Well it's time to start winding down the story (T_T) which means I need ideas for a new one! I'm open for any and all ideas so let me know! This chapter is for Darkhope. Thanks for the suggestion! On with the show!

Flashbacks

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Ember started pacing outside the door of Storm's room at the hotel. Wendy and Porlyusca were in there treating his wounds, so everyone was kicked out and the door shut in their faces. Gray was consoling the shipwreck that was his wife just outside the door. He couldn't believe that they were kicked out of the room too! They were his parents! Though Gray was worried about his son, he knew that Storm would be okay. He was strong and capable, but that didn't stop him from worrying about him. As a father, Gray wanted the best for his kids. He never wanted to see them hurt or sad or upset. He remembered when his son came to him and wanted to learn Ice Make Magic.

Gray was fixing to go help Natsu and Lucy find their missing kids when a little voice interrupted his walk out of their house.

"Hey Dad!"

Gray turned to look at his four almost five year old son.

Storm had been very quiet since the Dark Guild took Ember and Blaze. His son had a determined look on his face and he stood tall, like he had a purpose. Gray walked back over to him and knelt down so that he was eye level with the dark haired boy. This whole thing that was happening to his best friends opened Gray's eyes to the danger of raising children as a mage. If someone managed to take the Pyro's kids, who's to say that his aren't next? Gray felt sudden fear at the thought of his son and daughter in danger. Sure he worried about his nakama and, of course, Juvia, but this was a whole new level. These small people are his blood, something that he hasn't had for a long time. They were a part of him.

"What is it, Storm? Daddy has to go help Uncle Natsu and Aunt Lucy."

The boy looked like he was trying to find the right words to express what he wanted, a problem he inherited from his mother.

"I want you to teach me magic!" He blurted out.

Gray looked stunned for a moment.

"Why now all of a sudden?"

Storm stood there fidgeting with his fingers for a moment.

"Cause I want to help look for Blaze and Ember too. I want to protect them and Sky."

His blue eyes filled with tears and he furiously wiped them away. Storm had been at the park with Ember and Blaze when they were taken. He watched as Blaze fought back the best he could as he did nothing. What if next time it was Sky who needed his help?

Gray pulled his son in for a hug and held him tight, like he never wanted to let go. His Storm had Juvia's selflessness and Gray's reckless determination, which, Gray thought, will come back to bite them in later years.

And bite it did.

"You are allowed to come in, but be very quiet. He needs to rest." Said Porlyusca as she and Wendy left.

Gray walked in with Juvia and looked at his son lying in the bed, seemingly asleep. Ember walked in with Sky, then left after confirming that the boy was okay. The Fullbuster family needed some time together.

Juvia sat in a chair and looked at her son's face. He could have died today, she realized. Her only son could have been taken from her, just like that. Juvia remembered the first time she ever held him in her arms. Even then she knew this day would come. Her son was a fighter, one who looked out for his friends and never gave up. Now that he was safe, Juvia felt herself relax and let the worry disappear. They knew how dangerous the life of a mage was. It was just the way things were and they had to take it one day at a time.

Storm stirred and opened his eyes looking up at his families faces. Sky gave a strangled cry and hugged her older brother. He was always her hero figure and it pained her to see him hurt like he was today.

Gray stood behind Juvia with a hand on her shoulder, both of them looking at the sight in front of them.

"Sky, could you let go of me?"

As much as Storm loved his sister, she was so clingy. He was still hurt!

She did as he asked and Gray cleared his throat.

"So how are you feeling?"

" Like I was stabbed by a spear." He said with a blank look.

Juvia choked on the laugh that came out of her mouth. If Storm was acting like this then he was going to be okay.

Gray smirked.

"That tends to happen when you jump in front of a deadly weapon."

Storm shook his head at his father.

"You would have done the same thing, Dad."

Gray didn't say anything, cause he knew his son was right.

"Aren't you going to ask if you won?" Sky asked looking at her brother curiously.

Storm shook his head.

"I know we did."

Ember was storming around the garden outside the hotel. After she saw that Storm was okay, she went to the calm, quiet place to get her thoughts together. Which, as it turns out, led to anger at Storm.

Who does he think he is? Always taking a hit that was meant for her.

You have my back and I have yours, right?

Ember felt tears falling down her face. She hadn't even realized that she was crying. Just like she didn't notice her mother coming towards her.

Lucy sat down next to her daughter on the bench in the garden. She knew that Ember needed someone to talk to and came immediately after she was told Storm was alright.

"Why does he always do that?" The pink haired girl whispered.

Lucy looked in to her child's eyes and smiled softly.

"I think you know the answer."

Ember frowned as she took in her mother's words.

"Do you really think he loves me?"

Lucy laughed at her daughter's choice of words. She remembered a time when she herself asked Mirajane the same thing about Natsu. Lucy gathered her daughter in to a hug and held her tight.

"I know he does. It's in the way he looks at you, the way he talks to you, the way he watches you. All the signs are there. You just need to look for them."

Ember held on to her mother and listened. She saw the way Storm looked at her differently than he looked at other girls. How he always made sure she was okay and made her laugh when she was sad.

"But...what if it doesn't work out? He's my best friend! I can't lose that!" Ember pulled away from Lucy and looked her in the eyes.

