Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters: that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Author's Note: Changes are being made to this story from its original conception. It will not be like it was before. I will still follow the set up (backstory) that had Lucy summoning the Celestial King to stop the Eclipse Gate, Yukino will have "died" because of the Eclipse Gate. Instead of defeating Zeref (at the time of the GMG and EG, we didn't know he had nothing to do with it at the time), it will be the dragons being sent into the past. My chapters won't be more than 5K in words... or that if you get lucky. I want shorter, more comfortable to read chapters. My style has changed in the last six years, folks; it is called growth. To make this more fun, I will have a few other canon things, and yes, the babysitters will still be there. That was too fun and cute to write. Now, I ask you to read this with an open mind and review once you are done. Thank you! So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.


As the small group stepped out of the building, each casting a look up at the window to their friend and Guildmates room worried. It was with a heavy heart that many things now had to be decided.

"Well, don't stand around looking like a bunch of idiots, even if you are," Porlyusica snapped. "We need a plan. As long as Rogue is living there, in that condition, Lucy needs to stay home and take care of him. Besides, in her current state, she shouldn't be on missions with that bunch of thoughtless brutes."

This had everyone looking at the pink-haired woman. Who just glared at them with complete disdain.

"Besides, that young man was awake while Deadbolt here was giving his speech," Porlyusica stated more calmly. "Aren't I right, Wendy?"

"Yes, ma'am," Wendy replied automatically.

When Levy and Makarov turned their gaze to Gajeel, he gave a small nod of his head. The nonchalant manner in which he stood there told them that he didn't care either.

"Well, either way, if you can spare a minute or three, I have a solution!"

The group of five stiffened and spun as one to look at the edge of the road and the river. The saw a familiar petite blond-haired woman standing there with a mischievous grin on her face, illuminating her green eyes.

"Mavis!" Wendy and Levy exclaimed.

The small nod the petite woman grinned wider and jumped from the ledge and walked towards them.

"Well, care to hear what I have to say?" Mavis asked, her voice holding a teasing tone.

A sharp hiss and loud snort had soft chuckles coming from the rest of those gathered. No one had to look to know who did it. But when all eyes turned to the first Guild Master of Fairy Tail, they each gave a small nod of assent.

"Well, we know that you cannot keep Natsu bound for the next week. And it is cruel to keep Lucy from visiting the Guild. So, how about we do a guard or buddy type system," Mavis said. "I mean, she was clear that she didn't want to mate him. Besides, Porly was right; she has to take care of Rogue so no missions. Maybe a job in the city?"

When peals of laughter came from Mavis at the stunned looked the four of the five gathered, it caused a little of the built tension to abate.

"That sounds like a splendid idea, Mavis. At least someone, even if dead, has enough common sense to think of something good," Porlyusica muttered. "Wendy, I suggest you and I leave now and get some rest, we will need to be back tomorrow to continue healing the poor idiot upstairs."

A quick nod from the blue-haired teen as she gave a small bow and a polite goodbye, then took off after Porlyusica, leaving the other three, plus one spirit behind.

"I like it," Levy stated. "And I am sure when we get back, and Master tells everyone that many will jump at being able to help Lucy. And get to spend time with her, without her teammates interfering."

"Yes, it is a sound plan. And I think I can make a call to Yajima about getting Lucy a part-time job," Makarov said. "He is always looking for help. And Lucy worked there before, knows the rules. My concern is we have another Slayer in the Guild, my grandson. He, too, goes through this, though it is a bit different for him, and he likes to be on his property during his week. But if the pull from Lucy is almost like a drug to Natsu and Sting, then I worry what it will do to my boy."

"Ah, about that!" Mavis sang out. "I can put up a modified version of the Fairy Sphere around Lucy's apartment building. That way, only those with the Guild mark can come and go, except for all the Dragon Slayers. Porlyusica was a member once, so it would be easy to tune it to her spiritual signature."

The way two sets of eyebrows and metal studded brows jumped on their foreheads had the ghost giggling like a crazed person.

"That would be perfect. Now, let us get on our way back to the Guild. Gajeel, I would like you to break this whole Slayer's going into heat thing down in the simplest and most basic of terms for the rest of the Guild," Makarov said, his voice cold and serious.

Again silent nods of assent were exchanged as they gave one last look back up to Lucy's window and started back towards the Guild. None of them noticing that Mavis was no longer with them. Or the faint shimmer of gold-white in the shape of a dome appeared around the apartment building.


