As the days rolled on, the air about the guild felt light and free. I could feel the odd glances as every time I stepped into the guild hall, there was a smile on my face. There wasn't much that could bring me down after recent events. It was strange for me as well. To have a smile on my face this often felt foreign, but it was nice to embrace it.

The trip to Margaret Town had left me with a warm feeling in my heart. Maybe it was knowing that Hayden had more depth than just a sarcastic man or maybe it was being able to simply learn more about him, all around, it made me happy. I had never even thought that Hayden had more to him, nor had I thought to ask. But now it felt that we were on a different level of comfort with each other. Just a few weeks prior, I hadn't wanted him to even stand near me. Now I looked to him as a dear friend.

He showed his vulnerable side during our trip, showing that even he could break down. It almost made him feel more human. His presence, albeit annoying sometimes, was a strong and steady one. Most of the time, it didn't even seem that he could feel any negative emotions. I respected him for showing that he was more than just a smiling face.

Waking up the morning after was a shock. When I walked into the kitchen to see the flowers he had left behind, my heart skipped a beat. No one had ever gotten me flowers before and the sight of them was enough to make my heart pound. It was a feeling I was unfamiliar with, but I knew that I was happy. I was quick to put them in a vase to try and keep them alive as long as possible. I knew full well that wildflowers would dry out faster than those from a flower shop so every morning I filled the vase and hydrated the petals. As long as I could manage to care for them, those flowers would thrive.

Phillip and I walked into the guild that morning and I was mentally preparing myself for Team Natsu to return from their mission. Oracion Seis had fallen and after taking a short vacation, they were finally set to return home today. I had been enjoying the peace and not very excited for it to be taken away from me. My relaxing days were coming to an end, guess that meant I would have to go on a few more jobs to get out of the guild more often.

"Morning, princess!" A smile crossed my face as I spotted Hayden at a nearby table. "Got your coffee waiting for ya already!" He grinned as we approached and sat down across from him. "And an apple for the runt."

As he tossed Phillip the apple, the cat clenched his teeth. "I'm not a runt! I'm just waiting for a growth spurt!"

"You haven't grown in years, buddy. I think you're stuck." The redhead chuckled, placing his hand against his cheek.

Phillip grumbled a few incoherent words as he munched on his apple. A half hearted laugh fell from my lips as I took a sip of my coffee. "We should go on a job today."

Hayden blinked at my statement before his bottom lip popped out in a pout. "What? But Natsu's coming back today…" I didn't respond to his comment and his eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, I see. You're just upset that my attention won't be all on you anymore."

The coffee that had been attempting to go down my throat got caught and I began to cough. Once it was clear, I looked at him with a glare. "What on earth gave you that idea? I just don't like it when it gets loud in here."

"Whatever you wanna say," he grinned and threw his arms behind his head. "But I know how you really feel, you don't need to try and hide it."

Phillip snickered. "You really do miss him when he's gone, Cece." When I shot my glare his way, he held up his paws in defense, but his grin never fell. "What? You have to admit you feel lost when he's gone."

I tightened my grip on the handle of my coffee cup and heaved a sigh. "You two are unreal… I enjoy it when I have time to myself, it gives me time to focus."

"Yeah, sure you do." Hayden stated and I quickly went to continue arguing with him, but was cut off by the door to the guild being kicked open.

"We're back!"

And there goes whatever peace I had left.

Team Natsu appeared in the doorway and I quickly noticed as they were greeted that there were an additional two people in their group. A small blue haired child and another cat just like Phillip and Happy. I furrowed my brow in confusion. The mission they went on didn't seem like the kind that would bring home new members, but who was I to complain? That group always seemed to make new friends wherever they went.

The group started to tell the tale of their journey and I gave them about twenty percent of my attention. Natsu always seemed to make their stories far too drawn out and tiresome so I mainly only focused when Erza spoke. Simply put, their mission was a success. The new child, Wendy, had been a part of one of the participating guilds, Cait Shelter. The guild turned out to be set up just to house the child when she was young and disappeared after their mission had completed. In normal Fairy Tail fashion, the child was invited to join.

Erza stepped forward, placing a hand on the blue haired girl's shoulder. "And so, we've invited Wendy and Carla to join Fairy Tail."

Wendy bowed towards everyone with a kind smile on her face. "It's nice to meet all of you."

My eyes threatened to roll as the men of the guild cooed at the sight of her. She was a child, did they really have no manners? Though, I had to admit, it was nice to see a more innocent face around as the only other kid we had running around was Romeo. One could only hope that this meant the pointless fights would calm down a little so she didn't get hurt.

Seeing the cat walking beside Wendy, I had to smile a bit. The only other cat hanging around other than Phillip was Happy and it would be nice if my own cat had the chance to meet someone who was like him. As I glanced down at him, he had a bright smile on his face as it seemed he was thinking the same thing. A new friend for him was just what he needed.

Natsu continued to tell his tale, boasting about a man with a flying snake that he had the chance to fight. From across the table, Hayden watched the pinkette with a pout before getting to his feet. "Natsu…" When the boy ignored him, his brow furrowed in anger. "Natsu!"

