Erza P.O.V

I was walking down the plaza, admiring the Christmas lights that lit up town square. I looked around at every couple and sighed heavily.

I'm the only single girl here, huh?

Usually around this time, Jellal and I would walk through town square, going from store to store to buy bulks of food so we could enjoy an all nighter watching cheesy Christmas specials, but this year was different. Now he has Meredy and there's no room for me, especially since he hates me.

I sighed again at the thought of my best friend. Snap out of it Erza! You're here to see the tree and then leave, so stop thinking about that asshole.

After reminding myself of my goal, I looked ahead of me to see the great christmas tree a few steps away. I smiled as I stared at the magnificent bright tree that brought back beautiful memories.

I wish...Jellal was here...

I walked up closer to the tree to get a better view of its beauty when I heard the sounds of crying.

Yikes...I guess someone's having a worse time than me...

I turned my attention to the sound and saw a man crying in the cold with an ugly sweater. His hands covered his face but his sobs echoed through the crowd of people, and his tears stained the concrete that laid beneath him.

Poor guy...must have gotten his heart broken. I can relate.

I sighed as I made my way past the crying person, not wanting to get involved, but as I walked by, I saw the last person I would ever expect to be crying on Christmas eve.

"Jellal? What are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.

He slowly lifted his head to face me, tears running down his cheeks. "Er-Erza~!" As he stood up, his legs began to shake, making him stumble as he tried to walk up to me.

When he finally reached me, he had fallen to the ground, landing on his knees. He then placed his arms around my waist, and rested his head on my belly, like a child.

"Er-Erza...she...she dumped me!"

"Huh?"

"Me-Meredy, she...dumped me!" He began to cry even more, making a stain of tears on my thick black jacket.

I placed my hand on his head, and began to pet him. "There there."

Meredy dumped him?! This is the best--second best day of my life! The first is when I actually start a family with him--but that's not important right now! I finally have Jellal back!

I kept day dreaming about having him back, and I completely forgot to listen to what he was saying.

"Erza..."

I then snapped back to reality and answered, "Ye-yeah?"

"I'm...I'm really sorry for being an ass..." As he looked up at me, his eyes glowed with sincerity. And like a puppy, I couldn't hold a grudge against him.

I blished lightly and ruffled his hair. "Glad you finally noticed."

His frown slowly turned into a guilty smile and he took his eyes away from mine. Slowly, he stood up from the floor and began to fix his face, never letting his eyes reach mine. "Hey Erza..." he whispered while he rubbed his nose, "...do you think...we can spend Christmas together...like the old times?"

He was my best friend, and despite everything that happened, my love for him never changed. It's a curse and a blessing.

I sighed with a smile as I grabbed onto his hand. "Why not?"

***

Levy P.O.V

I was at home, hiding away in my room while my parents through the greatest Christmas party of the year. And like always, that party wasn't made for the family, it was made for their image. That party was made to bring the wealthy, business owners, and anyone who had a name worth knowing. Nothing was ever made just for the family, including myself.

I grabbed my cup of coffee and sat down by the window, feeling lonely. I tried to slouch as I looked out the window, but the dress my parents forced me to wear interfered with the way I sat. My body knew not to slouch while in a dress, and it annoyed me. Even when I tried to run away from being the perfect Levy, my body still remembered how to be perfect.

I hate them...I hate them so much...

Suddenly the thought of Gajeel raced through my mind again: "Why do you hate yourself?"

"Because..." I whispered to myself, "Nobody loves me..."

My heart dropped in my chest and tears began to fill my eyes. No matter what I did no one paid attention to me! No one ever loved me for being myself, so I changed. I changed so I everyone could notice me!

I threw the cup of coffee to the floor and watched how the liquid stained the expensive carpet my mother loved. But no matter what I do...no one ever gives me attention...

I then looked up from the carpet and noticed my closet. I slowly walked up to it, opened the door, and rummaged through the clothes to find the only piece of clothing that sparked joy for me: Gajeel's jacket.
I took out the tathered jacket and hugged it in my arms. You're the only one who's ever paid attention to me...

I placed on the jacket, allowing it to wrap itself around me. I the slowly brought the oversize jacket to my noise and breathed in the scent. "Mmm...even after all these years, it still smells like him..."

I then walked to my bed and laid down. As wrapped myself in his jacket, I began to fall in a trance of memories, but I quickly snapped myself out of it, not wanting to remember my past.

"No Levy, never think of the past...I gotta get out of here...I have to be with him..."

I walked over to my closet and took out my suit case. I packed all my clothes, my wallet, school supplies, and a few extra drum sticks. I then rolled my bag to the door, ready to leave.

As I opened my bedroom door, I looked back to see my great collection of books. Memories flowed through my mind but I didn't allow them to take over. I quickly shook my head convincing myself that I had changed: "I'm not that Levy anymore."

I slammed the door closed and walked down the stairs, ready to leave behind my past forever.

***

I was walking out the front door, when my mother saw me. "Levy! Where are you going with those?"

"Anywhere but here."

I then walked out the door with a bag on my back and one in my hand.

"Levy!" she yelled as she came running out the house. Once she finally reached me, she grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. "Levy! What's gotten into you?"

I quickly pulled my arm away from her in disgust.

"Levy, come back inside. You're making a scene, and take that ugly jacket off. You're giving us a bad reputation."

Reputation. All my life I heard that word, and it controlled me like a puppet. As a child, I did what I was told so my mother would love me, but all I did was feed her reputation. And like a slave to its master, I came to hate her and the word that ran my life. I found a way to escape her control by ignoring her needs for a good reputation. I no longer wanted to live under her control.

