Of Fire and Ice

C.73

I got up the next morning and dressed and did my face and hair and sat on my bed. I opened the new pill bottle and shook a few out, swallowed one, and put the others back.

As I went to Fairy Tail, I felt literally no different. This lasted three days, until I noticed I couldn't sleep and I started feeling nauseated and vomiting about once a day.

So at my next appointment date, I told Dr Williams that the pills made me feel bad. "It's only been two weeks, Henley. These things usually take three or four weeks. We'll see if they're working by our next meeting." She said at the end of one.

So I kept taking them. I was noticing small changes, though. I was sleeping a little bit better after two weeks, my appetite had increased, and I was generally feeling more motivated to do stuff.

But the vomiting and headaches were not going away. I'd managed to keep it a secret from everyone except Harley and Grey (and my dragons, of course), but they found out on Wednesday of the third week, when I felt a lurch in my stomach and got up and sprinted to the bathroom.

I opened a stall and puked into the toilet bowl, and soon felt hands pulling back my hair and rubbing my back. "It's okay. Henley, it's alright." I heard Lucy saying.

Once I was done, I lifted my head and rested against the stall wall as Lucy flushed it for me. "Thanks, Luce." I said, and she helped me stand up. I went to the sink and grabbed a paper towel, wetting it and started dabbing at my face to try and not make myself look like a mess.

"Henley, are you pregnant?" She asked and I laughed. "No, I'm not pregnant. It's this medication. Vomiting is a side effect." I said and she nodded. "How long have you been on this?" She asked. "Three and a half weeks. But the puking has actually gone down a bit." I said.

"Well, is it working?" Lucy asked and I looked at her. "The medicine?" She clarified and I nodded. "Yeah, it is." I smiled.

This is true. The weight on my chest has lightened up a bit, and the hole didn't seem as big as before.

I rinsed my mouth to get the taste of vomit out and stole a mint from the bathroom, and Lucy and I walked out. I went right to the bar. "Hey, Henley. You okay?" She asked and I nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. Can I get a water, please?" I asked and she nodded. "Course. Here." She said and slid me a glass. "Thanks." I smiled and took it back to the table.

"Are you okay?" Natsu asked with a bit of worry in his voice. "Yeah, I'm fine." I said, sliding back into the booth and sipped my water. Erza leaned in close. "Are you... you know, pregnant?" She asked and I laughed. "No, I'm not pregnant." I shook my head.

"You sure?" Happy asked. "I'm sure, Happy." I smiled. "Nah, it's a side effect of some medicine she's on. Makes her puke like crazy." Harley said. I scoffed and continued drinking my water.

Soon everyone was yawning and falling asleep. Ari and I just looked around in confusion, until Jellal walked in. "Hey, you." He greeted me and I stood up. "Hey, you." I smiled and he stood in front of me. "Come to take me on another job?" I asked and saw his cheek lift in a smirk. "Not exactly. Just taking you to get your stitches out." He said and I nodded.

"Okay. How many days do you think it'll take?" I said and he shrugged. "Probably just overnight." He said and I nodded. "Okay, just give me a second." I said and went over to Rictus and stole his light pen.

I wrote a message in the air in front of my guild. "Left to get my stitches taken out. Be back tomorrow. -Henley .xx" and slipped the pen back to Rictus.

"Kay, let's go." I said, hopping on Ariadne, and we left.

Once we were on the outskirts of Magnolia, Jellal took his mask off. "It gets hot under there." He said and I snickered. "I bet." I said and he chuckled.

"So you aren't exactly lying to your team this time round." He said and I nodded. "I'm not lying in the slightest. I am going to get my stitches taken out. I'm just leaving out certain parts, such as who's taking me." I smiled and he laughed a bit.

"So what's our relationship?" He asked. "I view you as a friend." I nodded. "Just a friend?" He raised his eyebrow. "Why? What?" I asked. "Oh nothing. Just remembering something that had to do with your pants." He said and he and Ari laughed.

"I trusted you! If you think I won't get off my dragon and hit you, you are mistaken!" I shouted and he just laughed harder. "The button was being fucking stubborn! And I didn't ask for help! You... you sexually harassed me!" I said and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Whatever you say, Henley." He said and I held my hand out. "Hey Jellal." "Hm?" He looked towards me smiling. "Duck." I said and sent a ball of fire flying towards him.

He moved right in time and we laughed ad kept going to the hospital.