Finally, Natsu stopped talking and glanced at the earth mage. "Eh? What? I was just getting to the good part!"

"You never even said hi to me!" Hayden shouted, crossing his arms as he glared at the fire mage. "Are we not the best of friends anymore?"

Natsu looked at him in confusion. "The hell you going on about? Happy is my best friend!"

At his words, Hayden placed a hand on his chest to feign hurt. "You leave me here stranded without a word, then you dare forget our friendship? You wound me Natsu!"

"What the hell…?" Natsu's brow twitched, his face growing angry as he stomped his foot against the ground. "What are you talking about?! I'm so lost!"

Hayden sighed. "I guess it can't be helped…" A devilish smirk appeared on his face as he raised a fist. "I guess I'll just have to beat the shit out of you until you remember."

Natsu blinked for a moment before a matching smirk formed. "Oh? Well if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!"

As the two began their childish brawl, I sighed and returned to my coffee. I swear, every time Natsu came back from a mission, Hayden just had to go and pick a fight. Maybe that's just how their friendship worked, but I didn't understand it one bit. Everyone else could be peaceful with their greetings while they had to be obnoxious about it. Men really were idiotic.

I brought my coffee to my lips and I felt the warm liquid travel down my throat. My mind began to consider taking a new job when a smell hit my nose. The grip I had on my cup tensed and nearly shattered the handle before I had a chance to put it down. Once my hands were free, I got to my feet and focused my attention on Wendy. This smell was familiar, a smell I could never forget.

"You." I snapped and approached the child who looked up at me with her head cocked to the side. "Why do you smell like a dragon?"

My question quickly pulled the attention of the other guild members and Wendy smiled kindly. "Oh, I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer."

My eyes went wide. Another one?! I went silent as I tried to process the information and for a moment, so did the rest of the guild. Wendy's gaze downcasted, almost in sadness as our response probably wasn't ideal. While I figured everyone else was silent in excited shock, I found myself wondering how many Dragon Slayers were out there. It was a lost art so there couldn't be many more, but then again, how could I be sure? Wendy showing up only proves that I knew less than I thought.

"Woah, awesome!" The guild cheered causing Wendy's eyes to widen. "A Dragon Slayer!"

"Just like Natsu!"

"And with Gajeel and Cece, that makes four Dragon Slayers in our guild!"

"They're really rare too!"

At their cheers, Wendy's face seemed to calm and return to a sweet smile. Makarov announced that we should celebrate and mugs of alcohol got passed around rather quickly. Wendy seemed to be thriving within the attention while Carla didn't seem interested at all. I watched as Phillip attempted to make conversation with the white cat, but she simply turned away and gave him the cold shoulder. If I hadn't been trying to be civil, I would have kicked the cat right out the door, but I did my best to hold in my angered feelings. Phillip could handle himself.

As the ale got passed around, I plucked one off the passing tray and took a seat back in my original spot. Parties weren't my thing at all. The loud shouting, drunkards yelling for more boos and the constant brawls breaking out. I wanted nothing more than to, at the very least, go home. However, as long as Phillip wanted to stay, I would stick around.

I wasn't sure how long I sat within my own silence before I heard someone approach. I glanced over to see Wendy standing beside my table with a smile on her face. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

I raised an eyebrow in confusion, but gestured to the spot across from me nonetheless. She must have had something better to do than sit here with me. The entire guild had been fighting for her attention, wanting to know every little thing about her and although I was curious about her as well, I wasn't going to be much for conversation. "Shouldn't you be out there partying with everyone else?"

Wendy smiled softly as she sat down. "It's fun getting to know everyone, but it's a bit overwhelming." She chuckled lightly. "And I really wanted to meet you! Natsu told me a lot about you."

My brow twitched at the thought. "Natsu did, huh? I can only imagine what he had to say…" I grumbled, bringing my ale to my lips to take a long drink. "I suppose you're looking to connect with other Dragon Slayers."

"Yeah!" She nodded, leaning forward to place her chin in her hands. "I had heard stories of Natsu and Gajeel, but I didn't realize there was another Dragon Slayer in Fairy Tail. I think Natsu said you're a healer as well?"

I simply nodded, muttering a quiet, "Yeah," to her question. This kid was incredibly bubbly. Had the world not had a chance to knock her down yet? I was almost jealous, I would give anything to have my childhood back, the sweet innocence. By the time I was Wendy's age, I had already been kicked in the gut multiple times by the world. I could barely remember my childlike smile anymore.

"That's really cool!" Wendy beamed. "I'm really only good at healing and support skills. The offensive attacks are still… Not so great." She sighed softly, her gaze downcasted, almost in shame.

At her change in demeanor, I straightened my posture in concern. She had been so happy just moments ago, where did that energy go? "Uh… I'm sorry? What's wrong?" I questioned, unsure of how to approach the topic.

Wendy played with her fingers with anxious energy. "I'm just… I'm not very good at fighting. I only just learned my roar. It's a little embarrassing."

