And another one for you amazing readers!

Last Time: Blackthorn laid down the details of what happened in the past.

Now: They return to hotel for some much need rest.

Chapter 23- Rest

Natsu and Lucy sat watching the Rune Knights of the Magic Council escorting the members of Nightmare into several prisoner transport carriages. Not long after Blackthorn was defeated, Erza contacted the Rune Knights to come gather the dark guild. Thankfully, Jellal took off to grab a carriage to get them back to town before they arrived. The last thing they needed was for him to get arrested too.

While they were sitting there watching, Erza was talking with the leader, probably giving her statement or something. Wendy was sitting with Happy and Carla nearby, watching too. Gray was with Krysta as she was laying on a makeshift stretcher that Erza had made, nearby. Lucy looked worriedly over to her.

"You okay Luce?" Natsu asked, noticing her expression.

She blinked rapidly before looking at Natsu.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," Lucy said. "I'm just worried about Krysta is all."

Natsu nodded. "I understand. I'm more worried about Gray."

Lucy gasped and then placed a hand on Natsu's forehead.

"Are you sick? Did you just say you are worried for Gray?" Lucy asked him shocked.

Natsu furrowed his eyebrows and then moved her hand.

"I'm not sick. But I think he is. I've never seen him like this," Natsu said.

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Are you really that blind? I figured it out a while ago." Natsu looked at her confused. "Gray's not sick, but I'm pretty sure he has feelings for Krysta."

"Wait, what? No way. What about Juvia? Doesn't she like him or something?" Natsu asked confused.

"Yes, and she even considers me her love rival because of it. Which I'm not," Lucy groaned. "But it's never seemed like Gray has had feelings for her or they are just really buried deep down."

Natsu groaned. "This is all confusing."

Lucy giggled. "You'll understand some day."

That made Natsu smile. He looked back at her and they shared a smile. That's when he noticed he was still holding her hand. He blushed and immediately let her hand go. He looked the other way, trying to hide the blush. Also not noticing Lucy's blush either.

After a while, the Rune Knights left and Jellal returned with a carriage. When he returned, they climbed aboard the carriage. Lucy, Wendy, and the Exceeds climbed aboard first. Natsu aided Gray with Krysta. Erza took the reins while Jellal disappeared into the back. Just in case. The carriage returned to town a while later. Once back in town, they returned to the Inn. They ditched the stretcher to avoid questioning eyes and Gray carried Krysta inside the inn on his back. Once everyone was back inside the inn and in their rooms, they took the opportunity to patch their injuries, shower, and change into fresh clothes. With Krysta still unconscious, Erza had kicked the guys out of the girl's room to allow Lucy and Erza to help Wendy patch her up and change her into comfortable, clean clothes.

Once they were all finished, Erza and Jellal took off to Red's to pick up the reward for dealing with the dark guild. Lucy and Carla headed out to the market to grab some food for them all. Natsu passed out on his bed in the guys rooms with Happy sound asleep on the pillow next to him. Wendy also decided to get some rest and slept in the other bed in the girl's room. Gray was laying on the other bed in the guy's room when they all left.

He laid there staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Once he was sure everyone was gone or asleep, he moved off the bed and over to his bag. He picked up his discarded pants had been wearing earlier. He had already showered, bandaged his injuries, and changed into a pair of workout shorts and a tank top that he used for sleeping in. So he left his dirtied and bloodied clothes in a pile on his bag. Gray reached into the back pocket of his jeans and produced that picture he was given.

He then moved over and sat down on the edge of the bed, examining the picture. He found himself smiling at the photo, he didn't know why, he just did. But he also felt a deep sadness looking at it as well. He then glanced up and looked over at the snoring Natsu and Happy. He stood and made his way to adjoining door that led to the girl's room. Very quietly, Gray opened the door and peered inside to see Wendy curled up on one bed, sound asleep. Krysta was on the other bed, tucked in comfortably into the blankets with her hair cascading across the pillow.

Gray quietly entered the room and closed the door. He walked over to the desk and grabbed the chair. He quietly moved it over beside her bed. He sat down beside her and looked her over more closely. She looked a lot better. She wasn't as pale and the fact she was lying comfortably on her back meant that Wendy's healing had worked wonders. Gray, hesitantly, reached a hand out and grasped her free one, gently.

Krysta stirred. Gray leaned forward, eager. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.

Never in her life had Krysta felt this much pain before. But that pain didn't seem as bad now. How could that be? She wondered. Wait, can't Wendy use healing magic? She then also realized that she was lying on something soft and warm. It was obviously not the cold, stone floor of the dark guild or her bed at home. All these thing slowly pulled her to the surface. The thing that truly pulled her to consciousness was someone's hand grabbing hers. Their hand was warm. Slowly, Krysta opened her eyes.

Her vision was incredibly blurred that it took a few moments for her to clear it. Once it was clear, she took in her surroundings. She appeared to be lying in a bed back at the Inn. When did we get back here? She thought. She then turned her attention to the person holding her hand. She couldn't tell if she was blushing or not, but she felt her heart race when she realized it was Gray. He was also the last person she expected to have a warm hand, because well… Ice Wizard.

He smiled at her with a smile that seemed to melt away the pain.

"Gray…" She said hoarsely and slightly shocked by her voice.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Like I got run over by train," She commented.

Gray chuckled. "I bet. But seriously. Are you feeling any pain or are you feeling better?"

