I stand by what I said last time. This is a romance. All love that has not friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon sand, and all that.

But enough about that. I think you made Gray's backstory better. I should've picked up on it as soon as he said his mother was different, but hey, I'm glad I didn't. The reveal brought a smile to my face. Their whole dynamic did. This entire story is a study on what could've been. Sigh.

Thank you for writing it. It's been a good Sunday xD

So, I know how you keep saying that you suck at writing romance, and that I always tell you otherwise, but I think you just proved once and for all that you're a master at it with this here chapter. There is a romance in friendship that is undeniable. That's a whole essay right there, but you get the point. The GrayZa friendship easily lends itself to a deep romance, and you just demonstrated why. Romance isn't sucking face and being cute. Romance is this. It was beautiful. Now to see what you have lined up for me next chapter.

OH. This left me breathless. Dark themes such as depression and suicide...It's ugly, it's twisted, and it's heartbreaking. More often than not, it's also taboo to speak about.

But here, you showcase how it's actually OKAY to talk about it. Hell, you show why it's actually IMPORTANT to address and truly speak openly about such issues. And you do it in such a way that it's both realistic and heartbreakingly emotional, yet still ends with a spark of hope. This...this was a masterpiece. Thank you for sharing this. 3

[Moved from AO3 for archiving purposes.]

Oooh, I love it. As always, though. . That being said, I do appreciate how you worked that in, made it fit rather well with the rest of Gray's story. It's such an interesting thing to think on. Adding to the chillingly accurate expression of what depression can feel like... Granted, personal experience can lend a depth to any story, but you portray it in a way that I can't quite put into words myself. I have experience myself, and yet have never been able to explain it as cleanly as Gray was able to, or rather, as you were. You have my admiration, as always, and my sincere thanks for putting these up. I love reading them~

Love this so much, being depressed myself I was really touched by this chapter.

Man, Gray has been through so much. I really agree with Erza when she says Gray doesn't deserve any of the suffering life throws at him. It's really interesting to see more and more secrets pour out of him with every fanfic you make related to that topic. Especially this one, where Erza finds out why Gray checks on her when she's by the river, because he's afraid of her trying to drown herself when she's upset, like his mother, and how that reason has turned towards the better. I love the ending, it gave me a sense of closure with a pretty strong topic. Thank you for this story and goodnight(? At least where I live)

Tbh considering the dark cloud it left me in in the first chapter, Gray's mom being the cause is not something I expected. Sure, it played out perfectly and touched the subject of depression more than it would ever touch it in the manga, but the reason behind it was, well, maybe I don't like veering off the canon. the little grayza friendship moment at the end was cute AF. :3

Fairy Tail is gonna end in 2 volumes lol life is gonna be better soon XD

don't post this comment, I just shouted "yes" when i read the sentence "missing will be posted next" , sending you virtual cakes and cookies !

ok i had to comment again i've just seen your bio update and "missing" looks really interesting!

you know what i will just believe that you chose to post this today on purpose (and not due to a glitch ) cuz may 11th is the birthday of someone i know XD, but in reality i've actually only yesterday noticed that chapter 1 was updated and that there is a glitch in the site etc and i wondered wouldn't it be nice if this was posted on may 11th (and technically it was posted on may 10h but hey i've just seen it now and its 11th so i will believe whatever i ant to believe! or i will pretend that i live in that side of the world where it was already may 11th 7 hours ago! ) . erza i totally understand you , i mean i fall even when i don't wear shoes so people who skate and those who can walk wearing heals look like superhuman to me! ok i understand why gray is mad but erza was just practicing skating i mean be a bit nicer to her and i think she learnt her lesson now that she is soaking. ok i think something is really wrong with gray to overreact over cold water i can only think about ur but i don't think ur fell into water so it doesn't make sense. hahaha imagine having a natsu in a cold winter, you can really save a lot of money on heating expenses, but i think it would be more awesome to have a gray in a hot summer (since our winter isn't really all that cold) i could start a business selling hi ice to people ! hahaha i see what you did there with happy's comment on juvia . his mom ! wow that's a plot twist, and to think that he went to the river for an entirely different reason! yeah i admire erza too, it's really hard to be strong and it's an interesting angle to look at things from the prospective of how gray doesn't want to end like his mother as opposed to how to deal with his sadness (even though both things can sometimes be one and the same) what an intense chapter! i'm not really familiar with depression so i was wondering if it does really run in the family (a genetic sort of thing ?)? and nope of course i didn't knew what ophelia represents in pop culture

Again, as a Grayza shipper. I applaud you... (i know, friend-shipping etc etc etc ;) )

I got the reference... Ophelia, nice touch and very symbolic to this stories overall story. Especially as you said, using Gray and Erza. And that final sentence from Erza... I am doing the 'Ok' hand gesture as we speak. hits me right in the Grayza feels. (i know friend-shipping etc etc etc)

The syntax glitch (as i call it) has gone and this was literally at the top of the list. You could imagine my thoughts seeing it ('it was oh, noice, shit, i have food' for your information :D ). And of course, if anything i think you just made the river scene SO MUCH BETTER... Like fucking hell Mashima give this one a job at making your story series as it is much better than what you have made in the last 3 to 5 years! XD

*Fanboy Rant*

Anyway... *clears throat* besides the usual praises of great grammar, good pacing and gratifying Madness (ok that one is a stretch XD) i would say that this is a great end, one of my favourites, due to the obvious Grayza bias i have...
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(I know friend-shipping etc etc etc ;) )
Getting tired of that yet? XD

Anyway, once again, well done on this, it was soooo worth the wait and i can't wait for your next story.

-Viperhat

I think I may have known this before, but I guess I forgot so...

It's like Gray never really got over his grief (which EVERYONE knows, I'm getting to the point), but ignored it in favor for his guild mates. This, too, I had known, but if you word it like, "Gray's only reason for living was his guild," then it becomes different. It just seemed that way when he was an angry kid, but once he saw Erza crying, his focus changed to comforting her, to seeing what to say, what not to say, and basically helping her as much as he could. I don't know, that's just how I feel.

Anyway, this was something that the canon touched on but never went further. Waiting for more!

You're right, Gray. Nothing good comes from water in Fairy Tail world. #Juvia X3 that undertone of him testing waters with them dark thoughts on his mind... awesome _
I creep myself out sometimes. XD
Erza aww. if only it was true in Canon. but she has her own problems too. to be honest, the lack of communication between the team members, despite the guild being nakama centric, is fucking hilarious.

and, legit, Gray was declared depressed and, not borderline, but 100% suicidal. And yet, only Natsu tried to talk sense into him. as if one statement cures mental illness AF. Moreover, Gruvia. idk which is worse. him being suicidal or him constraining himself to psychopaths, showcasing put decision making and weird life-long masochism bs.

Loved .

Omg! Beautiful start! They're so adorable together :)