Standing By

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 18

After a long rest. Everyone sat around the campfire. Discussing what they should do.

Laxus looked towards Hermione and her group. "Who is she," he asked, as he pointed to the woman next to her.

"This is my cousin, Grace. The day fell into your guild. She did the same, but in a forest. Where Riverstone took her," supplied Hermione.

Cobra chuckled, "Who is being lovey dovey, now?"

Midnight glared at him. But didn't fire back. Not when he was focused on Grace and her health. She was awake, but quiet. Eating stew that Virgo had provided.

"What are we going to do about him," asked Bickslow, pointing to the man, still laying on the ground.

"What is he doing," asked Freed.

"He's faced with a choice. Either go down the path he started or change," answered Grace.

"Conflection," asked Jellal. "It's a hard pill to swallow."

Gajeel looked at Natsu with a glare. "When did you start holding back your punches?"

He took a deep breath. "I didn't know how far down we were. I didn't want to have you killed, if I can push him above ground first. But she stopped me before I could do anything."

Grace turned her blue-green eyes to him, glaring. "Sorry if I didn't want the forest to get damaged. Since the wildlife has no warning, when it comes to your attacks!"

Lucy smiled, "I like your cousin, Hermione."

Hermione smiled, she turned to Grace in worry. "What are you going to do now?"

Grace looked sad, "Can I go with you? I don't know where else to go."

Hermione smiled, then turned to Lucy. "Can she come home with us? I can easily share a room with her."

Lucy smiled wholeheartedly. "Yes, she can."

Midnight smiled, pulling Grace to him. "Sorry, but who are you?"

"Sorry, my name is Macbeth." He kissed her cheek. "I think you might be my soulmate."

She gave a worried look. Before she grabbed a rag and wet it. Only to clean his face from makeup. Giving him a great big smile. Causing everyone to hold their breath.

"I like seeing people's faces." She racked his hair back to see his deep red eyes. "I like seeing your face," she whispered softly to him. Making Midnight blush.

It was the first time Hermione had seen his face. Making him look like a Native American, without his makeup.

Cobra shook his head in wonder. "Ever since we have been teenagers. I haven't seen him without it. Been telling him he didn't need it. But stated he was wearing a mask to protect himself."

Grace smiled kindly. "Masks do have a purpose for protecting oneself from their emotions. Or disconnecting themselves from the world. But masks can also harm those that love you. By pushing them away."

Racer nodded his head, bowing in thought. "Makes sense, by how we have grown up."

Laxus turned to Grace with an eyebrow raised. "What did you do to him and what does it do?"

"May I," she asked. "It won't harm you." When she had gotten a nod. She rubbed hands together, before forming a ball then a large mirror.

"To your right, it shows your personal past. Middle, your current path. The left, your best possible future."

Freed gasped, "Mirajane."

"Cana," groaned Bickslow.

Laxus sighed, "Great, Lisanna."

Natsu looked at the mirror next. Tilting his head in disbelief. "Levy?"

Racer then looked at the mirror and gasped. "Angel?" She did the same, only to give him a peck on the cheek.

Richard looked and blushed. "Mittana."

Erza and Jellal looked at each other, blushing as they looked at each other. Midnight had gone over, only to have a great big smile. Before rushing towards Grace, picked up from her chair. Only to sit in the chair and have her sit on him. Wrapping his arms around her.

Grace saw that no one else was going to the mirror. She fisted her hand, extinguishing the spell.

Hermione smiled at her cousin. "Are you going to be alright?"

Grace had taken a deep breath. "Just worried about nightmares. Almost every night, since being here, I have been having them. But thanks to Angel. She helped me through most of them."

Midnight pulled her closer to him. Moving her to where she sat sideways, with her legs over the armrest of the chair. Raking his nails through her hair. He whispered softly against her forehead, before kissing her there. Within moments, she was passed out.

Hermione glared at Midnight. "What did you do?"

"I just put her under a sleeping spell. No nightmares will come to her." He glared at the man, still laying on the ground. "Can't promise about him, though."

"I'll take it on, Macbeth. If it makes your girl rest in peace. I'll take it."

That night, Laxus and Erza took their teams back to the guild. Taking Riverstone and a few people he had with them. While Racer, Angel, and Richard made their way to their homes. Leaving Lucy, Gajeel, Hermione, Cobra, Grace and Midnight behind.

Hermione followed Cobra into their shared tent, with Grace and Midnight. Each guy was lying next to the tent's wall. While the girls faced each other. Laying a couple feet from each other.

Midnight spelled Hermione asleep. Leaving Cobra awake to talk to Midnight.

"What's on your mind, Macbeth?" Cobra leaned his head on his hand. Laying on his side to face him.

Midnight mirrored him. "I'm afraid I'm going to mess up."

Cobra sighed, "You are going to mess up. Hell even I am going to mess up. But like everything that we've ever done. We'll face it together."

Midnight groaned, "Am I ever to make her happy?"

Cobra smirked. "You even asking, shows that you're willing to try. That says a lot, since the past we've had."

Midnight glared down at Grace. "Tell me the truth Erik. Do you look at Hermione, like an Angel from above, made for you?"

"Yes," Cobra spoke softly. It nearly sounded painful. "It chokes the life out of me. When I'm not able to see her."

"So the journey back to Magnolia?"

"Nearly killed me." Cobra looked at Midnight with a thought. "When you saw Grace with blood and chains?"

"Nearly snapped my sanity. Wanting to unleash the nightmare within and take care of that garbage, myself. He wouldn't be leaving alive, if I wasn't helping her to get out."

He moved himself around. Where he wrapped a leg around her. As well as his arm. Bringing her closer to him. Where he felt an over need to protect her.

"I never wanted to protect someone. Like I'm feeling for her, now."

Cobra grumbled, "Along with an overdose of needy."

"What," hissed Midnight. It sounded like he didn't understand what Cobra was saying.

Cobra huffed. "Do you feel something twitching? Like it hasn't done it before."

"Yeah," Midnight sounded a bit worried.

"An urge and an overwhelming need to mate? Well, don't! The girls want a marriage before the act."

Midnight groaned softly. "Help reign me in. If I make a fool of myself."

Cobra chuckled, "Can't make promises when I'm battling myself here. I might just marry her and ask her guild for forgiveness later."