Gray's POV:

Violet needs me! Dammit! I knew leaving her with Warren was a bad idea. Violet, I'm coming! When I get to Violet she has locked herself in a shadow cage to keep the death from spreading. Clever girl, I think in admiration. I smile and knock on the cage. "Violet, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't with you. Let me help you. Won't you let me in?"

No response. Is she okay? Let her be okay. I attack the cage with ice over and over. The side nearest to me dissolves. "The cold. It's you. I am ready to let you in. Stay with me. Stay this time. Hold me."

I rush over to her. Her eyes are still black and I can tell she can't see. I scoop her into my arms and she closes her eyes. I kiss all around them. "Violet, open your eyes. You are scaring me."

"You are cold." She says.

"I'm sorry."

"No I like the cold. Let me feel you." She starts returning my kisses, spreading them across my chin and neck wherever she can reach. I grin down at her and move in toward her lips.

We are interrupted by Natsu. "What do you think you are doing Gray you perv? Put Violy down so I can kick your ass!"

"Gray?" she says, and finally opens her eyes. "You came?"

"Yes, you called me." I say to her. I look up at Natsu, "I won't. She wanted me."

"You could have died you idiot."

Erza has arrived now and she looks sad. "Gray, maybe you should put her down. Warren will need to examine her."

"No!" Violet says and clings to me tighter. I smirk at Gray and Erza. Redeemed.
"Gray don't leave me. I want to feel you. Please, keep touching me. Don't leave." My heart pounds as I realize what she is saying, and Violet buries her face in my shoulder, probably embarrassed. "You are like the cool shadows. You feel like home." Like the cool shadows?

Violet's POV:

"No!" I say, and cling to Gray even tighter. I don't want him to leave me. He feels right, don't take him away. "Gray don't leave me. I want to feel you. Please, keep touching me. Don't leave." I blush when I realize what I am saying, and bury my face in his shoulder. "You are like the cool shadows. You feel like home."

I realize that I need to say something to everyone. "I am done trying to remember. I can protect you all with the shadow cage. So I don't need to. I... I don't want things to change. I'm scared."

"Violet, what do you mean things will change?"

"Gray, you... you said you don't really know me," I mumble. "I don't want to remember. I just want you, and Fairytail." I continue loud enough for everyone to hear. "If my memory returns... I'll lose everything all over again!"

"So you're the one who caused this." Warren says to Gray.

Gray looks stricken. "I'm sorry, Violet, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I'll stay with you as long as you need me." I can relax now, knowing that.

Erza sighs. "Well we can all agree that Violet needs to rest now. So let's camp with the group all together tonight."

I collapse, exhausted.

Gray's POV:

"So you're the one who caused this." Warren says to me.

I feel sick. When I realize he is right. Oh god, oh god. I didn't! "I'm sorry, Violet, I'm so sorry, that's not what I meant. I'll stay with you as long as you need me." And I love touching you. I think, and kiss her head.

Erza sighs. "Well we can all agree that Violet needs to rest now. So let's camp with the group all together tonight."

Violet must be exhausted. She collapses in my arms. "Here Gray-san sit down," Wendy says. "I'll get a bed ready for her." I realize that I am pretty exhausted too. I slump onto the ground where Wendy motioned for me to sit. When the bed is all ready I try to put Violet down, but she is still clinging to me in her sleep, so I just get in with her.

"Geez Gray, you really are a perv." Natsu says leering at me. "Just kidding, just kidding! Erza and Warren said that they want to talk to you."

"Well I don't want to talk to them. Besides, she won't let go of me, and I am not about to make her."

"Hmm" Natsu says and stomps off.

"Gray," Erza says in my head, "be cautious. Don't get your heart broken."

"Sigh. Warren's ability is a real pain in the ass sometimes." I say to both Erza and Warren. "What do you know about it Erza? I've been with her since she first came here, when she was injured. I've been falling for her all this time and now... she wants me."

"Don't forget she has 400 years of life missing from her memory. She said it herself-- when she gets her memory back everything could change. What if she forgot something really important, like a husband?"

"Like a husband?! What are you trying to do, torture me? I'm almost as exhausted as Violet. Butt out."

"What did you just say to me?... Sigh. Nevermind. You're upset. I am done here. Remember, you have more than just Violet that cares about you."

I look at her sleeping, clinging to my arm, I stroke her hair with my other hand and she smiles and sighs in her sleep. I don't want to lose her.

"Look, Gray, I know you don't like me much right now," adds Warren, "but please listen to me about this. Violet has forgotten most of her life. When she remembers things in bits and pieces, it causes her great pain. She needs to remember it so she can heal. The thing to ask yourself, if you really love her... you will care about her more than yourself. Do you really think it is in her best interest for her to stay this way? You can be with her through this, but don't hold her back."

"I know. I already explained that I didn't mean to."

"And think if she did forget someone else that she loves... It is possible. I am not asking you to leave her. Just take it slow. Moving too fast has broken many hearts. If you bond yourself to each other and she has another love... It will be bound to hurt even more."

"Yeah, okay, Warren-senpai. I'll think about it. Now let me sleep."

So how do I take things slow and still be here for her? She has made it all too clear that she wants me...
I fall asleep dreaming about what would have happened if Natsu and Erza hadn't shown up.