~Exploring the caves on Fairy Island by kayak~

Lisanna was so excited for this week's adventure, sea kayaking! Last week Levy's brother, Gajeel, had given her lessons and had her practice for the most common problems that could occur on their trip. She had been watching all the tutorials on safety, technique, and rescue that she could find before the lesson and he'd been impressed with what she knew; though told her that it would still be awhile before she felt like more than a noob on the water. She'd mentioned being nervous about trying to get back in the boat when in the deep water to Levy when they talked on the phone that night. The next day, as she was kicking back in her dorm, she got a call from Levy's oldest brother. Freed invited her to the diving pool there at FT. He helped her practice getting back in a kayak and how to roll over if she capsized in the relatively calm water until she felt secure. Then he had his diving teams make waves for her to practice in a rougher situation. She felt as prepared as possible, but now it was time for the real test.

Levy handed her a gift bag as soon as Lisanna opened the door. "A present from Wendy," was all she said.

"What's in it?"

"I don't know," Levy admitted. "She wouldn't say and made me promise not to look. In fact," she held up her phone where Wendy's face peered out from the screen, "will you please verify that I have just entered your home and that you have not yet opened the gift?"

Lisanna laughed. "Wendy, I promise you that I haven't opened the gift that I have just received."

"Good! Now take Levy's phone in your room and go open it in there."

Levy shoved her phone into Lisanna's hand and started pushing her toward the bedroom.

"Levy what's-"

"Just do what she says!" Levy responded through gritted teeth. "For the love of all things good and pure and booklike in the world, please just do it."

Wendy's evil cackle could be heard even through the closed door.

Lisanna propped up the phone so that Wendy could watch and then started removing tissue paper from the top of the bag. There were two bundles wrapped in decorative paper, then a layer of foil, a different color paper, some waxed paper and another few layers of tissue paper. Levy had mentioned the ridiculous wrapping traditions they had for Christmas, but didn't know it also extended to other gifts. Lisanna was finally able to hold up one of the quick drying tops and a windbreaker from the trip to the boardwalk.

"Thank you Wendy!" she breathed in disbelief. "But, why?"

Wendy merely grinned for a moment, but finally relented. "Everyone else got to help with the adventure and I didn't want to be left out."

"You are a sweet, sweet girl!" she declared, "I don't care what your sister and brothers say. You are simply the best."

"Well I've got you fooled," she commented. "Okay, you can hang up and change. Go ahead and tell Levy that the item is safe," she then amended, "for now."

Lisanna hurried to change so she and Levy could start the adventure. They met Gajeel at the boat rental place where he worked. He made sure that they had dressed properly for the water conditions and that they had their personal safety equipment before handing over kayaks and paddles.

"Freed and Laxus are out on the boat, and they promised to keep an eye out for you two," he said as they put the kayaks in the water. "You have the radio shorty?"

"Yes Mother," Levy said in exasperation. "It's not like we're going that far for our first trip. We won't even be out of sight of a shore for long either, sheesh."

"It's nice of you to be concerned for us, Gajeel," Lisanna said grinning at Levy's outburst.

"Well it's not like I want to lose my best student on her first day," he said handing her the paddle. He smiled broadly as he leaned in and loudly added, "It would break the Shrimp's heart to lose you, too."

"Gajeel!" Levy sputtered. "Don't you have other customers to annoy?"

"Indeed I do short stuff," he gave Lisanna's kayak a little shove to help her off the beach. "Have a good time." He waited until they were too far to easily come back then cupped his mouth and yelled, "Get it girl!"

Levy merely replied by flipping him off.

Levy quietly paddled through the water as Lisanna concentrated on perfecting her strokes. Levy let Lisanna be slightly ahead so that she could set the pace and Levy could assist if she ran into trouble. Occasionally Levy would offer a suggestion or give directions but for the most part they simply enjoyed the light breeze and the warm sun light reflecting off the water.

Lisanna cheered when they finally reached Fairy Island and Levy drank in the sight.

"That was the easy part," she told the exuberant woman. "Now you get to practice your turns and backing up a lot as we try to negotiate the caves."

Lisanna's face fell. "I'm not very good at those, at all."

"No, don't worry about it," Levy rushed to reassure her, "Everyone that goes through these caves gets to do it. You'll be an expert in no time at all!" She reached over and gave Lisanna's hand a quick squeeze then grabbed her own paddle with both hands. "There's one place we're stopping for lunch that I think you'll really love."

