Lucy had been looking at the new bank account opened in GEM-N-I's name every day for the past fourteen days and still couldn't believe what she was seeing. Twenty-five grand. The benefactor listed as Natsu.

"Staring at it isn't going to change the amount Lu," Levy chuckled from next to her with a playful nudge, "I bet if you became his personal cheerleader it would though."

"I was only joking," Lucy whined. She was starting to feel bad about taking his money all over again. He'd been covered in bruises and still bloody when he'd handed her a slip of paper two days after the fight that contained all the banking info. She'd looked dumbfounded at him while he grinned as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

"We've got a decent amount of money to work with," Levy hummed happily before sighing heavily, "And a very grumpy dragon."

"I was sure they were going to kill each other."

"There was so much blood."

"Thought the announcers were going to call 911," Lucy shuddered, "Especially when Natsu dropped Gajeel with that nasty sounding uppercut."

"I don't want to talk about that," Levy visibly paled, "That crunch had me running to the bathroom."

"I called Fiore University and submitted the requirement standards for the scholarship to be accessed," Lucy switched subjects. She felt her stomach heave with that reminder.

"What were the requirements again?" Levy asked weakly. Her face hitting the glass countertop in front of them which was serving as a makeshift desk space. The office space in the storeroom meant the front of the store couldn't be monitored and it was too early to close for the day. Lucy noticed Levy's complexion was looking a little green.

"For the magical department. Obviously must be a mage/witch with potential to want to get a masters or PhD. Will work for a guild or other magical business during the summer as a form of internship. A 3.2 overall major GPA." Lucy listed with her fingers. "I think the government is also making me add a requirement about registration with the department of magical defense as well…since there's a new law regarding that."

"Yes, our favorite hover parent." Levy said around a laugh and lifting her head up, "Making sure we don't terrify the masses with our very existence. I can only imagine how they'd react if they knew vampires existed and aren't just a myth."

"I don't think the reaction would be too nice."

"I'd have to agree." Levy stood up abruptly snatching the computer off the counter, "I forgot about Gray!"

"Gray?"

"Natsu's co-worker asked me about an aquamarine with a high magical affinity and I was supposed to ask you if you still had that aquamarine geode I sent you months ago." A pause and a tired sigh, "we need to hire someone to help with the store-front."

"I actually just brought that back, its sitting on my desk in the storeroom, I was going to place it in one of the empty cases on the wall," Lucy said before resting her arms against the counter and staring absentmindedly out the window. "You going to let him know about it?"

"I will as long as you didn't promise it to anyone else," Levy grumbled while sitting on the floor, the laptop balanced precariously on her knees and typing away furiously on the keyboard.

"I didn't. Want to close early for the night and do inventory so we can leave at a decent hour?"

"Like you have to ask that," the blue haired geologist nodded distractedly. Her fingers flying over the keys, "I just need to send out responses to these questions and then shoot Gray an email…I should have an image of that stupid stone on here somewhere…" Lucy and Levy sighed simultaneously before lapsing into a comfortable silence.

oOo

"I'm ready to head home," Lucy said around a yawn. The back door to the store slamming shut behind both women. The blonde turned to lock the door before backing into Levy roughly while a soft startled scream tore from her throat.

"Lu?! What's wrong?" Levy gasped while whipping her head around and attempting to catch the store keys before they hit the ground. Lucy kept backing up, pushing Levy toward her orange car while gesturing to the mouth of the alley. Both women watched rigidly as a large black shadow blocked their only way out and increased in size as it crept further into the small back parking lot. They were effectively boxed in.

"I don't have my wand," Levy whispered quietly, her grip on Lucy's arm bruising, "I might have forgotten to mention that I broke it in Cambodia…the first time I went."

"We really need to work on your timing," Lucy hissed when the shadow seemed to split into two. The blonde shivered but widened her stance and tensed.

"Luce? Did I hear you scream?" a familiar head of pink hair appeared from the shadows and behind him a man with dark hair that she didn't know. She was so relieved that her legs gave out and she landed in a pile on the cold cobblestone road.

"It's just Natsu and Gray," Levy breathed before practically screaming, "You both almost gave us a heart attack! Geez!"

