Rogue let out a deep sigh as he entered his house, after ensuring that the younglings had made it safely to the bus, he closed the front door behind him with a gentle snap and turned around, facing the interior of his house while pressing his back into the wooden surface. He let out a long suppressed shiver run through his entire form once a good five minutes had passed.

He had that 'feeling' again.

He didn't know why this was happening or when it even began but if he had to guess it started about two years ago, a few months after Natsu's narrow escape with Death. He couldn't explain this, he honestly couldn't even if he tried or if he wanted to.

He felt like he was being watched.

And what was worse he was sure he heard something as well.

So he waited there, leaning against his front door arms folded across his chest and allowing his nerves to ease up and relax. After about 10 minutes had passed, he eventually pushed himself up and off the front door, removing his shoes and placed them by the door before he made his way to the kitchen, hand barely an inch away from the pantry when the phone started ringing. Rogue blinked, adverting his attention to the plastic contraption that hung against the wall.

'Call from- Sting Eucliffe-'

Rogue blinked again.

Why was he calling him? And on the landline of all things?

Despite the questions that buzzed in the dark haired male's head, he none the less reached out and picked up the reciever.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

"Hey," Rogue blushed a soft pink at the familiar voice and nickname. Twin Dragons above he felt like a schoolgirl, "How- How are things at work?"

"They're fine."

Rogue chuckled. "Is there a practicalur reason you called me? And on the landline?"

"It was lunchtime," Came the response, "And also I felt like being spontaneous. And I haven't heard your pretty voice since breakfast this morning-"

"STING!" Rogue couldn't believe the man could be so blunt like that! Especially since he was likely in the break room!

"Aw~ Don't be embarrassed Rogue. I'm just telling the truth."

"Yes- Well-"

"But if we are telling the truth, you are actually more cuter when you first wake up. Hair all in a mess, eyes heavy with sleep, wearing just that super large shirt-"

"STING!" Rogue cried, face completely red. That was a very PRIVATE matter! "You say another thing, I swear to the Dragons above I'm going to slap you the minute you come through the door! I don't give a damn if ends up being in front of the kids or not!"

"Aw~ Don't be that way~"

"Try me."

"Okay okay. No more teasing," Sting chuckled, "How are things back home?"

"They're fine," Rogue sighed, placing the phone against ear and shoulder and opened the pantry. "Just watched the kids off to school..."

"Anything out of the ordinary? Suspicious?"

"Not that I saw," Rogue replied, pulling a box of rice, a box of Bisquik, a can of chicken broth and small bottle of soy sauce, "The only thing I noticed different was a large dark blue parked across the street down in that old alleyway. I think one of the neighbors is having their relatives over-"

"So all was normal?"

Rogue bit his lip as he placed the two boxes, one can and bottle on the counter. He had half a mind to tell the man the feeling he had after watching the kids get on the bus about the car in question but decided against it as he shook his head. Sting would probably tell him it was nothing anyway and that he was just still a little paranoid since the incident with Natsu two years ago and that case that involved the child killer a few months prior.

He smiled. "As normal as it could be."

"That's good," Sting beamed, "Sooooo- What's for dinner?"

"Is food all you ever think about?" Rogue asked as he moved toward the fridge, pulling out various vegetables out, along with a couple of eggs, Worcester sauce and a pound a chicken and beef cutlets onto the counter.

"Yes- No, wait- No- Maybe?"

Rogue chuckled, "I was thinking of making your favorite-"

"You mean- You mean the beef stir-fry with the savory sauce and fried rice? With the homemade chicken dumpling soup?"

"Hmm."

"Are you serious?! Really?!"

"Really."

Sting started giggling madly and from the sounds of it, it sounded like he was rolling around in his chair.

"Yes! Yes! Thank Dragons yes!"

"Huh... I don't think I've ever heard you this excited before."

"I'm excited 'cause you're making my favorite!"

Rogue chuckled at his husband's child-like antics, "If you say so."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Rogue paused, eyes wide as he looked over his shoulder toward the front door.

"Are you expecting someone?" Came the quiet whisper.

"No-"

"Hey Rogue, it's Valerian! Are ya' home?"

Rogue let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "It's just our neighbor, Valerian."

"Valerian? He's home? How was his trip to the North coast of Seven?"

"I don't know. I'll ask him." Rogue placed a hand over the mouth piece before raising his voice, addressing the man at the door. "COME ON IN VALERIAN! DOOR'S UNLOCKED!"