"That's all you ever cared about! 'Levy, be a good girl, you don't want to embarrass us and ruin our reputation!', 'Levy, don't you ever miss behave because you'll ruin our reputation!', 'Levy, be good so we can maintain a good reputation!'

That was all I ever heard from you! You would twist your words and say it was for the family but it was really all about you and your stupid love for money and power!"

"Levy McGarden, you do not talk to me that way! I am your mother, and as your mother I was only looking out for you and the family!"

"No! You were looking out for yourself! You liked being rich and powerful, but you wouldn't have been this 'super rich woman' if you hadn't married dad, and when he threatened to leave you, you came up with me so I could hold your stupid marriage together! You've never loved me! You only used me as a source of your stupid reputation!"

"H-how...how did you know...?"

Incredible...even now this woman refuses to hide how she used me...

"Because people like to gossip, and even as a child, I was too smart for my own good."

My mother stood there speechless, and in her shook, I quickly ran away, while I had a chance.

My mother never loved me. All she cared about was money and status; my father never saw me as his daughter but as the object that stood between him and his mistress. They're the reason why I'm so broken...why I hate myself.

"Levy!"

I felt my heart stop at the sound of mother voice. I didn't move and I waited for my mother to say something, hoping she might apologize for everything she's done.

"Don't you ever come back."

My blood froze and my heart stopped it's beats. What...?

"You're a disgrace to the McGarden family name! No body wants you here--I don't want you here, so go!"

Tears slowly fled my eyes and I continued to walk away. Of course...why would I ever think she would apologize? That's too much to ask from a mother that never loved me.

***

I ended up sitting at an empty bus stop. I was walking around aimlessly with no where to go until I saw the bench and stopped to rest.

What was I thinking...? What have I been doing with my life...? I really fucked things up now...

I closed my eyes and held my face with hands as I cried. I just want to be loved!

"Shrimp?"

I jumped from the sound if the man's voice. G-Gajeel...?

I quickly wiped my tears and looked up at the only man that ever call me that name.

"I'm surprised to see you here, shrimp. Why're you just sitting here?"

I couldn't come up with an excuse so I told him the truth instead, "I...I ran away from home..."

His eyes filled with tears and in moments the smile the crossed his face turned into a loud laughter. "Gihihi! I can't believe you of all people ran away from home."

"Shu-shut up!"

He sat down besides me, still chuckling to himself.

"Laugh it up, pal. I'm glad you find my situation amusing," I said sarcastically with an eye roll.

After a few more laughs he calmed down. Everything went silent and I grew uncomfortable. Why's he so quiet all of a sudden?

I turned over to face him and saw him staring at the jacket. I forgot I had this on!

"That jacket...it's mine."

Hurry up Levy, think of a cover up!

"Oh uh this thing...? It's uh...a uh..." I sighed heavily, knowing there was no way to cover up this situation.

"You told me you didn't remember."

"..." Great...now he probably hates me...

"Levy," he whispered gently as he reached for my hand.

"Wh-what?" My face was warming up and my palms became sweaty. What is he doing?!

His right hand cupped the top of the hand that rested ontop of my thigh, and his left hand went across of me, reaching over to the open flap of the jacket. His body was so close to mine it was as if he were trying to embrace me. Then, his face began to move towards me; his lips nearly closing in on mine.

I started to shake nervously as sweat managed to run down my back in the freezing weather of winter. I closed my eyes on instinct, preparing for what seemed like a kiss. But as soon as I closed my eyes, he began to laugh.

"You sure are dressed nice~" He said as he opened the jacket and reveled my expensive dress. My face turned a bright red and I couldn't believe I let myself get played.

"Gehihi, relax! I'm just teasing you!"

I pouted and looked away in embarrassment.

"Oh come on, don't be upset~" he grabbed my face with his hands and slowly turned it towards him. He smirked and leaned in with a kiss.

W-wha-what?! Did he just-?!

"There, that's my magic spell for making you happy."

I stared at him, blinking my eyes repeatedly in confusion. Did he just kiss me?!

He then stood up form the bench with a stretch. "Get your bags, we're going."

"Huh?"

"You need a place right?"

I nodded my head, still confused by his command.

"Well, then grab your bags and let's go."  

"Bu-but where?"

"My place of course."

My face flushed red ad I couldn't think straight. I-I can't just live with him! I'm not even his girlfriend or anything!

As sat in confusion, he quickly snapped me out of it by showing me his hand. "I'll take care of you, Levy."

My entire life I wanted someone to love me, and I think I finally found that person that would love me matter what. My mind became clouded by the rose colored glasses I placed on. I took his hand and allowed him to save me.

He smiled at me, putting the smiles of princes to shame. I felt like a queen, and I had never felt that way about myself before. Tears slolwy left my eyes and all I could do was smile. "Thank you Gajeel..."

"Is that all I get?" He asked teasingly.

"Umm...super thank you?"

"How about I love you?"

Love? Is that what I've been feeling for him?

I thought about it and finally spoke, "Alright, I like you."

"Really?" He asked with a chuckle.

I stayed silent as he held my hands in his. What does he want me to say?

He stared into my eyes, sending shivers down my spine. "I love you, Levy McGarden."

In that moment, it felt like time had stopped. As if nothing in the world existed but me and him. "You...love me?" I asked while trying to process things.

"Yeah, since the day you saved me," he replied with a smile.

I'm not sure if it was in the heat of the moment, but I said three words to him, words I never thought I would ever say to any human being but Lucy: "I love you too."