"Tell me again why we have all of this stuff in the boat," Laxus grumbled.

Freed huffed. "We're taking the lunch for Levy and Lisanna to Fairy Cove. What don't you understand?"

"What are your favorite Desierto rug, a large box of metal candle holders, several candles, all your throw pillows, and my best silver platters doing in this boat along with the cooler full of food?"

Freed gasped. "How did I ever marry such an unromantic man?" he asked the heavens. Looking back at Laxus he said, "When you plan a picnic in a magical location you don't just roll up with a measly PB&J on white bread with a juice pouch. There should be a soft place to rest. Beautiful accoutrements, fine china, and ethereal music playing. You have to take what nature gives you and elevate it!" one hand jabbed triumphantly in the air. He lowered the arm and added, "This is how you woo a woman."

Laxus laughed. "And what do you know about wooing women?"

"I read!" he declared. "And," he added, "as the women's diving coach I've heard more than I ever wanted to know about what women want on a date."

They both laughed together.

"Come on," Freed said looking through the binoculars at the kayakers. "They just made it to the island. We can get this set up and be out of there in the nick of time."

Lisanna was enchanted with the island. They didn't really go into many caves as they weren't accessible until low tide, but there were some arches and tunnels they enjoyed. Levy told her the names of some of the places like Chapel Arch, the Eye of the Needle, and Fairy Heart. Lisanna's favorite was the one called the Key Hole that was indeed shaped like an old fashioned skeleton key.

Levy lead Lisanna through several connected caves until they came upon a scene from a fairy tale. A huge cavern was in front of them; a circular hole in the ceiling let in light to illuminate a private beach with a ten foot arch leading back to the ocean. On the beach was a setting from out of one of Shahrazad's stories. The rich red carpet was set with a feast under crystal covers, and the candles glowed faintly giving off an enticing, spicy aroma, pillows were inviting them to join the scene, and soft music played from an unseen source.

"Um," Levy said suddenly at a loss for words, "I didn't know Freed would go all out like this. I just asked him if they could bring the food, since I've had a soggy lunch or two on kayaking trips." She looked sheepishly in Lisanna's direction. "Sorry."

"It's beautiful!" Lisanna breathed. She looked back at Levy. "Your brother loves you a lot, Levy. There's no need to apologize for that." She reached a hand out toward Levy, who caught it. "All of your siblings care about you and want you to be happy, so let's not spoil their fun. What do you say?"

Levy just looked from Lisanna to the beach and back at Lisanna. She gave her a grateful smile. "You're right. Let's get over there and enjoy my brother's over enthusiastic generosity."

Lisanna's laugh rang through the air and echoed off the walls. "I hope I get to repay the favor someday."

When they had finished eating, Lisanna suggested they pack everything up to make things easier for Freed and Laxus, but Levy simply shook her head.

"Laxus left me a note asking us to just make sure the food got put away." Levy was blushing as she continued, "He apparently feels that he needs to show his husband that he can indeed recognize romance when it, and I quote, 'bites him on the ass'."

They both broke out in nervous titters, but realizing how ridiculous they were being, genuine laughter soon rang through the cavern as they put the dishes away.

"Come on," Lisanna said as she helped Levy to her feet. "Let's get back to shore so your brother-in-law can romance-"

"Don't say it," Levy said. "I'm already trying to forget what he wrote and the image it inspired."

Lisanna giggled at the face Levy was making. "I think it sounds incredibly cute."

"Oh, those two can be so adorable together," she acknowledged. "They're so sickeningly sweet that you can feel the cavities forming just by looking at them for too long," she said as she climbed back into her kayak. "But as much as I like reading about love, I think I just get jealous when I see them, or my parents, actually being that much in love." She waited for Lisanna to start off and then continued. "They all seem to just get more and more…" she paused to think of the word, "ugh," she waved her paddle in the air, "They're just more in love each day even after all their years together!"

Lisanna stopped and looked out at the view of the water stretching endlessly before her. "Isn't that what you want?" she timidly asked.

"Yeah," Levy nodded, certainty coloring her words, "It's like that saying, 'I crave a love so deep that even the ocean gets jealous'."

"That's one of my favorite quotes," Lisanna said as she started to paddle for the mainland in earnest. "I hope you find it some day."

Levy watched as Lisanna lead the way home. "I hope I already have," she thought to herself.