The fire crackled, bringing light and sound and warmth to the chilly March night. For the three gathered around the flames, it was a bright spot in the midst of a dark meadow, only one other spot hundreds of feet away. The muted sounds of conversation drifted over to the smaller group, cutting through the silence.

Sighing, the smaller man glanced over his shoulder at the roaring fire so far away. "As much as I love being with you two, I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"It's not that bad." The brunette woman offered, pulling her cloak tighter around her waist.

The third member of their party snorted, the man rubbing the back of his neck. "Come on, now, dame, this is the most we've talked in the last hour."

"I really doubt you're the one who wants to leave," she muttered, a brief glance out of the corner of her eye the only sign she gave. "Your brother is the reason we're here."

"He's pretty cool," the first man agreed begrudgingly. "But I still don't know why we gotta come here every time you want to see him."

"No one made you come."

"Where else would I go if I didn't?"

"Somewhere you would stop complaining for once."

"Is it my fault if I'm a little jumpy here?"

"Well if you listened to what he had to say, maybe you wouldn't be so jumpy."

"You only believe him cause your brother told you."

"I never said I believe him, but it makes a whole hell of a lot of sense."

"Tell me how it makes more sense than what actually happened."

"Bro, come on, if you just listened for a minute-"

"Can't you guys just, I dunno, lay off a bit?"

Both men turned to face the woman. She buried her chin against her chest, staring intently into the fire to avoid the eyes of her friends. "He's telling the truth, by the way. But that's not why we're here, so if we could just enjoy the time we get together?"

They fell quiet, properly cowed into silence. "Sorry, dame," the second man murmured. "It really is nice to be here with you. Been too damn long."

She sighed, light brown bangs sweeping across her forehead. "Not all of us are here."

"I hope you're not talking about-"

"No," she snapped back, no venom behind her voice. "Just leave it alone. No, you know who I mean." They all fell silent once more, thoughts consumed by the face they hadn't seen in too many years.

"When's she coming home?"

The second man groaned, stretching hugely and glancing longingly at the tents behind them. "Who knows. She's always off on some adventure or another, isn't she? Off saving the world and keeping the rest of us safe."

The first man smiled, brushing his blonde hair out of his eyes. "I don't know what we'd do without her." Then his gaze fell, smile dropping with it. "I just wish it hasn't been twelve years since we saw her last."

"She always asked about you two wherever I saw her," the woman added, a sad smile brightening her features. "She always said the minute I tracked you down, she wanted to see you again." She sniffed, adjusting the tail peeking out from under her cloak. "Sorry, I, I didn't wanna cry today."

"You always cry, Millie," Shô snorted, bumping his shoulder against hers. She leaned against him, their shared log providing not nearly enough space for them to share. Wally grinned from the other stump, elbows resting on his knees as he watched his two closest friends goof off like the children they often were.

Before anything else could be said, all three wizards were distracted by a rustling, one they hadn't grown accustomed to in the last few hours. They were on their feet immediately, guards up and fists raised. A figure approached them through the darkness, moving steadily and every step betraying purpose.

The three didn't let the intruder take another step forward. Wally sent a shot off into the night. Shô threw several of his cards. Millie used her Kitten Blast, all three of them acting within moments of the others. Even with destroyed night vision from staring into the flames for so long, their attacks hit home.

Well, they should have.

A brilliant golden light erupted from the stranger. Wally's shot hit the ground a few feet to his right, Millianna's attack was sent blasting off into the night, and Shô's cards fluttered to the ground, each one severed in no less then seven places. They stared, motionless and unwilling to make a single sound. Who was this stranger? What did they want with them? And why wasn't the guild only a few hundred feet away coming to their aid?

"While your attacks may have been misguided," Millianna's face broke into a tearful smile, "it pleases me to know my friends are so well protected." Shô's jaw dropped in shock. "Not that that's very surprising. You've always been stronger than I remembered." Wally laughed, his gun disappearing as the figure finally came into range of the firelight, sword disappearing in another burst of brilliant light.

"Erzy!" Millie cried, racing forward and throwing herself on the scarlet warrior. Both women collided, and Erza spun Millie around as they laughed and cried and held each other after nearly three long years.

Wally and Shô stared for a minute longer. They exchanged a glance, finding matching expressions of complete and utter joy in the other's face. Then they were moving, arms wide and tears already pooling in their eyes. "Sister!" Shô whispered, voice breaking around the lump in his throat.

