Author's Note: I can't believe it's been forever since my last update. Almost 2 years? Going to 3? I still can't believe it.

It's been so long, I don't know who is still reading this or who is still patiently waiting for this but, if you are, I am sorry for the long wait.

I've had a couple of things in life that made me unable to update, and to be honest, I thought at one point I had lost all passion to write with constant writers block. It truly has been one hell of a ride.

There is no promises that I'm back and there is no promises that I can keep up with daily updates at all but I just want to thank all of you for at least understanding why I am all over the place. If there are a couple of you guys that can patiently wait for my dumbass to continue to update, I salute you for it.

Anyways, sorry for the long rant. I had to reread my whole Dark Rose story cause I had no idea what and where I had left off, haha. Well, anyways, I hope whoever is still reading this, to enjoy!

Erza and Natsu couldn't stop staring at the TV, still at awe at what had just been revealed. The death of a presidential candidate, was the news of the day that was being played at every news cast channel.

No matter how many times Natsu changes the channel, each channel reported the same thing over and over. "I still can't believe that just happened…" Natsu muttered, with a small streak of sweat rolling down his face.

"…" Erza stood quiet, watching as Natsu skimmed through the channels. What is your play Jellal? She thought to herself. What are your plans? What the hell does this change? Erza continued to think to herself, hoping to find an answer on her own about it. It's no use, no matter how hard I think about this situation, no matter how I read it, I can only say this is a warning, especially to me…

After a couple of minutes, Natsu completely turned off the TV. "That's just fucking terrible." Natsu sighed.

"Was he a friend?" Erza asked, knowing Natsu was just as nervous as her, albeit for different reasons.

"Well, it's complicated actually," he answered. He threw himself more into the couch, almost more laid back. "We went to the same college and University. We weren't friends per say, but we both acknowledged each other for our achievements." He explained.

"Since college?" She was surprised to say the least. "Wow, didn't know your history with him went as far as back as that."

"Yeah…" Natsu sighed, crossing his arms on his chest. "I'm just trying to figure out who would want him dead."

"…" Erza knew who it was, though knew she couldn't share her answers with him. "I'm sure the FBI and the cops would figure out who did it." She placed her hand over his upper thigh, reassuring the man with some hope, giving herself that false sense of hope as well.

"I guess." He then placed his hand over here, feeling her warmth. He shot her a smile which she shot back at him.

"BZZZZZZ!" Their little moment came to an end when Natsu's work phone began to ring.

Natsu got up from the couch and walked towards his phone which was in the other room. "Hello?" He answered.

Erza could only make out a few words from where she was from. Probably just about what they had seen in the news as well.

She turned to look at the TV, though there was no significance of doing so. Erza was now in her thoughts again, still remembering the words Jellal had uttered for her earlier, before what was on the news. When you let your guard down, when you're at your lowest, I'll strike. His words echoed through her head. And when I do, I'll make you suffer. I'll make the pinkette suffer, slowly in front of your eyes and there will be nothing you'll be able to do to stop me!

"Damn you, Jellal." Erza whispered to herself. "I don't know what you're up to, but I won't let you win…"

"Hey Erza!" Natsu called from the other room.

She jumped a bit, thinking she had heard him. "Uh, what's up?"

"Have you seen my other cell phone?" Natsu was trying to find it, while still on his work phone.

She had remembered that Jellal had taken it from when she had last seen it. "I haven't seen it, did you miss placed it?" She didn't lie of course.

"Eh, you're probably right."

…

Laxus was now home.

He took what the doctor had told him from his therapy session and had gotten some boxes. "Phew." He brought a whole pile, which made him exhausted, coming from his garage to the living room.

He arranged some boxes, now ready for what's to come.

He walked around his house, remembering all the memories of him and his loved one. All the precious, unforgettable moments in his life. He remembered it all. A small tear escaped and he quickly wiped it.

Laxus began in the living room. He, with the box in hand began to move stuff around. From small accessories to a collection of books, he placed it.

A certain book he held grabbed his attention. It had no title but he knew what it was, a photo album of all the things he and Levy had done in their lives. He took his time skimming throughout it, smiling without realizing it. This was something he knew he wanted to continue to keep. He closed it and placed it back onto the bookcase.

As he continued in silence with the packing, there was a sudden knock on his door, startling the spiky blonde. He wasn't expecting company.

