Levy kept a tight hold on Gajeel's arm. He was looking around wide-eyed and utterly baffled by Master Makarov's comment. It was probably the first time he hadn't been restrained while inside his home and she knew that he would need time to adjust. She led him to a far table, where her closest group of friends stood talking.

They had switched back to their Fairy Forms as soon as the master was finished talking to Gajeel. She hoped that their smaller size would help put him at ease, but he stiffened the closer they came to the table. She gave his hand a squeeze, the look on his face convincing her that he would bolt the first chance he got.

"This is Natsu and Gray," she said, pointing to the pink haired Fairy and her darker colored friend, "they fight a lot, so the master forbids them from turning big ever since they broke the guild house for the 5th time."

"It was totally the Ice Princess' fault!"

"What was that, Flame Brain?" They started wrestling on the table, Gajeel watching them with a look of horror. She giggled, patting his arm to put him back at ease.

"And this is Lucy and Cana, my best friends."

He nodded his head to them, eyes darting to Natsu and Gray rolling around, and gave the girls a shaky, pointed tooth smile. "N-nice to meet you."

Levy smirked at the faint flush on her friends' cheeks. She knew Gajeel's quiet charm would make everyone love him. "They helped me when you were sick. Them and Mira. She's the one who did your stitches. She's standing right over there next to the master." She leaned around Gajeel and gave the blonde woman a wave.

Gajeel wiggled his fingers and Mira waved in return, giving him a wide smile. He ducked his head and stared at his feet. Levy held back a giggle, seeing that Lucy and Cana were doing the same thing.

Cana flew in front of Gajeel and put her hands on her hips. "You better not be messing up all of our hard work and pulling out those stitches."

"Um…"

"Don't worry about her," Lucy said, her pink light joining Cana. "But please come to us if you need any help, ok?"

"Oh...ok. Um, thanks."

"Hey, Metal Head! You ready to see your new room?"

The arm under Levy's hand visibly tensed. "My what?"

Interesting...I didn't know he could squeak like that.

Cana crossed her arms, raising a dark eyebrow. "Did you really think we were gonna just make you stay in the infirmary?"

"…yeah?"

"Me and the guys already decided yer stayin' with us." Natsu grinned and Gray nodded in agreement.

Gajeel stood frozen, mouth agape and hand reaching for his hair. She tugged on his arm gently, being mindful of his still healing back. "Do you want to see it, Gajeel?"

He looked down at her and she could see the panic leaving his eyes. He took a deep breath and nodded. "S-sure."

"This way!" Natsu shouted, darting to the stairs. Gray was right behind him.

"Hey, I was supposed to take him!"

"No way, I ain't letting you lead!"

Levy rolled her eyes and Cana gave Gajeel a wink before flying after the boys. Lucy stayed close by while Levy tugged on his arm again. "Let's follow them."

He nodded stiffly, but let her lead him back through the tables and up the stairs. They passed by the infirmary and the master's office, taking a left at the fork in the hall toward the boys' side of the building. They could hear Natsu and Grey fighting from an open door at the end of the hall.

"You'll be bunking with about half of the boys, including Natsu and Gray. I hope that's ok?"

He nodded, staring at the pictures hanging on the walls and still looking as if he had woken up into a dream.

I'll help fix that. He just needs to see the good side of life after being stuck in that cell for so long.

They entered his new room, the boys already wrestling on the bed tucked into the back corner. A folded pile of clothes lay at the foot of the mattress and a new pair of tall boots rested on the ground. Hammocks hung in each corner of the room and small piles of blankets littered the floor. Clothes were scattered everywhere. Levy's nose wrinkled in disgust. The girls' rooms were much more organized than this. And didn't smell like boy.

"You shoulda heard the arguing about your bed." Natsu said, holding Gray's head under his arm. "Some of the guys were complainin' that you get a big one all to yerself. But the master said that since you're the biggest one of us, you should get the biggest bed."

"Levy picked out the blanket," Cana waggled her eyebrows from where she sat on the perfectly clean, white pillow.

Levy smiled at the thick blanket, quite proud of her pick, if she did say so herself. Originally she wanted something to match his dark coloring, but when she spotted the bright green comforter with yellow stars, she couldn't resist. She wanted Gajeel to have a constant reminder that he was free, no longer bound by iron chains and hidden in the dark. Green and yellow...just like bright grass rolling on the hills and the warm sunlight filling the air.

She glanced up at Gajeel, about to ask if he liked it, but her words died on her tongue. His mouth hung slack and his tense shoulders loosened. He took a small step forward, his arm sliding from hers.

"This is mine?" he asked, moving to the bed and sitting ever so carefully on the edge. He rubbed his hands along the green fabric, using his finger to gently trace the stars.

"Gajeel?" she asked, stepping a bit further into the room.

Natsu snorted, elbowing Gray. "What's the matter, Metal Man, not big enough for you?"

"No, it's fine…"

"Kinda wishin' you had the room to yourself?" Gray asked, tilting his head.

Gajeel shook his head, hand still petting the blanket. "No, I-I've just...never had a real bed before. Can I-" He glanced to the pillow and then to her, silently asking for permission.

Levy cleared her suddenly thick throat and gave him a nod, waving her hand to the bed. With a smile that brightened the entire room and showed off his pointed canines, he slowly drew his legs onto the bed, rolled to his stomach and sunk into the soft mattress. His arms inched under the pillow and he nestled his head into the plush pillow, closing his eyes with a deep sigh.

"I didn't know pillows could be this soft."

He was so relaxed, he looked like he was going to melt into the mattress any second. Levy smiled, heart filled to bursting as she watched her dragon. Lucy placed an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

Gray cleared his throat, causing Gajeel to open his eyes. "W-well, before you fall asleep, we need to tell you the rules."

"Rules?" Gajeel murmured, his face squashed against the pillow.

"Yep, bedroom rules! And ya gotta follow all of them!" Natsu pointed a finger to the sky. "Rule Number One: What's said in the guys' room stays in the guys' room. Can't breathe a word of it to anyone."

"Rule Number Two: No girls….If the Master doesn't kill you, Erza will." Gray added, face completely serious.

"Rule Number Three, and this one is the most important for you since yer the biggest: If ya fart, open the gosh darn window!"

Gajeel chuckled softly, moving his arm to give Natsu a thumbs up. The two Fairies flew to the pillow and sat next to his head, giving him what sounded like the rest of the bedroom rules. Cana tapped her on the shoulder and jerked her head to the door.

Levy nodded, giving Gajeel one last look. His eyes met hers and she pointed to herself then the door, eyebrows raised in a silent question. He swallowed, but gave her a small nod and a weak smile. She waved her fingers and shrunk to her normal size, zipping out of the room right when Natsu was giving instructions on what to do if someone was snoring.

As soon as she moved down the hall, her two friends wrapped their arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

"H-hey! What's this for?" She laughed, squeezing them in return.

"Ya did good, Levy-girl," Cana said, her voice huskier than usual.

"I am so proud of you! I take back everything that I said about him." Lucy cried onto her shoulder. Levy laughed softly, tears burning her eyes as she hugged her friends as tightly as she could.

Cana sniffed and released the hug first. "Com'on! Let's see if Mira will let us use the kitchen and make Gajeel the biggest dinner he's ever had!"

Lucy cheered in agreement and flew after their friend, Levy flapping her wings wildly to keep pace. "Wait, guys! He's still recovering and isn't used to real food yet! Maybe just something easy? Like a light stew! Guys?"