After Everyone left, Lucy made her way with Frosch in her arms to her kitchen and set him on the counter and began to search for her fridge and cabinets, only finding a small can of tuna fish. Realizing she needed to go shopping.

"Frosch, do you like fish?" she asked the tiny, cosplaying exceed.

"Yes, Fro likes fish very much," Frosch replied. "Especially with salt, but Rogue says Fro needs salt in small bits."

She couldn't help smiling at the exceed as she opened the can and put it isn't a little blue bowl she bought that was the perfect size for and exceed. Reaching back into the cabinet, Lucy pulled her salt shaker out and shook a little into the bowl before replacing it and shutting the cabinet. Experience had taught her that she had a penchant for gravitating to open doors of all kinds, and it hurt when she connected.

Shifting herself and opening the drawer by the fridge, Lucy pulled out a baby fork and began to mix to tuna fish gently. Once she was done, she scooped Frosch into one arm and grabbed the bowl and fork in the other. Her smile got bigger as she heard Frosch hum in delight as he smacked his lips at the smell of tuna fish.

Once she was back in her living room, Lucy set Frosch on her couch and put the bowl before him. Then moving slowly and cautiously to her besides, Lucy sat in the chair that she had pulled up earlier and looked at the man lying in her bed. After a few long, drawn-out moment, Lucy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"You can quit pretending to sleep, Mr. Cheney," she huffed at him.

Her eyes had learned to pick up the subtleties of a person sleeping and especially having a Dragon Slayer as a best friend. When she saw the slight tensing appear in his neck and shoulders, Lucy reached out to poke him. It got the desired effect as red eyes glared up at her as a calloused hand was gripping her wrist to the point of pain.

"Ah, good to see you open your eyes," She said, blithely pulling her arm back with a sharp tug. "I know you have been awake for a while now; I am not an idiot. And we need to talk shop, Mr. Cheney."

The way he glowered at her had the fine hairs of her neck standing up, but Lucy kept her face as impassive as possible. She refused to show an enemy, one she now was responsible for, any form of weakness. Having survived her kidnapping (multiple times), the attack on Tenrou by Acnologia, and the crap with the Grand Magic Games, she knew she was capable of that much.

The way his lip curled, showing an elongated canine made Lucy lift an eyebrow and settle back in her chair, arms crossed again.

"Fine, mister, I think I am better than others. And I don't have to talk to someone weaker than me, or is in a rival Guild," Lucy stated in a deadpanned voice, openly mocking. "Then listen, and very carefully. Because you are not the first Dragon Slayer I have dealt with that was injured or sick. And by far, you are not the most stubborn or arrogant. I have four in my Guild. One who tried to kill me, another who refused to help unless I became is his girl, aka sex toy. And then my teammate and best friend who always seems to put my ass into dangerous life or death situations. "

Her eyes took in the way his eyes widened ever so slightly before narrowing at her. She guessed it was due to her mocking him. But she figured what the hell, why not. If he wanted to be difficult, she would treat him like a misbehaving child, reminding him she was in charge and wouldn't take his shit.

"Look, I am not happy about this situation any more than you are. And that is my bed you will be convalescing in," Lucy stated coldly. "So, please keep acting like a self-centered child, and the whole time you are here, I can make your life a living hell. As can my spirits."

That got a reaction from him as he frowned and growled lowly at her. Again, not impressed, Lucy sighed and shook her head.

"This was a far cry from earlier when my friend Sting held you," he snapped at her.

This had Lucy smiling as she shook her head in agreement.

"Yeah, well having one controlling Dragon Slayer picking fights with any males, and a few females, to them, almost killing our teammate left me on edge. Then your rampaging, hormonal teammate, whose own former Guild Leader's daughter tried to murder me attacks and gets close and personal," Lucy hissed between clenched teeth. "Kinda makes a girl locked up, scared as shit. I had figured you to be the one with brains between you and Sting, but apparently, I was wrong. Or you don't care about other people outside your Guild, Mr. Cheney. I am glad that I at least have a heart and the ability to feel emotions that allow me to empathize with other people and not be an emotionless bastard."

The look of shock on Rogue's face let Lucy know she hit a nail home. And to further hammer it home, since Minerva had taken over and rumors were that not much had changed since her father's reign.

