Hello Everyone! This is the second, fixed chapter. I hope you enjoy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*TO THE STORY~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel was never found of being questioned. In fact, she hated it. She hated the look people gave her when she gave the answer they hadn't expected or didn't want to hear. She hated how they asked so much as once, acting as if she was a criminal on a stand for her crimes. It annoyed her that these people kept glaring at her like she had murdered their entire family and the family pet. She was getting upset and her answers were showing just how grumpy she was.

"I don't think you realize just how serious this is, Ms. Karev!" Of course I know how serious this is! They act as if I'm not injured as well! Angel thought, trying her best to contain her wondering mind from speaking harsh words. "You are here in the Fairy Tail guild, just after we return for 7 years, with the mark of Ivan's guild!" Angel sighed, turning her head away from their questioning gazes. She may as well be a criminal. It wasn't her fault she was forced into such a guild where Ivan was master. "You should give her a chance to explain, old fool. She's injured so all this stress isn't helping her." Angel looked to the healer who had been working on the part where her guild mark had been cut at. She had washed it already and was preparing a wrap, layered with herbs and oils.

Angel kept her eyes away, watching as Maximus, her dog, jumped onto her bed. She tried to ignore his cold nose sliding under her arm as he wiggled into her lap. Maximus gave her a look, whinnying and licking at her arm where she had been bound as her guild mark was cut and cuts lashed into her skin. She winced, drawing her hand back. She had been put through hell and back but somehow her anger wouldn't expel to her pet.

With a sigh, she began to pet her dog as the healer made her way over. "This is going to burn quite a bit. I won't be able to heal this magically because it is rather deep. I could close some of the wound but it's still open. You must be careful for the next few days." Angle acted as if she didn't listen, keeping her eyes glued to outside the windows. The sun was going down now, watching as the trees and the sun worked together to cast dancing lights in the room.

Angel felt a sharp stinging pain, hissing as she looked to her hip which was slowly being dressed with a damp, oil infused and herb splatted wrap. She was no healer but she figured the lady in front of her knew what she was doing if she was called here especially by the guild master.

The pain went away quick and Angel began to explain herself, having made the two, furious men wait long enough. "My name is Angel Karev. When I was around the age of…three or four, I was taken by my mother and a priest from my home kingdom. The king had ordered us to leave, having been un-loyal to him. My mother had been a nurse to another kingdom during a time of war and we were charged with treason, in fact half of the small village was charged with the accusations." Angel sighed, leaning back as the healer finished her wrap. Maximus left her lap to lay under the blankets by her legs. "We came here with the priest who passed away the day after arrival because he was caught. My mother died three months after." Angel had to stop once more, watching as the healer began to pack away her things.

"Ivan found me in the cottage we lived in and took me in as his own. He hired a dark mage to teach me magic. It didn't work his way because I had already gotten my mother's magic which infuriated him. He forced me to join his guild and I was, essentially, his bitch." Angel said bluntly, watching the Master grow curious. She looked down. People always saw pity on her but his seems his anger to Ivan was all it took to numb him to her.

"A few days ago, I was assigned to an assassination mission, but I couldn't do it and…." Angel looked to her hip, gritting her teeth together. "They bound me, stripped he of my clothes, whipped me, and cut my guild mark." The healer stopped as she was about to leave, hearing the child's cold words. "And then I was beaten by a poison mage. I came here because…my father used to be a mage here."

Master moved to the child, looking deep into her eyes. They were grey, like Laxus's with light blue in the center. They were hardened from all the pain she had experienced in her life. They were tired from all the fighting and pained from her injuries. Master looked past all those emotions to find if she spoke the truth. Angel smiled, watching the old man. "I can't lie to you in this position, Mr. Dreyar. I could easily be killed by all of you. My magic is drained, I'm too tired to fight. I…" Angel sighed, pulling herself into a sitting position. Laxus was to her side, helping her with a look from his grandfather.

Laxus honestly had no doubt the girl was telling the truth. He could tell from the way she explained everything with a cold look but down casted face. "I only wish to find who my father was. All my mother told me was he was a mage who got exiled. I need help, Mr. Dreyar. I need to find my father…" For the first time today, her voice broke as she was still holding to Laxus for support.

Angel was now sitting up once more, looking for any sign of support from the old master. She had traveled the entire distance from her guild to here, only taking a train across a river. She didn't know if they would help her or not. She convinced herself multiple times while she was traveling that there was no way he would help her. She was very aware of the rivalry between their guilds. With some ounce of hope, she came to him though. He really was the only person who could help her. She was not the type of person to steal sensitive guild information and exiled guild members sure seemed like a sensitive subject.

"There aren't many who have been exiled. However…" Angel watched as the Master walked to the edge of her bed, giving her a dark look. "I do not fully trust you. You are still a past member of my son's guild. He has tormented this guild, caused pain and tried to hurt his own father in the past." Angel exhaled, turning her head away. She knew her hope was without good reason. All odds were against her.