The door opened and in stepped a tall fellow in his late thirties with tanned skin and a muscular body that was shown nice in a pair of heavy-duty dark jeans and a large dark red and white shirt that was rolled up his forearms as he heaved in a couple large burly bags. He had dark messy hair, almost similar to someone else that Rogue knew with warm dark chocolate eyes.

"Heya Rogue boy." Valerian beamed as he kicked the door closed, "How are things holdin' out?"

"They're fine," Rogue smiled as he pressed a few buttons placing the phone on speaker. "I actually have Sting on the phone-"

"Hi Valerian!"

"Hi Sting," Valerian replied as he moved past Rogue, placing the bags onto the counter. "I see your at work. Hey! I brought ya guys some souvenirs."

"How was your freight delivery to Seven?" Rogue asked.

"Was it as pretty on the coast as they say it is?"

"Oh yeah. But Dragons above, it was long," Came the sigh, "And rather stressin'. Those roads- I swear, they weren't made for a big rig. Pretty sure I should've snapped sometin' under the undercarriage or in the axle back aways..."

"That bad?"

"That bad." Valerian clapped his hands together. "But enough 'bout that. Let me show ya' the gifts I got ya' all."

"Whatcha get me?"

"STING!"

"I'm really curious."

Valerian chuckled as he pulled out two rather impressive crystal formations and placed them onto the counter. "I found these on the line of the coast themselves so I got these geodes for you and Natsu- Since the two of you seem ta like collecting geodes-"

"Neat." Sting beamed. "I think Natsu will like it. I know I do."

"I got this for Rogue," Valerian pulled out a rather large book. "Of course, I'm sure that gentleman, Rufus- Was it?- would appreciate it. It's history of the entire continent of Seven and I figured you'd like it."

"I do," Rogue whispered, removing the book from Valerian's hand. "And I'm sure Rufus will too... Thank you..."

"I also got a book of medicine practices for Wendy and Carla, a book on the country's fairy tales for Frosch," Valerian continued as he pulled out each item and placed them on the counter. "I got the military history for Lector and I got fresh fish caught only in Seven since Happy seems ta' like seafood."

"Likes it?" Sting scoffed, "Buddy, he asks for it almost every night."

"Oh~ How lovely," Rogue beamed, "I'm sure they're all gonna love them when they get home."

"Oh? They at school?"

"Indeed," Rogue nodded, "All five. I just saw them off actually."

"Anything new with Natsu?"

"No, according to Rogue and Gray," Sting answered with a slight bit of bite at the last name. "Everything's normal. Natsu's seemed to recover and be doing fine."

"Oh that's good." Valerian nodded, "After an attack and near death-like experience like that, I was pretty sure the kid was never gonna wanna leave his bedroom. I know I wouldn't wanna."

"He really want to, at first," Rogue sighed as Sting squawked, "But Gray managed to talk to him and reassured him..."

"Twin Dragons above, I hate him."

"Who? Gray?" Valerian sniggered, "What's ta hate 'bout the kid? He's a nice lad..."

"As fucking if..."

"STING!"

"What?!"

"Now I get it," Valerian could no longer hold back his laughter, "It's 'cause he's dating your baby brother... That's mighty cute."

"Shut up."

There was a long pause as Valerian and Rogue laughed before falling silent and started to regain their breathing before Sting spoke again.

"Hey babe, I'm gonna let you go. Lunch's over and I have to look at the new case file that was sent in this morning."

"Okay love."

"Did you want me tell of it when I get home or make any notes? Since you couldn't- Ya know- Come in today."

"It would be nice."

"Alright then," Rogue could sense the man smiling and blushing on the other end that had hi smile. "I love you."

"I love you too. Please be careful."

"I will."

"Promise?"

A pause.

"I promise."

And with that the line went dead, symbolizing the end of a call and Rogue carefully placed the plastic piece back into it's holder while a small smile was plastered on his face. He turned to look at Valerian.

"Ya' know something... You two really do make the cutest couple."

"Oh hush. Would you like to stay for dinner tonight? I'm making beef stir-fry with fried rice and chicken dumpling soup. I'm sure the kids, Natsu especially, will be very happy to see you."

Valerian smiled, clapping his hands together. "I would love ta Rogue boy, haven't had a decent meal in almost two weeks."