Ch. 24

Marcus and Holly decided to stop by the guild before they went back to their apartment. After getting off the train, Holly had insisted that she walk on her own. Marcus, not wanting to piss the girl off, simply let her use him as a crutch. When they finally made it to the door of the guild, Marcus looked down at her.

"Are you ready? Once we walk through that door, there is no telling what's going to happen."

Holly swallowed a bit, preparing herself for what was to come. "I'm ready. Mavis help us." She reached down and grabbed Marcus' hand. He squeezed her hand, trying to let her know that he was there for her. With that, they pushed open the door, and walked into the guild hall. What happened next reminded Marcus of the scene when he had returned home after his 6 year absence. People were lined up around the door, straining to get a view of the returning mages.

Holly had panicked and tried to run away, but Marcus was frozen stiff, his fingers locked around hers, forcing the girl to stay.

"H-hi guys. We're, um, back," she stuttered, suddenly aware that people were staring at their locked hands. "Mission accomplished. Day saved. You know what, I think Marcus is tired after our long trip home. Maybe we should just leave." Holly tried dragging Marcus away, but he was too heavy and still too nervous to move.

"Oh no you don't!" someone called out. It was Mary. "So, why are you guys holding hands? Hmm?" Well, straight to the point eh? Holly thought. As soon as the girl had pointed it out, Holly became just as frozen as Marcus.

"They're dating!" a voice from the crowd called.

"You mean they weren't before?" another asked.

"Marcus my boy, good job!" someone else said. To Holly it sounded suspiciously like master Makarov. Finally, the pair became unfrozen, and started awkwardly making their way through the crowd, still holding hands. Making to the bar, they were greeted by Mira.

"Ooh I'm so happy for you two. I knew it would work out between you guys! Speaking of which…" Mira walked out from behind the bar and held out a barrel. "Okay everybody! Time to cash in the bets," All around the guild hall there were exchanges of money.

"Wait, you mean people were betting on us?!" Marcus asked the bartender.

"Of course silly. When your parents were teenagers, people made bets all the time as to whether couples would end up together. It was a very lucrative business. Ever since Romeo and Wendy made it official, there hasn't been a good bet. Then Marcus returned and the whole thing started up again! Isn't it just wonderful?" Mira's barrel was now overflowing with cash. Obviously, she had made a very good bet.

"It's a little creepy if you ask me," Holly muttered. Marcus couldn't help but agree.

Suddenly, Marcus' grip around Holly's hand grew much tighter. His face had a look of absolute terror on it. He looked very pail, like he was going to be sick. Somehow, Holly realized why Marcus was so worried. There were two people missing from the guild hall.

"Hey Mira, where are our-" A large chunk of wood came flying out of nowhere, hitting Marcus square in the face, knocking him to the floor.

"YOU BASTARD!" a voice shouted at the entrance to the guild. Grey Fullbuster was standing there, broken pieces of door at his feet, a giant Ice hammer in his hands. "Where is he? Where's the dead man? When I find him, I'm going to put him on a spit and roast him like the poultry he is!" Holly assumed her father was referring to Marcus.

"Hello Grey!" Mira called happily. "Your daughter just returned home from her job."

"Thanks a lot Mira! Now my dad is going to murder my new boyfriend."

"Boy wha?" Marcus asked, still dazed from getting hit. Another piece of wood came flying out of nowhere, once again hitting Marcus, leaving a large bump on his head.

"Dear Mavis NOOOOOOOOO! Tell me it isn't true. My son has been kidnapped and replaced with a crazy person!" It was Natsu shouting now, the other door now destroyed. At the same time, Grey and Natsu spotted Holly still holding hands with a barely conscious Marcus, and came rushing over. Grey picked Marcus up off the floor by his jacket collar.

"I'm going to murder you, YOU HEAR THAT? Nobody dates my daughter and gets away with it!"

"Dad stop!"

"Do it Grey. Kill the imposter. But slowly, so that he tells us what he did to the real Marcus," Natsu said, a creepy look on his face.

"Natsu, I'm sure that's the real Marcus. Stop acting silly," Mira giggled, as though there wasn't about to be an unspeakable crime right in front of her. Marcus seemed to recover a bit from getting hit and managed to speak.

"Dad, it's really me. Mr. Fullbuster, please, let's talk about this. Could you please put me down?" Grey slowly set Marcus back on his feet, though the murderous look didn't leave his face.

"Dad, stop right now," Holly demanded. "You are not going to kill him. I'm a grown woman, I can date whoever I want, even if it is a Dragneel."

"Hey!" Natsu cried out.

"This punk didn't even ask for my blessing to date you though, my little ice princess," Grey said.

"Oh, okay. Mr. Fullbuster, may I please date your daughter?"

"No."

"DAD!" Then, Natsu's and Grey's faces both went very pail, like Marcus' had been.

"Hey, uh, Natsu? Have you seen our wives anywhere?"

"No he hasn't," a female voice said from the other side of the room. "But it looks like we came just in time to beat some sense into you two. Holly looked to where the voice came from, and saw her mother and Lucy, both with very, very angry expressions.

"I'm sorry Grey. I didn't want to die this way," Natsu said, hugging the ice mage.

"Me too buddy. Now we're really in for it."