Erza's POV:

As the doors to fairy tail open before us I see a scene I've seen a million times before.

"What did you say you ice-bastard?" There goes Natsu.

"Is your brain so fill with fire that you can't even hear now?" And there's Gray.

"I shouldn't have expected anything less." Pipes in Jellal from behind me. His words make me realise that it really says something about your guild when this is the norm, something that really annoys me.

"Wait here a second." I quickly tell Jellal before storming into the guild.

"You two!" My voice booms through the building. Natsu and Gray both tense up the instant they hear it, slowly turning around to face me, fear apparent on their faces.

"E-erza! I didn't know you were here!" Natsu stutters out while Gray just laughs nervously next to him. I take the last few steps and close the gap between the three of us, reaching out and grabbing both of them by the arm, my fingernails digging into their skin.

"We have a guest here right now." Their stares go from me to Jellal, noting his appearance. "So would you two be ever so kind." I pull my muscles taut, preparing myself. "TO NOT FIGHT IN THE DAMN GUILD!" I scream as loud as physically possible as I whip my arms around, sending the both of them flying into their respective walls of the guild. They hit with a crash, and when they fall against the ground there are still two notable cracks left in the wall.

"Y-yes Erza!" The two of them yell out in sync. I turn around to see Jellal's reaction to all this, expecting him to be horrified by my brutish actions. But instead, he's smiling and trying to hold back a laugh. I'm not quite sure whether that's a good thing or not.

"But anyway, Jellal's here again? Am I allowed to fight him?" A second after he landed Natsu is already up and asking for another fight. I would say I can't believe he's acting like this, but by now it would be weirded if he actually acted like a normal person. I'm just about to retort when Jellal steps forward until he is in line with me.

"If you want to fight me then I'll oblige, but I'll warn you now; I'm not good at holding back." Jellal cracks the knuckles in his hands as he talks, trying to sound formidable. Any normal person would probably just laugh at the fakeness of the gesture, but Natsu is simply too dense to realise that Jellal isn't actually being serious.

"Yatta! Ok Jellal, bring it on!" Natsu yells out before sprinting at Jellal with his hand alight.

"Karyuu no tekken!" Natsu's fist comes into contact with Jellal's chest, but only for a moment. A second after the initial impact Jellal spins around and creates a magic circle, a few seconds after that he has brought the magic down on a Natsu who is now laying helplessly on the ground, his arms and legs twitching every few seconds.

"It's not o-over y-y-yet!" The boy lying defeated on the ground proclaims as he tries to push himself back to his feet.

"Natsu," Jellal bends down so that he is at eye level with the Natsu who has now managed to get onto his knees. "It's over." As he says the last two words he extends his hand and flicks Natsu ever so lightly, right in the middle of his forehead, sending him sprawling back onto the ground.

"Ne-next time Je-" He passes out before he finishes his sentence, but everyone in the guild can tell what he was trying to say. Jellal stands himself upright once again and walks back to my side.

"Well, did I humour him enough? I let him hit me before I attacked." He whispers so that only I can hear. I'm reminded of our conversation this morning and it brings a laugh to my face.
"Yes Jellal, I'm sure he'll be satisfied with that." I whisper back before once again talking with a normal tone of voice, "Anyway, I'm sure Natsu's not the only person who wants to see you. I think I see another pink haired friend of yours over there." I motion over to Meldy as I talk. She's sitting at a table along with Lucy, Wendy and Carla, all staring in our direction. I wonder why Juvia isn't with her, but then I notice her fawning over Gray. I guess they've already had their reunion. The look of relief on Jellal's face that wipes over him the second he sees her is almost impossibly obvious.

"Thanks Erza, I better go see her." By the time he finishes his sentence he is already walking away from me. I can't help but feel at least a tiny bit jealous that he's going to stand by Meldy's side and not mine. But I know just how foolish these thoughts are. The two of them are good friends, nothing more, and Meldy is years too young for Jellal anyway. Despite knowing how absurd my jealousy is I can't stop it from coursing through me, but I'm still the strong Erza that people know. A little jealousy won't kill me.

Jellal's POV:

"Jellal! How have you been?" Lucy calls out to me as I walk up to their group.

"It's good to see you again! Everyone missed you!" Wendy joins in, I know the members of Fairy Tail have more important things to do missing me, but it's still nice that she'd say something like that.