"Sorry, we thought we heard talking back here." That had to be Gray. Lucy blinked and soon was hauled up off the ground by calloused but gentle hands. The heat they put off in the slightly chilly air had her relaxing.

"Sorry Luce, we stopped by after Gray got the email about that geode, but the store was closed early. Like he said as we were leaving, and we thought we heard voices back here."

"N-no it's fine." Lucy said around the pounding of her heart. "It was slow so we closed early so we could do inventory."

"I think I need to go home and lay down," Levy responded weakly while rubbing her sternum. "I'll see you tomorrow Lu."

"You came all the way, come in." Lucy responded quickly, ushering the two men toward the back door of the store and out of the way. Snagging the keys off the ground, she waved Levy off before locking the back door behind her. She took the lead toward the front of the store and sighed tiredly once the lights were back on. Without saying anything else she unlocked the case the large aquamarine geode sat before placing it on the counter in front of the dark-haired mage. "This dark of a blue you don't see very often," Lucy said around a smile and stepped back to let him inspect it. She couldn't stop her eyes from taking in Natsu. The bruise around his left eye was now a light faded yellow and his split lip didn't look swollen. The tear was still an angry red and looked painful.

"Is there something on my face?" Natsu asked.

"NO!" Lucy slammed her mouth shut and winced at the volume she used. She smiled apologetically, "You aren't as bruised."

"Ah yeah, sorry I haven't been around. I had an impressive concussion and was put on bedrest. I've been cleared to move and take requests again." The pink-haired mage said with a grin, "It's been pretty boring since I haven't been able to talk to you, especially when I remembered that I had a formal invite from Fairy Tail to pass over."

"A formal invite?" Lucy echoed

"Gramps…err I mean Master Makarov expressed an interest in meeting you. He's hoping to work out a relationship between Fairy Tail and GEM-N-I. He claims that Erza and Jellal spend enough money here to warrant it." Lucy's face lit up on a bright smile at the mention of the red-headed Witch.

"How's Erza doing?"

"Erza is….Erza," Natsu grumbled quickly with a look of surprise, he hadn't realized how close the two women were. Lucy laughed.

"I suppose she is, well I'll happily accept the invitation. I'll drop off some pre-ordered stones for Jellal while I'm there." The blonde mused.

"I'll take it." Gray interrupted. Lucy jumped at the sound of his voice, having forgotten he was inspecting the gem.

"Perfect, that'll be $2,400." a flurry of quick movement amazed both men as they watched small hands quickly wrap the geode in pink wrapping paper and slide it into a beige box before sealing it.

"Sure," Gray mumbled while pulling out a black card and holding it out for Lucy to take. The second their fingers connected the air grew oppressive and the smell of stagnant water filled the room; both Lucy and Gray snatched their hands back and regarded each other with weary concern. The clang of Grays metal card hitting the counter brought Natsu's focus to the two mages.

"What," Gray started but the smell of brackish water was starting to carry with it the smell of decay and he choked on his words. Lucy was glowing faintly and seemed stiff, but in a blink the smell was gone, the air wasn't as heavy, and the blonde took a deep breath before picking up the card from the counter to complete the transaction. Rather than hand the card back, Lucy slid it across the counter and then pushed the box toward him.

"Thank you." The blonde gestured toward the geode, "When presenting that please let your deity know I'm not interested. She seemed hostile and my own reacted."

"You have a deity?" Gray asked amused, "Sorry, Juvia can be a little...possessive."

"You don't say," Lucy laughed. "You could say that, but I'm not a made witch. My magic is passed down generationally from mother to daughter." A shrug around a yawn.

"How does that work?" Natsu cut in, "I was sure that mages that did deity work were made. You know, offered something important to said deity as collateral for the powers they got in return."

"I still make contracts, but all mine are made in blood both mine and the deity's in question and are forged through mutual respect. I can break mine with ease just like my guides may break them. They don't just pick me, I have to pick them too and I alone collaborate with them."

"A little vague," Gray lamented while eyeing Lucy disbelievingly.

"As much as I would love to continue this talk, I'm tired and have a business to run in the morning."

"You wouldn't possibly kick us out would ya Luce?" Natsu teased.

"Let me rephrase: Get out."