Lucy's expression softened.

"That's the thing about love. You never know what's going to happen, you just have to close your eyes and jump. Besides every lasting relationship is built on the best friendships."

Ember smiled. Her mother always knew just what to say to make sense of everything for her.

Must come from years of being married to her father.

"Thanks Mom." she said as she placed herself into her mother's embrace once again.

Lucy smiled softly.

"I didn't tell you anything you didn't already know."

Blaze was having a hard time dealing with the fact that his friend was hurt. He was grateful to Storm for protecting his sister, but didn't like that fact that it was either him or her. There had to of been a way both could have come out of that without serious injuries. Natsu came up behind his son and stood there. He wasn't really the best when it came to consoling people, but he seemed to do okay when it came to his kids.

"So what's on your mind?" he finally asked.

Blaze didn't seem fazed that his father suddenly appeared out of seemingly nowhere. He looked over at the other male and sighed.

"I know I'm supposed to protect Ember, but how can I do that here?"

Natsu looked out over the city of Crocus as the lights sparkled.

" I think it's time we let your sister handle herself."

Natsu thought back to Lucy's words and what he saw in the arena today.

Blaze looked at his father questioningly.

"So...I can't help her at all? Even if she really needs me?"

Natsu stared at his son in disbelief. Where had he gotten that idea from?!

"No that's not what I meant-"

"But you just said-"

Natsu ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Lucy was so much better at this kind of thing!

"What I mean is, it's okay to help your sister, but you have to let her stand on her own two feet too. You and I both saw what she is capable of today. Ember is strong and can take care of herself, but even the best need a little help every now and again. Does that make sense?"

Blaze nodded slowly.

"Yeah. I get it. You had me worried there for a moment Pops!" Blaze gave that Devi- may-care smile that he got from Natsu, who shook his head.

Maybe he was better at this than he thought he was.

Steel looked around his family's suite and wondered what everyone else was doing. They had to be having a better time than he was at the moment. Currently his father and brother were arguing over who was stronger and his mother and sister, Lexia, were sitting in chairs reading.

"Shrimp, who's stronger?!" Asked Gajeel.

Levy sighed as she looked up from Lucy's latest novel. She looked between her husband and oldest son with irritation in her gold eyes.

"Don't bring me into this." And she left to go to the bedroom so she could finish her book in peace.

Gajeel and Rex turned to Lexia.

"What do you say Krill?"

Lexia was a real Daddy's girl. She was smart and a Solid Script mage like her mother, but had Gajeel's red eyes and black hair. At 15 she still called Gajeel Daddy, much to his enjoyment. One of his kids (Rex) was always trying to upstage him and the other (Steel) couldn't really careless what his father did as long as it didn't embarrass him in any way, so it was great to have a kid who adored him and stroked his ego.

"Daddy's the greatest!" She said with a smile so bright it was blinding.

"Daddy's Girl." Rex muttered.

Lexia's lip trembled. She knew that her father always did what she wanted with that look.

"Oi! Apologize to Krill, Shark Bait!"

Rex grinned evilly.

"Why don't you make me old man?"

Steel sighed and left the room to go to bed before he got involved in their little brawl.

He passed by his parents room and his mother called his name.

"Are they still going at it?" Levy asked.

Steel leaned against the door frame and leveled a look at his petite mother.

"Aren't they always?"

Levy sighed.

"Lexia stirred the pot didn't she?"

Steel nodded and Levy groaned.

" Why? Why does she have to do that all the time?"

She answered her own question.

"Because she's Gajeel's daughter, that's why."

Levy sighed and then smiled at her middle child. Of all her children, Steel was the most like her in mannerisms. He was quiet and he used his head before rushing into a fight. He was also calm.

"You have to admit that they keep things lively around here though." Steel said.

As much as they annoyed him at times, he wouldn't trade his dysfunctional family for anything.

Levy smiled.

"They sure do, don't they?"

Jaxon was behind the hotel with his parents and sister having some family fun time. Which for the Fernandez family, meant throwing sharp and highly dangerous weaponry around at targets.

"I'm the leader of my team! I just let my friends get hurt and sat on the sidelines! What good am I?!"" He raged at himself, completely missing every target he aimed at.

Jellal and Erza looked at each other worriedly. Their son must really be upset if he was missing all the targets. Enoia pushed her blue hair out of her face, sending the boy a calculating glance.

"Jaxon, just because you are the leader, doesn't mean you will always protect your team." Jellal told his son as he laid a hand on his shoulder.

Jaxon looked at his father, not quite understanding what he was saying.

Erza noticed and held a knife pointed at the target.

" It's like throwing a knife, Jaxon. Just because you miss and it doesn't stick, doesn't mean you quit and give up. Now does it?"

Jaxon shook his head.

" Being a leader isn't about getting it right all the time. It's about learning and getting better. Pushing forward and learning from the mistakes."

"You can't control everything. A good leader isn't the one who gets everything right. He's the one who makes the best of the situation and gets his team out alive." Jellal finished for his wife. He took the knife from Erza's hand and handed it to his son.

"So what are you going to do?" Enoia asked her little brother.

Jaxon looked at the knife and then flung it at the target. It hit dead center. Erza's face softened and Jellal smiled.

" I'm going to try again."