"It's good to see you too, and I've been doing well. That reminds me, I still haven't congratulated any of you for winning the Grand Magic Games, so yeah, good job." When I think about it, Fairy Tail's victory was truly amazing. To come back after 7 years and still manage to be called the top guild in Fiore, that is something I can respect.

"Thanks Jellal! But you can't just congratulate us as if you were just some audience member or something! You helped us out then as well!" I'm honoured that Wendy actually thinks I was helpful to the guild, but I really don't deserve her praise.

"I don't know if I could call my one match helping, you guys really did the work yourselves."

"Don't be silly! Even if you lost your match, we couldn't have won without you. If we didn't have everyone that we did then we wouldn't have done nearly as well as we did. And anyway, I lost my battle on the first day, but Natsu comforted me and told me I was helpful, so that means you were helpful too." Lucy chimes in, almost rendering me speechless.

"Well, thank you I guess. But I really can't take any credit, I mean, I'm not even a member of Fairy Tail." A look of realisation dawns on both Lucy and Wendy's face.

"I actually forgot for a second that you aren't a member! I guess since Mystogan used to be a member, I must have gotten used to you being here." Lucy gasps out.

"Me too!" Wendy does the same. I'm pretty surprised by them forgetting that I'm not actually a part of Fairy Tail, but it makes me feel good to think that if I ever were to join, I'd be accepted.

"I'm surprised to hear that. But on a different topic, do you mind if I talk to Meldy?" I ask them, remembering my original reason for coming over here. While she had just being staring off into space before, Meldy's head spikes up at the sound of her name leaving my mouth.

"Sure! We should probably give you two some space. Come on Wendy, Carla, we should say hi to Erza." Lucy ushers off the younger girl and her cat, leaving me alone with my only remaining comrade from Crime Sorciere. I sit down hesitantly, hoping that Meldy isn't mad at me for how I acted yesterday.

"Before I say anything, can I just say I'm sorry? I acted like a child yesterday, I got worked up over a couple of stupid comments from Happy which isn't something I'm proud of. I made a fool of myself and then I took my anger out on you, which I never should have done. I really don't have any excuse, but I hope you'll be able to forgive me anyway." I apologise to her with sincerity and regret lacing my words. I wait for Meldy to say something back, but she doesn't respond.

"Meldy?" I cautiously ask, curious as to why she's not talking to me. Is she too annoyed at me to reply? Have I done some serious damage in our relationship? Damn it, I should have known it wouldn't be this easy. That I wouldn't be able to just apologise after being so rude to her yesterday. Still without saying a word, she stands up from her seat and walks over to me.

"Stand up." She demands of me. Wait, what? I was hoping she'd forgive me, but realistically, I thought she'd get annoyed and yell at me. This outcome just has me confused.

"Wait a minute Meldy, what?" I blurt out questioningly.

"Just stand up already!" She bursts out at me. I still don't know why she's asking me to, but I'm not really in a position to deny her requests right now, what with me basically ready to beg for her forgiveness.

"Ok..." I say, tentatively standing up. The second I am on my feet she flings herself at me to my total surprise. Her arms wrap around my back and she buries her face into my chest, where I can feel tiny little drops of water staining it.

"Meldy?" I question again as I look down at the girl below me, clinging onto me as if I was the only salvation in a raging sea.

"Jellal you idiot! I was so worried about you! You promised me on our way here you'd stay with me! I waited all night but you never showed up at the hotel! I thought something must have happened to you! I've already lost Ultear, I thought I'd lost you too!" She screams for everyone in the guild to hear, her tears have soaked my shirt through and through. Her response wasn't what I was expecting, I guess that shows how much attention I've been paying her. I've been the one she's been with these last few months, I've been the one there when she struggled to deal with the loss of Ultear. I should have realised how she would have felt if I left her alone. I should have been more considerate of her. I wrap my arms around her tiny little body, reciprocating her motions. I bend down so that we're at the same height and use one of my hands to pull her closer to me, so that her head lies in the crook between my shoulder and my neck. At the same time, I bring my other hand up and place it on her head, running my fingers through her pink hair in an attempt to calm her down, to show her that everything's ok.

"I'm sorry Meldy, I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm sorry." I'm so ashamed of myself, I can feel the stares of every member of the guild stabbing into me, each one judging me. Thinking how terrible I've been, thinking how disgraceful it is that I've made her cry.

