A/N: I am soooooo sorry for not posting in months, I've just been busy and I've had so much on my place. Too much stress and disappointment had got me so close to previous incidents. Hopefully now that I'm out of school for the most part and my boss is letting me had decent-ish time off I should be able to get back on track with this story. Again please forgive me. Okay Story Time~~**

The next morning Levy woke up and rolled over, a small sense of sadness as she remembered she was back home and not with Rogue. In the short few days she stayed with him, she had gotten so use to his presence around her almost all the time. Slowly, the bluenette sat up and stretched before climbing out of bed. She stiffly moved towards the bathroom so she could brush her teeth and wash her face.

She groaned as she started to brush out her hair. She wasn't going to lie, she was still sore from the mission but she never thought that brushing her hair would be this painful, but then again Rogue brushed her hair for her, or Frosh did. She smiled as she remembered how much the green exceed loved to play with her hair. She sighed and moved back to her room to pull on some comfortable loose fitting jeans, a bright orange long sleeve shirt, and some sneakers that would make it easier for her to walk.

Levy was already hurting but she smiled as she grabbed a small bag and headed to the guild hall. Once she got there she giggled at all the fairies that were waking up with hangovers from the previous night. She smiled as she saw Gajeel and Pantherlily sitting at the usual table. Lily stood on top of the table in his small exceed form before waving at her. The black-furred warrior was the morning person of the bunch and already getting their usual orders into Mira so she could fix their breakfast.

Gajeel was the person who was the least in a good mood in the morning, or so people thought. Truth be told, if Levy did not truly "wake up" before coming into the guild she was worse than Gajeel. Though right now, Gajeel was sitting with his head on the table. He sat up a bit when she walked over to them.

"Oi, took you long enough to get here." Gajeel said, as if he was irritated but gave her a smile. Levy giggled and talked with them for most of the day. Lucy and Mira often came over to check on her before Lucy told her that her and Natsu were going on a mission. Levy nodded and gently hugged her friend before wishing them luck and seeing them off.

~~~~~~~

Rogue sat in the guild hall, watching the visible changes in the weather. The wind was blowing more and the leaves continued to fall, symbolizing that winter would soon be here. Winter... that gave Rogue an idea. He smiled and went to go talk to Sting about the idea.

Sting was a bit surprised about Rogue's idea, but to be honest he did find it exciting. The blonde male nodded as he started making preparations immediately. He called for Yukino so she may help. The next few days were going to be filled with planning and excitement, but first everyone should know. As Sting walked to the center of the room, Rogue disappeared so that he may start on what he needed to.

~~~~~~~*

A few days later, Levy was finally feeling better and could easily walk around. The scars on her arms and legs were still there but not as noticeable. She was sitting in the guild, waiting for Gajeel and Pantherlily, who had invited her on a short mission so that she could save up for Christmas once again. She was reading her book when she saw Pantherlily come land on the table.

Levy turned to see Gajeel standing behind her and ready to go. She giggled and grabbed her things and Pantherlily. Then the three made their way to the train station for the short trip.

~~~~~~*

Sting and Rogue, along with the rest of the guild, worked on their special project before they all were finally finished and ready to get the set up started. Though, they all agreed that they were going to rest on this day and so Rogue gathered up Levy's books and went to go see her.

When he entered the Fairy Tail, he looked around, trying to find his bluenette. Everyone in Fairy Tail turned to see him when he came in, but Lucy and Natsu met him at the door.

"Hey Rogue. What's up?" Lucy asked as she stopped in front of him. Natsu beside her, apparently searching for Sting.

"I was trying to find Levy, and then I had wished to speak to Master Makarov." He said quietly as he kept his eyes away from others but also tried to pick up the other's scents. He could tell Makarov was on the second floor and the white haired demon girl, Mirajane, was in the archives below, but Levy and Gajeel's scents were faint and that's what worried him a bit.

"Well Master's upstairs with Laxus, but Levy and Gajeel left for a mission about two hours ago I think." Lucy said, worried that Rogue might be wanting to transfer Levy from Fairy Tail to Sabertooth. When Rogue nodded and asked her to lead him to Makarov, Lucy nodded and headed towards the stairs.

When Rogue reached the office door, he knocked before he heard the words to enter. When he entered, Laxus was made to leave and went downstairs so he could drink with the Thunder Legion.

After about an hour on the train, Levy and Gajeel made it to the town before they got off quickly. Pantherlily was in battle form to help hold the massive brute up before he fell onto Levy and hurt her worse. After a moment the metal head was perfectly fine as he stood up straight and brushed off his dark blue tunic. He grabbed their bags and went to check in at the hotel so they could leave their items they didn't need there. Levy was glad for the two queen beds as she claimed the one closest to the window. Pantherlily, back in his smaller cat form stood on her bed as she stretched a bit, trying to get her arm and shoulders to stop being so sore.

After a minute, they headed back down through the lobby so they could start their actual mission. They met with a small elderly lady that was still taller than Levy. She had brown-graying hair, pulled back into a bun, and was wearing a simple denim skirt with a white t-shirt, decorated in blue flowers. The mission was to be a simple one, find her son from a group of abductors and bring him back safely.

That was easier said than done.

By the time they got back to the hotel is was after midnight and they were both a bit battered, but still fine and happy. Pantherlily was carrying Levy in his battle form because he didn't want her to over do herself. She smiled at his generosity as he gently sat her on the bed and then poofed back into his exceed form, accepting a hug from the bluenette. Levy sat him down before going to grab her swim suit. She really needed some hot water to soothe her aches. What better place than the hot tub next to the pool on the floor below them.

After asking the guys if they wanted to join, and waiting for them to change, they walked down and started the hot tub before climbing in. Levy sat next to Gajeel as Pantherlily sat across from them. Levy had her arms mostly submerged in the water as Gajeel left his around the edge of the pool. They talked and laughed as they relaxed in the hot tub for about an hour before they went back to the room for some well deserved rest, although Levy didn't sleep as well until Lily moved over to her bed and slept.

~~~~~

The next day, Gajeel was still asleep when Levy woke, only having rested for a few hours. She sighed as she started to pack up their stuff so that they may go back to Fairy Tail after he gets up. Pantherlily woke not long after and helped Levy before waking Gajeel up by jumping on him, in warrior form. Needless to say, a brawl between Dragon Slayer and Warrior Exceed broke out for a few minutes until it was time for them to actually go before they missed the train.

Levy kept an eye on Gajeel while he tried to over come his motion sickness as she read her book with Pantherlily enjoying kiwi juice across from her. She sighed before closing the book and putting it away, knowing it was a short trip to their town. Once to their stop, Lily grabbed the bags as Levy assisted Gajeel off the train and towards his home. When he could walk again without being sick, they walked to the edge of Fairy Hills to make sure Levy got there safe before they parted ways, saying they'd see each other at the guild later.

Levy climbed the stairs to her book filled, not to mention scattered, room to find that not only had all of the books been picked up but also organized into genre and alphabetical. She was shocked as to who had possibly done it for her. It was going to be her project to finish doing that once she finally healed from her mission with Rogue. She sighed and smiled as she looked over her organized books before she noticed something sticking out of the book that hadn't been in her room in several days. She grabbed it and took a good look at it. It was her favorite fiction romance book, Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and it had a small envelope sticking from the top where her book marker should be. She was at first confused before she removed the envelope and began to read what was inside.