"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"

Toma Fiore stood up suddenly in excitement upon reading the letter Arcadios had delivered to him. Looking up from her sewing, Heather eyed her husband curiously. She smiled, sensing his joy.

"Who is that letter from, Toma?" Heather asked, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "I haven't seen you this giddy in a long time."

"He's finally done it!" Toma exclaimed, setting down the letter with a smile. "Laxus proposed to our Hisui!"

Heather raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious, dear? That's wonderful."

"I'll begin the preparations for the wedding at once," Toma told her with a smile. "I want this to happen soon! In a month and a half's time, we'll —"

"Toma, Toma," Heather said, setting her needlework aside. "There's no need to rush this. We have the Grand Magic Games in just three months. There's quite a bit going on already."

"Never mind that!" The king of Fiore declared. "Our sweet little Hisui is getting married!"

Heather smiled and took a sip of her tea. "I suppose there is reason for excitement."

"Of course there is!" Toma began to pace rapidly. "Her...well, now it's fiancé, isn't going to drive me into an early grave because of how dangerously stupid Fairy Tail can be! The two of them will be protected here, not to mention —"

"Until she ascends the throne, there's no reason to compel them to stay here," Heather reminded him, level-headed as always. "I think we should let them make that decision for themselves."

Toma briefly paused, knowing she was right but also having a strong preference for his daughter to be safe in the palace rather than in the potentially dangerous (and at the very least rowdy) Fairy Tail Guild Hall in Magnolia.

"If they have children —" He began.

"We didn't conceive right away," Heather countered. "And, if you recall, we were trying. I think you worry to much, Toma. Nothing bad has happened, and Hisui clearly understands the way people actually live in the kingdom far better than she would otherwise. Let her have a bit of freedom."

Toma nodded. He never really argued with his wife. It wasn't because he was afraid to, but, rather, it was because he knew he couldn't win against her. That was especially true when her feelings on a subject were as strong as they were here. He was well aware that he could be overprotective of their daughter but, after their son's death, he simply couldn't help it. They couldn't go through the pain of losing another child. It had been hard enough the first time. After a moment of silence, Heather stood up and embraced her husband.

"She's my daughter too," Heather gently reminded him. "I'm worried too...but we can't protect her forever."

"I know," Toma said heavily. "If only we could."

Heather lightly kissed his cheek. "I'm sure they are more than capable of protecting themselves. And, in case you've forgotten, Laxus would give his life for her. He almost did, shortly before we met him."

"Well," Toma said. "In that case, I believe preparations for our daughter's wedding are in order."

Heather laughed. "So long as you don't wear your pumpkin head during the ceremony, I doubt she'll be upset."

"Now, now," Toma teased. "Hisui would only be annoyed if I did that. She would be angry, though, if I forced her to get married wearing the pumpkin head."

"Quite a shocking notion, isn't it?" Heather shook her head with a smile. "Perhaps this is the levity we've so long needed."

"Yes," Toma agreed. "Perhaps it is."

"Wendy," Ultrear said, leaning forward onto the counter and eyeing the young girl in concern. "Are you still upset because of those people from below?"

Wendy said nothing and hung her head. Her cover story had been that she had tried to meet up with a boy she had seen in town and had been attacked by the people living in the apartment below them. That had been six weeks before. Six weeks since she had woken up and remembered her family. Six weeks since she had met her mother. Even now, the young girl was glad Ultrear couldn't read minds. Wendy did, however, perk up when she heard Jellal step into the room. He was still unwell since he had come to, but he was starting to look better. Wendy only hoped that she would find it in her to reveal to him, with her mother, that he was her father. She wanted her family so desperately that it was almost tearing her apart inside. Wendy knew Ultrear had a great deal of anger towards some of her family (read: her uncle) but she wouldn't hurt them, would she? Wendy knew how irritated Ultrear could become. Just the night before, her guardian had broken a vase in anger upon learning her underlings in Grimmoire Heart couldn't seem to steal the book Lord Greymatter had possess. Yes, her guardian had a dark side but she took care of her, her father, and her cat. Wendy knew in her heart that she could never hurt Ultrear, not after everything the woman had done for her. It wouldn't be right. It would be the worst form of betrayal.

"How are you doing?" Jellal weakly asked, sitting down beside Wendy and reaching for the coffee Ultrear had left out for him. He had found himself more and more concerned for the young girl in the last few days, but he couldn't figure out why. "You seem glum."

"I'm okay," Wendy lied. "Just a little tired."

The lie almost hurt her ears but she stuck to it anyways. It wasn't a show for him, it was a show for Ultrear. Wendy didn't want anyone to know what her thoughts felt like, or how deep the pain they brought was. No matter the cost, she was keeping it to herself. Only Erza — her mother, she mentally corrected herself — knew what was really happening inside her head. How could she possibly feel right when her entire life was flipped upside down? She wasn't supposed to be in this place, or this time. The world she had been born in was so different from the one she lived in that it hurt. Wendy had found, ever since she had learned who she was, herself wondering who the hell she was supposed to be, now that she had the truth.