Erza pulled away from Millianna and found herself surrounded by the two friends she hadn't seen in so many years. She didn't bother to fight away the tears on her face, instead pulling Shô and Wally into a bone-crushing embrace. "It's great to see you, dame," Wally gasped out, "but I can't breathe."

Millianna swiped at the tear tracks on her face, sniffing and smiling at the three as Erza reluctantly loosened her grip. The red-head looked older than when they last met, and a new scar curved around the upper part of her right arm. But she looked just as beautiful, scarlet locks tumbling freely down her back and hiding most of the black sweater she wore. Millianna had no idea how her friend wasn't freezing in the long blue skirt she wore, but she supposed the requip mage had always been tough. And with the boots she wore, she was definitely ready to kick some ass at a moment's notice.

Erza pulled away slightly from Shô and Wally, one hand resting on Wally's arm and the other cupping Shô's cheek. "Oh, how you've grown," she murmured, a tear slipping down her face. Shô leaned into her touch, his own eyes lined with silver.

"You've changed too."

"Yes, but not enough, evidently." She made a point of rising to her full height. "You're not supposed to be taller than me."

Shô laughed. "Twelve years can do that."

Erza's heart lurched painfully. "Has it really been so long?"

"'Fraid so, dame." Wally pulled away and let Shô lead her to the log he'd been sharing with Millie. He folded his legs and sat near the fire, letting Millianna take his old spot with a grateful sound. "There was that whole thing where you disappeared for seven years, and then you've been away the past three years."

Erza sighed, stretching her legs out in front of her with a soft grunt. She was done with traveling. She never again wanted to cross half the country in a single day. But the threat of tomorrow's journey leered at her, promising more sore muscles and weary limbs. "I'm sorry. I should've made more of an effort to see you before we left."

"You've been busy, Erzy." Millianna waved the apology aside, legs bouncing with the excited energy bubbling up inside of her. "Not all of us go on big exciting adventures every other week."

Wally laughed, leaning back to look up at the scarlet warrior. "Yeah, you planning on telling us about those? From what Millie's said, the world would be a lot different without ya."

"Well, it's not just me," Erza began as a light blush crept over her cheeks. "I couldn't have accomplished anything without my guildmates. And the other guilds have been a big help too; don't act like you didn't do anything to help us in the war against Alvarez or when we fought off those dragons." She sent a very pointed glance at Millianna, and the brunette grinned happily.

"Course I helped. But you're the one who won. And you helped Kagura a lot, which I'm always thankful for. Oh, you should come back to Mermaid Heel with me! Kagura would love to see you again!"

"I'm not the only one who saved her." Erza's voice dropped, the requip mage becoming very aware of the man sitting by her side.

Something changed in Millianna's face, and she also looked away from Shô. "I know," she murmured, "and I've already thanked him. Probably wasn't my best, but I still did it. I don't think he actually expected it."

A soft smile split Erza's face, and Wally watched her carefully. His brother had shared something with him last night, and he'd been wondering if it was true ever since. Richard claimed Meredy had been given the information reluctantly, but it didn't make it any less real. Just the thought of it made Wally's head spin, but it wasn't hard to believe. She'd always had a special spot for him. And so much could have happened since they were all together last. Wally and Shô hadn't even seen him since Millianna and Richard had told them the news. He knew Shô preferred it that way, but something inside him itched to actually see him and get all of the information out of him firsthand. Maybe Erza would be able to talk to him for them. If anyone could, Wally reasoned, it would be her.

"Who are you talking about?" Shô asked, gaze switching back and forth between Millianna and Erza. Neither woman wanted to look him in the eyes, but Erza knew she couldn't push this off any longer.

"Shô… as happy as I am to see you all again, and believe me, I'm overjoyed, that's not the only reason I came tonight."

Shô frowned, looking down at Wally in confusion. "I, uh, what? Why else would you be here except to talk to us?"

Erza sighed, taking Shô's hand in hers as she searched for the right way to segue into what needed to be said. She didn't care what he had told her earlier. They needed to know everything, and part of that came from actually talking to him again. "Just, listen to me, alright? No matter what I say, I need you to listen and just… try to understand. That's all I'm asking."

"Erza, what's going on?"

She ignored Shô and instead looked over at Millianna. "How much did you tell them?"

"Everything I know. Kagura knew a little more and she shared that when she visited."

"Richard told us the whole story," Wally interrupted, drawing the attention of the other three. "Took him most of the night, actually."

"Did he say anything recently?" She said calmly, Shô's stare boring into the side of her neck. Wally shrugged. "To me. He told me last night about… well, Meredy forced it out of him apparently."

