Hi everyone! So a ton of stuff happened since Sunday and, here in the USA, we had a three day weekend. All that really means is that I got confused as to what day it was and when I finally realized it was almost Thursday, I decided to post an update. Then I realized that this chapter is relatively short, and I feel bad, so I'll be posting the next chapter too. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think by reviewing.

"Don't be afraid of being scared. To be afraid is a sign of common sense. Only complete idiots are not afraid of anything."

― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Gray took a look around the room at his comrades. He noticed that everyone seemed to be on edge. The young Natsu had gone from kicking rocks to training, doing kicks and flips to avoid imaginary enemies. Levy had a concerned look on her face and was attempting to draw the young Gajeel into conversation. Gajeel on the other hand was pacing near the tiny script mage and seemed to be ignoring her. Erza had found a wall to lean against as she watched everyone else occasionally looking towards the taunting hallway looking for Lucy and Juvia.

"I've got a question for you," Gray said and shifted so that he was sitting facing the blue haired boy next to him. "All of us here are clearly distressed by what is going on. Why the hell are you so happy?"

The young Jellal couldn't help but smile at the question. He even let out a brief chuckle. Gray had noticed that he was the only one with a smile on his face.

"There's a pretty simple answer to that." He commented. "As a child, I was always so confident. An optimist, if you will. Back as a slave at the Tower of Heaven, I could always see the good in every situation."

"Now don't get me wrong, there was nothing really to be that happy about. The work was hard, the food was terrible, the cells were cold, and we were all dressed in rags. But in reality I had everything that I really wanted, I had the people that I cared about." Without any hesitation, his gaze fell on the scarlet haired girl, watching her as she adjusted her position against the wall. "I had hope for the future, that things would get better and that we would escape, but until then I had everything that I needed. Nothing else mattered."

"My tragedy did not come until later." Jellal stated, returning his attention to Gray. "This body, it brings back those happy memories of when I was a child, much in the same way that it brings back negative memories for you." Gray nodded in understanding and a slight smirk appeared.

"You really do love her." Gray said. There was no need to say who Gray was referring to. Both boys knew that Jellal only had eyes for the red haired requip mage.

"I really do," Jellal replied with a small blush appearing on his face.

"You do know that she loves you too?" Gray asked and one eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. This was only confirmed when Jellal's blush deepened. But Gray noticed something different in Jellal's demeanor.

"Yeah, I know." Jellal replied and his smile disappeared followed quickly by the blush that had dusted his cheeks. I just wish that it was enough, Jellal thought.

Gray had a feeling that there was more going on in Jellal's head but allowed the silence of the room to take over their conversation. He didn't feel like prying the boy away from his thoughts.

"Gajeel, are you okay? You've been so quiet." Levy said from her perch on one of the broken columns. She had been watching the iron dragon slayer as he paced back and forth. He hadn't stopped moving since Lucy and Juvia had left. He had always been quiet and withdrawn, but this pacing wasn't about being quiet or withdrawn.

"Fine." The dragon slayer gave a curt response. It was clear that Levy didn't believe him. Their year working for the Council together gave Levy more insight into Gajeel's habits. This was one of his nervous habits.

"Juvia and Lucy will be alright. They are both strong and can take care of each other." Levy continued in a reassuring manner. The young Gajeel just huffed in response. Levy took her eyes off of him and looked at her shoes. "That's not it, is it?"

Gajeel just seemed to be ignoring her, and that's part of what startled her the most. He didn't want to look at her and Levy had the feeling that he didn't want to look at anyone. Or be here… at all.

"Gajeel, I'm sure that we will get through this in no time. You don't have to be afraid." Levy tried to sooth his anxieties.

"I ain't afraid." Gajeel said, shooting the small girl a fierce glance.

"Everyone is afraid of something. It's okay to admit it if yo—" Levy tried to reply, but Gajeel cut her off and got up close to her. His face was inches from hers. Despite his gruff voice, his speech was clear.

"I ain't afraid of nothin', Shrimp." Gajeel's inflection was unmistakably dark and practically dared Levy to contradict him. Levy kept her gaze fixed on Gajeel's red eyes. She could tell that at the very least he was on edge, but Levy had a feeling that it went much deeper than that. Levy never got a chance to say anything before hearing the familiar voices of Juvia and Lucy coming from the hallway.

"We're back." Lucy called to the other young mages. She and Juvia entered the ruined stone room. Erza was the first to approach the two girls, followed by Levy who embraced the two girls. Gajeel remained where he was, but shifted his gaze to Juvia and Lucy before looking down at the ground again. Jellal and Gray stood up from their spots and Natsu gave a small grin as the three made their way to the two girls.

"How did it go?" Erza asked.

"Juvia believes that it went well. It would have been worse for Juvia if Lucy had not been there." Juvia commented giving Lucy a smile.

"Did you learn anything about this place?" Jellal inquired calmly.

"Well," Lucy began, "there is this spot in the hall where the nightmare started. It made the hallway glow a blue color when we passed it." Lucy recalled. She explained that she saw it just before entering the house of Juvia's dream world and then again once they left the house.

"It sounds like there is something that separates this room and the hallway from where the fear takes control." Levy chimed in after listening to Lucy's description.

"That's a little comforting," Gray commented. "It means our fears can't follow us back here."

"When Juvia faced her dream, Juvia no longer felt overwhelmed. Juvia did see that when she was not controlled by her fear, the dream had changed." The young water mage explained to the group. "But Juvia expects that this may be different for everyone depending on what the person is afraid of."

"So we still don't know what the heck to expect when we cross that stupid glowing line thingy?" Natsu asked, crossing his arms with a huff.

"Clearly, we can't expect for all of us to be afraid of the same thing." Erza commented. "I think we should still have everyone go with a partner. It was easier on Juvia with Lucy there—"

"I don't need anyone to go with me, I ain't afraid." Gajeel called out heading closer to the group.

"Hey, I'm not afraid either!" Natsu called out, reacting as if Gajeel had issued a challenge.

"Guys, this isn't the time for this." Lucy said with an exasperated sigh.

"I don't care. Everyone will go down that hall with a partner whether you are afraid or not. Have I made myself clear, Natsu?" Erza commanded as she stared down the fire dragon slayer.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it…" Natsu said looking away from Erza.

"Do you understand, Gajeel?" Erza turned towards the iron dragon slayer to find that he was gone. She quickly turned to look around the room. "Gajeel?"

"Oh no," Levy sighed as she looked around the room too.

"Where did that bucket of bolts go?" Gray cursed.

"You don't think he went down there by himself, do you?" Lucy asked and gave Levy a worried look.

"Gajeel-kun is very proud. He likes his privacy. Juvia thinks that Gajeel-kun would not want anyone to be with him when he faces his fear. Gajeel-kun does not like to appear vulnerable." Juvia said calmly looking down the hallway. The dim lighting made it so that no one could see anything down the hall.

"Idiot," Erza cursed.

"I'll go after him," Jellal offered and started walking towards the hall.

"No," Levy said and put a hand on Jellal's chest to stop him from going any further. "You don't know him all that well. He won't react well to you, and if he's scared…" Levy took a deep breath and shook her head before she continued to speak. "I'll go."

"Are you sure, Levy-chan?" Lucy asked and gave the small bluenette a worried look.

"I'm sure, Lu-chan." Levy said with a smile and gave the blonde a quick hug.

"Fine, but be careful Levy." Erza said before nodding to the young script mage to go ahead.

"I will." Levy said and without a second thought, she took off running down the hall.

You are in so much trouble when I catch up to you, Gajeel.