Alrighty! The Twenty First chapter is here! Hold on tight people, because it is about to get a bit wild! :3 Not going to give anything away, but I hope you enjoy!

Unexpected Hero

Chapter 21

Levy sighed and watched as her breath fogged in front of her face before evaporating into the air. Before her stood two stones that she visited every year at this time. Both were still smooth, not yet standing long enough for the elements to wear away, but yet it was long enough that the ground was sunken in and already regrowing.

She looked to the stone on her left, a black marble stone with a hammer and nail engraved above the name, circled with a wedding band. The name read; Rion McGarden, a beloved son, husband, and father. Below that was the years he was born and the year he had passed.

Turning to her right, she stared at the pure white marble stone with a quill and tied up parchment bound together with another wedding band above the name that read; Sylvia McGarden, beloved daughter, wife, and mother.

She had always found it ironic that after their deaths her grandparents from both sides suddenly thought of their beloved children. However, they continued to ignore her, the child of their children. She knew that the truly didn't care, all they wanted was the five minutes of fame that came from losing a loved one. They didn't even truly understand what they had lost, not like she did. She never did hold it against them though, merely brushed them off and ignored them just as they ignored her.

Her father and mother, both born a year apart, and died the same way. It was just so hurtful to think about, but yet think about it she did whenever she visited their resting sight. She blinked when everything began to darken, and tensed when a sound of shuffling feet sounded behind her. Spinning around, she attempted to take a step back, but found herself frozen to the spot as she stared at the man approaching.

"No one around to protect you this time." Jose sneered as he jumped toward her...

Levy snapped upright in bed, barely holding back the scream that was clawing at her throat. Swallowing hard, she looked around her and felt her muscles go weak with relief. She was still at Lucy's, sleeping beside the blonde, and surrounded by her other friends. Giving a soft sigh, she easily laid back down and pressed her wrists into her eyes. Trying to fight back the tears that wanted to spill.

Why would she have a dream like that?! Giving a sigh, she rolled over and inched closer to Lucy, relieved when Lucy seemed to sense her discomfort and wrapped her in a hug before going still again, breathing softly in sleep. Levy exhaled as well, nuzzling into her friend's embrace and closed her eyes, knowing that she was safe here.

"Oi, Levy. Everything alright?" A soft whisper reached her, and she eased from her friend's embrace to roll over and peek over the edge of the bed. Biting her bottom lip as she saw Cana peering up at her with concern.

"Sorry, if I woke you. It was just a bad dream." She whispered, blinking when Cana shifted and began to pull herself up onto the bed. Causing her to scoot back over to Lucy, who wrapped her back into a hug. She frowned when Cana snuggled up to her and looked into her eyes.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked, and Levy gave a small grateful smile. Cana was usually the wild one of their bunch, but when it came to sensing that something was troubling her friends, she was the first to respond.

"I dreamed that Jose was after me again. However, I know that he can't touch me now." She whispered, watching as Cana seemed to think about it.

"Did he say anything in the dream?"

"He said: No one around to protect you this time.." She stated, watching as the brunette raised an eyebrow and frowned.

"Where were you? In the dream?"

"At my parents' graves." She answered, watching as Cana tensed slightly and then smiled suddenly.

"It doesn't really matter in the end, it was only a dream." She whispered, and Levy smiled slightly. However, and uneasy feeling settled over her.

"Yeah, guess you're right." She whispered back, laying her head back onto her pillow and closed her eyes. Giving a sigh as both Cana and Lucy snuggled up to her. She knew that Cana had just said that to try and ease her worries, but she knew better. Whenever she had dreams about her parents' graves, then something usually appeared there. If the dream was good, a good surprise was waiting for her. Rather some extra flowers or incense burning in their honor, or some of their favorite food already placed before them. If the dreams were bad, or frightened her...It usually came in the form of vandalism on their grave, someone smashing the flowers, or beer bottles littered around them.

Biting her bottom lip, she squeezed her eyes closed and prayed that for once it truly was just a dream. Surely Jose couldn't be out, Metallica had given her the news himself that the man was behind bars. Then again, the man was more slippery than a snake, so she couldn't put it past him. Giving a mental sigh, she eased from between her two friends, and quietly stepped around the others. Looking out in the hallway to make sure the coast was clear, she stepped out and made her way toward the library. What she needed right now was a good book to help calm her nerves.

