His mind began to wander. Had it really already been seven years? He watched the beautiful blonde dance happily through the field of flowers. Her eyes sparkled like sunlight reflecting off sea glass. He smiled despite himself shaking off the terrible memory. The girl ceased her frolicking and ran to his side.

"What are you smiling about," she asked?

The wind blew her hair over her face. Her smile burned away that little bit of darkness that always seemed to be with him.

"How could one not smile when faced with such beauty?"

The girls face suddenly burned scarlet and she averted her eyes. She giggled and let out a small sigh.

"You really know how to catch a girl off guard, Zeref." He smiled.

"The day I stop doing that is the day I die."

Mavis suddenly became bubbly and cuddled up to Zeref, laying her head on his chest. Her smile became whimsical.

"It still feels like a dream, ya know?"

Zeref smiled and turned his gaze to the sky.

"I know what you mean." "Ive felt the same since the day we defeated Ankhseram and broke the curse." "It's still hard to believe but here you are in front of me as a grown woman, and you are so beautiful."

The blushing came back with a vengeance and Mavis struggled to hide her face.

"Thanks to you and Fairy Tail I am given a second chance at life with you and also with my little brother."

"Speaking of Natsu!" "Where has he been?" "I haven't heard any complaints about important buildings or statues being blown up."

Mavis finished her sentence with a giggle but changed her tone when she saw the worried expression on Zeref's face.

"What's wrong?"

Zeref hesitated for a moment. Mavis was not going to let up and he knew it but he also didn't want to burden her with his paranoid thoughts on the matter. Natsu had actually been missing for weeks. No one in the guild knew where he had gone. Even Lucy was clueless as to his whereabouts. The master had assured him that Natsu was on a special mission for her but he couldn't shake the thought that something was wrong.

Mavis turned in his arms so they were face to face. Her worried expression quickly tore down his defenses until he decided to voice his thoughts. Mavis' little fingers interlocked with his. He expected her to laugh and tell him he was silly for worrying so much but it was just the opposite. She sat up and laid her hand over his.

"He is your little brother Zeref." "It is only natural for you to worry about him." "If you were feeling this way then why didn't you tell me?" "Don't you trust me?"
Zeref quickly corrected that little misunderstanding with a swift kiss and loving embrace. When their lips touch it was like everything else disappeared. All of the doubt, fear, and worry lifted in that single act.

Zeref sensed the danger seconds before but it was too late. They were engulfed in a blinding light. He held Mavis as tight as he could. Her body tensed before going completely limp. His own body was quickly following suit.

"This feeling…"

He had felt it before but he couldn't place where. The sensation was foreign yet somehow familiar. He wasn't able to make the connection before he completely lost consciousness.

Zeref awoke under the same oak. He was surrounded by the worried faces of Fairy Tail wizards. Their voices were still distant like he was floating through a soundless sky. When his mind finally started to focus he could make out a few words.

Okay…

What happened…

Mavis…

He was suddenly brought back to reality as if someone had splashed a bucket of ice water on his face. He stood up abruptly frantically searching the crowd of faces for his love. Eventually he came to a horrifying conclusion. Mavis was gone and whoever took her was going to feel his wrath.