The group turned and looked at Erza with wide eyes, Zeref included.
"I really don't think I can leave the island," Zeref protested.
"Have you ever tried?"
Zeref looked away, guiltily, "Well, no."
Erza nodded, "Then it's settled, we'll all get on the ship and go back to Magnolia. Master will just have to understand it."
The others nodded, though Lucy and Zeref exchanged concerned looks before Erza turned on Lucy.
"Now, pack you're stuff, because we're going home."
Lucy swallowed, but didn't argue as the group raced out of her home, heading toward the cave they'd stayed in. She turned back to Zeref who was staring after her friends in confusion.
"Why would they want me to come back with them?"
Lucy grinned, 'That's just the way my friends are. Never leave your family behind. You might not be family to them yet, but you're family to me and that's good enough for them."
Zeref grinned back before kissing her gently, "I'm a little nervous about what will happen."
Lucy laughed, "Don't be nervous. I'll protect you."
He looked down at her as her hand slid into his, squeezing gently.
"I believe that you really will," He whispered before he helped her pack her things back into the sack that she had brought.
Zeref had no possessions of his own that he wasn't wearing, so he was ready immediately, though he fidgeted as they boarded the ship, staring at the island that had been his home for all of these years. He wasn't certain he was ready to face the world yet, but he knew that he had to sometime. He was surprised when the ship pulled away from the island with ease, and even more so when he stayed on the ship, watching as the island shrank away until it wasn't even a speck on the landscape.
After settling in with the girls, Lucy joined him on the deck as he continued to stare in the direction that Tenrou Island was in.
"You okay?" She asked, touching his arm gently.
He nodded, "It feels strange to be going back to the mainland after all of these years."
"I know, there's going to be so much that is going to seem strange to you," She smiled. "But don't you worry, stick close to me and I'll show you what's what and keep you protected."
He grinned down at her, "I believe you really will."
She nodded, leaning against him, "I finally found you. I'm not going to let you go so easily."
Makarov was in a state that even had Mira a little afraid as he stormed around the guild. Team Natsu had vanished a month ago, taking Levy with them, and no one seemed to know what had happened to the reckless team. He was fit to be tied with them.
"Mira," Makarov hollered from his office.
The white-haired demon takeover mage trudged up the stairs, shaking visibly as she opened the door.
"Yes, Master?"
"Have you heard from those brats?"
Mira shook her head, "No, Master. Last I knew -"
"I know, I know," Makarov dismissed her with a weary sigh and a wave of his hand. "Well, if you do, be sure to let me know."
Mira nodded before turning and heading back down the stairs, her shoulder slumping in relief. She knew that the Master was only worried about the team, but she was still concerned that he might do harm to someone if something didn't happen soon.
As if her wish was a command, the door burst open, Natsu and Gray racing through before Erza and Levy followed behind, grinning. Wendy walked alongside a blonde, that Mira recognized as Lucy after a few seconds, who was tightly holding the hand of a dark-haired young man.
Mira grinned at them, waving her hello before running up the stairs to inform the master of the good news.
Lucy looked around her guild in apprehension. She knew her guild mates would be happy to see her, but she wasn't sure how they would react to Zeref. On the ship, they'd agreed that Makarov would have to be told who he really was before anyone else could know, but they weren't sure if they should keep his name a secret after that or just tell those in the guild. Finally they'd agreed to talk to the old man first.
She tugged Zeref toward the stairs just as the little man came running out of the guild, his eyes glowing as he saw his favorite team had returned. He stopped short, however, when he saw Lucy and Zeref standing at the end of the stairs, his smile slipping as his shoulders slumped.
"Well, come on up, we should probably talk about this," He said, waving the two up with an air of defeat.
Lucy shifted nervously as she pulled her boyfriend up the steps behind her, ignoring the teasing that Natsu was getting about it. Makarov closed the door as soon as the two stepped inside and pointed at the chairs across from his desk.
"Sit."
They sat immediately.
"Explain."
Lucy sighed, "I tried to stay, really. Erza, however, seems to think that you were wrong to send us away and wouldn't let up until we agreed to come back with her."
"We?" He raised an eyebrow, looking over at the boy sitting beside her. "Zeref?"
The man hung his head, "Yes."
Makarov studied him for a long minute.
"Mavis says that you've changed your ways. That you no longer desire the destruction of the human race as you did four hundred years ago."
Zeref nodded eagerly.
"And you can control your magic?"
The couple sighed, both shaking their heads in dismay.
"There is an upside to this though," Lucy looked up grinning. "It seems that as long as I'm with Zeref his magic can erupt without doing harm. My magic combats his so effectively that not even Natsu or Erza can notice it's affects."
Makarov looked at the two thoughtfully, contemplating the dilemma he was in before sighing in defeat.
"We'll give it a trial run. So long as no one is harmed by this Death Magic at the end of the year, Zeref can stay on. For now, he'll be a Fairy Tail Wizard."
The two nodded before Lucy hesitantly brought up the next issue.
"What do we do about Zeref, though? The others will freak if they find out who he is."
Makarov grinned, "Oh, I have a plan for that. Now, go, get Zeref his stamp."
The two left and Lucy pulled him down to sit in front of Mira.
"Mira, we have a new member," Lucy called, waving the bartender over.
Mira grinned, pulling the stamper out from under the counter.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail," She said. "You must really like Lucy if you're willing to join us without knowing anyone else first."
Zeref grinned back, "Well, I have met Natsu, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Levy as well, but yes, I really do like Luce."
He smiled at the blonde, still holding her hand - which did not escape Mira's notice - as the bartender asked him where he would like his stamp. For a long time Zeref was silent, contemplating it before grinning broadly.
"Right here," He announced, pulling his shirt open and pointing to the area right above his heart.
Mira and Cana both stared at the surprisingly built mage before Mira stamped him, watching as the stamp faded to black with pink edges. The three girls both gasped in surprise as Zeref looked at them in confusion.
"This isn't normal, I take it?" He asked, admiring his stamp.
The three shook their heads.
"Well, Levy's is white with an orange outline, but this is something else," Mira whispered, watching as the pink faded inwards, leaving the edges a little brighter.
She looked between the two knowingly. She'd only ever seen one other stamp do that, though she wouldn't say anything about that to the two obvious lovebirds. It might freak them out after all.
"So, what did you say you're name was?" She asked, leaning forward slightly just as the master came out of the office.
"Alright, Listen up brats," He yelled, causing the whole guild to immediately fall silent. "Lucy is back."
Cheers sounded through the whole guild and Zeref looked at her in surprise. Everyone here really did seem to love the blonde, who was blushing at the cheers.
"She brought a friend with her as well. Don't pester them about it, alright. His name's Zeref," He paused as he waited for the murmurs to calm down. "Yes, his parents are dingle bats for naming him that, but you can't blame a boy for his parents fool brains. Be good to him, I sense Lucy might get angry if you don't."
He added the last part with a wink in Lucy's direction, which immediately sent the guild in a frenzy of demands of the blonde, who was staring at the floor, blushing so hard that her whole face was red.