Hi all! Welcome to the final day of the second annual GaLu week.

And please, check out the other ladies in the Crack Fiction Liberation Army. Talk about some seriously talented writers all in one place :)

I don't own Fairy Tail.

Without further ado... Day 7 - Haunted.

Now I'm bound by the life you've left behind...

Gajeel sat back on his haunches and stared at the box he'd just taped up. He tried telling himself that the contents didn't matter, but they did. His seemingly lifeless gaze fluctuated around the room, counting the numerous boxes that were sealed and closed.

Walls that once held numerous pictures were now bare, only dust outlines remaining where they'd been hung. Bookcases that used to be home to countless books, figurines and trinkets were now empty. The closet door that used to be a bitch to close because of the amount of clothes now sat ajar, the space beyond devoid of the clutter it once housed.

"It will get easier."

The sound of her voice made his throat tighten and his eyes burn. The fingers on his left hand pressed together, the single iron band bringing him just the smallest bit of comfort. He pushed himself up to stand and he glanced down at the hand. She'd begged him to make it just like hers, a bunny and dragon etched into the now dulled surface. "If you say so," he whispered.

Pulling his gaze from the ring, he moved to stack the boxes off to the side. Tomorrow he'd take them to their new home but for now he needed them out of the way. Stacking them neatly to the side, he made sure they were all properly labeled. She liked order, liked things neat and easy to get to.

"You're a mess Gaj. I love you," She paused to press her lips against his in a chaste kiss before pulling back to smile up at him. "But even organized chaos is still chaos."

His lips twitched before he turned and glanced at the bed. It was as bare as the rest of the room. The sheets and bed covers that held their combined scent, no matter how many times they were washed, were neatly folded and put away in one of the boxes.

A stray pony tail holder sat on the desk and he walked over, his fingers playing with the silly item before he picked it up and slid it onto his wrist. No matter how many times he'd picked the things up, she'd always manage to leave one hidden somewhere. He often swore they had legs and snuck out just to annoy him.

"I promise, I didn't leave it there!"

"Ok Bunny, if you say so."

With one last look about, he walked to the door and flicked the light switch before pulling it closed. His eyes immediately went to the kitchen but he sighed and walked past it. Making his way to the couch, he sat down and looked around the room. It looked as empty as the last save for the boxes that were stacked to the side.

Their whole lives up to this point was neatly packed and organized, not one thing forgotten or left behind. It had taken weeks to get it done, the hardest part had been starting. But now it was done. The last of the boxes taped, everything neatly sorted and stored.

"Baby, you look so tired. Why don't you get some rest?"

A weary sigh escaped his lips and he let his head fall to the couch back, his eyes closing. The muscles in his jaws clenched as the scent of her filled his nostrils. Fingers wove their way into his hair and a sob choked in his throat. He loved her touch. He could always feel the love she had for him, even in something as simple as her fingertips. She always drove out his demons, her light burning out the darkness that tried to creep in.

His eyes opened and he only saw her. Her beauty never failed to catch him off guard. The warm depths of her chocolate eyes, her smile, the light pink that dusted her cheeks, the way her hair fell to perfectly frame her face. He loved her hair down. When they were home, she always wore it down just for him.

"I love you happy. This makes you happy so of course I do it for you."

"You happy is what makes me happy Bunny."

The vice on his chest seemed to tighten, the air escaping his lungs as cold, wet tears slipped from the corners of his eyes to wet his hair. He could feel her pressed to his side, feel her arms around him, feel her head on his chest and feel her hair tickling his skin. She was his only happiness, had been long before she'd confessed. "Always will be," he choked.

"I love you Gajeel, always and forever. Never forget that."

"I love you more Bunny."

"Always and forever?"

"Until my last breath and then in every life after that."

Uncontrollable anger welled up, his shattered heart breaking all over again. A strangled roar ripped from his mouth as his fist slammed down against the couch. A year. A whole year since she'd disappeared. It had been his fault. He'd been too scared to mark her but now that choice is what haunted him. Every day, it was the same. She haunted every facet of his life, keeping him where she'd left him. He saw her everywhere, had the same conversations with her in his head over and over, prayed endlessly to wake up or turn back time.

But he'd promised her…always and forever. The last lead had been a dead end and that had been six months ago. There had been no word, not even a whisper of a hint. Those that cared urged him to consider erecting a memorial in her name. He'd been fighting it, he didn't want to give up. But there was no escaping that forever seemed to end so much sooner than they'd planned. That realization gripped his chest with crushing force and he struggled to breathe from one minute to the next.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from the tidal wave of grief that was pulling him under. His rough hands wiped carelessly at his tear swollen eyes. He wasn't in the mood for company but then everyone in the guild seemed to be clued in. They dropped by when the memories and the dark abyss threatened to consume what was left of him. The knock sounded again and he huffed, trying to steady himself as he pushed up from the couch.

"Look guys I'm not…" he grunted as he pulled the door and his words died on his lips. Gray and Erza stood there and he blinked. They'd been out for three weeks on a mission and wasn't due back until the following week. They reeked of apprehension and tears as they regarded him with uneasy smiles and shifty eyes. "What?" He asked hesitantly as he peered out into the hallway, looking for Natsu only to find he wasn't with them. A nervous chill crept up his spine.