"I'm just glad you're back Jellal, you don't need to apologize. Just stay with me, as long as you never leave me I'll forgive you, ok?" She cries out just as loud, if not louder than before. I forget all about the eyes bearing down on me and let myself think of nothing but the girl in my arms.

"I won't leave you Meldy , I promise. I'll stay with you and make sure you never have to cry like this again." I scream out, letting all the emotions I usually keep bottled up inside me come racing out. I smile down at Meldy's face, not even bothering to try and hide the tears rolling down my face. I don't care what the people of Fairy Tail think of me. They know me as someone strong, someone who would never cry like this or act so weak. But I can't always be that person, I can be strong for the people I care about, but sometimes I have to be weak for them as well.

"Jellal, thank you so much, just, thank you. I was too young to even know my parents before they were killed, so Ultear's the only parent I've ever had, but if feels so nice in your arms, it reminds me of Ultear, when she was my mother." She smiles up at me through her wall of tears, her words spreading warmth all throughout my body. She thinks of me like a parent to her?

"I can never replace Ultear, but I'll try to be like her for you. I'll take care of you Meldy." I say with utmost conviction, I promise myself that my words just now weren't hollow. I'll keep my words for as long as I live, I'll look after her.

"Here, take my hand." I coax her, detaching my hand from her back and instead holding it out for her to grab.

"Hai!" She cries out with a smile on her face, her hand latching onto mine. I pull her back onto her feet and turn to face the stares of the guild.

Erza's POV:

As I seen the scene between Jellal and Meldy play out before me I feel like I should be mad, or jealous that they're hugging each other so tightly, that Meldy is begging Jellal to stay with her forever, and that he is agreeing. But somehow, I'm not jealous at all. I can't bring myself to hate Meldy for what she's doing with Jellal. The reason why I feel this way really should be because of everything Meldy has been through. I should be feeling so sorry for her, that I couldn't possibly be jealous of her that Jellal is comforting her. While that is a factor, it's not the main reason why I'm not jealous of her. The main reason is because, well, simply put, they don't look like lovers or boyfriend and girlfriend or anything like that. They look like a father who is comforting his daughter. The pair in front of me have such a deep relationship, they care about each other so much, even if I was jealous of them I doubt I could break the two apart. I doubt anyone could.

"Woo! Go Jellal!" The guild instantaneously bursts into waves of applause, every member is cheering Jellal on, while he is looking around stupefied.

"Jellal! You're a real man!" Elfman yells from the back of the guild.

"Good on you brat!" The master bellows through the room. I can't help but smile when I see the affect all of this is having on Jellal.

"What? Why is, why is everyone?" His confidence has vanished in almost a single instant, he's now looking all over the room, seeing each person cheering and wondering what on earth is going on. His face is so confused that it's actually comical. It's definitely nice to see Jellal flustered this much, as opposed to his usual stoic self. While Jellal's current state is funny to watch, I really should help him understand what's going on around him. I walk up to him and Meldy, who are still holding hands.

"Jellal, you do realise how out of character that was for you, right? And you must know how manly it was of you to comfort Meldy so passionately. It's almost as if you're a prince from a fairy tale, saving the damsel in distress." Even though I said he was the one saving the damsel in distress, he seems to be a lot more distressed than Meldy right now. Meldy definitely looks embarrassed, but at the same time she's not nearly as bad as Jellal. He looks absolutely mortified that the entire guild just saw the show he put on. As if he'll never be able to live this day down.

"I-I-I was just reacting how anyone would! And I wasn't manly, I was, I was weak! You all saw it!" He screams in defence, his remark transforming all the guild members into laughing messes.

"Why, why is everyone laughing?" He could not be cuter if he tried, I am totally convinced of this.

"You're just so different from normal! I don't think I can take it!" Lucy exclaims, Cana and Wendy nodding in agreement. Just like Lucy, I don't think I can bear it anymore either. I close the gap between us and brush my lips over Jellal's cheek, just for a second. But for that second my heart races faster than it ever has before, and I feel my lips more prominently than ever. My skin tingles all over, I'm insanely happy.

"E-e-e-erza!" He blurts out, his face lighting up as bright as the sun, but just a little more red.