He walked over and looked through his peephole only to see a familiar male red head. He unlocked his door, and slowly opened it, peeking his head out. "What do you want?"

"Can I at least get a hi?" Gildarts responded.

"I know this isn't a friendly visit," Laxus opened his door, letting him in. "What do you want?"

"Well you know what I want, but I know that you still need time," Gildarts came in, taking a seat next to Laxus on his couch. He can see that Laxus was in the middle of sorting some stuff out. "Was I interrupting something?"

"Yes," he truthfully told. "And, are you here asking me as a friend or as a civil duty?"

"A little of both." Gildarts answered honestly.

"I should punch you." Laxus gave the man a grin.

"And you have every right to do so," Gildarts deserved anything the man threw at. "Like I said, I know that you still need your time, to think and to mourn, but new things have come up."

"And that is?" Laxus raised an eyebrow at the man. He knew nothing of the new things.

"Have you not been caught up in the news?" Gildarts asked.

"Not really, I'm in my own thoughts right now," Laxus told. "Truth be told, I don't want to know what's going on with the outside world. Not now at least."

"Well, I'll only tell you if you are up to it," the red head tried to honor what he's trying to do. "It's one of the things I can at least do without getting punched."

"Heh," Laxus chuckled. "I appreciate that."

As the two conversed, another knock was heard on his door. The two look towards the door. "You expecting someone else?" Gildarts asked.

"Not really," Laxus got up and went to the door. Looked through his peephole and saw it was his doctor, Dr. Lucy Heartfilia, well she looked more now like a regular civilian, wearing black buttoned up shirt with a black zip up sweater, jeans and some low top converse with her hair in a ponytail. "Hello, doctor, what brings you here?"

"Well, my last session got cancelled and I thought I'd take you up on that offer on- Agent Gildarts?" She recognized the red head sitting on the couch as she walked in.

"Oh, hello doctor, nice to see you again." Gildarts got up and gave her a quick hug as she joined the two on the couch.

"You know each other?" Laxus asked as he closed and locked his door.

"Yeah, the Bureau also has her as a department shrink as well." Gildarts answered.

"Every now and then I have to bump heads with him whenever there is a crisis of some kind, just making sure for his boss that his men are up to duty and stuff." Lucy had explained.

"Huh, never knew that." Laxus sat with them.

"Well what brings you here doc?" The red head asked.

"I am here to help Laxus with his mourning," she cleared her throat, clearing the raspy in her voice. "Just helping out in any way I can with my patients."

"I hear you." Gildarts got up.

"Leaving already?" Both Laxus and Lucy asked in unison.

"Yeah," Gildarts pressed his hand onto his neck, cracking it in place. "Well, I hope to hear from you again Laxus, really I do."

"Yeah, yeah," Laxus got up too. "I'm assuming whatever you currently got on your hands has an expiration date, right?"

"Well not exactly but time is of the essence," both men walked towards the door. "And you know her… she won't speak to anyone unless it's you."

"I wish that wasn't the case," Laxus opened the door for the man. "But I know sooner or later I'll have to face my demons."

"Well, I'll be seeing you both," Gildarts gave the two a nod. "Doc, Laxus."

"See ya." Lucy said her goodbye.

Laxus simply nodded and closed the door.

"I'm assuming he was giving you an update on you-know-who?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, something about another case that occurred." Laxus was now standing next to the bookcase, continuing where he left off.

"Oh really?" Lucy got up now, about to start her civil duty. "Is it the thing that's been playing in all the news cast channels?"

"I don't know doc," Laxus answered. "I'm just focusing on me like you said, I've blocked all things like media and stuff, so I'm pretty much blind right now."

"You know, when I said to focus on yourself, I didn't mean literally." Lucy couldn't help but chuckle at the request she had given the blonde man.

"I take my orders literally most of the time."

…

A couple of days passed and the news of the death of presidential candidate had finally quietened to some extent.

"So Mr. Dragneel, how do you feel about what has happened to your competitor?" Natsu had been invited down to Magnolia Channel 10 News, being interviewed by newscaster Brandish.

"Well," he started as he was on live TV. "When I first saw what happened to him on the news, I couldn't believe it." He was being sincere. "I knew the man prior to running into politics, we went to the same University for crying out loud. Though, I didn't know him well like I still do now, it's a shame a man like him lost his life."