"You need water," Ultrear said, taking note of the lethargic look on the young girl's face. "I don't imagine you'll recover any of your magic if you stay so dehydrated."

Wendy took the cup from her and slowly began to sip, the ice in the water cooling her lips. It was a nice reprieve from the oppressive heat that seemed to rise in her every time she tried to understand where she had come from. How could she seize her future when she knew nothing of her past?

"Meredy called earlier," Ultrear added, glancing at Wendy. She was leading through a magazine, not paying much attention to the young girl. "She said the two of you needed to meet up later for a school project."

Wendy nodded. "Okay. I'll call her back soon."

Jellal smiled. "You make the best of everything, don't you?"

"I guess," Wendy said, not fully believing it but not wanting to disappoint him either. "I'll be home before dinner."

"Good," Jellal said, embracing her while she moved towards the landline on the wall. "It's nice to see you happy, Wendy."

Her father's words made her want to cry but she only nodded with a smile. Ultrear didn't notice a thing.

"You'll do okay, Wendy," Jellal added while she dialed. "And I'll be here for you. I promise."

He didn't know why he said it. Holding his head in thought, Jellal supposed that it simply felt right. Still, he knew there had to be a missing piece. Why else would things feel so out of place if there weren't?

Laxus and Hisui smiled upon seeing Siegrain finally kiss his fiancée — now wife — in the middle of the guild hall. Lucy swooned, not even noticing that she was leaning on Natsu. He was more than happy to accommodate her. Near them, Cana was shouting increasingly inappropriate toasts with Loke and Gray. The latter was holding Juvia, who was swooning even more than Lucy. This likely had to do with Gray's hand resting over her breasts. Freed and Mirajane cheered excitedly, which put them in immediate competition with Elfman and Evergreen, who were just as excited for her sister. Bickslow and Makarov were rolling out a barrel of champagne onto the bar. The couple had signed the legal documents earlier that day, but they had their actual ceremony with the rest of the guild. Siegrain wrapped an arm tightly around his wife as they joined their friends, although she summoned a barrier of wind when Natsu rushed them. He had knocked Lucy over in the process. When he slammed into her barrier, both he and his date were on the floor, holding their heads in mild pain

"Owwwww…" Natsu groaned. "That's not —"

"You're open, dumbass!"

Bisca, who had been in a paintball battle with Natsu for weeks, shot him in the face with a bright green paintball the second he turned around. Natsu shrieked angrily, but everyone else laughed.

"No fair!" Natsu yelled. "I wasn't looking!"

"All is fair in the Wild West," Bisca replied with a southern drawl. She blew on the tip of her gun for dramatic effect. "Props to Cana for pointing out your weakness."

"Heya!" Cana cheered, smacking her palm against Bisca's.

Siegrain laughed, sharing a knowing look with his wife that suggested neither of them were surprised. Evergreen quickly came over to them and embraced her sister. She had never been more happy for her, and, besides, no one had been shocked when she and Siegrain had decided to tie the knot. Ever knew better than anyone (including Caity herself) when her sister's energy was humming perfectly and her close bond with him was amplifying it. Evergreen did know, however, that Mirajane had won their bet, given that Mira had declared her sister and Siegrain would only need a year before getting married. Evergreen had thought there would be more denial. She rolled her eyes, knowing full well that she owed Mira about fourteen hundred jewels for it. Damn were the Strauss siblings good.

"Laxus!" Evergreen smirked and waved him and Hisui over to them. "Don't you think you should be preparing yourself? After all, this will be you in a few weeks."

"Ever, if you don't stop that I am going to smack you," Caity told her. Evergreen had been tugging at her cheeks.

"Sorry," She said, fluffing her sister's hair. "You know I can't resist."

Caity raised an eyebrow and nervously turned to Hisui. "How'd your father react when you told him you're going to marry Laxus? He didn't blow up, did he?"

Hisui smirked. "He only turned everyone's attention to pulling together a full public wedding in a month. Does that count?"

"It might count double, actually," She said mischievously. "Laxus told us he's quite the character."

"He got excited about wearing a pumpkin head," Laxus reminded her.

Hisui giggled. "My father has always liked wearing the pumpkin head…"

They all laughed but Caity fell short, tensing upon the energy in the air sharply changing. She could hear a terrible ringing in her ears and her vision started to blur. Siegrain caught her before she could fall but they were all worried. Hisui in particular knew what had caused it; she and Caity had worked together enough in the last year for her to see even her slightest sensitives. Then, the doors to the guild hall opened and Erza stepped in, but she was in a terrible state.

"That's not good," Hisui said, tightening her hand around Laxus'.

"No, it isn't," He darkly agreed. "What the hell is going on here?"