"At least I know my Guild is there for me and won't throw me out because I am weak in any shape or form," She muttered in contempt. "Even if I weren't in Fairy Tail, I would not kick someone from my house because I found fault with them into the cold night."

Lucy watched as his face shut down, his eyes glazing over at what she said. She didn't have to ask what he was thinking about, because she knew. His Guildmate, Yukino, had lost her match and been kicked out. Then had come to her to give her two Golden Celestial Keys to her. It was clear by how his body was tensing, not a good thing with his wound, that she had upset him and felt horrible for taking her frustrations and anger out on him when he probably didn't have anything to do with that at all.

"Look, I am sorry. That was mean and rude of me. And I am wrong to attack you for what your former Guild Master did to Yukino," Lucy said softly, letting her eyes drop her to lap. "How about a temporary truce while you are in my home, healing? I think it would be prudent that we get to know each other since you will be here for a while, with that wound you got because of me."

There was silence for a long while before Lucy heard the rustling of plastic and cloth from her bed. Lifting her eyes back up, Lucy was surprised at the fact that Rogue was struggling to shift his body.

"Hey, don't move, or you will undo all that work Porlyusica, Wendy, and my spirit Virgo have done!" she exclaimed and reached out to force him to lay still.

The soft growl she got had her stopping. She knew the different types of growls that Dragon Slayer's used to express their emotions.

"I am not that stupid woman," Rogue snapped at her. "And fine, a truce. Do not call me Mr. Cheney, Rogue works just fine. Now, how do you propose going about us getting to know each other?"

Blinking and sitting back in her chair, Lucy felt her mouth open slightly in her state of shock. It took her a few seconds to collect herself.

"I figure we can ask questions and answer as honestly as possible," She stated quickly. "If that works for you? And please call me Lucy."


Rogue lay there watching her, listening, because, in all reality, there was nothing he could do. One couldn't turn off their hearing at will. It had shocked him that she could cut so deep with her words, be calloused in what she said. It was the opposite of everything he and the rest of his Guild knew of her. The Light of Fairy Tail, a woman who was so kind and considerate. And here she was ripping him apart, accusing him of being an emotionless bastard. That he didn't care about his Guildmates in the least. Of course, he knew who she was referring to, Yukino. And it was a low blow.

When she had gone silent after her little tirade, he had looked at her, to see remorse of all things on her face as she stared down at her hands. He had just opened his mouth to correct her and give an apology because he did have manners when she apologized for being rude with what she said. It had caused him to shift his body a little bit to look at her better. That and try and catch a glimpse of Frosch, whom he could hear eating what smelled like tuna fish.

"That is acceptable... Lucy," he said. "But I do believe that we need to introduce ourselves since other than the games and other things, we have not been."

The way her mouth formed a little o had him feeling a bit amused. Then her face shifted back to a gentle smile, though it was easy to see and smell, that it was just a front.

"I am so forgetful sometimes," she mumbled. "Okay then, Hi, I am Lucy Heartfilia of Fairy Tail, it is nice to meet you, Rogue Cheney!"

He gave a small nod of his head before replying, "And I am Rogue Cheney of Sabertooth, it is nice to meet you, Lucy Heartfilia. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be the first to ask a question, as I am a guest in your house."

The small nod she gave him to go ahead had him feeling relief. He didn't want to deal with a bossy, overbearing woman.

"As I am a guest, as I stated, and will be staying in your house, what are your rules?" he asked. "Also, by nature, I am not an inconsiderate one. Sting... not so much."

The way she smiled knowingly had him wondering. He could smell Natsu all over her house. There had been speculation that they were a couple with how protective Natsu got over her. But from what she said earlier that it was not the case, as she hadn't lied.

"Oh, the rules are simple. If you make a mess, clean up after yourself. I cannot stand filth. If you finish any food, write it down on the shopping list that is on the fridge. Never go through my dresser like a pervert," she spouted off. "And most importantly, do not ever touch my desk or anything on it, unless I expressly tell you to."

The sickeningly sweet smile she gave as she listed her last rule had Rogue feeling a cold chill run down his spine. Because a dark, killing aura appeared around her for the duration of her telling him. Then it was gone, and it was like it had never been there. So, Rogue gave a nod of his head that he understood and watched as her face shifted into a mask of deep thought. A part of him was glad that she seemed to want to think before spouting off random questions.

TBC!