I blinked. "Wait, how old are you, kid? Didn't your dragon teach you anything?" The girl's shoulders slumped even more and my eyes widened as I quickly realized my words came out far more harsh than I had intended. "S-Sorry… I suppose your dragon left around the same day the rest of ours did. You were probably way too young to even start advanced magic like that."

She nodded. "Yeah… Grandeeney left when I was five so there wasn't much time to teach me anything." It looked as if she could burst out into tears at the mention of her dragon mother, but she held herself together. Wendy shook her head and looked back up at me with determination. "Th-That's why I wanted to talk to you! I would really like your help!"

"E-Eh?" I stuttered out, my expression shocked. "What can I possibly help you with?"

"Our elements may be different but the components are really similar," she explained. "If anyone would be able to help me strengthen my skills, it would be you."

This kid had to be nuts! I wasn't a teacher, I wasn't even close. She'd be better off working on her own and hoping for the best. My skill set did not involve helping others. I had worked solo for so long that even fighting alongside Hayden was still difficult. I didn't want to be the reason Wendy gave up.

My gaze focused on the girl and flinched underneath her eyes. They were determined, full of hope. Despite my hesitation, she was still waiting for me with all the confidence in the world as if daring me to deny her. She was ready for anything I threw at her, she wanted to grow. There was no doubt in mind that she would be able to put in the time and effort to grow to see her potential. But was I really the right teacher for her? It didn't seem like a logical choice.

My mind began to play tricks on me and after glancing away for one moment, the girl in front of me seemed to shift into my younger self. The very same expression was on my face and I could almost hear myself begging Rogue to train me, to help me grow into the mage I knew I could be. He had been so far ahead of me yet I was determined to have him help me. Nothing would get in my way.

Wendy was everything I was when I was younger. An innocent, almost naive child, who wanted nothing more than to prove her worth to herself. She had enough faith in herself that she didn't need the approval of others. She was strong. And above all, she was ready.

I closed my eyes and downed the last of my ale before heaving a sigh. "Alright… But you need to follow my routine perfectly. I do not work around your own schedule. You work to meet mine."

Her face lit up. "Really? You mean it?" She reached up and placed her hands against her cheeks as she let out a breath of relief. "Thank goodness…"

A light blush crossed my cheeks and I forced myself to look away from her. Her face could just light up any room, god it hurt. I had always hated kids, but something about Wendy just made me melt. "Yeah… I'll give you a few days to get settled in. We'll start the day after tomorrow."

She let out another phrase of gratitude and I barely nodded in acknowledgement. The party continued to rage around us, but my mind felt clouded by memories of my youth. It wasn't often I thought of my own innocent years and it made me feel sick to my stomach. To be happy like that was foreign and didn't suit me at all. To think, I had been just like Wendy once.

"Yo, princess!" A heavy arm threw itself over my shoulder as Hayden slammed himself into the seat next to me. "What are you doing sitting around?! And your cup is empty, you need another drink!"

My nose twitched in disgust as I tried to pull away from the redhead. "You reek of boos. How much have you had?"

"Hmm…" He hummed, holding up his hand to attempt to count. "I think I lost track after seven. Cana just kept refilling my cup so I kept drinking!"

I rolled my eyes, shoving my elbow into his side in an attempt to push him away from me. "Good for you, now get your drunk ass away from me."

Completely oblivious to the fact that I had been talking to Wendy, Hayden got to his feet and took hold of my hand. "Come have a drink with me! Loosen up!"

"Wh-What? No!" He pulled me to my feet and I desperately tried to get away. "I'm not drinking with you, you're insane!" As the redhead pulled me away from the table, I looked back and mouthed a quick apology to Wendy who simply smiled and waved. She was no help at all.

Hayden dragged me all the way to the bar and tried to push me down onto one of the stools, but I held firm to my stance. He grumbled in disappointment as released my hand and reached over the counter to grab himself a bottle of whiskey. "You're so boring, princess. When was the last time you let loose?"

My brow twitched in irritation. "I prefer to keep a level head and not lose myself in alcohol thank you very much."

He pouted and brought the bottle up to his lips to take a swig. "Not sure why I expect anything less.. You're always such a stick in the mud." I did my best to ignore his comment, but he continued to open his big mouth. "I would have beat you in a drinking match anyways."

"Oh yeah, right." I scoffed, finally sitting down beside him and crossed my arms. "You're already drunk off your ass. You couldn't beat anyone."

"Whatever you say," he held a hand over his mouth as he hiccupped. "Not like you're trying to prove that theory. Only reason you're not accepting my challenge is because you know I'll win. All bark and no bite with you."

I tensed at his words. "Really now?" I narrowed my eyes as he went to take another drink. Before he had the chance to, I held my hand out and yanked the bottle from his hand and brought it to my own mouth. The warm liquid ran down my throat, leaving me with a burning sensation. I gagged a bit as I took it away. "Put your money where your mouth is, Hayden."

A grin spread across his face as he went for a new bottle to keep for himself. "There you go. Now it's a party!"

If there was one skill Hayden excelled in, it was always knowing the right buttons to push to irritate me. He could play me like a fiddle.