The redhead bit at her bottom lip and glanced at the ice-make mage as if looking for confirmation. "We…We need you to come to the guild."

He could hear anxiety in her voice, her normal tone quivering and Gray simply nodded as if afraid to speak. His grip tightened on the door, his emotions set off on a rollercoaster of dread, anger and anguish. No…no…they found her. She's gone… He shook his head as he backed away from the door. This was what he'd feared the most. Finding her dead meant all hope was officially gone. His world was quickly crashing and he sank to his knees.

"Fuck! Gajeel no…damn it! It's not what you think." Gray swore, a sob straining his voice.

He barely registered the feminine arms that wrapped around him as he looked up through tear blurred eyes. "What the fuck do you mean it's not what I think? I can't see her body! I can't see…" A strangled growl cut his words off. He couldn't even bring himself to say she was dead.

"Oh god Gajeel, no! It's not…just…you need to come to the guild. We did find something but it's not that…she isn't dead."

The iron dragon slayer glanced at the requip mage to find her smiling despite the tears streaming down her face. His brows furrowed in confusion. Her words didn't make sense, neither did the tearful smile on her face. "How do you know that? Did someone find him?" He asked hesitantly and saw the two pass each other an odd look. She brought a hand up to his cheek and he stiffened, his nostrils flaring. Her hand. It smelled too familiar but different. Why hadn't he caught it before?

Without another word, he pulled away and pushed himself up faster than either of the other two could register. He took off out of the apartment, his feet carrying him at a break-neck speed towards the guild. His mind raced, his heart pounding in his ears and he tried to stamp down the hope that was swelling in his chest. He stumbled up the steps and almost ripped the door off of its hinges, everyone inside stilling as they caught sight of him.

Sunshine. Lillies. Vanilla.

His eyes scanned the hall and locked on the tall blonde male who stood frozen at the top of the steps, a tiny hint of a smile twitching on his lips. The man gave him a single nod before gesturing back towards the steps that lead to the infirmary. Please Mavis. Please Mavis let this be real. It was the mantra that repeated in his head as he dashed up the stairs.

Gajeel's feet slowed as he approached the infirmary door, a sliver of light tumbling out of the cracked opening. He made out the sound of low muffled voices and he reached up to press against the ache in his chest. He found himself afraid. He feared touching the door. He dreamed this too many times. If he touched the door and woke up again it would kill him.

"It's real Gajeel."

His eyes shifted at the sound of the small voice to find the first master standing there, her hands clasped in front of her. A serene smile settled on her face as she beckoned him forward and pushed at the door to open it wider. His feet moved without direction but he halted himself in the doorway. Mira stood on one side of a bed, a broad smile on her face as she giggled. Porlyusica was bent over the bedside table with a smiling Wendy at her side. The small dragon slayer looked over and her smile widened as she gestured towards the pink-haired dragon slayer standing at the foot of the bed. Natsu turned and gave him a teary eyed but cheeky grin before he moved.

Gajeel's breath caught in his throat and his eyes burned with more unshed tears. Sitting up in the bed was a mass of honey blonde hair framing the face that haunted his dreams. Only now it was a little thinner than he remembered. The fading circles under her eyes couldn't take away from the sparkle that was in their chocolate depths. Her full lips were pulled up in a soft smile that faltered as her eyes shifted towards him and soft gasp escaped her lips.

He felt frozen in place as he watched her swing her legs over the side of the bed and slid off to stand. The simple brown dress she wore seemed to hang off of her frame, two sizes too big. Her eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip trembled as she moved towards him.

"I should've kept that pocket watch of yours with me."

All of the air in his lungs rushed out at the sound of her voice and he moved despite the weak feeling in his knees. He crushed her body to his and buried his face in her hair, sobs choking him as the scent of her filled his nose. He couldn't care less that he was crying like a baby in front of others. "Please tell me you're real Bunny," He whispered against her.

Her arms tightened around him as her shoulders began to shake. The sound of her sobs, the feel of her tears as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck were too real. His heart soared and the dragon inside roared. It was her. She was home. He slid his hands up to her head and pulled back to look at her tear streaked face. She was beautiful when she cried and his chest ached with just how much he'd missed her.

"I prayed…every night that you'd find me. That someone would find me and bring me back home to you."

He smiled through his own tears and brushed at the wet tracks on her cheeks with his thumbs. "You're home now Bunny and I'm never letting you out of my sight again." He crushed his lips to hers, letting himself sink into the comfort of her presence. He silently vowed, that come the morning sun, she'd be marked as his mate. He loved her too much not too.

"I love you Bunny," He murmured against her lips.

She pulled back and looked up at him with the love that he never thought to see again. "I love you too, forever and ever."

And whew! GaLu week comes to an end and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. She is home and they live happily ever after...with 33 blonde haired, red eyed babies! :D

GEM! Closure enough? :D Love my triplet sisters!

As always, please R & R!

Hugs!

Princess Nana

~Lieutenant of the Specialist Ops, ERO Division of the Crack Fiction Liberation Army~