"Think of it as a reward." I'm afraid that Jellal might end up simply not being able to deal with everything around him and passing out, especially after I gave him that kiss. But for now at least he's standing. That kiss was just a peck on the cheek, a joking gesture, one to make fun of him with. That's what the rest of the guild will see, what Jellal will see. But for me that kiss was a second of pure bliss which I will never forget. It was only a second, it meant nothing, but I will treasure it.

"Everyone, I'm, I'm sorry for making such a scene! I'm a guest here but I've made such a disruption!" Jellal yells out in defence, even going so far as to bow his head in apology, I'm pretty sure he's the only one who thinks it's actually necessary.

"Wait, a guest? Didn't you join the guild during the Grand Magic Games?" Master asks, clearly not understanding Jellal's comment.

"He was just helping us then Master! He didn't actually join." The voice of reason comes from Mirajane, who shakes her head in masters direction as she talks.

"Why isn't he a member? I mean, he's fought with us at the Grand Magic Games, and Mystogan was a part of the guild and they're basically the same person." Lucy actually makes a good point, I wonder why Jellal isn't a member of Fairy Tail yet.

"I-I'm already in a guild! Crime Sorciere! I can't be a Fairy Tail mage!" Jellal is as stubborn as ever, that's for sure. Doesn't he realise that he's pretty much already a member? All he needs now is the guilds tattoo, but he's still saying no.

"Jellal, there's only two of us, are we really still a guild? Why don't we just join Fairy Tail?" Meldy adds to the conversation with a very valid point. Even before Ultear sacrificed herself Crime Sorciere was the smallest guild I've ever heard of, three people is one thing, it can be classed as a group. But two people can never be anything more than a pair, it can't really be called a guild.

"We'd be happy to have to you." Declarations of peoples support come from all throughout the guild, people yelling out that the guild wouldn't be the same without Jellal, that he's one of the guilds precious friends. Jellal's eyes fill to the brim with water threating to overflow, just like minutes ago when he held Meldy so tightly. But this time his tears are of happiness, happiness that there are this many people who care about him so much, who want him in their guild. I have to say that I'm really liking the side of Jellal I'm getting to see today, the side of him that isn't necessarily the strongest, but the sensitive side of him. It shows me and everyone in the guild that although he's usually a stoic man of few words, he does have emotions below his layers of metaphorical armour.

"Come on Jellal, what do you say?" I ask him after everyone else's voices have simmered down, after all this there's surely no way he can say no, no way he can reject my offer.

"I guess since Meldy wants to join, and you all want me to join, I can't really say no can I? I'll, I'll join Fairy Tail!" Geez, that damn tsundere. He is undeniably crying by this point, to the point where he can't stop it. And yet, he still acts as though he's doing us a favour, that he doesn't really want to join Fairy Tail, that he's doing it because we wanted him to. But then again, that's just his way of dealing with his embarrassment, I shouldn't scold him over it.

"Ok! It's decided! You two come over here!" Mira exclaims in an excited voice, running up to Meldy and Jellal's side, grabbing them both by the hand and pulling them over to the bar.

"W-W-what?" Jellal can't even manage to get proper words out as he is whooshed through the guild by Mira.

"Where do you want it?" Mira asks, magical stamp in hand.

"Where do I want what?" Jellal asks Mira back. Meldy gives him a slight nudge in the stomach and points to what Mira is holding, drawing his attention to it.

"The guild mark? For me?" He cries out in surprise. Shouldn't he have expected this when he said yes? Every guild has a mark, he's wearing Crime Sorciere's right now after all.

"Of course! The mark is the sign which shows our friendship, it's the one thing every member of Fairy Tail has, the one thing that connects us all. If you're going to join us, you have to have one!" Mira beams to Jellal while everyone in the guild nods their heads in agreement.

"Um, where do I want it? I don't know, where should I get it?" While Jellal is indecisive, Meldy steps forward and thrusts her arm at Mira.

"If you can't decide then I'll go first Jellal! I still want to keep my Crime Sorciere mark, to remember Ultear by. So I'll get Fairy Tail's mark in a different place. How about here?" She points to the back of her right hand.

"Ok! Here it goes!" Mira presses the stamp down on her hand and the whole guild watches in anticipation. Meldy raises her hand, now with a purple mark on it.

"It looks good on you Meldy! And it's in the same place as mine too! We'll be like guild mark buddies!" Lucy trills as she holds her hand next to Meldy's.

