Author's Note: This one shows off Gajeel's softer side. :D

Five Years: School Supplies

Levy and Gajeel surveyed their daughter as she munched on her breakfast alone in the kitchen, her tiny feet swinging over the edge of the chair. Her bookbag sat on the chair next to her, clean and stiff with newness, containing pencils, erasers, binders, and other various supplies. Her school uniform was pressed and ironed, and she was trying very hard not to splash any milk or cereal on the pleated blue skirt or white shirt.

Today was Eve's first day of kindergarden.

Gajeel's ears flicked when he heard Levy sniff beside him. He looked and saw that she was getting ready to dissolve into tears, her mouth pressed into a white line, her eyes big and shiny. Gajeel grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the scene before she hiccuped and the first torrent of water works came down.

"I can't b-believe it!" she sobbed, throwing her arms around Gajeel's waist and burying her face in his chest. "She's g-going to school! School! Sh-she's gotten so big..."

"C'mon, shorty, you gotta pull yourself together," Gajeel hissed frantically, pulling her away so he could look at her. "I thought you said you'd be okay today? That's why you stayed home with us, remember? You can't go out there cryin' or else you're gonna scare her."

"Y-you're right," Levy said, squaring her shoulders and wiping her tears away with the back of her wrist. "I'll contain myself until...until..." Her eyes grew watery again, and she let out another sob. "Until she leaves for school!"

"Atta girl," Gajeel remarked dryly, patting her head as she embraced him again. He sat her down on the couch and ordered her to stay put while he got Eve ready, in the hopes that she would manage to clean herself up before they left. He and Levy decided that it would be best that he walk her over. Levy promised she wouldn't get emotional before they left, but she wasn't sure if she could contain herself for a whole two blocks.

Eve was just finishing up her cereal when Gajeel walked in. "You ready to go?" he asked, taking her bowl.

"Yeah!" she cheered, hopping off of the stool and padding over to her shiny black shoes. With careful concentration she clasped them to her feet. Gajeel watched, amused, as her brows puckered and her tongue poked out between her teeth. Then she smiled smugly after the Shoe Challenge was successfully triumphed. She hopped up and tested the little shoes, tapping her heels on the tile floor.

"Good job," Gajeel praised. "Now, let's go say bye to Mom and then we'll leave."

Levy had managed to pull herself together just to say goodbye, but despite her valiant effort she still let a little hiccup out when she hugged Eve. "Your bow is crooked," she sniffed, turning the little girl around so she could adjust the small blue ribbon that held back her cumbersome bangs. "There you go. H-have a good day at school."

Gajeel decided to get Eve out of there as fast as possible, lest she be bombarded by her mother's hugs, kisses, and tears.

Eve chatted animatedly about her excitement as they journeyed the two blocks to Magnolia Elementary School. "All of my friends are in my class and it's gonna be so much fun! Mrs. Paraso is s'posed to be really nice, and I heard that she lets us have a lot of recess time and we do a lot of crafts and stuff."

"Sounds fun," Gajeel agreed. He remembered Mrs. Paraso from a job he once did; not bad, as far as teachers go. She was old and nice, but she knew how to keep the kids in line. Which was good, since Eve liked to push the limits sometimes.

"It does! I can't wait!" Eve fiddled with the straps of her backpack for a second, suddenly quiet. "Hey, Daddy, how did you like your first day of school?"

Gajeel scratched his neck. "I didn't really go to school. I was, uh, home-schooled."

"Oh," Eve said. She grinned. "That explains a lot."

Gajeel gave her an exaggerated astonished look. "What d'you mean, that explains a lot? What exactly does it explain?"

"Nothing, Daddy, I was just kidding," Eve snickered. The great brick building that was the school came into view, swarming with children that ranged from five years old to about ten years old. They climbed on jungle gyms like little hairless monkeys, hooting and hollering and being overall obnoxious.

For the first time, Gajeel felt his stomach twist.

He glanced down at his own kid, who observed the proceedings with wide, bewildered eyes. He saw that her bookbag was nearly half her height, and that her hair was already starting to come out of its ribbon. She was tiny when compared to the lumbering fifth graders who patrolled the school. What if...?

Gajeel shook his head to clear it. No what ifs. Eve was tough like him, so she wouldn't let anybody intimidate her. But she was also smart, so she wouldn't jump into every altercation she could. Eve would be okay. She would do good.

Asuka, Bisca and Alzack's daughter, saw them and waved. Eve returned the favor, looking nervous about joining the older girl, who was surrounded by her friends. The bell rang and the students converged into one mass, streaming into the school.

"I'll see you later," Gajeel said, patting her on the head. "Have fun at school, alright?"

"Okay. Bye-bye, Daddy." Much to his surprise, Eve hugged his leg before hurrying off to catch up with Asuka, who had separated herself from the crowd to wait for her young friend. Gajeel watched them until they were swallowed by the other students and he could no longer see either of their heads bobbing up and down with the rest.

Gajeel let out a breath that he hadn't noticed he was holding. He watched as the last of the students scampered inside and the front doors closed. He stood there until the late bell rang. He still stood there until finally it sank in that she was gone, and that there was little to nothing he could do to ensure her well-being at this point.

"I guess it's all up to her now," he muttered to himself. But Eve was smart and tough and confident for one her age; she would do well in school. Reassured, he turned on his heel and began marching back the way he had come, wondering what kind of state Levy would be in when he arrived home.