"Umm…" She adjusted slightly then winced. "There is still pain, but it doesn't hurt all that badly."

"That's good to hear. That means Wendy's healing is paying off," Gray said with a smile. The smile then started to fade. "We were all really worried about you."

"Really?" Krysta asked almost sounding ashamed. "I didn't mean to worry you guys. I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. You did an awesome job. Hell, I have never seen anyone beside Erza and Natsu take out as many goons as you did with ease. And then go to take on the boss like that. You were amazing."

Krysta blushed at the compliment. "But what about Blackthorn?"

"After she threw you across the room, we went and took her down," Gray said. "She is now in the custody of the Magic Council."

"That's right," She remembered. "I was thrown into the wall. How the hell did I survive that fall? It had to be like what a…. 20… 30 foot drop?"

Gray blushed and this time it was obvious.

"Well, actually," he said flustered. "I'm the one who caught you."

"Really?" Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

He nodded. Krysta, who realized her hand was still being held by his, took a hold of his in hers and squeezed it.

"I don't know how to thank you," Krysta said almost tearful, but she kept them back. "You saved my life. Twice now."

"No thanks needed," He said tightening the squeeze on her hand just slightly. "That's what guildmates do."

Krysta was taken back by that. She smiled, but it felt fake.

"Right," She said as if that was not the answer she wanted to hear at the moment. She then silently cursed herself. Her feelings aside, he did save her. The feeling should be grateful no matter who saved her. She put on a genuine smile.

However, she realized Gray saw through her other smile. The look on his face told her. She frowned.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that!' Krysta said frantically. "I am truly grateful that you saved me and to have you as a guildmate! Please don't get the wrong idea."

That caused Gray to smile softly and squeeze her hand again, this time moving closer to her face. She felt her cheeks go hot. He stopped with still plenty of room between them.

"No, it's alright," he said sweetly. "I know what you meant. You aren't just my guildmate, but my friend. And friends look out for each other. I should have just said that from the start. It was just…" he hesitated for a second before continuing. "When I watched you fall, my instincts kicked into overdrive and before I knew it I was rushing to catch you in mid-air. I couldn't just sit there and watch you fall or…" he trailed off.

Or watch someone else catch me?

"Or what?" she asked.

"Uh… I can't remember where I was going with that," Gray said sheepishly and obviously lying.

Krysta nodded. "Well still, thank you."

"Of course," Gray said with a nod.

There was then a silence between them. After a few moments, Gray let go of her hand and reached into his pocket. He produced a photograph. He held it out for her.

"What's this?" she asked taking the photo.

"Umm… Blackthorn gave this to me to give to you," Gray said nervously.

Krysta furrowed her eyebrows. What did that witch give him? Krysta looked down at the photo. The back was facing her. It read:

'The happiest day of my life with the two women I love the most, Carissa and Krysta. -Alexander F.'

Krysta, still confused, flipped the photo over to see what the picture was. Krysta gasped at the photo. The photo was of a young woman, probably no older than 20, lying in a bed with a small bundle in her arms. The woman looked just like Krysta, but it was obviously Blackthorn or Carissa according to the back. She then looked closely to the bundle and realized it was her. This photo must have been taken by her father, someone named Alexander F., on the day of her birth. F? As in Fairchild?

Krysta felt tears threatening to escape. They were a mix of joy, sadness, and anger. The joy was over the beauty of the photo and owning something from her birth parents. The sadness is that this could have been her life if things didn't happen the way they did. The anger was over the woman in the photo. Even though she looked sweet and kind in the photo. She ended up being so cruel to her, she destroyed the town, and … and she left her behind.

Krysta put the photo down next to her on the bed, picture side down as the tears threatened more. She put her other hand to her face to calm herself down before she broke down. Gray frowned at her.

"Why did she give this to you?" Krysta asked moving her hand away a moment later.

Gray flinched but shrugged. "She said she wanted you to have it. There wasn't much of a reason aside from that."

Krysta nodded. She reached up to wipe her eyes as she took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I don't know why that got to me," Krysta said.

"I do," Gray said so understanding. "There is no need to explain yourself."

Krysta nodded again before letting out a yawn.

"Why don't you get some rest?" Gray suggested. "I'll be right here."

Krysta nodded. "Alright. Thank you again Gray." She said then dozed off.

Gray sat there mentally punching himself. Guildmate? Friend? Was everyone right? Did he truly have feelings for Krysta? He sat there watching her as she fell asleep. He then looked at the photo. It was still under hand, but she looked close to crinkling it. Gray carefully grabbed the photo and set it down on the nightstand next to her head.

He stared at that photo for a second. He made a mental note. It might be best to not talk to her about her parents for a while or at least until she is ready to talk. It was obvious from her reaction to the picture that it had become a very emotional topic now.

Gray sighed and rested back in the chair. He looked at her again. Every fiber of his being was telling him to comfort her as she slept. To hold her. To… to… to kiss her. Before he truly knew what he was doing, he was leaning forward again toward her. This time her closed the distance and placed a simple kiss on her forehead. The mere kiss sent electricity through his veins. This was a feeling he had never felt before… and he really liked it.

He took that as his sign. He did have feelings for Krysta, and he wasn't ashamed to admit to himself either. Why else would he feel this way? It actually made his heart soar just thinking that he had feelings for an amazing girl like Krysta. Someone so strong. So brave. So funny. And so normal in her own weird way. He made one more mental note to himself.

When the time is right, I will tell Krysta how I feel.

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