Erza snorted, glancing briefly at the larger fire behind them. "That's not surprising."

"Erza, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?" Shô pulled on her hand, demanding her attention and answers.

The scarlet wizard met Shô gaze, eyes open and honest. "I came here to talk to you about what happened twelve years ago. And all the years before that."

Shô stared in silence before pulling his hand away and leaping to his feet. "No, I… no! Why can't we just have one good moment between us all before you have to, have to bring him up?! He ruined our lives, in case you forgot about that, and I'm tired of everyone trying to convince us otherwise."

"Shô, just-"

"No! I'm not gonna listen to this!"

"Yes, you will." Erza pushed forward, grabbing his arm and forcing him back down onto the log. "You will sit there and listen to what I have to say. I need you to listen to me. Please."

Shô stopped arguing at the word please. He looked at her, betrayal and confusion apparent in his gaze. "Why does this mean so much to you? Why are you so determined to get us to forgive him?"

"Because it's what he deserves." She kept her back straight and chin high, refusing to give in before she'd said everything that needed to be said. "He suffered just as much as we all did, and he's suffered even more over the past twelve years all because you've refused to listen to him."

"I listened. I know what you're going to say. He was mind-controlled by Ultear, a woman who was also being controlled by a bad guy, and he's spent all the time since then trying to redeem himself for what he did. That doesn't mean that we should forgive him. He was still the one who hurt us, the one who lied to us for years and years and made you the villain, the villain, of the story! Without him, you never would have spent that time away from us! We could've been a proper family when we needed one, not one that only saw each other twice after we should've been free!" Shô was on his feet again, pacing back and forth and tearing at his hair.

Erza sat still, watching him walk with frustration in her eyes. "Have you ever thought that he might have needed a family too? That maybe he kept you with him for eight years because, beneath the possession that darkened his mind, he wanted friends by his side, no matter what he had to do to keep you with him?"

"That doesn't excuse what he did."

Millianna shifted. "He's never asked for forgiveness. All he's ever wanted was for us to understand what happened. To understand that what he did wasn't under his control. That he never meant to hurt us."

Shô whirled on her. "How can you defend him? You're best friends with Kagura; how can you look at her everyday and not think about Simon, our brother who he, he-"

"I'll never not regret what I did to Simon." Wally and Shô jumped as a new voice cut through the darkness, a voice they hadn't heard in twelve long years. Millianna and Erza turned, both women reacting differently to the new arrival. Millie smiled hesitantly, shifting and looking down quickly. But Erza's entire body relaxed, and Wally turned back to her just in time to see an unfamiliar emotion burn in her eyes. It must be true, he thought, even as he tensed as the blue-haired man entered the circle of firelight. "If I live a thousand years, my days will always be haunted by the memory of that day."

Shô froze, refusing to acknowledge the man that stood before him. Wally rose, rolling his shoulders as he tried to relax. "It's been a long time."

Jellal inclined his head, chin dipping beneath the cowl of his cloak. Wally took the time to study the man he'd despised for years. His hair was longer than it had ever been before, and new lines cut through the skin by his eyes. Scars marred the surface of his arms, and Wally was sure that if his cloak didn't hide most of his body, many more marks would be visible. But it was Jellal's eyes that surprised him the most. He'd grown so used to faint red lines cutting through Jellal's dark brown irises, and yet here he stood before the people he'd hurt twelve long years ago with nothing but sorrow and regret burning in his dark gaze.

"I… I apologize that it has taken me so long to talk to you myself. I've been afraid. Afraid to face the extent of what I've done."

"Then why the hell did you decide that now was a good time?" Millianna blinked at the ferocity in Shô's tone. She looked from him to Erza to Jellal to Wally, trying to determine how this conversation was going to go. Being around Jellal always made her a little uncomfortable, for it reminded her of times she'd rather forget. But she had to admit that he'd done a lot of good for Kagura and Erza in recent years, and he'd had a hand in saving the world a couple times. Even if once he'd try to destroy it himself.

"It's long past time he forgave himself for what happened." Erza stood, brushing out the wrinkles in her skirt. "But that can't happen unless he knows that you understand exactly what happened back then."

"Why do you care so much?" Shô whispered, turning to face his sister once more. "What could he have ever done to make you care so much about him?"

"I never stopped caring." She took his hands in hers, locking her gaze solely on his. "I have always cared about him, just as I have always cared about you. All of you. That didn't stop when you followed orders and kidnapped me, did it?"

