fucking best friend and you know what one of the things I hate in the world? When my friends are hurt."

"What?" She basically spat as Gray stopped right in front of his car and put the nurse down on her two feet, the blonde stumbling slightly to straighten her outfit. "What did you say?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Did you say Natsu... Natsu is hurting?" She repeated in disbelief as he nodded making him nod.

The blonde stood there silent, staring at nothing in particular as she thought of Natsu being the one hurt over this. Wasn't he just playing with her? Well, he did seem a bit hurt at the restaurant and she just thought it was because of his father. She honestly thought he didn't think of her as much, anyways.

"Why is Natsu hurting?"

"Because of you!" He snapped making her reel back and stare in shock as Gray threw his hands around. "Because of you, he's been drinking like crazy, blasting shitty break-up music in his apartment, and he haven't come out of that stupid rot-hole for almost a week! Don't you understand that he's effected by this break up too? Listen here Lucy," he sighed making her stare and listen. "Natsu loves you."

"Bull—"

"How are you going to tell me, his best friend, that hedoesn't love you? I know him, Lucy. I've been with that idiot ever since I've said my first words and took my first steps. I know how he acts when he likes someone and I know when he loves somebody and from what I see, he loves you. Stop denying it because I know you love him, too. We talked about this before, Lucy, I knowyou love him and I know he loves you, too. Will you two grow up and talk to each other now?!"

Standing there gawking, Lucy was beyond shocked from what Gray just said to her.

Love? Hurting? Deny?

"Natsu... wasn't using me?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly as he sighed. "Wasn't... it just for his father to—?"

"At first, we was. Really, it was just because of that but now, Lucy, can't see you see he fell for you hard? The constant house-breaks, hugs, kisses, dinner dates, and everything? He truly loves you and now, he regrets everything he's done and he afraid you hate him."

"Hate him? No... I don't hate him," she muttered under her breath as Gray sighed. "I don't."

"Tell him that. Tell him what you truly think, please. I can't see you two like this anymore." He begged making Lucy swallow thickly and nod, looking up at the ink-haired male. "Take me to him."

"I'm meeting up with him at Fairy Tail, you should meet us there, too. But like... dress nice, okay?" He offered making Lucy down at her scrubs uniform before looking back, nodding sheepishly as he smiled. He sighed in relief and placed his hand on her shoulder, smiling at the blonde. "Thank you, Lucy."

"No, thank you. You're such a great match-maker, Gray."

"Me?" He scoffed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as he started to walk around his car to place the blonde in his passenger seat. "Damn right I am. You up for some Chinese?"

Dressed in a t-shirt and tight black jeans, Natsu looked like a complete wreck as he hid his messy hair underneath a beanie. He twirled his keys around on his finger as he entered Fairy Tail Bar and Restaurant,greeting the people he knew before sliding in a bar stool all the way by the corner. "Hey Kinana." He greeted the bartender as the woman behind the counter flashed a smile. "Afternoon, Natsu. What are you doing here?"

"I'm supposed to meet Gray here, actually." He said as Kinana slid him some water as he gladly took it and sipped on it through a straw. "Have you seen him?"

"Not yet. I suppose he will arrive soon," she shrugged and she went on back to cleaning and wiping glasses leaving Natsu to drink his water and ponder.

How long has it been since he's been out in the open? A few days? Or was it a week? What day was it anyways?

Continuing to to sip on his drink, he was completely oblivious to the blonde who entered and walked towards the other side of the bar, not seeing the male in the dark corner. He did notice her later on when she cursed and sat herself down on the stood, her side facing him as she leaned against the counter.

Natsu felt sick to his stomach as he watched the blonde. She must have been going with her life and not even caring about them not speaking anymore. She looked pretty well but she looked like she lost some weight.

Not wanting to be spotted, he tried blending in the darkness even more as he tried listening to what she and Kinana was talking about it.

"Really, Kinana, I feel like shit." Lucy confessed as the purple-haired bartender frowned. "Why? Is everything okay?"

"I mean... everything was perfect for a while until... until..." Lucy trailed off as she swallowed thickly and remembered what happened just last week. Kinana saw the uneasiness in the blonde and reached forward, placing her hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, y'know."

"No, no," she shook her head, smiling slightly. "it's just, it's painful."

"Was it a breakup?"

"Yeah," she answered making Natsu's ear perk and his attention completely shift towards the two ladies by the other side. "I was... uhm, this is going to sound weird but I was sort-of fake married to this guy. He, uh, well, I met him a month ago. We told me his father was on his case about being single forever so he kind of, uh, asked me to pretend be his wife for a month, you see." She said as Kinana listened carefully and nodded. "And well... I thought it was pretty crazy at the start. I didn't think his father would believe it but he did and I ended up acting like his wife for a month. I met his family and we spent so much time together."

"So you're trying to say you fell for him, right?"

"Yes," Lucy sighed in frustration as covered her face with her hands. "I fell in love with him and... and last week, I fucked everything up by screaming and telling his father at dinner by accident. So, I'm pretty sure I made his father and him hate me."

"I don't hate you," a new voice joined in the conversation making Lucy jump and turn around, looking to see who said that. When she saw it was the fireman she was desperate to see and talk to, her eyes widened and she couldn't help but gasp loudly. "I don't hate you."

"Natsu..."

"Lucy, this past week has been a complete disaster for me, too. I've been home all the time drinking and blasting shitty music. I wanted to hear your voice and see you again but... you ignored all my calls and texts. I missed you... so much." He confessed as he took a step forward, his hands trembling slightly as he approached the blonde. "I never used you, Lucy. I never thought of you some kind of tool. I enjoyed every moment that was spent with you and I can proudly say that I do, indeed, love you with all my heart."

Gasping in surprise once more, Natsu reached forward and brushed a strain of hair behind her ear, smiling softly. "I love you, Lucy Heartfillia and I want you to marry me. And this time, for real."

"Natsu," Lucy whimpered as tears brimmed in her eyes as Natsu brushed them away. "Marry me Lucy and I promise I'll treat you so much better than before."

Without warning, Lucy launched herself into the male's arms as he yelped in surprise and stumbled back. One of his strong arms wrapped around her waists as he listened to the woman he loved so much sob into his arms, his sensitive ears picking up the l love yous that came out of her mouth.

He couldn't help but smile and hold her tightly, rocking her back and forth as he whispered his share of love into her ear.

Now that he had the woman he loved back, he just needed to fix his relationship with his father.

He wondered how Igneel will take this?

a massive apology to everyone(again) because i can't even do a simple task of uploading. urgh, it's a true struggle guys. i'm been very stressed and lonely lately. :/ and ill as well anyway ...

MAY UNICORNS AND JOY BE WITH YOU !