"Ok Jellal, your turn. Have you decided yet?" Even though she's asking him, it's clear he still hasn't made up his mind. I guess I'll have to help him out a little.

"How about right here? To balance out the tattoo on your face?" I point to Jellal's neck, on the opposite side of the tattoo already on his face. I can see Jellal considering the idea, but Mira doesn't wait for his approval.

"Ok, there it is!" She pushes the stamp onto his neck, holding it there for a few seconds before pulling it back, leaving behind the sign of a Fairy Tail mage on Jellal's skin.

"Does it look good?" He asks me, not being able to see it himself. The mark is a lovely scarlet colour, just like his tattoo.

"It looks good, but here, have a look yourself." I reach behind Mira and grab hold of the mirror she keeps behind the bar, handing it to him.

"It's scarlet, Like your hair. It's beautiful." The memory of how I got my name comes back to me when I hear his words. All those years ago when I met him for the first time. I introduced myself as Erza, only Erza. So he gave me my last name, 'Scarlet, like your hair.' Erza Scarlet. Thanks to Jellal, that's who I am. And now that I am remembering this clearly again I smile and cry at the same time, much to Jellal and the rest of the guilds confusion.

"Erza, what's wrong? I thought you'd be happy?" Jellal has genuine concern in his voice, but he needn't worry. With him joining my guild I don't think I could get any happier, just thinking about all the time I'll be able to spend with hi makes me feel like a child who has seen magic for the first time. It makes me feel amazing inside and utterly excited for the future.

"I'm ok, just remembering something good!" I exclaim, it may sound like an excuse, like saying you've just remembered a funny TV show after randomly breaking out into laughter, but it could not be more true.

"Anyway, now that you're a member we should celebrate!" I declare to the guild, I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but at the very second I say 'celebrate' Natsu finally wakes up.

"Yes! A party! Fairy Tail style!" He laughs his head off after he is done talking, he's definitely a party type of guy.

"Are you sure you should go to all that trouble just for me? I'm not that special." There he goes again, acting all stubborn and bashful. He really needs to work on the habit.

"It's not just for you, it's for Meldy too! And anyway, from what I've learned from being in this guild, Fairy Tail really doesn't need a big reason to throw a party." Lucy explains to Jellal, her remark sets off the whole guild once again.

"You've got that right Lucy! I'll be in charge of the sake!" Cana yells out in a very-cana like fashion.

"Cana! If you're in charge then you'll just drink it all!" Macao berates her, but what he's saying is probably true, despite her figure Cana is the best drinker in Fairy Tail after all.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Cana yells back, clearly not understanding why she shouldn't be allowed to drink enough sake for an entire guild. I guess some people never change. Cana with her drinking and Jellal with his tsundere side.

"YES!" Every member of the guild says it together, except of course the new recruits Jellal and Meldy. They have a lot to get used to.

"Come on Jellal, Meldy, I'll give you a tour before the party." I call out to the both of them, Meldy runs over to my side, dragging Jellal with her.

"I don't want to be a burden. I'm sure I can find where everything is myself." I don't even know how many times it's been since last night that he's make stubborn comments like this, but oh well. I don't think I'd be able to keep count even if I tried.

"Jellal you know I don't mind, now come on, don't you want to see the home of your new family?" I can see that I've won him over. He may be stubborn but like I've said to myself in the past, I am persuasive.

"Ok, if you don't mind, it would be good to know my way around here." Before I can make a comment on the nature of his comment, Meldy is already starting to say something.

"Don't mind him! He's a bit of a tsundere, but I'm sure he'd absolutely love to be shown around by you in particular Erza!" I am about to agree with her but I'm cut off again, this time by the elevated voice of Jellal.

"Meldy!" He screams out as soon as she finishes talking, he looks like he's both surprised and embarrassed by what she said. I amuse myself with my absurd fantasy that he actually likes me, and that he's embarrassed that Meldy would say something that points to that. I chuckle to myself, enjoying my fantasy.

"Ok then, let's get going!" I exclaim, taking the first step while Jellal and Meldy follow behind. During the tour I find that there are some rooms even I haven't seen yet, I thought the renovations we made after the fight with Phantom Lord were major, but the mayor who gave us back our guild after we won the grand magic games seems to have put even more features and rooms in. I guess it's fitting. It's still the same old building, but with a few improvements. Just like the members of Fairy Tail, that is; still the same, but with a few additions.