"We kidnapped you because he told us to," Shô shot back, pointing accusingly at the man still standing on the edge of the circle of light. "We never would have done anything to hurt you on purpose."

Jellal's expression shifted. "I know you will never believe me, Shô, but I swear, I never wanted to hurt any of you. If I had been in control of my actions-"

"Maybe if you had tried a little harder, you could've broken the hold that witch had on you!"

"You can curse me and hate me all you want," Jellal said, voice soft and deadly, "but I will not tolerate anyone who speaks ill of Ultear."

"But," Millianna whispered, "wasn't she the one who possessed you? The one who made you do all those awful things? She said so herself, when I met her after the Grand Magic Games."

"Right before she sacrificed everything to give us the time we needed to defeat our enemy," Jellal agreed, giving the young woman a brief smile. "But she was as much a victim as you were. I was merely a tool in her path towards revenge." He looked back at Erza, knowing she understood him better than anyone in the world. "She broke me out of prison, along with Meredy. The three of us formed Crime Sorciere together, a guild dedicated to repenting for our sins. She has helped me more than she has harmed me, and I will forever be grateful to her. So please, don't blame her. After all she has done for me, for Meredy, for this guild, I cannot bear to have anyone hold any ill will toward her." His gaze dropped. "Even if you never forgive me, it will be enough to know that Ultear is free of guilt."

"Oh, Jellal," Erza murmured, wishing she could go to his side. But Shô was the more volatile one at the moment. He was the one who needed her support.

Wally looked the scarlet warrior over before returning his gaze to Jellal. "So what Meredy said is true, huh?"

Jellal swallowed, knowing what the man spoke of and yet nervous for his reaction. He nodded slightly, confirming what Wally had known as true since the Heavenly Body wizard had first entered the scene. Wally searched Jellal's face for a minute longer before a small smile lifted his mouth. "I think I've heard enough."

Shô turned on his best friend in surprise. "Wally, what are you saying?"

Wally shrugged, a small smile still brightening his normally stoic features. "I trust my brother's judgement. And Erza's never led us astray before." He turned his grin on Erza, and for a moment, he saw the little girl she used to be, a ray of sunshine in that desolate place. "You have such an open heart, dame. I always feared it would get you in trouble. I thought for the longest time that your easy forgiveness of Jellal was proof of that. But it's not a weakness to be compassionate. And it's pretty dandy too."

A brilliant smile broke across Erza's face. "Thank you," she whispered. And that was enough for Shô.

He yanked his hands out of Erza's grasp, stumbling backward a few steps. "I'll never forgive you," he snarled. "You may have tricked everyone into believing you've changed, but I know better. You've done nothing but hurt us our entire lives, Erza most of all. I don't know why she thinks you're worthy of forgiveness-"

"As I told you when last we met, I don't need you to protect me." Erza said softly. "I am a grown woman, and I have been through more than you could ever imagine, Shô, and Jellal has been by my side through so much of that. I would be dead right now without him. We all would be."

She glanced back at her boyfriend for a moment, letting him see the love in her eyes. "When Natsu and I beat him at the Tower, I was prepared to sacrifice myself, to use my body to contain the ethernano so it didn't destroy us all." She looked down for a second. "He gave himself up instead. The first thing he did after his mind was free from the control it had been under for eight years was to save us. To save me. And time and time again since that moment, he has suffered because he thinks he should, because he thinks himself unforgivable."

She returned her gaze to Shô, expression fierce. "The reason he ended up in prison was because he gave himself up. That was the price he was willing to pay for his sins against you and me and the world. And he has never stopped trying to better himself since then."

She let out a breathless laugh. "Shô, this anger and this hatred and this guilt, this is going to eat you alive. It's been dragging you down for too many years now, and I will never let up until you have let go of that hatred. It's not healthy, Shô."

"Sister," Shô began, not knowing exactly how to continue after that long-winded rant. It struck home and true, he had to admit. But it didn't make him feel any better. He swallowed, throat suddenly dry. "Why do you care so much?"

"You're my brother," she murmured, stepping closer to him again. Her hand came up to rest on his cheek, thumb brushing away the few stray tears staining his skin. "I've always loved you. All of you." She looked around at her friends, eyes slowly returning to the man before her. "The five of us, we went through hell together. We survived because we stayed by each other's side."

She raised an eyebrow, hoping what she had to say wouldn't hurt too much. "Do you think I have ever blamed you for coming up with the plan that got us captured?"