"However you have been hurt by him as well…" Angel's head was drawn back to the master, her eyes slightly dilating. "If you can gain my trust I will help you. I want you to tell me all information you have on Ivan's guild." Master smiled at the young child's excited gleam. "In return, I will help you find your father."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Time Skip~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel flinched as she forced herself up from the bed, her wound causing an immense amount of pain in her hip. "This damned wound…Its almost immobilized me…." Angel whispered, grabbing onto the bed side table in chance of it offering support. She pushed herself from the bed, stretching into a standing position slowly and carefully. Her body had grown weak and tried from the poison that was still coursing through her veins. She shook from the cold wood against her floor and the meek feeling of her arms. It felt as though a weight was pulling her down to the floor.

She took cautious, slow steps, trying to make her way to the door of the infirmary. "You know Maximus," Angel looked down to her small, panting dog. He must be hungry and thirsty from the fight he had offered the poison mage. "Right now, would be the time where a prince appears and sweeps me off my feet." Angel scoffed, trying to put out a conversation to distract her mind from the pain. It wasn't working very well as she still felt drained.

It took most her effort to swing the heavy door open from its position. The moment the door was gaped, she could hear the silent whispers of the last few people who resided in the guild hall. It must be time for everyone to start leaving. Angel cleared here throat, watching as Laxus, the boy from earlier, the people surrounding him, the master, the healer and the bar maid looked at her. "I…My pet is rather hungry and he seems parched. Would it be too much to ask for some food and water for him?" Angel watched as the bar-maid smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

Maximus barked and flew down the steps at the sound of flowing water and a shaking dish. Angel, still being in too much pain, only watched. The stairs could prove a challenge in my condition.

"Angel?" Said person looked to the person who called for her, sighing. "Yes, Mister Makarov?" Angel walked toward the stairs, some of the pain dying down as her muscles woke up. "Would you like some help?" Angel looked down the steps, scowling. "I-I….Yes…. Yes sir." Angel slouched, watching as the master's arm grew big and long, reaching for her. He held his palm out, offering his help to the baffled girl. Blinking, she stepped onto his hand, being lifted from her place on the stairs and down to the first floor. His arm grew to normal after she had been set down on a bench carefully next to Laxus. "Mister Makarov? What magic is that?" Angel asked curiously, watching as the Bar-maid placed a bowl of food on the ground next to her as well as water. Maximus barked to the bar-maid as a thank you before chowing down into the meat.

"That is the magic, Giant." Angel heard from behind her, turning her head to see the three mages who had been surrounding Laxus, now looking at her with curiosity. "It allows him to grow in size." Angel nodding before turning back to watch her dog. He was making quite a mess. "Maximus don't be so greedy!" Angel scolded, watching the dog whimper as she tapped him with her foot. "You shouldn't make such a mess!" Angel heard a laugh from beside her, looking to see the Bar-maid who was carrying a plate of food and a cup of what seemed to be fresh juice. "You don't have to worry Angel. One fire mage makes a bigger mess than a tiny dog. And he's human." Angel blinked before looking to Maximus who had a bandage around his middle. "Who put that on him?" Angel asked, leaning down to look at it. "I did. I'm Mirajane Straus. If you ever need anything to eat or drink, just ask okay?" Angel turned back to Mirajane, smiling awkwardly. "Thank you, Ms. Mira. I'll pay you back for Max's food once I get my pay in." Angel looked down to the dog who was wagging his tail, his food now gone. "You don't have to worry Angel. You are badly injured and we all heard what Ivan has done. I don't expect you to pay." Angel felt a hand on her shoulder, looking to see the healer. "You should eat. The poison was making your body weak and eating may help." Mirajane placed a plate of rice and meat in front of Angel, giving her a motherly smile. "I really don't want to bug anyone more than I am." "Hey wait!" Angel gasped, ducking her head at the screaming. "How come she gets free food?! So, if the psycho bastard of Laxus's father kicks me from his guild and I get poisoned I get fr- OW Hey! Evergreen what was that for?!" Evergreen looked to Angel who seemed to be upset by Bixlow's words. "He isn't a psychotic bastard!" Angel declared, standing from her place and moving to another table with her food, Maximus following.

"Way to go, idiot!" Evergreen whispered to Bixlow, giving him another harsh slap on the head. "Hey, how was I supposed to know she would get defensive on the crazy man?" Laxus sighed, moving from his team and over to Angel who was silently eating her rice and meat. "I wouldn't have defended him if I were you." Laxus said, taking a seat in front of her.

Angel sighed, placing her spoon down. "I know…it may seem silly of me to try and explain to you why he deserves being defended." Angel turned away, pushing her food back and laying her head on her crossed arms on the table. "He saved my life so many times. He was a father I didn't have. Though he was mean, he never did anything to me without reason. I hate him for what he has done this time but my heart still feels I owe him for every other moment." Laxus could see the confliction in the girl's eyes. He could see her childish affection for her "father figure." It burned him up inside. Ivan got her into his trap and now she has been hurt but is too afraid to leave. That bastard! "You owe him absolutely nothing." Laxus said, looking her in the eyes. "He had me like you once. Defending him even though he did terrible things to me. Don't feel like you owe him. You're kind and he can't take that from you like he did me." Laxus stood up and moved back to his team, breaking up their quarrel with just his presence alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The End*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*