Easing into the large library, she plopped down onto one of the many pillows and grabbed the nearest book. Smiling as she saw that it was a fairy tale book, and one of her favorites to top. It wasn't like others, where the maiden ran away with the knight or prince, but instead stayed with her 'capture' because he really rescued her from the cage of the noble life. Giving a sigh, she shifted until she was comfortable, and then started on the book. She was only interrupted when her phone buzzed, and blinked as she saw a text from Gajeel. She smiled when she saw that he would be picking her up in the morning, and that he had something he needed to talk with her about. She replied that she would wait for him, and then returned to her story.

Gajeel blinked his eyes open with a frown, before sitting up in bed. He looked around the room, trying to find what had awoken him. Only to tense when his phone buzzed on his nightstand, and sneered as he saw that it was an unknown number. Pressing the green button, he held the phone to his ear.

"You better have a damn good reason as to why you're calling at...four in the god damn morning." He hissed, glaring at his alarm clock.

"Well morning to you too, sunshine. Is Levy in a safe place?" The question sent chills through him and he pressed a fist into his forehead.

"She's over at a sleepover at the Heartfilia's." He muttered, and listened as his father gave a sigh and shuffled something over the line.

"I want you to personally get her in the morning. Do not leave her side, do you understand?"

"I got ya. Just one question, how did he escape?" He growled, listening to the silence until he had thought his father had hung up.

"Jose had people within the court system that no one knew about. He was put in bars long enough to convince me, and then was released not long after. No worries, they're being dealt with." He stated, and Gajeel gave a sigh before leaning back and looking up at the ceiling.

"Why can't anything go right for her?" He whispered, not really expecting an answer, and blinked when his father started talking.

"She may have had a hard life, losing both parents and being left to a monster like that, but think about how she came out. When the darkest things happened to her, she remained bright and determined. She never thought that life would be her only one, and forged her own path out of that hardship. It may still cling to her now, but not for much longer. She had too many friends, and too many people who love her, to let her go through that again. While it hasn't been perfect, I assure you, she isn't complaining about how things have progressed for the better." Metallica stated, and Gajeel blinked as he recalled a similar speech from when he was younger, and smirked.

"Don't act so damn smart, I know damn well that speech was taken from Sylvia. She said the same thing to me when I thought I was done for." He laughed, but sat up straighter.

"However, you're right. Damn that left a nasty taste." He muttered, listening as Metallica chuckled.

"Get some more sleep Hatchling. You're going to need the rest for tomorrow when you break the news to her." He stated, and Gajeel gave a grunt before wishing him a good night, or morning in this case, before turning his phone off and laying back down. Of course he would be the one who had to break the news to her. Turning his head, he saw that it was a few minutes passed four, and he groaned. He knew full well that there was no getting back to sleep, and even if he did it wouldn't be restful.

Tossing the covers aside, he stood and quietly walked out of his room, down the stairs, and into his work area. He headed toward the desk and sat down, looking over his presents for the girls. He had decided to make their gifts this year, as well as buy some, and Levy had given him the perfect idea as to what to make. He reached for the nearest object, but paused with a frown and instead grabbed his phone.

He quickly sent Levy a text message, set his phone for ten, and then placed it beside him. Then turned back to the art works and grabbed the one he was making for Wendy. Soon enough, he was concentrated fully on his work, and the hours seemed to fly by. He faintly heard Juvia call that breakfast was ready, which he replied that he wasn't hungry. He only took a break long enough to answer a text that Levy sent, saying that she would wait for him at the Hearfilia's until he got there, and then worked a bit more.

Soon enough, his phone began to give a shrill just as he finished with Wendy's, and he snatched the phone, hit the silence button, and headed for the steps. He knew that Juvia and Wendy were out shopping today, so he moved easily through the house, got dressed, and quickly stepped outside. Tensing for a moment as his body adjusted to the cold weather, and frowned as he saw that the sky was slightly dark with the threat of more snow.

Giving a shrug, he headed for his car and quickly turned up the heat once he was inside. If Jose thought that he would easily get to Levy, just because he had escaped jail, he had another thing coming.

Scowling slightly, he roared down the road and quickly turned toward the Heartfilia residence, determined to get to Levy as quickly as he could. He was certain that Jose wouldn't try anything with so many people around, but that didn't stop an uneasy feeling from settling over him.

Dun, Dun, Dun! Hehehe! :3 What's gonna happen next, it will be a while because I'm still working on the next chapter! Hope you enjoyed! 3:)