His face dropped and he opened his mouth to respond, but Erza shook her head. "I never once have held you responsible. Without that turn of events, the rebellion never would have occurred. Our lives probably would have ended at that Tower. Shô, everything happens for a reason. And this happened twelve years ago. Shô, please, for me. At least try."

"I don't expect your forgiveness," Jellal murmured. Shô finally turned to actually face the man he despised and hated and held accountable for all of his pain and suffering. They locked eyes, and Shô finally saw the regret in the Heavenly Body wizard's gaze. "And I don't blame you for hating me. But… for Erza's sake, can't we at least try to move past this? I've missed your friendship. It was the only thing that kept me sane while I was forced to do atrocity after atrocity." The corner of his lip lifted ever so slightly. "You three are as much my family as Crime Sorciere. And, isn't family complicated?"

"Why does this matter so much to you? To both of you?" Shô looked between them, their words hitting home. Yet he still needed to know. He needed to know why they were so intent on having him move past the black anger festering in his soul.

Erza let her hand drop from his face. Her eyes drifted over his shoulder to meet Jellal's, and for the first time, Shô realized there was a new emotion in her gaze, an emotion that had been there every time she thought of Jellal this night

"I love him." The truth was direct and matter of fact, and it took Shô and Wally a moment to understand what she'd said.

"Oh, Erza!" Millianna breathed, grinning happily. Jellal flushed and shifted his weight from foot to foot, unable to tear his gaze from Erza.

"You… you love him?"

Erza nodded, looking back at Shô with an open expression. He wondered how he missed the love in her eyes before now. "I have for a long time."

Shô switched his gaze to the Heavenly Body wizard. "And you? Do you love her?"

"She's the only good left in my heart."

Shô clenched his jaw, and he dragged a hand through his hair. Millianna began to drift toward Jellal, subtly trying to show her friend that she supported this man, no matter what he may have done to them in a past life. Wally rolled his shoulders, prepared to deal with whatever Shô said next.

"Well," he started. He took a deep breath, looked down at the ground, and then met Jellal's gaze. "We all have family members we don't like."

Erza choked on a laugh before she threw her arms around Shô's neck, hugging him so tight that he gasped for air. Wally grinned, and Millianna gave Jellal a small smile. "Thank you, Shô. Thank you."

"I'm not making any promises," he warned, not quite smiling. "If he does one single thing to hurt you-"

"You'll be one of many in line to enact your revenge," Jellal assured. "But trust me. I have no intentions of ever hurting her again. Besides, Erza is more than capable of putting me in my place."

"Yes, I certainly am." Erza left Shô and finally joined Jellal, her hand sliding into his. He smiled down at her, and she squeezed his hand, resting her head against his shoulder for a moment. "If you turn evil again, I'll be the first one kicking your ass into prison."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." He looked down with such tenderness that Wally wondered how he had ever doubted that man's intentions. "You'd have to hurry though; Natsu is always looking for a rematch."

"He'd stand back if I told him to."

"Yes, I do suppose you're right. That man is downright terrified of you."

"Most are."

Millianna watched the back and forth with an increasingly vacant expression. Sensing a break in the conversation, she stepped forward, hoping to garner the attention of the clearing. When all eyes were on her, she smiled. "Now that that's out of the way," she said like the past ten minutes had been tense and emotional, "can we all just sit and talk? This is the first time we've all been together since… well, since the rebellion. And I've missed our little family."

"That's a wonderful idea," Erza agreed, pulling Jellal forward with her. "You have to tell me everything I've missed."

"Only if you tell us everything you've done. I'm sure it's a lot more exciting than what we've been up to." Wally grinned, collapsing on his stump once more. Shô managed a brief smile, forcing himself to try and relax. It was going to be a long night, but at least it was spent with the sister he'd been without for too long.

In the swirling shadows, a sixth figure stood, his form flickering in and out as the flames started to die down in the pit. A ghost of a smile brushed over the large man's lips, even as he faded away to rejoin the darkness. I'm glad you're happy… Erza…

From her place at the fire, Erza glanced up as a shudder of recognition ran down her spine. She searched the shadows but found nothing by shifting grass and fading light from their camp. Even as she let her shoulders relax and her attention return to the conversation at hand, she couldn't help but send her eyes up towards the heavens. I miss you, Simon. We all do.

Ahhhh I've been excited for this one, mainly because Shô and Wally pretty much disappeared after the Tower of Heaven arc. I hope I did their characters justice, but I think it was past time Jellal got some forgiveness, huh? What did you all think?

Until next time! Well, that is if I don't die during my psych exam in an hour...