Erza stood on the side, standing next to the cameramen and such as she just watched the interview in front of her. She was after all, his security personnel.

"There a couple of theories floating out there saying that the person who took a shot at you a couple of months ago is the same person who took Asuma's life, what's your take on that?" Brandish pressed on her questions.

Natsu took a moment to answer that. It gave him flashbacks, taking him back to the boat where his friend Gray and Juvia had their wedding, where Erza saved his life for the very first time. Remembering the white haired woman who he remembered as Mirajane. Remembering that she had killed herself as she jumped overboard. "Well, I don't think there's no connection there, besides, if it was the same person, wouldn't I be also be 5 feet underground?"

"Well that's a valid point, Mr. Dragneel. "

As Erza could see how the interview unfolded, she couldn't help but remember of Mirajane as well. The first person that ever showed her love, though, purely one sided with hardly any devoted emotions. Still, Erza couldn't help but think how everything about what has happened to her and Natsu started off with her. Hadn't she pushed her hard enough, she wouldn't have fallen in love with the pinkette. Still, Erza is ever so grateful for having to choose her own destiny for once.

"Still, isn't that person still out there? Maybe he or she is still gunning out for you?" She continued with her questions.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about that," Natsu turned and smiled at Erza. "My backup is over there, ready to have my back if anything ever goes down." Erza waved at him.

"I see," Brandish gave her a smile as well. "Is this also the same that paparazzi have caught you, how do you say, smooching?"

Natsu was at a loss for words, a small streak of sweat came pouring down his head. "I-I think that's for another time, talking about my business like that." Natsu played it off.

"It's perfectly understandable, your guardian angel is a sight, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like yourself would find love under the amidst of getting shot." Brandish winked at Natsu, playfully teasing the man of his love life.

Erza was dumbfounded at the conversation between the two.

"Well if I'm being completely honest," Natsu's demeanor quickly changed. He sat straight, taking out a huge deep of breath. "Yes, I am grateful that she is around. Not just because she's a sight to behold, but because by now, we've been through a lot and I can wholeheartedly say that I would have her back as she does with mine."

Erza couldn't help but blush at his wholesome remark. She tried hiding it, but failed as everyone at the studio could see her bright pink face.

"I see," Brandish glanced at her papers, getting back on track on the interview. "Now enough of your love life…"

…

An hour or so passed and Natsu had finally gotten through the TV's interview. He walked towards Erza, still standing in the same spot as before. "Phew," Natsu finally stretched his legs around, sitting around for that long had stiffened his legs per say. "Glad I got through that."

"You know, I like the part where you were complimenting me." Erza teased the man.

"Oh did you now?" Natsu and Erza were now a couple of inches close to each other.

"Oh definitely," Erza played with her hair. "I could just spent the whole day with you just complimenting me, talking about me, it's so sexy to me."

"Oh, ho ho ho." Natsu lightly grinned.

Their conversation was shortly lived as Brandish had walked towards them. "Mr. Dragneel, I just wanted to say I how grateful you and Ms. Scarlet have been to have come down here, the studio and I are thankful for your appearance on the show."

Natsu and Brandish shook hands. "Oh please, the pleasure is all mine," Natsu smiled at the woman. "I thank you guys for the sincere hospitality."

"It's our pleasure." The green haired woman smiled back, a kind gesture to the two.

BZZZZ! Natsu's phone rang, interrupting his small idle talk. "Excuse me for just a minute." He walked somewhere with a little more privacy.

As he walked away, the two women couldn't help but stare into his direction. "You got a nice piece of ass right there."

"I beg your pardon?"

Natsu looked at the caller ID and saw that it was his father. He quickly answered. "Hello, dad?"

"Natsu my son, I just saw you on the news! Is Brandish as pretty as she is in person?" Igneel joked.

"I mean, sure I guess." Natsu chuckled.

"I mean, she's not as pretty as your lady friend though, what's her name again?" Igneel couldn't remember the name.

"Erza?" He answered.

"That the one with the beautiful red hair?" Igneel still couldn't recall.

"Yeah, that's the one dad." Natsu lightly chuckled.

"Then yeah, I seen the news, so are you two finally a thing? Or are you still dragging your balls on the ground on that one?" Igneel had asked. It's been years since his son had a girlfriend.

