A/N: Yes I have read the whole Fairy Tail series till the end and yes I know all about the canon ships but this story is completely detached from the main setting. I am only using the characters in a setting of an alternate universe with a lot of changes to their personality. I haven't decided on the ending yet, nope. So it's basically me making the story up as I go. You're completely free to not like it. Just remember that I don't want any ship wars considering I like to respect everyone's views. Thank you.

Prologue

"Can you hold my hand..?"

"We-..we shouldn't-"

"..just one last time?"

Her voice didn't crack. She managed to keep herself in check. And yet she was sure that he could see through it all. He always did. He always knew when there was something wrong with her. Regardless, she put on a fake smile while her eyes hurt from forcing back the tears. She could see it. The hint of pity in his eyes. But she did not care. She did not care how pathetic she might be acting. She just wanted to feel it. Feel his touch one last time. For her...if it was going to end, it might as well end how it all began.

Which was her, falling in love with him.

It took him forever but he reluctantly offered his hand as he waited for her to place her own on it. And she did without a moment's delay, fearing that he might change his mind. His hand was cold and she wondered how unfair it was for him to still be able to make her feel so warm inside. She closed her eyes, as if taking in the moment and writing it in her memories to never be erased again. He didn't say a word. And she appreciated the silence, even though she couldn't silence his voice in her head. The words that he spoke to her not a few minutes ago, seemed to echo through her entire existence.

"I don't think...I can do this anymore. I don't think I really...love you.."

She could have told him to stay. Fought for it all to last. But he did not leave any room for any kind of effort. She could try to change his mind if it were this relationship that he was not satisfied with. But how could she make him fall in love with her? She couldn't.

She opened her eyes and they met his. It would probably be the last time she could lock eyes with him without feeling awkward for meeting the eyes of a stranger. Because that's what she was going to be to him from now on. A stranger.

"Thank you." She finally murmured, swiftly taking her hand away from his.

She showed him a last smile as he stared at her for another few seconds. She didn't meet his eyes this time. She couldn't. He finally gave her a nod and turned his back to her. She moved her gaze back to him, staring at his back this time. The back of the man who promised her the world. The back of the man who she is still madly in love with.

The back of the man who never really felt the same.

Natsu Dragneel got into his car, parked a few meters away from where she was standing, now alone. He shot a last look at her, realizing that she was still looking at his way. With a pang of guilt, he turned his gaze to the front and started the engine.

He didn't have any complaints with her. Lucy Heartfilia was the best woman, Natsu had ever come across. She was every definition of perfect for him. But the fault lied with him. He couldn't bring himself to love her as much as he wished he could. So he decided to end the relationship before it became a burden for him.

He liked to be free. And he was exactly that now.

Lucy watched his car speed away and she watched it until neither the car nor it's shadow was in view. She then let herself crash on the hard cold concrete road. She couldn't stop the shaking that seemed to have spread all over her body. And she knew very well that the cold wasn't the one to blame. The proof of that soon showed itself from the tears that followed. She unconsciously hugged herself in an attempt to stop the shaking and bit her lower lip, trying to prevent the moans that threatened to escape.

It was very close to midnight and the traffic was next to none. Not many passersby remained in the street either. The few ones that did, only gave her curious looks before deciding to walk away. Except for just one man.

A raven haired male had finally found the person he was looking for. Though what he did not expect was for her to be sitting in the middle of the street seeming completely broken and detached from the rest of the world. Several emotions were displayed in his features, among which shock was the most evident one. He fastened his pace, making his way to the distressed figure, taking off the dark grey blazer that he had on as he did so.

"Lucy!" He finally called her name upon reaching her. He knelt down in front of her as he placed the blazer around her shoulders. She responded to his call by looking up at him. Her eyes seemed red and puffy as the tears showed no sign of stopping. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips trembling as her lower lip showed signs of bleeding.

"G-Gray.." she forced out in a soft but unsteady tone and his first instinct was to pull her into his arms in a tight embrace.

Her sobs were drowned in his neck and Gray gritted his teeth as a mix of anger and hurt flowed through him. He hated that man because he had it all. He had everything that Gray wanted. Yet he threw it all away. And he hated himself for not gathering up the courage to make the first move. After all he knew his feelings weren't temporary. Yet as he felt her trembling in pure pain in his arms, he knew all that did not matter now. It was too late to go back to the start.

But it wasn't too late for him to promise himself to not make the same mistake again.

A/N: Alright! Done with the prologue! The main story will begin from the next chapter! I hope you guys look forward to it. :)