"It's a little more complicated than that dad." Natsu couldn't help but have a sweat streak roll down his cheek, nervous as what to say to his father about his love life.

"No it's not, either you're with her or not," Igneel changed the channel of hospital TV, as he conversed on the phone. He awaited for a clear answer from his boy. "Well, what is it boy?"

"… yes, we're together," Natsu mustered up the courage to finally find the words he himself had trouble saying. "And she's great, shit, I don't know why I've been holding back on that."

"Well, it's been awhile boy," Igneel understood what Natsu had meant by that. His nurse came by to check on him. Though it wasn't the usual nurse that met with Igneel. "Are you my nurse?" He lowly said, as the nurse, who was a blue headed man was changing his IV tubes.

The man turned, showing a tattoo on his face that stemmed from his forehead to his right cheek. He simply nodded.

"I'm guessing this isn't just a call to talk about my love life I presume dad?" Natsu got to the point.

"I just wanted to talk to my son, too much to ask for?" Igneel protested.

"I-I'm sorry dad, just been a little on the edge, that's all.' Natsu admitted much. With everything that has been going on, it's just made him a little more anxious and cautious.

"I can see, how's that wound treating you?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" How could his father possibly know about his injury to his stomach? Could he tell from the interview? Natsu was at awe at his observation skills.

"I could see from the TV that you kept favoring your lower stomach, did something happened that I don't know about?" Igneel could tell. He's had his fair share of injuries when he served the military.

"I can't talk about on the phone," Natsu admitted of his state of injury. "Too many people around here to just bluntly say."

"I see- Hey, watch it with the tubes, alright?" Igneel interrupted mid conversation, as he looked at his nurse. "The last nurse was much gentler than you."

"You okay dad?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah, yeah, just a dumb nurse, making sure my tubes are all right and stuff." Igneel adjusted himself.

"Are you sure?" Natsu voiced his concern.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure," Igneel confirmed. "You still swinging by tomorrow right?"

"Yeah, dad, you know I wouldn't miss it for the world." Natsu couldn't help but smile, it had been awhile since he last saw his dad at the hospital. Excited for the things he's going to tell him.

"Alright, sport, I'll *cough* see you later." Igneel coughed loudly.

"Alright, see you soon." Natsu hung up. He turned and saw that Erza and Brandish were kicking it off on their friendship.

He walked towards the two as the ladies laughed like cheerleaders in high school. "Business call, I presume?" Brandish asked.

"Actually, that was my father." Natsu answered.

"Oh, how is he?" Erza asked about him.

"He's good, just kicking like the old timer he is." Natsu mocked up a couple of punches, to show his expression.

"I see." Erza chuckled.

"So what were you girls talking about?" Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"Oh nothing out of the ordinary." The two glanced at each other, silently laughing.

"Oh really?"

…

Back at the hospital, Igneel began sweating bullets. His breathing became harder, and the antibiotics he administering to himself weren't working.

He began to lose conscious, becoming weak at a drastic rate. "N-NURSE!" He called out, trying to keep it together.

The same nurse, the blue haired, tattooed face man came back in, only this time with a smirk.

"W-what… w-what did you do…?" Igneel can see the man as the old man held his chest, almost as if he was getting a heart attack.

The man walked up to him. "It's nothing personal to you, Mr. Dragneel, but you see," the man was admiring his own work. "You're collateral damage, a message to your dear son."

Igneel began to breath faster and faster, almost gasping for air as if he were drowning. "Y-You fucker! I'm- I'm-" He coughed up blood, splattering it all over his bed sheets.

"You're dead Mr. Dragneel, and there's nothing you can do about it." The man laughed and walked away.

Igneel fell to the floor, causing the tubes on his body to come off. The crisis alarm began to rang on his heart monitor. And soon after, Igneel slowly closed his eyes, watching from the floor as the man with blue hair walked out as a bunch of nurse and doctors came in

"He's going into Cardiac Arrest!"

"Nurse! Give him a shot of epinephrine!"

He heard muffled voices and then the sound of the monitor went from beeps to a singular long beep that haunted the room as the doctors and nurses tried everything in their power to help Igneel.

Igneel was now the second person to have met his fate in this vendetta of Jellal….

Author's Note: And that's about it. Hopefully I can give you guys another chapter soon. Til then, see ya soon.